when being carryed with the stream too much to the one side of the land it ran upon a Rock so that the very stern was lifted up and almost cast out of the Pilots hands who cryed out not to God but unto the Virgin Mary saying Ayudad nos Virgen Santissima que si no aqui nos pereceâ—…os help us O most holy Virgin for if not here were perish This and the outcry of all that were in the Frigat gave unto mee an Alarm of death from the which yet it pleased God by the meanes and diligence of the painefull Mariners to deliver mee and all the Company for with much adoe most part of that night they haled from the Cock-boat the Frigat off from the Rock after the streame had made it three severall times to strike upon it After a very troublesome night in the morning wee got our little Shiâ—… out of all danger and from between the two Islands on the other side of them where wee sailed prosperously towards Panama That morning my stomack recovered some of its lost strength and I began to eat and to drink and to walk about rejoycing much to see those pleasant Islands which wee sailed by In the Evening wee got to Puerto de Perico where wee cast Anchor expecting to bee searched in the morning but that night the Master of our Ship having gone to shore the wind turned and blew so strong that wee lost our Anchor and and were driven back almost to la Pacheque and feared wee should bee carried out into the Ocean againe so farre that we should with great difficulty get to Panama But that God whom the Sea and winds doe obey turned againe that contrary wind into a prosperous gale wherewith wee came once more unto Perico and being searched wee went on with full sail to Panama Being neere the Port and without an Anchor in our Ship the wind once more blew us back and had not the Ship Master sent us an Anchor we had gon againe to Pacheque or further But with that anchor we stayed all that night at Perico wondring among our selves that so many crosses should befall us which made some say that we were bewitched others that certainly there was amongst us some excommunicated person whom they said if they knew of they would hurle him over bord Whilst they were in this discourse the wind turned yet againe and we levying our anchor went on to Panama whither it pleased God that time safely to conduct us in I being now well strengthened made no stay in that frigat which I thought would have been my last abiding place in this world but went to land and betooke my selfe to the Cloister of the Dominicans where I stayed almost fifteen daies viewing and reviewing that City which is governed like Guatemala by a President and six Judges and a Court of Chancery and is a Bishops sea It hath more strength towards the South sea then any other Port which on that side I had seen and some Ordnances planted for the defence of it but the houses are of the least strength of any place that I had entred in for lime and stone is hard to come by and therefore for that reason and for the great heat there most of the houses are built of timber and bords the Presidents house nay the best Church walls are but bords which serve for stone and bricke and for tiles to cover the top The heat is so extraordinary that a linnen cut doublet with some slight stuffe or taffetie breeches is the common cloathing of the inhabitants Fish fruits and herbage for sallets is more plentifull there then flesh the coole water of the Coco is the womens best drinke though Chocolate also and much wine from Peru be very abounding The Spaniards are in this City much given to sinne loosenesse and venery especially who make the Black-mores who are many rich and gallant the chiefe objects of their lust It is held to be one of the richest places in all America having by land and by the river Chiagre commerce with the North sea and by the South trading with all Peru East-India's Mexico and Honduras Thither is brought the chiefe treasure of Peru in two or three great ships which lie at anchor at Puerto de Perico some three leagues from the City for the great ebbing of the sea at that place especially suffereth not any great vessell to come neerer where daily the sea ebbs and falls away from the City two or three miles leaving a mud which is thought to cause much unhealthinesse in that place being seconded with many other muddy and moorish places about the Town It consisteth of some five thousand inhabitants and maintaineth at least eight Cloisters of Nuns and Friers I feared much the heats and therefore made as much haste out of it as I could I had my choice of company by land and water to Portobelo But considering the hardnesse of the mountaines by land I resolved to goe by the river Chiagre and so at midnight I set out from Panama to Venta de Cruzes which is ten or twelve leagues from it The way is thither very plaine for the most part and pleasant in the morning and evening Before ten of the clock we got to Venta de Cruzes where live none but Mulatto's and Black-mores who belong unto the flat boates that carry the merchandize to Portobel There I had very good entertainment by that people who desired me to preach unto them the next Sabbath day and gave me twenty Crownes for a Sermon and procession After five daies of my abode there the boats set out which were much stopped in their passage downe the river for in some places we found the water very low so that the boats ran upon the gravell from whence with poles and the strength of the Black-mores they were to be lifted off againe sometimes again we met with such streams that carried us with the swiftnesse of an arrow downe under trees and boughes by the river side which sometimes also stopped us till we had cut downe great branches of trees Had not it pleased God to send us after the first weeke plentifull raine which made the water run downe from the mountaines and fill the river which otherwise of it selfe is very shallow we might have had a tedious and longer passage but after twelve daies we got to the sea and at the point landed at the Castle to refresh our selves for halfe a day Certainly the Spaniards trust to the streames and shallownesse of that river which they thinke will keep off any forain nation from attempting to come up to Venta de Cruzes and from thence to Panama or else they would strengthen more and fortifie that Castle which in my time wanted great reparations and was ready to fall downe to the ground The Governour of the Castle was a notable wine-bibber who plyed us with that liquor the time that we stayed there and wanting a Chaplain for himselfe and
for us The three Spaniards of my company lost all their mony and most of their best clothes yet they had reserved some bills of Exchange for money to be taken up at Portobelo which I wished I had also for what I had lost For the present we knew not what course to take we thought of going to Rio de los Anzuelos but we were informed that certainly the frigats there were either gone or would be gone before we could get thither and if they stayed not with the newes of the Hollanders ships at sea they either already were or would be their prize as we had been We resolved therefore with the charitable assistance of the Spaniards about the Countrey to returne again to Carthago and from thence to take some better directions In the way we conferred what we had saved the Spaniards bragged yet of their bills of Exchange which would yeeld them mony at Garthago I would not let them know what I had saved but somewhat I told them I had kept and we agreed all the way we went to signifie nothing but poverty and misery that the Indians and Spaniards in the way might pitty and commiserate us and our great losses When we came to Carthago we were indeed much pittied and Collections were made for us and as it was expected from mee that I should sing againe at the Altars who truely could rather have cried to see and consider my many misfortunes and disasters which I desired might at last by a safe returne to England prove the trials of the faith I intended to search out and that I should preach wheresoever I came so by these two waies of singing and of hudling over Dominus vobiscum and the rest of the Masse and by accepting of what Sermons were recommended unto me I began againe to store my selfe with monies Yet I knew that in such a poore Countrey as that was where I was little knowne I could not possibly get enough to bring me home with credit into England and therefore the cunning enemy finding me to stand upon my credit began strongly to tempt me to returne againe to Guatemala where I doubted not but I should be welcomed and entertained by my friends and to settle my selfe there untill I had againe by sacrilegious base superstitious and idolatrous means and works made up a new purse to returne with credit home But I perceiving that God already had shewed himselfe angry and justly taken from me what by unlawfull meanes I had in twelve yeers obtained bad Satan avaunt purposing never more to returne to the flesh pots of Egypt and to goe still home-wards though in the way I did beg my bread Yet lest I might be suspected amongst the Spaniards and troubled for not exercising my orders and function I resolved to take what as to a stranger and traveller for preaching or any other exercise might be offered unto me Thus with courage resolving to goe on still towards England I enquired at Carthago which way I might get to Portobelo But this doore of hope was fast shut up though my trust in Gods providence was not weakened In this season there came to Carthago some two or three hundred Mules unsadled or unloaden with some Spaniards Indians and Black-mores from the parts of Comayagua and Guatemala to convey them to Panama by land over the mountaines of Veragua there to be sold. This is the yeerly and onely trading by land which Guatemala Comayagua and Nicaragua hath with Panama over that narrow Isthmus lying between the North and South sea which is very dangerous by reason of the craggy waies rockes and mountaines but more especially by reason of many Heathens Barbarians and savage people which as yet are not conquered by the Spaniards and sometimes do great hurt and mischief and kill those that with Mules passe through their Countrey especially if they misdemean themselves or please them not well Yet for all these difficulties I was entertaining a thought to go along with those Mules and Spaniards which were now on their way by land to Panama The three Spaniards were halfe of the same mind but the providence of God who better ordereth and disposeth mans affaires then he himselfe disappointed these our thoughts for our good and safety as after we were informed for we heard for certain at Nicoya that some of those Mules and Spaniards were killed by the Barbarians and savage Indians amongst whom my life might have been lost if I had attempted that hard and dangerous journey from which many well wishers at Carthago did disswade me both for the danger of the Indians and for the difficulties of the waies and mountaines which they told me the weakenesse of my body would never indure After we had wholly desisted from this Land journey the best counsell that we had from some Merchants our friends was to try whether Mar del Zur or the South sea would favour our designe and journey better then the Mar del Norâ—… or the North sea had done who wished us to goe to Nicâ—…ya and from thence to Chira and to the Golfo de Salinas where they doubted not but we should find shipping to Panama Wee were willing to follow any good advise and counsell yet we knew that this was the last shift which we could make and the non plus ultra of our hopes and that if here we should be disappointed we could expect no other way ever to get to Panama except we should venture our lives most desperately over the mountaines of Veragua and by land without any guide or company through the Countrey of the Barbarians who before had slaine some Spaniards passing that way or else should returne againe all the way that we had come to Realejo where our hopes might be frustrated and peradventure no shipping found for Panama without a yeers waiting for it We resolved therefore to follow this our friends counsell and to goe yet to Nicoya and from thence to Golfo de Salinas where laughing I told the three Spaniards of my company that if we were disappointed we would like Hercules set up a Pillar to eternize our fame with our names and this inscription upon it Non plus Ultra for that beyond it there was no other Port Haven orplacc to take shipping to Panama neither could any man have done more nor ever did any English man in that Countrey doe more then my selfe then wee had done but especially my selfe who from Mexico had thus travelled by land to Nicoya at least six hundred leagues or eighteen hundred English miles straight from North to South besides what I had travelled from Vera Cruz to Mexico and from Guatemala to Vera Paâ—… and to Puerto de Cavâ—…es or Golfo dulce and from thence to Truaillo and from thence back againe to Guatemala which was at least thirteen or fourteen hundred English miles more which I thought to eternize upon a pillar at Nicoya But what there was not erected I hope here shall be eterniâ—…ed
to me it seems as little reason that the sailing of a Spanish Ship upon the coast of India should intitle the King of Spain to that Countrey as the sayling of an Indian or English Ship upon the coast of Spain should intitle either the Indians or English unto the Dominion thereof No question but the just right or title to those Countries appertains to the Natives themselves who if they shall willingly and freely invite the English to their protection what title soever they have in them no doubt but they may legally transferr it or communicate it to others And to say That the inhumane butchery which the Indians did formerly commit in sacrificing of so many reasonable Creatures to their wicked Idols was a sufficient warrant for the Spaniards to divest them of their Country The same argument may by much better reason be inforced against the Spaâ—… 〈…〉 to the Idol of their barbarous cruelty that many populous Islands and large Territorities upon the main Continent are thereby at this day utterly uniâ—…habited as Bartholomeo de las Casas the Spanish Bishop of Guaxaca in New-Spain hath by his Writings in Print sufficiently testified But to end all disputes of this nature since that God hath given the earth to the sons of Men to inhabite and that there are many vast Countries in those parts not yet inhabited either by Spaniard or Indian why should my Country-men the English be debarred from making use of that which God from all beginning no question did ordain for the benefit of mankinde But I will not molest your Excellency with any further argument hereupon rather offering my self and all my weak endevours such as they are to be employed herein for the good of my Country I beseech Almighty God to prosper your Excellency Who am The most devoted and humblest of your Excellencies servants THO. GAGE UPON This WORTHY WORK Of his most worthy Friend THE AVTHOR READER behold presented to thine eye What us Columbus off red long agoe Of the New-World a new discoverie Which here our Author doth so clearly show That he the state which of these Parts would know Need not hereafter search the plenteous store Of Hackluit Purchas and Ramusio Or learn'd Acosta's writings to look o're Or what Herera hath us told before Which merit not the credit due from hence Those being but reck'nings of anothers score But these the fruits of self-experience Wherein our Author useth not the sence Of those at home who doe their judgments leave And after wandring farr with vast expence See many things which they doe ne'r perceive Laborious are by study much at home To know those Parts which they came lately from Less doth he use us as the late writ-Books Of journeys made unto the Levant-States Wherein when we doe pry with curious looks Of Greece and Troy to know the present fates They tell us what Thucidides relates What Strabo writes what Homer crown'd with bayes What Authors more who have out-worn their dates Besides what Plutarch and Polibius sayes So what they were not what they are they sing And shew their reading not their travailing But here our Author neither doth us tell Or to us shew one inch of Sea or Ground Unless such acts which in his time befell Or what his eyes â—…aw the Horizon bound He uttereth nought at all he heard by sound He speaks not of a City or a Street But where â—…mself hath often gone the round And measured o're with his industrious feet And yet it must acknowledg'd be for true Since worthy Hawkins and the famous Drake Did first presâ—… unto the English view This New-found-world for great Eliza's sake Renowned Rawâ—…eigh twice did undertake With labours great and dangers not a few A true discovery of these Parts to make And thereof writ both what he saw and knew But as the man who in a Ship doth pass Our narrow Seas the flowings of each tide The Ships course soundings turnings of the glass What Land he makes on North or Southern side He may impart But who they be abide Or what Religion Language or what Nation Possess each Coast â—…ince he hath never tride How can he make thereof a true Relation So those who have describ'd these Parts before Of Trade Winds Currents Hurican's doe tell Of Headlands Harbours trendings of the shore Of Rocks and 〈◊〉 wherein they might as well Talk of a Nut and onely shew the shell The kernell neither tasted touch'd nor seen Had yet remain'd but that it so befell That these Relations to us made have been Differing as much from what before y'have heard As doth a Land-Map from a Seamans Card. But how these truths reveal'd to us should bee When none but Spaâ—…iards to those Parts may go Which was establish'd by severe Decree Lest Forain people should their fecâ—…ets know This Order yet to be neglected so As that our Author had permission free Whose Nation too they count their greatest foe Seemeth almost a miracle to me Sure the prescience of that power Divine Which safely to those parts did him convey Did not for nought his constant heart incline There twelve whole years so patiently to stay That he each thing exactly might furvay Then him return'd nay more did turn to us And to him shew'd of bliss the perfect way Which of the rest seems most miraculous For had the last of these not truly been These fair Relations we had never seen Nor can I think but this most usefull Book In time to come may like some new-born Starr Direct such Wisemen as therein will look And shew their way unto these Regions farr And though we now lie sunk in Civill war Yet you the worthy Patriots of this Land Let not your hearts be drowned in despair And so your future happiness withstand For time will come you shall enjoy a Peace But then no longer you must joy in sinn When they no more shall raign these Wars shall cease And then your after bliss shall soon beginn The fiery trialls which you now are in In stead of foes shall prove your best of friends And you from servile base affection win To fit your hearts for high and Nobler ends Your Drums which us'd to beat their Martiall dance Upon the banks of Garone Seine and Soane Whilst you trode measures through the Realm of France Doe now at home Oh grief on both sides groane As if they did your ill spilt blood bemoane Which long agoe with Richard England's King When he the holy Warr maintain'd alone Their dreadfull notes did through Iudea ring Now shall the tawnie Indians quake for fear Their direfull march to beat when they doe hear Your brave Red-Crosses on both sides display'd The noble Badges of your famous Nation Which you yeâ—… râ—…er with your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And dy d them deep in drops of detestation You shall again advance with reputation And on the bouâ—…ds of utmost Western shore Shall them transplant and â—…mly â—…ix their station Where English
saying Masse and all the people in the ship kneeling to hear it and to adore their bread God one Mariner with a loud and suddain voice crieth out Tierra Tierra Tierra Land Land Land which rejoyced the hearts of all that were in the ship as it seemed more then their Masse for leaving that and their God upon the Altar with the Preist to eat him alone they arose from their knees to behold the Continent of America Great was the joy of all the ships that day and great was the slaughter which our old Calvo made among his fowles which he had spared â—…ormerly to feast that day his Fryers About ten of the clock the whole face of the land was visibly apparent and wee with full sale running to imbrace it But our wise Admirall knowing the danger of the Coast and especially the dangerous entring into the Haven by reason of the many rockes that lie about it and are known only by markes aod flags set out to give all ships warning of them perceiving that with the wind wherewith wee sailed then we should not come till towards evening to the Port and lastly fearing lest some North-wind which is dangerous upon that Coast and ordinary in the month of September should in the night arise and endanger all our ships upon the rockes he therefore called to Councell all the Pilots to know whether it were best to keep on our sailing with full sail that day with hopes to get that day in good time into the Haven or else with the middle sail only to draw neer that the next morning with more security wee might with the help of boats from land be guided in The result of the Councell was not to venture that day too neer unto the Port for fear of being benighted but to pull down all but the middle sail The wind began to calme and our ships to move slowly towards land and so we continued till night A double watch was kept that night in our ship and the Pilot was more watchfull himselfe and more carefull then aâ—… other times But our Fryers betooke themselves to their rest which continued not long for before midnight the wind turned to the North which caused a suddain and generall cry and uproar in ours and all the other ships Our Mariners came to the Fryers using almost the same words of â—…onah 1. 6. What meanest thou O sleeper Arise call upon thy God if so bee that God will thinke upon us that we perish not They changed the name of God into the blessed Virgin Mary in whom they seeme to confide in such occasions more then in God himselfe Their feare was more for the apprehension of danger by that kind of wind and of what might happen then for what as yet the wind threatned which was not strong nor boisterous however hallowed wax candles were lighted by the Fryers knees bowed to Mary Letanies and other hymnes and prayers sung aloud unto her till towards the dawning of the day when behold the North wind ceased our wonted gale began to blow again it being Gods will and pleasure and no effect of the howling Fryers prayers to Mary who yet superstitioufly to deceive the simple people cryed out Milagro Milagro Milagro a miracle a miracle a miracle By eight a clock in the morning wee came to the sight of the houses and made signes for boats to convey us into the Haven which immediately with great joy came out and guided us one by one between those Rockes which make that Port as dangerous as any I have discovered in all my travailes both upon the North and South sea Our Waits plaied most pleasantly our Ordnance saluted both Towne and Fort over against it our hearts and countenances reciprocally rejoyced wee cast our Anchors which yet were not enough to secure our ships in that most dangerous Haven but further with Cable ropes we secured them to Iron rings which for that purpose are fastned into the Wall of the Fort for feare of the strong and boisterous Northerne winds And thus welcoming one another to a new world many boates waiting for us we presently went with joy to set footing in America CHAP. VIII Of our Landing at Vera Crux otherwise S t. John de Ulhua and of our entertainment there VPon the 12 day of September we happily arrived in America in that famous Towne called St. Iohn de Ulhua otherwise Vera Crux famous for that it was the first beginning of the famous conquest of that valiant and ever renowned Conquer or Hernando Cortez Here first was that noble and generous reso'ution that never heard of policy to sinke the ships which had brought the first Spaniards to that Continent greater then any of the other three parts of the world to the intent that they might thinke of nothing but such a conquest as after followed being destitute of the helpe of their ships and without hopes evermore to returne to Cuba Yucatan or any of those parts from whence they had come Here it was that the first five hundred Spaniards strengthned themselves against millions of enemies and against the biggest fourth part of all the world Here were the first Magistrates Judges Aldermen Officers of Justice named The proper name of the Towne is S. Iohn de Ulhua otherwise called Vera Crux from the old Harbour and Haven of Vera Crux six leagues from this and so called for that upon good Friday It was first discovered But the old Vera Crux proving too dangerous an Harbour for ships by reason of the violence of the Northern winds it was utterly forsaken by the Spaniards who removed to St. Iohn De Ulhua where their ships found the first safe road by reason of a Rocke which is a strong defence against the winds And because the memory of the worke of that good Friday should never be forgotten to S. Iohn de Ulhua they have added the name also of Vera Crux taken from that first Haven which was discovered upon good Friday Anno 1519. As soone as we came to shore wee found very solemne preparations for entertainment all the Towne being resorted to the Sea side all the Preists and Canons of the Cathedrall Church all the religious Orders of the severall Convents which are there Dominicans Franciscans Mercenarians and Jesuites being in a readinesse with their Crosses borne before them to guide the new Viceroy of Mexico in procession to the chiefe Cathedrall Church The Fryers and Jesuites were quicker in going to land then the great Don the Marquesse de Serralvo and his Lady Some of them kissed the ground as holy in their opinion for the Conversion of those Indians to Christianity who before had worshipped Idols and sacrificed to Devils others kneeled upon their knees making short prayers some to the Virgin Mary others to such Saints as they best affected and so betooke themselves to the places and stations of those of their profession In the mean time all the Cannon playing both
hee descended from those Dukes houses in Spain and that his Grand-Father came from thence to Conquer and subdued whole Countries to the Crowne of Spain though now fortune have frowned upon him and covered his ragges with a thredbare Cloake When Mexico was rebuilt and Judges Aldermen Attorneys Towne Clerks Notaries Skavengers and Serjeants with all other Officers necessary for the Common-weale of a City were appointed the fame of Cortez and majesty of the City was blowne abroad into farre Provinces by meanes whereof it was soone replenished with Indians againe and with Spaniards from Spain who soone conquered above foure hundred Leagues of Land being all governed by the Princely Seat of Mexico But â—…ince that first rebuilding I may say it is now rebuilt the second time by Spaniards who have consumed most of the Indians so that now I will not dare to say there are a hundred thousand houseâ—… which soone after the Conquest were built up for most of them were of Indians Now the Indians that live there live in the suburbâ—… of the City and that situation is called Guadalupe In the yeare 1625. when I went to those parts this Suburbâ—… was judged to containe five thousand Inhabitans But since most of them have beene consumed by the Spaniards hard usage and the worke of the Lake So that now there may not bee above two thousand Inhabitants of meeâ—…e Indians and a thousand of such as they call there Mestizos who are of a mixt nature of Spaniards and Indians for many poore Spaniards marry with Indian women and others that marry them not but hate their husbands find many trickes to convey away an innocent Uriah to enjoy his Bathsheba The Spaniards daily cousen them of the small plot of ground where their houses stand and of three or foure houses of Indians build up one good and fair house after the Spanish fashion with Gardens and Orchards And so is almost all Mexico new built with very faire and spatious houses with Gardens of recreation Their buildings are with stone and brick very strong but not high by reason of the many Earth-quakes which would indanger their houses if they were above three stories high The streets are very broad in the narrowest of them three Coaches may goe and in the broader six may goe in the breadth of them which makes the City seeme a great deale bigger then it is In my time it was thought to bee of betweene thirty and forty thousand Inhabitants Spaniards who are so proud and rich that half the City was judged to keepe Coaches for it was a most credible report that in Mexico in my time there were above fifteen thousand Coaches It is a by-word that at Mexico there are foure things faire that is to say the women the apparell the horses and the streets But to this I may adde the beauty of some of the Coaches of the gentry which doe exceed in cost the best of the Court of Madrid and other parts of Christendome for there they spare no Silver nor Gold nor pretious stones nor Cloath of Gold nor the best Silkes from China to enrich them And to the gallantry of their horses the pride of some doth adde the cost of bridles and shooes of silver The streets of Christendome must not compare with those in breadth and cleannesse but especially in the riches of the shops which doe adorn them Above all the Goldsmiths shops and workes are to bee admired The Indians and the people of China that have been made Christians and every yeere come thither have perfected the Spaniards in that Trade The Viceroy that went thither the yeere 1625. caused a Popingay to bee made of silver gold and pretious stones with the perfect colours of the Popingays feathers a bird bigger then a pheasant with such exquisite art and perfection to present unto the King of Spain that it was prized to bee worth in riches and workmanship halfe a Million of Duckats There is in the Cloister of the Dominicans a lampe hanging in the Church with three hundred branches wrought in silver to hold so many Candles besides a hundred little lampes for oyle set in it every one being made with severall wormanship so exquisitely that it is valued to be worth four hundred thousand duckats and with such like curious workes are many streets made more rich and beautifull from the shops of Goldsmiths To the by-word touching the beauty of the women I must adde the liberty they enjoy for gaming which is such that the day and night is to short for them to end a Primera when once it is begun nay gaming is so common to them that they invite gentlemen to their houses for no other end To my self it happened that passing along the streets in company with a Fryer that came with me that yeare from Spain a gentlewoman of great birth knowing us to be Chapetons so they call the first yeer those that come from Spain from her window called unto us and after two or three slight questions concerning Spain asked us if wee would come in and play with her a Game at Primera Both men and women are excessive in their apparell using more filkes then stuffes and cloth pretious Stones and Pearles further much this their vaine ostentation a hat-band and rose made of Diamonds in a Gentlemans hat is common and a hat-band of Pearles is ordinary in a Tradesman nay a Blackmore or Tauny young maide and slave will make hard shift but shee will be in fashion with her Neckchaine and Bracelets of Pearls and her Eare-bobs of some considerable Jewels The attire of this baser sort of people of Blackmores and Mulattaâ—…s which are of a mixt nature of Spaniards and Blackmores is so light and their carriage so enticing that many Spaniards even of the better sort who are too too pronâ—… to Venery disdaine their Wives for them Their cloathing is a Petticoate of Silk or Cloth with many silver or golden Laces with a very broad double Ribband of some light colour with long silver or golden Tags hanging down before the whole length of their Peticoat to the ground and the like behind their Waâ—…coats made like bodies with â—…kirts laced likewise with gold or silver without sleeves and a girdle about their body of great price sâ—…uck with Pearls and knots of Gold if they bee any 〈◊〉 well esteemed of their sleeves are broad and open at the end of Holland or fine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrought some with coloured â—…ilkes some with silke and gold some with silk and silver hanging downe almost unto the ground the looks of their heads are covered with some wrought quoiâ—…e over it another of net work of silk bound with a fair silk or silver or golden ribband which crosseth the upper part of their forehead and hath commonly worked out in letters some light and foolish love posie their bare black and tauny breasts are covered with bobs hanging from their chaines of pearls And when they goe abroad they
the Lemmon both sowre and sweet the Citron in great abundance Most of the fruitts of Europe and as many more which Europe never knew About Mexico more then in any other part groweth that excellent tree called Metl which they plant and dresse as they doe their Vines in Europe It hath neere forty kindes of leaves which serve for many uses for when they bee tender they make of them Conserves Paper Flax Mantles Mats Shooes girdles and cordage On these leaves grow certaine prickles so strong and sharpe that they use them in stead of sawes from the root of this tree cometh a juyce like unto syrup which being sodde will become Sugar You may also make of it Wine and Vineger The Indians often become drunke with it The rind rosted healeth hurts and sores and from the top boughs issueth a gumme which is an excellent antidote against poyson There is nothing in Mexico and about it wanting which may make a City happy and certainly had those that have so much extolled with their pens the parts of Granada in Spain Lombardy and Florence in Italy making them the earthly Paradise had they beene acquainted with the new World and with Mexico they would have recanted their untruths Oh that the Lord were truely worshiped where hee hath powred forth the treasures of his goodnesse for the children of men Oh that in that Eden the tempting and entising Serpent were not so much obeyed in the use of the faire seeming Apple of pleasures and the Lord that hath enriched it with such varieties so much neglected How long O Lord God how long shall the line of the wicked flourish and the best portion be fallen to Idolaters and to the workers of iniquity This City is the seat of an Archbishop and of a Viceroy who commonly is some great Noble man of Spain whose power is to make Lawes and Ordinances to give directions and determine controversies unlesse it bee in such great causes which are thought fit to bee referred to the Councell of Spain And though there bee about the Country many governments with severall Governours yet they are all subordinate to this Viceroy and there are at least foure hundred leagues of land all governed by the Princely seat of Mexico Most of the Governours about the Country being the Viceroy his Creatures placed by him doe contribute great gifts and bribes for their preferment so likewise doe all the rest whose right or wrong proceedings depend upon the Viceroy his clemency and mercy in judging the daily appeales of Justice which come unto him The King of Spain allowes him out of his Exchequer yeerly a hundred thousand Duckats whilest hee governes his time being but five yeers But commonly with their bribes to the Courtiers of Spain and to the Counsellours for the Estate of the India's they get a prorogation of five yeeres more and sometimes of ten It is incredible to think what this Viceroy may get a yeer in that place besides his hundred thousand duckats of rent if hee bee a man covetous and given to trading as most of them are for then they will bee Masters of what commodities they please and none else shall deale in them but themselves as did the Marquesse of Serralvo in my time who was the best Monopolist of salt that ever those parts knew This man was thought to get a Millian a yeer what with gifts and presents what with his Trading to Spain and Philippinas He governed ten yeares and in this time he sent to the King of Spain a Popingay worth half a Million and in one year more he sent the worth of a Million to the Count of Olivares and other 〈◊〉 to obtain a prorogation for five yeers more Besides the Viceroy there are commonly six Judges and a Kings Attorney who are allowed out of the Kings Exchequer yeerly twelve thousand duckats a peice rent besides two Alcaldes de Corts or high Justices who with the Viceroy judge all Chancery and criminall causes But 〈◊〉 though united together they may oppose the Viceroy in any unlawfull and unjustifiable action as some have done and have smarted for it yet commonly they dare not So that hee doth what he listeth and it is enough for him to say stat pro ratione voluntas This power joyned with covetousnesse in the Viceroy and therefore thousand duckats yeerly joyned with pride in the Arch-bishop was like to be the ruine of that City in the yeer 1624. Then was the Count of Gelves Viceroy and Don Alonso de Zerna Archbishop whose two powers striving and striking at one another like two flints had almost brought to combustion that gallant City and did set on fire the Viceroy his palace and the prison joyning to it The story was thus which may be profitable for other nations to beware of covetous governours and proud Prelates and therefore I thought fit to insert it here The Count of Gelves was in some things one of the best Viceroys and Governours that ever the Court of Spaine sent to America for he was called by the Spaniards el terrible Iusticiero y fuego de Ladiones that is terrible for Justice and fire to consume all theeves For he cleered all the high waies of theeves hanging them as often as they were caught without mercy and did send out troopes and officers to apprehend them so that it was generally reported that since the conquest unto those dayes of his there had never been so many theeves and malefactors hanged up as in his time So in all other points of justice he was severe and upright But yet covetousnesse did so blind him to see his owne injustice that before he could see it he had brought the City of Mexico and the whole Kingdome to a danger of rebellion What he would not to be seen in himselfe he acted by others his instruments And one of them was one Don Pedro Mexia a mighty rich Gentleman of Mexico whom hee chose to joyne with him in monopolizing all the Indian Maiz and wheat about the Countrey Don Pedro Mexia of the Indians bought at the price he list their Maiz and the wheat of the Spaniards he bought it according to that price at which it is taxed by the law of that land to be sold at in time of famine which is at fourteen Rials a bushell which is not much there considering the abundance of gold and silver at which price the Farmers and husbandmen knowing it to be a plentiful yeer were glad and willing to sel unto him their wheat not knowing what the end would be others fearing to gainsay him whom they knew to be Viceroyes favorite Thus Don Pedro Mexia filled all his barnes which he had hired about the Countrey and himselfe and the Viceroy became owners of all the wheat He had his officers appointed to bring it into the Markets upon his warning and that was when some smalâ—… remnants that had escaped his fingers were sold and the price raised Then hoised he his price
this City received England the losse of that little Island named Providence by us and by the Spaniards Sta. Catalina which though but little might have been of a great nay greater advantage to our Kingdom than any other of our plantations in America which the Spaniards wel understood when they set al their strength of Carthagena against it but I hope the Lord hath his time appointed when we shall advantage our selves by it again To this City of Carthagena cometh every yeer also in small Frigots most of the Indigo Cochinil Sugar which is made in the country of Guatemala the Spaniards thinking it safer to ship these their goods in little Frigots upon the lake of Granada in Nicaragua from thence to send them to Carthagena to be shipped with the Galeons that come from Portabel with the treasure of Peru than to send them by the ships of Honduras which have often been a prey unto the Hollanders These frigots were thought by the Spaniards to come too neer the reach of Providence and therefore it hath been their care and providence to remove us from this reach of their Frigots The second great Towne of this Countrey of Carthagena is Abuida The third Sta. Martha which is a rich government of Spaniards and doth much fear our English and Holland ships it is seated on the river de Abuida otherwise called St. Iohn and Rio di Grand There is also Venezâ—…ela and New-Caliz great rich and strong Townes And these three last regions Andaluzia Nova Nova Granada and Carthagena are by the Spaniards called Tierra firme or firme land for that they are the strength of Peru from the North and the basis of this reversed Pyramis Thus have I brought thee Gentle Reader round about America and shewed thee the Continent of that biggest part of the world from the which thou mayst observe the power and greatnesse of the King of Spain who hath got under his Scepter and Dominion so many thousand miles which were they reckoned up would be found to be more then are about all Europe But not only is America great and spatious by land but also by sea glorying in more and some greater Islands then any other part of the world It would but cause tediousnesse and seem prolixity to number them all up which is a worke hard and difficult for that many as yet are not knowne nor inhabited and whose goodnesse and greatnesse is not discovered for the Islands called Lucâ—…idas are thought to be foure hundred at least Therefore I will omit to be over tedious and prolixe and will but briefly speake of the best and chiefe of them taking them in order from that part of the Continent Carthagena where even now I left thee But in the first place calls upon my pen the Jewel Island called Margarita which is situated in the sea nigh unto Castella aurea and not farre distant from two other Islands named Cubagâ—…a and Trinidadâ—… True it is this Island of Margarita is by some much slighted for want of corne grasse trees and water in so much that it hath been knowne sometime that an inhabitant of that Island hath willingly changed for a Tun of water a Tunne of wine But the great abundance of pretious stones in it maketh amends for the former wants and defects for from them is the name of Margarita imposed on that Island But especially it yeeldeth store of pearles those gemmes which the Latine writers call Uniones because nulli duo reperiuntur indiscreti they alwaies are found to grow in couples In this Island there are many rich Merchants who have thirty fourty fifty Black-more slaves only to fish out of the sea about the rockes these pearles These Black-mores are much made of by their Masters who must needs trust them with a treasure hidden in the waters and in whose will it is to passe by of those they find none few or many They are let downe in baskets into the Sea and so long continue under the water untill by pulling the rope by which they are let downe they make their sign to be taken up I have heard some say that have thus dealt in pearles that the chief meat they feed their Black-mores with is roast-meat which maketh them their wind breath longer in the water From Margarita are all the pearles sent to be refined and bored to Carthagena where is a faire and goodly street of no other shops then of these Pearledressers Commonly in the moneth of Iidy there is a ship or two at most ready in that Island to carry the Kings revenue and the Merchants pearles to Carthagena One of these ships are valued commonly at threescore thousand or fourscore thousand duckats and sometimes more and therefore are reasonable well manned for that the Spaniards much feare our English and the Holland ships The yeare that I was in Carthagena which was 1637. a ship of these laden with pearles was chased by one of our ships from the Island of Providence by some it was thought to be our ship called the Neptune which after a little fighting had almost brought the poore Spaniard to yeeld his pearies and had certainly carried away that great treasure as I was informed in Carthagena foure daies after the fight by a Spaniard who was in the ship of Margarita had not two other ships of Holland come between to challenge from our English man that prize alleadging their priviledge from the mighty States united for all prizes upon those seas and coast And whilst our English and Hollander did thus strive for the Pearles the Spanish ship ran on shore upon a little Island and speedily unladed and hid in the woods part of the treasures and perceiving the Hollander coming eagerly in pursuit of it the Spaniard set on fire the ship and neither Spaniard English nor Hollander enjoyed what might have been a great and rich prize to England From Carthagena was sent presently a man of Warre to bring home the pearles hid in the wood which were not the third part of what was in the ship Iamaica is another Island under the power of the Spaniards which is in length 280. miles and 70. in breadth which though it exceed Margarita in sweet and pleasant streames and fountaines of water yet is far inferiour to it in riches Some Hides some Sugar and some Tobacco are the chiefe commodities from thence There are only two Townes of note in it Oristana and Sevilli here are built ships which have proved as well at sea as those that are made in Spaine This Island was once very poulous but now is almost destitute of Indians for the Spaniards have sâ—…ain in it more then 60000 in so much that women as well here as on the Continent did kill their children before they had given them life that the issues of their bodies might not serve so cruell a nation But farre beyond the two former is the Island of Cuba which is three hundred miles long and seventy broad
them whom he knew if they wronged all the Spaniards in the country would rise up against them and not leave one alive They answered that they would entertaine him and any few Indians well and willingly all which Moran and they performed according to their agreement the next yeer following Thus we returned that day backe the same way that we had come and I began to find my self better and my feaver to leave me We carried with us some of those young children which we had taken to present them unto the President of Guatemala And in Coban the Prior Moran thought he might first do God good service if he christened those youg children saying that they might become Saints and that afterwards their prayers might prevaile with God for the conversion of their parents and of all that country to Christianity I could not but oppose this his ignorance which seemed much like unto 〈◊〉 of the Friers who entred America with Cortez and increased after the conquest daily more in number who boasted to the Emperour that they had some of them made above thirty thousand Indians Christians by baptiâ—…ing them which truely they did as sheep are forced to the waters and driver to be washed so were those first Indians by thousands sprinkled or if I may use their word baptized for they were driven by compulsion force to the rivers nnither were they first principled in any grounds of belief and Christianity neither themselves belâ—…vers nor children of beleeving and faithfull parents So would Moran christen these children though I told him that they ought not to partake of that sacrament and Ordinance of Christ unlesse they were grounded in articles of Christianity and beleeved or were children of beleeving parents But as he had been brought up in errours whereof that Church of Rome is a wide and spatious nest so he would be obstinate in this point against me and the truth sprinkling with water those children and naming them with names of Christians After this he sent them well apparelled to the resident of Guatemala who commanded them to be kept and brought up in the Cloister of the Dominican Friers I remained after this for a while in Coban and in the Townes about untill such time as the ships came to the Gulfe whither I went with Moran to buy wines oyle iron cloth and such things as the Cloister wanted for the present At which time there being a frigate ready to depart to Truxillo some occasions drawing Moran thither I tooke ship with him We staied not much above a week in that Port which is a weak one as the English and Hollanders taking of it can witnesse but presently we thought of returning back to Guatemala by land through the countrey of Comayagua commonly called Honduras This is a woody and mountainous countrey very bad and inconvenient for Travellers and besides very poore there the commodities are Hides Canna fistula and Zarzaparilla and such want of bread that about Truxillo they make use of what they call Cassave which is a dry root that being eaten dry doth choak and therefore is soaked in broth water wine or Chocolatte that so it may go down Within the Countrey and especially about the City of Comayagua which is a Bishops seat though a small place of some five hundred inhabitants at the most there is more store of Maiz by reason of some Indians which are gathered to Townes few and small I found this Countrey one of the poorest in all America The chief place in it for health and good living is the valley which is called Gracias a Dios there are some rich farms of Cattle and Wheat but because it lieth as neer to the Countrey of Guatemala as to Comayagua and on this side the waies are better then on that therefore more of that Wheat is transported to Guatemala and to the Townes about it then to Comayagua or Truxillo From Truxillo to Guatemala there are between fourescore and a hundred leagues which we travelled by land not wanting in a barren Countrey neither guides nor provision for the poore Indians thought neither their personall attendance nor any thing that they enjoyed too good for us Thus we came again to Guatemala and were by the Friers joyfully entertained and by the President highly rewarded and by the City called true Apostles because we had ventured our lives for the discovery of Heathens and opened a way for their conversion and found out the chief place of their residence and sent before us those children to the City who witnessed with being in the Cloister our pains and indeavours Moran was so puffed up with the Presidents favour and the popular applause that he resolved in Guatemala to venture again his life and according to that message which he had sent before to the Heathen Indians to enter amongst them in a peaceable way with halfe a dozen Indians He would fain have had me gone with him but I considered the hardnesse of the journey which I thought I should not be able to perform on foot and also I feared that the Barbarians might mutiny against us for those children which we had brought and lasty I liked not the Countrey which seemed poore and not for my purpose to get meanes sufficient to bring me home to England which was the chiefest thought and desire of my heart for the satisfaction of my conscience which I found still unquiet Wherefore I resolved to forsake the company of my friend Moran and to desist from new discoveries of Heathens and such difficult undertakings which might endanger my health and life and at last bring no profit but only a little vain glory fame and credit in that Countrey I thought I might better employ my time if I learned some Indian tongue neerer to Guatemala where I considered the riches of the Townes the readinesse of the Indians and their willingnesse to further their Preists wants and lastly their ignorance in some points of Religion which I thought I might help and clear with some sound doctrin and with preaching Christ crucified unto them and bringing them unto that rock of eternall blisse and salvation I trusted in my friends so much that I knew it would not be hard for me to take my choice of any place about Guatemala from whence I might facilitate my returne to England and write to Spain and have every yeer an answer easier then any where else I opened my mind unto the Provinciall who was then at Guatemala and he presently and willingly condescended to my request and counselled me to learn the Poconchi language whereof I had already got some grounds in the Vera Paz which is most used about Guatemala and also is much practised in Vera Paz and in the Countrey of San Salvador He promised to send me to the Town of Petapa to learne there the language with a speciall friend of his named Frier Peter Molina who was very old and wanted the help and company of some younger person to
was not yet for all this report the feare of being so neer the Spaniards hell as they call it that made me haste with speed out of that Town but fear of some messenger that might come after mee to stop my journy For at midnight I departed from thence and went to breake my fast to a great Town called Chalchuapan where the Indians made very much of mee being Pocomanes who spake the Poconchi or Pocoman tongue which I had learned They would willingly have had me to stay with them and preach unto them the next Sabbath which I would have done had not a better designe called upon mee to make haste Here I was troubled how I should get through St. Salvador which was a City of Spaniards and wherein there was a Cloister of Dominicans whom I feared most of all because I was known by some of them My resolution was therefore when I came neere unto the City to turn out of my way to a Spaniards Farm as if I had lost my way and there to delay the time till Evening in drinking Chocolatte discoursing and baiting my mules well that so I might travell all that night and bee out of the reach of that City and Fryers who lived in Indian Towns about it the next morning early This City of St. Salvador is poore not much bigger then Chiapa and is governed by a Spanish Governour It standeth forty leagues at least from Guatemala and towards the North Sea side is compassed with very high mountaines which are called Chuntales where the Indians are very poore In the bottome where the City standeth there are some Trabiches of Sugar some Indigo made but the chief Farmes are Estancia's of Cattell Towards Evening I departed from that Farm where I had well refreshed my selfe and my Mule and about eight of the clock I rid through the City not being known by any body My purpose was to bee the next morning at a great River called Rio de Lempa some ten leagues from St. Salvador for within two leagues of it there lived in an Indian Town a Fryer belonging to the Cloister of St. Salvador who knew mee very well But such haste I made that before break of the day I passed thuough that Town and before seven of the clock I was at the River where I found my Indian of Mixco ready to passe over with my carriage who that morning by three of the clock had set out of that Town two leagues off I was not a little glad to have overtaken my Chests wherein was most of my treasure There I sate down a while by the River whilst my mules grazed and my Indian struck fire and made me Chocolatte This River of Lempa is held the broadest and biggest in all the Jurisdiction belonging unto Guatemala there are constantly two Ferry Boats to passe over the Travellers and their Requa's of Mules This River is privileged in this manner that if a man commit any hainous crime or murther on this side of Guatemala and San Salvador or on the other side of St. Miguel or Nicaragua if hee can flie to get over this River he is free as long as hee liveth on the other side and no Justice on that side whither hee is escaped can question or trouble him for the murther committed So likewise for Debts hee cannot bee arrested Though I thanked God I neither fled for the one or for the other yet it was my comfort that I was now going over to a priviledged Country where I hoped I should bee free and sure and that if any one did come after mee hee would goe no further then to the River of Lempa My Blackmore did much laugh at this my conceipt and warranted mee that all would doe well Wee Ferried safely over the River and from thence went in company with my Indian to a little small Towne of Indians two leagues off where wee made the best dinner that we had done from the Towne of Petapa and willingly gave rest to all our mules till foure of the clocke in the afternoone at which time wee set forth to another small Town little above two leagues off through a plain sandy and Champaigne Country The next day wee had but ten leagues to travaile to a Town called St. Miguel which belongeth unto Spaniards and though it bee not a City yet is as bigge almost as San Salvador and hath a Spanish Governour in it there is one Cloister of Nuns and another of Mercenarian Fryers who welcomed mee unto their Cloister for here I began to shew my face and to think of felling away the Mule I rid on being resolved from hence to goe by water or an Arm of the Sea to a Town in Nicaragua called La Vieja I would here have dismissed my Indian but hee was loth to leave me untill I got to Granada where hee desired to see mee shipped I refused not his kind offer because I knew hee was trusty and had brought my Chests well thither and knew well the way to Granada So I sent him by land to Realejo or to La Vieja which stand very neere together and thirty leagues by land from St. Miguel and my self stayed that day and till the next day at noon in that Town where I sold the mule I rid on because I knew that from Realojo to Granada I could have of the Indians a Mule for nothing for a dayes journey My Blackmores mule I sent also by land with the Indian and the next day went to the Gulfe being three or foure miles from St. Miguel where that afternoone I tooke Boat with many other passengerâ—… and the next morning by eight in the morning was at La Vieja which journey by land would have taken mee up neere three dayes The next day my Indian came at night and wee went to Realejo as I have observed before a Haven very weak and unfortified on the South Sea where if I would have stayed one fortnight I might have taken shipping for Panama to goe from thence to Portabelo and there stay for the Galeons from Spain But I considered that the Galeons would not be here till Iune or July and that so I should be at great charges in staying so long But afterwards I wished I had accepted of that occasion for I was at last forced to goe to Panama and Portabelo From hence to Granada I observed nothing but the plainnesse and pleasantnesse of the way which with the fruits and fertility of all things may well make Nicaragua the Paradise of America Betweene Realejo and Granada standeth the City of Leon neere unto a Vulcan of fire which formerly burst out at the top and did much hurt unto all the Country about but since that it hath ceased and now letteth the Inhabitants live without feare Sometimes it smokes a little which sheweth that as yet there is within some sulphurous substance Here it was that a Mercenarian Fryer thought to have discovered some great treasure which might inrich himselfe and