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mistaken； who would have persuaded that I was too easeful and sensual to
undertake a journey of so great travail。 But if what I have done receive the
gracious construction of a painful pilgrimage； and purchase the least
remission； I shall think all too little； and that there were wanting to the rest
many miseries。 But if both the times past； the present； and what may be in
the future； do all by one grain of gall continue in eternal distaste； I do not
then know whether I should bewail myself； either for my too much travail
and expense； or condemn myself for doing less than that which can
deserve nothing。 From myself I have deserved no thanks； for I am returned
a beggar； and withered； but that I might have bettered my poor estate； it
shall appear from the following discourse； if I had not only respected her
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Majesty's future honour and riches。
It became not the former fortune； in which I once lived； to go journeys
of picory （marauding）； it had sorted ill with the offices of honour； which
by her Majesty's grace I hold this day in England； to run from cape to cape
and from place to place； for the pillage of ordinary prizes。 Many years
since I had knowledge； by relation； of that mighty； rich； and beautiful
empire of Guiana； and of that great and golden city； which the Spaniards
call El Dorado； and the naturals Manoa； which city was conquered； re…
edified； and enlarged by a younger 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
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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
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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 sa