memorable but only an olde place ruinate where they say that Sainct George deliuered the kynges daughter from a cruell Dragon whiche he slue and restored her to her father Departyng from hence we sayled to Tripoli This is a citie of Sâ—ria Eastwarde from Berynto two dayes saylyng The inhabitauntes are subiecte to the Lieuetenant or gouernour of Syria and are Mahumetans The soile is very fertile and for the great trafique of merchaundies incredibly aboundeth with all thinges Departyng from thence we came to the citie Comagen of Syria commonly called Alepo and named of our men Antioch It is a goodly citie situate vnder the mount Taurus and is subiecte to the Lieuetenant or Soltan of Babilon There be the scales or ladders for so they call them of the Turkes and Syrians for it is neare the mount of Olympus It is a famous marte towne of the Azamians and Persians The Azamians are people of Mesopotamia neare vnto the Persians of the religion of Mahumet From thence is the iourney to the Turkes and Syrians and especially of them that come from the part of Mesopotamia named Azamia Of the cities of Aman and Menin Cap. 4. DEpartyng from thence we came to Damasco in ten dayes iourney But before you come there in the myd way is a citie named Aman where is great aboundaunce of gossampine or cotton wooll and all maner of pleasant fruites Goyng a little from Damasco the space of sixe myles is a citie named Menin situate on the declinyng of a mountayne It is inhabited of Christians of the Greeke profession who also obaye to the gouernour of Damasco There are seene two fayre Temples which as the inhabitantes reporte were builded by Helena the mother of the Emperour Constantine There are all kyndes of fruites and goodly Grapes and Gardens watered with continuall sprynges Departyng from thence we came to the citie of Damasco Of the citie of Damasco Chap. 5. IT is in maner incredible and passeth all beleefe to thinke howe fayre the citie of Damasco is and how fertile is the soyle And therefore allured by the marueilous beautie of the citie I remayned there many dayes that learnyng theyr language I myght knowe the maners of the people The inhabitants are Mahumetans and Mamalukes with also many Christians lyuyng after the maner of the Greekes By the way it shall not be from my purpose to speake of theyr Hexarchatus the whiche as we haue sayde is subiect to the Lieuetenaunt viceroye or gouernoure of Syria whiche some call Sorya There is a very stronge fortresse or Castell whiche a certayne Ethruscan borne in the citie of Florence buylded at his owne charges while he was there y e chiefe Hexarchatus or gouernour as appeareth by the flower of a Lilie there grauen in marble beyng the armes of the citie of Florence The citie is compassed with a deepe fosse or diche with foure goodly high towres They passe the dyche with a hangyng brydge whiche is lyfted vp or lette downe at theyr pleasure There is all kynde of great artillerie and munition with also a garde of fyftie Mamalukes whiche dayly assyste the gouernoure or captayne of the castell and receyue theyr stipende of the gouernoure or viceroye of Syria Fortune seemed to geue the Hexarchatus or principate to the sayde Florentine whiche we wyll declare as we haue hearde of thinhabitauntes They saye that poyson was once geuen to the Soltan of Syria and when he sought for remedie he chaunced to be healed by the sayde Florentine whiche was one of the companye of the Mamalukes After whiche good fortune he grewe dayely in fauoure with the sayde Prince who for rewarde gaue hym that citie where also the sayde Florentine buylded a Castel and dyed whom to this daye the Citisens honour for a sainte for sauyng the lyfe of theyr prince after whose death the gouerment returned to the Syrians They saye furthermore that the Soltan is well beloued of his lordes and princes for that he easely graunteth them principates and gouernementes yet with condition to paye yeerely many thousandes of those peeces of gold which they call Saraphos They that denye to paye the summe agreed of arâ— in daunger of imminent death Of the chiefe noble men or gouernoures .x. or .xii. euer assiste the Prince And when it pleaseth hym to extorte a certayne summe of golde of his noble men or merchauntes for they vse great tyrannye and oppression by the iniuries and thefte of the Mamalukes agaynst the Mahumetans the Prince geueth two letters to the captaine of the Castell In the one is contayned that with an oration he inuite to the Castell suche as pleaseth hym In the other is declared the mynde of the Prynce what he demaundeth of his subiectes When the letters be read withal expedition they accomplishe his commaundement be it ryght or wrong without respecte This meanes the Prynce inuented to extorte mony Yet sometymes it commeth to passe that the noble men are of suche strength that they wyll not come when they are commaunded knowyng that the tyrant wyl offer them violence And therefore oftentymes when they knowe that the captayne of the Castell wyll call them they flee into the dominions of the Turke This haue we geathered as touchyng theyr maners we haue also obserued that the watchemen in the towres do not geue warnyng to the garde with lyuely voyce but with drommes the one answearyng the other by course But if any of the watchemen be so sleepye that in the moment of an houre he aunsweare not to the sounde of the watche he is immediatly committed to prison for one whole yeere Of suche thynges as are seene in the citie of Damasco Cap. 6. AFter that I haue declared the maners of the Princes of Damasco it seemeth agreeable to speake of some suche thynges as I haue seene there And therefore to speake fyrst of the excellencie and beautie of the citie it is certaynely marueylously wel peopled and greatly frequented and also marueylous ryche It is of goodly buildyng and exceedeth in abundance and fruitfulnesse of all thynges and especiallye of all kynde of victuales flesh corne and fruites as freshe damesenne grapes all the whole yeere also Pomegranets Oranges Lymons and excellent Olyue trees Lykewyse Roses both white and red the fayrest that euer I sawe and all kyndes of sweete apples yet peares and peaches very vnsauery The cause wherof they say to be to much moysture A goodly and cleare riuer runneth about the citie therfore in maner in euery house are seene fountaynes of curious worke embossed and grauen Theyr houses outwardly are not very beautyfull but inwardly marueylously adourned with variable woorkes of the stone called Ophis or serpentine Marble Within the towne are many temples or churches which they call Moscheas But that which is most beautyfull of all other is buylded after the maner of Sainct Peters church in Rome if you respect the
of the habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall and of the ryche golde mynes of the Ilande of Cuba Of the Gumme called Animae Album and of the Canibales also wherby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women Of hony founde in trees and rockes and of the generation of great Tortoyses and of theyr egges The contentes of the tenth booke Fol. 146. OF the expedition agaynst the kyng of the Ilande Dites in the South sea and howe after foure conflictes submitting hym selfe he gaue our men an hundred ten pounde weyght of great pearles also howe he agreed to paye yeerely a hundred pounde weyght of pearles for a tribute Howe axes and hatchettes are more esteemed then golde or pearles and of great plentie of Hartes and Cunnies also howe the kyng of Dites and his familie were baptised Of pearles of great pryse and howe Paule the Bishop of Rome bought a pearle for foure and fortie thousand ducades Diuers opinions of the generation of pearles and of a hundred pearles founde in one shel fyshe also of the birth of pearles Of the regions of the East syde of the gulfe of Vraba and of the originall of the Canibales Of certayne circumcised people which haue the knoweledge of letters and vse of bookes and what chaunced of the captaynes which Petrus Arias sent foorth diuers wayes also howe Iohn Solisius was slayne of the Canibales and of theyr fiercenesse Howe Iohn Pontius was repulsed of the Canibales and of the lewde behauiour of Iohn Aiora Of the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiocius and howe after he had geathered great ryches of gold he had the ouerthrow and was spoyled of all Of the golden region of Coiba Dites and how theyr slaues are marked in the face Of the Ilandes of the South sea and of the regions from whence the Portingales fetche theyr spyces Of a straunge kynde of fowlyng and of the trees that beare Gourdes Of the later opinions as touching the swift course of the Ocean towarde the West and of the continent or fyrme lande also of the viage from the newe landes to Spayne Of the golde mynes of Dariena and of the maner of geatheryng of golde in the same also of the dropsie of couetousnesse which is not satisfied with ryches For the contentes of the booke of the Ilandes of the West Indies seas reade the margent notes of the same FINIS ⧠Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus of the west Indies R. E. To the Reader ALthough among dyuers which haue written of the Ocean and VVest Indies there is none to be compared to Peter Martyr of Angleria in declaryng by philosophicall discourses the secrete causes of naturall affectes both as touchyng the lande the sea the starres and other straunge workes of nature yet forasmuch as of later dayes those countreys haue been better knowne and searched and dyuers such particuler and notable thinges founde as are conteyned in the histories of later writers among the number of whom Conzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus whom learned Cardanus compareth to the ancient writers is doubtlesse the chiefe I haue therefore thought good to ioyne to the Decades of Peter Martyr certayne notable thinges which I haue geathered out of his booke intituled the Summarie or abridgement of his generall hystorie of the west Indies written in the firme lande of the same in the citie of Sancti Maria Antiqua in Dariena where he dwelt was gouernor many yeeres and dedicated to Themperours maiestie as may appeare by the Epistle folowyng To the most hygh and myghtie prince Charles the fyft o◠that name Emperor of Rome Kyng of Spaine of the two Cicilies of both the sydes of the streyght of Faro Kyng of Hierusalem and Hungarie Duke of Burgonie and Earle of Flaunders Lord and inheritour of the firme lande and Ilandes of the VVest Ocean c. Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus his most humble seruaunt wysheth health and perpetuall felicitie THe thinges which principally preserue and mayntayne the workes of nature in the memories of men are hystories and bookes composed of the same among the whiche certes those are esteemed most true and autentyke which haue been wrytten by wyttie and expert men well traueyled in the world as faythfull witnesses of such thinges as they haue partly seene and been partly informed by credible persons Of this mynde and opinion was Plinie who better then any other aucthor hath written in .xxxvii. bookes all that parteyneth to the naturall historie conteyned all in one volume dedicated to Vespasian Themperour Wherin as a prudent historiographer he declareth such thinges as hee had heard attributing the second authoritie to such as he had redde in aucthours that wrote before him And thyrdly ioyned to the same hystorie such thinges as he him selfe had seene as most certayne testimonie Whose example I folowyng will in this my breefe summarie reduce and represent to your maiesties memorie such thinges as I haue seene in your Empyre of the West Indies aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande of the Ocean sea where I haue serued now more then twelue yeeres in the place of surueyer of the golde mynes by the commaundement of the Catholyke kyng Don Fernando the fyft of that name and graundfather vnto your maiestie to whom God gaue great fame and glorie Since whose death also I haue lykewyse serued and trust whyle the rest of my lyfe yet remayneth to serue your maiestie as shall please you to commaunde As touchyng whiche thinges and suche other lyke I haue more largely written in an hystorie begun assoone as my age was rype to take such matters in hande Wherein furthermore I haue made mention of suche thinges as haue chaunced in Spayne from the yeere .1494 vnto this tyme addyng also therevnto suche thinges woorthy memorie as I haue obserued in other realmes and prouinces where I haue trauayled and haue lykewyse particulerly wrytten the lyues and worthy actes of the catholyke Princes of famous memorie Don Ferdinando and Lady Elizabeth his wyfe to theyr last dayes After whose fruition of heauenly Paradyse I haue noted such thinges as haue chaunced in your most fortunate succession not omittyng particulerly to wryte a large booke of suche thinges as haue seemed most woorthy to bee noted as touchyng your maiesties Indies But forasmuch as that volume remayneth in the citie of San. Dominico in the Ilande of Hispaniola where I dwell and am placed in housholde with wyfe chyldren and famylie I haue brought no more with me of that my writyng then I beare in memorie determynyng notwithstandyng for your maiesties recreation to make a breefe rehearsall of certayne notable thinges wherof I haue more largely entreated in my sayd generall historie and such as may seeme most woorthy to be redde of your maiestie Of the which although a great parte haue been written by other who haue also seene the same yet perhappes they are not so exactly and particulerly described as of mee forasmuche as in maner all that trauayle into these Indies haue
and calleth the spirite with loude voyce by certayne names whiche no man vnderstandeth but hee and his disciples After he hath done thus a whyle if the spirite yet deferre his commyng hee drynketh of the sayde water and therewith waxeth hotte and furious and inuerteth and turneth his inchauntment and letteth him selfe blood with a thorne marueilously turmoylyng him selfe as wee reade of the furious Sybilles not ceassyng vntyl the spirit be come who at his comming entreth into him and ouerthroweth him as it were a greyhound should ouerturne a Squerell then for a space hee seemeth to lye as though hee were in great payne or in a rapte woonderfully tormentyng him selfe duryng whiche agonie the other disciple shaketh the siluer bell continually Thus when the agonie is past and he lyeth quietly yet without any sense or feelyng the kyng or some other in his stead demaundeth of him what he desireth to know and the spirit answereth by the mouth of the rapte Piaces with a directe and perfecte answere to all poyntes Insomuche that on a tyme certayne Spanyardes beyng present at these mysteries with one of the kynges and in the Spanyshe tounge demaundyng the Piaces of their shyppes which they looked for out of Spayne the spirite answered in the Indian tounge and tolde them what day and houre the shyppes departed from Spayne how many they were and what they brought without fayling in any poynte If he be also demaunded of the eclypse of the Sunne or Moone which they greatly feare and abhorre he giueth a perfect answere and the lyke of tempestes famin plentie warre or peace and such other thinges When all the demaundes are finished his disciples call him aloude ryngyng the siluer bell at his eare and blowyng a certayne powder into his nosethrilles whereby he is raysed as it were from a dead sâ—eape beyng yet somewhat heauy headed and faynte a good whyle after Thus beyng agayne rewarded of the kyng with more bread hee departeth agayne to the desartes with his disciples But since the Christian fayth hath been dispearsed throughout the Ilande these deuyllyshe practises haue ceassed and they of the members of the deuyll are made the members of Christ by baptisme forsakyng the deuyll and his workes with the vayne curiositie of desyre of knowledge of thinges to come whereof for the most parte it is better to be ignorant then with vexation to know that which can not be auoyded Furthermore in many places of the firme lande when any of the kynges dye all his householde seruauntes aswell women as men whiche haue continually serued him kyll them selues beleeuyng as they are taught by the deuyll Tuyra that they whiche kyll them selues when the kyng dyeth goe with him to heauen and serue him in the same place and offyce as they dyd before on the earth whyle hee lyued and that all that refuse so to doe when after they dye by theyr naturall death or otherwyse theyr soules to dye with theyr bodyes and to bee dissolued into ayre and become nothyng as doe the soules of Hogges Byrdes Fyshes or other bruite beastes and that only the other may enioy the priuiledge of immortalitie for euer to serue the kyng in heauen And of this false opinion commeth it that they which sowe corne or set rootes for the kynges bread and geather the same are accustomed to kyll them selues that they may enioy this priuiledge in heauen and for the same purpose cause a portion of the graine of Maizium and a bundle of Iucca whereof theyr bread is made to be buryed with them in their graues that the same may serue them in heauen if perhappes there should lacke seedes to sowe and therefore they take this with them to begyn withall vntil Tuyra who maketh them all these fayre promises prouyde them of greater quantitie This haue I my selfe seene in the toppe of the mountaynes of Guaturo where hauing in pryson the kyng of that prouince who rebelled from thâ—bedience of your maiestie and demaundyng of him to whom parteyned those sepultures or graues which I sawe in his house hee answered that they were of certayne Indians which slue them selues at the death of his father And because they are oftentimes accustomed to bury great quantities of wrought gold with them I caused twoo graues to be opened wherein was nothyng founde but a vessell full of the graine of Maizium a bundle of Iucca as I haue sayde And demaundyng the cause hereof of the kyng and the other Indians they answered that they that were buryed there were the labourers of the grounde and men skylfull in sowyng of seedes and makyng of bread and seruauntes to the kynges father and to the ende that their soules should not dye with theyr bodyes they slue them selues at the death of the kyng theyr maister to lyue with hym in heauen and to the intent that they myght serue him there in the same offyce they reserued that Maizium and Iucca to sowe it in heauen Wherevnto I aunswered them in this maner Beholde howe your Tuyra deceyueth you and howe all that hee teacheth you is false You see howe in so long a tyme since they are dead they haue not yet taken away this Maizium and Iucca which is nowe putrified and woorth nothyng and not lyke to bee sowen in heauen To this the kyng replyed saying in that they haue not taken it away nor sowen it in heauen the cause is that they chaunced to fynde enough there by reason whereof they had no neede of this To this errour many thinges were sayd which seemed of litle force to remoue him from his false opinion and especially any such as at that age are occupyed of the deuyl whom they paynt of the selfe same fourme and colour as hee appeareth vnto them in dyuers shapes and fourmes They make also Images of golde copper and wood to the same similitudes in terrible shapes and so variable as the paynters are accustomed to paynt them at the feete of sainct Michaell tharchangell or in any other place where they paynte them of most horrible portiture Lykewyse when the deuyll greatly intendeth to feare them hee threatneth to sende them great tempestes whiche they call Furacanas or Haurachanas and are so vehement that they ouerthrow many houses and great trees And I haue seene in mountaynes full of many and great trees that for the space of three quarters of a league the mountayne hath been subuerted and the trees ouerthrowen and plucked out of the earth with the rootes a thing doubtlesse so fearefull and terrible to beholde that it may veryly appeare to bee done by the hande of the deuyll And in this case the Christian men ought to consider with good reason that in all places where the holy sacrament is reserued the sayde tempestes are no more so outragious or so perilous as they were wont to bee Of the temperature of the regions vnder or neare to the burnt lyne called Torrida Zona or the Equinoctiall and of the dyuers seasons of
in euery citie there be many neuerthelesse in three of them remaine onely such as be condemned to die Their death is much prolonged for that ordinarily there is no execution doone but once a yeere though many die for hunger and colde as we haue seene in this prison Execution is done in this maner The Chian to wyt the hygh commissioner or Lord cheefe Iustice at the yeeres ende goeth to the head citie where he heareth agayne the causes of suche as be condempned Many tymes he delyuereth some of them declaryng that boord to haue been wrongfully put about theyr neckes the visitation ended he choseth out seuen or .viii. not many more or lesse of the greatest malefactours the whiche to feare and keepe in awe the people are brought into a great market place where al the great Louteas meete togeather and after many cerimonies and superstitions as the vse of the countrey is are beheaded This is done once a yeere who so escapeth that day may be sure that he shal not be put to death al that yeere folowyng so remayneth at the kynges charges in the greater prison In that prison where we lay were al waies one hundred moe of these condemned persons besides them that lay in other prisons These prisons wherin the condemned caytyfes do remayne are so strong that it hath not been hard that any prisoner in al China hath escaped out of pryson for in deed it is a thyng impossible The prisons are thus builded Fyrst al the place is myghtelye walled about the walles be very strong and hygh the gate of no lesse force within it three other gates before you come where the prysoners do lye there many great lodginges are to be seene of the Louteas Notaries Parthions that is such as do there kepe watch and ward day and nyght the court large and paued on the one syde wherof standeth a pryson with two myghtie gates wherin are kept such prisoners as haue committed enormious offences This prison is so great that in it are streates and Market places wherein al thyngs necessarie are sold. Yea some prysoners liue by that kynde of trade buyeng and selling and letting out beds to hyre some are dayly sent to pryson some dayly deliuered wherfore this place is neuer voyde of seuen or eyght hundred men that go at libertie Into one other pryson of condempned persons shall you goo at three yron gates the court paued and vauted rounde about open aboue as it were a cloister In this cloister be eight roomes with yron doores and in eache of them a large Gallerie wherein euery night the prisoners do lie at length their feete in the stocks theyr bodies hampered in huge woodden grates that kepe them frō sitting so that they lie as it were in a cage sleepe if they can in the morning they are losed againe that they may go into y e court Notwithstanding the strength of this pryson it is kept with a garrison of men part whereof watche within the house part of them in the Court some keepe about the pryson with lanterns and watchebelles answeryng one an other fyue tymes euerye nyght and geuing warning so lowde that the Loutea resting in a chamber not neare thereunto may heere them In these prysons of condemned persons remayne some .15 other 20. yeeres imprisoned not executed for the loue of theyr honorable frendes that seeke to prolong theyr lyues Many of these prysoners be shomakers and haue from the king a certayne allowaunce of rise some of them worke for the keeper who suffereth them to goe at libertie without fetters and boordes the better to worke Howbeit when the Loutea calleth his checke rolle with the keper vieweth them they al weare theyr lyuereys that is boords at theyr neckes yronned hand and foote When any of these prysoners dieth he is to be seene of the Loutea and Notaries brought out at a gate so narrow that there can but one be drawen out there at once The prysoner beyng brought foorth one of the aforesayde Parthians stryketh hym thryse on the head with an yron sledge that doone he is deliuered vnto his frendes yf he haue any otherwyse the kyng hyreth men to cary hym to his buriall in the fieldes Thus adulterers and theeues are vsed Such as be imprisoned for debt once knowen lye there vntyl it be payed The Taissu or Loutea calleth them many tymes before him by the vertue of his office who vnderstanding the cause wherefore they doo not pay theyr debtes appointeth them a certayne tyme to doe it wtin the compasse wherof if they discharge not theyr debtes beyng debters in deede then they be whipped condemned to perpetual imprisonment yf the creditours be many one is to be payd before an other they do contrary to our maner pay him fyrst of whom they last borowed and so ordinarily the rest in suche sort that the fyrst lender be the last receyuer The same order is kept in paying legacies the last named receyueth his portion first They accompt it nothyng to shew fauour to such a one as can doo the lyke agayne but to doo good to them that haue litle or nothing that is worth thanks therfore pay they the last before the first for that their entent seemeth rather to be vertuous then gainful When I sayde that suche as bee committed to pryson for theft murther were iudged by the Court I ment not them that were apprehended in the deed doyng for they need no tryall but are brought immediatly before the Tutan who out of hand giueth sentence Other not taken so openly and doe neede tryall are the malefactors put to execution once a yeere in the chiefe cities to keepe in awe the people or condempned doe remayne in prison lokyng for theyr day Theeues being taken are carryed to prison from one place to an other in a chest vpon mens shoulders hyred therefore by the kyng the Chest is sixe handfulles hygh the prisoner sitteth therein vppon a benche the couer of the chest is two boordes amyd them both a pillerylyke hole for the prisoner his necke there sitteth he with his head without the chest the rest of his body within not able to moue or turne his head this way or that way nor to plucke it in the necessities of nature he voydeth at a hole in the bottome of the chest the meat hee eateth is put into his mouth by others There abydeth he day and nyght duryng his whole iourney if happely his porters stumble or the chest doe iogge or be set downe carelesly it turneth to his great paynes that sitteth therein all such motions beyng vnto him hangyng as it were Thus were our companyons carryed from Cinceo seuen dayes iourney neuer taking any rest as afterward they told vs theyr greatest griefe was to staye by the way as soone as they came beyng taken out of the chests they were not able to stande on theyr feete and two of them dyed shortly after Whan
these aforesayde causes is sufficient to put hym to death Theyr thyrd cheefe officer is a Iudge his office is to take vp to end matters in controuersie to determine of warres peace that which he thynketh ryght to punyshe rebelles wherein he may commaunde the noble men to assist hym vpon paine of forfettyng theyr goodes neuerthelesse at all tymes he is not obeyed for that many matters are ended rather by might and armes than determined by law Other controuersies are decided either in the Temporal Court as it seemeth good vnto the Princes or in the Spiritual consistorie before the Tundi Rebelles are executed in this maner especially yf they be noble men or officers The kyng looke what daye he geueth sentence agaynst any one the same day the partie wheresoeuer he be is aduertised thereof and the day tolde him of his execution The condempned person asketh of the messenger where that it may be lawfull for him to kyll him selfe the which thing whan the kyng doeth graunt the partie takyng it for an honour putteth on his best apparell and launcyng his body a crosse from the brest downe all the belly murdreth him selfe This kynde of death they take to be without infamy ne doe their children for theyr fathers crime so punished lose theyr goods But if the king reserue them to be executed by the Hangman than flocketh hee togeather his children his seruantes and friendes home to his house to preserue his lyfe by force The kyng committeth the fetchyng of him out vnto his chiefe Iudge who first setteth vppon him with bow and arrowes afterward with pykes swoords vntyll the rebell and all his family be slayne to theyr perpetuall ignominie and shame The Indyshe wryters make mention of sundry great cities in this Iland as Cangoxima a Hauen towne in the South parte therof and Meaco distant from thence .300 leagues northward the royall seat of the kyng and most wealthy of all other townes in that Ilande The people thereabout is very noble and theyr language the best Iaponishe In Meaco are sayde to be nienetie thousande houses inhabited and vpwarde a famous Uniuersitie and in it fyue principall Colledges besydes closes and cloysters of Bonzi Leguixil and Hamacata that is Priestes Monkes and Nunnes Other fyue notable Uniuersities there be in Giapan namely Coia Negru Homi Frenoi and Bandu The fyrst foure haue in them at the least .3500 schollers in the fyft are many moe For Bandu prouince is very great and possessed by sixe princes fyue whereof are vassalles vnto the sixt yet he him selfe subiecte vnto the Iaponish kyng vsually called the great king of Meaco lesser scholes there be many in diuers places of this Ilande And thus muche specially concernyng this glorious Ilande among so many barbarous nations and rude regions haue I geathered together in one summe out of sundry letters written from thence into Europe by no lesse faithful reporters thā famous traueylers For confirmation whereof as also for the knowledge of other thinges not conteyned in the premisses the curious readers may peruse these foure volumes of Indishe matters written long agoe in Italian and of late compendiously made latin by Petrus Maffeius my olde acquaynted friend entitulyng the same De rebus Iaponicis One whole letter out of the fyft booke thereof specially entreatyng of that countrey haue I done into Englyshe word for word in suche wyse as foloweth Aloisius Froes ▪ to his companyons in Iesus Christ that remayne in China and Indie THe last yeere deare brethren I wrote vnto you from Firando howe Cosmus Turrianus had appoynted me to traueyle to Meaco to help Gaspar Vilela for that there the haruest was great the labourers fewe and that I should haue for my companyon in that iourney Aloisius Almeida It seemeth now my parte hauing by the helpe of God ended so long a voyage to signifie vnto you by letter suche thinges specially as I myght thinke you woulde most delyght to knowe And because at the begynnyng Almeida and I so parted the whole labour of wrytyng letters betwixt vs that he should speake of our voyage and suche thinges as happened therein I should make relation of the Meachians estate and wryte what I could well learne of the Giapans maners and conditions settyng asyde all discourses of our voyage that whiche standeth me vppon I wil discharge in this Epistle that you consideryng howe artificially how cunningly vnder the pretexte of religion that craftie aduersary of mankynde leadeth and draweth vnto perdition the Giaponish myndes blynded with many superstitions and cerimonies may the more pitie this nation The inhabiters of Giapan as men that neuer had greatly to doe with other nations in their Geography diuided the whole world into three partes Giapan Sian and China And albeit the Giapans receyued out of Sian and China their superstitions and cerimonies yet doe they neuerthelesse contemne all other nations in comparison of them selues standyng in their owne conceite doe far preferre them selues before all other sortes of people in wisedome and policie Touching the situation of the countrey nature of the soyle vnto the thinges eftsones erft written this one thing wil I adde in these Ilandes the sommer to be most hot the winter extreame colde In the kyngdome of Canga as we call it falleth so muche snow that the houses being buried in it y e inhabiters keepe within doores certaine moneths of the yeere hauing no way to come foorth except they breake vp the tiles Whirlewyndes most vehement Earthquakes so common that the Giapans dreade suche kinde of feares litle or nothing at all The countrey is full of siluer mines otherwyse barren not so much by fault of nature as through the slouthfulnes of the inhabiters howebeit Oxen they keepe that for tillage sake onely The ayre is wholsome y e waters good the people very fayre well bodied bare headed commonly they go procuring baldnes with sorow teares eftsoones rooting vp w t pinsars al the heare of their heads as it groweth except it be a litle behind the which they knot and keepe with al diligence Euen from their chyldehood they weare daggers and swoords the which they vse to lay vnder their pillows whan they goe to bedde in shew curteous and affable in deede haughty and proude They delight most in warlyke affayres and their greatest studie is armes Mennes apparell dyuersly coloured is worne downe halfe the legges and to the elbowes womens attyre made hansomely lyke vnto a vayle is somewhat longer all maner of dysyng and theft they doe eschue The merchant although he bee wealthie is not accompted of Gentlemen be they neuer so poore retayne theyr place most precysely they stande vppon theyr honour and woorthynesse cerimoniously stryuyng among them selues in curtesies and fayre speaches Wherein if any one happely bee lesse carefull than hee should bee euen for a trifle many tymes hee getteth euyll will Want though it trouble most of them so muche they doe deteste that
other opprobrious woordes saying This horson Iewe hath promysed to bryng vs to suche places as are not or as he can not bryng vs vnto but if he doe not I will cut of his eares and nayle them to the mast Pinteado gaue the foresayde counsayle to goe no further for the safegarde of the men theyr liues whiche they shoulde put in daunger if they came to late for the rossia whiche is theyr wynter not for colde but for smotheryng heate with close and cloudie ayre and storming wether of suche putrifying qualitie that it rotted the coates of theyr backes or els for commyng to soone for the scorching heate of the sunne whiche caused them to lynger in the way But of force and not of wyll brought he the shyppes before the ryuer of Benin where rydyng at an Anker sent theyr pinnesse vp into the riuer fyftie or threescore leagues from whence certayne of the merchauntes with Captayne Pinteado Francisco a Portugale Nicolas Lambert Gentelman and other merchauntes were conducted to the courte where the kyng remayned ten leagues from the ryuer syde whyther when they came they were brought with a great company to the presence of the Kyng who being a blacke Moore although not so blacke as the reste sat in a great houge hal long and wyde the walles made of earth without windowes the roofe of thynne boordes open in sundry places lyke vnto louers to let in the ayre And here to speake of the great reuerence they gyue to theyr kyng being suche that if we would gyue as muche to our sauiour Christ we should remoue from our heades many plagues which we dayly deserue for our contempte and impietie So it is therfore that when his noble men are in his presence they neuer looke him in the face but sit couryng as wee vppon our knees so they vppon theyr buttockes with theyr elbowes vppon theyr knees and theyr handes before theyr faces not looking vp vntyll the Kyng commaunde them And when they are commyng towarde the Kyng as farre as they doe see him doe they shewe suche reuerence syttyng on the grounde with theyr faces couered as before Likewise when they departe from him they turne not theyr backes towarde him but goe creeping backwarde with lyke reuerence And nowe to speake somewhat of the communication that was betweene the Kyng and our men you shall fyrst vnderstande that hee him selfe coulde speake the Portugale tongue whiche he had learned of a chylde Therefore after that he had commaunded our men to stande vp and demaunded of them the cause of theyr commyng into that countrey they aunswered by Pinteado that they were merchauntes traueylyng into those parties for the commodities of his countrey for exchange of wares whiche they had brought from theyr countreys beyng such as should bee no lesse commodious for him and his people The Kyng then hauyng of olde lying in a certayne store house thirtie or fourtie kyntalles of pepper euery kyntall beyng an hundred weyght wyllyng them to looke vppon the same and agayne to bryng him a sight of suche merchaundies as they had brought with them And therevppon sent with the Captaine and the merchauntes certayne of his men to conducte them to the waters syde with other to bryng the ware from the pinnesse to the courte Who when they were returned and the wares seene the kyng grewe to this ende with the merchantes to prouyde in thirtie dayes the ladyng of all theyr shyppes with pepper And in case theyr merchaundies would not extende to the value of so muche pepper he promised to credite them to theyr next returne and therevppon sent the countrey rounde about to geather pepper causing the same to be brought to the courte So that within the space of thirtie dayes they had geathered fourescore tunne of pepper In the meane season our men partly hauyng no rule of them selues but eatyng without measure of the fruites of the countrey and drinkyng the wyne of the Palme trees that droppeth in the nyght from the cutte branches of the same and in suche extreeme heate runnyng continually into the water not vsed before to suche sodayne and vehement alterations then the which nothyng is more daungerous were thereby brought into swellynges and agues insomuche that the later tyme of the yeere comming on caused them to dye sometimes .iii. somtimes .iiii. or .v. in a day Then Windam perceiuing the time of the .xxx. dayes to be expired his men dying so fast sent to the courte in poste to captaine Pinteado and the rest to come away and to tary no longer But Pinteado with the rest wrote backe to him againe certifying him of the great quantitie of pepper they had alredy geathered and looked dayly for much more Desiring him furthermore to remember the great praise and name they should wyn if they came home prosperously and what shame of the contrarie With which answere Wyndam not satisfied and many of their men dying dayly willed and commaunded them againe either to come away furthwith or els threatened to leaue them behynde When Pinteado hearde this aunsweare thynkyng to persuade hym with reason tooke his way from the courte towarde the shyppes beyng conducted thyther with men by the kynges commaundement In the meane season Windam all rageyng brake vp Pinteados Cabin brake open his chestes spoyled such prouision of colde stylled waters and suckettes as he had prouided for his health and lefte hym nothing neither of his instrumentes to saile by nor yet of his apparell and in the meane tyme fallyng sycke hym selfe dyed also Whose death Pinteado commyng abrode lamented as muche as if he had ben the deerest frende he had in the worlde But certayne of the maryners and other officers dyd spette in his face some callyng hym Iewe saying that he had brought them thyther to kyll them and some drawyng theyr swoordes at hym makyng a shewe to slay hym Then he perceyuyng that they would needes away desyred them to tary that he myght fetch the rest of the merchauntes that were lefte at the courte But they woulde not graunt his request Then desyred he them to geue hym the shyppe boate with as muche of an olde sayle as myght serue for the same promisyng them therewith to bryng Nicolas Lambert and the rest into England But al was in vayne Then wrote he a letter to the courte to the merchants informyng them of all the matter and promisyng them if God would lende hym lyfe to returne with al hast to fetch them And thus was Pinteado kept a bordeshyppe agaynst his wyll thrust among the boyes of the shyppe not vsed lyke a man nor yet like an honest boy but glad to fynde fauour at the cookes hande Then departed they leauing one of theyr shyppes behynd them which they sonke for lacke of men to cary her After this within syxe or seuen dayes saylyng dyed also Penteado for very pensiuenesse and thought that stroke hym to
theyr maner of the same colour lyned with sylke wearyng also on theyr armes many bracelettes and on theyr handes hadde gloues embrodered garnyshed with diuers kyndes of workes for weapons they had Turky bowes swoordes launces peltes and all sortes of gunnes after our maner When we sawe theyr Nauie proceedyng in order and well instructed it seemed farre of lyke a wood the mastes presentyng the similitude of trees Whiche thyng seemed so litle to deterre vs that we were in sure beleefe that our God and Christe woulde geue vs the victorie agaynst the blasphemers of his holy name the Idolatours and Sarasens old enemies of our religion And therfore the valiant knight and gouernour the sonne of the honorable lord Don Francisco Dalmeda viceroy of India who had there the supreame gouernement of twelue shippes with the assistaunce of the Admirall of the Nauie when he sawe the great force of the enemie myndfull of his accustomed vertue with sounde of trumpet assembled all the souldiers and spake to them in this maner My deare frendes and brethren in one God and one fayth of Iesus Christe nowe is the tyme come when you ought to remember that as Iesus Christe spared not neyther feared to gyue his precious body to death for our sakes euen so except we wyl shewe our selues most vnkynde and vnworthy so great grace of God it shal be our dueties to spende our liues in the defence of his glorie and our holy fayth assuring our selues of the victorie against these dogges hateful to God progenie of the deuyl Now therfore fyghtyng in his name vnder the banner of his holy crosse shew your selues manfull valiant for nowe is in you the powwer to geat eternal fame in mainteyning the quarel of our sauiour Therefore with me lyftyng vp your hartes to God your armes with force courage let vs gyue the onset on these dogs When the gouernour had sayd these wordes the priest went vp to the hyghest part of the ship holdyng in his hand y e picture of Christ nayled on the crosse shewed it vnto the souldiers exhortyng them to remember the commaundementes of God and the holy fayth and baptisme whereby they were consecrated to God puttyng no doubt in the forgeuenesse of theyr sinnes dying in so godly a quarell and then blessyng them with inuocation of the name of God he pronounced the sentence of absolution and forgeuenesse of theyr sinnes The exhortation of the priest so moued the hartes of all men that the teares ranne from our eyes for ioy great desire we had to die in y e quarel In the meane time the nauye of the Mahumetans made sayle towarde vs. The same daye our Admirall with two Foystes made towarde them passyng betweene two of theyr greatest shyps discharged his ordinance on both sydes whiche the Admyrall dyd to proue the strength of those shyppes which they chiefely esteeme and trust most vnto But this daye was nothyng done woorth y e memorye The day folowyng the Mahumetans with full sayles drewe neare the citie of Canonor and sent vs woorde by a messenger that if we woulde permytte them to go whither they woulde they woulde not haue to do with vs. Our Admirall answeared that the Christians coulde not so forgette the periurie of the Mahumetans in violatyng theyr faith and promyse made by common consent when they woulde not suffer the Christians to passe that way but contrary to theyr fayth and promyse slue .xlvii. Christians and robbed them of foure thousande peeces of golde and therefore badde them passe further if they durst and they shoulde well knowe of what reputation and spirite the Christians are Then sayde the Mahumetans Mahumet wyll defende vs and confounde the Christians and with those woordes assaulted vs all at once with incredible furie thynkyng to haue passed through hauyng no further to sayle then .x. myles from the shore But our Admiral of purpose suffered the enimies to come nearer vntyl they were ryght oueragainst y e citie of Canonor meanyng there to set on them with all his force that the kyng of Canonor beholdyng the conflicte myght be witnesse of the valiantnesse of the Christians Then when the trumpetter of the Admirals ship sounded the battayle and gaue the signe incontinent he assaulted two of theyr greatest shyppes Heere I am not able to expresse the exceedyng noyse of theyr Drummes Trumpets Tambarels and other such innumerable which they vse in this case The Admiral hym selfe in maner contemnyng all theyr meane shippes passed through theyr nauie and inuaded one of theyr greatest shippes castyng theron chaynes and grasples to fyght with them at hande strokes but they cast of the chaynes thryse yet the fourth tyme the chaynes tooke such holde that the Christians entred into the ship where they made such hauocke and slaughter that all the Mahumetans of that shippe which were sixe hundred in number were slayne insomuche that there was not one left alyue to tell newes The Admirall encouraged by this victorie inuaded another of theyr great shippes whiche had chayned it selfe with a Foyst of the Christians where was also a great conflict in the whiche were slayne aboue fyue hundred Mahumetans and theyr ship sunke The Mahumetans discouraged by this defeate assaulted our twelue Foystes with al theyr force and caryed them away But heere the manhood and valiantnesse of Iohn Seranus the captaine of the Galley shewed itselfe who only with one Gally made suche a slaughter among the Mahumetans that it may seeme incredible for he so fiercely inuaded them that had caryed away the Foystes that he recouered them all sunke two other of the Mahumetan shippes In these warres God of his grace so prospered the Christians that few of them were slayne but many wounded The conflict continued from mornyng vntyl the darkenesse of the nyght made an ende of the battayle I may not heere forgeat to speake of the marueylous aduenture and Godly zeale of Simon Martin captayne of one of our shippes For it so chaunced that the Brigantine in the which I was departyng somewhat from our nauie gaue occasion to our enemies to pursue vs for incontinent foure of the Mahumetan shippes assayled vs and put vs to much trouble insomuch that .xv. Mahumetans had nowe entred into our Brigantine and we were constrayned to flee to the Poupe as to the safest place But the valiant captayne Simon Martin seyng the daunger that we were in and that the Mahumetans were entred into our Brigantine leapt into it fiercely and callyng vpon the name of Iesus Christ fought so valiauntly that he slue sixe of the Mahumetans wherby we beyng incouraged assisted hym in such sort that the Mahumetans cast them selues into the sea where some were drowned som escaped by swimmyng Therfore when the Mahumetans knewe y t the Christians had the victorie they sent .iiii. other Foistes to helpe the first But when the captayne of our
Tamaius and .13 hundred men of that countrey to serue in steede of packe horses for cariage after the maner there began to set forwarde from his Castle Vera crux towardes Themistitan in Mexico distant from thence Westwarde a hundred leagues or thereabout Cempoal standeth from Vera Crux .4 leagues eche league in this countrey is .4 Italian miles Foure dayes iourney from Cempoal Cortesius was enterteined curtuously by the inhabiters of a goodly shyre named Sienchimalen as also by the citizens of Texuacan after that he had passed with his army an exceedyng hygh hyll thicke clad with yse snow euen in the moneth of August The like enterteynment was offered him his companie as hee marched forward vntill he came to the Tascaltecans lande who are so great enemies vnto the Mexicans that liuyng amyd their dominions they had rather want their greatest necessaries to wit salt and cotton to cloath them than become subiects in any wise to the Prince of Mexico With these Tascaltecans Cortesius had three conflictes passing through their countrey in the ende valiantly gaue them the ouerthrow Tascalteca is a greater citie more populous and better serued than Granata in Spayne was at what time the Moores yelded their bread is made of Maiz that is Indish corne a very good seat for hauking hunting freshe water fishing sea fish is scarse for it standeth from the sea aboue .50 leagues of pulse good store This towne wals houses in number 20000. built of stone high strong in respect of the enemy euer at hand they keepe markets and fayres The people doth weare hose and maketh good accompt of Iewels precious stones of crestes bushes of feathers to set them foorth in the warres they garnishe euery thing with gold wood is brought to be sold to the market on mens shoulders timber boordes bricke lime stone are vsuall merchandise Theyr Carpenters Masons Potters are very skilfull There is no vessell wrought amongst vs more artificially than theyrs is Medicinable hearbes are solde openly They vse baths the nation politike gouerned in maner of a common wealth The whole circuit of this prouince is .90 leagues full of townes boroughes and villages hils and dales most â—ruitfull well stored of good souldyers in respecte of their enemyes rounde about them About one league of this citie encamped Cortesius by his spials vnderstanding the citizens not to mistrust or feare any inuasion tooke the strongest part therof by night in the morning came the best citizens to offer him all obedience Cortesius than returning with the victorie victuals to his campe found it in a troublesome mutinie for the great distresses present calamies they thought them selues to be in so far of from their owne country in the midst of their enemies This mutinie appeased he with good woords comfortable reasons persuading them their enemies to be weaker the spreadyng abroade of the gospell to be now in their hands them selues to be Spaniardes who esteeme not death to wyn glory a most happy death that to be where life is spent in the conquest of infidelles and barbares to lye by the sea side idlely that were to no purpose Thus appeased he the rebellious myndes of his companyons and after .20 dayes abode made in this prouince he led them into an other shire for pastures and riuers the most commodious for habitation best in all that countrey The principall citie hath name Churultecal as great as faire as Tascalteca and so gouerned vntil the king of Mexico oppressed it Here was Cortesius receyued with songes musicall instruments and trumpets by the priestes and children of the citie after their maner wel feasted The end of all this mirth was an vprore of the inhabiters agaynst him procured by the kyng of Mexico as it was supposed whereof Cortesius hauing secrete intelligence by a woman of Cempoal that folowed his Campe summoned a parle with the beste citizens of Churultecal at his owne lodging Those citizens first laid he fast by the heles than speedely with his army warned to be in a readinesse for that purpose set vpon the deceiptful Barbares of a soden before that they were throughly prouided and gaue them the ouerthrow The prince of Mexico acquitted him selfe of this vprore protesting by his Ambassadors to Cortesius that his disloyall subiectes the Churultecals had bruted that conspiracie vnder his name to doe him iniury whom they would not willingly obeye He sent withall rich presentes praying Cortesius to come to Themistitan promising him that he should want nothyng there notwithstandyng the harde prouision thereof in so barren a place altogeather in the water To conducte Cortesius thyther he sent also certayne Gentlemen for guydes and other of his nobilitie to receyue him as he came neare To speake of euery curtesie shewed him in this iourney and to wryte of euery place he passed and particulerly to rehearse euery dayes iourney euery hyll towne ryuer house and gardeyne by the way would breede ouermuche tediousnesse In fewe the Lordes of the countrey as he went vsed him well especially in Guazucingo prouince and Chialcho shyre the one whereof was violently oppressed by the prince of Mexico the other willingly subiect vnto him In the cold mountaynes he wanted no wood in the townes hee was prouided for and his companions who were of Cempoallens Tastaltecans Churultecans Gâ—zucinges in number .4000 of Spaniards not aboue .300 In this maner Cortesius accompanyed folowed came at the length into a vale bearing name Colua â–ª wherein be two meres the one salt water of .60 leagues in circuit the other a freshet Partly on the land partly in the salt meere standeth Iztapalapa a fayre towne from whence to Themistitan the royall seat of Mexico there lyeth a way on a stone wall two speares length broad built vp in the water by hand with infinite charges the wall serueth also for a bridge by this bridge sides stand three fayre townes Mesicalcingo Coluacan VVichilabusco The first is supposed to haue .3000 houses the second .6000 the third .4000 wel built especially their Towers their Temples wherin they doe sacrifice In these townes great aboundaunce of salt is made that serueth all such as doe acknowledge the Prince of Mexico for their Lord. Other be denied it as of the Tascaltecans it was sayde This salte meere rysing doeth flowe into the Freshet as it ebbeth the Freshet falleth into the salt meere agayne The freshe water may serue neuerthelesse for drinke the salte water becommeth not freshe therewithall The wall hath many draught bridges for warfare and sluses for passage where toll is payde vnto the kyng Halfe one league before you come to Themistitan where the lyke bridge or causey from the lande ioyneth with the aforesayde wal standeth a strong Castle double walled about with two strong Towers not possible to be conquered To this place came a thousande Gentlemen Courtiers foorth of the citie
Priuilegio Kyng of Portugale Algarbs Lorde of Guinea of the coÌ„quest nauigation and trafike into Ethiopia Arabia Persia India The first part the first Decadâ— The second Decade The third Decade The fourth Decade The seconde part The thyrde part The fourth part A harde begynyng The Pylot that fyrst founde the Indies Mina Colon was not much learned Colon conferred with learned men Kyng Henry the seuenth Barnarde knewe not all thynges The conquest of Granada The archbâ—shop of Toledo The colour of the East Indians The coloure of the west Indians Gods wysedome power is seene in his workes Thyle is Islande The largenesse of the Ocean vnknowen to this day Cardinal Ascanius The warres at Granatum agaynst the Moores Italy disquieted with warres The sequeles of warre Kyng Frederike Spayne subdued from the Moores The kyngdome of Naples The temperatnesse of the Equinoctiall vnknowen to the olde wryters Continent or fyrme lande as bygge as three Europes Riches are the instruments of conquestes The rewardâ— of vertue The Ilandes of the West Ocean Christophorus Colonus India The fyrst voyage of Colonus The Ilandes of Canarie Gades or Calsmals A league what it conteyneth by sea The fortunate Ilandes Capo Verde The .vii. Ilandes of Canarie Betanchor a Frenche man subdued the Ilandes of Canarie c. Alphonsus Lugo Colonus men rebel agaynst hym Fayre woordes and promises Hispaniola Iohanna Nightingales syng in Nouember The Ilande of Ophir The Ilandes of Antilia A shypwracke The people of the Ilande Naked people Expert swymmers Gold for earth and glasse Many kynges Religious and humane people Canoas Monoxyla They haue no iron Canibales or Caribes Anthâ—opophagi The crueltie of the Canibales Ages Rootes in the steede of meate Iucca Bread of rootes In hearbe of strange nature Maizium Golde in estimation Golde in the sandes of riuers Serpentes without venime Turtle doues Duckes Popiniayes Plini These Ilandes are part of India The Indians are Antipodes to the Spanyardes Aristotle Seneca India not farre from Spayne Mastyx Aloe Gossampine cotton or bombase Seres The language of these Indians Trees fruites vnknoweÌ„ to vs Fat and moyst grounde Heate continual temperate The fruitefulnesse of Hispaniola The seconde voyage of Colonus Corne seedes to sowe Tooles and artyllerie Water droppyng from a tree continuallye Methymna Campi Castella Vetus Gades The Ilandâ— of Ferrea Ilandes of the Canibales The Ilande of Dominica Lysartes The Ilande of Galanta The Iland of Guadalupea Villages of .xx. or .xxx. houses The buildyng of theyr houses Gossampine cotton Bombase Hangyng beddes Images Fine cookerie Arrowheades of bones The mount Guadalupus Carucueria Popiniayes bygger then Phesantes The Canibales driueÌ„ to flyght Matinino an Ilande of women The Ilandes of Mons Serratus Huntyng for men Sancta Maria Rotunda Sanctus Martinus Sancta Maria Antiqua Insula crucis an Ilande of the Canibales The Canibales are expert Archers Arrowes inâ—ected with â—enime A conflict with the Canibales The fiercenesse terrible countenance of the Canibales Methymna Campi Innumerable Ilandes The mynes of mettals precious stones The sea called Archipelagus Insula S. Iohannes or Buchena Death for death â—he mounâ—â—ynes are colâ—er then the â—â—aynes â—rom Domiâ—â—ca to Hispaâ—â—ola fiue hunâ—â—ed leagues â—he Spaniarâ—s left in the â—ande are â—yne â—yng Guaccaâ—â—rillus reâ—â—leth Two images of golde Libertie and idlenesse A happie kinde of lyfe Superfluitie Many haue to much and none yenough The golden worde Naked men troubled with ambition Geue place The Admirall sendeth for the kyng No horses in the Ilandes A tyme for all â—ynges A desperate aduenture of a woman Cloelia of Rome Guaccanarillus is sought Melchior Popyngiayes and byrdes Taini Haukes belles A large house Reedes of sundry colours Caccius Hoiedus and Gorualanus Gold in riuers â—allyng from mountaynes The manner of gathering gold Graynes of golde A masse of rude gold weyghing ix ounces Caunaboa â–ª kyng of the house of golde Holsome water and plentie of fyshe The day and nyght of equall length in December Byrdes breede in December The eleuation of the pole The starres are called guardens of the pole The Equinoctial line A chappell and priestes Marchantes Syrophenicians The Cinamome tree Xiloaloes or Lignum Aloes Hispaniola Ophir whither Solomons shyps sayled for Golde Isabella A token of marueilous fruitefulnesse Hearbes greene al the whole yeere Suger reedes Plantes and vines Corne grayne ripe twyse a yeere The region of Cipanga or Cibana Golde The golden region of Cibana The vale of Cibana Golde for haukes bels Graynes and pibble stones of golde They passe not for golde in that it is golde onely but. c. Stones of golde as big as the head of a childe Spices Wilde vines of plesaunte taste Fruitful mountaynes Golde in the lande of ryuers falling from the mountaynes Libertie and idlenes The mountaynes are colde The ilande of Cuba Least any other prince c. Discention betweene the Portiugales and Spaniardes The ilandes of cobouerde or Hesperides The Portugales vâ—ages The ende of the easte and weste Note India not far from Spaine Sainte Nicolas porte The iland of Iamaica Quicke witted people The compassing of the earth Aurea Chersonesus or Malaccha A secreate of Astronomie The riuer of Ganges Daungerous streightes by reason of many Ilandes A large hauen Rosted fishe and serpents of viii foote longe Crocodiles of Egipte The kinges fishers Serpentes esteemed for delicate meaâ—â— Blossomes fruites both at one time Trees which beare gourds A multitude of Ilandes Hotte water A straunge kinde of fisshing Abundance of Tortoyses Fisher men The fishe Guaicanum Humane people A mountayne fruitfull and well inhabited Dogges of strange shape and dumme white and thicke water Wooddes of â—ate trees Men appareâ—â—d like white â—â—yers â—pparelled â—en Natiue vines Trees bearyng spices sweete fruites Diuers languages in the Ilande of Cuba Pearles in shelfyshes The sea entangled with Ilandes A multitude of great Tortoyses A gulfe of white water The humanitie of a reuerende olde gouernour An oration of the naked gouernour Theyr opinion of the soule of man Desyre of gold founde that which religion coulde not â—ynde Virtus post nummos c. The lande as common as â–ª the sunne and water Simple dyet Hispaniola The Canibales Sickenesse of to much Watching Easte India The Spaniardes rebell in the Admirals absence The kinges of the ilande rebell The Spaniardes misbehauiour A iust reuenge Capitayne Hoieda Caunaboa conspireth the Admirals death Famine in the ilande of hispaniola The hunger of golde causeth greate famine The tower of conception Electrum is a metall naturally mixt of one portion of golde an other of siluer being of propertie to bewraye poyson and was therfore in olde time in greater estimation then golde The mine of Electrum An other kinde of amber is taken out of greate whale fishes Orpement oâ— oker Wooddes of brasile trees Licentiusnes of to much libertie And this only geathered and not dygged out of the bodye of the mine The nature of the region disposeth the maner of