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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。
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
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 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
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
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 si