onveyed the
intelligence to the court of Madrid, who immediately gave orders for
arming and fortifying all their settlements, particularly those along
the coast of Guiana.

When the courage and avarice of the Spaniards and Portuguese had
discovered so many new worlds, they were resolved to show themselves
superior to the barbarous heathens whom they invaded, not only in
arts and arms, but also in the justice of the quarrel: they applied
to Alexander VI.., who then filled the papal chair; and he generously
bestowed on the Spaniards the whole western, and on the Portuguese the
whole eastern part of the globe. The more scrupulous Protestants, who
acknowledged not the authority of the Roman pontiff, established the
first discovery as the foundation of _their_ title; and if a pirate or
sea adventurer of their nation had but erected a stick or a stone on the
coast, as a memorial of his taking possession, they concluded the whole
continent to belong to them, and thought themselves entitled to expel or
exterminate, as usurpers, the ancient possessors and inhabitants It was
in this manner that Sir Walter Raleigh, about twenty-three years before,
had acquired to the crown of England a claim to the continent of Guiana,
a region as large as the half of Europe; and though he had immediately
left the coast, yet he pretended that the English title to the whole
remained certain and indefeasible. But it had happened in the mean time,
that the Spaniards, not knowing, or not acknowledging, this imaginary
claim, had taken possession of a part of Guiana, had formed a settlement
on the River Oronooko, had built a little town called St. Thomas, and
were there working some mines of small value.

To this place Raleigh directly bent his course; and, remaining himself
at the mouth of the river with five of the largest ships, he sent up the
rest to St. Thomas, under the command of his son, and of Captain Keymis,
a person entirely devoted to him. The Spaniards, who had expected this
invasion, fired on the English at their landing, were repulsed, and
pursued into the town. Young Raleigh, to encourage his men, called out,
"That this was the true mine, and none but fools looked for any
other;" and, advancing upon the Spaniards, received a shot, of which
he immediately expired. This dismayed not Keymis and the others. They
carried on the attack, got possession of the town, which they afterwards
reduced to ashes; and found not in it any thing of value.