downewarde thynke the worlde to be in maner no bygger then theyr owne dungehylles or cagies lyttle passynge whether the Chrystian fayth do spreade through the worlde or bee dryuen to one corner Euen so al good wyttes and honest natures I doubte not wyl not onely reioyce to see the kyngedome of God to bee so farre enlarged vppon the face of the earthe to the confusion of the deuyll and the Turkysshe Antichryste The Christian Empire enlarged but also do the vttermost of theyr poure to further the same For surely as Gonsalus Ouiedus wryteth to the Emperours maiestie in his hystorie of the Weste Indies that he thynketh hym no trewe Spanyarde whiche reioyceth not in the good fortune of theyr kynges by whose ayde and godly zeale this myghtie portion of the worlde hath byn added to the flocke of Chrystes congregation The conuertion of the gentyles Euen so do I thinke them no trewe Chrystian men that do not reioyce with the Angels of heauen for the deliuerie of these owre brootherne owre flesshe and owre bones from the handes of owre commune enemie the oulde serpente who hath so longe had them in hys possession vntyll the fulnesse of the gentyles be accomplysshed accordynge to the time prefinite by hym who vnto the yeare after his incarnation M. CCCC.lxxxxii hath suffered the greate serpente of the sea Leuiathan Leuiathan to haue suche dominion in the Ocean and to caste such mystes in the eyes of men that sence the creation of the worlde vntyll the yeare before named there hath byn no passage from owr knowen partes of the world to these newe landes wheras nowe the same are moste certeynely knowen to be not past .xxx. dayes saylynge from Spayne Neyther yet had the church of Europe any knowleage of the myghtie Chrystian Empire of Preciosus Iohannes otherwyse cauled Presbyter Iohannes Emperour of many Chrystian nations in Ethiope Prester Iohn the Christian Emperour of Ethiope vntyll the yeare of Chryste M. CCCC.xxxiii as largely appeareth in the nauigations of the Portugales and especially in the booke of Damianus a Goes wrytten to the bysshop of Rome Paule the thyrde of that name of the fayth and religion of the Ethiopians which they haue hadde sence the tyme of the Apostles A thynge certes most woonderfull and suche that yf the same were not hydde hetherto by gods vnsercheable prouidence I can not but thynke much negligence or ignorance in owr forefathers and predicessours vntyll the dayes of the ryght noble prudent and Catholike kynge of Aragon Don Ferdinando grandfather to Themperours maiestie by his eldest dowghter Don Ferdinando kynge of Aragon to the queenes hyghnesse by his seconde dowghter the most vertuous lady queene Catherine her graces moother A prince doubtelesse of suche nobilitie prowes magnificence and all other vertues commendable in a prince that who so shall indifferentely way all his doinges and good successe in all his affayres comparinge the same to thenterpryses and doinges atchyued by suche famous princes in whome the Greekes and Romans haue so greately gloryed maye with one eye perceaue not onely howe farre his noble factes do surmount theyrs but also wel consyder what noble braunches of isshewe were lyke to sprynge owt of so woorthy a stocke And suerly if sence the begynning of the worlde the fauour of god toward men hath byn knowen by such benefites and blessynges as he hath geuen to men The fauour of god knowen by his benefites it seemeth to me that in maner onely Chryste excepted there neuer lyued man to whom god hath geuen greater benefites and shewed more fauoure Great doubtlesse was the fauour and mercie that god shewed vnto Noe Noe. by whom he saued the remanent of mankynde beinge but fewe in number But much greater was the grace which he shewed to kynge Ferdinando vnder whom and by whose meanes he saued not onely the bodies but also the soules of innumerable millions of men inhabytynge a great part of the worlde heretofore vnknowen and drowned in the deluge of erroure What god hath wrought by kynge Ferdinando What shulde I here speake of Abraham the father of fayth whose promyses were great Abraham and he cauled the frende of god Dyd he or his posteritie see Israell increase to such multitudes and nations as kyng Ferdinandos posteritie may see thincrease of this spirituall Israell vnto whome as a seconde Abraham he was the father of fayth Spirituall Israell Moises was so great in the syght of god that he disclosed vnto hym his secreate name Moises and miraculously caused a corner of the sea to open at his prayer But howe greater a myracle was it that he opened vnto the nauie of Don Ferdinando the greate Ocean thowght before that tyme to bee without ende where neuerthelesse he and his posteritie the kynges of Spayne haue nowe planted a newe Israell muche greater then that whiche Moises ledde throughe the red sea It were here superfluous to speake of Dauid whom Godde founde a man accordynge to his hartes desyre Dauid and yet maye it be doubted whether his plages and scourges were greater then his benefites His sonne Salomon for al his inconstant and wauerynge wysedome and his great ryches obteyned by his nauigations to Ophir Salomon Ophir yet was there at this tyme no knowleage of Antipodes Antipodes neyther dydde any of his shyppes sayle abowt the hole worlde perce the Ocean The nauigation rounde about the worlde and trauerse the Equinoctial line to thinferiour hemispherie or halfe globe of the earthe and sea as dyd the famous shyppe Uictoria sent furth by Themperours maiestie A thyng doubtlesse so strange and marueylous that as the lyke was neuer done before so is it perhaps neuer lyke to be done ageyne so farre haue the nauigations of the Spanyardes excelled the vyage of Iason and the ' Argonautae to the region of Colchos or all that euer were before And although in the booke of kynges and Paralipomenon it bee hyperborically wrytten that in the daâ—es of Salomon golde syluer were in HierusaleÌ„ in maner as plentiful as stones that his seruantes brought from Ophir foure hundreth fiftie talentes of gold yet do we not reade that any of his shyppes were so laden with golde that they soonke as dyd a shyppe of kynge Ferdinandos as yow maye reade in the last booke of the fyrste Decade Neyther was the dominion of Salomon extended from the ryuer of Euphrates to the lande of the Philistians and thextreme confines of Egypte to be compared with the large Empire whiche the kynges of Spayne haue in the west Indies The dominion of Salomon Paral 9. The Indies Nor his ryches of golde to be thought much in respect of that which hath byn browght from thense into Spayne as shall playnely appere to al suche as wyll seeke to knowe the truth hereof But to let passe to speake any further of the myracles which god hath wrought
speaketh euyll of the poure resisteth and speaketh euyll of god Thou shalt not speake euyll of the prince or ruler of thy people saith saint Paule But wheras nowe by the poure of Neptunus I wot nere with what wynde I haue byn dryuen thus farre from my nauigations The nauigations of the Spanyardes I haue thoughâ— good to turne my sayles and to folowe the ordinarie course which I beganne and by thexemple of this woorthy capitayne kynge Ferdinando encourage al other to theyr poure to attempte the lyke vyages As touchynge the which in fewe woordes to declare my opynyon if any man sâ—ulde asâ—e me what I thynke these thinges wyll growe to in tyme I wyll answere as dooth the autoure of this booke that when I consyder howe farre owre posteritie shall see the Christian religion enlarged I am not able with tounge or penne to expresse what I conceaue hereof in my mynd Yet one thyng I see which enforceth me to speake lament that the haruest is so great the workemen so few The Spanyardes haue shewed a good exemple to all Chrystian nations to folowe But as god is great and woonderfull in all his woorkes so besyde the portion of lande perteynyng to the Spanyardes beinge eyght tymes bygger then Italye as yowe maye reade in the laste booke of the seconde Decade and beside that which perteineth to the Portugales Itali is 〈◊〉 myles in lengthe and 126. in breadthe there yet remayneth an other portion of that mayne lande reachynge towarde the northeast thought to be as large as the other and not yet knowen but only by the sea coastes neyther inhabyted by any Christian men whereas neuerthelesse as wryteâ—h Gemma Phrisius in this lande there are many fayre and frutefull regions hygh mountaynes and fayre ryuers with abundaunce of golde and dyuers kyndes of beastes Also cities and towres so wel buylded and people of such ciuilitie that this parte of the worlde seemeth lyttle inferiour to owre Europe if thinhabitauntes had receaued owre religion They are wyttâ—e people and refuse not barterynge with straungers These regioÌ„s are cauled Terra Florida and Regio Baccalearum or Bacchallaos of the which yow may reade sumwhat in this booke in the vyage of the woorthy owlde man yet lyuing Sebastiane Cabote The lande cauled Terra florida regio baccalearum in the .vi. booke of the thyrde Decade Looke the last booke thirde decade But Cabote touched only in the north corner and most barbarous parte hereof This region is now cauled Noua Hispania Sâ—m thinke that this câ—tie is Quinsaâ— of marcus Pâ—ulus from whense he was repulsed with Ise in the moneth of Iuly Neuerthelesse the west and south partes of these regions haue sence byn better searched by other and founde to bee as we haue sayde before The chiefe citie in the southwest partes of these regions is cauled Temixtetan or Mexico in maner vnder the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri and sâ—rongely defended by the nature of the place Looke the last booke of the 3. decade and the beâ—â—nâ—ing of the booke of â—he landâ—s lately â—ound For it standeth in a very great lake hauynge abowt it innumerable bridges and buyldynges to be compared to the woorkes of Dedalus Thâ—nhabitaunâ—es also can wryte and reade Summe wryters connecte thâ—s lande to the firme lande of Asia But the truth hereof is not yet knowen And althoughe the Spanyardes haue certeyne colonies in that part of this lande that is nowe cauled Noua Hispania yet are the people for the moste parte Idolatours Howe much therfore is it to be lamented and howe greatly dooth it sounde to the reproche of all Christendome and especially to such as dwell nerest to these landes as we doo beinge muche nearer vnto the same then are the Spanyardes as within .xxv. dayes saylinge and lesse howe muche I saye shall this sounde vnto owre reproche and inexcusable slothfulnesse and negligence bothe before god and the worlde that so large dominions of such tractable people and pure gentiles not beinge hytherto corrupted with any other false religion and therefore the easyer to bee allured to embrase owres are nowe knowen vnto vs and that we hauâ— no respecte neyther for goddes cause nor for owre owne commoditie to attempte summe vyages into these coastes to doo for owr partes as the Spaniardes haue doone for theyrs and not euer lyke sheepe to haunte one trade and to doo nothynge woorthy memorie amonge men or thankes before god who maye herein woorthely accuse vs for the slackenesse of owre dewtie towarde hym Saynt Paule the doctoure of the gentiles to whose Apostelshippe also these newe gentiles doo perteine was of such zeale toward the Iewes whom god had reiected The godlye zeale of S. Paule that he wysshed hym selfe to bee accursed of god for theyr sakes He went from Damascus to Arabie preached the gospell in Grecia came prisoner to Rome was scourged and stoned and suffered thryse shypwracke what then thinke yow he wold do if he were now aliue Is it to be thought that he wolde not aduenture .xxv. dayes saylynge to come to such a marte of soules in such redinesse to bee easely obteyned I beleue verely that neyther death nor the deuyll nor Leuiathan nor the worlde shulde let hym but that he wolde geue thonset ageynst them all in hope of victorie by hym by whom he sayth he can doo all thynges He was not negligent in his office nor ignorant of his rewarde but trusted to the promesse of him that sayde by the mouth of the prophet Isai Isai. 66. Of them that shal be saued I wyl sende sum to the gentyles in the sea into Aphrike and Libia Italie and Grecia and into the Ilandes a farre of to theÌ„ that haue not harde of me and haue not seene my glorie The like zeale that Paule had and proceadynge of the same spirite hath euer sence Chrystes tyme moued not only the Apostles but also many other famous and godly men as superuisours of his testamente to sende owte preachers into dyuers partes of the worlde to shewe furth the gladde tydynge of the gospell By this zeale dyd Gregorye bysshoppe of Rome and fyrste of that name Gregorie thâ— First when he sawe Englysshe mens chyldren in Rome and asked what nation they were when answere was made hym in the laten tounge that they were Angli that is Englysshe men he sayd alludyng to the similitude of the worde that they myght wel be cauled Angeli that is Angels Thoffice of byshoppes Meanyng therby that lyke as god had done his part in geuyng them bodies of natural bewtie and comelynesse so it apperteyned to his office beinge the cheefe pastoure of goddes flocke to prouyde that theyr soules might be made woorthy to inhabite such bodies and the hole nation consecrated vnto god by baptisme For he sayde furthermore It is meete that vnto these also the gospell of life bee preached And hereuppon immediatly sent preachers into
Seleucus Nicanor whiche attempted to cutte in sundre certeyne places cauled Isthmi beinge narowe portions of lande so diuidynge twoo seas that there is no passage from the one to the other and yet neuer finisshed that they tooke in hande beinge hyndered eyther by deathe The rewarde of noble enterprises warres or other chaunces The auncient Romans Greekes gaue such glorye vnto them that had eyther well deserued of the common welthe or otherwyse attempted such great enterprises as might bee profitable for mankynde that after theyr death they caused Images of golde syluer brasse Iuery and marble to bee made to theyr lykenesse and the same to be placed in theyr solemne haules palaices or temples with certeyne verses made to the comnendation of them whom the Images represented And thâ—s no lesse to prouoke and encorage other forwarde natures to themulaâ—ion of their vertues then alâ—o to geue them the due honoure of theyr iust desertes And surely if â—uer sence the begynnynge of the worlde any enterpryse haue deserued greate prayse as a thynge atchyued by men of heroicall vertue doubtlesse there was neuer any more woorthy commendation and admiration then is that whâ—che owre nation haue attempted by the north seas to discouer the mightie and riche empire of Cathay The vyage to Caâ—hay by the north seas by whâ—ch vyage not only golde syluer precious stones and spices may be browght hether by a safer and shorter way but also much greater matters may hereof enâ—ewe in tyme if it shall please God to gyue vnto Christian men such passage into those regions whereby such familiaritie may further growe betwene the ChristiaÌ„ princes of Europe and the greate emperoure of Cathay that as wryteth Haytho De societate Christianorum et Tartarorum there can nothynge be imagined more effectuall for the confusion of the Turke if the great Cham of Cathay and the Sophie of Persia on the one syde Societie betwene the Tâ—eâ—aâ—s and the Christians The Turke The Sophie and the Christian Princes on the other syde shulde with one consent inuade his dominions as dyd Tamburlanes Themperoure of the Tartars who abowte the Tambulanes Baiasetes yeare of Christe M. CCC.lxxxxviii toke prisoner Baiasetes Ottomanus Themperoure of the Turkes and slewe .xx. thousande of his men in one battayle besyde many other great victories as yowe may further reade in this booke in the hystorie of Paulus Iouius And to haue sayde thus muche in maner of a preface it may suffice ¶ To the moste noble Prince and Catholike kynge Charles Peter Martyr of Angleria wysheth perpetuall felicitie THe diuine prouidence frome the tyme that he fyrste created the worlde hathe reserued vnto this day the knowleage of the great and large Ocean sea The largenes of the Ocean vnknowen to this day In the which tyme he hath opened the same chiefely vnto yowe moste mightie Prince by the good fortune and happie successe of yowr grandfather by yowr mothers syde The same prouidence I knowe not by what destenie hath brought me owt of my natiue countrey of Milane and owt of the citie of Rome where I continued almost .x. yeares into Spaine that I myght particularlye collecte these marueylous and newe thynges which shoulde otherwyse perhappes haue line drowned in the whirlepoole of obliuion forasmuch as the Spanyardes men woorthy greate commendation had onely care to the generall inuentions of these thynges Notwithstandinge I doo not chalenge vnto me only the thankes of the trauaile bestowed herein wheras the chiefe rewarde therof is due to Ascanius vicounte Cardinal Cardinal Ascanius who perceauynge that I was wylling to departe owt of the citie to be present at the warres of Granatum The warres of Granatum ageynst the Moores dissuaded me from my purpose But seing that I was fully resolued to departe exhorted and required me to wryte vnto hym such newes as were famous in Spayne and woorthy to be noted I tooke therfore my iorney into Spaine chiefely for the desyre I had to see thexpedition whiche was prepared ageynst the enemies of the fayth forasmuche as in Italye by reason of the dissention amonge the Princes I coulde fynde nothynge wherewith I myght feede my wytte beinge a younge man desyrous of knowleage and experience of thynges I was therefore presente at the warres frome whense I writte to Cardinal Ascanius and by sundry epistels certifyed hym of such thynges as I thought moste woorthye to be put in memorie But when I perceaued that his fortunâ— was turned from a naturall moother to a steppedame I ceased from wrytynge Yet after I sawe that by thouerthrowe of the enemies of owre faythe Spayne was pourged of the Moores as of an euyll weede plucked vp by the rootes Leaste I shulde bestowe my slippery yeares in vnprofitable Idlenesse I was mynded to returne to Italie But the singuler benignitie of bothe the Catholyke kynge and queene nowe departed and theyr large promises towarde me vppon my returne frome my legacie of Babilon deteyned me frome my purpose The autour was â—ent ambassadour to the Soltane of Alcayr in Egypte Yet dooth it not repent me that I drewe backe my foote Aswel for that I see in no other place of the worlde at this time the lyke woorthy thinges to bee done As also that in maner throwgh owt all Italy by reason of the discorde of the Christian Princes I perceaued all thynges to runne headelonge into ruine Italy disquiâ—ted with warres the countreys to be destroyed and made fatte with humane bludde The cities sacked virgines and matrones with theyr gooddes and possessions caried away as captâ—ues and miserable innocentes without offence to be slayne vnarmed within theyr owne houses Of the which calamities The sequeles of water I dyd not onely heare the lamentable owtcryes but dyd also feele the same For euen the bludde of mine owne kinsfolkes and frendes was not free from that crueltie As I was therfore musynge with my selfe of these thynges the Cardinal of Arragonie after that he had seene the two fyrste bookes of my Decades wrytten to Ascanius required me in the name of kynge Frederike his vncle Kynge Frederike to put foorth the other eyght epistell bookes In the meane tyme also while I was voyde of all care as touchynge the matters of the Ocean the Apostolicall messengers of the bysshopppe of Rome Leo the tenth Leo the tenth â–ª byshoppe of Rome by whose holsome counsayle and autoritie we truste the calamities of Italy shal be fynysshed raysed me as it were frome sleape and encoraged me to proceade as I had begunne To his holynesse I writte two Decades coÌ„prysed in short bokes after the maner of epistels and added them to the fyrst which was printed withowt myne aduise as shall further appeare by the preface folowynge But nowe I returne to yow most noble Prince from whom I haue sumwhat digressed Spayne subdued from the Moores Therfore wheras yowr graundefathers by yowre moothers syde haue subdued all Spayne
the waters whiche faule from the hygh hylles to the valleys that beinge loosed they may with force brust owte into greate fluddes and ouerflowe the countrey if the people doo not gyue due honoure to her Image There remayneth yet one thynge woorthy to bee noted wherwith we wyll make an ende of this booke It is a thynge well knowen and yet fresshe in memory amonge the inhabitantes of the Ilande that there was sumetyme twoo kynges of the which one was the father of Guarionexius of whoÌ„ we made mention before which were woont to absteyne fyue dayes togyther continually from meate and drinke Fyue dayes fastinge to knowe sumwhat of theyr Zemes of thynges to coome A maruelous ilâ—usion of the deuyll And that for this fastynge beinge acceptable to theyr Zemes they receaued answere of them that within fewe yeares there shuld coome to the Ilande a nation of men couered with apparell which shulde destroye al the customes and cerymonyes of the Iland and eyther sley all theyr chyldren The deuyll sumtyme telleth truth or brynge them into seruitude The common sort of the people vnderstoode this oracle to bee mente of the Canibales And therefore when they had any knowleage of theyr commyng they euer fledde and were fully determyned neuer more thaduenture the battayle with them But when they sawe that the Spanyardes had entered into the Ilande consultinge amonge them selues of the matter they concluded that this was the nation which was meÌ„t by thoracle The Idols abolyshed Wherin theyr opinion deceaued them not For they are nowe all subiecte to the Christians all suche beinge slayne as stoobernely resisted Nor yet remayneth there anye memory of theyr Zemes for they are al brought into Spayne that we myght bee certified of theyr illusions of euyl spirites and Idoles the which yowe yowre selfe most noble Prince haue seene and felte when I was presente with yowe I let passe many thynges bycause yow put me in remembrance that to morowe yowe take yowre iorney towarde yowre countrey to brynge home the queene yowre aunte whom yowe accoompanyed hether at the commaundemente of kynge Frederyke yowre vncle Wherfore I byd yowe farewel for this tyme desyrynge yowe to remember yowre Martyr whome yowe haue compelled in the name of the kynge yowre vncle to gather these fewe thynges owte of a large feelde of hystoryes ¶ The tenth and laste booke of the fyrst decade as a conclusion of the former bookes Wrytten to Inacus Lopez Mendocius countie of Tendilla and viceroye of Granata AT the fyrst begynnynge and newe attempte when Colonus had taken vppon hym thenterpryse to search the Ocean sea I was ernestly moued and requyred by the letters of certeyne of my frendes and noble men of Rome to wryte suche thynges as shoulde happen For they whyspered with greate admiracion that where as there were many newe landes founde and nations which liued naked and after the lawe of nature The Lawe of nature they coulde here noo certentie therof beinge greately desyrous of the same In this meane tyme had fortune ouerthrowne Ascanius his brother Lodouike beinge cast owt of Mylayne by the frenchmen whose autoritie wold not suffer me to bee idle Milayne in the hands of the frenchmeÌ„ but euer to haue my pen in hande To hym I wryte the twoo fyrst bookes of this decade besyde many other of my hyd commentaries whiche yowe shall see shortely Fortune dyd noo lesse withdrawe my mynde frome wrytynge then disturbe Ascaniuâ— from power As he was tossed with contrary stormes and ceased to persuade me euen soo slacked my feruentnes to enquyre any further vntyl the yeare of Christe .1500 When the court remayned at Granata where yowe are viceroye At which time Lodouike the Cardinall of Aragonie neuie to kynge Frederike by his brothers syde beinge at Granata with the queene Parthenopea the syster of owre catholike kynge browght me kynge Frederikes letters wherby he exhorted me to fynyshe the other bookes whiche folowed the twoo epystell bookes Epistel books which I wryte to Ascanius For they both acknowleaged that they hadde the copie of all that I wryte to cardinall Ascanius And albeit that euen then I was sicke as yowe knowe yet tooke I the burden vppon me and applyed my selfe to wrytynge I haue therfore chosen these fewe thynges owte of a greate heape of suche as seemed to me most woorthy to bee noted amonge the large wrytynges of the autoures and searchers of the same Wherfore forasmuch as yowe haue endeuoured to wreste owt of my handes the hole exemple of al my woorkes to adde the same to the innumerable volumes of yowre librarie I thowght it good nowe to make a breefe rehersall of those thynges which were done from that yeare of a thowsande and fyue hundreth The historye folowing conteyneth the actes of ten yeare euen vnto this yeare which is the tenth from that For I entende to wryte more largelye of these thynges hereafter if god graunte me lyfe I hadde wrytten a hole booke by it selfe of the superstitions of the people of the Ilande supposinge therwith to haue accomplyshed the hole Decade consistynge of tenne bookes But I haue added this to the tenthe as a perpendiculer lyne and as it were a backe guyde or rerewarde to the other So that yowe may knytte the fyrst tenthe to the nynthe and impute this to occupie the place of the tenthe to fyll vp the Decade This order haue I appoynted lest I shulde bee compelled often times to wryte ouer the hole woorke or sende yowe the same defaced with blottes and interlynynge But nowe let vs coome to owre purpose The shippe masters and maryners ranne ouer many coastes durynge these tenne yeares But euer folowed suche as were fyrste fownde by Colonus For rasinge continually alonge by the tracte of Paria Paria part of the firme laÌ„d of East India which they beleue to bee parte of the firme lande or continent of easte India sume of theym chaunced vppon certeyne newe landes towarde the easte and sume towarde the weste in which they fownde bothe goulde and frankensence Golde frankensence For they browght from thense many iewels and ouches of golde and greate plentie of frankensence whiche they had of the people of those countreys partely for exchange of sume of owre thynges and partely by force ouer commynge them by warre Yet in sume places althowgh they bee naked The fiercenes of the naked people they ouercame owre men and slewe hole armyes For they are excedinge fierce and vse venemous arrowes and longe staues lyke iauelens made harde at the ende with fyer They fownde many beastes Innumerable beastes vnlyke vnto owres both creepinge and foure footed muche differinge from owres variable and of sundrye shapes innumerable yet not hurtflul excepte Lyons Tygers and Crocodiles This I meane in sundry Regions of that greate lande of Paria but not in the Ilandes Noo not soo much as one For all the beastes of
with snowe sauynge that at certeyne â—ymes of the yeare the onely toppes are seene hate bicause the snow is there molten by reason of the thicke and warme â—loudes The playnes therfore or mylde softe and pleasaunt mountaynes seeme to brynge foorthe golde And the rough craggye mountaynes with their coulde valleyes are the places whâ—re syluer is engendered Note where goâ—d and sylueâ— are engeÌ„dered They haue also laton wherof they make such maces and hammers as are vsed in the warres I thinke this lâ—ton to â—e sum kyâ—de of pure copper â–ª or els copper that holdeâ—h golde Foâ— laton is an artificial meâ—aâ— hath no natuâ—all myne Theyr bokes Dyggynge mattockes also and spades for they haue nother Iren nor steele But lette vs nowe speake of the presentes sent into Spayne to the kyng and fyrste of the bokes These procuratours therfore of the newe colonie of the prouynce of Colluacana emong other their presentes brought also a great number of bookes the leaues wherof are made of the inner ryndes or barkes of trees thinner then eyther that of the elme or of the salowe These they smere or annoint with the pytche of molten Bitumen and while they be softe extend them to what forme them lysteth When they be coulde and harde they rubbe them ouer with a certeyne playster It is to bee thoughte that they beate the playster into fine floure and so temperynge it with sum byndynge moister to make a cruste therwith vppon the leaues wheron they wryte with any sharpe instrument and blotte the same againe with a â—punge or sum suche other thynge as marchaunt men and noble mens stewardes are accustomed to do with their wrytynge tables made of the woodde of fygge trees The leaues of their bokes are not set in order after the maner of owres but are extended many cubettes in length The matters whiche they write are conteyned in square table Not loose but so bounde togither with the toughe and flexible cley cauled Bitumen that they seeme lyke woodden tables whiche had byn vnder the handes of cunnyng bokebynders Which way so euer the booke lyeth open there are two leaues seene and two sydes written with as many lyinge hyd vnder them exâ—epte the booke be vnfoulded in length For vnder one leafe there are many leaues ioyned togyther The formes of their letters are nothynge lyke vnto owres Theyr letters But are muche more crooked and entangeled lyke vnto fyshehookes knottes snares starres dise fyles and suche other muche lyke vnto the Egiptian letters and written in lynes lyke vnto owres Here and there betwene the lynes are pictured the shapes of men dyuers beastes And especially the Images of kynges and other noble men what is conteyned in theyr bookes Wherby it is to be thought thaâ— in suche bookes the factes of their kynges are conceyued as wee see the lyke emonge vs howe owre printers expresse the summe of histories in pictures that men may therby be the more allured to bye suche bookes The couerynges of their bookes are also artifycially wrought and paynted When they are shutte they seeme to differre nothynge from owres in forme In these bookes are furthermore comprehended their lawes rytes of ceremonies and sacrifyces annotations of Astronomie accomptes computations of tymes with the maner of graffynge sowyng and other thynges perteinyng to husbandry They begynne the yeare from the goynge downe of the seuen starres cauled Vergiliae or Pleiades And counte theyr monethes accordyng to the moones They name a moneth Tona of the moone For in theyr language they caule the moone Tona they reken the dayes by the soonnes Therfore as many daies as they name they saye so many soonnes The soonne in their tonge is cauled Tonatiâ—o They destribute the yeare without any reason why into twentie monethes And the moneth into as many dayes The temples whiche they frequent Templeâ— rychly adourned they adourne with golden hangynges and other ornamentes of golde and syluer with precious stones intermixte At the springe of the daye Prayer they perfume their temples with frankensence and make their praiers before they take in hande any other busynesse But oh horrible crueltie For thinhabitauntes of all these tractes also doo sacrifyce children to their Idoles in lyke maner as wee haue sayde before They sacryfice chyldren captyues At suche tyme as the seedes lye in the ground and when the corne begynneth to shewe foorth the eare they destinate to their Zemes suche bondmen as they haue bought or suche captiues as they haue taken in the warres which they sacrifyce after that they haue made them great chiere and decked them in precious apparell Also before they sacrifyce these poore wretches A wronge way to heaueÌ„ they lead them about the towne whyle al the people salute them humbly and reuerently affyrmyng that in shorte space they shal be receaued into the coompanye of the goddes They honour their Zemes with an other sharp kind of deuotion For they lette them selues bludde eyther in the tonge Bluddy gods lyps eares legges thyghes or brest which they take in their handes and hurle it vppe towarde heauen soo that with the faule therof the pauement of the temple is all sâ—arcled with bludde wherby they thincke that their goddes are well pleased From the newe colonie cauled Villa Ricca nyne myles distante Villa Ricca there is a towne of .xv. thousande houses whiche thinhabitauntes caule Cemobal but owre men named it Sybilla Siuilla Noua The kynge of this towne had fyue men whiche he reserued to be sacrifyced Whom when owre men wold haue delyuered the kynge made humble request to them sayinge that if they tooke awaye suche men as he had consecrated to be offered to the goddes they shulde brynge vtter destruction to hym and all his kyngdome The force of an owlde errour For if owre sacrifyces sayd he do cease owre Zemes wyll take suche displeasure with vs that they wyll suffer owre corne graffes and frutes to bee consumed of woormes scortched with drowth destroyed with fluddes or blasted with lyghtnynge Owre men perceauynge his ernestnesse herein thought it beste to chose the least euel perceauynge that it was yet no tyme to disquyes their myndes and therfore suffered them to exercise their accustomed ceremonies And althoughe their priestes promysse theym immortall glorie eternall felicytie and perpetuall conuersation with the goddes after the stormye dayes of this lyfe Theyr priests lyue chast yet do they with heauy countenaunces giue eare to their promisses and had rather be sette at lybertie Their priestes are named Quines in the plurell number and Quin in the syngular They leade a pure and chaste lyfe And are honoured of the people with feare and reuerence They make fagots of the bones of their enemyes which they haue taken in the warres Faggots of bones and hange vppe the same at the feete of their Zemes as tokens of the victories obteyned by their fauour To these they adde certayne
Amonge the whiche certes those are esteemed moste trewe and autentyke which haue byn wrytten by wyttie and expert men well trauayled in the worlde as faythfull wytnesses of suche thynges as they haue partely seene and byn partely informed by credible persons Of this mynde and opinion was Plinie who better then any other autoure hathe wrytten in xxxvii bookes al that perteyneth to the naturall historie conteyned al in one volume dedicated to Uespasian Themperour Wherein as a prudente historiographer he declareth suche thynges as he had harde Attributynge the seconde autoritie to suche as he had redde in autoures that wrote before hym And thyrdely ioyned to the same hystorie such thynges as he hym selfe had seene as moste certeyne testimonie Whose exemple I folowynge wyl in this my breefe summarie reduce and represent to yowr maiesties memorie such thynges as I haue seene in yowre Empyre of the West Indies aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande of the Ocean sea where I haue serued nowe more then twelue yeares in the place of suruoyer of the golde mynes by the commaundemente of the Catholyke kynge Don Fernando the fyfte of that name and graundfather vnto yowre maiestie to whom god gaue great fame and glorie Sense whose death also I haue lykewies serued and trust whyle the rest of my lyfe yet remayneth to serue yowre maiestie as shall please yowe to commaunde As touchynge which thinges and such other lyke I haue more largely written in a hystorie begunne as sone as my age was rype to take suche matters in hande Wherein furthermore I haue made mention of suche thynges as haue chaunced in Spaine from the yeare .1494 vnto this tyme. Addynge also thereunto suche thynges woorthy memorie as I haue obserued in other realmes and prouinces where I haue trauayled And haue likewise particulerly wrytten the lyues and woorthy actes of the catholyke Princes of famous memorie Don Ferdinando and lady Elizabeth his wyfe to theyr last dayes After whose fruition of heauenly Paradyse I haue noted suche thynges as haue chaunced in yowre most fortunate succession Not omittynge particularly to wryte a large booke of such thynges as haue seemed moste woorthy to bee noted as touchynge yowre maiesties Indies But for asmuche as that volume remaineth in the citie of San. Dominico in the Ilande of Hispaniola where I dwell and am placed in housholde with wyfe chyldren and famelie I haue brought no more with me of that my writynge then I beare in memorie Determynynge notwithstandynge for yowre maiesties recreation to make a breefe rehearsall of certeyne notable thynges wherof I haue more largely entreated in my sayde general historie and such as may seeme moste woorthy to bee redde of yowre maiestie Of the which although a great parte haue byn wrytten by other who haue also seene the same yet perhappes they are not so exactly and particularly described as of me forasmuche as in maner all that trauayle into these Indies haue greater respecte to luker and gaynes then diligently to searche the woorkes of nature wherunto I haue byn euer naturally inclyned and haue therfore with all possible endeuour applyed myne eyes and intelligence to fynde the same And this presente Summarie shall not bee contrary or dyuers from my larger historie wherin as I haue sayde I haue more amplye declared these thynges but shal onely more breefely expresse theffect therof vntyl such tyme as Godde shal restore me to myne owne house where I may accomplyshe and fynishe my sayd general hystorie Where vnto to gyue the fyrst principle I say that Don Christopher Colonus as it is well knowen beinge the fyrste Admyrall of this India discouered the same in the dayes of the Catholyke kynge Don Ferdinando and the ladye Elyzabeth his wyfe graundfather and graundmother vnto yowre maiestie In the yeare .1491 And came to Barzalona in the yeare 1492. with the fyrst Indians and other shewes and profes of the great ryches and notice of this west Empire The whiche gyfte and benefyte was suche that it is vnto this daye one of the greatest that euer any subiect or seruant hath done for his prince or countrey as is manifeste to the hole worlde And to saye the trewth this shall doubtlesse bee so commodious and profytable vnto the hole realme of Spayne that I repute hym no good Castilian or Spanyarde that doothe not recognise the same And as I haue sayde before forasmuch as in my sayde generall historie I haue more largely intreated of these thynges I intend at this present only briefely to rehearse certeyne especiall thynges the whiche suerly are verye fewe in respecte of the thousandes that myght bee sayde in this behalfe Fyrst therfore I wyl speake sumwhat of the nauigation into these parties Then of the generation of the nations whiche are founde in the same with their rytes customes and cerimonies Also of beastes foules byrdes woormes fysshes seas ryuers sprynges trees plantes herbes and dyuers other thinges which are engendered boothe on the lande and in the water And forasmuche as I am one of thorder and company of them that are appointed to returne into these regions to serue yowre maiestie yf therfore the thynges conteyned in this booke shall not bee distincte in such order as I promised to performe in my greater woorke I desyre yowre maiestie to haue no respecte herevnto but rather to consyder the noueltie of suche straunge thynges as I haue herein declared whiche is the chiefe ende that moued me to write Protestyng that in this Summarie I haue written the trewth of suche thynges as coome to my remembraunce wherof not onely I my selfe can testifye but also diuers other woorthy and credible men which haue bin in those regions and are nowe presente in yowre maiesties courte And thus it shal suffyce to haue saide thus much vnto yowre maiestie in maner of a proheme vnto this present worke which I most humbly desyre yowre maiesticas thankfully taccept as I haue written it faythfully ¶ Of the ordinary nauygation from Spayne to the Weste Indies THe nauygation whiche is commonly made from Spayne to the Weste India is from Siuile where yowre maiestie haue yowre house of contractation for those partes with also yowre offycers thervnto perteynynge of whom the capitaines take their passeporte and lycence The patrones of suche shyppes as are appoynted to these vyages imbarke theym selues at san Luca di Barameda where the ryuer Cuadalchiber entereth into the Ocean sea And from hense they folowe their course toward the Ilandes of Canarie Of these seuen Ilandes they commonly touche two that is eyther Grancanaria or Gomera ▪ And here the shyppes are furnysshed with freshe water fuell cheese biefe and suche other thynges whiche may seeme requisyte to be added to suche as they brynge with them owte of Spayne From Spayne to these Ilandes is coommonly eyght dayes saylinge or lyttle more or lesse And when they are arryued there they haue sayled two hundereth and fyftie leaques whiche make a thousande myles accomptyng foure
of the which the sayde pilote brought summe with hym into Spayne They haue syluer and copper and certeyne other metalles They are Idolaters and honoure the soonne and moone Idolaters and are seduced with suche superstitions and errours as are they of the firme And to haue wrytten thus muche it maye suffice of suche thinges as haue semed to me most woorthy to be noted in the SuÌ„marie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus wrytten to TheÌ„perours maiestie ¶ Of other notable thynges gathered owte of dyuers autours And fyrste of the vniuersal carde and newe worlde THe hole globe or compase of the earth was dyuyded by the auncient wryters into three partes as Europa Affrica and Asia whiche partes conteyne in longitude .180 degrees begynnynge the fyrst degree at the Ilandes of Canarie And conteyne in latitude towarde the North .63 degrees begynnynge the fyrste degree frome the Equinoctiall And .10 degrees towarde the South All the reste of the longitude which conteyneth other .180 degrees is discouered of late tyme as the West India cauled the newe worlde west India the newe worlde bycause none of the owlde autoures had any knowelege or made any mention therof All that therfore is cauled newe which is Westwarde from the Ilandes of Canarie And thus accomptynge these .180 degrees towarde the East discouered in owlde tyme with the other .180 degrees discouered of late dayes they make 360. degrees which is al the circle of the Equinoctiall in the sphere The circumference of the Equinoctiall lyne Also the part aboue the .63 degrees of the North latitude The North regions was founde by men of late tyme as Norway and Grutlande with many other prouinces Lykewise the part more south then .10 degrees of latitude The South regions was discouered of late dayes althoughe Ariane and Plinie say that it was knowen in owlde tyme whiche yf it were yet had they no suche particular description thereof as we haue in these dayes ¶ A discourse of the vyage made by the Spanyardes rounde abowte the worlde THe vyage made by the Spanyardes rownde abowt the worlde is one of the greatest and moste marueylous thynges that hath bynne knowen to owre tyme. And althoughe in many thynges we excell owre aunciente predicessours in this especiallye wee so farre exceade all theyr inuentions that the lyke hath not heretofore byn knowen to this day This viage was written particularly by Don Peter Martyr of Angleria being one of the counsayle of Themperours Indies Don Peter Martyr to whom also was commytted the wrytyng of the hystorie and examination of al suche as returned from thense into Spayne to the citie of Siuile in the yeare M. D. xxii But sendynge it to Rome to bee prynted in that miserable tyme when the citie was sacked it was lost and not founde to this day or any memory remaynynge therof Rome sacked sauynge suche as sum that redde the same haue borne in mynde And amonge other notable thynges by hym wrytten as touchynge that vyage this is one that the Spanyardes hauynge sayled abowt three yeares and one moneth A day lost in three yeares and one moneth and the most of them notynge the dayes day by day as is the maner of all them that sayle by the Ocean they founde when they were returned to Spayne that they had loste one daye So that at theyr arryuall at the porte of Siuile beinge the seuenth day of September was by theyr accompt but the sixth day And where as Don Peter Martyr declared the strange effecte of this thynge to a certeyne excellente man who for his singuler lernynge was greately aduaunced to honoure in his common welthe and made Themperours ambassadoure this woorthy gentelman who was also a greate Philosopher and Astronomer answered that it coulde not otherwyse chaunce vnto them hauynge sayled three yeares continually euer folowynge the soonne towarde the West And sayde furthermore that they of owlde tyme obserued that all suche as sayled behinde the soonne towarde the West dyd greatly lengthen the day And albeit that the sayde booke of Peter Martyr is perysshed yet hath not fortune permitted that the memorie of so woorthy and marueylous an enterpryse shulde vtterly bee extincte forasmuch as a certeyne noble gentleman of the cytie of Uincenza in Italie cauled master Antonie Pigafetta who beinge one of the coompanie of that vyage and after his returne into Spayne in the shyppe Uictoria Antonie Pigafetta was made knyght of the Rhodes wrote a particular and large booke therof which he gaue to Themperours Maiestie and sente a coppie of the same into Fraunce to the lady Regente mooâ—her vnto the frenche kynge who committed it to an excellent philosopher cauled master Iacobus Faber Iacobus Faber hauyng longe studyed in Italy wyllynge him to translate it into the Frenche toonge This booke therefore was printed fyrst in the frenche toonge and then in the Italien with also an epistle to the Cardinall of Salsepurge as touchynge the same viage written by Maximiliane Transiluane secretarie to Themperours Maiestie Maximilian Transiluane in the yeare .1522 And doubtelesse amonge al the cities of Italie the citie of Uicenza may herein much glorie that beside the ancient nobilitie and many excellent and rare wyttes whiche it hath browght furth aswell in learnynge as discipline of warre it hath also had so woorthy and valiaunt a gentleman as was the sayde master Antonie Pigafetta who hauing compased abowte the ball or globe of the worlde hath lykewyse described that vyage particularly For the whiche his so noble and woonderfull an enterprise so happily atchiued The rewarde of noble enterpryseâ— if the same had byn doone in the owlde tyme when th empyre of the Grekes and Romans florysshed he shulde doubtelesse haue byn rewarded with an Image of marble or golde erected in a place of honoure in perpetuall memorie and for a singular exemple of his vertue to the posteritie In fine this may we bouldly affirme that the antiquitie had neuer such knowlege of the worlde whiche the soonne coompaseth abowte in xxiiii houres The antiquitie had no suche knowlege of the worlde as we haue as we haue at this presente by thindustrye of men of this owre age But before I speake any thynge of the viage I haue thought it good fyrst to adde hereunto the Epistle of Maximilian Transiluane which he wrote to the Cardinall of Salsepurge as a preface to his sayde booke ¶ The Epistle of Maximilian Transiluane secretarie to The Emperours maiestie wrytten to the ryght honorable and reuerende lorde the lorde Cardinall of Salsepurge of the marueylous and woonderfull nauigation made by the Spanyardes rounde abowt the worlde in the yeare of Christ. M. D. xix IN these daies my most honorable and reuerend lorde returned one of those fiue shippes which the yeare before Themperours beinge at Saragosa in Spayne were at his maiesties commaundement sent to the newe worlde heretofore vnknowen vnto vs to seeke the Ilandes of spices The
or Moscouite interpretours hearynge theyr prince to bee so cauled of straunge nations began them selues also to name hym an Emperour and thinke the name of Czar to bee more worthy then the name of a kynge althowgh they signifie all one thynge But who so wyl reade all theyr hystories and bookes of holy scripture The greate Turke shall fynde that a kynge is cauled Czar and an Emperour Kessar By the lyke erroure Themperour of the Turkes is cauled Czar who neuerthelesse of antiquitie vsed no hygher tytle then the name of a kynge expressed by this woorde Czar And hereof the Turkes of Europe that vse the Slauon tounge caule the citie of Constantinople Czargead that is the kynges citie Sum caule the prince of Moscouie the whyte kynge The whyte kynge whiche I thinke to proceade of the whyte cappes or other tyrementes they weare on theyr heades lyke as they caule the kynge of Percia Kisilpassa that is redde headde The duke of Moâ—couia his tyâ—le He vseth the tytle of a kynge when he writeth or sendeth to Rome the Emperour the pope the kynge of Suetia and Denmacke the greate master of Prussia and Liuonia and also to the greate Turke as I haue byn credably informed but he is not cauled kynge of any of them excepte perhappes of the Liuons Yet by reason of his later conquestes sum haue thought hym worthy the name of a kynge or rather of an Emperour bycause he hath kynges vnder his Empire To the kynge of Polone he vseth this tytle The greate lorde Basilius by the grace of god lorde of all Russia and greate duke of Uuolodimeria Moscouia Nouogardia c. leauynge owt the tytle of a kynge For none of them vouchesafeth to receaue the letters of the other augmented with any new tytle as I knewe by experience at my being in Moscouia at which tyme Sigismundus the kynge of Polone sente hym his letters augmented with the tytle of the duke of Masouia wherwith he was not a lyttle offended They glorie in theyr hystories that before Uuolodimeria and Olha the lande of Ruâ—sia was baptised and blessed of saynt Andrewe thappostle of Chryst Russia baptysed by saynte Andrewe the Apostle affirmynge that he came from Grecia to the mouthes of the ryuer Borysthenes and that he sayled vppe the ryuer to the mountaynes where as is nowe Chiouia and that there he blessed all the lande and placed his crosse prophesyinge also that the grace of god shulde bee greate there and that there shulde bee many churches of Chrystian men Lykewyse that he afterwarde came to the sprynges of Borysthenes vnto the great lake Uuolok and by the ryuer Louat descended into the lake Ilmer from whense by the ryuer Uuolcon whiche runneth owte of the same lake he came to Nouogardia and passed frome thense by the same ryuer to the lake Ladoga and the ryuer Heua and so vnto the sea whiche they caule Uuaretzkoia beinge the same that we caule the Germayne sea betwene Uuinlandia or Finlandia and Liuâ—nia by the whiche he sayled to Rome and was at the laste crucified for Chryste his gospell in Peloponnesus by the tyranny of Agus Antipater as theyr crownacles make mention The prynce euery seconde or thyrde yeare causeth a muster to bee taken of the soonnes of the Boiarons The Moscouites warres and takethe an accoumptâ— bothe of theyr number and howe many horses and men euery of them is able to make and then appoynteth a certeyne stypende to suche as are able further to beare theyr owne charges in the warres They haue seldome any rest or quyetnesse For they eyther keepe warre with the Lithuanians Liuonians Suetians or Tartars of Casan Or yf it so chaunce that the prynce keepe no warre yet dooth he yearely appoynte garrysons of .xx. thousande menne in places abowt Tanais and Occa to represse the incursions and robberyes of the European Tartars cauled Precopites As in other matters Dyuers maners of dyuers people in the ware euen so in thorder of warrefare ther is great diuersitie amonge men For the Moscouian as soone as he begynneth to flye thinketh of none other succoure but putteth all his confidence therein Beinge pursued or taken of his enemie he neyther defendeth him selfe nor desirethe perdon The Tartar cast of from his horse spoyled of al his armure weapons and also sore wouÌ„ded defendeth hym selfe with handes feete and teethe and by all meanes he may vntyll his strength and spirite fayle hym The Turke when he seeth hym selfe destitute of all helpe and hope to escape doth humbly desyre pardon casting away his weapons armure and reching furth to the victourer his handes ioyned together to be bounde hopynge by captiuitie to saue his lyfe The Moscouites in placeinge theyr armye chuse them a large playne where the best of them pytch theyr tentes the other make theÌ„ certen arbours of bouwes fyxt in the grounde The Moscouytes army bendyng together the toppes therof whiche they couer with theyr clokes to defende them selues theyr bowes arrowes saddyles and other theyr necessaries from rayne They put furth theyr horses to pasture and for that cause haue theyr tentes so farre in sunder which they fortifye neyther with cartes or trenches or any other impedyment excepte perhappes the place bee defended by nature as with wooddes ryuers and marysshes It may perhappes seeme straunge howe he maynteyneth hym and hys so longe with so smaule an armye as I haue sayde howe he maynteyneth his army I wyll nowe therfore brefely declare they re sparynge and frugalitie He that hath syxe or sumtymes more horses vseth one of them as A packe horse to beare all theyr necessaryes eyes He hath also in a bagge of two or three spanes longe the floure or meale of the grayne cauled mylle and .viii. or x. poundes weyghte of swynes flesshe poudered He hathe lykewyse A bagge of salte myxte with pepper if he bee ryche Furthermore euery man caryeth with hym A hatchet A fyre boxe and a brasen potte so that if they chaunce to coomme to any place where they can fynde no frutes garlyke onyons or flesshe they kyndle a fyre and fylle theyr pottes with water wherunto they put a spoonefull of meale with a quantitie of salte and make pottage therof wherwith the master and all hys seruauntes lyue contented But if the master bee very hungary he eateth all alone and the seruantes are sumtymes inforsed to faste for the space of two or three dayes And yf the master intende to fare sumwhat more delycately then he addeth therto a lyttle portion of swynes flesshe I speake not thys of the best of them but of suche as are of the meane sorte The gouernours and capytaynes of tharmye doo sumtymes bydde the poorer sorte to they re tables where theye feede them selues so wel that they fast two or three dayes after When they haue frutes garlyke and onyons theye can well forbeare all other meates Procedynge forwarde to the battayle they put more confydence in
foelicissimo vestro matrimonio orationae satis fusa tractauit in qua nihil pretermisit ê™ ad Celsitudinis vestrae et progenitorum vestrorum gloriam virtute partam pertineat CaeteruÌ„ cum regiae vestre virtutes nominisque spleÌ„dor ac regnorum amplitudo alias per vniuersa Christiani orbis imperia satis nota sint nisi forte ibi minime vbi maxime nota esse debereÌ„t nempe in hoc Angliae regno ideo operepraecium et rem omnibus bonis gratam quodque mei est officij erga Celsitudines vestras me facturum existimaui si haec nostris vt dixi hominibus nostraque lingua ob oculos contemplanda proposuero Quod quam foeliciter aut dextre a me factum sit aliorum esto iudicium Quam vero fideliter syncere ac animo in Maiestatis vestras propenso hoc idem aggressus sum testis est mihi conscientia mea in conspectu illius qui hominum corda et renes scrutatur Macteigitur virtutis istius animi vestri estote Serenissimi Principes atque Diuino auxilio freti pergite ea qua coepistis fiducia huius deploratae ac collapsae reipub â–ª nostrae statum pristino decori restituere id ê™ omnes a vobis expectant atque effâ—agitant pollicentes insuper vobis in eo negotio suam operam in nullo defuturam Ne terreat vos quoruÌ„dam canum latratus qui bonis omnibus oblatrant et tunc desinent latrare cum desinent viuere Vulgatissimum semper fuit improbos homines viris probis vel propter inuidiam vel propter dissimilitudinem solere latrare Et tamen ille pro bus semper habitus est quem peruersi maxime improbauerint Non est igitur curandum quid de nobis homunculi sed quid viri boni loquantur Cogitat Serenissimi Principes ê™ magnanimitate ac ma iorum insignijs aquilis et leonibus similes estis Aquilae natura est alta petere et aduersus solis radios in altum volare Leonis proprium est parcere subiectis et debellare superbos Generosus equus per plateas incedens canes vt animalcula imbella praeterit non perturbatus â–ª Virtus non exercita inquit Seneca ad Neronem paruam laudem meretur Non admodum magnificum fuerit mediocrem fortunam probe administrare Sed tanta rerum omnium licentia non abuti hoc vero admirabile est Multo autem admirabilius in iuuenili ac lubrica aetate cui accedat aetas magistra hijs praesertim qui contumelia lacescuntur quae alioqui homines vel placidissimos solet de gradu deijcere Sed vt supra dixi non est hic meâ—propositi Serenissimi Principes vestras laudes pro meritis decantare aut exprimere quo modo in summo rerum fastigio vos humiles praebuistis de quare fuâ—ius in praefacione ad lectores tractaui Iam itaque vt huic epistolae dedicatoriae finem imponam rogo Serenissimas Maiestates vestras vt has meas lucubrationes in hijs autoribus vertendis quas vestro nomini consecraui ea humanitate ac fauore suscipiatis quibus omnes beneuolo animo ad vos accedentes facile admittitis ac neminem reijcitis QueÌ„admodum enim qui pomarium aut vineam plantauit ac maturos inde fructus collegit illi merito primitias soluit a quo prima semina primasque arborum insitiones habuit ita et ego qui a maiorum vestrorum rebus gestis primis sumptis seminibus hos qualescumqueâ—tuctus aedidi videor profecto mihi debito vestro honore vos defraudasse nisi eosdeÌ„ vestro nomini ac numini obtulissem Deus Opt. Max. Celsitudines vestras perpetuo seruat incolumes faxitque vt foecunda sobolis propagine summaque pace ac traÌ„quillitate huius regni habenas ad Diuini nominis gloriam diu gubernetis FINIS ¶ The table of the contentes of this booke Besyde the Decades the table of whose contentes yow may reade in the ende of the booke are conteyned furthermore in this boooke these thynges folowynge ¶ Of the landes and Ilandes latâ—ly founde Folio 149. The popes bulle and donation 167. and. 171. The hystorie of the Weste Indies wrytten by Gonzalus Ferdinandus 174. The ordinarie nauigation from Spayne to the Weste Indies 175. Of two notable thynges as touchynge the West Indies and of the greate ryches brought from thense into Spaine 176 Of the golde mines and maner of woorkynge in them 177. The maner of fysshynge for pearles 180. The familiaritie that the Indians haue with the deuyl 181. Of temperate and habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line c. 184. Of dyuers particular thynges as woormes serpentes beastes foules c. 185. Of trees fruites and plantes c. 194. Of the venemous apples wherwith the Canibales inueneme theyr arrowes 199. Of fysshes and theyr maner of fysshynge 201. Of the rysynge and faulynge of owre Ocean sea and the south sea cauled the sea of Sur. 204. Of the streight of lande beinge betwene the north and south sea 205. Howe thynges of one kynde dyffer by the nature of the place and of the beastes cauled Tygers 206. Of the maners and customes of the Indians of the firme lande and of theyr women 208. Of the Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba 210. Of the Ilande of Cuba and other 213. Of the lande of Baccallaos 213. Other notable thynges gathered owt of dyuers autours and of the vniuersall carde and newe worlde 214. A discourse of the maruelous vyage made by the Spanyardes rounde about the worlde 215. The order of the starres abowt the pole Antartike 222. The prices of precious stones and spâ—ces with their weightes and measures as they are soulde bothe of the Moores and Gentyles 233. Of the weightes of Portugale and India and howe they agree 239. Of the dooues of the Ilande of Madera 239. Of the Ilande of saynt Thomas vnder the Equinoctial line 240. The debate and strife betwene the Spanyardes and Portugales for the diuision of the Indies and the trade of spyces 240. Of the pole Antartike and the starres about the same and of the qualitie of the regions and disposition of the elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line Also of certeyne secreates touchynge the arte of saylynge 245. A discourse of dyuers vyages and wayes by the which spices precious stones and golde were brought in owlde tyme from India into Europe and other partes of the worlde Also of the vyage to Cathay and Easte India by the northe sea And of the viages of Sebastian Cabot 249. Of the vyages to Moscouia and Cathay 249. A breefe description of Moscouia 259. The description of the north regions and how they are habitable contrary to thopinion of the owlde wryters 264. Scondia 267. Gronlande 268. Islande 269. Laponia 270. Norway 273. Suetia or Suethlande 275. Gothia or Gothlande 276. Finlande and Eningia 276. Bothnia 275. The dyâ—ference of regions and causes of great cities 277. The hystorie of Paulus Iouius of the ambassade
vnprofitable And brynge rather a fame to theyr inuentoures then trewe glorye Fame differeth from true glory Perillus was famous by diuisynge his brasen bulle yet so that it had byn better for hym to haue byn obscure and vnknowen They haue therefore deserued more trewe commendation whiche in buyldynge of cities townes fortresses bridges cundites hauens shyppes and suche other haue so ioyned magnificence with profecte that bothe may remaine for an eternal testimonie of absolute glory Absolute glory whose perfection extendeth to the gratifyinge of vniuersal mankind as farre as mans mortalitie wyll permit The whiche thinge whyle I consider and caule to memorie howe Cicero defineth trewe glory to bee a fame of many and greate desertes eyther towarde owre citizens What is true glory owre countrey or towarde all man kynde and the same to bee of such excellencie that the owlde poetes for sume effecte fayned it to bee the sweete Ambrosia and Nectar wherwith the goddes are fedde and that of such force that who so may drynke therof shal also become a god that is to say immortall and happy mee thynke verely that yf man maye be a god to men as holy scripture speaketh of Moises and other the kynges of Spayne of late dayes if I may speake it without offence of other may so much the more for theyr iust desertes and good fortune be compared to those goddes made of men whom the antiquitie cauled Heroes and for theyr manyfolde benefites to man kynde honoured theym with The kynges of Spayne Heroes diuine honoure as theyr famous factes so farre excell al other as I dare not speake to such as haue not yet harde or redde of the same least the greatnesse therof shulde at the first brunte so muche astonyshe the reader that he myght geue the lesse credite to the autoure of this booke who neuerthelesse hath moste faythfully wrytten this hystorye of suche thynges wherof he hath seene a greate parte him selfe as being by the moste catholyke and puissaunt kynge Ferdinando appoynted a commissionarie in th affayres of India and gathered the residewe partly by information and partly out of the wrytinges of such as haue byn as Uyrgyll wryteth of Eneas The certentie of this hystory Et quorum pars magna fui that is doers and parte of such thynges as are conteyned in the hystorie as Gouernours Lieuetenauntes Capitaynes Admirals and Pylottes who by theyr paineful trauayles and prowes haue not onely subdued these landes and seas but haue also with lyke diligence commytted thorder therof to wrytinge And not this onely but for the better tryall of the trewth herein haue and yet doo in maner dayly sende from thense into Spayne such monumentes as are most certeyne testimonies of theyr doynge as yow may reade in dyuers places in this boke This newe worlde is nowe so much frequented the Ocean nowe so well knowen and the commodities so greate that the kynge erected a house in the citie of Siuile cauled the house of the contractes of India perteynynge onely to th affayres of the Ocean The house of the contractes of India to the which al such resorte for necessaries as attempte anye vyage to this newe worlde and lykewyse at theyr returne make theyr accompte to the counsayle for the Indies for the golde and suche other thynges as they brynge from thense The counsayl for the Indiâ—s It is therefore apparent that the heroical factes of the Spaniardes of these days The heroicall factes of the Spanyardes deserue so greate prayse that thautour of this booke beinge no Spanyarde doth woorthely extolle theyr doynge aboue the famous actes of Hercules and Saturnus and such other which for theyr glorious and vertuous enterpryses were accoumpted as goddes amonge men And surely if great Alexander and the Romans which haue rather obteyned then deserued immortall fame amonge men for theyr bluddye victories onely for theyr owne glory and amplifyinge theyr empire obteyned by slawghter of innocentes and kepte by violence Great Alexander The â—panyardes warres in the Indies haue byn magnified for theyr doinges howe much more then shal we thynke these men woorthy iust commendations which in theyr mercyfull warres ageynst these naked people haue so vsed themselues towarde them in exchaungynge of benefites for victorie that greater commoditie hath therof ensewed to the vanquisshed then the victourers They haue taken nothynge from them but such as they them selues were wel wyllynge to departe with and accoumpted as superfluities as golde perles precious stones and such other for the which they recompensed theym with suche thynges as they muche more estemed The benefites that the Indians haue receaued by the Spanyardes But sum wyll say they possesse and inhabyte theyr regions and vse theym as bondemen and tributaries where before they were free They inhabite theyr regions in deede Yet so that by theyr diligence and better manurynge the same they maye nowe better susteyne both then one before Theyr bondage is suche as is much rather to be desired then theyr former libertie which was to the cruell Canibales rather a horrible licenciousnesse then a libertie Lybertie The Canibales and to the innocent so terrible a bondage thaâ— in the myddest of theyr ferefull idlenesse Feareful idlenesse they were euer in daunger to be a pray to those manhuntynge woolues But nowe thanked be God by the manhodde and pollicie of the Spanyardes this deuelysshe generation is so consumed partely by the slaughter of suche as coulde by no meanes be brought to ciuilitie and partly by reseruynge such as were oueâ—come in the warres and conuertynge them to a better mynde that the prophecie may herein bee fulfylled that the woolfe and the lambe shall feede together Isai. 65. and the wylde fieldes with the vale of Aâ—hor shal be the folde of the heard of gods people Moises as the minister of the lawe of wrath and bondage geuen in fyer teÌ„pestes The warres of Moises was coÌ„maunded in his warres to saue neyther man woman nor chylde and yet brought no commoditie to the nations whom he ouercame and possessed theyr landes But the Spaniardes as the mynisters of grace and libertie The Indians subdued to the fayth browght vnto these newe gentyles the victorie of Chrystes death wherby they beinge subdued with the worldely sworde are nowe made free from the bondage of Sathans tyrannie by the myghty poure of this triumphante victourer Isai. 42. whom as sayth the prophet god hath ordeyned to be a lyght to the gentyles to open the eyes of the blynde and to delyuer the bounde owt of pryson and captiuitie What other men do phantasie herein I can not tell but suer I am that lyke as the slowe and brutysshâ— wyttes for the sclendernesse of theyr capacitie and effeminate hartes do neuer or seldome lyfte vp theyr myndes to the contemplation of goddes workes and maiestie of nature The contemplation of gods workes but lyke brute beastes lookynge euer
talke of the in the mouthes of all men that thou hast of late yeares brought furthe many monsters and straunge byrthes wherof dyuers men make dyuers interpretacions more monstrous then the monsters theim selues But shall I breefely and simply declare vnto thee the signification of thy monsters The significations of monstrus byrthes Fyrst then consyder that they are monsters of mankynde and not of other beastes Secundarily marke well that in them al the headde is perfect so that the monstrositâ—e groweth owt of the body although not owt of the hole body but certeyne partes therof But not to go to farre Consyder ageyne that disorder of the partes is a deformitie to the hole One hath well interpreted that such monstrous byrthes signifie the monstrous and deformed myndes of the people mysshapened with phantastical opinions Tâ—e deformity of monstrous myndes dissolute lyuynge licentious talke and such other vicious behauoures which monstrously deforme the myndes of men in the syght of god who by suche signes dooth certifie vs in what similitude we appere before hym thereby gyueth vs admonition to amende before the day of his wrath and vengeance What deformed beastes are more monstrous then lyinge rebellion strife contention priuie malice slaunderynge muâ—terynge conspiraces and such other deuilysshe imaginations But O Englande whyle tyme is gyuen thee circumcise thy harte Put to onely thy good wyll and thou mayste fynde grace and fauoure to recouer thyne aunciente bewtie whiche hath so longe byn defaced The kyng and Queene Thou haste nowe a kynge and queene that desyre thee to remember thy dewtie and holde theyr armes abrode to embrase thee yf thou wylt drawe nere vnto them They are sory to occupie the whyppe yf thou mightest otherwyse bee brought to obedience But yf thou take pleasure to persist in frowarde stoobbernesse knowe thou that they are Lions whelpes and conquerours of monsters wherof thou hast had suche experience that proudely trustynge 〈◊〉 thyne owne strengthe and attemptynge lyke an other Nemroth to buylde a nâ—we towre of confuâ—â—on the woorkes of thy giantes were miraculously ouerthrowne by a woman who deliuered thee from that captiuitie whereby thou oughtesse to knowe the daungiour thou wast in and bee thankefull to thy deliuerer Beware therefore leaste whyle thou contemne the peaceable princes that god hath sent the thou bee lyke vnto Isopes frogges to whoÌ„ for theyr vnquietnesse Iupiter sent a hearon to picke them in the hedes Consider what benefiâ—es than mayst receaue at theyr handes if thou doo thy dewtie towarde them Consyder ageyne that as they are able so may thy gentelnesse make them wyllynge to recompâ—nse the same Stoppe thyne eares from vayne fables as from the inchauntynge Mermaydes For as manye speake of Robbyn Hoode and of his bowe that neuer shot therin so doo fooles prate of such thynges as they knowe not But O god what phantasies are nowe in the headâ—s of men Howe â—edy they are to inuent lyes and tales and of howe smaul sparkes they kyndle greate flames Summe are so curious to fynde faute in other How curious summe are to fynde faute in other that for lacke of iust matter woorthy reproche in them whom they desyre to depraue they speake euyll of theyr parentes kynred of whom they knowe as lyttle And not so satisfyed they dispise and with lyinge disprayse theyr hole nation and countrey Ye sum take such pleasure herein that if they can fynde nought els to disprayse they wyll fynde faute in suche as they fauour not bycause they weare not theyr apparell as they doo or perhappes are not so effeminate as they or eate not as they eate or fight not as they fyght so parciall is the iudgenent of fooles in theyr owne rudenesse thynkyng them selues the better for dispraysynge of other Lyes Imagined Spayne is a beggerly countrey sayth one Themperour is but poore sayth an other He is deade sayth an other The Indies haue rebelled sayth an other and eyther there commeth no more golde from thense or there is no more founde nowe with suche other false and licentious talke diuised by vnquiet braines in whose heades the hammers of sedition sease not to forge ingens of iniquitiâ— If I shulde here answere to all these querels particularly and as the woorthynesse of the thynge requireth I myght fynde matter sufficient to make a volume of iuste quantitie and perhappes be tedious to summe Yet not to passe ouer so great a matter vntouched and partely to stoppe the mouthes of suche impudence lyers I haue thought good to speake sumwhat hereof Fyrst therfore to speake of Spayne Commendations of Spain by the testimonie of oulde autours to declare the commodities therof Plinie a graue faythful autour in the last boke last chapiture of his natural history greatly commendynge Italy aboue al other contreys giueth the second prayse vnto Spaine aswel for al such thynges as in maner the heuen can geue the earth brynge furth for the commoditie of this lyfe as also for the excellente wittes of men Ciuile gouernaunce Also Diodorus Siculus in the sixt booke of his Bibliotheca speakynge of Spayne cauled of the Greekes Iberia writeth that when in the mountaines named Pyrineâ— thinhabitantes buâ—nte vp the wooddes Ryche syluer mynes in Spayne there ranne owt of the mountaynes as it were dyuers streames of pure syluer molten by the heate of the fyre But the estimation and price of syluer beinge at those dayes to them vnknowen the Phenician marchauntes bought the same of them for thynges of smaule value And caryinge it into Grecia Asia and other countreys got great rychesse therby For the desyre oâ— gaynes sayth he so greatly moued the marchauntes that when more syluer remayned then myght lade theyr shyppes they tooke the leade frome theyr ankers and put syluer in the place therof The Phenices by this gaynes beinge made very ryche dyd assigne many colonies both in Sicilie and the Ilandes there abowt and also in Libya Sardinia and Iberia But after many yeares when the Iberians that is the Spaniardes knewe the price of syluer and applyed them selues to the seekynge of metals and founde great plentie of syluer they obteyned greate ryches therby forasmuch as in maner al that earth of the mountaynes is so replenysshed with syluer that it is a marueylous thynge to conâ—yder the nature of the region and the continual laboure of the woorkemen in those mynes Lykewyse when afterwarde the Romans subdued the Iberians The Romans inriched by the syluer of Spayne the Italians which for the desyre of gaynes searched those metals gotte great rychesse by the same For they deputed to that laboure a multitude of bowght seruauntes whiche searchynge the haynes of metals in dyuers places and percyng the earth dyuers wayes for the space of many furlonges browght furthe great plentie of golde and syluer But the rychesse of these mynes was fyrst founde at such tyme as the Carthaginenses the enemies of the Romane Empire had
Englande whereby the hole nation was in shorte tyme conuerted to Christes faith England converted to the faith of christ although sum had receaued the gospell longe before euen from Chrystes tyme by the preachyng of Ioseph of Arimathia who asked the body of Chryste of Pilote and buryed it reuerently I wolde to god that there were now many mo such Gregories in the worlde And that there might lyke zeale and gentelnesse bee founde in vs Englysshe men towarde other nations as we haue founde in other towarde vs. Owre predicessoures were not vtterlye vnmyndefull of these benefites but applyed them selues lykewise to spreade the gospell in other nations For Uadianus in his booke De tribus terrae partibus wryteth that more then seuen hundrethe yeares after the death of Chryste one Unefride an Englysshe man and bysshoppe of Mogunce nowe cauled Mense was the fyrste that tawght the fayth of Chryste amonge the Germaynes This vnifridâ— was afterwarde named Boneface at such tyme as the Frankes and Almaynes had passed ouer the ryuers of Rhene and Danubius and by puttynge the garrysons of the Romans to flight had possessed a great parte of theyr moste noâ—able prouinces For albeit that these rude and barbarous nations then accustomed onely to warre and robberie did hardly admitte that holsome doctrine at the beginning Yet by the pollicâ—e and wisedome of the Frankes it came so to passe that in maner through owt all Germanie greate increase of the Christian religion folowed there moste ample victories as the lyke successe is also seene in these barbarous nations subdued by the Spanyardes Whereby it is apparent that although sum holde opinion that none owght to bee compelled to the faythe Whether any may bee compâ—llâ—d to the faythe yet we see by experience that withowt disputynge of opinions leste the pacientes shulde dye before the phisitians agree of the remedie these enterprises haue taken good effect to the great glory of god who cauleth men vnto hym by dyuers meanes and at dyuers ages of the declinynge worlde otherwyse nowe then in the tyme of Chryste and his Apostles when the poure of miracles was giuen vnto men to confirme the newe fayth which had yet preuailed no where in the worlde The tyme of miracles Albeit I beleue verely that if we wolde take the matter in hande accordyngly god wolde not forget to ayde vs with miracles if it shuld so be requâ—site as yowe may reade in this booke howe he wrought miracles by the fayth of a simple mariner euen in thinfancie of faythe Miracles of lâ—te dayes And suerlye lyke as there is no cause why we shulde anye thynge doubte of goddes goodnesse in this behalfe if the faue be not in owre selues Euen so if we wolde fyrste sette owre handes to the plowe we ought to hope that he wolde giue encrease and woorke with vs as he hath doone with other by whose prosperous successe we may plainely see that it was his wyll that suche thynges shulde go forwarde For euen Israell to whom promesse was made by signes and miracles that they shulde possesse the lande to thinheritaunce wherof Howe Israell possessed the lande of promesse the sea opened it selfe to giue them free passage yet were they commaunded by the poure of the swoorde to make way with greate losse and slaughter of men and by force of armes to obteyne the lande promysed to theyr fathers whiche neuerthelesse fewe of them possessed that first fought for the same but lefte theyr carkeses in the wildernesse Is it not also written of the Iuwes which repayred the walles of the citie of Hierusalem after theyr captiuitie in Babilon â—â—dra 2. cap. 4. that Nehemias theyr capitaine set the people in order with swoordes speares and bowes to defende the woorkemen And that also euen the Princes of Iuda wrought vppon the walles and caried burdens lykewyse that they wrought with one hande and held theyr swoordes in the other And if it were lawful for Israell accordynge to the flesshe to vse all meanes and pollicies to buylde vp the walles of earthly Hierusalem howe muche more then ought the spirituall Israelites to vse all possible meanes to buylde vp the walles and temples of spirituall Hierusalem The buylding of spirituall Hierusalem whose fundation is Christe wyllynge all the nations of the worlde to bee buylded vppon the same It is the propertie of a wyse buylder to vse such tooles as the woorke requireth And not at all tymes or in all woorkes to vse one toole For that that serueth in softe tymber wyll not serue in knottie pieces nor yet for stones Thexpert phisitian vseth vâ—hement remedies for desperate diseases And cunninge surgians vse burnynge and cuttynge if the case so require as in cuttynge of the fynger to saue the hande or in cuttyng of the hande to saue the hole body Ye it hath sumtymes so chaunsed that wheras men haue enteÌ„ded hurt there hath good proceaded therof in fine As he that wolde haue slaine Prometheus wounded his wenne with his swoorde whereby he was healed of that disease So is god able to turne euyll into good and to make thynges that are not as thynges that are Euen so although summe wyll obiecte that the desyre of golde was the chiefe cause that moued the Spanyardâ—s and Portugales to searche the newe founde landes trewly albeit we shulde admitte it to bee the chiefe cause yet dooth it not folowe that it was the only cause forasmuch as nothyng letteth but that a man may bee a warrier or a marchaunte and also a Christian. Therefore what so euer owre chiefe intente bee eyther to obteyne worldely fame or rychesse althoughe the zeale to encrease Christian religion ought châ—efly to moue vs I wolde to god we wolde fyrst attempte the matter And then I doubte not but that it wolde so comme to passe with vs as it dyd with them who of longe time after the beginning of the worlde before menne were accustomed to eate flesshe thought it first sufficient so to vse them selues amonge beastes that they were not hurâ—e of them but shortly after vsed them for theyr commoditie Then begunne to weare theyr skinnes And in fine fell to eatynge of theyr flesshe and to vse certeine partes of theÌ„ for remedies ageinst diseases Euen so may these barbarians by the only conuersation with the Christians although they were enforced therto be brought to such familiaritie with ciuilitie and vertue that not onely we maye take greate commoditie thereby but they may also herewith imbibe trewe religion as a thing accidental although neyther they nor we shulde seeke the same For lyke as they that goo much in the soonne are coloured therewith although they go not for that purpose So may the conuersation of the Christians with the gentyles induce theym to owre religion The conuersion of the gentiles where there is no greater cause of contrarye to resyste as is in the Iuwes and Turkes who are alredy drowned in
theyr confirmed erroure But these simple gentiles lyuinge only after the lawe of nature may well bee lykened to a smoothe and bare table vnpainted or a white paper vnwritten vpon the which yow may at the fyrst paynte or wryte what yow lyste as yow can not vppon tables alredy paynted vnlesse yow rase or blot owt the fyrste formes They may also theslyer bee allured to the Christian fayth The châ—istian faythe for that it is more agreable to the lawe of nature then eyther the cerimonious lawe of Moises or portentous fables of Mahometes Alcharon If we were therfore as desyrous to enlarge the fayth of Chryste as to seeke worldly gooddes why do we deferre to aduenture that wherin we may doo bothe We muste not nowe looke for a newe Paule or doctoure of the gentiles to bee conuerted by heauenly reuelations Or for a newe Moises to leade men through the sea Or for an Angel to cary men in the ayer from one place to an other as Habacucke the prophete was caryed by the heare of his heade from Iudea to Babilon Or as Phylippe thappostle was caryed by the spirite from Gaza to Azotus but muste as sayth the prophete Isaias euery man exhorte his neyghboure Isai. 4â— and bid his broother be of good chere That the mason and carpenter may buylde togyther and say to the glewe or cemente it is good and faste byndynge What negligence and slackenesse hath hytherto byn in Christian men in this kynde of buyldynge of goddes lyuely temple the great clerke Erasmus hath declared in his booke intiteled Ecclessiastes whose woordes for the woorthynesse of the autoure I haue here thowght good to rehearse as they are wrytten by hym in the laten tounge in the fyrhe booke of the sayde woorke He wryteth therfore as foloweth Audimus quotidianas queremonias deplorantiuÌ„ collapsaÌ„ ChristianaÌ„ religioneÌ„ â—ugustâ—â— Christiâ—â—â— diâ—ionis eamque ditioneÌ„ quae quondam complexa est vniuersum terrarum orbem in has angustias esse contractam Hoc igitur quibus ex animodolet eos decet ardentibus assiduisque votis flagitare a Christo vt operarios dignetur mittere in messem suam aut vt melius dicam seminatores mittere in segetem suam Deum immortalem quantum in orbe patet agrorum in quibus aut non dum iactuÌ„ est semen Euangelicum aut ita iactum est vt plus sit zizaniarum quam tritici Orbis minima pars est Europa Omnium florentissima pars est Graecia et Asia minor in quam magno successu primum a Iudaea demigrauit Euangelium At haec fere tota nonne tenetur a Mahumetanis et ijs qui Christi nomen habent inuisum Iam in Asia maiore quae latissime pater quid obsecro nostrum est quum ipsa Palestina vnde primo effâ—uxit lux Euangelica seruiat Allophylis In Aphrica vero quid nostrum est Nec dubitandum est quin in tanta vastitate regionum sint populi rudes et simplices qui facile possent ad Christum alici si mitterentur qui facerent bonam sementem Quid quod quotidie regiones hactenus incognitae reperiuntur ferunturque superesse quo nullus adhuc nostratium peruenit Omitto nunc infinitam Iudaeorum vim nobis admixtam omitto plurimos qui titulo Christi tegunt Ethnicos omitto tantas schismaticorum et haereticorum phalanges Quantus in his esset prouentus Christo si guaui ac fideles mittereÌ„tur operarij qui iaciant semen bonum qui reuellant zizaniam qui plantent plantulas bonas malas exterpent qui extruant domum Dei demoliantur structuras non innitentes petrae Christo denique qui metant maturam segetem sed Christo metant non sibi et animas Domino colligant non opes sibi Nuper Aethiopiae rex quem vulgus appellat Presteian â—resteian Aethiopia rex per oratorem suum submisit se sedi Romanae non nihil expostulans cum pontifice quod ea gens quum a fide Christi non sit aliena tam diu fuerit a tocius orbis pastore neglecta Quidam viri boni et propagandae religionis studiosi queruntur Pilapios Scythiae septentrionalis populum mire simplicem ac rudem â—â—apii a nescio quibus principibus Christianis teneri ditione sed ita duro premi iugo humano vt eis non imponatur suaue iugum Christi atque ita spoliari bonis externis vt non ditentur opibus euangelicis Pulcherrimum Deoque gratissimum erat dare potius quaÌ„ accipere ijs quos studemus Christo lucrifacere ac sic eos in ditionem nostram recipere vt gaudeant se subiectos esse principibus sub quorum imperio commodius degant quam ante degebant Nouimus cicutare bestias feras et horribiles vel ad voluptatem vel ad vsum vulgarem et non nouimus mansuefacere homines vt seruiant Christo Monarchae alunt qui doceant elephantos ad saltandum qui doment leones ad lusâ—m qui doment lynces et leopardos ad venatum et monarcha ecclesiae non inuenit quo homines alliciat ad amabile Christi seruicium Scio vix vllam reperiri beluam domitu difficiliorem quam est Iudaeus obstinatus et obduratus haereticus quanquam nullum est animal tam immite quod non cicuretur beneficentia et suauitate Erepertis regionibus euehitur aurum et gâ—mmae Sed triumpho dignius erat illuc inuehere Christianam sapientiam auro preciosiorem ac margaritum euangelicum quod omnibus diuenditis benae comparatur Dominus iubet suis rogare dominum messis vt extrudat operarios quod messis esset ampla operarij pauci Non minus opus est nunc rogare deuÌ„ vt in tam late patentes agros eijciat operarios Sed excusant omnes alius aliud Franciscani Serâ—phici Atqui Christiana ditio tot habet myriadas Franciscanorum in quibus probabile est quamplurimos esse qui vere flagrant igni seraphico nec pauciores sunt myriades Dominicanorum et in his consentaneum est permultos esse Cherubici spiritus Dominicani Cherubici Ex his cohortibus eligantur viri mundo vere mortui Christo viui qui syncere apud barbaras gentes doceant verbum Dei. Excusatur linguae imperitia Linguae impericâ—â— Atqui principes ob humanas legationes inueniunt qui varias linguas perdiscant Et Themistocles Athenienses vno anno sic didicit Miracula sermonem Asiaticum vt absque interprete cum rege lo qui posset An idem non studebimus in tam sublimi negocio Inter barbaras et ignotas nationes Aposto liinuenerunt victum et amictum et Deus pollicitus est nihil defuturum quaerentibus regnum Dei. Nec miracula quidem defutura sunt si res postulet modo ad sit syncera fides cum seraphica charitate c. Furthermore Damianus a Goes Damianus a Goes wryteth in his booke De
vnder yowr dominion except onely one corner of the same and haue also lefte yowe the kyngedome of Naples with the frutefull Ilandes of owr seas The kyndome of Naples it is suerly a greate thynge and woorthy to be noted in owre cronacles But not offendynge the reuerence due to owre predicessours what so euer frome the begynnynge of the worlde hath byn doone or wrytten to this day Note frome the begynning of the worlde to my iudgement seemeth but lyttle if we consyder what newe landes and countreys what newe seas what sundry nations and tounges what goldemynes what treasuries of perles they haue lefte vnto yowre hyghnesse besyde other reuenues The whiche what they are and howe greate these three Decades shall declare Come therfore moste noble Prince elected of God and enioy that hyghe estate of thynges not yet vnderstode to men We offer vnto yowe the Equinoctiall line hetherto vnknowen and burnte by the furious heate of the soonne and vnhabitable after the opinion of the owlde wryters a fewe excepted The temperatnes of the Equinoctial vnknowen to the owlde wryters But nowe founde to bee most replenisshed with people faire frutefull and moste fortunate with a thowsande Ilandes crowned with golde and bewtifull â—erles besyde that greate portâ—on of earth supposed to bee parte of the firme lande excedynge in quantitie three Europes Continente or firme lande as bygge as thre Europes Come therfore and embrase this newe worlde and suffer vs no longer to consume in desyre of yowr presence From hense from hense I saye mooste noble younge Prince shall instrumentes be prepared for yow Ryches are the instrumentes of conquestes whereby al the worlde shal be vnder yowr obeysaunce And thus I byd yowr maiestie farewell To whose taste if I shal perceaue the fruites of this my tyllage to be delectable I wyll hereafter doo my endeuoure that yowe maye receaue the same more abundauntly From Madrid The day before the Calendes of October In the yeare of Chryste M. D. XVI FINIS The fyrst decade ¶ THE FIRSTE BOOKE OF THE DECADES of the Ocean written by Peter Martyr of Angleria Milenoes counsiler to the kyng of Spayne and Protonotarie Apostolicall To Ascanius Sphorcia vicount Cardinall c. THE REVERENDE AND thanckefull antiquite was accustomed to esteme those men as goddes The reward of vertâ—e by whose industrie and magnanimitie suche Landes and Regions were discouered as were vnknowen to theyr predicessoures But vnto vs hauynge onely one god whom we honour in triplicitie of person this resteth that albeit we do not woorship that kind of men with diuine honoure yet do we reuereÌ„ce them and woorthely maruell at theyr noble actes and enterprises Unto kynges and princes we gyue due obeysaunce by whose gouernaunce and furtheraunce they haue bin ayded to perfurme theyr attemptes we commende bothe and for theyr iust desertes worthely extoll them Wherfore as concernynge the Ilandes of the west Ocean The Ilandes of the weste Ocean lately discouered of the auctours of the same whiche thynge you desyre by your letters to knowe I wyll begynne at the fyrst auctoure therof leste I be iniurious to any man Take it therfore as foloweth ¶ Christophorus Colonus other wise called Columbus A gentilman of Italy Christophorus Colonus borne in the citie of Genua perswaded Fernando and Elyzabeth catholike prynces that he doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India India â–ª nere vnto owre Occean sea if they wolde furnysshe hym with shyppes and other thynges apperteynynge Affyrminge that therby not onely the Christian religion myght be enlarged but Spayne also enryched by the great plentie of golde pearles precious stones and spices whiche might be founde there At the lenghte three shyppes were appoynted hym at the kinges charges of the which one was a great caracte with deckes and the other twoo were light marchaunte shyppes without deckes whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas Thus he departed from the costes of Spaine about the calendes of September in the yere of Christ 1492. and set forward on his viage The fyrst viage of Colonus being accompanied with C C. xx Spanyardes The fortunate Ilandes as manye thinke them to be whiche the Spaniardes call Canariae The Ilandes of Canarie found but of late dayes are distaunte from the Ilandes of Gades Gades or Cals mals a thousande and twoo hundreth myles accordyng to theyr accompte for they say they are distant three hundreth leaques A leaque what it conteyneth by sea wheras such as are expert sea men affyrme that euery leaque conteyneth foure myles after theyr supputations These Ilandes were called fortunate the fortunate Ilandes for the temperate ayre whiche is in them For neyther the coldenesse of wynter is sharpe vnto them nor the heate of sommer intollerable Yet some men are of opinion that those were in olde tyme called the fortunate Ilandes Cabouerde whiche the Portugales call Capo Verde Colonus therfore sayled fyrste to the Ilandes of Canariae to the intente there to refreshe his shyppes with freshe water and fuell before he committed him selfe to this so laborious a vyage And bycause I haue here made mentâ—on of the Ilandes of Canariae It shall not be muche from my purpose to declare howe of vnknowen they became knowen and of saluage and wilde better manured For by the longe course of manye yeres they were forgotten and remayned as vnknowen These seuen Ilandes theâ—fore called the Canaries The seuen Ilandes of Canarie were fouÌ„de by chaunce by a frenche man called Betanchor Betanchor A frenche man subdued the Ilandes of Canarie by the permission of queene Katharine protectrixe of kyng Iohn her son while he was yet in his nonage about the yere of Christe M. CCCC V. This Betanchor inuaded twoo of these Ilandes called Lancelotus and Fortâ—suentura Lâ—ncelotus FortisueÌ„tura whiche he inhabited and brought to better culture He beinge deade his son and heire solde bothe the sayde Ilandes to certayne Spaniardes After this Fernandus Peraria and his wyfe inuaded Ferrea and Gomera Ferrea Gomera The other three were subdued in our tyme. Grancanaria Grancanaria by Perrus de Vera citezen of the noble citie of Xericium and Michaell of Moxica Palma and Tenerifen Palma Tenerifen by Alphonsus Lugo at the kynges charges Gomera and Ferrea were easely subdued But the matter wente harde with Alphonsus Lugo Alphonsus Lugo For that naked and wylde nation fyghtinge onely with stones and clubbes droue his armie to flighte at the fyrste assaulte and slewe aboute foure hundreth of his men But at the length he ouercame them And thus all the Ilandes of Canariae were added to the dominion of Spayne From these Ilandes Colonus directynge his viage towarde thâ— weste folowinge the fallinge of the sonne but declining somwhat towarde the left hande sayled on forwarde .xxxiii. dayes continually hauynge onely the fruition of the heauen and the water Then the
Admirall of the Ocean returning as he supposed from the continent or firme lande of East India Easte India had aduertisement that his brother Boilus one Peter Margarita an owld familier of the kinges and a noble man with diuers other of those to whom he had left the gouernemeÌ„t of the Iland The Spanyardeâ— rebelle in the Admirâ—ls absence were of corrupted mynde ageynst him departed into Spayne Wherfore as wel to purge him of such crimes as they shuld ley to his charge as also to make a supply of other men in the place of them which were returned especially to prouyde for vitailes as wheat wyne oyle and such other which the Spanyardes are accustomed to eate bycause they coulde not yet well agree with such meates as they fownde in the Ilandes determined shortly to take his vyage into Spayne But what he dyd before his departure I wyll brefely rehearse The kynges of the Ilandes which had hytherto lyued quietly and content with theyr lyttle whiche they thowght abundante The kynges of the Ilande rebell wheras they nowe perceaued that owre men began to fasten foote within theyr Regions and to beare rule amonge them tooke the matter so greuously that they thowght nothynge elles but by what meanes they myght vtterly destroy them and for euer abolysshe the memory of theyr name For that kynde of men the Spanyardes I meane which folowed the Admirall in that nauigation The Spaniardes mâ—sbehauour was for the most parte vnruly regardynge nothinge but Idlenes playe and libertie And wolde by no meanes absteyne from iniuries Rauyshynge the womeÌ„ of the Ilandes before the faces of their husbandes fathers and brethrene By which theyr abhomynable mysde maynour they disquieted the myndes of all thinhabitantes In so much that where so euer they fownde any of owre men vnprepared they slewe them with suche fyercenes and gladnes as thowgh they had offered sacryfyce to God Intendynge therefore to pacifie their troubled myndes and to punyshe them that slew his men before he departed from thense he sent for the kynge of that vale which in the booke before we descrybed to bee at the foote of the mountaynes of the Region of Cibaua This kynges name was Guarionexius Guarionexius the kynge of the greatyale Didacus the interpretour who the more streyghtly to concyle vnto hym the frendeshyppe of the Admirall gaue his syster to wyfe to Didacus a man from his chyldes age browght vp with the Admiral whom he vsed for his interpretoure in the prouinces of Cuba After this he sent for Caunaboa cauled the lorde of the howse of goulde that is of the mountaynes of Cibaua For this Caunaboa Caunaboa the kynge of the house of golde he sent one capitayne Hoieda whom the ditionaries of Caunaboa had enforced to keepe his howlde bysiegeinge for the space of .xxx. dayes the fortresse of saynte Thomas in the which Hoieda with his fyftie souldiers stoode at theyr defence vntyll the comminge of the Admirall Whyle Hoieda remayned with Caunaboa Capitayne hoieda many ambassadours of the kynges of dyuers Regions were sent to Caunaboa persuadinge hym in no condicion to permitte the Christians to inhabite the Ilande except he had rather serue then rule On the other partie Hoieda aduertised Caunaboa to goo to the Admirall and to make a league of frendeship with hym But the ambassadours on the contrary part threatened hym that yf he wolde soo doo the other kynges wolde inuade his Region But Hoieda aunswered theym ageyne that wheras they conspired to maynteyne their libertie they shuld by that meanes be browght to seruitude destruction if they entended to resist or keepe warre ageinst the Christians Thus Caunaboa on the one syde and the other kynge Caunaboa â—ad sâ—ain the Spanyardeâ— beinge troubeled as it were a rocke in the sea beaten with contrary fluddes much more vexed with the stormes of his gyltie conscience for that he had priuilie slaine .xx. of owre men vnder pretence of peace feared to coome to the Admirall But at the length hauing excogitated this deceyte Caunaboa coÌ„spireth the Admiralleâ— death to haue slayne the Admirall and his coompany vnder the colour of frendshippe if oportunitie wold soo haue serude he repayred to the Admiral with his hole familie and many other wayting on hym armed after theyr maner Beinge demaunded why he browght soo greate a rout of men with hym he aunswered that it was not decente for soo great a prince as he was to goo foorth of his howse without suche a bande of men But the thinge chaunced much otherwyse then he looked for For he fell into the snares which he had prepared for other For wheras by the way he began to repente hym that he came foorthe of his howse Hoieda with many fayre wordes and promyses Fayre worde make fooles fayne browght hym to the Admirall At whose commaundement he was immediatly taken put in prison So that the sowles of owre men were not longe from their bodies vnreuenged Thus Caunaboa with all his familie beinge taken the Admirall was determined to runne ouer the Ilande But he was certified that there was such famine amonge thinhabitantes Famine in the Ilande of hispaniola that there was alredye fyftie thousande menne deade therof And that they dyed yet dayly as it were cotton sheepe The cause wherof was wel knowen to bee theyr owne obstinacie and frowardnes For where as they sawe that owre men entended to choose them a dwelling place in the Ilande supposinge that they myght haue driuen them from thence if the vytailes of the Ilande shoulde fayle they determyned with them selues not only to leaue sowing and plantyng but also to destroy and plucke vp by the rootes euery man in his owne region The hunger of golde causeth great famine that whiche they had alredye sowen of both kyndes of breade wherof we made mencion in the fyrst booke But especially amonge the mountaynes of Cibaua otherwyse cauled Cipanga for as muche as they hadde knoweleage that the golde which abundeth in that Region was the cheefe cause that deteyned owre men in the Ilande In the meane tyme he sent foorth a Capitayne with a bande of men to searche the sowthe syde of the Ilande Who at his returne reported that throwghe out all the Regions that he trauayled there was suche scarsenes of breade that for the space of .xvi. dayes he eate nowght elles but the rootes of herbes and of younge date trees or the fruites of other wylde trees But Guarionexius the kynge of the vale lyinge beneth the mountaynes of Cibaua whose kyngedoome was not soo wasted as the other gaue owre menne certeyne vytayles Within a fewe dayes after bothe that the iourneys myght bee the shorter and also that owre men myght haue more safe places of refuge if the inhabitantes shuld hereafter rebell in lyke maner he buylded an other fortesse whiche he cauled the towre of CoÌ„ception betwene the citie of
and the other his kynsefolkes and frendes with their adherentes shoulde haue taken eyther by sleyghte or force as many of owre men as myght haue redeemed hym But the Admyrall vnderstandynge his crafty meanynge sente Hoiâ—dae with suche a coompany of men as might vanquishe the Cibauians if they shulde moue warre ageynste them Owre men had scarsely entered into the Region but the brother of Caunaboa came agenste them with an armie of fyue thousande naked menne Caunaboa his brother rebelleth armed after theyr maner with clubbes arrowes typte with bones and speares made harde at the endes with fyre He stole vpon owre men beyng in one of theyr howses and encamped rownde about the same on euery syde This Cibauian as a man not ignorant in the disciplyne of warre abowte the distance of a furlonge from the howse diuided his armye into fyue batayles appoyntinge to euery of them a circuite by equal diuision And placed the froont of his owne batayle directlye ageynst owre men When he had thus set his batayles in good array he gaue certeyne signes that the hole army shulde marche forwarde in order with equal paces and with a larome fresshly assayle theyr enemies A conflict betwene the Cibauians and the Spanyardes in such sort that none might escape But owre men iudginge it better to encounter with one of the batayles then to abyde the brunt of the hole army gaue onset on the mayne batayle aranged in the playne bycause that place was most commodious for the horsemen When the horsemen therfore hadde gyuen the charge they ouerthrewe them with the brestes of theyr horses and slewe as many as abode th ende of the fyght The Cibauians haue the ouerthrowe The residue beinge stryken with feare disparcled and fledde to the mountaynes and rockes from whense they made a pytifull houlynge to owre men desyringe them to spare them protestinge that they wolde neuer more rebelle but doo what so euer they woulde commaunde them if they wolde suffer theim to lyue in theyr owne countrey Thus the brother of Caunaboa beinge taken the Admirall licenced the people to resorte euery man to his owne These thinges thus fortunately atchiued this Region was pacified Amonge those mountaynes the vale which Caunaboa inhabited is cauled Magona and is excedynge fruitfull hauinge in it many goodly springes and ryuers in the sande wherof is fownde great plentie of golde The same yeare in the mooneth of Iune A great tempest in the moneth of Iune they saye there rose suche a boystous tempeste of wynde from the sowtheaste as hath not lyghtly ben harde of The violence hereof was such that it plucked vppe by the rooes what so euer greate trees were within the reache of the force therof When this whirle wynde came to the hauen of the citie it beate downe to the bottome of the sea three shippes which lay at anker Three ships drowned lyinge at anker broke the cables in sundre and that which is the greater maruail without any storme or rowghnes of the sea onely turnynge them three or foure tymes abowte The inhabitantes also affirme that the same yeare the sea extended it selfe further in to the lande and rose higher then euer it dyd before by the memory of man by the space of a cubet The people therfore muttered amonge them selues that owre nation hadde trowbled the elementes and caused such portentous signes These tempestes of the ayer which the Grecians caule Tiphones that is whyrle wyndes they caule whyrle wyndes Furacanes Furacanes which they say doo often tymes chaunce in this Ilande But that neyther they nor theyr great grandfathers euer sawe suche violent and furious Furacanes that plucked vppe greate trees by the rootes Neyther yet suche surges and vehement motions on the sea that soo wasted the lande As in deede it may appeare for as muche as where so euer the sea bankes are nere to any plaine there are in maner euery where florishing medowes reachinge euen vnto the shore But nowe let vs returne to Caunaboa As kynge Caunaboa therefore and his brother shoulde haue binne browght into Spayne The death of kynge Caunabâ—a and his brother they dyed by the waye for verye pensyuenes and anguyshe of mynde The Admiral whose shippes were drowned in the forsayde tempeste perceauinge him selfe to bee nowe enclosed coÌ„maunded foorthwith two other shippes which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas to bee made For he had with hym all maner of artificers perteyninge therunto Whyle these thinges were dooinge he sent foorth Bartholomeus Colonus his brother beinge leauetenaunt of the Ilande with an army of men to searche the golde mynes beinge dystant three score leaques from the citie of Isabella Bartholomeus Colonus thâ—â—eaueteâ—aâ—nt searâ—heâ—â— the goâ—dâ—â—â—nes which were fownde by the conducte of certeyne people of the Ilande beefore the mynes of Cipanga or Cibaua were knowen In these mynes they fownde certeyne deepe pittes which had byn digged in owlde tyme owte of these pyttes the Admirall who affirmeth this Ilande of Hispaniola to bee Ophir as we haue sayde before supposeth thâ—t Salomon the kynge of Hierusâ—lem had his greate ryches of golde wherof we reede in the owlde testamente The golde mynes of Salomon And that his shippes sayled to this Ophir by the goulfe of Persia cauled Sinus Persicus But whether it bee soo or not it lyeth not in me to iudge but in my opinion it is farre of As the myners dygged the superficiall or vppermost parte of the earthe of the mynes Golde in the superficiall partes of the earth durynge for the space of .vi. miles and in dyuers places syfted the same on the drye lande they fownde such plentie of golde that euery hyred labourer could easely fynde euery day the weyght of three drammes These mynes beinge thus searched and fownde the Lieuetenaunte certifyed the Admirall hereof by his letters The which when he had receaued the .v. daye of the Ides of Marche Anno. 1495. he entered into his newe shippes and tooke his viage directly to Spayne to aduertise the kynge of all his affayres The Admiral taketh his viage to spaine leauinge the hole regiment of the Iland with his brother the Lieuetenaunte ¶ The fyfte booke of the fyrst decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie AFter the Admyralles departyng into Spain his Brother the Lieuetenaunte buylded A fortesse in the golde mynes as he had commaunded hym This he cauled the golden towre The golden towre bycause the labourers fownde golde in the earth and stone wherof they made the waules of the fortresse He consumed three monethes in makynge the instrumentes wherwith the golde shulde bee gathered washed tryed and molten Lacke of vytayles Yet was he at this tyme by reason of wante of vitayles enforced to leaue all thynges imperfecte and to goo seeke for meate Thus as he with a bande of armed men had entered three score myles further within the lande the people of the countrey here and there
Spanyardes Animae album Animae album whose perfume is of most excellent effect to heale the reumes murres and heauines of the heade As touchinge this vyage as yet I knowe noo other newes that I thought worthy to certifie yowe of Wherfore I wyl nowe make an ende of this booke bycause yow put me so often in rememberance of your departure Yet to accomplysshe the Decade I wyll declare sumwhae of the superstitions of Hispaniola The superstitions of hispaniola Yowe shall nowe therfore vnderstand the illusions wherwith the people of the Ilande haue byn seduced after the errours of the owlde gentilitie The errours of the owlde gentilitie and wandered in the ignorance and blyndenes of humane nature corrupted by the disobedience of owr fyrst parentes which hath remayned in all nations vpon the face of the earth except where it hath pleased god by the lyght of his spirite by his woorde to poure vppon his electe the grace of renouation The grace of renouation by the lyght wherof the naturall darkenes receaueth sume clearenes as in a glasse vntyll imperfection shal be abolyshed Owre men therefore were longe in the Ilande of Hispaniola before they knewe that the people thereof honorede any other thynge theÌ„ the lyghtes of heauen or had any other Religion But when theye had byne nowe longe conuersante with them and by vnderstandyng their language drewe to a further familiaritie they had knowleage that they vsed dyuers rytes and superstitions I haue therfore gathered these fewe thynges folowynge owte of a booke wrytten by one Ramonus an heremyte Ramonus an heremyte whom Colonus had lefte with certeyne kynges of the Ilande to instruct them in the Christian fayth And bycauâ—e in maner their hole religion is none other thing then Idolatry I wyll begynne at theyr Idoles Idoâ—atry and Idoles It is therfore apparente by the Images which they honour openly and commonly that there appere vnto them in the nyghte seasons certeyne phantaâ—ies and illusions of euyll spirites Illuâ—ions of euyl spirites seducinge them into many fonde and folyshe errours For they make certeyne Images of gossampine cotton foulded or wrethed after theyr maner Images of gossampâ—ne cotton and harde stopped within These Images they make sytting much lyke vnto the pictures of sprites and deuelles which owr paynters are accustomed to paâ—nt vppon waules But forasmuch as I my selfe sent yowe foure of these Images yowe may better presently signifie vnto the kynge yowre vncle what maner of thynges they are howe lyke vnto paynted deuelles then I can expresse the same by wrytynge These Images thinhabitantes caule Zemes zemes wherof the leaste made to the lykenes of younge deuels younge deuyls they bind to theyr forheades when they goo to the warres ageynst their enemies And for that purpose haue they those strynges hangynge at them which yowe see Of these they beleue to obteyne rayne if rayne be lackyng and lykewyse fayre wether For they thinke that these Zemes are the mediatours and messengers of the greate god Mediatours whom they acknowleage to be only one eternall Only one god eternall withowte ende omnipotent and inuisible Thus euery kynge hath his particuler Zemes which he honoureth The names of god They caule the eternall god by these twoo names Iocauna and Guamaonocon as theyr predicessours tawght them Affirminge that he hath a father cauled by these fyue names The father of god that is Artabâ—ra Mamona Cuacarapita Liella Guimazoa Nowe shall yowe heare what they fable on the earth as touchinge the originall of man The originall of man kynde There is in the Ilande a Region cauled Caunana wher they fayne that mankynde came fyrst owte of twoo caues of a mountayne and that the byggest sorte of men came furth of the mouth of the byggest caue and the least sorte owte of the leaste caue The rocke in the which these caues are they caule Cauâ—a The greatest denne they name Cazibaxagua and the lesse Amaiauna Fables much lyke Ouide his transformations They say that before it was lawful for men to come foorth of the caue the mouth of the caue was kepte and watched nyghtly by a man whose name was Machochael This Machochael departinge sumwhat farre from the caue to thintente to see what thynges were abrode was soodenly taken of the soonne whose sight he was forbydden and was turned into a stone They fayne the lyke of dyuers other that whereas they went foorthe in the nyghte season a fysshynge so farre from the caue that they coulde not returne before the rysynge of the soone the which it was not lawful for them to behold they were transformed into myrobalane trees The original of Mirobalane trees which of them selues growe plentifully in the Ilande They saye furthermore that a certeyne ruler cauled Vagoniona sent one furth of the caue to goo a fysshynge who by lyke chaunce was turned into a nyghtyngale bycause the soonne was rysen beefore he came ageyne to the caue The nightingale And that yearelye abowte the same tyme that he was turned into a byrde he dothe in the nyght with a moornynge songe bewayle his mysfortune and caule for the helpe of his maister Vagoniona And this they thynke to bee the cause why that byrde singeth in the night season But Vagoniona beinge sore troubled in his mynd for the losse of his familier frende whom he loued soo intierly leauinge the men in the caue brought foorth onely the women with theyr suckynge chyldren leauinge the women in one of the Ilandes of that tracte cauled Mathinino The Iland of Mathinino and caryed the chyldren awaye with hym which poore wretches oppressed with famine fainted and remained on the banke of a certeine ryuer where they were turned into frogges Children turned into frogges and cryed toa toa that is mama mama as chyldren are wont to crye for the mothers pappe And hereof they say it commeth that frogges vse to cry so pytifully in the sprynge tyme of the yeare And that men were scattered abrode in the caues of Hispaniola withowte the companye of women They say also that whereas Vagoniona hym selfe was accustomed to wander in dyuers places and yet by a speciall grace A speciall grace neuer transformed descended to a certeyne fayre woman whom he sawe in the bottome of the sea and receaued of her certeyne pibple stones of marble whiche they caule Cibas and also certeine yelowe and bright plates of laton whiche they caule Cuaninos These thynges to this day are had in greate estimation amonge the kynges as goodly iewels and most holy reliques holy reliques These men whiche we sayde before were lefte in the caues withowte women went furth in the nyght as they say to wasshe them selues in a ponde of raine water and sawe a farre of by the way a greate multitude of certeine beastes in shape sumwhat lyke vnto women creping as thicke as antes aboute the myrobalane
by agremente had diuided emonge theym the goodes and headdes to owre men Tryuâ—phe before victory And therfore admonyâ—hed her at the daye appoynted by sume occasion to conueigh her selfe owte of the way leste shee shuld bee slayne in the confusion of the bataile For the souldier victourer is not woonte to spare any that commethe in his rase And thus shewinge his syster the daye aâ—â—igned to the slawghter Affection corruâ—teth trew iudgement he departed But the younge woman for it is the swoord that women feare and obserue more then the grauitie of Cato whether it were for the loue or feare that shee had to Vaschus forgettinge her parentes her kynsfolkes her countrey and all her frendes ye and all the kinges into whose throtes Vaschus had thruste his swoorde shee opened all the matter vnto hym and conceled none of those thinges whiche her vndiscrete broother had declared to her When Vaschus therfore had hard the matter he caused Fuluia for soo had they named her to sende for her brother who came to her immediatly was taken and enforced to tell the hole circunstances of the matter Where vppon he playnely confessed that kinge Cemacchus hys lorde and master sente those foure canoas to the destruction of owre men and that these newe conspiraces were attempted by his consaile The conâ—pirâ—tiâ— of the kynges is detected Likewise that Cemacchus sowght the destruction of Vaschus hym selfe when he sent hym fortie men vnder pretence of frenâ—shippe to tyll and sowe his grownd after the maner of the contrey gyuinge them in commaundement to sleye Vaschus at Marris whyther he resorted to comforte his laboures as the maner is of all good husbandes Yet durste they at noo tyme execute theyr lordes commaundemente vppon hym bycause Vaschus came neuer emonge them afoote or vnarmed kyng Cemacchus conâ—â—â—reth the oâ—th of Uaschus but was accustomed to ryde to theym in harnes with a iauelen in his hande and a swoorde by his syde Wherfore Cemacchus beinge frustrate of his particuâ—er conâ—aile tooke this laste thing in hande to his owne destruction and his neighbours For the conspiracie beinge detected Vaschus cauled threescore and tenne souldiers Uaâ—chus purseweth the kynges with threescore ten men commaundinge them to folow him but declared nothing vnto them whether hee wente or what hee entended to do He wente forwarde therfore fyrste towarde Cemacchus which ley from hym onely tenne myles But he had knowleage that he was fledde to Dabaiba the kinge of the marishes of Culata Yet searchinge his village he founde a noble man a ruler vnder hym and also his kinsseman whome he tooke prisoner with many other of his familiers and frendes both men and women The same houre that he sette forwarde to seeke for Cemacchus Rodericus Colmenaris rowed vp the ryuer with foure of theyr biggeste Canoas and threescore men by the conduction of the maydes brother who browght hym to the village of â—ichiri Colmenaris â—acketh the vylage of Cichiri in the which we sayd all their vitailes to remayne whiche were prepared for theyr armye Colmenaris therfore sacked the village and possessed all their vitayles and wyne of sundry colours likewise tooke the gouernoure thereof prisoner and hanged hym on the tree in whiche he dwelte hym selfe commaundinge hym too bee shotte throwgh with arrowes in the sight of thinhabitantes Fyue rulers hanged and shot thâ—owgh with arrows and with hym foure other rulers to bee hanged on iebbettes to the exemple of other rebelles This punysshmente thus executed vppon the conspiratours sâ—rooke the hartes of all thinhabitantes of the prouince wych suche feare that there is not nowe a man that dare stoore his finger ageynst the wrathe of owre men They lyue nowe therefore quietly And the other kinges by theyr exemple doo the gladlyer liue in subiection with lesse offence bearinge the yoke whyche they can by noo meanes shake of The syxte booke of the seconde decade of the supposed continente THese thinges thus fynysshed assemblinge all their company togither they determined with one consente that a messynger shulde foorth with bee sente to Hispaniola from whense they haue their lawes and ayde to declare the hole order of all these affayres fyrste to the admirall and gouernoure of the Ilande and afterwarde to the Kinge of Spayne and to persuade hym to senâ—e those thousand men which younge Comogrus said to bee expediente to passe ouer the mountaynes lying betwene them and the golden regions towarde the Southe The golden regionâ— on the south side the mountaynes Vaschus him selfe dyd greatly affecte this embasage But neyther woolde the resydewe of his felowes electe hym therto nor his factionaries suffer hym to departe Aswell for that therby they thought they shulde bee left desolate as also that they murmured that if Vaschus shulde once goo from theym he wolde neuer returne to suche turmoyles and calamities by thexemple of Valdiuia and zamudius The death of Ualdiuia and zamudius who had byn now absente sence the mooneth of Ianuary in soo muche that they thowght they woolde neuer coomme ageine But the matter was otherwise then they tooke it as I wyl shewe in his place For they were perisshâ—d At the lengeth after many scrutinies they elected one Iohn Quicedus Iohannes Quicedâ—s is sent to Spain a graue man well in yeares treasourer of the kings escheker in those prouinces They had conceaued a good opinion of this Quicedus that all thynges shulde bee well browght to passe by his meanes aswell for his wysdome as also that they were in good hop of his returne bycause he had brought his wiffe with hym to those regions whome he lefte with his felowes for a pledge of his comminge ageyne When they had thus elected Quicedus they were ageyne of diuers opinions whome they might ioyne with hym for assistance Affirminge that it were a daungerous thinge to committe soo weightye a matter to one mans handes Not that they mistrusted Quicedus but bycause the life of man is frayle and the chaunge of the ayer perelous Chaunge of the ayer is daungerous especially to theym hauynge nowe of longe tyme byn accustomed to the temperature nere vnto the Equinocâ—iall if they shulde bee compelled to returne to the North with alteratioÌ„ of ayer dyet They thowght it therfore good to appoynt a coÌ„panioÌ„ to Quicedus that if â—y chance the one shuld fayl the other might remayne And that if they both escaped the king shuld gyue the better credit to the relation of both After longe consultatioÌ„ therfore they chose Rodericus Colmenaris a man of good experience Rodericus Colmenaris assistâ—nt wiâ—â— Quicedus of whoÌ„ we haue often tymes made meÌ„cion For from his youth he had trauayled ouer al Europe by land and by sea and was present at the doinges of all thynges in Italy ageynst the Frenchemen Of whose returne also they had noo smaule hope bycause he had many fermes and hâ—dde
hym in this effect Thoracion of the byshop of Burges in the defâ—nce of Peâ—â—us arias May it please yowre hyghnes to vnderstand most catholyke Prince that wheras Petrus Arias a man of valiente corage and greate seruice hath offered hym selfe to aduenture his lyfe in yowre maiesties affayres vnder vncerteyne hope of gayne and moste certeyne perels yet that notwithstandynge sum other haue ambiciously maliced his felicitie and prefermeÌ„t labouringe for thoffice whereto he is elected It maye please yowre grace herein soo to shewe hym yowr fauour and permit hym to enioye his sayde office as yowre maiestie doo knowe hym to bee a woorthy and meete man for the same hauyng in tyme paste had greate experience of his prowesse and valianenesse aswell in behauinge hym selfe as orderinge his souldiers as yowr hyghnes may the better consyder if it shal please yowe to caule to remembrance his doinges in the warres of Aphrica The warres of Aphrica where he shewed hym selfe bothe a wyse Capitayne and valient souldier As concerninge his maners and vsages other wayes they are not vnknowen to yowre maiestie vnder whose wynge he hath of a chylde byn browght vp in the courte and euer founde faythfull towarde yowre hyghnesse Wherfore to declare my opinion vnder yowre graces fauour whom it hath pleased to appoynt me a commissioner in these affayres I thinke it were vngodly that he shuld bee put from his office at the sute of any other especially beinge thereto moued by ambition and couetousnes who perchaunce woold proue them selues to be the same men in the office if they shuld obteyne it as they nowe shewe them selues in the ambitious desirynge of the same When the bysshoppe had sayde these woordes the kynge confirmed the election of Petrus Arias in more ample maner then before Petrus Arias Lieuetenante of Dariena wyllynge the byshoppe to appoynt hym a thousande and twoo hundreth souldiers at his charges makynge hym a warrante to thofficers of his escheker to delyuer hym money in preste for the same purpose Petrus Arias therfore beinge thus put in office and authorysed by the kynges letters patentes vnder his brode seale Petrus Arias hath a thousand twâ—o hundreth meÌ„ appoynted at the kynges charges chose a greate number of his souldiers in the court and soo departed frome Valladoleto aboute the calendâ—s of October in the yeare 1513 And sayled fyrst to Ciuile beinge a verye ryche citie and well replenyshed with people where by the kynges magistrates he was furnyshed with men and vytayles and other necessaries perteynynge to soo greate a matter For the king hath in this citie erected a house seruinge only for th affayres of the Ocean A house in Ciuile appointed to the affayres of India to the which al they that goo or coome from the newe landes and Ilandes resorte to gyue accomptes aswell what they cary thyther as what they brynge from thense that the kynge may bee truly answered of his custome of the fyfte part bothe of golde and other thynges as wee haue sayde before This house they caule the house of the Contractes of Indi Petrus Arias founde in Ciuile aboue twoo thousand younge men which made great sute to goo with hym Perularia lykewyse noo small number of couetous owlde men of the whiche many offered them selues to goo with him of theyr owne charges withowt the kynges stipende Many profe them selues to go of theyâ— owne charges But leste the shippes shulde bee pestered with to great a multitude or least vytayles shulde fayle them the libertie of free passage was restraynt It was also decreed that noo stranger might passe withowt the kynges licence Wherfore I doo not a lyttle maruaile at Aloisius Cadamustus a venetian and wryter of the Portugales vyages Aloisius Cadamustus iâ— reproued that he was not a shamed to wryte thus of the Spanyardes nauigations we went we sawe we dyd Wheras he neuer went not any Uenetian sawe But he stoule certeyne annotacions owte of the three first bookes of my fyrst Decade wrytten to Cardinal Ascanius and Arcimboldus supposinge that I woolde neuer haue publysshed the same It myght also happen that he came by the copie therof at the hande of sum ambasadoure of Uenice For I haue graunted the copie to many of them and was not daungerous to forbyd them to coÌ„municate the same to other Howe so euer it bee this honeste man Aloisius Cadamustus feared not to chalenge vnto hym the frute of an other mans laboure Of the inuentions of the Portugales which surely are woonderfull whether he haue wrytten that whiche he hath seene as he sayth or lykewise bereaued other men of the iuste commendations of theyr trauayles The Portâ—gales inueâ—tions I wyll not iudge but am content to let hym lyue after his maner Emonge the company of these souldiers there were none embarked but suche as were licenced by the kynge except a fewe Italians Genues who by frendshippe and sute were admitted for the Admirals sake younge Colonus sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of those landes Petrus Arias therfore tooke shippyng in the ryuer Betis nowe cauled Guadalqueuir runnyng by the citie of Ciuile The nauigatioÌ„ of Petrus Arias aboute the beginnynge of the yeare of Christe .1514 But he loosed anker in an euyll houre A shipwracke For suche a tempeste folowed shortly after his departure that it rent in pieces two of his shippes and soo tossed the other that they were enforced to heaue ouer boorde parte of theyr vytayles to lyghten them All such as escaped sayled backe ageyne to the coastes of Spayne where beinge newely furnyshed and refreshed by the kynges officers they went forwarde on theyr viage The master pylot of the gouernoures shyppe was Iohannes Vesputius a Florentine the neuie of Americus Vesputius Americus Vesputius who left hym as it were by discente of inheritance thexperience of the mariners facultie and knowleage of the sea carde and compasse But wee were aduertised of late by certeyne which came from Hispaniola that they had passed the Ocean with more prosperous wynde For this marchaunt shyppe commynge from Hispaniola founde them landinge at certeyne Ilandes nere there aboute But in the meane tyme whyle my importunate caulers on Galeaceus Butrigarius and Iohannes Cursius men studious by al meanes to gratifie yowre holynes ceased not to put me in rememberance that they had one in a redines to depart into Italy and taryed onely to cary with hym vnto yowre holynes these my fayre Nereides althowgh rudely decked leaste I shulde bestow muche tyme in vayne I haue let passe many thynges wyll reherse onely such as seeme in my iudgement moste woorthye memory althowgh sumwhat disordered as occasion hath serued So it is therfore that this Petrus Arias hath a wyfe named Helisabeth a Boadilla A notable exemple of a valient woman beinge niese by the broothers syde to the marques of Boadilla which rendered the citie of
them owte of the wooddes of these trees by reason wherof a greate multytude of them are becoome wylde They also affirme that in Hispaniola swynes flesshe is of much better taste and more holsome then mutton Swynes fleâ—she of better tast and more holsum then mutton For it is not to bee doubted but that dyuers kyndes of meates do engender sundry tastes and qualities in suche as are noryshed therwith The moste puissaunte prince Ferdinandus declared that he had eaten of an other frute browght from those landes beinge full of scales with keyes muâ—h lyke a pine apple in forme and coloure but in tendernes equal to melopepones and in taste excedyng al garden frutes For it is noo tre but an herbe much lyke vnto an archichoke or Acantho The kynge hym selfe gaue the cheefest commendation to this I haue eaten none of these frutes For of a great number which they browght from thense Frutes putrifyed on the sea only one remayned vncorrupted the other being putrified by reason of the longe vyage All suche as haue eaten of theym newely gathered in theyr natyue soyle doo maruelouâ—ly commende theyr swetenes and pleasaunt taste They dygge also owte of the ground certeyne rootes growynge of theim selues whiche they caule Betatas Betatas much lyke vnto the nauie rootes of Mylayne or the greate puffes or musheroms of the earth Howe soo euer they bee dressed eyther fryed or sodde they gyue place to noo such kynde of meate in pleasant tendernes The skyn is sumwhat towgher then eyther of nauies or mussheroms and of earthy coloure But the inner meate therof is verye whyte These are noorysshed in gardens as we sayde of Iucca in the fyrste Decade They are also eaten rawe and haue the taste of rawe chestnuttes but are sumwhat sweeter Wee haue spoken sufficiently of trees herbes and frutes Wee wyll nowe therefore entreate of thynges sencitiue The laundes and desolate pastures of these regions are inhabited and deuoured of wild and terrible beastes as Lions Tygers Lions and Tygers and such other monsters as we nowe knowe and haue byn descrybed of owlde autoures in tyme past But there is especially one beast engendered here A straunge beast in which nature hath endeuoured to shewe her cunnyng This beaste is as bygge as an oxe armed with a longe snoute lyke an Elephant and yet no Elephant Of the colour of an oxe and yet noo oxe With the houfe of a horse and yet noo horse With eares also much lyke vnto an Elephant but not soo open nor soo much hangyng downe yet much wyder theÌ„ the eares of any other beaste Of the beast which beareth her whelpes about with her in her seconde bâ—lly as in a purse beinge knowen to none of the owlde wryters I haue spokeÌ„ in the fyrst Decade which I doubte not to haue coome to the handes of yowre holynes Let vs nowe therfore declare what resteth of the fluddes and ryuers of Vraba The ryuers of Uraba The ryuer of Dariena fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba with a narowe chanel The ryuer of Darien fauleth into the goulfe of Uraba scarsly able to beare the canoas or lyghters of that prouince and runneth by the vyllage where they chose theyr dwellynge place But the ryuer in the corner of the goulfe which we sayde that Vaschus passed by they found to bee .xxiiii. furlonges in bredth which they caule a league and of exceadynge depthe A league is xxiiii furloÌ„ges as of twoo hundreth cubettes faulynge into the goulfe by dyuers mouthes They say that this ryuer fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba lyke as the ryuer Ister otherwyse cauled Danubius Danubius and Danowe fauleth into the sea Pontike and Nilus into the sea of Egypte wherfore they named it Grandis Grandis or Rio grandis that is great whiche also they affirme to nooryshe many and great Crocodyles A crocodile is much lyke an eute but of excedyng bignes as the owld wryters testifie of Nilus and especially as I haue lerned by experience hauinge sayled vp and downe the ryuer of Nilus when I was sent ambasadoure to the Soldane of Alcayr at the commaundement of the moste catholyke Kynge What I may therfore gather owte of the wrytynges of so many lerned autours as concerninge the ryuer of Nilus The autoure of this booke was in Egipt The riuer Nilus in Egypte I knowe not For they say that nature hath gyuen two riuers of that name to water the lande whether they wyll them to sprynge owte of the mountaynes of the moone or the soonne Montes or owte of the toppes of the rowgh mountaines of Ethiopia Lunae Affirming one of the same to faule into the goulfe of Egypte toward the Northe and the other into the South Ocean sea What shall wee saye in this place Of that Nilus in Egypte there is noo doubte The Portugales also whiche sayle by the coastes of the Ethiopians cauled Nigritae The Portugales nauigacions and by the kyngedome of Melinda passinge vnder the Equinoctiall lyne amonge theyr mâ—ruelous inuentions haue founde an other towarde the South and ernestly affirme the same to bee also deriued froÌ„ the mountaynes of the moone And that it is an other chanell of Nilus bycause it bryngeth foorth Crocodyles whereas it hathe not byn reade before tyme that any other ryuer noorysshed Crocodyles sauinge onely Nilus This ryuer the Portugales caule Senega The ryuer Senega â–ª an other chanell of the ryuer of Nilus It runneth throwgh the Region of the Nigritas beinge very frutefull towarde the north shore but on the southe syde sandie and rowghe Crocodiles are also engendred herein What shall wee then say of this thyrde ye I may wel say the fourth Crocodiles The thyrde fourth Nilus For I suppose them also to bee Crocodiles which Colonus with his coompany founde armed with scales as harde as shelles in the ryuer cauled Delagartos wherof wee haue made mention before Delagartos Shall wee say that these ryuers also of Darien and Vraba haue theyr originall frome the mountaynes of the moone wheras they sprynge owte of the nexte mountaynes and can by noo meanes haue the same originall with Nilus in Egypte or that in Nigrita The ryuers springe owt of the mountaynes or els that in the kyngedome of Melinda from whense soo euer they are deryued Whereas these other as we haue sayde springe owt of the next mountaines whiche deuyde an other southe sea with noo greate distaunce from the North Ocean Wherfore it appeareth by experience of such as haue trauayled the worlde in owre time that other waters besyde the ryuer of Nilus in Egypte Crocodiles engendred in other ryuers besyde Nilus â—n Egypte maye lykewyse brynge foorth Crocodiles In the marysshes also and fennes of the Regions of Dariena are founde greate plentie of Phesauntes and peacockes but not of variable coloures with many other kyndes of byrdes and foules vnlyke vnto owres Byrdes and
vertue For they haue soo spredde this rumour for a truth throwghowt all the courte that not onely all the people but also many of them whom wisedome or fortune hath diuided from the common sort thinke it to be true But if yowe shal aske my opinion herein The renouation of age I wyl answere that I wyll not attribute so greate poure to nature but that god hath noo lesse reserued this prerogatiue to hym selfe then to searche the hartes of men or to gyue substance to priuation that is beinge to noo beinge Excepte we shall beleue the fable of Colobis of Eson renouate to bee as trewe as the wrytinges of Sibylla Erythrea Albeit perhappes the scoles of phisitians and naturall philosophers wyll not muche stycke to affirme that by thuse of certeyne secreate medecines and dyete The accidentes of age may bee hydden the accidentes of age as they caule them may be longe hydden and deferred which they wyll to bee vnderstoode by the renouacion of age And to haue sayde thus much of the length and breadthe of these Regions and of the rowghe and hugious mountaynes with theyr watery caues also of the dyuers degrees of that lande I thinke it sufficient But I thowght it not good to let passe what chaunced to these miserable men amonge theyr generall calamities I remember that when I was a chylde mee thowght my bowelles grated and that my spirites were maruelouslye troubeled for verye pitie when I readde in the poet Uirgyl howe Achemenides was lefte of Vlysses vpon the sea bankes amonge the giantes cauled Cyclopes Achemenides Vlyssâ—s Encas where for the space of many dayes from the departinge of Vlyssâ—s vntyll the commynge of Encas he eate none other meate but only berryes and hawes But owre vnfortunate Spanyardes whiche folowed Nicuesa to inhabite Beragua Extreme hunger woolde haue estemed hawes and berryes for greate delicates What shulde I heare speake of the heade of an asse bowght for a greate price and of such other extremities as men haue suffered in townes beseaged This was at the â—iege of hieruâ—alem After that Nicuesa hadde determyned to leaue Beragua for the barrennes of the soyle he attempted to searche Porâ—um Bellum Portus Bâ—llus and then the coastes of the poynt cauled Marmor Maâ—moâ— if he myght there fynde a place more fortunate to inhabite In this meane tyme so greuous famen oppressed his souldiers that they neyther absteyned from eatinge of mangie dogges which they had with them aswell for theyr defence as for huntynge for in the warre ageynst the naked people Mangy dogs eaten dogges stoode theÌ„ in greate steade nor yet sumtymes from the slayne inhabitantes Foâ— they founde not there any frutefull trees or plentie of foules as in Dariena but a barren grounde and not meete to bee inhabited Here certeyne of the souldiers made a bargein with one of theyr felowes for the price of a leane dogge who also was almoste deade for hunger A mangy dog dere sold. They gaue the owner of the dogge many of those pieces of golde which they caule Pesos or golden Castellans Thus agreinge of the price they fleid the dogge to bee eaten and caste his mangie skynne with the bones of the heade hangynge therto amonge the bushes The day folowynge a certeyne footâ—man of theyr company chaunced to fynde the skynne beinge nowe full of maggottes and stynkynge He brought it home with hym sodde it and eate it Many resorted to hym with theyr dysshes for the brothe of the sodde skynne Broth of a mangy dogs skynne proferinge hym for euerye dysshefull a piece of golde An other founde twoo toades and sodde them which a sicke man bought of hym for twoo fyne shertes curiously wrought of lynen intermyxt with golde Toades eateÌ„ Certeyn other wanderinge abowte to seeke for vytayles founde in a patheway in the myddest of a fyelde a deade man of thinhabitantes whiche had byn slayne of his owne coompanye and was nowe rotten and stynkynge A deade man eaten They drewe hym a syde dismemberde hym secreatly rosted hym and eate hym therewith asswagynge theyr hunger as yf they had byn fedde with pheasauntes One also which departinge from his companions in the nyght season went a fyshyng amonge the reedes of the marysshes lyued only with slyme or mudde for the space of certeyne dayes vntyll at the lengthe creepinge and almoste deade he founde the way to his felowes And thus these miserable men of Beragua vexed with these and suche other aflictions were browghe from the number of seuen hundreth thre score ten souldiers scarsely to fortie beinge nowe also added to the coompany of them in Dariena Fewe were slayne of thinhabitantes But the resydewe consumed by famen breathed owt theyr wery sowles openynge a waye to the newe landes for such as shal coome after them appeasinge the fury of the barbarous nations with the price of theyr bludde Note Consyderinge therfore after these stormes with what case other men shall ouerrunne and inhabite these landes in respecte to the calamities that these men haue suffered they shall seeme to goo to bryde feastes where all thynges are redy prepared ageynst their commynge But where Petrus Arias arryued with the kynges nauie and newe supply of men Petrus Arias whom the Spanyardes caule Pedâ—arias to this houre I knowe no certentie What shall chaunce herafter I wyll make diligente inquisition if I shall vnderstande this to bee acceptable to yowre holynes Thus I byd yowe hartely farewell from the courte of the mooste Catholyke kynge the daye beefore the nones of December in the yeare of Christe M. D. XIIII ¶ The fyrst booke of the thyrde Decade to the bysshoppe of Rome Leo the tenth I Was determyned moste holye father to haue closed vp the gates to this newe worlde supposinge that I had wandered farre enowgh in the coastes therof while in the meane time newe letters were brought me frome thense which caused me ageyne to take my penne in hande For I receaued letters not only from certeyne of myne acquaintaunce there but also frome Vaschus Nunnez whome we sayde by the confidence of his owne poure with his confetherates Uaâ—chus Nunnâ—z gouernor of Dariena to haue vsurped the gouernaunce of Dariena after the reiecting of Nicuesâ— and Aneâ—sus Lieuetenantes By his letter wrytten after his warlyke maner wee vnderstand that he hath passed ouer the mountaynes diuidyng the Ocean knowen to vs The newe south Ocean from the other mayne sea on the south syde of this lande hetherto vnknowen His epistell is greater then that cauled Capreensis de Seiano But wee haue gathered out of that and other onely suche thynges as we thowght moste woorthy to bee noted Vaschus soo behaued hym selfe in these affayres that he dyd not onely pacifie the kynges displeasure conceaued ageynst hym but also made hym so fauorable and gracious good lorde towarde hym that he rewarded him and his coompanions with
by chaunce in an other place where the colour of the grounde with certayne shyninge stones seemed to bee a tooken of golde where causynge a smaule â—itte to bee dygged lyttell beneath thupper cruste of the eaâ—the he founde somuche golde as weyghed that pyece of golde whiche the Spaniardes caule Castellanum aureum and is commonly cauled Pesus Tokens of great plentie of goâ—de but not in one grayne Reioysynge at theâ—e tookens in hope of great riches he badde Tumanama to be of good coomforte promysynge hym that he woolde bee his frende and defender soo that he troubeled not any of the kynges whiche were frendes to the Christians He also perswaded hym to gather plentye of golde Suâ—me saye that he ledde awaye all Tumanamâ— his women and â—pâ—yled him leaste he shuld rebell Yet he delyuered his soonne to Vaschus to bee broughte vppe with owre men to learne their language and relygyon that he myght therafter the better vse his helpe aswell in all thynges that he shulde haue to doo with owre men as also more polytykely rule and obtayne the loue of his owne subiectes Vaschus at this tyme fell into a vehement feuer by reason of excesse of labour Uaâ—chus fauleth â—icke immoderate watchyng and hunger In somuche that departynge from thense he was fayne too bee borne vppon mennes backes in shietes of gossampyne cotton Feeblenes of hunger and watchinge Lykewyse also many of his souldiers whiche were soo weake that they coulde nother go nor stonde To this purpose they vsed the helpe of thinhabytantes who shewed theÌ„selues in althynges wyllynge and obedyente Also summe of thâ—m whiche were suâ—what feeble and not able to trauayle although not greuously sycke were ledde by the armes vntyll they came to the domynion of kynge Commogrus a greate frende to the Christyans kynge Comogâ—us frendeâ— to the Chrisâ—ians of whom wee haue largely made mention before At Vaschus commynge thether he founde that the owlde kynge was deade and his soonne whome we so prayâ—ed for his wisedome to raygne in his steade And that he was baptiâ—eâ— bâ— the name of Charles The palayce of this Comogrus is situate at the foote of a stâ—epe hyll well cultured Hâ—uynge towarde the southe a playne of twelue leages in bâ—eadth and veary frutefull The large â—â—â—teful plain oâ—â—auana This playne they caule Zauana Beyonde his are the great and hyghe montaynes whiche â—eâ—ydâ— thâ— two seas wherof we haue spoken before Owte of the styepe hylles spryngeth the ryuer Comogrus Tho ryuer Comogruâ— whiche runneth throwgh the sayde playne to the hyghe montaynes receauynge into his chanell by their valleys all the other ryuers so fauleth into the south sea It is distante from Dariena aboute threscore and tenne leages towarde the weste As owre men therfore came to these parties kynge Comogrus otherwyse cauled Charles by his christian name mette theÌ„ ioyfully and entertayned them honorably gyuynge them their fyll of pleasaunte meates and drynkes He gaue also to Vaschus twenty pounde weyght of wrought golde xx pounde weyght of wrought gold Vaschus recompensed him with thinges which he esteemed muche more As axes and sundry kyndes of carpenters tooles Also a souldiours cloke and a faire sherte wrought with needle woorke By these gyftes Comogrus thought hym selfe to bee halfe a god amonge his bortherers Vaschus at his departynge from hense ernestly charged Comogrus and the other kynges to remayne faithfull and obedient to the christian king of Castile if they desyred to lyue in peace and quietnesse And that they shulde hereafter more diligently applye them seluâ—s to the gatheringe of golde to bee sente to the great christian Tiba that is kyng Declaryng furâ—her that by this meanes thâ—y shuld bothe gette them and their posterity a patrone and defender ageinst their enemyes and also obtayne great abundaunâ—e of owre thinges These affayres thus happely achiuâ—d he went forwarde on his vyage to the palaice of kyng Poncha where he founde foure younge men whiche were come from Dariena to certify hym that there were certayne shyppes coomme from Hispaniola laden with vyttayles and other necessaries Uaschus reâ—uâ—neth to Dariena Wherfore takyng with him twentie of his moste lusty souldiers he made haste to Dariena with longe iorneys leauinge the resydue behynd him to folow at their leasure He writeth that he came to Dariena the .xiiii. Cal. of Fe An. 1514. The date of his letter is From Dariena the .iiii. day of march The good fortune of Uaschus He writeth in the same letter that he had many sore conflictes that he was yet neyther wounded or loste any of his men in the battaile And therfore in al his large letter there is not one leafe without thankes geuynge to almyghty god for his delyuery and preseruation from so many imminent pecels He attempted no enterprise or tooke in hande any viage withowt thinuocation of god and his holy saintes Thus was Vaschus Balboa of a vyolenâ—e Goliath tourned into Helsâ—as Uaschus waâ— turned from Gâ—â—â—â—th to â—â—â—â—eus And frome Anteus too Hercules the conquerour of monsters Beynge therefore thus tourned from a rasshe royster to a polytykâ— and discreate capitayne he was iudged woorthy to bee aduaunced to greate honoure By reason whereof he was bothe receaued into the kynges fauour and therevppon created the generall or Lieuetenaunt of the kynges army in those Regions O flaterynge fortune looke his death in the booke of the Ilande lately founde Thus much haue I gathered bothe by the letters of certeyne my faythefull frendes beinge in Dariena and also by woorde of mouth of suche as came lately frome thense If yowre holynes desyre to knowe what I thynke herein Suerly as by suche thynges as I haue seene I beleue these thynges to bee trewe euen so thorder and agreinge of Vaschus and his coompanions warrelyke letters seeme to confirme the same The earth is owre general mother The Spanyarde therfore shall not neede hereafter with vndermynynge the earth with intollerable laboure to breake the bones of owre mother and enter many myles into her bowels and with innumerable daungers cut in sunder hole mountaynes to make a waye to the courte of infernall Pluto The courte of infernall Pluto to brynge from thense wycked golde the seede of innumerable mischeues withowte the whiche notwithstandynge we may nowe scarsely leade a happy lyfe sithe iniquitie hath so preuayled and made vs slaues to that wherof we are lords by nature The Spanyarde I say shall not neede with such trauayles difficultie to dygge farre into the earth for gold but shal fynde it plentifully in maner in the vpper crust of the earth or in the sandes of ryuers dryded vppe by the heate of sommer onely wasshynge the earth softely frome the same And shall with lyke facilite gather plentie of pearles There iâ— a better waye then this Certenly the reuerent antiquitie by al the Cosmographers assent obteyned not soo greate a benefyte of nature
admyrall to allure them to frendâ—hippe gaue them many of owre thinges But they refused them suspectynge summe disceate thereby bycause he woolde not receyue theirs They wroughte all by sygnes Ciuile and humanâ— people for one vnderstoode not a woorde of the others language Suche gyftes as were sente them they lefte on the shore aâ—d woolde take no part therof They are of suche ciuilitye and humanytie that they esteeme it more honorable to gyue then to take They sente owre men two younge women beinge vyrgines of coÌ„mendable fauour and goodly stature sygnifyinge vnto them that they myghte take them awaye with them if it were their pleasure These women after the maner of their countrey were couered from their ancles sumwhat aboue their priuye partes with a certeyne clothe made of gossampine cotton But the men are al naked The women vse to cutte their heare But the men lette it growe on the hynder partes of their heades and cutte it on the fore parte Their longe heare they bynde vppe with fyllettes winde it in sundry rowles as owre maydes are accustomed to do The virgins which were sente to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell gaue them many gyftes and sent theym home ageyne But lykewise all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause owre men had refused their gyftes Yet tooke he two men away with him and those very wyllyngly that by lernyng the Spanyshe tonge he might afterwarde vse them for interpretours He considered that the tractes of these coastes were not greately troubeled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre frome the shâ—re syâ—e euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers The which thynge also other doo affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coastes declaring that the sea riseth and fauleth but lyttle there aboute He sayth furthermore that in the prospecte of this lande there are trees engendred euen in the sea Trees growynâ—â— in thâ— sea after a straunge sorâ— â–ª which after that they are growen to any height bende downe the toppes of theyr branches into the grounde which embrasing them causeth other branches to sprynge owt of the same and take roote in the earth bringynge foorth trees in theyr kynde successiuely as dyd the fyrst roote from whense they had theyr originall as do also the settes of vines when onely bothe the endes therof are put into the grounde Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees Plinie describynge them to bee on the lande but not in the sea The Admirall wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendered in the coastes of Cariai as in other prouinces of these regions and such as we haue spoken of before Yet that there is one founde here in nature much differinge from the other This beaste is of the byggenes of a greate moonkeye A straunge kynde of moonkeys but with a tayle muche longer and bygger It lyueth in the wooddes and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner Hangynge by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree gatheryng strength by swayinge her body twyse or thryse too and fro she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe An archer of owres hurt one of them Who perceauinge her selfe to be wounded A moonkeye feyghteth with a man leapte downe from the tree and fiercely set on hym which gaue her the wounde in so muche that he was fayne to defende hym selfe with his swoorde And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes he tooke her and with muche a doo brought her to the ships where within a whyle shee waxed tame Whyle shee was thus kepâ—e and bownde with cheynes certeyne other of owr hunters hadde chased a wylde bore owt of the maryshes nere vnto the sea syde For hunger and desyre of fleshe caused theÌ„ to take double pleasure in huntynge In this meane tyme other which remayned in the shippes goinge a lande to recreate them selues tooke this moonkey with them Who as soone as shee had espied the bore set vp her brystels made towarde her The bore lykewyse shooke his bristels whette his teethe The moonkey furiously inuaded the bore â— conflict betwene a monkey and a wylde bore wrappynge her tayle about his body and with her arme reserued of her victourer helde hym so fast aboute the throte that he was suffocate These people of Cariai vse to drye the deade bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees The bodyes of kynges dryed reserued As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai he founde a goulfe of sucâ— largenes that it conteyned .xii. leagues in compaâ—se In the mouth of this goulfe were foure lyttle Ilandes so nere togâ—ther that they made a safe hauen to enter into the goulfe This goulfe is the hauen which we sayde before to be cauled Cerabaro of thinhabitantes Cerabaro But they haue nowe lerned thâ—t only the lande of the one syde therof lyinge on the ryght hande at the enterynge of the goulfe is cauled by that name But that on the lefte syde is cauled Aburema Aburema He saythe thâ—t all this goulfe is ful of fruteful Ilandes wel replenysshed with goodly trees And the grounde of the sea to bee verye cleane withowt rockes and commodious to cast anker Lykewyse the sea of the goulfe to haue greate abundance of fysshe and the landâ— of both the sydes to bee inferior to none in frutfulnes At his fyrst arryuynge he espyed two of thinhâ—bitanâ—es hauynge cheynes about theyr neckes Cheynes of golde made of ouches which they caule Cuauines of base golde artificially wrought in the formes of Eagles and lions with dyuers other beastes and foules Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai he was enformed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde And that the people of Cariai haue all theyr golde frome thense for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges Plentie of golde They towlde hym also that in the saâ—e regiâ—ns there are fyue vyllages not farre from the sea â—yde whose inhabitantes apply theâ— selues onely to the gathering of gold The names of theâ—e vyllages are these Chirara Puren Chitaza Iureche Atamea Fiue villages rych in gold All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro go naked and are paynted with dyuers coloures They take gâ—eat pleasure in wearynge garlanâ—es of floures and crownes made of the clawes of Lions and Tygers Crownes of beasts claws The women couer onely theyr priuie partes wiâ—h a fyller of gossampine cotton Departinge from henâ—e and â—oastynge styll by the same shore for the space of .xviii. leagues he came to another ryuer whâ—re he espyed aboute three hundreth naked men in a company When they sawe the shippes drawe neare the lande they cryed owte aloude with cruell countenaunces shakynge thâ—yr woodden swoordes
foorthwith to thintente there to plant theyr colonie or habitacion where the newe gouernour planted his habitatioÌ„ To the better accomplysshemente hereof they sent immediatly one Iohannes Aiora a noble younge gentelman of Corduba and vnder Lieuetenant The viage of Iohannes Aiora with foure hundreth men and foure carauelles and one other lyttle shippe Thus departinge he sayled fyrst directly to the hauen of Comogrus The hauen of Comogrus dystant from Dariena aboute twentie and fyue leagues as they wryte in theyr last letters Frome hense he as appoynted to sende a hundreth and fyftie of his foure hundreth towarde the South by a newe and ryghter way founde of late by the which as they say it is not paste .xxvi. leagues from the palaice of kynge Comogrus to the enteraunce of the goulfe of Sancti Michaelis Sainte Mychaels goulfâ— The residewe of the foure hundreth shall remayne there to bee an ayde and succour to all such as shall iorney to and fro Those hundreth and fiftie which are assigned to go southwarde take with them for interpretours certeine of owre men which had lerned the sootherne language of the bonde men which were gyuen to Vaschus when he ouerranne those regions and also certeyne of the bondemâ—n them selues which had nowe lerned the Spanysshe tonge They say that the hauen of Pocchorrosa The hauen Pocchorrosa is onely seuen leaques distante frome the hauen of Comogrus In Pocchorrosa he is assigned to leaue fyftâ—e men with the lyghtest shyp which maye bee a passinger betwene them A passynger shyppe that lyke as we vse poste horses by lande so may they by this currant shippe in shorte space certifie the Lieuetenaunt and thinhabitours of Dariena of suche thynges as shall chaunce They entende also to buylde houses in the region of Tumanama The palaice of kynge Tumanama Kyng Tumanama is distant from Pocchorrosa about twentie leaques Of these foure hundreth men beinge of the owlde souldiers of Dariena and men of good experience fyftie weare appoynted to bee as it were Decurians to guide and conducte the newe men from place to place to do their affaires Decurians are officers deuided into â—ennes c. When they had thus sette all thynges in order they thought it good to aduertise the king hereof and therwith to certifye hym that in those prouinces there is a kynge named Dabaiba whose dominion is very riche in golde Kyng Dabaiba But the same to be yet vntouched by reason of his great power His kingedome ioyneth to the seconde greate ryuer named Dabaiba after his name The gold mynes of Dabaiba whiche fauleth into the sea owt of the corner of the goulfe of Vraba as we haue largely declared before The common reporte is that all the lande of his dominions is ryche in golde The palayce of kynge Dabaiba is fyfty leaques distante from Dariena The pallaice of kynge Dabaiba Thinhabitantes saye that from the palaice the golde mynes reache to the borthers on euery syde The gold mynes of Dariena Albeit owre men haue also golde mynes not to bee contempned euen within three leaques of Dariena in the which they gather golde in many places at this presente Yet doo theye affyrme greater plentie to bee in the mynes of Dabaiba In the bookes of owre fyrste frutes wrytten to yowre holynesse we made mention of this Dabaiba wherin owre men were deceaued and mystooke the matter â—n erroure For where they founde the fyssher men of kyng Dabaiba in the marysshes they thought his region had byn there also They determyned therfore to sende to kynge Dabaiba three hundreth choyse younge men to be chosen owte of the hole army as moste apte to the warres Eâ—pedition ageinst kynge Dabaiba and well furnysshed with all kyndes of armoure and artillery to thintent to go vnto hym and wyl hym eyther frendly and peaceably to permytte them to inhabyte parte of his kingdome with the fruition of the golde mynes or elles to bydde him battayle and dryue hym owte of his countrey In their letters they often â—ymes repete this for an argument of great rychesse to coome Great plentie of golde that they in maner dygged the grounde in noo place but founde the earthe myxte with sparkes and smaule graynes of golde They haue also aduertised the kynge that it shal be commodious to place inhabitours in the hauen of Sancta Martha in the region of Saturma The regyon of Saturma that it maye bee a place of refuge for them that sayle from the Ilande of Dominica from the whiche as they saye it is but foure or fyue dayes saylyng to that hauen of the regyon of Saturma The Ilande of Dominica And from the hauen but thre dayes saylyng to Dariena Dariena But this is to bee vnderstode in goynge and not in returnynge For the returnyng from thense is so laborious and difficulte by reason of the contrary course of the water Difficulte saylyng ageynst the course of the sea that they seeme as it were to ascende hyghe montaynes and stryue ageynste the poure of Neptunus This swyfte course of the sea towarde the Weste is not so violente to theym whiche retourne to Spayne frome the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba Althoughe they also do laboure ageynste the faule of the Ocean The cause wherof is that the sea is here verye large so that the waters haue their full scoope But in the tracte of Paria the waters are constrayned together by the bendynge sydes of that great lande and by the multytude of Ilandes lyinge ageynste it as the lyke is seene in the straightes or narowe seas of Sicilie where the violent course of the waters cause the daungerous places of Scylla and Charybdis The daungerous straightes of Scylla Charybdis by reason of those narowe seas whiche conteine Ionium Libicum and Tirrhenum Colonus the fyrst fynder of these regyons hath lefte in wrytynge that saylynge from the Ilande of Guanassa Guanassa and the prouynces of Iaia Iaia Maia Maia and Cerabaro Cerabaro beyng regyons of the west marches of Beragua Beragua he founde the course of the water so vehemente and furious ageynste the fore parte of his shippe whyle he sailed from those coastes towarde the Easte that he coulde at no tyme touche the grounde with his soundynge plummet but that the contrary vyolence of the water woolde beare it vppe from the bottome The vehement course of the sea fro the east to the west He affyrmeth also that he coulde neuer in one hole daye with a meately good wynde wynne one myle of the course of the water And this is the cause why they are oftentymes enforced to sayle fyrste by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hispaniola and so into the mayne sea toward the North when they returne to Spaine that the Northe wyndes maye further their vyage whiche they can not brynge to passe by a directe course The northâ— wynde But
brymme of the water And saye therfore that the greatest do not wander but that they are created nourysshed and increase in the deepest places of the sea whether fewe dyuers and that but seeldome dare aduenture to diue so deepe to gather them aswel for feare of the sea crabbes whiche wander emonge these perle fyshes to feede of them Sea crabbes and for feare of other monsters of the sea as also leste their brethe shuld fayle them into long remayninge in the water And this they saye to bee the cause why the owldest and therfore byggest sea muscles The sea muscles wherin perles are engendred inhabyte the deepest places from whense they are not lyghtly moued by tempestes Furthermore howe muche the bygger and oulder these fyshes are they say that in their larger matrices the greater number and bygger pearles are founde And that for this cause there are fewer founde of the byggest sorte They thyncke also that when they fyrste faule from their fysshes in the deepe places they are deuoured of other fysshes bycause they are not yet harde Ageyne the smaulest differ from the byggest in a certayne swellynge or impostumation whiche the Spaniardes caule a tympane For they denye that to be a pearle which in oulde muscles cleaueth fast to the shel But that it is a warte whiche beynge rased from the shell with a fyle is rounde and bryght but onely of one syde and not precious beynge rather of the nature of the fyshe it selfe then of a pearle They confesse that they haue seene certayne of these muscles cleauynge on rockes Yet these but fewe and nothynge woorthe It is also to bee thought that the pearle fysshes or sea muscles whiche are founde in India Arabie the redde sea or Taprobana are ruled in suche order as the afore named famous autours haue written For their opinion herein is not vtterly to bee reiected forasmuche as they were learned men and trauayled longe in the serchynge of these thynges But wee haue nowe spoken suffyciently of these sea fysshes and of their egges which the fonde nysenes and wantonnesse of men haue made dearer then the egges of hennes or geese Lette vs therfore entreate sumwhat of other particular thynges whiche are coome to owre knowledge of late We haue elles where largely described the mouthes of the goulfe of Vraba with sundrye and variable regions diuided with the manyfolde goulfes of that sea But asconcernynge the West coastes in the whiche owre men haue buylded houses and planted their habitations on the bankes of Dariena I haue no newe matter to write Yet as touching the East partes of the goulfe The regions of the â—ast syde of the goulfe of Uraba I haue learned as foloweth They saye that the vnyuersal lande of the East region of the goulfe from the corner therof farre reachynge into the sea and from the extreame or vtter moste mouthe of the same receauynge the waters of the sea whiche faule into it euen vnto Os Draconis and Paria is by one generall name cauled Caribana The region of Caribana of the Caribes or Canibales whiche are founde in euery regyon in this tracte But from whense they had their particular originall The original of the Canibales and howe leauynge their natiue soyle they haue spredde their generation so farre lyke a pestiferous contagion wee wyll nowe declare Therfore from the fyrste fronte reachynge foorth into the sea in whose tracte we said that Fogeda fastened his foote toward the corner about nyne myles distant there lyeth a vyllage of Caribana named Fuâ—craca The vylages of Caribana Three myles distant from this is the vyllage of Vraba of the whiche it is thoughte that the hole goulfe tooke his name because this vyllage was once the heade of the kyngedome Aboute syxe myles from this is Feâ—i Nyne myles from Fetiâ— is Zerema Manhunâ—ers And about twelue myles from this Sorache Owre men founde all these vyllages full of people all the whiche gyue them selues onely to manhuntynge In so muche that if they lacke enemyes ageynst whom they maye keepe warre they exercise crueltie ageynst them selues and eyther sleye the one the other or elles dryue the vanquysshed to flyghte Whereby it is apparante that by these their continuall warres and dryuynge the one the other owte of their countreis this infection hath gonne so farre not onelye on the fyrme lande but also into the Ilandes I was also aduertised of an other thynge the whiche to my iudgement seemeth woorthye to bee putte in memorye One Corrales a iudge in causes of lawe amonge the Spanyardes of Dariena sayth that on a tyme walkyng abrode with his booke in his hande he met by the waye with a fugityue which had stedde from the great landes lyinge farre toward the weste and remayned here wyth a Kynge wyth whom he was enterteyned When this man perceaued the lawier lookynge on his booke marueylynge thereat he came runninge vnto him and by interpretours of the kynge whom he serued spake thus vnto him Haue yowe also bookes wherin yowe may reserue thynges in perpetual memorye Bookes Loke in the begynnyng of the booke of the landes lately founde And letters wherby yowe may declare yowre mynde to suche as are absent And herewith desyred that the booke might bee opened vnto hym supposyng that he shulde therein haue founde the letters of his owne countrey But when he sawe theim vnlyke he sayde further that in his countrey there were cities fortified with waules and gouerned by lawes and that the people also vsed apparell But of what religion they were I dyd not learne Yet had owre men knowleage both by the woordes and signes of this fugitiue that they were circumcised Circumcised people What nowe thinke yowe hereby most holy father Or what do yowe diuine may come hereof when tyme shall subdue al these vnder yowre throne what chaunced to the Capitaines whiche the gouernour sent dyuers wayes Let vs nowe entermyngle certeyne smaule thynges amonge these great matters I haue not thought good to pretermitte that which chaunced to Iohannes Solysius who to searche the South syde of the supposed continent departed with three shippes from porte Ioppa not farre distante from the Ilandes of Gades or Cales in the Ocean the fourth day of the Ides of September in the yeare M D. xv Or what successe Iohannes Pontius had whom the newe gouernour Petrus Arias appoynted to vanquishe and destroy the Caribes or Canibales deuourers of mans fleshe Looke decade iii. liber .vi. Also to what ende the vyages of the other capitaynes came whiche were sent foorth dyuers wayes at the same tyme As Gonzalus Badaâ—ocius Franciscus Bezerra and Valleius Iohannes Solicius tooke the matter in hande in an euyll houre The vyage of Iohannes Solisius He sayled beyonde the poynt of saynt Augustine which they caule Cabo S. Augustini toward the South syde of the supposed continent beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne Cap. S. Augustiâ—i â–ª For as
to reduce the people of the foresayde landes and Ilandes to the Christian religion yowe shall spare no labours at any tyme or bee deterred with any perels conceauynge firme hope and confidence that the omnipotent godde wyll gyue good successe to yowre godly attemptes And that beinge autorysed by the priuilege of the Apostolycall grace yowe may the more freely and bouldly take vpon yowe thenterpryse of so greate a matter we of owre owne motion and not eyther at yowre request or at the instant peticion of any other person but of owre owne mere liberalitie and certeyne science and by the fulnesse of Apostolycall power doo gyue graunt and assigne to yowe yowre heyres and successours al the firme landes Ilandes found or to be found discouered or to be discouered toward the West South drawyng a line froÌ„ the pole Artike to the pole Antartike that is froÌ„ the north to the Southe Conteynynge in this donation what so euer firme landes or Ilandes are founde or to bee founde towarde India or towarde any other parte what so euer it bee beinge distant from or without the foresayd lyne drawen a hundreh leaques towarde the Weste and South from any of the Ilandes which are commonly cauled De los Azorâ—s and Cabo Verde All the Ilandes therfore and firme landes founde and to be founde discouered and to be discouered from the sayde lynâ— towarde the West and South such as haue not actually bin heretofore possessed by any other Christian kynge or prynce vntyll the daye of the natiuitie of owre Lorde Ieâ—u Chryste laste paste from the which begynneth this present yeare beinge the yeare of owre Lorde M. CCCC.lxxxxiii when so euer any such shal be founde by your messingers capytaines Wee by the autoritie of almyghtie God grâ—unted vnto vs in saynt Peter and by the office which we beare on the earth in the steede of Iesu Christe doo for euer by the tenoure of these presentes gyue graunte assigne vnto yowe yowre heyres and successoures the kynges of Castyle and Legion all those landes and Ilandes with theyr dominions territories cities castels towres places and vyllages with all the ryght and iurisdictions therunto perteynynge constitutynge assignynge and deputynge yowe yowre heyres and successours the lordes thereof with full and free poure autotoritie and iurisdiction Decreeinge neuerthelesse by this owre donation graunt and assignation that from no Christian Prince whiche actually hath possessed the foresayde Ilandes and firme landes vnto the day of the natiuitie of owre lorde before sayde theyr ryght obteyned to bee vnderstoode hereby to be taken away or that it owght to be taken away Furthermore wee commaunde yowe in the vertue of holy obedience as yowe haue promysed and as wee doubte not you wyll doo vppon mere deuotion and princely magnanimitie to sende to the sayde firme landes and Ilandes honeste vertuous and lerned men suche as feare God and are able to instructe thinhabitauntes in the Catholyke fayth and good maners applyinge all theyr possible diligence in the premisses We furthermore streightly inhibite all maner of persons of what state degree order or condition so euer they bee although of Imperiall and regall dignitie vnder the peyne of the sentence of excommunication whiche they shall incurre yf they doo to the contrary that they in no case presume without speciall lycence of yowe yowre heyres and successours to trauayle for marchaundies or for any other cause to the sayde landes or Ilandes founde or to bee found discouered or to bee discouered toward the west south drawing a line froÌ„ the pole Artyke to the pole Antartike whether the firme lands Ilandes found to be found be situate toward India or towarde any other parte beinge distant from the lyne drawen a hundreth leagues towarde the west from any of the Ilandes commonly cauled De los Azores and Cabo Verde Notwithstandynge constituâ—ions decrees and Apostolycall ordinaunces what so euer they are to the contrary In him from whom Empyres dominions and all good thynges doo procede Trustynge that almyghtie god directynge yowre enterprises yf yowe folowe yowre godly and laudable attemptes yowre laboures and trauayles herein shall in shorte tyme obteyne a happy ende with felicitie and glorie of all Christian people But forasmuch as it shulde bee a thynge of great difficultie these letters to bee caryed to all suche places as shuld bee expedient we wyll and of lyke motion and knowleage doo decree that whyther so euer the same shal be sent or wher so euer they shal be receaued with the subscription of a common notarie therunto requyred with the seale of any person constitute in ecclesiasticall dignitie or suche as are autorysed by the ecclesiasticall courte the same fayth and credite to bee gyuen thereunto in iudgement or els where as shulde bee exhibyted to these presentes It shall therefore bee lawefull for no man to infringe or rashely to contrarie this letter of owre commendation exhortacion requeste donation graunt assignation constitution deputation decree commaundement inhibition and determination And yf any shall presume to attempte the same he owght to knowe that he shall thereby incurre the indignation of almyghtie God and his holye Apostles Peter and Paule ¶ Gyuen at Rome at saynt Peters In the yeare of thincarnation of owre Lord M. CCCC LXXXXIII The fourth day of the nones of Maye the fyrste yeare of owre seate To the reader ALthough amonge dyuers which haue wrytten of the Ocean and Weste Indies there is none to be compared to Peter Martyr of Angleria in declarynge by philosophical discourses the secreate causes of naturall affectes bothe as touchynge the lande the sea the starres and other straunge woorkes of nature yet forasmuche as of later dayes those countreys haue byn better knowen and searched and dyuers suche particular and notable thynges founde as are conteyned in the hystories of later wryters emonge the number of whom Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus whom lerned Cardanus compareth to the ancient writers is doubtles the chiefe I haue therfore thought good to ioyne to the Decades of Peter Martyr certeyne notable thynges which I haue gathered owte of his booke intiteled the Summarie or abbrigement of his generall hystorie of the west Indies wrytten in thâ— firme lande of the same in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena where he dwelte and was gouernoure many yeares And dedicated to Themperous maiestie as maye appeare by the epystell folowynge ¶ To the most hygh and myghtie prince Charles the fyfte of that name Emperour of Rome Kynge of Spayne and of the twoo Sicilies of bothe the sydes of the streyght of Faro Kynge of Hierusalem and Hungarie Duke of Burgonie and Earle of Flaunders Lorde and inheritoure of the firme lande and Ilandes of the Weste Ocean c. Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus his most humble seruant wysheth health and perpetual felicitie THe thynges whiche principally preserue and mayntayne the woorkes of nature in the memories of men are hystories and bookes composed of the same
Ilandes of Molucca For albeit the Portugales brynge vs great quantitie of spyces from that parte of Easte India whiche in owlde tyme was cauled Aurea Chersonesus where is nowe thought to bee the greate and ryche citie of Malaccha yet in Easte India growe none of those spices excepte pepper Aurea Chersonesus Malaccha Spyces For other spices as Sinamome cloues nutmegges and mase whiche is the huske that couereth the shell of the nutte are brought frome other farre contreys froÌ„ Ilandes scarsely knowen by theyr names From the whiche Ilandes they are brought in shyps or barkes made withowt any iren tooles and tyed togyther with cordes of date trees with rounde sayles lykewise made of the smaule twigges of the branches of date trees weaued togyther These barkes they caule Giunâ—he with the whiche barkes and sayles they make theyr vyages with onely one wynde in the stearne or contrarywyse Neyther yet is it a thynge greatly to bee marueyled at that these Ilandes where the spyces growe haue byn vnknowen so many worlde 's past vnto owre tyme The Ilandes of Spyces vnknowen in owlde tyme. forasmuch as all such thynges as vnto this day haue byn wrytten of owld autours of the places where spices growe are all fabulous and false In so muche that the countreys where they affirme theym to growe are nowe certeynely founde to bee further frome the place where they growe in deede then we are from them For lettynge passe many other thynges that are wrytten I wyll speake onlâ— of this which Herodotus otherwise a famous auctouâ— affâ—â—meth that Sinamome Herodutus Sinamome is founde in the toppes of the nestes of certeyne byrdes and foules that brynge it frome farre countreys especially the Phenyx The Phenyx the which I knowe no man that euer hath seene But Plinie who myght more certeynely affirme thynges by reason that before his tyme many thynges were knowen and discouered by the nauigations of great Alexander and other Plinie The nauigations of greate Alexander sayth that Sinamome groweth in that parte of Ethiope which the people inhabite cauled Trogloditi Ethiope Trogloditi Neuerthelesse it is nowe founde that Sinamome groweth very farre from all Ethiope and muche further frome the Trogloditi whiche dwell in caues vnder the grounde But to owre men which are nowe returned from those partes and the Ilandes of spices hauynge also good knowlege of Ethiope it was necessarie to passe farre beyonde Ethiope beefore they coome to these Ilandes The nauigatâ—on abowte the worlde and to coompasse abowte the whole worlde and many tymes vnder the greatest circumference of heauen The which nauigation made by thâ—m being the most marueylous thynge that euer was doone by man vppon the earth sence the fyrst creation of the worlde and neuer founde before or knowen or attempted by any other I haue deliberated faythfully to wryte to yowre honorable lordshippe and to declare the hole successe therof As touchynge which matter I haue with all diligence made inquisition to knowe the trewth aswell by relation of the Capitayne of that shyppe as also by conference with euery of the maryners that returned with hym All which gaue the selfe same information both to Themperours maiestie and dyuers other And this with such faythfulnesse and sinceritie that not only they are iudged of all men to haue declared the trewth in all thynges but haue thereby also gyuen vs certeyne knowlege that all that hath hytherto byn sayde or written of owlde autours as touchynge these thynges The owldâ— autours reproued are false and fabulous For who wyll beleue that men are found with only one legge Or with such fiete whose shadowe couereth theyr bodyes Or men of a cubite heyght and other such lyke beinge rather monsters then men Monsters Of the which neyther the Spanyardes who in owre tyme saylyng by the Ocean sea The vyages of the Spanyardes and Poâ—tugales haue discouered al the coastes of the lande toward the West both vnder and aboue the Equinoctiall nor the Portugales who compassynge abowt al Affryke haue passed by all the Easte and lykewyse discouered all those coastes vnto the great goulfe cauled Sinus Magnus Sinus Magnus nor yet the Spanyardes in this theyr laste nauigation in the which they compased abowt the hole earth dyd neuer in any of their vyages wryte of such monsters which doubtelesse they wold not haue omytted if they myght haue had certeyne knowelege therof But nowe intendynge to speake of the whole world I wyll not bee longe in my preface but begynne my narration as foloweth ⧠A briefe declaration of the vyage or nauigation made abowte the worlde Gathered owt of a large booke wrytten hereof by master Antonie Pygafetta Uincentine knyght of the Rhodes and one of the coompâ—nye of that vyage in the which Ferdinando Magalianes a Portugale whom sum caule Magellanus was generall Capitayne of the nauie ALthowgh Sebastian Munster in his vniuersall Cosmographie in the fyfthe booke of the landes of the greater Asia which I translated into Englyshe abowte two yeares senâ—e hath wrytten of the vyage of Magellanus Sebastian Munster declarynge therein howe the Spanyardes by the West and the Portugales by the Easte saylyng to the Ilandes of Molucca The Ilandes of Molucca compased the hole globe of the worlde betwene them yet haue I here thought it good to make a breefe repeticion of this vyage addynge hereunto dyuers notable thynges which were not touched of Munster as I haue gathered them owt of the bookes of Antonie Pigafetta and Transiluanus wrytten of the same vyage For albeit in deede it was a straunge and woonderful thynge that the Spanyardes and Portugales compased the hole circumference of the worlde betwene them yet is it more marueylous that the same was doone with one shippe and one coompanie of men as dyd the Spanyardes in this vyage who keepynge theyr continuall coursâ— by the Weste returned into Spayne by the Easte A thynge doubtlesse so much more woonderfull and strange then yf they had returned from the halfe circumference by the same way they went In howe muche they were ignorante in the vyage neuer attempted beefore besyde the thousande daungiours and perylles whiche they were daylye lyke to faule into aswell by wanderynge in vnknowen coastes as also by faulynge into the handes of the Portugales by whose dominions in the Easte Controuerâ—ie betwâ—ne the Spanyardes and Portugales they shulde needes passe of necessitie not trustynge to theyr gentelnesse for the controuersie which had byn longe betwene them for the Ilandes of Molucca I wyll therefore as I haue sayde make a briefe rehearsall of this vyage from the begynnynge to the endynge Omyttynge neuerthelesse many notable thynges whiche are more largely described in the bookes of Maximilianus Transiluanus and Antonius Pigafetta The tenthe day of August in the yeare of owre lorde M. D. xix Ferdinando Magalianes departed from the porte of Siuile in Spayne
with a nauie of fyue shyppes and two hundreth thirtie and seuen men Ferdinando Magalianes wel furnysshed with all thynges necessarie And saylynge fyrste downe by the ryuer of Guadalehiber which runneth from the sayde porte into the sea they came fyrste to a place named Giouan Dulfarax where are manye vyllages of the Moores And from thense arryued at a castel of the Duke of Medina Sidonia where is the porte from whiche they enter into the sea and to the cape saynte Uincent beinge distant from the Equinoctiall .xxxvii. degrees The Cape of saynt Uincent and frome the sayde port .x. leaques and is from thense to Siuile betwene xvii and .xx. leaques Here they remayned certeyne dayes to make newe prouision of such thynges as they lacked Departynge from hense the .xx. daye of September they arryued the .xxvi. day of the same moneth at one of the Ilandes of Canarie cauled Tâ—nerife The Ilandes of Canarie beinge .xxv. degrees about the Equinoctiall In one of these Ilandes is none other water but that is continually engendered of a clowde which appeareth dayly at noone tyde as though it descended from heauen and compaseth abowt a certeyne great tree from whose branches distilleth greate abundaunce of water water engendered of a clowde and faulethe in streames from the roote of the same into certeine trenches and cestarnes made and placed to receaue it This water serueth sufficiently all thinhabitauntes and cattayle of the Ilande The lyke thinge is also seene in the Iland of saynt Thomas The Iland of saynt Thomaâ— lyinge directly vnder the Equinoctiall lyne The thyrde day of October abowt mydnyght the capytayne commaunded theym to lyght fyrebrandes and to hoyse vp theyr sayles directynge theyr course towarde the South saylynge betwene Capo Verde of Affryke and the Ilandes lyinge abowt the same Capo verde beinge from the Equinoctiall .xiiii. degrees and a halfe They fayled thus manye dayes in the syght of the coaste of Guinea of Ethioâ—e Ginnea in Ethyope where is the mountayne cauled Serra Liona beinge .viii. degrees aboue the Equinoctiall Serraliona In this coast they had no maner of contrary wynde but a great calme and fayre wether for the space of threescore and tenne dayes in the which they came vnder the Equinoctiall lyne In this vyage they sawe manye straunge fysshes and monsters of the sea besyde an other straunge thynge whiche appeared vnto them Fysshes and monsters of the sea For there appeared in theyr shyppes certeyne flames of fyre burnynge very cleare which they caul saynt Helen and saynt Nicolas The fyers of saints helene S. Nicolas A tempest These appeared as thought they had byn vppon the mast of the shyppes in suche clearenesse that they tooke away theyr sight for the space of a quarter of an houre by reason wherof they so wandered owte of theyr course and were disparsed in sunder that they in maner dispayred to meete ageyne But as God wolde the sea and tempest beinge quieted they came safely to theyr determyned course And before I speake any further of the vyage I haue here thought good to saye sumewhat of these straunge fyers The naturall cause of such â—iers as faule in the â—hyps which sum ignorant folkes thynke to bee spirites or suche other phantasies wheras they are but natural thynges proceadynge of naturall causes and engendered of certeyne exhalations Of these therefore the greate Philosopher of owre tyme Hieronimus Cardanus in his seconde booke de Subtilitate Cardanus wryteth in this maner There are two maner of fyers engendered of exhalations wherof the one is hurtfull and the other without hurte Two kyndes of fyers engeÌ„dered of exhalations That which is hurtful is fyer in deede engendered of malicious venemous vapours which in successe of time take fyer as apt matters to be kyndeled The other kynd is no trew fyâ—e but lyke the matter that is in such owlde putrified wod as giueth the shynynge of fyer without the substaunce or qualitie therof Of the kynde of trewe fyer Trewe fyer false fyer is the fyer baule or starre commonly cauled saynt Helen which is sumtyme seene abowt the mastes of shyppes beinge of suche fyâ—ry nature that it sumetyme melteth brasen vesselles and is a token of drownyng forasmuch as this chaunceth only in great tempestes For the vapoure or exhalation whereof this fyre is engendered can not bee dryuen togyther or compacte in forme of fyre but of a grose vapoure and by a great poure of wynde and is therfore a token of imminent perell As on the contrary parte the lyke fyers cauled in owlde tyme Castor and Pollux and nowe named the two lyghtes of saynt Peter and saynt Nycolas whiche for the most parte faule on the cables of the shyppes Castoâ— and Pollux The lyghtes of saynt Peter and saynte Nycolas leapynge from one to an other with a certeyne flutterynge noyse lyke byrdes are a token of securitie and of the tempeste ouerpassed For they are but vapoures cleauynge to the cables which in successe of tyme the fyer passynge from one to an other appere in the similitude of a lyght candell They are a token of securitie bycause they are lyttle not slowe or grosse wherby they myght haue ioyned altogyther in one and byn thereby more malicious and lasted longer wheras beinge many and but lyttle they are the sooner consumed Hetherto Cardanus But let vs nowe returne to the vyage When they had sayled paste the Equinoctiall lyne they lost the syght of the north starre They lost the syght of the North starre and sayled by southweste vntyll they came to a lande named the lande of Bressil whiche sum caule Brasilia The lande â–ª of Bresile beinge .xxii. degrees and a halfe toward the south pole or pole Antartyke The South pole This lande is continuate and one firme lande with the cape of saynte Augustine whiche is viii degrees from the Equinoctiall In this lande they were refresshed with many good frutes of innumerable kindes and founde here also very good sugar canes and diuers kyndes of beastes and other thynges which I omitte for breuitie Sugar They entered into this hauen on saynt Lucies day where the sonne beinge there Zenith that is the poynt of heauen directly ouer theyr heades they felte greater heate that daye then when they were vnder the Equinoctiall line This lande of Brasile is very large and great The greatenesse of the land of Brasile and bygger then all Spayne Portugale Fraunce and Italie and is moste abundaunte in all thynges The people of this countrey praye to noo maner of thinge but liue by thinstincte of natuâ—e and to thage of C.xx and C. xl yeares Bothe the men and women go naked and dwell in certeyne longe houses They are very docible and soone allured to the Chrystian fayth Therteene dayes after that they arryued at the sayd port they departed from this lande and sayled to the .xxxiiii.
contrary parte of the sayde lande discouered The sayde master Antonie wrote furthermore that by the opinion of men well practised there was discouered so greate a space of that countrey vnto the sayd sea that it passed .950 leaques The sea from new Fraunce or Terra Britonum to Cathay which make .2850 myles And doubtlesse yf the Frenche men in this theyr newe Fraunce wolde haue passed by lande towarde the sayd northwest and by north they shuld also haue founde the sea wherby they myght haue sayled to Cathay But aboue all thynges this seemed vnto me moste woorthy of commendation A notable booke that the sayde master Antonie wrote in his letter that he had made a booke of al the natural and marueylous thynges whiche they founde in searchynge those countreys with also the measures of landes and altytudes of degrees A worke doubtlesse which sheweth a princely and magnificall mynde wherby wee may conceaue that yf god had gyuen hym the charge of the other hemispherie he wolde or nowe haue made it better knowen to vs. The which thynge I suppose no man doth greatly esteeme at this time beinge neuerthelesse the greatest and most glorious enterprise that may bee imagined A great and glorious enterprise And here makynge a certeyne pause and turnynge hym selfe towarde vs he sayde Doo yow not vnderstande to this purpose howe to passe to India toward the northwest wind as dyd of late a citizen of Uenese so valiente a man and so well practysed in all thynges perteynynge to nauigations and the science of Cosmographie that at this present he hath not his lyke in Spayne in so much that for his vertues he is preferred aboue all other pylottes that sayle to the west Indies Sebastian Cabote the graÌ„d pylot of the west Indies who may not passe thyther withowt his licence and is therfore cauled Piloto Maggiore that is the graunde pylote And when wee sayde that wee knewe him not he proceaded sayinge that beinge certeyne yeares in the citie of Siuile Commendation of Sebastian Cabote and desyrous to haue sum knowleage of the nauigations of the Spanyardes it was toulde hym that there was in the citie a valient man a Uenecian borne named Sebastian Cabote Sebastian Cabote tould me that he was borne in Brystowe that at .iiii. yeare owld he was caried with his father to Uenice and so returned ageyne into England with his father after certeyne yeares Wher by he was thought to haue bin born in Uenice who had the charge of those thynges being an expert man in that science and one that coulde make cardes for the sea with his owne hande And that by this reporte seekynge his acquaintaunce he founde hym a very gentell person who enterteyned hym frendly and shewed him many thynges and amonge other a large mappe of the worlde with certeine particular nauigations aswell of the Portugales as of the Spanyardes And that he spake further vnto hym in this effecte When my father departed from Uenese many yeares sence to dwell in Englande to folowe the trade of marchaundies he tooke me with him to the citie of London whyle I was very yonge yet hauynge neuerthelesse sum knowleage of letters of humanitie and of the sphere And when my father dyed in that tyme when newes were browght that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had discouered the coastes of India whereof was great talke in all the courte of kynge Henry the seuenth who then reigned In so much that all men with great admiration affirmed it to bee a thynge more diuine then humane to sayle by the Weste into the East where spices growe by a way that was neuer knowen before By which fame and reporte there increased in my harte a greate flame of desyre to attempte sum notable thynge And vnderstandyng by reason of the sphere that if I shulde sayle by the way of the northwest wynde I shulde by a shorter tracte coomme to India I thereuppon caused the kynge to bee aduertised of my diuise who immediatly commaunded two carauels to bee furnysshed with all thynges apperteynynge to the vyage The fyrst vyage of Sebastian Cabote which was as farre as I remember in the yeare .1496 in the begynnynge of sommer Begynnyng therfore to saile towarde Northwest not thynkyng to fynde any other lande then that of CATHAY and from thense to turne towarde India But after certeine dayes I founde that the lande ranne towarde the Northe which was to me a great displeasure Neuerthelesse sayling alonge by the coast to see if I could fynde any goulfe that turned I founde the lande styll continent to the .56 degree vnder owre pole And seinge that there the coast turned toward the East dispayringe to fynd the passage I turned backe ageyne and sayled downe by the coast of that lande towarde the Equinoctiall euer with intent to fynde the sayde passage to India and came to that parte of this firme lande whiche is nowe cauled FLORIDA The landâ— of Floridâ— Where my vyttayles fayling I departed from thense and returned into England where I founde great tumultes amonge the people and preparaunce for warres in Scotlande by reason whereof there was no more consideration had to this vyage Wheruppon I wente into Spayne to the Catholyke kynge The seconde vyage of Cabote to the land of Brasile and Rio â—ella Plata and queene Elizabeth who beinge aduertised what I had doone interteyned me and at theyr charges furnysshed certeyne shyppes wherwith they caused me to sayle to discouer the coastes of Brasile where I founde an exceadynge great and large ryuer named at this present Rio della Plata that is the ryuer of syluer into the which I sayled Cabote tould me that in a region within this ryuer â—e sowed l. â—raynes of weate in September and gathered therof l. thousand in December as wryteth also Francisco Lopes and folowed it into the firme lande more then syxe hundrethe leaques fyndynge it euery where veryâ— fayre and inhabited with infinite people which with admyration came runnynge dayly to owre shyppes Into this ryuer runne so many other riuers that it is in maner incredible After this I made many other vyages which I now pretermitte And wexynge owlde I gyue my selfe to rest from such trauayles bycause there are nowe many younge and lusty pylotes and mariners of good experience by whose forwardenesse I doo reioyse in the frutes of my labours and rest with the charge of this office as yowe see And this is as much as I haue vnderstoode of master Sebastian Cabote as I haue gathered owte of dyuers nauigations wrytten in the Italian toonge And whereas I haue before made mention howe Moscouia was in owr tyme discouered by Richard Chanceler in his viage toward Cathai by the direction and information of the sayde master Sebastian who longe before had this secreate in his mynde The vyage to Moscouia I shall not neede here to describe that viage forasmuche as
the same is largely and faythfully written in the Laten tonge by that lerned young man Clement Adams scole mayster to the Queenes henshemen as he receaued it at the moutht of the sayde Richard Chanceler Neuerthelesse I haue thought good here to speake sumwhat of Moscouia as I haue redde in the booke of Iohn Faber written in the Latin toonge to the ryght noble Prynce Ferdinando Archeduke of Austria and Infant of Spaine The hystoryâ— of Moscouia of the maners and religion of the Moscouites as he was partely instructed by the ambasadours of the duke of Moscouie sent into Spayne to Themperours maiestie in the yeare M. D.XX.V He wryteth therfore as foloweth I thynke it fyrste conueniente to speake sumewhat of the name of this region wherby it is cauled at this day The dyuerâ— names of Moscouia and how it was cauled in owlde tyme. Conferrynge therfore the moste ancient of the Greeke and latine monumentes with the histories of later tyme I perceaue it to bee a thynge which requireth no smaule iudgement of wytte and lernynge For we see in howe shorte tyme the names of thynges are chaunged as are also the maners of men I fynde therfore that those people whom at this day wee commonly caule Moscouites were in tyme past as wytnesseth Plinie cauled Roxolani Roxolani whom neuerthelesse by chaungynge one letter Ptolomie in his â—yght table of Europe cauleth Rosolanos as dooth also Strabo Rosolani They were also many yeares cauled Rutheni Rutheni And are that people which sumtyme fought manfully ageynst the Capitaynes of Methridates as Strabo wryteth They were cauled Moscouites of the chiefe citie of al the prouince named Moscouia or Mosca or as Uolaterane saith of the riuer Mosco The ryuer Mosco They were sumtyme gouerned by duke Iohan whose wyfe was Helena of the lynage of Themperours of Constanstinople of the noble famelie of the Paleologi Beyonde these Roxolanos Strabo sayth there is no lande inhabited These Ruthenians therfore or Moscouites are people of the northeaste parte of the worlde from vs And are determined with the limettes of the great ryuer Boristhenes of Scithia The ryuer Boristhenes on the one syde with the Lituanians and Polonians and on the other syde with the Tartars who cease not to vexe them with continuall warres and incursions Especially the great Emperour Cham of Cathay the chiefe Prince of the Tartars Themperour of Cathay residente by the sea syde in Taurito Chersoneso molesteth theim with sore warres They are towarde the north syde inclosed with the frosen sea The froseÌ„ sea the lande of whose coastes beinge verye large perteyneth in maner all to the dominion of the duke of Moscouie This sea is it which the owlde wryters caule Lacus Cronicus Lacus Cronicus so named of the Greeke worde Cronos which the Latines caule Saturnus whom they fayne to bee an owlde man Saturnus of complexion coulde and slowe and thereby name all such thynges as are coulde and slowe Cronica as by lyke reason they dyd this northe sea which beinge in maner euer frosen is slowe and coulde and in maner immouable And for lyke consideration as saythe Plinie Hethens nameth it in the Scythian toonge Amaltheum Amaltheum whiche woorde signifieth as muche as congeled or frosen But that I wander not farre frome my purpose Thempire and dominion of the duke of Moscouie recheth so farre that it comprehendeth certeyne partes of Asia and also of Europe The dominioÌ„ of the duke of Moscouia The citie of Moscouia or Mosca The citie of Moscouia is counted twyse as bygge as Colonia Agrippina as they faythfully reporte which knowe bothe Unto this they haue also an other not vnequall in byggenesse cauled Fladimer The chiefe cities of Moscouia Also Blescouia Nouogradia Smolne and Otifer al which theyr ambassadours affirme to bee of princely and magnificall buyldynges and strongely defended with waules bothe of brycke and square stone Of these Blescouia is strongest and enuironed with three waules Other which they haue innumerable are not so famous as are these wherof this duke of Moscouie and Emperoure of Russia taketh thinscription of his litle The 〈◊〉 Moscouia Emperour of Russia For euen at this present when so euer eyther by his ambassadours or his letters he dooth signifie hym selfe to bee Emperoure of Moscouie his is accustomed to vse this litle Thâ— duke of Moscouia his tytle Basilius by the grace of god Emperoure of all Russia and greate Duke of Fladamer Moscouie Nouigrade Blescouia Smolne and Otifer c. And this is the tytle whereby the sayde ambassadours saluted yowre maiestie in the name of great Basilius when they began theyr oration Duke Basilius This prince of Moscouie hath vnder hym princes of many prouinces and those of great poure Of the which that owlde whyte bearded man whom this Emperour of the Ruthians sente for his ambassadoure to Themperours maiestie into Spayne Their poure is not one of the least For euen he when necessitie of warre requyreth is accustomed to make for his Emperour a bande of .xxx thousande horsemen But this is to theyr singular commendation that they are so obedient to theyr prince in al thynges Theyr obedience to theyr prince that beinge sommoned by hym by neuer so meane an hearald they obey incoÌ„tinent as if it were to god Theyr wars conquestes thynkynge nothyng more glorious then to dye in the quarell of theyr prince By reason of which obedience they are able in short tyme to assemble an army of two or three hundreth thousande men ageynst theyr enemies eyther the Tartars or the greate Cham And haue hereby obteyned great victories and triumphes aswell ageynst the Turkes as the Tartars by the exceadyng multitude of theyr horsemen and continual experience in warres At such time as Themperour Maximilian made a league with them they kept warre ageynst the kynge of Polonie Gunnes They vse not only bowes and dartes after the maner of the Parthians but haue also the vse of gunnes as we haue And to bee briefe onely the Moscouites maye seeme that nation whiche hath not felte the commodities of peace Onâ—y the moscouites haue not felt the commodities of peace In so muche that yf theyr region were not strongely defended by the nature of the place beinge impreignable it had or nowe byn often tymes conquered Theyr language agreeth much with the toonge of the Bohemians Croatians and Sclauons so that the Sclauon dooth playnly vnderstande the Moscouite Theyr language although the Moscouian toonge be a more rude and hard phrase of speach The historiographers wryte that the Sclauons toonge tooke the name of the confusion whiche was in Babell in the tyme of that stowt hunter Nemroth of whome mention is made in the Genesis But I can not enowgh marueyle at this thing that wheras betwene Dalmatia now cauled Sclauonia and Moscouia Dalmatia both the Pannonies are situate
The primatiue church In fine they affirme that all theyr customes and rytes are accordynge to thinstitutions of the primatyue church and the doctrine of Basilius Magnus and Chrisostomus A straunge custome In this thynge they dyffer greately from vs that they minister the communion to younge children of three yeares of age which they doo with fermented breade dipte in a sponefull of wyne and gyue it them for the bodye and bludde of Chryste ¶ A briefe description of Moscouia after the later wryters as Sebastian Munster and Iacobus Bastaldus THe prouince of Moscouia is so named by the ryuer Mosco which passeth by the metrapolitane citie of Moscouia cauled Mosca by the name of the ryuer Mosco This prouince was cauled of the owlde wryters Sarmatia Asiatica Sarmatia asiatica The bortherers or confines to the Moscouians on the one syde towarde the East are the Tartars cauled Nogai and the Scianbanians with the Zagatians Towarde the West the prouinces of Liuonia and Lituania Towarde the South the ryuer of Tanais and the people confinyng with the ryuer Uolga cauled of the owld writers Rha. And towarde the North the Ocean sea cauled the Scythian sea The Scythian Ocean and the region of Lapponia Moscouia is in maner all playne and full of marysshes wooddes and many very great ryuers wherof the ryuer of Uolga is the principal The ryuer or Uolga Sum caul this Ledyl as the owld autours named it Rha. It beginneth at the great lake cauled Lacus Albus that is the white lake and runneth into the sea of Bachau Lacus albus named of the aunciente wryters the sea Caspium or Hircanum The Caspian sea Under the dominion of Moscouia are certeyne regions and dukedoomes as Alba Russia that is whyte Russia Also Colmogora Plesconia Basrida Nouogardia with also manye places of the Tartars which are subiecte to the duke of Moscouia The chiefe cities of Moscouia Theyr chiefe cities are Mosca Plesconia Nouogardia Colmogora Otogeria Uiatra Smolenser Percassauia Cologna Uolodemaria Roslauia and Cassam The people of Moscouia are Christians and haue greate abundaunce of hony and waxe also ryche furres as Sabels Marternes Foynes Calaber and dyuers other All the Tartars which inhabite towarde the East beyonde the ryuer of Uolga The wylde Tâ—rtars haue no dwellynge places nor yet cities or castels But cary abowt with theym certeyne cartes or wagens couered with beastes hydes vnder the whiche they reste as wee do in owre houses They remoue togyther in great companies whiche they caule Hordas hordas They are warlike people and good horsemen and are all Macometistes Sebastian Munster in his booke of Uniuersall Cosmographie wryteth that the citie of Mosca or Moscouia conteineth in circuite .xiiii. myles The bygnes of the citie of Moscouia and that it is twyse as bygge as the citie of Praga in Bohemie Of the countrey of Moscouia bisyde other prouinces subiecte to the same he wryteth thus It extendeth in largenesse foure hundreth myles and is rich in syluer Syluer It is lawfull for no man to go owt of the realme or coome in withowt the dukes letters The region of Moscouia It is playne without mountaynes and ful of wooddes and marysshes The beastes there by reason of the coulde Beastes are lesse then in other countreis more southwarde In the myddest of the citie of Mosca beinge situate in a playne there is a castell with .xvii. towres and three bulwarkes so stronge and fayre A fayre and stronge castel in the citie of Moâ—ca that the lyke are scarsely seene in any other place There are also in the castell xvi churches and three very large courtes in the which the noble men of the courte haue theyr lodgynges The dukes pallaice is buylded after the maner of the Italian buyldyng The dukes pallaice and very fayre but not great Theyr drynke is mede beere as is the maner of the moste parte of the people that inhabite the North partes of the woorlde Theyr drynke They are exceadyngely gyuen to droonkennesse They are gyuen to drunkennesse Yet as sume saye the princes of the lande are prohibite in peine of death to absteine from such stronge drinkes as are of force to inebriate except at certeyne tymes when licence is graunted theym as twyse or thryse in the yeare They plowe the grownde with horses and plowes of woodde Theyr corne and other grayne by reason of longe coulde Corne and grayne doo seldome waxe rype on the ground by reason wherof they are sumtimes inforced to rype and dry them in theyr stooues and hotte houses Stoues and then grynd theÌ„ They lacke wyne and oyle Moscouia is extended vnto Iurham and Corelia which are in Scythia The famous ryuer of Tanais The famous ryuer of Tanais the Moscouites caule Don hauyng his sprynges and originall in Moscouia in the dukedome of Rezense It ryseth owt of a grownde that is playne baren muddy full of marysshes and wooddes And where it proceadeth toward the East to the mountaynes of Scithia and Tartarie it bendeth to the south and commyng to the marysshes of Meotis it fauleth into them The marysshes of Meotis The ryuer of Uolga sumetyme cauled Rha Uolga and nowe cauled of the Tartars Edel runneth toward the north certeyne myles to whom is ioyned the ryuer Occa or Ocha Ocha flowynge owt of Moscouia and then bendynge into the South and increaâ—ed with many other ryuers fauleth into the sea Euxinum The sea Euxinum which diuideth Europe and Asia The woodde or forest cauled Hircania sylua occupieâ—h a smal portion oâ— Moscouia Yet is it sumwhere inhabited The forest of hircania and by the longe labour of men made thinner and barer of trees In that parte that lyeth towarde Prussia is a kynde of greate and fierce bulles cauled Uri or Bisontes Uri as wryteth Paulus Iouius There are also Alces muche lyke vnto harâ—es Alces with longe snoutes of flesshe and longe legges withowt any bowinge of theyr houx or pasternes These beastes the Moscouites caule Lozzi and the Almaynes Helenes The iornaye that is betwene Ulna of Lituania by Smolense to Mosca is trauayled in wynter on sleades by the snowe congeled by longe froste They trauayl in wynter on sleades and made very slypperye and compacte lyke Ise by reason of much wearynge and treadynge by meanes wherof this vyage is performed with incredible celeritie But in the sommer the playne countreys can not bee ouercome with owt difficulte labour For when the snowe begynneth to bee dissolued by continuall heate Causeys of tymber it causeâ—h marysshes and quamyres inextricable and daungerous both for horse and man were it not for certeyne causeyes made of tymber with in maner infinite labour Trees and frutes The region of Moscouia as I haue said beareth neyther vynes nor olyue trees nor yet any other trees that bere any apples or frutes of very plesant or
groweth and rypeth with woonderfull celeritie of hastynge nature Into the ryuer of Diuidna runnethe the ryuer of Iuga The ryuer of Iuga And in the very angle or corner where they meete is a famous marte towne named Ustiuga Ustiuga beinge a hundreth and fyftie myles distant from the chiefe citie of Mosca To this mart towne from the hygher countreys are sent the precious furres of marternes Furrea sables woolues and such other whiche are exchaunged for dyuers other kyndes of wares and marchaundies Hytherto Munsterus The naturall cauâ—e of much hony in could regioÌ„s â–ª Gummes and spices in hot countreys And forasmuche as many doo maruaile that suche plentie of hony shuld bee in so coole a contrey I haue thought good to declare the reason and naturall cause hereof It is therefore to be considered that lyke as spices gums odoriferous frutes are engendered in hot regions by continuall heate duryng al the hole yeare withowt impression of the mortifying qualitie of could wherby al thynges are constrayned as they are dilated by heate Floures in coulde regioÌ„s euen so in could moyst regions whose moysture is thinner more waterysshe then in hot regions are dowres engendered more abundantly as caused by impression of lesse and faynter heate woorkynge in thynne matter of waterysshe moisture lesse concocte then the matter of gummes and spices and other vnctuous frutes and trees growing in hotte regions For althoughe as Munster saithe here before the region of Moscouia beareth nother vines or oliues or any other frutes of sweete sauoure by reason of the couldenesse therof neuerthelesse forasmuch as floures wherof hony is chiefely gathered may in sommer season growe abundantly in the playnes Floures of trees marysshes and wooddes not onely on the grownde but also on trees in coulde regions it is agreeable to good reason that great plentie of honye shulde bee in suche regions as abounde with floures which are brought furthe with the fyrst degree of heate and fyrst approch of the sonne as appeareth in the sprynge tyme not onely by the springinge of floures in fyeldes and gardeynes but also of blossomes of trees spryngynge before the leaues or frute Blossoomes of trees as the lyghter and thynner matter fyrste drawne owte with the loweste and leaste degree of heate An exemple of the degrees of heate as the lyke is seene in the arte of styllynge wherby all thinne and lyght moystures are lyfted vp by the fyrste degree of the fyre and the heuyest and thickest moystures are drawne owt with more vehement fyre As we may therfore in this case compare the generation of floures to the heate of May The generation of floures by moderate heate the generation of gummes to the heate of Iune and spices to the heate of Iuly Euen so in suche coulde regions whose soommer agreeth rather with the temperate heate and moysture of May then with thextreeme heate of the other monethes that heate is more apt to brynge foorth abundance of floures as thynges caused by moderate heate as playnely appeareth by theyr tast and sauoure in which is no sharpe qualitie of heate eyther bytynge the toonge or offendyng the head as is in spices gummes and frutes of hotte regions And as in could and playne regions moderate heate with abundance of moisture are causes of the generation of floures as I haue sayde so lykewyse the length of the dayes and shortnesse and warmenesse of the nyghtes in sommer season in suche coulde regâ—ons Longe dayes and shorte nyghtes is a greate helpe herunto Cardanus wryteth in his booke De Plantis that bramble fearne growe not but in could regions Bramble and ferne as dooth wheate in temperate regions And that spices and hotte seedes Spices can not growe in coulde regions forasmuch as beinge of thinne substaunce they shulde soone be mortified extinct by excessiue could For as he sayth nothing can concocte rype and attenuate the substance of frutes with owt the helpe of ayer agreable to the natures of such thynges as are brought foorth in the same althowgh it may doo this in rootes But in maner all floures are of sweete sauour The sauoure oâ— floures forasmuch as the moysture that is in them being thinne and but lyttle is by meane heate soone and easely concocte or made rype Such also as are soone rype are soone rotten according to the prouerbe Plinie althowgh in the .xi. booke of his naturall hystorie Cap. viii he wryteth that hony is gathered of the floures of all trees and settes or plantes what plinie wryteth of hony except sorell and the herbe cauled Chenopode whiche sume caule goose foote yet he affirmeth that it descendeth from the ayer for in the .xii. chapyture of the same booke he wryteth thus Thus coommeth from the ayer at the rysynge of certeyne starres and especially at the rysynge of Sirius Serius is otherwyse cauled Canicula this is the dogge of whom the canicular dayes haue theyr name and not before the rysyng of Vergiliae which are the seuen starres cauled Pleiades in the sprynge of the day For then at the mornynge sprynge the leaues of trees are founde moist with a fat dewe In so much that such as haue bynne abrode vnder the firmamente at that tyme haue theyr apparell annoynted with lyquoure and the heare of theyr headde clammy And whether this bee the swette of heauen what is hony or as it were a certeyne spettyl of the starâ—es eyther the iuise of the ayer pourgynge it selfe I wolde it were pure howe hony is corrupted liquide and simple of his owne nature as it fyrste fauleth from aboue â—ut nowe descendyng so far and infected not only with such vncleane vapoures and exhalations as it meteth with by the way but afterward also corrupted by the leaues of trees herbes and floures of sundrye tastes and qualities and lykewyse aswel in stomackes of the bees for they vomite it at theyr mouthes as also by longe reseruynge the same in hiues it neuerthelesse reteyneth a great parte of the heauenly nature c. Ageyne in the .xiiii. chapiture of the same booke he wrytethe that in certeyne regions toward the north hony of great quantitie in North regioÌ„s as in sum places of Germanie hony is found in such quantitie that there haue bynne seene hony combes of eyght foote longe and blacke in the holowe parte By the whiche woordes of Plinie and by the principles of naturall philosophie it dooth appere that abundaunce of hony shulde chiefely bee engendered in such regions where the heate of soommer is temperate and continuall aswell by nyght as by day as it is not in hotte regions where the nyghtes be longe and coulde as is declared in the Decades hot nyghtes in coulde regions For lyke as suche thynges as are fyned by continuall heate mouynge and circulation A similitude are hyndered by refrigeration or coulde as appereth in the art of styllynge and
hatchynge of egges euen so by the action of temperate and continuall heate withowt interposition of contrarie and mortifyinge qualitie crude thynges are in shorte tyme made rype sower made sweete thicke made thinne heauie made lyght grosse made subtyle harde made softe deade made lyuynge and in fine bodies made spirites Natural heat dooth subtyle and digest all thynges as manifestly appeareth in the marueylous woorke of dygestion of lyuyng beastes wherby the finest part of theyr nurisshement is turned into bludde and the finest of that bludde conuerted into spirites as the like is also seene in the nurysshement of trees plantes and herbes and all other thynges that growe on the grounde all whiche are moued digested subtiliate attenuate ryped and made sweete by the action of this continuall heate wherof I haue spoken To conclude therfore if hony bee eyther the sweete of the starres or the iuise of the ayer pourginge it selfe as plinie writeth or other wyse engendered of subtyle and fine vapoures rysinge frome the earth and concocte or digested in the ayer by the sayd continuall and moderate heate Subtyle vapours digested by heate it may seeme by good reason that the same sâ—ulde bee engendered in soommer season more abundantly in coulde regions then in hot for the causes aforesayde And that it may by autoritie and reason more manifestlye appeare bothe that the heate of soommer in could regions is continual as I haue sayd and also that the coulde in wynter is not there so intollerable to thinhabitauntes of those regions as other doo thynke Could regioÌ„s I haue thoughâ— good for the better declaration hereof to adde hereunto what I haue gathered owt of the booke of Ziglerus wrytten of the north regions Ziglerus ¶ Of the North regions and of the moderate and continuall heate in coulde regions aswell in the nyght as in the day in soommer season Also howe those regions are habitable to thinhabitauntes of the same contrary to thoppinion of the owlde wryters OF this matter Ziglerus in his booke of the Northe regions in the description of Scondia wryteth as foloweth Ziglerus Wee wyll intreate of this matter not as puttynge the same in question as dyd the owld wryters nor gatherynge iudgement deducted of reasons in way of argument forasmuch as wee are alredy more certeyne by hystorie that these coulde regions are inhabited Wee wyll fyrst therfore shewe by naturall reason and by consideration of the sphere declare how by the helpe of man and arte coulde regions are inhabited withowt domage or destruction of lyuynge beastes And wyll fyrste speake of the qualitie of sommer The qualitie of soomer in could regioÌ„s declarynge howe it is there augmented Yet intende I not to comprehende all that maye bee sayde in this matter but only rehearse such reasons and similitudes as are most apparent and easy to bee vnderstoode In such regions therfore as are extended from the burnt line or Equinoctiall towarde the north as much as the sonne rysethe hygher ouer theim The course of the sonne so muche are they the more burnte with heate as Affrica bycause it ryseth hyghest ouer them as they are nearest to the Equinoctiall and taryinge with theim so much the shorter time causeth shorter days with longer coulder nyghtes to restore the domage of the day past by reasoÌ„ of the moisture consumed by vapour Uapours But in such regions ouer the which the sonne ryseth lower as in Sarmatia it remayneth there the longer in the day and causeth so much the shorter and warmer nyghtes Short and Warme nyghtes as reteynynge warme vapoures of the day past which vapours helpe the woorke of the day I speake as I haue founde by experience saythe Upsaliensis For I haue felt the sommer nyghtes scarsely tollerable for heate in Gothlande Gothlande wheras I felte them coulde in Rome This benefite of thincrease of the day doth augment so much the more in coulde regions as they are nearer the poles and ceaceth not vntyll it coome directly ouer the center or poynte of the ares or axceltree of the worlde where the sonne beinge at the hyghest in sommer One day of .vi monethes is eleuate abowt .xxiiii. degrees In which regions one continual day consisteth of .vi. monethes from the sprynge tyme by the standynge of the soonne cauled Solstitium in the signe of Cancer to Autumne The soonne therfore withowt any offence of the night gyueth his influence vppon those landes with heate that neuer ceasethe durynge that tyme which maketh to the great increase of soommer by reason of continuance howe the sommer is increased in could regioÌ„s We haue now therfore thought good to gather by a certeyne coniecture howe greately wee thinke the soommer to bee increased hereby Wee haue before declared howe hyghe the soonne is eleuate ouer the regions that are vnder the poles at the staye of the soonne And so manye partes is it eleuate in Rome at the stay of the soonne in wynter that is at the shortest day in the yeare Rome But here in the mydde wynter the soonne at noone tyde is beneficiall and bryngeth foorth floures roses and ielefloures I haue gathered sum in wynter in the moneth of December not procured at home by humane arte but growinge â—n open gardenes in maner in euery bedde vnder the bare heauen browght foorth only by the soonne But this benignitie of the soonne Could nights in hot regioÌ„s continueth not past fiue houres in the naturall day forasmuch as thoperation therof is extinct by the couldenesse of the nyght folowynge But if this benefite myght bee receaued withowt hinderaunce of the nyght as it is vnder the poles and so continue many monethes in hot regions vnto winter it shulde suerlye brynge foorthe manye woonderfull thynges if moysture fayled not And by this condition thus propounded wee may well conceaue that the Romane winter The Romanâ— wynter althowgh it be not hotte yet to be equal in heate to the full sprynge tyme in the same citie durynge the tyme of the sayde fiue houres And thus by a similitude of the height of the soonne vnder bothe places and of the knowen qualitie of the Romane heauen and by thaccesse of the soonne to such places where the longest day continueth certeyne monethes wee maye gather that soommer in places vnder the pole is lyke vnto and equall with the full Romane sprynge But the more difficulte question is of the tyme of the .vi moonethes in the whiche the soonne leaueth those regions One nyght of vi monethes and goth by the contrarye or ouerthwarte circle towarde the south in wynter Obiections For they say that at that tyme those regions are deformed with horrible darkenesse and nyghtes not increased which may bee the cause that beastes can not seke theyr foode And that also the coulde shulde then bee inâ—ollerable by which double euyls all thynges constrayned shulde dye so that no beaste were able to abyde thiniuries of wynter
father had byn sent ambassadour to the great Chan of Cathay And that the great citie of Cambalu where the great Chan kepeth his courte in winter was in maner destroyed by Necromancie and magicall artes wherin the Cathaynes are very expert as wryteth Marcus Paulus Uenctus Ther was also at the same tyme thambassadour of the kynge of Persia cauled the great Sophic This ambassadour was appareled all inscarlet and spake much to the duke in the behalfe of owre men of whose kyngdome and trade he was not ignorant The people cauled Czeremisse Czeremisse dwell in the wooddes beneth Nouogardia the lower They haue a peculiar language and are of the secte of Machumet They were sumtyme subiecte to the kynge of Casan but the greater part of them are nowe subiecte to the prince of Moscouia Many of them at my beinge there were brought to Moscouia as suspected of rebellion This nation doth inhabite a large region withowt houses from Uuiathka and Uuolochda hâ—bitacion withowt houses to the ryuer of Kama All the nation aswell women as men are very swyft of foote and expert archers wherin they so delite that theyr bowes are in maner neuer owt of theyr handes and gyue theyr children no meate vntyl they hyt the marke they shoote at Two leaques distante from Nouogardia the lower were many houses to the similitude of a citie or towne where they were accustomed to make salte Salte These a fewe yeares sense beinge burnt of the Tartars were restored by the commaundement of the prince Mordwa are people inhabytynge by the ryuer of Uolga on the south banke beneth Nouogardia the lower And are in al thynges like vnto the Czeremisses but that they haue more houses And here endeth Thempire of the Moscouites Note here that Matthias of Michou in his booke of Sarmatia Asiatica writeth that the dominion of the duke of Moscouia recheth from the northwest to the southeast fyue hundreth myles of Germanie which are more then leaques For they affirme that a Germane myle is more then three Englysshe myles ¶ Of the Tartars WEe wyll nowe adde hereunto sumwhat of the people confinynge with â—he Moscouites towarde the East of the which the Tartars of Casan are the first The Tartars of Casan But before wee speake of them particularly wee wyl fyrst reherse sumwhat of theyr maners and customes in generall The Tartars are diuided into companies which they caul Hordas of the which the Horda of the Sawolhenses is the chiefe in fame and multitude horda For it is sayde that the other Hordas had theyr ofsprynge and original of this And albeit that euery Horda hath his peculiar name as the Sawolhenses Precropenses and Nahays with dyuers other being all Machumetans yet doo they take it euyll and count it reproch to bee cauled Turkes but wyll them selues to bee cauled Besermani Besermani by the which name also the Turkes desyre to bee cauled And as the Tartars inhabyte many prouynces reachynge far on euery syde euen so in maners and order of lyuynge doo they not agree in all thynges They are men of meane stature The stature of the Tartars with broade and fat faces holowe eyde with roughe and thyck beardes and poulde heades Onely the noble men haue longe heare and that exceadyng black which they wreath on both sydes theyr eares They are stronge of body and stoute of mynde prone to leacherye and that vnnaturall They eate the fleasshe of horses camells and other bâ—astes excepte hogges They absteâ—ne from hogges flesshe Abstinence from which they absteyne by a lawe They can so abyde fasting hunger that they suÌ„time forbeare meate and sleepe for the space of foure days occupyed neuertheleâ—se aboute theyr necessary affayres Ageyne when they gette any thyng to deuoure Uoracitie they ingorge them selues beyond measure and with that surfecte in maner recompense theyr former abstynence And beynge thus oppressed with laboure and meate they sleepe contynually for the space of three or foure days withowt doyng any maner of worke or labour durynge which tyme the Lyuons and Moscouites into whose domynyons they are accustomed to make theyr incursions assayle them vnwares thus oppressed with meate and sleepe lyinge scatered here and there owt of order withowte watch or warde Also if when they ryde they bee molested with hunger and thyrste So doo the Turkes they vse to lette theyr horses blud and with drynkyng the same satysfye theyr present necessytie and affyrme theyr horses to bee the better therby And bicause they all wander in vnknowen places they vse to dyrect theyr iorneys by thaspecte of the starres Iorneying by the pole star and especyally of the pole starre which in theyr tounge they caule Selesnikoll that is an iren nayle They greatly delyte in mares mylke Mares mylke and beleue that it maketh men strong and fatte They eate herbes very much and especyally such as growe abowt Tanais Fewe of them vse salte horse flesshe eaten When theyr kynges dystrybute any vytayles among them they are accustomed to gyue one horse or cowe to fortye men Of the slayne beaste the bowells and trypes are reserued for the chiefe men and capytaynes Clenly These they heate at the fyre vntyll they may shake owt the doonge and then deuoure them gredely They sucke and lycke not only theyr fyngers imbrued with fatte but also theyr knyues and styckes wherwith they scrape the doong from the guttes The heades of horses are counted delycate disshes with them as are bores heades with vs hors heades deintie meate and are reserued only for the chyefe men The Tartars horses Theyr horses wherof they haue great aboundaunce are but smaule and with short neckes but very strong and such as can wel away with labour hunger These they fede with the branches barkes or ryndes of trees the rotes of hearbes and weedes wherby they accustome them to hard feedynge and exercyse them to contynuall laboure by reason wherof as say the Moscouytes theyr horses are swyfter and more durable then any other These kynde of horses they caule Pachmat They haue none other saddells and steroppes then of woodd Saddels and styrrops of woodde except suche as they eyther bye of the Chrystians or take from them by vyolence Least theyr horse backes shulde bee hurte with theyr saddells they vnderlaye them with grasse and leaues of trees They also passe ouer ryuers on horsbacke But if when they flye they feare the pursuynge of theyr enemyes then castynge away theyr saddells apparelle and all other impedymentes reseruyng only theyr armoure and weapons they flye amayne and with greate ceelrytye Theyr women vse the same kynde of apparell that doo the men withowt any dyfference except that they couer theyr heades with lynnen vayles The Tartars women and vse lynnen hose muche lyke vnto maryners sloppes When theyr queenes coome abrod they are accustomed to couer theyr faces The other multytude of the
present at this last expedition he greatly suspected Palitzki the Lieuetenaunte of tharmy to bee corrupted with brybes to proceade no further In this meane tyme the kynge of Casan sent ambassadours to Basilius to intreate of peace whome I sawe in the dukes courte at my beynge there but I coulde perceaue no hope of peace to bee betwene them For euen then Basilius to endomage the Casans translated the marte to Nouogardia which before was accustomed to bee kepte in the Ilande of marchauntes nere vnto the citie of Casan The Iland of marchauntes Commaundyng also vnder peyne of greuous punysshemente that none of his subiectes shulde resorte to the Ilande of marchauntes thynkyngâ— that this translation of the marte shulde greately haue endomaged the Casans and that only by takyng away their trade of salte which they were accustomed to bye of the Moscouites at that marte they shulde haue byn compelled to submyssion But the Moscouites them selues felte no lesse inconuenience hereby then dyd the Casans by reason of the dearth and â—earesenesse that folowed hereof of al such thynges as the Tartars were accustomed to brynge thyther by the ryuer of Uolga from the Caspian sea The Caâ—piâ—n â—ea the kyngedomes of Persia and Armenia Pâ—râ—ia â—â—menia and the marte towne of Astrachan â—strâ—câ—an especially the great number of most excellent fysshes that are taken in Uolga both on the hyther and further syde of Casan But hauynge sayde thus much of the warres betwene the prince of Moscouia and the Tartars of Casan we wyll now procede to speake sumwhat of the other Tartars inhabytyng the regions towarde the southeast and the Caspian sea Next beyonde the Tartars of Casan The Tartars neare to the Caspian â—ea are the Tartars cauled Nagai or Nogai Nogâ—i which inhabâ—te the regions beyond Uolga abowt the Caspian sea at the ryuer Iaick runnyng owt of the prouince of Sibier These haue no kynges but dukes In owre tyme three bretherne diuydynge the prouinces equally betwene them possessed those dukedomes The poâ—seâ—sion of three brytherne The fyrst of them named Schidack possesseth the citie of Scharaitzick beyond the ryuer of Rha or Uolga towarde the Easte with the region confinynge with the ryuer Iaick The seconde cauled Cossum enioyeth all the lande that lyethe betwene the ryuers of Kaman Iaick and Uolga The thryde brother named Schichmamai possesseth parte of the prouince of Sibier and all the region abowt the same Schichmamai is as much to say by interpretacion as holy or myghty And in maner al these regions are full of wooddes excepte that that lyeth towarde Scharaitz which consysteth of playnes and fyeldes Betwene the ryuers of Uolga and Iaick abowt the Caspian sea there sumtymes inhabyted the kynges cauled Sawolhenses The kynges cauled Sawolhenses Demetrius Danielis a man among these barbarians of singular fayth and grauitie toulde vs of a maruelous and in maner incredible thyng that is sene amonge And that his father beinge sente by the prynce of Moscouia to the kynge of Sawolhense sawe whyle he was in that legacie a certeyne seede in that Ilande sumwhat lesse and rounder then the seedes of Melones Of the whiche beinge hydde in the grounde there groweth a frute or plante very lyke a lambe A maruelous frute lyke a lambe of the heyght of fyue spannes And is therfore cauled in theyr tounge Boranetz whiche signifyeth a lyttle lambe For it hath the headde eyes eares an all other partes like vnto a lambe newly cyned with also a very thynne skynne wherwith dyuers of thinhabitauntes of those regions are accustomed to line theyr cappes and hattes and other tyrementes for theyr heades Many also confirmed in owre presence that they had seene these skynnes He sayde furthermore that that plant if it may bee cauled a plant hath bludde and no flesshe but hath in the steade of flesshe a certeyne substance like vnto the flesshe of creuysshes The hoofes also are not of horne aâ— are the lambes but couered with heare in the same forme The roote cleaueth to the nauell or myddest of the belly The plante or fruite lyueth vntyll all the grasse and herbes growynâ—e abowte it beinge eaten the roote wythereth for lacke of nurysshement They say that it is very sweete to bee eaten and is therefore greately desyred and sought for of the woolues and other rauenynge beastes And albeit I extreme all that is sayde of this plant to be fabulous yet forasmuch as it hath byn toulde me of credible persons I haue thought good to make mention hereof Of this straunge frute Mandeuell maketh mâ—ntion Mandeuell where in the ixxxiiii chapiture of his booke he wryteth thus Nowe shall I say of sum landes countreys and Iles that are beyonde the lande of Cathay Therfore who so goeth from Cathay to India the hygh and the lowe â–ª he shall go through a kyngedome that men caule Cadissen and is a great lande There groweth a maner of frute as it were gourdes And when it is rype men cut it a sunder and fynd therin a beast as it were of fleâ—she bone and bludde as it were a lyttle lambe withowt woolle Barnacles oâ— the Oâ—keâ—eys And men eate that beast and the frute also which is a great maruayle Neuerthelesse I sayde vnto them that I helde that for no maruayle For I sayde that in my counâ—rey are tres that beare frute that become byrdes flying which are good to bee eaten And that that fauleth into the water lyueth And that that fauleth on the earth dyeth And they had greate maruayle of this â–ª c. From the prince of Schidack proceadyng .xx. dayes iorney towarde the East are the people which the Moscouites caule Iurgenci whose prince is Barack Soltan Barack Soltan brother to the greate Chan of Cathay Cathay In tenne days iorney from Barack Soltan they coomme to Bebeâ—d Chan. And this is that great Chan of Cathay Names of dignities amonge the Tartars Names of dignities amonge the Tartars are these Chan signifieth a kynge Soltan the soonne of a kynge Bii a Duke Mursa the soonne of a duke Olboud a noble man or counsiler Olboadulu the soonne of a noble man Seid the hygh preste Ksi a priuate person The names of offices are these Names of offices Ulan the seconde dignitie to the kynge For the kynges of the Tartars haue foure principall men whose counsayle they vse in al theyr weyghty affayres Of these the fyrste is cauled Schirni the seconde Barni the thyrde Gargni The fourth Tziptzan And to haue sayde thus much of the Tartars it shall suffice Marcus Pauâ—us wryteth that the greate Chan is cauled â—han Cublâ—i that is the great kynge of kynges Chan Cublai as the greate turcke wryteth hym selfe in lyke maner as I â—awe in a letter wrytten by hym of late to the citie of Raguls in the which he vâ—eth this â—ubâ—crâ—ption Soltan Soliman deselun Chain Signore de Signoâ— in â—empiterno As concernynge Moâ—couia and
of Cipango The Iland of Cipango which fauleth on the parte of great China or Cathay as wryteth Marcus Paulus Uenetus and other China Cathay And that he shulde sooner come thyther by folowyng the course of the soonne Westwarde then ageynst the same To the East by the west Albeit manye thynke that there is no suche Ilande or at the leaste not yet knowen by that name wheras also Marcus Paulus obserued no exacte description of the place eyther of this Ilande or of Cathay Marcus Paulus Uenetus ☞ The fyrste discouerynge of the Weste Indies A Certeyne caruell saylynge in the weste Ocean abowt the coastes of Spayne had a forcyble and continuall wynde from the East wherby it was dryuen to a land vnknowen and not descrybed in any mappe or carde of the sea A harde begynnyng and was dryuen styl alonge by the coaste of the same for the space of many dayes vntyll it came to a hauen where in a shorte tyme the most parte of the maryners beinge longe before verye weake and feeble by reason of hunger trauayle dyed So that only the pylot with thre or foure other remayned alyue And not only they that dyed dyd not inioy the Indies which they fyrst discouered to theyr mysfortune but the resydue also that lyued had in maner as lyttle fruition of the same not leauynge or at the least not openly publyshynge any memorie therof neyther of the place or what it was cauled or in what yeare it was founde Albeit the faute was not theyrs but rather the malice of other or the enuie of that which wee caule fortune I doo not therefore marueyle that the auncient hystories affirme that great thynges proceade and increase of smaul and obscure begynnynges Great thinges proceadyng of smaule and obscure begynnynges syth wee haue seene the same verefyed in this fyndyng of the Indies being so notable and newe a thynge Wee neede not bee curious to seeke the name of the pylot syth death made a shorte ende of his doinges Sum wyl that he came from Andaluzia and traded to the Ilands of Canaria and the Ilande of Madera when this large and mortal nauigation chauÌ„ced vnto hym The pylotte that fyrst founde the Indies Other say that he was a Byscayne and traded into Englande and Fraunce Other also that he was a Portugale and that eyther he wente or came from Mina or India Mina which agreeth well with the name of these newe landes as I haue sayde before Ageyne sum there bee that say that he browght the carauel to Portugale or to the Ilande of Madera or to sum other of the Ilandes cauled delos Azores Yet doo none of them affirme any thynge althowgh they all affirme that the pylotte dyed in the house of Chrystopher Colon with whome remayned al such wrytynges and annotacions as he hadde made of his vyage in the sayde carauell aswell of such thynges as he obserued both by lande and sea as also of the eleuation of the pole in those landes whiche he had discouered ¶ What maner of man Chrystopher Colon was and howe he Came fyrst to the knowleage of the Indies CHristopher Colon was borne in Cugureo or as sum say in Nerui a vyllage in the territorie of Genua in Italie He descended as sum thynke of the house of the Pelestreles of Placentia in Lumbardie He beganne of a chylde to bee a maryner of whose arte they haue great exercise on the ryuer of Genua Thus also began Rychard chaunceler He traded many yeares into Suria and other partes of the East After this he became a master in makynge cardes for the sea whereby he had great vantage He came to Portugale to knowe the reason and descrâ—ption of the south coaste of Affrica and the nauigations of the Portugales thereby to make his cardes more perfecte to bee solde He maryed in Portugale as sum say or as many say in the Ilande of Madera where he dwelt at suche tyme as the sayde caruell arryued there whose pylot suiorned in his house and dyed also there bequethynge to Colon his carde of the description of suche newe landes as he hadde founde wherby Colon had the fyrst knowleage of the Indyes Sum haue thowght that Colon was well lerned in the Latine tounge and the science of Cosmographie Colon was not much lerned and that he was therby fyrst moued to seeke the landes of the Antipodes and the ryche Ilande of Cipango whereof Marcus Paulus wryteth Also that he had redde what Plato in his dialoges of Timeus and Cricias wryteth of the greate Ilande Atlantide The Ilande â—tlantide and of a great lande in the West Ocean vndiscouered beinge bygger then Asia and Affrica Furthermore that he had knowleage what Aristotell and Theophrastus saye in theyr bookes of maruayles where they wryte that certeyne marchauntes of Carthage saylyng from the streyghtes of Gibraltar towarde the west and south The lande found by the Carthaginenses founde after many dayes a greate Ilande not inhabited yet replenyshed with al thinges requisite and hauynge many nauigable ryuers In deede Colon was not greately lerned yet of good vnderstandynge And when he had knowleage of the sayde new landes by the information of the dead pylot Colon conferred with lerned men made relation thereof to certeyne lerned men with whom he conferred as touchynge the lyke thynges mentioned of owlde autours He communicated this secreate and conferred chiefely with a fryer named Iohn Perez of Marchena that dwelt in the monastery of Rabida So that I verely beleue that in maner all that he declared and many thynges more that he lefte vnspoken were wrytten by the sayde Spanyshe pylot that dyed in his house For I am persuaded that if Colon by science atteyned to the knowleage of the Indies he wolde longe before haue communicate this secreate to his owne contrey men the Genueses that trauayle all the worlde for gaynes and not haue comme into Spayne for this purpose But doubtelesse he neuer thought of any such thyng before he chaunced to bee acquainted with the sayd pylot who founde those landes by fortune Chaunce and arte accordynge to the sayinge of Plinie Quod ars docere non potuit casus inuenit That is That arte coulde not teache chaunce founde Albeit the more Chrystian opinion is A Christian opinion to thinke that god of his singuler prouidence and infinite goodnesse at the length with eyes of compassion as it were lookynge downe from heauen vpon the sonnes of Adam so longe kepte vnder Sathans captiuitie intended euen then for causes to hym only knowen to rayse those wyndes of mercy whereby that caruell herein most lyke vnto the shyppe of Noe whereby the remanent of the hole world was saued as by this caruel this newe worlde receaued the fyrst hope of theyr saluation was dryuen to these landes The caruel coÌ„pared to the ship of Noye But wee wyll nowe declare what great thynges folowed
of this smaule begynnynge and how Colon folowed this matter reueled vnto hym not withowte goddes prouidence ¶ What labour and trauayle Colon tooke in attemptyng his fyrst vyage to the Indies AFter the death of the pilot and mariners of the Spanyshe caruell that discouered the Indies Chrystopher Colon purposed to seke the same But in howe muche more he desyred this the lesse was his poure to accomplishe his desire For besyde that of him selfe he was not able to furnysshe one shyppe he lacked also the fauour of a kynge vnder whose protection he might so enioy the riches he hoped to fynde that none other myght take the same from hym or defeate hym therof And seinge the kynge of Portugale occupied in the conquest of Africa and the nauigations of the East which were then fyrst attempted The kinge of Portugale the kynge of Castyle lykewyse no lesse busyed in the warres of Granada The kyng of Castile he sent to his brother Bartholomewe Colon who was also priuie to this secreate to practise with the kynge of Englande Henry the seventh beinge very ryche and withowt warres Kynge Henry the seuenth promysynge to brynge hym great ryches in short time if he wolde shew him fauour and furnysshe hym with shippes to discouer the newe Indies wherof he had certeyne knowleage But neyther here beinge able to brynge his sute to passe he caused the matter to bee moued to the kynge of Portugale Don Alonso the fyfte of that name at whose handes he founde neither fauour nor money forasmuch as the licenciate Calzadilla the byshop of Uiseo Barnarde knewe not all thynges and one master Rodrigo men of credit in the science of Cosmographie withstoode him and contended that there neither was nor coulde any golde or other ryches bee founde in the west as Colon affirmed By reason whereof he was very sadde and pensiue but yet was not discouraged or despaired of the hope of his good aduenture which he afterward found This done he tooke shippinge at Lisburne and came to Palos of Moguer where he coÌ„muned with Martin AloÌ„so PinzoÌ„ an expert pylot who offered hym selfe vnto hym After this disclosynge the hole secreates of his mynde to Iohn Perez of Marchena a fryer of thorder of saynt Frances in Rabida and wel lerned in Cosmographie declarying vnto hym how by folowyng the course of the son by a temperate vsage rich and great landes myght be founde the fryer greatly commended his enterpryse and gaue him counsayle to breake the matter to the duke of Medina Sidonia Don Enrique of Guzman a great lorde and very ryche The duke of Medina Sidonia And also to Don Luys of Cerda the duke of Medina Celi The duke of Medina Celi who at that tymes had great prouision of shippes well furnyshed in his hauen of Santa Maria. But wheras both these dukes tooke the matter for a dreame and as a thynge diuised of an Italian deceauer who as they thought had before with lyke pretence deluded the kynges of Englande and Portugale the fryer gaue hym courage to go to the courte of the Catholyke princes Don Ferdinando and lady Isabell princes of Castile affirmynge that they wolde bee ioyfull of such newes And for his better furtherance herin wrote letters by hym to fryer Ferdinando of Talauera the queenes confessor Chrystopher Colon therfore repayred to the court of the Cathollike princes in the yeare M. CCCC.lxxxvi and delyuered vnto theyr handes the peticion of his request as concerninge the discouerynge of the newe Indies But they beinge more carefull and applyinge all theyr mynde howe they myght dryue the Moores owt of the kyngdome of Granade The coÌ„quest of Granada which great enterpryse they had alredy taken in hande dyd lyttle or nothynge esteme the matter But Colon not thus discouraged found the meanes to declare his sute to such as had sumtymes priuate communication with the kynge what men knowe not they count funtasticall Yet bicause he was a stranger and went but in simple apparell nor otherwyse credited then by the letter of a gray fryer they beleued hym not neyther gaue eare to his woordes wherby he was greatly tormented in his imagination Colon his interteinmente Only Alonso of Quintanilia the kynges chiefe auditour gaue hym meate and drynke at his owne charges and hard gladly such thynges as he declared of the landes not then founde desyrynge hym in the meane tyme to bee contente with that poore enterteynemente and not to despayre of his enterpryse puttynge hym also in good conforte that he shulde at one tyme or other coome to the speache of the Catholyke princes And thus shortly after by the meanes of Alonso of Quintanilia Colon was browght to the presence and audience of the Cardinall Don Pero Gonzales of Mendoza archbysshop of Toledo The archbysshop of Toledo a man of great reuenues autoritie with the kynge and queene who brought hym before them after that he well perceaued and examyned his intent Colon is brought to the kynges presence And by this meanes was his sute harde of the Catholyke princes who also redde the booke of his memorials which he presented vnto them And although at the fyrst they tooke it for vayne and false that he promysed neuerthelesse they put hym in good hope that he shulde bee well dispatched when they had fynyshed the warres of Granada which they had now in hand With which answere Colon beganne to reuyue his spirites with hope to bee better estemed and more fauorably to bee hard amonge the gentelmen and noble men of the court who before tooke hym only for a craftie felowe and deceauer and was nothynge dismayde or discouraged when so euer he debated the matter with them althowghe many iudged hym phantasticall The iudgement of ignorant folkes as is the maner of ignorant menne to caule all such as attempte any thynge beyonde theyr reach and the compaâ—se of theyr knowleage thinkyng the worlde to bee no bigger then the cagies wherin they are brought vp and lyue But to returne to Colon So hotte and vrgente was the siege of Granada that they presentely graunted hym his demaunde to seeke the newe landes Colon is dispatched and to brynge from thense golde syluer perles precious stones spices and suche other rych thynges They gaue hym also the tenth parte of all the reuenues and customes dewe vnto the kynge of al such landes as he shulde discouer Colon his rewarde not doynge preiudice in any thynge to the kynge of Portugale The particulars of this agrement were made in the towne caused Sanera Fe and the priuilege of the rewarde in Granada the .xxx. daye of Aprell the same yeare that the citie was woonne And wheras the sayde Catholyke princes had not mony presently to dispatch Colon Luys of s. Angell the kynges secretary of accomptes lente theym syxe quentes of marauedes whiche in a grosse summe make .xvi. thousande ducades Two thynges are herein chiefely to
be noted One quent is .x hundreth thousand◠wherof the one is that for so smaule charges they haue increased the reuenues of the crowne of Castyle as much as the Indies are in value The other is that endynge the conquest of the Moores who possessed the kyngdome of Granada eyght hundreth yeares they immediately beganne the conquest of the Indies as though the nation of the Spanyardes were euer appoynted to feyght ageynst infidels and enemies of the fayth of Iesu Chryst. By this trauayle of Colonus in so noble an enterpryse and so harde successe dooth the sayinge of Plinie appere to be most trew wher in the preface of his natural hystory wryttē to thēprour Uespasiā he writeth ī this maner Res ardus vetustis novitatem dare Nouis autori tatem absoletis nitorem obseuris lucem sastiditis gratiam dubiis fidem omnibus vero naturam et naturae fuatl omnia Itaque etiam non assecutis voluisse abund◠pulchrum atque magnificum est That is to say It is a dyfficulte thynge to gyue newenes to owlde thynges autoritie to newe thynges bewtie to thynges owt of vse fame to the obscure fauoure to the hatefull credite to the doubtefull nature to all and all to nature To such neuerthelesse as can not attayne to all these it is greately commendable and magnificall to haue attempted the same In the scuchen of armes gyuen to Colon by Don Ferdinando and queene Elizabeth Catholike princes so cauled for theyr warres ageynst the infidels these verses were wrytten Por Castilla y por Leon Nueuo mundo hallo Colon. That is For Castile and for Leon The newe worlde founde Colon. ¶ Of newe Spayne cauled Noua Hispania or Mexico NEwe Spayne is that parte of the continent or firme lande that lyeth West and South frome the lande of Floryda This was subdued to thempire of Castile by the ryght noble gentelman Ferdinando Cortese the marquesse of the vale of Quaxaca In this lande are many provinces cōteynyng in thē in maner innumerable cities amonge whichthat is the chiefe which the Indiās caule Mexico or Temixtitan The citie of Mexico or Temixtitan cōsystyng of more thē fiue hundreth thousand inhabitauntes It standeth in the myddest of a lake of salte water as doth Uenece in the sea The lake conteyneth fortie Persian myles cauled Parasange euery one consystynge of .xxx. furlons and more as sum say In these regions is founde great plentie of golde syluer Golde and syluer and precious stones with innumerable other thynges both necessary for the lyfe of man and pleasaunt as sylke Sylke bombasine cotton Cotton alame Alam Safferne Woade woade with dyuers other thynges wherwith clothe sylke is dyed There is also such abundance of suger Sugar that certeyne Spanysshe shippes are yearely fraighted therwith and brynge the same into Siuile from whense it is caryed in maner to all partes of Chrystendome Thinhabitauntes of Mexico are subtyle people and vse much craft in theyr bargening They haue not the vse of golde and syluer monye Shelles for money but vse in the steade therof the halfe shelles of almonds whiche kynde of Barbarous money they caule Cacao or Cacanguate In maner al kyndes of corne are there very good cheape Corne Beastes especially barly and wheate They haue great plentie of hartes wylde bores Lyons Leopardes and Tygers which beastes wander in maner in euery place The region is moste commodious for haukynge and huntynge for the great abundaunce it hath of beastes and foules haukyng and huntynge But the people exercise all theyr cunnynge in makynge the images of theyr Idolatry and in paintyng Paintynge Theyr women are valiant and sumptuous in theyr apparell and other tyrementes For they so vychely frynge and byset the same with perles women sumptuously appareled precious stones and golde that nothynge can be more excellent They haue a kynde of paper greatly differyng from owrs In this they expresse theyr mindes by certeyn figures For they haue nor otherwise thuse ofletters The nation is desyrous of warre and dooth not longe keepe the condicions of peace vnuiolated A warlike nation But delyteth rather in ciuile and most cruell battayle amonge them selues then to lyue in peace and quietnesse Suche as in the warres faule by any meanes into the handes of theyr enemies eyther by submission or otherwyse are partely sacrificed to the Idoles Captiues sacrificed to Idoles and the residue gyuen to the souldiers to bee eaten in lyke maner as wee rewarde dogges and haukes with parte of theyr pray They haue innumerable Idoles which euery one maketh for his particular god after the phantasie of his own brayne and gyueth therto diuine honour Albeit at this day they doo by lyttle and lyttle leaue of theyr barbarous fiercenesse and with owre religion embrase better maners For they nowe professe the fayth of Chryst and in his name pray vnto God the father Vnderstande here that as touchynge these regions cauled new Spayne yow may reade at large in the booke here before entiteled of the landes and Ilandes lately founde This booke foloweth immediatly after the Decades althowgh the printer haue also wrytten the thyrde decade ouer the head of that booke which intreateth principally of the regions nowe cauld newe Spayne Of the conquest of this Mexico Francisco Lopez hath written a large booke in the Spanysshe tounge ¶ Of Peru. The prouince cauled Peru was also named noua Cathilia by them that fyrste founde it This region is the west parte of America and is situate in the longitude of .290 degrees proceadynge from the West to the East And southwarde begynneth fiue degrees beyonde the Equinoctial line and is extended very farre into the south This is taken to bee the rychest lande in golde syluer Peru is the rychest lande that is knowen perles precious stones and spyces that euer was founde yet to this day For golde is there in such plentie that they make pyspots therof and other vessels applyed to fylthy vses But this is more to bee marueyled at that in a citie cauled Collao was founde a house all couered with massie plates of golde A house couered withgold In theyr warres also theyr harnesse was of golde and syluer harnes of golde Theyr weapons are bowes arrowes flynges dartes and pikes Thinhabitantes are warlyke people and of great agilitie They haue cities defended with lawes and armes The region is exceadyng frutefull A frutful region and yeldeth corne twyse in the yeare It is so florysshynge with many fayze wooddes mountaynes ryuers and other both pleasaunt and necessary commodities that it seemeth in maner an earthly Paradyse It hath dyuers kyndes of beastes and yet none hurtfull or of rauenynge kynde There are sheepe of such heyght that they vse them in the steade of horses Great sheepe Sume wryte that they are as bygge as the younge foles of camels and that theyr woolle is very softe and fine Also that the
receaued as the best 〈…〉 Ptolomie diuided all the hole body and face of the land and sea into three hundreth and sixtie degrees of length oâ— loÌ„gitude and other as many degrees of bredth or latitude so that the hole globe of the baule beinge rounde conteyneth as much â—n latitude as longitude 〈…〉 He assigned lykewyse to euery degree three score myles whiche make .xvii. Spanyâ—she leaâ—ues and a halfe In such sorte that the globe or baule of the earth meaâ—ured directly by any of the foure partes of the same 〈…〉 contâ—yneâ—h â—n circuite syâ—e thouâ—and and two hundreth leaques This computacion and measurynge is so certeyne thâ—t as it is approued of all men and founde â—rewe by experience so much the 〈◊〉 is it to bee commended and had in admiration for 〈…〉 â—ereof was iudged so dyfficult by Iob and 〈…〉 that no â—â—an had founde the measure of 〈◊〉 of the â—ame They name those degrees of longâ—tude Degrees of Longâ—â—ude that they accompte from soonne to soonne by the Equinocâ—iall line which reacheth from the East to the Weste by the myddle of the globe or baule of the earth These can not well bee obseruâ—d forasmuch as in this â—ract of heauen there is no fyxe or permanent signe whereunto the pylots maye directe theyr eyes or instrumentes For the soonne althowghe iâ— be a moste cleare signe yet doothe it dayely chaunge the place of rysynge and faulynge The deâ—rees of 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 kâ—owâ—n and keepethe not the same course the day folowynge as the Astronomers aâ—firme And althowgh there is no number of theÌ„ that in trauaylyng strange landes and seas haue spent theyr gooddes and almoste theyr wyttes to fynde the degrees of longitude withowt errour as are found the degrees of latitude heyght The degrees of latitude yet is there none that hytherto hath any trewe knowleage therof The degrees of latitude or altitude are they that are accompted from the north pointe to the soutâ— the commenâ—uration or meaâ—uring wheâ—by is most certeine by reason that the north starre is permane The norâ—h stâ—â—â—e and remayneth styll in one place or at the least moueth abowt the pole which is theyr firme and stedfast signe wherby they accompte theyr degrees and directe theyr vyages By the degrees therfore accompted by these most certeine signes is vnfaylably measured the hole circumference of the lande and sea The circuite of the earth diuydynge the same into foure equall partes in this maner From the north poynte to the Equinoctial are lxxxx degrees and from the Equinoctiall to the south poynt other lxxxx Ageyne on the contrary syde from the south poynt to the Equinoctiall are other lxxxx degrees and from the Equinoctial ageyne to the north poynte are as many This may we coniecture by good reason aswell of thinferioure hemisphery wherof a great parte is knowen vnto vs by the nauigations of such as haue passed the streyghets of Magellanus and the cape of Bona Speranza The inferior hemiâ—pherie althowgh we haue noo such cleare and manifest relation as we ought to haue of the lande vnder the southe pole beinge the other exelâ—ree of the worlde whose syght we lacke For as Herodotus sayth yf there bee any lande of the Hypeâ—boreans that is suche as are vnder the north ther is also of the hypernorios hypâ—rboreâ— that is such as are vnder the south 〈◊〉 which perhâ—ppes are they that lyue in the lande of the streyghâ—es of Magellanus as nere vnto the other pole But what these lâ—ndes are 〈◊〉 of what 〈◊〉 we can haue no certeyne knowleage vntyl sum man shal hâ—ue compassed abowt the lands vnder the south pole as did Iohn Sebastian the circumference of the Equinoctiâ—ll line These last annotacions of the Indies haâ—e I tranâ—â—â—ted owt of the bookes of Franciscus Lopes wrytten in the 〈…〉 Themperours maiestie and partly also 〈◊〉 of the carde maâ—se by Sebastian Cabot ¶ A demonstratâ—on of the roundenesse of the Earth MAny ignoranâ— men thynke that the earthe is not rounde onely by iudgemente of the eye which is deceaued in many thynges not only of the woorkes of nature Tâ—â— eye is deâ—eaâ—ed but also of â—athe as are doonne bâ— the 〈◊〉 and arte of man For they say Howe can it bee rounde forasmuche as thowgh a man trauayle neuer so far eyther by land or sea he seemeth euer to passe as it were by a ryght line with out any such circuite or compassynge ascendynge or discendynge as perteyneth to all the partes of a rounde forme The which obiection as it is grose and simple proceadyng of the narownesse of the vnderstandyng of such as can not conceaue the large circumference of the lande and sea euen so may it be answered with this simple demonstration In a rynge that serueth for the fynger of a mans hande A rynge A circle the space of halfe an ynche or lyttle more is halfe a cyrcle But in a rynge or cyrcle of bygger circumference as in the hoope of a tubbe halfe an ynche appeareth in maner a ryght line althowghe it bee not so in deede forasmuch as it is not possible for any parte of a circle to consist of a ryght line neyther any parte of a line to consyst of a cyrcle sithe the partes must needes bee conformable to the hole consystynge of such vniforme partes as are in mathematicals But not to wander to farre in these subtylties the greater that yow can imagen the circle to bee so shal a greater parte therof seeme a ryght line or playne forme As for exemple imaginynge a circle whose diameter that is measure from syde to syde consysteth of a myle in this circle a pole length or more may seeme a ryght line as yowe may otherwyse multiply of the like infinitely wherby it shal appere that the large circumference of the earth well consydered a muche greater part of the circle therof then the eye of man conceaueth may seeme to bee a ryght line and he contynually to walke vppon a playne forme forasmuch as euery part of a circle is lyke vnto other as I haue sayde This may suffice for a simple and briefe demonstration and induction for suche as are desyrous to seeke furth to knowe the truth hereof ¶ What credit owght to bee gyuen to wryters as touchynge the woorkes of nature THe moste auncient wryter Diodorus Siculus in the fourth booke of his Bibliotheca wryteth in this maner If any man for the maruelous straungenes and noueltie of such thinges as are descrybed in owre bookes wyl not perhappes gyue credyt to owre hystorie let hym with ryght iudgement consider the difference that is betwene the ayer of the Scythians and the Troglodytes compared to owres The diuersitie of ayer in dyuers regions and he shall the easelyer perceaue the woorkes of nature and approue owre wrytynges For owre ayer dyffereth so much from theyrs that it myght seeme incredible if experience were not more certeyne then
doubtfull reason In sume regions the coulde is so extreme that greate ryuers are so frosen Extreme colde that laden cartes and armies of men passe ouer the immouable I se Wine also and other moist thynges are so conieled that they may bee cutte with knyues But this is more marueylous that thextreeme partes of suche apparell as menne weare are so bytten with coulde that they faule of Mens eyes are also dymmed the fyre gyueth not his natural bryghtnesse and brasen vesselles and images are broken Sumtime by reason of thicke cloudes thunders and lyghtnynges are neyther seene or harde in such regions Many other thinges more marueylous theÌ„ these hath nature wrought which may seeme incredible to the ignorant but easy to such as haue experience In the furthest partes of Egypt and Trogloditica the heate of the soonne is so extreme abowt noone Extreme heate that noo man can se hym that standeth by hym by reason of the thicke ayer caused by the vapoures and exhalations raysed by the heate None can go withowt shoos but haue theyr fiete suddeynly blystered and exulcerate Such as are a thyrst dye immediatly except they haue drynke at hande the heate so faste consumeth the moysture of theyr bodyes Meate put in brasen vesselles is sodde in short space by the heate of the soonne withowt other fyre The force of education Yet they that are borne and browght vp in such regions had rather wyllyngely susteyne these incommodities then bee inforced to lyue otherwyse such a loue of theyr natiue countrey hath nature gyuen to all men custome of continuance from younge yeares being also of force to ouer comme the maliciousnesse of the ayer Neuerehelesse Extreme heate colde in A smale distance these places of such contrary natures wherby suche strange effectes are caused are not farre in sunder or diuided by any great distance For from the marysshes of Meotis or Meotides where certeyne Scythians dwell in extreme coulde Frome Scythia to Ethiopia many haue sayled with shyps of burden to Rodes in the space of ten dayes and from thense to Alexandria in foure dayes From whense passynge throwgh Egypte by the ryuer of Nilus they haue arryued in Ethiopia in other tenne dayes So that the nauigation from the couldest partes of the worlde to the hottest râ—gions is no more then .xxiiii. continuall dayes Where as thâ—refore the varietie of the ayer is such in places of so smaul distance it is no marueyle that the customes and maners of lyuynge of the people of those regions with the complexions of theyr bodyes and such thynges as are engendered there do greatly dyffer from owres ¶ The preface to the bookâ— of Metals TO this booke of the Indies and nauigations I haue thowght good to adde the booke of metals for three causes especially me mouynge whereoâ— the fyrst is that it seemeth to me a thynge vndecent to reade so much of golde and syluer and to knowe lyttle or nothynge of the naturall generation thereof beinge neuerthelesse thynges not onely most desyred but also such withowt the which at this age the lyfe of man can not bee passed ouer withowt many aduersities forasmuch as pouertie is hatefull to all men and vertue no further esteemed then it is supported by ryches syth nowe that lady that reigned in Saturns dayes is becomme the slaue to hym that was then her bondeman in that golden worlde so named not for the desyre that men had to golde but for thinnocencie of lyuynge in those dayes when Mars was of no poure and men thought it crueltie by breakynge the bones of owre mother the earth to open a way to the courte of infernal Pluto from thence to get golde and syluer the seedes of al mischiefes and angels of such a god whom the antiquitie not without good consyderation paynted blynde affirmynge also that of hym golde and syluer haue receaued the propertie to blynde the eyes of men But syth it is nowe so that we shal be inforced to seke ayde by that which was sumtymes a myschefe it resteth to vse the matter as doo cunnynge phisitians that can mynister poyson in proportion with other thynges in such sort qualyfyinge the maliciousnesse therof that none shall therby bee intoxicate Forasmuch therfore as golde and syluer haue obteyned this prerogatiue that they are suche necessarie euyls which the lyfe of man can not lacke withowt detriment not only they but other metals also perhappes more necessarie althowgh not so precious are thynges woorthy to bee better knowen then only by name syth they are thinstrumentes of â—ll artes the prices of all thynges the ornamentes of al dignities and not the least portion of nature wherby the conteÌ„plation of them is no lesse pleasaunte then necessary But forasmuch as it is not here my intent to intreate much of metals I wyll speake of the seconde cause which is that if in trauaylyng strang and vnknowen countreys any mans chaunce shal be to arryue in such regions where he may knowe by thinformation of thinhabitauntes or otherwyse that suche regions are frutefull of riche metals he may not bee without sum iudgement to make further searche for the same The thyrde cause is that althowgh this owre realme of Englande be ful of metals not to bee contemned and much rycher then men suppose yet is there fewe or none in Englande that haue anye greate skyll thereof or any thynge wrytten in owr tounge whereby men maye bee well instructed of the generation and fyndyng of the same as the lyke ignorance hath byn amonge vs as touchynge Cosmographie and nauigations vntyll I attempted accordinge to the portion of my talent and simple lernynge to open the â—yrst dore to the enteraunce of this knoweleage into owre language wherin I wolde wyshe that other of greater lernynge wolde take sume peynes to accomplysshe and bringe to further perfection that I haue rudely begunne not as an autour but a translatoure leaste I bee iniurious to any man in ascrybyng to my selfe the trauayles of other And wheras as concernynge the knowleage of metals I was once mynded to haue translated into Englyshe the hole woorke of Pyrotechnia wherof I fynysshed .xxii. chapitures nowe more then three yeares sence and lefte the copie therof in the handes of one of whom I coulde neuer get it ageyne omyttynge to speake of other ingratitudes I was therby discouraged to proceade any further in that woorke Neuerthelesse sythe this hystory of the Indies hath ministred occasion to intreate sumwhat of metals I haue ageyne translated three of the fyrst chapitures of that booke which seeme most necessary to bee knowen in this case And hereof to haue sayde thus much in maner of a preface it may suffice Of the generation of metalles and their mynes with the maner of fyndinge the same written in the Italien tounge by Vannuccius Biringuczius in his booke cauled Pyrotechnia To his louynge frende Master Bernardino Moncellese greeting WHereas I promysed yow to wrytte of
of the sandes of riuers which many haue vsed to theyr great commoditie And that the rather bycause that in folowyng this order of woorke in the pourgynge and diuydynge of golde it shall not bee requisite as in other maner of practises to bee at greate charges by reason of many men which shall be needefull From wheÌ„se golde is deriued into the sandes of ryuers with manye murals fornaces fiers and dyuers artificers wheras in woorkyng after this sorte one man may suffice with one table and one holowe shoouell with a lyttle quickesyluer and sufficient abundaunce of water But lettyng passe to speake any further of these thynges perhappes summe man wolde here demaunde from whense this golde is deryued into the sandes of the sayde ryuers and whether it be browght thyther by the water or engendered there As touchynge which question I haue ofteÌ„ tymes deliberated with my selfe not withowt great marueyle and especially of that which is founde in the sandes of the ryuers of Tesino Adda and Po bicause wheras I haue sayde before that it is browght thyther by the course of the water I can not perceaue from whense it shuld be browght forasmuch as there is no myne of golde or of any other metal that is knowen nere to any of those places By reason wherof my iudgemente is in maner confounded seinge also that it is thoppinion of certeyne wryters that it is engendered euen where it is founde The which if it so be it is not trewe that it is browght thyther by the water Ageyne if it be engendered there it seemeth to me a dyfficult thyng to comprehend whether it be brought furthe there by the vertue of the water or the earth or the heauen That golde is not engendered in the â—andes of riuers If furthermore any of these shuld be the cause of the generation hereof it seemethe agreable to reason that it shulde bee both founde and engendered through owt all the beddes of such riuers and at al tymes And if the influence of heauen be the most prepotent cause of this effecte then it seemeth to me that it shuld woorke immediatly bicause it can not otherwyse obserue thorder whiche nature vseth in the generation of metals fyrst brynginge it furth to the open shewe in the place where aboundeth the continuall isshewe of water which owght also to be of such force as to remoue the earthy substaunce thereof from place to place and not to intermixte such great inequalitie of couldenesse and moistnes And albeit that this composition begunne in this order shuld not be disseuered or broken by the waters of the ryuers yet it appeareth to me that the showers of rayne and increase of fiuddes shulde be of sufficient poure to distemper breake and vtterly destroy all such compositions as shulde be engendered in such places forasmuch as al thynges are conceaued by rest and quietnesse after the commixtion of the fyrste elementes And therfore if this golde of the ryuers bee there engendered where it is founde I wolde it were declared vnto me why it is engendered only in these places and not in other and why in lyke maner syluer copper leade or any other metals are not also engendered there as well as golde beinge matters of an easyer composition of nature then it is by reason of the perfecte vnitie and concordaunce with puritie of substaunce perfecte concoction which is in golde aboue all other metals whereas also in many places in the territories of Rome there are founde many sparkes of the mine of â—ren of blacke colour amonge the sandes of certeyne smaule ryuers And yet these only in certeyne particular places of the sayde riuers wherby it appeareth that these also shulde not bee engendered where they are founde By all which reasons and apparent effectes it seemeth most agreable to truth that the golde which is fouÌ„d in such sandes This mater is apparent iÌ„ the golde founde in the ryuers in the Indies is rather brought thyther by the water then engendered there And therefore to declare my mynde more playnely herein I suppose that this chaunceth only in great ryuers which receaue abundaunce of waters of dyuers springes fosses and other ryuers engendered partly of the meltynge of snowe and partly of great showers of rayne whiche faulyng in certeyne chanels from the toppes and sydes of minerall mountaynes wasshe away parte of the earth of theyr bankes and the ouerchanginge and holowe rockes which may conteyne the substaunce of golde The â—aule of waters from montaynes Or otherwyse that in such places there are ordinarie mines in the hyghe mountaynes or other superficiall owt places perhappes incessable and eyther such whyther men can not come for extreme heate or cold or other hynderaunces or els such as they haue contemned to searche And yet the same to bee so consumed by the force of water as we haue sayde and by the course therof to bee caried into the ryuers It may also chaunce that suche mynerall earthes bee farre within the mountaynes neare vnto such ryuers Springes of water in mountaynes And that in the space of many yeares the sprynges isshewynge owt of the same may eyther bee dryed vp whiche thyng hath byn seene or els turne theyr course an other way So that it is no maruayle if in such a multitude of yeres the trewe originall of these thynges bee vnknowen euen vnto theÌ„ that dwell nere such places But in fine howe so euer it bee trewe it is that golde is founde â—n the sandes of many riuers And particularly as I haue noted in the forenamed ryuers Aâ—d if therefore I haue maruayled at this â—hynge I owght worthely to bee excused forasmuch as where iudgement can not bee certified by reason or effectuall apparence there arisâ— many doubtfull coniectures and newe causes of admiration But yet do I maruel much more of an other thyng the which I am informed to bee most trewe by the report of many credible pâ—rsons That is Uegetable golde growinge owt of the earthe that in sum places of Hungarie at certeyâ—e tymâ—s of the yeare pure golde spryngeth owte of the earthe in the lykenesse of smaule herbes wâ—ethed and twyned lyke smaule stalkes of hoppes about the byggenesse of a pack threde and foure fyngers in length or sume a handfull As concernynge which thynge Of this reade Alexander ab Alexandro lib. 4 Genialium dierum Cap. 9. Plinie also in the .xxxiii. boke of his naturall hystorie wryteth the lyke to haue chauncet in Dalmâ—tia in his tyme. The which if it bee trewe suerly the husâ—ande men of these fieldes shall â—â—ape heauenly and not earthly frutes sent them of god from heauen and browght furth of nature withowt theyr trauayle or aâ—te A grade doubtleâ—se most especial syth that in so great a quantitie of earth graunted to the possession of men in mande onely this is thought woorthy so hygh a priuileage But what shall I say of that wherof Albertus Magnuâ—
of Iohn Anes dwellynge in the towne cauled the porte hath doone vnto me my wyll and pleasure is to make hym knyght of my house alowynge to hym in pension seuen hundreth reys monethly Seuen hundreth reys are .x. s. Alcayr is halfe a busshel and euery daye one alcayr of barly as longe as he kepeth a horse and to bee payde accordynge to the ordinaunce of my house Prouydynge alwayes that he shal receaue but one mariage gyfte And this also in such condition that the tyme whiche is excepted in owre ordinaunce forbyddynge such men to mary for gettynge such chyldren as myght succeade them in this alowance which is syxe yeares after the makynge of this patente shal be fyrste expired before he do mary I therfore commaunde yowe to cause this to bee entered in the booke cauled the Matricola of owre housholde vnder the tytle of knyghtes And when it is so entered let the clerke of the Matricola for the certentie therof wryte on the backe syde of this Aluala or patente the number of the leafe wherin this owre graunt is entered Which doone let hym returne this wrytynge vnto the sayd Antonie Anes Pinteado for his warrant I Diego Henriques haue wrytten this in Almarin the xxii day of September in the yeare of owre lorde .1551 And this beneuolence the kynge gaue vnto Antonie Anes Pinteado the .xxv. day of Iuly this present yeare Rey. ¶ The secretaries declaration wrytten vnder the kynges graunt YOwre maiestie hath vouchsafed in respect and consyderation of the good seruice of Antonie Anes Pinteado dwellynge in the porte and soonne of Iohn Anes to make hym knyght of yowre house with ordinarie alowance of seuen hundreth reys pension by the moneth and one Alcayr of barley by the day as longe as he keepeth a horse And to bee payde accordyng to the ordinaunce of yowr house with condition that he shall haue but one mariage gyfte And that not within the space of .vi. yeares after the makynge of these letters patentes The secretaries note Entered in the booke of the Matricola Fol. 683. Francisco de Siquera ¶ The coppie of the letter of Don Lewes thinfant and brother to the kynge of Portugale sent into Englande to Antonianes Pinteado ANtonie Anes Pinteado I the infant brother to the kynge haue me hartely commended vnto yow Peter Gonsalues is gone to seeke yow desyrynge to brynge yowe home ageyne into yowr countrey And for that purpose hath with hym a safe conduct for yow graunted by the kynge that thereby yowe may freely and withowt all feare come home And although the wether be foule and stormy yet fayle not to come For in the tyme that his maiestie hath gyuen yow yow maye doo many thynges to yowre contentacion and gratifying the kynge wherof I wolde bee ryght gladde and to brynge the same to passe wyll doo all that lyeth in me for yowre profyte But forasmuch as Peter Gonsalues wyll make further declaration hereof vnto yow I say no more at this present Wrytten in Luxburne the .viii. day of December Anno M.D.LII. ¶ The Infant don Lews AL these forsayd wrytynges I sawe vnder selâ— in the house of my frende Nicolas Lyese with whom Pinteado left them at his vnfortunatâ— departynge to Guinea But notwithstanding all these frendly letters and fayre promyses Pinteado durste not attempte to go home neyther to keepâ— company with the Portugales his countrey men withowt thâ— presence of other forasmuch as he had secreate admonition that they intended to sley hym if tyme and place myght hauâ— serued theyr wycked intent ☞ The seconde vyage to Guinea AS in the fyrst vyage I haue declared ratheâ— the order of the hystory theÌ„ the course of the nauigation whereof at that tyme I coulde haue no perfecte information so in the discription of this seconde vyage my chiefe intent hath byn to shew the course of the same accordynge to the obseruation and ordinarie custome of them aryners and as I receaued it at the handes of an experte pylot beinge one of the chiefe in this viage who also with his owne handes wrote a briefe declaration of the same as he founde and tryed all thynges not by coniecture but by the arte of saylynge and instrumentes perteynynge to the mariners facultie Not therfore assuminge to my selfe the commendations dewe to other neyther so boulde as in anye parte to chaunge or otherwise dispose the order of this vyagâ— so wel obserued by art and experience I haue thowght good to set furth the same in such sorte and phrase of speache as is commonly vsed amonge them and as I receaued it of the said pylot as I haue sayde Take it therfore as foloweth In the yeare of owre lorde M.D.LIIII the .xi. day of October wee dâ—parted the ryuer of Temmes with three goodly shyppes th one cauled the Trinitie a shyppe of the burden of seuen score toonne Thother cauled the Barthelmewe a shyppe of the burden of lxxxx The thyrde was the Iohn Euangelist a shyppe of seuen score toonne With the sayde shyppes and two pyunesses wherof the one was drowned in the coast of Englande we went forwarde on owr vyage and steyde at Douer .xiiii. dayes We steyde also at Rye three or foure dayes More ouer last of all we touched at Darthmouth The fyrst day of Nouember at .ix. of the clocke at nyght departynge from the coaste of Englande we sâ—rte of the stert bearynge southwest all that nyght in the sea and the nexte day all day and the next nyght after vntyll the thyrde dayâ— of the sayde mooneth abowt noone makynge owr way good dyd runne .60 leaques Item from .xii. of the clocke the thyrde daye tyll .xii. of the clocke the .iiii day of the sayde mooneth makynge owr way good southeast dyd runne euery three houres twoo leaques which amounteth to .xvi. leaques the hole Item from .xii. of the clocke the .iiii. day to .xii. of the clocke the .v. day runnynge southwest in the sea dydde runne .xii. leaques Item runnynge from .xii. of the clocke the .v. day vntyll .xii. of the clocke the .vi. day runnyng southeast dyd runne .xviii leaques And so from .xii. of the clocke the .vi. daye vntyll .xii. of the clocke the .vii. day runnynge southsouthwest dyd runne euery houre .ii. leaques which amouÌ„t to .xlviii. leaques the hole Item from .xii. of the clocke the .vii. day tyl .iii. of the clocke the .viii. day southsouthwest runnyng in the sea dyd runne xxx leaques Item from three of the clocke the .viii. day vntyll .iii. of the clocke the .ix. day runnyng southsouthwest dyd runne .xxx. leaques Item from .iii. of the clocke the .ix. day tyll .iii. of the clocke the .x. day dyd southsouthaest in runnynge in the sea the sum of .xxiiii. leaques Also from .iii. of the clocke thy .x. day vntyl .xli. of the clocke the .xi. day dyd run southsouthwest the sum of .xii. leaques and from .xii. of the. clocke tyll .vi. of the sayde day dyd run vi leaques Runnynge south and by west in the
gryndeth his meate Eyther of these teeth are almost a span in length as they growe alonge in the lawe and are abowt two inches in height and almost as much in thickenesse The tuskes of the male are greater then of the female His tounge is verye lyttle and so farre in his mouth that it can not bee seene Of all beastes they are moste gentyll and tractable For by many sundry ways they are taught and do vnderstand In so much that they learne to do due honour to a king and are of quicke sence and sharpenes of wyt When the male hath once seasoned the female he neuer after toucheth her The male Elephante lyueth two hundreth yeares or at the leaste one hundreth and twentie The female almost as longe but the floure of theyr age is but .lx. yeares as sum wryte They can not suffer wynter or coulde They loue ryuers and wyll often go into them vp to the snowte wherwith they blowe and snuffe and play in the water but swymme they canne not for the weyght of theyr bodyes Plinie and Soline wryte that they vse none adulterie If they happen to meete with a manne in wyldernesse beinge owt of the way gentylly they wyl go before hym and brynge hym into the playne waye Ioyned in battayle they haue no smaule respecte vnto theÌ„ that be wounded For they brynge them that are hurt or wery into the middle of the army to be defended They are made tame by drynkynge the iuse of barley They haue continuall warre ageynst dragons which desyre theyr bludde bycause it is very coulde And therfore the dragon lyinge awayte as the Elephant passeth by Debate betwene the Elephant and the dragon wyndeth his tayle beinge of exceadynge length abowt the hynder legges of the elephant and so steying hym thrusteth his heade into his tronke and exhausteth his breth or els byteth hym in the eare wherunto he can not reach with his troonke And when the elephant waxeth faynt he fauleth downe on the serpente beinge nowe full of bludde and with the poyse of his body breaketh hym so that his owne bludde with the bludde of the elephant runneth owt of hym mengeled togyther whiche beinge coulde is congeled into that substaunce which the apothecaries caule Sanguis Draconis Sanguis Draconis that is dragons blud otherwyse cauled Cinnabaris although there be an other kynde of Cinnabaâ—is Cinnabaris commonly cauled cinoper or vermilion which the paynters vse in certeyne coloures They are also of three kyndes Thre kyndes of elephaÌ„tes as of the marysshes the playnes and the mountaynes no lese differynge in conditions Philostratus wryteth that as much as the elephant of Lybia in byggenesse passeth the horse of Nyâ—ea so much doth the elephantes of India excede them of Lybia For of the elephantes of India sum haue byn seene of the heyght of .ix. cubites The other do so greatly feare these that they dare not abyde the syght of them Of the Indian elephantes only the males haue tuskes But of them of Ethiopia and Lybia both kyndes are tusked They are of dyuers heyghtes as of .xii. xiii and .xiiii. dodrantes euery dodrant beinge a measure of ix ynches Sum wryte that an elephant is bygger then three wylde oxen or buffes They of India are blacke or of the colour of a mouse But they of Ethiope or Guinea are browne The hyde or skynne of them all is very harde and withowte heare or brystels Theyr eares are two dodrantes brode and theyr eyes very lyttle Owr men sawe one drynkyng at a ryuer in Guinea as they sayled into the lande Of other properties and conditions of the elephant as of theyr maruelous dociliâ—ie of theyr feight and vse in the warres of theyr generation and chastitie when they were fyrste seene in the theaters and tryumphes of the Romans howe they are taken and tamed and when they cast theyr tuskes with thuse of the same in medicine who so desyreth to know let hym rede Plinie in the .viii. booke of his natural hystorie He also wryteth in his .xii. booke that in oulde tyme they made many goodly woorkes of Iuery or elephantes teeth workes of Iuery as tables tressels postes of houses rayles lattesses for wyndowes Images of theyr goddes and dyuers other thynges of Iuery both coloured and vncoloured and intermyxte with sundry kyndes of precious wooddes as at this day are made certeyne chayres lutes and virginalles They had such plentie therof in owlde tyme that as farre as I remember Iosephus wryteth that one of the gates of Hierusalem was cauled Porta Eburnea that is the Iuery gate The whytenesse thereof was so muche esteemed that it was thought to represent the naturall fayrenesse of mans skynne In so much that such as went abowt to set furth or rather corrupte naturall bewtie with colours and payntynge were reproued by this prouerbe Ebur atramento candesacere That is To make Iuery whyte with ynke The poettes also describynge the fayre neckes of bewtifull virgins caule them Eburnea colla That is Iuery neckes And to haue sayde thus much of elephantes and Iuery it may suffice The peopâ—e of Africa Nowe therfore to speke sumwhat of the people and their maners and maner of lyuynge with also an other briefe description of Africa It is to vnderstande that the people whiche nowe inhabite the regions of the coast of Guinea and the mydde partes of Affrica as Lybia the inner and Nubia with dyuers other great and large regions abowt the same were in oulde tyme cauled Ethiopes and Nigrite which we nowe caule Moores Moorens or Negros a people of beastly lyuynge without a god lawe religion or common welth and so scorched and vexed with the heate of the soonne that in many places they curse it when it ryseth Of the regions and people abowt the inner Libia cauled Libia Interior Gemma Phrysius wryteth thus Libia Interior Lybia Interior is very large and desolate in the whiche are many horrible wyldernesses and mountaynes replenisshed with dyuers kyndes of wylde and monstrous beastes and serpentes Fyrst from Mauritania or Barberie toward the south is Getulia Getulâ—a a rowgh and saluage region whose inhabitantes are wylde and wandâ—rynge people After these folowe the people cauled Melanogetuli and Pharusâ—i whiche wander in the wyldernesse caryinge with them greate gourdes of water The Ethiopians cauled Nigrite Ethiopes Nigrite occupie a great parte of Aphrica and are extended to thâ— West Ocean Southwarde also they reache to the ryuer Nigritis whose nature agreeth with the ryuer of Nilus forasmuch as it is increased and diâ—inysshâ—d at the same tyme The ryuer Nigritis or Senega and bryngeth furth the like beastes as the Crocodile By reason wherof I thinke this to be the same ryuer which the Portugales caule Senega For this ryuer is also of the same nature It is furthermore maâ—uelous and very strange that is sayde of this ryuer A strange thynge And this is that on the one
like is sene in only ayer inclosed as in orgen pipes and such other instrumentes that go by winde For wynde as say the philosophers is none other then ayer vehemently moued wynde as we see in a payer of belowes and suche other Sum of owre men of good credit that were in this last vyage to Guinea affirme ernestly that in the nyght season they felt a sensible heate to coomme from the beames of the moone The heate of the moone The which thynge althoâ—ghe it be straunge and insensible to vs that inhabite coulde regions yet doothe it stande with good reason that it may so be forasmuche as the nature of the starres and planets as wryteth Plinie consysteth of fyre The nature of â—he stars and conâ—eyneth in it a spirite of lyfe whiche cannot be wiâ—hout heate And that the moone gyueth heate vpon the earth the prophete Dauyd seemeth to confirme in his Cxx. Psalme where speakynge of such men as are defended from euyls by goddes protection he sayth thus Per diem sol non exuret te necluna per noctem That is to say In the day the soonne shall not burne the nor the moone by nyght They say furthermore that in certeyne places of the sea they sawe certeyne stremes of water which they caule spoutes faulynge owt of the ayer into the sea Spoutes of water fauling out of the ayer And that sum of these are as bygge as the greate pyllers of churches In so muche that sumtymes they faule into shyppes and put them in greatâ— daungiour of drownynge Sum phantasie that these shulde bee the â—arractes of heauen whiche were all opened at Noes fludde Cataracts of heauen But I thynke them rather to be suche fluxions and eruptions as Aristotle in his boke de Mundo saith to chauÌ„se in the sea For speakynge of suche straunge thynges as are seene often tymes in the sea Uehement motions in the sea he wryteth thus Often tymes also euen in the sea are seene euaporations of fyre and suche eruptions and breakyng furth of sprynges that the mouthes of ryuers are opened whyrlepooles and fluxions are caused of such other vehement motions not only in the middest of the sea but also in creekes and streyghtes At certeyne tymes also a great quantitie of water is suddeynly lyfted vp and caryed abowt with the moone c. By which woordes of Arystotle it dooth appere that such waters maye bee lyfted vp in one place at one tyme and suddeynly faule downe in an other place at an other tyme. And hereunto perhappes perteyneth it that Kycharde Chaunceler toulde me that he harde Sebastian Cabot reporte A straunge thynge that as farre as I remember eyther abowt the coastes of Brasile or Rio de Plata his shyppe or pinnes was suddeinly lyfted from the sea and cast vpon the land I wotte not howe farre The which thynge and suche other lyke woonderfull and straunge woorkes of nature whyle I consyder and caule to rememberaunce the narownes of mans vnderstandynge and knowleage in comparyson of her mighty poure The poure of nature I can but cease to maruayle and confesse with Plinie that nothynge is to her impossible the leaste parte of whose poure is not yet knowen to men Many thynges more owre men sawe and consydered in this vyage worthy to bee noted wherof I haue thought good to put sum in memory that the reader maye aswell take pleasure in the varietie of thynges as knowleage of the hystorye Amonge other thynges therefore touchynge the maners and nature of the people this may seeme straunge that theyr princes and noble men vse to pounse and rase theyr skynnes with prety knottes in diuers formes as it were branched damaske They â—ase their â—kinnes thynkynge that to be a decent ornament And albeit they go in maner all naked yet are many of them and especially their women in maner laden with collars braslettes hoopes and chaynes eyther of golde copper or Iuery Fine iewells I my selfe haue one of theyr braselettes of Iuery wayinge twoo pounde and vi ounces of Troye weyght whiche make .xxxviii. ounces A braslet This one of theyr women dyd weare vppon her arme It is made of one hole piece of the byggest parte of the toothe turned and sumwhat carued with a hole in the myddest wherin they put theyr handes to weare it on theyr arme Sum haue of euery arme one and as many on theyr legges â—hackelles wherewith sum of theym are so galded that althoughe they are in maner made lame therby yet wyll they by no meanes leaue them of sum weare also on theyr legges great shackels of bryght copper which they thynke to bee no lesse cumly They weare also collars braslets garlandes and gyrdels of certeyne blewe stones lyke beades Lykewyse sum of theyr women weare on theyr bare armes certeyne foresleeues made of the plates of beaten golde â—inges On theyr fyngers also they weare rynges made of golden wyres with a knotte or wrethe lyke vnto that whiche chyldren make in a rynge of a russhe Amonge other thinges of golde that owr men bowght of them for exchaunge of theyr wares were certeyne dogges chaynes and collers Dogs chainâ— of golde They are very ware people in theyr bargenynge and wyl not lose one sparke of golde of any value They vse weyghtes and measures and are very circumspecte in occupyinge the same They that shall haue to do with them must vse them â—entelly â–ª for they wyl not trafike or brynge in any wares if they be euyll vse At the fyrst vâ—age that owr men had inâ—o theâ—e parties it so chaunsed that at theyr departure from the fyrste place where they dyd trafike one of them eyther stole a muskâ— catte or tooke her a way by force A muâ—ke cat not inâ—strustynge that that shulde haue hyndered theyr bargenynge in an other place whyther they intended to go But for al the hast they could make with full sayles the fame of theyr mysusage so preuented theÌ„ that the people of that place also offended therby wold bring in no wares In so muche that they were inforced eyther to restore the catte or pay for her at theyr price before they could trafike there Theyr houses are made of foure postes or trees Their housâ—s and couered with bouwes Theyr common feedynge is of rootes and such fysshes as they take Their feding wherof they haue great plentie There are also such flyinge fysshes as are seene in the sea of the Weste Indies Fleing fishes Owre men salted of theyr fysshes hopynge to prouyde store therof But they wolde take no salte And muste therefore be eaten furthwith as sum say Howe be it other affirme that if they be salted immediatly after they be taken they wyl last vncorrupted .x. or .xii. dayes But this is more straunge that parte of such flesshe as they caryed with them owte of Englande and putrifyed there A straunge thyng became sweete ageyne at theyr
returne to the clime of temperate regions They vse also a straunge makynge of breade in this maner Their bread They grynde betwene two stones with theyr handes as much câ—rne as they thynke maye suffice theyr famelie And when they haue thus brought it to floure they put thereto a certeyne quantitie of water and make therof very thin dowgh which they stycke vppon sum post of theyr houses where it is baked by the heate of the sonne So that when the master of the house or any of his famely wyll eate thereof they take it downe and eate it They haue very fayre wheate Their wheate the ere whereof is twoo handfulles in length and as bygge as a great bulrusshe and almost foure ynches abowt where it is byggest The steme or strawe semeth to be almost as bygge as the lyttle fynger of a mans hande or lyttle lesse The graynes of this wheate are as bygge as owr peason rounde also and verye whyte and sumwhat shynynge lyke perles that haue lost theyr colour Almost all the substaunce of theym turneth into floure and maketh lyttle branne or none I toulde in one ere twoo hundreth and three score graynes The ere is inclosed in thre blades longer then it selfe and of two inches brode a piece And by this frutefulnesse the soonne seemeth partly to recompence such greefes and molestations as they otherwyse receaue by the feruent heate therof It is doubtlesse a woorthy contemplation to consider the contrary effectes of the soonne The soonne or rather the contrary passions of suche thynges as receaue thinfluence of his beames eyther to theyr hurte or benefite Theyr drynke is eyther water or the iuise that droppeth from the cut braunches of the barren date trees cauled Palmites Their drinke For eyther they hange greate gourdes at the sayde branches euery euenynge and let them so hange all nyght or els they set them on the ground vnder the trees that the droppes may faule therin They say that this kynde of drynke is in tast much lyke vnto whey but sumwhat sweeter and more pleasaunt They cutâ—â— the branches euery euenynge bycause they are scred vp in the day by the heate of the soonne They haue also great beanes as bygge as chestenuttes and verye harde with a shell in the steede of a huske Many thynges more myght be sayd of the maners of the people and of the woonders and monstrous thynges that are engendered in Afrike But it shall suffice to haue sayde thus much of such thynges as owre men partely sawe and partely browght with them And wheras before speakynge of the frute of graynes Graynes I descrybed the same to haue holes by the syde as in deede it is as it is browght hether yet was I afterwarde informed that those holes were made to put strynges or twygges throughe the frute therby to hange them vp to drye at the sonne They growe not paste a foote and a halfe or twoo foote frome the grownde and are as red as bludde when they are gathered The graynes them seluâ—s are cauled of the physisians Grana Paradysi At theyr comminge home the keles of theyr shyppes were maruelously ouergroweÌ„ with certein shels of .ii. ynches length and more as thycke as they coulde stande Shelles that cleaue to shippes and of such byggenes that a man may put his thom in the mouthes of theÌ„ They certeynly affirme that in these there groweth a certeyne slymy substaunce which at the length slypping owt of the shel fauling in the sea becoÌ„meth those foules which we cal barnacles Barnacles The lyke shelles haue byn seene in shyppes returning from Iâ—lande But these shelles were not past halfe an inch in length Of the other that came from Guinea I sawe the Prymrose lyinge in the docke and in maner couered with the sayd shelles which in my iuâ—gemente shulde greately hynder her saylynge Theyr shyppes were also in many places eaten with the woormes cauled Bromas or Bissas whereof mention is made in the Decades Bromas These creepe betwene the plankes whiche they eate throwgh in many places A secreate Amonge other thynges that chaunced to them in this vyage this is woorthy to be noted that wheras they sayled thether in seuen weekes they coulde returne in no lesse space then .xx. weekes The cause wherof they say to be this â—hat abowt the coast of Cabo Uerde the wynd is euer at the East by reason whereof they were infoâ—ced to sayle farre owte of theyr course into the mayne Ocean to fynde the wynde at the west to brynge them home The death of owr men There dyed of owre men at this last vyage abowt .xxiiii. whereof many dyed at theyr returne into the clime of the coulde regions as betwene the Ilandes of Soria and Englande They browght with them certeyne blacke slaues wherof sum were taule and stronge men and coulde well agree with owr meates and drynkes Could may be better abideÌ„ then heate The coulde and moyst ayer dooth sumwhat offende them Yet doubtlesse men that are borne in hotte regions may better abyde coulde then men that are borne in coulde regions may abyde heate forasmuch as vehement heate resolueth the radicall moisture of mens bodies as could coÌ„streyneth and preserueth the same This is also to bee consydered as a secreate woorke of nature that throughout all Afryke vnder the Equinoctiall line and neare abowt the same on bothe sydes the regions are extreeme hotte and the people very blacke Wheras contraryly such regions of the West Indies as are vnder the same line The west Inâ—ise are very temperate and the people neyther blacke nor with curlde and short woolle on theyr heades as haue they of Affryke but of the coloure of an olyue with longe and blacke heare on theyr heades the cause of which varietie is declared in dyuers places in the Decades It is also woorthy to bee noted that summe of them that were at this vyage toulde me That is that they ouertooke the course of the soonne so that they had it north from them at noone the .xiiii. day of Marche And to haue sayde thus much of these vyages it may suffice For as I haue sayd before Wheras the parteners at whose charges this booke is prynted wolde longe sence haue me proceaded no further I had not thought to haue wrytten any thynge of these vyages but that the liberalitie of master Toy encoraged me to attempt the same Whiche I speake not to the reproche of other in whome I thynke there lacked no good wyll but that they thought the booke wolde be to chargeable ¶ The maner of fyndynge the Longitude of regions by dyuers wayes after the description of Gemma Phrysius PErceauynge what contention is and longe hath byn not only amonge the pylottes that by trauaylynge the sea haue obserued the starres but also amonge sum men that are skylfull in mathematicall sciecens wherof many affirme that the longitude that is to meane the course from
from the Ilandes Of the Ilandes of Galanta or Galana and Guadalupea and of the trees which beare that kynde of cotton whiche the Italians caule Bombasine and the Spanyardes Algadon Of dyuers kyndes of popingiayes And of the Iland of Matinino or Madanino being inhabited only with women Also of dyuers other frutefull Ilandes And of a conflicte which the Spanyardes had with the Canibales Of certeyne Ilandes in the which are seene the mynes of metals and precious stones and of the frutefull and peopulous Ilande cauled Burichena or Boriquen or Insula S. Iohanuis Howe all the Admirals men whiche at his fyrst vyage he lefte in Hispaniola were slayne in his absence by the rebellion of Guaccanarillus kynge of the Region of Xamana and of the free kynde of lyfe which they leade that haue not the vse of money Of the .vii. maydens which swamme .iii. myles in the sea And of the maner of gatheryng of gold in the sands of riuers ¶ The Contentes of the thyrde booke Fol. 10. ¶ A particular description of the Ilande of Hispaniola whiche Colonus thynketh to be Ophir from whense kynge Salomon had his great ryches of golde Of the maruelous frutefulnes of Hispaniola and of the suger canes growynge there Of the golden regions of Cipanga or Cibaua and of the ryuers in whose sandes is founde great plentie of golde Of certeyne graines of gold of exceadyng great quantitie Of wylde vines of pleasaunt taste and of grasse which in foure dayes groweth as hygh as wheate Of the Ilande of Iohanna or Cuba beinge the ende of the East and the West And of the frutefull and peopulous Ilande of Iamaica Howe the Admirall thought that he had sayled abowte the lowest hemispherie or halfe circle of the earth and of a secreate of Astronomie touchynge the same matter Howe the Admirall gaue names to .vii. hundreth Ilandes and passed by three thousande unnamed Of certeyne serpentes lyke vnto Crocodiles of .viii. foote longe whose flesshe is delicate to be eaten and of certeyne trees which beare gourdes Of the ryuer whose water is very hotte and of the huntynge fysshe which taketh other fysshes Of great abundaunce of Tortoyses as bygge as targets and of a frutefull mountayne well inhabited Of dogges of deformed shape and dum And of whyte and thicke water Of wooddes of date trees and pynepaple trees and of certeyne people appareled like white friers Of certeyne trees whiche beare spices and of cranes of exceadynge bignes Of stocke doues of more pleasaunte taste then partriches An oration of a barbarous gouernoure as touchinge the immortalitie of the sowle Also of the rewarde of vertue and punysshmente of vice A similitude of the golden worlde and of prouision with owte care Howe the admirall fell sicke by reason of to much watchynge And of a sedition which rose among the Spaniardes in the Ilande of Hispaniola ¶ The Contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 18. Howe the Kynges of the Ilande of Hispaniola were by the Spaniardes mysbehauoure prouoked to Rebellion And howe the admirall sent for them Howe kinge Caunaboa the Lorde of the house of golde that is of the mountaynes of Cibaua conspired the Admirals death and how he with his familie were takeÌ„ prisoners Of a greate famine that chaunced in the Iland of Hispaniola and howe the Admiral builded certeyne fortresses Of a piece of rude golde waighinge .xx. vnces and of the myne of the riche metall cauled Electrum Of the mountayne in the whyche is founde greate plentye of Amber and orpemente And of the wooddes of brasile trees Howe thinhabitauntes are put to they re tribute And howe the nature of the Region disposethe the maners of the people Howe the brother of kinge Caunaboa came ageynste the Admiral with an army of fiue thowsand naked men and how he was taken and his amry put to flyght Of the frutfull vale Magona in the sandes of whose ryuers is founde great plentie of golde and of certeyne whirlewyndes and tempestes Howe the Admirall sente foorthe his brother Bartholomeus Colonus with an army of meÌ„ to search the gold mines of the fosses which he found to haue bin digged in old tyme ¶ The Contentes of the .v. booke Fol. 22. Howe the Lieuetenaunt builded a fortresse in the golde mynes And prepared instrumentes for the pourginge and fyninge of the golde Howe certeyne shyppes laden with vyttayles came frome Spayne And howe the Lieuetenaunt sent the kynges which rebelled with three hundreth captiues into Spayne Howe the Liefetenaunte remoued his habytacion And buylded a fortresse which he cauled saynt Dominickes towre Also howe he passed ouer the ryuer Naiba and entered into the wooddes of brasyle trees Howe the great kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa frendely enterteyned the Lieuetenaunt and browght hym to his pallayce where the kynges wyues and concubines receaued him honorably with pompes and triumphes Of the fortresses which were erected in Hispaniola And howe the Lieuetenaunt exacted tribute of the kynges whiche rebelled ageyne Howe the Lieuetenaunt sette vppon the kynges vnwares in the nyght season and tooke .xiiii. of them prysoners Howe kynge Guarionexius capitayne of the conspiracie was pardoned howe he persuaded the people to obedience Howe kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa sente messingers to the Lieuetenaunt to repayre to his pallayce where he founde xxxii kinges redy with theyr tributes And howe the queene Anacaona entysed hym to eate of the serpentes flesshe Howe the serpentes flesshe is prepared to be eaten And how delicate meate theyr egges are yf they be sodden Howe queene Anacaona syster to kynge Beuchius Aâ—acauchoa enterteyned the Liefetenaunt and gaue hym muche housholde stuffe and many vessels of Hebene woodde artificially wrought and carued Howe kynge Anacauchoa and the queene his syster went aboorde the Liefetenaunt his shyppe and howe greately they were amased to beholde the furniture therof Howe Roldanus Xeminus a Spaniarde rebelled in the Lieuetenauntes absence by whose mysdemeanour also kinge Guarionexius was prouoked to a newe conspiracie with hym Maiobanexius the kynge of the mountaynes ☞ The contentes of the syxte boke Foli 28. ¶ The thyâ—de vyage of Colonus and howe he diuerted from his accustomed rase by the Ilandes of Canarie to the Ilande of Madera for feare of certayne frenche pirates and rouers Of the .xiii. Ilandes which in olde tyme were cauled Hesperides and are nowe cauled the Ilandes of Caput Uiride or Cabouerde Also of the Tortoyses of the Ilande of Bonauista wherwith the leaper is healed Howe the Admirall founde contagious ayre and extreme heate nere the Equinoctial where the north pole was eleuate onely fyue degrees And how sailyng from thence westward he founde the starres placed in other order and the sea rysynge as it were the backe of a mountayne Howe the Admyrall saylynge westwarde and neuer passyng owte of the clyme or paraleles of Ethiope founde a temperate Region and people of goodly corporature And what difference is betwene the natures of Regions beyng vnder one paralele and one eleuation of the pole
Of the Ilandes of Puta and Margarita and of the swift course or faule of the Ocean from the East to the weste Of the goulfes cauled Os Draconis And of the conflicte betwene the freshe water and the salte Of a sea of freshe water And a mountayne inhabited onely with monkeys and marmasettes Of the fayre riche and large region of Paria And howe frendly thinhabitantes entreated the Admyrall and his men Also of pleasaunte wyne made of dyuerse fruites And of greate abundaunce of perles and golde Of the regions of Cumana Manacapana and Curiana beynge regions of the large prouynce of Paria And of the â—ea of herbes or weedes A certeyn secreate as touchynge the pole starre and the eleuation of the same Also of the roundnesse of the earthe Of the mountaynes of Paria in the toppes wherof Colonus ernestly affirmeth the earthly Paradise to be situate And whether Paria be part of the firme land or coÌ„tinent of India ¶ The contentes of the .vii. booke Fol. 33. ¶ Howe Roldanus Xeminus with his confetherates accused the Admirall to the kynge And howe he pourged hym selfe and accused them Howe kynge Guarionexius rebelled ageyne And with him kyng Maiobanexius Also howe they with other kinges came ageynst the Lieuetenaunte with an armye of .viii. thousande naked and paynted Ciguauians Also twoo rare exemples of frendshyppe and faythfulnes in barbarous princes Howe Colonus the Admirall and the Lieuetenaunte hys brother were sent bounde into Spayne And newe officers appoynted in theyr places The contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 37 ¶ The Nauigation of Petrus Alphonsus frome Spayne to Paria where in the region of Curiana he had in shorte space .xv. vnces of pearles greate plenty of vytailes for haukes bellees pynnes lokinge glasses and suche other tryfelles Of certeyn coniectures wherby Paria is thought to bee parte of the firme lande And of the golden region of Cauchieta where in the moneth of Nouember the ayre is temperate and not coulde Howe Alphonsus had a conflicte with the Canibals and howe they are acustomed to inuade other contreys Of greate abundaunce of salte in the region of Haraia howe the dead bodyes of theyr prynces are dryed reserued and relygiously honoured Howe Alphonsus at his returne to Spayne frome Curiana brought with hym threescore and .xvi. pounde weight of pearles which he bought for owre tryfells amountinge only to the value of fiue shillyngs The contentes of the .ix. booke Fol. 40. ¶ The Nauigation of Uincentius Pinzonus and Aries Pinzonus and howe they sayled beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne losse the syght of the northe starre and founde the starres in other order Howe Uincentius passynge the equinoctiall towarde the southe pole founde fierce and warlike people of great stature And of the sea of freshe water Howe Uincentius directing his course towarde the north weste from the equinoctiall recouered the syght of the northe pole and by the regions of Mariatamball Camomorus and Pericora came to the fayre and ryche prouince of Paria and to the regyons of Os Draconis Cumana Manacapana Curiana c. A coniecture that Paria wherby is ment that mayne land now cauled America shulde be parte of the fyrme lande or continent of India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges and no ilande And of the excedynge great riuer Maragnonus replenished with Ilandes Of Boriostomea and Spiriostomea the mouthes of the famous ryuer of Danubius cauled in olde tyme Ister And of the commodities of the regions and Ilandes about Paria Also of the woodes of brasile trees Of many frutfull Ilandes wasted and lefte desolate by reson of the Canâ—balles crueltie And of the trees of Cassia Fistula Also of other trees of excedyng bygnesse The description of a certayne monstruous beaste And how Uincentius loste two of his shyppes by tempeste Howe Uincentius at his returne to Spayne brought with hym cinamome gynger and certayne precious stoones cauled Topases And of the nauigations of certayne other inhabitantes of the towne of Palos Of the precious medicine cauled Anime Album And of the diuerse superstitions of the inhabitauntes of Hispaniola Also of their Idolatry and howe they honour the ymages of deuylles whiche they caule Zemes. ¶ The Contentes of the .x. booke Fol. 48. Of great glentie of golde perles and frankenâ—ence found in the regions of Paria And of innumerable beastes in shape dyfferynge from owres Howe the Spaniardes profered them selues to conquere the newe founde landes beynge in largenesse thryse as great as Europe besyde the southe landes parteynynge to the Portugales And howe the nature of the place altereth the formes and qualities of thynges Of the Ilande of Cuba and of the golde mynes of the Iland of Sancti Iohannis otherwise cauled Burichena or Buchena Also of the ryche golde mynes of Hispaniola and of the order of workynge in the same Of the two chiefe golde mynes of Hispaniola And of a pece of golde weyinge thre thousande thre hundreth and tenne pounde weyght Howe the golde is fyned and distrybuted And howe that only in the meltynge shops of the two golden mynes of Hispaniola is molten yearely aboue three hundreth thousande pounde weyght of golde Howe thenterpryses of the Spanyardes are not inferior to thactes of Saturnus or Hercules And howe the Admyrall discouered the lande ouer ageynst the west corner of Cuba and the Ilande or Guanassa ¶ The Contentes of the bookes of the seconde Decade ¶ The contentes of the fyrst booke Fol. 51. ¶ Howe after the death of Colonus the Admirall the kyngâ— gaue free lycence to all suche as wolde attempte any vyages And of the nauigatioÌ„s of Diego Nicuesa AlphoÌ„sus Fogeda Of the Ilande Codego and the region of Caramairi And of certeyne sweete apples whiche turne into woormes when they are eaten whose trees are also contagious Howe Alfonsus Fogeda the Lieuetenaunt of Uraba encounterynge with the barbarians had the ouerthrowe And howe in this conflicte fyftie of his men were slayne with Iohannes de la Cossa theyr capytayne Howe Fogeda and Nicuesa the Lieuetenaunte of Beragua reuenged the death of theyr coompanyons And howe Fogeda came to the Ilande Fortis and the region of Caribana where he was repulsed from the golde mynes by the fiercenesse of the barbarians vsyng arrowes infected with poyson Howe Fogeda was wounded in the thygh with a venemous arrowe and his men almost consumed with famyn Howe a brigantine was drowned with the stroke of a fysshe And of the nauigation of Ancisus from Hispaniola to Uraba Of the Lamentable shyppewracke of Ancisus And of the date trees and wytde bores which he founde Of the frutes or apples of the trees cauled Ceders of Libane which beare owlde frutes and newe all the yeare Howe onely three of the Canibales with theyr bowes and inuenemed arrowes assayled Ancisus with a hundreth of his men In which conflicte they wounded and slewe many Also of theyr swyftnesse of foote Of the great ryuer of Dariena And how Ancisus encountered with fyue hundreth of
thinhabitauntes of the goulfe of Uraba and put them to flyght Also howe he founde greate plentâ—e of wrought golde and housholde stuffe in a thycket of reedes ¶ The contentes of the seconde booke Fol. 58. ¶ Howe Nicuesa loste his felowes in the darke nyght and went past the mouth of the ryuer Beragua which he sought And howe the capitaynes of the other shyppes consulted how to fynde hym Also of the ryuer Lagartos in the which great Lysartes are founde much lyke vnto the Crocodiles of Nilus Howe the capitaynes forsooke theyr shyppes that the souldyers myght bee without hope of departure And of the miserable chaunce of Petrus de Umbria and his felowes By what chaunce Nicuesa was founde and of the calamities which he and his coompany susteyned Also of the region of Gracia Dei or Cerabaro and of the ryuer of Sancti Matthei Howe Nicuesa caused them to remoue theyr habitacion from Beragua to poynte Marmor where he bylded a fortresse And howe his men by warre and famyn were consumed from seuen hundreth and odde to scarsely one hundreth Howe one Uaschus Nunnez vsurped thautoritie of the Lieuetenaunte shyppe of Uraba in thabsence of Fogeda And of the nauigation of Rodericus Colmenatis from Hispaniola to Uraba Of the ryuer Gaira descendynge from the toppe of a hygh mountayne couered with snowe And howe Rodericus Colmâ—naris in a conflicte ageynst the barbarians loste .xlvii. of his men by reason of theyr inuenemed arrowes Of the force of the poyson wherewith the barbarians infecte theyr arrowes and a remedie for the same Also howe Colmenaris by gunneshot and kyndelynge fyers on the hyghe toppes of the rockes came to the Spanyardes lefte desolate in Dariena ¶ The contentes of the thyrde booke Fol. 61. ¶ Howe Nicuesa was sought foorth to acquiete the contentions of Uraba And howe he was ageyne reiected Howe Uaschus Nunnez inuaded tooke prysoners and spoyled the kynges bortherynge abowt the region of Uraba And howe Ancisus Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda was cast in pryson and afterwarde set at libertie Howe Ancisus tooke his vyage from Uraba to Spayne to accuse Uaschus who also at the same tyme sent Ualdiuia aswell to speake in his defence as also to certifie the kynge of theyr doynges Howe kynge Careta conspired with the Spanyardes ageynst kynge Poncha whom they put to flyght and spoyled his vyllage Howe kynge Comogrus frendely enterteyned the Spanyardes and brought them to his pallaice where he shewed them the dryed Carkases of his auncestours reserued and sumptuously apparelled And howe the kynges elder sonne gaue Uaschus and Colmenaris foure thousand vnces of wrought gold and fiftie slaues Also a wyttie oration which he made to the Spanyardes wherein he certifyed theym of a countrey exceadynge ryche in golde c. ¶ The contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 66. ¶ Of horryble thunder and lyghtnynge in the mooneth of Nouember and of grayne which waxeth rype thryse a yeare Also how digestion is strengthened by owtwarde coulde Howe Ualdiuia is sent ageyne into Hispaniola to mouâ— the gouernour and counsayle there to sende into Spayne to the kynge for a supplie of a thousand souldyers to make way to the golden mouÌ„taynes And howe he caryed with hym the kynges portion that is the fyfte parte of golde and other thynges Howe Uaschus inuaded the kynges inhabytynge the regions about the goulfe of Uraba and howe he put kyng Dabaiba to flyght in whose vyllage he founde wrought goldâ— amountynge to the weyght of seuen thousande Castellans Of battes as bygge as turtle dooues which sumtyme bytâ— men in the nyght in theyr sleepe whose bytynge is also venemous but is healed with water of the sea or by cauterization as are also the woundes of venemous arrowes Of the Ilande of Cannafistula and a towne of fyue hundreth houses whose kynge Abenamachei was taken and his arme cutte of in the fyght Of trees of exceadynge bygnesse and heyght And howe kynge Abibeiba had his pallaice in the toppe of a tree frome the which he was inforced to descende and entreate of peace ¶ The contentes of the fyfth booke Fol. 69. ¶ Howe kynge Abraiba slewe a capitayne of the Spanyards and caused the kynges to rebell Also howe they were put to flyght and many of theyr men slayne Of fyue kinges which attempted a newe conspiracie with a hundreth great Canoas and fiue thousand men And howe theyr intent was bewrayed by a woman and preuented Also howe Rodericus Colmenaris sacked the vyllage of Tichiri and honge the kynge therof with foure of his chiefe rulers and commaunded them to be shotte through with arrowes ¶ The contentes of the syxte booke Fol. 72. ¶ Howe Uaschus with his confetherates sente Iohannes Quicedus and Colmenaris from Dariena to Hispaniola and from theÌ„se to Spayne to the kyng for a thousand men to passe ouer the mountaynes to the golden regions And what miseries they susteyned in that vyage Also of the death of Ualuia Zamudius and Fogeda Of the prosperous vyage of Ancisus And howe godde wrought miracles by the simple fayth of a mariner Also hoâ— god respecteth thinfancie of fayth for zeles sake And howe one religion turned into another holdeth styll many thinges of the fyrste Howe many of the barbarians were baptised by reason of the miracles And howe they rewarded the prestes by whome they were baptised Howe Ancisus shortly after his arryuall in Spayne resorted to the courte and made his complaynt to the kinge of thinsolencie of Uaschus wheruppon the kynge gaue sentence ageynst hym And howe apte the barbarous nations are to embrase the Christian fayth ¶ The contentes of the seuenth booke Fol. 79. ¶ Howe Quicedus and Colmenaris the procuratours of Dariena were honorably enterteyned at the courte and brought to the kynges presence And howe theyr complexion was chaunged by alteration of the ayer Howe Petrus Arias a noble man was elected gouernouâ— and Lieuetenaunt of Dariena And howe other of the court laboured for the same office Also howe the bysshop of Burges spake to the kynge in his behalfe Howe Petrus Arias had a thousande and two hundrethe souldyers appoynted hym at the kynges charges And of thâ— kynges custome houâ—e in the citie of Ciuile cauled the house of the contractes of India Howe a great number of Spanyardes profered theÌ„ selues to go at theyr owne charges And of a restraâ—nt made that no straunger myght passe without the kynges licence Also howe the autour reproueth Aloisius Cadamustus a wryter of the Portugales vyages Howe Petrus Arias shortely after his departure frome Ciuile lost two of his shyppes and was dryuen backe agâ—yne by tempest And howe beinge newly furnysshed hee paâ—sed the Oâ—ean with more prosperous wyndes The thyrde vyage of Uincentius Pinzonus and howe he came to the regions of Paria where encounterynge with thinhabitauntes he put them fyrst to flyght but after faulyng to entreatie of peace they gaue hym greate plentie of golde and abundaunce of masculine frankensence with dyuers other princely presentes Of the greate multitude of
popingiayes which are in thâ— region of Paria and howe thinhabitours are apparelled Also of the fyue kynges that made a league of frendeshyppe with Uincentius Howe Uincentius sayled Eastwarde by the tracte of the regions of Paria vntyll he came to the poynte of that longe lande which the autour supposeth to be the greate Ilande Atlantike wherof the owlde wryters make mention Cap. S. Aâ—gustini ¶ The contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 80. ¶ A contention betwene the Castilians and Portugales as concernynge the diuision of the newe founde landes And howe the controuersie was fynysshed by the byshop of Rome Howe Don Chrystopher the gouernoure of the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis was slayne by the Canibales and the bysshop put to flyght Also of the other bysshops of the Ilandes Howe the Canibales of the Iland of Sancta Crux slew and eate a kynge with certeyne of his men beinge frendes to the Chrystians and made faggottes of theyr bones And how querelynge with owre men they put them to silence ¶ The contentes of the .ix. booke Fol. 81. ¶ Of the maruelous frutefulnes of the regions of Beragua Uraba and Dariena And of the dyuers kyndes of trees and frutes Also of the pleasaunt taste of swynes flesshe beinge fedde with the frutes of Mirobalane trees Of Lions and Tygers and other wylde beastes And of a beaste of straunge forme Of the ryuers of the goulfe of Uraba as the ryuer of Dariena and Rio Grandis And howe the great serpentes cauled Crocodiles are founde in other ryuers bysyde Nilus in Egypte Also howe thautour of this booke was sent Ambassadour to the Soldane of Alcayr in Egipte Of the Portugales nauigations and of the ryuer Senega founde by them to bee a chanel of Nilus Also of the multitude of byrdes foules beinge in the marysshes of Dariena A phylosophicall discourse of thoriginall and generatioâ— of sprynges and ryuers And of the breadth of the lande diuydynge the north and south Ocean Of the great ryuer Maragnonus and of the earthly Paradyse And howe sprynges are engendered by conuercion of ayer into water Of the often faule of rayne vnder the Equinoctiall line and of the pores of the sea opened by the South wyndes Of the great ryuers of Tanais Ganges Danubius and Eridanus famous to the owlde wryters And howe certeine ryuers runnynge throughe the caues of the earthe breake furth into sprynges afarre of ¶ The contentes of the .x. booke Fol. 86. ¶ Howe the newe founde landes discouered by the Spanyardes in the West Ocean are eyght tymes bygger then Italie besyde that which the Portugales possesse And of the cardes of the sea drawen by Colonus and Americus Uesputius The order of measurynge the lande And howe a league conteyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande The Nauâ—gation of Iohannes Dias and of the sundrye eleuations of the pole starre Of the Ilande of Boiuca or Agnaneo and of the springe whose water being dronke causeth owld men to loke yonge Howe Nicuesa and his souldiers were so oppreâ—sed with famin that they were dryuen to eate mangie dogges toades and deade men And howe a brothe made of a dogges skinne was soulde for many pieces of golde ¶ The contentes of the bookes of the thyrde Decade ¶ The contentes of the fyrst booke Fol. 88. ¶ Of the desperate aduenture and good fortune of Uaschus And how with a hundreth fourscore and ten men he brought that to passe for the whâ—ch Petrus Arias was sente with a thousande and two hundreth fresshe souldyers Howe iren serueth for more necessary vses then gold and howe superfluities hynder libertie Howe Uaschus in one conflicte slewe syxe hundreth barbaryans with theyr kynges And howe he founde the house of kyng Quarequa infected with vnnatural lechery commaundynge that the kynge and fortie suche as he kepte for that purpose shulde be gyuen for a pray to his dogges whiche he vsed to serue in the warres ageynst these naked people Of a region of blacke Moores And howe Uaschus came to the toppes of the mountaynes where geuynge thankes to god he behelde the newe south Ocean neuer before sene nor knowen to men of owre worlde Howe Uaschus put kynge Chiapes to flyght and after made a league of frendeshyppe with hym And howe the king gaue hym .iiii. hundreth poundes weyght of wrought golde Howe kynge Coquera was putte to fâ—yght who also beinge receaued to frendeshyppe gaue Uaschus syxe hundreth and fiftie poundes weyght of wrought golde Of the goulfe cauled Sinus S. Michaelis beinge full of inhabited Ilandes And of the manly corage and godly zeale of Uaschus Also of the rysynge and faulyng of the south sea Howe kynge Tumaccus beinge dryuen to flyght and afterwarde reconciled gaue Uaschus .vi. hundreth and .xiiii. pesos of golde and two hundreth and fortie of the greatest and fayrest pearles And howe the kynge caused his men to fyshe for pearles Of the Ilande cauled Margaritea Diues And of the abundaunce of fayre and great pearles founde therin Of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line And of the Portugales nauigations to the Antipodes inhabytynge the fyue and fiftie degree of the south pole Also a declaration of Antipodes and of the starres about the south pole ¶ The contentes of the seconde booke Fol. 95. ¶ Of the maner of fysshynge for pearles and of the three kyndes therof Also dyuers other questions coÌ„cernyng perles Of the multitude of the shell fysshes wherin perles are ingendered and founde in maner in all places in the south sea And of abundaunce of golde founde almoste in euery house Also howe the treasurie of nature is in those coastes And of the golde mynes of Dariena Howe kynge Teaocha gaue Uaschus .xx. poundes weight of wrought golde and two hundreth perles Also of desertes full of wylde beastes and howe Uaschus was troubled with greate heate in the moneth of Nouember Howe a dogge Tyger was taken and his whelpes tyed in cheynes and torne in pieces Also howe Uaschus gaue .iiii kynges to his dogges to be deuoured Of the vse of dogges in theyr warres and of the fiercenesse of the Canibales Howe kynge Bononians fauoured the Chrystians and gaue Uaschus .xx. pounde weyght of wrought golde Also his oration to Uaschus A similitude prouynge greate plentie of golde in the regions of the south sea and of the trauayles which owlde souldyers are able to susteyne ¶ The contentes of the thyrde booke Fol. 99 ¶ Howe kynge Buchibuea submytted hym selfe to Uaschus and sent hym certeyne vesselles of golde Also howe kyngâ— Chiorisus sente hym .xxx. dysshes of pure golde Howe iren serueth for more necessary vses then gold Also an exemple of the lyfe of owr fyrste parentes Howe kynge Pocchorrosa submytted hym selfe and gaue Uaschus .xv. pounde weyght of wrought golde Also howe Tumanama the great kynge of the golden regions towardâ— the south sea is taken prisoner Lykewyse howe he gaue Uaschus .xxx. pounde weyght of pure and wrought golde and his noble men .lx. poundes weyght of golde Of the cause
Also howe Iohn Solysius was slayne of the Canibales and of theyr fiercenesse Howe Iohn Pontius was repulsed of the Canibales and of the lewde behauour of Iohn Aiora Of the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiocius And howe after he hadde gathered greate ryches of golde he had the ouerthrowe and was spoyled of all Of the golden region of Coiba Dites And howe theyr slaueâ— are maâ—ked in the face Of the Islandes of the souh sea And of the regions frome whense the Portugales fetche theyr spices Of a straunge kynde of fowlynge and of the trees that beare gourdes Of the later opinions as touchynge the swyfte course of the Ocean towarde the weste and of the continente or firmâ— lande Also of the vyage from the newe landes to Spayne Of the golde mynes of Dariena and the maner of gatherynge of golde in the same Also of the dropsie of couetousâ—es which is not satisfyed with ryches ¶ For the contentes of the booke of the Ilands lately found â—ade the margente notes of the same FINIS ¶ Thinterpretours excuse I haue not in wrytynge byn very curious To auoyde the scornes of Rhinocetos nose Or the fyled iudgement of seuere Aristarchus Not fearynge thereby any thynge to lose But haue thought it sufficient to be open and playnâ— Not lookynge for other commoditie or grayne I am not eloquent I knowe it ryght well I I be not barbarous I desyre no more I haue not for euery woorde asked counsell Of eloquent Eliot or syr Thomas Moore Take it therfore as I haue intended The fantes with fauour may soone be amended The poet Homere for all this eloquence Lacked not Zoilus to be his foâ— Wherfore I conclude this for a trewe sentence That no man lacketh fuo bargello For as no beaste lyueth without woorme or â—lye So no man lacketh his priuie enemie Rumpatur Zoilus ¶ Fautes escaped in the pryntynge F. the leafe L. the line B. the backe syde of the leafe F. 2. B. L. 36. helpen reade helpâ—d F. 3. B. L. 25. three fethers reade theyr fâ—therâ— F. 9. L. 28. fourme reade forme F. 20. L. 37 owre reade yowre F. 22. B. L. 27. shure reade sure F. 30. L. 6. clooke reade cloke F. 34. L. 5. wodes reade wooddes F. 36. B. L. 2. put out and. F. 36. the last line put out I do F. 36. B. L. 34. first parte reade fyfâ— parte F. 38. B. L. 13. gardens reade guardens F. 52. L. 18. parte reade porte F. 62. B. L. 25. and reade then F. 68. the last line put out trees F. 92. L. 18. Michaeld reade Michaels â–ª F. 92. L. 19. ans reade and. Also there the laste line put out arose â–ª F. 95. L. 12. cause reade sause F. 96. B. L. 15. gretheardes reade greate heardeâ— â–ª F. 99. L. 17. fi lt hye reade fylthy F. 118. B. L. 35. langitude reade longitude F. 128. L. 4. eyres reade heres F. 129. L. 1. Antipuâ— â–ª reade Antiquâ— F. 140. L. 17. counceled reade counsayled F. 150. L. 15. veles reade vayles F. 150. L. 33. prouydence reade prouince F. 153. L. 32. trackes reade tractes F. 154. L. 2. selde reade seldome F. 157. L. 26. wod reade woodde F. 168. B. L. 13. bortamus reade hortamur F. 170. B. L. 17. for 1593 reade 1493. F. 171. L. 21. without reade with F. 188. B. L. 33. burie reade burne F. 193. B. L. 21. webs reade webbes F. 199. B. L. 37. shydinge reade shyninge F. 202. L. 17. ny reade any F. 206. B. L. 23. fourme reade forme F. 208. B. L. 7. codes reade coddes F. 209. L. 15. wars reade warres F. 212. L. 40. ignitie reade dignitie F. 219. L. 10. vs reade them F. 228. L. 37. rant reade ranne F. 241. L. 4. Colonuo reade Colono F. 249. L. 17. reade by the commynge of the Gothes and Uandales â–ª c. F. 262. B. L. 15. Thus reade this F. 296. L. 26. reade Cingulus Mundi that is the gerdle of the worlde otherwyse cauled Caâ—enâ— Mundi that is the chayne of the worlde F. 298. B. L. 3. sennes reade fennes F. 300. L. 20. ceelrytie reade celeritie F. 317. L. 27. reade Tercera or Terciera â–ª Also L. 35. kyngedgme reade kyngdome F. 322. L. 17. owre compasse reade the compasse ¶ Imprynted at London in Lumbard streete at the signe of the Cradle by Edwarde Sutton Anno. DÌ„ni M. D. LV.
deploratione Lappianae gentis that he was the fyrst that moued Erasmus to speake sumwhat hereof And that he Erasmus I meane was determined to write a iust volume of this matter yf he had not byn preuented by death Albeit sayth Damianus in his booke entiteled Ecclesiastes he dyd not keepe silence of so wicked an vngodlynesse whiche surely is suche that it may in maner make all Christian men and especiallye such vnto whom god hath gyuen poure and knowleage giltie of so heyghnous a crime To the christian princes that he may take vengeance of them in the day of iudgement before the iuste iudge Chryst. Nowe therfore sayth he let the Christian Monarches take heede what accoumpte they shall make before the tribunal of Chryste at the laste day when neyther fauoure nor pardon or flatterie can take place to bee any excuse for the losse of so manye soules And these be the very woordes of the woorshipful and lerned man Damianus a Goes wrytten to the bysshoppe of Rome Paule the thyrde of that name whom he further chargeth to looke diligently hereunto as a thynge moste chiefely perteynynge to the office of Christian prelates Mee thynke verely that the sheepe of Europe shulde by this tyme be so well fedde The sheepe of Europe that they shulde by good reason be so stronge and mightie in Christes religion excepte they be infected with the dysease which the phisitians caule Cachexia beinge an euyl disposition of the body whereby the more they are fed the worse they lyke that many sheppardes myght well bee spared to bee sent to other sheepe which ought to be of the same foulde For this purpose the doctoure of diuinitie when he commenseth The doctoure of diuinitie hath his scapular cast ouer his headde in token that he hathe forsaken the worlde for Christes sake And his bootes on his legges in token that he shall euer bee in a redinesse to go forwarde in preachynge the gospell as I doubte not there bee many in Englande wolde gladly doo euen amonge these new gentyles if they were therto mainteyned by the ayde of the secular poure as in this case it shal be requisite for the furniture of necessaries hereunto apperteynynge An admonitioÌ„ to riche men I must nowe therfore appele vnto yow yow riche men and rulers of the worlde to whom god hath giuen gooddes as thynges neyther good nor badde of them selues but onely as they are vsed wel or euil If yowe vse them well they are the gyftes of god wherwith yow may doo many thynges acceptable both to god and men And if yow vse them otherwyse yowe possesse not them but they possesse yow and theyr canker and ruste as saythe the Apostle shal be a testimonie ageinst yow in the day of the great audit Thinke not therfore that this thynge perteyneth not vnto yowe if yowe perteyne vnto Christe and looke to haue any parte with hym Consyder with yowre selues if it were onely to get worldely ryches howe redye and greedy yowe wolde bee to venture a greate deale to get a thyrde part with owt castynge of any perell by lande or by sea as the wyttie poet Horase hath in fewe wordes descrybed the marchauntes desyre and aduentures to obteyne rychesse The marchant Impiger extremos currit mercator ad Indos Per mare pauperiem fugiens per saxa per ignes The which verses are thus much to say in effecte The marchaunt in hope greate rychesse to fynde By fyer and by water passeth to Inde By the burnte line or Equinoctiall To flye from pouertie and hasarde al As the poet hath in these verses by the marchaunt declared the desyre that couetous men haue to obteyne slippery riches the lyke affection to obteyne worldly fame and honour The desyre of wordely fame maye we see in valiant and noble capitaynes in the warres where they contende to put them selues forwarde to the moste daungerous aduenture as to haue the forewarde of the battayle a token surely of much nobilitie and manly corage But oh immortall god Is it not to bee lamented that men can be so valient slowte and in maner desperate in theyr owne priuate matters perteynyng onely to theyr bodies and yet so coulde negligent Men are slothfull in goddes cause and fearefull in goddes cause and thynges touchynge the health of theyr soules If there were neyther deuyll nor lawe to accuse men before god in this case shall not theyr owne consciences bee a lawe of condemnation ageynste theym in that they haue not shewed that loue to mankynde which the very lawe of nature moueth brute beastes to shewe one to an other in theyr generations But what hope is there excepte god wolde in maner by myracle conuerte the hartes of such men what hope is there I say that they wyll depart with any of theyr gooddes muche lesse aduenture theyr bodies to the furtheraunce of Christes religion in these regions beinge so farre from them wheras many shewe lyttle loue charitie or liberalitie if not rather crueltâ—e tyrannie and oppression to theyr poore neighbours and brootherne dwelling euen at home at theyr owne elbowes But as this couetousnesse is to bee reproued so is the liberalitie of such to be commended as haue byn at greate coaste and charges in settynge forwarde suche viages wherein not onely the marchauntes of London but also diuers noble men and gentelmen as well of the counsayle as other Uyages from Englande which bothe with theyr money and furtheraunce otherwyse haue furnysshed and sent furth certeyne shyppes for the discouerynge of such landes and regions as were heretofore vnknowen haue herein deserued immortall fame for as much as in such attemptes and daungerous vyages they haue shewed no smaule liberalitie vppon vncerteyne hope of gayne wherein they haue deserued so much the greater prayse as theyr intent seemed to bee rather to further honest enâ—erprises then for respecte of vantage And here certeynely in the mention of these viages I myght seeme vngratefull if I shulde omitte to giue dewe commendations to the two chiefe capitaynes of the same as the woorthy knyght syr Hugh Wylloby and the excellent pilotte Rycharde Chaunceler who haue therein aduentured theyr lyues for the commoditie of theyr countrey Syr Hugh Wylloby and Rycharde Chaunceler Men doubtlesse woorthye for theyr noble attemptes to bee made knightes of the Ocean or otherwyse preferred if euer god sende them home ageyne although they fayle of theyr purpose For as suche haue obteyned absolute glory that haue browght great thynges to passe Glory and fame so haue they deserued immortall fame which haue only attempted the same forasmuch as fortune who sumtymes fauoureth the vnworthyest is not in the poure of man Xerses obteyned glorie in makynge a bridge ouer the sea Hellespontus ioynynge Europe to Asia and Darius ouer Bosphorus when he passed with his armye towarde the Scythians No lesse fame and commendation although not lyke glory deserued Demetrius Cesar Calligula and
greene chestnutte They haue also an other kynde of rootes whiche they call Iucca wherof they make breade in lyke manâ—â— Iucca Breade of rootes They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden then to make breade therof But they neuer eate Iucca excepte it be firste sliced and pressed for it is ful of lycoure and then baked or sodden But this is to be marueled at that the iuyce of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum an herbe of a straungâ— nature so that if it be dronke it causeth present death and yet the breade made of the â—aâ—e therof is of good taste and holsome as all they haue proued They make also an other kynde of breade of a certayne pulse called â—anicum Maâ—â—â—um muche lyke vnto wheate wherof is great pleÌ„tie in the dukedome of Mylane Spayne and Granatum But that of this countrey is longer by a spanne somewhat sharpe towarde the ende and as bygge as a mannes arme in the brawne The graynes wherof are sette in a maruelous order and are in fourme somwhat lyke a pease While they be soure and vnripe they are white but when they are ripe they be very blacke When they are broken they be whyter then snowe This kynde of grayne they call Maizium Golde is of some estimation among them â—olde in estiâ—ation for some of them hange certain small pieces therof at theyr eares and nosethrilles A lyttell beyonde this place our men wente a lande for fresshe water where they chaunced vpon a Ryuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde Golde in the sandes of ryuers They founde there no kindes of foure foted beastes excepte three kyndes of lyttell conyes These Ilandes also nourishe serpentes Serpentes without vemâ—ne but such as are without hurt Lykewise wylde geese turtle doues and duckes Turtle doues Duckes much greater then ours and as whyte as swannes with heades of purple coloâ—re Also Popiniaies Popingiayes of the whiche some are greene some yelowe and some lyke them of India with yelowe rynges about theyr neckes as Plinie describeth them Plini Of these they broughte fortie with them of moste liuely and delectable coloures hauyng three fethers entermengled with greene yelowe and purple whiche varietie deliteth the sense not a litle Thus muche thought I good to speake of Potingiaies ryghte noble Prynce specially to this intente that albeit the opinion of Christophorus Colonus who affirmeth these Ilandes to be parte of India dothe not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient wryters as touchynge the bignesse of the Sphere and compasse of the Globe as concernynge the nauigable portion of the same beynge vnder vs These Ilandâ—s are parte of India The Indians are Antipodes to the spaniardes yet the Popingiaies and many other thynges brought from thence doo declare that these Ilandes sauoure somâ—hat of India eyther beynge nere vnto it or elles of the same nature forasmuche as Aristotle also Aristotle about the ende of his booke De Câ—elo et Mundo and likewise Seneca Seneca with diuerse other authours not ignorant in Cosmography do affirme that India is no longe tracte by sea distante from Spayne by the weste Ocean India not far from Spaine for the soyle of these Ilandes bryngeth forthe Mastir Mastir Aloes Aloe and sundrye other sweete gummes and spyces as doth India Cotton also of the gossampine tree Gossampyne cotton or boâ—base as in India in the countrey of the people called Seres Seres ¶ The languages of all the nations of these Ilandes The laÌ„guage of these Indians maye well be written with our Latine letters For they cal heauen Turâ—i A house Boa Golde Cauni A good man Taino nothing Mayani All other wordes of theyr language they pronounce as playnely as we doo the Latine tongue In these Ilandes they founde no trees knowen vnto them but pyne appe trees and date trees Trees and frutes vnknowen to vs. And those of maruelous heyght and exceding harde by reason of the greate moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde Far moyste grounde with continuall and temperate heate of the sonne heate continuall and temperate whiche endureth so all the hole yere They playnely affyrme the Ilande of Hispaniola to be the most fruiteful lande that the heauen compasseth aboute The fruâ—tfulnes of hispaniola as shall more largely appere hereafter in the particular description of the same whiche we intende to sette foorthe when we shall be better instructed Thus makynge a leage of frendshyppe with the kynge and leauynge with hym .xxxviii. men to searche the Ilande he departed to Spayne takynge with hym .x. of the inhabitauntes to lerne the Spanishe tongue to the intent to vse them afterwarde for interpretours Colonus therfore at his returne was honorably receaued of the kyng and queene who caused him to sytte in theyr presence whiche is a token of great loue and honoure amonge the Spaniardes He was also made Admirall of the Ocean and his brother gouenoure of the Iland Towarde the second viage The seconde viage of Colonus he was furnished with .xii. shippes wherof there were great caractes of a thousand tunne xii were of that sorte whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas without deckes and twoo other of the same sorte somewhat bygger and more apte to beare deckes by reason of the gretnesse of theyr mastes He had also a thousand and two hundreth armed footemen well appoynted Amonge whiche were many artificers as smythes carpenters myners and suche other Certayne horsemen also wel armed Likewise mares shiepe heyghfers and such other of bothe kindes for incrase Lykewise all kynde of pulse or grayne and corne as wheate barlye rye beanes and pease and suche other as well for food as to sowe Come and sedes to sowe Besyde vynes plantes and seedes of suche trees fruites and herbes as those countreyes lacke And not to be forgotten sundry kindes of artillery iron tooles Tooles and artillery as bowes arrowes crossebowes bylles hargabuses brode swoordes large targettes pikes mattockes shâ—ouelles hammers nayles sawes ares and suche other Thus beynge furnished accordyngely they set forwarde from the Ilandes of Gadâ—s nowe called Cals the .vii. day before the calendes of October in the yere of Christe .1493 and arriued at the Ilandes of Canarie at the calendes of October Of these Ilandes the laste is called Ferrea in whiche there is no other water that maye be drunke but onely that is gathered of the dewe whiche continually distilleth from one onely tree growynge on the hâ—ghest backe of the Ilande water droppyng from a tree continually and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mannes hande We were infourmed of these thynges within fewe dayes after his departure what shal succede we wyl certifie yowe hereafter Thus fare ye well from the courte at the Ides of Nouember .1493 ¶ The seconde booke of the fyrste Decade to Ascanius Phâ—rcia vicounte Cardinall c. YOwe repete
ryghte honorable Prynce that yowe are desirous to knowe what newes we haue in Spayne from the newe worlde and that those thynges haue greatly delyted you which I wrote vnto yowre highnesse of the fyrste nauigation Yowe shal now therefore receaue what hath succeded Methymna Campi Methymna Campi is a famous towne in high Spayne in the respect from yowe and is in that parte of Spayne whiche is called Castella Vetus Castella vetuâ— beynge distante from Gades about .xl. myles Here the courte remayned when aboute the .ix. of the kalendes of Aprell in this yere of nynetie and foure there were postes sente to the kynge and queene certifyinge them that there were .xii. shippes come from the newe Ilandes and arryued at Gades Gades But the gouernoure of the shyppes sente worde to the kynge and quene that he had none other matter to certifie them of by the postes but onely that the Admiral with fiue shippes and .iiii. score and tenne men remayned styll in Hispaniola to searche the secretes of the Ilande And that as touching other matters he hym selfe wolde shortly make ralation in theyr presence by worde of mouthe Therfore the daye before the nones of Aprel he came to the courte him selfe What I learned of him and other faythefull and credible men whiche came with hym from the Admirall I wyl reherse vnto yowe in such order as they declared the same to me when I demaunded them Take it therfore as foloweth The thyrde daye of the Ides of October departynge from Ferrea The Iland of Ferrea the laste of the Ilandes of Canariae and from the costes of Spayne with a nauie of .xvii. shippes they sayled .xxi. dayes before they came to any Ilande inclyning of purpose more towarde the lefte hand then at the fyrst viage folowyng the northnortheast wynde and arriued fyrst at the Ilandes of the Canibales Ilands of the Canibales or Caribes of which onely the fame was knowen to our men Amonge these they chaunsed fyrste vpon one so beset with trees that they coulde not se so muche as an elle space of bare earthe or stony grounde this they called Dominica The Iland of Dominica bicause they found it on the sunday They taried here no tyme bycause they sawe it be deserte In the space of these .xxi. dayes they thynke that they sayled .viii. hundreth and .xx. leaques viii hundreth .xx. leaques in .xxi. dayes the Northenortheast wynde was so full with them and so fresshely folowed the sterne of theyr shyppes After they hadde sayled a lyttle further they espied dyuerse Ilandes replenysshed with sundrye kyndes of trees from the whiche came fragrant sauours of spyces and sweete gummes Here they sawe neyther man nor beaste except certayne lisartes of huge bignesse Lysertes as they reported whiche went alande to viewe the countrey This Iland they cauled Galana or Galanta The Ilande of Galanta From the cape or poynt of this Iland espying a mountayne a farre of they sayled thyther Aboute .xxx. myles from this mountayne they sawe a ryuer disceÌ„ding whiche seemed to be a token of some great and large fludde This is the fyrste lande whiche they founde inhabited from the Ilandes of Canariae and is an Ilande of the Canibales The Iland of Guadalupea as they lerned by the interpretours whiche they tooke with them from Hispaniola into Spayne at theyr fyrste viage Serchynge the Ilande they founde innumerable villages of .xx. houses or .xxx. at the mooste sette rounde abowte in order Uilages of .xx or â—xx houses makynge the streete in coompasse lyke a markette place And for asmuch as I haue made mention of theyr houses it shal not be greately from my purpose to describe in what maner they are buylded They are made rounde lyke belles or rounde pauylions The building of theyr houses Theyr frame is raysed of excedynge hyghe trees sette close together and fast rampaired in the grounde so standyng a slope and bending inward that the tappes of the trees ioyne together and beare one agaynste an other hauynge also within the house certayne stronge and shorte props or postes whiche susteyne the trees from â—allynge They couer them with the leaues of date trees and other trees strongly compact and hardened wherewith they make them close from wynde and wether At the shore postes or proppes withâ—n the houâ—e they tâ—e ropes of thâ—â—ottoÌ„ of 〈◊〉 trees â—â—â—ampine â—otton or other ropes made of certayne long and toughe â—â—tes much lyke vnto the shrubbe called Spâ—râ—â—m wherof in olde tyme they vsed to make bondes for vâ—nes 〈…〉 and ropâ—â— for shyppes These they tye ouer 〈◊〉 the houâ—e froâ— poste to poste On these they ley as it 〈…〉 mattâ—eâ—â—es made of the cotton of the gossampâ—ne tress whâ—che gâ—â—we plentifully in these Ilandes Thâ—s cotton the Spaniâ—â—des call Algodon and the Italians Bâ—mâ—â—sine And thus they â—â—eepe in hangynge beddes Bombaâ—e hanâ—inâ—e beddes At the enteraunce of one of theyr houâ—es they sawe two Images of woodde lyke vnto serpentes whâ—che they thoughte had byn such idoles as they honour But they leâ—ned afterwarde that they were seâ—te there onely for coomlâ—nesse For they knowe none other god then the Sunne and Moone althoughe they make certaine Images of gossampine cotton to the similitude of such phantasies as they say appere to them in the nyghte Images Our men found in theyr houses all kyndes of erthen vessels not muche vnlyke vnto oures They founde also in theyr kichens mannes flesshe duckes flessâ—e and goose flesshe al in one pot Fyne cookery and other on the spittes redye to be layde to the fire Entrynge into theyr inner lodgynges they founde faggottes of the bones of mennes armes and legges which they reserue to make heades for theyr arrowes Arrowe heds of bones â–ª bycause they lacke iron The other bones they caste awaye when they haue eaten the flesshe They founde likewise the heade of a yonge man fastened to a poste and yet bledinge They haue in some villages one great haule or pallaice aboute the whiche theyr common houses are placed To this they resort as often as they come together to playe When they perceaued the commynge of our men they fledde in theyr houses they founde also about xxx chyldren and women captiues which were reserued to be eaten but our men tooke them awaye to vse them for interpretoures Searchyng more diligently thynner partes of the Ilande they founde .vii. other ryuers bygger then this whiche we spake of before runnyng throughe the Ilande with fruitefull and pleasante banckes delectable to beholde This Ilande they called Guadalupea for the similitude that it hath to the mounte Guadalupus in Spayne The mount Guadalupusâ— where the Image of the virgin MARIE is religiously honored But the inhabitauntes caul it Carucueria Carucueria or Queraquiera It is the chiefe habitation of the Canibales They brought from this Iland .vii. Popinpayes bygger then phesantes Popyngayes bygger then phesauntes