Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician, the Philosopher and the ScholarStevens, Henry
Philosophy
Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician, the Philosopher and the Scholar
Stevens, Henry
Harriot, Thomas, 1560-1621; Hercules Club
Although Captain Kemish be not come home rich, yet he hath don the
speciall thing which he was injoined to do, as the discovery of the
coast betwixt the river of Amasones and Orinico, where are many goodly
harbors for the greatest ships her Majesty hath and any nomber; wher
there are great rivers, and more then probability of great good to be
don by them for Guiana, as by any other way or to other rich contryes
borderinge upon it. As also, the discovery of the mouth of Orinico it
self,—a good harbor and free passage for ingresse and egresse of most
of the ordinary ships of England, above 3 hundred miles into the
contry. Insomuch that Berreo wondred much of our mens comming up so
far; so that it seemeth they know not of that passage. Nether could
they, or can possibly, find it from Trinidado; from whence usually they
have made their discoveryes. But if it be don by them the shortest way,
it must be done out of Spayne. Now, if it shall please her Majesty to
undertake the enterprise, or permitte it in her subjectes, by her
order, countenance, and authority, for the supplanting of those that
are now gotten thither, I thinke it of great importance to keepe that
which is don as secretly as we may, lest the Spaniardes learne to know
those harbors and entrances, and worke to prevent us.
And because I understand that the master of the ship with Captain
Kemish is somewhat carelesse of this, by geving and selling copyes of
his travelles and plottes of discoveryes, I thought it my dutye to
remember it unto your wisdome, that some order might be taken for the
prevention of such inconveniences as may thereby follow : by geving
authority to some Justice, or the Mayor, to call him before them, and
to take all his writinges and chartes or papers that concerne this
discovery, or any elce, in other mens handes, that he hath sold or
conveyed them into ; and to send them sealed to your Honor, as also to
take bond for his further secrecy on that behalf. And the like order to
be taken by those others, as we shall further informe your Honor of,
that have any such plots, which yet, for myne owne parte, I know not
of; or any other order, by sending for him up or otherwise, as to your
wisdome shall seeme best.
Concerning the Eldorado which hath been shewed your Honor out of the
Spanish booke of Acosta, which you had from Wright, and I have scene,
when I shall have that favour as but to speake with you I shall shew
you that it is not ours—that we meane—there being three. Nether doth he
say, or meane, that Amazones river and Orinoco is all one,—as some, I
feare, do averre to your Honor ; as by good profe out of that booke
alone I can make manifest; and by other meanes besides then this
discovery, I can put it out of all dout.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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