按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
son of Guayna…capac； Emperor of Peru； at such time as Francisco
Pizarro and others conquered the said empire from his two elder
brethren； Guascar and Atabalipa； both then contending for the same；
the one being favoured by the orejones of Cuzco； the other by the
people of Caxamalca。 I sent my servant Jacob Whiddon； the year before；
to get knowledge of the passages； and I had some light from Captain
Parker； sometime my servant； and now attending on your Lordship； that
such a place there was to the southward of the great bay of Charuas；
or Guanipa： but I found that it was 600 miles farther off than they
supposed； and many impediments to them unknown and unheard。 After I
had displanted Don Antonio de Berreo； who was upon the same
enterprise； leaving my ships at Trinidad； at the port called Curiapan；
I wandered 400 miles into the said country by land and river； the
particulars I will leave to the following discourse。
The country hath more quantity of gold； by manifold； than the best
parts of the Indies； or Peru。 All the most of the kings of the borders
are already become her Majesty's vassals； and seem to desire nothing
more than her Majesty's protection and the return of the English
nation。 It hath another ground and assurance of riches and glory than
the voyages of the West Indies； an easier way to invade the best parts
thereof than by the common course。 The king of Spain is not so
impoverished by taking three or four port towns in America as we
suppose； neither are the riches of Peru or Nueva Espana so left by the
sea side as it can be easily washed away with a great flood； or spring
tide； or left dry upon the sands on a low ebb。 The port towns are few
and poor in respect of the rest within the land； and are of little
defence； and are only rich when the fleets are to receive the treasure
for Spain； and we might think the Spaniards very simple； having so
many horses and slaves； if they could not upon two days' warning carry
all the gold they have into the land； and far enough from the reach of
our footmen； especially the Indies being； as they are for the most
part； so mountainous； full of woods； rivers； and marishes。 In the port
towns of the province of Venezuela； as Cumana； Coro； and St。 Iago
（whereof Coro and St。 Iago were taken by Captain Preston； and Cumana
and St。 Josepho by us） we found not the value of one real of plate in
either。 But the cities of Barquasimeta； Valencia； St。 Sebastian；
Cororo； St。 Lucia； Laguna； Maracaiba； and Truxillo； are not so easily
invaded。 Neither doth the burning of those on the coast impoverish the
king of Spain any one ducat； and if we sack the River of Hacha； St。
Martha； and Carthagena； which are the ports of Nuevo Reyno and
Popayan； there are besides within the land； which are indeed rich and
prosperous； the towns and cities of Merida； Lagrita； St。 Christophoro；
the great cities of Pamplona； Santa Fe de Bogota； Tunxa； and Mozo；
where the emeralds are found； the towns and cities of Marequita；
Velez； la Villa de Leiva； Palma； Honda； Angostura； the great city of
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