Spaniardes with a rude and murmuring songe At the length there came three other as thoughe they were ambassadours whiche by certayn signes desyred y e Spaniardes to go with theÌ„ further into the laÌ„d making a countenaunce as though thei wold intertayn theÌ„ wel where vpoÌ„ y e captayne Magellanus sent w t theÌ„ vii meÌ„ well instructed to thinteÌ„t to â—earche y e regioÌ„ maners of the people And thus they went w t theÌ„ into y e desertes wher they came to a low cotage couered with wylde beastes skinnes hauing in it two maÌ„sioÌ„s in one of y t which were womeÌ„ childreÌ„ in the other only meÌ„ They interteined their gestes after a barbaros beastly maner which neuertheles semed to theÌ„ princelike for they killed a beast not much vnlike a wylde asse whose flesshe but halfe rosted they set before our meÌ„ without any other kind of meate or drinke Here were our meÌ„ of necessitie coÌ„strained to lye al night vnder these skinnes by reason of the great abundaunce of snowe and wynde And when it was day our meÌ„ were very earnest with them would in maner haue enforsed them to goe with them to the shippe which thing thei perceauing couered them seluâ—s from the head to the foote with certayn horrible beastes skinnes and paynted theyr faces with sundrye colours Thus taking theyr bowes and arrowes bringing with them other of theyr companie of much greater stature and terrible aspect theÌ„ they were they shewed them selues to oure men in araye as thoughe they were ready to fight But the Spanyardes whiche thoughte that the matter would haue comen to hand strokes commaunded a piece of ordinaunce to be shotte of The which although it dyd no hurte yet these hardy giauntes which a litle before semed to be as bold as though they durst haue made warre against Iupiter were by the noyse there of put in suche feare that they foorthwith beganne to entreate of peace Our men enteÌ„ded to haue brought some of these Gyauntes wyth them into Spayne for the straungenes of the thinge but they all escaped oute of theyr handes Magellâ—nus therfore vnderstandinge that it were vnprofytable to tarie there any longer and that also the sea was very rough the wether stormie and boysteous and that furthermore the firme laÌ„d exteÌ„ded further toward the south it so muche that the further they sayled that waye they should fynde in so much y e colder he deferred hys proceding vnto the moneth of may at whiche time y e sharpenes of winter exceadeth with thâ—m when as with vs sommer is begon He fouÌ„d there greate plentie of wood The sea also ministred vnto them great abundauÌ„ce of shelfishe besyde other fyshes of sundrie kyndâ—s He found lykewyse many springes of freshe holesome waters and vsed huÌ„tinge and taking of foules Only bread wyne was lackinge in the shippe The south pole was there eleuated fortie degrees ¶ How Magellaâ—us by a strayght or narrow arme of the sea sayled by the west into the East to dyuers Ilandes where also he was slayne THe wynter now being past the xxiiij day of Auguste Magellanus departed froÌ„ the place aforesayde styll folowed the tracte of the firme land toward the south vntyl at the length the .xxvi. day of Nouember he found in that firme land certayn open places lyke vnto strayghtes or narrow seas Into the which entring with his nauie he coÌ„maunded that certayn shippes should searche the goulfes on euerye syde yf anye way or passage might be found into the East At the length they fouÌ„d a certayn depe straight by the which they were perswaded y t there was enteraunce into some other mayne sea in so much that Magellanus attempted to searâ—he y e same This straight was fouÌ„d to be somtime of y e bredth of thre Italian myles sometyme of two sometime of tenne reached somwhat toward the West The altitude or eleuacion of the south pole in this place was fouÌ„de to be .lii. degrees They coulde see no people stering in the costes of this entrauÌ„ce Therfore Magellanus seing thys lande to be rough saluage vnpleasauÌ„t to abide in by reasoÌ„ of extreme cold he thought it not worthye the trauayle to spend any time in serching the same Therfore sailing forward in his viage thus atteÌ„pted by y e said strayghte which is now called the strayght of Magellanus he was therby brought into another mayn sea verye great and large The length of this strayght or narrow sea is estemed to be a huÌ„dreth spanishe miles The land which he had on his right hande he doubted not to be mayne lande and that on the left hand he supposed to bee Ilandes Magellanus sawe lykewyse the fyrme land to be extended directly toward y e North wherefore letting passe that greate lande he sayled by that greate and large sea betwene the West and the North that for this intente that at the length he might by the West come into the East and agayne vnder the burning lyne called Zona Torrida beynge well assured that the Ilandes of Molucca which he soughte were in the Easte and not farre froÌ„ the Equinoctial lyne When they hadde thus sayled forâ—ie dayes and came now agayne vnder the line or circle called Tropicus Capricorni they founde two lyttle Ilandes inhabyted but very barren and therfore called theÌ„ infortunate Ilandes Departinge froÌ„ thence they sailed on for a great space and found a certayne Ilande which y e inhabitantes called Inuagana where the eleuacion of the Northe pole called pole Artike was .xij. degrees And the length from the Ilandes called Gades by the Weste was iudged to bee c.lviii degrees Thus proceding they saw dyuers other Ilandes and that so manye that they supposed they had been brought into a great sea lyke vnto that called Archipelagus where with sygnes poyntinges as the duÌ„me are woÌ„t to speake with the dumme they asked of these Indians the names of the Ilandes wherby they learned that thei were in Acatan and not farre froÌ„ the Ilande called Selani wel inhabited and replenished with abundaunce of al thinges necessarie for the coÌ„modities of this life Sayling therfore toward the Ilande of Selani thei were with a coÌ„trary wind drieuen on the Iland of Massana from whense they came to the greate Iland aâ— Subuth where y e Spanyardes were wel enterteyned of the Kinge of the Iland who brought theÌ„ into a certayn cotage and set before theÌ„ such delicates as he hadde Theyr bread was of the trunke of a certen tree cut in pieces fried with oyle Theyr drinke was of the humoure â—r ioyse which droppeth out of the braunches of the date trees when they are cutte Theyr meate was suche as they toke by foulinge with such fruites as the contrei brought forth This Ilande was very riche of gold and ginger In
Meroe now called Elsaba beinge in the ryuer of Nilus that the quene came froÌ„ thence also Saba in Arabia are situate farre Southwarde from Hierusalem euen in maner in the middest of the lyne called Tropicus Canâ—ri and the Equinâ—ctinal lyne â—here the Pole Artike is eleuate not passing 1â— degrees or thereabout as in Meroae where as the same pole is eleuate at Hierusalem 22. degrees whereby it may appeare y t the quene of Saba whoÌ„ Christe calleth the quene of y e south came froÌ„ the south partes about .xi. hundreth .xl. miles from HierusaleÌ„ for the same distaunce is froÌ„ Saba in Meroe to Hierâ—salem as betwene Rome EnglaÌ„d â—ut as touching this matter it shall suffyse to haue sayde thus muche Nowe therefore to returne home from these farre countreys and to speake somewhat of this viage which oure countreymenne haue attempted to sayle into the Easte partes by the coastes of Norway Lappia and Finmarchia and so by the narrowe tracte of the Sea by the coastes of Grouelande into the frosen sea called Maroae CongelatuÌ„ so forth to Cathay yf any suche passage may be found whiche onely doubte doeth at this daye discorage many faynte hearted men speciallye beecause in the moste parte of Globes Mappes they see the continente or fyrme land extended euen to the North Pole without any such passage Which thing ought to moue no maÌ„ greatly â—orasmuch as the most parte of Globes aâ—d mappes are made after Ptolomeus Tables Who albeit he was an excellent man yet were there many thinges hyd from his knowledge as not sufficientelye tryed or searched at those daies as manifestly appeareth in that he knew nothing of America with the hole fyrme lande adherent thereunto which is nowe found to be the fourth parte of the earth Neyther yet knew he any thinge of the passage by the Weste into the Easte by the strayghtes of Magellanus as you shal reade in this Boke Neyther of the Ilandes in the Weste Ocean Sea nor of the Ilandes of Molucca situate in the mayne Easte Indian Sea And as touchinge this passage albeit it were not knoweÌ„ in Ptolomeus dayes yet other auctors of later time who perhappes haue hadde further experience of the thing as good reason is doe wryte not onely that there is a passage by the Northe Sea into the mayne Easte Sea but doe also further declare howe certayne shippes haue safelye sayled throughe the same as Pius secundus otherwyse called AEâ—eas Siluius an excellente auctoâ—e descrybeth in his Boke of Cosmographie where he hath these wordes folowing Of the North Ocean Sea whether it may be sayled aboute or not the contencion is greater yet is it apparaunte that the greateste parte thereof aboute Germanie hath been searched by the commaundemente of Augustus themperour euen vnto the promontorie or landes ende of the people called Cimbri The seas also and coastes of Caspia were so searched during the warres of the Macedonians vnder the dominion of Seleucus Anthiocus that al most all the North on euery syde was sayled about Plinie rehearseth the testimonie of Cornelius Nepos who wryteth that the king of Sueuia or Swethelande gaue to Metellus celer proconsull or leauetenaunte of Fraunce certayne Iudians or menne of Iude whiche saylinge out of India for marâ—haundyse were by tempest drieuen into Germanie We also reade in Otho that vnder thempyre of the Germaynes there was a shippe of Indians taken in the North sea of Germanie and drieuen thether by contrary wynd froÌ„ the East partes which thing coulde by no meanes haue comen to passe yf as many menne thinke the North sea were not nauigable by reason of extreme cold Ise. And these be the very wordes of Pius Secundus whereunto I adde that thys notwithstandinge yf it should so chaunce that ether there can no such passage be found or the same so daungerous or otherwyse that the very cutte thereof by which onely perhappes any shippes might passe could not be founde yea or to caste the worste yf they shoulde perishe in this viage yet I woulde wishe all men to be of such corage and constancie in these affayres as are valiaunt capitaynes in the warres who yf by misfortune they take a foyle doe rather studie how by some other wayes to recouer theyr honour and reputacioÌ„ diminished by the same then with shame losse dishonour euer afterwarde to geue place to theyr enemyes or forsweare the warres Wherefore to conclude yf no good can be done this way it were worthy the adueÌ„ture to attempt yf the same viage may bee broughte to passe another waye as by the strayght called FretuÌ„ trium fratrum westward by North from England whiche viage is sufficiently knowen to suche as haue any skyll in Geographie As for other landes and Ilandes in the west sea where the Eagle yet not in euery place hath so spled his winges that other poore byrdes may not without offeÌ„ce seke theyr praye within the compasse of the same I wyll speake nothing hereof bycause I wold be loth to lay an egge wherof other men might hatche a serpent Wherfore to let this passe to entre into another matter Forasmuch as in these our daies hath chauÌ„ced so great a secret to be fouÌ„d as the like hath neuer been knoweÌ„ or heard before what soeuer God meant to kepe this mistery hyd so long I thoughte it good to speake somwhat hereof trusting y t the pleasauÌ„t coÌ„templacioÌ„ of the thing it selfe shal make the length of this preface lesse tedious especially yf it find a reader whose soule delyteth to prayse God in his workes The thing therfore is this how the hole globe of the world of the earth and wateâ— I meane hath been sayled aboute by the West into the East as doth more largely appeare in this boke in the nauigacioÌ„s of Magellanus who from Spayne sayled Westward to the IlaÌ„des of Molucca being in the East sea farre beyond y e furthest partes of East India the portugales came to the same Ilandes froÌ„ Spayne sayling Eastward by the coastes of Aphrica Arabia the vttermost India beyoÌ„d the ryuer of Ganges where in y e Indian sea the sayd IlaÌ„des of Molucca are situate A thing surely most woÌ„derful and in maner incredible but that the same is proued most certayne by experience the teacher and mestres of all sciences for lacke of whose ayde experience I meane lyke as many greate wittes haue fallen into great errours so by her ayde many base and coÌ„mon wittes haue attayned to the knowledge practise of such woÌ„derfull effectes as could hardely be compreheÌ„ded by the discourse of reasoÌ„ Which thing or other lyke I suppose was the cause why the noble Philosopher Aristoteles sayde Quod nihil est in intellectu ê™ non fuit prius insensu that is that nothinge is in vnderstandinge but
and oppressions they hadde rather paye tribute then to be thus dayly vexed with incursioÌ„s neuer to be at quiete Upon this complaynte it was agreed that they shoulde paye yearely tribute to the ChristiaÌ„ king that they should applie theÌ„ selues to gather and encrease theyr rotes whiche were to them in the stede of flowre and wheat and so consumed that with great labour they coulde scarcely fynde any in the wooddes They payde therefore for their tribute euery thre monethes certayn pound weyghtes of gold but suche as had no gold payde spyces gossampine cotton In the meane time the Spaniardes who should haue been occupied in digging for golde gaue theÌ„ selues to play wantoÌ„nes idlenes coÌ„temning falling into hatered w t their gouernour by which theyr liceÌ„ciousnes the people of the IlaÌ„d beyng prouoked became more disobedient wyld degeneratinge froÌ„ al kind of honestie faithfulnes yea y â— spaniardes also became so negligeÌ„t in seking for gold y t sometyme the charges exceaded the gaynes Neuerthelesse in the yere of Christ 1501. they gathered within y e space of two monethes twelue thousand poundes weyght of golde But the Admirall appoyntinge his brother Bartholomeus Columbus to be gouernour of the Iland he in the yeare .1495 determined to returne to Spayne to certifye the kyng of al these matters In which viage he manfullye defended him self in battayl against the rebelles of certayne other Ilandes which had coÌ„spyred agaynst the Spanyardes ¶ How the Portugals sought new IlaÌ„des in the East partes and how they came to Calicut IN this meane tyme that y e Spanyardes soughte newe and vnknowen landes in the West partes the Portugales attempted to doe the same in the Easte partes And least one of them should be a lette or hinderauÌ„ce to the other they deuyded the world betwene them by the aucthoritie of the Bishop of Rome AlexaÌ„der the .vi. of that name And that on this condicion that froÌ„ the Ilandes called Hesperides whiche are now called Caput ueride the one should sayle Westwarde and the other towarde the South pole thus deuyding the world betwene theÌ„ in two equal partes So that whatsoeuer vnknowen landes shoulde be discouered in the Easte partes the same to be dewe to the Portugales And all suche as shoulde be founde in the Weste partes to appertayne to the Spanyardes Whereby it came to passe that the Spaniardes euer by the South sayled into the Weste where they founde a large mayne laÌ„d with IlaÌ„des great litle innumerable hauing in them great pleÌ„tie of golde and pearles and other great riches But the Portugales by the Southe and costes of the Ilandes called Hesperides and Equinoctial lyne Tropicus Capricorni came y â— into East by thâ— goulâ—e called Sinus Persicus euen vnto the costes of India with in the riuer of Ganges wheras is now the great market towne kingedoÌ„ of Calicut And froÌ„ thence to the IlaÌ„d of Taprobana now called Sumetra Zamara or Samotra so forth to Aurea Chersonesus whereas is nowe the great cytie of Malaccha beyng one of y e most famous market townes of al y e East partes From Malaccha they entered into a great goulfe by which they came to the region of â—inarâ—m Not farre from Malaccha are the Ilandes called Molucca in which al kyndes of spyces growe and are brought to the cytie of Malaccha But the Spanyâ—rdes hauing knowledge what greate coÌ„moditie the Portugales had receyued by the Ilandes of Molucca attemted to proue yf they also might find the same Ilandes in sayling so farre Westward that they mighte at the length by West and southwest come into the East as by good reasoÌ„ they presupposed the roundnesse of the earth would permitte if they were not otherwyse lette by the fyrme or mayne land lyinge in the waye and stoppinge theyr passage whereof as yet was no certeyntie knoweÌ„ And this dydde they to thintent that by this meanes they myghte more easelye and wyth lesse charge bringe spyces from thence into Spayne Therefore the maner of this viage was that they shoulde sayle from the Weste vnder the lowest hemispherye or halfe coÌ„passe of the earth so to come into the East A thinge surelye that myghte seeme verye harde to attempte beecause it was vncertaine whether that most prudente and beneficiall nature who worketh al thinges with most high prouidence had not so deuided and seperated the East from the West partely by sea and partely by land that there might by this way haue been no passage into the East For it was not yet knowen whether that great region of America whiche they call the fyrme or mayne lande dyd seperate the Weste sea froÌ„ the East But it was founde that that fyrme lande exteÌ„ded from the West to the South And that also towarde the North partes were fouÌ„d two other regioÌ„s whereof the one is called Regio Baccalearum the other Terra Florida which if they were adherent to the sayde fyrme land there could be no passage by the Weste seas into the East India forasmuch as ther was not yet founde any strayghte of the sea wherby any enteraunce mighte be opeÌ„ into the East In this meane while the kyng of Spayne beynge elected Emperoure prepared a naâ—uie of fyue shippes ouer the whiche he appointed one Magellanus to be captayne commaundinge him that he should sayle towarde the coastes of the sayd fyrme land dyrectinge his viage by the south partes thereof vntyl he had eyther found the ende of the same or elles some streyghte wherby he mighte passe to those odoriferous Ilandes of Molucca so famously spoken of for the great abuÌ„daunce of swete sauours and spices founde therein The shippes therefore beyng well furnisshed with all thinges necessarie Magellanus departinge from Ciuile in Spayne the tenth day of August in the yeare of Christ .1519 came fyrst to y e IlaÌ„des of Canaria and from thence to the Ilandes called Hesperides from whiche dyrectinge hys course betwene the West and the East toward the sayd fyrme land in few dayes with prosperous sayling he discouered a corner or poynt of the sayd mayne laÌ„d called Promontorium S Muriae where the people dwell called Canibales whiche are accustomed to eate mans fleshe FroÌ„ hence he sayled on southwarde by the long tracte of this firme laÌ„d which reacheth so farre into y e south and extendeth so many degrees beyond y e circle called Tropicus Capricorni y t the south pole called pole Antartike is there eleuated fortie syxe degrees And thus beyng brought into the East they saw certayn Indians gatheringe shel fyshes by the sea bankes beyng men of very high stature clothed w t beastes skinnes To whom wheras certayne of the Spaniardes went a land shewed them belles paynted papers they begon to daunce leape aboute the
to waÌ„der abrode alone and to geat theyr meate with oute the heâ—pe of theyr parentes The whelpes while they are verye yong neuer come out of this bagge but when they sucke This portentous beast with her three whelpes was broughte to Ciuâ—le in Spaine and from thence to Granata ¶ Of the foure nauigacions of Americus uesputius to the newe Ilandes AMericus uesputius beyng sent with Christophorus Columbus in the yeare of Christ M. cccc.xcij at the commaundement of Ferdinando King of Castile to seke vnknoweÌ„ landes and wel instructed in sayling on the sea after a fewe yeares set forward fowre viages of hys owne proper charges That is to witte two vnder the sayd King Ferdinando and two other vnder Emanuel king of Portugale of the which he himselfe wryteth after this maner ¶ The fyrste viage of Americus uesputius IN the yere of christ M. cccc.xcvij the .xx. daye of Maye we came with foure shippes to the fortunate Ilandes called Insulae fortunatae where the North pole hath his eleuacion xxvij degrees .xl. minutes And froÌ„ thence within the space of .xxvij dayes we came to a laÌ„d more Westwarde then the fortunate Ilandes where the North pole was eleuate xvi degrees where also we founde a nacion of naked people of innumerable multitude whiche as sone as they sawe vs fled to the next mouÌ„tayne FroÌ„ hence within two dayes sayling we came to a safe port wher we founde manye men which with much adoe we could scarcely allure to communicacioÌ„ although we profered them belles lokinge glasses cristallyne cuppes and suche other iewelles But at the length perceauing our good wyll and liberalitie towarde them they came to vs by heapes and ioyned frendshyp with vs without all feare They goe all as naked as they came forth of their mothers wombe They suffre no heare on their bodie sauing only on theyr head in so much that they pul of y e heares of their browes They are all so perfectelye exâ—rcysed in swimminge that they can continue therein for the space of two leages without any thinge to beare theÌ„ vp and especiallye the women Theyr weapons are bowes and arrowes They arme theyr arrowes with y e teeth of beastes and fyshes bycause they lack IroÌ„ other metals They kepe warre against their borderers whiche are of straunge language They fyght not for the enlargeing of theyr dominion forasmuche as they haue no Magistrates nor yet for thincrease of riches because thei are contente with their owne commodities but onely to reuenge the death of theyr predicessours At theyr meate they vse rude and barberous fashions lying on the grouÌ„d without any table clothe or couerlet They slepe in certayne greate nettes made of Gossampine cotton and hanged a lofte in the ayre beetwene trees Theyr bodies are verye smothe and clene by reason of theyr often washinge They are in other thinges fylthy and withoute shame Thei vse no lawful coniunccion of mariage but euery one hath as many women as him listeth and leaueth them agayn at his pleasure The women are very fruiteful and refuse no laboure al the whyle they are with childe They trauayle in maner withoute payne so that the nexte day they are cherefull and able to walke Neyther haue they theyr bellies wrimpeled or loose hanginge pappes by reason of bearinge manye chyldren Theyr houses and cabbens are all in common Theyr houses are fasshyoned lyke vnto belles and made of greate trees fastened together couered wyth the leaues of date trees and made very stroÌ„ge against wind and tempestes They are also in some places so great that in one of them sixe huÌ„dreth persons may lodge Thei vse euery seuenth or eyght yeare to remoue chauÌ„ge theyr dwelling places because that by theyr longe continuaunce in one place the ayre shoulde bee infected They vse no kynd of marchaundise or bying and selling beyng content onely with that which nature hath lefte them As for Golde Pearles precious stones iewelles and suche other thinges which we in Europa esteme as pleasures and delicates they sette noughte by They haue no kynde of corne Theyr common fedinge is a certayne roote whiche they drye and beate make floure or meale therof They eate no kynd of fleshe except mans fleshe for they eate all suche as they kyâ—l in theyr warres or oherwise take by chauÌ„ce When he had thus vewed the countreye and coÌ„sydered the maners of the people we determyned to sayle further downe by the landes syde and came after a few daies to a certayne hauen where we sawe about twentie greate houses raysed vppe muche after the fasshion of bellesâ— There came vnto vs a great multitude of meÌ„ vnder pretense of frendshyp Some swimminge and some in botes Who as sone as thei drew neare vnto vs sodeynly bent theyr bowes against vs where we defended oure selues manfully In this bickeringe we slewe of them about twentie beesyde manye that were wounded But of our meÌ„ were onlye fyue hurte whiche were all perfectelye healed Thus departinge from this hauen we sayled onâ— and came to another nacion in coÌ„uersaâ—ion and tongue vtterlye differing from the fyrst For comming oute of our shippe we were very freÌ„dly entreated of theÌ„ where we continued for the space of nyne dayes This region is very fayre and fruitefull hauinge manye pleasaunt woodes which continue grene all the yeare longe They haue fruites innumerable vtterlye vnlyke vnto oures The Region is situate dyrectelye vnder the lyne called Tropicus Cancri The inhabitantes them selues call it Parias Saylinge farre beyond this Region and ouerpassinge manye countreyes and nacions fyndinge Gold euery where but in no great quantitie we came to another nacion full of gentlenesse and humanitie where we rested .xxxvij. dayes These people made greuous complaynte vnto vs that there was not farre froÌ„ them a certayne fearse and cruell nacion whiche vexed theÌ„ sore and made incursion into theyr â—ountreye at a certayne tyme of the yeare kyllinge them and violentlye carying them awaye to thintent to eate thâ—m in so muche that they were not able to defend them selues agaynste theyr fearsenesse Whiche thinge when they hadde so lamentablye declared vnto vs and we hadde made them promyse that we woulde reuenge theyr so manye iniuries they ioyned vnto oure company seuen of theyr men Thus we wente forward and after seuen dayes came to an Ilande called â—ty â— where these fearse people dwelte Who as sone as they hadde espyed vs came armed agaynste vs. We ioyned with them in battaile which contynued for the space of twoo houres At the length we droue them to flyghte and slewe and wounded a greate numbre of them and toke .xxv captiues But of our men was onely one slayne and .xxi. wounded shortely after restored to health We gaue to those seueÌ„ meÌ„ which went with vs thre menne of oure prisonners and foure women whom with greate reioysinge
where arriuing to the land he his companye was sene of the Inhabitantes of the Iland which sodeinly fled into the thicke woodes whom the Spanyardes pursewinge toke a womanne whom they brought to theyr shippe entreatinge her verye gentillye fyllinge her with delicate meates and wyne and clothing her in fayre apparel so let her depart for thei goe naked and are not vsed to delicates And as this womanne returned to her companie some beynge moued by the lyberalitie declaâ—ed vnto her came by greate multitudes to the sea bankes bringinge golde with them which they chaunged for earthen pottes and drinkinge glasses Thus a further frendship by this meanes contracted the Spanyardes begonne more diligeÌ„tly to searche theyr maner of lyuinge and maners so vnderstode that they had a king And therefore entering further into the Iland they were honorably receyued of the king Thei vewyde their houses and merueyled to see them so bylded without the vse of Iron which they are vtterly without in the stede wherof they vse a certeyn stone wherwith they cut and sawe theyr timbre ¶ Of the people called Canibales or Anthropophagi which are accustomed to eate mans fleshe WHeras the people of the forenamed IlaÌ„des fled at the sight of our menne the cause thereof was that they suspected them to haue been Canibals that cruel fearse people which eate maÌ„s fleshe which nacion our men had ouerpassed leaninge them on the southsyde But after they had knowledge of the coÌ„trary they made greuous coÌ„playnt to our men of the beastly and fearse maners of these Canibales which were no lesse cruel agaynst them theÌ„ the Tyger or the Lyon agaynste tame beastes Declaring furthermore y t when soeuer they take any of them vnder the age of .xiiij. yeares they vse to gelde them francke theÌ„ vntyll they be very fat as we are woÌ„t to doe with capons or hennes and as for suche as drawe towarde .xx. yeare olde to kyll them forthwith and pull out theyr guttes and eate the same freshe and newe wyth other extreme partes of the bodye poudering the residue with salte or keping it in a certayne pickle as we do iegottes or sansages Yet eate they not the womeÌ„ but reserue theÌ„ to encrease as we doe hennes to lay egges And if thei take any old womeÌ„ they kepe theÌ„ for drudges And therfore wheÌ„ the Canibales make incursion the people of these IlaÌ„des flye with all spede For albeit they vse arrowes yet are they not able to resyste theyr fearsenes ¶ Of the maners of the inhabitantes of the Iland of Hispana and of suche thynges as are found there THe inhabitaÌ„tes of this Ilande vse in y e stede of bread certayne rotes like vnto nauie rotes hauing the tast of soft grene chestnuttes Gold w t theÌ„ is in estimacioÌ„ for they haÌ„ge certayne peces therof at their eares they go not out of y e limities yf their own coÌ„trie nor exercise any marchaÌ„dise w t straÌ„gers thei gather gold in y e saÌ„des of a certeÌ„ riuer which springeth out of veri high moÌ„taines They gather it with great laboure and melte it and caste it fyrste into masses or wedges and afterwarde into brode plates They haue no foure foted beastes except connies they haue serpentes of monstrous greatnes but without hurte or venime They haue also wylde turtle doues duckes muche greater theÌ„ ours gese whyter then swannes sauing y t they haue redde heades Thei haue also many popingiayes some grene some yelowe and some not muche vnlyke them of India w t redde circles about their neckes This Iland bringeth forth also Mastix Aloe and suche other guÌ„mes and especially certayne redde graynes which are sharper then pepper ¶ How Columbus after he had found new IlaÌ„des returned agayne to Spayne where preparinge a newe nauie he toke his viage to y e Canibales COlumbus not a little ioyeful of the landes newly found the spring tyme drawing nere he determined â—o returne to his countrey leauing with the king of the Iland .38 men which should diligently searche the situacion of the Ilande the maners of the people the natures of trees and fruites But he soyseninge vp his sayles directed hys viage towarde Spayne bringing with him tenne menne of the sayd Ilande to thende that they mighte learne the Spanishe tonge which they might easely doe because al the wordes of theyr language may well be writteÌ„ with our letters Columbus after thys his returne and fortunate successe in his fyrste viage was honorablye receyued of the Kynge and Quene and greatlye magnified with innumerable glorious tittles willinge that he should no more thenceforth be called Columbus but the Admiral of the great Ocean sea and prepared for him towarde his second viage .xvij. foistes and .xij. brigaÌ„tines wel furnished with al kynd of artillerye and plentie of vitayles and in them twelue hundreth men wel appoynted Corne also to sowe al kindes of seedes and plantes For excepte pine apple trees date trees there growe none in these Ilandes that are knowen to vs. The Admirall toke also with him al sortes of Iron tooles to thintent to byld townes fortresses where his men might lye in safegarde Therfore the first day of September departing from the Ilandes called Gades with a prosperous wind he arryued at the Iland of Canaria the fyrst daye of October from whense directing his viage towarde the lefte hande he sayled toward y e South at y e length came to the IlaÌ„des of the Canibals And because he came thether on the Sundays called the Dominical day he called the IlaÌ„d where he arryued Dominica which when he perceyued to be but saluage and rude he sayled on further and in twentie dayes sayling came to another Iland replenished w t al kindes of trees froÌ„ which came a marueylous fragrant sauour By reason whereof some being allured by the pleasantnes of the place weÌ„t a land where they sawe no kynde of lyuinge beastes sauinge lysertes of wonderful houdge greatnes This Ilande he called Insula Crucis whiche was also an Ilande of the Canibales as afterward they proued in dede For as they sayled about the IlaÌ„d they found certayne lowe cotages made of trees lyke vnto stagies For they set trees vpright in order round about fastening postes in them crosse ouer where vnto the trees cleaue faste so that by this meanes they caÌ„ not fall They frame the roofes of theâ—e cotages with sharpe toppes after the maner of rownde tentes And last of al they inclose and couer these trees thus set in order wyth the leaues of date trees and certen other trees to thintent to make theÌ„ a stronger defence agaynst wynd wether And within the cotage they tye the postes together with ropes of bombage cotton and a certayne longe roote They haue couches made one aboue another the flowres
The herbe of this is lyke vnto that which beareth saffrane and hath hys roote which is Ginger much lyke vnto the same In this meane time came two other shyppes out of Spayne whereof the one sayled directely to the poynte of Aphrica called PromontoriuÌ„ bone spâ—i And the other by the greate mayne South sea to the coastes of that continent or fyrme land wherof we haue spoken here beefore It shall suffyse that we haue hetherto declared of the nauigacions whiche the Spanyardes attempted by the Weste to sayle into the Easte by the strayghâ—e of Magellanus where the passage by Sea is open into the Easte by the continente or fyrme lande of the newe worlde called America Nowe therefore lette vs retourne to the other Nauigacions of Columbus otherwyse called the Admyrall who longe beefore was the fyrst fynder of the newe Ilandes and of the sayde mayne or fyrme land and yet founde not that strayght or narow sea by the which Magellanus sayled from the West into the East ¶ The thyrde nauigacion of Christophorus Columbus IN the yeare of Christ .1498 Columbus the Admiral departed from Spayne with eyght foistes and arryued fyrst at the Ilandes of Medera where he deuyded hys nauie into two partes For .v. of these shippes he directed to the Iland of Hispana with the residue he sailed towarde the south entendinge to passe ouer the AEquinoctial line and from thense to turne towarde the West to searche suche landes as were hetherto vnknowen to the Christian men Coming therfore to Caput ueride he sailed to the burning line called Torrida zona where he found so great heate that he was in daunger of death but returninge his shyppes towarde the West he found a more holsome ayre and as God woulde came at the length to a lande well inhabyted where there came agaynst him and his a bote with .xxiiij. young men armed with bowes arrowes and shieldes couering only theyr priuie membres with a clothe of Gossampine cotton hauing also very longe heare The admirall as well as he could by signes allured them to coÌ„municacion But they trusted not our men fearing some deceate The Admirall perceauing that he could nought preuayle by signes and tokens he determined with Musical instrumentes to appeale their wildnesse As the minstrelles therefore blewe theyr shaulmes the barbarous people drew neare suspecting that noyse to bee a token of warre whereupon they made ready theyr bowes and arrowes But the Spaniardes drawinge nearer vnto theÌ„ caste certayne apparell into theyr bote willing by this token of frendshippe to concile them although all were in vayne For they fled all awaye Wherefore the Admyrall departing froÌ„ thence came to a region called Parias wel inhabited ful of ciuile people declaring muche humanitie toward strauÌ„gers They shewed our men Pearles and Gold such other riches desyring them to come a land where they geÌ„telly entreated them When our meÌ„ asked them where they had suche plentie of golde they with home poynting was in the â—tede of speach declared by signes and tokens that thei had it in certayne mountaines and that thei could not without great daunger resort thether by reason of certaine fearse beastes in those partes and also because of the cruell people called Canibales whiche inhabite those mountaynes But the Admiral because his wheate fayled was enforsed to departe thence Dyrectinge therfore his viage toward y e North easte he came to the Iland of Hispana where he found all thinges confouÌ„ded and out of ordre For the Spanyardes which were lefte in the Ilandes refused to obeye the Admirall and his brother mouinge greuous coÌ„playntes agaynste them before the King of Spaine and at the length sente them thether bound ¶ Howe Petrus Alonsus soughte newe Ilandes AFter that the Admyrall hadde incurred the indignacion of the Kynge manye of hys companions suche as hadde been broughte vppe with him and were experte Sea menne decreede to searche other partes of the worlde yet vnvnknowen Among which number was Petrus Alonsus who with a shippe wel furnished sayled to Parias from thence to Curtana where he begon to exercyse marchaundise with the inhabitantes receauinge Pearles for belles and nedles Entring also into the land he was honourably entertayned In their woodes he saw innumerable Peacockes nothinge vnlyke vnto oures sauing that the males differ litle from the females In this region are great plentie of Phesantes Alonsus departinge from hense sailed to the regioÌ„ of Canchietes beyng sixe dayes sayling froÌ„ Curtana toward the West In this region is great abundaunce of golde Popingiayes Gossampine cotton moste temperate ayre From hence he sayled into another fruiteful regioÌ„ but inhabited with wilde menne which could by no gentilnes be allured to frendshippe Departinge therefore from thence he came to the region of Ciniana whereas pearles are found in great plentie but before he came there he chaunced to come amonge the Canibales agaynst whom dischargeing a piece of ordinauÌ„ce he droue theÌ„ easely to flight But Alonsus thus laden with pearles returned home into Spayne ¶ Howe Pinzonus companion to the Admirall sought newe Ilandes VInceÌ„tius otherwise called Pinzonus in the yeare of Christe .1499 prepared foure brigantines sailed fyrst to the Ilandes of Canaria from thence to Caput ueride FroÌ„ whence directing his viage toward the south farre beyonde the Equinoctial lyne he found men in a certayne Iland but such as he could by no meanes concyle vnto him Therefore leauinge them he came to another lande in whiche were innumerable naked people dissimuling that thei desired to ioyne frendship with the Spaniardes And whereas one of our meÌ„ caste a bell amonge them oute of the â—hippe they againe cast to the Spanyardes a masse or piece of golde which one of oure companye somewhat to bolde attemptinge to take vp they sodeynlye toke him and caried him awaye with merueylous swiftenes but our meÌ„ leauing their shippes made hast to help theyr fellowe in so muche that the matter came to handstrokes This conflict was so sharpe that our men hadde muche a doe to escape with theyr lyues by reason of the fearsenes of the barbarians Departing therefore froÌ„ thence they sayled toward the Northeaste and came to the region of Payra to the Ilandes neare aboute the same in the whiche are woodes of sanders wherewith the marchauÌ„tes lade theyr shippes and carie it into other conntreys In this Region also growe the trees whiche beare Cassia fistula of the beste kynd There is also founde a foure foted beast of moÌ„strous shape whose former parte is lyke vnto a wolfe sauing that the feete are lyke vnto the fete of a man with eares like an owle Hauinge also beneath his comon belye an other belye lyke vnto a purse or bagge in which he kepeth his yonge whelpes so longe vntyll they be able safely
they caried with them into theyr countreye and we returninge home toward Spaine with many captiues came fyrste to a porte of Spayne called Calicium where we solde oure priesoners and were ioyefullye receaued In the yeare of Christ M. cccc xcix the .xv. daye of Octobre ¶ The seconde viage of Vesputius IN the moneth of May folowing Vesputius attempted another viage and came by the IlaÌ„des of Canaria euen vnto the burninge lyne called Torrida zona and founde a lande beeyonde the Equinoctial line toward the South where the South pole is eleuate fyue degrees And wheras he coulde fynde no apte enteraunce into the land and sayled vp down alonge by the same he espyed a bote in which was aboute twentie men who as sone as they saw the Spanyardes lepte into the Sea and escaped all excepte two which they toke In theyr bote which they forsoke were founde foure young men which they had by force taken oute of another countrey hauinge theyr priuie membâ—rs newelye cutte of These Vesputius toke into his shippes and learned by theyr signes and tokens that they hadde been taken of the Canibales and should shortly haue been eaten But departinge from these costes saylinge on forward they came to a commodious hauen where they founde muche people with whom they ioyned frendshyp and fell to chaungeinge of ware receauinge for one bell fyue hundreth Pearles In this lande they drinke a certayne kynde of wyne made of the iuyse of fruites and sedes being lyke whyte and redde sydar Departinge from hence and saylinge yet further they founde a certayne Ilande in which was a beastly kind of people and simple yet very gentle In this Ilande is no freshe water but they gather the dew which in the night season falleth vpon certayne leaues muche lyke vnto the eare of an Asse They lyue for the moste parte by sea fishe They haue no cotages of houses but haue certayne broade leaues wherewith they defende them selues from the heate of the Sunne but not from showres but it is verye lykely that it rayneth but lyttle in that Iland Vesputiâ—s wyth his companye departinge from hence sayled vnto another Ilande into the whiche when he hadde entered he founde certayne cotages and in them â—wo old women and three young wenches whiche were of so greate stature that they marueyled thereat And whereas oure menne stryued with them to bringe them to the shyppe to thintente to haue caryed them into Spayne they espyed cominge toward them syxe and thyrtie men yet of muche greater stature then were the women bearing with theÌ„ bowes arrowes and great stakes lyke vnto clubbes at the syghte of whome oure menne beinge afrayd made haste to theyr shyppes But these Gyauntes folowinge them euen to the Sea syde bended theyr arrowes towardes the Spanyardes vntyll they discharged two pieces of ordinaunces wyth the horryble sounde whereof they were immediatly drieuen to flight Oure menne therefore departinge from thence called that Ilande the Ilande of Giauntes And came to another nacion which frendlye entreated them and offered them many Pearles in so muche that they boughte .xix. markes weyghte of pearles for a smal price They gaue vs also certayne shelfysshes of the whiche some conteyned in them a hundreth and thyrtie Pearles and some fewer Departinge froÌ„ thence they came to the Ilande of Anâ—iglia which Columbus had discouered a few yeares before Leauinge this they sayled directely to Calicium a porte of Spayne where they were honourablye râ—ceaued ¶ The thyrde viage of Vesputius VEsputius beyng called froÌ„ Castile to serue Emanuel the King of Portugale in the yeare of Christe M. ccccc.ij the tenth daye of May departed from the haueÌ„ of lisburne and sayled downe by the coastes of the sea Atlantike vntil he came vnder the Equiâ—â—ctial lyne And the .xvij. daye of Auguste they arryued at a cerâ—ayne lande where they found a kind of beastly people This land is situate toward the South fyue degrees beyonde the Equinoctial lyne A greate multitude of the inhabitaÌ„tes wer gathered together and as wel as they coulde by signes and poyntinges desired oure men to come alande to see theyr couÌ„trey There were two in the shippe whiche toke vpon theÌ„ to vewe the land learne what spyces or other commodities might be had therein They were appoynted to returne within the space of fiue daies at the vttermost But when eyght dayes were now paste they whiche remayned in the shippes heard yet nothing of theyr returne wheras in the meane time great multitudes of other people of the same lande resorted to the Sea syde but could by no meanes be allured to communicacion Yet at the length they broughte certayne women which shewed them selues familier towarde the Spaniardes Wherupon they sent forth a young man beyng very strong and quicke at whom as the women wondered and stode gaâ—inge on him and feling his apparell there came sodeynly a woman downe from a mountayne bringing with her secretely a great stake with which she gaue him such a stroke behynde that he fell dead on the earth The other womenne foorthwith toke him by the legges and drewe him to the mountayne whyle in the meane tyme the men of the countreye came foorth with bowes and arrowes shot at oure men But the Spaniardes dischargeing foure pieces of ordinaunce agaynst them droue them to flighte The women also which had slayne the yong man cut him in pieces eueÌ„ in the sight of the Spaniardes shewinge them the pieces and rosting them at a greate fyre The meÌ„ also made certayn tokens wherby they declared that not past .viij. daies before they had in lyke maner serued other christiaÌ„ meÌ„ Wherfore y e Spaniardes hauinge thus sustayned so greuous iniuries vnreuenged departed w t euyl wil sayling therfore further toward y e south they fouÌ„d a nacioÌ„ of great multitude of much geÌ„teler coÌ„dicions with whoÌ„ thei remained .viij. daies bartering chaÌ„geing ware w t theÌ„ Sayling on yet farther they weÌ„t beyond y e line called Tropicus Capricorni where the south pole is eleuate .32 degrees wheras in those parts thei fouÌ„d no great riches they sailed yet further south ward vntill y â— pole was eleuate .lij. degrees where thei came into such a tempeste that they were enforsed to gather vppe theyr sayles and to rowe only with the maste directing theyr viage toward the costes of Ethiopia from whence they returned againe to Lisburne in Portugale ¶ The fourth viage of Vesputius THis nauigacioÌ„ was attempted in the yeare of Christ. M. ccccc iij. but was not brought to the ende hoped for by reason of a misfortune which chaunced in the goulfe of the sea Atlantike Vesputius entended in this viage to sayle to the Ilande of Melcha beyng in the East in which is sayde to be great ryches the stacion of restinge place of all shippes comming froÌ„ the goulfe Gangeticus from the
DisobedieÌ„ce â—oloweth Idlenes Note Bartholomeus ColuÌ„bus The bisshop of rome deuideth y e world hesperides or Caput uâ—ride How the Spanyardes y â— Portugales deuided the world betwene them Golde Pearles The Equinoctial lyâ—e The ryuer of Ganges Calicut Taprobana Samotra the great cyâ—ie of Malaccha the regioÌ„ of â—inaruÌ„ the Ilandes of Molucca Sayling into the East by the west the roâ—Ì„dâ—es of â—he erth The firme land Spiceâ— the viâ—ge from the West in to the Easte America The firme land Regio Baccalearum Terra Florida the king oâ— spayâ— sendeth foorth shippes The viage of Magellanus by the west into y e east The IlaÌ„des of Molucca The Ilâ—des of câ—naria Promontorium s. Marie Canibales The eleuacioÌ„ of the south pole 46 degrees The Region of giauÌ„tes Cotages couered w t beastes skiâ—nes Onager AbuÌ„dauÌ„ce of sâ—owe wynde The GiauÌ„tes ar putte to â—â—yght extreme winter in maye â—he south pole eleuate .xl. degrees The â—â—rayght of Magelâ—anus The altitude of the south pole liâ— degrees â—he main sea beyond the strayghtes The fyrme land The burning line Torrida Zona â— The IlaÌ„des of Molucca Tropicus capricorni the IlaÌ„d of Inuagana The IlaÌ„des of Gades called Cales Males Archipelagus Acatan Selani â—assana Sâ—buth Bread of the truÌ„ke of trees Drinke of the droppiÌ„g of date â—â—â—es Golde Ginger Magellanus is slayne the new captaiâ—e Serranus is betraied of his bondmaÌ„ the king of Subuth coÌ„spyreth agaynst the Spanyardes The captayne Serranus is takeÌ„ prisoner The Ilâ—des of Gibeth Porne Siloli Peace Idleneâ—â— Bread of Rice CaÌ„phire Pearles as bigge as turtle doues eggesâ— A maruelous biâ— shelfishâ— Gilona Men w t hanging eares The spâ—nyardes arriue aâ— the Ilandes of Molucca The tree that beaâ—eth cloâ—es the cinomome tree The nutmeg tree Mace The nutmegge Ginger Promon â— torium bonâ— spâ—â— ColuÌ„bus the admâ—ral fyrst finder of the new Ilandeâ— the Ilandes of Medera Hispana or Hispaniola Greate heate vnder the burning lyne Signes pointing â—he faire â—egioÌ„ of Parias Golde Pearles â—earse â—eaâ—tâ—s Canibales the Spanyardes refuse to obey the admiral Parias Curtana Pearles forbelles nedles Peacockes PhesaÌ„ts The Region of CaÌ„chietes The region of Ciniana Pearleâ— Naked people Gold for belles A coÌ„flict betwene the wild men and the Spaniardes The Region of Payra woodes of Saâ—ders The tree y â— beareth Cassia fistulae A moÌ„sterous beastâ— FerdinaÌ„do kinge of castile Insulae fortunate Naked menne Wylde men allured with geÌ„tlenes People expert iâ— swimminge Cabens hanging betwene treeâ— Womâ—â— in coÌ„mâ— Womâ—â— very stroÌ„ge and fruitfulâ— Hoâ—ses made of trees Houses of maruelous bignes Ryches superfluities coÌ„teÌ„ned Bread of a certain roote Mans â—lesh eateÌ„ A coÌ„flict A gentle nacion Parias Fruites vnlike vnto oures Gold euery whereâ— Canibales An expedicion agaynst y e Canibalâ—â— the Equinoctial line Canibales fyue hundreth pearles for one bell Wine of the iuyse oâ— frâ—tes An IlaÌ„d wythout fresh water Broade â—â—aues The laÌ„d of Giaunteâ— Pearles A hundreth xxx pearles in one shelfishe Antiglia Calicium The sea AtlaÌ„tike Threâ— of the Spanyardes slayne eaten Fearse cruâ—ll women A ciuilâ— people the soutâ— pole eleuate â—â— degrees lisburne the IlaÌ„d of melcha Calicut Insulae uerides A shippe wracke Liserteâ— and Sâ—rpeÌ„ts the Portugales bilâ—â—ortes in the East partes AlphoÌ„sus Aureâ— chersonesus the great ryche cytie of Malachâ— SaraceÌ„s Malacha besieged the kiâ—â— fighteth on an â—lephaâ—t PleÌ„ty of copper MarchauÌ„tes Spyces the cytie of Goa The Ambassadors make a leage wyth AlphoÌ„sus the west Ilandes Cuba Iucatana Cozumella or Sancta Crux Hispana Suger presses The wood called GuaiacuÌ„ Medera or Madera Sawe milles Fayre treeâ— Sugeâ— Vynes the Ilandes of Canaria christiaÌ„s A mouÌ„t of burninge brimstone Fygges Libr. i. Capit. v. Eratosthenes Polibius Possidonius the Equinoctial linâ—â— the poet Homere Macrobius Albertus Magnus Ptolomeus Taprobana Ethiopes Tigris Euphrates Sinus Peâ—sicus The nearenes of the suÌ„ne Teperateâ—es vnder the Equinoctial Torrida zona Ethiopia Plinie the IlaÌ„d of meroae Syenes in Egipte The conuersioÌ„ of the suÌ„ue Of the furloÌ„geâ— of Italie viij doe make one ItalieÌ„ myle coÌ„teyning a. m pases Agisimba Montes Eanae Palâ—des Nili Ethiopes Anthropophagi Gabiâ—able regions how farre â—xtended Cliâ—â—