litle these are called Volatori that is fleeyng fyshes they ryse by great companies and flockes in suche multitudes that it is an astonyshment to behold them Sometimes they ryse but litle from the water as it chaunceth continue one flyght for the space of an hundred paces and sometimes more or lesse before they fall agayne into the sea sometymes also they fall into the shyppes And I remember that on an euenyng when al the company in the shyp were on theyr knees syngyng Salue regina in the hyghest part of the Castell of the poupe and sayled with a full wynde there passed by vs a flocke of these fleeyng fyshes and came so neare vs that many of them fell into the shyppe among the whiche two or three fel hard by me whiche I tooke alyue in my hand so that I myght well perceyue that they were as bygge as Sardines and of the same quantitie hauyng two wynges or quilles growing out of theyr synnes lyke vnto those wherewith all fyshes swym in ryuers these wynges are as long as the fyshes them selues As long as theyr wynges are moyst they beare them vp in the ayre but assoone as they are drye they can contynue theyr flyght no further then as I haue sayde before but fall immediatlye into the sea and so ryse agayne and flee as before from place to place In the yeere a thousand fyue hundred and fyfteene when I came fyrst to enfourme your Maiestie of the state of the thynges in India and was the yeere folowyng in Flaunders in the tyme of your most fortunate successe in these your kyngdomes of Aragonie and Castyle whereas at that viage I sayled aboue the Ilande Bermuda otherwyse called Garza beyng the furthest of all the Ilandes that are founde at this daye in the worlde and arryuyng there at the deapth of eyght yardes of water and distaunt from the lande as farre as the shotte of a peece of Ordinaunce I determyned to sende some of the shyp to lande aswell to make searche of suche thynges as were there as also to leaue in the Iland certayne Hogges for encrease But the tyme not seruing my purpose by reason of contrary wynde I coulde bryng my shyppes no nearer the Ilande beyng twelue leagues in length and syxe in breadth and about thyrtie in circuite lying in the three and thyrtieth degree of the North syde Whyle I remayned heere I saw a stryfe and combat betweene these fleeing fyshes and the fyshes named Gylt heades the foules called Seamewes and Cormorantes which surely seemed vnto me a thyng of as great pleasure and solace as coulde be deuised while the Gylt heades swam on the brymme of the water and sometymes lyfted theyr shoulders aboue the same to rayse the fleeyng fyshes out of the water to dryue them to flyght and folowe them swymmyng to the place where they fal to take and eate them sodenly Againe on the other side the Seamewes and Cormorantes take many of these fleeyng fyshes so that by this meanes they are neyther safe in the ayre nor in the water In the selfe same peryll and danger doo men lyue in this mortall lyfe wherein is no certayne securitie neyther in hyghe estate nor in lowe Which thyng surely ought to put vs in remembraunce of that blessed and safe restyng place whiche God hath prepared for suche as loue hym who shall acquiete and fynishe the trauailes of this troublous worlde wherein are so many dangers and bryng them to that eternall lyfe where they shall fynde eternall securitie and rest But to returne to the hystorye these byrdes and foules whiche I sawe were of the Ilande of Bermuda neere vnto the whiche I sawe these fleeyng fyshes for they coulde be of no other lande forasmuche as they are not accustomed to wander farre from the coastes where they are bredde Of thincrease and decrease that is rysyng and fallyng of our Ocean sea and South sea called the sea of Sur. I Wyll nowe speake of certayne thynges whiche are seene in the Prouince or at the least in the citie of golden Castyle otherwyse called Beragua and in the coastes of the North sea of the South sea called the sea of Sur not omitting to note one synguler and marueylous thyng whiche I haue consydered of the Ocean sea wherof hytherto no Cosmographer Pilot or Maryner or any other haue satisfyed me I say therefore as it is well knowen to your maiestie and all such as haue knowledge of the Ocean sea that this great Ocean casteth from it selfe the sea Mediterraneum by the mouth of the strayght of Gibilterra in the which the water from th end furthest part of that sea euen vnto the mouth of the sayde strayght eyther in the East toward the coaste commonly called Leuante or in any other part of the sayde sea Mediterraneum the sea doth not so fall nor increase as reason woulde iudge for so great a sea but increaseth very litâ—e and a small space Neuerthelesse without the mouth of the â—trayght in the mayne Ocean it increaseth and falleth very muche and a great space of grounde from syxe houres to syxe houres as in all the coastes of Spayne Britanâ—â— Flaunders Garmanie and England The selfe same Oâ—ean sâ—a in the firme lande newly founde in the coastes of the same lying towarde the North doth neyther ryse nor fall nor lykewyse in the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba and al the other Ilandes of the same lying towarde the north for the space of three thousande leagues but onely in lyke maner as dooth the sea Mediterraneum in Italy which is in maner nothyng in respecte to that increase and decrease whiche the sayde Ocean hath in the coastes of Spayne and Flaunders But this is yet a greater thyng that also the selfe same Ocean in the coastes of the sayde fyrme lande lying towarde the South in the citie of Panama and also in the coast of that lande whiche lyeth towarde the East and West from that citie as in the Ilande of pearles or Margaritea whiche the Indians call Tarrarequi and also in Taboga and Otoque and in all other Ilandes of the south sea of Sur the water ryseth and falleth so muche that when it falleth it goeth in maner out of syght whiche thyng I my selfe haue seene oftentymes And here your maiestie may note an other thing that from the north sea to the south sea being of such difference the one from the other in rysyng and fallyng yet is the lande that deuideth them not past eyghteene or twentie leagues in breadth from coaste to coaste So that both the sayde seas beyng all one Ocean this strange effecte is a thyng worthy greatly to be consydered of all suche as haue inclination and desyre to knowe the secrete woorkes of nature wherein the infinite power and wysedome of God is seene to be suche as may allure al good natures to reuerence and loue so diuine a maiestie And whereas by y e demonstrations of
northerne lande but suche a one that ether is not to be traueyled for the causes in the first Obiection alleaged or cleane shut vp from vs in Europe by Groenland the South ende whereof Moletius maketh firme lande with America the north parte continent with Lapponlande and Norway Thyrdly the greatest fauourers of this voyage can not deny but that if any such passage be it lyeth subiect vnto Yse and snow for the most parte of the yeere whereas it standeth in the edge of the frostie zone Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre and dissolued the Yse eche one well knoweth that there can bee no saylyng the Yse once broken through the continuall abode the Sunne maketh a certayne season in those partes how shall it be possible for so weake a vessell as a shyppe is to holde out amyd whole Ilandes as it were of Yse continually beatyng on eche syde and at the mouth of that goulphe issuyng downe furiously from the North safely to passe whan whole mountaynes of Yse and Snow shal be tombled downe vpon her Wel graunt the west Indies not to continue continent vnto the Pole graunt there be a passage betwyxt these two landes let the goulph lye neare vs than commonly in cardes we fynde it set namely betwyxt the .61 .64 degrees north as Gemma Frisius in his Mappes and Globes imagineth it and so left by our countriman Sebastian Cabote in his table the which my good Lorde your father hath at Cheynies and so tryed this last yeere by your Honours seruaunt as hee reported and his carde and compasse doe witnesse Let the way bee voyde of all difficulties yet doeth it not folowe that we haue free passage to Cathayo For examples sake You may trende all Norway Finmarke and Lapponlande and than bow Southwarde to sainct Nicolas in Moscouia you may lykewyse in the Mediterranean sea fetche Constantinople and the mouth of Tanais yet is there no passage by sea through Moscouia into Pont Euxine now called Mare Maggiore Agayne in the aforesayde Mediterranean sea we sayle to Alexandria in Egypt the Barbares bryng theyr pearle and spices from the Moluccaes vp the read sea and Arabian goulph to Sues scarsely three dayes iourney from the aforesayde hauen yet haue we no way by sea from Alexandria to the Moluccaes for that Isthmos or litle streicte of lande betwyxt the two seas In lyke maner although the northerne passage bee free at .61 degrees latitude and the West Ocean beyonde America vsually called Mar del zur knowen to be open at .40 degrees eleuation for the Ilande Giapan yea .300 leagues northerly aboue Giapan yet may there bee lande to hynder the through passage that way by sea as in the examples aforesayde it falleth out Asia and America there beyng ioyned togeather in one continent Ne can this opinion seeme altogeather friuolous vnto any one that diligently peruseth our Cosmographers doynges Iosephus Moletius is of that mynde not onely in his playne hemispheres of the worlde but also in his sea carde The French Geographers in lyke maner bee of the same opinion as by their Mappe cut out in fourme of a harte you may perceyue as though the West Indyes were parte of Asie Whiche sentence well agreeth with that olde conclusion in the scholes Quidquid praeter Africam et Europam est Asia est Whatsoeuer land doeth neyther appertayne vnto Afrike nor to Europe is parte of Asie Furthermore it were to small purpose to make so long so paynefull so doubtfull a voyage by such a new founde way if in Cathayo you should neyther be suffred to lande for silkes and siluer nor able to fetche the Molucca spices and pearle for piracye in those seas Of a lawe denying all Aliens to enter into China and forbiddyng all the inhabiters vnder a great penaltie to let in any stranger into that countreys shall you reade in the report of Galeotto Perera there imprisoned with other Portugalles as also in the Giaponyshe letters howe for that cause the woorthie traueyler Xauierus bargayned with a Barbarian Marchaunt for a great sum of Pepper to be brought into Cantan a porte in Cathayo The great and daungerous piracie vsed in that seas no man can be ignorant of that listeth to reade the Giaponishe and East Indian historie Finally all this great labour would bee lost all these charges spent in vayne if in the ende our traueylers myght not be able to returne agayne and bryng safely home into theyr owne natyue countrey that wealth and ryches they in forreyne regions with aduenture of goodes and daunger of theyr lyues haue sought for By the Northeast there is no way the Southeast passage the Portugalles doe hold as Lordes of that seas At the Southwest Magellanus experience hath partly taught vs and partly we are persuaded by reason howe the Easterne currant stryketh so furiously on that streicte and falleth with such force into that narrow goulphe that hardely any shyppe can returne that way into our West Ocean out of Mar del zur The which if it be true as truly it is than may we say that the aforesayde Easterne currant or leuant course of waters continually folowyng after the heauenly motions looseth not altogeather his force but is doubled rather by an other currant from out the Northeast in the passage betwyxt America and the North lande whyther it is of necessitie carryed hauyng none other way to maintaine it selfe in circular motion and consequently the force and fury thereof to be no lesse in the streict of Aniaâ— where it striketh South into Mar del zur beyond America if any such streicte of sea there be than in Magellane frete both streictes beyng of lyke breadth as in Belognine Zalterius table of new France and in Don Diego Hermano di Toledo his carde for nauigation in that region we doe fynde precisely set downe Neuerthelesse to approue that there lyeth a way to Cathayo at the Northwest from out of Europe we haue experyence namely of three brethren that went that iourney as Gemma Frisius recordeth and left a name vnto that streicte whereby nowe it is called Fretum trium Fratrum We do reade againe of a Portugal that passed this streicte of whom M. Furbisher speaketh that was imprisoned therefore many yeeres in Lesbona to veryfie the olde Spanyshe prouerbe I suffer for doyng wel Likewise An. Vrdaneta a fryer of Mexico came out of Mar del zur this way into Germanie his Carde for he was a great discouerer made by his owne experience and trauayle in that voyage hath been seene by gentelmen of good credite Now yf the obseruation and remembrance of thyngs breedeth experience and of experience proceedeth art and the certeine knowledge we haue in al faculties as y e best Philosophers that euer were do affyrme truly the voyage of these aforesayd trauaillers that haue gone out of Europe into Mar del zur and returned thence at the Northwest doo moste euidently conclude that way to be nauigable and that
Sesto beyng East The .xxi. day of the sayde moneth we fel with Cape Mensurado to the Southeast about two leagues of This Cape may be easely knowen by reason the rysyng of it is like a Porpose head Also toward the Southeast there are three trees whereof the Eastermost tree is the hyghest and the myddlemost is lyke a hie stacke and the Southermost lyke vnto a Gibet and vppon the mayne are foure or fyue hygh hylles rysyng one after an other lyke rounde hoommockes or hyllockes And the Southeast of the three trees is three trees lyke a brandierwyse and all the coast along is whyte sand The sayde Cape standeth within a litle in syxe 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 send before vs the pynnesse to the ryuer of Dulce called Rio Dulce that they myght haue the begynnyng of the market before the commyng of the Iohn At the ryuer of Sesto we had a Tunne of graynes This riuer standeth in .vi. degrees lackyng a terce From the ryuer of Sesto to Rio Dulce is .xxv. leagues Rio Dulce standeth in fyue degrees and a halfe The ryuer of Sesto is easye to be knowen by reason there is a ledge of rockes on the Southeast parte of the Rode And at the entryng into the hauen are fyue or sixe trees that beare no leaues This is a good harborowe but very narow at the entrance into the ryuer There is also a rocke in the hauens mouth ryght as you enter And all that coast betweene Cape de Monte and cape de las Palmas lyeth Southeast and by East Northwest and by West being three leagues of the shore And you shall haue in some places rockes two leagues of and that betweene the riuer of Sesto and cape de las Palmas Betweene the ryuer of Sesto the ryuer Dulce is .xxv. leagues and the high lande that is betweene them both is called Cakeado being eight leagues from the ryuer of Sesto And to the Southeastwarde of him is a place called Shawgro and an other called Shyawe or Shauo where you may get freshe water Of this Shyawe lyeth a redge of rockes and to the Southeastwarde lyeth a hedlande called Croke Betweene Cakeado and Croke is .ix. or ten leagues To the Southeastwarde of is a harborowe called saint Vincent Ryght ouer agaynst sainct Vincent is a rocke vnder the water two leagues and a halfe of the shore To the Southeastwarde of that rocke you shall see an Ilande about three or foure leagues of this Ilande is not paste a league 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 which you shall know by the sayde ryuer and rocke The Northwest syde of the hauen is flatte sande and the Southeast syde thereof is lyke an Ilande and a bare platte without any trees and so is it not in any other place In the Rode you shall ryde in xiii or .xiiii. fadomes good owes and sande beyng the markes of the Rode to bryng the Ilande and the Northeast lande togeather and here we Ankered the last of December The third day of Ianuary we came from the riuer of Dulce Note that cape de las Palmas is a fayre high lande but some lowe places thereof by the water syde looke lyke redde cliffes with whyte strakes lyke wayes a cable length a peece this is to the East parte of the cape This cape is the Southermost lande in all the coast of Guinea and standeth in foure degrees and a terce The coast from Cape de las palmas to Cape Trepoyntes or the tres Puntas is fayre and cleare without rocke or other daunger Twentie and fyue leagues from Cape de las Palmas the lande is hygher then in any place vntyl we come to Cape Trepoyntes And about ten leagues before you come to Cape Trepoyntes the land ryseth styll hygher and hygher vntyl you come to Cape Trepoyntes Also before you come to the sayde Cape after other fyue leagues to the Northwest part of it there is certayne broken grounde with two great rockes and within them in the byght of a bay is a castel called Arra parteining to the kyng of Portugale You shal know it by the sayd rockes that lye of it for there is none suche from Cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes This coast lyeth East by North West by South From Cape de las Palmas to the sayd castel is fourscore and fyfteene leagues And the coast lyeth from the sayd castel to the westermost point of the Trepoyntes Southeast and by South Northwest and by North. Also the westermost poynt of the Trepoyntes is a low land lying halfe a myle out in the sea and vppon the innermoste necke to the land ward is a tuft of trees there we arryued the eleuenth day of Ianuary The twelf day of Ianuary we came to a towne called Samma or Samua beyng .viii. leagues from Cape Trepoyntes toward East Northeast Betweene Cape Trepoyntes and the towne of Samua is a great ledge of rockes a great way out in the sea We continued foure dayes at that towne the captayne therof would needs haue a pledge a shore But when they receiued the pledge they kept him still would trafficke no more but shot of theyr ordinance at vs. They haue two or three peeces of ordinance and no more The .xvi. day of the sayde mooneth we made reckonyng to come to a place called Cape Corea where captayne Don Ihon dwelleth whose men entertayned vs frendly This Cape Corea is foure leagues Eastwarde of the castell of Mina other wyse called La mina or Castello de mina where we arryued the .xviii. day of the moneth Here we made sayle of all our cloth sauing two or three packes The .xxvi. day of the same moneth we weighed anker and departed from thence to the Trinitie whiche was .vii. leagues Eastwarde of vs where she solde her wares Then they of the Trinitie wylled vs to go Eastwarde of that .viii or .ix. leagues to sell part of theyr wares in a place called Perecow and an other place named Perecow Grande beyng the eastermost place of both these whiche you shall knowe by a great rounde hyll neere vnto it named Monte Rodondo lying westward from it and by the water syde are many hygh palme trees From hence dyd we set forth homewarde the .xiii. day of February and plyed vp alongest tyll we came within .vii or .viii. leagues to Cape Trepointes About .viii. of the clocke the .xv. day at afternoone we dyd cast about to seawarde and beware of the currantes for they wyl deceiue you sore Whosoeuer shall come from the coaste of Mina homewarde let hym be sure to make
not a lytle astonyshed to beholde our shippes with the sayles spread whereas they vse no sayles nor can vse but small ones yf they woulde by reason of the narownesse of theyr Canoas Swarmyng therefore about the shyppe with theyr Canoas whiche we may wel cal Monoxyla because they are made of one whole tree they feared not to shoote at our men beyng yet within their shyppes and keepyng them selues vnder the hatches as safely as yf they had ben defended with stone walles But when our men had shotte of certayne peeces of ordinaunce agaynst them they were so discomfited with the noyse and slaughter thereof that they droue them selues to flyght Being thus disparcled our men chased them with the ship boate toke many and slue many When the kynges heard the noyse of the gunnes and were certified of the losse of theyr men they sent ambassadours to Vincentius Agnes to entreate of peace fearyng the spoyle of theyr goodes and destruction of theyr people yf our men should come alande in theyr wrath and furie They desyred peace therefore as coulde be coniectured by theyr signes and poyntynges for our men vnderstoode not one woord of theyr language And for the better proofe that they desyred peace they presented our men with three thousande of those weyghtes of gold that the Spanyardes call Castellanum Aureum whiche they commonly call Pesum Also a great barrel of wood ful of moste excellent masculine Frankencense weighing about two thousande and sixe hundred poundes weight after eight ounces to the pounde whereby they knewe that that lande brought foorth great plentie of Frankencense for there is no entercourse of marchaundies betweene the inhabitauntes of Paria and the Sabeans being so farre distant wheras also they of Paria knowe nothing without theyr owne coastes With the golde and Frankencense whiche they presented to our men they gaue them also a great multitude of theyr peacockes both cockes and hennes dead and alyue aswel to satisfie theyr present necessitie as also to carry with them into Spayne for encrease lykewyse certayne carpettes couerlettes table clothes and hangyngs made of Gossampine silke finely wrought after a strange deuice with pleasant and variable colours hauyng golden belles and such other spangles and pendauntes as the Italians call Sonaglios and the Spanyardes Cascaueles hangyng at the purfles therof They gaue them furthermore speakyng popyngayes of sundry colours as many as they woulde aske for in Paria there is no lesse plentie of popyngayes then with vs of doues or sparows Thinhabitants of these regions both men women are apparelled with vestures made of gossampine cotton the men to the knees and the women to the calfe of the legge The fashion of theyr apparel is simple and playne muche lyke vnto the Turkes but the mens is double and quilted like that which the Turkes vse in the warres The princes of Paria are rulers but for one yeere but theyr auctoritie is no lesse among the people both in peace and warre then is thauctoritie of other kyngs in those regions Their villages are builded in compasse along by the bankes of al that great gulfe Fyue of theyr princes came to our men with theyr presentes whose names I thought woorthy to be put in this historie in remembrance of so notable a thing Chiaconus Chiauaccha that is the prince of Chiauaccha for they cal princes or kings Chiaconus Chiaconus Pintiguanus Chiaconus Chamailaba Chiaconus Polomus ▪ and Chiaconus Potto The gulfe beyng first found of the Admiral Colonus they cal Baia Natiuitatis because he entred into the same in the day of y e natiuitie of Christ but at that time he only passed by it without any further searchyng and Baia in the Spanyshe tong signifieth a gulfe Whē Vincentius had thus made a league with these princes folowyng his appoynted course he founde many regions toward y e East desolate by reason of diuers floods and ouerflowyngs of waters also many standyng pooles in diuers places and those of exceeding largenesse He ceassed not to folowe this tracte vntyl he came to the poynt or cape of that most long lande This poynt seemeth as though it would inuade the mount Atlas in Aphrica for it prospecteth towarde that part of Aphrike which the Portugales cal Caput bonae Sperantiae The poynte◠or capes of the mount Atlas are rough and sauage neere vnto the sea The cape of Bona Speranza geathereth thyrtie and foure degrees of the South pole called the pole Antartike but that poynt only seuen degrees I suppose this lande to be that whiche I fynde in olde wryters of Cosmographie to be called the great Ilande Atlantike without any further declaryng eyther of the situation or of the nature thereof The eight booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent WHen Iohn the king of Portugale liued whiche was predecessour to him that nowe raigneth there arose a great contention betweene the Castilians and the Portugales as concernyng the dominion of these newe founde landes The Portugales because they were the fyrst that durst attempt to searche the Ocean sea synce the memorie of man affirmed that al the nauigations of the Ocean ought to parteyne to them only The Castilians argued on the contrary part that whatsoeuer God by the ministration of nature hath created on the earth was at the begynnyng common among men and that it is therefore lawful to euery man to possesse such lands as are voyde of Christian inhabitours Whyle the matter was thus vncertaynelye debated both parties agreed that the controuersie shoulde be desyded by the byshop of Rome and plighted fayth to stande to his arbitrement The kyngdome of Castile was at that tyme gouerned by that great queene Helisabeth with her husband for the Realme of Castile was her dowrie She also and the kyng of Portugale were cosyn germanes of two systers by reason whereof the dissention was more easyly pacified By the assent therfore of both parties Alexander the bishop of Rome the .vi. of that name by thaucthoritie of his leaden bull drewe a right lyne from the North to the South an hundred leagues Westwarde without the paralels of those Ilandes whiche are called Caput Viride or Cabouerde within the compasse of this lyne although some denye it falleth the poynt of this lande whereof we haue spoken whiche they cal Caput Sancti Augustini otherwyse called Promontorium Sancti Augustini that is saint Augustines cape or poynt and therefore it is not lawful for the Castilians to fasten foote in the begynnyng of that land Vincentius Annez therefore departed from thence beyng aduertised of the inhabitantes that on the other syde of the hygh mountaynes towarde the South lying before his eyes there was a region called Ciamba whiche brought forth great plentie of golde Of certayne captiues whiche he tooke in the gulfe of Paria whiche certaynely parteyneth to the dominion of Castile he brought some with him to Hispaniola and left
to the cape or poynt of Cuchibacoa whiche being passed there is a gulfe on the left hande we measured three hundred leagues in one Carde much thereabout in another From this poynt of Cuchibacoa to the region of Caramairi in whiche is the hauen Carthago whiche some cal Carthagena we found about a hundred seuentie leagues From Caramairi to the Iland Fortis fyftie leagues From thence to the gulfes of Vraba among the whiche is the vyllage called Sancta Maria Antiqua where the Spanyards haue appoynted theyr habitation only .xxxiii. leagues From the ryuer of Vraba in the prouince of Dariena to y e riuer of Beragua where Nicuesa had intended to haue fastened his foote if God had not otherwyse decreed we measured a hundred and thirtie leagues From Beragua to that riuer which we said of Colonus to be called Sancti Matthei in the which also Nicuesa loosing his Carauel wandered in great calamities we founde in our Cardes only a hundred and fourtie leagues Yet many other whiche of late tyme haue come from these partes haue described many mo leagues in this tract from the ryuer of Sancti Matthei in whiche also they place diuers ryuers as Aburema with the Iland called Scutum Cateba lying before it whose kyngs name is Facies combusta Likewise another ryuer called Zobraba after that Vrida and then Duraba in the which golde is founde Furthermore many goodly hauens as Cerabaro and Hiebra so called of the inhabitauntes And thus yf your holynesse wyll conferre these numbers togeather you shall fynde in this accompt a thousand fyue hundred twentie and fiue leagues which amount to fyue thousande seuen hundred miles from the poynt of Sancti Matthei whiche they cal Sinum perditorum that is The gulfe of y e lost men But we may not leaue here for after this one Astur Ouetensis otherwyse named Iohannes Dias de Solis borne in Nebrissa whiche bryngeth foorth many learned men sayling from this riuer towarde the West ouerranne many coastes and leagues but the middest of that shore bendeth towarde the North and is not therefore directly placed in order with the other yet may we geather by a diameter or right lyne about three hundred leagues Hereby may you geather what is the length of this lande but of the breadth perhaps we shal hereafter haue further knowledge Let vs nowe speake somewhat of the varietie of the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starres This lande therefore although it reache foorth from the East into the West yet is it crooked and hath the poynt bendyng so towarde the South that it looseth the syght of the North pole and is extended beyonde the Equinoctial lyne seuen degrees towarde the South pole but the poynt hereof parteyneth to the iurisdiction of the Portugales as we haue sayde Leauing this poynt and saylyng towarde Paria the North starre is seene againe is so much the more lifted vp in how much the region enclineth more towarde the West The Spanyardes therfore haue diuers degrees of eleuations vntyll they come to Dariena being theyr cheefe station and dwelling place in those landes for they haue forsaken Beragua where they founde the North pole eleuate .viii. degrees but from hence the land doth so much bend towarde the North that it is there in manner equal with the degrees of the strayghtes of Hercules pyllers especially yf we measure certaine landes founde by them toward the North syde of Hispaniola among the which there is an Iland about three C. and .xxv. leagues frō Hispaniola as they say which haue searched the same named Boiuca or Agnaneo in the which is a continuall spring of running water of such marueilous vertue that y e water thereof being drunke perhaps with some diet maketh olde men young agayne And here must I make protestation to your honesse not to thynke this to be sayde lyghtly or rashly for they haue so spread this rumour for a trueth throughout al the courte that not onlye al the people but also many of them whom wysedome or fortune hath diuided from the common sort thynke it to be true but yf you shal aske my opinion herein I wyl answere that I wyll not attribute so great power to nature but that God hath no lesse reserued this prerogatiue to hym selfe then to searche the hartes of men or to geue substaunce to priuation that is beyng to no beyng except we shall beleeue the fable of Colchis of Eson renouate to be as true as the wrytynges of Sibylla Erythrea Albeit perhaps the scooles of Phisitions and natural philosophers wyll not muche stycke to affyrme that by the vse of certayne secrete medicines and dyet the accidentes of age as they cal them may be long hydden and deferred whiche they wyl to be vnderstoode by the renouation of age And to haue sayde thus much of the length and breadth of these regions and of the rough and hugious mountaynes with theyr waterye caues also of the diuers degrees of that lande I thinke it sufficient But I thought it not good to let passe what chaunced to these miserable men among theyr generall calamities I remember that when I was a chylde me thought my bowelles grated and that my spirites were marueylously troubled for very pitie when I read in the poete Uirgyl howe Achemenides was left of Vlysses vpon the sea bankes among y e giantes called Cyclopes where for the space of many dayes from the departyng of Vlysses vntyl the comming of Eneas he eate none other meate but only berries and hawes But our vnfortunate Spanyards whiche folowed Nicuesa to inhabite Beragua would haue esteemed hawes berries for great delicates What should I heare speake of the head of an asse bought for a great pryce and of such other extremities as men haue suffered in townes besieged After that Nicuesa had determined to leaue Beragua for the barrennesse of the soyle he attempted to searche Portum Bellum and then the coastes of the poynt called Marmor yf he myght there fynde a place more fortunate to inhabite In this meane tyme so greeuous famine oppressed his souldiers that they neyther absteined frō eating of mangie dogges which they had with them aswel for theyr defence as for huntyng for in the warre agaynst the naked people dogges stoode them in great steade nor yet sometyme from the slaine inhabitauntes for they found not there any fruitful trees or plentie of foules as in Dariena but a barren ground and not meete to be inhabited Here certaine of the souldiers made a bargayne with one of their felowes for the pryce of a leane dogge who also was almost dead for hunger they gaue the owner of the dogge many of those peeces of gold which they cal Pesos or golden Castellans Thus agreeing of the pryce they flayed the dogge to be eaten and cast his mangie skinne with the bones of the head hangyng thereto among the bushes The day folowyng a certayne
thynke that the inhabitauntes of other Ilandes had theyr seedes of so many pleasaunt fruites from hence For the Cambales beyng a wylde and wanderyng people and ouerrunnyng all the countreye about them to hunte for mans fleshe were accustomed to bryng home with them whatsoeuer they founde straunge or profytable in anye place They are intractable and will admit no straungers It shall therefore bee needefull to ouercome them with great power For as well the women as men are experte archers and vse to inuenome theyr arrowes When the men go foorth of the lande a man huntyng the women manfully defend their coastes agaynst suche as attempt 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 Admiral him selfe perswaded mee as I haue sayde in the fyrst Decade This Ilande hath also fruitefull mountaynes and playnes and notable ryuers It nourysheth hony in trees and in the caues of rockes as in Palma one of the Ilandes of Canarie hony is geathered among the bryers and bramble bushes About .xviii. myles Eastward from this Ilande lyeth an Ilande which our men named Desiderata beyng .xx. myles in circuite and verye fayre Also about tenne myles from Guadalupea towarde the South lyeth the Ilande of Galanta beyng thirtie myles in circuite and plaine It was so named for the neatenesse and beautifulnesse therof Niene myles distant from Guadalupea towarde the East there are sixe small Ilandes named Todos Sanctos or Barbata these are full of rockes barren yet necessary to be knowen to such as vse to trauayle the seas of these coastes Agayne from Guadalupea .xxxv. myles towarde the North there is an Ilande named Monsserratus conteynyng in circuite fourtie myles hauyng also in it a mountayne of notable heyght The Ilande named Antiqua distante from Guadalupea thirtie myles is about fourtie myles in circuite Diegus Colonus the sonne and heyre of Christiphorus Colonus tolde me that his wyfe whom he lefte in the Ilande of Hispaniola at his comming into Spayne to the courte did wryte vnto him that of late among the Ilandes of the Canibales there is one founde which aboundeth with golde On the lefte syde of Hispaniola towarde the South neere vnto the hauen Beata there lyeth an Ilande named Portus Bellus they tell marueilous thinges of the monsters of the sea about this Ilande and especially of the Tortoyses for they say that they are bygger then great rounde targettes At suche tyme as the heate of nature moueth them to generation they come foorth of the sea and makyng a deepe pyt in the sande they lay three or foure hundred egges therein When they haue thus emptied theyr bagge of conception they put as muche of the sande agayne into the pyt as may suffyse to couer the egges and so resorte agayne to the sea nothyng carefull of theyr succession At the day appoynted of nature to the procreation of these beastes there creepeth out a multitude of Tortoyses as it were pyssemares swarmyng out of an ant hyll and this onely by the heate of the Sunne without any helpe of theyr parentes They say that theyr egges are in maner as bygge as Geese egges They also compare the fleshe of these Tortoyses to bee equall with veale in taste There are besyde these innumerable Ilandes the whiche they haue not yet searched nor yet is it greatly necessary to syft this meale so fynely It may suffyse to vnderstande that there are large landes and many regions which shall heereafter receyue our nations tounges and maners and therewith embrase our religion The Troyans dyd not sodeinly replenyshe Asia the Tyrians Libya nor the Greekes and Phenices Spayne As touchyng the Ilandes whiche lye on the North syde of Hispaniola I haue let passe to speake For albeit they are commodious for tyllage and fyshyng yet are they lefte of the Spanyardes as poore and of small value We will nowe therefore take our leaue of this olde Tethis with her moyst and watery Nymphes and receyue to our new acquayntance the beautifull lady of the South sea rychly crowned with great pearles the Ilande of Dites beyng ryche both in name and in treasure In my Epistle booke which I sent vnto your holynesse this last yeere I declared howe Vaschus Nunnez Balboa the Captayne of them which passed ouer the daungerous mountaynes toward the South sea learned by report that in the prospecte of those coastes there laye an Ilande aboundyng with pearles of the greatest sort and that the kyng thereof was ryche and of great power infestyng with warres the other kynges his borderers and especially Chiapes and Tumacchus Wee declared further howe at that tyme it was left vntouched by reason of the ragyng tempestes which troubled that South sea three monethes in the yeere But it is now better knowne to our men who haue now also brought that fierce kyng to humanitie and conuerted him from a cruell Tyger to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke sanctifyed with the water of baptisme with all his family and kyngdome It shall not therefore bee from our purpose to declare by the gouernaunce of what captaines or by what meanes these thinges were so happyly atchyued The tenth booke of the thyrde Decade AT the arryuall of Petrus Arias the newe gouernour of Dariena he gaue commaundement that one Gasper Moralis should take in hande thexpedition to the Iland of Dites He therfore tooke his vyage first to Chiapes and Tumacchus kings of the South whom Vaschus before had conciled and left friends to the Christians They friendly and magnifically enterteyned our men who prepared them a nauie of the kyngs boates to passe ouer into this Ilande which they call Dites not Margarita or Margaritea although it abounde with pearles which in the latin tonge are called Margaritae For they first called an other by this name which lyeth next to the mouth of Os Draconis in the region of Paria in the which also is found great plenty of pearles Gasper brought with him onely .lx. armed men to the Ilande for that hee could conuey ouer no greater number by reason of the smalnesse and narownes of their boates or barkes which they call Culchas made of one whole peece of timber as we haue sayd before The kyng of y e Iland came foorth agaynst them fiercely w t cruell and threatning countenance with a great bande of armed men crying in maner of a larome in token of the battaile Guazzauara Guazzauara which is as much to say as battayle against y e enemy is as it were a watch word to giue thonset wherwith also they threw their darts for they haue not thuse of bowes They were so obstinate desperate that they assailed our men w t foure Guazzauaras that is battayles At the length our men with certaine of Chiapes and Tumacchus men being olde
and whole head besyde being couered therewith and thus entreth hee into the poole euen vnto the chynne For being from theyr infancie exercised in swymmyng and accustomed to the waters they refuse not to continue therein a long space the foules thynking this Gourde to bee one of the other that swymme vppon the water the fouler goeth softly to the place where hee seeth the greatest flocke of foules and with waggyng his head counterfeyting the mouyng of the waueryng Gourdes draweth neare to the foules where softly puttyng foorth his ryght hande he sodainly snatcheth one by the legges and plungeth her into the water where hee putteth her into a bagge whiche hee hath with hym of purpose The other foules supposyng that this dyued into the water of her owne motion to seeke for foode as is theyr maner are nothyng moued heereby but goe forwarde on their way as before vntyll they also fall into the same snare I haue heere for this cause entred into the declaration of theyr maner of huntyng and foulyng that by these more pleasaunt narrations I may somewhat mittigate and asswage the horrour conceyued in your stomake by the former rehearsal of theyr blooddy actes and cruell maners Let vs nowe therefore speake somewhat agayne of the newe and later opinions as concernyng the swyft course of the sea towarde the West about the coastes of Paria also of the maner of geatheryng of golde in the golde myne of Dariena as I was aduertised of late and with these two quiet and peaceable thinges we will make an ende of the tragicall affayres of the Ocean and therewith byd your holynesse farewell So it is therfore that Andreas Moralis the pilot and Ouiedus of whom wee haue made mention before repayred to mee at my house in the towne of Matrite As we met thus togeather there arose a contention betweene them two as concernyng this course of the Ocean They both agree that these landes and regions parteynyng to the dominion of Castile doe with one continual tract perpetual bond embrase as one whole firme lande or continent all the mayne lande lying on the North side of Cuba the other Ilands being also Northwest both from Cuba Hispaniola Yet as touching the course of the water they varry in opinion For Andreas wil that this violent course of water be receiued in the lappe of the supposed continent which bendeth so much and extendeth so farre towarde the North as wee haue sayde and that by the obiect or resistance of the lande so bending and crookyng the water should as it were rebounde in compasse and by force thereof bee driuen about the North syde of Cuba and the other Ilands excluded without y e circle called Tropicus Cancri where the largenes of y e sea may receiue the waters falling from the narow streames therby represse that inordinate course by reason that the sea is there very large and great I can compare his meanyng to nothing more aptely then to the swyft streame commyng foorth of a myll and fallyng into the myll poole For in all such places where waters runne with a violent fall through narowe chanelles and are then receyued in large pooles they are sodeynly disparcled and theyr violence broken So that whereas before they seemed of suche force as to ouerthrowe all thinges beyng in theyr way it can not then be perceyued which way they runne The Admirall him selfe Diegus Colonus sonne and heyre to Christiphorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of these landes who had nowe in commyng and going foure tymes passed through these seas being demaunded of me what he founde or perceyued in saylyng too and fro answered that there was muche difficultie in returnyng the same way by the which they goe But whereas they fyrst take the way by the mayne sea towarde the North before they directe theyr course to Spayne he sayth that in that tract hee felt the shyppe sometymes a lyttle dryuen backe by the contrary course of the water Yet supposeth that this chaunceth onely by the ordinary flowyng and reflowyng of the sea and the same not to bee enforced by the circumflection or course of the water reboundyng in compasse as wee haue sayde But thinketh rather that this mayne lande or supposed continent should somewhere bee open and that the sayde open place should bee as it were a gate entrie or streyght diuyding the North partes of that lande from the South by the which also the Ocean runnyng towarde the West may by the rotation or impulsion of the heauens bee dryuen about the whole earth Ouiedus agreeth with Andreas Moralis as touchyng the continuall adherence and closenesse of the sayde continent Yet neyther that the waters should so beate agaynst the bendyng backe of the West lande or bee in such sort repulsed and driuen into the mayne sea But sayth that he hath diligently considered that the waters runne from the deepest and myddest of the mayne sea towarde the West Also that saylyng neere vnto the shore with small vessels hee founde the same waters to returne againe towarde the East so that in the same place they runne togeather with contrary course as we oftentymes see the lyke to chaunce in ryuers where by the obiect of the bankes dyuers whirlepooles and turnynges aryse in the water By reason whereof if any chaffe strawe wood or any other thyng of lyght substance be cast in any such places in ryuers it foloweth that all suche as runne with the water in the myddest of the chanell proceede well forwarde but suche as fall into the bendyng gulfes and indented margentes of the crooked bankes are caryed ouerthwart the chanell and so wander about vntyll they meete with the full and directe course of the ryuer Thus haue we made you partener of suche thinges as they haue giuen vs and written their dyuers opinions We will then giue more certayne reason when more certayne trueth shal be knowne We must in the meane tyme leane to opinions vntill the day come appointed of God to reueale this secrete of nature with the perfect knowledge of the pointe of the pole starre Hauyng sayde thus muche of the course of the Ocean a briefe declaration of the golde mynes of Dariena shall close vp our Decades and make an ende of our trauayles Wee haue sayde that niene myles distant from Dariena are the sydes of the hylles and the drye playnes in the whiche golde is geathered both on the drye lande and also on the bankes and in the chanelles of ryuers Therefore to all suche as are wyllyng to geather golde there is of ordinarie custome appointed to euery man by the suruoyers of the mynes a square plotte of grounde conteynyng twelue pases at the arbitrement of the chooser so that it be not grounde alredy occupyed or left of other The portion of grounde being thus chosen as it were assigned of the augures to buylde a temple they inclose their slaues within the same whose helpe the
sentence against him and how apt the Barbarous nations are to embrase the Christian fayth The contentes of the seuenth booke Fol. 81. HOwe Quicedus and Colmenaris the procuratours of Dariena were honourably enterteyned at the court and brought to the kynges presence and howe theyr complexion was chaunged by alteration of the ayre Howe Petrus Arias a noble man was elected gouernour and Lieuetenaunt of Dariena and howe other of the court laboured for the same office also howe the bishop of Burges spake to the kyng in his behalfe Howe Petrus Arias had a thousande and two hundred souldyers appoynted him at the kynges charges and of the kynges custome house in the citie of Ciuile called the house of the contractes of India Howe a great number of Spanyardes profered them selues to goe at theyr owne charges and of a restraint made that no straunger myght passe without the kyngs licence also how the aucthour reproueth Aloisius Cadamustus a wryter of the Portugales viages Howe Petrus Arias shortly after his departure from Ciuile lost two of his shyppes and was dryuen backe agayne by tempest and howe beyng newly furnyshed he passed the Ocean with more prosperous wyndes The thyrd viage of Vincentius Pinzonus and howe he came to the regions of Paria where encountryng with thinhabitauntes he put them fyrst to flyght but after fallyng to intreatie of peace they gaue him great plentie of golde and abundaunce of masculine frankensence with dyuers other princely presentes Of the great multitude of Popingiayes whiche are in the region of Paria and howe thinhabitours are apparelled also of the fyue kynges that made a league of friendshyp with Vincentius Howe Vincentius sayled Eastwarde by the tracte of the region of Paria vntyl he came to the poynt of that long lande which the aucthour supposeth to be the great Ilande Atlantike wherof the olde wryters make mention The contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 86. A Contention betweene the Castilians and Portugales as concernyng the diuision of the new founde landes and howe the controuersie was fynished by the bishop of Rome Howe Don Christopher the gouernour of the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis was slayne by the Caniballes and the bishop put to flyght also of the other bishops of the Ilandes Howe the Caniballes of the Ilande of Sancta Crux slue and ate a kyng with certayne of his men beyng friendes to the Christians and made faggottes of theyr bones and howe quarellyng with our men they put them to silence The contentes of the .ix. booke Fol. 87. OF the marueylous fruitfulnesse of the regions of Beragua Vraba and Dariena and of the dyuers kyndes of trees and fruites also of the pleasaunt taste of swynes fleshe beyng fedde with the fruites of Mirobalane trees Of Lions and Tygers and other wylde beastes and of a beast of straunge fourme Of the ryuers of the gulfe of Vraba as the ryuer of Dariena and Rio Grandis and howe the great serpentes called Crocodiles are founde in other ryuers besyde Nilus in Egypt also howe thaucthour of this booke was sent Ambassadour to the Soldane of Alcayr in Egypt Of the Portugales nauigations and of the ryuer Senega found by them to bee a chanell of Nilus also of the multitude of byrds and foules being in the maryshes of Dariena A phylosophicall discourse of thoriginall and generation of sprynges and ryuers and of the breadth of the lande diuydyng the North and South Ocean Of the great ryuer Maragnonus and of the earthly Paradyse and how springs are engendred by cōuertion of ayre into water Of the often fall 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 olde wryters and howe certayne ryuers runnyng through the caues of the earth breake foorth into spryngs a farre of The contentes of the .x. booke Fol. 91. HOwe the newe founde landes discouered by the Spanyards 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 Vesputius The order of measuryng the lande and howe a league conteyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande The Nauigation of Iohannes Dias and of the sundry eleuations of the pole starre Of the Ilande of Boiuca or Agnaneo and of the spryng whose water being drunke causeth olde men to looke young How Nicuesa and his souldyers were so oppressed with famine that they were driuen to eate mangie dogges Toades and dead men and howe a broth made of a dogge skynne was solde for many peeces of golde The Contentes of the bookes of the thyrd Decade The contentes of the fyrst booke Fol. 94. OF the desperate aduenture and good fortune of Vaschus and howe with a hundred fourescore and ten men hee brought that to passe for the which Petrus Arias was sent with a thousand and two hundred freshe souldyers Howe Iron serueth for more necessary vses then golde and howe superfluities hynder libertie Howe Vaschus in one conflicte slue sixe hundred Barbarians with theyr kynges and howe he founde the house of kyng Quarequa infected with vnnaturall lechery commaundyng that the kyng and fourtie such as he kept for that purpose should bee gyuen for a pray to his dogges which he vsed to serue in the warres agaynst these naked people Of a region of blacke Moores and howe Vaschus came to the toppes of the mountaynes where gyuyng thankes to God hee behelde the newe South Ocean neuer before seene nor knowne to men of our world Howe Vaschus put kyng Chiapes to flyght and after made a league of friendshyp with him and how the kyng gaue him .iiii. hundred poundes weyght of wrought golde Howe kyng Coquera was put to flyght who also being receyued to friendshyp gaue Vaschus sixe hundred and fyftie poundes weyght of wrought golde Of the gulfe called Sinus S. Michaelis beyng full of inhabited Ilandes and of the manly courage and godly zeale of Vaschus also of the rysyng and fallyng of the South sea Howe kyng Tumacchus beyng dryuen to flyght and afterwarde reconciled gaue Vaschus sixe hundred and fourtiene peeses of golde and two hundred and fourtie of the greatest and fayrest pearles and howe the kyng caused his men to fyshe for pearles Of the Ilande called Margaritea Diues and of the abundance of fayre and great pearles founde therein Of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line and of the Portugales nauigations to the Antipodes inhabityng the fyue and fyftie 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. 101. OF the maner of fyshyng for pearles and of the three kyndes thereof also dyuers other questions concernyng pearles Of the multitude of the shell fyshes wherein pearles are ingendred and founde in maner in all places in the South sea and of abundaunce of golde founde almost in
greater respect to luker and gaynes then diligently to search the workes of nature whervnto I haue ben euer naturally inclined haue therfore with all possible endeuour applyed myne eyes intelligence to fynde the same And this present Summarie shall not be contrary or dyuers from my larger historie wherein as I haue sayde I haue more amply declared these thinges but shal onely more breefely expresse theffect thereof vntyl such tyme as God shall restore me to myne owne house where I may accomplyshe and fynyshe my sayde generall hystorie Whervnto to gyue the fyrst principle I say that Don Christopher Colonus as it is well knowen beyng the fyrst Admirall of this India discouered the same in the dayes of the Catholyke kyng Don Ferdinando and the lady Elizabeth his wyfe graundfather and graundmother vnto your maiestie in the yeere .1491 and came to Barzalona in the yeere .1492 with the fyrst Indians and other shewes and proofes of the great ryches and notice of this west Empire The which gyft and benefite was suche that it is vnto this day one of the greatest that euer any subiecte or seruaunt hath done for his prince or countrey as is manifest to the whole worlde And to say the trueth this shall doubtlesse bee so commodious and profytable vnto the whole realme of Spayne that I repute him no good Castilian or Spanyarde that doeth not recognise the same And as I haue sayde before forasmuche as in my sayde generall historie I haue more largely intreated of these thinges I intende at this present only briefely to rehearse certayne especiall thinges the whiche surely are very fewe in respecte of the thousandes that myght be sayde in this behalfe Fyrst therefore I will speake somewhat of the nauigation into these parties then of the generation of the nations which are founde in the same with theyr rytes customes â–ª and ceremonies also of beastes foules byrdes woormes fyshes seas ryuers sprynges trees plantes hearbes and dyuers other thinges whiche are engendered both on the lande and in the water And forasmuche as I am one of thorder and company of them that are appoynted to returne into these regions to serue your maiestie if therefore the thinges conteyned in this booke shall not be distincte in suche order as I promised to perfourme in my greater woorke I desyre your maiestie to haue no respect herevnto but rather to consider the noueltie of such straunge thinges as I haue herein declared whiche is the chiefe ende that moued mee to wryte Protestyng that in this Summarie I haue written the trueth of suche thinges as came to my remembraunce whereof not onely I my selfe can testifie but also dyuers other worthy and credible men which haue been in those regions and are now present in your maiesties courte And thus it shall suffyse to haue sayde thus much vnto your maiestie in maner of a proheme vnto this present worke whiche I most humbly desyre your maiestie as thankefully to accept as I haue written it faythfully Of the ordinary nauigation from Spayne to the west Indies THe nauigation which is commonly made from Spayne to the west India is from Siuile where your maiestie haue your house of contraction for those partes with also your offycers therevnto parteynyng of whom the captaynes take theyr passeporte and lycence The patrones of suche shippes as are appoynted to these viages imbarke them selues at San Luca di Barameda where the riuer Cuadalchiber entreth into the Ocean sea and from hence they folow their course toward the Ilands of Canarie Of these seuen Ilandes they commonly touche two that is eyther Grancanaria or Gomera and here the shyppes are furnyshed with freshe water fuell cheese beefe and suche other thinges which may seeme requisite to bee added to suche as they bryng with them out of Spayne From Spayne to these Ilandes is commonly eyght dayes sayling or little more or lesse and when they are arryued there they haue sayled two hundred and fyftie leagues whiche make a thousand myles accompting foure myles to a league as is their maner to recken by sea Departing from the sayd Ilands to folow their course the shyppes tary .xxv. dayes or a litle more or lesse before they see the fyrst lande of the Ilandes that lye before that whiche they call La Spagnuola or Hispaniola and the lande that is commonly fyrst seene is one of these Ilandes which they call Ogni sancti Marigalante or Galanta La Desseada otherwise called Desiderata Matanino Dominica Guadalupea San Christoual or some other of the Ilandes wherof there are a great multitude lying about these aforesayde Yet it sometymes so chaunceth that the shyppes passe without the sight of any of the sayd Ilandes or any other that are within that course vntill they come to the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis or Hispaniola or Iamaica or Cuba which are before the other It may also chaunce that they ouerpasse all these lykewyse vntyll they fall vppon the coastes of the firme lande But this chaunceth when the pilot is not well practised in this nauigation or not perfect in the true carde But makyng this viage with experte maryners whereof there is nowe great plentie one of the sayde fyrst Ilandes shall euer bee knowen And from the Ilandes of Canarie to one of the fyrst of these the distaunce is niene hundred leagues by sayling or more and from hence to the citie of sainct Dominike which is in the Iland of Hispaniola is a hundred and fyftie leagues so that from Spayne hitherto is a thousande and three hundred leagues Yet forasmuche as sometymes the nauigation proceedeth not so directly but that it chaunceth to wander euer on the one syde or on the other we may well say that they haue now sayled a thousand and fyue hundred leagues and more And if the nauigation bee slow by reason of some hynderaunce it commonly chaunceth to be fynished in xxxv or .xl. dayes and this happeneth for the most parte not accomptyng the extremes that is eyther of them that haue slowe passage or of them that arryue in very short tyme for we ought to consyder that which chaunceth most commonly The returne from those partes to Spayne is not fynished without longer tyme as in the space of fiftie dayes or a litle more or lesse Neuerthelesse in this present yeere of .1525 there came foure shyppes from the Ilande of San Dominico to sainct Luca in Spayne in .xxv. dayes But as I haue sayde we ought not to iudge of that which chaunceth seldome but of that which happeneth most ordinarily This nauigation is very safe and much vsed euen vnto the sayde Iland And from this to the firme land the shyppes trauerse diuers wayes for the space of fyue sixe or seuen dayes saylyng or more accordyng to the partes or coastes whither they directe theyr viages forasmuch as the sayde fyrme lande is very great and large and many nauigations and viages are directed to dyuers partes of the same Yet to the firme land which
learned men I am not satisfyed of the naturall cause hereof I content my selfe to knowe and beleeue that he whiche hath made these thynges dooth knowe this and many other which he hath not graunted to the reason of man to comprehende muche lesse to so base a wyt as myne is They therefore that are of greater vnderstandyng shall search the cause hereof for them and for me forasmuche as I haue onely put the matter in question as a wytnesse that haue seene thexperience of the thyng Of the strayght or narrowe passage of the land lying betweene the North and South sea by the which spyces may much sooner and easlyer be brought from the Ilandes of Molucca into Spaine by the VVest Ocean then by that way whereby the Portugales sayle into the East India IT hath been an opinion among the Cosmographers and Pilottes of late tyme and other whiche haue had practyse in thynges touchyng the sea that there shoulde be a strayght of water passing from the North sea of the fyrme into the South sea of Sur which neuerthelesse hath not been seene nor founde to this day And surely yf there be any such strayght we that inhabite those partes do thynke the same should be rather of land then of water For the fyrme land in some partes thereof is so strayght and narrowe that the Indians say that from the mountaynes of the prouince of Esquegua or Vrraca which are betweene the one sea and the other if a man ascend to the top of the mountaines and looke toward the North he may see the water of the North sea of the prouince of Beragua againe looking the contrary way may on the other syde towards the South see the sea of Sur and the prouinces which confine with it as do the territories of the two Lordes or kynges of the sayde prouinces of Vrraca and Esquegua And I beleeue that yf it be as the Indians say of all that is hytherto knowen this is the narrowest strayght of the fyrme land whiche some affirme to be full of rough mountaynes Yet do I take it for a better way or soo short as is that whiche is made from the port called Nomen Dei whiche is in the North sea vnto the newe citie of Panama beyng in the coast and on the bancke of the sea of Sur whiche way is lykewyse very rough full of thycke wooddes mountaynes ryuers valleyes and very difficult to passe through and can not be done without great labour trauaile Some measure this way in this part to be from sea to sea eighteene leagues whiche I suppose to be rather twentie not for that it is any more by measure but because it is rough and difficult as I haue sayde and as I haue founde it by experience hauyng now twise passed that way by foote countyng from the port and village of Nomen Dei vnto the dominion of the Cacique of Iuanaga otherwyse called Capira eyght leagues and from thence to the ryuer of Chagre other eyght leagues So that at this riuer beyng sixteene leagues from the sayde port endeth the roughnesse of the way then from hence to the marueilous brydge are two leagues and beyonde that other two vnto the port of Panama So that altogeather in my iudgement make twentie leagues And yf therefore this nauigation may be founde in the South sea for the trade of spyces as we trust in God to be brought from thence to the sayde port of Panama as is possible enough they maye afterwarde easely passe to the North sea notwithstandyng the difficultie of the way of the twentie leagues aforesayde Which thyng I affirme as a man wel trauayled in these regions hauyng twyse on my feete passed ouer this strayght in the yeere 1521. as I haue said It is furthermore to be vnderstoode that it is a marueilous facilitie to bryng spices by this way which I wil now declare From Panama to the ryuer of Chagre are foure leagues of good and fayre way by the which cartes may passe at pleasure by reason that the mountaines are but few and litle and that the greatest part of these foure leagues is a playne grounde voyde of trees and when the cartes are come to the sayde ryuer â–ª the spyces may be caried in Barkes and pynnesses For this riuer entreth into the North sea fyue or syxe leagues lower then the port of Nomen Dei and emptieth it selfe in the sea neere vnto an Iland called Bastimento where is a verye good and safe port Your maiestie may now therfore consyder howe great a thyng â–ª and what commoditie it may be to conuey spices this way forasmuch as y e riuer of Chagre hauing his originall only two leagues from the South sea continueth his course and emptieth it selfe into the other North sea This riuer runneth fast and is verye great and so commodious for this purpose as may be thought or desired the marueylous brydge made by the worke of nature beyng two leagues beyond the sayde ryuer other two leagues on this syde the port of Panama so lying in the mydde waye betweene them both as framed naturally in suche sort that none which passe by this viage doth see any such brydge or thinke that there is any such buyldyng in that place vntyll they be in the top thereof in the way towarde Panama But assoone as they are on the brydge lookyng towarde the ryght hande they see a litle ryuer vnder them whiche hath his chanell distant from the feete of them that walke ouer it the space of two speares length or more The water of this ryuer is very shalowe not passyng the deapth of a mans legge to the knee and is in breadth betweene thyrtie and fourtie pases and falleth into the ryuer of Chagre Towarde the ryght hand standyng on this brydge there is nothing seene but great trees The largenesse of the brydge conteyneth fyfteene pases and the length thereof about threescore or fourescore pases The arche is so made of most harde stone that no man can beholde it without admiration beyng made by the hygh and omnipotent creatour of all thinges But to returne to speake somewhat more of the conueying of spices I say that when it shall please almyghtie God that this nauigation aforesayde shall be founde by the good fortune of your maiestie and that the spyces of the Ilandes of the South sea whiche may also be otherwyse called the Ocean of the East India in the which are the Ilandes of Molucca shal be brought to the sayd coast and the port of Panama and be conueyed from thence as we haue sayde by the fyrme lande with cartes vnto the ryuer of Chagre and from thence into this our other sea of the North from whence they may afterwarde be brought into Spayne I say that by this meanes the viage shal be shortned more then seuen thousand leagues with muche lesse daunger then is by the viage nowe vsed by the
the contrary parte of the sayde lande discouered The sayd maister Antonie wrote furthermore that by the opinion of men well practised there was discouered so great a space of that countrey vnto the sayde sea that it passed .950 leagues whiche make .2850 myles And doubtlesse if the Frenche men in this theyr newe Fraunce would haue passed by lande toward the sayd Northwest and by North they should also haue founde the sea whereby they myght haue sayled to Cathay But aboue all thynges this seemed vnto me most woorthie of commendation that the sayde maister Antonie wrote in his letter that he had made a booke of al the naturall and marueylous thinges whiche they founde in searchyng those countreys with also the measures of landes and altytudes of degrees A worke doubtlesse which sheweth a princely and magnificall mynd wherby we may conceiue that if God had giuen him the charge of the other hemispherie he would or now haue made it better knowen to vs. The which thing I suppose no man doth greatly esteeme at this tyme beyng neuerthelesse the greatest and most glorious enterpryse that may be imagined And heere makyng a certayne pause and turnyng him selfe towarde vs hee sayde Doe you not vnderstande to this purpose howe to passe to India towarde the Northwest wynde as dyd of late a citizen of Uenece so valiant a man and so well practised in all thinges perteynyng to nauigations and the science of Cosmographie that at this present hee hath not his lyke in Spayne insomuche that for his vertues hee is preferred aboue all other pylottes that sayle to the West Indies who may not passe thyther without his lycence and is therefore called Piloto Maggiore that is the graunde pylote And when we sayde that wee knewe him not hee proceeded saying that beyng certayne yeeres in the citie of Siuile and desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyardes it was tolde him that there was in the citie a valiant man a Uenecian borne named Sebastian Cabote who had the charge of those thinges beyng an expert man in that science and one that could make cardes for the sea with his owne hande and that by this reporte seekyng his acquayntaunce hee founde him a very gentle person who enterteyned him friendly and shewed him many thinges and among other a large Mappe of the worlde with certayne perticular nauigations aswell of the Portugales as of the Spanyardes and that hee spake further vnto him in this effecte When my father departed from Uenece many yeeres since to dwell in Englande to folowe the trade of merchandyes hee tooke mee with him to the citie of London whyle I was very young yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of letters of humanitie and of the sphere And when my father dyed in that tyme when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had discouered the coasts of India wherof was great talke in all the court of kyng Henry the seuenth who then reigned insomuche that all men with great admiration affirmed it to be a thing more diuine then humane to sayle by the West into the East where spyces growe by a way that was neuer knowen before By which fame and report there increased in my harte a great flame of desyre to attempte some notable thyng And vnderstandyng by reason of the sphere that if I should sayle by the way of the Northwest wynde I should by a shorter tracte come to India I therevppon caused the kyng to bee aduertised of my diuise who immediately commaunded two Carauels to be furnyshed with all thinges apperteynyng to the vyage which was as farre as I remember in the yeere .1496 in the begynnyng of sommer Beginning therefore to sayle toward Northwest not thinking to fynde any other lande then that of Cathay and from thence to turne toward India But after certayne dayes I founde that the lande ranne towarde the North which was to me a great displeasure Neuerthelesse saylyng along by the coast to see if I could fynde any gulfe that turned I founde the lande styll continent to the .56 degree vnder our pole And seeyng that there the coast turned toward the East dispayring to fynde the passage I turned backe agayne and sayled downe by the coast of that lande towarde the Equinoctiall euer with intent to fynde the sayde passage to India and came to that parte of this firme lande whiche is nowe called Florida Where my victualles faylyng I departed from thence and returned into Englande where I founde great tumultes among the people and preparance for warres in Scotlande by reason whereof there was no more consideration had to this vyage Whervppon I went into Spayne to the Catholyke kyng and queene Elizabeth who beyng aduertised what I had done enterteyned mee and at theyr charges furnyshed certayne shyppes wherewith they caused mee to sayle to discouer the coastes of Brasile where I founde an exceedyng great and large ryuer named at this present Rio della Plata that is the ryuer of siluer into the whiche I sayled and folowed it into the firme lande more then sixe hundred leagues fyndyng it euery where very fayre and inhabited with infinite people whiche with admiration came runnyng dayly to our shyppes Into this ryuer runne so many other riuers that it is in maner incredible After this I made many other vyages whiche I now permyt And wexyng olde I gyue my selfe to rest from suche traueyles bycause there are nowe many young and lusty Pylotes and mariners of good experience by whose forwardnesse I doe reioyce in the fruites of my labours and rest with the charge of this office as you see And this is as muche as I haue vnderstoode of maister Sebastian Cabote as I haue geathered out of dyuers nauigations written in the Italian tongue And whereas I haue before made mention howe Moscouia was in our tyme discouered by Richarde Chanceler in his viage towarde Cathay by the direction and information of the sayd maister Sebastian who long before had this secrete in his mynd I shall not neede heere to describe that viage forasmuche as the same is largely and faythfully written in the Latine tongue by that learned young man Clement Adams schoolemaister to the Queenes Henshemen as he receyued it at the mouth of the sayd Richard Chanceler Neuerthelesse I haue thought good heere to speake somewhat of Moscouia as I haue redde in the booke of Iohn Faber written in the Latine tongue to the ryght noble Prince Ferdinando Archeduke of Austria and Infant of Spaine of the maners and religion of the Moscouites as he was partly instructed by the Ambassadours of the Duke of Moscouie sent into Spayne to Themperours maiestie in the yeere .1525 He wryteth therefore as foloweth I thynke it fyrst conuenient to speake somewhat of the name of this region whereby it is called at this day and howe it was called in olde tyme. Conferryng therefore the moste
is the chiefe that the Catholyke fayth and Christian religion specially in this our tyme may in all places be exalted amplified and enlarged whereby the health of soules may be procured and the Barbarous nations subdued and brought to the fayth And therefore whereas by the fauour of Gods clemencie although not without equall desertes we are called to this holy seate of Peter and vnderstanding you to be true Catholyke princes as we haue euer knowen you and as your noble and woorthy factes haue declared in maner to the whole world in that with all your studie diligence and industry you haue spared no trauayles charges or peryls aduenturyng euen the shedyng of your owne blood with applying your whole myndes and endeuours herevnto as your noble expeditions achyued in recouering the kyngdom of Granata from the tyrrany of the Sarracens in these our dayes do plainly declare your factes with so great glory of the diuine name For the whiche as we thynk you worthy so ought we of our owne free wyl fauorably to graunt you al thynges whereby you may dayly with more feruent myndes to the honour of God and enlargyng the Christian Empire prosecute your deuout and laudable purpose most acceptable to the immortall God We are credibly infourmed that whereas of late you were determyned to seeke and fynde certayne Ilandes and fyrme landes farre remote and vnknowen and not heretofore founde by any other to the intent to bryng the inhabitantes of the same to honor our redeemer to professe the catholike fayth you haue hytherto been much occupied in the expugnation and recouerie of the kyngdome of Granata by reason wherof you coulde not bryng your sayde laudable purpose to the ende desyred Neuerthelesse as it hath pleased almyghtie God the foresayde kyngdome beyng recouered wyllyng to accomplishe your sayde desyre you haue not without great labour peryls charges appoynted our welbeloued sonne Christopher Colonus a man certesse wel commended as most worthy and apt for so great a matter well furnyshed with men and shippes and other necessaries to seeke by the sea where hytherto no man hath sayled suche firme landes and Ilandes farre remote and hytherto vnknowen who by Gods helpe makyng diligent searche in the Ocean sea haue founde certayne remote Ilandes firme landes whiche were not heretofore found by any other in the whiche as is sayde many nations inhabite lyuyng peaceably and goyng naked not accustomed to eate fleshe and as farre as your messengers can coniecture the nations inhabytyng the foresayd landes and Ilandes beleeue that there is one God creator in heauen and seeme apt to be brought to the imbrasyng of the catholyke fayth and to be imbued with good maners by reason wherof we may hope that yf they be well instructed they may easyly be induced to receyue the name of our sauiour Iesus Christe We are further aduertised that the forenamed Christopher hath now buylded and erected a fortresse with good munition in one of the foresayde principall Ilandes in the whiche he hath placed a garryson of certayne of the Christian men that went thyther with hym 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 Spyces with diuers and manye other precious thynges of sundrye kyndes and qualities Therfore all thynges diligently consydered especially the amplyfying and enlargyng of the catholike fayth as i◠behoueth catholike princes folowyng the examples of your noble progenitours of famous memorie whereas you are determined by the fauour of almyghtie God to subdue and bryng to the catholyke fayth thinhabitantes of the aforesayde landes and Ilandes We greatly commendyng this your godly and laudable purpose in our Lorde and desyrous to haue the same brought to a due ende and the name of our sauiour to be knowen in those partes do exhort you in our Lorde and by the receiuyng of your holy baptysme wherby you are bound to Apostolical obedience earnestly require you by the bowels of mercie of our Lord Iesu Christ that when you intende for the zeale of the Catholyke fayth to prosecute the sayde expedition to reduce the people of the forsayde landes and Ilandes to the Christian relgion you shall spare no labours at any tyme or be deterred with any peryls conceiuyng fyrme hope and confidence that the omnipotent God wyll geue good successe to your godly attemptes And that beyng auctorysed by the priuilege of the Apostolycall grace you may the more freely and boldly take vppon you thenterpryse of so great a matter we of our owne motion and not eyther at your request or at the instant petition of any other person but of our owne mere liberalitie and certayne science and by the fulnesse of Apostolycall power do geue graunt and assigne to you your heyres and successours all the fyrme landes and Ilandes found or to be foūd discouered or to be discouered toward y e west south drawing a lyne from the pole Artik to y e pole Antartike that is from the North to the South Contaynyng in this donation whatsoeuer fyrme landes or Ilandes are founde or to be founde towarde India or towarde any other part what so euer it be beyng distant from or without the foresayde line drawen a hundred leagues towarde the West and South from any of the Ilandes whiche are commonly called De los Azores and Capo verde All the Ilandes therefore and fyrme landes founde and to be founde discouered and to be discouered from the sayde line towarde the West and South such as haue not actually ben heretofore possessed by any other Christian kyng or prynce vntyll the daye of the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesu Christ laste paste from the whiche begynneth this present yeere beyng the yeere of our Lorde M. CCCC.lxxxxiii when so euer any such shal be founde by your messengers and captaynes we by the aucthoritie of almyghty GOD graunted vnto vs in saint Peter and by the office whiche we beare on the earth in the steede of Iesu Christ do for euer by the tenor of these presentes geue graunt assigne vnto you your heyres and successours the kynges of Castyle and Legion all those landes and Ilandes with theyr dominions Territories cities castels towres places and villages with all the ryght and iurisdictions thereunto parteynyng constitutyng assignyng and deputyng you your heyres and successours the lordes thereof with full and free power aucthoritie and iurisdiction Decreeyng neuerthelesse by this our donation graunt and assignation that from no Christian Prince which actually hath possessed the foresayde Ilandes and fyrme landes vnto the daye of the natiuitie of our Lord beforesayd theyr ryght obteyned to be vnderstoode hereby to be taken away or that it ought to be taken away Furthermore we commaunde you in the vertue of holy obedience as you haue promysed and as we doubte not you wyll do vppon mere deuotion and princely
Weakenesse of hunger Cape Marmor Nomen Dei The nauigation of Rodericus Colmenaris An exceedyng high mountayne couered with snowe Apparelled men Spanyardes slayne with venemous arrowes A remedie agaynst venemous arrowes The hauen of Vraba Nicuesa is founde in a miserable case Insolencie oftâ— muche felicitie The death of Nicuesa Famine enforseth them to fal to spaylyng Careta kyng of Coiba Kyng Careta is taken and spoyled Mine thine the seedes of al myscheefe Ancisus Lieuetenant for Fogeda is cast in pryson Ancisus taketh his voyage to Hispaniola The reuengâ— of God The inconueniences of discorde King Poncha Swordes of wood Kyng Careta conspireth with the Spaniards agaynst kyng Poncha The region of Comogra distant from Dariena .xxx. leagues Kyng Comogrus The kynges pallace Wine syder Blacke wine The carcasses of men dâ—yed The distribution of golde Young Comogrus his oration The hunger of golde A region flowing with golde Kyng Tumanama Canibales The golde mines of the mountaynes Vnwrought golde not estemed Abundance of golde Housholde stuffe of golde Naked people tormented with ambition A vehement perswasion A token of hunger Kyng Comogrus is baptised with his familie Horrible thunder and lyghtnyng in the moneth of Nouember Maryshe grounde Ancisus bitten of a Batte A tempest King Turui The Ilande of Cannafistula King Abibeiba dwelleth in a tree The rysyng of the Ocean sea Trees of marueilous height Plinie Fruitefull grounde Abibeiba the kyng of the tree yeeldeth to Vaschus Golde no more esteemed then stones Canibales Men good yenough yf they had iron Captiues A garryson of thirtie men Eightene Spanyardes slayne and drowned The kinges which conspired the death of the Christians A straunge chaunce Women can keepe no counsayle An armie of an hundred Canoas and fyue M. men Triumph before victorie Affection corrupteth true iudgement The conspiracie of the kyngs is detected Kyng Cemaechus conspireth the death of Vaschus Vaschus pursueth the kings with threescore and ten men Colmenaris sacketh the vyllage of Tichiri Fyue rulers hanged shot through with arrowes Iohan. Quicedus is sent to Spayne A wife is a hinderaunce The death of aldiuia Hurt of lauyshnesse of the tongue The calamities and death of Fogeda Maladies and famine The prosperous voyage of Ancisus A king of Cuba baptised by the name of Commendator A marueylous hystorie howe God wrought myracles by the simple faith of a Maryner Be not rashe in iudgement A Chappell builded to the pycture of the virgin Marie One superstititious religion turned into an other holdeth stil many thinges of the fyrst Zeale without knowledge is neuer godly Marke this blyndnesse This ignorance is to be lamented The deuil dissembleth to keepe his in blyndnesse styll A notable lye of a papistical heretike One blasphemie vpon another The deuyll appeareth in his lykenesse What likenes A strange myracle not to be credited Another myracle Wise men Math. xiiii This is another matter The deuyl appeareth againe The virgin Mary in her owne person ouercommeth the deuyl The priestes rewarde Why name you Capons Ancisus voiage to Spayne Ancisus complayneth of Vaschus Marke to whoÌ„ this fayned myraculous storie was written The procuratours of Dariena are honourably receiued at the court The great master of the kings ships Petrus Arias is elected gouernour of Dariena The oration of the Byshop of Burges in the defence of Petrus Arias The warres of Aphryca A house in Ciuile appoynted to the affayres of India Perulariae The Portugales inuentions The nauigation of Petrus Arias A shipwracke Americus Vesputius A notable example of a valiant woman The wyfe of Petrus Arias Plentie of pearles The vse of gunnes Great abundance of gold frankencense â–ª Olibanum Sabea is a couÌ„trey in â—rabia which bringeth foorth Frankencense Rulers for one yeere The great gulfe of Paria The great Iland Atlantike Contention betweene the Castilians Portugales for the newe landes The bishop of Rome diuideth the lande The golden regioÌ„ of Ciamba The Ilande of S. Iohannis Fyue byshops of the Ilande made by the bishop of Rome The Canibales of the Iland of Sancta Crux The ryuers of Vraba The fruitfulnesse of Vraba The fruitefulnes of Dariena Swynes fleshe of better taste more holsome then mutton Fruites putrified on the sea Betatas Lions and Tygers A strange beast The ryuers of Vraba A league is xxiiii furlonges Danubius A Crocodile is muche lyke a Neute but of exceedyng kygnesse The Portugales nauigations A philosophical discourse as concerning thoriginal of springes and ryuers The breadth of the lande at Vraba from the North Ocean to the South sea The sea The lande enclosed with two seas Conuersion of ayre into water in the caues of mountaynes The often fal of rayne and continuall spryng tyme. The Equinoctiall The pores of the sea and the south wynde The fludde Eridanus The ryuer Alpheus Longe caues in the mountaines The length and forme of the Iland Cardes of the sea The carde of Americus Vesputius The carde of Colouns The carde of Iohannes de la Cossa The carde of Andreas moralis The maner of measuring the cardes A league The nauigation of Iohannes Dias The eleuation of the pole The iurisdiction of the Portugales Hercules pyllers The Ilande Boiuca or Agnaneo The renouation of age A water of marueilous vertue The accidentes of age may be hydden Extreme hunger This was at the siege of Hierusalem Many dogges eaten A mangie dog â—â—are solde Broth of a mangie dogs skynne Toades eaten A dead man eaten Note Petrus Arias whoÌ„ the Spanyardâ—s call Pedâ—arias Vaschus Nunnez gouernor of Dariena The new south Ocean Commendation of the Spanyardes A valiant mynd can not be ydle Vaschus his voyage toward the golden mountaynes â–ª Careta kyng of Coiba King Poncha Strange thinges are counted precious Lacke of Iron A stone in the steede of Iron Superfluities hynder libertie Carpenters Brydges The region of Quarequa kyng Quarequa is dryuen to flyght Hargabusies Crossebowes vi C. Barbarians are slaine The vse of dogges in the warre agaynst the naked Barbarians Natural hatred of vnnatural sinne I woulde al men were of this opinion The haruest is great and the woorkemen but fewe Warlyke people The higher the colder A region of blacke Moores Diseases of change of ayre and dyet The south sea Prayer God rayseth the poore from the dounghyl Hanniball of Carthage King Chiapes A battayle Chiapes is driuen to flyght Vaschus sendeth for kyng Chiapes Chiapes submitteth hym selâ—e to Vaschus A gulfe of threescore myles Saint Michaels gulfe The manly corage and godly zeale of Vaschus Ryches are the synewes of warre The faythfulnes of kyng Chiapes A tempest on the sea The increasing of the South sea The Northe Ocean Hard shyft in necessitie The region Tumacca Kyng Tumaccus is driuen to flyght Golde and pearles Muscles of the sea Fyshyng for pearles The thyrst of golde Ambition among naked men A kyng of greaâ— power Byg pearles Cleopatra queene of Egypt resolued a pearle in vineger drunke it Price fiue
by Vasques Gama and other traueylers aduentures Consider the fruites the drugges the pearle the treasure the millions of golde and siluer the Spanyardes haue brought out of the VVest Indies since the first viage of Columbus The great commodities our nation reapeth by the traueyle of our countreymen into Barbary Guiny and Moscouia wil be a sufficient testimony vnto all vs Englishmen what it is to be a skilful traueyler what to bee a paineful Geographer and learned Desire of rule breedeth victories victories come by cōquestes conquestes are furthered by traueyle traueyle can not bee maynteyned without great wealth wealth maketh all traueyle pleasant The Northwesterne vyage be it neuer so full of difficulties will become as plausible as any other iourney if our passengers may returne with plentie of siluer silkes and pearle Let Columbus Americus Cortesius be wel set foorth againe and bountefully rewarded you shal heare of other newe found landes yet altogeather vnknowen Let Gama be set in place and Gama will tell you the situation the maners the force and wealth of forreyne nations ▪ for Gama his endeuor was not onely by his friend Coelius to descrye the countrey whersoeuer he came but also to learne him selfe the riches strength and conditions of the people Honour maynteyneth arte and the skill in Geography as all other sciences hath but a tyme of preferment the whiche than chiefly myght bee looked for whan it is most esteemed This in the noble mynde of Cadamust bred that earnest desire after Don Henrico his example to traueyle to pen his owne aduentures into the Southeast and East partes to make the nauigation of Gama and his companions knowen vnto the worlde The occasions the good successe the great commodities wherof Barros a counseller of the Portugale Kyng paynted out long agoe in manye bookes Osorius of late historically hath written the same in fewe This made Marcus Paulus Venetus a courtier in Tartary Hayton the Armenian to become a Frenchman Lewes Vartomanne a traueyler in Ethiopia Brocardus an inhabiter of Iury eche one of them to leaue his painful iorney with posteritie in wrytyng This enflamed the Spanyardes to take vppon them the discouery of the VVest and Southwesterne landes done and written by Columbus Pinzonus Alfonsus Cortesius and Americus of whom that region America hath name VVhose long letters and tedious reportes of thinges there brought to passe in the conquest of that halfe worlde the straunge beastes the sundry sortes of fruites the ioyes and riches the whiche that countrey yeeldeth the manners and fashions of the people their cities and princely palaces theyr nobilitie their maner of gouernement their warres theyr seruile estate vnder the kynges of Spayne their conuersion vnto the Christian fayth P. Martyr a learned and graue man borne at Angleria in the duchy of Milane then President of the Spanish kinges counsell for the west Indies gathered into one volume and leauing a side all superfluous narrations made thereof as it were one briefe and continuall historie This volume deuided he into eyght Decades after the Greeke worde so calling the sundry parcels thereof for that eche one conteyneth in it ten particuler bookes or chapters R. Eden our countreyman dyd into English whan K. Philippe was in Englande the three first Decades and the fourth also though vnder a wrong title according to the Dutche Printers edition wherin the fifte sixte seuenth and eight Decades were lefte out He translated moreouer Gonzales Ferdinandus Ouiedus breuiary of the west Indies geathered togeather out of many myghty and huge workes some other prety pamflettes concernyng the Spanyardes and Portugalles voiages into the late discouered lands adding thereto certeine discourses of the north partes These his aforesayde doinges as fewe mennes workes at the first come exactly abrode this paynefull translatour mynded if not to amende at the least to augment by puttyng thereunto in English Lewes Vartomannus Nauigation into Aegypte Arabia Siria Persia and India with our Merchantes Moscouian and Persian trauelles but death preuented his purpose not suffryng him to accomplish his desire Christian charitie therefore vnto the party departed caused me to helpe his workes forwarde Nature moued me to take some paynes in placing orderly that whiche he had confusely gyuen out the better to direct and the more to profit the reader My profession enforced me to cut of some superfluous translations and to fill vp the rest of his doinges with P. Martyrs other writinges and finally to furnishe his want with my owne store Hoping and perswading with my selfe that if God likewise call me from these worldly Nauigations and earthly descriptions before my other trauell in this facultye taken long since in hande be ended some other professor of Cosmography wil so rewarde me after my death as presently of this dead man I doe deserue Other credite seeke I none therefore I loke for no prayse I hope not for honor I gape for no gayne by this kind of studie I knowe this day no place no preferment no publike chayre no ordinarie lecture no commune stipende no special reward due vnto the studentes in Geography no not at this time when this faculty was neuer more set by no not in this realme where yt neuer more florished The honorable name of a Christian and the infallible fruites thereof euer inclined me euen from my tender yeeres for the smal portion of learning that god hath lent me to do good if I could vnto many and specially to make those my friendes and wel doers knowen vnto the worlde by whose beneuolence fauour I doe liue and am mainteined In the smal number whereof for amongst many wel willers I finde but few well doers your Honor right noble Lady my Lorde you his noble children and yours since my first returne from beyond the seas must I confesse to haue stoode me chiefly in steede humbly acknowledge the first yeerely pension I euer was assured of in England to haue ben by your Ladiship bestowed on me VVherefore as I will most willingly yeelde vnto many other of your Honors gētlemē to come of great houses to haue welthier friendes larger possessions reuenues than I to be more actiue more comely more wyse politike learned to haue seene more so in hūble duety loyal seruice sincere affection good wil to your Honor I may I can I wyl contende with any of them all euen to the vttermust force and power of my hart head body life blood mynd soule In testimony wherof and full assurance of my seruice vnto you for euer these last doings of R. Eden newly encreased my first labours in our language his history mine of trauel in the west East Indies altogeather in one volume duetifully do I present vnto your Honour with al humility praying most earnestly requesting your good Ladiship that you will vouchsafe it by leysure in this iourney the whiche my Lorde and you haue determined into the west countrey to let your page
otherwyse called Cuba was an ilande As they coasted along by the shore of certayne of these ilandes they hearde Nyghtyngales syng in the thycke wooddes in the moneth of Nouember They founde also great ryuers of freshe water and naturall hauens of capacitie to harbour great nauies of shippes Sayling by the coastes of Iohanna from the north poynt to the west he rode litle lesse then eight hundred miles for they cal it a hundred and fourescore leagues supposing that it had ben the continent or fyrme lande because he coulde neither fynde the landes ende nor any token of the ende as farre as he could iudge with his eye wherfore he determined to turne backe agayne beyng partly thereto enforced by the roughnesse of the sea for the sea bankes of the ilande of Iohanna by sundrye wyndynges and turnynges bende them selues so muche towarde the north that the northnortheast winde roughly tossed the shyps by reason of the winter Turning therfore the stemmes of his shyppes towarde the East he affyrmed that he had found the ilande of Ophir whither Solomons shippes sayled for golde But the discription of the Cosmographers well considered it seemeth that both these and the other ilandes adioynyng are the ilands of Antilia This ilande he called Hispaniola on whose north syde as he approched neare to the lande the keele or bottome of the biggest vessell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water and cloue in sunder but the playnenesse of the rocke was a helpe to them that they were not drowned Makyng haste therfore with the other two shyps to helpe them they brought awaye al the men without hurte Here comming fyrst a land they sawe certayne men of the Ilande who perceiuyng an vnknowen nation comming toward them flocked togeather and ranne al into the thycke woods as it had ben hares coursed with grehoundes Our men pursuing them tooke onely one woman whom they brought to the ships where fylling her with meate and wyne and appareling her they let her depart to her companye Shortly after a greate multitude of them came runnyng to the shore to behold this newe nation whom they thought to haue discended from heauen They cast them selues by heapes into the sea came swimming to the shyppes brynging gold with them whiche they chaunged with our men for earthen pottes drinking glasses poyntes pinnes hawkes bels looking glasses such other trifles Thus growing to further familiaritie our men were honorably entertained of the king of that part of the iland whose name was Guaccâ—narillus for it hath many kyngs as when Eneas arriued in Italy he found Latium diuided into many kingdoms and prouinces as Latium Mezeutium Turnum and Tarchontem which were separated with narowe boundes as shal more largly appeare hereafter At the euen tide about the falling of the sonne when our men went to prayer and kneeled on their knees after the maner of y e Christians they dyd the lyke also And after what maner so euer they sawe them pray to the crosse they folowed them in al poyntes as wel as they coulde They shewed much humanitie towards our men and helped them with theyr lyghters or smal boates which they cal Canoas to vnlade their broken shyppe and that with suche celeritie and cherefulnesse that no frende for frende or kynseman for kynseman in such case moued with pitie coulde do more Theyr boates are made only of one tree made holowe with a certaine sharpe stone for they haue no yron and are very long and narowe Many affirme that they haue seene some of them with fortie ores The wilde and myscheuous people called Canibales or Caribes whiche were accustomed to eate mans fleshe called of the olde writers Anthropophagi molest them exceedyngly inuading their countrey takyng them captiue kyllyng eatyng them As our men sayled to the ilandes of these meke and humane people they left the ilands of the Canibales in maner in the middest of theyr viage toward the south They complayned that theyr ilands were no lesse vexed with the incursions of these manhuntyng Canibales when they goe forth a rouyng to seeke theyr pray then are other tame beastes of Lions and Tigers Such chyldren as they take they geld to make them fat as we do cocke chickens and young 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 head The other most fleshye partes they pouder for store as we do pestels of porke and gammondes of bakon yet do they absteyne from eatyng of women and counte it vyle Therfore suche young women as they take they kepe for increase as we do hennes to leye egges the olde women they make theyr drudges They of the ilandes which we may nowe cal ours bothe the men and y e women when they perceiue the Canibales commyng haue none other shyft but onely to flee for although they vse very sharpe arrowes made of reedes yet are they of small force to represse y e furie of the Canibales for euen they them selues confesse that ten of the Canibales are able to ouercome a hundred of them if they encountre with them Theyr meate is a certayne roote which they cal Ages muche lyke a nauewe roote in fourme and greatnesse but of sweete tast much lyke a greene chestnutte They haue also an other kynde of rootes which they call Iucca whereof they make bread in kyke maner They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden then to make bread thereof But they neuer eate Iucca except it be first sliced and pressed for it is full of lycoure and then baked or sodden But this is to be marueyled at that the iuice of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum so that if it be drunke it causeth present death and yet the bread made of the masse thereof is of good taste and holsome as they all haue prooued They make also another kynde of bread of a certayne pulse called Panicum muche like vnto wheate whereof is great plentie in the Dukedome of Millane Spayne and Cranatum But that of this Countrey is longer by a spanne somewhat sharpe towarde the ende and as bygge as a mans arme in y e brawne the graynes wherof are set in a marueylous order are in fourme somewhat lyke a Pease Whyle they be soure and vnripe they are whyte but when they are ripe they be very blacke when they are broken they be whiter then snowe this kynde of grayne they call Maizium Golde is of some estimation among them for some of them hang certayne small peeces thereof at theyr eares and nosethrylles A litle beyonde this place our men went a lande for freshe water where they chaunced vpon a riuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde They founde there no kindes of foure footed beastes except three kindes of litle conies These ilandes also nouryshe
vp sande with theyr left handes from the bottome of the same they pycked out graynes of golde with theyr ryght handes without any more art or cunnyng and so deliuered it to our men who affirme that many of them thus geathered were as bygge as tares or fytches And I mee selfe sawe a masse of rude golde that is to say suche as was neuer moulten lyke vnto suche stones as are founde in the bottomes of ryuers weighyng niene ounces whiche Hoieda hym selfe founde Beyng contented with these signes they returned to the Admirall to certifie hym hereof For the Admirall had commaunded vnder payne of punyshment that they shoulde meddle no further then theyr commission whiche was only to searche the places with theyr signes For the fame went that there was a certayne kyng of the mountaynes from whence those ryuers had theyr fall whom they cal Cacicus Caunaboa that is the lord of the house of golde for they cal a house Boa golde Cauni and a kyng or lorde Cacicus as we haue sayde before They affirme that there can no where be founde better fyshe nor of more pleasant taste or more holsome then in these riuers also the waters of the same to be moste holsome to drynke Melchior him selfe tolde me that in the moneth of December the dayes nyghtes be of equal length among the Canibales but the sphere or circles of the heauen agreeth not thereunto albeit that in the same moneth some byrdes make theyr nestes and some haue alredye hatched theyr egges by reason of the heate beyng rather continuall then extreme He tolde me also when I questioned with him as concerning y e eleuation of the pole frō the horizontal line that al the starres called Plastrum or charles wayne are hyd vnder the North pole to the Canibales And surely there returned none from thence at this vioage to whom there is more credit to be geuen then to this man But if he had byn skilfull in Astronomie he shoulde haue sayde that the day was almoste equall with the night For in no place towarde the stay of the sonne called Solsticium can the night be equall with the day And as for them they neuer came vnder the Equinoctial forasmuch as they had euer the North pole theyr guyde and euer eleuate in sight aboue the Horizontal Thus haue I briefely written vnto your honour as muche as I thought sufficient at this tyme and shall shortly hereafter by Gods fauoure wryte vnto you more largely of such matters as shal be dayly better knowen For the Admiral hym selfe whom I vse famyerly as my very frende hath promised me by his letters that he wyl geue me knowledge of al such thinges as shall chaunce He hath nowe chosen a strong place where he may build a citie neare vnto a cōmodious hauen and hath alredy buylded many houses and a chapel in the which as in a newe worlde heretofore voyde of all religion God is dayly serued with .xiii. priestes accordyng to the maner of our churches When the tyme nowe approched that he promysed to sende to the king and queene and hauyng prosperous winde for that purpose sent backe the .xii. Carauelles wherof we made mention before which was no smal hynderance and greefe vnto hym especially consyderyng the death of his men whom he lefte in the ilande at the fyrst voyage wherby we are yet ignorant of many places and other secretes wherof we myght otherwyse haue had further knowledge but as tyme shall reueale them agayne so wyll I aduertyse you of the same And that you may the better knowe by conference had with the Apothecaries and marchaunt strangers Sirophenicians what this Regions beare how hot theyr ground is I haue sent you all kyndes of graines with the barke and inner partes of that tree whiche they suppose to be the Cinamome tree And yf it be your pleasure to taste eyther of the graynes or of the smal seedes the whiche you shoulde perceaue to haue fallen from these graynes or of the wood it selfe touch them fyrst softly moouyng them to your lyppes for although they be not hurtfull yet for theyr excesse of heate they are sharpe and byte the tongue yf they remayne any while thereon but yf the tongue be blystered by tastyng of them the same is taken away by drynkyng of water Of the corne also whereof they make theyr bread this brynger shall deliuer some graynes to your lordshyp both whyte and blacke and therwith also a trunke of the tree of Aloes the whiche yf you cut in peeces you shall feele a sweete sauour to proceede from the same Thus fare you hartily well from the Court of Methymna Campi the thyrde day before the Calendes of May. Anno Dom. 1494. The thyrde booke of the first Decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie and Neuiewe to the kyng YOu desyre that foolyshe Phaeton shoulde agayne rule the chariots of the Sunne and contende to drawe sweete licours out of the harde flynt wheras you require me to discribe vnto you the newe world found in the west by the good fortune and gouernaunce of the Catholique princes Ferdinandus and Elizabeth your Uncle and Aunte shewyng me also the letters of kyng Frederike your Uncle written to me in that behalfe But syth you haue layde this burden on my backe in whose power it is to commaunde me to take vppon me more then I am well able ye both shall receiue this precious stone rudely closed in lead after my manner of workemanshyp Wherefore when you shal perceiue the learned sort frendly the malitious enuiously and the backbyters furiously to bende theyr slaunderous dartes agaynst our fayre Nimphes of the Ocean you shall freely protest in howe short tyme and in the myddest of what troubles and calamities you haue enforced me to wryte of the same Thus fare you wel from Granata the nienth day before the Calendes of May. We haue declared in the booke herebefore how the Admiral passed by the coastes of the Canibales to the ilande of Hispaniola with his whole nauie But nowe we entende further to shewe what he founde as concernyng the nature of this ilande after that he had better searched the secretes of the same Lykewyse of the ilande of Cuba neare vnto it whiche he supposed to be the fyrme lande Hispaniola therefore whiche he affirmeth to be Ophir whereof we reade in the thyrde booke of the kynges is of latitude fyue south degrees hauyng the north pole eleuate on the north syde .xxvii. degrees and on the south syde as they say xxii degrees it reacheth in length from East to West seuen hundred and fourescore myles it is distant from the ilandes of Gades called Cales xlix degrees and more as some say the fourme of the ilande resembleth the leaffe of a Chesnutte tree Upon a hygh hyll on the North syde of the ilande he buylded a citie because this place was most apt for
the fyers on the land by nyght they founde a nation lying vnder the open fyrmament after the maner of warre Our men thought it not best to trouble them vntyll the mornyng There fore at the rysyng of the sonne fortie of our men well armed wente towarde them agaynst whom came forth .xxxii. of them with bowes slynges and dartes euen redy to fyght The other companye folowed them armed after the same maner Our men affirme that they were of hygher stature then eyther the Almaynes or Pannonians They beheld our men with frownyng threatenyng countenaunce but our men thought it not good to fal to bickering with them vncertayne whether it were for feare or bycause they would not dryue them to flight Wherfore they went about to allure them by faire meanes rewards but they refused all kynde of gentelnes and stoode euer in a redines to fight declaring the same by signes and tokens Thus our men resorted to theyr shyppes and they to the place from whence they came without any further busines The same nyght about mydnyght they fledde left the place voyde where they lay in the campe Our men suppose them to be a vagabund and wandering nation lyke vnto the Scythians without houses or certeyne dwelling places lyuing only with the fruites of the earth hauing theyr wyues and chyldren folowing them Suche as measured their footesteppes in the sande affirme with great othes that one of theyr feete is almost as long as two feete of our men of the meane sorte Sayling on yet further they founde an other riuer but not of deapth sufficient to beare the Carauels they sent therefore the foure shippe boates to lande full of armed men to search the countrey They espyed vppon a hygh hyll nere vnto the sea syde a greate multitude of people to whom our company sent foorth one man with certeyne of our thynges to allure them to exchange And when he had cast a haukes bell towarde them they cast downe a wedge of golde a cubit longe the which as he stoâ—ped to take vp they sodenly inclosed hym and caryed hym away But he was shortly after rescued by his companions to some of their paynes for they slue eyght of our men wounded many a farre of with theyr arrowes and dartes made of wood hardened at the endes with fyre After this they encompassed our shippe boates within the ryuer and came rashly within the reache of our men laying holde on the boates sydes where they were thrust through and hewen in peeces as it had ben sheepe by reason they were naked Yet woulde they not for al this geue ouer but tooke from our men one of their boates hauing no men in it for the gouernour thereof being slayne with an arrowe the other fledde and escaped And thus they lefte this fierce and warlyke people saylyng toward the northwest along by the same coastes with sorowfull hartes for the death of theyr companyons When they had sayled about .xl. leagues they chaunced into a sea of suche freshe water that they fylled theyr barelles and hoggesheades therewith Searching the cause hereof they vnderstoode that a vehement course of riuers discended with great viâ—â—â—nce from the toppes of certayne great hylles They say also that there lyeth within the sea manye fortunate and fruitfull Ilandes and well inhabited and that thinhabitantes of this tracte are men of meeke nature and suche as doo not refuse straungers yet lyttle profytable to them because they haue no marchandyes for their purpose as golde or precious stones for lacke whereof they brought from thence thyrtie captiues to sell for slaues Thinhabitantes call this region Mariatambal The region of the east part of that ryuer is called Camomorus and that of the west part Paricora in the midlande whereof thinhabitantes signifyed that there is great plentie of golde For folowing this riuer directly toward the North as the bending of the shore requyred they recouered againe the syght of the north pole All the coaste of this tracte parteyneth to Paria the which as we sayd before was fyrst found by Colonus hym selfe and hath in maner in euery place great abundaunce of pearles They say that these coastes are adioynyng vnto and all one with Os Draconis and also borderyng vppon the regions of Cumana Manacapana Curiana Cauchieta and Cuchibachoa Wherfore they thought it to be part of the firme lande of India beyonde the riuer of Ganges For the great large compasse therof doth not permit that it shoulde be an ilande albeit the whole earth vncouered with water largely taken may be called an Ilande From the poynt of that land where they lost the sight of the north pole saylyng by a continuall tracte about three hundred leagues towarde the west syde of Paria they say that almost in the mid way they chaunced into a riuer called Maragnonum whiche they affirme to be of suche exceedyng breadth that it might seeme incredible yf the antiques dyd not make mention of the lyke Beyng demaunded of me yf it were not salt water where it diuided the lande they answeared that the water therof was very freshe and sweete and that the further it ranne to be so muche the fresher also ful of Ilandes and wholsome fyshe they dare auouche the breadth therof to be more then thirtie leagues Yet yf we wel weigh and consyder the largenesse and widenesse of Boriostomea and Spiriostomea the mouthes of the famous riuer of Ister nowe called Danubius and howe farre they violate or corrupt the salt water with their freshnesse we shal ceasse to marueyle although this other riuer be greater for who can diminish the power of nature but that it may make this bigger then the other and another bygger then this And I suppose this to be the ryuer whereof Colonus the Admirall made mention in the description of his voyage in these coastes But we shal hereafter haue further knowledge hereof let vs nowe therefore returne to the commodities of these regions They found in many Ilands about Paria great wooddes of Brasile trees and brought away with them three thousande poundes weyght thereof They say that the Brasile of Hispaniola is muche better then this to dye cloth with a more fayre and durable colour From hence folowing the winds which the Spaniards cal Northuest and the Italians Graeco they passed by many Ilandes very fruiteful yet left desolate and wasted by reason of the crueltie of the Canibales for they went alande in many places they founde the ruines of many destroyed houses yet in some places they founde men but those exceedyng fearefull fleeyng to the mountaynes rockes and wooddes at the syght of euery straunger or shyppe wanderyng without houses or certayne abydyng places for feare of the Caniballes laying wayte and huntyng after them Here they found those great trees whiche of them selues in dyuers places bryng forth that fruite or spice which the Apothecaries cal Cassia Phistula
this tyme our men applyed theyr woorke placyng the shypwryghtes in the myddest of theyr armie As they stoode thus amased two of our company went to fyll theyr water pottes at the mouth of the ryuer neere vnto them both where sodenly there came foorth agaynst them a captayne of the barbarians with tenne armed men whiche inclosed them and with terrible countenance bent theyr arrowes against them but shot them not of One of our men fledde but the other remayned callyng his felowe agayne and rebukyng hym for his fearefulnesse Then he spake to the barbarians in theyr owne language whiche he had learned beyng conuersaunt with the captiues that were caryed from thence long before They marueylyng to heare a stranger speake in theyr natiue tongue put of theyr fiercenesse and fell to frendly communication demaundyng who were the captaynes of that company whiche were aryued in theyr lande He aunswered that they were strangers passing by and that he marueyled why they would attempt to driue them from theyr coastes and disturbe their shyps arguyng them of follie and crueltie and further threatnyng their ruine and destruction except they woulde vse them selues more frendely towarde them For he aduertised them that there woulde shortlye come into theyr lande armed men in number like vnto the sandes of the sea and that to theyr vtter destruction not only yf they resysted them not but also except they receiued them and entertayned them honourably In the meane time Ancisus was enfourmed that his men were deteyned wherefore suspectyng some deceyte he brought foorth all his target men for feare of theyr venemous arrowes and settyng them in battel araye he marched forwarde towarde them whiche stayed his men But he whiche communed with the barbarians geuyng hym a signe with his hande to proceede no further he stayed and callyng to hym the other he knewe that all was safe for the barbarians profered hym peace because they were not they whom they suspected them to haue ben meanyng by Fogeda Nicuesa who had spoyled the vyllage standyng there by the sea syde and caryed away many captiues and also burnt another vyllage further within the lande And therefore as they sayde the cause of theyr commyng thyther was to reuenge those iniuries yf by any meanes they coulde yet that they woulde not exercise theyr weapons agaynst the innocent for they sayd it was vngodly to fyght agaynst any not beyng prouoked Laying apart therefore theyr bowes and arrowes they enterteyned our men gentelly and gaue them great plentie of salted fyshe and bread of theyr countrey and filled theyr vessels with Syder made of their countrey fruites and seedes not inferior to wine in goodnesse Thus Ancisus hauing entred into frendship and made a league of peace with thinhabitantes of Caramairi which were before sore prouoked by other captaynes he lanched from that lande and directed his course to Vraba by the Ilande Fortis hauing in his shippe a hundred and fyftie freshe men whiche were substitute in the place of suche as were dead also twelue Mares and manye swine and other beastes both males and females for encrease Lykewyse fyftie peeces of ordinaunce with great multitude of targettes swoordes iauelyns and suche other weapons for the warres but all this with euil speede and in an euil houre for as they were euen nowe entryng into the hauen the gouernour of the shyppe whiche sate at the helme stroke the shyppe vpon the sandes where it was so fast enclosed and beaten with the waues of the sea that it opened in the myddest and all lost that was therein a thyng surelye miserable to beholde for of all the vyttualles that they had they saued only twelue barrelles of meale with a fewe cheeses and a lytle bysket bread for al the beastes were drowned and they them selues escaped hardly and halfe naked by helpe of the Brigandine and ship boate carying with them only a fewe weapons Thus they fell from one calamitie into another beyng nowe more carefull for theyr lyues then for golde Yet beyng brought alyue and in health to that lande whiche they so greatly desyred they coulde do no lesse then to prouide for the susteynyng of theyr bodyes because they coulde not lyue only by ayre and whereas theyr owne fayled they must needes lyue by other mens Yet among these so many aduersities one good chaunce offered it selfe vnto them for they founde not farre from the sea syde a groue of Date trees among the which and also among the reeke or weedes of the marishes they espyed a multitude of wylde bores with whose fleshe they fed theÌ„ selues wel certayne dayes These they say to be lesse then ours and with so short tayles that they thought they had ben cut of They differ also from ours in theyr feete for theyr hinder feete are whole vndiuided and also without any hoofe But they affirme that they haue prooued by experience theyr fleshe to be of better taste and more wholsome then ours During this time they fed also of Dates and the rootes of young Date trees whiche they eate likewise in Ciuile and Granata where they call them Palmitos of y e leaues wherof they make beesâ—mes in Rome Sometymes also they eate of the apples of that region whiche haue the taste of pruines and haue also stones in them and are but lytle and of redde colour I suppose them to be of that kinde wherof I ate in the citie of Alexandria in Egypt in the moneth of Apryll the trees whereof the Iewes that dwell there beyng learned in the lawe of Moses affyrme to be the Cedars of Libanus whiche beare olde fruites and newe all the yeere as doth the orange tree These apples are good to be eaten and haue a certayne sweetenesse myxte with a gentyll sharpnesse as haue the fruites called Sorbes Thinhabytantes plant these trees in theyr orchyardes and gardens and noryshe them with greate diligence as we do cheries peaches and quinses This tree in leaues heyght and trunke is very lyke vnto the tree that beareth the fruyte called Zizipha which the Apothecaries call Iuiuba But whereas now the wylde bores began to fayle them they were agayne enforced to consulte and prouyde for the tyme to come Whereuppon with theyr whole armye they entered further into the land The Canibales of this prouynce are most expert archers Ancisus had in his companye a hundred men They mette by the way with only three men of thinhabitantes naked and armed with bowes venomous arowes who without all feare assayled our men fyercesly wounded manye and slue manye and when they emptyed theyr quiuers fledde as swyftely as the wynde For as we haue saide they are exceding swyfte of foote by reason of theyr loose gooing from theyr chyldes age they affyrme that they lette slyp no arrowe out of theyr bowes in vayne Our men therfore returned the same way that they came muche more vnfortunate then they were before and consulted among
them with the young Admirall to learne our language but he hym selfe repayred to the court to make earnest suite to the kyng that by his fauour he myght be gouernour of the Iland of Sancti Iohannis otherwise called Burichena being distant from Hispaniola only .xxv. leagues because he was the fyrst finder of golde in that Ilande Before Vincentius made suite for this office one Don Christopher a Portugale the sonne of the countie of Camigna was gouernour of the Iland whom the Canibales of the other Ilandes slue with al the Christian men that were in the same except the Bishop and his familiers whiche fled and shyfted for them selues forsakyng the churche and al the ornamentes thereof for your holynesse hath consecrated fiue byshops in these Ilands at the request of the most catholique king In Sancto Dominico the chiefe citie of Hispaniola Garsia de Padilla a reguler Fryer of the order of saint Frauncis is byshop In the towne of Conception doctor Petrus Xuares of Deza and in the Ilande of saint Iohn or Burichena Alphonsus Mansus a licenciate being both obseruantes of the institution of saint Peter The fourth is Fryer Barnarde of Mesa a man of noble parentage borne in Toledo a preacher bishop of the Ilande of Cuba The fift is Iohannes Cabedus a fryer preacher whom your holynesse annoynted minister of Christe to teache the Christian fayth among the inhabitantes of Dariena The Canibales shal shortlye repent them and the blood of our men shal be reuenged and that the sooner because that shortly after they had commytted this abominable slaughter of our men they came agayne from theyr owne Ilande of Sancta crux otherwise called Ay Ay to the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis and slue a kyng whiche was a freende to our men and ate hym and al his family vtterly subuertyng his village vpon this occasion that violating the law of hostage he had slayne seuen Canibales whiche were left with hym by composition to make certayne Canoas because the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis beareth greater trees and apter for that purpose then doth the Iland of Sancti crux the cheefe habitatiō of the Canibales These Canibales yet remaynyng in the Iland certaine of our men saylyng from Hispaniola chaunced vpon them The thyng beyng vnderstoode by the interpretours our men quarelling with them and calling them to accompt for that mischeuous deede they immediatly directed theyr bowes and venemous arrowes against them and with cruell countenances threatned them to be quiet lest it shoulde repent them of theyr commyng thyther Our men fearyng theyr venemous arrowes for they were not prepared to fyght gaue them signes of peace Beyng demaunded why they destroyed the vyllage and where the king was with his familie they answered that they rased the vyllage and cut the kyng with his familie in peeces and ate them in the reuenge of theyr seuen woorkmen and that they had made faggottes of theyr bones to cary them to the wiues and children of theyr slayne woorkemen in wytnesse that the bodyes of theyr husbandes and parentes lay not vnreuenged and therewith shewed the faggottes of bones to our men who beyng astonyshed at theyr fiercenesse and crueltie were enforced to dissemble the matter and holde theyr peace quarellyng no further with them at that tyme. These and suche other thynges doo dayly chaunce the whiche I do let passe lest I should offende the eares of your holynesse with such blooddy narrations Thus haue we sufficiently digressed from the regions of Beragua and Vraba beyng the cheefest fundations of our purpose We wyll now therfore entreate somewhat of the largenesse and deapth of the ryuers of Vraba also declare both what they and the landes which they runne through do bryng foorth lykewyse of the greatnesse of the lande from the East to the West and of the breadth thereof from the South to the North and what theyr opinion and hope is of thynges yet vnknowen in the same We wil therefore begyn at the newe names wherwith the Spanyardes haue named these prouinces synce they were vnder the dominions of the Christians The nienth booke of the second Decade of the supposed continent BEragua therfore they called Castella Aure◠▪ that is golden Castile and Vraba they named Andalusia noua that is newe Andalusia And lyke as of many Ilandes whiche they subdued they chose Hispaniola for the cheefe place of theyr habitation so in the large tracte of Paria they appoynted theyr colonie or biding place in the two regions of Vraba and Beragua ▪ that al suche as attempt any voyages in those coastes may resort to them as to safe portes to be refreshed when they are weerie or dryuen to necessitie Al our seedes and plantes do now marueylously encrease in Vraba lykewyse blades settes slippes graffes suger canes and suche other as are brought from other places to those regions as also beastes and foules as we haue sayd before O marueylous fruitefulnesse Twentie dayes after the seede is sowen they geather rype cucumbers and such lyke but Colwoortes Beetes Lettuse Borage are rype within the space often dayes Gourdes Melones and Pompions within the space of .xxviii. dayes Dariena hath many natiue trees and fruites of diuers kinds with sundry tastes holsome for the vse of men of the which I haue thought it good to describe certaine of the best They nouryshe a tree whiche they call Guaiana that beareth a fruite muche resemblyng the kinde of Citrones which are commonly called Limones of taste somwhat sharpe myxt with sweetenes They haue also abundance of nuts of pinetrees and great plentie of Date trees which beare fruites bigger then the Dates that are knowen to vs but they are not apt to be eaten for theyr to much sowrenesse Wilde barren Date trees grow of them selues in sundry places the branches wherof they vse for beesomes and eate also the buddes of the same Guarauana being hygher and bygger then the orange tree bryngeth foorth a great fruite as bygge as pome Citrons There is another tree much like to a chestnut tree whose fruite is like to the bigger sorte of fygs beyng holsome and of pleasant taste Mameis is another tree that bringeth forth fruite as bygge as an orange in taste nothing inferior to the best kindes of Melones Guananala beareth a fruite lesse then any of the other but of sweete sauour like spice and of dilectable taste Houos is another tree whose fruite both in shape and taste is muche lyke to prunes but somewhat bygger they are surely perswaded that this is the Myrobalane tree These growe so abundantly in Hispaniola that the hogges are fedde with the fruite therof as with mast among vs. The hogges like this kynde of feedyng so wel that when these fruites waxe ripe the swineheards can by no meanes keepe them out of the woods of these trees by reason whereof a great multitude of them are become wilde They also affirme that in Hispaniola swines flesh is
of muche better taste and more wholsome then mutton for it is not to be doubted but that diuers kindes of meates doo engender sundry tastes and qualities in such as are nourished therwith The most puissant prince Ferdinandus declared that he had eaten of another fruite brought from those landes being full of scales with keyes much lyke a pineapple in fourme and colour but in tendernes equal to melow pepons and in taste exceedyng al garden fruites for it is no tree but an hearbe much like vnto an archichoke or Acantho The king him selfe gaue the cheefest commendation to this I haue eaten none of these fruits for of a great number which they brought from thence only one remayned vncorrupted the other being putrified by reason of the long voyage Al suche as haue eaten of them newly geathered in their natiue soyle do marueylously commende theyr sweetenesse and pleasaunt taste They dygge also out of the grounde certayne rootes growyng of them selues whiche they call Betatas muche lyke vnto the nauie rootes of Millane or the great puffes or mushromes of the earth Howsoeuer they be dressed eyther fryed or sodde they geue place to no suche kynde of meate in pleasant tendernes The skinne is somwhat tougher then eyther the nauies or mushromes and of earthy colour but the inner meate therof is very white These are nourished in gardens as we sayd of Iucca in the first Decade They are also eaten rawe and haue the taste of rawe chestnuts but are somewhat sweeter We haue spoken sufficiently of trees hearbes and fruites we wyl nowe therefore entreate of thynges sencitiue The landes and desolate pastures of these regions are inhabited and deuoured of wylde and terrible beastes as Lions Tygers and suche other monsters as we nowe knowe and haue ben described of olde auctours in tyme past But there is specially one beast engendred here in which nature hath endeuoured to shew her cunnyng This beast is as bygge as an Oxe armed with a long snoute lyke an Elephant and yet no Elephant of the colour of an oxe and yet no oxe with the hoofe of a horse and yet no horse with eares also muche lyke vnto an Elephant but not so open nor so much hangyng downe yet muche wyder then the eares of any other beast Of the beast which beareth her whelpes about with her in her second belly as in a purse beyng knowen to none of the olde wryters I haue spoken in the fyrst Decade which I doubt not to haue come to the handes of your holynesse Let vs nowe therefore declare what resteth of the flooddes and ryuers of Vraba The riuer of Dariena falleth into the gulfe of Vraba with a narow chanel scarcely able to beare the Canoas or Lighters of that prouince and runneth by the village where they chose theyr dwellyng place but the ryuer in the corner of the gulfe whiche we sayde that Vaschus passed by they founde to be .xxiiii. furlonges in breadth which they call a league and of exceedyng deapth as of two hundred cubits fallyng into the gulfe by diuers mouthes They say that this riuer falleth into the gulfe of Vraba lyke as the ryuer Ister otherwyse called Danubius and Danowe falleth into the sea Pontike and Nilus into the sea of Egypt wherefore they named it Grandis that is great whiche also they affyrme to nouryshe many and great Crocodiles as the old writers testifie of Nilus and especially as I haue learned by experience hauyng sayled vp and downe the riuer of Nilus when I was sent Ambassadour to the Souldane of Alcayâ— at the commaundement of the most catholique kyng What I may therefore geather out of the wrytynges of so many learned aucthours as concernyng the riuer of Nilus I knowe not for they say that nature hath geuen two ryuers of that name to water the lande whether they wyl them to spryng out of the mountaynes of the moone or the sunne or out of the tops of the rough mountaines of Ethiopia affyrmyng one of the same to fall into the gulfe of Egypt toward the North and the other into the south Ocean sea What shal we say in this place Of that Nilus in Egypt there is no doubt The Portugales also which sayle by the coastes of the Ethiopians called Nigritae and by the kyngdome of Melinda passyng vnder y e Equinoctial lyne among theyr marueylous inuentions haue found another toward the South and earnestly affirme the same to be also deriued from the mountaynes of the moone and that it is another chanel of Nilus because it bringeth forth Crocodiles whereas it hath not ben read before time that any other riuer nourished Crocodiles sauing only Nilus This riuer the Portugales cal Senega It runneth through the region of the Nigritas beyng very fruiteful toward the North shore but on the South syde sandie and rough Crocodiles are also engendred herein What shal we then say of this thirde yea I may wel say the fourth for I suppose them also to be Crocodiles whiche Colonus with his company found armed with scales as hard as shelles in the ryuer called Delagartos wherof we haue made mention before Shal we say that these ryuers of Dariena also and Vraba haue theyr original from the mountaynes of the moone wheras they spryng out of the next mountaynes and can by no meanes haue the same original with Nilus in Egypt or that in Nigrita or els that in the kyngdome of Melinda from whence so euer they are deryued whereas these other as we haue sayde spring out of the next mountaynes which diuide another South sea with no great distance from the North Ocean Wherefore it appeareth by experience of such as haue trauailed the world in our tyme that other waters besyde the riuer of Nilus in Egypt may lykewyse bryng foorth Crocodiles In the Maryshes also and fennes of the regions of Dariena are founde great plentie of Phesantes and Peacockes but not of variable colours with manye other kyndes of byrdes and foules vnlyke vnto ours aswel apt to be eaten as also to delyte the eares of men with pleasaunt noyse But our Spanyardes because they are ignoraunt in fowlyng take but fewe Also innumerable popingayes of sundry kyndes are founde chattering in the groues of those fennie places Of these there are some equall to Capons in bygnesse and some as lytle as sparowes But of the diuersitie of popyngayes we haue spoken sufficiently in the fyrste Decade for in the rase of this large lande Colonus hym selfe brought and sent to the courte a great number of euery kynde the whiche it was lawfull for all the people to beholde and are yet dayly brought in like manner There remayneth yet one thyng moste woorthy to be put in hystorie the whiche I had rather to haue chaunced into the handes of Cicero or Liuie then into myne for the thyng is so marueylous in my estimation that I fynde my wytte more entangled in the
discription hereof then is sayde of the henne when she seeth her young chycken inwrapped in towe or flaxe The breadth of that lande from the North Ocean to the south sea is only sixe dayes iourney by relation of the inhabitauntes The multitude therfore and greatnesse of the riuers on the one syde and on the other syde the narownesse of the lande bryng me into suche doubt howe it can come to passe that in so lytle a space of three dayes iourney measuryng from the high toppes of those mountaynes I doo not vnderstande howe so many and so great ryuers may haue recourse vnto this North sea for it is to be thought that as many do flow toward thinhabitants of the south These riuers of Vraba are but small in comparison of many other in those coastes for the Spanyardes say that in the tyme of Colonus they found and passed by an other riuer after this whose gulfe fallyng into y e sea they affirme to be litle lesse then a hundred myles in the fyrst coastes of Paria as we haue sayde elsewhere for they say that it falleth from the toppes of high mountaynes with so swyft and furious a course that by the violence and greatnesse thereof it dryueth backe the sea although it be rough enforced with a contrary wynd They al affirme lykewyse that in al the large tracte therof they felt no sowre or salt water but that all the water was freeshe sweete and apt to be drunke Thinhabitauntes call this ryuer Maragnonum and the regions adiacent to the same Mariatambal Camamorus and Paricora besyde those riuers whiche I haue named before as Darien â–ª Grandis Dabaiba Beragua Sancti Mathei Boius gatti Delagartos Gaira they which of late haue searched those coastes haue founde many other Deliberatyng therefore with me selfe from whence these mountaynes beyng so narowe and neare vnto the sea on both sydes haue suche great holowe caues or dennes of such capacitie and from whence they are fylled to cast foorth suche abundance of water hereof also askyng them the opinions of the inhabitauntes they affirme them to be of diuers iudgementes herein alleaging fyrst the greatnes of the mountaynes to be the cause whiche they say to be verye high whiche thyng also Colonus the first fynder thereof affirmeth to be true addyng thereunto that the paradise of pleasure is in the tops of those mountaynes whiche appeare from the gulfe of Paria Os Draconis as he is fully perswaded They agree therefore that there are great caues within these mountaynes but it resteth to consyder from whence they are fylled If therfore al the riuers of freshe waters by the opinion of many do so flowe out of the sea as dryuen and compelled through the passages or pores of the earth by the ponderous weyght of the sea it selfe as we see them breake foorth of the sprynges and directe theyr course to the sea agayne then the thyng is lesse to be marueyled at here then in other places for we haue not read that in any other place two suche seas haue enuironed any lande with so narowe lymyttes for it hath on the ryght syde the great Ocean where the sunne goeth downe on the left hande and another on the other syde where the sunne ryseth nothyng inferiour to the fyrste in greatnesse for they suppose it to be myxte and ioyned as al one with the sea of East India This lande therfore beyng burdened with so great a weyght on the one syde on the other yf this opinion be of any value is enforced to swalowe vp such deuoured waters and agayne to cast foorth the same in open springes and streames But yf we shall denye that the earth draweth humours of the sea and agree that all fountaynes or sprynges are engendred of the conuersion or turnyng of ayre into water distilling within the holow places of the mountaines as the most part thinke we wyll geue place rather to thaucthoritie of them whiche stycke to those reasons then that our sense is satisfied of the ful trueth thereof Yet do I not repugne that in some caues of mountaynes water is turned into ayre for I mee selfe haue seene howe in the caues of manye mountaynes in Spayne in manner showres of rayne do fall continuallye and that the water geathered by this meanes doth sende foorth certayne riuers by the sydes of the mountaynes wherewith all suche trees as are planted on the steepe or foote of the mountaynes as vines oliue trees and suche other are watered and this especially in one place as the right honorable Lodouike the Cardinal of Aragonie most obsequious to your holynesse and two other bishops of Italy whereof the one is Siluius Pandonus and the other an Archbishop whose name and title I do not remember can beare me witnesse for when we were togeather at Granata lately deliuered from the dominion of the Moores and walked for our pastyme to certaine pleasant hilles by the whiche there ranne a fayre ryuer â–ª while Cardinal Lodouike occupied hym selfe in shootyng at byrdes whiche were in the bushes neere vnto the ryuer I thother two bishops determined to clime the mountaynes to searche the original and spryng of the ryuer for we were not farre from the toppes thereof Folowyng therfore the course of the ryuer we founde a great caue in which was a continual fal of water as it had ben a showre of rayne the water whereof fallyng into a trenche made with mans hande encreaseth to a ryuer and runneth downe by the sydes of the mountaynes The lyke is also seene in this famous towne of Valladoleto where we nowe soiourne in a certaine greene close not past a furlong distant from the walles of the towne I graunt therefore that in certayne places by conuersion of the ayrie deawe into water within the caues of suche mountaynes many springes and riuers are engendred but I suppose that nature was not sollicitate to bryng foorth suche great floods by this so small industrie Two reasons therfore do sounde best to my iudgement wherof the one is the often fal of rayne the other the continual autume or spryng tyme which is in those regions being so neere vnto the Equinoctial that the common people can perceiue no difference betweene the length of the day and the nyght throughout all the yeere where as these two seasons are more apt to engender abundance of rayne then eyther extreme wynter or feruent sommer An other reason in effect much like vnto the fyrst is this If the sea be ful of pores and that by the pores thereof being opened by the south wyndes we shal consent that vapours are lyfted vp whereof the watery cloudes are engendred this lande must needes be moysted with moe showres then anye other yf it be as narowe as they say and enuironed with two mayne seas collaterally beatyng on the same howsoeuer it be I can not but geue credite to the report of suche worthy men as haue
recourse to those regions and can no lesse then declare the same albeit it may seeme incredible to some ignorant persons not knowing the power of nature to whom Plinie was perswaded that nothing was impossible We haue therefore thought it good to make this discourse by the way of argument lest on the one syde men of good learnyng and iudgement and on the other syde suche as are studious to finde occasions of quarellyng in other mens wrytynges shoulde iudge vs to be so vndiscrete lightly to geue credite to euery tale not being consonant to reason but of the force and great violence of those freshe waters whiche repulsyng the sea make so great a gulfe as we haue sayde I thynke the cause thereof to be the great multitude of floods and riuers whiche beyng geathered togeather make so great a poole and not one ryuer as they suppose And forasmuch as the mountaines are exceeding high and steepe I thinke the violence of the fall of the waters to be of suche force that this conflict betweene the waters is caused by thimpulsion of the poole that the salt water can not enter into the gulfe But here perhaps some wyll marueyle at me why I should marueyle so muche hereat speakyng vnto me scornefully after this manner Why doth he so marueyle at the great riuers of those regions Hath not Italie his Eridanus named the kyng of ryuers of the old wryters Haue not other regions also the lyke as we reade of Tanais Ganges and Danubius which are sayde so to ouercome the sea that freshe water may be drawen fourtie myles within the same These men I would satisfie with this aunswere The famous ryuer of Padus in Italie whiche they nowe call Po and was of the Greekes called Eridanus hath the great mountaynes called Alpes diuiding Fraunce Germanie and Pannonie from Italie lying at the backe therof as it were bulwarkes agger full of moysture and with a long tracte receiuyng Ticinam with innumerable other great ryuers falleth into the sea Adriatike The lyke is also to be vnderstoode of the other But these ryuers as our men were enfourmed by the kynges fall into the Ocean sea with larger and fuller channels neere hande and some there are whiche affirme this lande to be very large in other places although it be but narowe here There commeth also to my remembraunce another cause the whiche although it be of no great force yet do I entende to wryte it Perhaps therefore the length of the lande reachyng farre from the East to the West if it be narowe may be a helpe hereunto for as we reade that the ryuer Alpheus passeth through the holowe places vnder the sea from the citie of Elis in Peloponeso and breaketh forth at the fountayne or spryng Arethusa in the Iland of Sicillia so is it possible that these mountaines may haue such long caues parteynyng vnto them that they may be the receptacles of the water passing through the landes beyng farre distant and that the same waters commyng by so long a tracte may in the way be greatly encreased by the conuersion of ayre into water as we haue sayde Thus much haue I spoken freely permitting both to them which do frendly interprete other mens dooyngs and also to the malitious scorners to take the thing euen as them lysteth for hytherto I can make no further declaration hereof but when the trueth shal be better knowen I wil do my diligence to commit the same to wrytyng Nowe therfore forasmuch as we haue spoken thus muche of the breadth of this lande we entende to describe the length and fourme 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 although not lyke the legge of a man as it doth But nowe I compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe to a Giant for that part thereof whiche the Spanyardes haue ouer runne from the sayd East poynt which reacheth towarde the sea Atlantike the ende not beyng yet founde towarde the West is more then eyght tymes longer then Italie And by what reason I am moued to say eyght tymes your holynesse shall vnderstande From the tyme therefore that I fyrste determined to obeye theyr requestes who wylled me fyrst in your name to wryte these thinges in the Latine tongue I did my endeuour that al things myght come foorth with due tryal and experience whereupon I repayred to the Bishop of Burges beyng the cheefe refuge of this nauigation As we were therfore secretely togeather in one chamber we had many instruments parteining to these affaires as globes and many of those maps whiche are commonly called the shipmans cardes or cardes of the sea Of the which one was drawen by the Portugales wherunto Americus Vesputius is said to haue put to his hande beyng a man most expert in this facultie and a Florentine borne who also vnder the stipende of the Portugales had sayled towarde the South pole many degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall In this carde we founde the first front of this lande to be broder then the kynges of Vraba had perswaded our men of theyr mountaynes To another Colonus the Admiral while he yet lyued and searched those places had geuen the beginning with his owne handes whereunto Bartholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunt had added his iudgement for he also had sayled about those coastes Of the Spanyardes lykewyse as many as thought them selues to haue anye knowledge what parteyned to measure the land the sea drewe certayne cardes in parchment as concernyng these nauigations Of all other they moste esteeme them whiche Iohannes de la Cossa the companion of Fogeda whom we sayde to be slayne of the people of Caramairi in the hauen of Carthago and another expert pylote called Andreas Moralis had set foorth And this aswel for the great experience which they both had to whom these tractes were aswel knowen as the chambers of theyr owne houses as also that they were thought to be cunninger in that part of Cosmographie which teacheth the discription and measuring of the sea Conferring therfore al these cardes togeather in euery of the whiche was drawen a lyue expressing not the myles but leagues after the maner of the Spanyardes we tooke our compasses began to measure the sea coastes after this order From that poynt or fronte whiche we sayde to be included within the lyue parteynyng to the Portugales iurisdiction beyng drawen by the paralelles of the Ilandes of Cabouerde but a hundred leagues further towarde the West whiche they haue nowe also searched on euery syde we founde three hundred leagues to the entraunce of the riuer Maragnonum and from thence to Os Draconis seuen hundred leagues but somwhat lesse by the discription of some for they doo not agree in al poyntes exquisitely The Spanyards wyl that a league conteyne foure myles by sea and but three by lande From Os Draconis
in deede they were Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the .xiii. day of the calendes of September when he had sayled thyrtie leagues he found a ryuer within the mouth wherof he drewe freshe water in the sea where also the shore was so cleane without rockes that he founde grounde euery where where he myght aptly cast anker He writeth that the swift course of the Ocean was so vehement and contrary that in the space of fourtie dayes he coulde scarcely sayle threescore and tenne leagues and that with much dyfficultie with many fetches and compassynges fyndyng him selfe to be some tymes repulsed and dryuen farre backe by the violent course of the sea when he woulde haue taken lande towarde the euening leaste perhaps wanderyng in vnknowen coastes in the darcknesse of the nyght he myght be in daunger of shypwracke He wryteth that in the space of eyght leagues he found three great and fayre ryuers vpon the banckes whereof there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh In these riuers was also great plenty of fyshe and great Tortoyses Lykewyse in many places multitudes of Crocodyles lying in the sande and yanyng to take the heate of the sonne besyde dyuers other kyndes of beastes wherunto he gaue no names He sayeth also that the soyle of that lande is verye diuers and variable beyng somewhere stonye and full of rough and craggie promontories or poyntes reachyng into the sea and in other places as fruitefull as may be They haue also diuers kynges and rulers In some places they call a kyng Cacicus in other places they call hym Quebi and somewhere Tiba Such as haue behaued them selues valyantlye in the warres agaynst theyr enemies and haue theyr faces full of scarres they call Cupras and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the gods whiche they called Heroes supposed to be the soules of suche men as in theyr lyfe tyme excelled in vertue and noble actes The common people they call Chiui and a man they call Homem When they say in theyr language take man they say Hoppa home After this he came to an other ryuer apt to beare great shippes before the mouth whereof lye foure small Ilandes full of floryshyng and fruitfull trees these Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora From hence sayling toward the East for the space of .xiii. leagues styl against the violent course of the water he found twelue other small Ilandes in the which because he founde a new kind of fruites much like vnto our Lemonds he called them Limonarâ—s Wanderyng yet further the same way for the space of .xii. leagues he founde a great hauen entryng into the lande after the maner of a gulfe the space of three leagues and in maner as brode into y e which fel a great riuer Here was Nicuesa lost afterward when he sought Beragua by reason whereof they called it Rio de los perdidos that is the ryuer of the lost men Thus Colonus the Admiral yet further continuyng his course agaynst the furye of the sea founde manye hygh mountaynes and horrible valleys with dyuers ryuers and hauens from all the which as he sayth proceeded sweete sauours greatly recreatyng and comfortyng nature Insomuche that in al this long tract there was not one of his men diseased vntyll he came to a region whiche thinhabitantes call Quicuris in the whiche is the hauen called Cariai named Mirobalanus by the Admirall bycause the Mirobalane trees are natiue in the regions thereabout In this hauen of Cariai there came about two hundred of thinhabitantes to the sea syde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in theyr handes yet of condition gentle yenough and not refusyng straungers Their commyng was for none other purpose then to knowe what this newe nation meant or what they brought with them When our men had geuen them sygnes of peace they came swymmyng to the shyppes and desyred to barter with them by exchaunge The Admiral to allure them to frendshyppe geue them many of our thynges But they refused them suspecting some disceyt thereby bycause he would not receiue theirs They wrought all by sygnes for one vnderstoode not a woord of the others language Suche gyftes as were sent them they left on the shore and woulde take no part thereof They are of suche ciuilitie and humanitie that they esteeme it more honorable to geue then to take They sent our men two young women beyng virgines of commendable fauour and goodly stature sygnifying vnto them that they myght take them away with them if it were their pleasure These women after the maner of their countrey were couered from their ancles somwhat aboue their priuye partes with a certayne cloth made of gossampine cotton but the men are all naked The women vse to cut their heare but the men let it growe on the hynder part of their heades and cut it on the fore part Their long heare they bynde vp with fyllettes and wynde it in sundry rowles as our maydes are accustomed to do The virgines whiche were sent to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell and gaue them many gyftes and sent them home agayne But lykewyse all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause our men had refused their giftes Yet tooke he two men away with hym and those very wyllyngly that by learnyng the Spanyshe tongue he myght afterward vse them for interpretours He considered that the tractes of these coastes were not greatly troubled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre from the shore euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers the whiche thyng also other do affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coastes declaryng that the sea ryseth and falleth but litle therabout He sayth furthermore that in the prospect of this land there are trees engendred euen in the sea which after that they are growen to any height bend downe the toppes of theyr braunches into the ground whiche embrasyng them causeth other braunches to spring out of the same and take roote in the earth bryngyng foorth trees in theyr kynd successiuely as dyd the fyrst root from whence they had theyr oryginall as do also the settes of vines when onely both the endes thereof are put into the grounde Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees describyng them to be on the lande but not in the sea The Admiral wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendred 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 muche differyng from the other This beast is of the bygnesse of a great Monkey but with a tayle much longer and bygger it lyueth in the wooddes and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner Hangyng by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree and geatheryng strength by swaying her body twyse
or thryse to and fro she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe An archer of ours hurt one of them who perceiuyng her selfe to be wounded leapt downe from the tree and fiercely set on him whiche gaue her the wound in so much that he was fayne to defend hym selfe with his swoorde And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes he tooke her and with much a do brought her to the shyppes where within a while she waxed tame Whyle she was thus kept and bounde with cheynes certayne other of our hunters had chased a wylde Bore out of the maryshes neere vnto the sea syde for hunger and desyre of fleshe caused them to take double pleasure in huntyng In this meane tyme other which remayned in the shyppes goyng a lande to recreate them selues tooke this Monkie with them who assoone as she had espyed the Bore set vp her brystels and made towarde him The Bore lykewyse shooke his bristels and whet his teeth The Monkie furiously inuaded the Bore wrappyng her tayle about his body with her arme reserued of her victourer helde him so fast about the throte that he was suffocate These people of Cariai vse to drie the dead bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai he founde a gulfe of suche largenes that it contayned .xii. leagues in compasse in the mouth of this gulfe was foure litle Ilandes so neere togeather that they made a safe hauen to enter into the gulfe This gulfe is the hauen whiche we sayde before to be called Cerabaro of thinhabitantes But they haue nowe learned that only the land of the one syde therof lying on the ryght hande at the enteryng of the gulfe is called by that name but that on the left syde is called Aburema He sayth that all this gulfe is full of fruitefull Ilandes wel replenished with goodly trees and the grounde of the sea to be very cleane without rockes and commodious to cast anker lykewyse the sea of the gulfe to haue great abundance of fyshe and the lande on both the sydes to bee inferyor to none in fruitfulnes At his fyrst arryuyng he espyed two of thinhabitantes hauyng cheynes about theyr neckes made of ouches whiche they call Guauines of base golde artificially wrought in the fourmes of Eagles and Lions with dyuers other beastes and foules Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai he was enfourmed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde and that the people of Cariai haue al theyr gold from thence for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges They tolde hym also that in the same regions there are fiue villages not farre from the sea syde whose inhabitants apply them selues onely to the geathering of gold The names of these villages are these Chirara Puren Chitaza Iureche Aâ—amea All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro go naked are painted with diuers colours They take great pleasure in wearing garlandes of floures and crownes made of the clawes of Lions Tygers The women couer only theyr priuie partes with a fyllet of gossampine cotton Departing from hence coasting styll by the same shore for the space of xviii leagues he came to another ryuer where he espyed about three hundred naked men in a company When they sawe the shyppes drawe neare the lande they cryed out aloude with cruel countenaunces shakyng theyr woodden swoordes and hurlyng dartes takyng also water in theyr mouthes and spouting the same agaynst our men whereby they seemed to insinuate that they woulde receiue no condition of peace or haue ought to do with them Here he commaunded certayne pieces of ordinaunce to be shot of cowarde them yet so to ouershoote them that none myght be hurt thereby For he euer determined to deale quietly peaceably with these newe nations At the noyse therefore of the gunnes and syght of the fyre they fel downe to the grounde and desyred peace Thus enteryng into further frendshyp they exchaunged theyr cheynes and ouches of golde for glasses and haukes belles and suche other marchandies They vse drummes or tymbrels made of the shelles of certaine sea fyshes wherewith they encorage them selues in the warres In this tract are these seuen ryuers Acateba Quareba Zobroba Aiaguitin Vrida Duribha Beragua in all the whiche golde is founde They defende them selues agaynst rayne and heat with certayne great leaues of trees in the steade of clokes Departyng from hence he searched the coastes of Ebetere and Embigar into the whiche fall the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar And here ceasseth the plentie and fruitfulnes of gold in the tract of fiftie leagues or there about From hence only three leagues distant is the rocke whiche in the vnfortunat discourse of Nicuesa we sayde was called of our men Pignonem but of thinhabitantes the Region is called Vibba In this tract also about fyre leagues from thence is the hauen whiche Colonus called Portus Bellus wherof we haue spoken before in the region which thinhabitants cal Xaguaguara This region is very populous but they goe all naked The kyng is paynted with blacke colours but all the people with redde The kyng and seuen of his noble men had euery of them a litle plate of golde hangyng at theyr nosethrylles downe vnto theyr lyppes and this they take for a comely ornament The men inclose theyr priuie members in a shell and the women couer theyrs with a fyllet of gossampine cotton tyed about theyr loynes In theyr gardens they noryshe a fruite muche lyke the nut of a pine tree the which as we haue sayde in an other place groweth on a shrubbe muche lyke vnto an hartichoke but the fruite is much softer and meate for a kyng also certayne trees whiche beare gourdes whereof we haue spoken before this tree they call Hibuero In these coastes they met sometymes with Crocodiles lying on the sandes the whiche when they fled or tooke the water they left a very sweete sauoure behynde them sweeter then muske or Castoreum When I was sent ambassadoure for the catholyke kyng of Castile to the Soltane of Babylon or Alcayre in Egypt thinhabitantes neere vnto the ryuer of Nilus tolde me the lyke of theyr female Crocodiles affyrmyng furthermore that the fat or shewet of them is equall in sweetnes with the pleasaunt gummes of Arabie But the Admirall was nowe at the length enforced of necessitie to depart from hence aswell for that he was no longer able to abyde the contrarie and violent course of the water as also that his shyppes were dayly more and more putrified and eaten through with certayne wormes which are engendred of the warmenesse of the water in al those tractes neere vnto the Equinoctiall line The Uenetians call these wormes Bissas The same are also engendred in two hauens of the
beyng enfourmed of the matter appoynted hym two shyppes wherewith he returned to his maister and companions As he founde them so came they to Hispaniola very feeble and in maner naked What chaunced of them afterwarde I knowe not as yet Let vs now therefore leaue these particulers and speake somwhat more of generals In al those tracts whiche we sayd here before to haue been founde by Colonus the Admiral both he hym selfe writeth and all his companions of that voyage confesse that the trees hearbes and fruites are floryshyng and greene all the whole yeere and the ayre so temperate holesome that of al his companie there neuer fel one man sycke nor yet were vexed eyther with extreme colde or heate for the space of fyftie leagues from the great hauen of Cerabaro to the ryuers of Hiebra and Beragua Thinhabitantes of Cerabaro and the nations whiche are betwyxt that the sayde ryuers applie not them selues to the geatheryng of gold but only at certayne tymes of the yeere and are very expert and cunnyng herein as are our myners of syluer and Iron They knowe by long experience in what places golde is most abundantly engendred as by the colour of the water of the ryuers and such as fall from the mountaynes and also by the colour of the earth and stones They beleeue a certayne godly nature to be in golde forasmuche as they neuer geather it except they vse certayne religious expiations or purgyng as to absteyne from women and all kyndes of pleasures and delicate meates and drinkes during all the tyme that their golden haruest lasteth They suppose that men do naturally liue and die as other beastes do and therfore honour none other thyng as God Yet do they pray to the Sonne and honour it when it ryseth But let vs nowe speake of the mountains and situation of these landes From all the sea bankes of these regions exceedyng great and hygh mountaynes are seene towarde the South yet reaching by a continual tract from the East into the west by reason wherof I suppose that the two great seas wherof I haue spoken largely before are deuided with these mountaynes as it were with bulwarkes least they shoulde ioyne and repugne as Italie diuideth the sea called Tirrhenum from the sea Adriatike whiche is nowe commonly called the gulfe of Uenice For whiche way so euer they sayled from the poynt called Promontorium S. Augustini whiche parteyneth to the Portugales and prospecteth against the sea Atlantike euen vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro and to the furthest landes founde hitherto westward they had euer great mountaynes in syght both neere hande and also farre of in all that long rase These mountaynes were in some place smooth pleasaunt and fruitfull full of goodly trees and hearbes and somwhere hygh rough ful of rockes and barren as chaunceth in the famous mountayne of Taurus in Asia and also in dyuers coastes of our mountaynes of Apennini such other of like bygnesse The rydgies also of these mountaynes are diuided with goodly and fayre valleys That part of the mountaynes which includeth the limittes of Beragua is thought to be hygher then the cloudes insomuch that as they say the tops of them can seldome be seene for the multitude of thicke cloudes whiche are beneath the same Colanus the Admiral the fyrst fynder of these regions affirmeth that the toppes of the mountaines of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyght He sayth furthermore that in the same region at the rootes of the mountaynes the way is open to the south sea compareth it as it were betwene Uenice and Genua or Ianua as the Genues wyl haue it called whiche fable that theyr citie was builded of Ianus He affirmeth also that this land reacheth forth toward the south and that from hence it taketh the begynning of breadth lyke as from the Alpes out of the narowe thygh of Italie we see the large and mayne landes of Fraunce Germanie and Pannonie to the Sarmatians and Scithians euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of Riphea and the frosen sea and embrase therewith as with a continuall bonde al Thracia 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 Meotis in Scithia northwarde The Admiral supposeth that on the left hande in saylyng towarde the west this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges and that on the ryght hande towarde the North it is 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 sayd to bee founde by Vaschus and our Ocean shoulde ioyne and meete in the corners of that lande and that the waters of these seas do not onely inclose and compasse the same without diuision as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and Tanais with the frosen Ocean and our sea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanyshe seas But in my opinion the vehement course of the Ocean toward the west doth signifie the let that the sayd two seas shoulde not so ioyne togeather but rather that that lande is adherent to the firme landes towarde the North as we haue sayde before It shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the length hereof Let vs nowe therefore speake somwhat of the breadth of the same We haue made mention before howe the south sea is diuided by narowe limittes from our Ocean as it was proued by thexperience of Vaschus Nunnez and his companions which fyrst made open the way thyther But as dyuersly the mountaynes of our Alpes in Europe are somwhere narowe and in some place brode euen so by the lyke prouidence of nature this land in some part therof reacheth farre in breadth and is in other places coarcted with narowe limittes from sea to sea with valleys also in some places whereby men may passe from the one syde to the other Where we haue described the regions of Vraba and Beragua to be situate these seas are diuided by small distaunce Yet ought we to thynke the region whiche the great ryuer of Maragnonus runneth through to be very large if we shall graunt Maragnonum to be a ryuer and no sea as the freshe waters of the same ought to perswade vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth there can be no swalowyng gulfes of suche bygnesse as to receiue or nooryshe so great abundance of water The lyke is also to be supposed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba whiche we sayde to be from the corner of the gulfe of Vraba in some place of fourtie fathomes depth and somwhere fiftie also three myles in breadth and so to fall into the sea We must needes graunt that the earth is brode there by the which the ryuer passeth from the high mountaines of Dabaiba from the East and not from the west They
white marble whereby they thynke that in tyme past some straungers haue come to those landes whiche haue dygged marble out of the mountaynes and lefte those fragmentes on the playne There our men learned that the ryuer Maragnonus descendeth from the mountaynes couered with snowe called Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata and the same to be encreased by many other ryuers whiche fall into it throughout all the lowe and waterly regions by the which it runneth with so long a tract from the sayd mountaynes into the sea and this to be the cause of the greatnesse thereof These thynges being thus brought to passe the gouernour commaunded the trumpeter to blowe a retraite Wheruppon they which were sent to lande beyng fiue hundred in number making a great shout for ioy of theyr victory set them selues in order of battayle and so keepyng theyr array returned to the shyppes laden with spoyle of those prouinces and shynyng in souldiers clokes of feathers with fayre plumes and crestes of variable colours In this meane tyme hauyng repaired theyr shyppes and furnyshed the same with all necessaries they loosed anker the .xvi day of the Calendes of Iuly directyng their course to the hauen of Carthagena in the whiche voyage they destroyed and wasted certaine Ilandes of the Canibales lying in the way accordyng as they were commaunded by the kyng But the swift course of the water deceiued both Iohannes Sarranus the chiefe Pilot of the gouernours shippe and all the other although they made their bost that they perfectly knewe the nature therof For they affyrme that in one night they were caried fourtie leagues beyond their estimation The syxte booke of the thyrde Decade HEere must we somewhat digresse frō Cosmography make a philosophical discourse to searche the secrete causes of nature For whereas they all affirme with one consent that y e sea runneth there from the east to the west as swiftely as it were a ryuer fallyng from hygh mountaynes I thought it not good to let suche matter slyppe vntouched The which whyle I consyder I am drawen into no small ambiguitie and doubt whyther those waters haue theyr course whiche flowe with so continuall a tract in circuite from the East as though they fledde to the west neuer to returne and yet neyther the west thereby any whit the more fylled nor the East emptied If we shall say that they fall to theyr centre as is the nature of heauie thynges and assigne the Equinoctiall line to bee the centre as some affyrme what centre shall we appoynt to be able to receiue so great abundance of water Or what circumference shall be founde wet They whiche haue searched those coastes haue yet founde no lyke reason to be true Many thynke that there shoulde bee certayne large straightes or entrances in the corner of that great lande whiche we described to be eyght tymes bygger then Italye and the corner thereof to be full of gulfes whereby they suppose that some strayghtes shoulde passe through the same lying on the west syde of the Ilande of Cuba and that the sayde strayghtes shoulde swalowe vp those waters and so conuey the same into the west and from thence agayne into our East Ocean or north seas as some thynke Other wyll that the gulfe of that great lande be closed vp and the lande to reache farre towarde the north on the backe syde of Cuba so that it embrace the north landes whiche the frosen sea encompasseth vnder the north pole and that all the lande of those coastes shoulde ioyne togeather as one firme lande Whereby they coniecture that those waters shoulde be turned about by the obiecte or resistaunce of that land so bendyng towarde the north as we see the waters turned about in the crooked bankes of certayne ryuers But this agreeth not in all poyntes For they also whiche haue searched the frosen sea and sayled from thence into the west do lykewyse affyrme that those north seas flowe continually towarde the west although nothyng so swiftely These north seas haue ben searched by one Sebastian Cabot a Uenetian borne whom beyng yet but in maner an infant his parentes caryed with them into Englande hauyng occasion to resort thither for trade of marchandize as is the maner of the Uenetians to leaue no part of the worlde vnsearched to obtaine rychesse He therfore furnished two shyppes in England at his owne charges And fyrst with three hundreth men directed his course so farre towarde the north pole that euen in the moneth of Iuly he founde monstrous heapes of Ise swymming on the sea and in maner continuall day lyght Yet sawe he the lande in that tract free from Ise whiche had ben moulten by heat of the Sonne Thus seeyng suche heapes of Ise before hym he was enforced to turne his sayles and folowe the west so coastyng styll by the shore that he was thereby brought so farre into the south by reason of the lande bendyng so muche southwarde that it was there almost equall in latitude with the sea called Fretum Herculeum hauyng the north pole eleuate in maner in the same degree He sayled lykewyse in this tract so farre towarde the west that he had the Ilande of Cuba on his left hande in maner in the same degree of longitude As he traueyled by the coastes of this great lande whiche he named Baccallaos he sayth that he founde the lyke course of the waters toward the west but the same to runne more softly and gentelly then the swifte waters whiche the Spanyardes founde in their nauigations southwarde Wherefore it is not onely more lyke to be true but ought also of necessitie to be concluded that betwene both the landes hitherto vnknowen there shoulde be certayne great open places wherby the waters should thus continually passe from the East into the west whiche waters I suppose to be dryuen about the globe of the earth by the vncessaunt mouyng and impulsion of the heauens and not to beswalowed vp and cast out agayne by the breathyng of Demogorgon as some haue imagined bycause they see the seas by increase decrease to flow reflow Sebastian Cabot hym selfe named those landes Baccallaos bycause that in the seas therabout he founde so great multitudes of certayne bygge fyshes muche like vnto Tunnies which thinhabitants cal Baccallaos that they somtymes stayed his shyppes He founde also the people of those regions couered with beastes skynnes yet not without the vse of reason He also sayth there is great plentie of Beares in those regions whiche vse to eate fyshe For plungeyng them selues into the water where they perceiue a multitude of these fyshes to lye they fasten theyr clawes in theyr scales and so drawe them to lande and eate them So that as he sayth the Beares beyng thus satisfied with fyshe are not noysome to men He declareth further that in many places of these regions he sawe great plentie of laton among the inhabitauntes
Cabot is my very frend whom I vse famâ—lierlye and delyte to haue hym sometymes keepe me company in my owne house For beyng called out of Englande by the commaundement of the catholique kyng of Castile after the death of Henry kyng of Englande the seuenth of that name he was made one of our counsayle and assistaunce as touching the affayres of the new Indies lookyng dayly for shyppes to be furnished for hym to discouer this hyd secret of nature This voyage is appoynted to be begunne in Marche in the yeere next folowyng beyng the yeere of Christ .1516 What shall succeede your holynesse shal be aduertysed by my letters yf God graunt me lyfe Some of the Spaniardes denye that Cabot was the fyrst fynder of the lande of Bacallaos and affirme that he went not so farre westewarde But it shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the gulfes and strayghtes and of Sebastian Cabot Let vs nowe therfore returne to the Spaniardes At this tyme they let passe the hauen of Carthago vntouched with al the Ilandes of the Canibales there aboute whiche they named Insulas Sancti Bernardi leauyng also behind theyr backes al the region of Caramairi Heere by reason of a sodayne tempest they were caste vpon the Ilande Fortis beyng about fyftie leagues distant from the enteraunce of the gulfe of Vraba In this Iland they founde in the houses of thinhabitantes many baskettes made of certayne great sea reedes ful of salt For this Iland hath in it many goodly salt bayes by reason wherof they haue great plentie of salte which they sell to other nations for such thyngs as they stande in neede of Not farre from hence a great Curlew as bygge as a Storke came flying to the gouernours shyp and suffered her selfe to be easely taken whiche beyng carryed aboute among all the shyppes of the nauie dyed shortly after They sawe also a great multitude of the same kynde of foules on the shore a farre of The gouernours shyppe whiche we sayd to haue lost the rudder beyng now sore broosed and in maner vnprofytable they left behynde to folowe at leasure The nauie arryued at Dariena the twelfth day of the Calendes of Iuly and the gouernours shyppe beyng voyde of men was dryuen alande in the same coastes within foure dayes after The Spanyardes whiche now inhabited Dariena with theyr Captayne and Lieuetenaunt Vaschus Nunnez Balboa of whom we haue largelye made mention before beyng certifyed of the arriuall of Petrus Arias and his companye went foorth three myles to meete him and receiued him honorably and religiously with the psalme Te deum laudamus geuyng thankes to god by whose safe conduct they were brought so prosperously thyther to al theyr comfortes They receyued them gladly into theyr houses builded after the maner of those prouinces I may wel cal these regions Prouinces a Procul Victis that is such as are ouercome farre of forasmuche as our men do now inhabite the same al the barbarous kynges and Idolatours beyng eiected They entertayned them with such cheare as they were able to make them as with the fruites of those regions and new bread both made of rootes and the graine Maizium Other delicates to make vp the feast were of theyr own store which they brought with them in theyr ships as poudred flesh salted fyshe and bread made of wheat for they brought with them many barrelles of wheate meale for the same purpose Heere may your holynesse not without iust cause of admiration beholde a kynges nauye and great multitude of Christians inhabiting not only the regions situate vnder the cyrcle of heauen called Tropicus Cancri but also in maner vnder the Equinoctiall line contrary to the opinion of the olde wryters a fewe excepted But after that they are nowe mette togeather let vs further declare what they determined to do Therfore the day after that y e nauie arriued there assembled a company of Spanyards thinhabitours of Dariena to the nuÌ„ber of foure hundred and fiftie men Petrus Arias the gouernour of the nauy and his companye conferred with them both priuilie and openlye of certayne articles whereof it was the kynges pleasure he shoulde enquire and most especially as concernyng suche thynges wherof Vaschus the fyrst fynder and Admirall of the South sea made mention in his large letter sent from Dariena to Spayne In this inquisition they founde althyngs to be true whereof Vaschus had certified the king by his letters and therevpon concluded that in the dominions of Comogra Pocchorrosa Tumanama at the assignement of Vaschus certayne fortresses shoulde be erected foorthwith to thintent there to plant theyr colonie or habitation To the better accomplyshment hereof they sent immediatly one Iohannes Aiora a noble young gentleman of Corduba and vnder Lieuetenant with foure hundred men and foure Carauels and one other lytle shyp Thus departyng he sayled fyrst directly to the hauen of Comogrus distant from Dariena about twentie and fyue leagues as they wryte in theyr last letters From hence he is appoynted to send a hundred and fyftie of his foure hundred towarde the South by a newe and ryghter way founde of late by the whiche as they say it is not past twentie and syxe leagues from the pallace of kyng Comogrus to the entraunce of the gulfe of Sancti Michaelis The residue of the foure hundred shal remayne there to be an ayde and succour to al such as shall iorney to and fro Those hundred and fyftie whiche are assigned to go southward take with them for interpretours certain of our men which had learned the soothern language of the bondmen which were geuen to Vaschus when he ouerranne those regions and also certayne of the bondemen them selues which had nowe learned the Spanyshe tongue They say that the hauen of Pocchorrosa is only seuen leagues distant from the hauen of Comogrus In Pocchorrosa he is assigned to leaue fyftie men with the lightest ship which may be a passinger betwene them that like as we vse post horses by land so may they by this currant shyp in short space certifie the Lieuetenaunt and thinhabitours of Dariena of such thynges as shal chaunce They entend also to build houses in the region of Tumanama The pallace of king Tumanama is distant froÌ„ Pocchorrosa about twenty leagues Of these foure hundred men beyng of the olde souldiers of Dariena men of good experience fyftie were appointed to be as it were Decurians to guide and conduct the new men from place to place to do theyr affayres When they had thus set all thynges in order they thought it good to aduertyse the kyng hereof and therwith to certyfye hym that in those prouinces there is a kyng named Dabaiba whose dominion is verye ryche in gold but the same to be yet vntouched by reason of his great power His kyngdome ioyneth to the second great ryuer named Dabaiba after his name whiche falleth into the sea out
perpetual memory and letters whereby you may declare your mynde to suche as are absent And herewith desyred that the booke myght be opened vnto hym supposyng that he shoulde therein haue founde the letters of his owne countrey But when he sawe them vnlyke he sayde further that in his countrey there were cities fortified with walles and gouerned by lawes and that the people also vsed apparell but of what religion they were I dyd not learne Yet had our men knowledge both by the woordes and signes of this fugitiue that they were circumcised What nowe thynke you hereby most holy father Or what do you diuine may come hereof when tyme shall subdue all these vnder your throne Let vs nowe entermyngle certayne small thynges among these great matters I haue not thought good to pretermit that which chaunced to Iohannes Solisius who to searche the South syde of the supposed continent departed with three shyppes from the port Ioppa not farre distant from the Ilandes of Gades or Cales in the Ocean the fourth day of the Ides of September in the yeere M.D.xv. or what successe Iohannes Pontius had whom the newe gouernour Petrus Arias appoynted to vanquyshe and destroy the Caribes or Canibales deuourers of mans fleshe also to what ende the voyages of the other captaines came which were sent foorth diuers waies at the same tyme as Gonzalus Badaiocius Franciscus Bezarra and Valleius Iohannes Solicius tooke the matter in hand in an euyll houre He sayled beyond the point of saint Augustine which they cal Cabo S. Augustini toward the South side of the supposed continent beyond the Equinoctial line For as we haue said before that poynt reacheth Southwarde to the seuenth degree of the South pole called the pole Antartike He proceeded in that vyage syxe hundred leagues and found the lande from the poynt to extende so farre towarde the South beyonde the Equinoctial that he came to the thirtieth degree of y e South pole As he sayled thus forwarde hauyng nowe on his backe halfe the starres named Caput Draconis that is the Dragons head and the regions of Paria lying northwarde from hym prospectyng towarde the pole Artyke he chaunced to fall into the handes of the filthy Canibales For these craftie foxes seemed to make signes of peace when in theyr myndes they conceyued a hope of a daintie banquet espying their enimies a farre of began to swalowe theyr spettle as their mouth watered for greedines of theyr pray As vnhappy Solisius descended with as many of his company as coulde enâ—er into the boate of the byggest shyppe sodenly a great multitude of thinhabitantes brust foorth vppon them and â—lue 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 escaping Theyr furie not thus satisfied they cut the slayne men in peeces euen vppon the shore where theyr felowes myght behold this horrible spectacle from the sea But they beyng stricken with feare through this example durst not come foorth of their shyppes or deuise how to reuenge the death of theyr Captayne and companyons They departed therefore from these vnfortunate coastes and by the way ladyng theyr shyppe with brasell returned home agayne with losse and heauie cheare Of these thynges I was aduertised of late by theyr owne letters What they haue els doone I shall haue more perticular knowledge heereafter Iohannes Pontius was also repulsed by the Canibales in the Iland of Guadalupea beyng one of the chiefe Ilandes of theyr habitation For when they sawe our men a farre of on the sea they lay in ambushe sodenly to inuade them when they shoulde come alande Our men sent foorth a fewe foote men and with them theyr Laundresses to washe theyr shertes and sheetes For from the Iland of Ferrea beyng one of the Ilandes of Canarie euen vnto this Iland for the space of foure thousand and two hundred myles they had seene no land where they myght fynde any fresh water forasmuche as in all this large space the Ocean is without Ilandes At theyr commyng therefore to lande the Canibales assayled them caried away the women and put the men to suche distresse that fewe of them escaped By reason whereof Pontius beyng greatly discomfited durst not inuade the Canibales fearyng theyr venomed arrowes which these naked man-hunters can direct most certaynely Thus good Pontius fayling of his purpose was fayne to geue ouer the Canibales whom being safe vnder the house roofe he threatned to vanquish and destroy Whyther he went from thence or what new thyngs he founde I haue as yet no further knowledge By these mysfortunes Solisius lost his lyfe Pontius his honour Let vs nowe speake of an other whose enterpryse came to lyke purpose the same yeere Iohannes Aiora borne in the citie of Corduba a man of noble parentage sent in steade of the Lieuetenant as we haue saide more couetous of gold then careful of his charge or desirous of prayle for well deseruing sought occasions of quarelyng agaynst the kynges and spoyled many violentlye extortyng gold of them agaynst ryght equitie and further handeled them so extremely that of frendes they became most cruel enemies insomuch that they ceassed not with desperat myndes by al meanes they coulde to slay our men openly or priuilie By reason whereof it is come to passe that where before they bartered quietly exchanging ware for ware they are nowe fayne to do all thynges by force of armes When he had thus exacted a great quantitie of golde of them as it is sayde he fled priuilye and tooke away a shyp with hym by stealth as the common rumour goeth nor yet hytherto haue we hard whyther he went or where he is arryued Some suspect that Petrus Arias the gouernour should consent to his departure because this Iohannes Aiora is brother to Gonsalus Aiora the kynges historiographer a man both learned and expert in the discipline of warre and so much the gouernours frend that these two among a fewe may be counted examples of rare amitie I my selfe also am greatly bounde vnto them both and haue long enioyed theyr frendshyp yet shall I desire them both to pardon me in declaring my phantasie heerein that in al the turmoyles and tragical affayres of the Ocean nothyng hath so muche displeased me as the couetousnesse of this man who hath so disturbed the pacifyed myndes of the kynges Nowe among these troublous chaunces let vs rehearse the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiocius and his felowes whose prosperous begynninges ended with vnfortunate successe Gonsalus therfore in the moneth of May in the yeere of Christ .1515 departed from Dariena with fourscore armed men directing his voyage toward the South and resting in no place vntyll he came to the region of Cerabaro which our men named Gratia Dei distaunt from Dariena about a hundred and
fourscore myles for they call it threescore leagues He spent certaine daies heere in idlenesse for he coulde neither by fayre meanes nor by foule allure the kyng of the region to come to hym Whyle he lay thus idelly there came to hym other fyftie men sent from Dariena vnder the gouernaunce of captayne Lodouicus Mercado who departed from Dariena in the calendes of May to the intent to searche the inner partes of those regions When they met togeather they determined after consultation to passe ouer the mountaynes lying towarde the South euen vnto the South sea lately founde Beholde nowe a wonderfull thyng that in a lande of suche marueylous longitude in other places they founde it here to be onely about fyftie myles distant to the South sea for they count it .xvii. leagues as the maner of the Spanyardes is to recken and not by myles Yet saye they that a league consysteth of three myles by lande and foure by sea as we haue noted before In the toppes of the mountaynes and turnyng of the waters they founde a kyng named Iuana whose kyngdome is also named Coiba as is the region of king Careta of whom we haue made mention elswhere But for as muche as the region of this Iuana is rycher in golde they named it Coiba Dites that is Coiba the rych For wheresoeuer they dygged the grounde whether it were on the drye lande or in the wet chanelles of the ryuers they founde the sande whiche they cast foorth myxt with golde Iuana fledde at the commyng of our men and coulde neuer be brought agayne They spoyled all the countrey neare about his palace yet had they but litle golde for he had caryed all his stuffe with hym Here they founde certayne slaues marked in the faces after a straunge sorte For with a sharpe prycke made eyther of bone or els with a thorne they make holes in theyr faces and foorthwith sprinklyng a powder thereon they moiste the pounced place with a certayne blacke or redde iuice whose substaunce is of suche tenacitie and clamminesse that it wyll neuer weare away They brought these slaues away with them They say that this iuice is of suche sharpenesse and putteth them to suche payne that for extreme doloure they haue no stomacke to theyr meate certayne dayes after The kynges whiche take these slaues in theyr warres vse theyr helpe in seekyng for golde and in tyllage of the grounde euen as doo our men From the pallace of Iuana folowyng the course of the water about tenne myles towarde the South they entred into the dominion of an other kyng whom our men named the olde man bycause he was olde not passyng of his other name In the region of this kyng also they founde golde in all places both on the lande and in the ryuers This region is very fayre and fruitefull and hath in it many famous ryuers Departyng from hence in fyue dayes iourney they came to a lande lefte desolate They suppose that this was destroyed by ciuile discorde forasmuche as it is for the most parte fruitefull and yet not inhabited The fyfth day they sawe two men commyng a farre of these were laden with bread of Maizium whiche they caryed on theyr shoulders in sackes Our men tooke them and vnderstoode by them that there were two kynges in that tract the one was named Periquete who dwelt neere vnto the sea the others name was Totonoga This Totonoga was blynde and dwelt in the continent The two men which they met were the fyshers of Totonoga whom he had sent with certayne fardelles of fyshe to Periquete and had agayne receyued bread of hym for exchaunge For thus do they communicate theyr commodities one with an other by exchaunge without the vse of wycked mony By the conductyng of these two men they came to kyng Totonoga dwellyng on the West syde of saint Michaels gulfe in the South sea They had of this kyng the summe of syxe thousand Castellans of golde both rude and artifycially wrought Among those groumes of rude or natyue golde there was one founde of the weyght of two Castellans whiche argued the plentifull rychenesse of the grounde Folowyng the same coast by the sea syde towarde the West they came to a kyng whose name was Taracuru of whom they had golde amountyng to the weyght of eyght thousande Pesos We haue sayde before that Pesus is the weyght of a Castelane not coyned From hence they went to the dominion of this kynges brother named Pananome who fledde at their commyng and appeared no more afterwarde They say that his kyngdome is ryche in golde They spoyled his pallace in his absence Syxe leagues from hence they came to another king named Tabor From thence they came to the kyng of Cheru He frendly entertained our men and gaue them foure thousand Pesos of golde He hath in his dominion many goodly salt bayes the region also aboundeth with golde About twelue myles from hence they came to another king called Anata of whom they had xv thousande Pesos of golde whiche he had gotton of the kynges his borderers whom he had vanquished by warre A great part of this gold was in rude fourme bycause it was molten when he set the kinges houses on fyre whom he spoyled For they robbe and slay the one the other sackyng fyryng theyr villages and wasting theyr countreyes They keepe warre barbarously and to vtter destruction executyng extreeme crueltie agaynst them that haue the ouerthrowe Gonsalus Badaiocius with his felowes wandred at libertie vntyll they came to this kyng and had geathered great heapes of golde of other kynges For what in braslettes collers earerynges brest plates helmettes and certaine barres wherewith women beare vp theyr brestes they had geathered togeather in gold the summe of fourscore thousand Castellans which they had obtayned partly by exchange for our things where they founde the kynges theyr frendes otherwise by forcyble meanes where they founde the contrary They had gotten also fourtie slaues whose helpe they vsed both for cariage of their victualles and baggagies in the steede of Moyles or other beastes of burden also to releeue such as were sick and forweeried by reason of theyr long iourneies and hunger After these prosperous voyages they came by the dominion of kyng Scoria to the palace of a kyng named Pariza where fearyng no suche thing Pariza enclosed them with a great armie and assayled them straggelyng and vnwares in such sort that they had no leasure to put on theyr armure He slue and wounded about fyftie and put the resydue to flyght They made suche hast that they had no respect eyther to the golde they had geathered or to theyr slaues but left all behynde them Those fewe that escaped came to Dariena The opinion of all wyse men as concernyng the variable and inconstant chaunces of fortune in humane things were false if all thynges shoulde haue happened vnto them prosperously For such
and many also with slate or other stone The Barbarians them selues confessed that they were that day fourtie thousande men at the battayle which were vanquished of a fewe by reason of the newe and vnknowen kynde of feyght with gunnes and horses For the gouernour had vnbarked .xvi. horses which were also at the battayle and so fyercely assayled the Barbarians on the backehalfe that they brake theyr array and scattered them as it had ben flockes of sheepe ouerthrowing woūding killing them on euery syde Which thing the seely wretches so imputed to a miracle that they had not y e power to occupie their weapones For wheras before they had neuer seene any horses they thought that y e man on horsebacke and the horse had ben all one beaste as the antiquitie dyd fable of the monster Centaurus Our men possessed the towne .xxii. dayes where they made good cheare vnder couert whyle the owners of the houses lay vnder the fyrmament and durst not assayle our men who had placed them selues in the stroungest part of the towne where some kept contynual watch lest the Barbarians shoulde sodenly inuade them whyle other gaue them selues to rest and sleepe The inhabitauntes call this towne Potanchana but our men for the victorie which they obteyned here named it Victoria It is a marueilous thyng to consider the greatnesse magnificence finenesse of the building of certayne palaces they haue in the countrey to the which they resort somtymes for theyr solace and pastyme These are curiously builded with many pleasaunt diuises as galeries solars turrettes portals gutters with chambers boorded after the maner of our waynescot and well floored Foure of our Spaniardes went into one of them of such greatnesse that they wandred in the same for the space of foure houres before they coulde fynde the way out At the length by the interpretours and certayne captiues our men sent for the kyng and suche rulers as were next vnder hym in aucthoritie wyllyng them to submyt them selues and to come into the towne vnarmed geuyng the messengers further in commaundement to certifie them that in theyr so doyng they woulde commune with them as concerning conditions of peace and restore them theyr towne They came gladly and entred euery man into his owne house vpon condition that they shoulde euer thereafter absteyne from such ceremonies and horrible sacrifices of mans fleshe to deuils the mortal enemies to mankinde whose Images they honoured to direct the eyes of theyr myndes to Christ our God y e maker of heauen and earth who was borne into this worlde of a virgin and suffred death on the crosse for the redemption of mankynde and finally to professe them selues subiectes to the Christian kyng of Spayne They promised both and were instructed as farre as the shortnesse of tyme woulde permit Beyng thus restored they recompensed our men with many rewardes supposyng suche men to be sent from heauen whiche beyng so fewe in number durst attempt battayle agaynst so great a multitude They gaue our men also certayne golde and twentie slaues Departyng therefore from hence and coasting styll along by the same shore they came agayne to the gulfe whiche Alaminus the pilot founde before vnder Grisalua This they named Bian Sancti Iohannis that is Saint Iohns gulfe for Bian in the Spanishe tounge signifieth a gulfe Heere the inhabitantes resorted to them peaceably About a myle from the shore was a towne of a thousand and fyue hundred houses situate vpon a hyll They profered our men halfe the towne if they would dwel with them for euer This perhaps they dyd the rather eyther fearyng the example of the inhabitantes of Potanchana the fame whereof myght haue come to theyr eares or els hopyng that vnder the shadowe of suche valiaunt men they myght obteyne ayde and succour agaynst theyr enemies and borderers For as I haue sayde before they destroy one an other with contynuall warre for the desire to enlarge theyr dominions Our men refused parpetuall habitation and accepted theyr frendly proffer for a tyme. As they came alande the people folowed them on euerye syde with bowes in theyr handes whiche they helde ouer our mens heades to defend them from the rayne as though they had walked in a continuall arbour Heere they encamped And lest the residue left in the shyps shoulde in the meane tyme waxe slouthfull with Idlenesse the gouernour gaue commaundement to Alaminus the pilot and Francis Montegius to searche the West partes of that land while he releeued the weeried souldiers and healed such as were wounded To them that went forward on this viage he assigned two brigantines with fyftie men Unto this gulfe the course of the water was gentle enough and moderate but when they had sailed a litle further toward the West they founde the sea running with so swift a course as if it were a great riuer fallyng from the toppes of hygh mountaynes insomuch that in a short space of tyme it caried them fiftie myles from theyr felowes When they were now entred into this violent streame of water they saw on their left hande a large plaine sea which met with the course of the other waters falling from the West And lyke as two great riuers that runne contrarye waies make a vehement conflict where they meete so seemed the waters comming from the South to resyst these waters as enemies that had entred into the ryght or possession of an other On the contrary part they sawe the lande reachyng farre both on the left hande and on the ryght In this stryfe betwene the waters they were so tossed on both sydes and entangled with whirlepoles that they long wrestled without hope of lyfe At the length with muche difficultie turnyng the stemmes or forpartes of theyr shyppes agaynst the streame from whence they came and labouryng all that they myght with theyr ores and sayles they coulde scarsely ouercome the rage of the water insomuche that were as they thought that they had in one nyght sayled two myles they founde that they were dryuen backe foure myles Yet at the length with gods helpe they ouercame this daungerours conflycte They spent xxii dayes in this litle space of sea And when they were nowe returned to theyr felowes declared vnto them that that ende was the lande of Coluacana whiche they adiudged to be part of the supposed continent The lande whiche they sawe a farre of before theyr face they suppose eyther to be annexed to our continent ▪ or to be ioyned to the large North regions called Baccalaos whereof we haue made mention in our Decades in the voiage of Sebastian Cabote This matter is yet doubtefull but we trust it shall once be better knowen While Alaminus and Montegius searched these secretes the kyng of the prouince whose name was Multoxumam sent our men by one of his chiefe officers beyng also his Lieuetenaunt of the sayde towne many ryche and goodly presentes of golde
leagues beyonde thestimation of the best pilotes The contentes of the sixt booke Fol. 124. OF sundry opinions why the sea runnneth with so swyft a course from the East to the West and of the great gulfe of the North part of the fyrme lande The viage of Sebastian Cabot from England to the frosen sea â–ª and howe beyng repulsed with Ise in the moneth of Iuly he sayled farre Westwarde Of people apparelled with beastes skinnes and how Beares take fyshes in the sea and eate them How Sebastian Cabot after that he had discouered the lande of Baccallaos or Baccallearum was called out of Englande into Spayne where he was made one of the assistaunce of the counsayle of the affayres of India and of his second viage Of the Ilande Fortis and howe a great foule as bygge as a Storke lyghted in the gouernours shyp also howe he arryued at Dariena with the kinges nauie Howe Vaschus receyued the new gouernour and of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall How Petrus Arias the new gouernour distributed his armie to conquere the South regions ryche in golde and to erect new colonies in the same Of the ryche golde mynes of Dabaiba and of the expedition agaynst the kyng of that region Of the violent course of the sea from the East to the West and of the difficult saylyng agaynst the same Of the pestiferous and vnholsome ayre of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena and how the Spaniardes were of necessitie enforced to plant theyr fyrst colonie and habitation there The cause of the varietie of regions lying all vnder one degree or paralel and by what meanes the Sonne beames are cause of feruent heate Of toades and flees engendred of droppes of water and of a house set on fyre with lyghtnyng Of a Dogge deuoured of a Crocodyle and of venemous byting of great Bats also of Lions Tigers other wilde beasts How in these regions all foure footed beastes growe to a bigger quantitie then they which were of y e fyrst broode also of certayne trees of whose planckes if shyps be made they are safe from the wormes called Broma or Bissas Of a tree whose wood is present poyson yf it be only borne about and of an hearbe that is a preseruatiue agaynst the same Of the ryche Ilandes of the south sea and of certayne expeditions agaynst the Canibales The contentes of the .vii. booke Fol. 130. THe particuler description of the Ilande of Hispaniola and of the ryche Iland called Margaritea Diues lying in the South sea also of the great abundaunce of bygge pearles founde in the same Howe the auctoure compareth Hispaniola to the earthly Paradyse and howe it farre excelleth Italy in fertilitie and temperate ayre Of the fyrst inhabitours of Hispaniola and of the Ilandes of Canarie Howe thinhabitauntes of Hispaniola in theyr songues and rhymes had certayne prophesies that apparelled men shoulde come to theyr countrey and bryng them into seruitude and of theyr familiaritie with spirites also howe those spirites haue no more appeared to them since they were baptised Of theyr expertenesse in swymmyng and of theyr delicate Serpentes byrdes foules and Popingiays Of the fourme and situation of Hispaniola neere the Equinoctiall and howe colde is in some place thereof accidentall and not by the situation of the region Of the Oxen and Swyne of exceedyng bygnesse and of eares of wheat as bygge as a mans arme in the brawne also howe the Swyne are fedde with Mirobalanes c. Of plentie of golde Brasyle Mastix Gossampyne Electurum of thincommodities of intemperate regions Of dyuers languages in the Ilande and howe the prouinces are diuided into regions Howe Andreas Moralis sayled into a daungerous and darke caue within the rocke of a mountayne and of whole ryuers deuoured of suche caues also of the conflyct of the waters Of a standyng poole in the toppe of an hygh mountayne how fearne and bramble bushes growe onely in colde regions The Contentes of the .viii. booke Fol. 135. OF a great lake or standyng poole of sowre and salte water and of the sea fyshes in the same in the myd lande of the Ilande also of deuouryng fyshes called Tiburoâ—i Of the ryuers fallyng into the lakes and of CC. sprynges in the space of a furlong A marueylous hystorye of a kyng stryken dumbe and lame by a myracle and of the Indian language Howe suche as are drowned in the lake are neuer cast vp agayne and of the Ilande Guarizacca in the myddest of a standyng lake also of a lake of freshe water and an other of salte and freshe water Of a large playne of two hundred myles in length and an other of an hundred and twentie Of the marueilous fyshe or monster of the sea called Manati or Matum fedde with mans handes and howe she caryeth men ouer the lake Of the mountaynes vales hylles playnes and ryuers of Hispaniola and howe golde is founde in all mountaynes and golde and fyshe in all ryuers Of salte bayes and howe the ryuers haue theyr increase from the caues of the mountaynes also howe there is no hurtefull beast in the Ilande Of the pleasures of Hispaniola and of the region of Cotohi wel inhabited situate in a plaine in the toppes of mountaynes reachyng to the cloudes Of moderate colde in the mountaynes and of fearne of marueylous bygnesse Howe pure and massie golde is founde in the region of Cotoy or Cotohi and that the vaine of gold is a lyuyng tree also of the rootes branches and floures of the same and howe certayne caues are susteyned with pyllers of golde What gold is brought yeerely from Hispaniola into Spaine and of the salte of the mountaines being as hard as stones and cleare as crystall also sprynges of salte freshe sowre water Of certayne wylde men lyuing in caues and dennes without any certaine language and of their marueylous swiftnes a foote Of pytche of the rocke and two kyndes of trees and of the leafe of a tree vsed in the steede of paper also howe thinhabitants thynke that the Christians can make those leaues speake and disclose all secretes Of a strong coloure made of the iuice of a certayne apple and of the hearbe whose smoke is poyson The contentes of the nienth booke Fol. 142. OF the kindes of fruites wherewith the inhabitauntes of Hispaniola lyued fyrst and how they came to the knowledge of Iucca also how Ceres fyrst founde Wheate and Barley in Egypt Why theyr kynges are called by diuers names and by what names they salute the kynges chyldren when they are borne How they make theyr testamentes and how certayne of the kynges wyues and concubines are buried with them Of the variable motions of the elementes in Hispaniola and where it rayneth but litle and where muche Of the colonies and villages that the Spaniardes haue builded in Hispaniola and of the other Ilandes about the same Of a spryng whiche runnyng vnder the sea from Hispaniola breaketh foorth in the Iland of Arethusa also
to poyson theyr arrowes wherewith they kyll all that they wounde These venomes they mingle togeather and make thereof a blacke masse or composition whiche appeareth lyke vnto very blacke pytch Of this poyson I caused a great quantitie to be burnt in Sancta Maria Antiqua in a place two leagues and more within the lande with a great multitude of theyr inuenomed arrowes and other munition with also the house wherein they were reserued This was in the yeere .1514 at suche tyme as the army arryued there with captayne Pedrarias da villa at the commaundement of the Catholyke kyng Don Ferdinando But to returne to the hystory These Apples as I haue sayde growe neare vnto the sea And whereas the Christians whiche serue your 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 wound be much washed therwith by which meanes some haue escaped although but fewe yet to say the trueth albeit the water of the sea haue a certaine caustike quality against poyson it is not a sufficient remedy in this case nor yet to this day haue the Christians perceyued that of fyftie that haue been wounded three haue recouered But that your maiestie may the better consider the force of the venome of these trees you shal further vnderstand that if a man doe but repose him selfe to sleepe a litle whyle vnder the shadow of the same he hath his head eyes so swolne when he ryseth that the eye lyddes are ioyned with the cheekes and if it chaunce one droppe or more of the deawe of the sayde tree to fall into the eye it vtterly destroyeth the syght The pestilent nature of this tree is suche that it can not be declared in fewe wordes Of these there groweth great plentie in the gulfe of Vraba towarde the North coast on the West and East syde The wood of these trees when it burneth maketh so great a stynke that no man is able to abyde it by reason it causeth so great a payne in the head Among other trees whiche are in these Indies aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande there is an other kynde whiche they call Xagua whereof there is great plentie they are very hygh and streyght and fayre to beholde Of these they vse to make â—ykes and Iauelyns of dyuers lengthes and bygnesse they are of a fayre colour betweene russet and whyte this tree bryngeth foorth a great fruit as bygge as Papauer or Poppie and muche lyke therevnto it is very good to bee eaten when it is rype Out of this they get a very cleare water wherewith they washe their legges and sometymes all theyr bodyes when they feele theyr fleshe weery faynt or loose the which water besyde that it hath a byndyng qualitie it hath also this propertie that whatsoeuer it toucheth it steyneth it blacke by litle and litle vntyll it bee as blacke as gete which colour can not bee taken away in lesse space then tenne or twelue dayes And if the nayle bee but touched therewith it is so steyned that it can by no meanes bee taken away vntyll it eyther fall of or grow out and bee clypped away by litle litle as I my selfe haue oftentymes seene by experience There is an other kynde of trees which they call Hohi these are very great and fayre and cause holesome ayre where they growe and a pleasaunt shadowe and are founde in great aboundaunce theyr fruit is very good and of good tast and sauour and much lyke vnto certayne damsons or prunes beyng litle and yelowe but theyr stone is very great by reason whereof they haue but litle meate theyr barke or rynde boyled in water maketh a holesome bathe for the legges because it byndeth and stayeth the loosenesse of the fleshe so sensibly that it is a marueyle to consider It is surely a holesome and excellent bathe agaynst suche fayntnesse and is the best tree that may be founde in those parties to sleepe vnder For it causeth no heauinesse of the head as doe dyuers other trees which thyng I speake because the Christians are muche accustomed in those regions to lye in the fieldes It is therefore a common practise among them that wheresoeuer they fynde these trees there they spreade theyr mattresses and beddes wherein they sleepe There are also a kynde of hygh Date trees and full of thornes the woodde of these is most excellent beyng very blacke and shynyng and so heauye 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 say pykes because that in the coastes of the sea of Sur beyonde Esquegua and Vracha the Indians vse great and long pykes made of the wood 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 wood the Christians vse to make dyuers musicall instrumentes as Claricymballes Lutes Gitterns and suche other the which besyde theyr fayre shynyng colour lyke vnto gete are also of a good sounde and very durable by reason of the hardnesse of the wood After that I haue sayde thus much of trees and plants I haue thought good also to speake somewhat of hearbes You shal therfore vnderstand that in these Indies there is an hearbe much like vnto a yelow Lilie about whose leaues there growe and creepe certayne cordes or lases as the lyke is partly seene in the hearbe which we call lased sauery but these of the Indies are much bigger and longer and so strong that they tye theyr hangyng beds thereby whiche they call Hamacas whereof we haue spoken elsewhere these cordes they call Cabuia and Henequen whiche are all one thyng sauyng that Henequen is lesse and of a fyner substance as it were line and the other is grosser lyke the weeke or twyst of hempe and is imperfect in comparison to the other they are of colour betweene whyte and yelow lyke vnto abarne and some also whyte With Henequen whiche is the most subtyle and fyne threede the Indians sawe in sunder fetters cheynes or barres of Iron in this maner They moue the threed of Henequen vppon the Iron which they intende to sawe or cutte drawyng the one hande after the other as doe they that sawe puttyng euer nowe and then a portion of fyne sande vppon the threede or on the place or parte of the Iron where they continue rubbyng the sayde threed so that if the threed be worne they take an other and continue in theyr worke as before vntyll they haue cutte in sunder the Iron although it be neuer so bygge and cut it as if it were a tender thyng and easy to be sawne And forasmuche as the leaues of trees may bee counted among
splintes on their armes Lykewyse other peeces which they put on theyr heades and other partes of theyr bodies For they esteeme nothyng so muche as to appeare galant in the warres and to goe in most comely order that they can deuyse glysteryng with precious stones Iewels golde and feathers Of the least of these welkes or perewincles they make certayne litle beades of dyuers sortes and colours they make also litle bracelets which they myngle with gaudies of golde these they rowle about theyr armes from the elbowe to the wrest of the hande The lyke also doe 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 suche Iewelles and haue theyr neckes in maner laden therewith these beades and Iewelles and suche other trynkets they call Caquiras Besyde these also they weare certaine rynges of golde at theyr eares and nostrelles whiche they bore full of holes on both sydes so that the rynges hang vppon theyr lyppes Some of these Indians are poulde and rounded albeit commonly both the men and women take it for a decent thyng to weare long heare whiche the women weare to the myddest of theyr shoulders cut it equally especially aboue their browes this doe they with certayne harde stones whiche they keepe for the same purpose The pryncipall women when theyr teates fall or become loose beare them vp with barres of gold of the length of a spanne and a halfe well wrought and of suche byggenesse that some of them weygh more then twoo hundred Castelans or Ducades of golde these barres haue holes at both the endes whereat they tye two small cordes made of cotton at euery ende of the barres One of these cordes goeth ouer the shoulder and the other vnder the arme holes where they tye both togeather so that by this meanes the barre beareth vp theyr teates Some of these chiefe women goe to the battayle with theyr husbandes or when they them selues are regentes in any prouinces in the whiche they haue all thinges at commaundement and execute the office of generall captaines and cause them selues to bee caryed on mens backes in lyke maner as doe the Caciques of whom I haue spoken before These Indians of the firme lande are muche of the same stature and colour as are they of the Ilands they are for the most part of the colour of an olyue if there be any other difference it is more in bignesse then otherwise especially they that are called Coronati are stronger and bygger then any other that I haue seene in these parties except those of the Ilande of Giantes which are on the South side of the Ilande of Hispaniola neare vnto the coastes of the firme land and likewise certaine other which they call Iucatos which are on the North syde All which chiefly although they bee no Giantes yet are they doubtlesse the byggest of the Indians that are knowen to this day commonly bygger then the Flemynges and especially many of them aswell women as men are of very hygh stature and are all archers both men and women These Coronati inhabite thyrtie leagues in length by these coastes from the poynt of Canoa to the great ryuer which they call Guadalchiber neere vnto Sancta Maria de gratia As I trauersed by those coastes I fylled a butte of freshe water of that ryuer syxe leagues in the sea from the mouth thereof where it falleth into the sea They are called Coronati that is crowned because theyr heare is cutte rounde by theyr eares and poulde lower a great compase about the crowne much lyke the fryers of saint Augustines order And because I haue spoken of theyr maner of wearyng theyr heare heere commeth to my remembraunce a thyng 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 ours so that in commyng to handstrokes with them it shal be requisite not to strike them on the heads with swoords for so haue many swoordes been broken on theyr heades with litle hurte doone And to haue sayde thus much of theyr customes and maners it shall suffise for this tyme because I haue more largly intreated herof in my general historie of the Indies Yet haue I neyther there nor here spoken muche of that part of the firme lande whiche is called Noua Hispania that is newe Spayne whereof the Iland of Iucatana is part forasmuche as Ferdinando Cortesie hath written a large booke therof Of the houses of these Indies I haue spoken sufficiently els where Yet haue I thought good to infourme your maiestie of y e building and houses which the Christians haue made in diuers places in the firme lande They buylde them nowe therefore with two solars or loftes and with loopes and wyndowes to open and shutte also with strong tymber and very fayre boordes in suche sorte that any noble man may well and pleasauntly be lodged in some of them And among other I my selfe caused one to be builded in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena which cost me more then a thousand and fiue hundred Castelans beyng of such sort that I may well entertayne and commodiously lodge any Lord or noble man reseruing also part for my selfe and my famylie for in this may many householdes be kept both aboue and beneath It hath also a fayre garden with many Orange trees both sweete and sowre Cedars also and Limons of the which there is nowe great plentie in the houses of the Christians On one syde of the garden there runneth a fayre riuer The situation is very pleasaunt with a good and holsome ayre and a fayre prospecte about the ryuer In fine our trust is that in fewe yeeres al thinges in these regions shal growe to a better state accordyng to the holy intention of your 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 Christians not so many as they ought to be forasmuche as many of them that were in this Iland are gone to other Ilandes and to the fyrme lande For beyng for the most parte young men vnmaried and desirous daily to see newe things wherin mans nature deliteth they were not willing to continue long in one place especially seeing daily other newe landes discouered where they thought they might sooner fill their purses by being present at the fyrst spoyle Wherin neuerthelesse their hope deceiued many of them and especially such as had houses habitations in this Ilande For I certainly beleeue confyrming my selfe herein with the iudgement of many other that if any one Prince had no more seignories then only this Ilande it shoulde in short tyme be such as not to geue place either to Sicilie or England wheras
throughout al the valley within the earth as in a mine whiche they dygge and take out suche as they neede of al sortes The other marueylous thyng of this Ilande is this That farre from the sea there ishueth out of a mountayne a certayne lycour muche lyke the Cley of Babylon called Bitumen or lyke vnto pytche in great quantitie and suche as is very commodious for the calkyng of shyppes this falleth continually from the rocke and runneth into sea in suche aboundaunce that it is seene flotyng aboue the water on euerye syde of the sea there about as it is dryuen from place to place by the wynde or course of the water Quintus Cursius wryteth in his historie that great Alexander came to the citie of Memi where is a great Caue or Denne in the whiche is a spryng or fountayne that contynually auoydeth a great quantitie of Bitumen in suche sort that it is an easy thyng to beleeue that the stones of the walles of Babylon might be laid therewith according as the said auctour writeth I haue seene this myne of Bitumen not only in the Iland of Cuba but also such an other in new Spaine whiche was founde of late in the prouince of Panuco where it is much better then the other of Cuba as I haue seene by experience in calkyng of shyppes Of the lande of Baccalaos called Terra Baccalearum situate on the North syde of the firme lande SHortly after that your maiestie came to the citie of Toledo there arriued in the moneth of Nouember Steuen Gomes the pilot who the yeere before of .1524 by the commaundement of your maiestie sailed to y e North partes and founde a great part of lande continuate from that which is called Baccalaos discoursyng toward the West to the .xl. and .xli. degree from whence he brought certayne Indians for so call we all the nations of the newe found landes of the which he brought some with him from thence who are yet in Toledo at this present and of greater stature then other of the firme lande as they are commonly theyr coloure is muche lyke the other of the firme lande they are great archers and go couered with the skinnes of diuers beastes both wylde and tame In this lande are many excellent furres as Marterns Sables and such other ryche furres of the which the sayd pilot brought some with him into Spayne they haue syluer and copper certayne other metals they are Idolaters and honour the Sonne and Moone and are seduced with such superstition and errours as are they of the firme And to haue wryten thus much it may suffice of suche thynges as haue seemed to me most worthy to be noted in the Summarie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus wrytten to Themperours maiestie Particularly of newe Spayne called Noua Hispania or Mexico NEwe Spayne is that part of the continent or firme lande that lyeth West and South from the land of Florida this was subdued to thempire of Castile by the ryght noble gentelman Ferdinando Cortese y e marquesse of the vale of Quaraca In this lande are many prouinces conteynyng in them in maner innumerable cities among which that is the chiefe whiche the Indians cal Mexico or Temixtitan consystyng of more then fiue hundred thousand inhabitauntes It standeth in the middest of a lake of salte water as doth Uenece in the sea the lake conteyneth fourtie Persian miles called Parasange euery one consysting of .xxx. furlonges and more as some say In these regions is found great plentie of gold syluer pretious stones with innumerable other thynges both necessary for the lyfe of man pleasant as Silke Bombasine cotton Alame Safferne Woad with diuers other thinges wherwith cloth and Silke is dyed There is also such abundaunce of suger that certaine Spanishe shippes are yeerely fraighted therwith and bring the same into Smile from whence it is caryed in maner to al partes of Christendome Thinhabitantes of Mexico are subtile people and vse much craft in theyr bargaining they haue not the vse of gold and syluer mony but vse in the steade thereof the halfe shelles of Almonds which kind of Barbarous mony they cal Cacoa or Cacanguate In maner al kinds of corne are there very good cheape especially barly and wheate They haue great plentie of Hartes wylde Bores Lions Leopardes and Tigers whiche beastes wander in maner in euery place The region is most commodious for haukyng and huntyng for the great abundaunce it hath of beastes and foules But the people exercise al theyr cunnyng in makyng the images of their idolatry and in painting Theyr women are valiant and sumptuous in theyr apparell and other tyrementes for they so rychely frynge and beset the same with pearles precious stones and golde that nothyng can be more excellent they haue a kynde of paper greatly differyng from ours in this they expresse their mindes by certayne figures for they haue not otherwyse thuse of letters The nation is desyrous of warre and doth not long keepe the conditions of peace vnuiolated but delyteth rather in ciuile and most cruell battayle among them selues then to liue in peace and quietnesse Such as in the warres fal by any meanes into the handes of theyr enimies eyther by submyssion or otherwyse are partly sacryfised to the Idoles and the resydue geuen to the souldiers to be eaten in lyke maner as we rewarde dogges and haukes with part of theyr pray They haue innumerable Idoles whiche euery one maketh for his particuler god after the phantasie of his owne brayne and geueth therto diuine honour albeit at this day they do by litle and litle leaue of theyr barbarous fyercenesse with our religion imbrace better maners For they nowe professe the fayth of Christ and in his name pray vnto God the Father Of Peru. THe prouince called Peru was also named Noua Castilia by them that fyrst founde it This region is the West part of America and is situate in the longitude of .290 degrees proceeding from the West to the East and Southward begynneth fyue degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall line and is extended very farre into the South This is taken to be the rychest land in golde siluer pearles precious stones and spices that euer was founde yet to this day For gold is there in suche plentie that they make pyspots therof and other vessels applied to fylthy vses But this is more to be marueyled at that in a citie called Collâ—o was founde a house al couered with massie plates of gold In theyr warres also theyr harnesse is of gold and siluer Theyr weapons are bowes arrowes slyngs dartes and pykes The inhabitauntes are warrelyke people and of great agilitie They haue cities defended with lawes and armes The region is exceeding fruitfull and yeldeth corne twyse in the yeere It is so floryshyng with many fayre woods mountaynes ryuers and other both pleasaunt necessarie
commodities that it seemeth in a maner an earthly Paradise it hath diuers kynds of beastes and yet none hurtful or of rauenyng kynde Theyr sheepe are of suche heyght that they vse them in steede of Horses some write that they are as bygge as the young Foles of Camelles and that theyr wooll is verye softe and fyne also that the Ewes bryng foorth Lambes twyse a yeere The people are wyttie and of gentle behauiour cunnyng also in artes faythfull of promise and of maners not greatly to be discommended saue only that they are ignorant of Christ who neuerthelesse is now knowen vnto them in many places as our hope is he shal be daylie more and more yf all Princes wyll herein put theyr helpyng handes to the plowe of our Lorde and send labourers into his vineyarde Of the great ryuer called Rio de la Plata that is the ryuer of siluer THis ryuer reacheth very farre in length breadth and is called Vruai in the Indian tongue Into this falleth an other riuer named Paraue The first that sayled into the riuer of Plata was Iohn Dias Solis whom the ryght noble kyng of Spaine Ferdinandus made Admirall of these seas In the ryuer lyeth an Ilande whiche Iohn Dias named Martinus Gratias because a pilot of his so called was buried there This Ilande is situate in the myddest of the ryuer and is distant from the mouth of the same about fourtie leagues As the sayde Admyrall attempted to expugne the Ilande he was sodenly oppressed and slayne of the Indians that priuylye assayled hym Wherewith neuerthelesse theyr barbarous crueltie was not satisfied vntyll they had torne hym in peeces and deuoured hym But many yeeres after the Emperours Maiestie and Kyng of Spayne Charles the fyfte sent foorth Sebastian Cabot a man of great courage skylful in Cosmographie and of no lesse experience as concernyng the Starres of the sea with commaundement to discouer and subdue the Indians of Tharsis Ophir Cipango and Coi Cathai Receyuyng therefore his commission and proceedyng forwardes on his viage he arriued by chaunce at this Ilande the cause whereof was that the principall vessell was lost by shypwracke and the men that saued theyr lyues by swymmyng were receyued into our shyppes Perceyuyng therefore that by reason of this chaunce he coulde by no meanes perfourme his viage attempted he entended to expugne the sayde Ilande and thereupon to conueygh his victuals to land to prepare his souldiers to the inuasion to plant colonies to erect fortresses by the riuers side wherby the Spaniards might be defended from the violence of the Barbarians But before he attempted this he was aduertised that the Ilande was rich in gold siluer Which thing did so encorage him that without respecte of peryl he thought best to expugne it by one meanes or other wherein his boldenesse tooke good effecte as often tymes chaunceth in great affayres Furthermore as touchyng the ryuer Sebastian Cabote made relation that he neuer sawe any comparable vnto this in breadth and deapth For whereas it falleth into the sea it conteyneth .xxv. leagues in breadth From the mouth of the ryuer Cabote sailed vp the same into the lande for the space of three hundred and fiftie leagues as he wryteth in his owne carde That it is of great deapth may hereby be consydered that many great ryuers fall into it so that the chanell can not be shalowe that conteyneth such aboundance of water and suche plentie of good and great fyshes For there is in maner no fyshe in the sea that is not founde in this ryuer Assoone as the Spanyardes were set alande they made a proofe if the soyle were fruitefull to beare corne Takyng therefore fyftie graynes of wheate and committyng the same to the earth in the moneth of September they geathered thereof two thousand and fiftie at December next folowyng wherin some being deceyued and mistakyng the thyng haue written in the steade of two thousande and fiftie fiftie thousande and two the lyke fertilitie is there of all other grayne and pulse Furthermore thinhabitauntes declared that not farre from that place there are great and hygh mountaines in the which is founde great plentie of golde and no great distance from the same to be other mountaynes no lesse fruitefull of syluer and many other thinges long to rehearse Thinhabitauntes are paynefull men and tyll the grounde diligently wherein they take great pleasure and haue therefore great plentie of bread of Maizium There are sheepe of such byggenesse that they compare them to young Camels or Asses as some say theyr wooll is very fine and nearest vnto the fynenesse of sylke There are also beastes of diuers kyndes Among men there is this difference that such as liue in the mountaynes are whyte and for the most part lyke vnto the men of our regions but they that dwell aboue the ryuer as though they tooke theyr colour thereof are blackyshe or purple of the coloure of fine Iron or Steele This also chaunceth to many of them that theyr feete and legges are lyke the legges and feete of the foule called the Oystreche Of the landes of Laborador and Baccalaos lying west and northwest from England and being part of the firme lande of the VVest Indies MAny haue traueyled to search the coaste of the lande of Laborador aswell to thintent to knowe howe farre or whyther it reacheth as also whether there be any passage by sea through the same into the sea of Sur and the Ilandes of Molucca whiche are vnder the Equinoctiall lyne thynkyng that the way thyther should greatly be shortened by this viage The Spanyardes as to whose ryght the sayde Ilandes of spices parteyne dyd fyrst seeke to fynde the same by this way The Portugales also hauyng the trade of spices in theyr handes dyd trauayle to fynde the same although hytherto neyther any suche passage is founde or the ende of that lande In the yeere a thousande and fiue hundreth Gasper Cortesreales made a viage thyther with two Carauelles but found not the streight or passage he sought At his being there he named the Ilands that lye in the mouth of y e gulfe Quadrado after his name Cortesreales lying in the fyftie degree and more brought from that land about threescore men for slaues He greatly marueyled to behold the huge quantitie of snowe Ise for the sea is there frosen exceedingly Thinhabitantes are men of good corporature although tawny lyke the Indies and laborious They paynt theyr bodyes and weare braselettes and hoopes of syluer and copper theyr apparell is made of the skynnes of Marternes dyuers other beastes whiche they weare with the heare inwarde in winter and outwarde in sommer This apparell they gyrde to theyr bodyes with gyrdels made of cotton or the fynewes of fyshes and beastes They eate fyshe more then any other thyng and especially Salmons although
they haue foules and fruite They make theyr houses of tymber whereof they haue great plentie and in the steade of tiles couer them with the skinnes of fishes and beastes It is sayde also that there are Gryfes in this lande and that the Beares and many other beastes and foules are whyte To this and the Ilandes about the same the Britons are accustomed to resort as men of nature agreeable vnto them and borne vnder the same altitude and temperature The Norwayes also sayled thyther with the pilot called Iohn Scoluo and the Englyshe men with Sebastian Cabot The coaste of the lande of Baccallaos is a great tract and the greatest altitude thereof is .xlviii. degrees and a halfe Sebastian Cabot was the first that brought any knowledge of this land For beyng in England in the dayes of kyng Henrye the seuenth he furnyshed two shyps at his owne charges or as some say at the kynges whom he perswaded that a passage myght be founde to Cathay by the North seas and that spyces myght be brought from thence sooner by that way then by the viage 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 hundred men and directed his course by the tract of Islande vpon the Cape of Laborador at fyftie and eight degrees affirming that in the moneth of Iuly there was such cold heapes of Ise that he durst passe no further also that the daies were very long and in maner without nyght and the nyghtes very cleare Certayne it is that at the threescore degrees the longest day is of eighteene houres But considering the cold and the strangenesse of the vnknowen lande he turned his course from thence to the West folowing the coast of the land of Baccallaos vnto the thirtie eight degrees from whence he returned to Englande To conclude the Britons and Danes haue sayled to the Baccallaos and Iaques Cartier a french man was there twise with three Galeons as one in the yeere .xxxiiii. and the other in the .xxxv. and chose the land to inhabite from the .xlv. degrees to the .li. beyng as good a land as Fraunce and all thynges therin commune to suche as fyrst possesse the same Of these landes Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus The new land of Baccallaos is a colde region whose inhabitauntes are Idolatours and praye to the Sonne and Moone and dyuers Idoles they are whyte people and verye rusticall for they eate fleshe and fyshe and all other thynges rawe Sometymes also they eate mans fleshe priuilie so that theyr Cacique haue no knoweledge thereof The apparrel of both the men and women is made of Beares skynnes although they haue Sables and Marternes not greatlye esteemed because they are litle Some of them go naked in sommer and weare apparrell only in winter The Britons and Frenchmen are accustomed to take fyshe in the coastes of these landes where is founde great plentie of Tunnies which thinhabitantes cal Baccallaos wherof the land was so named Northward from the region of Baccallaos is the lande of Laborador all full of mountaynes and great woods in which are many Beares wild Bores The inhabitantes are Idolatours and warlyke people apparelled as are they of Baccallaos In al this new land is neyther citie or castell but they lyue in companies like heardes of beastes The discouering of the land of Florida THe gouernour of the Ilande of Boriouena â–ª Iohn Ponce of Leon beyng discharged of his office and very ryche furnished sent foorth two Carauels to seeke the Ilands of Boiuca in the which the Indians affirmed to be a fountayne or spryng whose water is of vertue to make old men young Whyle he trauayled syxe monethes with outragious desire among many Ilandes to fynde that he sought and coulde fynde no token of any suche fountayne he entred into Bemini and discouered the lande of Florida in the yeere 1512. on Easter day whiche the Spaniards cal the floryshing day of Pascba wherby they named that lande Florida And supposyng that great ryches myght be brought from thence he returned into Spayne and couenanted with king Ferdinando as touchyng the trade and by the intercession of Nicolas de Ouando and Peter Nunnez de Gusman the kyng dyd not only make hym gouernour of Bemini and Florida but also sent foorth with hym three shyppes from Sciuile towards his second viage in the yeere 1515. He touched in the Ilande of Guaccana otherwyse called Guadalupea and sent to lande certayne of his men with the Laundresses of the shyppes whom the Canibales lying in ambushe assayled with theyr inuenomed arrowes and slaying the most part caried away the women With this euill beginning Iohn Ponce departed from hence to Boriquen and from thence to Florida where he went alande with his souldyers to espie a place most commodious to inhabite and plant a colonie But the Indians commyng foorth agaynst him to defende the entrance assayled the Spanyardes fiercely and slue and wounded many of them At whiche conflicte also hee him selfe beyng wounded with an arrowe dyed shortly after in the Ilande of Cuba and so endyng his lyfe consumed a great parte of the rychesse hee had before gotten at sainct Iohans of Boriquen This Iohn Ponce had before sayled with Christopher Colon to the Ilande of Hispaniola in the yeere 1493. Hee was a gentle souldyer in the warres of this Ilande and captayne of the prouince of Higuei for Nicolas de Ouando that conquested the same The region of Florida is a poynt or cape of lande reachyng into the sea lyke vnto a tongue beyng a famous and notorious place among the Indians by reason of many Spanyardes that haue been slayne there But whereas by fame this Florida was esteemed a ryche lande many valiant and noble men desyred the conquest thereof among whom Ferdinando de Soto who had before been a captayne in Peru and greatly inryched by the imprisonment of kyng Atabaliba attempted a viage thither with a good bande of men and spent fyue yeeres in seekyng of golde mynes supposyng that this land had been lyke vnto Peru. In fine hee dyed there and was the destruction and vndoyng of all that went with him without inhabytyng that lande in the whiche the conquestours had hytherto neuer good successe forasmuche as these Indians are valiant archers and strong hardy men But the valiant myndes of the Spanyardes not discouraged by these misaduentures after the death of Ferdinando Soto many woorthie gentlemen desyred this conquest in the yeere .1544 among whom was Iulian Samano and Peter de Abumada beyng bretherne and men of sufficient abilitie for such an enterprise But neyther the Emperour beyng then in Germanie neyther the prince Don Philip his son who gouerned all the kyngdomes of Castile and Aragonie neyther yet the counsayle of the Indies would in any
case agree to the conquest Neuerthelesse not vtterly contemnyng the matter which they were partly persuaded myght otherwyse be brought to passe they sent thyther Fryer Luys Cancell of Baluasiro with other Fryers of the order of sainct Dominike who offred them selues to conuert the nations of that lande from theyr gentilitie to the fayth of Christ and obedience to the Emperour onely with wordes â–ª The Fryer therefore going forwarde on his viage at the kynges charges in the yeere .1549 went aland with foure other Fryers which he tooke with him and certayne maryners without harnesse or weapons vnto whom as he began his preachyng many of the Indians of the sayde Florida resorted to the sea syde where without gyuyng audience to his wordes they caryed him away with three other of his companyons and dyd eate them whereby they suffred martyrdome for the fayth of Christ the residue that escaped made hast to the shyppe and kept them selues for confessours as some say Many that fauour the intent of the Fryers doe nowe consider that by that meanes the Indians could not be brought to our friendshyp and religion neuerthelesse that if it could so haue been brought to passe it had been better There came of late from that shyppe one that had been the page of Ferdinando de Soto who declared that the Indians hanged vp the skynnes with the heades and crownes of the sayd Fryers in one of theyr Temples ¶ FOR M. CAP. FVRBYSHERS PASSAGE BY THE NORTHVVEST OF CHINA IN CATHAYO SITVATED IN THE EAST SYDE OF GREAT ASY OF THE ILAND GIAPAN AND OTHER LITLE ILES IN TTE EAST OCEAN BY THE VVAY FROM CATHAYO TO THE MOLVCCAES BY RICHARDE WILLES For M. Captayne Furbishers passage by the Northwest To the ryght honourable and vertuous Ladie the Lady Anne Countesse of VVarwyke FOure famous wayes there be spoken of to those fruitfull and wealthie Ilandes we doe vsually call Moluccaes continually haunted for gayne and dayly traueyled for ryches therein growyng These Ilandes although they stand East from our Meridian distant almost halfe the length of the world in extreame heate vnder the Equinoctial lyne possessed of Infidelles and Barbares yet by our neyghbours great aboundaunce of wealth there is paynefully sought in respect of the voyage deerely bought and from thence daungerously brought home vnto vs. Our neyghbours I call the Portugalles in comparison of the Molucchians for neerenesse vnto vs for lyke situation westwarde as we haue for theyr vsuall trade with vs for that the farre South asterlynges doe know this parte of Europe by no other name then Portugall not greatly acquaynted as yet with the other nations thereof Theyr voyage is well vnderstoode of all men and the Southeasterne way rounde about Affrike by the cape of Good hope more spoken of better knowen traueyled than that it may seeme needefull to discourse thereof any further The seconde way lyeth Southwest betwyxt the West Indie or South America and the South continent through that narrow streicte where Magellanus first of all men that euer wee doe reade of passed these later yeeres leauyng therevnto therfore his name This way no doubt the Spanyardes would commodioâ—sly take for that it lyeth neare vnto their dominions there could the Easterne currant and leuant wyndes as easily suffer them to returne as speedily therewith they may be carryed thyther for the which difficultie or rather impossibilitie of striuing agaynst the force both of wynde and streame this passage is litle or nothyng vsed although it be very well knowen The thyrd way by the Northeast beyonde all Europe and Asie that woorthie and renowmed knight sir Hugh Willoughby sought to his perill enforced there to ende his lyfe for colde congealed and frosen to death And truely this way consisteth rather in the imagination of Geographers than allowable either in reason or approued by experience as wel it may appeare by the dangerous trending of the Scythish Cape set by Ortelius vnder the eight degree North by the vnlykely saylyng in that Northerne sea alwayes cladde with Yse and Snow or at the least continually pestred therewith if happely it be at any tyme dissolued besydes bayes shelfes the water waxyng more shallow towardes the East that we say nothyng of the foule mystes and darke fogs in the colde clime of the litle power of the Sunne to cleare the ayre of the vncomfortable nyghtes so neare the Pole fyue monethes long A fourth way to goe vnto these aforesayde happy Ilandes Moluccae Syr Humfrey Gilberte a learned and valiant Knyght discourseth of at large in his new passage to Cathayo and was attempted the last yeere by your Ho. seruaunt M Cap. Furbisher presently takyng vpon him with his company fully to discouer the same and is now if I be not deceyued ready for his voyage The enterpryse of it selfe beyng vertuous the facte must doubtlesse deserue hygh prayse and whansoeuer it shall be finished the fruites thereof can not be small where vertue is guyde there is fame a folower and fortune a Companion But the way is dangerous the passage doubtfull the voyage not throughly knowen and therfore gaynesayde by many after this maner Fyrst who can assure vs of any passage rather by the Northwest than by the Northeast doe not both wayes lye in equall distance from the North pole stande not the North capes of eyther continent vnder lyke eleuation Is not the Ocean sea beyonde America farther distant from our Meridian by .30 or .40 degrees West than the extreame pointes of Cathayo Eastward if Ortelius generall Carde of the world be true In the Northeast that noble Knyght sir Hugh Willoughby perished for colde and can you than promyse a passenger any better hap by the Northwest who hath gone for triall sake at any tyme this way out of Europe to Cathayo If you seeke the aduyse heerein of such as make profession in Cosmographie Ptolome the father of Geographie and his eldest children will answere by theyr Mappes with a negatiue concludyng moste of the sea within the land and makyng an end of the world northward neare the .36 degree The same opinion whan learnyng chiefly florished was receiued in the Romanes tyme as by their Poetes wrytynges it may appeare Et te colet vltima Thule sayd Virgile being of opinion that Iseland was the extreme parte of the world habitable towarde the North. Ioseph Moletius an Italian and Mercator a Germane for knowledge men able to be compared with the best Geographers of our time the one in his halfe Spheares of the whole worlde the other in some of his great Globes haue continued the West Indishe lande euen to the North Pole and consequently cut of all passage by sea that way The same Doctors Mercator in other of his Globes and Mappes Moletius in his sea carde neuerthelesse doubting of so great continuance of the former continent haue opened a goulph betwixt the West Indies and the extreme
passage free So much the more we are so to thynke for that the fyrste principle and chiefe grounde in all Geographie as great Ptolome sayth is the historie of trauel that is reportes made by trauaylers skylfull in Geometrie Astronomie of al suche thinges in their iourney as to Geographie do belong It only then remaineth that we now answeare to those argumentes that seemed to make against this former conclusion The fyrste obiection is of no force that generall table of the worlde set foorth by Ortelius or Mercator for it greatly skilleth not being vnskylfully drawen for that poynt as manifestly it may appeare vnto any one that conferreth the same wiâ—h Gemma Frisius vniuersal mappe with his round quartered carde â–ª with his globe with Sobastian Cabota his table and Ortelius generall Mappe alone worthily preferred in this case before all Mercator and Ortelius other doinges for that Cabota was not only a skilful sea man but a long trauailer such a one as entred personally that streicte sent by king Henry the seuenth to make this aforesayd discouery as in his owne discourse of nauigation you may reade in his carde drawen with his owne hande the mouth of the northwesterne streict lieth neare the .318 Meridian betwixt .61 and .64 degrees in eleuation continuyng the same breadth about .10 degrees west where it openeth southerly more and more vntyll it come vnder the tropike of Cancer and so runneth into Mar del zur at the least .18 degrees more in breadth there then it was where it fyrst began otherwyse I coulde as well imagine this passage to be more vnlykely then the voyage to Moscouia and more impossible then it for the farre situation and continuance thereof in y e frosty clime as nowe I can affyrme it to be very possible and most lykely in comparison thereof for that it nether coasteth so farre north as the Moscouian passage doth nether is this streicte so long as that before it bowe downe southerly towardes the Sonne agayne The seconde argument concludeth nothing Ptoleme knewe not what was aboue .16 degrees south beyonde the equinoctiall lyne he was ignorant of all passages northwarde from the eleuation of .63 he knewe no Ocean sea beyonde Asia yet haue the Portugalles trended y e Cape of good hope at the south poynte of Afrike and trauayled to Giapan an Ilande in the east Ocean betwixt Asia America our marchants in y e time of king Edward the syxt discouered the Moscouian passage farther north then Thule and shewed Groenlande not to be continent with Lapponlande and Norway the lyke our northwesterne trauaylers haue done declaryng by theyr nauigation that way the ignorance of all Cosmographers that ether do ioyne Groenlande with America or continue the west Indies with that frosty region vnder the north pole As for Virgil he sange accordingly to y e knowledge of men in his time as an other Poete dyd of the hotte Zone Quarum quae media est non est habitabilis aestu Imaginyng as most men then dyd Zonam torridam the hot Zone to be altogeather dishabited for heat though presently we knowe many famous and worthy kingdomes and cities in that part of the earth and the Iland of saint Thomas neare Aethiopia and the welthy Ilands for the which chiefly al these voyages are taken in hande to be inhabited euen vnder the equinoctial lyne To answere the third obiection besides Cabota al other trauaylers nauigations y e only creadit of M. Furbisher may suffise who lately through al these Ilands of Ise and mountaines of snowe passed that way euen beyond the gulphe that tumbleth downe from the North and in some places though he drewe one ynche thick Ise as he returning in August dyd came home safelye agayne The fourth argument is altogeather friuolous vayne for neyther is there any isthmos or streict of land betwixt America and Asia ne can these two landes ioyntly be one continent The fyrst part of my answere is manifestly allowed of by Homer whom that excellent Geographer Strabo foloweth yeldyng hym in this facultie the prise The aucthour of that booke lykewyse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Alexander attributed vnto Aristotle is of y e same opinion that Homer and Strabo be of in two or three places Dionisius in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So dooth the Ocean sea runne rounde about the worlde speakyng only of Europe Africke and Asie as then Asie was trauayled knowen With these Doctoures may you ioyne Pomponius Mela Cap. 2. lib. 1. Plinius lib. 2. Cap. 67. and Pius 2. Cap. 2. in his description of Asie All the whiche writers do no lesse confirme the whole Easterne side of Asie to be compassed about with sea then Plato doth affirme in Timaeo vnder the name Atlantide the West Indies to be an Ilande as in a speciall discourse thereof R. Eden writeth agreable vnto the sentence of Proclus Marsilius Fiâ—inus and others Out of Plato it is gathered that America is an Ilande Homer Strabo Aristotle Dionisius Mela Plinie Pius 2. affirme the continent of Asie Afrike and Europe to be enuironned with the Ocean I may therefore boldly say though later intelligences therof had we none at all that Asie and the West Indies be not tied togeather by any isthmos or streict of land contrary to the opinion of some new Cosmographers by whom doubtfully this matter hath been brought in controuersie And thus muche for the first part of my aunswere vnto the fourth obiection The second part namely that America Asie cannot be one continent may thus be prooued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The most riuers take downe that way their course where the earth is most holowe deepe wryteth Aristotle and the sea sayth he in the same place as it goeth farther so is it founde deeper Into what goulphe do the Moscouian ryuers Onega Duina Oby and Rha powre out their streames Northwarde out of Moscouia into the sea Whiche way dooth that sea stryke The South is mayne lande the Easterne coast waxeth more and more shalowe from the North ether naturally because that part of the earth is higher Aristot. 2. met c. 1. or of necessitie for that the forcible influence of some Northerne Starres causeth the earth there to shake of the sea as some Philosophers do thynke or finally for the great store of waters engendred in that frostie and cold clyme that the banckes are not able to holde them Alber. in 2. Meteo Cap. 6. From the North I say contynually falleth downe great abundaunce of water So that this Northeasterne currant must at the length abruptly â—owe toward vs South on the West syde of Fynmarke and Norwaye or els stryke downe Southwest aboue Groneland or betwixt Groneland and Iseland into the Northwest streict we speake of as of congruence it doth yf you marke the situation of that region and by the report of M. Furbisher experience teacheth
vs. And M. Furbisher the further he trauayled in the former passage as he tolde me the deeper alwayes he founde sea Lay you now the sum hereof togeather The riuers runne where the Chanels are most hollow the sea in taking his course waxeth deeper the sea waters fall continuallye from the North Southward the Northeasterne currant striketh downe into the streict we speake of is there augmented with whole mountains of I se snow falling downe furiously out from y e land vnder y e North Pole Where store of water is there is it a thing impossible to want sea where sea not only doth not want but waxeth deeper ther can be discouered no land Finally whence I pray you came the contrary tyde that M. Furbisher met withal after that he had sayled no small way in that passage if there be any isthmos or streict of land betwixt the aforesaid Northweststerne gulfe and Mar del Zur to ioyne Asia and America togeather That conclusion frequented in scholes Quidquid preter c. was ment of the partes of the worlde then knowen and so is it of ryght to be vnderstoode The fifte obiection requireth for answere wysedome and policie in the trauailer to wyn the Barbares fauour by some good meanes and so to arme strengthen him selfe that when he shal haue the repulse in one coast he may safely trauaile to an other commodiously taking his conuenient times discretly making choyse of them with whom he wyl throughly deale To force a violent entrie would for vs Englishe men be very hard consyderyng the strength and valeour of so great a nation farre distaunt from vs and the attempt thereof myght bee most perillous vnto the doers vnlesse theyr part were verye good Touchyng theyr lawes agaynst strangers you shall reade neuerthelesse in the same relations of Galeotto Berara that the Cathaian kyng is woont to graunt free accesse vnto all forreiners that trade into his countrey for marchandyse and a place of lybertie for them to remaine in as the Mores had vntyll such time as they had brought the Loutea or Lieuetenaunt of that coaste to be a circumcised Saracene wherefore some of them were put to the sworde the rest were scattred abrode at Fuquien a great citie in China certayne of them are yet this day to be seen As for the Giapans they be most desyrous to be acquaynted with strangers The Portugals though they were straightly handled there at the fyrst yet in the ende they founde great fauoure at the prince his hands insomuch that the Loutea or president that misused them was therefore put to death The rude Indish Canoa halleth that seas the Portugalles the Saracenes Mores traueil continually vp downe that reache from Giapan to China from China to Malacca from Malacca to the Moluccaes and shal an Englishmā better appointed then any of them al that I say no more of our nauie feare to saile in that Ocean What seas at al doo want piracie what nauigation is there voyde of peril To the last argument Our traueylers neede not to seeke their returne by the northeast ne shall they be constrayned except they lyst ether to attempte Magellane streicte at the Southwest or to be in daunger of the Portugalles for the Southeast they may returne by the northwest that same way they do go foorth as experience hath shewed The reason alleaged for proofe of the contrary may be disproued after this maner And fyrst it may be called in controuersie whether any currant continually be forced by the motion of Primum mobile rounde about the worlde or no for learned men do diuersely handle that question The naturall course of all waters is downewarde wherfore of congruence they fall that way where they fynde the earth most lowe and deepe in respecte whereof it was erst sayde the seas to strike from the Northren landes Southerly Uiolently the seas are tossed and troubled diuerse wayes with the wyndes encreased and diminished by the course of the Moone hoysed vp and downe through the sundrye operations of the Sonne and the Starres finally some be of opinion that the seas be carried in part violently about y e world after the daily motion of the highest mouable heauen in lyke maner as y e elementes of ayre and fyre with the rest of the heauenly spheres are from the east vnto the west And this they do call theyr easterne currant or leuant streame Some suche currant may not be denied to be of great force in the hote Zone for the nearenes thereof vnto the centre of the Sonne and blustryng easterne wyndes violently dryuing the seas westwarde howbeit in the temperate climes the Sonne beyng farther of and the wyndes more diuerse blowyng as muche from the north the west and south as from the east this rule doth not effectually withholde vs from traueylyng eastwarde ne be we kepte euer backe by the aforesayde Leuante wyndes and streame But in Magellane streict we are violently driuen backe westwarde Ergo through the Northwesterne streicte or Anian fret shall we not be able to returne eastwarde it foloweth not The fyrst for that the northwesterne streict hath more sea rome at the least by one hundred Englyshe myles then Magellane fret hath the onely want wherof causeth all narrowe passages generally to be most violent So woulde I say in Anian gulfe if it were so narrowe as Don Diego and Zalterius haue paynted it out any returne that way to be ful of difficulties in respect of such streictnes therof not for the nearenes of the Sonne or easterne wyndes violently forceing that way any leuant streame But in that place there is more sea rome by many degrees if the cardes of Cabota and Gemma Frisius and that whiche Tramezine imprinted be true And hytherto reason see I none at all but that I may as well geue credyt vnto theyr doynges as to any of the rest It must be Peregrinationis historia that is true reportes of skilful trauailers as Ptolome writeth that in suche controuersies of Geographie must put vs out of double Ortelius in his vniuersall tables in his particuler Mappes of the west Indies of all Asia of the northren kyngdomes of the easte Indies Mercator in some of his globes and generall mappes of the worlde Moletius in his vniuersall table of the Globe diuided in his sea carde and particuler tables of the East Indies Zalterius and Don Diego with Fernando Bertely and others do so much dyffer both from Gemma Frisius and Cabota among them selues in diuers places from them selues concerning the diuers situation and sundrye limittes of America that one may not so rashly as truelye surmise these men either to be ignorant in those pointes touching the aforesayd region or that the mappes they haue geuen out vnto the world were collected only by them neuer of their owne drawyng M. Furbishers prosperous voyage and happie returne wyl absolutely decide these controuersies and certaynely determine where
al their merchandise and wares for India Ethiope and Arabie as appeareth by the wrytyng first of Strabo who wryteth that he was in Egypt and then by Plinie who was in the tyme of Domitian Strabo also speaking of the saide fosse or trenche whiche was made towarde the redde sea wryteth thus There is a trenche that goeth towarde the red sea the gulfe of Arabie and to the citie of Arsinoe whiche some call Cleopatrida and passeth by the lakes named Amari that is bytter because in deede they were fyrste bytter but after that this trenche was made and the ryuer entred in they became sweete and are at this present ful of foules of the water by reason of their pleasantnesse This trenche was fyrste begunne by king Sesostre before the battaile of Troy Some say that it was begunne by king Psammiticus while he was a childe and that by reason of his death it was left imperfect also that afterwarde king Darius succeeded in the same enterprise who woulde haue finished it but yet brought it not to the ende because he was enfourmed that the redde sea was higher then Egypt and that if this lande diuiding both the seas were opened all Egypt shoulde be drowned thereby King Ptolomeus woulde in deede haue finished it but yet left it shut at the head that he myght when he woulde sayle to the other sea and returne without peryll Here is the citie of Arsinoe and neare vnto that the citie called Heroum in the vttermost parte of the gulfe of Arabie towarde Egypt with many portes and habitations Plinie likewise speaking of this trenche sayth In the furthest part of the gulfe of Arabie is a porte called Danco from whence they determined to bryng a nauigable trenche vnto the riuer of Nilus whereas is the firste Delta Betweene the saide sea and Nilus there is a streict of lande of the length of .lxii. miles The firste that attempted this thing was Sesostre king of Egypt after him Darius king of the Persians whom Ptolomeus folowed who made a trenche a hundred foote large and thirtie foote deepe being CCC miles in length vnto the lakes named Amari and durst proceede no further for feare of inundation hauing knowledge that the red sea was higher by three cubites then all the countrey of Egypt Other say that this was not the cause but that he doubted that yf he shoulde haue let the sea come any further all the water of Nilus shoulde haue been thereby corrupted whiche onely ministreth drynke to all Egypt But notwithstanding all these thinges aforesayde all this viage is frequented by lande from Egypt to the redde sea in whiche passage are three Causeyes or hygh wayes The fyrst begynneth at the mouth of Nilus named Pelutio All whiche way is by the sandes insomuche that if there were not certayne hygh Reedes fyxt in the earth to shew the ryght way the Causey could not be found by reason the wynde euer couereth it with sand The seconde Causey is two myles from the mountayne Cassius And this also in the ende of threescore myles commeth vpon the way or Causey of Pelusius inhabited with certayne Arabians called Antei The thyrde begynneth at Gerro named Adipson and passeth by the same Arabians for the space of threescore miles somewhat shortter but full of rough mountaynes and great scarcenesse of water Al these Causeyes leade the way to the citie of Arsinoe builded by Ptolomeus Philadelphus in the gulfe Carandra by the redde sea This Ptolomeus was the fyrst that searched all that part of the red sea whiche is called Trogloditica Of this trench described of Strabo and Plinie there are seene certeyne tokens remaynyng at this present as they do affyrme whiche haue been at Sues beyonde the citie of Alcayr otherwyse called Babylon in Egypt But the merchauntes that of later dayes trauayle this viage by lande ryde through the drye and barren desartes on Camels both by day and by nyght directyng theyr waye by the starres and compasse as do mariners on the sea and carying with them water sufficient for many dayes iorneys The places of Arabie and India named of Strabo and Plinie are the selfe same where the Portugales practyse theyr trade at this day as the maners and customes of the Indians doo yet declare for euen at this present their women vse to burne them selues alyue with the dead bodyes of their husbandes Whiche thyng as wryteth Strabo in his .xv. booke they dyd in olde time by a lawe for this consyderation that sometyme being in loue with other they forsooke or poysoned their husbandes And for as muche as accordyng to this custome the olde Poet Propertius who lyued about an hundred yeeres before the incarnation of Christ hath in his booke made mention of the contention that was among the Indian women whiche of them shoulde be burned aliue with theyr husbandes I haue thought good to subscribe his verses whiche are these Faelix Eois lex funeris vna maritis Quos aurora suis rubra colorat equis Namque vbi mortifero iacta est fax vltima lecto Vxorum fusis 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 touchyng these viages both by sea and by lande to East India and Cathay many thinges are wrytten very largly by diuers autours which I omit because they parteyne not so much vnto vs as doth the viage attempted to Cathay by the north seas and the coastes of Moscouia discouered in our tyme by the viage of that excellent young man Rychard Chaunceller no lesse learned in al mathematicall sciences then an expert pilotte in the yeere of our Lorde .1554 As concernyng this viage I haue thought good to declare y e communication which was betweene the sayd learned man Galeatius Butrigarius and that great philosopher and noble gentleman of Italie named Hieronimus Fracastor as I fynd written in the Italian histories of nauigations As they were therefore conferryng in matters of learnyng and reasoning of the science of Cosmographie the saide learned man hauyng in his hand an instrument of Astronomie declared with a large oration howe much the worlde was bound to the kinges of Portugale rehearsing the noble factes done by them in India and what landes and Ilandes they had discouered and howe by theyr nauigations they made the whole worlde to hang in the ayre He further declared of what partes of the ball the earth remayned yet vndiscouered and sayde that of the landes of the inferior hemispherie or halfe compase of the ball towarde the pole Antartike there was nothyng knowen but that litle of the coaste of Brasilia vnto the streyght of Magellanus also a part of Peru also a litle aboue Affrike towarde the cape of Bona Speranza Also
the continuall warres they haue with the Tartars of whom the greatest parte gyue obedience to the sayd great Cam as to theyr chiefe Emperour He made also demonstration in the sayde carde by the Northeast that being past the prouince of Permia and the ryuer Pescora which falleth into the North sea certeine mountaines named Catena Mundi there is thentraunce into the prouince of Obdora whereas is Vecchiadoro and the ryuer Obo whiche also falleth into the sayde sea and it is the furthest border of Th empyre of the Prince of Moscouia The sayde ryuer hath his originall in a great lake called Chethai which is the fyrst habitacion of the Tartars that paye tribute to the great Cane And from this lake for the space of two moneths vyage as they were credybly informed by certayne Tartares taken in the warres is the most noble citie of Cambalu beyng one of the chiefest in the dominion of the great Cane whom some call the great Cham. He also affyrmed that if shyppes should be made on the coastes of the sayde sea and sayle on the backe halfe of the coast thereof which he knew by many relations made to his Prince to reach infinitely towarde the Northeast they should doubtlesse in folowyng the same easily discouer that countrey Unto these woordes he added that although there were great difficultie in Moscouia by reason that the way to the sayde sea is full of thicke woods and waters whiche in the sommer make great maryshes and impossible to be traueyled aswell for lacke of victuals whiche can not there be founde not for certayne dayes but for the space of certayne monethes the place beyng desolate without inhabitauntes neuerthelesse he sayde that if there were with his Prince onely two Spanyardes or Portugales to whom the charge of this viage should be committed he no wayes doubted but that they would folowe it and fynde it forasmuch as with great ingeniousnesse and inestimable pacience these nations haue ouercome much greater difficulties then are these whiche are but litle in comparison to those that they haue ouerpassed and doe ouerpasse in all their viages to India He proceeded declaryng that not many yeeres since there came to the courte of his Prince an Ambassadour from pope Leo named maister Paulo Centurione a Genuese vnder dyuers pretenses But the princypall occasion of his commyng was bycause hee had conceyued great indignation and hatred agaynst the Portugales And therfore intended to proue if he could open any vyage by land wherby spyces myght be brought from India by the lande of Tartaria or by the sea Caspium otherwyse called Hircanum to Moscouia and from thence to be brought in shyppes by the ryuer Riga which runnyng by the countrey of Liuonia falleth into the sea of Germanie And that his Prince gaue eare vnto him and caused the sayde vyage to be attempted by certaine noble men of Lordo of the Tartars confinyng next vnto him But the warres which were then betweene them and the great desartes which they should of necessitie ouerpasse made them leaue of theyr enterpryse whiche if it had ben purposed by the coastes of this our North sea it might haue been easily fynyshed The sayde Ambassadour continued his narration saying that no man ought to doubt of that sea but that it may be sayled sixe monethes in the yeere forasmuche as the dayes are then very long in that clime and hot by reason of continuall reuerberation of the beames of the Sunne and shorte nyghtes And that this thing were as well woorthie to bee prooued as anye other nauigation whereby many partes of the worlde heeretofore vnknowen haue been discouered and brought to ciuilitie And heere makyng an ende of this talke he sayde Let vs now omyt this parte of Moscouia with his colde and speake somewhat of that parte of the newe worlde in whiche is the lande of Brytons called Terra Britonum and Baccaleos or Terra Baccalearum where in the yeere .1534 and .1535 Iaques Cartiar in two vyages made with three great French Gallies founde the great and large countreys named Canada Ochelaga and Sanguenai which reach from the .xlv. to the .51 degree beyng well inhabited and pleasaunt countreys and named by him Noua Francia And here staying a while and lyftyng vp his handes he sayde Oh what doe the Christian princes meane that in suche landes discouered they doe not assigne certayne colonies to inhabite the same to bryng those people whom God hath so blessed with naturall giftes to better ciuilitie and to embrase our religion then the whiche nothing can bee more acceptable to God The sayd regions also beyng so fayre and fruitfull with plentie of all sortes of corne hearbes fruites wood fyshes beastes metals and ryuers of suche greatnesse that shyppes may sayle more then .180 myles vpon one of them beyng on both sydes infinitely inhabited And to cause the gouernours of the sayde colonies to searche whether that lande towarde the North named Terra de Laborador doe ioyne as one firme lande with Norway Or whether there bee any streight or open place of sea as is most lyke there should be forasmuch as it is to bee thought that the sayde Indians dryuen by fortune about the coastes of Norway came by that streight or sea to the coastes of Germanie and by the sayde streight to sayle northwest to discouer the landes and countreys of Cathay and from thence to sayle to the Ilandes of Molucca and these surely should bee enterpryses able to make men immortall The which thing that ryght woorthie Gentleman maister Antony di Mendoza consideryng by the singular vertue and magnanimitie that is in him attempted to put this thyng in practyse For being viceroy of the countrey of Mexico so named of the great citie Mexico otherwyse called Temistitan now called new Spayne beyng in the .xx. degree aboue the Equinoctiall and parte of the sayde firme lande he sent certeyne of his Captaines by lande and also a nauie of shyppes by sea to search this secrete And I remember that when I was in Flaunders in Themperours court I saw his letter wrytten in the yeere .1541 and dated from Mexico wherein was declared howe towarde the Northwest he had founde the kyngdome of Sette Citta that is seuen Cities wheras is that called Ciuola by the reuerende father Marco da Niza and howe beyonde the sayde kyngdome yet further towarde the Northwest Captayne Francesco Vasques of Coronado hauing ouerpassed great desartes came to the sea syde where he founde certaine shyppes which sayled by that sea with merchandies and had in theyr banner vppon the prooes of theyr shyppes certayne foules made of golde and siluer which they of Mexico call Alcatrazzi and that theyr mariners shewed by signes that they were xxx dayes saylyng in commyng to that hauen whereby he vnderstoode that these shyppes could be of none other countrey then of Cathay forasmuch as it is situate on
in maner vnder the same qualitie of heauen persysted wyllyngly in the same opinion with more confidence then consideration of the thynges whereof we nowe intreate so lyghtly was that opinion receyued as touchyng the vnhabitable clime vnder the poles But we with better confidence and faith forasmuche as we are not instructed with coniectures intend to stande against the sentence of the olde autours affirmyng the North regions within the colde clime to be inhabited with herrynges coddes haddockes and brettes tunnyes and other great fyshes with thinfinite number whereof tables are furnyshed through a great parte of Europe All whiche are taken in the North sea extended beyonde our knoweledge This sea at certayne tymes of the yeere poureth foorth his plentifulnes or rather driueth foorth his increase to seeke newe mansions and are here taken in theyr passage Furthermore also euen the mouthes of the riuer of Tiber receiued a fyshe as a newe gest sent from the north sea this swamme twise through Fraunce and twise through Spayne ouerpassed the Ligurion and Tuscan sea to communicate her selfe to the citie of Rome The lakes also and ryuers of those regions are replenyshed with fyshe insomuch that no power of colde is able to extinguyshe thincrease of the yeere folowing and the succession reparable so many hundred yeeres And I plainely thinke that if it should of necessitie folowe that one of these two elementes the earth and the water should be destructiue to lyuyng creatures the water shoulde chiefely haue wrought this effecte But this is founde so tractable that in the depe wynter both that increase is brought foorth and fyshing is also exercised The lande is lykewise inhabited with like plentifulnesse But that we wander not to farre let the fayth hereof rest in thexposition folowing wherin we intend to declare howe by the power of nature and industry of man this commoditie may come to passe Therefore as touchyng nature we suppose that the diuine prouidence hath made nothyng vncommunicable but to haue geuen suche order to all thynges wherby euery thyng may be tollerable to the next The extremities of the elementes consent with theyr next The ayre is grosse about the earth and water but thynne and hot about the fyre By this prouidence of nature the vttermost sea is very salt And salt as witnesseth Plinie yeldeth the fattnesse of Oyle But Oyle by a certayne natyue heate is of propertie agreeable to fyre The sea then beyng al of such qualitie powreth foorth it selfe farre vpon thextreeme landes whereby by reason of the saltnesse thereof it moueth and stirreth vp generatiue heate as by fatnesse it norisheth the fecunditie of thynges generate It geueth this fruitefulnesse to the earth at certayne floods although the earth also it selfe haue in his inner bowels the same lyuely and norishing heate wherby not only the Dennes Caues and hollow places but also spryngs of water are made warme this so much the more in how muche the wynter is more vehement This thyng doth more appeare by this example that the mountaines of Norway and Swethlande are fruitfull of metales in the which siluer and copper are concoct and molten into veines â–ª which can scarcely by done in fornaces By this reason also the vapoures and hot exhalations pearsyng the earth and the waters and through both those natures breathyng foorth into the ayre temperateth the qualitie of heauen maketh it tollerable to beasts as witnesseth the huge bygnesse of the Whales in those seas with the strength of body and long lyfe of such beastes as lyue on the land which thyng coulde not be except all thyngs were there commodiously norished by the benefite of the heauen and the ayre For nothyng that in the tyme of encrease is hyndred by any iniurie or that is euyl fedde al the tyme it lyueth can prosper wel Neyther are such thynges as liue there offended with theyr natural wynter as though an Egiptian or Ethiopian were sodenly conueighed into those cold regions For they were in long tyme by litle and litle brought fyrst acquaynted with the nature of that heauen as maye be prooued both by the lyfe of man and by the hystorie of holy scripture They that were led from Mesopatamia and that famous Tower of Babilon towards the North partes of the worlde in the fyrst dispertion of nations did not immediately passe to the extreme boundes but planted theyr habitations first vnder a myddle heauen between both as in Thracia and Pontus where theyr posteritie was accustomed the better to susteyne the rigour of Scythia and Tanais as he that commeth from winter to sommer may the better after abyde yse and snow beyng fyrst hardened thereto by the frostes of Autumne In lyke maner mortal men accustomed to beare the hardnesse of places next vnto them were thereby at the length more confirmed to sustayne the extremities And here also if any sharpnesse remaine that may seeme intollerable nature hath so prouided for the same with other remedies For the land and sea hath geuen vnto beastes deepe and large Caues Dennes and other hollowe places and secreete corners in mountaynes and rockes both on the land and by sea banckes in the which are euer conteyned warme vapoures so muche the more intent and vehement in how much they are the more constrayned by extreeme cold Nature hath also geuen valleyes diuerted and defended from the North windes She hath lykewyse couered beastes with heare so muche the thycker in how much the vehemencie of cold is greater by reason wherof the best and richest furres are brought from those regions as Sables whose pryce is growne to great excesse next vnto gold and precious stones and are esteemed princely ornamentes The beasts that beare these furres are hunted cheefelye in winter whiche thyng is more strange because their heare is then thicker and cleaueth faster to the skin How greeuous then shal we thinke the wynter to be there where this litle beast liueth so wel and where the hunters may search the Dennes and hauntes of such beastes through the woods and snow But such beastes the condition of whose bodies is so tender that they are not able to abide thiniurie of the cold either lye hyd in winter or change their habitation as do certaine beasts also in our clime Nature hath furthermore geuen remedie to man both by art and industry to defende him selfe both abrode and at home Abrode with a thicke vesture and the same well dowbeled At home with large fyers on Harthes Chymneyes and in Stooues for the daye with close Chaumbers and Couches soft and warme Beddes for the nyght by whiche remedies they mittigate the wynters which seeme rigorous to straungers although they are to thinhabitantes more tollerable then our opinion as in deede by the fyrst naturall mixture or composition of theyr bodies such thyngs are agreeable to them as seeme very hard to other The Lion
of the Iland of Hispaniola aboue Cuba an Ilande of the Canibales Which narration hath geuen me occasion to extende Groneland beyond the promontorie or cape of Huitsarch to the contynent or fyrme lande of Lapponia aboue the castell of Wardhus whiche thyng I dyd the rather for that the reuerende Archebyshop of Nidrosia constantly affirmed that the sea bendeth there into the fourme of a crooked Elbowe It agreeth herewith also that the Lapones consent with them in the lyke Magicall practises and do neyther embrace the Christian religion nor refuse it wherby I haue thought this lykenesse of customes to be betweene them because they ioyne togeather in one continent The distance lykewyse seemeth not to disagree For beetweene both these people the distance is not full two hundred Schoeni euery one beyng a space of ground conteining threescore furlonges which make seauen myles a halfe It furthermore agreeth with this coniecture that Cabot chaunced into such yse And albeit as touching the Moneth of Iuly I wyll contend it is not well rehearsed no although he had sailed vnder the poole for such reasons as we haue declared before to the contrary neuerthelesse that at some tyme he sailed by yse this testifieth in that he sayled not by the mayne sea but in places neare vnto the land comprehending embrasing the sea in fourme of a gulfe whereas for the same cause the gulfe of Gothland is frosen because it is streyght and narrow ▪ in the which also the litle quantitie of salte water is ouercome by the abundance of fresh water of many and great ryuers that fall into the gulfe But betweene Norway and Island the sea is not frosen for the contrary cause forasmuch as the power of freshe water is there ouercome of the abundance of the salte water There is a fame but of vncertayne aucthoritie that the Spaniardes sayle at this present to Gronelande and to an other lande whiche they call Terra Viridis that is the greene lande bringyng from thence suche wares as are founde in Gronelande Towards the North ▪ it reacheth to the vnknowen land vnder the pole from whence also the theeues and robbers of the Pigmei come into this lande Which is an argument that the regions vnder the pole are inhabited almost enuironed with the sea as are they whiche the Cosmographers call Chersonnesi or Peninsulae that is almost Ilandes The description of Gronlande The description of the East syde which lyeth towarde Norway Wardhus Castle 54.  70. 30. Towarde the North. 53. 30. 71. 30. The fyrst extention 40.  71. 40. The second extention 28.  72.  Huitsarch promont 22.  67.  The extention 5.  61. 45. It is continued from thence by the coastes of the lande of Baccallaos 356. 60.   Towarde the West and North it is termined with an vnknowen ende of landes and seas     Islande ISlande is interpreted the land of Ise and is called of the olde wryters Thyle It is extended betweene the South and the North almost two hundred schoenes in longitude It is for the most parte full of mountaynes and vncultured But in the playnes it hath such fruitfull pastures that they are fayne sometymes to dryue the beastes from theyr feedyng least they should be suffocate with to much fatnesse This Ilande is famous by the strange myracles of nature of the whiche Saxo Grammaticus in his hystorie of Denmarke and Olanus Gothus in his description of the North landes doe make mention There are in it three mountaynes of marueylous height the toppes whereof are couered with perpetuall snowe but the nether partes of them are of lyke nature to the mountayne Etna in the Ilande of Sicilie boylyng with continuall flames of fyre and castyng foorth brymstone One of these is named Helga and the other Mons Crucis that is the mounte of the crosse The thyrd is named Hecla whose flames neyther consume flaxe or tow matters most apte to take fyre nor yet are quenched with water And with lyke force as the shot of great artillerie is driuen foorth by violence of fyre euen so by the commixtion and repugnance of fyre colde and brymstone great stones are heere throwne into the ayre Neare vnto these mountaynes are three chynkes or open places in the earth of huge bygnesse and such depth especially at the mount Hecla that no sight can attayne thereto But to such as looke into them there first appeare men as though they were drowned and yet breathyng foorth theyr soules who beyng exhorted by theyr friendes to resorte to theyr owne they answere with mournyng voyce and greeuous sighes that they must departe from thence to the mount Hecla and therewith sodaynely vanyshe out of sight He floweth about the Ilande for the space of seuen or eight monethes makyng by runnyng togeather a certayne miserable waylyng and gronyng noyse not vnlyke the voyce of man Thinhabitauntes thynke that in this Ise and the mount Hecla are the places where the euyll soules of theyr people are tormented If any man take a great portion of this Ise and keepe it as diligently as may be in a close vessell or cofer the same doeth so vanyshe at the tyme when the other Ise about the Ilande dissolueth that not so much as one droppe of water or Ise can thereof be founde Not farre from these mountaynes reachyng towarde the sea coastes are foure sprynges of water of most dyuers and contrary nature The fyrst by reason of his perpetuall and feruent heate sodaynely turneth all bodyes that are cast therein into stones reseruyng neuerthelesse theyr fyrst forme and shape The seconde is of intollerable coldnesse The thyrd is sweeter then hony and most pleasaunt to quench thyrst The fourth is playne poyson pestilent and deadly There is furthermore in these sprynges suche aboundaunce of brymstone that a thousande pounde weight thereof is bought for litle as for the tenth parte of a ducate Theyr chiefe wares are dryed fyshe as Soles Maydens Playces Salpas Stockefyshes and such other whiche they exchange for wheat and such other thinges as are brought thyther from Lubecke Hamborowe and Amsterdam For they haue oftentymes such scarsenesse of corne that they vse dryed fysh in the steade of bread although in sommer the Iland so florysheth with greene and fruitfull medowes that they are fayne somtimes to dryue theyr beastes from pasture least they should suffocate for to much fatnesse as I haue sayde before They make very good butter and apte to be vsed in matters of phisicke There are found diuers kindes of good Haukes as Faulcons Gerfaulcons Lanners and Sperhaukes Also Rauens Crowes Beares Hares and Foxes both white and blacke They haue most swift horses and such as run .xxx. miles continually without rest or baite They haue many churches houses builded of the bones of Whales
marke that they see a far of Which doubtlesse is a token both of the marueylous swyftnesse great strength of these beastes beyng able to continue runnyng for so great a space in the meane whyle also spendyng some tyme in feedyng I suppose that this thyng was somewhat knowen to the olde wryters although receyued in maner by an obscure and doubtfull fame For they also wryte that certayne Scythians doe ryde on Hartes They neyther folow the Christian religion nor yet refuse it or are offended therewith as are the Iewes but doe sometymes receyue it fauourably to gratifie the princes to whom they obey And that no more of them imbrase the Christian fayth the faulte is somewhat to be imputed to the Byshoppes and Prelates that haue eyther reiected this cure charge of instructyng the nation or suffered the fayth of Christ to bee suffocate euen in the fyrst spryng For vnder the pretence of religion they would haue aduaunced theyr owne reuenues and ouerburdened the people by an intollerable example none otherwyse here then in all Christendome which thyng is doubtlesse the cause of most greeuous defections I heard Iohn a byshop of Gothlande say thus We that gouerne the churche of Vpsalia and haue vnder our diocesse a great parte of that nation lyke as it is not conuenient to declare many thinges of our vigilance and attendaunce ouer the flocke committed to our charge euen so absteynyng from myscheeuous couetousnesse whereby religion is abused for luker we doe in all places our diligent endeuour that wee minister none occasion whereby this nation as offended by our sinnes may be the lesse wyllyng to embrase the Christian fayth This is the state of the religion among the Lapones although of theyr owne institution and custome receyued of theyr predicessours they are Idolatours honouryng that lyuyng thyng that they meete fyrst in the mornyng for the God of that day and diuinyng thereby theyr good lucke or euyll They also erecte Images of stone vppon the mountaynes whiche they esteeme as Goddes attributyng to them diuine honour They solemne mariages and begyn the same with fyre and flynt as with a mysterie so aptely applyed to the Image of stone as if it had been receyued from the myddest of Grecia For in that they adhibite a mysterie to fyre as they doe not this alone forasmuch as the Romanes obserued the same custome euen so are they herein partly to be commended in that they vse the ceremonies of so noble a people The mysterie of the flinte is no lesse to be praysed both forasmuch as this is domesticall philosophie and hath also a neare affinitie and signification to these solemnities For as the flynt hath in it fyre lying hyd whiche appeareth not but by mouyng force so is there a secrete lyfe in both kynds of man and woman which by mutuall coniunction commeth foorth to a lyuyng byrth They are furthermore experte inchaunters They tye three knottes on a stryng hangyng at a whyp When they lose one of these they rayse tollerable wynds When they lose an other the wynde is more vehement but by losyng the thyrd they rayse playne tempestes as in olde tyme they were accustomed to rayse thunder and lyghtnyng This arte doe they vse agaynst such as sayle by theyr coastes and staye or moue the ryuers and seas more or lesse as they lyst to shew fauour or displeasure They make also of leade certayne shorte magicall dartes of the quantitie and length of a fynger These they throwe agaynst such of whom they desyre to bee reuenged to places neuer so farre distant They are sometymes so vexed with the canker on theyr armes or legges that in the space of three dayes they dye through the vehemencie of the payne The Sunne falleth very lowe in these regions and prolongeth one continuall nyght for the space of three monethes in wynter duryng whiche tyme they haue none other lyght but lyke vnto the twilight of eueninges morninges This is very cleare but continueth but fewe houres and is lyke the bryght shynyng of the Moone Therefore that day that the Sunne returneth to the hemispherie they keepe holy day and make great myrth with solemne festiuitie And these are the maners of this nation not so brutyshe or saluage as woorthy therefore to be called Lapones for theyr vnaptenesse or simplicitie as when they lyued vnder theyr owne Empyre and vsed no familiaritie or entercourse with other nations knew not the commoditie of their owne thinges neyther the pryce and estimation of theyr furres in our regions by reason whereof they solde great plentie of them for some of our wares of small value The boundes or limittes of Laponia beyng the extreme land of Scondia knowen towarde the North pole are extended towarde this parte of the North to the world yet vnknowen to vs And furthermore towarde the same parte of the vttermost sea accordyng to this description The fyrst coast 70 72. The coast folowyng 80 7. That that yet foloweth 90 70. From the fyshyng places and store houses of this sea they carry foorth to Nordbothnia and whyte Russia landes confinyng to them great plentie of fyshe Whereby we may coniecture that this sea is extended on euery syde towarde the North. Towarde the West it is limitted with the most inwarde gulfe at the Castle of Wardhus at the degree .54 70 30. Towarde the South it is limitted by a lyne drawen from thence vnto the degree .90 69. Norwegia or Norway NOrdway is as muche to say as the Northway This was sometyme a floryshyng kyngdome whose dominion comprehended Denmarke Friselande and the Ilandes farre about vntyll the domesticall Empyre was gouerned by the succession of inheritaunce In the meane tyme whyle this gouernance ceassed for lacke of due issue it was instituted by consent of the nobilitie that the kynges should be admitted by election supposing that they would with more equitie execute that office forasmuche as they were placed in the same by suche auctoritie and not by obteynyng the kyngdome by fortune and newe aduauncement But it came so to passe that as euery of them excelleth in rychesse ambition and fauoure by consangiuitie so were they in greater hope to obteine the kyngdome and were by this meanes diuided into factions attemptyng also occations to inuade foraigne realmes whereby they myght strenghten theyr parties It is therefore at this present vnder the dominion of the Danes who do not onely exact intollerable tributes but also bryng al theyr ryches and commodities into Denmarke constitutyng the continuance of theyr gouernaunce in thinfirmitie and pouertie of the subiectes whiche exemple some other princes do folowe at this day in the Christian Empire For after that the princes had forsaken such vertues as should haue shyned in them as to be Patres patriae that is the fathers of their countreys and that in the place hereof onely the proude countenaunce of
Paulus Centurio a citizen of Genua with letters whereby you doe exhort vs to ioyne in power counsayle with you other Princes of Christendome against the enemies of the christian fayth that a free passage redy way may bee opened for both your Ambassadours ours to come go to fro wherby by mutual dutie and indeuour on both parties we may haue knowledge of the state of thinges parteynyng to the wealth of vs both VVe certes as we haue hytherto happely by the ayde and helpe of almightie God constantly and earnestly resisted the cruell wicked enemies of the christian faith so are we determined to doe hereafter and are likewise redy to consent with other christian princes to graunt free passage into our dominions In consideration wherof we haue sent vnto you our faithful seruant Demetrius Erasmus with these our letters with him haue remitted Paulus Centurio desiring you also shortly to dismisse Demetrius with safegard and indemnitie vnto the borders of our dominions And we wil likewise do the same if you send your Ambassadour with Demetrius whereby both by communication and letters we may be better certified of thorder and administration of such things as you require so that being aduertised of the mindes and intent of all other christian princes we may also consult what is best to be done herein Thus fare ye wel Giuen in our dominioÌ„ in our citie of Moscouia in the yeere from the creation of the world .vii. thousand and .300 the third day of Aprill But Demetrius as he is experte in diuine and humane thinges and especially of holy scripture seemed to haue secrete commaundement of greater matters whiche we thinke he will shortly declare to the senate in priuate consultations For he is now deliuered of the feuer into the which he fell by change of ayre and hath so recouered his strength natiue colour that being a man of .lx. yeeres of age he was not only present at the Popes masse celebrated with great solemnitie in the honour of S. Cosmus Damian but came also into the Senate at such tyme as Cardinal Campegius commyng first from the legacie of Pannonia was receiued of the Pope all the nobilitie of the court And furthermore also viewed the Temples of the holy citie with the ruines of the Romane magnificence and with woondring eyes beheld the lamentable decay of the auncient buildinges So that we thinke that shortly after he hath declared his message he shal return to Moscouia with the byshop of Scarense the Popes legate not vnrecompensed with iust rewardes at the handes of his holinesse The name of the Moscouites is nowe newe although the Poete Lucane maketh mention of the Moschos confynyng with the Sarmatians and Plinie also placeth the Moschos at the sprynges of the great ryuer of Phasis in the region of Colchos aboue the sea Euxinus towarde the East Theyr region hath very large boundes and is extended from the Aultars of great Alexander about the sprynges of Tanais to the extreme landes and North Ocean in maner vnder the North starres called charles wayne or the great Beare beyng for the most parte playne of fruitfull pasture but in sommer in many places full of marishes For whereas all that lande is replenyshed with many and great ryuers which are greatly increased by the wynter snowe and I se resolued by the heate of the sunne the playnes and fieldes are thereby ouerflowen with marishes and all iourneys incombred with continuall waters and myrie slabbynesse vntyll by the benefite of the newe wynter the ryuers and marishes be frosen agayne and giue safe passage to the sleades that are accustomed to iourney by the same The wood or forest of Hercynia and not Hyrcania as is red in some false copies occupyeth a great parte of Moscouia and is heere and there inhabited with houses builded therein and so made thinner by the long labour of men that it doeth not now shewe that horrour of thicke impenetrable woods and landes as many thinke it to haue But beyng replenished with many wylde beastes is so far extended through Moscouia with a continuall tract betweene the East and the North towarde the Scythian Ocean that by the infinite greatnesse thereof it hath deluded the hope of suche as haue curiously searched the ende of the same In that parte that reacheth towarde Prussia are founde the great and fierce beastes called Vri or Bisontes of the kynde of Buâ—les Also Alces lyke vnto Hartes which the Moscouites call Lozzi and are called of the Germaynes Helenes On the East syde of Moscouia are the Scythians which are at this day called Tartars a wandryng nation and at all ages famous in warres In the stead of houses they vse wagons couered with beastes hydes whereby they were in olde tyme called Amaxouii For cities and townes they vse great tentes and pauilions not defended with trenches or walles of tymber or stone but inclosed with an innumerable multitude of archers on horsbacke The Tartars are diuided by companyes which they call Hordas which worde in theyr tongue signifieth a consentyng company of people geathered together in forme of a citie Euery Horda is gouerned by an Emperour whom eyther his parentage or warlyke prowes hath promoted to that dignitie For they oftentimes keepe warre with theyr borderers and contende ambiciously and fiercely for dominion It doeth hereby appeare that they consist of innumerable Hordas in that the Tartars possesse the most large desartes euen vnto the famous citie of Cathay in the furdest Ocean in the East They also that are nearest to the Moscouites are knowen by theyr trade of marchaundies and often incursions In Europe neare vnto the place called Dromon Achillis in Taurica Chersoneso are the Tartars called Precopites the daughter of whose prince Selymus the Emperour of the Turkes tooke to wyfe These are most infest to the Polones and waste the regions on euery syde betweene the ryuers of Boristhenes and Tanais They that in the same Taurica possesse Caffam a colonie of the Ligurians called in olde tyme Theodosia doe both in religion and all other thinges agree with the Turkes But the Tartars that inhabite the regions of Asia betweene Tanais and Volga are subiect to Basilius the kyng of the Moscouites and choose them a gouernour at his assignement Among these the Cremii afflicted with ciuile seditions where as heeretofore they were ryche and of great power haue of late yeeres lost theyr dominion and dignitie The Tartars that are beyonde the riuer of Volga do religiously obserue the frendship of the Moscouites and professe them selues to be theyr subiectes Beyond the Cassanites towarde the North are the Sciambani rych in heardes of cattaylle and consistyng of a great multitude of men After these are Nogai whiche obteyne at this day the chiefe fame of ryches and warly affayres Theyr Horda although it
that whereas Paulus Iouius wryteth here that the ryuer of Diuidna otherwyse called Duina runneth through the region of Colmogor it is to bee vnderstood that there are two ryuers of that name the one on the Northeast side of Moscouia toward the frosen sea the other on the Southwest syde fallyng into the sea Baltheum or the gulfe of Finnonia by the citie of Riga in Liuonia And forasmuche as the true knowledge of these and certayne other is very necessarie for all such as shal trade into Moscouia or other regions in those coastes by the North sea I haue thought good to make further declaration hereof as I haue founde in the historie of Moscouia most faythfully and largly wrytten by Sigismundus Liberus who was twyse sent Embassadour into Moscouia as fyrst by Maximilian the Emperour and then agayne by Ferdinando kyng of Hungarie and Boheme This haue I done the rather for that in al the mappes that I haue seene of Moscouia there is no mention made of the riuer of Duina that runneth through the region of Colmogor and by the citie of the same name although the prouince of Duina be in all cardes placed Northwarde from the ryuer of Vstiug or Succana which is the same Duina wherof we now speake and whereof Paulus Iouius wryteth although it be not so named but from the angle or corner where ioynyng with the ryuer of Iug and Succana it runneth Northwarde towards the citie of Colmogor and from thence falleth into the North or frosen sea as shall hereafter more playnely appeare by the wordes of Sigismundus that the one of these be not taken for the other beyng so farre distant that great errour myght ensue by mistaking the same especially because this whereof Paulus Iouius writeth is not by name expressed in the cardes but only in the other wherby the errour myght be the greater Of that therfore that runneth by the confines of Liuonia and the citie of Riga Sigismundus writeth in this maner The Lake of Duina is distant from the sprynges of Boristhenes almost ten myles and as many from the marishe of Fronovvo From it a ryuer of the same name towarde the West distant from Vuilna twentie myles runneth from thence toward the North where by Riga the cheefe citie of Liuonia it falleth into the Germane sea whiche the Moscouites call Vuareâ—zkoie morie It runneth by Vuitepso Polotzo and Dunenburg and not by Plescouia as one hath wrytten This riuer beyng for the moste part nauigable the Liuons call Duna Of the other Duina whereof Poulus Iouious speaketh he wrytteth as foloweth The prouince of Duina and the ryuer of the same name is so named from the place where the ryuers of Suchana and Iug meetyng togeather make one ryuer so called For Duina in the Moscouites tongue signifieth two This ryuer by the space of two hundred myles entreth into the North Ocean on that part where the sayde sea runneth by the coastes of Suecia and Norway and diuideth Engreonland from the vnknowen lande This prouince situate in the full North perteyned in tyme past to the segniorie of Nouogorode From Moscouia to the mouthes of Duina are numbred CCC myles Albeit as I haue sayde in the regions that are beyonde Volga the accompt of the iourney can not be wel obserued by reason of many maryshes ryuers and very great wooddes that lye in the way Yet are we led by coniecture to thynke it to be scarsely two hundred myles forasmuch as from Moscouia to Vuolochda from Vuolochda to Vstiug somewhat into thâ— East and laste of al from Vstiug by the ryuer Duina is the ryght passage to the North sea This region besyde the Castel of Colmogor and the citie of Duina situate almost in the mydde way betwene the sprynges and mouthes of the ryuer and the Castell of Piâ—nega standyng in the very mouthes of Duina is vtterly without townes and Castels Yet hath it many vyllages which are farre in sunder by reason of the barennesse of the soyle c. In an other place he wryteth that Suchana and Iug after they are ioyned togeather in one loose theyr fyrst names and make the ryuer Duina c. But let vs nowe returne to the hystorie of Paulus Iouius Unto Vstiuga from the Permians Pecerrians Inugrians Vgolicans and Pinnegians people inhabytyng the North and Northest prouinces are brought the precious furres of Marterns and Sables also the cases of Woulfes and Foxes both whyte and blacke And lykewyse the skynnes of the beastes called Ceruariâ— Lupi that is harte Woolfes beyng engendred eyther of a Woolfe and a Hynde or a Hart and a bitch Woolfe These furres and skynnes they eâ—chaunge for dyuers other wares The best kynde of Sables and of the â—inest heare wherewith nowe the vestures of princes are lyued and the tender neckes of delicate dames are couered with the expresse similitude of the lyuyng beast are brought by the Permians and Pecerrians whiche they them selues also receyue at the handes of other that inhabite the regions neere vnto the North Ocean The Permians and Pecerrians a litle before our tyme dyd sacrifice to Iâ—ols after the maner of the Gentyles but do nowe acknoweledge Christe theyr God The passage to the Inugrians and Vgolicans is by certayne rough mountaynes whiche perhappes are they that in olde tyme were called Hiperborei In the toppes of these are founde the best kyndes of Falcons whereof one kynde called Herodium is white with spotted fethers There are also Ierfalcons Sakers and Peregrines whiche were vnknowen to the ancient princes in theyr excessiue and nise pleasures Beyonde those people whom I last named beyng all trybutaries to the kynges of Moscouia are other nations the last of men not knowen by any voyages of the Moscouites forasmuche as none of them haue passed to the Ocean and are therefore knowen onely by the fabulous narrations of merchauntes Yet it is apparante that the ryuer Diuidna or Duina draweyng with it innumerable other ryuers runnneth with a vehement course towarde the North and that the sea is there exceedyng large so that saylyng by the coaste of the ryght hande shyppes may haue passage from thence to Cathay as it is thought by most lykely coniecture except there lye some lande in the way For the region of Cathay perteyneth to thextreme and furthest partes of the Easte situate almost in the paralel of Thracia and knowen to the Portugales in India when they sayled neere thereunto by the regions of Sinara and Malacha to Aurea Chersonesus and brought from thence certayne vestures made of Sables skynnes by whiche onely argument it is apparente that the citie of Cathay is not farre from the coastes of Scithia But when Demetrius was demaunded whether eyther by the monuments of letters or by fame lefte them of theyr predicessours they had any knowledge of the Gothes who nowe more then a thousande yeeres since subuerted Thempire of the Romane
Moscouia to Cathay THe great and large prouince of Permia is distant from Moscouia two hundred and fyftie or as some sai three hundred leagues directly betwene the East and North and hath a citie of the same name by the ryuer Vischora which runneth .x. leagues beneth Camam The iorney by land can scarsely be trauailed thither but in winter by reasō of mani riuers marishes ▪ and fens But in sommer this iorney is dispatched with more facilitie in boates or smal ships by Vuolochda Vstiug and the ryuer Vitzechda which runneth into Duina .xii. leagues from Vstiug But they that go from Permia to Vstiug must sayle vp the ryuer Vischora agaynst the course of the streame and passyng ouer certayne ryuers sometymes also conueying theyr boates into other ryuers by land they come at the length to Vstiug three hundred leagues distant from the citie of Permia There is smal vse of bread in this prouince For theyr yeerely tribute they pay to the Prince furres and horses They haue a priuate language and letters of theyr owne which one Stephen a Byshop who confirmed them yet waueryng in the fayth did inuent For before beyng yet infantes in the faith of Christ they slewe and fleyde an other Byshop that was appoynted to instruct them This Stephen afterward when Demetrius the sonne of Iohn reygned was taken for a Sainct among the Ruhens Of these people there yet remayne many Idolatours here and there in the woods whom the Munkes and Heremites that go thyther do not cease to conuert from theyr vaine errour In the winter they iorney to Artach as they do in many places of Russia Artach are certaine long patentes of wood of almost six handfulles in length which they make fast to theyr feete with Latchets and therwith perfourme theyr iorneis with great celeritie They vse for this purpose great Dogges in the steade of other beastes with the which they carry theyr fardels on sleades as other do with Hartes in other places as we wyl further declare hereafter They say that the prouince toward the East confineth with the prouince called Tumen parteining to the Tartars The situation of the prouince of Iugaria is apparent by that which we haue sayd before The Moscouites call it Iuhra with an aspiration and call the people Iuhrici This is that Iugaria from whence the Hungarians came in tyme past possessed Pannonia and vnder the conduct of Attila subdued many prouinces of Europe wherein the Moscouites doo greatly glorye that a nation subiect to them inuaded and wasted a great part of Europe Georgius Paruus a Greeke borne and a man of reputation with the Prince of Moscouia wyllyng to ascribe to the ryght of his Prince the great Dukedome of Lithuania and the kyngdome of Polonie ▪ with certayne other Dominions tolde me that the Iuhgarici or Iuhgarie beyng subiects to the great Duke of Moscouia came foorth of theyr owne countrey and fyrst inhabited the regions about the Fennes of Meotis and then Pannonie which was afterward called Hungarie by the ryuer of Danubius Also that in fine they possessed the region of Morauia so named of the ryuer and lykewyse Pollonie so called of Polle whiche signifieth a playne Furthermore that Buda was so called after the name of the brother of Attila They say also that the Iuhgarie vse the same tongue that do the Hungarians the whiche whether it be true or not I do not know For although I haue made diligent inquisition to knowe the trueth hereof yet could I fynde no man of that region with whom my seruaunt beyng expert in the Hungarian tongue might speake They also pay furres for theyr tributes to the Prince of Moscouia And albeit that pearles and precious stones are brought from thence to Moscouia yet are they not geathered in theyr Ocean but in other places especially about the coast of the Ocean neare vnto the mouthes of Duina The prouince of Sibier confineth with Permia and Vuiathka the whiche whether it haue anye castels or cities I do not yet certaynely knowe In this the ryuer Iaick hath his originall and falleth into the Caspian sea They say that this region is desart because it lyeth so neare the Tartars or that yf it be in any part inhabited the same to be possessed of the Tartar Schichmamai Thinhabitantes haue a peculiar language and haue theyr cheefe gaynes by the furres of Marternes whiche in fairnesse and greatnesse excel al the furres of that kynd that are found in any other prouinces Yet could I haue no greate plentie of them in Moscouia at my beyng there Note that long after the wrytyng of this historie at Richard Chaunceler his fyrst bryng in Moscouia Duke Iohn Vasiliuiche that nowe reygneth subdued all the Tartars with theyr regions and prouinces euen vnto the great citie and mart towne of Astrachan the Caspian sea At the same tyme also there was in the Dukes Court an ambassadour that came from this prouince of Sibier who declared that his father had been sent Ambassadour to the great Chan of Cathay and that the great citie of Cambalu where the great Chan kepeth his Court in wynter was in maner distroyed by Nigromancie and Magicall Artes wherein the Cathyans are very expert as wryteth Marcus Paulus Venetus There was also at the same tyme thambassadour of the kyng of Pertia called the great Sophie This Ambassadour was apparelled al in Scarlet and spake muche to the Duke in the behalfe of our men of whose kyngdome and trade he was not ignorant The people called Czeremisse dwell in the wooddes beneth Nouogradia the lower They haue a peculiar language and are of the secte of Machumet They were sometyme subiecte to the kyng of Casan but the greater part of them are nowe subiecte to the prince of Moscouia Many of them at my beyng there were brought to Moscouia as suspected of rebellion This nation doth inhabite a large region without houses from Vuiathka and Vuolochda to the ryuer of Rama All the nation aswell women as men are very swifte of foote and expert archers wherin they so delyght that theyr bowes are in maner neuer out of their handes and geue theyr chyldren no meate vntyll they hyt the marke they shoote at Two leagues distaunt from Nouogradia the lower were many houses to the similitud of a citie or towne where they were accustomed to make salte These a fewe yeeres since beyng burnt of the Tartars were restored by the commaundement of the prince Mordwa are people inhabytyng by the ryuer of Volga on the south banke beneth Nouogradia the lower and are in al thinges lyke vnto the Czeremisses but that they haue more houses And here endeth Thempire of the Moscouites Note here that Matthias of Michou in his booke of Sarmatia Asiatica writeth that the dominion of the Duke of Moscouia reacheth from the northwest to the southeast fyue hundred myles of Germanie
lesse dignitie the ancient renoume thereof greatly diminished and the name deuided into the prouinces confine or adiacent vnto it So that now the prouince of Persia as it is diuided conteyneth eight kingdomes whereof the first is named Chasum the seconde Churdistam the third Loc the fourth Cielstam the fyft Instanich the sixte Zerazi the seuenth Socham and the eight Timochaim in the confines of Persia. There are very fayre and goodly horses of great price insomuch that sometymes one is solde for .200 pounds of Turon Merchants bring them to the cities of Chisi and Curmosa situate on the sea side and sell them into India Also Asses be there very fayre and great insomuch that sometymes one is solde for .xxx. pounde weight of siluer The people is of euyll disposition quarellous theeues and murderers and robbe and kyll merchantes by the way except they goe in great companyes Yet in the cities they are of betâ—er maners and of more humanitie also very excellent artificers in woorkes of gold silke Embroderie needle woorke and suche lyke They haue aboundance of bombasine wheate barlye myll wyne also and fruites but in religion they are Mahumetans Of the kyngdome of the Persians Haithon in his booke de Tartaris Cap. vii writeth as foloweth THe kyngdome of the Persians is diuided chiefly into two partes whiche make one kyngdome bicause they are both subiecte to the dominion of one kyng The first parte of Persia beginneth in the East from the confines of the kingdome of Turquestan and is extended toward the West to the great ryuer of Phison which is the chiefe among the foure floodes which run out of earthly Paradyse Towarde the North it is extended to the Caspian sea and towarde the South vnto the desartes of India The region is in maner all playne in the middest whereof are two very great and riche cities the one is named Boctara and the other Seonorgant The Persians haue a language proper to them selues they vse merchandies and tyllage of the grounde and among them selues lyue in peace In tyme paste they were Idolatours and honoured fyre chiefly for God But after that the secte of the Mahumetans occupied the dominion of those landes they became vniuersally Saracens beleeuing the deuilishe doctrine of Mahumet The other parte of Persia beginneth from the riuer Phison and is extended Westward vnto the confines of the kyngdomes of Media and partely also of Armenia the greater Toward the North it is extended vnto the Caspian sea on the South syde it confineth with a certaine prouince of the kingdom of Media and in this prouince are two great cities one named Nesabor and the other Sachen whiche in secte and maners are lyke vnto the other Of Persia and of dyuers cities therof other notable thinges reade heereafter the thirde booke of the voyage of Lodouicus Vartomannus Also the first booke of the same voyage Cap. 12. of Mahumet and his fellowes where you may see the difference in religion betweene the Turkes and Persians beyng both Mahumetans The name of the Sophie Thomas Shaugh and why he is so called THe Persians doe not call theyr kyng by the name of Sophie but this name Sophie is giuen him by other nations for of his owne people he is called Thomas Shaugh whiche is Thomas the ruler Soltan or gouernour for Shaugh is not the name of a kyng but of an office For a kyng in theyr language is called Pachet but no Prince is called by this name before hee haue reigned by seuen discentes but he that nowe reygneth is but only of fyue discentes and is therefore called only Shaugh which is a name of office He hath foure wyues and .xii. sonnes and hath kepte one of his sonnes in prison many yeeres for a great ouerthrowe whiche he gaue the Turke in the warres although he tooke the same for acceptall seruice and a noble exployt Yet forasmuch as by that facte he obteyned great renoume of a valiant and warlyke man he began him selfe to haue him in suspition least the glorie of that enterprise myght encourage him to attempt somewhat agaynst his father as oftentymes the Turkes sonnes haue rebelled agaynst theyr fathers yet liuyng and displaced them of their dignitie Of the kyngdome of Ormus confine to Persia and of the trafique betweene them Also of the citie and Ilande of Ormus or Armusium ORmus is a great kyngdome and hath a peculiar Kyng tributorie to the kyng of Portugale This kyngdome conteyneth all the sea coastes of Arabia in the gulfe of Persia from the mouth of the riuer of Euphrates vntill the Cape of Razalguati and also parte of the kingdome of Persia whiche is adiacent vnto the streight of Bazora called Fretum Bazorae and in maner all the Ilandes of the gulfe of Persia called Sinus Persicus The Metrapolis or chiefe citie of the kingdome of Ormus is the citie of Ormus situate in an Iland named Geru being one of the famost martes of these partes of the world The Iland is within the gulf of Persia not far within the streight of Bazora This streight of Bazora other haue named the streight of Ormus being betweene Arabia Foelix and the region of Persia. The region of Ormus is well peopled hath many goodly places cities The gulfe is not euery where nauigable by reason of many shelues and lowe places Within foure dayes sayling of Ormus are the Ilandes of Baharen where are found the fayrest orientall pearls of the world Ormus vseth trafique of merchandies with Adem Cambaia and with the kingdomes of Decan Goa with the portes of Narsinga Malabar The chiefe merchandies brought from thence are horses of Arabia Persia pearles salt peter brimstone silke Tutia Alume also Alume of Alexandria or Borace Uâ—triol or Copporose salt in great quantitie siluer Muske Ambar wheate many dryed fruites Ryse many other prouisions of vittailes and other thinges to be eaten For these they returne pepper cloues Cinamon Ginger and diuers other sorts of spices and drugges which are dispersed into sundry regions of Persia and Arabia and also into Aden where there is great plentie But if they be deare in Ormus it is not possible that they should be caryed to Cair to come into Italie Theyr returne is with Ryse as much as they can haue white cloth Iron Theyr horses are of marueylous great price in the kyngdomes of Goa Decan and Narsinga and therefore yeerely the merchantes of Ormus bryng many thither and yet sometyme one horse is there at the price of vii hundred of those peeces of golde which they call Saraffos The best are of Arabia the seconde of Persia and the woorst of Cambaia Of the Sophie and kyngdome of Persia after the later writers PErsia is one of the greatest and most famous Prouinces of the worlde It toucheth not the sea but at the gulfe of Ormus On the syde of Cambaia it confineth with the people named Motagues on the syde of
where Themperour is accustomed to remayne in the sommer season There is lykewyse a great citie named Barbaregaf and Ascon from whence it is sayde that the Queene of Saba came to Hierusalem to heare the wysedome of Salomon This citie is but little yet very fayre and one of the chiefe cities in Ethiope In the sayde kyngdome is a prouince called Manicongni whose kyng is a Moore and tributarie to Themperour of Ethiope In this prouince are manie exceedyng hygh mountaynes vppon the which is sayde to be the earthly Paradyse and some say that there are the trees of the Sunne and Moone whereof the antiquitie maketh mention yet that none can passe thyther by reason of great desartes of a hundred dayes iourney Also beyond these mountaynes is the cape of Bona Speranza And to haue sayde thus much of Afrike it may suffice The first vyage to Guiena IN the yeere of our Lord .1553 the .xii. day of August sayled from Porchmouth two goodly shyppes the Primrose and the Lion with a pynnesse called the Moone being all well furnished aswel with men of the lustiest sorte to the number of seuen score as also with ordinaunce and vyttayles requisite to such a viage hauyng also two Captaynes the one a stranger called Antoniades Pinteado a Portugale borne in a towne named the porte of Portugale a wyse discreete and sober man who for his cunnyng in saylyng beyng as well an experte pylot as politike Captayne was sometyme in great fauour with the kyng of Portugale and to whom the coastes of Brasile and Guinea were commytted to be kepte from the Frenchmen to whom he was a terrour on the sea in those partes and was furthermore a Gentelman of the kyng his maisters house But as fortune in maner neuer fauoureth but flattereth neuer promiseth but deceiueth neuer rayseth but casteth downe agayne and as great wealth and fauour hath alwayes companions emulation and enuie he was after many aduersities and quarels made agaynst him inforced to come into Englande where in this golden vyage he was euil matched with an vnequal companion and vnlyke matche of most sundrie qualities and conditions with vertues fewe or none adourned Thus departed these noble shyppes vnder sayle on their vyage But first Captayne Wyndam puttyng foorth of his shyp at Porchmouth a kynseman of one of the head merchants and shewyng herein a muster of the tragicall partes he had conceyued in his brayne and with suche small begynnynges nouryshed so monstrous a byrth that more happie yea and blessed was that young man being lefte behynde then if he had been taken with them as some doe wishe he had done the lyke by theyrs Thus sayled they on their vyage vntyl they came to the Ilandes of Madera where they tooke in certayne wynes for the store of their shippes and payde for them as they agreed of the price At these Ilandes they met with a great Galion of the kyng of Portugale ful of men and ordinance yet such as could not haue preuayled if it had attempted to withstande or resist our shippes for the which cause it was set foorth not only to let and interrupte these our shippes of their purposed viage but all other that should attempte the lyke yet chiefly to frustrate our vyage For the Kyng of Portugale was sinisterly informed that our shyppes were armed to his castell of Mina in these parties whereas nothyng lesse was ment After that our shyppes departed from the Ilandes of Madera forwarde on theyr vyage began this woorthie Captayne Pinteados sorowe as a man tormented with the company of a terrible Hydra who hytherto flattered with him and made him a fayre countenaunce and shewe of loue Then dyd he take vppon him to commaund all alone settyng nought both by Captayne Pinteado with the reste of the merchante factours sometymes with opprobrious woordes and sometymes with threatnynges most shamefully abusing them taking from Pinteado the seruice of the boyes certaine mariners that were assigned him by the order and direction of the woorshipfull merchauntes and leauyng him as a common mariner whiche is the greatest despite and greefe that can be to a Portugale or Spanyarde to be diminishte theyr honour which they esteeme aboue all riches Thus saylyng forwarde on theyr vyage they came to the Ilands of Canarie continuing theyr course from thence vntyll they arryued at the Ilande of Saincte Nicolas where they vyttayled them selues with freshe meate of the fleshe of wylde Goates whereof is great plentie in that Ilande and in maner of nothing els From hence folowyng on theyr course and tarying heere and there at the desarte Ilandes in the way bycause they would not come to tymely to the countrey of Guinea for the heate and tarying somewhat to long for what can be well mynistred in a common wealth where inequalitie with tyrannie will 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 merchandies haue laden their shyppes with the graynes of that countrey whiche is a very hot fruite and muche lyke vnto a fygge as it groweth on the tree For as the fygges are full of small seedes so is the sayde fruite full of graynes which are lose within the codde hauyng in the myddest thereof a hole on euery syde This kynde of spyce is much vsed in colde countreys and may there be solde for great aduantage for exchaunge of other wares But our men by the persuasion or rather inforcement of this tragicall Captaine not regardyng and settyng lyght by that commoditâ—e in comparison to the fine golde they thirsted sayled an hundred leagues further vntyll they came to the golden lande where not attemptyng to come neare the Castell parteynyng to the kyng of Portugale which was within the ryuer of Mina made sale of theyr wâ—re onely on this syde and beyond it for the golde of that countrey to the quantitie of an hundred and fyftie poundes weyght there beyng in case that they myght haue dispatched all 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 might haue had if he had taried about the Mina commaundyng the sayde Pinteado for so he tooke vppon him to leade the shyppes to Benin beyng vnder the Equinoctiall lyne and a hundred and fyftie leagues beyonde the Mina where he looked to haue theyr shyppes laden with pepper and beyng counsayled of the sayde Pinteado consideryng the late tyme of the yeere for that tyme to goe no further but to make sale of their wares suche as they had for golde whereby they myght haue ben great gayners But Wyndam not assentyng herevnto fell into a sodayne rage reuilyng the sayde Pinteado callyng him Iewe with
sea and the next day all day and the next nyght after vntyl the thyrde day of the sayde moneth about noone makyng our way good dyd runne .60 leagues Item from .xii. of the clocke the thyrde daye tyll .xii. of the clocke the .iiii. day of the sayde moneth makyng our way good southest dyd runne euery three houres two leagues which amounteth to .xvi. leagues the whole Item from xâ—i of the clocke the .iiii. day to .xii. of the clocke the .v. day running southwest in the sea dyd runne .xii. leagues Item runnyng from .xii. of the clocke the .v day vntyll .xii. of the cloke the .vi. day runnyng southeast dyd runne xviii leagues And so from .xii. of the clocke the .vi. day vntyll .xii. of the clocke the .vii. day runnyng southsouthwest dyd runne euery houre .ii. leagues which amount to .xlviii. leagues the whole Item from .xii. of the clocke the .vii. day tyll .iii. of the clocke the .viii. day southsouthwest runnyng in the sea dyd runne .xxx. leagues Item from three of the clocke the .viii. day vntill .iii. of the clocke the .ix. day runnyng southsouthwest dyd runne .xxx. leagues Item from .iii. of the clocke the .ix. day tyll .iii. of the clocke the .x. daye dyd southsoutheast in runnyng in the sea the summe of .xxiiii. leagues Also from .iii. of the clocke the .x. day vntyll .xii of the clocke the .xi. daye dyd runne southsouthwest the summe of .xii. leagues and from .xii. of the clocke tyll .vi of the sayde daye dyd runne vi leagues Running south and by west in the sea from .vi. of the clocke the xi day til .vi. of the clocke the xii day dyd runne .xxxvi. leagues From .vi. of the clocke at after noone the .xii. daye tyll .vi. of the clocke the .xiii. daye at after noone dyd runne .xiii. leagues Item from .vi. of the clocke the .xiii. daye tyll .vi. of the clocke the .xiiii. day at after noone we were becalmed that we coulde lye southwest with a sayle And the .xv. daye in the mornyng the wynd came to the East and Eastnortheast The .xvii. daye in the mornyng we had syght of the I le of Madera whiche doth ryse to hym that commeth in the northnortheast part vpryght lande in the west part of it and very hygh and to the southsoutheast a lowe long lande and a long poynt with a saddle thorough the myddest of it standeth in the .xxxii. degrees and in the west part many sprynges of water runnyng downe from the mountayne and many whyte fieldes lyke vnto corne fieldes and some whyte houses to the southeast parte of it and the toppe of the mountayne sheweth very ragged if you may see it and in the northeast part there is a byght or bay as though it were a harborowe Also in the sayd part there is a rocke a litle distance from the shore and ouer the sayde byght you shall see a great gap 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 Palme riseth round and lyeth southeast and northwest and the northwest part is lowest In the south is a round hyll ouer the head land and an other round hyll aboue that in the land There is betwene the Southeast part of the I le of Madera and the northwest part of the I le of Palme .lvii. leagues This I le of Palme lyeth in the .xxix. degrees And our course from Madera to the I le of Palme was south south and by west so that we had sight of Teneriffa of the Canaries The southeast part of the I le of Palme and the northnortheast of Teneriffa lieth southeast and northwest and betweene them is twentie leagues Teneriffa and the great Canarie called Grancanaria and the West part of Fortisuentura standeth in .xxvii. degrees and a halfe Gomera is a fayre Iland and very ragged and lyeth West Southwest of Teneriffa And who so euer wyll come betweene them two Ilandes must come South and by East and in the South part of Gomera is a towne and a good rode in the sayde parte of the Ilande and it standeth in twentie and seuen degrees and three terces Teneriffa is an hygh land a great hygh pycke lyke a suger loafe and vpon the said picke is snow throughout al the whole yeere And by reason of that pycke it may be knowen aboue al other Ilandes and there we were becalmed the .xx. day of Nouember from syxe of the clocke in the mornyng vntyl foure of the clocke at after noone Betweene Gomera and Cape de las Barbas THe .xxii. day of Nouember vnder the Tropyke of Cancer the Sunne goeth downe West and by South Upon the coast of Barbarie .xxv. leagues by North Cape blanke at three leagues of the mayne there is .xv. fadome and good shelly grounde sand among and no streames and two small Ilandes standyng in the .xxii. degrees a terce From Gomera to Cape de las Barbas is an hundred leagues and our course was South and by East The sayde Cape standeth in xxii and a halfe and all that coast is flatte .xvi. or xvii fadome deepe Uii. or .viii leagues of frâ—m the ryuer de Oro to cape de las Barbas there vse many Spanyardes and Portugales to trade for fyshyng duryng the moneth af Nouember and al that coast is very lowe landes Also we went from cape de las Barbas southsouthwest and southwest and by south tyl we brought our selues in .xx. degrees and a halfe reckonyng our selues .vii. leagues of and that was the least sholes of cape Blanke Then we went South vntil we brought our selues in thyrtene degrees reckonyng our selues twentie and fyue leagues of And in fyfteene degrees we did reare the crossiers and we myght haue reared them sooner if we had loked for them They are not ryght a Crosse in the moneth of Nouember by reason of the nyghtes are short there Neuerthelesse we had the syght of them the .xxix. day of the sayde moneth at nyght The fyrst of December out thyrteene degrees we set our course South and by East vntyl the fourth day of December at twelue of the clocke the same day Then we were in niene degrees and a terce reckonyng our selues thyrtye leagues of the sholes of the ryuer called Ria Grande beyng West Southwest of them the whiche sholes be thyrtie leagues long The fourth of December â–ª we began to set our course Southeast we beyng in syxe degrees and a halfe The nienth day of December we set our course East Southeast the fourteenth day of the sayde moneth we set our course East we beyng in fyue degrees and a halfe reckonyng our selues thyrtie and syxe leagues from the coast of Guinea The .xix. of the sayde moneth we set our course East and by North reckoning our selues .xvii. leagues distant from Cape Mensurado the sayde Cape beyng East Northeast of vs and the ryuer of
Then sayde we to him What desyre they then They loue sayde he despicable thynges and of small value as pynnes knyues sysers lookyng Glasses Haukes belles bagges or boxes to keepe theyr golde in copper Rynges iangelinges to hang at theyr Tymberelles bosses laces broches copper chaynes carkenettes braselettes and suche other tryfles to trymme theyr wyues and children We aunswered that we were content to gyue them suche wares for theyr kyne if they woulde bryng them to the nexte mountayne Then sayde our Pilot agayne They will bryng them with vs to the mountayne but no further in any condition Therefore speake what you will gyue Then one of our companions sayde that he had a bosse of grauen copper and also a little bell But I bycause I had no suche merchaundies yet beyng desirous to eate fleshe sayde that I woulde sell one of my shertes for kyne Then sayde the Pilot Let mee alone with the matter Then callyng vnto him fyue or sixe of the Inhabitauntes he shewed them our goodly Iewelles and demaunded for them three hundred kyne But the inhabitantes not muche differyng from beastes made signes that they would gyue only fyftiene In fyne we agreed yet suspectyng some deceite neuerthelesse they kept theyr promyse and sent vs fyftiene kyne by two of theyr companions We were scarsely departed but we hearde a noyse and tumulte in theyr dennes and were partly afrayde lest these Troglodites woulde folowe vs and therefore leauyng our kyne we tooke vs to our weapons But they made signes vnto vs to feare nothyng Then our pilot tolde vs that their tumulte was only which of them should haue the bosse of copper Then recouering our kyne we droue them forward to the toppe of the mountaine and there dismissed the two blacke slaues that came with them Whyle wee were thus driuyng our kyne by the syde of a little wood we met agayne with the Elephantes whereof beyng in great feare we forsooke our kyne and trusted to our feete Therefore departyng from hence we returned to the Ilande where makyng prouision for our vyage we sayled towarde the Cape called Caput Bonae Spei passyng the Ilande of Saincte Laurence otherwyse named Madagascar beyng fourescore leagues distant from the nearest continent or firme land I suppose that in shorte tyme the kyng of Portugale will be Lorde of this Ilande For hauyng nowe burned and destroyed many villages and townes of the Ilande his name is fearefull among them And as farre as I can coniecture by my peregrinations of the worlde especially of India and Ethiopia I thynke that the kyng of Portugale if hee continue as he hath begunne is lyke to bee the rychest kyng in the worlde and doubtlesse not vnwoorthily for the dignitie and godly zeale of so noble a prince as by whose meanes the Christian fayth is dayly greatly increased For it is certayne that in India and especially in the citie of Cucin where the Uiceroye remayneth euery holy day tenne or twelue Idolaters or Mahumetans are professed to our religion whereby we may conceyue good hope that in tyme our fayth shall there bee greatly enlarged by the grace of God who hath there gyuen suche supernaturall victories to the Christians and therefore all professers of Christes holy name ought to pray to almyghtie God to assyst hym in so godly an enterprise Of the Cape called Caput Boneae Spei That is the Cape of good hope Cap. 4. DEpartyng from the Cape named Caput Bonae Spei when we had nowe sayled aboute two hundred myles there rose suddenly a tempest with contrarye wynde The cause whereof was that we had on the lefte hande the Ilande of Saint Laurence and many other litle Ilandes from whence bloweth for the most part a great gale of wynde And therefore for the space of seuen dayes beyng here daungerously tossed to and fro by the rages of the sea and wynde at the length we escaped by the grace of God But proceedyng about two hundred leagues a newe tempest rysyng so scattred our shyppes in the space of syxe dayes that we mette not togeather agayne vntyll we arryued at Luxburne in Portugale I was in the shyppe of Barthelmewe a Florentine citizen of Luxburne The shyppe was named Saint Uincent a vessell of exceedyng capacitie laden with seuen thousande tonnes of all sortes of spyces In the way we passed also by an other Iland named the Iland of saint Helen where we sawe certayne fyshes of suche enorme and monstrous byggenesse that one of them was as bygge as a great house When they ryse aboue the water they yane or gape so wyde that y e vpper iawe couereth al the forehead as it were a souldier in shynyng harnesse Agayne when they swymme on the brymme of the water the forhead is seene the breadth of three great paces And when they swymme in the sea they so trouble the water and come so neare the shyps that we were fayne to discharge al our artillarye to dryue them away Shortly after we founde an Ilande named the Ilande of Ascention where we sawe many fowles about the byggnesse of our Duckes so symple without suspicion or feare that we tooke them with our handes but shortly after they were taken they shewed an incredible fiercenesse I thynke veryly that they neuer sawe any man before they so behelde vs before they were taken and were as styll as if they had ben astonyshed For in that Ilande we sawe no lyuyng creature saue onely innumerable fyshes and the sayd byrdes After we had passed this Ilande many dayes sayling as though we were nowe come to our owne worlde the North starre and guardions of our maryners appeared vnto vs. And here oportunitie serueth well to confute the opinion of them that thynke that men maye not sayle in regions subiect to the pole Antartike or south pole by the guide of the north starre For it is certayne that the Portugales sayle by the guyde of the north starres although they be vtterly out of syght by the eleuation of the pole Antartike Yet do they sometymes refreshe the vertue of the needle with the stone whiche euer naturally respecteth the north pole A fewe dayes after we arryued at the fayre region where are seene many Ilandes named the Ilandes of Astures so named for the multitude of those Egles whiche we commonly call Astures These Ilandes are diuersely named for some are named Pici Martij some Dè Coruo also De Floribus Sancti Georgij Gratiosa and Feial Departyng from hence we came to the Ilande of Tertiera where we remayned two dayes All these Ilandes are marueylous fruitefull and haue plentie of all thynges necessary for mans lyfe Departyng from hence in seuen dayes saylyng we came to y e goodly citie of Luxburne or Vlisbona in Portugale A◠my commyng thyther I was brought to the kynges presence whose handes kissing with most humble reuerence I thanked his maiestie for the great fauour I had
passing from one to an other appeare in the similitude of a lyght candel They are a token of securitie bycause they are litle not slowe or grosse whereby they myght haue ioyned altogeather in one and been thereby more malicious and lasted longer whereas beyng many and but little they are the sooner consumed Hytherto Cardanus But let vs nowe returne to the vyage When they had sayled paste the Equinoctiall lyne they loste the sight of the North starre and sayled by the southwest vntyll they came to a lande named the lande of Bressil whiche some call Brasilia beyng .xxii. degrees and a halfe towarde the south pole or pole Antartike This lande is continuate and one firme lande with the cape of saint Augustine whiche is .viii. degrees from the Equinoctiall In this lande they were refreshed with many good fruites of innumerable kyndes and founde here also very good suger canes and diuers kindes of beasts and other thinges which I omit for breuitie They entered into this hauen on saint Lucies day where the Sunne being theyr Zenith that is the poynte of heauen directly ouer theyr heades they felte greater heate that day then when they were vnder the Equinoctial lyne This lande of Brasile is very large and great and bygger then all Spayne Portugale Fraunce and Italie and is most abundaunt in all thinges The people of this countrey pray to no maner of thyng but lyue by the instincte of nature and to the age of C.xx and C.xl. yeeres Both the men and women goe naked and dwell in certayne long houses They are very docible and soone allured to the Christian fayth Thirtiene dayes after that they arryued at the sayde porte they departed from this lande and sayled to the xxxiiii degree and a halfe towarde the pole Antartike where they founde a great ryuer of freshe water and certayne Caniballes Of these they sawe one out of theyr shyppes of stature as byg as a Giant hauing a voice like a Bull. Our men pursued them but they were so swyfte of foote that they coulde not ouertake them About the mouth of this riuer are seuen Ilandes in the byggest whereof they founde certayne precious stones and called it the cape of sainct Marie The Spanyardes thought that by this ryuer they myght haue passed into the South sea but they were deceyued in theyr opinion For there was none other passage then by the riuer which is .xvii. leagues large in the mouth Thus folowing this coaste by the tracte of the lande towarde the pole Antartike they came to a place where were two Ilandes replenished with Geese and Wolues of the sea which some thinke to be those fyshes that we call Pikes These were in such number that in an houre all the fyue shyppes might haue ben laden with Geese being all of blacke colour and such as can not flee They liue of fish and are so fatte that they could scarsely flay them They haue no feathers but a certayne downe and theyr bylles lyke Rauens bylles These Woolues of the sea are of dyuers colours and of the bygnesse of Calues with theyr heades of golden colour Here were they in great danger by tempest But as soone as the three fyres called sainct Helen sainct Nycolas and saint Clare appeared vppon the cables of the shyppes sodaynely the tempeste and furie of the wyndes ceassed Departyng from hence they sayled to the .49 degree and a halfe vnder the pole Antartike where beyng wyntered they were inforced to remayne there for the space of two monethes all which tyme they sawe no man excepte that one day by chaunce they espyed a man of the stature of a Giant who came to the hauen daunsing and singyng and shortly after seemed to cast dust ouer his head The Captayne sent one of his men to the shore with the shyppe Boate who made the lyke signe of peace The which thyng the Giant seeyng was out of feare and came with the Captaynes seruaunt to his presence into a little Ilande When he sawe the Captayne with certayne of his company about him he was greatly amased and made signes holdyng vp his hande to heauen signifying thereby that our men came from thence This Giant was so byg that the head of one of our men of a meane stature came but to his waste He was of good corporature well made in all partes of his bodie with a large visage painted with diuers colours but for the most parte yelow Uppon his cheekes were paynted two Hartes and red circles about his eyes The heare of his head was coloured whyte and his apparell was the skynne of a beast sowde togeather This beast as seemed vnto vs had a large head and great eares lyke vnto a Mule with the body of a Camell and tayle of a horse The feete of the Giant were foulded in the sayde skynne after the maner of shooes He had in his hande a bygge and shorte bowe the stryng whereof was made of a sinewe of that beaste He had also a bundell of long arrows made of Reedes feathered after the maner of ours typte with sharpe stones in the steade of Iron heades The Captayne caused him to eate and drynke gaue him many thinges and among other a great lookyng glasse In the which as soone as he sawe his owne lykenesse was sodaynly afrayde and started backe with suche violence that hee ouerthrewe two that stoode nearest about him When the Captayne had thus gyuen him certayne Haukes belles and other great belles with also a lookyng glasse a combe and a payre of beades of glasse he sent him to lande with foure of his owne men well armed Shortly after they sawe an other Giant of somewhat greater stature with his bowe and arrowes in his hande As hee drewe neare vnto our men he layde his hande on his head and poynted vp towarde heauen and our men dyd the lyke The Captayne sent his shyppe Boate to bryng him to a litle Ilande beyng in the Hauen This Giant was very tractable and pleasaunte He soong and daunsed and in his daunsing lefte the print of his feete on the grounde He remayned long with our men who named him Iohan. He coulde well speake and playnely pronounce these woordes Iesus Aue Maria Iohannes euen as we doe but with a bygger voyce The Captayne gaue him a shert of linnen cloth a coate of white woollen cloth also a cappe a combe a looking glasse with diuers such other thinges and so sent him to his company The day folowing he resorted agayne to the shyppes and brought with him one of those great beastes which he gaue the Captayne But after that day they neuer saw him more supposing him to be slayne of his owne company for the conuersation he had with our men After other .xv. dayes were past there came foure other Giantes without any weapons but had hyd theyr bowes and arrowes in certaine bushes The Captaine retayned two of these
which were youngest and beste made He tooke them by a deceite in this maner that giuing them knyues sheares looking glasses belles beades of Crystall suche other trifles he so filled theyr handes that they coulde holde no more then caused two payre of shackels of Iron to be put on theyr legges makyng signes that he would also giue them those chaynes which they lyked very wel bycause they were made of bright and shining metall And wheras they could not carry them bycause theyr handes were full the other Giantes would haue caryed them but the captaine would not suffer them When they felte the shackels faste about theyr legges they began to doubt but the Captayne dyd put them in comfort and bad them stande still In fine when they sawe howe they were deceiued they roared lyke bulles cryed vppon theyr great deuill Setebos to helpe them Being thus taken they were immediately seperate and put in sundry shippes They could neuer bynde the handes of the other two yet was one of them with much difficultie ouerthrowen by .ix. of our men his hands boūd but he sodeinly loosed him selfe and fled as did also the other that came with them In their fleeing they shot of their arrowes and slue one of our men They say that when any of them dye there appeare x. or .xii deuils leaping and daunsing about the bodie of the dead and seeme to haue their bodies paynted with diuers colours and that among other there is one seene bigger then the residue who maketh great mirth reioysing This great deuyll they call Setebos and call the lesse Cheleule One of these Giantes which they tooke declared by signes that he had seene deuylles with two hornes aboue their heades with long heare downe to theyr feete and that they caste foorth fyre at theyr throates both before and behynde The Captayne named these people Patagoni The most parte of them weare the skynnes of such beastes whereof I haue spoken before and haue no houses of continuance but make certayne cotages which they couer with the sayd skynnes and carry them from place to place They lyue of raw fleshe and a certayne sweete roote which they call Capar One of these whiche they had in theyr shyppes dyd eate at one meale a baskette of Bysket and droonke a bowle of water at a draught They remayned fyue monethes in this porte of Sainct Iulian where certayne of the vnder captaynes conspiryng the death of theyr Generall were hanged and quartered among whom the Treasurer Luigo of Mendozza was one Certayne of the other conspiratours he lefte in the sayde lande of Patogoni Departyng from hence to the .52 degree towarde the pole Antartike lackyng a thirde parte they founde a ryuer of freshe water and good fyshe Theyr shyppes were here in great daunger They remayned two monethes in this porte where they made newe prouision of freshe water fuell and fyshe Here the Captayne caused all his men to bee confessed Approching to the .52 degrees they found the straight now called the straight of Magellanus beyng in some place a hundred and ten leagues in length and in breadth somewhere very large and in other places little more then halfe a league in breadth On both the sides of this straight are great and hygh mountaynes couered with snowe beyonde the which is the enteraunce into the sea of Sur. This enteraunce the Captayne named Mare Pacificum Heere one of the shippes stole away priuilie and returned into Spaine In this was one of the Giantes who dyed assoone as he felte the heate that is about the Equinoctiall lyne When the Captaine Magalianes was paste the straight and sawe the way open to the other mayne sea he was so glad thereof that for ioye the teares fell from his eyes and named the poynt of the lande from whence he first sawe that sea Capo Desiderato Supposing that the shyppe which stole away had been lost they erected a crosse vpon the top of a hygh hil to directe their course in the straight if it were theyr chaunce to come that way They founde that in this straight in the moneth of October the nyght was not past foure houres long They founde in this straight at euery three myles a safe hauen and excellent water to drynke wood also and fyshe and great plentie of good hearbes They thinke that there is not a fayrer straight in the worlde Here also they sawe certaine fleeing fyshes The other Giant which remayned with them in the shyppe named breade Capar water Oli redde cloth Cherecai red colour Cheiche blacke colour Amel And spoke all his wordes in the throate On a tyme as one made a crosse before him and kyssed it shewyng it vnto him he sodaynely cryed Setebos and declared by signes that if they made any more crosses Setebos would enter into his bodie and make him brust But when in fine he sawe no hurte come thereof he tooke the crosse and imbrased and kyssed it oftentymes desiryng that he myght be a Christian before his death He was therefore baptysed and named Paule Departyng out of this straight into the sea called Mare Pac ficum the .xxviii. day of Nouember in the yeere .1520 they sayled three monethes and twentie dayes before they sawe any land and hauyng in this tyme consumed all theyr Bysket and other victualles they fell into suche necessitie that they were inforced to eate the pouder that remayned thereof beyng nowe full of woormes and stynkyng lyke pysse by reason of the salte water Theyr freshe water was also putrified and become yelowe They dyd eate skynnes and peeces of leather whiche were foulded about certayne great ropes of the shyppes but these skynnes beyng made very harde by reason of the Sunne rayne and wynde they hung them by a corde in the sea for the space of foure or fiue dayes to mollifie them and sodde them and ate them By reason of this famyne and vncleane feedyng some of their gummes grewe so ouer theyr teethe that they dyed miserably for hunger And by this occasion dyed menetiene men and also the Giaunt with an Indian of the lande of Brasile otherwyse called Terra de papagalli that is the lande of Popingayes Beside these that dyed .xxv or .xxx. were so sicke that they were not able to doe any seruice with theyr handes or armes for feeblenesse So that there was in maner none without some disease In these three monethes and xx dayes they sayled foure thousande leagues in one gulfe by the sayde sea called Pacificum that is peaceable which may well be so called forasmuch as in all this tyme hauyng no sight of any lande they had no misfortune of wynde or any other tempest During this tyme also they discouered only two little Ilandes vnhabited where they sawe nothing but birdes trees and therefore named them infortunate Ilandes being one from the other about two
and the kyng of Portugale These Iudges gaue sentence vppon this matter callyng the contrary parte before them vppon the brydge of Caya in the yeere .1524 The Portugales could neyther disturbe or deferre the sentence nor yet would they allowe it to be iust and accordyng to ryght Saying that there was not sufficient processe made that they should passe to the giuyng of sentence and so departed threatenyng to sleye the Castilians as many as they should fynde in the Ilandes of the Malucas For they knewe ryght well that theyr countreymen the Portugales had already taken the shyppe called the Trinitie and had also taken the Castilians in Tidore Then also departed our men takyng theyr iourney to the Courte gyuyng vp to the Emperour all their writinges and declaration what they had done And according to this declaration must be signed and marked all Globes and Mappes whiche good Cosmographers maisters doe make The line also of the repartition and last diuision of the newe world of the Indies ought to passe litle 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 great Ilande of Samotra doe parteyne to Castile But the lande of Brasile parteyneth to the kyng of Portugale where the Cape of sainct Augustine is being .viii. degrees beneath the Equinoctiall This lande reacheth from the poynte of Humos to the poynte of Buen Abrigo and is in length North and South .viii. hundred leagues being also some way two hundred leagues East and West And heere after these serious matters wee will rehearse one mery thyng whiche was this It so chaunced that as Frances de Melo Diego Lopes of Sequeyra and other of those Portugales of this assembly walked by the ryuers syde of Guadiana a litle boye who stoode keepyng his mothers clothes which shee had washed demaunded of them whether they were those men that parted the worlde with the Emperour And as they answered yea he tooke vp his sherte and shewed them his bare arse saying Come and drawe your lyne heere through the myddest Which saying was afterward in euery mans mouth and laughed at in the towne of Badaios yea euen among the Commissioners them selues of whom some were angry and some marueyled at the saying of the chylde The cause and aucthoritie whereby they diuided the Indies THe Castilians and Portugales had long debated and reasoned about the golde myne of Guinea which was found in the yeere of our Lorde .1471 in the tyme of the raigne of Don Alonso kyng of Portugale y e fyrst of that name This was a matter of great importaunce For the Negros or blacke Moores for thinges of no value gaue golde by whole handfulles whiche was at that tyme when the sayde kyng of Portugale pretended title and clayme to the kingdome of Castile in the ryght of his wife Queene Ioane called the excellent agaynst the Catholyke Princes Isabel and Don Fernando whose it was in deede But that stryfe was ended as soone as Don Fernando had vanquished Don Alonso at a place called Temulos nor farre from Toro whiche place Don Fernando chose rather to make warre agaynst the Moores of Granada then to buye and sell with the blacke Moores of Guinea And thus the Portugales remayned with the conqueste of Affryke from the streightes forwarde which beganne where the infante of Portugale Don Henrique sonne to Kyng Iohn the bastarde and maister of Auis dyd begyn to enlarge it When Pope Alexander the .vi. beyng a Ualentinian borne had knowledge hereof hee mynded to gyue the Indies to the kynges of Castile without any preiudice to the Portugales who had conquered the sea coastes of Affryke These Indies the Pope gaue of his owne mynde without the motion of any other with this burden charge that they should conuerte the Idolatours to the fayth of Christ and commaunded a lyne or meridian to bee drawen North and South from one hundred leagues Westward beyonde one of the Ilandes of Capo Verde towarde the Weste bycause the Spanyardes should not meddle in Affrike parteynyng to the conquest of the Portugales to the auoydyng of all stryfe betweene them Kyng Iohn of Portugale the seconde of that name was greatly offended when he red the Bull and donation of the pope although his owne Ambassadours had made the selfe same request vnto his holinesse He also founde him selfe agreeued with the Catholyke princes Isabel and Fernando that they had shortened the course of the landes he had discouered depriuyng him of the rychesse which belonged to him and therefore refused to stande to the Popes Bull in this case desiryng the Catholyke princes Isabel and Fernando to graunt him three hundred leagues more to the West besyde the one hundred which they had graunted before and thâ—rewith sent his shyppes to keepe the coastes of Affryke The princes Catholyke were content to satisfie his mynd and to please him according to theyr gentle nature and for the aliance that was betweene them And in fine with the consent agreement of the Pope graunted two hundred sixtie leagues more then the Bull made mention of at Tordesillas the seuenth day of Iune in the yeere of our Lorde .1494 And wheras our kynges thought that they shoulde haue loste grounde in graunting so many leagues that way they woon by that meanes the Ilandes of the Malucas with many other ryche Ilandes The kyng of Portugale also herein deceyued him selfe or was deceyued of his whom he put in trust hauyng no certayne knowledge of the situation of the Ilandes of the ryche Spicery in demaundyng that which the kyng dyd demaunde For it had ben better for him to haue requested the three hundred and sixtie leagues rather Eastwarde from the Ilandes of Capo Verde then towarde the Weste And yet for all that I doubt whether the Malucas should haue fallen within his conquest accordyng to the ordinarie accoumpte and dimension which the Pylottes and Cosmographers doe make And after this maner they diuided the Indies betweene them by aucthoritie of the Pope for the auoydyng of further stryfe and contention Howe and by what occasion the Emperour layde the Ilandes of Maluccas to pledge to the kyng of Portugale WHen the Kyng of Portugale Don Iuan the thyrd of that name had knowledge that the Cosmographers and pylottes of Castile had drawen the lyne from the place before named and that he could not deny the trueth fearyng also thereby to leese the trade of spices made suite request to the Emperour that he should not sende foorth Louisa nor Sebastian Cabote to the Malucas and that the Castilians should not attempte the trade of spices nor see suche euylles and miseries as his Captaynes had shewed in those Ilandes to them that aduentured that viage with Magallanes which thyng he greatly couered although he payde
magnanimitte to sende to the sayde fyrme landes and Ilandes honest vertuous and learned men suche as feare GOD and are able to instruct thinhabitantes in the Catholyke fayth and good maners applying all theyr possible deligence in the premisses We furthermore streightly inhibite all maner of persons of what state degree order or condition soeuer they be although of Imperiall and regall dignitie vnder the payne of the sentence of excommunicatiō which they shal incurre if they do to the contrary that they in no case presume without speciall lycence of you your heyres and successours to trauayle for merchaundies or for any other cause to the sayde landes or Ilandes founde or to be founde discouered or to be discouered towarde the West and South drawyng a lyne from the pole Artyke to the pole Antartike whether the firme landes and Ilandes founde and to be founde be situate toward India or toward any other part beyng distant from the line drawen a hundred leagues toward the west from any of the Ilands commonly called De los Azores and Capo Verde Notwithstandyng constitutions decrees and Apostolycall ordinaunces whatsoeuer they are to the contrary In hym from whom Empyres dominions and all good thynges do proceede Trustyng that almyghtie GOD directyng your enterprices if you folowe your Godly and laudable attemptes your labours and trauayles herein shall in shorte tyme obtayne a happie ende with felicitie and glory of all Christian people But forasmuche as it shoulde be a thyng of great difficultie these letlers to be caryed to all suche places as shoulde be expedient we wyll and of lyke motion and knowledge do decree that whyther so euer the same shal be sent or wheresoeuer they shal be receiued with the subscription of a common notarie thereunto requyred with the seale of any person constitute in ecclesiasticall dignitie or suche as are aucthorised by the Eclesiasticall court the same fayth and credite to be geuen thereunto in iudgement ▪ or els where as shoulde be exhibyted to these presentes It shal therefore be lawefull for no man to infrynge or rashly to contrary this letter of our commendation exhortation request donation graunt assignation constitution deputation decreee commaundement inhibition and determination And if any shall presume to attempte the same he ought to know that he shal therby incurre the indignation of almyghty God and his holy Apostles Peter and Paule Geuen at Rome at saint Peters In the yeere of thincarnation of our lorde M. CCCC.lxxxxiii The fourth day of the nones of Maye the fyrst yeere of our seate An Abridgement of P. Martyr his .5.6.7 and .8 Decades and particulerly of Ferd. Cortesius conquest of Mexico by R. VV. THe fyrst foure Decades of P. Martyr you haue already seene done into Englyshe by R. Eden as also certayne parcelles of the foure last P. Martir made eight decades of the west Indish newes in lesse labour these may be run ouer speciall regarde being had vnto that Decade wherein the more principall matter is expressed I meane the fyrst and that chiefly for the famous conquest of the citie Themistitan in Mexico prouince yea of all that great region we doe nowe vsually call newe Spaine As for the sixte Decade it conteyneth very little matter woorth the rehearsal except it be certeine reportes of the Spaniards how they found where they traueyled in the West Indies plough stuffe of gold that the prince of Nicoragua with his family became christian that certaine beardles Indians greatly feare suche men as haue beardes that they vse to sacrifice lyue men vnto their Idolles eyther taken in the warres or fatted vp at home bountefully for that purpose that Nicoragua Mere for the greatnesse and vnknowen length thereof for the ebbes and fluddes and many Ilandes therin myght woorthely be called a freshe water sea This freshet hath ben thought to run into the Northwesterne streicte rather of ignorance the course therof being not throughly knowen than that it so falleth out in deede as P. Martyr wryteth Finally in the .9 .10 bookes of the sixt Decade newes is sent to Rome of the controuersie betwixt the Spaniardes Portugales concernyng the Moluccaes handled more effectually in more ample maner by R. Eden Fol. 448. than P. Martyr in this place penned it Wherfore it were a needlesse woorke and actum agere in deede to trouble the reader therewith any further especially whereas in this volume mention hath ben made therof euen by P. Martyr him selfe as you haue already seene The lyke opinion am I also of touching the .vii. .viii. decades some parcels wherof the Aucthour doth repeate out of his former writinges as Dec. 7. c. 2. the ruine of the Ilandes Iucaies out of his fourth Dec. c. 3. Item out of the second Decade c. 10. the nature of that spring in the Ilande Boiuca otherwyse called Agnaneo the water whereof who so drinketh by reporte of an old man becommeth young agayne is in many woordes repeated by P. Martyr Dec. 7. c. 7. the whole summe of whose seconde discourse thereof is expressed in the former place by R. Edens addition of this clause Perhappes with some diet the which woordes are not in P. Martyr his texte to be shorte the two kindes of breade the Indians doe make of the rootes Iucca and a kynd of graine called Maiz suffitiently declared Dec. 1. lib. 1. Dec. 3. lib. 5. lib. 9. Dec. 3. be repeated againe Dec. 8. c. 3. Other parcelles of these aforesayd Decades wherein the subtelties of theyr Magicians and Coniurers Peaces or Pages are discribed their Tigres crueltie their sundry kindes of wylde beastes foule Serpents their diuers sortes of trees and fruites partly may you reade of in the breuiarie of Gonzal Ferd. Ouiedus historie as of the fountayne of pytch the stone pellets naturally made for Gunnes Fol. 224. out of the .7 Decade c. 7. and the Glowoormes out of the same c. 9. partly in R. Eden his notes of newe Spayne Peru Rio de la Plata Baccaleos and Florida set downe in this volume Fol. 225. as particulerly of the Nutshelles vsed in steede of money taken out of P. Mart. Dec. 8. c. 4. Partly in Theuetus woorkes of the newe founde worlde Englished long since and finally in those bookes which sundry learned Simplicistes haue lately written principally to ayde the Phisitians of our tyme. Some other curiosities there be conteyned in P. Martyr his two last Decades namely the Iucaien women to be so fayre that for theyr loue other countrey Barbares seeke to inhabite those Ilandes Dec. 7. c. 1. The Spanyardes well vsed of the Iucaiens contrary to all curtesie to haue carried away many of those Ilanders into slauery and misery Agayne certayne traueylers to haue ben seene there that had tayles lyke fyshe Dec. 7. c. 2. Fonde fantasies of mens soules departed Dec. 7. c. 3. wandring first North and than South about the worlde afterwarde to growe young agayne in iolitie Agayne other to imagine that the departed
Tamaius and .13 hundred men of that countrey to serue in steede of packe horses for cariage after the maner there began to set forwarde from his Castle Vera crux towardes Themistitan in Mexico distant from thence Westwarde a hundred leagues or thereabout Cempoal standeth from Vera Crux .4 leagues eche league in this countrey is .4 Italian miles Foure dayes iourney from Cempoal Cortesius was enterteined curtuously by the inhabiters of a goodly shyre named Sienchimalen as also by the citizens of Texuacan after that he had passed with his army an exceedyng hygh hyll thicke clad with yse snow euen in the moneth of August The like enterteynment was offered him his companie as hee marched forward vntill he came to the Tascaltecans lande who are so great enemies vnto the Mexicans that liuyng amyd their dominions they had rather want their greatest necessaries to wit salt and cotton to cloath them than become subiects in any wise to the Prince of Mexico With these Tascaltecans Cortesius had three conflictes passing through their countrey in the ende valiantly gaue them the ouerthrow Tascalteca is a greater citie more populous and better serued than Granata in Spayne was at what time the Moores yelded their bread is made of Maiz that is Indish corne a very good seat for hauking hunting freshe water fishing sea fish is scarse for it standeth from the sea aboue .50 leagues of pulse good store This towne wals houses in number 20000. built of stone high strong in respect of the enemy euer at hand they keepe markets and fayres The people doth weare hose and maketh good accompt of Iewels precious stones of crestes bushes of feathers to set them foorth in the warres they garnishe euery thing with gold wood is brought to be sold to the market on mens shoulders timber boordes bricke lime stone are vsuall merchandise Theyr Carpenters Masons Potters are very skilfull There is no vessell wrought amongst vs more artificially than theyrs is Medicinable hearbes are solde openly They vse baths the nation politike gouerned in maner of a common wealth The whole circuit of this prouince is .90 leagues full of townes boroughes and villages hils and dales most â—ruitfull well stored of good souldyers in respecte of their enemyes rounde about them About one league of this citie encamped Cortesius by his spials vnderstanding the citizens not to mistrust or feare any inuasion tooke the strongest part therof by night in the morning came the best citizens to offer him all obedience Cortesius than returning with the victorie victuals to his campe found it in a troublesome mutinie for the great distresses present calamies they thought them selues to be in so far of from their owne country in the midst of their enemies This mutinie appeased he with good woords comfortable reasons persuading them their enemies to be weaker the spreadyng abroade of the gospell to be now in their hands them selues to be Spaniardes who esteeme not death to wyn glory a most happy death that to be where life is spent in the conquest of infidelles and barbares to lye by the sea side idlely that were to no purpose Thus appeased he the rebellious myndes of his companyons and after .20 dayes abode made in this prouince he led them into an other shire for pastures and riuers the most commodious for habitation best in all that countrey The principall citie hath name Churultecal as great as faire as Tascalteca and so gouerned vntil the king of Mexico oppressed it Here was Cortesius receyued with songes musicall instruments and trumpets by the priestes and children of the citie after their maner wel feasted The end of all this mirth was an vprore of the inhabiters agaynst him procured by the kyng of Mexico as it was supposed whereof Cortesius hauing secrete intelligence by a woman of Cempoal that folowed his Campe summoned a parle with the beste citizens of Churultecal at his owne lodging Those citizens first laid he fast by the heles than speedely with his army warned to be in a readinesse for that purpose set vpon the deceiptful Barbares of a soden before that they were throughly prouided and gaue them the ouerthrow The prince of Mexico acquitted him selfe of this vprore protesting by his Ambassadors to Cortesius that his disloyall subiectes the Churultecals had bruted that conspiracie vnder his name to doe him iniury whom they would not willingly obeye He sent withall rich presentes praying Cortesius to come to Themistitan promising him that he should want nothyng there notwithstandyng the harde prouision thereof in so barren a place altogeather in the water To conducte Cortesius thyther he sent also certayne Gentlemen for guydes and other of his nobilitie to receyue him as he came neare To speake of euery curtesie shewed him in this iourney and to wryte of euery place he passed and particulerly to rehearse euery dayes iourney euery hyll towne ryuer house and gardeyne by the way would breede ouermuche tediousnesse In fewe the Lordes of the countrey as he went vsed him well especially in Guazucingo prouince and Chialcho shyre the one whereof was violently oppressed by the prince of Mexico the other willingly subiect vnto him In the cold mountaynes he wanted no wood in the townes hee was prouided for and his companions who were of Cempoallens Tastaltecans Churultecans Gâ—zucinges in number .4000 of Spaniards not aboue .300 In this maner Cortesius accompanyed folowed came at the length into a vale bearing name Colua â–ª wherein be two meres the one salt water of .60 leagues in circuit the other a freshet Partly on the land partly in the salt meere standeth Iztapalapa a fayre towne from whence to Themistitan the royall seat of Mexico there lyeth a way on a stone wall two speares length broad built vp in the water by hand with infinite charges the wall serueth also for a bridge by this bridge sides stand three fayre townes Mesicalcingo Coluacan VVichilabusco The first is supposed to haue .3000 houses the second .6000 the third .4000 wel built especially their Towers their Temples wherin they doe sacrifice In these townes great aboundaunce of salt is made that serueth all such as doe acknowledge the Prince of Mexico for their Lord. Other be denied it as of the Tascaltecans it was sayde This salte meere rysing doeth flowe into the Freshet as it ebbeth the Freshet falleth into the salt meere agayne The freshe water may serue neuerthelesse for drinke the salte water becommeth not freshe therewithall The wall hath many draught bridges for warfare and sluses for passage where toll is payde vnto the kyng Halfe one league before you come to Themistitan where the lyke bridge or causey from the lande ioyneth with the aforesayde wal standeth a strong Castle double walled about with two strong Towers not possible to be conquered To this place came a thousande Gentlemen Courtiers foorth of the citie
to receyue Cortesius all apparelled a lyke saluting him one by one after theyr countrey maner to wytte touchyng the ground with theyr finger and than kyssyng it in signe of reuerence After all them came the kyng of Mexico Montezuma him selfe in the middle of the bridge accompanyed with two hundred of his nobles orderly two and two in better attyre then the other aforesayd but all on their bare feete though euery body in this countrey otherwise weareth shooes The kyng as he went leaued vpon the shoulders of two noble men the one wherof was his brother not that he needed any such helpe but for that the kynges of Mexico are woont so to be honoured as though they were holden vp by the strength of theyr nobilitie These two noble men Cortesius meeting with king Meteezuma and lyghtyng of his horse to imbrace hym dyd forbyd hym to touche theyr kyng as an vnlawful action in that countrey the rest of the kynges company came orderly to salute Cortesius after theyr maner Cortesius presented the kyng with a chayne of Bugle set with some Diamondes and Rubies of no great value but such as pleased the kyng who rewarded hym agayne with two other chaynes of gold wrought in maner of sea Crabbes Snails so returned into y e citie with Cortesius againe where he lodgyng hym in the royal pallace erected therein for hym a throne and presented hym the seconde tyme with other riche gyftes and prouision of all thynges necessary for hym and his trayne All the bridge length as he went with the kyng stoode on eche syde certayne great Temples wherein were sacrificed slaues and chyldren payed for tribute by kyng Meteezumaes vassalles Neere vnto Cortesius throne kyng Meteezuma had his clothe of estate where vnto the Spaniardes before his nobles there assembled he spake in this sort Noble and valiaunt men of armes in the feelde and mercyfull Capitanes vnto such as do yeelde them selues you are welcome into this countrey Of auncient tyme we haue hearde and in our old Chronicles we do reade that neyther I nor any of this land be auncient inhabiters hereof but aliens and forreyners brought hyther by a great prince vnto whom we were al subiect While this prince leauyng vs heere went home agayne to see his countrey our forefathers maried had issue buylded vp houses and erected certayne cities so that at his returne we neyther woulde go backe agayne with hym nor acknowledge him for our prince any more Wherfore we haue been euer of opinion that his posteritie woulde come to recouer this countrey and make vs his subiectes againe Consyderyng then the place from whence you say that you do come and that which you gyue vs to vnderstand of your great and myghtie lorde and kyng that sent you hyther we be throughly perswaded that he is our true Lorde so muche the more for that as you say he hath long since knowen that we dwelt heere Assure your selues therfore that we wyll all yeelde vnto you and acknowledge you our lordes in his name that sent you in this wyll we not fayle we wyll not deceyue you all my dominions shall you rule for all my subiectes shall obey commaunde all that we haue for you be nowe in your owne prouince and house Be ye mery and refreshe your selues after your long trauayle and many laboures in the warres I am not ignorant what hath happened vnto you all the way I doubte not but that the Campoales and Churultecanes haue said euyl of me vnto you but I pray you geue no credit vnto any mans wordes concernyng me especially vnto my enimies some wherof hauing ben my subiectes at your commyng are gone from me and do report vntruethes of me to purchase therewith your fauour I knowe that they beare you in hande that my seate the furniture of my house the very walles therof are beaten golde Furthermore that I am a God that I fayne my selfe a God and suche lyke toyes but you see all thynges here are made of lyme stone and earth Do you not see that I am made of fleshe and bone mortall and corpulent you see they haue not sayde the trueth I haue in deede certayne place lefte me by my forefathers what soeuer I haue it shall be yours dispose thereof as you thynke good I wyll nowe departe to other of my houses where I am woont to lye I wyll see that neyther you nor your trayne want any thyng be ye of good cheare be gladde for you are in your owne countrey you be in your owne houses Cortesius aunsweared in fewe and to the purpose especially concernyng that poynte the kyng of Spayne to be that prince whom they looked for After syxe dayes spent there ioyfully noyse was brought to Cortesius of certaine murthers and iniuries offered vnto the Spanyardes in a towne of Muteezumaes dominions and that by Muteezuma his consent This occasion tooke he throughly to bryng Muteezuma in subiection And fyrst he caused hym to keepe that house wherein Cortesius laye then to sende for the malefactors whom Cortesius openly executed by whose confession Muteezuma founde gyltie was for a tyme set by the heeles but delyuered agayne by and by confessyng his faulte and promysyng all loyaltie and dewtie chose rather to remayne a trew subiect in Cortesius palace then to lyue abrode at libertie like a kyng as in effect he shewed both in sendyng abrod commission to discouer the golde mynes throughout all his dominions at Cortesius motion in geatheryng togeather great summes of golde and treasure to be presented vnto the Spanyshe kyng in geuyng both counsayle and the meanes howe to conquer crftelie prince Cacamozin Muteezumaes vassall refusyng all obedience vnto the Spanyardes finally in a publike assembly exhortyng all his nobles to acknowledge the kyng of Spaine for theyr soueraigne Lorde and to yeelde vnto hym that obedience and in his name to Cortesius that duetie whiche he hym selfe was woont to looke for at theyr handes The processe was written by publike notaries confyrmed by the nobles and a copie thereof delyuered vnto Cortesius Mexico prouince enuyronned about with hygh and Alpyshe mountaynes standeth in a playne countrey in circuit .70 leagues about the greatest part whereof are two Meres the one of salt water the other of freshe The two lakes go one into the other at a streict caused by litle hylles that runne amyd all the foresayde playne This streict is passed by boate out of the one lake into the other to all the townes standyng on either syde of the aforesayd lakes Our Indyshe wryters name the boates Canoa the Indians call them Aâ—caler troughes as it were all of one peece I haue traueyled in the lyke vpon the ryuer Sone in the edge of France neere hygh Burgundie In the mydst of the salte Mere two leagues euery way from the lande standeth that ryche and welthy citie Temixtitan or Themistitan no lesse in quantitie then Siuilia or Corduba in Spayne From the land
Turquestan it lyeth Northeast from the Caspian sea Item Phison is thought to be Ganges it should rather seeme to be some braunche of Tigris Fol. 331. Deli. al. Dalangar Caraconi al. â—orassan His chief mansion place it was so but now it is not Fol. 322. Fol. 337. Potofarina reade Portofainra Boua reade â—ona Fol. 345. We made sayle Reade sale Fol. 354. inclinations diuinatioÌ„s Read diuiations or wandryng Fol. 358. Stranger solgiers reade Soldyers Fol. 375. In the meane tyme. This is the later ende of the sixte Chapter the residue whereof the Printer hath for modestie lefte out And Eden him selfe hath in this translation also lefte out many thinges to be seene in the latin copye eyther as superfluous or vnseemely I am not willyng to defraude Vartomannus Eden or the Printer of theyr due Fol. 382. Condaliis I would reade Sandaliis as it may seeme in the letter folowing meanyng thereby a kynde of high shooe or buskyn Fol. 394. Rime Reade rine Fol. 429. It was lost and not founde vntill this day It may be that P. Martyr dyd wryte the historie thereof at large in Pope Clement the .7 his time that happely was loste at the sacke of Rome but his abridgement of the aforesayd viage shall you finde written to Pope Adrian afterwarde in his fyft Decade Cap. 7. Out of the which woorke togeather with the reportes of other traueylers that went the aforesayd vyage this present Pamflet hath been taken Fol. 429. A day lost in three yeeres and one moneth I doe not thinke but that in very deede these Spanyardes that sayled thus rounde about the world folowyng continually the west dyd lose on day in theyr iourney In lyke maner I am of opinion that if the Portugales folowed continually the Easte rounde about the worlde they should fynde at theyr iourneyes ende one day to many I meane it thus Let two passengers depart from Lisbona the one Westward the other Eastwarde rounde about the worlde and both returne home agayne that daye whiche we do call Mydsommer daye I saye that day woulde be to the Easterne passengers the next day after Mydsommer daye to the westerne traueylers but Mydsommer euen My reason is for that euery .xv. degrees of the great circle East or West maketh difference one houre wherefore Eastward after fyfteene degrees you shal begyn your daye one houre sooner after fyfteene degrees Westward you shall ende your daye one houre later then you dyd in that place whence you dyd set foorth The whole circle than of the worlde conteynyng precisely .360 degrees that is foure and twentie tymes .xv proportionably to the .24 hours of the day how can it be otherwise but that these passengers traueylyng styll eyther Westwarde rounde about the worlde or Eastwarde shoulde either mysse a daye at theyr iorneyes ende or elles fynde one to many Fol. 430. The epistle of Maximilian Transiluane This preface is to be founde in the tome of the nauigations wrytten in Latine Fol. 524. Fol. 436. The pole Antartike Of these starres and the order therof about the Antartike pole may you reade more at large in Albericus Vesputius nauigations Cap. 119. to be seene in the volume of nauigations written in Latine Fol. 91. The Table RYcharde Willes Epistle dedicatorye to the Countes of Bedforde The Preface for the whole woorke The fyrst discoueryng of the west Indies Fol. 1 What maner of man Christopher Colombus was Fol. 1 What labour Columbus tooke Fol. 2 Why they were called Indians Fol. 3 Of the colour of the Indians Fol. 4 Plato his testimony of the west Indies Fol. 5 Seneca his testimony thereof Fol. 6 P. Martyrs Epistle to Charles the Emperour Fol. 30 The fyrst Decade Fol. 8 The seconde Decade Fol. 57 The thyrde Decade Fol. 94 The .4 Decade otherwyse entituled of the west Indish Ilandes Fol. 155 A briefe rehearsall of the contentes of the aforesayde Decades Fol. 173 R. Edens preface Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus Epistle to Charles the 5. concernyng his historie of the west Indies Fol. 185 The ordinarie nauigation from Spayne to the West Indies Fol. 187 Of two notable thynges as touchyng the west Indies and of the great ryches brought from thence into Spayne Fol. 188 Of the golde mines and manner of woorkyng in them Fol. 188 The maner of fyshyng for pearles Fol. 191 The familiaritie that the Indians haue with the deuyll Fol. 193 Of temperate and habitable regions vnder the Equinoctial line Fol. 195 Of dyuers particular thynges as Woormes Serpentes beastes foules Fol. 198 Of trees fruites and plantes Fol. 204 Of Reedes or Canes Fol. 207 Of the venomouse apples wherewith the Canibales inuenome theyr arrowes Fol. 209 Of fyshes and the maner of fyshyng Fol. 211 Of the rysyng and fallyng of our Ocean sea and the south sea called Mar del zur Fol 215 Of the stricte of lande betweene the north sea and Mar del zur Fol. 216 Howe thynges of one kynd differ by the nature of the place and of the beastes called Tigers Fol. 217 Of the manners and customes of the Indians of the firme lande and of their women Fol. 219 Of the Ilandes Hispaniola and Cuba Fol. 221 Of the Ilande Cuba and other Fol. 224 Of the land of Baccallaos Fol. 225 Particularly of newe Spayne called Noua hispania or Mexico Fol. 225 Of Peru. Fol. 226 Of the ryuer called Rio de la Plata that is the ryuer of syluer Fol. 226 Of the landes of Laborador and Baccaleos lying west and northwest from England and beyng part of the fyrme lande Fol. 227 The description of the lande Florida Fol. 228 For maister Cap. Furbysheys passage by the northwest Fol. 230 Reportes of the prouince China Fol. 237 Of the Ilande Giapan and other litle Isles in the east Ocean Fol. 251 â—oysins Frâ—es letters touchyng Giapan Fol. 253 Of 〈◊〉 Isles betwixte China and the Moluccaes Fol. 260 A discourse oâ— dyuers voyages and wayes by the whiche Spices precious stoâ—es and golde were brought in olde tyme from India into Europe 〈◊〉 parâ—es of the worlde also of the voyage to Cathayo and east India by the north sea of the voyages lykewyse of Sebastian Cabote and particularly of Moscouia Fol. 254 A bâ—ieâ—e discription of Moscouia by Munster and Gastaldus Fol. 271 A discription of the north regions and howe they are habitable contrary to the opinion of the olde wryters Fol. 275 Schondia Fol. 279. Swecia or Sweth land Fol. 287. Bothnia Fol. 187 Groenland Fol. 280. Gothia or Gothlande Fol. 288 Islande Fol. 281. Futland with Emingia Fol. 288 Laponia Fol 282. Norway Fol. 284. The difference of regions and causes of great cities Fol. 288 Paulus Iouius historie of the Moscouian ambassage Fol. 289 Other notable thynges concernyng Moscouia geathered out of Sigismunde Baron of Herbestein Fol. 301 A discription of the regions and people lying north and east from Moscouia to the ryuer Petzora and the prouince of Iugra and Oby euen to Cathayo Fol. 305 Of the famouse
Cerabaro Decade iii.li.iiii The South sea A league contayneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande The golden region Coiba Dites Sande myxt with golde Howe theyr slaues are marked in the face Golde A fruitefull region left desolate by ciuile discorde Syxe thousand Castellans of golde kyng Taracuru Foure thousand pesos of gold Salte Theyr maner of warre Gonsalus Badaiocius hath the ouerthrowe and is spoiled of great riches of gold The inconstancie of fortune The expedition of Fraunces Bezarra aganst the Canibales Gunnes Valleius repulsed of his enemies The Ilands of the South sea In this sea lye the Ilandes of Mollucca most fruitfull of spyces Collacutea Cochinus and Camemorus from whence the Portugales haue their spyces He meaneth by the streight of Magellanus Howe they take Hartes and wylde Bores Stocke doues Theyr maner of foulyng Popingiayes are easily taken A straunge kynde of foulyng Fyshes and worms engendred of slyme Foules Gourdes of the tree Later opinions of the swyft course of the Ocean toward the West The continent or fyrme lande The vyages of Diegus Colonus The viage from the new lands to Spain The contrary course of waters The poynt of the pole starre The golde mynes of Dariena and the maner of geatheryng golde Our inclosers would leaue no such commens Auri sacra Fames The dropsie of couetousnesse Looke Decade 3. Liber 10. Cities fortifyed with walles The Ilande of Cuba or Fernandina The Spaniards of Cuba attempt new vyages The West angle of Cuba Note The Ilande of Iucatana A great citie well buylded Temples Humane people Cunnyng artifycers Apparelled people Circumcised Idolaters Campechium A towne of three thousand houses Plentie of beastes and foules Theyr Idoles and Idolatry Houses of lime and stone The prouince Aquanil Mosco The Spanyardes are put to flyght and many slayne An other expedition The Ilande of Cozumella Sweete sauoures A fruitefull Ilande Towres and temples Cozumella named Scancta Crux Idles lyke Beares Idolatry Gentle people Iucanata but fyue myles from Cozumella The Barbarians make resistance A conflict The length of Iucatana The region of Caluacam or Oloan. The riuer Grisalua 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Armur of gold Expert artificers Fyshe hokes of golde The Ilandes of Sacrifice Chyldren sacrificed to Idols Theyr Idoles of marble Golde and precious stones A stone of great price Ilandes of women Golde Houses lyke Towres .xv. great townes in the prouince of Coluacana Townes of .xx. thousand houses The region of Palmaria A token of frendshyp Priestes Chastitie The punishment of adulterie Mariage is honoured Fasting Kyng Ouandus Idoles iewels and ouches of golde Gold in mountaynes and riuers Theyr maner of geathering golde Sweete sauours A stone of great price Other viages from Cuba oâ— Fernandina Many Ilands betweene Cuba and the fyrme lande Sanctiago the chiefe citie of Cuba The Barbarians slep the Spaniardes with theyr own weapons The chiefe citie of the supposed continent The Spanyardes are slaine againe with their owne weapons The Barbarians are slayne and put to flyght A multitude of Ilandes Archipelagus â–ª An other viage xxvi Ilandes about Hispaniola Cuba Images of golde Rasers of stone Instruments and tooles Landes lyke vnto the earthly Paradyse An other vyage of ten Carauels and fyue hundred men Horses and mares Fernando Cortesius The Ilande of Cozumella Carpettes and sheetes Innumerable bookes Circumcised Idolaters They Sacrifyce Children The Ilandes of Destam and Sestam The sacrifice of dogges They are soone perswaded to our religion This people leauing one kynde of Idolatry be taught another An other viage Aquillaris .vii. yeeres captiue in the Ilande of Iucatana Valdiuia The shipwrack of Valdiuia The quicke sandes called vypers The course of the sea toward the West Valdiuia is sacrificed to Idoles How Aquillaris escaped Kyng Taxmarus The mouth of a ryuer stopped with sande Turky Hens A conflicte The Barbarians arâ— put to flyght The great towne of Potanchana or Victoria A towne of xxv thousande houses Gunnes and horses The men and the horse â–ª thought to be one beast Palaces of maruelous bygnes and well buylded They receyue our religion A towne of a thousand and fyue hundred houses Another voiage of two brigantines and fyftie men Where the sea runneth swyftly from the East to the West A conflict betweene the waters comming from the West and from the South A dangerous and payneful vyage The lande of Coluacana The lande of Baccalaos oâ— Baccalearum Rych presentes of golde and pretious stones A newe colonie This Cortesius hath written a booke of these thynges They weare rynges and plates at theyr lyppes The dyuers phantasies of men Syluer Note where golde and syluer are engendred I thinke this Laton to be some kynde of pure Copper or els Copper that holdeth golde For Laton is an artificial metall and hath no natural myne Theyr bookes Theyr letters What is conteyned in theyr bookes Temples richely adourned Prayer They sacrifice children and captiues A wrong way to heauen Bloody gods Villa Ricca Siuilla Noua The force of an old errour Theyr priests lyue chast Faggotes of bones A figure of baptisme The presentes sent into Spayne to the kyng Two Images of golde and siluer Two cheynes of golde marueylously beset with precious stones and iewelles Buskyns Myters How can we then call them beastly or Barbarous If they had chaunged theyr golde for our Iron â–ª they had not so soone been subdued Quylles Helmets A byrd Speares A scepter A braselet Shooes Glasses Bâ—â—ds foules and fyshes of golde A crowne of golde Images of beastes Sheetes Cloth of Arras A souldyers cloake Registers of th affayres of India Thaucthoritie of the Lieuetenaunt The Spanyardes of Dariena Sansta Maria Antiqua Petrus Arias whom the Spanyardes name Pediarias This sea the Spanyardes call Mardelser Contention betweene Vaschus and Petrus Arias Petrus Arias commaundeth that Vaschus be put to death Vaschus is accused Vaschus is put to death Petrus Arias Lupus Sosa The great ryuer of Dabaiba or Grandis The gulfe of Vraba The ryche mountaynes of Dabaiba Fierce waclyke people Dartes Swoordes of heauy wood Hispaniola Ouiedus wryteth that there are now fyue monasteries Newe and straunge diseases The suger of Hispaniola Suger of Valentia A token of marueylous fruitfulnes Wheat Vines Cassia Fistula Brasyle Myrobalanes Cap. 5. August A marke is a pounde of viii ounces summa xvi.li weyght .viii. ounces after xii ounces to the .li. Of this reade more largely in the decades By the computation of Venice foure granes make a Caract Doctrine not worthy for a christian man Vipers Adders Dragons Spiders Crabbes Serpentes called Iuanni Beâ—res Antes â–ª A strange beast which seemeth a kind of Cameleon Foules and byrdes Alcatraz Panama Passere sempie Picuti Folyshe sparowes Cazzuole Pintadelli Great foules Cocus I haue seene one of these fruites opened the whiche when it was whole if it were shaken the water was harde shogge therein as it were in a bottle but in tyme it consumed and was partly congeled into a saâ—te