LAURENCE KEYMIS a.d. 



1596. 



Those objections, which have beene made by many 

 seeming wise, and the impediments likely to arise, as 

 they have supposed, are best answered by the unre- 

 prooved witnesse of those mens actions. Some have 

 termed these discoveries fables, and fantasies, as if there 

 had beene no such land or territorie : others allowing 

 both of the place, and that such a kingdome or countrey 

 is discovered, make conclusion, that if it had beene so 

 rich as wee have supposed, that no doubt the king of 

 Spaine would by this time have possessed it. But if 

 they consider that the Spanish nation hath already 

 conquered the two empires of Mexico and Peru, with 

 so many other kingdoms and provinces : wee may very 

 well answere, that his power is not infinite, and that 

 hee hath done well for the time. And yet it is manifest, 

 that this very empire hath beene by all those severall 

 Spaniardes (the catalogue of whose names is by it selfe . 

 hereunto annexed) at sundry times undertaken, and 

 never perfourmed. Howbeit, the world hath reason 

 to admire their constancie, and their great labours, 

 and wee may well blush at our owne idle, despairefull, 

 and loytering dispositions, that can finde abilitie in 

 another barren, and sterved nation, to possesse so much 

 of the worlde, and can doe nothing but frame argu- 

 ments against our selves, as unfit and powerlesse to 

 possesse one province already discovered, and of which 

 our nation hath assurance of the peoples love, and 

 that all the Chieftaines and principals have vowed their 

 obedience to her Majestie ; the navigation being withall 

 so short, dangerlesse, and free from infectious sickenesse. 

 If doubt of perils might moderate the mindes of our 

 men once mooved with steadfast hope, that golde shall 

 bee the reward of their travels : it may easily bee 

 perceived, that all those lets and hinderances that can any 

 way bee alleaged, or wrested so much, as but to touch 

 us, doe deepely and neerely concerne the Spanish king, 

 and in a maner violently withold him from that, which 

 hee notwithstanding carrieth with successe, whilest wee 



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