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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 the Indies； wherein he
describeth the court and magnificence of Guayna Capac； ancestor to the
emperor of Guiana； whose very words are these：
〃Todo el servicio de su casa； mesa； y cocina era de oro y de plata； y
cuando menos de plata y cobre； por mas recio。 Tenia en su recamara
estatuas huecas de oro； que parescian gigantes； y las figuras al
propio y tamano de cuantos animales； aves； arboles； y yerbas produce
la tierra； y de cuantos peces cria la mar y agua de sus reynos。 Tenia
asimesmo sogas； costales； cestas； y troxes de oro y plata； rimeros de
palos de oro； que pareciesen lena rajada para quemar。 En fin no habia
cosa en su tierra； que no la tuviese de oro contrahecha； y aun dizen；
que tenian los Ingas un verjel en una isla cerca de la Puna； donde se
iban a holgar； cuando querian mar； que tenia la hortaliza； las flores；
y arboles de oro y plata； invencion y grandeza hasta entonces nunca
vista。 Allende de todo esto； tenia infinitisima cantidad de plata y
oro por labrar en el Cuzco； que se perdio por la muerte de Guascar； ca
los Indios lo escondieron； viendo que los Espanoles se lo tomaban； y
enviaban a Espana。〃
That is； 〃All the vessels of his house； table； and kitchen； were of
gold and silver； and the meanest of silver and copper for strength and
hardness of metal。 He had in his wardrobe hollow statues of gold which
seemed giants； and the figures in proportion and bigness of all the
beasts； birds； trees； and herbs； that the earth bringeth forth； and of
all the fishes that the sea or waters of his kingdom breedeth。 He had
also ropes； budgets； chests； and troughs of gold and silver； heaps of
billets of gold； that seemed wood marked out （split into logs） to
burn。 Finally； there was nothing in his country whereof he had not the
counterfeit in gold。 Yea； and they say； the Ingas had a garden of
pleasure in an island near Puna； where they went to recreate
themselves； when they would take the air of the sea； which had all
kinds of garden…herbs； flowers； and tree