they be all shining from the foot to the head； and in this sort they
sit drinking by twenties and hundreds； and continue in drunkenness
sometimes six or seven days together。 The same is also confirmed by a
letter written into Spain which was intercepted； which Master Robert
Dudley told me he had seen。 Upon this sight； and for the abundance of
gold which he saw in the city； the images of gold in their temples；
the plates； armours； and shields of gold which they use in the wars；
he called it El Dorado。
After the death of Ordas and Martinez； and after Orellana； who was
employed by Gonzalo Pizarro； one Pedro de Orsua； a knight of Navarre；
attempted Guiana； taking his way into Peru； and built his brigandines
upon a river called Oia； which riseth to the southward of Quito； and
is very great。 This river falleth into Amazons； by which Orsua with
his companies descended； and came out of that province which is called
Motilones （〃friars〃Indians so named from their cropped heads）； and
it seemeth to me that this empire is reserved for her Majesty and the
English nation； by reason of the hard success which all these and
other Spaniards found in attempting the same； whereof I will speak
briefly； though impertinent in some sort to my purpose。 This Pedro de
Orsua had among his troops a Biscayan called Aguirre； a man meanly
born； who bare no other office than a sergeant or alferez （al…faris；
Arab。horseman； mounted officer）： but after certain months； when the
soldiers were grieved with travels and consumed with famine； and that
no entrance could be found by the branches or body of Amazons； this
Aguirre raised a mutiny； of which he made himself the head； and so
prevailed as he put Orsua to the sword and all his followers； taking
on him the whole charge and commandment； with a purpose not only to
make himself emperor of Guiana； but also of Peru and of all that side
of the West Indies。 He had of his party 700 soldiers； and of those
many promised to draw in other captains and companies； to deliver up
towns and forts in Peru； but neither finding by the said river any
passage into Guiana； nor any possibility to return towards Peru by the
same Amazons； by reason that the descent of the river made so great a
current； he was enforced to disemboque at the mouth of the said
Amazons； which cannot be less than 1；000 leagues from the place where
they embarked。 From thence he coasted the land till he arrived at
Margarita to the north of Mompatar； which is at this day called Puerto
de Tyranno； for that he there slew Don Juan de Villa Andreda； Governor
of Margarita； who was father to Don Juan Sarmiento； Governor of
Margarita when Sir John Burgh landed there and attempted the island。
Aguirre put to the sword all other in the island that refused to be of
his party； and took with him certain cimarrones （fugitive slaves） and
other desperate companions。 From thence he went to Cumana and there
slew the governor； and dealt in all as at Margarita。 He spoiled all
the coast of Caracas and the province of Venezuela and of Rio de la
Hacha； and； as I remember； it was the same year that Sir John Hawkins
sailed to St。 Juan de Ullua in the Jesus of Lubeck； for himself told
me that he met with such a one upon the coast； that rebelled； and had
sailed down all the river of Amazons。 Aguirre from thence landed about
Santa Marta and sacked it also； putting to death so many as refused to
be his followers； purposing to invade Nuevo Reyno de Granada and to
sack Pamplona； Merida； Lagrita； Tunja； and the rest of the cities of
Nuevo Reyno； and from thence again to enter Peru； but in a fight in
the said Nuevo Reyno he was overthrown； and； finding no way to escape；
he first put to the sword his own children； foretelling them that they
should not live to be defamed or upbraided by the Spaniards after his
death； who would have termed them the children of a traitor or tyrant；
and that； sithence he could not make them princes； he would yet
deliver them from shame and reproach。 These were the ends and
tragedies of Ordas； Martinez； Orellana； Orsua； and Aguirre。 Also soon
after Ordas followed Jeronimo Ortal de Saragosa； with 130 soldiers；
who failing his entrance by sea； was cast with the current on the
coast of Paria； and peopled about S。 Miguel de Neveri。 It was then
attempted by Don Pedro de Silva； a Portuguese of the family of Ruy
Gomez de Silva； and by the favour which Ruy Gomez had with the king he
was set out。 But he also shot wide of the mark； for being departed
from Spain with his fleet； he entered by Maranon or Amazons； where by
the nations of the river and by the Amazons； he was utterly
overthrown； and himself and all his army defeated； only seven escaped；
and of those but two returned。
After him came Pedro Hernandez de Serpa； and landed at Cumana； in the
West Indies； taking his journey by land towards Orenoque； which may be
some 120 leagues； but ere he came to the borders of the said river； he
was set upon by a nation of the Indians； called Wikiri； and overthrown
in such sort； that of 300 soldiers； horsemen； many Indians； and
negroes； there returned but eighteen。 Others affirm that he was
defeated in the very entrance of Guiana； at the first civil town of
the empire called Macureguarai。 Captain Preston； in taking Santiago de
Leon （which was by him and his companies very resolutely performed；
being a great town； and far within the land） held a gentleman
prisoner； who died in his ship； that was one of the company of
Hernandez de Serpa； and saved among those that escaped； who witnessed
what opinion is held among the Spaniards thereabouts of the great
riches of Guiana； and El Dorado； the city of Inga。 Another Spaniard
was brought aboard me by Captain Preston； who told me in the hearing
of himself and divers other gentlemen； that he met with Berreo's
campmaster at Caracas； when he came from the borders of Guiana； and
that he saw with him forty of most pure plates of gold； curiously
wrought； and swords of Guiana decked and inlaid with gold； feathers
garnished with gold； and divers rarities； which he carried to the
Spanish king。
After Hernandez de Serpa； it was undertaken by the Adelantado； Don
Gonzalez Ximenes de Quesada； who was one of the chiefest in the
conquest of Nuevo Reyno； whose daughter and heir Don Antonio de Berreo
married。 Gonzalez sought the passage also by the river called
Papamene； which riseth by Quito； in Peru； and runneth south…east 100
leagues； and then falleth into Amazons。 But he also； failing the
entrance； returned with the loss of much labour and cost。 I took one
Captain George； a Spaniard； that followed Gonzalez in this enterprise。
Gonzalez gave his daughter to Berreo； taking his oath and honour to
follow the enterprise to the last of his substance and life。 Who
since； as he hath sworn to me； hath spent 300；000 ducats in the same；
and yet never could enter so far into the land as myself with that
poor troop； or rather a handful of men； being in all about 100
gentlemen； soldiers； rowers； boat…keepers； boys； and of all sorts；
neither could any of the forepassed undertakers； nor Berreo himself；
discover the country； till now lately by conference with an ancient
king； called Carapana （Caribana； Carib land； was an old European name
for the Atlantic coast near the mouth of the Orinoco； and hence was
applied to one of its chiefs。 Berrio called this district 〃Emeria〃）；
he got the true light thereof。 For Berreo came about 1；500 miles ere
he understood aught； or could find any passage or entrance into any
part thereof； yet he had experience of all these fore…named； and
divers others； and was persuaded of their errors and mistakings。
Berreo sought it by the river Cassanar； which falleth into a great
river called Pato： Pato falleth into Meta； and Meta into Baraquan；
which is also called Orenoque。 He took his journey from Nuevo Reyno de
Granada； where he dwelt； having the inheritance of Gonzalez Ximenes in
those parts； he was followed with 700 horse； he drove with him 1；000
head of cattle； he had also many women； Indians； and slaves。 How all
these rivers cross and encounter； how the country lieth and is
bordered； the passage of Ximenes and Berreo； mine own discovery； and
the way that I entered； with all the rest of the nations and rivers；
your lordship shall receive in a large chart or map； which I have not
yet finished； and which I shall most humbly pray your lordship to
secrete； and not to suffer it to pass your own hands； for by a draught
thereof all may be prevented by other nations； for I know it is this
very year sought by the French； although by the way that they now
take； I fear it not much。 It was also told me ere I departed England；
that Villiers； the Admiral； was in preparation for the planting of
Amazons； to which river the French have made divers voyages； and
returned much gold and other rarities。 I spake with a captain of a
French ship that came from thence； his ship riding in Falmouth the
same year that my ships came first from Virginia； there was another
this year in Helford； that also came from thence； and had been
fourteen months at an anchor in Amazons； which were both very rich。
Although； as I am persuaded； Guiana cannot be entered that way； yet no
doubt the trade of gold from thence passeth by branches of rivers into
the river of Amazons； and so it doth on every hand far from the
country itself； for those Indians of Trinidad have plates of gold from
Guiana； and those cannibals of Dominica which dwell in the islands by
which our ships pass yearly to the West Indies； also the Indians of
Paria； those Indians called Tucaris； Chochi； Apotomios； Cumanagotos；
and all those other nations inhabiting near about the mountains that
run from Paria through the province of Venezuela； and in Maracapana；
and the cannibals of Guanipa； the Indians called Assawai； Coaca； Ajai；
and the rest （all which shall be described in my description as they
are situate） have plates of gold of Guiana。 And upon the river of
Amazons； Thevet writeth that the people wear croissants of gold； for
of that form the Guianians most commonly make them； so as from
Dominica to Amazons； which is above 250 leagues； all the chief Indians
in all parts wear of those plate