The Epistle of master Laurence Kaymis to the reader.
To the Favourers of the Voyage for Guiana
.
IN things earnestly desired, though never so likely, we are
still suspicious: thinking it more credite to our common
wisedome, to discredite most noble and profitable indevours with distrust, then touch to our valours and safeties,
to lie wilfully idle. So that howsoever an action well and
judicially attempted, bee esteemed halfe performed; yet is
this my jealous conceite concerning Guiana
, that nothing
is begun, before all be ended. In this regarde (gentle
Reader) I have presumed to burthen thine eares with the
weake plea of a good cause, and in stead of opening it
throughly to thy prudent consideration, to note only mine
owne unsatisfied affection: hoping that because I doe
name Guiana
unto thee, thou wilt vouchsafe hoc nomine,
to vaile and cover all other my defects in the desert of a
good meaning. In publishing this Treatise, my labor
principally tendeth to this end; to remove all fig-leaves
from our unbeliefe, that either it may have cause to shake
off the colourable pretences of ignorance: or if we will not
be perswaded; that our selfe-will may rest inexcusable.
They that shall apply, and construe this my doing, to
serve the Spaniard his turne so well as our owne; in so
much as it may seeme to instruct, warne, and arme him:
for their satisfaction herein, they must not be ignorant,
that his eyes, in seeing our shipping there, doe as effectually informe him, that many of our hearts are toward that
place, as if it should be credibly advertised by some
corrupt hireling, that we thinke, write, and discourse of
nothing els. Neither can I imagine, that to conceale our
knowledge herein (which to conceale may perhaps prove,
& be hereafter taken for worse then paricide) would be of
better purpose, then to hood winke our selves, as who
would say, No man shall see us. Besides, if the action
were wholy to bee effected at her Majesties charge; then
might it at her Highnesse pleasure be shadowed with
some other drift, and never be discovered, untill it were
acted. But since it craveth the approbation and purses
of many Adventurers, who cannot be so prodigall both of
their possessions and lives, as voluntarily to run themselves out of breath, in pursuing they know not what:
great reason it is, that where assistance is to be asked,
due causes be yeelded to perswade & induce them unto it.
The Spaniard is not so simple, unsetled, & uncertaine in
his determinations, as to build them on our breath, or to
make our papers his Bulwarks; nor so slow as to expect
a precedent of our forwardnes. His proceedings are sufficiently strengthened with the travailes, reports, & substantial proofes of his own men, that have above 60. yeres
beaten round about this bush. And to say a trueth, the
expedition that he hath used in sending so many ships in
February last to people this country, & disappoint us; as
it doth consequently shew, that he findeth his chiefest
force and sinewes to consist in golde : so doeth he thereby
plainly to our faces exprobrate our remisnesse & long
deliberations, that in 12. moneths space have done, or
sought to doe nothing worthy the ancient fame & reputation of our English nation, interessed in so weighty
businesse. His late provision of a new supply of whole
families to the number of 600. persons, bound for Guiana
,
but that it pleased God, that by meanes of that right
honourable service most resolutely performed in the seafight, and sacking of Cadiz
, the ships wherein they should
have bin conveyed, were converted into ashes: what might
it signifie? Certes, as it doth evidently prove, that El
Dorado hath undoubted credit & account in their judgements: so pointeth it at us, whilst we only to entertain
idle time, sit listening for Guiana
newes, & instantly forget
it, as if it were nought els, but a pleasing dreame of a
golden fancy. If we with our selves shall expostulate,
how this commeth to passe, that the advantage wholy
resting on our side, in respect that Berreo was this last
yere beaten out, the countrey throughly discovered, & the
Inhabitants made desirous of her sacred Majesties happy
government; they notwithstanding by entring before us,
have now gotten ye start of us: what may we thinke?
Shal wee judge that their native countrey is lesse deare,
or more wearisome unto them, then ours is unto us?
Their Peruleri, who going bare & empty out of Spaine, do
againe within 3. or 4. yeres returne from Peru
, rich and
in good estate, doe apparently disprove all such conceits
of them. Shall wee say that they have more spare men to
be imployed in such actions? It is no secret to know the
contrary. Are they subject to penury? In all parts of
Christendom, where money is not scant, all other things
are plentifull. Or is their land not able to sustain their
numbers of people? They buy many slaves to follow
their husbandry, & themselves disdaining base idlenes &
beggery, do all honour military profession, highly esteeming it in their mercenaries and strangers. Is it then want
of ability, in those that are willing, lacke of incouragement, or default of speedy order and direction for those
that doe voluntarily offer themselves, their substance, &
best indevour to further this cause; that maketh us to be
thus coated of the Spaniard? The first is no question.
The later needeth no answere. The profit then by their
example to be gathered, is, not to loose opportunitie by
delay, or to seeme feareful and dismayed, where there is
no cause of doubt. For as yet their post-haste doeth no
way prejudice our advised leisure in setting forward,
since their preparations of Negros to worke in the mynes,
their horses, cattell, and other necessaries may (by the
favour of God) at our first comming, both store us with
quantities of gold oare, and ease us of much trouble,
paines, and travaile. If we should suppose our selves now
to live in the dayes of King Henry the seventh of famous
memory, and the strange report of a West Indies, or new
world abounding with great treasure should entice us to
beleeve it: perhaps it might be imputed for some blame to
the gravity of wise men, lightly to bee carried with the
perswasion and hope of a new found Utopia, by such a one
as Columbus
was, being an alien, and many wayes subject
to suspition. But since the penance of that incredulity
lieth even now heavy on our shoulders; the example
forethreatning, I know not what repentance: and that we
have the personal triall of so honourable and sufficient a
Reporter, our own Countriman: let it be farre from us
to condemne our selves in that, which so worthily we
reprove in our predecessors; and to let our idle knowledge
content it selfe with naked contemplation like a barren
wombe in a Monastery. We cannot denie that the chiefe
commendation of vertue doth consist in action: we truely
say, that Otium is animae vivae sepultura: we beleeve, that
perfect wisedome in this mobility of all humaine affaires,
refuseth not with any price to purchase safetie: and we
justly do acknowledge that the Castilians from bare
legged mountainers have atteined to their greatnesse by
labour & industrie. To sleepe then, because it costeth
nothing; to imbrace the present time, because it flattereth
us with deceitfull contentment; and to kisse security,
saying, What evill happeneth unto us? is the plaine high
way to a fearefull downfall : from which the Lord in his
mercy deliver us, and give us an understanding heart, in
time to see, and to seeke that, which belongeth unto our
peace.
