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.

To be breef, I am at your Honor’s comandement in love and duty farther than I can sodeynly expresse for haste.  I will wayte upon you at Court, or here at London, about any of these matters or any others, at any time, if I might have but that favour as to heare so much.  I dare not presume of my selfe, for some former respectes.  My fidelity hath never been impeached, and I take that order that it never shall.  I make no application.  And I beseech your Honor to pardon my boldness, because of haste.  My meaning is allwayes good.  And so I most humbly take my leave.  This Sunday, 11th of July 1596.

      Your Honor’s most ready at commandement in all services I may,

THO.  HARRIOTE.

   addressed: 

To the right honorable Sir ROBERT CICILL, Knight
   Principall Secretary to Her Majesty, these.

   Endorsed:  11 July, 1596.  Mr Harriott to my Master.

The vigilant Secretary lost no time in acting upon Hariot’s suggestions.  On the 31st of July Sir George Trenchard and Sir Ralph Horsey wrote to Cecil from Dorchester in reply to his instructions, that they had seized the charts and books of the ’ India Voyage’ [to Guiana] from one Samuel Mace and William Downe, which they would send up to the Secretary if desired.  They were desired, and accordingly sent them by post on the 10th of August.  A few days later Raleigh returned to Plymouth with the first glorious news of the success of the English fleet at Cadiz ; which news completely turned the