acceptable and register their fame to all posteritie First the Scholler in diuine learning may worthily labour the conuersion of infinite numbers of vnbeleeuing people who may be reduced to a quiet sober and ciuill life the scoller in Philosophy and other Learning may doe much good by training vp of the youth in the knowledge of the litterall arts and by the practise of his skill in Phisicke and Chirurgery the Statist may highly aduance his Princes seruice and his Countries good by giuing ayd vnto this action and his discreet and prouident furtherance in managing the businesse thereof The Souldier and Traueller by bearing armes in the execution of this noble enterprise and by memorable discoueries of strange and vnknowne Countries and Nations may open the way to increase and inlarge the Dominion of our Soueraigne the Merchant by assisting the plantation there and by erecting conuenient factories for that purpose may highly increase the trade of merchandise by returning thence the riches and commodities there found and gathered The Countrey-man that professeth busbandry and tillage of the earth may also be sufficiently imploied for the increase of corne and catell and in planting gathering and getting as many rare and necessary fruits and prouisions as shall be needefull for the life of man And lastly the Mechannicall tradesman and such as exercise the handy crafts in which company I include all sorts of labourers may by this action of Guiana highly aduance their trades and occupations to their owne vnspeakable profit and benefit of others by their diuers and sundry workes for seuerall vses and for persons of all quallity whatsoeuer and may teach the people of that Countrey being once conuerted to christianity and brought to the knowledge of ciuill gouernement such seuerall trades as our experience shall finde necessarie for them and conuenient for vs. Hauing heere particularly shewed wherein our Countrey-men of diuers professions may worthily follow their vocations and imploy their endeuours in this action I leaue the matter whereon they are to worke to be more fully expressed in the following discourse And because they may the better be encouraged in this enterprise by examples of the like nature let vs looke into the discoueries and conquests performed by the Spaniards in the East and West Indies but chiefely in the West where with a small number and as it were with a handfull of men Hernando Cortez a Spaniard in the yeere of our Lord 1519. discouered and conquered that great mighty and rich Kingdome of New Spaine and the Citie of Mexico And in the yeere of our Lord 1531. Don Francisco Pizarro attempted the conquest of the great Kingdome of Peru he vanquished Atibalipa the King of that Countrey conquered and subdued many spacious and rich Prouinces and in the end after infinite perils and dangers by practise of the Indians and much variety of fortune by ciuill warres with his owne Nation he atchiued his enterprise The particulars of these discoueries and conquests are more at large recounted by Peter Martyr in his Decades by Benzo and diuers other Authors to which for breuities sake I referre you The honour these Spaniards gained by these discoueries and conquests was doubtlesse great but the benefit that ensued to the Crowne of Spaine and all the Spanish Nation thereby was infinite beyond expectation as amply may appeare in the Authors late mentioned and in the Naturall and Morrall history of the East and West Indies written by Iosephus Acosta Let vs also note the wonderfull workes of God in those Countries and his great mercy thereby shewed to the Indians who by their continuall conuersation with Christians are reduced from their abhominable life and cruell manners to the knowledge of God and their former infidelity and to the fruition of the holy Ghost in Baptisme for in all those great Prouinces conquered in New Spaine the people are generaly conuerted to Christianity for about the yeere of our Lord 1524. there went diuers learned men into those parts who by learning the Indians languages and their painefull diligence in teaching and instructing youth did so effectually proceed in that laborious worke that within the limits of many hundred leagues there are few or none vnchristened The beginning of that Worke was very difficult by reason of the vnaptnesse of the Indians so long imbrued in cruell sacrifices of humane blood and abhominable Idolatry and by the continuall malice of the diuell rebelling against God and striuing to maintaine his owne kingdome but in the end their constant and painefull indeuours so farre preuailed that Christian religion increased amongst them to the establishing of many Bishopricks in New Spaine besides diuers Schooles of learning So likewise in Peru and diuers other Countries conquered by the Spaniards the conuersions of the people haue proceeded to no lesse admirable effects As touching the state of common wealth they haue all sorts of Gouernours and magistrates in great honour and reputation houses of Nobility and Gentry flourish and increase amongst them Souldiers and trauellers are regarded highly and worthily rewarded Merchants and tradesmen prosper and gather wealth in extraordinary measure what shall I say more there bee few or no professions or trades amongst vs in these parts of Christendome but the same are vsed followed and practised in great perfection both in New Spaine Peru and other parts of the Indies where the Spaniards haue preuailed by their Conquests By these memorable examples may our Nation being in valour inferiour to none other vnder Heauen bee moued and stirred vp to the vndertaking of this noble action of Guiana which in respect of the climate firtility of the soile and tractable disposition of the people whereof in the following discourse I haue spoken more at large doth assure vs that with Gods fauour and assistance as great effects may bee wrought in the conuersion of these Nations and as great benefit and commoditie may arise to the Realme and Crowne of England both in generall and particular as euer was performed or obtained by the Spanish Nation since the first beginning of their trauels and discoueries For if they in New Spaine and Peru haue Cuchenille Anir and Cotton wooll wee in Guiana haue also Cotton wooll Tobacco Suger-Canes diuers good commodities for Dyers and likewise in all likelihood Cuchenille and sundry sorts of excellent wood for ioyners worke and other vses If they haue variety of Apothecary drugges and Balsome for Phisicke and Chirurgery so also haue wee and those that are of admirable vertue If they haue gold siluer and other mettalls Pearles and pretious stonnes so doublesse wee in time may haue the like hauing had good testimony thereof already as plainely shall appeare hereafter when time better serueth Moreouer in singular aduantage wee haue before them to further and aduance our enterprise by the peculiar loue and affection of the people in those parts towards our Nation before all others For whereas the Spaniards were constrained by great labour bloudy battailes and
discourse but briefely mentioned For at this time I purpose onely to prosecute my first proiect which hastened mee vnto another place From hence I stood along the coast and the seauenteenth of May I came to anchor in the Bay of Wiapoco where the Indiands came off vnto vs in two or three * Canoes as well to learne of what Nation wee were as also to trade with vs who vnerstanding that wee were English men boldly came aboard vs one of them could speake our language well and was knowne to some of my company to bee an Indian that sometime had been in England and serued Sr. Iohn Gilbert many yeeres they brought with them such dainties as their country yeeldeth as hennes fish pinas platanaes potatoes bread of Cassaui and such like cates which were heartily welcome to my hungry company In recompence whereof I gaue them kniues beades Iewes trumpes and such toies which well contented them But when I had awhile entertained them and made knowne vnto them the returne of the Indian Martyn their country man whom I brought with mee out of England they seemed exceeding ioyfull supposing that hee had been dead being aboue foure yeares since hee departed from them The Indian before mentioned to haue serued Sr. Iohn Gilbert whose name was Iohn whilest hee liued for he is now dead and died a Christian was a great helpe vnto vs because hee spake our language much better then either of those that I brought with mee and was euer firme faithful to vs vntill his death By him I vnderstood that their town was scituate vpō the east side of the hil in the mouth of Wiapoco was called Caripo that the Indian Martin was Lord therof and that in his absence his brother was chiefe Moreouer hee certified me that the principall Indian of that riuer was called Carasana who by good fortune was then at Caripo and so hauing spent sometime in other conference and friendly entertainement they tooke their leaue and departed for that time I sent one of my company with them to giue notice to Carasana the rest of the Indians of Caripo that I had brought home their Countrymand Martin whom they all thought to be dead and another of their Nation also who had kindred and friends amongst them to desire him to come aboord my ship and to bring with him the principall Indians of Caripo that I might declare vnto them the cause of my comming into their Country and conferre with them of other matters intended for their good The next day I came into the riuer of Wiapoco and Anchored ouer against the Sandy Bay The day following the Indians came aboord as I had desired and brought vs good store of their Country prouision Carasana and one or two more of them were attired in old clothes which they had gotten of certaine Englishmen who by the direction of Sir Walter Raleigh had traded there the yeere before the rest were all naked both men and women and this I obserued amongst them that although the better sort of men especially the Yaios doe couer their priuities by wearing ouer them a little peece of Cotton cloth pretily wouen after their manner yet did I neuer see any of their women couered in any part either aboue or beneath the waste albeit they daily conuersed amongst vs but were all as the plaine prouerbe is euen starke belly naked At their comming aboord my ship first Carasana as the principall amongst them and after him the rest saluted and welcōmed vs after their rude maner I vsed them with all curtesie and entertained them as wel as the straight roome would giue me leaue giuing them good store of Aquauitae which they loue exceedingly I presented to their view their two countrymen Martyn the Lord of their towne and Anthony Canabre who was a christian and had liued in England fourteen yeers both which I had brought home vnto them when they beheld them and after salutations and some conference knew to bee the same persons whom they supposed had been long since dead they expressed much ioy and contentment aud vnderstanding from their owne mouthes how well I had vsed them they seemed to bee better pleased with our comming and when their rude salutations to their new come countrymen were ended I tooke them apart and thus declared the cause of my comming First I brought to their remembrance the exploits performed by Sr. Walter Raleigh in their country in the raigne of our late Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth when to free them from seruitude hee most worthily vanquished the Spaniards at Trinidado burned their towne tooke their Gouernour Don Anthonio de Berreo prisoner deliuered fiue of the Indian Kings imprisoned and bound by the necke with collers of Iron and with great labour and perill discouered the riuer of Orenoque and the countryes adioyning as far as the Prouince of Aromaya the countrey of Topiawary and the riuer of Caroly beyond it And that their countreymen called the Orenoqueponi who are the borderers of the Orenoque did then most willingly submit and render themselues vnder the subiection of the late Queene all which they well remembred and said that Sr. Walter Raleigh promised to haue returned againe vnto them long since Then I excused his not returning according to his promise by reason of other imployments of great importance imposed vpon him by the late Queene shewing them moreouer that when he could not for that cause returne himselfe hee sent Captaine Keymis to visite them and to bring him true intelligence of their estate supposing that he had left no Spaniards behind him at Trinidado of power to molest them to the end that releef aid might be prepared for them according to their necessities and oppression of their enemies Then I told them of the death of the late Queene whereby that businesse of theirs was againe hindered Moreouer I declared vnto them that our gracious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES who now raigneth ouer v3 being the onely right and lawfull heire and Successor to the Crowne and dignity of the Realme of England after the death of the late Queene was throughout the whole land proclaimed King of England and so comming to raigne ouer vs hath been euer since busied in ordering the State and affaires of the Kingdome which being by his great wisdome setled in tranquillity and peace like a good gracious and worthy King doth now permit his subiects to trauell abroad into forraigne Countryes and Nations to aid and assist all such as are vniustly molested by their enemies Whereupon I and the rest of these worthy Gentlemen my associats and friends hauing intelligence by some that had been followers of Captaine Charles Lee who was a man well knowne amongst them and heretofore had taken possession of their Countrey to his Maiesties vse and was planted diuers yeares in Wiapoco where he lyeth buried of the great variance and discord depending betweene them the allyed
whatsoeuer and by whom next vnder God I verily hope and am constantly perswaded it will bee their blessed happe to bee freed from the seruitude of the diuell that now so tyranizeth ouer them and to bee led out of that infernall darkenesse wherein they liue and bee drawen to Christianity for they will come vnto vs already at time of prayer shew reuerence and bee very attentiue all the while although they vnderstand nothing they will bee content that wee baptize their children and will after call them by the Christian names wee giue them suffer vs to bring them vp and in a sort acknowledge their ignorance and shew a kinde of willingnes to be instructed reformed As touching the second by what meanes may our gracious Souraigne the Kings Maiestie doe God better seruice and honour him more or vnder him bee more honored then by obtaining and gaining the Soueraignty of so many great spacious and goodly Countries and Territories not yet actually possessed and inhabited by any Christian Prince or Sate whatsoeuer which in that Region by the timely and worthy vndertakings of his Subiects without bloodshed and with the loue and affection of the people may bee possessed planted and annexed to his Crowne as the Nations and Countries beyond by the Emperour Charles the fifth were annexed to the Crowne of Spaine whereby what honour and benefit the Spaniards haue gained and to what a degree of greatnesse they are thereby growen these parts of the world can witnesse and wee for our parts haue had triall and might haue had woful experience of if our God that alwaies tooke our parts had not crossed their bloody designes and put them to flight and confusion And for the third who can deny but that our Countrey by this worthy action may bee enriched through diuers and sundrie commodities of great worth in those parts dayly found and easily obtained which before are mentioned more at large from page 31. to page 37. and therefore needeles here to bee againe repeated And for their further satisfaction and more incouragement in this enterprise let them consider the nature and disposition of the climate in this Region of Guiana which for healthfull and wholsome ayre some few places onely excepted I hold generally to bee inferiour to none other vnder Heauen for notwithstanding it bee scituate vnder the Equinoctiall by the ancient Philosophers called the burning Zone yet such are the wonderfull workes of God for the benefit of man that contrary to their opinion wee finde by late experience that those Regions which were in times past by them accounted vnhabitable through extremity of drougth and heate are now found out to bee inhabited temporate and healthful Countries as plainely appeareth in diuers patts of the East and West Indies and especially in this Countrey of Guiana whereof I haue taken possession to his Maiesties vse being plentifully inhabited by people of diuers Nations the climate there pleasant and agreeable to our constitutions and the soile fruitfull as before hath been declared affording as many admirable helpes towards the leading of an happy life as any knowne part of the world for whatsoeuer is necessary for the reliefe of man eyther for foode Phisicke or Chirurgery or for clothing and architecture is here by the prouidence and goodnesse of God the creator in plentifull store euen naturally prouided Moreouer the good inclination of the people towards our Nation being willing to trade with vs and become subiects to his Maiesty our Soueraigne their louing and gentle entertaining of vs desiring to haue vs liue and abide amongst them and their tractable conuersation with vs not refusing to be instructed in Christianitie and coueting to imitate and learne any trade or worke that they see vsed or practised by our men are no small motiues to perswade the prosecution of this action and plantation in Guiana Furthermore all younge Gentlemen Souldiers and others that liue at home in idlenesse and want imployment may here finde meanes to abandon and expell their slouthfull humors and cast off their fruitlesse and pernitious designes and may worthily exercise their generous spirits in honourable trauels and famous discoueries of many goodly and rich terretories strange and vnknowne Nations and a multitude of other rarieties hitherto vnseene and vnheard off in these parts of the world which may be thought incredible but that our own experience the generall constant report and affirmation of the Indians doth assure vs thereof And to conclude we may by the gracious assistance of our good God gaine vnto our Soueraigne the dominion of a rich and mightie Empire which if it may bee once possessed by his Maiestie and inhabited by his English Subiects will absolutely be inuincible to the vnspeakable honour renown of our natiō in al after ages All these things respectiuely considered what may be more required to moue induce all noble and worthy dispositions louing honour and honourable attempts all Marchants desiring wealth riches generally al the inhabitants of this Kingdome freely to giue assistance towards the aduancement of this noble action and plantation so much tending to the glory of God the honour of our Soueraigne and the benefit of our Countrey ¶ The names of the Riuers falling into the Sea from Amazones to Dessequebe and of the seuerall Nations inhabiting those Riuers RIVERS NATIONS Charibs 1 Amazones 2 Arrapoco a branch of Amazones 3 Arrawary Yaios and Charibs 4 Maicary 5 Connawini Arracoories 6 Cassipurogh 7 Arracow Yaios and Arwaccas 8 Wiapoco 9 Wianary a creeke or inlet of the sea 10 Cowe not inhabited Charibs 11 Apurwacca 12 Wio 13 Caiane 14 Meccooria 15 Courwo 16 Manmanury 17 Sinammara 18 Oorassowini not inhabited Arwaccas 19 Coonannoma 20 Vracco Paragotos Yaios Charibs Arwac 21 Marrawini Charibs 21 Amanna 23 Camoure or Comawin a branch of Selinama 24 Selinama or Surennamo 25 Surammo 26 Coopannomy 27 Eneecare Arwaccas Charibs 28 Coretine 29 Berebisse Arwaccas 30 Manhica 31 Wapary 32 Micowine 33 Demeerare Charibs 34 Matooronnee 35 Quiowinne braunches of Dessequebe Arwaccas Charibs 36 Dessequebe The Plantation in Guiana is most easie to be performed as is at large expressed in the former Treatise And may in briefe appeare by these notes following which are here added for the better comfort and incouragement of the Aduenturers and Planters of the meaner sort FIrst the climate in Guiana although it bee hot yet is it habitable and affordeth healthfull habitations for in three yeeres space that my Brother Captaine Michael Harcourt and his company remained in the Countrey of thirty persons there died but six The naturall inhabitants of that Countrey are a louing tractable and gentle people affecting and preferring the Englishmen before all other Nations whatsoeuer and desiring commerce and conuersation with them with those barbarous people we may liue in safety without suspicion of trechery or dread of danger if wilfully wee offer
to the power and strength of the Vndertakers of the Generall nerall Plantation which I hope with Gods assistance shall be sufficient to resist and repell the malice of our greatest enemies FINIS Gutyn Owen 23 of March 1608. The Rose The Patience The Lilly Land men 60. They set saile the 23. of March The first of April 1609. The Shallop in danger to be lost They ariue at Alegranza Tenerife An excellent watering place The riuer of Amazones Fresh water in the Sea 30 leagues from land Iosepth Acosta Hieron Giraua Tarraconensis The 11 of May they made land in Guiana The Patience in danger of wracke Islands called Carripapoory The Bay of Wiapoco Indian boats A village called Caripo A messenger sent to the Indians The Indians came aboord The chiefe men of the Nation of the Yaios couer their priuities The women generally goe all naked Their conference with the Indians The Orenoqueponi rendred themselues subiects to Queene Elizabeth Possession of the Countrey taken at Wiapoco by Captaine Lee to his Meiestics vse The Indians goe to councel Their answer * By Sr. Walt. Raleigh and Capt. Lee. The Indian Martyn goeth ashoare The English take land The English feasted by the Indians The gratefull offer of Martyn The English setled at Caripo in Wiapoco The strength of the place The bounds and limits of Guiana Arrapoco a branch of Amazones Arrawary Maicary Anaky-v-ry chiefe of the Yaios Morooga Conowini Cooshebery Leonard Rapago Lord of Cooshebery A Mountaine called Cowob Topases in Cooshebery The quality of the Prouince of Cooshebery Arracoory Morrownia An exceeding high Hill called Callipuny Norrak Anaki-v-ry Riuers falling into the Sea betweene Amazones and Wiapoco Wianary a creeke The Prouince of Wiapocoory Carasana Arriquona Casurino Riuers faling into the Sea to the N. West of Wiapoco Muccumbro an Island Mattoory an Island Arrawicary chiefe Captaine of the Caiane Foure or fiue men placed at Caiane The manner of their gouernement Murder and Adultery punished by death The Indians by nature iealous ouer their wiues The Indians haue manie wiues Diuers languages in Guiana The Charibes most ancient vpon the sea coast The Indians make warre for their weomen The Charibes warre vpon Leonard The vsuall weapons of the Indians Leonard desireth and of the English The manner of ordering their men in the warres The Charibes amazed at the sight of the English Leonard speaketh to the Charibes The Charibes agree to peace for feare of the English The season of the yeere in Guiana Teh summer beginneth in August The winter beginneth in February The burning Zone Ioseph Acosta Their account of times and numbers They vse no sacrifice nor religious worship to anithing The manner of their drinking feast at the death of their Captaines Their Peeaios or Priests haue conference with the diuel Their opinion of the dead At the death of a Cassique they kill an Indian to serue him in the other world The quality of the Land The prouisions for victuals The roote of Cassaui maketh their bread and drinke Maix or Guinea wheat Their diuers kindes of drinke An excellent drinke made of Cassaui Store of hony The soile excellent for Vines Sundry kinds of beasts in Guiana Swine which haue the nauile in the backe Great variety of Fowles Diuers kinds of fish Oysters hang vpon trees A fish hauing 4. eyes and the ribs and backe like a man The Sea-cow like beefe Sundry kinds of fruits Pina Platana Potato Medler Plummes Nuts The variety of Commodities Suger canes Cotton woll Natural hemp or flaxe Diuers commodities for Diers Annoto A gumme which dyeth a yellow in graine Sweete Gummes The vertues of Colliman or Carriman The Colliman helpeth the gout Barratta a rare Balsamum A perfume like sweet Margerome Druggs and simples for phisicke An apple which prouoketh sleepe to death A berry curing the bloody Fluxe A leafe curing the wounds of the poisoned arrowes A leafe curing the headache A wood that maketh fish drunke Tobacco The commodities most esteemed by the Indians Disorders by mutiny The high Countrey of Guiana aboundeth with Images of Gold The rocks of the purest white Sparre are Mines of gold or siluer Many ouerfalles in Wiapoco People hauing great eares who worship an Idoll of stone The proportion of the Idole Possession taken for the king at Gomeribo The like possession taken at Arrawary Point Perillus. A great argument of plenty in the Countrey A dangrous Boore at Carripoory Two speciall things to bee obserued The fidelity of the Indians The plenty of victuals Gomeribo deliuered to an Indian as the Kings tenant The only cause of losse by the Voyage Capt. Michael Harcourt left commander of the company Twenty men left with Captaine Harcourt at Waipoco The Pinnesse receiued a leake at Caiane R. Meccooria R. Courwo Riuers to the West of Courwo Islands called Curewapory They proceede in discouery of Marrawini The riuer full of ouerfalles They went six daies iourney vp the riuer Trees which had the sense of feeling Scallger Exercit 181. sect 28. Bartas Eden 1. day 2. week Viawia a Towne of 20 houses Mr. Vnton Fisher and two others left at Wiawia Mr. Fisher trauelled eleuen daies iourney vp the riuer of Marra viz. 100 leagues The Prouince of Moreshegoro Indians with rough skins like Buffe Diuers mighty Nations of Indians far vp in Marrawini towards the high land Riuers falling into Marrawini Twenty daies iourney from Taupuramune to the head of Marraw The Country aboue the head of Mar. is plaine and Champian ground The tenth of September they left Guiana They were in danger to be cast away They finde three English shippes at Pūta de Galea Pitch gotten in the earth which melteth not with the Sunne They arriue at Port ae Hispania Don Sanches de Mendosa commeth aboord their shippe The Spaniards much molested by the Charibes They depart from Trinidado They arriue at Meues An excellent hot Bath at Meues An extreame cough cured by the Bath A mans hand burned with Gunpouder and by the Bath cured in 24 houres Swellings in the legges cured in a day They depart from Meues They left the Pinnesse to follow after them They fell with Fayal They are driuē by a storme into Ireland Their great necessitie and want The Pinnesse first arriued in Ireland and afterward at Bristol The number of those that died Three principall ends to be obserued in euery forraine action 1. The glory of God 2. The honour of our Soueraigne An. 1588. The profit of our Country The burning Zone habituable The clmate pleasant fruitfull and healthfull The loue of the people towards our Nation A good motiue to those that want imployment An Empire may be gained to our Soueraigne The nature of the climate Page 23. The disposition of the people The quallity of the land Page 27. The prouisions of the Countrey page 27. 28. 30. and 31. A beast and a fish like Beefe A Beast like Mutton Good bread Drinke like March beere Excellent strong Ale Sacke and Canary wine The commodities of the Country pag. 31 and 32.
much cruelty for which they lost their hearts to subdue the Indians wee contrariwise are well entertained and friendly receiued by them being willing to hold commerce with vs whereby wee haue a more secure and ready meane to establish a peaceable and assured Commonwealth amongst them for the imployment of all the seuerall professions of men mentioned before Finally for your better inducement to the worthy vndertaking of this high action let vs call to remembrance one excellent and materiall obseruation that is the discouery of this Countrey of Guiana was heretofore attempted by Sr. Walter Raleigh who made an honourable entry thereinto by the riuer of Orenoque what hee then and there discouered and how great and assured his hopes were of gaining to our Countrey inestimable riches and subduing to the Crowne of England a potent Empire was effectually and faithfully published to the world by his owne penne which excellent discourse I wish you to peruse preceeding from so wise and iudiciall an Author who if some knowne fortunes had not crossed his first intendiments for the prosecuting of that enterprise had in all likelihood long before this time increased the honour of our Nation by the reputation of the most famous and rich discouery and conquest that the world could afford Let vs herewithal obserue that before his time it was often attempted by the Spaniards but to small effect for eyther by misfortune of shipwrack discention amongst the most eminent persons in their Troopes mutiny of the souldiers mistaking of the Commanders or violent fury of the Indians who beare an inueterate and mortall hatred against them they haue euer failed of their purpose whereof the said discourse of Sr. Walter Raleigh maketh particular mention more at large The continuall losse and great misfortunes that haue followed the Spaniards from time to time in all their attempts of this discouery and conquest for the space almost of an hundred yeeres and the fortunate successe that most happily fauoured the other in his first attempt thereof may bee a great presumtion and may giue vs an assured hope that the powerfull hand of God doth worke for vs in this behalfe and hath reserued the execution of this action for honour of our Nation Which forcible considerations gaue me great encouragement to repaire the decay of so worthy an enterprise not with intent to rob him of his honour who first of all our Nation nobly with great iudgement and valour gaue the onset but rather to doe him more honour by working vpon his foundation and prosecuting this proiect according to his first designes which doubtlesse aimed at the glory of God his Soueraignes seruice and his Countries good Hereupon I made triall of my fortune in the attempt and haue found the successe so prosperous and hopefull although it hath been chargeable vnto mee and my acceptance so free and friendly amongst the Indians that it hath giuen not only to my selfe but also to the rest of my associats who with the loue and good liking of the people haue liued and remained in Guiana for the space of three yeares good assurance of repaying the charge past with trebble recompence and a resolued courage to proceed in the enterprise to the prosecution whereof we haue deuoted both our substance and our selues And because the life of this Action consisteth in the timely progresse thereof and requireth the assistance of many Aduenturers I thought it very needful to lay before you these former examples and materiall considerations and therewithall doe recommend vnto your view this following Discourse wherein I haue compiled the hopefull fruites of my painefull trauels thereby to moue you to wipe away from your eyes the cloudie incredulous blindnesse that possessed our forefathers in the dayes of Henry the seuenth when they reiected the offer made by Batholomew Columbus in the behalfe of his brother Christopher Columbus and therby lost the fruition of those inestimable riches in the West Indies which now we see possessed by the Spanish Nation And also doe inuite and summon my Country-men in generall to rouze vp their valour to quicken and spurre on their endevours to be coadiâ—utors with vs in this action both of honour and profit And because it may be obiected to the discouragement of such as may haue otherwise a desire to inhabit Guiana that the Spaniards inhabiting about Cumana Margarita and Trinidado may disturbour Plantation and indanger the liues of those that shall make the first settlement there I thought good to resolue all such as haue affection to make themselues Conquerors of that goodly Countrey that from the King of Spaines Indies nothing can offend them for Guiana being seated in the head of the Brises and to the wind-ward of al the Spanish Indies the current also of the Sea setting to the West maketh it impossible for any Shipping to turne it vp from the forenamed places towards vs. The Spaniard therefore can no way offend vs but by a preparation out of Spaine it selfe And whensoeuer he shall finde himselfe at so great leisure as to send a Fleet out of Spaine to seeke vs out vpon the shallow coast of Guiana eyther we shall frustrate that attempt by raising a Fort defensible for two or three moneths for they must famish if they stay longer or else by setting our selues aboue two or three of the ouerfalles of the Riuers where one hundred men will defend themselues against fiue thousand But I am perswaded that the Spaniards will take great deliberation and be well aduised of all insuing accidents before they giue any attempt vpon vs for we doe not finde that they haue yet attempted any thing vpon Virginia which lieth in their way homeward from the West Indies albeit there haue passed many years since the first Plantation there And surely if Virginia had not a sharpe Winter which Guiana hath not which Countrey of Guiana is blest with a perpetuall Summer and a perpetuall Spring and that it had that store of victuals which Guiana hath it would in a short time grow to be a most profitable place But thus much I can auow truely that from Guiana without any great labour there may be returned within the yeare good store of Cotton Wooll very rich Dyes diuers sorts of Gummes many sorts of Fethers all kindes of rich Woods Balsamums Iasper and Porpherie stone Waxe Honey and Tobacco and so euery yeare may we pay the Transportation vntill we encrease in people to make Sugars and discouer Mines If the paines past bestowed in my first attempt may taste of your gratefull acceptance and that I may obtaine your willing furtherance in the future I shall then thinke my paines well imployed and delight my selfe in labouring for your profit and we all shall gaine honour and reputation by vndergoing the burden of so worthy a worke whereby our Nation shall bee greatly enriched the Dominion of our Soueraigne much enlarged and Gods seruice in those Countries highly aduanced R. H. A RELATION OF
discouering a gallant Country From Arrawary vnto the riuer of Cassipurogh extendeth the Prouince of Arricary containing the Signiories of Arrawary Maicary and Cooshebery of which Anakyury is principall who by Nation is a Yaio and fled from the borders of Orenoque for feare of the Spaniards to whom hee is a mortall enemy Hee hath seated himselfe in the Prouince of Arricary and now dwelleth at Morooga in the Signiory of Maicari To the N. Norwest of which there falleth into the Sea a riuer called Conawini wherevpon the Signiory of Cooshebery bordereth whereof an Indian named Leonard Ragapo is Chiefe vnder the subiection of Anaki-v-ry This Indian is christened and hath been heretofore in England with Sr. Walter Raleigh to whom hee beareth great affection hee can a little vnderstand and speake our language and loueth our Nation with all his heart During my aboad at Wiapoco hauing intelligence of him and of his Country and that certaine stones were found therein supposed to bee Diamonds I sent my Cozen Captaine Fisher to discouer the same and to fetch some of those stones to bee resolued of the truth At his comming thither Leonard entertained him with all kindnesse not after the ordinary rude manner of the Indians but in more ciuill fashion and with much respect and loue hee furnished him with guides to conduct him through the Country to the place where the Stones were found being fifty miles Southward vp into the Land beyond which place there is an high Mountaine appearing in sight called Cowob and on the top thereof as the Indians report a great Lake or Poole full of excellent fish of diuers kindes The Country was as pleasant and delightfull as euer any man beheld but the Stones not Diamonds yet they were Topases which being well cut and set in Gold by a cunning workman doe make as faire a shew and giue as good a lustre as any Diamond whatsoeuer which yeeld good hopes of better to be found hereafter For where the Topas is found on the Mountaines of Tenaseren in the East Indies the greatest store of Diamonds are also found When my kinsman returned Captaine Leonard came with him to Wiapoco being aboue an hundred miles from his owne Country only to visite mee and my company for the great loue hee did beare to Sr. Walter Raleigh and our Nation I much maruelled to see him for assuredly hee is the brauest Indian of all those parts After hee had been with mee a day or two hee earnestly requested mee to send some of my company into his Countrey which hee greatly commended for the wholsome ayre and plenty of victuals alleaging that the place where then wee liued by his owne experience was very vnhealthfull that our men would there bee subiect to sicknesse and die and for an instance hee named Captaine Lee and his company who formerly were planted there and almost all dyed by sicknesse in the same place But hee assured me that his owne Country Cooshebery was of a good ayre pleasant and healthfull that there they might haue roome sufficient to build English houses in for those were the words hee vsed that thither they should be welcome and should want nothing Much hee perswaded to draw mee to his desire which by his importunity I granted and accordingly performed it finding his Country answerable to his report being for the most part champian ground naturally intermixt of plaine fields fruitfull meadowes and goodlywoods in such admirable order as if they had been planted artificially by handy labour The fields appearing aboue the meadowes in pleasant and delightfull manner presenting here and there vnto the eye from stately Mounts most beautifull and liuely prospects the meadowes bordering on euery side betweene the fields and woods the woods growing in the lowest valleyes betwixt the meadowes and commonly are watered with sweete and pleasant fresh stremes running through them which strange rare mixture of Mounts valleies meadowes fields and woods afford as excellent and healthfull habitations as can bee wished or desired but is not greatly peopled From the riuer of Cassipurogh N. Westward to the riuer of Arracow and vp further into the land towards the West and Southwest as farre as the riuer of Arwy which falleth into Wiapoco aboue the ouerfalles extend the Prouinces of Arracoory and Morownia which also to the landward by the relation of my Brother Captaine Michael Harcourt and Captaine Haruey who haue trauelled and discouered those parts are pleasant and delightfull plaine Countries like vnto Cooshebery The Arracoory Countrey is well peopled and their chiefe Captaine is called Ipero Betwixt the Wiapocoories and Arracoories there is no hearty loue and friendship yet in outward shew they hold good quarter In Morrownia there is also store of people which are friendly Indians In that Prouince there is a very high Hill called Callipuny fashioned like a Sugerloafe or a Pyramides which ouervieweth and discouereth all the Territories adioyning aboue an hundred miles Beyond the Country of Morrownia to the Southward bordering the riuer of Arwy is the Prouince of Norrak the people thereof are Charibes and enemies both to the Morrowinnes the inhabitants of Morrownia and to the Wiapocoories who are also vnder the subiection of Anaky-v-ry the Principall and greatest Lord or Cassique of all the Yaios in those Prouinces bordering vpon the Sea betwixt the Amazones South-eastward and Dessequcbe North-westward From the riuer of Amazones to the Bay of Wiapoco there fall into the Sea these riuers following Arrapoco a branch of Amazones Arrawary Micary Conawini and Cassipurogh In the Bay of Wiapoco to the East of the said riuer there falleth into the Sea the riuer of Arracow and into Arracow falleth the riuer of Watts To the North of Wiapoco there is a smal creeke called Wianary which letteth in the Sea a daies iorney Westward vp into the land some take this creeke to bee a riuer but they doe erre in that opinion it hauing neither spring nor fountaine from whence it falleth To the North and N. west of the said creeke there is a ridge of high Mountains running towards the riuer of Apurwaca the soile whereof is excellent fertile for Tobacco and beareth the best of all those parts so are the Sugar-canes there growing the best and fairest that are found vpon the Coast and all the tract of Land betwixt the riuers of Wiapoco and Apurwaca is accounted the Prouince of Wiapocoory containing the Signiories of Wiapoco and Wianary Beneath the ouerfalles in Wiapoco which are forty miles distant from the Sea there is much people both of Yaios and Arwaccas of the Yaios in this riuer Carasana is chiefe Of the Arwaccas Arriquona is Principall In Wianary there are few Indians and Casurino is their chiefetaine To the N. west of the Bay of Wiapoco there fall into the Sea the riuers of Apurwaca Cowo Wio and Caiane Apurwaca is
a goodly riuer and well inhabited Cowo is void of inhabitants Wio is a faire riuer and leadeth many daies iourney into the high land and discouereth a firtile and hopefull Countrey At Caiane there is an excellent harbour for shipping of any burden which heretofore by Captaine Lawrence Keymis was called Port Howard On the Starboord side as you enter this harbour there is an Iland of low land called Muccumbro scituate betwixt the riuers of Caiane and Meccoria containing in circuit about sixteene leagues In this Island there are two Hils the one called Muccumbro whereof the Island taketh the name the other called Cillicedemo from these Hils the greatest part of the Island may bee ouerviewed which containeth many goodly pastures and meadowes intermixt with some woods and is full of Deere both red and fallow On the Larboord side as you enter Caiane there is another Island of high Land called Mattoory in quantity much like vnto the first this Island for the commodious scituation is of great effect for the defence of the harbour affording naturally two such notable conuenient places for the planting of Ordinance for that purpose as no industry of art could deuise better or more auailable The inhabitants of this Prouince of Caiane are Charibes their principall commander is called Arrawicary who dwelleth at Cillicedemo before mentioned we haue found him trusty and faithfull to our Nation but to our friend Leoanard of Cooshebery hee is a mortall enemie At this mans house I left foure or fiue of my company thereby to hold amity and friendshippe with the Charibes to learne their language and to keepe peace betweene them and the Yaios Arwaccas and other nations their allies To the South-westward of these Prouinces aboue mentioned towards the high land there bee many others which hereafter shall bee more exactly discribed by a second discouery These Prouinces and Signiories to the Landward are not plentifully inhabited the greatest numbers of people are seated neere vnto the riuers and trauell from place to place in Canoes There is no setled gouernement amongst them onely they acknowledge a superiority which they will obay as far as they please In euery Prouince or Signiory there is a Chiefe Cassique or Captaine commanding all So likewise in euerie Towne and Village they commonly chastice murder and adultery by death which onely are the offences punished amongst them and certaine persons are appointed by them to execute those punishments The Indians take wiues ouer whom they are extreamly iealous and expect great continencie in them for if they take them in adultery they presently cause their braines to be beaten out The better sort of persons haue euery one of them two or three wiues or more the rest but one accounting him that hath most wiues the greatest man Their wiues especially the elder sort are as seruants vnto them for they make their bread and drinke dresse their meate serue them at meales and doe all the other businesse about the house These Prouinces are peopled with diuers Nations of seuerall languages namely Yaios Arwaccas Sappaios Paragotos and Charibes The Charibes are the ancient inhabitants and the other Nations are such as haue beene chased away from Trinidado and the borders of Orenoque And forasmuch as they haue vnited themselues in those parts the Charibes haue held them in continuall warres but the Yaios and the other Nations their Allyes are growne so strong that they haue constrained the Charibes of the Sea cost to contract a peace with them yet beare no hearty loue the one Nation to the other But with the Charibes inhabiting the in-land parts vpon the Mountaines they haue as yet no peace at all for they doe often times come downe vpon them in great numbers spoile and burne their houses kill their men and carry away their weomen which is the greatest cause of warre and hatred amongst them whereof our men haue seene experience in Cooshebery where happened an accident worth the obseruing which I will here declare vnto your Highnesse The Indian Leonard Ragapo before mentioned is a Yaio who finding the Country of Cooshebery slenderly inhabited hath seazed vpon it for his owne Siguiorie and at his earnest request I sent foure Gentlemen of my company to remaine there with him The naturall inhabitants that dwell vpon the vttermost bounds thereof towards the South and West are Charibes and enemies to him and to his Nation for while our men vnknowne to the Charibes staied at Cooshebery they assembled themselues together to the number of 200. or more and came downe into his Signiorie burned and spoiled houses roasted one woman tooke many prisoners intended to assault him also which to preuent he armed about 50. of his Indians with their vsuall weapons which are Bowes and Arrowes long staues sharpened at the point and with fire hardened wooden Swords and Targets very artificially made of wood and painted with Beasts and Birds He requested also our men to aide and assist him with their muskets which I commanded them to doe vpon all such occasions offered And so being all in readinesse Leonard as their captaine led them on to intercept his enemies and as I haue heard by Mr. Henry Baldwin who then was present and to obserue the manner of their warres gaue him leaue to command all hee brauely performed that exploit in good order after their manner and with great iudgement and resolution For in the Front he first placed our foure Englishmen by two in a rancke next to them two Indians armed with woodden Swords and Targets then two archers and after them two men with sharpned staues insteed of pikes and in like manner ordered and ranked all his Company Being thus prepared he marched against the Charibs who neer at hand were comming in the same order towards him but when they approched vnexpected perceued our English men amongst the Yaios they were much amazed and made a sudden stand which Leonard perceiuing guessed rightly at the cause and instantly did make good vse of that aduantage Hee commanded his owne company to keepe their Station himselfe with a sword in his hand which I had giuen him and a Target of his owne fashion went boldly towards them to parley with their Captaines And hauing called them out hee reproued them for comming as enemies into his Signiory for burning and spoiling his houses and his people hee demaunded satisfaction for the hurt done and restitution of the prisoners taken and warned them forthwith to depart out of his Signiory and desist from warre which if they refused to fulfill hee was there ready with his friends the Englishmen to fight with them and reuenge his wrongs and said further that if in the conflict any of the English men were slaine or hurt hee would then fetch all the rest from Wiapoco and returne to burne their houses and cut them all in peeces Thus he boldly spake
the land is low where the heate would bee most vehement if it were not quallified and tempered by a fresh Easterly winde or Brieze most forcibly blowing in the heate of the day in many places this low land is very vnhealthfull and little inhabited by reason of the ouerflowing of the waters but for the most part it hath goodly nauigable riuers a fertile soile much people and is a healthfull habitation Vpon the Mountaines there is a high land where the ayre is coldest in some places it is fruitfull in others not but generally is full of Mineralls and mines of mettals and yeeldeth as many as any part eyther of the East or West Indies both of the best and of the basest whereof we shall by Gods permission giue good testimony to the benefit of our Countrey and honour of our Nation in time conuenient and in most places vpon the Mountaines there is sound and healthfull dwelling There is also a middle sort of land which is of a meane height and is most temperate healthfull firtile and most inhabited of all other it aboundeth in meadowes pastures and pleasant streames of fresh water in goodly woods and most delightfull plaines for profit pleasure sport and recreation and also is not void of Minerals The prouisions of this countrey for victuals are many First of the roote of a tree called Cassaui they make their bread in manner following they grate the roote vpon a stone and presse out the iuice thereof which being rawe is poyson but boyled with Guinea pepper whereof they haue abundance it maketh an excellent and wholsome sawce then they drie the grated roote and bake it vpon a stone as wee bake our Oaten cakes in England This bread is very excellent much like but far better then our great Oaten cakes a finger thicke which are vsed in the Moorlands and the â—eake in Staffordshire and Darbyshire There is a kinde of great wheat called Maix of some it is called Guinea wheat which graine is a singular prouision in those Countries and yeeldeth admirable increase euen a thousand or fifteene hundred for one and many times much more It maketh excellent meale or flower for bread and very good malte for beere or ale and serueth well for sundry other necessary vses for the reliefe of man Of the aforesaid Cassaui bread and this wheat the Indians make drink which they call Passiaw it will not keep long but must bee spent within foure or fiue daies they make another kinde of drinke of Cassaui called Parranow very good and strong much like vnto our best March beere in England and that kinde of drinke will keepe ten daies many sorts they haue which I haue tasted some strong some small some thicke some thinne but all good being well made as commonly they were amongst the Yaios and Arwaccas which are the cleanliest people of all those Nations There is great store of hony in the Country and although it bee wilde being taken out of trees and buries in the earth yet is it as good as any in the world of which may be made an excellent drinke much vsed in Wales called meath The hony and the waxe are also good commodities for marchandise There be no Vines in that country but the Soyle being rich and ferlile and the climate hot if they were planted there they would prosper exccedingly and yeeld good Sackes and Canary wines which in those parts we finde to be very wholesome Many other necessary prouisions sufficient for the sustenance of man do there abound in plenty Namely Deere of all sorts wilde Swine in great numbers whereof there are two kinds the one small by the Indians called Pockiero which hath the nauile in the backe the other is called Paingo and is as faire and large as any we haue in England There be store of Hares and Conies but of a kinde farre differing from ours There be Tigers Leopards Ounces Armadils Maipuries which are in taste like beefe and will take salt Baremoes or Ant-Beares which taste like Mutton and other small beasts of the same taste coloured like a fawne Elks Monkies and Marmosites of diuers sorts both great and small of these beasts there be innumerable and by experience wee haue found them all good meate Many other kinds of beasts there are of sundrie and strange shapes which heereafter shall bee figured in their true proportion according to the life with their names annexed Of Fowles there be diuers kinds namely Wild-ducks Widgins Teates Wild-geese Herons of diuers colours Cranes Storks Pheasants Partriges Doues Stock-doues Black-birds Curlewes God-wits Wood-cockes Snits Parrats of sundry sorts many other kinds of great and small birds of rare colours besides great rauenous fowles and Hawkes of euery kinde Of Fish the variety is great first of Sea-fish there is Sea-breame Mullet Soale Scate Thorneback the Sword-fish Sturgion Seale a fish like vnto a Salmon but as the Salmon is red this is yellow Shrimps Lobstars and Oysters which hang vpon the branches of trees There is a rare fish called Cassoorwa which hath in each eye two sights and as it swimmeth it beareth the lower sights within the water and the other aboue the ribbes and backe of this fish resemble those parts of a man hauing the ribbes round and the backe flat with a dent therein as a man hath it is somewhat bigger then a Smelt but farre exceeding it for dainty meate and many other sorts there be most excellent Of fresh-water fish many kinds vnknowen in these parts but all exceeding good and dainty And I dare be bold to say that this Country may compare with any other of the world for the great variety of excellent fish both of the Sea and fresh waters There is also a Sea-fish which vsually commeth into the fresh waters especially in the winter and wet season it is of great esteem amongst vs and we account it halfe flesh for the bloud of it is warme it commeth vp into the shallow waters in the drowned lands and feedeth vpon grasse and weeds the Indians name it Coiumero and the Spaniards Manati but we call it the Sea-cow in taste it is like beefe will take salt and serue to victuall ships as in our knowledge hath beene proued by our Countrimen Of this fish may be made an excellent oyle for many purposes the fat of it is good to frie either fish or flesh the hide as I haue heard will make good buffe and being dried in the Sunne and kept from wet will serue for Targets and Armours against the Indian arrowes In the wet season the store of them are infinite some of these hides were heretofore brought into England by Sr. Walter Rawleigh The seuerall kindes of fruits are many the Pina Platana Potato Medler Plummes of diuers sorts 〈◊〉 Nuts of strange kindes The excellency of the Pina I cannot expresse for I dare boldly affirme that the world affordeth not a
more delicate fruit In taste it is like Strawberries Claret wine and Suger The Platana is also a very good fruite and tasteth like an old Pippin The Potato is well knowen The Medler exceedeth in greatnesse The Plummes I cannot commend for to eate much of them doth cause Fluxes which in those Countries are daungerous The Nuts are good being moderately eaten Hauing thus most excellent Prince declared the seuerall sorts of prouisions for victuals and necessary foods it remaineth that I now make mention of the variety of commodities found in the Country for the trade of Marchandise which in few yeeres by our paines and industry may be brought to perfection and so setled in those parts that not only the vndertakers may receiue reward for their indeuours but our country also may grow rich by trading for the fruits of our labours The first and principall commodity of estimation are the Suger-canes whereof in those parts there is great plenty the soile is as firtile for them as in any other part of the world They doe there grow to great bignesse in a short time by orderly and fit planting of them and by erecting conuenient workes for the boyling and making of Sugers which at the first will require som charge expence may be yeerely returned great benefit and wealth the long experience of the Portugals and Spaniards in Brasill and the Island of the Canaries and of the Moores in Barbary may giue vs certaine assurance and full satisfaction thereof The Cotton wooll is a generall commodity beneficiall to our Marchants and profitable to our Countrey by making of sustians and seruing for bumbast and other vses for making of Hamaccas which are the Indian beds most necessary in those parts and also of a fine cotten cloath for cloathing of the people There is a naturall Hemp or Flaxe of great vse almost as fine as silke as it may bee vsed wee haue now found out the best vse of it and for making of linnen cloath it is most excellent There bee many rare and singular commodities for Diers of which sort there is a red Berry called Annoto which being rightly prepared by the Indians dyeth a perfect and sure Orange tawny in silke it hath been sold in Holland for twelue shillings starling the pound and is yet of a good price There is another berry that dyeth blew There is also a gumme of a tree whereof I haue seene experience that in cloath dyeth a sure and perfect yellow in graine There bee leaues of certaine trees which beeing rightly prepared doe dye a deepe red There is also a wood which dieth apurple and is of a good price and another that dieth yellow There is yet another wood which dieth a purple when the liquor is hot and a crimson when the liquor is cold Many other notable things there are no doubt not yet knowne vnto vs which by our diligent labour and obseruation in time will be discouered and found The sweet gummes of inestimable value strange operation in Phisick Chirurgery are innumerable there is yellow Amber Gumma Lemnia Colliman or Carriman Barratta and many more which I omit The Colliman hath been proued by Mr. Walter Cary of Wickham in Buckingham-shire a Gentleman of great iudgement and practise in Phisicke to bee of speciall regard for many purposes this gumme is black and brittle much like in shew to common pitch if you put a little of it vpon burning coles it filleth all the roome with a most sweete and pleasant sauour He further reporteth of it that certainely if you hold your head ouer the fume thereof three or foure times a day it cureth the giddinesse of the head and is also a most excellent comfort and remedy for a cold moist and rheumaticke braine it is olso good against the resolution or as the common sort call it the dead Palsie whereof the giddines of the head is often a messenger and the fore-teller of that most pernitious griefe It is also of great vse for the paine that many woomen haue in the lower part of their backes which is very common to such as haue had children for remedy whereof it is to bee melted in a pewter vessell with a gentle fire then with a knife it must bee spread lightly vpon a peece of leather and laid warme to the place grieued vntill it come of it selfe This Plaister is also very good for aches and doth greatly comfort and strengthen the sinewes Thus much hath Mr. Cary written and reported of it and hath proued by his owne experience This Gumme is also approued to bee an excellent remedy against the Goute and of singular vertue in the cure of wounds The Barratta is a most soueraigne Balsamum farre excelling all others yet knowen which by the same Gentlemans experience is of admirable operation in the cure of greene wounds and being burned vpon coales is of a sweete and odoriferous sauour There be many other sweet Gummes of great vse for Perfumes whereof one doth make a very rare perfume much like vnto the sent of sweet Margerome very pleasant and delectable For phisick there be also many excellent Druggs namely Spiknard Cassia Fistula Sene and the earth yeeldeth Bole-Armoniacke and Terra-Lemnia all which are knowen vnto vs. There bee other Druggs and simples also of strange and rare vertue in these parts vnknowen of which sort there is a little greene Apple by the Indians called in their language the sleeping Apple which in operation is so violent that one little bit thereof doth cause a man to sleep to death the least drop of the iuice of it will purge in vehement and excessiue manner as dangerously was proued by my Cosen Vnton Fisher who first found it for biting a little of it for a taste and finding it to burne his mouth in some extremity did sodainely spit it out againe but some small quantity of the iuice against his will went downe into his stomack which for two or three daies space did prouoke in him an extraordinary sleepinesse and purged him with 60. seates This Apple for the purging vertue in so small a quantity is like to be of good price and great estimation in the Practise of Physicke for the learned Physicions do well know how to correct the sleeping quality thereof wherein the danger resteth There is a Berry in those parts very excellent against the bloody-fluxe by the Indians it is called Kellette The iuice of the leafe called vppee cureth the wounds of the poisoned arrowes The iuice of the leafe called Icari is good against the head-ache Many other Druggs and simples are there found of singular properties both in Physicke and Chirurgery which if they should be seuerally described according to their valew and vvorthinesse would containe a large volume Moreouer the Tree wherewith they take their fish is not a little to be
esteemed but chiefely the great goodnesse of God therein is highly to be praised and admired who amongst so many admirable things by him created and planted in those parts hath vouchsafed to bestow vpon those barbarous people so great a benefit and naturall helpe for the present getting of their foode and sustenance These Trees are commonly growing neere vnto the places of their habitation for their present vse for when at any time they goe to fish they take three or fowre little sticks of this tree and bruise them vpon a stone and then go into certaine small creekes by the Sea shore which at a high water are vsually full of very good fish of diuers kinds which come in with the tide and there they wade vp and downe the water and betweene their hands rub those smal bruised sticks therein which are of such vertue that they will cause the fish to turne vp their bellies and lie still aboue the water for a certaine time In which space they presently take as many as they please and lade them into their Canoes and so with little labour returne home sufficiently prouided There is also a red speckled wood in that Country called Pira timinere which is worth 30 or 40. pounds a tunne It is excellent for Ioyners worke as Chaires Stooles Bed-steds Presses Cupboords and for Wainscot There are diuers kinds of Stone of great vse and good price as Iasper Purphery and the Spleene-stone There is yet another profitable commodity to be reaped in Guiana and that is by Tobacco which albeit some dislike yet the generality of men in this kingdome doth with great affection entertaine it It is not only in request in this our Country of England but also in Ireland the Neatherlands in all the Easterly Countries and Germany and most of all amongst the Turks and in Barbary The price it holdeth is great the benefit our Merchants gaine thereby is infinite and the Kings rent for the custome thereof is not a little The Tobacco that was brought into this kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 1610. was at the least worth 60. thousand pounds And since that time the store that yeerly hath come in was little lesse It is planted gathered seasoned and made vp fit for the Merchant in short time and with easie labour But when we first arriued in those parts wee altogether wanted the true skill and knowledge how to order it which now of late wee happily haue learned of the Spaniards themselues whereby I dare presume to say and hope to proue within few moneths as others also of sound iudgement and great experience doe hold opinion that onely this commodity Tobacco so much sought after and desired will bring as great a benefit and profit to the vndertakers as euer the Spaniards gained by the best and richest Siluer myne in all their Indies considering the charge of both The things which the Indians desire from vs by way of trade in exchange for the aboue named commodities whereby we hold society and commerce with them are Axes Hatchets Bil-hookes kniues all kinde of Edge tooles Nailes great Fishhookes Harping-irons Iewes-Trumps looking-glasses blew and white Beades Christall Beades Hats Pinnes Needles Salt Shirts Bands linnen and wollen Cloathes Swords Muskets Calliuers Powder and Shot but of these last mentioned wee are very sparing and part not with many vnlesse vpon great occasion by way of guift to speciall persons For these toies and such like trifeling things the Indians will sell vnto you any of the aboue mentioned commodities that can be gotten or prepared by them or any thing they haue or that their Countrey yeeldeth and will performe any reasonable labour for them Thus haue I deliuered vnto your Highnesse the particulars of the seuerall commodities which hitherto we haue discouered and found likely to bee profitable in Guiana whereof examples are remayning to bee seene in the hands of Mr. Henry Houenaer a Dutch-man who in the yeere of our Lord 1610. performed a voiage to Guiana to the places where our Company was seated and now abideth in Thames-streete neere vnto Cole-harbour and I make no doubt that by continuance of time our painefull trauels and diligent obseruations wee shall discouer and get knowledge of an infinite number of others as rich necessary and beneficiall as these already spoken of or any other whatsoeuer if it please Almighty God to fauour and blesse our proceedings When the raines ceased which was in Iuly I began to trauaell abroad in search of those Golden Mountaines promised vnto vs before the beginning of our voiage by one that vndertooke to guide vs to them which filled my company so full of vaine expectation and golden hopes that their insatiable and couetous mindes being wholy set thereon could not bee satisfied with any thing but oenly Gold Our guide that vainely made those great promises being come vnto the wished place to make performance was then possessed with a shamelesse spirit of ignorance for hee knew little and could performe nothing What other intelligences of Mines already fouud I had from other men in England and from the Mr. of my ship who had bin heretofore in those parts I foūd them by experience false and nothing true concerning Mines that was in England reported vnto me Our greedy desire of Gold being thus made frustrate diuers vnconstant persons of my vnruly company began to murmure to bee discontented to kindle discords and discensions and to stirre vp mutiny euen almost to the confusion and ruine of vs all and were vpon the point to shake off all obedience to their commanders to abandon patience peace vnity and wilfully to breake out into all mischeefe wretched disorder onely because they were deceiued of their golden hopes expectations but with good words and comfortable perswasions I pacified them for the time and made them acquainted with my better hopes conceiued of the commodities aboue mentioned I perswaded them in generall from idlenesse to trauell abroade to search and seeke out amongst the Indians what other nouelties they could though gold were wanting whereby wee might hereafter benefit our selues and still I imployed them some one way and some another to occupie their mindes by doing something the better to preuent discention which commonly is bred of idlenesse the slouthfull mother of all filthy vices As I daily conuersed amongst the Indians it chanced one day that one of them presented mee with a halfe Moone of mettall which held somwhat more then a third part Gold the rest Copper another also gaue mee a little Image of the same mettall and of an other I bought a plate of the same which hee called a spread Eagle for an Axe All which things they assured mee were made in the high Countrey of Guiana which they said did abound with Images of Gold by them called Carrecoory These things I shewed to my company to settle their troubled mindes which gaue much contentment to the greater part of
them and satisfied vs all that there was Gold in Guiana Shortly after that my Indian Anthony Canabre brought mee a peec of a rocke of white Sparre whereof the high Countrey is full And if the white Sparres of this kinde which are the purest white of all others for euery sort of Mine hath a sparre and for the most part white bee in a maine rocke they are certainely Mines of Gold or Siluer or of both I made triall of a peece of Sparre which the same Indian discouered vnto me and I found that it held both Gold and Siluer which although it was in small quantity gaue mee satisfaction that there bee richer Mines in the Countrey to bee found but the best lie deeper in the earth and wee had not time nor power to make search for them Being thus informed and sufficiently resolued of the commodities of the Countrey well satisfied of the Minerals I bent all my endeauours to finde out the fittest places and most conuenient for our first plantations at the last I found out many and some of speciall note which are for many respects of great importance and when time serueth our forces and number of men being answerable I will lay them open to the knowledge of the world and for wealth I hope they shall fully answere all mens expectations I trauelled vp the riuer of Wiapoco to view the ouerfalles but the waters being high and strong I could not passe them In August when they are fallen with some labour they may bee passed This riuer hath very many ouerfalles lying one a good distance beyond another euen to the head thereof Aboue some of the first falles there dwelleth an Indian called Comarian who is an old man of a free disposition by him I learned that a certaine distance aboue the first falles the riuer Arwy falleth into Wiapoco moreouer that certaine daies iourney beyond him towards the high land vpon the borders of Wiapoco there is a Natiō of Charibes hauing great eares of an extraordinary bignes hard to bee beleeued whom hee called Marashewaccas amongst these people as Comarian reporteth there is an Idole of stone which they worship as their God they haue placed it in a house made of purpose for the greater honour of it which they keepe very cleane and hansome This Idole is fashioned like a man sitting vpon his heeles holding open his knees and resting his elbowes vpon them holding vp his hands with the palmes forwards looking vpwards and gaping with his mouth wide open The meaning of this proportion he could not declare although he hath been many times amongst them and hath often seene it What other Nations were beyond these he did not know hauing neuer trauailed so farre but hee sayth they be Charibes and also enemies vnto them It seemeth there bee many Nations of those great eared people for in the Riuer of Marrawini I heard also of the like who dwell farre vp towards the high land as hereafter you shall heare and I suppose by the trending of the Riuers of Wiapoco and Marrawini are all one people Vpon the 14. day of August I went vnto a Mountaine called Gomeribo being the vttermost point of land to the Northward in the bay of Wiapoco I found the soile of it most excellēt for Tobacco Maix Cotton trees Annoto trees Vines for any other thing that should be planted there When I had taken good view of the place and found it commodious for many purposes then in the presence of Capt. Fisher diuers Gentlemen and others of my company and of the Indians also I tooke possession of the land by turfe and twig in the behalf of our Soueraigne Lord King IAMES I tooke the said posession of a part in name of the whole continent of Guiana lying betwixt the riuers of Amazones and Orenoque not being actually possessed and inhabited by any other Christian Prince or State wherewith the Indians seemed to be well content and pleased In like manner my Brother Capt. Michael Harecourt and Capt. Haruey whom I left as his associate and hee esteemed as an inward friend in a notable iourney which to their great honour they performed to discouer the Riuer of Arrawary and the Country bordering vpon it neere adioining to the riuer of Amazones did take the like possession of the land there to his Maiesties vse The dangers and great difficulties which they in that attempt incountred were memorabe and such as hardly any of our Nation in such small Canoes being onely some-what longer but not so broad as our Thames wherries and flat bottomed euer ouercame the like First the number of their owne attendants besides themselues was onely one man and a boy Their troope of Indians 60. persons Their iourney by Sea vnto the Riuer of Arrawary was neere 100. Leagues wherein by the way they met with many dreadful plunges by reason of a high going sea which breaketh vpon the flats and shoales especially at the next great cape to the North of Arraway which in respect of the danger they passed there they named Point Perilous Then their discouery vp the riuer was 50. leagues more where they found a Nation of Indians which neuer had seene white men or Christians before and could not be drawne to any familiar commerce or conuersation no not so much as with our Indians because they were strangers to them and of another Nation The discouery of this riuer is of great importance and speciall note affording an entrance more behouefull for the searching and discouery of the inland parts of Guiana then any other riuer yet knowne vpon the Coast for trending Westward vp into the land it discouereth all the Countries and Nations to the Southward of Arricary Cooshebery Morrownia and Norrack which I haue mentioned before Many weekes they spent in this aduenture still taking vp their lodgings in the woods at night Prouision of meate they wanted not for Fish were euer plenty and at hand and the woods yeelded eyther Deere Tigers or Foule their greatest want was of bread and drinke which onely defect did hinder at that time the accomplishment of that discouery For when the Indians perceiued their bread to bee neere spent and their drinke to bee corrupted they could not bee perswaded to proceede hauing no meanes to supply their wants amongst the Arrawaries the Indians of that riuer who would not freely trade with them vpon this first acquaintance but alwaies stood vpon their guard on the other side of the riuer where they inhabited yet they desiring to obtaine some of our English commodities and make triall of our Indians friendshippe afforded some small trade for their present releefe during their aboade in that riuer So that of force they were constrained to breake off their discouery and hasten homeward But here their dangers ended not for as they returned arriuing at certaine Islands called Carripoory and passing betweene them the main land much against the wils
of all the Indians who knowing the danger of the place and more respecting their safety then their owne being themselues all expert swimmers would haue disswaded them from that hazard but they being ignorant of the perill would needs passe onne and at the last met with such a Boore as the Sea-men terme it and violent encounter of two tydes comming in which like two furious inraged Rammes or Bulles rushed togeather and oft retired back to returne againe with greater violence vntill the one by force had ouerborne the other that if next vnder God the diligent care and paines of the Indians had not preserued thē they had been there destroyed and swallowed vp by that mercilesse Boore or breach of waters which God be thanked they escaped and returned home in safety Here may your Highnesse fitly note and obserue two things the one the assured loue and fidelity of the Indians to our Nation who hauing in their power for six weekes space foure only of our company and two of those the chiefest of the rest and if they had been false trecherously minded towards them might easily haue drowned starued or slaine them yet did not only forbeare to practise harme against them but did also safely rowe their boats night by night prepare their lodgings in the woods daily vse their care and best endeauours to discouer and preuent all dangers that might happen to them and to guide them serue them and prouide them meate Such trust and faithfulnesse is rarely found amongst such barbarous infidels and yet wee haue had three yeeres experience thereof The other thing to bee obserued heere is the store and plenty of victuals in Guiana where sixty foure persons togeather in one company without any prouision of victuals bread and drinke excepted before hand made could trauell abroade for six weekes space most commonly lodging in the woods seldome in any towne or village and yet in all places wheresoeuer they came could readily get meate sufficient for them all which blessing God hath giuen to Guiana for the comfort of all such as shall bee willing to bee planters there This and much more could my Brother haue truely auouched if hee had liued but since his returne into England it hath pleased God who gaue him life and preserued him from many dangers to take him to his mercy But the other Captaine Haruey suruiueth whose life hath euer suted with a generous and worthy spirit professing Armes and following the warres who also is generally well knowne to be a Gentleman both honest and of spotlesse reputation hee will auerre and iustifie for truth what heere is mentioned But I will now returne from whence I haue digressed When I had as before taken possession at Gomeribo in presēce of the said parties I deliuered the possessiō of that Mountain to my Indiā Anthony Canabre To haue hold possesse and enioy the same to him and to his heires for euer of our Soueraigne Lord King Iames his Heires and Successors as his subiect Yeelding and paying yeerely the tenth part of all Tobacco Cotton wooll Annoto and other commodities whatsoeuer which should hereafter bee either planted or growing within the said Mountaine if it were demanded The Indian most gladly receiued the possession vpon these conditions and for himselfe and his posterity did promise to bee true subiects vnto the Kings Maiestie his heires and successors And to pay the duties imposed vpon them and so that busines being finished I returned againe to Wiapoco Now most worthy Prince there came vnto my knowledge an inconuenience happened by the carelesse negligence of the Master of my ship who had the charge of prouiding and laying in the prouisions and victuals for the voyage which was the cause that I gained no present profit by it but left off all my discoueries in the first beginning I had a purpose at that time to performe a businesse which might haue proued profitable and honourable vnto vs if I had been able to haue staied the time but it was not my chance to bee so fortunate for the Master his Mates and the Steward of my Shippe came vnto mee and told me plainly that if I made any longer aboad in that Countrey I would neuer in those Shippes returne into England or if I did aduenture it my selfe and all my company would starue at Sea for want of Beere Syder and water for all my Caske was spoiled because it was not Iron-bound the woodden hoopes flew off by reason of the heate of the Clymate and our Beere and Syder whereof wee had good store did leake about the shippe that wee could hardly saue sufficient to releeue vs if wee made a longer stay vpon the Coast which was the Masters fault hauing had a speciall charge to bee carefull of that onely poynt By this default I was constrained to make a vertue of necessity and prepare my selfe for England and leaue my former purposes to bee accomplished hereafter which shall bee done God aiding mee in time conuenient Then disposing of my company I appointed my Brother Captaine Michael Harcourt to remaine in the Countrey as chiefe Commander in my absence and to continue the possession on the Kings behalfe I gaue him directions to trauell abroad as occasion serued to discouer the Countrey to spend sometime at Cooshebery and sometime also in other places but to make his chiefest residence at Wiapoco the onely Rendeuous for shippes that trade vpon that Coaste and there to plant good store of Maix for our reliefe of bread and drinke which is the chiefest thing to be respected in those parts for other victuals we need not take much care being alwaies easily prouided He performed his charge with great reputation discouered many goodly Prouinces and spacious Countries and worthily continued the possession full three yeeres compleat I left with him for his assistance Captaine Haruey aboue mentioned who hath nobly vowed his time and fortune to bee imployed in the prosecution of this honourable action For his Liuetenant I appointed Mr. Edward Gifford a valiant and worthy Gentleman and I left also with him of Gentlemen and others about twenty more with all such necessaries as I could spare and thought conuenient for them and so commending them to God the eighteenth day of August I departed from Wiapoco and the day following arriued at Caiane At my comming to Caiane my Pinnesse receiued a leake which would haue proued dangerous if wee had been far at Sea whereby enforced to attend the stopping thereof and new trimming of the Pinnesse and vnwilling to bee idle in the meane space doing nothing I left my shippes there to repaire their defects and in my ship-boate departed thence the twenty three of August taking with mee Captain Fisher who hath euer been since wee first crept into the world my chiefe companion both in Armes and trauels I tooke also with mee his brother Vnton Fisher Mr. Cradle the Masters mate of
my ship and about six more I followed the Coast to the Westward stering due West and passing by the riuer of Meccooria I lodged that night in the mouth of the riuer Courwo which hath a narrow deepe entrance and within affordeth a good harbour which may in time to come for some speciall purpose bee of great vse The next day and the night following I proceeded Westward with full saile and passing the riuers of Manmanury Sinammara Corassowini Coonannonia Vracco and Amanna I arriued the twenty fiue day at the riuer of Marrawini which openeth a faire riuer but is shoale vpon the Barre which lyeth two or three Leagues off at Sea hauing but two fadome water within the Barre the Channel is three foure fiue and six fadome deepe Fiue leagues within the ruier wee passed by certaine Islands called Curewapory not inhabited for at the rising of the waters they are alwaies ouerflowen of which sort the riuer hath very many wee lodged that night a litle beyond these first Islands at a village called Moyemon on the lefthand the Captaine thereof is called Maperitaka of the Nation of the Paragotos a man very louing and faithfull to our Nation whereof wee haue had good proofe The next day wee proceeded vp the riuer three leagues and stayed at a towne called Coewynay on the right hand at the house of Minapa the chiefe Charib of that Signiory to prouide two Canoes to prosecute our iourney for the discouery of this riuer The twenty eight day wee went forward passing many villages and townes which I forbeare to name and hauing gone about twenty leagues from the Sea wee found the riuer in a manner barred vp with rocks ouer which the water falleth with great violence yet notwithstanding wee aduentured to proceed and the further wee went the more dangerous we found the ouerfalles and more in number but when we had passed the first Mountaine towards the high Countrey of Guiana called Sapparow and discouered far off before vs other high Mountaines called Matawere Moupanana and had proceeded 6. daies iourney vp the riuer which was more thē forty leagues we met with such shoale rocky streame great ouerfalles that there to our griefour iourny ended Being thus for that time debarred from our intended discouery wee prepared our selues with Patience to returne towards our shippes and the third day of September wee turned downe the riuer shooting the ouerfalles with more celerity then when wee came vp dispatching three daies iourney in one and the fifth day returned safe to Moyemon but before I departed thence Captaine Fisher told mee of certaine plants which hee had then found much like vnto Rose-trees growing about halfe a yard in height whereof for the strangenesse of them I cannot forbeare to adde a word or two These plants or little trees had assuredly the sence of feeling as plainely appeared by touching them for if you did but touch a leafe of the tree with your finger that leafe would presently shrinke and close vp it selfe and hang downe as if it were dead and if you did cut off a leafe with a paire of cisers then all the other leaues growing vpon the same tree would instantly shrinke and close vp themselues and hang downe as if they were dead and withered and within halfe a quarter of an hower would by degrees open themselues againe and flourish as before and as often as you did either touch or cut off any of them they would doe the like which did euidently shew a restriction of the spirits inuincibly arguing a Sence Howsoeuer this may seeme strange and incredible to your Highnesse and to them that haue not seene it yet forasmuch as Scaliger and Bartas make mention of the like I dare bee bold to affirme it vpon my credit hauing seene and shewed it to forty others I gathered two of the plants and did set them in pots in their owne earth and carried them aboord my shippe where I kept them fairely growing almost a fortnight vntill they were destroied by certaine Munkies that brake loose and pulled them in peeces which might haue been preuented but that I was constrained to set them in the open ayre the better to preserue them The seuenth day I went to Wiawia a great towne of Paragotos and Yaios foure leagues to the West of Marrawini whereof Maperitaka aboue mentioned and Arapawaka are chiefe Captaines At this towne I left my Cozen Vnton Fisher and Humfrey Croxton an Apothecary to beare him company and one seruant to attend him called Christopher Fisher hauing first taken order with Maperitaka for their diet and other necessaries both for trauell and otherwise who euer since according to his promise hath performed the part of an honest man and faithfull friend I gaue directions to my Cozen Fisher to prosecute the discouery of Marrawini and the inland parts bordering vpon it when the time of the yeere and the waters better serued and if it were possible to goe vp into the high Countrey of Guiana and to finde out the City of Manoa mentioned by Sr. Walter Raleigh in his discouery He followed my directions to the vttermost of his ability being of a good wit and very industrious and inabled to vndergoe those imployments by obtaining the loue and gaining the languages of the people without which helpes there is little or no good to bee done in those parts When the waters of Marrawini were risen and the riuer passable much differing from the riuer of Wiapoco which is not to bee trauelled but in the lowest waters He began his iourney for the discouery thereof in company of the Apothecary his seruant Fisher the Indian Maperitaka and eighteene others and proceeded eleauen daies iourney vp the riuer to a towne of Charibes called Taupuramune distant from the Sea aboue an hundred leagues but was foure daies iourney short of Moreshego which is also a towne of Charibes scituate vpon the riuer side in the prouince of Moreshegoro the chiefe Captaine thereof is called Areminta who is a proud and bold Indian much feared of all those that dwell within his Territories hauing a rough skin like vnto Buffe leather of which kinde there bee many in those parts and I suppose proceedeth of some infirmity of the body Hee vnderstood by relation of the Indians of Taupuramune and also of Areminta that six daies iourney beyond Moreshego there are diuers mighty Nations of Indians hauing holes through their eares cheekes nostrils and nether lippes which were called Craweanna Pawmeeanna Quikeanna Peewattere Arameeso Acawreanno Acooreo Tareepeeanna Corecorickado Peeauncado Cocoanno Itsura and Waremisso and were of strength and stature far exceeding other Indians hauing Bowes and Arrowes foure times as bigge what the Indians also report of the greatnesse of their eares I forbeare to mention vntill by experience we shall discouer the truth thereof Moreouer hee learned that there fall into Marrawini
them abuse and harme issue the fault is ours for a worme being trodden on will turne againe If they at any time doe giue offence to vs they will suffer and abide such moderate chastisements as we in our discretions shall thinke fit to lay vpon them The soile of the land there as is said before is exceeding rich neuer yet broken vp nor ouerworne with tillage but still remaineth in the greatest perfection of fertility The prouisions of that Countrey for victuals are already mentioned before But it is fit they bee againe remembred for the comfort of the ordinary people that in person shall aduenture in this action There are great store of Deere of all sorts wilde Swine Hares and Conies besides diuers other beasts vnknowne in these parts Phesants Partriges wilde foule of all sorts and euery house hath Cocks Hennes and Chickens as in England and the variety of Fish is wonderfull without compare but the chiefest comfort for our Countreymen is this that the beast called Maypury and the fish called the Sea Cow being seuerally as bigge as a Heifer of two yeres old of which kinde there are very many are in eating so like vnto our English beefe that hardly in tast wee can distinguish them and may as well as beefe bee salted and kept for our prouision There is also a beast in colour like a Fawne but fuller of white spots in stature somewhat lesse then a small sheep and in tast like Mutton but is rather better meate the Baremo is also of the same taste These for the time will giue vs good content vntill wee can bee stored with the breed of our English sheepe and cattell The store of Maix or Guinea wheat in Guiana is very plentifull which graine doth make an excellent good bread and very wholsome So likewise doth the Cassaui whereof there is also great abundance and much more may bee as we please to plant Of the Cassaui bread the Indians do make good drink which in colour taste and strength doth equall our March beere in England Of the Guinea wheat we may make good Malt which also maketh as excellent strong Ale as can bee possible The soile being rich fruitfull and neuer nipt with frosts doth giue vs hope that in few yeeres space by planting vines we shal make good store of Sacke and Canary wine which in those parts are needefull and very wholsome and will greatly comfort and lighten the hearts of our Countreymen and make them iouiall and couragious to vndertake and execute the greatest laboures and most difficult aduentures of discouery The commodities already found in Guiana are at large declared in the former discourse yet for the better memory of those that are disposed to aduenture in this action I haue againe in briefe remembred them First within a yeere without much labour there may bee transported thence good store of Cotton wooll diuers kinds of rich dies sundrie sorts of gummes drugges and feathers many kindes of rich woods Iasper and Purphery stone Balsamum waxe hony and Tobacco And hereafter within few yeeres wee shall returne thence great plenty of Sugers and I hope discouer as rich Mines as euer the Spaniard found eyther in new Spaine Peru or any other part of the Indies FOrasmuch as it hath pleased his Excellent Maiestie for the planting and inhabiting of all that part of Guiana or continent of America lying betweene the riuer of Amazones and the riuer of Dessequebe to grant his gracious Letters Pattents to Robert Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt in the County of Oxford Esquire Sir Thomas Challener Knight and Iohn Rouenzon Esquire and to the heires of the said Robert Harcourt of all the saide Countries Lands and Territories betweene the said two riuers of Amazones and Dessequebe and of all Islands Lands and Territories within twenty Leagues adiacent thereunto c. Together with all Prerogatiues Iurisdictions Royalties Priuiledges Franchises and Preheminenses both for Gouernement Trade Trafficke and otherwise in as large and ample manner as either his Maiestie or any of his noble Progenitors or Predecessors haue heretofore graunted to any Aduenturers or Vndertakers of any Discoueries Plantations or Trafficke of in or into any forraigne parts whatsoeuer To haue hold possesse and enioy all and singular the premisses to the sole and proper vse of the saide Robert Harcourt and his heires for euer And for that diuers honourable personages Gentlemen and others who are willing and desirous for the Glory of God and the Honour of our Nation to giue aide and assistance eyther in person or purse to the vndertaking of this worthy Action and Plantation may truly vnderstand and know how and in what maner they shall receiue benefit and profit by their aduentures and trauells therein It is thought fit and necessary for their better content and satisfaction to publish these Articles insuing THe Planters in generall are all Aduenturers either in person or purse The meanest Aduenturer in Person shall haue fiue hundred Acres as a single share Euery one that aduentureth twelue pounds tenne shillings shall haue fiue hundred Acres as a single share and so ratably according to the aduenture be it more or lesse The Plantation and Aduenture is intended to bee partly Generall and partly Particular In the Generall Plantation and Aduenture all persons of all conditions and estates euen to the poorest seruants and laborers men women and children may aduenture asmuch or as little as they please from ten shillings vpwards and shall haue in fee simple the assured ratable increase and gaine according to the quantitie of his aduenture So as for euery ten shillings aduentured he shall haue twenty Acres in inheritance and so much yearely profit as those twenty Acres may yeeld A Register shall be truely kept of the names of euery Aduenturer in person and of euery Aduenturer in mony and of the summe by him aduentured to the end that they may proportionably receiue the full benefit of their Aduentures During the first three yeres the whole benefit shall goe towards the aduancement of the Plantation At the end of those three yeres a fourth part of the cleere profites remayning shall be diuided betwixt all the Aduenturers in purse or person ratably according to their shares and aduentures Yeerely for seuen yeares after the first three yeeres ended three parts of the whole cleere yeerely profit vpon euery returne shall be in like maner diuided and the other fourth part shall goe towards the aduancement of the Plantation In those tenne yeares the Land may be surueyed fit distributions alotments made thereof to the Aduenturers and Planters After those tenne yeares it shall be free for euery one to make his best of his alotment at his owne discretion by himselfe or else to trade and deale in common as he did before with others which perhappes will be most conuenient for all small Aduenturers And a setled order shall for that end be continued for