faule into this Caspium CCâ— sprynges within the space of a furlonge Also on the Northe syde within a furlonge of the lake there are aboue twoo hundreth springes occupyinge lykewise aboute a furlonge in circuite the water wherof is coulde in soomer freshe also and holsome to bee droonke These sprynges make a ryuer than can not bee waded ouer whiche neare at hande ioynynge with the other fauleth into the lake Here muste wee staye a whyle The kynge of this regyon founde his wyfe praying in a chapel builded by the Christians with in the precincte of his dominion A myracle and required her coompanie to satisfye his fleshely luste His wyfe reproued hym and put hym in remembraunce to haue respecte to the holye place The woordes whiche shee spake to hym The Indian language were these Teitoca Teitoca whiche is as muche to saye as bee quyet bee quyet Techeta cynato guamechyna That is god wyl bee greatly angerie Guamechyna sygnifyeth god Techeta greatly Cynato angrie But the husbande halynge her by the arme sayde Guaibba that is go Cynato macabuca guamechyna That is what is that to me if god be angerye A kyng stricken dumme and lame by â— myracle And with these woordes as he profered her violence soodenlye he became dumme and lame Yet by this myracle beynge striken with repentaunce he euer after ledde a relygious lyfe In soo muche that from thense foorthe hee woolde neuer suffer the chapell to bee swepte or decked with any other mannes hande By the same myracle manye of thinhabitauntes and all the Christians beyng moued resorted deuoutly to the chappell They take it in good parte that the kynge suffered the reuenge of that reproche Lette vs nowe retourne to Caspium That salte lake is tossed with stormes and tempestes And oftentymes drowneth smaule shyppes or fyssher boates and swaloweth them vppe with the maryners Such as are drowned in the lake are not cast vp ageyne In so muche that it hath not byn harde of that any man drowned by shyppewracke euer ploonged vppe ageyne or was caste on the shore as commonly chaunceth of the deade bodyes of suche as are drowned in the sea These tempestes are the deintie banquetes of the Tiburones This Caspium is cauled Hagueigabon In the myddest hereof lyeth an Ilande named Guarizacca The Ilande Guarizacca in the myddest of the poole A lake of salt and freshe water to the whiche they resorte when they go a fysshynge But it is not cultured There is in the same playne an other lake nexte vnto this whose water is myxte of salte and freshe And is therfore nother apte to bee droonke not yet to bee refused in vrgente necessytie This conteineth in length .xxv. miles and in breadth eight myles In summe places also nyne or ten It receaueth manye ryuers whiche haue no passage owte of the same but are swalowed vppe as in the other Water springeth out of the sea into this also but in no great quantitie whiche is the cause that it is so commyxte In the same prouynce towarde the Weste syde there is an other lake of freshe water A lake of fresshe water not farre distante from Caspius This thinhabitauntes caule Iainagua The same salte lake hath on the North syde therof an other named Guaocaa This is but lyttle as not past three or foure myles in breadth and one in length The water of this maye well bee droonke On the southe syde of the salte lake there lyeth an other named Babbareo of three myles in length and in maner rounde The water of this is freshe as of â—he two other This lake bycause it hath no passage owte nor yet any swalowynge goulfes conueyeth the superfluous waters to the sea if it be encreased with the streames whiche faule sumtimes more abondantly froÌ„ the montaines This is in the region of Xamana in the prouince of Bainoa There is an other cauled Guaniba lying betwene the East the South nere vnto the syde of Caspius This is ten myles in length and almoste rounde A lake of ten myles in lâ—ngth There are furthermore many other smaule standyng pooles or lakes disparsed here and there in the Iland whiche I wyll lette passe leste I shulde bee tedious in remainyng to longe in one thynge I wyll therfore make an ende with this addition that in all these great plentie of fyshe and foule is nourysshed All these lakes lye in a large playne the whiche from the East reacheth into the West a hundreth and twentie myles A playne of a hundreth and twentie miles beyng of breadth .xviii. myles where it is narowest and .xxv. where it is largest Lookyng toward the West it hath collaterally on the lefte hande the montaines of Daiguani And on the ryght hande the montaines of Caigua so cauled of the name of the vale it selfe At the rootes of the montaines of Caigua toward the North syde there lyeth an other vale much longer larger then that before named For it conteineth in length almoste two hundreth myles A playne of two hundreth myles in length And in breadth .xxx. wher it is largest about .xx. wher it is narowest This vale in summe parte therof is cauled Maguana In an other place Iguamu elles where Hathathiei And forasmuche as wee haue here made mention of this parte of the vale named Hathathiei wee wyll sumwhat digresse from the discourse of this description and entreate of a thinge so straunge and maruelous that the lyke hath not vyn hard of So it is therfore that the kyng of this region named Caramatexius taketh great pleasure in fysshinge Into his nettes chanced a yonnge fyshe of the kynde of those huge monsters of the sea whiche thinhabitours caule Manari The maruelous fysshe Manari not founde I suppose in owre seas nor knowen to owre men before this tyme. This fyâ—he is foure footed and in shape lyke vnto a tortoyse althoughe shee be not couered with a shel but with scales And those of such hardnesse couched in suche order that no arrowe can hurâ—e her Her scales are byseâ— defend with a thousand knobbes Her backe is playne and her heade vtterly lyke the heade of an oxe She lyueth both in the water and on the lande She is slowe of mouynge of condition meeke gentell A monster of the sea fedde with mans hande assocyable and louing to mankind and of a maruelous sence or memorie as are the elephant and the delphyn The king norisshed this fyshe certeine daies at home with the breade of the countrey made of the roote of Iucca and Panycke with suche other rootes as men are accustomed to eate For when shee was yet but younge he cast her into a poole or lake neare vnto his palaice there to bee fedde with hande This lake also receaueth waters and casteth not the same foorth ageine It was in tyme passe cauled Guaurabo But is nowe cauled the lake of Manaâ—i after the name
and runneth downe by the sydes of the mountaynes The lyke is also seene in this famous towne of Valladoleto where we nowe suiorne in a certeyne greene close not past a furlonge distant from the waules of the towne I graunte therfore that in certeyne places by conuersion of the ayrie dewe into water within the caues of suche mountaynes many sprynges and ryuers are engendred But I suppose that nature was not sollicitate to brynge furthe suche greate fluds by this so smaule industry Twoo reasons therfore do sound beste to my iudgement whereof the one is the often faule of rayne The often fal of raâ—ne and contâ—nuall sprynge time The other the continuall autumne or sprynge tyme which is in those regions beinge soo nere vnto the Equinoctial that the common people can perceaue no difference betwene the length of the day and the night throwgh owt al the yeare whereas these two seasons are more apte to engender abundance of rayne then eyther extreme wynter or feruent summer An other reason in effect much lyke vnto the fyrst The Equinocâ—iall is this If the sea bee full of pores and that by the pores therof beinge opened by the Southe windes The pores of the sea the South wynd wee shal consent that vapours are lyfted vp wherof the watery cloudes are engendred this lande must needes bee moysted with moo shoures then anye other yf it bee as narowe as they saye and enuironed with twoo mayne seas collaterally beatinge on the same Howe so euer it be I can not but gyue credit to the report of such worthy men as haue recourse to those regions And can noo lesse then declare the same albeit it may seeme incredible to sume ignorant persons not knowynge the poure of nature to whome Plinie was persuaded that nothynge was impossible Nothinge impossible to the poure of naure Wee haue therfore thought it good to make this discourse by the way of argument least on the one syde men of good lernyng and iudgement and on the other syde suche as are studious to fynde occasions of quarelynge in other mens wrytynges shulde iudge vs to bee so vndescreete lyghtly to gyue creditte to euery tale not beinge consonant to reason But of the force and greate violence of those fresshe waters The cause of the greatnes and force of the goulfe which repulsinge the sea make so greate a goulfe as wee haue sayde I thinke the cause therof to bee the greate multitude of fluddes and ryuers which beinge gathered togither make so great a poole and not one ryuer as they suppose And for as muche as the mountaynes are excedynge hyghe and stiepe hygh and stiepe hylles I thinke the violence of the faule of the waters to be of such force that this conflicte betwene the waters is caused by thimpulsion of the poole that the salte water can not enter into the goulfe But here perhappes sume wyll marueyle at me why I shulde marueyle soo muche hereat speakynge vnto me scornefully after this maner Why dothe he soo marueyle at the greate ryuers of these Regions Hathe not Italye his Eridanus The fludde Eridanus named the kynge of ryuers of the owlde wryters Haue not other regions also the lyke as wee reede of Tanais Tanais Ganges Ganges and Danubius Danubius which are sayde soo to ouercoome the sea that freshe water may bee drawne fortie myles within the fame These menne I woolde satisfie with this answere The famous ryuer of Padus in Italye whiche they nowe caule Po Padus and was of the Greekes cauled Eridanus hath the greate mountaynes cauled Alpes diuidinge Fraunce Alpes Germanie and Pannonie from Italye lyinge at the backe therof as it were bulwarges agger full of moysture And with a longe tracte receauinge Ticinum with innumerable other great ryuers Ticinum fauleth into the sea Adriatike The sea Adriatike sume caule the goâ—lfe of Uenes The lyke is also to bee vnderstode of the other But these ryuers as owre men were enformed by the kynges faul into the Ocean sea with larger and fuller chanels nere hand And sume there are which affirme this lande to bee very large in other places althowgh it bee but narowe here There commeth also to my remembrance an other cause the whiche althowgh it bee of no greate force An other reason yet doo I entende to wryte it Perhappes therfore the length of the lande reachyng far from the Easte to the weste if it bee narowe may bee a helpe hereunto For as wee reade that the ryuer Alpheus passethe through the holowe places vnder the sea from the citie of Elis in Peloponoso The ryuer Alpheus and breaketh foorth at the fountayne or sprynge Arethusa in the Iland of Sicilia Arethusa so is it possible that these mountaynes may haue suche longe caues perteynynge vnto theim Longe caues in the mountaynes that they may be the receptacles of the water passing through the landes beinge farre distante And that the same waters commynge by soo longe a tracte may in the way bee greately encreased by the conuersion of ayer into water as wee haue sayde Thus muche haue I spoken freely permittinge bothe to them whiche doo frendely enterprete other mens doinges and also to the malicious scorners to take the thynge euen as them lysteth For hetherto I can make no further declaration hereof But wheÌ„ the truth shal be better knoweÌ„ I wyl do my diligence to commit the same to wryting Nowe therefore forasmuche as we haue spoken thus muche of the breadth of this land we enteÌ„d to describe the length forme of the same ¶ The tenth booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed Continent THat lande reacheth foorth into the sea euen as doth Italy althowgh not like the legge of a man as it doth The length and forme of the Iland Cap. S. Augusti But I nowe compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe to a giant For that part therof which the Spaniardes haue ouer runne from the sayde Easte poynt which reacheth towarde the sea Atlantike the ende not beinge yet founde towarde the Weste is more then eyght tymes longer then Italye Eyght tymes bygger tâ—en Italy besyde that part whiche the Portugales poâ—sesse Italy is in length a thouâ—and and two hundreth myles and in breadth foure hundreth and ten And by what reason I am moued to say eyght tymes yowre holynes shall vnderstande From the tyme therefore that I fyrste determined to obeye their requestes who wylled me fyrste in yowre name to wryte these thynges in the laten tonge I dyd my endeuoure that al thinges myght coome foorth with dewe tryall and experience Wherupon I repayred to the byshoppe of Burges beinge the chiefe refuge of this nauigation As wee were therfore secretly togyther in one chamber we had many instrumentes perteynynge to these affayres as globes and manye of those mappes which are commonly cauled the shipmans cardes or cardes of the sea Cardes
theyr domesticall goddes They are also circumcised The kynge was in fayre apparel made of gossampine cotton curiously wrought He was lame on the one foote by reason that as he once exercysed hym selfe in swymmynge a deuourynge fyshe cauled Tuberon byt of al the toes Gentell peopâ—e of one of his feete He entreated owre men very frendly and made them great chiere After they had byn here thre dayes they departed And saylynge styll towarde the Weste they espyed great mountaynes a farre of But as they drewe neare they perceaued it to bee the Ilande of Iucatana beinge distant from Cozumella onely fyue myles Iucatana but fyue myles from Cozumeâ—la Directynge therfore theyr course towarde the south syde of Iucatana they compased it on that syde which lyeth nearest to the supposed continent Yet coulde they not sayle rounde about it by reason of the multitude of rockes shalowe places and shelfes of sande Then Alaminus the pylot turned his sailes to the North side wherof he had better knowleage Thus at the length they came to the towne Campeebium and kynge Lazarus with whom they had bin that attempted the fyrst vyage the yeare before At the fyrst they were gentelly receaued and requyred to resort to the towne But shortly after The Barbarians make resistaunce they repented that they had bydden them and there vpon wylled them to stay about a stones cast from the towne and to proceade no further When owre men desyred that they myght make prouision for freshe water before theyr departure they assigned them to a certeyne well which they had lefte behynde them Declaringe further that it shulde be lawfull for them to take water there or els no wheare Owre men rested that nyght in the fyelde adioynynge to the well The which thynge the Barbarians suspectinge assembled an army of three thousande men and encamped not farre from them Bothe partes passed awaye the nyght without sleepe They fearynge leaste owre menne shulde breake into the towne And owre men least the Barbarians shulde inuade them soodenly on the one parte with trumpettes and on the other syde with the noyse of timbrels kept them styll wakynge that were disposed to sleape At the sprynge of the day the Barbarians approched to owre mens campe cauled for thinterpretours of Cuba whose language is much agreable vnto theyrs They had diuised to lyght a torche of frankensence and to place the same betwene bothe tharmies to thintent that if owre men dyd not depart before the torche were consumed to stande to theyr perell A conflicte The torch was wasted and the matter came to hand strokes They slewe onely one of owre men with an arrowe bycause his target fayled hym But many were wounded After this conflicte owre men resorted to theyr ordinaunce which they had planted neare vnto the well When they had discharged certeyne pecces the Barbarians fledde backe into the towne Owre men were of fierce and greedy courage to haue pursued them but that Grisalua the gouernour wolde not suffer theÌ„ From thense they proceaded to the last ende of Iucatana The length of Iucaâ—ana which they founde to reache more then two hundreth myles frome the East to the West Here they founde a comodious hauen and named it Portus desideratus From hense they sayled to other landes and came to the region nexte to Iucatana Westwarde whiche they doubte whether it be an Ilande or parte of the firme lande but thinke it rather to be annext to the continent In this there is a goulfe which they suppose to be incoompased with bothe the landes But of this there is no certentie Thinhabitantes caule this region Caluacam or otherwise Oloan. The region of Caluacam or Oloan. They founde here also a great ryuer whiche by his violente course and faule driueth freshe water two myles into the sea This they cauled Grisalua after the name of the gouernoure The ryuer Grisalua The barbarians marueilyng at the huge greatnesse and mouynge of owre shyppes came swarmyng the bankes on bothe sydes the ryuer to the number of syxe thousande men armed with targettes and brest plates of gold Targets and brest plates of golde bowes and arrowes brode swoordes of heauy woodde and longe iauelens hardened at the endes with fyer Thus stondynge in battayle raye to defende their coostes and with proude countenaunces forbyddinge owre men to coome alande Bothe parties watched al that nyght in armes In the dawne of the day owr men espied about a hundreth Canoas whiche we haue saide to be their boates full of armed men Here also the language of thinterpretours of Cuba agreed well enowghe with thers When they had admitted the peace profered them by thinterpretours al the Canoas staied excepte one whiche approched toward the shippes A certeyne ruler that was in this Canoa demaunded of owre men what they sought in other mennes landes They answered gold And that for permutation of other ware and not of gift or vyolently The Canoa returned and the ruler certified the kyng hereof who came gladlye to the shyppes When he had saluted the gouernour he cauled his chamberlen vnto hym commaundynge him to bringe his armure and other ornamentes of golde wherwith he armed Crisalua from the toppe of the heade to the soule of the foote Armure of golde In so muche that what so euer any man of armes armed at all partes is emong vs accustomed to weare of Iren or steele when he commeth in to the fielde Experte artificers all suche kynde of furnitures made of golde and wrought with woonderfull arte the kyng gaue to the gouernour He recompensed hym with vestures of sycke clothe lynen and other of owre thinges â–ª In the beginning of this Iucatana when they sayled to Cozumella they chaunced vppon a Canoa of fyssher men to the number of nyne fysshyng with hookes of golde Fysshe hokes of golde They tooke them all prisoners One of them was knowen to this kyng who promysed the daye folowyng to sende the gouernour as muche golde for his raunsome as the man hym selfe waied But the gouernour denyed that he coulde release hym withowte the consent of his felowes And therfore kept hym styll to proue what he could further knowe of hym Departing from hense and saylynge styll westwarde they founde a great goulfe in the which three smaule Ilandes were sytuate Of these The Ilandes of Sacrifice they went to the byggest But oh abhominable crueltie oh most corrupted myndes of men and deuelyshe impietie Let euery godly man close the mouth of his stomake lest he be desturbed Chyldren sacrified to Idoles They offer younge children of bothe kyndes to their Idoles of marble and earth Emonge their Idoles of marble Their Idoles of marble there standeth a lyon hauynge a hole throwgh the necke into the whiche they poure the bludde of the miserable sacrifyce that it maye from thense runne downe into a syncke of marble Lette vs nowe declare with what ceremonies they
foelicissimo vestro matrimonio orationae satis fusa tractauit in qua nihil pretermisit ê™ ad Celsitudinis vestrae et progenitorum vestrorum gloriam virtute partam pertineat CaeteruÌ„ cum regiae vestre virtutes nominisque spleÌ„dor ac regnorum amplitudo alias per vniuersa Christiani orbis imperia satis nota sint nisi forte ibi minime vbi maxime nota esse debereÌ„t nempe in hoc Angliae regno ideo operepraecium et rem omnibus bonis gratam quodque mei est officij erga Celsitudines vestras me facturum existimaui si haec nostris vt dixi hominibus nostraque lingua ob oculos contemplanda proposuero Quod quam foeliciter aut dextre a me factum sit aliorum esto iudicium Quam vero fideliter syncere ac animo in Maiestatis vestras propenso hoc idem aggressus sum testis est mihi conscientia mea in conspectu illius qui hominum corda et renes scrutatur Macteigitur virtutis istius animi vestri estote Serenissimi Principes atque Diuino auxilio freti pergite ea qua coepistis fiducia huius deploratae ac collapsae reipub â–ª nostrae statum pristino decori restituere id ê™ omnes a vobis expectant atque effâ—agitant pollicentes insuper vobis in eo negotio suam operam in nullo defuturam Ne terreat vos quoruÌ„dam canum latratus qui bonis omnibus oblatrant et tunc desinent latrare cum desinent viuere Vulgatissimum semper fuit improbos homines viris probis vel propter inuidiam vel propter dissimilitudinem solere latrare Et tamen ille pro bus semper habitus est quem peruersi maxime improbauerint Non est igitur curandum quid de nobis homunculi sed quid viri boni loquantur Cogitat Serenissimi Principes ê™ magnanimitate ac ma iorum insignijs aquilis et leonibus similes estis Aquilae natura est alta petere et aduersus solis radios in altum volare Leonis proprium est parcere subiectis et debellare superbos Generosus equus per plateas incedens canes vt animalcula imbella praeterit non perturbatus â–ª Virtus non exercita inquit Seneca ad Neronem paruam laudem meretur Non admodum magnificum fuerit mediocrem fortunam probe administrare Sed tanta rerum omnium licentia non abuti hoc vero admirabile est Multo autem admirabilius in iuuenili ac lubrica aetate cui accedat aetas magistra hijs praesertim qui contumelia lacescuntur quae alioqui homines vel placidissimos solet de gradu deijcere Sed vt supra dixi non est hic meâ—propositi Serenissimi Principes vestras laudes pro meritis decantare aut exprimere quo modo in summo rerum fastigio vos humiles praebuistis de quare fuâ—ius in praefacione ad lectores tractaui Iam itaque vt huic epistolae dedicatoriae finem imponam rogo Serenissimas Maiestates vestras vt has meas lucubrationes in hijs autoribus vertendis quas vestro nomini consecraui ea humanitate ac fauore suscipiatis quibus omnes beneuolo animo ad vos accedentes facile admittitis ac neminem reijcitis QueÌ„admodum enim qui pomarium aut vineam plantauit ac maturos inde fructus collegit illi merito primitias soluit a quo prima semina primasque arborum insitiones habuit ita et ego qui a maiorum vestrorum rebus gestis primis sumptis seminibus hos qualescumqueâ—tuctus aedidi videor profecto mihi debito vestro honore vos defraudasse nisi eosdeÌ„ vestro nomini ac numini obtulissem Deus Opt. Max. Celsitudines vestras perpetuo seruat incolumes faxitque vt foecunda sobolis propagine summaque pace ac traÌ„quillitate huius regni habenas ad Diuini nominis gloriam diu gubernetis FINIS ¶ The table of the contentes of this booke Besyde the Decades the table of whose contentes yow may reade in the ende of the booke are conteyned furthermore in this boooke these thynges folowynge ¶ Of the landes and Ilandes latâ—ly founde Folio 149. The popes bulle and donation 167. and. 171. The hystorie of the Weste Indies wrytten by Gonzalus Ferdinandus 174. The ordinarie nauigation from Spayne to the Weste Indies 175. Of two notable thynges as touchynge the West Indies and of the greate ryches brought from thense into Spaine 176 Of the golde mines and maner of woorkynge in them 177. The maner of fysshynge for pearles 180. The familiaritie that the Indians haue with the deuyl 181. Of temperate and habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line c. 184. Of dyuers particular thynges as woormes serpentes beastes foules c. 185. Of trees fruites and plantes c. 194. Of the venemous apples wherwith the Canibales inueneme theyr arrowes 199. Of fysshes and theyr maner of fysshynge 201. Of the rysynge and faulynge of owre Ocean sea and the south sea cauled the sea of Sur. 204. Of the streight of lande beinge betwene the north and south sea 205. Howe thynges of one kynde dyffer by the nature of the place and of the beastes cauled Tygers 206. Of the maners and customes of the Indians of the firme lande and of theyr women 208. Of the Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba 210. Of the Ilande of Cuba and other 213. Of the lande of Baccallaos 213. Other notable thynges gathered owt of dyuers autours and of the vniuersall carde and newe worlde 214. A discourse of the maruelous vyage made by the Spanyardes rounde about the worlde 215. The order of the starres abowt the pole Antartike 222. The prices of precious stones and spâ—ces with their weightes and measures as they are soulde bothe of the Moores and Gentyles 233. Of the weightes of Portugale and India and howe they agree 239. Of the dooues of the Ilande of Madera 239. Of the Ilande of saynt Thomas vnder the Equinoctial line 240. The debate and strife betwene the Spanyardes and Portugales for the diuision of the Indies and the trade of spyces 240. Of the pole Antartike and the starres about the same and of the qualitie of the regions and disposition of the elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line Also of certeyne secreates touchynge the arte of saylynge 245. A discourse of dyuers vyages and wayes by the which spices precious stones and golde were brought in owlde tyme from India into Europe and other partes of the worlde Also of the vyage to Cathay and Easte India by the northe sea And of the viages of Sebastian Cabot 249. Of the vyages to Moscouia and Cathay 249. A breefe description of Moscouia 259. The description of the north regions and how they are habitable contrary to thopinion of the owlde wryters 264. Scondia 267. Gronlande 268. Islande 269. Laponia 270. Norway 273. Suetia or Suethlande 275. Gothia or Gothlande 276. Finlande and Eningia 276. Bothnia 275. The dyâ—ference of regions and causes of great cities 277. The hystorie of Paulus Iouius of the ambassade
greene chestnutte They haue also an other kynde of rootes whiche they call Iucca wherof they make breade in lyke manâ—â— Iucca Breade of rootes They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden then to make breade therof But they neuer eate Iucca excepte it be firste sliced and pressed for it is ful of lycoure and then baked or sodden But this is to be marueled at that the iuyce of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum an herbe of a straungâ— nature so that if it be dronke it causeth present death and yet the breade made of the â—aâ—e therof is of good taste and holsome as all they haue proued They make also an other kynde of breade of a certayne pulse called â—anicum Maâ—â—â—um muche lyke vnto wheate wherof is great pleÌ„tie in the dukedome of Mylane Spayne and Granatum But that of this countrey is longer by a spanne somewhat sharpe towarde the ende and as bygge as a mannes arme in the brawne The graynes wherof are sette in a maruelous order and are in fourme somwhat lyke a pease While they be soure and vnripe they are white but when they are ripe they be very blacke When they are broken they be whyter then snowe This kynde of grayne they call Maizium Golde is of some estimation among them â—olde in estiâ—ation for some of them hange certain small pieces therof at theyr eares and nosethrilles A lyttell beyonde this place our men wente a lande for fresshe water where they chaunced vpon a Ryuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde Golde in the sandes of ryuers They founde there no kindes of foure foted beastes excepte three kyndes of lyttell conyes These Ilandes also nourishe serpentes Serpentes without vemâ—ne but such as are without hurt Lykewise wylde geese turtle doues and duckes Turtle doues Duckes much greater then ours and as whyte as swannes with heades of purple coloâ—re Also Popiniaies Popingiayes of the whiche some are greene some yelowe and some lyke them of India with yelowe rynges about theyr neckes as Plinie describeth them Plini Of these they broughte fortie with them of moste liuely and delectable coloures hauyng three fethers entermengled with greene yelowe and purple whiche varietie deliteth the sense not a litle Thus muche thought I good to speake of Potingiaies ryghte noble Prynce specially to this intente that albeit the opinion of Christophorus Colonus who affirmeth these Ilandes to be parte of India dothe not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient wryters as touchynge the bignesse of the Sphere and compasse of the Globe as concernynge the nauigable portion of the same beynge vnder vs These Ilandâ—s are parte of India The Indians are Antipodes to the spaniardes yet the Popingiaies and many other thynges brought from thence doo declare that these Ilandes sauoure somâ—hat of India eyther beynge nere vnto it or elles of the same nature forasmuche as Aristotle also Aristotle about the ende of his booke De Câ—elo et Mundo and likewise Seneca Seneca with diuerse other authours not ignorant in Cosmography do affirme that India is no longe tracte by sea distante from Spayne by the weste Ocean India not far from Spaine for the soyle of these Ilandes bryngeth forthe Mastir Mastir Aloes Aloe and sundrye other sweete gummes and spyces as doth India Cotton also of the gossampine tree Gossampyne cotton or boâ—base as in India in the countrey of the people called Seres Seres ¶ The languages of all the nations of these Ilandes The laÌ„guage of these Indians maye well be written with our Latine letters For they cal heauen Turâ—i A house Boa Golde Cauni A good man Taino nothing Mayani All other wordes of theyr language they pronounce as playnely as we doo the Latine tongue In these Ilandes they founde no trees knowen vnto them but pyne appe trees and date trees Trees and frutes vnknowen to vs. And those of maruelous heyght and exceding harde by reason of the greate moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde Far moyste grounde with continuall and temperate heate of the sonne heate continuall and temperate whiche endureth so all the hole yere They playnely affyrme the Ilande of Hispaniola to be the most fruiteful lande that the heauen compasseth aboute The fruâ—tfulnes of hispaniola as shall more largely appere hereafter in the particular description of the same whiche we intende to sette foorthe when we shall be better instructed Thus makynge a leage of frendshyppe with the kynge and leauynge with hym .xxxviii. men to searche the Ilande he departed to Spayne takynge with hym .x. of the inhabitauntes to lerne the Spanishe tongue to the intent to vse them afterwarde for interpretours Colonus therfore at his returne was honorably receaued of the kyng and queene who caused him to sytte in theyr presence whiche is a token of great loue and honoure amonge the Spaniardes He was also made Admirall of the Ocean and his brother gouenoure of the Iland Towarde the second viage The seconde viage of Colonus he was furnished with .xii. shippes wherof there were great caractes of a thousand tunne xii were of that sorte whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas without deckes and twoo other of the same sorte somewhat bygger and more apte to beare deckes by reason of the gretnesse of theyr mastes He had also a thousand and two hundreth armed footemen well appoynted Amonge whiche were many artificers as smythes carpenters myners and suche other Certayne horsemen also wel armed Likewise mares shiepe heyghfers and such other of bothe kindes for incrase Lykewise all kynde of pulse or grayne and corne as wheate barlye rye beanes and pease and suche other as well for food as to sowe Come and sedes to sowe Besyde vynes plantes and seedes of suche trees fruites and herbes as those countreyes lacke And not to be forgotten sundry kindes of artillery iron tooles Tooles and artillery as bowes arrowes crossebowes bylles hargabuses brode swoordes large targettes pikes mattockes shâ—ouelles hammers nayles sawes ares and suche other Thus beynge furnished accordyngely they set forwarde from the Ilandes of Gadâ—s nowe called Cals the .vii. day before the calendes of October in the yere of Christe .1493 and arriued at the Ilandes of Canarie at the calendes of October Of these Ilandes the laste is called Ferrea in whiche there is no other water that maye be drunke but onely that is gathered of the dewe whiche continually distilleth from one onely tree growynge on the hâ—ghest backe of the Ilande water droppyng from a tree continually and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mannes hande We were infourmed of these thynges within fewe dayes after his departure what shal succede we wyl certifie yowe hereafter Thus fare ye well from the courte at the Ides of Nouember .1493 ¶ The seconde booke of the fyrste Decade to Ascanius Phâ—rcia vicounte Cardinall c. YOwe repete
Portugales and Spaniardes graunted to the Kynge of Spayne by thauctoritie of his leaden bulles that no other prince shulde bee so boulde as to make any viages to any of those vnknowen regions lyenge without the precinct of a directe lyne draweÌ„ from the North to the Southe a hundreth leaques westwarde without the paralelles of the Ilandes cauled Capud Viride or Cabouerde which we thynke to bee those that in owlde tyme were cauled Hesperides Tâ—e Ilandes oâ— Cabouerde oâ— hisperides These perteyne to the kynge of Portugale And frome these his pylottes whiche doo yearely searche newe coastes and regions directe their course to the Easte The Portugales viages saylynge euer towarde the lefte hande by the backe of Aphrike and the seas of the Ethiopians Neyther to this day had the Portugales at any tyme sayled Southwarde or Westewarde from the Ilandes of Cabouerde Preparyng therfore three shippes he made haste towarde the Ilande of Iohanna or Cuba whyther he came in shorte space and named the poynt therof where he fyrst arryued Alpha and O Alpha and O that is the fyrste and the laste for he supposed that there had byn th end of owre Easte bycause the sonne fauleth there And of the weste bycause it ryseth there For it is apparente that westwarde it is the beginninge of India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges And Eastewarde the furthest ende of the same The ende of the Easte and West which thinge is not contrary to reason forasmuche as the Cosmographers haue lefte the lymites of India beyonde Ganges vndetermyned where as also sume were of opinion that India was not farre froÌ„ the coastes of Spaine as we haue sayde before Note India not far froÌ„ Spayne Within the prospecte of the begynnynge of Cuba he founde a commodious hauen in the extreme angle of the Ilande of Hispaniola For in this part the Iland receaueth a greate goulfe This hauen he named saynt Nycolas porte Saynt Nycolas porte beinge scarsely .xx. leaques from Cuba As he departed from hense and sayled westwarde by the south syde of Cuba the further that he went so muche the more the sea seemed to bee extended in breadth to bende towarde the south On the south syde of Cuba he fownde an Ilande which thinhabitantes caule Iamaica The Iland of Iamaica This he affirmeth to bee longer and broder then the Iland of Sicilie hauyng in it only one mountayne which on euery parte begynninge from the sea ryseth by little and little into the myddest of the Ilande And that soo playnely without rowghnes that suche as goo vp to the toppe of the same can scarsely perceaue that they ascende Iamaica This Ilande he affirmed to bee very fruitfull and full of people as well in thinner partes of the same as by the shore And that thinhabitantes are of quicker wytte then in the other Ilandes Quicke wytted people and more experte artificers and warrelyke men For in many places where he woulde haue arryued they came armed ageynst him and forbodde him with threatening wordes But beinge ouercome The composeinge of the earth they made a league of frendeship with hym Thus departynge from Iamaica he sayled towarde the Weste with a prosperous wynde for the space of threeâ—core tenne dayes thinkinge that he had passed so farre by the compasse of the earth being vnderneth vs that he had byn nere vnto Aurea Chersonesus nowe cauled Malaccha Aurea Chersonesus or Malaccha in owre Easte India beyonde the beginninge of Persides For he playnely beleued that he had lefte onely two of the twelue howres of the sonne A secreate of Astronomie which were vnknowen to vs for the owlde wryters haue lefte halfe the course of the sonne vntouched where as they haue but onely discussed that superficiall parte of the earth which lyeth betwene the Ilandes of Gades and the ryuer of Ganges The ryuer of Ganges or at the vttermoste to Aurea Chersonesus In this nauigation he chaunced on many furious seas running with a faule as it had byn the streames of fluddes Also many whorlepooles and shelfes with many other daungers and streyghtes by reason of the multytude of Ilandes Daungerous streightes by reason of many Ilandes which ley on euery syde But not regardinge all these perelles he determyned to proceade vntyl he had certaine knowledge whether Cuba were an Ilande or firme lande Thus he sayled forward coastinge euer by the shore towarde the weste for the space of CC.xxii leaques that is abowte a thousande and three hundreth myles And gaue names to seuen hundreth Ilandes by the waye The Admiral gaue names to seuen hundrethe Ilandes Leauynge also on the lefte hande as he feared not to reporte three thousande here and three thre thousaÌ„d Ilandes But let vs nowe returne to suche thinges as he fownde worthy to be noted in this nauigation Saylinge therfore by the syde of Cuba and searchinge the nature of the places he espied not farre from Alpha and O a large hauen of capacitie to harborowe manye shippes A large haueÌ„ whose enteraunce is bendinge beinge inclosed on bothe sydes with capes or poyntes which receaue the water This hauen is large within and of exceadinge depthe Saylinge by the shore of this porte he sawe not farre frome the same two cotages couered with reedes and in many places fyer kyndeled Here he sente certeyne armed men owte of the shippes to the cotages where they fownde nother man nor woman but rostemeate enowgh For they fownde certeyne spyttes of woodde lyenge at the fyre hauinge fyshe on theym abowt a hundreth pownde weight and two serpentes of .viii foote longe a piece Rosted fysshe and serpents of .viii. foote longe wherat marueylinge and lokynge abowt if they coulde espye any of thinhabitantes and that none appeared in syght for they fledde all to the mountaynes at the comminge of owre men they fell to theyr meate and eate the fyshe taken with other mens trauayle But they absteyned froÌ„ the serpentes which they affirme to differ nothinge from Crocodiles of Egypt Crocodiles of Egypte but onely in byggenes For as Plinie sayth Crocodiles haue sumetymes byn fownde of .xviii. cubettes longe But of these the byggest were but of .viii. fote Thus beinge well refresshed they entered into the next woodde where they fownde many of the same kynde of serpentes hangynge vppon bowghes of trees of the which sume had theyr mouthes tyed with strynges and sume theyr teethe taken owte And as they searched the places nere vnto the hauen they sawe abowte .lxx. men in the toppe of a hyghe rocke whiche fledde as soone as they had espied owre men Who by signes and tokens of peace caulinge them ageyne there was one which came nere them and floode on the toppe of a rocke seemynge as thowgh he were yet ferefull But the Admiral sent one Didacus to hym Didacus thinterpretour a man of the same countrey whom he had at his fyrste vyage
resortynge to hym gaue hym a certen portion of theyr breade in exchange for other of owre thynges But he coulde not long tary here bicause they lacked meate in the fortresse whyther he hasted with such as he had now gotten Leauyng therfore in the fortresse a garryson of tenne men with that portion of the Ilande breade whiche yet remayned huntinge houndes leauynge also with them a hownde to take those kyndes of lyttle beastes which they caule Vsias not muche vnlyke owre conyes he returned to the fortresse of Conception This also was the moonthe wherin the kynge Guarionexius and also Manicautexius kynge Manicautexius bortherer vnto hym shulde haue brought in theyr tributes Remaynynge there the hole moonthe of Iune he exacted the hole tribute of these twoo kinges and vytayles necessary for hym and suche as he brought with hym whiche were abowt foure hundreth in number Shortely after abowte the calendes of Iulye there came three Caraueles from Spayne Uytayles browght froÌ„ Spayne bringynge with them sundry kyndes of vitayles as wheate oyle wyne bacon and marckelmas beafe whiche were dyuyded to euery man accordynge as neede required Sum also was lost in the cariage for lacke of good lookyng too At the arryuall of these shyppes the lieuetenaunte receaued commaundment from the kynge and the Admyrall his brother that he with his men shulde remoue theyr habitation to the sowthe syde of the Ilande bycause it was nerer to the golde mynes Also that he shoulde make dilygent searche for those kynges whiche had slayne the Christian men and to sende them with theyr confederates bownd into Spayne At the nexte vyage therfore he sent three hundreth captiues with three Kinges And when he had diligently searched the coastes of the south syde he transported his habitation and buylded a fortresse there vpon the toppe of a hyll neere vnto a shure hauen This fortresse he cauled saynt Dominikes towre Saynt Dominikes towre Into this hauen runneth A ryuer of holsome water replenyshed with sundrye kyndes of good fysshes They affyrme this ryuer to haue many benefytes of nature For where so euer it runneth all thynges are excedynge pleasaunte and fruitfull hauynge on euery syde groues of date trees Groues of date trees and dyuers other of the Ilande frutes so plentyfully that as they sayled alonge by the shore often tymes the branches therof laden with flowres fruites hunge soo ouer theyr heades that they mighte plucke them with theyr handes Also that the frutefulnes of this grownde is eyther equall with the soyle of Isabella or better In Isabella Isabeâ—lâ— he lefte only certeyne sicke men and shippe wrightes whom he had appointed to make certeyne carauels The residue of his men he conueighed to the sowth to saint Dominickes towre After he had buylded this fortresse leauinge therin a garryson of .xx. men he with the remanent of his souldiers prepared them selues to searche the inner partes of the Weste syde of the Ilande hytherto knowen onely by name Therfore abowte .xxx. leaques that is foure score and tenne myles from the fortresse he chaunced on the ryuer Naiba The ryuer of Naiba whiche we sayde to descende from the mountaynes of Cibaua ryght towarde the sowth by the myddest of the Iland When he had ouerpassed this ryuer with a coompanye of armed men diuided into .xxv. decurions that is tenne in a company with theyr capitaynes he sent two decurions to the regions of those kinges in whose landes were the great woods of brasile trees wooddes of brasile trees Inclyninge towarde the lefte hande they fownde the woodes entered into them and felled the hygh and precious trees which were to that day vntouched Eche of the decurions fylled certeyne of the Ilande howses with the trunkes of brasile there to be reserued vntyll the shyppes came which shulde cary them away But the Lieuetenaunt directinge his iourney towarde the ryght hande not farre from the bankes of the ryuer of Naiba fownde a certeyne kynge whose name was Beuchius Anacauchoa kinge Beuchius Anacauchoa encamped ageynst thinhabitantes of the prouince of Naiba to subdue them vnder his dominion as he had doone manye other kynges of the Ilande bortherers vnto hym The palaice of this great kynge is cauled Xaragua The palaice of â—aragua and is situate towarde the Weste ende of the Ilande distante from the ryuer of Naiba .xxx. leaques All the prynces which dwell betwene the Weste ende and his palaice are ditionaries vnto hym All that Region from Naiba to the furtheste marches of the weste is vtterly withowte golde althowgh it bee full of mountaynes Mountaynes without gold When the kynge had espied owre men layinge a parte his weapons gyuinge signes of peace he spake gentelly to them incerteyne whether it were of humanitie or feare and demaunded or theÌ„ what they woolde haue The Lieuetenaunte aunswered That he shulde paye tribute to the Admirall his brother Tribute in the name of the Christian kynge of Spayne To whom he sayde Howe can yowe requyre that of me whereas neuer a Region vnder my dominion bringeth foorth golde For he had harde that there was a strange nation entered into the Ilande whiche made greate searche for golde But he supposed that they desyred none other thynge The leauetenaunt answered ageyne God forbydde that we shulde enioyne any man to pay such tribute as he myght not easely forbeare or such as were not engendered or growinge in the Region But we vnderstand that your Regions brynge foorth great plentie of Gossampine cotton and hempe The woolfe entreateth the sheepe with suche other whereof we desyre yowe to gyue vs parte When he harde these woordes he promysed with cherefull countenaunce to gyue hym as muche of these thynges as he wolde requyre Thus dismissinge his army sendynge messengers beefore he hym selfe accoompanyed the Leauetenaunte and browght hym to his palaice beinge dystante as we haue sayde .xxx. leaques In al this tracte they passed throwgh the Iurisdiction of other princes beinge vnder his dominion Of the whiche sume gaue them hempe of no lesse goodnes to make tackelinges for shippes then owre woodde Other sume browght breade and sum gossampyne cotton hempe and gossampine cotton And soo euery of them payde tribute with suche commodities as theyr countreys browght foorth At the lengthe they came to the kinges mansion place of Xaragua Before they entered into the palaice howe the Lieuetenant was receaued at the kynges palaice A greate multitude of the kynges seruauntes and subiectes resorted to the courte honorably after their maner to receaue their kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa with the strangers which he browght with hym to se the magnificence of his courte But nowe shall yowe heare howe they were interteyned Amonge other tryumphes and syghtes two are especially to bee noted Fyrste there mette them a company of xxx women beinge all the kynges wyues and concubines The kinges wyues bearinge in theyr handes branches of
about xv myles distante they founde a towne of fyue hundreth houses seuered whose Chebi that is kinge was cauled Abenamachei They all forsooke theyr houses as soone as they harde of owre mennes commyng But when they sawe that owre men pursued them they turned ageyne and ranne vppon them with desperate mindes as men driuen from their owne possessions Theyr wepons are swordes of wod and long staues like iauelens hardened at the ende with fyer But they vse neyther bowes nor arrowes nor any other of thinhabitantes of the weste syde of the goulfe Thâ—nhabitantes of the west â—yde of the goulfe The pore naked wretches were easely dryuen to flight with owre weapons As owre men folowed theym in the chase they tooke the kinge Abenamachei and certeine of his noble men kynge Abenamachei is taken and his arme cut of A common souldier of owres whom the kynge had wounded coomminge to hym when he was taken cutte of his arme at one stroke with his swoorde But this was doone vnwares to the capitaynes The number of the Christian men which were here was aboute a hundrethe and fiftie the one halfe whereof the capytaynes lefte here and they with the resydue rowed vpp the ryuer ageyne with twelue of the boates of those Regions whiche they caul Vru as they of Hispaniola caule them Canoas as we haue sayde From the ryuer of Riuus Niger and the Iland of Cannafistula Many other ryuers fauling into Riuus Niger for the space of threescore and ten myles leauing both on the right hande on the lefte many riuers faulinge into it bigger then it selfe they entred into one by the conductynge of one of the naked inhabitantes beinge appoynted a guyde for that purpose Uppon the banke of this ryuer next vnto the mouthe of the same there was a kynge cauled Abibeiba kyng abibeiba dwellethe in a tree who bycause the Region was full of marysshes had his palaice buylded in the toppe of a highe tree a newe kynde of byldynge and seldome seene But that lande beareth trees of suche exceding heigth Abundance of moyster heat is cause of byggenes that emonge theyr branches a man may frame large houses As wee reede the like in diuers autoures howe in many Regions where the ocean sea rysethe and ouerflowethe the lande the people were accustomed to flye to the high trees and after the faule of the water to take the fysshe lefte on the lande The rysynge of the Ocean sea This maner of buyldinge is to laye beames crosse ouer the branches of the trees faste bownde togyther and there vppon to rayse theyr frame strongly made ageynste wynde and wether Owre men suppose that they buylde theyr houses in trees by reason of the greate fluddes and ouerflowinge of ryuers whiche often tymes chaunce in those Regions These trees are of suche heighth Trees of maruelous height that the strength of no manes arme is able to hurle a stone to the houses buylded therein And therfore doo I gyue the better credit to Plinie and other autours whiche wrytte that the trees in sume places in India are soo high by reason of the frutefulnes of the grounde Plinie abundance of water and heate of the Region that noo man is able to shute ouer theym with an arrowe And by iudgemente of all men it is thowght that there is noo frutfuller ground vnder the soonne Frutefull grounde then this is whereof wee nowe entreate Owr men measuringe manye of these trees founde theym to bee of suche biggnes that seuen men ye sumetymes eight holdinge hande in hande with theyr armes streached furthe were scarsely able too fathâ—me them aboute Yet haue they theyr cellers in the grounde Cellers in the grounde well replenysshed with such wynes wherof wee haue spoken beefore For albeit that the vehemencie of the wynde is not of poure to caste downe those houses or to breeke the branches of the trees yet are they tossed therewith and swaye sumwhat from syde to syde by reason wherof the wyne shulde bee muche troubeled with moouinge All other necessarye thinges they haue with theym in the trees When the kynge or any other of the noble men dyne or suppe in these trees theyr wyues are browght theym from the celleres by theyr seruantes whyche by meanes of exercise are accustomed with noo lesse celeritie to runne vppe and downe the steares adherente to the tree then doo owre waytynge boyes vppon the playne grounde fetche vs what wee caule for from the cobbarde bysyde owr dyninge table Owre men therfore came to the tree of kinge Abibeiba and by thinterpretoures cauled hym foorthe to communication gyuinge hym signes of peace and there vppon willinge hym to coomme downe But he denyed that he woolde coomme owte of his house Desyringe them to suffer hym to lyue after his fasshion But owre men fell from fayre woordes to threateninge that excepte he wolde descende with all his famelie they wolde eyther ouerthrowe the tree or elles set it on fyer When he had denied them ageyne they fell to hewinge the tree with theyr axes Abibeiba seeinge the chippes faule from the tree on euery syde Abibeiba the kynge of the tree yeldethe to Uaschus chaunged his purpose and came downe with only two of his soones Thus after they had entreated of peace they communed of gatheringe of golde Abibeiba answered that he had noo golde and that he neuer had any neede therof nor yet regarded it any more then stones But when they were instante vppon hym he sayde vnto them Gold no more estemed then stones If yowe soo greatly desyre golde I will seeke for sume in the nexte mountaynes and bringe it vnto yowe For it is plentifully engendred in those mountaynes Then he appointed a day when he wold bringe this golde But Abibeiba came neyther at the day nor after the daye appoynted They departed therfore from thense well refresshed with his vitailes and wyne but not with goulde as they hoped Yet were they enformed the like by Abibeiba and his ditionaries as concerninge the golde mynes and the Canibales as they harde before of kinge Comogrus Saylinge yet further aboute thirtie myles they chaunced vppon certeyne cotages of the Canibales Canibales But vtterly voyde with owte men or stuffe For when they had knowleage that owre men wandered in the prouinces nere aboute theym they resorted to the mountaynes caryinge al theyr goodes and stuffe wyth them ¶ The fyfte booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent IN the meane tyme whyle these thynges were doone alonge by the shores or bankes of the ryuer a certeyne Decurian that is a capytayne ouer tenne of the coompanye of those which Vascus and Colmenaris had lefte for a garryson in Riuo Nigro in the dominion of kynge Abinamachei whether it were that he was compelled throwgh hunger or that his fataule dayes was nowe coome he attempted with his souldiers to searche the countreys nere there about
of the strayght of Gibilterra in the which the water from th end and furtheste parte of that sea The West Ocean euen vnto the mouth of the sayde straight eyther in the East towarde the coaste commonlye cauled Leuante or in any other parte of the sayde sea Mediterraneum The sâ—a Mediteraneum the sea doothe not so faule nor increase as reason wolde iudge for so greate a sea But incresethe verye lyttle and a smaule space Neuerthelesse withoute the mouthe of the straight in the mayne Ocean it increaseth and fauleth verye muche and a great space of grounde from syxe houres to syxe houres as in all the coastes of Spayne Britannye Flanders Germanye and England The selfe same Ocean sea in the fyrme lande newly founde in the coastes of the same lyynge towarde the Northe dothe neyther ryse nor faule nor lykewise in the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and all the other Ilandes of the same sea lyinge towarde the northe Hispaniola Cuba for the space of thre thousande leaques but onelye in lyke maner as doothe the sea Mediterrâ—neum in Italye whiche is in maner nothynge in respecte to that increase and decrease whiche the sayde Ocean hath in the coastes of Spayne and Flaunders But this is yet a greater thynge that also the selfe same Ocean in the coastes of the sayde fyrme lande lyinge towardâ— the Southe in the citie of Panama and also in the coaste of that lande whiche lyethe towarde the Easte and Weste frome that citie as in the Ilande of pearles or Margaritea whiche the Indians caule Tarrarequi and also in Taboga and Otoque and in all other Ilandes of the southe sea of Sur the water ryseth and fauleth so much that when it fauleth it goth in maner owt of syghte which thynge I my selfe haue seene oftentymes And here youre maiestie may note an other thynge that from the northe sea to the southe sea beynge of suche dyfferâ—nce the one from the other in rysynge and faulynge The South sea yet is the lande that deuydeth theym not paste eyghteene or twentye leaques in breadthe frome coaste to coaste So that bothe the sayde seas beynge all one Ocean this straunge effecte is a thynge worthy greately to bee considered of al suche as haue inclination and desyre to knowe the secreate woorkes of nature wherin the infinite powre and wysedome of god is seene to bee such as may allure all good natures to reuerence and loue so diuine a maiestie The power and wâ—sdome of god is sene in his creatures And wheras by the demonstrations of lerned men I am not satisfyed of the natural cause hereof I content my selfe to knowe and beleue that he which hathe made these thynges dooth knowe this and many other whiche he hath not granted to the reason of man to comprehend much lesse to so base a wyt as myne is They therefore that are of greater vnderstandynge shall searche the cause hereof for them and for me forasmuch as I haâ—e onely put the matter in question as a wytnesse that haue seene thexperience of the thynge ¶ Of the strayght or narowe passage of the lande lyinge betwene the North and South sea by the whiche spyces way much sooner and easlyer be brought from the Ilandes of Molucca into Spayne by the West Ocean then by that way wherby the Portugales sayle into East India IT hath byn an opinion amonge the Cosmographers and Pylottes of late tyme and other which haue had practise in thynges touchynge the sea that there shulde bee a strayghâ— of water passynge from the North sea of the firme in to the South sea of Sur whiche neuerthelesse hath not byn seene nor founde to this daye And suerlye yf there be any suche strayght â–ª we that inhabite those partes do thynke the same shulde bee rather of lande theÌ„ of water For the fyrme lande in sum partes therof is so strayght and narrowe that the Indyans saye that frome the mountaynes of the prouynce of Esquegua or Vrraca Esquegua and vrrace whych are betwene the one sea and the other If a man assend to the toppe of the mountaynes and looke towarde the Northe he maye see the water of the North sea of the Prouynce of Beragua And ageyne lookynge the contrarye waye may on the other syde towarde the Southe see the sea of Sur and the prouynces whyche confyne with it as doo the territoryes of the twoo Lordes or kynges of the sayde prouinces of Vrraca and Esquegua And I beleue that if it bee as the Indyans saye of al that is hetherto knowen this is the narowest strayght of the fyrme lande whiche sume affyrme to bee full of rough mountaynes Yet doo I not take it for a better waye or so shorte as is that whyche is made from the porte cauled Nomen dei whiche is in the Northe sea vnto the newe citye of Panama beynge in the coaste and on the banke of the sea of Sur. Nomen Deâ— Panama Whiche waye is likewyse very rough ful of thicke wods mountaines ryuers valleys and verye diffyculte to passe through and can not bee doone withowt greate laboure and trauayle Sum measure this waye in this part to bee from sea to sea .xviii. leaques whych I suppose to bee rather .xx. not for that it is any more by measure but bicause it is rough and dyffyculte as I haue sayde and as I haue founde it by experyence hauynge nowe twyse passed that way by foote countyng from the porte and vyllage of Nomen Dei vnto the dominion of the Cacique of Iuanaga otherwyse cauled Capira .viii. leaques And frome thense to the ryuer of Chagre The ryuer of Chagre other .viii. leaques So that at this ryuer beinge .xvi. leaques from the sayde porte endeth the roughnesse of the way Then from hense to the maruelous brydge are two leaques And beyonde that other twoo vnto the port of Panama So that all togyther in my iudgemente make .xx. leaques And if therfore this nauigation may bee founde in the South sea for the trade of spices as we trust in God to bee brought from thense to the sayde porte of Panama as is possible enough they may afterwarde easly passe to the Northe sea notwithstaddynge the difficultie of the waye of the .xx. leaques aforesayde Whiche thynge I affirme as a man well trauayled in these regions hauynge twyse on my feete passed ouer this strayght in the yeare .1521 as I haue sayde It is furthermore to bee vnderstode that it is a maruelous facilitie to bryng spices by this way which I wil now declare From Panama to the ryuer of Chagre are foure leaques of good and fayre way by the which cartes may passe at pleasure by reason that the mountaynes are but fewe and lyttle and that the greateste parte of these foure leaques is a playne grounde voyde of trees And when the cartes are coomme to the sayde ryuer the spices may bee caryed in barkes and pinnesses For this ryuer
Timor and were ingulfed by chance in the great sea cauled Lantchidol The sea of Lantchidol and tooke theyr course betwene the weste and south weste leauynge the northe coastes on theyr ryght hand fearyng least if they shuld sayle toward the firm land they myght bee seene of the portugales who are of great power in Malaccha Malaccha and therfore dyrected theyr cours withowt the Iland of Sumatra cauled in owld tyme Taprobana The Iland of Sumetra Leauyng also on theyr ryght hand vpon the fyrm land the prouinces and regions of Pegu Pegu Bengala Bengala Calicut Calicut Canonor Canonor Coa Coa Cambaia Cambaia the goulfe of the Ilande of Ormus Ormus and all the coastes of the greater India East India And more safely to passe the cape of Buona Speranza being about Affrike Cap. de Buona Speranza they sayled about .xlii. degrees toward the pole Antartike and remayned seuen weekes abowte that cape with many fetches compassyng the wynd with theyr sayles contynually alofte because they had a west and north weste wynd in the proos of theyr shyppe which wolde not suffer them to passe The cape of Buona Speranza is toward the pole Antartik beneth the Equinoctiall line .xxxiiii. degrees and a halfe and .1600 leaques from the cape of Malaccha And is the greateste and moste daungyerous cape that is founde at thys day in al the worlde When they had by these perels ouerpassed thys cape certeyne of them aswell for lacke of vytayles as also by reason of syckenesse were mynded to sayle to a hauen of the Portugales named Monzambique aboue Affryke The port of Mâ—nzambiqâ—â— â–ª But the other answered that they wold rather dye then go to any other place then directly to Spayne They folowed theyr course therfore saylynge towarde the Southwest two monethes continually without touchynge at any porte In whiche tyme there dyed abowte .xxi. of theyr coompany whom they cast into the sea And suerly if god of his infinite mercie had not preserued the residue in tyme they hadde all dyed of famen Famen In fine beinge inforced of necessitie and halfe of theyr companye deade they sayled to one of the Ilandes of Capo verde cauled Insula Sancti Iacobi Capo Verde that is saynte Iames Ilande S. Iames Ilande parteyning to the kyng of Portugale Where as soone as they ariyued they sent certeyne alande in the shippe boate for vyttayles declarynge to the Portugales with all loue and fauour what necessitie they were dryuen to and what miseries and trauayles they had susteyned informynge them further of theyr marueylous viage and suche thynges as they hadde seene in both the East and West India with such other gentel woordes wherby they obteyned certeyne measures of rise The ingratâ—tude of the Portugales But when afterwarde .xiii. of theym returned for more ryse they were deteyned Whereuppon the reste whiche remayned in the shippe fearynge the lyke chaunce departed with full sayles and the .vii. day of September with the helpe of god entered into the hauen of San Lucar nere vnto Siuile The port of saynt Lucar nere vnto Siuile where dischargynge all theyr ordinaunce for ioy they wente immediatly to the greate churche in theyr shertes and barefooted with a torche before them to gyue thankes to almyghtie god who had brought them safe to theyr owne countrey and restored them to theyr wyues and chyldren As touchynge th ende of this viage Transiluanus wryteth sumwhat more largely as foloweth The other shyppe which they lefte behynde them to bee repayred what became of the other shyppe returned afterwarde by the Archipelagus aforesayde and by the great sea to the coastes of the firme of the west India and arryued at a region of the same being ageynst Dariena Dariena where the South sea of Sur is seperate but by a lyttle space of lande from the Weste Ocean in the which are the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and other Ilandes of the Spanyardes The other shyppe which returned into Spayne by compasing abowt the hole bowle of the worlde by the coastes of East India and Affrike departynge from the Iland of Tidore and saylynge euer on this syde the Equinoctiall dyd not fynde the cape of Cattigara beinge aboue Asia The cape of Cattigara and by the description of Ptolome rechynge many degrees beyonde the Equinoctial Ptolome But hauynge sayled many dayes by the mayne sea they came to the cape of Buona Speranza and frome thense to the Ilandes of Capo verde where their shyppe beinge soore broosed by reason of the longe viage leaked and tooke water in suche sorte that the mariners being nowe but fewe in number and those also weake and feeble by reason of longe sickenesse and hunger The vyage hardly performed were not able both to drye the poompe continually and otherwyse gouerne the shippe and were therfore of necessitie inforced to goo alande at the Ilande of saynte Iames to bye theym certeyne slaues to helpe theim They bye slaues for lacke of helpe But beinge destitute of mony according to the custome of the mariners they profered them cloues for theyr slaues The which thyng when it came to the eares of the Portugale that was Capitayne of that Ilande he cast .xiii. of them in prison Wherby the residue that remayned in the shippe beinge nowe but .xviii. in number were put in such feare that they departed immediatly without rescuing theyr felowes and sayled continually both by daye and by nyght by the coastes of Affrike and came in fine to Spayne the .vi. day of September in the yeare .1522 and arryued at the porte nere vnto Siuile the .xvi. moneth after they departed from the Ilande of Tidore Mariners doubtlesse more woorthy to bee celebrate with eternal memorie then they whiche in owlde tyme were cauled Argonauti that sayled with Iason to win the golden fleese in the region of Cholehic and the riuer of Phasis in the greate sea of Pontus Maryners woorthy immortal fame Argonauti The viage of Iason to wyn the golden fleese And the shyppe it selfe more woorthye to bee placed amonge the starres then that owlde Argo which departynge owt of Grecia sayled to th ende of that great sea For this owre marueylous shyppe takynge her vyage from the straightes of Gibilterra and saylynge by the greate Ocean towarde the South and pole Antartike The shyppe more woorthy fame then owlde Argo of Grecia and turnynge from thense to the Weste folowed that course so farre that passynge vnder the great circumference of the worlde The vyage shee came into the Easte and frome thense ageyne into the Weste not by returnynge backewarde but styll faylynge forwarde so compasynge abowt the vaule of the world vnder the hole circumference of heauen vntyll shee were myraculously restored to her natiue region of Spayne and house of Siuile ¶ Of the prices of precious stones and Spices with theyr weightes
admit no passage to Suecia The sea betwene Norway the Ilandes is cauled Tialleslund Euripus or the streightes The Ilande of Lofoth whose myddest .42 67 10. Langanas whose myddest 41 67 Uastral The streightes or boyling sea whose myddest .41 30 67 30. The sea betwene these three Ilandes is cauled Muscostrom that is boylynge At the flowynge of the sea it is swalowed into the caues and is blowne owt ageyne at the reflowynge with no lesse violence then the streames of ryuers faule from mountaynes This sea is nauigable vntyll it bee lower then the mouthes of the rockes Such as chaunce into it owt of dewe tyme are caried headlonge into whyrlepooles The fragmentes of the lost ships are seldome call vp ageyne But when they are caste vp they are so brused and freted ageynste the rockes Dangerous places in the sea that they seeme to bee ouergrowne with hore This is the poure of nature passyng the fabulous Simplegades and the fearefull Malea with the daungerous places of Silla and Caribdis and all other miracles that nature hath wrought in any other sea hytherto knowen to man The Ilandes abowt Norway are of such frutfull pasture Frutfull Ilandes about Norway that they brynge not theyr beastes into the stables before the moneth of NoueÌ„ber And do many places winter theÌ„ abrode Suecia or Suethlande ¶ Suecia is a kyngedome ryche in golde syluer Golde and syluer copper leade Iren fruyte cattayle and exceadynge increase of fysshe of the ryuers lakes and the sea And hath no lesse plentie of such wylde beastes as are taken with huntinge Towarde the West it is ended with the mountaynes of Norway from the Castel of Wardhus vnto th end wardhus castell 51 63 40 Towarde the South with the line from this ende vnto the degrees .53 30. 61. And frome thense vnto the degrees .61 60. 30. Aboue the goulfe of Suecia The goulfe of Suecia toward the north with the south ende of Lapponia from the castel of Wardhus vnto th ende .62 70. Towarde the Easte it is ended with the line frome this ende vnto the degree .63 69. c. Stokholme the chiefe citie The citie of Stockholme 64. 61. This is the chiefe mart towne of Suecia and is strongely defended by arte and nature It is situate in marisshes after the maner of Uenece and was therefore cauled Stokholme forasmuche as beinge placed in the water the fundation is fortified with stockes or piles The sea entereth into it with two armes or branches of such largenes and depth that ships of great burden and with mayne sayles may enter by the same with theyr full fraight This suffered of late yeares greuous spoyle destruction to the singular exemple of cruel hostilitie And such as the like hath not bin lightly shewed to any other citie receaued by league composition In al the tract from Scokholme to the lake aboue the riuer of Dalekarle which is in the degree Gold in could regâ—ons 56. 30. 63. 50. are mouÌ„taines frutful of good siluer copper and leade They gette great ryches by the salmons and plentie of other fysshes whiche they take in certeyne greate lakes Fysshe The dukedome of Agermannia occupieth the north syde to the consines of Laponia This tract is ful of wods in the wâ—iche they hunt the beastes cauled Uros or Bisontes which in theyr toonge they caule Elg The beaste cauled Uroâ— or Elg. that is wilde asses These are of such height that the highest part of their backes are equal with the measure of a man holdynge vp his armes as hyghe as he may reach c. Upsalia the chiefe citie Upsalia 62. 62. 30. here is buried the body of saynt Hericus kynge and martyr Copperdalia that is the copper valley Copperdaliâ— is a dukedome southwarde from the dukedome of Iemptia Under this is the valient nation of the people cauled Dalekarly Oplandia is a dukedome the nauil or middest of Scondia Oplandia The citie of Pircho on the north syde of the lake of Meler was once a great citie and able to arme .xiiii. thousande men to the warres but is nowe browght to a vyllage All the tracte of Oplandia hath mynes of syluer copper and steele Of the Ilandes and rockes that lye abowte Suecia the myddest is .67 30 61 30. These were cauled of the owlde wryters Done the reason of which name remayneth to this day For there are in these innumerable multitudes of byrdes Byrdes In so muche that thinhabitauntes of the nexte coaste sayle thyther in the mooneth of May whyle the byrdes syt on theyr egges which they steale and reserue them in salte for a longe tyme. Egges reserued in salte Bothnia BOthnia is so named of the precious furres of all sortes that are caried from thense into foraigne regions Precious furres For by these and theyr fysshynge they haue great commoditie Fysshe Salmons of the best sort are taken in these seas and are great ryches amonge these nations Bothnia is diuided into twoo partes as Nordbothnia and South Bothnia cauled Ostrobothnia Nordbothnia is termined with the south ende of the Lapones vnto the ende .78 30 69. Towarde the East it is termined with this end and vnto the degree .78 30 68 20. Towarde the West with the line terminynge the East syde of Suecia And towarde the Southe with the residue of the goulfe of Suecia from th ende that hath degrees .63 69. Ostrobothnia towarde the East is termined from the said ende of the most East coaste And towarde the South with a line extended by the mountaynes frome this ende vnto the degree .71 66 Towarde the north and weste with part of the goulfe of Suecia c. Gothia or Gothlande GOTHIA is by interpretacion good For the holye name of God is in the Germayne toonge Goth that is Good At what tyme the Gothes vppon a general consent sent furth theyr ofsrpyng or succession to seeke newe seates or countreys to inhabite Thinuasions of the Gothes and when they possessed the coastes of Meotis and Asia none of the owlde wryters haue made mention as farre as I knowe But they haue byn knowen sence the tyme that the Romanes dilated theyr Empyre by Illirium nowe cauled Slauonie vnto the ryuer of Danubius And were also famous from the tyme of Cesar Dictator and Octauianus Augustus by reason of theyr greate warres at Danubius beinge thuttermost bounde of Thempire The warre of the gotheâ— ageynst the Romans Neuerthelesse in that renoume what Gothia was vnder what parte of heauen it was situate or of whom the Gothes toke theyr original it hath byn vnknoweÌ„ almost to this age This is termined towarde the north with the south ende of Suecia And towarde the weste The boundes of Gothland with the other mountaynes of Norway which continewe from the boundes of Suecia to the mouthes of the ryuers of Trolheta c. It hath many goodly townes cities castels mines
in the way Yet are we led by coniecture to thinke it to bee scarsely twoo hundreth myles Understand myles of Germany that is leaques forasmuch as from Moscouia to Uuolochda from Uuolochda to Ustyug sumwhat into the Easte and laste of all frome Ustyug by the ryuer Dwina is the ryght passage to the northe sea This region besyde the castel of Colmogor and the citie of Dwina situate almost in the mydde way betwene the spryngs and mouthes of the ryuer and the castell of Pienega standynge in the very mouthes of Dwina is vtterly withowt townes and castels yet hath it many vyllages whiche are farre in sunder by reason of the barennesse of the soyle c. In an other place he wryteth that Suchana and Iug after they are ioyned togyther in one loose theyr fyrste names and make the ryuer Dwina c. But lette vs nowe returne to the hystone of Paulus Iouius Unto Ustiuga from the Permians Pecerrians Inugrians Rych furres Ugolicans and Pinnegians people inhabytynge the north and northeast prouinces are brought the precious furres of Marterns and Sables Also the cases of woulfes and foxes both whyte and blacke And lykewise the skynnes of the beastes cauled Ceruarii Lupi that is harte woolfes Lupi Ceruarii beinge engendered eyther of a woolfe and a hynde or a harte and a bytch woolfe These furres and skyns they exchange for dyuers other wares The best kynde of sables and of the finest heare wherwith nowe the vestures of princes are lyned Sables and the tender neckes of delicate dames are couered with the expresse similitude of the lyuynge beaste are brought by the Permians and Pecerrians whiche they them selues also receaue at the handes of other that inhabâ—te the regions neare vnto the north Ocean The Permians and Pecerrians a lyttle before owre tyme dyd sacrifice to Idols after the maner of the Gentyles The mountaines cauled hiperboreâ— but doo nowe acknowleage Chryste theyr God The passage to the Inugrians and Ugolicans is by certeyne rowgh 〈…〉 which perhappes are they that in owlde tyme weâ—e câ—uled Hyperborei In the toppes of these are founde the beâ—â—e kyndes of Falcons whereof one kynde cauled Herodiuâ— is whyte with spotted fethers haukes of diuers kyndes There are also ierfalcons sakers and peregrines whiche were vnknowen to the ancient princes in theyr excessiue and nise pleaâ—ures Beyoâ—de those people whom I last named beinge all tributarâ—es to the kinges of Moscouia are other nations the last of men not knowen by any viages of the Moscouites forasmuche as none of theym hâ—ue passed to the Ocean The passage from Moâ—couia to cathay and are therefore knowen onely by the fabulous narrations of marchauntes Yet is it apâ—arente that the ryuer of Diuidna or Dwina drawynge with it innumerable other ryuers runneth with a vehement course towarde the northe and that the sea is there exceadyng large so that saylyng by the coast of the ryght hande shippes may haue passage from thense to Cathay as is thought by most lykely coniecture Cathay excepte there lye sum lande in the waye For the region of Cathay perâ—eyneth to thextreme and furtheste partes of the Easte situate almost in the paralell of Thracia Master Eliot cauleth Cathay the region of siuaruÌ„ and knowen to the Portugales in India when they sayled neare thereunto by the regions of Sinara and Malacha to Aurea Chersonesus and brought from thense certeyne vestures made of Sables skynnes by which only argument it is apparente that the citie of Cathay is not farre from the coastes of Scythia The Gothes subuerted the Romane Empire But when Demetrius was demaunded whether eyther by the monumentes of letters or by fame lefte theym of theyr predicessours they hadde any knowleage of the gothes who nowe more then a thousand yeares sence subuerted Thempire of the Romane Emperours and defaced the citie of Rome he answered The north regions conâ—pired ageinst the Romans that both the nation of the Gothes of the name of kynge Totilas theyr chiefe capitayne was of famous memorie amonge them And that dyuers nations of the north regions conspired to that expedition and especiallye the Moscouites Also that that armie increased of the confluence of the Barbarous Liuons and wanderynge Tartars But that they were all cauled Gothes forasmuch as the Gothes that inhabited Scondania and Iselande were the auctoures of that inuasion Moscouia And with these boundes are the Moscouites inclosed on euery side whom we thinke to be those people that Ptolome cauled Modocas but haue doubtelesse at this day their name of the riuer Mosco whiche runneth through the chiefe citie Mosca named also after the same The citie of Mosca This is the most famous citie in Moscouia aswell for the situation thereof beinge in maner in the myddest of the region as also for the commodious oportunitie of ryuers multitude of houses and stronge fense of so fayre and goodly a castell For the citie is extended with a longe tracte of buyldynges by the bankes of the ryuer for the space of fyue myles The houses are made all of tymber and are diuided into parlers chambers kichins of large roomes yet neyther of vnseemely height or to lowe but of decent measure and proportion Richard chast celer toulde me that these mastes are sumwhat holowe on the one syde and that the hole syde of the next entereth into the same wherby they lye very close For they haue greate trees apte for the purpose browght from the foreste of Hercinia of the which made perfectly rounde like the mastes of shippes and so layde one vppon an other that they ioyne at the endes in right angles where beinge made very faste and sure they frame theyr houses thereof of maruelous strength with smaule charges and in verye short tyme. In maner all the houses haue priuate gardens aswell for pleasure as commoditie of herbes wherby the circuite of the dispersed citie appeareth very greate All the wardes or quarters of the citie haue theire peculiar chappells But in the chiefest and highest place therof is the Church of owre ladi of ample and goodly workemanshyppe whiche Aristoteles of Bononie a man of singular knowleadge and experience in architecture buylded more then .lx. yeares sence At the very head of the citie The castel of Moâ—ca a little ryuer cauled Neglina which dryueth many corne mylles enteryth into the ryuer Moscus and maketh almost an Iland in whose end is the castell with many strong towrs and bullwarkes buylded very fayre by the diuise of Italien architecturs that are the masters of the kinges workes In the fieldes abowt the citie is an incredible multitud oâ— hares and roe buckes whitehares and roe buâ—kes the which it is lawefull for no man to chase or persue with dogges or nettes excepte only certeyne of the kinges familiars and straunge ambassadours to whom he giueth licence by speciall commaundement Almost three partes of the citie is inuironed with two
dayes wherof he speaketh Aswell maye it bee that Cuba or Hayti Lands found by the Carthaginenses or any other Ilande of the Indies shulde bee those which the Carthaginenses founde and forbodde theyr citisens to make any vyages thyther or to inhabite the same as Aristotle and Theophraste doo rehearse where they wryte of the marueylous and vnknowen workes of nature Aristotell Theophrast As concernynge Ophir and Tharsis it is not knowen what or where they bee althowgh many lerned men as saynt Augustine and other haue searched what citie or lande Tharsis myght bee Saynt Ierome who was experte in the Hebrewe tounge sayth in many places vppon the prophetes that Tharsis is as much to say as the sea and that whereas it is wrytten that Ionas fledde to Tharsis Ionas fledde to Tharâ—is he wente to the sea by a longe iorney Furthermore as concernynge the nauigations of Salomon it is not to bee thowght that his nauies sayled to the west Indies The nauigations of Salomon forasmuch as to passe thyther it was requisite for them to sayle Westwarde departyâ—ge frome the sea of Bermeio and not Eastward as they sayled Ageine the west Indies haue no vnicornes elephantes diamondes and such other thynges as they browght in the trade of their nauigations Bermeioâ—is the â—rabian sea ¶ Of the colour of the Indians ONe of the marueylous thynges that god vseth in the composition of man is coloure whiche doubtlesse can not bee consydered withowte great admiration in beholding one to be white and an other blacke beinge coloures vtterlye contrary Sum lykewyse to be yelowe whiche is betwene blacke and white and other of other colours as it were of dyuers liueres And as these colours are to be marueyled at euen so is it to be considered howe they dyffer one from an other as it were by degrees forasmuche as sum men are whyte after dyuers sortes of whytenesse how colourâ— dyffer by degrees yelowe after dyuers maners of yelowe and blacke after dyuers sortes of blackenesse and howe from whyte they go to yelowe after discolourynge to browne and redde and to blacke by asshe colour The coloure of the west Indians and murrey sumwhat lyghter then blacke and tawnye lyke vnto the west Indians which are all togyther in general eyther purple or tawny lyke vnto sodde quynses or of the coloure of chestnuttes or olyues which colour is to them natural and not by theyr goynge naked as many haue thought albeit theyr nakednesse haue sumwhat helped therunto Therfore in lyke maner and with suche diuersitie as men are commonly whyte in Europe and blacke in Affrike Dyues sortes of whyte and blacke euen with like varietie are they tawny in these Indies with dyuers degrees diuersly inclynynge more or lesse to blacke or whyte No lesse maruayle is it to consyder that men are whyte in Siuile and blacke at the cape of Buena Speranza and of chestnutte colour at the ryuer of Plata Difference of coloure in the same clyme bringe all in equall degrees frome the Equinoctiall line Lykewyse that the men of Affryke and Asia that lyue vnder the buâ—nte line cauled Zona Terrida are blacke Rio de la plata and not they that lyue beneathe or on this syde the same line as in Mexico Yucatan Quauhtema Lian Nicaragua Panama Santo Domingo Paria Cape saynt Augustine Lima Quito and other landes of Peru which touch in the same Equinoctiall Peru. For in al the â—racte of these coastes certeyne blacke men were found only in Quarequa when Uaschus Nunnez of Balboa discouered the sea of Sur. Blacke men in the west Indies By reason wherof it may seeme that suche varietie of colours proceadeth of man From wheÌ„â—e proceadeth the varietie of colours and not of the earth whiche maye well bee althowgh wee bee all borne of Adam and Eue and knowe not the cause why god hath so ordeyned it otherwise then to consyder that his diuine maiestie hath doonne this as infinite other to declare his omnipotencie and wisedome in such diuersities of colours as appere not only in the nature of man Gods wysedome poure is seene in his workes but the lyke also in beastes byrdes and floures where dyuers and contrary colours are seene in one lyttle fether or the leaues growynge owt of one lyttle stalke An other thyng is also greatly to bee noted as touchynge these Indians And this is Curld heare and baldnes that theyr heare is not curlde as is the Moores and Ethiopians that inhabite the same clime neyther are they balde excepte very seldome and that buy lyttle All whiche thynges may giue further occasion to phylosophers to search the secreates of nature and complexions of men with the nouelties of the newe worlde ¶ Why they were cauled Indians SUm thynke that the people of the newe world were cauled Indians bycause they are of the colour of the Easte Indians The colour of the East Indians And althowghe as it semeth to me they dyffer much in colour and fasshions yet is it trewe that of India they were cauled Indians East India India is properlie cauled that great prouince of Asia in the which great Alexander kepte his warres and was so named of the ryuer Indus and is diuyded into many kyngedomes confynynge with the same From this greate India cauled the East India came great companyes of men as wryteth Herodotus and inhabited that parte of Ethiopia that lyeth betwene the sea Bermeia otherwyse cauled the redde sea or the goulfe of Arabia and the ryuer of Nilus al which regions that great Christian prince Prester Iohn dooth now possesse Prester Iohn came owt of India to Ethiope The sayde Indians preuayled so much that they vtterly changed the customes and name of that lande and cauled it India Ethyopia cauled India by reason wherof Ethiopia also hath of longe tyme byn cauled India And hereuppon came it that Arystotell Seneca and certeyne other oulde autours sayd that India was not farre from Spayne India not far from Spayne After this also of later dayes owre West India was so cauled of the sayde India of Prester Iohn where the Portugales had theyr trade For the pylot of the caruell that was fyrste dryuen by forcyble wynde to an vnknowen lande in the Weste Ocean Prester Iohn knowen to the Portugales cauled the same India bycause the Portugales so cauled such landes as they had lately discouered Eastwarde Chrystopher Colon also after the sayde pylot cauled the west landes by the same name Albeit sum that take Colonus for an expert Cosmographer thynke that he so named them of the East India as to be the furthest and vnknowen ende therof reachynge into the Weste vnder the other hemispherie or halfe globe of the earthe beneathe vs At the furthest Easte begynneth the west affirmynge that when he fyrst attempted to dicouer the Indies he went chiefely to seeke the ryche Iland
from the Ilandes Of the Ilandes of Galanta or Galana and Guadalupea and of the trees which beare that kynde of cotton whiche the Italians caule Bombasine and the Spanyardes Algadon Of dyuers kyndes of popingiayes And of the Iland of Matinino or Madanino being inhabited only with women Also of dyuers other frutefull Ilandes And of a conflicte which the Spanyardes had with the Canibales Of certeyne Ilandes in the which are seene the mynes of metals and precious stones and of the frutefull and peopulous Ilande cauled Burichena or Boriquen or Insula S. Iohanuis Howe all the Admirals men whiche at his fyrst vyage he lefte in Hispaniola were slayne in his absence by the rebellion of Guaccanarillus kynge of the Region of Xamana and of the free kynde of lyfe which they leade that haue not the vse of money Of the .vii. maydens which swamme .iii. myles in the sea And of the maner of gatheryng of gold in the sands of riuers ¶ The Contentes of the thyrde booke Fol. 10. ¶ A particular description of the Ilande of Hispaniola whiche Colonus thynketh to be Ophir from whense kynge Salomon had his great ryches of golde Of the maruelous frutefulnes of Hispaniola and of the suger canes growynge there Of the golden regions of Cipanga or Cibaua and of the ryuers in whose sandes is founde great plentie of golde Of certeyne graines of gold of exceadyng great quantitie Of wylde vines of pleasaunt taste and of grasse which in foure dayes groweth as hygh as wheate Of the Ilande of Iohanna or Cuba beinge the ende of the East and the West And of the frutefull and peopulous Ilande of Iamaica Howe the Admirall thought that he had sayled abowte the lowest hemispherie or halfe circle of the earth and of a secreate of Astronomie touchynge the same matter Howe the Admirall gaue names to .vii. hundreth Ilandes and passed by three thousande unnamed Of certeyne serpentes lyke vnto Crocodiles of .viii. foote longe whose flesshe is delicate to be eaten and of certeyne trees which beare gourdes Of the ryuer whose water is very hotte and of the huntynge fysshe which taketh other fysshes Of great abundaunce of Tortoyses as bygge as targets and of a frutefull mountayne well inhabited Of dogges of deformed shape and dum And of whyte and thicke water Of wooddes of date trees and pynepaple trees and of certeyne people appareled like white friers Of certeyne trees whiche beare spices and of cranes of exceadynge bignes Of stocke doues of more pleasaunte taste then partriches An oration of a barbarous gouernoure as touchinge the immortalitie of the sowle Also of the rewarde of vertue and punysshmente of vice A similitude of the golden worlde and of prouision with owte care Howe the admirall fell sicke by reason of to much watchynge And of a sedition which rose among the Spaniardes in the Ilande of Hispaniola ¶ The Contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 18. Howe the Kynges of the Ilande of Hispaniola were by the Spaniardes mysbehauoure prouoked to Rebellion And howe the admirall sent for them Howe kinge Caunaboa the Lorde of the house of golde that is of the mountaynes of Cibaua conspired the Admirals death and how he with his familie were takeÌ„ prisoners Of a greate famine that chaunced in the Iland of Hispaniola and howe the Admiral builded certeyne fortresses Of a piece of rude golde waighinge .xx. vnces and of the myne of the riche metall cauled Electrum Of the mountayne in the whyche is founde greate plentye of Amber and orpemente And of the wooddes of brasile trees Howe thinhabitauntes are put to they re tribute And howe the nature of the Region disposethe the maners of the people Howe the brother of kinge Caunaboa came ageynste the Admiral with an army of fiue thowsand naked men and how he was taken and his amry put to flyght Of the frutfull vale Magona in the sandes of whose ryuers is founde great plentie of golde and of certeyne whirlewyndes and tempestes Howe the Admirall sente foorthe his brother Bartholomeus Colonus with an army of meÌ„ to search the gold mines of the fosses which he found to haue bin digged in old tyme ¶ The Contentes of the .v. booke Fol. 22. Howe the Lieuetenaunt builded a fortresse in the golde mynes And prepared instrumentes for the pourginge and fyninge of the golde Howe certeyne shyppes laden with vyttayles came frome Spayne And howe the Lieuetenaunt sent the kynges which rebelled with three hundreth captiues into Spayne Howe the Liefetenaunte remoued his habytacion And buylded a fortresse which he cauled saynt Dominickes towre Also howe he passed ouer the ryuer Naiba and entered into the wooddes of brasyle trees Howe the great kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa frendely enterteyned the Lieuetenaunt and browght hym to his pallayce where the kynges wyues and concubines receaued him honorably with pompes and triumphes Of the fortresses which were erected in Hispaniola And howe the Lieuetenaunt exacted tribute of the kynges whiche rebelled ageyne Howe the Lieuetenaunt sette vppon the kynges vnwares in the nyght season and tooke .xiiii. of them prysoners Howe kynge Guarionexius capitayne of the conspiracie was pardoned howe he persuaded the people to obedience Howe kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa sente messingers to the Lieuetenaunt to repayre to his pallayce where he founde xxxii kinges redy with theyr tributes And howe the queene Anacaona entysed hym to eate of the serpentes flesshe Howe the serpentes flesshe is prepared to be eaten And how delicate meate theyr egges are yf they be sodden Howe queene Anacaona syster to kynge Beuchius Aâ—acauchoa enterteyned the Liefetenaunt and gaue hym muche housholde stuffe and many vessels of Hebene woodde artificially wrought and carued Howe kynge Anacauchoa and the queene his syster went aboorde the Liefetenaunt his shyppe and howe greately they were amased to beholde the furniture therof Howe Roldanus Xeminus a Spaniarde rebelled in the Lieuetenauntes absence by whose mysdemeanour also kinge Guarionexius was prouoked to a newe conspiracie with hym Maiobanexius the kynge of the mountaynes ☞ The contentes of the syxte boke Foli 28. ¶ The thyâ—de vyage of Colonus and howe he diuerted from his accustomed rase by the Ilandes of Canarie to the Ilande of Madera for feare of certayne frenche pirates and rouers Of the .xiii. Ilandes which in olde tyme were cauled Hesperides and are nowe cauled the Ilandes of Caput Uiride or Cabouerde Also of the Tortoyses of the Ilande of Bonauista wherwith the leaper is healed Howe the Admirall founde contagious ayre and extreme heate nere the Equinoctial where the north pole was eleuate onely fyue degrees And how sailyng from thence westward he founde the starres placed in other order and the sea rysynge as it were the backe of a mountayne Howe the Admyrall saylynge westwarde and neuer passyng owte of the clyme or paraleles of Ethiope founde a temperate Region and people of goodly corporature And what difference is betwene the natures of Regions beyng vnder one paralele and one eleuation of the pole