Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/55

 mine owne vnsatisfied affection: hoping that because I doe name Guiana vnto thee, thou wilt vouchsafe hoc nomine, to uaile and couer all other my defects in the desert of a good meaning. In publishing this Treatise, my labor principally tendeth to this end; to remoue all fig-leaues from our vnbeliefe, that either it may haue 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 serue the Spaniard his turne so wel 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 aduertised 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 proue, and be hereafter taken for worse the paricide) would be of better purpose, then to hood winke our selues, as who would say, No man shall see vs. Besides if the action were wholy to bee effected at her Maiesties charge; then might it at her Highnesse pleasure be shadowed with some other drift, and neuer be discouered, vntill it were acted. But since it craueth the approbation and purses of many Adventurers, who cannot be so prodigall both of their possessions and liues, as voluntarily to run themselues 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 and induce them vnto it. The Spaniard is not so simple, vnsetled, and vncertaine 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 trauailes, reports, and substantial proofes of his own men, that haue aboue 60. yeeres beaten roundabout this bush. And to say a trueth, the expedition that he hath vsed in sending so many ships in February last to people this country, and disappoint vs; 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 and long deliberations, that in 12. moneths space haue done, or sought to doe nothing worthy the ancient fame and reputation of our English nation, interested in so weighty businesse. His late