A.D. 



1596. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



facere posse existimant : simajora proferantur, invident, 

 non credunt. The fervent zeale & loyalty of your 

 minde in labour with this birth of so honorable expec- 

 tation, as it hath deserved a recompence farre different, 

 so needeth it not my poore suffrage to endeare the 

 [III. 667.] toyle, care, and danger that you have willingly under- 

 gone for the good and advancement of our weale pub- 

 lique. The praise-worthinesse thereof doeth approve it 

 selfe, and is better read in your living doings, then 

 in my dead unregarded papers. All that I can wish, 

 is that my life were a sufficient pledge, to justifie, how 

 much more easie, and more materiall, the course for 

 Guiana would bee then others, which requiring greater 

 charge, yeelde not so large benefit, and are subject to 

 more doubtfuU events. If unto their wisdomes who sit 

 in place and authority, it shall appeare otherwise, and 

 that in following of other attempts there is lesse diffi- 

 cultie, certainer profit, and needfuUer offence unto the 

 enemie : the cost and travaile which you have bestowed, 

 shall not, I hope, be altogether lost, if unto your Honour 

 I can prove how, and where the amends is to be had, 

 maugre the force and prevention of all Spaniards. 

 Your Lordships to be commanded in all service, 



Laurence Keymis. 



To the Favourers of the Voyage for Guiana. 



IN things earnestly desired, though never 

 so likely, we are still suspicious : think- 

 ing it more credite to our common 

 wisedome, to discredite most noble and 

 profitable indevours with distrust, then 

 touch to our valours and safeties, to lie 

 wilfully idle. So that howsoever an 

 action well and judicially attempted, bee esteemed halfe 

 performed ; yet is this my jealous conceite concerning 

 Guiana, that nothing is begun, before all be ended. 

 In this regarde (gentle Reader) I have presumed to 

 burthen thine eares with the weake plea of a good 



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