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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
THE DISCOVERY OF
GUIANA
By Sir Walter Raleigh
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Sir Walter Raleigh may be taken as the great typical figure of the age
of Elizabeth。 Courtier and statesman； soldier and sailor； scientist and man
of letters； he engaged in almost all the main lines of public activity in his
time； and was distinguished in them all。
His father was a Devonshire gentleman of property； connected with
many of the distinguished families of the south of England。 Walter was
born about 1552 and was educated at Oxford。 He first saw military service
in the Huguenot army in France in 1569； and in 1578 engaged； with his
half…brother； Sir Humphrey Gilbert； in the first of his expeditions against
the Spaniards。 After some service in Ireland； he attracted the attention of
the Queen； and rapidly rose to the perilous position of her chief favorite。
With her approval； he fitted out two expeditions for the colonization of
Virginia； neither of which did his royal mistress permit him to lead in
person； and neither of which succeeded in establishing a permanent
settlement。
After about six years of high favor； Raleigh found his position at court
endangered by the rivalry of Essex； and in 1592； on returning from
convoying a squadron he had fitted out against the Spanish； he was thrown
into the Tower by the orders of the Queen； who had discovered an intrigue
between him and one of her ladies whom he subsequently married。 He was
ultimately released； engaged in various naval exploits； and in 1594 sailed
for South America on the voyage described in the following narrative。
On the death of Elizabeth； Raleigh's misfortunes increased。 He was
accused of treason against James I； condemned； reprieved； and imprisoned
for twelve years； during which he wrote his 〃History of the World；〃 and
engaged in scientific researches。 In 1616 he was liberated； to make another
attempt to find the gold mine in Venezuela； but the expedition was
disastrous； and； on his return； Raleigh was executed on the old charge in
1618。 In his vices as in his virtues； Raleigh is a thorough representative of
the great adventurers who laid the foundations of the British Empire。
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
RALEIGH'S DISCOVERY OF
GUIANA
The Discovery of the large； rich； and beautiful EMPIRE Of GUIANA；
with a Relation of the great and golden CITY of MANOA； which the
Spaniards call EL DORADO； and the PROVINCES of EMERIA；
AROMAIA； AMAPAIA； and other Countries； with their rivers； adjoining。
Performed in the year 1595 by Sir WALTER RALEIGH； KNIGHT；
CAPTAIN of her Majesty's GUARD； Lord Warden of the STANNARIES；
and her Highness' LIEUTENANT…GENERAL of the COUNTY of
CORNWALL。
To the Right Honourable my singular good Lord and kinsman
CHARLES HOWARD； Knight of the Garter； Baron； and Councillor； and
of the Admirals of England the most renowned； and to the Right
Honourable SIR ROBERT CECIL； KNIGHT； Councillor in her Highness'
Privy Councils。
For your Honours' many honourable and friendly parts； I have hitherto
only returned promises； and now； for answer of both your adventures； I
have sent you a bundle of papers； which I have divided between your
Lordship and Sir Robert Cecil； in these two respects chiefly； first； for that
it is reason that wasteful factors； when they have consumed such stocks as
they had in trust； do yield some colour for the same in their account；
secondly； for that I am assured that whatsoever shall be done； or written；
by me； shall need a double protection and defence。 The trial that I had of
both your loves； when I was left of all； but of malice and revenge； makes
me still presume that you will be pleased （knowing what little power I had
to perform aught； and the great advantage of forewarned enemies） to
answer that out of knowledge； which others shall but object out of malice。
In my more happy times as I did especially honour you both； so I found
that your loves sought me out in the darkest shadow of adversity； and the
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
same affection which accompanied my better fortune soared not away
from me in my many miseries； all which though I cannot requite； yet I
shall ever acknowledge； and the great debt which I have no power to pay； I
can do no more for a time but confess to be due。 It is true that as my errors
were great； so they have yielded very grievous effects； and if aught might
have been deserved in former times； to have counterpoised any part of
offences； the fruit thereof； as it seemeth； was long before fallen from the
tree； and the dead stock only remained。 I did therefore； even in the winter
of my life； undertake these travails； fitter for bodies less blasted with
misfortunes； for men of greater ability； and for minds of better
encouragement； that thereby； if it were possible； I might recover but the
moderation of excess； and the least taste of the greatest plenty formerly
possessed。 If I had known other way to win； if I had imagined how greater
adventures might have regained； if I could conceive what farther means I
might yet use but even to appease so powerful displeasure； I would not
doubt but for one year more to hold fast my soul in my teeth till it were
performed。 Of that little remain I had； I have wasted in effect all herein。 I
have undergone many constructions； I have been accompanied with many
sorrows； with labour； hunger； heat； sickness； and peril； it appeareth；
notwithstanding； that I made no other bravado of going to the sea； than
was meant； and that I was never hidden in Cornwall； or elsewhere； as was
supposed。 They have grossly belied me that forejudged that I would rather
become a servant to the Spanish king than return； and the rest were much
mistaken； who would have persuaded that I was too easeful and sensual to
undertake a journey of so