us of a more than ordinary protection and direction That hitherto we have been lesse successefull in our voyages that way we way justly impute it to this that as yet they have not been undertaken with such a generall consent and with such a full reference to Gods glory as was requisite And so your Petitioner having delivered his apprehension herein more briefely than so weighty a matter might well require he submits all the premises to your more full deliberation and conclusion which he humbly prayeth may be with all convenient speed the only best way under God to make it the better successefull WEE whose names are here under-written having been upon occasion acquainted with a motion intended to be made by Master William Castell Parson of Courtenhall in the County of Northampton to the High and Honourable Court of Parliament now assembled concerning the propagation of the glorious Gospell of Christ in America As we do well approve of the motion so we do humbly desire his reasons may be duly considered And so good a work furthered their wiser judgements may resolve upon to which we humbly submit the same Iohn Moseley D. D. Raâ— Brownricke D. D. Thomas Bambrig D. D. Robert Sanderson D. D. Richard Alleyne D. D. Daniel Featly D. D. Matthius Styles D. D. Edmond Stanton D. D. Stephen Denison D. D. Edw. Williamot D. D. Ionathan Brown D. D. Iasper Fisher D. D. Hanniball Potter D. D. Anthony Clapton D. D. Thomas Drayton D. D. Iohn Grant D. D. Ministers of London George Walker Iames Palmer Edward Malbury Ioseph Caryll Edmond Calamy Adoniram Byfield William Price Richard Maden Iames Batty Matth. Griffeth Ephrâ—im Paget Robert Pory William Ianeway Nathaniel Barry Ministers of severall other Counties Iohn White Dorsetshire William Ford Iohn Pyns , Somersetshire Zachery Caudry Leistershire Henry Paynter Devonshire Stephen Marsholl Samuel Ioyner Essex Iohn Ward Suffolke Ier. Buroughes Northfolke Iohn Rawlinson Darby Moses Capell William Rhet Kent Francis Charliot Richard Gifford Buck. William Englesby Hertford Other worthy Ministers of the Diocesse of Peterburrough where the Petitioner liveth Daniel Caudery Ieremy Whittaker Iohn Barry Iames Cranford Samuel Craddock David Ensme Edmond Castell Samuel Male Daniel Rogers Benjamin Tomkins Richard Cook Richard Trueman Iohn Guderick William Spencer Edmond Iames Iohn Baynard George Iay Francis Presse Miles Berket Francis Atturbury Ieremy Stephens Iohn Ward Peter Fawtract William Malkinson THe motion made by Master William Castell Minister of the Gospell for propagating of the blessed Evangell of Christ our Lord and Saviour in America we conceive in the generall to be most pious Christian and charitable And therefore worthy to be seriously considered of all that love the glorious Name of Christ and are zealous of the salvation of soules which are without Christ and without God in the world wishing the opportunity and fit season the instruments and meanes and all things necessary for the prosecution of so pious a worke to be considered by the wisdomes of Churches and civill powers whom God hath called and enablad with Piety Prudence and Policy for matters of publick concernment and of so great Importance And beseeching the Lord to blesse all their consultations and proceedings for the advancing and establishing the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Alexander Henderson Robert Blare R. Bailly M. Gallaspie N. Smyth M. Borthrick AN ORDINANCE Of the LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in Parliament Whereby Robert Earle of Warwicke is made Governour in Chiefe and Lord High Admirall of all those Iâ—ands and other Plantations inâ—abited planted or belonging to any his Majesties the King of Englands Subjects within the bounds and upon the Coasts of America And a Committee appointed to be assisting unto him for the better governing strengthning and preservation of the said Plantations but chiefly for the advancement of the true Protestant Religion and farther spreading of the Gospell of Christ among those that yet remaine there in great and miserable blindenesse and ignorance WHereas many thousands of the Natives and good Subjects of this Kingdome of England though the oppression of the Prelates and other ill affected Ministers and Officers of State have of late yeares to their griefe and miserable hardship been inforced to transplant themselves and their families into severall Ilands and other remote and desolate parts of the West Indies and having there through exceeding great labour and industry with the blessing of God obtained for themselves and their families some competent and convenient meanes of maintenance and subsistance so that they are now in a reasonable well setled and peaceable condition But fearing least the outragious malice of Papists and other ill-affected persons should reach unto them in their poor low but as yet peaceable condition and having beene informed that there hath beene lately procured from his Majesty severall grants under the Great Seale for erecting some new Governours and Commanders amongst the said Planters in their afore-mentioned Plantations Whereupon the said Planters Adventurers and Owners of land in the said forreign Plantations have preferred their Petition unto this present Parliament that for the better securing of them and their present estates there obtained through so much extreame labour and difficulty they might have some such Governours and government as should be approved of and confirmed by the authority of both Houses of Parliament Which Petition of theirs the Lords and Commons having taken into consideration and finding it of great importance both to the safety and preservation of the aforesaid Natives and Subjects of this Kingdome as well from all forraigne invasions and oppressions as from their owne intestine distractions and disturbances as also much tending to the honour and advantage of his Majesties Dominions have thought fit and do hereby Constitute and Ordain Robert Earle of Warwick Governour in chiefe and Lord High Admirall of all those Ilands and other Plantations inhabited planted or belonging to any his Majesties the King of Englands Subjects or which hereafter may be inhabited planted or belonging to them within the bounds and upon the Coasts of America And for the more effectuall speedier and easier transaction of this so weighty and important a businesse which concernes the well-being and preservation of so many of the distressed Natives of this and other his Majesties Dominions the Lords and Commons have thought fit that Philip Earle of Pembrooke Edward Earle of Manchester William Viscount Say and Seale Philip Lord Wharton Iohn Lord Roberds Members of the House of Peeres Sir Gilbert Gerard Knight and Baronet Sir Arthure Haselrig Baronet Sir Henry Vane junior Knight Sir Benjamin Rudyer Knight Iohn Pym Oliver Cromwell Dennis Bond Miles Corbet Cornelius Holland Samuel Vassall Iohn Rolles and William Spurstow Esquiers Members of the House of Commons shall be Commissioners to joyn in aide and assistance with the said Earle of Warwick chiefe Governour and Admirall of the said Plantations which chiefe Governour together with the said Commissioners or any four of them shall hereby have power and authority
to provide for order and dispose all things which they shall from time to time finde most fit and advantagious to the well-governing securing strenghning and preserving of the said Plantations and chiefly to the preservation and advancement of the true Protestant Religion amongst the said Planters inhabitants and the further inlargement and spreading of the Gospell of Christ amongst those that yet remaine there in great and miserable blindnesse and ignorance And for the better advancement of this so great a work It is hereby further ordained by the said Lords and Commons That the aforesaid Governour Commissioners shall hereby have power and authority upon all weighty and important occasions which may concerne the good and safety of the aforesaid Planters to call unto their advice and assistance therein any other of the aforesaid Planters Owners of land or Inhabitants of the said Ilands and Plantations which shall then be within twenty miles of the place where the said Commissioners shall then be And shall have power and authority to send for view and make use of all such Records Books and Papers which do or may concerne any of the said Plantations And because the well-setling and establishing of such Officers Governours as shall be laborious and faithfull in the right governing of all such persons as be resident in or upon the said Plantations and due ordering and disposing of all such Affaires as concerne the safety and welfare of the same is of very great advantage to the publick good of all such remote and new Plantations It is thereby further Ordained and Decreed That the said Robert Earle of Warwick Governour in chiefe and Admirall of the said Plantations together with the aforesaid Commissioners Philip Earle of Pembrooke Edward Earle of Manchester William Viscount Say and Seale Philip Lord Wharton Iohn Lord Roberts Sir Gibbert Gerard Knight and Baronet Sir Arthure Haâ—elrig Baronet Sir Henry Vane junior Knight Sir Benjamin Rudyer Knight Iohn Pym Oliver Cromwell Dennis Bond Miles Corbet Cornelius Holland Samuel Vassall Iohn Iohn â—olls and William Purstowe Esquires or the greater member of them shall have power and authority from time to time to nominate appoint and constitute all such subordinate Governours Councellors Commanders Officers and Agents as they shall judge to be best affected and most fit and serviceable for the said Ilands and Plantations And shall hereby have power and authority upon the death or other avoidance of the aforesaid chiefe Governour and Admirall or any the other Commissioners before named from time to time to nominate and appoint such other chiefe Governour Admirall or Commissioners in the place or room of such as shall so become voide And shall also hereby have power and authority to remove any of the said subordinate Governours Councellors Commanders Officers or Agents which are or shall be appointed to governe counsell or negotiate the publick affaires of the said Plantation and in their place and room to appoint such other Officers as they shall judge fit And it is hereby ordained That no subordinate Governours Councellors Commanders Officers Agents Planters or Inhabitants whatsoever that are now resident in or upon the same Ilands or Plantations shall admit or receive any other new Governours Councellors Commanders Officers or Agents whatsoever but such as shall be allowed and approved of under the Hands and Seales of the afore mentioned Commissioners or any six of them or under the Hands and Seales of such as shall authorize thereunto And whereas for the better governement and security of the said Plantations and Ilands and the Owners and Inhabitants thereof there may be just and fit occasion to assigne over some part of the power and authority granted in this Ordinance to the chiefe Governour and Commissioners afore named unto the said Owners Inhabitants or others It is hereby Ordained that the said chiefe Governors and Commissioners before mentioned or the greater number of them shall hereby be authorized to assigne ratifie and confirme so much of their aforementioned authority and power and in such manner and to such persons as they shall judge to be fit for the better governing and preserving of the said Plantations and Ilands from open violence and private disturbance and distractions And lastly That whosoever shall doe execute or yeeld obedience to any thing contained in this Ordinance shall by vertue hereof be saved harmelesse and indempnified Sir Benjamin Rudyers Speech Concerning a WEST INDIE Association at a Committee of the whole House in the Parliament 21 JACOBI Sir Dudley Digs I Doe professe that as my Affection my Reason and my Iudgement go strongly with the scope and drift of this proposition so shall a good part of my poor fortune when it comes to execution For to my understanding there was never propoundin Parliament a design more proper for this kingdome nor of more pregnant advantage to it whether we consider the Nature of our situation or the quality of our Enemies forces As we are an Iland it concernes our being to have store of ships to defend us and also our well-being by their Trade to inrich us This Association for the West Indies when it shall be regulated and established by Act of Parliament and thereby secured from the violence and injury of any intruding hand it will certainly give many men encouragement and confidence voluntarily to bring in large and liberall contributions towards so notable so profitable an Enterprise So that in short time we shall see many new ships built many brave men imployed and inabled for the service of their Country none of this money shall be carryed out of the Kingdtme but laid out for shippeng which is the defence of it and bestowed upon our own men who must be â—ed and maintained though they stay at home For this we shall reape the fruit of whatsoever benefit Plantation Traffick or Purchase can procure us besides honour and security Now let us a little consider the Enemy we are to encounter the King of Spain They are not his great Territories which make him so powerfull and so troublesome to all Christendome For it is very well known that Spain it selfe is but weak in men and barren of Naturall Commodities As for his other Territories they lye divided and asunder which is a weaknesse in its selfe besides they are held by force and maintained at an extraordinary charge Insomuch as although he be a great King yet is he like the great Gâ—ant who was said to have 100 hands but he had 50 bellies to feed so that raâ—ably he had no more hands then another man No Sir they are his Mines in the West Indies which minister fuell to feed his vast ambitious desire of universall Monarchy It is the money he hath from thence which makes him able to levie and pay Souldiers in all places and to keepe an Army continually on foot ready to invade and indanger his Neighbours So that we have no other way but to endeavour to cut him
King of England to that purpose but because a more full Discovery hath since been made by two worthy French-men Quarteri and Champlâ—ri from whose much approved relations I shall here briefely impart unto you what I conceive requisite for us to know These two worthy French-men tell us that all the discovery they madâ— of this part of America more than ever as yet hath been made was by the great River Canada falling from the West about an hundred leagues into the North part of St. Laurence Gulfe and by the Southerne Ocean Westward I shall therefore in this my briâ—fe Relation trace them in their long Voyages this way beginning with that part of New France that bordereth on both sides Canada where they made their first enterance Only let me take notice of some Promontories lying beâ—ween the South Ocean and Canada River not much frequented for that the comming in unto them hath often proved dangerous the seas being in most places very narrow by reason of the foresaid great Islands and many more which formerly did and now doth cause them who trade thither to steere a more safe course above the said Islands more to the North-east between them and New-found-Land They are knowne by these names Cape de Esperance and Bay de Chaleux somewhat above the 48 Port Gachepe upon the 49 Cape de Bontoneriers and Cape Evesque between the degrees of 50 and 49. From which last Cape beginneth the fall of Canada best known and most usually used by the West-side of Natiscotâ—â— whereunto answereth on the North-side the River of Cheschedec more than thirty leagues distant for such is the widenesse of that River there affirmed to be The next cape on the South-side whereunto the River Magaret on the North answereth is de Chate remote from the former neare thirty leagues Above these somewhat neare opposite But 20 leagues remote from the former lye the Rivers Lesquemin to the North and Montonne to the South The farthest navigable parts of this great river are on the North Tadousac a good haven at the falling of the heady River Saguâ—nay from the North-west as yet but very little discovered and the River May on the South-side The other part of Canada not navigable with any great vessell was yet attâ—mpted by Quartery to good purpose and after upon a further search Champlany is affirmed to reach yet 300 lâ—agues to the South-west The principall places by them observed are Orleance and Sault thirty leagues from Tadousac then follow Quebec 20 Mary River 60 Lake Pierto 100 leagues more Now concerning the goodnesse of this soyle and climate the condition of the Natives and what hath been here performed by the French It may suffice to know that the land oâ— the North side of Canada from the fall of it to the River Saguenay as far as is yet discovered is found to be mountenous wooddy and barren besides the comming up the River on that side is found much more dangerous than that â—o the South which also in many places requireth carefull circumspection But then the land is much more fruitfull and convenient to trade for Bevours and rich Furres the grand commodity here to be expected by reason there are more store of Natives to trade withall In the generall all this part of the Countrey is judged to be over cold in Winter to be well inhabited though yet it be constantly affirmed that the Natives might live very plentifully there were they not carelesse in sowing planting and making timely provisions and so prodigall in spending in two or three moneths what might serve them the whole year Sure it is that the French have taken a great opinion of it for besides many voyages formerly made they have from the yeare 1608. to the year 1616. made six voyages under the conduct of the fore-named Champlany and it is no lesse certaine that the French have continuall trading thither as finding good returne especially for Bevours skins The other part of New France adjacent to the South Ocean beginning where we came up in Saint Laurence Gulfe on the West-side of Ile Britton are Port Camseau and Port de Savelette somewhat above the 45 degree of latitude then halfe a degree more to the South follow Bay de Toutes and Port Elaine The first ful thirty the second neare fifty leagues from Savelette then Bay Senne Margurite River and Cape Heve all these follow one after another for a degree farther Yet more to the South-west follow Port de Rosignall Cape de Sable Port Courante and Cape Forcu one after another for the space of 35 leagues From Cape Forcu beginneth a great Inlet Sea called Bay Francoyse of 15 leagues wide at the first enterance but after a while it is narrowed more and more as it runneth backward towards the North-east full 30 leagues into the Continent And into this bosome of Sea are many good havens but that the comming up unto them is not so good They are knowne by these names Marys Bay Port Royall and Port aux Mines about five leagues distant the one from the other And here it is to be observed that the turning in of the foresaid bosome of the sea neare as far to the North-east as the Gulfâ— of Saint Laurence environeth that part of New France as the French call Cade On the South-west side of Bay Francoyse are Cape Range Saint Iohns River Port Coquilles and the River Croix Now the temprature of this part of this Country is better then the other as not being so excessive cold but the goodnesse of the soyle is in the generall not so good as is that part which is called Canada lying on the South-side of the River Canoda Yet the French have taken so good liking thereof that the Lord de Monts and the Lord de Poutrincourt have made some voyages thither in person and spent great part of their estates in setling Plantations there whereof there was great hope of good successe untill the yeare 1611. and 1613. the then Queene Regent of France who hath since proved the Fire-brand of Christendome after the murder of her Husband Henry the fourth by Jesuits sent some of that hellish fraternity thither in favour of her holy Father the Pope and the King of Spain to disturbe the Plantations as no doubt her deare daughter our now dreadfull Queene hath doth and will unhappily endevour to do â—y the counsell of her greatest favourites Spanish pentions especially if we shall presume to plant or trade in those much richer Southerne Countries which the Spaniard proudly challengeth as his inheritance Touching the Native Inhabitants here I will say no more but that they are much of the same condition with those who border about Canada men of no religion living without God in the world deluded and captivated by Satan and their Priests which they call Autonoins The Country in Sommer affordeth them sufficient food but for want of due provision for Winter they then are often exceedingly pinched
and sometimes dye miserably for lacke of sustenance It is here to be noted that all this South part of the Continent knowne by the name of New France From Cape Britton to Cape Crux was in the yeare 1621. granted by King Iames to Sir William Alexander a Scotch-man who sent forth one since to discover it and gave it a new name of New Scotland but we heare of nothing of worth performed by him or those who were employed by him New England THe next part of the Continent adjoyning to New France formerly accounted a parcell thereof is New England lying between the degrees of 41 and 45. The most Noâ—th-east part of it as yet least discovered by our English beginneth at the River Penobscot which the French call Pentegovet near to the River Haute The next are the Rivers Kinibequi over against Ile Bacchus 13 leagues then Willims Bay 15 more and Tragabigsana alias Cape Anna five more But the most safe and most convenient commings in as lying nearest to the English Plantations are Hender Bay Accomack and Milford Haven near Cape Cod all within 34 leagues of Cape Anna opposite to the Bristow Plantation The Natives bordering neare these Ports have divers names and have many little Villages whereof Sagadehoc Mascosqueck Penobscot and the Mattahunts inhabiting two plesant Islands are chiefe The greatest part of the Countrey as our Country-man Captaine Iohn Smith reporteth aboundeth with variety and store of wholsome cattell fowles fish fruits rich Furres and timber for service whereunto having added the excellent fertillity of the soyle for all manner of culture and the sweet and wholsome temperatue of the climate He doubteth not to compare New England with the most approved Countries of Europe And I find his commendation seconded if not exceeded by the Company of Adventurers for the Plantation there For the goodnesse of the soyle they compare it to Devonshire For the temperature of the ayre to France but yet upon farther enquiry from divers of our English who have been there and have taken a more exact view lately of this Countrey I am certainly informed that in regard of fertility it commeth far short of old England And now will I very briefly impart unto you as far as is requisite what hath beene performed by our Nation in those parts In the yeare 1606. King Iames did under the Great Seale Licence a Plantation there which was undertaken by some Noble men and some Mâ—rchants conditionally that neither should plant within an hundred miles the one of the other The first Colony consisting of an hundred husbandmen sent at the charge for the most of the Lord Chiefe Justice Popham under the government of George Popham in the yeare 1609. entered the great River Saga de Hoc and by the bankes of the said River setled themselves where they continued for the space of one yeare and then returned into England for that they were not able to provide for themselves by reason of the death of both the Pophams by whose care and charge they were chiefly governed and sustained But their unexpected returne was so displeasing to many other Adventurers here as that for a good while after they cast off all care of any further Plantation there Hereupon the French fell upon those parts but they were easily and suddenly beaten out by Captaine Argall After this with far greater preparation was Captaine Hobson sent forth out of England with two of those Natives who were intended for Interpreters as having gotten some little knowledge of our English tongue in the time of more than two yeares abode here But the voyage was frustrated by reason that the Natives then were very much incensed with our English men because one Hunt an English-man had not long before most perfidiously allured twenty of them into his Shippe under pretence of Commerce and so perfidiously carried them away and sold them for slaves unto the Spaniard A third and fourth voyage was performed in the yeare 1614 and 1615 by Captain Iohn Smith but those neither with any good successe for in the former he neither discovered any golden or silver Mines nor yet found any such usefull Whales as he expected And in the other voyage he was taken by the French Pirates and by them for a while detained A fifth voyage accompanied with a Colony of 19. families set forth from Plimmouth in the beginning of September in the yeare 1620. and on the nineteenth of November following they entered a nooke of the Sea ten miles from Cape Cod and there they stayed untill the sixteenth of December But not liking the place they removed to another more fertill and more commodious over against Milford Haven where having built them a Towne called Plimmoth they have continued for more than twenty yeares And since within these twelve yeares last past many hundreths of families have resorted either to new Plimmouth or they have made other plantations as those of Bristall neare Cape Anna and Connock neare Hinders Bay where they have continued a good while every yeare better and better accommodated with necessary provision for life and not without some indifferent intercourse and correspondency with the Natives upon whom they have thus far wrought toward the bringing them to God as that they usually acknowledge the God of the English to be good but their god which they call Tanto to be nought And yet for feare of the Devill by whom they are expresly prohibited they dare not frequent our Plantatione nor confer with our men about Christian Religion so often as they would Neither indeed is it likely our men should be able to doe any good upon those in respect of a happy conversion to Christ so extreamely seduced and hardened infidels unlesse they were better able to give them Law and by a holy violence compell them as it were to come in which may be done without any colour of injustice or cruâ—lty as tending both to their temporall and eternall felicity especially unlesse they had a greater power and meanes to take away their young children whereby they might become ours and so be brought to the knowledge of Christianity which they might successefully impart unto their miserable seduced parents at least they would be sure to sticks fast to thâ—t most blessed and saving doctrine they learned in their youth And this rule ought generally to be observed in all other our Plantations in America either made or to be made I might adde many other generall and particular observations concerning New England but it would not agree with my former proposall which was not to write all of any place but somewhat of every place Wherefore leaving those who are desirous of farther information to many English Authors who have more fully writ of that Countrey I proceed to the Dutch Plantation New Netherland AS the bounds of New England West-ward and by the South endeth with the Promontory Malebare So the Dutch Plantation beginneth there and extendeth it selfe more Westward and
then three from Manoa the cheife City so as keeping his course as he acknowledgeth he did downe Orinoque running directly North-East from thence there was then no hope of finding what he so eagerly sought for but instead thereof received both in his forces and provisions much losse many of them perishing by water his small vessels being split upon rockes or overwhelmed and swallowed with the violence of the streame and many of them killed by the Natives The first place of note he arrived at was the Province of Amapaia which he affirmed to be rich in gold and though for the greatest time of his abode there which was six moneths he was feircely infefted by the inhabitants yet at length after the concluding of a peace betweene them he obtained eight Images of gold as curiously made as any in Europe which he sent to the King of Spaine The River of Oronoque running on the East side of Amapaia is said to be twelve miles broad and about seven or eight hundreth miles from its fall into the Ocean From hence getting over to the South-East side of Orinoque he sought very diligently to have found an entrance into Guiana but could finde none all places being stopped up with high unpassable mountaines And although he met with divers Rivers both on the one and on the other side of Orinoque yet he professed he could not learne the name of them but onely of the River Caroly neither could he as he pretended for want of the use of Geography expresse of what degrees they were so as he utterly despaired of obtaining any good successe in this voyage untill he came to Emeria where he found store of provision and the inhabitants of a more peaceable and civell disposition The petty King thereof was called Carapana a man of a hundred yeeres of age who in his youth had beene often at the Islands of Trinidado and Margaâ—ita where he traded with the Christians there and learned much from them how to governe his people Berea having staid here some good space of time and having as he conceived gained sufficient knowledge of Guiana betaketh himself without staying anywhere downe the River Oronoque directly to Trinidado from thence not long after he sent backe againe to Carapana who directed them to Morequito Lord of Aramaia as having better knowledge of Guiana living foure or five dayes journey from Magureguaira This Morequito had some few yeeres before brought much gold to Gumana and withall had so highly extolled the great riches of Guiana as that Vedes the Governour of Margarita sought to have obtained a patent thereof from the King of Spaine but was prevented by Berea which so troubled Moreâ—uito for his acquaintance Vedes sake with whom he had much ingratiated himselfe as that though he feared openly to deny Bereas request in sending guides with his men to trucke with the Guianians for gold Yet privily upon their returne which is reported to have beene with much store of gold he caused them to be mutthered neare the bankes of Oronoque one onely escaping to informe Berea of this 〈◊〉 act which he conceiving to have beene plotted by Morequito sent a good part of the men he had at Trinidado to take him and to spoyle his Covntry Before whose coming Morequiâ—o hearing of it fled to Vides for succour but being within a while demanded in the King of Spaines name he was delivered and executed whose execution so displeased the borderers of Oronoque as he thought it not safe ever after to venture with a few men to trafficke that way neither was his strength now sufficient to make his way wherefore expecting sufficient forces from other parts of the Spaniards dominions neerest adjoyning he staid so long at Trinidado untill he was surprized by Sir Walter Raleigh in the yeere 1596. Here then Bereas discovery of Guiana being interrupted it is meet I forbeare any further relation thereof untill I have shewed you what was performed by our worthy Countryman the said Sir Walter Raleigh in his first expedition thither after which as being after it in time the conclusion of Bereas discovery as also of Captaine Kemish and others who were imployed by learned and expert Raleigh that way will more seasonably follow After six weekes and two dayes departure from England Sir Walter Raleigh though he staid seven dayes at Tenerife one of the Canary Islands in expectation of Captaine Preston arived at Trinidado and tooke it within foure dayes where loosing no time in the prosecution of his intended designe for Guiana after diligent search the narrow sea betweene Trinidado and the fall of Oronoque being so shallow and shelvie more especially those branches of the said River all that was then discovered being sound by his Sea-men not above nine foot deepe at high water he was enforced to leave his ships and with a hundred men thronged together in two barges and three whirreys to crosse that narrow sea and to venture up the River by those branches wherein when they had rowed foure dayes his owne barge came a ground so as they were in some feare whether they should ever have got her off againe such was the shallownesse of the River when the flowing of sea had left them After this for many dayes more they wandred here and there for want of a good Pilot not knowing which streame to take the streams multiplying so exceedingly upon them by reason of the many great and small Islands that lye in this wide bottome of Oronoque computated by the most judicious Geographers neare a hundred miles wide from South-east to North-west After they fell upon those Islands commonly called Trivitivans the Inhabitants whereof commonly goe by the name â—awani and Waraweâ—kâ— who in regard they are commonly overflowne from May to September they live in houses upon trees very artificially built their food being Indian bread fâ—â—h and venisons prepared before hand Here they happened on a Pilot more expert then the former who yet within few dayes was out of his knowledge where againe it was their good hap to meet with a 〈◊〉 much more expert one Martin an Arwacan whom 〈◊〉 â—ooke in a Canoa with some others going down Amana one 〈◊〉 the greatest armes of Oronoque to Margarita with store of bread both the Pilot and the bread were of singular use to Sir Walter Raleigh and his almost fainting company without which they had undoubtedly beene much straightned for going any further But by direction they quickly attained unto Arowacy on the South side of Oronoque whereof Toparimaca being Lord entertained them kindly and furnished them with provisions as also with another Pilot yet more experienced in the crosse perplexed streames of Oâ—onique as they grew higher to Guâ—â—na From Arowacy bending their course almost directly Westward they pasted by a great Isle called Arrowâ—pana twenty miles in length and six in breadth and at nighâ— cast Ancour at Ocawyta not one third part so bigge The next night they stayed under Putayma Island from whence
they could plainly discerne the continent to the North-West to be a large pleasant plaine betweene two edges of mounâ—aines consisting of Arable and Medow knowne as their last Pilot affirmed by the name of the great Valley of Sayma running in length almost to Cumana neare upon 120. Leagues The third fourth and fifth day they passed the Isle Manoriparum and a great part of Arromaia On the sixth day they came and staied at the Port of Morequito where he was kindly entertained and informed concerning the state of those parts from Topiowary Lord of Arromaia and unckle to the aforesaid Morequito The information he received from him was that all the Regions thereabout even to Emeria were called Guiana though yet the inhabitants were called Oronoque-poni as farre as the mountaines of Wacarima which they might from thence behold afarre off in the Continent beyond which he told them the large valley of Amariocapana did lye whose inhabitants were called Guianians And that into the Provinces which lye beyond these more to the South there came some yeares since multitudes of people called Oriones and Epuremei who possessed themselves thereof having driven the Natives out of their ancient inheritances the Cassiapagots Eparagots and Arawagots onely excepted who were then great enemies to the Spaniard and possesse Magureguaran a City strongly and stately built and withall amply furnished with gold From hence in two dayes they rowed up neere to the River Caroli where the heady violence of that and the other Rivers as is usuall at that time of the yeere permitted them not then by water to make any higher search into Guiana Here therefore staying three or foure dayes their small company was dispersed by direction of the Commander to view the severall quarters about and above the said River which upon their returne they reported in generall to be very fruitfull in well growne Medowes and Pastures exceeding commodious for hunting hawking fishing fowling as having many plaines cleere Rivers abundance of Pheasants Partriges Quailes Railes Cranes Herons and most other Fowles Deere of all sorts Camas or Antas as big and affording as good nourishment and as pleasant as our English Beefe Porkets Hares Lyons Tygers Leopards and divers other sorts of Beasts either for chase or food But that which most contented them was as being the thing they chiefly aimed at the great store of gold and precious stones the greater and lesser hils promised them the very stones glistering like gold a more then probable argument in the judgement of the best Mineralists that the earth lying a fathome or two deepe under strong spars or quarries of such stone usually called Marcasite hideth much Treasure Upon due consideration of the relations made of those that Sir Walter had sent to review the Inland agreeing so well with what he himselfe had then seene neere the banke of Caroli which he with some few musqueteers undertooke to survey he confidently affirmeth Guiana in no respect to be inferiour to any part of the world His owne lively expressions being a Gentleman of as great learning this way as any one our age hath afforded is worthy to be read and seriously considered I never saw saith he a more beautifull country nor more lively prospects hils so raised here and there over the valleys the River winding into divers branches the plaines adjoyning without bush or stubble all faire greene grasse the ground of hard sand to march on either for horse or foote the Deere crossing in every path the birds towards the evening singing on every tree with a hundred severall tunes Cranes and Herons of white crimson carnation pearching on the River side the Ayre fresh with a gentle easterly wind and every stone we stooped to take up promised either gold or silver by his complexion Your Lordship saith he writing to the Lord Admirall that then was shall see of many sorts and I hope some of them cannot be bettered under the Sunne and yet we had no meanes but with our daggers and fingers to teare them out here and there the rockes being most hard of a minerall sparre as hard or harder then a flint Besides the veines lye a fathome or two deepe in the rockes and we wanted necessary Instruments to have digged the treasure out Which last clause well considered together with what he in his booke of Guiana alleageth for himselfe namely the violence of the waters hourely increasing unseasonablenesse of the yeere the smalnesse of his company the inforced leaving off his ships more then 400 miles for a whole moneth and his unwillingnesse to let the natives now perceive that the intent of his comming was the same vvith the Spaniards chiefly for gold may in my judgement sufficiently answer those vvho have and doe still question the truth of Sir Walters high expressions of Guiana's riches and the most fruitfull and pleasant habitation it affordeth for that he made no longer stay there and brought no more store of Treasure home vvith him The issue of this vvorthy Travelour's first voyage vvas this Not being able by reason of the great downfall and over-bearing streame of Caroli to ascend any further vvithout seeing the Rivers Baraquan Beta Daune and Obarro all falling from the West into Oronoque and being distant each from other about a degree more and more to the South though yet in regard of longitude from East to West they are much alike either from Macurewarai or the great City Manoa He returned in few dayes to the Port of Morequito where he concluded with Topiawaâ—i hostages being given on either side to returne with great forces the next yeere and that in the time he should work with the Oronoque poni to joyne with them in an expedition against their enemies the Epuremei who possessed the regions that most abound with silver and precious stones But here was the unhappinesse of the man I might rather say of the Kingdome that upon his speedy returâ—e into England not above eight moneths from his setting forth he could not though he were very gratious at Court procure a Navy to be sent within a yeere to Topiawari as was promised Whence it came to passe that the foresaid Berea neglecting no time did by the assistance of Carrapana Lord of Emeria againe get up the River of Oronoque with 300 Spanish Souldiers as farre as Caroli where he built a little Towne called Saint Thomas consisting of thirty houses of great consequence to bring under and keepe in the fearfull unarmed borderers of Oronoque and also for opposing any other Nation who should attempt Guiana that way But Sir Walter not understanding of the Spaniards building and strong fortifying Saint Thomas sent forth Captaine Keymish with a ship and a pinnace all he was able to doe at his owne charge the 26 of Ianuary in the yeere 1596 which being foure moneths later then he promised and intended caused Topiawari and the rest of the borderers of Oronoque for feare of Bevea and his Spanish forces to