women who as they saw us ready to depart kneeled upon the ground as adoring us for a blessing which as we rid along we bestowed upon them with lifted up hands on high making over them the signe of the Crosse. And this submission of the poor Indians unto the Preists in those parts this vain-glory in admitting such ceremonious entertainment and publike worship from them did so puffe up some of our young Fryers hearts that already they thought themselves better then the best Bishops in Spain who though proud enough yet never travail there with such publike acclamations as we did The Waits and Trumpets sounded againe before us and the chiefe of the Town conducted us a mile forward and so tooke their leaves The first two daies we lodged but in poore small Indian Townes among whom we still found kind entertainment and good store of provision especially of Hens Capons Turkeys and severall sorts of fruits The third day at night we came to a great Towne consisting of neere two thousand inhabitants some Spaniards some Indians called Xalappa de la Vera Crux This Towne in the yeare 1634. was made a new Bishops Sea the Bishoprick of the City called La Puebla de los Angeles being divided into two and this being not above the third part of it is thought to be worth ten thousand duckats a yeer It stands in a very fertile soile for Indian wheat called Maiz and some Spanish wheat There are many Townes about it of Indians but what makes it rich are the many farmes of Sugar and some which they call Estantia's rich farmes for breeding of Mules and cattell and likewise some Farmes of Cochinil In this Towne there is but one great Church and an inferiour Chappell both belonging to a Cloister of Franciscan Friers wherein we were lodged that night and the next day being the Lords day Though the revenues of this Cloister be great yet it maintaines not above halfe a dozen Fryers where twenty might be plentifully maintained that so those few lubbers might be more abundantly and like Epicures fed and nourished The Superiour or Guardian of this Cloister was no lesse vaine then the Prior of S. Iohn de Ulbua and though he were not of our profession yet he welcomed us with stately entertainment Here and wheresoever further we travailed we still found in the Preists and Fryers loosenesse of life and their waies and proceedings contrary to the waies of their profession sworne to by a solemne Vow and Covenant This Order especially of the mendicant Franciscan Fryers voweth besides chastity and obedience poverty more strictly to be observed then any other Order of the Romish Church for their Clothing ought to be corse sackcloth their girdles made of hemp should be no finer then strong halters their shirts should be but woollen their legs should know no stockings their feet no shoes but at the most and best either wooden clogs or sandals of hemp their hands and fingers should not so much as touch any money nor they have the use or possession or propriety of any nor their journeys be made easy with the help of Horses to carry them but painfully they ought to travaile on foot and the breach of any of these they acknowledge to be a deadly and mortall sinne with the guilt of a high soul-damning and soul-cursing excommunication Yet for all these bonds and obligations those wretched Impes live in those parts as though they had never vowed unto the Lord shewing in their lives that they have vowed what they are not able to performe It was to us a strange and scandalous sight to see here in Xalappa a Fryer of the Cloister riding in with his lackey boy by his side upon a goodly gelding having gone but to the Townes end as we were informed to heare a dying mans confession with his long habit tucked up to his girdle making shew of a fine silke orange colour stockin upon his legs and a neate Cordovan shoe upon his foot with a fine Holland paire of drawers with a lace three inches broad at knee This sight made us willing to pry further into this and the other Fryers carriages under whose broad sleeves we could perceive their dublets quilted with silke and at their wrists the laces of their Holland shirts In their talke we could discerne no mortification but meer vanity and wordlinesse After supper some of them began to talk of carding and dicing they challenged us that were but new comers to those parts to a Primera which though most of ours refused some for want of money some for ignorance of that game yet at last with much ado they got two of our Fryers to joyn with two of theirs so the cards were handsomely shuffled the vies and revies were doubled losse made some hot blind with passion gain made others eager and covetous and thus was that religious Cloister made all night a gaming house and sworne religious poverty turned into profane and worldly covetousnesse We that beheld some part of the night the game found enough to observe for the more the sport increased scandalls to the sport were added both by drinking and swearing that common oath Voto a Christo Voto a Dios and also by scoffing and jearing at the religious vowes of poverty which they had vowed for one of the Franciscans though formerly he had touched money and with his fingers had laid it to the stake on the table yet sometimes to make the company laugh if he had chanced to winne a double vie and sometimes the vies and revies went round of twenty patacons then would he take the end of one sleeve of his habit and open wide the other broad sleeve and so with his sleeve sweep the money into his other sleeve saying I have vowed not to touch money nor to keep any I meaned then a naturall contact of it but my sleeve may touch it and my sleeve may keep it shewing with scoffes and jests of his lips what religion was in his heart My eares tingled with hearing such oathes my tongue would have uttered some words of reproofe but that I considered my self a guest and stranger in a strange house and that if any thing I should say it would doe no good so silently I departed to my rest leaving the Gamesters who continued til Sun-rising and in the morning I was informed that the jesting Fryer that rather roaring Boy then religious Franciscan fitter for Sardanapalus or Epicurus his Schoole then to live in a Cloister had lost fourescore and odde Patacons his sleeve it seemes refusing to keep for him what hee had vowed never to possesse Here I began to find out by experience of these Franciscans that liberty and loosnesse of life it was that brought yeerly so many Fryers and Jesuites from Spain to those parts rather then zeale of Preaching the Gospel and Converting Soules to Christ which indeed being an act of highest Charity they make a speciall badge of the truth of
in wax candles and sell sometimes one candle five or six times p. 150. An old Indian Womans judgement concerning the Sacrament of the Lords supper p. 150 151. All soules day Christmas Candlemas day and Whitsunday daies of great lucre and profit to the Preists p. 151 152. The Indians are forced to marry at thirteen and fourteen yeers of age and why p. 153. The ground of our Fairs in England p. 154. Severall dances of the Indians p. 154 155. CHAP. XX. Shewing how and why I departed out of Guatemala to learne the Poconchi language and to live among the Indians and of some particular passages and Accidents whilst I lived there p. 156. Contents The Author going with some few Spaniards and Christian Indians into a Countrey of unknowne Heathens fell dangerously sick and was further in a skirâ—…h with the Barbarians and by that meanes also in danger of his life p. 157. 158. Indians growne up in age forcedly driven to Baptisâ—… without any principlâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Preists and Friers that first entred into America ibid. 〈◊〉 a woody mountainous and barren Countrey p. 159. 〈◊〉 India's are Grammers and Dictionaries of the severall Indian tongues p. 〈◊〉 The Authour became perfect in the Poconchi language in one quarter of a 〈◊〉 ibid. The meanes chiefly from the Church which the Authour enjoyed yeerly in the Townes of Mixco and Pinola p. 161 162. A Plague of Locusts in the India's brought no small profit to the Authour p. 163 164. The Spaniards confidence in some blessed breads against the plague of Locusts ibid. An infectious disease amongst the Indians brought to the Author neer a hundred pounds in halfe a yeer ibid. The Authour struck downe as dead to the ground with a flash of lightning and again in danger of his life by an Earthquake p. 165 166. Of a small Vermine lesse then a flea called Nigua common in the India's wherewith the Author was in danger of losing a leg ibid. The Authour like to be killed by a Spaniard for defending the poore Indians p. 167. A notorious Witch in the Town of Pinola affrighted the Authour p. 167. sequ The Indian Wizards and Witches changed into shapes of beasts by the Devil as appeareth by two examples p. 169. sequ Some Idolaters in the Towne of Mixco discovered their preaching Idol found out by the Authour and burnt publikely in the Church and hee in great danger to bee killed by them p. 171. sequ The Authors conflict within himselfe about comming home to England for conscience sake and his resolution therein p. 180 181. Neer upon 9000. peeces of Eight got by the Authour in twelve yeers that hee lived in the India's p. 181. CHAP. XXI Shewing my Iourney from the Towne of Petapa into England and some chief passages in the way p. 182. Contents Relation of a place called Serro Redondo five leagues from Petapa p. 182. A strange fire and smoake constantly comming out of the earth neer unto a Towne called Aguachapa which by the Spaniards is supposed to be a mouth of hell p. 183. The priviledge of a great river called Lempa dividing the Countrey of St. Salvador and Nicaragua p. 184. A Frier thinking to take up gold from the bottome of the fiery Vulcan of Leon deceived p. 185. The City of Leon and Countrey about called by the Spaniards Mahomets paradise ibid. About the beginning of February the City of Granada in Nicaragua is one of the richest places in the India's by reason of many rich commodities and some of the King of Spain his revenews carried thither to be transported by the Frigats to Carthagena or Havana p. 185 186. The dangerous passage from the Lake of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 led El Desâ—…adero p. 〈◊〉 The Authour and his 〈◊〉 like to be surprized by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crocodile p. 187. The Authour roâ—…bed at sea by a Holland man of Warre of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crownes p. 188 189. A Frier fâ—… defending the poâ—…re Indians of Nicoyâ—… 〈◊〉 two fingers which were cut off by the 〈◊〉 de Maior p. 192. The Author forced to drinke his owne urine and lost and like to perish in an unknowne Island and afterwards upon a Rocke p. 193 194. Some particulars of the City of Panama p. 195. The river of Chiagre very shallow in many places without some great raine cause the water to fall into it from the mountaines ibid. Some particulars of Portobello during the time that the Spanish Fleet stayeth there p. 196. The Papists Bread God or Sacrament eaten and gnawne by a Mouse in Porto-bello with a Fast in bread and water for that contempt done unto their God p. 197 198. The Spaniards feare of the English that then inhabited the Island called Providence p. 199. Some English Prisoners at Carthagena with one Captain Rouse who at Havana challenged some Spaniards into the field who had abused him p. 199 200 From the whole Spanish Fleet one gallantly taken 〈◊〉 worth foâ—…re 〈◊〉 thousand Duckats by two Holland or English ships not well knowne upon the Coast of Havana p. 201. The manner of the Dominicans habit with the meaning of it p. 203. CHAP. XXII Shewing how and for what causes after I had arrived in England I took yet another journey to Rome and other parts of Italy and returned again to settle my selfe in this my Countrey p. 205. Contents Price a Monke very familiar with William Laud late Archbishop of Canterbury p. 205. The Authors Brother in great favour at Court and aspiring to a Bishopricâ—…e or to be Parish Preist of Covengarden ibid. The Authour apprehended by a Pursevant aâ—… protected by Sir Francis VVindebank p. 207. The Authour from the low Countries got letters of recommendation to some chiefe Cardinals in Rome p. 207. The Author robbed by French Pyrates going from Ligorne to Rome ibid. The Cardinal Don Francisco Barbarini intituled the Protectour of England 〈…〉 and proceedings of VVilliam Laud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 20â—… VVilliam Laud his further Complyance with the Cardinals of Rome as testified by Fitzherbert the Iesuite in a conference with the Authour ibid. A designe of making an English Cardinall at Rome and who chiefly eyed for that purpose p. 20â—… A true Copy of the manner of sending the Author to live at Orleans in France p. 209 210. The miracle printed by the Papists of the blushing and sweating of the Ladies picture of Loretto tried by the Authour and found to bee a meer lie p. 210. At the calling of the Parliament now sitting the Romish crew in Italy much perplexed p. 210 211. The Authour taken again by a French Fleet of ships as he was coming home from Ligorne p. 211. The Author twice assaulted in London by Papists and like to be killed for his profession of the truth and service to the State p. 211 212. FINIS ERRATA PAg. 6 l. 54 read that Kingdom p. 8 l. 34 r. their own p. 10 l. 46 r. party p. 11 l 56 r. Sâ—…via p. 15 l. 2â—… r. St. Iohn de Ulâ—… ibid. l. 49. r. the spurnings p. 16 l. 33 34 r. the first founder p. 17 l. 23. r. were p. 24 l. 3 r. 〈◊〉 ibid. l. 5 6 r. Grijâ—…lva p. 25 l. 42 r. out of the Arbour p. 27 l 23 r. keepers p. 28 l. 46 r. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 p. 35 l. 12 r. well bâ—…ked p. 36 l. 6 r. sacrificed p. 43 l. 5 r. in a Spanish ibid. l. 55 r. it maketh p. 51 l. 39 r. those sacrifices p. 53 l. 43 r. consecrated p. 62 l. 30 r. to be the Viceroyes p. 65 l. 31 r. Uiva â—…l Roy p. â—…9 l. 51 r. Antiquâ—…ra p. 71 l. 4 r. it glorietli ibid l. 47 r. made p. 72 l. 1 r. glorious p. 74 l. 23 24. r. 〈◊〉 p. 76 l. 12 r. have in it p. 79 l. 21 r. Sâ—…villa p. 83 l. 2 r. to follow him p. 85 l. 59 r. which p. 88 l. 2 r. met here p. 95 l. 14 r. merrâ—… p. 96 l. 28 r. Cloister p. 100 l. 21 r. bodies ibid. l. 22 r. planet p. 102 l. 51 52 r. women p. 109 l. 19 r. another p. 114 l. 33 r. those that p. 115 l. 41 r. any thing with them p. 116 l. 14 r. ten leagues p. 11â—… l. 10 a deadly p. â—…19 l. 3 r. Originall sin ibid l. 42 r. 1â—…27 ibid l. ult r. Preachers p. 122 l. 22 r. not holy p. 123 l. 2 r. grieving p. 125 l. 51 r. cheap ibid l. 59 r. stately p. 126 l. 38 r. he lift p. 128 l. 26 r. thousand Crownes ibidâ—… l. 55 r. is no landing p. 129 l. 20 r. to enrich Guatemala p. 130 l. 46 r. 〈◊〉 ibid l. 54 r. his power p. 141 l. 26 r. which after p. 149 l. 38 r. provide p. 150 l. 31 r. buy p. 153 l. 9 r taught more for ibid l. 33 r. livers in the town p. 156 l. 26 r. halving p. 159 l. 7 r. President p. 169 l. 38 r. killed him p. 170 l. 44 r. taken up p. 171 l. 54 r. a running water p. 178 l. 45 r. Priests p. 179 l. 12 r. sent me a Patent ibid l. 16. r. to further p. 180 l. 2 r. against it which p. 182 l. 14 r. would not p. 183 l. ulâ—… r. 〈◊〉 p. 184 l. 50 r. there p. 187 l. 5 r. difficult journey p. 193 l. 17 towards death p. 198 l. 13 r. would p. 203 l. 30 r. Popham p. 209 l. 48 49 put tâ—… before suprâ—…ominatum and leave it ouâ—… in the next line p. 213 l. 40 r. Râ—… ibid l. 43 r. quipat p. 214 l. 2 r. quitâ—… tacque p 215 l 26 r chiquilâ—…h tacque ibid l 4â—… r the second person ibid l 49 r loâ—…e thee p 216 l 18 r. 〈◊〉 ibid l 21 22 r verbs passives ibid l 28 r in 〈◊〉 and r change â—…h ibid l 51 â—… 〈◊〉
the residue of his Army to follow him with as much speed as might be so that with that company which he carried with him he made way taking away the trees that were cut downe to disturbe his passage and in this order in short time passed his host without any hurt or danger but with great pain and travaile for certainly if the Mexicans had been there to defend that passage the Spaniards had not passed for it was then a very evill way though now it be a reasonâ—…ble wide open rode where Mules laden with wares from St. John de Ulhua and the Sugar farmes daily passe and the Mexicans also thought the same to be sure with the trees which were crossed the way whereupon they were carelesse of that place and attended their coming in plain ground for from Tlaxcallan to Mexico are three wayes of the which Cortez chose the worst imagining the thing that afterwards fell out or else some had advised him how that way was cleare from the enemies At the descent of this hill Cortez abode and rested himselfe till all the whole Army were come together to descend downe into the plaine for from hence they descried the fires and beacons of their enemies in sundry places and all those who had attended their â—…ing by the other two waies were now gathered together thinking to set upon them betwixt certain bridges which are in the plain made for travellers by reason of the many dikes and currents of water which issue from the lake where a great company abode expecting their coming But Cortez sent twenty Horse-men who made way among them and then followed the whole Army who â—…lew many of them without receiving any hurt Thus did the remembrance of those antiquities newly refreshed by the object of the hill and plain beneath make that cold and hard passage more comfortable and easie unto us The first Towne we came to below the hill was Quabutipec of the jurisdiction of Tezcuco where we also called to mind that this was the place neer unto which was pitched the Campe of the Indians of Culhua which was neer a hundred thousand men of warre who were sent by the Seniors of Mexico and Tezcuco to encounter Cortez but all in vain for his Horse-men broke through them and his Artillerie made such havock among them that they were soon put to flight Three leagues from hence on our right hand as we travailed we discovered Tezcuco by the side of the lake and out of the Rode yet it ministred unto us matter of a large discourse taken from the time of Cortez and the first Conquerers who found it a great City and at that time even as big as Mexico though in it Cortez met with no resistance for as he journeyed towards it foure principall persons inhabitants of it met with his forces bearing a rod of gold with a little flag in token of peace saying that Coacuacoyocin their Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoile in his City and Townes about it and likewise to offer his friendship praying also that it might please him with his whole Army to take his lodging in the Town of Tezcuco where he should be well received Cortez rejoycing at this message yet jealous of some treachery and mistrusting the people of Tezcuco whose forces joyned with the Mexicans and Culhuacans he had met with a little before went forward on his way and came to Quahutichan and Huaxuta which then were suburbs of the great City Tezcuco but now are petty Villages by themselves where he and all his host were plenteously provided of all things necessary and threw down the Idols This done he entred into the City where his lodging was prepared in a great house sufficient for him and all the Spaniards with many other his Indian friends And because that at his first entry he saw neither women nor children he suspectâ—…d some treason and forthwith proclaimed upon pain of death that none of his men should goe out In the evening the Spaniards went up into the Zâ—…ties and galleries to behold the City and there they saw the great number of Citizens that fled from thence with their stuffe some towards the mountaines and others to the water side to take boat a thing strange to see the great haste and stirre to provide for themselves There were at that time at least twenty thousand little boats called Canoas occupied in carrying houshold-stuffe and passengers Cortez would faine have remedied it but the night was so nigh at hand that he could not He would gladly also have apprehended the Lord but hee was one of the first that fled unto Mexico This Towne of Tezcuco to this day is famous among the Spaniards for that it was one of the first if not the first which according to the Histories of those parts is very probable that received a Christian King to rule and governe For Cortez hearing that Coacuacoyocin then King of that City and Townes adjacent was fled caused many of the Citizens to be called before him and having in his company a young gentleman of a Noble house in that countrey who had been lately christened and had to name Hernando Cortez being his God-father who loved him well said unto the Citizens that this new Christian Lord Don Hernando was sonne unto Nezâ—…valpincintli their loving Lord wherefore he required them to make him their King confidering that Coacuacoyocin was fled unto the enemies laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of Cacuzâ—… his owne brother onely to put him from his inheritance and Kingdome through the â—…uticement of Quahutimâ—…cin a mortall enemy to the Spaniards In this sort was that new Christian Don Hernando elected King and the fame thereof being blown abroad many Citizens repaired home again to visit their new Prince so that in short space the City was as well replenished with people as it was before and being also well used at the Spanirds hands they served them diligently in all things that they were commanded And Don Hornando abode ever after a faithfull friend unto the Spaniards in their warres against Mexico and in short time learned the Spanish tongue And soone after came the inhabitants of Quahutichan Huaxuta and 〈◊〉 to submit themselves craving pardon if in any thing they had offended Within two daies after Don Hernando was made King of this great City and Territorie belonging to it whose borders reach unto the borders of Tlaxcallan came certaine gentlemen of Huaxuta and Quobutichan to certifie unto him how all the power of the Mexicans was coming towards them and to know if it were his pleasure that they should carry their wives children and other goods into the mountaines or else to bring them where he was their feare was so great Cortez for the King his God-child and favourite made unto them this answer saying Bee ye of good courage and feare ye not Also I pray you to command your wives and families to make no
or foure and in great Towns half a dozen of boyes to doe his arrants wait at the Table and sleep in the house all the week by their turnes who with the Cookes and Butlers dine and sup constantly in the Preists house and at his charges Hee hath also at dinner and supper times the attendance of some old women who also take their turnes to oversee half a dozen yong maids who next to the Priests house doe meet to make him and his family Tortilla's or Cakes of Maiz which the boyes doe bring hot to the Table by halfe a dozen at a time Besides these servants if hee have a Garden hee is allowed two or three gardeners and for his stable at least half a dozen Indians who morning and evening are to bring him Sacate as there they call it or herb and grasse for his Mules or Horses these diet not in the house but the groome of the stable who is to come at morning noone and Evening and therefore are three or foure to change or at any time that the Preist will ride out these I say and the Gardners when they are at work dine and sup at the Priests charges who sometimes in great Townes hath above a dozen to feed and provide for There are besides belonging to the Church priviledged from the weekly attendance upon the Spaniards two or three Indians called Sacristanes who have care of the Vestry and Copes and Altar Clothes and every day make ready the Altar or Altars for Masse also to every Company or Sodality of the Saints or Virgin there are two or three whom they call Mayordomo's who gather about the Towne Almes for the maintaining of the Sodality these also gather Egges about the Town for the Preist every week and give him an account of their gatherings and allow him every moneth or fortnight two Crownes for a Masse to bee sung to the Saint If there be any fishing place neer the Town then the Preist also is allowed for to seek him fish three or foure and in some places half a dozen Indians besides the offerings in the Church and many other offerings which they bring whensoever they come to speak unto the Preist or to confesse with him or for a Saints feast to bee celebrated and besides their Tithes of every thing there is a monethly maintenance in money allowed unto the Preist and brought unto him by the Alcaldes or Maiors and Jurates which he setteth his hand unto in a book of the Townes expences This maintenance though it be allowed by the Spanish magistrate and paid in the Kings name for the preaching of the Gospel yet it comes out of the poor Indians purses and labour and is either gathered about the Town or taken out of the Tribute which they pay unto the King or from a common plat of ground which with the help of all is sowed and gathered in and sold for that purpose All the Townes in America which are civilized and under the Spanish government belong either to the Crowne or to some other Lords whom they cal Encomendero's and pay a yeerly tribute unto them Those that are tenants to their Lords or Encomendero's who commonly are such as descend from the first conquerors pay yet unto the King some small tribute in mony besides what they pay in other kind of commodities unto their owne Encomendero and in mony also There is no Town so poor where every married Indian doth not pay at the least in mony four Rials a yeer for tribute to the King besides other â—…our Rials to his Lord or Encomendero And if the Town pay only to the King they pay at least six and in some places eight Rials by statute besides what other commodities are common to the Town or Country where they live as Maiz that is paid in all Townes hony Turkeys fowles sâ—…lt Cacao Mantles of Cotton-wool and the like commodities they pay who are subject to an Encomendero but such pay only mony not commodities to the King The Mantles of tribute are much esteemed of for they are choise ones and of a bigger size then others so likewise is the tribute Cacao Achiotte Coehinil where it is paid for the best is set apart for the tribute and if the Indians bring that which is not prime good they shall surely be lashed and sent backe for better The heads of the severall Tribes have care to gather it and to deliver it to the Alcaldes and Regidores Maiors and Jurates who carry it either to the Kings Exchequer in the City or to the neerest Spanish Justice if it belong to the King or to the Lord or Encomendero of the Towne In nothing I ever perceived the Spaniards mercifull and indulgent unto the Indians but in this that if an Indian bee very weak poore and sickly and not able to work or threescore and ten yeers of age he is freed from paying any tribute There be also some Towns priviledged from this tribute which are those that can prove themselves to have descended from Tlaxcallan or from certaine Tribes or families of or about Mexico who helped the first Spaniards in the conquest of that Country As for their carriage and behaviouâ—… the Indians are very courteous and loving and of a timorous nature and willing to serve and to obey and to doe good if they be drawn by love but where they are too much tyrannized they are dogged unwilling to please or to worke and will choose rather strangling and death then life They are very trusty and never were known to commit any robbery of importance so that the Spaniards dare trust to abide with them in a wildernesse all night though they have bags of gold about them So for secrecy they are very close and will not reveal any thing against their own Natives or a Spaniards credit and reputation if they be any way affected to him But above all unto their Preist they are very respective unto him and when they come to speak unto him put on their best clothes study their complements and words to please him They are very abundant in their expressions and full of circumloquâ—…tions adorned with parables and â—…imile's to expresse their mind and intention I have often sate still for the space of an houre onely hearing some old women make their speeches unto me with so many elegancies in their tongue which in English would be non-sense or barbarous expressions as would make me wonder and learne by their speeches more of their language then by any other endeavour or study of mine owne And if I could reply unto them in the like phrases and expressions which I would often endeavour I should be sure to win their hearts and get any thing from them As for their Religion they are outwardly such as the Spaniards but in wardly hard to beleeve that which is above â—…ense nature and the visible sight of the eye and many of them to this day doe incline to worship Idols of stocks and stones
cloathed with a long loose Coat who representâ—… St. Peter or Iohn the Baptist who whilst the rest danceth walketh amongst them with a book in his hands as if hee were saying his prayers all the rest of the Dancers are apparelled like Captaines and souldier s with Swords Daggers or Holbards in their hands They dance at the sound of a small drum and pipes sometimes â—…ound sometimes in length forward and have and use many speeches to the Emperour or King and among themselves concerning the apprehending and executing the Saint The King and Queen sit sometimes down to hear their pleading against the Saint and his pleading for himselfe and sometimes they dance with the rest and the end of their dance is to crucifie St. Peter downwards with his head upon a Crosse or behead Iohn the Baptist having in readinesse a painted head in a dish which they present unto the King and Queen for joy whereof they all again dance merrily and so conclude taking down him that acted Peter from the Crosse. The Indians that dance this dance most of them are superstitious for what they do judging as if it 〈◊〉 indeed really acted and performed what onely is by way of dance represented When I lived amongst them it was an ordinary thing for him who in the dance was to act St. Peter or Iohn the Baptist to come first to Confession saying they must bee holy and pure like that Saint whom they represent and must prepare themselves to die So likewise hee that acted Herod or Herodias and some of the Souldiers that in the dance were to speak and to accuse the Saints would afterwards come to confesse of that sinne and desire absolution as from bloodguiltinesse More particular passages of the Indians according to my experience of them I shall in the Chapter following truly relate unto my Reader CHAP. XX. Shewing how and why I departed out of Guatemala to learne the Poconchi language and to live among the Indians and of some particular passages and accidents whilst I lived there HAving read in the University of Guatemala for three years space a whole course of Arts and having begun to read part of Divinity the more I studied and grew in knowledge and the more I controverted by way of Arguments some Truths and points of Religion the more I found the spirit of Truth inlightening me and discovering unto me the lies errors falsities and superstitions of the Church of Rome My conscience was much perplexed and wavering and I desirous of some good and full â—…atisfaction Which I knew might not bee had there and that to professe and continue in any opinion contrary to the Doctrine of Rome would bring mee to the Inquisition that Rack of tender Consciences and from thence to no lesse then burning alive in case I would not recant of what the true Spirit had inspired into mee The point of Transubstantiation of Purgatory of the Popes power and authority of the merit of mans workes of his free will to choose all soul-saving wayes the sacrifice of the Masse the hallowing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto the Lay people the Preists power to absolve from sinne the worshipping of Saints though with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they call it and not with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Virgin Mary with a higher degree of worship then that of the Saints which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strange lies and blasphemies which they call miracles recorded in the Legend and lives of their Saints the infallibility of the Pope and councell in defining for truth and point of Faith what in it selfe is false and erroneous these points especially with many more of Romes policies and the lewd lives of the Preists Fryers Nuns and those in authority did much trouble and perplex my conscience which I knew would bee better satisfied if I could returne againe to my owne Countrey of England where I knew many things were held contrary to the Church of Rome but what particulars they were I could not tell not having been brought up in the Protestant Church and having been sent young over to St. Omers Wherefore I earnestly addressed my selfe to the Provincial and to the President of Guatemala for a licence to come home but neither of them would yeeld unto it because there was a strict order of the King and Councell that no Preist sent by his Majesty to any of the parts of the India's to Preach the Gospell should return againe to Spain till ten yeers were expired Hereupon I seeing my self a prisoner and without hopes for the present of seeing England in many yeers resolved to stay no more in Guatemala but to goe out to learne some Indian tongue and to preach in some of their Townes where I knew more money might bee got to help mee home when the time should come then if I did continue to live in the Cloister of Guatemala Yet in the mean time I thought it not unfit to write to Spain to a friend of mine an English Fryer in San Lucar called Fryer Pablo de Londres to desire him to obtian for mee a License from the Court and from the Generall of the Order at Rome that I might return unto my Country In this season there was in Guatemala Fryer Francisco de Moran the Prior of Coban in the Province of Vera Paz who was informing the President and whole Chancery how necessary it was that some Spaniards should bee ayding and assisting him for the discovery of a way from that Country unto Iucatan and for the suppressing of such barbarous people and Heathens as stopped his passage and did often invade some Indian Towns of Christians This Moran being my speciall friend and having been brought up in Spaine in the Cloister of San Pablo de Valladolid where my selfe was first entred Frier was very desirous of my company along with him for the better bringing into Christianity those Heathens and Idolaters telling me that doubtlesse in a new Countrey new treasure and great riches was like to be found whereof no small share and portion should befall him and me for our pains and adventure I was not hard to be perswaded being above all desirous to convert to Christianity a people that had never heard of Christ and so purposed to forsake that honour which I had in the Universitie for to make Christ knowne unto that Heathenish people The Provinciall was glad to see this my courage and so with some gifts and mony in my purse sent me with Moran to the Vera Paz in the company of 50. Spaniards who were appointed by the President to aid and assist us When we came to Coban we were well refreshed and provided for a hard and dangerous enterprize From Coban we marched to two great Townes of Christians called St. Peter and St. Iohn where were added unto us a hundred Indians for our further assistance From these Towns two daies journey we could travail on Mules safely among Christians
All this said Father Fitzherbert I was witnesse of who was then sent for by the Cardinals as in all like occasions and affaires concerning England to give theâ—… opinion concerning the said Common Prayer Booke and the temper of the Scots But the good Archbishop quoth hee hearing the censure of the Cardinals concerning his intention and Form of Prayer to ingratiate himself the more into their favour corrected some things in it and made it more harsh and unreasonable for that Nation which wee already heare they have stomacked at and will not suffer it in many parts to be read and wee justly fear that this his Common Prayer Book his great compliance with this Court will at last bring strife and division between the two Kingdomes of Scotland and England And this most true Relation of William Laud late Archbishop of Canterbury though I have often spoken of it in private discourse â—…and publiquely preached it at the Lecture of Wingham in Kent I could not in my conscience omit it here both to vindicate the just censure of death which the now sitting Parliament have formerly given against him for such like practises and compliance with 〈◊〉 and secondly to reprove the ungrounded opinion and errour of some ignorant and Maâ—…ant spirits who to my knowledge have since his death highly exalted him and â—…yed him up for a Martyr At the same time whilst I was at Rome I understood of another great bufâ—…sse concerning England then in agitation amongst the Cardinals and much prosecuted by this Fitzherbert and one father Courtney a Jesuite son to one Sir Thomas Leeds which was to create one of the English Nation Cardinall that so the Conversion of England what by the Assistance of William Laud what by the power of a higher person and what by the authority of the said Cardinall might be more fully and earnestly plotted and indeavoured This businesse was much agitated in England by Signior Con at whose house in Long Aker were many meetings of the chief Gentry of the Papists In Rome Sir William Hamilton then Agent for the Queene vied much for the said Cardinals Cap and got a great number of friends to further this his ambitious design But hee was too yong and some scandall of a Gentlewoman who stuck too close to him made the red Cap unfit for his head and secondly because a greater then hee to wit Sir Keâ—…lham Digby was appointed by the Queen to bee her Agent there who sent before him his Chaplain a great Politician and active Priest named Fitton to take up his lodging and make way and friends for his ambitious preferment who in his daily discourse cryed up his Master Digby for Cardinall and told mee absolutely that hee doubted not but hee would carry it But though hee had great favour from the Queen and was her Agent yet hee had strong Antagonists in Fitzherbert Courtney and the rest of the crew of the Jesuites who looked upon that honour and red Cap as better becomming one of their profession and fitter for a head which had formerly worne a four Cornered black Cap to wit Sir Toby Matby But in case the said Cap should fall from Sir Toby his head then they would helpe and further a third whose birth and Nobility should advance him before Sir Kenelham Digby to wit Walter Mountague the old Earle of Manchester his sonne at that time And thus it was a generall and credible report in Rome that either a Digby a Mathy or a Mountâ—…gue should that yeere bee made Cardinall Whereby I perceived that England was comming neere to Rome and that my design of professing and following the truth in England was blasted and that in vain I had come from America for satisfaction of my conscience in England I was more troubled now then ever and desired to try all wayes if I could bee better satisfied concerning the Popish Religion in Rome Naples or Venice whither I went then I had been in America and among the Spaniards But I found such exorbitances and scandalls in the lives of some Cardinals of Rome whilst I was there especially in Don Antonio Barbarini and Cardinal Burgest who at midnight was taken by the Corchetes or Officers of justice in uncivill wayes and came off from them with money that I perceived the Religion was but as I had found it in America a wide and open doore to loosnesse and policy and the like in Naples and Venice which made mee even hate what before I had professed for Religion and resolve that if I could not live in England and there injoy my Conscience that I would live in France for a while untill I had well learned that tongue and then associate my selfe unto the best reformed Protestant Church Whereupon I obtained from the General of the Dominicans this ensuing order to live in the Cloister of Orleans intending from thence at my best opportunity to goe to Paris Lyons or some other place and shake off my Magpy habit and to live and dye in France in the true Protestant and refoâ—…med Religion as professed there In Dei filio sibi Dilecto Reverendo Patri fratri Thomae Gageo Provinciae Anglicanae Ordinis Praedicatorum Frater Nicolaus Rodulfius totius ejusdem Ordinis Magister Generalis ac servus in Domino salutem Conventui nostro Aurelia nensi Provinciae nostrae Franciae de probo optimo Patre Sacerdote providere cupientes Tenore praesentium nostri authoritate officii supra nominatum Reverendum Patrem Fratrem Thomam Gageum revocamus te a quovis alio Conventu Assignamus in dicto Conventu nostro Aurelianensi Assignatumque declaramus in Nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen Mandantes Rdo. admodum Patri Magistro Priori illius ut te benigne recipiat cum omni charitate tractet In quorm fidem his officii hostri sigillo munitis propria manu subscripsimus Datum Suriani die nono Aprilis 1640. Frater Nicolaus Magister Ordinis Frater Ignatius Ciantes Magister Provincialis Angliae Socius The Forme whereof as also the manner of sending Fryers from one Cloister to live in another commonly called by them an Assignation is in English as followeth To our Beloved in the Son of God the Reverend Father Fryer Thomas Gage of the English Province of the Order of Preachers Fryer Nicholas Rodulfius of the same whole Order Master Generall and Servant in the Lord health and greeting WEE being willing and desirous to provide for our Convent of Orleans of our Province of France of an honest and very good Father and Priest by Tenour of these present and by the authority of our Office doe recall you the above named Reverend Fryer Thomas Gage from any other Convent and doe Assigne you in our said Convent of Orleans and declare you to bee assigned in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Commanding the very Reverend Father Master Prior thereof that hee
by the common sort of people unlesse they see in them such actions which may further disclaime Rome for ever for the future Whereupon I resolved to enter into the state of Marriage to which God hath already given his blessing which the Church of Rome disavowes to all her Preists What I have beene able to discover for the good of this State I have done and not spared when called upon to give in true evidence upon my Oath against Jesuites Preists and Fryers for the which after a faire invitation from my Brother Colonel Gage to come over again to Flanders offering mee a thousand pound ready money I have been once assaulted in Aldersgate street and another time like to be killed in Shooe lane by a Captain of my Brothers Regiment named Vincent Burton who as I was after informed came from Flanders on purpose to make me away or convey mee over and with such a malicious designe followed mee to my lodging lifting up the latch and opening the doore as hee had seene mee done and attempting to goe up the staires to my chamber without any inquiry for mee or knocking at the doore from whom God graciously delivered me by the weak meanes of a woman my Land-lady who stopped him from going any further and being demanded his name and answering by the name of Steward and my Land-lady telling him from mee that I knew him not he went away chasing and saying that I should know him before he had done with mee But hee that knoweth God well shall know no enemy to his hurt neither have I ever since seene or knowen this man I might here also write down the contents of a threatning letter from mine own Brother when hee was Colonell for the King of England and Governour of Oxford which I forbear with some tender consideration of flesh and blood At the beginning of the warres I confesse I was at a stand as a Neophyt and new plant of the Church of England concerning the lawfulnesse of the warre and so continued above a yeere in London spending my owne meanes till at last I was fully satisfied and much troubled to see that the Papists and most of my kindred were entertained at Oxford and in other places of the Kings Dominions whereupon I resolved upon a choice for the Parliament cause which now in their lowest estate and condition I am not ashamed to acknowledge From their hands and by their order I received a Benefice in the which I have continued almost foure yeers preaching constantly for a through and godly Reformation intended by them which I am ready to witnesse with the best drops of blood in my veins though true it is I have been envied jealousied and suspected by many to whom I desire this my History may be a better witnesse of my sincerity and that by it I may perform what our Saviour Christ spoke to Peter saying And thou being converted strengthen thy Brethren I shall think my time and pen happily imployed if by what here I have written I may strengthen the perusers of this small volume against Popish superstition whether in England other parts of Europe Asia or America for the which I shall offer up my dayly prayers unto him who as I may well say miraculously brought me from America to England and hath made use of mee as a Ioseph to discover the treasures of Egypt or as the spies to search into the land of Canaan even the God of all Nations to whom be ascribed by mee and all true and faithfull Beleevers Glory Power Majesty and mercy for evermore Amen FINIS Some brief and short Rules for the better learning of the Indian tongue called Poconchi or Pocoman commonly used about Guatemala and some other parts of Honduras ALthough it bee true that by the daily conversation which in most places the Indians have with the Spaniards they for the most part understand the Spanish tongue in common and ordinary words so that a Spaniard may travell amongst them and bee understood in what hee calleth for by some or other of the Officers who are appointed to attend upon all such as travell and passe through their townes Yet because the perfect knowledge of the Spanish tongue is not so common to all Indians both men and women nor so generally spoken by them as their owne therefore the Preists and Fryers have taken paines to learn the native tongues of severall places and countries and have studied to bring them to a Form and method of Rules that so the use of them may bee continued to such as shall succeed after them Neither is there any one language generall to all places but so many severall and different one from another that from Chiapa and Zoques to Guatemala and San Salvador and all about Honduras there are at least eighteen severall languages and in this district some Fryers who have perfectly learned six or seven of them Neither in any place are the Indians taught or preached unto but in their native and mother tongue which because the Preist onely can speake therefore are they so much loved and respected by the Natives And although for the time I lived there I learned and could speake in two severall tongues the one called â—…acchiquel the other Poconchi or Pocoman which have some connexion one with another yet the Poconchi being the easiest and most elegant and that wherein I did constantly preach and teach I thought fit to set down some rules of it with the Lords Prayer and brief declaration of every word in it to witnesse and testifie to posterity the truth of my being in those parts and the manner how those barbarous tongues have are and may be learned There is not in the Poconchi tongue nor in any other the deversity of declensions which is in the Latin tongue yet there is a double way of declining all Nownes and conjugating all Verbes and that is with divers particles according to the words beginning with a vowell or a consonant neither is there any difference of cases but onely such as the said Particles or some Prepositions may distinguish The Particles for the words or Nownes beginning with a Consonant are as followeth Sing Nu A Pa plural Ca. Ata Qui tacque As for example Tat signifieth a house and Tat signifieth father which are thus declined Sing Nupat my house Apat thy house Râ—…pat his house Plural Câ—…pat our house Apaâ—…ta your honse Zuipat tacque their house Sing Nutat my Father Atat thy Father Rutat his Father Plural Catat our Father Atatta your Father Quita tacque their Father Thus are declined Nownes beginning with a Consonant As Queh a horse Nuqueh Aqueh Ruqueh c. Huh booke or paper Nuhuh Ahuh Ruhuh Moloh Egge Numoloh Amoloh Rumoloh Holom Head Nuholom Aholom Ruholom Chi Mouth Nuchi Achi Ruchi Cam hand Nucam Acam Rucam Chac flesh Nuchac Achac Ruchac Car fish Nucar Acar Rucar Cacar Acarta Qui cartacque Chacquil body or flesh of man Nuchacquil Achacquil
the Verbe Quinchali which signifieth to come Ta is as before optantis or of wishing Ihauri or â—…hauric signifieth kingdome Av added sheweth the second person Pan cana upon our heads This is a peculiar expression in that tongue which as all other tongues hath many phrases strange expressions proper elegancies and circumlocutions Whereof this one to say Let thy Kingdome come upon our heads Pam or Pan is a preposition signifying in or within or upon Na signifieth head Nuna my head Cana our head according to the rule above from whence they call a hat Pan Nuna as being upon the head Invanivi ta Nava let be done what thou wilt They have no proper Noun to expresse a mans will but expresse it by a Verbe Invanivi is the third person of the Verbe Quinvanivi which signifieth to be made or done The Active is Nuvan I doe or make from whence are formed many passives as Quinvan or Quinvanhi or Quinvani or Quinvanivi or Quinbanari or Quinvantihi whereof this last signifieth to bee done speedily And so to all Verbes Actives and Passives this particle tihi is added at the end to signifie hast or speed in doing any thing Nava is the second person of the Verbe Inva I will according to the rule for verbes beginning with a vowell Nava thou wilt Inra he will Yahvir vach a cal here upon the face of the earth Yahvir is an Adverbe signifying here Vach signifieth face Nuvach my face Avach thy face Ruvach his face Acal signifieth the earth or ground He invan taxah as it is done in heaven He is an Adverbe signifying even as Invan is the third person of the passive Verbe Quinvan to bee done Taxah as before signifieth in heaven without any preposition to it Chaye runa give to day Nuye is the first person of the present tense signifying I give Cha is the particle according to the rule above of the second person of the Imperative Mood Chaye give thou Chyrue let him give 〈◊〉 to day Cahuhun ta quih viiâ—… our every day bread where note that 〈◊〉 put before â—…hun is very elegantly placed though it doe belong to the word viiâ—… which signifieth breâ—… Nuviâ—…c my bread 〈◊〉 our bread 〈◊〉 is an undechned word signifying every one or every thing 〈◊〉 signifieth the 〈◊〉 or the day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I pray God thâ—… forgive our sinnes They use not here the Imperative Mood as in 〈◊〉 demâ—… 〈◊〉 in English forgive but with the particleâ—… oâ—… wiâ—…ing they use the 〈◊〉 Mood 〈◊〉 is the second person of the Verbe Nâ—…h I forgive Mâ—… signifieth 〈◊〉 Numac my 〈◊〉 or sins caâ—… our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also to signifie sin 〈…〉 is put at the end for elegancy sake Quimac is the third person plural Where note that in a whole speech or sentence sometimes the particle tacque observed above in the rule for declining is left out and sometimes it is added As here quimac their sins or else it might have been quimac tacque Xim acquivi chi quih that have sinned against our backs of Mac signifying sin is this Verbe formed quinmacquivi to sin So likewise of laval sin is formed another Verb quinlavini to sin This Verbe quinmacquivi is a Deponent of which sort there are many in that tongue as quincutani to preach which have the same Particles as the Verbes Passives Chiquih is a word compounded of the Preposition chi and ih which signifieth back anâ—… varied like the Nounes beginning with a Vowell and joyned with chi sigâ—…th against as Chivih against mee chavih against thee chirih against him Plural Chiquih against us chavihta against yee chiquih tacque against them And if another third person bee named chirih standeth for against as chirih Pedro against Peter that is against the back If many be named in the third person Plural then chiquih is used as chiquih unche or chiquih cunch elal against all Macoacana leave us not This Verbe is here compounded of three first Ma is abbreviated from the word mani which signifieth no or not as likewise manchucu Co or coh signifieth wee or us and as in the rules before I have observed is put here before the Verb which causeth then to be cut off from the verb which otherwise should have beene nacana of nucana I leave nacana thou leavest inrucana he leaveth and so forth Chipam catacchihi in our being tempted This is another great elegancy in that tongue to use a Verbe Passive for a Noune and to add to it a Preposition as here chipam which signifieth in and putting to the Verbe the Particles wherewith the Nounes are varied and declined Nutacchih signifieth I tempt The Passive is quintacchihi I am tempted from whence nâ—…tacchihi signifieth my being tempted or my temptation atacchihi thy temptation rutacchihi his temptation catacchihi our temptation Coaveçata china unche tsiri Deliver us from all evill things Inveça as I have noted before signifyeth to deliver Co is the first person Plural put before the Verbe as I observed in the rule above and in that Conjunction or compound macoacana China is a Preposition signifying above or from Unche signifieth all which is undeclinable tsiri is an Adjective properly undeclinable also or unvariable in Gender Case and Number as are all Adjectives in that tongue It signifieth evill or bad as tsiri vinac an evill man tsiri ixoc a bad woman tsiri chicop a bad or evill beast so likewise in the Plural number it is the same Without a Substantive it is as the Newter Gender as malum for malares signifying an evill thing or evill things The Substantive that is formed from it is tsirâ—… quil which signifieth evill or wickednesse Voronquil signifieth the same Mani quiro not good this is put for a further expression of evils to be delivered from whatsoever is not good Mani as I noted before signifieth not Quiro is as tsiri an Adjective signifying good or a good thing and is undeclinable unvariable in both numbers Quiro vinac a good man quiro ixoc a good woman quiro chicop a good beast so likewise in the plural number quiro vinac good men The Substantive that is derived from this Adjective is quirohal goodness Chiohal signifieth the same quirolah is very good tsirilah very bad where lah is added at the end of an adjective it puts the same aggravation as valde in Latin He inqui even as he saith The meaning is even as hee saith that taught this prayer Quinqui signifieth I say tiqui thou saiest inqui hee saith Cohqui wee say tiqâ—… yee say quiquitacque they say Amen All words which have no true expression in the Indians tongues are continued in the Spanish or in the proper tongue as here Amen So wine which formerly they had not they call vino though by an improper word some call it Castilana ha that is the water of Castile So God they call Dios commonly though some call him Nim Ahval that is the great
Lord. And thus for curiosities sake and by the intreaty of some speciall friends I have furnished the Presse with a language which never yet was printed or known in England A Merchant Mariner or Captaine at Sea may chance by fortune to be driven â—…n some Coast where he may meet with some Pecoman Indian and it may bee of great use to him to have some light of this Poconchi tongue Whereunto I shall be willing hereafter to add something more for the good of my Countrey and for the present I leave thee Reader to study what hitherto hath briefely been delivered by mee FINIS A Table of the Chapters of this Booke with the Contents of the most Remarkeable things in them CHAP. I. HOw Rome doth yeerely visit the American and Asian Kingdomes page 1. Contents The Popes Policy in maintaining constantly some poore Pensionary Bishops in Rome page 1. Without great Sums of Mony and new Purple Clothing given to the Cardinals Suits are not Canonized at Rome pag. 2. Monies sent out of England to Rome for Indulgencies to bee granted to private Altars in Papists private chambers page 2. More power granted to the Kings of Spain over the Clergy in the West-India's then to other Princes in Europe upon condition that they maintain there the Popes Authority and Preists to preach page 2. 3. The Iesuites challenge from Francis Xavierius the Preaching of the Gospel as due onely to them page 3. Missions of Preists Fryers or Iesuites are yeerely sent at the King of Spaine his charge to the India's page 3. CHAP. II. Shewing that the Indians wealth under a pretence of their Conversion hath corrupted the hearts of poore begging Fryers with strife hatred and ambition page 3. Contents Hatred grounded upon difference in Religion is most bitter Page 3. 4. Iesuites and Fryers but especially Dominicans deadly enemies Page 4. A Iesuiticall trick well acted at Venice page 4. Doctor Smith Bishop of Chalcedon sent by the Pope into England as private Head over all the Romish Clergy chiefly by the cunning subtilty of Iesuites was banished page 4. A Colledge privately intended to bee built in England by Iesuites at Winifreds Well as also the Sope houses at Lambeth with the Sope Patentee belonging to them page 5. More 〈◊〉 prankes discovered page 5. Why Iesuites and Dominicans are dead enemies page 5. 6. Valentia the Iesuite his death most shamefull for causing a false Print upon Augustins workes page 5. 6. Iesuites excellent Musicians Fencers Dancers Vaulters Painters Bribers and Merchants p. 6. CHAP. III. Shewing the manner of the Missions of Fryers and Iesuites to the India's pag. 7. Contents Distinction of severall Provinces amongst the Fryers and Iesuites under head at Rome named Generall page 7. West-India Fryers rich prizes to the Hollanders page 7. Popes indulgence granted to such Fryers as goe to the India's and his excommunication to such as oppose them page 8. Liberty draws most of the Fryers to the India's page 8. The death of an unchast wife murthered by her owne husband caused by the too much liberty of a wanton Fryer in Guatemala Anno 1635. p. 9. CHAP. IV. Shewing to what Provinces of the East and West-India's belonging to the Crowne of Castilia are sent Missions of Fryers and Iesuites And especially of the Missions sent in the yeer 1625. page 9. Contents Two sorts of Spaniards in the India's deadly enemies to one another viz. the Natives borne there and such as goe from Spain thither page 9. 10. What Religious Orders are the chief Preachers in the Province of Guatemala page 10. The Spaniards chief trading from Spain to Philippinas is first by their ships to St. John de Ulhua upon the North Sea and secondly from Acapulco upon the South Sea to Manila page 11. A vaine and worldly discourse of a Fryer of the India's page 11. 12. The chief cause of the Authors resolution to goe to East and West-India's page 12. 13. Foure poore Mendicant Fryers as Apostles entertained by Don Frederique de Toledo and the Gallies in Puerto de Santa Maria. page 14. CHAP. V. Of the Indian Fleet that departed from Cales Anno Dom. 1625. And of some remarkable passages in that voiage page 14. Contents The love of Nuns too powerfull over Fryers page 14. The Author hid in an empty barrell on shipboard in the Bay of Cales page 15. The pleasure of the Indian Navigation 1625. untill the first land was discovered page 16. CHAP. VI. Of our discovery of some Islands and what trouble befell ut in one of them p. 16. Contents The Islands called Desseada Marigalante Dominica Guadalupe are the first discovered in America in the Spanish Navigation page 17. A Christian Mulatto having lived twelve yeeres among Heathens with an Infidell wife and Children found in Guadalupe page 18. A suddaine uproare and mutiny of the Indians of Guadalupe who slow and wounded many of the Spanish Fleet 1625. page 25. CHAP. VII Of our further sailing to St. John de Ulhua alià s Vera Crux of our landing there page 19. Contents A Fryer wounded at Guadalupe died and was solemnly cast to the Sea pag. 20. A Spaniard swimming in the sound of Mexico cruelly slain and partly devoured by a Sea Monster page 21. The Virgin Mary called upon more then God in a suddain apprehensiou of a storme page 21. CHAP. VIII Of our landing at Vera Crux otherwise St. John de Ulhua and of our entertainment there page 22. Contents The vanity and worldlinesse of a Religious Dominicnn Superiour in St. John de Ulhua page 23. The houses and Churches of St. John de Ulhua builded with boards and timber and therefore easily and often fired page 23. 24. A further relation of the towne of St. John de Ulhua with the rich trading of it from most parts of the West-India's as also from the East-India's page 24. CHAP. IX Of our journey from St. John de Ulhua to Mexico and of the most remarkable Townes and Villages in the way page 25. Contents Our Fryers first entertainment by the Indians of the old Vera Crux page 25. A Franciscan Fryers vow and profession contrary to the vanity carding dicing and swearing practised by them of Xalappa in the India's page 26. Abundance of Gnats in the Rinconada taketh away the comfort of the great abundance of provision that is there page 27. From whence the Towne called Segura de la Frontera had its beginning page 27. 28. CHAP. X. Wherein is set downe the Estate and Condition of the great Towne of Tlaxcallan when the first Spaniards entered into the Empire of Mexico Cortez his first encounter with the Tlaxcalteca's their League with him with a description of the Towne and of the state and condition of it now page 29. Contents A wall of stone without Lime or Morter of a fadome and a halfe high and twenty foot brâ—…d built by the Indian for a defence in time of Warres before the comming of the Spaniards page 29. Fourescore thousand