THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA a.d. 



1595. 

 malice. In my more happy times as I did especially 

 Hon. you both, so I found that your loves sought mee 

 out in the darkest shadow of adversitie, and the same 

 affection which accompanied my better fortune, sored 

 not away from me in my many miseries : al which 

 though I can not requite, yet I shal ever acknowledge : 

 & the great debt which I have no power to pay, I can 

 do no more for a time but confesse to be due. It is 

 true that as my errors were great, so they have yeelded 

 very grievous effects, & if ought might have bene 

 deserved in former times to have counterpoysed any 

 part of offences, the fruit thereof (as it seemeth) was 

 long before fallen from the tree, & the dead stocke 

 onely remained. I did therefore even in the winter of 

 my life, undertake these travels, fitter for bodies lesse 

 blasted with mis-fortunes, for men of greater abilitie, 

 and for mindes of better incouragement, that thereby, 

 if it were possible, I might recover but the moderation 

 of excesse, & the least tast of the greatest plenty 

 formerly possessed. If I had knowen other way to 

 win, if I had imagined how greater adventures might 

 have regained, if I could conceive what farther meanes 

 I might yet use, but even to appease so powreful dis- 

 pleasure, I would not doubt but for one yeere more to 

 hold fast my soule in my teeth, till it were performed. 

 Of that litle remaine I had, I have wasted in effect all 

 herein. I have undergone many constructions. I [III. 628.] 

 have bene accompanyed with many sorrowes, with 

 labour, hunger, heat, sickenes, & perill : It appeareth 

 notwithstanding that I made no other bravado of going 

 to the sea, then was ment, and that I was never hidden 

 in Cornewall, or els where, as was supposed. They 

 have grosly belied me, that forejudged, that I would 

 rather become a servant to the Spanish king, then 

 returne, and the rest were much mistaken, who would 

 have perswaded, that I was too easefull and sensuall to 

 undertake a journey of so great travell. But, if what 

 I have done, receive the gracious construction of a 



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