And also the Mexicans of their Original giving the Spaniards a far better Account when first they came thither wherein we must a little deviate viz. How they were remov'd from some other place as Robert Comtaeus relates who with many Learned and seemingly true Arguments affirms That the Original of the Americans must be sought for either among the Phenicians Sydonians Tyrians or Carthaginians Lib. 1. cap. 7. being indeed all one People Herodotus saith thus of the Phenicians They liv'd formerly according to their own Relation along the Shore of the Red-Sea from whence removing they planted the Sea-Coast of the Syrians Festus Avienus the Latin Poet agrees with this Opinion where he saith On the Phenicians Coasts the Ocean beats Who through the Red-Sea Sailing chang'd their Seats They were the first that ventur'd through the Seas And freighted Ships with richer Merchandise Fair or foul Weather They without controule Sought Foreign Trade directed by the Pole Original and Habitations of the Phenicians of whom according to serval Learned the Americans are extracted Aristotle from a Greek Word calls them Phenicians from their being red or bloody with the Slaughter of all Strangers that Landed on their Coast but rather and so indeed they are call'd Phenicians or Erythreans from Esau or Edom from whom they are deriv'd for these two Words or Denominations signifie in Greek Red the two last the like in Hebrew Phenix himself first planted all the Countrey lying between the River Eleutherus and the Egyptian City Pelusium and afterwards Damiata wash'd by the Mediterrane But since these Boundaries are alter'd on the North by Judea Westward by the Mediterrane Southerly by Egypt and towards the East by the Desart Arabia The chiefest Cities are Ptolemais otherwise call'd Acon Sidon Arad Great Cana Sarepta Biblis Bothrit Berithus and their Princess Tyre formerly scituate in an Isle but since joyn'd to the Main-Land by Alexander the Great None can disown but that the Phenicians have every where been Admirals of the Sea so that they were formidable to the greatest Princes When the Persian King Cambyses came with a vast Army against the Carthaginians Heredot lib. 1. he was forc'd to give over his Design because the Phenicians refus'd to help him with their Fleet being allied to and the City founded by them But they not only built Carthage Salust in Igurtha which strove with Rome to be the Empress of the World but also the famous Cities Leptis Utica Hippo and Adrumetum in Africa with Cadâ—z and Tartessus in Spain nay they sent Plantations of People into the Heart of Iberia and Lybia It will not be amiss to add Q. Curtius his Relation who tells us Where-ever the Phenicians came with their Fleets Wonderful Power of the Phenicians Landing their Men they subdu'd whole Countreys and by that means spread their Colonies over the known World Carthage in Africa Thebes in Boetia and Cadiz near the Western Ocean Aristotle relates That they made such rich Returns of their Merchandize and chiefly of their Oyl in Spain that their Anchors Pins and all Iron Materials belonging to a Ship in stead of that Metal were Silver But to return to our Discourse and disprove the former Testimony That the Phenicians found America The formention'd Comtaeus saith thus None can justly doubt Testimonies that the Americans are deriv'd from the Phenicians but that since the Phenicians took the Command of the Sea from the Rhodians they more and more increas'd their Fleets and growing experter in Navigation passing the Gibraltar Northward became Masters of Cadiz and still prepar'd new Fleets which searching beyond Atlas Southward discover'd the Coasts of Africa and the adjacent Isles driving a great Trade to the Canaries and to those which lay scatter'd along Cape de Verd formerly call'd the Gorgades This way of Trade also was not unknown to the Greeks Iberians and other People but after the Phenicians assum'd it wholly to themselves without any respect or difference of Countreys they sunk all whomsoever they could catch Curtius further adds saying First Testimony I believe that the Phenicians sailing into the Main Ocean have discover'd unknown Countreys And which are those Not the Gorgades or Canary Isles for those were sufficiently known before but a Main Land far beyond Is contradicted But though the Phenicians were most expert yet not skilful enough to make out such Discoveries They indeed were the first that before any other sail'd out of the Mid-land Sea nay they ventur'd a good way into the main Ocean beyond the Straights of Gibraltar or the Herculean Pillars But how far Not to the Gorgades above half way betwixt Spain and America but to the Cassiterides or Flemish Islands which to the number of nine lie in sight of Spain Strabo affirms this Truth Lib. 3. Geogr. saying The Cassiterides are ten lying in order close by one another Flemmish Islands One remains uninhabited on the rest live a swarthy People This way the Phenicians sail'd first when they were in quest for Trade from Cadiz And though he reckons ten there are indeed but nine viz. St. Michael St. Mary St. George Tercera de Pico or Tenariff so call'd from the Mountain which vomits Fire Fayal Las Flores Del Cuervo and Gratiosa Moreover the same Strabo relates Lib. 17. That the Carthaginians did not throw over-board the Traders on the remote Gorgades but those especially that came from Sardinia or Cadiz Salt-Islands how long known Joan. Mariana de Reb. Hispan lib. 1. cap. 20. Mean while we cannot deny but that the Gorgades that lye before Cape de Verd were frequented by the Carthaginians long before the Birth of our Savior but with so much admiration that Hanno their Captain in that Expedition was listed amongst the number of their Heroes hapning thus The Carthaginians sailing for Cadiz to assist the Phenicians against the Spaniards made that the Seat of War which soon drew on a greater Design for Hamilco and Hanno being impowr'd by the Senate at Carthage manag'd the War in Spain Both of them were ambitious to discover new Countreys Hamilco sail'd along the Coast of Spain and Gaule reaching to Batavia Hanno steer'd Southerly Very remarkable Voyage of Hanno the Carthaginian along the Coast of Africa to the Salt-Islands carrying thirty thousand Men of all Trades in his Fleet purposing to build a new City in some place or other and got beyond the Promontory Ampelusium now call'd Cabo Spatil the River Ziloa which washeth the City Arzilla and the Stream Lix now Lusso where the Poets place the Gardens of the Hesperides in the custody of a waking Dragon From thence proceeding on his Voyage he came to an Anchor in the Mouth of the River Subur at this day call'd Subu and afterwards before the City Sala now call'd Salle at that time made very dangerous by the voracious Beasts in the neighboring Woods At last the Fleet reach'd the Foot of the
who came and inform'd Cortez thereof whereupon he desir'd all the Magistrates of the City to come and speak with him Strange Martial Affairs who no sooner entred the Hall where he was but his Men by Command immediately shot them to death which terrible Rumor spreading and alarm'd with the report of the Executing Musquets the City was suddenly in an Uproar gathering thither Arm'd from all Places and began a sharp Conflict which lasted five Hours but then wearied out and despairing of Success loosing their Courage they desir'd a Cessation and at last concluded Peace with the Spaniards This News of his discover'd Intention so startled Montezuma that he suppos'd it better to desist and procure the Favor of Cortez by Presents wherefore he sent him 15000 Cotton Habits trim'd up very richly ten great Chargers of Gold and some Vessels of Wine desiring him for a while to forbear his Intentions of marching to Tenustitan his Chief City Now Menico and that he would in the mean while treat with him for an Accommodation But Cortez though he accepted of the Presents yet nevertheless held his Resolution of marching on Strange Cities in America Cortez being got through the poor Territory of the Guazazingers and having suffer'd great Cold upon the Mountains discover'd Amaquameca the chief City of the Province Chialco seated in a great Lake to which he row'd in a kind of Boats by the Inhabitants call'd Acales Passing from thence he was courteously receiv'd in Iztapalapa another City which boasts above eight thousand Stone Buildings besides admirable Palaces with spacious Rooms delightful Gardens and Ponds full of Fish and almost cover'd with Fowl from whence a Wall or Cawse-way of a great breadth A very strange Cawse-way that cross'd over both Land and Water led from Iztapalapa to Tenustitan This Cawse-way hath many Bridges which are drawn up in time of War under which the Water runs out of a Salt Lake into a Fresh that ebbs and flows although lying between high Mountains and seventy Leagues from the Sea On both sides this Wall being ten Leagues in length appears three great Towns viz. Mesiqualisingo Colvacana and Vuichilabusco all Populous and well-built How they make Salt Colvacana is supplied by the Salt Lake to it s no small benefit and inriching for the Water being by Pipes convey'd into the City in all the Places and Cisterns for its reception makes a Scum which being coagulated by the Sun and after boyl'd becomes Salt with which they drive a great Trade for no Salt being to be had in any place but here all Foreign Merchants come thither for Supply Cortez being in his March within a League and a half of Tenustitan Montezuma preceded with a thousand of his Nobless came to meet and salute him all of them rather like Pilgrims bare-footed and congying kissing their right Hands with which they first kiss'd the Ground After them appear'd Montezuma himself who put a Chain of Gold imboss'd with Pearls about Cortez his Neck and immediately conducted him to the City where having entred and being come into the Palace Remarkable Passage of King Montezuma Montezuma plac'd Cortez on a Golden Throne and surrendred up his Right to his Catholick Majesty of Spain in the presence of all his Peers to their no small amazement But whilst all things had a good face and went on thus fairly beyond their expectations Cortez was inform'd That King Coalcopoca had a Design on the new City Vera Crux and had treacherously murder'd two of the Garrison and wounded two more Whereupon Cortez having such fair beginnings who had swallow'd already in his Hopes the whole Empire and Wealth belonging to Montezuma laid hold of this Occasion pretending Treason and breach of Contract wherefore he put Montezuma under Custody notwithstanding he had clear'd himself of the Conspiracy by bringing Coalcopoca with his Sons and fifteen of his Peers Prisoners to Tenustitan who by the command of Cortez suffer'd a lingering death being all burnt with Green Wood. But in vain did Montezuma think to reconcile himself with Cortez since all he did could render no manner of satisfaction however he continu'd to oblige him by fresh Favors whose Relation we will be more particular in as meriting the same Vetus MEXICO A. Piazza B. Tempio da Orare C. Argini adefensione delle Casa D. Vâ—tapalapa E. Ilgiardino del S. F. Casa de li solazzi del S. G. Da questo siume Conduconâ— lacqua nella Cita H. Tesqua Whilst Cortez and Montezuma were viewing the Temple two Spaniards rush'd suddenly into one of the Cells where they found abundance of Lamps and Torches burning and the Walls bedaub'd two Inches thick with Humane Gore Over-head hung vast numbers of their Sacrificing Knives and the stench of the place was intollerable But whilst Cortez having staid waiting eight Months in Tenustitan for the return of the Messengers sent to the Spanish Court receiv'd Tidings That Pamphilo Narvaecy by order of Velasques was come with eighteen Sail Mann'd with eight hundred Foot and eighty Horse from Cuba and now riding before the Mexican Coast from whence soon after he receiv'd unexpected Command to come presently aboard unarm'd and resign up his Authority But he in stead of submission compell'd Narvaecy in a short time to relinquish his Title and own him for Superior Mean while the Spaniards which remain'd in possession of Tenustitan ran the hazard of a general Massacre for the Citizens much stomacking the Oppressions of the Spaniards who grew very insolent inslaving their King bringing their inveterate Enemies the Tlaxcallans and Guazuzingans into their City exacting them to pay Tributes pulling down their Gods and demolishing their ancient Idols they brake out from all Parts in a tumultuous manner ran to Arms and besieg'd them Day and Night in their Fort although Montezuma endeavor'd to perswade the contrary Cortez hearing of it came to their relief with the New Forces Landed from Cuba but he fighting his way ere he could get in was so roughly entertain'd by the Mexicans that they kill'd him forty Men wounding as many more and notwithstanding fifteen Field-pieces with continual Shot made foul Breaches lessening the number of the Assailants yet they suddenly fill'd up their Vacancies again with fresh Men which clamber'd over the Heaps of those that lay slain Three Days the Battel had continu'd very fierce when Montezuma being with the Spaniards in the Castle went to a low Window to see if he could command his Subjects to retreat but a continual Cry so deafned their Ears and showres of Arrows and Stones so took away their sight that he did nothing Then Montezuma thinking to be more easily either heard or seen went to a higher Window where looking out he was unfortunately his with a Stone of which he died three days after Besides their Enemies the Spaniards suffer'd extremely by Famine and though they had beaten down a Tower which had done the Castle great mischief and set five
hundred Houses on fire yet they Could discern no likely issue thereof but judg'd it best to make their escape by Night over the nearest Bridge Cortez therefore dividing his gotten Treasures which amounted to above seven hundred thousand Duckets amongst his Soldiers carried Montezuma's Son and two Daughters Prisoners with him though not without infinite danger and loss for the Tenustitans assail'd him on both sides and falling in also upon his Rear spar'd not to kill Montezuma's own Children In this last Fight the Service was so hot Spaniards beaten aftersh that Cortez lost forty two Horse a hundred and fifty Spaniards and two thousand Auxiliaries and although gotten over the Lake they were still pursu'd by the Mexicans who would then undoubtedly have made a general Slaughter had not Cortez amused the Enemies by leaving in the Night great Fires in several Places his suppos'd Camps whilst he silently stole away Yet the Tenustitans would have pursu'd the Spaniards had they not wanted Provisions But Cortez sending his Treasure before him through the Countrey Colva to Vera Crux with a Convoy of five Horse and forty four Foot were all cut off by the Colvaans and feasted upon in a Thanksgiving Sacrifice The same misfortune befel twelve Spaniards in Tepeacu which great City surrendred it self up to Cortez Remarkable Exploits of Cortez being assisted by a mighty Army of Tlaxcallans and others But after all these Losses he took Guaccachiulla and Izzuca both fortified with strong Walls and Gates in which last he burnt above a hundred Temples built for Humane Sacrifices All the Countrey through which he thus ransack'd he call'd new-New-Spain From the City Tazuco which he had newly taken intending to besiege Tenustitan he digg'd through the Lakes a broad Trench of above three Leagues in length to bring up thirteen new Ships to Tenustitan and the neighboring People envying that that City should not be conquer'd as well as theirs rais'd an Army of above a hundred and fifty thousand Men making Cortez their General Himself incamped on one corner of the City appointing the other two sides to be invested by Gonsales Sandovalo and Pedro Alvarado but the Besieg'd resolutely broke out and made a fierce Sally with five thousand Boats setting upon the thirteen Ships but the great Guns made such execution and havock amongst them that they retreated with great damage Whoever were taken Prisoners in this Fight by the Spaniards the Tlaxcallans being Commission'd by Cortez feasted upon Tenustitan or Mexico taken On the seventh day the City was taken but not without great Slaughter and the new King imprison'd After this mighty Conquest Cortez resolv'd to discover those Territories that lay Southward and whilst he was making all things ready for the Voyage he sent two Ships with an invaluable Treasure to Spain who fearing to be taken by the French Pyrats ran in at Tercera Sad accident occasion'd by a Tyger where a miserable Accident hapned to the Seamen of the biggest Ship wherein were carried two Tygers which though taken young and bred up amongst men yet had not so quite forgotten their natural ferocity but that one breaking loose in the Night tore seven of them in pieces hurting a far greater number of which some had the Brawns of their Arms the Calves of their Legs and fleshy parts of their Thighs bit out Several Places in America breed Tygers that far exceed Lyons in fierceness so that where any considerable number of them frequents though the Soil be never so fruitful yet it is left desolate and forsaken But the Baboons that frequent the Woods are more pleasant Strange Battel with Baboons and less dangerous Peter Arias relates That his whole Army incountred with these Beasts which climb'd from one Tree to the other shrieking and making very strange Gesticulations to those that were gone before and gathering their Mouths and Hands full of Stones which they threw as exact and strongly as a Man When one of these Baboons shot by a Musquet fell to the Ground the rest gave such a horrible shriek that the Woods resounding with the noise strook a terror into the Spaniards Amongst several things that hapned in this Counter-scuffle take this one A Spaniard taking aim with his Musquet at an old Baboon which sate pearch'd up in a Tree and being now just ready to give Fire the Baboon Soldier at the very instant to break the Shot taking a Stone out of his Mouth threw it exactly into the Mans Mouth with such force as beat out some of his Teeth with which sudden blow surpris'd he lost his Mark and the proud Foe shewing signs of Triumph went his way But whilst Cortez staid in the Countrey of Tenustitan now call'd Mexico Franciscus Garajus sail'd out of the Haven of Jamaica with eleven Ships to the River Panucus there according to the Command of the Emperor Charles to plant a Colony Whereupon he went ashore ordering his Fleet to sail along in sight of Land So wading through the River Montaltus which glides between high Mountains he came to a Morassy Ground in which he and they often sunk almost up to the Middle and lost his way in a Thicket of young Trees yet at last being come to the River Panucus he found several high Walls Great destruction being the Ruines of Fortresses Temples and Towers destroy'd by Cortez so that the City lay quite desolate Twenty Leagues further upon the Banks of the same River Cortez had in like manner sack'd and destroy'd Chiglia a Town which before its burning reckon'd above twenty thousand Houses besides many fair Palaces Walls Towers and Temples Which Cruelties and Spoil had bred so great an Odium in the Inhabitants against the Spaniards that they immediately sent an Army against Garajus The unfortunate Expedition of Garajus who had only a few half-starv'd Men with him yet he receiv'd the Enemy twice in his Retreat to the new Colony St. Steven rais'd out of Chiglia's Ruines but finding no Provisions where-ever he came he judg'd it fittest to send his Horse into the Countrey to Forage which Cortez meeting took Prisoners under pretence that Garajus came to take Possession where he had neither Authority nor Right Cortez also made himself Master of Garajus Ship and Fleet commanding him withal to appear in Tenustitan which not knowing how to avoid he obey'd His People mean time ranging up and down without a Head or Commander either died by Famine or were murther'd and eaten by the Natives for at one time the Americans made a general Feast with two hundred and fifty rosted Spaniards Spaniards tosted But their days of Triumph lasted not long for Sandovalus one of Cortez his Prime Officers set with so much fury upon those Cannibals that he kill'd several thousands of them and burnt sixty Persons of Prime Quality all Commanders in the sight of their Friends and Relations But Garajus whose Son was married to Cortez his Daughter liv'd not long after the
insatiable cruelty Conquest of it difficult Before Ferdinand Cortesius Francis de Garay attempted to Conquer this Province but after much pains to no purpose he return'd with but a small remnant of those he carried with him and though Cortesius subdu'd the Countreys Ayotetextetlatan and Chila yet it was not without many considerable Losses for the Inhabitants being valiant and cruel not fearing the Spanish Bullets ran in amongst them and made great slaughter and according to an old Custom in New Spain drank their Blood Strange usage of Prisoners They also dealt strangely with Persons that were yearly to be Offer'd to their Idols for after having wash'd them they put on them the Clothes of the Idol and gave them the same Name every one honouring them as a God were permitted to walk up and down but guarded by twelve Men that they might not escape for then the chiefest of the Guard was to supply the others place Moreover they resided in the chiefest Apartments of the Temple eat of the best were serv'd like Princes and attended through the Towns by Persons of the greatest Quality who led them through the Streets where they no sooner play'd on a little Pipe but all People came running to them fell at their Feet and worship'd them In the Night they lock'd them up in a Cage secur'd with Iron Bars and at the appointed time flay'd them alive Towns and Villages The chief Towns now remaining and inhabited by the Spaniards are 1. St. Lewis de Tampice a Colony of Spaniards situate on the Northern Bank of the River Panuco at the very Mouth of it where it hath a very large Haven but so barr'd with Sands that no Ship of any great Burden can enter or abide in it with safety and yet the River otherwise so deep that Vessels of five hundred Tun might Sail up threescore Leagues at least within Land and thereby visit the rich Mynes of Zatatecas on the one side of it and of New Biscay on the other at pleasure and without fear of much opposition 2. St. Stevan del Puerto on the South side of the same River eight Leagues distant from the Sea or Gulf of Mexico at present the Metropolis or chief Town of the Province built by Cortesius in the place where stood old Panuco which was likewise the Metropolis or Head Town of the Natives before the Spaniards burnt and destroy'd it 3. St. Jago de las Valles which is a Fronteer Place and enjoyeth certain special Immunities and some fair Possessions also for defence of the Countrey against the Salvages It is twenty five Leagues distant from St. Stevan del Puerto lying in an open or Champain Countrey and is fenc'd about with a Wall of Earth Miles Philips his Voyage Miles Philips an Englishman put ashore by Captain John Hawkins in the Bay of New Spain Anno 1568. suffer'd great hardship before he came to Panuco from whence returning he made mention of a City lying along a River of the same denomination which is there not above two Bowe shoots-broad in a pleasant Countrey containing two hundred Spanish Families beside the antient Inhabitants and Negro's which all drive a great Trade in Salt which is made in Pans Westward from the River Philips travelling from Panuco to Mexico saw by the way the Villages Nohete by the Spaniards call'd Santa Maria and a Cloyster of white Monks Next he view'd Mestitlan where some grey Monks had a House and the Town Puchuen Chilton's Journal Another account of this Province is taken from a Journal kept by John Chilton four years after Philips's Voyage he having a Spaniard for his Convoy left Mexico to find out Panuco in three days time they reach'd the City Mestitlan where he observ'd that twelve Spanish Families liv'd amongst thirty thousand Indians The City built on a high Mountain full of Woods is surrounded with Villages through which run many brave Springs and the Air about them is no less wholsom than the Ground fruitful the High-ways are shaded with all sorts of Fruit-Trees The Village Clanchinoltepec four times more Populous than Mestitlan belongs to a Spanish Nobleman who built a Cloyster there for nine Augustin Monks of which Order there also reside twelve in the City Guaxutla Moreover they travel'd over the plain Countrey Guastecan to the Village Tancuylabo inhabited by a tall People with blue Painted Bodies and Pleited Hair hanging down to their Knees going stark naked but never without a Bowe and Arrow They esteem nothing more than Salt as being the onely Cure against certain Worms that grow between their Lips From hence they travel'd to Tampice in which Journey they spent nine days and coming thither were inform'd that of forty Christians which dwelt in the same the Indians had slain twelve whilst they were gathering of Salt From hence they came to Panuco then in a manner deserted because of the Indians oppressing the Spaniards of which at that time there were but ten and one Priest Chilton falling sick here resolv'd nevertheless to change that unwholsom Air and barren place for a better to which purpose getting a Horse he took an Indian behind him for his Guide but loosing his way in a thick Wood happen'd amongst a Company of wild People which dwelt in Straw Huts twenty of them immediately surrounding him brought him some clear sweet Water to drink out of a Gilt Venice Glass which having drunk two naked Men led him into the high-way which ended at the Gate of the Wall'd City Santo Jago de las Valles inhabited by twenty five Spanish Families who inform'd Chilton of the great danger which he had been in for the People which gave him the Water were Man-eaters who not long since had burnt an Augustine Cloyster built on a Mountain had taken away and eat the People of which they had in all likelyhood gotten the Venice Glass and had they not observ'd Chilton to be sickly he had without doubt been eaten by them and his Skin with some of his Hair that being a great Ornament amongst them been hung about their middle During Chilton's stay in St. Jago Frans de Page came thither with forty Soldiers from the Vice-Roy Henry Manriques and took five hundred Indians good Bowe Men out of the Neighboring Villages Tanehipa and Tameclipa with which he design'd to go to the Silver Mines at Zacatecas Chilton joyning with this Company came to the great Rives De las Palmas which separates New Spain from Florida where they spent three days in vain seeking to find a passage over wherefore they at last took pieces of Timber which joyning together and standing upon they were Tow'd over by Swimming Indians being gotten on the other side they March'd over steep Mountains and thick Wildernesses and came at last to Zacatecas on whose Silver Mines the richest in all America work'd above three hundred Spaniards daily SECT VI. Tabasco Bounds and Description of Tabasco THe last Countrey belonging to New Spain is Tabasco bounded on the North by the Northern Ocean and on the East with Jucatan and however some account it a distinct Province yet others make no mention of it letting it pass for that part of Jucatan which lies about the City Tabasco
Countrey against the Chichemecae which are a barbarous and unreduc'd People of the North-East parts of this Countrey who harbouring themselves in Caves under Ground in the thickest of huge Woods and Forrests do oftentimes issue out and make foul spoil in the Countrey where they come having first intoxicated themselves with a Liquor made of certain Roots and would do much more harm if it were not for this Garrison 3. Del Spiritu Santo built by the Founder of the other two viz. Nunnez de Gusman aforesaid in a part of the Countrey which they call Tepecque SECT III. Xalisco Bounds and Description of Xalisco Xalisco or Galesco as some call it is bounded on the North with Couliacan on the South with some parts of New Spain on the East with the Province of Guadalajara and on the West with the Gulf or Bay of California The Countrey is chiefly fertile in Maiz and Mines of Silver not altogether so apt for Herbage and Pasture as some other Countreys about it The People were Cannibals before the Spaniards came amongst them eating Man's-flesh were much given to quarrelling and Contentions amongst themselves but by this time 't is suppos'd they are reasonably well reclaim'd both from the one and the other Towns of chief note In this Countrey besides many other goodly Streams is the great and famous River Barania on the Banks whereof are seated most of their principal Towns as 1. Xalisco which gives Name to the whole Province and to a large Promontory or Foreland on the Western Coasts which shoots it self out into the Bay of California right over against certain Islands which the Spaniards call The Three Maries This was an ancient City or Town of the Natives but sack'd and taken by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1530. 2. Compostella built by the aforesaid Gusman and so nam'd from the City in Spain so famous for the Grave of James the Apostle who according to the Roman Writers was buried there lies near the South Sea on a barren Soil within the Torrid Zone yet the Ground breeds many sorts of Vermine besides other noxious Creatures amongst which the Capybara roots up whole Trees and other Plants in the Night This Beast resembling an indifferent large Hog hath short Legs and Claws thick Head with a Beard wide Ears and on each Jaw-bone twenty four Teeth besides two Tusks but no Tail it goes slow but swims exceeding fast and dives under Water for aconsiderable time together they often feed together in great Herds and make a terrible noise 3. La Purification a small Town on the Sea side towards the Confines of New Spain SECT IV. Chiametla Situation of Chiametla AGainst Xalisco juts Chiametla along the South Sea where the Inhabitants wear short Cloaks and Deer-skin Shoes and in the Wars use Shields made of strong Twigs twisted together The Women which are indifferent handsom are clad down to their Feet Towns of principal note The chief Town of this Province is Sant Sebastian so call'd from the River upon which it stands it was built by Captain Franciscus de Yvarra Anno 1554. who discovering many Silver Mines hath made several Melting-houses in which the Silver being melted swims upon the Lead SECT V. Couliacan Bounds of Couliacan NExt to Chiametla Westward and Southward of Cinoloa lies Couliacan Coasting all along the Bay of California which it hath on the West on the East it hath New Biscay and on the South Xalisco The Countrey is not defective in any kind of necessary Provision but more especially it aboundeth with Fruits of all sorts But the Spaniards look onely at the Mines of which they have some few in this Countrey The People were generally Cloth'd with Cotton-Wooll when the Spaniards came first amongst them but yet never a whit the more modest being exceedingly given to Venery and that in a more shameless and beastly manner than many other Americans who went naked The Spanish Towns are these Towns 1. Hiustula seated on the Banks of a fair River distant about a days Journey from the Sea 2. Quinola 3. Quatrobarrios an old Town of the Natives but new nam'd by the Spaniards 4. El Leon an old Burrough 5. Couliacan the chief Town of the Province 6. St. Michael in the Valley of Arroba two Leagues distant from the Sea in a rich and plentiful Countrey both for Corn and Fruit whither it was remov'd from the Banks of the River Orala where it first stood it was built by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1531. after he had burnt the Towns and destroy'd a great number of the Natives Inhabitants of the Countrey Nunnez de Gusman first Discoverer 〈◊〉 of this Countrey This Countrey was first discover'd by the aforesaid Nunnez de Gusman after he had built Guadalajara after this manner Marching from Chiametla to Piatzala he ruin'd this Province with Fire and Sword he likewise conquer'd the Countreys of Zapuatun and Piaztla the first being a Plain lay inclos'd within high Mountains where the Spaniards met none but Women till they came to a great River call'd De la Sall whose Banks on each side were well inhabited the second juts against the Ocean and is water'd by a River of the same Denomination Here within the Houses which are built after a strange manner lay thousands of Serpents mingled together with their Heads sticking out on the top and at the sides and hissing with open Mouth at those which approached them The Inhabitants shew'd great Revence to these Serpents because as they said the Devil often appear'd to them in that form And this seems to be a Custome amongst them from the Tradition of Eves being tempted by the Devil in the shape of a Serpent Serpents worshipp'd by the Natives Nor was this Superstition peculiar onely to these Indians forasmuch as divers Nations of the ancient Heathens of other parts of the World worshipp'd the Likeness of a Serpent And even amongst the Greeks according to Plutarch Hesychius Clemens Alexandrinus and others it was no unusual thing in their religious Worship to call on Eva and at the same time to shew a Serpent Plutarchus and Aelianus say That the Egyptians honour'd a Serpent for their God The same saith Erasmus Stella of the old Prussians Sigismund Baro of the Liflanders and Alexander Guaginus of the Sarmatians and Samogethes Moreover some write that in the Province of Calecut are Serpents with exceeding great Heads and weighing as much as a great Hog to which the King shews great Reverence so that it seems the Devil takes delight to be worship'd in that shape wherein he work'd the Fall of Man-kind The Fish Guarapucu The Flood which comes out of the Sea up to the City St. Michael through the River Cignatlan abounds with Fish and especially the Guarapucu which is seven Foot long when it comes to its full growth it hath no Scales but a smooth Skin of a Silver colour mix'd with Green from the
Head to the Tail runs a crooked Line of thin Scales on each side it swims exceeding swift feeds on lesser Fishes and spawns in the Sea the Flesh being wholsom and good to eat is salted up against Winter At the same Place is also the Piracarba which shines exceedingly The Piracarba having Silver-colour'd Scales a broad slit Tail a long white Beard four great Fins and a little Head Farther into the Sea are a sort of flying Fish call'd Pirabebes which rise by thousands up out of the Water Flying Fisher so escaping the Dolphins and other Fish which prey on them yet sometimes they are snatch'd up by the Birds or else by the Fishes when they dive down into the Water to wet their own Wings which consist of a thin Skin distinguish'd in length by tough Fins These flying Fish also differ much one from another for most of them are like Herrings others have a thick Head roud before like the Dolphins Moreover the Countrey about St. Michael was always well inhabited The Houses being artificially built were adorn'd on the top with many obscene Images and venereal Representations But since the Spaniards have conquer'd this Countrey they have destroy'd them and built other Houses in their stead and also bestow'd much cost and labour on the Silver Mines De las Virgines SECT VI. Cinoloa Bounds of Cineloa CInoloa is the most Northern part of New Gallicia bounded on the West with some part of the Gulf or Bay of California on the East with a long Ridge of Mountains which they call Tepecsuan on the North with Cibola and with Couliacan on the South This Country besides the general fertility of the whole Province of New Gallicia yields great store of Cotton-Wool by reason whereof both Men and Women here are better Apparell'd for the most part than elsewhere the Americans are is exceedingly well water'd with Rivers which descend from those Mountains Tepecsuan not above thirty or forty Leagues distant from the Sea and which with the variety of their Streams and Meandrous glidings do divide the Countrey into many and good Pastures which are likewise stor'd with abundance of Kine Oxen and other Cattel The chief Towns possess'd by the Spaniards are 1. St. Philip and Jacob Towns seated towards the Sea side on the Banks of a fair River about thirty or forty Leagues distant from the Town of Couliacan 2. St. John de Cinoloa an ancient Colony of Spaniards setled there by Francisco de Yvarra in the Year 1554 which is all they have in this Countrey except some few old Forts of the Natives which they found after their manner poorly furnish'd but have since repair'd them for Defence against the Natives of those Parts which as yet remain unreduc'd Nunnez de Gusman 's Travels This Province was also discover'd by Nunnez de Gusman who having rested some Weeks in St. Michael proceeding on his Way he Ferried over the River Petatlan which receiv'd that Denomination because the Houses were cover'd with Mats by the Indians call'd Petat The People hereabouts were generally Man-eaters Eighteen Leagues farther runs the River Tamochala which hath many Villages on both sides thereof Between Petatlan and Tamochala lie several desolate Wildernesses and Woods of the Brasile-Tree But Gusman travelling up twenty seven Leagues along the fore-mention'd River Tamochala came to Province Cinoloa where they stay'd six Weeks by reason of the abundance of Rains during which time the Villagers provided them Turtle-Doves Hares Rabbets and all sorts of Fowls but at last deserted their Habitations in the Night after which the Spaniards crossing Tamochala went along a barren Desart where had they not found Water in certain Wells and likewise store of Juice out of the Tunas-Trees they had without doubt perish'd at last getting over the River Yaguinu they found a deserted Village out of which a broad Path led along the Stream whither Gusman marching he came into a Plain where he spy'd several Indians which after some resistance were routed by the Spanish Horse The Villages built on the Banks of the River Yaguinu as also the Language of the Inhabitants differ little from the former Not far from hence a Ridge of Hills runs into the Sea and also extend themselves a hundred Leagues towards Xalisco SECT VII Zacatecas Bounds and Description of Zacatecas THe Zacatecas as they call them are bounded on the South with Guadalalajara on the North with New Biscay on the West which Couliacan and some part of Xalisco and on the East with New Spain The Countrey especially the more Western part of it is very rich in Silver Mines no Province of this part of America richer but not so apt either for Wheat or Maiz. But the Eastern parts of it are abundantly stor'd with all sorts of Fruits the Woods every where replenish'd with Deer the Fields no less with Corn and every Tree almost giving Entertainment to some Bird or other Towns and Villages The Towns are 1. Las Zacatecas forty Leagues distant from Guadalajara and fourscore from Mexico but neighbor'd with most rich Mines and therefore both Garrison'd and well peopled by the Spaniards for 't is suppos'd there are no less than five hundred Families of them in the Town and about the Mines 2. St. Martins twenty seven Leagues distant from Zacatecas and as rich a Place having a Colony of four hundred Spaniards at least 3. St. Lucas de Avinno 4. Erena lesser Towns but both of them rich and seated in the midst of excellent Mines 5. Nombre de Dios in the most Northerly part of this Countrey sixty eight Leagues distant from Guadalajara and founded by the aforesaid Francisco de Yvarra who having subdu'd and quieted the Natives and thereby gain'd to himself the Government of these Countreys granted the propriety of some Silver Mines both to the Spaniards and to the Natives and by that means drew so many of them thither that in a short time it became the chiefest and best peopled town of the whole Province 6. Durango in the Valley of Guadiana eight Leagues distant from Nombre de Dios and built by Yvarra 7. Xeres de Frontera a Place built on purpose for the repressing of the Chichemecae aforesaid and other Salvages that infested the Borders of Guadalajara in the Regency of the Marquess of Villa Manrique 8. Last St. Lewis built by Alonso Pacheco in that part of the Countrey which is call'd Uxitipa and people by him with a Colony of Spaniards being distant about twenty Leagues from Panuco in New Spain to which the whole Countrey of Uxitipa once belong'd Several Mines discover'd by the Spaniards The aforesaid Franciscus de Yvarra Anno 1554. discover'd the Mine call'd Sant Martin and since also Lucas Avinno the Mine Del Sombrereto lying near the City Del Erena but the Mines De los Ranchos Chalchuites De las Nieves and Del Frisuillo would produce much more Silver if the Mine-works were stor'd with Quick-silver The Vice-Roy of New Spain nam'd
whose Water causes the Bloody-flux and Loosness which again is cur'd by the same Water drunk with beaten Cinamon Guatupori reckons many Rivulets amongst which the Cesar and Budillo are both large deep and abounding with Fish Near the City Los Reyes are three great Water-pits triangular between stony Cliffs nigh which a Tradition goes That of old there lurk'd a terrible Serpent which at times devour'd a thousand People insomuch that none durst dwell thereabouts till certain Spaniards having the hardiness and curiosity to go seek out this Serpent heard a great noise in the Pits but saw nothing like the fore-mention'd Animal Here are likewise several Fountains of Pitch and Tar. SECT VI. Rio de la Hacha Rio de la Hacha Rio de la Hacha is the Name of a little Province lying on the North-East of St. Martha wash'd on all other parts with the Waters of the Main Ocean or with the Gulf or Bay of Venezuela Chief Towns of this Province The chief Towns of this Province are 1. A small Town call'd De la Hacha which gives Denomination to the said Province having no convenient Haven but otherwise seated in a Soil very rich and fertile not onely of all sorts of Fruits and Plants especially such as are brought from Spain but likewise in many Mines of Gold Gems of a large size and great value and many excellent Salt-Wiches as they call them it is eight Leagues distant from Salamanca aforesaid and eighteen frome Cape Villa the most Westerly Point or Foreland of the Bay of Venezuela and with the rest had the hap to be surpris'd and pillag'd by the English with Sir Francis Drake in the Year 1595. who refus'd twenty four thousand Ducats which the Governor proffer'd him for the Pearls he had taken 2. Rancheria six Leagues Eastward of La Hacha inhabited chiefly by Pearl-Fishers or such as get their Living for the most part by Fishing for Pearl which was wont to be good on these Coasts 3. Tapia five Leagues from La Hacha and considerable for that the adjacent Parts were laid waste by the English to revenge the perfidiousness of the Governor of Salamanca refusing to pay the four thousand Ducats he had promis'd upon Condition of their sparing the Town Abibeca the last King of this Province The last King of those that Govern'd in any of these Provinces of Terra Firma was Abibeca who could not be won to come down from his Palace which he had on the top of a Tree till a Spanish Officer one Francisco de Vanquez began to lay an Ax to the Root thereof After Didaco Niquesa Alphonso Oreda and Anciso had made very large Discoveries in these Provinces Valboa was the first that discover'd the Way to the South-Sea CHAP. III. New Granada First Discovery of New Granada THe new Kingdom of Granada as 't is commonly call'd was for the most part both discover'd and conquer'd by Gonsalvo Ximenes about the Year 1536. and with so good success that in less than a years space the whole Countrey was quietly setled under the Spaniards Government and the Captain with his small Company had made shift to gather together such a Mass of Treasure as may seem almost incredible viz. from the Reguli or petty Princes of those Countreys whom he had either destroy'd or made Tributary But a more particular Relation of Ximenes his Journey take as followeth Gonsalvo Ximenes his Expedition Being sent out by Peter Ferdinando de Lugo to discover the Countreys that lay along River Magdalena he travell'd upon the right side or it with great trouble for not onely the brambly Woods Moors and deep Brooks made the Way exceeding bad to be travell'd but also the Inhabitants who fell upon him from their Ambuscades yet at last he reach'd Tora which Name he chang'd into Pueblo de los Bracos because four Rivers unite their Waters there Here ordering his Brigantines which were come up the River to cast their Anchors he judg'd it convenient to stay all the Winter because the swoln Rivers had drown'd the adjacent Countrey Ximenes observing that the Indians fetch'd Salt from the Sea-side judg'd that the Countrey was inhabited and therefore in fair Weather march'd up to the Mountain Opou behind which he found a Countrey full of Salt-pools which produc'd Cakes of Salt And somewhat farther the Province Govern'd by the Casique Bogata who at first resisting the Spaniards was soon put to flight when he heard the noise of the Guns The Panches divided from Bogata's Countrey by a small Mountain also maintaining continual Wars with him suffer'd the Spaniards unmolested to travel through their Countrey and the Valley La Trompetta to a high barren Mountain on the top of which Ximenes found several Emeraulds and going from thence fell upon the Casique Tunia and three days Journey farther upon the Governors Sagamosa and Diutama from which three Countreys he carried above a hundred and ninety thousand pieces of fine Gold fifty five thousand pieces of indifferent Gold and eighteen hundred Emeraulds all which the Spaniards left behind with Guards whilest they went back to Bogata whom they found lying dead of his Wounds on a high Hill But Sagipa Bogata's Successor receiv'd Ximenes with great Civility to engage his Assistance against his Neighbors the Panches which he did not refuse him but afterwards he fell most perfidiously upon the said Sagipa whom he caus'd to be Executed because he either could not or would not discover where those Riches were which Bogata had left behind him After he had pillag'd the little Region Neyba and brought into subjection the whole Countrey he gave it the Name of New Granada from Granada the place of his Nativity being the chief City of the Kingdom of Granada in Spain and built the City Santa Fe which done he quitted the Place upon information that Sebastian de Bevalcazar coming from Popayan was seeking a Way Northward and not long after him Nicholas Federman follow'd each claiming New Granada as their Right whereas Ximenes alledg'd That the first Discovery thereof was to be ascribed to him onely at last Agreeing they resolv'd that it should be at the King of Spain's disposal The Nature and Custom of the Moxas The antient Inhabitants nam'd Moxas divided their Countrey into two chief Principalities viz. Bogota and Tunica which before the Spaniards Arrival were each under their particular Casique or Prince The Men were of a good proportion the Women also handsomer and of a fairer Complexion than their Neighbors Their Habit also consisted of black white and divers colour'd Cotton Cloaks and some also had Bonnets of the same The temperateness of the Climate makes little difference between Winter and Summer Their Houses were of Planks and cover'd with long Rushes Their chiefest Food was Maiz and Cassave which first grows on Stalks as large as Canes containing very large and weighty Spikes or Ears each Ear generally yielding seven hundred Grains which are Planted
3. La Parilla otherwise call'd Santa fourteen Leagues beyond Truxillo Southward wash'd by the Southern Ocean and one side by a fresh-water Stream which being inclos'd between stony Cliffs makes a secure Harbor 4. Arnedo seated ten Leagues Northward from Lima amongst the Vineyards of the Valley Chancas otherwise having no great matter in it remarkable but a fair Dominican Cloyster 5. Lima by the Spaniards commonly call'd La Cividad de los Reyes or The City of Kings so nam'd because Pizarro who built it laid the first Stone on Twelfth-day Anno 1553. which they call The Feast of the Kings It is seated in the Valley of Lima from whence the City is also so denominated one of the fruitfullest Parts of all Peru and so neatly built that all the chief Streets of the City open upon a fair Market-place or Piazza of such a large Square that upon the sides thereof are built in a stately and convenient manner the Cathedral the Palace of the Archbishop the Vice-Roy's Palace and Courts of Justice with the Exchequer or Publick Treasury the Town-house or place where the City Magistrates meet and hold their Courts the Publick Armory or Magazine and a Free-School wherein are taught by the Jesuits all Arts and Sciences and also the Indian Language and divers other fair Buildings of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens No Countrey under the Heavens affords a more fruitful or pleasanter Place than this the temperate Climate neither troubling the Inhabitants with excessive Heats or great Colds nor terrifying them with Thunder or Lightning but having almost perpetual Sun-shine and fair Weather onely the three Winter Moneths wherein there falls a sweet-smelling Dew which cures the Head-ache and there die but very few of pestilential Distempers The Countrey about the City is pleasant without exception The Pigeons which are kept here in curious Houses built on purpose flie a thousand in a Flight The Fields abound also with Cattel The Orchards and Gardens flourish with all sorts of Trees and Plants whereof those that are brought hither from Spain grow better than in their natural Countrey The West side of the City is wash'd by a pure clear Stream which stores the Market with great plenty of good Fish it being distant but a Musquet shot especially when the Water rises This River is of great consequence for it not onely waters the whole Valley of Lima with its several Branches but also runs under every House in the City being built on Stone Arches they are onely one Story high because there is no Wood to be had in the Valley of Lima but what in three years becomes all Woorm-eaten nevertheless the Houses are very beautiful both within and without the Walls being very thick and strong have curious Arbors of green Boughs on the top in which the Owners shade themselves from the Sun Most of the Houses built in the high Streets have pleasant Turrets which face the Market-place where all sorts of Provisions are brought to Sale as Oxen Sheep Venison Sugar Oranges Cittrons Grapes and Wheat which is ground in Water-Mills built near the River This City is inhabited by many able Merchants which often load Ships to Panama that are valu'd at above two hundred thousand Ducats To the Arch-bishop's See of this Place belongs the Bishopricks of Chili Charcas Quito Cusco Truxillo Guanuco Popaian San Francisco Panama Nicaragua and Rio de la Plata The City is also adorn'd with two fair Churches besides the Cathedral and also other lesser Churches four stately Cloysters two Nunneries and the Jesuits Palace which is very magnificent The Haven two Leagues distant from it and call'd Callao de Lima is large and secure for Ships Anno 1579. Sir Francis Drake took twelve Ships from hence Prizes taken here by Sir Fran. Drake one whereof was laden with Linnen and Silk besides a great Chest full of Silver Which Inconvenience to prevent for the future the Spaniards have built two strong Forts and fortifi'd them with Brass Guns Thirty years after Sir Francis Drake's Exploit Joris Spilbergen coming to Anchor here found the Place all inhabited Spilbergen attempts the Place in vain a Fort well stor'd with Guns and a strong Castle before the Mouth of the Harbor from whence they shot Bullets of thirty six Pound weight at the Hollanders and so shatter'd their Frigat call'd The Hunter that she could scarce-keep above Water Fourteen Spanish Merchant-men lying near the Shore receiv'd little damage Spilbergen not being able for Shelves to get to them neither did he judge it convenient to Land the Vice-Roy having at that time above four thousand Men in Arms besides several Troops of Horse wherefore after having fir'd several Guns on the Fort and against the Church he set Sail to Guarmey 6. Cannete otherwise call'd Guarco from the Valley wherein it is situate It was built by the Spaniards out of the Treasure which they found in the Castle afore spoken of in the same Valley 7. Valverde situate in a Valley of the same Name where excellent Fruit may be had for a small Price it is a well Traded and rich Town about sixteen Leagues distant from the Sea 8. Pachacama situate in a Territory of the same Name four Leagues Southward of Lima memorable chiefly for Pizarro's good fortune here who is reported to have found in one onely old Temple of the Natives the quantity of nine hundred thousand Ducats of Gold and Silver besides what his Soldiers are suppos'd to have seiz'd on and convey'd away before he came 9. Castro Verreina threescore Leagues distant from Lima to the South-East It lieth in the Valley of Chocolocha and is a rich Place by reason of the good Mines of Silver which are about it and abundance of the best sort of Tobacco 10. Miguel de la Ribera in the Valley of Camana The Inhabitants whereof drive a great Trade in Wine Figs and Raisins 11. The City Arequipa which extends up towards the Mountains is built in the Dale Quilca which runs eleven Leagues from the Sea under a healthful Climate but in the Year 1582. it was wholly ruin'd by an Earthquake the reason whereof is ascrib'd to the wet sulphurous Mountains which burns continually and sometimes vomits out Flames and Ashes The Marquess Pizarro built this City forty six years before the fore-mention'd Earthquake since which being re-built again soon attain'd to three hundred Houses besides a Church and Cloyster and though it be but a small Town yet it is of a great resort because the Gold and Silver is brought hither from the Mines Chancos Porco and Potosi and from thence sent down the River Quilca which washing the City Walls runs into the South Sea to Los Reyos and from thence to Panama Nombre de Dios and New Spain The Jurisdiction of this City Arequipa extends it self a vast way viz. over the spacious Valleys between Hacari and Tampaca and up in the Countrey beyond the County Condesuyo full of Hamlets and
a Storm which in twenty four hours blew from all Points of the Compass surprising him broke his Main-mast separated the whole Fleet and sunk the Flushing Frigat at last getting beyond the Isle Virgin Gorda the Fleet meeting again got to Juan de Porto Rico about the latter end of September into whose Haven Henrickszoon Sail'd with great courage The City Porto Rico surpriz'd by Henrickszoon notwithstanding the narrow Mouth thereof was guarded by a strong Fort full of Brass Guns which fir'd very fiercely upon him who on the other side was not idle in discharging his Guns on the Fort and had not the shallow Water before the City prevented his Landing that day he had gotten a far greater Booty than afterwards he met with for the Inhabitants had during the Low-water remov'd all their best Goods but the next Morning before Sun-rising the Admiral Landed with eight hundred Men march'd into the City without any resistance pitch'd the States Flag on the Governor's House guarded all Avenues unhoop'd all the Wine-Casks which he found there for fear his Men should make themselves Drunk therewith and so neglect their Duty fir'd from the Land-side towards the Castle with three Brass Guns gain''d the Redoubt built for the security of the Bridge which unites the small Isle on which Porto Rico is built with the great rais'd a Platform from whence he fir'd Day and Night with six Cannons guarded by Captain Thyene whilest the Commander Uzeel kept Watch near the Fort but his Men being most of them sick he could not do any great Exploits especially since the Spaniards Sallying out as they did daily kill'd many of the Hollanders Capt Vzeel slain and amongst them Captain Uzeel after he had shot down two Turrets from the Castle which damage the Enemy repair'd by taking several of the Hollanders Boats by which means they could not prevent fresh Supplies from going to the Castle the Besiegers in the mean time beginning daily to be in greater want for Ammunition and Provisions whereupon Henrickszoon judg'd it convenient to sound a Retreat after he had set the Ships belonging to the City Porto Rico on fire in four places In which Retreat he receiv'd so many farewel Shots from the Fort that they were forc'd to go to the Leeward to stop their Leaks and leave one of their Ships to the Enemy in lieu whereof the West-Capel Frigat took a Barque with four Brass Guns in the little Haven Sierra Gorda from whence the Fleet ran into the Western Bay of the Island Porto Rico where whilest they repair'd and took in fresh Provisions Henrickszoon sent the Ships Hester and Jonas richly laden for Holland the remaining part of the Fleet meeting with strong contrary Tydes at Porto Rico were necessitated to put into the Inlet Francisco where they made several Marches up into the Countrey to the loss of many of their Men which were kill'd by the Spaniards lying in Ambuscade amongst the Brambles that grew along by the Ways The Forâ— of Margarita taken by Henrickszoon In the middle of January Anno 1626. Henrickszoon Sailing about the North of Porto Rico steer'd to Dominico and from thence along the Isles Martinigo Luzia and the Promontory De tres Puntas towards the Island Margarita where Landing and Storming the Castle on the Land-side with fifteen Men he gain'd the first Breast-works but the Spaniards stopping up the Way along which they were to return they had without doubt been all slain had not the Captains Stapel and Estienne come to their assistance for the Spaniards seeing them climbing up the Bulwarks betook them to their Heels after they had kill'd nine of the fore-mention'd fifteen amongst whom were the Captains Urk and Molkman of those that leap'd over into the Ditch most part escap'd those few that were taken inform'd the Hollanders That the Way towards the Village inhabited by Spaniards was every where stopt up with Barricado's through which none were able to pass Hendrickszoon thus become Master of the Fort sent the Booty which he had gotten there together with three Brass and five Iron Guns aboard of his Ship blew up the Fort burnt all the Houses and ran into the Haven Muchina to which he gave the Denomination of Port Maurice where besides a great number of dry'd Fish he took forty Tun of Salt out of one Salt-pit After this he taking in fresh Provisions at St. Fe discover'd Aves a low Isle full of high Trees took above two hundred Sheep and abundance of red Wood on Bonaire and before the Coast a Spanish Frigat richly laden made Inspections into the Havens of Hispaniola and Jamaica from whence he fell back on the Coast of Porto Rico about the Island Mona where discovering four Spanish Ships he took three of them and burnt the fourth he also got abundance of Tortoises and Crocodiles on the great Caiman and took a new Ship between the little sandy Isles Caios as also before Cuba a Barque which inform'd him That the Fleet from the Honduras as also that from New Spain was daily expected at Havana Thence Sailing into the Haven Cabannas he took a new Vessel of a hundred Tun and abundance of Timber and Carpenters Tools one the Shore he Landed also with seven hundred Men on the East-side of the Haven from whence he march'd along a narrow Path a League up into the Countrey where he found a running Stream Pastures full of Cattel and a Village the Inhabitants whereof being warn'd by the Barking of their Dogs fled and left all manner of fresh Provisions to the Hollanders viz. above two thousand Oranges abundance of Lemmons Bananas Hogs Calves and Bacon all which having sent aboard they burnt the Village After this they took a Spanish Barque before Havana as also a Ship laden with Timber another Barque with Poultry Cochenile Money and Haberdashery Ware one Vessel with live Tortoises and another full of Salt dry'd Fish and some Merchandise While the Fleet was thus Cruising up and down before Havana the Admiral Henrickszoon dy'd a Man of most approv'd Valor and of great Conduct Herickszoon dying is succeeded by Adrian Cheszoon After which Adrian Cheszoon carry'd the Flag but the Men mutinying about the dividing of the Provisions which began to grow very scarce all things fell into great disorder the Seamen rebell'd against their Commanders saying That they had been out long enough and that they would not stay waiting any longer for the Fleet from New Spain or Honduras Wherefore steering Home they all arriv'd safe at the Texel and other places in Holland In our foregoing Relation we have given you an Account of the Fleet which came to assist the City of St. Salvador divided into two Squadrons eighteen Sail Boudewyn Henrickszoon kept under his Command and twelve Sail remain'd in the Admiral Veron's Squadron who Sail'd to the Inlet Serre Leona where he found the Admiral John Dirkszoon Lam with three Ships which had lay'n there above two Moneths by
AMERICA AMERICA BEING THE LATEST AND MOST ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEVV VVORLD CONTAINING The Original of the Inhabitants and the Remarkable Voyages thither THE CONQUEST OF THE VAST EMPIRES OF Mexico and Peru AND OTHER LARGE PROVINCES and TERRITORIES WITH THE SEVERAL EUROPEAN PLANTATIONS IN THOSE PARTS ALSO Their Cities Fortresses Towns Temples Mountains and Rivers Their Habits Customs Manners and Religions Their Plants Beasts Birds and Serpents WITH An APPENDIX containing besides several other considerable Additions a brief Survey of what hath been discover'd of the Vnknown South-Land and the Arctick Region Collected from most Authentick Authors Augmented with later Observations and Adorn'd with Maps and Sculptures by JOHN OGILBY Esq His Majesty's Cosmographer Geographick Printer and Master of the Revels in the Kingdom of IRELAND LONDON Printed by the Author and are to be had at his House in White Fryers M.DC.LXXI A Catalogue of the Authors which are either mention'd or made use of in this Volume of America ABraham Mellinus Abraham Mylius Adriaen vander Donk Aelian Albertus Magnus Aldrete Aelius Lampridius Alexander Aphrodiensis Alexander ab Alexandro Alexander Guaginus Alonso Garcia Alonso de Ouagli Andraeas Caesariensis Angrin Jonas Antonio de Herrera Apuleius Aristonicus Grammaticus Aristotle Athanasius Kircher Augustinus Augustin de Tarcate Augustus Thuanus Ayton of Armenia Balthazar de Amizquita Barnaba Cabo Bartholomaeo de las Casas Benjamin Tudalensis Caspar Barlaeus Castaldus Charles Rochfort Christopher Arcisseuski Cicero Claude de Abbeville Clemens Alexandrinus Conradus Gesner Cornelius Nepos Cornelius Witfleet Ctesias Curtius Cyrianus David Ingran David Powel Diodorus Siculus Dionysius Halicarnassaeus Dirk Ruiters Dithmar Blefken Duarte Mendez Seraon Egydius Fletcher Emanuel de Moraez Erasmus Stella Erick Roothaer Everhard Reid Eusebius Euthymius Zibagenus Festus Avienus Francisc Burmannus Francisc Delapuente Francisc de Gomara Francisc Lopes de Gomesa Francisc Raphelingius Francisc Soarez Francisc Tirolmonte Francisc Xaverius Fullerus Galenus Garcilasso de la Vega Genebrardus Gerardus Joannes Vossius Guido de Brez Guilielm Piso Guilielm Postellus Harmannus Moded Henrick Haelbos Henrick Hawks Hernando de Leon Herodotus Hesychius Hieronim Benzo Hieronim Cardanus Homer Hugo Grotius Hugo Linschot Jacob Bontius Jacob Planensis Jacob Rabbi Inca Garcilasso Joannes Ardenois Joannes Bertius Joannes Chilton Joannes Gysius Joannes Johnstonus Jean de Laet Joannes de Ledesma Joannes Leonclavius Joannes Lery Joannes Mariana Joannes Nieuwhof Joan. van de Sande Joseph Acosta Joseph Anchieta Joseph Scaliger Isaacus Pontanus Isaac du Verne Isidorus Mendes Sequera Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Scaliger Lactantius Lauren. Ananias Lauren. Bikker Lauren. Guascus Gerascius Lauren. Keymis Levinus Lemmius Lieven Aizma Lopez Vaz Lucan Lucretius Lodowick Leo Lysander Manethon Persa Marcus Zeno Martin del Barco Martin Perez Matthaeus van den Broeke Matthiolus Melchior Soiterus Mich. Lithower Michovius Miles Philips Moses Nicolaus Zeno Olympiodorus Paulus Venetus Pedro de Ancieta Pedro Pizarro Pedro Fernandez de Quir Pedro Maria Peter Martyr Pedro Ordonnes de Cevallos Peter van Gendt Philo Judaeus Philippus Cluverius Philippus Mornaeus Phylarchus Piere Moreau Pinedas Plato Pliny Plutarch Pomponius Mela Proclus Procopius Quarterius Rabbi Simeon Robertus Comtaeus Sam. Purchas Sebastiaen Schroten Simplicius Salust Sigismond Baro Strabo Theodosio Theopompus Thevet Tertullian Trigaut Vegetius Virgil THE CONTENTS of the several CHAPTERS and SECTIONS The first Book AMerica unknown to the Ancients Fol. 1 Of the Original of the Americans whence they came when how and from what People Planted Fol. 11 First Discoverers of America with Christopher Colonus his Expedition Fol. 43 Pedro Alphonso Nigno his Voyage Fol. 56 The Voyage of Vincent Agnes Pinzon Fol. 58 The Expedition of Americus Vesputius Fol. 60 The Expedition of Alphonso Fogeda Diego Nicuesa Ancisus and Roderick Col. menares Fol. 65 Peter Arias his Expedition and the remarkable Passages of Vascus Nunnez Fol. 69 The Expedition of Francisco Fernandez Lupo Caizedo Christophero Morantes Bernardo Igniguez and Juan Grisalva Fol. 76 The Expedition of Ferdinand Magaglian commonly call'd Magellan Fol. 79 Ferdinando Cortez his Voyage Fol. 81 Diego Gottierez his Expedition Fol. 92 The Expedition of Pedro Alvarado Francisco and Gonzalvo Pizarro and Diego de Almagro Fol. 95 The Expeditions of John Stade and Nicholas Durando Villegagnon Fol. 103 The Expedition of John Ribald Renatus Laudonier and Gurgie Fol. 105 Four English Expeditions under the Command of our famous Sea-Captains Martin Forbisher Sir Francis Drake Thomas Candish and John Smith Fol. 108 A Netherland Expedition by Jaques Mahu and Simon de Cordes Fol. 110 The Expedition of Oliver van Noord Fol. 113 The Expedition of George van Spilbergen Fol. 115 The Expedition of Corneliszoon Schouten and Jacob Le Maire Fol. 117 The Voyage of the Nassavian Fleet under the Command of Jaques le Heremite and Hugo Schapenham Fol. 120 Henry Brewer his Voyage Fol. 122 The Second Book OF the Bounds of America and of the Division of the Mexican or Northern part thereof Fol. 125 Estotiland Fol. 126 Terra Laboratoris Fol. 128 Canada or New France Fol. 129 Accadia or Nova Scotia Fol. 133 Norumbegua Fol. 138 New England Fol. 139 New Netherland now call'd New York Fol. 168 A new Description of Mary-Land Fol. 183 Virginia Fol. 192 The Relation of Captain Smith 's being taken Prisoner by Powhatan and his deliverance by his Daughter Pocahonta Fol. 202 Carolina Fol. 205 Florida Fol. 213 Jucatan Fol. 222 Guatimala Fol. 224 Vera Paz Fol. 227 Honduras Fol. 229 Nicaragua Fol. 232 Costarica Fol. 235 Veragua ibid. Guatimala properly so call'd ibid. The Kingdom of Mexico or New Spain Fol. 238 Mechoacan Fol. 261 Tlascalla Fol. 264 Guaxata Fol. 268 Panuco Fol. 270 Tabasco Fol. 273 New Gallicia Fol. 281 Guadalajara Fol. 284 Xalisco Fol. 285 Chiametla ibid. Couliacan Fol. 286 Cinoloa Fol. 288 Zacatecas Fol. 289 New Biscay Fol. 290 New Mexico Fol. 291 Cibola Tontonteac and Nova Granada Fol. 298 Quivira Fol. 301 Terra Nova or New-found Land with the Island of Assumption Fol. 304 The Bermudas or Summer-Islands Fol. 311 Hispaniola Fol. 314 Porto Rico and Monico Fol. 327 Cuba Fol. 331 Jamaica Fol. 337 The Islands call'd The Lucaies Fol. 344 The Caribbee-Islands Fol. 345 Anegada and Sombrero Fol. 362 Las Virgines Fol. 363 Anguilla ibid. Saba Fol. 364 St. Crux ibid. St. Martin Fol. 365 St. Bartholomew Fol. 367 Barboude Fol. 368 Rotonda ibid. Nevis ibid. Eustathius Fol. 369 Antego Fol. 370 Montserrat ibid. Guadalupe Fol. 371 Deseado Fol. 372 Marigalante ibid. Todos Sanctos Fol. 373 De Aves ibid. Dominico Fol. 375 Martinico Fol. 376 St. Lucia Fol. 377 Barbados ibid. St. Vincent Fol. 380 Bekia Fol. 381 Granada ibid. Tabago Fol. 382 St. Christophers Fol. 383 California Fol. 389 The Third Book CAstella Aurea otherwise call'd Terra Firma Fol. 394 Panama Fol. 395 Darien Fol. 399 New Andaluzia Fol. 400 St. Martha Fol. 403 Rio de la Hacha Fol. 405 New Granada Fol. 406 Granada Fol. 408 Popayana Fol. 409 Peru Fol. 412 Quito Fol. 441 Los Quixos Fol. 446 Lima
the Aegyptian Isthmus overflow'd by the Sea which afforded him a shorter passage But that is most probable which Strabo delivers that he then went to the borders of Aethiopia when he pass'd up Aegypt to the City of Thebes the Borders of Aethiopia being not far distant from thence in Strabo's time probably very near it in Homer's Aethiope Sidon Erembos found and Lybia where Their Lambs are horn'd their Ews teem thrice a year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which the Grecian Geographers relate concerning Ptolomy Euergetes King of Egypt is not to be forgotten That sending Pilots Remarkable Voyage of an Indian into Egypt Commission'd to take the Soundings and settle the Land-marks in the Arabian Gulph they found by chance a forsaken Vessel onely in it one Man half dead lying among several other breathless Bodies of whom being refresh'd with convenient Cordials they enquir'd his Fortune but he being unable to give them any present satisfaction neither understanding what the other said they sent him to the Court where soon having got a smattering of Greek he inform'd Euergetes that he was a Native Indian driven from their course into the place where they found him by stress of Weather and that his company were famish'd all their Provision spent in their Wandrings from their intended Voyage Thus being kindly entertain'd he also promis'd the King to open his Passage if so he pleas'd into India The King slept not upon this Intelligence but immediately prepar'd a Fleet Freighted with such Commodities as were advis'd Of Ptolomy into India with which setting forth by the Conduct of this their Indian Pilot they Anchor'd in their desir'd Port and brought the King in return from thence a rich Cargo of Silk Spices costly Drugs and precious Gems Cleopatra about sixty years after intending not to lose the advantages reap'd by the former discoveries And also of Cleopatra equipp'd another and greater Navy which passing through the Red-Sea found the Stern of a Ship on which was Presented a Horse whereby some of the more knowing Sea-men judg'd that it had been a Gibraltar Vessel and Sailing about Africa there by sad accident suffer'd a Wrack This Stern was afterwards set up and fix'd as a Memorial in the Market-place of Memphis In these later times the first that endeavor'd to drive an European Trade in Africk and held Commerce with India was the State of Venice who Sail'd from thence through the Adriatick into the Mediterranean-Sea The Venetians were the first that drove a trade from Europe to the East-Indies So Steering for Alexandria where unlading their Goods from thence they carry'd them over Land and Shipping again in the Arabian Gulph Sail'd directly for India Thus by Land and Water were exchang'd several Commodities and the Indian Growth and rich Products of the Oriental World plentifully Transported to Venice and from thence all Europe had ample Accommodation How they went their journeys until an Egyptian Sultan suffer'd the Way to be infested by Thieves and Murdering Robbers that so they were enforc'd to remove thence and Dischage their several Cargoes at Aleppo from whence on Mules and Camels they carry'd their Goods to Babylon so to Balsarum and then to Ormus where they Re-ship'd thence directly standing for India Thus they enjoy'd the benefit of so great a Trade and Commerce until the Portuguese found a Passage by Sea saving the Expence and trouble of carrying Goods so far by Land to India Of which here we will a little inlarge By what means the Portuguese came first to discover the Coasts of Africa and India John the first King of Portugal who took from the Moors by force of Arms Septa an African City having five Sons Henry his fourth behav'd himself so gallantly in the Leaguer of Septa that after he became Master of the place this Prince made many bold Excursions in several Parties against the Enemy bringing in daily great store of Booty so growing rich he Rigg'd out two new Vessels to make farther Discoveries along the Coast of Africa Yet this his Expedition went on but slowly being much taken off in Building there a new City then call'd Tarzanabala and since Villa Infantis but being Admonish'd by a Dream and Check'd for his laying thus aside his first Design of Navigation he soon after Anno 1410. set forth the Ships that he intended which he the more accelerated being inform'd by some of his Prisoners Natives that Africa spread from the Basis of Mount-Atlas very far towards the South Why Africa was no further discover'd This Mountain then was the Terminary of Navigation that way because thereabouts a long Ridge or Shelf of Sands thrust its Point under Shallow Waters so far out into the Ocean that none durst venture to Sail into the Offin being out of sight of Land to double this conceal'd Cape Who first ventur'd into the Offin The first that attempted to find Deep Water and get round about discovering several unknown Coasts and Uninhabited Isles belonging to that Region were Joannes Gonsalves Tristan Varseus and Aegidius Annius amongst which were the Madera's Madera's by whom peopled and St. George de Picho which Prince Henry first Planted with Portuguese and others since with Netherlanders He also obtain'd a Grant from Pope Martin the Fifth of all the discover'd Territories East-ward from the Canaries for ever to be the undoubted Right and belonging to the Crown of Portugal After Henry's Decease Anno 1460. the business of Navigation and Discoveries of new Countreys lay neglected because King Alphonso turmoyl'd in a Civil War his Crown being at stake had not leisure to think or look after uncertain improvements by Sea yet at last having quell'd his Enemies he ventur'd forth some Ships who Sail'd as far as the River Zenaga and came to Anchor before the City of Genny By whom Genny was discover'd famous since for Trade which gave its denomination to the Countrey and Coasts of Guiny where they dealing Barter'd for Ivory Gold Slaves and also got so much footing into the Countrey that they suddenly rais'd up a Fort and Man'd it with a strong Garrison Shipping their Slaves for Lisbon John the Second succeeding his Father Alphonso had a great design upon Arabia and India and if possible was ambitious to open a Passage from the Atlantick to the Oriental-Seas But the difficulty lay in Steering so often from sight of Land venturing into the Main Ocean obstructed by so many dangerous Shoals that lay so far out into the Offin At that time flourish'd three famous Mathematician Rhoderick Joseph and Martin Bohemus Pupils bred up by Joannes Monteregius with which the King consulting perswaded that they would by their Art invent some Instrument that by Southern Constellation the Pole
such a bustle amongst the Learned that several tired themselves about the explanation of the suppos'd Sibylline Prediction CHAP. II. Of the Original of the Americans whence they came when how and from what People Planted The original of the Americans much disputed on ABout the Original of the Americans the Learned Dispute so much that they find nothing more difficult in Story than to clear that Point for whether inquiry be made after the time when the Americans first settled themselves where they now inhabit or after what manner they came thither either by Shipping or by Land on purpose or accidentally driven by Storm or else forc'd by a more powerful People to remove from their old Plantations and seek for new or if any one should be yet more curious asking the way that directed them out of another Countrey to this New World or else enquire for those People from whom the Americans deriv'd themselves He will find several Opinions and the Learned still Jangling The first Doubt is concerning the time Voyagel l. 1. c. 8. Mr. Purchas where-ever he had the Hint endeavors to prove that America hath been but lately Planted for which he thus argues That if Asia or Europe furnish'd America with People in Abraham's time or at least before the Birth of our Saviour then it must upon necessity by the Expiration of so many Ages have been much more Populous then the Spaniards found when first they discover'd it The time when America was first Peopled Besides the vast Territories yet unhabited says he are sufficient testimonies that this New World hath been Planted but scatteringly and not many Ages since else the Countrey would have more abounded with Inhabitants because the fertility of the Soyl was able plentifully to maintain Millions more then were there when first discover'd And what Marks are better to know a new People by in any Countrey than a rude Life and unsettled Government just like a Family removing to another House which takes no short time to settle their Goods and Houshold-stuff in a handsome and convenient Order The condition of the first World after the Floud When Noah went out of the Ark on Mount Ararat and not long after saw his Seed spread over Armenia and Assyria the new Generation of People consisted in Shepherds and Husbandmen that setled themselves near Lakes and Rivers Villages Cities and much less whole Kingdoms were scarce found on the Face of the Earth and as little of Trade or Commerce Riches Division of Lands costly Garments and Furniture for Houses were not then in use but the works of long settlements in happy Peace To curb growing-Wickedness and the Pride of Libertines who incroach'd upon their weaker Neighbors Laws were invented by which Bridle the unbroke or wild World grew tamer And first the Assyrians were brought to endure the Bit and answer the Reins of Government then Egypt next Greece and after that the Romans who spreading their Power by Arms and Martial Discipline first civiliz'd the Gauls Spain Brittain and lastly Germany But because a Countrey or Pastoral Life knowing no Commerce but mean Hovels and to dwell in Huts priding in poor and no Habits despising all greatness unlimited by Laws and all things else which the People observ'd presently after the Flood is now found among the Americans who will take them for ought else but new Comers to that Land as themselves acknowledge For the Mexicans boast that they are the eldest there and that from them Peru Chili Chika and other Countreys towards the South had their Colonies and yet the oldest Chronicles of Mexico reckon not above a thousand Years Thus far Mr. Purchas But certainly all this Muster of appearing Reasons is not able to vanquish single Truth For grant that America was not very Populous when the Spaniards first arrived there America was Peopled many Ages ago must this needs prove that it was never well inhabited before Perhaps the Civil Wars which have been always destructive to this Nation have much hindred the increase of People and the more because their Salvage Nature is such that in several places they account Man's Flesh Broil'd a very great Dainty Purchas contradicted And suppose such Prodigal Excess of their Humane Bankets were not us'd in America as indeed they are Is it wonder that such a great part of the World not onely exceeding Europe in bigness but Asia also should here and there have a Tract of Land uninhabited These might by reason of their Barrenness be useless as many such places are found in the midst of the most Populous and fertile Countreys But above all this it is certain that America to this day notwithstanding almost innumerable thousands of Indians formerly Slain arid Massacred by the Spaniards is so well inhabited that it may stand in Competition with either Asia or Europe And how could such vast multitudes Plant the far-spreading Countrey of America without the help of many Ages Moreover This truth is not without sufficient Testimonies when any one looks on the Islands with which America lies incompass'd he may suppose they did not willingly go from the Main Continent to the Isles but were driven thither by Wars among themselves or as most times it happens because of the vast increase of the Natives the Countrey must discharge its burden Hereto is added the several Languages us'd in America as in Europe or any other part of the known World whereby we may easily guess that America was Peopled presently after the Confusion of Tongues at Babel Furthermore If the Americans live a Rude Life go meanly Habited be without stately Houses such Customs are even among us observ'd by several People as the Tartars Numidians and others which made their Antiquity be call'd in question He also must needs have no knowledge of the Arts and Mechanick Sciences us'd by the Americans who concludes that they setled but lately in America One Argument at present will be sufficient to contradict them all and in the further Description the contrary will be more manifest American Gold-Smiths Hieronimus Benso relates That he stood amaz'd at the Gold and Silver Smiths in the Territory of Chito who without any Iron Tools made Images and all manner of Vessels Which work they performed thus First they made an Oval Crucible of a good Look round about Pasted with Earth embody'd with the Powder of Wood Coals which Crucible being Bak'd very hard in the Sun they fill with Pieces of Gold or Silver and put in the Fire about which standing with five six or more Pipes made of Canes they blow the Fire so long till the Mettal melts which others sitting on the ground run it into Moulds of black Stone and so with little trouble Cast into what shape they please Lastly Though Mexico can reckon but a thousand years must it therefore follow that the Inhabitants are no older How many famous places even among our selves have no longer Registers and
cap. 1. Description of Atlas Pliny speaks after the same manner saying The Writers make mention that Atlas rises out of the middle of the Sands with a Shrubby and Bushy top towards the Sky on the Shore of the Ocean to which he gives his Denomination That it is full of Woods and water'd by several Fountains on that side towards Africa by which means it bears all manner of Fruit. In the Day-time none of the Inhabitants appear all things being in silence as in the middle of a Desart the Approacher is struck with sudden amazement And besides its excessive high Crown reaching above the Clouds and neighboring as they say the Circle of the Moon appears in the Night as if it were all in a Flame resounding far and near with Pipes Trumpets and Cymbals and the Journey up thither very long and dangerous I cannot understand that Pliny can mean America by this because himself in the first Division of his Fifth Book makes his beginning with the Description of Africa And as to what further concerns the strange Relation and danger thereof is a little before related in Hanno's Voyage and it is but a slight Argument to prove it America because it seems to resound with those sorts of Instruments which the Americans were observ'd to use when discover'd Pomponius Mela being the third Lib. 1. cap. 4. hath no greater Arguments than the former We hear says he that utmost People towards the West Strange Men. being the Atlanticans are rather half Beasts than Men cloven-footed without Heads their Faces upon their Breasts and naked with one great Foot like Satyrs or Goblins which range up and down without any Artificial Shelters or Houses Lastly Lib. 3. cap. 18. Aelian seems to say something when he sets down the Discourse between Midas and Silenus Discourse between Midas and Silenus concerning the Unknown World out of Theopompus where Silenus relates That Europe Asia and Lybia are Islands and that a vast Countrey lyes beyond this his tripple-divided World mighty Populous and abounding with all other Living Creatures as big again as ours and living twice as long That they are wondrous rich their Religions Laws and Customs founded upon another Morality and Reason quite different from ours They boast especially of two great Cities Machimus and Eusebes the Inhabitants of the first maintaining themselves by driving altogether a Trade of War mustering up and filling their numerous Regiments with several valiant Nations The Listed Citizens amount in their Muster-Rolls all bred to Soldiery to two Millions of whom few but scorn either dying bravely by Wounds receiv'd with Flint-edg'd Laths and Staves in stead of Spears pointed with Stones not knowing the use of Iron or Steel but so over-stock'd with Gold and Silver that they account it a Drug of less Value than our basest Metal Some Years since they march'd into our World a hundred thousand strong as far as the Hyperborean Mountains where being inform'd that all the Nations of our World compar'd with them liv'd in a poor and despicable condition as not thinking them worth their Conquest they return'd But the second City Eusebes deals altogether in Peace and its Citizens are not rapacious but exercise Justice so much affecting Morality and Divine Worship that they conquer Heaven by their Piety and Meekness and the Gods themselves are pleas'd to descend and advise with them concerning their Celestial Affairs Who observes not this to be a Poetical Relation shewing how much better the Acquirements of Peace are than those of War the one conquering only Men the other the Gods Nor can more be taken out of Aelian's Discourse but that the Ancients believ'd there was another Habitable World to be our Antipodes Thus far hath been disputed concerning the Original of the Americans whose Plantations from Tyre or Carthage by Sea are found altogether invalid Yet we will search a little further Inquiries whether the Constitutions of the Phenicians agree with the Americans to see whether the People Analogize either in their Religion Policy Oeconomy or Customs It is certain that the ancient Phenicians liv'd in Tents and sometimes exchang'd eaten-up Pastures for fresh which the Americans to this day observe by which it might appear that they are of a Phenician Extract But why not as well deriv'd from Numidia Tartary or the ancient Patriarchs who all liv'd such an unsettl'd wandering Life Besides the Phenicians had a long time given over Pastoral Business for Maritime Affairs of greater consequence not only Merchandizing through all the World but sending great Colonies in Ships to new Plantations And moreover the Americans could not so strangely degenerate from their Ancestors but would have built great Cities like them of which many were found in Phenicia but none of Antiquity in America As also both their Religions As to their Religion if it agreed with the Phenicians it was the same that all the World profess'd at that time and therefore may as well be extracted from any other as them 'T is true we find them inclind to Sorcery and dealing with Evil Spirits as the Phenicians in which they were not only guilty but all other Nations at that time The Known World formerly full of Witches Nay why not as well transported out of Asia or Europe where were formerly many the like Tamperers and those that dealt in such Diabolical Sciences And why not from Salmantica where as Laurentius Ananias relates De Nat. Daemon l. 3. Magick-Arts were publickly taught and they commenc'd Doctors and took their Degrees according to their Learning The Devil also hath publick Worship amongst the Americans and so he had with the Phenicians yet not only they but the whole World had dedicated Temples to him Lucan lib. 6. Here began Humane and Infernal Sacrifices supposing that Evil Spirits were delighted and so feasted with the Steam of Humane Offerings whose sweetness made them milder and so intoxicating lull'd them into less mischief Devil-worship formerly us'd in all the World and now by the Americans How famous is Zoroaster and the whole School of the Eastern Magicians In Moses's time this Wickedness had already took place Nor can it be deny'd but that the Phenicians carry'd their Idols in their Ships Lev. 17.6 as Herodotus testifies Idols in Ships saying The Image of Vulcan much resembles the Phenicians Patacoioi which they plac'd on the Fore-castle of their Ships In like manner the Americans when they go to Sea carry their Idols with them and the Ships took Name from the Image which was either painted or carv'd on the Stern or plac'd elsewhere upon the Deck The same Custom the Chineses observe to this present Francis Xaverius relates That he sail'd in a Chinese Vessel from Goa to Japan which bore an Idol in its Stern before which the Master lighted Candles perfum'd it with Aloe-wood and offer'd Birds and other Food inquiring of it the Event of his Voyage Sometimes he judg'd
Pottage by its proper Name And Edom setling himself on Mount Seir a part of the Stony Arabia Phenicians deriv'd from Esau and on the Coast of the Red-Sea gave denomination to it because that Sea was much frequented and Navigated by his Successors The Greeks call it Erythreum from Erythros who is the same with Esau and likewise signifies Red. Hereto is added That Phaeix and Erythros have the same signification in the Greek So then these Idumeans taking the name of Phenicians from the great Phaenix spread themselves far and near under mighty Kings by Navigation in the Red-Sea and from thence Planted several Coasts and Islands removing at last to Syria The seventh King of Edom Moses reckoneth to be Baal-hanan which name Gen 36 3â— by transposing the Syllables the famous Carthaginian General Hannibal bare Moreover it may easily be demonstrated that the Phenicians Extracted from Heber have formerly spoke Hebrew and since Arabick for they dwelt before their removing in the Stony Arabia St. Jerom saith Com. in Jâ—â—â— the Punick Tongue agrees for the most part with the Hebrew And St. Austin tells us that many nay In Ps â—30 l. â— c. 3 Punick Tongue Hebrew most of the Carthaginian words are Hebrew Elisa Dido the first Foundress of Carthage proves this for Elisa or Elissah with the Hebrews denotes A Lamb of my God and Dido A Lover But who can find the least likeness between the Hebrew or Arabick Tongue with the Americans Lastly Since the Phenicians acknowledge Esau for a Father what then concerns the Americans the curse of Canaan since they are no more Extracted from Canaan than the Phenicians Thus much concerning the Phenicians If the Americans were deriv'd from thâ— â—ews or the ten Tribes of Israel Some would derive the Americans from the Jews others from the ten Tribes of Israel carry'd into captivity The ground of which Opinions is That the Jews and Israelites were scatter'd amongst all Nations therefore they conclude that America was also Peopled by them the rather because the antient Jews and Americans were of one Complexion and went a like Habited both going without Shooes onely wearing Sandals and an upper Coat over a shorter Linnen Vest Both are humble quick of apprehension and obliging yet Valiant But it is certain they cannot be like the Jews Is contradicted because the Americans change their Habit according as they live in cold or hot Countreys and go not in the least like one another Father Immanuel relates That he saw a Brasilian not onely stoutly make his party good against three Portugal Soldiers but had it not been by meer chance worsted them Lastly What Ceremonies of Religious Rites are observ'd by the Americans which are used in Judaism The Jews indeed have transplanted their Circumcision amongst divers Eastern People and have they onely forgot the first Ceremony and signal Badge of their Religion in America which yet not onely they but those Mahumetans and other Sectaries punctually observe This makes evident their scatterings about the Face of the Earth but will not bring them to reach America Jews distribution The Sacred Text sets forth a two-fold description of the Jews The one before the Birth of our Saviour when they liv'd as strangers in Pontus 1. Pet. 1.1 Scaliger in Notes ad N. T. Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia Jerusalem was their Metropolis although others had their chief residence in Babylon and Alexandria for there was an Asiatick and a European dispersion those of Asia had Babylon for their chief City and us'd in their Synagogues the Chaldean Translation of the Bible The Europeans kept their Seat at Alexandria where they had a Temple like that of Jerusalem and whilst they employ'd themselves in the Greek Version of the Holy Scripture by the seventy two Interpreters under Ptolomeus Philadelphus Joh. 7.35 they were call'd Wandering Greeks Therefore certainly the Americans are not deriv'd from these Jews and with as little reason from those which by Titus Vespasian after the destruction of Jerusalem were driven into several Countreys for they were never permitted that I may borrow the words of St. Cyprian to set forward one step L. de Idolo vanitate though but as Pilgrims towards their Native Countrey but strictly forbidden not to assemble or meet together in any considerable number which would have been necessary if they intended to Plant a new World A small seeming Testimony is added being taken out of the fourth Book of Esdras 2 Reg. 17.6 that the ten Tribes of Israel that were carry'd away by Salmanassar with their King Hosea to Nahalah Habor the River Gozan and the Cities of the Medes might be acknowledged for the first Planters of America Concerning which 4 Esd 13.40 41 42 43 44 45 46. Esdras saith thus The ten Tribes brought over into another Countrey consulted that they should forsake the multitude of the Heathens and travel to a remoter Countrey where no Generation of Mankind had ever liv'd before there they would maintain their Laws which they had not observ'd in their Countrey Whereupon they went thither thorow the narrow entrances of the River Euphrates for the Almighty stopt the Vains of the River till they were past over for thorow the Countrey was a way of a year and halfs Journey wherefore that Tract of Land is call'd Assareth then they liv'd there till the last time But since these Books of Esdras were not Written by a Prophet either in the Hebrew Tongue or allow'd by the Jews to be the Word of God or any where taken notice of in the New Testament wherefore then is Assareth more America than any other remoter Countrey L. 5. in Ezek. l. 6. in Jerom. St. Hierom who certainly had a peculiar knowledge of the condition of the ten Tribes of Israel because he liv'd in Asia and held Correspondence with the Jews that he might perfectly learn the Hebrew Tongue relates That the ten Tribes St. Hierome liv'd about the Year four hundred under the Emperor Theodosius underwent great slavery in the Cities of Medes and Persians so that this strange Voyage to Assareth which must have happen'd long before St. Hierom's time may be Recorded amongst the other Legends of the Rabbies concerning their Behemoth and Leviathan who lock'd up the Souls of those that sleighted their Laws 4 Esd 6.49 50. 14.21 4.41 in Caves under ground as Esdras Antient condition of the Persians And how little opportunity the Israelites had to remove since his time may appear by the horrible Destruction that was made for several Ages together in Persia and Media for although the Persians became Masters again of the Realm Conquer'd by Alexander the Great whilst Alexander's Successors invaded one another yet they were continually in War either against the Romans or else the Indians and other Eastern People nay the Saracens wrested the Scepter out of their hand though but for a small time for
since found by credible Navigators and therefore we cannot depend on Zeno's Discovery The Ameriecan Tongue is nothing like the Norwegian John de Laet accounts it a great mistake in Grotius that as a testimony of the Americans original out of Norway he compares their Languages He reckons up some Places to be Northward of Panama which end their words with the syllable Lan in stead of Land because the Spaniards have left out the Letter D at the end thereof It is certain that in the Northern America lie Cimatlan Coatlan Guescolan Artlan Quaxutatlan Icatlan Tapatlan Cinacatlan Tenuchitlan Comitlan Metzitlan Guatitlan Necotitlan Curcatatlan Besides that most of these Names are not of Countreys but of Towns and Villages and therefore no ways fitting to have the termination of Land and it is well known that many ny American words end with Lan which signifie nothing less than Land for the Mexicans say Puertatitlan which signifies At the Gate below Ochachitlantzitlan Yet lower Tenoxtitlan this City is also call'd from her Founder Mexis Mexico that is Rests on a Rock Moreover it may not without reason seem strange to any that the Northern Americans have remembred but three Cities out of all the Teutonick Tongue viz. Lan in stead Land Groenland when discovered Concerning Groenland through which the Norwegians are thought to have travell'd to America Lysander witnesseth Serm. 3. Antiq. Daâ—â—â— That it was accidentally discover'd by one Eric Rauder Anno 987. and planted thirteen years after Olaus King of Norway plac'd two Bishops over the new Inhabitants as Substitutes to the Archbishop of Dronthen For four Ages they Sail'd frequently to Groenland but since their King was impoverish'd by War they left off that Trade We find not in any Author that the Norwegians which liv'd along the Sea-shore ever went to seek a Way over the inaccessible Snowy Mountains of Groenland to this our New World Besides Grotius stands for the Norwegians as Planters upon testimony of the Mexicans themselves who told the Spaniards That their Ancestors which planted there came from the North first setling themselves on Estotiland where to this day there are not improbable proofs by several remarks that they were a Norwegian Colony The opinion conceâ—â—â—â— the City Norumbega 〈◊〉 America In the American City Norumbega live a People that speak the same Language and observe the same Customs with the Mexicans In this by-Corner are found also some Alavards or Longobards or Lombards as they say Now the Spaniards call that New Mexico because last discover'd though indeed the old cramm'd with People eight hundred years since for the Mexicans of New Mexico do not lie so far Northerly as to the North-west for this Mexico lies in sight of California which is believ'd to border on Tartary or at least separated from it by a narrow Channel But Norumbega if ever such a Place was must according to the West-Indian Records have been situate where a part of New France lies now planted by the English between which and New Mexico lies an almost unmeasurable vast Tract of Land Mean while here is not the least sign of this City Norumbega to be found neither do the Inhabitants dwell in Cities but live in Tents or moveable Villages which change their Names as oft as their Governors Moreover the Norwegians could not get to this Norumbega by Land through Ysland and Groenland to Estotiland because of the vast Bays and great Midland-Sea discover'd by the English in their North-western Discoveries so that leaving Estotiland it was altogether impossible for them to come to Norumbega Hereto may be added what the Mexicans say of themselves who acknowledge That travelling from the North they did not find an un-inhabited Countrey before them but were forc'd to make their Way by a long and bloody War with the Chichimecen a salvage People Chichimecen that knew neither Laws or Religion The People also dwelling opposite to California differ from the Customs of the Mexicans being divided into several People of contrary Constitutions and as different Languages They are so much inclin'd to Gaming that they venture their Liberty at it Every one is satisfi'd with one Wife except some of the Nobility which oftentimes have more They throw up high Banks in several places to damm out the Sea believe the Immortality of the Soul every one eats at a peculiar Table most of them go naked onely caver their Pudenda with a Cloth some Sacrifice and eat Mans-flesh all which according to Tacitus Pliny Lucan and other Roman Writers was observ'd by the antient Germans from whom those that inhabit between the Norwegian Mountains were extracted These Allegations to make the Norwegians to be the Parents of the Northern Americans John de Laet thus contradicts It no ways follows that one People take original from the other because here and there are several words found that have the same signification and sound in divers Countreys much less when they must either add change or diminish several Letters Moreover there is no small mistake in the compar'd words for Pagod is not us'd all over America the East-Indians about the River Indus call their Idol-Temples Pagod or Pagode the word Guaira is no where us'd in America but by the Peruvians and with them not signifying a Fan but a little Oven neither is Ilama a Lamb for before the coming of the Spaniards thither neither Sheep nor Lambs were ever seen in Peru but a Wool-bearing Beast thus describ'd by Joseph de Acosta A description of the strange Beast Ilama in Peru. Ilama says he a four-footed Creature furnishes its Master with Meat and Clothing and supplies the office of a Beast for Burthens and at no charge for Hay nor Provender well satisfi'd with what he finds in the Ways or Mountains But the Ilama's are of two sorts either woolly or short-hair'd the first go by the Name Pacos the other Moromoro being not much less than a Calf with a long Neck like a Camel but of several colours for some are white some black and others speckled having an odd Look especially when they are ty'd and stand still without any motion staring with goggle-eyes on their Owners Sometimes in a moody humor upon a sudden taking a freak they run up to the top of almost inaccessible Mountains where both the frantick Beast and his Burthen are loft The Pacos sometimes likewise takes sudden Pets and fustian Fits often doing the forward Supersalt tumbling over and over with their Goods and will not be rais'd their moodiness continuing with beating nay though they cut them to pieces but the best way is to sit down by them and wait some hours till their humor being spent they rise again of their own accords These Beasts are much inclin'd to a Disease call'd Carashe or the Mange of which they generally die and because the Disease is very catching they straight bury the infected alive so the better to preserve the rest Grotius also mistakes when
Court that were brought over thither by Columbus Moreover Hoieda was inform'd here That this Gold-River took its Original in the Province belonging to Cacicus Caunaboa signifying The King of the Golden Palace Columbus builds a City Mean time Columbus selected a piece of Ground on a rising Hill on the North part of the Isle where he intended to build a City because close by the Hill on one side rises a Mountain pregnant with Stone and Chalk on the other a Plain so exceeding fruitful and pleasant that the Sun scarce shines upon a more delightful and fertile Soil which they found afterwards by experience Here Melons are set and ripe in thirty six days Corn in two Months Strange fruitfulness there twice a Year the Trees and Plants bring forth their several Products the Vines come to maturity and are loaden with Clusters of Grapes in two Years and Sugar-Canes grow as thick as a Mans Arm in fifteen days On this pleasant Soil accommodated with a convenient Haven Columbus afterwards built the City Isabella fortified with Walls and Trenches against all Invasions over which he made his Brother Bartholomew Columbus first Governor Mean while the Admiral Columbus himself march'd up into the Countrey with three hundred Men in quest of the Gold Mines Seventy two Leagues the Valley Cibava lies distant from Isabella to which Columbus pass'd over swift Currents and high Mountains where he built a Fort which he call'd St. Thomas and exchang'd with the Inhabitants Toys and Trifles for Pieces and Ingots of Gold which the Inhabitants as before-mention'd found in the Sand of their Rivers And besides they inform'd him That about half a days Journey further greater Quantities of Gold were to be found in a browner colour'd Soil Whereupon Luxanus one of his Officers was sent with a sufficient Party thither who march'd through a delightful way cool with shady Boughs and pleasant with the prospect of spacious Meadows where they mow'd Grass for their Horses which in four days time grew up again higher than our tallest Wheat Goes to Sea to discover new Countreys Mean time Columbus being return'd with great Riches to his new City Isabella went soon after by Sea with three Vessels to discover new Countreys more remote which his Design fell out also successfully for he fell first upon Jamaica where he found more stout Opposition than elsewhere by the Natives at his Landing but finding themselves over-power'd they came to Agreement and accepting an amicable Composure presently struck up a Peace From thence putting to Sea he next discover'd Cuba which sailing round about he found also to be an Island where Landing in a convenient Harbor on each fenc'd with a high and jutting Rock he espied two little Hovels wherein was abundance of Fish besides two great Snakes or Serpents each having eight Feet spitted and ready to be laid to the Fire to be roasted but neither Man Woman nor Child to be seen they being gone with part of the Fish they had dress'd into the adjacent Woods whither the Spaniards following saw hanging by small Strings on the Branches of Trees abundance of Snakes some of which had their Mouths tied together others their Tongue and Teeth pull'd out Hence marching on a little beyond they saw a Company of the Natives which they judg'd to be about seventy Men covering the top or summit of a Hill to whom the Spaniards made Signs and to entice them near shew'd several of their gawdy Trifles but in vain till at last one adventur'd descending from the Hill to whom one of the Natives who in the first Voyage that the Admiral made was taken from the Island Guanahaini near Cuba carried to Spain and there Christned call'd aloud telling him they need not fear they should have no harm done them which said they came down all together and inform'd them That they were sent by their King to catch Fish for another King which was with him at Dinner and if they had not eaten the Serpents they gave them many thanks for they were provided for the second Course and very scarce to be got being a greater Dainty than any Fish Discovers not without great Accidents several New Countreys Columbus From hence proceeding on further Westward discover'd a fruitful Coast verging the Mouth of a River whose Water runs boyling hot into the Sea Somewhat further he saw very strange Fishes especially the Guaican not unlike an Eel but with an extraordinary great Head over which hangs a Skin like a Bag. This Fish is the Natives Fisher for having a Line or handsom Cord fastned about him so soon as a Turtel or any other of his Prey comes above Water they give him Line whereupon the Guaican like an Arrow out of a Bowe shoots towards the other Fish and then gathering the Mouth of the Bag on his Head like a Purse-net holds them so fast that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the Water Here the Spaniards having Din'd on delicate Fish went on still Westward and came to an uninhabited Isle but well stor'd with Geese Pelicans and ugly Dogs that could not bark Here they came amongst so many Shoals that the Keels of their Ships raked upon the Ground almost forty Leagues together the Water thick and white like Milk Lastly they came again into deep Water and Landed at the Foot of a high Mountain on the Island Cuba where they found two Springs of very sweet Water A Musqueteer going into the Woods whilst the rest fill'd their Vessels with Water and cut Wood he spied a tall Man in a Coat like a white Fryer's Frock behind whom came two more and soon after thirty more follow'd all alike Habited the Musqueteer running away they beckned him to stay but he march'd off arid informing Columbus of his Adventure he sent a Party well Arm'd to see farther into the Countrey but they neither saw nor heard any Men onely found on the other side of the Wood a great Plain but so overgrown with deep Grass that it was impossible to get through The next day he sent out twenty five more which found nothing else than the Prints of the Steps of great Beasts and Lyons and also abundance of large Grapes which hung on the Branches of Vines clasping about the Bodies of the great Trees Hence Columbus again putting to Sea and Sailing Westerly found a Shore overflow'd with Water and abounding with Pearl-Mussles and after that the whole Countrey full of Mountains whose tops smoaked By this time the Fleet was much damnified by the Shole-water where as we mention'd before they often struck and their Keels rak'd upon the Ground so that having sprung several Leaks and their Provisions growing mouldy with the Damp they were forc'd to return and Tacking about they ran against Turtles which lay as thick in the Sea as if they had been sow'n Columbus now on his return home and Landing once more on Cuba found an antient Man stark naked who speaking to him
they enter their Temple viz. they either draw Blood out of their Tongues Lips Ears Breast Knees or Palm of their Hands which they throw into the Air supposing thereby to be pardon'd by their indulgent Gods Zempoal a City In the City Zempoal Cortez found five Slaves who being kept close Prisoners were to be Sacrific'd the next day but he releasing them did upon the importunate request of the Quines or Priests and promises of great ransoms and their telling of him that the Zemez would spoil all their Seed and Plants that year if they did not go on with these Offerings restor'd the Prisoners again who though the enjoyments of all happinesses in the other World were promis'd them by their Priest and great assurance given thereof yet they were not forward but return'd unwilling to suffer though by so gainful a Sacrifice Zemez wonderful Idols At the Zemez Feet hung abundance of Mens Bones bundled up together and under them were Written the Names of their Enemies whose Flesh had been either Sacrific'd or eaten Twelve Leagues beyond Zempoal Cortez built a new City near the River Grisalva and call'd it Vera Crux which Diego Velasques resented so ill it being done without his knowledge that he petition'd the Council of Cuba to give Sentence of Death against the Founder But whilst Cortez expected an answer from the Embassadors which were sent to the Spanish Court to give account of the necessity of building a City there he travell'd eighty Leagues Westerly The Zempoalensers accompanied him in great Troops hoping by that means to shake off the yoke of the mighty King Montezuma against whom they were then design'd Cortez coming into the Territory of Sincuchimalar Cortez his Exploits was in the Name of Montezuma by one of his Princes courteously entertain'd in a great Village scituate on a steep Mountain without any Path or Way leading to it but by two high Ladders Sincuchimalar lies surrounded with Hills whose tops seem to touch the Clouds Coming down from the Village they travell'd through a barren and cold Valley where they suffer'd such great Inconveniences by want of Provisions and Water and exceeding coldness of the Weather that many of them perish'd After that they ascended a pleasant Hill on whose summit stood a Chappel with a handsom Steeple and hedg'd about with great heaps of Wood brought thither by the Inhabitants for the use of their Sacrifices At the foot of this Mountain was a fruitful Valley water'd by a pleasant River on whose Banks a certain Prince nam'd Cacataminus had a Palace built of Stone and containing many Rooms and convenient Lodgings Somewhat higher to the Land appear'd more of the like Structures which were all under Montezuma's Jurisdiction but the neighboring Countrey Tlaxcalla whose Inhabitants were famous for their Valor would never receive any Laws from Montezuma Remarkable War in Tlaxcalla Cortez no sooner set footing in this Countrey but he was set upon by a thousand of the Inhabitants who at the first Assault kill'd two of the Spanish Horse yet after this bold Charge the Assailants fled and on the next day desir'd Peace whereupon the Spaniards march'd quietly into the Countrey when a confus'd Company or Forlorn-Hope making a horrible Noise set upon them but after a slight Skirmish they fled to their Main Body which immediately drawing up being at least a hundred thousand hemm'd in the handful of Spaniards and so were ready to swallow them leaving them no Angle to escape at Thus invironed they were assailed on every side fighting till Sun-set and had undoubtedly been utterly destroy'd had not Cortez ply'd his six Pieces of Cannon discharging continually Volley after Volley upon them and though the Execution was very much yet the Sound and report of their Ordinance was more terrible to them that were out of the reach of the Bullet and made more to the gaining so great a Victory Fear conquering more than Slaughter so that by the Evening despairing either of their Safety or better Fortune the whole Army disbanding fled But the pursuing Conquerors firing five of their Villages remain'd Masters of the Field yet they though thus totally routed taking fresh Courage a wonderful thing reinforc'd them and set upon the Spanish Camp with no less than 150000 Fighting Men Yet notwithstanding so vast an Army Cortez so well order'd his small parcel of Men and so valiantly led on upon all Advantages that he in like manner defeated this as they thought Invincible Preparation Thus flesh'd with so much Blood of the Natives he raged every where giving no Quarter where-ever he went Mean while Quesitangal a neighboring Prince having also raised an Army with which he design'd being assisted by darkness craftily to fall into the Spanish Quarters by Night subtilly dissembling sent Embassadors the day before with several Presents and Overtures of Peace which indeed were onely Spies to take notice where they might best break in upon them which Cortez mistrusting and soon being inform'd of the whole Design he cut off the Spies Hands so sending them back to Quesitangal with Defiance Hereupon the Indians immediately setting forward took advantage of the ensuing Night and with great fury fell upon the Spaniards who preacquainted with the Design were in so good a posture to receive them that not able to endure such hot Service they quickly retreated and utterly gave over the Enterprize But Cortez as much encourag'd by these Victories pursu'd them and the same Night Storm'd Tlaxcalla a City containing above twenty thousand Houses which in few Hours he carried This City was curiously built of bak'd Stones and a place of great Trade insomuch that the Market-places swarm'd with Buyers and Sellers bartering one with another all manner of Provisions as Fish Flesh and Bread also Plumes of Feathers Pearls imbroyder'd Tapestry Chalk Stones Timber and Herbs Twenty days Cortez staid here to refresh his Army and then march'd to the neighboring City Chiurutical with the Auxiliary Forces of the Tlaxcallans to the number of above a hundred thousand they told him That the People of Chiurutical had barricado'd up their Streets laid upon the tops of their Houses great heaps of Stones that their upper Rooms were cramm'd with Archers and all things made ready both for Offence and Defence which Advertisement he not much hearkned to because he was conducted into the City with all their State-Formalities of Singing and Tabering upon their Tamboes and every where courteously entertain'd A Plot strangely discover'd Mean while Montezuma had rais'd a great Army which were in their advance not onely to the defence of his Border but to surprize them them while they staid in that City the Townsmen having invited him thither to their rescue and his own defence had not the Plot been accidentally discover'd by a Chirutecan Woman who giving advice to one of her Friends that follow'd Cortez that he should immediately make his escape because that all the Strangers would be destroy'd within few Hours
in the new Plantations for a contracted Sum of Money After this they receiv'd all sorts of Arms and Ammunition with several Brass Guns of the then King Lewis the XIII and other gifts Collected and gather'd out of their several Societies for two new Accadian Apostles Gilbert du Thet a subtile man of the same Order transported their Necessaries At this time all things going favorably with the Jesuits they made themselves Masters of Port Royal and began to raise a Fort on the River Pemtagovet but there their happy Proceedings were stop'd for Captain Argal before-mention'd Sailing thither in vindication of the English was encounter'd by du Thet who firing the first Gun on Argal was by him taken off with Chain-shot and taking Biard and Masse carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia and dismantled the Fort built at Port Royal after which it was by King James given by Patent to Sir William Alexander as hath been already related together with what of most remarkable hath happen'd since SECT VI. Norumbegua NOrumbegua Whence denominated lying between Nova Scotia Northward and New England Southward is so utterly not taken notice of by many as a distinct Province that it might seem to be swallow'd up and lost in the two Countreys between which it lies or at least to be thought a part of Virginia or New England for Virginia largely taken is said to contain New England Novum Belgium and Virginia especially so call'd and that so much the rather because the Bessabees accounted by Sanson d' Abbeville an ancient People of New England are written to have liv'd near the River Penobscot which is reckon'd to be the same with Pemtegovet or as some will have it Norumbegua from which or from a certain great City of that Name the Country for fancy's sake must needs be denominated but since most commonly we find it nam'd and treated of apart it will not be improper to follow that method carrying the Bounds of New England no farther Northward than the River Quinnebequi or Sagadahoc and so determining the main part of this Countrey to that space between the aforesaid River and Pemtegovet excepting a small Southerly portion upon the Banks of the River Chovacovet so that it appears chiefly situate under the forty third Degree of Northern Latitude Towns and Cities not certainly known As for the Towns or Cities of this Province there is but a very uncertain account to be given forasmuch as the pretended great City Norumbegua from whence the Province should take its Appellation is not acknowledg'd by any of the most authentick modern Writers nor in any late Voyage or Discovery any mention made either of that or any other considerable Town or City Dr. Heylin supposeth it to be no other than Agguncia a poor little Village that seems compos'd of a company of Hutts or Sheaves cover'd with the Skins of Beasts or the Barks of Trees But the most favourable conjecture is that it might haply be the Ruines of an ancient Town which the Natives call'd Arambeck and had probably deserted it long before the arrival of the Europeans in those parts however it is not very probable that the Name of the Countrey should be deriv'd from this City if ever there were any such or from the River which appears to have been term'd Norumbegua on purpose to make way for this derivation whereas Pomtegovet is the ancient Appellation that properly belongs to it nor hath any modern one been apply'd to it but that of Rio Grande by Buno in his Comment upon Philip Cluverius upon what ground is hard to tell since it is observ'd by Heylin and others to be neither large nor otherwise much to be commended being Navigable not above twenty or thirty Miles in respect of its many great Cataracts and Falls of Water an Inconvenience with which many other Rivers of America are prejudic'd and rendred impassable Before and about the Mouth of this River which is judg'd to be about eight or nine Miles broad lie many small Islands or rather Hills inviron'd with Water the chiefest of which is by the French call'd La Haute Isle from the high and Mountainous appearance of it to those that see it from afar off at Sea The aforemention'd Buno though he names as belonging to Norumbega these several places viz. Porto del Refugio Porto Reale Paradiso Flora and Angolema from some obscure French testimonies without particularising any Author yet he afterwards confesses that the Names given by the French and those apply'd by the Spaniards are so various and disagreeing and breed such a confusion that no Charts or Descriptions had concluded upon either As for those who will have Norumbega deriv'd from Norwegia in respect of a Colony brought thither from Norwey if the Etymologie be not a little too much forc'd the Invention may pass well enough till a better be found out The temperature and nature of its Soil In this Countrey the temperature of the Air is not bad nor the Soil unfruitful if it were well cultivated chiefly towards the Rivers and where it is not either overgrown with Woods or craggy with Hills and mountainous Rocks neither are the Woods unprofitable for they afford good Timber and all kind of necessary and useful Wood especially Beeches Fir-trees Wallnut-trees and other Nuts The Plains are very pleasant and yield good Pasturage onely the Maritime Coasts are so shallow and full of Sands that the Sailing near them is accounted somewhat dangerous and this may be imagin'd to be the reason that no Authors have yet met with any Ports or Havens belonging to this Countrey which they have thought worthy their notice CHAP. II. New England AS Canada is by some accounted a general Province containing New France L' Accadie Norumbega and other places so under Virginia largely taken are comprehended New England New Netherlands and Virginia properly so call'd however since that part which vulgarly goes under the Name of Virginia and New England were possess'd if not discover'd at several times and their Plantations promoted and propagated upon several occasions and by distinct Interests and since New England hath been look'd upon as a place considerable enough for Persons of very eminent quality to concern themselves in it we rather are induc'd to consider this Countrey as a principal part than as any way depending on or being any Branch or Portion of Virginia Situation of New England It lies between Norumbega which it hath Northward and New Netherlands Southward from forty one to forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude in the midst of the temperate Zone and paralell to France and some part of Italy in the Western Hemisphere so that one would think it should enjoy the same temperature of Air but the contrary is found for that part which borders upon the Sea is colder partly by reason that the Sea-waves break the reflexion of the Sun-beams partly by reason of the abundance of Vapors which mounting upward abate the ardor of them
compress'd between the cloven Barks of wild Vines some also they buried alive and leaving onely their Heads to appear above Ground bowl'd Iron Bullets at them and forc'd them to eat one another besides infinite other hellish Cruelties too horrid and dreadful to be recounted Commodities of the Countres This Countrey produces much Maiz Wheat Honey and great Calabashes from whence the first Discoverers call'd that Sea Golfo de las Ybueras because they met with abundance of Calabashes floating on the Water which at Santo Domingo bear the Name of Ybueras This Countrey is water'd by three Rivers the first Chamalucom which glides by the City San Pedro the second Ulva inhabited on both Shores the third Haguaro the Grounds adjacent to which would prove very fruitful were the Inhabitants not too lazy In stead of a Plough they use a long Pole with two crooked Staves at the end one bent downwards and the othes upwards with which they cut and turn the Earth The Natives feed on several Roots Flesh and Vermine At their Feast they make themselves Drunk with a Drink made of Honey Noble-men heretofore onely drinking the Liquor of Cacao but of late it is common and made by all People though never so mean They speak several Languages the chiefest whereof is that of the Chontales a salvage People They divide their Year call'd Joalar that is Passing into eighteen Moneths and each Moneth into twenty Days They formerly measur'd the Year by the Nights and began the Year forty days sooner than the Europeans New Valladolid The Towns in this Province are 1. New Vallodolid by the Indians nam'd Comayagua lying in a pleasant Valley under a temperate Climate The Cattel brought hither from Spain increase exceedingly The Silver-Mynes are also so well stor'd that they keep the Melting-house in the Town always employ'd The Governor of this Place hath his Residence next to the Treasury-Chamber Anno 1588. the Bishop's See was translated hither from Truxillo Nineteen years before which Francisco de Monteio sent his Lieutenant Alphonso de Cacenes thither to build a Village half way between the Southern and Northern Ocean who accordingly erected the Town Santa Maria de Camoyagua near a River Navigable for Canoos which disembogues in Puerto de Cavallos The remaining part of the Way to the Haven Fonseca being passable for Carrs which was a means to prevent many Inconveniences which us'd to happen to Travellers on the Way between Panama and Nombre de Dios the Spanish King was so much concern'd at the first proposal hereof that he sent the famous Surveyor Baptista Antonello thither and the rather because he received information that the new Way along which they carried the Merchandise from Peru Mexico and other Countreys along the South Sea lay very pleasantly by reason of the brave Vineyards Corn-Fields Fruit-Trees Pastures Streams abounding with Fish Herds of Deer and Cony-Warrens yet Antonello meeting with many troubles would not undertake the Business New Valladolid is adorn'd with a great Church a Cloyster belonging to the Monks De la Merced and handsom Streets Gratias a Dios. 2. Thirty Leagues West ward from this City lies another call'd Gratias a Dios begun by Captain Gabriel de Royas Anno 1530 that so he might be near the Gold-Mines But because the Natives kept the new Inhabitants in continual alarm and daily Storm'd the unfinish'd Fortifications Royas was necessitated to leave off building any farther the rather because none came to his assistance from the neighboring Garrison Six years after Gonzales de Alvarado undertook this Work and built the City on a Rocky Mountain which though otherwise barren produc'd lusty Horses and strong Mules 3. San Pedro St. Pedro. though lying under a hot and unwholsom Climate us'd formerly to be a brave City of Trade but it is gone much to decay since Golfo Dolce hath been discover'd because from that Bay the Commodities are carried in Barques up into the Countrey Juan de Puerto de Cavallos 4. The Village Juan de Puerto de Cavallos inhabited by Factors and Moors It receiv'd that Denomination because not far from it several Horses were forc'd to be thrown over-board in a Storm Though it be but ill fortifi'd yet it hath an exceeding large Haven Captain Christopher Newport arriving here Anno 1591. found two hundred Houses and in them a considerable Booty left notwithstanding four Ships richly laden had lately set Sail from thence Six years after Newport Capt. Ant. Sherly re-took the Place and leaving the Haven open for Pyrats Alphonsus Coriado judg'd it convenient to remove the Trading Place to Amatique he built the Village Thomas de Castilla and fortifi'd the same against all manner of Assaults TRUâ—â—LLO Behind Cavallos lies the Valley Naco which is exceeding fruitful being situate between high Mountains where formerly was found plenty of Silver 5. Eastward from Cavallos appears the famous City Truxillo near a large Bay Truxillo secur'd from all Storms by two Cliffs full of Trees the Mouth of the Haven call'd Joan Gil is above two Leagues broad and receives two Rivers one from each side of the City The Stream Quaimarotte flows Eastward and the River Antonio Westward both abounding in Fish The Countrey round about produces abundance of all sorts of Provisions and chiefly abounds in Grapes which are gather'd twice a year Eight days after August they cut their Vines which afford them ripe Grapes again in October they have two Harvests of Corn also Lemons and Oranges are very plentiful The Cattel brought hither from Spain are exceedingly increas'd to an incredible number Truxillo it self lying on a steep Mountain is defended on that side which respects the Sea with a thick Wall of six Foot high between which and the Haven are many brambly Bushes which prevent the access to the Wall onely a narrow and steep way leading up to the City which hath a strong Gate guarded with two Brass Guns and sufficiently Fortifi'd to oppose an Enemy The Eastern Cliff which bends before the Haven is call'd Punta la Rye on which stands a House with a high Beacon Beyond the Wall Eastward near the Haven is a Ship-yard before which stands a large Woodden Cross The Castle in which the City Store is kept joyns to the Wall near unto which within the Town appears St. Francis Church but the Cathedral call'd Eglesia Major is seen above all other Buildings The Houses cover'd with Palmito-Leaves have Walls of Pleited Bushes Plaister'd over within and without Behind the City where it lies open are exceeding high Mountains Attempts upon this place by the English and Dutch Anno 1576. the English falling on this strong Place carry'd a rich Booty from thence after which Capt. Anth. Sherly and Capt. Will. Parker ventur'd once more on the same but being discover'd by the Centinel were forc'd to Retreat not without a considerable loss When not long after Captain John Van Hoorn a Hollander attempting the same had
Fountain The neighboring Province Xilotepeck which is exceeding fruitful is alfo famous for two Fountains whereof one near the Village Queretaro produces boyling Water which when cool'd is a wholsom Drink for Cattel The other for four years is full of Water and for four years after it is empty in great rainy Seasons it is quite dry and in droughty Weather it overflows Between the Villages Queretaro and San Juan is a Plain which extends it self seven Leagues in breadth and seven in length besides two Leagues farther beyond Quartero where a hundred thousand Head of Cattel and ten thousand Horses find plentiful Pasture The wonderful Mountain Nevada The Mountain Nevada near the City De los Angelos deserves no small admiration for it begins at thirty Leagues end to rise exceeding high and being flat on the top hath a wide gaping Mouth whose bottom is fathomless from which at Sun-rising and setting rises a Smoak up directly towards the Skie but immediately after spreading like a Plume of Feathers it is dispers'd by the Wind and no more seen till it appears in a dusky Cloud With the Smoak are also Ashes vomited up yet the Mountain is very pleasantly planted with lofty Cypress Cedar Oak and Pine-Trees The neighboring Fields abound likewise with Wheat Cotton and Maiz. There seldom appears any Rain here At the Foot of this Mountain lies the Village Tepecco famous for the Crystal and Allom gotten there The Village Ocotlan is also maintain'd by the same But Tuculala by Gold-Mines and fruitful Lands which are twice a year shaken by Earthquakes wherefore the Inhabitants live not in Stone Houses but in little Straw Huts South-Eastward from Nerada is excellent Sugar to be had and on the Mountain it self the famous Gum Anime which drops out of a Tree call'd Jetaiba which is always green with hard white Wood a pale yellow speckled Bark three long soft Leaves hanging one over another on one Stalk and the Fruit on the middle of the Body After the rainy Season is past in October then they cut a Hole in the Body of the Tree out of which the Gum drops it hath a pleasant smell and is exceeding good against the Head-ache occasion'd by Colds Not far from hence appears the Valleys Matalzingo and Atzompam which have excellent Pastures in which Diego Nunnez de Camargo bred forty thousand Sheep out of two in ten years time And these are the chiefest Towns Villages and Countreys which surround the famous City Mexico The first Foundation of the City of Mexico Concerning the erecting of this City the Indians relate thus That the seventh Family of the Navatlaca's Extracted out of the Countrey Aztlan rang'd up and down not without thousands of Inconveniences from one Countrey to another according to the Information which their Sages had given their Spirit Viztliputli till at last some of the Priests straying from the Army or rather Multitude got into a Wilderness full of Brambles and Thorns and came at length to a Place where was a Spring of clear Water in which the Fishes glitter'd like Silver where taking up their repose that Night their Spirit inform'd the oldest of them in a Dream that they should find thereabouts a Tunal Tree whose Leaves grow out of one another under which on a Stone lay the Heart of the famous Sorcerer Copil This Tunal Tree should be discover'd by a Crane on the top of it which in one Foot should hold a Bird and in the other a Bough of the Tree near which they were to build a City The old Priest waking and relating his Dream every one endeavor'd to find out the fore-mention'd Tree at last they found it by discovering on the top a Crane with spread-out Wings looking up towards the Sun and holding in his Claws a small Bird invested with curious Feathers Whereupon they with all speed built a Chappel of Turf and Clods of Earth and cover'd the same with Canes to keep their Idol from the Weather resolving so soon as they could to build him a better Temple The Lake on whose Isles they setled abounded with Fish and Fowls which they exchang'd with the neighboring People for Stone and Mortar for the building of a Temple for Viztliputzli and a new City to which they made a Cawsey in the Lake Laguna and divided it into four great Wards or Divisions and subdivided them again into lesser over which they plac'd peculiar Idols and order'd a Crane like that which they had seen on the Tunal Tree to be their City Arms. The dividing of the Wards occasion'd great dislike amongst the Grandees judging those to whose lot they fell not to be worthy of them wherefore deserting the same and travelling along the Lake Laguna they setled themselves at last in a sandy Soil which they call'd Tlattellulco and entertain'd a bitter hatred against their Countrey-men who kept the four Wards of the new Tenustitan doing them all the mischief they could wherefore the Assaulted were necessitated to chuse a King that they might be the better able to oppose their Enemies But that they might not raise a Discontent amongst themselves about electing a Governor they judg'd it fittest to take a Foreigner amongst whom they found none so capable of so great an Office as Acamapixtli Grand-son to the King of Culhuacan whereupon sending Ambassadors thither they obtain'd their desires The new King was no sooner Crown'd but he settled all things in order with great Prudence insomuch that Mexico grew daily to be more famous and fear'd But this sudden growth rais'd a jealousie amongst the Neighbors who dreaded their growing Power and Valor Proceedings between the Tapuneca's and Mexicans The Tapunecans who were also a valiant People being the nearest to them and having Azcapuzalco for their chief City made it their main design utterly to root out the Mexicans before they grew to be more Populous and Potent notwithstanding they had hitherto receiv'd Tribute from them for delivering the Lake Laguna to them which was a quantity of Timber and Plants yet they demanded not only more Tribute than formerly but also in such a manner as was thought impossible to have been perform'd which was that those Plants which were formerly brought to them as growing on the Land should be set in the Water so as to come floating to them as they grew to Ascapuzalco which if they did not pay they should expect to be all put to the Sword The Mexicans much amaz'd hereat and not knowing how to produce the demanded Plants Viztliputzli inform'd the oldest Priest that the demands might be satisfi'd and commanded him to throw Earth on the Water and to Sow Seed on the same which at the usual time produc'd Maiz Azi Chias Tomates and the like with which the Tapunecans being satisfi'd demand next a Goose and a Hen which laid Eggs out of which the young ones should appear when on the floating Clods of Earth the Nests came opposite to Azcapuzalco which by the advice
Enemy by Water whilst himself falling upon them by Land put the Lord of Tlatellulco with his whole Army to flight which was so closely pursu'd that they forc'd their way into the City with them put the Governor to Death and laid the Town in Ashes those which went by Water having had no less success Autzol succeeds him Axayaca after eleven years Reign Deceasing bequeath'd his Crown to Autzol who sought to promote his Election by ingaging with the mighty Province Quaxutatlan whose Inhabitants though but a little before they had been so bold as to demand Tribute of the Mexicans yet terrifi'd at the approach of Autzol's Army fled over an Arm of the Sea where they had been secure had not Autzol invented a floating Isle of Planks by which he got over his whole Army upon which the amaz'd Quaxututlans immediately submitted themselves to the Mexicans who pursuing their Victory extended their Dominions to Guatimala over a Tract of three hundred Leagues Autzol's Generosity and Mrgnificence The new King having now subdu'd all his Enemies and made himself glorious by his Victories was also ambitious to be as much extoll'd for his Generosity and Magnificence to which purpose he distributed all the Wealth which was brought unto him from the neighboring Countreys amongst the Poor and the Nobility to the first he gave Clothes and Provisions to the last Plumes of Feathers and Arms. Moreover he caus'd all mean Houses to be pull'd down and new ones to be built in their places Lastly he consulted how to bring fresh Water into Mexico which was plac'd in a brackish Soil Upon this Design he was so bent that when one of his Sages disswaded him from it alledging That the Water would drown the City he in stead of following his Advice banish'd him his Presence and upon his flying to Cuyaocun caus'd him to be fetch'd from thence and Executed Then prosecuting his Design he cut the Ditch before Cuyaocun by which means great store of fresh Water came flowing into the Lake Laguna which the Priests welcom'd with strange Ceremonies for some perfum'd the Water others Offer'd Quails Blood whilst others play'd on several Musical Instruments with many other Ceremonies which are at large describ'd in the ancient Mexican Chronicles kept in the Vatican Library at Rome But the Prophecy of the Executed Sorcerer was in a manner fulfill'd for the Water overwhelm'd a great part of Mexico and divided the City into Isles But to prevent farther Mischief Autzoll caus'd Banks to be rais'd and Channels digg'd and not long after in the eleventh Year of his Reign he deceas'd After which the Mexican Kingdom tended towards its period as the ensuing Story will declare Amongst the Mexican Nobility Mutexuma a melancholy Man yet very prudent who resided in a stately Apartment near the great Temple Cu that there he might the better converse with Viztlipuztli was elected King which he no sooner heard but fled from hence but being found out he was against his will led to the Grand Assembly and from thence to the holy Hearth where for an Offering he drew Blood out of his Cheeks Ears and Legs and according to an ancient Custom the Council of State boring a Hole in his Nose hung an Emerauld in the same after which the Lord of Tescuco saluted him with a Speech which since it is mention'd by Joseph d' Acosta together with several other Speeches of Congratulation to their Kings which were taught to Schollars to make them expert in their Language it will not be amiss to be annexed here that of many this one may serve for a pattern of the Mexicans Eloquence which is as followeth The Lord of Tescuco his Speech to Muteczuma THe great happiness most noble Muteczuma which is befall'n this Realm by your Election may easily be conjectur'd from the general joy none besides your self being able to undergo an Office in the management whereof so much Prudence is requir'd It is a most certain testimony that God loves Mexico that he hath given its Inhabitants understanding to make such a Choice Who can doubt but that you who have expatiated through the Heavens and convers'd with Viztlipuztli may easily Govern us Mortals on Earth Who can despair but that the Vertue inclos'd within your Breast will extend to the Widows and Orphans Therefore rejoyce O Mexico the Heavens have granted us a Prince without Vice Merciful and not a Violator of the Laws Affable not despising common Conversation And you O King let not this great Preferment occasion any alteration in your so long known Vertues The Crown breeds care for the publick good the troubles thereof must extend over the whole Realm and every one in the Realm Preparationâ— for the Coronation of Muteczuma Muteczuma having heard out the Speech would willingly have answer'd the same but could not utter a word for Tears which gush'd from his Eyes Before he went out to fetch Prisoners for Offerings at his Coronation he first setled his Houshold Affairs And whereas till this time the Kings had been serv'd in their Palaces by ordinary Citizens he took Knights and the chiefest of the Nobility intending thereby to make a distinction between the Nobility and the common People and add more Majesty to the Royal Dignity This done Muteczuma marching against a certain rebellious Province fetch'd a considerable number of People to be Offer'd to Viztupuztli At his Return the Coronation Day was appointed against which thousands of People came to Mexico even their very Enemies of Tlascala Mechoacan and Tepeaca which were never conquer'd by the Mexicans flock'd thither in great numbers All those Countreys which were under Tribute bringing unvaluable Treasures came in vast Multitudes which so throng'd the City that the very tops of the Houses were fill'd with Spectators no King in Mexico ever going to the Throne in such splendor His Grandeur nor was ever any King so much fear'd by his Subjects none of the common People daring to look in his Face neither did he ever set Foot on the Ground but was always carried in a Chair on the Shoulders of his prime Nobility he never wore a Suit of Clothes but once nor ever us'd a Cup or Dish after it was once foul'd he strictly maintain'd the Laws which he had made and often went himself in a Disguise to make a strict enquiry after all Affairs whatsoever by which means the Mexican Power was now arriv'd to the highest top but as other Realms grown top-heavy with good Fortune turn at last topsie-turvy just such a Misfortune befell Mexico but not without several fore-running signs of its destruction The ruine of the Mexican Empire prognosticated for in the City Cholola their God Quezalcoalt inform'd them that a strange People were coming to take possession of the Mexican Dominions and their Soothsayers prognosticated the same for which Muteczuma committed them all to Prison and doubtless had put them all to death had not they escap'd with
the help of the Master of their diabolical Art and though they escap'd themselves yet their Wives and Children were all put to death upon the King's Command Soon after which appear'd a mighty Comet or blazing Starfor a whole year together the great Temple Cu was set on Fire and burnt to the Ground none knew how the Water which was thrown on the same to quench it burnt like Brimstone in the Skie appear'd three fiery Heads at noon-day and out of a long Tail shot Sparks on the Earth the Laguna between Mexico and Texcuco began to swell into a Tide which turn'd some Houses topsie-turvy a shrill Voice was heard in the Night crying on the Water Children your ruine is at hand whither shall I carry you that you may not be lost A miraculous Story of a Bird. No less strange is what d' Acosta relates of a Bird presented to Muteczuma not unlike a Crane which the Fishermen had taken on the Laguna on the shining Forehead of which there appear'd the resemblance of two Armies Engag'd and one defeated by the other and that whilst the Sages call'd to interpret the meaning hereof sat in Consultation the Bird vanish'd Another of a Country-man Moreover there goes a Tradition That a Countrey-man being at his Labor was taken up by an Eagle and carried through the Air into a gloomy Cave where a Man lay fast asleep snoaring when on a sudden he heard a Voice afar off saying Do you know that Man whereupon the Countrey-man taking special notice of the dormant Man knew him by the Royal Apparel to be Mutexuma after which the Voice was heard again saying How soundly doth he sleep the time is coming which provides Punishments for many Crimes burn the Snoarer with the Torch which he holds in his Hands he will feel no pain Not long after he being inform'd hereof and looking on his Thigh found the same burnt to his no small amazement News of the arrival of the the Spanish Fleet. Having now possess'd the Throne fourteen years he receiv'd news of a Fleet and therewith a Draught of the Men and Vessels painted on Cloth This startling him he immediately advis'd with his Council who judg'd it convenient to secure the Coast along the Southern Ocean with strong Watches yet nevertheless Ferdinand Cortesius Landed with five hundred Foot and sixty Horse took the City Potanchanum march'd through the Countrey Sicuchimalar to Tascalleca where they had a sharp Conflict in which the Spaniards were in great danger and had not they had six Field-Pieces with them which did as much affright as hurt the Indians they had without doubt been cut off there In Chiurutecal they were in as much danger for certainly the Spanish Army had been set upon in the Night had not a Woman inform'd them of it Mean while Muteczuma consulted with his Sorcerers to destroy Cortesius by Charms who then was marching through Chalco whereupon a considerable number of Sorcerers went thither to the top of a high Mountain where as they were beginning their Incantations and Charms their Idol Tezcalipuca appear'd to them and in an angry manner told them That Monteczuma should lose his Crown and Life and to confirm his words he shew'd them a dreadful spectacle for looking about they saw the City in a light flame This being told to Muteczuma he resolv'd to make himself as secure as he could and went to meet Cortesius with costly Presents delivering him the Crown in the presence of all his Council to which purpose he took one Marina experienc'd in the Castilian Tongue with him for his Interpreter all things then seeming to end in Friendship But they continu'd not long in that state for Cortesius whose whole Design was to bring Mexico under the Spaniards Subjection not long after accus'd Muteczuma that Coalcopoca had on his Commands storm'd the new Spanish City Vera Crux which he could no way excuse and notwithstanding Muteczuma deliver'd him Coalcopoca Muteczuma committed to Prison by Cortesius with fifteen of his Nobles Prisoners who were all burnt with green Wood yet he was committed Prisoner to the great discontent of the Mexicans who said That they were now come to a fine pass to be thus fool'd by a few Strangers who had imprison'd their King trampled upon their ancient Images endeavor'd to murther them all and in despite of them brought their mortal Enemies the Tascaltecans and Guazuzingans into Mexico Cortesius marches against Velasquez's Party About this time there were certain Ships come to Vera Crux which was a new Port-Town of this Countrey that the Spaniards had built since their coming thither and had Landed near upon a thousand Men which was an Accident that had like to have spoil'd the Design of Cortesius and all his Company at Mexico these Men being sent by James Velasquez Governor of Cuba expressly against Cortesius and his Men upon pretence that they had acted not conformably to the Commission which they had receiv'd from him and gave him no account of their proceedings which in a great measure was true for it must be confess'd that Cortesius and his Men finding themselves to have fall'n upon an Adventure that was certainly rich and good and having got such footing and interest in the Countrey already by their Success and Victories and chiefly by their Confederacy with so many of the Natives and People of the Countrey revolted to them did almost at first by a general consent renounce their Commission and dependency upon Velasquez and profess'd to act immediately from and for the King of Spain What pretences they had for such a Resolution seemingly at least irregular is not so well known Whatever they were they proceed in it and the whole Company excepting onely some few who yet went along with the rest chuse Cortesius anew for their Commander in chief and appoint likewise by common consent all other Officers of Justice both Civil and Military among themselves and to give the better colour at Court to their Proceedings they send Portocorrero and Monteio two of their Principals into Spain with a rich and noble Present to the Emperor both to make report of the State of the Countrey and to procure immediate Commission from his Majesty to proceed after which they advance towards Mexico as hath been said Velasquez being at Cuba and understanding their Proceedings labor'd to intercept both their Messengers and Present but could not and therefore sent Pamphilius Narvaez with eleven Ships and about nine hundred or a thousand Men to apprehend Cortesius and oppose his Proceedings This hapned about the time that the Differences were but newly calm'd betwixt the Spaniards and the People of Mexico and though it oblig'd Cortesius to leave the City in a wavering and unsetled condition yet he took such order that Muteczuma still remain'd under the Guard of the Spaniards as before assisted with thousands of their Friends of Tlascalla and he himself taking the rest and some few Spaniards
Masters forcing their Scholars to Fast and Watch carry great Burthens of Provisions to the Army and be in the midst of Engagements Others whose Fancy led them to a holy Life willingly embrac'd the Services of the Temple Their manner of Dancing Their manner of Dancing in New Spain was very strange and differing they us'd pretty Instruments and Songs which contain'd antique Passages according to the Times they in their Motions imitated Shepherds Fisher-men Plowmen Hunters and the like Sometimes they Danc'd in Mascarades with a Man on their Shoulders making the same Motion with his Hands in the Air as the other with his Feet on the Ground They had also Tumblers and Dancers on the Ropes which shew'd strange Tricks on an erected Pole But above all Dances the Mitotes was the chief which was generally Danc'd in the King's Palace or inner Court of the Temple in the middle of which they plac'd a great Drum and a hollow Tub on a large Image round about which the most eminent Persons made a Ring Sang sweetly and Danc'd leisurely when on a sudden two that are more nimble with divers Motions came into the midst of them and Danc'd exactly after the sound of the Drum and hollow Tub which was seconded with the noise of Flutes and Pipes CHAP. VI. New Gallicia Bounds and Extent of New Gallicia NEw Gallicia by some call'd Guadalajara from the chief City This whole Province is the most Northern Countrey of all America that is inhabited to any purpose by the Spaniards Here 't is true they are scatter'd up and down in all the parts of it but it is at a huge distance and for the most part onely where the Mines are It is bounded on the East and to the South with the Kingdom of Mexico or New Spain on the West with the Gulf or Bay of California Northward for so much as is yet discover'd with Quivira and Cibola lying between eighteen and twenty eight Degrees of Northern Latitude that is from La Natividad a Port so nam'd by the Spaniards in the Confines of New Spain to the most Northerly Borders of Cinoloa a part of this Province containing as is suppos'd not much less than three hundred Leagues in length and in breadth much more and whereof not a tenth part is either us'd or frequented by the Spaniards Temperature and Nature of the Countrey The Air is generally here very temperate inclining rather to Heat than Cold and subject now and then to sudden Storms of Rain and great Claps of Thunder which yet do not hinder but that the Countrey is held to be reasonably healthful and the People observ'd to live generally to a good old Age. The Soil by reason of the Climate would be a little inclining to Drought but that besides the frequent Rains which it hath it is constantly moistned with fresh Morning Dews which make it for the most part wonderfully fruitful almost beyond belief yielding for every Pushel of Wheat that is sown threescore and of Maiz two hundred for one besides great plenty of Sugar-Canes and Cochinele both which nevertheless the Spaniards are said to neglect in some sort employing themselves wholly about richer Commodities for the Countrey affords them good store of Mines of Silver and Brass but of Gold or Iron not many as yet have been found The Rivers abound plentifully with Fish and the Woods with Wenison and some other wild Beasts The Countrey is generally more mountainous than plain frequently shaded with Woods and whole Forrests of the stateliest Pine-Trees and Oaks that are to be seen amongst which breed abundance of Wolves which do great mischief to the People as also Scorpions and Mustiecho's The Hurts receiv'd from Scorpions are heal'd with the Juice of the Fruit call'd Queon those from the Mustiecho's by Vinegar and the Juice of Lemmon Here is likewise a green Stone accounted a soveraign Medicine against the Gravel Several sorts of Tunas-Trees The Trees peculiar to this Countrey are the tunas already spoken of in Guatimala and thought to be the same we vulgarly call Indian Fig-Trees and are distinguish'd into six sorts The first by the Portuguese call'd Cardon hath sharp Prickles thick Leaves full of slimy Juice an odoriferous Flower oval Fruit cover'd with an Orange-colour'd Rind and small Roots The Fruit within consists of a white juicy and well tasted Pulp full of black Seed The second hath a round Body full of Boughs with Star-like Prickles hanging downwards the Flower white and the Fruit very like that of the Cardon onely smaller The third is the Caxabra which shoots up to a great Tree full of prickly Cods at the utmost end grows a large white Flower the Fruit which is as big again as an Egg is pleasant and cooling The fourth sort hath a straight Body full of Prickles runs lesser and lesser to the top at the end of the small Boughs each thick Leaf produces another the Wood if kindled burns like a Candle The fifth nam'd Cumbeba grows out of small Roots with three or four corner'd thick Leaves full of Prickles the Flower somewhat less than the former the Fruit oval hard and red having a white and juicy Pulp The Prickles of this Cumbeba-Tree are so sharp and stick in so deep that they can scarce be pull'd out This is that sort of Tunas that produces Cochinele which is a Worm that grows under the Leaves and is cover'd with a Skin which being neatly taken off and dry'd in the Sun as formerly mention'd becomes a rich Commodity Joseph de Acosta tells us that the Spanish Fleet Anno 1578. carried so much Cochinele to Spain as amounted to two hundred eighty three thousand seven hundred and fifty Ryals But the last sort of the Tunas is the Unirumbeba which hath a straight Body full of Prickles on the top whereof grow divers prickly Leaves not unlike those of the Palm-Tree It is onely found in barren places remote from the Sea Moreover all kind of Fruits transplanted hither from Spain thrive very well as Apples Pears Granats Figs Peaches Apricocks Muskmelons c. The Root Castanuela The Root Castanuela affords a much better Feeding for Swine than Acorns But amongst many other Roots which are found here as the Xiquimas Yaca Cochuco Cari Totora and Mani The Batata the chief is the Batata which is fat sweet and windy it runs over the Ground with a tough green Sprig the new Fibres taking Root dispersedly up and down being yellow without and within full of milky Juice the Leaf resembling a Heart is of a pale yellow colour on the top and donuy underneath roasted in Ashes it eats better than a Turnip It is divided into three sorts The first call'd Omenapo-yeima when boyl'd shews like red Betel but Dyes of a Skye-colour the innermost Skin which is of a dark Red yields an Ink-like Juice The second sort call'd Parro differs little from the first onely the Body Root and Veins of the
Leaves are of a Purple colour The third sort Jetiope being white hath a very good rellish and cures the Ague The Pepper which is here call'd Axi grows in the warmest Valleys and the more by being often water'd there are of it divers kinds differing in colour smell and taste one from the other for one sort is green yellow or red another sort yields a strong musky scent and one sort is sharper another milder the Veins and Kernels thereof are eaten with Salt The Herb Cevadilla cures all manner of Sores This Countrey also breeds an innumerable company of Deer Hogs Goats Beasts Sheep Oxen and Horses and of hurtful Creatures Pismires which do great mischief to the Plants and Locusts which fall in huge swarms on the Corn and cannot be frighted from the same by any means whatsoever The want of Water is also no small prejudice to the Fields The biggest River call'd Guadalajara with many windings runs North-westward into the Southern Ocean and four Leagues from the City of the same falling down from a steep Rock it makes such a horrible noise that it deafens those which approach the same The Lake Mechoacan opens here also with a wide Mouth Two sorts of Hedge-hogs The River before mention'd produces all manner of Fish in great abundance and also a sort of Hedge-hogs call'd Iguana which live both in the Water and on the Land and are of two sorts The first call'd Senembi is four Foot long of a deep green colour with black and white Spots hath a scaly Skin white Spots on each side of the Head a row of sharp Prickles from the Head to the Tail wide Nostrils great black Eyes and little Teeth The second sort call'd Tejaguacu differs from the first in having white Spots on a brown Skin a longer Tail and a red Tongue which is slit Both sorts are reported to fast eight Moneths together and though often terribly wounded and dead to all imagination yet live a great while after and though they swim up and down in Rivers yet they Lay their Eggs in the Sand their Flesh boyl'd is both wholsom and of a good relish The manner of the Spaniards living The Spaniards which inhabit New Gallicia drive a considerable Trade in Merchandizing Husbandry breeding of Cattel and working in the Mines They use Wayns and Carrs drawn by Oxen Mules and Horses to carry their Loads as also Spanish Weights and Measures They are little troubled with any other Mischiefs but what may happen from the treacherous Natives who take all opportunities to run into the Woods that there they may exercise their Pagan Religion in freedom in which having spent some time they gather a considerable number together and oftentimes fall unawares on the Spaniards who use Leather Shields and Helmets and furr'd Cotton Clothes to secure them from the Arrows which the Indians lying in Ambuscades shoot at them out of the Bushes The Nature Habits and Customs of the Natives The Natives though subtile are lazy and will not work unless for great Rewards They wear Cotton Shirts square Cloaks of the same Stuff made fast with two Buttons on their Breasts Drawers and soal'd Shoes Flag-Matts serve them for Beds on which they lie under Cotton Clothes About their Necks Arms and Legs they wear green Stones and Snale Shells for an Ornament Their greatest Recreation is Dancing their Musick being nothing else but the noise or sound of a piece of hollow Wood. Horse-flesh and Bread made of Maiz is by them accounted a great Dainty The Drink Cacao is also highly esteem'd amongst them but much more the Wine that they make of Maquey which is the wonderful Tree that affords many necessary things viz. Syrrup Honey Oyl Vinegar Yarn Needles Water and Wine every Man making it his Business to plant and preserve the same with great care near his House notwithstanding they grow in several places of the Fields they have broad thick Leaves with sharp ends out of which is drawn a Thorn which serves them for a Needle or Pin. These Leaves have a hairy Filament about them which serves in stead of Thred the young Sprout being cut produces a sweet Juice which boyl'd makes good Wine when grown sowre serves for Vinegar but being twice boyl'd becomes a Syrrup and being hung over the Fire a third time a perfect Honey Also the Wood being spungie keeps Fire as well as Match Moreover the Inhabitants when they travel carry Leather Bags with them full of Cacao Maiz and Pepper mix'd together Over each Village in this Countrey the Spaniards have plac'd an Indian Casique Alcalde and Alguazil where all sorts of Provisions are sold at a Set-price The Casiques are succeeded by their Heirs who resent nothing worse than Affronts and take pride in nothing more than their Valour The Moors or Negro's which are brought hither from Guinee do all manner of hard Labour The Guachichiles and Guamares are a valiant People and have each their peculiar Language utterly different from the Mexican Division of Nova Gallicia This Countrey comprehends these inferior Provinces 1. Guadalajara 2. Xalisco 3. Chiametta 4. Couliacan 5. Cino-loa all of them on the Western Shore 6. Zacatecas to which some add Nova Biscaia and Nova Mexico though others treat of them as distinct Countreys apart from the rest SECT II. Guadalajara Bounds of Guadalajara GUadalajara is bounded on the West with Xalisco on the South and South-West with New Spain and on the North with Zacatecas It is a Countrey exceeding pleasant and rich in all kind of Commodities but especially in its Mines of Silver It is well water'd with the River Barania which runneth through the midst of it and with divers other Streams yielding abundantly both Wheat Maiz and some other Grain In a word there is nothing said of the properties of New Gallicia in general either for Soil Climate or People but is peculiarly verifi'd of this Province Towns and Cities The chief Towns are 1. Guadalajara which gives Name to the whole Province It is seated on the Banks of the River Barania in a most delectable and sweet Air and a rich Soil by advantage whereof it is become the Metropolis of New Gallicia honour'd with an Episcopal See which was translated thither from Compostella in the Year 1570. with the Courts of Judicature and the Residence of the King's Treasurers for that Province This City was built on the Plain Molino by Nunnez de Guzman in the Year 1531. The neighboring Mountains afford store of Timber All manner of Spanish Plants grow here likewise in great plenty In the City is a Cathedral several Cloysters inhabited by Augustine and Franciscan Monks The Bishop of this City belongs to the Arch-bishop of Mexico The Air very temperate neither molesting the Inhabitants with too great Cold nor excess of Heat 2. St. Maria de los Lagos a Town thirty Leagues Eastward of Guadalajara being a Fronteer Place and built on purpose to secure the
part of California largely taken for besides that California properly so call'd hath formerly been taken rather for a Peninsula than an Island and still affords to some an Argument of question whether it be one or the other The whole extent of the Province generally so term'd hath been reputed to comprehend the suppos'd Peninsula it self Cibola Quivira and Nova Albion but since according to the best Maps and Discoveries there seems little doubt to be made that California strictly taken is a perfect Island and since upon that Consideration we have reserved it to be describ'd amongst the Islands of Northern America we also consequently judge it most requisite to consider those Countreys apart that were included in the extended California Situation Temperature and Productions of Cibola Cibola lieth Southward of Quivira betwixt it and New Gallicia to the North and East on the West it hath Mar Vermiglio or the Bay of California The Air of the Province is indifferently temperate especially if compar'd to the sharp Frosts and Colds of Quivira The Countrey is for the most part level and plain as Quivira is having but few Trees in it except here and there some Woods of Cedars which yet do abundantly supply the Natives both with Timber and Fewel The Ground affords plenty of Maiz and some small white Pease of both which they usually make Bread There is great store of Venison and a kind of Sheep as they say and as it should seem by their Fleece as big as some little Horses or Oxen some of their Horns weighing forty or fifty Pound But perhaps by some mistake of Authors this Beast may be no other than Taurus Mexicans elsewhere describ'd whose Hair is extreamly thick and shaggy and of which they make Cloth as of Wool as hath been said There are also Lyons Bears and Tygers in this Province in such numbers that the People of the Countrey are not a little troubled with them and would gladly destroy them if they knew how The People are generally well Limb'd tall of Stature and seem to be a little more Ingenious than their Neighbors of Quivira yet they go naked many of them onely cover'd with Mantles made of Skins which are many times painted and that with such Curiosity and Art as do sufficiently argue that neither themselves nor their Neighbors of Quivira from whom they have them in Traffick do make them but that they are the Merchandise and Commodity of some other Nations perhaps of Cathay or China who by the North-West Seas do Trade with the Maritime Parts and People of Quivira This part of the Countrey hath been reasonably well search'd by the Spaniards but as yet nothing discover'd so considerable as to perswade them to stay in it That which seems most observable is the great Lake Tonteac situate almost in the midst of the Province upon which or near unto it they found seven or eight old Towns of the Natives some whereof contain'd four or five hundred of their Cottages or little Houses and were fortifi'd also with Ramparts and other Works of Defence so as the Spaniards could not become Masters of them but by Force and Storming In the attempt whereof Vasquez Coronado their Commander in chief was twice beaten down with Stones by the Natives yet at last carrying the Place he found in it good plenty of Maiz indeed which was some refreshment to his Army but nothing else whereupon having nam'd the Place Granada in memory of the Vice-Roy of New Spain who sent him upon that Expedition he departed In his return homeward he fell upon a certain Countrey which he nam'd Tucayan of which his Companions report great matters as first of a certain River call'd Huex on the Banks whereof in the space of twenty Leagues or thereabouts there stand no less than fifteen good Burroughs well built and furnish'd likewise with Stoves or Hot-houses against the Cold as in other Countreys of Europe as also of a very fruitful and pleasant Valley which they therefore call'd Aroba de Corazones of another great Town and Territory call'd Chichilticala and lastly of the Valley of Nuestra Sennora or Our Ladies Dale in the South parts of the said Territory all of them describ'd for such rich and delicious Places that some take them for the Campi Elisii of America especially seeing the Spaniards were never known to visit them a second time the Discoveries that have been made since being onely of the North-West Parts of the Countrey along the Coasts of Mar Vermiglio and this no farther than onely to give Name to certain Capes or Promontories which they met with as namely 1. Porto de St. Clara near to the Mouth of the River which they call Rio del Nordt 2. Las Playas 3. St. Michael 4. Lago del Oro which bordereth on Quivira and lastly El Rey Coronado Eastward of that TOntonteac is mention'd by so few Tontonteac and by those few so obscurely that it cannot well be determin'd to be any other than that Countrey which lies about the great Lake Tonteac above spoken of in Cibola and which being made Habitable by six or seven Towns not inconsiderable for Habitations of native Indians might haply pass for a distinct Province And perhaps the reason why this Province hath been so obscure and little taken notice of might be from the ruine of these Towns by War or some other Accident and to this purpose are the words of a late Writer The Province of Tontonteac saith he hath five Houses onely left which stand on the Shore of a salt Lake Nova Granada a Province of Northern America NOva Granada besides that it is a generally known and describ'd Province of Southern America is also nam'd amongst the Provinces of Northern America particularly by Bertius Cluverius and Golnitzius and in some late Maps of America so conspicuously specifi'd that it might appear to be all that Tract of Land which contains both New Mexico and the several Provinces adjoyning to it but since we find it not describ'd by any at large it will with most verisimility pass for that part of New Mexico where stands the City of St. Foy and this is most plainly express'd by Monsieur Martini though there are who confound Cibola with New Granada Waving which Decision we shall onely insert a short Description of the Place according to Cornato who seems to have been one of the first Discoverers of these Parts and whose Credit is preferr'd before that of Marcus de Niza Nova Granada saith he consists of seven Villages It s Description built in the circumference of four Leagues the chiefest whereof boasts two hundred Houses which for the most part are four or five Stories high and built of Stone the Cellars thereto belonging being neatly Pav'd serve for Stoves against the Cold they ascend to their upper Rooms by Ladders The Inhabitants go naked onely some Covering about their Middle and over their Shoulders Cotton Cloaks painted with divers Colours They
Cape and Port is St. Nicholas from whence North-East and by East lieth the Island of Tortuga near the Coast of Hispaniola It is of five Leagues length Farther along the Coast is Monte Christo the West Cape of Natividad to the East of which there is a great Bay call'd Port Real This Island is so full of Harbours that he that will Coast it cannot well miss of one where he pleaseth most of which afford fresh Meat and good Water Moreover Hispaniola hath many brave Rivers the chiefest of which are Hayna Nizao along whose Shore the first Sugar-Canes were planted Neyba a great River Yaquimo Yaqui which Columbus call'd Rio de Oro because the Ground thereof glitter'd like Gold and lastly the Rivers Nicayagua amongst whose Sands is Gold Nigua which borrows its Denomination from the fore-mention'd leaping Insect the swift Stream Juno whose Banks are crown'd with handsom Houses and Jaquin which hath many Salt-pans The Rivers Itabo Ocoa Cepi Bia Cazui Sanate de Plata and Chiabon have some one others more Sugar-Mills upon them But the chiefest River is Ozama broad and so deep that the biggest Vessel may lie close by the Shore and also washes St. Domingo Description of the City of St. Domingo This City the Metropolis of all the Isles round about was built by Bartholomeus Columbus and was peopled Anno 1494. after which it flourish'd eight years when a terrible Storm blowing the same down to the Ground Nicholas Olanda remov'd it to the Western Shore of Ozama that the Spaniards who had for the most part setled towards the West might not be necessitated to Ferry over but the first place stood much more conveniently being not onely provided of a Fountain of sweet Water but also freed of those unwholsom Vapours which daily rise with the Sun at this new-built City To prevent the inconvenience of crossing to the foremention'd Fountain of which the Inhabitants found themselves oftentimes in great want Olanda went about to lead the neighboring River Hayna into the Ozama but the Design not being prosecuted bereav'd Domingo of the onely thing which would have made it able to stand in competition with any City in the World for it lies on a Plain the South side whereof is wash'd by the Sea the East side by the River on the North and West are many delightful Fields The City which in a manner is built square is divided into long straight Streets full of fair Houses after the Spanish manner in the middle thereof is a square Market-place with a handsom Church the Yard whereof is encompass'd with a high Wall which upon occasion would serve for a place of great Defence The Collectors of the King of Spain's Revenue dwell in stately Palaces and the Dominicans Franciscans and Monks De la Merced have brave Cloysters besides two more for the Nuâ—s The Latine School and Hospital belonging to the City are Endow'd with great yearly Revenues The Arch-bishop of St. Domingo hath Command over the Bishoprick of Conception La Vega Cuba Venezuela and Porto Rico. The City is surrounded with a Stone Wall and fortifi'd with a Castle which with two Bulwarks reaches to the River Ozama and within them two Half-Moons On the utmost Shore stands a round Tower near the Southern Bulwark Before the new discover'd Countreys entic'd away many People from St. Domingo and the Silver Fleet put into Havana the Inhabitants drove a great Trade in Hides Tallow Sugar Cassia Horses and Hogs Anno 1586. Sir Francis Drake Landed here with twelve hundred English-men took the City by Storm staid a whole Moneth in the same and upon Composition with the Spaniard left it undestroy'd Other chief Towns of Hispaniola Other chief Towns in Hispaniola are 1. Salvaleon twenty eight Leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the East 2. Zeybo 3. Cotny formerly inhabited by those that work'd in the Gold-Mines the last especially was once a rich Town and much frequented but now in a manner deserted 4. Azua or New Compostella eight Leagues distant from St. Domingo famous for the Sugar-Mills not far from it and one of the Ports before-mention'd 5. Yaguana for its brave Harbour also call'd Maria del Puerto in the more Western parts of the Island a small Town not above a League distant from the Sea It was burnt by Captain Christopher Newport URBS DOMINGO IN HISPANIOLA 6. Conception de la Vega adorn'd with a Cathedral and Cloysters of Fryers and lying twenty or thirty Leagues Northward of St. Domingo It was built by Columbus and from thence he had his Title of Duke de la Vega. 7. Sant Jago de los Cavalleros a very pleasant Place ten Leagues Northward of St. Domingo 8. Puerto de Plata or The Silver Haven four Leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the North It hath been counted the second Place of Trading and Wealth in the whole Island being commodiously seated on an Arm of the Sea and fortifi'd with a Castle 9. Monte Christo one of the Ports also above-mention'd It lies fourteen Leagues Westward of Plata and extends it self along the Northern Coast it is wash'd by the River Yagui on whose Banks are many Salt-pans The Island dispeopled by the cruelty of the Spaniards All those Cities are much decay'd and thinly inhabited the Spaniards being most of them drawn by the temptation of new discover'd Gold and Silver Mines in other places and the first Inhabitants having been miserably destroy'd The Bishop De las Casas an Eye-witness relates That the King Gauccanarillo secur'd the Goods of a stranded Ship of which Columbus was Commander and receiv'd the Spaniards very courteously but not being able to continue supplying them with that quantity of Gold they requir'd wanting Men to gather so much out of the Streams and Mines and seeing no way to rid himself from the Spaniards Oppressions fled to the Province of Ciguayos the Casique of which was his Deputy whereat the Spaniards were so enrag'd that they burnt all that they could meet with neither sparing young nor old and at length taking Guaccanarillo put him in Irons Their barbarous usage of Guaccanarillo and others and thought to have carried him to Madrid but the Ship in which he went suffering Shipwrack he with many others was cast away being before almost dead with grief for his Consort who had been Ravish'd by a Spanish Commander Likewise Anacoana Sister to the Casique or Governor of the Province Xarana and Partner with him in the Government seeing three hundred of her Councellors burning in a great House set on fire by the Spaniards and her Subjects torn by Dogs or cut in pieces hung her self out of despair The same Death died Higuanama Queen of Huguey Others say that Anacoana was put to death together with her Brother in a most barbarous and cruel manner by Nicholas de Olanda who succeeded Diego de Arana in the Government of this Island Many Women and Children were kept alive onely to Manure the
with their Legs in salt Water which they drink Manner of taking Parrots The Parrots which breed here us'd to be taken by the Natives after a strange manner A Boy having a Bundle of Herbs about his Head climbs up to the top of a Tree holding a Parrot over his Head which by griping he forces to make a noise and thereby draws others to come flying about him upon which being expert in this Art he throws a String with a Noose made fast to a Stick about them and pulls them to him There are a sort of four-footed Serpents by the Natives call'd Yguanas of which they us'd to eat The Flesh of Tortoises or Turtles was accounted a great Dainty amongst them especially those of the biggest size of which some have been known to weigh a hundred and thirty Pound The Feet of them are said to cure the Leprosie and Scabs Amongst the peculiar Trees of this Countrey are the Zagua and the Caninga The Cotton which is of the natural Growth of this Place is exceeding fine Here is also the Bird Flamingo and another sort of Bird call'd Bambayas In former times Cuba was Govern'd by several Lords each Commanding over his own Province Chief Provinces of Cuba The chiefest of these Provinces are Mayzi Bayamo Cueyba Camguey Macaca Xagua Habana and Uhima some of them are plain others mountainous and being more or less fruitful were very populous before the Spaniards came thither but since their cruel Massacres scarce any of the antient Natives are left Nor are the Spaniards here at present very populous considering the largeness of the Island In the Province of Camaguey is a Valley three Leagues in bigness where Nature produces a great number of large Stones so exactly round that no Man with a Compass can make a more exact Circle Though the Gold which is digg'd out of the Mines and found in Rivers is none of the purest yet the Copper which this Countrey affords is accounted excellent HAVANA The Serpents here are about the bigness of a Hare having Heads like Weezles Serpents they prey on little Beasts call'd Guabiniquinazes and have been accounted delicious and wholsom Meat Antient Customs of the Natives The antient Natives went formerly naked The Men made it a Custom to forsake their Wives when they pleas'd yet the Women were still oblig'd to be faithful to them though from the very first day of their Marriage they were taught to Cuckold them by a certain wicked Ceremony in use amongst them for the Bridegroom lay not with his Bride the first Night but suffer'd her to be enjoy'd by one of his Friends of equal Quality with himself whether he were Lord Merchant Laboring-man or what Estate soever The Spaniard at first beaten by the Natives This Island was reduc'd under the Spanish Government not without great effusion of Blood for the Natives having had continual Wars with the Cannibals as hath been said were not ignorant in the Exercise of Arms. The first Spanish Commander sent against them was Valdivia whom they slew with all his Men and hew'd his Ship in pieces Little better escap'd Fogeda whose Men were all cut off and he himself escaping very miraculously died not long after of his Wounds in St. Domingo St. Jago built by Valasquez Within two years after viz. Anno 1514. Diego Valasquez with better success set forth for Cuba where the first thing he did was to build a City which he call'd St. Jago lying near a Southern Bay full of Fish and defended with several small Isles behind which the Ships in the greatest Storm may Ride very secure by reason whereof the new City increas'd so much that in a short time it could shew two thousand Inhabitants a brave Church a Cloyster and was made a Bishop's See but subordinate to that of St. Domingo The Copper Mountains Three or four Leagues from the City are those famous Mountains by the Spaniards call'd Sierra de Cobre or The Copper Mountains from the abundance of that Metal which the Mines in them afforded and do yet afford but the City was afterwards almost left desolate divers Houses in the same standing empty having in it scarce two hundred Inhabitants St. Jago taken by the English which made it the easier to be taken by a hundred and sixty English-men led by Captain Cliff Anno 1601. who carried from thence a hundred thousand Pieces of Eight and a Ships Lading of Hides and Sugar 2. Besides St. Jago Valasquez built the Town Baracoa on the Eastern Shore of Cuba Baracoa wash'd by the River Mares which falls into the Ocean between two Mountains on one side and a flat Point on the other and is a most excellent Harbor Not far from which grows the best Ebony Wood. 3. He also built the Town St. Salvador St. Salvador one of the most healthful Promontories of all Cuba near the River Bayamo which produces round Stones us'd there in stead of Bullets 4. He likewise built Trinidad Trinidad before which hardly accessible Harbor many a Ship hath been cast away But this Fort was by a mighty Storm levell'd even with the Ground Puerto del Principe 5. Near the Haven before the Town Puerto del Principe is a Fountain out of which at certain times flows liquid Pitch Villa Sancti Spiritus 6. The Town call'd Villa Sancti Spiritus six Leagues from the Ocean boasts fifty brave Houses and is wash'd by the River Saaz 7. The chiefest City which the Spaniards possess in the West-Indies Havana and the present Seat of their Governor is Christovall de Havana which stood first on the South side of Cuba but was afterwards built on the North opposite to Florida The Harbor before it is large and safe for it is able to contain a thousand Ships without the least endangering of one another and yet the Entrance so narrow between a Promontory and a square Fort that two Ships cannot Sail in together the shallowest part thereof hath six Fathom Water On each side the Mouth of the Harbor is a Fort the one call'd Mesa de Maria which stands built on a Champain Ground the other call'd Morro which lies at the Foot of two Hills on whose tops several Guns are planted which Command the Town and Haven Betwixt these two Forts is a Tower cover'd on the top whereof is a round Lantern wherein stands continually a Watch-man who puts forth as many Flags as he discovers Ships at Sea to give notice thereof to the City which is a Mile from thence Before Havana stands a third Castle well stor'd with Guns as likewise the rest are in all to the number of two hundred and forty and strongly Garrison'd of which great care was taken by the General Jean de Texeda and Baptista Antonelli an Architect sent thither by Philip the Second King of Spain to secure the Place from all foreign Assaults because the Plate-Fleet and other Ships that
the Compass with such mighty Gusts as if they would turn all things into their first Chaos The Caribbeeans call these Tempests Hurricanes which formerly us'd to happen but once in seven years but of late every two years and sometimes twice in a year What damage these Winds cause is scarce to be express'd the Sea raising its turbulent Waves up to the Skyes casts the Ships on the Shore which though in Harbor are certain to be wrack'd whilest the Land seems to labor under a general Ruine whole Woods being rooted up by the same or at least bereav'd of Boughs and Leaves the Corn is beaten down the Plants blasted Houses turn'd topsie-turvy Mountains rent asunder and sometimes pieces of Rocks blown into the Sea Before the Hurricanes there are several fore-runners which give notice of their sudden approach viz. the Sea on a sudden is so calm that the least motion is not perceiv'd the Birds flye from the Mountains into the Valleys where they lay themselves flat on the Ground and the Rain which falls is bitter and salt Charles de Rochfort observ'd that in his time some Ships laden with Tobacco being lost in a Hurricane before St. Christophers soon after the Tempest ceased thousands of Fishes were seen swimming with their Bellies upwards intoxicated no doubt with the Tobacco SECT XIII Antego Situation of Antego BEtween Nevis and Montserrat at sixteen Degrees and eleven Minutes lies Antego being seven Leagues long and about six broad It is dangerous to come at with great Ships because of the many Rocks which lie before it and remain'd the longer uninhabited because of the want of fresh Water yet at last the English taking possession of it digg'd Pits and made Troughs to catch and preserve Rain-water in so that it is now inhabited by at least eight hundred People who live on Plants Venison and Fish Upon the Sea-shore appears often-times the Sword-fish The Sword-Fish which hath no Scales but a grey Skin and white Belly rough like a Fyle a flat Head two Fins on each side two on the Back and one in stead of a Tail with which it makes a swift motion the Sword of it is a long Bone arm'd on each side with twenty seven white and strong Teeth This Fish striving to be Chief of the Sea Encounters with all other Fishes whatsoever even with the Whale himself whose Belly he often rends open near his Eyes are two Nostrils out of which he blows the Water he drinks into the Air. SECT XIV Montserrat Description of Montserrat MOntserrat lying just at the seventeenth Degree is so call'd from a Spanish Hill beyond Barcellona whose shape this Island represents off at Sea It is about three Leagues in length and almost as much in breadth and is very Mountainous except a little towards the East and as much Westward The English have a Church here lin'd in the in-side with Cedar which this Island produces in great abundance Also the Acajou-Tree which grows an exceeding heighth The Acajou-Tree with mighty Boughs under which many judge it very wholsom to sleep But there are two sorts of the Acajou-Tree the one differing from the other in tallness of Body and Colour of which the most esteem'd is the red and sweet-smelling which is not subject to any decay for that which is white and yields Gum when cut is of a less value The Acomas-Tree The Acomas is also no way inferior in bigness to the Acajou which bears long swarthy Leaves and yellow Fruit not unlike a Plumb but because of their extraordinary bitterness they are not eatable onely the wild Pigeons at a certain time of the year feed on them after which their Flesh becomes bitter also from the Bark when cut runs a milky Juice The Cypress-Tree The Cypress-Trees when plan'd yield a pleasant Marble colour to the Eye and a delightful fragrance to the Scent The Iron-Tree The Iron-Tree with sharp-pointed Leaves crack'd near the Stalk blossoms in March and September after the Violet Blossoms follow a black kind of Fruit like a Cherry being an excellent Food for Birds the Wood whilst flourishing is red but cut down changes its colour yet is so hard that it never decays Moreover the Musk-Herb yields a sweet smell The Musk-Herb and grows like Brambles without Thorns between long dusky Leaves hang yellow Flowers which afterwards become Cods full of Seeds that smell exactly like Musk. SECT XV. Guadalupe Situation of Guadalupe GUadalupe or Gardelupe formerly call'd Carricueira lying at about sixteen Degrees and containing sixty Leagues in circumference for it is the biggest and noblest of the Caribbee Islands is divided in two by a narrow Channel wherefore one part is call'd Grand-Terre and the other properly Guadalupe whose Eastern Point nam'd Cabes-Terre and its Western call'd Basse-Terre are both inhabited by the French Several high Mountains especially towards the Center Mountains start up from very low Grounds with their barren Crowns towards the Skye some whereof are overgrown with Trees At the Feet of some of the Mountains are large Plains â—â—â—ter'd by sweet Streams which formerly invited the Spanish Fleets thither to water There is also a sulphurous Mountain which smoaking continually gives the taste of Sulphur to the Streams which flow about the same This Island boasts likewise several boyling Springs which cure the Dropsie and all other Distempers proceeding from Colds Towards each of the two fore-mention'd Points Strange Fish are large Gulphs that produce abundance of Tortoises and all manner of Fish and amongst others one sort not known by Name which is generally about four Foot long having a sharp and big Head with glittering Eyes a Back streak'd with blue and green and a Belly half white and half red eight yellow Fins and a broad Tail with which it swims exceeding swift Near the Shore swim the Sharks an ugly Sea Monster The Shark which bites a Man asunder in the Middle at once their Head is hard and prickly their flat Mouthes opening discover three rows of Teeth After this Fish swims generally the Pilot-Fish The Pilot-Fish which is so curiously speckled that Nature seems herein to excell what-ever can be represented by the artificial Pencil and move either swifter or slower according as the Shark leads The Brain of this Fish is judg'd exceeding good against the Gravel and Stone The discovery of Guadalupe Guadalupe was first discover'd in the Year of our Lord 1635. by the French under the Command of the Lords Du Plessis and De Olive and after them one of the Captains of St. Christophers Since which the Champain Ground being Till'd and Manur'd brings forth in great plenty Rice Maiz Manicock and Potato's Father Raymond Breton got possession of the fruitfullest part of the Island for the Reformed Jacobines or White-Fryers and since the present Governor Monsieur De Howell sent also for the Jesuits and Carmelites to build Cloysters in a new City which
Division of Regions and Territories must give place to the Modern The Nature and Customs of the antient Inhabitants The antient Inhabitants of these Parts were a very warlike People the Women always accompanying their Husbands in the Wars They us'd to hang on the tops of their Standards the Bones of their greatest Heroes thereby to animate their Soldiers Their Arms consisted of poysonous Arrows Stone Swords and Pikes made of the Palm-Trees They also carried with them the Idol Chiapa to whom they Offer'd living Children at the beginning of their Wars and afterwards making Merry with the Flesh anointed the Image with the Blood Moreover if they return'd home Conquerors they spent several days in all manner of Debaucheries as Drinking Singing Dancing Cutting their Prisoners Throats with their Blood also anointing their Image But if they were conquer'd then they invented new Offerings to reconcile themselves with their Idol Towns and Places of chief note The chief Towns and Places which the Spaniards inhabit here are 1. Panama the chief City of the Province being also a Bishop's See which is Suffragan to the Arch-bishop of Lima and the ordinary Residence of the Governor and Courts of Justice for these Parts It is seated likewise upon the South Sea and so near that at High-water the Ships are said to Ride even under the Walls Through this Town the Wealth both of Peru and Spain passeth once every Year from Spain by Nombre de Dios and Porto Bello from whence whatsoever Merchandise or other Commodities come from Spain are Transported to Panama by Land and from thence by Sea to all the Parts of Peru and by Panama whatsoever comes from Peru is sent into Spain It hath commonly a strong Garrison of Soldiers in it and is doubtless a Place otherwise well fortifi'd being of so great importance From the Haven Pericos three Ways lead to Panama the first along a Bridge over a River whose Banks are great Fortifications to the City the rather because the River is deep and next it a Pool over-grown with Weeds The Way from Nombre de Dios plain and without Woods is wash'd by the Brook Levendero The third runs along over a Stone Bridge and Champain Grounds that extend from the Haven Pericos to the City Eastward from Panama appear seven Royal Houses on a Rock wherein the Courts of Judicature are kept Five hundred Rods into the Sea lies an Island resembling a Half-Moon and the Haven wherein the Ships when they unlade cast Anchor there being else not Water enough for laden Barques and all lie dry the Tide being out At the Mouth thereof stands a woodden Sconce The Places Venta de Cruze Chagre Quebrada and Ballano are also fortifi'd against any Invasion where else an Enemy might easily Land But the strictest Watch is kept at the River Chagre which Westward below Nombre de Dios falling into the Northern Ocean brings the Ships up to Venta de Cruze from whence a Way scarce five Leagues long leads to Panama The Spanish Commodities consisting most in Meal Oyl Biskets Cloth and Silk are all brought from Nombre de Dios along the same Way or else in Winter when they cannot stem the Current of the River Chagre then they bring their Goods by Land not without great danger of being taken by the run-away Negro's who set upon them out of the Woods with poyson'd Darts and Arrows and as many Spaniards as they take so many several ways they put them to death because they formerly in the time of their Servitude were us'd with all imaginable Cruelties The Provisions sold here at a reasonable Rate are Maiz Peruan-Meal Poultrey Honey Cattel Swine Oranges Lemmons Cabbage and all manner of Garden Herbs or Plants Round about the fore-mention'd Royal Houses lie Bulwarks with a strong Castle on one side A fair Cathedral denotes the Place to be a Bishop's See And the Franciscans Dominicans and Monks of the Order De la Merced inhabit several fair Cloysters here Two Leagues Westward is the Haven Pericos which being secur'd from all Winds by three high Isles that lie before it is the chief Harbor in which the Peruan Plate-Fleet consisting most in small Barques comes to an Anchor before they touch at Panama The Countrey is for the most part Mountainous and in many places sends forth stinking Damps out of muddy Pools yet in some places are Savanna Grounds for Cattel to Graze in The Air would also be more unhealthful if it were not clear'd by the Winds which blow from the Sea From July to October there fall continual Rains mix'd with terrible claps of Thunder The Inhabitants often recreate themselves in Hunting wild Hogs with Nets made of the Brambles call'd Nequen or Henachen and that after a strange manner for they set on fire the Bushes all about the place where they suppose the Game to lie which to shun the Fire runs into their Nets so that the same Bushes are both their shelter and destruction as affording Material to make the Nets wherein they are taken Besides other Birds the Woods also abound with Pheasants and Turtle-Doves and amongst Beasts those that carry their Young about them in a Bag as also wild Cats The Sea abounds with Fish and produces Crocodiles of a large size by the Spaniards call'd Lagartos The Trees are seldom without Leaves but bear little or no Fruit. 2. Nombre de Dios which hath broad Streets high woodden Houses and a fair Church It extends from East to West along the Northern Ocean in the middle of a great Wood on Moorish Ground having a great Fen on the West being situate under an unwholsom Climate it hath occasion'd the death of many People The Merchants which dwelt here had also Habitations in Panama the rest of the Houses being most of them Inns for Strangers from whence as soon as they had gotten an Estate they went to Spain The Countrey round about lies under Water in many places The Oranges Cassada-Roots and the like which grow here occasion many Distempers to those that eat of them In the Harbor which hath on each side a Ridge of Rocks on which lies decay'd Forts the Sea is often-times so turbulent that the Ships are forc'd to Ride at six Anchors apiece Eastward from the City a fresh-Water River falls into the Haven on whose Banks stand several Garden-Houses and Orchards Anno 1595. Sir Francis Drake arriving here found a Mill beyond the City not far from which on a Hill stood a Watch-house of which having made himself Master he set fire on the Town Nombre de Dios as also on all the Vessels that were in the Harbor The original of the Name Nombre de Dios was on this occasion viz. Diego Niquesa setting Sail with three Ships out of the Haven Carthagena to the Golden Countrey Veragua was surpris'd by a violent Storm in which two Ketches Commanded by Lupus de Olano and Peter Umbria were driven out of sight whilest he suffer'd shipwrack and getting
ashore rang'd up and down in a desolate Countrey where he found no other Food but Roots till at last he met with Olano when the Famine began to increase amongst them in such a nature that being scarce able to carry their Arms many of them were kill'd by the Inhabitants with poyson'd Arrows insomuch that of seven hundred there remain'd scarce ninety Niquesa shipp'd as many of them in a new Vessel which they had made as it could possibly carry and promis'd to fetch the rest off from Veragua as soon as he had discover'd a Place fit to be inhabited The first Place he Landed at was Puerto Bello from whence being necessitated by the Indians who gather'd together to Retreat Aboard not without the loss of several Men he set Sail to the Promontory Mormor beyond which he Anchor'd in a secure Haven where as he was going ashore he call'd to his Men saying Saltiamo in tierra al Nombre de Dios that is Let us Land in the Name of God and casting up a Fort against the Assaults of the Natives call'd it Nombre de Dios. 3. St. Philip or Puerto Bello so denominated by Christopher Columbus from its Haven lying along the North Sea wonderful convenient and secure by reason of the good Ground for Anchoring and a Creek in the same defended from all sorts of Winds and which being surrounded with Woods hath much over-flow'd Land about it as also abundance of good Gravel for Ballast for which and several other Reasons the famous Architect Baptista Antonelli advis'd the Spanish King to build this City for a Staple of Trade in stead of Nombre de Dios which was found unhealthy having pitch'd upon an excellent Situation for it viz. on a Plain at the Foot of a Hill where there are three fresh Rivulets meeting with a fruitful and hot Countrey wherefore his Advice being taken they first built a Fort at the Mouth of the Haven put five Guns into the same to defend the new City and on the Shore a strong Tower with eight Drakes Moreover the Rocks along the Shore and close Woods about the Haven prevent the Landing of an Enemy But at the very time that this City was just begun to be built Sir Francis Drake having burnt Nombre de Dios ran into the Haven Puerto Bello where he found ten Houses besides the Governors Palace and a Castle whose Breast-works which the Spaniards had lately rais'd of Timber Stone and Earth were all demolish'd by the English But the Spaniards have since re-built the same and fortifi'd the Haven with two strong Castles notwithstanding in the Year 1661. it was surpriz'd and taken by the English under the Command of Captain Parker and the Governor Petro Melendez taken Prisoner 4. Nata commonly call'd St. Jago de Nata situated on the West side of this Province upon Mare del Zur or The South Sea about thirty Leagues distant from Panama towards the Borders of Veragua 5. Acla a Town upon the same Coast but lying South-East of Nombre de Dios It was at first onely a Fort built by Peter de Arias but afterwards grew up into a small City of which at present there is nothing remaining but the remembrance of the famous Vasquez Nunnez Beheaded by his Father-in-law Arias 6. Lastly La Crux Real a few Leagues distant from Panama for the most part inhabited by a sort of Negro's call'd Simmerones Along the North Coast of Panama are two small woody Islands call'd Cattiva and Comagre lying low in the Water also the Isle De Pines which rises high out of the Sea near the Main Land The Isles of Pearls On the Southern Coast are Isole de las Perlas or The Isles of Pearls about twenty five in number but indeed rather Rocks than Islands excepting two viz. Taroreque and Del Rios where in former times the Indians took great store of Pearls by diving for them to the bottom of the Sea and they were esteem'd of greater value and excellence than those of Cubagua and great profit was made of them by the Spaniards till by their Cruelties exercis'd upon the Natives through excessive greediness they depopulated the Islands and lost that altogether of which before they were so insatiable they are now onely inhabited by a few Moors and other Slaves who keep Cattel there for their Masters Captain Oxenham's Expedition It will not seem amiss to conclude our Description of Panama with a short Account of the English Captain John Oxenham's Exploits in these Parts He being incited by the Treasure which Sir Francis Drake fetch'd from hence resolv'd to Steer for the Northern Coast of Panama where he hal'd his Ship of a hundred and twenty Tun on Shore and cover'd the same with Trees buried his Guns and march'd with two Field-Pieces and seven Men up into the Countrey and was by the Indians conducted to a River which falls into the South Sea where he built a Pinnace of forty five Foot long and Sailing into the South Sea Landed on Tararequi one of the Islands of Pearls where he soon after took a Peruan Barque with sixty thousand pieces of Gold store of Wine and Bread and the day following another which came from Lima loaden with a hundred thousand Pound in Silver Bars and some Pearls with which being enrich'd he return'd to the Main The Governor of Panama being inform'd of it put a hundred Soldiers into four Barques besides a considerable number of Negro Slaves over which Juan de Ortego having the chief Command was inform'd at Tararequi what Course the English had steer'd whereupon he pursu'd them to the River whither they were gone which falling with three Arms into the Sea they could not have known which way the English went unless they had seen some Feathers of Fowls driving in the Mouth of the least Branch by which they judg'd that they were not far off therefore Rowing up they found after four days Journey the Pinnace hal'd on Shore and watch'd by six Men who were order'd to stand Sentinel whereof one being shot by the Spaniards the other five fled whom Ortega pursuing found half a League from the Shore a Hut made of Boughs wherein the Booty lay which he speedily carried to his Barques but Captain Oxenham inform'd hereof fell with two hundred Indians up-the Spaniards who having a Wood on their Backs made such advantage thereof that eleven English were slain and seven taken and had not the rest fled they had all been either kill'd or taken Prisoners Those that were taken inform'd Ortega that they had been at difference amongst themselves about dividing the Booty which was the reason of their staying so long moreover they discover'd where and how their Ship lay all which the Governor of Panama writ to Nombre de Dios from whence four Sail were immediately sent to find out the Ship and the buried Guns as also to take all such English as they should find preparing of Boats or Barques and bring them to
Panama whereupon very many were taken who were all miserably slain except a few Youths SECT III. Darien Description of Darien DArien which by some Authors not being thought considerable enough to make a distinct Province is reckon'd one and the same with or at least part of Panama hath on the North the District or Circle of Panama on the South the new Kingdom of Granada Eastward it is bounded with the Gulf of Urraba abovesaid and some part of the River Darien which giveth Name to the Province and to the West with the South Sea of a more temperate Air by far than that of Panama and a Soil so admirably fruitful and lusty that they say Melons Cucumbers and generally all other Fruits of the Garden are ripe and fit to gather within twenty days or less after their first sowing but very much infested by noxious Creatures as Lyons Leopards wild Cats Crocodiles Serpents and Bats after whose Bitings a Man bleeds to death unless he washes the Wound well with Sea-water or stop it with hot Ashes and no less by the unwholsomness of the Air which is infested by the many stinking Damps that arise from the muddy Pools The Inhabitants are sickly and seeming generally to be troubled with the Yellow Jaundice never attain to a great Age they go naked the Men onely covering their Privities with a Shell or Cotton-Cloth The Women wear a Cloth which reaches from the Middle down to their Knees but if Women of Quality to their Feet Sebastian and Antiqua by whom built The Spaniards have many years ago made themselves Masters of this Province of Darien in which Alphonsus Fogeda built the City Sebastian which was inhabited till a Spanish Knight call'd Ancisius Anno 1510. built Antiqua and made it a Bishop's See which by reason of the unwholsomness of the Place was remov'd to Panama when Vasquez Nunnez discover'd the Southern Ocean Anno 1590. because Antiqua lay on a low Ground between high Mountains where the Sun burnt exceedingly and the Way to the South Sea being three Leagues from thence it was very troublesom to convey Merchandise thither But a worse Accident befell the Town St. Cruiz which being built by the Spanish Captain Peter de Arias was ruin'd by the Indians The chief Rivers are 1. Darien Rivers which gives Name both to the Province and the Provincial Town and falls into the Gulf of Urraba being a large Arm of the Sea eight Leagues over at the Mouth thereof 2. Rio de las Redas which runs in like manner through the Province of Nova Andaluzia and falls also into the same Gulf. So likewise doth 3. Rio de la Trepadera 4. Corobaci 5. Beru chiefly remarkable upon this Consideration that some curious Etymologists have endeavor'd to derive the Name of Peru from this River by the alteration onely of the initial Letter Places of chief note The chief and indeed the onely Town of this Tract is Darien built as aforesaid by Encisus a Spanish Adventurer and by him call'd St. Maria Antiqua and by others The Antique of Darien being one of the first Towns that were built by the Spaniards on the firm Land though there are who make mention of two other small Towns or Villages the one nam'd at least if not built by the Spaniards viz. Los Angelos scarce inhabited at present by any but the Salvages the other an antient Town of the Natives call'd Bizu SECT IV. New Andaluzia Description of New Andaluzia EAstward of Darien and the Gulf of Urraba lieth the Countrey of New Andaluzia otherwise call'd Carthagena from the Name of its principal City On the East it hath the Countrey call'd St. Martha on the North the Main Ocean and New Granada towards the South It is for the most part a Mountainous Countrey and full of Woods which they say yield abundance of Rozen Gums and some very good Balsams also a sort of Long-pepper much sharper than that of East-India But the Plains by reason of much Rain to which the Countrey is subject especially for some times of the year of but a spewy and cold Soil The Spaniards at their first coming found it a rich Countrey not so much from the Nature and Profits of the Soil though it be said to have some Mines in it and those of Gold but by reason of a certain Opinion and Respect which the Americans of these Parts are generally said to have born towards this Countrey insomuch that they would be brought and buried there from other Places very remote and accordding to the Custom of the Countrey not without good store of Gold and other Jewels according to the Quality and Condition of the Person that was buried of which the Spaniards soon gain'd Intelligence and in ransacking the Graves and Monuments of the Dead are suppos'd to have found an infinite Mass of Treasure but those Mines are long since exhausted Nature and Customs of the antient Inhabitians The Inhabitants of old suffer'd great prejudice by Tygers and Serpents yet nevertheless this Countrey was very populous before the Spaniards arrival here the Natives wore Cotton Aprons before and Golden Rings about their Arms and Legs as also Strings of Pearl and the like The Women here as in the rest of these Parts went with their Husbands into the Wars and behav'd themselves valiantly shooting poyson'd Arrows insomuch that Martin Ambesus took a Maid Anno 1509. who had kill'd twenty eight Spaniards The Countrey Vrraba To the Province Carthagena belongs also the Countrey Urraba which is so fruitful that all kind of Spanish Trees and Seeds grow better here than in Spain Besides which it hath its own Fruit as also abundance of Pine and Palm-Trees whose Leaves serve for Brooms The Guaiana-Tree bears a sharp kind of Fruit like a Lemmon the Guaravana a kind of Cittrons the Mameisa a Fruit not unlike an Orange but tasting like a Melon and the Hovos a great Plum CARTAGENA A strange Beast Moreover Urraba abounds in Venison Fish and all sorts of ravenous Creatures as Tygers Lyons and a particular strange Beast as big as an Ox having an Elephants Nose Horses Feet and hanging Ears The Trees likewise swarm with Birds and especially near Lakes or Pools breed Pheasants and Parrots of which some are bigger than Capons others no bigger than Chickens The Mountain Abibe Against Urraba juts the Mountain Abibe whose length Westward remains unknown the breadth thereof in some places is about twenty Leagues it hath many Ways which cannot be travell'd with Horses The top of this Mountain is uninhabited but along the Valleys which are many and large dwelt formerly a People that possess'd great Riches in Gold which they gather'd out of Rivulets that fell Westward from the tops of the Mountains It Rains here almost all the year long which makes the Ways very bad for Travellers to pass At the Foot of this Mountain towards the South lie two small antient Casiquedoms if we may
in hot and moist Ground one Bushel Sow'n generally produces three hundred But the Maiz is distinguish'd into a courser or finer sort which last is call'd Moroche the Leaves and Canes whereof afford a wholsom Provender for Horses and the Corn Bread for the Inhabitants who make it several ways for sometimes they boyl it in Water and at other times parch it in Ashes or grind it to Meal which kneading into Dough they make into Cakes Biskets and the like Moreover Maiz steep'd in Water and after being boyl'd and set a working makes a very strong Liquor They also use Cassada which they make of the Root Yuca which being large and thick is cut in pieces grated and all its Juice which is deadly poyson being press'd out is Bak'd in thin Cakes There is likewise another sort of Yuca which hath not so poysonous a Juice keeping good a long time and is both wholsom and of a good taste The Natives of old liv'd much upon the Roots Yomus and Cubias all sorts of Venison Fowls and Fish which the Rivers and Lakes afford in great abundance Those that are left of the Natives are a deceitful crafty and ingenious sort of People very apt to learn Art and to Trade with Salt to Rio Grande and the Mountain Opou Besides Copper and Steel-Mines this Countrey hath also several of Gold and the Fields produce all manner of Plants The Nature of the Panchas The Panchas which remain are yet a salvage People but their Countrey is an indifferent fertile Soil though not in all places alike for those which border upon Tunia fed much heretofore on Pismires of which some being long have double Wings others lesser and without Wings which last sort being roasted are accounted a great Dainty and a speedy Remedy against the Distemper of the Gravel There are also a sort of venomous Pismires which stinging a Man cause a swelling and great itching and these are call'd Tayoques whose Stings are cur'd by a Plaister of bruis'd Pismires The Bounds and Dimensions of Nova Granada The Countrey is bounded on the North with Castella Aurea aforesaid on the West with Mare del Zur on the East with Venezuela the Southern parts of it being not well discover'd by reason of certain huge and unpassable Mountains which block it up wholly on that side save onely where a Passage is kept open into the Province of Peru specially so call'd It containeth in length about a hundred and thirty Leagues and not much less in breadth being for the most part a very healthful Countrey and abounding in Mines of the best sort of Metal besides others of Brass and Iron It is subdivided into these two Provinces viz. Granada and Popayana SECT II. Granada Description of Granada GRanada specially so call'd is a Countrey of a very temperate and good Air as hath been before observ'd neither subject to over-much Cold nor to extremity of Heat which is the more to be admir'd by reason of its nearness to the Line from which it is distant Northward but a very few Degrees Towns of chief note The Towns and Places of chief importance are 1. St. Foy commonly call'd St. Foy de Bogota which was the old Name of this Province and to distinguish it from another St. Foy in the Countrey of New Mexico above mention'd It is the Metropolis and Capital City of this Province an Arch-bishop's See and the ordinary Residence of the Governor built by the above-mention'd Gonsalvo Ximenes upon the Lake call'd Guatavita and hath been long since inhabited by above six hundred Families of Spaniards 2. St. Michael twelve Leagues Northward of St. Foy and a well Traded Town The Indians that dwell about this Place being above five thousand pay great Tribute yearly Not far from hence lies the Lake Guatavita where the Inhabitants in former times Offer'd much Gold to their Idols TERRA FIRMA et NOVUM REGNUM GRANATENSE et POPâ—AYAN 4. La Palma built Anno 1572. in a certain Territory the People whereof were antiently call'd Musi and Colymae 5. Trinidad which is indeed the antient Tudela renew'd or a City sprung out of the Ruines thereof This Tudela stood on the Shore of the River Zarbi which running between high Mountains makes the Rivulet Turatena and in the same Territory as La Palma above mention'd viz. of the Musi Colymae by whom the Spaniards who had here a Colony were so exceedingly molested that they deserted the same together with their Governor Peter de Orsua yet not long after the forsaken Place was again re-built by the Name of Trinidad but that Place proving incommodious was again abandon'd and a new Trinidad built where now it is to be seen on a convenient place Eastward from the high and cold Mountain Paramo From several rich Gemmaries thereabouts are digg'd store of Emeraulds Crystal like Diamonds white Marble and the Beryl especially on the Mountains Ytoco and Abipi 6. Tunia having a Territory about it to which it gives Denomination It lies on a high Hill from whence the Church and two Cloysters of the Dominican Fryers are seen at a great distance Here also is kept the greatest Market in New Granada 7. Pampelona sixty Leagues distant from St. Foy to the North-East abounding with Cattel and Gold 8. Merida surrounded with Corn-Fields the farthest Town of this Province North-Eastward towards Venezuela 9. Belez which though it suffers great prejudice by a burning a Mountain that vomits Fire and Stones and also Thunder and Lightning is the greatest Residence of several Orders of Fryers 10. Marequita otherwise call'd St. Sebastian del Oro which lies under a hot Climate and hath much Pasture 11. Ybague the Habitation chiefly of Dominicans 12. La Vittoria de los Remedios and 13. Juan de los Lanos or St. John of the Plains seated in a rich Nook of the Countrey where there are good Silver and Gold-Mines The Merchandise that come to these Towns are brought up the River Magdalena in Canoos of sixty Foot long SECT III. Popayana Situation and Description of Popayana POpayana the other part of this new Kingdom is border'd on the West with part of Granada last spoken of from which the River St. Martha divides it for the most part On the North it hath Nova Andaluzia or Carthagena on the West Mare del Zur and on the South Quito or rather some unreduc'd Countreys lying betwixt them both It extends in length above a hundred Leagues from North to South but in breadth betwixt the River and the South Sea not much above forty or fifty The Countrey is said to be a little too much subject to Rain yet not so but that the fertility of the Soil answers the industry of the Inhabitants in most places very well Sebastian de Bevalcazar Governor of Quito marching Anno 1536. with a Company of Spaniards to Otabalo where the Countrey Papayan begins was often set upon by the Natives from their Ambuscades and the many
Gasca who had also gain'd to his Party Peter Alphonso Alnoiosa who Commanded Pizarro's Fleet Aldana likewise inform'd him of all Pizarro's private Councels whereupon Gasca sent privately for Aid to Mexico Guatimala Nicaragua and St. Domingo and dispatch'd four Ships with three hundred Men Commanded by Aldana from the Haven Panama with Order to Land about Midnight against the City Los Reyos and so fall unawares on Pizarro Aldana accordingly falling into the Bay of Malabrige was reliev'd and supply'd with Provisions by Diego Mora Governor of Truxillo On the other side the Field-Marshal Carvayales being sent for by Pizarro made a pompous Entrance with the firing of Guns and Bonfires into Los Reyos where all Persons that seem'd to have the least inclination for Gasca were either stabb'd or poyson'd In the room of Mora Pizarro sent the Lawyer Garcias Leon to be Governor of Truxillo but he being taken by Aldana's Fleet joyn'd with Gasca and thus all things began to conspire the ruine of Pizarro yet he despair'd not but being inform'd of the approach of the Ships caus'd the Drums to be beaten in Los Reyos forc'd every one that was able to bear Arms on pain of death to serve him made several experienc'd Soldiers Commanders over his Horse and Foot to whom he gave as much Money as they requir'd to maintain those whom they had rais'd and who were to be rais'd by which means he got a thousand Men in Arms to which number according to an Order sent to Cusco Plata Arequipa Lima Guanuco and other neighboring Places new Forces were expected to joyn but Savedra Governor of Guanuco deserting the City left Pizarro and joyn'd with Mora who secur'd the Province of Caxamalca for Gasca Thus Pizarro began to be daily more and more forsaken Since the destruction of the Vice-Roy Vela Captain Diego Centeni had hid himself out of fear of Pizarro a whole year in a Cave under Ground but now inform'd of Gasca's Arrival came forth and getting forty Men and some Horses together which also belong'd formerly to the Vice-Roy resolv'd though meanly Arm'd to go upon a bold Design viz. to take the City Cusco of which Antonio de Robles a Man hated and despis'd for his mean Extract and little Wit had the chief Command there being therein a Garrison of five hundred Soldiers besides the Citizens who were likewise in Arms Being inform'd of Centeno's approach he sent out Francisco Aguierre as a Spye to discover the Enemy but he joyning with Centeno advis'd him to march along a By-way and towards Night to draw up about Cusco which accordingly he did and forcing open the Gates rush'd in with his Horse against the Enemy who were drawn up in the Market-place and breaking through their Ranks trampled whole Companies under foot Cusco taken by Centeno after which he fell in upon Robles who having forgotten to give his Men the Word caus'd a great distraction for the Men blinded by the darkness of the Night knew not Friend from Foe insomuch that Robles's Party did one another more mischief than Centeno did who being thus become Master of the City caus'd Robles to be Beheaded the next day and distributed a hundred thousand Ducats amongst his Soldiers and then march'd with a hundred Men to the City Plata to bring Mendoza Governor of the same under the Emperor's subjection in which his Design he likewise prov'd successful being supply'd with a hundred and thirty Foot which Lucas Martin had fetch'd from Arequipa for the Service of Pizarro whom since he had deserted and joyn'd with Gasca's Party Mean while the Fleet under the Command of Aldana arriv'd in the Haven before Los Reyos to the great terror and amazement of the whole City from whence Pizarro marching Encamp'd himself with five hundred and fifty Men so to prevent their Landing swearing that he would spare none whoe're fell into his Hands and sent Order to Peter Martin whom he had left in the City immediately to Hang up those which would not follow the Army or who return'd from thence home to which purpose Martin went from place to place with an Executioner and thinking him not quick enough in his Work stabb'd many Citizens himself And strict Order was given by Pizarro that all Run-aways should be punish'd with Death notwithstanding all which many of his nearest Friends daily forsook him taking advantage of the darkness of the Night nay the Soldiers themselves would at Noon-day ride away from him crying aloud Long live the Emperor and let the Tyrant Pizarro die Wherefore he judg'd it most convenient to remove to the Countrey Nasca During his Journey thither whole Troops left him insomuch that he scarce kept a hundred and fifty Men and those he fear'd every Minute would fall upon him and Murder him Los Reyos declares for the Emperor With Pizarro's departure the whole Scene of Affairs was chang'd in Los Reyos for there the Imperial Standard was erected the City Cryer read the Letters of Pardon which Gasca had brought with him from Spain in the corner of every Street Juan Palimino Landing with fifty Men receiv'd all those that had deserted Pizarro whilest Gasca set Sail from Panama with five hundred Men with whom Landing at Truxillo he Encamp'd himself in the Valley Xauxa whither great multitudes flock'd from all places out of malice to Pizarro who in a short time had destroy'd above five hundred Gentlemen But Pizarro having quitted Los Reyos he possess'd the City Arequipa which he found quite desolate but meeting afterwards with the Forces Commanded by Juan Acosta of which one half were also run away joyn'd with them and march'd against Centeno who lay along the Lake Titicaca with whom he Engag'd in the Plain Guarina Ludovico Ribera Landing Centeno's Party fir'd their Guns before the Pizarrians were within shot of him of which Carvayales making speedy use drew up his Pieces close before the Enemy and made an exceeding slaughter amongst them killing above a hundred and fifty Men in the first Onset the Horse amaz'd at the sudden destruction of the Foot fled leaving the remaining Foot-Soldiers open to the Enemy who was gotten behind them with his Musquetteers and with his Horse before whilest six Peruvians carried away Centeno out of the Fight he lying sick on a Chair Pizarro thus become Victor kill'd all he met with of which Gasca being inform'd resolving upon a private and sudden Revenge caus'd all Necessaries for War to be made ready and march'd with a thousand and nine hundred Men out of the Valley of Xauxa to Cusco where by the Way he was supply'd with the Forces which the experienc'd Colonel Peter Valdivia had brought from Chili with which coming to Andagua he took up his Quarters there for some time because the mild Winter had with continual Rains made the Ways so dirty that there was no travelling and had rotted their Tents and Maiz and also occasion'd the Bloody-flux amongst the Soldiers In March Gasca broke up
four large Hospitals the chiefest whereof call'd Andrias hath seldom less than four hundred Sick which are kept and cur'd on Charity The second is for Peruvians onely call'd The Hospital of St. Anna. The third built in honor of the Apostle St. Peter is for poor old Clergy-men The fourth nam'd The House of Love is for sick Women Besides these there stands another Structure near the Walls of the City Consecrated to Lazarus where those that have the Leprosie are cur'd The House call'd The Holy-Ghost receives all sick and wounded Sea-men The King maintains twenty four Students at his own Charge in the Royal Colledge and the Arch-bishop as many in the Colledge call'd St. Toronius but in the Colledge of St. Martin reside above six hundred which are brought up in all manner of Arts and Sciences Two hundred Students are also taught in the high School where they chuse a new Governor every year Here also is kept the King's Treasure and the Court of Inquisition The River which washes the City Walls runs so exceeding swift that not long since it carried away a new Stone Bridge with nine great Arches The Dominican Monks were the first that Landed on Peru the first which came thither with Francisco Pizarro being Vincent de Valle Verde who was follow'd by Sancio Martino Martino de Esquivele Dominico de Sancto Thoma Pedro Ulloa Alphonso de Montenegro Reynaldo Pedraza and many others who were stirr'd up by the report of the Peruvian Riches amongst whom were four Franciscans viz. Pedro Portuguese Jodoco de los Angelos De la Cruiz and De Sant Anna who were soon after follow'd by twelve Monks of the Augustine Order Anno 1552. Landed also at Los Reyos Colonel Andreas Salazar accompanied with Antonio Lozano Juan de Sancto Petro Hieronymo Melendez Didaco Palamino Pedro de Espeda Andreas Ortega Juan Canto Juan Chamorro Miracles reported to have been done by Ramirez Francisco de Treyas Juan Ramirez and Balthazar Melgarego Salazar soon after his Arrival sent the Priest Juan Ramirez and Balthazar Melganego to Guamachuco where he Baptiz'd and Instructed the Inhabitants in great numbers Afterwards travelling to Moyabamba he got a great esteem amongst those Idolaters and as it goes for currant amongst them wrought many Miracles amongst which this is reported for one He being inform'd by an old Peruvian that his Daughter nam'd Curi had hid several Idols enquiring after it he tax'd her with what her Father had told him which she denying and being rebuk'd by Ramirez is said to have become immediately dumb to have foam'd at the Mouth at last falling down dead like a second Saphira in the presence of many which caus'd many to forsake their Idolatry But the Necromancers endeavor'd by all means possible to raise a disesteem on Ramirez and with the assistance of their Master the Devil so wrought their Inchantments that the Tygers came in great Herds out of the Wildernesses to Moyabamba and devour'd not onely Men Women and Children in the High-ways but also tore them out of their Houses yet did not the least hurt to any Spaniard whereupon Ramirez valiantly went with a Company of his Proselytes to a Herd of Tygers which when he approached held the Cross to them which it seems so affrighted the Devil-Tygers that they climb'd up the Trees They farther relate if you will believe them to make the Miracle the greater That Ramirez call'd to the Multitude saying Go and revenge the Deaths of your devour'd Parents Children and Relations whereupon he throwing a Stone and all the rest following his Example the Tygers leap'd out of the Trees stood still and suffer'd themselves to be kill'd like Lambs Six years after the fore-mention'd twelve Augustine Monks follow'd eleven others who set Sail out of the Spanish Haven St. Lucar and arriving at Peru went to the Village Tauca where they broke the Image of the Goddess Huarella being as it were the Peruvian Venus or Patroness of amorous Delights reported to have given Responses from the Wood in which she was worshipp'd They also destroy'd the Idol Chanca in the Countrey Conchucos which being worshipp'd by the Indians in the shape of a Man had yearly a fair Maid aged fourteen years given to him in Marriage a solemn Wedding being kept and several Sheep kill'd The Miracle of an Augustine Monk The Augustine Monks are believ'd to have wrought also another Miracle in the Province Conchucos upon this occasion A Conjurer call'd Chaumango boasted himself to be God deny'd our Saviour in testimony whereof he gave out that he would kick a Mountain to pieces with his Foot which Report spreading all over the Countrey all the adjacent People flock'd to see this strange Wonder on an appointed Day on which Charimango being it seems as good as his word and kicking the Mountain caus'd it to rent from the top to the bottom and the pieces to flie all about the People who were exceedingly amaz'd but the Sorcerer upon the Augustine Monk's rebuking him was as they affirm immediately eaten up with Worms CHILI 1. P. â— de Talcaguana 2. I. Quiriquina 3. R. Biobio 4. R. Ilandalien 5. R. de la Laxa To conclude our Description of this famous Kingdom of Peru the People thereof at the Spaniards first Arrival viewing their Shipping their Guns and other Accoutrements unknown to them before had them in great admiration as Men descended from Heaven but when they began to be oppress'd by their Tyranny and to be tortur'd by them they look'd upon them as the Spawn of Hell and curs'd the Sea that had brought so wicked a People to them CHAP. V. Chile Situation and Description of Chile FOllowing the Coast of Mare del Zur or the South Sea the next great Province pertaining formerly to the Kingdom of Peru is that of Chile This is the most Southerly Province of the whole Countrey of America reaching up as far as the Magellane Straights with which to the Southward it is bounded Northward it hath a Desart and an undiscover'd Countrey lying betwixt it and the Confines of Peru call'd Atacama on the West it hath Mare del Zur and on the East up to Rio de la Plata the Atlantick or North Sea with some Countreys undiscover'd which interpose betwixt it and Paraguay to the North-East It lieth all of it beyond the Tropick of Capricorn in a temperate Zone and extendeth it self in length from the Borders of Peru to the Mouth of the Straights five hundred Leagues or more but the breadth of it neither equal nor certain They say 't is call'd Chile from the word I hil which signifies Cold it seems in their Language as well as ours it being generally a cold and bleak Countrey the Air in many parts of it so extreamly sharp and piercing that both Horse and Rider sometimes in travelling are frozen to death as the Spaniards found by experience in their first Search and Discovery of the Countrey under the Conduct of Diego Almagro who
and Tallow but the Fish immediately swallowing the same are taken Here are in the first place abundance of Hays a Fish so rank and oylie that they are not eatable but their Brains are accounted good against the Stone There are also hereabouts a sort of flying Fish like Herrings but not so big they have Wings like Bats which carry them above Water whilest they are wet they swim in shoals and are chased by all other Fishes which endeavoring to escape by flight out of the Water they become a prey to the Sea-pies The Sea-Breams are as well tasted as the flying Fish the Mariners cover them in Salt or stuff them within full of Salt and Pepper and so hang them to dry in the Sun Pernambuco it self lying in five Degrees Southward from the Equinox produces abundance of Brasile Wood and Sugar-Canes which last is no proper Brasilian Plant for the first Plants thereof were by the Portuguese first transplanted thither from the Canary Islands First Discovery This Countrey was first discover'd by Americus Vesputius who being sent thither by Emanuel King of Portugal to discover the Coast between the Promontory before Olinda and the Island Itamaraca and finding a split Rock and some Brasilian Huts Landed and ask'd the Denomination of the Coast which he was inform'd was call'd Pernambuco which he found full of steep Mountains inaccessible Woods and in some places Plains and pleasant Valleys but the chiefest thing he could find to lade his Ship with was Brasile Wood but being inform'd that the Soil would bear Sugar-Canes he caus'd Canary Sugar-Plants to be Set there Chief Towns and Places of note Olinda formerly the chief City of Pernambuco had according to Lopez above three thousand Houses and seventy Sugar-Mills It is built on several Hills which on the North-side are steep and overgrown with Brambles betwixt which in many places grow Orange-Trees John Newhof who arriv'd at Olinda Anno 1642. found a few Netherlanders and Spaniards there who dwelt in the ruin'd Houses The Land-side of the City is strengthned by Hills overgrown with Brambles and Thorns and towards the Sea-side with Earthen Walls fortifi'd by fourteen Bulwarks and a Stone Castle able to withstand a considerable force The Out-works towards the South were maintain'd by Jews who from the fore-mention'd Hills could see not onely a great way into the Ocean but also the River Biberibi which hath a Stone Bridge leading to the City and Northerly and Westward the Way lies through great Woods and Forrests Olinda it self is divided into twenty seven large Streets besides lesser Lanes and several Avenues and five chief Churches viz. Misericordia Nostra Sennora del Emparo and Nostra Sennora de Guadalupe San Salvador and San Pedro besides two others of lesser note On the highest Hill stands the Jesuits Cloyster built square and high and surrounded with Walls on which Sebastian King of Portugal by the perswasion of his Uncle Cardinal Henry spent a great sum of Money and endow'd it with annual Revenues Anno 1571. The Capuchins also built a stately Cloyster towards the East The Franciscans moreover inhabited a magnificent Building near which stood the Governors Palace The Carmelites had also a stately Edifice whose former lustre still appears by the Ruines where now Cattel graze from the Hills about which may be exactly discern'd Reciffa the Promontory of St. Augustine and the Castle before the Road of Reciffa Along the Shore stood the Dominican Cloyster and in the upper part of the City the Minster Consecrated to St. Bento exceeding strong both by Nature and Art near which stood Conceptio de nostra Sennora The Fort Juan de Albuquerque stood on the South-side from whence a Way leads you along the Shore to Reciffa where hard by the Potter's House stood a Beacon But since Olinda fell into the hands of the Netherland East-India Company they built a strong Fortress on the North near the Sea-side where formerly a great Trade was driven with Sugar insomuch that forty Ships have been fraighted in a day therewith from Olinda and still as much more remain'd in the Store-houses The Sugar cannot be made without the help of African Slaves and that in great numbers for Angola alone provided fifteen thousand four hundred and thirty Moors for the Sugar-Mills about Olinda In the Years 1601 1602 and 1623. there was sent to surprize this City Henrick Loncque who a little before with Peter Peterszoon Hein took the Spanish Plate-Fleet and brought it away from Matanca The Expedition of Loncque In the middle of June Anno 1629. Loncque weighed Anchor from the Goerean Road and between great Canary and Teneriff he was Engag'd having but eight Sail with forty Spanish Ships Commanded by Frederick de Toledo fought his way through the midst of them and near St. Vincent the rest of his Fleet being come up to him which in all made up twenty seven he stay'd for a farther promis'd Supply of Ships to assist him and the longer because the Men rais'd by the Netherland West-India Company were taken into the States Service to oppose the Spanish and Imperial Forces who at that time had gain'd some advantage upon them But not long after Hartogen-bosch being taken by the Hollanders the rest of the expected Fleet with the promis'd Aid arriv'd at St. Vincent from whence Loncque after four Moneths stay set Sail with these additional Forces his Fleet then consisting of fifty Sail of Ships which carry'd above seven thousand Soldiers befides Seamen but he was forc'd to lie a considerable time under the Line being either becalm'd or beaten back by contrary Winds insomuch that many of his Men perish'd or were disabled with the Scurvey At last his Fleet being come to an Anchor upon the Coast of Pernambuco the first that Landed about two Leagues Northward of Olinda was Colonel Diederik van Waerdenberg who by Day-break divided his Men into three Divisions the Forlorn-Hope consisting of nine hundred and thirty four Men march'd towards Olinda along the Shore led by Adolf van der Eltz the second being a thousand and forty nine by Stein Callenfels the third consisting of nine hundred and sixty five was led by Fouke Honx thus drawn out and marching on they met with no resistance till they came to the River Dolce where eight hundred Portuguese Charg'd on them from behind a new Sconce but Waerdenberg wading up to the Middle through the River with two Field-Pieces the Enemy left his Works and ran into the Wood the Forlorn-Hope approaching the City march'd up towards the right side up a Way through the Woods Scal'd the Walls near which the Jesuits Cloyster stood over which he got after some resistance The second Party march'd in a narrow Path along the Shore Olinda taken by the Hollanders and broke into the City between the Franciscans and Jesuits Cloyster towards the Cathedral Salvador from whence they discharg'd several Guns as also from the Castle which they had taken
time four hundred Hollanders Sallying out made a furious Onset upon the two Regiments who had possession of the Cloyster Bento where the Spaniards sustain'd considerable damage for besides the wounding of three Captains and the loss of a great number of Soldiers there were slain the Commanders Emanuel Aquitara Alonso de Gana Pedro San Stevan Diego Espinosa and Colonel Pedro Osorio But Toledo no whit dismay'd hereat but taking fresh courage brought twenty nine Demi-Culverins ashore which fir'd so vehemently out of the Carmelites and Bento's Cloysters on the seventeen Dutch Ships that lay near the Shore that several of them were sunk and others shatter'd beyond hopes of ever being repair'd After this the Spanish Army was divided into three several Parties which continually fir'd on the City from three new rais'd Works the chiefest Party which was in the Carmelites Minster had twenty three Brass Guns the secon'd plac'd on the great Wall of the Cloyster Bento fir'd Night and Day with eight Demy-Cannons on the City in which all things were in a confusion whilest the Governor William Schouten went unconcern'd from one Tavern to another railing at the Soldiers who thereupon mutinying and deposing him chose Serjeant Hans Ernst Kyf in his room who as he was calling a Council of War receiv'd a Summons from Toledo to deliver up the City at which Kyf being much surpris'd sent a Drummer with a Letter to Toledo desiring him to grant the Besieged three Weeks time to repair and make fit their batter'd Vessels to carry them back for Holland and also that they might according to Martial Custom march out with lighted Matches flying Colours Bullets in their Mouths and with Bag and Baggage To which Toledo return'd Answer That he was now in his own Countrey and had gotten possession of four Fortifications about St. Salvador on which he had planted thirty seven Cannons and therefore saw no such necessity to grant the Besieged who could not possibly expect any fresh Supplies such advantageous and bold Demands and onely promis'd them their Lives should be at his discretion Yet at last William Stoop Hugh Antoniszoon St. Salvador re-taken by the Spaniards from the Hollanders and Francis du Chesne being sent to the Carmelites Cloyster agreed with Toledo on these Conditions That the Hollanders should surrender St. Salvador in the Condition it was then in march out unarm'd but with Baggage and have a free Pussage with Provisions and all things necessary allow'd them for their Trasportation for Holland Whereupon on the first of May the City was deliver'd up to the Spaniards in such disorder that some of them had taken possession of the Gate Bento before those on the other side of the City knew of any Agreement that was made between Toledo and Colonel Kyf And thus the Place which had a whole year been under the Jurisdiction of the Netherlanders fell again under the possession of the Spanish Crown onely through the indiscreet management of the Commanders for otherwise it was sufficiently strong and well stor'd with Ammunition and Men being able to make out two thousand Moreover the Ketch De Haes was set out before from the Holland Fleet and brought news of the Forces that were sent from the Netherland Havens to their assistance But the Ships under Admiral Lam as also those under Boudewyn Henriczoon were stay'd a considerable time in their Harbors by contrary Winds and at last reaching the Line were becalm'd and through the excessive heat of the Climate many Men lost by raging and mortal Distempers insomuch that they reach'd not the Bay Todos los Sanctos before the twenty sixth of May on which they saw the Spanish Flag streaming from the Walls of St. Salvador and fifty great Ships riding at an Anchor near the Shore The Netherland Fleet divided into four Squadrons consisted of thirty four Sail amongst which Lam carry'd the Flag on the Main-top the Vice-Admiral Adrian Cheszoon on the Fore-top the Rere-Admiral Adries Veron on the Main-mast and the Commander of the fourth Squadron on the Mizne-top All of them seeing the Spaniards absolute Masters judg'd it most convenient to put to Sea but standing a pretty while to the South they found that the strong Current drove them to the Shelves on the West-side of the Inlet wherefore Tacking about they made towards the Enemy who at first seem'd to meet them with twenty eight great Ships but returning towards the City the Hollanders also stood to Sea again Steering Southerly though without making much advantage in their Way the Sea going very hollow and the strong Current setting them towards the Shore by which means they were in no small danger before the River Francisco where many of the Men dy'd for want of fresh Provisions and the number of the Sick increas'd daily insomuch that some of the Ships were like to perish for want of Men to guide them It was also judg'd dangerous to lie longer with such a great Fleet near a Lea-Shore herefore they put into the Inlet Trayciaon which lies a League to the Northward of he River Monguapigape from whence a ridge of Rocks extends to Tayciaon and being overflow'd at High-water hath three Openings or Entrances two for great Ships and one the most Northern for small Vessels to pass through The Sea also breaking against this Cliff never molests the Ships whatever Winds blow The Countrey is overgrown with Brambles and hath a Lake two Leagues long and a quarter broad on the opposite Shore of which stood a Village inhabited by Portugueses and Brasilians but the Portugueses flying from thence left the Brasilians in absolute possession The Hollanders going thither found thirty Chests of Sugar in one Hut after which the Admiral Lam caus'd his sick Men to be brought ashore whilest the Captains Boshuisen Swart Dyke Stapels and Uzeel march'd up into the Countrey where they got plenty of Oranges and Cattel In the mean time the Ketch Vosken Mann'd with thirty six Seamen Cruising along the Sea-Coast of Brasile took three Ships one out of the Inlet Todos los Sanctos laden with Sugar and Tobacco another with the same Merchandise from Pernambuco and the third laden with Wines from Madera On the first of August the Fleet set Sail again to the great sorrow of the Brasilians who out of hopes of being protected by them against the Portuguese had joyn'd their Forces with theirs but now being forsaken they expected nothing but utter Ruine which to escape many of them desir'd to be admitted to go along with the Fleet which had been granted them had not the Hollanders wanted Provisions for themselves The Fleet getting off at Sea the Admiral Veron ran with twelve Sail to the Coast of Africa and Boudewyn Henrickszoon kept eighteen Ships under his Command the rest returning home with Admiral Lam and thus the Fleet left the unfortunate Haven Trayciaon where above seven hundred Dutch Seamen were bury'd Boudewyn Henrickszoon refreshing at Cape St. Vincent steer'd Westerly when
alterations of the annual Seasons as also the more or less fruitful Fields they produce one year and in one place more than in another The Inhabitants are of two sorts viz. free People and Slaves the Slaves are African Negro's and the others Netherlanders Portugueses or Brasilians which last came in of their own accords or else were absolv'd from their Oaths and acquitted from their Martial Offices yet are ready to venture their Lives and Estates and to Serve either on Foot or Horseback for their Freedom against their Enemies Those that went from the Netherlands to Brasile on their own Accounts drive a Trade or Serve the Traders or else keep Inns and follow Handicraft Faculties some of which when grown rich buy Parts in Sugar-Mills others live on Tilling by all which several sorts of People Reciffa is very well inhabited and full of Houses which yield great Rents and are held at high Prices wherefore Grave Maurice thought good to mark out pieces of Ground on the Isle Antonio Vaes which were sold for a considerable Sum of Money insomuch that in a short time a new City call'd Maurice-stadt was built on the same and inclos'd within strong Bulwarks yea notwithstanding the Rumor of a great Spanish Fleet in some measure abated the Courage of the Builders yet the City was extended down to the Fort Frederick Henrich and a brave Bridge laid over the Stream Biberibi cross which they go from Reciffa to Antonio Vaes where no People were in greater esteem than Handicrafts-men who could get their ten or twelve Shillings a day The Labor which is requir'd in the Sugar-Mills no Men are able to undergo but the Negro's Of the Portuguese some have liv'd here a considerable time others lately came hither being most of them Jews of whom there live a great many at Reciffa and are very diligent in promoting of Trade They possess several Sugar-Mills and are kept very much under their whole study and contrivance is for Gain they conceal their Hatred against the Christians as also their Covetousness yet are mortal Enemies to the Hollanders The Brasilians who are the ancient Inhabitants live apart from other People in their Villages consisting of long Straw Huts forty or fifty of them under one Roof sleeping on woven Hammocks they esteem no Houshold-stuff but Nets and Calabashes using the first to fish with and the other to drink out of about their Huts they plant Mandihoka and Brasile Trees when they are not employ'd in the Wars they spend most of their time in Hunting but many in Idleness they esteem wild Fruits better than those which are Planted they Drink night and day making their Liquor of the chew'd Root Mandihoka or the Apples Tajovis they esteem nothing so much as strong Drink and to wear Linnen next their Skins they would not value Money could they but get Brandy and Spanish Wine without it if they are not promis'd a Reward they will not work Each Village nay House hath its peculiar Governor but besides him there is a Hollander who stirs up the Idle to work and takes care that the Owners of the Sugar-Mills do them no injury They never suffer themselves to be Hir'd for above twenty days at the end whereof they demand their Wages they are commonly employ'd to chop Wood to boyl the Sugar with but by reason of the scarcity of Negros they are often made use of for other Business which to avoid they hide themselves as also when they are to go to Fight they are hard to be kept in Ranks for they will run out of their own Fyle into another on the least occasion but if they put their Enemy to flight they pursue him and spare none alive They little regard the Christian Religion yet some of them have learn'd the Lord's-Prayer and the Creed of the Roman Priests The Minister Davil having learn'd the Brasilian Tongue Converted very many of them and Baptiz'd them in their Villages The Brasilian Women and Children usually go to Wars with their Husbands and Fathers The Brasilian Slaves were some years since bought of the Tapuyans or made Slaves because they assisted Boudewyn Henrickszoon when he Landed in the Inlet Traluson but they have since obtain'd their Freedom of the Portuguese The Angolan Slaves can undergo greater Labor than any other The Brasile Wood grows generally ten or twelve Leagues up in the Countrey from the Sea not in particular Woods but amongst other Trees The Negro's when the Sugar-Mills work not are employ'd in pulling off the white Bark three Fingers thick from the Tree which bears dark-green Leaves small and prickly at the ends and hanging on thin Stalks but bearing neither Blossoms nor Fruit. Osnabrig Linnen is highly esteem'd amongst the Brasilians as also colour'd Wax Copper Tin Wine Beer Butter Cheese Meal Stock-fish Pork Hung-beef and Gammons of Bacon The Papists Teach and observe their Religion in publick their Spiritual Men being divided into Priests and Monks the Monks consist of Franciscans Carmelites and Benedictines the Franciscans being the most eminent possess six fair Cloysters besides which they have neither Land nor other Revenues but live on what is given them daily their Cloysters stand in Frederick-stadt Iguaraca Olinda Pojuca Serinhain and Antonio Vaes But the Carmelites have three Structures at Parayba and as many more in Frederick-stadt and Olinda where they live plentifully on what they reap from Tillage Rents of Houses and Legacies of deceased Persons The Benedictins though they possess onely two Cloysters one in Frederick-stadt and the other at Olinda yet they have the greatest Income from the Sugar-Mills of Muserapa and the Countrey about Parayba as also Cattel and Cane-Fields Reciffa the Seat of War hath two Horn-works towards Olinda the first rais'd with Stone defends the Haven with seven Brass Demi-Culverins the other lies opposite to the River Biberi and hath five Brass and two Iron Guns Reciffa also hath a strong Rail about it and many Guns plac'd in good order Near the Powder-house stand two Batteries with Guns On the Shore towards Olinda lies the Stone Castle St. Joris on a Hill opposite to the Haven fortifi'd with a Bulwark and thirteen Iron Guns The Water-Castle built round rises out of the Sea and stands at the end of the Stone Cliff which makes an Inlet through which the Ships Sail that come to and go from Reciffa The Fort Bruine hath four Points seven Brass Guns and Pallisados round about Somewhat farther is the Redoubt call'd The Lady Bruine which hath two Brass Guns The Castle Waerdenbergh built before the Mouth of the River Capivaribi in the Bay made by the River Biberibi hath three Points each rais'd square because the fourth Bulwark towards Antonio Vaes cannot be finish'd by reason the Earth is sunk away The Fort Ernestus stands on the North-side of Maurice-stadt on the Island Antonio Vaez That part of the City which respects the Fort lies open with five Points and a double Horn-work it is the more secure from
any Invasion because the Countrey round about is overflow'd at High-water On the Horn-work stand eight Brass Guns but the four Redoubts along the River Capivaribi are decay'd The square Fort Prince William standing in a low Ground not far from the River Afogados hath four Bulwarks and is inclos'd with a high Wall and strong Pallisado's the Church appearing above all other Houses in the Castle may be seen at Olinda Description of Maurice-stadt Maurice-stadt lies pleasantly along the River Biberibi and is wash'd behind by the River Capivaribi It hath a large Wharf a brave Magazine a French Church and a Guild-hall The Buildings are not altogether so high as those in Reciffa where they are commonly three Stories because the Ground is very dear Grave Maurice's Court lying opposite to Reciffa on the Shore of Biberibi rises from the middle of a Garden with two high Towers Not far from the Castle Ernestus is a Potters Kiln and on the other side near the Fort Frederick Henrick seven Wells and some Morasses and towards the Water-side a Stone Battery Forts of Brasile The Fort Orange at the Southern Mouth of the Haven hath by reason of its dry Moats a strong Pallisado four Bulwarks and twelve Guns The Bulwarks about the Church and the Battery before the Haven also secures Schuppen-stadt against the Portuguese On the Battery stand nine Iron and two Brass Guns At the Northern Entrance of the Haven appears a Tower with three Guns The Fort Margareta hath two Brass and forty Iron Guns Restringa surrounded with Pallisado's rises near a sandy Point in the middle of the River The Castle Antonio wash'd by the Sea hath onely one Tower but that sufficiently strong to defend it against an Enemy The Franciscan Cloyster strengthned by a Wall and Earthen Works serve in stead of a Castle to Frederick-stadt and is the more secure by reason of a Half-Moon Moats Rails and a Battery at the Mouth of the Haven The stonie Fortification of Ceulen lies near the Sea All these are the Fortresses of the Northern Brasile To the Southward of Reciffa appears the Promontory St. Augustine where the Haven is secur'd by the Forts Vander Dussen Domburgh and a Stone Battery Porto Calvo is fortifi'd by a Castle built on a steep Hill forty Foot high The Fort Maurice Commands the Ferry of Rio Francisco and is built on a high and steep Hill with five Bulwarks the lowermost Plain is overflow'd by the River in the Summer Season The Store-houses hereabouts are ill furnish'd and if not suddenly supply'd 't is to be fear'd that a great Famine will follow as already it is begun and we may thank the faint-heartedness of the Enemy that it hath increas'd no more CASTRUM MAURITIJ AD RIPAM FLUMINIS S. FRANCISCUM ARX PRINCIPIS GUILâ—…IMI A. Fluvius affgodorum B. Castrum C. Civitas olinda à longâ— This Relation of the Affairs of the Netherland West-India Company in Brasile was deliver'd to them in Writing by Vander Dussen A Description of the Palace Freyburgh two Bridges and a Banquetting-house all built by Grave Maurice GRave Maurice before his coming away from Brasile built a pleasant Palace along the River Biberibi before the Fort Ernestus on Antonio Vaes the outmost Work whereof was shaded by a double Row of Coco-Trees and had a Pond full of all sorts of Fish and not far from thence on one side a second encompass'd a Coney-Warren which respected a Pell-mell near it a Garden curiously divided into round Parterres which led into a long Park of Bakkoven-Trees and at the end a great Dove-house Next the River stood a large Stable on one side whereof was a Field to whiten Linnen in and a Kitchin-Garden wherein was a large Spot full of Orange-Trees a row of Vines which bore Grapes every three Moneths and a delightful Walk beset on each side with Lime-Trees On the other side of this Palace stood a Banquetting-house near a row of Pome-granate-Trees and another of Fig and Cittron-Trees Behind the Palace was a Fish-pond with two Iles for the Swans A Dove-house also appear'd near the Fort Ernestus where the Negro's watch'd the Horses and led them to Water in a Fishpond in a large Wood. Before the Palace appear'd a Stone Pallisado which like a Half-Moon ran into the River The Palace it self rose with two Towers one of which serv'd for a Sea-mark Moreover Grave Maurice extended his new City to the Fort Frederick Henrick divided the Morassie Grounds by several Moats and laid a Bridge cross the River Biberibi between Reciffa and the City Maurice and another cross the Stream Capivaribi between the said City Maurice and the Main Land In the time when Albuquerque Govern'd Brasile for the King of Spain it was Disputed among the Portuguese whether it were not requisite to desert the City Olinda and causing the Inhabitants to remove to Reciffa joyn the same with a Bridge to the Isle Antonio Vaes because those Places are almost invincible and much more convenient for Ships than Olinda But the Hollanders surpris'd them on a sudden before they could bring the Business to pass and after a while prosecuted the same Design themselves Grave Maurice his stately Bridge over the River Biberibi Grave Maurice spent twenty four thousand Guilders in laying a Bridge over the River Biberibi between Reciffa and Antonio Vaes Having rais'd just fifteen Stone Columns from the Ground they came to the deepest part of the River Antonio Vaes when the Architect began to despair of accomplishing the same because the Ground lay deep under Water and the Stream ran very swift Those which dwelt at Reciffa cry'd That they had undertaken a Business which was not in the power of Man to effect and that there was above ten thousand Pound already spent in vain on fifteen Pillars in this sort they began to clamor against Grave Maurice especially the Owners of Houses in Reciffa who foresaw that many would remove from thence to the pleasant Isle Antonio Vaes as soon as the Bridge was finish'd after which the Houses in Reciffa would be at low Rates But Grave Maurice judging that the Disgrace would fall upon him if the Bridge should be left half finish'd caus'd at his own proper Charge huge pieces of lasting Timber to be cut forty and fifty Foot long and so ramm'd into the Ground some streight others sloaping to support the rest and in two Moneths finish'd the same On the first day after this new Bridge was compleated there went so many People over it that the Toll which they paid amounted to above 60 l. Sterl and was after that Farm'd for twenty eight thousand Guilders yearly a Citizen that pass'd over the same being to pay 2 d. and a Negro or Soldier 1 d. but a Horseman paid 4 d. and a Cart or Wayn 7 d. Another over the River Capivaribi Since this Grave Maurice built a second Bridge cross the River Capivaribi which joyn'd Antonio Vaez to the Main Continent