his Lordship would passe ouer into the Mayne For without him I had no great desire and indeed I should haue beene quickly missed seeing it pleased his Honor to vse mee in the dispatch of all things which were to be done by warrant or direction vnder his hand So that whatsoeuer I shall say here I must be content to report vpon the report of others and I will not tell you any thing which mee thought my selfe did not first see reason to beleeue The plat and figure of the Iland is a square altera parte longius the length exceeding the breadth neere the proportion of seuen to foure for it is told me to be sixe and thirtie leagues long and twentie leagues broad bearing it selfe out from end to end neere in the same distance It lyeth East and West at the West end the two corners doe so jut out that they make a goodly Bay betwixt them but yet not so profitable because a goodly Riuer which would gladly disburden it selfe into the Bay is choaked with sands which the Sea casteth vp into the mouth of the Riuer which being nauigable a good way vp into the Land is within a stones cast of losing his old name and being called the Sea made shallow and vnfit for the receit of Vessels of burthen There are indeed in the same Bay other lesser Riuerets whereat Passengers vse to take in fresh water as Sir Francis Drake did after hee was beaten from the Citie of Puerto Rico and put forth thence to Nombre de Dios. Vpon this part of the Iland which is commonly called La Aquada in English The watering place the greatest Commander and of largest possessions is or of late hath beene one Chereno whose proper land is thought to containe in compasse and circuit neere the quantitie of ten leagues The other end the Easterly end is knowne by the name of La cabeça de San Iuan in English Saint Iohns head The Citie of Puerto Rico is his right side or arme and the South side about the Countrie of Choama whither the Bishop at our comming had carried himselfe will be answerable to the left side or left arme as being lesse fit for action and his feet is the watering place The most famous Riuers of this Iland are Toa and Baiamond the rather because they runne into the Harbour of the Citie of Puerto Rico whereof Toa is by much the greater and falleth more with the West of the Towne This Riuer riseth out of a Mountaine called Guiamo being on the South side of the mayne Iland some fifteene or sixteene leagues from Ricoâo âo the Eastward from Guiamo it runneth North in one streame till it come to another Mountaine called Cawas and though in this way it receiue many Riuerets into it yet it cannot bee said either to lose or retaine his name for thus farre it is not knowne certainly what name it had as they say but here parteth it selfe into two streames the one whereof runneth Northerly to Luisa a Towne not great but somewhat fortified standing some sixe leagues to the Eastward of Puerto Rico. Whether the Towne doe giue or take his name of this arme of the Riuer it is vnknowne But well knowne it is that they haue both one name The other streame being once diuorced from Luisa runneth North North-west and falleth into the Harbour of Puerto Rico where it is called Toa Baiamond riseth betwixt the parting of Toa and Luisa and runneth a Northerly but more Easterly course withall till it mingleth it selfe with salt water on the South-west side of Puerto Rico. The Iland is watered with very many other Riuers and Riuerets and Springs without number or names but those that giue or take names of the Villages and Townes which stand vpon them for the most part runne Northerly For besides Guiamo which riseth in the Countrie of Coama and runneth into the Southerly Sea and the Riuer whereon Saint German which also is called Salamanca and Guadianilla is situate towards the West end of the Iland neere to Cape Roxo all the other of name runne to the leeward of the Iland and fall into the Northerly Sea As first and next to Puerto Rico to the Westward the Riuer and Towne of Saâuco next to it Guiamo then the Recibo twixt which and the Laguada is another whose name I could not learne The Laguada whereof I spake before and which giueth name to the Westerly end of the Iland where Sir Francis Drake as I said watered is next vnto the choaked Bay before mentioned in which Bay at the North-west Point is the Gawaraba which the Seas violence hath made something vnprofitable for nauigation so that the passage to Saint Domingo and the other leeward parts of the West Indies are most ordinarily from the Laguada if they of the Westerly part of the Iland haue any businesse that way For as Saint Germans or Salamanca though I haue heard it to be a Harbour and a Sea-faring Towne yet I am told so much to the contrarie as makes me doubt of the former report though I dare not absolutely assent to this later though a Spaniard of good vnderstanding told it me Now in euery one of these Riuers which I haue named is there gold found ordinarily before it be sought And I know it to bee true when the Spaniards perceiued by his Lordships manner of leauing the Citie of Puerto Rico that hee went not away without purpose to returne one of them told his Honor in plaine termes that he could not thrust his spade into any of these named Riuers and many other besides these but hee should finde gold This certainly is true and I haue seene the experience that some of the grauell of one of these Riuers being brought to his Lordship because it looked rich when triall was made onely by washing away the sand and grauell there was cornes of very good gold found in it and that for the quantitie and proportion in great measure Where because we are againe fallen into this argument I will report vnto you a certaine truth whereby the richnesse of the mynes in Puerto Rico may be esteemed One Ioancho de Luyando a Mint-master in this Iland dwelling in the Guadianilla neere to Saint Germans or at the least hauing workes there tooke a bullion or masse of gold so pure as it needed no further triall that being sent to the King it was found worth three thousand and fiue hundreth Duckets and diuers times he found such plates that onely splitting them he made himselfe trenchers of gold to eate his meat on This man may bee judged to haue beene of no great either wit or care for it is certainly reported that oftentimes meeting his owne slaues comming out of the Countrie to his house in Puerto Rico with store of gold hee did not know them to be his owne till themselues told him so and yet this man dyed so very rich that he left euery of his
call Topaâuayaperâ before the mouth of this Rocke towardes the Sea standeth another flat Rocke that reacheth somewhat into the Sea vpon it you shall see the prints of bare feet here if you fish with Lines you may quickly lade your shippe A little behind this stone house you shall see a fine Riuer of water where you shall finde many pretie greene stones that Indians doe vse to weare in their lips You may anchor within a Musket shoâ of the shore but it is verie dangerous if the wind be in the East Pirateningâ is fiue leagues to the Southward of Etioca right before it standeth a small Iland it is inhabited by the Portugâls It is a Bay that runneth betweene two Mountaines a mile and more within the Land There I haue seene a Mermaid and many other strange fishes You may lie with your shipping at the Iland and send your Boates ashore where you shall find great store of Cattle and you may take good ãâ¦ã ore of all kind of fishes iâ you will either with Hook or Net Here you may haue Oranges Lemmons and Cassaui Meale and all other such things that the Countrey yeeldeth but you must be alwaies sure to keepe good watch for feare of the Portugals of the Riuer of Ianuary which are hard by you The Riuer of Ianuary lieth three leagues from Pirateâinga it is a great Arme of the Sea that runneth into the Land at the least fourteene miles on the mouth of this place stand foure Ilands and now the best marke that it hath to be knowne is a Fort that standeth on the North side of the comming in of the Harbour vpon a Rock On the South side standeth a Hill that reacheth into the Sea which the Portugals call Cââo that is The top of a ship for it seemeth like the maine top-saile of a ship from Sea Hard by the Sea side on the foote of this Hill on the North side of the Hill as you saile into the Harbour standeth a Rocke of great height made like a Sugar-loafe and is called by the Portugals the Sugar-loafe In the midst of the going in in the mouth of this Riuer lieth a Rocke plainly to bee seene to goe in you must keepe betweene the Rocke and the Fort that standeth on the North side of you When you are entred the mouth of the Riuer and are past the Fort you shall see an Iland lie right before you and euen with a Church called Santa Lucia this Iland is called the Iland of Brigalion You must be sure to passe on the North side of this Iland and assoone as you haue passed it you shall see all the Citie both on the Hill and on âhe Sea side Then you must take heed that you goe not right to the Towne for you shall run vpon certaine shelues of sand that lie right before the Towne all along to a small Iland called the Iland of Saint Bent this Iland lâeth a quarter of a mile from the Iland of Bragalion and Eastward of this Iland of Saint Bent standeth a great Rocke you may saile betweene the Rocke and the Iland and assoone as you haue entred betweene them you may anchor hard by the Iland and then you shall see a Church standing vpon a Hill which is called Saint Bent then you need not feare to goe right before the Towne within a Caleeuer shot of the shore from the Towne you shal see on the North-east shore a towne of Canibals called Saint Lorenzo which is in peace with the Portugals and within the Bay you shall finde many Riuers and Sugar-mils where there is great profit to be made Waratiua lieth three leagues from the Riuer of Ianuary you may know it by two Ilands that lie right before the mouth of the aforesaid Riuer At the mouth of the Riuer likewise standeth a high Hill and on either side both on the South-west and North-east is low Land in this place you cannot enter with any ship but you may anchor betweene the Ilands and send your Boats ashore If you goe vp you shall find good store of Potatoe Roots Plantons great store of Oranges and Lemmons and many other kind of fâuits which are very good to releeue sicke men If you will fish with youâ Net heere you shall kill all kinde of good fishes but alwayes bee sure to keepe good watch for the Portugals are very neere you From the Riuer of Waratiââ for the space of foure leagues is all sândy low Land you shall see a high Hill which the Indiaâs call Mârambayapâââ that is in our Language the end of Warre right ouer against this point you shall see a great Iland at the comming in of this Harbour you need not feare for hard by the shore you shall haue twântââ fathome wateâ When you are in the mouth of this Harbour right before you shall see a whiâe Rocke which will lie full West from you you must leaue the Iland Southward from you then shall you descrie another great Iland called Epâoya at a point of this Iland that lieth full West towards the firme Land you shall see two small Ilands and when you are right against those two Ilands you shall see a faire Bay where you may anchor at pleasure to come into this Bay you must enter between those two Ilands that I haue spoken of I doe describe this Harbour vnto you aboue many good Harbours that you may find because you may depart from hence with any wind for the mouth of Marambaya lieth Soâth-eaââârom you when you are in this Harbour then you haue another going out that lieth North-east from you from this Port where you shall anchor called Epeoya If you want victuals for your ships you may take your Boat or your Pânnâsse and goe out betweene the two Ilands that you entred and when you are betweene those Ilands you shall see a flat broad Iland which will lye fâât South-west from you this Iland the Indians called Sâpeawera that is the morning and this is the Iland that I was driuen vpon when I runne away to Master Hawkins as I haue told you in the discourse of my troubles you must come with your Boat to this Iland and you must be sure to passe betweene the West shore and the Iland and assoone as you haue passed the point of this Iland you shall see three Hils of red Earth one hard by another You must leaue one of them West from you then may you land your men at pleasure when you haue landed you must goe through a little Copps for the spââe of a Harquebusse shot then shall you come into a faire Lawne where you shall find great store of Cattle and a house or two that standeth vpon a Hiâl where you shall haue alwayes good store of Câssaâi meale if you will haue Rootes and Plantonâ vpon the Iland where you anchor there are good store but there is an Iland called the Long Iland where you shall
point south-South-west it riseth in three Mounts or round Hillockes bringing it more Westerly they shoot themselues all into one and bringing it Easterly it riseth in two Hillockes This we called Point Tremountaine Some twelue or fourteene leagues from this point to the Eastwards faire by the shoare lyeth a low flat Iland of some two leagues long we named it Faire Iland for it was all ouer as greene and smooth as any Meddow in the Sping of the yeare Some three or foure leagues Easterly from this Iland is a goodly opening as of a great Riuer or an arme of the Sea with a goodly low Countrey adjacent And eight or tenne leagues from this opening some three leagues from the shoare lyeth a bigge Rocke which at the first we had thought to be a ship vnder all her sayles but after as we came neere it discouered it selfe to bee a Rocke which we called Conduit-head for that howsoeuer a man commeth with it it is like to the Conduit-heads about the Citie of London All this Coast so farre as we discouered lyeth next of any thing East and by North and West and by South The Land for that it was discouered in the Reigne of Qâeene Elizabeth my Souereigne Lady and Mistris and a Mayden Queene and at my cost and aduenture in a perpetuall memory of her chastitie and remembrance of my endeuours I gaue it the name of Hawkins Maiden-land Before a man fall with this Land some twenây or thirty leagues he shall meet with beds of Oreweed driuing to and fro in that Sea with white flowres growing vpon them and sometimes farther off which is a good shew and signe the Land is neere whereof the Westermost part lyeth some threescore leagues from the neerest Land of America With our faire and large wind wee shaped our course for the Straits and the tenth of February wee had sight of Land and it was the head-land of the Straits to the Northwards which agreed with our height wherein wee found our selues to bee which was in 52. degrees and 40. minutes Within a few houres we had the mouth of the Straits open which lieth in 52. degrees and 50. minutes It riseth like the North foreland in Kent and is much like the Land of Margates It is not good to borrow neere the shoare but to giue it a faire birth within a few houres we entred the mouth of the Straits which is some sixe leagues broad and lieth in 52. degrees and 50. minutes doubling the Point on the starbood which is also flat of a good birth we opened a faire Bay in which we might descry the Hull of a ship beaten vpon the Beach It was of the Spanish Fleet that went to inhabit there in Anno 1582. vnder the charge of Pedro Sarmiento who at his returne was taken Prisoner and brought into England In this Bay the Spaniards made their principall habitation and called it the Citie of Saint Philip and left it peopled But the cold barrennesse of the Countrey and the malice of the Indians with whom they badly agreed made speedy end of them as also of those whom they left in the middle of the Straits three leagues from Cape Forward to the Eastwards in another habitation We continued our course alongst this Reaâh for all the Straits is as a Riuer altering his course sometimes vpon one point sometimes vpon another which is some eight leagues long and lieth West North-west From this we entred into a goodly Bay which runneth vp into the Land Northerly many leagues and at first entrance a man may see no other thing but as it were a maine Sea From the end of this first Reach you must direct your course West south-South-west and some fourteene or fifteene leagues lyeth one of the narrowest places of all the Straits This leadeth vnto another Reach that lyeth West and by North some six leagues Here in the middle of the Reach the wind tooke vs by the North-west and so we were forced to anchor some two or three dayes In which time we went ashoare with our Boats and found neere the middle of this Reach on the starboord side a reasonable good place to ground and trimme a small ship where it higheth some nine or ten foot water Here we saw certaine Hogs but they were so farre from vs that we could not discerne whether they were of those of the Countrey or brought by the Spaniards these were all the beasts which we saw in all the time we were in the Straits In two tides we turned through this reach and so recouered the Ilands of Pengwins they lye from this reach foure leagues South-west and by West Till you come to this place care is to be taken of not comming too neere to any point of the land for being for the most part sandy they haue sholding off them and are somewhat dangerous These Ilands haue beene set forth by some to be three we could discouer but two And they are no more except that part of the Mayne which lyeth ouer against them be an Iland which carrieth little likelihood and I cannot determine it A man may saile betwixt the two Ilands or betwixt them and the Land on the Larboord side from which Land to the bigger Iland is as it were a bridge or ledge on which is foure or fiue fathom water and to him that commeth neere it not knowing thereof may justly cause feare for it sheweth to be shold water with his ripling like vnto a Race Betwixt the former Reach and these Ilands runneth vp a goodly Bay into the Countrey to the North-wards It causeth a great Indraughty and aboue these Ilands runneth a great tide from the mouth of the Straits to these Ilands the Land on the Larboord-side is low Land and sandy for the most part and without doubt Ilands for it hath many openings into the Sea and forcible Indraughts by them and that on the Starboord side is all high Mountaynous Land from end to end but no wood on either side Before we passed these Ilands vnder the Lee of the bigger Iland we anchored the winde beeing at North-east with intent to refresh our selues with the Fowles of these Ilands they are of diuers sorts and in great plentie as Pengwins wild Ducks Guls and Gannets of the principall we purposed to make prouision and those were the Pengwins The Pengwin is in all proportion like a Goose and hath no feathers but a certaine downe vpon all parts of his bodie and therefore canot flee but auayleth himselfe in all occasions with his feet running as fast as most men He liueth in the Sea and on the Land feedeth on fish in the Sea and as a Goose on the shore vpon grasse They harbour themselues vnder the ground in Burrowes as the Conies and in them hatch their young All parts of the Iland where they haunted were vndermined saue onely one Valley which it seemeth they reserued for their food for it
was as greene as any Medow in the moneth of Aprill with a most fine short grasse The flesh of these Pengwins is much of the sauour of a certaine Fowle taken in the Ilands of Lundey and Silley which we call Puffins by the taste it is easily discerned that they feed on fish They are very fat and in dressing must be flead as the Byter they are reasonable meate rosted baked or sodden but best rosted We salted some doozen or sixteene Hogsheads which serued vs whilest they lasted insteed of powdred Beefe The hunting of them as wee may well terme it was a great recreation to my company and worth the sight for in determining to catch them necessarily was required good store of people euery one with a cudgell in his hand to compasse them round about to bring them as it were into a Ring if they chanced to breake out then was the sport for the ground beeing vndermined at vnawares it failed and as they ranne after them one fell here another there another offering to strike at one lifting vp his hand sunke vp to the arme-pits in the earth another leaping to auoid one hole fell into another And after the first slaughter in seeing vs on the shoare they shunned vs and procured to recouer the Sea yea many times seeing themselues persecuted they would tumble downe from such high Rocks and Mountaines as it seemed impossible to escape with life Yet as soone as they came to the Beach presently we should see them runne into the Sea as though they had no hurt Where one goeth the other followeth like sheepe after the Bel-weather but in getting them once within the Ring close together few escaped saue such as by chance hid themselues in the borrowes and ordinarily there was no Droue which yeelded vs not a thousand and more the manner of killing them which the Hunters vsed beeing in a cluster together was with their cudgels to knocke them on the head for though a man gaue them many blowes on the body they dyed not Besides the flesh bruized is not good to keepe The massacre ended presently they cut of their heads that they might bleed well such as we determined to keepe for store we saued in this manner First wee split them and then washed them well in Sea-water then salted them hauing laine some sixe houres in Salt we put them in presse eight houres and the bloud being soaked out wee salted them againe in our other caske as is the custome to salt Beefe after this manner they continued good some two moneths and serued vs in steed of Beefe The Guls and Gannets were not in so great quantitie yet we wanted not young Guls to eate all the time of our stay about these Ilands It was one of the delicatest foods that I haue eaten in all my life The Duckes are different to ours and nothing so good meate yet they may serue for necessitie They were many and had a part of the Iland to themselues seuerall which was the highest Hill and more then a Musket shot ouer In all the dayes of my life I haue not seene greater arte and curiositie in creatures voide of reason then in the placing and making of their Nests all the Hill being so full of them that the greatest Mathematician of the World could not deuise how to place one more then there was vpon the Hill leauing onely one path-way for a Fowle to passe betwixt The Hill was all leuell as if it had beene smoothed by arte the Nests made onely of earth and seeming to be of the selfe-same mould for the Nests and the soile is all one which with water that they bring in their Beakes they make into Clay or a certaine dawbe and after fashion them round as with a compasse In the bottome they containe the measure of a foot in the height about eight inches and in the top the same quantitie ouer there they are hollowed in somwhat deep wherein they lay their Egges without other preuention And I am of opinion that the Sun helpeth them to hatch their young their Nests are for many yeares and of one proportion not one exceeding another in bignesse in height nor circumference and in proportionable distance one from another In all this Hill nor in any of their Nests was to be found a blade of grasse a straw a sticke a feather a moat no nor the filing of any Fowle but all the Nests and passages betwixt them were so smooth and cleane as if they had bin newly swept washed One day hauing ended our hunting of Pengwins one of our Mariners walking about the Iland discouered a great company of Seales or Sea-wolues so called for that they are in the Sea as the Wolues on the Land aduising vs that he left them sleeping with their bellies toasting against the Sunne we prouided our selues with staues and other weapons and sought to steale vpon them at vnawares to surprize some of them and comming downe the side of a Hill we were not discouered till wee were close vpon them notwithstanding their Sentinell before wee could approach with a great howle waked them we got betwixt the Sea and some of them but they shunned vs not for they came directly vpon vs and though we dealt heere and there a blow yet not a man that withstood them escaped the ouerthrow They reckon not of a Musket shot a sword pierceth not theirskinne and to giue a blowe with a staffe is as to smite vpon a stone only in giuing the blowe vpon his snout presently he falleth downe dead After they had recouered the water they did as it were scorne vs defie vs and daunced before vs vntill we had shot some Musket shot through them and so they appeared no more This fish is like vnto a Calfe with foure legs but not aboue a spanne long his skinne is hairy like a Calte but these were different to all that euer I haue seene yet I haue seeÌne of them in many parts for these wee greater and in their former parts like vnto Lions with shagge haire and mostaches They liue in the Sea and come to sheepe on the Land and they euer haue one that watcheth who aduiseth them of any accident They are beneficiall to man in their skinnes for many purposes In their mostaches for Pick-tooths and in their fatte to make Traine-oyle Wee embarqued our selues and set sayle with the winde at NOrth-west which could serue vs but to an end of that reach some dozen leagues long and some three or foure leagues broad It lieth next of any thing till you come to Cape Agreda south-South-west from this Cape to Cape Froward the coast lieth West South-west Some foure leagues betwixt them was the second peopling of the Spaniards and this Cape lieth in 55. degrees and better Thwart Cape Froward the winde larged with vs and we continued our course towards the Iland of Elizabeth which lieth from
Cape Forward some foureteene leages West and by South This reach is foure or fiue leagues broad and in it are many channels or openings into the Sea for all the land on the Souther part of the Straites are Ilands and broken land and from the beginning of this reach to the end of the Straits high mountainous Land on both sides in most parts couered with Snowe all the yeere long Betwixt the Iland Elizabeth and the Maine is the narrowest passage of all the Sraites it may be some two Musket shor from side to side From this Straite to Elizabeth Bay is some-foure leagues and the course lieth North-west and by West This Bay is all sandie and cleane ground on the Easterne pârt but before youcome at it there lieth a point of the shoare a good birth off which is dangerous And in this reach as in many parts of the Straites runneth a quicke and forcible tide In the Bay it higheth eight or nine foot water The Northerne part of the Bay hath foule ground and Rockes vnder water and therefore it is not wholsome borrowing of the Maine One of Master Thomas Candish his Pinasses as I haue been enformed came aground vpon one of them and he was in hazard to haue left her there From Elizabeth Bay ot the Riuer of Ieronimâ is some fiue leagues The course lieth West and by North and West Here the winde scanted and forced vs to seeke a place to anchor in Our Boats going alongst the shoare found a reasonable Harbour which is right against that which they call Riuer Ierââimâ but it is another channell by which a man may dissembâque the Straite as by the other which is accustomed for with a storme which tooke vs one night suddenly wee were forced into that opening vn wittingly but to the morning seing our errour and the winde larging with two or three boords we turned into the old channell nor daring for want of our Pinasse to attempt any new Discouerie This Harbour wee called Blanches Bay for that it was found by William Blanch one of our Masters Mates Here hauing moored our ship we beganne to make our prouision of wood and water whereof was plentie in this Bay and in all other places from Pengwin Ilands till within a dozen leagues of the mouth of the Straites NOw finding our DeckeÌs open with the long lying vnder the Line and on the coast of Brasill the Sunne hauing beene in our Zenith many times we calked our ship within boord and without aboue the Deckes And such was the diligence wee vsed that at foure dayes end wee had aboue threescore Pipes of water and twentie Boats of wood stowed in our ship no man was idle nor otherwise busied but in necessarie workes some in felling and cleaning of wood some in carrying of water some in romaging somein washing others in baking one in heiting of Pitch another in gathering of Mussels no man was exempted but knew at euening whereunto he was to betake himselfe the morning following Some man might aske mee how wee came to haue so many emptie Caske in lesse then two moneths for it seemeth much that so few men in such short time and in so long a Voyage should waste so much Whereto I answere that it came not of excessieu expense for in health we neuer exceeded our ordinarie but of a mischance which befell vs vnknowne in the Iland of Saint Iames or Saint Anne in the coast of Brasill where where wee refreshed our selues and recording to the custome laid our Caske ashoare to trimme it and afters to fill it the place being commodious forvs But with the waer a certaine worme called Broma by the Spannard and âyvs Aters entred also which eate it so fuli of holes that all the waer spaked out and made much of our Caske of small vse This we remedied the best wee could and discouered it long before we came to this place Hereof let others take warning in no place to haue Caske on the shoare where it may be anoyded for it is one of the promisions which are with greatest care to be preserued in long Voyages and bardest to be supplied These Arters or B oma in all hot Countries enter into the plankes of ships and effeciast where are Ruers of fresh water the common opinion is that they are bred in fresh water and with the current of the Riners are brought into the Sea but experience teacheth that they breede in the great Seas in all hot chimates especially neere the Equinoctiall Line for lying so long vnder and neere the Line and towing a Shalop at our sterne comming to cleanse her in Brasill wee found her all vnder water couered with these Wormes as bigge as the little singer of a man on the outside of the planke not fully couered but halfe the thicknesse of their bodie like to a gellie wrought into the planke as with a Gowdge In little time if the ship be not sheathed they put all in hazard for they enter in no bigger then a small spanish Needle and by little and little their holes become ordinarily greater then a mans finger The thicker the planke is the greater he groweth yea I haue seene many ships so eaten that the most of their plankes vnder water haue beene like Honie-combes and especially those betwixt winde and water If they had not beene sheathed it had beene impossible that they could haue swomme The entring of them is hardly to be discerned the most of them being small as the head of a Pinne Which all such as purpose long Voyages are to prenent byu sheathing their ships And for that I haue seene diuers manners of sheathing for the ignorant I will set them downe which by experience I haue found best In Spaine and Portugall some sheath their ships with Lead which besides the cost and weight although they vse the thinnest sheet-lead that I haue seene in any place yet it is nothing durable but subiect to many casualities Another manner is vsed with double plankes as thicke without as within after the manner of surring which is little better then that with Lead for besides his weight it dureth little because the Worme in small time passeth through the one and the other A third manner of sheathing had beene vsed amongst some with fine Canuas which is of small continuance and so not to be regarded The fourth preuention which now is most accounted of is to burne the vpper planke till it come to be in euery place like a Cole and after to pitch it this isnot bad in China as I haue beene enformed they vse a certaine Betane or Varnish in manner of an artificiall Pitch wherewith they trimme the outside of their ships It is said to bee durable and of that vertue as neither worme nor water pierceth it neither hath the Sunne power against it Some haue deuised a certaine Pitch mingled with Glasse and other ingredients beaten into
and Shooes Sawes Pick-axes Spades and Shouels Axes Hatchets Hookes Kniues Sizzers Hammers Nailes Chissels Fish-hookes Bels Beades Bugles Looking-glasses Thimbles Pinnes Needles Threed and such like They set saile from Kingrode the twentieth day of March. We set saile from Milford Hauen where the winds had stayed vs a fortnight in which space we heard of Queene Elizabeths death the tenth of Aprill 1603. In our course we passed by the Iles of the Açores had first sight of the Pike and afterward of the Iland of Cueruo and Flores and after we had runne some fiue hundred leagues we fell with a multitude of small Ilands on the North Coast of Virginia in the latitude of 43. degrees the ãâã of Iune which Ilands wee found very pleasant to behold adorned with goodly grasse and sundry sorts of Trees as Cedars Spruce Pines and Firre-trees Heere wee found an excellent fishing for Cods which are better then those of New-found-land and withall we saw good and Rockie ground fit to drie them vpon also we see no reason to the contrary but that Salt may bee made in these parts a matter of no small importance We sayled to the South-west end of these Ilands and there rode with our ships vnder one of the greatest One of them we named Foxe Iland because we found those kind of beasts thereon So passing through the rest with our Boates to the mayne Land which lieth for a good space North-east and south-South-west we found very safe riding among them in sixe seuen eight ten and twelue fathomes At length comming to the Mayne in the latitude of 43. degrees and an halfe we ranged the same to the South-west In which course we found foure Inlets the most Easterly whereof was barred at the mouth but hauing passed ouer the barre wee ranne vp into it fiue miles and for a certaine space found very good depth and comming out againe as we sailed South-westward wee lighted vpon two other Inlets which vpon our search we found to pierce not farre into the Land the fourth and most Westerly was the best which we rowed vp ten or twelue miles In all these places we found no people but signes of fires where they had beene Howbeit we beheld very goodly Groues and Woods replenished with tall Okes Beeches Pine-trees Firre-trees Hasels Wich-hasels and Maples We saw here also sundry sorts of Beasts as Stags Deere Beares Wolues Foxes Lusernes and Dogges with sharpe noses But meeting with no Sassafras we left these places with all the foresaid Ilands shaping our course for Sauage Rocke discouered the yeere before by Captaine Gosnold where going vpon the Mayne we found people with whom we had no long conuersation because here also we could find no Sassfras Departing hence we bare into that great Gulfe which Captaine Gosnold ouer-shot the yeere before coasting and finding people on the North side thereof Not yet satisfied in our expectation we left them and sailed ouer and came to an Anchor on the South side in the latitude of 41. degrees and odde minutes where we went on Land in a certaine Bay which we called Whitson Bay by the name of the Worshipfull Master Iohn Whitson then Maior of the Citie of Bristoll and one of the chiefe Aduenturers and finding a pleasant Hill thereunto adioyning wee called it Mount Aldworth for Master Robert Aldworths sake a chiefe furtherer of the Voyage aswell with his Purse as with his trauell Here we had sufficient quantitie of Sassafras At our going on shore vpon view of the people and sight of the place wee thought it conuenient to make a small baricado to keepe diligent watch and ward in for the aduertizement and succour of our men while they should worke in the Woods During our abode on shore the people of the Countrey came to our men sometimes ten twentie fortie or threescore and at one time one hundred and twentie at once We vsed them kindly and gaue them diuers sorts of our meanest Merchandize They did eat Pease and Beanes with our men Their owne victuals were most of fish We had a youth in our company that could play vpon a Gitterne in whose homely Musicke they tooke great delight and would giue him many things as Tobacco Tobacco-pipes Snakes skinnes of sixe foot long which they vse for Girdles Fawnes skinnes and such like and danced twentie in a Ring and the Gitterne in the middest of them vsing many Sauage gestures singing Io Ia Io Ia Ia Io him that first brake the ring the rest would knocke and cry out vpon Some few of them had plates of Brasse a foot long and halfe a foote broad before their breasts Their weapons are Bowes of fiue or sixe foot long of Wich-hasell painted blacke and yellow the strings of three twists of sinewes bigger then our Bow-strings Their Arrowes are of a yard and an handfull long not made of Reeds but of a fine light wood very smooth and round with three long and deepe blacke feathers of some Eagle Vulture or Kite as closely fastened with some binding matter as any Fletcher of ours can glue them on Their Quiuers are full a yard long made of long dried Rushes wrought about two handfuls broad aboue and one handfull beneath with prettie workes and compartiments Diamant wise of red and other colours We carried with vs from Bristoll two excellent Mastiues of whom the Indians were more afraid then of twentie of our men One of these Mastiues would carrie a halfe Pike in his mouth And one Master Thomas Bridges a Gentleman of our company accompanied only with one of these Dogs and passed sixe miles alone in the Countrey hauing lost his fellowes and returned safely And when we would be rid of the Sauages company wee would let loose the Mastiues and saddenly with out-cryes they would flee away These people in colour are inclined to a swart tawnie or Chestnut colour not by nature but accidentally and doe weare their haire brayded in foure parts and trussed vp about their heads with a small knot behind in which haire of theirs they sticke many feathers and toyes for brauerie and pleasure They couer their priuities only with a piece of leather drawne betwixt their twists and fastened to their Girdles behind and before whereunto they hang their bags of Tobacco They seeme to bee somewhat iealous of their women for we saw not past two of them who weare Aprons of Leather skins before them downe to the knees and a Beares skinne like an Irish Mantle ouer one shoulder The men are of stature somewhat taller then our ordinary people strong swift well proportioned and giuen to treacherie as in the end we perceiued Their Boats whereof we brought one to Bristoll were in proportion like a Wherrie of the Riuer of Thames seuenteene foot long and foure foot broad made of the Barke of a Birch-tree farre exceeding in bignesse those of England it was sowed together with strong and tough
and mens names written in them This Riuer in our language is called the Riuer of Crocodiles for in it there are many which the Indians call Faquares it is narrow and in the mouth of it standeth a white Rocke To enter it you must take heed you keepe on the North side of this Rocke and you shall finde nine and ten foot water after you be within it you shall come to a great Bay and on the North-east side you shall finde a small Riuer where you may take fresh water but let euery man take heed how hee leapeth into the water for the Crocodiles lie by the banke-side hidden and if any thing fall into the water presently they kill it Here is nothing to bee had vnlesse you will fish for the Crocodiles and take the Bladders or Cods of muske from them here you need not feare any Inhabitants except you be espyed by some passengers that goe to Ferâambuquâ Alaqua is a very faire Riuer that lyeth foure leagues Northward from the Riuer of Saint Michael and three leagues Southward from the afore said Riuer of Crocodiles On either side of it you shall see a great Hill called by the Portugals Os Caiâââ You shall finde but seuen or eight foot water at the comming and very cleere from any Rocks but after you bee within you shall finde many bankes of sand where you shall kill good store of fish and alwayes you shall bee sure to haue Caruells fishing in this place at the comming in on both sides you may take fresh water Before the Riuer of Saint Michael you shall see the Cliffes like Arecines of Fernambuquo you must enter at the end of the Cliffe hard by the shoare on the south-South-west and you must marke a small Cliffe that lyeth betweene the mouth of the Riuer and the shoare this Cliffe you leaue betweene you and the shoare and betwixt this Cliffe and the great Rocks you may enter it three fathom water But take heed when you enter that you saile not towards the North-east although you see the Bay great for you shall run vpon many great bankes of sand therefore you must keepe West still within a stones cast of the shoare so shall you be sure to keepe in the Channell Thus you must saile till you discouer a house that you shall see doubling a Point full South from you then your best is to anchor for if you goe farther you are in danger except you know the Channell very well In this place dwels a Portugall called Iohn de Rocho and vp a Riuer that you shall see runne into the Land dwell many Portugals where they haue a Church with Friars to say Masse Here you shall haue good store of Cattell if you need and Brasill wood Cassaui meale and in this Riuer you shall haue good store of Oisters and in them you shall find many great Pearles likewise here is good store of Balsom oile and trees of All Nesico which is a very precious and rich wood singular good for bruises or old hurts also here is good store of Tabacco This place is eight leagues from the Riuer of Toades where we were driuen on the Rocks because we knew not where wee were for it is a singular good Harbour to enter if a man know the comming in betweene the Rocks called Os Bayos de Don Rodrigo Because the Indians indeed doe kill many Toades therefore they call it Cororoen that is to say the Riuer or water of Toades I tell you the name in the Indian language Because in all places you shall haue of them and so you may know when they tell you where you are When you are in ten degrees and an halfe Southwards of the Equinoctiall Line you shall see fiue hils and the three that standeth on the North side of this place whereof wee speake are round and high the other two that stand on the South not farre in distance one from another are long and lower then the other if you come neere the shoare you shall see a great many of small Rockes and a great Bay which is the place I speake of right before this Bay you shall see two great Rockes to goe into this Harbour you must passe betweene these Rockes which are called Bayos de don Rodrigo when you are ântred you may anchor hard by the Rockes and sound the Channell which will lye Norâh-east from you Here you may haue fresh water vp the Riuer but it will be hard for you to find therefore your best is to goe a quarter of a mile by the Sea side and you shall see a faâre Riuer where you may take water at pleasure and kill good store of fish At this place comming from the Riuer of Ienero in the night we were driuen vpon the Rockes for want of a Pilot that knew the Coast. I doe not set downe the places betweene this and the Cape Frio because I know them not but by report of other Trauellers and therefore I leaue it to them for I will write no more but what I haue seene and am able to proue when time shall serue and thus I end shewing you all that I haue seene on the Coast Northward of Cape Frio which is in our Language Cape Cold. Cape Frio is a point of the Land that runneth into the Sea at least twelue mile it lyeth vnder 22. degrees At this Cape you may haue sight of a great Mountaine that you may see ouer it called Abausango Reâambuera here you may anchor on the East-side of this Cape in a Harbour called Abaââa formozo Here you may haue great store of Brassell-wood and in this Bay you shall find oftentimes good store of Ambeâ-greece and on the North side of this Bay you shall see a great Riuer called vparason where you may kill good store of many kinde of fishes and in the mouth of this Riuer you shall haue great store of Corall if you will dragge for it Saquarema is a Riuer where the Frenchmen did traffique with the Canibals called Tamoyes it floweth foure leagues Southward from the Cape This Riuer is nârrow at the comming in you shall find twelue foote water till you be three or foure leagues vp the Riuer You shall find fresh water on either side of the Riuer and great store of Brassell-wood all along the Riuer side On the South side of this Riuer you shall âee a great hill which the Indians call Boypeâa that is The rotten Whale for you shall see the top of it like a dead Whale If you want refreshing you may haue good store of Potato Roots there Plantons Lemons Orenges and many other good Roots as bigge as great Tuânips which the Indians call Carauasou Etioca is a league Southward of the Riuer of Saquarema It is as I haue said in the description of my trauell a great and huge Rocke hollow within where the Indians say that the seruant of God did preach vnto them which they
beginning of the Straits Here our ship being well moored we began to supplie our wood and water that we had spent Which being a dayes worke and the winde during many dayes contrary I endeauored to keep my people occupied to diuert them from the imagination which some had conceiued that it behoued we should returne to Brasill and winter there and so shoot the Straits in the Spring of the yeere One day wee rowed vp the Riuer with our Boate and Light-horseman to discouer it and the Inland where hauing spent a good part of the day and finding shoald water and many Trees fallen thwart it and little fruit of our labour nor any thing worth the noting wee returned Another day wee trained our people ashoare being a goodly sandy Bay another wee had a hurling of Batchelors against married men this day we were busied in wrestling the other in shooting so we were neuer idle neither thought we the time long After wee had past here some seuen or eight dayes one euening with a flaw from the shoare our ship droue off into the channell and before wee could get vp our Anchor and set our Sayles we were driuen so farre to lee-wards that wee could not recouer into the Bay and night comming on with a short sayle we beate off and on till the morning At the breake of the day conferring with the Captaine and Master of my ship what was best to bee done wee resolued to seeke out Tobias Coue which lieth ouer against Cape Fryo on the Southerne part of the Straits because in all the Reaches of the Straits for the most part the winde bloweth trade and therefore little profit to be made by turning to winde-wards And from the Ilands of the Pengwins to the end of the Straites towards the South-sea there is no anchoring in the channell and if we should be put to lee-wards of this Coue we had no succour till we came to the Ilands of Pengwins and some of our companie which had been with M. Th. Candish in the Voyage in which he died and in the same Coue many weekes vndertooke to be our Pilots thither Whereupon wee bare vp being some two leagues thither hauing so much winde as we could scarce lie by it with our course and bonnet of each but bearing vp before the winde we put out our Topsayles and Spritsayle and within a little while the winde began to fayle vs and immediatly our ship gaue a mightie blowe vpon a Rocke and stucke fast vpon it And had wee had but the fourth part of the winde which we had in all the night past but a moment before wee strucke the Rocke our ship doubtlesse with the blowe had broken her selfe all to pieces All our labour was fruitlesse till God was pleased that the floud came and then wee had her off with great ioy and comfort when finding the current fauourable with vs wee stood ouer to English Bay and fetching it we anchored there hauing beene some three houres vpon the Rock and with the blowe as after we saw when our ship was brought a ground in Perico which is the Port of Panama a great part of her sheathing was beaten off on both sides of her Bulges and some foure foot long and a foot square of her false stemme ioyning to the Keele wrested acrosse like vnto a Hogs yoake which hindered her sayling very much They founded a Coue some sixteene leagues from the mouth of the Straite which after wee called Crabby Coue. It brooked his name well for two causes the one for that all the water was full of a small kinde of red Crabbes the other for the crabbed Mountaines which ouer-topped it a third wee might adde for the crabbed entertainment it gaue vs. In this Coue wee anchored but the winde freshing in and three or foure Hills ouer-topping like Sugar-loaues altered and straightned the passage of the wind in such manner as forced it downe with such violence in flawes and furious bluâtrings as was like to ouerset our ship at Anchor and caused her to driue and vs to weigh but before we could weigh it she was so neere the Rocks and the puffes and gusts of wind so sudden and vncertain sometimes scant somtimes large that it forced vs to cut our Cable and yet dangerous if our ship did not cast the right way Here necessitie not being subiect to any law forced vs to put our selues into the hands of him that was able to deliuer vs. Wee cut our Cable and Sayle all in one instant And God to shew his power and gracious bountie towards vs was pleased that our ship cast the contrarie way towards the shoare seeming that hee with his owne hand did wend her about for in lesse then her length she flatted and in all the Voyage but at that instant shee flatted with difficultie for that shee was long the worst propertie shee had On either side we might see the Rockes vnder vs and were not halfe a ships length from the shoare and if shee had once touched it had beene impossible to haue escaped From hence wee returned to Blanches Bay and there anchored expecting Gods good will and pleasure Here beganne the bitternesse of the time to encrease with blustering and sharpe windes accompanied with raine and fleeting snowe and my people to bee dismayed againe in manifesting a desire to returne to Brasill which I would neuer consent vnto no not so much as to heare of And all men are to take care that they goe not one foote backe more then is of meere force for I haue not seene that any who haue yeelded thereunto but presently they haue returned home As in the Voyuge of Master Edward Fenton in that which the Earle of Cumberland set forth to his great charge as also in that of Master Thomas Candish in which he died All which pretended to shoote the Straites of Magelan and by perswasion of some ignorant persons being in good possibilitie were brought to consent to returne to Brasill to winter and after in the Spring to attempt the passing of the Straite againe None of them made any abode in Brasill for presently as soone as they looked homeward one with a little blustering winde taketh occasion to lose companie another complaineth that he wanteth victuals another that his ship is leake another that his masts sayles cordidge fayleth him So the willing neuer want probable reasons to further their pretences As I saw once being but young and more bold then experimented in the yeere 1582. in a Voyage vnder the clarge of my Uncle William Hawkins of Plimouth Esquire in the Indies at the Wester end of the Iland of San Iuan de Portorico One of the ships called the Barke bonner being somewhat leake the Captaine complayned that shee was not able to endure to England whereupon a Counsell was called and his reasons heard and allowed So it was concluded that the Victuall Munition and what was seruiceable
haue done their vttermost yet can they not bring that People wholly in subiection And although the Spaniards haue in this Prouince eleuen Townes and two Bishoprikes yet haue they little enough to maintayne themselues by reason of the Warres for they spend all the Gold that the Land yeeldeth in the maintenance of their Souldiers which would not bee so if they had peace for then they might worke in all their Mines Thus hauing spoken somwhat of the situation of Chili and of the troublesome conquest thereof I will returne to my former discourse where I left Baldiuia therefore being of 150. houses hath twice beene burnt and spoyled by the Indians so that now it is waxen poore but before the Indians sacked it it was very rich and it standeth vp a Riuer foure leagues from the Sea Passing from hence you come to the plaine Countrie of Arauco being situate ouer against the Iland La Mocha on which Iland the Indians that inhabite belong to the maine Land Hauing passed this Plaine of Arauco the next Towne of the Spaniards that you come vnto is La Concepcion which hath beene the greatest and the richest Towne in all Chili but by reason that the Indians haue burned the same foure times it is now growne very poore and hath small store of people it containeth about some two hundred houses And because it adioyneth vpon the Plaine of Arauco where these valiant Indians bee therefore this Towne is enuironed about with a strong wall and hath a Fort built hard by it and here are fiue hundred Souldiers continually in Garrison Betweene this place and Ualparizo the Indians call the Coast by the name of Mapocha Sant Iago it selfe standing fiue and twentie leagues vp into the Countrie is the principall Towne of all Chili and the seat of the Gouernour it consisteth of about eight hundred houses The Port of Valparizo whither the goods come from Lima by shipping hath about twentie houses standing by it The next Towne neere the Sea side beyond this is Coquimbo which standeth two leagues vp into the Land and containeth about two hundred houses Next vnto Coquimbo standeth a Port-towne called Copiapo inhabited altogether by Indians which serue the Spaniards and here a Gentleman which is Gouernour of the Towne hath an Ingenio for Sugar at this place endeth the whole Prouince of Chili Here also the Mountaines ioyning hard vpon the Sea are the cause why all the Land betweene Capiapo and Peru contayning one hundred and sixtie leagues lieth desolate The first Towne on the Coast of Peru called Atacama is inhabited by Indians which are slaues vnto the Spaniards But before I passe any further I will here also declare vnto you the first Discouerie of Peru with other matters there to belonging and then will I returne to the Sea-coast againe and to the end you may vnderstand me the better I will beginne with Panama After that the Spaniards had inhabited the North side of this mayne Land passing ouer the Mountains they discouered the South Sea where because they found Indian people with Gold and Pearles they built a Towne eighteene leagues to the West of Nombre de Dios hard vpon the Sea side and called it Panama From hence they discouered along the Coast of Nueua Espanna and for that Nueua Espanna was at the same time inhabited by Spaniards there beganne a trade from thence to Panama but from Panama by Sea to the Coast of Peru they could not trade in a long time because of the Southerly windes blowing on this Coast almost all the yeere long which are a hinderance to ships sayling that way and by Land the passage was impossible in regard of Mountaines and Riuers Yea it was fifteene yeeres before they passed the Iland of Pearles which is but twentie leagues from Panama There were at this time in Panama two men the one called Francisco Pizarro borne in the Citie of Truxillo in Spaine a valiant man but withall poore the other called Diego de Almagro was very rich These men got a companie vnto them and prouided two Carauels to discouer the Coast of Peru and hauing obtayned licence of the Gouernour of that place Francisco Pizarro set forth with the two foresaid Carauels and an hundred men and Diego de Almagro stayed in Panama to send him Victuals and other necessaries Now Francisco Pizarro sayling along the Coast met with contrary windes and raine which put him to great trouble and hee began also after a while to lacke victuals for hee was sayling of that in eight moneths which they now passe in fifteene dayes and not knowing the right course hee ranne into euery Riuer and Bay that hee saw along the Coast which was the chiefe cause that he stayed so long on his Voyage also thirtie of his companie died by reason of the vnhealthfulnesse of the coast At last he came to an Iland called by him Isla del Gallo being situate from the maine Land sixe leagues From hence he sent one of his ships to Panama for a new supplie of victuals and of men which ship being departed fortie of his men that remayned behinde made a mutinie and passed vp into the Countrie meaning to returne by Land to Panama but in the way they all perished for they were neuer heard of vntill this day So that Francisco Pizarro was left vpon the said Iland onely with thirteene men who although hee had his ship there in which he might haue returned yet would hee rather die then goe backe and his thirteene men also were of his opinion notwithstanding that they had no other victuals but such as they had from the maine Land in the night season Thus hee continued nine moneths before any succour was brought him from Panama but in the end his ship returned with fortie men onely and victuals whereupon hee prosecuted his Voyage till hee came to the first plaine Countrie of Peru called Tumbez where hee found a Fort made by the King of Peru against the Indians of the Mountaines Wherefore Pizarro and his men were very glad in that they had found a People of so good vnderstanding and discretion being rich also in Gold and Siluer and well apparelled At this Port of Tumbez hee tooke thirtie thousand Pezos of Gold in trucke of Merchandise and hauing two few men to proceed any further he carried two Indians with him to learne the Language and returned backe for Panama Vpon this Discouerie Francisco Pizarro thought it expedient to trauell into Spaine to craue of the King the Conquest of this Land Whither being come the King granted his request And with the money which he carried ouer with him he hired a great number of men with a Fleet of shippes and brought also along with him foure of his Brethren very valiant and hardy men And being come to Panama he straightway went on his Voyage for Peru being accompanied with his Partner Diego de Almagro They sayled first to the Iland called
is within a league of the I le which is called the Ile du Coudre or the I le of Fâlberds which may be some two leagues in length And from the said I le to the Land on the North side is a league The said Ile is some what euen and groweth sharpe toward both the ends on the West end there are Medowes and Points of Rockes which stretch somewhat into the Riuer The said Ile is somewhat pleasant by reason of the Woods which enuiron the same There is store of Slate and the soyle is somewhat grauelly at the end whereof there is a Rocke which stretcheth into the Sea about halfe a league We passed to the North of the said I le which is distant from the I le of the Hare twelue leagues The Thursday following we departed from thence and anchored at a dangerous nooke on the Northside where there be certaine Medowes and a little Riuer where the Sauages lodge sometimes The said day wee still ranged the Coast on the North vnto a place where wee put backe by reasons of the winds which were contrary vnto vs where there were many Rockes and places very dangeous here we stayed three dayes wayting for faire weather All this Coast is nothing but Mountaynes as well on the South side as on the North the most part like the Coast of the Riuer of Saguenay On Sunday the two and twentieth of the said moneth wee departed to goe to the I le of Orleans in the way there are many Iles on the South shoare which are low and couered with trees shewing to be very pleasant contayning as I was able to iudge some two leagues and one league and another halfe a league About these Iles are nothing but Rocks and Flats very dangerous to passe and they are distant some two leagues from the mayne Land on the South And from thence wee ranged the I le of Orleans on the Southside It is a league from the North shoare very pleasant and leuell contayning eight leagues in length The Coast on the South shoare is low land some two leagues into the Countrey the said lands begin to below ouer against the said Ile which beginneth two leagues from the South Coast to passe by the North side is very dangerous for the bankes of Sand and Rockes which are betweene the said Ile and the mayne Land which is almost all dry at a low water At the end of the said Ile I saw a fall of water which fell from a great Mountaine of the said Riuer of Canada and on the top of the said Mountaine the ground is leuell and pleasant to behold although within the said Countries a man may see high Mountaynes which may bee some twenty or fiue and twenty leagues within the Lands which are neere the first Sault of Saguenay We anchored at Quebec which is a Strait of the said Riuer of Canada which is some three hundred pases broad there is at this Strait on the North side a very high Mountayne which falleth downe on both sides all the rest is a leuell and goodly Countrey where there are good grounds full of Trees as Okes Cypresses Birches Firre-trees and Aspes and other Trees bearing fruit and wild Vines So that in mine opinion if they were dressed they would be as good as ours There are along the Coast of the said Quebec Diamants in the Rockes of Slate which are better then those of Alonson From the said Quebec to the I le of Coudre or Filberds are nine and twenty leagues ON Munday the three and twentieth of the said moneth we departed from Quebec where the Riuer beginneth to grow broad sometimes one league then a league and an halfe or two leagues at most The Countrey groweth still fairer and fairer and are all low grounds without Rockes or very few The North Coast is full of Rockes and bankes of Sand you must take the South side about some halfe league from the shore There are certaine small Riuers which are not nauigable but only for the Canowes of the Sauages wherein there be many fals Wee anchored as high as Saint Croix which is distant from Quebec fifteene leagues This is a low point which riseth vp on both sides The Countrey is faire and leuell and the soyles better then in any place that I haue seene with plenty of wood but very few Firre-trees and Cypresses There are in these parts great store of Vines Peares small Nuts Cheries Goose-beries red and greene and certaine small Roots of the bignesse of a little Not resembling Musheroms in taste which are very good roasted and sod All this soyle is blacke without any Rockes saue that there is great store of Slate The soyle is very soft and if it were well manured it would yeeld great increase On the Northside there is a Riuer which is called Batiscan which goeth farre into the Countrey whereby sometimes the Algoumequins come downe and another on the same side three leagues from the said Saint Croix in the way from Quebec which is that where Iacques Quartier was in the beginning of the Discouery which he made hereof and hee passed no farther The said Riuer is pleasant and goeth farre vp into the Countries All this North Coast is very leuell and delectable On Tuesday the foure and twentieth of the said moneth wee departed from the said Saint Croix where we stayed a tyde and an halfe that we might passe the next day following by day light because of the great number of Rockes which are thwart the Riuer a strange thing to behold which is in a manner dry at a low water But at halfe flood a man may beginne to passe safely yet you must take good heed with the Lead alwayes in hand The tyde floweth heere almost three fathomes and an halfe the farther we went the fairer was the Countrey We went some fiue leagues and an halfe and anchored on the North side The Wednesday following wee departed from the said place which is a flatter Countrey then that which we passed before full of great store of Trees as that of Saint Croix We passed hard by a little I le which was full of Vines and came to an Anchor on the South side neere a little Hill but beeing on the top thereof all is euen ground There is at other little Ile three leagues from Saint Croix ioyning neere the South shore Wee departed from the said Hill the Thursday following and passed by a little I le which is neere the North shoare where I saw sixe small Riuers whereof two are able to beare Boats farre vp and another is three hundred pases broad there are certaine Ilands in the mouth of it it goeth farre vp into the Countrey it is the deepest of all the rest which are very pleasant to behold the soyle being full of Trees which are like to Walnut-trees and haue the same smell but I saw no Fruit which maketh me doubt the Sauages told
Cape is well neere a mile broad and lieth North-east by East The Captaine went here ashoare and found the ground to be full of Pease Strawberies Hurtberies c. as then vnripe the sand also by the shoare somewhat deepe the fire-wood there by vs taken in was of Cypresse Birch Wich-hazell and Beech. A young Indian came here to the Captaine armed with his Bow and Arrowes and had certaine plates of Copper hanging at his Eares hee shewed a willingnesse to helpe vs in our occasions The sixteenth we trended the Coast Southerly which was all champaine and full of grasse but the Ilands somewhat wooddie Twelue leagues from Cape Cod we descried a point with some breach a good distance off and keeping our losse to double it wee came on the sudden into shoale water yet well quitted our selues thereof This breach wee called Tuckers Terror vpon his expressed feare The Point we named Point Care hauing passed it wee bore vp againe with the Land and in the night came with it anchoring in eight fadome the ground good The seuenteenth appeared many breaches round about vs so as wee continued that day without remooue The eighteenth being faire we sent forth the Boat to sound ouer a Breach that in our course lay of another Point by vs called Gilberts Point who returned vs foure fiue sixe and seuen fadome ouer Also a Discouery of diuers Ilands which after prooued to bee Hils and Hummocks distinct within the Land This day there came vnto the ships side diuers Canoas the Indians apparelled as aforesaid with Tobacco and Pipes steeled with Copper Skins artificiall strings and other trifles to barter one had hanging about his necke a plate of ââch Copper in length a foot in breadth halfe a foot for a brest-plate the Eares of all the rest had Pendants of Copper Also one of them had his face ouer painted and his head stucke with feathers in manner of a Turkey Cocks traine These are more timerous then those of the Sauâge Rocke yet very theeuish The nineteenth we passed ouer the breach of Gilberts Point in foure or fiue fadome and anchored a league or somewhat more beyond it betweene the last two Points are two leagues the interim along shoale water the latitude here is 41. degrees two third parts The twentieth by the ships side we there killed Pengwins and saw many sculs of fish The Coast from Gilberts Point to the supposed Iles lyeth East and by South Here also we discouered two Inlets which might promise fresh water inwardly whereof we perceiued much smoake as though some population had there beene This Coast is very full of people for that as we trended the same Sauages still runne along the shoare as men much admiring at vs. The one and twentieth we went coasting from Gilberts Point to the supposed Iles in tenne nine eight seuen and sixe fadome close aboord the shoare and that depth lyeth a league off A little from the supposed Iles appeared vnto vs an opening with which we stood iudging it to bee the end of that which Captaine Gosnoll descrieth from Cape Cod and as hee thought to extend some thirtie or more miles in length and finding there but three fadome a league off we omitted to make further discouerie of the same calling it Shole-hope From this opening the Mayne lyeth south-South-west which coasting along we saw a disinhabited Iland which so afterwards appeared vnto vs we bore with it and named it Marthaes Vineyard from Shole-hope it is eight leagues in circuit the Iland is fiue miles and hath 41. degrees and one quarter of latitude the place most pleasant for the two and twentieth we went a shoare and found it full of Wood Vines Gooseberie bushes Hurtberies Raspices Eglentine c. Heere we had Cranes Hearnes Shoulers Geese and diuers other Birds which there at that time vpon the Cliffes being sandie with some Rockie stones did breed and had young In this place we saw Deere heere we rode in eight fathome neere the shoare where wee tooke great store of Cod as before at Cape Cod but much better The three and twentieth wee weyed and towards night came to Anchor at the Northwest part of this Iland where the next morning offâred vnto vs fast running thirteene Sauages apparelled as aforesaid and armed with Bowes and Arrowes without any feare They brought Iobacco Deere skins and some sodden fish These offered themselues vnto vs in great familiaritie who seemed to be well conditioned They came more rich in Copper then any before This Iland is sound and hath no danger about it The foure and twentieth we set saile and doubled the Cape of another Iland next vnto it which wee called Douer Cliffe and then came into a faire Sound where wee roade all night the next morning wee sent off our Boate to discouer another Cape that lay betweene vs and the Mayne from which were a ledge of Rockes a mile into the Sea but all aboue water and without danger we went about them and came to Anchor in eight fadome a quarter of a mile from the shoare in one of the stateliest Sounds that euer I was in This called wee Gosnolls Hope the North banke whereof is the Mayne which stretcheth East and West This Iland Captaine Gosnoll called Elizabeths Ile where we determined our abode the distance betweene euery of these Ilands is viz. from Marthaes Vineyard to Douer Cliffe halfe a league ouer the Sound thence to Elizabeths Ile one league distant From Elizabeths Ile vnto the Mayne is foure leagues On the North side neere adioyning vnto the Iland Elizabeth is an Ilet in compasse halfe a myle full of Cedars by me called Hills Hap to the Northward of which in the mouth of an opening on the Mayne appeareth another the like that I called Haps Hill for that I hope much hap may be expected from it The fiue and twentieth it was that we came from Gosnolls Hope The six and twentieth we trimmed and fitted vp our Shallop The seuen and twentieth there came vnto vs an Indian and two women the one we supposed to be his Wife the other his Daughter both cleane and straite bodied with countenance sweet and pleasant To these the Indian gaue heedfull attendance for that they shewed them in much familiaritie with our men although they would not admit of any immodest touch The eight and twentieth we entred counsell about our abode and plantation which was concluded to be in the West part of Elizabeths Iland The North-east thereof running from out our ken The South and North standeth in an equall Parallel This Iland in the Westerâde admitteth some Increekes or sandie Coues so girded as the water in some places of each side meeteth to which the Indians from the Mayne doe oftentimes resort for fishing of Crabs There is eight fadome very neere the shoare and the latitude here is 41. degrees 10. minutes the breadth from Sound to Sound in the
Wester part is not passing a mile at most altogether vnpeopled and disinhabited It is ouer-growne with Wood and Rubbish viz. Okes Ashes Beech Wal-nut Weech-halse Sassafrage and Cedars with diuers other of vnknowne names The R ãâ¦ã sh is wild Peaze young Sassafrage Cherie trees Vines Eglentine Goose-berie bushes Hawââorne Honisuckles with others of like qualitie The herbs and Roots are Strawberies Raspis Ground Nuts Alexander Surrin Tansie c. without count Touching the fertilitie of the soyle by our owne experience made we found it to be excellent for sowing some English pulse it sprowted out in one fortnight almost halfe a foot In this Iland is a stage or Pond of fresh water in circuit two miles on the one side not distant from the Sea thirtie yards in the Centre whereof is a Rockie Islet contayning neere an Acre of ground full of wood on which wee beganne our Fort and place of abode disposing it selfe so fit for the same These Indians call Gold Wassador which argueth there is thereof in the Countrey The nine and twentieth we laboured in getting of Sassafrage rubbishing our little Fort or Islet new keeling our shallop and making a Punt or Flat bottome Boate to passe to and fro our Fort ouer the fresh water the powder of Sassafrage in twelue houres cured one of our Company that had taken a great Surfet by eating the bellies of Dog-fish a very delicious meate The thirtieth Captaine Gosnoll with diuers of his company went vpon pleasure in the shallop towards Hills Hap to view it and the Sandie Coue and returning brought with him a Canoa that foure Indians had there left being fled away for feare of our English which we brought into England The one and thirtieth Captaine Gosnoll desirous to see the Maine because of the distance hee set sayle ouer where comming to anchor went ashoare with certaine of his companie and immediatly there presented vnto him men women and children who with all curteous kindnesse entertayned him giuing him certaine skinnes of wilde beasts which may be rich Furres Tobacco Turtles Hempe artificiall Strings cââoured Chaines and such like things as at the inââant they had about them These are a faire conditioned people On all the Sea coast along we found Mussell shells that in colour did represent Mother-of-pearle but not hauing meanes to dredge could not apprehend further knowledge thereof This Maine is the goodliest Continent that euer we saw promising more by farre then we any way did expect for it is replenished with faire fields and in them fragrant Flowers also Medowes and hedged in with stately Groues being furnished also with pleasant Brookes and beautified with two maine Riuers that as wee iudge may haply become good Harbours and conduct vs to the hopes men so greedily doe thirst after In the mouth of one of these Inlets or Riuers lieth that little I le before mentioned called Happes Hill from which vnto the Westermost end of the Maine appearing where the other Inlet is I account some fiue leagues and the Coast betweene bendeth like a Bow and lyeth East and by North. Beyond these two Inlets we might perceiue the Mayne to beare vp south-South-west and more Southerly Thus with this taste of Discouery we now contented our selues and the same day made returne vnto our Fort time not permitting more sparing delay The first of Iune we employed our selues in getting Sassafrage and the building of our Fort. The second third and fourth we wrought hard to make readie our house for the prouision to bee had ashore to sustaine vs till our ships returne This day from the Mayne came to our ships side a Canoa with their Lord or chiefe Commander for that they made little stay only pointing to the Sunne as in signe that the next day hee would come and visit vs which hee did accordingly The fifth wee continued our labour when there came vnto vs ashoare from the Mayne fiftie Sauages stout and lustie men with their Bowes and Arrowes amongst them there seemed to be one of authoritie because the rest made an inclining respect vnto him The ship was at their comming a league off and Captaine Gosnoll aboord and so likewise Captaine Gilbert who almost neuer went ashoare the company with me only eight persons These Indians in hastie manner came towards vs so as we thought fit to make a stand at an angle betweene the Sea and a fresh water I mooued my selfe towards him seuen or eight steps and clapt my hands first on the sides of mine head then on my breast and after presented my Musket with a threatning countenance thereby to signifie vnto them either a choice of Peace or Warre whereupon hee vsing mee with mine owne signes of Peace I stept forth and imbraced him his company then all sate downe in manner like Grey-hounds vpon their heeles with whom my company fell a bartering By this time Captaine Gosnoll was come with twelue men more from aboord and to shew the Sauage Seignior that he was our Captaine we receiued him in a guard which he passing thorow saluted the Seignior with ceremonies of our salutations whereat he nothing mooued or altered himselfe Our Captaine gaue him a straw Hat and a paire of Kniues the Hat awhiles hee wore but the Kniues he beheld with great maruelling being very bright and sharpe this our courtesie made them all in loue with vs. The sixt being raine we spent idlely aboord The seuenth the Seignior came againe with all his troupe as before and continued with vs the most part of the day we going to dinner about noone they sate with vs and did eate of our Bacaleure and Mustard dranke of our Beere but the Mustard nipping them in their noses they could not indure it was a sport to behold their faces made being bitten therewith In time of Dinner the Sauages had stolne a Target wherewith acquainting the Seignior with feare and great trembling they restored it againe thinking perhaps we would haue beene reuenged for it but seeing our familiaritie to continue they fell a fresh to roasting of Crabs Red Herrings which were exceeding great ground Nuts c. as before Our Dinner ended the Seignior first tooke leaue and departed next all the rest sauing foure that stayed and went into the Wood to helpe vs digge Sassafrage whom we desired to goe aboord vs which they refused and so departed The eighth wee diuided the victuals viz. the ships store for England and that of the Planters which by Captaine Gilbert allowance could be but sixe weekes for sixe moneths whereby there fell out a controuersie the rather for that some seemed secretly to vnderstand of a purpose Captaine Gilbert had not to returne with supplie of the issue those goods should make by him to be carried home Besides there wanted not ambitious conceits in the mindes of some wrangling and ill disposed persons that ouerthrew the stay there at that time which vpon consultation thereof had about fiue dayes after was
that there had bin a generall determination to haue shut vp hatches and commending our sinfull soules to God committed the Shippe to the mercy of the Sea surely that night we must haue done it and that night had we then perished but see the goodnesse and sweet introduction of better hope by our mercifull God giuen vnto vs. Sir George Summers when no man dreamed of such happinesse had discouered and cried Land Indeede the morning now three quarters spent had wonne a little cleerenesse from the dayes before and it being better surueyed the very trees were seene to moue with the winde vpon the shoare side whereupon our Gouernour commanded the Helme-man to beare vp the Boateswaine sounding at the first found it thirteene fathome when we stood a little in seuen fatham and presently heauing his lead the third time had ground at foure fathome and by this we had got her within a mile vnder the South-east point of the land where we had somewhat smooth water But hauing no hope to saue her by comming to an anker in the same we were inforced to runne her ashoare as neere the land as we could which brought vs within three quarters of a mile of shoare and by the mercy of God vnto vs making out our Boates we had ere night brought all our men women and children about the number of one hundred and fifty safe into the Iland We found it to be the dangerous and dreaded Iland or rather Ilands of the Bermuda whereof let mee giue your Ladyship a briefe description before I proceed to my narration And that the rather because they be so terrible to all that euer touched on them and such tempests thunders and other fearefull obiects are seene and heard about them that they be called commonly The Deuils Ilands and are feared and auoyded of all sea trauellers aliue aboue any other place in the world Yet it pleased our mercifull God to make euen this hideous and hated place both the place of our safetie and meanes of our deliuerance And hereby also I hope to deliuer the world from a foule and generall errour it being counted of most that they can be no habitation for Men but rather giuen ouer to Deuils and wicked Spirits whereas indeed wee find them now by experience to bee as habitable and commodious as most Countries of the same climate and situation insomuch as if the entrance into them were as easie as the place it selfe is contenting it had long ere this beene inhabited as well as other Ilands Thus shall we make it appeare That Truth is the daughter of Time and that men ought not to deny euery thing which is not subiect to their owne sense The Bermudas bee broken Ilands fiue hundred of them in manner of an Archipelagus at least if you may call them all Ilands that lie how little soeuer into the Sea and by themselues of small compasse some larger yet then other as time and the Sea hath wonne from them and eaten his passage through and all now lying in the figure of a Croissant within the circuit of sixe or seuen leagues at the most albeit at first it is said of them that they were thirteene or fourteene leagues and more in longitude as I haue heard For no greater distance is it from the Northwest Point to Gates his Bay as by this Map your Ladyship may see in which Sir George Summers who coasted in his Boat about them all tooke great care to expresse the same exactly and full and made his draught perfect for all good occasions and the benefit of such who either in distresse might be brought vpon them or make saile this way It should seeme by the testimony of Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus in his Booke intituled The Summary or Abridgement of his generall History of the West Indies written to the Emperor Charles the Fift that they haue beene indeed of greater compasse and I easily beleeue it then they are now who thus saith In the yeere 1515. when I came first to informe your Maiesty of the state of the things in India and was the yeere following in Flanders in the time of your most fortunate successe in these your kingdomes of Aragony and Casteel whereas at that voyage I sayled aboue the Iland Bermudas otherwise called Gorza being the farthest of all the Ilands that are yet found at this day in the world and arriuing there at the depth of eight yards of water and distant from the Land as farre as the shot of a Peece of Ordnance I determined to send some of the ship to Land as well to make search of such things as were there as also to leaue in the Iland certaine Hogges for increase but the time not seruing my purpose by reason of contrary winde I could bring my Ships no neerer the Iland being twelue leagues in length and sixteene in breadth and about thirtie in circuit lying in the thirtie three degrees of the North side Thus farre hee True it is the maine Iland or greatest of them now may bee some sixteene miles in length East North-east and West South-west the longest part of it standing in thirtie two degrees and twentie minutes in which is a great Bay on the North side in the North-west end and many broken Ilands in that Sound or Bay and a little round Iland at the south-South-west end As occasions were offered so we gaue titles and names to certaine places These Ilands are often afflicted and rent with tempests great strokes of thunder lightning and raine in the extreamity of violence which and it may well bee hath so sundred and torne downe the Rockes and whurried whole quarters of Ilands into the maine Sea some sixe some seuen leagues and is like in time to swallow them all so as euen in that distance from the shoare there is no small danger of them and with them of the stormes continually raging from them which once in the full and change commonly of euery Moone Winter or Summer keepe their vnchangeable round and rather thunder then blow from euery corner about them sometimes fortie eight houres together especially if the circle which the Philosophers call Halo were in our being there seene about the Moone at any season which bow indeed appeared there often and would bee of a mightie compasse and breadth I haue not obserued it any where one quarter so great especially about the twentieth of March I saw the greatest when followed vpon the eues eue of the Annuntiation of our Ladie the mightiest blast of lightning and most terrible rap of thunder that euer astonied mortall men I thinke In August September and vntill the end of October wee had very hot and pleasant weather onely as I say thunder lightning and many scattering showers of Raine which would passe swiftly ouer and yet fall with such force and darknesse for the time as if it would neuer bee cleere againe wee wanted not any and of raine more in
between Sagadahoc and it From the Iland vpward the water is fresh abounding in Salmons and other fresh-water fish Some thirteene or fourteen daies iourney from the entrance in the North-east branch there is a little arme of a Riuer that runneth East some daies iourney which hath at the entrance foure fathoms water Vpon this arme there is one ouer fail which standeth halfe a daies iourney aboue this braneh vpon this arme there are foure Townes The first is called Kenebeke which hath eightie houses and one hundred men The Lord whereof is Apombamen The second is Ketangheanycke and the Sagamos name is Octoworthe who hath in his Towne ninetie housholds and three hundred and thirtie men This Towne is foure dayes iourney from Kenebeke and eight dayes iourney from To the Northward is the third Towne which they call Naragooc where there are fiftie housholds and one hundred and fiftie men The chiefe Sagamo of that place is Cocockohamas And on the small branch that runneth East standeth the fourth Towne named by Mâssakiga where there are but eight housholds and fortie men Vpon the Northwest branch of this Sound stand two Townes more The first is called Amereangan and is distant from Kenebeke sixe dayes iourney In this place are ninetie housholdes and two hundred and sixtie men with two Sagamoes the one called Sasuâa the other Scawas Seuen daies iourney hence there is another Sagamo whose name is Octoworâkin and his Townes name Namercante wherein are fortie housholds and one hundred and twentie men A dayes iourney aboue Namercante there is a downefall where they cannot passe with their Cannoes but are inforced to carrie them by Land for the space of a quarter of a mile and then they put them into the Riuer againe And twelue dayes iourney aboue this Downfall there is another where they carrie their Boates as at the first and sixe dayes iourney more to the North is the head of this Riuer where is the Lake that is of eight dayes iourney long and foure dayes broad before mentioned In this Lake there is one Iland and three dayes iourney from this Lake there is a Towne which is called Buccawganecants wherein are threescore housholds and foure hundred men And the Sagamo thereof is called Baccatusshe This man and his people are subiects to the Bashabez of Mawooshen and in his Countrey is the farthest limit of his Dominion where he hath any that doe him homage To the Westward of Sagadahoc foure dayes iourney there is another Riuer called Ashamabaga which hath at the entrance sixe fathoms water and is halfe a quarter of a mile broad it runneth into the Land two dayes iourney and on the East side there is one Towne called Agnagebcoc wherein are seuentie houses and two hundred and fortie men with two Sagames the one called Maurmet the other Casherokenit Seuen dayes iourney to the South-west of Ashamabaga there is another Riuer that is sixe fathoms to the entrance This Riuer is named Shawakotoc and is halfe a myle broad it runneth into the Land fiftie dayes iourney but foure dayes from the entrance it is so narrow that the Trees growing on each side doe so crosse with their boughes and bodies on the other as it permitteth not any meanes to passe with Boates that way for which cause the Inhabitants that on any occasion are to trauell to the head are forced to goe by Land taking their way vpon the West side At the end of this Riuer there is a Lake of foure dayes iourney long and two dayes broad wherein are two Ilands To the north-North-West foure daies iourney from this Lake at the head of this Riuer Shawakatoc there is a small Prouince which they call Crokemago wherein is one Towne This is the Westermost Riuer of the Dominions of Bashabez and Quibiquisson the Westermost To the Reader I Haue thought good to adde to the English Plantations in New England those in the neighbour Countrey of New-found-land This was first discouered Ann. 1497. by S. Sebastian Cabot set forth by King Henry the seuenth the Voyages followed of M. Rut Albert de Prato M. Hore and others Ann. 1583. actuall and formall possession was taken in the right of Queene Elizabeth of glorious memory and her Successours by that memorable Knight Sir Humfrey Gilbert see sup lib. 4. ca. 13. And in the yeere 1609. M. Iohn Guy of Bristoll did write a Treatise to animate the English to plant there a written Copy whereof I haue A. 1610. It pleased his most excellent Maiestie to grant a Patent for a Plantation part whereof the whole might seeme too long for our purpose we haue inserted CHAP. VII The beginning of the Patent for New-found-land and the Plantation there made by the English 1610. deliuered in a Letter dated thence from M. GVY to M. SLANY Also of the weather the three first Winters and of Captaine WESTON with other remarkable Occurrents IAMES by the Grace of GOD of Great Brittaine France and Ireland King Defendour of the Faith c. To all people to whom these Presents shall come greeting Know yee whereas diuers Our louing and well disposed Subiects are desirous to make Plantation to inhabite and to establish a Colony or Colonies in the Southerne and Easterne parts of the Countrey and I le or Ilands commonly called New-found-land vnto the Coast and Harbour whereof the Subiects of this our Realme of England haue for the space of fiftie yeeres and vpwards yeerely vsed to resort in no small numbers to fish intending by such Plantation and inhabiting both to secure and make safe the said Trade of Fishing to Our Subiects for euer And also to make some commendable benefit for the vse of mankind by the lands and profits thereof which hitherto from the beginning as it seemeth manifest hath remained vnprofitable And for better performance of such their purpose and intentions haue humbly besought Our Regall Authoritie and assistance Wee being well assured that the same Land or Countrey adioyning to the foresaid Coasts where Our Subiects vse to fish remaineth so destitute and desolate of inhabitance that scarce any one Sauage person hath in many yeeres beene seene in the most parts thereof And well knowing that the same lying and being so vacant is as well for the reasons aforesaid as for many other reasons very commodious for Vt and Our Dominions And that by the Law of Nature and Nations We may of Our Royall Authoritie possesse our selues and make graunt thereof without doing wrong to any other Prince or State considering they cannot iustly pretend any Soueraigntie or Right thereunto in respect that the same remaineth so vacant and not actually possessed and inhabited by any Christian or other whomsoeuer And therefore thinking it a matter and action well beseeming a Christian King to make true vse of that which God from the beginning created for mankind And therefore intending not onely to worke and procure the benefit and good of many of Our Subiects
and rage as none could say it stole vpon vs vnawares For I am out of doubt that I had neuer heard any winde so high One of our Bonnets had beene taken in in the euening and the other was rent off with the furie of the storme And thus for our mayne-top saile was taken in and the top-mast taken downe bearing onely a bare corse of each if the ship had not beene exceeding strongly sided shee could not haue indured so rough weather For oftentimes the Sea would ship in waues into her of three or foure Tunne of water which the ship being leakie within board falling often was as much as both the pumps were able to cast out againe though they went continually all night and till noone the next day were neuer throughly suckt so that if any leake had sprung vpon vs vnder water it could not haue beene chosen but shee must haue foundered seeing the pumpes were hardly able to rid the water that was cast in aboue hatches The Missen-saile had beene in the euening well furled for the winde came vpon the starboard quarter and yet the storme had caught it and with such violence and furie rent it that with much adoe the Misseâ yard was halled downe and so the quarter decke and poope saued from danger of renting vp All this was in the night which made it much more hidious specially in the fore-end of the night before the Moone got vp The winde continued in this excesse of violence till midnight and then abated hee something but then began the effect of his blowing to shew it selfe for then the Sea began to worke and swell farre higher then before His Lordships ship is a very goodly one and yet would shee bee as it were in a pit and round about vast mountaines of water so that a man might leaue out the rest of the verse and say onely vndique pontus For I protest besides that which was ouer our heads our prospect any other way was quickly determined with waues in my conscience higher then our mayne-top And that which is strangest round about vs for the Sea came vpon euery point of the Compasse so that the poore ship nor they that directed and cunned her could not tell how to cunne her to bee safe from the breaking of these vast waues vpon her This continued all night and though the winde fell by little and little yet the Sea was so light that all Saturday it was not quieted so that though out of a storme yet were wee still in a stormy Sea insomuch that our mayne-top mast was broken By Sanday we were come to haue reasonable weather and rather too little then too much wind And vpon Monday being the eleuenth of September wee were not much from a new calme which wee could not with much more patience haue endured then a good storme for then wee began to looke out for land and now to come so neere what so long wee had longed for After the storme the Admirall found himselfe all alone and so were we the most part of the next day but towards euening came the new Frigat to vs. And a sterne her there was a ship seene which within a day or two afterward the Samson came and told vs was her selfe With day the fifteenth of September we had the South-west side of it in sight and bore in therewith till noone His Lordship had no meaning to make any forcible attempt against it nor to stay longer then to take in some fresh victuals for which purpose hee sent the Boat off with an old Portugall and an African of Mozambique who bearing a flagge of truce should giue the Ilanders to vnderstand what his Lordships pleasure was that if they would let him haue things for his money he would not vse them worse then in former times they had had experience of him Withall he gaue the Boat commandement that shee should bring him answere to the East North-east side of the Iland where he meant to come to anchor and tarry for the newes they could learne either English or Spanish This stay in hoysing the Boat out gaue the Samson time to get a head vs and within awhile shee was at anchor When behold at the opening of the Point first there came one saile then two and then three sailes and within a little the fourth was seene it was not at first knowne what these might be yet because the Samson being much neerer made no haste to weigh we thought shee made them to be friends And within awhile we perceiued them to haue pendents in their fore-top-mast heads this put vs out of doubt that they were of our owne fleet For his Lordship at his departure from Puerto Rico had giuen them direction that euery ship should so beare a pendent for a marke to be knowne of their friends and which would make straâgers neuer a whit the wiâer These foure were the Merchant the Ascention the Consent and the Pegasus which by and by came to an anchor with vs. Now were wee growne a prettie strong fleet againe either part receiuing new strength of other each hauing formerly lost their owne For the storme had scattered Sir Iohns companie as well as ours though it should seeme not to haue beene altogether so great with them as vs. Of Sir Iohns we had not yet the Gallion the Alcedo the Centurion the Anthonie the Kesar and the Doue which were the Flemmings The first newes that the Boat brought vs made these though friends yet more welcome if that might be For the Boat hauing told his Lordship that they could not be suffered to land yet had promise that his Lordship should haue any thing that the Iland would affoord Mary said they we are ill prouided by reason of the Kings men of warre nine and twentie of them haue within these few dayes beene here and taken almost all our prouisions for they were great ships and full of gallants fiue of them being the fiue Caracks that should this yeere haue gone for the East Indies but being by the Condes lying on the Coast kept in till it was too late for them to haue any hopefull passage they were of Merchants made men of Warre and with the rest or rather the rest with them were sent to these Ilands to waft the Caracks which were looked for at home this yeere But the Caracks said they of Flores were gone by before their comming hither for the safetie whereof they had commandement to stay if need were till the end of this moneth Whither this Armada was gone they said they knew not nor whither it would returne but the very last day a great Gallion was within kenning These newes as they gaue great cause of circumspection and care not to meet with them whom we could not doubt to be too strong for vs and therefore made vs wish they were finally gone from the Ilands so on the other side if knowing that the Caracks were passed if yet
subiect to raine and very vnhealthfull the roade faire hauing on each side as you come a ledge of rocks The nine and twentieth Sir Thomas Baskeruile with 750. Land-soldiors went for Panama a sore march thorow the woods the way cut out of the woods and rocks very mirie the Spaniards playing on them out of the woods After ten leauges march they came to a fort on the top of a hill two such more were betwixt that and Panama that also strongly fortified the enemy hauing knowledge before of this designe Hereby was he forced to returne Ianuary the eight and twentieth Sir Francis Drake died of a fluxe He made his brother Thomas Drakes sonne his heire Sir Thomas Baskeruill succeeded The six and twentieth of February the Spaniards fleete of twenty sailes and the English met a fight followed continued two houres and then they parted A great Ship of the Spaniards that night was burned In Aprill following they arriued at Plimmouth In this Voyage I haue followed the printed Relation but because another hath comne to my hands written as it seemes by one offended therein I haue to thy other eare permitted him to speake that freedome of iudgement may remayne to euery Reader THe seuen and twentieth of August hauing our dispatch from her Maiestie wee brought all our fleet into the Sound of Plimmouth and the eight and twentieth day wee set sayle for our pretended Uoyage Iââ our course alongst the Coasts of Spaine was diuers meetings with our Generals where passed many âânkind speeches and such as Sir Iohn Hawkins neuer put off till death In this tract was put on a resolution with Sir Francis Drake and Sir Thomas Baskeruile to take the Grand Canaria wherevpon a counsall was held and therein propounded by Sir Francis how great a benefit much honour and good refreshing was offered vs and therefore would stand on most voyces Sir Iohn Hawkins to whom hee spake this vtterly refused with these reasons following First there could bee no need considering our small time out Secondly not possible to carrie it without hazarding all and Thirdly not good to lose time which would neuer be recouered To this last reason Sir Thomas Baskeruile answered First for time hee would require but foure dayes in this manner In foure houres he would take it and in the rest would hee burne it downe except they would compound thus the fourth day would he be shipped readie for our Voyage In this controuersie Sir Francis would goe for the Canaria with such as would follow him and Sir Iohn Hawkins with the rest for the Indies yet after this hard debating at the earnest request of some friends Sir Iohn Hawkins vpon the confessing of need was content to assist them yet in his iudgement labour lost with much hazard of all Thus altogether standing alongst the sixe and twentieth of September we came to anchor afore the Fort that guards the landing place at Grand Canaria where were put into our Boates and Pinnasses all our land men vnder the conduct of Sir Thomas Baskeruile Colonell Generall who drew head neere the middest of the Beatche Betwixt the Fort and the Towne as most safely for our landing To this place euen then did the Spaniards draw two or three very small Peeces of Ordnance with which and with some companies of Souldiers made some shew of resistance wherevpon notwithstanding most of our smaller shipping who accompanied our Boats with their Artillery Sir Thomas made his retraite without putting foot on land and then to know as it was reported if our Generals would put their Voyage thereon or no. With this better consideration were all our men shipped againe and stood alongst to the Westermost end thereof Here went many ashoare some for water some for pleasure amongst whom the eight and twentieth day was Captayne Grimstone with two more in his company slaine and by Peasants as was thought with this euill beginning this night wee weighed and stood alongst for the Indies The eight and twentieth of October wee came faire by the Southermost end of Dominica and the thirtieth day we came all to safe anchoring at Guardalupa onely the Delight and the Francis two of our smallest Pinnasses who being to leewards out of fight was there chased by fiue Spanish ships in which chase the Francis was taken the other escaped with this newes The last of this moneth Sir Iohn Hawkins not able to beare his griefes out longer sickned Here we built seuen Pinnasses The fourth of Nouember were they lanched and we stood of for Porto rico the eight day in the way we anchored among the Ilands Virgins where all our Souldiers were appointed to their land Captaines The twelfth day we came to anchor afore the Harbour at Porto rico where dyed Sir Nicholas Clifford by a shot from a platforme sitting at supper in the Defiance with this shot was likewise Master Brewt Browne hurt who liued but few dayes after and this day also died Sir Iohn Hawkins whose death of many was much lamented In this Harbour rid those fiue Frigats of the Kings which came for the treasure This place beeing well viewed by our Generall and Colonell Generall a counsell was held and therein agreed That first and most necessariest these Frigats should bee burned and for that seruice was named out the next night thirtie of our Boates and Pinnasses with fire-workes and with warlike weapons these Frigats were so well defended aboard and with the Ordnance ashore that our men returned with consuming onely one of them out of which were saued some of the Spaniards who reported certainly that there the Treasure of two Millions was and so were our men taken in the Francis Notwithstanding all these quickning newes after some few dayes we weighed and stood alongst to the Westermost end of this Iland where we contented vs with some refreshing of water Oranges and Plantanes here were built foure Pinnasses more At this place sent hee aboord me with his Warrant fortie Souldiers out of the Defiance The foure and twentieth day we weighed and stood alongst for one Iland called Knaw-saw with which wee fell the nine and twentieth day but stayed not thus standing alongst The first of December we arriued at Cape dela Vela the second in the morning was put into our Boats and Pinnasses all our Souldiers for Rio dela Hatcha This was taken the people being all fled yet here with search in the Woods and intelligence of some Negros was found great store of Pearle Plate Iewels Rials of Plate Bolts of Silke rich apparell with much other luggage The sixt of this moneth brought in Sir Francis from one other Towne called Rancharia great quantitie of Pearle and luggage The ninth day came in some Spaniards with intent to ransome their houses Negros and some Spaniards Prisoners and concluded for 24000. Pezos euery Pezo worth fiue shillings sixe pence The thirteenth day came in the
we haled ouer to the Coast of Tierra firma and arriued first at the I le of Margarita and comming to the Rancheria or fishing of Pearles in the small Iland of Cubagua we found the Gouernour of Cumana there with a company of Souldiers neuerthelesse we made bold to land and in our landing we receiued a great fight wherein diuers of our men on both sides were wounded but in the end I tooke the place with diuers of the stoutest of our Enemies Prisoners and thirteene Periaguaes and Canoes which are Barkes and Boats of the Countrey for ransome of all which I receiued fiue hundred pounds in Pearle This done I proceeded on my iourney sayling directly for Cape dela Vela and there meeting with a Portugall shippe of two hundred and fiftie tuns laden with three hundred and seuentie Negros brought from Congo or Angola and going to Cantagena with little resistance I tooke the same And sayling along with my prize Westward not able to double the Iles called Las Cabeças I was driuen farre downe to the Southward into the Gulfe of Acle in Spanish called Eusenada de Acle where we landed all our Portugals and Negros keeping only the Captaine which afterward paid ââe fiue hundred pounds for his owne and their ranâomes Within a while after we stood Westward with our shippes and went into the Iles called the Cabeças where I embarked an hundred and fiftie of my men in two small Pinnasses and two fine shallops and went for the Iles de Bastimentos and landing there vpon the said Ilands which are peopled and very fruitfull I tooke sixe or seuen Negroes for guides and so presently with our Pinnasses and Boates entred the mouth of the Riuer of Porto bello the seuenth of Februarie about two of the clocke after midnight the Moone shining very brightly At our first entrance into the Hauen which is aboue twelue score ouer and very deepe at the mouth and farre vpward we were halled by the strong and stately Castle of Saint Philip hauing thirtie fiue great pieces of Brazen Ordnance and fiftie Souldiers in the same to know whence we were wee hauing aboord vs such as could speake Spanish excellent well answered that we were of Cartagena then they commanded vs to anchor which we did accordingly About one houre afterwards with my two shallops which lay close by my Pinnasses and some thirtie of my principall men I went vp the Riuer hauing some of the smaller Fort called the Fort of Saint Iago which is directly ouer against the great Castle of Saint Philip running still on the shoare and crying out on me to stay but neglecting their out-cryes I landed at the first Towne called Triana where the alarme was presently giuen which neuerthelesse I set on fire and marched ouer a little Brooke into the great rich Towne of Porto bello and comming directly vp to the Kings Treasure-house which is very faire and large we found a squadron of souldiers whereof there are two hundred and fiftie alwayes belonging to the Towne and another company of the Inhabitants with two brasse Pieces of field Ordnance well mounted on their carriages which we presently possessed and fiercely set vpon the Souldiers At which alarme Captaine Antonie Fugars and Captaine George Lawriman of Ratcliffe came vp with my two Pinnasses with an hundred and twentie men to my rescue which was very hardly laid vnto At this house at our first comming into the Towne my Lieutenant Samuel Barnet was shot on the side of his head and through his eare and Captaine Giles comming to second him was likewise shot ouer the brest and through his arme In this meane space Pedro Melendes the Gouernour of the Towne had gathered sixtie Souldiers together and was comming toward a certaine bridge to encounter me I hauing not then aboue eight or nine men with mee to withstand them but God did prosper our proceedings mightily For the first two shot that went from vs shot Melendes through his Target and went through both his armes and the other shot hurt the Corporall of the field Whereupon they all retired to the house which they made good vntill it was almost day Against whom I sent Captaine Ward with some Souldiers who entred the house killing diuers of them and wounded Melendes in eight places more himselfe being shot through both his thighes in entring and some of his men hurt but in the end he tooke Melendes Prisoner and became Master of the house My selfe with others went to the Kings house wherein were many of the Souldiers who would not come to any composition but stoutly defended the same against Captaine Giles and our Lieutenant Samuel Barnet who in the end flue diuers of them and hurt many others taking the Kings Scriuano prisoner This fight endured for the space of foure or fiue houres The fight being ended and we being Masters of the Kings Treasure-house and all the Towne and hauing the Gouernour Melendes and the Scriuano with many others of the chiefest my Prisoners except the Alcalde which fled out of the Towne with a chaine of Gold about his necke Such Treasure as was found in the Kings house to the value of some nine or ten thousand Duckets I reserued to my selfe which was nothing to that which wee did expect that being the receite at one time of the yeere of all the Treasure that commeth from Peru and Chile amounting at least to fiue or sixe Millions of Duckets and had I come but seuen dayes sooner I had taken heere an hundred and twentie thousand Duckets which were newly laden in two Frigats for Cartagena The rest of the spoile of the Towne which came to no small value in Money Plate and Merchandize I gaue wholy to my Souldiers which being done I disposed my Corpses du guard in diuers places for keeping the Towne all that day and at the end of the streete leading toward Panama on the South Sea being full of all Artificers we made a barricado where Captaine Giles stood with another Corps du guard being diuers times assaulted by the enemy whom still hee valiantly repulsed and put to the worse Pedro Melendes the chiefe Gouernour of the Towne being my Prisoner in regard that he had valiantly carried himselfe in making resistance vntill he had tenne or eleuen wounds vpon him I did not only at length dismisse without any peny for his ransome but also caused my Chirurgion very carefully to dresse and trimme his wounds vsing him and his farre otherwise then Pedro Melendes his great Vncle vsed Iohn Ribault Landoniere and the French Nation in Florida whom they most cruelly murdered and massacred as many as they could lay any hands vpon Thus being Master for one whole day of the stately and new builded Towne of Porto bello which had two goodly Churches in it fully finished and sixe or seuen faire streets whereof two were full of all necessarie Artificers and of Merchants with three small
by reason of the want of prouision For we had scarce victuall for one moneth In performing this Iourney we spent a yeere and an halfe doing nothing else but making continuall warre And in this Iourney we had brought into our subiection about twelue thousand men women and children who were compelled to serue vs as bond-slaues as I for mine owne person did possesse about fiftie men women and children 50. Wee with our Generall Martin Don Eyollas came vnto the Citie Assumption but Abriego a Captaine which had rebelled against Captaine Mendoza and slaine him would neither open the Citie to our Generall nor yeeld it vp vnto him nor acknowledge him for Generall and his Gouernour But the said Diego Abriego being forced to forsake the Citie with fiftie Christians who ioyned themselues with him fled thirtie leagues from vs so that we could atchieue nothing against him This warre continued two whole yeeres space betweene vs the two Captaines so opposing themselues one against the other that neither was safe from danger of other 51. In the meane season while these things were thus done I receiued Letters out of Spaine and shewed to Martin Don Eyollas I presently desired a friendly and curteous dismission from him I tooke my Iourney in the name of God vpon Saint Stephens Day which was the sixe and twentieth of December in the yeere 1552. and departing from the Assumption of Marie carried vpon the Riuer of Plate with my twentie Indians in two Canoas or Boats when wee had now gone sixe and fortie leagues we first arriued at a certaine Towne called Iuberic Sabaie In that Towne foure others also together with two Portugals ioyned themselues with vs hauing gone fifteene leagues we came to a Towne called Gaberetho After this hauing gone sixteene leagues further in foure dayes we came to a certaine Village called Barotij Whence departing againe hauing gone foure and fiftie leagues in nine dayes wee came to a Towne called Barede where staying two dayes we sought prouision and Boats to carrie vs for wee were to goe one hundred leagues vp the Riuer Parana by Boat At length being brought to a certaine Towne called Gingie wee abode there foure dayes And thus farre the Countrie and Empire of Caesars Maiestie extendeth it selfe all which places in former time were subiect to the People Carios 52. After this therefore all the Nation Toupin beginneth the Countrie and Iurisdiction of the Portugall and we were compelled leauing Parana and our Boats to trauell by land vnto these Toupin which continued sixe whole moneths in which Iourney we were to goe ouer Desarts Mountaines and Valleyes and for the feare waxed of wilde and rauening beasts we durst not safely take our sleepe c. Wee wandred eight whole dayes through Woods and Thickets so that although hauing trauelled farre and wide yet in all my life time I had neuer gone so rough troublesome and tedious a way nor had we any thing which we might eate so that wee were compelled to sustaine our selues with Honie and Roots wheresoeuer we could get them and for the danger also to wit that we feared lest our enemies would pursue vs we had not so much time as to take any venison After this wee came to a Nation called Biesaie where staying foure dayes wee prouided our selues againe of victuall but durst not come neere their Towne because we were so few In this Countrie there is a Riuer called Vrquam wherein we saw Water-snakes and Serpents called Tuesca in the Spanish Tongue Scheue Eyba which were sixteene paces long and foure fathome thicke These Serpents doe much hurt for if a man wash himselfe in that Riuer or any beast swim ouer forthwith such a Serpent swimming to them windeth his tayle about the man or beast and drawing them vnder water deuoureth them Proceeding further hence we trauelled about one hundred leagues in a continued Iourney of a whole moneths space and at length came into a large Towne called Scheuetveba and rested there three dayes Going againe further we came into a certaine Towne of Christians whose Captaine was Iohn Reinueill 53. Moreouer proceeding further thence we came to the Towne of Saint Uincent From the Citie of the Assumption of Marie to the Towne of Saint Uincent in Brasill are reckoned three hundred and seuentie leagues Setting sayle from the Towne of Saint Uincent on Saint Iohn Baptists Day which was the foure and twentieth of Iune in the yeere of our Lord 1553. wee arriued at Lisbon the third of September in the yeere 1553. and while wee abode fourteene dayes there two of my Indians died which I brought with me out of those Countries I had thought here to haue added the Voyages of Iohannes Stadius another German which serued the Portugals in Brasill about Schmidels later time published in Theodore de Bry and had the same by me translated But contayning little light for the Countrie and People and relating in manner onely his owne Tragedies in his taking by the Sauages and often perils of being eaten by them as some of his friends were before his face with other like Sauage arguments wherewith wee haue glutted you alreadie I being alreadie too voluminous haue omitted the same and hasten to other Relations CHAP. V. The Obseruations of Sir RICHARD HAWKINS Knight in his Voyage into the South Sea An. Dom. 1593. once before published now reuiewed and corrected by a written Copie illustrated with notes and in diuers places abbreuiated §. I. What happened in this Voyage before they came neere the Aequinoctiall Line with diuers accidentall Discourses vsefull for Nauigators WIth the Counsels consent and helpe of my Father Sir Iohn Hawkins Knight I resolued a Voyage to be made for the Ilands of Iapan of the Philippinas and Moluccas the Kingdome of China and East Indies by the way of the. Straites of Magelan and the South Sea For this purpose in the end of the yeere 1588. returning from the Iourney against the Spanish Armado I caused a Ship to bee builded in the Riuer of Thames betwixt three and foure hundred tunnes which was finished in that perfection as could be required For shee was pleasing to the eye profitable for stowage good of sayle and well conditioned On the day of her lanching shee was named The Repentance The Repentance being put in perfection and riding at Detford the Queenes Maiestie passing by her to her Palace of Greânwich commanded her Barge-men to rowe round about her and viewing her from Post to Stemme disliked nothing but her Name and said that shee would Christen her a new and that thenceforth shee should bee called the Daintie which name shee brooked as well for her proportion and grace as for the many happie Voyages shee made in her Maiesties seruices Hauing taken for her Maiestie a great Bysten of fiue hundred tunnes loden with Iron and other Commodities vnder the conduct of Sir Martin Furbusher A Carack bound for the East
to euery place And we were certified in Isla Grand that they had sent an Indian from the Riuer of Ienero through all the Mountaines Marishes to take a view of vs and accordingly made a Relation of our Ships Boates and the number of men which wee might haue But to preuent the like danger that might come vpon vs being carelesse and negligent I determined one night in the darkest and quietest of it to see what watch our Company kept on the shore manned our Light-horsman and Boat armed them with Bowes and Targets and got ashore some good distance from the places where were our Boothes and sought to come vpon them vndiscouered we vsed all our best endeuours to take them at vnawares yet comming within fortie paces we were discouered the whole and the sicke came forth to oppose them selues against vs. Which we seeing gaue them the Hubbub after the manner of the Indians and assaulted them and they vs but being a close darke night they could not discerne vs presently vpon the Hubbub From our Ship the Gunner shot a peece of Ordnance ouer our heads according to the order giuen him and thereof we tooke occasion to retire vnto our Boates and within a little space came to the Boothes and landing places as though we came from our Ships to aide them They began to recount vnto vs how that at the Wester point of the Iland out of certaine Canoas had landed a multitude of Indians which with a great out-cry came vpon them assaulted them fiercely but finding better resistance then they looked for and seeing them selues discouered by the Ships tooke them selues to their heeles and returned to their Canoas in which they imbarked themselues and departed One affirmed he saw the Canoas another their long haire a third their Bowes a fourth that it could not be but that some of them had their paiments And it was worth the sight to behold those which had not moued out of their beds in many moneths vnlesse by the helpe of others had gotten some a bow-shot off into the woods others into the top of trees and those which had any strength ioyned together to fight for their liues In fine the Booths and Tents were left desolate To colour our businesse the better after we had spent some houre in seeking out and ioyning the Company together in comforting and commending them I left them an extraordinary Guard for that night and so departed to our Shippes with such an opinion of the assault giuen by the Indians that many so possessed through all the Voyage would not be perswaded to the contrary Which impression wrought such effect in most of my Company that in all places where the Indians might annoy vs they were after most carefull and vigilant as was conuenient In these Ilands it heigheth and falleth some fiue or sixe foote water and but once in two and twentie houres as in all this Coast and in many parts of the West Indies as also in the coast of Peru and Chely sauing where are great Bayes or indraughts and there the tydes keep their ordinary course of twice in foure and twenty houres In the lesser of these Ilands is a Coue for a small Ship to ride in Land-lockt and she may moore her selfe to the trees of either side this we called Palmito Iland for the abundance it hath of the greater sort of Palmito trees the other hath none at all A man may goe betwixt the Ilands with his Ship but the better course is out at one end In these Ilands are many Scorpions Snakes and Adders with other venemous Vermine They haue Parots and a certaine kinde of fowle like vnto Phesants somewhat bigger and seeme to be of their nature Here we spent aboue a moneth in curing of our sicke men supplying our wants of wood and water and in other necessary workes And the tenth of December all things put in order we set saile for Cape Frio hauing onely sixe men sicke with purpose there to set ashore our two Prisoners before named and anchoring vnder the Cape we set our Boate ashoare but they could not finde any conuenient place to land them in and so returned the winde being Southerly and not good to goe on our voyage we succoured our selues within Isla Grand which lyeth some dozen or foureteene leagues from the Cape betwixt the West and by South and West Southwest the rather to set our Prisoners on shore In the mid way betwixt the Cape and this Iland lyeth the Riuer Ienero a very good Harbour fortified with a Garrison and a place well peopled The Isla Grand is some eight or tenne leagues long and causeth a goodly harbour for shipping it is full of great sandie Bayes and in the most of them is store of good water within this Iland are many other smaller Ilands which cause diuers sounds and creekes and amongst these little Ilands one for the pleasant scituation and fertilitie thereof called Placentia This is peopled all the rest desert on this Iland our Prisoners desired to be put ashore and promised to send vs some refreshing Whereto wee condescended and sent them ashore with two Boates well manned and armed who found few Inhabitants in the Iland for our people saw not aboue foure or fiue houses notwithstanding our Boates returned loaden with Plantines Pinias Potatoes Sugar-canes and some Hens Amongst which they brought a kinde of little Plantine greene and round which were the best of any that I haue seene With our people came a Portugall who said that the Iland was his hee seemed to be a Mistecho who are those that are of a Spanish and an Indian brood poorely apparelled and miserable we feasted him and gaue him some trifles and hee according to his abilitie answered our courtesie with such as he had The winde continuing contrary we emptied all the water we could come by which we had filled in Saint Iames his Iland and filled our Caske with the water of this Isla Grand It is a wildernesse couered with Trees and Shrubs so thicke as it hath no passage through except a man make it by force And it was strange to heare the howling and cries of wilde Beasts in these Woods day and night which we could not come at to see by any meanes some like Lyons others like Beares others like Hogs and of such and so many diuersities as was admirable Here our Nets profited vs much for in the sandy Bayes they tooke vs store of fish Vpon the shore at full Sea-marke we found in many places certain shels like those of mother of Pearles which are brought out of the East Indies to make standing cups called Caracoles of so great curiositie as might moue all the beholders to magnifie the maker of them and were it not for the brittlenesse of them by reason of their exceeding thinnesse doubtlesse they were to be esteemed farre aboue the others for more excellent workmanship
torment and paine which is such that he who hath beene throughly punished with the Collique can quickly decipher or demonstrate The Antidote for this pernicious worme is Garlique and this was discouered by a Phisitian to a Religious person §. III. THARLTONS treacherie Discouerie of Land vnknowne Entrance of the Straits accidents therein and description thereof diuers occasionall discourses for the furtherance of Marine and Naturall knowledge IN our Nauigation towards the Straits by our obseruation we found that our Compasse varied a point and better to the Eastwards In the height of the Riuer of Plate we being some fiftie leagues off the coast a storme tooke vs Southerly which endured fortie eight houres In the first day about the going downe of the Sunne Robert Tharlton Master of the Francie bare vp before the winde without giuing vs any token or signe that she was in distresse We seeing her to continue her course bare vp after her and the night comming on we carried our light but she neuer answered vs for they kept their course directly for England which was the ouerthrow of the Voyage as well for that we had no Pinnace to goe before vs to discouer any danger to seeke out roades and anchoring to helpe our watering and refreshing as also for the victuals necessaries and men which they carried away with them which though they were not many yet with their helpe in our fight we had taken the Vice-admirall the first time shee bourded with vs as shall be hereafter manifested For once we cleered her Decke and had wee beene able to haue spared but a dozen men doubtlesse we had done with her what we would for she had no close fights Moreouer if she had beene with me I had not beene discouered vpon the coast of Peâew But I was worthy to be deceiued that trusted my Ship in the hands of on hypocrite and a man which had left his Generall before in the like occasion and in the selfe same place for being with Master Thomas Candish Master of a small Shippe in the Voyage wherein hee died this Captaine being aboord the Admirall in the night time forsocke his Fleete his Generall and Captaine and returned home Pitie it is that such perfidious persons are not more seuerely punished These absentings and escapes are made most times onely to pâlâer and steale as well by taking of some prize when they are alone and without command to hinder or order their bad proceedings as to appropriate that which is in their intrusted shippe casting the fault if they bee called to account vpon some poore and vnknowne MarineÌrs whom they suffer with a little pillage to absent themselues the cunninglier to colour their greatest disorders and Robberies The storme ceasing and being out of all hope wee set saile and went on our course During this storme certaine great Fowles as bigge as Swannes soared about vs and the winde calming setled themselues in the Sea and fed vpon the sweepings of our ship which I perceiuing and desirous to see of them because they seemed farre greater then in truth they were I caused a Hook and Line to be brought me and with a piece of a Pilehard I baâted the Hooke and a foot from it tied a piece of Corke that it might not sinke deepe and threw it into the Sâa which our ship driuing with the Sea in a little time was a good space from vs and one of the Fowles beeing hungry presently seized vpon it and the Hooke in his vpper beake It is like to a Faulcons bill but that the point is moore crooked in that manner as by no meanes hee could cleere himselfe except that the Line brake or the Hooke righted Plucking him towards the ship with the wauing of his wings he eased the weight of his body and being brought to the sterne of our ship two of our company went downe by the ladder of the Poope and seized on his neck and wings but such were the blowes he gaue them with his Pinnions as both left their hand fast beeing beaten blacke and blue we cast a snare about his necke and so triced him into the ship By the same manner of fishing we caught so many of them as refreshed and recreated all my people for that day Their bodies were great but of little flesh and tender in taste answerable to the food whereon they feed They were of two colours some white some grey they had three ioynts in each wing and from the point of one wing to the point of the other both stretched out was aboue two fathomes The wind continued good with vs till we came to 49. degrees and 30. minutes where it took vs Westerly being as we made our account some fifty leagues from the shoare Betwixâ 49. and 48. degrees is Port Saint Iulian a good Harbour and in which a man may graue his shippe though she draw fifteene or sixteene foot water But care is to bee had of the people called Patagones They are treacherous and of great stature most giue them the name of Gâants The second of February about nine of the clocke in the morning wee descried land which bare South-west of vs which we looked not for so timely and comming neerer and neerer vnto it by the lying wee could not coniecture what Land it should be for wee were next of any thing in 48. degrees and no Plat nor Sea-card which we had made mention of any Land which lay in that manner neere about that height In fine wee brought our Lar-boord tacke aboord and stood to the North-east-wards all that day and night and the winde continuing Westerly and a faire gale we continued our course alongst the Coast the day and night following In which time we made account we discouered well neere threescore leagues off the Coast. It is bold and made small shew of dangers The land is a goodly Champion Countrey and peopled wee saw many fires but could not come to speake with the people for the time of the yeere was farre spent to shoote the Straits and the want of our Pinnasse disabled vs for finding a Port or Road not being discretion with a ship of charge and in an vnknowne Coast to come neere the shoare before it was founded which were causes together with the change of the winde good for vs to passe the Strait that hindered the further Discouery of this Land with its secrets This I haue sorrowed for many times since for that it had likelihood to bee an excellent Countrey It hath great Riuers of fresh waters for the out-shoot of them colours the Sea in many places as we ranne alongst it It is not Moântaynous but much of the disposition of England and as temperate The things we noted principally on the Coast are these following the Westermost point of the Land with which wee first fell is the end of the Land to the Westwards as wee found afterwards If a man bring this
the Citie of Mexico by reason of their shipping although not in so great quantitie as they carry for Lisbone not for that they of Mexico either want shipping or abilitie but because the Spaniards would conquer it with the Sword as he hath done other Lands and not by the way of Traffique as the Portugall doth the principall Port from whence this Merchandize doth come is called Aguatorke in the Coast of China on the North side After the Conquest of this Kingdome of Mexico the order how the Spaniard did diuide this Land was this The principall Cities they refined to the King of Spaine and to the Generall of this Conquest who was renowmed Ferdinando Curtis they assigned vnto him a great Valley or as we call it a low Land betweene two Mountaines which was called Cornouake by which Valley he had the name of Marquesse of the Ualley where there were great Townes in which some affirme to be about 400000. fire houses whereby the rent was to him better worth then three hundred thousand Duckets by the yeere These Rents were confirmed to him and his for euer The other part of the Land that remayned was parted among the rest of the Captaines and Souldiers which were at this Conquest some had a hundred thousand Duckets by yeare and other fortie thousand Duckets and some fiftie thousand Duckets and hee that had least had ten thousand Duckets by the yeare so that now there are very few which haue this Rent for that they are most of them dead so that great part of the said Rents are fallen into the Kings hand wherefore there are many insurrections against the King which cost many a mans life And now to proceed farther along the Coast which is a Land full of great Mountains and very hot with much raine for which cause it is a very vnholsome Countrey where breedeth all noisome wormes and beasts therefore there are very few Indians dwelling there and no Spaniards so that the Countrey is almost desolate The first Land that is inhabited by the Spaniards along the Coast is called Veragua this is the most richest Land of Gold then all the rest of the Indies therefore it is inhabited with Spaniards In this place the people are alwayes sicke and it raineth continually and the Land yeeldeth no fruit so that all their sustenance commeth from other places all which necessities the Spaniards suffer with great patience for the couetousnesse of the Gold the which Gold they get out of the Riuers with the helpe of a number of Negroes I doe verily beleeue that if this Land were now the ancient Romanes or else the Egyptians they would surely make a channell from the end of this Riuer de Carinas which issueth from the Lake of Nicaragua to the South Sea for that there is no more but foure leagues betweene the Sea and the Riuer so that there they might Trade to the Moluccas and to the Coast of China so would it be sooner and easier done then the long and troublesome Voyages of the Portugals and sooner made then to goe through the Straits of Magellan which is almost vnpossible to passe thorow From this Land of Veragua vnto the Iland of Margereta the Coast along is called the firme Land not for that the other places are not of the firme Land but because it was the first firme Land that the Spaniards did conquer after they had past the Ilands This Land is very hot and hath much raine and for this cause is very vnhealthfull and the most vilest place of all the rest is called Nombre de Dios which is the first place inhabited after you haue passed Veragua There may be in Nombre de Dios about foure hundred houses and hath a very good Port for shipping The cause why the Spaniards inhabited here in this place was for that it should bee the way by Land to the South Sea and for the Trade of Peru that is from hence vnto the Citie of Panama eighteene leagues And Panama standeth on the Coast of the South Sea To this Towne of Nombre de Dios doth come all Spanish shipping and there discharge them then put they the goods into small Barkes that goe vp a Riuer to a house which is called The house of Crosses where the small Barkes doe discharge the goods againe And then they put it on Mules so to carrie it to Panama which is seuen leagues from This house of Crosses all which they doe with much labour and great charge because the Land hath great store of raine and full of Mountaines and very vnhealthfull therefore they often want victuals for the victuals they haue come from Peru and Noua Hispania This Towne of Nombre de dios since they haue had the traffike out of Spaine are growne maruellous rich and very well inhabited but in short time the people left the Towne sauing onely the Merchants because of the vnhealthfulnesse thereof The King of Spaine hearing of the affaires of Drake and Oxenham sent out of Spaine three hundred Souldiers which should make warre against those Negros that had aided the Englishmen which were slaues vnto the Spaniards but runne away from their Masters and ioyned with the Englishmen thinking that way to be reuenged of the Spaniards crueltie But when these three hundred Souldiers were arriued in the Countrie at their first comming they tooke many of the Negros and did on them great iustice according to their faults committed but afterwards the Souldiers were a long time before they could get one Negro Which newes being sent vnto the King by his Captaines as also how the Countrie was full of Mountaines and Riuers and very vnhealthfull insomuch that his Souldiers died he did write to his Captaines to make agreement with those Negros to the end the Countrie might bee in quiet And the Negros inhabited two places where the Spaniards willed them so was the Kings pardon proclaimed to all those Negros from the time that they fled from their Masters into the Mountaines vnto that present day on condition that all those Negros that did runne from their Masters that day forward they should be bound to bring them dead or aliue but if they brought them not that then they should pay for them and to make all quiet in the Mountaines and on these conditions all things were concluded and agreed vpon So the Negros dwell in great Townes where they haue Spaniards for their Teachers and a Spaniard for their Iudge and with this they hold themselues very well contented and are obedient vnto their Rulers The King of Spaine hearing that Englishmen as well as Frenchmen haue vsed that Coast hee caused two Gallies to be made and well appointed to keepe the Coast the first yeere that they were made they tooke sixe or seuen French shippes and after this was knowne there vsed few Englishmen or French men of warre to come on the Coast vntill this yeere 1586. that the
their Daggers as also they sloe all the Captains friends and they made a great crie saying Liue the King liue the King wherwith all the Campe was in an vprore Then Lope de Agira made vnto the Souldiers a long Oration got them all to consent with him some by force some because they durst not say to the contrarie and others with their good will in the end they all agreed vnto his determined purpose So they made the gentleman their head and Lope de Agire was made Captaine this done and because the people should the better hold their opinion hee did as great a villanie as euer any Spaniard did for hee made an Altar on which hee and all the Souldiers did denie their seruice vnto the King of Spaine and so as people without a King they chose the said Don Fernando to be their King and did vnto him homage These matters being finished they agreed among themselues which should be the best way for them to goe to Peru for they could not goe vp the Riuer from whence they came for the great currant and also if they should goe thorough the land they should be very weake for want of Horsemen therefore they determined to goe downe the Riuer Then said this Lope de Agire that they would carry nothing with them but the Pinnaces and Souldiers which should fight and that it were best to leaue behinde them all the Indians that they brought from Peru with the women and sicke men vnto which their Generall Don Fernando would not agree for that he knew that when they were gone the people of the Countrie would kill them all Lope de Agire hearing this and longing to be chiefe Gouernour himselfe ouer all and taking vnto him thirtie of his owne Countrie men of his own disposition he sodainly killed Don Fernando whom not twentie daies before hee had sworne to obey But now by his subtile working and being withall eloquent in his talke he caused the people to make himselfe Gouernour and made the people beleeue that all these cruelties were done to saue themselues but the tyrannie of this man did not end here he was of the Countrie of Bisca a land ioyning vnto France therefore I rather beleeue that he was a Frenchman then a Spaniard for that in the heart of a Spaniard there is not so much crueltie as this man had Now he being ready to goe his way he determined not to carrie with him any Gentleman or other of high degree and therefore hee slew all those which hee did know to be of high degree or Gentlemen and then departed onely with the common Souldiers and left behinde him all the Spanish women and sicke men with all other creatures If I should rehearse all the cruell murders of this wicked man one by one I should be ouer much tedious vnto you onely I say in as few words as I may that this man proceeded downe the Riuer and had with him onely foure hundred men but before he passed this Riuer and came to Margareta he had no more left but two hundred and thirtie men for the rest hee had done to death and left ashore among the people of the Countrie he vsed this tirannie because hee alwaies stood in feare of his life for that if he had seene but two Souldiers talke together hee thought that he had alwaies consulted on his death and therefore hee vsed the order aboue said now he neuer went any way but that they had in his companie thirtie Biscains of his owne will and minde for to execute his cruell desire As these Souldiers with their Captaine came downe the Riuer they saw many Canoas with Gold in them going to and fro and people on both sides the Riuer where in their passage many times they landed and got good store of Gold and victuals Now did they see also that which Oryllana had reported which was that there were Amazones women that fight in the warre with Bowes and Arrowes but these women fight to helpe their husbands and not by them selues as Orillana reported from the company of men there were of these women in diuers parts of the Riuer and saw the Spaniards fight with their husbands and came and helped them and shewed themselues more valiant then their husbands and therefore is named the Riuer of the Amazones the Spaniards intent onely was to passe downe the Riuer and therefore neuer sought to know the Countrie within the land yet tooke they good store of Gold and put it into one of the Pinnaces where he went himselfe which Pinnace at the mouth of the Riuer was cast away but he himselfe escaped because as yet he had not made an end of his bloudie minde But comming to the Iland of Margareta the Gouernour thereof thought he had beene one of the Kings Captaines receiued him with Pinnaces and brought to him good store of victuals but he put him to death presently and landed on the Ilands and tooke it and two Shippes that were in the Ilands and tooke perforce one hundred and fiftie men to goe with him and others that went willingly with good store of victuals and many Horses and then returned to the maine land saying that with his small force hee would subdue the whole Indies thinking that all the old Souldiers and poore people in seeing of him would all turne to his side and take his part and so hee went deceiued in his owne conceit for he had not gone two dayes Iourney vp in the Land when the Captaine of new Granado came against him with a power of men but Lope de Agire hoping that the other Souldiers would haue come all vnto him whereby his strength might bee the more but hee was deceiued for his owne men left him and tooke the Kings Captaines part Now seeing himselfe destitute of his Souldiers and voide of all helpe he then shewed himselfe more cruell then did the tyrant Nero for this man killed his owne daughter being but sixteene yeeres of age which he brought with him from Peru for that she should not be made the bed of Villains nor be called the daughter of a Traitor these words he vsed vnto her after he had giuen her her deaths wound but before hee could finish this cruell deed the Souldiers came vpon him and cuchim in pieces yet his daughter did die of her wound in that place and thus you haue heard the euill end of this cruell man for hee was the cause likewise that the King would neuer suffer to haue this Riuer discouered so that the riches resteth to this day vnknowne that is in this Riuer Now hauing ended with this Riuer of Marannon all the Coast between this Riuer and the Riuer of Plate is called the Coast of Brasill taking the name of the wood in the Countrie which is called Brasill wood for there is great store of it Brasill was first found by Pedro Arnales Cabrall in the second time that
the King of Portugall sent his ships for the East Indies and so tooke possession of this Land for the King of Portugall The King Don Emanuel hauing newes hereof sent ships for to discouer the whole Countrie and found it to be the Land of America which ioyneth to the West Indies wherefore there was some controuersie betweene him and the King of Spaine but in the end being both kinsmen and great friends they agreed that the King of Portugall should hold all the Countrie that he had discouered the which was as I haue said from the Riuer of Marannon to the Riuer of Plate although the Spaniards say that it is no further then the Iland of Santa Catalina and hereupon there haue beene many controuersies betweene the Portugals and Spaniards and many men slaine There came in the yeere 1587. into this Riuer of Plate two English Ships and a Pinnace of the honorable the Earle of Comberland being bound for the straights of Magelanos and anchored ten leagues within this Riuer at a little Iland hard by the Iland called Seall Iland c. There is a port called la Para Iua which few yeares past the Frenchmen hearing of the troubles that were in Portugall came to this place and made there a Fort and so the French Ships came euery yeare thither to lade Brasill wood But they of Fernambocke with the helpe of the Spaniards went and burnt fiue ships within the Port and tooke the Fort but some of the Frenchmen ranne into the Mountaines and others slaine so that the Spaniards doe there inhabit to this day Now to returne vnto Fernambocke inhabited by a Portugall Captaine called Eduarte Coelio this is the greatest Towne in all that Coast and hath aboue three thousand houses in it with seuentie Ingenios of Sugar and great store of Brasill wood and good store of Cotton yet are they in great want of victuals for that all that they haue commeth out of Portugall and from other places there on the Coast. It is a barred Harbour and for small Barkes this place belongeth yet to the Sonne of Eduarte Coelio Passing hence is the Cape of Saint Augustine and next to that is the Riuer of Saint Francisco which is also a great Riuer Betweene this and the Bayha it is all a Wildernesse inhabited with cruell Sauage people for whom soeuer they take they kill to eate The Towne of Baya belongeth to the King and therefore the Gouernour that gouerneth all the Coast along is in this Towne of Baya and also the Bishop it is a Towne of a thousand houses and hath fortie Ingenios of Sugar and much Cotton but no Brasill wood The Sea runneth vp fourteene or fifteene leagues where they get some yeâres good store of Ambergreece here there is plentie of victuals and although it be hot it is a healthfull Countrey and holesome aires The next Coast is called Las Ilhas it is a small Towne not aboue one hundred and fiftie houses there are but three Ingenios of Sugar the most part of these people are labouring men and carry victuals to Fernambock in three small Barkes this people belong vnto a Gentleman called Leucas Geralds From hence the next to this Towne is called Porto Sequero this hath foure smal Townes and are in all about three hundred houses it belongeth to a Gentleman called Vasco Fernandes Coytenio from hence they goe to the Riuer of Ienero which hath about three hundred houses In this place also the Frenchmen inhabited first whóse Captaine was called Monsieur de Villegagnon hee made here a Fort and planted good Ordnance thereon and lades euery yeere great store of Brasill from thence and had great friendship with the Sauage people which serued him very well But the King of Portugall sent a power of men aganst the Frenchmen and first tooke the French ships by Sea and then landed and besieged the Fort and in time tooke them with the Captaine and because the French Captaine was a Gentleman and neuer hurt the Portugals therefore they gaue thirtie thousand Duckets for his Ordnance with all things that they had in the Fort and so sent him for France and the Portugals inhabited the Riuer There is not at this present but two Ingenios and great store of Brasil-wood with plentie of victuals From this Riuer of Ienero they go along the Coast of Saint Vincent which hath foure Townes the greatest is called Santos and hath foure hundred houses there are here three Ingenios but a very poore Country About few yeeres past there came two English ships into this Harbor which were going for the Straits of Magellanes who being in this Port there came thither three of the King of Spaines ships and fought with the Englishmen but the Englishmen sunke one of them and therefore the King commanded a Fort to be made because that no English shippes that were bound to the Straits should not victuall there the which Fort standeth on the mouth of the Harbour this Countrey belongeth to a Gentleman called Martin Alonso de Sousa this is the last inhabitance in all the Coast of Brasill this said Coast is very full of Mountaines and raineth much therefore they cannot goe from Towne to Towne by Land All the dwellings in this Countrey are by the Sea side yet the Portugals haue many times trauelled vp in the Countrie a hundred and fiftie leagues but finding no profit inhabited in no place The Coast from Saint Vincent is all full of Mountaines till you come to the Iland of Saint Catalina from this Iland till you come to the Straites of Magellanes is very plaine and without Woods The Riuer of Plate was discouered by Solis and after by Sebastian Cabot which went one hundred and fiftie leagues vp in it and built a Fort after by Don Pedro de Mendoza who hauing lost eight ships died in the way homewards the poore men which hee left behind him for very hunger died the most part of them for that there about were very few Indians and therefore small store of victuals but onely liued by hunting of Deere and fishing Of all the men that this Don Pedro left behind him there was liuing no more but two hundred men which in the ships Boats went vp the Riuer leauing in this place called bonas ayres three Mares and Horses But it is a wonder to see that of thirtie Mares and seuen Horses which the Spaniards left in this place that in fortie yeeres these beasts haue so increased that the Countrey is twentie leagues vp full of Horses whereby one may see the pasture and fruitfulnesse of the Countrey The Spaniards that went vp this Riuer were three hundred leagues vp and found the Countrey full of Indians where were great store of victuals and the Spaniards dwelt among them as their friends and the Indians did giue their Daughters to wise vnto the Spaniards and so they dwelt in one Towne together which the Spaniards called La Ascension
the Southwards Pedro Sarmiento entred the Straits where his men were in a mutinie and would haue returned for Lima but he hanged one of them and so went on his Voyage for Spaine and told the King that there were two narrow points in the Straits where he might build a Fort and that the Straits was a very good Countrey and had great store of Riches and other necessaries and very well inhabited with Indians Vpon whose words and for that there were more ships making readie in England to passe the Straits The King sent Diego Floris de Valdes with three and twentie ships and three thousand fiue hundred men as also the Gouernour of Chili with fiue hundred old Souldiers new come out of Flanders These ships had the hardest hap of any ships that went out of Spaine since the Indies were found for that before they came from the Coast of Spaine a storme tooke them and cast away fiue of the shippes and lost in them aboue eight hundred men and the rest put into Calls notwithstanding the King sent them word that yet they should proceed and so did with sixteene saile of ships for that other two ships were so shaken with the storme that they could not goe and in the sixteenth saile Pedro Sarmiento was sent to bee Gouernour in the Straits and had committed vnto him fiue hundred men for to stay in the Straits he had also all kind of Artificers to make his Forts and other necessaries with great store of Ordnance and other Munition This fleet because it was late did winter on the Coast of Brasill in the Riuer of Ienero and from hence they went where the Winter was past and about the height of fortie two degrees they had a storme so that Diego Flores beat vp and downe about two and twentie dayes in which time he had one of his best ships sunke in the Sea and in her three hundred men and twentie women that went to inhabit the Straits and also most part of the munition that should bee left in the Straits In the end the storme grew so great that the ships might not indure it any longer but were put back againe vnto an Iland called Saint Catalina and there he found a Barke wherein were certaine Friers going for the Riuer of Plate which Friers told him of two great ships of England and a Pinnasse that had taken them but tooke nothing from them nor did them any harme but only asked them for the King of Spaines shippes Now Diego Flores knowing that these English shippes would goe to the Straits hee also was determined to goe to the Straits although it was the moneth of February and choosing ten ships of the fifteene that were left hee sent three ships that were old and shaken with the storme he put in them all the women and sick men that were in the fleet and sent them to the Riuer of Ienero and left two other ships which were not for the Sea at the Iland and he with the other ten ships returned againe for the Straits Now the three ships in which the sicke men and women were came to the Port of Saint Uincent where they found the two English ships so they would haue the Englishmen gone out of the Harbour and hereupon they fell at fight and because that these three ships were weake with the foule weather that they had as also the men were the refuse of all the fleet the Englishmen easily put them to the worst and sunke one of them and might haue sunke another if they would but they minded not the destruction of any man for it is the greatest vertue that can be in any man that when he may doe hurt he will not doe it Vpon this the Englishmen went from this Port to Spirito Sancto where they had victuals for their Merchandize and so returned home to England without doing any harme in the Country Iohn Drake went from them in the Pinnasse the cause why I know not but the Pinnasse came into the Riuer of Plato and within fiue leagues of Seale Iland not far from the place where the Earle of Cumberlands ships tooke in fresh water this said Pinnasse was cast away vpon a ledge of Rockes but the men were all saued in the Boate. They were eighteene men and went ashoare vpon the North shoare and went a dayes iourney into the Land where they met with the Sauage people these people are no man-eaters but take all the Christians that they can and make them there slaues but the Englishmen fought with them and the Sauages slâe fiue Englishmen and tooke the other thirteene aliue which were with the Sauages about fifteene monethes But the Master of the Pinnasse which was Richard Faireweather beeing not able to indure this misery that hee was in and hauing knowledge that there was a Towne of Christians on the other side of the Riuer he in the night called Iohn Drake and another young man which was with them and tooke a Canoa which was very little and had but two Oares and so passed to the other side of the Riuer which is aboue nine leagues broad and were three dayes before they could get ouer and in this time they had no meate and comming to land they hit vpon a high way that went towards the Christians and seeing the footing of Horses they follow it and at last came to a House where as there was Corne sowed and there they met with Indians which were Seruants vnto the Spaniards which gaue them to eate and clothes to couer them for they were all naked and one of the Indians went to the Towne and told them of the Englishmen so the Captaine sent foure Horsemen which brought them to the Towne behind them then the Captayne clothed them and prouided for them lodging and Iohn Drake sate at the Captaines Table and so intreated them very well thinking to send them for Spaine But the Vice-roy of Peru hearing of this sent for them so they sent him Iohn Drake but the other two they kept because that they were married in the Countrey Thus I know no more of their affaires But vpon this newes there were prepared fiftie Horsemen to goe ouer the Riuer to seeke the rest of the Englishmen and Spaniards that were also among these Sauage people but I am not certaine where they went forward or not But now let vs returne to Diego Flores who passed from the Iland of Santa Catalina towards the Straits in the middle of February and comming in the height of the Riuer of Plate hee sent the Gouernour of Chili with three ships vp the Riuer Bonas Ayres and so to go ouer land to Chili Of these three ships they lost two but saued the men and the other prouision and the third returned for Spaine Then Diego Flores with the other seuen ships came as high as fiftie two degrees which is the mouth of the Straits and because it was the end
Isla de Gallo where Francisco Pizarro and his Brethren went on Land and left Diego de Almagro in the ships And the whole number which afterward landed on the mayne Land were sixtie Horsemen and one hundred and twentie Footmen with two great Field-peeces But before we proceed any further wee thinke it not amisse to describe vnto you the situation of Peru and the naturall disposition of the Inhabitants This Countrie was called Peru by the Spaniards of a Riuer so named by the Indians where they first came to the sight of Gold From which Riuer standing vnder the Line till you come to Copiapo the first Towne on the Coast of Chili stretcheth the Land of Peru for the space of eight hundred leagues vpon sixe hundred whereof from Atacama to Tumbez did neuer drop of raine fall since the Floud of Noah and yet is it the fruitfullest Land for all kinde of victuals and other necessaries for the sustentation of mans life that is to bee found in all the world besides The reason why it raineth not in this Land is because it being a plaine Countrie and very narrow and lowe situate betweene the Equinoctiall and the Tropike of Capricorne there runneth on the West frontier not aboue twenty leagues from the Sea called Mar del Sur Eastward thereof a mightie ridge of high Mountaines couered with snowe the heigth of which Mountaines so draweth the moisture of the cloudes vnto it self that no raine falleth vpon the Vallies of Peru From these Mountains issue great store of Riuers into the South Sea with the waters whereof drawn by certaine sluces and chanels they moisten their Vineyards and Corne-fields and by this meanes the Land is so exceeding fruitfull Betweene these Mountaines and the Mountaines of Chili that stretch vnto the Straites of Magellan heth a Plaine of sixtie leagues ouer being so cold that it yeeldeth no Wheat but good store of other victâals This Countrie of Peru is full of people well apparelled and of ciuill behauiour It hath many mines of God and more of Siluer as also great store of Copper and Tinne-mines with abundance of Saltpeter and of Brimstone to make Gun-powder There are likewise Cattell of all sorts among which there is a beast in shape somewhat resembling a Camell but no bigger then a Steere of a yeere old they serue to carrie burdens their flesh being good to eate and their wooll apt for many purposes This beast is accounted the most profitable of all others for the vse of man howbeit the Spaniards since their first comming haue replenished this Countrie with Horses Kine Sheep and Goats and likewise with plenty of Wheat So that in few words this Land hath abundance of riches and victuals and is the healthfullest place in the world There were in times past Kings of this Land which were mighty Monarchs whose Dominions stretched twelue hundred leagues and their Lawes were very ciuill saue that they were worshippers of the Sunne At what time the Spaniards first entred this Land there were two Brethren of the bloud Royall which stroue who should haue the Kingdome the one called Mango Inga and the other Atabalipa Now Mango had possession of all the Mountaines and the Land within them and Atabalipa was Lord of all the Sea-coast and of the Vallies situate between the said Mountaines and the Sea The Indians seeing the Spaniards at the first arriue vpon their shoare called them Uira coche which in their Language signifieth The some of the Sea Also Atabalipa the Indian Prince sent vnto them to know what they did in his Land and what they sought for the Spaniards made answer that they were the messengers of a great Lord and that they came to speake with the Prince himselfe who sent them word that they should come with a very good-will and so Atabalipa stayed for them at a Citie called Caxamalca being thirtie leagues distant from the Sea side Whither being come they found the Indian Prince sitting in a Chariot of Gold carried vpon mens shoulders and accompanied with aboue sixtie thousand Indians all ready armed for the warres Then the Spaniards told them that they were sent from an Emperour vnto whom the Pope had giuen all that Land to conuert them vnto the Christian Faith Whereunto Atabalipa answered that he would gladly be friends with the Emperour because he was so great a Monarch but in no case with the Pope because he gaue to another that which was none of his owne Now while they were thus in talke the Spaniards discharging their two Field-peeces and their Caliuers set vpon the Indians crying Sant lago The Indians hearing the noise of the Ordnance and small shot and seeing the fire thought that flames of fire had beene come downe from Heauen vpon them whereupon they fled and left their Prince as a bootie for the Spaniards Whom they at the first intreated very gently wishing him not to feare for that their comming was onely to seeke for Gold and Siluer During the time of Atabalipas imprisonment his Captaines had slaine his Brother Mango and had subdued all the Mountaines and plaine Countries Vpon which newes Atabalipa told the Spaniards that if they would release him hee would giue them all that they should demand This communication hauing continued a whole day at length a Souldier named Soto said vnto Atabalipa what wilt thou giue vs to set thee free The Prince answered I will giue whatsoeuer you will demand Whereto the Souldier replied Thou shalt giue vs this house full of Gold and Siluer thus high lifting vp his sword and making a stroke vpon the wall And Atabalipa said that if they would grant him respite to send into his Kingdome he would fulfill their demand Whereat the Spaniards much maruelling gaue him three moneths time but hee had filled the house in two moneths and an halfe a matter scarce credible yet most true for I knowe aboue twentie men that were there at that time who all affirme that it was aboue ten millions of Gold and Siluer Howbeit for all this they let not the Prince goe but thought that in killing of him they should become Lords of the whole Land and so the Spaniards on a night strangled him But God the righteous Iudge seeing this villanous act suffered none of those Spaniards to die by the course of nature but brought them to euill and shamefull ends Vpon the newes of these great riches there came store of people out of Spaine and inhabited many places in this Countrie The King in recompence of the good seruices of the two foresaid partners appointed Diego de Almagro Gouernour of halfe the Land and Francisco Pizarro of the other halfe whom also he made a Marquesse But these two consorts in parting of a Land belonging vnto other men fell at variance and sharpe warre betweene themselues and at length Pizarro hauing slaine Almagro got all the Land into his owne hands Howbeit this prosperitie of Pizarro continued not long
fauour to seeke and discouer new Countries But the greatest and most notable discouery that hath beene from those parts now of late was that of the Isles of Salomon which were found in manner following The Licenciate Castro being gouernour of Peru sent forth a Fleete of Ships to discouer certaine Islands in the South Sea vpon the coast of Peru appointing as Generall of the same Fleete a kinsman of his called Aluares de Mendanio and Pedro Sarmiento as Lieutenant and in the Viceadmirall went Pedro de Ortega This Fleete departing forth of the hauen of Lima and sailing 800. leagues Westward off the coast of Peru found certaine Islands in eleuen degrees to the South of the Equinoctiall inhabited with a kinde of people of a yellowish complexion and all naked whose weapons are Bowes and Arrowes and Darts The Beasts that they saw here were Hogs and little Dogs and they found some Hens Here also they found a muster of Cloues Ginger and Sinamon although the Sinamon were not of the best and here appeared vnto them likewise some shew of Gold The first Island that the Spaniards discouered they named Santa Izabella and here they built a small Pinnace with the which and with their Ships Boate they found out betweene nine and fifteene degrees of Southerly latitude eleuen great Islands being one with another of eightie leagues in compasse The greatest Island that they discouered was according vnto the first finder called Guadalcanal on the coast whereof they sailed 150. leagues before they could know whether it were an Island or part of the maine land and yet they know not perfectly what to make of it but thinke that it may be part of that continent which stretcheth to the Streights of Magellan for they coasted it to eighteene degrees and could not finde the end thereof The Gold that they found was vpon this Island or maine land of Guadalcanal whereas they landed and tooke a towne finding small graines of Gold hanged vp in the houses thereof But because the Spaniards vnderstood not the language of the Countrey and also for that the Indians were very stout men and fought continually against them they could neuer learne from whence that Gold came nor yet what store was in the Land These Indians vse to goe to Sea in great Canoas that will carrie one hundred men a piece wherein they haue many conflicts one against another howbeit vnto the Christians they could doe no great hurt for that with a small Pinnace and two Falcons a few may ouercome one hundred of them At this place foureteene men mistrusting nothing rowed to land to take in fresh water whom on the sodaine certaine Indians in foure Canoas set vpon tooke the Ships Boate and slew all the men therein wherefore a man cannot goe on shore too strong nor yet be too warie in a strange land Hereupon the Spaniards went on shore in their Pinnace and burnt the Towne and in this towne they found the small graines of Gold before mentioned They were discouering of these Islands from one to another about foureteene moneths at the end of which time because that vpon the coast where they were the winde continuing still in one place might be an occasion of longer tarrying they consulted which way to returne Southward they durst not goe for feare of great tempests which are that way vsuall wherefore sayling to the North of the line they fell with the coast of Nueua Espanna on which coast they met with such terrible stormes that they were forced to cut their maine masts ouer-boord and to lye nine moneths beating it vp and downe in the Sea before they could get into any harbour of the Christians In which time by reason of euill gouernment and for lacke of victuals and fresh water most of the men in their Admirall dyed for fiue whole dayes together they had neither water nor meate but in the other Ships they behaued themselues so well that the greater part of them came safe vnto the land He that passeth the Straits of Magellan or saileth from the coast of Chili directly for the Malucos must needes runne in sight of some of these Islands before spoken of At which Islands lying so conueniently in the way to the Malucos you may furnish your selfe with plenty of victuals as Hogs Hennes excellent Almonds Potatos Sugar-canes with diuers other sorts fit for the sustenance of man in great abundance Also among these Islands you shall haue some quantity of Gold which the Indians will giue you in trucke for other commodities For the Spaniards in their discouery of these Islands not seeking nor being desirous of Gold brought home notwithstanding 40000. pezos with them besides great store of Cloues and Ginger and some Sinamon also which is not so good as in other places The discouerer of these Islands named them the Isles of Salomon to the end that the Spaniards supposing them to be those Isles from whence Salomon fetched Gold to adorne the Temple at Ierusalem might be the more desirous to goe and inhabit the same Now the same time when they thought to haue sent colonies vnto these Islands Captaine Drake entered the South Sea whereupon commandement was giuen that they should not be inhabited to the end that such Englishmen and of other Nations as passed the Straits of Magellan to goe to the Malucos might haue no succour there but such as they got of the Indian people CHAP. XII Briefe extracts translated out of IEROM BENZOS three Bookes of the New World touching the Spaniards cruell handling of the Indians and the effects thereof ANno 1641. Ierom Benzo went from Millaine to Siuill in Spaine and thence to the New World where he was entertained of the Spaniards and practised with them the huntings of the Indians which they did by lurking in couerts till some of the Natiues came within their reach by bribing the Cacikes with trifles to procure captiues and other meanes Peter Chalice came while we were there to Amaracan with aboue 4000. slaues and had brought many more but with labour wearinesse hunger and griefe for losse of their Countrie and friends many had perished in the way Many also not able to follow in the Spaniards swift march were by them killed to preuent their taking armes A miserable spectacle to see those troopes of slaues naked with their bodies rent maimed starued the mothers dragging or carrying on their shoulders their children howling the neckes of all armes and hands chained not any growne Maide amongst them which the spoilers had not rauished with so profuse lust that thence grew contagion and pernicious diseases The Spanish horsemen in those warres vsed quilted Iackes with Launces and Swords the footemen Sword Shield and Crosse-bow with lighter Iackes The moisture and great dewes made Peeces vnseruiceable in those parts The Islanders in Hispaniola seeing no hope of better or place for worse killed their children and then hanged themselues The women
widowes And if any were slaine in the warres great care was had of his children After these lands each man tilled his owne one helping another in course then those of the Curaca which were last cultiâated in euery Towne In Huayna Capacs time one of the Chachapuyas was hanged for tilling the Curacas land his kinsman before the widowes and the Gallowes was set vp in the Curacas land where hee had transgressed the Incas precept The last of all was the Incas lands which thought his good to be grounded on the prosperitie of his Subiects These and those of the Sunne were common workes which they did with their best ornaments and rayment with spangles of Siluer and Gold and feathers on their heads as on festiuall dayes with songs in breaking vp their ground in praise of their God and Prince One Anden neere Cozco being the first in the Kingdome which was dedicated to the Sunne was tilled onely by Incas and Pallas of the bloud Royall with a great feast in their beast iewels making Songs of Haylli that is of triumph Their Plough or Spade rather was of wood a yard long plaine before and pointed round behind foure fingers thicke halfe a yard from the point was a stirrup of two pieces of wood fastned to the principall in which he set his foot leaping and thrusting it forcibly into the ground vp to the stirrup They went in companies seuen er eight together and digged vp turfes of incredible bignesse The women went besides them to helpe with their hands to lift vp the earth and weed out the rootes and to cheare them with Songs The Land was diuided to each man according to the number of his familie and to the Curacas in greater proportions likewise the water and other things necessary The principall tribute which they payed was this labouring the grounds of the Sunne and Inca gathering their fruits and keeping them in places appointed Of their owne priuate lands they payd nothing Other tributes were their making of clothes shooes and armes for expense in warre to which end they had wooll of the Cattell of the Sunne and Inca which were innumerable in the Hills and Cotton in the Plaines The poore were âied to giue on certaine dayes so many pipes of Lice so to acknowledge subiection and to keepe themselues cleane The Royall kindred Priests Ministers and Curacas were tribute-free the chiefe Captaines to Centurions the Iudges Officers and Souldiers in time of seruice young men vnder 25. and old men aboue 50. and all women and maidens Their labour was not imposed but voluntary Gold Siluer and Gemmes were not reckoned tribute nor treasure nor price of other things bought and sold or of mens labour Onely they esteemed them for beautie and thereof made voluntary presents for the Temples Nunneries and houses Royall For they might not visite a Superiour without a Present The Curacas in the principall feasts must visite the Inca and made him Presents of these or other things of account as materials for buildings Lyons Tigres Beares Parots Monkies great Snakes or any other thing faire fierce great or strange The King had in euery Towne two places one to keepe his goods for the seruice of the Sunne and himselfe another for prouision against deare yeeres besides others for high-wayes c. Wooll was distributed euery two yeeres as any had need for garments for them and theirs so that none needed to begge neither had they any beggars in later times I neuer saw Indian man or woman in my time that begged but one old woman named Isabell which did it more to goe from house to house as a Gipsie or Iuggler then for any need The Incas also caused to build publike Innes for entertainment of Strangers which had all necessaries free out of the Kings Store-houses and if any were sicke they were likewise prouided for None trauelled in priuate affaires but in the Kings businesse When any new coâquest was made they recorded on their quipus the quantitie qualitie site and other conditions of the lands of each Prouince Towne and Diuision that order might accordingly be taken The Mines were giuen to the Curacas Salt Fish and Cotton were common none to applie any part to himselfe but to gather what hee needed Each man might plant trees in his owne ground and enioy them at his pleasure The lands were diuided as you haue heard THe seruice and ornament of the houses Royall of the Incas may seeme to haue exceeded any Kings of the world in some things The buildings of their Houses Temples Gardens and Baths were adorned with stone fairely wrought and set so close that the ioynture could not bee seene Many of them had melted Lead or Siluer or Gold for the ioyning which caused the totall destruction of them all by the Spaniards seeking for those metals They had the counterfeits in Gold and Siluer of herbs which growe on walls as if they had beene the plants there growing and likewise the resemblances of Mice Butterflies Snakes great and small Lizards seeming to moue the Incas chambers were lined with Gold with figures of Men Women Birds all knowne Beasts wilde and tame all in their naturall figure and largenesse in Gold and Siluer the Incas Chaiâes of state were of solid Gold without backes hauing a great square Table of Gold ouer them All the vessels of seruice both for Table Butterie and Kitchin small and great were of Gold and Sâluer and that in all the Kings houses so that when hee iourneyed in progresse they did not remoue them from one house to another as likewise in the Prouinces where he had occasion to march with his Armies or to visite his Kingdomes Hee had in them also of like metals many Granaries and Repositories not to keepe Graine but to expresse Maiestie Hee had store of rich garments the Inca neuer vsing to weare one thing twice but giuing them once worne to his kindred The bed-furniture was of the wooll of the Uicunna so fine that King Philip Beds are thence furnished Feather-beds they had not but had such Mantles layd ouer and vnder them Tapistrie was supplâed with linings of Gold and Siluer on the walls Their prouisions for diet were abundant they preparing for all their kindred and seruants the houres were from eight to nine in the morning and in the euening lightly by day-light Their drinking lasted till night for whiles they eate they drinke not Their Gardens and Orchards had all the fairest trees and plants planted and many others counterfeited of Gold or Siluer as Mayz with the leaues stalkes roots and reedy tops of gold and siluer mixed and so in other herbs and flowers some comming forth some halfe growne some ripe with counterfeits of Lizards Butterflies Snakes Foxes wilde Cats for they had none tame Birds of all sorts and postures set on trees and plants Deere Lions Tigres and whatsoeuer creatures the
him and twelue other with the horse Two dayes after the Gouernour came vnto vs wee imbarked our selues and were in the whole foure hundred men and fourescore horses in foure Ships and one Brigantine The Pilot which we had newly taken brought the Ships through the quicke sands which they call Canerreo so that the day following we found our selues on dry land and so remained fiue dayes the keele of the Ships oftentimes striking vpon the ground At the end of those fiue dayes a storme from the South brought so much water vpon the sands that wee might come out although not without much danger Departing thence we arriued at Guanignanico where another tempest assailed vs so fiercely that we stood in great danger to be lost at the head of the currents we had another where we staid three dayes And these being ouerpassed we went about the Cape of Saint Anthony and with a contrary winde we went till wee came within twelue leagues of the Hauana and standing the day following to put in there a Southerne gale of winde tooke vs which droue vs farre from the land so that wee crossed ouer by the coast of Florida and arriued the twelfth of Aprill at the land of Martes so coasting the way of Florida vpon holy Thursday in the same coast we ancored in the mouth of an open roade at the head whereof we saw certaine houses and habitations of the Indians The same day Alonso Euriquez the Auditor went out of the Ship and landed vpon an Iland which is in the same open roade and called to those Indians who came and abode with vs a good space and by way of ransome gaue him fish and certaine peeces of Deeres flesh The day following which was good Friday the Gouernour imbarked himselfe with as many men as the Boates could carry and we went to the Villages or houses of the Indians which wee had seene which we found all emptie and desolate because that night the people were gone in their Canoes One of those houses was very great and able to containe more then three hundred persons the other were much lesser and there we found a little Bell of Gold within the Nets The next day the Gouernour aduanced the Ensigne for your Maiesty and tooke possession of the Village in your royall name and presented the Commissions and was receiued and obayed as Gouernour according to your Maiesties appointment And so in like manner we presented our other prouisoes vnto him which he accepted and obeyed according to the contents thereof and presently caused the rest of the men to be shipped and the horses which were not aboue two and fortie because the other through the many tempests and beating of the Sea and length of time were dead And these few that remained were so weake and wearied as at that time we could doe little seruice The day following the Indians of those places came vnto vs and although they spoke vnto vs yet notwithstanding we vnderstood them not The Gouernour commanded that the Brigantine should goe coasting the way of Florida and search for the hauen which the Pilot Miruelo said he knew but was now astonished and knew not in what part we were nor where the hauen was and the Brigantine was appointed that if they found not the hauen to crosse ouer to the Hauana and finde the Ship wherein Aluaro della Querda was and hauing taken in some victuall to returne to finde it The Brigantine being deing departed we returned to enter into the Village of the same people where we had bin before with some other more and we coasted the gulfe which wee had found and hauing gone about foure leagues we tooke foure Indians and shewed them Maiz because vntill that day wee had not yet seene any token thereof they said they would bring vs where it grew and so they brought vs to their Village which was not farre from thence at the head of the gulfe and there they shewed vs a little Maiz which was not yet ripe to be gathered There wee found many chests of the Merchants of Castile and in euery one of them was the body of a dead man all which were couered with Deeres skins painted The Commissary thought that it was a kinde of Idolatry so he burned the chests with all the bodies We also found peeces of webs of cloath and Pennacchi which they had gotten out of Noua Hispaniola and certaine mosters of Gold Whereupon we demanded of those Indians by signes from whence they had such things They by signes shewed vs that very farre from thence there was a Prouince called Apalachen wherein there was great quantity of Gold Departing from thence wee went further carrying for guides those foure Indians which we had first taken and so ten or twelue leagues off from that place wee found another people of fifteene houses where was a goodly Plaine sowed with Maiz which now was ready to be gathered and we found some also dry There we abode two dayes and after returned May the first the Gouernour caused two pound of Biscuit and halfe a pound of Porke to be giuen to euery one of them who were to goe with vs and so we departed to enter within the land The summe of all them who went was three hundred men in all among whom was the Commissary Frier Iohn Sciuarez and another Frier called Frier Iohn de Palis and three Clarkes and the Officers Forty of vs were on horsebacke and so with that prouision which wee had brought wee went fifteene dayes without finding any other things to eate except Dates like those of Andaluzia In all this time we found not any Indian nor saw any house nor place inhabited and in the end we found a Riuer which wee passed with much danger and trouble by swimming and vpon rafts and staied a day to passe ouer it because it ranne with much fury Hauing passed to the other side of the Riuer two hundred Indians came against vs and the Gouernour went before and after he had spoken to them by signes they made much signes againe vnto vs that we should ioyne our selues with them taking fiue or sixe who brought vs vnto their houses which were about halfe a league off and there wee found great quantity of Maiz which staod now ready to be gathered After some search of the Countrey to the Sea wee departed from that place alwayes as we went inquiring for that Prouince which the Indians said was called Apalachen and brought for guides them that we had taken and so went forward vntill the seuenteenth of Iune and found no Indians that durst abide our comming There a y Cacique came vnto vs whom an Indian carried vpon his necke and hee was couered with a Deeres skinne painted and brought with him many people who went before him playing vpon certaine Flutes made of canes and so came vnto the Gouernour and abode with him an houre and we gaue him to vnderstand by
stead of Ockam for the Boats And we vsed so great diligence therein that beginning the fourth of August the twentieth of September next fiue Boates were finished of two and twenty Cubits a piece and we stopped the chinkes and calking with Ockam of the Palmiti and pitched them with a certaine Gumme which a Grecian called Don Theodoro brought from certaine Pine-trees and with the same barke of the Palmiti and of the traines and haire of Horses we made cordage and tackling and made sayles of out shirts and of the Sauine trees which were there we made such Oares as we thought necessary and such was that Countrey whereinto our sinnes conducted vs that no stones were found there to ballast the Boates nor saw wee any throughout all that Countrey Wee likewise flayed the whole legges of horses and sewed the skinne together to make bottles to carrie water In this meane time some of our men went to gather Tamarindi in the strond of the Sea where the Indiââs at two seuerall times wherein they incountred them slue ten Christians so neere to our Tents that we saw them and could not helpe them and found them shot through from side to side with Arrowes so that although our men had excellent Armour they were not able to resist their strokes those Indians shooting with such dexteritie and force as aforesaid And our Pilots said and swore that from the flat shoare which we called by the name of the Crosse vnto this place we had gone about two hundred and fourescore leagues little more or lesse and in all that Countrey we saw no Mountaines nor had any notice by any meanes that there were any and before that we imbarked besides those which the Indians had slaine there were more then forty other men dead through sicknesse and famine The two and twentieth day of September they ceased to eate horses so that only one remayned and on that day wee imbarked in this order In the Gouernours Boate went nine and fortie men and in the other which hee gaue to the Auditour and Commissary went as many more The third he gaue to Captaine Alonzo del Castiglio and Andrea Durante with eight and forty men and another he gaue vnto two other Captaines the one called Telles and the other Pigualosa with seuen and forty men and the fift he gaue to the Controuler and mee with nine and forty men And after the victuals and furniture and other things were shipped they arose no more then a fourth part aboue the water and beside this we were so streighted that we could not guide nor turne in the Boats Necessitie was so powerfull that it made vs aduenture to goe in this manner and commit our selues vnto so dangerous a Sea without hauing any one among vs who knew the art of Nauigation That flat shoare from whence we departed is called the shoare of the Horses and we went seuen dayes through those gulfes with the water vp to the girdle without seeing any signe of the Coast and at the end of those seuen dayes we arriued at an Iland which standeth neere vnto the Land My Boat went before and we saw fiue Canowes of Indians comming who forsooke them all and left them in our hands seeing vs come towards them Our other Boates went before and lighted vpon certane houses in the same Iland where they found many of their Egges and Thorn-back were dry and greatly releeued vs in the necessitie wherein we were After this we went further and two leagues from thence we passed a Strait which that Iland maketh with the Land and called it the Strait of Saint Michael because we passed it vpon that holy day Being gotten out of that Strait wee arriued at the Coast where with the fiue Canowes which I had taken from the Indians we remooued some things out of our Boats making them fast and ioyning them to ours so that they arose two handfuls aboue water and therewithall we turned to goe along the Coast by the way of the Riuer of Palmes thirst and famine alwayes increasing because the victuals were very scant and almost at an end and we wanted water because the bottles which we had made of the skinnes of horses became suddenly putrified and mustie and were good for nothing and many times wee entred into certaine gulfes and flat shoares which went farre within the Land and found them all shallow and dangerous And so we went thirty dayes and sometimes found some Indian fishers a poore and miserable people and at the end of these thirty dayes when our necessitie for want of water was extreame going to the Coast one night we perceiued a Canow comming and seeing her wee expected that she would haue arriued but although we called vnto her she would not come nor behold vs and because it was night we followed her not but held on our course When day began to appeare we saw a small Iland and went thither to see if wee could find any water there but wee laboured in vaine because there was none While wee stayed there a mightie tempest arose vpon vs whereupon we abode there sixe dayes not daring to put out to Sea againe and hauing passed fiue dayes without drinking our thirst was so great that we were forced to drinke the Sea-water and some dranke so largely that fiue of our men dyed suddenly We went out the same way which we had seene the Canow goe the night before we departed thence This day we saw our selues many times drowned and so cast away that there was none of vs who did not assure himselfe of death But it pleased our Lord God who in the greatest necessities vseth to shew his fauour that about Sunne set we weathered a point which the Land maketh where wee found it very calme and quiet Heere many Canowes came towards vs and the Indians that were in them spake vnto vs and without wondring at vs returned They were a people of a great bodie and well set and carried neither Bowes nor Arrowes Some of vs followed them vnto their houses which stood neere vnto the water side and leaped aland and before the entrance of the houses we found many pots of water and great quantitie of fish and the Lord of that Countrey offered it all vnto the Gouernour and taking him by the hand brought him to his house their houses are of Mats very well made And after we entred into the house of their Cazique or Lord he gaue vs much fish and we gaue them bread of Corne which we brought and they eat it in our presence and demanded more which we gaue them and the Gouernour gaue the Cazique many small trifles and abiding with him in his house about halfe an houre within night the Indians assaulted vs and the rest of our men who road very ill beeing cast vpon that Coast they assaulted also the house of the Cazique where the Gouernour was and with a stone smote
him on the face and tooke the Cazique But he hauing his men so neere escaped away and left a Mantle of his of the skinnes of the Martinet Sables which in my iudgement are the best of all the World and haue a scent whereunto the scent of Ambergrise and Muske is not comparable and the scent thereof was smelt very farre off We saw also other but none like vnto that Now seeing the Gouernour wounded we set him aboord and caused him to bring with him the greater part of the men vnto the Boats and fifty of our men only remayned on land to fight with the Indians who that night assaulted vs three times and with so great violence that euery time they made vs retyre a stones cast so that there was not one of our men that was not wounded After this we returned to imbarke our selues and sayled three dayes and hauing taken a little water as much as the few vesiels we had were able to carrie wee returned to fall into the same necessitie wherein we were first And going on our Voyage we entred into a Strait where abiding we saw a Canow of the Indians comming and as we called vnto them they came and the Gouernour to whose Boat they were neerest demanded water of them who offered it him if he would giue them vessels wherein to carrie it so a Greeke Christian called Theodoro of whom mention is made before said that he would goe with them And although the Gouernour and many other laboured to disswade him yet he would needs goe thither and carried a Negro with him and the Indians left for hostages two of their men Those Indians returned in the Euening and brought vs our vessels without water but brought not our two Christians againe and those two men of theirs who remayned for pledges as soone as they spake vnto them would haue cast themselues into the water but our men who had them in the Boat held them and so the other Indians fled and left vs much confounded and sorrowful for the two Christians which we had lost The morning following many other Canoas of the Indians came vnto vs demanding their two companions which they left vs for hostages The Gouernour answered that he would giue them vnto them so that they would restore vs our two Christians Fiue or sixe Lords came with those people and it seemed to vs that they were of a very good disposition and of greater authority and retinue then all the rest wee had found hitherto although they were not of so tall a stature as the other before mentioned They wore their haire loose and very long and were couered with mantles of Martinets of the same sort whereof we spake before and some of them were made of a very strange fashion hauing certaine laces of the worke of Lions skinnes which seemed very faire They prayed vs that we would goe with them and they would giue vs our two Christians and water and many other things and many Canoas came continually vpon vs endeauouring to take the mouth of that passage and so therefore because the place was very dangerous we went out to Sea where we stayed with them vntill noone But not being willing to restore our Christians and therefore we also would not restore their two hostages they began to cast stones at vs with slings making shew also that they would shoot at vs although we saw not aboue three or foure Bowes among them And while wee continued thus a fresh gale of winde beganne to blowe and they went their way So we sayled all that day vntill the euening at what time my Boat that went before discouered a point which the Land made and at the other end I saw a Riuer then I anchored at a small Iland which maketh that point to stay for the other Boats The Gouernour would not come neere it but put into a flat shoare very neere thereunto where many small Ilands were and there wee all met together and tooke fresh water within the Sea because the Riuer ranne into the Sea continually and with great violence And that wee might bee able to bake a little Maiz which wee brought because for two dayes before we had eaten it raw we went aland on that Iland but finding no wood there we agreed to goe vnto the Riuer which was behind the Point one league from thence And as wee went the current of the Riuer was so great that by no meanes it suffered vs to arriue but droue vs backe from the Land §. II. Misery pursues them at Sea and betrayes them to the Indians their miserable liues and death WEe sayled foure dayes euery one eating halfe a handfull of raw Maiz a day by ratement At the end of these foure dayes a tempest tooke vs which made vs recouer the Boat of Captaine Telles and through the great mercy which God shewed to some of vs we were not wholly drowned And being Winter and exceeding cold and so many dayes wherein we had sustained hunger with many blowes which wee receiued from the Sea the day following the men began very much to faint in such manner that when the Sunne went downe all those that were in my Boat were fallen one vpon the other so neere vnto death that few of them had any sense and among all them there were not fiue that could stand on their feete and when night came there remained no more but the Master and my selfe that could mannage the Boat and two houres within night the Master said vnto mee that I should take charge of my Boat because he was in such case that he held it for certainty that hee should die that night And so I tooke the rudder and midnight being past I went to see if the Master were dead who said vnto me that suddenly he was better and that hee would guide the Boat vntill day Then surely I found my selfe in such state that much more willingly I would haue receiued death then see so many men before me in that manner wherein they were and after the Master tooke charge of the Boat I rested my selfe a little but very vnquietly because at that time nothing was further from me then sleepe And about the morning me thought that I heard the noise and roaring of the Sea because being a very lowe Coast it raged much whereupon when I heard this I called to the Master who answered me that he supposed we were now neere vnto the Land and sounding we found our selues in seuen fathome and he thought it fit that we should abide at Sea vntill the day appeared And so I tooke an Oare and rowed to the Lands side which we found one league distant and put the stearne to the Sea And being neere to the Land a waue tooke vs which cast the Boat backe againe into the Sea as farre as a man might well fling a stone and with the great blowe which it gaue almost all the men who remained there as dead
had prouided that by the way foure or fiue great fires should bee made some small space distant each from other and at euery one of them they warmed vs and when they saw that we had taken a little strength and heate they brought vs to another with so great care that they did not so much as suffer vs to set our feete on the ground and after this manner we were brought vnto their houses where we found that they had prouided an house for vs many fires therein and about one houre after we were come thither they beganne to dance and reioyce which continued all the night Although amongst vs there was neither ioy nor sleepe expecting when they would haue sacrificed vs. In the morning they returned to giue vs fish and rootes and vsed vs so well that wee somewhat assured our selues and lost some part of the feare of sacrificing In those dayes wherein wee abode there I saw a small Net with one of those Indians and knew that it was not any of them which wee gaue them and demanding whence they had it they answered me by signes that other men such as we were gaue it them who abode behind that place I seeing this sent two Christians and two Indians to shew them those men and being gone they met with them very neere who came to seeke vs out because the Indians of those places had told them of vs. These men were Captaine Andrea Dorante and Alonso del Castiglio with all the men of their Boat And being come vnto vs they were afraid to behold vs in that manner wherein we were and were very sorrowfull that they had not any thing to giue vs because they had no other garments then those which they wore And they abode there with vs and told vs how on the fift day of that same moneth their Boat had crossed ouer one league and an halfe from thence and that they had escaped without losing any thing Wee all agreed together to trimme that Boat of theirs and that all such as had strengh and abilitie to doe it should goe therein and that the rest should remaine there vntill they recouered and that when they were able they should goe along the Coast and waite there till God should conduct them with the rest of vs vnto a Land of the Christians And as we determined so wee did and before we lanched the Boat into the water Tauera an Horseman of our companie died and the Boat which we thought should carrie vs she also made her end and was not able to vphold her selfe but was suddenly drowned Whereupon being in that manner aforesaid and naked and the weather so vnseasonable to trauell and passe ouer Riuers and Gulfes by swimming and hauing no victuall or any sustenance nor meanes to carrie them we determined to doe that which necessitie and force compelled vs vnto that is to say to winter there And wee likewise agreed that foure of our lustiest and strongest men should goe to Panuco supposing it neere vnto that place And that if it should please our Lord God that they arriued there they should giue intelligence that we were there and tell them of our necessitie and miseries They who went were very great swimmers the one was called Alnaro Ferrante a Portugall who was a Carpenter and a Mariner the second was called Mendos and the third Figeroa a natiue of Toledo and the fourth was borne in Zaffra and they carried an Indian with them of the Iland of Auia These foure Christians being departed within few dayes after there came such vnseasonable weather of cold and tempests that the Indians could not finde the roots and out of the channels where they were wont to fish they digged no fruit at all and things falling out so vnhappily many people began to die and fiue Christians who were in Xamo vpon that Coast came to such extremitie that they eate one another vntill there remained but one onely because there was none to eate him Their names are these Siera Diego Lopez Corral Palatio Gonzalo Ruis. The Indians were so altered through this accident and tooke so great an offence that without doubt if they had knowne it in the beginning they would haue killed them all so that all wee had beene in very great danger Finally in a small time of fourescore men which wee were in all there remained onely fifteene After this mortalitie a certaine infirmitie of the stomacke happened to the Indians through the which halfe of them died and they beleeued that wee were the men that killed them and holding it for an assured truth they contended among themselues to kill all those few of vs that were remaining and now comming to put it in execution an Indian which I had said vnto them that they should not beleeue that we were those that killed them for if we had such power we would haue procured that so many men of our owne should not haue died which they had seene dead without any abilitie of ours to remedie and helpe them and that now wee were very few remaining whereof none had done them any preiudice or harme wherefore it were better that they suffer vs to liue Thus it pleased our Lord God that the rest followed his counsell and iudgement and so ceassed from that purpose Wee called this Iland the Iland of Malhado The people which wee found there are of a great stature and well set and haue no other weapons but Bowes and Arrowes with the which they are exceeding readie and quicke The men haue one of their paps pierced from the one side to the other and there are some who haue them both pierced and in the hole which they make they carrie a Cane acrosse of the length of two spannes and an halfe and two fingers thicke They likewise haue the nether lippe bored and within the same they carrie a piece of a thin Cane about halfe a finger thicke The women indure much drudgerie and labour The habitation which they make in that Iland is from October vntill the end of Februarie and their food is the rootes aforesaid digged vnder water in Nouember and December They haue Weares but haue no fish but at this time and before that they eate roots At the end of Februarie they goe into other Parts to seeke food because the roots beginne then to growe and are not very good This Nation aboue all other parts of the world loue their children and vse them best And when it happeneth that any one of their children dieth the father mother and kindred with all the people lament him and the mourning and lamentation continueth one whole yeere so that euery day before the Sunne ariseth the parents beginne first to lament and after them all the people and they doe the same at noon and in the morning and the yeere being ended they accomplish their Funerals and honourable rites of Buriall which they performe vnto the dead
perceiue their women to be great with childe they lye not with them vntill two yeares be passed after the children be borne to the which they giue sucke vntill they be of the age of twelue yeares that they are now of vnderstanding to prouide foode for themselues We demanded of them for what reason they did thus nourish them who answered vs that they did it for the great famine which was in that Countrey where as wee our selues saw they were faine to continue sometimes three or foure dayes without eating and therefore they let them sucke that in that time they might not dye through hunger and if notwithstanding some should escape they would become too delicate and of little strength If by chance it happen that any among them be sicke they let them dye in those fields if he be not a childe and all the rest that cannot goe with them remaine there but for a childe or a brother of theirs they lay them vpon their necke and so they carry them They haue all this custome to be seperated from their wiues when there is no agreement betweene them and that both they and she may marry againe with whom they please And this is vsuall among the yonger sort but such as haue children neuer forsake their wiues And when they contend with other people or be at variance one with another they buffet and beate each o ãâ¦ã r with cudg ãâ¦ã ls vntill they be very weary and then they part and sometimes the women part them going betweene them because the men come not in to part them and what choller or passion soeuer they haue they fight not together with their Bowes and Arrowes And after they haue ââffetted and cudgelled each other the braule being ended they take their houses and women and goe to liue in the fields seperated from the rest vntill their anger and choller be past and when they are now pacified it is not needefull that others interpose themselues to make peace and friendship because in this manner they make it themselues And if they who be at variance haue no wiues they goe to other of their neighbours who although they were their enemies receiue them courteously and doe them much flattering kindnesse and giue them such as they haue so that when their choller is past they returne rich vnto their people They are all warlike people and vse as great subtilty to defend them from their enemies as they would doe if they had bin brought vp in Italy and in continuall warre The horses are they that onely ouercome them and which the Indians generally feare They who are to fight with them must be very wary that they know not that they be faint or cowardly and while the battaile continueth they are to vse them the worst they can For if they perceiue them to be timerous or cowards it is a people that very well knoweth the time to auenge themselues and to take courage and strength from the feare of their enemies When they are shot in the warres and haue spent Arrowes they returne euery one their way without any pursuit of the enemy although the one part be few and the other many and this is their custome They goe many times away shot cleane through with Arrowes and dye not if they touch not the bowels or heart nay they quickely heale them They see and heare and haue the sharpest sences I thinke of any men in the world They are very well able to endure hunger thirst and cold as they who are more acquainted there with then any other In the Iland of Malhada there are two languages the one called Canoques and the other Han. In the firme land afront that Iland are others called Carruco who take their name from the Mountaines where they liue Further vpon the Sea coast are others called Deguenes and afront them are others called Mendica Further vpon the coast are the Queuânes and afront these within the firme land are the Marianes and going further vpon the coast are other called Guaicones and afront those within the firme land the Iegunzes at the end of them are other called Ataââs and behinde them other called Acubadaos and of these there are many along this banke further Other called Quitoles liue on the coast and afront them within the firme land are the Auauares and with these the Maliacones vnite themselues and the Cultalculebes and other called Susolus and other called Comos and further vpon the coast abide the Cumoles and on the same coast beyond are others whom we called them of the Figtrees All these Nations haue habitations and people and diuers languages Among them there is one language in the which when they say vnto men looke there they say arraca and to the Dogs they say Xo and in all that Countrey they make themselues drunke with a certaine smoake and giue whatsoeuer they haue to get it Likewise they drinke another thing which they take from the leaues of trees like vnto the Mulberry trees and boile it in certaine vessels on the fire and after they haue boyled it they fill the vessels with water and so keepe it ouer the fire and when it hath beene twice boiled they poure it out into certaine vessels and coole it with halfe a goord and when it gathereth much âome they drinke it as hot as they are able to suffer it and while they put it out of the vessell and vntill they drinke it they stand crying who will drinke And when the women perceiue these exclamations they presently settle themselues not daring once to moue although they finde that they are very well beloued And if by chance any of them moue they accompt her shamelesse and cudgell her and with much choller and anger cast away the water or drinke which they haue made and if they haue drunke it they vomit it out againe which they doe very easily The reason of this their custome they say is this that if when they will drinke of that water the women moue themselues from the place where they heare that voyce some bad thing might be put into that drinke which entring into the body in short space would cause them to dye And all the time that that water is boyled the vessell must be well closed and shut and if peraduenture it should stand vncouered and any woman should come and passe by they cast it away and drinke no more of it It is of the colour of Saffron and they drinke it three dayes without eating and euery day they drinke one amphora and an halfe And when the women haue their naturall purgation they prouide no meate but for themselues because no other person will eate of that which she carrieth In the time that I continued among them I saw a most brutish and beastly custome to wit a man who was married to another and these be certaine effeminate and impotent men who goe cloathed and attired like
among them But not being able to remedy the same and chastise those that did it wee were then to suffer it vntill we saw we had more authoritie among them And so euen they themselues who lost their wealth seeing we were displeased comforted vs saying that we should not conceiue any displeasure thereat considering they were so well contented that they had seene vs and that they had bestowed their substance very well and would hereafter be paid of others who were exceeding rich The next day they brought all their people before vs the greatest part whereof are squint-eyed and other of the same people are blinde whereat we greatly maruelled they are well set and of good behauiour and whiter then all the rest that we had seene vntill then There we began to see Mountaines which seemed to extend themselues towards the Sea from the North and by the relaââân which the Indians made I suppose they are fifteene leagues from the Sea We departed thence with those Indians towards the Mountaines whereof I now spake And they brought vs where some of their kindred were for they would not bring vs but to their kinsfolk because they were vnwilling that their enemies should receiue so great a benefit as they thought it was to see vs. And when wee were come thither they that came with vs spoiled the other who knowing the custome had hid certaine things before we came thither And after they had receiued vs with much ioy and gladnesse they tooke out that which they had hidden and presented it vnto vs and they were Crownes Magra and certaine small plates of Siluer We according to our custome gaue them all presently to the Indians that came with vs and hauing giuen vs that which they had they began their dancing and festiuall iollitie and sent to call other people neere thereabouts that they might come to see vs who came all about the euening and brought vs Garlands Bowes and other trifling things which for the most part we diuided among those other Indians And the day following we being desirous to depart they would all bring vs to their friends who remained on the top of the Mountaines laying that there are many houses and people that they would giue vs many things but because it was out of our way we would not goe thither and therefore tooke our iourney through the plaine neere vnto the Mountaines which we supposed should not be very farre from the coast All those people are very poore and miserable wherefore we held it better to crosse ouer the land because the people that dwelt further into the Countrey were better conditioned and would vse vs better and we werâ certainely perswaded that we should finde a more populous Countrey and of better sustenance And lastly we therefore did it because crossing ouer the land we saw more particularities so that if it should please our Lord God to bring some of vs out of that Countrey and to conduct vs into the land of the Christians wee might be able to make relation and report thereof The Indians seeing that we were determined to goe whither they would not told vs that there was neither people nor Tune nor any other thing to eate and therefore praied vs that we would stay there for that day and so we did Then they sent two Indians to discouer the people that way which we purposed to goe and the next day we departed carrying many of them with vs and the women went laden with water and our authoritie was so great among them that none durst presume to drinke without our leaue Two of their Phisicians gaue vs two Gourds and from that time we afterward began to carry Gourds with vs ioyning this ceremony to our authority which among them is very great They who accompanied vs rifled the houses but the houses being many and they but few they could not carry all away but should haue bin forced to haue lost the halfe and so we went thence through many Mountaines entring within the land more then fiftie leagues at the end whereof we found fortie houses and among other things which they gaue vs Andrea Dorante had a thicke and great Bell of copper with a visage ingrauen in it which they seemed greatly to esteeme saying that they had gotten it of their other neighbours who being demanded whence they had it they said that they brought it from the Northward and that it was much worth and greatly esteemed there Whereupon we knew that from what place soeuer it came the art of casting and melting of mettals must needes be there And hereupon we departed the day following and crossed ouer a Mountaine of six leagues and the stones which were there were of the scumme of Iron and late in the euening we came to many houses seated on the side of a most pleasant Riuer and the Lords of the same came into the middle of the high way to receiue vs with their children in their armes and gaue vs many small plates of Siluer and Antimonie made in powder wherewith they annoint their faces and gaue vs many garlands and many mantles of the hides of Kine and laded all them that came with vs with such as they had they eate Tune and Pine apples They told vs that in the place where the Bell was made were many plates of that mettall vnder ground and that that Bell among them was a thing greatly esteemed and that houses were built there and wee supposed that it was the South Sea for we alwayes knew that that Sea was alwayes richer then that of the North. So we departed from them and went through so many sorts of Nations and diuers languages that the memory of man is not able to reckon them and one people alwayes spoyled the other and so both they that lost and they who gained remained well contented Through those Valleyes where we passed euery one of them carried a sticke or cudgell of three handfuls long and they went all in troopes and if any Hare arose whereof there are many in that Countrey they turned her suddenly and so many cudgels fell vpon her that it was a marueilous matter to behold and in this manner they made her goe from one to another so that in my iudgement it was the goodliest hunting that could be imagined because sometimes they came euen into their hands And when wee setled our selues at night we had so many of them that were giuen vs that euery one of vs carried eight or ten and such as carried Bowes appeared not among vs but went apart through the Mountaines to seeke deere and when they came in the euening they brought fiue or six for euery one of vs and many Fowles and Quailes and other hunting game and finally whatsoeuer all those people tooke they presented before vs not daring to touch or take thereof for themselues although they should dye for hunger because they accustomed so to doe since they came with
before me Al these fears which they haue of vs they yet put into the heads of those who came lately to know vs because they should giue vs whatsoeuer they haue for they know that we tooke nothing for our selues but gaue euerie thing to them This was the most obedient people and best conditioned that we found in all that Countrie and commonly they are well disposed Those that were sicke being recouered and restored vnto health and wee hauing continued there three daies the women that we had sent came vnto vs and said that they had found verie few people because they were gone to the kine which was now their time Then we commanded them that were weake to remaine behinde and those that were well to come with vs and that two daies iourney from thence those two women should goe with two of our men to cause the people to come forth to the highwaies to receiue vs. And so the morning following all those that were the lustiest departed with vs and after three daies iourney wee setled our selues and the day following Alonso del Castiglio and Esteuanicco the Negro together with those two women for their guides and that who was their prisoner brought them vnto a Riuer which ranne within a mountaine where a people abode among whom their father was and these were the first houses that wee saw which had the forme and manner of true houses There Castiglio and Esteuanicco arriued and after they had spoken with those Indians at the end of three dayes Castiglio returned to the place where they left vs and brought fiue or sixe of those Indians and said That hee had found houses of people and of artificiall building and that the people eate pulse and gourds and that hee had seene Maiz there There wee abode one day and the next wee departed they bringing vs with them to other built houses where wee did eate of the same food that they eate And after from thenceforth there was another custome that they who knew of our comming came not forth into the high-way to meete vs as the other did but wee found them in their houses and they did nothing else for vs. And they were all sitting and all held their faces towards the wall hanging downe their heads with their haire ouer their eyes and all their clothes were hanged vp aloft in the middle of the house and from thence forward they began to giue vs many mantles of hides and they had not any thing which they gaue vs not It is a Nation of the best and goodliest proportion of bodie that euer wee saw there and of a more liuely spirit and agilitie and that vnderstood vs better and answered vs to whatsoeuer wee demanded them and wee call them The people of the Kine because the greater part of the Kine which dye in those Countries is neere thereabouts and vp that Riuer more then fiftie leagues they goe killing many These people goe all naked after the manner of those whom wee found first The women goe couered with certaine Deere skinnes and so doe some few men also and particularly the aged who are not seruiceable for the warres It is a verie populous Countrey and being demanded why it did not sowe Maiz they said They did it because they would not leese that which they should sowe for two yeeres since their water failed and the seasons was so dry that they all lost the Maiz that they had sowed and that they could not by any meanes be assured to sowe vnlesse first it had rained very much and they prayed vs to speake vnto the Heauens that they might send downe raine they boyle pulse in this manner They fill a great pot halfe full with water and put many of those stones in the fire which will quickely burne and when they seeth them on fire they take them vp with certaine tongs of Wood and cast them into that water in the gourd vntill they make it boyle with that fire of those stones and when they perceiue that the water boyleth they put in that which they haue to boyle and all this time they doe nothing else but take out one stone and put in another fired redde hot to make the water boyle §. IIII. They come to the South Sea and trauell through a plentifull Countrey till they meet with Spaniards whose crueltie and manner of conuerting Sauages is related WE went Westward on our iourny crossed ouer all the land vntil we came forth at the South Sea and the feare wherein they had put vs of the great famine which we were to passe as surely we passed it for seuenteen daies together as they had told vs was not able to diuert vs from our intended purpose Throughout all that Countrey vp the Riuer they gaue vs many Mantles of the hides of Kine and wee did not eate of those their fruites but our sustenance was euery day a piece of the fat of Deere of the bignesse of a mans hand which for this necessitie wee prouided alwaies to haue in a readinesse and so wee passed all those seuenteene daies iourney and at the end of them wee crossed ouer the Riuer and trauelled other seuenteene daies more to the West through certaine plaines and verie great mountaines which are found there and there wee met with a people who the third part of the yeere eate no other thing saue the powder of straw and because wee passed that way at that season of the yeere wee also were constrained to eate it vntill hauing finished those daies iourney wee found setled houses where there was great quantitie of Maiz and of that and Meale they gaue vs enough and Gourds and Pulse and Mantles of Bombasin Cotton withall which we laded them whom wee had hyred there who returned the most contented men in the world Wee yeelded many thankes vnto God who had brought vs thither where we found such plentie of sustenance Among these houses they had some that were of earth and all the rest were of mats and from thence wee passed more then an hundred leagues into the Countrey and alwaies found setled houses and much sustenance of Maiz and Pulse and they gaue vs many Deeres skinnes and Mantles of Bombasin Cotten better then those of New Spaine and gaue vs also many Garlands and certaine Corall which grow in the South Sea and many Turkie stones which come from toward the North. And finally they gaue vs whatsoeuer they had and vnto Dorante they gaue Emeralds made into Arrow heads and with those Arrowes they make their sports and festiuall iollitie seeming to mee very good I demanded of them whence they had them who told me that they brought them from certaine very high mountaines which lye towards the North and that they got them by exchange and barter for quills and Parrats feathers and there were many people there and very great houses Among them wee saw the women more honourably
that if it were so it was in their owne hands to goe out of Florida if they found nothing of profit for they feared they should lose themselues in some wildernesse This Indian led him two dayes out of the way The Gouernour commanded to torture him He said that the Cacique of Nondacao his Lord commanded him to guide them so because they were his enemies and that he was to doe as his Lord commanded him The Gouernour commanded him to be cast to the dogs and another guided him to Soacatino whither he came the day following It was a very poore Country there was great want of Maiz in that place He asked the Indians whether they knew of any other Christians They said that a little from thence toward the South they heard they were He trauelled twentie dayes through a Country euill inhabited where they suffered great scarsitie and trouble For that little Maiz which the Indians had they had hidden and buried in the woods where the Christians after they were well wearied with trauell at the end of their iourney went to seeke by digging what they should eate At last comming to a Prouince that was called Guasco they found Maiz wherewith they loaded their horses and the Indians that they had The Indians told them there that ten daies journie from thence toward the West was a Riuer called Daycao whither they went sometimes a hunting and killing of Deere and that they had seene people on the other side but knew not what habitation was there There the Christians tooke such Maiz as they found and could carry and going ten daies iournie through a wildernesse they came to the Riuer which the Indians had told them of Ten horsemen which the Gouernour had sent before passed ouer the same and went in a way that led to the Riuer and lighted vpon a company of Indians that dwelt in very little cabins who as soone as they saw them tooke themselues to flight leauing that which they had all which was nothing but miserie and pouertie The Countrie was so poore that among them all there was not found halfe a pecke of Maiz. The horsemen tooke too Indians and returned with them to the Riuer where the Gouernour staied for them He sought to learne of them what habitation was toward the West There was none in the Campe that could vnderstand their language The Gouernour assembled the Captaines and principall persons to determine with their aduice what they should doe And the most part said that they thought it best to returne backe to Rio grande or the great Riuer of Guachoya because that id Nilco and thereabout was store of Maiz saying that they would make Pinnaces that winter and the next Summer passe downe the Riuer to the Seaward in them and comming to the Sea they would goe along the coast to Nuena Espanna For though it seemed a doubtfull thing and difficult by that which they had already alleadged yet it was the last remedy they had For by land they could not goe for want of an Interpreter And they held that the Countrie beyond the Riuer of Dayaco where they were was that which Cabeça de Uaca mentioned in his relation that he passed of the Indians which liued like the Alarbes hauing no setled place and fed vpon Tunas and rootes of the fields and wilde beasts that they killed Which if it were so if they should enter into it and finde no victuals to passe the winter they could not choose but perish For they were entred already into the beginning of October and if they staied any longer they were not able to returne for raine and snowes nor to sustaine themselues in so poore a Countrie The Gouernour that desired long to see himselfe in a place where hee might sleepe his full sleepe rather then to conquer and gouerne a Countrie where so many troubles presented themselues presently returned backe that same way that he came When that which was determined was published to the Campe there were many that were greatly grieued at it for they held the Sea voyage as doubtfull for the euill meanes they had and as great danger as the trauelling by land and they hoped to finde some rich Countrey before they came to the land of the Christians by that which Cabeça de Vaca had told the Emperour and that was this That after he had found cloathes made of Cotten wooll hee saw Gold and Siluer and stones of great value And they had not yet come where hee had beene For vntill that place he alwayes trauelled by the Sea coast and they trauelled farre within the land and that going toward the West of necessitie they should come where he had beene For he said That in a certaine place he trauelled many dayes and entred into the land toward the North. And in Guasco they had already found some Turkie stones and Mantles of Cotten wooll which the Indians signified by signes that they had from the West and that holding that course they should draw neere to the land of the Christians From Daycao where now they were to Rio grando or the great Riuer was one hundred and fiftie leagues which vnto that place they had gone Westward They departed from Nilco in the beginning of December and all that way and before from Chilano they endured much trouble for they passed through many waters and many times it rained with a Northren winde and was exceeding colde so that they were in open field with water ouer and vnderneath them and when at the end of their dayes iourney they found dry ground to rest vpon they gaue great thankes to God With this trouble almost all the Indians that serued them died And after they were in Minoya many Christians also died and the most part were sicke of great and dangerous diseases which had a spice of the lethargie As soone as they came to Minoya the Gouernour commanded them to gather all the chaines together which euery one had to lead Indians in and to gather all the Iron which they had for their prouision and all the rest that was in the Campe and to set vp a forge to make nailes and commanded them to cut downe timber for the Brigandines And a Portugall of Ceuta who hauing bin a prisoner in Fez had learned to saw timber with a long Saw which for such purposes they had carried with them did teach others which helped them to saw timber And a Genowis whom it pleased God to preserue for without him they had neuer come out of the Countrie for there was neuer another that could make Ships but he with foure or fiue other Biscaine Carpenters which hewed his plankes and other timbers made the Brigandines And two calkers the one of Genua the other of Sardinia did calke them with the tow of an hearbe like Hempe whereof before I haue made mention which there is named Enequen And because there was not enough of it
Sacrificers haue Siluer and some Gold but I made shew not to care for it and said I had no need of Gold but that they should serue and not sacrifice as before In the place of the victorie was erected a faire Church called The victorie of the Crosse and a Crosse of sixtie foot long there erected Zapatula receiued me in peace Aximocuntla people fled yet sent store of victuals as did also Ixtatlan Our Indians in our march had slaine and sacrificed certaine women and children the signes whereof I found it being a thing impossible to remedie notwithstanding all the punishment I inflicted howsoeuer some say they are good Christians And let your Maiestie beleeue that they doe at this present time as they did before but secretly And for this and for other iust causes which I haue written to your Maiestie there ought not so much libertie be giuen them nor more then that which is accustomed to their state and liuing for to doe otherwise is to giue occasion to them to be bad and especially this People is of such nature that they must be very much holden vnder and made to feare that they may be good Christians From Xalpa three Embassadors came to me with offer of peace subiection and certaine Siluer plates and an Idoll made of Cotton and full of bloud and a Rasor of stone in the midst wherewith they sacrificed which was burned in their sight to their great amazement who thought it would haue destroyed all Against Mandie Thursday a Church was erected of reeds in a day and deuout Procession was then made of more then thircie Disciplinants On Easter Tuesday I departed thence to Tespano thence by Mount Amec to Teulinchano a strong place being all of stone cut round where euery Lord of the Prouince ought to haue a house wherein to sacrifice there had beene a great Idoll of Gold destroyed in other warres The Palaces were of stone engrauen some pieces of eighteene spannes with great Statues of men with other things like those of Mexico The Courts of the Palaces were spacious and faire with Fountaines of good water Thence I sent Captaine Verdugo to Xaltenango thorow a Valley of sixe leagues but the people were fled to the Mountaines A Crosse was planted and Masse said for the seruice of God there where the Deuill had so long beene serued and had receiued so many Sacrifices I diuided the Armie one part to goe to Mechuacan another Prouince not that of New Spaine neere to the South Sea I marched with the other to Guatatlan and there planted a Crosse on a Hill and thence to Tetitlan accompanied with the Caciques of the Countrie thence to Xalisco Heere the way was so bad that in fifteene dayes I rode not three and many beasts were lost I sent to the principall Lords of Xalisco to whom I made the request accustomed They were all retired to the Mountaines Finding my selfe neere the Sea I tooke possession thereof for your Maiestie At Tepique two of the Lords of Xalisco came to me in peace and to yeeld obedience as three other Townes had done neere the Sea where are said to bee Mines of Gold There I made Officers in your Maiesties name as being a new Discouerie and Conquest separate from New Spaine that there might be some to receiue your Maiesties fifths Two Crosses were erected in Xalisco and two in Tepeque a place well watered and very fertile In marching from thence a great and dangerous battell was giuen vs by the Indians wherein we obtained victorie They wounded fiftie Horses of which onely sixe died one Horse I assure your Maiestie is worth aboue foure hundred Pezos diuers of the principall Commanders were wounded also The next day I made a Procession with a Te Deum Thence I passed the great Riuer of the Trinitie to come to Omitlan the chiefe of that Prouince The Countrie is very hot and the Riuer full of Crocodiles and there are many venomous Scorpions Here was erected one Church and two Crosses Aztatlan is three dayes iourney hence where they prepare to giue mee battell From thence ten dayes further I shall goe to finde the Amazons which some say dwell in the Sea some in an arme of the Sea and that they are rich and accounted of the people for Goddesses and whiter then other women They vse Bowes Arrowes and Targets haue many and great Townes at a certaine time admit them to accompanie them which bring vp the males as these the female issue c. From Omitlan a Prouince of Mecuacan of the greater Spaine on the eighth of Iuly 1530. I had thought but for prolixitie here to haue added Aluarados Conquests the other way from Mexico two of whose Letters are extant in Ramusio The later of them is dated from the Citie of Saint Iago which hee founded Hee writes that hee was well entertained in Guatimala and passed alongst with diuers fortunes foure hundred leagues from Mexico conquering and let your Lordship beleeue mee this Countrie is better inhabited and peopled then all that which your Lordship hath hitherto gouerned In this Prouince I haue found a Vulcan the most dreadfull thing that euer was seene which casteth forth stones as great as a house burning in light flames which falling breake in pieces and couer all that fiery Mountaine Threescore leagues before wee saw another Vulcan which sends forth a fearefull smeake ascending vp to Heauen and the body of the smoake encompasseth halfe a league None drinke of the streames which runne downe from it for the Brimstone sent And especially there comes thence one principall Riuer very faire but so hot that certaine of my companie were not able to passe it which were to make out-roades into certaine places and searching a Ford found another cold Riuer running into it and where they met together the Ford was temperate and passable I beseech your Lordship to grant mee the fauour to bee Gouernour of this Citie c. From Saint Iago Iuly 28. 1524. §. II. The Voyages of Frier MARCO de Niça Don FR. VASQVEZ de Coronado Don ANTONIO de Espeio and diuers into New Mexico and the adioyning Coasts and Lands THere arose some strife betwixt Don Antonio de Mendoza Vice-roy of New Spaine and Cortes each striuing to exceed the other in New-Discoueries and complaining of each other to the Emperour Whiles Cortez went to that end into Spaine Mendoza hearing somewhat by Dorantez one of Naruaez his companions in the former inland Discoueries from Florida sent both Frier Marco de Niça with Steph. a Negro of Dorantez and afterwards Captaine Francis Vasquez de Coronado by Land as likewise Ferdinando Alarchon by Sea Cortez also sent Francis Vlloa with a Fleet of three ships for discouerie of the same Sea commonly called the South Sea The Voyages Ramusio hath published at large in Italian and Master Hakluyt out of him in English I shall borow leaue to collect out of
they entred to inhabite was the great and most fertile I le of Hispaniola which containeth sixe hundred leagues in compasse There are other great and infinite Iles round about and in the Confines on all sides which we haue seene the most peopled and the fullest of their owne natiue people as any other Countrie in the World may be The firme Land lying off from this Iland two hundred and fiftie leagues and somewhat ouer at the most containeth in length on the Sea Coast more then ten thousand leagues which are alreadie discouered and daily be discouered more and more all full of people as an Emmote hill of Emmots Insomuch as by that which since vnto the yeere the fortieth and one hath beene discouered It seemeth that God hath bestowed in that same Countrie the gulfe or the greatest portion of Mankind God created all these innumerable multitudes in euery sort very simple without subtletie or craft without malice very obedient and very faithfull to their naturall Liege Lords and to the Spaniards whom they serue very humble very patient very desirous of peace making and peacefull without brawles and strugglings without quarrels without strife without rancour or hatred by no meanes desirous of reuengement They are also people very gentle and very tender and of an easie complexion and which can sustaine no trauell and doe die very soone of any disease whatsoeuer in such sort as the very children of Princes and Noblemen brought vp amongst vs in all commodities ease and delicatenesse are not more soft then those of that Countrie yea although they bee the children of Labourers They are also very poore folke which possesse little neither yet doe so much as desire to haue much worldly goods and therefore neither are they proud ambitious nor couetous Their diet is such as it seemeth that of the holy Fathers in the Desert hath not bin more scarce nor more straight nor lesse daintie nor lesse sumptuous Their apparelling is commonly to goe naked all saue their shamefast parts alone couered And when they be clothed at the most it is but a of a Mantle of Bombacie of an ell and a halfe or two ells of linnen square Their lodging is vpon a Mat and those which haue the best sleepe as it were vpon a Net fastened at the foure corners which they call in the Language of the I le of Hispaniola Hamasas They haue their vnderstanding very pure and quicke being teachable and capeable of all good Learning very apt to receiue our holy Catholike Faith and to be instructed in good and vertuous manners hauing lesse incumberances and disturbances to the attaining thereunto then all the folfe of the world besides and are so enflamed ardent and importune to know and vnderstand the matters of the faith after they haue but begunne once to taste them as likewise the exercise of the Sacraments of the Church and the diuine Seruice that in truth the religious men haue need of a singular patience to support them And to make an end I haue heard many Spaniards many times hold this as assured and that which they could not denie concerning the good nature which they saw in them Vndoubtedly these folkes should bee the happiest in the World if onely they knew God Vpon these Lambes so meeke so qualified and endued of their Maker and Creator as hath bin said entred the Spanish incontinent as they knew them as Wolues as Lions and as Tigres most cruell of long time famished and haue not done in those quarters these fortie yeeres past neither yet doe at this present ought else saue teare them in pieces kill them martyr them afflict them torment them and destroy them by strange sorts of cruelties neuer neither seene nor read nor heard of the like of the which some shall be set downe hereafter so far forth that of aboue three Millions of soules that were in the I le of Hispaniola and that we haue seene there are not now two hundred natiues of the Countrey The I le of Cuba the which is in length as farre as from Vallodolid vntill Rome is at this day as it were all waste Saint Iohns Ile and that of Iamayca both of them very great very fertill and very faire are desolate Likewise the Iles of Lucayos neere to the I le of Hispaniola and of the North side vnto that of Cuba in number being aboue threescore Ilands together with those which they call the Iles of Geante one with another great and little whereof the very worst is fertiler then the Kings Garden at Siuill and the Countrie the healthsomest in the World there were in these same Iles more then fiue hundred thousand soules and at this day there is not one only creature For they haue beene all of them slaine after that they had drawne them out from thence to labour in their Minerals in the I le of Hispaniola where there were no more left of the Natiues of that Iland A ship riding for the space of three yeeres betwixt all these Ilands to the end after the inning of this kind of Vintage to gleane and cull the remainder of these folke for there was a good Christian moued with pittie and compassion to conuert and win vnto Christ such as might be found there were not found but eleuen persons which I saw other Iles more then thirty neere to the I le of Saint Iohn haue likewise bin dispeopled and marred All these Iles containe aboue two thousand leagues of land and are all dispeopled and laid waste As touching the maine firme land we are certaine that our Spaniards by their cruelties and cursed doings haue dispeopled and made desolate more then ten Realmes greater then all Spaine comprising also therewith Aragon Portugall and twise as much or more land then there is from Seuill to Ierusalem which are aboue a thousand leagues which Realmes as yet vnto this present day remaine in a wildernesse and vtter desolation hauing bin before time as well pâopled as ãâã possible We are able to yeelde a good and certaine accompt that there is within the space of ãâã said fortie yeares by those said tyrannies and diuellish doings of the Spaniards doen ãâã death ãâã iustly and tyrannously more then twelue Milions of soules men women and children And I doe verily beleeue and thinke not to mistake therein that there are dead more then fifteene Millions of soules The cause why the Spanish haue destroyed such an infinite of soules hath beene onely that they haue held it for their last scope and marke to get Gold and to enrich themselues in a short time and to mount at one leape to very high estates in no wise agreeable to their persons or to say in a word the cause hereof hath beene their auarice and ambition And by this meanes haue died so many Millions without faith and without Sacraments Of the I le of Hispaniola In the I le Hispaniola which was the first as we haue said where
for to draw a great deale of money according to the quantitie of the slaues and they prepare but a very small deale of sustenance and water to serue but a few persons to the end that those Tyrants whom they cal Purueyours of the ships should not spend them much And there is but euen scarse enough saue to serue the Spaniards turne which goe a rouing and robbing and there is alwaies wanting for the poore Indians Wherefore also they die for hunger and thirst and then there is none other remedie but to cast them ouer the boord into the Sea And verily a man among them did tell me that from the I le of Lucayos where had beene wrought great slaughters in this manner vnto the Isle of Hispaniola which are sixtie or seuentie leagues there trended a ship all alongst without that it had either Compasse or Mariners Card being guided onely by the tracke of dead Indians carkasses floating vpon the Seas of them which had bin cast in And after they be landed in the I le whither they bring them to make sale of them it is to make a heart to yearne of whosoeuer haue he neuer so little compassion to behold them naked and famished fall downe and faint for hunger and thirst women and aged men and children Afterwards they soone after separate them as it were Lambes the fathers from the children and the wiues from the husbands in making troupes of them of ten or twentie persons and so cast lots on them to the end those Purueyours should take their share which are those who doe rigge and furnish two or three ships for the Nauie of those Tyrants seasing vpon all they come by and pulling the poore men out of their owne housen And looke when the lot falleth vpon the flocke where there were among them any old or sicke person the Tyrant to whom the same escheated would say The Deuill take the old Graybeard why doest thou giue him mee to the end I should goe burie him And this sicke Rascall what haue I to doe that hee should fall out to my lot to the end I should be his Phisicion to cure him The tyrannie which the Spanish exercise ouer the Indians to fish for Pearles is one of the cruellest things that is in the World There is no hell in this life nor other desperate state in this World that may be compared vnto it although that the Trade of Gold finding be in his kind very grieuous and very miserable They let them into the Sea three foure or fiue fathome forth downe right vnder water from the morning vntill Sun-set where they are continually flitting without stint to plucke Oysters in the which are engendred the Pearles They surge vp aboue the waters with a Net full of Oysters to take breath where standeth readie a Spanish Tormentor in a little Cocke Boate or a Brigantine and if the poore wretches stay neuer so little while to rest themselues they all to be buffet them with their fists and draw them by the haire into the water to returne to their fishing Their sustenance is fish and the same very fish which containeth the Pearles and the bread Cacabi or some Maiz which are the kinds of bread of that Countrie the one of very slender nourishment the other is not easie to bee made into bread of the which also they neuer giue them their belly full The beds that they lodge them in a nights is to set them by the heeles their bodies recoyling on the cold ground in a paire of stockes for feare of running away Sometimes they are drowned in the Sea and at their fishing and trauell picking of Pearles and neuer rise vp againe aboue the water because the Bunches and whirlepooles doe kill them and eate them It is impossible that men should be able to liue any long season vnder the water without taking breath the continuall cold piercing them and so they die commonly parbraking of bloud at the mouth and of the bloudy fluxe caused by the cold Their haires which by nature are cole blacke alter and become after a branded russet like to the haires of the Sea-wolues The Salt-peter breaketh out of their shoulders in such sort that they seeme to bee a kinde of monsters in the shape of men or else some other kinde of men They dispatched in ridding about this insupportable trauell or rather to speake rightly this deuilish torment all the Lucayan Indians which were in the Iles hauing sauoured this gaines and euery Indian was worth vnto them a fiftie or an hundred Castillans They made an open Mart of them notwithstanding it were inhibited them by the Magistrate otherwise vnmercifull for the Lucayens were good swimmers They also about these things haue slaine a number of the people of other Prouinces Of the Riuer Yuia pari THere runneth through the Prouince of Paria a Riuer named Yuia Pari more then two hundred leagues within land from the head There entred the same Riuer an vnlucky tyrant a great many leagues vpward in the yeere 1529. with foure hundred men or more which there wrought great slaughters burning aliue and putting to the edge of the sword an infinite sort of Indians which were in their lands and houses doing hurt to no creature and therefore secure and mistrusting nothing In the end hee died an euill death and his Nauie was disparaged albeit that other tyrants there were which succeeded him in his mischieuousnesses and tyrannies and yet at this day thither they goe destroying and slaying and plunging into Hell the soules for whom the Sonne of God shed his bloud Of the Realme of Venesuela THe yeere 1526. the King our Soueraigne being induced by sinister informations and perswasions damageable to the State as the Spaniards haue alwaies pained themselues to conceale from his Maiestie the damages and dishonours which God and the soules of men and his State doeth receiue in the Indies granted and committed a grea Râalme greater then all Spaine Venesuela with the gouernment and entire iurisdiction vnto certaine Dutch Merchants with certaine capitulations and conuentions accorded betweene them These same entring the Countrey with three hundred men they found the people very amiable and meeke as Lambes as they are all in those parts of the Indies vntill the Spanish doe outrage them These set vpon them without comparison a great deale more cruelly then any of the other tyrants of the which wee haue spoken before shewing themselues more vnnaturall and fierce then raging Tigres or Wolues or ramping Lions These haue layd desolate and destroyed more then foure hundred leagues of most fertile land and therein of Prouinces exceeding and wonderfull faire Valleyes to the breadth of forty leagues and Bournes very great full of people and of Gold They haue staine and wholly discomfited great and diuers Nations so farre forth as to abolish the Languages wonted to bee spoken not leauing aliue that could skill of them vnlesse some one or
yea fauouring and supporting all the matter as likewise they haue had their eyes blinded at all the other tyrannies and ransackings infinite which haue beene done in all this coast of the Firme land which are about foure hundred leagues the which haue beene and now are vnder their iurisdiction like vnto Venesuela and Saint Martha all which the said Court might very well haue empeached and remedied Of the Prouinces of the firme land or quarter that is called Florida INto these Prouinces went three tyrants at three diuers times since the yeere 1510. or 1511. there to put in vre the acts which others and two of them from among themselues haue committed in other quarters of the Indians to the end to aspire to high degrees in no respect conuenient to their persons higher then their merits in the Common-wealth could conceiue with the bloud and destruction of their neighbours and they are dead all three of an euill death and their houses likewise haue beene destroyed with them the which they had builded in times past with the bloud of mankind as I can be a sufficient witnesse of all three and their memory is now abolished from of the face of the earth as if they had neuer beene in this world The fourth tyrant that came last in the yeere 1538. cunningly aduised and being fully furnished it is three yeeres since there is no tidings concerning him Sure he is one of the notoriousest and best experimented amongst them that haue done the most hurts mischieues and destructions in my Realmes with their consorts wherefore I beleeue that God hath giuen him like end vnto the others Of the Riuer of La Plata that is to say Of Siluer SIthence the yeere one thousand fiue hundred and two or three and twenty certaine Captaines made three or foure Voyages vp the Riuer of Plata where there are great Prouinces and Realmes and Nations well ordered and endued with vnderstanding In generall wee vnderstood that they haue made there great butcheries and inuasions but like as this Countey is farre discoasted from the Indies most famous so we are not able to quote the notablest points in particular Of the mighty Realmes and large Prouinces of Peru. IN the yeere 1531. went another great tyrant with certaine other consorts to the Realmes of Peru where entring with the same title and intention and with the same proceedings as all the rest before gone forasmuch as he was one of them which had of long time beene exercised in all kindes of cruelties and murders which had beene wrought in the firme land âithence the yeere 1510. hee tooke encouragement to accrue in cruelties murders and robberies being a man without loyaltie and truth laying waste Cities and Countries bringing them to nought and vtterly vndoing them by slaying the Inhabitants and being the cause of all the euils which ensued in that Countrie He slue and laid waste at his first arriuall with a mischiefe certaine boroughes from whom he pillaged a great quantitie of Gold In an Iland neere to the same Prouinces named Pagna well peopled and pleasant the Lord thereof with his people receiued them as it had beene Angels from heauen and six moneths after when as the Spanish had eaten vp all their prouision They discouered also vnto them the corne which they kept vnder ground for themselues their wiues and their children against a dry time and barren making them offer of all with trees plentifull to spend and eate at their pleasure The recompence in the end which they made them was to put to the edge of the Sword and Lance a great quantitie of those people And those whom they could take aliue they made slâues with other cruelties great and notable which they committed dispeopled as it were all that I le From thence they make to the Prouince of Tumbala which is in the firme land where they slay and destroy as many as they could come by And because all the people were fled as affrighted by their horrible acts they said that they made an insurrection and rebelled against the King of Spaine This tyrant had this policie and kept this order of proceeding that vnto all those whom he tooke or vnto others which presented him with Gold and Siluer or other things which they had he commanded them to bring more vntill such time as he perceiued that either they had no more or that they brought him no more And then he would say that he accepted them for the vassals and lieges of the King of Spaine and made much of them and would cause it to be proclaimed at sound of two Trumpets that from thenceforth they would take them no more and that they would doe them no manner harme at all setting it downe for good ando lawfull all whatsoeuer he had robbed from them A few dayes after the King and Emperour of those Realmes named Atabaliba came accompanied with a number of naked people bearing their ridiculous armour not knowing neither how Swords did carue nor Speares did pierce nor Horses did run nor who or what were the Spaniards Hee commeth to the place where they were saying Where are these Spaniards Let them come I will not stirre a foote till they satisfie me for my Subiects whom they haue slaine and my boroughs which they haue dispeopled and for my wealth which they haue bereaued me The Spaniards set against him and slew an infinite sort of his people they tooke him also in person who came carried in a Litter borne vpon mens shoulders They treate with him to the end that he should ransome himselfe The King offereth to performe foure millions of Castillans and performeth fifteene they promise to release him notwithstanding in the end keeping nor faith nor truth as they neuer kept any in the Iudies vnto the Indians they laid to his charge altogether vntruely that by his commandement the people assembled The King answered that in all the Countrie there moued not a leafe of a tree without his good will that if there assembled any people they were to beleeue that it was by his commandement and as touching himselfe that he was prisoner and they might slay him All this notwithstanding they condemned him to be burnt aliue but at the request of some certaine the Captaine caused him to be strangled and being strangled hee was burned This King vnderstanding his sentence said Wherefore will you burne me What trespasse haue I done yee Did not you promise me to set me at libertie if I gaue you the Gold And haue I not performed more then I promised Seeing you needes will haue it so send me to your King of Spaine speaking other things to the great confusion and detestation of the great wrongfulnesse that the Spaniards vsed whom in the end they burned Here let be considered the right and title of this warfare the imprisonment of this Prince the sentence and the execution of his death and the conscience whereby they possesse great treasures as
Grenado which they call Popayin and Cali and three or foure others which containe more then fiue hundred leagues of ground which they haue destroyed and desolated in the same manner as they haue done others robbing and slaying with torments and the enornities afore spoken of For the land is very fertile and those that come from thence now daily doe report that it is a ruefull thing to see so many goodly Townes burned and laid desolate as they might behold passing vp and downe that way so as there where there was worâ to be in one towne a thousand or two thousand households they haue not found fiftie and the rest vtterly ransacked and dispeopled And in some quarters they haue found two or three hundred leagues of Land dispeopled and burned and great Cities destroyed And finally by that that sithence into the Realmes of Peru of the Prouince side of Quito are entred farre into the Countrey sore and fell tyrants as farre as to the said Realme of Grenado and of Popayan and of Cali by the coast of Carthagene and Araba and other accursed tyrants of Carthagene haue gone to assault Quito and moreouer afterwards of the Riuers side of Saint Iohn which is on the South side all the which haue met to ioyne hands together in this exploit they haue rooted out and dispeopled aboue sixe hundred leagues of land with the losse of an infinite of soules doing still the selfe same to the poore wretches that remaine behinde howsoeuer innocent they appeare to be After the ends of the slaughters and massacres of the warres they bring the people into the horrible bondage abouesaid and giue them to the commandement of Deuils to one an hundred Indians to another three hundred The commander Deuill commandeth that there come before him an hundred Indians which incontinent present themselues like Lambes He causing forty or fifty amongst them to haue their heads cut off sayth vnto the other there present I will serue you of the same sauce if you doe not me good seruice or if so be that you goe out of my sight without my leaue That for the honour of God all they that haue read this piece of worke or shall giue it a reading consider now whether this act so hideous fell and vnnaturall doe not exceed all cruelty and iniquitie that may bee imagined and whether the Spaniards haue any wrong offered them when a man calleth them Diuels and whether were better to giue the Indians to keepe to the Deuils in Hell or the Spaniards which are at the Indies After this I will rehearse another deuilish part the which I cannot tell whether it bee lesse cruell and voide of manhood then are those of sauage beasts that is that the Spanish which are in the Indies doe keepe certaine Dogs most raging taught and trained wholly to the purpose to kill and rend in pieces the Indians That let all those that are true Christians yea and also those which are not so behold if euer there were the like thing in the whole world that is to feed those Dogs they leade about with them wheresoeuer they goe a great number of Indians in chaines as if they were Hogs and kill them making a shambles of mans flesh And the one of them will say to another Lend mee a quarter of a villaine to giue my Dogs some meate vntill I kill one next altogether as if one should borrowe a quarter of an Hogge or Mutton There be others which goe forth a hunting in the morning with their curres the which being returned to eate if another aske him How haue yee sped to day they answere Very well for I haue killed with my Dogs to day fifteene or twnety Villacoes All these diabolicall doings with others like haue beene proued in the suits of Law that the tyrants haue had one of them against another Is there any case more ougly or vnnaturall I will here now deport me of this discourse vntill such time that there come other newes of things in vngraciousnesse more notcrious and remarkable if it so bee that there can bee any more grieuous or vntill such time as we may returne thither to behold them our selues anew as we behold them for the space of two and forty yeeres continually with mine owne eyes protesting in a good conscience before God that I doe beleeue and I hold it for certaine that the damages and losses are so great with the destructions and ouerthrowes of Cities massacres and murders with the cruelties horrible and ougly with the rauins iniquities and robberies all the which things haue beene executed amongst those people and are yet daily committed in those quarters that in all the things which I haue spoken and deciphered as I was able the neerest to the truth I haue not said one of a thousand of that which haâh beene done and is daily a doing at this present bee it that you consider the qualitie or bee it that yee consider the quantitie And to the end that all Christians haue the greater compassion of those poore innocents and that they complaine with me the more their perdition and destruction and that they detest the greedinesse loftinesse and felnesse of the Spanish that all doe hold it for a most vndoubted veritie with all that hath beene abouesaid that sithence the first Discouerie of the Indies vntill now the Indians neuer did harme vnto the Spanish in any place wheresoeuer vntill such time that they first receiued wrongs and iniuries being robbed and betrayed but indeed did repute them to be immortall supposing them to be descended from Heauen and they receiued them for such vntill such time as that they gaue it forth manifestly to be knowne by their doings what they were and whereto they tended I will adioyne hereunto this that from the beginning vnto this houre the Spaniards haue had no more care to procure that vnto those people should be preached the Faith of Iesus Christ then as if they had beene Currâdogs or other beasts but in lieu thereof which is much worse they haue forbidden by expresse meanes the religious men to doe it for because that that seemed vnto them an hinderance likely to be to the getting of their Gold and these riches which their auarice foreglutted in And at the day there is no more knowledge of God throughout the Indies to wit whether he be of timber of the aire or the earth then there was an hundred yeeres agoe excepting New Spaine whither the religious men haue gone which is but a little corner of the Indies and so are they perished and doe perish all with Faith and without Sacraments I brother Bartholomew de las Casas or Casaus religious of the Order of Saint Dominicke which by the mercy of God am come into this Court of Spaine to sue that the Hell might bee withdrawen from the Indies and that these innumerable soules redeemed by the bloud of Iesus Christ should not perish for euermore without remedie but
since the yeare 1504. When we shall say that the Spaniards haue wasted your Maiesties and laid you desolate seuen Kingdomes bigger then Spaine you must conceiue that we haue seene them wonderfully peopled and now there is nobody left because the Spaniards haue slaine all the naturall inhabitants by meanes aforesaid and that of the Townes and Houses there remaineth onely the bare wals euen as if Spaine were all dispeopled and that all the people being dead there remained onely the wals of Cities Townes and Castels Your Maiestie haue not out of all the Indies one maruedy of certaine perpetuall and set rent but the whole reuenewes are as leaues and straw gathered vpon the earth which being once gathered vp doe grow no more euen so is all the rent that your Maiestie hath in the Indies vaine and of as small continuance as a blast of winde and that proceedeth onely of that the Spaniards haue had the Indians in their power and as they doe daily slay and rost the inhabitants so must it necessarily ensue that your Maiesties rights and rents doe wast and diminish The Kingdome of Spaine is in great danger to be lost robbed oppressed and made desolate by forraigne Nations namely by the Turkes and Moores because that God who is the most iust true and soueraigne King ouer all the world is wroth for the great sinnes and offences that the Spaniards haue committed throughout the Indies But had chosen Spaine as his minister and instrument to illuminate and bring them to his knowledge and as it had bin for a worldly recompence besides the eternall reward had granted her so great naturall riches and discouered for her such and so great fruitfull and pleasant lands c. In as much as our life is short I doe take God to witnesse with all the Hierarchies and thrones of Angels all the Saints of the heauenly court and all the men in the world yea euen those that shall hereafter be borne of the certificate that here I doe exhibite also of this the discharge of my conscience namely that if his Maiestie granteth to the Spaniards the aforesaid diuellish and tyrannous partition notwithstanding whatsoeuer lawes or statutes shall be deuised yet will the Indies in short space be laid desart and dispeopled euen as the I le of Hispaniola is at this present which otherwise would be most fruitfull and fertile together with other the Iles lands aboue 3000. leagues about besides Hispaniola it selfe and other lands both farre and neere And for those sinnes as the holy Scripture doth very well informe God will horribly chastize and peraduenture wholly subuert and roote out all Spaine Anno 1542. The summe of the disputation betweene Fryer BARTHOLOMEVV de las CASAS or CASAVS and Doctor SEPVLVEDA DOctor Sepulueda the Emperours chronographer hauing information and being perswaded by certaine of those Spaniards who were most guiltie in the slaughters and wastes committed among the Indian people wrote a Booke in Latine in forme of a Dialogue very eloquently and furnished with all flowers and precepts of Rhetoricke as indeede the man is very learned and excellent in the said tongue which Booke consisted vpon two principall conclusions the one That the Spaniards warres against the Indians were as concerning the cause and equitie that moued them thereto very iust also that generally the like warre may and ought to be continued His other conclusion that the Indians are bound to submit themselues to the Spaniards gouernment as the foolish to the wise if they will not yeelde then that the Spaniards may as he affirmeth warre vpon them These are the two causes of the losse and destruction of so infinite numbers of people also that aboue 2000. leagues of the maine land are by sundry new kindes of Spanish cruelties and inhumaine dealings bin left desolate in the Ilands namely by Conquests and Commands as hee now nameth those which were wont to be called Partitions The said Doctor Sepulueda coloureth his Treatise vnder the pretence of publishing the title which the Kings of Castile and Leon doe challenge in the gouernment and vniuersall soueraigntie of this Indian world so seeking to cloake that doctrine which he endeuoureth to disperse and scatter as well in these lands as also through the Kingdomes of the Indians This Booke he exhibited to the royall Councell of the Indies very earnestly and importunately lying vpon them for licence to print it which they sundry times denied him in respect of the offence dangers and manifest detriment that it seemed to bring to the Common-wealth The Doctor seeing that here he could not publish his Booke for that the Counsell of the Indies would not suffer it he dealt so farre with his friends that followed the Emperours Court that they got him a Patent whereby his Maiestie directed him to the royall Counsell of Castile who knew nothing of the Indian affaires vpon the comming of these Letters the Court and Couâsell being at Aranda in Duero the yeare 1547. Fryer Bartholomew de las Casas or Casaus Bishop of the royall towne of Chiapa by hap arriued there comming from the Indians and hauing intelligence of Doctor Sepulneda his drifts and deuises had notice also of the Contents of his whole Booke but vnderstanding the Authors pernicious blindenesse as also the irrecouerable losses that might ensue vpon the printing of this Booke with might and maine withstood it discouering and reuealing the poyson wherewith it abounded and whereto it pretended The Lords of the Royall Counsaile of Castile as wise and iust Iudges determined therefore to send the said Booke to the Vniuersities of Salamanca and Alcala the matter being for the most part therein Theologically handled with commandement to examine it and if it might bee printed to signe it which Vniuersities after many exact and diligent disputations concluded that it might not be printed as contayning corrupt doctrine The Doctor not so satisfied but complaning of the Vniuersities aforesaid determined notwithstanding so many denials and repulses at both the Royall Counsailes to send his Treatise to his friends at Rome to the end there to print it hauing first transformed it into a certaine Apologie written to the Bishop of Segouia because the same Bishop hauing perused the Treatie and Booke aforesaid had brotherly and charitably as his friend by Letters reprooued and counsailed him The Emperour vnderstanding of the Impression of the said Booke and Apologie did immediately dispatch his Letters Patents for the calling in and suppression of the same commanding likewise to gather in againe all Copies thereof throughout Castile For the said Doctour had published also in the Castilian Language a certaine abstract of the said Booke thereby to make it more common to all the Land and to the end ââso that the Commons and such as vnderstood no Latine might haue some vse thereof as being a matter agreeable and toothsome to such as coueted great riches and sought wayes to clime to other estates then either themselues or their
bee not very high being not in some places past one or two fathoms and at the most three it falleth as it were steppe by steppe and in euery place where it hath some small heigth it maketh a strong boyling with the force and strength of the running of the water In the breadth of the said Sault which may containe some league there are many broad Rockes and almost in the middest there are very narrow and long Ilands where there is a Fall as well on the side of the said Iles which are toward the South as on the North side where it is so dangerous that it is not possible for any man to passe with any Boat how small soeuer it be We went on land through the Woods to see the end of this Sault where after wee had trauelled a league wee saw no more Rockes nor Falls but the water runneth there so swiftly as it is possible and this current lasteth for three or foure leagues so that it is in vaine to imagine that a man is able to passe the said Saults with any Boats But he that would passe them must fit himselfe with the Canoas of the Sauages which one man may easily carrie For to carrie Boats is a thing which cannot be done in to short time as it should bee to bee able to returne into France vnlesse a man would winter there And beside this first Sault there are ten Saults more the most part hard to passe So that it would be a matter of great paines and trauell to bee able to see and doe that by Boat which a man might promise himselfe without great cost and charge and also to bee in danger to trauell in vaine But with the Canoas of the Sauages a man may trauell freely and readily into all Countries as well in the small as in the great Riuers So that directing himselfe by the meanes of the said Sauages and their Canoas a man may see all that is to be seene good and bad within the space of a yeere or two That little way which wee trauelled by Land on the side of the said Sault is a very thinne Wood through which men with their Armes may march easily without any trouble the aire is there more gentle and temperate and the soyle better then in any place that I had seene where is store of such wood and fruits as are in all other places before mentioned and it is in the latitude of 45. degrees and certaine minutes When we saw that we could doe no more we returned to our Pinnace where we examined the Sauages which we had with vs of the end of the Riuer which I caused them to draw with their hand and from what part the Head thereof came They told vs that beyond the first Sault that we had seene they trauelled some ten or fifteene leagues with their Canoas in the Riuer where there is a Riuer which âunneth to the dwelling of the Algoumequins which are some sixty leagues distant from the great Riuer and then they passed fiue Saults which may containe from the first to the last eight leagues whereof there are two where they carrie their Canoas to passe them euery Sault may containe halfe a quarter or a quarter of a league at the most And then they come into a Lake which may be fifteene or sixteene leagues long From thence they enter againe into a Riuer which may be a league broad and trauell some two leagues in the same and then they enter into another Lake some foure or fiue leagues long comming to the end thereof they passe fiue other Saults distant from the first to the last some fiue and twenty or thirty leagues whereof there are three where they carrie their Canoas to passe them and thorow the other two they doe but draw them in the water because the current is not there so strong nor so bad as in the others None of all these Saults is so hard to passe as that which we saw Then they come into a Lake which may containe some eighty leagues in length in which are many Ilands and at the end of the same the water is brackish and the Winter gentle At the end of the said Lake they passe a Sault which is somewhat high where little water descendeth there they carrie their Canoas by land about a quarter of a league to passe this Sault From thence they enter into another Lake which may be some sixty leagues long and that the water thereof is very brackish at the end thereof they come vnto a Strait which is two leagues broad and it goeth farre into the Countrie They told vs that they themselues had passed no farther and that they had not seene the end of a Lake which is within fifteene or sixteene leagues of the farthest place where themselues had beene nor that they which told them of it had knowne any man that had seene the end thereof because it is so great that they would not hazard themselues to sayle farre into the same for feare lest some storme or gust of winde should surprise them They say that in the Summer the Sunne doth set to the North of the said Lake and in the Winter it setteth as it were in the middest thereof That the water is there exceesalt to wit as salt as the Sea water I asked them whether from the last Lake which they had seene the water descended alwaies downe the Riter comming to Gaschepay They told me no but said that from the third Lake onely it descended to Gaschepay But that from the last Sault which is somewhat high as I haue said the water was almost still and that the said Lake might take his course by other Riuers which passe within the Lands either to the South or to the North whereof there are many that runne there the end whereof they see not Now in my iudgement if so many Riuers fall into this Lake hauing so small a course at the said Sault it must needs of necessitie fall out that it must haue his issue forth by some exceeding great Riuer But that which maketh me beleeue that there is no Riuer by which this Lake doth issue forth considering the number of so many Riuers as fall into it is this that the Sauages haue not seene any Riuer that runneth through the Countries saue in the place where they were Which maketh me beleeue that this is the South Sea being salt as they say Neuerthelesse we may not giue so much credit thereunto but that it must bee done with apparent reasons although there be some small shew thereof And this assuredly is all that hitherto I haue seene and heard of the Sauages touching that which we demanded of them VVEe departed from the said Sault on Friday the fourth day of Iuly and returned the same day to the Riuer of the Irocois On Sunday the sixth of Iuly wee departed from thence and anchored in the Lake The Monday following wee
anchored at the three Riuers This day wee sayled some foure leagues beyond the said three Riuers The Tuesday following we came to Quebec and the next day wee were at the end of this I le of Orleans where the Sauages came to vs which were lodged in the maine Land on the North side Wee examined two or three Algoumequins to see whether they would agree with those that wee had examined touching the end and the beginning of the said Riuer of Canada They said as they had drawne out the shape thereof that hauing passed the Sault which wee had seene some two or three leagues there goeth a Riuer into their dwelling which is on the North side So going on forward in the said great Riuer they passe a Sault where they carrie their Canoas and they come to passe fiue other Saults which may containe from the first to the last some nine or ten leagues and that the said Saults are not hard to passe and they doe but draw their Canoas in the most part of the said Saults or Falls sauing at two where they carrie them from thence they enter into a Riuer which is as it were a kinde of Lake which may containe some sixe or seuen leagues and then they passe fiue other Falls where they draw their Canoas as in the first mentioned sauing in two where they carrie them as in the former and that from the first to the last there are some twenty or fiue and twenty leagues Then they come into a Lake contayning some hundred and fifty leagues in length and foure or fiue leagues within the entrance of that Lake there is a Riuer which goeth to the Algoumequins toward the North and another Riuer which goeth to the Irocois whereby the said Algoumequins and Irocois make warre the one against the other Then comming to the end of the said Lake they meete with another Fall where they carrie their Canoas From thence they enter into another exceeding great Lake which may containe as much as the former They haue beene but a very little way in this last Lake and haue heard say that at the end of the said Lake there is a Sea the end whereof they haue not seene neither haue heard that any haue seene it But that where they haue beene the water is not salt because they haue not entred farre into it and that the course of the water commeth from the Sun-setting toward the East and they knowe not whether beyond the Lake that they haue seene there be any other course of water that goeth Westward That the Sunne setteth on the right hand of this Lake which is according to my iudgement at the North-west little more or lesse and that in the first great Lake the water freezeth not which maketh mee iudge that the climate is there temperate and that all the Territories of the Algoumequins are lowe grounds furnished with small store of wood And that the coast of the Irocois is Mountainous neuerthelesse they are excellent good and fertile soyles and better then they haue seene any where else That the said Irocois reside some fifty or sixty leagues from the said great Lake And this assuredly is all which they haue told mee that they haue seene which differeth very little from the report of the first Sauages This day wee came within some three leagues of the I le of Coudres or Filberds On Thursday the tenth of the said moneth wee came within a league and an halfe of the I le Du Lieure or Of the Hare on the North side where other Sauages came into our Pinnace among whom there was a young man an Algoumequin which had trauelled much in the said great Lake Wee examined him very particularly as wee had done the other Sauages Hee told vs that hauing passed the said Fall which wee had seene within two or three leagues there is a Riuer which goeth to the said Algoumequins where they be lodged and that passing vp the great Riuer of Canada there are fiue Falls which may containe from the first to the last some eight or nine leagues whereof there bee three where they carrie their Canoas and two others wherein they draw them that each of the said Falls may be a quarter of a league long then they come into a Lake which may containe some fifteene leagues Then they passe fiue other Falls which may containe from the the first to the last some twenty or fiue and twenty leagues where there are not past two of the said Falls which they passe with their Canoas in the other three they doe but draw them From thence they enter into an exceeding great Lake which may containe some three hundred leagues in length when they are passed some hundred leagues into the said Lake they meet with an Iland which is very great and beyond the said Iland the water is brackish But when they haue passed some hundred leagues farther the water is yet falter and comming to the end of the said Lake the water is wholly salt Farther he said that there is a Fall that is a league broad from whence an exceeding current of water descendeth into the said Lake That after a man is passed this Fall no more land can be seene neither on the one side nor on the other but so great a Sea that they neuer haue seene the end thereof nor haue heard tell that any other haue seene the same That the Sunne setteth on the right hand of the said Lake and that at the entrance thereof there is a Riuer which goeth to the Algoumequins and another Riuer to the Irocois whereby they warre the one against the other That the Countrie of the Irocois is somewhat mountainous yet very fertile where there is store of Indian Wheat and other fruits which they haue not in their Countrie That the Countrie of the Algoumequins is lowe and fruitfull I enquired of them whether they had any knowledge of any Mines They told vs that there is a Nation which are called the good Irocois which come to exchange for merchanââses which the French ships doe giue to the Algoumequins which say that there is toward the North a Mine of fine Copper whereof they shewed vs certaine Bracelets which they had receiued of the said Good Irocois and that if any of vs would goe thither they would bring them to the place which should bee appointed for that businesse And this is all which I could learne of the one and the other differing but very little saue that the second which were examined said that they had not tasted of the salt water for they had not beene so farre within the said Lake as the others and they differ some small deale in the length of the way the one sort making it more short and the other more long So that according to their report from the Sault or Fall where wee were is the space of some foure hundred leagues vnto the
to maintaine keepe and conserue the said places vnder our Power and Authoritie by the formes wayes and meanes prescribed by our Lawes And for to haue there a care of the same with you to appoint establish and constitute all Officers as well in the affaires of Warre as for Iustice and Policie for the first time and from thence forward to name and present them vnto vs for to be disposed by vs and to giue Letters Titles and such Prouisoes as shall be necessarie c. Giuen at Fountain-Bleau the eight day of Nouember in the yeere our Lord 1603. And of our Reigne the fifteenth Signed Henry and vnderneath by the King Potier And sealed vpon single labell with yellow Waxe The Voyage of Monsieur de MONTS into New France written by MARKE LESCARBOT MOnsieur de Monts hauing made the Commissions and Prohibitions before said to bee proclaimed thorow the Realme of France and especially thorow the Ports and maritine Townes thereof caused two shippes to bee rigged and furnished the one vnder the conduct of Captaine Timothy of New-hauen the other of Captaine Morell of Honfleur In the first hee shipped himselfe with good number of men of account as well Gentlemen as others And for as much as Monsieur de Poutrincourt was and had beene of a long time desirous to see those Countries of New France and there to finde out and choose some fit place to retire himselfe into with his Family Wife and Children not meaning to be the last that should follow and participate in the glorie of so faire and generous an enterprize would needs goe thither and shipped himselfe with the said Monsieur de Monts carrying with him some quantitie of Armours and Munitions of Warre and so weighed Anchors from New-hauen the seuenth day of March 1604. But being departed some what too soone before the Winter had yet left off her frozen Weed they found store of Icie bankes against the which they were in danger to strike and so to be cast away The Voyage was long by reason of contrarie winds which seldome hapneth to them that set out in March for the New-found lands which are ordinarily carried with an East or Northerne winde fit to goe to those Lands And hauing taken their course to the South of the I le of Sand or Sablon or Sand for to shunne the said Ices they almost fell from Caribdis into Scylla going to strike towards the said Ile during the thicke mists that are frequent in that Sea In the end the sixt of May they came to a certaine Port where they found Captaine Rossignol of New-hauen who did trucke for skinnes with the Sauages contrary to the Kings Inhibitions which was the cause that his ship was confilcated This Port was called Le Port du Rossignol hauing in this his hard fortune this onely good that a good and fit Harborough or Port in those Coasts be areth his name From thence coasting and discouering the Lands they arriued at another Port very faire which they named Le Port de Moutton by reason that a Mutton or Weather hauing leaped ouer-board and drowned himselfe came aboard againe and was taken and eaten as good prize Neere the said Moutton Port there is a place so replenished with Rabbets and Conies that they almost did eate nothing else During that time Monsieur Champlein was sent with a shallop to seeke farther off a fitter place to retire themselues at which Exploit he carried so long that deliberating vpon the returne they thought to leaue him behind for there was no more victuals and they serued themselues with that that was found in the said Rossignols ship without which they had beene forced to returne into France and so to breake a faire enterprize at the very birth and beginning thereof or to starue hauing ended the hunting of Conies which could not still continue All New France in the end being contained in two ships they weighed Anchors from Port du Moutton for to imploy their time and to discouer Lands as much as might before Winter Wee came to Cape de Sable or the Sandie Cape and from thence we sailed to the Bay of Saint Marie where our men lay at Anchor fifteene dayes whilest the Lands and passages as well by Sea as by Riuer might be descried and knowne This Bay is a very faire place to inhabit because that one is readily carried thither without doubling There are Mynes of Iron and Siluer but in no great abundance according to the triall made thereof in France A Priest losing his way in the Woods was missing sixteene dayes Whereupon a Protestant was charged to haue killed him because they quarrelled sometimes for matters of Religion Finally they sounded a Trumpet thorow the Forrest they shot off the Canon diuers times but in vaine for the roaring of the Sea stronger then all that did expell backe the sound of the said Canons and Trumpets Two three and foure dayes passed he appeareth not In the meane-while the time hastens to depart so hauing tarried so long that hee was then held for dead they weighed Anchors to goe further and to see the depth of a Bay that hath some fortie leagues length and fourteene yea eighteene of breadth which was named La Baye Francoise or the French Bay In this Bay is the passage to come into a Port whereinto our men entred and made some abode during the which they had the pleasure to hunt an Elian or Stagge that crossed a great Lake of the Sea which maketh this Port and did swimme but easily This Port is enuironed with Mountaines on the North side Towards the South bee small Hills which with the said Mountaines doe powre out a thousand Brookes which make that place pleasanter then any other place in the World there are very faire falles of waters fit to make Milles of all sorts At the East is a Riuer betweene the said Mountaines and Hilles in the shippes may saile fifteene leagues and more and in all this distance is nothing of both sides the Riuer but faire Medowes which Riuer was named L' Equille because that the first fish taken therein was an Equille But the said Port for the beautie thereof was called Port Royall Monsieur de Poutrincourt hauing found this place to bee to his ââking demanded it with the Lands thereunto adioyning of Monsieur de Monts to whom the King had by Commission before inserted granted the distribution of the Lands of New France from the fortieth degree to the sixe and fortieth Which place was granted to the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt who since hath had Letters of confirmation for the same of his Maiestie intending to retire himselfe thither with his Family and there to establish the Christian and French Name as much as his power shall stretch and God grant him the meanes to accomplish it The Port contayneth eight leagues of circuit besides the Riuer of L' Equille There is within it two Iles very faire and pleasant the one
at the mouth of the said Riuer which I deeme to bee of the greatnesse of the Citie of Beauvais The other at the side of the mouth of another Riuer as broad as the Riuer of Oise or Marne entring within the said Port The said Ile beeing almost of the greatnesse of the other and they both are wooddie In this Port and right ouer against the former I le wee dwelt three yeeres after this Voyage We will speake thereof more at large hereafter From Port Royall they sailed to the Copper Myne whereof wee haue spoken before else-where It is a high Rocke betweene two Bayes of the Sea wherein the Copper is conioyned with the stone very faire and very pure such as is that which is called Rozette Copper Many Gold-smithes haue seene of it in France which doe say that vnder the Copper Myne there might be a Golden Myne which is very probable For if those excrements that Nature expelleth forth be so pure namely small pieces that are found vpon the grauell at the foote of the Rocke when it is low water there is no doubt that the Metall which is in the bowels of the earth is much more perect but this is a Worke that requireth time The first myning and working is to haue Bread Wine and Cattle as we haue said else-where Our felicitie consisteth not in Mynes specially of Gold and Siluer the which serue for nothing in the tillage of the ground nor to Handicrafts vse Contrariwise the abundance of them is but a charge and burthen that keepeth man in perpetuall vnquiet and the more he hath thereof the lesse rest enioyeth he and his life lesser assured vnto him Before the Voyages of Perou great riches might haue beene set vp in a small place in stead that in this our age by the abundance of Gold and siluer the same is come at no value nor esteeme One hath need of huge Chests and Coffers to put in that which a small Budget might haue contained One might haue trauelled with a Purse in ones sleeue and now a Cloke-bagge and a Horse must expresly be had for that purpose Wee may iustly curse the houre that greedie Auarice did carrie the Spaniard into the West for the wofull euents that haue ensued thereof For when I consider that by his greedinesse he hath kindled and maintayned the Warre thorow all Christendome and his onely studie hath beene how to destroy his Neighbours and not the Turke I cannot thinke that any other but the Deuill hath beene the Authour of their Voyages And let not the pretence of Religion be alleaged vnto mee for as wee haue said elsewhere they haue killed all the of-spring of the Countrey with the most inhumane torments that the Deuill hath beene able to excogitate And by their cruelties haue rendred the Name of God odious and a name of offence to those poore people and haue continually and daily blasphemed him in the midst of the Gentiles as the Prophet reprocheth to the people of Israel Wâânesse him that had rather bee damned then goe to the Paradise of the Spâniards c. Among these Copper Rockes there is found sometimes small Rockes couered with Diamonds fixed to them I will not aflure them for fine but that is very pleasing to the sight There are also certaine shining blue stones which are of no lesse value or worth than Turkie Stones Monsieur de Champdore our guide for the Nauigations in those Countries hauing cut within a Rocke one of those stones at his returne from New France hee brake it in two and gaue one part of it to Monsieur de Monts the other to Monsieur de Poutrincourt which they made tobe put in Gold and were found worthy to be presented the one to the King by the said Poutrincourt the other to the Queene by the said de Monts and were very well accepted I remember that a Goldsmith did offer fifteene Crownes to Monsieur de Poutrincourt for that hee presented to his Maiestie This Riuer is one of the fairest that may be seene hauing store of Ilands and swarming with fishes This last yeere 1608. thy said Monsieur de Champdore with one of the said Monsieur de Monts his men hath beene some fiftie leagues vp the said Riuer and doe witnesse that there is great quantitie of Vines along the shoare but the Grapes are not so bigge as they be in the Countrie of the Armouchiquois There are also Onions and many other sorts of good hearbs As for the Trees they are the fairest that may be seene When wee were there wee saw great number of Cedar Trees Concerning fishes the said Champdore hath related vnto vs that putting the Kettle ouer fire they had taken fish sufficient for their Dinner before that the water was hot Moreouer this Riuer stretching it selfe farre within the Lands of the Sauages doth maruellously shorten the long trauels by meanes thereof For in sixe dayes they goe to Gashepe comming to the Bay of Gulfe of Chaleur or heate when they are at the end of it in carrying their Canowes some few leagues And by the same Riuer in eight dayes they go to Tadoussac by a branch of the same which commeth from the North-west In such sort that in Port Royall one may haue within fifteene or eighteene dayes newes from the Frenchmen dwelling in the great Riuer of Canada by these wayes which could not be done in one moneth by Sea nor without danger Leauing Saint Iohns Riuer they came following the Coast twentie leagues from that place to a great Riuer which is properly Sea where they fortified themselues in a little Iland seated in the middest of this Riuer which the said Champleine had beene to discouer and view And seeing it strong by nature and of easie defence and keeping besides that the season beganne to slide away and therefore it was behoouefull to prouide of lodging without running any farther they resolued to make their abode there As they began to visit and search the Iland Monsieur de Champdore of whom we shall henceforth make mention by reason he dwelt foure yeere in those parts conducting the Voyages made there was sent backe to the Bay of Saint Mary with a Mine-finder that had beene carried thither for to get some Mynes of siluer and Iron which they did And as they had crossed the French Bay they entred into the said Bay of Saint Marie by a narrow Straite or passage which is betweene the Land of Port Royall and an Iland called the Long I le where after some abode they going a fishing Monsieur Aubri the Priest before lost perceiued them and beganne with a feeble voice to call as loud as he could and put his Handkercher and his Hat on a staues end which made him better to be knowne During these sixteene daies hee fed himselfe but by I know not what small fruits like vnto Cheries without kernell yet not so delicate which are
is called Miquelet which deserue well to be mentioned here for hauing so freely exposed their liues in the conseruation of the welfare of New France For Monsieur du Pont hauâng but one Barke and a Shallop to seeke out towards New-found-land for French shippes could not charge himselfe with so much furniture Corne Meate and Merchandises as were there which he had bin forced to cast into the Sea and which had bin greatly to our preiudice and we did feare it very much if these two men had not aduentured themselues to tarrie there for the preseruing of those things which they did with a willing and ioyfull minde The Friday next day after our arriuall Monsieur de Poutrincourt affected to this Enterprize as for himselfe put part of his people to worke in the tillage and manuring of the ground whilest the others were employed in making cleane of the Chambers and euery one to make readie that which belonged to his Trade In the meane time those people of ours that had left vs at Campseau to come along the Coast met as it were miraculously with Monsieur du Pont among Ilands that bee in great number in those parts The said Monsieur du Poât at this happie and fortunate meeting returned backe to see vs in the Port Royall and to ship himselfe in the Ionae to returne into France As this chance was beneficiall vnto him so was it vnto vs by the meanes of his ships that hee left with vs. For without that wee had beene in such extremitie that we had not beene able to goe nor come any where our ship being once returned into France Hee arriued there on Monday the last of Iuly and tarâied yet in Port Royall vntill the eight and twenty of August All this moneth we made merry At the very beginning we were desirous to see the Countrie vp the Riuer where wee found Medowes almost continuall aboue twelue leagues of ground among which brookes doe runne without number which come from the Hills and Mountaines adioyning The Woods very thicke on the water shoares and so thicke that sometimes one cannot goe thorow them In the passage to come forth from the same Fort for to goe to Sea there is a Brooke which falleth from the high Rockes downe and in falling disperseth it selfe into a small raine which is very delightfull in Summer because that at the foote of the Rocke there are Caues wherein one is couered whilest that this raine falleth so pleasantly And in the Caue wherein the raine of this Brooke falleth is made as it were a Rain-bowe when the Sunne shineth which hath giuen me great cause of admiration Within fifteene leagues of our dwelling the Countrey thorow which the Riuer L'Equille passeth is all plaine and euen I haue seene in those parts many Countries where the land is all euen and the fairest of the world But the perfection thereof is that it is well watered And for witnesse whereof not onely in Port Royall but also in all New France the great Riuer of Canada is proofe thereof which at the end of foure hundred leagues is as broad as the greatest Riuers of the world replenished with Iles and Rockes innumerable taking her beginning from one of the Lakes which doe meete at the streame of her course and so I thinke so that it hath two courses the one from the East towards France the other from the West towards the South Sea which is admirable but not without the like example found in our Europe For the Riuer which commeth downe to Trent and to Verone proceedeth from a Lake which produceth another Riuer whose course is bent opposite to the Riuer of Lins which falleth into the Riuer Danâbe So the Nile issueth from a Lake that bringeth forth other Riuers which discharge themselues into the great Ocean Let vs returne to our tillage for to that must wee apply our selues it is the first mine that must bee sought for which is more worth than the treasures of Atabalipa And hee that hath Corne Wine Cattell Woollen and Linnen Leather Iron and afterward Cod-fish he needeth no other treasures for the necessaries of life Now all this is or may be in the Land by vs described vpon which Monsieur de Pontrincourt hauing caused a second tillage to be made in fifteene dayes after his arriuall thither he sowed it with our French Corne as well Wheat and Rie as with Hempe Flaxe Turnep seed Radice Cabages and other seeds And the eight day following he saw that his labour had not beene in vaine but rather a faire hope by the production that the ground had already made of the seedes which shee had receiued Which being shewed to Monsieur du Pont was vnto him a faire subiect to make his relation in France as a thing altogether new there The twentieth day of August was already come when these faire shewes were made and the time did admonish them that were to goe in the Voyage to make ready Whereunto they beganne to giue order so that the fiue and twentieth day of the same moneth after many peales of Ordnance they weighed anchor to come to the mouth of the Port which is commonly the first dayes iourney Monsieur de Monts being desirous to reach as farre into the South as he could and seeke out a place very fit to inhabite beyond Malebarre had requested Monsieur de Poutrincourt to passe farther than yet he had done and to seeke a conuenient Port in good temperature of aire making no greater account of Port Royall than of Saint Croix in that which concerneth health Whereunto the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt being willing to condescend would not tarrie for the Spring time knowing he should haue other employments to exercise himselfe withall But seeing his sowings ended and his field greene resolued himselfe to make this Voyage and Discouerie before Winter So then hee disposed all things to that end and with his Barke anchored neere to the Ionas to the end to get out in companie The eight and twentieth day of the said moneth each of vs tooke his course one one way and the other another diuersly to Gods keeping As for Monsieur du Pont he purposed by the way to set vpon a Merchant of Roan named Boyer who contrary to the Kings inhibitions was in those parts to trucke with the Sauages notwithstanding hee had beene deliuered out of prison in Rochell by the consent of Monsieur de Poutrincourt vnder promise hee should not goe thither but the said Boyer was already gone And as for Monsieur de Poutrincourt hee tooke his course for the I le of Saint Croix the Frenchmens first abode hauing Monsieur de Champdore for Master and Guide of his Barque but being hindered by the winde and because his Barque did leake hee was forced twice to put backe againe In the end hee quite passed the Bay Françoise and viewed the said I le where hee found ripe
and that in snowie weather Moreouer they had greater care of him as also of others that haue often gone with them than of themselues saying that if they should chance to dye it would be laid to their charges to haue killed them Such gouernment as we haue spoken of did serue vs for preseruatiues against the Country disease And yet foure of ours died in February and March of them who were of a fretfull condition sluggish And I remember I obserued that all had their lodgings on the West side and looking towards the wide open Port which is almost foure leagues long shaped ouale-wise besides they had all of them ill bedding We had faire weather almost during all the Winter for neither raines nor fogges are so frequent there as here whether it be at Sea or on the land The reason is because the Sun-beames by the long distance haue not the force to raise vp vapours from the ground here chiefely in a Countrey all wooddy But in Summer it doth both from the Sea and the Land when as their force is augmented and those vapors are dissolued suddenly or slowly according as one approacheth to the Equinoctiall line Raines being in those parts rare in that season the Sunne likewise shineth there very faire after the fall of Snowes which we haue had seuen or eight times but it is easily melted in open places and the longest abiding haue beene in February Howsoeuer it be the Snow is very profitable for the fruits of the earth to preserue them against the frost and to serue them as a fur-gowne And as the skie is seldome couered with clouds towards new-found-New-found-lands in Winter time so are there morning frosts which doe increase in the end of Ianuary February and in the beginning of March for vntill the very time of Ianuary we kept vs still in our doublets And I remember that on a Sunday the foureteenth day of that moneth in the afternoone wee sported our selues singing in Musicke vpon the Riuer L'Esquelle and in the same moneth wee went to see Corne two leagues off from our Fort and did dine merrily in the Sun-shine I would not for all that say that all other yeares were like vnto this For as that winter was as milde in these parts these last Winters of the yeares 1607. 1608. haue beene the hardest that euer was seene it hath also beene alike in those Countries in such sort that many Sauages died through the rigour of the weather as in these our parts many poore people and trauellers haue beene killed through the same hardnesse of Winter weather But I will say that the yeare before we were in New France the Winter had not beene so hard as they which dwelt there before vs haue testified vnto me Let this suffice for that which concerneth the winter season But I am not yet fully satisfied in searching the cause why in one and the selfe same parallell the season is in those parts of New France more slow by a moneth than in these parts and the leaues appeare not vpon the trees but towards the end of the moneth of May vnlesse wee say that the thicknesse of the wood and greatnesse of Forrests doe hinder the Sunne from warming of the ground Item that the Country where we were is ioyning to the Sea and thereby more subiect to cold And besides that this land hauing neuer beene tilled is the more dampish the trees and plants not being able easily to draw sap from their mother the earth In recompence wherof the Winter there is also more slow as we haue heretofore spoken The cold being passed about the end of March the best disposed amongst vs striued who should best till the ground and make Gardens to sowe in them and gather fruits thereof Which was to very good purpose for wee found great discommodity in the Winter for want of Garden hearbes When euery one had done his sowing it was a marueilous pleasure in seeing them daily grow and spring vp and yet greater contentment to vse thereof so abundantly as wee did so that this beginning of good hope made vs almost to forget our natiue Countrie and especially when the fish began to haunt fresh-water and came abundantly into our brookes in such innumerable quantity that we knew not what to doe with it Whilest some laboured on the ground Monsieur de Poutrincourt made some buildings to be prepared for to lodge them which he hoped should succeede vs. And considering how troublesome the Hand-mill was he caused a Water-mill to be made which caused the Sauages to admire much at it For indeede it is an inuention which came not into the spirit of men from the first ages After that our workmen had much rest for the most part of them did almost nothing But I may say that this Mill by the diligence of our Millers did furnish vs with three times more Herrings then was needefull vnto vs for our sustenance Monsieur de Pontrincourt made two Hogsheads full of them to be salted and one hogshead of Sardines or Pilchers to bring into France for a shew which were left in our returne at Saint Maloes to some Merchants Among all these things the said Monsieur de Pontrincourt did not neglect to thinke on his returne Which was the part of a wise man for one must neuer put so much trust in mens promises but one must consider that very often many disasters doe happen to them in a small moment of time And therefore euen in the Moneth of Aprill he made two Barkes to be prepared a great one and a small one to come to seeke out French-ships towards Campseau or New-found-land if it should happen that no supply should come vnto vs. But the Carpentry-worke being finished one onely inconuenience might hinder vs that is we had no Pitch to calke our Vessels This which was the chiefest thing was forgotten at our departure from Rochel In this important necessitie the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt aduised himselfe to gather in the woods quantity of the gumme issuing from Firre-trees Which he did with much labour going thither himselfe most often with a Boy or two so that in the end hee got some hundred pounds weight of it Now after these labours it was not yet all for it was needefull to melt and purifie the same which was a necessary point and vnknowne to our ship-Master Monsieur de Champ-dore and to his Marriners for as much as that the Pitch we haue commeth from Norwege Suedland and Danzick Neuerthelesse the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt found the meanes to draw out the quintessence of these Gummes and Firre-tree barkes and caused quantity of Brickes to be made with the which he made an open furnace wherein he put a limbecke made with many kettles ioyned one in the other which hee filled with those gummes and barkes Then being well couered fire was put round about
he would treat with him Oagimont Sagamos of the Riuer Saint Croix was appointed for that purpose and he would not trust them but vnder the assurance of the Frenchmen he went thither Some Presents were made to Astikou who vpon the speech of peace began to exhort his people and to shew them the causes that ought to induce them to hearken vnto it Whereunto they condiscended making an exclamation at euery Article that he propounded to them Some fiue yeeres agoe Monsieur de Monts had likewise pacified those Nations and had declared vnto them that he would bee enemie to the first of them that should begin the Warre and would pursue him But after his returne into France they could not containe themselues in peace And the Armouchiquois did kill a Souriquois Sauage called Panoniac who went to them for to trucke Merchandize which he tooke at the Store-house of the said Monsieur de Monts The Warre aboue mentioned happened by reason of this said murther vnder the conduct of Sagamos Membââiou the said Warre was made in the very same place where I now make mention that Monsieur de Champdore did treate the peace this yeere Monsieur Champlein is in another place to wit in the great Riuer of Canada neere the place where Captaine Iames Quartier did winter where hee hath fortified him selfe hauing brought thither housholds with Cattle and diuers sorts of fruit-trees There is store of Vines and excellent Hempe in the same place where he is which the earth bringeth forth of it selfe He is not a man to be idle and we expect shortly newes of the whole Discouerie of this great and vncomparable Riuer and of the Countries which it washeth on both sides by the diligence of the said Champlein As for Monsieur de Poutrincourt his desire is immutable in this resolution to inhabit and adorne his Prouince to bring thither his family and all sorts of Trades necessary for the life of man Which with Gods helpe hee will continue to effect all this present yeere 1609. And as long as hee hath vigour and strength will prosecute the same to liue there vnder the Kings obeysance The Authour hath written another large Booke of the Rites of the Sauages of those parts which I haue omitted partly because Champlein in the former Chapiter hath giuen vs large instructions of the same and because in our Virginian and New England and New-found-land our men will relate the like and because I seeke to bee short howsoeuer my Subiect causeth mee to bee voluminous CHAP. VIII Collections out of a French Booke called Additions to Noua Francia containing the Accidents there from the yeere 1607. to 1611. MOnsieur de Monts hauing his priuiledge prorogued for one yeare with some associates sent vnto his Gouernment three Ships furnished with men and victuals And forasmuch as Monsieur de Poutrincourt hath taken his part on the maine Sea and for the desire that Monsieur de Monts hath to pierce through the Land to the Westerne Sea coast to the end he should not be an hinderance vnto him and to be able thereby to reach one day to China he determined to fortifie himselfe in a place of the Riueâ of Canada which the Sauages call Kebec some fortie leagues aboue the Riuer of Saguenay There it is narrower being no broader then a Canon will carry and so by that reason the place is commodious to command through all that great Riuer Monsieur Champlein the Kings Geographer very skilfull in Sea matters and who delighteth marueilously in these enterprises tooke vpon him the charge of conducting and gouerning this first Colonie sent to Kebec Where being arriued it was needefull to make houses for him and his company wherein there was no toyle wanting such as we may imagine as was the labour of Captaide Iacques Quartier at his arriuall in the place of the said Riuer where he wintered and so Monsieur de Monts in the I le of Saint Croix whereby did issue vnknowne sicknesses which tooke away many men for there was not found any Timber ready to be put in worke not any buildings to lodge the workemen in they were driuen to fell downe the wood by the roote to cleare the ground and to lay the first foundations of a worke which with the helpe of God shall be the subiect of many wonders But as our Frenchmen haue oftentimes bin found mutinous in such actions so there were some among these which did conspire against the said Champlein their Captaine hauing deliberated to put him to death first by poison afterwards by a traine of Gunpowder and after hauing pilfered all to come to Tadoussac where Baskes and Rochell Ships were to make their returne in them to these parts But the Apothecary of whom the poyson was demanded disclosed the matter Whereupon Information being made one of them was hanged and some others condemned to the Gallies which were brought backe into France in the Ship wherein Monsieur du Pont of Honfleur was Commander The people being lodged some store of Corne was sowed and a number of Gardens were made where the ground did restore plentifully the seedes receiued This Land bringeth forth naturally Grapes in great quantity the Walnut-trres are there in abundance and Chestnut-trees also whose fruite is in the forme of an halfe moone but the Walnuts are with many corners or edges which be not diuided There is also great store of Pumpions and very excellent Hempe wherewith the Sauages make fishing lines The Riuer there doth abound with as much fish as any other Riuer in the world It is thought that Beuers are not here so good as vpon the coast of the Etechemins and Souriquois yet notwithstanding I may say very well that I haue seene skins from thence of blacke Foxes which seeme to exceede Sables or Marterns The winter being come many of our Frenchmen were found greatly afflicted with the sickenesse which is called the Scuruie whereof I haue spoken elsewhere Some of them died thereof for want of present remedy As for the tree called Annedda so much renowned by Iacques Quartier it is not now to be found The said Champlein made diligent search for the same and could haue no newes thereof and notwithstanding his dwelling is at Kebec neighbouring on the place where the said Quartier did winter Whereupon I can thinke nothing else but that the people of that time haue bin exterminated by the Iroquois or other their enemies The Spring time being come Champlein hauing had a long time a minde to make new discoueries was to choose either to make his way to the Iroquois or to goe beyond the fall of the great Riuer to discouer the great Lake whereof mention hath bin made heretofore Notwithstanding because the Southerly Countries are more pleasant for their milde temperature he resolued himselfe the first yeare to visite the Iroquois But the difficulty consisted in the going thither
for we are not able of our selues to make those Voyages without the assistance of the Sauages These Countries are not the Plaines of Champaigne nor of Vatan nor the ingratefull wood of Limosin All is there couered with woods that seeme to threaten the clouds And at that time his company of men was but weake as well by reason of the former mortality as of the infirmities of sicknesses which were yet continuing Notwithstanding being a man who is astonished with nothing and of a gentle conuersation knowing wisely how to acquaint and accommodate himselfe with those people after hauing promised them that when the land of the Iroquois and other Countries should be discouered the great French Sagamos meaning our King would giue them great rewards he inuited them to goe to warre against the said Iroquois promising for himselfe that he would take part with them They in whom the desire of reuenge dieth not and who delight in nothing more then in warre passe their word vnto him and arme themselues about one hundred men for that effect with whom the said Champlein ventures himselfe accompanied with one man and one of Monsieur de Monts his footemen So they began their voyage in the Sauages Barkes and Canoes alongst the great Riuer as farre as the entring into the Riuer of the Iroquois wherein being entred within certaine dayes they went vp vnto the Lake of the said Iroquois But one may demand with what did so many people liue in a Countrie where no Innes are I wonder as much at that as others doe for with them there is not any meanes of liuing but by hunting and in that they doe exercise themselues through the woods in their trauailes Champlein and his men were forced to liue after their manner For although they had made prouision of Bread Wine and Meate out of the storehouse the same could not haue serued them to make accompt of Finally being come into the said Lake they were many dayes a crossing of it for it is about sixtie leagues of length without giuing knowledge of their being there and so the said Champlein had time to view their Tillage and the faire Ilands that serue for an ornament to their great extension of water These people are much like to the Armouchiquois in their fashion of liuing They sowe Indian Maiz and Beanes and haue quantity of faire Grapes whereof they make no vse and very good rootes Euery Family haue their ground round about their dwellings Forts also yet no Townes made with buildings of three or foure stories high such as they haue in new Mexico a Countrie situated much farther within the lands In the end our men being discouered the alarum was giuen among the Iroquois who assembled themselues And as the Iroquois did approach Champlein who was armed with a Musket charged with two bullets would haue set himselfe forward to aime to make at one of the forwardest of the Iroquois who did braue it challenging his enemies to the combat But the Sauages of Kebec told him in their language no doe not so for if they once discouer you not being accustomed to see such folkes they will forthwith runne away and make no stand so shall we loose the glory which we expect of this charge withdraw your selfe therefore behinde our formost ranke and when we shall be neere you shall aduance your selfe and shoote at those two feathered fellowes whom you see the formost in the middest of the troope which was found good and executed by the said Champlein who with one shot laid them both to the ground as he hath related vnto vs. He who assisted him did also his duetie But on a sodaine all was in disorder astonished at such a noise and death so vnexpected Vpon this feare the men of Kebec loosing no occasion followed earnestly their enemies and killed about fiftie of them whose heads they brought backe to make therewith merry feasts and dances at their returne according to their custome These things so passed Champlein tooke againe his course towards ancient France where he arriued in October 1609. hauing left the gouernment of New France to a good reuerent old man called Captaine Pierre And for as much as the accidents of the former sicknesse were feared to come the winter following Captaine du Pont of Honfleure a man very well worthy to hold ranke among the Heroes of the said Prouince for hauing bin the first that came to the Fals of the great Riuer after Iacques Quartier hauing also wintered in Port Royall and almost euery yeare made voyages to those parts for the reliefe of them that were there gaue aduise that wood should be ready cut downe for those that should tarry there all the winter and thereby to free them from painfull toyles That helpe hath bin of such force that besides this hauing their buildings made they haue left no infirmitie nor mortality So he returned and with him the said Champlein and those that would returne In the meane while preparations were made for another voyage against the returne of the said Champlein to the end to prosecute his discoueries and consequently to relieue the said Captaine Pierre He tooke againe for the second time the Lieutenancy of the said Monsieur de Monts for the gouernment of Kebec and setting out in the beginning of March was forced diuers times to turne backe by reason of contrary windes which made him to arriue late as did also Monsieur de Poutrincourt of his part And neuerthelesse in that small time which hee had in those parts he exploited a great peece of worke hauing gone this yeare as farre as a great Lake of an hundred leagues in length which is beyond the Fals of the great Riuer of Canada eighty leagues Hauing then reuiewed the state of all things at Kebec and learned what occurrences had passed there since his departure he made an agreement with the Captaines of the said place and with them of Tadoussac to goe on warfare aboue the Fall of the said Riuer promising them to procure an hundred Frenchmen to assist them in the extirping of all their enemies and that they should haue as many of their owne men of their side which they liked very well But the day appointed being come and the Frenchmen not come he excused the matter vpon the weather which had beene boistrous for Sailers and for want of whom hee told them that himselfe would goe with them and follow their fortunes They seeing they could doe no better accepted of his offer and went together with some other Frenchmen more along the same faire Riuer the Sauages still hunting for prouision for the kitchin And they trauailed so farre that after hauing passed the Fals they crossed some Lakes and in the space of eighty leagues came to that other Lake which we haue said to be of an hundred leagues in length where as the said Champlein hath recited
Master THOMAS CANNER a Gentleman of Bernards Inne his companion in the same Voyage VPon Wednesday in Easter weeke the seuenteenth of Aprill after I had taken my leaue of some few of my louing and deere friends in Bernards Inne I rode toward Southampton there to be speake Bisket and some other prouision for our Barke wherein Master Bartholomew Gilbert went as Captaine which had beene in Virginia the yeere before with Captaine Bartholomew Gosnold After our businesse was dispatched here wee came into Plimmouth from whence wee put forth the tenth of May. And the six and twentieth of the same we were in the latitude of 32. degrees hoping to haue had sight of the I le of Madera whereof we missed in which course we met with two or three English men of warre The first of Iune we were in the latitude of 27. degrees and haled ouer toward the Ilands of the West Indies and the fifteenth of this moneth toward night wee saw Land Master Gilbert and the Master Henrie Suite dwelling within the Iron Gate of the Towre of London tooke it to be the Bermudas being very neere the shore they sounded many times and had no ground at the last they found good ground in fourteene or fifteene fathomes There wee cast Anchor In the morning we weighed and sounded still as we trended by the shoare but after wee were past a Cables length from our Road we had no Land againe in forty or fifty fathomes we kept still by the shore not yet being certaine what Iland it was The sixteenth in the morning wee spied the people comming from the shore who when they came neere cried out for barter or trade when they came close aboord they made signes and cried out to see our colours which we presently put forth in the maine top and told them we were Ingleses Amigos and Hermanos that is Englishmen their friends and brothers Assoone as they vnderstood we were Englishmen they were bolder to come neere we threw them a Rope and one came aboord vs wee traded with them for some Tobacco Pine-apples Piantanes Pompions and such things as they had wee gaue them Bugles Kniues Whistles and such toyes Here we kept close by the shore When this Canoa had traded with vs and vttered all they had and drunke of our Beere beeing kindly vsed they departed and then presently after diuers Canoas came we traded and vsed them as the first One of them told vs that Iland was Santa Lucia We bestowed all that forenoone shaking in the wind for we had no ground to Anchor neere the shore to trade with them Then wee set our course for Saint Vincent but finding a current against vs and the wind very scant we doubted we should not fetch it and that if we did peraduenture we might bee put to the leeward of Dominica and so consequently of Meuis or Nieues for which Iland we were specially bound for to out Lignum vitae in the same Therefore Master Gilbert thought good to let Saint Vincent alone although in it is the best Tobacco of all the Ilands yet in the end hee put roomer for Dominica whereof we had sight the seuenteenth of Iune and came close to the shore and presently one Canoa came aboord as at Santa Lucia being sent with two men belike to discouer vs and to see what entertainment they should haue we vsed them kindly and so dismissed them There came more full of men with diuers of their commodities The nineteenth in the morning being Sunday we anchored in a good Road at Meuis and after went on shore to seeke Lignum vitae Master Gilbert with the Master and diuers of the company sought farre into the Woods but found none but one little Tree and here and there where one had bin cut so we were in doubt to find enough heere to load our ship a iust plague vnto vs for prophaning the Sabbath in trauelling about our worldly businesse when there was no necessitie This day in the Euening some went out with the Boate vnto the shore and brought on boord a Tortoyse so big that foure men could not get her into the Boate but tied her fast by one legge vnto the Boat and so towed her to the ship when they had her by the ship it was no easie matter to get her on boord The next day we went on shore againe to search another part of the wood for Lignum vitae and then God be thanked we found enough This day at night we opened our Tortoyse which had in her about 500. Egges excellent sweet meate and so is all the whole fish Vpon Tuesday in the morning we went all on shore sauing the Carpenter and Thomas and Master Gilberts man to fell wood and this day we felled good store All the rest of this moneth and three dayes more we continued here euery day labouring sore first in sawing downe the great trees and sawing them againe into logs portable out of the thicke wood to the Sea-shoare so in the Boates and so to the ship where M. Gilbert his paines profited double as well in example as in worke for hee was neuer idle but either searching out more trees or fetching drinke for the Labourers or doing one thing or other so that in this iust fortnight that wee stayed here wee had gotten on boord some twenty tuns Within a few dayes after the Tortoyse was eaten God sent vs another One of these fishes were sufficient meat for twentie men for three or foure dayes if it could bee preserued but in that Climate no salting can preserue it aboue two dayes hardly so long Now the wood growing thinne and hardly to be found on this Iland he thought it best to stay no longer here but to goe for Uirginia to search for better store And so vpon Sunday the third of Iuly in the afternoone we weighed Anchor and sailed North-west and by North and that night passed by Saint Christopher and another little Iland Munday the fourth in the morning we had sight of the Iland we went into the Woods to search for Lignum vitae but found none but one tree which he cut and went on boord we fought also for fresh water but found none At Euening went on shore into the bottome of the Bay to dray the Net and there we gat good store of fine fresh fish and much more enough to haue laden our Boat we should haue gotten if at euery draught we had not had in the Net a Tortoyse which stil brak through and so carried away the fish with them At one draught among the rest we had two in the Net a yong one and an old on the Net held the young one Wee weighed and went through betweene the two Ilands into the mayne Ocean toward our long desired Countrey Uirginia distant three hundred and fiftie leagues from vs. Wee sayled North North-west The seuenth we ran still North-west and North and
to Coruo the Englishmen at times had taken at the least twenty ships that came from Saint Domingo India Brasillia c. and all sent into England Whereby it plainly appeareth that in the end God will assuredly plague the Spaniards hauing already blinded them so that they haue not the sence to perceiue it but still to remaine in their obstinate opinions but it is lost labour to striue against God and to trust in man as being foundations erected vpon the sands which with the winde are blowne downe and ouerthrowne as we daily see before our eyes and now not long since in many places haue euidently obserued and therefore let euery man but looke into his owne actions and take our Low-Countries for an example wherein we can but blame our owne sinnes and wickednesses which doth so blinde vs that we wholly forget and reiect the benefits of God continuing the seruants and yoke-slaues of Sathan God of his mercy open our eyes and hearts that wee may know our onely health and Sauiour Iesus Christ who onely can helpe gouerne and preserue vs and giue vs a happy end in all our affaires By this destruction of the Spaniards and their euill successe the lading and shipping of the goods that were saued out of the ship that came from Malacca to Tercera was againe put off and therefore wee must haue patience till it please God to send a fitter time and that we receiue further aduise and order from his Maiestie of Spaine All this being thus past the Farmers of Pepper and other Merchants that had their goods in Tercera which were taken out of the lost ship that came from Malacca seeing that the hope of any Armada or any ships in the Kings behalfe to be sent to fetch it was all in vaine they made request vnto his Maiesty that he would grant them licence euery man particularly to ship his goods in what ship he would at his owne aduenture which in the end after long suite was granted vpon condition that euery man should put in sureties to deliuer the goods in the Custome-house at Lisbone to the end the King might be paied his custome as also that the goods that should be deliuered vnto them in Tercera should all be registred whereupon the Farmers of Pepper with other Merchants agreed with a Flushinger to fetch all the Cloues Nutmegs Mace and other spices and goods that belonged vnto them the Pepper onely excepted which as then the King would not grant to lade The same Ship arriued in Tercera about the last of Nouember and because it was somewhat dangerous being the latter end of the yeare we laded her with all the speede we could for as then the coast was cleare of Englishmen To be short this Flushinger being laden with most part of the goods sauing the Pepper that was left behinde we set saile for Lisbone passing some small stormes not once meeting with any ship but onely vpon the coast where we saw ten Hollanders that sailed with Corne towards Ligorne and other places in Italie and so by Gods helpe vpon the second of Ianuary Anno 1592. we arriued in the Riuer of Lisbone being nine yeares after my departure from thence and there I staied till the month of Iuly to dispatch such things as I had to doe and vpon the seuenteenth of the same month I went to Sentuual where certaine Hollanders lay with whom I went for Holland The end of the eight Booke ENGLISH PLANTATIONS DISCOVERIES ACTS AND OCCVRRENTS IN VIRGINIA AND SVMMER ILANDS SINCE THE YEERE 1606. TILL 1624. THE NINTH BOOKE CHAP. I. Part of the first Patent granted by his Maiestie for the Plantation of Virginia Aprill the tenth 1606. IAMES by the grace of God c. Whereas our louing and well disposed Subiects Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers Knights Richard Hakluyt Clerke Prebendary of Westminster Edward Maria Wingfield Thomas Hannam Rawleigh Gilbert Esquires William Parker George Popham and diâers others of our louing Subiects haue beene humble Suitors vnto vs that we would vouch safe vnto them our License to make Habitation Plantation and to deduce a Colonie of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia and other parts and Territories in America either appertayning vnto vs or which now are not actually possessed by any Christian Prince or people situate lying and being all along the Sea Coast betweene thirtie foure degrees of Northerly latitude from the Equinoctiall Line and fortie fiue degrees of the same latitude and in the mayne Land betweene the same thirtie foure and fortie fiue degrees and the Ilands thereunto adiacent within one hundred miles of the Coast thereof And to that end and for the more speedie accomplishment of the said intended Plantation and Habitation there are desirous to deuide themselues into two seuerall Colonies and Companies the one consisting of certaine Knights Gentlemen Merchants and other Aduenturers of our Citie of London and elsewhere which are and from time to time shall be ioyned vnto them which doe desire to beginne their Plantations and Habitations in some fit and conuenient place betweene thirtie foure and fortie one degrees of the said latitude all alongst the Sea Coast of Virginia and Coast of America aforesaid And the other consisting of sundry Knights Gentlemen Merchans and other Aduenturers of our Cities of Bristoll and Exeter and of our Towne of Plymmouth and other places which doe ioyne themselues vnto that Colonie which desire to beginne their Plantations and Habitations in some fit and conuenient place betweene thirtie eight and fortie fiue degrees of the said latitude all alongst the said Coast of Virginia and America as that Coast lyeth We greatly commending and graciously accepting of their desires to the furtherance of so Noble a worke which may by the prouidence of Almightie God hereafter tend to the glorie of his Diuine Maiestie in propagating of Christian Religion to such people as yet liue in darknesse miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God and may in time bring the Infidels and Sauages liuing in those parts to humane ciuilitie and to a settled and quiet gouernment doe by these our Letters Patents graciously accept of and agree to their humble and well intended desires And doe therefore for vs our Heires and Successours grant and agree that the said Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers Richard Hakluyt and Edward Maria Wingfield Aduenturers of our Citie of London and all such others as are or shall be ioyned vnto them of that Colonie shall be called the first Colonie and they shall and may beginne their said first Plantation and Seate of their first abode and Habitation at any place vpon the said Coast of Virginia or America where they shall thinke fit and conuenient betweene the said thirtie foure and fortie one degrees of the said latitude And that they shall haue all the Lands Woods Soyle Grounds Hauens Ports Riuers Mynes Minerals Marishes Waters Fishings Commodities and Hereditaments
to the Summer Ilands by that Company 22 The Ioseph 150. tun in May 1621. 100. persons 23 The Iames 120. tun in Iuly 80. 24 The Concord 180. tun in August 70. Persons 250. So there is foure and twentie Sayle of ships with fiue hundred Mariners in them imployed to these Plantations in this yeere Besides there are now prouiding seuerall ships in diuers parts of this Kingdome to transport to the Plantations aboue fiue hundred persons And for the benefit of the Plantations these things following haue beene here done this yeere Sixteene persons and others haue beene prouided and sent for the making of Beads for trade in the Countrie with the Natiues and for making Glasse of all sorts Seuen and fiftie young Maides haue beene sent to make wiues for the Planters diuers of which were well married before the comming away of the Ships A Magazine hath beene sent of all necessaries for the Colonie to the value of two thousand pound besides all priuate mens sending goods which was very ample Trade being set open for all his Maiesties Subiects A ship called the Discouerie hath beene set out for the rich Trade of Furres which both the French and Hollanders haue yeerely within our Precincts and within fiftie leagues of vs. Fiue and twentie persons for the building of Boats Pinnasses and Ships for the necessarie vse of the Colonie for fishing Trade and Discouerie c. Seuen persons sent for planting the thousand Acres of Land giuen to the East Indie Schoole Other Occurents of Note The Gouernours arriuall in Virginia at the end of the last Summer with nine ships and neere seuen hundred people all safely and in good health The admirable deliuerance of diuers ships and namely of the Tiger which beeing driuen strangely neere two hundred leagues out of her course fell into the Turkes hands and yet came saue to Virginia Master Berkleyes Letters assure vs that there is not a more fit place for Iron-workes then in Virginia both for Wood Water Mynes and Stone and that by Whitsontide next wee may relie vpon Iron made by him The Plants of Cotton-wooll trees that came out of the West Indies prosper exceeding well and the Cotton-wooll-seeds from the Mogols Countrie come vp and grow Samples of it they haue sent and this Commoditie they hope this yeere to bring to a good perfection and quantitie The Indico Seed thriues well but they yet want knowledge how to cure it Our Frenchmen assure vs that no Countrie in the World is more proper for Vines Silke Oliues Râce c. then Uirginia and that it excelleth their owne Countrey The Vines beeing in abundance naturally ouer all the Countrey a taste of which Wine they haue alreadie sent vs with hope the next yeere to send vs a good quantitie There bee Mulberie trees in wonderfull abundance and much excelling both in goodnesse and greatnesse those of their Countrey of Languedocke To the full perfecting of both which rich Commodities of Wine and Silke there wanteth nothing but hands And of the Mulberies may bee made also good wholesome Wine for the people there And of a certaine Plumme in the Countrey they haue made good drinke Salt-workes are erecting the proper place being now found as the Rocheller doth certifie vs whereby many ships will transport people at easier rates hereafter finding Salt there to furnish them for the great and profitable fishings vpon that Coast whither twentie sayle of ships went this last yeere but of the Westerne parts of England besides the ships formerly mentioned Master Iohn Porie hath of late made a Discouerie into the great Bay Northward yet at the bottome of it he was not reseruing it to a second Voyage where are now setled neere one hundred English very happily with hope of a good Trade of Furres there to bee had And Terra Lemnia was sent vs from thence which is found as good as that of Turkey and is in great abundance to be had In February last he likewise discouered to the South Riuer some sixtie miles ouer Land from vs a very fruitfull and pleasant Countrey full of Riuers wherein are two Haruests in one yeere the great King giuing him friendly entertainment and desirous to make a league with vs hee found also there in great quantitie of the same Silke-grasse as appeareth by the samples sent vs whereof Master Heriot in his Booke 1587. makes relation who then brought home some of it with which a piece of Grogeran was made and giuen to Queene Elizabeth and some heere who haue liued in the East Indies affirme that they make all their Cambaya Stuffes of this and Cotton-wooll Also in his passage by Land Master Porey discouered a Countrey full of Pine-trees aboue twentie miles long whereby a great abundance of Pitch and Tarre may bee made and other sorts of woods there were fit for Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes The Indians haue made relation of a Copper Myne that is not farre from thence how they gather it and the strange making of it a piece whereof was sent home being found after trial very excellent metall Some of the English haue made relation of a China Boxe seene at one of the Kings Houses who declared that it was sent him from the West by a King that dwels ouer the great Hils whose Countrey is neere the Sea he hauing that Boxe from a people as hee said that come thitherin ships and weare clothes and dwell in Houses and are called Acanackchina And he offered our people that he would send his Brother along with them to that King which the Gouernour purposeth not to refuse hoping thereby to discouer the South Sea so long talked of A small ship comming in December last from the Summer-Ilands to Virginia brought thither from thence these Plants viz. Vines of all sorts Orange and Leman trees Sugar Canes Cassado Roots that make bread Pines Plantans Potatoes and sundry other Indian fruits and plants not formerly seene in Virginia which begin to prosper very well Gifts The Gentlemen and Mariners that came in the Royall Iames from the East Indies beeing at Cape Bona Speranza homeward bound gaue towards the building of a Free Schoole in Virginia to be called the East Indie Schoole the summe of seuentie pound eight shillings six pence Towards the furtherance of the said East India Schoole an vnknowne person hath added the summe of thirtie pound A person refusing to be made knowne hath giuen the summe of fortie shillings a yeere for euer for a Sermon before the Virginia Company thirtie pounds At a Quarter Court held the thirtieth of Ianuary 1621. by a person not willing as yet to bee knowne was sent in Gold to helpe forward the East Indie Schoole fiue and twentie pounds At the same Quarter Court a small Bible with a couer richly wrought a great Church Bible Bookes of Common Prayer and other Books were presented to be sent to Uirginia in the
we will forbeare to take the most holy name of God in vaine in ordinary swearing by it or any other thing or by scoffing or vaine abusing of his most holy Word or to vse cursing or filthy speeches or any other thing forbidden in Gods most holy Word as also to liue together without stealing one from another or quarrelling one with another or slandering one of another And to auoide all things that stand not with the good estate of a Christian Church and well gouerned Common-wealth as also to embrace the contrary as Iustice and Peace Loue and all other things that stand with the good and comfort of Societie Fourthly Whereas we are here together farre remote from our natiue soile of England and yet are indeed the naturall Subiects of our most Royall and gracious King IAMES of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Wee doe therefore in the presence aforesaid solemnly promise euermore to continue the loyall Subiects of our said Soueraigne King his Heires and Successors and neuer to reuolt from him or them vnto any other whatsoeuer but euermore to acknowledge his Supreme Gouernment Fiftly Whereas wee were sent hither by diuers Aduenturers of the Citie of London and other parts of the Realme of England wee doe here in the presence aforesaid promise to vse all diligence for the good of the Plantation and not to purloyne or imbesell any of the prohibited commodities out of the generall estate but to vse all faithfulnesse as it becommeth Christians to doe as also to bee obedient to all such Gouernour or Gouernours or their Deputie or Deputies as are or shall be by them sent to gouerne vs As also to yeeld all reuerence towardes the Ministery or Ministers of the Gospel sent or to be sent Sixtly and lastly Wee doe here in presence aforesaid promise the Lord assisting vs that if at any time hereafter any forrain power shall attempt to put vs out of this our lawful possession not cowardly to yeeld vp the same but manfully to fight as true English men for the defence of the Common-wealth we liue in and Gospel wee professe and that whiles we haue breath wee will not yeeld to any that shall inuade vs vpon any conditions whatsoeuer I had thought hitherto to haue added a Letter of M. Hughes written from thence Dec. 21. 1614. and printed But our latter intelligence being more ample hath caused mee to omit him and others Yea all things in some and some things in all M. Norwood hath beene a diligent Surueyor of the place and accidents and hath giuen a Map of the one common to be sold and a briefe relation of the other But because his History of the Creatures is briefe I haue borrowed out of Captaine Smith what he had borrowed of Capt. Butler and others to giue the Reader more full satisfaction in that kind CHAP. XVII Relations of Summer Ilands taken out of M. RICHARD NORWOOD his Map and Notes added thereto printed 1622. The History of the Creatures growing or liuing therein being inlarged out of Capt. SMITHS written Relations SIr Thomas Gates and Sir George Summers hauing staied in Bermuda nine moneths with helpe of such things as they saued with the Sea-ven'ure and of such as they found in the Countrey had built of Cedar and rigged fit for the Sea two Vessels a Ship and a Pinnace and vpon the tenth of May 1610. departed toward Uirginia leauing onely two men behind them and carrying them store of prouision for the reliefe of the people there Vpon the foure and twentieth of May they arriued safely there and shortly after some of them returned to the Sommer Ilands againe for a further supply in the same Ship which they had formerly built there where Sir George Sommers dying his men did not according to his last charge giuen vnto them returne to Virginia but framed their course for England leauing behind them three men that staied voluntarily who shortly after found in Sommerset Iland which is a part of Sandys Tribe a verie great treasure in Ambergreece to the valew of nine or ten thousand pound sterling there hath also been found since diuers times of the best sort This new discouery of the Sommer Ilands being thus made knowne in England to the Virginian Company by these men which returned they sold it to some hundred and twentie persons of the same Company who obtained a Charter from his Maiestie and so hold it And toward the latter end of Aprill 1612. sent thither a Ship called the Plough with some sixtie persons to inhabite appointing Gouernour one Master Richard Moore a man ingenuous and carefull who since dyed in Sir Walter Rawlyes last voyage to Guiana a place as appeareth by our Moderne Geographers very rich and spatious But as I say he arriued there about the beginning of Iuly and found the foresaid three men that staied voluntarily very well Master Moore spent the three yeeres of his gouernment for the most part in fortifying the Countrey and trayning the people in Martiall exercises which custome hath beene continued by his successours hee built some nine or tenne Forts placing Oâdnance and Munition in them In his time the Lord sent vpon the Countrey a very grieuous scourge and punishment threatning the vtter ruine and desolation of it That it came from God I need not striue to proue especially considering it was generally so acknowledged by vs at that time The causes and occasions of it I need not name being very well knowne to vs all that then liued there which were about sixe hundred persons thought shortly after much diminished I will onely shew the thing it selfe which was a wonderfull annoyance by silly Rats These Rats comming at the first out of a Ship few in number increased in the space of two yeeres or lesse so exceedingly that they filled not onely those places where they were first landed But swimming from place to place spread themselues into all parts of the Countrey Insomuch that there was no Iland though seuered by the Sea from all other Lands and many miles distant from the Iles where the Rats had their originall but was pestered with them They had their Nests almost in euery Tree and in all places their Burrowes in the ground like Conies to harbour in They spared not the fruits of Plants and Trees neither the Plants themselues but eate them vp When wee had set our Corne they would commonly come by troupes the night following or so soone as it began to grow and digge it vp againe If by diligent watching any of it were preserued till it came to earing it should then very hardly scape them Yea it was a difficult matter after wee had it in our houses to saue it from them for they became noysome euen to the persons of men Wee vsed all diligence for the destroying of them nourishing many Cats wilde and tame for that purpose wee vsed Rats-bane and many times set fire
to contradict Pourtrincourt in the execution of those decrees which had bin giuen forth by him as ciuill Magistrate of that place whereupon the Gentleman extreamely discontented and weary or contesting with him hauing said that it was his part to rule them vpon earth and theirs onely to guide him the way to heauen he returned backe to France leauing his Sonne Biencourt in his place Who being a youth at that time of more courage then circumspectnesse disdaining to be controuled by them whom he had enuited thither and scorning their insupportable presumption vsing spirituall armes for temporall ends and an imperious kinde of carriage who onely for spleene had excommunicated and branded him with a spirituall censure he threatned them by his temporall power with a more palpable punishment So that after much controuersie resoluing to separate themselues the two Iesuites taking a part of the Company with them went from thence to a place in new England called by them Mount Desart where they seated themselues and hauing a supply from the Queene Mother did plant sundry Fruit trees of the most delicate kindes in France such as Apricockes and Peaches neuer intending to remoue from thence At this time Sir Samuel Argall being then Gouernor of Virginia coasted alongst new England to traffique and discouer or to acquire things necessary for the Southerne Colony in these parts where the lands are reputed to be more fertil and the Seas more frequented did conceiue by a description made vnto him by the Sauages that there were some come from this part of the World to inhabit there and being iealous of any thing that might derogate from the honour or proue preiudiciall to the benefit of his Nation where their interest in this was easie to be apprehended he went whereas he was informed that they were and his vnexpected arriuall as it would seeme not onely amazed the mindes of the French but likewise preuenting their preparation and resolution he approached so neere to a Ship that lay before their Fort that hee beate them all that were therein with Musket shot from making any vse of their Ordnance saue one of the two Iesuites who was killed in giuing fire to a Peece Hauing taken the Ship they landed and went before the Fort summoning them that were therein to yeelde themselues who at the first made some difficulty asking a time to aduise but that being refused they priuately abandoned the Fort stealing out by some backe way into the Woods where they staied one night and the next day comming backe rendered themselues to Sir Samuel Argall who had lodged all that night within the Fort giuing vp the Patent they had from the French King to be cancelled He vsed them very curteously as their owne Writers doe make mention suffring such as had a minde to goe for France to seeke out Fishers Ships wherein they might be transported the rest that were willing to goe for Uirginia went thither alongst with him no man hauing lost his life but onely that one Iesuite who was killed whilst they made resistance during the time of the conflict Thereafter Father Biard the other of the Iesuites comming backe from Virginia with Sir Samuell Argall out of the indigestable malice that he had conceiued against Biencourt did informe him where he had planted himselfe offering as he did to conduct him thither As soone as they were entered within the Fort neere the vppermost of the Ilands Sir Samuel directed the Ship to ride at a reasonable distance to attend occasions before the Fort did land himselfe with forty of the best of his men vpon a Meddow where immediately they heard a peece of Ordnance from the Fort and he conceiuing since it was shot whilst it could doe no harme that it was done either but to giue terrour to them or to warne some that might happen to be abroad did make the greater haste towards the Fort where he presently entered finding it abandoned without any men at all left for the defence thereof He went vp the Riuer side fiue or six miles where he saw their Barnes and the ground where a great quantity of Wheate had grown which he carried with him to proue for Seede in Virginia he saw also their corne Milne very conueniently placed which together with the Barnes he left standing vntouched As for the Fruit it selfe he destroied it downe to the ground racing the French armes and leauing no Monument that might remaine to witnesse their being here After this Biencourt who had been somewhere abroad trauelling through the Countrey comming home desired to conferre with Sir Samuel Argall who did meete with him a part from the company vpon a meadow and after they had expostulated a space for what had past controuerting concerning the French and English little to these bounds at last Biencourt offered if hee might haue a protection from him to depend vpon our King and to draw the whole Furres of that Countrey to one Port where he would diuide them with him as likewise hee would show him good mettalls whereof he gaue him pieces the other refused to ioyne in any societie with him protesting that his Commission was onely to displant him and that if hee found him there thereafter hee would vse him as an enemy Biencourt labouring earnestly to haue had the Iesuit as he confessed with a purpose to hang him Whilest they were discoursing together one of the Sauages rushing suddenly forth from the Woods and licentiated to come neere did after his manner with such broken French as he had earnestly mediate a peace wondring why they that seemed to be of one Country should vse others with such hostilitie and that with such a forme of habit and gesture as made them both to laugh After Biencourt remouing from thence to some other Monsieur Champlein who had liued long here did carry a company with him from France of some fortie persons or thereabouts vp the Riuer of Canada whom hee planted on the North side thereof with a purpose to sue for a Factory drawing all the trade of that farre running Riuer within the hands of a few whom he doth command which a Plantation would haue dispersed in many parts otherwise if his desires had beene bended that way hee might haue planted many people there ere now the place is called Kebeck where the French doe prosper well hauing Corne by their owne labour which may furnish themselues for foode and likewise for a stocke to traffique with the Sauages with sundry other Fruites Rootes Vine grapes and Turkey Wheate Champlein hath discouered the Riuer of Canada from the Gulfe vpwards aboue 1200. miles finding in it sometimes such fals as he must carry his Boate a little way by land and then put it in againe He did many times come to great Lakes at the end whereof he did alwaies finde a Riuer againe and the last Lake where he came was a very huge one iudged to be three hundred miles in length by the
report of some Sauages who did affirme vnto him that at the further end thereof they did finde Salt water and that they had seene great Vessels which made Champlein beleeue that a passage might be there to the Bay of California or to some part of the South Sea which would proue an inestimable benefit for the Inhabitants of these parts opening a neere way to China which hath bin so many sundry wayes with so great charges so long sought for Howsoeuer in regard of the season and for want of necessary prouisions Champleine did returne backe at that time with a purpose to goe againe another yeare which if hee hath done is not yet knowne but this is most certaine that the Riuer of Canada hath a long course and through many goodly Countries some of these great Lakes by sending forth or by receiuing great Riuers doe afford meanes of commerce as farre as to some parts of Terra Florida as may be gathered by Champleines discouery c. THus haue I giuen thee Others trauells to Virginia and the Summer Ilands I will conclude with mine owne trauells for them I see many likely to bee disheartened by the slender growth of the Virginian Plantation which for the time might haue beene not onely a safe but a rich and blessed Mother of a numerous thriuing generation branching farre into other Colonies and yet is But why doe I intercept your eyes and diuert your thoughts suspend them at best from that which for my Countries good and zeale to Virginia without partiall respect on the right hand or on the left with a candid right hand I here present and forbid all sinister hands to meddle with Tros Tyriusve mihi I side no where but embrace Virginia with a right heart my pen directed my hands erected for her good which can doe âee no other good but in reference to the publike whose I am and whom vnder God and his Maiestie I serue and obserue with all that I haue am and can I had written it as a tractate by it selfe at the request of some worthy friends but here haue abridged it in some such things as the other parts of these Volumes containe CHAP. XX. Virginias Verger Or a Discourse shewing the benefits which may grow to this Kingdome from American English Plantations and specially those of Virginia and Summer Ilands GOd is the beginning and end the Alpha and Omega that first and last of whom and for whom are all things The first and last thing therefore in this Virginian argument considerable is God that is whether we haue Commission from him to plant and whether the Plantation may bring glory to him This in regard of vs and our scope That in regard of it and the lawfulnesse thereof To begin with this In the beginning God created heauen and earth all things therefore are his by a higher name then right this rule and the things ruled being his creatures of both which Man onely amongst Visible creatures was created capable which Moses deliuereth in these words that God created him after his owne Image which is spoken not onely of the spirituall immortall substance of his soule whose vnity shineth with that created Trinity of Vnderstanding Will Memory in it selfe and that of Vegetation Sense Reason exercised in and by bodily motion but more especially in regard of the Creator a conformity to him in righteousnesse holinesse of truth the whole Man shining with a borrowed light as the Moone is the image and reflexion of the Sunne and in regard of the Creature a iust dominion ouer the same as the holy words manifest replenish the Earth and subdue it and haue dominion ouer the Fish of the Sea and ouer the Fowle of the ayre and ouer euery liuing thing that moueth vpon the earth Although Mans rebellion had forfeited this Naturall Charter yet was the same in the repeopling of the World renewed to Noah and his Sons which euer since haue beene in actuall possession and as Adam gaue names as humaine earemarks to âhe liuing creatures so Noahs heires haue since giuen names to Seas and Lands and other creatures quite thorow the knowne World Neither did the Fall of Man so cracke this earthen vessell that all his created excellence ran out for neither were the substance or faculties of the soule extinct nor his prerogatiue ouer the visible creatures the spirituall creature naturally excelling the bodily and the reasonable and liuing the sensitiue vegetatiue and torpid these receiued a wound the other his spirituall and religious conformitie in these to God as a purer water of the purest life ran forth irrecouerably and as our naturall parts were weakned and wounded so of those supernaturall wee were vtterly robbed till that good Samaritan vndertooke the restitution of that in redemption whereunto in creation he had giuen first institution God hath laid vpon him the iniquitie of vs all and in his stripes wee are healed our Charter is renued and now made so compleat that whereas the deuills thought to rob man of Earth and Paradise Hee which taketh the wise in his craftinesse hath restored him nay that is little hath added Heauen Himselfe that as the Israelites entred vpon the houses Cities and possessions of the cursed Canaanites so Christians into those Thrones and celestiall Dominions which those spirituall Thrones and Dominions lost and there haue God himselfe and the Lambe to be their Temple and All in all vnto them for euer Amen Hence is it that Christians such as haue the Grace of the Spirit of Christ and not the profession of his merit alone haue and hold the world and the things thereof in another tenure whereof Hypocrites and Heathens are not capable These haue onely a Naturall right by the reliques of the Law of Nature left in Man by the Creators goodnesse for the conseruation of the face of a world in the world the same further improued with a warrantization Contra omnes gentes our euidences dialect by the Law of Nations vnto Nations and Lawes Politicke and Ciuill in each Nation allotting to the members thereof the publike and priuate ciuill rights and tenures which either publike or priuate persons or corporations held therein This tenure comparatiuely that Christian is by our Lord himselfe called a tenure in villenage that of sonnes the seruant hath his time and abides not in the house for euer but the sonne is heire in see simple fide simplici for euer Neither yet is it lawfull for Christians to vsurpe the goods and lands of Heathens for they are villains not to vs but to our and their Lord nor hath the sonne in nonage power to dispossesse villaines nor are wee sonnes by nature but by adoption and a later Euangelicall Charter which doth not disannull the former the Truth or Word of the Gospel receiued by Faith makes vs free free Tenants to our Lord not Lordly subuerters of others tenures which may with a good
are inuited to praise the name of the Lord for hee hath commanded and they were created How much more should the tongue of man be the Pen of a readie writer and as it is called The glory of the man so imploy it selfe in setting forth the glory of God in his Workes of Creation Prouidence Redemption God is a Glorious Circle whose Center is euery where his circumference no where himselfe to himselfe is Circle and Circumference the Ocean of Entitie that very vbique from whom to whom the Centre of vnitie all diuersified lines of varietie issue and returne And although we euery where feele his present Deitie yet the difference of heauenly climate and influence causing such discording concord of dayes nights seasons such varietie of meteors elements aliments such noueltie in Beasts Fishes Fowles such luxuriant plentie and admirable raritie of Trees Shrubs Hearbs such fertilitie of soyle insinuation of Seas multiplicitie of Riuers safetie of Ports healthfulnesse of ayre opportunities of habitation materialls for action obiects for contemplation haps in present hopes of future worlds of varietie in that diuersified world doe quicken our mindes to apprehend whet our tongues to declare and fill both with arguments of diuine praise On the other side considering so good a Countrey so bad people hauing little of Humanitie but shape ignorant of Ciuilitie of Arts of Religion more brutish then the beasts they hunt more wild and vnmanly then that vnmanned wild Countrey which they range rather then inhabite captiuated also to Satans tyranny in foolish pieties mad impieties wicked idlenesse busie and bloudy wickednesse hence haue wee fit obiects of zeale and pitie to deliuer from the power of darknesse that where it was said Yee are not my people they may bee called the children of the liuing God that Iustice may so proceed in rooting out those murtherers that yet in iudgement imitating Gods deâling with vs wee may remember Mercy to such as their owne innocence shall protect and Hope shall in Charitie iudge capable of Christian Faith And let men know that hee which conuerteth a sinner from the errour of his way shall saue a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And Sauiours shall thus come on Mount Zion to iudge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdome of Virginia shall be Lord. Thus shall wee at once ouercome both Men and Deuills and espouse Virginia to one husband presenting her as a chast Uirgin to Christ. If the eye of Aduenturers were thus single how soone and all the body should be light But the louing our selues more then God hath detained so great blessings from vs to Virginia and from Virginia to vs. Godlinesse hath the promises of this life and that which is to come And if wee be carefull to doe Gods will he will be ready to doe ours All the rich endowments of Uirginia her Virgin-portion from the creation nothing lessened are wages for all this worke God in wisedome hauing enriched the Sauage Countries that those riches might be attractiues for Christian suters which there may sowe spirituals and reape temporals But what are those riches where we heare of no Gold nor Siluer and see more impouerished here then thence enriched and for Mines we heare of none but Iron Iron mindes Iron age of the world who gaue Gold or Siluer the Monopoly of wealth or made them the Almighties fauorites Precious perils specious punishments whose originall is neerest hell whose house is darknesse which haue no eye to see the heauens nor admit heauens eye guilty malefactors to see them neuer produced to light but by violence and conuinced vpon records written in bloud the occasioners of violence in the World which haue infected the surface of their natiue earth with deformity and sterility these Mines being fit emblemes of mindes couetous stored with want and euer wanting their owne store her bowels with darknesse damps deaths causing trouble to the neighbour Regions and mischiefe to the remotest Penurious mindes Is there no riches but Gold Mines Are Iron Mines neglected reiected for hopes of Siluer What and who else is the Alchymist and impostor which turnes the World and Men and all into Iron And how much Iron-workes in Warres and Massacres hath American Gold and Siluer wrought thorow all Christendome Neither speake I this as if our hopes were blasted and growne deplorate and desperate this way the Country being so little searched and the remote in-land-Mountaines vnknowne but to shew the fordid tincture and base alloy of these Mine-mindes Did not the Spanish Iron tell me you that contemne Iron-mines draw to it the Indian Siluer and Gold I will not be a Prophet for Spaine from Virginia But I cannot forget the wily apophthegme of the Pilots Boy in the Cacafuego a great Ship laden with treasure taken in the South Sea by Sir Francis Drake who seeing the English Ordnance command such treasure from the Spanish Cacafuego Our Ship said he shall be called the Cacaplata and the English may be named the Cacafuego I will not be so vnmannerly to giue you the homely English it is enough that English Iron brought home the Spanish-Indian Siluer and Gold But let vs consult with the wisest Councellour Canaan Abrahams promise Israels inheritance type of heauen and ioy of the earth What were her riches were they not the Grapes of Eshcol the balme of Gilead the Cedary neighbourhood of Libanus the pastury vale of Ierieho the dewes of heauen fertility of soile temper of climat the flowing not with Golden Sands but with Milke and Hony necessaries and pleasures of life not bottomelesse gulfes of lust the commodious scituation for two Seas and other things like in how many inferiour to this of Virginia What golden Country euer nourished with her naturall store the hundreth part of men in so small a proportion of earth as Dauid there mustered being 1100000. of Israel and 500000. of Iuda not reckoning the Tribes of Leui and Beniamin all able men for warres And after him in a little part of that little Iehoshaphat More I dare say then the Spaniards can finde in one hundred times so much of their Mine lands and choose their best in Peru New Spaine and the Ilands the Scriptures containing an infallible muster-booke of 1160000. able Souldiers in his small territories That then is the richest Land which can feede most men Man being a mortall God the best part of the best earth and visible end of the visible World What remarkeable Gold or Siluer Mines hath France Belgia Lumbardy or other the richest peeces of Europe what hath Babylonia Mauritania or other the best of Asia and Africke What this our fertile Mother England Aske our late Trauellers which saw so much of Spaine the most famous part of Europe for Mynes of old and inriched with the Mynes of the New World if an Englishman needs to enuy a Spaniard or prefer a Spanish life and happinesse to his owne Their old
brush wood-gaile and long grasse through which wee found little paths or tracts and there we saw a Deere and found Springs of fresh Water of which we were hartily glad and sat vs downe and drunke our first New England Water with as much delight as euer we drunke drinke in all our liues When we had refreshed our selues we directed our course full South that wee might come to the shoare which within a short while after we did and there made a fire that they in the Ship might see where we were as wee had direction and so marched on towards this supposed Riuer and as we went in another Valley we found a fine cleere Pond of fresh water being about a Musket shot broad and twise as long there grew also many small Vines and Fowle and Deere haunted there there grew much Sasafras from thence we went on and found much plain ground about fiftie Acres fit for the Plow and some signes where the Indians had formerly planted their Corne after this some thought it best for nearenesse of the Riuer to goe downe and trauaile on the Sea sands by which meanes some of our men were tired and lagged behinde so we stayed and gathered them vp and strucke into the Land againe where we found a little path to certaine heapes of Sand one whereof was couered with old Mats and had a woodden thing like a Morâer whelmed on the top of it and an earthen pot laid in a little hole at the end thereof we musing what it might be digged and found a Bowe and as we thought Arrowes but they were rotten We supposed there were many other things but because we deemed them graues we put in the Bow againe and made it vp as it was and left the rest vntouched because we thought it would be odious vnto them to ransacke their Sepulchers We went on further and found new stubble of which they had gotten Corne this yeare and many Walnut trees full of Nuts and great store of Strawberries and some Vines passing thus a field or two which were not great we came to another which had also bin new gotten and there wee found where an house had beene and foure or fiue old Plankes laied together also we found a great Kettle which had beene some Ships kettle and brought out of Europe there was also an heape of sand made like the former but it was newly done wee might see how they had padled it with their hands which we digged vp and in it we found a little old Basket full of faire Indian Corne and digged further and found a fine great new Basket full of very faire Corne of this yeare with some sixe and thirty goodly eares of Corne some yellow and some red and others mixt with blew which was a very goodly sight the Basket was round and narrow at the top it held about three or foure bushels which was as much as two of vs could lift vp from the ground and was very handsomely and cunningly made But whilst we were busie about these things we set our men Sentinell in a round ring all but two or three which digged vp the Corne. Wee were in suspence what to doe with it and the Kettle and at length after much consultation we concluded to take the Kettle and as much of the Corne as wee could carry away with vs and when our Shallop came if we could finde any of the people and came to parley with them wee would giue them the Kettle againe and satisfie them for their Corne. So we tooke all the Eares and put a good deale of the loose Corne in the Kettle for two men to bring away one Staffe besides they that could put away into their Pockets filled the same the rest wee buried againe for we were so laden with Armour that we could carry no more Not farre from this place we found the remainder of an old Fort or Palizado which as we conceiued had beene made by some Christians this was also hard by that place which we thought had been a Riuer vnto which we went and found it so to be diuiâing it fââre into two armes by an high banke standing right by the Cut or Mouth which came from the Sea that which was next vnto vs was the lesse the other arme was more then twice as big and not vnlike to bee an Harbouâ for Ships but whether it be a fresh Riuer or onely an indraught of the Sea wee had no time to discouer for we had commandement to be out but two dayes Here also we saw two Canoas the one on the one side the other on the other side we could not beleeue it was a Cânoa tâll we caâe neere it so we returned leauing the further dâscouery hereof to our S ãâ¦ã anâ ãâã that night backe againe to the fresh water pond and there we made our randeuous that night making a great fire and a Baricado to wind ward of vs and kept good watch with three Sentinels all night euery one standing when his turne came while fiue or sixe inches of Match was burning It proued a very rainie night In the morning we tooke our Kettle and sunke it in the Pond and trimmed our Muskets for few of them would goe off because of the wet and so coasted the Wood againe to come home in which we were shrewdly pusled and lost our way as we wandred we came to a tree where a yong Spirit was bowed downe ouer a Bowe and some Acornes strewed vnderneath Stephen Hopkins said it had beene to catch some Deere so as we were looking at it William Bradford oeing in the Reare when he came looking also vpon it and as he went about it gaue a sodaine ierke vp and he was immediately caught by the legge It was a very pretty deuise made with a Roape of their owne making and hauing a noose as artificially made as any Roper in England can make and as like ours as can be which wee brought away with vs. In the end wee got out of the Wood and were fallen about a mile too high aboue the creake where we saw three Buckes but we had rather haue had one of them We also did spring three couple of Partridges and as we came along by the creake we saw great flockes of wilde Geese and Duckes but they were very fearefull of vs. So we marched some while in the Woods some while on the Sands and other while in the Water vp to the knees till at length we came neere the Ship and then we shot off our Peeces and the long Boate came to fetch vs Master Iones and Master Caruer being on the shoare with many of our people came to meete vs. And thus wee came both weary and welcome home and deliuered in our Corne into the store to be kept for seede for we knew not how to come by any and therefore was very glad purposing so soone as we could meete with any of the Inhabitants
loosed from thence and the seuen and twentieth thereof they arriued at Saint Iohns Harbour in New-found-land and from thence sailed alongst the Bay of Conception where they left the Ship and dispatched themselues home in seuerall Ships that belonged to the West part of England and doe intend this next Spring to set forth a Colony to plant there The description of the Countrey of Mawooshen discouered by the English in the yeere 1602. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9. MAwooshen is a Countrey lying to the North and by East of Uirginia betweene the degrees of 43. and 45. It is fortie leagues broad and fiftie in length lying in breadth East and West and in length North and South It is bordered on the East side with a Countrey the people whereof they call Tarrantines on the West with Epistoman on the North with a great Wood called Senaglecoune and on the South with the mayne Ocean Sea and many Ilands In Mawooshen it seemeth there are nine Riuers whereof the first to the East is called Quibiquesson on which there is one Towne wherein dwell two Sagamos or Lords the one called Asticon the other Abermot In this Towne are fiftie houses and 150. men The name of which Towne is Precante this Riuer runneth farre vp into the Mayne at the head thereof there is a Lake of a great length and breadth it is at the fall into the Sea tenne fathoms deepe and halfe a mile ouer The next is Pemaquid a goodly Riuer and very commodious all things considered it is ten fathoms water at the entrance and fortie miles vp there are two fathoms and a halfe at low water it is halfe a mile broad and runneth into the Land North many daies iourney where is a great Lake of 18. leagues long and foure broad In this Lake are seuen great Ilands toward the farthest end there falleeh in a Riuer which they call Acaconstomed where they passe with their Boates thirtie daies iourney vp and from thence they goe ouer Land twentie daies iourney more and then come to another Riuer where they haue a trade with Anadabis or Anadabijon with whom the Frenchmen haue had commerce for a long time Neere to the North of this Riuer of Pemaquid are three Townes the first is Upsegon where Bashabes their chiefe Lord doth dwell And in this Towne are sixtie houses and 250. men it is three daies iourney within the Land The second is Caiocame the third Shasheekeing These two last Townes are opposite one to the other the Riuer diuiding them both and they are two daies iourney from the Towne of Bashabes In Caioc ãâ¦ã dwelleth Maiesquis and in Shasheokeing Bowant two Sagamos subiects to Bashabes Vpon both sides of this Riuer vp to the very Lake for a good distance the ground is plaine without Trees or Bushes but full of long Grasse like vnto a pleasant meadow which the Inhabitants doe burne once a yeere to haue fresh feed for their Deere Beyond this Meadow are great Woods whereof more shall bee spoken hereafter The Riuer of Pemaquid is foure dayes iourney from the mouth of Quibiquesson The third Riuer is called Ramassoc and is distant from the mouth of Pemaquid foure daies iourney it is twentie fathoms at the entrance and hath a mile ouer it runneth into the Land three daies iourney and within lesse then a daies iourney of the dwelling of Bashabes vpon this Riuer there is a Towne named Panobscot the Lord whereof is called Sibatahood who hath in his Town fiftie houses and eightie men The fourth Riuer Apanawapeske lying West and by South of Ramassoc at the entrance whereof there is twentie fathoms water and it is a mile broad it runneth vp into the Countrey fiue daies iourney and within three daies of the mouth are two Townes the one called Meecombe where dwelleth Aramasoga who hath in his Towne fiftie houses and eightie men The other is Chebegnadose whose Lord is Skanke and hath thirtie houses and ninetie men The mouth of Apanawapeske is distant from Ramassoc three daies iourney To the South-west foure daies iourney there is another excellent Riuer in the entrancâ whereof is twentie fathoms water and it is a quarter of a mile broad it runneth into the Land two daies iourney and then there is a great fall at the head wherof there is a Lake of a daies iourney long and as much in breadth On the side of this Lake there is a Strait and at the end of that Strait there is another Lake of foure daies iourney long and two daies iourney broad wherin there are two Ilands one at the one end and another at the other end I should haue told you that both these Lakes as also the rest formerly spoken of doe infinitely abound with fresh water fish of all sortsâ as also with diuers sorts of Creatures as Otters Beeues sweete Rats and such like The sixt Riuer is called Apponick on which there are three Townes the first is called Appisham where dwelleth Abochigishic The second is Mesaqueegamic where dwelleth Amniquin in which there is seuentie houses and eightie men the third is Matammiscowte in which are eightie houses and ninetie men and there dwelleth Narracommique To the Westward of this there is another Riuer called Aponeg it hath at the entrance ten fathoms water and is a mile broad it runneth vp into a great Sound of fresh water Vpon the East side of this Riuer there are two Townes the one called Nebamocago the other called Ashawe In the first dwelleth Mentavrmet and hath in his Towne 160. housholds and some 300. men In the second dwelleth Hamerhaw and hath in his Towne eightie housholds and seuentie men On the West side there is another Towne called Neredoshan where are 120. housholds and 100. men There is a Sagamo or Lord called Sabenaw Three daies iourney from Aponeg to the Westward there is a goodly Riuer called Sagadohoc the entrance whereof is a mile and an halfe ouer holding that breadth a daies iourney and then it maketh a great Sound of three daies iourney broad in which Sound are six Ilands foure great and full of Woods and two lesse without Woods The greater are called Sowaghcoc Neguiwo Neiwoc And in the verie entrance of this Riuer there is another small Iland from the West of which Iland to the Maine there is a Sand that maketh as it were a bar so that that way is not passable for shipping but to the Eastward there is two fathoms water This Sound diuideth it selfe into two branches or armes the one running North-east twentie foure daies iourney the other North-west thirtie daies iourney into the Maine At the heads whereof there are two Lakes the Westermost being eight daies iourney long and foure daies iourney broad and the Eastermost foure daies iourney long and two daies broad The Riuer of Aponeg runneth vp into this Sound and so maketh as it were a great Iland
Westerly wind bringeth in the hollow mother Sea so the wind then being West Southerly blew trade and made both a great Sea gate or wash vpon the shoare and a dangerous rode So as besides the apparant likelihood that our men had been all lost by the ouerturning of our Boats vpon our heads the losse of our Boates which could not haue beene in that place auoided had kept vs from watering and so had beene the manifest destruction of the whole Fleet. Whereupon I the Generall leauing commandement of the great Ships with Sir Walter Raleigh because the Lord Thomas Howard desired to land with mee accompanied with his Lords Ship and all the other principall Officers and persons of qualitie in the Army I put my selfe in the smal Ships and towed the boats at our Sterns to seeke another smal Bay on the other side of the Point to the Eastward called Punta de Galera or Galy Point where there was a Land Fange and consequently a smoother landing But we putting off in this manner at eleuen of the clocke at night I the Generall in a Pinnace of Sir Walter Raleigh called the Guiana wherein all the Officers of the Land Army did accompany me the Aduenturers of quality that came out of my Ship in another Pinnace with Captain Arthur Champernon came to an anchor in this Bay but so dangerously as wee were put from our anchor and had like to haue beene cast away all the rest of the Fleet being put to leeward very farre The next morning at the breake of the day being driuen as low as Uilla Franca and there finding a good landing place wee set our troups on shoare where wee found besides many other commodities with which we refreshed our troupes a better watering place and a safer rode then any other that was about that Iland Which together with the impossibilitie of getting our small Ships and Boats to ply backe againe fiue leagues against the wind and to meet vs that should haue marched by land and they seeing of many of the Queens principal ships driuen from their anchors about and come to Villa Franca These accidents I say made vs to resolue to draw all the Fleet to one place and there to water with all possible diligence And wee being there saw it was so dangerous for our Ships to ride the wind growing more Southerly as on Sunday the fifteenth of October wee re-imbarked all our men the Masters of the Ships hauing before protested that if they were put from their anchors as hourely they looked to bee that the Fleet and Land Forces were in danger to be seuered for this whole Winter So as to haue hazarded her Maiesties honour and so many gallant men for that which was neuer any of our ends had beene as vnwise as it was vnsafe and if the counsell of retyring were good the manner of it was without taxation for wee imbarked first of all our idle persons secondly our aduenterours and the old Companies one after another and when wee had but three hundred and fiftie men on shore the enemy marching in sight of our Guards we went out to meet him and stood two houres readie to fight with the whole Forces of the Iland till at last they retired out of sight Thus left wee that Iland the principall Commanders by Land and Sea staying to bring off the last man In this meane time while the Land Forces were at Villa Franca and the Fleet at Punta Delgada there came into that Road a Carake and a small Brasil man The Carack presently ran her selfe on the Rocks and after her men had saued themselues the last set her on fire with all the goods in her to auoid her being taken Which Sir Walter Raleigh and those with him could not possibly auoid The Brasil man was taken and the Ship being found leakie the goods were taken out and put into English Ships And now wee haue giuen account of all our whole carriage vntill we bare for England If our comming home scattering be obiected wee must plead the violence of stormes against which no fore directions nor present industry can preuaile Wee must conclude with this That as wee would haue acknowledged that wee had done but our duties if we had defeated the Adelantado interpreted the Feet of Treasure and conquered the Ilands of the Açores So wee hauing failed of nothing that God gaue vs meanes to doe wee hoped her Maiestie will thinke our painfull dayes carefull nights euill diet and many hazards deserue not now to be measured by the euent the like honourable and iust construction wee promise our selues at the hands of all my Lords As for others that haue set warme at home and descant vpon vs wee know they lacked strength to performe more and beleeue they lacke courage to aduenture so much Signed ESSEX Thomas Howard Ch Mountioy Walter Raleigh Fran Vere Antony Sherley Christ Blunt §. II. A larger Relation of the said Iland Voyage written by Sir ARTHVR GORGES Knight collected in the Queenes Ship called the Wast Spite wherein he was then Captaine with Marine and Martiall Discourses added according to the Occurrences THese Iles of the Asores are situate in the Atlantike or Westerne Ocean and doe stand betweene 37. and 40. degrees and distant from England 400. leagues They are in number nine namely Saint Maries Saint Michaels The Tercera Gratiosa S. Georges Pykes Fayall Flores and Guerno This name of Asores was giuen vnto these Ilands by the Portugues of a kind of Hawkes called by them Asores which wee name Goshawkes and the Latines Accipitres whereof there did breed great store in those Iles But Ortellius sets downe this name to bee so giuen of the French word Essorer which signifieth to dry or wither but yeeldeth no reason withall for that Etimology The Netherlanders doe call them the Flemish Ilands challenging that they were first discouered by the Merchans of Bridges who found them meerely vn-inhabited abounding with Woods and Cedar Trees whether they sent Colonies to people and manure them And afterterwards in processe of time they yeelded themselues Subiects to the Portugues who since did inhabite and gouerne there so as now with them they are fallen vnder the power of the Spanish vsurpation Amongst these Ilands the Tercera is the chiefe but is so called by the Spaniards because it heth the third Iland distant from the Coast of Spaine It is plentifull of Fruit and Corne and hath some Vines growing in it The Inhabitants doe make great benefit and trade of Oade to dye Cloth which growes there in great plentie The chiefe Towne in that Iland is called Angra and hath thereunto a very strong Fortresse called Brazill and vnder it a Roade for shipping to ride but an Hauen or safe Port for all weathers there is not one amongst these nine Ilands The Pike is so called of a sharpe Mountaine rising steeple wise some three miles in heighe and six or
was very fortunate ard iudicious in Sea seruice so hee truely and wisely considered how great a weight and charge lay on his iudgement and trust and therefore did accordingly with great wisdome and temper marshall his dffaires to the ouerthrow of his Enemies to the perpetuall honour of his name and the victorious seruing of his Prince and Countrey This therefore may may stand for a Maxime and Caueat to all great and wise Commanders that to whom a King or State commits the trust and direction of an Army It bridles him in the free vse of his owne courage or from expressing vpon euery temptation his particular valour For that forward humour of daring is to be vsed in younger yeeres before they arriue to these places of dignitie or command and then euer after counsell should command their courage alwayes wrapping their heads in the Furre of the Foxe and their Armes seldome in the Lyons skin setting aside all respects of brauing or vaine glory as did that Fabius Cunctator of whom Ennius in praise saith Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem And these presidents I haue here taken occasion to record thereby onely to shew what inconueniences and detriments doe follow such vnbridled heat and headdy humours and to the contrary what benefit and aduantage is gained in the true vse of timely and temperate proceedings For surely if these desperate offers made by the Land Souldiers instigating our forward Generall to the taking of the Tercera had beene then put in execution the end had beene that many a valiant man had there left his bones and the rest returned home with the scorne of a disgraced attempt Besides if the Adelantado with the Spanish Nauie had then chanced to haue come on our backes whilest our best men were ashoare ingaged about this desperate and vnfeasable enterprise it might haue turned to the destruction of the whole Fleet or at the least to the assured losse of as many as were landed about that businesse But thankes be to God good counsell preuailed and preuented those hazards After that this dispute was so calmely concluded our Generall himselfe and the Lord Mountioy in the Defiance and two or three other tall Ships bare in as close along the shoare as they could exchanging vpon pleasure some fifteene or twentie great shot with them to very little purpose and so left the I le of Tercera a place very stronge both by Nature and Art and at that time well stored with Men Munition and Treasure by reason of the late arriuall of those Indian Ships From thence wee returned againe to the I le of Saint Michaells which before on Michaelmasse day wee made and left then vpon this Intelligence And now as soone as we were entred into the Road that lies before Saint Michaells Towne wee let fall our Ancors and there the Generall accompanied with diuers of our chiefe Officers comming aboord our Reare-Admirall hung out a Flag of Counsell where it was consulted about landing and the taking of this good Town which lay âo gloriously before our eies promising many rich rewards to the Victors In the which there was a slight Fort towards the Sea side but the Towne vnwalled The Generall appointed that all Companies should bee made ready to land forthwith But our Reare-Admirall desired his Lordship that hee would first permit him to view the place and to find out where the Army might best make a descent because the Billowes about those Ilands doe sometimes so roule from the Sea as might easily ouerturne the best Boates we had as wee found by experience at Fayall where wee had two long Boats ouerturned in landing and Master Thomas Rugway also throwne with a Sea on the Rockes in his Boat Our Generall at first yeelded to the Reare-Admiralls request for viewing a fit place But as hee was putting off and scarce gone from the Ships side twentie paces my Lord standing in the Gallery with Sir Christopher Blânt called him backe againe in great hast and said that he would goe himselfe and view it Whereupon the Reare-Admirall returned againe as my Lord commanded and as his Lordship went out of the Ship into his Barge vnarmed altogether but with his Coller and Sword and without either Shot or Pike to wayte on him the Reare-Admirall called aloud vnto him and desired his Lordship to take his Caske and Target proofe with him if hee purposed to goe neere the shoare seeing there lay so many Muskets on the rest there to receiue him Whereunto my Lord answered That hee would none because hee disdained to take any aduantage of the Watermen that rowed him But in my opinion though that answere much shewed his valour yet became it not the place that my Lord held for in truth a Generall ought not to bee so aduenturâus and carelesse of himselfe vpon euery slight occasion nor to goeââarmed to places of im ãâ¦ã t perill Homer describes the valiant Heroes and brauest Leaders of the Greekes to be best armed As Achilles an excellent Armour framed by Vulcan at the request of Thetis his mother and Aiax with his seuenfold shield Insomuch as their very armes are famous euen to these dayes the vse whereof now wee make scornefull But they are no beaten Souldiers in the warres that hold these opinions for it is truly said that a great and wise Generall should dye old And I haue read that famous Epaminondas was fined by his Countrymen the Thebanes for being too forward and seruing in a battaile ill armed although he waâ the victory But to our matter After that these landing places were viewed a farre off and were not well liked nor yet so neerely approached at that time as within Culuerin Shot for there lay all alongst the shoare aboue foure hundred Shot vpon the rest intrenched to beate on our Boats in conclusion after many offers and surueies made a loofe the conueniences of that place for landing was excepted against Albeit in truth it was a faire and sandy beach as all the Fleet might well perceiue and some foure or fiue miles from the Towne and Fort and much more easie then that of Fayall where wee before wan our landing And that this is most true many that were present now liuing and saw both can iustly affirme And although our Generall himselfe was very resolute and apt to vndertake any good occasion of seruice yet hee was then so led and accompanied with such politicke Land Captaines as that of all the seruices which fell into consultations and deliberations those most commonly which were vnfeasable were offered to bee vndertaken and things more likely and reasonable neglected Whereby out affaires speed accordingly And in this regard that this discent was not by my Lord Generall his viewers allowed of as fit for the Army to land at so many Ensignes being placed and intrenched there to impeach vs it was presently by another consultation agreed that the Reare-Admirall should with all the strength of the
and a generall assembly was held for consultation about the Colonies good The ancient Planters being set free chose places to their content and sweetnesse of proprietie made them emulous to exceed each other in building and planting Many good instructions were sent from the Company to amend the Virginian abuses and competeâcis of prouision was appointed for Officers But leaue we awhile our Captaines Notes and let vs listen to that which the Company published A. 1620. CHAP. XIII The estate of the Colony A. 1620. and Master Dermers Letter to mee from Virginia touching his Voyage for the South Sea NOw touching the present estate of our Colony in that Countrey We haue thought it not vnfit thus much briefly to declare There haue beene sent thither this last yeere and are now presently in going twelue hundred persons and vpward as particularly appeareth in the note aboue specified and there are neere one thousand more remaining of those that were gone before The men lately sent haue beene most of them choice men borne and bred vp to labour and industry Out of Deuonshire about an hundred men brought vp to Husbandry Out of Warwickshire and Staffordshire about one hundred and ten and out of Sussex about fortie all framed to Iron-workes the rest dispersedly out of diuers Shires of the Realme There haue beene also sundry persons of good qualitie much commended for sufficiency industry and honestie prouided and sent to take charge and gouernment of those people The care likewise that hath beene taken by directions instructions Charters and Commissions to reduce the people and affaires in Virginia into a regular course hath been such and so great that the Colony beginneth now to haue the face and fashion of an orderly State and such as is likely to grow and prosper The people are all diuided into seuerall Burroughes each man hauing the shares of Land due to him set out to hold and enioy to him and his Heires The publike Lands for the Company here for the Gouernour there for the Colledge and for each particular Burrough for the Ministers also and for diuers other necessary Officers are likewise laid out by order and bounded The particular Plantations for diuers priuate Societies are setled in their Seates being allotted to their content and each in conuenient distance The rigour of Martiall Law wherewith before they were gouerned is reduced within the limits prescribed by his Maiesty and the landable forme of Iustice and gouernment vsed in this Realme established and followed as neere as may be The Gouernour is so restrained to a Counsell ioyned with him that he can doe wrong to no man who may not haue speedy remedy Each Burrough and each particular Plantation partly hath partly is bound to haue in short time a sufficient Minister for whom maintenance is ordained to each of two hundred pounds a yeere value Which orderly proceeding there by direction from hence hath caused the Colony now at length to settle themselues in a firme resolution to perpetuate the Plantation They fall to building of Houses each for his owne priuate and the Generality to the rearing of publike Guest-houses for entertaining of new men vpon their first arriuall They fall to set vp their Ploughes to the planting of Vineyards to the pursuing of the Staple Commodities furnished and commended from hence In summe they are now so full of alacrity and cheerefulnesse that in a late generall Assembly they haue in the name of the Colony presented their greatest possible thankes to the Company for the care that hath beene taken for the setling of the Plantation Neither is it to be omitted the care which hath beene had here lately at home for the reducing of all the proceedings and affaires of the Company to an orderly course of good gouernment and Iustice. Wherein to begin with the Fountaine thereof his Maiesties authoritie and pleasure there hath beene a collection made of all the branches of the same dispersed in his Letters Patents now three times renewed as also out of other instructions proceeding from his Maiestie Out of both which together with such other Orders as authorized by his Maiestie the Companie themselues haue thought necessary to make hath beene compiled a booke of standing Orders and Constitutions approued by the generall consent of all the Companie whereby both the Company here and the Colony in Virginia haue their businesse carried regularly industriously and iustly euery man knowing both his right and dutie to their generall great content and the great aduancement of the Action And whereas the Colony likewise haue been often Sutors in effect to reduce into a compendious and orderly forme of writing the Lawes of England proper for the vse of that Plantation with addition of such other as the nature of the place the nouelty of the Colony and other important circumstances should necssarily require A course is likewise taken for the effecting of this worke yet so as to submit it first to his Maiesties view and approbation it being not fit that his Maiesties Subiects should bee gouerned by any other Lawes then such as receiue the influence of their life from him And now to come to that which concerneth the Aduenturors in particular by whose charges care and labour next vnto his Maiesties especiall grace this famous Plantation hath not onely beene vndertaken but through so many difficulties vpheld and continued wee should bee very greatly iniurious to them if we should not acquaint them with this seasonable time for the reaping of that benefit and reward which is due vnto them Wee therefore let them know that in this last yeere now ended there haue beene granted by the Company vnder their legall Seale eleuen seuerall Patents for particular Plantations and more are in hand to bee passed this next Quarter-Court It is not vnprobable that vpon each of these Patents diuers hundreds of persons will soone Plant in Virginia there haue beene already transported vpon the first aboue three hundred men These and other like Planters hauing priority of time will haue priority also in choice of the Seat of their Plantations Seeing therefore the onely matter of retribution to the Aduenturors is by a faire proportion of Land to them and their heires namely of one hundred Acres for euery share of twelue pounds and ten shillings vpon a first diuision and as much more vpon a second the first being peopled with fiftie Acres for euery person to bee doubled in like manner which at their own charges they shall transport to inhabite in Uirginia before the foure and twentieth of Iune 1625. if hee continue there three yeeres either at one or seuerall times or die after he is shipped for that voyage It standeth them vpon who are not willing to be the least in the benefit to be partaked not to be the last in setting forth to the choice and peopling of their Land Wherein what fauour or assistance may by vs bee giuen them they shall bee well assured of it
in equall proportion with our selues as their charges and long expectance haue well deserued And to the end that not onely the Aduenturors now liuing but the Heires also of the deceased may take certaine notice of the seuerall proportion of Land which ratably to their Aduentures in money are due and belonging to them A Note of the Shipping Men and Prouisions sent to Virginia by the Treasurer and Company in the yeere 1619. THe Bona Noua of two hundred Tun sent in August 1619. with one hundred and twenty persons The Duty of seuenty Tun sent in Ianuary 1619. with fiftie one persons The Ionathan of three hundred and fiftie Tun sent in February 1619. with two hundred persons The Triall of two hundred Tun sent in February 1619. with fortie persons and sixtie Kine The Faulcon of one hundred and fiftie Tun sent in February 1619. with thirtie sixe persons fiftie two Kine and foure Mares The London Merchant of three hundred Tun sent in March 1619. with two hunpersons The Swan of Barnstable of one hundred Tunne sent in March 1619. with seuentie one persons The Bonauenture of two hundred and fortie Tun sent in April 1620. with one hundred and fiftie three persons Besides these set out by the Treasurer and Company there hath beene set out by particular Aduenturers for priuate Plantations The Garland of two hundred and fiftie Tun sent in Iune 1619. for M. Iohn Ferrars Plantation with fortie fiue persons Who are yet detained in the Summer Ilands A Ship of Bristoll of eightie Tun sent in September 1619. for M. Barkleys Plantation with fortie fiue persons There are also two Ships in prouiding to be shortly gone for about three hundred persons more to bee sent by priuate Aduenturers to Virginia The summe of the persons one thousand two hundred sixtie one Whereof in the eight Ships set out by the Treasurer and Company eight hundred seuentie one Of these persons there are sent for publike and other pious vses these ensuing Tenants for the Gouernours Land besides fiftie sent the former Spring eightie Tenants for the Companies Land one hundred and thirtie Tenants for the Colledges Land one hundred Tenants for the Ministers glebe-Lands fiftie Young Maids to make Wiues for so many of the former Tenants ninetie Boyes to make Apprentices for those Tenants one hundred Seruants for the publike fiftie Men sent by their labours to beare vp the charge of bringing vp thirtie of the Infidels children in true Religion and Ciuilitie The sum of persons for publike vse c. six hundred and fiftie The six hundred and eleuen remaining are sent for priuate Plantations The Commodities which these people are directed principally to apply next to their own necessary maintenance are these ensuing Iron for which are sent one hundred and fiftie persons to set vp three Iron-workes proofe hauing beene made of the extraordinary goodnesse of that Iron Cordage for which besides Hempe direction is giuen for the planting of Silke-grasse naturally growing in those parts in great abundance which is approued to make the best Cordage and Linnen in the world Of this euery housholder is bound to set one hundred Plants and the Gouernour himselfe hath set fiue thousand Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes Pitch and Tarre for the making whereof the Polacres are returned to their workes Timber of all sorts with Masts Planks and Boords for prouision of Shipping c. there being not so good Timber for all vses in any one knowne Countrey whatsoeuer And for the ease and encrease of diuers of these workes prouision is sent of men and materialls for the setting vp of sundry Sawing Mills Silke for which that Countrey is exceeding proper hauing innumerable store of Muibery Trees of the best and some-Silk-wormes naturally found vpon them producing excellent Silke some whereof is to be seene For the setting vp of which Commoditie his Maiesty hath beene graciously pleased now the second time the former hauing miscarried to bestow vpon the Company plenty of Silk-wormes-seed of his owne store being the best Vines whereof the Countrey yeeldeth naturally great store and of sundry sorts which by culture will be brought to excellent perfection For the effecting whereof diuers skilfull Vignerons are sent with store also from hence of Vine-plants of the best sort Salt which workes hauing beene lately suffered to decay are now ordered to bee set vp in so great plentie as not onely to serue the Colony for the present but as is hoped in short time also the great Fishings on those Coasts For the following working and perfecting of these Commodities all prouisions necessary for the present are sent in good abundance As likewise the people that goe are plentifully furnâshed with apparell bedding victuall for sixe moneths Implements both for the House and Labour Armour Weapons Tooles and sundry other necessaries And a supply of Armour Powder and many necessary prouisions is made for those of the Colony which were there before yet without any preiudice to the former Magazin There haue beene giuen to the Colony this yeere by deuout persons these Gifts ensuing Two persons vnknowne haue giuen faire Plate and other rich Ornaments for two Communion Tables whereof one for the Colledge and the other for the Church of Mistresse Mary Robinsons founding who in the former yeere by her Will gaue two hundred pounds towards the founding of a Church in Virginia Another vnknowne person together with a godly Letter hath lately sent to the Treasurer fiue hundred and fiftie pounds in gold for the bringing vp of children of the Infidels first in the Knowledge of God and true Religion and next in fit Trades whereby honestly to lâue Master Nicolas Ferrar deceased hath by his Will giuen three hundred pounds to the Colledge in Virginia to bee paid when there shall be ten of the Infidels children placed in it And in the meane time foure and twentie pounds by yeere to bee distributed vnto three discreet and godly men in the Colony which shall honestly bring vp three of the Infidels children in Christian Religion and some good course to liue by An vnnamed person sent to the Treasurer the summe of ten pounds for aduancing of the Plantation There haue beene Patents granted this yeere for particular Plantations as here ensueth To the Societie of Southamton Hundred To Master Heath Recorder of London To Master Wincop To Master Tracie To Doctor Bohun To Master Pierce To Master Delbridge To Master Pointz To Master Barkley To Captaine Bargraue To Captaine Ward Who haue vndertaken to transport to Virginia great multitudes of people with store of cattell It is to be knowne that touching the Colledge for the Infidels children it hath beene thought more expedient to begin first with the planting and peopling of the Lands which hath beene done this yeere and afterwards to proceed to the erecting of the Fabricke which is to be performed out of the reuenues of the Lands To his Worshipfull Friend M. SAMVEL PVRCHAS Preacher of the Word