THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA ad 



1595- 

 such poore and weake vessels to transport our selves 

 in ; for in the bottom of an old Galego which I caused 

 to be fashioned like a galley, and in one barge, two 

 whirries, and a shipboat of the Lions whelpe, we 

 caried lOO. persons and their victuals for a moneth in 

 the same, being al driven to lie in the raine and 

 weather, in the open aire, in the burning Sunne, and 

 upon the hard bords, and to dresse our meat, and to 

 cary all maner of furniture in them, wherewith they were 

 so pestered and unsavory, that what with victuals being 

 most fish, with wette clothes of so many men thrust 

 together, and the heat of the Sunne, I will undertake 

 there was never any prison in England, that could bee 

 found more unsavorie and lothsome, especially to my 

 selfe, who had for many yeeres before bene dieted and 

 cared for in a sort farre more differing. 



If Captaine Preston had not bene perswaded that he 

 should have come too late to Trinidad to have found 

 us there (for the moneth was expired which I promised 

 to tary for him there ere hee coulde recover the coast of 

 Spaine) but that it had pleased God hee might have 

 joyned with us, and that we had entred the countrey but 

 some ten dayes sooner ere the Rivers were overflowen, wee 

 had adventured either to have gone to the great Citie 

 of Manoa, or at least taken so many of the other Cities [in. 634.] 

 and townes neerer at hand, as would have made a royall 

 returne : but it pleased not God so much to favour mee at 

 this time : if it shall be my lot to prosecute the same, 

 I shall willingly spend my life therein, and if any else 

 shalbe enabled thereunto, and conquere the same, I 

 assure him thus much, he shall perfourme more then ever 

 was done in Mexico by Cortez, or in Peru by Pizarro, 

 whereof the one conquered the Empire of Mutezuma, the 

 other of Guascar, and Atabalipa, and whatsoever prince 

 shall possesse it, that Prince shall be Lord of more golde, 

 and of a more beautifuU Empire, and of more Cities 

 and people, then either the King of Spaine, or the great 

 Turke. 



355 



