city. Part of the information of the discovery that went to his majesty goeth enclosed in Alonso's letters; it is a thing worth the seeing. The report of Domingo Martinez of Jamaica concerning the Dorado. HE saith, that in 1593, being at Carthagena, there was a general report of a late discovery called Nuevo Dorado, and that a little before his coming thither, there came a frigate from the said Dorado, bringing in it the portraiture of a giant all of gold, of weight forty-seven quintals, which the Indians there held for their idol. But now admitting of Christianity and obedience to the king of Spain, they sent their said idol unto him, in token they were become Christians, and held him for their king. The company coming in the said frigate reported gold to be there in most abundance, diamonds of inestimable value, with great store of pearl. The report of a Frenchman, called Boutillier, of Sherbrouke, concerning the Trinedado and the Dorado. HE saith, that being at Trinedado in 1591, he had of an Indian there a piece of gold of a quarter of a pound in exchange of a knife; the said Indian told him he had it at the head of that river which cometh to Paracoa in the Trenedado; but said within the river of Oroonoko it was in great abundance. Also in 1593, being taken by the Spaniards, and brought prisoner into the island of Madeira, (the place for his prison,) there came in this mean time a bark of forty tons from a new discovery, with two millions of gold; the company whereof reported gold in that place to be in great abundance, and called it the Nuevo Dorado. This Frenchman passed from Spain in the bark, and having a cabin near a gentleman, one of the discoverers that came from that place in the said bark had divers times conference with him, and amongst other things, of the great abundance of gold in the said Dorado, being, as they said, within the river of Oroonoko. Reports of certain merchants of Rio de Hacha concerning the Nuevo Dorado. THEY said, (advancing the king's great treasure in the Indies,) that Nuevo Reygno yielded very many gold mines, and wonderful rich; but lately was discovered a certain province so rich in gold, as the report thereof may seem incredible, it is there in such abundance, and is called the Nuevo Dorado: Antonio de Berreo made the said discovery. The report of a Spaniard, captain with Berreo in the discovery of Nuevo Dorado. THAT the information sent to the king was in every point truly said, that the river Oroonoko hath seven mouths or outlets into the sea, called Las Siete Bocas de Drago; that the said river runneth far into the land, in many places very broad, and that Anth. de Berreo lay at Trinedado, making head to go to conquer and people the said Dorado. SIR WALTER RALEGH'S APOLOGY. If the ill success of this enterprise of mine had been with out example, I should have needed a large discourse, and many arguments for my justification. But if the vain attempts of the greatest princes of Europe, both among themselves and against the great Turk, are in all modern histories left to every eye to peruse, it is not so strange that myself, being but a private man, and drawing after me the chains and fetters whereunto I have been thirteen years tied in the Tower, (being unpardoned, and in disgrace with my sovereign lord,) have, by other men's errors, failed in the attempt I undertook. For if that Charles the Fifth returned with unexampled loss, (I will not say dishonour,) from Algier in Africa; or if king Sebastian lost himself and his army in Barbary; if the invincible fleet and forces of Spain in eighty-eight were beaten home by the lord Charles Howard, admiral of England; if Mr. Strozzi, the count Brizack, the count of Vimiosoa, and others, with a fleet of fifty-eight sail, and six thousand soldiers, encountered with far less numbers, could not defend the Terceres, leaving to speak a world of other attempts furnished by kings and princes; if sir Francis Drake, sir John Hawkins, and sir Thomas Baskervile, men for their experience and valour as eminent as England had any, strengthened with divers of her majesty's ships, and filled with soldiers at will, could not possess themselves of the treasure they sought for, and which in their view was embarked in certain frigates at Puerto Rico; if afterward they were repulsed with fifty negroes upon the mountains of Vasques Numius, or Sierra de Capira, in their passage towards Panama; if sir John Norris (though not by any Inoyoso. Archbishop Sancroft. |