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of peace； more for doubt of their own strength than for aught else； and in
the end； upon pledge； some of them came aboard。 The same evening there
stale also aboard us in a small canoa two Indians； the one of them being a
cacique or lord of the people； called Cantyman； who had the year before
been with Captain Whiddon； and was of his acquaintance。 By this
Cantyman we understood what strength the Spaniards had； how far it was
to their city； and of Don Antonio de Berreo； the governor； who was said to
be slain in his second attempt of Guiana； but was not。
While we remained at Puerto de los Espanoles some Spaniards came
aboard us to buy linen of the company； and such other things as they
wanted； and also to view our ships and company； all which I entertained
kindly and feasted after our manner。 By means whereof I learned of one
and another as much of the estate of Guiana as I could； or as they knew；
for those poor soldiers having been many years without wine； a few
draughts made them merry； in which mood they vaunted of Guiana and the
riches thereof； and all what they knew of the ways and passages； myself
seeming to purpose nothing less than the entrance or discovery thereof； but
bred in them an opinion that I was bound only for the relief of those
English which I had planted in Virginia； whereof the bruit was come
among them； which I had performed in my return； if extremity of weather
had not forced me from the said coast。
I found occasions of staying in this place for two causes。 The one was
to be revenged of Berreo； who the year before； 1594； had betrayed eight of
Captain Whiddon's men； and took them while he departed from them to
seek the Edward Bonaventure； which arrived at Trinidad the day before
from the East Indies： in whose absence Berreo sent a canoa aboard the
pinnace only with Indians and dogs inviting the company to go with them
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
into the woods to kill a deer。 Who like wise men； in the absence of their
captain followed the Indians； but were no sooner one arquebus shot from
the shore； but Berreo's soldiers lying in ambush had them all；
notwithstanding that he had given his word to Captain Whiddon that they
should take water and wood safely。 The other cause of my stay was； for
that by discourse with the Spaniards I daily learned more and more of
Guiana； of the rivers and passages； and of the enterprise of Berreo； by
what means or fault he failed； and how he meant to prosecute the same。
While we thus spent the time I was assured by another cacique of the
north side of the island； that Berreo had sent to Margarita and Cumana for
soldiers； meaning to have given me a cassado （blow） at parting； if it had
been possible。 For although he had given order through all the island that
no Indian should come aboard to trade with me upon pain of hanging and
quartering （having executed two of them for the same； which I afterwards
found）； yet every night there came some with most lamentable complaints
of his cruelty： how he had divided the island and given to every soldier a
part； that he made the ancient caciques； which were lords of the country； to
be their slaves； that he kept them in chains； and dropped their naked
bodies with burning bacon； and such other torments； which I found
afterwards to be true。 For in the city； after I entered the same； there were
five of the lords or little kings； which they call caciques in the West Indies；
in one chain； almost dead of famine； and wasted with torments。 These are
called in their own language acarewana； and now of late since English；
French； and Spanish； are come among them； they call themselves captains；
because they perceive that the chiefest of every ship is called by that name。
Those five captains in the chain were called Wannawanare； Carroaori；
Maquarima； Tarroopanama； and Aterima。 So as both to be revenged of the
former wrong； as also considering that to enter Guiana by small boats； to
depart 400 or 500 miles from my ships； and to leave a garrison in my back
interested in the same enterprise； who also daily expected supplies out of
Spain； I should have savoured very much of the ass； and therefore taking a
time of most advantage； I set upon the Corps du garde in the evening； and
having put them to the sword； sent Captain Caulfield onwards with sixty
soldiers； and myself followed with forty more； and so took their new city；
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
which they called St。 Joseph； by break of day。 They abode not any fight
after a few shot； and all being dismissed； but only Berreo and his
companion （the Portuguese captain Alvaro Jorge）； I brought them with me
aboard； and at the instance of the Indians I set their new city of St。 Joseph
on fire。 The same day arrived Captain George Gifford with your lordship's
ship； and Captain Keymis； whom I lost on the coast of Spain； with the
galego； and in them divers gentlemen and others； which to our little army
was a great comfort and supply。
We then hasted away towards our purposed discovery； and first I called
all the captains of the island together that were enemies to the Spaniards；
for there were some which Berreo had brought out of other countries； and
planted there to eat out and waste those that were natural of the place。 And
by my Indian interpreter； which I carried out of England； I made them
understand that I was the servant of a queen who was the great cacique of
the north； and a virgin； and had more caciqui under her than there were
trees in that island； that she was an enemy to the Castellani in respect of
their tyranny and oppression； and that she delivered all such nations about
her； as were by them oppressed； and having freed all the coast of the
northern world from their servitude； had sent me to free them also； and
withal to defend the country of Guiana from their invasion and conquest。 I
shewed them her Majesty's picture； which they so admired and honoured；
as it had been easy to have brought them idolatrous thereof。 The like and a
more large discourse I made to the rest of the nations； both in my passing
to Guiana and to those of the borders； so as in that part of the world her
Majesty is very famous and admirable； whom they now call EZRABETA
CASSIPUNA AQUEREWA