remedie of broyling for the preseruing of them Therefore although they had taken thirty wilde beasts in one day such as we will describe in this Chapter they would lay them all cut in pieces vpon those Grates as soone as it might be done lest they should be tainted and corrupted and there being often turned they are sometimes broyled and scorched aboue foure and twenty houres together vntill the inside of the flesh be as well rosted as the outside and by this meanes they are all preserued from corruption Nor is there any other manner of dressing or preseruing fish which when they haue gotten they dry them in great plenty to make Meale especially those which in their Country language they call Piraparati which are the very true and naturall Mullets of the which I shall hereafter speake in another place And these Grates among the Barbarians are rightly to bee accounted the Shambles and Store-house and therefore you shall scarce come to their Villages but you may see them laden with the flesh of wilde beasts and fishes and it vsually happeneth also very often as wee shall hereafter speake if you come vnto the Barbarians that you shall behold these Grates filled with mans flesh which I thinke they bring as spoyles taken from the conquered enemies to be slaine and eaten But that I may prosecute the intended description of wilde beasts the second degree of bignesse seemeth to be giuen vnto a certaine kinde of Deere which they name Seouassou but herein they dâ—ffer from ours both that they are much lower and haue lesser hornes and also in this that they haue as long shagged haire as our Country Goates But the American Boare which they call Taiassou is very like in shape vnto those which are bred with vs in bulke of body eares head and feet very hurtfull also through his long and sharpe teeth yet seeing hee is more leane and slender and terribly gnasheth and grindeth his teeth together hee is notorious also through that deformitie He hath an hole in the backe by nature as the Sea-swine haue in the head whereby he draweth in breath and letteth it out These three are their greatest beasts There is also among the Americans a certaine red wilde beast which they name Agouti of the height of a weaned Pig of thirty dayes old with a clouen foot a very short tayle and with the nose and eares almost of an Hare most delightfull to the taste There are also others of two or three kindes which they call Tapitis not much vnlike our Hares but somewhar of a reddish haire They catch great Rats also in the Woods of the bignesse and haire of Squirrels which come neere vnto the delicate taste of Conies Pag or Pague for after what manner they pronounce it you can scarce or not at all vnderstand is a wilde beast of the indifferent height of an Hound with a deformed head the flesh comming neere vnto the taste of Veale with a very faire skinne distinguished with white russet and blacke spots so that it would be of great price with vs if they were to be gotten There is another also found which they call Sarigoy which the Barbarians eate not by reason of the noysome stinke thereof but flaying some of them and taking away the fat of the kidneyes whence that stinke proceeded wee eate them without loathing for they are both tender and also excellent flesh There is also that which they call Tatou this is not very well able to runne yet as Hedge-hogs with vs creeping through the bryars and bushes shee is armed with very hard scales so that shee cannot be pierced with a sword if also you wrap the skinne together being taken off wherewith the Barbarians make very many Chists which they call Caramenos you would say they were warlike Gauntlets It is of a white flesh and of an excellent taste Moreouer vnto these beasts which are most common with the Americans Crocodiles called Iacare are added of the bignesse of a mans thigh and proportionable length but they are so farre from doing any hurt that the Barbarians houses are full of these Iacare and the little children play with them without any danger Those Crocodiles which I happened to see had a very wide mouth long legs with a tayle neither round nor sharpe but very small at the end and whether as some haue written they moue the vpper chap I freely confesse that I haue not obserued Moreouer the Americans take Lizards they call them Touous not greene but russet and of a spotted skinne like our Countrie small Lizards And although they bee foure or fiue foote long and proportionable in bignesse and therefore of a terrible forme yet notwithstanding like Frogs they abide in the Riuers and Marishes hurtfull vnto none Furthermore the skinne being plucked off if they be bowelled and sodden they are very delicate meate so that I haue not tasted any thing more sweet in America For they are of as white a flesh as Capons are with vs delicate tender and sweet that nothing excelleth them yet in the beginning I abhorred the taste thereof but afterward when I had tasted them better as touching meates the Lizards were chiefly commended of mee The Tououpinambaultij haue also very great Toads which they eate being rosted without bowelling But seeing both Physicians teach and it is also commonly knowne and apparent that the flesh and corrupt bloud and whatsoeuer else belongeth to the Toade is deadly any one although I hold my peace may easily coniecture that by reason of the temperatenesse of that Countrie or some other cause whereof I am ignorant it happeneth that Toades there are not venomous and dangerous at all as they are with vs. They eate Serpents also of the bignesse of a mans arme fiue foote long almost Moreouer I haue obserued that the Barbarians as I mentioned concerning Crocodiles brought home a certaine kinde of them party-coloured with blacke and red and cast them downe among their wiues and children so secure that they handled them with their hands These monstrous Land-Eeles they cut into pieces and dresse but they are vnsauoury and of very little taste Diuers kindes of Serpents also are bred with them and specially in the Riuers where they appeare greene like pot-herbes long and slender whose stinging is very hurtfull There are also Lizards in the Woods besides those which we mentioned before very dangerous as it shall manifestly appeare by the discourse which I will here set downe When therefore I sometimes trauelled to see the Countrie with two Frenchmen in my companie and that as the manner was wee had not the Barbarians to guide vs in the way and therefore wandred in the Woods and passed through a deepe Valley hearing the noise of a certaine beast comming towards vs supposing it to bee some timerous and harmelesse wilde beast notwithstanding proceeding on our intended Iourney wee were
the Citie of Mexico by reason of their shipping although not in so great quantitie as they carry for Lisbone not for that they of Mexico either want shipping or abilitie but because the Spaniards would conquer it with the Sword as he hath done other Lands and not by the way of Traffique as the Portugall doth the principall Port from whence this Merchandize doth come is called Aguatorke in the Coast of China on the North side After the Conquest of this Kingdome of Mexico the order how the Spaniard did diuide this Land was this The principall Cities they refined to the King of Spaine and to the Generall of this Conquest who was renowmed Ferdinando Curtis they assigned vnto him a great Valley or as we call it a low Land betweene two Mountaines which was called Cornouake by which Valley he had the name of Marquesse of the Ualley where there were great Townes in which some affirme to be about 400000. fire houses whereby the rent was to him better worth then three hundred thousand Duckets by the yeere These Rents were confirmed to him and his for euer The other part of the Land that remayned was parted among the rest of the Captaines and Souldiers which were at this Conquest some had a hundred thousand Duckets by yeare and other fortie thousand Duckets and some fiftie thousand Duckets and hee that had least had ten thousand Duckets by the yeare so that now there are very few which haue this Rent for that they are most of them dead so that great part of the said Rents are fallen into the Kings hand wherefore there are many insurrections against the King which cost many a mans life And now to proceed farther along the Coast which is a Land full of great Mountains and very hot with much raine for which cause it is a very vnholsome Countrey where breedeth all noisome wormes and beasts therefore there are very few Indians dwelling there and no Spaniards so that the Countrey is almost desolate The first Land that is inhabited by the Spaniards along the Coast is called Veragua this is the most richest Land of Gold then all the rest of the Indies therefore it is inhabited with Spaniards In this place the people are alwayes sicke and it raineth continually and the Land yeeldeth no fruit so that all their sustenance commeth from other places all which necessities the Spaniards suffer with great patience for the couetousnesse of the Gold the which Gold they get out of the Riuers with the helpe of a number of Negroes I doe verily beleeue that if this Land were now the ancient Romanes or else the Egyptians they would surely make a channell from the end of this Riuer de Carinas which issueth from the Lake of Nicaragua to the South Sea for that there is no more but foure leagues betweene the Sea and the Riuer so that there they might Trade to the Moluccas and to the Coast of China so would it be sooner and easier done then the long and troublesome Voyages of the Portugals and sooner made then to goe through the Straits of Magellan which is almost vnpossible to passe thorow From this Land of Veragua vnto the Iland of Margereta the Coast along is called the firme Land not for that the other places are not of the firme Land but because it was the first firme Land that the Spaniards did conquer after they had past the Ilands This Land is very hot and hath much raine and for this cause is very vnhealthfull and the most vilest place of all the rest is called Nombre de Dios which is the first place inhabited after you haue passed Veragua There may be in Nombre de Dios about foure hundred houses and hath a very good Port for shipping The cause why the Spaniards inhabited here in this place was for that it should bee the way by Land to the South Sea and for the Trade of Peru that is from hence vnto the Citie of Panama eighteene leagues And Panama standeth on the Coast of the South Sea To this Towne of Nombre de Dios doth come all Spanish shipping and there discharge them then put they the goods into small Barkes that goe vp a Riuer to a house which is called The house of Crosses where the small Barkes doe discharge the goods againe And then they put it on Mules so to carrie it to Panama which is seuen leagues from This house of Crosses all which they doe with much labour and great charge because the Land hath great store of raine and full of Mountaines and very vnhealthfull therefore they often want victuals for the victuals they haue come from Peru and Noua Hispania This Towne of Nombre de dios since they haue had the traffike out of Spaine are growne maruellous rich and very well inhabited but in short time the people left the Towne sauing onely the Merchants because of the vnhealthfulnesse thereof The King of Spaine hearing of the affaires of Drake and Oxenham sent out of Spaine three hundred Souldiers which should make warre against those Negros that had aided the Englishmen which were slaues vnto the Spaniards but runne away from their Masters and ioyned with the Englishmen thinking that way to be reuenged of the Spaniards crueltie But when these three hundred Souldiers were arriued in the Countrie at their first comming they tooke many of the Negros and did on them great iustice according to their faults committed but afterwards the Souldiers were a long time before they could get one Negro Which newes being sent vnto the King by his Captaines as also how the Countrie was full of Mountaines and Riuers and very vnhealthfull insomuch that his Souldiers died he did write to his Captaines to make agreement with those Negros to the end the Countrie might bee in quiet And the Negros inhabited two places where the Spaniards willed them so was the Kings pardon proclaimed to all those Negros from the time that they fled from their Masters into the Mountaines vnto that present day on condition that all those Negros that did runne from their Masters that day forward they should be bound to bring them dead or aliue but if they brought them not that then they should pay for them and to make all quiet in the Mountaines and on these conditions all things were concluded and agreed vpon So the Negros dwell in great Townes where they haue Spaniards for their Teachers and a Spaniard for their Iudge and with this they hold themselues very well contented and are obedient vnto their Rulers The King of Spaine hearing that Englishmen as well as Frenchmen haue vsed that Coast hee caused two Gallies to be made and well appointed to keepe the Coast the first yeere that they were made they tooke sixe or seuen French shippes and after this was knowne there vsed few Englishmen or French men of warre to come on the Coast vntill this yeere 1586. that the
their Daggers as also they sloe all the Captains friends and they made a great crie saying Liue the King liue the King wherwith all the Campe was in an vprore Then Lope de Agira made vnto the Souldiers a long Oration got them all to consent with him some by force some because they durst not say to the contrarie and others with their good will in the end they all agreed vnto his determined purpose So they made the gentleman their head and Lope de Agire was made Captaine this done and because the people should the better hold their opinion hee did as great a villanie as euer any Spaniard did for hee made an Altar on which hee and all the Souldiers did denie their seruice vnto the King of Spaine and so as people without a King they chose the said Don Fernando to be their King and did vnto him homage These matters being finished they agreed among themselues which should be the best way for them to goe to Peru for they could not goe vp the Riuer from whence they came for the great currant and also if they should goe thorough the land they should be very weake for want of Horsemen therefore they determined to goe downe the Riuer Then said this Lope de Agire that they would carry nothing with them but the Pinnaces and Souldiers which should fight and that it were best to leaue behinde them all the Indians that they brought from Peru with the women and sicke men vnto which their Generall Don Fernando would not agree for that he knew that when they were gone the people of the Countrie would kill them all Lope de Agire hearing this and longing to be chiefe Gouernour himselfe ouer all and taking vnto him thirtie of his owne Countrie men of his own disposition he sodainly killed Don Fernando whom not twentie daies before hee had sworne to obey But now by his subtile working and being withall eloquent in his talke he caused the people to make himselfe Gouernour and made the people beleeue that all these cruelties were done to saue themselues but the tyrannie of this man did not end here he was of the Countrie of Bisca a land ioyning vnto France therefore I rather beleeue that he was a Frenchman then a Spaniard for that in the heart of a Spaniard there is not so much crueltie as this man had Now he being ready to goe his way he determined not to carrie with him any Gentleman or other of high degree and therefore hee slew all those which hee did know to be of high degree or Gentlemen and then departed onely with the common Souldiers and left behinde him all the Spanish women and sicke men with all other creatures If I should rehearse all the cruell murders of this wicked man one by one I should be ouer much tedious vnto you onely I say in as few words as I may that this man proceeded downe the Riuer and had with him onely foure hundred men but before he passed this Riuer and came to Margareta he had no more left but two hundred and thirtie men for the rest hee had done to death and left ashore among the people of the Countrie he vsed this tirannie because hee alwaies stood in feare of his life for that if he had seene but two Souldiers talke together hee thought that he had alwaies consulted on his death and therefore hee vsed the order aboue said now he neuer went any way but that they had in his companie thirtie Biscains of his owne will and minde for to execute his cruell desire As these Souldiers with their Captaine came downe the Riuer they saw many Canoas with Gold in them going to and fro and people on both sides the Riuer where in their passage many times they landed and got good store of Gold and victuals Now did they see also that which Oryllana had reported which was that there were Amazones women that fight in the warre with Bowes and Arrowes but these women fight to helpe their husbands and not by them selues as Orillana reported from the company of men there were of these women in diuers parts of the Riuer and saw the Spaniards fight with their husbands and came and helped them and shewed themselues more valiant then their husbands and therefore is named the Riuer of the Amazones the Spaniards intent onely was to passe downe the Riuer and therefore neuer sought to know the Countrie within the land yet tooke they good store of Gold and put it into one of the Pinnaces where he went himselfe which Pinnace at the mouth of the Riuer was cast away but he himselfe escaped because as yet he had not made an end of his bloudie minde But comming to the Iland of Margareta the Gouernour thereof thought he had beene one of the Kings Captaines receiued him with Pinnaces and brought to him good store of victuals but he put him to death presently and landed on the Ilands and tooke it and two Shippes that were in the Ilands and tooke perforce one hundred and fiftie men to goe with him and others that went willingly with good store of victuals and many Horses and then returned to the maine land saying that with his small force hee would subdue the whole Indies thinking that all the old Souldiers and poore people in seeing of him would all turne to his side and take his part and so hee went deceiued in his owne conceit for he had not gone two dayes Iourney vp in the Land when the Captaine of new Granado came against him with a power of men but Lope de Agire hoping that the other Souldiers would haue come all vnto him whereby his strength might bee the more but hee was deceiued for his owne men left him and tooke the Kings Captaines part Now seeing himselfe destitute of his Souldiers and voide of all helpe he then shewed himselfe more cruell then did the tyrant Nero for this man killed his owne daughter being but sixteene yeeres of age which he brought with him from Peru for that she should not be made the bed of Villains nor be called the daughter of a Traitor these words he vsed vnto her after he had giuen her her deaths wound but before hee could finish this cruell deed the Souldiers came vpon him and cuchim in pieces yet his daughter did die of her wound in that place and thus you haue heard the euill end of this cruell man for hee was the cause likewise that the King would neuer suffer to haue this Riuer discouered so that the riches resteth to this day vnknowne that is in this Riuer Now hauing ended with this Riuer of Marannon all the Coast between this Riuer and the Riuer of Plate is called the Coast of Brasill taking the name of the wood in the Countrie which is called Brasill wood for there is great store of it Brasill was first found by Pedro Arnales Cabrall in the second time that
fore-parts then behind which is like wooll a mane like a Horses on their backe bone and long haire from the knees downward with store of long haire at the chinne and throat a long flocke also at the end of the males tailes The Horses fled from them of which they slue some being enraged They are 〈…〉 eat drinke shooes houses fire vessels and their Masters whole substance Other creatures as big as Horses the Spaniards for their fiue wooll called Sheepe one of their hornes ordinarily weighed fiftie pounds There are also great Dogs which will fight with a Bull able to carrie fiftie pounds weight in their huntings and remouals A N 〈…〉 1581. Frier Augustine Ruiz with two other Friers and eight Souldiers trauelled from the Mines of Saint Barbara to Los Tiguas two hundred and fifty leagues Northwards where vpon occasion of one of the Friers being slaine the Souldiers returned The two Friers and a Mestizo stayed Whereupon the Franciscans carefull of their two Brethren procured Antonio de Espeio a rich Mexican with Frier Bernardine Beltran and others licensed to follow him to set â—orth on the said Discouerie in Nouember An. 1582. with an hundred and fifteene Horses and store of prouisions Hee passed the Conchos and the Passaguates and Tobâ—sos and Iumanos finding many Siluer Mines in the way and then came to people which for want of Language they could not name and heard by one of the Conchos of a great Lake and Townes neere it with houses of three or foure stories but went not thither Fifteene dayes they trauelled thorow Woods of Pine-trees and two thorow Woods of Poplars and Walâ—uts still keeping by the Riuer of the North as they called it till they came to a Countrie which they called New Mexico They came to ten Townes situate on both sides the Riuer which vsed them kindly Their houses are of foure stories well built with Stoues for Winter their apparel of Cotton and Deeres skinnes both men and women ware Boots and Shooes with soles of Neats leather Each house had an Oratorie for the Deuill where they set him meate for whose ease as they say they erect Chappels also in the high-way Thence they came to Tiguas in which were sixteene Townes in Poala they had slaine the two Friers and now therefore fled to the Mountaines They fouâ—d many Hennes in the Countrey and many metals Hearing that there were rich Townes Eastwards they trauelled two dayes and found eleuen Townes and as they thought fortie thousand people There are signes of rich Mines They heard of a Prouince Quires sixe leagues higher vp the Riuer which they visited and found fiue Townes They saw there a Pie in a Cage and certaine tirasols or shadowes such as they vse in China in which were painted the Sunne Moone and Starres They found themselues in 37. degrees and a halfe Fourteene leagues more to the North they came to the Cunames which had fiue Townes the greatest was Câ—a with eight Market places the houses plaistered and painted with diuers colours the people many and more ciuill then any they had seene They trauelled thence North-westward to a Countrie which had seuen great Townes and in them thirtie thousand soules Fifteene leagues further Westward they came to Acoma a Towne of sixe thousand persons seated on a Rocke fifty paces high without any passage to it but by staires hewen in the Rocke all their water was kept in Cisternes They trauelled hence foure and twentie leagues Westward to Zuny or Cibola where Vasquez had beene and erected Crosses still standing Three Indians of his Armie were still aliue here which told Espeio of a great Lake sixtie dayes iourney thence vpon the bankes whereof were many Townes which had store of Gold Whereupon the rest returning hee with nine companions determined to goe thither and came to a populous Prouince called Mohotze and being well entertained hee perswaded the Indians to build a Fort to secure them from the Horses which hee said would otherwise eate them which they did Here he left some of his companie and went to discouer certaine rich Mines whereof he had heard fiue and fortie leagues Westward which hee found rich of Siluer He had further intelligence also of that great Lake and hauing trauelled twelue leagues to the Hubates and Tamos populous Prouinces being so few they returned in Iuly 1583. by another way downe a Riuer called De las Vaccas or Of Kine an hundred and twenty leagues still meeting with store of those cattell and thence to Conchos and so to the Valley of Saint Bartholmew in New Biscay Bartholmew Canâ— writ from Mexico in May 1590. that Rodrigo del Rio Gouernour of New Biscay was sent by the Vice-roy with fiue hundred Spansards to the conquest of Cibola NOw for Cortez his three ships they set forth from Acapulco the eighth of Iuly 1539. and sayled alongst the coast Northwards to Cape Roxo as they stiled it and so to the Riuer of Saint Crosses which coast some thought to bee part of the Continent others to bee but broken Lands or Ilands and sayled so farre in the same that I am loth to follow them the particulars being both in Ramusio and Master Hakluyt Fernando Alarchon Anno 1540. was sent by Mendoza the Vice-roy with two ships who sayth hee went to the bottome of the Bay of California and sayled vp the Riuer farre into the Countrie I remit the desirous Reader to the Authours aforesaid To mee Ullua the Marquesses Generall seemes to make California nothing but Ilands and to haue sayled within a great way and after out of them this other aemulous Discouerer would seeme to finde it a Bay and therefore goeth vp the Riuer later Maps make it an Iland as wee haue said a Letter 1595. from Los Angelos calleth them Ilands and sayth they are rich and that the Vice-roy sent to conquer them But I am Sea-sicke and therefore returne to our Land-discouerers In which wee haue a Iesuite first to entertaine you and after that a Letter of later Newes of Onnates Discoueries in those Northerne parts of America All which may be of vse one day when our Virginian Plantation which blusheth to see so little done after eighteene yeeres continued habitation with so much cost and so many liues and liuelihoods spent thereon shall lift vp her head with more viue alacritie and shake her glorious lockes and disparkle her triumphant lookes thorow the inland Countries to the Westerne Ocean And indeed for Uirginias sake wee haue so long held you in Spanish discourses of whose Acts this Chapter had beene the last but that the leauen which leaueneth in so great part the Spanish lumpe may be knowne to awaken English vigilance to preuent it in themselues they had a faire caueat 1588. and to auoide the like with others I shall adde to these their Discoueries a Spanish Traueller Frier Bishop to discouer their Discouerers which shall cast vp
at the mouth of the said Riuer which I deeme to bee of the greatnesse of the Citie of Beauvais The other at the side of the mouth of another Riuer as broad as the Riuer of Oise or Marne entring within the said Port The said Ile beeing almost of the greatnesse of the other and they both are wooddie In this Port and right ouer against the former I le wee dwelt three yeeres after this Voyage We will speake thereof more at large hereafter From Port Royall they sailed to the Copper Myne whereof wee haue spoken before else-where It is a high Rocke betweene two Bayes of the Sea wherein the Copper is conioyned with the stone very faire and very pure such as is that which is called Rozette Copper Many Gold-smithes haue seene of it in France which doe say that vnder the Copper Myne there might be a Golden Myne which is very probable For if those excrements that Nature expelleth forth be so pure namely small pieces that are found vpon the grauell at the foote of the Rocke when it is low water there is no doubt that the Metall which is in the bowels of the earth is much more perect but this is a Worke that requireth time The first myning and working is to haue Bread Wine and Cattle as we haue said else-where Our felicitie consisteth not in Mynes specially of Gold and Siluer the which serue for nothing in the tillage of the ground nor to Handicrafts vse Contrariwise the abundance of them is but a charge and burthen that keepeth man in perpetuall vnquiet and the more he hath thereof the lesse rest enioyeth he and his life lesser assured vnto him Before the Voyages of Perou great riches might haue beene set vp in a small place in stead that in this our age by the abundance of Gold and siluer the same is come at no value nor esteeme One hath need of huge Chests and Coffers to put in that which a small Budget might haue contained One might haue trauelled with a Purse in ones sleeue and now a Cloke-bagge and a Horse must expresly be had for that purpose Wee may iustly curse the houre that greedie Auarice did carrie the Spaniard into the West for the wofull euents that haue ensued thereof For when I consider that by his greedinesse he hath kindled and maintayned the Warre thorow all Christendome and his onely studie hath beene how to destroy his Neighbours and not the Turke I cannot thinke that any other but the Deuill hath beene the Authour of their Voyages And let not the pretence of Religion be alleaged vnto mee for as wee haue said elsewhere they haue killed all the of-spring of the Countrey with the most inhumane torments that the Deuill hath beene able to excogitate And by their cruelties haue rendred the Name of God odious and a name of offence to those poore people and haue continually and daily blasphemed him in the midst of the Gentiles as the Prophet reprocheth to the people of Israel Wâ—â—nesse him that had rather bee damned then goe to the Paradise of the Spâ—niards c. Among these Copper Rockes there is found sometimes small Rockes couered with Diamonds fixed to them I will not aflure them for fine but that is very pleasing to the sight There are also certaine shining blue stones which are of no lesse value or worth than Turkie Stones Monsieur de Champdore our guide for the Nauigations in those Countries hauing cut within a Rocke one of those stones at his returne from New France hee brake it in two and gaue one part of it to Monsieur de Monts the other to Monsieur de Poutrincourt which they made tobe put in Gold and were found worthy to be presented the one to the King by the said Poutrincourt the other to the Queene by the said de Monts and were very well accepted I remember that a Goldsmith did offer fifteene Crownes to Monsieur de Poutrincourt for that hee presented to his Maiestie This Riuer is one of the fairest that may be seene hauing store of Ilands and swarming with fishes This last yeere 1608. thy said Monsieur de Champdore with one of the said Monsieur de Monts his men hath beene some fiftie leagues vp the said Riuer and doe witnesse that there is great quantitie of Vines along the shoare but the Grapes are not so bigge as they be in the Countrie of the Armouchiquois There are also Onions and many other sorts of good hearbs As for the Trees they are the fairest that may be seene When wee were there wee saw great number of Cedar Trees Concerning fishes the said Champdore hath related vnto vs that putting the Kettle ouer fire they had taken fish sufficient for their Dinner before that the water was hot Moreouer this Riuer stretching it selfe farre within the Lands of the Sauages doth maruellously shorten the long trauels by meanes thereof For in sixe dayes they goe to Gashepe comming to the Bay of Gulfe of Chaleur or heate when they are at the end of it in carrying their Canowes some few leagues And by the same Riuer in eight dayes they go to Tadoussac by a branch of the same which commeth from the North-west In such sort that in Port Royall one may haue within fifteene or eighteene dayes newes from the Frenchmen dwelling in the great Riuer of Canada by these wayes which could not be done in one moneth by Sea nor without danger Leauing Saint Iohns Riuer they came following the Coast twentie leagues from that place to a great Riuer which is properly Sea where they fortified themselues in a little Iland seated in the middest of this Riuer which the said Champleine had beene to discouer and view And seeing it strong by nature and of easie defence and keeping besides that the season beganne to slide away and therefore it was behoouefull to prouide of lodging without running any farther they resolued to make their abode there As they began to visit and search the Iland Monsieur de Champdore of whom we shall henceforth make mention by reason he dwelt foure yeere in those parts conducting the Voyages made there was sent backe to the Bay of Saint Mary with a Mine-finder that had beene carried thither for to get some Mynes of siluer and Iron which they did And as they had crossed the French Bay they entred into the said Bay of Saint Marie by a narrow Straite or passage which is betweene the Land of Port Royall and an Iland called the Long I le where after some abode they going a fishing Monsieur Aubri the Priest before lost perceiued them and beganne with a feeble voice to call as loud as he could and put his Handkercher and his Hat on a staues end which made him better to be knowne During these sixteene daies hee fed himselfe but by I know not what small fruits like vnto Cheries without kernell yet not so delicate which are
Corne of that which two yeeres before was sowed by Monsieur de Monts which was faire bigge weighty and well filled Hee sent vnto vs some of that Corne to Port Royall where I was requested to stay to looke to the house and to keepe the rest of the companie there in concord Whereunto I did agree though it was referred to my will for the assurance that wee had among our selues that the yeere following wee should make our habitation in a warmer Countrie beyond Malebarre and that wee should all goe in companie with them that should bee sent to vs out of France In the meane while I employed my selfe in dressing the ground to make inclosures and partitions of Gardens for to sowe Corne and Kitchin herbes Wee caused also a Ditch to bee made all about the Fort which was very needfull to receiue the waters and moistnesse that before did runne vnderneath among the rootes of trees that had beene fallen downe which peraduenture did make the place vnhealthfull I will not stand in describing heere what each of our other workmen and labourers did particularly make It sufficeth that wee had store of Ioyners Carpenters Masons Stone-caruers Lock-smithes Taylors Boord-sawyers Mariners c. who did exercise their Trades which in doing their duties were very kindly vsed for they were at their owne libertie for three houres labour a day The ouerplus of the time they bestowed it in going to gather Mussels which are at lowe water in great quantitie before the Fort or Lobsters or Crabbes which are in Port Royall vnder the Rockes in great abundance or Cockles which are in euery part in the oze about the shoares of the said Port All that kinde of fish is taken without Net or Boat Some there were that sometimes tooke wilde-fowle but not being skilfull they spoyled the game And as for vs our Table was furnished by one of Monfieur de Monts men who prouided for vs in such sort that wee wanted no fowle bringing vnto vs sometimes halfe a dozen of birds called by Frenchmen Outards a kinde of wilde Geese sometimes as many Mallards or wilde Geese white and gray very often two or three dozen of Larkes and other kindes of birds As for Bread no body felt want thereof and euery one had three quarts of pure and good Wine a day Which hath continued with vs as long as wee haue beene there sauing that when they who came to fetch vs in stead of bringing commodities vnto vs helped vs to spend our owne For our allowance wee had Pease Beanes Rice Prunes Raisins drie Codde and salt Flesh besides Oyle and Butter But whensoeuer the Sauages dwelling neere vs had taken any quantitie of Sturgions Salmons or small fishes Item any Beuers Ellans Carabous or fallow Deere they brought vnto vs halfe of it and that which remained they exposed it sometimes to sale publikely and they that would haue any thereof did trucke Bread for it Wherein is to be noted a thing that now I remember It is that being necessary to cut turfes to couer the Piles of wood heaped to make the said Coales there was found in the Medowes three foote deepe of earth not earth but grasse or herbes mingled with mudde which haue heaped themselues yeerely one vpon another from the beginning of the world not hauing beene mooued Neuerthelesse the greene thereof serueth for pasture to the Ellans which wee haue many times seene in our Medowes of those parts in herds of three or foure great and small suffering themselues sometimes to bee approached then they râ—nne to the Woods But I may say moreouer that I haue seene in crossing two leagues of our said Medowes the same to bee all troden with trackes of Ellans for I knowe not there any other clouenfooted beasts There was killed one of those beasts not farre off from our Fort at a place where Monsieur de Monts hauing caused the grasse to bee mowed two yeeres before it was growne againe the fairest of the world Some might maruell how those Medowes are made seeing that all the ground in those places is couered with Woods For satisfaction whereof let the curions Reader knowe that in high Spring tides specially in March and September the floud couereth those shoares which hindereth the trees there to take roote But euery where where the water ouerfloweth not if there bee any ground there are Woods LEt vs returne to Monsieur de Poutrincourt whom we haue left in the I le Saint Croix Hauing made there a reuiew and cherished the Sauages that were there hee went in the space of foure dayes to Pemptegoet which is that place so famous vnder the name of Norombega There needeth not so long a time in comming thither but hee tarried on the way to mend his Barke for to that end he had brought with him a Smith and a Carpenter and quantitie of boords Hee crossed the Iles which bee at the mouth of the Riuer and came to Kinibeki where his Barke was in danger by reason of the great streames that the nature of the place procureth there This was the cause why hee made there no stay but passed further to the Bay of Marchin which is the name of a Captaine of the Sauages who at the arriuall of the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt beganne to crie out aloud He He whereunto the like answere was made vnto him Hee replied asking in his Language What are yee They answered him Friends And thereupon Monsieur de Poutrincourt approaching treated amitie with him and presented him with Kniues Hatchets and Matachiaz that is to say Scarfes Karkenets and Bracelets made of Beades or Quills made of white and blue Glasse whereof hee was very glad as also for the confederacy that the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt made with him knowing very well that the same would bee a great aide and support vnto him Hee distributed to some men that were about him among a great number of people the Presents that the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt gaue him to whom hee brought store of Orignac or Ellans flesh for the Baskes doe call a Stagge or Ellan Orignac to refresh the companie with victuals That done they set sayles towards Chouakoet where the Riuer of Captaine Olmechin is and where the yeere following was made the warre of the Souriquois and Etechemins vnder the conduct of the Sagamos Membertou which I haue described in Verses which Verses I haue inserted among the Muses of New France At the entry of the Bay of the said place of Chouakoet there is a great Iland about halfe a league compasse wherein our men did first discouer any Vines for although there bee some in the Lands neerer to Port Royall notwithstanding there was yet no knowledge had of them which they found in great quantitie hauing the trunke three and foure foote high and as bigge as ones fist in the lower part the Grapes faire and great and some as big as Plummes
a Cliffe neere to the Iland of Tercera where it brake in a hundred peeces and sunke to the ground hauing in her seuenty men Gallegos Biscaines and others with some of the captiue Englishmen whereof but one was saued that got vp vpon the Cliffes aliue and had his body and head all wounded and he being on shore brought vs the newes desiring to be shriuen and thereupon presently died The Reuenge had in her diuers faire Brasse Peeces that were all sunke in the Sea which they of the Iland were in good hope to weigh vp againe the next Summer following Among these Ships that were cast away about Tercera was likewise a Flie-boate one of those that had bin arested in Portugall to serue the King called the White Doue The Master of her was one Cornelius Martenson of Schiedam in Holland and there were in her one hundred Souldies as in euery one of the rest there was He being ouer ruled by the Captaine that he could not be Master of his owne sayling here and there at the mercy of God as the storme droue him in the end came within the sight of Tercera which the Spaniards perceiuing thought all their safety onely to consist in putting into the Road compelling the Master and the Pilot to make towards the Iland although the Master refused to doe it saying that they were most sure there to be cast away and vtterly spoiled but the Captain called him drunkard Heretick and striking him with a staffe commanded him to do as he would haue him The Master seeing this and being compelled to doe it said well then my Masters seeing it is the desire of you all to be cast away I can but loose one life and therewith desperately he sailed towards the shoare and was on that side of the Iland where there was nothing else but hard stones and Rockes as high as Mountaines most terrible to behold where some of the Inhabitants stood with long ropes and corke bound at the end thereof to throw them downe vnto the men that they might lay hold vpon them and saue their liues but few of them got so neere most of them being cast away and smitten in peeces before they could get to the wall The Ship sailed in this manner as I said before towards the Iland and approaching to the shoare the Master being an old man and full of yeares called his Sonne that was in the ship with him and hauing imbraced one another and taken their last farewell the good old father willed his Sonne not to take care for him but seeke to saue himselfe for said he sonne thou art yong and may haue some hope to saue thy life but as for me it is no great matter I am old what become of me and therewith each of these shedding many teares as euery louing father and kinde childe may well consider the ship fell vpon the Cliffes and brake in peeces the Father on the one side the sonne on the other side falling into the sea each laying hold vpon that which came next to hand but to no purpose for the sea was so high and furious that they were all drowned and onely foureteene or fifteene saued themselues by swimming with their legges and armes halfe broken and out of ioynt among the which was the Masters sonne and foure other Dutch Boyes the rest of the Spaniards and sailers with the Captaine and Master were drowned whose heart would not melt with teares to behold so grieuous a sight specially considering with himselfe that the greatest cause thereof was the beastlinesse and insolency of the Spaniards as in this onely example may well be seene whereby may be considered how the other ships sped as we our selues did in part behold and by the men that were saued did heare more at large as also some others of our Countrimen that as then were in the like danger can well witnesse On the other Ilands the losse was no lesse then in Tercera for on the Iland of Saint George there were two Ships cast away on the Iland of Pico two Ships on the Iland of Gratiosa three ships besides those there came euerywhere round about diuers peeces of broken ships other things fleeting towards the Ilands wherewith the Sea was all couered most pittifull to behold On the Iland of Saint Michael there were foure Ships cast away and betweene Tercera and Saint Michaels three more were sunke which were seene and heard to crie out whereof not one man was saued The rest put into the Sea without Masts all torne and rent so that of the whole Fleete and Armado being one hundred and forty ships in all there were but thirty two or thirty three ariued in Spaine and Portugall yea and those few with so great misery paine and labour that not two of them arriued there together but this day one and to morrow another next day the third so one after the other to the number aforesaid All the rest were cast away vpon the Ilands and ouerwhelmed in the sea whereby may be considered what great losse and hinderance they receiued at that time for by many mens iudgements it was esteemed to be much more then was leftby their Armie that came for England and it may well be thought and presumed that it was no other but a iust plague purposely sent by God vpon the Spaniards and that it might truely be said the taking of the Reuenge was iustly reuenged vpon them and not by the might or force of man but by the power of God as some of them openly said in the Isle of Tercera that they beleeued verily God would consume them and that he tooke part with Lutherans and Heretickes saying further that so soone as they had throwne the dead body of the Viceadmirall Sir Richard Greenfield ouer-boord they verily thought that as he had a diuellish Faith and Relion and therefore the Diuels loued him so he presently sunke into the bottome of the Sea and downe into Hell where he raised vp all the Diuels to the reuenge of his death and that they brought so great stormes and torments vpon the Spaniards because they onely maintained the Catholike and Romish Religion such and the like blasphemies against God they ceased not openly to vtter without that any man reproued them therein nor for their false opinions but the most part of them rather said and affirmed that of truth it must needes be so As one of those Indian Fleetes put out of Noua Spaigna there were fiue and thirty of them by storme and tempest cast away and drowned in the Sea being fiftie in all so that but fifteene escaped Of the Fleete that came from Santo Domingo there were foureteene cast away comming out of the Channell of Hauana whereof the Admirall and Viceadmirall were two of them and from Terra Firma in India there came two ships laden with Gold and Siluer that were taken by the Englishmen and before the Spanish Armie came
to Coruo the Englishmen at times had taken at the least twenty ships that came from Saint Domingo India Brasillia c. and all sent into England Whereby it plainly appeareth that in the end God will assuredly plague the Spaniards hauing already blinded them so that they haue not the sence to perceiue it but still to remaine in their obstinate opinions but it is lost labour to striue against God and to trust in man as being foundations erected vpon the sands which with the winde are blowne downe and ouerthrowne as we daily see before our eyes and now not long since in many places haue euidently obserued and therefore let euery man but looke into his owne actions and take our Low-Countries for an example wherein we can but blame our owne sinnes and wickednesses which doth so blinde vs that we wholly forget and reiect the benefits of God continuing the seruants and yoke-slaues of Sathan God of his mercy open our eyes and hearts that wee may know our onely health and Sauiour Iesus Christ who onely can helpe gouerne and preserue vs and giue vs a happy end in all our affaires By this destruction of the Spaniards and their euill successe the lading and shipping of the goods that were saued out of the ship that came from Malacca to Tercera was againe put off and therefore wee must haue patience till it please God to send a fitter time and that we receiue further aduise and order from his Maiestie of Spaine All this being thus past the Farmers of Pepper and other Merchants that had their goods in Tercera which were taken out of the lost ship that came from Malacca seeing that the hope of any Armada or any ships in the Kings behalfe to be sent to fetch it was all in vaine they made request vnto his Maiesty that he would grant them licence euery man particularly to ship his goods in what ship he would at his owne aduenture which in the end after long suite was granted vpon condition that euery man should put in sureties to deliuer the goods in the Custome-house at Lisbone to the end the King might be paied his custome as also that the goods that should be deliuered vnto them in Tercera should all be registred whereupon the Farmers of Pepper with other Merchants agreed with a Flushinger to fetch all the Cloues Nutmegs Mace and other spices and goods that belonged vnto them the Pepper onely excepted which as then the King would not grant to lade The same Ship arriued in Tercera about the last of Nouember and because it was somewhat dangerous being the latter end of the yeare we laded her with all the speede we could for as then the coast was cleare of Englishmen To be short this Flushinger being laden with most part of the goods sauing the Pepper that was left behinde we set saile for Lisbone passing some small stormes not once meeting with any ship but onely vpon the coast where we saw ten Hollanders that sailed with Corne towards Ligorne and other places in Italie and so by Gods helpe vpon the second of Ianuary Anno 1592. we arriued in the Riuer of Lisbone being nine yeares after my departure from thence and there I staied till the month of Iuly to dispatch such things as I had to doe and vpon the seuenteenth of the same month I went to Sentuual where certaine Hollanders lay with whom I went for Holland The end of the eight Booke ENGLISH PLANTATIONS DISCOVERIES ACTS AND OCCVRRENTS IN VIRGINIA AND SVMMER ILANDS SINCE THE YEERE 1606. TILL 1624. THE NINTH BOOKE CHAP. I. Part of the first Patent granted by his Maiestie for the Plantation of Virginia Aprill the tenth 1606. IAMES by the grace of God c. Whereas our louing and well disposed Subiects Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers Knights Richard Hakluyt Clerke Prebendary of Westminster Edward Maria Wingfield Thomas Hannam Rawleigh Gilbert Esquires William Parker George Popham and diâ—ers others of our louing Subiects haue beene humble Suitors vnto vs that we would vouch safe vnto them our License to make Habitation Plantation and to deduce a Colonie of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia and other parts and Territories in America either appertayning vnto vs or which now are not actually possessed by any Christian Prince or people situate lying and being all along the Sea Coast betweene thirtie foure degrees of Northerly latitude from the Equinoctiall Line and fortie fiue degrees of the same latitude and in the mayne Land betweene the same thirtie foure and fortie fiue degrees and the Ilands thereunto adiacent within one hundred miles of the Coast thereof And to that end and for the more speedie accomplishment of the said intended Plantation and Habitation there are desirous to deuide themselues into two seuerall Colonies and Companies the one consisting of certaine Knights Gentlemen Merchants and other Aduenturers of our Citie of London and elsewhere which are and from time to time shall be ioyned vnto them which doe desire to beginne their Plantations and Habitations in some fit and conuenient place betweene thirtie foure and fortie one degrees of the said latitude all alongst the Sea Coast of Virginia and Coast of America aforesaid And the other consisting of sundry Knights Gentlemen Merchans and other Aduenturers of our Cities of Bristoll and Exeter and of our Towne of Plymmouth and other places which doe ioyne themselues vnto that Colonie which desire to beginne their Plantations and Habitations in some fit and conuenient place betweene thirtie eight and fortie fiue degrees of the said latitude all alongst the said Coast of Virginia and America as that Coast lyeth We greatly commending and graciously accepting of their desires to the furtherance of so Noble a worke which may by the prouidence of Almightie God hereafter tend to the glorie of his Diuine Maiestie in propagating of Christian Religion to such people as yet liue in darknesse miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God and may in time bring the Infidels and Sauages liuing in those parts to humane ciuilitie and to a settled and quiet gouernment doe by these our Letters Patents graciously accept of and agree to their humble and well intended desires And doe therefore for vs our Heires and Successours grant and agree that the said Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers Richard Hakluyt and Edward Maria Wingfield Aduenturers of our Citie of London and all such others as are or shall be ioyned vnto them of that Colonie shall be called the first Colonie and they shall and may beginne their said first Plantation and Seate of their first abode and Habitation at any place vpon the said Coast of Virginia or America where they shall thinke fit and conuenient betweene the said thirtie foure and fortie one degrees of the said latitude And that they shall haue all the Lands Woods Soyle Grounds Hauens Ports Riuers Mynes Minerals Marishes Waters Fishings Commodities and Hereditaments
with wood headed with splinters of Christall or some sharpe stone the spurs of a Turkey or the bill of some Bird. For his Knife he hath the splinter of a reede to cut his feathers in forme With this Knife also he will ioynt a Deere or any Beast shape his shooes buskins Mantels c. To make the noch of his Arrow he hath the tooth of a Beuer set in a sticke wherewith he grateth it by degrees His Arrow head he quickly maketh with a little bone which he euer weareth at his bracer of any splint of a stone or glasse in the forme of a hart and these they glew to the end of their Arrowes With the sinewes of Deere and the tops of Deeres hornes boiled to a ielly they make a glew that will not dissolue in cold water For their warres also they vse Targets that are round and made of the barkes of trees and a sword of wood at their backes but oftentimes they vse for swords the horne of a Deere put through a peece of wood in forme of a Pickaxe some a long stone sharpened at both ends vsed in the same manner This they were wont to vse also for Hatchets but now by trucking they haue plenty of the same forme of Iron And those are their chiefe instruments and armes Their fishing is much in Boates. These they make of one tree by burning and scratching away the coles with stones and shels till they haue made it in forme of a Trough Some of them are an elle deepe and forty or fifty foote in length and some will beare forty men but the most ordinary are smaller and will beare ten twenty or thirty according to their bignesse Instead of Oares they vse paddles and stickes with which they will rowe faster then our Barges Betwixt their hands and thighes their women vse to spin the Barkes of trees Deere sinewes or a kinde of grasse they call Pemmenaw of these they make a thred very euen and readily This thred serueth for many vses about their housing apparell as also they make nets for fishing for the quantity as formally braded as ours They make also with it lines for angles Their hookes are either a bone grated as they nocke their Arrowes in the forme of a crooked pin or fish hooke or of the splinter of a bone tied to the clift of a little sticke and with the end of the line they tye on the baite They vse also long Arrowes tyed in a line wherewith they shoote at fish in the Riuer But they of Accawmack vse staues like vnto Iauelins headed with bone With these they dart fish swimming in the water They haue also many artificiall wares in which they get abundance of fish In their hunting fishing they take extreame paines yet it being their ordinary exercise from their infancy they esteemed it a pleasure and are very proud to be expert therein And by their continuall ranging and trauell they know all the aduantages and places most frequented with Deere Beasts Fish Fowle Rootes and Berries At their huntings they leaue their habitations and reduce themselues into companies as the Tartars doe and goe to the most desert places with their families where they spend their time in hunting and fowling vp towards the Mountains by the heads of their Riuers where there is plenty of game For betwixt the Riuers the grounds are so narrow that little commeth there which they deuoure not It is a marâ—ell they can so directly passe these desarts some three or foure daies journie without habitation Their hunting houses are like vnto Arbours couered with maâ—s These their women beare after them with Corne Acornes Morters and all bag and baggage they vse When they come to the place of exercise euery man doth his best to shew his dexteritie for by their excelling in those qualities they get their wiues Forty yards will they shoote leuell or very neere the marke and one hundred and twenty is their best at random At their hunting in the desarts they are commonly two or three hundred together Hauing found the Deere they enuiron them with many fires and betwixt the fires they place themselues And some take their stands in the midst The Deere being thus feared by the fires and their voices they chace them so long within that circle that many times they kill six eight ten or fifteene at a hunting They vse also to driue them into some narrow point of land when they finde that aduantage and so force them into the Riuer where with their Boates they haue Ambuscadoes to kill them When they haue shot a Deere by land they follow him like Bloud-hounds by the bloud and straine and oftentimes so take them Hares Partridges Turkies or Egges fat or leane yong or old they deuoure all they can catch in their power In one of these huntings they found Captaine Smith in the discouery of the head of the Riuer of Chickahamania where they slew his men and tooke him prisoner in a Bogmire where he saw those exercises and gathered these obseruations One Sauage hunting alone vsed the skinne of a Deere slit on the one side and so put on his arme through the necke so that his hand comes to the head which is stuffed and the hornes head eies eares and euery part as artificially counterfeited as they can deuise Thus shrowding his body in the skin by stalking he approacheth the Deere creeping on the ground from one tree to another If the Deere chance to finde fault or stand at gaze hee turneth the head with his hand to his best aduantage to seeme like a Deere also gazing and licking himselfe So watching his best aduantage to approach hauing shot him he chaseth him by his bloud and straine till he get him When they intend any Wars the Werowances vsually haue the aduise of their Priests and Coniurers and their allies and ancient friends but chiefely the Priests determine their resolution Euery Werowance or some lusty fellow they appoint Captaine ouer euery Nation They seldome make Warre for lands or goods but for women and children and principally for reuenge They haue many enemies namely all their Westernely Countries beyond the Mountaines and the heads of the Riuers Vpon the head of the Powhatans are the Monacans whose chiefe habitation is at Russawmeake vnto whom the Moubemenchughes the Massinnacacks the Manahassanuggs and other Nations pay tributes Vpon the head of the Riuer of Toppahanocke is a people called Mannahoacks To these are contributers the Tauxsnitanias the Shackaconias the Outponcas the Tegoneaes the Whonkentyaes the Stegarakes the Hassiâ—nungas and diuers others all confederates with the Monacans though many differ in language and be very barbarous huing for most part of wilde Beasts and fruies Beyond the Mountaines from whence is the head of the Riuer Patawomeke the Sauages report inhabit their most mortall enemies the Massawomckes vpon a great salt water which by all likelihood is
that there had bin a generall determination to haue shut vp hatches and commending our sinfull soules to God committed the Shippe to the mercy of the Sea surely that night we must haue done it and that night had we then perished but see the goodnesse and sweet introduction of better hope by our mercifull God giuen vnto vs. Sir George Summers when no man dreamed of such happinesse had discouered and cried Land Indeede the morning now three quarters spent had wonne a little cleerenesse from the dayes before and it being better surueyed the very trees were seene to moue with the winde vpon the shoare side whereupon our Gouernour commanded the Helme-man to beare vp the Boateswaine sounding at the first found it thirteene fathome when we stood a little in seuen fatham and presently heauing his lead the third time had ground at foure fathome and by this we had got her within a mile vnder the South-east point of the land where we had somewhat smooth water But hauing no hope to saue her by comming to an anker in the same we were inforced to runne her ashoare as neere the land as we could which brought vs within three quarters of a mile of shoare and by the mercy of God vnto vs making out our Boates we had ere night brought all our men women and children about the number of one hundred and fifty safe into the Iland We found it to be the dangerous and dreaded Iland or rather Ilands of the Bermuda whereof let mee giue your Ladyship a briefe description before I proceed to my narration And that the rather because they be so terrible to all that euer touched on them and such tempests thunders and other fearefull obiects are seene and heard about them that they be called commonly The Deuils Ilands and are feared and auoyded of all sea trauellers aliue aboue any other place in the world Yet it pleased our mercifull God to make euen this hideous and hated place both the place of our safetie and meanes of our deliuerance And hereby also I hope to deliuer the world from a foule and generall errour it being counted of most that they can be no habitation for Men but rather giuen ouer to Deuils and wicked Spirits whereas indeed wee find them now by experience to bee as habitable and commodious as most Countries of the same climate and situation insomuch as if the entrance into them were as easie as the place it selfe is contenting it had long ere this beene inhabited as well as other Ilands Thus shall we make it appeare That Truth is the daughter of Time and that men ought not to deny euery thing which is not subiect to their owne sense The Bermudas bee broken Ilands fiue hundred of them in manner of an Archipelagus at least if you may call them all Ilands that lie how little soeuer into the Sea and by themselues of small compasse some larger yet then other as time and the Sea hath wonne from them and eaten his passage through and all now lying in the figure of a Croissant within the circuit of sixe or seuen leagues at the most albeit at first it is said of them that they were thirteene or fourteene leagues and more in longitude as I haue heard For no greater distance is it from the Northwest Point to Gates his Bay as by this Map your Ladyship may see in which Sir George Summers who coasted in his Boat about them all tooke great care to expresse the same exactly and full and made his draught perfect for all good occasions and the benefit of such who either in distresse might be brought vpon them or make saile this way It should seeme by the testimony of Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus in his Booke intituled The Summary or Abridgement of his generall History of the West Indies written to the Emperor Charles the Fift that they haue beene indeed of greater compasse and I easily beleeue it then they are now who thus saith In the yeere 1515. when I came first to informe your Maiesty of the state of the things in India and was the yeere following in Flanders in the time of your most fortunate successe in these your kingdomes of Aragony and Casteel whereas at that voyage I sayled aboue the Iland Bermudas otherwise called Gorza being the farthest of all the Ilands that are yet found at this day in the world and arriuing there at the depth of eight yards of water and distant from the Land as farre as the shot of a Peece of Ordnance I determined to send some of the ship to Land as well to make search of such things as were there as also to leaue in the Iland certaine Hogges for increase but the time not seruing my purpose by reason of contrary winde I could bring my Ships no neerer the Iland being twelue leagues in length and sixteene in breadth and about thirtie in circuit lying in the thirtie three degrees of the North side Thus farre hee True it is the maine Iland or greatest of them now may bee some sixteene miles in length East North-east and West South-west the longest part of it standing in thirtie two degrees and twentie minutes in which is a great Bay on the North side in the North-west end and many broken Ilands in that Sound or Bay and a little round Iland at the South-west end As occasions were offered so we gaue titles and names to certaine places These Ilands are often afflicted and rent with tempests great strokes of thunder lightning and raine in the extreamity of violence which and it may well bee hath so sundred and torne downe the Rockes and whurried whole quarters of Ilands into the maine Sea some sixe some seuen leagues and is like in time to swallow them all so as euen in that distance from the shoare there is no small danger of them and with them of the stormes continually raging from them which once in the full and change commonly of euery Moone Winter or Summer keepe their vnchangeable round and rather thunder then blow from euery corner about them sometimes fortie eight houres together especially if the circle which the Philosophers call Halo were in our being there seene about the Moone at any season which bow indeed appeared there often and would bee of a mightie compasse and breadth I haue not obserued it any where one quarter so great especially about the twentieth of March I saw the greatest when followed vpon the eues eue of the Annuntiation of our Ladie the mightiest blast of lightning and most terrible rap of thunder that euer astonied mortall men I thinke In August September and vntill the end of October wee had very hot and pleasant weather onely as I say thunder lightning and many scattering showers of Raine which would passe swiftly ouer and yet fall with such force and darknesse for the time as if it would neuer bee cleere againe wee wanted not any and of raine more in
in equall proportion with our selues as their charges and long expectance haue well deserued And to the end that not onely the Aduenturors now liuing but the Heires also of the deceased may take certaine notice of the seuerall proportion of Land which ratably to their Aduentures in money are due and belonging to them A Note of the Shipping Men and Prouisions sent to Virginia by the Treasurer and Company in the yeere 1619. THe Bona Noua of two hundred Tun sent in August 1619. with one hundred and twenty persons The Duty of seuenty Tun sent in Ianuary 1619. with fiftie one persons The Ionathan of three hundred and fiftie Tun sent in February 1619. with two hundred persons The Triall of two hundred Tun sent in February 1619. with fortie persons and sixtie Kine The Faulcon of one hundred and fiftie Tun sent in February 1619. with thirtie sixe persons fiftie two Kine and foure Mares The London Merchant of three hundred Tun sent in March 1619. with two hunpersons The Swan of Barnstable of one hundred Tunne sent in March 1619. with seuentie one persons The Bonauenture of two hundred and fortie Tun sent in April 1620. with one hundred and fiftie three persons Besides these set out by the Treasurer and Company there hath beene set out by particular Aduenturers for priuate Plantations The Garland of two hundred and fiftie Tun sent in Iune 1619. for M. Iohn Ferrars Plantation with fortie fiue persons Who are yet detained in the Summer Ilands A Ship of Bristoll of eightie Tun sent in September 1619. for M. Barkleys Plantation with fortie fiue persons There are also two Ships in prouiding to be shortly gone for about three hundred persons more to bee sent by priuate Aduenturers to Virginia The summe of the persons one thousand two hundred sixtie one Whereof in the eight Ships set out by the Treasurer and Company eight hundred seuentie one Of these persons there are sent for publike and other pious vses these ensuing Tenants for the Gouernours Land besides fiftie sent the former Spring eightie Tenants for the Companies Land one hundred and thirtie Tenants for the Colledges Land one hundred Tenants for the Ministers glebe-Lands fiftie Young Maids to make Wiues for so many of the former Tenants ninetie Boyes to make Apprentices for those Tenants one hundred Seruants for the publike fiftie Men sent by their labours to beare vp the charge of bringing vp thirtie of the Infidels children in true Religion and Ciuilitie The sum of persons for publike vse c. six hundred and fiftie The six hundred and eleuen remaining are sent for priuate Plantations The Commodities which these people are directed principally to apply next to their own necessary maintenance are these ensuing Iron for which are sent one hundred and fiftie persons to set vp three Iron-workes proofe hauing beene made of the extraordinary goodnesse of that Iron Cordage for which besides Hempe direction is giuen for the planting of Silke-grasse naturally growing in those parts in great abundance which is approued to make the best Cordage and Linnen in the world Of this euery housholder is bound to set one hundred Plants and the Gouernour himselfe hath set fiue thousand Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes Pitch and Tarre for the making whereof the Polacres are returned to their workes Timber of all sorts with Masts Planks and Boords for prouision of Shipping c. there being not so good Timber for all vses in any one knowne Countrey whatsoeuer And for the ease and encrease of diuers of these workes prouision is sent of men and materialls for the setting vp of sundry Sawing Mills Silke for which that Countrey is exceeding proper hauing innumerable store of Muibery Trees of the best and some-Silk-wormes naturally found vpon them producing excellent Silke some whereof is to be seene For the setting vp of which Commoditie his Maiesty hath beene graciously pleased now the second time the former hauing miscarried to bestow vpon the Company plenty of Silk-wormes-seed of his owne store being the best Vines whereof the Countrey yeeldeth naturally great store and of sundry sorts which by culture will be brought to excellent perfection For the effecting whereof diuers skilfull Vignerons are sent with store also from hence of Vine-plants of the best sort Salt which workes hauing beene lately suffered to decay are now ordered to bee set vp in so great plentie as not onely to serue the Colony for the present but as is hoped in short time also the great Fishings on those Coasts For the following working and perfecting of these Commodities all prouisions necessary for the present are sent in good abundance As likewise the people that goe are plentifully furnâ—shed with apparell bedding victuall for sixe moneths Implements both for the House and Labour Armour Weapons Tooles and sundry other necessaries And a supply of Armour Powder and many necessary prouisions is made for those of the Colony which were there before yet without any preiudice to the former Magazin There haue beene giuen to the Colony this yeere by deuout persons these Gifts ensuing Two persons vnknowne haue giuen faire Plate and other rich Ornaments for two Communion Tables whereof one for the Colledge and the other for the Church of Mistresse Mary Robinsons founding who in the former yeere by her Will gaue two hundred pounds towards the founding of a Church in Virginia Another vnknowne person together with a godly Letter hath lately sent to the Treasurer fiue hundred and fiftie pounds in gold for the bringing vp of children of the Infidels first in the Knowledge of God and true Religion and next in fit Trades whereby honestly to lâ—ue Master Nicolas Ferrar deceased hath by his Will giuen three hundred pounds to the Colledge in Virginia to bee paid when there shall be ten of the Infidels children placed in it And in the meane time foure and twentie pounds by yeere to bee distributed vnto three discreet and godly men in the Colony which shall honestly bring vp three of the Infidels children in Christian Religion and some good course to liue by An vnnamed person sent to the Treasurer the summe of ten pounds for aduancing of the Plantation There haue beene Patents granted this yeere for particular Plantations as here ensueth To the Societie of Southamton Hundred To Master Heath Recorder of London To Master Wincop To Master Tracie To Doctor Bohun To Master Pierce To Master Delbridge To Master Pointz To Master Barkley To Captaine Bargraue To Captaine Ward Who haue vndertaken to transport to Virginia great multitudes of people with store of cattell It is to be knowne that touching the Colledge for the Infidels children it hath beene thought more expedient to begin first with the planting and peopling of the Lands which hath beene done this yeere and afterwards to proceed to the erecting of the Fabricke which is to be performed out of the reuenues of the Lands To his Worshipfull Friend M. SAMVEL PVRCHAS Preacher of the Word
to confirme the same Strangers also came to this place pretending onely to see him and his Companie whom they neuer saw before that time but intending to ioyne with the rest to kill them as after appeared But being forced through extremitie to lodge in their houses which they much pressed God possessed the heart of the Captaine with iust iealousie giuing strait command that as one part of his Companie slept the rest should wake declaring some things to them which he vnderstood whereof he could make no good construction Some of the Indians spying a fit opportunitie stole some Beades also from him which he no sooner perceiued hauing not aboue six men with him drew them all from the Boat and set them on their guard about the Sachims house where the most of the people were threatning to fall vpon them without further delay if they would not forthwith restore them signifying to the Sachim especially and so to them all that as he would not offer the least iniurie so he would not receiue any at their hands which should escape without punishment or due satisfaction Hereupon the Sachim bestirred him to finde out the partie which when he had done caused him to returne them againe to the Shallop and came to the Captaine desiring him to search whether they were not about the Boat who suspecting their knauerie sent one who found them lying openly vpon the Boats cuâ—dy yet to appease his anger they brought Corne afresh to trade insomuch as he laded his Shallop and so departed This accident so daunted their courage as they durst not attempt any thing against him So that through the good mercy and prouidence of God they returned in safetie At this place the Indians get abundance of Basse both Summer and Winter for it being now February they abounded with them In the beginning of March hauing refreshed himselfe he tooke a Shallop and went to Manomet to fetch home that which the Gouernour had formerly bought hoping also to get more from them but was deceiued in his expectation not finding that entertainment he found elsewhere and the Gouernour had there receiued The reason whereof and of the trecherie intended in the place before spoken of was not then knowne vnto vs but afterwards wherein may be obserued the abundant mercies of God working with his prouidence for our good Captaine Standish being now farre from the Boat and not aboue two or three of our men with him and as many with the Shallop was not long at Canacum the Sachims house but in came two of the Massachuset men the chiefe of them was called Wituwamat a notable insulting villaine one who had formerly imbrued his hands in the bloud of English and French and had oft boasted of his owne valour and derided their weaknesse especially because as he said they died crying making sowre faces more like children then men This villaine tooke a dagger from about his necke which hee had gotten of Master Westons people and presented it to the Sachim and after made a long speech in an audacious manner framing it in such sort as the Captaine though he be the best Linguist amongst vs could not gather any thing from it The end of it was afterward discouered to be as followeth The Massacheuseuckes formerly concluded to ruinate Master Westons Colonie and thought themselues being about thirty or forty men strong enough to execute the same yet they durst not attempt it till such time as they had gathered more strength to themselues to make their partie good against vs at Plimoth concluding that if wee remained though they had no other Arguments to vse against vs yet wee would neuer leaue the death of our Countrimen vnreuenged and therefore their safetie could not be without the ouerthrow of both Plantations To this end they had formerly solicited this Sachim as also the other called I anough at Mattachiest and many others to assist them and now againe came to prosecute the same and since there was so faire an opportunitie offered by the Captaines presence they thought best to make sure him and his Company After this message was deliuered his entertainment much exceeded the Captaines insomuch as hee scorned at their behauiour and told them of it after which they would haue perswaded him because the weather was cold to haue sent to the Boate for the rest of his Company but he would not desiring according to promise that the Corne might be carried downe and he would content the women for their lâ—bour which they did At the same time there was a lusty Indian of Paomet or Cap Cod then present who had euer demeaned himselfe well towards vs being in his generall carriage very affable courteous and louing especially towards the Captaine This Sauage was now entred into confederacie with the rest yet to auoide suspition made many signes of his continued affections and would needes bestow a Kettle of some six or seuen gallons on him and would not accept of any thing in lieu thereof saying he was rich and could afford to bestow such fauours on his friends whom he loued also hee would freely helpe to carry some of the Corne â—ffirming he had neuer done the like in his life before and the winde being bad would needes lodge with him at their Randeuow hauing indeede vndertaken to kill him before they parted which done they intended to fall vpon the rest The night proued exceeding cold insomuch as the Captaine could not take any rest but either walked or turned himselfe to and fro at the fire This the other obserued and asked wherefore he did not sleepe as at other times who answered he knew not well but had no desire at all to rest So that he then mist hisopportunity The winde seruing on the next day they returned home accompanied with the other Indian who vsed many arguments to perswade them to go to Paomet where himself had much Corne and many other the most wherof he would procure for vs seeming to sorrow for our wants Once the Captaine put forth with him and was forced backe by contrary winde which winde serued for the Massachuset was fitted to goe thither But on a sudden it altered againe During the time that the Captaine was at Manomet newes came to Plimoth that Massassowat was like to die and that at the same time there was a Dutch Ship driuen so high on the shoare by stresse of weather right before his dwelling that till the tides encreased she could not be got off Now it being a commendable manner of the Indians when any especially of note are dangerously sicke for all that professe friendship to them to visit them in their extremity either in their persons or else to send some acceptable persons to them therefore it was thought meete being a good and warrantable action that as we had euer professed friendship so we should now maintaine the same by obseruing this their laudable custome and the rather because we desired to
Venison enough Being now gone one being more ancient and wise then the rest calling former things to minde especially the Captaines presence and the strait charge that on paine of death none should got a Musket-shot from the Piantation and comparing this sudden departure of theirs therewith began to dislike and wish himselfe at home againe which was further of then diuers other dwelt Hereupon he moued his fellowes to returne but could not perswade them so there being none but women left and the other that was turned Sauage about midnight came away forsaking the paths lest he should be pursued and by this meanes saued his life Captaine Standish tooke the one halfe of his men and one or two of Master Westons and Hobbamock still seeking to make spoyle of them and theirs At length they espied a file of Indians which made towards them amayne and there being a small aduantage in the ground by reason of a Hill neere them both Companies stroue for it Captain Standish got it whereupon they retreated and tooke each man his Tree letting flie their Arrowes amayne especially at himselfe and Hobbamocke whereupon Hobbamocke cast off his coate and being a knowne Pinese theirs being now killed chased them so fast as our people were not able to hold way with him insomuch as our men could haue but one certaine marke and then but the arme and halfe face of a notable villaine as hee drew at Captaine Standish who together with another both discharged at him and brake his arme whereupon they fled into a swampe when they were in the thicket they parlied but to small purpose getting nothing but foule language So our Captain dared the Sachim to come out and fight like a man shewing how base and womanlike hee was in tounging it as he did but he refused and fled So the Captaine returned to the Plantation where hee released the women and would not take their Beauer coates from them nor suffer the least discourtesie to bee offered them Now were Master Westons people resolued to leaue their Plantation and goe for Munhiggen hoping to get passage and returne with the Fishing Ships The Captaine told them that for his owne part hee durst there liue with fewer men then they were yet since they were otherwayes minded according to his order from the Gouernours and people of Plimouth hee would helpe them with Corne competent for their prouision by the way which hee did scarce leauing himselfe more then brought them home Some of them disliked the choice of the bodie to goe to Munhiggen and therefore desiring to goe with him to Plimouth hee tooke them into the Shallop and seeing them set sayle and cleere of the Massachuset Bay he tooke leaue and returned to Plimouth whither hee came in safetie blessed be God and brought the head of Wituwamat with him Amongst the rest there was an Indian youth that was euer of a courteous and louing disposition towards vs hee notwithstanding the death of his Countrimen came to the Captaine without feare saying His good conscience and loue towards vs imboldned him so to doe This youth confessed that the Indians intended to kil Master Westons people and not to delay any longer then till they had two more Canoes or Boats which Master Westons men would haue finished by this time hauing made them three already had not the Captaine preuented them and the end of stay for those Boats was to take their Ship therewith Now was the Captaine returned and receiued with ioy the head being brought to the Fort and there set vp the Gouernours and Captaines with diuers others went vp the same further to examine the prisoner who looked pittiously on the head being asked whether he knew it he answered yea Then he confessed the plot and that all the people prouoked Obtakiest their Sachim thereunto being drawne to it by their importunitie Fiue there were he said that prosecuted it with more eagernesse then the rest the two principall were killed being Pecksnot and Wituwamat whose head was there the other three were Powahs being yet liuing and knowne vnto vs though one of them was wounded as aforesaid For himselfe hee would not acknowledge that hee had any hand therein begging earnestly for his life saying Hee was not a Massachuset man but as a stranger liued with them Hobbamock also gaue a good report of him and besought for him but was bribed so to doe it Neuerthelesse that wee might shew mercy as well as extreamitie the Gouernour released him and the rather because we desired he might carry a message to Obtakiest his Master No sooner were the Irons from his legs but he would haue beene gone but the Gouernour bid him stay and feare not for hee should receiue no hurt and by Hobbamock commanded him to deliuer his message to his Master That for our parts it neuer entred into our hearts to take such a course with them till their owne treachery enforced vs thereunto and therefore they might thanke themselues for their owne ouerthrow yet since hee had begun if againe by any the like coursesheâ— did prouoke him his Countrey should not hold him for hee would neuer suffer him or his to rest in peace till hee had vtterly consumed them and therefore should take this as a warning Further that he should send to Patuxet the three Englishmen hee had and not kill them also that hee should not spoyle the Pale and Houses at Wichaguscusset and that this Messenger should either bring the English or an answer or both promising his safe returne This message was deliuered and the partie would haue returned with answer but was at first disswaded by them whom afterward they would but could not perswade to come to vs. At length though long a woman came and told vs that Obtakiest was sorry that the English were killed before he heard from the Gouernour otherwise hee would haue sent them Also shee said hee would faine make his peace againe with vs but none of his men durst come to treate about it hauing forsaken his dwelling and daily remoued from place to place expecting when wee would take further vengeance on him Concerning those other people that intended to ioyne with the Massachuseucks against vs though we neuer went against any of them yet this sudden and vnexpected execution together with the iust iudgement of God vpon their guiltie consciences hath so terrified and amazed them as in like manner they forsooke their houses running to and fro like men distracted liuing in swamps and other desert places and so brought manifold diseases amongst themselues whereof very many are dead as Canacum the Sachim of Manomet Aspinet the Sachim of Nauset and Ianowgh Sachim of Mattachuest This Sachim in his life in the middest of these distractions said The God of the English was offended with them and would destroy them in his anger and certainly it is strange to heare how many of late haue and still daily dye amongst them neither is there any likelihood it
will easily cease because through feare they set little or no Corne which is the staffe of life and without which they cannot long preserue health and strength From one of these places a Boat was sent with Presents to the Gouernour hoping thereby to worke their peace but the Boat was cast away and three of the persons drowned not farre from our Plantation onely one escaped who durst not come to vs but returned so as none of them date come amongst vs. The moneth of April being now come on all hands we began to prepare for Corne. And because there was no Corne left before this time saue that was preserued for Seed being also hopelesse of reliefe by supply we thought best to leaue off all other workes and prosecute that as most necessarie And because there was no small hope of doing good in that common course of labour that formerly wee were in for that the Gouernours that followed men to their labours had nothing to giue men for their necessities and therefore could not so well exercise that command ouer them therein as formerly they had done especially considering that selfe-loue wherewith euery man in a measure more or lesse loueth and preferreth his owne good before his neighbours and also the base disposition of some drones that as at other times so now especially would bee most burdenous to the rest It was therefore thought best that euery man should vse the best diligence he could for his owne preseruation both in respect of the time present and to prepare his owne Corne for the yeere following and bring in a competent portion for the maintenance of publike Officers Fishermen c. which could not bee freed from their calling without greater inconueniences This course was to continue till haruest and then the Gouernours to gather in the appointed portion for the maintenance of themselues and such others as necessitie constrained to exempt from this condition In the middest of Aprill we began to set the weather being then seasonable which much incouraged vs giuing vs good hopes of after plentie the setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God for our further chastisement to send a great drought insomuch as in six weekes after the later setting there scarce fell any raine so that the stalke of that was first set began to send forth the eare before it came to halfe growth and that which was later not like to yeeld any at all both blade and stalke hanging the head and changing the colour in such manner as we iudged it vtterly dead our Beanes also ran not vp according to their wonted manner but stood at a stay many being parched away as though they had beene soorched before the fire Now were our hopes ouerthrowne and we discouraged our ioy being turned into mourning To adde also to this sorrowfull estate in which we were we heard of a supply that was sent vnto vs many moneths since which hauing two repulses before was a third time in company of another Ship three hundred Leagues at Sea and now in three moneths time heard no further of her onely the signes of a wrack were seene on the Coast which could not be iudged to be any other then the same These the like considerations moued not only euery good man priuately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience so to humiliation before him but also more solemnly to humble our selues together before the Lord by Fasting and Prayer To that end a day was appointed by publike authority and set a part from all other emploiments hoping that the same God which had stirred vs vp hereunto would be moued hereby in mercy to looke vpon vs grant the request of our deiected soules if our continuance there might any way stand with his glorie and our good But oh the mercy of our God! Who was as readie to heare as we to aske For though in the morning when wee assembled together the heauens were as cleere and the drought as like to continue as euer it was yet our exercise continuing some eight or nine houres before our departure the weather was ouercast the clouds gathered together on all sides and on the next morning distilled such soft sweete and moderate showers of raine continuing some fourteene daies and mixed with such seasonable weather as it was hard to say whether our withered Corne or drouping affections were most quickned or reuiued Such was the bountie and goodnesse of our God Of this the Indians by meanes of Hobbamock tooke notice who being then in the Towne and this exercise in the midst of the weeke said It was but three daies since Sunday and therefore demanded of a boy what was the reason thereof Which when hee knew and saw what effects followed thereupon hee and all them admired the goodnesse of our God towards vs that wrought so great a change in so short a time shewing the difference betweene their Coniuration and our Inuocation on the Name of God for raine their 's being mixed with such stormes and tempests as sometimes in stead of doing them good it laieth the Corne flat on the ground to their preiudice but ours in so gentle and seasonable a manner as they neuer obserued the like At the same time Captaine Standish being formerly imployed by the Gouernour to buy prouisions for the refreshing of the Colony returned with the same accompanied with on M. Dauid Tomson a Scotchman who also that Spring began a Plantation twentie fiue leagues North-east from vs neere Smiths Iles at a place called Pascatoquack where hee liketh well Now also heard wee of the third repulse that our supply had of their safe though dangerous returne into England and of their preparation to come to vs. So that hauing these many signes of Gods fauour and acceptation wee thought it would bee great ingratitude if secretly wee should smoother vp the same or content our selues with priuate thanks-giuing for that which by priuate praier could not be obtained And therefore another solemne day was set apart for that end wherein wee returned glory honour and praise with all thankfulnesse to our good God which dealt so graciously with vs whose name for these and all other his mercies towards his Church and chosen ones by them be blessed and praised now and euermore Amen In the latter end of Iuly and the beginning of August came two Ships with supply vnto vs who brought all their passengers except one in health who recouered in short time who also notwithstanding all our wants and hardship blessed be God found not any one sick person amongst vs at the Plantation The bigger Ship called the Anne was hired and there againe fraighted backe from whence wee set saile the tenth of September The lesser called the little Iames was built for the Company at their charge Shee was now also fitted for Trade and discouery to the
desisted not to perswade him to stay yet nine daies longer in which time hee might haue engaged himselfe further then with any honor he could come out off againe by attempting a Town fortified wherein were more men armed against vs then we had to oppugne them withall our Artillery and Munition being fifteene miles from vs and our men then declining for there was the first shew of any great sicknesse amongst them Whereby it seemeth that either his Prelacie did much abuse him in perswading him to hopes whereof after two or three daies hee saw no semblance or hee like a silly louer who promiseth himselfe fauour by importuning a coy mistresse thought by our long being before his Towne that in the end taking pittie on him they would let him in What end the Friers had by following him with such deuotion I know not but sure I am the Laitie did respite their homage till they might see which way the victorie might sway fearing to shew themselues apparantly vnto him least the Spaniard should after our departure if we preuailed not call them to account yet sent they vnderhand messages to him of obedience thereby to saue their owne if he became King but indeed very well contented to see the Spaniards and vs crie by blowes who should carry away the Crowne For they be of so base a mould as they can very well subiect themselues to any gouernment where they may liue free from blowes and haue libertie to become rich being loth to indure hazzard either of life or goods For durst they haue put on any minds thorowly to reuolt they had three wonderfull great occasions offered them during our being there c. The 〈◊〉 morning seeing no performance of promise kept the Generall gaue order for our marching away himselfe the Earle of Essex and Sir Roger Williams remaining with the stand that was made in the high street till the whole Armie was drawne into the Field and so marched out of the Towne appointing Captaine Richard Wingfield and Captaine Anthony Winfield in the Arrereward of them with the shot thinking that the enemy as it was most likely would haue illued out vpon our rising but they were otherwise aduised When we were come into the Field euerie Battalion fell into that order which by course appertained vnto them and so marcâ—ed that night vnto Cascais Had wee marched thorow his Countrey as enemies our Souldiers had beene well supplied in all their wants but had wee made enemies of the Suburbs of Lisbon wee had beene the richest Armie that euer went out of England for besides the particular wealth of euery house there were many Ware-houses by the water side full of all sorts of rich Merchandizes In our march that day the Gallies which had some what but not much annoyed vs at Lisbon for that our way lay along the Riuer attended vs till we were past S. Iulians bestowing many shot amongst vs but did no harme as all 〈…〉 ng that they strooke off a Gentlemans leg and killed the Sergeant Maiors Mâ—ile vnder him The Horsemen also followed vs afarre off and cut off as many sicke men as were not able to hold in march nor we had carriage for After we had beene two 〈…〉 es at Cascais wee had intelligence by a Friar that the enemy was marching strongly towards vs and then came as farre as S. Iulian which newes was so welcome to the Earle of Essex and the Generallâ— as they offered euery one of them to giue the Messenger an hundred Crownes if they found them in the place for the Generall desiring mothing more then to fight with them in field roome dispatched that night a Messenger with a Trumpet by whom 〈◊〉 a Cart 〈…〉 to the Generall of their Armie wherein he gaue them the lie in that it was by 〈◊〉 reported that 〈◊〉 dislodged from Lisbon in disorder and feare of them which indeed 〈◊〉 most false for that it was fiue of the clocke in the morning before wee fell into Armes and then 〈◊〉 in such â—ore as they had no courage to follow out vpon vs. Also he challenged him therein to meet him the next morning with his whole Armie if hee durst attend his comming and there to try out the iustnesse of their quarrell by baâ—â—â—ll by whom also the Earle of Essex who preferring the 〈◊〉 of the cause which was his Countries before his owne safetie sent a particulas Cattell offering himselfe against any of theire if they had any of his qualitie or if they would 〈◊〉 admit of that six eight or ten or as many as they would appoint should meet so many of theirs in the heart of our battell to 〈◊〉 their fortunes with them and that they should haue assurance of their returne and honourable intreatie The Generall accordingly made all his Armie readie by three of the clocke in the morning and marched euen to the place where they had encamped but they were dislodged in the night in great disorder being taken with a sudden feare that we had been come vpon them as the Generall was the next day certainely informed so as the Trumpet followed them to Lisbon but could not get other answere to either of his Letters but threatning to bee hanged for daring to being such a message Howbeit the Generall had caused to be written vpon the backside of their Pasport that if they did offer any violence vnto the Messengers he would hand the best prisoners he had of theirs which made them to aduise better of the matter and to returne them home but without answerd A 〈…〉 Armie came to Cascais and the Castle summoned the Castellan thereof granted that vpon fiue or six shot of the Canon he would deliuer the same but not without sight thereof The Generall thinking that his distresse within had been such for want of men or victuals as he could not hold it many dayes because hee saw it otherwise defensible enough determined rather to make him yeeld to that necessitie then to bring the Canon and therefore onely set a guard vpon the same least any supply of those things which hee wanted should bee brought vnto them But hee still standing vpon these conditions the Generall about two dayes before hee determined to goe to Sea brought three or foure Peeces of battery against it 〈◊〉 vpon the first â—ire whereof he surrendered and compounded to goe away with his baggage and Armes hee had one Canon two Culuerings one Basiliske and three or foure other F 〈…〉 Peeces threescore and fiue Souldiers very good store of Munition and victualls enough in the Castle insomuch as hee might haue held the same longer then the Generall had in purpose to tarry there One company of Footmen was put into the guard thereof till the Artillery was taken out and our Armie imbarked which without hauing that sort we could not without great perill haue done When we were readie to set saile one halfe of the Fort being by order
be perswaded to follow his Admirall and his consorts But thrusting himselfe rashly in amongst the Spaniards those mighty Vessels being a Sea-boord and some of them getting into the weather of him so becalmed all his sayles as that hee could not vse the benefit of working vpon a wind to his best aduantage nor free himselfe of them when hee would but was clapt aboord by two or three of them where to redeeme his errour seeing hee had brought himselfe so vndiscreetly into a desperate worke he very resolutely fought and made long resistance to the great annoyance and lesse of the Assaylants But in the end being shaken and beaten to sitters with their great Ordnance and oppressed with the multitude of them comming in fresh vpon him was by mayne force mastered and yet disdaining to yeeld for that hee had receiued his deaths wound in the fight sought by all meanes to haue blowne vp his Ship by setting fire on his owne Powder 〈…〉 e and therewithall to haue destroyed as many of the Spaniards as lay aboord him but by the care of his Captaine whose name was Laughorne was withstood and preuented Aright antient Roman resolution but somewhat too much varying from the true Christian Religion to draw a violent and sudden death on so many soules for the better gracing of his particular errour And in this sort by his owne wilfulnesse brought he one of the Royall Nauie into the power and possession of the Spaniards which during all the Warres neuer before nor after they could obtaine And a faire grace of God it was that his fond example had not inticed more of them at the same time to the like folly and ruine Now the best that hee could hope for was after the exchanging of some great shot with them to haue come of againe if hee could A brauery to small purpose for to subdue them was not in the power of all the English if they had beene as many more in all likelihood and reason Vpon which grounds wise Commanders ought to build their resolutions before they put themselues to the hazard of battaile Besides in truth it was a very insolent and disorderly part for a Vice-Admirall being a man of his yeeres and experience so wilfully without cause against all discretion to vary from his Admiralls course and from the opinion of all his Consorts onely to bid himselfe voluntarily to so foolish and bitter a banquet wherein hee could be but lost And hard would it be for Generalls and Chiefe Commanders to fulfill their Instructions or satisfie that which is expected at their hands if they should be drawne on or ingage themselues by the vaine example of euery one that is carryed with a headdy humour to follow his owne wilfull conceit For so was that noble Paulus Aemilius and the Roman Armie with him lost at the Battaâ—le of Cannas in being constrained to second the foolish brauery of Varro his rash Colleague And in the like vnaduised desperate sort did that valiant Duke of Yorke Richard Plantagenet Father to Edward the Fourth wilfully cast away himselfe when with fiue thousand men onely contrary to the perswasiens and counsell of all his friends out of the pride of his brauery hee would needs sally out of his Castle of Sandall and giue battaile to the Queenes Army that was twenty thousand strong whereby his weake forces were quickely defeated at Wakefield and himselfe slaine with his young sonne the Earle of Rutland It is said to bee the dutie of a great Captaine to seeke victory with as little losse to himselfe as may bee and more military discipline shewed in making a faire and safe retrait then in giuing a furious and desperate charge The experience whereof was well seene in that gallant Souldier Sir Iohn Noâ—â—is who wan as much Honour and Fame by that braue and well ordered retrait which hee 〈◊〉 beforâ— Gaunt as in any one piece of seruice that euer hee did We had also fresh in our memories a Sea experiment of the very like tragicall successe of Sir Richard Greenfield in the like rash attempt of Peter de Strosse Admiral of a French Fleet against a mightie Spanish Nauy commanded by the Marquesse of Sancta Cruce at these Ilands Where this Strosse out of a wilfull brauery contrary to the better aduice of all his Captaines and Masters hauing alreadie landed many braue troupes of Frenchmen in the Ilands as assistant to Don Anthonio named King of Portugall vpon the first view would needes lay the Marquesse and the Spanish Fleet aboord being compassed of mightie huge Gallions and the French but slender nimble Ships By which vnequall match and foolish daring he was beaten downe 〈…〉 ght all his Nauie destroyed sauing the Count Brysack and a few others of better iudgement that would not follow his vaine course and himselfe being taken prisoner was aliue most despitefully torne and drawne asunder with two Ships Thus lost he himselfe and his honour brought many gallant Gentlemen and Soâ—â—diers to a butcherly execution and vtterly thrust Don Anthonio from the possession of the Iles of Asores and confounded all those braue French troupes which a little before he had placed in them But in another manner and with better successe were our affaires gouerned in the yeere 88. when that mightie Fleet of Spaine which they termed inuincible came to inuade vs. For then I remember amongst other good discipline and instructions for the Sea fight it was straitly ordained that none of our Ships should voluntarily if they could by any meanes auoid it lay any Spaniards aboord but alwayes to sight with them vpon aduantage and indeauour by all meanes to keepe into the weather of them and so leaue or take as occasion serued they comming to inuade and our end only to keep them from landing The which direction was so well ebserued as that this inuincible Fleet for all their force and powerfull appearance proued at last inuisible left many of their Ancors and good Ships behind them got not nor sunke any one of ours but being sore gauled and beaten with this manner of fight and greatly affrighted with fire and such like stratagems were at last glad to packe away as fast as they could out rt the backe doore I meane by the North Seas round about Scotland and Ireland wherein they found a miserable and tedious flight neuer hauing gotten so much as a dish of our fresh water nor euer landed one man except prisoners vpon our Coast. Now if our Admirall the Lord Charles Howard had beene a wilfull Commander standing vpon those vaine glorious termes of boording and assaulting the enemy and not haue proceeded by counsell and policie temperately then had he done that which the Spaniards expected and desired their Ships being fit for the purpose and comming to boording and handy fight might very well haue distressed vs and so haue hazarded both the Nauie and the Kingdome together But this noble Lord as hee