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！
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 shipwrack to us all； we
shall find that these abilities rise not from the trades of sacks and
Seville oranges； nor from aught else that either Spain； Portugal； or
any of his other provinces produce； it is his Indian gold that
endangereth and disturbeth all the nations of Europe； it purchaseth
intelligence； creepeth into counsels； and setteth bound loyalty at
liberty in the greatest monarchies of Europe。 If the Spanish king can
keep us from foreign enterprises； and from the impeachment of his
trades； either by offer of invasion； or by besieging us in Britain；
Ireland； or elsewhere； he hath then brought the work of our peril in
great forwardness。
Those princes that abound in treasure have great advantages over the
rest； if they once constrain them to a defensive war； where they are
driven once a year or oftener to cast lots for their own garments； and
from all such shall all trades and intercourse be taken away； to the
general loss and impoverishment of the kingdom and commonweal so
reduce