which the nights calmenesse prohibited the ships beeing thus seuered were by the Gallies of Penocha set vpon his Lordship being within hearing of the shot but by reason of the calme not able to releeue them so that the two ships were recouered Captayne Bayly slaine Captayne Munson and the rest carried Prisoners to Penecha and thence to Lisbone His Lordship wrote to the Archdâ—ke Albert then Vice-roy for their good vsage otherwise threatning requitall to theirs of whom he presumed hee should take store For feare whereof the common sort were returned a few dayes after new clothed Captayne Munson with sixe others only detayned His Lordship hauing intelligence of a great Armada prepared in the Groyne to bee sent against the Lord Thomas Howard then Admirall of her Majesties fleet at the Asores attending to surprize the West Indian fleet sent the Mooneshine with aduise otherwise the Lord Howard had runne the fortune of Sir Richard Greenuile who lost his ship and life or rather exchanged the one for honor and for the other made the Spaniards the greatest losers in so deere a purchase Thus weakned by disaduenture he was forced to returne for England HIs Lordship considering the inconuenience of her Maiesties command not to lay any Spanish ship aboard with her ships lest both might together be destroyed by fire rather chose to seeke out amongst the Merchants then to make further vse of the ships Royall And so hee hired the Tigre a ship of six hundred tunnes furnished by the Owners for three hundred pounds a moneth wages in which he went in person thereto adding his owne ship the Samson and the Golden Noble with two small ships These in the yeere 1592. were set forth but so crossed with winds as three moneths victualls were spent in Harbours before they could get to the Westward of Plymmouth whereby also one of his Lordships principall designes was frustrate which was the taking of the Carrikes outward bound as also the meanes to performe his intended Voyage to the West Indies Wherevpon not like to satisfie that expectation which might arise from a personall expedition of his Lordship he transferred the chiefe command to Captayne Norton and returned to London leauing instructions with the Admirall to goe for the Asores Captayne Norton neere Cape Finisterre met two of the King of Spaines Gallions returning from Brest in Brittanie in fight with whom the Golden Noble receiued a shot in her fore-mast which made them doubt of her further sufficiencie but hauing fished it aswell as they could Captayne Caue her Commander espied an Argosie bound for Lisbone and gaue chase to her within shot of the Fort of Cascaijs within fiue fathome water of a shoald called Catchops and there in sight of the men on shoare laid her aboard and returned into England with her The Admirall with the rest of the fleet arriued at the Asores and hauing watered and refreshed at Flores which that Iland permitted to all men of warre as not able to withstand them put to Sea and spreading themselues the Santa Cruce was descried which made all the haste she could for Angra in Tercera They hasted after and being within halfe a league of her they espied Sir Iohn Burroughs in the Ro-bucke a ship of Sir Walter Raleighs of two hundred tunnes which had ridden vnseene on the Easterne side of the Iland standing to crosse the Carrickes way so that now she was forced the wind being Westerly to luffe vp recouer the Road of Lagowâ—a on the South end of Flores The law and custom of the Sea making al ships of war then together though not formerly consorted equall sharers according to their tunnage of the prizes gained Captayne Norton out of ciuil respect and not needing help consulted with Sir Iohn Burroughs and they agreed to board her the next morning But a storme in the night forced them al from their anchors which the next day being somwhat allaied they recouered the road found the Carrike warped as neer the shore as they could hauing indeuoâ—ed also to put ashore such goods as time would permit and fired with all her sayles and flags vp and Ordnance laden which went off on euery side when the fire came to them a sight more pleasing to the Portugals then the English whom those accounted now the Owners of that consumed substance The surge also issue of the late storme scarsly permitted their Boates to land to seeke to get wrackes and what the Portugals had carried ashoare eâ—â—ry man for feare of wracking the Boates on the Rockes being vp to the neck and some ouer head and eares before they could obtayne the shoare where also they were forced on hands and knees to climbe vp a steep hill on the top whereof stood many Ilanders tumbling downe great stones on them But all difficulties were made easie by resolution and hope which brought them to the Towne now forsaken by her Inhabitants and made them Masters of the wracked goods which seemed to flye thither for refuge from the fire and water Whiles they were thus employed about this burnt Carrike Sir Robert Crosse Captayne of the Foresight of her Maiesties Master Tomson Captayne of the Daintie a ship of Sir Iohn Hawkins Captayne Newport in the Golden Dragon came into this consort They were much grieued with this spectacle but comforted that there had but one of the fiue Carrickes passed this had fallen into this terrible Purgatory and three were still expected They spread themselues continued expecting from the nine and twentieth of Iune till the third of August at which time Master Tomson first had sight of the great Carricke called Madre de Dios and comming vp gaue her a broad-side of Ordnance falling a sterne came hauing laden his Ordnance again and againe to deliuer his pealâ—s to hinder her way till the rest of the fleet could come the Carricke answering with the like Sir Iohn Burroughes and the Golden Dragon came in about three a clocke and Sir Iohn receiued a shot of a Canon Perier vnder water in the Bread-roome which made him beare vp to stop his leake Sir Robert Crosse was the next who to giue her his broad side came so neere that becalming his sayles he vnwillingly fell aboard the Carricke which hauing lashed her fast by the Strowdes sayled away with her by her side The Earle of Cumberlands ships worst of sayle were the last which came vp about eleuen aclocke at night not minding then to boord her But hearing the Foresight calling to Captayne Norton And you be men saue the Queenes ship he gaue order to the Samson to lay her aboord on the one side and promising to doe the like in the Tigre on the other which about twelue a clock was performed The Tigre running stemling aboord broke her beake-head to the huddings the Samson laid the Forefight aboord and entred thorow her into the Carricke whereby
these Rites they say they pray for the dead They neuer make an end till they haue spent all and then they returne to their labours They are very expert in the Arts which they learne although it be writing or reading which yet is not granted them to learne They pay yeerely to their Gouernours a certaine tribute of Siluer and other things after they are eighteene yeeres old till fiftie The Commendator receiueth these things conditionally to maintaine a Priest and a Corrigidor and to pay the tenths to the Church This and other places are there giuen for two liues the sonne or eldest daughter succeeding The Corrigidors amongst the Indians are prohibited merchandise A Visitor is appointed in euery Court to goe to the places of that Precinct to enquire of affaires and to decide controuersies The number of Mesticos is great which wander vp and downe poore and beggarly nor giue their minds to learne any handicrafts It were good they were forced to labour A Councell celebrated at Lima 1583. in the third Session Chap. 22. approued of the Pope and our King decreed that wheresoeuer one thousand Indians are found together a Teacher and Priest should be set ouer them The Indians Priests vse at the Kings charges to carrie with them many religious men and the Iesuites by the supreme Councell of India with aduise of the BB. are commanded to send many thither for the Bishops assistance The Rents and Tenths of Bishoprickes are deuided into foure parts one of which goeth to the Bishop a second to the Deane and Chapiter so as the Deanes proportion is 150. the dignities 130. the Canons 100. The third and fourth part are diuided into nine shares called Ninths of which two returne to the King and are bestowed on the buildings of Cathedrall Churches another ninth and halfe on the Fabrickes another ninth and halfe on the Hospitall buildings the fourth remayning are paid to the Vicars Singers Organists and other Church Officers What remayneth is spent on the Fabrickes All are laid out by the Bishops order In my iudgement it were very good if euery Bishoprick had Seminaries and Colledges wherein the children of their Caciques and chiefe men might be educated to be maintayned by the Caciques The Bishopricke of Cusco is 200. leagues long and 70. broad that of Lima is greater by the one halfe as is that also of Quito Whereupon the Bishops of the New World writ to the King that it were better to make them more Bishoprickes each of which shall yet retaine 20000. Pezos Euery seuenth yeere ordinarily is a Prouinciall Synod in Peru to which the Bishoppes come some by Sea some by Land 400. or 600. leagues the wayes not admitting Coaches Some haue sought for Vniuersities in some places to bee erected as those of Quito at least for Diuinitie and the liberall Arts and Indian Tongue the Professors to haue foure or 5000. Duckets a piece yeerely There is no question but of the Indians many learned men may adorne the Schooles and Pulpits The Kings Reuenue out of the West Indies is twelue Millions yeerely growing out of the fifth of Gold and Siluer great Meltings Customes of Ports Indian Tributes sale of Offices the Cruzada Tribute of Rents Quicksiluer Fines of Courts and the ninth part of Ecclesiasticall Rents Popes Buls and Collations of Benefices Ecclesiasticall and Secular are subiect to the King and ordered by his supreame Councell of the Indies CHAP. X. Relation of the new Discouerie in the South Sea made by PEDRO FERNANDEZ GIROS Portugez 1609. with his Petitions to the King one Englished another in Spanish THis man being a famous Pilot was sent with two ships from Peru to discouer the Ilands of Salomon After hee had taken his course in the height of the Straits of Magellanuâ— little more or lesse he did discouer a mayne Land and sayled eight hundred leagues vpon the Coast vntill he came to the height of fifteene degrees to the Southward of the Equinoctiall Line where hee found a very fruitfull and pleasant Countrey and well peopled abounding with Pearles Gold and Siluer great store of Limons Orenges and other Fruites excellent good and in great quantitie great store of Goats Hogges Geese Partridges Conies and Fowle Pepper and Spices The Countrey is very temperate and healthfull great store of fish of many different sorts full of wood and goodly high Trees for shipping very good pasture ground for Corne and Cattell The men of the Countrey are some tawnie and some white of good disposition more ciuill and politike then the Indians of Peru and Noua Hispania There is in the Coast a Bay of some twentie leagues into which there fals two great Riuers out of the Countrey which is the place where they purpose to settle their first Plantations There are many Ilands in the same Coast both great and little plentifull they are all and well inhabited This Captaine Giroz shall be presently sent vnto Peru with order and Commission to take vp twelue hundred men and shipping with other necessaries for the Voyage to inhabit and as many more shall be sent the yeere following from Noua Hispania and for the whole businesse he is to receiue fiue hundred thousand Duckets Walsingham Gresley The Copie of a Petition presented to the King of Spaine by Captaine PETER FERDINAND de Quir touching the Discouerie of the fourth part of the World called Terra Australis incognita and of the great riches and fertilite of the same Printed with license in Siuill An. 1610. SIR I Captaine Fernandez de Quiros shew vnto you that this is the eighth Petition which by mee hath beene presented to your Maiesties view to perswade the conduction of some Colonies vnto the Land which your Maiestie hath commanded to bee discouered in the parts of Australia incognita And yet to this houre no resolution is taken neither haue I receiued any answere or hope whereby I might rest assured to obtaine my dispatch although I haue attended fourteene moneths in your Court and haue imployed fourteene yeeres in this Discouery without any profit or other respect but the benefit thereof with which notwithstanding infinite contradictions I haue gone 20000. leagues by Land and by Sea and haue diminished and sunke my estate I haue trauelled with many afflictions in my person and suffered such strange and extraordinary crosses that they seeme almost incredible to my selfe and all that so Religious an vndertake should not vnworthily be abandoned In regard whereof I do most humbly beseech your Maiestie in the bowels of the diuine charitie that you would be pleased to take order that I be not depriued of the fruits of this Designe which with such instance I doe desire and which with so much iustice are due vnto my continuall paines and trauell nor that I bee debarred from the effects of so considerable and well grounded a request whose principall scope is the glory of God and of your Maiestie and from
hee determined to depart from Quito and to goe seeke the Captaine Iohn de Ampudia leauing thereto moe then two hundred of Footmen and Horsemen amongst whom were a great many Inhabitants of the Citie of Quito Unto those Inhabitants the Captaine gaue licence to carrie with them the Cacikes that were escheated them in sharing with as many Indians as they would That which they did and Alfonso Sanches Nuita carried forth with him his Cacike with moe then an hundred Indians besides and in like manner Peter Cibo and his Cousin and they led out more then an hundred and fifty with their wiues and sundry also sped out their children because that in a manner euery one died for hunger Also Moran Inhabitant of Popayan carried out moe then two hundred persons And the like did all the rest Citizens and Souldiers euery one after his abilitie the Souldiers crauing that they might haue licence giuen them to captiue those Indians men and women which they carried forth the which was granted them vntill the death of the said captiues and those deceased to take as many more When they departed out of the Prouince of Quito they carried out moe then sixe thousand Indians men and women and of all those there neuer returned home into their Countrie twenty persons For they died all through the great and excessiue trauell which they made them indure in those broyling Countries contrary to their nature It happened at that time that one Altonso Sanches whom the said Captaine sent for Chieftaine ouer a certaine number of men into a Prouince there met with a good company of women and young boyes laden with victuals who stayed waiting for them without mouing from the place to giue them of that which they had and hauing so done the Captaine commanded that they should be put to the sharpe of the sword It came to passe also that at the time that the said Captaine came into the Prouince of Lili to a Towne called Palo neere vnto the great Riuer where hee found the Captaine Iohn de Ampudia which was gone before to discouer and pacifie the Countrie the said Ampudia kept a Citie by him prouided of a Garrison in the name of his Maiestie and of the Marques Francis of Pizarro and had set ouer them for Gouernours ordinary one Petre Solano of Quennoues and eight Counsellours and all the rest of the Countrie was in peace and shared out amongst them And as hee knew that the said Captaine was in the said Riuer hee came to see him with a great number of the Inhabitants of the Countrie and peacefull Indians laden with victuals and fruits Shortly after also all the neighbour Indians came to see him bringing him food There were the Indians of Xamundi and of Palo and of Soliman and of Bolo Now because that they brought no Mahis which he would haue he sent a great number of Spaniards with their Indians to goe search for Mahis commanding them to bring some where soeuer they found any So went they to Bolo and to Palo and found the Indians men and women in their houses in peace and the said Spaniards with those that were with them tooke them and robbed their Mahis their Gold and Couerings and all that they had and bound many Wherefore they seeing that the Captaine kept no Faith with them all the Countrie arose and reuolted from the Spanish whereof ensued great damage and God and the Kings Maiestie offended and by this meanes the Countrey remayned dispeopled for that the Olomas and the Manipos their enemies which are Mountaine people and warlike descended daily to take and robbe them when they perceiued the Citie and places of their abode left destitute And amongst them hee who was the stronger did eate vp his fellow for all died for famine This done the Captaine came to the Citie of Ampudia where he was receiued for Generall From this place they goe to a Citie called Tukilicui from whence the Cacike of the place yeelded forth incontinent in peace a number of Indians going before him The Captaine demanded Gold of him and of his Indians The Cacike told him that hee had but a small deale and that which he had should be giuen him and immediatly all beganne to giue him all that they had Whereupon the said Captaine gaue vnto euery of them a ticket with the name of the said Indian for a testimoniall that he had giuen him Gold affirming that hee which should haue neuer a ticket should be cast to the Dogges to bee deuoured because he gaue him no Gold Whereupon the Indians for feare that they were put in gaue him all the Gold that they were able and those which had none fled into the Mountaines and other Townes for feare to bee slaine By reason whereof perished a great number of the natiue Inhabitants of the Countrie And shortly after the said Captaine commanded the Cacike to send two Indians to another Citie named Dagna to will them that they should come in peace and bring him Gold in abundance And comming to another Citie hee sent that night many Spaniards to take the Indians and namely of Tulilicui So as they brought the next morrow aboue an hundred persons and all those which could beare burdens they tooke them for themselues and for their Souldiers and put them to the chaine whereof they died all And the said Captaine gaue the little children vnto the said Cacike Tulilicui that hee should eate them and in truth the skinnes of those children are kept in the house of the said Cacike Tulilicui full of ashes and so departed hee from thence without an Interpreter and went towards the Prouinces of Castile where hee ioyned himselfe vnto the Captaine Iohn de Ampudia who had sent him to discouer another way doing both of them great outrages and much mischiefe vnto the Inhabitants of the Countrie where they became And the said Iohn de Ampudia came to a Citie the Cacike and Lord whereof called Bitacur had caused to make certaine Duches to defend himselfe and there fell into the same two Horses the one of Antonie Rodondos the other of Marc Marqueâ—â—s That of Marcos Marquis died the other not For which cause the said Ampudia commanded to take all the Indians men and women that might be and thereupon tooke and layed together more then an hundred persons whom they cast aliue into those Ditches and slue them and brent withall more then an hundred houses in the said Citie And in that manner met in a great Citie where without summoning the Indians being at peace and without any spokesman to goe betweene them they slue with their Speares a great number of them making on them mortall warre And as it is said soone after they were met the said Ampudia told the Captaine what he had done in Bitaco and how he cast so many into the Ditches and the said Captaine answered that it was well done and that he for his part had done as much
the coast of France The Generall of this mightie Nauie was Don Alonso Perez de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of S. Lucar and Knight of the golden Fleece by reason that the Marquesse of Santa Cruz appointed for the same dignity deceased before the time Iohn Martines de Ricalde was Admirall of the Fleete Francis Bouadilla was chiefe Marshall who all of them had their officers fit and requisite for the guiding and managing of such a multitude Likewise Martin Alorcon was appointed Vicar generall of the Inquisition being accompanied with more â—hen a hundreth Monkes to wit Iesuites Capuchines and Friers Mendicant Besides whom also there were Phisitians Chirurgians Apothecaries and whatsoeuer else pertained vnto the Hospitall Ouer and besides the forenamed Gouernours and Officers being men of chiefe note there were 124 very noble and worthy Gentlemen which went voluntarily of their owne costs and charges to the end they might see fashions learne experience and attaine vnto glory Amongst whom was the Prince of Ascoli Alonzo de Leiua the Marquesse de Pennafiel the Marquesse de Ganes the Marquesse de Barlango Count de Paredes Count de Yeluas and diuers other Marqueses and Earles of the honorable families of Mendoza of Toledo of Pachicco of Cordono of Guzman of Manriques and a great number of others I haue by me the Dukes Orders for the whole Nauie during this Voyage made aboord the Gallion Saint Martin May 28. the beginning whereof I haue added the whole would be too long Don ALONSO PERES DE GVSMAN the good Duke of Medina Sidonia Countie of Nebla Marquesse of Casheshe in Africa Lord of the Citie Saint Lucar Captaine Generall of the Occian Sea of the Coast of Andaluzia and of this Armie of his Maiestie and Knight of the honorable Order of the golden Fleece I Doe ordaine and command that the generall Masters of the field all Captaines of the Sea Pilats Masters Souldiers Mariners and Officers and whatsoeuer other people for the Land or Sea seruice commeth in this Armie all the time that it indureth shall be thus gouerned as hereafter followeth viz. First and before all things it is to be vnderstood by all the aboue named from the highest to the lowest that the principall foundation and cause that hath moued the King his Maiestie to make and continue this iournie hath beene and is to serue God and to returne vnto his Church a great many of contrite soules that are oppressed by the Heretikes enemies of our holy Catholike faith which haue them subiects to their sects and vnhappinesse and for that euery one may put his eyes vpon this marke as we are bound I doe command and much desire euery one to giue charge vnto the inferiors and those vnder their charge to imbarke themselues being shriuen and hauing receiued the Sacrament with competent and contrition for their sinnes by the which contrition and zeale to doe God such great seruice he will carry and guide vs to his great glory which is that which particularly and principally is pretended In like manner I doe charge and command you to haue particular care that no Soldier Marriner or other that serueth in this Armie doe blaspheme or rage against God or our Lady or any of the Saints vpon paine that he shall therefore sharply be corrected and very well chastened as it shall seeme best vnto vs and for other oathes of lesse qualitie the Gouernours in the same Ships they goe in shall procure to remedy all they shall punish them in taking away their allowance of Wine or otherwise as they shall thinke good And for that the most occasions come by play you shall publikly prohibit it especially the games that are forbidden and that none doe play in the night by no meanes Articles follow to suppresse quarrels to auoid disgracing any man and all occasions of scandall forbidding carriage of common women with other orders for watchwords attendance on the Admirall for fire and wilde-fire and lights armours shâ—â— powder match and other necessary instructions too long to be here particularised that in the height of humaine policie and religious hypocrisie the hand of God in Englands preseruation may be made euident While the Spaniards were furnishing this their Nauie the Duke of Parma at the direction of King Philip made great preparation in the low Countries to giue aide and assistance vnto the Spaniards building Ships for the same purpose and sending for Pilots and Ship wrights out of Italy In Flanders he caused certaine deepe channels to be made and among the rest the channell of Yper commonly called Yper-lee employing some thousands of workemen about that seruice to the end that by the said Cannell he might transport Ships from Antwerp and Ghendt to Bruges where he had assembled aboue a hundreth small Ships called Hoyes being well stored with victuals which Hoyes he was determined to haue brought into the Sea by the way of Sluys or else to haue conueied them by the said Yper-lee being now of greater depth into any port of Flanders whatsoeuer In the Riuer of Waten he caused 70. Ships with flat bottomes to be built euery one of which should serue to carry 30. horses hauing each of them Bridges likewise for the Horses to come on boord or to goe forth on land Of the same fashion he had prouided 200. other vessels at Neiuport but not so great And at Dunkerk he procured 28. Ships of warre such as were there to be had and caused a sufficient number of Mariners to be leuied at Hamburg Breme Emdâ—n and at other places He put in the ballast of the said Ships great store of beames of thicke plankes being hollow and beset with Iron pikes beneath but on each side full of claspes and hookes to ioyne them together He had likewise at Graueling prouided 20. thousand of caske which in a short space might be compact and ioyned together with nailes and cords and reduced into the forme of a Bridge To be short whatsoeuer things were requisite for the making of Bridges and for the barring stopping vp of Hauens mouthes with stakes posts and other meanes he commanded to be made ready Moreouer not far from Neinport hauen he had caused a great pile of wooden fagots to be laid and other furniture to be brought for the rearing vp of a Mount The most part of his Ships contained two Ouens a peece to bake Bread in with a great number of saddles bridles and such other like apparell for Horses They had Horses likewise which after their landing should serue to conuey and draw engines field-pieces and other warlike prouisions Neeere vnto Neiuport he had assembled an armie ouer the which hee had ordained Camillo de Monte to be Camp-master This army consisted of 30. bands or ensignes of Italians of ten bands of Wallons eight of Scots and eight of Burgundians all which together amount vnto 56. bands euery band containing a hundreth persons Neere vnto Dixmud there
Cape which was our third Rende-uous by our first appointment to cause Sir Walter Raleigh and all others of our Fleete to follow And being with the Iland of Terçera I looked into the roade of Brasil and saw there was no Fleete whereupon we bare alongst betwixt Saint George and Graciosa for the Island of Flores at which we might both water and take in victuals which in Merchants ships her Maiestie had sent after vs and where if the Indian Fleete did come this yeere they were likest to fall But when we had spent at Flores some ten dayes in which time Sir Walter Raleigh and his company came vnto vs by a small Pinnace come from the Indies I the Generall was told that it was doubtfull whether the Indian Fleete came from thence or not and if they did they would change their vsuall course and come in some height more to the Southward till they were past these Ilands where vsually they are attended Which newes made vs resolue in Counsell to goe for Fayal and so for Saint Michael and to haue some nimble ships to lye off and on at Sea both to the Southward and to the Northward In our passage by saile Graçiosa and Pico we tooke such commodities and refreshings as those Ilands afforded and in passing from them toward Saint Michael wee were told that a great ship was discouered off of Graciosa whereupon I the Generall gaue order to diuide and to direct the Fleete into three places the one to stirre away East North-east and to goe along the Northside of Terçera the other East South-east and to goe by the Southside of the said Iland and both to meete in the roade of Brasil so as if the Carackes or West Indian Fleete should striue to recouer Terçera they should be cut off And the third part of the Fleete should ply to the Westward which way it was said that the great ship stood and so to cut it off if it sought for the roade of Fayal which if she were kept from Terçera was her onely place she could put into and one of these three wayes she must needes stand for the winde being at North North-west shee could not goe but one of these three courses Bvt as I had giuen this direction there came to me a small Barke of Lime whose Captaine did confidently assure me that he was the man that did follow the chase and fetched it vp finding it but a small ship of our owne Fleete which made vs resolue to continue our former intended course for Saint Michael But in this meane time I the Generall hailing the Captaine of a Pinnace and willing him to call to the ships of my squadron to follow my light and those of the Viceadmirals squadron to follow his light to the Westward which direction I did presently after counter-mand hee misheard and willed some ships that were next to stand about to the Westward which direction together with his not hearing of me that which was spoken to countermand it made foure of her Maiesties ships the Garland the Marie-rose the Dread-naught and the Rainebow to stand off to the West all that night of which Sir William Mounson in the Rainebowe fell in the night with the West Indian Fleete and it being calme went off in his Boate to make and haile them which hee did and made himselfe knowne vnto them and straight rowing to his ship hee shot off his Ordnance all night and carried a light in his maine top whereupon the other three of her Maiesties ships stood off with him but could not fetch vp the Spaniards till they were gotten into Tercera Road before which after they had striued in vaine to get into them they plied till my comming which was three dayes after for I was hard aboord the Westermost part of Saint Michaell before I heard these newes And then standing about I the Generall being on head of the Fleet met in my way with a great Ship of the Gouernour of Hanana and a Frigate of the Spanish King manned with the said Kings Souldiers and another Frigate of a particular man which three I fetched out tooke and manned for the safe bringing home of the Ship and goods and fell the next night being Saturday the of with Tercera where finding the wind strong at Northwest we plyed with as much saile as euer we could bear to get vp to the road of Brasil all that night Al Sunday and Sunday night and till Munday morning wee could not weather the point of Brasil which when wee had done while I the Generall gathered such of the Fleet as were neere I sent in a Pinnace of my Lord of Cumberland and foure or fiue of very sufficient Captaines and Masters to see whether it were possible for vs to get vp where the Ships rode and they brought me backe word it was impossible With which I being not satisfied plied in with mine owne Ship keeping aboord with mee two or three of the principall Officers that wee might iudge by the eye and dispute vpon the place and when wee were in wee saw the bottome of the Bay into which they were towed and warped lay right in the eye of the wind so as to lead it in with a sayle it was impossible and to turne it vp would aske an whole day if wee had scope but both wee must vpon either boord come within a quoytes cast off their Forts and yer our Ships would wend in so narrow a place wee should haue beene on shoare Which manifest discouerie and not the idle Shot of all the Forts and Ships though they were verie liberall made mee stand off againe And as it was impossible to doe any thing for the present so when I the Generall called all the Captaines of her Maiesties Ships together and enquired the estate of their charge I found that some by the naughtinesse of their Caske and leakage of Beere had not aboue two dayes and some not one dayes drinke aboord and that which most of vs all had did so stinke as our men dyed and fell sicke continually and all men-protested that if wee stayed to attend change of windes and did not instantly seeke a watering place both men and Ships were absolutely lost Besides we saw the Galions had beene vnladen by their shewing their white bellies so much aboue water and that the Merchants Ships lay all dry on shoare so as we had abidden the extreamest hazard of her Maiesties troupes and Ships for the burning of a few dry vnladen Vessells Thus were we driuen to beare the second time with Saint Michael our chiefe end being to water but withall to sacke the Iland if we could land neere the principall Towne where wee came to an anchor before Punta Delgada the chiefe Towne and forthwith went in a little nimble Boat to discouer the landing places which we found to be exceeding dangerous For as about all those Ilands of the Acores a
seuen miles in circuit at the foot fashioned it is vpward like an Hiue and the top therof most commonly to be discerned within and aboue the clouds This Mountaine hath in it by report many great hollow Caues and deepe Vaults and it is credibly reported that oftentimes it breathes out flames and sparkes of fire as doth the Mountaine Aetna Also at the bottome of this Mountain towards the East there is a great Spring of Fresh-water which is seen many times to issue out flakes and stones of fire with great violence and of the number and bignesse of the stones that are throwne out by the force and source of this Spring and what huge workes they make of the multitudes of them they confidently doe tell strange wonders which I will neither affirme nor deny but leaue indifferent to credit as men list Fayall is so called of Faya which in the Portugues signifieth a Beech Tree wherewith that Iland is said to abound But yet I saw there more store of Iuniper and Cedar then of any other Wood or Timber For Aire and Soyle it is as pleasant and fruitfull as any of the other Ilands and in it are some fiue Townes with many pretie Villages and in this Iland there are yet remaining certaine families of the Flemish race Gratiosa is so called of the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the Soyle and pleasant temper of the Ayre Flores of the abundance of Flowers that grow in it Cueruo of the multitude of Rauens and Crowes breeding therein And that Iland doth also breed Horses Saint Maries Saint Georges and Saint Michaels were so called of those Saints names vpon whose dayes they were first discouered for such is the custome of many Nauigators and especially of the Spaniards and Portugues so to call those Landes that they first make by the Saints day and name wherein they are discouered And these three Ilands for temper and fruitfulnesse are suteable with the others But Saint Michael is the greatest of them all Tercera the strongest and Saint Maries the neerest to the Coast of Spaine But now as wee come neerer to our intended purpose for the better vnderstanding thereof I thinke it very necessary and pertinent somewhat to speake of the chiefe Commanders as well by Sea as by Land and also of the number of our Ships and Souldiers together with the proiect and designe of that iourney then vndertaken for the seruice of her late Maiestie and the Honour of our Nation It is therefore to be vnderstood that Robert Deuereux late Earle of Essex Master of the Horse and Ordnance and Knight of the Garter First commanded in chiefe as well Admirall of the Nauie by Sea as Generall of the Armie by Land His Vice-Admirall was the Lord Thomas Howard Knight of the same Order and second Sonne to the last Thomas Duke of Norfolke a Nobleman much honoured and beloued and of great experience in Sea seruice His Reare-Admirall was Sir Walter Raleigh Knight Captaine of her Maiesties Guard Lord Warden of the Stanneries and Lieftenant of Cornwall For the Land seruice his Leiftenant Generall was Sir Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy Knight of the Garter Gouernour of Portsmouth and a man in high fauour with her late Maiestie His Marshall of the Field was Sir Frauncis Vere Knight a great Souldier and Coronell Generall of the English Forces in the Low-Countries The Master of the Ordnance Sir George Carew Knight Leiftenant of the Ordnance of the Kingdome of England His Sergeant Maior Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight Gouernour of the Forts of Plimouth The Coronell Generall of the Foot Sir Christopher Blunt Knight The Treasurer of the Armie Sir Hugh Biston Knight one of her Maiesties Receiuers Generall in the Principalities of Walles with all other Officers designed to places requisite that were needful by Land or Sea now too long to rehearse And yet of all the Noblemen I will as neere as I can record their names particularly but craue pardon if I faile in the precedencie of their places The Earles of Essex Rutland and Southampton the Lord Howard the Lord Audley the Lord Gray the Lord Mountioy the Lord Rich and the Lord Cromwell But the particular names of all the Land Captains that had charge I could neuer come to the knowledge of much lesse can I marshall them orderly in this discourse And therefore I will passe to the number of the Ships in generall and therein name some particulars of the chiefe and principall Vessells of the Royall Nauie with their Captaines The whole Nauie which was diuided into three Squadrons viz. The Admirall his Squadron The Vice-Admirall his Squadron and the Reare-Admirall his Squadron consisted of 120. sayle or thereabout whereof sixtie were good men of Warre and gallant Ships the rest Victuallers and Ships of Transportation Of her Maiesties owne Ships the number was eighteene or nineteene and these were their names The Merhoneur Admirall whereof Sir Robert Mansfield was Captaine The Due Repulse Vice-Admirall whereof Master Middleton was Captaine The Wast Spite Reare-Admirall whereof my selfe was Captaine The Garland the Earle of Southampton commanded The Defiance wherein the Lord Mountioy was shipped had for Captaine Sir Amias Preston The Saint Mathew to Sir George Carew Master of the Ordnance The Mary Rose to Sir Francis Vere Marshall whose Captaine was M. Iohn Winter The Dread-nought Sir William Brooke was Captaine of The Nonparellia Sir Richard Luson was Captaine of The Bonouenture Sir William Haruey was Captaine of The Antelope Sir Thomas Vauisâ—r was Captain of The Rainbow Sir William Mounson was Captaine of The Swiftsure Sir Gilly Mericke was Captain of The Golden Lion was sent after for a supply The Hope whereof was Captain The Foresight whereof Sir Carew Reignall was Captaine The Saint Andrew whereof Master Marcellus Throckmorton was Captain The Tramontana whereof young Master Fenner was Captain The Moone whereof Sir Edward Michelboorne was Captaine Besides that there were some other of her Maiesties small Pinnaces that attended the Fleet. The residue or the Fleet aforenamed consisted of the best shipping of London and other Port-Townes of the Kingdome with sundry stout Vestells belonging to some Lords and Gentlemen that were Aduenturers in this Voyage There were also added to this Nauie tenne sayle of good men of Warre sent from the States of the Low-Countries to attend her Maiesties Fleet in this seruice vnder the conduct of one Mounsier de Duneincorde well manned and furnished The Land Army besides Saylers that might be afforded and spared vpon occasion of landing consisted of six thousand able men well appointed with ten Peeces of Artillery for the Field and Battery with all necessary Vtensils fit for them The proportion of victuals was for four months at large allowance double apparell both for Souldier's and Mariners In this Armie there went Knights Captaines and Gentlemen voluntaries fiue hundred at the least as gallant parsonages and as brauely furnished as euer the
the Lions hath beene bitten by the Adder the Spanish Dominions being coasted braued spoiled of thousands of their people besides wealth and security by the basest of enemies the Algier Pirates Thus at home doth Great Britain enioy this Gem of Goodnes the best part of the Ring of the worlds Greatnes abroad we see that as Gods Steward to others also His Maiestie hath ballanced the neerer World by his prudence by iustice of commerce visited the remoter by truest fortitude without wrong to any man conquered the furthest North and by iustest temperance disposed the ouerflowing numbers of his Subiects not in Intrusions and Inuasions of weaker Neighbours but in the spacious American Regions some thinly others not all inhabited to breed New Britaines in another World We haue giuen Voyages thorow this Booke and being now returned home and fixed on so illustrious a Name I meane to trauell no more here I hang vp my Pilgrims weeds here I fixe my Tabernacle it is good to bee here wee haue brought all the World to England England it selfe to the greatest of her Soueraignes King IAMES But yet the mention of his Maiesties Plantations makes me gratefully to mention his gracious care of the same euen since the former Virginian Relations were printed I then left Virginia with some griefe and sorrow because of her distracted Children and Fathers the diuisions and mutuall distasts of the Company here and Planters there sighing to God for them who hath put in his Maiesties heart to compassionate these his Subiects and hauing appointed the Gouernment to be according to a Commission in that Case directed hath to further Virginias gaine beene content to suffer the losse of many thousands yeerly in his Royall Customes arising out of Tobacco so I haue heard deliuered in open Court that so only that of the New Plantations may bee vendible till the Colonie may recouer greater strength His Maiestie is also pleased to send a Running Armie of Souldiers to scoure the Countrey of the vnneighbourly malicious Naturalls and to secure the planters from their priuie ambushments For openly they dare not attempt but lurking in secret places attend aduantages I feare not but so bright a Sunshine will quickly produce blessed effects Of their vndertakers for three yeeres Tobacco I lust not to speake because I wish and euen from that vndertaking shortly expect better commodities from thence then Tobacco I cannot but magnifie His Maiesties care and manifest that also of the Honorable Lords of the Councel who after diligent search of Virginian Affaires the last yeere 1623. appointed Captaine Iohn Haruey Master Iohn Porey Master Abraham Persey Master Samuel Matihews to search further into the diseases and possible remedies of that plantation In Februarie and March last a generall Assembly was summoned and questions propounded to Sir Francis Wiat Gouernour and the said Assembly First what places in the Countrey were best and most proper to be fortified or maintayned both against Indians or other Enemies Secondly concerning the present state of the Colonie in reference to the Sauages Thirdly touching the hopes really to be conceiued of the Plantation and fourthly touching the Meanes thereunto c. Their answere I know not whether I may publish in other things In this one I presume for better confirmation of what hath beene said before to incite and confirme Mens affections to Virginia namely their answere to the third subscribed as the rest by about thirty chiefe mens hands We hold it to be one of the goodliest parts of the Earth abounding with Nauigable riuers full of varietie of Fish and Fowle falling from high and sleepe Mountaines which by generall relation of the Indians are rich with Mines of Gold Siluer and Copper another Sea lying within sixe dayes iourney beyond them into which other Riuers descend The soile fruitfull and apt to produce the best sorts of commodities replenished with many Trees for seuerall vses Gums Dyes Earths and Simples of admirable vertues Vines and Mulberry Trees growing wild in great quantities the Woods full of Deare Turkies and other Beasts and Birds Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dales reports to the Company concerning those praises were in no part hyperbolicall nor any Countrey more worthy of a Princes care and supportance Other reports concerning the healthfulnesse of the aire especially where the ground is cleered of woods and other needfull prouisions of the plantation in numbers of Men and Armes which some had hyperbolically disgraced and in all other necessaries seeing the late massacre hath not permitted it better I am glad reioyce that it is no worse and hope and pray for the fortunate increase thereof daily I reioyce also to heare by one lately returned thence Master Morell a Minister and man of credit that the affaires of New England are thriuing and hopefull which two Colonies of Virginia and New England with all their Neighbours God make as Rachel and Leah which two did build the house of Israel that they may multiply into thousands and there inlarge the Israel of God and the Churches Catholike confines doing worthily in America and being famous in Great Britaine These with the rest of his Maiesties Dominions and his neerest and deerest possession Prince Charles his Highnesse the Count Palatine the Lady Elizabeth more shining more pure in her fiery trialls and like the pressed palme and her Royall Godmother spreading her boughes the more by greater weight with the sweet and princely Fruits of her wombe still multiplied like the Israelites vnder the Crosse God preserue and prosper vnto the Maiesty of our Dread Soueraigne the mighty Defender of the True Faith KING IAMES Amen O AMEN The end of the tenth Booke FINIS AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL things contained in the fiue Bookes of the fourth Part of Purchas his Pilgrimes A AAys a Prouince in Florida 1553 Abayâ—a formozo a Harbour in Brasile where is found great store of Amber greice Coral Brasil-wood Fish c. 1240 Abausango Retambuero a great mountaine in Brasile 1240 Abausanga the name of a valiant Caniball 1228 Abermot a great Lord of Mawooshen 1874 Aborollas dangerous Sands clifts in the West-Indies betweene the Cape and Spirito Santo 1222 Abraham Cock an Englishman maried in America 1141 Abrioio great Shoalds in the Latitude of 21 and 22 Degrees from Hispaniola westward 1834 Acara a towne in Peru 1446 Acacoustomed a Riuer in Mawooshen 1874 Acapulea the situation and description thereof 1418. 1446. 1562 Acarewanas Indian Kings Lords so called 1247 Acari a Towne where is made the best and greatest store of wine in all Peru 1446 Accomack a Riuer in Virginia 1694 Acela a Towne in Florida 1531 Achese a Towne in Florida 1536 Achneres a certaine people so called their natures habitations fashions and commodities 1357 Acle a Gulph so called 1244 Acoma a Towne of 6000 Indians the passage to which is by stayres â—â—wen out of a rocke 1561 1562 Acuco a Prouince in America 1560 Acus a
eate a greene one it will stay a scouring Probagum En quo diseâ—â—dia Ciues Perduxit miseros Roagues Bay Cape Knaue Riuer of Rascals Saint Vincâ—â—ts Testigos Granados Current Margarita Sword-fish Cap. Leighs death Comana Seuen saile of Hollanders 23. March 1608. The Rose The Patience The Lilly Land-men sixtie They set saile the 23. of March They arriue at Alegranza Tenerise An excellent watering place The Riuer of Amazones Fresh water in the Sea 30. leagues from land Ioseph Acosta Hicron Gâ—raua Tarraconensis The eleuenth of May they made land in Guiana The Patience in danger of wrack Ilands called Carripapoory The Bay of Wiapoco Indian boats A village called Caripo A messenger sent to the Indians The Indians came aboard The chief men of the Nation of the Yaios couer their priuities The women generally goe all naked Their conference with the Indians Sir W. Raleighâ— acts in these parts See Hak. 〈◊〉 3. The Orenoqueponi rendred themselues subiects to Queen Elizabeth Cap. Keymis his voyage to Guiana Possession of the Countrie taken at Wiapoco by Captaine Lee to his Maiesties vse The Indians go to counsell Their answere * By Sir Walter Raleigh and Captaine Lee. The Indian Martyn goeth ashoare The English take land The English feasted by the Indians The gratefull offer of Martyn The English setled at Caripo in Wiapoco The strength of the place continuall raines The bounds and limits of Guiana Arrapoco a branch of Amazones Arrawary Maicary Anaky-v-ry chiefe of the Yaios Morooga Conâ—â—ini Cooshebery Leonard Rapago Lord of Coâ—shebery A Mountaine called Cowob Topases in Cooshebery The quality of the Prouince of Cooshebery Arracoory and Morrownia An exceeding high Hill called Callipuny Norrak Anaki-v-ry Riuers falling into the Sea betweene Amazones and Wiapoco Wianary a creek The Prouince of Wiapocoory â—rasana Aâ—riquona Câ—suriao Riuers faâ—â—ing into the Sea tâ— the North-west of Wiapoco Muccumbro an Iland Mattoory an Iland Arrawicary chiefe Captaine of the Caiane Foure or fiue men placed at Caiane The manner of their gouernment Murder and Adultery punished â—y death The Indianâ— by nature iealous ouer their wiues The Indians haue many wiues Diuers languages in Guiana The Charibes most ancient vpon the Sea coast The Indians make war for their women The Charibes warre vpon Leonard The vsual weapons of the Indians Leonard desireth aide of the English The manner of ordering then men in the warres The Charibes amazed at the sight of the English Leonard speaketh to the Charibes The Charibes agree to peace for feare of the English The season of the yeare in Guiana The Summer beginneth in August The winter beginneth in February Their account of times and numbers Religion They vse no sacrifice not religious worship to any thing The manner of their drinking feast at the death of their Captaines Their Peeaios or Priests haue conference with the diuel Their opinion of the dead At the death of a Cassique they kill an Indian to serue him in the other world The quality of the Land The prouisions for victuals The roote of Cassaui maketh their bread and drinke Maix or Guinea wheate Their diuers kinds of drinke An excellent drinke made of Cassaui Store of hony The soyle excellent for Vines Sundry kindes of Beasts in Guiana Swine which haue the Nauile in the back Great variety of Fowles Diuers kindeâ— of fish Oysters hang vpon trees A fish hauing foure eyes and the â—iâ—s and backe like a man The Sea cow like beefe Sundrie kinde a of fruits Pina Platana Potato Mâ—dler Plummes Nuts The varietie of commodities Sugar Canes Cotton wooll Naturall hemp or flaxe Diuers commodities for Dyers Annoto A gum which dyeth a yelloâ— in graine Sweet gums The vertues of Colliman or Carriman The Colliman helpeth the gowt Barratta a rare Ballamum A perfume like sweet Margerum Drugges and simples for physicke An apple which prouoketh sleepe to death A berry curing the bloudie fluxe A leafe curing the wounds of the poysoned arrowes A leafe curing the head-ache A wood that maketh fish drunke Tobacco 60000. worth of Tabacco in a yeere The comodities most esteemed by the Indians Leaden minds minde nothing but golden Mynes Disorders by mutiny Good to bee doing somewhat to preuent the deuil The high Countroy of Guiana aboundeth with images of Gold The Rocks of the purest white Sparre are Mynes of gold or siluer Many ouer-falâ— in Wiapoco People hauing great eares perhaps these eares are made large by art as diuers East Indians vse The proportion of their Idoll Possession taken for the King at Gomeribo The like possession taken at Arrawary Point Perilow A great argument of plentie in the Countrey A dangerous Boore at Carvipapoory Gomeribo deliuered to an Indian as the Kings tenant The only cause of losse by the voyage Cap. Michael Harecourt left Commander of the company Possession continued 3. yeeres Twentie men left with Captaine Harcourt at Wiapoco The Pinnasse receiued a leake at Caiane R. Meccooria R. Courwo Riuers to the West pf Courwo Ilands called Curowapory They proceed in discouery of Marrawini The Riuer full of ouerfals They went sixe daies iourney vp the Riuer Moyemon Trees which had the sense of feeling These grow both in the East Indies in Guinne See 10. Gomâ—â— 1. l. 9. Scaliger Exercit. 181. sect 28. Bartas Eden 1. day 2. weeke Viawia a Towne of 20. houses M. Vnton Fisher and two others left at Wiawia M. Fisher trauelled eleuen daies iourney vp the Riuer of Morra viz. 100. leagues The Prouince of Moreshegoro Indians with rough skinnes like Buffe Diuers mighty Nations of Indians far vp in Marrawini towards the high Land Riuers falling into Marrawini Twentie daies iourney from Taupuramune to the head of Marraw The Countrie aboue the head of Mar. is plaine and Champian ground The tenth of September they left Guiana They were in danger to bee cast away They finde 3. English ships at Punta de Galea Pitch gotten in the earth which melteth not with the Sunne They arriue at Port de Hispania Don Sanches de Mendosa commeth aboord their ship The Spaniards much molested by the Charibes They depart from Triaidadâ— They arriue at Meues An excellent hot Bath at Meues An extrâ—ame cough cured by the Bath A mans hand burned with Gunpowder and by the Bath cured in 24. houres Swellings in the legges cured in a day They depart from Meues They fell with Fayal They are driuen bya storme into Ireland The number of those that died A beast and a fish like Beefe A beast like Mutton * I found this fairely written amongst M. Hak. papers but know not who was the Author Long eares perhaps made by art with hanging weights thereon as is vsed in the East Indies Waters ouerflowing Great Bats Darke and dangerous passage Stones transparant See A. Kniuet Spaniards killed Spanish deuises of torruâ—es Sir Fr Drakes at Guatulco on the South Sea found a Negro in iron chains 20. yards long senced to be whipped till al his flesh was
aide 5000. foote and 1000. horse at her owne charge to be by them after repayed the first yeares charges in the first yeare of peace the rest in the foure following Flushing and the Ramekins and Brill to remaine â—ers in caution c. Her Maiestie set forth a Booke also for her iustification by the ancient leagues with the Belgian Prouinces for mutuall defence the Spanish crueltie on the poore Belgians and their nefarious deuises against her neither had she any intent in administring these aides but that the Low-Countries might enioy their ancient liberty she and her subiects their securitie and both Nations peaceable commerce And to the end that warre might not first be brought home to her owne doores she set forth a Fleete to finde the Spaniard worke abroad Hereupon Anâ—o 1585. Sir Francis Drake with a Fleete of fiue and twenty saile and 2300. Souldiers and Sailers was set forth from Plimmouth Sep. 12. Christopher Carlile his Lieutenent Generall Anthonie Powell Sergeant Maior Captaine Matthew Morgan and Iohn Samson Corporall of the field Land Captaines Anthonie Plat Edward Winter Iohn Goring Robert Pen George Barton Iohn Merchant William Ceuill Walter Bigs Iohn Haman Richard Stanton Captaine Martin Frobisher Viceadmirall in the Primrose Captaine Francis Knolles Rereadmirall in the Gallion Leicester Captaine Thomas Vennâ—r in the Eliz. Bonaduenture vnder the Generall Captaine Edward Winter in the Aide Christopher Carlile in the Tigre Henry White Captain of the Sea Dragon Thomas Drake Captaine of the Thomas Thomas Seely Captaine of the Minion Captaine Bayly of the Barke Talbot Robert Crosse of the Barke Bond George Fortescue of the Barke Boner Edward Carelesse of the Hope Iames Erizo of the White Lyon Thomas Moone of the Fancis Iohn Riuers of the Vantage Iohn Vaughan of the Drake Iohn Varney of the George Iohn Martin of the Beniamin Richard Gilman of the Scout Richard Hawkins of the Ducke Captaine Bitfield of the Swallow They tooke a Shippe of Saint Sebastians laden with fish entred the Iles of Bayon and sent to the Citie to know whether there were warres betwixt England and Spaine and why the English Merchants and their goods in Spaine were embarged or arrested The Gouernour professed his ignorance in both and that this later was the Kings pleasure After some spoiles done about Vigo they fell with Hierro but the Iland being poore departed without harme Thence they went to the Iles of Cape Verde and at Saint Iago entred betwixt the Towne called Playa or Praya and Saint Iago landed 1000. men and the men being fled entred the Towne and shot off all their Ordnance being 50. peeces answered from the Ships to honour the Queenes day the 17. of Nouember No Treasure was found but Wine Oyle Meale c. They possessed it foureteene dayes Nouember the foure and twentieth they marched to Saint Domingo twelue miles within land and found the people fled After foureteene dayes they departed hauing burned the Towne of Playa none of the inhabitants hauing offered to intercede which seemed to happen from their guiltinesse towards old Master William Hawkins whose men perfidiously they had murthered foure or fiue yeares before against their promise putting off to the West Indies they could not put off the effects of the aire of that Iland which by a Calentura killed two or three hundred of their men The first Iland which they fell with was Dominica the next Saint Christophers and hauing there spent their Christmas they resolued for Hispaniola and hauing receiued intelligence by a Frigot which they tooke in the way they landed nine or ten miles to the Westward of Saint Domingo on New yeares day About noone they approached the Towne vnder the conduct of Master Carlile and 150. horsemen presenting themselues from the Citie being retired they diuided their forces to assault both the Westerne gates at once The Ordnance being discharged on them they ran in to preuent a second charge and entred with them pell mell into the Gates the enemy altering their fight into flight which they made by the North gate Both troopes met in the Market-place and there barricadoed themselues The Castle was abandoned the next night They held the Towne a whole moneth They burned many houses before they could bring the Spaniards to a price for the ransome of the rest for which at last they paid after much spoile 25000. Duckets The pray was not much In the Towne-house were the Kings armes and in the lower part of the scutchion was painted a globe of the Sea and Land a horse standing thereon with his hinder legges the forepart without the globe with this motto ascribed to his mouth Non sufficit Orbis From Saint Domingo they set saile for Carthagena on the Continent landing some Companies with Captaine Carlile fiue miles of which were led on by night the Generall with this Fleete presenting themselues before the chained Port and hauing gotten the Citie held the same six weekes They tooke Alonso Brauo the Gouernour After many houses burned 11000. Duckets were paid for ransome of the rest from burning The Calentura continued killing some being a pestilent spotted Feuer and spoyling others of their strength and memory for a long time The Serena or Euening ayre is said to cause it to them which are then abroad if not of that Countrey so that by holding their watch the English were thus infected This forced them to giue ouer their intended voyage to Nombre de Dios and Panama sailing therefore alongst the coast of Florida they tooke and fired two garrison Townes of the Spaniards Saint Anthonie and Saint Helena and the Fort of Saint Iohn Then passing alongst the Virginian shore they tooke home the English Colonie there remaining with Master Lane their Gouernour sent by Sir Walter Raleigh These are said by Master Camden to haue beene the first bringers in of the vse of Tobacco since so frequently abused by our Nation They arriued at Portsmouth the 28. of Iuly 1586. They got Ordnance of Brasse aboue 200. peeces and about 40. of Iron They prey was valued at 60000. li. English There dyed most of the Calentura 700. persons The industry of the Generall in all places is remakeable whose vigilance and bodily presence and labour in all businesse was much that had he beene in the meanest he had merited the highest place To this is fittest in next place to adde his Cadiz exploit Anno 1587. and the taking of the rich Caracke called Saint Philip. HEr Maiestie being informed of that inuincible Armadas preparing in Spaine which did come and was ouercome the yeare after sent a fleete of 30. saile vnder the command of Sir Francis Drake the Bonaduenture the Lyon the Dread-naught and the Rainbow were out of her Nauy Royall chosen to this seruice The 16. of Aprill two Shippes of Midleborough which came from Cadiz with whom we met in 40. degrees gaue him to vnderstand that there was great
plunges by reason of a high going Sea which breaketh vpon the flats and shoalds especially at the next great Cape to the North of Arraway which in respect of the danger they passed there they named Point Perillous Then their Discouery vp the Riuer was fiftie leagues more where they found a Nation of Indians which neuer had seene white men or Christians before and could not be drawne to any familiar commerce or conuersation no not so much as with our Indians because they were strangers to them and of another Nation The Discouery of this Riuer is of great importance and speciall note affoording an entrance more behouefull for the searching and Discouery of the Inland parts of Guiana then any other Riuer yet knowne vpon the Coast for trending Westward vp into the Land it discouereth all the Countreyes and Nations to the Southward of Arricary Cooshebery Morrownia and Norrack which I haue mentioned before Many weekes they spent in this Aduenture still taking vp their Lodgings in the Woods at night Prouision of meate they wanted not for fish were euer plenty and at hand and the Woods yeelded either Deere Tigres or Fowle their greatest want was of bread and drinke which onely defect did hinder at that time the accomplishment of that Discouery For when the Indians perceiued their bread to be neere spent and their drinke to be corrupted they could not be perswaded to proceed hauing no meanes to supply their wants amongst the Arrawaries the Indians of that Riuer who would not freely trade with them vpon this first acquaintance but alwayes stood vpon their guard on the other side of the Riuer where they inhabited yet desiring to obtaine some of our English commodities and make triall of our Indians friendship affoorded some small Trade for their present reliefe during their abode in that Riuer So that of force they were constrained to breake off their Discouerie and hasten homeward But here their dangers ended not for as they returned arriuing at certaine Ilands called Carripoory and passing betweene them and the mayne Land much against the wils of all the Indians who knowing the danger of the place and more respecting their safetie then their owne being themselues all expert Swimmers would haue disswaded them from that hazard but they being ignorant of the perill would needs passe on and at the last met with such a Boore as the Seamen terme it and violent encounter of two tydes comming in which like two furious inraged Rammes or Bulles rushed together and oft retired backe to returne againe with greater violence vntill the one by force had ouer-borne the other that if next vnder God the diligent care and paines of the Indians had not preserued them they had been there destroyed and swallowed vp by that mercilesse Boore or breach of waters which God be thanked they escaped and returned home in safetie When I had as before taken possession at Gomeribo in presence of the said parties I deliuered the possession of that Mountaine to my Indian Anthony Canabre To haue hold possesse and enioy the same to him and to his Heires for euer of our Souereigne Lord King Iames his Heires and Successors as his subiect Yeelding and paying yeerely the tenth part of all Tabacco Cotton-wooll Annoto and other commodities whatsoeuer which should hereafter be either planted or growing within the said Mountaine if it were demanded The Indian most gladly receiued the possession vpon these conditions and for himselfe and his posteritie did promise to bee true Subiects vnto the Kings Maiestie his Heires and Successours And to pay the duties imposed vpon them and so that businesse being finished I returned againe to Wiapoco Now most worthy Prince there came vnto my knowledge an inconuenience happened by the carelesse negligence of the Master of my ship who had the charge of prouiding and laying in the prouisions and victuals for the Voyage which was the cause that I gained no present profit by it but left off all my Discoueries in the first beginning I had a purpose at that time to performe a businesse which might haue proued profitable and honourable vnto vs if I had beene able to haue stayed the time but it was not my chance to bee so fortunate for the Master his Mates and the Steward of my Ship came vnto me and told mee plainly that if I made any longer abode in that Countrey I would neuer in those ships returne into England or if I did aduenture it my selfe and all my Company would starue at Sea for want of Beere Syder and Water for all my Caske was spoyled because it was not Iron-bound the woodden hoopes flew off by reason of the heate of the Climate and our Beere and Syder whereof wee had good store did leake about the ship that we could hardly saue sufficient to releeue vs if wee made a longer stay vpon the Coast which was the Masters fault hauing had a speciall charge to be carefull of that onely point By this default I was constrained to make a vertue of necessitie and prepare my selfe for England and leaue my former purposes to be accomplished hereafter which shall be done God aiding me in time conuenient Then disposing of my company I appointed my Brother Captaine Michael Harecourt to remayne in the Countrey as chiefe Commander in my absence and to continue the possession on the Kings behalfe I gaue him directions to trauell abroad as occasion serued to discouer the Countrey to spend sometime at Cooshebery and sometime also in other places but to make his chiefest residence at Wiapoco the onely Rendeuouz for shippes that trade vpon that Coast and there to plant good store of Maix for our releife of bread and drinke which is the chiefest thing to be respected in those parts for other victuals wee need not take much care being alwayes easily prouided He performed his charge with great reputation discouered many goodly Prouinces and spacious Countreyes and worthily continued the possession full three yeeres compleate I left with him for his assistance Captaine Haruey who hath nobly vowed his time and fortune to be employed in the prosecution of this honourable action For his Lieutenant I appointed Master Edward Gifford a valiant and worthy Gentleman and I left also with him of Gentlemen and others about twentie more with all such necessaries as I could spare and thought conuenient for them and so commending them to God the eighteenth day of August I departed from Wiapoco and the day following arriued at Caiane At my comming to Caiane my Pinnasse receiued a leake which would haue proued dangerous if we had beene farre at Sea whereby enforced to attend the stopping thereof and new trimming of the Pinnasse and vnwilling to be idle in the meane space doing nothing I left my ships there to repaire theire defects and in my ship-boate departed thence the twentie three of August taking with me Captaine Fisher who hath euer beene since
Nations of Indians These liue on the Sea Coast and in a great part of the Land all of one Speech though they differ in some words This is that which the Portugals doe vnderstand it is easie eloquent pleasant and copious the difficultie of it is in hauing many comparisons but of the Portugals almost all those that came from the Kingdome and are seated here and doe communicate with the Indians do know it in a short time and the children of the Portugals borne here doe speake it better then the Portugall as well men as women chiefly in the Captainship of Saint Vincent and with these ten Nations of Indians haue the Fathers communication because they know their Language and they more tame and well inclined These were and are the ancient friends of the Portugals with whose helpe and armes they conquered this Countrie fighting against their owne kindred and diuers other Nations very barbarous and those of this generation were so many that it seemed an impossible thing to extinguish them but the Portugals haue made such haste that they are almost dead and they vse such meanes that they disinhabit the Coast and flie the Land inward some three hundred some foure hundred The first of this Language are called Pitiguaras Lords of Parayba thirtie leagues from Pernambuco and haue the best Brasill woode and are great friends to the Frenchmen and did contract with them vntill now marrying their Daughters with them but now in the yeere 1584. Parayba was taken by Iames Flares his Maiesties Generall driuing out the Frenchmen and he left a Fortresse with 100. Souldiers besides the Portugals which also haue their Captaine and Gouernour one Fructuoso Barbosa that with the principall men of Pernambuco carried an Armie by Land wherewith he ouercame the enemies for from the Sea those of the Armada fought not Neere vnto these liued a great multitude of people which they call Viatan of these there are are none alreadie for they being friends with the Pitaguaras and Kindred the Portugals made them enemies among themselues giuing them to be eaten that by this meanes they might warre against them and hold them for slaues and finally hauing a great dearth the Portugals in stead of releeuing them tooke them Captiues and did send ship-loades to bee sold in other places There was ioyned with this a Magician Portugall Priest that with his deceits conueighed them all to Pernambucò and so ended this Nation The Portugals remained without Neighbours to defend them from the Pitiguaras which vntill now that they were ouercome persecuted the Portugals setting on a sudden vpon their Corne Goods and Sugar-mils burning and killing many of the Portugals because they are verie warlike but now by the goodnesse of God they are freed from this incumbrance Others there be that they call Tupinaba these inhabit from the Riuer Royall till ye come neere the Illeos these were also among themselues contrarie those of the Bay with them of Camamâ— and Intrare Along the Riuer of Saint Francis dwelt another Nation called Caaete and among these were also contrarieties with them of Pernambuco From Illeos or the little Ilands and Port Secure vnto the Holy Ghost inhabited another Nation called Tupinaquin these proceeded from those of Pernambuco and scattered themselues in a Countrie of the Maine multiplying exceedingly but now they are but few These were alwaies great enemies of the things of God hardened in their errours verie reuengefull and would reuenge themselues as soone as they see their enemies and louers of many women of these alreadie are many Christians and they are firme in the faith There is another Nation a kinne to these which runneth off the Maine from Saint Vincent to Pernambuco called Tupiguae these were without number they doe diminish for the Portugals doe goe to seeke them to serue themselues with them and those which escape doe flee verie farre off that they may not be slaues There is another Nation Neighbour to this called Apigapigtanga and Muriapigtanga There is also another Nation contrarie to the Tupinaquins which are called Guaracayo or Itati Another Nation dwelleth in the Holy Ghost called Timimâ—uo they were contrarie to the Tupinaquins but they are now verie few Another Nation which is called Tamuya inhabitors of the Riuer of Ianuarie these the Portugals destroyed when they inhabited the Riuer and of them there be verie few and some that are in the Maine are called Ararape another Nation inhabiteth beyond Saint Vincent about eightie leagues enemies of the Tupinaquins of Saint Vincent of these there are infinite multitudes and doe runne along the Sea Coast and in the Maine vnto the Paraguai which the Castilians doe inhabite all these Nations abouesaid though different and many of them enemies one to another they haue the Language and their conuersion is in hand and they haue a great respect to the Fathers of the company of Iesus and in the Maine they sigh for them and call them Abare and Father desiring they would come to their Countries and conuert them and such is their reputation that some Portugals of badde consciences doe faine themselues Fathers apparelling themselues in Gownes shauing their crownes and telling them they are Abares and that they came to seeke them for the Churches of the Fathers which are theirs aswell as ours Thus they seduce them and assoone as they come to the Sea they diuide them among themselues sell and marke them making first a great slaughter of them in the Countrie robberies and assaults taking away their Daughters and their Wiues c. And if it were not for these and other like hinderances all those of this Language had beene conuerted to our holy Faith There be other contrarie Nations enemies to these of diuers Languages which in a generall name are called Tapuya and they are contrarie also among themselues In the Maine first neighbouring to the Tupinaquins inhabit the Guamures and they occupie some eightie leagues of Coast and toward the Mayne all that they list They are Lords of the wild Woods very great bodied and by the continuance and custome of going through the Woods they haue their skinnes very hard and for this effect they beate their children being young with certaine Thistles to accustome them to goe in the wilde Woods They haue no Husbandrie they liue by rapine and by the point of the Arrow they eate the Mandioca raw and it doth them no hurt they runne verie swiftly and to the White men they come not but on a sudden They vse verie great Bowes they carrie certaine stones made a purpose verie bigge that wheresoeuer they hit they may presently breake the heads in pieces And when they come to fight they hide themselues vnder shrubs and from thence they play their part they are greatly feared there is no power in the world that is able to ouercome them They are great cowards in the fields and dare not
and broad 38 Going backe therefore we returned to the foresaid Siberis and we Christians were ill furnished with prouision of victuall and other things nor had we any meate but the fruits of trees which they call Patmides and Cardes and other wilde roots growing vnder ground And when we should returne vnto the Scherues the halfe part of our people was deadly sicke and that by reason of the water through which wee were to wade for thirtie dayes together so that wee could neuer turne afide or get out of the same and also by reason of the great scarsitie and famine which we must indure in this Iourney which calamitie was not a little encreased in that we were compelled to drinke that filthie and impure water Abiding therefore foure dayes with these Scherues with whom the King him selfe dwelleth we were very louingly and bountifully entertained and prouided for For the King gaue commandement to his Subiects to giue vs all things necessarie Euery man also had gotten for himselfe almost two hundred Duâ—ats onely by Cotton Gowns and Siluer which we had gotten of them by secret exchange of Kniues Beades Scizzers and Glasses After all this being carried downe the Riuer wee returned to our Generall But when wee came to the ships the Generall commanded vpon paine of death that no man should goe out of the ship and he also in proper person comming to our Captaine laying hold of him commanded him to be cast in Prison and by violence tooke away from vs Souldiers whatsoeuer we had gathered in this Iourney And not contented with this would haue hanged our Captaine vpon a tree When we abiding yet in the Brigandines vnderstood this taking counsell with certaine of our friends which were ashoare we raised a tumult and a sedition against our said Generall and in his presence face to face we said vnto him that forthwith he should set Captaine Ernandus Rieffere free before vs and restore all vnto vs which he had violently taken from vs otherwise we would prouide according to the state and the time When Aluarus saw this our tumult and indignation with a willing minde he presently freed the Captaine from captiuitie and restored also vnto vs whatsoeuer he had taken from vs endeauouring with faire speaches that we might be pacified 39. In this Countrie Surucusis I found no Indian who had attained to fortie or fiftie yeeres and in all the time of my life I neuer found a Countrie lesse healthfull It is situate vnder the Tropike of Capricorne Our Generall falling sicke in this his sicknesse commanded an hundred and fiftie Christians to arme themselues and taking two thousand Carios with them to make foure Brigandines also readie These he enioyned to goe about some foure leagues to the Iland of Surucusis by ship and after kill and take all this people and should principally destroy those persons who were fortie or fiftie yeeres old But how the said Surucusis entertained vs before is alreadie declared But what reward we gaue them againe and how welcome we were vnto them you shall shortly vnderstand And God knoweth we did them great iniurie When therefore wee arriued at their Towne vnawares they came out of their houses with their Armes Bowes and Arrowes yet peaceably to meet vs but forthwith a tumult arising betweene the Carios and the Surucusis we Christians discharged our brasse Peeces against them killing very many and hauing taken also two thousand of their men women boyes and girles wee tooke away all their houshold-stuffe and whatsoeuer might bee taken from them as in such violent assaults is vsually done Then we returned to our Gâ—nerall who was well pleased with that we had done But because our Soâ—ldiers were for the most part feeble and sicke and most of them also were ill affected to our Generall and hated him we could doe no more with them but being altogether conueyed downe the Riuer Parabol we returned to our Citie the Assumption where wee left the rest of the Christians There our Generall fell sicke againe of a Feauer and kept within doores fourteene whâ—le dayes together more of wicked dissimulation and pride then hindered by reason of sicknesse 40. All the companie hereupon as well Noble as Ignoble determined and decreed with one consent and purpose that they would send this their Commander prisoner vnto Caesars Maiestie the Treasurer or Iudge the Clarke or Master of the Toll or Custome and the Secretarie ordained by Caesars Maiestie whose names were Almunzus Gabrerus Francus Mendoza and Gratâ—s Hamiegâ—s taking to them two hundred Souldiers tooke our Generall who feared nothing lesse then this and this was done vpon Saint Markes Day in the moneth of Aprill And they kept him prisoner an whole yeere till they might send him with two other Officers into Spaine in a Carauell Martin Don Eyollas was chosen Generall who also gouerned this Countrie before especially seeing the Souldiers also loued him which election the better part allowed At this time I lay grieuously sicke of the Dropsie which disease I had gotten in our Iourney to the Orethuisen when we waded so long in the waters and besides suffered want and almost intolerable hunger By occasion of that Iourney eightie of our men beganne to bee sicke whereof onely thirtie recouered health 41. Aluarus Nunnez therefore being sent away into Spaine the Christians began to disagree among themselues in hostile manner These fightings and contentions continued with vs a whole yeere almost the sending away of Aluarus giuing occasion to this mischiefe When the Carios and Aygais who hitherto were our friends perceiued this to wit that we Christians bare such treacherous hearts one to another and vsed and exercised such fighting and skirmishing amongst our selues it fell out very acceptably to them all and by taking Armes against vs forced vs to peace amongst our selues 42. Departing from the Assumption together with our Generall and three hundred and fiftie Christians to whom one thousand Indians ioyned themselues which our Generall so diuided that three Indians alwaies should serue vnder one Christian we went so farre forward that we were onely three leagues distant from that place where our Enemies the Carios encamped who being fifteene thousand men strong had now ranged their battell But although we were now but halfe a league from them yet we would not set vpon them that day because we were wearie by reason of the Iourney and many and great showres of raine troubled vs therefore wee hid our selues in a Wood where we lay close the night before Going forth the next morning at sixe of the clocke and comming into their sight about seuen we ioyned battell prolonging the fight till ten of the clocke But at length they being put to flight made haste to a certaine Towne called Fraemidiere foure leagues distant which they had fortified with strong Bulwarkes The Chiefe Commander of the Carios was called Machkarias and in this conflict there fell two thousand
hundred men of the Carios but of the enemies almost innumerable were slaine for there was so great a multitude of them that they spread almost a whole league in length But the Carios sending a messenger to the towne where we were earnestly entreated our Generall that they would come with some supply of Souldiers to helpe them for the Maigenos had so beset them round in a wood that they could neither goe forward nor returne backe againe Which when our Generall vnderstood he presently commandeth the Horses to be made ready and to send away and dispatch one hundred and fiftie Christians but of the Carios assembled a thousand men leauing the rest of the Souldiers in the tents to guard them that wee being absent the Maigenos our enemies might inuade them We went forth therefore with this force to wit the said horse one hundred and fiftie Christians and one thousand Carios to helpe the Carios our friends But so soone as the Maigenos perceiued our comming remouing their tents they committed themselues to flight and albeit we pursued them with as much speede as wee could yet could we neuer ouer take them Returning therefore to our tents we abode there three daies for we had found in this towne of the Maiegenos great plentie of foode and other things Hauing trauailed a continuall iourney of thirteene daies that is to say in our iudgement and theirs who are skilfull in the celestiall motions two and fiftie leagues we came to a Nation whose people are called Carcokies and hauing trauailed further the space of nine daies we came into a certaine little Countrie sixe leagues long and broad which was all so thicke ouerspread with excellent Salt as if it had â—owed Salt in great abundance and this Salt is not corrupted winter nor summer We rested two daies in this Salt Countrie going forward at length after foure daies iourney we came to the foresaid Nation Carcokies But when we were yet foure leagues from their towne our Generall sent fiftie Christians fiftie Carios to prouide vs lodgings Hauing entred the towne we found such an innumerable multitude of men gathered together as in all this iourney we had not seene the like wherefore being very pensiue and carefull aboue measure sending a messenger presently backe vnto our Generall who taking his iourney the very same euening came vnto vs betweene three and foure of the clocke in the morning But the Carcokies supposing there had bin no more men there then we whom they had seene before had now promised themselues the victorie But when they vnderstood that our Generall followed vs with a greater force they were very sad and sorrowfull and performed all friendly offices and kindenesse vnto vs for they could doe none other seeing they were afraid of their wiues children and their towne They brought vs therefore flesh of Deere Geese Hens Sheepe Estridges Conies and whatsoeuer else of this kinde of Venison and also of Birds they had also Turkish Come Wheate Rise and certaine Rootes of all which things there was great plentie in this Countrie The men of this Countrie weare a blew stone in their lippes as broad as a Dye Their weapons are Darts the staues of Speares and round Targets made ef the skins of the Indian Sheepe called Amidas Their women haue a little hole in their lips in the which they put Christall either of a greene or blew colour they haue garments of Cotten like to a shirt but without sleeues they are beautifull enough they doe nothing else but spinne and order things appertaining to the houshold for tillage of the ground and other things necessarie for the maintenance of the familie are looked vnto by the men 48. When we had gone three daies iourney from this towne we came to a certaine Riuer called Machcasies a league and a halfe broad and when we saw not how we might passe safely ouer without danger at length we found out this meanes that for euery two persons wee should make a Boate of twigs and timber whereon being carried downe the Riuer they might come to the other side of the banke but in this passage foure of our men were drowned This Riuer hath most sauourie Fish Many Tygars also are found about these places and this Riuer is but foure leagues onely distant from the towne Machcasies The Inhabitants comming forth to meete vs entertained vs curteously speaking to vs in the Spanish tongue whereat being astonished and sore afraid at the first wee demanded of them to what Lord they were subiect and who was their supreame Gouernour They therefore answered vs and our Captaine that they were subiect to a certaine Noble man in Spaine whose name was Petro Ausuetes Entring into this Towne we found certaine men and women and little Infants also swarming with very little vermin like our fleas These little vermin if they lay hold of the toes of the feete or any other part of the body they gnaw and enter alwaies more and more deepely in and at length become wormes such as are found in our filberds yet if it be done in time this mischiefe may be preuented that it shall not hurt but if deferring the cure it be neglected at length by eating and gnawing it consumeth and corrupteth whole toes From the often named Citie of the Assumption of Mary to this Towne are numbered according to the account of the Astronomers three hundred seuentie two leagues And when we had staied there about twentie daies a Letter was brought vs from a Citie of the Kingdome of Peru called Lima where the Viceroy or Lieutenant of Caesars Maiestie who at that time was Liecutiatus Lagasca had an house The Letter contained that our Generall Martin Don Fiottas should goe no further forward vpon paine of death but abiding in the Towne Machcasies should expect his further commandement But after this our Generall sent away foure persons to the Gonernor to Peru. These foure persons iournying sixe weekes in Peru came first to that Nation called Potasi next to another called Rueskem The third Nation to which they came was called Plata and the fourth which was the Metropolis or the chiefe Citie was called Lima. 49. This also is worthie of obseruation That the Countrie of Machcasies is so fruitfull that we neither found not saw any like it in fruitfulnesse in all this our Iourney For if an Indian going forth into the Wood make an hole or a cleft in the first tree that commeth to hand smiting an Hatchet into it fiue or sixe measures of so pure Honie flowe out as if it were sweete Wine or Muskadell The Bees that make this Honie are without stings and are very small This Honie being eaten with Bread or mingled with other food yeeldeth pleasant meate They make also Drinke thereof or Wine of the same taste that Muskadell hath but sweeter Our Generall Eyollas so wrought with the people that wee could stay no longer here
by reason of the want of prouision For we had scarce victuall for one moneth In performing this Iourney we spent a yeere and an halfe doing nothing else but making continuall warre And in this Iourney we had brought into our subiection about twelue thousand men women and children who were compelled to serue vs as bond-slaues as I for mine owne person did possesse about fiftie men women and children 50. Wee with our Generall Martin Don Eyollas came vnto the Citie Assumption but Abriego a Captaine which had rebelled against Captaine Mendoza and slaine him would neither open the Citie to our Generall nor yeeld it vp vnto him nor acknowledge him for Generall and his Gouernour But the said Diego Abriego being forced to forsake the Citie with fiftie Christians who ioyned themselues with him fled thirtie leagues from vs so that we could atchieue nothing against him This warre continued two whole yeeres space betweene vs the two Captaines so opposing themselues one against the other that neither was safe from danger of other 51. In the meane season while these things were thus done I receiued Letters out of Spaine and shewed to Martin Don Eyollas I presently desired a friendly and curteous dismission from him I tooke my Iourney in the name of God vpon Saint Stephens Day which was the sixe and twentieth of December in the yeere 1552. and departing from the Assumption of Marie carried vpon the Riuer of Plate with my twentie Indians in two Canoas or Boats when wee had now gone sixe and fortie leagues we first arriued at a certaine Towne called Iuberic Sabaie In that Towne foure others also together with two Portugals ioyned themselues with vs hauing gone fifteene leagues we came to a Towne called Gaberetho After this hauing gone sixteene leagues further in foure dayes we came to a certaine Village called Barotij Whence departing againe hauing gone foure and fiftie leagues in nine dayes wee came to a Towne called Barede where staying two dayes we sought prouision and Boats to carrie vs for wee were to goe one hundred leagues vp the Riuer Parana by Boat At length being brought to a certaine Towne called Gingie wee abode there foure dayes And thus farre the Countrie and Empire of Caesars Maiestie extendeth it selfe all which places in former time were subiect to the People Carios 52. After this therefore all the Nation Toupin beginneth the Countrie and Iurisdiction of the Portugall and we were compelled leauing Parana and our Boats to trauell by land vnto these Toupin which continued sixe whole moneths in which Iourney we were to goe ouer Desarts Mountaines and Valleyes and for the feare waxed of wilde and rauening beasts we durst not safely take our sleepe c. Wee wandred eight whole dayes through Woods and Thickets so that although hauing trauelled farre and wide yet in all my life time I had neuer gone so rough troublesome and tedious a way nor had we any thing which we might eate so that wee were compelled to sustaine our selues with Honie and Roots wheresoeuer we could get them and for the danger also to wit that we feared lest our enemies would pursue vs we had not so much time as to take any venison After this wee came to a Nation called Biesaie where staying foure dayes wee prouided our selues againe of victuall but durst not come neere their Towne because we were so few In this Countrie there is a Riuer called Vrquam wherein we saw Water-snakes and Serpents called Tuesca in the Spanish Tongue Scheue Eyba which were sixteene paces long and foure fathome thicke These Serpents doe much hurt for if a man wash himselfe in that Riuer or any beast swim ouer forthwith such a Serpent swimming to them windeth his tayle about the man or beast and drawing them vnder water deuoureth them Proceeding further hence we trauelled about one hundred leagues in a continued Iourney of a whole moneths space and at length came into a large Towne called Scheuetveba and rested there three dayes Going againe further we came into a certaine Towne of Christians whose Captaine was Iohn Reinueill 53. Moreouer proceeding further thence we came to the Towne of Saint Uincent From the Citie of the Assumption of Marie to the Towne of Saint Uincent in Brasill are reckoned three hundred and seuentie leagues Setting sayle from the Towne of Saint Uincent on Saint Iohn Baptists Day which was the foure and twentieth of Iune in the yeere of our Lord 1553. wee arriued at Lisbon the third of September in the yeere 1553. and while wee abode fourteene dayes there two of my Indians died which I brought with me out of those Countries I had thought here to haue added the Voyages of Iohannes Stadius another German which serued the Portugals in Brasill about Schmidels later time published in Theodore de Bry and had the same by me translated But contayning little light for the Countrie and People and relating in manner onely his owne Tragedies in his taking by the Sauages and often perils of being eaten by them as some of his friends were before his face with other like Sauage arguments wherewith wee haue glutted you alreadie I being alreadie too voluminous haue omitted the same and hasten to other Relations CHAP. V. The Obseruations of Sir RICHARD HAWKINS Knight in his Voyage into the South Sea An. Dom. 1593. once before published now reuiewed and corrected by a written Copie illustrated with notes and in diuers places abbreuiated §. I. What happened in this Voyage before they came neere the Aequinoctiall Line with diuers accidentall Discourses vsefull for Nauigators WIth the Counsels consent and helpe of my Father Sir Iohn Hawkins Knight I resolued a Voyage to be made for the Ilands of Iapan of the Philippinas and Moluccas the Kingdome of China and East Indies by the way of the. Straites of Magelan and the South Sea For this purpose in the end of the yeere 1588. returning from the Iourney against the Spanish Armado I caused a Ship to bee builded in the Riuer of Thames betwixt three and foure hundred tunnes which was finished in that perfection as could be required For shee was pleasing to the eye profitable for stowage good of sayle and well conditioned On the day of her lanching shee was named The Repentance The Repentance being put in perfection and riding at Detford the Queenes Maiestie passing by her to her Palace of Greâ—nwich commanded her Barge-men to rowe round about her and viewing her from Post to Stemme disliked nothing but her Name and said that shee would Christen her a new and that thenceforth shee should bee called the Daintie which name shee brooked as well for her proportion and grace as for the many happie Voyages shee made in her Maiesties seruices Hauing taken for her Maiestie a great Bysten of fiue hundred tunnes loden with Iron and other Commodities vnder the conduct of Sir Martin Furbusher A Carack bound for the East
it dulleth and blindeth the vnderstanding and consequently depraueth any man of true valour For that hee is disenabled to iudge and apprehend the occasion which may bee offered to assault and retire in time conuenient the raynes of reason being put into the hands of passion and disorder For after I was wounded this nimium bred great disorder and inconuenience in our ship the pot continually walking infused desperate and foolish hardinesse in many who blinded with the fume of the liquor considered not of any danger but thus and thus would stand at hazard some in vaine glory vaunting themselues some other rayling vpon the Spaniards another inuiting his companion to come and stand by him and not to budge a foote from him which indiscreetly they put in execution and cost the liues of many a good man slaine by our enemies Muskettiers who suffered not a man to shew himselfe but they presently ouerthrew him with speed and watchfulnesse For preuention of the second errour although I had great preparation of Armour as well of proofe as of light Corselets yet not a man would vse them but esteemed a pot of wine a better defence then an armour of proofe which truly was great madnesse and a lamentable fault worthy to be banished from amongst all reasonable people and well to be weighed by all Commanders For if the Spaniard surpasseth vs in any thing it is in his temperance and suffering and where he hath had the better hand of vs it hath beene for the most part through our owne folly for that wee will fight vnarmed with him being armed And although I haue heard many men maintaine that in shipping armour is of little profit all men of good vnderstanding will condemne such desperate ignorance For besides that the sleightest armour secureth the parts of a mans bodie which it couereth from pike sword and all hand weapons it likewise giueth boldnesse and courage a man armed giueth a greater and a weightier blow then a man vnarmed he standeth faster and with greater difficultie is to be ouerthrowne And I neuer read but that the glistering of the armour hath beene by Authors obserued for that as I imagine his show breedeth terrour in his contraries and despaire to himselfe if he be vnarmed And therefore in time of warre such as deuote themselues to follow the profession of Armes by Sea or by Land ought to couet nothing more then to bee well armed for as much as it is the second meanes next Gods protection for preseruing and prolonging many mens lines Wherin the Spanish nation deserueth commendation aboue others euery one from the highest to the lowest putting their greatest care in prouiding faire and good Armes Hee which cannot come to the price of a Corslet will haue a coate of Mayle a Iacket at least a Buffe-ierkin or a priuie Coate And hardly will they bee found without it albeit they liue and serue for the most part in extreame hot Countries Whereas I haue knowne many bred in cold Countries in a moment complaine of the waight of their Armes that they smoother them and then cast them off chusing rather to be shot through with a bullet or lanched through with a pike or thrust through with a sword then to endure a little trauaile and suffering But let mee giue these lazie ones this lesson that hee that will goe a warfare must resolue himselfe to fight and he that putteth on this resolution must be contented to endure both heate and weight first for the safeguard of his life and next for subduing of his enemy both which are hazarded and put into great danger if hee fight vnarmed with an enemy armed Now for mine owne opinion I am resolued that armour is more necessary by Sea then by Land yea rather to be excused on the shoare then in the ship My reason is for that on the shoare the bullet onely hurteth but in the ship I haue seene the splinters kill and hurt many at once and yet the shot to haue passed without touching any person As in the Galeon in which I came out of the Indies in Anno 1597. in the rode of Tarcera when the Queenes Maiesties ships vnder the charge of the Earle of Essex chased vs into the roade with the splinters of one shot were slaine maymed and sore hurt at the least a dozen persons the most part whereof had beene excused if they had beene armed And doubtlesse if these errours had beene forescene and remedied by vs many of those who were slaine and hurt had beene on foot and wee enabled to haue sustained and maintained the fight much better and longer and perhaps at last had freed our selues For if our enemy had come to boord with vs our close fights were such as wee were secure and they open vnto vs. And what with our Cubridge heads one answering the other our hatches vpon bolts our brackes in our Deckes and Gunner roome it was impossible to take vs as long as any competent number of men had remained twentie persons would haue sufficed for defence and for this such ships are called Impregnable and are not to be taken but by surrender nor to be ouercome but with boording or sinking as in vs by experience was verified and not in vs alone but in the Reuenge of the Queenes Maiestie which being compassed round about with all the Armado of Spaine and boorded sundry times by many at once is said to haue sunke three of the Armado by her side A third and last cause of the losse of sundry of our men most worthy of note for all Captaines owners and Carpenters was the race building of our ship the onely fault shee had and now adayes held for a principall grace in any ship but by the experience which I haue had it seemeth for sundry reasons verie preiudiciall for ships of Warre For in such those which tackle the sayles of force must bee vpon the deckes and are open without shelter or any defence yet here it will bee obiected That for this inconuenience waste clothes are prouided and for want of them it is vsuall to lace a bonnet or some such shadow for the men worthily may it bee called a shadow and one of the most pernitious customes that can bee vsed for this shadow or defence being but of linnen or woollen cloth emboldneth many who without it would retire to better securitie whereas now thinking themselues vnseene they become more bold then otherwise they would and thereby shot through when they least thinke of it Some Captaines obseruing this errour haue sought to remedie it in some of his Maiesties ships not by altering the building but by deuising a certaine defence made of foure or fiue inch planks of fiue foot high and sixe foote broad running vpon wheeles and placed in such parts of the ship as are most open These they name Blenders and made of Elme for the most part for that it shiuers not with a
would giue vs his word and oath as the Generall of the King and some pledge for confirmation to receiue vs a buena querra and to giue vs our liues and liberty and present passage into our owne Countrey that wee would surrender our selues and Ship into his hands Otherwise that he should neuer enioy of vs nor ours any thing but a resolution euery man to dye fighting With this Message I dispatched him and called vnto me all my Company and encouraged them to sacrifice their liues fighting and killing the enemy if hee gaue but a fillip to any of our companions The Spaniards willed vs to hoise out our boate which was shot all to peeces and so was theirs Seeing that he called to vs to amaine our sailes which wee could not well doe for that they were slung and we had not men enough to hand them In this parley the Vice-admirall comming vpon our quarter not knowing of what had past discharged her two chase peeces at vs and hurt our Captaine very sore in the thigh and maimed one of our Masters Mates called Hugh Maires in one of his Armes but after knowing vs to be rendred he secured vs And we satisfied them that we could not hoise out our boate nor strike our sayles the Admirall laid vs abourd but before any man entred Iohn Gomes went vnto the Generall who receiued him with great curtesie and asked him what we required whereunto hee made answere that my demand was that in the Kings name he should giue vs his faith and promise to giue vs our liues to keepe the Lawes of faire warres and quarter and to send vs presently into our Countrey and in confirmation hereof that I required some pledge whereunto the Generall made answere that in the Kings Maiesties name his Master he receiued vs a buena querra and swore by God Almighty and by the habit of Alcautara whereof he had receiued Knight hood and in token whereof he wore in his breast a greene crosse which is the ensigne of that Order that hee would giue vs our liues with good entreatie and send vs as speedily as he could into our owne Countrey In confirmation whereof he tooke off his gloue and sent it to me as a pledge With this message Iohn Gomes returned and the Spaniards entred and tooke possession of our Ship euery one crying buena querra buena querra â—y por immaniana por ti with which our Company began to secure themselues The Generall was a principall Gentleman of the ancient Nobilitie of Spaine and brother to the Conde de Lemos whose intention no doubt was according to his promise and therefore considering that some bad intreaty and insolency might be offered vnto me in my Ship by the common Souldiers who seldome haue respect to any person in such occasions especially in the case I was whereof he had enformed himselfe for preuention he sent a principall Captain brought vp long time in Flanders called Pedro Alueres de Pulgar to take care of me and whilest the Ship were one abourd the other to bring me into his Ship which he accomplished with great humanity and courtesie despising the barres of Gold which were shared before his face which hee might alone haue enioyed if he would And truely he was as after I found by triall a true Captaine a man worthy of any charge and of the noblest condition that I haue knowne any Spaniard The Generall receiued me with great courtesie and compassion euen with teares in his eyes and words of great consolation and commanded mee to bee accommodated in his owne Cabbine where hee sought to cure and comfort mee the best hee could the like hee vsed with all our hurt men sixe and thirtie at least And doubtlesse as true courage valour and resolution it requisite in a Generall in the time of battell So humanitie mildnesse and courtesie after victorie Whilest the ships were together the Maine-mast of the Daintie fell by the boord and the people being occupied in ransacking and seeking for spoile and pillage neglected the principall whereof ensued that within a short space the Daintie grew so deepe with water which increased for want of preuention that all who were in her desired to forsake her and weaued and cried for succour to be saued being out of hope of her recouerie Whereupon the Generall calling together the best experimented men hee had and consulting with them what was best to bee done it was resolued that Generall Michael Angel should goe aboord the Daintie and with him threescore Mariners as many Souldiers and with them the English men who were able to labour to free her from water and to put her in order if it were possible and then to recouer Perico the Port of Panama for that of those to wind-wards it was impossible to turne vp to any of them and neerer then to â—eward was not any that could supply our necessities and wants which lay from vs East North-east aboue two hundred leagues Michael Angel being a man of experience and care accomplished that hee tooke in hand although in cleering and bayling the water in placing a pumpe and in fitting and mending her Fore-saile he spent aboue six and thirtie houres During which time the Ships lay all a hull but this worke ended they set saile and directed their course for the Iles of Pearles And for that the Daintie sailed badly what for want of her Maine-saile and with the aduantage which all the South Sea ships haue of all those built in our North Sea The Admirall gaue her a taw which notwithstanding the wind calming with vs as wee approached neerer to the Land twelue daies were spent before wee could fetch sight of the Ilands which lie alongst the Coast beginning some eight leagues West South-west from Panama and run to the Southwards neere thirtie leagues They are many and most inhabited and those which haue people haue some Negros slaues vnto the Spaniards which occupie themselues in labour of the Land or in fishing for Pearles In times past many enriched themselues with that trade but now it is growne to decay The manner of fishing for Pearles is with certaine long Pinnasses or small Barkes in which there goe foure fiue six or eight Negros expert swimmers and great dieuers whom the Spaniards call Busos with tract of time vse and continuall practise hauing learned to hold their breath long vnder water for the better atchieuing their worke These throwing themselues into the Sea with certaine instruments of their Art goe to the bottome and seeke the Bankes of the Oysters in which the Pearles are ingendred and with their force and Art remoue from their foundation in which they spend more or lesse time according to the resistance the firmnesse of the ground affordeth Once losed they put them into a bag vnder their armes and after bring them vp into their Boats hauing loaden it they goe to the shoare there they open
contrary to that which the Christians doe And thus they answered the Christians in their language and did the like to others in a language which was among them which we vnderstood and those that vse it wee call Pringaitu which wee had found vsed for aboue the space of foure hundred leagues of the Countrey where we trauelled so that we found no other language for the space of foure hundred leagues and more Finally it was not possible for vs to make those Indians beleeue that we were any of those other Christians yet with much adoe and through our perswasion we made them returne vnto their houses commanding them to rest satisfied and bring backe their people to sowe and till the ground which because it was so desolate became now full of woods albeit of it owne nature surely it were the best Countrey and more fertile and abundant then any in all those Indies for they sowe three times in the yeare and haue many fruites and many goodly Riuers and other very good waters There are many signes and great tokens of Mines of Gold and Siluer The people are very well conditioned and serue the Christians that are their friends with a very good will they are much better disposed then the people of Mexico and finally it wanteth nothing to make it an absolute Countrey The Indians being dispatched they told vs that they would doe as much as they had commanded and bring backe their people if the Christians would suffer them to continue whereupon I said and certainely affirmed that if they did it not the Christians should be much to blame And after wee had sent them away the Christians sent vs with an Alcado named Zebrero and with him three other Christians whereby it appeareth how much the imaginations of men were deceiued in that we went to seeke liberty among the Christians and when wee had thought to haue found it the qâ—ite contrary befell vs and by seperating vs from the conuersation of the Indians they brought vs through desolate Mountaines because we should not see what they did nor their euill vsage for they had determined to goe to assault the Indians whom wee sent away secured and in peace and so they did as they imagined they brought vs two dayes through those Mountaines without water and without any beaten way or path insomuch as we thought we should haue burst for thirst whereof seuen of our men died many friends which the Christians brought with them could not come till the next day at noone where we found water and we trauailed with them about fiue and twenty leagues at the end whereof we came vnto a people of the Indians which were in peace and there the Alcado who brought vs left vs and went three leagues further to a people called Culiazzan where Melchior Diaz the Sergeant Maior and Captaine of that Prouince abode As soone as he knew of our comming hee presently came the same night to finde vs out and lamented much with vs highly praising our Lord God for his exceeding mercy towards vs and spake vnto vs and vsed vs very well and in the behalfe of the Gouernour Nunnez di Guzâ—an and himselfe offered vs whatsoeuer hee had or could procure and began to speake much of the euill vsage wherewith Alcaraz and the rest had vsed vs so that we held it for certaine that if hee had bin there that which was done vnto vs had not bin done and that night being passed we departed for Auhacan and the Sergeant Maior intreated vs earnestly to stay there and that wee might doe great seruâ—â—e vnto our Lord God and to your Maiestie because the Countrie was desolate without manuring and altogether destroyed and the Indians went and hid themselues flying through the Mountaines vnwilling to come and stay with their people and that we should send to call them and command them in the name of our Lord God and of your Maiesty to come and inhabit the Plain and till the Countrie But this seemed a troublesome matter vnto vs to put it in execution because wee had not any of our Indians or those who were wont to accompany vs to helpe and further vs in such like offices Notwithstanding we thought good to proue two of our Indians which we had prisoners there who were of the same Country and were found with the Christians when we first came among them and saw the people that accompanied vs vnderstood by them the great authority dominion which we had had throughout all those Countries the miraculous things which we had done in healing the diseased and many other things and with these we sent others of the same people which were also with them to call the Indians that abode in the Mountains those of the riuer Patachan where we had found the Christians And we willed them to tell them that they should come vnto vs because we would speake with them and so secure them that went and the other who should come we gaue them a great gourd of those which we caried in our hands which was a principall token and speciall argument of great state and with this they went and trauailed seuen daies and in the end came and brought with them three Lords of those who had fled into the Mountaines who were accompanied with fifteene men who brought vs Crownes Turkies and plumes of Feathers and the messengâ—â—â— told vs that they had not found them of the Riuer from whence we came because the Christians had caused them to flye into the Mountaines So Melchior Diaz willed the Interpreter to speake vnto those Indians in our behalfe and say vnto them that we were come from God who abideth in heauen and had tranailed through the world nine yeares saying vnto all them that we found that they should beleeue in God and serue him because he is Lord of all the things in the world and that he giueth a reward and paiment vnto the good and perpetuall punishment of hell fire vnto the wicked and that when the good men dye he taketh them vp into heauen where afterwards they shall neuer dye any more nor suffer hunger or cold or endure any other necessitie but finde there greater glory then can be imagined And they who will not beleeue nor obay him shall be throwne downe vnder the earth in the company of Diuels into an exceeding huge fire which neuer shall haue end but continually and eternally torment them And besides that if they will become Christians and serue God after the manner that we will tell them the Christians shall hold them for brethren and vse them very well and that we would command that they should not doe them any hurt nor take their Counyrie from them but become their good friends And if they would not doe it the Christians should vse them very cruelly and carry them for slaues into farre and remote Countries To this they answered the Interpreter that they would become very good
wilde beast which when he hath killed he is aduanced to some honour and dignitie whereby he excelleth others which are not Knights Among the things belonging to policie this is one which they doe obserue that they adopt other mens children for their owne but this adoption into another familie hath very seuere and dangerous ceremonies for they thrust a sticke into their mouthes into the bottome of their throates wherewith they are almost choaked if it fall out well they vomit vp all the meate in their stomacke and so they passe ouer into the right of another man Whatsoeuer time remaineth from labour and trauaile they spend in a play which is like to Dice but consisteth of diuers signes They play with exceeding great moderation and patience of minde being most cunning in this kinde of sport no oath is heard among them nor any contentions or brabling word though they loose their apparell and all that they haue and goe home naked as sometime it falleth out When they be sicke if the disease be sore and dangerous they digge a place for their buriall and sometimes it standeth fiue or sixe dayes open which custome was very profitable to a certaine woman for when I came into a certaine Village and saw the ground digged very deeply knowing what the matter was I came vnto her lying on her Couch and sicke and hauing instructed her in the Catechisme which I had written in the vulgar Tongue in the principles of Christian Religion I baptised her but she recouered Now the cause why they open the places of their burials is this That presently they may couer the bodie or ashes of him that is dead for somtimes they burne the bodies with all the house and household stuffe They sprinkle the Sepulchre with a certaine dust whereof they make a drinke and bring meate with them and after they haue wept ouer the Graue they make themselues drunke the Kinsfolke of the dead making a Feast for them that doe assist them And these be their Funerals The Vicar of the Church of Culiacan which is fortie two leagues from Cinoloa where the foresaid Fathers liue in his Letters sent to a certaine friend writeth after this manner In Cinaloa the Fathers labour painfully in the Lord in conuerting the Indians vnto the Faith so fruitfully and happily that we all hold it for a Miracle Neither can it be beleeued both with what celeritie they haue learned and speak the tongue of that Countrie and with what facilitie and contentment The Inhabitants come to bee baptized and desire to bee instructed in the Articles of our faith Doubtlesse it is the worke of God wherefore the Diuine Maiestie doth fauour and promote the same A Letter written from Valladolid by LVDOVICVS TRIBALDVS TOLETVS to Master RICHARD HAKLVYT translated out of Latine touching IVAN de ONATE his Discoueries in new Mexico fiue hundred leagues to the North from the old Mexico WHen you shall see the English returned home out of our Spaine and can finde no Letters sent vnto you from vs perhaps and that worthily you will accuse vs of breach of our friendship and also as little mindfull of our promise Yet we as free from this fault salute you most willingly For it is not long since we arriued here that is to say in this Court a little after the departure of your Countrimen into England Yet we made our iournie by Sea and by Land indifferent pleasantly and according to our desire After we had rested our selues a small while we desired nothing more then to visit Andrew Garsia Cespedes a man for many respects linked vnto vs in most straight bands of friendship He greatly reioyced of your good will toward him And shewed me a certaine briefe yet very perspicuous Relation of things atchieued by Don Iuan de Onate among the Indians of New Mexico For therein is written that he departed from old Mexico in the yeere 1599. with an Armie and carriages of fiue thousand men in which number boyes women youngmen and Souldiers are included He carried also great store of victuals with him flockes of Sheepe and Goates Herds of Oxen and all things necessarie for life also Horses and Armour and other things which in these kind of Expeditions ought to be prouided Therefore hauing trauelled through diuers Countries fiue hundred leagues hee found diuers Nations by the way noble for their builded Townes and reasonable ciuill manners All which he receiued into the friendship of the King of Spaine and they openly testified the same by publike instruments and giuing of their faith And when with his company he came vnto a Towne very strong by situation of the place built vpon a most high and mightie Rocke and was freely receiued by the Inhabitants giuing their right hands to each other they courteously supplied them with all things necessarie for their reliefe and promised within a while after that they would furnish them with more sufficient to make a very long iournie When Onate had waited for this thing at the day appointed hee sent his Nephew by his sister with a few Souldiers who entring the Towne came into the Market place where almost all the multitude of the Townesmen were assembled together Now while hee with his company was busie in buying of things suddenly the Traitours from all parts rushed vpon him and his fellowes vnawares and by most wicked treason cut off the Captaines head and sixe others the rest being wounded hardly escaped by flight from so great a multitude that assaulted them yet some of the enemies were slaine and thrust through When speedily the fame hereof came to Onate taking with him a choice number of Souldiers in a great furie he came vnto the Towne besiged it and after a long fight by maine force he tooke the same slue most part tooke the rest burnt the Towne and razed it to the ground that no tokens might remaine of so great a wickednesse committed against him The Townes name was Acoma and none of our men was slaine in the siege thereof After this he easily proceeded forward on his iournie as he did before till he came to a mightie great Citie he inforced this City with the villages adioyning to sweare obedience to the King of Spaine not altogether vnwilling yet feared by the example and ruine of the towne that was destroyed From hence he came to a greater Citie which likewise after hee had obtained it by great friendship he sent certain men from thence to search out the oxen of Cibola long since known by the report of one to wit of Vasquez de Coronado whether they were such indeed or no. Who when they had found a great multitude of these oxen and would compasse them about and force them into certaine inclosures or toiles their enterprize preuailed but a little they are so wild and so swift Yet after they had killed many of them bringing store of them with them as though they
at the Riuer Bamba when hee entred the same which is in the Prouince of Quito and that he had flung into the Ditches moe then two hundred persons and there they stayed warring on all the Countrie Soone after he entred into the Prouince of Bitu or Anzerma in making cruell warre with fire and bloud till they came as farre as vnto the Salt-houses And from thence he sent Francis Garcia before him to pillage who made cruell warre on the naturall Inhabitants of the Countrie as he had done before him The Indians came vnto him two and two making signes that they demanded peace on the behalfe of the whole Countrie alledging that they would affoord him all that he could reasonably demand were it Gold or Women or Uictuals onely that they would not kill them as indeed it was a troth For themselues afterwards confessed it to bee so But the said Francis Garcia bid them get them packing telling them moreouer that they were a sort of drunkards and that hee vnderstood them not and so returned hee to the place where the said Captaine was and they made a complot to ouerrunne all the Prouince making cruell warre on all the Countrie in spoyling robbing and slaying all and with the Souldiers which hee brought with him drew thence moe then two thousand soules and all those died in the chaine Before departing the place which hee had peopled they slue more then fiue hundred persons And so returned to the Prouince of Calili And by the way if any Iode or Indesse were weary in such sort that they could not passe any further they did incontinently head them paring it off from the shoulders euen with the chaine to the end not to take the paines to open the locke thereof and to the end that others which went the same way should not make wise to bee sicke and by this meanes died they all and in the high-wayes were left all those people which hee made his purchase of out of Quito and of Pasto and of Quilla Cangua and of Paxa and of Popayan and of Lili and of Cali and of Anzerma and a great number of people died Also immediatly vpon their returne to the great Citie they entred into it slaying all that they could taking in that day moe then three hundred persons c. AMong diuers the remedies by Friar De las Casas Bishop of the Royal Towne called Chiapa propounded in the assemblie of sundry Prelates named Parsons by his Maiesties commandement gathered together in the Towne of Valladolid the yeere of our Lord 1542. for order and reformation to be obserued in the Indies the eighth in order was this ensuing which consisteth vpon twentie reasons and motions The eight Remedie is among all other principall and most in force as without which all the rest are to no purpose for that they all haue relation thereunto as euery motion to his proper end in whatsoeuer toucheth or is of any importance vnto your Maiestie which no man can expresse in as much as thereupon dependeth at the least the whole losse or preseruation of the Indies And the remedie that I speake of is this that your Maiestie doe determine decree command and solemnely in your soueraigne Courts ordaine by pragmaticall Sactions and Royall Statutes that all the Indies as well already subdued as hereafter to be subdued may be inserted reduced and incorporate into the Royall Crowne of Castile and Leon to be holden in chiefe of your Maiestie as free subiects and vassals as they are Likewise that they be not giuen in commendam vnto the Spaniards but that it stand as an inuiolable constitution determination and Royall Law that they neuer neither at this time neither hereafter in time to come may bee alienated or taken from the said Royall Crowne neither that they be giuen commanded demised in fee farme by depost commandement or alienation either vnder any other title or manner whatsoeuer and be dismembred from the Royall Crowne for any whatsoeuer the seruice or desert of any either vpon any necessitie that may happen or for any cause or colour whatsoeuer that may be pretended For the inuiolable obseruation or establishment of which Law your Maiestie shall formally sweare by your Faith and on your Word and Royall Crowne and by all other sacred things whereby Christian Princes doe vsually sweare that at no time neither your selfe neither your successours in these ten Dominions or in the Indies so farre as in you shall lie shall reuoke the same and you shall further set downe in expresse words in your Royall Will and Testament that this decree be euer kept maintayned and vpholden also that so farre as in your selfe or in them shall lie they shall confirme and continue the same And for proofe of the necessitie hereof there bee twenty reasons to be alledged out of which twenty we haue drawne and put in writing so many as may seeme to serue to our purpose The Spaniards through their great auarice and couetousnesse to get doe not permit any religious persons to enter into their Townes and Holds which they possesse alledging that they receiue double losse by them One and the principall is that religious persons doe keepe the Indies occupied when they gather them together to their Sermons so as in the meane time their worke is omitted while the Indians being idle labour not yea it hath so fallen out that the Indians being in the Church at the Sermon the Spaniard comming in in the face of al the people hath taken fifty or an hundred or so many as he hath needed to carrie his baggage and stuffe and such as would not goe he hath loden with stripes spurning them forth with his feet thereby to the great griefe both of the Indians and of the religious persons troubling and molesting all that were present c. The Spaniards are charged to instruct the Indians in our holy Catholike Faith whereupon on a time when we examined Iohn Colmenere of Saint Martha a fantasticall ignorant and foolish man who had gotten a great Towne in commendam and had a charge of soules he could not tell how to blesse himselfe and asking him what doctrine he taught the Indians committed to his charge he said he gaue them to the Deuill also that it was enough for him to say Per signim sanctin Cruces How can the Spaniards that trauell to the Indies how noble or valiant soeuer they be haue any care of the soules when the most of them are ignorant of their Creede and ten Commandements and knowe not the matters pertayning to their owne saluation neither doe trauell to the Indies for any other purpose but to satisfie their owne desires and couetous affections being for the most part vicious corrupt vnhonest and disordinate persons so as hee that would weigh them in an equall ballance and compare them with the Indians should finde the Indians without comparison more vertuous and holy then them For the Indians what Infidels
soeuer they be doe neuerthelesse keepe them to one and their owne wife as nature and necessitie teacheth and yet we see some Spaniard haue fourteene or more which Gods Commandements doe forbid The Indians deuoure no mans goods they doe no man wrong they doe not vexe trouble or slay any where themselues doe see the Spaniards commit all sinnes iniquities and treacheries that man can commit against all equitie and iustice To be briefe the Indians doe not beleeue any thing but doe mocke at all that is shewed them of God being in truth fully rooted in this opinion of our God that he is the worst and most vniust and the most wicked of all Gods because he hath such seruants also concerning your Maiestie they thinke you the most vniust and cruell of all Kings because you doe both send thither and keepe here such euill Subiects supposing that your Maiestie doth feed vpon humane flesh and bloud The Spaniards hauing authoritie to command or particular interest in the Indies cannot by reason of their great couetousnesse abstaine from afflicting troubling disquieting vexing or oppressing the Indians taking away their goods lands wiues or children and vsing among them many other kindes of iniquitie for the which they can haue no redresse sanction or warrant at your Maiesties chiefe Iustice because the Spaniards doe make them afraide yea sometimes doe kill them lest they should complaine They doe night and day mourne after their Gods thinking them to be better then ours at whom they sustaine such harmes while contrariwise of their owne they reape there so many commodities and there is nothing that troubleth them so much as the Christians Wee can shew to your Maiestie that the Spaniards haue within eight and thirty or forty yeeres slaine of iust accompt aboue twelue millions of your Subiects I will not say how mightily this world of people might haue multiplied This Countrey being the fertilest whether for cattell or mankinde that is in the world the soyle being for the most part more temperate and fauourable to humane generation All these innumerable persons and all these people haue the Spaniards slaine to the end to beare sway gouerne and command ouer the rest and when in vniust warres they haue slaine them then doe they vse the rest who iustly haue withstood them in drawing Gold and Siluer yoking them together like beasts to make them carrie their burdens What plague of pestilence or mortalitie could there haue fallen from heauen that had beene able to consume or make waste aboue 2500. leagues of flat Country replenished with people and would not haue left either trauailer or inhabitant The Spaniards onely for their temporall commoditie haue blemished the Indies with the greatest infamie that any man euen among the most horrible and villanous persons in the world could be charged withall and whereby they haue sought to take them out of the degree of mankinde namely that they were all polluted with the abominable sinne against nature which is a wretched and false slander For in all the great Iles Hispaniola Saint Iohn Cuba and Lamaica Also in the sixtie Iles of Lucayos which were inhabited with an infinite number of people the same was neuer thought vpon in some other part there is a voice of a few for whole sakes neuerthelesse all that world is not to be condemned We may say as much of the eating of mans flesh which likewise those places that I haue named are free of although that in other places thy doe it indeede They be also charged with their Idolatrie The Spaniards haue purposely and effectually hindered the teaching of the Law of God and Iesus Christ with all other vertues among the Indians and driuen away the Religious persons out of Townes and Fortresses least they should see and disclose their tyrannies yea they haue by their euill example infected and corrupted the Indies teaching them many odious behauiours and vices which before they knew not as blaspheming the name of Iesus Christ practising of vsurie lying and many other abhominations wholly repugnant to their nature The Spaniards doe sucke from the Indians the whole substance of their bodies because they haue nothing else in their houses They make them spit bloud They exhibite them to all dangers They lay vpon them sundry and intollerable trauailes and more then all this They loade them with torments beatings and sorrowings To be briefe they spoile and consume a thousand manner of wayes Besides all that the Indians doe indure in seruing and pleasing the Spaniards there is yet a butcher or cruell hangman to keepe them in awe appointed in euery Towne and place and is tearmed Estanciero or Calpisque who hath authoritie to lay his clawes vpon them and to make them labour and doe what the Lord Commander or chiefe thiefe will So as if in hell there were no other torment yet were this incomparable This hangman whippeth them he ladeth them with stripes he basteth them with scalding grease he afflicteth them with continuall torments and trauels hee forceth and defloureth their daughters and wiues dishonouring and abusing them he deuoureth their Hens which are their greatest treasure not because themselues doe eate them but that of them they offer presents and seruice to their greatest Lord and chiefe tyrant he vexeth them with innumerable other torments and griefes and least they should complaine of so many iniuries and miseries this tyrant putteth them in feare saying that hee will accuse them and say that he see them commit Idolatry To be briefe they must please and content aboue twenty disordinate and vnreasonable persons so as they haue foure Lords and Masters Your Maiestie their Cacique him that hath them in commendam and the Estanciero of whom I last spake which Estanciero is to them more grieuous to beare then a quintall of lead among which we may also in truth adde all the Mochachos and Moores that doe serue the Commander and Master for they all doe molest oppresse and rob these poore people It is greatly to be feared least God will lay Spaine desolate euen for those horrible sinnes that this Nation hath committed in the Indies whereof we doe euidently behold the scourge and all the world doth see and confesse that already it hangeth ouer our heads wherewith God doth afflict and shew that he is highly offended in those parts through the great destruction and waste of those Nations in that of so great treasures haue bin transported out of the Indies into Spaine the like quantitie of Gold and Siluer neither King Salomon neither any other worldly Prince euer had saw or heard of there is none left besides that of that that was here before the Indies were discouered there is now none to be found no neuer a whit Hereof it commeth that things are thrise dearer then they were the poore that haue want doe suffer great miseries and your Maiestie cannot dispatch matters of great importance So long as Lares
Predecessors could neuer attaine vnto without great cost labour and cares and oftentimes with the losse and destruction of diuers Which when the Bishop of Chiapa vnderstood hee determined also to write an Apologie in the vulgar tongue against the said Doctors summarie in defence of the Indies therein impugning and vndermining his foundations and answering all reasons or whatsoeuer the Doctor could alleage for himselfe therein displaying and setting before the peoples face the dangers inconueniences and harmes in the said doctrine contained Thus as many things passed on both sides his Maiestie in the yeere 1550. called to Valadolid an Assembly of learned men as well Diuines as Lawyers who beeing ioyned with the Royall counsaile of the Indies should argue and among them conclude whether it were lawfull without breach of Iustice to leuie warres commonly tearmed conquests against the Inhabitants of those Countries without any new offence by them committed their infidelity excepted Doctor Sepulueda was summoned to come and say what he could and being entred the Counsaile Chamber did at the first Session vtter his whole minde Then was the said Bishop likewise called who for the space of fiue dayes continually did reade his Apologie but being somewhat long the Diuines and Lawyers there assembled besought the Learned and Reuerend Father Dominicke Soto his Maiesties Confessor and a Dominican Friar who was there present to reduce it into a Summary and to make so many Copies as there were Lords that is fourteene to the end they all hauing studied vpon the matter might afterward in the feare of God say their mindes The said Reuerend Father and Master Soto set downe in the said Summary the Doctors reasons with the Bishops answeres to the same Then had the Doctour at his request a Copie deliuered him to answere out of which Summarie he gathered twelue against himselfe whereto he made twelue answeres against which answeres the Bishop framed twelue Replyes Doctor Sepulued a his Prologue to the Lords of the Assembly beganne thus Most worthy and Noble Lords sith your Lordships and Graces haue as Iudges for the space of fiue or sixe dayes heard the Lord Bishop of Chiapa reade that Booke whereinto he hath many yeeres laboured to gather all the reasons that either himselfe or others could inuent to proue the conquest of the Indies to be vniust as seeking first to subdue barbarous Nations before we preach the Gospell vnto them which haue beene the vsuall course correspondent to the grant made by Pope Alexander the sixt which all Kings and Nations haue hitherto taken and obserued it is meete and I doe so desire you that I who take vpon me to defend the grant and authority of the Apostolike Sea together with the equitie and honour of our Kings and Nation c. Out of which Replies here followeth the Abstract of two that stand vs insteed The report is vntrue that the Indians did yeerely sacrifice in New Spaine twenty thousand persons either one hundred or fiftie For had that beene so we could not now haue found there so much people and therefore the Tyrants haue inuented it thereby to excuse and iustifie their Tyrannies also to detaine so many of the Indians as escaped the oppression and desolation of the first Vintage in bondage and tyrannie But we may more truely say that the Spaniards during their abode in the Indies haue yeerely sacrificed to their so deerely beloued and reuerend Goddesse Couetousnesse more people then the Indians haue done in a hundred yeeres This doe the Heauens the Earth the Elements and the Starres both testifie and bewaile the Tyrants yea the very Ministers of these mischiefes cannot deny it For it is euident how greatly these Countries at our first entrie swarmed with people as also how wee haue now laid it waste and dispeopled the same wee might euen blush for shame that hauing giuen ouer all feare of God wee will yet neuer the lesse seeke to colour and excuse these our so execrable demeanours considering that only for getting wealth and riches we haue in fortie fiue or fortie eight yeeres wasted and consumed more Land then all Europe yea and part of Asia doe in length and breath containe robbing and vsurping vpon that with all crueltie wrong and tyrannie which we haue seene well inhabited with humane people among whom there haue beene slaine and destroyed twentie Millions of soules In the twelfth and last Reply as followeth The Spaniards haue not entred into India for any desire to exalt Gods honour or for zeale to Christian Religion either to fauour and procure the saluation of their Neighbours no neither for their Princes seruice whereof they doe so vainely bragge but Couetousnesse hath brought them and Ambition hath allured them to the perpetuall dominion ouer the Indies which they as Tyrants and Deuils doe couet to bee parted among them and to speake plainly and flatly doe seeke no other but to expell and driue the Kings of Castile out of all that World and themselues seizing thereupon by Trannie to vsurpe and take vpon them all Royall Souereigntie CHAP. V. Notes of Voyages and Plantations of the French in the Northerne America both in Florida and Canada OF the French Plantation in that part of Brafill by Uillagaynon which therefore Frier Thenet called France Antarctike you haue seene alreadie in Lerius Besides the French haue almost from the first beginnings of the Spanish Plantation with men of warre haunted those Coasts and taken many Spanish prises The French haue also made other Discoueries and setled some habitation for a time in the Northerne parts of the New World Iohn Uerrazano a Florentine was sent Anno 1524. by King Francis the first and Madame Regent his Mother who is said to haue discouered from the eight and twentieth to the fiftieth degree all which and much more had long before beene discouerd by Sir Sebastian Cabot for the King of England who was the first that set foote on the American Continent in behalfe of any Christian Prince Anno 1496. or as otheâ—rs 1497. and therefore the French reckoning falleth short some of which Nation vpon Verazanos Discouery challenge I know not what right to all that Coast and make their New France neere as great as all Europe To leaue that we are to do them Historicall right in relating their actions in those parts The Rites and Customes of Florida are related at large by Renâ— Laudonniere by Master Hakluyt translated and in his Workes published Laudonniere was sent by that famous Admirall Chastillon with Iohn Ribalt Anno 1562. who arriued at Cape François in Florida in thirtie degrees and there erected a Pillar with the French Armes The Riuer they called the Riuer of May hauing entred it on May day In the Woods they found great store of red and white Mulberie Trees and on their tops an infinite number of Silk-wormes Eight other Riuers they discouered to which they gaue the names of Seine Somme Loyre Cherente
the North the Land is mountainous and so in a manner from thence by a South-west Line So that the more Southward the farther off from the Bay are those Mountaines From which fall certaine Brookes which after come to fiue principall Nauigable Riuers These runne from the North-west in to the South-east and so into the West side of the Bay where the fall of euery Riuer is within twentie or fifteene miles one of another The Mountaines are of diuers natures for at the head of the Bay the Rockes are of a composition like Mil-stones Some of Marble c. And many pieces of Christall we found as throwne downe by water from the Mountaines For in Winter these Mountaines are couered with much Snow and when it dissolueth the waters fall with such violence that it causeth great inundations in the narrow Vallies which yet is scarce perceiued being once in the Riuers These waters wash from the Rockes such glistering tinctures that the ground in some places seemeth as gilded where both the Rockes and the Earth are so splendent to behold that better iudgements then ours might haue beene p 〈…〉 swaded they contained more then probabilities The vesture of the Earth in most places doth manifestly proue the nature of the soile to be lustie and very rich The colour of the Earth we found in diuers places resembleth Bole Armoniac terra sigillata ad lemnia Fullâ—rs Earth Marle and diuers other suâ—h appearances But generally for the most part the Earth is a blacke sandie mould in some places a fat slimie clay in other places a very barren grauell But the best best ground is knowne by the vesture it beareth as by the greatnesse of Trees or abundance of Weeds c. The Countrie is not mountainous nor yet low but such pleasant plaine Hils and fertile Vallies one pretily crossing another and watered so conueniently with their sweete Brookes and Christall Springs as if Art it selfe had deuised them By the Riuers are many plaine Marishes contayning some twentie some one hundred some two hundred Acres some more some lesse Other Plaines there are few but only where the Sauages inhabit but all ouer-growne with Trees and Weeds being a plaine Wildernesse as God first made it On the West side of the Bay we said were fiue faire and delightfull nauigable Riuers of which we will now proceed to report The first of those Riuers and the next to the mouth of the Bay hath his course from the West and by North. The name of this Riuer they call Powhatan according to the name of a principall Countrie that lieth vpon it The mouth of this Riuer is neere three miles in breadth yet doe the shoales force the Channell so neere the Land that a Sacre will ouer-shoot it at Point blanke This Riuer is nauigable one hundred and fiftie miles as the Channell goeth the shoales and soundings are heere needlesse to be expressed It falleth from Rockes farre West in a Countrie inhabited by a Nation that they call Monacan But where it commeth into our Discouerie it is Powhatan In the farthest place that was diligently obserued are Falles Rockes Shoales c. which makes it past nauigation any higher Thence in the running downeward the Riuer is enriched with many goodly Brookes which are maintained by an infinite number of small Rundles and pleasant Springs that disperse themselues for best seruice as doe the veines of a mans bodie From the South there fals into this Riuer First the pleasant Riuer of Apamatuck next more to the East are the two Riuers of Quiyoughcohanocke A little farther is a Bay wherein falleth three or foure pretie Brookes and Creekes that halfe intrench the Inhabitants of Warraskoyac then the Riuer of Nandsamund and lastly the Brooke of Chisaptack From the North side is the Riuer of Chickahamania the backe Riuer of Iames Townes another by the Cedar I le where we liued ten weekes vpon Oisters then a conuenient Harbour for fisher-boats or small Boats at Kecoughtan that so conueniently turneth it selfe into Bayes and Creekes that make that place very pleasant to inhabit their Corne fields being girded therein in a manner as Peninsulaes The most of these Riuers are inhabited by seuerall Nations or rather Families of the name of the Riuers They haue also in euery of those places some Gouernour as their King which they call Werowances In a Peninsula on the North side of this Riuer are the English planted in a place by them called Iames Towne in honour of the Kings most excellent Maiestie vpon which side are also many places vnder the Werowances The first and next the Riuers mouth are the Cecoughtans who besides their women and children haue not past twentie fighting men The Paspaheges on whose Land is seated the English Colonie some fortie miles from the Bay haue not past fortie The Riuer called Chickahamania neere two hundred The Weanocks one hundred The Arrowhatocks thirtie The place called Powhatan some fortie On the South side this Riuer the Appamatucks haue sixtie fighting men The Quiyougcohanocks fiue and twentie The Warraskoyacks fortie The Nandsamunds two hundred The Chesapeacks are able to make one hundred Of this last place the Bay beareth the name In all these places is a seuerall Commander which they call Werowance except the Chickhamanians who are gouerned by the Priests and their Assistants of their Elders called Caw-cawwassoughes In Summer no place affoordeth more plentie of Sturgeon nor in Winter more abundance of Fowle especially in the time of Frost There was once taken fiftie two Sturgeons at a draught at another draught sixtie eight From the latter end of May till the end of Iune are taken but young Sturgeons of two foot or a yard long From thence till the midst of September of two or three yards long and few others And in foure or fiue houres with one Net were ordinarily taken seuen or eight often more seldome lesse In the small Riuers all the yeere there is-good plentie of small fish so that with Hookes those that would take paines had sufficient Fourteene miles Northward from the Riuer Powhatan is the Kiuer Pamaunke which is nauigable sixtie miles but with Catches and small Barkes twentie or thirtie miles farther At the ordinary flowing of salt water it diuideth it selfe into two gallant branches On the South inhabit the people of Youghtanund who haue about sixtie men for warres On the North branch Mattapament who haue thirtie men Where this Riuer is diuided the Countrie is called Panamaunke and nourisheth neere three hundred able men About fiue and twentie miles lower on the North side of this Riuer is Werawocomoco where their great King inhabited when Captaine Smith was deliuered him prisoner yet there are not past fortie able men But now he hath abandoned that and liueth at Orapakes by Youghtanund in the Wildernesse tenne or twelue miles lower on the South side of this Riuer is Chiskiack which hath
waited on to his house in the same manner And thus inclosed as I said round with a Pallizado of Planckes and strong Posts foure foote deepe in the ground of yong Oakes Walnuts c. The Fort is called in honour of his Maiesties name Iames Towne the principall Gate from the Towne through the Pallizado opens to the Riuer as at each Bulwarke there is a Gate likewise to goe forth and at euery Gate a Demi-Culuerin and so in the Market Place The houses first raised were all burnt by a casualty of fire the beginning of the second yeare of their seate and in the second Voyage of Captain Newport which since haue bin better rebuilded though as yet in no great vniformity either for the fashion or beauty of the streete A delicate wrought fine kinde of Mat the Indians make with which as they can be trucked for or snatched vp our people do dresse their chambers and inward roomes which make their houses so much the more handsome The houses haue wide and large Country Chimnies in the which is to be supposed in such plenty of wood what fires are maintained and they haue found the way to couer their houses now as the Indians with barkes of Trees as durable and as good proofe against stormes and winter weather as the best Tyle defending likewise the piercing Sunbeames of Summer and keeping the inner lodgings coole enough which before in sultry weather would be like Stoues whilest they were as at first pargetted and plaistered with Bitumen or tough Clay and thus armed for the iniury of changing times and seasons of the yeare we hold our selues well apaid though wanting Arras Hangings Tapistry and guilded Venetian Cordouan or more spruse houshold garniture and wanton City ornaments remembring the old Epigraph We dwell not here to build vs Bowers And Hals for pleasure and good cheere But Hals we build for vs and ours To dwell in them whilst we liue here True it is I may not excuse this our Fort or Iames Towne as yet seated in somewhat an vnwholesome and sickly ayre by reason it is in a marish ground low flat to the Riuer and hath no fresh water Springs seruing the Towne but what wee drew from a Well sixe or seuen fathom deepe fed by the brackish Riuer owzing into it from whence I verily beleeue the chiefe causes haue proceeded of many diseases and sicknesses which haue happened to our people who are indeede strangely afflicted with Fluxes and Agues and euery particular season by the relation of the old inhabitants hath his particular infirmity too all which if it had bin our fortunes to haue seated vpon some hill accommodated with fresh Springs and cleere ayre as doe the Natiues of the Country we might haue I beleeue well escaped and some experience we haue to perswade our selues that it may be so for of foure hundred and odde men which were seated at the Fals the last yeere when the Fleete came in with fresh and yong able spirits vnder the gouernment of Captain Francis West and of one hundred to the Seawards on the South side of our Riuer in the Country of the Nansamundes vnder the charge of Captaine Iohn Martin there did not so much as one man miscarry and but very few or none fall sicke whereas at Iames Towne the same time and the same moneths one hundred sickned halfe the number died howbeit as we condemne not Kent in England for a small Towne called Plumsted continually assaulting the dwellers there especially new commers with Agues and Feuers no more let vs lay scandall and imputation vpon the Country of Virginia because the little Quarter wherein we are set dowee vnaduisedly so chosed appeares to be vnwholesome and subiect to many ill ayres which accompany the like marish places §. IIII. The Lord La WARRES beginnings and proceedings in Iames Towne Sir THOMAS GATES sent into England his and the Companies testimony of Virginia and cause of the late miseries VPon his Lordships landing at the South gate of the Pallizado which lookes into the Riuer our Gouernour caused his Company in armes to stand in order and make a Guard It pleased him that I should beare his Colours for that time his Lordship landing fell vpon his knees and before vs all made a long and silent Prayer to himselfe and after marched vp into the Towne where at the Gate I bowed with the Colours and let them fall at his Lordships feete who passed on into the Chappell where he heard a Sermon by Master Bucke our Gouernours Preacher and after that caused a Gentleman one of his owne followers Master Anthony Scot his Ancient to reade his Commission which intituled him Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall during his life of the Colony and Plantation in Uirginia Sir Thomas Gates our Gouernour hitherto being now stiled therein Lieutenant Generall After the reading of his Lordships Commission Sir Thomas Gates rendred vp vnto his Lordship his owne Commission both Patents and the Counsell Seale after which the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall deliuered some few words vnto the Company laying many blames vpon them for many vanities and their Idlenesse earnestly wishing that he might no more finde it so least he should be compelled to draw the sword of Iustice to cut off such delinquents which he had much rather he protested draw in their defence to protect them from iniuries hartening them with the knowledge of what store of prouisions he had brought for them viz. sufficient to serue foure hundred men for one whole yeare The twelfth of Iune being Tuesday the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall did constitute and giue places of Office and charge to diuers Captaines and Gentlemen and elected vnto him a Counsell vnto whom he did administer an Oath mixed with the oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to his Maiestie which oath likewise he caused to be administred the next day after to euery particular member of the Colony of Faith Assistance and Secrecy The Counsaile which he elected were Sir Thomas Gates Kinght Lieutenant Generall Sir George Summers Knight Admirall Captaine George Percy Eâ—quire and in the Fort Captaine of fifty Sir Ferdinando Weinman Knight Master of the Ordnance Captaine Christopher Newport Vice-admirall William Strachei Esquire Secretary and Recorder As likewise the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall nominated Captaine Iohn Martin Master of the Battery workes for Steele and Iron and Captaine George Webb Sergeant Maior of the Fort and especiall Captaines ouer Companies were these appointed Captaine Edward Bruster who hath the command of his Honours owne Company Captaine Thomas Lawson Captain Thomas Holecroft Captaine Samuell Argoll Captaine George Yardley who commandeth the Lieutenant Generals Company Diuers other Officers were likewise made as Master Ralph Hamor and Master Browne Clarkes of the Counsell and Master Daniell Tucker and Master Robert Wilde Clarkes of the Store c. The first businesse which the Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall after the
at the Church a little within Ludgate London SIR IT was the nineteenth of May before I was fitted for my discouery when from Monahiggan I set sayle in an open Pinnace of fiue tun for the Iland I told you of I passed alongst the Coast where I found some antient Plantations not long since populous now vtterly void in other places a remnant remaines but not free of sicknesse Their disease the Plague for wee might perceiue the sores of some that had escaped who described the spots of such as vsually die When I arriued at my Sauages natiue Country finding all dead I trauelled alongst adaies iourney Westward to a place called Nummastaquyt where finding Inhabitants I dispatched a Messenger a dayes iourney further West to Poconaokit which bordereth on the Sea whence came to see me two Kings attended with a guard of fiftie armed men who being well satisfied with that my Sauage and I discoursed vnto them being desirous of noueltie gaue mee content in whasoeuer I demanded where I found that former relations were true Here I redeemed a Frenchman and afterwards another at Mastachusit who three yeeres since escaped shipwracke at the North-east of Cape Cod. I must amongst many things worthy obseruation for want of leisure therefore hence I passe not mentioning any place where we touched in the way to the Iland which wee discouered the twelfth of Iune Here we had good quarter with the Sauages who likewise confirmed former reports I found seuen seuerall places digged sent home of the earth with samples of other commodities elsewhere found sounded the Coast and the time being farre spent bare vp for Monahiggan arriuing the three and tieth of Iune where wee found our Ship ready to depart To this I le are two other neere adioyning all which I called by the name of King Iames his Iles because from thence I had the first motiues to search For that now probable passage which may hereafter be both honourable and profitable to his Maiestie When I had dispatched with the ships ready to depart I thus concluded for the accomplishing my businesse In regard of the fewnesse of my men not being able to leaue behind mee a competent number for defence and yet sufficiently furnish my selfe I put most of my prouisions aboord the Sampson of Cape Ward ready bound for Virginia from whence hee came taking no more into the Pinnace then I thought might serue our turnes determining with Gods helpe to search the Coast along and at Virginia to supply our selues for a second discouery if the first failed But as the best actions are commonly hardest in effecting and are seldome without their crosses so in this we had our share and met with many difficulties for wee had not sayled aboue forty leagues but wee were taken with a Southerly storme which draue vs to this strait eyther we must weather a rockie point of Land or run into a broad Bay no lesse dangerous Incidit in Syllam c. the Rockes wee could not weather though wee loosed till we receiued much water but at last were forced to beare vp for the Bay and run on ground a furlong off the shoare where we had beene beaten to pieces had wee not instantly throwne ouerboord our prouisions to haue our liues by which meanes we escaped and brought off our Pinnace the next high water without hurt hauing our Planke broken and a small leake or two which we easily mended Being left in this misery hauing lost much bread all our Beefe and Sider some Meale and Apparell with other prouisions and necessaries hauing now little left besides hope to encourage vs to persist Yet after a little deliberation we resolued to proceed and departed with the next faire winde We had not now that faire quarter amongst the Sauages as before which I take it was by reason of our Sauages absence who desired in regard of our long iourney to slay with some of our Sauage friends at Sawahquatooke for now almost euery where where they were of any strength they sought to betray vs. At Manamock the Southerne part of Cape Cod now called Sutcliffe Inlets I was vnawares taken prisoner when they sought to kill my men which I left to man the Pinnace but missing of their purpose they demanded a ransome which had I was as farre from libertie as before yet it pleased God at last after a strange manner to deliuer me with three of them into my hands and a little after the chiefe Sacheum himselfe who seeing me weigh anchor would haue leaped ouerboord but intercepted craued pardon and sent for the Hatchets giuen for ransome excusing himselfe by laying the fault on his neighbours and to be friends sent for a Canoas lading of Corne which receiued we set him free I am loth to omit the story wherein you would finde cause to admire the great mercy of God euen in our greatest misery in giuing vs both freedome and reliefe at one time Departing hence the next place we arriued at was Capaock an Iland formerly discouered by the English where I met with Epinew a Sauage that had liued in England and speakes indifferent good English who foure yeeres since being carried home was reported to haue beene slaine with diuers of his Countreymen by Saylers which was false With him I had much conference who gaue mee very good satisfaction in euery thing almost I could demand Time not permitting mee to search here which I should haue done for sundry things of speciall moment the wind faire I stood away shaping my course as the Coast led mee till I came to the most Westerly part where the Coast began to fall away Southerly In my way I discouered Land about thirtie leagues in length heretofore taken for Mayne where I feared I had beene imbayed but by the helpe of an Indian I got to the Sea againe through many crooked and streight passages I let passe many accidents in this iourney occasioned by treacherie where wee were compelled twice to goe together by the eares once the Sauages had great aduantage of vs in a streight not aboue a Bowe shot and where a multitude of Indians let flye at vs from the banke but it pleased God to make vs victours neere vnto this wee found a most dangerous Catwract amongst small rockie Ilands occasioned by two vnequall tydes the one ebbing and flowing two houres before the other here wee lost an Anchor by the strength of the current but found it deepe enough from hence were wee carried in a short space by the tydes swiftnesse into a great Bay to vs so appearing but indeede is broken land which gaue vs light of the Sea here as I said the Land treadeth Southerly In this place I talked with many Saluages who told me of two sundry passages to the great Sea on the West offered me Pilots and one of them drew mee a Plot with Chalke vpon a Chest whereby I found it a great Iland parted the two Seas they report the one
we will forbeare to take the most holy name of God in vaine in ordinary swearing by it or any other thing or by scoffing or vaine abusing of his most holy Word or to vse cursing or filthy speeches or any other thing forbidden in Gods most holy Word as also to liue together without stealing one from another or quarrelling one with another or slandering one of another And to auoide all things that stand not with the good estate of a Christian Church and well gouerned Common-wealth as also to embrace the contrary as Iustice and Peace Loue and all other things that stand with the good and comfort of Societie Fourthly Whereas we are here together farre remote from our natiue soile of England and yet are indeed the naturall Subiects of our most Royall and gracious King IAMES of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Wee doe therefore in the presence aforesaid solemnly promise euermore to continue the loyall Subiects of our said Soueraigne King his Heires and Successors and neuer to reuolt from him or them vnto any other whatsoeuer but euermore to acknowledge his Supreme Gouernment Fiftly Whereas wee were sent hither by diuers Aduenturers of the Citie of London and other parts of the Realme of England wee doe here in the presence aforesaid promise to vse all diligence for the good of the Plantation and not to purloyne or imbesell any of the prohibited commodities out of the generall estate but to vse all faithfulnesse as it becommeth Christians to doe as also to bee obedient to all such Gouernour or Gouernours or their Deputie or Deputies as are or shall be by them sent to gouerne vs As also to yeeld all reuerence towardes the Ministery or Ministers of the Gospel sent or to be sent Sixtly and lastly Wee doe here in presence aforesaid promise the Lord assisting vs that if at any time hereafter any forrain power shall attempt to put vs out of this our lawful possession not cowardly to yeeld vp the same but manfully to fight as true English men for the defence of the Common-wealth we liue in and Gospel wee professe and that whiles we haue breath wee will not yeeld to any that shall inuade vs vpon any conditions whatsoeuer I had thought hitherto to haue added a Letter of M. Hughes written from thence Dec. 21. 1614. and printed But our latter intelligence being more ample hath caused mee to omit him and others Yea all things in some and some things in all M. Norwood hath beene a diligent Surueyor of the place and accidents and hath giuen a Map of the one common to be sold and a briefe relation of the other But because his History of the Creatures is briefe I haue borrowed out of Captaine Smith what he had borrowed of Capt. Butler and others to giue the Reader more full satisfaction in that kind CHAP. XVII Relations of Summer Ilands taken out of M. RICHARD NORWOOD his Map and Notes added thereto printed 1622. The History of the Creatures growing or liuing therein being inlarged out of Capt. SMITHS written Relations SIr Thomas Gates and Sir George Summers hauing staied in Bermuda nine moneths with helpe of such things as they saued with the Sea-ven'ure and of such as they found in the Countrey had built of Cedar and rigged fit for the Sea two Vessels a Ship and a Pinnace and vpon the tenth of May 1610. departed toward Uirginia leauing onely two men behind them and carrying them store of prouision for the reliefe of the people there Vpon the foure and twentieth of May they arriued safely there and shortly after some of them returned to the Sommer Ilands againe for a further supply in the same Ship which they had formerly built there where Sir George Sommers dying his men did not according to his last charge giuen vnto them returne to Virginia but framed their course for England leauing behind them three men that staied voluntarily who shortly after found in Sommerset Iland which is a part of Sandys Tribe a verie great treasure in Ambergreece to the valew of nine or ten thousand pound sterling there hath also been found since diuers times of the best sort This new discouery of the Sommer Ilands being thus made knowne in England to the Virginian Company by these men which returned they sold it to some hundred and twentie persons of the same Company who obtained a Charter from his Maiestie and so hold it And toward the latter end of Aprill 1612. sent thither a Ship called the Plough with some sixtie persons to inhabite appointing Gouernour one Master Richard Moore a man ingenuous and carefull who since dyed in Sir Walter Rawlyes last voyage to Guiana a place as appeareth by our Moderne Geographers very rich and spatious But as I say he arriued there about the beginning of Iuly and found the foresaid three men that staied voluntarily very well Master Moore spent the three yeeres of his gouernment for the most part in fortifying the Countrey and trayning the people in Martiall exercises which custome hath beene continued by his successours hee built some nine or tenne Forts placing Oâ—dnance and Munition in them In his time the Lord sent vpon the Countrey a very grieuous scourge and punishment threatning the vtter ruine and desolation of it That it came from God I need not striue to proue especially considering it was generally so acknowledged by vs at that time The causes and occasions of it I need not name being very well knowne to vs all that then liued there which were about sixe hundred persons thought shortly after much diminished I will onely shew the thing it selfe which was a wonderfull annoyance by silly Rats These Rats comming at the first out of a Ship few in number increased in the space of two yeeres or lesse so exceedingly that they filled not onely those places where they were first landed But swimming from place to place spread themselues into all parts of the Countrey Insomuch that there was no Iland though seuered by the Sea from all other Lands and many miles distant from the Iles where the Rats had their originall but was pestered with them They had their Nests almost in euery Tree and in all places their Burrowes in the ground like Conies to harbour in They spared not the fruits of Plants and Trees neither the Plants themselues but eate them vp When wee had set our Corne they would commonly come by troupes the night following or so soone as it began to grow and digge it vp againe If by diligent watching any of it were preserued till it came to earing it should then very hardly scape them Yea it was a difficult matter after wee had it in our houses to saue it from them for they became noysome euen to the persons of men Wee vsed all diligence for the destroying of them nourishing many Cats wilde and tame for that purpose wee vsed Rats-bane and many times set fire
of the earth for wee could neuer perceiue that shee returnes any more to them and yet in likelihood they remaine not long in the Earth after they are hatched because as I haue before said they cannot liue without breathing We sometimes see of the young ones no bigger then a mans hand which some fish will deucure They grow slowly and seeme to haue a very long life they will sleepe on the top of the water and were wont to sleepe often on the Land till the Countrie was peopled they will also liue out of the water some three weekes and that without meate but mourne and pine away they are very wittie Being on the Land turned vpon their backes they can no more without some helpe or aduantage recouer themselues by which meanes when they come on shoare to lay their Egges they are easily taken as also they are when they are cooting But otherwise wee take them for the most part by night making a great light in a Boate to which they will sometimes swimme and seldome shunne so that a man standing readie with a staffe in his hand which hath at one end a socket wherein is an Iron lesse then a mans finger foure-square and sharpe with a line fastned to it hee striking this Iron into the vpper shell of the Turckle it stickes so fast that after shee hath a little tired her selfe by swimming too and fro shee is taken by it They will liue the head being cut off foure and twentie houres so that if you cut the flesh with a Knife or touch it it will tremble and shrinke away There is no meate will keepe longer either fresh or salt But leauing these we will now come to speake of the Prickled Peares which are a fruit growing in these Ilands in such places as are scarce fit for any thing else namely vpon Rockes and Cliffes and commonly by the Sea side as if the salt-water did somewhat helpe to the generation and nourishing of them The tree seemes to grow certaine yeeres before it beares fruit and then to continue bearing very many yeeres hauing almost all the yeere long fruit vpon it And although we call this a Tree yet hath it scarce any bodie or branches but consisteth in a manner wholly of leaues and fruit soft and brittle But we will giue you a larger Historie of the Creatures from Captaine Smith in the next Chapter CHAP. XVIII Extracts out of Captaine IOHN SMITHS Historie of Bermudas or Summer Ilands touching the English Acts and Occurrents there from the beginning of the Plantation SOme one hundred and twentie of the Uirginian Company bought that Title which the Company might seeme to haue to Bermuda and obtayned Letters Patents of his Maiestie Sir Thomas Smith was elected Treasurer and Master Richard Moore sent thither with the first Colonie which found the three men well Carter Chard and Waters which had found store of Ambergrice which was the occasion of great stirres betwixt Moore and Kendall who was imprisoned Chard who was condemned and on the Ladder to be hanged but repriued and all Moores time detayned prisoner and Captaine Dauies who had almost kindled a mutinie till better thoughts did better him Sic vos non vobis was the conclusion of that Treasure to the finders howsoeuer Dauies and Kendall are said to haue licked their fingers well For the naturall Historie thereof I haue added thus much out of him to that which before hath beene deliuered by others The most troublesome to these Ilands are the Winds and Wormes specially in the Spring and Autumne rather to awaken industrie then to cause despaire The Musketas or Flies are very busie with a certaine Indian bugge called by the Spaniards a Cacaroatch which creeping into Chists by their ill sented dung defile all besides their eating Little Ants are in Summer so troublesome that they are forced to dry their figs on high frames anointing the feete with Tarre which stay their passage that else would spoile all Wormes in the earth are noisome to their Corne and Tobacco causing them great labour euery morning to destroy them which else would destroy all Large Lizards haue been there now destroyed by the Cats Spiders are large but beautifully coloured as if they were adorned with Siluer Gold and Peatle their Webs in Summer wouen from Tree to Tree a perfect raw Silke in substance and colour so strong that Birds like Snites bigger then Black-birds are snared in their Nets There are grey and white Hearne grey and greene Plouer wild Ducks and Mallards Coots Red-shankes Sea-wigeons grey Bitternes Cormorants numbers of small Birds like Sparrowes and Robbins which haue lately beene destroyed by the Wild Cats very many Wood-peckers Crowes which since the Plantation are killed and seldome seene except in places least inhabited where they are obserued to take their flight about Sun-set directing their course toward the North-west which causeth the coniecture of other Ilands Yea the Spaniards say this is not true Bermuda c. sometimes also are seene Falcons Iarfalcons Osprayes a Bird like a Hobby holden but a passenger The Cohow is so termed of his voice a night Bird all day hid in the Rockes The Egge-bird on the first day of May constantly obserued to come they begin to lay Egs as big almost as Hens Egges so continuing till Mid-summer so tame you must thrust them off then permitted to breed growing weake and their young are excellent meate The Egges of those are white of the Cohowes speckled as bigge as Hennes strict inhibition was made for their sparing beeing almost destroyed The Tropiks Bird hath his name of the places where he is most seene Another Bird of her Cry is called Pemblico seldome seene by day an vnwelcome Prophet of Tempests by her clamorous crying Owles are now gone Pigeons prosper not Tame Duckes and Geese are there Now for Plants there growing the most remarkeable are the Poyson-wead which is much in shape like our English Iuie with the touch thereof causing rednesse itching and blisters all which after a while passe away of themselues without further hurt The Red-reed is a tall Plant whose stalke is couered with a red rind the Roote steeped or a small quantitie of the iuyce drunke alone procureth a forceable Vomit generally vsed and effectuall against distempers of the stomacke A kind of Wood-bind is common neere the Sea running on Trees like a Vine the fruit somewhat like a Beane but flatter which eaten any way causeth to purge vehemently yet without further harme Another small Tree causeth costiuenesse There is also a Plant like a Bramble bearing a long yellow fruit with a hard shell and within a hard Berrie which stamped and taken inwardly purgeth gently Red-Pepper is a fruit like our Barberies which beaten or bruized with the Teeth sets all the mouth on a heat for the time terrible but swallowed whole haue the same operation that blacke Pepper The Sea-feather is a Plant growing on the
amount vnto being onely for victuals which our Country yeeldeth I hold it not fit here to set down lest I should be accused by some therein And withall it is to be considered that the trade thither as now it is doth yearely set on worke and relieue many numbers of people as Bakers Brewers Coopers Ship-Carpenters Smiths Net-makers Rope-makers Line-makers Hooke-makers â—â—lly makers and many other trades which with their families haue their best meanes of 〈◊〉 from these New-found-land Voyages Adde vnto them the families or seruants of 〈◊〉 Owneâ—â— and Masters of such Ships as goe thither and Mariners with their families hereby 〈…〉 ied and maintained c. THe Natiues of the Countrey haue great store of red Oaker which they vse to colour their Bodies Bowes and Arrowes and Cannowes withall which Cannowes are built in shape like the Wherries on the Riuer of Thames but that they are much longer made with the rinds of Birch trees which they sew very artificially and close together and ouerlay euery seame with Turpentine and in like manner they sew the rindes of Spruce trees round and deepe in proportion like a Brasse Kettle to boyle their meate in which hath beene well proued by three Mariners of a Ship riding at Anchor by me who being robbed in the night by the Sauages of their apparell and diuers prouisions did the next day seeke after them and came suddenly where they had set vp three Tents and were feasting hauing three Canoas by them and had three Pots made of such rindes of trees standing each of them on three stones boyling with twelue Fowles in each of them euery Fowle as bigge as a Widgeon and some so bigge as a Ducke they had also many such pots so sewed and fashioned like the leather Buckets that are vsed for quenching of fire and those were full of the yolks of Egges that they bad taken and boiled hard and so dried small which the Sauages vsed in their broth as Sugar is vsed in some meates they had great store of the Skins of Deere Beuers Beares Seales Otters and diuers other fine skins which were well dressed as also great store of seuerall sorts of flesh dried and by shooting off a Musket towards them they all ran away naked without any apparell but onely their hats on their heads which were made of Seales skins in fashion like our hats sewed handsomely with narrow bands about them set round with fine white shels such as are carried from Portugall to Braseile where they passed to the Indians as ready monie All their three Canoas their Flesh Skins Yolks of Egges Targets Bowes and Arrows and much fine Okar and diuers other things they tooke brought away and shared it amongst those three that tooke it and brought to me the best Canoa Bowes and Arrowes and diuers of their Skins and many other things worth the noting which may seeme to inuite vs to finde out some other trades with them Now also I will not omit to relate something of a strange Creature that I first saw there in the yeere 1610. in a morning early as I was standing by the water side in the Harbour of Saint Iohns which I espied verie swiftly to come swimming towards me looking cheerefully as it had beene a woman by the Face Eyes Nose Mouth Chin eares Necke and Forehead It seemed to be so beautifull and in those parts so well proportioned hauing round about vpon the head all blew strakes resembling haire downe to the Necke but certainly it was haire for I beheld it long and another of my companie also yet liuing that was not then farre from me and seeing the same comming so swiftly towards mee I stepped backe for it was come within the length of a long Pike Which when this strange Creature saw that I went from it it presently thereupon diued a little vnder water and did swim to the place where before I landed whereby I beheld the shoulders and backe downe to the middle to be as square white and smooth as the backe of a man and from the middle to the hinder part pointing in proportion like a broad hooked Arrow how it was proportioned in the forepart from the necke and shoulders I know not but the same came shortly after vnto a Boat wherein one William Hawkridge then my seruant was that hath bin since a Captaine in a Ship to the East Indies and is lately there imploied againe by Sir Thomas Smith in the like Voyage and the same Creature did put both his hands vpon the side of the Boate and did striue to come in to him and others then in the said Boate whereat they were afraid and one of them strooke it a full blow on the head whereat it fell off from them and afterwards it came to two other Boates in the Harbour the men in them for feare fled to land This I suppose was a Mermaide Now because diuers haue written much of Mermaides I haue presumed to relate what is most certaine of such a strange Creature that was seene at New-found-land whether it were a Mermaide or no I know not I leaue it for others to iudge c. R. W. CHAP. IX The names of diuers honorable persons and others who haue vndertaken to helpe aduance his Maiesties â—laviation in the New-found-land written by the said R. W. with extracts of certaine Letters written from thence THe right Honorable Henry Lord Cary Viscount of Fanlke-land Lord Deputie for the Kingdome of Ireland hath vndertaken to plant a Colonie of his Maiesties Subiects in the New-found-land and is well pleased to entertaine such as are willing to be Aduenturers with him therein vpon such Conditions as may appeare in the latter part of this Booke And in his Lordships absence hee hath authorized this Agent Master Leonard Wellsted by warrant vnder his hand and Seale to ratifie whatsoeuer shall be by him concluded therein The said Master Wellsteds Chamber is neere one Master Garlands house at the lower end of Saint Mar 〈…〉 lane in the fields The right Honorable Sir George Calâ—ert Knight one of the principall Secretaries vnto his Maiestie hath also vndertaken to planta large Circuit of that Countrie who hath already sent thither this yeare and the former yeare a great number of men and women with all necessarie prouisions fit for them where they liue pleasantly building of Houses 〈…〉 sing of Land for Corne and Meddowes Cabage Carrets Turneps and such like as also for Wood and Tobacco Likewise they are there preparing to make Salt for the prel 〈…〉 tion of fish another yeere and for diuers other seruices And his Honor is likewise well plâ—aled to entertaine such as will aduenture with him therein vpon very fit conditions The Worshipfull Iohn Slany of London Merchant who is one of the vndertakers of the New-found-land Plantation and is Treasurer vnto the pat 〈…〉 of that Societie who haue maintained a Colonie of his Maieâ—â—â—es subiects there about twelue yeeres and they
Irish coast many of their Noblemen and Gentlemen were drowned and diuers slain by the barbarous and wilde Irish. Howbeit there was brought prisoner out of Ireland Don Alonzo de Lucon Colonel of two and thirty bands commonly called a Terza of Naples together with Rodorigo de Lasso and two others of the family of Cordoua who were committed vnto the custody of Sir Horatio Palauicini that Monsieur de Teligny the son of Monsieur de la None who being taken in fight neere Antwerpe was detained prisoner in the Castle of Turney might be ransomed for them by way of exchange To conclude there was no famous nor worthy family in all Spain which in this expedition lost not a son a brother or a kinsman For the perpetuall memory of this matter the Zelanders caused new coine of Siluer and Brasse to be stamped which on the one side contained the armes of Zeland with this inscription GLORY TO GOD ONELY and on the other side the pictures of certaine great ships with these words THE SPANISH FLEET and in the circumference about the ships IT CAME WENT AND WAS. Anno 1588. That is to say the Spanish fleet came went and was vanquished this yeere for which glory be giuen to God onely Likewise they coined another kinde of mony vpon the one side whereof was represented a ship fleeing and a ship sinking on the other side foure men making prayers and giuing thankes vnto God vpon their knees with this sentence Man purposeth God disposeth 1588. Also for the lasting memory of the same matter they haue stamped in Holland diuers such coines according to the custome of the ancient Romans Also other coines were stamped with a Fleet flying with full saile and inscribed Venit Vidit Fugit It came saw fled others with the fired ships and the fleet in confusion the word DVX FOEMINAFACTI While this wonderfull and puissant Nauie was sailing along the English coasts and all men did now plainly see and heare that which before they would not be perswaded of all people thorow out England prostrated themselues with humble prayers and supplications vnto God but especially the outlandish Churches who had greatest cause to feare and against whom by name the Spaniards had threatned most grieuous torments enioyned to their people continuall fastings and supplications that they might turne away Gods wrath and fury now imminent vpon them for their sins knowing right well that prayer was the onely refuge against all enemies calamities and necessities and that it was the onely solace and reliefe for mankinde being visited with affliction and misery Likewise such solemne daies of supplication were obserued throughout the vnited Prouinces Also a while after the Spanish Fleet was departed there was in England by the commandement of her Maiesty and in the vnited Prouinces by the direction of the States a solemne festiuall day publikely appointed wherein all persons were enioyned to resort vnto the Church and there to render thankes and praises vnto God and the Preachers were commanded to exhort the people thereunto The foresaid solemnity was obserued vpon the 19. of Nouember which day was wholly spent in Preaching praying giuing thankes with the accustomed solemnities of Bonfires Singing Ringing and other wonted expressions of publike ioy Likewise the Queenes Maiesty her selfe imitating the ancient Romans rode into London in triumph in regard of her owne and her subiects glorious deliuerance For being attended vpon very solemnly by all the principall estates and officers of her Realme she was carried thorow her said Citie of London in a triumphant chariot and in robes of triumph from her Palace vnto the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul out of the which the ensignes and colours of the vanquished Spaniards hung displaied And all the Citizens of London in their Liueries stood on either side the street by their seuerall Companies with their Ensignes and Banners and the streets were hanged on both sides with Blew cloath which together with the foresaid Banners yeelded a very stately and gallant prospect Her Maiesty being entered into the Church together with her Clergy and Nobles gaue thankes vnto God and caused a publike Sermon to be preached before her at Pauls Crosse wherein none other argument was handled but that praise honour and glory might be rendered vnto God and that Gods name might be extolled by thanksgiuing And with her own Princely voyce she most Christianly exhorted the people to doe the same whereupon the people with a loud acclamation wished her a most long and happy life to the confusion of her foes The Lord Admirall had a pension assigned for his good seruice This publike ioy was increased by Sir Robert Sidney now Earle of Leicester who returning out of Scotland related to her Maiestie the King of Scots faithfull friendship and loue to her and to the Religion He had beene employed to the said King whiles the Spanish Fleet houered on the coast to gratulate with him in the Queenes name for his alacrity in the common cause and to obtaine his promise of aide if the Spaniards landed in Scotland and to put him in minde how ambitiously the Spaniard sought to swallow in all Britaine vrging the Pope to Excommunicate him so to strip him of Scotland and quit his succession in England to admonish him of the threats of Mendoza and the Popes Nuntio that therefore he should be very wary of the Papists in Scotland He answered conceitedly amongst other speeches that he hoped for no other benefit from the Spaniard then that which Polyphemus had promised Vlysses namely that when the rest were deuoured he should be swallowed last Thus the magnificent huge and mighty fleet of the Spaniards which themselues tearmed in all places inuincible such as sailed not vpon the Ocean Sea many hundreth yeeres before in the yeere 1588. vanished into smoake to the great confusion and discouragement of the authours thereof In regard of which her Maiesties happy successe all her neighbours and friends congratulated with her and many Verses were penned to the honour of her Maiesty by learned men whereof we will here annexe those of Master Beza STrauer at innumer is Hispanus nauibus aequor Regnis iuncturus sceptra Britanna suis. Tanta huius rogitas quae motus causa superbos Impulit Ambitio vexit Auaritia Quà m bene te ambitio mersit vanissima ventus Et tumidos tumidae vos superastis aquae Quà m bene totius raptores orbis auaros Hausit inexhausti iusta vorago maris At tu cui venti cui totum militat aequor Regina ô mundi totius vna decus Sic regnare Deo perge ambitione remota Prodiga sic opibus perge inuare pios Vt te Angli longùm Anglis ipsa fruaris Quà m dilecta bonis tam metuenda malis The same in English THe Spanish Fleet did flote in narrow Seas And bēd her ships against the English shore With so great rage as nothing could appease And with such strength as
Barbary The eight and twenty day being Monday the Lord Admirall came aboord the Arke againe minding there to remaine for a space as indeede he did and vpon the aduice of his Phisician to deale something in phisicke for that his Lordship found his body something out of frame At that time it pleased his Lordship to write certaine letters to the Duke of Medina Sidonia for the deliuerance of English Captiues who were remaining in the Gallies For by this time it was reported that the said Duke was come downe in person with some power and that he was either at Port Saint Mary or else at Rotta or thereabout His Lordship did indiâ—e the Letters himselfe but his pleasure was they should be turned into Latine by another and so to be sent as indeede they were in the Latine tongue vnto the Duke The next day after being the fourth of Iuly the Lords generall caused the towne of Cadiz to be set on fire and rased and defaced so much as they could the faire Cathedrall Church and the Religious houses onely being spared and left vnblemished And with the Towne all such prouision for shipping and other things as were seruiceable for the Realmes vse and yet were not eitherso conuenient for vs to be carried away as else such as we stood no whit at all in neede of were likewise at the same instant consumed with fire And presently thereupon their Lordships with as conuenient speede as they could and the whole army in such order and leisure as they thought best came aboord The next day being the fist of Iuly the Lords generall with all the army being vnder saile and now making for England and but as yet passing the very mouth of the Bay of Cadiz a Galley ful of English prisoners with a flag of truce met vs from Rotta sent by the Duke of Medina Sidonia and sent as it should seeme one day later then his promise but yet their flag being either not big enough or not well placed in the Galley or not well discerned of our men or by what other mischance I know not but thus it was by one of our smallest ships that sailed formost as soone as the said Galley came within Gunshot there was a great Peece discharged vpon her and at that instant there was one man slaine outright and two other grieuously hurt The errour being espied and perceiued our ship gaue ouer immediately from any further shooting As soone as the Galley came neere vs my Lord Admirall caused a gracious salutation to be sounded with his trumpets and willed the Captaines forthwith to come aboord his ship which they did and then he feasted them with a Banket as the time and place might serue And then by them vnderstanding of that vnfortunate mischance that had hapned by the shot of the said ship he was very sorry for the same and yet such was the mercifull prouidence of almighty God that euen in this mischance also he did hold his holy hand ouer the English and all the harme that was done did light only vpon the poore Turke and the Spaniard himselfe When this Lord had well banqueted them he presently called for his Barge and did accompany the said Galley to the Lord Generall the Earle of Essex who then did ride with his ship a good distance off and there they being in like manner most honorably receiued and intertained the Spanish Gentlemen deliuered vp their prisoners the English captiues of whom some had bin there six yeeres some eight or ten yea and some two and twenty yeeres and vpward and some of them but lately taken in Sir Francis Drakes last voyage to the Indies The number of the prisoners deliuered were but nine and thirty and no moe and were brought in and deliuered by Don Antonio de Corolla and his brother and by Don Pedro de Cordâ—â— and certaine others If any man presume here so farre as to inquire how it chanced that the Lord Generall rested so long at Cadiz and went no further and why Port Saint Mary being so faire a Towne and so neere to them was for borne and why Shâ—râ—s alias Xeres And why Rotta and the like And why this or that was done And why that â—or this left vndone I will not answere him with our common English prouerbe as I might which is That one foole may aske moe questions in one houre then ten discreete men can well answere in fiue dayes But that graue ancient writer Cornelius Tacitus hath a wise briefe pithy saying and it is this Nemo tentauit inquirere in columnas Herculis sanctiâ—sque ac reuerentius habitum est de fact is Deorum â—redere quà m scire Also vpon my knowledge the chiefest cause why Port Saint Mary and the rest were left vntouched was this For that it was most certainely known that they were Townes not worth the saluting of such a royall company in which there was no manner of wealth in the world left more then bare houses of stone and standing wals and might well haue serued rather as a stale perchance to haue entrapped then as a meanes to haue enriched And thus much for our iourney to Cadiz for the accidents that hapned by the way for the winning spoiling and burning of the said Towne for the ouerthrow of the Spanish Fleete there and for all other by-matters that hapned as appendances to the same both in the time of our abode there as also at the very last houre of our comming from thence As for our returne home and our entrance into a part of Portugall by the way with the taking spoiling and burning of the Towne of Faraon there and marching into the Spanish confines thereabouts c. I minde to leaue it to some other whose chance was to be present at the action as my selfe was not and shall be of more sufficient ability to performe it Meteranus writeth that the taking of Cadiz had so terrified the neighbour townes that the Inhabitants fled out of them and Saint Lucar had beene also very easily taken if a few ships had assaulted it and that eighteene Spanish ships comming from the Indies ignorant of what had hapned were English at vnawares being very wealthy CHAP. XIIII The Voyage to the Iles of Azores vnder the conduct of the Right Honorable ROBERT Earle of Essex 1597. §. I. The Relation thereof by the said Earle and other Commissioners I The Generall hauing by her Maiesties gracious fauour the charge of her Fleete and Armie set out of Plimmouth in Iune 1597. did both promise my selfe and giue hope to her Maiestie that I should be able to defeate the King of Spaines Fleete commanded by the Adelantado if I met them at Sea or destroy it in the harbour of Feroll if I found them there as also to master and take all Fleetes of treasure or of the East or West Indian Fleete that I should finde vpon the Sea in their way to Spaine and lastly that I should
actions of seruice and in his times of chiefest recreations he would euer accept of his counsell and company before many others that thought themselues more in his fauour And as touching the Aduertisement that was sent into England from the Isles of Bayon by Master Robert Knolles in a Pinnace called the Guiana concerning vs that were forsaken and left alone vpon the breaking of our Maine yard whereupon was pretended that many great exploits should haue bin performed vpon the coast of Spaine if wee had not fallen from them as was vntruely suggested and reported his Lordship promised the reare Admirall then to send another aduertisement how we were all metagaine and had bin formerly seuered by misfortunes onely and not by any wilfull default in the reare Admirall as was doubted And that Aduertisement sent formerly by Master Knolles we well knew proceeded not out of any particular malice of the Generall to vs but onely to take that as a fit excuse to free himselfe from the enterprises of Ferall or the Groine which he had promised her Maiestie to vndertake but saw it impossible to performe by reason of the former crosses and our long stay in Plimmonth and therefore was glad to take the opportunity of any colour to satisfie her Maiestie and to discharge himselfe of that burthen which we did all perceiue and therefore did striue the lesse the publish our Apologies or to contest with a man of his place and credit which though in a right had bin but bootelesse and meere folly and therefore we left him to his best excuse and our apparant innocencie And for the more plaine manifesting of the Message I haue thought it not amisse here to insert the true copie of the Instructions verbatim that our Generall sent by Master Robert Knolles into England vpon these accidents before the Isles of Bayon That we weighing Ancor and setting saile from the sound of Plimmouth the seuenteenth of this moneth of August hauing sometimes calmes but for the most part Westerly and Northeasterly windes we fellon thursday the fiue and twenty of this moneth with the Land which is to the Eastward of the Cape Ortingall which land we made in the morning about ten of the clocke and stood in with the shoare till three in the afternoone Then finding the winde scant to ply to the Southward I stood all night into the Sea and the next morning in againe to the Land By which boords by reason of the head-sea and the bare winde we got nothing On Friday night I stood off againe to the Sea and about midnight the winde comming all Northerly we got a good slant to lye all along the coast on Saturday in the morning I discouered the Saint Andrew whom we had lost sight of two or three dayes before I bare with her and had no sooner got her vp but Sir Walter Rawleigh shot off a peece and gaue vs warning of his being in distresse I presently bare with him and found that he had broken his maine yard Whereupon I willed him to keepe along the coast that birth that he was till he got in the height of the North Cape and my selfe hauing a desperate leake broke out as euer ship swam withall which I was fame to lye by the lee and seele to stop it which how it held vs you can report and God be thanked that night we ouercame it and stopped it The next morning we all came to Cape Finister sauing the Saint Matthew who vpon breaking of her fore maste went home and the Wastspight with whom the Dreadnaught went without stop to the South Cape This is all that is hapned to me If her Maiestie aske you why there was no attempt vpon the Fleete at Teral you may say I neither had the Saint Matthew which was the principall ship for that execution nor the Saint Andrew till mine owne ship was almost sunke and I not able to make saile till Sir Walter Rawleigh with his owne ship the Dreadnaught and very neere twenty saile were gone Wee are now gone to lye for the Indian Fleete for by Spaniards wee haue taken wee finde the Adelantado is not put to Sea this yeere Of our successe her Maiestie shall from time to time be aduertised you shall acquaint Master Secretarie with this instruction and both to him and all our friends you must excuse our haste We being thus met all at Flores desired our Generall to giue vs and our consorts leaue to water there before we departed thence as his Lordship and the rest had done before which he yeelded vnto and very nobly lent vs his owne long Boate for our better speede willing vs there to water whilest he with the rest of the Fleete did ply vp and downe to looke out for the Adelantado or any Indian Fleete that being the very fit place and season for them Hereupon whilest our men and Mariners were prouiding to water our Reare-admirall with Sir William Brooke my selfe and diuers other Gentlemen went ashoare to stretch our legs in the Isle of Flores and to refresh our selues with such victuals as we could there get for our monie And at our first landing there we met with the Lord Gray Sir Gylly Merricke and other Gentlemen and wee altogether walked a mile or two into the Countrie and there dined in a little Village where the bare-legged Gouernour caused such things to be brought vnto vs for our monie as the Island afforded In other sort we tooke nothing which was very faire wars This Island seemes to be somewhat mountainous yet hauing very good store of Fruits Wheat and other Corne. Their Corne they doe all keepe in large hollow vaults within the earth hauing no other way nor entrance into them but by a round hole in the top of the vault onely so big as a man may creepe into it and when it is closed vp with a planke and ouerstrewed with earth is very hard to be found out by strangers for the which purpose they are so made and much like the Caues in Gascoyne and Languedocke and such as are mentioned by Caesar to be vsed in Affricke This Island lies more subiect to the inuasion of Sea-faring men then any of the rest for there all traders of the Indies doe vsually water and refresh themselues But here I must not forget to relate that before we had our leaue to water or were departed from the Generall a Counsell was called and holden for the taking in of some of the Islands and an orderly course set downe for the same which was in this sort concluded on The Admirall and Reare-admirall to vndertake Fayall the Lord Thomas Howard Vice-admirall and the Marshall Uere to vndertake Gratiosa The Lord Mountioye Lieutenant Generall and Sir Christopher Blunt Coronell Generall of the Foote to Saint Michaels and the Netherland Squadron was quartered to Pyke where the greatest store of Wines doe grow and therefore would not be taken in ill part of them as we presumed The
Voyage Herein was Gods fauour and mercy mightily shewed towards all sides For by this Storme which so furiously for the time afflicted vs were wee and that Spanish Fleet vnder the Adelantado seuered and kept from incountring which had cost much blood and mischiese and to say a truth in all likelihood the worst might haue fallen to our shares For when wee had left the Ilands and were once crosse sayled for England I obserued that before the Storme diuers of our best Ships made all the haste they could homewards neuer following nor attending the Admirals course nor light Which is an Errour too much vsed amongst vs and very disorderly and dangerous as would haue beene well found if the Adelantado had then met with any of those straglers or with the Admirall himselfe homewards bound so stenderly accompanied Which manner of disorder and scattering in the Conduct of a Royall Nauie especially in so long a Voyage is very fit to bee straightly reformed These Spanish Flee-boates and Carauels had made many landings by stealth on that side of Cornewall and put the Countrey in great frights and amazements especially vpon the report of a great Fleet that was comming after them for England Whereupon our Reere Admirall from before the Saint Iues left the Seas and went a Land to take some order for the Countrey of Cornewall whereof hee was then her Maiesties Lieutenant seeing it then in much amazement and feare and so meant to goe ouer land to Plimouth there to meet with our Generall From the Road of Saint Iues the next morning wee in the Wast-spight set sayle for Kingroad and met with such foule weather as that ouer against the flat Holmes shee brake againe her Maine yard which was before broken and new fished in the beginning of this Voyage But at last with much adoe wee brought her about to Kingroad and within a few dayes after moored her safe in Hungread where I tooke speedie order for the paying and discharging of her men at the Spaniards cost and also for the repayring of her decayes By this time wee also had newes that our Admirall and the rest of our Fleet were safely met and arriued at Plimouth And at the same instant also wee had intelligence by a small man of Brasill but newly come from Corke in Ireland that Sir Iohn Norris President of Munster and the Lord Burgh Deputie of Ireland were both lately deceased Of which two men her Maiestie and the Realme had no small losse being both Martiall men of as great worth and seruice as England bred in many yeeres before And although it be no part of this matter to speake of them yet their Deathes being diuulged to vs at the same time cannot be thought vnfit or vnworthy by the way heere to be remembred and lamented After I had thus taken order with the Officers of the Ship at Bristoll I receiued Letters from the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Admirall for the accomplishing of that which I had already out of due consideration gone in hand withall I meane the discharging and paying of the Marriners and Souldiers being to the number of foure hundred men which would haue growne to a great and needlesse expense to haue kept them in pay and victuals vntill such time as I could haue sent vnto the Court to receiue directions backe againe for the same And therefore did first take vp monies vpon credit and then by the Drum make knowne in Bristow that there were Sugars Brasil wood and Fernanbuck aboord o r Ships which I would presently make sale of to those that would giue most for it and not merchand it vnder hand nor in secret to the preiudice and deceiuing of her Maiestie And therefore with the knowledge and aduice of the Master the Purser and Boatswaine of the Ship and the Customer and Searcher of Bâ—â—stow I landed those Wares in safe Cellers and sold them to the best Chapmen in publique testified vnder the hands of these Officers of the Citie and of the Ship for my discharge in that behaâ—â—e and made thereof fiue hundred pounds The which summe I deliuered to one Askew then Purser of the Wast-spight to the end that hee by his Booke might pay the Marriners and the Souldiers by the Powle as a care of mine for those poore-men vnder my Charge which was duely performed The which I haue beene the more precise to remember and notifie for that I tooke no small paines and care in getting those Sugars and Brasill wood aboard vs out of a torne Brasill 〈◊〉 that was ready to founder in the Seaâ— before Saint Michaels and abandoned to any that would aduenture to goe abâ—ord her to fetch away the lading Which businesse in that vacant time that the Ar 〈…〉 e lay at Villa Franca and we before S. Michaels Towne 〈◊〉 put my selfe and my Marriners vnto And I had not so much paines and trauell in the getting as trouble and vexation afterwards to preserue it whilest it was aboord when we came to Kingroad from the purloyning and stealing of the Marriners and Officers of the Ship And to say no more but a truth I dare thus much anouch and iustifie that if there had beene in some other of her Maiesties ships the like regard for these goods that were gotten and of the Prizes taken in this Iourney and as faithfully answered as were these that then for all the crosses and errours that had happened it had fully returned to her Maiestie the double value of all the Charges she had beene at for this Voyage But it was strange to see what carelesse courses were held in all such actions as were set out by the State and what poore returnes were made againe into the Exchequer And therefore more strange that the Prince could subsist so often to set out such chargeable Voyages without any manner of getting more then to particuler persons For so fell it out before in the Indian Voyage when Sancto Domingo and Cartagena were taken and sackâ— by Sir Francis Drake and when Cades in Spaine was surprised and sackt by the English Armie where was infinite wealth But that of Lisbona in Portugall vndertaken by Sir Iohn Norris where the Suburbes did so abound with Merchandize and Spicerie being wholly at the mercy and disposition of our Armie was to be excused for that our Shops kept not promise with him in comming vp the Riuer that should haue both assisted the land Armie with Munition and Victuals and also carried away those Spiceries and rich Merchandize wherein the Sea-men were greatly wanting and taxed by the generall voyce But in this Voyage wee all saw and knew that there were besides Brasill men three good Prizes taken that came from the Hauana laden with Cochynella and other rich Merchandize besides the Siluer Gold Pearle Ciuet Muske Amber-greece which was amongst the Passengers And those three Prizes whereof one was about 400. Tunnes by the report of those Merchants that came in them were