with to muche admyration Note He sygnifyed vnto them that their trees in that prouynce of the planckes wherof if shyppes were made they shoulde bee safe from the woormes of the sea whiche they caule Bromas Broma or Bissa are wormes whiche destroy shippes Howe these woormes knawe and corrode the shyppes wee haue declared before Owre shyppes are greatly trouâ—eled with this plage if they lye longe in the hauens of these regyons But they affyrme that the woodde of this tree is soo bytter that the woormes wyll not taste therof There is also an other tree peculyar to these landes A venemous tree whose leaues if they onely touche the bare in any place of a mannes body they cause greate blysters and those soo malycious that excepte the same bee foorthwith healed with salte water or fastynge spyttle they doo incontynently engender deadely paynes They saye lykewyse that the sauour of the woodde is presente poyson Perhappes theyâ— venemous arrows are made of this woodds or c. And that it can noo whither bee caryed without daunger of lyfe When thinhabitauntes of the Ilande of Hispaniola had oftentymes attempted to shake of the yoke of seruytude and coulde neuer brynge the same to passe neyther by open warre nor yet by priuye conspiraces they were determyned in the nyghte season to haue kylled owre men in their sleepe with the smoke of this woodde But when the Christian men had knowledge hereof they compelled the poore wretches to confesse their intente and punysshed the chiefe autours of the deuyse They haue also a certayne herbe with the fauour wherof they are preserued from the hurte of this venemous woodde so that they maye beare it safely A preseruatiue ageynst poyson Of these smaule thynges it shall suffyce too haue sayde thus muche They looke dayly for many greater thynges to certyfye vs of from the Ilandes of the south sea The Ilands of the south sea For at suche tyme as the messenger whiche broughte owre letters departed from thense Petrus Arias prepared an expedition to that ryche Ilande whiche lyeth in the mouthe of the goulfe cauled Sinus S. Michaelis and reacheth into the southe sea The ryche Iland cauled Dites beyng also lefte vntouched of Vaschus by reason that the sea was at that tyme of the yeare sore troubeled with tempestes as wee haue further declared in Vaschus his vyage to the southe Wee looke therfore dayly for greater thynges then are hetherto paste For they haue nowe taken in hand to subdue manye other prouynces whiche wee suppose too bee eyther verye ryche or to brynge furthe summe straunge woorkes of nature Iohannes Diaz Solistus of Nebrissa of whome we haue made mention before is sente by the froonte of the cape or poynte of Sancti Augustini whiche reacheth seuen degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne Cab sancti Augustini Of the euyll successe of these viages reade decade iii Liber ix and perteyneth to the dominion of the Portugales to thintent to ouer runne the southe syde from the backe halfe of Paria Cumana Cuquibacoa with the hauens of Carthagâ— and Sancta Martha of Dariena also and Beragua that more perfecte and certeyne knowledge may bee had of those tractes Furthermore one Iohannes Poncius was sente foorthe with three shyppes to destroye the Canibales bothe in the lande and Ilandes there aboute An expedition to destroy the Canibales aswell that the nations of the more humane and innocente people maye at the length lyue without feare of that pestiferous generation as also the better and more safely to searche the secreates and rychesse of those regions Many other lykewise were sente dyuers and sundry wayes as Gasper Badaiocius too searche the West partes Franciscus Bezerra to sayle by the corner of the goulfe And Valleius to passe by the mouthe or enteraunce therof to the Easte coastes of the goulfe to searche the secreates of that lande in the whiche Fogeda with his coompanye had of late begunne to plante their habitation Fogeda and had buylded a fortresse and a vyllage Badaiocius departed fyrste frome Dariena with foure score souldiours well appoynted Whome Lodouicus Mercado folowed with fyftye To Bezerra were also fourescore assygnâ—d and three score and tenne to Valleius Looke decad 〈◊〉 Lib. ix Whether they shall arryue at safe and commodious hauens or faule into vnfortunate stations he onely knoweth whose prouydence ruleth all For as for vs men wee are included within the knowledge of thinges after they haue chaunced Lette vs now therfore coome to other matters ¶ The seuenthe booke of the thirde decade PEtrus Arias the gouernour of the supposed continente was scarsly entred into the mayne sea with his nauye onwarde on his vyage to Dariena But I was aduertised that one Andreas Moralis a pilot who had oftentymes ouer runne the coastes of these new seas and the Ilandes of the same The nauigations of Anâ—reas Moâ—alis was coome to the courte to sell suche marchaundies as he broughte with hym frome thense This man had dyligently searched the tracte of the supposed continente and especyally thinner regyons of the Ilande of Hispaniola wherunto he was appoynted by his brother Nicolaus Ouâ—ndos the gouernour of the Iland and chiefe Commendatory of the order of the knyghtes of Alcantara bycause he was a wytty man and more apte to searche suche thynges then any other So that with his owne handes he drewe faire cardes and tables of suche regyons as hee discouered Wherin as he hath bynne founde faythfull of suche as haue sense had better tryall hereof so is he in most credyt emongest the best sorte He therfore resorted to me as all they are accustomed to doo whâ—che retourne from the Ocean A particular description of the Ilande of hispaniolâ— What I learned of hym and dyuers other of thinges heretofore vnknowen I wyll nowe declare The beginnynge of this narration shal be the particular description of the Ilande of Hispaniola forasmuche as it is the heade and as it weare the principall marte of all the lyberality of the Ocean and hath a thousande and againe a thousande fayre pleasaunt Nereides are nymphes of the â—ea â–ª he meaneth Ilandes bewtifull and ryche Nereides whiche lye aboute it on euery syde adournynge this their ladye and moother as it were an other Tethis the wyfe of Neptunus Tâ—this the wyfe of Neptunus and goddesse of the sea enuyronynge her aboute and attendynge vppon her as their queene and patronesse But of these Nereiades that is to saye the Ilandes placed aboute her we wyll speake more hereafter Lette vs in the meane tyme declare sumwhat of the Ilande whiche owre men named Margaritea Diues whiche the Spanyardes caule De las perlas beyng nowe well knowen The Ilande of Margaritea Diues and lyinge in the southe sea in the goulfe cauled Sinus Sancti Michaelis that is sainte Michaels goulfe Saincte Michaels goulfe This Iland hath presently brought to owre
goulfe of Bothia â–ª but as nowe by owr commentaries brought to light And hauâ—ng sayde has much in maner of a preface we wâ—ll nowe procede to wryte of the north regions ¶ Schondia SChondia Sâ—hondama or Schondenmarchia is as much to say as fayre Dania or fayre Denmarke Scone is fayre in the duch toonge Plinie in one place nameth it Scandia and in an other Scandinauiâ— if there bee no fauce in the templers It was named Schondia by reason of the fayrenesse and true fulnesse therof And this aswell for that in beneficiall heauen fertilitie of gronnde The fertilitie of â—condia commodite of hauens and marte townes abundaunce of ryuers and fysshe plentie of beastes great quantitie of metall as golde syluer copper and leade diligent culturynge the grounde with townes and cities wel inhabited and gouerned by ciuile lawes it gyuethe place to none other fortunate region This was in maner vnknowen to the owlde Greekes and Latins as may appeare by this argomente that with one consente they affirmed that in these north regions the could zonâ— or clime was condemned to perpetuall snowe intollerable to all lyuynge creatures For few of theÌ„ haue made mention hereof as to be inhabited Amonge whom Plinie as one of the chiefe sayth in his fourth booke that Schondania is of vnknowen byggenesse and only that portion therof to be knowen which is inhabited with the nation of the Hilleuiâ—nes in fiftie vyllages Neyther yet is Eningia lesse in opinion he meaneth Diodorus Siculus Other more auncient then Plinie haue placed most fortunate regions with men of longe lyfe whiche the Greekes caule Macrobios and of moste innocente behauour vnder the tracte of those landes and that there came from thence to Delphos certeyne religious virginnes with vowes and gyftes consecrated to Apollo And furthermore that that nation obserued this institution vntyll the sayde virgins were violated of them of whome they were receaued as straungers These are most cleare testimonies of Antiquitie both of the greatnesse of Schondia and the people that inhabite the same althowgh they were sence vnknowen as lykewyse the Gothes departynge from these north landes althowghe they obteyned Thempire of the regions abowte the marisshes of Meotis and the coastes of the sea Euxinus â—hinuasions of the Gothes with the realme of Denmarke wherof that is thought to bee a portion which is nowe cauled Transiluania and the bankes of the ryuer of Danubius â—ransiluania and in fine inuaded the Romane Empire yet were not the regions wel knowen from whense they tooke theyr originall Therefore lyke as parte of the owlde wryters are vnsufficient wytnesses to testifie of owre narrations as touchynge these landes vnknowen to them Euen so the other parte which excluded the same as vnhabitable are to bee conuinced leaste theyr autoritie beinge admitted shuld ingender opinions not agreeable or conuenient to the nature of places Sigismundus Liberus in his commentaries of Moscouia wryteth thus Scandia or Scondia is no Iland as sume haue thought but parte of the continente or firme lande of Suetia which by a longe tracte reacheth to Gothlande And that nowe the kynge of Denmarke possesseth a great parte therof But wheras the wryters of these thinges haue made Scondia greater then Suetia that the Gothes and Lumbardes came frome thense The Gothes and Lumbardes they seeme in my opinion to comprehende these three kyngedomes as it were in one body only vnder the name of Scondia forasmuch as then that parte of lande that lyeth betwene the sea Balthrum whiche floweth by the coastes of Finlandia and the frosen sea was vnknowen And that by reason of so many marisshes innumerable ryuers and intemperatnesse of heauen it is yet rude vncultured and lyttle knowen Which thynge hath byn the cause that summe iudged all that was cauled by the name of Scondia to bee one great Ilande ¶ Gronlande GRonlande is interpreted greene lande so cauled for the great increase and frutefulnesse of pasture Frutefull pasture By reason wherof what great plentie of cattayle there is it may hereby appere that at such tyme as shyppes may passe thyther they set furth great heapes of cheese and butter to bee sould wherby wee coniecture that the lande is not rowgh with barren mountaynes It hath two Cathedrall Churches vnder thordinaâ—ion of Nidrosia To one of these was of late yeares a bysshop appoynted onely by the tytle of a suffragane in consideration that while the metropolitane dooth neglect the direction of religion for the distance of the place and difficult nauigation the people is in maner faulne to gentilitie Religion neglected beinge of them selfe of mouable wyttes and gyuen to magical artes For it is sayde that they as also the people of Laponia doo rayse tempestes on the sea with magical inchauntmentes Inchaunters and brynge such shippes into daungeour as they intâ—â—de to spoile They vse lyttle shyppes made of lether and safe ageynste the brusynge of the sea and rockes and with them assayle other shippes Peter Martyr of Angletia writeth in his Decades of the Spanisshe nauigations that Sebastian Cabote sayling from Englande continually towarde the north The vyage of Sebastian Cabote to the frosen sea folowed that course so farre that he chaunsed vppon greate flakes of Ise in the mooneth of Iuly and that diuertynge from thense he folowed the coaste by the shore bendynge towarde the South vntyl he came to the clime of the Ilande of Hispaniola aboue Cuba an Iland of the Canibales Which narration hath giuen me occasion to extende Gronlande beyonde the promontory or cape of Huitsarch to the continente or firme lande of Lapponia aboue the castell of Wardhus Gronlande wardhus which thynge I did the rather for that the reuerende Archebysshoppe of Nidrosia constantely affirmed that the sea bendethe there into the forme of a crooked elbowe It agreeth herewith also that the Lapones consent with them in the lyke magical practises and doo neyther imbrase the Christian religion nor refuse it wherby I haue thowght this lykenesse of customes to bee betwene them bycause they ioyne togyther in one continent Lapponia Gronlande The distance lykewyse seemeth not to disagree For betwene both these people Schoeni the distance is not full twoo hundreth Schâ—ni euery one being a space of grounde conteinyng .lx. furlonges which make .vii. myles and a halfe It furthermore agreeth with this coniecture that Cabote chaunsed into such Ise. And albeit as touchynge the mooneth of Iuly Cabote tould me that this Ise is of fresshe water and not of the sea I wyll contend it is not well rehersed no althowghe he had sayled vnder the pole for such reasons as wee haue declared before to the contrary neuerthelesse that at sum tyme he sayled by Ise this testifieth in that he sayled not by the mayne sea but in places nere vnto the lande comprehendyng and imbrasyng the sea in forme of a goulfe A commixtioÌ„ of
and runneth downe by the sydes of the mountaynes The lyke is also seene in this famous towne of Valladoleto where we nowe suiorne in a certeyne greene close not past a furlonge distant from the waules of the towne I graunte therfore that in certeyne places by conuersion of the ayrie dewe into water within the caues of suche mountaynes many sprynges and ryuers are engendred But I suppose that nature was not sollicitate to brynge furthe suche greate fluds by this so smaule industry Twoo reasons therfore do sound beste to my iudgement whereof the one is the often faule of rayne The often fal of raâ—ne and contâ—nuall sprynge time The other the continuall autumne or sprynge tyme which is in those regions beinge soo nere vnto the Equinoctial that the common people can perceaue no difference betwene the length of the day and the night throwgh owt al the yeare whereas these two seasons are more apte to engender abundance of rayne then eyther extreme wynter or feruent summer An other reason in effect much lyke vnto the fyrst The Equinocâ—iall is this If the sea bee full of pores and that by the pores therof beinge opened by the Southe windes The pores of the sea the South wynd wee shal consent that vapours are lyfted vp wherof the watery cloudes are engendred this lande must needes bee moysted with moo shoures then anye other yf it bee as narowe as they saye and enuironed with twoo mayne seas collaterally beatinge on the same Howe so euer it be I can not but gyue credit to the report of such worthy men as haue recourse to those regions And can noo lesse then declare the same albeit it may seeme incredible to sume ignorant persons not knowynge the poure of nature to whome Plinie was persuaded that nothynge was impossible Nothinge impossible to the poure of naure Wee haue therfore thought it good to make this discourse by the way of argument least on the one syde men of good lernyng and iudgement and on the other syde suche as are studious to fynde occasions of quarelynge in other mens wrytynges shulde iudge vs to bee so vndescreete lyghtly to gyue creditte to euery tale not beinge consonant to reason But of the force and greate violence of those fresshe waters The cause of the greatnes and force of the goulfe which repulsinge the sea make so greate a goulfe as wee haue sayde I thinke the cause therof to bee the greate multitude of fluddes and ryuers which beinge gathered togither make so great a poole and not one ryuer as they suppose And for as muche as the mountaynes are excedynge hyghe and stiepe hygh and stiepe hylles I thinke the violence of the faule of the waters to be of such force that this conflicte betwene the waters is caused by thimpulsion of the poole that the salte water can not enter into the goulfe But here perhappes sume wyll marueyle at me why I shulde marueyle soo muche hereat speakynge vnto me scornefully after this maner Why dothe he soo marueyle at the greate ryuers of these Regions Hathe not Italye his Eridanus The fludde Eridanus named the kynge of ryuers of the owlde wryters Haue not other regions also the lyke as wee reede of Tanais Tanais Ganges Ganges and Danubius Danubius which are sayde soo to ouercoome the sea that freshe water may bee drawne fortie myles within the fame These menne I woolde satisfie with this answere The famous ryuer of Padus in Italye whiche they nowe caule Po Padus and was of the Greekes cauled Eridanus hath the greate mountaynes cauled Alpes diuidinge Fraunce Alpes Germanie and Pannonie from Italye lyinge at the backe therof as it were bulwarges agger full of moysture And with a longe tracte receauinge Ticinum with innumerable other great ryuers Ticinum fauleth into the sea Adriatike The sea Adriatike sume caule the goâ—lfe of Uenes The lyke is also to bee vnderstode of the other But these ryuers as owre men were enformed by the kynges faul into the Ocean sea with larger and fuller chanels nere hand And sume there are which affirme this lande to bee very large in other places althowgh it bee but narowe here There commeth also to my remembrance an other cause the whiche althowgh it bee of no greate force An other reason yet doo I entende to wryte it Perhappes therfore the length of the lande reachyng far from the Easte to the weste if it bee narowe may bee a helpe hereunto For as wee reade that the ryuer Alpheus passethe through the holowe places vnder the sea from the citie of Elis in Peloponoso The ryuer Alpheus and breaketh foorth at the fountayne or sprynge Arethusa in the Iland of Sicilia Arethusa so is it possible that these mountaynes may haue suche longe caues perteynynge vnto theim Longe caues in the mountaynes that they may be the receptacles of the water passing through the landes beinge farre distante And that the same waters commynge by soo longe a tracte may in the way bee greately encreased by the conuersion of ayer into water as wee haue sayde Thus muche haue I spoken freely permittinge bothe to them whiche doo frendely enterprete other mens doinges and also to the malicious scorners to take the thynge euen as them lysteth For hetherto I can make no further declaration hereof But wheÌ„ the truth shal be better knoweÌ„ I wyl do my diligence to commit the same to wryting Nowe therefore forasmuche as we haue spoken thus muche of the breadth of this land we enteÌ„d to describe the length forme of the same ¶ The tenth booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed Continent THat lande reacheth foorth into the sea euen as doth Italy althowgh not like the legge of a man as it doth The length and forme of the Iland Cap. S. Augusti But I nowe compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe to a giant For that part therof which the Spaniardes haue ouer runne from the sayde Easte poynt which reacheth towarde the sea Atlantike the ende not beinge yet founde towarde the Weste is more then eyght tymes longer then Italye Eyght tymes bygger tâ—en Italy besyde that part whiche the Portugales poâ—sesse Italy is in length a thouâ—and and two hundreth myles and in breadth foure hundreth and ten And by what reason I am moued to say eyght tymes yowre holynes shall vnderstande From the tyme therefore that I fyrste determined to obeye their requestes who wylled me fyrste in yowre name to wryte these thynges in the laten tonge I dyd my endeuoure that al thinges myght coome foorth with dewe tryall and experience Wherupon I repayred to the byshoppe of Burges beinge the chiefe refuge of this nauigation As wee were therfore secretly togyther in one chamber we had many instrumentes perteynynge to these affayres as globes and manye of those mappes which are commonly cauled the shipmans cardes or cardes of the sea Cardes
sepulchers in their owne houses Sumwhere also they drye them spyce them adourne them with precyous iewells and ouches and so reuerently place them in certeyne tabernacles made for the same purpoâ—e in their owne palayces When owre men had many of their tabellets braslettes collers and suche other ouches whiche they caule Guanines they founde them rather to bee made of laton then of golde Ouches of laton Gonzalus Ouiedus sayth that they gilt marueloâ—â—â—y with the iuse of a certeyne herbe wherby they suppoâ—e that they haue vsed to exchaunge their ware with summe craftie straungers whiche broughte theÌ„ those counterfect ouâ—hes to defraude them of their golde For euen owre menne perceaued not the deceate vntyll they came to the meltynge Furthermore certayne of owre buylders wanderynge a lyttell way from the sea coastes chaunced to fynde certayne pyeces of white marble whyte marble Wherby they thynke that in tyme paste summe straungers haue coome too those landes whiche haue dygged marble owte of the mountaines and lefte those fragmentes on the plaine There owre men learned that the ryuer Maragnonus descendeth frome the montaynes couered with snowe cauled Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata The great ryuer Maragnonus This ioyneth with the myghty ryuer cauled Flumen Amazonum found of late And the same to bee encreased by many other ryuers whiche faule into it throughowte all the lowe and watelye regions by the whiche it runneth with so longe a tracte from the sayde montaynes into the sea And this to bee the cause of the greatnesse therof These thynges beyng thus brought to passe the gouernour coÌ„maunded the trumpitour to blowe a retraite Whervppon they whiche were sente to lande beynge fyue hundreth in noumber makynge a great shoute for ioye of their victory sette them selues in order of battayle and so keping their array returned to the shippes laden with spoyle of those prouinces and shynynge in souldiers clokes of fethers Clokes of fethers with faire plumes and crestes of variable colours In this meane tyme hauynge repaired their shyppes and furnysshed the same with all necessaries they loosed anker the xvi daye of the Calendes of Iuly directynge their course to the hauen of Carthagena in the whiche viage they destroyed and wasted certayne Ilandes of the Canibales lyinge in the waye accordynge as they were commaunded by the kynge But the swifte course of the water deceaued bothe Iohannes Serranus the chiefe Pilet of the gouernours shyppe The swyfte course oâ— the water and all the other althoughe they made their boste that they perfectely knewe the nature therof For they affyrme that in one night they were caried forty leaques beyonde their estimation xâ— leaques in one nyght The syxte booke of the thirde Decade HEre muste we sumwhat digresse from cosmography and make a philosophicall discours to searche the secreate causes of nature For wheras they al affyrme with on coÌ„sent that the sea runneth there from the Easte to the weste as swyftly as it were a ryuer faulinge from hyghe mountaynes Sundry opinions why the sea runneth with so swyft course from the East into the west I thoughte it not good to lette so great a matter slyppe vntouched The whiche while I consyder I am drawen into no smaule ambyguitie and doute whether those waters haue their course whiche flowe with so contynuall a tracte in circuite from the Easte as thowghe they fledde to the west neuer to retourne and yet neyther the weste therby any whitte the more fylled nor the Easte emptied If we shall saye that they faule to their centre as is the nature of heuye thynges and assigne the Equinoctiall lyne to be the centre as summe affyrme what centre shall we appointe to bee able to receaue so great aboundaunce of water The equinoctiall lyne why all waters moue towarde the south or Equinoctial â—reade Cardanus de subtiliâ— lâ—ber .ii. de Eâ—ementis Or what circumference shal be founde weate They whiche haue searched those coastes haue yet founde no lykely reason to be trewe Many thynke that there shoulde bee certeyne large straightes or enterances in the corner of that great lande whiche we described to bee eyght tymes bygger then Italye Strayghtes and the corner therof to be full of goulfes wherby they suppose that summe strayghtes shulde passe through the same lyinge on the weste syde of the Ilande of Cuba And that the sayde straightes shoulde swalowe vp those waters and so conuey the same into the weste and from thense ageyn into owre Easte Ocean or north seas as summe thynke As by the strayght of Magellanus The north landes Other wyll that the goulfe of that great lande bee closed vppe and the land to reache farre towarde the northe on the backe syde of Cuba so that it embrace the northe landes whiche the frosen sea encompaseth vnder the northe pole And that all the lande of those coastes shoulde ioyne togyther as one firâ—e lande Wherby they coniecture that those waters shulde bee turned aboute by the obiecte or resystaunce of that lande so bendynge towarde the north as we see the waters â—courned aboute in the crooked bankes of certeyne ryuers But this agreeth not in all poyntes For they also whiche haue searched the frosen sea The frosen sea and sayled frome thense into the weste do lykewyse affyrme that those northe seas flowâ— contynually towarde the weste although nothing so swiftely These northe seas haue byn searched by one Sebastian Cabot a Uenetian borne Sebastian Cabot whom beinge yet but in maner an infante his parentes caryed with them into Englande hauyng occasion to resorte thether for trade of marchandies as is the maner of the Uenetians too leaue no parte of the worlde vnsearched to obteyne richesse The venetians He therfore furnisshed two shippes in England at his owne charges The viage of Sebastian Cabot from Englande to the froâ—en sea And fyrst with three hundreth men directed his course so farre toward the northe pole that euen in the mooneth of Iuly he founde monstrous heapes of Ise swimming on the sea Frost in the moneth of Iuly and in maner continuall day lyght Yet sawe he the lande in that tracte free from Ise whiche had byn molten by heate of the sunne Thus seyng suche heapes of Ise before hym he was enforced to tourne his sayles and folowe the weste so coastynge styll by the shore that he was thereby broughte so farre into the southe by reason of the lande bendynge so muche southward that it was there almoste equall in latitude with the sea cauled Fretum Herculeum Fretum herculeum diuideth Spayne the Moores and is nowe cauled the strayghtes of Marrok hauynge the north pole eleuate in maner in the same degree He sayled lykewise in this tracte so farre towarde the weste that he had the Ilande of Cuba his lefte hande in maner in the same degree of langitude As he traueyled by the coastes of this greate lande
sycke his poure went forward vnder the conducting of his Lieuetenant Gaspar Spinosa a Iudge in cases of lawe in Dariena At the same time other were sent foorth to the Ilande of Dites to exacte the portion of pearles lymited to the king for his tribute What shal succede tyme will bring to owre knowleage The other two attempted thinhabitantes beyond the goulfe Franciscus Bezerra passyng ouer by the corner of the goulfe and the mouthes of the ryuer of Dabaiba The expediâ—ion of Fraunces Beâ—arra â—geynst the Canibales with two other capitaines and a hundreth and fyftie souldiers well appointed went to make warre vppon the Canibales euen in Caribana their owne chiefest dominion toward the vyllage of Turusy wherof we haue made mention before in the comming of Fogeda They brought also with them diuers engens of warre Gunâ—eâ— â–ª as â—hree pieces of ordinanunce whose shot were bygger then egges Likewise forty archers and .xxv. hagbutters to thintent to reache the Caniballes a farre of and to preuent their venemed arrowes But what became of hym and his company or where they arriued we haue yet no parfecte knowleage Certaine which came of late from Dariena to Spaine reported that at their departure they of Dariena stode in great feare least they also were tossed with sum misfortune The other capitaine Valleius Ualeius â—epulsed of the Canibales obteyned the fore parte of the goulfe But he passed ouer by an other waye then dyd Bezerra For he tooke the beginning of Caribana and Bezerra the ende Valleius returned ageine But of the three score and ten men whiche he conueighed ouer with hym hee lefte fortye and eyght slaine emonge the Canibales These are the newes whiche they bringe that came laste from Daâ—iena There came to me the day before the Ides of October in this yeare M.D.xvi. Rodericus Colmenares of whom we haue made mention before and one Franciscus Delapuente This Franciscus was one of the vnder capitaines of this bande whose chiefe capitaine was Gonsalus Badaiocius who hardly escaped the handâ—s of kyng Pariza These twoo capitaines therfore Rodericus and Franciscus who departed from Dariena immediatly after the misfortune whiche befell to Badaiocius and his companye The Ilandes of the south sâ—a do both affirme the one that he hath harde and the other that he hath seene that in the Southe sea there are diuers Ilandes lying westwarde from the Iland of Dites and saincte Michaels goulfe In this sea 〈◊〉 Ilâ—ndes of Molucca most frutefull of â—pices in many of the which are trees engendred and nourisshed which bring foorth the same aromaticall fruites as doth the region of Collocutea Collocutea This lande of Collocutea with the regions of Cochinus and Camemorus Cochinus and Camemorus from whense the Portugales haue their spyces are the chiefe marte places from whense the Portugales haue their spices And hereby do they coniecture that the land where the frutfulnesse of spyce begynneth shulde not be farre from thense In so much that many of them whiche haue ouerrunne those coastes do onely desyre that leaue may be graunted them to searche further and that they wil of their owne charges frame and furnishe shippes and aduenture the viage to seeke those Ilandes and regions They thinke it best that these shippes shulde bee made and prepared he meaneth by the streight of Magellanus euen in saincte Michaels goulfe And not to attempte this vyage by sainte Augustines point which waye were both longe and diâ—fyculte and ful of a thousande daungers and is saide to reache beyonde the forty degree of the pole Antartike The same Franciscus being partener of the trauailes and daungiers of Gonsalus saithe that in ouer runninge those landes he founde great heardes of hartes and wylde bores howe they take hartes and wylde bores and that he toke many of them by an arte which thinhabitauntes taught him whiche was to make pittes or treÌ„ches in their walkes and to couer the same with bouwes By this meanes also they deceaue al other kindes of wild and foure footed beastes But they take foules after the same maner that we do As stocke doues with an other tame stocke done brought vp in their houses Stocke dâ—ueâ— These they tye by a strynge and suffer them to flye a little emong the trees To the which as other birdes of their kind resort they kil theÌ„ with their arrowes Theyr maner of foulynge Otherwyse they take theÌ„ with nettes in a bare place pourged from trees bushes and scateryng certeyne seedes rounde about that place in the myddeste whereof they tye a tame foule or byrde of the kynde of them whiche they desyre to take In lyke maner do they take popingiayes and other foules But they say that popingiayes are so simple Poâ—ingiayes arâ— eaâ—ely taken that a great multitude of them wyll flye euen into the tree in whose bouwes the fouler sytteth swarme about the tame chatterynge popingiaye sufferynge them selues to bee easely taken For they are so without feare of the syght of the fouler that they tary whyle he cast the snare about theyr neckes the other beinge nothynge feared hereby thoughe they see hym drawe them to him with the snare and put them in the bagge which he hath about hym for the same purpose There is an other kynde of foulynge A straunge kynde of foulynge heretofore neuer harde of and pleasaunt to consyder We haue declared before howe that in certeyne of the Ilandes and especially in Hispaniola there are dyuers lakes or standynge pooles In sume of these beinge no deaper then men may wade ouer them are seene great multytudes of water foules as wel for that in the bottome of these lakes there growe many herbes and weedes as also that by reason of the heate of the sonne pearceinge to the naturall place of generation and corruption Fysshes and woâ—mes engeÌ„dered of sume where beinge doubled in force by reflection and preserued by moyster there are engendered of the stymines of the earth and water and by the prouidence of the vniuersall creator innumerable lyttle fysâ—hes with a thousande sundry kyndes of frogges wormes knattes flyes and such other The foules which vse these lakes Foules are of dyuers kyndes As duckes geese swannes seemewes gulles and such other We haue sayde also that in theyr orchardes they noryshe a tree which beareth a kynde of greate gourdes Of these gourdes therefore well stopped leaste any water shulde enter in at theyr ryftes and cause them to sinke Gourdes of the tree they cast many in the shalowe pooles where by theyr continuall wanderynge and wauerynge with the motions of the wynde and water they put the foules owt of suspection and feare The fouler in the meane tyme disguysinge hym selfe as it were with a visour putteth a great gourde on his head much lyke to a helmet with two holes neare about his eyes his face and hole heade besyde beinge couered therwith And thus entereth
myles to a leaque as is their maner to recken by sea Departynge from the sayde Ilandes to folowe their course the shippes tary .xxv. dayes or a lyttle more or lesse before they see the fyrste lande of the Ilandes that lye before that whiche they caule La Spagnuola or Hispaniola And the lande that is commonly fyrste scene is one of these Ilandes whiche they caule Ogni sancti Marigalante or Galanta La Desseada otherwise cauled Desyderata Matanino Dominica Guadalupe San. Christoual or summe other of the Ilandes wherof there are a great multitude lyinge aboute these aforesaide Yet it sumtymes so chaunceth that the shippes passe withowte the syght of any of the sayde Ilandes or any other that are within that course vntyll they coome to the Iland of Sancti Iohannis or Hispaniola or Iamaica or Cuba whiche are before the other It may also chaunce that they ouer passe all these likewyse vntyll they faule vppon the coastes of the fyrme lande But this chaunceth when the pylote is not well practised in this nauigation or not perfecte in the trewe carde But makynge this viage with experte maryners wherof there is nowe great plentie one of the sayde fyrste Ilandes shall euer bee knowen And from the Ilandes of Canarie to one of the fyrste of these the distaunce is nyne hundreth leaques by saylynge or more And from hense to the citie of saynte Dominike which is in the Ilande of Hispaniola is a hundreth and fyftie leaques So that from Spayne hitherto is a thousand and three hundreth leaques Yet for asmuche as sumtimes the nauigation procedeth not so directly but that it chaunceth to wander euer on the one syde or on the other wee may well saye that they haue nowe sayled a thousande and fyue hundreth leaques and more And if the nauigation be slowe by reason of summe hynderaunce it commonly chaunceth to be fynisshed in .xxxv. or .xl. dayes And this happeneth for the moste parte not accomptynge the extremes that is eyther of them that haue slowe passage or of them that arryue in verye shorte tyme. For wee owghte to consyder that which chaunceth most commonly The returne from those partes to Spayne is not fynysshed without longer tyme as in the space of .l. dayes or a lyttle more or lesse Neuerthelesse in this present yeare of .1525 there came foure shyps from the Iland of San Dominico to saint Luca in Spaine in .xxv. dayes But as I haue sayd we ought not to iudge of that whiche chaunceth seldome but of that which happeneth most ordinarily This nauigation is very safe and much vsed euen vnto the sayd Ilande And from this to the firme land the shyppes trauerse diuers wayes for the space of fiue syxe or seuen dayes saylynge or more accordyng to the partes or coastes whither they directe their vyages forasmuche as the sayde fyrme lande is verye great and large and many nauigations and vyages are directed to dyuers partes of the same Yet to the fyrme land whiche is nearest to this Iland and lyeth directly ageynst San Dominico the passage is fynisshed in the tyme aforesayde But it shal be muche better to remytte all this to the carde of these nauigations and the new Cosmographie of the whiche no parte was knowen to Ptolomie or any other of the owlde wrytters ¶ Of twoo notable thynges as touchyng the West Indies And of the great rychesse brought from thense into Spayne⸫ AFter my vniuersall description of the historie of the Indies there commeth to my rememberaunce two thynges chiefely to be noted as touchynge thempire of this West Indies perteynynge to the dominion of yowre maiestye And these besyde the other particulars wherof I haue suffyciently spoken are to be consydered as thinges of great importaunce Wherof the one is the shortenesse of the way with what expedition yowr maiesties shyppes maye passe beyonde the mayne fyrme lande of these Indies into the newe Southe sea cauled Mare del Sur lyynge beyond the same And this to thintent to coome to the Ilandes where the spices growe besyde the other innumerable rychesse of the kingedomes and signiories whiche confinâ— with the sayde sea where are so many people and nations of dyuers toonges and maners The other thinge is to consyder howe innumerable treasures are entered into Spayne by these Indies aswell that whiche commeth dayly from thense as also that is continually to bee looked for bothe of golde and perle other marchaunties which are first brought into this yowre realme of Spaine before they are seene of other nations or traded into other realmes Wherby not onely this yowre realme is greatly inriched but also the benefyte therof redoundeth to the great profyte of other countreys which are neare thervnto A testimonye of this are the double ducades whiche yowre maiestie haue caused to bee coyned and are disparsed throughowte the hole worlde But after they are once paâ—sed owt of this yowre realme they neuer returne agein bycause they are the best curraunt money of the world And therfore if after they haue byn in the handes of straungers they chaunce to be retourned ageyne into Spaine they coome disguised in an other habite and are diminisshed of the goodnesse of their golde with the stampe of yowre maiestye chaunged So that if it were not for their suche defacynges in other realmes for the cause aforesayde there shulde not bee founde so great quantitie of fyne golde of the coyne of any prynce in the worlde as of powre maiesties And the cause of all this are yowre Indies ¶ Of the mynes of golde and the maner of woorkynge in theym THis particular of the mynes of gold is a thing greatly to bee noted And I maye muche better speake hereof then any other man forasmuche as there are nowe twelue yeares paste sense I serued in the place of the surueier of the meltynge shoppes perteynynge to the golde mynes of the firme lande and was the gouernour of the mynes of the Catholyke kyng Don Ferdinando after whose departure from this lyfe I serued longe in the same roome in the name of yowr maiestie By reason wherof I haue had great occasion to knowe howe golde is founde and wrought owte of the mynes And do knowe ryght well that this lande is exceadynge ryche hauynge by my accompte and by the labour of my Indians and slaues gathered and fyned a great portion of the same and may therfore the better affyrme this by testimonie of syght For I am well assured that in no part of Casâ—ilia del oro that is golden Castile otherwise cauled Boragua no man coulde aske me of the mynes of golde but that I durste haue bounde my selfe to haue discouered them in the space of ten leagues of the countrey where it shulde haue byn demaunded me and the same to bee verye ryche For I was alowed all maner of charges to make searche for the same And although golde be founde in maner euery where in these regions of golden Castile yet owght wee not
ryseth ageyne and swimmeth to the boate with his pray where he restethe hym as before and thus continueth course by course as doo all the other in lyke maner being all moste experte swymmers and dyuers And when the nyght draweth neare they returne to the Ilande to theyr houses and presente all the oysters to the master or stewarde of the house of theyr lorde who hath the charge of the sayde Indians And when he hath gyuen them sumwhat to eate he layeth vp the oysters in safe custodie vntyll he haue a great quantitie therof Then hee causeth the same fyssher men to open them And they fynde in euery of theym pearles other great or smaul two or three or foure and sumtymes fiue and syxe and many smaule graines accordyng to the lyberalitie of nature They saue the pearles bothe smaule and great whiche they haue foundeâ— And eyther eate the oysters if they wyl or caste them away hauynge so great quantitie therof that they in maner abhorre them These oysters are of hard fleshe and not so plesaunt in eatyng as are owres of Spayne This Ilande of Cubagua where this maner of fysshing is exercised is in the Northe coaste and is no bygger then the Iland of Zelande Oftentymes the sea increaseth greatly and muche more then the fyshers for pearles wold bycause where as the place is very depe a man can not naturally rest at the bottome by reason of the aboundaunce of aery substaunce whiche is in hym as I haue oftentymes proued For althoughe he may by vyolence and force descende to the bottome yet are his feete lyfted vp ageyne so that he can continue no tyme there And therfore where the sea is verye deepe these Indian fysshers vse to tye two great stoones aboute them with a corde on euery syde one by the weyght wherof they descend to the bottome and remayne there vntyl them lysteth to ryse ageine At which tyme they vnlose the stones and ryse vppe at their pleasure But this their aptenesse and agilitie in swimming is not the thynge that causeth men moste to maruaile But rather to consyder howe many of them can stande in the bottome of the water for the space of one hole houre and summe more or lesse accordynge as one is more apte hereunto then an other An other thynge there is whiche seemeth to me very straunge And this is that where as I haue oftentymes demaunded of summe of these lordes of the Indians if the place where they are accustomed to fyâ—â—e for pearles beynge but lyttle and narrowe wyll not in shorte tyme bee vtterly withowt oysters if they consume them so faste they al answered me that althoughe they bee consumed in one parte yet if they go a fysshynge in an other parte or an other coaste of the Ilande or at an other contrary wynd and continue fysshing there also vntyll the oysters be lykewyse consumed and then returne ageyne to the fyrste place or any other place where they fysshed before and emptied the same in lyke maner they find theÌ„ ageine as ful of oysters as though they had neuer bin fysshed Of this reade more largely in the decades Wherby we may iudge that these oysters eyther remoue from one place to an other as do other fysshers or elles that they are engendered and encrease in certeyne ordinarie places This Iland of Cumana and Cubagua where they fyshe for these perles is in the twelfe degree of the part of the said coaste which inclineâ—h toward the North. Lykewise pearles are founde and gathered in the South sea cauled Mare del Sur. And the pearles of this sea are verye bygge Yet not so bigge as they of the Ilande of pearles cauled de las perlas or Margaritea whiche the Indians caule Terarequi lyinge in the goulfe of saincte Michael where greatter pearles are founde and of greater price then in any other coaste of the Northe sea in Cumana or any other parte I speake this as a trewe testimonie of syght hauyng byn longe in that South sea and makynge curious inquisition to bee certenly informed of al that perteyneth to the fysshynge of pearles From this Ilande of Tararequi By the computation of venice .iiii. graâ—nes make a carette there was brought a pearle of the fasshyon of a peace wayinge .xxxi. carattes whiche Petrus Arias had amonge a thousande and soo many poundes weight of other pearles whiche hee had when capitayne Gaspar Morales before Petrus Arias passed to the saide Ilande in the yeare .1515 whiche pearle was of great prise From the saide Ilande also came a great and verye rounde pearle whiche I brought owte of that sea This was as bygge as a smaule pellet of a stone bowe and of the weight of .xxvi. cacattes I bought it in the citie of Panama in the sea of Sur And paide for it syxe hundreth and fyftie tymes the weyght therof of good gold and had it thre yeares in my custodie and after my returne into Spaine soulde it to therle of Nansao Marquesse of Zenete great chamberleyne to yowre maiestie who gaue it to the Marquesse his wyfe the ladye Mentia of Mendozza I thyncke verely that this pearle was the greatest fayrest and roundest that hath byn seene in those partes For yowre maiestie owght to vnderstande that in the coaste of the sea of Sur there are founde a hundreth greate pearles rounde after the fasshyon of a peare to one that is perfectely rounde and greate This Ilande of Terarequi which the Christians caule the Ilande of pearles other caule it the Ilande of floutes is founde in the eyght degree on the southe syde of the firme lande in the prouince of golden Castyle or Beragua And these are the coastes of the firme lande where pearles are founde euen vnto this day I vnderstande also that there are pooles founde in the prouince and Ilandes of Cartageniâ— And â—ence yowr maiestie appoynted me a gouernour and capytayne I haue made further searche and am aduertised that peatles are founde in dyuers other places as about the Iland of Godego which lyeth ageynst the mouth of that porte of the Ilande of Cartaâ—enia which the Indians caul Coro The which Iland and porte are on the North syde in the tenthe degree of the coastes of the firme lande ¶ Of the familiaritie which certeyne of the Indians haue with the deuyll and howe they receaue answere of hym of thynges to coome WHen the Indians begynne theyr batrayle or go to any combat or attempte any other greate matter they haue certeyne electe menne whom they reuerendely esteme and caule them Tequâ—nas whiche in theyr tonge is as muche to saye as masters Notwithstandynge that they caule euery man that is cunnynge in any science by the same name as fysshers foulers hunters or makers of nettes These Tequinas therfore they caule the masters of theyr aunâ—weres bycause they speake with Tuyra that is thâ— deuyll and brynge them aunswere what he saythe eyther as touchynge suche thynges as they haue to doo
Ilandes of the Malucas But as well Samatra Samatra Malacha Malacha and a great parts of China China shuld belonge to the Castâ—lians and that those countreys fell on theyr syde and on the parte of theyr conquest Also that Magallanes and Iohn Sebastian were the fyrste Christian men that founde them and obteyned them for Themperour Magallanes as the letters and presentes of Almanzor doo testifie And although the Portugales had byn there fyrste yet wente they thyther after the donation of the pope neyther got they any ryght or iuste tytle thereby For althowgh they shulde drawe the line by Buena Uista Buena Uista what inconuenience shulde folowe thereof sith aswell by the one way as the other the Ilandes of the Malucas must perteyne to the Castilians yea and moreouer the Ilandes of Cabo verde shulde also perteine to the Castilians The Ilandes of Câ—bo Uerde forsomuch as drawynge the line by Buena Uista the Ilandes of the Malucas doo remayne within the line on the Emperours syde They continued in these controuersies for the space of two moonethes without anye resolution or ende made For the Portugales prolonged and put of the matter flying from the sentence with cauillations and could reasons to th ende that they myght dissolue that assemble without any conclusion or determination The Portugales cauillations for so it stoode them vppon The Castilians which were the Iudges of the propertie drewe a line in the great globe three hundreth and .lxx. leaques from saynt Antonies Ilande The line of diuision lyinge by Weste Cabo Uerde accordynge to the intreatie and determination whiche was agreed vppon betwene the Catholike princes and the kynge of Portugale These iudges gaue sentence vppon this matter The senteÌ„ce caulynge the conâ—rary parte before them vpon the bridge of Caya in the yeare â—524 The Portugales coulde neyther disturbe or deferre the sentence nor yet wolde they alowe it to bee iust and accordynge to ryght Sayinge that there was not sufficient processe made that they shulde passe to the gyuynge of sentence And so departed threatenyng to sley the Castilians as many as they shulde fynde in the Ilandes of the Malucas The Portugales threaten death to the Castilians For they knewe ryght well that theyr contreymen the Portugales had alredy taken the shyppe cauled the Trinitie and had also taken the Castilians in Tidore Then also departed owre men takynge theyr iorney to the courte gyuynge vp to Themperour all theyr wrytynges and declaration what they had doone And accordynge to this declaration must bee signed and marked all globes and mappes which good Cosmographers and masters doo make The line also of the reparticion and last diuision of the newe world of the Indies The line of the last diuision ought to passe lyttle more or lesse by the poyntes of Humos and Buen Abrigo as I haue sayde in an other place And thus shall it appeare euidently that the Ilandes of Spices and also the greate Ilande of Zamotra The great Iland of Samotra do perteyne to Castile But the lande of Brasile perteyneth to the kynge of Portugale where the cape of saynt Augustine is The lande of Braâ—ile perteâ—neth to the portugales beinge .viii. degrees beneth the Equinoctiall This lande reacheth from the poynte of Humos to the poynte of Buen Abrigo and is in lengthe North and South .viii. hundreth leaques Beinge also sum way two hundreth leaques East and West And hereafter these serious matters wee wyll rehearse â—ne mery thynge A mery tale which was this It so chaunced that as Frances de Melo Diego Lopes of Sâ—queyra and other of those Portugales of this assemble walked by the ryuer syde of Guadiana a lyttle boy who stoode keepynge his mothers clothes which she had washed demaunded of theym whether they were those men that parted the world with Themperour And as they answered yea he tooke vp his shert and shewed them his bare arse sayinge Coomme and drawe yowre line here throughe the myddest Which sayinge was afterwarde in euery mans mouth and laughed at in the towne of Badaioz yea euen amonge the commissioners them selues of whoÌ„ sum were angry and summe maruayled at the sayinge of the chylde ¶ The cause and autoritie wherby they diuided the Indies THe Castilians and Portugales had longe debated and reasoned abowt the golde myne of Guinea which was found in the yeare of owre lorde 1471 The golde myne of Guinea in the tyme of the reigne of Don Alonso Kynge of Portugale the firste of that name Alonso kynge of Portugale This was a matter of greate importaunce For the negros or blacke Moores Gold for thynges of smaul value for thynges of no value gaue golde by hole handefuls whyche was at that tyme when the sayde Kynge of Portugale pretended title and clayme to the kingedome of Castile in the right of his wyfe Queene Iohn cauled the excellent ageynste the Catholike princes Isabel and Don Fernando whose it was in deede Contention for the kyngdome of Castâ—le But that stryfe was ended as sone as Don Fernando had vanquisshed Don Alonso at a place cauled Temulos not farre from Toro which place Don Fernando chose rather to make warre ageinst the Moores of Granada warre agenst the Moores of Granada then to bye and sell with the blacke Moores of Guinea And thus the Portugales remained with the conquest of Affryke from the streightes forwarde The conquestes of the Portugales in Affrike whiche began where the infante of Portugale Don Henrique sonne to kynge Iohn the bastarde and master of Auis dyd bebynne to enlarge it When pope Alexander the .vi. beinge a valentinian borne had knowleage hereof Pope Alexander he mynded to gyue the Indies to the kinges of Castile withowt any preiudice to the Portugales who had conquered the sea coastes of Affryke These Indies the pope gaue of his owne mynde withowte the motion of anye other with this burden and charge that they shulde conuert the Idolatours to the faythe of Chryste And commaunded a line or meridian to bee drawen Northe and south from one hundreth leaques Westwarde beyond one of the Ilandes of Cabo Uerde towarde the Weste The pope maketh the diuision bycause the Spanyardes shulde not meddle in Affryke perteynynge to the conquest of the Portugales to thauoydynge of all stryfe betwâ—ne them Kynge Iohn of Portugale The kynge of Portugale refuseth to stand to the Popes bull the seconde of that name was greatly offended when he redde the bull and donation of the pope althowgh his owne ambassadours had made the selfe same request vnto his holynesse He also found hym selfe agreeued with the Catholyke princes Isabell and Fernando that they had shortened the course of the landes he had discouered depriuynge hym of the rychesse which belonged to hym And therfore refused to stande to the popes bull in this case desyrynge the Catholyke princes Isabell and Fernando to
salt water and fresshe wheras for the same cause the goulfe of Gothland is frosen bycause it is streyght narow in the whiche also the lyttle quantitie of salt water is ouercoome by the abundance of fresshe water of many and greate ryuers that faule into the goulfe But betwene Norwaye and Islande The sea betwene Norway and Islande the sea is not frosen for the contrary cause forasmuch as the poure of fresshe water is there ouercomme of thabundance of the salte water There is a fame but of vncerteyne autoritie that the Spanyardes sayle at this presente to Gronlande and to an other lande which they caule Terra viridis Terra Viridis that is the greene lande bringynge from thense suche wares as are founde in Gronlande Towarde the north it reacheth to the vnknowen lande vnder the pole from whense also the theues and robbers of thâ— Pigmei coomme into this lande Pigme Whiche is an argument that the regions vnder the pole are inhabited and almost enuironed with the sea as are they whiche the Cosmographers caule Chersonnesi or Peninsula that is almost Ilandes ☞ The description of Gronlande ¶ The description of the East syde whiche lyeth towarde Norway Wardhus castell 54.  70. 50. Towarde the North. 53. 30. 71. 30. The fyrst extention 40.  71. 40. The seconde extention 28.  72.  Huitsarch promont 22.  67.  The extention 5.  61. 45. It is continued from thense by the coastes of the lande of Baccallaos Baccalaos 356. 60. Towarde the west and north it is termined with an vnknowen ende of landes and seas Islande ISlande is interpreted the lande of Ise and is cauled of the owlde wryters Tâ—yle Island cauled Thyle It is extended betwene the south and the north almost two hundreth schoenes in longitude Schoeni is lx furlonges It is for the most part full of mountaynes and vncultured But in the playnes it hath suche frutefull pastures that they are fayne sumtymes to dryue the beastes from thâ—ir feedynge least they shulde bee suffocate with to much faâ—nes Miracles of nature in Islande This Iland is famous by the strange miracles of natuâ—e of the which Saxo Grammaticus in his hystorie of Denmarke and Olanus Gothus in his description of the nâ—râ—h landes doo make mention There are in it three mountaynes of marueylous height the toppes where of are couered with perpetuall snowe Three maruelous mountaynes But the nether partes of them are of lyke nature to the mountayne Etna in the Ilande of Sicilie boyling with continuall flames of fyre and castynge furth brymstone One of these is named Helga helgate and the other Mons Cruciâ— that le the mounte of the crosse The thyrde is named Hecla hecla whose flames neyther consume flare or rowe matters moste apte to take syre nor yet are quenched with water And with lyke force as the shotte of great artillerie is driuen furth by violence of fyre euen so by the commixtion and repugnaunce of fyre coulde and brymstome greate stones are here throwne into the ayer Nere vnto these mostraynes are three chynkes or open places in the earthe of houge byggenesse and suche depth eâ—pecially at the mounte Hecla that no syght can attayne therto Straunge vilions But to such as looke into them there fyrst appeare men as thowgh they were drowned and yet breathyng furth theyr sowles who beinge exhorted by theyr frendes to resorte to theyr owne they aunswere with moornynge voyce and greuous syghes that they must departe frome thense to the mount Hecla and therwith suddeynly vanysshe owte of syght I se floweth abowt the Ilande for the space of seuen or eyght moonethes Ise. makynge by runnynge togyther a certeyne miserable waylinge and gronynge noyse not vnlyke the voyce of man Purgatory Thinhabitauntes thynke that in this Ise the mounte Hecla A straunge thynge are the places where the euyll soules of theyr people are tormented If any man take a greate portion of this Ise and kepe it as diligently as may bee in a close vessell or cofer the same dooth so vanysshe at the tyme when the other I se abowt the Ilande dissolueth that not so much as one droppe of water or Ise can therof bee founde Not farre from these mountaynes reachynge toward the sea coastes are foure sprynges of water of moste diuers and contrary nature Four springs of contrary nature The fyrste by reason of his perpetuall and feruente heate suddeynely turneth all bodies that are caste therin into stones reseruynge neuerthelesse theyr fyrst forme and shape The seconde is of intollerable couldenesse The thyrde is sweeter then hony and most pleasaunte to quenche thyrst The fourth is playne poyson pestilent and deadely There is furthermore in these sprynges suche abundaunce of brymstone Abundaunce of brimstone that a thousande pounde weight therof is bought for lyttle as for the tenth parte of a ducate Theyr chiefe wares are dryed fysshe Dryed fysshe as soles maydens playces salpas stockefysshes and such other which they exchange for wheat and such other thynges as are browght thyther from Lubeck Hamborowe and Amsterdam For they haue oftentymes such scarsenesse of corne Scarsenes of corne that they vse dryed fysshe in the steade of breade althowgh in soommer the Ilande so floryssheth with greene and frutefull medowes that they are fayne sumtimes to dryue theyr beastes from pasture leaste they shulde suffocate for to much fattenesse as I haue sayde before They make very good butter and apte to bee vsed in matters of phisicke There are founde dyuers kindes of good haukes haukes as faulcons gerfalcons lanners and sperhaukes Also rauens crowes beares hares and foxes both whyte and blacke white raueÌ„s They haue most swyfte horses and such as runne .xxx. myles continually withowt rest or bayte They haue manye churches and houses buylded of the bones of whales and other greate fysshes houses of whales bones The nauigation is not open to this Ilande but in sommer season and that only for the space of foure moonethes The nauigation to Island by reason of the coulde and Ise whereby the passage is stopped If any stryfe or debate aryse on the sea amonge the mariners for the commoditie of the hauen the gouernour of the place althowgh he haue knowleage therof yet dooth he not punysshe them forasmuch as it apperteyneth not to his office to decerne such thynges as are doonne on the sea but only on the lande Shippes are there often tymes in great perell by reason of whales and such other monsters of the sea whales excepte the mariners take good heede and keepe them farre frome the shyppes with the noyse of droommes and emptie barrels cast into the sea There are many mynstrels and other that play on instrumentes with the sweete noyse whereof they vse to allure foules and fisshes to theyr nettes and snares One thynge seruyng for contrary vses Many also
c. The citie of Uisba The citie of Uiâ—ba being in the degree .61 30 54 15. was an ancient and famous marte towne as is Genua in Italie at this day But afterwarde beinge afflicted by thincursions of the pirates of the Danes and Moscouites Danes and Moscouites it was left desolate There remayne to this day certeyne ruines whiche testifie the ancient nobilitie In this place were the fyrste stacions of the Gothes that possessed Meotis It is at this daye of frutfull soyle and famous by many goodly and stronge castels and monasteries There is amonge other a monasterie of thorder of saynt Benedicte in the which is a librarie of abowt two thousande bookes of owlde autours A librarie of two thousand â—ookes Abowt the yeare of Christ fourscore and .viii. the Gothes vnto whom resorted a great multitude of other people of these northe parâ—es of the worlde as from Liuonia Prusia Russia and Tartaria with diuers other contreys makynge them dyuers Kynges and capitaynes dyd depopulate and brynge in subiection the more parte of Europe inuaded Italie destroyd Rome The Gothes inuaded Europe and destroyd Rome inhabited that parte of Italie now cauled Lumbardie â–ª and lykewyse subdued the roialmes of Castile and Aragonie Theyr warres contynewed aboue three hundreth yeares ¶ Finland and Eningia FInlandia is as much to say as a fayre lande or fine land so named for the fertilitie of the grownde Plinie semeth to caule it Finnonia For he saith that abowte the coastes of Finlande are many Ilandes withowt names Of the which there lyeth one before Scithia cauled Pannonia The goulfe cauled Sinus Finnonicus is so named at this day of the lande of Finnonia Pannonia falsely taken for Finnonia Finnonia confineth with Scithia and runneth withowt all Tanais that is to say withowte the limetes of Europe to the confines or Asia But that the name of Finlande seemeth not to agree hereunto the cause is that this place of Plinie is corrupted as are many other in this autour So that from the name of Finnonia or Phinnonia it was a likely erroure to caule it Pannonia forasmuch as these woordes doo not greately differ in wrytynge and founde so that the counterfecte name was soone put in the place of the trew name by hym that knewe Pannonia and redde that name before beinge also ignorant of Phinnonia Eningia had in owlde tyme the tytle of a kingedome Eningia it is of such largenesse But hath nowe only the tytle of an inferiour gouernoure beinge vnder the dominion of the Slauons and vsyng the same tonge In religion it obserued the rites of the Greekes of late yeares when it was vnder the gouernaunce of the Moscouites But it is at this present vnder the kynge of Suecia and obserueth thinstitucions of the Occidentall church Spanysshe wynes are browght thyther in great plentie which the people vse merely and cherefully Spanysshe wyneâ— It is termined on the north syde by the southe line of Ostrobothnia and is extended by the mountaynes Towarde the west it is termined with the sea of Finnonia accordyng to this description and hath degrees .71 66. c. ¶ Of the difference of regions and causes of greate cities after the description of Hieronimus Cardanus Liber .xi. de Subtilitate THere is an other difference of regions caused of coulde and heate For suche as are neare vnto the poles are vexed with to much coulde And such as are vnder the line where the soonne is of greateste force are oppressed with heate Such as are in the myddest betwene both are nearest vnto temperatnesse Under the pole it is impossible that there shulde bee populous cities bycause the lande is baren and the cariage or conueyaunce of frutes vyttayles and other necessaries is incommodious By reason wherof it is necessarie that thinhabitauntes of suche regions lyue euer in continuall wanderynge from place to place or els in smaule vyllages Suche as inhabite temperate regions haue meane cities aswell for that they haue more commodious conueyaunce for necessaries as also that they may dwell better and more safely togyther then in vyllages by reason of fortifying theyr townes with walles and exercisynge of artes and occupations whereby the one maye the heâ—ter helpe the other Yet that owlde Rome beinge in a tâ—mperate region was of such incredible byggenesse the 〈◊〉 was that it obteyned Thempire of the worlde by reason wherof all nations had consâ—uence thyther and not the greatnesse of the walles But it is necessarie that the greatest cities bee in hotte regions fyrste for that in such regions parte of the soile is eyther barren yf it lacke water or els most frutefull if it abounde with water And for this inequalitie when they fynde any place meete to susteyne a multitude it foloweth of necessitie that greate cities bee buylded in such places by reason of great concourse of people resortynge to the same An other greate cause is that wheras in such regions marchauntes come very farre to such commodious places they passe through many deserte and perelous regions So that it shal be necessary for theyr better securitie to coome in great companies as it were greaâ— armies And therfore whereas such a societie is once knytte togyther in a commodious place it shulde bee great hinderance aswell to thinhabitantes as to marchauntes if they shulde wander in incommodious places And by this confluence both of suche as dwell neare to suche places and also of straungers and such as dwell farre of it is necessarie that in continuance of tyme smaule townes becoome greate câ—ties as are these Quinsai Singui Cambalu Memphis Cairus or Alcair otherwise cauled Babilon in Egipte But if here any wyll obiecte Constanâ—inople in owlde tyme cauled Bizantium being in a temperate râ—gion althowgh it bee not to bee compared to such cities as are more then .lx. myles in â—ircuite yet doo we aunswere hereunto that the Turkes Empire is the cause of the greatnesse hereof as wee sayde before of Rome ¶ The historie written in the latin toonge by Paulus Iouius bysshoppe of Nuceria in Italie of the legation or ambassade of greate Basilius Prince of Moscouia to pope Clement the .vii. of that name In which is conteyned the description of Moscouia with the regions confininge abowte the same euen vnto the great ryche Empire of Cathay I 〈◊〉 fyrste briefely to descâ—ribe the situation of the region which we plainely see to haue bin little knowâ—â— to Strabo and Ptolome and then to procede in rehearsinge the maners customes and religion of the people And this in maner in the lyke simple style and phrase of speache as the same was declared vnto vs by Demetrius the ambassadoure Demetrius the ambassadour of Moscouia a man not ignoraunt in the Latin toonge as from his youth browght vp in Liuonia where he learned the fyrst rudimentes of letters And beinge growne to mans age executed thoffice of an ambassadour into dyuers Christian prouinces For wheras by reason
Of the landes of Laborador and Baccalaos lyinge west and northwest from Englande and beinge parte of the firme lande of the West Indies MAny haue trauayled to search the coast of thâ— lande of Laborador aswell to thintente to knowe howe farre or whyther it reachethe as also whether there bee any passage by sea through the same into the sea of Surand the Ilandes of Maluca which are vnder the Equinoctiall line The way to the Ilandes of Maluca by the north sea thinkynge that the wayâ— thyther shulde greatly bee shortened by this vyage The Spanyardes as to whose ryght the sayde Ilandes of spices perteyne The Spanyâ—â—des dyd fyrst seeke to fynde the same by this way The Portugâ—les also hauynge the trade of spices in theyr handes dyd trauayle to fynde the same although hetherto neyther anye such paâ—sage is founde or the ende of that lande In the yeare a thousande and fiue hundreth Basper Cortesreales Baâ—per Corteâ—reales made a vyage thyther with two carauelles but founde not the â—â—reyght or passage he sought At his beinge there he named the Ilandes that lye in the mouth of the goulfe Quadrado after his name Cortesreales 〈…〉 lyinge in the L. degrees and more and browght from that lande abowt three score men for slaues He greatly maruayled to beholde the houge quantitie of snowe and Ise. Snowe and Ise. For the sea is there frosen excedyngly Thinhabitauntes are men of good corporature although tawny lyke the Indies and laborious They paynte theyr bodyes and weare braselettes and hoopes of syluer and copper Furreâ— Theyr apparel is made of the skynnes of marternes and dyuers other beastes whiche they weare with the heare inwarde in wynter and owtwarde in soommer This apparell they gyrde to theyr bodyes with gyrdels made of cotton or the synewes of fysshes and beastes They eate fysshe more then any other thynge and especially salmons Fysshe althoughe they haue foules and frute They make theyr houses of timber wherof they haue great plentieâ— and in the steade of tyles couer them with the skynnes of fysshes and beastes It is sayde also that there are grifes in this lande Gryfes and that the beares and many other beastes and foules are whyte Beares To this and the Ilandes abowt the same the Britons are accustomed to resorte The britons as men of nature agreable vnto them and borne vnder the same altitude and temperature The Norwayes also sayled thyther with the pylot cauled Iohn Scoluo And the Englysshe men with Sebastian Cabot Sebastian Cabot The coaste of the lande of Baccallaos The land of Baccallâ—os is a greate tracte and the greatest altitude therof is xiviii degrees and a halfe Sebastian Cabot was the fyrst that browght any knowleage of this lande For beinge in Englande in the dayes of kyng Henry the seuenth The vyage of Cabot in the dayes of kyng henry the seuenth he furnysshed twoo shippes at his owne charges or as sum say at the kynges whome he persuaded that a passage might bee founde to Cathay by the north seas and that spices myght bee brought from thense soner by that way then by the vyage the Portugales vse by the sea of Sur He went also to knowe what maner of landes those Indies were to inhabite He had with hym three hundreth men and directed his course by the tracte of Islande vppon the cape of Laborador at .lviii. degrees I se in Iuly affirmynge that in the monethe of Iuly there was such could and heapes of Ise that he durst passe no further also that the dayes were very longe and in maner withowt myght and the nyghtes very cleare Certeyne it is that at the. lx degrees the longest day is of .xviii. houres But consyderynge the coulde and the straungenes of thâ— vnknowen lande he turned his course from thense to the West folowynge the coast of the lande of Baccalaos vnto thâ— xxxviii degrees Baccallaos from whense he returned to Englande To conclude the Brytons and Danes haue sayled to the Baccalaos Bryâ—ons â—anes and Iaques Cartier a frenche man was there twyse with three galeons Iaques Cartyer as one in the yeare .xxxiiii. and the other in the .xxxv. and chose the lande to inhabite frome the .xlv. degrees to the. li. beinge as good a lande as Fraunce and al thynges therein commune to such as fyrst possesse the same Of these lands Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus The newe lande of Baccalaos The people of Baccallaos is a coulde region whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moonâ— and dyuers Idoles They are whyte people and very rustical For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe Sumtymes also they eate mans flesshe priuilye so that theyr Laciqui haue no knowleage therof The apparell of both the men and women is made of beares skynnes althowgh they haue sables and marternes not greatly estemed bycause they are lyttle Sum of them go naked in soommer and weare apparell only in wynter The Brytous and Frenche men are accustomed to take fysshe in the coaste of these landes where is founde great plentie of Tunnyes which thinhabitauntes caul Baccalaos wherof the lande was so named Fysshynge for tunnyes Northwarde from the region of Baccalaos is the lande of Laborador Laborador all full of mountaynes and great wooddes in whiche are manye beares and wylde bores Thinhabitauntes are Idolatoures and warlike people appareled as are they of Baccallaos In all this newe lande is neyther citie or castell but they lyue in companies lyke heardes of beastes ¶ The discouerynge of the lande of Floryda THe gouernour of the Ilande of Boriquena Iohn Ponce of Leon beinge discharged of his office and very ryche Iohn Ponce water of great vertue of this reade in the Deâ—ades furnysshed and sente foorth two caruels to seeke the Ilandes of Boyuca in the which the Indians affirmed to be a fontayne or springe Whose water is of vertue to make owlde men younge Whyle he trauayled syxe monethes with owtragious desyre amonge many Ilandes to fynde that he sought and coulâ—e fynde no token of any such fountayne he entered into Bimini and discouered the lande of Florida in the yeare .1512 on Easter day which the Spanyardes caule the florysshyng day of Pascha Bemminâ— wherby they named that lande Florida And supposyng that great rychâ—s myght be browght from thense he returned into Spayne and conuenaunted with kynge Ferdinando as touchynge the trade and by thintercession of Nicolas de Quando and Peter Nunez de Guzman the kynge dyd not onely make hym gouernoure of Bemini and Florida but also sente furthe with hym three shippes from Siuile toward his second vyage in the yeare .1515 He touched in the Ilande of Guacana otherwyse cauled Guadalupe Guacana and sent to lande certeyne of his men with the landresses of the shyppes whom the Canibales lyinge in ambusshe The Canibales assayled
THE DECADES of the newe worlde or west India Conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and Ilandes lately founde in the west Ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne In the which the diligent reader may not only consyder what commoditie may hereby chaunce to the hole christian world in tyme to come but also learne many secreates touchynge the lande the sea and the starres very necessarie to be knoweÌ„ to al such as shal attempte any nauigations or otherwise haue delite to beholde the strange and woonderfull woorkes of God and nature Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden ¶ LONDINI In aedibus Guilhelmi Powell ANNO. 1555. ¶ POTENTISSIMO AC SERENISSIMO PHILIPPO AC SERENISsimae potentissimaeque Mariae Dei gratia Regi ac Reginae Angliae Franciae Neapolis Ierusalem et Hiberniae Fidei defensoribus Principibus Hispaniarum et Siciliae Archiducibus Austriae Ducibus Mediolani Burgundiae et Brabantiae comitibus Haspurgi â–ª Flandriae et Tirolis Richardus Edenus perpetuam optat foelicitatem CVM IN PRIMO VESTRO ingressu in hanc celeberimam Londini vrbem illustrissimi Principes cernerem quanto omnium applausu populi concursu ac ciuium frequentia quaÌ„to insuper spectaculorum nitore nobilium virorum splendore equorum multitudine tubarum clangore caeterisque magnificis pompis ac triumphis pro dignitate vestra accepti estis dum omnes ê™ sui est officij facere satagebant vbi in tanta hominum turba vix vnus reperiatur qui non aliquid agendo aduentum vestrum gratulabatur coepi et ego quoque aliorum exemplo propius presertim ad me accedentibus Celsitudinibus vestris tanto animi ardore ad aliquid agendum accendi ne solus in tanta hominum corona otiosus viderer ê™ vix me continebam quin in aliquam exteÌ„porariam orationem temere erupuissem nisi et praesentiae vestrae maiestas et mea me obscuritas a tam audaci facinore deterruissent Verum cum postea penitius de hac re mecum cogitassem consyderassemque quam haec omnia alioqui per se lau de digna vestris tamen meritis ac regiae dignitatis eminentiae comparata plebeia ac ludicra videantur coepi denuo cum animo meo reputare qua in re ita cum immortali rerum memoria foelicissimum vestruÌ„ aduentum gratularer vt inde nominis vestri fama et splendor non vllis spectaculorum temporarijs osten t is sed rerum gestarum gloria ad posteros perpetuo emanaret Excutio statim diuitias meas Perscrutor si quid ex penu meo depromere possum ê™ me ad aliquid agendum vestris heroicis virtutibus dignum excitet Sed cum penes me nihil tale reperio agnosco nuditatem meam atque ad vos confugio Patrum auorum proauorum atque atauorum vitas et facta recolo Syluam rerum gestarum video totque preclarissimorum principum propagines vt merito ab ipsis heroibus Saturno videlicet Ioue ac Hercule caeteâ—â—que theanthropis originem duxisse videantur Quod cum ita sit non aliunde profecto quam ex hac sylua materies mihi petenda erit quo in mentibus hominum et aeterna rerum memoria perpetua spectacula rerum a vobis et progenitoribus vestris praeclare gestarum in mundi theatro ab omnibus cum suÌ„ma nominis vestri fama ac veneratione cernantur Cum itaque inter caetera a maioribus vestris praeclare gesta nihil sit admirabilius aut maiori laude dignuÌ„ quam ê™ incredibili fiducia et plus quam Herculeis laboribus superato Oceano foelicissimo tandem eueÌ„tu Indiae Occidentalis ditissimas Insulas atque Continentis amplissimas regiones mortalium primi inuenerunt in quibus infinitas incolarum myriades ad fidem Christi conuerterunt quo nihil augustius aut Christianis principibus magis dignum excogitari potest visus sum mihi ê™ non alia in re magis posseÌ„ foelicitati vestraemerito gratulari quaÌ„ si nostris quoque hominibus quibus haec hactenus nihil aut parum cognita sunt innotescere faciam vt perspectis illorum simul et vestrorum amplissimis imperijs non sine diuina prouideÌ„tia vt credere par est ad ipsos vsque Antipodes et PLVS VLTRA terminatis omnes boni ipsa rerum magnitudine in admirationeÌ„ ducti vos ament et venerentur Malis vero et impro bis os obstruatur si quam in maledicendo voluptatem capiunt Haec dum cogito venit mihi in menteÌ„ ê™ olim adolescens perlegi Decades de Nouo Orbe a Petro Martyre ab Angleria illustrissimi FerdinaÌ„di regis Catholici ac tui Serenissime rex proaui oratore Latine conscriptas atque sacrae Caesariae maiestati patri tuo dâ—dicatas Tanti itaque autoris fide et eruditione motus eum prae caeteris in nostram linguam traducendum suscepi ê™ non solum vt historicus res Indicas cum summa fide scriptis mandauit sed etiam vt philosophus ê™ in caeteris scriptoribus desyderatur naturalium rerum occultas causas reddit ac admirabilium naturae operum quibus haec vestra India plena est rationes inuestigat Atque vt hâ—ius Indiae posterior status cognoscatur â–ª quantusque thesaurus auri gemmarum aromatum aliarumque ditissimarum mercium ac annui census inde quotannis in Hispaniam aduehitur adiunxi doctissimi viri Gonzali Ferdinandi Ouiedi libellum quem ille Indicae historiae generalis Summarij titulo inscripsit eiusdemque illustrissimi Caroli Imperatoris patris tui nomini consecrauit Caeteraque plurima ex recentioribus scriptoribus excerpsi que mihi in tam immensa rerum memorabiliuÌ„ bibliotheca praecipue adnotanda videbantur Quae quanta et qualia sunt quaÌ„tisque parasangis omnium heroum ac ArgonautaruÌ„ res gestas toto terrarum orbe tantopere celebratas superent haec mea sequens praefacio vulgari sermone ad huius historiae lectores populumque AnglicuÌ„ conscripta satis prolixa oratione indicabit adeo vt idem hic repetere superuacaneum sit minimeque necessarium quandoquidem Anglica lingua tibi Serenissima Regina vernacula est idemque illustrissimo Regi ê™ tibi scriptum aut dictum existimen non solum ê™ diuino vinculo vnum sitis in carne vna sed etiam ê™ eadeÌ„ animi lenitate humanitate affabilitate caeterisque virtutibus non minus animi moribus quaÌ„ carnis vinculo vnum sitis Sed neque hic opus est vt ego Latino sermone vestras virtutes animi moderationem clementiam religionem pietatem educationeÌ„ castitatem foelicitatem fortunas opes munificentiam victorias imperia stemmata caeteraque huiusmodi multa enumereÌ„ cum praesertim vir nobilis et doctus Leonhardus Goretius Polonus de his omnibus deque
foelicissimo vestro matrimonio orationae satis fusa tractauit in qua nihil pretermisit ê™ ad Celsitudinis vestrae et progenitorum vestrorum gloriam virtute partam pertineat CaeteruÌ„ cum regiae vestre virtutes nominisque spleÌ„dor ac regnorum amplitudo alias per vniuersa Christiani orbis imperia satis nota sint nisi forte ibi minime vbi maxime nota esse debereÌ„t nempe in hoc Angliae regno ideo operepraecium et rem omnibus bonis gratam quodque mei est officij erga Celsitudines vestras me facturum existimaui si haec nostris vt dixi hominibus nostraque lingua ob oculos contemplanda proposuero Quod quam foeliciter aut dextre a me factum sit aliorum esto iudicium Quam vero fideliter syncere ac animo in Maiestatis vestras propenso hoc idem aggressus sum testis est mihi conscientia mea in conspectu illius qui hominum corda et renes scrutatur Macteigitur virtutis istius animi vestri estote Serenissimi Principes atque Diuino auxilio freti pergite ea qua coepistis fiducia huius deploratae ac collapsae reipub â–ª nostrae statum pristino decori restituere id ê™ omnes a vobis expectant atque effâ—agitant pollicentes insuper vobis in eo negotio suam operam in nullo defuturam Ne terreat vos quoruÌ„dam canum latratus qui bonis omnibus oblatrant et tunc desinent latrare cum desinent viuere Vulgatissimum semper fuit improbos homines viris probis vel propter inuidiam vel propter dissimilitudinem solere latrare Et tamen ille pro bus semper habitus est quem peruersi maxime improbauerint Non est igitur curandum quid de nobis homunculi sed quid viri boni loquantur Cogitat Serenissimi Principes ê™ magnanimitate ac ma iorum insignijs aquilis et leonibus similes estis Aquilae natura est alta petere et aduersus solis radios in altum volare Leonis proprium est parcere subiectis et debellare superbos Generosus equus per plateas incedens canes vt animalcula imbella praeterit non perturbatus â–ª Virtus non exercita inquit Seneca ad Neronem paruam laudem meretur Non admodum magnificum fuerit mediocrem fortunam probe administrare Sed tanta rerum omnium licentia non abuti hoc vero admirabile est Multo autem admirabilius in iuuenili ac lubrica aetate cui accedat aetas magistra hijs praesertim qui contumelia lacescuntur quae alioqui homines vel placidissimos solet de gradu deijcere Sed vt supra dixi non est hic meâ—propositi Serenissimi Principes vestras laudes pro meritis decantare aut exprimere quo modo in summo rerum fastigio vos humiles praebuistis de quare fuâ—ius in praefacione ad lectores tractaui Iam itaque vt huic epistolae dedicatoriae finem imponam rogo Serenissimas Maiestates vestras vt has meas lucubrationes in hijs autoribus vertendis quas vestro nomini consecraui ea humanitate ac fauore suscipiatis quibus omnes beneuolo animo ad vos accedentes facile admittitis ac neminem reijcitis QueÌ„admodum enim qui pomarium aut vineam plantauit ac maturos inde fructus collegit illi merito primitias soluit a quo prima semina primasque arborum insitiones habuit ita et ego qui a maiorum vestrorum rebus gestis primis sumptis seminibus hos qualescumqueâ—tuctus aedidi videor profecto mihi debito vestro honore vos defraudasse nisi eosdeÌ„ vestro nomini ac numini obtulissem Deus Opt. Max. Celsitudines vestras perpetuo seruat incolumes faxitque vt foecunda sobolis propagine summaque pace ac traÌ„quillitate huius regni habenas ad Diuini nominis gloriam diu gubernetis FINIS ¶ The table of the contentes of this booke Besyde the Decades the table of whose contentes yow may reade in the ende of the booke are conteyned furthermore in this boooke these thynges folowynge ¶ Of the landes and Ilandes latâ—ly founde Folio 149. The popes bulle and donation 167. and. 171. The hystorie of the Weste Indies wrytten by Gonzalus Ferdinandus 174. The ordinarie nauigation from Spayne to the Weste Indies 175. Of two notable thynges as touchynge the West Indies and of the greate ryches brought from thense into Spaine 176 Of the golde mines and maner of woorkynge in them 177. The maner of fysshynge for pearles 180. The familiaritie that the Indians haue with the deuyl 181. Of temperate and habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line c. 184. Of dyuers particular thynges as woormes serpentes beastes foules c. 185. Of trees fruites and plantes c. 194. Of the venemous apples wherwith the Canibales inueneme theyr arrowes 199. Of fysshes and theyr maner of fysshynge 201. Of the rysynge and faulynge of owre Ocean sea and the south sea cauled the sea of Sur. 204. Of the streight of lande beinge betwene the north and south sea 205. Howe thynges of one kynde dyffer by the nature of the place and of the beastes cauled Tygers 206. Of the maners and customes of the Indians of the firme lande and of theyr women 208. Of the Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba 210. Of the Ilande of Cuba and other 213. Of the lande of Baccallaos 213. Other notable thynges gathered owt of dyuers autours and of the vniuersall carde and newe worlde 214. A discourse of the maruelous vyage made by the Spanyardes rounde about the worlde 215. The order of the starres abowt the pole Antartike 222. The prices of precious stones and spâ—ces with their weightes and measures as they are soulde bothe of the Moores and Gentyles 233. Of the weightes of Portugale and India and howe they agree 239. Of the dooues of the Ilande of Madera 239. Of the Ilande of saynt Thomas vnder the Equinoctial line 240. The debate and strife betwene the Spanyardes and Portugales for the diuision of the Indies and the trade of spyces 240. Of the pole Antartike and the starres about the same and of the qualitie of the regions and disposition of the elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line Also of certeyne secreates touchynge the arte of saylynge 245. A discourse of dyuers vyages and wayes by the which spices precious stones and golde were brought in owlde tyme from India into Europe and other partes of the worlde Also of the vyage to Cathay and Easte India by the northe sea And of the viages of Sebastian Cabot 249. Of the vyages to Moscouia and Cathay 249. A breefe description of Moscouia 259. The description of the north regions and how they are habitable contrary to thopinion of the owlde wryters 264. Scondia 267. Gronlande 268. Islande 269. Laponia 270. Norway 273. Suetia or Suethlande 275. Gothia or Gothlande 276. Finlande and Eningia 276. Bothnia 275. The dyâ—ference of regions and causes of great cities 277. The hystorie of Paulus Iouius of the ambassade
the Iberians in subiection The Carthaginenses inriched by the syluer of Spain which was the cause that theyr poure afterwarde increased For with monye hyringe the best and moste expert◠souldiers they kepte greuous warres ageynst theyr enemies And not vsynge the ayde eyther of theyr owne souldiers or theyr associates they were a terrour to the Romanes Sicilians and Libyans whom they browght into great daungiour by reason they passed them al in abundaunce of golde and syluer With better fortune therefore and greater hope of gayne are ryche metals sought in Spayne the goodnesse of whose soyle yeldeth cloddes of earth conteynynge much golde and syluer And these be the very wordes of Diodorus Siculus which the later wryters doo also confirme For Iulius Solinus in his Polyhistor compareth Spayne to the best contreys in plentie of grayne vyttayles oyle syluer golde and Iron Likewyse Strabo Statius and Claudius do no lesse commende it It were to longe here to speake of the greate plentie of fine woolles lyttle inferiour vnto owrs also abundaunce of sugar The commodities of Spain vines pome granates limondes and orangies in such plentie that they suffice not only Spayne but also in maner all Europe whereas the apples and crabbes of Englande are scarsely able to serue it selfe And althowghe here summe wyll obiecte that they lacke corne woodde and certeyne other thynges yet are theyr commodities so greate otherwyse that al such thynges are browght them owt of other countreys for theyr wares and that in such plentie that they are there better chepe then euer they were in Englande sence the signe of the steeple the poore mans Inne was pulled downe in all places The sygne of the steeple Summe for lacke of other matter fynde greate faute that in trauaylynge in Spayne men shal be serued with halfe a henne and go to the cookes for theyr meate and to the tauerne for theyr drynke And what then I praye yow What inconuenience enseweth hereof Is it not better so to doo then to pay thryse for one thinge as is the maner to doo in summe of owre Innes and in tauernes where all that eate roste meate are beaten with the spitte as where they that of late in Barthelmewe fayre payde fortie pense for a pygge where the good man of the house was not a shamed to make his vaunte that he had made foure shyllynges of a pygge and had in one day taken foure pounde for pygges But if I shuld here particularly and at large declare howe Englande is in fewe yeares decayed and impouerysshed England impouerisshed Spayne inriched and howe on the contrary parte Spayne is inryched I shulde perhappes displease more in descrybyng the myserie of the one then please other in expressynge the florysshynge state of the other which by all reason is lyke dayly to increase aswell for the great rychesse that are yearely browght thyther from the Indies as also for the ryche syluer mynes that are founde of late in Spayne in the countrey of Asturia as I was credably informed by the woorthy and lerned gentelman Augustinus de Ceratta Siluer mines founde of late in Spayne Contador that is the auditour of the kynges myntes who had longe before byn surueyoure of the golde mynes of Peru Syluer brought frome Peru into Englande and browght from thense and from Rio de Plata .xiii. thousand pounde weyght of syluer which was coyned to the kinges vse in the towre of London where neuer so much hath byn seene at once as suche as haue byn owlde officers in the mynte doo affirme What shulde I heare speake of the golde which themperours maiestie receaueth frome all the Indies Thēperours reuenues from the Indies wheras onely in the two meltynge shoppes of the gold mines of the Ilande of Hispaniola is molten yearely three hundreth thousande pounde weyght of .viii. vnces to the pound wherof the fyfte parte is dewe vnto hym whiche amounteth to three score thousande weyght yearely Yet doo I not here speake of the golde mines of the other Ilandes and the firme lande reachynge .viii. thousande myles from the north to the south Neyther of the ryche Ilandes of the south sea cauled Mare del Sur The Ilandes of the South-sea where the kynge of one lyttle Ilande named Tararequl Margaritea or de las Perlas lying in the goulfe of Saynt Michael payeth yearely for his tribute a hundreth pounde weight of perles Neyther yet of the fyfte parte of other thynges as precious stones brasile gossampine cotton spices and dyuers other thynges wheras also the ryche Ilandes caused the Maluchas perteyne to the inheritaunce of Castile The Ilandes of Maluca althowgh the kynge of Portugale enioy them for certeyne yeares by composition But the Indies haue rebelled say they and there commeth no more golde from thense But what if summe of them haue rebelled dooth it therby folowe that there commeth no more gold from the other that lyue vnder obedience But if thou wylte say that they haue al rebelled at once thou must proue that thou sayest eyther by hystorie or wytnesse of such as know the truth herof as I hauing made diligent searche for the same am able to proue the contrarie and that suche talke is onely imagined by busie headdes Ageyne what if they haue rebelled in summe prouinces dooth it folowe that they maye not ageyne be browght vnder subiection as were oftentymes the prouinces of the Romanes and as were in owre dayes dyuers countreys of Englande whiche haue byn sore afflicted with that plage But whether the sandes of the ryuers and the mountaynes of the Indies bee so emptied with golde that no more can be founde there I thinke it here superfluous to answere to this obiection forasmuch as it is hereafter confuted in the booke of metals where yow shall fynde by experience that metals growe and increase and that after certeyne yeares suche owlde caues of the mynes as haue byn dygged are ageyne replenysshed with vre Also that the sprynges of suche mountaynes turnynge theyr course and breakynge furth in other places brynge with them greate plentie of such golden sande as is founde in the ryuers into the which they faule What impudencie is it therfore with woordes of reproche to caule hym poore whose poure is so greate his treasure so infinite and his doinges so chargeable that I beleeue that when so euer it please almyghtie God to caule hym frome this lyfe to the greate domage of all Chrystendome it shal be harde to fynde an other that shall in all poyntes bee so well able to supplye that roome and maynteyne thimperiall dignitie Let al honest natures therfore learne to speake well of princes accordynge to the sentence De Principibus nil nisi bonum forasmuch as they are the ministers of god who hath theyr hartes in his hande and ruleth the same as seemeth beste vnto hym For there is no poure neyther good nor badde but of god and he that resysteth or
vnder yowr dominion except onely one corner of the same and haue also lefte yowe the kyngedome of Naples with the frutefull Ilandes of owr seas The kyndome of Naples it is suerly a greate thynge and woorthy to be noted in owre cronacles But not offendynge the reuerence due to owre predicessours what so euer frome the begynnynge of the worlde hath byn doone or wrytten to this day Note frome the begynning of the worlde to my iudgement seemeth but lyttle if we consyder what newe landes and countreys what newe seas what sundry nations and tounges what goldemynes what treasuries of perles they haue lefte vnto yowre hyghnesse besyde other reuenues The whiche what they are and howe greate these three Decades shall declare Come therfore moste noble Prince elected of God and enioy that hyghe estate of thynges not yet vnderstode to men We offer vnto yowe the Equinoctiall line hetherto vnknowen and burnte by the furious heate of the soonne and vnhabitable after the opinion of the owlde wryters a fewe excepted The temperatnes of the Equinoctial vnknowen to the owlde wryters But nowe founde to bee most replenisshed with people faire frutefull and moste fortunate with a thowsande Ilandes crowned with golde and bewtifull â—erles besyde that greate portâ—on of earth supposed to bee parte of the firme lande excedynge in quantitie three Europes Continente or firme lande as bygge as thre Europes Come therfore and embrase this newe worlde and suffer vs no longer to consume in desyre of yowr presence From hense from hense I saye mooste noble younge Prince shall instrumentes be prepared for yow Ryches are the instrumentes of conquestes whereby al the worlde shal be vnder yowr obeysaunce And thus I byd yowr maiestie farewell To whose taste if I shal perceaue the fruites of this my tyllage to be delectable I wyll hereafter doo my endeuoure that yowe maye receaue the same more abundauntly From Madrid The day before the Calendes of October In the yeare of Chryste M. D. XVI FINIS The fyrst decade ¶ THE FIRSTE BOOKE OF THE DECADES of the Ocean written by Peter Martyr of Angleria Milenoes counsiler to the kyng of Spayne and Protonotarie Apostolicall To Ascanius Sphorcia vicount Cardinall c. THE REVERENDE AND thanckefull antiquite was accustomed to esteme those men as goddes The reward of vertâ—e by whose industrie and magnanimitie suche Landes and Regions were discouered as were vnknowen to theyr predicessoures But vnto vs hauynge onely one god whom we honour in triplicitie of person this resteth that albeit we do not woorship that kind of men with diuine honoure yet do we reuereÌ„ce them and woorthely maruell at theyr noble actes and enterprises Unto kynges and princes we gyue due obeysaunce by whose gouernaunce and furtheraunce they haue bin ayded to perfurme theyr attemptes we commende bothe and for theyr iust desertes worthely extoll them Wherfore as concernynge the Ilandes of the west Ocean The Ilandes of the weste Ocean lately discouered of the auctours of the same whiche thynge you desyre by your letters to knowe I wyll begynne at the fyrst auctoure therof leste I be iniurious to any man Take it therfore as foloweth ¶ Christophorus Colonus other wise called Columbus A gentilman of Italy Christophorus Colonus borne in the citie of Genua perswaded Fernando and Elyzabeth catholike prynces that he doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India India â–ª nere vnto owre Occean sea if they wolde furnysshe hym with shyppes and other thynges apperteynynge Affyrminge that therby not onely the Christian religion myght be enlarged but Spayne also enryched by the great plentie of golde pearles precious stones and spices whiche might be founde there At the lenghte three shyppes were appoynted hym at the kinges charges of the which one was a great caracte with deckes and the other twoo were light marchaunte shyppes without deckes whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas Thus he departed from the costes of Spaine about the calendes of September in the yere of Christ 1492. and set forward on his viage The fyrst viage of Colonus being accompanied with C C. xx Spanyardes The fortunate Ilandes as manye thinke them to be whiche the Spaniardes call Canariae The Ilandes of Canarie found but of late dayes are distaunte from the Ilandes of Gades Gades or Cals mals a thousande and twoo hundreth myles accordyng to theyr accompte for they say they are distant three hundreth leaques A leaque what it conteyneth by sea wheras such as are expert sea men affyrme that euery leaque conteyneth foure myles after theyr supputations These Ilandes were called fortunate the fortunate Ilandes for the temperate ayre whiche is in them For neyther the coldenesse of wynter is sharpe vnto them nor the heate of sommer intollerable Yet some men are of opinion that those were in olde tyme called the fortunate Ilandes Cabouerde whiche the Portugales call Capo Verde Colonus therfore sayled fyrste to the Ilandes of Canariae to the intente there to refreshe his shyppes with freshe water and fuell before he committed him selfe to this so laborious a vyage And bycause I haue here made mentâ—on of the Ilandes of Canariae It shall not be muche from my purpose to declare howe of vnknowen they became knowen and of saluage and wilde better manured For by the longe course of manye yeres they were forgotten and remayned as vnknowen These seuen Ilandes theâ—fore called the Canaries The seuen Ilandes of Canarie were fouÌ„de by chaunce by a frenche man called Betanchor Betanchor A frenche man subdued the Ilandes of Canarie by the permission of queene Katharine protectrixe of kyng Iohn her son while he was yet in his nonage about the yere of Christe M. CCCC V. This Betanchor inuaded twoo of these Ilandes called Lancelotus and Fortâ—suentura Lâ—ncelotus FortisueÌ„tura whiche he inhabited and brought to better culture He beinge deade his son and heire solde bothe the sayde Ilandes to certayne Spaniardes After this Fernandus Peraria and his wyfe inuaded Ferrea and Gomera Ferrea Gomera The other three were subdued in our tyme. Grancanaria Grancanaria by Perrus de Vera citezen of the noble citie of Xericium and Michaell of Moxica Palma and Tenerifen Palma Tenerifen by Alphonsus Lugo at the kynges charges Gomera and Ferrea were easely subdued But the matter wente harde with Alphonsus Lugo Alphonsus Lugo For that naked and wylde nation fyghtinge onely with stones and clubbes droue his armie to flighte at the fyrste assaulte and slewe aboute foure hundreth of his men But at the length he ouercame them And thus all the Ilandes of Canariae were added to the dominion of Spayne From these Ilandes Colonus directynge his viage towarde thâ— weste folowinge the fallinge of the sonne but declining somwhat towarde the left hande sayled on forwarde .xxxiii. dayes continually hauynge onely the fruition of the heauen and the water Then the
Spanyardes whiche were accompanied with hym beganne fyrste to murmure secretely among them selues and shortly after with wordes of reproche spake euyll of Colonus theyr gouernoure Colonus men rebel against hym and consulted with them selues eyther to rydde hym out of the waye orelles to cast hym into the sea Ragyng that they were deceyued of a straunger an outlandishe man a Ligurian a Genues and brought into suche daungerous places that they myght neuer returne ageyne And after .xxx. days were paste they furiousely cryed out againste him and threatned him that he shulde passe no further But he euer with ientyll wordes and large promyses Faire woâ—des and promises appeased theyr furie and prolonged day after day some tyme desyring them to beare with hym yet a whyle and some time putting them in remembrance that if they shulde attempte any thinge agaynst him or otherwise disobey hym it wolde be reputed for treason Thus after a fewe dayes with cherefull hartes they espied the lande longe looked for In this fyrst nauigation he discouered .vi. Ilandes wherof twoo were exceding great Of whiche the one he called Hispaniola hispaniola and the other Iohanna Iohanna But at that tyme he knewe not perfectely that Iohanna other wyse called Cuba was an Ilande As they coasted alonge by the shore of certayne of these Ilandes they harde nyghtingales synge in the thycke woodes in the month of Nouember Nightingales synge in Nouember They fouÌ„d also great riuers of freshe water and naturall hauens of capacitie to harborowe greate nauies of shippes Saylinge by the coastes of Iohanna from the northe poynte to the west he rode lyttell leâ—se then eyght hundreth miles for they call it a hundreth and foure score leaques supposyng that it had byn the continent or fyrme land bicause he coulde nother fynd the landes ende nor any token of the ende as farre as he coulde iudge with his eye wherfore he determined to returne backe agayne beyng therto partly enforced by the roughnesse of the sea for the sea banckes of the Ilande of Iohanna by sondrye wyndinges and turnynges bende them selues so muche towarde the Northe that the northnortheaste wynde roughely tossed the shyppes by reason of the wynter Turnynge therfore the stemmes of his shyppes towarde the Easte he affyrmed that he had founde the Ilande of Ophir The Ilande of Ophir whyther Salomons shyppes sayled for golde But the description of the Cosmographers well considered it seemeth that bothe these and the other Ilandes adioynyng are the Ilandes of Antilia The ilandes of Antiâ—ia This Ilande he called Hispâ—niola on whose northe syde as he approched nere to the lande the keele or bottome of the biggeste vessell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water A shypwrack and cloue in sunder But the playnenesse of the rocke was a helpe to them that they were not drowned Makynge haste therfore with the other two shâ—ps to helpe them they brought awaye al the men without hurte Here comming fyrst a land they sawe certayne men of the Ilande The people of the Ilandâ— who perceauynge an vnknowen nation comminge towarde them flocked together and ranne al into the thycke wooddes as it hadde byn hares courcâ—d with grehoundes Naked people Owre men pursuing them tooke onely one woman whom they brought to the shyppes where fyllinge her with meate and wyne and apparelinge her they let her departe to her company Shortly after a greate multitude of them came runnynge to the shore to beholde this newe nation whom they thought to haue discended from heauen They cast them selues by heapes into the sea and came swimminge to the shyppes bryngyng golde with them Expert swimmers â–ª goâ—d for erth and glasse which they chaunged with owre men for erthen pottes drinking glaâ—ses poyntes pynnes hawkes belles lokinge glaâ—ses and suche other trifles Thus growing to further familiaritie owre men were honorably enterteyned of the kynge of that parte of the Ilande Many kinges whose name was Guaccanarillus for it hath many kynges as when Eneas arriued in Italy he founde Latium diuided into many kyngedomes and prouinces as Latium Mezeurium Turnum and Tarchontem which were seperated with narow boundes as shall more largely appere hereafter At the euen tyde about the faulyng of the sonne Relygious humaine people when owre men went to praier and kneled on their knees after the maner of the Christians they dyd the lyke also And after what maner so euer they sawe them praye to the crosse they folowed them in all poyntes as well as they coulde They shewed much humanitie towardes owre men and helpen them with theyr lighters or small boates whiche they call Canoas to vnlade theyr broken shyppe Canoas And that with suche celeritie and cherefulnesse that no frende for frende or kynseman for kynseman in suche case moued with pitie coulde do more Theyr boates are made only of one tree Monoâ—yla They haue no Iren. made holow with a certain sharpe stone for they haue no yron And are very longe and narowe Many affirme that they haue sene some of them with fortie ores The wylde and myscheuous people called Canibales or Caribes whiche were accustomed to eate mannes flesshe and called of the olde writers Anthropophagi molest them excedyngly Canâ—bales or Caribes Anthropophagi inuadynge theyr countrey takynge them captiue kyllyng and eatyng them As owre men sayled to the Ilandes of these meke and humayne people they lefte the Ilandes of the Canibales in maner in the middest of theyr viage towarde the south They complayned that theyr Ilandes were no lesse vexed with the incursions of these manhuntyng Canibales when they go forth a rouynge to seeke theyr praye The crueltie of the Canibales then are other tame beastes of Lyons and Tigers Such chyldren as they take they geld to make them fat as we doo cocke chikyns and younge hogges and eate them when they are wel fedde of suche as they eate they fyrst eate the intralles and extreme partes as handes feete armes necke and heade The other moste fleâ—shy partes they pouder for store as we do pestelles of porke and gammondes of bakon Yet do they absteyne from eatynge of women and counte it vyle Therfore suche younge women as they take they keepe for increace as we doo hennes to leye egges The olde women they make theyr drudges They of the Ilandes which we may nowe caul owres bothe the men and the women when they perceaue the Canibales coming haue none other shyfte but onely to flie for althoughe they vse very sharpe arrowes made of reedes yet are they of small force to represse the furie of the Canibales for euen they them selues confesse that tenne of the Canibals are able to ouercome a hundreth of them if they encountre with them Theyr meate is a certeyne roote which they cal Ages Ages Rootes â—n the steede or meate muche lyke a naâ—ew roote in fourme and greatnesse but of sweete taste muche lyke a
greene chestnutte They haue also an other kynde of rootes whiche they call Iucca wherof they make breade in lyke manâ—â— Iucca Breade of rootes They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden then to make breade therof But they neuer eate Iucca excepte it be firste sliced and pressed for it is ful of lycoure and then baked or sodden But this is to be marueled at that the iuyce of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum an herbe of a straungâ— nature so that if it be dronke it causeth present death and yet the breade made of the â—aâ—e therof is of good taste and holsome as all they haue proued They make also an other kynde of breade of a certayne pulse called â—anicum Maâ—â—â—um muche lyke vnto wheate wherof is great pleÌ„tie in the dukedome of Mylane Spayne and Granatum But that of this countrey is longer by a spanne somewhat sharpe towarde the ende and as bygge as a mannes arme in the brawne The graynes wherof are sette in a maruelous order and are in fourme somwhat lyke a pease While they be soure and vnripe they are white but when they are ripe they be very blacke When they are broken they be whyter then snowe This kynde of grayne they call Maizium Golde is of some estimation among them â—olde in estiâ—ation for some of them hange certain small pieces therof at theyr eares and nosethrilles A lyttell beyonde this place our men wente a lande for fresshe water where they chaunced vpon a Ryuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde Golde in the sandes of ryuers They founde there no kindes of foure foted beastes excepte three kyndes of lyttell conyes These Ilandes also nourishe serpentes Serpentes without vemâ—ne but such as are without hurt Lykewise wylde geese turtle doues and duckes Turtle doues Duckes much greater then ours and as whyte as swannes with heades of purple coloâ—re Also Popiniaies Popingiayes of the whiche some are greene some yelowe and some lyke them of India with yelowe rynges about theyr neckes as Plinie describeth them Plini Of these they broughte fortie with them of moste liuely and delectable coloures hauyng three fethers entermengled with greene yelowe and purple whiche varietie deliteth the sense not a litle Thus muche thought I good to speake of Potingiaies ryghte noble Prynce specially to this intente that albeit the opinion of Christophorus Colonus who affirmeth these Ilandes to be parte of India dothe not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient wryters as touchynge the bignesse of the Sphere and compasse of the Globe as concernynge the nauigable portion of the same beynge vnder vs These Ilandâ—s are parte of India The Indians are Antipodes to the spaniardes yet the Popingiaies and many other thynges brought from thence doo declare that these Ilandes sauoure somâ—hat of India eyther beynge nere vnto it or elles of the same nature forasmuche as Aristotle also Aristotle about the ende of his booke De Câ—elo et Mundo and likewise Seneca Seneca with diuerse other authours not ignorant in Cosmography do affirme that India is no longe tracte by sea distante from Spayne by the weste Ocean India not far from Spaine for the soyle of these Ilandes bryngeth forthe Mastir Mastir Aloes Aloe and sundrye other sweete gummes and spyces as doth India Cotton also of the gossampine tree Gossampyne cotton or boâ—base as in India in the countrey of the people called Seres Seres ¶ The languages of all the nations of these Ilandes The laÌ„guage of these Indians maye well be written with our Latine letters For they cal heauen Turâ—i A house Boa Golde Cauni A good man Taino nothing Mayani All other wordes of theyr language they pronounce as playnely as we doo the Latine tongue In these Ilandes they founde no trees knowen vnto them but pyne appe trees and date trees Trees and frutes vnknowen to vs. And those of maruelous heyght and exceding harde by reason of the greate moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde Far moyste grounde with continuall and temperate heate of the sonne heate continuall and temperate whiche endureth so all the hole yere They playnely affyrme the Ilande of Hispaniola to be the most fruiteful lande that the heauen compasseth aboute The fruâ—tfulnes of hispaniola as shall more largely appere hereafter in the particular description of the same whiche we intende to sette foorthe when we shall be better instructed Thus makynge a leage of frendshyppe with the kynge and leauynge with hym .xxxviii. men to searche the Ilande he departed to Spayne takynge with hym .x. of the inhabitauntes to lerne the Spanishe tongue to the intent to vse them afterwarde for interpretours Colonus therfore at his returne was honorably receaued of the kyng and queene who caused him to sytte in theyr presence whiche is a token of great loue and honoure amonge the Spaniardes He was also made Admirall of the Ocean and his brother gouenoure of the Iland Towarde the second viage The seconde viage of Colonus he was furnished with .xii. shippes wherof there were great caractes of a thousand tunne xii were of that sorte whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas without deckes and twoo other of the same sorte somewhat bygger and more apte to beare deckes by reason of the gretnesse of theyr mastes He had also a thousand and two hundreth armed footemen well appoynted Amonge whiche were many artificers as smythes carpenters myners and suche other Certayne horsemen also wel armed Likewise mares shiepe heyghfers and such other of bothe kindes for incrase Lykewise all kynde of pulse or grayne and corne as wheate barlye rye beanes and pease and suche other as well for food as to sowe Come and sedes to sowe Besyde vynes plantes and seedes of suche trees fruites and herbes as those countreyes lacke And not to be forgotten sundry kindes of artillery iron tooles Tooles and artillery as bowes arrowes crossebowes bylles hargabuses brode swoordes large targettes pikes mattockes shâ—ouelles hammers nayles sawes ares and suche other Thus beynge furnished accordyngely they set forwarde from the Ilandes of Gadâ—s nowe called Cals the .vii. day before the calendes of October in the yere of Christe .1493 and arriued at the Ilandes of Canarie at the calendes of October Of these Ilandes the laste is called Ferrea in whiche there is no other water that maye be drunke but onely that is gathered of the dewe whiche continually distilleth from one onely tree growynge on the hâ—ghest backe of the Ilande water droppyng from a tree continually and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mannes hande We were infourmed of these thynges within fewe dayes after his departure what shal succede we wyl certifie yowe hereafter Thus fare ye well from the courte at the Ides of Nouember .1493 ¶ The seconde booke of the fyrste Decade to Ascanius Phâ—rcia vicounte Cardinall c. YOwe repete
ryghte honorable Prynce that yowe are desirous to knowe what newes we haue in Spayne from the newe worlde and that those thynges haue greatly delyted you which I wrote vnto yowre highnesse of the fyrste nauigation Yowe shal now therefore receaue what hath succeded Methymna Campi Methymna Campi is a famous towne in high Spayne in the respect from yowe and is in that parte of Spayne whiche is called Castella Vetus Castella vetuâ— beynge distante from Gades about .xl. myles Here the courte remayned when aboute the .ix. of the kalendes of Aprell in this yere of nynetie and foure there were postes sente to the kynge and queene certifyinge them that there were .xii. shippes come from the newe Ilandes and arryued at Gades Gades But the gouernoure of the shyppes sente worde to the kynge and quene that he had none other matter to certifie them of by the postes but onely that the Admiral with fiue shippes and .iiii. score and tenne men remayned styll in Hispaniola to searche the secretes of the Ilande And that as touching other matters he hym selfe wolde shortly make ralation in theyr presence by worde of mouthe Therfore the daye before the nones of Aprel he came to the courte him selfe What I learned of him and other faythefull and credible men whiche came with hym from the Admirall I wyl reherse vnto yowe in such order as they declared the same to me when I demaunded them Take it therfore as foloweth The thyrde daye of the Ides of October departynge from Ferrea The Iland of Ferrea the laste of the Ilandes of Canariae and from the costes of Spayne with a nauie of .xvii. shippes they sayled .xxi. dayes before they came to any Ilande inclyning of purpose more towarde the lefte hand then at the fyrst viage folowyng the northnortheast wynde and arriued fyrst at the Ilandes of the Canibales Ilands of the Canibales or Caribes of which onely the fame was knowen to our men Amonge these they chaunsed fyrste vpon one so beset with trees that they coulde not se so muche as an elle space of bare earthe or stony grounde this they called Dominica The Iland of Dominica bicause they found it on the sunday They taried here no tyme bycause they sawe it be deserte In the space of these .xxi. dayes they thynke that they sayled .viii. hundreth and .xx. leaques viii hundreth .xx. leaques in .xxi. dayes the Northenortheast wynde was so full with them and so fresshely folowed the sterne of theyr shyppes After they hadde sayled a lyttle further they espied dyuerse Ilandes replenysshed with sundrye kyndes of trees from the whiche came fragrant sauours of spyces and sweete gummes Here they sawe neyther man nor beaste except certayne lisartes of huge bignesse Lysertes as they reported whiche went alande to viewe the countrey This Iland they cauled Galana or Galanta The Ilande of Galanta From the cape or poynt of this Iland espying a mountayne a farre of they sayled thyther Aboute .xxx. myles from this mountayne they sawe a ryuer disceÌ„ding whiche seemed to be a token of some great and large fludde This is the fyrste lande whiche they founde inhabited from the Ilandes of Canariae and is an Ilande of the Canibales The Iland of Guadalupea as they lerned by the interpretours whiche they tooke with them from Hispaniola into Spayne at theyr fyrste viage Serchynge the Ilande they founde innumerable villages of .xx. houses or .xxx. at the mooste sette rounde abowte in order Uilages of .xx or â—xx houses makynge the streete in coompasse lyke a markette place And for asmuch as I haue made mention of theyr houses it shal not be greately from my purpose to describe in what maner they are buylded They are made rounde lyke belles or rounde pauylions The building of theyr houses Theyr frame is raysed of excedynge hyghe trees sette close together and fast rampaired in the grounde so standyng a slope and bending inward that the tappes of the trees ioyne together and beare one agaynste an other hauynge also within the house certayne stronge and shorte props or postes whiche susteyne the trees from â—allynge They couer them with the leaues of date trees and other trees strongly compact and hardened wherewith they make them close from wynde and wether At the shore postes or proppes withâ—n the houâ—e they tâ—e ropes of thâ—â—ottoÌ„ of 〈◊〉 trees â—â—â—ampine â—otton or other ropes made of certayne long and toughe â—â—tes much lyke vnto the shrubbe called Spâ—râ—â—m wherof in olde tyme they vsed to make bondes for vâ—nes 〈…〉 and ropâ—â— for shyppes These they tye ouer 〈◊〉 the houâ—e froâ— poste to poste On these they ley as it 〈…〉 mattâ—eâ—â—es made of the cotton of the gossampâ—ne tress whâ—che gâ—â—we plentifully in these Ilandes Thâ—s cotton the Spaniâ—â—des call Algodon and the Italians Bâ—mâ—â—sine And thus they â—â—eepe in hangynge beddes Bombaâ—e hanâ—inâ—e beddes At the enteraunce of one of theyr houâ—es they sawe two Images of woodde lyke vnto serpentes whâ—che they thoughte had byn such idoles as they honour But they leâ—ned afterwarde that they were seâ—te there onely for coomlâ—nesse For they knowe none other god then the Sunne and Moone althoughe they make certaine Images of gossampine cotton to the similitude of such phantasies as they say appere to them in the nyghte Images Our men found in theyr houses all kyndes of erthen vessels not muche vnlyke vnto oures They founde also in theyr kichens mannes flesshe duckes flessâ—e and goose flesshe al in one pot Fyne cookery and other on the spittes redye to be layde to the fire Entrynge into theyr inner lodgynges they founde faggottes of the bones of mennes armes and legges which they reserue to make heades for theyr arrowes Arrowe heds of bones â–ª bycause they lacke iron The other bones they caste awaye when they haue eaten the flesshe They founde likewise the heade of a yonge man fastened to a poste and yet bledinge They haue in some villages one great haule or pallaice aboute the whiche theyr common houses are placed To this they resort as often as they come together to playe When they perceaued the commynge of our men they fledde in theyr houses they founde also about xxx chyldren and women captiues which were reserued to be eaten but our men tooke them awaye to vse them for interpretoures Searchyng more diligently thynner partes of the Ilande they founde .vii. other ryuers bygger then this whiche we spake of before runnyng throughe the Ilande with fruitefull and pleasante banckes delectable to beholde This Ilande they called Guadalupea for the similitude that it hath to the mounte Guadalupus in Spayne The mount Guadalupusâ— where the Image of the virgin MARIE is religiously honored But the inhabitauntes caul it Carucueria Carucueria or Queraquiera It is the chiefe habitation of the Canibales They brought from this Iland .vii. Popinpayes bygger then phesantes Popyngayes bygger then phesauntes
muche differynge from other in coloure hauynge theyr backes brestes and bealies of purple coloure and theyr wynges of other variable coloures In al these Ilandes is no lesse plentie of popingiayes then with vs of sparrowes or starlinges As we brynge vp capons and hennes to francke or make them fatte so do they these bigger kyndes of popyngaies for the same purpose After that they hadde thus searched the Ilande and dryuen these Canibales to flyghte The Canibales dryâ—en to flyght whiche ranne awaye at theyr fyrst approche as sone as they had espied them they cauled theyr company together And as soone as they had broken the Canibals boates or lyghters whiche they call Canoas they lowsed theyr ankers the daye before the Ides of Nouember and departed from Guadalupea Colonus the admirall for the desyre he hadde to se his companions whiche at his fyrst vyage he lefte the yere before in Hispaniola to searche the countrey lette passe many Ilandes bothe on his righte hande and lefte hande and sayled directly thyther By the waye there appeared from the Northe A great Ilande which the captiues that were taken in Hispaniola cauled Madanino or Matinino Matinino an Iâ—ande of women Affirmynge it to be inhabited only with womeÌ„ To whoÌ„ the Canibales haue accesse at certen tymes of the yeare as in owlde tyme the Thracians had to the Amazones in the Ilande of Lesbos The men children they sende to theyr fathers But the women theye kepe with them selues They haue greate and stronge caues or dennes in the ground to the which they flye for safegarde if any men resorte vnto them at any other tyme then is appoynted And there defende them selues with bowes and arrowes agâ—nst the violence of suche as attempte to enuade them They coulde not at this tyme approche to this Ilande by reasoÌ„ of the Northenortheast wynde which blewe soo vehemently from the same wher as they nowe folowed the Eastesoutheaste After they departed frome Madanino and sayled by the space of .xi. myles they passed not farre frome an other Ilande which the captyues sayde to bee verye peopulous and replenyshed with all thynges necessarie for the life of man This they cauled Mons Serratus The Ilandes of Mons Serratus bycause it was ful of mountaynes The captyues further declared that the Canibales are wonte at some tyme to goo frome theyr owne coastes aboue a thousande myle to hunte for men huntâ—nge for men The daye folowynge they sawe an other Ilande the whiche bycause it was rownde they cauled Sancta Maria Rotunda Sancta Maria Rotunda The nexte daye theye founde an other which they cauled S. Marrini Sanctus Marâ—inus Which they lette passe also bycause they had no leasure to tarye Lykewyse the thirde daye they espyed an other whose Diamerral syde extendynge frome the Easte to the weste they iudged to bee a hundreth and fyftie myle Theye affirme all these Ilandes to be maruelous fayre and frutefull This laste they cauled Sancta Maria Antiqua Sancta Maria Antiqua Saylyng yet forwarde and leauynge many other Ilandes after they had sayled aboute fortie myle they chaunced vpon an other muche bygger then any of the reste which thinhabitans caule Ay Ay but they named it Insula crucis Insula crucis An Ilande of the Canibals Heare they cast anker to fetche fresshe water The Admiral also commaunded .xxx. men to go a lande out of his owne shyp and to search the Ilande Here they founde fowre dogges on the shore The Inhabitants are Canibales The Canibales are expert archers and maruelous experte in shutinge as well women as men And vse to infecte theyr arrowes with poyson when they had taryed there two dayes they sawe a farre of a Canoa in the whiche were eight men and as manye women hauynge with them bowes and arrowes Arrowes infected with veneme They fearsly assayled owre men withoute all feare and hurte sum of them with theyr venemous arrowes Amonge these there was a certen woman to whome the other gaue reuerence and obeyde as though she were theyr queene Her sonne wayted vppon her beinge a younge man strongly made of terrible frownynge countenaunce and a lyons face A conflict â—ith the Canibâ—les Owre men leaste they sholde take the more hurte by beinge wounded a farre of thowght it beste to ioyne with them Therfore with all spede settinge forewarde with their ores the brigantine in whiche they were sette alande they ouerturned their Canoa with a great violence which beinge ouerwhelmed they notwithstondinge as well the women as the men swymminge caste theyr dartes at owre men thicke and threefowlde At the lengthe gatherynge them selues together vpon a rocke couered with the water they fowght manfully vntyll they were ouercome and taken one being slayne and the queenes sonne sore wounded When they were browght into the Admirals shippe they dyd no more put of their fiernes and cruell countenances The fiercenes and terrible countenâ—unce of the Canibales then do the Lyons of Libia when theye perceaue theÌ„ selues to be bownde in chaynes There is no man able to behowlde them but he shall feele his bowelles grate with a certen horroure nature hath endewed them with soo terrible menacynge and cruel aspecte This coniecture I make of my selfe and other which often tymes wente with me to see them at Methymna Campi Methymna Campi But nowe to returne to the viage Proceadinge thus further and further more then fiue hundrethe myles firste towardes the Westesoutheweste then towarde the Southwest and at the lengthe towarde the Weste northeweste they entered into a mayne large sea hauinge in it innumerable Ilandes Innumerable ilandes maruelouslye differinge one from an other for sum of them were verye frutefull and full of herbes and trees Other sum verye drye barren and rowgh with high rockye mountaynes of stone wherof sum were of bright blewe or asurine coloure and other glysteringe white wherfore they supposed them by good reason to bee the mynes of metalles and precious stones The mynes of Metales precious stones But the rowghnes of the sea and multâ—tude of Ilandes standinge so thicke togyther hindered them soo that they cowlde caste no anker leaste the bigger vesselles shulde runne vppon the rockes Therefore they deferred the searchinge of these Ilandes vntyl an other tyme They were so manye and stoode so thicke that they coulde not number them Yet the smauler vesselles which drewe no greate depthe entered emonge them and numbered fortie and syxe Ilandes But the bigger vesselles kepte aloofe in the mayne sea for feare of the rockes They caule the sea where this multitude of Ilandes are situate Archipelagus The sea cauled Archipelagus â–ª Frome this tracte proceadinge forrewarde in the mydde waye there lyeth an Iland which thinhabitantes caule Burichena or Buchona But they named it Insula S. Iohannis Insula S. Iohannes oâ— Buchena Dyuers of theym whome we had delyuered frome the Canibales sayde that they
were borne in this Ilande affirminge it to be very peopulous and frutefull hauinge also manye fayre wooddes and hauens There is deadly hatred and continual battayle betwene them the Canibales They haue no boates to passe from their owne coastes to the Canibales But if it bee their chaunce to ouercome them when they make incursion into theyr countreye to seke their praye as it sumtyme happeneth the fortune of warre beinge vncerteyne they serue them with like sause requiringe deathe for deathe Death for dâ—athe For one of theym mangeleth an other in pieces and roste them and eate them euen before their eyes They taryed not in this Ilande Yet in the weste angle therof a fewe of them went a lande for fresshe water and fownd a greate and hâ—gh howse after the maner of their buylding hauinge .xii. other of their vulgare cotages placed abowte the same The mountaynes are coulder then the playnes but were all lefte desolate whether it were that they resorted to the mountaynes by reson of the heate which was that tyme of the yeare and to returne to the playne when the ayre wareth cowlder or els for feare of the Canibales which make incursion into the Ilande at certen seasons In all this Ilande is only one kinge The south syde hereof extendeth abowte two hundrethe myles Shortlye after they came to the Ilande of Hispaniola beinge distante frome the firste Ilande of the Canibales fyue hundrethe leaques From Dominica to hiâ—paniola fyue hundreth leaques Here they fownde all thâ—nges out of order and theyr felowes slayne whiâ—h they lefte here at their fyrste vyage In the beginninge of Hispaniola hauinge in it many regions and kyngedomes as we haue sayde is the region of Xamana whose kinge is named Guaâ—canarillus The Spanyâ—â—des lefte in the Iland are sâ—ayne kynge Guaccanariâ—lus rebelleth This Guaccanarillus ioyned frendeshippe with owre men at the fyrste viage and made a league with them But in the absence of the Admirall he rebelled was the cause of owre mens destruction althowgh he dissimuled the same and pretended frendship at the Admirales returne As owre men sayled on yet a litle furtheâ— they espied a longe Canoa with many ores in which was the bâ—other of Guaccanarillus with only one man waytinge on hym He browght with hym two Images of goulde Two images of goulde which he gaue the Admirall in the name of his brother And towlde a â—ale in his language as concerninge the deathe of owre men as they proued afterwarde but at this tyme had no regarde to his communication for lacke of interpretours which were eyther all deade or escaped and stoulne awaye when they drewe nere the Ilandes But of the x.vii dyed by change of ayre and dyer The inhabitantes of these Ilandes haue byn euer soo vsed to liue at libertâ—e in playe and pastyme Libertie and idlenes that they can hardely away with the yoke of seruitude which they attempte to shake of by all meanes they maye And surely if they had receaued owre relâ—gion I wolde thinke their life moste happye of all men A happy kind of lyfe if they might therwith enioye their aunciente libertie A fewe thinges contente them hauinge no delite in suche superâ—luites Superfluite for the which in other places men take infinite paynes and commit manie vnlawfull actes and yet are neuer satisfied wheras many haue to muche and none inowgh many haue to much and none inough But emonge these simple sowles a fewe clothes serue the naked weâ—ghtes and measures are not needefull to such as can not skyll of crafte and deceyte and haue not the vse of pestifetous monye the seede of innumerable myscheues So that if we shall not be ashamed to confesse the truthe they seeme to lyue in that goulden worlde of the whiche owlde wryters speake so much â–ª The goulden worlde wherin men lyued simplye and innocentlye without inforcement of lawes without quarellinge Iudges and libelles contente onely to satisfie nature without further vexation for knowelege of thinges to come Yet these naked people also are tormeÌ„ted with ambitioÌ„ for the desyre they haue to enlarge their dominions Naked men troubled with ambicion by reason wherof they kepe warre destroy one an other froÌ„ the which plage I suppoâ—e the golden world was not free For euen then also Cede non câ—dam that is gyue place Gyue place I wyll not giue place had entred emonge men But nowe to returne to the matter froÌ„ which we haue digressed The admiral desyrous to knowe further of the death of his men sent for Guaccanarillus to come to him to his ship dissimulinge that he knew any thinge of the matter The Admira sendeth for the kynge After that he came aboord shyp saluting the Admiral his coÌ„pany gyuing also certeÌ„ golde to the Capetaynes and offycers turned him to the womeÌ„ captiues which not longe before our meÌ„ had deliuered froÌ„ the Canibales And ernestly beholding one of them whome owre men cauled Catharyne he spake gentelly vnto her No horses in the Ilandes And thus when he had seene and marueyled at the horses and suche other thinges as were in the shyppe vnknowen to them and had with a good grace and merelye asked leaue of the Admirall he departed Yet sum there were which counseyled the Admirall to kepe hym styll that if they might by any meanes proue that he was consentinge to the deathe of owre men he might bee punished accordinglie But the Admirall considering that it was yet no tyme to incense thinhabitantes myndes to wrathe A tyme for all thynges dysmyssed hym The next daye folowing the kinges brother resortyng to the shyppes eyther in his owne name or in his brothers seduced the women For on the next nyght about mydnight this Katherine aswell to recouer her owne libertie as also her felowes being suborned therto eyther by the kinge or his brothers promises attempted a much more difficulte and daungerous aduenture then dyd Cloelia of Rome A desperate aduenture of a woman Cloelia of Rome which beinge in hostage with other maydes to the kynge Porcena deceaued her kepers and rode ouer the ryuer Tiber with the other virgins which were pledges with her For wheras they swamme ouer the ryuer on horsebacke This Katharyne with seuen other women trustynge onlye to the strengthe of theyr owne armes swamme aboue three longe myles and that also at suche tyme as the sea was sumwhat rowghe For euen soo farre of frome the shore lay the shippes at rode as nigh as they could coniecture But owre men folowinge them with the shippeboates by the same light seene on the shore wherby the women were ledde tooke three of them supposinge that Katharyne with the other foure wente to Guaccanarillus For in the springe of the morninge certen messengers beinge sente to hym by the Admirall had intelligence that he was fledde with all his familie and stuffe and the women
He hath nowe chosen a stronge place where he may buyld a Citie nere vnto a comodious hauen And hath alredy buylded many houses and a chapell in the whiche as in a newe worlde heretofore voyde of all religion god is dayly serued with .xiii. preestes accordinge to the maner of owre churches A chapel and preestes When the tyme nowe approched when he promysed to sende to the kynge and queene and hauynge prosperous wynde for that purpose sent backe the .xii. Carauelles wherof we made mencion before it was no smaul hynderance and greefe vnto hym Especially consyderynge the death of his men whom he lefte in the Ilande at the fyrst vyage wherby we are yet ignorant of many places other secretes wherof we might otherwyse haue had further knowleage But as tyme shall reueale them ageyne so wyll I aduertyse yowe of the same And that you may the better knowe by conference had with the Apothecaries and marchaunt strangers Sirophenicians Marchaunts Sirophenicians what these Regions beare and howe hotte theyr ground is I haue sent you all kyndes of graynes with the barke inner partes of that tree whiche they suppose to bee the Cinamome tree The Cynamome tree And yf it be your pleasure to taste eyther of the graynes or of the smaule seedes the which you shoulde perceaue to haue fawlen from these graynes or of the wodde it selfe touch them firste softely mouinge them to your lyppes For although they bee not hurtefull yet for theyr excesse of heate they are sharpe and byte the tongue yf they remayne any whyle theron But if the tongue be blystered by tastynge of them the same is taken away by drynkynge of water Of the corne also wherof they make theyr breade this brynger shall delyuer sume graynes to your Lordeshyppe bothe whyte and blacke And therwith also a Trunke of the tree of Aloes The which if you cutte in peeces Xiloaloes or lignuÌ„ Aloes you shall feele a sweete sauoure to proceade from the same Thus fare you hartely wel From the courte of Methimna Campi The thyrde day before the Calendes of May. Anno. Domini M. CCCC XCIIII ¶ The thyrde boke of the fyrst Decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonye and Neuie to the kynge YOwe desyre that folyshe Phaeton shulde ageine rule the Chariotes of the Sunne The fable of Phaeton And contende the drawe sweete lycoures out of the harde flynte wheras you requyre me to dysscribe vnto you the newe worlde fownde in the weste by the good fortune gouernaunce of the Catholike Princes Ferdinandus and Helisabeth kynge Ferdinandus and queene Helizabeth your Uncle and Aunte shewyng me also the letters of kynge Frederike your vncle wrytten to me in the same behalfe But sythe you haue layde this burden on my backe in whose power it is to commaunde me to take vppon me more then I am wel able Ye bothe shal receaue this precious stone rudely closed in leade after my maner of workemanshyppe Wherfore when you shall perceaue the lerned sorte frendelye The malicious enuiously And the backebyters furiously to bende theyr sclaunderous dartes ageynst owre fayre Nimphes of the Ocean hereides He meaneth the Ilandes You shall freely proteste in howe short tyme and in the myddeste of what troubles and calamities you haue enforced me to wryte of the same Thus fare you well frome Granata the ninthe day before the Calendes of May. ¶ We haue declared in the boke here before howe the Admirall passed by the coastes of the Canibales to the Ilande of Hispaniola with his whole nauie hispaniola But nowe we entende further to shewe what he fownde as concernynge the nature of this Ilande after that he had better searched the seacreates of the same Likewyse of the Ilande of Cuba nere vnto it which he yet supposed to bee the firme lande Hispaniola therfore which he affirmeth to bee Ophir â—phir whether Salomons â—hips sayled for golde wherof we reade in the thyrde boke of the kynges is of latitude fyue southe degrees hauynge the northe pole eleuate on the northe syde .xxvii. degrees And on the Southe syde as they saye xxii degrees It reacheth in length from the Easte to the Weste seuen hundrethe and foure score myles It is distant from the Ilandes of Gades cauled Cales xlix degrees and more as sum saye The forme of the Ilande resembleth the leafe of a chesnutte tree Uppon a high hyll on the North syde of the Ilande he buylded a citie Isabella bycause this place was most apte for that purpose by reason of a myne of stones which was nere vnto the same seruynge well bothe to buylde with and also to make lyme At the bottome of this hyll is there a great playne of three score myles in lengthe A playne of threescore myles of lengthe and in bredth sumwhere .xii. sumwhere .xx. myles where it is brodest and .vi. myles where it is narowest Through this playne runne dyuers fayre ryuers of holsome waters But the greatest of them which is nauigable fauleth into the hauen of the citie for the space of halfe a furlonge Howe fertile and fruitfull this valley is you shal vnderstand by these thynges which folowe On the shore of this ryuer A token of maruelous fruitfuâ—nes they haue lymyted and enclosed certeyne grounde to make gardeynes and orchiardes in the which al kyndes of bygger herbes as radyshe letuse colewortes borage and such other waxe rype within .xvi. dayes after the seede is sowen Lykewyse Melones Gourdes Cucumers and suche other within the space of .xxxvi. dayes These garden herbes they haue fresshe and greene all the whole yeare herbes grene at the hole yeare Also the rootes of the canes or reedes of the lycour wherof suger is made growe a cubette high within the space of .xv. dayes Suger reeds Plantes and vines but the lycoure is not yet hardened The lyke they affirme of plantes or shrouddes of younge vines And that they haue the second yeare gathered ripe and sweete grapes of the same But by reason of to muche rankenes they beare but fewe clusters Furthermore a man of the countrey sowed a lyttle wheate about the Calendes of February and brought with hym to the citie a handefull of the rype eares of the same the thyrde day before the calendes of Aprell which was that yeare the vigile of the Resurrection of owre Lorde Also al kyndes of pulse as beanes peason fytches tares and suche other are rype twyse in the yeare Corne and grayne rype twise a yeare as all they which come from thense affirme with one voyce Yet that the grounde is not vniuersally apte to beare wheate In the meane tyme whyle these thynges were doinge the Admirall sent owte a companye of xxx men to searche the Region of Cipangae otherwyse cauled Cibana This Region is full of mountaynes and rockes The Region of Câ—panga or Cibana And the myddle baâ—ke of the hole Ilande in the
whiche is greate plentie of goulde Golde When they that went to searche the Region were returned they reported maruelous thynges as touchinge the great ryches of this Region Frome these mountaynes descende foure greate ryuers Foure greate ryuers which by the maruelous industrye of nature deuided the hole Ilande into foure partes in maner equall ouerspreadinge and wateringe the hole Ilande with their branches Of these foure ryuers the one reacheth towarde the Easte This the inhabitantes caule Iunna An other towarde the Weste and is cauled Attibunicus The thirde towarde the Northe named Iachem the laste reacheth into the Southe and is cauled Naiba The daye before the Ides of Marche the Admiral him selfe with al his horse men and foure hundreth footemen The golden region of Cibana marched directly towarde the South syde of the goulden Region Thus passinge ouer the ryuer the plaine and the mountayne which enuironed the other syde of the playne he chaunced vpon an other vale the which a ryuer muche bygger then the fyrste and many other meane ryuers runne throwgh When he had also conueighed his armye ouer the ryuer and passed the seconde vale whiche was in no part inferiour to the firste he made away through the thirde mountayne Uales and mountaynes where was no passage before and descended into an other vale which was nowe the beginninge of Cibana The vale of Cibana Through this also runne many fluddes and ryuers out of euery hyll and in the sandes of theym all is fownde great plentie of goulde And when he had nowe entered three score and twelue myles into the goulden region from the citie he entended to buylde a fortresse vppon the toppe of a hyll standing by the shore of a certeyne great ryuer that he might the better and more safelye searche the secreates of the inner partes of the Region This he cauled the fortresse of saynte Thomas The which in the meane tyme whyle he was buyldynge thinhabitantes beinge desirous of haukes belles and other of owre thinges Golde for haukes bels resorted dayly thyther To whom the Admirall declared that if they wolde brynge goulde they shulde haue what so euer they wolde aske Forthwith turninge theyr backes and runnynge to the shore of the next ryuer they returned in a short tyme brynginge with them their handes full of goulde Amongest al other there came a owld man bringynge with him two pybble stones of goulde weighinge an vnce Graynes end pipple stones of golde desyrynge them to gyue him a bell for the same who when he sawe oure men maruell at the byggenes therof he made signes that they were but smaule and of no value in respecte of sume that he had seene And takynge in his hande foure stones the least wherof was as bygge as a walnut and the byggest as bygge as an orange he sayde that there was fownde peeces of goulde soo bygge in his countrey beynge but halfe a dayes iourney from thense and that they had no regarde to the gatheringe therof Whereby we perceaue that they passe not muche for goulde in asmuch as it is goulde only They passe not for golde in that it is golde onely but. c. but so farre esteeme it as the hande of the artificer hathe fashioned it in any coomely fourme For who doth greatly esteeme rowgh marble or vnwrought Iuerye But if they be wrought with the cunninge hande of Phidias or Praxiteles and shaped to the similitude of the fayre nimphes or fayeres of the sea cauled Nereiades or the fayres of the wods cauled Hamadriades they shal neuer lacke byers Besyde this owld man there came also dyuers other brynginge with them pypple stones of gold weighing .x. or .xii. drammes And feared not to confesse that in the place where they gathered that golde there were found suÌ„tyme stones of gold as bygge as the heade of a chyld When he had taryed heare a fewe dayes Stones of golde as byg as the heade of a chyâ—de he sent one Luxanus a noble younge gentylman with a fewe armed men to searche all the partes of this Region Who at his returne reported that thinhabitantes shewed him greater thinges theÌ„ we haue spoken of here before But he dyd openly declare nothynge therof which they thought was doone by the Admirales commaundement They haue wooddes full of certeyne spyces Spyces â–ª but not suche as we commonly vse These they gather euen as they do golde that is as much as wyl serue for theyr purpose euery man for hym selfe to exchange the same with the inhabitantes of other countreys adioyninge to them for such thinges as they lacke as dysshes pottes stooles and suche other necessaries As Luxanus returned to the Admiral which was about the Ides of Marche he fownde in the wooddes certeyne wylde vines rype and of pleasaunt taste wylde Vines of pleasaunte taste But thinhabitantes passe not on them This Region though it bee full of stones and rockes and is therfore cauled Cibana which is as muche to saye as a stone yet it is well replenyshed with trees and pastures Fâ—uitful mouÌ„tâ—ynes Ye they instantly affirme that if the grasse of these mountaynes bee cutte it groweth ageyne within the space of foure dayes higher then wheate And for as muche as many showers of rayne doo faule in this Region whereof the ryuers and fluddes haue their increase in euery of the which golde is fownde myrte with sande in all places they iudge that the golde is dryuen from the mountaynes Golde in the landes of ryuers faulinge from the mouÌ„taynes by the vehement course of the streames which faule from the same and runne into the ryuers The people of this Region are gyuen to Idelnes and playe Libertie and Idelnes For suche as inhabyte the mountaynes syt quakynge for coulde in the wynter season The mountaynes are coulde had rather soo wander vppe and downe Idelly then take the peines to make them apparell wheras they haue wooddes full of gossaÌ„pine cotton But such as dwel in the vales or plaines feele no coulde in wynter When the Admirall had thus searched the beginninge of the region of Cibana he repayred to Isabella for so he named the citie where leauinge the gouernance of the Ilande with his deputies he prepared hym selfe to search further the lymettes of the Ilande of Cuba or Iohanna which he yet doubted to bee the firme lande The Ilande of Cuba and distant from Hispaniola onely three score and ten myles This dyd he with more speedy expedicion caulyng to remembraunce the kinges commaundement who wylled hym fyrst with all celeritie to ouer runne the coastes of the newe Ilandes leaste any other prince shulde in the meane tyme attempte to inuade the same Least any otheâ— prince c For the Kynge of Portugale affirmed that it perteyned only to hym to discouer these vnknowen landes But the byshop of Rome Alexander the .vi. to auoyd the cause of this discention Discencion betweene the
Portugales and Spaniardes graunted to the Kynge of Spayne by thauctoritie of his leaden bulles that no other prince shulde bee so boulde as to make any viages to any of those vnknowen regions lyenge without the precinct of a directe lyne draweÌ„ from the North to the Southe a hundreth leaques westwarde without the paralelles of the Ilandes cauled Capud Viride or Cabouerde which we thynke to bee those that in owlde tyme were cauled Hesperides Tâ—e Ilandes oâ— Cabouerde oâ— hisperides These perteyne to the kynge of Portugale And frome these his pylottes whiche doo yearely searche newe coastes and regions directe their course to the Easte The Portugales viages saylynge euer towarde the lefte hande by the backe of Aphrike and the seas of the Ethiopians Neyther to this day had the Portugales at any tyme sayled Southwarde or Westewarde from the Ilandes of Cabouerde Preparyng therfore three shippes he made haste towarde the Ilande of Iohanna or Cuba whyther he came in shorte space and named the poynt therof where he fyrst arryued Alpha and O Alpha and O that is the fyrste and the laste for he supposed that there had byn th end of owre Easte bycause the sonne fauleth there And of the weste bycause it ryseth there For it is apparente that westwarde it is the beginninge of India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges And Eastewarde the furthest ende of the same The ende of the Easte and West which thinge is not contrary to reason forasmuche as the Cosmographers haue lefte the lymites of India beyonde Ganges vndetermyned where as also sume were of opinion that India was not farre froÌ„ the coastes of Spaine as we haue sayde before Note India not far froÌ„ Spayne Within the prospecte of the begynnynge of Cuba he founde a commodious hauen in the extreme angle of the Ilande of Hispaniola For in this part the Iland receaueth a greate goulfe This hauen he named saynt Nycolas porte Saynt Nycolas porte beinge scarsely .xx. leaques from Cuba As he departed from hense and sayled westwarde by the south syde of Cuba the further that he went so muche the more the sea seemed to bee extended in breadth to bende towarde the south On the south syde of Cuba he fownde an Ilande which thinhabitantes caule Iamaica The Iland of Iamaica This he affirmeth to bee longer and broder then the Iland of Sicilie hauyng in it only one mountayne which on euery parte begynninge from the sea ryseth by little and little into the myddest of the Ilande And that soo playnely without rowghnes that suche as goo vp to the toppe of the same can scarsely perceaue that they ascende Iamaica This Ilande he affirmed to bee very fruitfull and full of people as well in thinner partes of the same as by the shore And that thinhabitantes are of quicker wytte then in the other Ilandes Quicke wytted people and more experte artificers and warrelyke men For in many places where he woulde haue arryued they came armed ageynst him and forbodde him with threatening wordes But beinge ouercome The composeinge of the earth they made a league of frendeship with hym Thus departynge from Iamaica he sayled towarde the Weste with a prosperous wynde for the space of threeâ—core tenne dayes thinkinge that he had passed so farre by the compasse of the earth being vnderneth vs that he had byn nere vnto Aurea Chersonesus nowe cauled Malaccha Aurea Chersonesus or Malaccha in owre Easte India beyonde the beginninge of Persides For he playnely beleued that he had lefte onely two of the twelue howres of the sonne A secreate of Astronomie which were vnknowen to vs for the owlde wryters haue lefte halfe the course of the sonne vntouched where as they haue but onely discussed that superficiall parte of the earth which lyeth betwene the Ilandes of Gades and the ryuer of Ganges The ryuer of Ganges or at the vttermoste to Aurea Chersonesus In this nauigation he chaunced on many furious seas running with a faule as it had byn the streames of fluddes Also many whorlepooles and shelfes with many other daungers and streyghtes by reason of the multytude of Ilandes Daungerous streightes by reason of many Ilandes which ley on euery syde But not regardinge all these perelles he determyned to proceade vntyl he had certaine knowledge whether Cuba were an Ilande or firme lande Thus he sayled forward coastinge euer by the shore towarde the weste for the space of CC.xxii leaques that is abowte a thousande and three hundreth myles And gaue names to seuen hundreth Ilandes by the waye The Admiral gaue names to seuen hundrethe Ilandes Leauynge also on the lefte hande as he feared not to reporte three thousande here and three thre thousaÌ„d Ilandes But let vs nowe returne to suche thinges as he fownde worthy to be noted in this nauigation Saylinge therfore by the syde of Cuba and searchinge the nature of the places he espied not farre from Alpha and O a large hauen of capacitie to harborowe manye shippes A large haueÌ„ whose enteraunce is bendinge beinge inclosed on bothe sydes with capes or poyntes which receaue the water This hauen is large within and of exceadinge depthe Saylinge by the shore of this porte he sawe not farre frome the same two cotages couered with reedes and in many places fyer kyndeled Here he sente certeyne armed men owte of the shippes to the cotages where they fownde nother man nor woman but rostemeate enowgh For they fownde certeyne spyttes of woodde lyenge at the fyre hauinge fyshe on theym abowt a hundreth pownde weight and two serpentes of .viii foote longe a piece Rosted fysshe and serpents of .viii. foote longe wherat marueylinge and lokynge abowt if they coulde espye any of thinhabitantes and that none appeared in syght for they fledde all to the mountaynes at the comminge of owre men they fell to theyr meate and eate the fyshe taken with other mens trauayle But they absteyned froÌ„ the serpentes which they affirme to differ nothinge from Crocodiles of Egypt Crocodiles of Egypte but onely in byggenes For as Plinie sayth Crocodiles haue sumetymes byn fownde of .xviii. cubettes longe But of these the byggest were but of .viii. fote Thus beinge well refresshed they entered into the next woodde where they fownde many of the same kynde of serpentes hangynge vppon bowghes of trees of the which sume had theyr mouthes tyed with strynges and sume theyr teethe taken owte And as they searched the places nere vnto the hauen they sawe abowte .lxx. men in the toppe of a hyghe rocke whiche fledde as soone as they had espied owre men Who by signes and tokens of peace caulinge them ageyne there was one which came nere them and floode on the toppe of a rocke seemynge as thowgh he were yet ferefull But the Admiral sent one Didacus to hym Didacus thinterpretour a man of the same countrey whom he had at his fyrste vyage
taken in the Ilande of Guanahaini beinge nere vnto Cuba wyllinge hym to come nere and not to bee afrayde When he harde Didacus speke to him in his owne tonge he came bowldly to hym and shortly after resorted to his coÌ„pany persuadinge them to come without all feare After this message was doone there descended frome the rockes to the shippes abowt three score and ten of thinhabibitantes proferinge frendeshippe and gentelnes to owre men whiche the Admirall accepted thankefully and gaue them dyuers rewardes And that the rather for that he had intelligence by Didacus thenterpretoure that they were the kynges fysshers The kynges fysshers sent of theyr lorde to take fysshe ageynst a solemne feaste which he prepared for an other kynge And wheras the Admirales men had eaten the fysshe whiche they lefte at the fyre they were the gladder therof bycause they had lefte the serpentes Serpentes esteemed for delicate meaâ— Ophiophagi â–ª For there is nothinge amonge theyr delicate dysshes that they esteeme so muche as these serpentes In soo muche that it is no more lawfull for the common people to eate of them then peacockes or phesantes amonge vs. As for the fysshes they doubted not to take as many more the same nyght Beynge asked why they fyrst rosted the fysshe which they entended to beare to their kynge They answered that they might bee the fressher and vncorrupted Thus ioyninge handes for a token of further frendeship euery man resorted to his owne The Admirall went forwarde as he had appoynted folowing the faulinge of the sonne from the beginninge of Cuba cauled Alpha and O. The shores or sea bankes euen vnto this hauen albeit they be ful of trees yet are they rowgh with mountains Of these trees suâ—e were ful of blossoomes and flowres and other laden with fruites Blossomes fruites bothe at one tyme. Beyonde the haueÌ„ the lande is more fertile and peopulous whose inhabitantes are more gentyll and more desyrous of owre thinges For as sone as they had espied owre shâ—ppes they flocked all to the shore brynginge with them suche breade as they are accustomed to eate and gourdes full of water offeringe theym vnto owre men and further desyringe them to coome alande In all these Ilandes is a certeyne kynde of trees as bygge as elmes whiche beare gourdes in the steade of fruites Trees which beare gourds These they vse only for drinkynge pottes and to fetche water in but not for meate for the inner substance of them is sowrer then gaule the barke as harde as any shelle At the Ides of Maye the watche men lokinge owte of the toppe castell of the shyppe towarde the Southe sawe a multitude of Ilandes standinge thicke together A multitude of Ilandes beynge all well replenished with trees grasse and herbes and wel inhabyted In the shore of the continent he chauÌ„ced into a nauigable ryuer whose water was soo hotte hotte water that no man myght endure to abyde his hande therein any tyme. The day folowinge espying a farre of a Canoa of fysher men of thinhabitantes fearinge least they shulde flye at the syght of owre men he commaunded certeyne to assayle them pryuily with the shyppe boates But they fearinge nothinge taryed the comminge of owre men Nowe shal you heare a newe kind of fyshinge A straunge kynde of fysshynge Lyke as we with greyhoundes doo hunte hares in the playne fieldes So doo they as it were with a huntyng fysshe A hâ—ntynge â—ysshe take other fysshes This fysshe was of shape or fourme vnknowen vnto vs but the body therof not muche vnlyke a greate yele hauinge on the hynder parte of the heade a very towgh skynne lyke vnto a greate bagge or purse This fysshe is tyed by the syde of the boate with a corde lette downe soo farre into the water that the fysshe maye lye close hyd by the keele or bottome of the same for shee may in no case abyde the sight of the ayer Thus when they espie any greate fysshe or tortoyse wherof there is great abundance bygger then great targettes they let the corde at lengthe Abuâ—â—ance of toâ—oyâ—es But when she feeleth her selfe loosed shee enuadeth the fysshe or tortoyse as swiftly as an arrowe And where she hath once fastened her howld shee casteth the purse of skynne wherof we spâ—ke before And by drawyng the same togyther soo graspeleth her pray that no mans strength is sufficient to vnloose the same excepte by lyttle and lyttle drawinge the lyne shee bee lyfted sumwhat aboue the brymme of the water For then as sone as she seeth the brightnes of the ayer shee lettethe goo her howlde The praye therfore beinge nowe drawen nere to the brymme of the water Fyssher men there leapeth soodenly owte of the boate into the sea soo manye fysshers as maye suffice to holde faste the praye vntyll the reste of the coompany haue taken it into the boate Which thinge doone they loose soo muche of the cord that the hunting fysshe may ageyne returnâ— to her place with in the water where by an other corde they let downe to her a piece of the praye as we vse to rewarde greyhoundes after they haue kylled theyr game This fysshe they caule GuaicanuÌ„ The fysshe Guaicanum But owre men caule it Reuersum They gaue owre men foure tortoyses taken by this meanes And those of such byggenes that they almoste fylled theyr fysshinge boate For these fysshes are esteemed amonge them for delicate meate Owre men recompensed them ageyne with other rewardes and soo lette them departe Beinge asked of the coompasse of that lande they aunswered that it had no ende westewarde Most instantly defyringe the Admirall to coome alande humaine people or in his name to sende one with theÌ„ to salute their Cazicus that is their kinge Affirmynge that he wolde gyue owre men many presentes yf they wolde goo to hym But the Admiral leaste he shulde bee hyndered of the vyage which he had begunne refused to goo with them Then they desyred to knowe his name and towld owre men lykewyse the name of theyr kyng Thus sayling on yet further euer toward the West within fewe dayes he came nere vnto a certeyne exceding high mouÌ„tayne wel inhabyted by reason of the great fertilitie of the same A mounâ—aine fruitefull and well inhabited Thinhabitauntes of this mountayne browght to owre shippe breade gossampine cotton cunnies and sundry kyndes of wyldfowle demaunâ—ynge relygiously of thinterpretoures if this nation descended not from heauen The kynge of this people and dyuers other sage men that stoode by hym informed hym that that lande was no Ilande Shortly after enteringe into one of the Ilandes beinge on the lefte hande of this lande they fownde no body therin for they fledde al at the commyng of owre men Yet fownde they there fowre dogges of maruelous deformed shape Dogges of strange shape and dumme and suche as coulde not barke This kynd of dogges they eate as we do
and the other his kynsefolkes and frendes with their adherentes shoulde haue taken eyther by sleyghte or force as many of owre men as myght haue redeemed hym But the Admyrall vnderstandynge his crafty meanynge sente Hoiâ—dae with suche a coompany of men as might vanquishe the Cibauians if they shulde moue warre ageynste them Owre men had scarsely entered into the Region but the brother of Caunaboa came agenste them with an armie of fyue thousande naked menne Caunaboa his brother rebelleth armed after theyr maner with clubbes arrowes typte with bones and speares made harde at the endes with fyre He stole vpon owre men beyng in one of theyr howses and encamped rownde about the same on euery syde This Cibauian as a man not ignorant in the disciplyne of warre abowte the distance of a furlonge from the howse diuided his armye into fyue batayles appoyntinge to euery of them a circuite by equal diuision And placed the froont of his owne batayle directlye ageynst owre men When he had thus set his batayles in good array he gaue certeyne signes that the hole army shulde marche forwarde in order with equal paces and with a larome fresshly assayle theyr enemies A conflict betwene the Cibauians and the Spanyardes in such sort that none might escape But owre men iudginge it better to encounter with one of the batayles then to abyde the brunt of the hole army gaue onset on the mayne batayle aranged in the playne bycause that place was most commodious for the horsemen When the horsemen therfore hadde gyuen the charge they ouerthrewe them with the brestes of theyr horses and slewe as many as abode th ende of the fyght The Cibauians haue the ouerthrowe The residue beinge stryken with feare disparcled and fledde to the mountaynes and rockes from whense they made a pytifull houlynge to owre men desyringe them to spare them protestinge that they wolde neuer more rebelle but doo what so euer they woulde commaunde them if they wolde suffer theim to lyue in theyr owne countrey Thus the brother of Caunaboa beinge taken the Admirall licenced the people to resorte euery man to his owne These thinges thus fortunately atchiued this Region was pacified Amonge those mountaynes the vale which Caunaboa inhabited is cauled Magona and is excedynge fruitfull hauinge in it many goodly springes and ryuers in the sande wherof is fownde great plentie of golde The same yeare in the mooneth of Iune A great tempest in the moneth of Iune they saye there rose suche a boystous tempeste of wynde from the sowtheaste as hath not lyghtly ben harde of The violence hereof was such that it plucked vppe by the rooes what so euer greate trees were within the reache of the force therof When this whirle wynde came to the hauen of the citie it beate downe to the bottome of the sea three shippes which lay at anker Three ships drowned lyinge at anker broke the cables in sundre and that which is the greater maruail without any storme or rowghnes of the sea onely turnynge them three or foure tymes abowte The inhabitantes also affirme that the same yeare the sea extended it selfe further in to the lande and rose higher then euer it dyd before by the memory of man by the space of a cubet The people therfore muttered amonge them selues that owre nation hadde trowbled the elementes and caused such portentous signes These tempestes of the ayer which the Grecians caule Tiphones that is whyrle wyndes they caule whyrle wyndes Furacanes Furacanes which they say doo often tymes chaunce in this Ilande But that neyther they nor theyr great grandfathers euer sawe suche violent and furious Furacanes that plucked vppe greate trees by the rootes Neyther yet suche surges and vehement motions on the sea that soo wasted the lande As in deede it may appeare for as muche as where so euer the sea bankes are nere to any plaine there are in maner euery where florishing medowes reachinge euen vnto the shore But nowe let vs returne to Caunaboa As kynge Caunaboa therefore and his brother shoulde haue binne browght into Spayne The death of kynge Caunabâ—a and his brother they dyed by the waye for verye pensyuenes and anguyshe of mynde The Admiral whose shippes were drowned in the forsayde tempeste perceauinge him selfe to bee nowe enclosed coÌ„maunded foorthwith two other shippes which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas to bee made For he had with hym all maner of artificers perteyninge therunto Whyle these thinges were dooinge he sent foorth Bartholomeus Colonus his brother beinge leauetenaunt of the Ilande with an army of men to searche the golde mynes beinge dystant three score leaques from the citie of Isabella Bartholomeus Colonus thâ—â—eaueteâ—aâ—nt searâ—heâ—â— the goâ—dâ—â—â—nes which were fownde by the conducte of certeyne people of the Ilande beefore the mynes of Cipanga or Cibaua were knowen In these mynes they fownde certeyne deepe pittes which had byn digged in owlde tyme owte of these pyttes the Admirall who affirmeth this Ilande of Hispaniola to bee Ophir as we haue sayde before supposeth thâ—t Salomon the kynge of Hierusâ—lem had his greate ryches of golde wherof we reede in the owlde testamente The golde mynes of Salomon And that his shippes sayled to this Ophir by the goulfe of Persia cauled Sinus Persicus But whether it bee soo or not it lyeth not in me to iudge but in my opinion it is farre of As the myners dygged the superficiall or vppermost parte of the earthe of the mynes Golde in the superficiall partes of the earth durynge for the space of .vi. miles and in dyuers places syfted the same on the drye lande they fownde such plentie of golde that euery hyred labourer could easely fynde euery day the weyght of three drammes These mynes beinge thus searched and fownde the Lieuetenaunte certifyed the Admirall hereof by his letters The which when he had receaued the .v. daye of the Ides of Marche Anno. 1495. he entered into his newe shippes and tooke his viage directly to Spayne to aduertise the kynge of all his affayres The Admiral taketh his viage to spaine leauinge the hole regiment of the Iland with his brother the Lieuetenaunte ¶ The fyfte booke of the fyrst decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie AFter the Admyralles departyng into Spain his Brother the Lieuetenaunte buylded A fortesse in the golde mynes as he had commaunded hym This he cauled the golden towre The golden towre bycause the labourers fownde golde in the earth and stone wherof they made the waules of the fortresse He consumed three monethes in makynge the instrumentes wherwith the golde shulde bee gathered washed tryed and molten Lacke of vytayles Yet was he at this tyme by reason of wante of vitayles enforced to leaue all thynges imperfecte and to goo seeke for meate Thus as he with a bande of armed men had entered three score myles further within the lande the people of the countrey here and there
resortynge to hym gaue hym a certen portion of theyr breade in exchange for other of owre thynges But he coulde not long tary here bicause they lacked meate in the fortresse whyther he hasted with such as he had now gotten Leauyng therfore in the fortresse a garryson of tenne men with that portion of the Ilande breade whiche yet remayned huntinge houndes leauynge also with them a hownde to take those kyndes of lyttle beastes which they caule Vsias not muche vnlyke owre conyes he returned to the fortresse of Conception This also was the moonthe wherin the kynge Guarionexius and also Manicautexius kynge Manicautexius bortherer vnto hym shulde haue brought in theyr tributes Remaynynge there the hole moonthe of Iune he exacted the hole tribute of these twoo kinges and vytayles necessary for hym and suche as he brought with hym whiche were abowt foure hundreth in number Shortely after abowte the calendes of Iulye there came three Caraueles from Spayne Uytayles browght froÌ„ Spayne bringynge with them sundry kyndes of vitayles as wheate oyle wyne bacon and marckelmas beafe whiche were dyuyded to euery man accordynge as neede required Sum also was lost in the cariage for lacke of good lookyng too At the arryuall of these shyppes the lieuetenaunte receaued commaundment from the kynge and the Admyrall his brother that he with his men shulde remoue theyr habitation to the sowthe syde of the Ilande bycause it was nerer to the golde mynes Also that he shoulde make dilygent searche for those kynges whiche had slayne the Christian men and to sende them with theyr confederates bownd into Spayne At the nexte vyage therfore he sent three hundreth captiues with three Kinges And when he had diligently searched the coastes of the south syde he transported his habitation and buylded a fortresse there vpon the toppe of a hyll neere vnto a shure hauen This fortresse he cauled saynt Dominikes towre Saynt Dominikes towre Into this hauen runneth A ryuer of holsome water replenyshed with sundrye kyndes of good fysshes They affyrme this ryuer to haue many benefytes of nature For where so euer it runneth all thynges are excedynge pleasaunte and fruitfull hauynge on euery syde groues of date trees Groues of date trees and dyuers other of the Ilande frutes so plentyfully that as they sayled alonge by the shore often tymes the branches therof laden with flowres fruites hunge soo ouer theyr heades that they mighte plucke them with theyr handes Also that the frutefulnes of this grownde is eyther equall with the soyle of Isabella or better In Isabella Isabeâ—lâ— he lefte only certeyne sicke men and shippe wrightes whom he had appointed to make certeyne carauels The residue of his men he conueighed to the sowth to saint Dominickes towre After he had buylded this fortresse leauinge therin a garryson of .xx. men he with the remanent of his souldiers prepared them selues to searche the inner partes of the Weste syde of the Ilande hytherto knowen onely by name Therfore abowte .xxx. leaques that is foure score and tenne myles from the fortresse he chaunced on the ryuer Naiba The ryuer of Naiba whiche we sayde to descende from the mountaynes of Cibaua ryght towarde the sowth by the myddest of the Iland When he had ouerpassed this ryuer with a coompanye of armed men diuided into .xxv. decurions that is tenne in a company with theyr capitaynes he sent two decurions to the regions of those kinges in whose landes were the great woods of brasile trees wooddes of brasile trees Inclyninge towarde the lefte hande they fownde the woodes entered into them and felled the hygh and precious trees which were to that day vntouched Eche of the decurions fylled certeyne of the Ilande howses with the trunkes of brasile there to be reserued vntyll the shyppes came which shulde cary them away But the Lieuetenaunt directinge his iourney towarde the ryght hande not farre from the bankes of the ryuer of Naiba fownde a certeyne kynge whose name was Beuchius Anacauchoa kinge Beuchius Anacauchoa encamped ageynst thinhabitantes of the prouince of Naiba to subdue them vnder his dominion as he had doone manye other kynges of the Ilande bortherers vnto hym The palaice of this great kynge is cauled Xaragua The palaice of â—aragua and is situate towarde the Weste ende of the Ilande distante from the ryuer of Naiba .xxx. leaques All the prynces which dwell betwene the Weste ende and his palaice are ditionaries vnto hym All that Region from Naiba to the furtheste marches of the weste is vtterly withowte golde althowgh it bee full of mountaynes Mountaynes without gold When the kynge had espied owre men layinge a parte his weapons gyuinge signes of peace he spake gentelly to them incerteyne whether it were of humanitie or feare and demaunded or theÌ„ what they woolde haue The Lieuetenaunte aunswered That he shulde paye tribute to the Admirall his brother Tribute in the name of the Christian kynge of Spayne To whom he sayde Howe can yowe requyre that of me whereas neuer a Region vnder my dominion bringeth foorth golde For he had harde that there was a strange nation entered into the Ilande whiche made greate searche for golde But he supposed that they desyred none other thynge The leauetenaunt answered ageyne God forbydde that we shulde enioyne any man to pay such tribute as he myght not easely forbeare or such as were not engendered or growinge in the Region But we vnderstand that your Regions brynge foorth great plentie of Gossampine cotton and hempe The woolfe entreateth the sheepe with suche other whereof we desyre yowe to gyue vs parte When he harde these woordes he promysed with cherefull countenaunce to gyue hym as muche of these thynges as he wolde requyre Thus dismissinge his army sendynge messengers beefore he hym selfe accoompanyed the Leauetenaunte and browght hym to his palaice beinge dystante as we haue sayde .xxx. leaques In al this tracte they passed throwgh the Iurisdiction of other princes beinge vnder his dominion Of the whiche sume gaue them hempe of no lesse goodnes to make tackelinges for shippes then owre woodde Other sume browght breade and sum gossampyne cotton hempe and gossampine cotton And soo euery of them payde tribute with suche commodities as theyr countreys browght foorth At the lengthe they came to the kinges mansion place of Xaragua Before they entered into the palaice howe the Lieuetenant was receaued at the kynges palaice A greate multitude of the kynges seruauntes and subiectes resorted to the courte honorably after their maner to receaue their kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa with the strangers which he browght with hym to se the magnificence of his courte But nowe shall yowe heare howe they were interteyned Amonge other tryumphes and syghtes two are especially to bee noted Fyrste there mette them a company of xxx women beinge all the kynges wyues and concubines The kinges wyues bearinge in theyr handes branches of
declaring by tokens that they were very necessary to picke theyr teeth and to pul thornes owte of theyr flesshe But aboue al thynges haukes belles were most esteemed amonge them haukes bels in great estimation for theyr sounde faire coloure And wolde therfore gyue much for one of theÌ„ Owre men lodginge in theyr houses harde in the nyght season horryble noyses and rorynges of wylde beastes in the wooddes which are full of exceadinge greate and hygh trees of sundry kyndes Roringe of Wyld beastes But the beastes of these wooddes are not noysome to men For the people of the countrey goo dayly a hunting naked with theyr bowes and arrowes Yet hath it not byn harde of that any man hath byn slayne of any wylde beaste As many hartes or wylde bores as owre men woolde desyre them to brynge hartes and wylâ— bores they woolde kyll in the wooddes with their bowes and arrowes and not fayle to brynge theim They lacke kyne goates sheepe Theyr breade is made of rootes as is theyrs of the Ilandes This nation hath blacke heare grosse and sumwhat curlde yet longe also They keepe theyr teeth very whyte Blacke and curlde heare White teethe And for that purpose vse to cary a certeine herbe betwene theyr lyppes for the most parte of the day and to wasshe theyr mouthes when they cast it away The women doo all theyr busynes at home in theyr howses and haue also the cure of tyllage of the grounde But the men apply them selues to the warres and huntynge to playe Earthen Uessels singynge and daunsing They haue sundry kyndes of water pottes iugges and drinckinge cuppes made of earthe in other places abowt theym and brought thether for exchâ—unge of other thynges For they vse fayres and markettes for the same purpose and are gretly desyrous of such thynges as are not broughâ— forth or made in theyr countrey as nature hath gyuen a disposition to al men to desyre and bee delyted with newe and strange thynges Many of them had hangynge at theyr pearles Conninge aâ—tâ—ficers the Images of certeine beastes and birdes very artificiously made of golde but not pure These also are brought them from other places for exchange of other thynges The golde wherof they are made Base golde is natiue and of much lyke finenes to that wherof the florenes are coyned The men of this countrey in close theyr priuie members in a gourde cutte after the fashion of a coddepiece or els coouer the same with the shelle of a tortoyse A strange mâ—ner of coueringe theyr prâ—uities tyed abowte theyr loynes with laces of gossampine cotton In other places of that tract they thrust the synew with in the sheethe therof and bynde the skinne fast with a stringe The greate wylde beastes wherof wee spake before and many other thynges whiche are not founde in any of the Ilandes testifie that this regioÌ„ is part of the coÌ„tineÌ„t or firme land TokeÌ„s of the continent or firme lande But the chiefest coÌ„iecture wherby they argue the same is that by the coastes of that lande from Paria towarde the weste they sayled aboute three thousande myles fyndynge no signe or token of any ende These people of Curiana whiche sum caule Curtana beinge demaunded where they hadde suche plentie of golde signified that it was brought them from a Region cauled Canchieta or Cauchieta The gâ—â—den RegioÌ„ of Cauchieta being distant from them syxe soonnes that is syxe dayes iourney westwarde And that theyr Images of goulde were mâ—de in the same Region Where vppon owre men directed theyr vyage thyther immediatly and arryued there at the calendes of Nouember in â—he yeare of Christ a thousande and fyue hundreth The people of the countrey resorted to them withoute feare bryngynge with them of the golde which we sayde to bee natyue in that Region This people had also collers of pearles abowte theyr neckes whiche were brought them frome Curiana for exchange of theyr marchandies None of them wolde exchaunge any of those thinges which they had owte of other countreys as nother the Curians golde nor the Canchietans pearles Yet amonge the Canchietans they fownde but little gold redy gathered They toke with theÌ„ froÌ„ thense certen very fayre marmasets or munkeys many popingayes of sundry coloures In the monethe of Nouember Temperate ayer â—n Nouember the ayer was there most temperate nothyng coulde The gardens of the north pole were owte of syght to bothe these people they are soo nere to the Equinoctiall The Equinoctial lyne Of the degrees of the pole they can gyue none other accoumpte These people humane people are wel disposed men of honest condicions and nothinge suspicious For all most all the nyght longe they resorted to the shippe with theyr boates and went aboorde ship withowte feare as dyd the Curians They caule pearles Corixas They are sumwhat ielyous For when any straungers coome emonge them they euer place theyr women behynd theÌ„ In this Region of Canchieta the gossampine trees growe of them selues commonly in many places Gossampine trees as doo with vs elmes wyllowes and salowes And therfore they vse to make breeches of cotton Chorlyshe people wherwith they coouer theyr pryuie partes in many other Regions there aboute When they had yet sayled on forwarde by the same coastes there came foorth ageynste them abowte twoo thousande men armed after theyr maner forbydding them to coome aland These people were soo rude and saluage that owre men coulde by no meanes allure them to familiaritie Owre men therfore contented only with their pearles returned backe the same way they came where they remayned with the Curians continually for the space of twentie dayes AlphoÌ„sus returneth to Paria and fylled theyr bellyes wel with good meate And here it seemeth to me not farre from my purpose to declare what chaunced vnto theim in theyr returne when they came nowe within the syght of the coaste of Paria Canâ—bales in the goulfes of Paria They happened therefore in the way at Os Draconis and the goulfes of Paria wherof wee spake before to meete with a nauie of .xviii. Canoas of Canibales which went a rouyng to hunt for meÌ„ Who soone as they had espyed owr men assailed theyr shippe fiercely and without feare enclosed the same disturbing owre men on euery syde with theyr arrowes But owre men so feared them with theyr gunnes that they fledde immediatly whom owre menne folowinge with the shippe boate tooke one of theyr Canoas and in it only one Canibal for the other had escaped and with hym an other man bownde Who with teares runninge downe his cheekes and with giesture of his handes eyes and heade signified that syxe of his coompanyons had byn cruelly cutte in pieces and eaten of that myscheuous nation and that he shulde haue byn lykewyse handeled the day folowynge Wherfore they gaue hym poure ouer the Canyball to doo with hym what he wolde
Death for death Then with the Canibales owne clubbe he layde on hym al that he might dryue with hande and foote grinninge and fretinge as it had byn a wylde bore Thinkynge that he had not yet sufficiently reuenged the death of his companyons when he had beaten owte his braynes and guttes When he was demaunded after what sorte the Canibales were woont to inuade other contreys howe the canibales fortifie their caÌ„pe he answered that they euer vsed to carye with them in theyr Canoas a greate multitude of clubbes The whiche where soo euer they lande they pitche in the grownde and encampe them selues within the coompasse of the same to lye the more safely in the nyght season In Curiana they fownde the head of a capitaine of the Canibales nailed ouer the doore of a certeyne gouernoure for a token of victorie as it hadde byn the standerde or helmette taken from the enemye in battayle In these coastes of Paria is a Region cauled Haraia Haraia in the whiche greate plentie of salte is gathered after a strange sorte For the sea beinge there tossed with the poure of the wyndes dryueth the salte waters into a large playne by the sea syde Salte engendred of the water of the sea where afterward when the sea waxeth câ—ulme and the soonne begynnethe to shyne the water is congeled into moste pure and whyte salte wherewith innumerable shyppes might bee laden if men doo resorte thether for the same beefore there faule any rayne For the rayne meltethe it and causeth it to synke into the sande and soo by the pores of the earthe to returne to the place from whense it was dryuen Other say that the playne is not fylled from the sea but of certeine springes whose water is more sharpe and salt theÌ„ the Sprynges of of salt water water of the sea Thinhabitantes doo greatlye esteeme this bay of salte Which they vse not only for theyr owne commoditie but also woorkinge the same into a square forme lyke vnto brickes they sell it to strangers for exchaunge of other thynges whiche they lacke In this Region they stretche and drye the deade bodies of theyr kinges and noble men The bodies of princes dryed reserued layinge the same vpon a certeyne frame of woodde much lyke vnto a hurdle or grediren with a gentell fyre vnder the same thus by lyttle and lyttle consuminge the flesshe and keepinge the skynne hole with the bones inclosed therein These dryed carcases they haue in greate reuerence and honour them for theyr householde and famylier goddes They say that in this place they sawe a man and in an other place a woman thus dryed and reserued When they departed from Curiana the .viii day of the Ides of February to returne to Spayne they had three score and .xvi. poundes weight after .viii. vnces to the pownde of perles which they bought for exchange of owre thynges amountinge to the value of fyue shyllinges Threescore xvi poundes weight of perles for .v. shillynges Departinge therfore they consumed three score dayes in theyr iourney althowgh it were shorter then frome Hispaniola by reason of the contynuall course of the sea into the weste The course of the sea toward the weste whiche dyd not only greately stey the shippe but also sumtymes dryue it backe But at the length they came home soo laden with perles that they were with euery maryner in maner as common as chaffe But the master of the shyppe Petrus Alphonsus perles as coÌ„moÌ„ as chaffe â—etrus AlphoÌ„sus in prison beinge accused of his coompanyons that he had stowlen a great multitude of precious perles and defrauded the kynge of his portion which was the fyueth parte was taken of Fernando de Vega a man of greate lerninge and experience and gouernour oâ— Gallecia where they arryued and was there kepte in pryson a longe tyme. But he styll denyethe that euer he deteyned anye parte of the perles Many of these perles were as bygge as hasell nuttes Orient perles as bygge as hasel nuttes and oriente as we caule it that is lyke vnto them of the Easte partes Yet not of soo greate price by reason that the holes therof are not soo perfecte When I my selfe was presente with the ryght honorable duke of Methyna and was bidden to dyner with hym in the citie of Ciuile they browght to hym aboue a hundreâ—h and twentie vnces of perles to be soulâ—e which surely did greatly delyte me with their fayrenes and brightnes Sum saye that Alphonsus hadde not these perles in Curiana being distante from Os Draconis more theÌ„ a hundreth and twentie leaques Curiana Os Draconis but that he had them in the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana Cumana Manacapana nere vnto Os Draconis and the Ilande of Margarita The Iland of Margarita For they deny that there is any perles fownde in Curiana But sithe the matter is yet in controuersie we wyll passe to other matters Thus muche yowe haue whereby yowe maye coniecture what commoditie in tyme to coome may bee looked for from these newe landes of the west Ocean wheras at the fyrste discoueringe they shewe such tokens of greate ryches Thus fare ye well ¶ The .ix. booke of the fyrst Decade to Cardynall Lodouike VIncentiagnes Pinzonus and also Aries Pinzonus The nauigation of vincentius and Aries Pinzonus his neuie by his brothers syde which accompanyed the Admiral Colonus in his fyrste vyage and were by him appoynted to bee masters of twoo of the smaule shippes which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas beinge mooued by the greate ryches and amplytude of the new landes furnyshed of theyr owne charges foure carauels in the hauen of theyr owne countrey which the Spanyardes caule Palos bortheringe on the weste Ocean Hauynge therfore the kynges licence and passeporte to departe Licence and passeporte they loosed froÌ„ the hauen abowte the Calendes of December in the yeare 1499. This hauen of Palos is three score and twelue myles distant from Gades commonly cauled Cales and three score and foure myles from Ciuile Cales Ciuile All thinhabitantes of this towne not one excepted are greately gyuen to searchinge of the sea and continually exercysed in sayling They also directed their vyage fyrst to the Ilandes of Canarie by the Ilandes of Hesperides The Ilandes of Canarie nowe cauled Cabouerde Cabouerde which sum caule Gorgodes Meducias Saylinge therfore directly towarde the southe frome that Iland of the Hesperides which the Portugales being possessers of the same caule Sancti Iacobi and departinge frome thense at the Ides of Ianuary they folowed the southwest wynde s. Iames Ilande beinge in the myddest betwene the south and the weste When they supposed that they had sayled aboute three hundrethe leaques by the same wynde they say that they loste the syght of the Northe starre The North pole owte of syght and were shortelye after tossed with excedinge tempestes
water largely taken may bee cauled an Ilande The hole earth largely takâ—â— â–ª maye bee cauled an Ilande From the poynte of that land where they lost the sight of the north pole saylynge by a continuall tracke abowte three hundreth leaques towarde the weste syde of Paria they say that almoste in the mydde way they chaunced into a ryuer cauled Maragnonum Maragnonus a ryuer of exceadâ—nge breadâ—h and full of Ilands looke decade â—i liber ix which they affirme to bee of such excedinge breadth that it myght seeme incredible if the antiquitie dyd not make mention of the lyke Beinge demaunded of me if it were not salte water where it diuided the lande they answered that the water therof was very fresshe and sweete And that the further it ranne to bee soo muche the fressher Also full of Ilandes homsome fyshe They bare auouche the breadth therof to bee more then thirtie leaâ—ues Yet if wee well weighe and consyder the largenes and wydenes of Boriostomea and Spiriosiomea the mouthes of the famous ryuer of Ister nowe cauled Danubius howe farre they violate or corrupte the salte water with their freshenes Boriostomea and Spiriosâ—omea â–ª mouthes of the ryuer of Danubius wee shall cease to marueile althowgh this other ryuer bee greater For who can diminysshe the poure of nature but that it may make this bigger then the other and an other bygger then this And I suppose this to bee the ryuer wherof Colonus the Admirall made mention in the discription of his vyage in these coastes But wee shall hereafter haue further knowleage hereof Let vs nowe therfore returne to the commodities of these Regions They fownde in many Ilandes abowte Paria The commodities of the Regions and Ilandes about Paria Brasile great wooddes of brasile trees And brought awaye with them three thousande poundes weight thereof They say that the brasile of Hispaniola is muche better then this to dye clothe with a more fayre and durable colour FroÌ„ hense folowynge the wynde whiche the Spanyardes caule Norduest and the Italians Graeco they passed by many Ilandes very fruitefull yet lefte desolate and wasted by reason of the crueltie of the Canibales Mani fruitful Ilandes lefte desolate For they went alande in many places and fownde the ruines of many destroyed howses Yet in sum places they founde men but those exceadinge fearefull flyinge to the mountaynes rockes and wooddes at the sight of euery straunger or shippe and wanderinge without houses or certeyne abydinge places for feare of the Caniballes layinge wayte and huntinge after them Canibales Here they founde those great trees which of theÌ„ selues in dyuers places bringe furth the fruite or spice whiche the Apothecaries caule Cassia fâ—stula Trees of Cassia fistula And that of noo lesse goodnes then that which the phisitians minister to such as bee diseased with the ague Buâ— it was not ripe at theyr beinge there They affirme that there are trees of suche byggenes Trees of maruelous byggenes that .xvi. men ioyninge handes togyther and standinge in coompasse can scarsely embrase sum of them Emonge these trees is fownde that monstrous beaste with a snowte lyke a foxe a tayle lyke a marmasette A monstrouâ— beâ—ste eares lyke a batte handes lyke a man and feete lyke an ape bearing her whelpes abowte with her in an owtwarde bellye muche lyke vnto a greate bagge or purse The deade carkas of this beast you sawe with me and turned it ouer and ouer with yowre owne handes marueylynge at that newe belly and wonderfull prouision of nature They say it is knowen by experience that shee neuer letteth her whelpes goo owte of that purse exexcept it bee eyther to play or to sucke vntyl suche tyme that they bee able to gette theyr lyuing by them selues They tooke this beaste with her whelpes But the whelpes dyed shortely after in the shyppes Yet the damme liued certeyne moonethes But at the length not beinge able to abyde soo greate alteration of ayer and chaunge of meate Alteracion of ayer chaÌ„ge of meate shee dyed also in the way But of this beaste wee haue sayde enowgh Let vs now therfore returne to the autoures of these thynges These twoo Pinzoni the vncle and the neuie susteyned manye great trowbles and horrible tempestes and perilles in this nauigation For when they had nowe sayled by the coastes of Paria abowte .vi. hundreth leaques and as they supposed beyonde the citie of Cathay and the coastes of Easte India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges Cathay in India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges there rose soodenly soo fierce a tempeste in the mooneth of Iuly that of the foure carauels which they had with them twoo were drowned euen beefore theyr eyes A shipwracke by tempest and the thyrde lyenge at anker with lyke soodennes caryed owte of theyr syght throwgh the violence of the tempeste The fourth also lyinge at anker was soo shaken and broosed that al the seames therof were almost loosed Yet came they to lande owt of this laste shyppe but vtterlye despayrynge of the shyppe Wherfore consultynge with them selues what was best to bee doone in soo extreeme a case and how to prouide them a safe dwellinge place in those Regions beinge owt of al hope how to departe from thense Extreme remedie in a desperat case they determined to sley all the inhabitantes of the contrey nere abowte them leaste they with the other shulde conspire togyther to kyl them but theyr fortune was better For the carauell which the tempeste had caryed a way was coome to them ageyne This had in it .xviii. men And the other that remayned was saued and repayred With these two therfore they tooke theyr vyage directly to Spaine And thus beinge tossed with tempestes and vexed with aduersities they returned to theyr natiue contrey of Palos to theyr wyues and children the day before the Calendes of October with the losse of many of theyr dere frendes and neighbours they browght with them Cinamome and gynger Cinamome and gynger but not very good bycause they were not there fully seasoned with the heate of the soone before they brought them froÌ„ thense They browght also certeyne precious stones whiche Baptista Elysius that excellent philosopher and yowre lordeshippes phisitian affirmeth to bee trewe Topases Topases After these mens returne other of theyr neighbours beinge moued thereto by a certeyne emulation to proue yf theyr fortune wolde bee anye better lyke men of good corage Men of noble corage beinge nothing discomforted by the harde fortune of theyr neighboures knowinge that it often tymes chaunceth that that which is one mans vndoinge is an other mans makynge attempted a newe vyage towarde the sowthe by the coastes of Paria A nother vyage folowynge the steppes of Colonus the Admiral who had fyrst discouered the same They also browght with them greate plentie of Cassia fistula And fownde that precious medecine cauled of the
the Ilandes are meeke and withowte hurte Nothing hurtfull in the Ilandes except men which as wee haue sayde are in many Ilandes deuourers of mans flesshe There are also dyuers kyndes of foules And in many places battes of such bygnes that they are equall with turtle doues Battes as bygge as turtle doues These battes haue often tymes assauted men in the nyght in theyr sleepe and soo bytten them with theyr venemous teethe that they haue byn therby almoste dryuen to madnes in soo much that they haue byn compelled to flye from such places as from rauenous harpies In an other place where certeyne of them slepte in the nyght season on the sandes by the sea syde a monster commynge owte of the sea A man deuoured of a monster of the sea came vppon one of them secreatly and caryed hym away by the myddeste owte of the sight of his felowes to whome he cryed in vayne for helpe vntyll the beaste lepte into the sea with her praye It was the kynges pleasure that they shulde remayne in these landes The Spanyardes profer them selues to subdue the newe landes and buylde townes and fortresses Where vnto they were soo wel wyllynge that dyuers profered them selues to take vppon them the subduing of the lande makyng great sute to the kynge that they might bee appoynted therto The coaste of this tracte is exceadynge greate and large and the Regions and landes therof extende maruelous farre Note the largenes of the newe landes Soo that they affirme the continent of these Regions with the Ilandes abowte the same to bee thryse as bygge as al Europe besyde those landes that the Portugales haue fownde southwarde whiche are also exceadynge large Therfore doubtlesse Spayne hathe deserued greate prayse in these owre dayes Commendacion of the Spaniardes in that it hath made knowen vnto vs soo many thowsandes of Antipodes which leye hyd before and vnknowen to owre forefathers Antipodes And hath thereby mynystred so large matter to wryte of to suche lerned wyttes as are desyrous to sette furthe knowleage to the commoditie of men to whom I opened away when I gathered these thynges rudely to gyther as yowe see The which neuerthelesse I trust yowe wyll take in good parte aswell for that I can not adourne my rudenes with better vesture The autours excusse as also that I neuer tooke penne in hande to wryte lyke an historiographer but only by epistels scribeled in haste to satisfie theym from whose commaundementes I myght not drawe backe my foote But now I haue digressed enowghe Let vs nowe therefore returne to Hispaniola Hispaniola Owre men haue founde by experience that the breade of the Iland is of smaule strength to such as haue byn vsed to owr breade made of wheate And that theyr strenthes were much decayed by vsynge of the same Wherfore the king hath of late commaunded that wheate shulde bee sowen there in diuers places and at sundry tymes of the yeare The nature of the place altereth the formes and qualities of thynges Wheate herbes Catayle It groweth into holowe reedes with fewe eares but those verye bygge and frutefull They fynde the lyke softenes or delicatenes to bee in herbes which growe there to the height of corne Neat or cattall becoome of bygger stature and exceadynge fat but theyr flesshe is more vnsauery and theyr bones as they say eyther withowte marye or the same to bee verye waterysshe But of hogges and swyne hogges they affirme the contrarye that they are more holsoome and of better taste by reason of certeyne wylde frutes whiche they eate beinge of muche better nooryshement then maste There is almost none other kynd of flesshe commonly soulde in the market The multitude of hogges are excedingly encreased and becoome wylde as soone as they are owte of the swyneheardes keepynge They haue suche plentie of beastes and foules Plentie of beastes and fouâ—e that they shall heareafter haue noo neede to haue any brought from other places Thincrease of all beastes growe bygger then the broode they came of by reason of the rankenes of the pasture althowgh theyr feadynge bee only of grasse withowte eyther barley or other grayne But wee haue sayde enowgh of Hispaniola They haue nowe fownde that Cuba Cuba is an Ilande which of longe tyme they thowght to haue byn firme lande for the greate length therof is an Ilande Yet is it noo maruell that thinhabitantes them selues towlde owre men when they searched the length therof that it was withowte ende For this nacion being naked and contente with a lyttle and with the limittes of theyr owne contrey is not greatly curyous to know what theyr neyghbours doo or the largenes of theyr dominion Nor yet knewe they if there were any other thinge vnder heauen besyde that whiche they walked on with theyr feete Cuba The description of Cuba is frome the Easte into the Weste muche longer then Hispaniola And in breadthe from the Northe to the Southe much lesse then they supposed at the fyrst for it is very narowe in respecte to the length And is for the moste parte very frutefull and pleasaunt Eastwarde not farre from Hispaniola there lyethe an Ilande lesse then Hispaniola more then by the halfe which owre men cauled Sancti Iohannis The Iland of Burichema or S. Iohannis beinge in maner square In this they founde excedynge ryche golde mynes But beinge nowe occupied in the golde mynes of Hispaniola Golde mynes they haue not yet sent labourers in to that Iland But the plentie and reuenewe of golde of al other Regions gyue place to Hispaniola where they gyue theim selues in maner to none other thynge then to gather golde The order of woorkynge in the golde mynes of which woorke this order is appoynted To euery such wyttie and skylfull man as is put in truste to bee a suruoier or ouerseer of these woorkes there is assigned one or more kynges of the Ilande with theyr subiectes The kynges brynge theyr subiectes to woorke in the golde mynes These kynges accordyng to theyr league coome with theyr people at certeyne tymes of the yeare and resorte euery of them to the golde myne to the which he is assigned where they haue all maner of dygginge or myninge tooles deliuered them And euery kynge with his men haue a certeyne rewarde alowed them for theyr labour For when they departe from the mynes to sowynge of corne and other tyllage wherunto they are addict at certeyne other tymes Tyllage leaste theyr foode shulde fayle them they receaue for theyr laboure one a ierken or a dublet an other a sherte an other a cloke or a cappe For they nowe take pleasure in these thynges and goo no more naked as they were wont too doo And thus they vse the helpe and laboure of the inhabitantes both for the tyllage of theyr ground and in theyr gold mines as thowghe they were theyr seruauntes or bondemen They beare this
yoke of seruitude with an euyll wyll but yet they beare it They caule these hyred labourers Anaborias Yet the kynge doth not suffer that they shulde bee vsed as bondemen And onely at his pleasure they are sette at libertie or appoynted to woorke At suche tyme as they are cauled together of theyr kynges to woorke as souldiers or pioners are assembled of theyr centurians many of them stele away to the mountaynes and wooddes where they lye luckynge They abhorre laboure being content for that tyme to lyue with wyld frutes rather then take the paynes to laboure They are docible and apte to lerne They are docible and haue nowe vtterly forgotten theyr owlde supersticions They beleue godly and beare wel in memory suche thynges as they haue lerned of owre faith Theyr kynges children are brought vp with the chiefest of owre men The kynges chyldren and are instructed in letters and good maners When they are growen to mans age they sende them home to theyr countreys to bee exemple to other and especially to gouerne the people if theyr fathers bee dead that they maye the better set foorthe the Christian Religion and keepe theyr subiectes in loue and obedience By reason whereof they coome nowe by fayre meanes and gentell persuasions to the mynes which lye in twoo Regions of the Ilande aboute thirtie myles distante frome the citie of Dominica wherof the one is cauled Sancti Christophori The two chiefe golde myres of hispaniola And the other being distante aboute foure score and tenne myles is cauled Cibaua not farre from the cheefe hauen cauled Portus Regalis These regions are very large In the which in many places here and there are fownd sumtyme euen in the vpper crust of the earth and sumtyme amonge the stones Golde founde in the vpper part of the earth certeyne rounde pieces or plates of golde sumtyme of smaule quantitie and in sum places of great weyght In so muche that there hath byn found rounde pieces of three hundreth pounde weyght and one of three thousande three hundreth and tenne pounde weyght A piece of golde weighinge three thousande three huÌ„dreth ten pounds A coastly shipwrake The whiche as yowe harde was sente hole to the kynge in that shyppe in the which the gouernour Boadilla was comming home into Spayne the shyppe with all the men beinge drowned by the way by reason it was ouer laden with the weight of golde and multytude of men Albeit there were moo then a thowesande persons whiche sawe and handeled the piece of golde And wheras here I speake of a pounde I doo not meane the common pounde but the summe of the ducate of golde with the coyne cauled Triens which is the thyrde parte of a pounde whiche they caule Pesus Pesus The sum of the weyght hereof the Spanyardes caule Castellanum Aureum Al the golde that is dygged in the mountaynes of Cibaua and Porte Regale The fynynge and 〈…〉 of goâ—de is caryed to the towre of Conception where shoppes with al thynges apperteyninge are redy furnysshed to fyne it melte it and caste it into wedges That doone they take the kynges portion therof whiche is the fyfte parte and soo restore to euery man his owne whiche he gotte with his labour But the golde whiche is fownde in saynt Christophers myne and the Region there aboute is caryed to the shoppes whiche are in the vylage cauled Bonauentura In these twoo shoppes is molten yerely aboue three hundreth thousand pounde weight of golde Three hundreth thousaÌ„d weyght of gold molten yerely 〈◊〉 â—ispaniola If any man bee knowen deceatefully to keepe backe any portion of golde whereof he hathe not made the kynges officers pryuie he forfiteth the same for a fyne There chaunce amonge them often tymes many contentions and controuersies Controuerses the whiche onlesse the magistrates of the Ilande doo fynysshe the ease is remoued by applelation to the hyghe counsayle of the courte from whose sentence it is not lawfull to appele in all the dominions of Castyle But lette vs nowe returne to the newe landes frome whense wee haue digressed The newe landes They are innumerable dyuers and exceadynge fortunate Wherfore the Spanyardes in these owre dayes and theyr noble enterpryses The Spanyardes noble enterpryses are not inferiour to the actes of hercules or Saturnus c. doo not gyue place eyther to the factes of Saturnus or Hercules or any other of the ancient princes of famous memorie which were canonized amonge the goddes cauled Heroes for theyr searchinge of newe landes and regions bringinge the same to better culture and ciuilitie Oh God howe large and farre shal owre posteritie see the Christian Religion extended Enlarging of the Christian Religion Howe large a campe haue they nowe to wander in whiche by the trewe nobilitie that is in theym or mooued by vertue wyll attempte eyther to deserue lyke prayse amonge men or reputacion of well doinge before god What I conceaue in my mynde of these thynges The originall of trewe nobilitie I am not able to expresse with penne or tonge I wyll nowe therfore soo make an ende of this perpendiculer conclusion of the hole Decade as myndinge hereafter to searche and gather euery thynge particulerlye that I maye at further leasure wryte the same more at large For Colonus the Admiral with foure shyppes and a hundreth threescore and tenne men appoynted by the kynge discouered in the yeare of Christe .1520 the lande ouer ageynste the weste corner â—f Cuba distant from the same aboute a hundreth and thirtie leaques In the myddest of which tracte lyeth an Ilande cauled Guanassa The Ilande of Guanassa From hense he directed his vyage backewarde towarde the Easte by the shore of that coast supposinge that he shulde haue founde the coastes of Paria but it chaunced otherwyse It is sayd also that Vincentius Agnes of whom we haue spoken before and one Iohannes Diaz with dyuers other of whose vyages I haue as yet no certeyne knowleage haue ouer runne those coastes The vyage of Iohannes Diaz But if God graunt me life I trust to know the truthe hereof and to aduertise yowe of the same Thus fare ye well ¶ The seconde Decade foloweth ¶ THE FYRST BOOKE OF THE SECONDE Decade to Leo bysshop of Rome the tenthe of that name of the supposed Continent or firme lande SENSE the tyme that Galeatius Butrigarius of Bononie and Iohannes Cursius of Florence moste holye father came to the catholyke kynge of Spayne the one of yowre holynes ambasage and thother for thaffaires of his coÌ„mon welth I was euer for the moste parte in theyr coompanie and for theyr vertues and wysedoome had theym in greate reuerence And wheras they were greatly gyuen to studye and continuall reuoluinge of dyuers autours they chaunced vppon certeyne bookes negligently let slyppe owte of my handes entreatinge of the large landes and Regions hetherto lyinge hyd and almost west
Antipodes west Antipodes fownde of late by the Spanyardes Yet beinge allured and delited with the newenes and strangenes of the matter althowgh rudely adourned they commended the same Therwith ernestely desyringe me in theyr owne names and requyring me in the name of yowr holynes to adde here vnto all suche thynges as were fownde after that tyme and to gyue them a copie thereof to sende to yowre holynes that yowe myght therby vnderstande bothe howe greate commoditie is chaunced to the progenye of mankynde as also increase of the militante congregation in these owre dayes The â—ncreaâ—e of the Christian congregation by the fortunate enterpryses of the kynges of Spayne For lyke as rased or vnpaynted tables are apte to receaue what formes soo euer are fyrst drawen theron by the hande of the paynter euen soo these naked and simple people doo soone receaue the customes of owre Religion and by conuersation with owre men shake of theyr fierce and natiue barbarousnes I haue thowght it good therefore to satisfie the request of these wyse men especially vsinge thautoritie of yowre name wherunto not to haue obeyed I shulde esteeme my selfe to haue commytted a heynous offence Wherefore I wyl nowe brefely reherse in order what hyd coastes the Spanyardes ouerranne who were the autours therof where they rested what further hope they browght and fynallye what great thynges those tractes of landes doo promesse in tyme to coome In the declaration of my decade of the Ocean which is nowe printed and dispersed throwghowte Christendome vnwares to me I described howe Christophorus Colonus fownde those Ilandes wherof we haue spoken Christophorus Colonus and that turnynge from thense towarde the lefte hande southwarde he chaunced into greate regions of landes and large seas distant froÌ„ the Equinoctial lyne onely from fyue degrees to tenne Of landes distante froÌ„ the Equinoctiall from fyue degrees to ten where he founde brode ryuers and exceadinge hygh mountaynes couered with snowe and harde by the sea bankes where were many commodious and quyet hauens But Colonus being now departed owte of this lyfe The death of Colonus the kynge beganne to take care howe those landes myght be inhabited with Christian men to thincrease of owre fayth Where vppon he gaue licence by his letters patentes to al such as wolde take the matter in hand A generall lycence and especially to twoo wherof Diego Nicuesa was one and the other was Alphonsus Fogeda The nauigation of Alphonsus Fogeda Wherfore aboute the Ides of December Alphonsus departinge fyrst with three hundreth souldiers from the Ilande of Hispaniola in the which wee sayde the Spanyardes had builded a citie and planted theyr habitacion and saylynge in maner full southe he came to one of the hauens founde before whiche Colonus named Portus Carthaginis Portus Carthaginis bothe bycause of the Ilande standynge ageynste the course of the streame also that by reason of the largenes of the place and bendynge sydes it is muche lyke to the hauen of Spaine cauled Carthago Thinhabitantes caule the Ilande Codego as the Spanyardes caule the Ilande of theyr hauen Scombria This Region is cauled of the inhabitantes Caramairi The Region of Caramairi â–ª In the which they affirme bothe the men and women to bee of goodly stature People of goodly stature but naked The men haue theyr heare cutte rownde by theyr eares but the women were it longe Bothe the men and women are very good archers Owre men fownde certen trees in this prouince which bore greate plentie of sweete apples but hurteful for they turne into wormes when they are eaten Apples whiche turne into wooâ—mes Especially the shadowe of the tree A tree whose shadowe is hurtfull is contagious for suche as sleepe vnder it any tyme haue theyr headdes swolne and lose theyr sight But if they sleepe but a whyle theyr syght commeth ageyne after a fewe dayes This porte is dystant foure hundreth fyftie and syxe myles from that parte of Hispaniola which the Spanyardes caule Beata in the which also they furnysshe them selues when they prepare anye vyage to seeke other newe landes When Fogeda had entered into the hauen Fogeda his autoritie confirmed by the kynges letters patents he inuaded slewe and spoyled the people whome he founde naked and scattered For they were gyuen hym for a praye by the kynges letters patentes bycause they hadde bin before tyme cruel ageynst the Christians and coulde neuer bee allured to permytte them quietly to coome within theyr dominions Here they founde gold but in no greate quantitie nor yet that pure They make of it certeyne brest plates and brooches which they weare for coomelynes But Fogeda not content with these spoyles vsinge certeyne captiues whiche he had taken before for guydes entered into a vyllage twelue myles distante frome the sea syde further into the lande into the whiche they were fledde whom he fyrst inuaded warlyke people Here he founde a naked people but apte to warre For they were armed with targettes shieldes longe swoordes made of wood and bowes with arrowes typte with bone or hardened with fyer As soone as they had espyed owre men they with their gestes whom they had receaued assayled them with desperate myndes beinge therto more ernestly prouoked beholding the calamitie of these whiche fledde vnto theym by the violence doone to theyr women and chyldreÌ„ in the spoyle and slawghter In this conflicte owre men had the otherthrowe The Spanyardes haue the ouâ—rthrowe In the which one Iohannes de Lacossa beinge in autoritie nexte vnto Fogeda the capitayne and also the fyrste that gathered golde in the sandes of Vraba was slayne with fyftie souldiers For these people infecte theyr arrowes with the deadly poyson of a certeyne herbe Arrowes infected with poyson The other with theyr capitayne Fogeda beinge discomfited fledde to the shyppes Whyle they remayned thus in the hauen of Carthago sorowfull and pensyue for the losse of their companions the other capitayne Diego Nicuesa The nauigation of Diego Nicuesa whom they lefte in Hispaniola preparyng hym selfe towarde the vyage in the hauen Beata came to theim with fyue shippes and seuen hundrethe foure score and fyfteene menne For the greater number of souldyers folowed Nicuesa both bycause free libertie was gyuen them to choose which of the capytaynes them lyst and also that by reason of his age he was of greater autoritie But especially bycause the rumoure was that Beragua beinge by the kynges commission appoynted to Nicuesa The regions of vraba and â—eragua was rycher in golde then Vraba assigned to Alphonsus Fogeda Therfore at the arryuall of Nicuesa they consulted what was beste to bee doone And determyned fyrste to reuenge the deathe of their felowes Where vppon settynge theyr battayle in arraye they marched in the nyght towarde them whiche slewe Cossa with his coompanyons The Spanyardes reueÌ„ge the death of theyr companyons Thus stealynge on them
vnwares in the last watche of the nyght and encoompasinge the vyllage where they laye consistynge of a hundreth howses and more hauynge also in it thryse as many of theyr neyghbours as of them selues they set it on fyer with diligent watche that none myght escape And thus in shorte tyme they browght theym and theyr howses to asshes and made them pay the raunsome of bludde with bludde A greate slawghter For of a greate multitude of men and women they spared onely syxe chyldren al other being destroyed with fyer or sword except fewe which escaped priuilye They lerned by the reserued chyldren that Cossa and his felowes were cutte in pieces and eaten of them that slewe them By reason wherof they suppose that these people of Caramairi tooke theyr originall of the Caribes otherwyse cauled Canibales Canibales Here they founde sume golde amonge the asshes For the hunger of golde The hunger of golde dyd noo lesse encorage owr men to aduenture these perels and labours then dyd the possessynge of the landes These thynges thus fynysshed and the death of Cossa and his felowes reuenged they returned to the hauen After this Fogeda whiche came fyrst fyrst lykewyse departinge with his army to seeke Vraba commytted to his gouernaunce sayled by an Ilande cauled Fortis The Ilande Foâ—tis lyinge in the mydwaye betwene Vraba and the hauen of Carthago In to the which descendinge he fownde it to bee an Ilande of the Canybales brynginge with hym frome thense two men and seuen women for the residue escaped Here he fownde in the cotages of them that fledde a hundrethe foure score and tenne drammes of golde caste and wrought in dyuers formes wrought gold Saylynge forwarde from hense he came to the Easte coastes of Vraba whiche thinhabitantes caule Caribana Caribana from whense the Caribes or Canibales of the Ilandes are sayde to haue theyr name and originall Here he beganne to buylde a fortresse and a vyllage nere vnto the same therein intendynge to place theyr fyrst habitacion Shortly after beinge instructed by certeyne captyues that there was aboute twelue myles further within the lande a certeyne vyllage cauled Tirufi hauinge in it a ryche golde myne A gold myne he determyned to destroye the vylage To the which when he came he fownde thinhabitantes redye to defende theyr ryght The Spanyardes are repulsed And that soo stoutly that encounteryng with them he was repulsed with shame and domage For these people also vse bowes and venemous arrowes within a fewe dayes after beinge enforsed for lacke of vytales to inuade an other vyllage he hym selfe was stryken in the thyghe with an arrowe Fogeda iâ— wounded Sume of his felowes say that he was thus wounded of one of thinhabytantes whose wyfe he had ledde awaye captiue before They say also that he had first frendly comoned with Fogeda for redemynge of his wyfe had appoynted a day to brynge a portion of golde for her raunsome Ransome And that he came at the daye assigned not laden with golde but armed with bowes and arrowes with eyght other confetherate with hym whiche had bin before partetakers of the iniuries doone to them first at the hauen of Carthago and afterward at the burnyng of the vyllage In reuenge wherof they had desperatly consecrated them selues to death But the matter beinge knowen the captayne of this conspiracie was slayne of Fogeda his coompanyons and his wyfe deteyned in captiuitie Fogeda also throwgh the maliciousnes of the veneme consumed and was dryed vp by lyttle lyttle Whyle these thynges chaunced thus they espyed Nicuesa the other capitayne to whom Baragua the region of the weste syde of Vraba Fogeda consumeth by force of the Beragua and Uraba was assigned to inhabite He gaue wynde to his sayles to take his vyage towarde Beragua the day after that Fogeda departed owte of the hauen of Carâ—hago Nicuesa He with his army which he browght with hym coasted euer alonge by the shore vntyll he came to the goulfe Coiba The goulfe Coiba whose kynges name is Careta Here he founde theyr language to bee in maner nothynge lyke vnto that of Hispaniola or of the hauen of Carthago wherby he perceaued that in this tracte there are many languages differinge from theyr owne bortherers Dyuers languages Nicuesa departinge frome Coiba wente to the prouince or Lieuetenauntshippe of Fogeda his companion Within a fewe dayes after he hym selfe enteringe into one of those marchaunt shippes whiche the Spanyardes caule Carauelas commaunded that the bygger vessels shulde folowe farre behynde He tooke with hym twoo smaule shyppes commenly cauled bergantines or brygantynes Bergantines or brigaÌ„tâ—nes I haue thowght it good in all the discourse of these bookes to vse the common names of thinges bicause I had rather bee playne then curious especially forasmuche as there doo dayly aryse manye newe thynges vnknowen to the antiquitie wherof they haue lefte noo trewe names After the departure of Nicuesa there came a shyppe from Hispaniola to Fogeda the capitayne wherof was one Barnardino de Calauera Barnardino de 〈◊〉 who had stoulne the same from Hispaniola with three score men withowte leaue or aduice of the Admirall and the other gouernours With the vytayles whiche this shippe browgâ—t they refresshed theym selues and sumewhat recouered theyr strengthes muche weakened for lacke of meate Fogeda his companyons whyspered and muttered ageynste hym daylye more and more that he fedde them furthe with vayne hope For he had towlde them that he left Ancisus in Hispaniola whoÌ„ he chose by the kynges commission to bee a Iudge in causes Ancisus bycause he was lerned in the lawe to coome shortly after him with a shippe laden with vytayles And that he marueyled that he was not coome many dayes sense And herein he said nothinge but trewth For when he departed he lefte Ancisus halfe redy to folowe hym But his felowes supposinge that all that he sayde of Ancisus had byn fayned sume of them determyned priuilie to steale away the twoo brigantynes frome Fogeda and to returne to Hispaniola But Fogeda hauing knowleage hereof preuented theyr diuise For leauynge the custodie of the fortresse with a certeyne noble gentelman cauled Francisco Pizarro he hym selfe thus wounded with a fewe other in his companie entered into the shyppe wherof we spake before and sayled directly to Hispaniola Fogeda returneth to hispaniola both to heale the wound of his thygh if any remedy myght bee found also to knowe what was the cause of Ancisus taryinge Leauing hope with his felowes which were nowe browght from three hundreth to three score partly by famyne and partly by warre that he wolde returne within the space of .xv. dayes Famyne prescribyng also a condition to Pizarro and his companions that it shulde not bee imputed to them for treason to departe from thense if he came not ageyne at the day appoynted with vytayles and a newe supply of
passed by those coastes by reason wherof his store was nowe consumed Also that by the meanes of the contynuall warre which he kepte euer from his chyldes age with a kyng whose name is Poncha bortheringe vppon his dominion he and his famelie were in greate scarsenes of all thynges But Vaschus woolde admytte none of these excuses And thervppon tooke Careta prisoner kynge Careta is taken and spoyled spoyled his vyllage and browght hym bownd with his twoo wyues and chyldren and all his famelie to Dariena With this kynge Careta they founde three of the felowes of Nicuesa the whiche when Nicuesa passed by those coastes to seeke Beragua fearynge punysshement for theyr euyll desertes stoule away from the shyppes lyinge at anker And when the nauie departed commytted them selues to the mercie of Careta who enterteyned them very frendely They had nowe bynne there .xviii. moonethes and were therefore as vtterly naked as the people of the contrey Duringe this tyme the meate of thinhabitances seemed vnto them delicate diâ—shes and princely fare hunger is the best sauce especially bycause they enioyed the same withowte any stryfe for myne and thyne Wyne thine the seedes of al mischefe which twoo thynges moue and enforce men to such harde shyftes and miseries that in lyuing they seeme not to lyue Yet desyred they to returne to theyr owlde cares of suâ—he force is education and natural effection towarde them with whom we haue byn browght vp The vytayles whiche Vaschus browght frome the vyllage of Careta to his felowes lefte in Dariena was rather sumewhat to assuage theyr present hunger and vtterly to take away theyr necessitie But as touchinge Ancâ—sus beinge Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda Ancisus lieuetenaunt for Fogeda is cast in prison whether it were before these thynges or after I knowe not But this I am sure of that after the reiectinge of Nicuâ—sa many occasions were sought agenst Ancisus by Vascus and his factionaries Howe soo euer it was Ancisus was taken and cast in pryson and his goodes confiscate The cause hereof was as Vaschus alleaged that Ancisus hadde his commission of the Lieuetenauntshippe of Fogeda onely whome they sayde to bee nowe deade and not of the kynge Sayinge that he woolde not obey any man that was not put in office by the kyng hym selfe by his letters patentes Yet at the request of the graueste sorte he was sumwhat pacified and delt more gentelly with hym hauinge sum compassion of his calamities And thervppon commaunded hym to bee loosed Ancisus beinge at libertie tooke shyppe to departe from thense to Hispaniola Anciâ—us taketh his vyage to hispaniola But beefore he had hoysed vppe his sayle all the wysest sorte resorted to hym humbly desyringe hym to returne ageyne promysynge that they wolde doo theyr diligence that Vaschus beinge reconciled he myght bee restored to his full autoritie of the Lieuetenauntshippe But Ancisus refused to consent to theyr request and soo departed Yet sume there were that murmured that god and his angels shewed this reuenge vpon Ancisus The reueng of God bycauâ—e Nicuesa was reiected throwgh his counsayle Howe soo euer it bee the searchers of the newe landes faule headlonge into ruine by theyr owne follye consuminge them selues with ciuile discorde The inconueniences of discorde not weighinge soo greate a matter nor employinge theyr beste endeuoure aboute the same as the woorthynes of the thynge requyreth In this meane tyme they determyned all with one agreemente to sende messengers into Hispaniola to the younge Admirall and viceroy sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fynder of these landes The sonne heyrâ— of Colonus is Admirall and viceroy of hispaniola and to the other gouernoures of the Ilande from whom the newe landes receaue theyr ayde and lawes to signifie vnto theÌ„ what state they stoode in and in what necessitie they lyued also what they had founde and in what hope they were of greater thinges if they were furnyshed with plentie of vytayles and other necessaries For this purpose they elected at the assignement of Vascus one Valdiuia Valdiuia beinge one of his faction and instructed by hym ageinst Ancâ—sus And to bee aâ—sistant with hym they appoynted one Zamudius a Cantabrian So that commaundement was gyuen to Valdiuia to returne from Hispaniola with vytayles And Zamudius was appoynted to take his vyage into Spayne to the kynge zamudius Ancisus take their vyage to Spayne They tooke shippe both togyther with Ancisus hauinge in mynde to certifie the kynge howe thynges were handeled there muche otherwyse then Zamudius information I my selfe spake with both Ancisus and Zamudius at their commynge to the courte Whyle they were occupied aboute these matters those wretched men of Dariena loosed Carera the kynge of Coiba vppon condicion that he shulde ayde theym in theyr warres ageynst his enemy and theyrs kynge Poncha bortheringe vpon his dominions kinge PoÌ„cha Careta made a league with theÌ„ promysinge that as they passed by his kyngedome he woolde gyue them all thynges neceâ—sarie and meete them with an armie of men to goo forwarde with them to the battaile agenst Poncha Theyr weapons are nother bowes nor venemed arrowes as we sayde thinhabitantes to haue which dwel eastwarde beyonde the goulfe They feight therefore at hande with longe swordes which they caule Macanas made of wood bycause they haue noo Iren. Swoordes of woodde They vse also longe staues lyke iaâ—elens hardened at the endes with fyer or typte with bone Also certeyne stynges and dartes Thus after the league made with Careta bothe he and owre men had certeyne dayes appoynted theym to tyll theyr grounde and sowe theyr seedes This doone by the ayde of Careta and by his conduction they marched towarde the palaice of Poncha kynge Careta conspireth with the Spanyardes agenst kynge Poncha who fâ—edde at theyr coÌ„mynge They spoyled his vyllage and mytigated theyr hunger with such vytayles as they founde there Yet coulde they not helpe their felowes therwith by reasoÌ„ of the farre distance of the place althowghe they had greate plentie For the vyllage of Poncha was more then a hundreth myles distant from Dariena wheras was also none other remedy but that the same shulde haue byn caryed on mens backes to the sea syde beinge farre of where they left theyr shyppes in the which they came to the vyllage of Carâ—ta Here they founde certeyne powndes weyght of gold grauen wrought into sundrye ouches wrought gold After the sacking of this vyllage they resorted toward the ships intendyng to leaue the kinges of the inland vntouched at this tyme to inuade onely them which dwelt by the sea coastes Not farre from Coiba in the same tracte there is a Region named Comogra The region of Comogra distant frome Dariena xxx leaques and the Kinge thereof cauled Comogrus after the same name To this Kinge they came fyrst next after the subvertion of Poncha And founde his palaice situate
tylled and sowne much grounde in Dariena by thincrease wherof he might get much gold by sellyng the same to his felows He lefte therfore the charge of al his affayres in Dariena with his partener Alphonsus Nunnez a Iudge of the lawe who also was lyke to haue byn chosen procuratoure of this vyage before Colmenaris if one had not put theim in remembraunce that he had a wyfe at Matritis A wyfe is a hynderance fearyng least beinge ouercoome with her teares he woolde no more returne Colmenaris therefore a free man and at libertie being associate assistant with Quicedus they tooke shyppyng togyther in a brigantine the fourth day of the Calendes of Nouember in the yeare of Christ .1512 In this vyage beinge tossed with sundry tempestes they were by the violence of the wynde cast vppon the Weste coastes of that large Ilande whiche in the fyrste Decade we cauled Cuba Cubâ— supposed to haue byn fyrme lande They were sore oppressed with hunger For it was nowe three moonethes sence they departed from theyr felowes Three mooâ—ethâ—â—â—rom 〈◊〉 to Cuba by reaâ—on of tepestâ— By reason whereof they were enforced to take lande to proue what ayde they coulde gette amonge the inhabitantes Theyr chaunce therefore was to arryue in that part of the Ilande where Valdiuia was dryuen alande by tempest But oh yowe wretched men of Dariena Tary for Valdiuia whom yowe sent to prouide to hâ—lpe yowre neceâ—sities 〈…〉 Prouyde for yowre selues rather and trust not to them whose fortune yowe knowe not For when he arryued in Cuba thinhabitantes slewe him with al his felowes and lefte the carauell wherin they were caried torne in pieces and halfe couered with sande on the shore where Quicedus and Colmenaris fyndyng the fragmentes therof bewayled their felowes mysfortune But they founde none of theyr carkeses supposinge that they were eyther drowned or deuoured of the Canibals which oftentymes make incursions into that Ilande to hunte for men But at the length by twoo of the Ilande men which they had taken they had knowleage of Valdiuia his destruction And that thinhabitantes the more greedely attempted the same hurt of lauyshenes of the tonge for that they had harde by the bablynge of one of his felowes that he had great plentie of gold For they also take pleasure in the bewtie of gold which they forme artificially into sundry ouches Thus owre men stryken with pensyuenes for the cruell destenie of theyr felowes and in vayne seekynge reuenge for theyr iniuries determyned to forsake that vnfortunate lande departynge from those couetous naked barbarians with more sorowe and necessitie then they were in before Or euer they had passed the South syde of Cuba they fel into a thousande mysfortunes and had intellygence that Fogeda arryued thereaboute The calamitie death of Fogeda leadynge a myserable lyfe tossed and turmoyled with tempestes and vexed with a thousand perplexities Soo that departing from thense almost alone his felowes beinge for the most parte all consumed with maladies and famyn Maladies famen he came with much difficultie to Hispaniola where he dyed by force of the poyson of his venemous wound which he had receaued in Vraba as we haue said before But Ancisus elected Lieuetenaunt The prosperous vyage of Ancisus sayled by all those coastes with much better fortune For as he hym selfe toulde me he founde prosperous wyndes in those parties and was well enterteyned of thinhabitantes of Cuba But this specially in the dominion of a certeyne kynge whose name was Commendator A kyng of Cuba â—aptised by the name of Commendator For wheras he desyred of the Christian men whiche passed by to bee baptised demaundynge the name of the gouernour of the Ilande next vnto Hispaniola beinge a noble man and a knyght of thorder of Galatraua of which order al are cauled Commendatores this kynges desyre was to bee named after hym Kynge Commendator therfore frendely receaued Ancisus and gaue hym greate abundance of al thynges necessarie But what Ancisus lerned of theyr religion durynge the tyme of his Ancisus remaynynge there I haue thowght good to aduertyse yowre holynes Yowe shall therefore vnderstande A maruelouâ— historie howe God wrought miracles by the simple fayth of a maryner that certeyne of owre men saylinge by the coastes of Cuba lefte with kynge Commendator â–ª a certeyne poore maryner beinge diseased Who in shorte space recoueringe his health and hauynge nowe sumwhat lerned theyr language beganne to growe into great estimation with the kynge and his subiectes in soo muche that he was oftentymes the kynges Lieuetenaunt in his warres ageynst other princes his bortherers This mans fortune was soo good that all thynges prospered well that he tooke in hande And albeit that he were not lerned yet was he a vertuous and well meanynge man accordynge to his knowleage and dyd religiously honoure the blessed virgin bearynge euer about with hym her picture fayre paynted vpon paper sowd in his apparell nere vnto his breste Be not rashe in iudgement Signifyinge vnto the kyng that this holynes was the cause of al his victories persuadynge hym to doo the lyke and to cast away all his Zemes which were none other then the symilitudes of euyll spirites Zemes moste cruell enemyes and deuourers of owre sowles And to take vnto hym the holy virgin and moother of god to bee his patronesse if he desyred all his affayres aswell in warre as in peace to succede prosperously Also that the blessed virgyn woolde at noo tyme fayle hym but bee euer redy to helpe him and his if they woolde with deuoute hartes caule vppon her name The maryner had soone persuaded the naked nation And there vppon gaue the kynge who demaunded the same his pycture of the virgin to whom he buylded and dedicate a chapell and an altare A chapel builded to the picture of the virgin Mary euer after contemnynge and reiectynge his Zemes. Of these Zemes made of gossampine cotton to the similitudes of sprytes walkynge in the nyght which they oftentymes see and speake with them familierly wee haue spoken sufficiently in the nynth booke of the fyrst Decade Furthermore accordynge to the institution of this maryner when the soonne draweth towarde the faule this kynge Commendator with all his famely bothe men and women resorte daylye to the sayde chapell of the virgin Marie God reâ—pecteth the infancie of faâ—the for zeles sake where kneelyng on theyr knees and reuerently bawyng downe theyr heades holdynge theyr handes ioyned togyther they salute thimage of the virgin with these woordes Aue Maria Aue Maria. For fewe of them can rehearse any more woordes of this prayer At Ancisus his beinge there they tooke hym and his felowes by the handes and ledde them to this chapell with reioysinge sayinge that they woolde shewe theym maruelous thynges When they were entered One Religion turned into an other holdeth styl many thâ—nges of the fyrst they poynted
Segouia to Fernando and Helisabeth princes of Spayne at such tyme as the Portugales inuaded the kingdome of Castile by reason wherof they were encoraged fyâ—ste to resyste and then with open warre to assayle and expulse the Portugales for the great tresure which kynge Henry brother to queene Helisabeth hadde gathered togyther there kynge henry This marquesse whyle shee lyued dyd euer shewe a manly and stoute mynde bothe in peace and warre so that by her counsayle manye noble thynges were browght to good effecte in Castile vnto this noble woman the wyfe of Petrus Arias was niese by her brothers syde Shee folowyng the magnanimitie of her aunt perceauinge her husbande nowe furnyshyng hym selfe to depart to the vnknowen coastes of the newe woorlde and those large tractes of lande and sea spake these wordes vnto hym My moste deare and welbeloued husbande The wyfe of Petrus Arias we owght not nowe to forget that froÌ„ owre younge yeares we haue byn ioyned togyther with the yoke of holy matrimonie to thintente that wee shâ—lde soo lyue togyther and not a sunder durynge the tyme of owre naturall lyfe Wherefore for my parte to declare my affection herein yowe shall vnderstande that whyther so euer yowre fatal destenye shall dryue yowe eyther by the furious waues of the greate Ocean or by the manyfoulde and horrible daungers of the lande I wyll surely beare yowe coompany There can no perell chaunce to me so terrible nor any kynde of death so cruell that shal not bee much easyer for me to abyde then to liue so farre seperate from yowe It were muche better for me to dye and eyther to bee cast into the sea to bee deuoured of the fysshes or on the lande to the Canibales then with continuall mournynge and bewaylinge to lyue in deathe and dye lyuinge whyle I consume in lookyng rather for my husbandes letters then for hym selfe This is my full determinacion not rashely nor presentely excogitate nor conceaued by the lyght phantasie of womans brayne but with longe deliberatioÌ„ and good aduisement Nowe therfore choose to whether of these twoo yowe wyll assente Eyther to thruste yowre swoorde in my throte or to graunte me my requeste As for the châ—ldren which god hath giuen vs as pledges of owr inseperable loue for they had foure sonnes and as many dowghters shal not stay me a moment Let vs leaue vnto them suche gooddes and possessions as haue byn left vs by owre parentes and frendes wherby they may lyue amonge the woorshipful of theyr order For other thynges I take no care When this noble matrone of manly vertue had fynisshed these woordes her husbande seinge the constant mynde of his wyfe and her in a redynes to doo accordynge to her woordes had no hart to denye her louinge peticion but embrasinge her in his armes commended her intente and consented to her requeste Shee folowed hym therfore as dyd Ipsicratea her Mithridates with her heare hangeinge loose aboute her shulders For shee loueth her husbande as dyd Halicarnassea of Caria hers beinge deade and as dyd Artemisia her Mausolus We haue also had aduertisemeÌ„t sence their departure that she being browght vp as it were amonge soft fethers hath with noo lesse stoute corage susteyned the roringes and rages of the Ocean then dyd eyther her husband or any of the maryners brought vp euen amonge the sourges of the sea But to haue sayde thus much hereof this shal suffice Let vs nowe speake of other thynges no lesse woorthy memorie Therfore whereas in the fyrste Decade we haue made mencion of Vincentius Annez Pinzonus ye shal vnderstande that he accoompanyed Christophorus Colonus the Admirall in his fyrst vyage and afterwarde made an other vyage of his owne charges with onely one shyppe Ageyne the fyrste yeare after the departinge of the Capitaynes Nicuesa and Fogeda he ran ouer those coastes from Hispaniola The thyrde nauigation of Uincentiuâ— Pinzonus and searched all the southe syde of Cuba from the Easte to the weste and sayled rownde about that Ilande which to that day for the greate length thereof was thowght to haue bin part of the continent or firme land al thowgh sume other say that they dyd the lyke Vincentius Annez therfore knowyng nowe by experience that Cuba was an Ilande sayled on further and found other landes westward from Cuba Cuba but such as the Admirall had fyrst touched Wherfore beinge in maner encompased with this newe lande turninge his course towarde the lefte hande and rasing the coastes of that lande by the East ouerpassinge also the mouthes of the goulfes of Beragua Beragua Vraba Vraba and Cuchibachoa Cuchibacoa he arryued at the Region which in the fyrst Decade we cauled Paria and Os Draconis Paria Os Draconis And entered into the greate goulfe of fresshe water which Colonus discouered beinge replenished with great abundance of fysshe and famous by reason of the multitude of Ilandes lyinge in the same beinge distant Eastwarde from Curiana aboute a hundreth and thirtie myles Curiana in the which tract are the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana Cumana Manacapana whiche also in the syxte booke of the fyrst Decade we sayde to bee Regions of the large prouince of Paria where many affirme to bee the greteste plentie of the beste pearles Plentie of Pearles and not in Curiana The kinges of these regions whom they caul Chiacones as they of Hispaniola caule theym Cacici beinge certified of the comminge of owre men sente certeyne spyes to enquire what newe nation was arryued in theyr coastes what they browght and what they woolde haue and in the meane tyme furnysshed a number of theyr Canoas whiche they caule Chichos with men armed after their maner For they were not a lytle astonisshed to beholde owre shippes with the sayles spreade wheras they vse no sayles nor can vse but smaule on s if they woolde by reason of the narownes of theyr canoas Swarmynge therfore aboute the shippe with theyr canoas which we may well caule Monoxyla Monoxyla The Barbarians assayle owre men beinge in theyr shyppes bycause they are made of one hole tree they feared not to shute at owr men beinge yet within their ships and keepinge theym selues vnder the hatches as safely as yf they had byn defended with stone waules But when owre men had shotte of certeyne pieces of ordinance ageynst theym they were soo discomfited with the noyse and slawghter therof that they droue them selues to flight The vse of gunnes Beinge thus disparcled owr men chased them with the shippe bote tooke many and slewe many When the kynges harde the noyse of the gunnes and were certyfied of the losse of their men they sent ambasadours to Vincentius Agnes to entreate of peace fearinge the spoyle of theyr goodes and destruction of theyr people if owre men shuldâ— coomme alande in theyr wrathe and furye They desyred peace therfore Great abundance of gold and
frankensence as could bee coniectured by their signes and poyntinges For owre men vnderstoode not one woorde of theyr language And for the better proofe that they desired peace they presented owre men with three thousand of those weights of gold that the Spanyardes caule Casâ—ellanum Aureum which they commonly caule Pesum Olibanum Also a greate barell of woodde full of moste excellente masculine frankensence weighing about two thousande and syxe hundreth poundes weight after eight ounces to the pounde Whereby they knewe that that lande browght furthe greate plentie of frankensence Sabea â—is a contrey in Arabie which bringeth forth frankensence For there is noo entercourse of marchaundies betwene thinhabitantes of Paria and the sabeans beinge soo farre distante wheras also the of Paria knowe nothynge with owte theyr owne coastes Paria With the golde and frankensence whiche the presented to owre men they gaue them also a greate multitude of theyr peacockes Peacockes which wee cauâ—e Turkye cockes bothe cockes and hennes deade and alyue aswell to satisfie theyr present necessitie as also to cary with theym into Spayne for encrease Lykewyse certeyne carpettes coouerlettes table clothes and hanginges made of gossampine silke fynelye wrought after a straunge diuise with plesante variable colours â—arpets and couerlettâ—s fynely wrought hauing golden belles suche other spangles and pendauntes as the Italians caule Sonaglios and the Spanyardes Cascaueles hanging at the purfles therof They gaue theym furthermore speakinge popingiais of sundry colours as many as they woolde aske Popyngayes For in Paria there is no lesse plentie of popingiais then with vs of dooues or sparous Thinhabitantes of these Regions both men and women are appareled with vestures made of gossampine cotton Thapparell of the â—â—hâ—bittants oâ— paria the men to the knees and the women too the calfe of the legge The fasshion of theyr apparell is symple and playne muche like vnto the Turkes But the mens is double and quilted like that whiche the Turkes vse in the warres The princes of Paria are rulers but for one yeare Ruleâ—s for one yeare But their autoritie is noo lesse emonge the people both in peace and warre then is thautoritie of other kynges in those Regions Theyr villages are buylded in coompasse 〈◊〉 greate goulfe of Paria along by the bankes of all that greate goulfe Fyue of theyr princes came to owre men wyth theyr presentes whose names I thowght worthy to bee put in this historie in remembrance of soo notable a thinge Chiaconus Chiauaccha that is the prince of Chiauaccha for they caule princes or kinges Chiaconos Chiaconus Pintiguanus Chiaconus Chamailaba Chiaconus Polomus and Chiaconus Potto The goulfe beinge fyrste founde of the admirall Colonus they caule Baia Natiuitatis Baia Natiuitatis the gret goulfe of Paâ—ia bycause he entered into the same in the day of the natiuitie of Christe But at that tyme he only passed by it withowte anye further searching and Baia in the Spanysshe tong signifieth a goulfe When Vincentius had thus made a league with these Princes folowinge his appoynted course he founde many regions towarde the East Uincentuis maketh a league with v. princes of Paria desolate by reason of diuers finddes and ouer flowynges of waters also many standynge pooles in dyuers places and those of excedynge largenes He ceased not to folowe this tracte vntyll he came to the poynte or cape of that moste longe lande This poynte semethe as though it woolde inuade the monte Atlas in Aphrica Mount Atlas in aphrike For it prospectethe towarde that parte of Aphrike whiche the portugales caule Caput Bonoe Sperantiae The poyntes or capes of the mount Atlas are rough and saluage nere vnto the sea The cape of Bona Speranza gatherethe thirtie and foure degrees of the Southe pole cauled the pole antartike But that poynte onely seuen degrees I suppose this lande to bee that which I fynde in owlde wryters of Cosmographie to bee cauled the greate Iland Atlantike The great Iland atlantike withowt any further declaringe eyther of the sytuation or of the nature therof ¶ The eight booke of the seconde decade of the supposed continente WHen Iohan the king of portugale lyued which was predicessoure to hym that nowe reigneth Contention betwene the Castilians Portugaleâ— for the newe landes there arose a great contention betwene the Castilians and Portugales as concerninge the dominion of these newe founde landes The Portugales bycause they were the firste that durst attempte to searche the Ocan sea sence the memorie of man affirmed that all the nauigations of the Ocean owght to perteyne to theym onely The Castilians argued on the contrarie parte that what so euer god by the ministratioÌ„ of nature hath created on the earth was at the begynnynge common emong men And that it is therfore lawfull to euery man to possese suche landes as are voyd of Christian inhabitours Whyle the matter was thus vncerteynly debated bothe parties agreed that the controuersie shulde bee decerned by the bysshope of Rome and plighted faithe to stande to his arbitrimente The kyngedome of Castile was at that tyme gouerned by that great Queene Helisabeth with her husbande for the roialme of Castile was her dowerye The bysshop of Rome diuideth the land Shee also and the kynge of Portugale were cosyn germaynes of two systers by reason wherof the dissention was more easely pacified By thassent therfore of both parties Alexander the bysshop Rome the .vi. of that name by thautorite of his leaden bull drewe a right line from the North to the South a hundreth leaques westwarde withowte the paralelles of those Ilandes whiche are cauled Caput Viride or Cabouerde Cabouerde loke decade i. lib. iii Within the compase of this lyne althowgh soomme denye it faulethe the poynte of this lande wherof we haue spoken which they caule Caput Sancti Augustini otherwyse cauled Promontorium Sancti Augustini that is saynt Augustines cape or poynte And therfore it is not lawful for the Castilians to fasten foote in the beginnynge of that lande Vincentius Annez therfore departed from thense beinge aduertised of thinhabitantes that on the other syde of the hyghe mountaynes towarde the South lyinge before his eyes there was a Region cauled Ciamba The goldeâ— region of Ciamba which browght foorth greate plentie of golde Of certeyne captiues whiche he tooâ—e in the goulfe of Paria which certenly perteyneth to the dominion of Castile he browght sume with hym to Hispaniola and lefte them with the younge Admirall to lerne owre language But he hym selfe repayred to the courte to make ernest sute to the kynge that by his fauoure he myght bee gouernour of the Iland of Sancti Iohannis otherwyse cauled Burichena The Iland of S. Iohannes beinge distante from Hispaniola onely .xxv. leaques bycause he was the fyrst fynder of golde in that Ilande Before Vincentius made sute for this
of the sea Of the which one was drawen by the Portugales wherunto Americus Vesputius is sayde to haue put to his hande beinge a man moste experte in this facultie and a Florentyne borne The carde of Americus Uesputius who also vnder the stipende of the Portugales hadde sayled towarde the south pole many degrees beyond the Equinoctiall In this carde we founde the fyrst front of this land to bee brooder then the kynges of Vraba had persuaded owre men of theyr mountaynes To an other Colonus the Admiral whyle he yet lyued and searched those places had gyuen the beginnynge with his owne handes The carde of Colonus Wherunto Bartholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunt had addid his iudgement for he also had sayled aboute those coastes Of the Spanyardes lykewyse as many as thought them selues to haue any knowleage what perteyned to measure the lande and the sea drewe certeyne cardes in parchement as concernyng these nauigations Of all other they most esteeme them which Iohannes de la Cossa the coompanion of Fogeda whom wee sayde to bee slayne of the people of Caramairi in the hauen Carthago The carde of Iohannes de la Cossa and an other expert pylot cauled Andreas Moralis The carde of Andreas moralis had set foorth And this aswell for the greate experience which they bothe hadde to whom these tractes were as wel knowen as the chambers of theyr owne houses as also that they were thought to bee cunninger in that parte of Cosmographie which teacheth the description and measuringe of the sea Conferringe therefore all these cardes togyther in euery of the whiche was drawen a lyne expressinge not the myles The maner of measuring the cardes but leagues after the maner of the Spanyardes we tooke owre compases and beganne to measure the sea coastes after this order From that poynt or fronte which we sayde to bee included within the lyne perteynynge to the Portugales iurisdiction Loke decade i. liber iii. beinge drawen by the paralelles of the Ilandes of Cabouerde The Iland of Cabouerde but a hundreth leagues further towarde the weste which they haue nowe also searched on euery syde we founde three hundreth leagues to the enterance of the ryuer Maragnonum Maragnonum And from thense to Os Draconis Os Draconis seuen hundreth leagues but sumwhat lesse in the description of sume For they doo not agree in al poyntes exquisitely The Spanyardes wyll that a league conteyne foure myles by sea and but three by lande A league From Os Draconis to the cape or poynt of Cuchibacoa Cuchibachoa which beinge paâ—sed there is a goulfe on the lefte hande we measured three hundrethe leagues in one carde and much thereabout in an other From this poynt of Cuchibacoa to the region of Caramairi in which is the hauen Carthago which sum caule Carthagena we found about a hundreth and seuentie leagues Caramairi Carthago From Caramairi to the Ilande Fortis The Iland Fortis fiftie leagues From thense to the goulfes of Vraba amonge the which is the vyllage cauled Sancta Maria Antiqua where the Spanyardes haue apoynted theyr habitacion Vraba only .xxxiii. leagues From the ryuer of Vraba in the prouince of Dariena to the ryuer of Beragua where Nicuesa hadde intended to haue fastened his foote if god hadde not otherwyse decreed Beragua we measured a hundreth and thirtie leagues Frome Beragua to that ryuer whiche wee sayde of Colonus to bee cauled Sancti Matthei R. Sancti Matthei .i in the which also Nicuesa loosinge his carauell wandered in greate calamities we founde in owre cardes onely a hundreth and fortie leagues Yet many other which of late tyme haue coome from these partes haue descrybed many moo leagues in this tracte froÌ„ the ryuer of Sancti Matthei In which also they place dyuers ryuers as Aburema with the Ilande cauled Scutum Cateba R. Aburema Scutum Cateba lyinge before it whose kynges name is Facies combusta Lykewise an other ryuer cauled Zobraba R. Zobroba after that Vrida Vridâ— and theÌ„ Duraba in the which gold is founde Duraba Furthermore many goodly hauens as Cerabaro and Hiebra Cerabaro Hiebra soo cauled of thinhabitantes And thus if yowre holynes wyll conferre these numbers togyther yowe shall fynde in this accompte a thousand fiue hundreth twentie and fyue leagues Note whiche amounte to fâ—ue thousande and seuen hundreth myles from the poynt of Sancti Matthei R. dâ— los perdides which they caule Sinum perditorum that is the goulfe of the loste men But we may not leaue here For after this one Astar Ouetensâ—s otherwyse named Iohannes Dias de Solis The nauigation of Iâ—â—annes Dias borne in Nebrissa which bringeâ—h foorth many lerned men saylinge frome this ryuer towarde the weste ouer ranne manye coastes leagues But the myddeste of that shore bendethe towarde the North And is not therfore directly placed in order with the other Yet may we gather by a diameter or ryght lyne about three hundreth leagues Hereby maye yowe gather what is the length of this lande The eleuatioÌ„ of the pole But of thâ— breadth perhappes wee shall hereafter haue further knowleage Let vs nowe speake sumwhat of the varietie of the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starres This lande therfore althowgh it reache foorth from the East into the Weste yet is it crooked and hathe the poynt bendynge so toward the south that it loseth the sight of the North pole The iuriâ—diction of the Poâ—tugales and is extendend beyonde the Equinoctial lyne seuen degrees towarde the South pole But the poynt herof perteyneth to the iurisdiction of the Portugales as we haue sayde Leauinge this poynt and saylinge toward Paria the north starre is seene ageyne Paria and is so much the more lyfted vp in howe much the region enclyneth more towarde the Weste The Spanyardes therfore haue dyuers degrees of eleuations vntyl they come to Dariena beinge their chiefe station and dwellynge place in those landes Darlena For they haue forsaken Beragua Beragua where they found the North pole eleuate .viii. degrees But from hense the lande doth soo muche bende towarde the North that it is there in maner equall with the degrees of the strayghtes of Hercules pyllers hercules pyllers especially yf wee measure certeyne landes founde by them towarde the Northe syde of Hispaniola Emonge the which there is an Ilande about three hundreth and .xxv. leagues from Hispaniola as they say whiche haue searched the same named Boiuca or Agnaneo in the which is a continual sprynge of runnynge water of such maruelous vertue that the water therof beinge dronk The Ilande Boiuca or Agnaneo perhappes with sume dyete maketh owld men younge ageyne And here must I make protestacion to yowre holynes not to thynke this to bee sayde lyghtly or rashely A water of maruelous
Where makynge faste theyr boates they rested there that nyght Here the water soo encreased that it almost ouerdowed the Iland The increasing of the South sea They say also that that south sea doth soo in maner boyle and swelle that when it is at the hyghest it doth couer many greate rockes which at the faule therof are seene farre aboue the water But on the contrary parte all suche as inhabite the North sea The Northe Ocean affirme with one voyce that hit scarsely riseth at any tyme a cubet aboue the bankes as they also confesse which inhabite the Ilande of Hispaniola and other Ilandes situate in the same The Ilande therfore beinge nowe drye by the faule of the water they resorted to theyr boates which they founde all ouerwhelmed and full of sande and sume sore brused with great ryftes and almost lost by reason theyr cables were broken hard shyft in necessitie Such as were brused they tyed fast with theyr gyrdels with slippes of the barkes of trees and with tough and longe stalkes of certein herbes of the sea stopping the ryftes or chynkes with grasse accordynge to the presente necessitie Thus were they enforced to returne backe ageyne lyke vnto men that came frome shippewracke beinge almost consumed with hunger bycause theyr vytayles were vtterly destroyed by tempeste Thinhabitantes declared that there is harde all the yeare horrible rorynge of the sea amonge those Ilandes as often as it rysethe or fauleth But this most especially in those three monethes in the which it is moste boystious as Chiapes towlde Vaschus before Meanynge as they coulde coniecture by his woordes October Nouember and December for he signifie the present moone and the twoo moones folowynge countynge the moonethes by the moones whereas it was nowe October Here therefore refresshynge hym selfe and his souldiers a whyle and passynge by one vnprofitable kynge he came to an other whose name was Tumaccus The Region Tumacca after the name of the region beinge situate on that syde of the goulfe This Tumaccus came foorth ageynste owre men as dyd the other and with lyke fortune For he was ouercoome dryuen to flyght kynge Tumaccus is driuen to flyght and many of his men slayne He hym selfe was also sore wounded but yet escaped Vaschus sent certeyne messengers of the Chiapeans to hym to returne and not to bee afrayde But he could be nothyng moued nether by promysses nor threateninges Yet when the messengers were instant ceassed not to threaten death to him and his famely with the vtter desolation of his kyngedome if he persisted in that obstinacie at the length he sent his soonne with them whom Vaschus honorably enterteyninge apparelinge hym gorgiously and gyuing hym many gyftes sent hym to his father wyllynge hym to persuade hym of the puissaunce munificence liberalitie humanitie and clemencie of owre men Tumaccus beinge mooued by this gentelnes declared toward his sonne came with him the thyrde day bryngynge nothynge with hym at that tyme. But after that he knewe that owre men desyred goulde and pearles Golde and perles he sent for syxe hundreth and .xiiii. Pesos of golde and two hundreth and fortie of the biggest and fayrest perles besyde a great number of the smaulest sorte Owre men marueyled at the byggenes and fayrenes of these perles although they were not perfectely whyte bycause they take theym not owte of the sea musculs excepte they fyrst rost them Musculs of the sea that they may theselyer open them selfe and also that the fysshe maye haue the better taste whiche they esteeme for a delicate and princely dysshe and set more thereby then by the perles them selues Of these thynges I was enformed of one Arbolantius beinge one of Vaschus coompanions whom he sent to the kyng with manye perles and certeyne of those sea musculs But when Tumâ—ccus sawe that owre men soo greatly regarded the bewtie of the perles he commaunded certeyne of his men to prepare them selues to goo a fysshynge for perles Fysshyng for perles Who departinge came ageyne within foure dayes bringynge with them twelue pounde weight of orient perles after eight ounces to the pounde xii pounde weyght of perles Thus reioysinge on bothe parties they embrased and made a league of continual frendeshippe Tumaccus thought him selfe happie that he had presented owre men with such thankeful gyftes and was admitted to theyr frendshippe and owre men thinkynge them selues happie and blessed that they had founde suche tokens of great ryches swalowed downe theyr spettle for thyrste The thyrst of golde At all these doinges kynge Chiapes was present as a wytnes and coompanion He also reioysed not a lyttle aswell that by his conductinge he sawe that owre men shulde bee satisfied of theyr desyre as also that by this meanes he had declared to the next kynge his bortherer and enemie what frendes he had of owre men by whose ayde he myght lyue in quyetnes and bee reuenged of his aduersarie if neede shulde soo requyre Ambition amonge naked men For as wee haue sayde these naked kynges infeste theim selues with greuous warres onely for ambition and desyre to rule Vaschus bosteth in his epistell that he lerned certeyne maruelous secreates of Tumaccus him selfe as concernynge the greate ryches of this lande wherof as he sayth he woold vtter nothyng at this presente This Ilande is cauled Margarites Diues or Dites for asmuche as Tumaccus toulde it him in his eare But he was enformed of bothe the kynges that there is an Ilande in that goulfe greater then any of the other hauing in it but onely one kynge and hym of soo great poure A kynge of greate poure that at suche tymes of the yeare as the sea is caulme he inuadethe theyr dominions with a greate nauie of Culchas spoyling and caryinge a way for a praye all that he meeteth This Iland is distant from these coastes onely twentie myles Soo that the promontories or poyntes therof rechyng into the sea may bee seene from the hylles of this Continent In the sea nere about this Ilande sea musculs are engendred of such quantitie that many of them are as brode as buckelers Biggeperles In these are perles founde beinge the hartes of those shell fysshes often tymes as bygge as beanes sumtymes bygger then olyues and such as sumptuous Cleopatra myght haue desyred Cleopatra queene of Egypt resolued a pearle in vineger and drunke it price v. thousande pounde of owr mony thefâ—rcenes of Uâ—schus Althoughe this Ilande bee soo nere to the shore of this firme lande yet is the begynnyng therof in the mayne sea without the mouth of the goulfe Vaschus beinge ioyfull and mery with this rych communication fantasinge nowe in maner nothing but princes treasures beganne to speake fierce and cruell woordes ageynst the tyranne of that Ilande meanyng hereby too woonne the myndes of the other kynges and bynde them to hym with a nearer bande of frendeship Yet therfore raylynge further on hym with
nor yet aspired to the knowleage hereof bycause there came neuer man before owte of owre knowen worlde to these vnknowen nations The Spâ—niardes conquestes At the leaste with a poure of men by force of armes in maner of conquest wheras otherwise nothyng can be gotten here forasmuch as these nations are for the most part seuere defenders of theyr patrimonies and cruell to straungers in no condition admittinge them otherwyse then by conquest especially the fierce Canibales or Caribes For these wylye hunters of men Manhunters gyue them selues to none other kynde of exercyse but onely to manhuntynge and tyllage after theyr maner At the commynge therfore of owre men into theyr regions they loke as suerly to haue them faule into their snares as if they were hartes or wylde bores The fiersenesse of the Canâ—bales and with no lesse confydence licke their lippes secreately in hope of their praye If they gette the vpper hande they eate them greedely If they mystruste them selues to bee the weaker parte they truste to theyr feete and flye swyfter then the wynde Ageyne yf the matter bee tryed on the water aswell the women as men can dyue and swymme as though they had byn euer brought vp and fedde in the water It is noo maruayle therefore yf the large tracte of these regions haue byn hytherto vnknowen But nowe sithe it hath pleased God to discouer the same in owre tyme Owre duty to god and naturall loue to mankynde it shall becoome vs to shewe owre naturall loue to mankynde and dewtie to God to endeuoure owre selues to brynge them to ciuilitie and trewe religion to thincrease of Christes flocke to the confusion of Infidels and the Deuyll theyr father who delytethe in owre destruction as he hathe doone frome the begynnynge By the good successe of these fyrst frutes owre hope is that the Christian regilion shall streache foorth her armes very farre Which thyng shulde the sooner coome to passe yf all menne to theyr poure especially Christian Princes to whom it chiefely perteyneth wolde put theyr handes to the plowe of the lordes vineyarde Thoffyce of Chrystian prynces The haruest is great c. The haruest suerly is greate but the woorkemen are but fewe As we haue sayde at the begynnynge yowre holynes shall hereafter nooryshe many myriades of broodes of chekins vnder yowre wynges But let vs nowe returne to speake of Beragua beinge the weste syde of Vraba Beragua and fyrst founde by Colonus the Admirall then vnfortunately gouerned by Diego Nicuesa Nicuesa and nowe lefte in maner desolate with the other large regions of those prouinces brought from theyr wylde and beastly rudenes to ciuilitie and trewe religion ¶ The fourth booke of the thyrde Decade I Was determyned moste holy father to haue proceded no further herein but that onâ— fierye sparke yet remaynynge in my mynde woolde not suffer me to cease Wheras I haue therfore declared howe Beragua was fyrste fownde by Colonus my thincke I shulde commytte a heynous cryme if I shuld defraude the man of the due commendations of his trauayles The fourth nauigation of Colonus the Admirall of his cares and troubles and fynally of the daungeours and perels whiche he susteyned in that nauigation Therfore in the yeare of Christe .1502 in the .vi. daye of the Ides of Maye he hoysed vppe his sayles and departed from the Ilandes of Gades with .iiii. shyppes of fyftie or .iii. score tunne a piece with a hundreth threscore and tenne meÌ„ and came with prosperous wynde to the Ilandes of Canariâ— within fiue daies folowinge from thense arryuinge the .xvi. day at the Ilande of Dominica beinge the chiefe habitation of the Canibales he sayled from Dominica to Hispaniola in fyue other daies Thus within the space of .xxvi. daies with prosperous wynde and by the swyfte faule of the Ocean from the Easte to the west he sayled from Spaine to Hispaniola Which course is counted of the mariners to bee no lesse then a thousande and twoo hundreth leagues From Spaine to hispanâ—ola a thouâ—ande and two hundreth leagues He taryed but a whyle in Hispaniola whether it were wyllingly or that he were so admonisshed of the viceroye Directing therfore his vyage from thense towarde the weste leauyng the Ilandes of Cuba and Iamaica on his ryght hande towarde the northe he wryteth that he chaunsed vppon an Ilande more southewarde then Iamaica whiche thinhabitantes caule Guanassa so florysshinge and frutefull that it myghte seeme an earthlye Paradyse The floryâ—shyng Ilande of Guanassa Coastynge alonge by the shores of this Ilande he mette two of the Canoas or boates of those prouinces whiche were drawne with two naked slaues ageynst the streame In these boates was caryed a ruler of the Ilande with his wyfe and chyldren all naâ—ed The slaues seeynge owre men a lande made signes to them with proude countenaunce in their maisters name to stande owte of the waye and threatned them if they woolde not gyue place Simple people Their sympelnes is suche that they nother feared the multitude or poure of owre men or the greatnes and straungenes of owre shippes They thought that owre men woolde haue honoured their maister with like reuerence as they did Owre men had intelligeÌ„ce at the length that this ruler was a greate marchaunte whiche came to the marte from other coastes of the Ilande A greate marchaunt For they exercyse byinge and sellynge by exchaunge with their confinies He had also with him good stoore of suche ware as they stande in neede of or take pleasure in as laton belles rasers knyues and hatchettes made of a certeyne sharpe yelowe bryght stone with handles of a stronge kynd of woodde Also many other necessary instrumentes with kychen stuffe and vesselles for all necessary vses Lykewise sheetes of gossampine cotton wrought of sundrye colours Owre men tooke hym prysoner with all his famely But Colonus commaunded hym to bee losed shortely after and the greatest parte of his goodes to bee restored to wynne his fryndeshippe Beinge here instructed of a lande lyinge further towarde the southe he tooke his vyage thether Therfore lytle more then tenne myles distant froÌ„ hense he founde a large lande whiche thinhabitantes cauled Quiriquetana But he named it Ciamba The regyon of Queriquetana or Ciamba When he wente a lande and commaunded his chaplaine to saye maâ—se on the sea bankes a great confluence of the naked inhabitantes flocked thither symplye and without feare brinkynge with them plenty of meate and freshe water marueylynge at owre men as they had byn summe straunge miracle Gentle people When they had presented their giftes they went sumwhat backewarde and made lowe curtesy after their maner bowinge their heades and bodyes reuerently He recompensed their gentylnes rewardinge them with other of owre thynges as counters braslettes and garlandes of glasse and counterfecte stoones lookynge glasses nedelles and pynnes with suche other trashe whiche seemed vnto them precious marchaundies
In this great tracte there are two regions wherof the one is cauled Taia and the other Maia The regyons of Taia and Maia He writeth that all that lande is very fayre and holsome by reason of the excellent temperatnesse of the ayer And that it is inferiour to no lande in frutefull ground beinge partely full of mountaines and partely large playnâ—s Also replenyshed with many goodly trees holsome herbes and frutes continuynge greene and floryshynge all the hole yeare It beareth also verye many holy trees and pyne aple trees Also .vii. kyndes of date trees wherof summe are frutefull and summe baren Seuen kyndes of date trees It bringeth furth lykewyse of it selfe Pelgoras and wilde vynes laden with grapes euen in the wooddes emonge other trees wylde vines He saythe furthermore that there is suche abundaunce of other pleasaunte and profitable frutes that they passe not of vynes Of one of those kyndes of date trees they make certeyne longe and brode swoordes and dartes These regyons beare also gossampyne trees here and there commonly in the wooddâ—s Lykewise Mirobalanes of sundry kyndes Mâ—robalanes as those which the phisitians caule Emblicos and Chebulos Maizium also Iucca Ages and Battatas lyke vnto those whiche we haue sayde before to bee founde in other regions in these coastes The same nooryssheth also lyons Tygers Hartes Roes Goates and dyuers other beastes Lykewyse sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules Byrdes and foules Emonge the whiche they keepe onely them to franke and feede whiche are in colour bygnes and taste muche lyke vnto owre pehennes He saith that thinhabitantes are of high and goodly stature People of goodly stature well lymâ—ed and proportioned both men and women Couerynge their priuye partes with fyne breeches of gossampine cotton wrought with dyuers colours And that they may seeme the more cumlye and bewtifull as they take it they paynte their bodyes redde and blaâ—ke with the iuce of certeyne apples whiche they plante in their gardens for the saâ—e purpose Summe of them paynte their hole bodies They paynt theyr bodyes summe but parte and other summe drawe thâ— portitures of herbes floures and knottes euery one as seemeth beâ—te to his owne phantasye Their language differeth vtterlye from theirs of the Ilandes nere aboute them The â—wyfte courâ—e of the sea from the East to the West From these regions the waters of the sea ranne with as full course towarde the weste as if it had byn the faule of a swyfte riuer Neuerthelesse he determined to searche the Easte partes of this lande reuoluynge in his mynde that the regions of Paria and Os Draconis with other coastes founde before toward the Easte Pariâ— shulde bee neare theraboute as in deede they were Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the xiii daye of the calendes of September when he had sailed thirtie leaques he founde a ryuer without the mouth wherof he drewe freshe water in the sea Fresshe water in the sea Where also the shoore was so cleane withowte rockes that he founde grounde euery where where he myght aptely caste anker He writeth that the swifte course of the Ocean was so vehement and contrarye that in the space of fortye dayes he coulde scarcelye sayle threscore and tenne leaques and that with muche diffyâ—ultie with many fetches and coompasynges Fâ—â—ches and compasinges fyndyng him selfe to bee sumtimes repulsed and dryuen farre backe by the vyolente course of the sea when he woolde haue taken lande towarde the euenynge leâ—sâ—e perhappes wanderynge in vnknowen coastes in the darckenesâ—e of the nyght he myghte bee in daunger of shypwracke He writeth that in the space of eyght leaques he found three great and fayre ryuers vppon the banckes wherof Faire ryuers Great reedes there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh In these ryuers was also greate plentye of fyshe and great tortoyses Great tortoyses Lykewise in many places mulâ—itudes of Crocodiles lyinge in the â—ande and yanyng to â—ake the heate of the soonne Besyde dyuers other kyndes of beastes whervnto he gane no names He sayth alâ—o that the soyle of that lande is very diuers aâ—d variable beyng sumwhere stonye and full of rough and â—eâ—ggie promontoâ—â—es or poyntes reachynge into the sea And in other places as frutfull as maye bee They haue also diuers kynges and rulers Dyuers languages In summe places they caule a kynge Cacicus in other places they caule hym Quebi and sumwhere Tiba Suche as haue behaued them selues valiantly in the warres ageynste their enemies and haue their faces full of scarres they caule Cupras and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the goddes whiche they cauled Heroes Heroâ—â— â–ª supposed to bee the soules of suche men as in their lyfe tyme excelled in vertue and noble actes The common people they caule Chiui and a man they caule Hoâ—â—cuâ— When they saye in their language take man they say Hoppa home After this he came to an other ryuer apte to beare great shyppes Before the mouthe wherof lâ—ye foure smaule Ilandes full of florisshing and frutfull trees These Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora Quatuor tempora From hense saylynge towarde the Easte for the space of .xiii. leaques styll ageinste â—he vyolent course of the water he founde twelue other smaule Ilandes In the whiche bycause he founde a newe kynde of frutes muche like vnto owre lemondes he cauled them Limonares Twelâ—e IlaÌ„ds naâ—ed Liâ—â—â—naâ—es Wanderynge yet further the same waye for the â—pace of .xii. leaques he founde a great hauen enteryng into thâ— land after the maner of a goulfe the space of three lâ—aquâ—s and in maner as brode into the whiche fell a great ryuer Heâ—e was Nicuesa loste afterwarde when he sougâ—te Berâ—gaâ— By reaâ—on wherof they cauled it Rio delos perdidoâ— Rio de los peâ—didos that is the ryuer of the loste men Thus Colonus the Admirall yet further conâ—ynuynge his courâ—e ageynste the furye of the â—ea fouâ—de manye hyghe montaynes and horrible valleys with dyuers ryuers and hauens from all the whiche as he saythe proceaded sweete sauers greatly recâ—eatynge and confortynge nature In so muche that in all this longe tracte there was not one of his men deseaâ—ed vntyll he caâ—e to a region whiche thinhabitantes cauâ—e Quicuri The region of Quâ—curi in the whiche is the hauen cauled Cariai named Mâ—robalanus by the admyrall bycause the Mirobalane trees are natiue in the regions therabout In this hauen of Cariai The hauen of Cariai or Mirobalanus there came about two hundreth of thinhabitantes to the sea syde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in their handes Yet of condition gentell enoughe and not refusyng straungers Their commyng was for none other purpose then to knowe what this newe nation mente or what they broughâ—e with them When owre men had gyuen them sygnes of peace they came swymmynge to the shyppes and desyred to barter with them by exchaunge The
admyrall to allure them to frendâ—hippe gaue them many of owre thinges But they refused them suspectynge summe disceate thereby bycause he woolde not receyue theirs They wroughte all by sygnes Ciuile and humanâ— people for one vnderstoode not a woorde of the others language Suche gyftes as were sente them they lefte on the shore aâ—d woolde take no part therof They are of suche ciuilitye and humanytie that they esteeme it more honorable to gyue then to take They sente owre men two younge women beinge vyrgines of coÌ„mendable fauour and goodly stature sygnifyinge vnto them that they myghte take them awaye with them if it were their pleasure These women after the maner of their countrey were couered from their ancles sumwhat aboue their priuye partes with a certeyne clothe made of gossampine cotton But the men are al naked The women vse to cutte their heare But the men lette it growe on the hynder partes of their heades and cutte it on the fore parte Their longe heare they bynde vppe with fyllettes winde it in sundry rowles as owre maydes are accustomed to do The virgins which were sente to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell gaue them many gyftes and sent theym home ageyne But lykewise all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause owre men had refused their gyftes Yet tooke he two men away with him and those very wyllyngly that by lernyng the Spanyshe tonge he might afterwarde vse them for interpretours He considered that the tractes of these coastes were not greately troubeled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre frome the shâ—re syâ—e euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers The which thynge also other doo affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coastes declaring that the sea riseth and fauleth but lyttle there aboute He sayth furthermore that in the prospecte of this lande there are trees engendred euen in the sea Trees growynâ—â— in thâ— sea after a straunge sorâ— â–ª which after that they are growen to any height bende downe the toppes of theyr branches into the grounde which embrasing them causeth other branches to sprynge owt of the same and take roote in the earth bringynge foorth trees in theyr kynde successiuely as dyd the fyrst roote from whense they had theyr originall as do also the settes of vines when onely bothe the endes therof are put into the grounde Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees Plinie describynge them to bee on the lande but not in the sea The Admirall wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendered in the coastes of Cariai as in other prouinces of these regions and such as we haue spoken of before Yet that there is one founde here in nature much differinge from the other This beaste is of the byggenes of a greate moonkeye A straunge kynde of moonkeys but with a tayle muche longer and bygger It lyueth in the wooddes and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner Hangynge by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree gatheryng strength by swayinge her body twyse or thryse too and fro she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe An archer of owres hurt one of them Who perceauinge her selfe to be wounded A moonkeye feyghteth with a man leapte downe from the tree and fiercely set on hym which gaue her the wounde in so muche that he was fayne to defende hym selfe with his swoorde And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes he tooke her and with muche a doo brought her to the ships where within a whyle shee waxed tame Whyle shee was thus kepâ—e and bownde with cheynes certeyne other of owr hunters hadde chased a wylde bore owt of the maryshes nere vnto the sea syde For hunger and desyre of fleshe caused theÌ„ to take double pleasure in huntynge In this meane tyme other which remayned in the shippes goinge a lande to recreate them selues tooke this moonkey with them Who as soone as shee had espied the bore set vp her brystels made towarde her The bore lykewyse shooke his bristels whette his teethe The moonkey furiously inuaded the bore â— conflict betwene a monkey and a wylde bore wrappynge her tayle about his body and with her arme reserued of her victourer helde hym so fast aboute the throte that he was suffocate These people of Cariai vse to drye the deade bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees The bodyes of kynges dryed reserued As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai he founde a goulfe of sucâ— largenes that it conteyned .xii. leagues in compaâ—se In the mouth of this goulfe were foure lyttle Ilandes so nere togâ—ther that they made a safe hauen to enter into the goulfe This goulfe is the hauen which we sayde before to be cauled Cerabaro of thinhabitantes Cerabaro But they haue nowe lerned thâ—t only the lande of the one syde therof lyinge on the ryght hande at the enterynge of the goulfe is cauled by that name But that on the lefte syde is cauled Aburema Aburema He saythe thâ—t all this goulfe is ful of fruteful Ilandes wel replenysshed with goodly trees And the grounde of the sea to bee verye cleane withowt rockes and commodious to cast anker Lykewyse the sea of the goulfe to haue greate abundance of fysshe and the landâ— of both the sydes to bee inferior to none in frutfulnes At his fyrst arryuynge he espyed two of thinhâ—bitanâ—es hauynge cheynes about theyr neckes Cheynes of golde made of ouches which they caule Cuauines of base golde artificially wrought in the formes of Eagles and lions with dyuers other beastes and foules Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai he was enformed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde And that the people of Cariai haue all theyr golde frome thense for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges Plentie of golde They towlde hym also that in the saâ—e regiâ—ns there are fyue vyllages not farre from the sea â—yde whose inhabitantes apply theâ— selues onely to the gathering of gold The names of theâ—e vyllages are these Chirara Puren Chitaza Iureche Atamea Fiue villages rych in gold All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro go naked and are paynted with dyuers coloures They take gâ—eat pleasure in wearynge garlanâ—es of floures and crownes made of the clawes of Lions and Tygers Crownes of beasts claws The women couer onely theyr priuie partes wiâ—h a fyller of gossampine cotton Departinge from henâ—e and â—oastynge styll by the same shore for the space of .xviii. leagues he came to another ryuer whâ—re he espyed aboute three hundreth naked men in a company When they sawe the shippes drawe neare the lande they cryed owte aloude with cruell countenaunces shakynge thâ—yr woodden swoordes
vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro Cap. S. Augustini Vraba Cerabaro and to the furthest landes found hytherto westwarde they had euer greate mountaynes in syghte bothe nere hande and farre of in all that longe rase These mountaynes were in sume place smooth pleasaunt and frutfull Frutful mountaynes full of goodly trees and herbes And sumwhere hygh rowgh ful of rockes and baren as chaunseth in the famus mountayne of Taurus in Asia and also in dyuers coastes of our mountaynes of Apennini Aâ—ennini are mountaynes which dâ—uide Italy lute .ii. partes and suche other of lyke byggenesse The rydgies also of these mountaynes are diuided with goodly and fayre valleis That part of the mountaynes which includeth the lymettes of Beragua Beragaa is thought to be hygher then the clowdes The mountaynes of Beragua higher then the clâ—udes in so much that as they saye the tops of them can seldome bee seene for the multitude of thicke clowdes which are beneath the same Colonus the Admirall the fyrste fynder of these regions affirmeth that the toppes of the montaynes of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyghth Montaynes of fiftie miles heyght He sayth furthermore that in the same region at the rotes of the montaynes the way is open to the south sea and compareth it as it were betwene Uenice and Genua or Ianua as the Genues wyll haue it cauled whiche fable that theyr citie was buylded of Ianus Ianus otherwyâ—e cauled Iaphet the son of Noe. He affirmeth also that this lande reacheth foorth towarde the south And that from hense it taketh the begynnynge of breadth lyke as from the Alpes owte of the narowe thygh of Italy Italy is lyke vnto a legge in the sea the mountaynes of the alpes are in the thyghe therof we see the large and mayne landes of Fraunce Germanye and Pannonye to the Sarmatians and Scythyans euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of Riphea and the frosen sea and embrase therwith as with a continuall bonde all Tracia and Grecia with all that is included within the promontorie or poynt of Malea and Hellespontus southwarde and the sea Euzinus and the marysshes of Maeotis in Scythia northwarde The Admirall supposethe Colonus his opinion of the suppoâ—ed Continent By this coniecture the way shuld be open to Cathay by the hiperboreâ—â— that on the lefte hande in saylynge towarde the weste this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges And that on the ryght hande towarde the North it bee extended to the frosen sea beyonde the Hyperboreans and the North pole So that both the seas that is to meane that south sea which we sayde to bee founde by Vaschus and owre Ocean shulde ioyne and meete in the corners of that land And that the waters of these seas doo not onely inclose and compasse the same withowt diuision as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and Tanais with the frosen Ocean owre sea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanysshe seas But in my opinion the vehement course of the Ocean toward the weste doth signifie and lette that the sayde two seas shulde not so ioyne togither Looke the nâ—uigation of Cabote deca iii. lib. vi But rather that that land is adherent to the firme landes towarde the Northe as we haue sayde before It shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the length hereof Let vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat of the breadth of the same The breadth of the lande We haue made mention before howe the south sea is diuided by narowe lymittes from owre Ocean as it was proued by thexperience of Vaschus Nunâ—ez and his coompanions which fyrst made open the way thyther But as dyuersly as the mountaynes of owre Alpes in Europe are sumwhere narowe and in sume place brode euen so by the lyke prouideÌ„câ— of nature this lande in sume parte therof reacheth farre in breadth and is in other places coarcted with narowe limettes from sea to sea with valleys also in sume places wherby men may passe from the one syde to the other Where we haue descrybed the regions of Vraba and Beragua to bee situate The regions of Uraba and Beragua these seas are deuided by smaule distaunce Yet owght we to thynke the region which the great ryuer of Maragnonus runneth through The greate riuer Maragnonus to bee very large if we shall graunt Maragnonum to bee a ryuer and no sea as the freshe waters of the same owght to persuade vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth there can bee no swalowinge goulfes of such bygnesse as to receaue or nooryshe so great abundance of water The lyke is also to bee supposed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba which we sayde to bee from the corner of the goulfe of Vraba in sume place of fortie fathomes depth The great riuer Dabaiba or sancty Iohannis and sumwhere fiftie Also three myles in breadth and so to faule into the sea We must needes graunt that the earth is brode there by the whiche the ryuer passeth from the hyghe mountaynes of Dabaiba from the East and not from the west They say that this ryuer consisteth and taketh his encrease of foure other ryuers faulynge from the mountaynes of Dabaiba The ryuers haue their increase from the sprynges of the montaynes Owre men caule this ryuer Flumen S. Iohannis They say also that from hense it fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba by seuen mouthes as doothe the ryuer of Nilus into the sea of Egypte The ryuer of Nilus in Egypte Lykewyse that in the same region of Vraba there are in sume places narowe streyghtes not passynge fyftene leaques and the same to bee saluage and withowt any passage by reason of dyuers marysshes and desolate wayes Marisshes and desolate wayes which the Latines caule Lamas But the Spanyardes accordynge to theyr varietie caule theÌ„ Tremedales Trampales Cenegales Sumideros and Zabondaderos But before we passe any further it shall not bee greatly from owr purpose to declare from whense these mountaynes of Dabaiba haue theyr name accordynge vnto thantiquities of thinhabitantes A superstitious opinion of thoriginall of montaines of Dabaiba They saye therefore that Dabaiba was a woman of greate magnanimitie and wysedome emonge theyr predicessours in owlde tyme whom in her lyfe all thinhabitantes of those prouinces did greatly reuerence and beinge deade gaue her diuine honour and named the regioÌ„ after her name beleuynge that shee sendeth thunder and lyghtnynge to destroy the frutes of the earth yf shee bee angered and to send plentie if shee bee well pleased This superstition hathe byn persuaded them by a craftie kynde of men vnder pretense of religion to thintent that they might enioye suche gyftes and offeringes as were brought to the place where shee was honoured Dragons and crocodiles in the marishes This is sufficient for this purpose They saye furthermore that the marysshes of the narowe
.xvii. shippes and a M. and fyue hundreth men althoughe there were onely a thousand and two hundreth assygned hym by the kynges letters It is sayde furthermore that he lefte behynd hym more then two thousande verye pensyue and syghynge that they also myght not be receaued proferynge them selues to go at their owne charges He taried .xvi. dayes in Gomera to thintente to make prouysyon of fuell and freshe water Prouision of fresshe water and fuell But chiefely to repayre his shyppes beynge sore brosed with tempestes and especially the gouernours shippe whiche had loste the rudder For these Ilandes are a commodious restynge place for all suche as intende to attempte any nauygations in that mayne sea Departynge from hense in the nones of Maye he sawe no more lande vntyll the thirde daye of Iune at the whiche he arriued at Dominica an Ilande of the Canibales The Iland of Dominica being distant from Gomera aboute eyght hundreth leaques Here he remayned foure dayes makinge newe prouision of freshe water and fuell durynge whiche tyme he sawe no man nor yet any steppes of men But founde plentie of sea crabbes and greate lysartes From hense he sayled by the Ilandes of Matinina otherwyse cauled Madanino Guadalupea Guadalupea otherwyâ—e cauled Carucuerâ—a or Queraquiera and Galanta otherwyse cauled Galana of all whiche we haue spoken in the fyrste decade He passed also throughe the sea of herbes or weedes continuyng a long tracte Yet nother he nor Colonus the Admyrall who fyrste founde these Ilandes and sayled through this sea of weedes haue declared anye reason howe these weedes shoulde coome The sea of herbes Summe thynke the sea too be verye muddye there and that these weedes are engendered in the bottome therof and so beynge loosed to ascende to the vppermooste parte of the water as wee see oftentymes chaunce in certeyne stondynge pooles and sumtymes also in greate ryuers Other suppose that they are not engendered there but to bee beaten from certeyne rockes by the vyolence of the water in tempestes And thus they leaue the matter in dowte Neyther haue they yet any certeyne experyence whether they stycke faste and gyue place to the shyppes or wander loose vppon the water But it is to bee thought that they are engendered there For otherwyse they shulde bee dryuen togyther on heapes by thympulsyon of the shyppes euen as a beasome gathereth the swepynges of a house and shulde also lette the course of the shyppes The fourth day after that he departed frome Dominica These mountaynes are cauled Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata decâ—de ii liber i .ii. the hyghe mountaynes couered with snowe wherof we haue spoken in the seconde decade appered vnto hym They saye that there the seas runne as swyftely towarde the weste The swyfte courâ—e of the sea towarde the west as it were a ryuer faulyng from the toppes of hyghe montaynes Although they sayled not directly toward the west but inclined sumwhat to the south From these montaynes fauleth the ryuer of Gaira The ryuer Gaira famous by the slaughter of owre men at such tyme as Rodericus Colmenares passed by those coastes as we haue sayde before Lykewyse many other fayre ryuers haue their originall from the same montaynes This prouynce in the whiche is also the regyon of Caramairi hath in it two notable hauens Caramairi of the which owre men named the one Carthago or Carthagona Carthago and the other Sancta Martha the region wherof thinhabitantes caule Saturma Saturma The porte of Sancta Martha is nearer to the montaines couered with snowe cauled Montes Niuales Mountaynes couered with snowe for it is at the rootes of the same montaines But the hauen of Carthago is more westewarde aboute fyftie leaques He writeth marueylous thynges of the hauen of Sancta Martha whiche they also confirme that came lately froÌ„ theÌ„se Of the which younge Vesputâ—us is one to whoÌ„ Americus Vesputius his vncle being a FloreÌ„tine borne left the exact knowlege of the mariners facultie Americus Vespâ—tius as it were by inheritance after his death for he was a very expert maister in the knowledge of his carde his compasse and the eleuation of the pole starre with all that perteineth therto This younge Vesputius was assygned by the kyng to bee one of the maisters of the gouernours shyppe bicause he was cunninge in iudgyng the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starre by the quadrante For the charge of gouernynge the rudder was chiefely coommytted to one Iohannes Serranus a Spaniarde who had oftentymes ouer runne those coastes Vesputius is my verye familyar frende and a wyttie younge man in whose coompany I take great pleasure and therefore vse hym oftentymes for my geste He hath also made many vyages into these coastes and diligently noted suche thinges as he hath seene Petrus Arias therfore writeth and he confyrmeth the same that thinhabitantes of these regyons tooke their originall of the Caribes or Canibales as appeared by the desperate fiercenes and crueltie which they oftentymes shewed to owre men when they passed by their coastes Suche stouâ—enes and fortitude of mynde is natuâ—â—llye engendered in these naked Barbarians The stoutnes of the Barbarianâ— that they feared not to aâ—sayle owre hole nauy to forbyd them to coome a land They feyght with venemous arrowes as we haue sayde before Perceauynge that owre men contempned their threatnynges they ranne furiously into the sea euen vppe to the breastes The Canibales feyghâ— in the water nothynge fearinge eyther the bygnes or multitude of owre shyppes but ceased not continually beinge thus in the water to cast dartes and shute their venemous arrowes as thicke as hayle In so muche that owre men had bynne in great daunger if they had not byn defended by the cages or pauisses of the shyppes and their targettes Yet were two of them wounded whiche died shortely after But this conflycte continued so sharpe that at the length owre men were enforced to shute of their byggest pieces of ordinaunce with hayleshotte The vse of gunnes At the slaughter and terrible noyse wherof the barbarians beynge sore discomfited and shaken with feare thynkynge the same to be thunder and lyghtnynge The generacion of thunder and lyghtnynge tourned their backes and fledde amayne They greately feare thunder bycause these regyons are oftentymes vexed with thunder and lyghtnynge by reason of the hyghe montaynes and nearenesse of the same to the region of the ayer wherin such fierie tempestes are engendered which the philosophers caule Meteora Meteora And all be it that owre men had nowe dryuen their enemyes to flyght and sawe them disparcled and owte of order yet dowted they and were of dyuers opinions whether they shulde pursue them or not On the one partie shame pricked them forwarde and on the other syde feare caused them to caste many perelles especially consyderynge the venemous arrowes whiche these barbarians canne direct so certeynely
Carucuiera haue in owre tyme vyolentely taken owte of the sayde Ilande of Sancti Iohannis more then fyue thousande men to bee eaten But let it suffice thus much to haue wandered by these monstrous bludsuckers We wyll nowe therfore speake sumewhat of the rootes whereof they make theyr breade forasmuch as the same shall hereafter bee foode to Christian men in steede of breade made of wheate Breade of rootes and in the steade of radysshe with such other rootes as they haue byn accustomed to eate in Europe We haue oftentymes sayde before that Iucca is a roote whereof the beste and moste delicate breade is made bothe in the firme lande of these regions and also in the Ilandes But howe it is tylled or husbanded howe it groweth and of howe dyuers kyndes it is I haue not yet declared Therefore when they intende to plante this Iucca The maner of plantinge the roote Iucca they make a hole in the earth knee deape and rayse a heape of the earth taken owte of the same fashionynge it lyke a square bedde of nyne foote breadth on euerye syde settynge twelue trunkes of these rootes beinge about a foote and a halfe longe a piece in euery of the sayd beddes conteynynge three rootes of a syde so layde a slope that the endes of them ioyne in maner togyther in the center or myddest of the bedde within the grounde Owt of the ioyntes of the rootes and spaces betwene the same sprynge the toppes and blades of newe rootes which by lyttle and lyttle encreasynge growe to the byggenes and length of a mans arme in the brawne and oftentymes as bygge as the thygh So that by the tyme of theyr full rypenes in maner all the earthe of the heape is conuerted into rootes Earth turned into rootes But they say that these rootes are not rype in lesse tyme then a yeare a halfe And that the longer they are suâ—fered to growe euen vntyll twoo yeares complete they are so muche the better and more perfecte to make breade therof howe breade is made of rootes When they are taken foorthe of the earth they scrape them and slyse theÌ„ with certeyne sharpe stones scruynge for the same purpose And thus layinge theÌ„ betwene two great stones or puttynge them in a sacke made of the stalkes of certeyne towgh herbes and smaule reedes they presse them as we do cheese or crabbes to drawe owte the iuse thereof and so let them drye a daye before they eate them The iuse or lyquoure they cast away for as we haue sayde it is deadly poyson in the Ilandes A straunge thynge Yet is the iuse of suche as growe in the firme lande holsome if it bee sodde as is the whey of owre mylke They saye that there are manye kyndes of this Iucca wherof suâ—e are more pleasaunte and delycate then the other and are therefore reserued as it were to make fine manchet for the kynges owne tables But the gentelmen eate of the meaner sorte and the common people of the basest The fynest they caule Cazabbi Cazabbi which they make rounde lyke cakes in certeyne presses before they seeth it or bake it They saye furthermore that there are lykewyse dyuers kyndes of the rootes of Ages and Battata Ages and Battata But they vse these rather as frutes and dysshes of seruice then to make breade therof as we vse rapes radysshes mussheroms nauies perseneppes and such lyke In this case they mooste especially esteeme the best kynde of Battatas which in pleasant tast and tendernes farre exceadeth owre musheromes It shal suffice to haue sayde thus muche of rootes Panicum is a grayne sumewhat lyke 〈◊〉 The Italians caule it Meâ—â—ca We wyll nowe therfore speake of an other kynde of theyr breade We declared before that they haue a kynde of grayne or pulse muche lyke vnto Panicum but with sumwhrt bygger graines which they beate into meale vppon certeyne greate hollowe stones with the labour of their handes when they lacke Iucca And of this is made the more vulgar or common breade It is sowen thrise a yeare so that the frutfulnesse of the grounde may beare it by reason of the equalitie of the tyme whereof wee haue spoken suffyciently before he meanethe the equall length of day and nyght which iâ— continually in regions vnder the Equinoctial lyne In these regyons they founde also the graine of Maizium Maizium and sundry kyndes of frutes of trees diligentely planted and well husbanded The waye betwene the regyons of Caramairi and Saturma is fayre brode and ryghte foorthe They founde here also sundrye kyndes of waterpottes made of earthe of dyuers colours Earth of dyuers colours in the whiche they bothe fetche and keepe freshe water Lykewise sundry kindes of iugges godderdes drynkyng cuppes pottes pannes dysshes and platters artifycially made When the gouernour had gyuen commaundement by proclamation that thinhabitantes shulde eyther obey the Christian kynge and embrase owre relygion or elles to depart owte of their countrey they answered with venemous arrowes In this skyrmyshe owre men tooke summe of theym whereof clothynge the moste parte in faire apparell they sente them ageyne to their owne coompany But leadyng the resydue to the shyppes to thinâ—ent to shewe them the poure and magnyfycence of the christians that they myght declare the same to their coompanions therby to wynne their fauour they appareled them lykewyse and sente them after their felowes Theye affyrme that in all the ryuers of these coastes theye sawe great argumentes and tokens of golde Golde in ryuers They founde here and there in their houses good store of hartes flesshe and bores fleshe wherwith they fedde them selues dilycately hartes and bores They also haue greate plentie of sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules Foules wherof they brynge vppe many in their houses summe for necessarye foode and other for daynty dysshes as we do hennes and partriches Owre men hereby coniecture that the ayer of these regions is veary holsome holsome ayer for as muche as sleapynge all nyghte vnder the fyrmament on the bankes of the ryuers none of them were at any tyme offended with reumes or heade ache by reason of any noysome humoure or vapoure proceadynge from the earthe ayer or water Owre men furthermore founde there many great bothomes of gossampyne cotton ready spunue and fardelles of dyuers kyndes of fethers wherof they make them selueâ— crestes and plumes Gossampine cotton Fethers after the maner of owre men of armes also certeine clokes whiche they esteeme as moste cumly ornamentes They founde lykewyse an innumerable multitude of bowes and arrowes Bowes and arâ—owes Thinhabitantes also of these regioÌ„s in summe places vse to burne the carkeses of their prynces when theye are deade and to reserue their bones buryed with spyces in certeyne hylles Deade bodies reserued In other places they onely drye theym and imbaume them with spycâ—s and sweete gummes and soo reserue them in
foorthwith to thintente there to plant theyr colonie or habitacion where the newe gouernour planted his habitatioÌ„ To the better accomplysshemente hereof they sent immediatly one Iohannes Aiora a noble younge gentelman of Corduba and vnder Lieuetenant The viage of Iohannes Aiora with foure hundreth men and foure carauelles and one other lyttle shippe Thus departinge he sayled fyrst directly to the hauen of Comogrus The hauen of Comogrus dystant from Dariena aboute twentie and fyue leagues as they wryte in theyr last letters Frome hense he as appoynted to sende a hundreth and fyftie of his foure hundreth towarde the South by a newe and ryghter way founde of late by the which as they say it is not paste .xxvi. leagues from the palaice of kynge Comogrus to the enteraunce of the goulfe of Sancti Michaelis Sainte Mychaels goulfâ— The residewe of the foure hundreth shall remayne there to bee an ayde and succour to all such as shall iorney to and fro Those hundreth and fiftie which are assigned to go southwarde take with them for interpretours certeine of owre men which had lerned the sootherne language of the bonde men which were gyuen to Vaschus when he ouerranne those regions and also certeyne of the bondemâ—n them selues which had nowe lerned the Spanysshe tonge They say that the hauen of Pocchorrosa The hauen Pocchorrosa is onely seuen leaques distante frome the hauen of Comogrus In Pocchorrosa he is assigned to leaue fyftâ—e men with the lyghtest shyp which maye bee a passinger betwene them A passynger shyppe that lyke as we vse poste horses by lande so may they by this currant shippe in shorte space certifie the Lieuetenaunt and thinhabitours of Dariena of suche thynges as shall chaunce They entende also to buylde houses in the region of Tumanama The palaice of kynge Tumanama Kyng Tumanama is distant from Pocchorrosa about twentie leaques Of these foure hundreth men beinge of the owlde souldiers of Dariena and men of good experience fyftie weare appoynted to bee as it were Decurians to guide and conducte the newe men from place to place to do their affaires Decurians are officers deuided into â—ennes c. When they had thus sette all thynges in order they thought it good to aduertise the king hereof and therwith to certifye hym that in those prouinces there is a kynge named Dabaiba whose dominion is very riche in golde Kyng Dabaiba But the same to be yet vntouched by reason of his great power His kingedome ioyneth to the seconde greate ryuer named Dabaiba after his name The gold mynes of Dabaiba whiche fauleth into the sea owt of the corner of the goulfe of Vraba as we haue largely declared before The common reporte is that all the lande of his dominions is ryche in golde The palayce of kynge Dabaiba is fyfty leaques distante from Dariena The pallaice of kynge Dabaiba Thinhabitantes saye that from the palaice the golde mynes reache to the borthers on euery syde The gold mynes of Dariena Albeit owre men haue also golde mynes not to bee contempned euen within three leaques of Dariena in the which they gather golde in many places at this presente Yet doo theye affyrme greater plentie to bee in the mynes of Dabaiba In the bookes of owre fyrste frutes wrytten to yowre holynesse we made mention of this Dabaiba wherin owre men were deceaued and mystooke the matter â—n erroure For where they founde the fyssher men of kyng Dabaiba in the marysshes they thought his region had byn there also They determyned therfore to sende to kynge Dabaiba three hundreth choyse younge men to be chosen owte of the hole army as moste apte to the warres Eâ—pedition ageinst kynge Dabaiba and well furnysshed with all kyndes of armoure and artillery to thintent to go vnto hym and wyl hym eyther frendly and peaceably to permytte them to inhabyte parte of his kingdome with the fruition of the golde mynes or elles to bydde him battayle and dryue hym owte of his countrey In their letters they often â—ymes repete this for an argument of great rychesse to coome Great plentie of golde that they in maner dygged the grounde in noo place but founde the earthe myxte with sparkes and smaule graynes of golde They haue also aduertised the kynge that it shal be commodious to place inhabitours in the hauen of Sancta Martha in the region of Saturma The regyon of Saturma that it maye bee a place of refuge for them that sayle from the Ilande of Dominica from the whiche as they saye it is but foure or fyue dayes saylyng to that hauen of the regyon of Saturma The Ilande of Dominica And from the hauen but thre dayes saylyng to Dariena Dariena But this is to bee vnderstode in goynge and not in returnynge For the returnyng from thense is so laborious and difficulte by reason of the contrary course of the water Difficulte saylyng ageynst the course of the sea that they seeme as it were to ascende hyghe montaynes and stryue ageynste the poure of Neptunus This swyfte course of the sea towarde the Weste is not so violente to theym whiche retourne to Spayne frome the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba Althoughe they also do laboure ageynste the faule of the Ocean The cause wherof is that the sea is here verye large so that the waters haue their full scoope But in the tracte of Paria the waters are constrayned together by the bendynge sydes of that great lande and by the multytude of Ilandes lyinge ageynste it as the lyke is seene in the straightes or narowe seas of Sicilie where the violent course of the waters cause the daungerous places of Scylla and Charybdis The daungerous straightes of Scylla Charybdis by reason of those narowe seas whiche conteine Ionium Libicum and Tirrhenum Colonus the fyrst fynder of these regyons hath lefte in wrytynge that saylynge from the Ilande of Guanassa Guanassa and the prouynces of Iaia Iaia Maia Maia and Cerabaro Cerabaro beyng regyons of the west marches of Beragua Beragua he founde the course of the water so vehemente and furious ageynste the fore parte of his shippe whyle he sailed from those coastes towarde the Easte that he coulde at no tyme touche the grounde with his soundynge plummet but that the contrary vyolence of the water woolde beare it vppe from the bottome The vehement course of the sea fro the east to the west He affyrmeth also that he coulde neuer in one hole daye with a meately good wynde wynne one myle of the course of the water And this is the cause why they are oftentymes enforced to sayle fyrste by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hispaniola and so into the mayne sea toward the North when they returne to Spaine that the Northe wyndes maye further their vyage whiche they can not brynge to passe by a directe course The northâ— wynde But
religion spreadeth her wynges Yet amonge these so many blessed and fortunate thynges this one greeueth me not a lyttle That these simple poore men neuer brought vp in labour By what meaneâ— the people of the Iland are gretly consumed do dayly peryshe with intollerable trauayle in the golde mynes And are therby brought to suche desperation that many of them kyll them selues hauynge no regarde to the procreation of chyldren In so much that women with chylde perceauynge that they shall brynge foorth such as shal be slaues to the Christians vse medecines to destroy theyr conception And albeit that by the kynges letters patentes it was decreed that they shulde bee set at lybertie yet are they constrayned to serue more then seemeth conuenient for free men The number of the poore wretches is woonderfully extenuate They were once rekened to bee aboue twelue hundreth thousande heades But what they are nowe I abhorre to rehearse We wyll therefore let this passe and returne to the pleasures of Hispaniola The plesures of hispaniola In the mountaynes of Cibaua which are in maner in the myddest of the Ilande in the prouince of Caiabo where we sayd to bee the greatest plentie of natyue golde there is a region named Cotohi situate in the clowdes The region of Cotohi â—ituate in the Clowdes enuironed with the toppes of hyghe mountaynes and well inhabited It consisteth of a playne of .xxv. myles in length and .xv. in breadth This playne is hygher then the toppes of other mountaynes A playne in the toppes of mountaynes So that these mountaynes maye seeme to bee the chiefe and progenitours of the other The hygher the coulder This playne suffereth alterations of the foure tymes of the yeare as the Sprynge Soomer Autumne and wynter Here the herbes ware wythered the trees loose theyr leaues Moderate coulde in the mountaynes and the medowes become hore The whiche thynges as we haue sayde chaunce not in other places of the Ilande where they haue only the Spring and Autumne The soyle of this playne bryngeth foorth ferne and bramble busshes bearynge blacke berries or wylde raspes Ferne of maruelous bignes which two are tokens of coulde regions Yet is it a fayre region for the coulde therof is not very sharpe neyther dooth it aflicte thinhabitantes with froste or snowe They argue the frutefulnes of the region by the ferne whose stalkes or steames are bygger then a spere or iauelen The sydes of those mountaynes are ryche in golde Golde Yet is there none appoynted to dygge for the same bycause it shal be needefull to haue apparelled myners and such as are vsed to labour For thinhabitantes lyuinge confeuted with lyttle are but tender And can not therfore away with labour or abyde any coulde Thinhabitantes of hispaniola can abyde no labour nor coulde There are two ryuers which runne through this region and faule from the toppes of the present mountaynes One of these is named Comoiayxa whose course is towarde the West and fauleth into the chanell of Naiba The other is cauled Tirecotus which runnynge towarde the East ioyneth with the ryuer of Iunna In the Ilande of Creta nowe cauled Candie as I passed bâ— in my legacie to the Soldane of Alcayr or Babylon in Egypte The Iland of Creta of Candie vnder the dominion of the Uenetians the Uenetians toulde me that there laye suche a region in the toppes of the mountaynes of Ida whiche they affirme to bee more frutefull of wheate corne then any other region of the Iland But forasmuch as once the Cretenses rebelled agenst the Uenetians and by reason of the streight and narowe way to the toppes therof longe defended the region with armes against thauctoritie of the Senate and at the length beinge forweryed with warres rendered the same the Senate commaunded that it shulde bee lefte deserte and the streightes of thenteraunces to bee stopped lest any shulde ascende to the region without their permissyon Yet in the yeare of Christe M. D. ii lycence was graunted to the husband men to tyll and manure the region on suche condition that no suche as were apte to the warres myght enter into the same There is also an other region in Hispaniola named Cotoby after the same name This diuideth the boundes of the prouinces of Vhabo and Caiabo It hath mountaynes vales and plaines But bycause it is baren it is not muche inhabited Yet is it richest in golde For the originall of the abundaunce of gold beginneth here In so muche that it is not gathered in smaule graines and sparkes as in other places but is founde hole Pure and massie golde in the region of Cotoy massie and pure emonge certaine softe stones and in the vaines of rockes by breakynge the stones wherof they folowe the vaynes of golde They haue founde by experience that the vayne of golde is a lyuinge tree The vaine of golde is a lyuynge tree And that the same by all wayes that it spreadeth springeth from the roote by the softe pores and passages of the yearth These colers or floures are cauled Marchasites Pyntes putteth foorth branches euen vnto the vppermost part of the earth ceaseth not vntyl it discouer it selfe vnto the open ayer At whiche time it sheweth foorth certaine bewtifull colours in the steede of floures rounde stones of golden earth in the steede of frutes and thynne plates in steede of leaues These are they whiche are disparcled throughout the hole Ilande by the course of the ryuers eruptions of the sprâ—nges owte of the montaines and violent faules of the fluddes For they thincke that such graines are not engendered where they are gathered especially on the dry land but otherwise in the riuers They say that the roote of the goldeÌ„ tree extendeth to the center of the earth there taketh norisheÌ„mt of increase The roote of the golden tree For the deaper that they dygge The braunches of the golden tree they fynd the trunkes therof to be so muche the greater as farre as they maye folowe it for abundaunce of water springing in the montaines Of the braunches of this tree they fynde summe as smaule as a threde and other as bygge as a mannes fynger accordynge to the largenesse or straightnesse of the ryftes and clyftes They haue sumetimes chaunced vpon hole caues susteyned and borne vp as it were with golden pyllars Caues susteyned with pyllers of golde And this in the wayes by the whiche the branches ascende The whiche beynge fylled with the substaunce of the truncke creapynge from beneath the branche maketh it selfe waye by whiche it maye passe owte The stones of the golde mynes It is oftentymes diuided by encounterynge with sum kynde of harde stone Yet is it in other clyftes noorisshed by the exhalations and vertue of the roote But now perhappes yowe will aske me what plentie of golde is brought from thense Yowe shall therfore vnderstande that onely owte of Hispaniola what
water isshewynge owte of the fountayne bryngeth with it the leaues of many trees whiche growe in Hispaniola and not in this Ilande They saye that the fountayne hath his originall from the ryuer Yiamiroa in the region of Guaccaiarima confynynge with the land of Zauanâ— This Ilande is not pasâ—e a myle in circuite and commodious for fyssher men Directly towarde the Easte as it were the porter kepynge the enterie to Tothys lyeth the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis otherwise cauled Burichena wherof wee haue spoken largely before The Iland of Sancti Iohannis This aboundeth with golde and in fruitefull soile is equall with her moother Hispaniola In this are many colonies or mansions of Spaniardes whiche applye them selues to gatherynge of golde Towarde the west on the Northe syde great Cuba for the longenesse therof The Ilande of Cuba longe supposed to be the continent or fyrme lande wardeth owre Tethys on the backe halfe This is muche longer then Hispaniola And from the Easte to the Weste is diuyded in the myddest with the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri Hispaniola and the other lyinge on the South syde of this are included almost in the mydde space betwene the sayde Tropyke and the Equinoctiall lyne habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall whiche many of the oulde writers supposed to bee vnhabitable desert by reason of the feruent heate of the soonne in that clyme as they coniectured But they were deceaued in their opinion They affyrme that rytcher golde mynes are founde in Cuba then in Hispaniola The ryche golde mynes of Cuba They saye also that euen nowe while I wryte these thynges there is golde gathered together ready to the meltyng amountynge to the quantitie of a hundreth and fourescore thousande Castellans of gold an argument surely of great rychesse Iamaica is more towarde the Southe then these The Iland of Iamaica And is a pleasaunte and fruitefull Ilande of soyle apte for corne graffes and settes it consysteth of onely one mountayne Thinhabitauntes are warrelyke men and of good wytte Colonus compared it to Sicilie in bygnesse They whiche of late searched it more exactely saye that it is sumwhat lesse but not muche It is thought to be without gold and precious stoones as the like was supposed of Cuba at the begynnynge The Ilande of Guadalupea fyrste named Caraqueira lyinge on the Southe syde of Hispaniola The Iland of Guadalupea is foure degrees nearer the Equinoctiall It is eaten and indented with two goulfes as wee reade of great Britanye nowe cauled Englande and Calidonia nowe cauled Scotlande beinge in maner two Ilandes England and Scotlande It hath famous portes In this they founde that gumme whiche the Apothecaries caule Animae Album The gumme cauled Animâ— album whose fume is holesome ageynst reumes and heauynesse of the heade The tree whiche engendereth this gumme beareth a fruite muche lyke to a date Dates beinge a spanne in length When it is opened it seemeth to conteyne a certayne sweete meale As owre husbande men are accustomed to reserue chestenuttes and suche other harde fruites all the wynter soo do they the dates of this tree Pine trees beynge muche lyke vnto a sygge tree They founde also in this Ilande Pyne trees of the beste kynde and suche other deyntie dysshes of nature wherof wee haue spoken largely before Ye they thyncke that thinhabitauntes of other Ilandes had their seedes of soo many pleasaunt frutes from hense For the Canibales beinge a wylde and wanderynge people The Canibaâ—es and ouer runnynge all the countreys aboute them to hunte for mannes fleshe were accustomed to brynge home with them what so euer they founde straunge or profytable in any place They are intractable and wyll admytte no straungiers It shall therfore bee needefull to ouercoome them with great poure whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women â–ª For as well the women as men are experte archiers and vse to inueneme their arrowes When the men go foorthe of the lande a man huntynge the women manfully defende their coastes ageynst suche as attempte to inuade the same And hereby I suppose it was thought that there were Ilandes in the Ocean inhabited onely with women as Colonus the admirall hym selfe perswaded me as I haue sayde in the fyrste decade This Ilande hath also frutefull mountaynes and playnes and notable ryuers It nouryssheth honye in trees and in the caues of rockes hony in trees and roâ—kes as in Palma one of the Ilandea of Canarie honye is gathered emong the briers and bramble busshes Aboute .xviii. myles Easteward from this Iland lieth an Iland which owr men named Desiderata The Ilande Desiderata brynge .xx. myles in circuite and verye fayre Also aboute ten myles from Guadalupea towarde the Southe lyeth the Ilande of Galanta The Ilande Galanta beynge thirtie myles in circuite and playne It was so named for the neatenesse and bewtifulnes therof Nyne myles distant from Guadalupea toward the East there are syxe smaule Ilandes named Todos Sanctos or Barbara The Ilandes of Todos Sanctos or Barbara These are full of rockes and barren Yet necessarye to bee knowen to suche as vse to trauayle the seas of these coastes Ageyne from Guadalupea .xxxv. myles towarde the Northe there is an Ilande named Monsserratus The Ilandeâ— monsserratus conteynynge in circuite fortye myles hauynge also in it a mountayne of notable heyght The Ilande named Antipua The Ilande Antiqua distante from Guadalupea thirtie myles is aboute fortye myles in circuite Diegus Colonus the soonne and heyre of Christophorus Colonus tould me that his wyfe whome he lefte in the Ilande of Hispaniola aâ— his comming into Spaine to the courte did write vnto hym that of late emonge the Ilandes of the Canibales there is one founde whiche aboundeth with golde On the lefte syde of Hispaniola towarde the Southe neare vnto the hauen Botea there lyeth an Ilande named Portus Bellus The Ilande Portus Bellus Great Tortoyses They tell maruelous thynges of the monsters of the sea aboute this Ilande and especially of the tortoyses For they saye that they are bygger then greate rounde targettes At suche tyme as the hâ—ate of nature moueth theym too generation The generation of Tortoyses they coome foorthe of the sea And makynge a deepe pytte in the sande they laye three or foure hundreth egges therin When they haue thus emptied their bagge of conception they putte as muche of the sande ageyne into the pytte as maye suffyce to couer the egges And soo resorte ageyne to the sea nothynge carefull of their successyon At the daye appoynted of nature to the procreation of these beastes there creapeth owte a multitude of tortoyses as it were pyssemares swarmynge owte of an ante hyll And this onely by the heate of the soonne withowte any helpe of their parentes They saye that their egges are in maner as bygge as geese egges The egges oâ— Tortoyses They
also coompare the fleshe of these tortoyses to be equall with veale in taste There are besyde these innumerable Ilandes the whiche they haue not yet searched Innumerable Ilandes nor yet is it greatly necessarye to syfte this meale so fynely It maye suffyce to vnderstond that there are large landes many regyons whiche shal hereafter receaue owre nations tounges and maners and therwith embrase owre relygion The Troyans dydde not soodenly replenyshe Asia Troians â–ª the Tyrians Libia Tirians nor the Greekes and Phoenices Spayne Greekes Pâ—enâ—tâ—ns As touchynge the Ilandes which lye on the north syde of Hispaniola I haue let passe to speake For albeit they are commodious for tyâ—lage and fysshynge yet are they lefte of the Spanyardes as poore and of smaule value The North Ilandâ—s We wyll nowe therefore take owre leaue of this owlde Tethis with her moyst and watery Nymphes The Ilandes of the south sea And receaue to owre newe acquaintance the bewetifull ladye of the South sea rychely crowned with great pearles the Ilande of Dites beinge ryche both in name and in treasure In my epistell booke whiche I sente vnto yowre holynes this last yeare I declared howe Vaschus Nunnez Balboa the capitayne of them whiche passed ouer the daungerous mountaynes towarde the South sea The Iland of pearles learned by report that in the prospect of those coastes there laye an Ilande aboundynge with pearles of the greatest sorte And that the kynge therof was ryche and of great power infestynge with warres the other kynges his bortherers and especially Chiapes and Tumacchus We declared further howe at that tyme it was lefte vntouthed by reason of the ragynge tempestes whiche troubled that South sea three moonethes in the yeare But it is nowe better knowen to owre men who haue nowe also brought that fierce kynge to humanitie and conuerted hym from a cruell tyger to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke sanctifyed with the water of baptisme with all his famelie and kyngedome wylde beasts must be tamed with the rod. It shall not therefore bee from owre purpose to declare by the gouernaunce of what capitaines or by what meanes these thynges were so happely atchyued ¶ The tenth booke of the thyrde Decade TT the arryuall of Petrus Arias the newe gouernour of Dariena he gaue commaundment that one Gaspar Moralis shulde take in hande thexpedition to the Ilande of Dites An expeditioÌ„ to the Ilande of Dites in the south sea He therefore tooke his vyage fyrst to Chiapes and Tumacchus kynges of the South whom Vaschus beefore had concyled and lefte fryndes to the Christians They frendely and magnifycally enterteyned owr men who prepared them a nauie of the kynges boates to passe ouer into this Ilande which they caule Dites and not Margarita or Margaritea The Iland of Margaritea although it abounde with pearles which in the latin tonge are cauled Margaritae For they fyrst cauled an other by this name which lyeth next to the mouth of Os Draconis in the region of Paria Oâ— Draconis Paria in the which also is founde greate plentie of pearles Gaspan brought with hym onely threescore armed men to the Ilande for that he coulde conuey ouer no greater number by reason of the smaulenes and narownes of theyr boates or barkes which they caule Culchas made of one hole piece of tymber as we haue sayde bâ—fore A conflict The kynge of the Ilande came foorth ageinst them fiercely with cruell and threatenynge countenaunce and with a great bande of armed men cryinge in maner of a larome and in token of the battayle Guazzauara Guazzauara which is as much to saye as battayle ageynst the enemie And is as it weare a watch worde to giue thonset wherwith also they threwe theyr dartes For they haue not thuse of bowes They were so obstinate and desperate that they assayled owre men with foure Guazzauaras â–ª that is battayles At the length owre men with certeyne of Chiapes and Tumacchus men beinge oulde enemies to this kynge of the Ilande gotte the vpper hande by reason they assayled the kynge soodenly and vnwares Yet was he determyned to assemble a greater power and once ageyne to attempt the fortune of warre but that he was otherwyse persuaded by the kinges his bortherers which counceled him to gyue ouer and submyt hym selfe sumtyme by thexemple of them selues and other threatenynge the destruction of his flooryshynge kyngedome And otherwhyles declarynge vnto hym the humanitie and gentelnes of owre men by whose frendship he might obteyne honoure and quyetnes to hym and his wyllyng hym furthermore to consider what chaunced vnto them which the yeare before resysted and aduentured the hasarde of the battayle as dyd these kynges Poncha Pocchorrosa Quarequa Chiapes and Tumaccus with such other By these persuasions the king submytted hym selfe and came freendely to owre men whom he conducted to his palaice which they say to be maruelously adourned and princelyke The kynge of the Ilande of Dites submitteth him selfe As soone as they entered into the pallaice The kynges palâ—aice he brought foorth a basket of curious woorkemanshyp and full of pearles which he gaue them The summe of these pearles amounted to the weyght of a hundreth and ten poundes after .viii. vnces to the pounde A hundreth ten pounde weight of pearles Beinge ageyne rewarded of owre men with such tryfles as they brought with them of purpose as garlandes of Christall and glasse and other counterfet stones of dyuers colours with lookyng glasses also and laton belles and especially two or three Iren hatchets which they more esteme then great heapes of gold he thaught hym selfe abundantly recompensed axes and hatchets more esteemed theÌ„ golde They laughe owre men to scorne that they wyll departe with so great and necessarie a thynge for any summe of golde affyrmynge an axe or hatchet to bee profytable for manye vses of men and that golde serueth onely for wanton pleasures and not to be greatly necessary Beynge therfore ioyfull and gladde of the frendeshyppe of owre men he tooke the capitaine by the hand and brought him with certeine of his familiars to the highest towre of his palaice from whense they myght prospecte the mayne sea The kynges woordes Then castyng his eyes about hym on euery side and lookynge towarde the Easte he sayde vnto them Beholde here lyeth open before yowe the infynite sea extended beyond the soonne beames Then tournyng hym toward the Southe and Weste he sygnyfied vnto them that the lande which laye before their eyes the toppes of whose great montaynes they myght see Ilandes rych in golde and pearles was exceadynge large Then coommynge sumwhat nearer he sayde Beholde these Ilandes on the ryght hande and on the lefte whiche all obeye vnto owre empyre and are ryche happye and blessed if yowe caule those landes blessed whiche abounde with golde and perle Wee haue in this Ilande lyttle
plentie of golde But the deepe places of all the seas aboute these Ilandes are full of perles wherof yowe shall receaue of me as many as yow wyll requyre so that ye persyste in the bonde of frendeshyppe whiche yowe haue begunne I greatly desyre yowre frendeshyppe and woolde gladlye haue the fruition of yowre thynges whiche I sette muche more by then myllyons of perles Yowe shall therfore haue no cause to doubte of any vnfaythfulnesse or breache of frendeshyppe on my behalfe Owre men gaue hym lyke frendly woordes and encouraged hym with many fayre promysses to doo as he had sayde When owre men were nowe in a redynesse to departe they couenaunted with hym to paye yearely to the greate kynge of Castyle a hundreth pounde weyghte of perles C. pounde weyght of perles yerely for a tribute He gladlye agreed to their request and tooke it for no great thyng nor yet thought hym selfe any whitte the more to becoome tributarie With this kynge they founde suche plentie of hartes and connies Plentie of hartes and conniâ—â— that owre men stondynge in their houses myght kyll as manye as them lyste with their arrowes They lyue heare verye pleasauntly hauynge greate plentie of al thynges necessary This Ilande is scarsely syxe degrees distant from the Equinoctiall lyne They haue the same maner of breade made of rootes and the graine of Maizium and wyne made of seedes and fruites wyne of fruites and sedes euen as they haue in the region of Comogra and in other places aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande This kynge is nowe baptised with all his familye â–ª and subiectes The kynge is baptised His desyre was at his baptisme to bee named Petrus Arias after the name of the gouernour When owre men departed he accompanied them to the sea syde and furnysshed them with boates to retourne to the continent The fyft part of perles due to the kynge Owre men diuided the perles emonge them reseruyng the fyfte portion to be delyuered to thoffycers of the kynges Excheker in those partes They saye that these perles were maruelous precious faire oriente and exceadynge bygge Byg perles In so muche that they broughte manye with theym bygger then hasell nuttes Of what pryce and value they myghte bee I consyder by one perle the which Paulus predicessour to yowre holines A perle for a pope bowght at the second hand of a marchant of Uenece for foure forty thousande ducates Yet emonge those whiche were brought from this Ilande there was one bought euen in Dariena for a thousande and two hundreth Castelans of golde This was almost as bygge as a meane walnutte An other perle of great price And came at the length to the handes of Petrus Arias the gouernoure who gaue it to that noble and faithefull woman his wyfe of whose maner of departure with her husbande wee haue made mention before Wee muste then needes thinke that this was verye precious which was bowght so deare emonge suche a multitude of perles where they were not bought by one at once but by poundes and at the least by ounces It is also to be thought that the Uenecian marchaunte boughte his for no great sum of mony in the East parts But he sould it the dearer for that he chaunced to lyue in those lasciuious and wanton dayes when men were gyuen to suche nyse and superfluous pleasures Nise and superfluous pleasures and mette with a marchaunt for his purpose But lette vs nowe speake sumwhat of the shelfysshes in the whiche perles are engendered It is not vnknowen to yowre holynesse that Aristotell and Plinie his folower were of dyuers opinions as concernynge the generation of perles Dyuers opinions of the generation of pearles But these Indians and owre men rest onely in one assertion not assentyng to them in any other as eyther that they wander in the sea or that they moue at anye tyme after they are borne They wyll therfore that there bee certayne greeâ—â— places as it were medowes in the bottome of the sea hâ—rbes in the bottome of the sea bryngynge foorthe an herbe muche lyke vnto thyme and affyrme that they haue seene the same And that they are engendered norysshed and growe therin as wee see thincrease and succession of oysters to growe aboute them selues Also that these fysshes delyteth not in the conuersation or coompanye of the sea dogges Nor yet to bee contented with onely one twoo or three or at the moste foure pearles Affyrmyng that in the fysshynge places of the kynge of this Ilande there was founde a hundreth pearles in one fyshe A hundreth perles â—n one shell fysshe the whirhe Gaspar Moralis the capitayne hym selfe and his coompanions diligently numbered For it pleased the kynge at their beynge there in their presence to commaund his diuers to go a fysshynge for those kynde of fysshes They compare the matrices of these fysshes The matrice of the perle fysshe to the places of conception in hennes in the whiche their egges are engendered in great multitudes and clusters And beleue that these fysshes brynge foorth their byrth in lyke maner For the better profe wherof they saye that they founde certaine pearles coommynge foorthe of their matreces as beynge nowe coome to the tyme of their full rypenesse The â—yrth of perles and moued by nature to coome owte of their moothers wombe openynge it selfe in tyme conuenient Lykewise that within a while after they sawe other succede in lyke maner So that to conclude they sawe sum coommynge foorthe and other summe yet abydinge the tyme of their perfection whiche beyng complete they also became loose and opened the matrice They perceaued the pearles to bee inclosed in the myddest of their bellies there to bee norisâ—hed and increase as an infante suckynge his moothers pappes within her wombe before hee moue to coome foorthe of her priuye places And if it chaunce any of these shelfysshes to be founde scatered in the sande of the sea as I my selfe haue seene oysters disparcled on the shores in diuers places of the Ocean they affyrme that they haue byn violently dryuen thither from the bottome of the sea by force of tempestes and not to haue wandered thither of them selues But that they becoome white by the clearenesse of the mornynge dewe or waxe yelowe in troubled wether or otherwyse that they â—eeme to reioyse in faire wether and cleare ayer or contrarywyse to bee as it were astonisshed and dymme in thunder and tempestes with suche other the perfecte knowledge hereof is not to bee looked for at the handes of these vnlearned men whiche handell the matter but grossely and enquire no further then occasyon serueth Yet do they affyrme by thexperience and industrie of the dyuers that the greatest pearles lye in the deepest places where the byggest meane and least pearles are engeÌ„dred they of the meane sorte hygher and the least hyghest of all and nearer to the
we haue sayde before that poynt reacheth Southwarde to the seuenth degree of the South poole cauled the pole Antartike He proceaded in that viage syxe hundreth leagues And founde the lande from the poynte to extende so farre towarde the South beyonde the Equinoctiall that he came to the thirtie degree of the South pole As he sayled thus forwarde hauynge nowe on his backe halfe the starres named Caput Draconis that is the dragons heade and the regions of Paria lyinge northwarde frome hym and prospectynge towarde the pole Artyke he chaunced to faule into the handes of the fylthye Canibales Iohn Solysius is slaine of the Canibales For these craftie foxes seemed to make signes of peace when in theyr mindes they conceaued a hope of a daintie banquet The fiercenes of the Canibaleâ— And espying their enemies a farre of beganne to swalowe theyr spettle as their mouthes watered for greedines of theyr pray As vnhappye Solysâ—us descended with as many of his coompanie as coulde enter into the boate of the byggest shippe soodenly a great multytude of thinhabitantes bruste foorth vppon them and slew them euery man with clubbes euen in the syght of theyr felowes They caried away the boate and in a moment broke it all to fytters Not one man escaped Theyr furie not thus satisfied they cutte the slayne men in pieces euen vppon the shore where theyr felowes might beholde this horrible spectacle from the sea But they being stryken with feare through this exemple durst not coome foorth of theyr shyppes or diuise howe to reuenge the death of theyr Capitaine and coompanyons They departed therefore from these vnfortunate coastes And by the waye ladynge theyr shippes with brasell returned home ageyne with losse and heauie chere Brasell Of these thynges I was aduertysed of late by theyr owne letters What they haue els doone I shal haue more particular knowleage hereafter Iohannes Pontius was also repulsed by the Canibales in the Ilande of Guadalupea beinge one of the chiefe Ilandes of theyr habitacion Iohannes PoÌ„â—ius is repulsed by the Canibales For when they sawe owre men a farre of on the sea they ley in ambushe soodenly to inuade them when they shulde coome alande Owre men sent foorth a fewe foote men and with them theyr laundresses to wasshe theyr shertes and sheetes For from the Ilande of Ferrea beinge one of the Ilandes of Canarie euen vnto this Ilande for the space of foure thousande and twoo hundreth myles they had seene no lande where they myght fynde any fresshe water for as muche as in all this large space the Ocean is without Ilandes At theyr commynge therfore to lande the Canibales assayled them caried awaye the women and put the men to suche distresse that fewe of them escaped By reason wherof Pontius being greately discomfited durste not inuade the Canibales fearynge theyr venemed arrowes which these naked manhunters can direct most certenly Thus good Pontius faylyng of his purpose was fayne to gyue ouer the Canibales whome beinge safe and vnder the house roufe he threatened to vanquyshe and destroy Whether he went from thense or what newe thynges he founde I haue as yet no further knowleage By these mysfortunes Solysius loste his lyfe and Pontius his honour Let vs nowe speake of an other whose enterpryse came to lyke purpose the same yeare Iohannes Aiora borne in the citie of Corduba The vyage of Ioâ—annes Aiorâ— a man of noble parentage sent in steade of the Lieuetenaunt as we haue sayde more couetous of golde then carefull of his charge or desyrous of prayse for well deseruynge Locke decade iii. liber vâ— sought occasions of querelynge ageynst the kynges and spoyled many violently extortynge golde of them ageynst ryght and equitie And further handeled them so extremely that of frendes they became most cruel enemies The lewde behauâ—ur of Iohn Aiora In so much that they ceased not with desperat myndes by all meanes they coulde to sley owre men openly or priuilye By reason wherof it is coome to passe that where before they bartered quyetly exchanginge ware for ware they are nowe fayne to doo all thynges by force of armes When he had thus exacted a great quantitie of golde of them as it is sayd he fledde priuilie and tooke away a shyppe with him by stelth as the common rumoure goeth Nor yet hetherto haue we hard whyther he went or where he is arryued Sum suspect that Petrus Arias the gouernour shulde consente to his departure bycause this Iohannes Aiora is brother to Gonsalus Aiora the kynges historiographer a man booth lerned and expert in the discipline of warre and so much the gouernours frend that these two amonge a fewe may be counted exemples of rare amitie I my selfe also am greately bounde vnto theym bothe and haue longe enioyed theyr frendeshippe Yet shall I desyre them bothe to pardone me in declarynge my phantasie herein that in all the turmoyles and tragicall affayres of the Ocean nothynge hath so muche displeased me as the couetousnes of this man who hath so disturbed the pacified myndes of the kynges Nowe emonge these troubelous chaunces let vs rehearse the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiccius his felowes The variable fortune of GoÌ„â—alus Badaâ—ocius whose prosperous begynnynges ended with vnfortunate successe Gonsalus therfore in the moneth of May in the yeare of Christe M. D. xv departed from Dariena with fourescore armed men directynge his vyage towarde the Southe and restynge in no place vntyll he came to the region of Cerabaro which owre men named Gratia Dei Ceâ—abaro Decade iii.li.iii distant from Dariena about a hundreth and fourescore myles for they caule it threescore leaques He spente certeyne dayes here in Idelnesse for he coulde neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule allure the kynge of the regyon to coome to hym While he laye thus idelly there came to hym other fyftie men sente frome Dariena vnder the gouernaunce of capytayne Lodouicus Mercado who departed from Dariena in the calendes of Maye to thintent to searche thinner partes of those regyons When they mette together they determyned after consultation to passe ouer the montaynes lyinge towarde the Southe euen vnto the Southe sea latelye founde Beholde nowe a wonderfull thynge That in a lande of suche maruelous longitude in other places they founde it here to bee onely aboute fyftie myles distant to the Southe sea The South sea for they counte it .xvii. leaques A leaque conteyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande as the maner of the Spanyardes is to reken and not by myles Yet saye they that a leaque consysteth of three myles by lande and foure by sea as wee haue noted before In the toppes of the mountaynes and turnynge of the waters they founde a kynge named Iuana â–ª whose kyngedome is also named Coiba as is the regyon of kynge Careta of whome we haue made mention elles where But for as muche as the regyon of this Iuana is
he into the poole euen vnto the chynne For beinge from theyr infancie exercised in swymmynge and accustomed to the waters they refuse not to continue therein a longe space The foules thynkynge this gourde to be one of the other that swymme vppon the water the fouler goeth softly to the place wher he seeth the greatest flocke of foules And with waggynge his heade counterfectinge the mouing of the wauerynge gourdes drawethe neare to the foules where softely puttynge foorth his ryght hande he soodenly snatcheth one by the legges and plungeth her into the water where he putteth her into a bagge whiche he hath with hym of purpose The other foules supposinge that this dyued into the water of her owne motion to seke for foode as is their maner are nothyng moued hereby but go forwarde on their waye as before vntyll they also faule into the same snare I haue here for this cause entered into the declaration of theyr maner of huntynge and foulynge that by these more pleasaunt narrations I may sumwhat mytigate and asswage the horrour conceaued in yowre stomake by the former rehearsall of theyr bluddy actes and cruell maners Lette vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat ageyne of the newe and later opinions as concernynge the swyfte course of the sea towarde the west about the coastes of Paria Lâ—â—er opinions of the swift course of the Ocean towarde the west also of the maner of gathering of golde in the golde myne of Dariena as I was aduertised of late And with these two quyet and peaceable thynges we wyl make an ende of the tragical affayres of the Ocean and therwith byd yowre holynes fare wel So it is therfore that Andreas Moralis the pylot and Ouiedus of whom we haue made mention before repayred to me at my house in the towne of Matrite As we met thus togyther there arose a contention betwene them two as concernynge this course of the Ocean They both agree that these landes and regions perteynynge to the dominion of Castile doo with one continuall tract and perpetuall bonde embrase as one hole firme lande or continent al the mayne lande lyinge on the north syde of Cuba and the other Ilandes The contineÌ„t or firme land beinge also northwest both from Cuba and Hispaniola Yet as touchynge the course of the water they varrie in opinion For Andreas wyll that this vyolent course of water bee receaued in the lappe of the supposed continente which bendeth so much and extendeth so farre towarde the North as we haue said And that by the obiect or resistance of the lande so bendynge and crookynge the water shulde as it were rebounde in coompasse and by force therof be dryuen about the north syde of Cuba and the other Ilandes excluded without the circle cauled Tropicus Caneri where the largenes of the sea maye receaue the waters faulynge frome the narowe streames and therby represse that inordinate course by reason that the sea is there very large and great I can compare his meanynge to nothynge more aptely then to the swyfte streame commyng foorth of a mylle and faulyng into the myl poole For in al suche places where waters runne with a vyolent faule through narowe chanels and are then receaued in large pooles they are soodenly disparcled and theyr violence broken So that wheras before they seemed of such force as to ouerthrowe all thynges beinge in theyr waye it can not then be perceaued which way they runne The Admiral him selfe Diegus Colonus The vyages of Diegus Colonus sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of these landes who had nowe in commyng and goinge foure tymes passed throughe these seas beinge demaunded of me what he founde or perceaued in saylynge too and fro The vyage from the new landes to Spayne answered that there was muche difficultie in returnynge the same way by the which they go But wheras they fyrst take the waye by the mayne sea towarde the North before they directe theyr course to Spayne he saythe that in that tract he felt the shippe sumtymes a lyttle dryuen backe by the contrary course of the water Yet supposeth that this chaunceth onely by the ordinarie flowynge and reflowynge of the sea And the same not to be enforced by the circumflection or course of the water reboundynge in compasse as we haue sayde But thinketh rather that this mayne lande or supposed continent shulde sumwhere bee open And that the sayde open place shoulde bee as it were a gate enterie or streyght diuydyng the North partes of that lande from the South by the which also the Ocean runnynge towarde the West may by the rotation or impulsion of the heauens bee dryuen about the hole earth Ouiedus agreeth with Andreas Motralis as touchynge the continuall adherence and closenes of the sayde continente Yet neyther that the waters shulde so beate ageynst the bendynge backe of the West lande or bee in such sorte repulsed and dryuen into the mayne sea But saith that he hath diligently consydered that the waters runne from the deepest and myddest of the maine sea towarde the West Also that saylinge nere vnto the shore with smaule vesselles he founde the same waters to returne ageine towarde the East The contrary course of waters So that in the same place they runne together with contrary course as we oftentimes see the lyke to chaunce in riuers wherby the obiecte of the bankes diuers whirlepooles and turnynges aryse in the water By reason wherof if any chaffe strawe woodde or any other thyng of lyght substance be caste in any suche places in ryuers it foloweth that al such as runne with the water in the myddest of the chanell procede well forwarde But suche as faule into the bendynge goulfes and indented margentes of the crooked bankes are caryed ouerthwarte the chanell and so wander about vntyll they meete with the ful and directe course of the ryuer Thus haue we made yowe partener of suche thinges as they haue gyuen vs and writen their dyuers opinions We wyll then gyue more certeyne reason when more certeyne truth shal be knowen We must in the meane tyme leane to opinions vntil the day coome appointed of god to reueale this secreate of nature with the perfecte knowleage of the pointe of the pole starre The poynt of the pole star Hauyng sayd thus muche of the course of the Ocean a briefe declaration of the golde mynes of Dariena The golde mynes of Dariena and the maner of gatherynge golde shall close vppe owre Decades and make an ende of owre trauayles Wee haue sayde that nyne myles distante from Dariena are the sydes of the hylles and the drye playnes in the whiche golde is gathered bothe on the drye lande and also on the bankes and in the chanelles of ryuers Therfore to al such as are wyllynge to gather golde there is of ordinarie custome appointed to euery man by the suruoiers of the mynes a square plotte of grounde conteyning twelue pases at
the arbitriment of the chooser so that it bee not grounde already occupied or lefte of other The portion of grounde beinge thus chosen as it were assygned of the augures to buylde a temple they inclose their slaues within the same whose helpe the Christians vse in tyllynge of their grounde and gatherynge of golde as we haue saide These places appointed vnto them they keepe as long as them lyue And if they perceaue tookens of lyttle golde they requyre an other plotte of ground of twelue pases to be assigned them leauyng the first in commen Owre inclosiers woolde leaue no such commens And this is thorder which the Spaniardes inhabitinge Dariena obserue in gatheryng of golde I suppose also that they vse the lyke order in other places How be it I haue not yet enquired so farre It hath byn proued that these twelue pases of grounde haue yelded to their choosers the summe of fourescore Castellans of gold Aurisacra Famâ—e And thus leade they theyr lyues in fulfyllynge the holy hunger of golde But the more they fyll their handes with fyndynge The broosie of couetousnes the more increaseth their couetous desyre The more woodde is layde to the fyer the more furiously rageth the flame Unsaciable couetousnesse is no more diminisshed with increase of rychesse then is the drinesse of the dropsye satisfyed with drinke I lette passe manye thynges wherof I intende to write more largely in tyme conuenient if I shall in the meane season vnderstande these to be acceptable vnto yowre holynesse my dewtie and obseruaunce to whose autoritie hath caused me the gladlier to take this labour in hande The prouidence of the eternall creatour of all thynges graunt yowre holynesse many prosperous yeares ¶ The laste booke of Peter Martyr of Angleria of the Landes and Ilandes lately founde and of the maners of the inhabitauntes of the same I Haue partli declared before in mi decades how certeine fugitâ—ues which came owt of the large West landes arriued in the confynes of Dariena Loke Decade â—ii Liber x. And howe that marueylinge at the bookes of owre men they declared that they sumtyme dwelte in regions whose inhabitauntes vsed suche instrumentes and were ruled by politike lawes Also that they had cities fortified with waules Cities fortifyed with waules and faire pallaces with streates well paued and common places whyther marchauntes resort as to the burse or streate These landes owre men haue nowe founde Therfore who were thautours hereof or what successe they had herein who so desireth to know with the conditions of straunge regions and the maners of the people let hym giue diligent attendance to such thynges as folowe Of the Iland of Cuba nowe cauled Fernandina The Iland of Cuba or Fernandâ—na lyynge nexte vnto Hispaniola on the west syde and yet sumwhat so bendynge towarde the Northe that the circle cauled Tropicus Caneri deuideth it in the myddeste wher as Hispaniola is distante from the Tropike and declinynge certen degrees toward the Equinoctial line we haue spoken sumwhat before In this Iland of Fernandina there are nowe syxe townes â—rected Wherof the chiefe is named Sanctiago of saynt Iames the patrone of the Spanyardes In this there is natiue golde found both in the mountaynes and ryuers By reason wherof they are daylye occupied in gathering digging the same But shortely after that I had finished my sayde bookes thre Spanyardes that were the most auncient citizens of Cuba The Spaniards of Cuba attempt new vyages as Francâ—scus Fernandes of Corduba Lupus Ocho Christophorus Morantes determined to seeke newe landes as the myndes of the Spanyardes are euer vnquiet and geuen to attempte great enterprises They furnyshed at their owne charges three of those shyppes whiche they caule Carauels And hauynge fyrste lycence of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Ilande they departed with a hundreth and ten men from the West angle of Cuba The west angle of â—uba For this angle is moste commodious to relieue shyppes and to make prouision for freshe water and fuell Thus they sayled continually syxe dayes and a halfe betwene the West and the South contented onely with the syght of the heauen and the water durynge whiche tyme they suppose that they sayled not past threescore and syxe myles Note For they ley at anker all nyght where so euer the faulynge of the soonne tooke the day light from them leaste by wanderynge in vnknowen seas they myght chaunce to be cast vppon rockes or sandes But at the length they chaunced vppon a great Ilande named Iucatana The Iland of Iucatana whose beginnyng thinhabitauntes caule Eccampi A great citie well buylded Owre men went to the citie stondynge on the sea syde the whiche for the bygnes therof they named Eâ—yrus or Alcair Thinhabitauntes enterteined them very frendly When they were entered into the citie they marueyled to behold the houses buylded lyke towres magnifycall temples Temples streates well paued and great excercise of bying and sellyng by exchaunge of ware for ware humane people Their houses are eyther bylte of stone or of bricke and lyme and artifycially wrought To the fyrste porches of their houses and fyrst habitations they ascend by ten or twelue steares They are couered eyther with tyles Cunnyng artifycers slates reades or stalkes of certeyne herbes They gratified the one the other with mutuall gyftes The barbarians gaue owre men many brooches and iewelles of golde verye fayre and of cunnyng woorkmanshyppe Owre men recompensed them with vestures of sylke and woolle counterfecte stones of coloured glasse and christall haukes belles of laton and suche other rewardes whiche they greatly esteemed for the straungenes of the same They sette nowght by lookynge glasses bycause they haue certeyne stoones muche brighter Appareled people This nation is appareled after a thousande fasshyons with vestures made of gossampyne cotten or bombage of dyuers coloures The women are couered from the girdle to the heele hauynge dyuers fasshions of veles aboute their heades and brestes with great cautele least any parte of their legges or feete bee seene They resorte muche to their temples vnto the which the chiefe rulers haue the wayes paued from their owne houses They are Idolatours and circumcised Circumciâ—ed Idâ—laters They occupie their maner of exchaunginge with muche fydelitie They vse to adourne the heares of their heades being demanded by thinterpretours of whom they receaued their circumcisyon they answered that there once passed an exceadynge fayre man by their costes who lefte them that in tooken to remember hym Other saye that a manne brighter thâ—n the soone went emonge them and executed that offyce But there is no certentie hereof When owre men had remayned there certeyne dayes they seemed to bee molestous to thinhabitantes accordynge to the common sayinge The longer a geste tarieth the woorse is his enterteynement The whiche thynge owre men perceauyng they made the more hâ—st awaye Beynge therfore prouided of all
thynges neceâ—sary they tooke their vyage directly towarde the west by the prouidence whâ—che thinhabitauntes caule Comi and Mâ—iâ—m Comi Maiâ—m They ouer passed these regions takyng onely freshe water and fuel in the same The barbarians both men women and châ—ldren flocked to the sea syde astonysshed greatly to behold the huge bygnesse of the shyppes Owre men marueyled in maner no leâ—se to viewe their buyldynges and especially their temples sytuate neare vnto the sea and erected after the maner of towers Thus at the length hauyng sayled about a hundreth and ten myles they thought it good to ley anker in a prouince named Campechium Campechium whose chiefe towne consysteth of three thousande houses A towne of three thousand howses Thinhabitauntes came swymmynge to the shyppes marueylyng excedyngly at the maner of saylinge and at the sayles and other tackelynges But when they hard the thunder of the gunnes sawe the smoke and smelte the sauour of brimstone and fyer they supposed that thunderboultes and lyghtnynges had byn sente from god The kynge receaued owre men honorably and broughte them into his pallayce where he feasted them well after his maner They are accustomed to eate fleshe and haue great plentie of beastes and foules Plentie of beastes and foules as peacockes and other whiche they francke and feede in their houses Also dyuers kyndes of wylde foules of the mountaines wooddes and waters Likewise partriches quailes turtle dooues duckes and geese Of beastes they haue connies woolues lyons tigers foxes wylde boores hartes and hares After this banquet the kyng with his traine and famylie brought owre men into a brode crosse way where many streates do meete Theyr Idoles and Idolatry In this they shewed them as it were a great and highe aulter buylded foure square of marble compacte together partly with the toughe cleye of Babilon cauled Bitumem and partly with smaule stoones It had on euery syde foure steares Uppon the altare was an Image of a man made of marble and fast by it the Images of two beastes of vnknowen shape whiche seemed as thoughe they wolde with yanynge mouthes haue torne in sunder the bealy of the mannes Image On the other syde stoode a great serpent compacte of the sayde toughe cleye and smaule stoones This serpent beynge in length .xlvii. foote and of the bygnesse of a large oxe seemed to deuour a lyon of marble and was al by sparcled with freshe bludde Harde by the altare were thre postes fastned in the ground the which three other trauersed and were susteined with stones In this place offenders were put to death In token wherof they sawe innumerable arrowes steined with bludde sum scatered sum lyinge on heapes and sum broken Also a great number of mennes bones lying in a court or yarde nere vnto this funestal place Their houses are here also builded of lime and stone houses of lyme stone They named this king Lazarus bicause they arriued at this lande on saint Lazarus day Departing froÌ„ hense directing theyr course styl toward the West for the space of .xv. myles they came to a prouince named Aquanil The prouince Aquinall whose chiefe towne is cauled Moseo Moseo the kynge thereof Cupoton He behelde owre men with a frowarde countenaunce and fought occasion to doo them sume priuie mischiefe whyle they sought for fresshe water For he made signes vnto them that on the further syde of the nexte hyll they shulde fynde sprynges of water intendyng to haue assayled them in that narowe passage But by the colouryng of theyr forheades as they are accustomed in theyr warres and by the bearynge of theyr bowes and other weapons owr men perceaued theyr wylynes and refused to go any further Yet a thousande of the Barbarians assayled theym vnwares and vnprepared By reason wherof they were put to flyght and dyuers of them slayne in the chase The Spanyardes are put to flyght and many slayne Many that fledde to warde the shippes were entangeled in the mudde and maryshes nere vnto the shore Twentie and two were slayne with arrowes and the resydewe for the most parte wounded Franciscus Fernandes the gouernour of the nauie receaued in this conflicte three and thirtie woundes And in maner none escaped without hurt If they had gonne to the hylles whiche were appoynted them they had byn slayne euery man They therfore that escaped returned to the Ilande of Fernardina frome whense they came where they were receaued of theyr felows with heauie chere But when Diegus Velasquen the gouernoure of the Ilande had intelligence hereof An other expedition he immediatly furnyshed a newe nauie of foure Caraueles with three hundreth men Of this nauie he appoynted Iohn Grisalua his neuie to be the gouernour And assigned for vnder capitaynes Alphons Auila Frances Montegio and Peter Aluarado For the pylot he assigned Antonie Alamino who had the regiment of the fyrst nauie They attempted the same vyage ageyne but declyned sumwhat more towarde the South about threscore and tenne myles Before they sawe any lande they espyed a towre a farre of by the viewe wherof they came to an Ilande named Cozumella The Iland of Cozumella from the whiche they smelte sweete sauours proceadynge with the wynde Sweete sauours before they approched to the lande by the space of three myles They founde the Ilande to be fortie and fiue myles in circuite It is playne and of maruelous frutefull sâ—yle A frutefull Ilande There is also golde in it but it is not engendered there but brought thether from other regions It aboundeth with hony fruites and herbes And hath also great plentie of foules and foure footed beastes Theyr order and maner of lyuyng is in al thynges lyke vnto theyrs of Iucatana Towres and â—emples Lykewyse theyr howses temples streates and apparell In many of theyr houses are great postes of marble after the maner of owre buyldynge They founde there the fouÌ„dations of certeyne owlde towres ruinate And one especially with .xviii. steares ascendynge to it after the maner of solemne temples They marueyled greatly at owre shippes and maner of saylynge At the fyrst they wolde admyt no straungers but shortly after receaued them gentelly Theyr chiefe ruler whom owre men supposed to bee a preeste led them vp to the toppe of the towre where they erected a banner and addicted the Ilande to the dominion of the kynge of Castyle namynge it Sancta Crux Cozumella named Sancta Crux bycause they entered into the same in the nones of Maye beinge then the feaste of the holye crosse They saye that it was cauled Cozumella of kynge Cozumellaus whose auncestours were the fyrst that inhabited the Ilande Idoles lyke beares In the towre they founde many chambers furnyshed with Images made both of earthe and marble to the similytude of beares These they caule vppon with a houlynge and lamentable songe Idolatry perfumyng them with sweete odours and other wyse honourynge them as
theyr domesticall goddes They are also circumcised The kynge was in fayre apparel made of gossampine cotton curiously wrought He was lame on the one foote by reason that as he once exercysed hym selfe in swymmynge a deuourynge fyshe cauled Tuberon byt of al the toes Gentell peopâ—e of one of his feete He entreated owre men very frendly and made them great chiere After they had byn here thre dayes they departed And saylynge styll towarde the Weste they espyed great mountaynes a farre of But as they drewe neare they perceaued it to bee the Ilande of Iucatana beinge distant from Cozumella onely fyue myles Iucatana but fyue myles from Cozumeâ—la Directynge therfore theyr course towarde the south syde of Iucatana they compased it on that syde which lyeth nearest to the supposed continent Yet coulde they not sayle rounde about it by reason of the multitude of rockes shalowe places and shelfes of sande Then Alaminus the pylot turned his sailes to the North side wherof he had better knowleage Thus at the length they came to the towne Campeebium and kynge Lazarus with whom they had bin that attempted the fyrst vyage the yeare before At the fyrst they were gentelly receaued and requyred to resort to the towne But shortly after The Barbarians make resistaunce they repented that they had bydden them and there vpon wylled them to stay about a stones cast from the towne and to proceade no further When owre men desyred that they myght make prouision for freshe water before theyr departure they assigned them to a certeyne well which they had lefte behynde them Declaringe further that it shulde be lawfull for them to take water there or els no wheare Owre men rested that nyght in the fyelde adioynynge to the well The which thynge the Barbarians suspectinge assembled an army of three thousande men and encamped not farre from them Bothe partes passed awaye the nyght without sleepe They fearynge leaste owre menne shulde breake into the towne And owre men least the Barbarians shulde inuade them soodenly on the one parte with trumpettes and on the other syde with the noyse of timbrels kept them styll wakynge that were disposed to sleape At the sprynge of the day the Barbarians approched to owre mens campe cauled for thinterpretours of Cuba whose language is much agreable vnto theyrs They had diuised to lyght a torche of frankensence and to place the same betwene bothe tharmies to thintent that if owre men dyd not depart before the torche were consumed to stande to theyr perell A conflicte The torch was wasted and the matter came to hand strokes They slewe onely one of owre men with an arrowe bycause his target fayled hym But many were wounded After this conflicte owre men resorted to theyr ordinaunce which they had planted neare vnto the well When they had discharged certeyne pecces the Barbarians fledde backe into the towne Owre men were of fierce and greedy courage to haue pursued them but that Grisalua the gouernour wolde not suffer theÌ„ From thense they proceaded to the last ende of Iucatana The length of Iucaâ—ana which they founde to reache more then two hundreth myles frome the East to the West Here they founde a comodious hauen and named it Portus desideratus From hense they sayled to other landes and came to the region nexte to Iucatana Westwarde whiche they doubte whether it be an Ilande or parte of the firme lande but thinke it rather to be annext to the continent In this there is a goulfe which they suppose to be incoompased with bothe the landes But of this there is no certentie Thinhabitantes caule this region Caluacam or otherwise Oloan. The region of Caluacam or Oloan. They founde here also a great ryuer whiche by his violente course and faule driueth freshe water two myles into the sea This they cauled Grisalua after the name of the gouernoure The ryuer Grisalua The barbarians marueilyng at the huge greatnesse and mouynge of owre shyppes came swarmyng the bankes on bothe sydes the ryuer to the number of syxe thousande men armed with targettes and brest plates of gold Targets and brest plates of golde bowes and arrowes brode swoordes of heauy woodde and longe iauelens hardened at the endes with fyer Thus stondynge in battayle raye to defende their coostes and with proude countenaunces forbyddinge owre men to coome alande Bothe parties watched al that nyght in armes In the dawne of the day owr men espied about a hundreth Canoas whiche we haue saide to be their boates full of armed men Here also the language of thinterpretours of Cuba agreed well enowghe with thers When they had admitted the peace profered them by thinterpretours al the Canoas staied excepte one whiche approched toward the shippes A certeyne ruler that was in this Canoa demaunded of owre men what they sought in other mennes landes They answered gold And that for permutation of other ware and not of gift or vyolently The Canoa returned and the ruler certified the kyng hereof who came gladlye to the shyppes When he had saluted the gouernour he cauled his chamberlen vnto hym commaundynge him to bringe his armure and other ornamentes of golde wherwith he armed Crisalua from the toppe of the heade to the soule of the foote Armure of golde In so muche that what so euer any man of armes armed at all partes is emong vs accustomed to weare of Iren or steele when he commeth in to the fielde Experte artificers all suche kynde of furnitures made of golde and wrought with woonderfull arte the kyng gaue to the gouernour He recompensed hym with vestures of sycke clothe lynen and other of owre thinges â–ª In the beginning of this Iucatana when they sayled to Cozumella they chaunced vppon a Canoa of fyssher men to the number of nyne fysshyng with hookes of golde Fysshe hokes of golde They tooke them all prisoners One of them was knowen to this kyng who promysed the daye folowyng to sende the gouernour as muche golde for his raunsome as the man hym selfe waied But the gouernour denyed that he coulde release hym withowte the consent of his felowes And therfore kept hym styll to proue what he could further knowe of hym Departing from hense and saylynge styll westwarde they founde a great goulfe in the which three smaule Ilandes were sytuate Of these The Ilandes of Sacrifice they went to the byggest But oh abhominable crueltie oh most corrupted myndes of men and deuelyshe impietie Let euery godly man close the mouth of his stomake lest he be desturbed Chyldren sacrified to Idoles They offer younge children of bothe kyndes to their Idoles of marble and earth Emonge their Idoles of marble Their Idoles of marble there standeth a lyon hauynge a hole throwgh the necke into the whiche they poure the bludde of the miserable sacrifyce that it maye from thense runne downe into a syncke of marble Lette vs nowe declare with what ceremonies they
and on the lande When they desyre to gather golde they plunge theym selues in the ryuers and brynge from the bottome therof bothe their handes full of sande whiche syftynge from hande to hande they gather owte the graynes of golde And by this meanes in the space of twoo houres they fyll a reede as bygge as a mannes fynger Of the sweete sauours of these landes Sweete sauours many thinges myght be spoken the whiche bycause they make rather to theffeminatynge of the myndes of men then for any necessarye purpose I haue thought best to omytte them The kynge also gaue the gouernour a younge virgine of twelue yeares of age adourned with ryche and fayre iewelles A stone of great price Of the stones whiche he had of this kynge one was valued at twoo thousande Castellans of golde Thus at the length they departed from this kyng laden with golde and precious stoones Crisalua the gouernour sente one of the Carauelles to his vncle Diego Velasquen gouernour of the Ilande of Cuba with messengers to delyuer hym the golde iewelles and other ornamentes The resydue in the meane tyme styll folowed the tracte towarde the West One of them in the whiche Frauncis Montegius the vnder gouernour was caryed sayled harde by the shore and the other twoo kept aloofe within prospecte of the land Thinhabitauntes of these coastes also no lesse marueylynge at the shyppes then dyd the other came with twelue Canoas to Montegius desyringe hym by thinterpretours to coome alande promysynge in the name of their kynge that hee shoulde be honorably entertayned But Montegious answered that hee coulde not assente to their request bycause his coompanions were so farre from hym Yet dyd he gyue them certayne of owre thynges straunge vnto them and thankes for their gentylnesse Shortly after espyinge a great towne they directed their course thither Thinhabitauntes prohibyted them to coome alande and came foorthe ageynst them with bowes quyuers ful of arrowes brode swoordes made of heauy woode and Iauelens hardned at the ende with fier They shotte at owre men a farre of And owre men discharged certeyne pieces of ordinaunce ageynst them The Barbarians astonysshed at the noyse of the gunnes fledde amayne and desyred peace Here owre mens vytayles began to fayle them and theyr shyppes were broosed with longe vyages Hauynge therefore founde and doone these thynges whereof we haue spoken Crisalua returned to the Ilande of Fernandina well contented Other viages from Cuba or Fernandina but so were not his companions We muste nowe diuerte sumwhat from this matter and speake of an other nauigation And from thense wyll we returne to these landes which owre men haue founde So it is therfore that Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Fernandina about the same tyme that he had sent foorth this nauie of foure Caraueles he prepared an other nauigation of onely one Carauell and one brygantine with fortie and fyue men These exercised vyolent handes ageinst thinhabitauntes of those regions where they arryued thynkynge that they myght forceably drawe them to the dyggynge of golde bycause they were Caffranite Idolaters and circumcised There are at the sea syde not farre from the supposed continent Many Ilandâ— betwene Cuba and the firme lande many lyttle Ilandes of moste fortunate and frutefull soyle whereof three are thus named Guanapan Guanguan and Quitilla Owte of one of these which they named Sancta Marina they violentely caried away three hundreth men and women which they thrust into the Carauell and returned immediatly to Fernardina leauynge the brigantine with .xxv. of theyr felowes to thintent to hunt for more men The hauen where the Carauell fyrste arryued is cauled Carenas beinge distante from the angle of Cuba and the chiefe citie of Sanctiago Sanctiago the chiefe citie of Cuba two hundreth and fyftie myles For this Ilande of Cuba is very longe reachyng in length from the East to the West and situate directly vnder the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri as we haue sayde before Now shall you heare how fortune sought the reuenge of these pore wretches Therfore as theyr kepers went aland and few remained in the Carauel they perceuing occasioÌ„ ministred wher by they myght recouer theyr libertie soodeynely snatched vp owt mens weapons and slewe syxe of them which yet remayned in the Carauel whyle the residue lepte into the sea The Barbaâ—ians sley the Spaniardes with theyr owne weapons And by this meanes the Barbarians possessed the Carauell which they had soone learned to rule and thus returned to theyr owne countreys But they sayled fyrste to the nexte Ilande where they burnte the Carauel and caried away the weapons with them From hense they conueyed them selues to theyr owne countreys with the Canoas of this Ilande Heare in lyke maner they pryuilie assayled them that were lefte with the brigantyne and slewe many of them also The residue that escaped fledde to the brigantine where they bewayled theyr felowes deathes and counted theyr owne escape a victorie On the shore not farre from the place where they suffered this misfortune there is a tree in the toppe wherof they set vp a crosse and graued this inscription in the barke of the tree Vannuis Aldarieci There is a ryuer named Darien on the banke wherof standeth the chiefe citie of the supposed continent The chiefe citie of the supposed continent The gouernour therfore hauing intelligence herof sent with all speede two shippes of warre well furnyshed to the ayde of them that were lefte But they were wyse to late Yet folowynge the viewe of the crosse they came to the shore and redde the letters grauen on the tree but durste not attempte fortune Thus with all theyr hardie souldiers departinge from hense with despayre they sayled to the nexte Ilande out of the which they caryed away by violence fyue hundreth men and women supposynge lykewyse that they myght lawfully so doo bycause they were Idolaters and circumcised But the like chaunce happened vnto them when they landed at Fernandina For the Barbarians espyinge oportunitie sette vppon the Spaniardes in one of the shippes with theyr owne weapons and slewe theyr keepers The Spanyardes are sâ—ayne ageyne with theyr owne wepoÌ„s The residue that escaped castynge them selues into the sea swamme to the nexte carauell and with theyr felowes assayled the carauell that was taken from them This conflicte was so sharpe that for the space of foure houres it was doubtfull whether parte shulde obteyne the victorie The Barbarians both men and women fought verye fiercely aswell to recouer theyr libertie as also to holde faste the praye whiche they had gotten But in fine the Spanyardes had the vpper hande by reason they were more experte in handelynge of theyr weapons and rulyng of theyr Carauell The Barbarians beinge thus ouercoome The barbarians are slaine and puâ— to flyght lepte into the sea but the Spanyardes tooke theym ageyne with the shippe boates About a hundreth of the Barbarians peryshed beinge partely
drowned and partly slayne with the swoorde And but fewe of the Spanyardes These thynges thus pacified the resydue of the Barbarians were caryed to the towne of Sanctiago and condemned to laboure in the golde mynes Shortly after they made owte a newe vyage to an other of the Ilandes An other vyage whiche lye there about so thicke that they commonly caule the number of them Archipelagus Archipelagus as they in owre sea of Ionicum are cauled Symplegades A multitude of Ilandes Here owre men were cruelly handeled and as many of them as came alande eyther slayne or wounded This Ilande they named Florida bycause they arryued there on Easter day whiche the Spanyardes caule the floryshynge day of the resurrection They say also that in this tracte they sawe .xxvi. Ilandes which Colonus had ouerpassed xxvi Ilandes about hispaniola Cuba And the same so to lye aboute Hispaniola Cuba as though they warded them from the furie of the Ocean In many of these they founde natiue golde of lyke goodnes to that which is founde in Granatum Thinhabitantes also weare many iewels and haue many Images of theyr domesticall goddes made both of golde artificially wrought and also of woodde gylted Images of golde Francis Cheregatus browght one of theyr Idoles with hym wherby may bee considered of what wytte and aptenes they are It is a maruelous thynge to see what maner of rasers they haue Rasers of stone made of certeyne yelowe stones cleare transparent lyke vnto Crystal With these they shaue and carue as though they were made of fine steele WheÌ„ the edges are blunte with longe exercise they sharpen them not with a whetstone or powder or any other stone but temper them onely with water They haue also a thousande kindes of instrumentes or tooles and such other thynges of fyne deuise Instrumentes and tooles which were to longe to rehearse Let vs therefore returne from whense we haue digressed as to Cozumella Iucatana Colluacana or Olloa beinge al landes lately founde and so rich fruteful and pleasaunt that they may in maner be compared to the earthly Paradyse Landes lyke vnto the earthly Paradyse Therfore after that it was knowen to owre men of howe greate momente these trattes were the Spanyardes which inhabited the Ilande of Cuba Anunctus beinge the gouernour of the Ilande furnyshed a newe nauie of ten Carauelles and fyue hundreth menne An other vyage of .x. Carauels and a. hundreth meÌ„ with twoo smaule brigantines as it weare in the steade of lyght horsemen or forerunners whose ayde they myght vse as scoutes to searche the wayes for daunger of rockes and shalow sandes or shelfes They shipte also certeyne horses horses and mares as fyue stoned horses and .xvi. mares apte for the warres For their generall gouernour and Admiral of the nauy they elected Fernando Cortesius who at that tyme was the chiefe ruler of the citie of Sanctiago Fernando Cortesius For vnder capitaines they appointed Alfons Portucarerius Francis Montegius Alfons Auila Aluerado Spatense Iohn Velasquen Diegus Ordassus They styll folowed the same wynde from the last angle of Cuba toward the west As soone as Frauncis Fernandes of Corduba and then Iohn Grisalua came within prospecte of the Ilande of Sacrifyces wherof we haue made mention before soodenly a tempest of contrary wynde prohibited theym to take lande and drowe them backewarde to Cozumella lyinge on the East syde of Iucatana The Iland of Cozumella This Ilande hath onely one hauen named sainte Iohns porte And hath in it onely syxe townes Also none other water then in welles and cesterns bycause it lacketh riuers and springes by reason it is plaine conteynynge onely .xlv. myles in circuite At the coommynge of owre men thinhabitauntes fledde to the thicke woods forsoke their townes for feare Owre men entered into their houses where they founde plentie of vyttayles and many ornamentes perteynynge to the furnyshynge of their houses as hanginges and carpettes of dyuers colours sheetes also of gossampine cotton whiche they caule Amaccas and muche apparell Carpets and sheetes They haue furthermore innumerable bookes Innumerable bokes of the whiche with many other thinges sent to owre newe Emperour we wyll speake more largely hereafter The souldiers wandered about the Iland viewe althynges diligently kepyng them selues styll in battell raye least they myght be sodenly inuaded They founde but a fewe of thinhabitauntes and onely one woman in their coompanie By thinterpretours of Cuba and other whiche the Spaniardes tooke fyrst from Iucatana they perswaded the woman to caule the kynges that were absente They came gladly made a leage of frendshyp with owre men wherby they were restored to their houses and a great parte of their stuffe They are circumcised Idolatours Circumcised Idolaters and sacrifyce children of bothe kyndes to their Zemes which are the Images of their familiar and domesticall spirites whiche they honour as goddes When I enquired of Alaminus the pilote also of Frances Montegius and Portucarerius from whense they had the children they offered in sacrifyce They Sacrifice Chyldren they answered that they bowght them in the Ilandes theraboute by exchaunge for golde and other of their trafycke For in al this so large a space of land the deuelyshe anxietie for the desyre of wicked money hath not yet oppressed thinhabitantes They saye the same also of the Ilandes lately founde wherof two are named Destam and Sestam The Ilandes of Disâ—am Sestam whose inhabitauntes go naked and for scarenesse of children sacrifice dogges whiche they nourishe aswell for that purpose as also to eate as wee do connies These dogges are dumme and can not barke Sacrifice of dogges hauynge snowtes lyke vnto foxes Suche as they destinate to eate they geld while they are whelpes wherby they waxe very fat in the space of foure monethes They reserue al the bytches for increase and but fewe dogges Owre men disswaded them from these superstitions declarynge how they were abhominable and detested of god They were soone perswaded and desyred a law whiche they myght folowe They are soone persuaded to owre religion Owre men therfore declared vnto them that there was onely one god which made heauen earth the geuer of al good thynges beyng of one incomprehensyble substaunce vnder triplicitie of person As soone as they harde these woordes they broke their Zemes and pared scraped and washed the pauementes and waules of their temples Owre men gaue them a painted picture of the blessed vyrgine whiche they placed reuerently in their temple The picture of the blessed virgine and aboue it a crosse to be honored in the remembraunce of god and man and the saluation of mankynde They erected also an other great crosse of wod in the toppe of the temple whyâ—her they oftentymes resorte togither to honour the Image of the vyrgine Thinhabitantes signified by thinterpretours that in the Iland of Iucatana
not far from them there were seueÌ„ Christians captiues which in tyme past were dryuen thither by tempeste The Ilande of Cozumella is onely fyue miles distant from Iucatana The gouernour Cortâ—siâ—s being aduertised herof An other vyage furnyshed ii Carauels with fyftie meÌ„ wyllyng theÌ„ incontinent to direct their viage thither to make serch for these meÌ„ They toke with theÌ„ thre interpretours of Cozumella whose laÌ„guage agreeth with theirs with letâ—ers to the Christians if any myght be found He further declared vnto theym howe goodly a matter they shoulde bringe to passe if they coulde bringe away any of them For he no wayes doubted but that by their information he shuld be fully certified of the commodities of all those tractes and the maners of thinhabitauntes Thus they departed with commaundement to retourne within the space of syxe dayes But when they had remayned there now .viii. days and hard no woorde of their Cozumellane interpretours whome they had sent alande with the message and letters owre men returned to Cozumella without them suspectyng that they were other slaine or deteyned And where as the hole nauye was now determyned to depart from Cozumella but that they were hyndered by contrary wynde they sodenly espied towarde the weste a Canoa coommynge from Iucatana and in it one of the Christian captiues named Hieronimus Aquillaris who had lyued seuen yeares in that Ilande Aquillaris .vii. yeares captiue in the Iland of Iucatana With what ioye they embrased the one the other the chance may declare They were no lesse desyrous to heare then he to tell of the mysfortune whâ—che befell to hym and his coompanions And here it shal not bee greatly from my purpose breefely to rehearse how the thynge chaunced In my Decades I haue made mention of a certayne noble man named Valdiuia Valdiuia whome the Spanyardes whiche inhabited Dariena in the supposed continente of the goulf of Vraba sent to the Iland of Hispaniola to Colonus the Admiral and viceroy with the residue of the Senate and counsel there to whom perteyneth the redresse and orderynge of all thinges in these newe landes to sygnifye vnto them in what extreme necessitie and penurie they lyued Unhappy Valdiuia therfore The shipwracke of Ualdiuis takynge this matter in hand in an euell houre was with a sudden and vyolent whirlewinde dryuen vppon certayne quickesandes in the prospecte of the Ilande of Iamaica lyinge on the South syde of Hispaniola and Cuba These blind and swalowyng sandes the Spaniardes caule vypers The quicke sandes cauled vypers And that by good reason bycause in them many shyppes are entangled as the lycertes are implycate in the tayles of the vipers While the Carauell thus wresteled with the water it was so bruste in sunder that Valdiuia with thirtie of his felowes coulde scarsely with muche difficultie descende into the shyppe boate where without â—ers and without sayles they were caried awaye by the vyolence of the water For as we haue said before in owre Decades the seas do runne there continually with a vyolent course towarde the West The course of the sea towarde the west They wandered thus .xiii. dayes not knowyng whyther they went nor yet fyndynge any thyng to eate Famen consumed seuen of them whiche were caste in the sea to feede the fyshes The resydue lykewise in maner consumed by famen and faulynge from one calamitie into an other were driuen to Iucatana and fell into the handes of a cruell kynge who slewe Valdiuia the gouernour with certayne of his felowes Ualdiuia is sacrificed to Idoles And when hee had fyrst sacrifyced them to his Zemes shortely after he eate them with his frindes of that conspiracie For they eate onely their enemyes and straungiers And doo otherwise absteyne from mannes fleshe In this meane tyme while Hieronimus Aqullraris with syxe of his felowes were reserued to be sacrifyced the thirde daye howe Aquillaris escaped they brooke their bandes escaped the handes of that cruell tyranne and fledde to an other kynge beynge his enemye who receaued them yet onely as bondemen It is a straunge thinge to heare of the moother of this Aquillaris For as soone as she harde that her soonne was faulen into the handes of the nations that eate mannes fleshe shee fell madde incontinent So that when so euer after shee sawe any meate rostyng at the fyer or onely ready spytted to laye to the fyer shee ceased not to crye out in this maner O me moste wretched moother Behold the members of my son But to returne to owre purpose When Aquillaris had now receaued the gouernours letter sente by the Cozumellane messengers hee declared to the kynge his mayster whose name was Taxmarus what was their erraunt thither kynge Taxmarus and wherfore they were sent vsyng in the meane tyme many large discourses in expressynge the great poure and magnifycence of their kynge who had of late arriued in those coastes Also of their humanitie and gentilnesse toward their frindes and suche as submytted them selues to them and againe their rygour and fiercenesse ageynst suche as stoobernly eyther contemned them or denyed their requestes With these woordes he broughte Taxmarus into suche feare that the maister was now fayne to desyre his seruaunt so to handell the matter that they myght quyetly enter into his dominion as his freendes and not as his enemies Aquillaris promised in their behalfe that they shuld not onely coome in peace but also to ayde hym ageynst his enemyes if neede shulde so require Whervppon hee dismissed Aquillaris and with hym three of his famâ—liers and coompanions Thus they sayled together from Cozumella to Iueatana to the ryuer whiche they had founde before in the fyrst vyage thither by the gouernance of Alaminus the pilot They found the mouthe of the ryuer stopped with sande The mouth of a ryuer stoâ—ped with sande as wee reade of the ryuer of Nilus in Egipte when the wyndes cauled EtesuÌ„ blowe in summer and especially in the canicular dayes Therfore where as they coulde not enter into theÌ„ ryuer with the biggeste vesselles although it bee otherwise apte to receaue great shyppes the gouernour caused two hundreth men to be sette alande with the brigantynes and shyppe boates wyllynge Aquillaris to offer peace to thinhabitauntes They demaunded what owre men required Aquillaris answered vyttayles There was a longe space of sande by the syde of the towne whither they wylled them to resorte promysynge to brynge them vyttayles thither the daye folowynge Turky hens Owre men wente and they came accordynge to their promisse and brought with them eyght of their hennes beynge as bygge as peacockes of brownyshe coloure and not inferiour to peacockes in pleasaunte tast They brought also as muche bread made of Maizium whiche is a graine not muche vnlyke vnto panyke as wolde scarcely serue tenne hungry men And here with desyred them to depart But when they perceaued that owre men made no hast away immediately there
fearynge thexemple of thinhabitantes of Potanâ—hana the fame wherof myght haue coome to theyr eares or els hopynge that vnder the shadowe of suche valiant menne they myght obteyne ayde and succour ageynst theyr enemies and bortherers For as I haue sayde before they dystroye one an other with continuall warre for the desyre to inlarge theyr dominions Owre men refused perpetuall habitacion and accepted theyr frendely profer for a tyme. As they came alande the people folowed them on euery syde with bouwes in theyr handes which they helde ouer owre mens heades to defende them from the rayne as though they had walked in a continual arbour Here they encamped And least the residue lefte in the shippes shulde in the meane tyme waxe slothefull with Idlenes the gouernour gaue commaundement to Alaminus the pylot and Francis Montegius to search the west partes of that lande whyle he relieued the weried souldiers and healed suche as were wounded To them that went forward on this vyage he assigned two brigantines with fiftie men An other vâ—age of two brygantines fiftie men Unto this goulfe the course of the water was gentyl enough and moderate where the sea runneth swyftly from the East to the West But when they had sayled a lyttle further towarde the Weste they founde the sea runnynge with so swift a course as if it were a great ryuer faulynge from the tops of hygh mountaynes In so much that in a shorte space of tyme it caried them fiftie myles from theyr felowes When they were now entered into this violent streame of the water A conflict betwene the waters comming from the west and from the south they sawe on their left hand a large playne sea which mette with the course of the other waters faulynge from the weste And lyke as two great ryuers that runne contrary wayes make a vehement conflycte where they meete so seemed the waters commyng from the Southe to resyst these waters as enemyes that had entered into the ryght or possessyon of an other On the contrary parte they sawe the lande reachynge farre bothe on the lefte hande and on the ryght In this strife betwene the waters they were so tossed on bothe sydes and entangled with whirlepooles A dangerous and peinefull vyage that they longe wrestled with owte hope of lyfe At the length with muche difficultie turnynge the stemmes or forpartes of their shyppes ageynst the streame from whense they came and labourynge al that they myght with their oers and sayles they coulde scarsely ouercoome the rage of the water In so much that where as they thought that they had in one nyght sayled twoo myles they founde that they were dryuen backe foure myles Yet at the length with goddes helpe they ouercame this daungerours conflycte They spente .xxii. daies in this lyttle space of sea And when they were nowe returned to their felowes declared vnto them that that ende was the land of Colluacana whiche they adiudged to be parte of the supposed continent The land of Colluacana The lande whiche they sawe a farre of before their fase they suppose eyther to be annexed to owre continent or to bee ioyned to the large North regions cauled Baccalaos The land of Baccaleos or Baccalâ—arum wherof we haue made mention in owr Decades in the vyage of Sebastian Cabote This matter is yet doubtefull But wee truste it shall once bee better knowen While Alaminus and Montegius searched these secreates the kynge of the prouince whose name was Multoxumam sent owre men by one of his chiefe offycers beynge also his Lieuetenaunt of the sayde towne many ryche and goodly presentes of golde syluer and precious stoones Rych presenâ—es of golde and precious sleâ—es sette and wroughte after a marueylous straunge deuyse and with no lesse cunnynge woorkemanshyp Here they determined to sende messengiers to owre newe Emperour to knowe his pleasure that they myght in this prouince planâ— a newe colonie or habitation And this dyd they withowte thaduise of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Cuba or Fernandina who fyrste sente them foorth with commaundement to returne ageyne after they had searched these regions and obteyned plentie of golde While they consulted hereof they were of dyuers opinions But the moste part alleaged that in this case it was not requisyte to make the gouernour of their counsaile Forasmuche as the matter shulde be referred to a higher Iudge as to the kyng of Spaine him selfe When they were thus agreed they receaued vyttayles of the gentle kyng of the prouince and assigned the place of their colonie twelue myles from the sayde towne in a fruteful and holsome soile A newe colonie For their generall gouernour they elected Cortesius the gouernour of the nauye against his wyll as sum saye For other magistrates to gouerne the citie which they intended to build he choose Portuâ—arerius and Montegius of whome we haue made mention before This Cortesius hath written a booke of these thinges They chose also certeyne messengiers to sende to the kyng by the conduction of Alaminus the pylot Furthermore foure of the princes of this prouince offered theÌ„ selues wyllyngly to go with owre men into Spaine to thintent to see owre landes and that kynge whose poure is soo great and whose auctoritie reacheth so farre They brought lykewise two women with them which serued obeied theÌ„ in all thinges after the maner of theyr countrey The people of this nation is of broune or yelowyshe colour Bothe the men and the women haue pendauntes of gold and precious stones hanginge at their eares The men also boore their nether lyppes full of holes from the vppermoste parte of the lyppe euen vnto the nethermoste parte of the gumme They weare rynges and plates at ther lyppes At these they hange certeyne rynges and plates of golde and syluer fastned to a smaule and thynne plate lyinge within betwene the lippe and the gumme At the byggest hole in the myddest of the lip there hangeth a rounde plate of syluer as brode as the coyne cauled a Corolyne and as thicke as a mannes fynger I do not remember that euer I sawe any thinge that seemed more fylthy in myne eye The dyuers phantasies of men Yet do they thynke that there is nothing more cumly vnder the circle of the moone Wherby we may see howe vainely mankynde wandereth in his owne blyndnesse The Ethiopian thincketh the blacke colour to be fayrer then the white And the white man thinketh otherwise They that are pouled thinke that more decent then to weare a bush and they that weare beardes iudge it a deformitie to be shauen As appetite therfore moueth and not as reason perswadeth men runne after vanities And euery prouynce is rulâ—d by their ownesense as writeth saint Ierome From whense they haue their golde we haue spoken sufficiently before But as owre men marueyled where they had their syluer Syluer they shewed them certayne high mountaynes whiche are continually couered
is great as we haue noted in owre Decades This riuer fauleth into the furthest corner of the goulfe of Vraba by seuen portes or mowthes as dooth the ryuer of Nilus into the Egyptian sea The goulfe of Uraba whose large description yowe may also reade in owre Decades That the mountaynes on euery syde about this ryuer The ryche mountaynes of Dabaiba are rych in golde we haue learned by thinformation of thinhabitauntes of whom we made diligent inquisition Vaschus and besyde hym other gouernoures and Lieuâ—tenauntes haue fouretymes entered into this ryuer with theyr armyes in battayle array and with dyuers kyndes of shippes fyrste for the space of fortie myles then fyftie and at the last fourescore at an other tyme also ouerthwarte the ryuer Oh shamefull chaunce and detestable couwardenes of owre men Fierce war lyke people A naked nation encounterynge with them that had apparell the armed ageynste the vnarmed had the ouerthrowe in maner in all conflictes and were other all slayne or wounded They vse inuenemed arrowes and are suche experte archers that if they espye any place of theyr enemie bare or vnarmed they wyll not lyghtly fayle to stryke him there They vse also many dartes Dartes which in the tyme of the battayle they hurle so thicke a farre of that they take the lyght of the sonne froÌ„ theyr enemies as it were with a clowde They haue lykewise brode and longe swoordes made of a heauie and harde kinde of woodde Swoordes of heauie wood wherewith they feyght fiercely neare at hande Vaschus hym selfe receaued many woundes in encounterynge with them And thus by reason of the fiercenes of these barbarians the ryuer of Dabaiba is yet lefte vnsearched We wil nowe speake sumwhat more of the Iland of Hispaniola which the Spanyardes caule Spagnuola the moother and chiefe of al other landes or Ilandes wherof we entended to wryte hispanâ—ola Ouiedus wryteth that ther are nowe .v. monasteries In it the Senate is now restored and fyue Iudges assigned to giue lawes to all thinhabitauntes of those tractes But in shorte tyme they shall cease gatherynge of golde although there bee greaâ—e plentie by reason they shall lacke labourers and myners forasmuch as thinhabitauntes whose helpe they vsed herein are brought to a smaule number consumâ—d partly by warre and many more by famen that yeare that they dygged vp the rootes wherof they made theyr beste breade and lefte of sowynge theyr grayne of Maizium which is theyr common foode supposinge hereby to haue dryuen owre men owte of the Ilande who had vytayles sente them from Spayne A great number of them also dyed of newe and straunge diseases which in the yeare of Christe a thousande fyue hundreth and .xviii. consumed theym lyke rotton sheepe Newe and strange diseases And to saye the truth owre mens vnsaciable desyre of gold so oppressed these poore wretches with extreme labour and â—oyle where as before they lyued pleasauntly and at lybertie gyuen onely to playes and pastymes as daunsynge fysshinge foulynge and huntyng of lyttle connies that many of them periâ—shed euen for verye anguyâ—he of mynde the whiche with their vnaccustomed labour are thynges of them selues suffycient to engender many newe diseases But the kynge and the Senate haue nowe determyned that they be reduced to a people and to gyue them selues onely to increase and tyllage of the gound And that onely such as are bought or takâ—n owte of other regions bee appointed to labour in the golde mynes The suger of hispaniola But it shall suffyce to haue sayde thus muche of the pestiferous hunger of golde Therfore to speake of other matters It is a marueylous thynge to consyder howe all thynges increase and prosper in this Ilande There are nowe .xxviii suger presses wherwith great plentie of suger is made Suger of Ualeutia The canes or reedes wherin the suger groweth are bygger and hygher then in any other place And are as bygge as a mans arme in the brawne and higher then the stature of a man by the halfe This is more woonderfull that where as in Ualentia in Spaine where a great quantitye of suger is made yearely where so euer they applye them selues to the great increase therof A token of maruelous fruitfulnes yet doth euery roote bring foorthe not paste fyue or syxe or at the moste seuen of those reedes wheras in Hisponiola one roote beareth twentie and oftentymes thirtie Foure footed beastes and cattayle Cattayle are marueylously increased in this Ilande And albeit that the rauenynge hunger of golde hath hitherto greatly hyndered owre men from tyllage of the ground yet is there great plentye of wheate wheate whiche prospereth so wel that it yealdeth sumtyme a hundreeh foulde And this especially on the hylles or rydges of the mountaynes prospectynge towarde the North. Uines do also increase here with no lesse frutefulnesse Uines What shuld I speake of the trees that beare Cassia fistula Cassia Fistula brought first into this Iland from the other Ilandes neare vnto the supposed Continent as we haue noted in owr decades There is nowe suche plentie hereof that after a fewe yeares we shall haue a pounde of the price that wee paye nowe for an ounce Of the bresyle and mirobalane trees Brasyle Myrobalanes with other innumerable prerogatiues and benefites whiche nature hath plentifully giuen to this blessed Iland we haue spoken suffyciently in owr decades Yet haue I thought good to repeate part of the same bycause I think that the wittes of many readers haue diuerted from the weyght of great affaires to the recordation of such pleasaunt thynges And yet do not suche thynges as are sauery engender tedyousnesse soo that a precious matter bee adourned with a precious vesture FINIS EXEMPLAR BVLLAE SEV DONATIONIS AVTORITATE CVIVS EPISCOPVS ROMANVS ALEXANder eius nominis sextus concessit et donauit Castellae regibus suis successoribus regiones Insulas noui orbis in Oceano occidentali Hispanorum nauigationibus repertas⸫ ALEXANDER EPISCOPVS seruus seruorum Dei Charissimo in Christo filio Ferdinando Regi et Charissimae in Christo tiliae Elizabeth Reginae Castellae Legionis Aragonum Siciliae et Granatae illustribus salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Inter caetera Diuinae maiestati beneplacita opera et cordis nostri desiderabilia illud profecto potisimuÌ„ existit vt fides catholica Christiana religio nostris praesertim temporibus exaltetur ac vbilibet amplietur ac dilatetur animarumque salus procuretur ac barbarae nationes deprimantur et ad fideÌ„ ipsam reducantur Vnde cum ad hanc sacram Petri sedem Diuinafauente clementia meritis licâ—t imparibus euocati fueremus cognoscentes vos tanquam veros catholicos reges et principes quales semper fuisse nouimus a vobis praeclare gesta toti pene orbi notissima demonstrant nedum id exoptare sed omni conatu studio et diligentia nullis
si contra fecerint incurrant districtius inhibemus ne ad insulas et terras firmas inuentas et inueniendas detectas et detegendas versus Occidentem et Meridiem fabricando et construendo lineam a polo Arctico ad polum Antarcticum siuae terrae firmae et Insulae inuentae et inueniendae sint versus Indiam aut versus aliam quamcunque partem quae linea distet a qualibet Insularum quae vulgariter nun cupantur de los Azores et Cabo verde centum leucis versus Occidentem et Meridiem vt praefertur pro mercibus habendis vel quauis alia causa accedere praesumat absque vestra ac haeredum et successorum vestrorum praedictorum licentia speciali Non obstantibus constitutionibus et ordinationibus Apostolicis caeterisque quibuscunque in illo in quo imperia et dominationes et bona cuncta procedunt Confidentes ê™ dirigente Domino actus vestros si huiusmodi sanctum ac laudabile propositum prosequamini breui tempore cum foelicitate et gloria totius populi Christiani vestri labores et conatus exitum foelicissimum consequentur Verum quia difficile foret praesentes literas ad singula quaeque loca in quibus expediens fuerit deferri volumus ac motu et scientia similibus decernimus ê™ illarum transsumptis manu publici notarij inderogati subscriptis et sigillo alicuius personae in ecclesiastica dignitate constitutae seu curiae ecclesiasticae munitis ea prorsus fides in iudicio et extra ac alias vbilibet adhibeatur quae praesentibus adhiberetur si essent adhibitae vel ostensae Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae commendationis hortationis requisitionis donationis concessionis assignationis constitutionis deputationis decreti mandati inhibitionis et voluntatis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum⸫ Datum Romae apud sanctum Petrum Anno incarnationis Dominicae .1593 quarto nonas Maij Pontificatus nostri anno primo⸫ ¶ The coppie of the Bull or donation by thautoritie wherof Pope Alexander the syxte of that name gaue and graunted to the kynges of Castyle and theyr successours the Regions and Ilandes founde in the Weste Ocean sea by the nauigations of the Spanyardes ALexander byshoppe the seruaunte of the seruauntes of God To owre moste deare beloued sonne in Christ Kynge Ferdinande And to owre deare beloued doughter in Chryste Elyzabeth Queene of Castyle Legion Aragon Sicilie and Granata most noble Princes Gretynge and Apostolical benediction Amonge other woorkes acceptable to the diuine maâ—estie and accordynge to owre hartes desyre this certeinely is the chiefe that the Catholyke fayth and Christian religion specially in this owre tyme may in all places bee exalted amplified and enlarged wherby the health of soules may be procured and the Barbarous nations subdued and brought to the fayth And therefore wheras by the fauoure of gods clementie although not without equall desertes we are cauled to this holy seate of Peter and vnderstandynge you to bee trewe Catholyke Princes as we haue euer knowen you and as youre noble and woorthy factes haue declared in maner to the hole worlde in that with all your studie diligence and industrye you haue spared no trauayles charges or perels aduenturynge euen the shedynge of your owne bludde with applyinge yowre hole myndes and endeuours here vnto as your noble expeditions achyued in recoueryng the kyngdome of Granata from the tyrannie of the Sarracens in these our dayes doo playnely declare your factes with so great glorye of the diuine name For the whiche as we thinke you woorthy so owght we of owre owne free wyl fauorably to graunt you all thynges whereby you maye dayely with more feruent myndes to the honoure of god and enlargynge the Christian empire prosecute your deuoute and laudable purpose most acceptable to the immortall God We are credably informed that wheras of late you were determyned to seeke and fynde certeyne Ilandes firme landes farre remote and vnknowen and not heretofore found by any other to thintent to bringe thinhabitauntes of the same to honoure owre redemer and to professe the catholyke fayth you haue hetherto byn much occupied in thexpugnation and recouerie of the kyngedome of Granata by reason whereof yowe coulde not brynge yowre sayde laudable purpose to th ende desyred Neuerthelesse as it hath pleased almyghty god the foresayde kyngedome beinge recouered wyllyng taccomplyshe your sayde desyre you haue not without great laboure perelles and charges appoynted owre welbeloued sonne Christopher Colonus a man certes wel commended as moste worthy and apte for so great a matter well furnyshed with men and shippes and other necessaries to seeke by the sea where hetherto no manne hath sayled suche firme landes and Ilandes farre remote and hitherto vnknowen Who by gods helpe makynge diligente searche in the Ocean sea haue founde certeyne remote Ilandes and firme landes whiche were not heretofore founde by any other In the which as is sayde many nations inhabite lyuinge peaceably and goinge naked not accustomed to eate fleshe And as farre as yowre messengers can coniecture the nations inhabitynge the foresayde landes and Ilandes beleue that there is one god creatoure in heauen and seeme apte to be brought to thimbrasinge of the catholyke faythe and to be imbued with good maners by reason whereof we may hope that if they be well instructed they may easely bee induced to receaue the name of owre sauiour Iesu Christ. We are further aduertised that the forenamed Christopher hathe nowe builded and erected a fortresse with good munition in one of the foresayde principall Ilandes in the which he hath placed a garrison of certeine of the Christian men that wente thyther with him aswell to thintent to defende the same as also to searche other Ilandes and firme landes farre remote and yet vnknowen We also vnderstande that in these landes and Ilandes lately founde is great plentie of golde and spices with dyuers and many other precious thynges of sundry kyndes and qualities Therfore al thinges diligently ocnsidered especially thamplifyinge and enlargyng of the catholike fayth as it behoueth catholike Princes folowyng thexemples of yowre noble progenitours ol famous memorie wheras yowe are determyned by the fauour of almightie god to subdue and brynge to the catholyke fayth thinhabitauntes of the foresayde landes and Ilandes Wee greatly commendynge this yowre godly and lauâ—able purpose in owr lorde and desirous to haue the same brought to a dewe ende and the name of owre sauioure to be knowen in those partes doo exhorte yowe in owre Lorde and by the receauynge of yowre holy baptisme wherby yowe are bounde to Apostolicall obedience and ernestely require yowe by the bowels of mercy of owre Lorde Iesu Christ that when yowe intende for the zeale of the Catholyke faythe to prosecute the sayde expedition
to reduce the people of the foresayde landes and Ilandes to the Christian religion yowe shall spare no labours at any tyme or bee deterred with any perels conceauynge firme hope and confidence that the omnipotent godde wyll gyue good successe to yowre godly attemptes And that beinge autorysed by the priuilege of the Apostolycall grace yowe may the more freely and bouldly take vpon yowe thenterpryse of so greate a matter we of owre owne motion and not eyther at yowre request or at the instant peticion of any other person but of owre owne mere liberalitie and certeyne science and by the fulnesse of Apostolycall power doo gyue graunt and assigne to yowe yowre heyres and successours al the firme landes Ilandes found or to be found discouered or to be discouered toward the West South drawyng a line froÌ„ the pole Artike to the pole Antartike that is froÌ„ the north to the Southe Conteynynge in this donation what so euer firme landes or Ilandes are founde or to bee founde towarde India or towarde any other parte what so euer it bee beinge distant from or without the foresayd lyne drawen a hundreh leaques towarde the Weste and South from any of the Ilandes which are commonly cauled De los Azorâ—s and Cabo Verde All the Ilandes therfore and firme landes founde and to be founde discouered and to be discouered from the sayde lynâ— towarde the West and South such as haue not actually bin heretofore possessed by any other Christian kynge or prynce vntyll the daye of the natiuitie of owre Lorde Ieâ—u Chryste laste paste from the which begynneth this present yeare beinge the yeare of owre Lorde M. CCCC.lxxxxiii when so euer any such shal be founde by your messingers capytaines Wee by the autoritie of almyghtie God grâ—unted vnto vs in saynt Peter and by the office which we beare on the earth in the steede of Iesu Christe doo for euer by the tenoure of these presentes gyue graunte assigne vnto yowe yowre heyres and successoures the kynges of Castyle and Legion all those landes and Ilandes with theyr dominions territories cities castels towres places and vyllages with all the ryght and iurisdictions therunto perteynynge constitutynge assignynge and deputynge yowe yowre heyres and successours the lordes thereof with full and free poure autotoritie and iurisdiction Decreeinge neuerthelesse by this owre donation graunt and assignation that from no Christian Prince whiche actually hath possessed the foresayde Ilandes and firme landes vnto the day of the natiuitie of owre lorde before sayde theyr ryght obteyned to bee vnderstoode hereby to be taken away or that it owght to be taken away Furthermore wee commaunde yowe in the vertue of holy obedience as yowe haue promysed and as wee doubte not you wyll doo vppon mere deuotion and princely magnanimitie to sende to the sayde firme landes and Ilandes honeste vertuous and lerned men suche as feare God and are able to instructe thinhabitauntes in the Catholyke fayth and good maners applyinge all theyr possible diligence in the premisses We furthermore streightly inhibite all maner of persons of what state degree order or condition so euer they bee although of Imperiall and regall dignitie vnder the peyne of the sentence of excommunication whiche they shall incurre yf they doo to the contrary that they in no case presume without speciall lycence of yowe yowre heyres and successours to trauayle for marchaundies or for any other cause to the sayde landes or Ilandes founde or to bee found discouered or to bee discouered toward the west south drawing a line froÌ„ the pole Artyke to the pole Antartike whether the firme lands Ilandes found to be found be situate toward India or towarde any other parte beinge distant from the lyne drawen a hundreth leagues towarde the west from any of the Ilandes commonly cauled De los Azores and Cabo Verde Notwithstandynge constituâ—ions decrees and Apostolycall ordinaunces what so euer they are to the contrary In him from whom Empyres dominions and all good thynges doo procede Trustynge that almyghtie god directynge yowre enterprises yf yowe folowe yowre godly and laudable attemptes yowre laboures and trauayles herein shall in shorte tyme obteyne a happy ende with felicitie and glorie of all Christian people But forasmuch as it shulde bee a thynge of great difficultie these letters to bee caryed to all suche places as shuld bee expedient we wyll and of lyke motion and knowleage doo decree that whyther so euer the same shal be sent or wher so euer they shal be receaued with the subscription of a common notarie therunto requyred with the seale of any person constitute in ecclesiasticall dignitie or suche as are autorysed by the ecclesiasticall courte the same fayth and credite to bee gyuen thereunto in iudgement or els where as shulde bee exhibyted to these presentes It shall therefore bee lawefull for no man to infringe or rashely to contrarie this letter of owre commendation exhortacion requeste donation graunt assignation constitution deputation decree commaundement inhibition and determination And yf any shall presume to attempte the same he owght to knowe that he shall thereby incurre the indignation of almyghtie God and his holye Apostles Peter and Paule ¶ Gyuen at Rome at saynt Peters In the yeare of thincarnation of owre Lord M. CCCC LXXXXIII The fourth day of the nones of Maye the fyrste yeare of owre seate To the reader ALthough amonge dyuers which haue wrytten of the Ocean and Weste Indies there is none to be compared to Peter Martyr of Angleria in declarynge by philosophical discourses the secreate causes of naturall affectes bothe as touchynge the lande the sea the starres and other straunge woorkes of nature yet forasmuche as of later dayes those countreys haue byn better knowen and searched and dyuers suche particular and notable thynges founde as are conteyned in the hystories of later wryters emonge the number of whom Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus whom lerned Cardanus compareth to the ancient writers is doubtles the chiefe I haue therfore thought good to ioyne to the Decades of Peter Martyr certeyne notable thynges which I haue gathered owte of his booke intiteled the Summarie or abbrigement of his generall hystorie of the west Indies wrytten in thâ— firme lande of the same in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena where he dwelte and was gouernoure many yeares And dedicated to Themperous maiestie as maye appeare by the epystell folowynge ¶ To the most hygh and myghtie prince Charles the fyfte of that name Emperour of Rome Kynge of Spayne and of the twoo Sicilies of bothe the sydes of the streyght of Faro Kynge of Hierusalem and Hungarie Duke of Burgonie and Earle of Flaunders Lorde and inheritoure of the firme lande and Ilandes of the Weste Ocean c. Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus his most humble seruant wysheth health and perpetual felicitie THe thynges whiche principally preserue and mayntayne the woorkes of nature in the memories of men are hystories and bookes composed of the same
Amonge the whiche certes those are esteemed moste trewe and autentyke which haue byn wrytten by wyttie and expert men well trauayled in the worlde as faythfull wytnesses of suche thynges as they haue partely seene and byn partely informed by credible persons Of this mynde and opinion was Plinie who better then any other autoure hathe wrytten in xxxvii bookes al that perteyneth to the naturall historie conteyned al in one volume dedicated to Uespasian Themperour Wherein as a prudente historiographer he declareth suche thynges as he had harde Attributynge the seconde autoritie to suche as he had redde in autoures that wrote before hym And thyrdely ioyned to the same hystorie such thynges as he hym selfe had seene as moste certeyne testimonie Whose exemple I folowynge wyl in this my breefe summarie reduce and represent to yowr maiesties memorie such thynges as I haue seene in yowre Empyre of the West Indies aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande of the Ocean sea where I haue serued nowe more then twelue yeares in the place of suruoyer of the golde mynes by the commaundemente of the Catholyke kynge Don Fernando the fyfte of that name and graundfather vnto yowre maiestie to whom god gaue great fame and glorie Sense whose death also I haue lykewies serued and trust whyle the rest of my lyfe yet remayneth to serue yowre maiestie as shall please yowe to commaunde As touchynge which thinges and such other lyke I haue more largely written in a hystorie begunne as sone as my age was rype to take suche matters in hande Wherein furthermore I haue made mention of suche thynges as haue chaunced in Spaine from the yeare .1494 vnto this tyme. Addynge also thereunto suche thynges woorthy memorie as I haue obserued in other realmes and prouinces where I haue trauayled And haue likewise particulerly wrytten the lyues and woorthy actes of the catholyke Princes of famous memorie Don Ferdinando and lady Elizabeth his wyfe to theyr last dayes After whose fruition of heauenly Paradyse I haue noted suche thynges as haue chaunced in yowre most fortunate succession Not omittynge particularly to wryte a large booke of such thynges as haue seemed moste woorthy to bee noted as touchynge yowre maiesties Indies But for asmuche as that volume remaineth in the citie of San. Dominico in the Ilande of Hispaniola where I dwell and am placed in housholde with wyfe chyldren and famelie I haue brought no more with me of that my writynge then I beare in memorie Determynynge notwithstandynge for yowre maiesties recreation to make a breefe rehearsall of certeyne notable thynges wherof I haue more largely entreated in my sayde general historie and such as may seeme moste woorthy to bee redde of yowre maiestie Of the which although a great parte haue byn wrytten by other who haue also seene the same yet perhappes they are not so exactly and particularly described as of me forasmuche as in maner all that trauayle into these Indies haue greater respecte to luker and gaynes then diligently to searche the woorkes of nature wherunto I haue byn euer naturally inclyned and haue therfore with all possible endeuour applyed myne eyes and intelligence to fynde the same And this presente Summarie shall not bee contrary or dyuers from my larger historie wherin as I haue sayde I haue more amplye declared these thynges but shal onely more breefely expresse theffect therof vntyl such tyme as Godde shal restore me to myne owne house where I may accomplyshe and fynishe my sayd general hystorie Where vnto to gyue the fyrst principle I say that Don Christopher Colonus as it is well knowen beinge the fyrste Admyrall of this India discouered the same in the dayes of the Catholyke kynge Don Ferdinando and the ladye Elyzabeth his wyfe graundfather and graundmother vnto yowre maiestie In the yeare .1491 And came to Barzalona in the yeare 1492. with the fyrst Indians and other shewes and profes of the great ryches and notice of this west Empire The whiche gyfte and benefyte was suche that it is vnto this daye one of the greatest that euer any subiect or seruant hath done for his prince or countrey as is manifeste to the hole worlde And to saye the trewth this shall doubtlesse bee so commodious and profytable vnto the hole realme of Spayne that I repute hym no good Castilian or Spanyarde that doothe not recognise the same And as I haue sayde before forasmuch as in my sayde generall historie I haue more largely intreated of these thynges I intend at this present only briefely to rehearse certeyne especiall thynges the whiche suerly are verye fewe in respecte of the thousandes that myght bee sayde in this behalfe Fyrst therfore I wyl speake sumwhat of the nauigation into these parties Then of the generation of the nations whiche are founde in the same with their rytes customes and cerimonies Also of beastes foules byrdes woormes fysshes seas ryuers sprynges trees plantes herbes and dyuers other thinges which are engendered boothe on the lande and in the water And forasmuche as I am one of thorder and company of them that are appointed to returne into these regions to serue yowre maiestie yf therfore the thynges conteyned in this booke shall not bee distincte in such order as I promised to performe in my greater woorke I desyre yowre maiestie to haue no respecte herevnto but rather to consyder the noueltie of suche straunge thynges as I haue herein declared whiche is the chiefe ende that moued me to write Protestyng that in this Summarie I haue written the trewth of suche thynges as coome to my remembraunce wherof not onely I my selfe can testifye but also diuers other woorthy and credible men which haue bin in those regions and are nowe presente in yowre maiesties courte And thus it shal suffyce to haue saide thus much vnto yowre maiestie in maner of a proheme vnto this present worke which I most humbly desyre yowre maiesticas thankfully taccept as I haue written it faythfully ¶ Of the ordinary nauygation from Spayne to the Weste Indies THe nauygation whiche is commonly made from Spayne to the Weste India is from Siuile where yowre maiestie haue yowre house of contractation for those partes with also yowre offycers thervnto perteynynge of whom the capitaines take their passeporte and lycence The patrones of suche shyppes as are appoynted to these vyages imbarke theym selues at san Luca di Barameda where the ryuer Cuadalchiber entereth into the Ocean sea And from hense they folowe their course toward the Ilandes of Canarie Of these seuen Ilandes they commonly touche two that is eyther Grancanaria or Gomera ▪ And here the shyppes are furnysshed with freshe water fuell cheese biefe and suche other thynges whiche may seeme requisyte to be added to suche as they brynge with them owte of Spayne From Spayne to these Ilandes is coommonly eyght dayes saylinge or lyttle more or lesse And when they are arryued there they haue sayled two hundereth and fyftie leaques whiche make a thousande myles accomptyng foure
is in the bottome of the chanell and where naturally the riuer runneth of greatest force So that it chaunceth sum tyme that when the bedde of the ryuer is good and ryche they fynde in it great quantitie of golde And therfore yowe maiestie ought to vnderstande for a generall rule as it appereth in facte that all golde is engendered in the toppes and hyghest places of the montaines And in continuance of time is by lyttle and lyttle browght downe to the vales and plaines by showres of rayne and the faules of sprynges ryuers and brookes hauynge their originall in the mountaynes and descendynge from the same notwithstandynge it bee oftentymes founde in the plaines farre from the mountaynes But when it chaunceth to be founde in great quantitie it is for the moste parte amonge the mountaynes and in the riuers or their branches more then in any other parte of the plaine And in these two maners is it commonly founde moste abundauntly And for the better profe that golde is engendered on hyghe and is brought downe into the lowe places I haue one great tooken therof whiche causeth me to beleue it for certeine And this is to consyder that coles neuer putrifie nor corrupt vnder the ground if they be made of stronge woodde Wherby it chaunceth that diggyng the earth by the fouldes or indented places of the mountaynes or on the sydes and breakynge a myne in the earthe where it had not byn broken before and hauyng nowe dygged one or two or three poles in measure the myners founde certeyne coles of wood vndeâ— the same leuel where they found gold And this I saye in the earth whiche was taken for a vyrgine that is to saye such as had not before byn opened for any myne The which coles coulde not naturally bee engendred there or enter in by any meanes But when the superficial part of the earth was equal with the leuel where the coles were founde it is lyke that the coles were left there by sum occasion of fyre that they fastned there in tyme and that afterwarde in longe continuance of tyme they were by lyttle and lyttle couered with the earth which the often showers of rayne washed from the mountaynes so that by the course of yeares the earth ouergrewe the coles vnto the sayde leuell and measure whiche had before tyme byn the superficiall parte of the earthe where the coles and golde were founde togyther whereby it maye appeare that the golde was no more engendered there then were the coles but brought thyther from the mountaynes by the faules of waters as we haue fayde forasmuche as the mountaynes are the matrices and bowels of all ryche metals Further and besyde this I say that in how much more the gold is gonne farre from the naturall place of his generation to the place where it is founde it is so muche the more puryfied and fyned and of a better carracte And the nearer that it is founde to his proper myne or vaine where it is engendered it is so muche the baser fouler and more crude and of a baser alay and caracte and dothe wast so much the more in meltynge and remayneth more brickle Sumetyme there are founde graynes of golde of greate quantitie and of greate weyght aboue the earth and sumtymes also vnder the earth And the greateste of all other that was founde to this daye in the Indies was that which was loste in the sea about the Ilande Beata whiche weyed three thousande and twoo hundreth Castellans of golde which are in value foure thousand a hundreth thirtie and eyght ducades of golde which waye one Arroua and seuen pounde or .xxxii. pounde after .xii. ounces to the pounde A marke is â— pounde of viii ounces summa xlâ—i.li weyght .viii. ounces after xii ounces to the .li. whiche make threescore and foure markes of golde And I sawe in the yeare .1515 in the handes of Mychel Passamonte treasurer to yowre maiestie two graines of the which one wayde seuen poundes which are .xiiii. markes and are in the value aboute threescore and fyue ducades of golde euery marke The other was of .x. markes which are lyue poundes of lyke value and of very good golde of .xxii. taractes and better There are also founde many other greate graynes although not equall vnto these in byggenes And forasmuche as I haue spoken of golde I haue thought good to declare sumewhat howe the Indians can very excellently gylte suche vesselles of copper and base golde as they make For they can gyue them so fayre and fâ—oryshynge a coloure that all the masse whiche they gylte appearethe as though it were golde of .xxii. caractes and better This colour they gyue with a certeyne herbe as thoughe it were wrought by the arte of any goldesmyth of Spayne or Italie and wold of them bee esteemed as a thynge of greate ryches and a secreate maner of gyldynge And for as muche as I haue spoken sufficiently of the myne of golde I wyll nowe speake sumwhat of copper bycause I haue made mention thereof This metall is founde in many of the Ilandes of the Indies and also in the firme lande And is founde dayely in greate quantitie holdynge sumwhat of golde But for the desyre that owre men haue to golde they nothynge esteeme the copper although there myght great commoditie and profiâ—te he had therby and also by other metals whiche they nothynge regarde excepte syluer whiche is founde abundantly in that parte of the firme lande which is cauled newe Spayne But of this it shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche bycause I haue more particularly entreated of these thynges in my generall hystorie of India ¶ Of the maner of fyshynge for perles THe Indians exercise this kynde of fysshynge for the moste parte in the coastes of the North in Cubagua and Cumana And manye of theym which dwell in the houses of certeyne particular lordes in the Ilandes of San Dominico and Sancti Iohannis resort to the Ilande of Cubagua for this purpose Theyr custome is to go fyue syxe or seuen or more in one of theyr Canoas or barkes erly in the mornynge to sume place in the sea there about where it appeareth vnto theÌ„ that there shulde bee greate plentie of those shell fyshes which sume caule muscles and sume oysters wherin perles are engendered And there they plonge them selues vnder the water euen vnto the bottome sauynge one that remaynethe in the Canoa or boate which he keepeth styll in one place as neare as he can lookynge for theyr returne owte of the water And when one of them hath byn a good whyle vnder the water he cyseth vp and commeth swymmynge to the boate enterynge into the same and leauynge there all the oysters whiche he hath taken and brought with hym For in these are the perles founde And when he hathe there rested hym selfe a whyle and eaten parte of the oysters he returneth ageyne to the water where he remaynethe as longe as he can endure and then
bee spoken as touchynge this matter as also howe there are many other excellent trees founde of dyuers sortes and dyfference as sweete Ceder trees blacke date trees and many other of the which sum are so heauy that they can not flote aboue the water but synke immediatly to the bottome And other ageyne as light as a corke As touchynge all whiche thynges I haue wrytten more largely in my generall hystorie of the Indies And forasmuch as at this present I haue entered to intreate of trees before I passe any further to other thynges I wyl declare the maner howe the Indians kyndle fyre only wiâ—h woodde and without fyre â—yndlynge of fyre withowt fyre the maner wherof is this They take a piece of woodde of two spannes in lengthe as bygge as the leaste fynger of a mans hande or as an arrowe well pullysshed and of a stronge kynde of woodde whiche they keepe onely for this purpose And where they intende to kyndle any fyre they take two other pieces of woodde of the dryest and lyghtest that they can fynde and bynde them fast togyther one with an other as close as two fyngers ioyned In the myddest or betwene these they put the poynt of the fyrste lyttle staffe made of harde and stronge wood which they hold in theyr handes by the toppe thereof and turne or rubbe it rounde aboute continually in one place betwene the two pieces of woodde which lye bounde togyther vppon the earthe which by that vncessant rubbynge and chafynge are in short space kyndeled and take fyer Purrified woodde shynyng in the nyght I haue also thought good here to speake sumwhat of such thynges as coomme to my rememberaunce of certeyne trees which are founde in this lande and sumetyme also the lyke haue bynne seene in Spayne These are certeyne putrifyed troonkes which haue â—yne so longe rottyng on the â—arth that they are verye whyte and shyne in the nyght lyke burnynge fyre brandes And when the Spanyardes fynde any of this woodde and intende priuily in the nyght to make warre and inuade any prouince when case so requyreth that it shal be necessary to go in the nyght in suche places where they knowe not the way the formost Christian man whiche guydethe the waye associate with an Indian to directe hym therein taketh a lyttle starre of the sayde woodde which he putâ—eth in his cappe hangynge behynde on hâ—s shoulders by the lyght wherof he that foloweth nexte to him directeth his iourney who also in lyke maner beareth an other starre behynde hym by the shynynge whereof the thyrde foloweth the same waye and in lyke maner do al the rest so that by this meanes none are loste or stragle owte of the way And forasmuche as this lyght is not seene very farre it is the better pollicie for the Chrystians bycause they are not thereby disclosed before they inuade theyr enemies Furthermore as touchynge the natures of trees one particular thynge seemeth woorthy to bee noted wherof Plinie maketh mention in his natural hystorye where he saythe that there are certeyne trees which contynewe â—uer greene and neuer lose theyr leaues Plinie as the baye tree the Ceder Trees which continue euer greene the orange tree and the olyue tree with such other of the whiche in all togyther he nameth not paste fyue or syxe To this purpose I saye that in the Ilandes of these Indies and also in the firme lande it is a thynge of muche difficultie to fynde twoo trees that lose or cast theyr leaues at any tyme. For althowgh I haue diligentely searched to knowe the trewthe hereof yâ—t haue I not seene any that lose theyr leaues eyther of theym which we haue browght owt of Spayne into these regions as Orange trees Linions Ceders Palmes or date trees and Pomegranate trees or of any other in these regions exâ—epte onely Cassia Cassia which loseth his leaues and hath a greater thynge appropriate to it selfe onely which is that whereas all other trees and plantes of India spreade theyr rooâ—â—s no dâ—eper in the earthe then the depth of a mans heyght or sumewhat more A secreatâ— thyâ—ge not descendyng any further into the ground by reason of the greate heate which is found beneth that depth yet dooth Cassia pearce further into the grounde vntyl it fynd water whiche by the Phylosophers opinion shoulde be the cause of a thynne and watery radycall moyster to suche thynges as drawe theyr nuryshement therof Radycall moysture â–ª as â—at and vâ—ctuous groundes with temperate heate yelde a fast firme moysture to suche thynges as growe in them whiche is the cause that suche trees lose not theyr leaues as the sayde thynne and waterysshe moysture is cause of the contrarie as appearethe by the sayde effecte which is seene onely in Cassia and none other tree or plante in all these parties ¶ Of Reedes or Canes I Haue not thought it conuenient in the chapiture before to speake of that whereof I intende nowe to intreate of reedes or canes to thintente that I woolde not mengle theym with plantes or trees beinge thynges of theÌ„ selues woorthy to bee particularly obserued So it is therfore that in the firme land there are many sortes of reedes so that in many places they make theyr howses therof couerynge them with the toppes of the same and makynge theyr waules of them in lyke maner as I haue sayde before And amonge these kyndes of reedes there is one so greate that the canes therof are as bygge as a mans legge in the knee and three spannes in length frome ioynt to ioynt or more in so much that euery of them is of capacitie to conteyne a lyttle bucket of water In this kynde here are founde sum greater and sum lesse of the which sum they vse to make quyuers for arrowes There is founde an other kynde which suerly is marueylous beynge lyttle bygger then a Iauelen the canes whereof are longer then twoo spannes These reedes growe one farre from an other as sumtymes twentie or thirtie pases and sumetymes also twoo or three leaques They growe in maner in all prouynces in the Indies And growe nere to very hygh trees whereunto they leane and creepe vp to the toppes of theyr braunches which they imbrase and descende ageyne downe to the earth Theyr canes are full of moste cleare water without any maner of tast or sauoure eyther of the canes or of any other thynge And suche as yf it were taken owte of the fressheste sprynge in the worlde Nor yet is it knowen that euer it hurte any that droonke therof For it hath oftentymes so chaunced that as the Chrysten men haue trauayled in these regions in desolate wayes where for lacke of water they haue byn in great daunger to dye for thyrste they haue escaped that perell by reason that they founde the sayde reedes of the water of whose canes they haue droonke a great quantitie withowt any hurte thereof ensewynge Therefore when they fynde these in
that when they haue caused the sayde ryndes and leaues to boyle togyther they make in the same vessell without any chaunge as I haue sayde as many colours as them lysteth Whiche thynge I suppose to coomme to passe by the disposition of the coloure whiche they haue fyrste gyuen to the thynge that they intende to dye or colour whether it bee threede webbe or clothe or any thynge that they intende to coloure ¶ Of venemous apples wherwith they poyson theyr arrowes THe apples wherewith the Indian Canibales inueneme theyr arrowes growe on certeyne trees couered with many braunches and leaues beinge very greene and growyng thicke They are laden with abundaunce of these euyll frutes and haue theyr leaues lyke the leaues of a peare tree but that they are lesse and rounder The frute is much lyke the muscadell peares of the Ilande of Sicilie or Naples in forme and byggenesse And are in sum partes steyned with redde spottes and of very sweete sauours These trees for the moste parte growe euer by the sea coastes and neare vnto the water And are so fayre and of pleasaunte sauour that there is no man that seethe theym but wyll desyre to eate therof In so much that if it may bee spoken of any frute yet growynge on the earth Note I wolde saye that this was the vnhappy frute wherof owre fyrste parentes Adam and Eue tasted wherby they both lost theyr felicitie and procured death to them theyr posteritie Of these frutes and of the greate antes whose bytynge causeth swellynge whereof I haue spoken els where and of the eutes or lysartes and vypers and such other venemous thynges the Canibales which are the chyefe archers amonge the Indians Canibales archiers are accustomed to poyson theyr arrowes wherwith they kyll all that they wounde wherwith they inuenymther arrowes These venemes they mengle togyther and make thereof a blacke masse or composition which appeareth lyke vnto very blacke pytche Of this poyson I caused a great quantitie to be burnt in Sancta Maria Antiqua in a place two leaques and more within the lande with a greate multitude of theyr inuenemed arrowes and other munition with also the house wherein they were reserued This was in the yeare .1514 at suche tyme Pâ—trus Arias as tharmy arriued there with capitayne Pedrarias da villa at the commaundemente of the Catholyke kynge Don Ferdinando But to returne to the hystory These apples as I haue said growe neare vnto the sea And wheras the Christians which serue yowr maiestie in these parties suppose that there is no remedy so profytable for such as are wounded with these arrowes as is the water of the sea if the wounde be much wassted therwith The water of the sea by which meanes sum haue escaped although but fewe yet to saye the trewthe albeit the water of the sea haue a certeyne caustike qualitie agenyst poyson it is not a sufficient remedy in this case nor yet to this day haue the Christian perceaued that of fiftie that haue byn wounded three haue recouered But that yowr maiestie may the better consyder the force of the veneme of these trees yowe shall further vnderstande that yf a man doo but repose hym selfe to sleepe a lyttle whyle vnder the shadow of the same he hath his head and eyes so swolne when he ryseth that the eye lyddes are ioyned with the chekes And if it chaunce one droppe or more of the dewe of the sayde tree to faule into the eye it vtterly destroyeth the syght The pestilent nature of this tree is such that it can not bee declared in fewe woordes Of these there groweth greate plentie in the goulfe of Vraba towarde the North coast on the Weste and Easte syde The goulf of vraba The wood of these trees when it burneth maketh so greate a stynke that noo man is able to abyde it by reason it causeth so great a peyne in the headde Amonge other trees which are in these Indies as well in the Ilandes as in the firme lande there is an other kynde which they caule Xagua Xagua wherof there is great plentie They are very hygh and streyght and fayre to beholde Of these they vse to make pykes and iauelyns of dyuers lengthes and byggenesse They are of a fayre colour betwene russette and whyte This tree bryngeth foorth a greate frute as bygge as Papauer or poppie and much lyke therunto It is very good to be eaten when it is â—ype Owte of this they gette a very cleare water wherwith they wasshe theyr legges and sumetymes all theyr boddyes when they feele theyr flesshe werye faynt or loose The which water bysydâ— that it hath a byn dynge qualitie it hath also thâ—s propertie thâ—t what so euer it toucheth it steyneth it blacke by lyâ—tle and lyttle vntyll it bee as blacke as giete which coloure can not be taken away in lesse space then tenne or twelue dayes And if the nayle bee but touched therwith it is so steined that it can by no meanes bee taken away vntyll it eyther faule of or growe owte and bee clypped away by lyttle and lyttle as I my selfe haue oftentymes seene by experience There is an other kynde of trees whith they caule Hobi. Hobi. These are very great and fayre Sum thynke these to be miâ—obalanes cause holsome ayer where they growe and a pleasaunt shadow and are founde in great abundaunce Theyr frute is very good and of good tast and sauoure and much lyke vnto certeyne damsons or prunes beinge lyttle and yelowe But theyr stone is very great by reason wherof they haue but lyttle meate Theyr barke or rynde boyled in water maketh a holsome bathe for the legges bycause it bindeth and steyeth the loosenesse of the flesshe so sencibly that it is a marueyle to consyder It is suerly a holsome and excellent bathe ageynst such fayntnesse And is the beste tree that may bee founde in those parties to sleepe vnder For it causeth no heauinesse of the headde as doo dyuers other trees Whiche thynge I speake bycause the Christians are muche accustomed in those regions to lye in the fyeldes It is therfore a common practice amonge them that where so euer they fynd these trees there they spreade theyr mattresses and beddes wherin they sleepe There are also a kynde of hyghe date trees and full of thornes Date trees The woodde of these is moste excellent beinge very blacke and shynynge and so heauy that no parte thereof can swymme aboue the water but synketh immediatly to the bottome Of this woodde they make theyr arrowes and dartes Also iauelyns speares and pykes And I saye pykes bycause that in the coastes of the sea of Sur Thinhabitanâ—es of the sea of Sur. beyonde Esquegus and Vracha the Indians vse great and longe pykes made of the woodde of these date trees Of the same lykewyse they make clubbes and swoordes and dyuers other weapons Also vesselles and housholde stuffe
of dyuers sortes very fayre and commodious Furthermore of this woodde the Christians vse to make dyuers musicall instrumentes as clarisimbals lutes gyterns and suche other the whiche bysyde theyr fayre shydynge coloure lyke vnto giete are also of a good sounde and very durable by reason of the hardenesse of the woodde After that I haue sayde thus much of trees and plantes I haue thought good also to speake sumwhat of herbes An herb that bearethe cordes You shall therefore vnderstande that in these Indies there is an herbe much lyke vnto a yelowe lyllie abowte whose leaues there growe and creepe certeyne cordes or laces as the lyke is partly seene in the herbe which we caule lased sauery But these of the Indies are muche bygger and longer and so stronge that they tye theyr hangynge beddes thereby whiche they caule Hamacas wherof we haue spoken elswhere These cordes they caule Cabuia and Henequen Cabuia heâ—â—quen which are al one thing sauynge that Henequen is lesse and of a fyner substaunce as it were line And the other is grosser lyke the wycke or twyste of hempe and is imperfecte in comparison to the other They are of coloure betwene whyte and yelowe lyke vnto abarne and sum also whyte With Henequen whiche is the moste subtyle and fyne threede the Indians sawe in sunder fetters A strauÌ„g thiâ—ge cheynes or barres of Iren in this maner They moue the threede of Henequen vppon the iren which they intende to saw or cutte drawynge the one hande after the other as doo they that sawe puttynge euer nowe and then a portion of fyne sande vppon the threede or on the place or parte of the Iren where they continue rubbynge the sayde threede So that yf the threede be worne they take an other and continewe in theyr woorke as before vntyl they haue cutte in sunder the iren although it bee neuer so bygge and cut it as yf it were a tender thynge and easye to bee sawne And for asmuch as the leaues of trees may bee counted amonge herbes Leaues I wyll here speake sumewhat of the qualitie of the leaues of certeyne trees which are founde in the Iland of Hispaniola These trees are so full of thornes that there is no tree or plante that seemeth more wylde and deformed so that I can not well determyne whether they bee trees or plantes They haue certeyne braunches full of large and deformed leaues which braunches were fyrste leaues lyke vnto the other As the braunches made of these leaues growe foorthe inlength there commeth other leaues of them So that â—n fine it is a dyfficult thyng to descrybe the forme of these trees except the same shulde bee doone by a paynter wherby the eye myght conceaue that wherein the toonge fayleth in this behalfe The leaues of this tree are of such vertue A leafe of great vertue that beyng well beaten and spreadde vppon a cloth after the maner of a playster and so layde to a legge or arme that is broken in many pieces it healeth it in fyftene dayes and maketh it as hole as though it had neuer byn broken Durynge the tyme of this operation it cleaueth so fast to the flesshe that it can not without much difficultie bee taken away But as soone as it hath healed the sore and wrought his operation it looseth it selfe from the place where it was layde as I my selfe and dyuers other which haue proued it knowe by experience ¶ Of fysshes and of the maner of fysshynge IN the sea coastes of the firme lande there are dyuers and sundry kyndes of fysshes muche differynge in shape and forme And althoughe it be impossible to speake of all yet wyll I make mention of sum And fyrst to begynne at sardynes yowe shall vnderstande that there is founde a kynde of these fysshes very large and with redde tayles beinge a very delicate fysshe The beste kyndes of other fysshes are these Moxarre Diabace Brettes Dahaos Thorn backes and Salmons All these and dyuers other which I donot now remember are taken in great quantitie in ryuers There are lykewyse taken very good creuysshes There are also founde in the sea certeyne other fysshes as soles mackerelles turbuttes Palamite Lizze Polpi Chieppe Xaibas Locustes Oysters exceadynge great Tortoyses and Tiburoni of maruelous byggenesse Tiburons Also Manates Manates and Murene and manye other fysshes which haue no names in oure language And these of such diuersitie and quantitie as can not bee expressed without large wrytynge and longe tyme. But to let passe to intreate particulerly of the multitude of fysshes I intende to speake chiefely and sumwhat largely of three sortes of moste notable fysshes wherof the fyrst is the great Tortoyses Gâ—eat Tortoyâ—es the seconde is cauled Tiburon and the thyrde Manate And to begynne at the fyrste I saye that in the Ilande of Cuba are founde great Tortoyses which are certeyne shell fysshes of such byggenesse that tenne or fyfteene men are scarsely able to lyfte one of them owt of the water as I haue byn informed of credible persons dwellynge in the same Ilande But of that which I my selfe haue seene I can testifie that in the firme lande in the vyllage of Acla there are of this sorte sum taken and kylled of suche byggenes that sixe men with much difficultie coulde scarsely drawe them owt of the water And commonly the least sort of them are as much as two men may cary at a burden That which I sawe lifted vp by syxe men had her shell a yarde and a quarter in length and in breadth more then fyue yardes The maner of takynge them is this It sumtymes chaunceth that in theyr greate nettes whiche they caule shoote neâ—tes there are founde certeyne Tortoyses of the common sorte in great quantities And when they coomme owt of the sea and bringe foorth theyr egges and go togyther by coompanies from the sea to feade on the lande the Christians or Indians folowe theyr steppes whiche they fynde in the sande and soone ouertake them bycause they are very heauy and slowe in goynge although they make all the haste they can to returnâ— to the sea as soone as they espie any boddie When they that pursewe them haue ouertaken them they put a stake or staffe vnder theyr legges and ouerturne theÌ„ on theyr backes as they are yet runnynge so that they can go no further nor yet ryse ageyne or turne And thus they suffer them to lye styll whyle they folowe after the reste which they ouerturne in lyke maner And by this meanes take very manye at suche tymes as they coome furth of the sea as I haue sayde This fysshe is very excellent and holsome to be eaten and of good taste The seconde of the three fysshes wherof I haue spoken is the Tiburon Tiburons This is a very greate fysshe and very quicke and swyfte in the water and a cruell deuourer These are often tymes taken as well when the shippes are vnder sayle in the
testimonie of sight doo wytnesse that I haue seene this stone sought of dyuers for this effecte There are also dyuers other fysshes as bygge as this Manate The swoorde fysshe Emonge the which there is one cauleâ— Vihuella This fyâ—he beareth in the toppe of his headde a swoorde beinge on euery syde full of many sharpe teeth This swoorde is naturally very harde stronge of foure or fyue spannes in length and of proportion accordynge to the same byggenes And for this cause is this fyshe cauled Spada that is the swoord fyshe Of this kynde sum are found as lyttle as sardines and other so greate thâ—â— two yokes of oxen are scarsely able to drawe them on a carte But whereas before I haue promysed to speake of other fysshes which are taken in these seas whyle the shyppes are vnder sayle I wyl not forget to speake of the Tunnye which is a great and good fysshe Tunnye and is oftentymes taken and kylde with troute speares and hookes caste in the water when they play and swymme aboute the shyppes In lyke maner also are taken many turbuts which are very good fysshes as are lyghtly in all the sea Turbut And here is to bee noted that in the greate Ocean sea there is a straunge thynge to bee considered whiche all that haue byn in the Indies affirme to bee trewe And this is that lyke as on the lande there are sum prouinces fertile and frutfull Note and sum barren euen so dooth the lyke chaunce in the sea So that at sum wyndes the shyppes sayle fiftie or a hundreth or two hundreth leaques and more withowt takyng or seinge of one fysshe And ageyne in the selfe same Ocean in sum places all the water is seene tremble by the mouynge of the fysshes where they are taken abundauntly It commeth further to my rememberaunce to speake sumwhat of the flyinge of fysshes Flyinge fysshes which is doubtlesse a straunge thynge to beholde and is after this maner When the shyppes sayle by the greate Ocean folowynge theyr vyage there ryseth sumtymes on the one syde or on the other many coompanies of certeyne lyttle fysshes of the which the byggest is no greater then a sardyne and soo diminisshe lesse and lesse from that quantitie that sum of them are very lyttle These are cauled Volatori that is flyinge fysshes They ryse by great coompanies and flockes in such multitudes that it is an astonysshement to beholde them Sumtymes they ryse but lyttle from the water as it chaunceth continew one flyght for the space of a hundreth pases and sumtymes more or lesse before they faule ageyne into the sea Sumtymes also they faule into the shyppes And I remember that on an euenyng when all the company in the shippe were on theyr knees syngynge Salue regina in the highest parte of the Castel of the poope and sayled with a full wynde there passed by vs a flocke of these flyinge fysshes and came so neare vs that many of them fell into the shyppe amonge the which two or three fell hard by me which I tooke alyue in my hande so that I myght well perceaue that they were as bigge as sardynes and of the same quantitie hauynge two wynges or quylles growyng owt of theyr fynnes lyke vnto those wherwith all fysshes swymme in ryuers These wynges are as longe as the fysshes theym selues As longe as theyr wynges are moyste they beare them vp in the ayer But as soone as they are drye they can continewe theyr flyght no further then as I haue sayde before but faule immediatly into the sea and so ryse ageyne and flye as before from place to place In the yeare A thousand fyue hundreth fiftene when I came fyrst to informe your maiestye of the state of the thynges Indya and was the yeare folowynge in Flaunders in the tyme of youre moste fortunate successe in these youre kyngedomes of Aragonie and Castyle wheras at that vyage I sayled aboue the Iland Bermuda otherwyse cauled Garza The Iland of Bermuda beynge the furtheste of all the Ilandes that are founde at thys daye in the worlde and arryuynge there at the deapthe of eight yeardes of water and dystant from the land as farre as the shotte of a piece of ordynaunce I determined to sende sume of the shyppe to lande as well to make searche of suche thynges as were there as also to leaue in the Ilande certayne hogges for increase But the tyme not seruyng my purpose by reason of contrarye wynde I could bryng my shyppes no nearer the Ilande beinge twelue leaques in lengthe and syxe in breadth and about thyrty in circuite lying in the thyrtie thre degre of the northe syde Whyle I remayned here I sawe a stryfe and combatte betwene these flyinge fyshes and the fyshes named gylte heades and the foules cauled seamewes and cormorauntes whych suerlye seemed vnto me a thynge of as greate pleasure and solace as coulde bee deuysed whyle the gylte heades swamme on the brymme of the water and sumtymes lyfted their shulders aboue the same to rayse the swymmynge fysshes owt of the water to dryue them to flyght and folowe them swymming to the place where they faule to take and eate them sodaynlye Agayne on the other syde the seamewes and cormorantes take manye of these flying fysshes so that by thys meanes theye are nother safe in the ayre nor in the water Not to hie for the pye nor to lowe fro the crowe In the selfe same perrell and daunger doo men lyue in thys mortall lyfe wherin is no certayne securytye nether in hygh estate nor in lowe Which thynge suerlye ought to put vs in rememberaunce of that blessed and safe restynge place whych god hath prepared for such as loue hym who shall acquyete and fynyshe the trauayles of thys troubelous worlde wherin are so manye daungyours and brynge them to that eternall lyfe where they shall fynde eternall securytye and reste But to returne to the hystorye these byrdes and foules whych I sawe were of the Ilande of Bermuda nere vnto the whych I sawe these flyinge fysshes For they coulde bee of no other lande forasmuche as they are not accustomed to wander farre frome the coastes where they are bredde ¶ Of thincrease and decrease that is rysynge and faullynge of our Ocean sea and Southe sea caulled the sea of Sur. I Wyll nowe speake of certeayne thynges whiche are seene in the Prouynce or at the leaste in the citie of golden Castyle otherwyse cauled Beragua Beragua and in the coastes of the North sea and of the South sea caulled the sea of Sur. Not omittyng to note one synguler and meruelous thynge which I haue consydered of the Ocean sea wherof hytherto no cosmographer pylote or maryner or any other haue satisfyed me I say therfore as it is well knowen to your maiestye and all such as haue knowlege of the Ocean sea that this greate Ocean casteth from it selfe the sea Mediterraneum by the mouthe
entereth into the North sea fyue or .vi leaques lower then the port of Nomen dei and emptieth it selfe in the sea nere vnto an Ilande cauled Bastimento The Ilande Bastimento where is a very good and safe port Yowr maiestie may now therfore consyder howe great a thynge and what commoditie it maye bee to conuey spices this way forasmuch as the ryuer of Chagre hauyng his originall only two leaques from the South sea contineweth his course emptieth it selfe into the other North sea This ryuer runneth fast and is very greate and so commodious for this purpose as may be thowght or desyred The marueilous bridge made by the worke of nature The maruelous bridge being two leaques beyonde the sayd ryuer and other twoo leaques on this syde the porte of Panama so lyinge in the mydde way betwene them both is framed naturally in such sort that none which passe by this viage see any such bridge or thynke that there is any such buyldyng in that place vntyll they bee in the toppe therof in the way toward Panama But as soone as they are on the brydge lookynge towarde the ryght hande they see a lyttle ryuer vnder them which hath his chanell distante from the feete of them that walke ouer it the space of twoo speares length or more The water of this ryuer is very shalowe not passyng the depth of a mans legge to the knee and is in breadth beâ—wene thyrtie and fortie pases and faulethe into the ryuer of Chagre Towarde the ryght hand standyng on this brydge there is nothyng seene but great trees The largenesse of the brydge conteyneth .xv. pases and the lâ—ngth â—herof about threescore or fourescore pases The arche is so made of moste harde stone that no man can beholde it without admiration beinge made by the hyghe and omnipotent creatour of all thynges But to returne to speake sumwhat more of the conueying of spices I say that when it shal please almyghty god that this nauigation aforesayde shal bee founde by the good fortune of yowre maiestie and that the spices of the Ilandes of the South sea which may also bee otherwyse cauled the Ocean of the East India in the whiche are the Ilandes of Molucca shal be browght to the sayd coaste and the porte of Panama The Ilandes of Molucca and bee conueyed from thense as we haue sayde by the firme lande with cartes vnto the ryuer of Chagre and from thense into this owr other sea of the North from whense they may afterward bee browght into Spayne I say that by this meanes the vyage shall bee shortened more then seuen thousande leaques The commoditie of this viage with muche lesse daunger then is by the viage nowe vsed by the way of Commendator of Aysa capitayne vnder yowre maiestie who this present yeare attempted a vyage to the place of the sayde spyces And not only the way is thus much shortened but also a thyrde parte of the tyme is abbreuiate To conclude therfore if any had hetherto attempted this vyage by the sea of Sur to seeke the Ilandes of spyces I am of firme opinion that they shuld haue byn founde longe sence as doubtelesse they maye bee by the reasons of Cosmographie ¶ Howe thynges that are of one kynde dyffer in forme and qualitie accordynge to the nature of the place where they are engendred or growe And of the beastes cauled Tygers IN the firme lande are fownde many terryble beastes which sum thinke to be Tigers Tigers Which thynge neuerthelesse I dare not affirme consyderynge what auctoures doo wryte of the lyghtnes and agilitie of the Tyger whereas this beast beynge other wyse in shape very like vnto a Tyger is notwithstandynge very slowe Yet trewe it is that accordynge to the maruayles of the worlde and differences which naturall thynges haue in dyuers regions vnder heauen and dyuers constellations of the same vnder the whiche they are created wee see that sum suche plantes and herbes as are hurtfull in one countrey Plantes and herbes are harmelesse and holsome in other regions And byrdes which in one prouince are of good taste Birdes are in other so vnsauery that they may not bee eaten Men likewyse which in sum countreys are blacke are in other places whyte and yet are both these and they men Men. Euen so may it bee that Tygers are lyght in sum region as they wryte and maye neuerthelesse bee slowe and heauy in these Indies of yowr maiestie wherof we speake The sheepe of Arabie drawe theyr tayles longe and bigge on the ground Sheepe and the bulles of Egypt haue theyr heare growynge towarde theyr headdes yet are those sheepe and these bulles Bulles Men in sum countreys are hardy and of good courage and in other naturally fearefull and brutyshe All these thynges and many more which may bee sayde to this purpose are easy to bee proued and woorthy to bee beleued of suche as haue redde of the lyke in autours or trauayled the worlde whereby theyr owne syght may teache theym thexperience of these thynges wherof I speake It is also manifest that Iucea wherof they make theyr breade in the Ilande of Hispaniola Iucea is deadely poyson yf it bee eaten greene with the iuse And yet hathe it no suche propertie in the firme land where I haue eaten it many times founde it to bee a good frute The bats of Spayne although they bite Battes yet are they not venemous But in the firme lande many dye that are bytten of them And in this fourme may so many thynges bee sayde that tyme shall not suffice to wryte wheras my intent is only to proue that this beast may be a Tiger or of the kind of Tigers although it be not of such lyghtnesse and swiftnes as are they wherof Plinie and other autours speake Plinie discrybynge it to bee one of the swyftesse beastes of the lande and that the ryuer of Tigris for the swift course therof was cauled by that name The first Spaniardes which sawe this Tyger in the firme lande dyd so name it Of the kynde of these was that which Don Diego Columbo the Admirall sent yowre maiestie owte of newe Spayne to Toledo the Tiger Theyr heades are lyke to the heades of Lyons or Lionesses but greater The reste of all theyr boddies and theyr legges are full of blacke spottes one nere vnto an other and diuided with a circumference or frynge of redde colour shewinge as it were a fayre woorke and correspondent picture Abowt theyr croopes or hynder partes they haue these spots bydgest and lesse and lesse towarde theyr bellies legges and headdes That which was brought to Toledo was younge and but lyttle and by my estimation of thage of three yeares But in the firme lande there are many founde of greater quantitie For I haue seene sum of three spannes in heyght and more then fyue in length They are beastes of greate force with stronge legges
about them before and behyâ—de as lowe as to theyr knees and hammes wherwith they couer theyr priuie partes and are naked all theyr boddie bysyde The principal men beare theyr priuities in a holowe pype of golde but the common sorte haue theym inclosed in the shelles of certeyne great welkes and are bysyde vtterly naked For they thynke it no more shame to haue theyr cods seene then any other parte of theyr boddies And in many prouinces bothe the men and women go vtterly naked without any such couerture at al. In the prouince of Cueua they caul a man Chuy and a woman Ira which name is not greately disagreeable to many both of theyr women and of owres These Indians gyue great honour and reuerence to theyr Cacique that is theyr kynges and rulers The principall Cacique The kynge is borne on meÌ„s bâ—ckes hath twelue of his most stronge Indians appoynted to beare hym when he remoueth to any place or gothe abrod for his pleasure Two of them cary hym syttyng vppon a longe piece of woodde which is naturally as lyght as they can fynd The other tenne folowe nexte vnto hym as foote men They keepe continually a trottynge pase with hym on theyr shulders When the twoo that cary hym are wery other twoo coomme in theyr places without any disturbance or stey And thus if the way bee playne they cary hym in this maner for the space of .xv. or .xx. leaques in one day The Indians that are assigned to this office are for the moste parte slaues or Naboriti that is such as are bounde to continuall seruice I haue also noted that when the Indians perceaue them selues to bee troubled with to much bludde Lettinge of bludde they lette theym selues blud in the calfes of theyr legges brawnes of theyr armes This doo they with a very sharpe stone and sumtymes with the smaule toothe of a vyper or with a sharpe reede or thorne All the Indians are commonly without beardes They haue no beardes In so much that it is in maner a maruayle to see any of them eyther men or women to haue any downe or heare on theyr faces or other partes of theyr boddies Albeit I sawe the Cacique of the prouince of Catarapa who had heare on his face and other partes of his boddie as had also his wyfe in suche places as women are accustomed to haue They paynte theyr bodies This Cacique had a great part of his body paynted with a blacke colour which neuer fadeth And is much lyke vnto that wherwith the Mores paynt them selues in Barberie in token of nobilitie But the Moores are paynted specially on theyr vysage and throte and certeyne other partes Likewyse the principall Indians vse these payntynges on theyr armes and brestes but not on theyr vysages bycause amonge them the slaues are so marked When the Indians of certeyne prouinces go to the battayle especially the Caniball archers they cary certeyne shelles of greate welkes of the sea which they blowe and make therwith great sounde muche lyke the noyse of hornes The Canibales They carye also certeyne tymbrels which they vse in the steade of drummes Also very fayre plumes of fethers and certeyne armure of golde Armure of golde especially great and rounde pieces on theyr â—restes and splintes on there armes Lykewyse other pieces whiche they put on theyr heades and other partes of theyr bodyes Their galantnes in the warres For they esteeme nothynge so much as to appeare galante in the wars and to go in most coomely order that they can deuyse glysterynge with precious stones iewelles golde and fethers Of the leaste of these welkes or perewincles they make certeyne lyttle beades of diuers sortes and colours They make also little brassâ—lets whiche they mengle with gaudâ—es of golde Their Iuellâ— These they rowle about there armes frome the elbowe to the wreste of the hande The lyke also doo they on theyr legges from the knee to the soles of theyr feete in token of nobilitie Especially theyr noble women in dyuers prouinces are accustomed to weare such Iewelles and haue theyr neckes in maner laden therwith These beades and Iewels and such other trynkettes they caule Caquâ—ras Bisyde these also they weare certeyne rynges of golde at theyr cares and nostrelles which they bore ful of holes on both sides so that the ringes hange vppon theyr lyppes Sum of these Indians are poulde and rounded Albeâ—t commonly both the men and women take it for a decent thynge to weare longe heare which the women weare to the myddest of theyr shulders and cut it equally especially aboue theyr browes This doo they with certeyne harde stones which they keepe for the same purpose The principall women when theyr teates faule or becoome loose beare them vp with hartes of golde of the length of aâ—spanne and a halfe howe the women beare vp their sâ—aâ—es wyâ—h barres of golde wel wrought and of such byggenesse that sum of them way more then two hundreth Castilians or ducades of golde These barres haue holes at both thendes whereat they tye two smaul cordes made of cotton at euery ende of the barres One of these cordes goth ouer the shulder and the other vnder the arme holes where they tye both togyther so that by thâ—s meanes the barre beareth vp theyr teates Sum of these chiefe women go to the battayle with theyr husbandes or when they themselues are regentes in any prouinces in the which they haue all thynges aâ— commaundement and execute thoffice of generall capitaynes and cause them selues to bee caryed on mens backes in lyke maner as doo the Caciques of whom I haue spoken before These Indians of the firme lande are muche of the same stature and coloure as are they of the Ilandes The stature coloure of the Indians They are for the most part of the colour of an olyue If there bee any other difference it is more in byggenesse then otherwyse And especially they that are cauled Coronati are stronger and bygger then any other that I haue seene in these parties The Indians cauled Coronati except those of the Ilande of giantes whiche are on the south syde of the Ilande of Hispaniola The Ilande of giantes nere vnto the coastes of the firme lande And lykewyse certeyne other which they caule Yucatos which are on the north syde Iucatoâ— All which chiefely although they bee no giantes yet are they doubtelesse the byggeste of the Indyans that are knowen to this day and commonly bygger then the Flemynges and especially many of them aswell women as men are of very hyghe stature and are all archiers bothe men and women These Coronati inhabite thirtie leaques in length by these coastes from the poynt of Canoa to the greate ryuer which they caule Guadalchibir nere vnto Sancta Maria de gratia As I trauersed by those coastes I fylled a butte of freshe water of that ryuer syxe leaques in the sea frome the
mouthe therof where it fauleth into the sea They are cauled Coronati that is crowned bycause theyr heare is cutte round by theyr rares and poulde lower a great compase abowte the crowne much lyke the fryers of saynt Augustines order And bycause I haue spoken of theyr maner of wearynge theyr heare here commeth to my rememberaunce a thynge which I haue oftentymes noted in these Indians And this is that they haue the bones of the sculles of theyr heades foure tymes thycker and much stronger then owres The sculles of the IndiaÌ„s heades So that in commâ—ng to hand strokes with them it shal be requisite not to strike them on the heades with swoordes For so haue many swoordes bynne broken on theyr heades with lyttle hurt doone And to haue sayde thus much of theyr customes and maners it shal suffice for this tyme bycause I haue more largely intreated herof in my generall hystorie of the Indies Yet haue I nother there nor here spoken much of that parte of the firme lande whiche is cauled Noua Hispania that is newe Spayne whereof the Ilande of Iucatana is part forasmuche as Ferdinando Cortese hath wrytten a large booke thereof New Spaine Of the houses of these Indians The houseâ— of the Christians in India I haue spoken sufficiently elswhere Yet haue I thought good to informe yowr maiestie of the buyldynge and houses which the Christians haue made in dyuers places in the firme lande They buylde them nowe therfore with two solars or loftes and with loopes and wyndowes to open and shutte Also with stronge tymber and very fayre bordes In suche sorte that any noble man maye wel and pleasauntly bee lodged in sum of them And amonge other I my selfe caused one to bee builded in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena whiche coste me more then a thousande and fyue hundreth Castelians Darienâ— being of such sort that I may well interteyne and commodiously lodge any Lorde or noble man reseruynge also a parte for my selfe and my famelie For in this may many householdes bee kepte both aboue and benethe It hath also a fayre garden with many orange trees bothe sweete and sowre Ceders also and Lemondes Gardeâ—â— of the which there is nowe great plentie in the houses of the Chrystians On one syde of the gardeyne there runneth a fayre ryuer The situation is very pleasaunte with a good and holsome ayer and a fayre prospecte abowte the ryuer In fine owre truste is that in fewe yeares al thynges in these regions shall growe to a better state accordynge to the holy intention of yowre maiestie Of the chiefe Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba THe Indians which at this present inhabite the Ilande of Hispaniola are but fewe in number and the Chrystyans not so many as they ought to bee forasmuche as many of them that were in this Ilande are gonne to other Ilandes and to the fyrme lande For beynge for the moste parte younge men vnmaried and desirous dayly to see newe things wherin mans nature deliteth Men are desirous of newe thinges they were not willinge to continewe longe in on place especially seeing dailie other newe landes discouered where they thowght theye might sooner fylle there purses by beinge present at the firste spoyle Wherin neuerthelesse their hope deceaued many of them and especially suche as bad houses and habitations in â—hys Ilande For I certeynly beleue confyrmynge my selfe herein with the Iudgement of many other that if any one Prynce had no more signiores then only this Ilande it shuld in shorte tyme bee suche as not to giue place eyther to Sicilie or Englande The commodities of hispaniola-Englande and Sicilie wheras euen at this present there is nothynge wherefore it shulde malice their prosperitie not beinge inferioure to them in any filicite that in maner the heauens can graunte to any lande being furthermore suche as maye inriche many prouinces and kâ—ngedomes by reason of manye riche golde mynes that are in it of the beste golde that is founde to this day in the worlde Golde mines and in greatest quantitie In this Ilande nature of her selfe bringeth furthe suche aboundance of cotton that if it were wrought and maynteyned there shuld be more and better then in any parte of the world Cotton There is so greate plentie of excellent Cassia that a grâ—ate quaÌ„titie is brought from thense into Spayne Cassia from whense it is caried to dyuers partes of the worlde In increaseth so muche that it is a meruelous thynge to consider In this are many ryche shoppes wher suger is wrought Suger and that of such perfectenes and goodnes and in suche quantitie that shippes come laden therwith yearly into Spayne Plantes and Herbes All suche sedes sertes or plantes as are brought out of Spayne and planted in this Ilande becoomme muche better bygger and of greater increase then they are in any parte of owre Europe And if it chaunce otherwyse that sumetymes they prosper nor so well the cause is that they which shulde tyll and husband the grounde Greate thynges hindered by respecte of presente gaynes and sowe and plant in dewe seasons haue no respect hereunto being impacient whyle the wheate and vynes waxe rype beinge gyuen to wanderynge and other affayres of present gaynes as I haue sayde as searchynge the gold mines fyshynge for pearles and occupyinge marchaundies with such other trades for the greedy folowyng wherof they neglecte and contempne both sowynge and plantynge Suche frutes as are brought owt of Spayne into this Ilande prosper maruelously and waxe rype all tymes of the yeare as herbes of all sortes very good and pleasaunt to bee eaten Also many pomegranates of the best kynde and oranges bothe sweete and sower Orangies Pomegranates Lykewyse many fayre Lymones ceders and a great quantitie of all such as are of sharpe sowre and bytter taste There are also many fygge trees whiche brynge furth theyr frute all the hole yeare Figges al the yeare Lykewyse those kynd of date trees that beare dates Dates and dyuers other trees and plantes which were brought owt of Spayne thyther Beastes doo also increase in lyke abundaunce Beastes and especially the heardes of kyne are so augmented both in quantitie and number that there are nowe many patrones of cattayle that haue more then two thousand heades of neate Greate heardes of cattaâ—l and sum three or foure thousande and sum more Bysyde these there are very many that haue heardes of foure or fyue hundrethe And trewth it is that this Iland hath better pasture for such cattayle then any other countrey in the worlde good pasture also holsome and cleare water and temperate ayer by reason whereof the heardes of such beastes are much bygger fatter and also of better taste then owres in Spayne bycause of the ranke pasture whose moysture is better digested in the herbe or grasse by the continuall and temperate heate of the soonne
men of holy lyuynge and vertuous exemple There is also a very good hospitall for the ayde and succour of pore people An hospitale whiche was founde by Michaell Passament threasurer to yowr maiestie To conclude this citie froÌ„ day to day increaseth in welth and good order aswel for that the sayde Admyrall and viceroy with the lorde Chaunceloure and counsayle appoynted there by yowr maiestie haue theyr continuall abydynge here as also that the rychest men of the Ilande resort hyther for theyr moste commodious habitation and trade of such marchaundies as are eyther brought owt of Spayne or sent thyther from this Iland which nowe so abundeth in many thynges that it serueth Spayne with mâ—ny commodities as it were with vsury requityng such benefites as it fyrst receaued from thense The people of this Ilande are commonlye of sumewhat lesse stature then are the Spanyardes and of a shynynge or cleare browne coloure They haue wyues of theyr owne and absteyne from theyr dowghters systers and mothers They haue large forheades longe blacke heare and no beardes or heare in any other parts of theyr bodies aswel meÌ„ as women The people except very fewe as perhaps scarsely one amonge a thousand They go as naked as they were borne excepte that on the partes which may not with honestie bee seene they weare a certeyne leafe as brode as a mans hande which neuerthelesse is not kepte close with suche diligence but that sumtymes a man may see that they thynke sufficiently hydde In this Iland are certeyne glo woormes that shyne in the nyght as doo owres Glo wormes But are muche bygger and gyue a greater lyght In so much that when the men of the Ilande goo any iorneys in the nyght they beare summe of these woormes made fast abowt theyr fiete and heade in suche sorte that he that shulde see them a farre and ignorant of the thinge wolde bee greatly astonyshed therat By the lyght of these also the women woorke in theyr houses in the night These woormes they caule Cleuas Theyr lyght lasteth for the space of three dayes and diminissheth as they begynne to drye vp There is also a kynd of crowes whose breath stynketh in the mornynge and is sweete at after noone Crowes styâ—kynge and sweete The excremente which they auoyde is a lyuynge worme As touchynge other thynges of this Ilande whereof Peter Martyr hath more largely intreated in his Decades I haue thought it superfluous to repeate the same ageyne owte of this hystorie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus but haue here gathered only suche thynges as eyther are not touched of Peter Martyr or not so largely declared as I haue doone the lyke in all other notable thynges which I haue collected owt of this Summarie of Gonzalus ¶ Of the Ilande of Cuba and other OF the Ilande of Cuba and the other as the Ilandes of Sancti Iohannis and Iamaica Saynt Iohn his Ilande Iamaica the same maye bee sayde in maner in all thynges as before of Hispaniola although not so largely Yet in lesse quantitie doo they brynge foorth the lyke thynges as gold copper cattayle trees plantes fysshes and such other of the whiche wee haue spoken there In Cuba is a certeyne kynde of Partyches beinge verye little with theyr fethers much of the colour of turtle dooues Partriches but are of muche better taste to bee eaten They are taken in great number And beinge brought wylde into the houses they becoome as tame within the space of three or foure dayes as though they had byn hatched there They becoomme exceadynge fatte in short space and are doubtelesse the most delicate and pleasaunt meate that euer I haue eaten But to let passe many other thynges that myght here bee sayde and to speake of two maruelous thynges which are in this Iland of Cuba wherof the one is Pellettes for gunnes wrought by nature that a valley conteynynge twoo or three leaques in length betwene two mountaynes is full of a kynde of very harde stones of suche perfecte roundenesse and lyke vnto pellettes of gunnes that no arte can make better or more exactly polysshed Of these sum are as smaule as pellettes for handegunnes and other so increasynge bygger and bygger from that quantitie that they may serue for all sortes of artyllerie althoughe they bee of byggenesse to receaue one or two or more quintales of pouder euery quintale conteynyng one hundreth weyght or of what other quantitie so euer they bee These pelletes are founde through owte al the valley within the earth as in a myne which they digge and take owâ—e such as they neede of all sortes The other marueylous thinge of this Iland is this That farre from the sea there issheweth owt of a mountayne a certeyne lycour much lyke the cley of Babilon cauled Bitumen or lyke vnto pytche in great quantitie and such as is very commodious for the calkynge of shyppes A fountayne of the pytche of Bitumen This fauleth continually from the rocke and runneth into the sea in suche abundaunce that it is seene flotynge aboue the water on euery side of the sea there abowt as it is dryuen frome place to place by the wynde or course of the water Quintus Cursius wryteth in his hystorie Quintus Cuâ—sius that great Alexander came to the citie of Memi where is a great caue or denne in the which is a sprynge or fountayne that continually auoydethe a great quantitie of Bitumen in such sort that it is an easy thing to beleue that the stones of the walles of Babilon myght bee layde therwith accordynge as the sayde auctoure wryteth Bitumen of Babiâ—on I haue seene this myne of Bitumen not only in the Iland of Cuba but also such an other in new Spayne which was found of late in the prouince of Panuco where it is much better then the other of Cuba Panuco as I haue seene by experience in calkynge of shyppes ¶ Of the lande of Baccaleos cauled Terra Baccalearum situate on the North syde of the firme lande SHortly after that yowr Maiestie came to the citie of Toledo there arryued in the moneth of Nouember Steuen Gomes the pylot who the yeare before of 1524. by the commaundement of yowre maiestie sayled to the Northe partes and founde a greate parte of lande continuate from that which is cauled Baccaleos discoursynge towarde the West to the .xl. and .xli. degree Baccaleos froÌ„ whense he broughe certeyne Indians for so caule wee all the nations of the new founde landes of the whiche he brought sum with hym from thense who are yet in Toledo at this present Indians and of greater stature then other of the firme lande as they are commonlye Theyr coloure is much lyke thother of the firme lande They are great archers and go couered with the skinnes of dyuers beastes both wylde and tame Ryche furres and syluer In this lande are many excellent furres as marterns sables and such other rych furres
The needle of the coompase and turned euer towarde the pole Artike Neuerthelesse had no suche force as when it is in these partes of the pole Artike In so muche that it was neceâ—sarie to helpe the needle with the lode stone commonly cauled the adamant before they could saile therwith The lode stone bycause it mouâ—d not as it doothe when it is in these owre partes When they were in the myddest of the goulfe they sawe a crosse of fiue cleare starres directly toward the West eand of equall distance the one from the other ⧠The order of the starres abowt the pole Antartike summe haue figured in this maner A. The pole Antartike B. The Crosse. In these dayes they sayled betwene the West and South so farre that they approched to the Equinoctiall line The Equinoctial line were in longitude from the place from whense they fyrst departed a hundreth and twentie degrees In this course they sayled by two Ilandes of exceadynge height wherof the one named Cipanghu is .xx. degrees from the pole Antartike And the other named Sumbdit .xv. degrees The Ilandes of Cipanghu and Sumbdit When they were past the Equinoctiall line they sayled betwene the West and Southwest at the quarter of the West towarde the Southwest more then a hundreth leaques changinge theyr sayles to the quarter of the Southwest vntyll they came to the .xiii. degrees aboue the Equinoctial towarde the pole Artyke intendyng as much as were possible to approche to the cape cauled of the owlde wryters Cartigara The whiche is not founde as the owlde Cosmographers haue discribed it but is towarde the north abowt .xii. degrees as they afterwarde vnderstode When they had thus sayled .lxx. leaques of this vyage in the .xii. degree aboue the Equinoctial and C.xlvi degrees of longitude as I haue sayde the syxte day of March they discouered a lyttle Ilande towarde the northweste and two other towarde the southweste but the one was hygher and bygger then the two other In the byggest of these the generall capitayne wolde haue rested hym selfe a whyle but he coulde â—ot by reason the people of these Ilands resorted continually to the shippes with theyr canoas and stole nowe one thynge and nowe an other in such sorte that owr men could take no reste and therfore demaunded of the capitayne that they myght stryke theyr sayles to brynge the shyppes to land But the Capitayne beinge prouoked to anger wente alande with fortie armed men and burnte about fiftie of theyr houses with many of theyr Canâ—as And slewe also abowt seuen men and recouered a shyppe boate whiche the Barbarians had stolne and so departed folowynge his vyage The Capitayne named these Ilands Insulae Latronum that is Insule LatronuÌ„ the Ilands of theeues When owr men had so wounded summe of thâ—ym with arrowes that they were stryken throughe bothe sydâ—s they pulled furth the arrowes not ceaâ—yng to marueyle at theÌ„ tyll they â—ell downe deade And yet coulde not the other â—o depart but styll folowed â—he shyppes with more then two hundâ—eth of theyr boates approchynge as nere to the shyppes as they coulde and profâ—rynge owre men certeyne fysshee As the sâ—yppes passed with full sayle in â—he myddeste of theyr bâ—ates they sawe in sum of them certeyne womâ—n lamâ—nâ—ing and tearynge theyr heare which â—wre men thought they did for the death of theyr husbandes As farre as they could perceaue these people lyue at theyr owne libertie without anye ruler or gouernour They go naked and haue blacke beardes and blacke heate on theyr heades whiche they weare longe downe to theyr wastes People with longe heare They are of the same staâ—ure that we are and well made of coloure lyke vnto an olyue Theyr women are well fauored with blacke and thicke heare on theyr heades reachynge to the grownde The menne coloure theyr teeth redde and blacke They coloure theyr teethe which they esteeme a coomely thynge They annoynt theyr bodies and heare with the oyle of Cocus Theyr boates are sum all blacke sum whyte and sum redde and haue sayles made of the broade leaues of date trees sowd togyther In the steade of a rudder they vse a certeyne brode boo dâ— with a staffe in the toppe and maye when they wyll make the stâ—rne the forecastell or the forecastell the sterne They sayle to swyftely that they seeme a farre of lyke Delphyns swymmynge aboue the water The tenth day of â—arch in the yeare .1521 they wente alande vppon a lyttle Ilande named Zamal .xxx. leaques dystant from the Ilande of theâ—ues The Ilande of zamail Bycause this Ilande was not inhabyted they rested here a whyle where the capitayne caused a pauilion to bee pytched for the sicke and crased men and a hogge to bee kylde The .xviii. day of Marche they sawe a boate with nyne men commynge towarde them shewynge theim selues ioyfull and reioysynge of theyr commynge They brought many presentes with them and seemed to bee people of much humanitie They gaue the capâ—tayne a great fyshe and a great vessel of the wyne of those date trees whiche beare the frute Cocus wyne of date trees They made also signes that within the space of foure dayes they wolde bryng rysse and dyuers foules and beasts as they dyd in deede This Cocuâ— is a frute of certeyne date trees whereof they make breade The maruelous frute Cocus wyne oyle and vineger They make wyne in this maner They cutte a bygge braunche of the tree hange therat a reede as bigge as a mans legge into the which droppeth a sweete liâ—â—ur from the tree lyke vnto newe whyte wine sumwhat â—arâ— let the reede continewe there from mornynge tyll euenynge and from euenynge to mornynge The frute of this tree cauled Cocus is as bygge as the head of a â—an or more The fyrste rynde of this is greene and of the thyckenesse of two fyngers hauynge in it certeyne threedes wherof they make cordes with the which they tye theyr boates Under this rynde there is a thicke shell whiche they burne and make pouder therof and vse it as a remedie for certeyne diseases Under this shell is a whyte substaunce lyke the carnell of a nutte being a fynger in thickenesse which they eate with flesshe and fysshe as wee doo breade It hath the taste of an almonde and is vsed in the steade of breade when it is dryed In the myddest of this carnell is a cleare and sweete water beinge very holsome and cordiale This water sumtyme congeleth and lyeth within the shell lyke an egge When they intende to make oyle hereof they ley it to putrifie in water and boyle it vntyll it bee lyke oyle or liquide butter When they intende to make vineger they suffer only the water to putrifie and then set it to the soonne where it becommeth vineger lyke vnto that which is made of whyte wyne And when they mengle the carnell with the water which is in the myddest of the
frute and strayne it thorowe a cloth they make a mylke therof lyke vnto goates mylke These date trees are lyke vnto them that beare dates but are not so full of knottes With the iuise of two of these date trees a hole famelie of tenne persons may bee maynteyned with wyne vsynge one viii dayes and the other other .viii. dayes for they shulde els bee dryed and wythered These trees continue for the space of a hundreth yeares This Ilande where they founde this humane and gentell people is cauled Zuluan The Iland of zuluan and is not verye bygge Abowt this Ilande they founde manye other Ilandes and therefore named this sea Archipelago di San Lazaro The sea caulâ—d Archâ—pelago dâ—â—an Laâ—aro that is the great sea of saynte Lazarus beinge tenne degrees aboue the Equinoctiall towarde owre pole and C.lxi. frome the place from whense they departed The people of this Ilande are Caphranitae that is gentyles Gentyles They go naked sauynge that they couer theyr priuie partes with a clothe made of the rynde of a certeyne tree The chiefest men haue abowte theyr heades a sylken cloth of needle woorke They are grosse and brode set and of the coloure of an oliue They annoynte theyr bodies with the oyle of Cocus to defend them ageynst the heate of the soonne and drynesse of the wynde The .xxv. day of Marche they departed from hense and directed theyr course betwene the Weste and southwest and sayled betwene foure Ilandes named Cenalo Huinanghan Hibusson and Abarien Foure Ilands c. The xxviii daye of Marche they came to the Ilande of Buthuan where they were honorably interteyned of the Kynge and the Prince his soonne who gaue theim muche golde and spices The Iland of Buthuan The capitayne gaue the kynge a vesture of red clothe and an other of yelowe made after the Turaysshe fasshyon and also a red cappe And gaue liâ—ewiâ—e to other that came with hym certeyne knyues glasses and beades of cristalle After that the capitayne had shewed the Kynge the secreates of his shippe and suche marchaundies as he had therin he caused a piece of ordinaunce suddenly to bee shore of whereat the kyng was greately amased vntil the capitayne comforted hym Then the Capitaine commaunded one of his men to be armed from the heade to the foote and caused three other to strike hym with theyr swoordes whereat the Kynge maruayled greately and sayde to thinterpretoure who was a slaue borne in Malacha that one of those armed men was able to encounter with a hundreth of his men But he maruayled muche more when the capitaine tould hym by thinterpretoure howe he founde the straight by the compasse and lode stone and howe many dayes they were without sight of any lande Then askynge licence to departe the capitayne sente two of his men with him of the whiche Antonie Pigafetta was one When the kynge sawe Antonie Pigafetta write the names of many thinges and afterwarde rehearse them ageyne he maruayled yet more makynge sygnes that suche men descended from heauen The Kynge brought them firste to his pallaice where he interteyned them honorably and gaue them manye gyftes as dyd also the Prince in his pallaice beynge in an other Ilande named Caleghan The Iland of Calâ—ghan As they syfted a certeyne myne of earthe in the Kynges Ilande they founde pieces of golde suâ— as bigge as nuttes and other as bigge as egges All the kynges veâ—selles were of golde Plentâ—e of golde and his house well furnysshed In all the hole nation there was no man of coomlier personage then the kinge He had his heare long downe to his shulders and very blake with a vaile of silke rowled abowte his head The kynge of Buthuan and two greate ringes of golde hanginge at his eares He had abowte hys myddle a clothe wroughte of cotton and silke impaled wyth golde and reacheinge downe to his knees On his one syde he had a long dager with a hafte of golde and the shethe of a fayre kynde of carued woodde He had on euery finger three ringes of golde and had his bodie annoynted with oyle of storax and Beniamin The natural coloure of his face was like vnto the coloure of an oliue And all his bodye bysyde paynted with diuers colours The kynges name was Raia Colambu and the Prince was cauled Raia Siagu The laste day of Marche neare vnto Easter the capitaine caused his preeste to say masse Masse and sente to the kinge by thinterpretoure that his commyng a lande at that tyme was not to dyne with hym but only to heare masse The Capitayne came alande with fyftie of his men in theyr best apparel with owte weapons or harnesse and all the resydue well armed Before the boates came to lande he caused sixe pieces of ordinaunce to be shotte of in token of peace and so came aland where the two kinges embrased hym and accompanyed hym to the place appoynted for masse to be sayde not farre frome the sea syde Sumwhat before the beginnynge of masse the Capitayne sprinkeled the Kynges with damaske water When the preeste was at mid masse at the offitorie the kings profered them selues to go to kysse the crosse with the capytayne but offered nothynge At the tyme of sacringe when the preeste lifted vppe the bodie of Christ and the Christians kneeled downe and helde vppe their handes ioyned togither the kinges dyd the like also wyth greate reuerence In the meane tyme whyle certeyne of the Christians were at the communion a handegunne was shotte of to signifie vnto theym that were in the shyppes to discharge all theyr ordinaunce When masse was fynysshed the Capitaine caused certeyne of his men to put on theyr harnesse and to make a combat with theyr naked swoordes A combatte wherat the kynges tooke great pleasure This doone the Capitaine caused a crosse to be brought furth with nayles and a crowne of thornes The Crosse and crowne of thornes gyuynge commaundement to all his men to gyue reuerence therunto and signifyinge to the kynges by thinterpretour that that banner was gyuen hym by Themperoure his lorde and master with commaundement tâ— lâ—aue the same in al places where he came to the great commoditie and profite of all such as wolde reuerendly receaue it as an assured token of frendship And that he wold therâ—ore leaue it there aswel to accomplyshe his lords commaundement as also that if at any tyme any shyppes of Christians shulde chaunce to coome that way shulde by seing that crosse perceaue that owre men had byn well enterteyned there and wolde therfore not onely absteyne from doing them any hurte or displeasure but also helpe to ayde them ageynste theyr enemies And that therfore it shulde bee requisite to erecte that crosse vâ—pon the toppe of the hygheste mountayne that myght bee seene from the sea on euery syde Also to pray vnto it reuerently And that in so doinge they shulde not bee hurte with thunder lyghtnynge or
Timor and were ingulfed by chance in the great sea cauled Lantchidol The sea of Lantchidol and tooke theyr course betwene the weste and south weste leauynge the northe coastes on theyr ryght hand fearyng least if they shuld sayle toward the firm land they myght bee seene of the portugales who are of great power in Malaccha Malaccha and therfore dyrected theyr cours withowt the Iland of Sumatra cauled in owld tyme Taprobana The Iland of Sumetra Leauyng also on theyr ryght hand vpon the fyrm land the prouinces and regions of Pegu Pegu Bengala Bengala Calicut Calicut Canonor Canonor Coa Coa Cambaia Cambaia the goulfe of the Ilande of Ormus Ormus and all the coastes of the greater India East India And more safely to passe the cape of Buona Speranza being about Affrike Cap. de Buona Speranza they sayled about .xlii. degrees toward the pole Antartike and remayned seuen weekes abowte that cape with many fetches compassyng the wynd with theyr sayles contynually alofte because they had a west and north weste wynd in the proos of theyr shyppe which wolde not suffer them to passe The cape of Buona Speranza is toward the pole Antartik beneth the Equinoctiall line .xxxiiii. degrees and a halfe and .1600 leaques from the cape of Malaccha And is the greateste and moste daungyerous cape that is founde at thys day in al the worlde When they had by these perels ouerpassed thys cape certeyne of them aswell for lacke of vytayles as also by reason of syckenesse were mynded to sayle to a hauen of the Portugales named Monzambique aboue Affryke The port of Mâ—nzambiqâ—â— â–ª But the other answered that they wold rather dye then go to any other place then directly to Spayne They folowed theyr course therfore saylynge towarde the Southwest two monethes continually without touchynge at any porte In whiche tyme there dyed abowte .xxi. of theyr coompany whom they cast into the sea And suerly if god of his infinite mercie had not preserued the residue in tyme they hadde all dyed of famen Famen In fine beinge inforced of necessitie and halfe of theyr companye deade they sayled to one of the Ilandes of Capo verde cauled Insula Sancti Iacobi Capo Verde that is saynte Iames Ilande S. Iames Ilande parteyning to the kyng of Portugale Where as soone as they ariyued they sent certeyne alande in the shippe boate for vyttayles declarynge to the Portugales with all loue and fauour what necessitie they were dryuen to and what miseries and trauayles they had susteyned informynge them further of theyr marueylous viage and suche thynges as they hadde seene in both the East and West India with such other gentel woordes wherby they obteyned certeyne measures of rise The ingratâ—tude of the Portugales But when afterwarde .xiii. of theym returned for more ryse they were deteyned Whereuppon the reste whiche remayned in the shippe fearynge the lyke chaunce departed with full sayles and the .vii. day of September with the helpe of god entered into the hauen of San Lucar nere vnto Siuile The port of saynt Lucar nere vnto Siuile where dischargynge all theyr ordinaunce for ioy they wente immediatly to the greate churche in theyr shertes and barefooted with a torche before them to gyue thankes to almyghtie god who had brought them safe to theyr owne countrey and restored them to theyr wyues and chyldren As touchynge th ende of this viage Transiluanus wryteth sumwhat more largely as foloweth The other shyppe which they lefte behynde them to bee repayred what became of the other shyppe returned afterwarde by the Archipelagus aforesayde and by the great sea to the coastes of the firme of the west India and arryued at a region of the same being ageynst Dariena Dariena where the South sea of Sur is seperate but by a lyttle space of lande from the Weste Ocean in the which are the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and other Ilandes of the Spanyardes The other shyppe which returned into Spayne by compasing abowt the hole bowle of the worlde by the coastes of East India and Affrike departynge from the Iland of Tidore and saylynge euer on this syde the Equinoctiall dyd not fynde the cape of Cattigara beinge aboue Asia The cape of Cattigara and by the description of Ptolome rechynge many degrees beyonde the Equinoctial Ptolome But hauynge sayled many dayes by the mayne sea they came to the cape of Buona Speranza and frome thense to the Ilandes of Capo verde where their shyppe beinge soore broosed by reason of the longe viage leaked and tooke water in suche sorte that the mariners being nowe but fewe in number and those also weake and feeble by reason of longe sickenesse and hunger The vyage hardly performed were not able both to drye the poompe continually and otherwyse gouerne the shippe and were therfore of necessitie inforced to goo alande at the Ilande of saynte Iames to bye theym certeyne slaues to helpe theim They bye slaues for lacke of helpe But beinge destitute of mony according to the custome of the mariners they profered them cloues for theyr slaues The which thyng when it came to the eares of the Portugale that was Capitayne of that Ilande he cast .xiii. of them in prison Wherby the residue that remayned in the shippe beinge nowe but .xviii. in number were put in such feare that they departed immediatly without rescuing theyr felowes and sayled continually both by daye and by nyght by the coastes of Affrike and came in fine to Spayne the .vi. day of September in the yeare .1522 and arryued at the porte nere vnto Siuile the .xvi. moneth after they departed from the Ilande of Tidore Mariners doubtlesse more woorthy to bee celebrate with eternal memorie then they whiche in owlde tyme were cauled Argonauti that sayled with Iason to win the golden fleese in the region of Cholehic and the riuer of Phasis in the greate sea of Pontus Maryners woorthy immortal fame Argonauti The viage of Iason to wyn the golden fleese And the shyppe it selfe more woorthye to bee placed amonge the starres then that owlde Argo which departynge owt of Grecia sayled to th ende of that great sea For this owre marueylous shyppe takynge her vyage from the straightes of Gibilterra and saylynge by the greate Ocean towarde the South and pole Antartike The shyppe more woorthy fame then owlde Argo of Grecia and turnynge from thense to the Weste folowed that course so farre that passynge vnder the great circumference of the worlde The vyage shee came into the Easte and frome thense ageyne into the Weste not by returnynge backewarde but styll faylynge forwarde so compasynge abowt the vaule of the world vnder the hole circumference of heauen vntyll shee were myraculously restored to her natiue region of Spayne and house of Siuile ¶ Of the prices of precious stones and Spices with theyr weightes
sauynge that they haue loste their naturall colour Of these summe are founde that haue halfe the coloure of Rubies and other of Saphires other also of the coloure of a Topase Other haue all these coloures mengeled togyther They bore a fine hole in these throughe the myddest wherby they appere lyke the eyes of a catte Of the whytest they make many smaule diamundes whiche can not bee knowen from the trewe sauynge by touchinge of such as are skylfull in that practise They are soulde by a poyse or weight which they caule Mangiar which wayeth two Tarre and two thyrdes which amount to two thyrdes or thirde partes of one caratte For foure Tarres wey one fanan whiche is abowt two carattes Viii. Diamundes that wey one mangiar which is two third partes of a caratte are in value which are three crownes of golde Fanan xxx vi Diamundes that wey one mangiar Fanan xl Foure that wey one mangiar Fanan lx Two that wey one mangiar Fanan lxxx One that weith one mangiar Fanan C. One of one mangiar and a quarter Fanan clxv One of one mangiar and a halfe Fanan clxxx Of one mangiar and three quarters Fanan ccxx Of two mangiars Fanan cccxx Of two mangiars and a quarter Fanan ccclx. Of two mangiars and a halfe Fanan ccclxxx Of two mangiars and three quarters ful perfect Fanan 420 Of three mangiars of lyke perfection Fanan ccccl. Of three mangiars and a halfe Fanan cccclxxx Of foure mangiars Fanan Dl. Of fyue mangiars Fanan Dccl. Of syxe mangiars Fanan Dccc. Of seuen mangiars Fanan Mcc. Of eyght mangiars Fanan Mcccc. And thus they proceade increasynge the price as they increase in weight ¶ Of Saphires IN the Ilande of Zeilam are founde the beste and moste trewe Saphires beinge very harde and fiue and of the coloure of azure They are of price as foloweth A marcell is a syluer coine of Uenice of xi vnces .iii. d. with fine wherof ten make an vne One that weith one caratte is of value which are abowt two marcels of syluer Fanan ii One of the weight of two carattes Fanan v. Of three carattes Fanan x. Of foure carattes Fanan xv Of fyue carattes Fanan xviii Of syxe carattes Fanan xxviii Of seuen carattes Fanan xxxv Of eyght carattes Fanan l. Of nyne carattes Fanan lxv Of tenne carattes Fanan l. Of .xi. carattes Fanan lxv Of .xii. carrates Fanan lxxv Of .xiii. carattes in all perfection of coloure Fanan Cxv. Of .xiiii. carattes Fanan Clx. Of .xv. carattes Fanan Clxxx. Of .xvi. carattes Fanan CC. Of .xviii â–ª carattes Fanan CCl. One that weith a mitigal which is .xi. fanans and a quarter thâ—t is abowt xxiii carattes Fanan CCCl. Lykewyse in the Ilande of Zeilam is founde an other sorte of Saphires which they caule Quinigelinam These are not so stronge or darker colour and of much lesse value thâ—n are the other of the best kynde wherof one is woorth .xiii. of these of equall poise Also in the kyngedome of Narsinga in a mountayne aboue Bacanor and Mangalor is founde an other sort of Saphires more tender and of woorse colour whiche they caule Cinganolam These are sumwhat whyte and of smaule value So that the most perfect of this kynde weyinge .xx. carattes is not woorth one ducate Theyr colour is inclynynge sumwhat to yelowe There is lykewyse found an other kynde of Saphires vppon the sea coastes of the kyngedome of Calicut in a place named Capucar These the Indians caule Carahatonilam They are of a â—arke asure coloure not shynynge but in the cleare ayer They are also tender and brickle and of smaule estimation amonge the Indians They seeme on the one syde lyke glasse ¶ Of Topasies THe natural Topasies growe in the Ilande of Zeilam and are named of the Indians Purceragua It is a harde and fine stone and of equall estimation with the Rubie and the Saphire bycause all these three are of one kynd The perfecte colour of this is yelowe lyke vnto fine beaten golde And if it bee perfect and cleane whether it bee greate or lyttle it is woorth in Calicut as much fine gold as it weyeth But if it bee not perfect it is woorth the weight of gold the fanan which is lesse by the halfe And if it bee in maner whyte it is woorth much lesse And of these are smaule diamundes counterfecte ¶ Of Turquesses TUrquesses are founde in Erer a place of Siech Ismael Theyr mine is a drye eacth that is founde vpon a black stone which the Moores take of in smaule pieces and carye them to the Iland of Ormus from whense they are brought to dyuers partes of the worlde by sea and by lande The Indians caule them Perose They are soft stones of smaule weight and not much coulde And to knowe that they are good and trewe in the day they shall appere of the verye colour of the Turquesse and in the nyght by the lyght they shall appere greene They that are not so perfect doo not so change there colour to the sight If these stones bee cleane and of fine colour they haue vnderneth in the bottome a blacke stone vppon the which they growe And if any lyttle vayne ryse vppon the sayde stone it shal be the better And to knowe more certeynely that they are trewe Turquesses they put on the toppes of them a lyttle quicke lime tempered with water after the maner of an oyntment So that if the quicke lime appere coloured they are iudged perfecte and are of value as foloweth One that weith one caratte is worth in Malabar Fanan .xv. One of two carattes Fanan xl Of foure carattes Fanan xc Of vâ— carattes Fanan Cl. Of .viii. carattes Fanan CC Of .x â–ª carattes Fanan CCC Of .xii. carattes Fanan CCCCl Of .xiiii. carattes Fanan Dl. Of greater then these they make none accompte bycâ—use they are lyghter pieces and of greater circuite These of the byggest sorte the Moores carie into the kyngedome of Guzerath ¶ Of Iacinthes IAcinthes growe in the Ilande of Zeilam They are tender stones and yelowe They are best that are of dâ—â—peste colour The greatest part of these haue in them certeine pimples or burbuls whiche diminishe theyr fayrenesse And they that are in theyr persection cleane from this deformitie are neuerthelesse of smaule value For in Calicut where they are polysshed they that wey one fanan are woorth no more then halfe a fanan And they of .xviii. fanans are not worth xvi fanans There are also founde other stones lyke vnto cartes eyes as Chrisolites and Amethistes whiche they doo not muche esteeme bycause they are of smaule value as also the stones cauled Giagonze ¶ Of Smaragdes or Emeraldes SMaragdes growe in the countrey of Babilon where the Indians caule the sea Dieguan They grow also in other partes of India They are stones of fayre greene colour and are lyght and tender Of these stones many are conterfecte But lookyng on them curiously towarde the lyght the conterfectes shewe certeyne burbuls as dootâ— glasse But
Timor the farazuola Fanan .xl. to .lx Spikenarde freshe and good the faraz. Fanan .xxx. to .xl. Nutte megges whiche coome frome the Ilande of Bandan where the bahar is woorth from .viii. to .x. fanans which importe .vi. poundes weight to the marchetto are woorthe in Calicut the faraz. Fanan x. to xii Mace which is brought from the Ilande of Bandan where the Bahar is woorth fiftie fanans which import abowt one marchetto the pounde aâ—e woorth in Calicut the farazuola Fanan xxv to .xxx. Turbithes are woorth the farazuola Fanan xiii Woorme seede of the best kynde cauled Semenzina is woorthe the farazuola Seedes kyll lyse Fanan xv Zerumba the farazuola Fanan ii Zedoarta the farazuola Fanan i. Gumme Serapine the farazuola Fanan xx Aloe cicotrine the farazuola Fanan xviii Cardamome in graynes the farazuola Fanan xx Reubarbe groweth abundantly in the countrey of Malabar And that which commeth from China by Malacha is worth the farazuola Fanan xl to .l. Mirabolani emblici the farazuola Fanan ii Mirabolani belirici the farazuola Fanan one a halfe Mirabolani citrini chebuli which are al of one sort Fa .ii. Mirabolani Indi which are of the same citrine trees Fa .iii. Tutia the farazuola Fanan xxx Cububes which growe in the Ilande of Iaua or Giaua are there of smaule price and sould by measure withowt weight Opium which is browght from the citie of Aden where it is made is woorth in Calicut the faraz. Fanan .cclxxx. to .cccxx. Opium of an other sort which is made in Cambaia is woorth the farazuola Fanan cc. to .ccl. ¶ Of the Weyghtes of Portugale and India And howe they agree THe pound of the owld weight conteyneth .xiiii. vnces The pound of the newe weight conteyneth .xvi. vnces viii cantares of the owlde weyght make .vii. of the newe And euery newe cantare is of C.xxviii poundes after .xvi. vnces to the pounde Euery owlde cantare conteyneth three quarters and a halfe of the newe cantar And is of C.xxviii poundes after .xiiii vnces the pounde One farazuola is xxii poundes of .xiiii. vnces and .vi. vnces more with two fifte partes Twentie farazuoles are one Bahar One bahar is .iiii. cantares of the owld weight of Portugale All the Spices and drugges and all suche other thynges as coome froÌ„ India are sould in Portugale by the owld weight and all the reste by the newe weyght ¶ Hereby may we well consider that as we owght to reioyse and gyue god thankes for the abundaunce of al these thinges which he causeth the earth so plentifully to brynge foorth to owre vse so may we lament thabuse of men whose couetousnesse causeth great dearth and searsenesse in the myddest of abundance herein no lesse offendyng the lawe of nature then doo such as by wychcrafte intermingle poyson with thinges created for the health of man or by inchauntment corrupt the seedes in the ground ye rather as the vnnatural mother who destroyeth the chylde whom she hath longe nuryshed ⧠Of the Dooues of the Ilande of Madera CAdamustus wryteth that before the Portugales came to this Ilande it was ouergrowen with trees and vnhabited Yet were there many beastes and great plentie of dooues which were vtterly without feare of meÌ„ bycause they had neuer seene any men before nor yet were accustomed to bee put in feare In so much that they stode styl whyle snares were put abowte theyr neckes with longe rods and poles The which thynge he sayth he hath also seene in other Ilandes There are many ryche men in this Ilande and great abundaunce of flesshe bycause the hole Ilande is in maner one gardeyne ¶ Of the Ilande of saynt Thomas vnder the Equinoctiall line THe chiefest occupacion and liuynge of thinhabitauntes of this Ilande is the makynge of suger which they sell yearely to the shyppes that coomme for it owt of Spayne and Portugale laden with buttes of meale and floure also wyne oyle cheese lether swoordes cuppes of glasse beades certeyne scaruels of the fine whyte earthe cauled Porcellana of the which are made the earthen dysshes of the woorke of Maiolica And if it were not that such vyttayles and prouisions were brought them owt of Spaine and Portugale the whyte marchauntes which dwell in that Ilande perteynynge to the dominion of the kinge of Portugale shulde not bee able to lyue there forasmuch as they are not accustomed to eate such meates as doo the Ethiopians or Negros And therfore the Portugales whiche inhabite this Ilande haue certeyne blacke slaues of Guinea Benin and Manicongo which they set to tyll and laboure the grounde and make suger Amonge these whyte inhabitauntes there are many ryche men which haue .150 or .200 and sum .300 blacke slaues of men and women to tyll the grounde and doo other laborious woorkes This Ilande was discouered four score yeares sence by the nauigations of the Portugales and was vnknowen to the owlde wryters It lyeth in the greate goulfe of Affrike in the .30 degree of longitude from the West to the East and is in maner rounde It is of largenesse from side to syde .lx. ItaliaÌ„ myles that is to say one degree The horizontal line of the Iland passeth by the two poles Artike and Antartyke and hath euer the day equall with the nyght without any sensible difference whether the son bee in Cancer or in Capricorne The starre of the pole Artike is there inuisible But the wardens are seene sumwhat to moue about And the starres cauled the Crosse are seene very hyghe Of this Ilande with the other landes and Ilandes lyinge betwene Portugale and the same a certeyne pylotte of Portugale hath wrytten a goodly vyage to Conte Rimondo ¶ The debate and stryfe betwene the Spanyardes and Portugales for the diuision of the Indies and the trade of Spices and also for the Ilands of Molucca which sum caule Malucas Wrytten in the Spanyshe toonge by Francisco Lopez de Gomara THemperours maiestie was verye gladde that the Malucas and Ilands of the spicery were discouered and that he myght passe vnto them through his owne countreys withowt any preiudice or hurte to the Portugales And bycause also that Almanzor Luztu and Corala which were the lordes of the spicerie shewed them selues to bee his frendes and became tributaries to hym He also gaue certeyne gyftes and rewaâ—dâ—s â—o Iohn Sebastian for his greate paynes and good seruice Iohn Sebastian foraâ—much as he craued a rewarde for the good newes that the Ilandes of the Malucas and other Ilandes rycher and greatâ—r then they weâ—e found to bee in his part of those countreys which perteyned vnto hym accordynge to the popes bull The cause of contention And hereby it came to passe that there was great contention and striâ—e betwene the Spanyardes and the Portugales abowte the spicerie and the diuision of the Indies by reason of the returne of Iohn Sebastian and thinformation whiche he gaue therof Who also affirmed that the Portugales had neuer any enteraunce before
graunt him three hundreth leaques more to the Weste besyde the one hundreth which they had graunted before and therwith sent his shyppes to kepe the coastes of Affryke The princes Catholyke were content to satisfie his mynde and to please hym accordynge to theyr gentle nature and for the aliance that was betwene theym And in fine with the consent and agreement of the pope The agreement of the last diuision graunted twoo hundrech .lxx. leaques more then the bull made mention of At Tordefillas the .vii. day of Iune in the yeare of owr lord 1494. And wheras owr kynges thought that they shulde haue lost grounde in grauntynge so many leaques that way they woonne by that meanes the Ilandes of the Malucas with many other ryche Ilandes The kynge of Portugale also herein deceaued him selfe or was deceaued of his whom he put in trust wherin the Portugales were deceaued hauynge no certeyne knowleage of the situation of the Ilandes of the riche Spicery in demaundyng that which the kynge dyd demaunde For it hadde byn better for hym to haue requested the three hundreth and .lxx. leaques rather Eastwarde from the Ilandes of Cabo Uerde then towarde the west And yet for all that I doubte whether the Malucas shulde haue faulen within his conquest accordynge to the ordinarie accoumpte and dimension which the pylotes and Cosmographers doo make And after this maner they diuided the Indies betwene them by thautoritie of the pope for the auoydynge of further stryfe and contention ⧠Howe and by what occasion Themperoure layde the Ilandes of the Malucas to pledge to the kynge of Portugale WHen the kynge of Portugale Don Iuan the thyrde of that name had knowleage that the Cosmographers and pylottes of Castile hadde drawen the line from the place before named and that he could not denye the truth fearing also therby to liese the trade of Spices made sute and request to Themperoure that he shulde not send furth Loaisa nor Sebastian Cabote to the Malucas Sebastian Cabote and that the Castilians shulde not attempte the trade of spices nor see such euyls and miseries as his capitaynes had shewed in those Ilandes to them that aduentured that viage with Magalanes Which thynge he greatly couered although he payde all the charges of those two fleetes and made other great bargens In the meane tyme Themperoure maryed the Lady Isabell syster to kynge Iohn and kynge Iohn maryed the lady Catharine syster to Themperour Themperour and the kinge of portugale ioyned iâ— aliance by mariage whereby this matter waxed coulde although the kynge ceased not to speake hereof euer mouynge the particion Themperour by the meanes of a certeine Biscaine that was with Magallanes in the gouernours shyppe had knowleage what the Portugales had doone to the Castilians in the Iland of Tidore The portugales robbe the Castilians wherof he tooke great displeasure and brought the sayde maryner face to face before thambassadours of Portugale who denyed all that he sayde one of them beinge the chiefe capitayne and gouernour of India when the Portugales tooke the Castilians in Tidore and robbed them of theyr Cloues and Cinamome and such other thynges as they had in the shyppe named the Trinitie But as the kynge of Portugales trade was greate and owre necessitie greater in the meane tyme Themperoure who was nowe goinge into Italie to bee crowned in the yeare .1529 gagied the Malucas and the spicerie to the kynge of Portugale The coronation of Themperour for three hundreth and fiftie thousande ducades withowt any tyme determyned otherwyse then the controuersie was defined vppon the brydge of the ryuer of Caya The gageing of the Ilands of Malucas zamatra and Malaca for the which thynge kynge Iohn punyshed the licentiate Azeuedo bycause he payde the money withowt declaration of the time The couenaunt of the pledge was blyndely made and greatly ageynst the myndes of the Castilians as men that wel vnderstode the profite commoditie and rychesse of that trade Affirmynge that the trade of spices myght haue byn rented for one yeare or for two for syxe tymes as much as the kinge gaue for it Peter Ruiz of Uillegas who was twyse cauled to the bargeyne as once at Granada and an other tyme at Madrid sayde that it had byn muche better to haue pledged Estremadura or Serena or other greater landes and cities rather then the Malucas Zamatra or Malaca or other riche landes and ryuers in the Easte not yet well knowen forasmuche as it maye so chaunce that eyther by continuaunce of tyme or aliance the pledge myght bee forgotten as thowgh it perteyned to the ryght of Portugale In fine Themperour considered not the iewel that he pledged nor the kyng what he receaued Themperour was often tymes counsayled to release the pledge of those Ilandes in coÌ„sideration of the great vantage he myght haue therby in fewe yeares Furthermore in the yeare .1548 the procuratoures of Cortes being in Ualladolid made peticion to Themperour to surrender the spiceâ—ie to the kyngedoome of Castile for .vi. yeares and that they wold repay to the kyng of Portugale his .350 thousaÌ„d crownes and after those yeares restore the trade to the crowne that his maiestie myght inioye the same as was agreed at the begynnynge But Themperour beinge then in Flaunders sente woorde to the counsayle that they shulde not asseÌ„t to Cortes his request nor speake any more hereof Wherat sum marueyled other were sory all held theyr peace ¶ Of the Pole Antartike and the starres abowt the same And of the qualitie of the regions and disposition of the Elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line Also certeyne secreates touchyng the arte of saylynge AMericus Uesputius in the Summarie of his vyages wryteth in this maner as foloweth Departynge frome Lisbona commonlye cauled Lusheburne the .viii. day of May in the yeare .1501 we sayled fyrst to the Ilandes of Canarie and from thense to Capouerde which the Ethiopians or blacke Moores caule Bisineghe Cabouerde Besenegha beinge .xiiii. degrees on this syde the Equinoctiall line From whense directynge owre course towarde the South pole by the Southwest we sawe no more land for the space of three moonethes and three dayes Of whiche tyme durynge .xl. dayes we had cruell fortune In so muche that for that space A tempest the heauen in maner neuer ceased thunderyng rorynge and lyghtenynge with terrible noyse and fearefull syghtes of fyery exhalations flyinge abowt in the ayer and in maner continuall showers of rayne with darke clowdes couerynge the heauen in such sorte that aswell in the day as in the nyght we coulde see none otherwyse but as when the moone giueth no lyght by reason of thicke and darke clowds The sea was in lyke case vnquieted with surgies and monsters After these greuous cruel days it plesed god to haue coÌ„passion on owr liues For wee suddenly espied land wherby we recouered owr spirites and strength This land which wee founde is from Capo
inundation hauynge knoweleage that the redde sea was hygher by three cubites then al the countrey of Egypt Other say that this was not the cause but that he doubted that yf he shulde haue let the sea coome any further all the water of Nilus shulde haue byn therby corrupted which onely mynystreth drynke to all Egypte But notwithstandynge all these thynges aforesayde all this vyage is frequented by lande from Egypte to the redde sea The viage bilande from Egypte to the red sea in which passage are three causeis or hyghe wayes The fyrst begynneth at the mouth of Nilus named Pelusio All which way is by the sandes In so much that if there were not certeyne hyghe reedes fyxt in the earth to shewe the ryght way the causei coulde not be founde by reason the wynde euer couereth it with sande The second causei is two myles from the mountayne Cassius And this also in th ende of .lx. myles commeth vppon the way or causey of Pelusius inhabited with certeyne Arabians cauled Antei The thyrde begynneth at Gerro named Adipson and passeth by the same Arabians for the space of .lx. myles sumwhat shorter but full of rowgh mountaynes and great scarsenesse of water All these causeis What kynge ptolomeus discouered leade the way to the citie of Arsinoe buylded by Tolomeus Philadelphus in the goulfe Carandra by the red sea This Ptolomeus was the fyrst that searched al that parte of the red sea which is cauled Trogloditica Of this trenche described of Strabo and Plinie there are seene certeyne tokens remaynynge at this present as they affirme which haue byn at Sues beyonde the citie of Alcayr otherwyse cauled Babylon in Egypte But the marchauntes that of later dayes trauayle this viage by lande ryde through the dry baren desertes on camels both by day and by night directynge theyr way by the starres and compase as do maryners on the sea and caryinge with them water sufficient for many dayes iorneys Alcayre The places of Arabie and India named of Strabo and Plinie The viage to Easte Indya frequented in owlde tyme. are the selfe same where the Portugales practise theyr trade at this daye as the maners and customes of the Indians doo yet declare The custoÌ„es and maners of the Indyans For euen at this presente theyr women vse to burne theym selues alyue with the deade bodies of theyr husbandes Which thynge as wryteth Strabo in his .xv. booke they dyd in owlde tyme by a lawe for this consideration that sumtyme being in loue with other they forsooke or poysoned theyr husbandes And forasmuch as accordynge to this custome the owlde poete Propertius who lyued abowt a hundreth yeares before thincarnation of Chryst hath in his boke made mention of the contention that was amonge the Indian women which of them shuld bee burned aliue with theyr husbandes I haue thought good to subscribe his verses whiche are these Foelix Pois lex funeris vna maritis Quos aurora suis rubra colorat equis Mamque vbi mortifero iacta est fax vltima lecto Vxorum suis stat pia turba comis Et certamen habent lethi quae viua sequatur Coniugium pudor est non licuisse mori Ardent victrices flammae pectora praebent Imponuntque suis ora perusta viris As touthynge these vyages both by sea and by lande to East India Cathay many thynges are wrytten very largely by dyuers autours which I omytte bycause they perteyne not so much vnto vs as doth the viage attempted to CATHAY by the north seas and the coastes of Moscouia discouered in owre tyme by the viage of that excellent yonge man Rychard Chaunceler no lesse lerned in all mathematicall sciences then an expert pylotte The vyage to Cathay Rycharde Chaunceler in the yeare of owre lorde .1554 As concernynge this vyage I haue thought good to declare the communication which was betwene the sayde learned man Galeatius Butrigarius and that great philosopher and noble gentelman of Italie named Hieronimus Fracastor as I fynde wrytten in the Italian hystories of nauigations As they were therfore conferrynge in matters of learnynge and reasonynge of the science of Cosmographi A lerned discourse of dyuers vyages the sayde lerned man hauynge in his hande an instrument of Astronomie declared with a large oration howe muche the worlde was bounde to the kynges of Portugale rehearsynge the noble factes doone by them in India The vigages of the Portugales and what landes and Ilandes they had discouered â–ª and how by theyr nauigations they made the whole worlde hange in the ayer The worlde hangynge on the â—yer He further declared what parts of the baul of the earth remained yet vndiscouered And sayde that of the landes of the inferior hemispherie or halfe compase of the baule towarde the pole Antartike what is knowen of the lower hemispherie there was nothynge knowen but that lyttle of the coaste of Brasilia vnto the streight of Magellanus The lande of Brasile Also a part of Peru Peru. And a lyttle aboue Affrike towarde the cape of Bona Speranza Also that he marueyled withowte measure that this thynge was no better considered of Christian Princes to whoÌ„ god hath deputed this charge The charge dewtie of Christian princes hauyng euer on theyr counsailmen of great lernynge which may informe them of this thing beinge Note so marueylous and noble whereby they maye obteyne glorie and fame by vertue and bee impuled amonge men as goddes by better demerites then euer were Hercules great Alexander who trauayled only into India hercules and Alexander and that by makynge the men of this owre hemispherie knowen to theym of the other halfe compase of the baule beneth vs they might by the tytle of this enterpryse withowt comparyson farre excell all the noble factes that euer were doone by Iulius Cesar or any other of the Romane Emperours Which thynge they myght easely brynge to passe by assignynge colonies to inhabite dyuers places of that hemispherie in lyke maner as dyd the Romanes in prouinces newely subdued The colonies of the Romans in regions subdued Whereby they myght not only obteyne great ryches but also inlarge the Christian fayth and Empire to the glory of god and confusion of infidels After this he spake of the Ilande of saynt Laurence cauled in owlde tyme Madagascar The great Iland of saynt Laurence or Madagascaâ— which is greater then the realme of Castile and Portugale and reachethe from the .xii. degree towarde the pole Antartike vnto the xxvi degree and a halfe lyinge Northeaste frome the cape of Bona Speranza and partly vnder the line of Tropicus Capricorni beinge well inhabited and of temperate ayer with abundaunce of all thynges necessarie for the lyfe of man and one of the most excellent Ilandes that is founde this daye in the worlde And that neuerthelesse there is nothynge knowen therof except only a fewe smaule
feastes and holy misteries Especially the pleasaunte Maluasies of the Iland of Creta nowe cauled Candy Maluasie are had in moste honoure and vsed eyther as medicens or for a shewe of excessiue aboundaunce forasmuche as it is in maner a miracle that wynes browght frome Candy by the streyghtes of Hercules pillers and the Ilandes of Gades All the north parte of the firme lande was cauled Scythia â—nd the people Scythyans tossed with such fluddes of the inclosed Ocean shulde be droonke amonge the Scythyan snowes in theyr natiue puritie and pleasauntnesse The common people drinke mede made of hony hoppes sodden together whiche they keepe longe in pytched barrells where the goodnes increaseth with age They vse also beere and ale as doo the Germanes and Polones They are acustomed for delycatenes nâ— sommer to coole theyr beere and mede with puttynge Ise therin Drynke cooled with Ise. whiche the noble men reserue in theyr sellars in great quantite for the same purpose Summe there are that delyte greately in the iuse that is pressed owte of cherries before they bee full rype wyne of cherryes whiche they affyrme to haue the coloure of cleare and ruddy wyne with a verye pleasaunte taste Theyr wyues and women Their womeÌ„ are not with them in suche honoure as they are in other nations For they vse them in maner in the place of seruantes The noble men and gentelmen doo diligently obserue theyr walkes and haue an eye to their chastitie They are seldom bydden furth to any feastes nether are permytted to resorte to churches farre of or to walke abrode withowt sum greaâ—e consyderation But the common sorte of women are easely and for a smaule price allured to lecherye euen of straungers by reason wherof the gentelmen doo lyttle or nothynge esteme them Iohn the father of kynge Basilius dyed more then .xx. yeares sence He maryed Sophia the doughter of Thomas Paleologus who reigned farre in Pâ—loponnesus now cauled Morea and was brother to Themperoure of constantinople Thomas Paleologus Shee was then at Rome when Thomas her father was dryuen owte of Grecia by the Turckes The coÌ„quest of the turkes in Grecia Of her were fyue chyldren borne as Basilius hym selfe George Demetrius Symeon and Andreas Basilius tooke to wyfe Salomonia the doughter of George Soborouius a man of synguler fideliâ—ie and wysdome one of hys counsayle The excellent vertues of whâ—ch woman only barennesse obâ—cured When the prynces of Moscouia delyberat to marie theyr custome is to haue choyse of the vyrgynes in the realme how the Princes chuâ—e theyr wyues to cause suche as are of most fayre and bewtyfull vysage and personage with maners vertues accordyng to bee browght before them Which afterwarde they committe to certayne faythful men and graue matrones to bee furder vewed in so muche that they leaue no parte of them vnserched Of these shee whome the prynce moste lyketh is pronounced worthy to bee hys wyfe not withowt greate and carefull expectatioÌ„ of theyr parentes lyuynge for that tyme betwene hope and feare The other vyrgyns also which stoode in election and contended in bewty and integritie of maners are often times the same day to gratyfye the prynce maryed to hys noble meÌ„ gentellmen and capytaynes wherby it sumtymes commeth to passe that whyle the princes contemne the lynage of roiall descente suche as are borne of humble parentage are exalted to the degree of princely estate In lyke maner as Themperours of the turckes were accustomed to bee chosen by cumlynesse of personage and warly prowes Basilius was vnder thage of forty and seuen yeares Duke Basilius of cuâ—ly personage singuler vertue and princely qualities by all meanes studyous for the prosperitie and commodities of hys subiectes Furthermore in beneuolence lyberalytie and good successe in hys doynges to bee preferred before his progenitours For when he hadde .vi. yeares kepte warre with the Lyuons that moued .lxxii. confetherate cities to the cause of that warre he obteyned the victorie and departed with fewe conditions of peace rather gyuen then accepted war betwene the Polones and Moâ—chouites Also at the begynnynge of his reigne he put the Polones to flight and tooke prisoner Constantine the capitayne of the Ruthens whom he brought to Moscouia tyed in chaynes But shortly after at the ryuer Boristhenes aboue the citie of Orsa he hym selfe was ouercomne in a great battayle by the same Constantine whom he hadde dismissed Yet so that the towne of Smolenzko whiche the Moscouites possessed before and was nowe woonne by the Polons sâ—ulde styll perteyne to the dominions of Basilius But ageynste the Tartars war betwene the Moschouites Tartars and especially the Tartars of Europe cauled the Precopites the Moscouites haue often tymes kepte warre with good successe in reuenge of thiniuries doone to them by theyr incursions Basilius is accustomed to brynge to the fielde more then a hundreth and fiftie thousande horsemen deuided into three bandes and folowynge the banners or enseignes of theyr capitaynes in order of battayle The Moscouitâ—s army Their baÌ„ner On the banner of the kynges wynge is figured the image of Iosue the capitaine of the Hebrewes at whose prayer the soonne prolonged the daye and steyde his course as wytnesse the hystories of holye scripture Armies of footemen are in maner to no vse in those great wyldernesses aswel for theyr apparel beinge loose and longe as also for the custome of theyr enemies who in theyr warres truste rather to the swyftenesse of theyr lyght horses then to trye the matter in a pyght fyelde Theyr horses are of lesse then meane stature Their horses and horsmeâ— but verye stronge and â—wyfte Theyr horsemen are armed with pykes ryuettes mases of Iren and arrowes Fewe haue hooked swoordes Theire armure Theyr bodies are defended with rounde Targets after the maner of the Turkes of Asia or with bendyng and cornarde targettes after the maner of the Greekes Also with coates of mayle brygantynes and sharpe helmettes Basilius dyd furthermore instytute a band of hargabusiers on horsbacke hargabusiers and caused many greate brasen pieces to bee made by the woorkemanshype of certeyne Italyans Gunnes and the same with theyr stockes wheeles to bee placed in the castell of Mosca The kynge hym selfe with pryncely magnyfycence synguler familiaritie wherwith neuerthelesse no parte of the maiestie of a kynge is vyolate is accustomed to dyne openly with hys noble men and straunge ambassadours in hys owne chamber of presence where is seene A meruelous quantitye of syluer and gylte plate standynge vppon two great and high cubbardes in the same chamber The Prince dyneth openly Sigismundus sayth that much of this is golde He hath not abowte hym any other garde for the custody of hys person sauynge only hys accustomed famylye For watche and warde is dylygently kepte of the faythfull multytude of the citisens In so muche that euery warde or quarter
theyr multitude and with what greate armyes they assayle theyr enemyes theÌ„ eyther in the strengthe and valyantenesse of theyr souldyers or in well instructynge theyr armye and fyght better afarre of then at hande and therfore study howe to circumuent or inclose theyr enemyes and to assayle them on the backe halfe Instruments of warre They haue many trumpiters The which whyle they blow all at once after theyr maner make A meruelous straunge noyse They haue also an other kynde of instrumentes which they caule Szurna These they blowe withowte seasynge for the space of an houre togither so temperyng the same and holdyng in the wynd whyle they drawe more that the noyse seemeth continuall withoute intermyssion The Moscouites and Tartars apparell They vse all one maner of appareyle as longe coates withowte pleyghtes and with narrowe sleaues after the maner of the Hungaryans These the Christians vse to butten on the ryght syde and the Tartars vsinge the lyke butten them on the lefte syde They weare redde and shorte buskyns that reache not to theyr knees and haue the soules therof defended with plates of Iren. In maner all theyr shyrtes are wroughte with dyuers colours aboute the necke and haue the collars and ruffes bysette with lyttle rounde baules lyke beades of syluer or gylted copper and sumtyme perles also They gyrde them selues beneth the bellye euen as lowe as theyr priuy members that they may seme more boorely which they greately esteme as doo at thys day the Spanyardes Italyans and Almaynes The prouince of Moscouia is neyther very large nor frutfull The prouince of Moscouia forasmuche as the fertylytye is hyndered with sandye grounde which eyther with to muche drynesse or moyster kylleth the corne Furthermore the immoderate and sharpe vntemperatenesse of the ayre while the coulde of the wynter ouercommethe the heate of the soonne Extreme coulde sumtymes dothe not suffer the corne to rype For the coulde is there sumtyme so extreame that lyke as with vs in sommer by reason of heate euen so there by extreame coulde the yearth hath many great chynkes or breaches Water also cast into the ayre and spettle faulyng from on s mouthe are frosen before they touche the grounde I my selfe when I came thether in the yeare 1526. sawe the braunches of frutefull trees wythyred by the coulde of the wynter before which was so extreame that many of theyr wagoners or caries whom they caule Gonecz were founde frosen to deathe in theyr sleades There were sum that at the same tyme leadyng and dryuyng theyr cattayle from the nexte villagies to Moscouia dyed by the way with theyr beastes through thextremytie of the coulde Furthermore the same yeare many players that were accustomed to wander aboute the contrey with daunsyng beares were founde dead in the high wayes Wylde beares also inforced therto by famyn lefte the wooddes and ranne here and there into dyuers villagies and houses At whose commyng while the men of the countrey forsooke theyr houses and fledd into the fieldes manye of them perysshed throughe the vehemencie of the coulde Agayne it sumtymes so chaunceth that in sommer the heate is as extreame Extreme heate in cold regions as in the yeare .1525 in the which almost al kynds of pulse and grayne were scorched and burnte and such a derth of corne folowed that drought that that which before was bowght for three dengas was afterwarde soulde for .xx or .xxx. Furthermore also manye villagies wooddes and stackes of corne were sette on fyre by thextreame heate The smoke wherof so fylled the regyon that the eyes of many were sore hurte therby There arose also as it were a darke and thycke myst without smoke which so molested the eys that many loste theyr sight therby They sowe and narysshe the seades of melons with great diligence in certeyne raysed beddes myxte with doonge wherby they fynde a remedy both ageynst extreame could and heat For if the heate exceade they make certeyne ryftes in the beddes as it were breathyng places least the seades shulde be suffocate with to muche heate And if the coulde bee extreme it is tempered with the heate of the mucke or dunge Lyttle beastes Theyr beastes are muche lesse then owres yet not all withowt hornes as one hath written For I haue there sene oxen kyne goates and rammes all with hornes Not farre from the citie of Moscha are certeyne monasteries which a farre of seeme lyke vnto a citie They saye that in thys citie is an incredible number of houses The citie of Moâ—couia or Mosca And that the syxte yeare before my commynge thyther the prince caused them to bee numbered and founde them to bee more then one and fortye thousande and fyue hundreth houses The citie is very large and wyde and also very slabby and myrie By reason wherof it hath many brydges and causeys The ayre of the regyon is so holsome holsome ayer that beyond the sprynges of Tanais especially towarde the north and a great parte also towarde the Easte the pestylence hath not byne harde of sence the memorye of man Yet haue they sumtimes a disease in theyr bowells and headdes not much vnlyke the pestylence Thys disease they caule a heate wherwith suche as are taken dye within fewe dayes A ryche spoyle Sum wryte that Iohn the duke of Moscouia and sonne of Basilius vnder the pretence of religion sacked spoyled the citie of Nouogardia and caried with hym from thense to Moscouia three hundreth sleades laden with golde syluer and precious stones of the gooddes of the Archebysshoppe the marchauntes citisins and straungiers Solowki is an Ilande situate in the north sea .viii. leaques from the continent betwen The â—â—land of Solowki Dwina and the province of Corela Howe farre it is dystant from Moscouia can not bee well knowne by reason of manye sennes marysshes Wooddes and desolate places lyinge in the way Albeit suÌ„ say that it is not three hundreth leaques from Moscouia two hundreth frome Bieloiesero Bieloiesero In thys Ilande is made greate plenty of salte and it hath in it a monasterie into the which it is not lawfull for any woman or virgyn to enter There is also great fysshyng for hearyng They say that here the soonne at the sommer Equinoctiall The lengthe of the day shyneth continually excepte two houres Demetriowe is a citie with a castel distante from Moscouia xii leaques declining from the west sumwhat toward the north By this runneth the ryuer Lachroma that runneth in to the ryuer of Sest Sest also receaueth the ryuer Dubna which vnladeth it selfe in Uolga And by the commoditie of thus many ryuers many riche marchaundies are browght without great laboure or difficultie from the caspian sea by the ryuer Uolga to Moscouia and dyuers other prouynces cities abowte the same The trade from Moscocouia to the Caspian sea Bieloiesero a citie with a castell is situat at a lake of the same name For Bieloiesero
thereof folowe effectually Diuination Neuerthelesse althowgh such thynges as are spoken eyther by coniecture Coniecture or by thinstincte of nature or by naturall reason doo oftentymes take place and succede accordyngely yet are not such coniectures to bee accoumpted as certeyne as prophesies reueled by the spirite of god Prophesie which wee ought entierly to beleue but not so the other gathered only by certeine apparences similitudes reasons and demonstrations althowghe it bee greatly to bee maruailed to consyder howe they hytt e the truthe sumtyme which perhappes they doo accordyng to the prouerbe that sayth He that speaketh much shall sumtimes stumble on the truth So do the Egiptians All this I speake consyderynge the sayinge of the poet Seneca in his tragedie of Medea where his woordes seeme in all poyntes to agree with the discouerynge of the Indies founde of late by Chrystofer Colon the Spanyardes The woordes of Seneca The wordes of Seneca are these Venient annis Saecula seris quibus Oceanus Vincula rerum laxet et ingens Pateat tellus Tiphisque nouos Detegat orbes Nec sit terris vltima Thyle That is to saye There shall coomme worldes in late yeares in the which the Ocean shall vnlose the bondes of thynges and a great lande shall appeare Also Typhis that is nauigation shall discouer newe worldes And Thyle shall not bee the furthest lande Islande was in owlde time cauled Thyle as summe thinke ¶ The coppie of the duke of Moscouie and Emperoure of Russia his letters sent to kinge Edwarde the syxte The almighty poure of god and the incomprehensible holie Trinitie rightfull Christian beleefe we greatest Duke Ivan Uasileuich by the grace of god Emperoure of all Russia and greate duke of Uflademerskii Iuan Uasiliuich that is Iohn the soon of Basilius He conquered Casan therfore wryteth Lazanskii Moskouskii Nougorodskii Cazanskii Pskouskii Smolenskii Tuerskii Yougorskii Permskii Ueatsskii Bolgarskii with diuers other landes Emperoure also and greate duke of Nouagoroda and in the lowe countreys of Chermgouskii Rezanskii Uolotsskii Rzefskii Belskii Rostouskii Yaroslauskii Bclocherskii Oodorskii Obdorskii Condinskii and many other countreys Lord ouer all the north coaste Greetinge BEfore all right great and of honoure woorthy Edwarde kynge of Englande oure moste harty and of good zeale with good intente and frendly desyre and of owre holy Christian fayth of greate gouernaunce in the lyght of greate vnderstandynge Owre aunswere by thys our honorable writing vnto yowre kyngly gouernaunce at the request of yowre faithfull seruaunt Rycharde with his company as they shall let yowe wysely knowe is thus In the strengthe of the twentie yeare of owre gouernaunce be it knowen that at owre sea coastes arryued a shyppe with one Rycharde and hys company and sayd that he was desyrous to comme into owre dominions and accordynge to hys request hath seene owre lordshyppes and owre eys Seene owre eyes that is coomme to owr presence hathe declared vnto vs yowre maiesties desyre as that we shulde graunte vnto yowre subiectes to go and comme And in oure dominions and among owre subiects to frequente free martâ—s with all sortes of marchandies and vppon the same to haue wares for theyr returne And they haue also delyuered vs yowre letters which declare the same request And here vppoÌ„ we haue gyuen order that where soeuer your faythfull seruaunte Hugh Wyllobie lande or touche in owre dominions to bee well interteyned who as yet is not arryued as yowre seruaunte Rycharde can declare And wee with Christian beleefe and faythfulnesse and according to your honorable requeste and my honorable commaundement wyll not leaue it vndoone And am furthermore willynge that yow sende vnto vs with your shyppes and vessels when and as often as they may haue passage with good assurance on owre partie to see them harmelesse And if yow sende one of yowre maiesties counsaile to treate with vs wher by your countrey marchauntes may with all kyndes of wares and where they wyll make theyr market in our dominions and there to haue theyr free marte with all free liberties thorough my whole dominions with al kyndes of wares to come and goo at theyr pleasure without any lette domage or impediment accordynge to thys our letter our worde and our seale which wee haue commaunded to bee vnder sealed Wrytten in our dominion in our towne and our palesse in the Castell of Moscouia in the yeare .vii. thousande and syxtie the seconde moneth Febriarie Thys letter was wrytten in the Moscouian tounge in letters much lyke vnto the Greeke letters very fayre wrytten in paper with a brode seale hangynge at the same sealed in paper vppon wex Thys seale was much lyke vnto the brode seale of Englande hauyng in it on the one syde the Image of a man on horsebacke in complete harnes fighting with a dragon Under this letter was an other paper writteÌ„ in the duche toung which was thinterpretation of the other wrytten in the Moscouite Letters These letters were sent the nexte yeare after the data of Kynge Edwardes Letters ¶ Of the great Ilande which Plato cauled Atlantica or Atlantide THe Philosopher Plato wrytethe in his Dialoges of Timeus and Cricia that in the owlde time there was in the sea Atlanticke ouer agenst Affrica an Ilande cauled Atlantide greater then Affrica and Asia Plato sayth that these kynges were the sonnes of Neptunus affirmynge that those landes aâ—e from thense continent and greate And that the kynges of that Ilande gouerned a greate parte of Affrica and Europe But that in a certeyne greate earthequake and tempest of rayne An earthquake this Ilande soonke and the people were drowned Also that there remayned so much mudde of the drownynge or synkynge of that Ilande that that sea Atlantike coulde not bee sayled Sum take this for a fable and many for a trewe hystorie as doothe Marcilius Ficinus inducinge Proclus alleagynge certeyne hystories of the Ethiopians wrytten by one Marcellus Marcilius Ficinus Proclus who corfirmeth the same to bee trewe But there is nowe no cause why wee shulde any longer doubte or dispute of the Iland Antlantide forasmuch as the discouerynge and conquest of the west Indies do plainly declare what Plato hath wrytten of the sayde landes In Mexico also at this day they caul that water Atl. by the halfe name of Atlant Mexico or new Spaine as by a woorde remaynynge of the name of the Ilande that is not Wee may lykewyse say that the Indies are eyther the Ilande and firme lande of Plato or the remanent of the same and not the Ilandes of Hesperides or Ophir or Tharsis as sum haue thought of late dayes For the Hesperides are the Ilandes of Cabo Uerde and the Gorgonas from whense Hanon browght apes Albeit in conferrynge it with Solinus hesperides Capo Uerde Ophir Tharsis Gorgonas Solinus there is sum doubte by reason of the nauigation of fortie
of Cipango The Iland of Cipango which fauleth on the parte of great China or Cathay as wryteth Marcus Paulus Uenetus and other China Cathay And that he shulde sooner come thyther by folowyng the course of the soonne Westwarde then ageynst the same To the East by the west Albeit manye thynke that there is no suche Ilande or at the leaste not yet knowen by that name wheras also Marcus Paulus obserued no exacte description of the place eyther of this Ilande or of Cathay Marcus Paulus Uenetus ☞ The fyrste discouerynge of the Weste Indies A Certeyne caruell saylynge in the weste Ocean abowt the coastes of Spayne had a forcyble and continuall wynde from the East wherby it was dryuen to a land vnknowen and not descrybed in any mappe or carde of the sea A harde begynnyng and was dryuen styl alonge by the coaste of the same for the space of many dayes vntyll it came to a hauen where in a shorte tyme the most parte of the maryners beinge longe before verye weake and feeble by reason of hunger trauayle dyed So that only the pylot with thre or foure other remayned alyue And not only they that dyed dyd not inioy the Indies which they fyrst discouered to theyr mysfortune but the resydue also that lyued had in maner as lyttle fruition of the same not leauynge or at the least not openly publyshynge any memorie therof neyther of the place or what it was cauled or in what yeare it was founde Albeit the faute was not theyrs but rather the malice of other or the enuie of that which wee caule fortune I doo not therefore marueyle that the auncient hystories affirme that great thynges proceade and increase of smaul and obscure begynnynges Great thinges proceadyng of smaule and obscure begynnynges syth wee haue seene the same verefyed in this fyndyng of the Indies being so notable and newe a thynge Wee neede not bee curious to seeke the name of the pylot syth death made a shorte ende of his doinges Sum wyl that he came from Andaluzia and traded to the Ilands of Canaria and the Ilande of Madera when this large and mortal nauigation chauÌ„ced vnto hym The pylotte that fyrst founde the Indies Other say that he was a Byscayne and traded into Englande and Fraunce Other also that he was a Portugale and that eyther he wente or came from Mina or India Mina which agreeth well with the name of these newe landes as I haue sayde before Ageyne sum there bee that say that he browght the carauel to Portugale or to the Ilande of Madera or to sum other of the Ilandes cauled delos Azores Yet doo none of them affirme any thynge althowgh they all affirme that the pylotte dyed in the house of Chrystopher Colon with whome remayned al such wrytynges and annotacions as he hadde made of his vyage in the sayde carauell aswell of such thynges as he obserued both by lande and sea as also of the eleuation of the pole in those landes whiche he had discouered ¶ What maner of man Chrystopher Colon was and howe he Came fyrst to the knowleage of the Indies CHristopher Colon was borne in Cugureo or as sum say in Nerui a vyllage in the territorie of Genua in Italie He descended as sum thynke of the house of the Pelestreles of Placentia in Lumbardie He beganne of a chylde to bee a maryner of whose arte they haue great exercise on the ryuer of Genua Thus also began Rychard chaunceler He traded many yeares into Suria and other partes of the East After this he became a master in makynge cardes for the sea whereby he had great vantage He came to Portugale to knowe the reason and descrâ—ption of the south coaste of Affrica and the nauigations of the Portugales thereby to make his cardes more perfecte to bee solde He maryed in Portugale as sum say or as many say in the Ilande of Madera where he dwelt at suche tyme as the sayde caruell arryued there whose pylot suiorned in his house and dyed also there bequethynge to Colon his carde of the description of suche newe landes as he hadde founde wherby Colon had the fyrst knowleage of the Indyes Sum haue thowght that Colon was well lerned in the Latine tounge and the science of Cosmographie Colon was not much lerned and that he was therby fyrst moued to seeke the landes of the Antipodes and the ryche Ilande of Cipango whereof Marcus Paulus wryteth Also that he had redde what Plato in his dialoges of Timeus and Cricias wryteth of the greate Ilande Atlantide The Ilande â—tlantide and of a great lande in the West Ocean vndiscouered beinge bygger then Asia and Affrica Furthermore that he had knowleage what Aristotell and Theophrastus saye in theyr bookes of maruayles where they wryte that certeyne marchauntes of Carthage saylyng from the streyghtes of Gibraltar towarde the west and south The lande found by the Carthaginenses founde after many dayes a greate Ilande not inhabited yet replenyshed with al thinges requisite and hauynge many nauigable ryuers In deede Colon was not greately lerned yet of good vnderstandynge And when he had knowleage of the sayde new landes by the information of the dead pylot Colon conferred with lerned men made relation thereof to certeyne lerned men with whom he conferred as touchynge the lyke thynges mentioned of owlde autours He communicated this secreate and conferred chiefely with a fryer named Iohn Perez of Marchena that dwelt in the monastery of Rabida So that I verely beleue that in maner all that he declared and many thynges more that he lefte vnspoken were wrytten by the sayde Spanyshe pylot that dyed in his house For I am persuaded that if Colon by science atteyned to the knowleage of the Indies he wolde longe before haue communicate this secreate to his owne contrey men the Genueses that trauayle all the worlde for gaynes and not haue comme into Spayne for this purpose But doubtelesse he neuer thought of any such thyng before he chaunced to bee acquainted with the sayd pylot who founde those landes by fortune Chaunce and arte accordynge to the sayinge of Plinie Quod ars docere non potuit casus inuenit That is That arte coulde not teache chaunce founde Albeit the more Chrystian opinion is A Christian opinion to thinke that god of his singuler prouidence and infinite goodnesse at the length with eyes of compassion as it were lookynge downe from heauen vpon the sonnes of Adam so longe kepte vnder Sathans captiuitie intended euen then for causes to hym only knowen to rayse those wyndes of mercy whereby that caruell herein most lyke vnto the shyppe of Noe whereby the remanent of the hole world was saued as by this caruel this newe worlde receaued the fyrst hope of theyr saluation was dryuen to these landes The caruel coÌ„pared to the ship of Noye But wee wyll nowe declare what great thynges folowed
ewes brynge furth lambes twyse a yeare The people are wytty and of gentyl behauoure Cunnynge also in artes faythful of promes The bewtie of Chrystian Princes and of maners not greatly to bee discommended saue that they are ignorant of Chryst who neuertheless is nowe knowen vnto them in many places as our hope is he shal be dayly more and more if all princes wyll herein putte theyr helpynge handes to the plowe of owre lorde and sende labourers into his vyneyarde ¶ Of the great ryuer cauled Rio de la Plata that is the ryuer of syluer This is ryuer reacheth very farre in length bredth and is cauled Uruai in the Indian tounge Into this fauleth an other ryuer named Paraue Paraue The fyrste that sayled into the ryuer of Plata was Iohn Dias Solis Iohn Dias Solis whom the ryght noble kynge of Spayne Ferdinandus made Admyral of these seas In the ryuer lyeth an Ilande whiche Iohn Dias named Martinus Gratias bycause a pylot of his so cauled The Ilande Martinus Gratias was buryed there This Ilande is situate in the myddest of the ryuer and is dystant from the mouth of the same abowt fortie leaques As the sayde Admirall attempted to expugne the Iland he was suddeynly oppressed and slayne of the Indians that priuilie assayled hym Wherwith neuerthelesse theyr barbarous crueltie was not satisfyed vntyll they had torne him in pieses and deuoured hym But many yeares after Themperoures maiestie and kynge of Spayne Charles the fyfte sente foorth Sebastian Cabot a man of great courage and skylfull in Cosmographi The viage of Sebastian Cabote to the ryuer of Plata and of no lesse experience as concernynge the starres and the sea with commaundement to discouer and subdue the Ilandes of Tharsis Tharâ—is Ophir Ophir Cipango Cipango and Coi Cathay Cathay Receauynge therfore his commission and proceadynge forwarde on his vsage he arryued by chaunce at this Ilande The cause wherof was that the principall vessell was lost by shipwracke and the men that saued theyr lyues by swymmynge were receaued into other shyppes Perceauynge therfore that by reason of this chaunce he could by no meanes performe his vyage attempted he intended to expugne the sayde Ilande and theruppon to conueygh his vytayles to land to prepare his soldiers to thinuasion to plant colonyes and to erect for tresses by the ryuers syde wherby the Spanyardes myght bee defended from the violence of the barbarians But before he attempted this he was aduertised that the Ilande was riche in golde and syluer Which thynge dyd so encorage him that withowt respect of perel he thought best to expugne it by one meanes or other wherein his bouldenes tooke good effecte as often tymes chaunceth in great affayres Furthermore as touchynge the ryuer The ryuer of Plata Sebastian Cabote made relation that he neuer sawe any coÌ„parable vnto this in bredth and depth For whereas it fauleth into the sea it conteyneth .xxv. leaques in breath From the mouth of the ryuer Cabot sayled vp the same into the lande for the space of three hundreth and fiftie leaques as he wryteth in his owne carde That it is of great depth may hereby bee consydered that manye greate ryuers faule into it so that the chanell can not bee shalowe that conteyneth such abundance of water and suche plentie of good and great fysshes For there in is maner no fysshe in the sea that is not founde in this ryuer As soone as the Spanyards were set alande they made a proofe if the soyle were frutfull to beare corne Takynge therefore fiftie graynes of wheate and commyttynge the same to the earth in the moneth of September Maruelous fruâ—fuâ—nes they gathered therof two thousande and fiftie at December nexte folowynge wherin sume beinge deceaued and mistakynge the thynge haue wrytten in the steade of twoo thousande and fiftie fyftie thousande and two The lyke fertilitie is there of all other grayne and pulse Furthermore thinhabitauntes declared that not farre from that place ther are great and hygh mountaynes in the which is founde great plentie of golde And no great distance from the same to bee other mountaynes no lesse frutefull of syluer Mountaynes conteynynge golde and syluer and many other thynges longe to rehearse Thinhabitauntes are paynefull men and tyll the grounde diligently wherin they take great pleasure and haue therfore great plentie of breade of Maizium There are sheepe of suche byggenesse that they compare them to younge camels or asses as sum say Great sheepe Theyr woolle is very fine and nearest vnto the fyennesse of sylke There are also beastes of dyuers kyndes Amonge men there is dyfference that such as lyue in the mountaynes are whyte Men with deformed legs and for the most parte lyke vnto the men of owre regions But they that dwell abowt the ryuer as though they tooke theyr coloure therof are blackysshe or purple of the coloure of fine Iren or steele Theyr colouâ— This also chaunceth to many of them that theyr fiete and legges are lyke the legs and fiete of the foule cauled the oystreche ¶ Of the hygher East India cauled India Tercera or Trecera IN this India whiche the Portugales caule Tercera are very great kyngedomes as the kyngdomes of Bengala Pegu Berma EraÌ„cangui Dausian Copelam and the greate kyngdome of Malacha Malacha cauled of the owlde wryters Aurea Chersonesus whose chiefe citie isalso cauled Malacha and was in owlde tyme named Tachola Tachola Under this kyngedgme are infinite Ilandes cauled Maluche The Ilande of â—alucha whereof the principall are these Iaua the greater Iaua the lesse Polagua Mendana Cubu Cailon Huban Bur Tenado Anbon and Gilolo With infinite other On the Southwest parte from Malacha is the great Ilande of Samotra cauled in owlde tyme Laprobana The Iland of Samotra in the which are the kyngedomes of Peâ—ir Biraen Pazer Ardagni and Ham. This Iland and al the other cauleâ— Maluche Spyces brynge furth great quantitie of cloues cinamome nuttemegges maces and all other kyndes of spyces exe pâ—o pepper which groweth in the prouince of Calecut aâ—d the Ilande of Ceilam Calocut Ceilam All these sortes of spices are caryed to Malacha to bee soulde But the greatest parte of them is caryed to Cathay and China and from thense to the north partes of Tartarie Cathay China This kyngdome of China is very great and was in owlde tyme cauled Sina Here is founde great plentie oâ— precious stones Precious stones The people are very subtyle and ryche They are all appareled eyther in sylke or cloth Sylke or vestures of other woorkemanshippe and are of good ciuilitie They doo not gladly permitte the Portugales or other straungers to trafike in theyr kyngedome whose moste famous place vppon the sea syde is named Cautan Cautan and the sea Machiam cauled of the owlde wryters the sea of Sina ¶
with theyr inuenemed arrowes and slaying the most parte caryed away the women With this euyll begynnynge Iohn Ponce departed frome hense to Boriquen and from thense to Florida wher he went alaude with his souldyers to espie a place moste commodious to inhabite and plant a colonie Boriquena But the Indians commynge furth ageynst hym to defende the enterance assayled the Spanyardes fiercely and slewe and wounded many of them At which conflicte also he hym selfe beinge wounded with an arrowe dyed shortely after in the Ilande of Cuba The deaâ—â— of Iohn Ponce and so endynge his lyfe consumed a great parte of the rychesse he had before begotten at saynt Iohannes of Boriquen This Iohn Ponce had before sayled with Chrystopher Colon to the Ilande of Hispaniola in the yeare .1493 He was a gentel souldier in the warres of this Ilande and capitayne of the prouince of Niguei for Nycolas de Quando â—hat conquested the same The region of Floryda is a poynt or cape of lande reachynge into the sea lyke vnto a tounge The land of Floryda beinge a famous and notorious place amonge the Indians by reaâ—on of many Spanyardes that haue bin slayne there But wheras by same this Floryda was estemed a ryche lande many valient and noble men desyred the conquest therof amonge whome Ferdinando de Soto who had before byn a capitayne in Peru and greatly inryched by thimprisonment of kynge Atabaliba atteÌ„pted Ferdinando de Soto a vyage thyther with a good bande of men and spente fyue yeare in seekynge of golde mynes supposynge that this lande hadde byn lyke vnto Peru. In fine he dyed there and was the destruction and vndoinge of all that went with hym withowt inhabytynge that lande The valiente myndes of the Spanyardes in the which the conquestours had hytherto neuer good successe forasmuche as these Indians are valiente archers and stronge and hardy men But the valiant myndes of the Spanyardes not discouraged by these mysaduentures after the death of Ferdinando Soto The thyrde attempte of the conqueste of Florida many woorthy gentelmen desyred this conquest in the yeare .1544 amonge whom was Iulyan Samano and Peter de Ahumada beinge brotherne and men of sufficient abilitie for such an enterprise But neyther themprour beinge then in Germanie neyther the prince Don Phylippe his sonne who gouerned all the kyngedomes of Castile and Aragonie neyther yet the counsayle of the Indies wolde in any case agree to the conqueste â—erteine fryers attempte the conquest onely with woordes but with euyll successe Neuerthelesse not vtterly contemnynge the matter which they were partly persuaded myght otherwyse bee browght to passe they sent thyther fryer Luys Cancell of Baluastro with other fryers of the order of saynt Dominike who offered them selues to conuerte the nations of that lande from theyr gentilitie to the fayth of Chryst and obedience to Themperoure onely with woordes The fryer therfore goinge forwarde on his vyage at the kynges charges in the yeare .1549 went aland with foure other fryers which he tooke with hym and certeyne maryners with owt harnesse or weapons vnto whom as he began his preachynge The fryers are slayne and eaten many of the Indians of the sayd Florida resorted to the sea syde where withowt gyuynge audience to his woordes they caryed hym away with three other of his companyons and dyd eate them whereby they suffered martyrdomâ— for the fayth of Chryst. The resydue that escaped made hast to the shyppe and kept them selues for confessours as sum say Many that fauoure thintente of the fryers doo nowe consyder that by that meanes the Indians coulde not be browght to owre frendeshippe and religion Neuerthelesse that if it coulde so haue byn browght to passe A new kynde of disgrading it had byn better There came of late from that shippe one that had byn the page of Ferdinando de Sodo who declared that the Indians hanged vp the skynnes with the heades and crownes of the sayd fryers in one of theyr temples ¶ An opinion that Europa Africa and Asia are Ilandes and of certeyne nauigations abowt the same THe anciente wryters diuided this owre worlde into Asia Africa and Europa by the ryuer Tanais as Isocrates declareth in his Panegyrico Afterwarde they diuided Asia and Africa by the â—urnynges and course of the ryuer Nilus thowghe the same had byn better by the sea Bermeto that is the redde sea which almoste trauerseth and passeth throwgh the lande from the Ocean to the sea Mediterraneum which diuideth Europa and Asia But Berosus the Caldean sayth that Noe gaue names to Africa Asia and Europa Noe gaue names to Africa Aâ—ia and Europa and gaue them to his sonnes Cham Sem and Iafet also that he sayled by the sea Mediterraneum ten yeres In fine we nowe conclude that the three sayde prouinces occupy this mydlande of the worlde All in geneâ—all say that Asia is greater then any of the other Aâ—ia and in maner as bygge as they both Albeit Herodotus in his Melpomene scorneth them that make Europe and Asia equall Europe affirmynge that Europe in longitude is equal to Asia and Afrike and that it passeeh them in latitude wherin he speaketh not greatly owt of square But to speake more of this elswhere not perteynynge to the matter wee haue in hande The hole earth is an Ilande I say that Homerus one of the most ancient wryters sayth that the world which is diuided into Asia Africa and Europa is an Ilande as reherseth Pomponius Mela in his thyrde booke Strabo in the fyrst boke of his Geographie sayth that the earth which is inhabited is an Ilande enuironed with the Ocean Hâ—ginius also and Solinus confirmed this sentence Althowghe Solinus doo erre in mystakinge the names of the seas supposynge that the Caspian sea was parte of the Ocean The Caspian sea beinge rather lyke vnto the sea Mediterraneum so named bycause it is in the mydlande as is the Caspian sea withowt participacion of the great Ocean Caliz is a ryuer Strabo wryteth that in the tyme of Tolomeus Euergetes one Eudoxus sayled three or foure tymes from Caliz to India â—auigations from the red sea to East India And that the guides of the redde sea cauled the goulfe of Arabie or Bermeio presented to the same kynge Tolomeus an Indian whome he brought frome thense Kynge Iuba also prooued this nauigation from Caliz to India as wryteth Solinus Whereby it appeareth that the nauigation to India by the Ocean was then wel knowen and frequented althowgh not so much as at this present the same beinge neyther then or nowe a thynge of gret difficultie or trauayle by the coastes of hotte regions The vyage to India by the noâ—th seas But to sayle from India to Caliz by the other parte of the north by a clyme and regions of extreme coulde shulde bee doubtlesse a difficult and daungerous thynge wherof is no memory amonge the owlde autours sauynge
onely of one shyppe as Plinie and Mela doo wryte rehersynge the testimony of Cornelius Nepos who affirmed that the kynge of Suema presented to Quintus Metelus Celeâ— Lieuetenaunt of Fraunce The hystorye of Comelius Nepos certeyne Indians dryuen by tempest into the sea of Germanie if the same were not of the lande of Laborador or Bacallaos and they deceaued in theyr coloure Note this For sum say that lykewyse in the dayes of the Emperoure Fredericus Barbarossa certeyne Indians were browght in a Canoa from the citie of Lubec in Germanie Indians in Lubec Furthermore pope Eneas Syluius wryteth that the Sarmation sea is as certeyne as the Scythian Germanian or Indian sea Nowe also there is great knowleage and experience how the nauigations and passage may be attempted by Norwayâ— and other north regions vnder the same north The Sarmaâ—â—an sea and to folow that coaste to the souâ—h sea of Sur and keepe that course by the tracte of China Olanus Gothus the archbysshop of Upsalia and borne in Gothlande hath wrytten muche of these north regions and nauigations by the north sea In the trace of this vyage by the north sea â—lande are the Ilandes of Islande and Gruntlande Gruntlande althowgh there is doubte whether Gruntlande be an Ilande or parte of the firme lande It is xl leaques from Lapponia Lapponia and sumwhat more frome Finmarchia a lande of Scandinauia in Europe Finmarchia The people of Gruntland are stronge men and of coomly stature They sayle with smaul shippes or barkes couered close aboue with lether or beastes hydes for feare of the coulde and fysshes Gruntlande Gruntlande as sum say is fyftie leaques from the north parte of the firme lande of the West Indies by the lande of Laborador The distance from Gruntland to the lande of Laborador But it is not yet knowen whether this land be continent or adherent with Gruntlande or if there bee any streyght of sea betwene theÌ„ If all bee one firme lande adioynynge by any parte then the two great partes of the world seeme to ioyne togyther abowt the north pole or vnder it or beneth it of the streight if it be forasmuch as it is not past fortie or fiftie leaques froÌ„ Finmarche to Grunâ—lanâ—â— wherby it may appere that althowgh there be any suchstraight of â—idynge them yet are they neyghbours not farre in sunder Furthermore from the land of Laborador by thaccompt of the pilottes is abowte foure hundreth leaques to â—aial one of the Ilandes of Azores The Ilandeâ— of Soua or Azores otherwyse cauled the Ilandes of Soria lyinge in the West Ocean ouer ageynst Spayne Also by their accompte the lande of Laborador is abowte fiue hundreth leaques from Irland From laborador to Irland and sixe hundreth from Spayne That the Spanyardes haue sayled to the Antipodes that is suche as go fiete to fiete ageynst vs and inhabite the inferiour hemispherie or halfe globe of the earthe contrarie to thoppinion of the owlde writers AL the ancient philosophers of the genâ—iles do deny that there may be any passage from owre hemispherie or halfe compasse of the earth to the Antopides by reasoÌ„ of the burnt line cauled Zona Torrida and the Ocean sea lyinge in the mydde way wherby this vyage shulde be hyndered and impossible as Macrobius wryteth Macrobius at large in his coÌ„mentaries vpon the dreame of Scipio Of the Chrystyan phylosophers Clemente wryteth that it is not possible for any man to passe the Ocean Clement and other wryters of later tyme seeme to confirme the same In deede I verely beleue that this way was neuer knowen to them aswell for that euer presupposynge the thynge to bee impossible they neuer attempted it as also that the Indians whom we caule Antipodes haue no shippes sufficient for so longe and difficulte a nauigation to brynge them knowleage herof The Indians are Antipodes as haue the Spaniardes to passe the Ocean vnto theÌ„ In so much that at this present this vyage is by dayly experience so well knowen vnto the Spanyardes and Portugales that they can in maner go thyther blyndfielde contrarye to thoppinion of those phylosophers I wyll here omytte to speake of many shippes â—hat haue sayled ordynaryly frome Spayne to India and speake onely of the shyppe Uictoria which compassâ—d abowt the hole globe of the worlde and touched in the landes of two or three Antipodes The shyppe 〈◊〉 and in fine returned to Spayne by a contrary way wherby is declared the ignorance of the sage antiquitie In this nauigation they founde mâ—ny secreaâ—es A strâ—unge thinge amonge the which this is strange and woorthy memorie that al such deade Christians as were cast into the sea lay on theyr backes and turned theyr faces vpwarde but the gentyles lay all groouelyn on theyr bellyes They also pâ—rceaued the soonne and moone to keepe a contrary course from that they doo here euer to cast the shadowes of all thynges towarde the south Shadowes to 〈◊〉 the soâ—th whiche thynge also was knowen to sum of the owlde wryters For this is manifeste that the sonne ryseth on the ryght hande to theym that lyue in the thyrtie degrees on thother syde the Equinoctiall The sonne rysynge on the ryght â—ande so that lookynge towarde the sonne they turne theyr faces to the north wherby it appeareth to bee trew that they affirme They consumed three yeares lackynge .xiiii. dayes in goynâ—e and commynge The vyage of Magellanus and loste a daye in theyr accompte whereby they dyd eate flesshe on frydayes and celebrated the feaste of Easter on Mundayes so that they ouerleaped a day not faylynge in the calender and kept no iust rekenynge of the bisertile The cause wherof whyle some haue searched by phylosophie they haue erred more then the maryners They sayled x. thousande leaques and .xiiii. myles by theyr accompte albeit they shulde haue gonne lesse if theyr way hadde liue ryght forth But as they were enforced partely of necessitie and partely to fynde that they sowght they made many wyndynges and turnynges They trauersed the Equinoctiall line syxe tymes withowt burnynge contrary to thoppinion of tâ—e owlde autours They remayned fyue monethes in the Iland of Tidore whose inhabitauntes are Antipodes to theym of Guinea Antipodes Guinea wherby it is apparente that wee maye communicate with them And althowgh they lost the syght of the northe starre yet dyd they euer dyrecte theyr course therby For beinge in the .xl. degrees of the south The north starre they sawe the needle of the compaâ—se stande as directly towarde the north as it dooth in the sea Mediterraneum althowgh sum say that it looseth his force sumwhat The needle compasse Abowt the poynt of the Southe or pole Antartike they sawe a lyttle whyte cloude and foure starres lyke vnto to crosse with three other ioyayâ—ge therunto which resemble owre Septentrion and are indeed to
coomme or by any meanes approche And nowe therfore bysyde that which I haue sayde vnto yowe in generall I wyl further in particular declare the nature hereof and the generation of the same with also the signes whiche it sheweth furth that I do not omytte any thynge Last of all I wyll shewe yowe howe it owght to bee pourged from superfluous earthynes of the mine after that I shal haue expressed the maner howe it is founde But forasmuch as I haue not with mine eyes seene the mountaines which conteyne the mynes of golde or the places where this thynge is put in practice I wyll only shewe yow hauynge made diligente inquisition for the same what hathe byn toulde me of credible persons or what I haue gathered in readynge of dyuers autoures where moste plentie of golde is fouÌ„d by whom I am certified for a truth that the greatest plentie of this metall Cathay is founde in Scithia in those prouinces which we commonly caule the East partes where the soonne extendeth his chiefe force and vigour Of these places India is thought to be the chiefe and especially those Ilandes which the ships of Themperours maiestie and the kynge of Portugale haue founde of late Golde in the Iâ—nde of the weste â—ndies as the Ilandes about Peru and Paria with the firme lande of the same which extendeth it selues very farre on both sydes the Equinoctiall In Europe also golde is founde in many places as in Astesia and in many places in Boheme Also in Hungarie in Rhene and in Apsa Plinie sayth that it is lykewyse founde in Austria and in Portugale Golde in Europe and that the Romans had from thense yearely .xxiiii. pounds weyght And thus speakynge of this precious metall The influenâ— of heauen I beleue certeynly that it is and may be engendered in all suche places wher the influence of the heuens disposeth the elementall causes to brynge furth an apte substaunce for this purpose But nowe intendynge more particularly to speake of the places of the conception hereof The mountaynes and stones in the whiche golde is engeÌ„dered yowe shall vnderstande that it is engendered in dyuers kyndes of stones in great and rowgh mountaynes and suche as are vtterly bare of earth trees grasse or herbes And amonge all the stones of this myne that is best which is of a blewe or asurine coloure lyke vnto a saphire and is commonly cauled Lapis Lazuli Lapis Lazuli But it is not bryght and harde as is the saphire It is also founde in orpemente cauled Auripigmentum Orpemente but more often in the mynes of other metals Golde iÌ„ other metals It is lykewyse founde in many prouinces in the sandes of ryuers golde in the â—andes of ryuers That which is founde in the mountaines lyeth in order veynes betwene quarrey and quarrey ioyned with the sayde Azurine stone and mixte therwith They saye that this myne is so much the better in howe much it is the heuyer and of hyghe colour shewyng in it many sparkes of gold They say furthermore that it is engendered in an other stone lyke vnto salte marble but it is of a deade colour And also in an other whose colour is yelowe with certeyne redde spots within it They affirme lykewyse that it is founde in certaine blacke stones whose veynes sprede dyuers wayes much like the courses of ryuers They further declare that it is founde in a certeyne bituminous earth Gold iÌ„ earth of coloure lyke vnto cley and very heauy hauynge in it a great sauour of brymstone And that the golde which is founde in this is very good and in maner all togyther fyne yet very harde to bee gotten owte bycause it consysteth of so smaule sparkes lyke vnto inuisible atomes of such lytelnesse that they can hardely bee perceaued with the eye Golden duste And herein may yow not do as in Lapis Laxuli or other stones or as the maner is to do with that which is found in the saÌ„ds of ryuers the which the more it is wasshed the more it fauleth to the bottome in meltynge with the mother of his earthines doth incorporat it selfe therwith in a brickle substaÌ„ce But in fine Ryuers in the which gold is founde with much pacience and by one meanes or an other or by the helpe of quickesyluer it is drawen owt Ageyne as I haue sayde before it is found ia the sandes of dyuers ryuers as in Spayne in the ryuer Tago in Tracia in Ebro In Asia in Patolo and Ganges In Hungarie and Boheme it is founde in Lasiesia in dyuers ryuers And in Italie in the sands of Tesino Adda and Po. But not euery where in the beddes of theyr chanels but in certeyne particular places where in certeyne cloddes the sande is discouered in the tyme of the ouerflowynge of the ryuers when the water leaueth behynde it a fine sande wherwith the sayde golde is myxte in the forme of certeyne smaule scales The wasshiÌ„g and pourgeingâ— of golde and shynynge graynes Then in the sommer season with pacience and ingenious practise the searchers to pourge it from the grose earthinesse of the myne and wasshe it diligently preparynge for that effecte certeyne tables made eyther of the tymber of plane trees howe golde is deuided frome sande of elme or whyte nuttes or such other woodde apte to be sawen hauing theyr playnes made ful of hackes notches with the helpe of the sawe or such other instrumentes of irâ—n Upon these tables standynge sumwhat a slope or declynynge with a holowe shouel they cast a great quantitie of water myxt with the sayde sande which they cast so that the water runne downe directly alonge the tables The Spanyâ—rdes make these disshes with haÌ„dels And by this meanes the gold as a matter most heuy fauleth to the bottome of the sawne hackes and there restynge and clâ—auynge fast is so diuided from the sande When therfore they perceaue a sufficient quantitie of golde thus remaynynge on the tables they gather it with diligence and put it in a trey or great shallowe dysshe of wod lyke vnto those which the golde finers vse The draweâ—nge out of golde with â—uicke siluer And in these they wasshe it more exactly ageyne and ageyne from al fylth or vnclenlynesse This doone they beate or mixte or amalgame it as they caule it with Mercurie or quicksyluer whiche afterward they seperate ageyne from the same eyther by straynyng and pressynge it through a bagge of lether or by styllynge or â—uaporatynge the quickesyluer from it in a styllatory of glasse and so fynde they the golde remaynynge in the bottome of the vessell in the lykenes of fine sande which they brynge into a metalline body by meltynge it with a lyttle borage or salt petre or blacke sope so cast it eyther in the forme of a wedge or a rodde or otherwyse as lyketh them best And this is the exacte maner of drawynge golde owt
the tragical partes he had conceaued in his brayne and with such smaule begynninges nurysshed so monstrous a byrth that more happy yea and blessed was that younge man beinge lefte behynde then if he had byn taken with them as sum doo wysshe he had doonne the lyke by theyrs Thus sayled they on theyr vyage vntyl they came to the Ilandes of Madera where they toke in certeyne wynes for the store of theyr shyppes The Ilandes of Madera and payde for them as they agreed of the price At these Ilandes they met with a great galion of the kynge of Portugale full of men and ordinaunce A galeon of the kinge of Portugale yet suche as coulde not haue preuayled if it had attempted to withstande or resyst owre shyppes for the which cause it was set furth not only to lette and interrupte these owre shyppes of theyr purposed vyage but all other that shulde attempte the lyke Yet chiefely to frustrate owre vyage For the kyng of Portugale was sinisterly informed that owre shyppes were armed to his castel of Mina in these parties The castel of Mina wheras nothing lesse was ment After that owr shyppes departed from the Ilandes of Madera forwarde on theyr vyage began this woorthy capitaine Pinteados sorowe as a man tormented with the company of a terrible hydra who hytherto flattered with hym and made hym a fayre countenance and shewe of loue howe WyndaÌ„ abused Pinteado Then dyd he take vppon hym to commaunde all alone settynge nowght bothe by capitayne Pinteado with the reste of the marchaunte factours sumtymes with opprobrious woordes and sumtymes with threatenynges most shamefully abusynge them takinge from Pinteado the seruice of the boys and certeyne mariners that were assigned hym by thorder and direction of the woorshypfull marchauntes and leauynge hym as a common maryner which is the greatest despite and greefe that can be to a Portugale or Spanyarde to be diminysshte theyr honoure which they esteeme aboue all rychesse Thus saylyng forward on theyr vyage they came to the Ilandes of Canarie The Ilandes of Canarie continuynge theyr course from thense vntyll they arryued at the Ilande of saynt Nicolas where they vyttayled them selues with fresshe meate of the flesshe of wylde goates whereof is great plentie in that Ilande and in maner of nothynge else The Ilande of s. Nicoâ—as From hense folowynge on theyr course and taryinge here and there at the deserte Ilandes in the waye bycause they wolde not coome to tymely to the countrey of Guinea for the heate Guinea and taryinge sumwhat to longe for what can bee wel mynystred in a common wealth where inequalitie with tyrannie wyll rule alone they came at the length to the fyrst lande of the countrey of Guinea where they fell with the great ryuer of Sesto where they myght for theyr marchaundies haue laden theyr shyppes with the graynes of that countrey The ryuer of â—esto Graynes which is a very hotte frute and much lyke vnto a fygge as it groweth on the tree For as the fygges are full of smaule seedes so is the sayde frute ful of graynes which are lose within the codde hauynge in the myddest thereof a hole on euery syde This kynde of spice is much vsed in coulde countreys and may there be solde for great aduantage for thexchaunge of other wares The thrist of golde But owr men by the persuasion or rather inforcement of this tragicall capitayne not regardynge and settyng lyght by that commoditie in comparason to the fine gold they thristed The castel of mena sayled an hundreth leaques further vntyl they came to the golden lande where not attemptinge to come nere the castell perteynynge to the kynge of Portugale whiche was within the ryuer of Mina The quantite of golde made sale of theyr ware onely on this syde and beyonde it for the golde of that countrey to the quantitie of an hundredth and fiftie poundes weyght there beinge in case that they myght haue dispatched al theyr ware for golde if the vntame brayne of Wyndam had or could haue gyuen eare to the counsayle and experience of Pinteado For when that Wyndam not satisfied with the golde whiche he had and more myght haue had if he had taryed abowt the Mina commaundynge the sayde Pinteado for so he toke vppon hym to leade the shyppes to Benin beinge vnder the Equinoctial line and a hundreth and fiftie leaques beyonde the Mina where he loked to haue thyer shyppes laden with pepper Benin Pepper And beinge counsayled of the sayde Pinteado consyderynge the late tyme of the yere for that tyme to go no further but to make sale of theyr wares such as they had for golde wherby they myght haue byn great gayners But Wyndam not assentynge hereunto fell into a suddeyne rage reuilynge the sayde Pinteado Furie admitteth no counsayle caulynge hym Iewe with other opprobrious woordes sayinge This horson Iewe hath promised to brynge vs to such places as are not or as he can not bring vs vnto But if he doo not I wyl cut of his eares and naile them to the mast Pinteado gaue the forsayde counsayle to goo no further for the safegard of the men and theyr lyues which they shulde put in daungioure if they came to late for the rossia which is theyr wynter The Rossia not for coulde but for smotherynge heate with close and cloudy ayer and storminge wether of such putrifyinge qualitie that it rotted the cotes of theyr backes Rottinge heate Or els for coommynge to soonne for the scorchynge heate of the sonne which caused them to lynger in the way Scorchinge heate But of force and not of wyll browght he the shyppes before the ryuer of Benin Benin where rydynge at an anker sente their pinnesse vp into the ryuer fiftie or threscore leaques froÌ„ whense certeyne of the marchauntes with capitayne Pinteado Francisco a Portugale Francisco Nicolas Lambert gentleman Nicolas Lambert and other marchauntes were conducted to the courte where the kyng remayned .x. leaques from the ryuer syde whyther when they came The kyng of Benin his court they were browght with a greate company to the presence of the kynge who beinge a blacke moore althoughe not so blacke as the rest sat in a great houge haule longe and wyde the walles made of earthe withowte wyndowes the the roofe of thynne boordes open in sundry places lyke vnto louers to lette in the ayer And here to speke of the great reuerence they gyue to their kynge Reuerence towarde the kynge beinge such that if wee wolde gyue as much to owr sauiour Chryst we shuld remoue from owr heades many plages which wâ—e dayly deserue for owre contempte and impietie So it is therfore that when his noble men are in his presence they neuer looke hym in the face but syt courynge as wee vppon owre knees so they vppon theyr buttockes with theyr elbowes vppon theyr
sea from .vi. of the clockâ— the .xi. day tyll .vi. of the clocke the .xii. day dyd run .xxxvi leaques From .vi. of the clocke at after none the .xii. daye tyll .vi. of the clocke the .xiii. day at after none dyd runne .xiii. leaques Item from .vi. of the clocke the .xiii. day tyl .vi of the clocke the .xiiii. day at after none that we were becalmed that wâ—â— coulde lye southwest with a sayle And the .xv. daye in the mormynge the wynde came to the East and easte northeast The .xvii. day in the mornynge we had syght of the I le of Madera which doth ryse to hym that commeth in the north northeast parte vpryght lande in the west part of it and very hyghe and to the south southeaste a lowe longe lande and a longe poynt with a saddle throwgh the myddeste of it standeth in the .xxxii. degrees and in the west parte many springes of water runnynge downe from the mountayne and many whyte fyeldes lyke vnto corne fieldes and sum whyte houses to the southeast parte of it and the toppe of the mountayne sheweth very ragged if yow may se it and in the northeast parte there is a byght or bay as thowgh it were a harborowe Also in the sayde part there is a rocke a lyttle distance from the shore and ouer the sayde byght yow shall se a great gappe in the mountayne The .xix. day at .xii. of the clocke we had syght of the I le of Palmes and Teneriffa and the Canaries The I le of paâ—mes Tâ—neriffa The Canarieâ— The I le of Palme ryseth rounde and lyeth southeaste and northweste and the northwest parte is lowest In the south is a rounde hyll ouer the hedde lande and an other rounde hyll aboue that in the lande There is betwene the southeast parte of the I le of Madera and the northwest parte of the I le of Palme .lvii. leaques Frome madera to the I le of Palmes This I le of Palme lyeth in the .xxix. degrees And owre course froÌ„ Madera to the I le of Palme was south and south and by west so that we had syght of Teneriffa and of the Canaries The southeast parte of the I le of Palme and the north northeast of Teneriffa lyeth southeast and northweste And betwene them is .xx. leaques Teneriffa and the greate Canarie cauled Grancanaria Grancanaria and the west part of Fortisuentura standeth in .xxvii. degrees and a halfe Fortes Uentura Gomera is a fayre Ilande and very ragged and lyeth west southwest of Teneriffa The Iland of Gomera And who so euer wyll come betwene theym twoo Ilandes must come south and by east and in the south parte of Gomera is a towne and a good rode in the sayde parte of the Ilande and it standeth in .xxvii. degrees three terces Teneriffa is a hygh lande and a great hyghe picke lyke a suger lofe Teneriffa And vppon the sayde picke is snowe throughowt aâ—l the hole yeare Snowe And by reason of that picke it maye bee knowen aboue all other Ilandes and there we were becalmed the .xx. day of Nouember from .vi. of the clocke in the mornynge vntyll foure of the clocke at after none ¶ Betwene Gomera and Cape de las Barbas THe .xxii. day of Nouember vnder the Tropike of Cancer the soonne goeth downe west and by south Upon the coast of Barberie xxv leaques by north cape blanke at .iii. leaques of the mayne The coast of â—arbarye Cape blanke there is .xv. fadome and good shelly grounde and sande amonge and no stremes and two smaule Ilandes standyng in the .xxii. degrees and a tâ—râ—e From Gomera to cape de las Barbas is a huÌ„dreth leaques and owr course was south and by east The sayde cape standeth in .xxii. and a halfe and all that coaste is starte .xvi. or xvii fadome deepe vii or .viii. leaques of frome the ryuer de Oro to cape de las Barbas The ryuer of de Oro. there vse many Spanyardes and Portugales to trade for fysshynge durynge the mooneth of Nouember and all that coast is very lowe landes Also wee went from cape de las Barbas southsouthwest and southwest and by south â—yll we brought owre selues in .xx. degrees and a halfe rekenynge owr selues .vii. leaques of and that was the least sholes of cape Blanke Then we went south vntyll we browght owre selues in xiii degrees rekenynge owre selues .xxv. leaques of And in xv degrees we dyd reere the crossiers The crosiers or crosse starres and we myght haue rered them sooner if we had loked for theym They are not ryghte a crosse in the moonethe of Nouember by reason the nyghtes are shorte there Neuerthelesse we had the syght of them the .xxix. day of the sayde mooneth at nyght The fyrst of December owte .xiii. degrees we sette owre course south and by East vntyll the fourth daye of December at .xii. of the clocke the same day Then we were in .ix. degrees and a terce rekenynge owr selues .xxx. leaques of the sholes of the ryuer cauled Rio Grande beinge west southweste of them Rio Grande The which sholes be .xxx. leaques longe The fourth of December we beganne to sette owre coursâ— southeaste we beinge in .vi. degrees and a halfe The ninth day of December we set owr course east southeast The .xiiii. day of the sayde mooneth we set owre coursâ— east we beinge in .v. degrees and a halfe rekenynge owre selues .xxxvi. leaques from the coast of Guinea The .xix. day of the sayde mooneth we sette owre course east and by north rekenynge owr selues .xvii. leaques distanâ— from cape Mensurado Cape Mesurado the sayde cape beinge east northeast of vs and the ryuer of Sesto beinge east The riuer of Sesto The .xxi. day of the sayde mooneth we fel with cape Mesurado to the southeast abowt two leaques of This caâ—e may be easely knowen by reason the rysynge of it is lyke a porpose hedde Also towarde the southeast there are three trees wherof the eastermost tree is the hyghest and the myddlemost is lyke a heye stacke and the southermost lyke vnto a iebet and vppon the mayne are foure or fyue hygh hylles rysynge one after an other lyke round hoommockes or hyllockes And the southeast of the three trees is thre trees lyke a brandierwyse and all the coaste alonge is whyte sande The saydâ— cape standeth within a lyttle in .vi. degrees The .xxii. of December we came to the ryuer of Sesto and remayned there vntyll the .xxix. day of the sayde moneth Here we thought it best to sende before vs the pynneâ—â—e to thâ— ryuer of Dulce cauled Rio Dulce that they myght haue the begynnynge of the market before the commynge of the Iohn At the ryuer of Sesto The riuer of Sesto we had a toonne of graynes This ryuer standeth in .vi. degrees lackynge a terce From the ryuer of Sesto to Rio Dulce Rio Dulce is .xxv.
leaques Rio Dulce standeth in .v. degrees and a halfe The ryuer of Sesto is easy to bee knowen by reason there is a ledge of rockes on the southeast parte of the rode And at the enterynge into the hauen are fyue or syxe trees that beare no leaues This is a good harborowe but very narrowe at the enteraunce into the ryuer There is also a rocke in the hauen mouth right as yow enter And all that coast betwene cape de Monte and cape de las Palmas Cape de Monte lyeth southeast and by east northwest and by weste beinge three leaques of the shore And yow shall haue in sum places rockes two leaques of and that betwene the ryuer of Sesto and cape de las Palmas Cape de las Palmas Betwene the ryuer of Sesto and the riuer Dulce is .xxv. leaques And the hygh lande that is betwene them bothe is cauled Cakeado The lande of Cakeado beinge .viii. leaques from the ryuer of Sesto And to the southeastwarde of hym is a place cauled Shawgro and an other cauled Shyawe or Shauo Shauo where yow may get fresshe water Of this Shyawe lyeth a ledge of rockes and to the Southeastwarde lyeth a hed lande cauled Croke Croke â–ª Betwene Cakeado and Croke is .ix. or .x. leaques To the Southeastwarde of is a harborowe cauled saynte Uincent Ryght ouer ageynst saynt Uincent is a rocke vnder the water two leaques and a halfe of the shore To the southeastwarde of that rocke Saint Uincentes harborou â–ª yow shall see an Ilande abowt three or foure leaques of This Ilande is not paste a leaque of the shore To the east southeast of the Ilande is a rocke that lyeth aboue the water and by that rocke goeth in the ryuer of Dulce The riuer Dulce which yow shall knowe by the sayde ryuer and rocke The northwest syde of the hauen is flat sande and the south east syde therof is lyke an Ilande and a bare plotâ—e without any trees and so is it not many other place In the rode yow shall ryde in .xiii. or .xiiii. fadomes good owes and sande beinge the markes of the rode to bring the Ilande and the northwest lande togyther And here wee ankered the last of December The thyrde day of Ianuary we came from the ryuer of Dulce Note that cape de las Palmas is a fayre high land Cape de las Palmas But summe lowe places therof by the water syde looke like redde cliffes with white strakes like wayes a cable length a piece And this is to the East parte of the cape This cape is the southermost lande in all the coast of Guinea The coast of Guâ—nea And standeth in foure degrees and a terce The coast from cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes or de tres Puntas Cape de tres Puntas is fayre and cleare without rocke or other daungiour xxv leaques from cape de las Palmas the lande is higher then in any place vntyll we came to cape Trepoyntes And abowt .x. leaques before yow comme to cape Trepointes thâ— lande ryseth styll hygher and hygher vntyll yow come to capâ— Trepoyntes Also before yowe coomme to the sayde cape after other fiue leaques to the northwest parte of it there is certeyne broken grounde with twoo greate rockes and within them in the byght of a bay is a castel cauled Arra The castell of Arra perteyning to the kynge of Portugale Yow shall knowe it by the sayde rockes that lye of it For there is none such from cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes This coaste lyeth easte and by north west and by south From cape de las Palmas to the sayde castell is foure score and xv leaques And the coaste lyeth from the sayde castell to the Westermoste poynte of the Trepoyntes southeast and by south northwest and by north Also the Westermost poynt of the Trepointes is a lowe lande lyinge halfe a myle owt in the sea and vppon the innermoste necke to the landwarde is a tufte of trees and there we arryued the .xi. day of Ianuary The .xii. day of Ianuary we came to a towne cauled Samma or Samua The towne of Samma beinge .viii. leaques from cape Trepoyntes toward east northeast Betwene cape Trepointes and the towne of Samua is a great ledge of rockes a great way owt in the sea Wee continued foure dayes at that towne and the capitayne therof wolde needes haue a pledge a shore But when they receaued the pledge The plege was â—t Iohn yorke his nâ—v c. they kâ—nte hym styl and wolde traffike no more but shot of theyr ordinaunce at vs. They haue two or three pieces of ordinaunce and no more The .xvi. day of the sayde mooneth we made rekenynge to come to a place cauled cape Corea where capitayne Don Iohn dwâ—lleth Cape Corea whose men interteyned vs frendly This cape Corea is foure leaques eastwarde of the castell of Mina The castel of mina peâ—teykinge to the kinge of Portugale otherwyse cauled La Mina or Castello de Mina where we arriued the .xviii. day of the mooneth Here we made sale of al owr cloth sauynge two or three packes The .xxvi. day of the same mooneth we weyd anker and departed from thense to the Trinitie which was .vii. leaques eastwarde of vs where she solde her wares Then they of the Trinitie wylled vs to go eastwarde of that .viii. or .ix. leaques to sel part of their wares in a place caled Perecow Perecowe an other place named Perecowe grande Perecowe grande beinge the eastermost place of both these which yow shal knowe by a great rounde hyl nere vnto it named Monte Rodondo lyinge westewarde from it Monte rodoÌ„do And by the water syde are many hyghe palme trees From hense dyd we set furth homewarde the .xiii. day of February and plyed vppe alongest tyll we came within .vii or viii leaques to cape Trepointes Abowt .viii. of the clocke the .xv day at after noone we dyd cast abowt to seawarde And beware of the currantes The currantâ— for they wyll deceaue yow sore Who so euer shall coomme from the coast of Mina homewarde Frome mina homewarde let hym be suer to make his way good west vntyll he reken hym selfe as farre as cape de las Palmas where the currant setteth alwayes to the eastwarde And within .xx. leaques eastwarde of cape de las Palmas is a â—yuer cauled Rio de los Poros where yow may haue fresshe water and balasse enowgh Rio de los Poros and plentie of Iuery or Elephantes teethe Iverye This ryuer standeth in foure degrees and almost two terces And when yow reken yowre selfe as farre shotte as cape de las Palmas Cape de las Palmas beinge in a degree or a degree and a halfe yow may go west or west and by north vntyll yowe comme in three degrees and
popingiayes which are in thâ— region of Paria and howe thinhabitours are apparelled Also of the fyue kynges that made a league of frendeshyppe with Uincentius Howe Uincentius sayled Eastwarde by the tracte of the regions of Paria vntyll he came to the poynte of that longe lande which the autour supposeth to be the greate Ilande Atlantike wherof the owlde wryters make mention Cap. S. Aâ—gustini ¶ The contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 80. ¶ A contention betwene the Castilians and Portugales as concernynge the diuision of the newe founde landes And howe the controuersie was fynysshed by the byshop of Rome Howe Don Chrystopher the gouernoure of the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis was slayne by the Canibales and the bysshop put to flyght Also of the other bysshops of the Ilandes Howe the Canibales of the Iland of Sancta Crux slew and eate a kynge with certeyne of his men beinge frendes to the Chrystians and made faggottes of theyr bones And how querelynge with owre men they put them to silence ¶ The contentes of the .ix. booke Fol. 81. ¶ Of the maruelous frutefulnes of the regions of Beragua Uraba and Dariena And of the dyuers kyndes of trees and frutes Also of the pleasaunt taste of swynes flesshe beinge fedde with the frutes of Mirobalane trees Of Lions and Tygers and other wylde beastes And of a beaste of straunge forme Of the ryuers of the goulfe of Uraba as the ryuer of Dariena and Rio Grandis And howe the great serpentes cauled Crocodiles are founde in other ryuers bysyde Nilus in Egypte Also howe thautour of this booke was sent Ambassadour to the Soldane of Alcayr in Egipte Of the Portugales nauigations and of the ryuer Senega founde by them to bee a chanel of Nilus Also of the multitude of byrdes foules beinge in the marysshes of Dariena A phylosophicall discourse of thoriginall and generatioâ— of sprynges and ryuers And of the breadth of the lande diuydynge the north and south Ocean Of the great ryuer Maragnonus and of the earthly Paradyse And howe sprynges are engendered by conuercion of ayer into water Of the often faule of rayne vnder the Equinoctiall line and of the pores of the sea opened by the South wyndes Of the great ryuers of Tanais Ganges Danubius and Eridanus famous to the owlde wryters And howe certeine ryuers runnynge throughe the caues of the earthe breake furth into sprynges afarre of ¶ The contentes of the .x. booke Fol. 86. ¶ Howe the newe founde landes discouered by the Spanyardes in the West Ocean are eyght tymes bygger then Italie besyde that which the Portugales possesse And of the cardes of the sea drawen by Colonus and Americus Uesputius The order of measurynge the lande And howe a league conteyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande The Nauâ—gation of Iohannes Dias and of the sundrye eleuations of the pole starre Of the Ilande of Boiuca or Agnaneo and of the springe whose water being dronke causeth owld men to loke yonge Howe Nicuesa and his souldiers were so oppreâ—sed with famin that they were dryuen to eate mangie dogges toades and deade men And howe a brothe made of a dogges skinne was soulde for many pieces of golde ¶ The contentes of the bookes of the thyrde Decade ¶ The contentes of the fyrst booke Fol. 88. ¶ Of the desperate aduenture and good fortune of Uaschus And how with a hundreth fourscore and ten men he brought that to passe for the whâ—ch Petrus Arias was sente with a thousande and two hundreth fresshe souldyers Howe iren serueth for more necessary vses then gold and howe superfluities hynder libertie Howe Uaschus in one conflicte slewe syxe hundreth barbaryans with theyr kynges And howe he founde the house of kyng Quarequa infected with vnnatural lechery commaundynge that the kynge and fortie suche as he kepte for that purpose shulde be gyuen for a pray to his dogges whiche he vsed to serue in the warres ageynst these naked people Of a region of blacke Moores And howe Uaschus came to the toppes of the mountaynes where geuynge thankes to god he behelde the newe south Ocean neuer before sene nor knowen to men of owre worlde Howe Uaschus put kynge Chiapes to flyght and after made a league of frendeshyppe with hym And howe the king gaue hym .iiii. hundreth poundes weyght of wrought golde Howe kynge Coquera was putte to fâ—yght who also beinge receaued to frendeshyppe gaue Uaschus syxe hundreth and fiftie poundes weyght of wrought golde Of the goulfe cauled Sinus S. Michaelis beinge full of inhabited Ilandes And of the manly corage and godly zeale of Uaschus Also of the rysynge and faulyng of the south sea Howe kynge Tumaccus beinge dryuen to flyght and afterwarde reconciled gaue Uaschus .vi. hundreth and .xiiii. pesos of golde and two hundreth and fortie of the greatest and fayrest pearles And howe the kynge caused his men to fyshe for pearles Of the Ilande cauled Margaritea Diues And of the abundaunce of fayre and great pearles founde therin Of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line And of the Portugales nauigations to the Antipodes inhabytynge the fyue and fiftie degree of the south pole Also a declaration of Antipodes and of the starres about the south pole ¶ The contentes of the seconde booke Fol. 95. ¶ Of the maner of fysshynge for pearles and of the three kyndes therof Also dyuers other questions coÌ„cernyng perles Of the multitude of the shell fysshes wherin perles are ingendered and founde in maner in all places in the south sea And of abundaunce of golde founde almoste in euery house Also howe the treasurie of nature is in those coastes And of the golde mynes of Dariena Howe kynge Teaocha gaue Uaschus .xx. poundes weight of wrought golde and two hundreth perles Also of desertes full of wylde beastes and howe Uaschus was troubled with greate heate in the moneth of Nouember Howe a dogge Tyger was taken and his whelpes tyed in cheynes and torne in pieces Also howe Uaschus gaue .iiii kynges to his dogges to be deuoured Of the vse of dogges in theyr warres and of the fiercenesse of the Canibales Howe kynge Bononians fauoured the Chrystians and gaue Uaschus .xx. pounde weyght of wrought golde Also his oration to Uaschus A similitude prouynge greate plentie of golde in the regions of the south sea and of the trauayles which owlde souldyers are able to susteyne ¶ The contentes of the thyrde booke Fol. 99 ¶ Howe kynge Buchibuea submytted hym selfe to Uaschus and sent hym certeyne vesselles of golde Also howe kyngâ— Chiorisus sente hym .xxx. dysshes of pure golde Howe iren serueth for more necessary vses then gold Also an exemple of the lyfe of owr fyrste parentes Howe kynge Pocchorrosa submytted hym selfe and gaue Uaschus .xv. pounde weyght of wrought golde Also howe Tumanama the great kynge of the golden regions towardâ— the south sea is taken prisoner Lykewyse howe he gaue Uaschus .xxx. pounde weyght of pure and wrought golde and his noble men .lx. poundes weyght of golde Of the cause
of vehement wyndes nere vnto the Equinoctiall line and of the coloure of the earth of the golden mines Of the large and frutefull playne of zauana and of the ryuer Comogrus Also howe kynge Comogrus baptised by the name of Charles gaue Uaschus .xx. pounde weyght of wrought golde Of the good fortune of Uaschus and howe he was turned froÌ„ Goliath to Eliseus and frome Anteus to Hercules And with what facilitie the Spanyardes shall hereafter obteyne greate plentie of golde and pearles Of the Spanyardes conquestes and fiâ—rcâ—nesse of the Canibales Also an exhortacion to Chrystian princes to sette forwarde Chrystes religion ¶ The contentes of the fourth booke Fol. 104 â–ª ¶ The fourth vyage of Colonus the Admitall frome Spayne to Hispaniola and to the other Ilandes and coastes of the firme lande Also of the florysshynge Ilande Guanassa Of seuen kyndes of date trees wylde vyues and Myrobalanes Also of byrdes and foules Of people of goodly stature which vse to paynt theyr bodyes And of the swyfte course of the sea from the east to the west Also of fresshe water in the sea Of the large regions of Paria Os Draconis and Quiriquetana And of greate Tortoyses and reedes Also of the foure frutefull Ilandes cauled Quatuor Tempora and .xii. Ilandes cauled Limonares Of sweete sauours and holsome ayer And of the region Quicuri and the hauen Cariai or Myrobalanus Also of certeyne ciuyle people Of trees groynge in the sea after a straunge sorte and of a straunge kynde of Moonkeys which inuade men and feight with wylde bores Of the greate goulfe of Cerabaro replenisshed with many frutefull Ilandes and of the people which weare cheynes of golde made of ouches wrought to the similitude of dyuers wylde beastes and foules Of fyue vyllages whose inhabitauntes gyue them selues onely to gatherynge of golde and are paynted vsynge to weare garlandes of Lyons and Tygers clawes Also of seuen ryuers in all the which is founde greate plentie of golde And where the plentie of golde ceaseth Of certeyne people which paynt theyr bodyes and couer theyr priuie members with shelles hauynge also plates of golde hangynge at theyr nosethrylles Of certeyne woormes which beinge engendered in the seas nere abowt the Equinoctiall eate holes in shyppes And how the Admirals shyppes were destroyde by them Howe the kynge of Beragua enterteyned the Lieuetâ—nant and of the great plentie of gold in the ryuer of Duraba and in al the regions there about Also in rootes of trees and siones and in maner in all the ryuers Howe the Lieuetenaunt and his coompany wolde haue erectâ—d a colonie besyde the ryuer of Beragua and was repulsed by thinhabitauntes Howe the Admirall fel into the handes of the barbarians of the Ilande of Iamaica where he lyued miserably the space of tenne moonethes And by what chaunce he was saued and came to the Ilande of Hispaniola Of holsome regions temperate ayer and continual spring al the hole yeare Also of certeyne people which honour golde religiously durynge theyr golden haruest Of the mountaynes of Beragua beinge fiftie myles in heyght and hygher then the clowdes Also the discription of other mountaynes and regions there about comparynge the same to Italy Colonus his opinion as touchynge the supposed continente and ioynynge of the noâ—th and south Ocean Also of the breadth of the sayde continente or firme lande Of the regions of Uraba and Beragua and the great riueâ— Maragnonus and the ryuer of Dabaiba or Sancti Iohannis Also of certeyne marysshes and desolate wayes and of dragons and Crocodiles engendered in the saâ—e Of .xx. golden ryuers abowt Dariena and of certeyne precious stones especially a diamunde of marueilous byggenesse bought in the prouince of Pâ—â—ia Of the heroical factes of the Spanyardes and howe they contemne effeminate plâ—asures Also a similitude prouynge greate plentie of golde and precious stones ¶ The contentes of the fyfth booke Fol. 113. ¶ The nauigation of Petrus Arias from Spayne to Hispaniola and Dariena and of the Ilandes of Canarie Also of the Ilandes of Madanino Guadalupea and Gatanâ—a Of the sea of herbes and mountaynes couered with snow Also of the swyfte course of the sea towarde the west Of the ryuer Gaira the region Caramairi and the porte Carthago and Sancta Martha Also of Americus Uesputius and his expert cunnynge in the knowledge of the carde compasse and quadrant Howe the Canibales assayled Petrus Arias with his hole nauie and shot of theyr venemous arrowes euen in the sea Also of theyr houses and housholde stuffe Howe Gonzalus Quiedus founde a saphire bygger then a goose egge Also emerodes calcidonies iaspers and amber of the mountaynes Of woddes of brasile trees plentie of golde and marchasites of metals founde in the regions of Caramairi Gaira and Saturma Also of a straunge kynde of marchaundies exercised amonge the people of Zunu That the region of Caramairi is lyke to an earthly Paradise And of the frutefull mountaynes and pleasaunte gardeynes of the same Of many goodly countreys made desolate by the fiercenes of the Canibales and of dyuers kyndes of breade made of rootes Also of the maner of plantynge the roote of Iucca whose iuise is deadely poyson in the Ilandes and without hurte in the continent or firme lande Of certeyne golden ryuers hartes wylde bores foules gossampine whyte marble and holsome ayer Also of the greate ryuer Maragnonus descendynge from the mountaines couered with snowe cauled Serra Neuata Howe Petrus Arias wasted certeyne Ilandes of the Canibales Also howe by the swyfte course of the sea his shyppes were caried in one nyght fortie leaques beyonde thestimation of the beste pylottes ¶ The contentes of the syxte booke Fol. 118. ¶ Of sundry opinions why the sea runneth with so swyft a course from the Easte to the west and of the greate goulfe of the north parte of the firme lande The vyage of Sebastian Cabote from Englande to the frosen sea and howe beinge repulsed with Ise in the moonethe of Iuly he sayled farre westwarde Of people apparelled with beastes skynnes And howe beares take fysshes in the sea and eate them Howe Sebastian Cabote after that he had discouered the lande of Baccallaos or Baccallearum was cauled out of Englande into Spayne where he was made one of thassistaunce of the counsayle of th affayres of India of his second viage Of the Ilande Fortis And howe a great foule as bygge as a storke lyghted in the gouernours shyppe Also howe he arryued at Dariena with the kynges nauie Howe Uaschus receaued the newe gouernour And of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctial Howe Petrus Aries the newe gouernour distributed his army to conquere the south regions ryche in golde and to erecte newe colonies in the same Of the ryche golde mynes of Dabaiba and of thexpedition ageynst the kynge of that region Of the Uiolent course of the sea from the east to the west And of the difficulte saylynge ageynst the same Of the pestiferous and vnholsome ayer of Sancta
Also howe Iohn Solysius was slayne of the Canibales and of theyr fiercenesse Howe Iohn Pontius was repulsed of the Canibales and of the lewde behauour of Iohn Aiora Of the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiocius And howe after he hadde gathered greate ryches of golde he had the ouerthrowe and was spoyled of all Of the golden region of Coiba Dites And howe theyr slaueâ— are maâ—ked in the face Of the Islandes of the souh sea And of the regions frome whense the Portugales fetche theyr spices Of a straunge kynde of fowlynge and of the trees that beare gourdes Of the later opinions as touchynge the swyfte course of the Ocean towarde the weste and of the continente or firmâ— lande Also of the vyage from the newe landes to Spayne Of the golde mynes of Dariena and the maner of gatherynge of golde in the same Also of the dropsie of couetousâ—es which is not satisfyed with ryches ¶ For the contentes of the booke of the Ilands lately found â—ade the margente notes of the same FINIS ¶ Thinterpretours excuse I haue not in wrytynge byn very curious To auoyde the scornes of Rhinocetos nose Or the fyled iudgement of seuere Aristarchus Not fearynge thereby any thynge to lose But haue thought it sufficient to be open and playnâ— Not lookynge for other commoditie or grayne I am not eloquent I knowe it ryght well I I be not barbarous I desyre no more I haue not for euery woorde asked counsell Of eloquent Eliot or syr Thomas Moore Take it therfore as I haue intended The fantes with fauour may soone be amended The poet Homere for all this eloquence Lacked not Zoilus to be his foâ— Wherfore I conclude this for a trewe sentence That no man lacketh fuo bargello For as no beaste lyueth without woorme or â—lye So no man lacketh his priuie enemie Rumpatur Zoilus ¶ Fautes escaped in the pryntynge F. the leafe L. the line B. the backe syde of the leafe F. 2. B. L. 36. helpen reade helpâ—d F. 3. B. L. 25. three fethers reade theyr fâ—therâ— F. 9. L. 28. fourme reade forme F. 20. L. 37 owre reade yowre F. 22. B. L. 27. shure reade sure F. 30. L. 6. clooke reade cloke F. 34. L. 5. wodes reade wooddes F. 36. B. L. 2. put out and. F. 36. the last line put out I do F. 36. B. L. 34. first parte reade fyfâ— parte F. 38. B. L. 13. gardens reade guardens F. 52. L. 18. parte reade porte F. 62. B. L. 25. and reade then F. 68. the last line put out trees F. 92. L. 18. Michaeld reade Michaels â–ª F. 92. L. 19. ans reade and. Also there the laste line put out arose â–ª F. 95. L. 12. cause reade sause F. 96. B. L. 15. gretheardes reade greate heardeâ— â–ª F. 99. L. 17. fi lt hye reade fylthy F. 118. B. L. 35. langitude reade longitude F. 128. L. 4. eyres reade heres F. 129. L. 1. Antipuâ— â–ª reade Antiquâ— F. 140. L. 17. counceled reade counsayled F. 150. L. 15. veles reade vayles F. 150. L. 33. prouydence reade prouince F. 153. L. 32. trackes reade tractes F. 154. L. 2. selde reade seldome F. 157. L. 26. wod reade woodde F. 168. B. L. 13. bortamus reade hortamur F. 170. B. L. 17. for 1593 reade 1493. F. 171. L. 21. without reade with F. 188. B. L. 33. burie reade burne F. 193. B. L. 21. webs reade webbes F. 199. B. L. 37. shydinge reade shyninge F. 202. L. 17. ny reade any F. 206. B. L. 23. fourme reade forme F. 208. B. L. 7. codes reade coddes F. 209. L. 15. wars reade warres F. 212. L. 40. ignitie reade dignitie F. 219. L. 10. vs reade them F. 228. L. 37. rant reade ranne F. 241. L. 4. Colonuo reade Colono F. 249. L. 17. reade by the commynge of the Gothes and Uandales â–ª c. F. 262. B. L. 15. Thus reade this F. 296. L. 26. reade Cingulus Mundi that is the gerdle of the worlde otherwyse cauled Caâ—enâ— Mundi that is the chayne of the worlde F. 298. B. L. 3. sennes reade fennes F. 300. L. 20. ceelrytie reade celeritie F. 317. L. 27. reade Tercera or Terciera â–ª Also L. 35. kyngedgme reade kyngdome F. 322. L. 17. owre compasse reade the compasse ¶ Imprynted at London in Lumbard streete at the signe of the Cradle by Edwarde Sutton Anno. DÌ„ni M. D. LV.
bothe of wynde and sea and vexed with intollerable heate Yet sayled they on further not without greate daunger for the space of twoo hundrethe and fortie leaques folowing yet the same wynde by the lost pole Wherfore whether habitable Regions bee vnder the Equinoctiall lyne or not habitable Regions vnder the Equinoctial lyne let these men and the owlde wryters aswel Philosophers as poetes and cosmographers discusse For these men affirme it to bee habitable and maruelouâ—ly replenished with people and they that it is vnhabitable by reason of the soone beames dependinge perpendicularly or directlye ouer the same Yet were there many of the oulde wryters whiche attempted to proue it habitable These maryners beinge demaunded if they sawe the south pole they answered that they knewe no starre there lyke vnto this pole that myght be decerned aboute the poynte But that they sawe an other order of starres and a certeyne thicke myst rysynge from the horizontall lyne An other order of starres A thycke mist which greatly hyndered theyr syght They contende also that there is a great heape or rysynge in the myddest of the earth A rysinge in the myddest of the earth which taketh away the syght of the southe pole vntyll they haue vtterly passed ouer the same But they verely beleue that they sawe other images of starres muche differinge from the situation of the starres of owre hemispherie or halfe circle of heauen Howe soo euer the matter bee as they informe vs wee certifie yowe At the lengthe the seuenth day of the calendes of Februarye they espied lande a farre of And seinge the water of the sea to bee troubelous soundinge with theyr plummet they founde it to bee .xvi. fathames deepe Goinge a lande and tarienge there for the space of twoo dayes they departed bycause they saw no people steringe althowghe they fownde certeyne steppes of men by the sea syde Thus grauinge on the trees and the stones nere vnto the shore the kynges name and theyrs and the tyme of theyr comming thether they departed Not farre froÌ„ this station folowynge the fyers on the lande by nyght they founde a nation lyinge vnder the open fyrmamente after the maner of warre Owre men thought it not beste to trowble them vntyll the morninge Therefore at the rysinge of the soonne fortie of owre men well armed wente toward them ageynst whom came furth .xxxii. of them with bowes slinges and dartes euen redy to the feyght The other coompanye folowed them armed after the same maner Owr men affirme that they were of hygher stature then eyther the Almaynes or Pannonians People of hygh stature They behelde owre men with frownynge and threatenynge countenaunce But owre men thought it not good to faule to bickeringe with them vncerteyne whether it were for feare or bycause they wolde not dryue theÌ„ to flight Wherfore they went aboute to allure them by faire meanes rewardes But they refused all kynde of gentelnes stoode euer in a redines to feight declaringe the same by signes and tokens Thus owr men resorted to theyr shippes and they to the place from whence they came without any further busynes The same nyght abowte mydnyght they fledde and left the place voyde where they lay in campe Owre men suppose them to bee a vagabunde and wanderinge nacion lyke vnto the Scythians A vagabunde kynde of men withowte houses or certeyne dwellinge places lyuinge onely with the fruites of the earth hauing theyr wyues and chyldren folowinge them Such as measured their footesteppes in the sande affirme with greate othes that one of theyr feete is almost as longe as twoo feete of owre men of the meane sorte Saylinge on yet further Giantes they founde an other ryuer but not of deapth sufficient to beare the carauels They sent therfore the foure shippe boates to lande ful of armed men to search the countrey They espyed vppon a hyghe hyll nere vnto the sea syde a greate multitude of people to whom owre coompany sent furthe one man with certeyne of owre thynges to allure them to exchaunge And when he had cast a haukes bell towarde them they cast downe a wedge of golde a cubette longe The which as he stouped to take vppe they soodenly inclosed hym and caryed hym awaye But he was shortly after rescued by his coompanyons to sum of their paynes for they slewe eyght of owre men and wounded many a farre of with theyr arrowes and dartes made of wood hardened at the endes with fyre After this they encoompased owre shippe boates within the ryuer and came rasshelye within the reache of owre men Desperate bouldenes layinge houlde on the boates sydes where they were thrust throwgh and hewen in peeces as it had byn sheepe by reason they were naked Yet wolde they not for al this gyue ouer but tooke from owre men one of their boates hauing noo men in it For the gouernour therof being slayne with an arrowe the other fledde and escaped And thus they lefte this fierce and warlyke people saylinge towarde the northweste alonge by the same coastes with sorowfull hartes for the death of theyr coompanyons When they had sayled abowte .xl. leaques they chaunced into a sea of suche fresshe water A sea of fresshe water that they fylled theyr barelles and hogges heades therwith Searching the cause hereof they vnderstoode that a vehement course of ryuers discended with great violence from the toppes of certeyne greate hylles They say also that there lyeth within the sea many fortunate and fruitfull Ilandes Many fruitefull Ilandes and well inhabyted And that thinhabitantes of this tracte are men of meeke nature and suche as doo not refuse strangers humane people Yet lyttle profytable to them bycause they had noo marchandyes for their purpose as golde or precyous stones For lacke wherof they broughâ— frome thense thyrtie captiues to sell for slaues Thinhabitantes caule this Region Mariatambal MariataÌ„ball The Region of the easte parte of that ryuer is cauled Camomorus Camomorus And that of the weste parte Paricora Paricora in the midlande wherof thinhabitantes signified that there is greate plentie of golde For folowynge this ryuer directly toward the Northe as the bendynge of the shore requyred they recouered ageyne the syght of the north pole All the coaste of this tracte perteyneth to Paria Regions of Paria the which as we sayd before was fyrst founde by Colonus hym selfe Golde and perles and hath in maner in euery place greate abundaunce of pearles They saye that these coastes are adioynynge vnto and all one with Os Draconis Os Draconis and also bortherynge vppon the Regions of Cumana Cumana Manacapana Manacapana Curiana Curiana Cauchieta and Cuchibachoa Wherfore they thought it to bee parte of the firme lande of India beyonge the ryuer of Ganges For the greate and large coompaâ—se therof dothe not permit that it shulde bee an Ilande Albeit the hole earth vncouered with
Ilande is founde the woodde of whyte sanders and ginger whyte sanders and ginger and dyuers kindes of frutes Also sundry kyndes of beastes and plentie of vyttayle and golde They of the Ilandes of Giaua Molucca and Lozon resort to this Ilande for sanders Thinhabitauntes are gentyles They say that when they go to cut the woodde of saunders the deuyll appeareth to them in dyuers formes and asketh theym what they haue neede of The deuyll appeareth And that after this vision many of them are longe sicke In al the Ilandes of this Archipelagus rayneth the disease of saynt Iob whiche wee caule the frenche poxe more then in any other place in the worlde Saynt Iob his disease Farre from this Ilande betwene the west and northwest they came to an Ilande named Eude in the whiche growethe great plentie of Sinamome Cinamome In this tracte are founde many Ilandes lying in order as it were one directly behynde an other euen vnto the Ilande of the greater Giaua The Ilandes of Giaua named Giaua maior and vnto the cape of Malaccha Malaccha beinge in East India Giaua the lesse is as bygge as the Ilande of Madera and is but halfe a leaque distante from Giaua maior Here they were informed that aboue Giaua maior toward the north is a great goulfe cauled the goulfe of China The greate goulfe of China in the which are trees of exceadyng byggenesse inhabyted with foules of suche greatenes that they cary great beastes in the ayer The frutes of these trees are as bygge as cucummers The cape of Malaccha is one degree and a halfe aboue the Equinoctiall line towarde the pole Artike The cape of Malaccha On the East side of this cape runneth a very longe coaste in the which are many regions and cities wherof sum are cauled by these names Cingaporla which is the cape The names of many regions Also Pahan Calantan Patani Braalin Beneu Longon and Odia wherin is the citie in the which dwelleth the kynge of Sian named Zacabedera Theyr cities are builded as owres are and subiecte to the kynge of Sian After the realme of Sian are the regions of Iamgoma Campaa where Reubarbe groweth Reubarbe of the which are dyuers opinions sume supposynge it to bee a roote and other a putrifyed tree affirmyng that yf it were not putrified it shulde not haue so great a sauour They caule it Calama Next vnto this is found the great China The greate kynge of China whose kyng is thought to bee the greatest prince in the worlde and is named Santoa Raia Furthermore al that is written hereafter of this kyng and these regions they lerned by thinformation of a Moore that was in the Ilande of Timor He affirmed that the sayde kynge hathe threescore and tenne crowned kynges vnder his empyre and hathe a porte in the sea named Canthan And two principal cities named Nauchin and Connulaha where he remayneth hym selfe and hath euer foure of his chiefe princes lying abowt his pallaice on euery syde towarde the Easte Weste Northe and South giuinge dylygente attendaunce what is doone in euerye of theyr quarters All the prynces of the greater India cauled India Maior The greater India and of that wherof I haue spoken before are obedient to this kynge And in token that they are trewe subiectes they keepe in theyr pallaices which are in the middest of theyr cities the beaste cauled Linx The beast cauled linx being fayrer then a lyon And is the great kynges signette whiche all suche as intende to go to China beare with them sealed in waxe or on a piece of Iuerye for theyr safe conducte withowt the which they may not enter into the hauen When any of his kyngs rebell or are disobedient he causeth them to bee fâ—ene and salted and dryed at the soonne Then to bee stuffed with chaffe The punishement of rebelles and sette vppe on sum hygh thyng in the myddest of the chiefe streate of the citie where al the people may see it He neuer suffereth his owne person to bee openly seene to any man But when his noble men of the courte are desyrous to see hym The kynge is not seene but at a glasse he commeth downe frome hys pallaice into a ryche pauylyon accompanyed with syxe of hys principall concubynes appareyled with lyke vestures as is he hym selfe All thys way he is not seene by reason of the pauylyon When he hath passed through the pauylyon he entereth into a serpent named Nagha A thyng of strange workmanshyppe being the most marueylous and ryche woorke of the worlde and placed in the greaâ—est courte of the pallaice When the kynge entereth in to this with the womeÌ„ to thintent that he may not be knoweÌ„ among them he causeth the sayd noble men only to looke in at a glasse which is in the breste of the serpente where they see the kynge amonge the women but can not dicerne which is he He ioyneth in mariage with hys syster that the blud royall bee not myxte with any other The kynge maryeth his syster His pallaice is enuironed with seuen large walles hispallaice the one being farre dystante froÌ„ the other And hath in euery such circuite tenne thowsande men for the garryson of hys pallaice A marueilous garde who haue theyr waytinge dayes appoynted them course by course with fresshe meÌ„ in theyr places and thus keepe theyr watch continually both daye and nyght In this pallaice are .lxxix. haules in the which is an infinite number of women that serue the kynge hauyng euer lyght torches in theyr handes for the greater magnyfycenceâ— women serue the kynge He that wolde see all the pallaice shulde spend a hole day therin Amonge other there are foure principal haules where sumtymes the kynge gyueth audience to hys noble men Foure maruelous haules Of these one is couered both aboue and beneth with metall an other all ouer with syluer the thyrde with gold and the fourth with pearles and precious stones These people of China The people of China are whyte menne appareled as we are and eate theyr meate on tables as wee doo They haue thâ— crosse in sum estimation but knowe not the cause whye Beyonde the coaste of China The Crosse. are dyuers other nations and people as Chenchii where pearles and cynamon are founde Also the people named Lichii where reyneth the great kynge of Mâ—en The greate kyng of mâ—en hauyng vnder hym .xxii. kynges and is subiecte to the kyng of China Here is also founde the great citie of CATHAY in the East CATHAY and dyuers other nations in the sayd firme land of the which sum are brutysshe and bestiall which vse to kyll and eate theyr parentes when they are owld thinking therby that they shall reuyue in them All these people are gentyles The .xi. day of February in the yeare .1522 they departed from the Iland of