THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA 



redemption : but I have chosen rather to beare the 

 burden of poverty, then reproch, & rather to endure a 

 second travel and the chances therof, then to have 

 defaced an enterprise of so great assurance, untill I knew 

 whether it pleased God to put a disposition in her 

 princely & royal heart either to folow or foreslow the 

 same : I wil therefore leave it to his ordinance that hath 

 only power in all things, & do humbly pray that your 

 honors wil excuse such errors, as without the defence of 

 art, overrun in every part of the folowing discourse, in 

 which I have neither studied phrase, forme nor fashion, 

 that you will be pleased to esteeme mee as your owne 

 (though over dearly bought) and I shall ever remaine 

 ready to do you all honour and service. 



W. R. 



^ To the Reader. 



Ecause there have bin divers opinions 

 conceived of the gold oare broght from 

 Guiana, and for that an Alderman of 

 London & an officer of her Majesties 

 Mint, hath given out that the same is of 

 no price, I have thought good by the addi- 

 tion of these lines to give answer aswel to 

 the said malicious slander, as to other objections. It is true 

 that while we abode at the yland of Trinidad, I was in- 

 formed, by an Indian, that not far from the Port, where we 

 ancored, there were found certaine mineral stones which 

 they esteemed to be gold, & were thereunto perswaded 

 the rather for that they had scene both English and 

 Frenchmen gather, & imbark some quantities therof: 

 upon this likelyhood I sent 40. men & gave order that 

 each one should bring a stone of that mine to make trial 

 of its goodnes : which being performed, I assured them 

 at their returne that the same was Marcasite, & of no 

 riches or value : notwithstanding divers, trusting more to 

 their owne sence, then to my opinion, kept of the said 

 Marcasite, and have tried therof since my returne in divers 



343 



A.D. 



1595. 



