the discovery of guiana(发现圭亚那)-第3节
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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
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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
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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
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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 reduced。 Besides；
when our men are constrained to fight； it hath not the like hope as when
they are pressed and encouraged by the desire of spoil and riches。 Farther；
it is to be doubted how those that in time of victory seem to affect their
neighbour nations will remain after the first view of misfortunes or ill
success； to trust； also； to the doubtfulness of a battle is but a fearful and
uncertain adventure； seeing therein fortune is as likely to prevail as virtue。
It shall not be necessary to allege all that might be said； and therefore I
will thus conclude； that whatsoever kingdom shall be enforced to defend
itself may be compared to a body dangerously diseased； which for a
season may be preserved with vulgar medicines； but in a short time； and
by little and little； the same must needs fall to the ground and be dissolved。
I have therefore laboured all my life； both according to my small power
and persuasion； to advance all those attempts that might either promise
return of profit to ourselves； or at least be a let and impeachment to the
quiet course and plentiful trades of the Spanish nation； who； in my weak
judgement； by such a war were as ea
