South and South and by East to another small point three miles on which point there stood a Crosse and therefore they called it the Crosse-point there also was a flat Bay and low water fiue six or seuen fadome deepe soft ground From Crosse-point they sayled along by the land South South-east foure miles and then came to another small point which behind it had a great Crâ—eke that reached Eastward This point they called the fifth point or Saint Laurence point From the fifth point they sayled to the Sconce point three miles South South-east and there lay a long blacke Rocke close by the land whereon there stood a Crosse then they entred into the Ice againe and put inward to the Sea because of the Ice Their intent was to sayle along the coast of Noua Zembla to the Wey-gates but by reason that the Ice met them they woond Westward and from the ninth of August in the Eeuening till the tenth of August in the Morning sayled West and by North eleuen miles and after that foure miles West North-west and North-west and by West the winde being North in the Morning they woond Eastward againe and sayled vntill Eeuening ten miles East and East and by South after that East and East and by North foure miles and there they saw land and were against a great Creeke where with their Boate they went on land and there found a faire Hauen fiue fathome deepe sandie ground This Creeke on the North side hath three blacke points and about the three points lyeth the road but you must keepe somewhat from the third point for it is stonie and betweene the second and third point there is another faire Bay for North-west North and North-east windes blacke sandie ground This Bay they called Saint Laurence Bay and there they tooke the height of the Sunne which was 70. degrees and â— 4. From Saint Laurence Bay South South-east two miles to Sconce point there lay along blacke Rocke close by the land whereon there stood a Crosse there they went on Land with their Boat and perceiued that some men had beene there and that they were fled to saue themselues for there they found sixe Sackes with Rye-meale buried in the ground and a heape of stones by the Crosse and a Bullet for a great Piece and thereabouts also there stood another Crosse with three Houses made of wood after the North Countrey manner and in the houses they found many barrels of Pike-stanes whereby they conjectured that there they vsed to take Salmons and by them stood fiue or six Coffins by Graues with dead mens bones the Coffins standing vpon the ground all filled vp with stones there also lay a broken Russia ship the Keele thereof being fortie foure foot long but they could see no man on the Land it is a faire Hauen for all winder which they called the Meale-hauen because of the Meale that they found there From the blacke Rocke or Cliffe with the Crosse two miles South South-east there lay a low Iland a little into the Sea from whence they sayled nine or ten miles South South-east there the height of the Sunne was 70. degrees and 50. minutes when it was South South-west From that Iland they sayled along by the Land foure miles South-east and by South there they came to two Ilands whereof the vttermost lay a mile from the Land those Ilands they called Saint Clara. Then they entred into the Ice againe and woond inward to the Sea in the wind and sayled from the Iland vntill Eeuening West South-west foure miles the wind being North-west that Eeuening it was very mistie and then they had eightie fathome deepe Then againe they sayled South-west and by West and West South-west three miles there they had seuentie fathome deepe and so sayled till the thirteenth of August in the morning South-west and by West foure miles two houres before they had ground at fiftie sixe fathome and in the morning at fortie fiue fathome soft muddie ground Then they woond from the land and sayled North and North and by East foure miles from thence they woond to land againe and sayled till the fourteene of August fiue or sixe miles South-west sayling close by the land which as they ghesse was the Iland of Colgoyen August the fifteenth the Sun being South-west William Barents tooke the height thereof and found it to bee eleuated aboue the Horizon 35. degrees his Declination being 14. degrees and ¼ so that as there wanted 55. degrees of 90. which 55. and 14. degrees ¼ being both added together made 69. Degrees 15. Minutes which was the height of the Pole in that place the wind being North-west then they sayled two miles more Eastward and came to the Ilands called Matfloe and Delgoy and there in the morning they met with the other Ships of their companie being of Zelandt and Enck-huysen that came out of Wey-gates the same day there they shewed each other where they had beene and how farre each of them had sayled and discouered The Ship of Enck-huysen had past the Straights of Wey-gates and said that at the end of Wey-gates hee had found a large Sea and that they had sayled fiftie or sixtie miles further Eastward and were of opinion that they had beene about the Riuer Obi that commeth out of Tartaria and that the Land of Tartaria reacheth North-eastward againe from thence whereby they thought that they were not farre from Cape Tabin which is the point of Tartaria that reacheth towards the Kingdome of Cathai North-east and then Southward and so thinking that they had Discouered enough for that time and that it was too late in the yeere to sayle any further as also that their Commission was to discouer the scituation and to come home againe before Winter they turned againe towards the Wey-gates and came to an Iland about fiue miles great lying South-east from Wey-gates on the Tartarian side and called it the States Iland there they found many Stones that were of Christall Mountayne being a kind of Diamond When they were met together as I sayd before they made signes of joy discharging some of their Ordnance and were merrie the other Ships thinking that William Barents had sayled round about Noua Zembla and had come backe againe through the Wey-gates and after they had shewed each other what they had done and made signes of joy for their meeting they set their course to turne backe againe for Holland and vpon the sixteenth of August they went vnder the Ilands of Matfloe and Delgoy and put into the road because the wind was North-west and lay till the eighteenth of August Then they set sayle and came to the Texel the sixteenth of September CHAP. IIII. A briefe Declaration of BARENTS his second Nauigation made in Anno 1595. behinde Norway Muscouia and Tartaria written by GERAT DE VEER THe foure Ships aforesaid being returned home about Haruest-time in Anno 1594. they were in good hope
Other ten leagues thence standeth the Port of Siuill before the Point Negrillo from whence the Coast windeth vnto the Cabo de Falcon neere to Oristan and goeth by the South to the Port of Guayano And fiue leagues from this Coast are the Harmingas a dangerous shoale and seuen leagues further las Viuoras small Ilands compassed with shoales and to the South of them the Serrana and a little Iland compassed with shoales with other foure or fiue neere vnto it and to the North-west of it the Serranilla and to the West of it the Roncador another Rocke and to the South-west of it Saint Andrewes an Iland compassed with shoales North and South with Nombre de Dios about fortie leagues from it and neere from thence another called Sancta Catilina the Caymanes directly West from Iamayca twentie fiue leagues from the little Blackmoore which are two little Ilands sixe leagues the one from the other and the great Cayman another Iland of seuen leagues in length fifteene leagues from the Caymanes to the West and to the North Coast betweene Cuba and Hispaniola another shoale which is called Abre-oio The Iland of Saint Iohn of Port Rico which the Indians called Barriquen lyeth betwixt twelue and fifteene leagues from Hispaniola to the East of fortie fiue leagues in length East and West and from North to South betwixt twentie and thirtie very plentifull of all that Hispaniola hath and of Millet Yuca and of Mynes of Gold The temperature is good and almost one all the yeere except in December and Ianuary There is in it three Spanish Townes with a Gouernment and a Bishoppricke the President Iohn Ponce of Lion passed to discouer this Iland the yeere 1508. being Gouernour in the Prouince of Yguey for Nicholas of Ouando in Hispaniola and returned the yeere 1510. by order of the King to people it The Citie of Saint Iohn is in the beginning of the North Coast on the East side in eighteene degrees of height and they call it of Port Rico for the excellencie of the Hauen The Bishop and the Gouernour are resident in it and the Officers of the Kings Reuenues and it is Suffragane to Saint Domingo Arrecibo stands thirtie leagues to the West from Port Rico the Towne of Guadianilla or Saint German the New in the Westerne Coast three and thirtie leagues from Port Rico to the South-west There was in old time in this Iland another Towne which was called Guanica in the South Coast at the end of it where now is the Port of Mosquitos which is very good from whence it was remoued to another situation of the Westerne Coast which they call Aguada or the Watering with name of Soto-Mayor there is in this Iland a row of Mountaynes that diuide it in the middest East and West vnto the Sea and Borders of Saint German and heere is found the Tree called Tabernaculo which yeeldeth white Rozen like Gumme Anime and it serueth for Pitch for the ships and for fire or light and it is medicinable to take out the colde or numnesse and to cure wounds There are few Ports in this Iland for all the Coast of the North is very foule with shoales and Rockes those that are are to the East from the Port of Saint Iohn The Riuer of Luysa and that which they call Canoba and la Cabeça the farthest East point of the Iland neere to the Hill of the Loquillos and in it a Port which they call Saint Iames three leagues further is another called Yabucoa and three leagues from the Coast on this side of the passage is a little Illet and at the beginning of the South passage another which they call Boyqui and forward the Iland of Saint Anne Guayama a Port and afterward the Riuers Neabon and Xauia six leagues before the Port of Guadianilla two leagues to the East of the Riuer of Mosquitos in whose mouth is the Riuer called Guanica and six leagues from it the Cape Roio the furthest West of the South Coast and to the West of it toward Hispaniola is the Iland of Moua and to the North of it the Manico and Zecheo other two little Ilands the Port of Pines and the Port of Mayaguez and the Bay of Saint German the old and the mouth of the Riuer Guanabo or the Watering and that of Guabataca more forward and afterward in the North Coast that of Camay and of Cibuco and Tâ—a neere to Port Rico and in the middest of the Coast of the South Sea leauing vnto it the Haberianas foure or fiue little Ilands There is also much Ginger gathered in this Iland which is a Root like vnto Madder or Saffron which the Portugals brought from the East to this Iland of Barlouento The Ilands which are to the North of Saint Iohn Hispaniola and Cuba of which none is inhabited with Spaniards are called the Lucayos One the most Septentrionall is aboue twentie seuen degrees of altitude which is called Lucayoneque or Yucayoneque which hath almost to the West Bahama another Iland in twentie sixe degrees and an halfe of thirteene leagues in length and eight in breadth from whence the Channell of Bahama betweene Florida and the shoales Delos Mimbres taketh the name whereby the Currents of the Sea doe goe so swiâ—t to the North that although the wind be prosperous the ships cannot enter it and although they be contrary they goe with the Currents The shelues of Bimini are so called of an Iland in the middest of them of fiue leagues in length which the first Admirall gaue the name the first time he came to Cuba and it is that which Iohn Paul of Lyon did agree to inhabit Abacoa is another in the middest of the said shelfe of twelue leagues in length Cigateo of twentie fiue Curateo another small Iland in twentie sixe degrees and Guamma fifteene leagues of length and ten in breadth and neere vnto it Guanahani the first Land of the Indies which the first Admirall discouered which he called Saint Sauiour Yuma of twentie leagues and eight in breadth in twentie foure degrees and an halfe which the Admirall named Isabella in honour of the famous Queene Donna Isabella his particular Protectresse and that gaue him this Discouerie Iumeto in twentie three degrees and an halfe fifteene leagues in length to the North of Hispaniola Samana seuen leagues ouer betweene Iumeto and Guanima three square of eight leagues in length in twentie foure degrees Yabaque of ten leagues in twentie two degrees and an halfe Mira-par-vos are three little Ilands in triangle compassed with shelues to the South of Iumeto Mayaguana twentie leagues in length and ten in breadth is twentie three degrees Ynagua of ten leagues in twentie degrees and an halfe The Caycoâ— an Iland of fiue leagues in twentie one degrees and to the North of it is another called Hamaua and another Conciua Maçarey stands in twentie degrees compassed with shelues Abreoiâ— is a
while vnder the water he riseth vp and commeth swimming to the Boat entring into the same and leauing there all the Oysters which he hath taken and brought with him for in these are the Pearles found and when he hath there rested himselfe a while and eaten part of the Oysters he returneth againe to the water where hee remayneth as long as hee can endure and then riseth againe and swimmeth to the Boat with his prey where hee resteth him as before and thus continueth course by course as doe all the other in like manner being all most expert Swimmers and Diuers and when the night draweth neere they returne to the Iland to their houses and present all the Oysters to the Master or Steward of the house of their Lord who hath the charge of the said Indians and when he hath giuen them somewhat to eate he layeth vp the Oysters in safe custodie vntill he haue a great quantitie thereof then he causeth the same Fishermen to open them and they find in euery of them Pearles other great or small two or three or foure and sometimes fiue or sixe and many small graines according to the liberalitie of nature They saue the Pearles both small and great which they haue found and either eate the Oysters if they will or cast them away hauing so great a quantitie thereof that they in manner abhorre them These Oysters are of hard flesh and not so pleasant in eating as are ours of Spaine This Iland of Cubagua where this manner of fishing is exercised is in the North Coast and is no bigger then the Iland of Zeland Oftentimes the Sea increaseth greatly and much more then the Fishers for Pearles would because whereas the place is very deepe a man cannot naturally rest at the bottom by reason of the abundance of airie substance which is in him as I haue oftentimes proued For although he may by violence and force descend to the bottome yet are his feet lifted vp againe so that hee can continue no time there and therefore where the Sea is very deepe these Indian Fishers vse to tye two great stones about them with a coard on each side one by the weight whereof they descend to the bottome and remayne there vntill them listeth to rise againe at which time they vnlose the stones and rise vp at their pleasure But this their aptnesse and agilitie in swimming is not the thing that causeth men most to maruell but rather to consider how many of them can stand in the bottome of the water for the space of one whole houre and some more or lesse according as one is more apt hereunto then an other An other thing there is which seemeth to me very strange and this is that whereas I haue oftentimes demanded of some of these Lords of the Indians if the place where they are accustomed to fish for Pearles being but little and narrow will not in short time be vtterly without Oysters if they consume them so fast They all answered mee that although they be consumed in one part yet if they goe a fishing in an other part or an other Coast of the Iland or at an other contrary wind and continue fishing there also vntill the Oysters bee likewise consumed and then returne againe to the first place or any other place where they fished before and emptied the same in like manner they find them againe as full of Oysters as though they had neuer beene fished Whereby we may iudge that these Oysters either remoue from one place to an other as doe other fishes or else that they are ingendred and increase in certaine ordinarie places This Iland of Cumana and Cubagua where they fish for these Pearles is in the twelfth degree of the part of the said Coast which inclineth toward the North. Likewise Pearles are found and gathered in the South Sea called Mare del Sur and the Pearles of this Sea are very bigge yet not so bigge as they of the Iland of Pearles called de las Perlas or Margarita which the Indians call Terarequi lying in the Gulfe of Saint Michael where greater Pearles are found and of greater price then in any other Coast of the North Sea in Cumana or any other part I speake this as a true testimonie of sight hauing beene long in that South Sea and making curious inquisition to be certainly informed of all that pertayneth to the fishing of Pearles From this Iland of Terarequi there was brought a Pearle of the fashion of a Peare weighing thirtie and one Caracts which Petrus Arias had among a thousand and so many pounds weight of other Pearles which he had when Captaine Gaspar Morales before Petrus Arias pâ—ssed to the said Iland in the yeare 1515. which Pearle was of great price From the said Iland also came a great and very round Pearle which I brought out of the Sea this was as bigge as a small pellet of a Stone-bow and of the weight of twentie and sixe Caracts I bought it in the Citie of Panama in the Sea of Sur and paid for it sixe hundred and fiftie times the weight thereof of good Gold and had it three yeeres in my custodie and after my returne into Spaine sold it to the Earle of Nansaâ— Marquesse of Zenetâ—â— great Chamberlaine to your Maiestie who gaue it to the Marquesse his Wife the Ladie Mentia of Mendoza I thinke verily that this Pearle was the greatest fairest and roundest that hath beene seene in those parts For your Maiestie ought to vnderstand that in the Coast of the Sea of Sur there are found a hundred great Pearles round after the fashion of a Peare to one that is perfectly round and great Of the familiaritie which certayne of the Indians haue with the Deuill and how they receiue answere of him of things to come and other Superstitions WHen the Indians beginne their battaile or goe to any combate or attempt any other great mater they haue certaine elect men whom they reuerently esteeme and call them Tequinas which in their tongue is as much to say as Masters notwithstanding that they call euery man that is cunning in any Science by the same name as Fishers Fowlers Hunters or makers of Nets These Tequinas therefore they call the Masters of their Answeres because they speake with Tuyra that is the Deuill and bring them answere what he saith either as touching such things as they haue to doe or shall chance to them the day following or many dayes to come For the Deuill being so ancient an Astronomer knoweth the times of things and seeth how they are naturally directed and inclined and maketh them beleeue that they come so to passe by his ordinance as though he were the Lord and moouer of all that is and shall be and that he giueth the day light and raine causeth teâ—pest and ruleth the stations of times giuing life or taking away life at his pleasure By reason whereof the
may remayne in this Land which request Baatu cannot satisfie without the knowledge and consent of Mangu-Can Wherefore you and your Interpreter must of necessitie goe vnto Mangu-Can Howbeit your associate and the other man shall returne vnto the Court of Sartach staying there for you till you come backe Then began the man of God mine Interpreter to lament esteeming himselfe but a dead man Mine Associate also protested that they should sooner chop off his head then withdraw him out of my company Moreouer I my selfe said that without mine Associate I could not goe and that we stood in need of two Seruants at the least to attend vpon vs because if one should chance to fall sick we could not be without another Then returning vnto the Court he told these Sayings vnto Baatu And Baatu commanded saying let the two Priests and the Interpreter goe together but let the Clerke returne vnto Sartach And comming againe vnto vs hee told vs euen so And when I would haue spoken for the Clerke to haue had him with vs he said No more words for Baatu hath resolued that so it shall bee and therefore I dare not goe vnto the Court any more Goset the Clerke had remayning of the Almes money bestowed vpon him twentie sixe Yperperas and no more ten whereof he kept for himselfe and for the Lad and sixteene hee gaue vnto the man of God for vs. And thus were we parted asunder with teares he returning vnto the Court of Sartach and our selues remayning still in the same place VPon Assumption Euen our Clerke arriued at the Court of Sartach And on the morrow after the Nestorian Priests were adorned with our Vestments in the presence of the said Sartach Then wee our selues were conducted vnto another Host who was appointed to prouide vs house-roome victuals and Horses But because wee had not ought to bestow vpon him hee did all things vntowardly for vs. Then wee rode on forward with Baatu descending along by the bancke of Etilia for the space of fiue weekes together Sometimes mine Associate was so extreamly hungry that hee would tell mee in a manner weeping that it fared with him as though hee had neuer eaten any thing in all his life before There is a Faire or Market following the Court of Baatu at all times but it was so farre distant from vs that wee could not haue recourse thereunto For wee were constrained to walke on foote for want of Horses At length certaine Hungarians who had sometime beene after a sort Clergie men found vs out and one of them could as yet sing many Songs without booke and was accounted of other Hungarians as a Priest and was sent for vnto the Funerals of his deceased Countrey-men There was another of them also pretily well instructed in his Grammar for he could vnderstand the meaning of any thing that we spake but could not answere vs. These Hungarians were a great comfort vnto vs bringing vs Cosmos to drinke yea and sometimes flesh for to eate also who when they requested to haue some Bookes of vs and I had not any to giue them for indeed we had none but onely a Bible and a Breuiary it grieued me exceedingly And I said vnto them Bring me some Inke and Paper and I will write for you so long as we shall remaine here and they did so And I copied out for them Horas beatae Virginis and Officium defunctorum Moreouer vpon a certaine day there was a Comanian that accompanied vs saluting vs in Latine and saying Saluete Domini Wondering thereat and saluting him againe I demanded of him who had taught him that kind of salutation He said that he was baptized in Hungaria by our Friers and that of them he learned it Hee said moreouer that Baatu had enquired many things of him concerning vs and that he told him the estate of our Order Afterward I saw Baatu riding with his company and all his Subiects that were housholders or Masters of families riding with him and in mine estimation they were not fiue hundred persons in all At length about the end of Holy-rood there came a certaine rich Moal vnto vs whose Father was a Millenary which is a great Office among them saying I am the man that must conduct you vnto Mangu-Can and we haue thither a iourney of foure moneths long to trauell and there is such extreame cold in those parts that stones and trees doe euen riue asunder in regard thereof Therefore I would wish you throughly to aduise your selues whether you be able to indure it or no. Vnto whom I answered I hope by Gods helpe that we shall be able to brooke that which other men can indure Then hee said if you cannot indure it I will forsake you by the way And I answered him it were not iust dealing for you so to do for we go not thither vpon any businesse of our owne but by reason that we are sent by our Lord. Wherefore sithence we are committed vnto your charge you ought in no wise to forsake vs. Then he said all shall be well Afterward he caused vs to shew him all our garments and whatsoeuer he deemed to bee lesse needfull for vs he willed vs to leaue it behind in the custodie of our Host. On the morrow they brought vnto each of vs a furred Gowne made all of Rams skinnes with the Wooll still vpon them and breeches of the same and boots also or buskins according to their fashion and shooes made of felt and hoods also made of skins after their manner The second day after Holy-rood we began to set forward on our iourney hauing three guides to direct vs and we rode continually East-ward till the feast of all-All-Saints Throughout all that Region and beyond also did the people of Changle inhabite who were by parentage discended from the Romans Vpon the North side of vs wee had Bulgaria the greater and on the South the foresaid Caspian Sea HAuing trauelled twelue daies iourney from Etilia we found a mightie Riuer called Iagac which Riuer issuing out of the North from the land of Pascatir descended into the foresaid Sea The language of Pascatir and of the Hungarians is all one and they are all of them Shepheards not hauing any Cities And their Countrey bordereth vpon Bulgaria the greater on the West frontier From the North-East part of the said Countrey there is no Citie at all Out of the said fore-named Region of Pascatir proceeded the Hunnes of old time who afterward were called Hungarians Next vnto it is Bulgaria the greater Isidore reporteth concerning the people of this Nation that with swift Horses they trauersed the impregnable walls and bounds of Alexander which together with the Rockes of Caucasus serued to restraine those barbarous and blood-thirstie people from inuading the Regions of the South insomuch that they had tribute paid vnto them as farre as Aegypt Likewise they wasted all Countries euen vnto France Whereupon
house ministring there things necessary vnto him vntill his businesse be dispatched For if any stranger should trauell through that Countrey the Catttell would flie away at the very sent of him and so would become wilde Beyond Muc is great Cataya the Inhabitants whereof as I suppose were of old time called Seres For from them are brought most excellent stuffes of silke And this people is called Seres of a certaine Towne in the same Countrey I was credibly informed that in the said Countrey there is one Towne hauing Walls of siluer and Bulwarkes or Towers of gold There bee many Prouinces in that Land the greater part whereof are not as yet subdued vnto the Tartars And the Sea lyeth betweene them and India These Catayans are men of a little stature speaking much through the nose And this is generall that all they of the East haue small eyes They are excellent workemen in euery Art and their Physicians are well skilled in the Vertues of Herbs and iudge exactly of the Pulse But vse no Vrinals nor know any thing concerning Vrine This I saw for there are many of them at Caracarum And they are alwaies wont to bring vp all their children in the same trade whereof the father is And therefore they pay so much tribute for they giue the Moaellians euery day one thousand and fiue hundred Cessines or Iascots Iascot is a piece of siluer weighing ten Markes that is to say euery day fifteene thousand Markes beside silkes and certaine victuals which they receiue from thence and other seruices which they doe them All these Nations are betweene the Mountaynes of Caucasus on the North side of those Mountaines to the East Sea on the South part of Scythia which the Shepheards of Moal doe inhabit All which are tributarie vnto them and all giuen to Idolatry and report many fables of a multitude of gods and certaine Deified men and make a pedigree of the gods as our Poets doe The Nestorians are mingled among them as Strangers so are the Saracens as farre as Cathay The Nestorians inhabit fifteene Cities of Cathay and haue a Bishopricke there in a Citie called Segin But further they are meere Idolaters The Priests of the Idols of the said Nations haue all broad yellow hoods There are also among them as I vnderstood certaine Hermits liuing in the Woods and Mountaines of an austere and strange life The Nestorians there know nothing for they say their Seruice and haue holy Bookes in the Syrian tongue which they know not So that they sing as our Monkes doe who are ignorant of Grammar and hence it commeth that they are wholly corrupted They are great Vsurers and Drunkards and some of them also who liue among the Tartars haue many Wiues as the Tartars haue When they enter into the Church they wash their lower parts as the Saracens doe They eate flesh on Friday of the weeke and hold their Feasts that day after the manner of the Saracens The Bishop comes seldome into those Countries perchance scarse once in fiftie yeares Then they cause all their little Children which are Males to be made Priests euen in the Cradell so that all their men almost are Priests and after this they marrie Wiues which is directly against the decrees of the Fathers they are also Bigami for the Priests themselues their first Wife being dead marrie another They are all Simonists for they giue no holy thing freely They are very carefull for their Wiues and Children whereby they apply themselues to gaine and not to the spreading of the Faith Whence it commeth to passe while some of them bring vp some of the Nobilities children of Moal although they teach them the Gospell and the Articles of the Faith yet by their euill life and couetousnesse they driue them further from Christianitie Because the life of the Moallians and Tuinians who are Idolaters is more harmelesse then theirs WE departed from the foresaid Citie of Cailac on Saint Andrewes day And there wee found almost within three leagues a whole Castle or Village of Nestorians Entring into their Church we sang Salue Regina c. with ioy as loud as we could because it was long since we had seene a Church Departing thence in three daies we came to the entrance of that Prouince in the head of the foresaid Sea which seemed to vs as tempestuous as the Ocean and we saw a great Iland therein My Companions drew neere the shoare and wet a Linnen cloath therein to taste the Water which was somewhat salt but might bee drunke There went a certaine Valley ouer against it from betweene the great Mountaines betweene South and East and betweene the hils was another certaine great Sea and there ranne a Riuer through that Valley from the other Sea into this Where came such a continuall winde through the Valley that men passe with great danger least the wind carrie them into the Sea Therefore wee left the Valley and went towards the North to the great hilly Countries couered with deepe Snow which then lay vpon the Earth so that vpon Saint Nicholas day we beganne now to hasten our iourny much and because we found no people but the Iani themselues to wit men appointed from daies iourney to daies iourney together the Messengers together Because in many places in the hilly Countries the way is narrow and there are but few fields so that betweene day and night we met with two Iani whereupon of two daies iourneys we made one and trauelled more by night then by day It was extreame cold there so that they lent vs their Goats skins turning the haire outward The second Sunday of Aduent in the euening we passed by a certaine place betweene very terrible Rockes and our Guide sent vnto me intreating me to speake some good words wherewith the Deuils might be driuen away because in that passage the Deuils themselues were wont suddenly to carrie men away so that it was not knowne what became of them Sometimes they violently snatched a Horse and left the man sometimes they drew out a mans bowels and left the emptie carkasse vpon the Horse And many such things did often fall out there Then we sang with a loud voyce Credo in Deum c. And by the Grace of God wee passed through with all our company vnhurt After that they beganne to intreat me that I would write them Papers to carrie on their heads and I told them I would teach them a word which they should carrie in their hearts whereby their soules and bodies should be saued euerlastingly But alwaies when I would teach them I wanted an Interpreter Yet I wrote them the Creede and the Lords Prayer saying Heere it is written whatsoeuer a man ought to beleeue concerning God Here also is that prayer wherein we begge of God whatsoeuer is needfull for a man Whereupon beleeue firmely that which is written here although you cannot vnderstand
betwixt Mescha or Masius an Hill of â—he Amonites and Sephace neare to the Riuer Euphrates Which maketh it very vnlikely that Asarmathes should plant any Colonies so farre off in t the North and North-west Countries It is bounded Northward by the Lappes and the North Ocean On the South-side by the Tartars called Chrims Eastward they haue the Nâ—igaian Tartar that possesseth all the Countrey on the East side of Volgha towards the Caspian Sea On the West and South-west border lie Lituania Liuonia and Polonia The whole Countrey being now reduced vnder the Gouernment of one contayneth these chiefe Prouinces or Shires Volodemer which beareth the first place in the Emperours stile because their House came of the Dukes of that Countrey Mosko Nisnouogrod Plesko Smolensko Nouogrod velica or Nouogrod of the low Countrey Rostoue Yaruslaue Bealozâ—ra Bezan Dâ—yna Corgapolia Mesâ—hora Vagha Vstugha Ghaletsa These are the naturall Shires perâ—â—yning to Russia but farre greater and larger then the Shires of England though not so well peopled The other Countries or Prouinces which the Russe Emperours haue gotten perforcâ— added of late to their other Dominion are these which follow Twerra Youghoria Peâ—mia Vaâ—â—kâ—a Boâ—lghoria Chernigo Oudoria Obdoria Condora with a great part of Siberia where the people though they bee not naturall Russes yet obey the Emperour of Russia and are ruled by the Lawes of his Countrey paying customes and taxes as his owne people doe Besides these hee hath vnder him the Kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan gotten by Conquest not long since As for all his possessions in Lituania to the number of thirtie great Townes and more with Narue and Dorp in Liuonia they are quite gone being surprised of late yeeres by the Kings of Poland and Sweden These Shires and Prouinces are reduced all into foure Iurisdictions which they call Chetfyrds that is Tetrarchies or Fourth-parts Whereof wee are to speake in the Title or Chapter concerning the Prouinces and their manner of Gouernment The whole Countrey is of great length and breadth From the North to the South if you measure from Cola to Astracaâ— which bendeth somewhat Eastward it reacheth in length about foure thousand two hundred and sixtie verst or myles Notwithstanding the Emperour of Russia hath more territorie Northward farre beyond Cola vnto the Riuer of Tromschua that runneth a thousand verst well nigh beyond Pechinga neere to Wardhouse but not intire nor clearely limitted by reason of the Kings of Swedâ—n and Denmarke that haue diuers Townes there as well as the Russe plotted together the one with the other euery one of them clayming the whole of those North parts as his owne right The breadth if you goe from that part of his Territorie that lyeth farthest Westward on the Naruâ— side to the parts of Siberia Eastward where the Emperour hath his Garrisons is foure thousand and foure hundred verst or thereabouts A Verst by their reckoning is one thousand paces yet lesse by one quarter then an English myle If the whole dominion 〈◊〉 the Russe Emperour were all habitable and peopled in all places as it is in some hee would either hardly hold it all within one Regiment or bee ouer mightie for all his neighbour Princes THe Soyle of the Countrey for the most part is of a sleight sandie mold yet very much different one place from another for they yeeld of such things as 〈◊〉 out of the earth The Country Northwards towards the parts of Saint Nicholas Cola and North-east towards Sibâ—ria is all very barren and full of desart Woods by reason of the Clymate and extremitie of the cold in Winter time So likewise along the Riuer Volgha betwixt the Countries of Cazan and Astracan where notwithstanding the Soyle is very fruitfull it is all â—nhabiâ—ed sauing that vpon the Riuer Volgha on the West side the Emperour hath some few Castles with Garrisons in them This hapneth by meanes of the Chrim Tartar that will neither him selfe plant Townes to dwell there liuing a wilde and vagrant life nor suffer the Russe that is farre off with the strength of his Countrey to people those parts From Vologda which lyeth almost one thousand seuen hundred verst from the Port of Saint Nicholas downe towards Mosko and so towards the South part that bordereth vpon the Chrim which contayneth the like space of one thousand seuen hundred verst or thereabouts is a very fruitfull and pleasant Countrey yeelding Pasture and Corne with Woods and water in very great plentie The like is betwixt Rezan that lyeth South-east from Mosko to Nouograd and Vobsko that reach farthest towards the North-west So betwixt Mosko and Smolensko that lyeth South-west towards Lituania is a very fruitfull and pleasant soyle The whole Countrey differeth very much from it selfe by reason of the yeere so that a man would maruaile to see the great alteration and difference betwixt the Winter and the Summer in Russia The whole Countrey in the Winter lyeth vnder Snow which falleth continually and is sometime of a yard or two thicke but greater towards the North. The Riuers and other waters are all frozen vp a yard or more thicke how swift or broad soeuer they bee and this continueth commonly fiue Moneths viz. from the beginning of Nouember till towards the end of March what time the Snow beginneth to melt So that it would breed a frost in a man to looke abroad at that time and see the winter face of that Countrey The sharpenesse of the ayre you may judge of by this for that water dropped downe or cast vp into the ayre congealeth into Ice before it come to the ground In the extremitie of Winter if you hold a Pewter dish or pot in your hand or any other metall except in some chamber where their warme Stoues bee your fingers will freeze fast vnto it and draw of the skinne at the parting When you passe out of a warme roome into a cold you shall sensibly feele your breath to waxe starke and euen stifeling with the cold as you draw it in and out Diuers not onely that trauell abroad but in the very Markets and streets of their Townes are mortally pinched and killed withall so that you shall see many drop downe in the Streets many Trauellers brought into the Townes sitting dead and stiffe in their Sleds Diuers lose their Noses the tippes of their Eares and the balls of their Cheekes their Toes Feete c. Many times when the winter is very hard and extreame the Beares and Wolues issue by troupes out of the woods driuen by hunger and enter the Villages tearing and rauening all they can finde so that the Inhabitants are faine to flee for safegard of their liues And yet in the Summer time you shall see such a new hew and face of a Countrey the Woods for the most part which are all of Firre and Birch so fresh and so sweet the Pastures and Meadowes so greene and well growne and that vpon
Skiffe comming towards vs. In this Skiffe vvas one Iosias Logan and Thomas Edge Factors in the Paul for the vvorshipfull Company They told vs that the Paul vvas in the Coue and the ship of Hull They vvent aboord againe and vvhen the tyde vvas spent vve weighed and thought to haue anchored neere the Coue but the vvind vvas so far Easterly that vve could not so vvee vvent to the Wester side and ridde there till the fourth day vvhere vve got Fowle for in all the time of our being about the Iland and in the Ice they vvere our chiefest food The fourth vve vveighed and vvent to the North side vvhere vve vvere troubled vvith much Ice The vvind vvas at West and by North vvhich brought the Ice vvhole vpon vs so that we vvere forced to vveigh againe The sixth vve came into the Coue vvhere Master Welden slew a Beare The eight day he slew another Beare and the same day I vvent to the North side vvith the Shallop and victuals for the men vvhich kept on that side I stayed there till the fourteenth of Iuly on vvhich day vve had the vvind Northerly vvith snow and frost and the Iland enuironed round with Ice In this time the Ships Company on the South side did digge some Minerall Lead And vve caught aboue twentie Foxes vvhich vve did eat as sauerly as if they had beene Venison The fifteenth day by a North-east Sunne vve came aboord the Ship vvhich lay in the Coue vvith our Shallop and all our prouision that vvas on the North side And the Lionesse prepared to goe to Saint Nicolas in Russia as it was appointed before in London The sixteenth the wind being North-east brought such store of Ice to the Iland that it vvas compassed round close to the shoare and filled the Coue so full that by no meanes possible the Ships could get out but ridde still shut in for fiue dayes The seuenteenth the Ice began to open at the mouth of the Coue and some were willing to goe out with their Ships but couetousnesse had like to haue brought vs all to great misery for each man striuing to ride longest in the Coue supposing that there the Morses would come first on shoare they found it cleane contrary for the wind came Southerly and blew all the Ice from this side of the Iland saue that which was in the Coue which pressed so sore vpon our Ships that our Anchors could not hold vs. For the Matthew was put from three Anchors and droue with that small tyde that runneth there within her length of a sunken Rocke but a great piece of Ice on ground vpon the Rocke did keepe her from it And when the floud came againe she was driuen within halfe her length of the Rockes so that they were glad to get most of their victuals out of her vpon the Rockes looking each minute when she should split in sunder And though the rest of the ships did not driue as she did yet they had many a sore stroke with the Ice For the Southerly wind caused a hollow Sea to come in so that our ships strooke with such force against the Ice that wee could hardly stand on our feete in them Then each man layed to his hand to saue his ship by putting Plancks and old Cables ends and bundels of Hoops betweene their ships and the Ice But they were beaten all to pieces presently Then we put pieces of Elme Plancke betweene the bowes of the Paul in which ship I was Immediately they also were beaten into small pieces although they were aboue foure inches thicke With the stroke that brake the Plancke the Carpenter said the ships side did cracke and two timbers were broken Then presently wee also got out of the ship most of our victuals and carried it to the shoare There might you see a sorrowfull spectacle For all the ships being fiue in number were so fast in the Ice that all the men that were in them all which were one hundred eightie two could not imagine how to saue one Among the rest we made account that the Matthew would sinke ere long because the Ice had broken nine timbers on one side and eleuen on the other so that the Greene Sea did come into the ship and her mayne beame was broken at that instant likewise In this sort we continued till the twentieth day following when we looked still to bee put on the Cliffes with the force of the Ice that pressed vpon our ships so sore that our Anchors could not possibly hold Vpon the twentieth day it pleased God to bring the wind Westerly then the Ice began to open and to driue out of the Coue by little and little to our great comforts But that Ice that did not get cleane out came backe againe and ranne round in a Circle so that wee had a continual labor to defend the ships from it Whereupon we made meanes to get out by long Warps as wee terme them Wee were faine to let slip one Cable and the Lionesse one The Matthew had but one Cable and Anchor but they borrowed one of vs. By a North-west Sunne all the ships got out of the Ice to the Coues mouth where we stayed for the ebbe When the ebbe was come the Lionesse departed on her Voyage to Saint Nicholas in Russia And presently the Matthew and the Mary Margarite set saile and got out Then wee in the Paul set sayle and before our Anchor was vp it got hold vpon one of Matthewes Cables that shee lost when shee droue out and brought vs vp to a Bitter so that wee were very neere the Rockes but wee got off againe and ride there till a North-west Sunne the next day The one and twentieth day we weighed and stood to the East side of the Iland where wee found the Mary Margarite which had lost her Boat Streight way we sayled to the North side where we anchored and rid till a North Sunne The two and twentieth day it cleered vp of a fogge which had continued since the time of our comming out of the Coue. And wee thought it best to fetch the victuals aboord which we carried on shoare when the ship was like to be split with Ice Then Iosias Logan and I tooke seuen men more with vs and came to the Coue on the South side where wee found abundance of Morses lying on the Ice that was in the Coue. I slue one of them and tooke off his head we could not get to the shoare where our victuals lay but we made a fire vnder a Cliffe in the same Coue. The three and twentieth day wee got to our victuals and Iosias went with it to our shippe but I tarried at the Coue hoping that the beasts would come on Land when the Ice was gone as they did afterward There I tarried till the fiue and twentieth of Iuly at what time Iosias Logan came to mee with the Shallop and a Skiffe loden with
moneths and the returne lesse then thirtie dayes and the same from the Kings to Chile from whence to Panama are sayled nine hundred leagues in lesse then two moneths eight being needfull for the going which is alreadie shorter then it was for putting to the Sea they finde better windes to performe it The Nauigation to the Westerne Ilands Malucas and Philippinas from Castile to the Streight of Magellane passeth foure thousand leagues and so for being so long as for the difficultie of passing the Streight of Magellanâ—s it is held for difficult to vse it and from Noua Espanna through the Westerne Gulfe which is in the South Sea This Nauigation was made from the Port of the Natiuitie in the Coast of Noua Espanna at this time it is made from the Port of Acapulco from whence to the Malucas and Philippinas they doe make a voyage of one thousand sixe hundred or a thousand and seuen hundred leagues which is sayled in two moneths or two and a halfe departing in Nouember which is the time most free from calmes And the returne to Noua Espanna is longer because not being able to returne the way they went it is necessarie to ascend to 39. degrees and depart in May and Iune when the Brises bee lesse and they stay foure moneths in sayling two thousand leagues that may bee in the iourney NAture hauing diuided these western Indies in two parts by the Isthmos or narrownesse from Porte bello to Panama placed the one to the North and the other to the South wherefore wee will call them the Indies of the North and of the South The Kings of Castile and Lion with the aduice of the supreme Councell of the Indies haue ordayned that in each place there bee a Vice-roy Courts and Gouernments and Bishopricks as hereafter shall bee shewed And first shall be entreated of the Northerne Indies which commonly they call Noua Hispania because the first discouerers which were Iohn Grijalua and his Companions hauing not seene in the Ilands houses of stone nor other things as in Spaine which here they found with people apparelled and more ciuill They named it New Spaine which exceedeth the other part of the Indies in pastures and therefore they haue innumerable Cattle of all sorts and it exceedeth also in husbandrie and fruits it hath no wine because generally the grapes doe not ripen with perfection the raines of Iuly and August not suffering them to ripen The vpper Ilands haue also great Pastures and a pleasant prospect for all the yeere they are greene and flourishing with great pleasantnesse and great Arcabucos which are very thick Groues and Inclosures and in the Playnes are great Lakes and Quagmires Neither Bread nor Wine grow in them for the great ranknesse of the ground doth not suffer it to ripen nor care the Riuers for the most part haue gold Florida Nicaragua and Guatimala are almost in this manner as of all more particularly wee will rehearse in their place and in the Table following shall the bounds of these Northern Indies bee seene THe Court of the Iland Hispaniola which in time and place is the first being neerest vnto Castile it hath of bounds East and West fiue hundred and fiftie leagues and North and South more then three hundred wherein are included the Ilands and Gouernments of Hispaniola Cuba Saint Iohn Iamayca Margarita and the fishing of the Pearle the Prouince and Gouernment of Venezuella and for neernesse the Prouinces of new Andaluzia Guayana and Florida with all the Ilands of the North Sea which doe passe a hundred which are named and are aboue sixe hundred great and small and those which doe leane toward the Coast of Terra firme the Mariners doe call of the Leeward and the other to the Weatherward The temperature of them all is commonly moist and exceeding hot and although they be plentifull in Pastures and Trees they are not so of the Seedes of Castile nor of Wheat Barly Vines nor Oliues but there is great store of great Cattell and small as Kine Mares Swine and Sheepe and therefore their principall trafficke is Hides and Sugar for there is great store and although in the most of them there is gold it is not sought for THe Countrie-men called the Iland of Hispaniola Ayti and Quisqueya which signifieth Roughnesse and a great Countrie The figure of it is like a Chesnut leafe it stands in nineteene degrees and a halfe of eleuation of the Pole it compasseth about foure hundred leagues and somewhat more and hath in length East and West an hundreth and fiftie and North and South from thirtie to sixtie where it is broadest it is very plentifull of Sugar and Cattell and of Yuca the roote whereof maketh the Cazabi the bread of the Countrimen They haue no Millet nor Wheat although they begin to reape some in the inward parts and coldest It is rich of Copper mynes and other metals and some veine of Gold though but little is gotten for want of workemen it hath ten Spanish Townes HONDIVS his Map of Hispaniola Cuba c. CUBA INSULâ— HAVANA PORTUS IAMAICA I. S. IOANNIS I. MARGARETAE CUBAE INSULAE PARS HISPANIOLA The Citie of Saint Dominicke or Domingo neere the Coast of the South on the Riuer of Ozama stands in the said 19. degrees and a halfe and 60. of Occidentall longitude from the Meridian of Toledo from whence vnto it there may bee by direct line one thousand two hundred fortie seuen leagues it hath aboue sixe hundred housholds There is resident in it the Audience or Councell the Officers of the Goods and Royall Treasure a Mint house and the Cathedrall Church And the Archbishoprick hath for Suffraganes the Bishopricks of the Conception de la Vega which is vnited with that of Saint Dominicke those of Saint Iohn Cuba Venezuela and the Abbotship of Iamayca and in the Citie are Monasteries of Dominicans Franciscans Mercenaries and other two of Nunnes a Grammar Schoole with foure thousand Pesos of Rent and an Hospitall with twentie thousand The Hauen which is great and capable of many ships is in the mouth of the Riuer Ozama and hath the Citie on the West which the Deputie Don Bartholomew Collon did build the yeere 1494. on the East side better and wholsomer in situation and the chiefe Knight of Alcantara Nicholas of Ouando being Gouernour of Hispaniola An. 1502. remoued it where now it is from the other side the Riuer to the East vpon occasion that the Citie had fallen by a great Earthquake The Village of Salualyon of Yguey eight and twentie leagues from Saint Dominicke to the East of the Archbishoprick the Captaine Iohn of Esquiuel did people it The Village of the Zeybo twentie leagues from Saint Dominicke to the East toward the Iland of Saona the Captaine also planted it in the time of Nicholas of Ouando The Village of Cotuy sixteene leagues from Saint Dominicke to the North
and very close in his circuit Roderick Mexia of Trillo founded it The Village of Azua in Compostella in the coast of the South foure and twentie leagues from Saint Dominicke to the West in his borders are many sugar Mills it was peopled by the President Iames Vellazques it was called Compostella by a Gallizian Knight which held an Heritage in that situation and Azua is the name of the place which the Indians had there The first that carried sugar Canes to the Indies and began to make triall of them there was one Atiença and the Bachellor Velosa The Village of Yaguana which they call Santa Marie of the Port seated on the Westerne coast of the Iland is fiftie or sixtie leagues from Saint Dominicke as betweene the North and the West the chiefe Knight Nicholas of Ouando did people it The Citie of the Conception of the Valley is in the Kingdome of Guarinâ—ex which the first Admirall Don Christopher Collon built neere to the which he obtayned the victorie in the great battaile of the Valley Royall it is twentie leagues from Saint Dominicke to the North-east where is a Cathedrall Church although there is no Prelate for it is vnited to the Church of Saint Dominicke it hath one Monasterie of religious Franciscans where is the wood of the Crosse which the Indians could not burne cut nor ouerthrow which hath done many miracles Saint Iago de los Caualleros is ten leagues from the Citie de la Vega directly to the North-east it was first a Fortresse which the first Admirall made in the Countries of the Cacique Guanacoâ—el for the securitie of the Valley and the Fort Magdalene which was foure leagues off The chiefe Knight of Alcantara Nicholas of Ouando An. 1502. did people the Port of Plate in the North coasts fiue and thirtie or about fortie leagues from Saint Dominicke because the ships of Castile might more commodiously trafficke and because it was no more then ten leagues from the great Valley where in other ten leagues stood the Village of Saint Iames and the Conception within sixteen and within twelue the Mynes of Cibao and it was of the Bishoprick of the Valley the Port of Plate stands in little more then twentie degrees The Village of Monte-Christe is in the coast of the North fourteene leagues to the West of Port of Plate and fortie from Saint Dominicke is of the Bishoprick of the Valley it hath a good Hauen and certaine salt Pits in it Nicholas of Ouando did build it There was in old times in this Iland the Citie of Isabella now disinhabited which the first Admirall built the yeere 1493. the Village of Verapaz in Xaragua which Iames Velazques built in the yeere 1503. and the same yeere peopled also Saluatierra of the Zabana which signifieth Playnes and Pastures in the Indian language and that Prouince is plaine and faire Hee also peopled betweene the two mightie Riuers Neyba and Yaqui the Village of Saint Iohn of the Maguana in the middest of the Iland where the Church continueth yet and heere reigned Coanabo who tooke Alfonso de Oieda Hee also planted Villanueua de Yaquime vpon the Hauen where Oieda cast himselfe to swim being prisoner in a ship with two paire of fetters and it stands in the South coast which the Admirall did call the Coast and Hauen of Brasile The Village of Bonao is neere vnto Cotuy which the first Admirall also built where hee made a Fort for the securitie of the Mynes which were the first that were found in this Iland The Village of Bonauenture is eight leagues from Saint Dominicke to the North and Lares de Guahaba which Nicholas of Ouando peopled being Comendador Lares This Iland flourished so much that there were in it fourteene thousand Castillanes many of them Noble people and the Plantations of other parts which happened afterward caused it to be disinhabited for from it and from the Iland of Cuba went all the substance for the new Countreyes that were found The Ports Roades Capes and Points most famous and the Ilands pertayning to the Coast of this Iland are in the South Coast the Point of Nizao ten leagues from Saint Dominicke to the West The Port of Ocoa eighteene which is a Bay where the Fleets which goe for Noua Espania doe anchor and take refreshing when they doe not anchor in the nooke of Zepezepin which is neere vnto it or in another which they call the Faire Hauen two leagues before they come to Ocoa Azua a Port and Towne twentie foure leagues beyond Ocoa la Calongia a large Point thirtie leagues right against the Ilands of Boata and Altobelo fiue leagues from the Coast and the Beatados Yaquimo about thirtie foure more to the West and Abaque an Iland neere the Cape of Tiburon the furthest West of Hispaniola la Nabaza ten leagues to the Sea East and West from the Cape and Cape Rojo twelue leagues from it to the North the Rookes or Hermanos Trees Isle Oucillos neere the Coast that turneth to the East Caymito another little Iland betweene these and Guanabo another Iland of eight leagues in length in the nooke of Yaguana The Port and Cape of Saint Nicholas the furthest West on the North side of the Iland A little further the Port of Mosquitos in the North Coast and twentie leagueâ— forward the Port of Valparayso or of the Conception North and South with the Tortuga an Iland neere the Coast of fiue leagues in length Port Royall twelue leagues to the West from Monte-Christe which is as much or a little more before Isabela and this from the Port of Plate other twelue leagues Cabo Frances and Cabo del Cabron in the turning which the Coast maketh to the East before the Gulfe of Samana which entreth fiue or sixe leagues the Land inward vnto the place where the Towne of Sancta Cruz stood And in the Riuer of Samana was the first time that Armes were taken against the men of the Indies because they would haue done violence to the first Admirall The Cape of Deceit Cabo del Enganno is the furthest West of the Iland where the Coast returneth by the South to the West at the beginning of the which stands the Saona an Iland which the fleets doe reknowledge when they goe and somewhat more towards Saint Dominicke is another little Iland which is called Saint Katherine and all the names rehearsed were giuen by the first Admirall The Iland of Cuba which first was called Iuana or Ioane by the Father Don Iuan and after it was commanded to be called Fernandina by his Father The Captaine Sebastian of Ocampo made an end of compassing the yeere of our Lord 1508. by order of Nicholas of Ouando for vntill then it was not wholly belieued that it was Land and the yeere 1511. the President Iames Velazques went ouer with three hundred Spaniards by order of the
where the yeere 1524. the Master of the field Christopher of Olid planted and the Riuer Hulma or of Xagua and to the North of his mouth the Iland of Vtila and to the North-east Guayana Helen and Guanaja and Saint Francise North and South with the Point of Truxillo which are the Ilands of the Guanajos The said Point is called by another name Cabo Delgado the Small Cape or of Honduras from whence to the Cape of Camaron in search whereof they goe from Iamayca are thirteene Riuers and at the Point of the Cape a plazell or great shelfe of more then twentie leagues into the Sea and in the middest of it neere to the Coast a great Iland which is called the Iland de los Baxos of the shelues and another to the North neere the shelfe called Saint Millan and hauing passed the shelfe the Bay of Cartago and the Deepe Bay before the Cape of thanks be to God which stands in fourteen degrees one third part and to the North of it three Ilands which they call the Viciosas and Quita suenno or Take away sleepe and Roncador the Suorter two dangerous shelues and hauing passed the Cape the Gulfe of Nicuesa where hee was lost in the yeere 1510. and the Riuer of Yare in thirteene degrees where the Gouernments of Honduras and Nicaragua are ioyned The Ilands of the Guanajos which are the rehearsed the first Admirall Don Christopher Colon discouered 1502. in the last voyage he made to the Indios when he discouered Terra firme in the coast of Veragua where his ill lucke appeared for if as he went to Veragua hee had gone to the other side he had discouered New Spaine The Prouince and Gouernment of Nicaragua which the Gouernour Iames Lopez of Salzedo called the New Kingdome of Lion on the West ioyneth with Guatemala and on the North with Honduras and on the South with Costa Rica It is of one hundred and fiftie leagues East and West and eightie North and South a plentifull Countrie of Millet Cacao Cotton wooll store of Cattell without Corne or Sheepe it hath fiue Spanish Townes Lion of Nicaragua is one hundred and foure leagues from Saint Iames of Guatemala about the South-east and twelue from the South Sea neere to the great Lake of Nicaragua where the Gouernour is residenâ— the Royall Officers and the Cathedrall and Iames Aluarez Ossorio was the first Bishop It hath fiue Monasteries of Mercenaries and in her bounds one hundred and twentie thousand tributarie Indians The Citie of Granada is sixteene leagues from Lion which and Lion were built by the Captaine Franciscus Hernandez 1523. and Granada stands by the border of the great Lake and foure and twentie leagues from the Port of Realeio besides the great Lake stands the Lake of Lindiri and the famous Vulcan or Fierie mouth of Massayatan The great Lake ebbeth and floweth it hath many Ilands it runneth into the North Sea by the Riuer which is called El Desaguadero or The Voyding it hath great store of Fish and many Lizards At two leagues from it and seuen from Granada is the great fierie mouth of Mombacho very high with many Groues of diuers fruits of which much refresh the Countrie A Friar perswading himselfe that that masse of fire that in so many yeeres burned without consuming within the mouth of Massaya was gold hauing made by a certaine arte certaine Cauldrons with their chaines to draw it they scarcely came at the fire when the Cauldron and the Chaine were melted like Lead The new Segouia which was the beginning of Peter Arias his plantation 〈◊〉 thirtie leagues from Lion to the North and as many from Granada some what Northward also in which limits much gold is gotten And Iaen a Citie is thirtie leagues from the North Sea in the end of the great Lake whereby the Riuer which they call the Voyding and the merchandize which are carried from Nombre de Dios and now from Porte bello are conuayed in it The Village of Realejo one league from the Port of the Possession which commonly is called of the Realejo stands in eleuen degrees and a halfe and is one of the best Ports and surest in all that Coast wherein are made good ships by reason of the good prouision of Timber there There are in this Gouernment many Townes of Indians and in them store of tributaries and in the Confines of this Gouernment and of Costa Rica and of Nicoya eight and fortie leagues from Granada in the South coast is a Corregidorship in which and in the Iland of Chyra which is of the iurisdiction thereof eight leagues to the Sea are many tributarie Indians of the Crowne Royall subiect in other times to the Councell of Panama vnto the yeere 1573. at which time it was incorporated in Costa Rica whose Gouernour placeth a Deputie and the Bishop of Nicaragua a Vicar There is in it a reasonable Port in the coast of this Prouince on the North Sea After this is the Riuer Y are that diuideth it from that of Honduras the Riuer of Yairepa before the Riuer and Port of Saint Iohn which is called the Voyding or Desaguadero with a great Iland at the mouth and after some other Riuers common to Costa Rica In the South Sea it hath besides the Realeio the Port of Saint Iames before the Chira and the Port of Paroâ—ight â—ight against Nicoya in the Gulfe called of the Salt-pits before the Point of Saint Lazarus and the Cape of Borrica at the East side whereof are the Ilands of Saint Marie Saint Martha Cobaya and Sebaco neere to the bounds of Veragua common to Costa Rica In the Coast of Nicaragua on the South side the Village of Bruxelles was peopled 1529. and Iames Lopes of Salcedo disinhabited it because they had receiued in it Pedro de los Rios Gouernour of Castilla del Oro which went to take the Gouernment of Nicaragua where Salcedo had thrust himselfe and had gone from Honduras his owne Gouernment vnto it Captaine Franciscus Hernandez planted it 1524. in the doubtfull Streight in the seate of Vritina and on the one side it had the Sea on the other the Playnes and on the third side the Mountaine of the Mynes and in all this Orbe there are no Indians more expert in the Castillan tongue then those of Nicaragua The Prouince and Gouernment of Costa Rica the furthest East of the Northerne Indies and Councell of Guatemala hath in length East and West ninetie leagues from the Confines of Veragua vnto those of Nicaragua with which it ioyneth by the North and by the West In it are two Townes it is a good Countrie with many showes of Gold and some of Siluer The one Towne is the Village of Aranjues fiue leagues from Chomes Indianes a Towne of the iurisdiction of Nicoya The Citie of Cartago fortie leagues from Nicoya and twentie from the Sea almost
in the middest of the Prouince hath a Port and landing place in the Coast of the South Sea and the North Sea wherein there is some Riuers betweene Nicaragua and Veragua common to this Gouernment and the Bayes of Saint Ierome and of Caribaco neere the limits of Veragua THe part of the Indies of the South is vniustly called America it is all that is discouered from Nombre de Dios and Panama to the South wherein is included Terra firme the Kingdomes of Piru the Piru Chile which the Indians call Chille The Prouinces of the Streight the Riuer of Plate and Brasile where are fiue Councels of Panama new Kingdome of Granada Saint Francise of Quito Lima the Charcas and the eleuen Gouernments part of their Coast toucheth in the North Sea and part in the South in the which for the most part reigneth the South and the South-west which contrarie to his nature is there pleasant and doth mitigate the great heate whereby that Countrie may bee inhabited although it neuer rayneth nor hayleth in it but in a very little distance And the two rowes of Mountaines that runne equally through all these Indies haue a great difference though they are in one altitude of the Pole for the one is well replenished with Trees and it alwayes rayneth in it and it is hot the other is all bare and cold in Summer and Winter These rowes are called Andes and Sierra or the Mountayne they haue most high Hils and goe in sight the one of the other one thousand leagues almost equally In the Hill are bred sundrie beasts and in the parts where they open they make Valleys which is excellent dwelling as that of Xanxa and Guaylas and Yucay In the Andes also are bred sundrie beasts and past the Citie of Cuzco these rowes doe diuide themselues leauing in the middest a great champaine Countrie which is the Prouince of Collao where are infinite Riuers Lakes and Pastures without Trees or Wood for the distemperature of the Countrie though wholesome and much inhabited There followeth after it the Prouince of the Charcas hot and of great plentie with very rough Hills of great riches of Mynes and the figure of these Indies is seene in the Table before going HONDIVS his Map of America Meridionalis AMERICA MERIDIONALIS THe limits of the Counsell of Panama which was first called Castilla del Oro and afterwards Terra Firme are very small for the Counsell is principally resident there for the dispatch of the Fleetes and Merchants which goe and come to Piru it hath in length East and West about nintie leagues from the confines of the gouernment of Cartagena and Popayan vnto the Castle of Veragua and in breadth from the South Sea to the North sixtie leagues and thence downeward vnto eighteene by Nombre de Dios or Porto bello to Panama it is a ground generally very rough with Mountaines full of quagmires the ayre close with vapours moist hot and for this cause very sickly from May vnto Nouember a barren soyle and destitute of many things for there groweth nothing but Millet and very little though there be good Pastures for Kine and breeding of Cattle The gouernment of Veragua stands in the bounds of this Counsell and in it and in that of Panama these Townes following The Citie of Panama is in the coast of the South Sea neere vnto it in 9. degrees of latitude and 82. of longitude from the Meridian of Toledo from whence it is distant by direct way one thousand fiue hundred and sixtie leagues It is a Towne of six hundred housholds the most are Merchants and dealers And with the Counsell are resident the Kings Officers and Royall treasurie which doe goe already to Portobello when there is any Fleete to the dispatching of it and likewise the Cathedrall suffragan to the Archbishopricke of the Kings delos res is here resident with three Monasteries of Dominicke Franciscane and Merced Friers The Port of this Citie is reasonable although at low water the Ships remaine dry and therefore in Summer they ride in the strand and in winter in the hauen of Perico two leagues from the citie Pedrarias Dauila peopled it being Gouernour of Castillo del Oro or of the Gold against the will of the dwellers of Sancta Marie the auncient of Darien the yeare 1519. and a little after the Cathedrall Church was remoued thither and it might haue had a better seate and more wholesome and to the purpose for the trafficke of the South Sea not going very farre from whence the Citie now stands The Citie of Nombre de Dios was by Iames of Nicuesa first planted 1510. and afterward by Iames of Albitez by order of Pedrarias and he was the first Admirall that discouered her port It is remoued to Portobelo for the first Admirall discouered it and gaue the name because it was more wholesomer and fitter for the loading and vnloading of the Fleetes and for their securitie and of the new Citie of Saint Phillip which is built there the Inginer Baptista Antonelli hath made a Castle and appointed another on the other side the hauen for to keepe the entrie The Merchandize are carried from Portobelo to Panama by two wayes one by Land with carriage which is eighteene leagues of lesse difficultie then by the way of Nombre de Dios the other by Sea and the Riuer of Chagre whose mouth is eighteene leagues from Portobelo to the West whereby the Merchandize goe vp when the water reacheth to the vent of the Crosses and from thence they go in carriages fiue leagues to Panama The Village of Nata stands thirtie leagues from Panama to the West in the Coast of the South Sea Captaine Franciscus Companion peopled it by order of Peter Arias for the warre with the Casique Vrraca The inhabiting of Acla and Captaine Gabriel of Roias finished by commandement of Peter Arias in the Coast of the North Sea and entrance of the Gulfe of Vraba right against the Iland of Pinos whereof at this present there is no more memory then that there was the death of that famous Captaine whose memory will last eternally the President Basâ—â— Nunnez of Balnoa and of his company In the breach of Almagro and in the head of the Riuer Chiepo there is Gold and in times past was much gotten In all these Riuers are many Lizards or Crockadiles and very great which put the first discouerers and pacifiers to great trouble and did deuoure some men It happened that a man being in a Boate neere to the Kings House in Panama a Lizard came and snatched him from the Stearne of the Boate and carried him away to eate him on certaine Rockes and hauing begunne to teare him in pieces they shot at him with a Caliuer and killed the Lizard so that he before his death receiued the Sacraments of the Church The Prouince of Veragua which stands in somewhat more then tenne degrees
doth confine with Costarica on the West side it hath in length East and West fiftie leagues and in breadth fiue and twentie a Mountainous Countrie full of bushes without Pastures or Cattle Wheate Barley little Millet or little Pulse but full of Gold with many vaines of it and rich Mines in the Riuers and breaches and those Indians that are are in warre it hath the Citie of the Conception fortie leagues from Nombre de Dios to the West where the Gouernour and the Officers which they of Panama at this present doe prouide are resident The Village of Trinitie stands six leagues to the East of the Conception by Sea for yee cannot goe by Land neere to the Riuer of Bethleem at three leagues from the Sea The Citie of Sancta Fe stands twelue leagues from the Conception to the South with melting houses and Deputie Officers The Citie of Charles in the coast of the South Sea neere to the Sea fiftie leagues from the Citie of Sancta Fe to the East all the Indians of this gouernment are in warre There is no Port of name in the two Coasts South and North of this gouernment and in all the bounds of the Counsell are the Riuers Ports and points following The Bay of Carabaco or of Saint Hierome in the coast of the North Sea and the confines of Veragua and to the East of it and of the Riuer of the Trinitie of the Conception and of Bethlehem where was the first inhabiting that the first Admirall made in Terra firme of all that Orbe in the yeare 1503. which continued not and right against the Shield an Iland and the Riuer of Chagre and more to the East a league the Portete to the place where the Admirall came discouering the same yeere and the Ports of Langostas twelue leagues from Nombre de Dios to the West and the Port de Gallinas or of Hennes nine degrees and the Port of Bonauenture six Portobelo fiue and right against it the Ilands of the Lookings and those of the Prouisions or Bastimentos and hauing Nombre de Dios two leagues the Riuer of Sardinilla and the Iland of Sardina foure and the Riuer of Millet or Mayz and the Riuer of Snakes or Culebras eight and at the entry of the Gulfe of Vraba where in the yeare 1509. the Bachiller Enciso built the Citie of Sancta Marie of Darien This Bachiller Enciso was he that published that in the Prouince which was called Castilla del Oro there were places where the gold was fished with nets which encouraged many people to goe to the Indies which passed in the yeare 1514. with Peter Arias Danila and the President Basco Nunnez of Balboa went 1513. from the Darien in demand of the South Sea and discouered it The Point of the Iland of Captiua stands right against the Mountaines of Saint Blas and the Iland of Comagre and the Iland of Pinos more within the Gulfe of Vraba and in the inward Port of it the Port of Nilcos neere to the mouth of the Riuer of Darien which diuideth the bounds of this Counsell and those of the Gouernement of Cartagena and there is Culata de Vraba where in the yeare 1510. Alonso of Oieda inhabited Saint Sebastian of Vraba This Gulfe stands in 8. degrees it hath foureteene leagues of longitude into the Lands and in the entrie it hath six in breadth and a little forward fiftie and at the end foure and fiue leagues within was the Citie of Sancta Marie the auncient of Darien In the South Sea stands the Cape of Sancta Marie and point de Guerra of Warre and toward Panama the Gulfe of Parita or Paris where stands Nata the point of Chiame the Countrie of that Cazique Chiapes the friend of Basco Nunnez of Balboa which holpe him in his discouery and passed the Port of Panama the Riuer of Chepo and the Balsa or of Congos in the inner part of the Gulfe of Saint Michael North and South from the Iland of Pearles and the Point or Port of Pinyas at the entrie of the Gulfe on the South side which is fiftie leagues from Panama and twentie ouerthwart to the Gulfe of Vraba and Puerto Quemado or Burnt Hauen neere to the Cape of Corrientes in 5. degrees of altitude Septentrionall THe bounds of the Counsel of the New Kingdome hath in length East and West three hundred leagues and as many North and South wherein are comprehended the Prouinces of the New Kingdome the gouernments of Sancta Martha and Cartagena and part of that of Popayan for borders the Prouinces of the Dorado or new Stremadura the Prouince of New Kingdome which is that which the Counsell gouerneth it hath in length from East to West foureteen leagues and eightie in breadth North and South of plaine ground for the most part with Valleys and hils and good Pastures for all sort of Cattle which are in abundance and in many places Wheate Miller and the fruits of Castile and generally much Gold and very fine and Mines of Copper Steele and the Countrie men for the most part are able men great traffickers and doe weare Cotten cloath And the Townes that be in the Kingdome of Spaniards are the Citie of Sancta Fe of Bogota which was built at the foote of Bogota so called by the Cazique which was called Bogota which the President Gonçalo Ximenez of Quesada built and gaue the name to the Citie and to the Kingdome because he was of Granada though in the discouery the President Belalcazar and Nicholas Federman had part it stands 72. degrees and a halfe of longitude from the Meridian of Toledo which by a greater circle may be one thousand foure hundred and fortie leagues and 4. degrees on this side of the Equinoctial it hath more then six hundred housholds in it is resident the Counsell the Kings Officers and Royall treasurie and Melting house the Cathedrall Metropolitane whose suffragans are Popayan Cartagena and Sancta Marta with a Monasterie of Dominicke and another of Franciscane Friers and in her borders more then fiftie thousand tributarie Indians and the Lake of Guatauita which was a worshipping place of the Indians where it is reported that they did cast great summes of Gold in offring to the Idols The Village of Saint Michael in the bounds of Sancta Fe twelue leagues from it to the North was built for trafficke with the Pauche Indians because being of a hot Countrie it did them hurt to goe to Sancta Fe which is cold The Citie of Tocayma fifteene leagues from Sancta Fe to the West somewhat inclined to the North with a Monasterie of Dominicke Friers was inhabited the yeare 1545. by the Captaine Hernando Vanegas in the border of the maine Riuer Pati which runneth into the Riuer Magdalene It hath no gold and is most hot and by night there falleth no Deaw in it In all the Kingdome there is
and so it is that the Indians of this countrie doe not liue long and in many of them there breede certaine red warts in the foreheads and noses and other parts which beside the disease being grieuous it disfigureth them very much and it is beleeued that it proceedeth of eating some fish In these bounds stands the towne of Manta whither great riches haue beene brought from within the Land and it is held for certaine that here is a Myne of Emeralds which are the best of the Indies and they grow in a stone like Cristall and they making like a veine and by little and little congealing and refining themselues and of halfe white and halfe greene they goe ripening and recouering their perfection The Captaine Franciscus Pacheco peopled this citie 1535. by order of Don Iames de Almagro it hath many Indians in warre there is in it a Monasterie of Mercenarie Friars they gather no Wheat for it rayneth the eight moneths in the yeere from October forward and there are many good showes of gold In the coast of this Gouernment are the Ports Ilands and Points following The Aucon of Sardinas before the Bay of Saint Iames which is fifteene leagues from the Point of Manglares to the South and then the Bay of Saint Matthew and after the Cape of Saint Francis and past it Quiximies foure Riuers before Portete where the blacke Moâ—res that saued themselues of a ship that was cast away ioyned with the Indians and haue made a towne the Passao a Point or Port of Indians where they say the Equinoctiall line passeth neere the Mountaine of Queaque and the Bay of Carta which is before old Port one degree from the Equinoctiall to the South and fiue leagues from thence the Cape of Saint Laurence and neere from thence the Iland of Plate and forward the Ports of Callo and Calango before the Point of Saint Helen in two degrees hight the Riuer of Tumbez in foure degrees and the Iland of the Puna neere vnto it and the Iland of Sancta Clara somewhat more to the Sea and Cabo blanco fifteene leagues from Tumbez to the South and then the Point of Parina and to the South the Iland of Lobos foure leagues from the Port of Payta abouesaid and la Silla before the Point del Aguia and the Port of Tangora The men of this countrie say that in old time there came by Sea in Balsas which are many pieces of timber fastened one vpon another men so bigge that had as much from the knee downward as an ordinarie man in all his body and that they made certaine Wells most deepe in a quicke Rocke which at this day are seene very fresh and cold in the Point of Saint Helen and that because that they vsed most abominable sinnes fire fell from heauen and consumed them all and now are found in that situation exceeding great bones of men and pieces of teeth of fourteene ounces weight and in New Spaine in the bounds of Tlascala are bones found of the like bignesse There are in this Point of Saint Helen eyes and veine of Tarre so perfect that they might calke with it and it commeth out very hot THe gouernment of Popayan one hundred and twentie leagues North and South from the confines of the Prouince of Quito vnder the Equinoctiall vnto the confines of Cartagena by the North and another one hundred from the confines of new Realme by the East vnto the South Sea wherein are some Spanish townes part of the Councell of Quito and part of the new Realme The countrie is commonly rough and very raynie and therefore they haue little Millet and lesse Wheat and no store of Cattell but it is rich of Mynes of gold and the Townes are these following The citie of Popayan stands in two degrees and a halfe to the Septentrionall part of the Equinoctiall and 78. and a halfe of longitude one thousand fiue hundred and eightie leagues from Toledo in it is resident a Lieftenant Gouernour the Cathedrall and one Monasterie of Mercenarie Friars The President Sebastian of Belalcazar peopled this citie 1537. the people of these Prouinces are farre different from that of Piru for these are of greater vnderstanding and liued in more policie the men of this gouernment liued as in liberties It was called Popayan of the name of the Cazaque Lord of it it hath part in the coast of the South Sea and high Mountaines that goe Eastward and on another side the Row of the Andes and on both sides spring many Riuers and the Riuer of the Magdalene is one which runneth into the North Sea in this gouernment are many coole and wholesome townes and others hot and sickly The Citie of Cali stands in foure degrees and two and twentie leagues from Popayan and eight and twentie from the South Sea it was inhabited 1537. by the Captaine Michael Munioz and Sebastian of Belalcazar made it first in the townes which are called the Gorroues it hath the seate in a plaine Valley leaning to the foot of a Hill the temper is hot the Gouernour the Officers and the Kings treasure are resident in it a melting house a Monasterie of Mercenaries another of Augustine Friars The Port of Bonauenture falleth in his iurisdiction in three degrees and a halfe of altitude in it are some housholds resident for to receiue the merchandize The Indians of Cali are of a good condition and good Christians their old Lord was called Lasupâ—te The village of Saint Fe of Antiochia is more then an hundred leagues from Popayan to the north-east in the borders of the Riuer Cauca of the bounds of the Councell of the New Realme and Bishopricke of Popayan rich in Mynes of gold neere to the Hill of Buritaca famous for the much gold that was in it it is seated in certaine Plaines The countrie people are good folkes well made and white and the temperature is such that they goe to sleepe on the houses without any offence of the deaw they breede much Cattell many fruits and fish in the Riuers and Plashes the Captaine Gaspar of Rhodes inhabited it by commission of the President Belalcazar the yeere 1541. The Village of Caramanta is sixtie or seuentie leagues from Popayan to the North-east neere to the great Riuer Cauca of the bounds of the New Realme gouernment and Bâ—shopricke of Popayan plentifull of Millet and other seedes without Wheat and with little Cattell though they haue many Swine they goe by the Riuer in fiue or sixe houres to Antiochia though it bee fiftie leagues for it runneth very swift it is the plantation of the President Belalcazar The village of Saint Iames of Arma which hath many Mynes of gold is fiftie leagues from Popayan to the North-east declining to the East it is of the Councell of the new-Realme the gouernment and Diocesse of Popayan without Wheat or seedes of Castile but plentifull of the countrie
Masticke that is spent in Europe is brought from them are many though the most famous of that Gulfe are fiue small Ilands vnder the Equinoctiall in one hundred nintie foure degrees from the Meridian of Toledo included in the morgage which the Emperor Charles the fift made of them to the King of Portugall for three hundred and fiftie thousand Duckets which are Terrenate of eight or nine leagues compasse with a Port called Talangame and in it raigned Corala which yeelded himselfe for subiect to the King of Castile when the Shippes that remained of Magelanes fleete found these Ilands The Iland of Tidore stands one league from Terrenate to the South it hath tenne leagues compasse The Iland of Matil or Mutier is of foure leagues compasse and is vnder the Equinoctiall and Maquin three leagues to the South of seuen in compasse and tenne leagues to the South Batan or Baquian is twentie leagues in compasse In the Iland of Tidore raigned Almanzor which also gaue himselfe for subiect of the King of Castile the which and Carala did write and Iohn Sebastian of the Cano borne in the Village of Guitarca in the Prouince of Guipuzcoa brought their Letters the which departing from Tidore in the yeare 1522. touched in the Iland of Zamatia and going vp to almost fortie two degrees toward the Antarticke Pole he arriued at the Iland of Saint Iames of the Greene Cape or Cabo Verde and from thence to Siuill with the Shippe called the Victorie hauing spent seuen moneths time little lesse in comming from the Iland of Tidore Patian is the fift Iland like the other Moores inhabited in it and Gentiles also which knew not the immortalitie of the soule And when the Shippe of the fleete of Fryer Garcia of Loaysa came Roiami raigned in Tidore of thirteene yeares of age and againe acknowledged the King of Castile and also the King of Gilolo called Sultan Abderta meniani and confirmed it with an oath Gilolo is an Iland vnder the line foure leagues distant from those rehearsed it is of two hundred leagues compasse without Spicerie the Iland of Ambon in three degrees and a halfe to the South from the Iland of Gilolo without Spicerie The Ilands of Bandan are in foure degrees of Southerne altitude where the Nutmegge is gathered and Mace and the Burro which is to the West of Ambon and Timor another Iland to the South-west from Bandan almost one hundred leagues without Spicery but rich of Sandalo Zeinda fiftie leagues from Timor to the North-west of forty leagues compasse plentiful of Pepper and the Iland of Celebes which is very great Borney greater neere the straight of Malaca which is made in the firme Land Zamatia which in old time they called Taprobana There be other manie great Ilands and small which remaine to the South side neere Iaua Maior Minor and to the North toward the coast of Chyna the Portugals haue a fortresse in Terrenate and other in the Citie of Malaca at the entrie of the Archipelagus The Ilands Philippinas are a Sea of thirtie or fortie great Ilands besides many other small ones which are together in lesse then two hundred leagues in length North and South and one hundred in breadth betweene New Spaine and the Gulfe of Bengala and they are about seuenteene hundred leagues from the Port of the Natiuitie in New Spaine from six to fifteene or sixteene degrees of Septentrional altitude of a reasonable temperature and plentifull of victuals specially of Rice and some base Gold in some places and in some Ilands are Cinamon trees and long Pepper The Countriemen are of a good shape and in some Ilands they are blacke and those which liue in the center of the Countrie are whiter then those that liue in the Sea coasts There are good Ports and Timber for Shipping the names of the principallest Ilands are Mindano which is the greatest and most Southward of a hundred leagues in length and three hundred in compasse a rough Countrie but plentifull of Millet Waxe Rice Ginger and some Cinamon and Mines of Gold with good Hauens and Rodes the Iland of Good-tokens and Saint Iohn leaning to Mindanao on the East side of twenty leagues in length North and South Behol ten leagues more to Mindanao on the North side nineteene leagues in length The Iland of Buglas or of Negros by reason of those that are in it is in the middest of that Sea to the West of fortie leagues in length North and South and foureteen in breadth and in her coast are some Pearles the Iland of Zubu in the middest of all of thirtie leagues in length North and South and in it a Spanish Towne called the Village of Iesus on the East side with one good Hauen besides other that are in the Iland the Captaine Ferdinando Magellanes discouered this Iland in the yeare 1520. the King yeelded then himselfe for subiect to the Crowne of Castile and before he discouered the Ilands which he called de las Velas Latinas because they sailed in their Shippes with sayles of Mats made of Palme tree leaues after the Latine fashion and from Zubu Magellanes went with the King to warre against the King of MÃ tan in a little Iland close to that of Zubu on the South side where being too valiant and confident he was slaine and the Spaniards following their Voyage in demand of the Ilands of the Spicerie they discouered Quepindo Pulâ—an and Burney which is a great rich and plentifull Iland of Rice Sugar Goates Swine Cammels it waâ—â—s Wheate Asses and Sheepe it hath Ginger Camphire Mirabolans and other Drugges Aluaro of Saauedra discouered also the Phillippines and tooke possession of them in the yeare 1527. for the Crowne of Castile which by order of the Marquesse of the Valley went from the Port of Ciuitlaneio in New Spaine in demand of the Ilands of the Spicerie and particularly he was in Mindanao and this digression hath not bin out of purpose Returning to the order of the Phillippines there followeth the aboue said Abuyo or Babay thirtie leagues in length North and South and tenne in breadth in which are good Mines and Pearles in her coast Tandayala most famous of all which for being first discouered is called Phillipine of which all take the name in memory of the inuincible King Don Philip the second the Prudent It hath fortie leagues on the North side and of the East North North-east and South South-west and twelue leagues in breadth where most with good Hauens and Roades Masbat a meane Iland to the West of Tandaya of seuenteene leagues in length and fifteene in breadth with one Hauen Mindoro of fiue and twentie leagues in length North and South and halfe in breadth there is Pepper in it and Mines of Gold the Iland of Luzan called the New Castile as great or greater then Mindanao the most Septentrionall of the Phillipines in the which is built Manila a Citie of Spaniards with
c. must be vnspeakably more then here there can be and yet here is more variation then about Iapan or Brasil Peru c. Caries Ilands * This Map of the authour for this and the former Voyage with the Tables of his iournall and sayling were somewhat troublesome and too costly to insert Alderman Iones Sound Sir Iames Lancasters Sound They see Land and find themselues embaied Cumberlands Iles. Cockin Sound Scuruy Grasse Six men Plenty of Salmon Baffins death The King satisfied touching the passage Hubbarts hope * This easily appeareth in obseruing his Voiage comparing that before of 〈◊〉 Gaul therewith Some of our Merchants are said not to be so willing for like causes with this discouerie Captaine Candish Land trending in 47. degrees The mouth of the Straight where he entred 30. or 40. leagues broad The straight to be discouered in 30. dayes The Ship Santa Anna. The Streight of Noua Spania thirtie dayes iourney in the Streight * I found this Worke translated in M. Hakluyts Papers but I can scarsly call it English it had so much of the Spanish garbe in lieterall and verball affectation and obscuritie I haue examined it with the Spanish Originall and compared it also with the Latine Translation with great paines for thy greater pleasure profit correcting and illustrating the phrase and sence being before very rude obscure and in very many places vtterly sencelesse But hauing none to write for mee but my owne hands I rather chose to amend this as I could then to translate it anew I haue seene it also in French The Latine is exceeding false in some numbers as 2000. for 20000. diuers times c. which I note for their sakes which reade that and haue not the Spanish I haue not contracted â—â—is as I haue done diuers other Relations because it is a briefe contraction of the Spanish-Indian Contractation presenting the Spanish Proceedings Colonies Townes Officers and Gouernment Spiritual and Temporall in the Indies This Author hath written eight Decades of the Spanish Acts in the West Indies which giue great light to those parts but would be too long for this Worke. Ramusio vncharitably taxed for he doth but blame the folly of Spanish Authors which are more curious to set downe the names c. of those which haue there done any thing though but rebellions then the description of the beasts fishes fowles plants Earth Heauen c. in the Indies for which hee there commends Ouiedo Chap. 1. Of the bounds and diuision of the West Indies l The Spaniards haue surpassed all Nations of the World in Nauigation of high built ships Remember that a Spaniard speakes it Pallos is to say staues or stickes m The Spaniards did not or would not know any Passage n How the degrees of longitude are reckoned What is discouered and nauigated The English haue discouered far more From 81. in Greenland and from 78. in Groinland to 57. of South latitude A maruellous effect of the Loadstone Don Antonie Ossorio discouereth a great secret of the Loadstone Chap. 2. Of the Nauigation of the Indies How many Nauigations there bee to these Indies Difficultie in going out of the Barre of Saint Lucar In what times these Nauigations are to be made Monsons The voyage of the Fleets till they come to the place wher they goe What thing the Brises are They take water alreadie in the I le of Guadalupe where the Courses are diuided Which is the best Nauigation from that Cape of S. Antonie to S. Iohn de Vlua a Of little Venice b Or of the Needle The voyage of Hunduras and Guatemala c Or little black Moore Chap. 3. Wherein hee prosecuteth the Nauigations of the Indies The Fleets doe returne to Castile by another way When the fleets ought to depart to come for Castile Whither the Fleets doe goe from Cartagena d Or take away sleepe The ships of Hunduras reknowledge the Cape of Saint Antonie When the Fleets of Noua Espanna doe depart thence The voyage of them of Santa Martha and Venezuela Nauigation from the Auana to Castile Nauigation from the Ilands of Azores vnto Saint Lucar Nauigation to the Riuer of Plata Nauigation of the South Sea Nauigation of Panama to the Citie de los Reyes Nauigation of thâ— West Indies Chap. 4. Of the Indies of the North. Here was inserted a Map of the North parâ—s of America But Master Briggs hath in the former booke giuen you a farre farre better to which I referre you Which bee the Indies of the North and which of the South Wherefore it was called New Spaine Great pastures in New Spaine * The weathermost or vpper Ilands Chap. 5. Of the bounds of the iurisdiction of Saint Dominicke Chap. 6. Of the Iland Hispaniola and of Cuba Cazabi bread Ten Spanish Townes The Citie of Saint Domingo * Peso is foure shillings English Salualyon of Yguey The Village of Zeybo El Cotuy Azua Who carried to the Indies the sugar Canes La Yaguana Concecion de la Vega. The wood of the Crosse of the Valley Saint Iago de los Caualleros Puerto de Plata Monte Christe La Isabella La Verapaz Saluatierra The Maguana Villanueua El Bonao La Buenauentura 14000. Spaniâ—rds there were in the Hispaniola at her beginning Ports Points most notable Puerto Hermoso * Or Gnats Where they tooke armes the first time against Indians Cuba S. Iago Baracoa Bayamâ— Puerto del Principe Sancti Spiritus El Albana or the Hauana Puerto de Carennas Wherefore it was called the Slaughters * Or Slaughters f Or Red. Chap. 7. Of the Ilands of Iamayca S. Iohn the Lucayos the Caniballs Siuill Melilla Oriston inhabitings of Iamayca Cape of Moranta The first ciuill warre among the Spaniards was in Iamayca n Or Lizards o Or Negrillo p Or open the eye S. Iuan de puerto Rico. S. Iohn The Arrecibo Guadianilla S. German The tree Tabernacle The hauens of this Iland Who carried the Ginger to the Ilands of Barlouento The Ilands of the Lucayos Where the Channell of Bahama is Admirable Current Baxos de Bimini Guanahani the first Land that was discouered in the Indies * Or Indian â—anibals What a Caniball signifieth The Canibaâ—â— Men hunters Frier vnwholsome food The discouery of the Iland of the Trinitie the yeare 1498 Arrogancie of Americus Vespucius Wherfore men do say that the fishing of the Pearles passed from the Iland of Cubagua to the Margarita Iland of Cubagua * Or the Friers Chap. 8. Of Venezuela riuer of Hacha new Florida and Gulfe of Noua Hispania which is the rest that remaineth of the limits of this Counsell Wherefore it was called Venezuela or little Venice The Citie of Coro Our Lady of Carualleda S. Iago de Leon. Xerez Segouia Tucuyo Trucillo The Lake Maracaybo The ports and points of the Gouernment of Venezuela Riuer Morauion The Iland of Cubagua Strange Hogs An earthquake in the coast of Terra firme the yeare 1530. very admirable
Margarit Florida The spring which Iohn Ponce did seeke that renued the old men They of Florida knew neither Gold Siluer nor Monie The Coast of the North vnto the Baccallaos * Or Los Gamos The great Riuer of S. Marie * Laâ— Tortugas Baâ—ia de Carlos The Gulfe of noua Espania The Channell of Bahama Chap. 9. Of the limits of the Councell of Mexico Don Sebastian Ramirez Iudge of Granada goeth for President of S Dominicke Great conformity betweene Don Sebastian Ramirez and Don Hernando Cortes New Spaine m Sc. of the life they led in the Sâ—ewes n From the World Don Sebastian Ramirez brought in the breeding and ploughing Gouernment of Panuco S. Iago de los Valles Los Angelos The Bishop Don Sebastian Ramirez built the Citie of the Angels d Vulcan or Bolcan is a place whence fire issueth as Etna Hecla c Tlascala The Valley of Atlisco famous La Veracruz San Iuan de Vlua * A kinde of Parish or Schoole diuision Spa. partidos de doctrina Chap. 10. Of the Bishoprickes of Guaxaca Mechoacan and Yucatan of the Prouince of Tabasco which is the rest of the bounds described Guaxaca Title of the Marquesse of the Valley Stinking Riuer Tutepeque S. Alifonso of the Zapotecas S. Iames of Nexapa El Espirito Santo Golden Riuers Cacao money and Wine The Indians should pay no Tithes Riuer of Aluarado Guatulco The Bishopricke of Mechoacan Pazcuaro Zinzonza Guanaxâ—ato * Reâ—les Village of S. Michaell The Conception of Salaya The Village of S. Phillip Zacatula Colima Yucatan It was a deuise of those which said the Crosses were found of Latten in Yucatan whereas there neuer was Crosse in the Indies before the Spaniards A Man of 300. yeares old Merida Valladolid Campeche Salamanca Shallow Coasting Tides The Ports and points of this Gouernment a Or Sharpe b Or Bermeia c Or Alacranes A famous worshipping place of the Gentiles in Cozumel * Or take away sleepe Tabasco Riuers of this Prouince Lake of Xicalango Chap. 11. Of the bounds of the Counsel of Guadalaiara Guadalaiara The Holy Ghost Sancta Marie of the Lakes The Chichimecas Sauages Xalisco The Zacatecas The Erena * Or Sombrerece * The Name of God Nueua Vizcaya Chiametla S. Michael Ciualoa Quibira Cibola California Chap. 12. Of the Bounds of the Counsel of S. Iames of Guatemala a Or true Peace b Or Rich coast Guatemala Saint Iames. Saint Saluador The Trinitie Saint Michael Xerez * Or fierie mouthes like Aetna Cacao described Ports of this Gouernment Bottomlesse Lake Soconusco Chiapa * Or true peace Verapaz Picture feathers Golfâ— dulce Manati a fish described Chap. 13. Of Honduras Nicaragua and Costa Rica or the Rich Coast. Honduras * Or of our Lady of the Fâ—uour Visitation of the Inginer Baptista Antoneli of the way of the Port of Cauallos or Horses to the Bay of Fonseca * Thankes bee to God Saint Peter Saint Iohn Truxillo Saint George Valley of Olancho Points and Ports of this Gouernment * Or Shrimpe Babia honda Cabo de Gracias a Dios. Nicaragua * Or rich Coast. Granada Lake of Nicaragua Volcan of Massayatan and Mombacho Segouia Iaen Realeio Ports and Riuers of this coast * De Salinas Bruxelles Costa Rica Aranjuez Cartago Chap. 14. Oâ— the â—ndies of the South A great difference of tâ—mperature in the two rowes of Piru The two rowes doe runne almost 1000. leagues equall Qualities of the Prouince of Collao Quantities of the Countrie of Panama and her bounds Panama Portebello Saint Iames of Nata Acla A strange case of a Lizard Veragua The Conception The Trinitie * Holy Faith Charles The Ports El Escudo a Or Lâ—câ—sts b Las Miras c Or Little Pilcherd d Or Pilchard Chap. 16. The limits of the Counsell of Sancta Fe of Bogota which is the new Kingdome of Granada * Holy Faith Lake of Guatauita Saint Michael Tocayma The Trinitie * Or Flies The Palma Tunia Pamplona * Or Crying Merida Belez Thunderbolts Mariquita Ybague Victorie de los Remedios Saint Iohn of the Plaines * Or Flyes * Or Water-course Rio Grande or Magdâ—len Riuer Sancta Martha Tenerife Tamalameque The Kings a Sancta Ramada Ocanâ—a b Or Yong Pigeon c Or Nookes d Or the Needle Cartagena Citie of Cartagena Amazonian women Valiant Virago Saint Iames of Tolu The Village of Marie * Holy Crosse. Saint Sebastian * Or Water-course The Barranca El Daradâ— Guiana Great Tydes Piru or Peru. The two Rowes of the Indies of the South * Of Magellan The two great wayes of Piru Postes Piru is not all the Indies of the South Los Llanos Las Sierras Diuersitie of nature Chap. 17. Of the Councell of Saint Francis of the Quito * Or Cynamon El Quito Aire and seasons Athanalpa or 〈◊〉 * Friars de la Mâ—râ—ed or our Lady of Grace Riuer Bamba Cuenca Loxa * Or Briar Zamora Iaen Saint Michael of Piura Raine a wonder Payta High-way admirable San Iago de Guayaquil The Riuers that gâ—e to the North Sea are greater then those â—hat goe to the South Sâ—a Hâ—w the riuers are passed in Piru Castro Vili * Or old Porâ— Manta How the Emeralds do grow Ports Points of the coâ—st of this gouernment c Or Nooke d Or Pucâ—e A towne 〈◊〉 blacke Moores e Or white Cape f Or woolues The Giantâ— of the Point of Santa Helena Chap. 18 Of Popayan Quixos Canela Pacamorâ—s and Gualsongo which are 〈◊〉 rest of the bounds of the Councell of Quito The Citie of Popayan Cali. * Or great Cappes Antiochia Caramanta Arma. Canibals Inhumanitie of the Indians of the borders of Arma. Ancerma Cartago * Or Buffes Timana Inhumanitie of these Indians Where the Load-stone is found * Or eaters of humane flesh Buga Saint Sebastian of the Plate c Or Canibals Almaguer d Hisp. Iudge of Residencia Truxillo Agreda Saint Iohn de Pastor Religion What the Aetnaes are and whereof they proceede e Or the ranke Village of Pasture Neyua Saint Vincent The Angels Riuers Capes and Points of the Coast of this gouernment f Or Cedars 〈◊〉 Gualsongo In how many sorts the gold is gotten out in Piru and other places Barleuento Chap. 19. Of the bounds of the Councel or Audience of The Kings or los Reyes Mountaines cause that it rayneth not in the Playnes of Piru h Some are of opinion that all plants and trees are nourished by vapours yea that the vapours of the bloud nourish liuing Creatures So Gen. 2. a mist in Paradise c. The Sunne as Head of the World the Hart as Sunne in the Body causeth nourishment by vapours The Citie of The Kings or los Reyes Such holinesse of faith such meanes to establish it force gluing lips and Lettice together as Acosta complayneth Vniuersitie and Iesuites Sea cooleth Women and Negros Arnedo * Or Gridirâ—ni Truxillo Miraflores Chachapoyas Faire Indians Saint Iames of the Valleys Lion of Guanuco Qualities of the Millet Guamanga Great
1155. § 1. The Ships employed in the Voyage and accidents on the Coasts of Spaine in the Canaries and the Nauigation thence to Dominica ibid. § 2. Description of Dominica and the Virgines Their landing on Port Ricco March fights and taking the Towne pag. 1157. § 3. The Fort Mora besieged and taken The Towne described the Mines Purpose to hold the place altered by the death and sicknesse of manie pag. 1162. A resolution which they were to trust to p. 1163. § 4. Purpose of returne Treatie with the Spaniards His Lordships departure Description of the Iland the Beasts Fruits Plants c. pag. 1168. § 5. Accidents by Sea in their way to the Azores and there pag. 1174. CHAP. IIII. The first Voyages made to diuers parts of America by Englishmen Sir Sebastian Cabot Sir Thomas Pert also of Sir Iohn Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake and many others collected briefly out of Master Camden Master Hakluit and other Writers pag. 117â— A briefe Historie of Sir Francis Drakes Voyages pag. 1179. A briefe recitall or nomination of Sea-fights other Englishmens Voyages related at large in the printed Workes of Master Hakluit pag. 1186. CHAP. V. The Relation of Peter Carder of Saint Verian in Cornwall within seuen miles of Falmouth which went with Sir Francis in his Voyage about the World begun 1577. who with seuen others in an open Pinnasse or Shallop of fiue tunnes with eight Oares was separated from his Generall by foule weather in the South Sea in October Anno 1578. who returning by the Straites of Magellan toward Brasill were all cast away saue this one onely aforenamed who came into England nine yeeres after miraculously hauing escaped many strange dangers aswell among diuers Sauages as Christians H. pag. 1187. CHAP. VI. Master Thomas Candish his Discourse of his fatall and disastrous Voyage towards the South Sea with his many disaduentures in the Magellan Straits and other places written with his owne hand to Sir Tristram Gorges his Executor H. pag. 1192. CHAP. VII The admirable aduentures and strange fortunes of Master Anthonie Kniuet which went with Master Thomas Candish in his second Voyage to the South Sea 1591. H. P. pag. 1201. § 1. What befell in their Voyage to the Straits and after till hee was taken by the Portugals ibid. § 2. Anthonie Kniuet his comming to the R. of Ianero and vsage amongst the Portugals and Indians his diuers Trauels thorow diuers Regions of those parts pag. 1207. § 3. His strange trauels with twelue Portugals whom the Sauages did eate His life with the Canibals and after that with the Portugals from whom hee fleeth to Angola is brought backe and after manifold chances is shipped to Lisbone pag. 1216. § 4. The diuers Nations of Sauages in Brasill and the adioyning Regions their diuersities of Conditions States Rites Creatures and other thinges remarkeable which the Author obserued in his many yeeres manifold Peregrinations pag. 1225. The Giants of Port Desire and Inhabitants of Port Famine also Angola Congo and Massangana and Angica Countries of Africa pag. 1232. § 5. The description of diuers Riuers Ports Harbours Ilands of Brasill for instruction of Nauigators pag. 1237. CHAP. VIII Relations of Master Thomas Turner who liued the best part of two yeeres in Brasill c. which I receiued of him in conference touching his Trauels pag. 1243. CHAP. IX The taking of Saint Vincent and Puerto Bello by Captaine William Parker of Plimouth the seuenth of February 1601. ibid. CHAP. X. Certayne Notes of a Voyage made by Dauid Middleton into the West Indies with Captaine Michael Geare Ann. Dom. 1601. H. pag. 1242. CHAP. XI The Description of the I le of Trinidad the rich Countrey of Guiana and the mightie Riuer of Orenoco written by Francis Sparrey left there by Sir Walter â—aileigh 1595. and in the end taken by the Spaniards and sent Prisoner into Spaine and after long Captiuitie got into England by great sute H. pag. 1247. CHAP. XII Captaine Charles Leigh his Voyage to Guiana and plantation there H. pag â—250 CHAP. XIII A true Relation of the traiterous Massacre of the most part of threescore and seuen English men set on Land out of a Ship of Sir Oliph Leagh bound for Guiana in Santa Lucia an Iland of the West Indie the three and twentieth of August written by Iohn Nicol. H. P. pag. 1255. CHAP. XIIII The Relation of Master Iohn Wilson of Wansteed in Essex one of the last tenne that returned into England from Wiapoco in Guiana 1606. H. pag. 1260. CHAP. XV. Part of a Treatise written by Master William Turner Sonne to Doctor Turner of London a Physitian touching the former Voyage H. pag. 1265 CHAP. XVI A Relation of a Voyage to Guiana performed by Robert Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt in the Countie of Oxford Esquire pag. 1267. The names of the Riuers falling into the Sea from Amazones to Dessequebe and of the seuerall Nations inhabiting those Riuers pag. 1282. CHAP. XVII A Relation of the habitation and other Obseruations of the Riuer of Marwin and the adioyning Regions pag. 1283. Riuers from Brabisse to the Amazones p. 1286 CHAP. XVIII A Description and Discouerie of the Riuer of Amazons by William Dauies Barber Surgeon of London pag. 1287. The Contents of the Chapters and Paragraphs in the Seuenth Booke of the second part of Purchas his PILGRIMS CHAP. I. A Treatise of Brasill written by a Portugall which had long liued there H. pag. 1289. § 1. Of the beginning and originall of the Indians of Brasill and of their Customes Religions and Ceremonies ibid. § 2. Of their manner of killing and eating of Humane flesh and of their creating Gentlemen pag. 1294. § 3. Of the diuersitie of Nations and Languages and of the Soyle and Climate pag. 1297. § 4. Of the Beasts Land-serpents and Fowles pag. 1301. Of Land-snakes and Serpents pag. 1303. Of the Fowles that are in the Land and are thereon sustained pag. 1304. § 5. Of the Brasilian Trees for Fruit Medicine and other vses and their Herbes of rare operations pag. 1306. Of the Herbes that yeeld Fruit and are eaten pag. 1309. § 6. Of the Fishes that swimme in the Salt-water also Shel-fishes Trees and Fowles of the Sea of Riuers and the Creatures which liue therein and the Beasts and Plants brought thither out of Portugall pag. 1312. Birds that doe feed and are found in the Salt-water pag. 1316. Fresh-water Snakes and Creatures of the water pag. 1317. Of the Beasts Trees and Herbes that came from Portugall and doe grow and breed in Brasill pag. 1318. CHAP. II. Articles touching the dutie of the Kings Maiestie our Lord and to the common good of all the estate of Brasill Written as is thought by the Author of the former Treatise H. pag. 1320. CHAP. III. Extracts out of the Historie of Iohn Lerius a Frenchman who liued in Brasill with Monsieur Villagagnon Anno 1557. and 58. H.P. pag. 1325 § 1. Of the Beasts and other liuing Creatures and Plants
the English and Spanish Fleets the Sea flight of the Spanish and miserable disasters in their returne Their lyes The Queenes religious triumph pag. 1895. Squadron of the Galeons of Portugall p. 1898. Don Alonso Peres de Gusman the good Duke of Medina Sidonia Countie of Nebla Marquesse of Casheshe in Africa Lord of the Citie of 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 pag. 1902. The true relation of the successe of the Catholike Armie against their Enemies by the Letters of the Post-master of Logrono of the fourth of September and by Letters from Roan of the 31. of August and by Letters from Paris of the Kings Embassadour there wherein hee declareth the imprisonment of Francis Drake and other great Nobles of England and how the Queene is in the field with an Armie and of a certaine mutinie which was amongst the Queenes Armie with the successe of the said Catholike Armie since they entred in the Groyne till they came on the Coast of England with two Ballets compounded by Christouer Brauo a blinde man of Cordowa printed with licence by Gabriel Ramos Beiarano printer pag. 1913. CHAP. XII A discourse of the Portugall voyage Anno 1589. Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Francis Drake Generalls written as is thought by Colonell Antonie Wingfield imployed in the same voyage formerly published by his friend to whom it was written and here abbreuiated pag. 1914. CHAP. XIII A briefe and true report of the Honourable voyage vnto Cadiz 1596. of the ouerthrow of the Kings Fleet and of the winning of the Citie with other accidents gathered out of Meteranus Master Hackluyt and others pag. 1927. CHAP. XIIII The voyage to the Iles of Azores vnder the conduct of the Right Honorable Earle of Essex 1597. pag. 1935. § 1. The relation thereof by the said Earle and other Commissioners ibid. § 2. A larger relation of the said Iland voyage written by Sir Arthur Gorges Knight collected in the Queenes ship called the Wast Spite wherein he was then Captaine with Marine and Martiall discourses added according to the occurrences pag. 1938. The Conclusion of the Worke with some later aduertisements touching his Maiesties care for Virginia pag. 19â—0 Maps and Peeces cut in Brasse or VVood in the last ten Bookes AMerica p. 857 America Meridionalis p. 882 America Septentrionalis p. 853 Map of the Arctike Pole p. 625 Borussia or Prussia p. 626 Hondius his Map of China p. 361 Purchas his Map of China p. 402 Denmarke p. 622 England p. 1980 Florida p. 689 Great Britaine and Ireland p. 1981 Greenland p. 468 Vlphilas Gottick letters p. 658 Hispaniola p. 861 Island p. 644 Lithuania p. 629 Liuonia p. 627 Magellan Streight p. 900 Mexican hieroglyphic histor cut in 65. peeces p. 1067 c. to 1117. Moscouia p. 778 Norwegia p. 620 Polonia p. 630 Russia p. 220 Noua Scotia p. 1874 New Spaine p. 871 Tartaria p. 234 Taurica Chersonesus p. 632 Virginia p. 1692 PEREGRINATIONS AND DISCOVERIES IN THE REMOTEST NORTH AND EAST PARTS OF ASIA CALLED TARTARIA AND CHINA THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. The Iournall of Frier WILLIAM DE RVBRVQVIS a French-man of the Order of the Minorite Friers vnto the East parts of the World Anno Dom. 1253. TO the most Excellent and most Christian Lord Lewis by Gods grace the Renowmed King of France Frier William de Rubruk the meanest of the Minorites Order wisheth health and continuall Triumph in Christ. It is written in the Booke of Ecclesiasticus concerning the Wiseman He shall trauell into forreine Countries and good and euill shall hee try in all things The very same Action my Lord and King haue I atchieued howbeit I wish that I haue done it like a wise man and not like a Foole. For many there bee that performe the same Action which a wise man doth not wisely but more vndiscreetly of which number I feare my selfe to bee one Notwithstanding howsoeuer I haue done it because you commanded mee when I departed from your Highnesse to write all things vnto you which I should see among the Tartars and you wished me also that I should not feare to write long Letters I haue done as your Maiestie enioyned me yet with feare and reuerence because I want words and Eloquence sufficient to write vnto so great a Maiestie Bee it knowne therefore vnto your Sacred Maiestie that in the yeare of our Lord 1253. about the Nones of May wee entred into the Sea of Pontus which the Bulgarians call the great Sea It contayneth in length as I learned of certayne Merchants one thousand and eight miles and is in a manner diuided into two parts About the midst thereof are two Prouinces one towards the North and another towards the South The South Prouince is called Synopolis and it is the Castle and Port of the Soldan of Turkie but the North Prouince is called of the Latines Gasaria of the Greekes which inhabit vpon the Sea shoare thereof it is called Cassaria that is to say Caesaria And there are certayne head-lands stretching forth into the Sea towards Synopolis Also there are three hundred miles of distance betweene Synopolis and Cassaria Insomuch that the distance from those points or places to Constantinople in length and breadth is about seuen hundred miles and seuen hundred miles also from thence to the East namely to the Countrey of Hiberia which is a Prouince of Georgia At the Prouince of Gasaria or Cassaria wee arriued which Prouince is in a manner three square hauing a Citie on the West part thereof called Kersoua wherein Saint Clement suffered Martyrdome And sayling before the said Citie wee saw an Iland in which a Church is said to be built by the hands of Angels But about the midst of the said Prouince toward the South as it were vpon a sharpe Angle or Point standeth a Citie called Soldaia directly against Synopolis And there doe all the Turkie Merchants which Traffique into the North Countries in their Iourney outward arriue and as they returne home-ward also from Russia and the said Northerne Regions into Turkie The foresaid Merchants transport thither Ermines and gray Furres with other rich and costly Skinnes Others carrie Clothes made of Cotton or Bombast and Silke and diuers kinds of Spices But vpon the East part of the said Prouince standeth a Citie called Matriga where the Riuer Tanais dischargeth his streames into the Sea of Pontus the mouth whereof is twelue miles in breadth For this Riuer before it entreth into the Sea of Pontus maketh a little Sea which hath in breadth and length seuen hundred miles and it it is in no place thereof aboue sixe paces deepe whereupon great Vessels cannot saile ouer it Howbeit the Merchants of Constantinople arriuing at the foresaid Citie of Materta send their Barkes vnto the Riuer of Tanais to buy dryed fishes Sturgeons Thosses Barbils
opinion I could not for my life remoue him Wherefore be it knowne of a certaintie vnto your Highnesse that they are much estranged from the Christian Faith by reason of that opinion which hath beene broached and confirmed among them by the Russians of whom there is a great multitude in that place The same day Scacatia the Captaine aforesaid gaue vs one man to conduct vs to Sartach and two other to guide vs vnto the next Lodging which was distant from that place fiue dayes Iourney for Oxen to trauell They gaue vnto vs also a Goate for victuals and a great many Bladders of Cowes Milke and but a little Cosmos because it is of so great estimation among them And so taking our Iourney directly toward the North mee thought that wee had passed through one of Hell gates The Seruants which conducted vs began to play the bold Theeues with vs seeing vs take so little heed vnto our selues At length hauing lost much by there Theeuery harme taught vs wisdome And then wee came vnto the extremitie of that Prouince which is fortified with a Ditch from one Sea vnto another without the bounds whereof their Lodging was situate Into the which so soone as wee had entred all the Inhabitants there seemed vnto vs to be infected with Leprosie for certayne base fellowes were placed there to receiue Tribute of all such as tooke Salt out of the Salt-pits aforesaid From that place they told vs that we must trauell fifteene dayes Iourney before we should find any other people With them we dranke Cosmos and gaue vnto them a basket full of Fruits and of Bisket And they gaue vnto vs eight Oxen and one Goate to sustayne vs in so great a Iourney and I know not how many bladders of Milke And so changing our Oxen we tooke our Iourney which wee finished in tenne dayes arriuing at another Lodging neither found we any water all that way but onely in certayne Ditches made in the Valleyes except two Riuers And from the time wherein wee departed out of the foresaid Prouince of Gasaria we trauelled directly East-ward hauing a Sea on the South-side of vs and a waste Desart on the North which Desart in some places reacheth twentie dayes Iourney in breadth and there is neither Tree Mountayne nor Stone therein And it is most excellent Pasture Here the Comanians which were called Capthac were wont to feed their Cattell Howbeit by the Dutchmen they are called Valani and the Prouince it selfe Valania But Isidore calleth all that tract of Land stretching from the Riuer of Tanais to the Lake of Mâ—otis and so along as farre as Danubius the Countrey of Alania And the same land continueth in length from Danubius vnto Tanais which diuideth Asia from Europe for the space of two moneths iourney albeit a man should ride post as fast as the Tartars vse to ride and it was all ouer inhabited by the Comanians called Capthac yea and beyond Tanais as farre as the Riuer of Edil or Volga the space betweene the two which Riuers is a great and long iourney to bee trauelled in ten daies To the North of the same Prouince lyeth Russia which is full of wood in all places and stretcheth from Polonia and Hungaria euen to the Riuer of Tanais and it hath beenâ— wasted all ouer by the Tartars and as yet is daily wasted by them THey preferre the Saracens before the Russians because they are Christians and when they are able to giue them no more gold nor siluer they driue them and their Children like flocks of Sheepe into the wildernesse constraining them to keepe their Cattell there Beyond Russia lyeth the Countrey of Prussia which the Dutch Knights of the order of Saint Maries Hospitall of Ierusalem haue of late wholly conquered and subdued And in very deede they might easily win Russia if they would put to their helping hand For if the Tartars should but once know that the great Priest that is to say the Pope did cause the Ensigne of the Crosse to be displaied against them they would flie all into their Desart and solitarie places Wee therefore went on towards the East seeing nothing but Heauen and Earth and sometimes the Sea on our right hand called the Sea of Tanais and the Sepulchres of the Comanians which appeared vnto vs two leagues off in which places they were wont to burie their kindred altogether So long as we were trauelling through the Desart it went reasonably well with vs. For I cannot sufficiently expresse in words the irkesome and tedious troubles which I sustained when I came at any of their places of abode For our Guide would haue vs goe in vnto euery Captaine with a present and our expences would not extend so farre For we were euery day eight persons of vs spending our wayfaring prouision for the Tartars seruants would all of them eate of our victuals We our selues were fiue in number and the seruants our Guides were three two to driue our Carts and one to conduct vs vnto Sartach The flesh which they gaue vs was not sufficient for vs neither could we find any thing to be bought for our money And as we sate vnder our Carts in the coole shadow by reason of the extreame and vehement heate which was there at that time they did so importunately and shamelesly intrude themselues into our company that they would euen tread vpon vs to see whatsoeuer things we had Hauing list at any time to ease themselues the filthie Lozels had not the manners to withdraw themselues farther from vs then a Beane can be cast Yea like vile slouens they would lay their tailes in our presence while they were yet talking with vs many other things they committed which were most tedious and loathsome vnto vs. But aboue all things it grieued me to the very heart that when I would vtter ought vnto them which might tend to their edification my foolish interpreter would say you should not make me become a Preacher now I tell you I cannot nor I will not rehearse any such words And true it was which he said for I perceiued afterward when I began to haue a little smattering in the language that when I spake one thing hee would say quite another whatsoeuer came next vnto his witlesse tongues end Then seeing the danger I might incurre in speaking by such an Interpreter I resolued much rather to hold my peace and thus we trauelled with great toile from lodging to lodging till at the length a few daies before the Feast of Saint Marie Magdalene we arriued at the banke of the mightie Riuer Tanais which diuideth Asia from Europa euen as the Riuer Nilus of Aegypt disioyneth Asia from Africa At the same place where we arriued Baatu and Sartach did cause a certaine Cottage to be built vpon the Easterne banke of the Riuer for a companie of Russians to dwell in to the end they might transport Ambassadours and Merchants in
they were more mightie then the Tartars as yet are And vnto them the Blacians the Bulgarians and the Vandals ioyned themselues For out of Bulgaria the greater came those Bulgarians Moreouer they which inhabite beyond Danubius neere vnto Constantinople and not farre from Pascatir are called Ilac which sauing the pronunciation is all one with Blac for the Tartars cannot pronounce the Letter B from whom also discended the people which inhabite the Land of Assani For they are both of them called Ilac both these and the other in the languages of the Russians the Polonians and the Bohemians The Sclauonians speake all one language with the Vandals all which banded themselues with the Hunnes and now for the most part they vnite themselues vnto the Tartars whom God hath raised vp froÌ„ the vtmost parts of the earth according to that which the Lord saith I will prouoke them to enuy namely such as keepe not his Law by a people which is no people and by a foolish Nation will I anger them This prophecy is fulfilled according to the literall sense thereof vpon all Nationâ— which obserue not the Law of God All this which I haue written concerning the Land of Pascatir was told me by certaine Friers Pradicants which trauelled thither before euer the Tartars came abroad And from that time they were subdued vnto their neighbours the Bulgarians being Saracens whereupon many of them proued Saracens also Other matters concerning this people may be knowne out of Chronicles For it is manifest that those Prouinces beyond Constantinople which are now called Bulgaria Valachia and Sclauonia were of old time Prouinces belonging to the Greekes Also Hungaria was heretofore called Pannonia And wee were riding ouer the Land of Cangle from the feast of Holy-rood vntill the feast of All-Saints trauelling almost euery day according to mine estimation as farre as from Paris to Orleans and somtimes farther as we were prouided of Post-horses for some daies we had change of horses twice or thrice in a day Sometimes we trauelled two or three daies together not finding any people and then we were constrained not to ride so fast Of twentie or thirtie Horses we had alwaies the worst because we were Strangers For euery one tooke their choice of the best Horses before vs. They prouided me alwaies of a strong Horse because I was very corpulent and heauy but whether he ambled a gentle pase or no I durst not make any question Neither yet durst I complaine although he trotted full sore But euery man must bee contented with his lot as it fell Whereupon we were exceedingly troubled for oftentimes our Horses were tyred before we could come at any people And then we were constrained to beate and whip on our Horses and to lay our Garments vpon other emptie Horses yea and sometimes two of vs to ride vpon one Horse OF hunger and thirst cold and wearinesse there was no end For they gaue vs no victuals but onely in the euening In the morning they vsed to giue vs a little drinke or some sodden Millet to sup off In the euening they bestowed flesh vpon vs as namely a shoulder and breast of Râ—ms Mutton and euery man a measured quantitie of broath to drinke When wee had sufficient of the flesh-broath we were maruellously well refreshed And it seemed to mee most pleasant and most nourishing drinke Euery Saturday I remained fasting vntill night without eating or drinking of ought And when night came I was constrained to my great griefe and sorrow to eate flesh Sometimes we were faine to eate flesh halfe sodden or almost raw and all for want of Fewell to seethe it withall especially when we lay in the fields or were benighted before we came at our iourneys end because we could not then conueniently gather together the dung of Horses or Oxen for other fewell we found but seldome except perhaps a few thornes in some places Likewise vpon the banckes of some Riuers there are woods growing here and there Howbeit they are very rare In the beginning our guide highly disdained vs and it was tedious vnto him to conduct such base fellowes Afterward when he began to know vs somewhat better he directed vs on our way by the Courts of rich Moals and we were requested to pray for them Wherefore had I carried a good Interpreter with me I should haue had opportunitie to haue done much good The foresaid Chingis who was the first great Can or Emperour of the Tartars had foure Sonnes of whom proceeded by naturall discent many children euery one of which doeth at this day enioy great possessions and they are daily multiplyed and dispersed ouer that huge and vast Desart which is in dimensions like vnto the Ocean Sea Our guide therefore directed vs as we were going on our iourney vnto many of their habitations And they maruelled exceedingly that wee would receiue neither Gold nor Siluer nor precious and costly garments at their hands They inquired also concerning the great Pope whether he was of so lasting an age as they had heard For there had gone a report among them that hee was fiue hundred yeares old They inquired likewise of our Countries whether there were abundance of Sheepe Oxen and Horses or no Concerning the Ocean Sea they could not conceiue of it because it was without limits or bankes Vpon the Euen of the feast of all-All-Saints wee forsooke the way leading towards the East because the people were now descended very much South and wee went on our iourney by certaine Alpes or Mountaines directly South-ward for the space of eight daies together In the foresaid Desart I saw many Asâ—es which they call Colan being rather like vnto Mules these did our guide and his companions chase very eagerly howbeit they did but lose their labour for the beasts were two swift for them Vpon the seuenth day there appeared to the South of vs huge high Mountaynes and we entred into a place which was well watered and fresh as a Garden and found Land tilled and manured The eight day after the feast of All-Saints wee arriued at a certaine Towne of the Saracens named Kenchat the Gouernour whereof met our Guide at the Townes end with Ale and Cups For it is their manner at all Townes and Villages subiect vnto them to meete the messengers of Baatu and Mangu-Can with meate and drinke At the same time of the yeere they went vpon the Ice in that Countrey And before the feast of Saint Michael we had frost in the Desart I enquired the name of that Prouince but being now in a strange Territorie they could not tell mee the name thereof but onely the name of a very small Citie in the same Prouince And there descended a great Riuer downe from the Mountaynes which watered the whole Region acccording as the Inhabitants would giue it passage by making diuers Chanels and Sluces neither did this Riuer exonerate it selfe into any Sea but was swallowed vp
to him what answere I made when he demanded whether I would giue them to Sartach Then hee answered you say true and none can resist the truth I left your goods with my father who remayneth neere Sarai which is a new Towne Baatu hath made vpon Etilia on the East shoare but our Priests haue some of the vestments If any thing like you said I keepe it so my Bookes be restored Then he told me he would report my words to Sartach I must haue Letters said I to your Father to restore mee all But he was readie to bee gone and said vnto mee The traine of the Ladies followeth vs neere at hand Yee shall alight there and I will send you Sartachs answere by this man I was very carefull he should not deceiue me yet I could not contend with him Late in the euening the man came vnto me whom he shewed me and brought two Coats with him which I thought had beene all of Silke vncut and he said vnto me Behold two garments the one Sartach hath sent to you and the other if it seeme good to you you shall present to the King on his behalfe To whom I answered I weare no such garments I will present them both vnto my King in honour of your Lord. Then said hee doe wiâ—h them what you please but it pleased me to send them both vnto you and I send them to you by the bearer of these presents He deliuered him Letters also to the Father of Coiac to restore mee all which appertayned vnto me because he had no need of any thing which was mine So wee came to the Court of Baatu the same day I departed thence the yeere past the second day after the Exaltation of the blessed Crosse. And I found our young men in health yet much afflicted with penurie as Gosset told me And if the King of Armenia had not comforted them and recommended them to Sartach they had perished for they thought I had beene dead The Tartars also demanded of them if they could keepe Oxen or milke Mares For if I had not returned they had beene brought into their seruitude After this Baatu caused me to come vnto him and made the Letters which Mangu Chan sends vnto you to be interpreted vnto me For so Mangu wrote vnto him that if it pleased him to adde any thing or leaue out or change hee should doe it Then said hee yee shall carrie these Letters and cause them to bee vnderstood Hee demanded also what way I would goe whether by Sea or Land I said the Sea was shut because it was Winter and I must goe by Land For I thought you had beene yet in Syria so I directed my iourney towards Persia. For if I had thought you had passed into France I would haue gone into Hungarie so I should sooner haue come into France and by a more easie way then into Syria Then wee trauelled a moneth with him before wee could haue a Guide At length they appointed mee a certaine Iugur who vnderstanding I would giue him nothing and that I would goe forth-right into Armenia caused Letters to be made to conduct me to the Soldan of Turkie hoping he should receiue gifts of the Soldan and that he should gayne more that way Then we tooke our iourney speedily fifteene dayes before the Feast of Al-Saints towards Sarai going forth right Southward descending neere to Etilia which is diuided into three Armes there below euery one whereof is almost twice as big as the Riuer of Damiata It maketh foure other lesser Armes so that we passed that Riuer in seuen places by Boat Vpon the middle Arme is the Village called Sumerkent without a wall but when the Riuer ouerflowes it is compassed with water The Tartars were eight yeeres about it before they could take it and the Alani and the Saracens were in it There we found one Dutch-man with his wife a very good man with whom Gosset stayed in the Winter for Sartach sent him thither to ease his Court. About those parts was Baatu on the one side of the Riuer and Sartach on the other about Christmas and they goe no further downe And it falleth out that all the Riuer is frozen so they passe ouer Here is great store of grasse and there among the Caues theeues hid themselues till the Ice melt Coiacks father receiuing Sartachs Letters restored my vestments vnto mee except three Albes and an Amice trimmed with fine Silke and a Stole and a Girdle and a Tualia adorned with golden embroyderie and a Surplice He restored also vnto me the siluer Plate except the Censer and the little Boxe where the Chrisme was All which the Priests which were with Sartach had Hee restored my Bookes except our Ladies Psalter which hee kept with my leaue because I could not denie it him for he said Sartach tooke much delight in it Hee also requested me that if it happened that I returned vnto those parts againe I would bring them a man that knew how to make Parchment for he made a great Church by the Commandement of Sartach vpon the West side of the Riuer as he said and a new Towne Yet I know that Sartach meaneth no such matter Sarai and the Palace of Baatu are vpon the Easterne side of the Riuer And the Valley through which the Armes of the Riuer are spread abroad contayneth more then seuen leagues in bredth And there is great store of fish there A Bible also in verse and a certaine Booke in the Arabian worth thirtie Sultanies and many other things I neuer recouered SO departing from him on the Feast of all-All-Saints alwaies going toward the South in the Feast of Saint Martin we came to the Mountaines of the Alani Betweene Baatu and Sarai in fifteene dayes we found no people but one of his sonnes who went before him with Falcons and his Falconers who were many and one litle Village From the Feast of All-Saints for fiue dayes we found not a man and wee were almost in great danger by reason of thirst one whole day and a night finding no water till about three of the Clocke the next day the Alani in those Mountaines yet hold out so that of ten of the Subiects of Sartach two must come to guard the straight and narrow passages of the Hills left they come forth of the Mountaines and steale their Cattell in the Playne Betweene the Alani and Porta Ferrea which is two dayes iourney thence where the Playne of Arcacci beginneth betweene the Caspian Sea and the Mountaines there are certaine Saracens called Lesgi betweene the Mountaines who likewise resist so that those Tartars who dwell at the foot of the Mountaines of the Alani were faine to giue vs twentie men to bring vs beyond the Iron gate or Porta Ferrea And I was glad because I hoped to see them armed For I could neuer see their Armour though I had beene very desirous And when we came
but were forced to lie still but not long after the Ice opened againe like to a sluce and we past through it and set sayle againe and so sayled along by the Land but were presently enclosed with Ice but being in hope of opening againe meane time wee eate somewhat for the Ice went not away as it did before after that wee vsed all the meanes wee could to breake it but all in vayne and yet a good while after the Ice opened againe and we got out and sayled along by the Land West and by South with a South vvind The three and twentieth wee sayled still forward West and by South till the Sunne was South-east and got to the Trust-point which is distant from the Ice-point fiue and twentie miles and then could goe no furtheer because the Ice lay so hard and so close together and yet it was faire weather the same day we tooke the height of the Sunne with the Astrolabium and also with our Astronomicall Ring and found his height to be 37. degrees and his Declination 23. degrees and 30. minutes which taken from the height aforesayd there rested 13. degrees and 30. minutes which substracted out of 90. degrees the height of the Pole was 76. degrees and 30. minutes and it was faire Sun-shine weather and yet it was not so strong as to melt the Snow that we might haue water to drinke so that wee set all our Tinne platters and other things full of Snow to melt and so molt it and put snow in our mouthes to melt it downe into our throates but all was not enough so that we were compelled to endure great thirst FRom the Low-land to the Streame Bay the course East and West foure miles From the Streame Bay to the Ice-hauen point the course East and by North foure miles From the Ice-hauen point to the Ilands point the course East North-east fiue miles From the Ilands point to the Flushingers point the course North-east and by East three miles From the Flushingers point to the Head point the course North east foure miles From the Head point to the point of Desire the course South and North sixe miles From the point of Desire to the Iland of Orange North-west eight miles From the Ilands of Orange to the Ice point the course West and West and by South fiue miles From the Ice point to the point of Trust the course West and by South fiue and twentie miles From the point of Trust to Nassawes point the course West and West and by North ten miles From the Nassaw point to the East end of the Crosse Iland the course West and by North eight miles From the East end of the Crosse Iland to Williams Iland the course West and by South three miles From Williams Iland to the Blacke point the course West South-west sixe miles From the Blacke point to the East end of the Admirable Iland the course West South-west seuen miles From the East to the West point of the Admirable Iland the course West South-west fiue miles From the West point of the Admirable Iland to Cape Planto the course South-west and by West ten miles From Cape de Planto to Lombs-bay the course West South-west eight miles From Lombs-bay to the Staues point the course West South-west ten miles From the Staues point to Langenesse the course South-west and by South fourteene miles From Langenesse to Cape de Cant the course South-west and by South sixe miles From Cape de Cant to the point with the Blacke clifts the course South and by West foure miles From the point with the Blacke clifts to the Blacke Hand the course South South-east three miles From the Blacke Iland to Constint-sarke the course East and West two miles From Constint-sarke to the Crosse point the course South South-east fiue miles From Crosse point to Saint Laurence Bay the course South South-east sixe miles From Saint Laurence Bay to Mel-hauen the course South-east sixe miles From Mel-hauen to the two Ilands the course South South-east sixe miles From the two Ilands where we crost ouer to the Russia Coast to the Ilands of Matfloe and Delgoy the course South-west thirtie miles From Matfloe and Delgoy to the Creeke where we sayled the compasse round about and came to the same place againe two and twentie miles From that Creeke to Colgoy the course West North-west eighteene miles From Colgoy to the East point of Camdenas the course West North-west twentie miles From the East point of Camdenas to the West side of the White Sea the course West North-west fortie miles From the West point of the White Sea to the seuen Ilands the course North-west foureteene miles From the seuen Ilands to the VVest end of Kilduin the course North-west twentie miles From the VVest end of Kilduin to the place where Iohn Cornelis came vnto vs the course North-west and by VVest seuen miles From thence to Cola the course VVest Southerly eighteene miles So that wee sayled in the two open Scutes sometimes in the Ice then ouer the Ice and through the Sea three hundred and eightie one miles Flemish which is one thousand one hundred fortie and three miles English The foure and twentieth of Iune the Sunne being Easterly we rowed heere and there in the Ice to see where we might best goe out but wee saw no opening but when the Sunne was South we got into the Sea for the which we thanked God most heartily that hee had sent vs an vnexpected opening and then we sayled with an East winde and went lustily forward so that we made our account to get aboue the point of Nassawes close by the land and wee could easily see the point of Nassawes and made our account to bee about three miles from it The sixe and twentieth it still blew hard out of the South and broke the Ice whereunto we were fast in pieces and we thereby draue into the Sea and could get no more to the fast Ice whereby we were in a thousand dangers to bee all cast away and driuing in that sort in the Sea wee rowed as much as we could but we could not get neere vnto the Land therefore we hoysed vp our Focke and so made vp with our sayle but our Fock-mast brake twice in peeces and then it was worse for vs then before and notwithstanding that there blew a great gale of Wind yet we were forced to hoyse vp our great Sayle but the winde blew so hard into it that if wee had not presently taken it in againe we had sunke in the Sea or else our Boate would haue been filled with water for the water began to leape ouer-boord and wee were a good way in the Sea at which time the waues went so hollow that it was most fearefull and wee thereby saw nothing but death before our eyes and euery twinckling of an eye looked when wee should sinke But God that had deliuered vs out of so many dangers of Death
lay stil there some of our men went oftentimes on Land to seeke stones and found some that were as good as euer any that we found The seuen and twentieth wee had sayled from Cape de Cant along by Constinsarke to the Crosse Point twentie miles our course South South-east the Wind North-west The eight and twentieth it was faire weather with a North-east wind then we sayled along by the Land and with the South-west Sunne got before Saint Laurence Bay or Sconce Point and sayled South South-east six miles and being there wee found two Russians Lodgies or ships beyond the Point wherewith we were not a little comforted to thinke that we were come to the place where we found men but were in some doubt of them because they were so many for at that time we saw at least thirtie men and knew not what they were there with much paine and labour we got to Land which they perceiuing left off their worke and came towards vs but without any Armes and we also went on shoare as many as were well for diuers of vs were very ill at ease and weake by reason of a great scouring in their bodies and when wee met together wee saluted each other in friendly wise they after theirs and wee after our manner and when we were met both they and wee lookt each other stedfastly in the face for that some of them knew vs and wee them to bee the same men which the yeere before when wee past through the Wey-gates had beene in our ship at which time wee perceiued that they were abasht and wondred at vs to remember that at that time wee were so well furnished with a great ship that was exceedingly prouided of all things necessary and then to see vs so leane and bare with so small Scutes in that Countrey and amongst them there were two that in friendly manner clapt the Master and me vpon the shoulder as knowing vs since that Voyage for there was none of all our men that was as then in that Voyage but we two only and asked vs for our Crable meaning our ship and we shewed them by signes as well as we could for we had no Interpreter that we had lost our ship in the Ice wherewith they said Crable pro pal which wee vnderstood to bee Haue you lost your ship and we made answere Crable pro pal which was as much as to say That we had lost our ship and many more words we could not vse because we vnderstood not each other then they made shew to be sorrie for our losse and to be grieued that we the yeere before had beene there with so many ships and then to see vs in so simple manner and made vs signes that then they had drunke Wine in our ship and asked vs what drinke wee had now wherewith one of our men went into the Scute and drew some water and let them taste thereof but they shak't their heads and said No dobbre that is It is not good then our Master went neerer vnto them and shewed them his mouth to giue them to vnderstand that we were troubled with a loosenesse in our bellies and to know if they could giue vs any counsell to helpe it but they thought wee made shew that wee had great hunger wherewith one of them went vnto their Lodging and fetcht a round Rie Loafe weighing about eight pounds with some smored Fowles which we accepted thankfully and gaue them in exchange halfe a doozen of Muschuyt then our Master led two of the chiefe of them with him into his Scute and gaue them some of the Wine that we had being almost a Gallon for it was so neere out and while we stayed there we were very familiar with them and went to the place where they lay and sod some of our Mischuyt with water by their fire that we might eat some warme thing downe into our bodies and wee were much comforted to see the Russians for that in thirteene moneths time that we departed from Iohn Cornelison we had not seene any man but onely monsterous and cruell wild Beares The nine and twentieth it was reasonable faire weather and that morning the Russians beganne to make preparation to bee gone and to set sayle at which time they digged certayne Barrels with Trayne Oyle out of the sieges which they had buried there and put it into their ships The thirtieth lying at Anchor the Wind still blew North-west with great store of Raine and a sore storme so that although we had couered our Scutes with our Sayles yet we could not lye dry which was an vnaccustomed thing vnto vs for wee had had no Raine in long time before and yet we were forced to stay there all that day The one and thirtieth in the morning about the North-east Sunne wee rowed from that Iland to another Iland whereon there stood two Crosses wee thought that some men had layne there about Trade of Merchandize as the other Russians that wee saw before had done but wee found no man there the Wind as then beeing North-west whereby the Ice draue still towards the Wey-gates there to our great good wee went on Land for in that Iland wee found great store of Leple leaues which serued vs exceeding well and it seemed that God had purposely sent vs thither for as then wee had many sicke men and most of vs were so troubled with a scouring in our bodies and were thereby become so weake that wee could hardly row but by meanes of those leaues we were healed thereof for that as soone as we had eaten them we were presently eased and healed whereat wee could not choose but wonder and therefore wee gaue God great thankes for that and for many other his mercies shewed vnto vs by his great and vnexpected aide lent vs in that our dangerous Voyage and so as I said before wee eate them by whole handfuls together because in Holland we had heard much spoken of their great force and as then found it to be much more then we expected The first of August the Wind blew hard North-west and the Ice that for a while had driuen towards the entry of the Wey-gates stayed and draue no more but the Sea went very hollow whereby we were forced to remoue our Scutes on the other side of the Iland to defend them from the waues of the Sea and lying there wee went on Land againe to fetch more Leple leaues whereby we had beene so well holpen and still more and more recouered our healths and in so short time that we could not choose but wonder thereat so that as then some of vs could eate Bisket againe which not long before they could not doe The second it was darke mistie weather the Winde still blowing stiffe North-west at which time our victuals beganne to decrease for as then wee had nothing but a little Bread and Water and some of vs a little Cheese The third about the North Sunne
abroad in the Towne it was also carryed to the Princes Court in the Hage at which time the Lord Chancellour of Denmarke Ambassadour for the sayd King was then at Dinner with Prince Maurice for the which cause we were presently fetcht thither by the Scout and two of the Burgers of the Towne and there in the presence of those Ambassadours and the Burger-masters wee made rehearsall of our Iourney both forwards and backwards I thought good to adde hither for Barents or Barentsons sake certaine Notes which I haue found the one Translated the other Written by him amongst Master Hakluyts Paper This was Written by William Barentson in a loose Paper which was lent mee by the Reuerend Peter Plantius in Amsterdam March the seuen and twentieth 1609. THe foure and twentieth of August Stilo nouo 1595. wee spake with the Samoieds and asked them how the Land and Sea did lye to the East of Way-gates They sayd after fiue dayes iourney going North-east wee should come to a great Sea going South-east This Sea to the East of Way-gates they sayd was called Marmoria that is to say A calme Sea And they of Ward-house haue told vs the same I asked them if at any time of the yeere it was frozen ouer They sayd it was And that sometimes they passed it with Sleds And the first of September 1595. Stilo nouo the Russes of the Lodie or Barke affirmed the same saying that the Sea is sometimes so Frozen that the Lodies or Barkes going sometimes to Gielhsidi from Pechora are forced there to Winter which Gielhsidi was wonne from the Tartars three yeeres past For the Ebbe and Flood there I can finde none but with the Winde so runneth the streame The third of September Stilo nouo the winde was South-west and then I found the water higher then with the winde at North or North-east Mine opinion is grounded on Experience That if there bee a passage it is small or else the Sea could not rise with a Southerly Winde And for the better proofe to know if there were a Flood and Ebbe the ninth of September Stilo nouo I went on shoare on the South end of the States Iland where the Crosse standeth and layd a Stone on the brinke of the Water to proue whether there were a Tide and went round about the Iland to shoote at a Hare and returning I found the Stone as I left it and the Water neither higher nor lower which prooueth as afore that there is no Flood nor Ebbe CHAP. VI. A Treatise of IVER BOTY a Gronlander translated out of the Norsh Language into High Dutch in the yeere 1560. And after out of High Dutch into Low Dutch by WILLIAM BARENTSON of Amsterdam who was chiefe Pilot aforesaid The same Copie in High Dutch is in the hands of IODOCVS HONDIVS which I haue seene And this was translated out of Low Dutch by Master WILLIAM STERE Marchant in the yeere 1608. for the vse of me HENRIE HVDSON WILLIAM BARENTSONS Booke is in the hands of Master PETER PLANTIVS who lent the same vnto me INprimis it is reported by men of Wisedome and Vnderstanding borne in Gronland That from Stad in Norway to the East part of Island called Horn-nesse is seuen dayes sayling right West Item men shall know that betweene Island and Gronland lyeth a Riffe called Gombornse-skare There were they wont to haue there passage for Gronland But as they report there is Ice vpon the same Riffe come out of the long North Bottome so that we cannot vse the same old Passage as they thinke Item from Long-nesse on the East side of Island to the abouesaid Horn-nesse is two dayes sayle to the Brimstone Mount Item if you goe from Bergen in Norway the course is right West till you bee South of Rokenesse in Island and distant from it thirteene miles or leagues And with this course you shall come vnder that high Land that lyeth in the East part of Groneland and is called Swafster A day before you come there you shall haue sight of a high Mount called Huit-sarke and betweene Whitsarke and Groneland lyeth a Head-land called Hernoldus Hooke and thereby lyeth an Hauen where the Norway Merchants Ships were wont to come and it is called Sound Hauen Item if a man will sayle from Island to Gronland hee shall set his course to Snofnesse which is by West Rokenesse thirteene miles or leagues right West one day and nights sayling and after South-west to shun the Ice that lyeth on Gombornse-skare and after that one day and night North-west So shall hee with this course fall right with the abouesayd Swafster which is high Land vnder which lyeth the aforesayd Head-land called Hornoldus Hooke and the Sound Hauen Item the Easter Dorpe of Groneland lyeth East from Hernoldus hooke but neere it and is called Skagen Ford and is a great Village Item from Skagen Ford East lyeth a Hauen called Beare Ford it is not dwelt in Iâ— the mouth thereof lyeth a Riffe so that great Ships cannot harbour in it Item there ir great abundance of Whales and there is a great Fishing for the killing of them there but not without the Bishops consent which keepeth the same for the benefit of the Cathedrall Church In the Hauen is a great Swalth and when the Tide doth runne out all the Whales doe runne into the sayd Swalth Item East of Beare Ford lyeth another Hauen câ—lled Allabong Sound and it is at the mouth narrow but farther in very wide The length whereof is such that the end thereof is not yet knowne There runneth no Streame It lyeth full of little Iles. Fowle and Oxen are there common and it is playne Land on both sides growne ouer with greene Grasse Item East from the Icie Mountayne lyeth an Hauen called Fendebother so named because in Saint Olafes time there was a Ship cast away as the speach hath beene in Groneland In which Ship was drowned one of Saint Olafes men with others and those that were saued did burie those that were drowned and on their Graues did set great stone Crosses which wee see at this day Item somwhat more East toward the Icie Mountayne lyeth a high Land called Corse Hought vpon which they Hunt white Beares but not wiâ—hout the Bishops leaue for it belongeth to the Cathedrall Church And from thence more Easterly men see nothing but Ice and Snow both by land and water Now wee shall returne againe to Hernoldus Hooke where we first began to come to the first Towne that lyeth on the East side of Hernoldus Hooke called Skagen Ford and so we will write the Names of all that lye on the West-side of the Ford or Sound Item West from Hernoldus Hooke lyeth a Dorpe called Kodosford and it is well built and as you sayle into the Sound you shall see on the right hand a great Sea and a Marsh and into this Sea runneth
a great streame and by the Marsh and Sea standeth a great Church on which the Holy Crosse is drawne of colour white it belongeth to Eâ—elnesse de Hokesong and the Land to Peters Wike Item by Peters Wike lyeth a great Dorpe called Wartsdale by which lyeth a water or Sea of twelue miles or leagues ouer in which is much Fish And to Peters Wike Church belongeth Wartsdale Boy or Towne and the Villages Item neere this Boy or Towne lyeth a Cloyster or Abbey in which are Canons Regular it is Dedicated to Saint Olafes and Saint Augustines name And to it belongeth all the Land to the Sea side and toward the other side of the Cloyster Item next Godosford lyeth a Ford called Rompnes Ford And there lyeth a Cloyster of Nuns of Saint Benedicts Order Item this Cloyster to the bottome of the Sea and to Wegâ—â— Kerke was Dedicated to Saint Olafe the King In this Ford lye many small Iles. And to this Cloyster belongeth halfe the Ford and the Church In this Sound are many warme Waters In the Winter they are intollerable hot but in the Summer more moderate and many Bathing in them are cured of many diseases Item betweene Râ—mpnâ—â— and the next Sound lyeth a great Garden called Vose belonging to the King There is also a costly Church dedicated to Saint Nicolas This Church had the King before this Neere it lyeth a Sea of Fresh water called in which is great abundance of Fish without number And when there falleth much Rayne that the Waters doe rise therewith and after fall againe there remayneth vpon the Land much Fish drie Item when you sayle out of Emestnes Ford there lyeth an Inlet called South-woders Wike and somewhat higher in the same Sound and on the same side lyeth little Cape called Blâ—ming and beyond that lyeth another Inwike called Gronwike and aboue that lyeth a Garden called Daleth which belongeth to the Cathedrall Church And on the right hand as you sayle out of the same Sound lyeth a great Wood which pertayneth to the Church where they feede all their Cattell as Oxen Kine and Horses And to the Church pertayneth the Sound of Emestnes Ford. The high Land lying by Emestnes Ford is called The Ramos hayth So called because that on those Hills doe runne many Roe Deere or Reyne Deere which they vse to Hunt but not without the Bishops leaue And on this high Land is the best Stone in all Groneland They make thereof Pots because fire cannot hurt it And they make of the same stone Fattes or Cisternes that will hold ten or twelue Tunnes of water Item West from this lyeth another high Land called The long high Land and by another called whereon are eight great Orchards all belonging to the Cathedrall Church But the Tenths thereof they giue to Warsedall Church Item next to this Sound lyeth another Sound called Swalster Ford wherin standeth a Church called Swalster This Church belongeth to all this Sound and to Romse Ford lying next it In this Sound is a great Garden belonging to the King called Saint Heâ—lestate Item next to that lyeth Ericks Ford and entring therein lyeth an high Land called Ericks Hought which pertayneth the one halfe to Deuers Kerke and is the first Parish Church on Groneland and lyeth on the left hand as you sayle into Ericks Ford and Deuers Kerke belongeth all to Meydon Ford which lyeth North-west from Ericks Ford. Item farther out then Ericks Ford standeth a Church called Skogel Kerke which belongeth to all Medford And farther in the Sound standeth a Church called Leaden Kerke To this Church belongeth all thereabout to the Sea and also on the other side as farre as Bousels There lyeth also a great Orchard called Grote Lead in which the Gusman that is a chiefe or Bayliffe ouer the Boores doth well And farther out then Ericks Ford lyeth a Ford or Sound called Fossa which belongeth to the Cathedrall Church and the sayd Fossa Sound lyeth as men sayle out towards Ericks Ford and to the North of it lye two Villages the one called Eâ—er-boy and the other Forther-boy because they lye so Item from thence farther North lyeth Breda Ford and after that Lormont Ford from that West and from Lormont Ford to the West is Ice Dorpe All these are places built and in them dwell people Item from the Easter builded Land to the Wester Dorpe is twelue miles or leagues and the rest is all waste land In the Dorpe in the West standeth a Church which in times past belonged to the Cathedrall Church and the Bishop did dwell there But now the Skerlengers haue all the West Lands and Dorps And there are now many Horses Oxen and Kine but no people neither Christian nor Heathen but they were all carryed away by the Enemie the Skerlengers All this before Written was done by one Iuer Boty borne in Gronland a principall man in the Bishops Court who dwelt there many yeeres and saw and knew all these places He was chosen by the whole Land for Captayne to goe with Ships to the West land to driue away their Enemies the Skerlengers But hee comming there found no people neither Christian nor Heathen but found there many Sheepe running being wilde of which Sheepe they tooke with them as many as they could carrie and with them returned to these Houses This before named Indo Boty was himselfe with them To the North of the West Land lyeth a great Wildernesse with Clifes or Rockes called Hemel Hatsfelt Farther can no man sayle because there lye many Swalgen or Whirle-pooles and also for the Water and the Sea Item in Groneland are many Siluer Hills and many white Beares with red patches on their heads and also white Hawkes and all sorts of Fish as in other Countries Item there is Marble stone of all colours also Zeuell stone or the Load stone which the Fire cannot hurt whereof they make many vessels as Pots and other great vessels Item in Groneland runneth great streames and there is much Snow and Ice But it is not so cold as it is in Island or Norway Item there grow on the high Hills Nuts and Acornes which are as great as Apples and good to eate There groweth also the best Wheate that can grow in the whole Land This Sea Card was found in the Iles of Fero or farre lying betweene Shot-laâ—t and Island in an old reckoning Booke written aboue one hundred yeeres agoe out of which this was all taken Item Punnus and Potharse haue inhabited Island certayne yeeres and sometimes haue gone to Sea and haue had their trade in Groneland Also Punnus did giue the Islanders their Lawes and caused them to bee written Which Lawes doe continue to this day in Island and are called by name Punnus Lawes The Course from Island to Groneland IF men bee South from the Hauen of Bred Ford in Island they shall sayle West till they see Whitsarke vpon Groneland and then sayle
endeuours you may attayne vnto But if you shall chance by extremitie of Ice or otherwise to be put backe from your discouerie or from obtayning commodities vpon the coast of Greenland whereby to lade both ships then we would haue you stay at Cherie Iland or other Ilands thereabout so long time as possibly you can and as the season of the yeere will permit you to finish the rest of your voyage And if there bee sufficiens lading betweene you both to lade the bigger ship wee would haue her to bee dispatched from thence with all speede and you to stay there as long as you may conueniently for the good of the Voyage which the more beneficiall it prooueth the more it will be for your credit and we will not be vnthankefull at your returne We would haue you at euery place of meeting with the Mary Margaret to deliuer to Thomas Edge our seruant a particular Note of what goods you haue taken into your ship And at your last lading place we would haue you make a generall inuoyce of the whole Cargason of goods laden in your ship and hauing signed the same to seale it vp and direct the same to our Agent resident in London And if you doe câ—ance to meete with the Mary Margaret at or after your last Port of lading we would haue you deliuer a Copy of the said inuoyce to our seruant Thomas Edge for our better satisfaction what casualtie soeuer might happen by the way and at any hand to haue such an inuoyce euer readie sealed and for mortalities sake put vp in some sure place of custodie We hâ—ld it fit that you Ionas Poole should be as grand Pilot in this voyage to the Northward And therefore we would haue you to accompany the great ship and to bring her to the places of fishing for the Whale or to any other place which you out of your experience shall thinke fit to bring her for the good of the Voyage and benefit of the Aduenturers And our will is That Steuen Bennet Master of the said great ship together with the rest of the company in that ship doe follow the said Ionas Pooles directions as they will answer the contrarie vpon their perils at their comming home And for that heretofore the Company haue beene abused by lewd and bad people who haue imbeseled part of that which by our great charges and aduentures hath beene obtayned Our minde and will is That you Ionas Poole doe make search in your owne ship that none of our Whale finnes Morses teeth Oyle or any other commodities gathered at our charge be imbeseled or carried away by any of the Mariners who will looke to haue the vttermost of their wages paid them and to bee fed with meate and drinke sufficient And God sending you into England we would haue you suffer none of your people to goe on shoare vnsearched neither would we haue you to leaue the ship till your comming into the Riuer of Thames that we giue you order to the contrarie And if you chance to be winde bound vpon the coast you may send vp one of your people with your Letter but not to come your selfe on shoare till our farther order as aforesaid The like order we would haue Steuen Bennet to vse in his ship by vertue of this our Commission which we haue ordered to Thomas Edge our seruant to see performed accordingly And in as much as we haue agreed here with a Tanner for all the Morses hides which wee kill and bring into England and haue sent men of purpose for the flaying salting and ordâ—â—ing of the same whereof we haue appointed one to goe in your ship We would haue you reserue the said hides and floore your ship therewith in stead of ballast And if you obtayne a greater quantitie then you can bring away with you hauing alwayes regard to commodities of more value which are Oyle Teeth and Whales finnes that none of them be left behind We would haue you leaue the said ouerplus of hides in some conuenient place till the next yeere that we send more store of shipping A Commission for Thomas Edge our seruant appointed to goe as our Factor in the Ship called the Mary Margaret of the burthen of one hundred and fiftie Tunnes for the killing of the Whale and Morses vpon the coast of Greenland or any other place in the North Ocean Giuen the 31. of March 1611. YOu are not ignorant of our imploying you heretofore in two seuerall Voyages to Cherie Iland The first whereof by reason of one Duppers going thither together with certaine men of Hull glutting the said place prooued to vs a thousand pound losse of our principall As also in the second Voyage because you could not come to set footing vpon the said Iland by reason of the abundance of Ice lying round about the same sixteene leagues compasse till the twentie eight of Iuly by which occasion our whole charge of setting out that yeeres aduenture had beene lost if the refuge to lade our ship backe againe from Saint Michael the Archangel in Russia had not holpen vs yet notwithstanding that helpe wee lost by that voyage aboue fiue hundred pounds We entring into due consideration of the premisses doe not impute the cause of these our losses vnto you but to the accidents then happening contrarie to our expectation yet these losses growing vpon vs in the times of your imployment we can doe no lesse then put you in minde thereof to the intent to incourage and stirre vp your minde to doe your vttermost indeuour to further the businesse in this your third imployment that we may recouer our selues of the losses formerly sustained And for that end we haue made choice of you againe to goe as our Factor in the Ship Mary Margaret of one hundred and fiftie Tunnees the Master being Steuen Bennet for the killing of the Whale And to that end as you well know haue bin at charge of procuring of sixe meâ— of Saint Iohn de Luz accustomed to that function whose names are as followeth videlicet Iuan de Bacoyne Iuan de Agerre Martin de Karre Marsene de Horisada Domingo de Sarria and Adam de Bellocke which men wee would haue to be vsed very kindely and friendly during this their voyage whereby being strangers and leauing their owne Countrie to doe vs seruice they may haue no iust cause of complaint but rather to be incouraged to doe vs seruice hereafter if there be cause And although it be our meaning they should be encouraged by all good and curteous vsage to be readie to doe vs seruice yet we will haue you together with our owne people and Mariners imployed in this Voyage to obserue and diligently put in practise the executing of that businesse of striking the Whale as well as they And likewise to know the better sorts of Whales from the worser whereby in their striking they may choose the good and leaue the bad And
arriued at the East Indies especially the English seated commodiously for that discouerie and to reigne ouer the Northerne and Westerne Ocean haue herein beene more then industrious Doctor Powell in his historie of Wales saith that Madoc sonne of Owen Guyneth left the Land in contention betwixt his brethren and prepared certaine ships with men and munition and sought aduentures by Sea sayling West and leauing the Coast of Ireland so farre North that hee came vnto a Land vnknowne where he saw many strange things There hee left many of his people An. 1170. and returned for more of his owne Nation and Friends to inhabite that large Countrie going the second time thither with ten sailes This westerne Land is like to be some part of the West Indies though the vniuersall sauagenes of those parts make it questionable where But he which seeth how some of our English in small time haue growne wilde in Ireland and become in language and qualities Irish few of whom doe in exchange become ciuilized and English euen as healthfull men are easier infected in a contagious aire then sicke men recouered in that which is wholsome and sound will not wonder that in so many Ages the halfe ciuilized Welsh amongst Barbarians without succession of Priests and entercourse of these parts might wholly put on feritie Meredith ap Rise a Welsh Poet which liued before Columbus had begun his discouerie hath these verses Madoc wyf myedic wedd Iawn Genau Owyn Guynedd Ni finnum dir fy enaid oedd Na da Mawr ond y moroedd that is Madoc I am the sonne of Owen Gwynedd With stature large and comely grace adorned No lands at home nor store of wealth me please My mind was whole to search the Ocean seas Columbus also sent his brother Bartholomew to King Henrie the seuenth to make offer of his seruice in the New-Worlds discouerie which fell by the way into the hands of Pirats whereupon pouertie assaulted him with sicknesse in a forraine Countrie so that hee was forced to get somewhat about him by making of Maps one whereof had this more ancient then elegant inscription Ianua cui patria est nomen cui Bartholomaeus Columbus de Terra Rubra opus edidit istud Londonijs An. Domini 1480. atque insuper anno Octauo decimaque die cum tertia mensis Februarij Laudes Christo cantentur abundè Whose Countrie Genua is whose name Bartholomew Colon de Terra Rubra this worke set forth new At London A thousand foure hundred eightie Februarie thirteenth sing praise to Christ on height One of these Maps hee presented to King Henrie with the said offer who cheerfully accepted the same and sent to call his brother into England who before he could effect it was imployed by the Kings of Castile Columbus his fortunes awakned others industrie amongst the rest Iohn Cabota a Venetian and his three sonnes Lewis Sebastian and Sancius who obtayned a Patent of King Henrie the seuenth for discouerie with fiue ships with English Masters Mariners and Colours also the same to erect in whatsoeuer Lands vnknowne before to Christians to hold the same to them and their Heires as Vassals and Lieutenants to the Crowne of England paying the fifth part of their gaine at Bristoll c. In the yeere 1497. Iohn Cabot a Venetian and Sebastian his sonne these are the wordes of the great Map in his Maiesties priuie Gallerie of which Sebastian Cabot is often therein called the Authour and his Picture is therein drawne with this Title Effigies Sebast. Caboti Angli filij Io. Ca. Venetiani Militis Aurati c. discouered that Land which no man before had attempted Iun. 24. about fiue in the morning This Land he called Prima vista primum visam or first seene because that was first descried from Sea That Iland which lyeth out before the land he called Saint Iohns Iland because on that feast day it was discouered The Inhabitants weare beasts skins and as much esteeme them as we doe garments most precious In their warres they vse Bowes Arrowes Pikes Darts Clubs of wood and Slings The soile is barren in some places and yeeldeth little fruit but it is full of white Beares and Stags of vnusuall greatnesse It aboundeth with Fishes and those great as Seales and Salmons Soles also an elle long Especially there is great store of those fishes which they call commonly Bacallaos There breede also Hawkes as blacke as Rauens Partridges and blacke Eagles Thus wee see New-found Land discouered by English Ships Mariners and iurisdiction Sir Sebastian Cabot for his English breeding conditions affection and aduancement termed an English man thus reported of this voyage That vpon occasion of the admiration of Columbus his voyage into the East where Spices grew by the West so rife then in the Court of King Henrie the seuenth there arose in his heart a great desire to attempt some notable thing And vnderstanding by the Sphere saith he that if I should saile by the North-west I should by a shorter Tract come into India I thereupon caused the King to be aduertised of my deuise who immediately commanded two Caruels to bee furnished with all things appertayning to the Voyage which was as farre as I remember in the yeere 1496. in the beginning of Summer I beganne therefore to saile toward the North-west not thinking to find any other Land then that of Cathay and from thence to turne toward India But after certaine dayes I found that the Land turned toward the North which was to me a great displeasure Neuerthelesse sayling along by the Coast to see if I could finde any Gulfe that turned I found the Land still continent to the 56. degree vnder our Pole And seeing that there the Coast turned toward the East despayring to finde the passage I turned backe againe and sayled downe by the Coast of that Land toward the Equinoctiall euer with intent to finde the said passage to India and came to that part of this firme land which is now called Florida where my victuals fayling I returned towards England the tumults and preparations of warres against Scotland caused that then no more consideration was had to this voyage Whereupon I went into Spaine c. By the King and Queene there he was set forth and discouered the Riuer of Plate and sayled into it more then sixe score leagues After this he made many other voyages c. Sir Seb. Cabot was after by King Edward the sixt constituted grand Pilot of England with the annuall stipend of one hundred and sixtie six pounds thirteene shillings and foure pence and was Author of the Russian and North-easterne discoueries Fabian in his Chronicle A. R. Hen. 7.14 hath this testimonie This yeere also were brought vnto the King three men taken in the New-found Land in William Purchas time being Major These were clothed in beasts skins and did eate raw flesh and spake such speech that none could vnderstand them and in their
The Pinnasse called the Cat was of twentie tunnes had twelue men Bredaransies Foord is most Northerly Cunninghams Foord is next in sixtie seuen degrees and odde minutes The Foord wherein they saw the Towne ten leagues vp the same is two leagues to the South of Cunninghams Foord The Kings Foord is in sixtie sixe degrees and an halfe William Huntris of Stowborow in Yorke-shire is Master Hall his man and is allowed thirtie pound by the yeere of the King of Denmarke for his skill in Nauigation I haue also Master Halls Voyage of the next yeere 1607. to Groenland from Denmarke written and with representations of Land-sights curiously delineated by Iosias Hubert of Hull but the Danes enuious perhaps that the glory of the Discouery would be attributed to the English Pilot after the Land saluted 〈◊〉 and in fine forced the ship to returne for Island For which cause I haue here omitted the whole CHAP. XVI The Voyage of Master IOHN KNIGHT which had beene at Groenland once before 1605. Captaine of a Pinnasse of the King of Denmarke for the Discouery of the North-west Passage begun the eighteenth of Aprill 1606. I Set sayle from Grauesend in a Barke of fortie tunnes called the Hope-well well victualled and manned at the cost of the Worshipfull Companies of Moscouie and the East Indie Merchants for the Discouerie of the North-west Passage the eighteenth of Aprill 1606. and arriued the sixe and twentieth of the same moneth in the I le of Orkney in a Sound called Pentlefrith Heere wee were stayed with contrary winds at West and North-west and with much storme and foule weather aboue a fortnight In which meane space I entertained two men of this Countrey which are both lustie fellowes at Sea and Land and are well acquainted with all the Harbours of these North parts of Scotland These men brought vs into a very good Harbour called Saint Margarites Hope where we had the Sea open to vs for all winds that are good for vs to proceed on our Voyage In this Countrey we found little worthy of Relation For it is poore and hath no wood growing vpon it Their Corne is Barley and Oates Their fire is Turffe their houses are low and vnseemely without and as homely within Vpon Munday the twelfth of May I set sayle from Saint Margarites Sound or Hope in Orkney at nine of the clocke in the morning our course being West and by South and at eight of the clocke at night the Hill called Hoyce did beare West Southerly eleuen or twelue leagues and the Stacke South and by East Easterly three leagues and an halfe the winde beeing at East South-east This day was for the most part calme and sometimes wee had a fresh gale of winde our course was West and by South halfe a point Southerly This day I passed by two small Ilands The one of them is called the Clete and the other the Run They are distant foure leagues the one from the other The course betweene them is South-west and North-east The Southermost is called the Clete and is the lesser of the twaine it is distant from the North-east part of Lewis called the Bling-head seuen leagues and the course betwixt them is North-west and South-east Also this Bling-head is distant from the Farrâ— Headpunc of the Hieland of Scotland West and by North halfe a point Westerly and is distant seuenteene leagues Also the course betweene Bling-head and the North-west part of Lewis is West and by South halfe a point Westerly and faire low Land without Wood. There is good riding all along the shoare the winde beeing off the Land and in some places are very good Harbours for all winds From eight to twelue at night we ran sixe leagues West South-west This morning we had a fresh gale of wind at East North-east our course was South-west and by West two houres fiue leagues From two to ten South-west and by South 20. leagues From ten to twelue West South-west sixe leagues The latitude at noone was 58. degrees 27. minutes From Wednesday at noone till Thursday at noone was for the most part raine and fogge the wind at North-east and by East our course was West halfe a point Southerly our latitude at noone being Thursday 58. degrees 23. minutes From Thursday at noone till Friday at noone being the sixteenth our way was West Southerly about twentie leagues the latitude at noone was 58. degrees 19. minutes This night the wind was sometimes variable betweene the South and by West and South-east with faire weather the Magneticall Declination 18. degrees the height of the Pole was 58. degrees 10. minutes Also in the morning the Sunne beeing tenne degrees aboue the Horizon was distant from the East to the North-wards of the East twentie two degrees From Friday at noone vntill midnight was little wind Southerly and sometimes calme and from midnight till twelue at noone the next day a stiffe gale of wind at East North-east This foure and twentie houres I judged our way to be made good West something Southerly thirtie leagues The latitude at noone was 58. degrees 10. minutes Also the sunne did rise fiftie degrees to the Northward of the East From Saturday at noone being the seuenteenth till Sunday at noone being the eighteenth our course was West and by South a stiffe gale of wind fiftie leagues being close weather we made no obseruation of latitude From Sunday at noone till Munday at noone I steered away West and West and by South hauing a storme at East and by North our course was West and Southerly fiftie leagâ—â—s From Munday at noone till midnight our course was West and Southerly and from that time till noone West and by North and West among I iudged wee sayled fortie leagues these foure and twentie houres being for the most part foggie The latitude at noone was 57. degrees 50. minutes From Tuesday at noone till noone on Wednesday our course was West and by North fortie fiue leagues being foggie weather without obseruation Here wee had a current which I iudge setteth to the Northwards From Wednesday at noone till Thursday at noone being the two and twentieth our course was West and by North fiftie leagues with much fogge and close weather and much winde at North-east and by East From Thursday at noone till midnight our course was West and by North. Then the winde came to the North wee tooke in our mayne course and I spooned away with our fore-saile till Friday the winde being at North North-east I iudged our way West South-west the twelue houres that I spooned about fifteene leagues the other twelue houres West Northerly fiue and twentie leagues This three and twentieth day wee saw many Gulles and much Rock-weed From Friday at noone till Saturday at noone I iudged our way to bee made South-west and by West but it proued West and by South rather Westerly twentie leagues by reason of a current that I
the Meridian at London that morning at foure of the clocke 25. minutes 34. seconds which 17. minutes 24. seconds substracted from 25.34 leaueth 8.10 of time for the difference of longitude betwixt the Meridian of London for which the Ephemerides was made and the Meridian passing by this place in Groenland Now the Moones motion that day was 12. degrees 7. minutes which conuerted into minutes of time were 48. minutes 29. seconds which working by the rule of proportion the worke is thus if 48. minutes 29. seconds the time that the Moone commeth to the Meridian sooner that day then she did the day before giue 360. the whole circumference of the earth what shall 8. minutes 10. seconds giue to wit 60. degrees 30. minutes or neere there abuut which is the difference of longitude betweene the Meridian of London and this place in Groenland called Cockins Sound lying to the Westward of London This finding of the longitude I confesse is somewhat difficult and troublesome and there may be some small errour But if it be carefully looked vnto and exactly wrought there will be no great errour if your Ephemerides be true But some will say that this kinde of working is not for Marriners because they are not acquainted to worke propositions by the table of signes and an instrument is not precise enough to finde out the houre minute and second For the losse of one minute of time is the losse of 7. degrees of longitude I answere that although the most part are not vsed to this worke yet I know some of the better sort which are able to worke this and the like propositions exactly And those which yeâ— cannot and are desirous to learne may in short space attaine to such knowledge as shall be sufficient for such things And how necessary it is that the longitude of places should be knowne I leaue to the iudgement of all skilfull Marriners and others that are learned in the Mathematicks This afternoone it was agreed by the chiefe of our Company that our Master Iames Hall should goe in the smaller Ship farther to the Northward The foresaid Thursday in the euening he departed out of the Patience into the Harts-ease to get forth of the Harbor which our Master called Cockins-ford in remembrance of Alderman Cockin one of the Aduenturers which place is in the latitude of 65. degrees 20 minutes And the variation of the compasse is 23. degrees 58. minutes to the Westward That euening was very calme and we towed our Shippe forth with the Shallops and Ships Boat But within an houre or two after we were got into the Offin the winde being at North it blew a great storme which continued all that night The foureteenth our Master turned the Ship vp to the Riuer againe toward the Riuer where the supposed mine should be But the tyde was so farre spent that we could not get to Sea but were constrained to Anker in a roade at the South side of the Riuer some three leagues from the Patience in which place are many good Rode-steeds to be found Thursday the sixteenth day the winde was at North-west and blew so stiffe a â—ale that we could not get to Sea that day That night eighteene of vs went into the Ilands to looke for some Deere but found none But we perceiued the foote-steps of some great Beast which wee supposed to be of some great Elke the foote was as bigge as any Oxe foote Tuesday the twentie one the weather still continued in such sort that wee could not by any meanes get to the Riuer where the supposed Myne should bee Wherefore our Master bare roome for Ramelsford being a Riuer Southward of another called Cunninghams ford some twelue leagues And we came to an Anchor at the entrance on the Southside of the Ford about seuen of the clocke Wednesday the two and twentieth day about nine or ten of the clocke the Sauages came to barter with vs being about fortie of them and continued about an houre and an halfe At which time our Master Iames Hall being in the Boate a Sauage with his Dart strooke him a deadly wound vpon the right side which our Surgean did thinke did pierce his liuer We all mused that he should strike him and offer no harme to any of the rest vnlesse it were that they knew him since he was there with the Danes for out of that Riuer they carried away fiue of the people whereof neuer any returned againe and in the next Riuer they killed a great numbâ—r And it should seeme that he which killed him was either brother or some neere kinsman to some of them that were carried away for he did it very resolutely and came within foure yards of him And for ought we could see the people are very kinde one to another and ready to reuenge any wrong offred to them All that day he lay very sore pained looking for death euery houre and resigned all his charge to Master Andrew Barker Master of the Harts-ease willing him to place another in his roome Master of the small Ship Thursday the three and twentieth about eight of the clocke in the morning he dyed being very penitent for all his former offences And after we had shrowded him wee carried him in the Shallop to burie him in some out Iland according to his owne request while he was liuing After we had buried him we went in the Shallop to seeke for the mine which we had expected so long All that day we rowed along toward the North passing by a Cape called Queene Sophias Cape That night we staied at an Iland some three leagues short of the Riuer Friday the foure and twentieth in the morning wee rowed along and came to the place which is on the South-side of the entrance of Cunninghams Riuer And we found diuers places where the Danes had digged it was a kinde of shining stone which when our Goldsmith Iames Carlile had tried it was found of no value and had no mettall at all in it but was like vnto Moscouia slâ—ddâ— and of a glittering colour That day after we had dyned wee rowed vp that Riuer some foure leagues where diuers of our company went vp into the Mountaines and found a Valley more pleasant then they had seene in the Countrey That euening we returned and came to the place where the Danes had digged their supposed Mine and tooke some of it in our Boate to carry with vs and returned toward our Ship That night we rowed and sailed and the next morning about nine of the clocke we came to our Ship Saturday the fiue and twentieth being Saint Iames his day in the forenoone we came to our Shippe lying on the South side of the Riuer called Ramels Riuer And as soone as our Master found that the people came no more to trade with vs he determined to depart with the Shippe into the Kings Ford to the Patience
well with sinewes or guts that no water can pierce them through beeing some of them aboue twentie foot long and not past two foot or two foot and an halfe broad in forme of a Weauers shittle and so light that a man may carrie many of them at once for the weight In these Boates they will row so swiftly that it is almost incredible for no ship in the World is able to keepe way with them although shee haue neuer so good a gale of wind and yet they vse but one Oare who sitting in the midle of their Boate and holding their Oare in the middle being broad at each end like our Oares will at an instant goe backward and forward as they please In these Boates they catch the most part of their food being Seales and Salmons Morses and other kinds of fishes Some they kill with their Darts and other some with Angles hauing a Line made of small shiuers of Whales Finnes and an Hooke of some fishes bones with which Line and Hookes we also haue caught very much fish Also they haue another kinde of Boate which is very long For wee haue seene one of them thirtie two foot in length open in the toppe like our Boates hauing tenne seates in it In which when they remooue their Dwellings they carrie their Goods or House-hold-stuffe for they remooue their Dwellings very often as their fishing doth serue liuing in the Summer time in Tents made of Seales skinnes and in Winter in Houses some-what in the ground Wee could not particularly learne their Rites or Ceremonies but generally they worship the Sunne as chiefe Authour of their Felicitie At their first approach vnto vs they vsed with their hands to point vp to the Sunne and to strike their hands vpon their brests crying Ilyont as who would say I meane no harme which they will doe very often and will not come neere you vntill you doe the like and then they will come without any feare at all They burie their dead in the Out-Ilands neere the Seaside Their manner of Buriall is this Vpon the tops of the Hils they gather a company of stones together and make thereof an hollow Caue or Graue of the length and breadth of the bodie which they intend to burie laying the stones somewhat close like a wall that neyther Foxes nor other such beasts may deuoure the bodies couering them with broad stones shewing afarre off like a pile of stones And neere vnto this Graue where the bodie lyeth is another wherein they burie his Bow and Arrowes with his Darts and all his other Prouision which hee vsed while hee was liuing Hee is buried in all his Apparell and the coldnesse of the Climate doth keepe the bodie from smelling and stinking although it lye aboue the Ground They eate all their Food raw and vse no fire to dresse their Victuals as farre as wee could perceiue Also wee haue seene them drinke the Salt-water at our shippes side But whether it bee vsuall or no I cannot tell Although they dresse not their meate with fire yet they vse fire for other things as to warme them c. Diuers of our men were of opinion that they were Man-eaters and would haue deuoured vs if they could haue caught vs. But I doe not thinke they would For if they had bin so minded they might at one time haue caught our Cooke and two other with him as they were filling of water at an Iland a great way from our ship These three I say were in the ships Boate without eyther Musket or any other Weapon when as a great company of the Sauages came rowing vnto them with their Darts and other Furniture which they neuer goe without and stood looking into the Boate for Nayles or any old Iron which they so greatly desire while our men were in such a feare that they knew not what to doe At length our Cooke remembred that hee had some old Iron in his pocket and gaue each of them some as farre as it would goe with his Key of his Chest. And presently they all departed without offering any harme at all But this I speake not that I would haue men to trust them or to goe among them vnprouided of Weapons CHAP. XVIII A true Relation of such things as happened in the fourth Voyage for the Discouerie of the North-west Passage performed in the yeere 1615. Written by WILLIAM BAFFIN AFter three sundry Voyages towards the North-west to the great charge of the Aduenturers the last being vnder the command of Captaine Gibbins in which was little or nothing performed Yet the Right Worshipfull Sir Dudley Digges Knight Master Wostenholme Esquire Master Alderman Iones with others being not therewith discouraged This yeere 1615. againe set forth the Discouery a ship of fiftie fiue tunnes or thereabouts which ship had beene the three former Voyages on the action The Master was Robert Bileth a man well acquainted that way hauing beene employed in the three former Voyages my selfe being his Mate and Associate with fourteene others and two Boyes The sixteenth we weighed Anchor at Saint Katharines and that tyde came to Blackwall the winde being at South South-west The seuenteenth wee went downe to Grauesend and the eighteenth to Lee where we anchored that night Vpon the sixt of May we saw Land on the Coast of Groenland on the East side of Cape Farewell and that night we had a great storme so wee kept a Southerly course to get about the Ice which lay on that shoare and then kept our course vntill the seuenteenth day of May all which forenoone we sayled by many great Ilands of Ice some of which were aboue two hundred foot high aboue water as I proued by one shortly after which I found to be two hundred and fortie foot high and if report of some men be true which affirme that there is but one seuenth part of the Ice aboue water then the height of that piece of Ice which I obserued was one hundred and fortie fathomes or one thousand sixe hundred and eightie foote from the toppe to the bottome this proportion I know doth hold in much Ice but whether it doe so in all I know not This seuenteenth of May about noone we were come to the firme Ice as one would suppose being in the latitude of 61. degrees 26. minutes or thereabout being the latitude of the Souâ—h part of the I le of Resolution we comming to this Ice our Master asked my opinion concerning the putting into the Ice My iudgement was it would be best for vs to stand and ply it vp to the Northwards Hee answered we were on the North side of the South Channell and much Ice we must passe through and if that we could get some two or three leagues within the Ice it would euery tide open and we should get some thing onward of our way hauing all the Channell to the South-wards of vs. So with
they call Within Land of two hundred and fiftie leagues for the Summer time from May to September when there bee no North windes which are crosse windes on the coast of Yucatan whereby they passe and another which they call Without for the time of Winter of about two hundred and eightie leagues somewhat higher in altitude and the best Nauigation for to goe to the Port of Saint Iohn de Vlua is to leane to the coast of Florida and the Playnes of Almeria that no contrarie wind stay him from seasonable attayning the Port of Saint Iohn de Vlua The fleets that went from Dominica and now goe from Guadalupe to Terra firme whither is about foure hundred leagues voyage of fifteene dayes they goe in demand of Cartagena farre off the coast of Terra firme where the Brises are almost perpetuall and contrarie to the returne and the Southerne windes continuall in Summer and the Northerne in Winter which are crosse windes They doe reknowledge by the way the Cape de Vella between Santa Martha and Venezuela and the Cape del Aguja neere Cartagena where they vnlade the merchandise that are to goe to New Kingdome and those which are to passe to Peru are carried to Porte bello whitherto from Cartagena are ninetie leagues foure or sixe dayes sayling reknowledging the Point of Captina and from the Canaries to Cartagena is fiue and thirtie dayes sayling Those that goe to Hunduras and Guatemala goe in companie with them of Noua Espanna vnto Cape Tiburon the vtmost Westerne part of Espannola from whence running along by the Iland of Iamayca on the North side vnto the Point of the Negrillo the vttermost of it they put to Sea in demand of the Cape of the Camaron the beginning of the Gulfe and Prouince of Hunduras from whence they goe to anker to Truxillo fifteene leagues to the West from the Cape where the merchandize are vnladen that are to remaine there and the rest doe passe to the Port of Cauallos and to Golfo Dulce along the coast by the Gulfe of Hunduras to transport them to Guatemala THe returne from the Indies to Spaine cannot be made by the course which they take in going thither and therefore they must come to a greater height going out of the Tropicks to seeke fresh windes which doe blow from towards the North all the Fleetes doe meete in the Port of Hauana about the moneth of Iune to come to Spaine before Winter for the East winde is against them and is trauerse in the Channell and the South also is trauerse in the Coast from the Cape Saint Vincent to Saint Lucar The fleet of Terra firme departeth from May forward from Porte bello when the North windes doe alreadie cease and returneth to Cartagena to take the freight of Siluer and Gold from the new Kingdom of Granada and also for to auoid the Coast of Veragua and the streame of Nicaragua whence they can hardly get out if they ingulfe themselues by reason of the Brises and contrarie and dangerous Currents that are in the way From Cartagena they goe for Cape Saint Antonie the furthest West of Cuba about two hundred leagues voyage of ten dayes with care of the shoales that are in the way of Serrana and Serranilla and Quitasueno and from the Cape of Saint Antonie to the Auana are neere fiftie leagues and the ships that come from Hunduras doe come also to reknowledge the Cape of Saint Antonie The fleetes of Noua Espanna doe depart in the beginning of May while the North windes doe last which doe serue for the returne to the Auana ascending a little in altitude vnto the Sound which they call las Tortugas vnto which place they saile about three hundred leagues in fifteene dayes The ships of Santa Martha and Venezuela to come to Castile came out betweene Cuba and Hispaniola to reknowledge the Cape of Saint Nicholas in the Western part of it from whence through the middest of the Iles of the Lucayos they goe take the course of the fleets and when they come in sight of the Cape of Saint Antonie they goe to the Auana for feare of Pirates From the Auana to Castile hauing past the Channell of Bahama which the Pilot Antonie of Alaminos sayled first of all the yeere 1519. they doe saile through the Gulfe which is called of the North or of the Sagarzo about nine hundred or a thousand leagues or more a sayling of fiue and twentie or thirtie dayes with ordinarie windes by two wayes one for Summer in a greater height till they come to thirtie eight or thirtie nine degrees in the which stand the Ilands of Azores and another for Winter by a lesser height because of the stormes and showres which doe come alwayes neere vnto it whereby they goe vnto thirtie nine degrees no more wherein standeth the Iland of Santa Maria one of the Iles of Azores and they ascend one degree more for to touch in the Tercera where the fleets doe alwayes come to take refreshing without permitting any one to goe ashoare And from the Ilands of Azores vnto Saint Lucar of Barrameda the Mariners make three hundred leagues of Nauigation in fifteene dayes others in thirtie for the many Brises that doe reigne in this Gulfe of the Azores whereby they saile till they come vpon the Coast of Portugal and the doubling of the Cape Saint Vincent and after in sight of the Coast vnto the Port of Saint Lucar The Nauigation from Castile to the Riuer of Plata whitherto there is one thousand and sixe hundred leagues and to the Streight of Magelanes neere two thousand hath beene much longer in the time then in the distance of the way because being necessarie to come to those Prouinces in their Summer which is from September forward they cannot depart from Castile at such time as not to passe the Equinoctiall by Iune or August when in it the Calmes are many and very great and therefore they stay fiue moneths in the Voyage which might bee made in two or three if from Siuil they did depart by August or before and touching in the Canaries they goe North and South to eight or nine degrees on the other side of the Equinoctiall from whence some doe saile East and West to reknowledge the Cape of Saint Augustine in Brasile and afterward in sight of the Land vnto the Riuer of Plate and the Streight Others from the eight degrees haue gone straight through the South Sea to the Streight although few haue come to passe it before the Summer bee ended which is very short and full of stormes because it stands in so great a height whereby this Nauigation is very difficult The Nauigation of the South Sea hath alwayes beene along the Coast and because the South windes are very continuall and the Current of the Streight ordinarie to the North The Nauigation of Panama to the Citie of The Kings is wont to continue two
second Admirall to pacifie it It hath two hundred and thirty leagues from the Cape of Saint Antonie vnto the Point of Mayzi going by Land although by the Sunne and by water there are not so many It hath in breadth from the Cape of Crosses to the Port of Manati fortie fiue leagues and then it beginneth to streighten and goeth to the last Cape or Occidentall Point where it is narrow of twelue leagues little more or lesse from Matamano to the Auana Her situation is within the Tropicke of Cancer from twentie to twentie one degrees the Countrey is almost all plaine with many Forrests and thicke Woods from the Easterne Point of Mayci for thirtie leagues it hath most high Mountaynes and likewise in the middest it hath some and there runne from them to the North and to the South very pleasant Riuers with great store of fish On the South side it hath the little Ilands which the first Admirall called the Queenes Garden and the other on the North side which Iames Velazquez called the Kings Garden the trees are of many differences and wild Vines as bigge as a man they gather no Wheate nor other Seedes of Spaine but great abundance of Cattle it hath great Copper Mynes and of Gold and is it found in the Riuers though it be base in the touch Iames Velazquez peopled first the Citie of Saint Iames in the South Coast fortie leagues from the Cape of Tiburon which is in Hispaniola and two leagues from the Sea neere to a Port one of the best in the World for securitie and greatnesse The Citie came to haue two thousand Inhabitants now it hath few with a Gouernours Deputie the Cathedrall Suffragane to Saint Domingo is resident in it and a Monastery of Franciscan Friers The Village of Baracoa is a Towne furthest East of the Iland of Cuba at the beginning of the North Coast 60. leagues from the Citie of S. Iames toward the East North-east which was also an inhabiting of the President Iames Velazquez The Village of Bayamâ— which Iames Velazquez also built is 20. leagues from S. Iames to the North-west it is the soundest Town of the Iland of a more open soyle and of a good disposition The Village and Port of the Prince in the Coast of the North is about fortie leagues from Saint Iames to the North-west The Village of Sancti Spiritus is a Port on the South side betweene the Trinidad and the Cayo de Basco Porcallo of Figueroa about fiftie leagues from Saint Iames a Colonie of Iames Velazquez The Village and Port of Saint Christopher of the Abana is in the North Coast almost opposite to Florida in twentie two degrees and an halfe in height of more then sixe hundred Housholds where the Gouernour resides and the Officers Royall The Port is maruellous in greatnesse and securitie especially since that King Philip the Second the prudent sent the Campe-master Iohn of Texeda and Baptista Antonelli to fortifie it in it all the Fleetes of the Indies doe meete for to come for Spaine in company It was first called the Port of Carennas and Iames Velazquez built this Village and all the rest of the Iland with the assistance of the Father Bartolome de las Casas which afterward became a Dominicke Frier and Bishop of Chiapa The Ports and Capes and point of the Coast of Cuba and the Ilands belonging to it besides those which are rehearsed are in the South Coast the Port of the Citie of Saint Iames in twentie degrees and twentie fiue leagues to the West the Port of Sancti Spiritus Cape of the Crosse twelue leagues forward and the Queenes Gardens which is a great shelfe of Ilands and shoales the Port of Trinitie in twentie one degrees about thirtie leagues from the Cape of the Crosse and ten more to the West the Gulfe of Xagua a great defence with some Ilands in the middest and forward the Two Sisters two Ilands at the beginning of the great shelfe and Ilands and shoales which they call Camarco betweene the Coast and the Ilands which is of ten leagues in length and seuen in breadth twelue leagues from the Cape of Correntes which is as many from the Cape of Saint Antonie the furthest West of this Iland In the North Coast standeth the Port of Abana and thirtie leagues to the East is the Port of Slaughters where was a Towne and was called de Matanças of the Slaughters because the Indians killed certaine Spaniards which they carried in their Canâ—ose vnder securitie to the other side only one escaping and two women whom they kept sometime with them From the Matanças to the Port of Yucanaca are fiftie leagues to the Kings Garden which is a great shelfe of little Illets and shoales and at the end of the Iland Obahaua eight leagues before the Port of the Prince foure or six from the Port of Fernando Alanso and six to the East of this Cubana which is a point The Port of Varocoa is about twentie leagues before the point of Maizi the farthest West of Cuba and the hidden Port and Gulfe neere to Cape Roio in the South-coast about twentie leagues from the Port of Pidgeons which is about ten leagues from the Port of Saint Iames. THe Iland of Iamayca was so abundant of victuals and breedings that it gaue great prouision of Cotton Horses Swine and Cozabi for the new Discoueries and the first Admirall called it Saint Iames when hee discouered it and the first that passed to inhabit it was the Captayne Iohn Esquiuell the yeere 1509. by order of the second Admirall Don Diego Colon. It stands in seuenteene degrees and an halfe of altitude in the middest of it and twentie leagues from Cuba to the South and as many from Hispaniola direct to the West It hath in compasse one hundred and fiftie leagues it hath East and West fiftie and twentie in breadth There are in it three Villages Siuill in which is the Seat of the Colledge toward the North Coast somewhat Westerly Iohn Squinell a Gentleman of Siuill peopled it Melilla which stands in the North Coast fourteene leagues from Siuill to the East Oristan in the South Coast towards the West fourteene leagues from Siuill and are Plantations of the President Francisco de Garay which gouerned in it But of the Towne de la Vega whence the Admirals Lords of this Iland tooke the Title of Dukes nor of other two Plantations painted in some Maps there is no notice There is in the Coast of this Iland the Point of Moranta the vttermost West of it by the North Coast ten leagues to the West the Port of Ianta and tenne leagues forward the Port of Melilla where they say the first Admirall arriued and called it Santa Gloria when hee returned lost from Veragua and heere happened to him the mutiny of the Porras of Siuill and it was the first Ciuill Warre of the Indies
in the Coast of this Bishopricke on the North Sea is the Riuer of Aluarado where the bounds of the Bishopricke of Guaxaca and the Riuer of Almeria doe ioyne neere to the Riuer of Saint Iohn of Vlua where the Towne of Medellin was built by Andrew of Tapia the yeere 1522. when the Marquesse Don Fernando Cortes sent the said Andrew of Tapia and Gonçalo of Sandeuall to conferre with Christopher of Tapia which had Warrants to take away the Gouernment of New Spaine from the Marquesse and the Factor Salazar and the Ouer-seer Peralmindez dispeopled The Riuer of Almeria springeth in the long Rowe in the Prouinces of Totonaques and Micantle and betweene Mountaynes it goeth into the North Sea and against this Riuer is the Iland of Sacrifices which the Captayne Grijalua gaue the name vnto and the Riuer of Zempoala to the North from Veracruz and vpward the Riuer of Saint Peter and Saint Paul which springeth in the same Rowe and the Riuer of the Cazones Tuspa and Tamiagua neere the Gouernment of Panuco THe Bishopricke of Guaxaca so called by the Prouince wherein it is and Antequera by the Citie where the Cathedrall is resident betweene the Bishopricke of the Angels and the Bishoprickes of the Councell of Guatemala is of one hundred and twentie leagues from the one Sea to the other by the Confines of the Bishopricke of Tlascala and sixtie by the Confines of Chiapa and one hundred in breadth by the Coast of the South Sea and fiftie by the North Sea wherein are included the Prouinces of la Misteca high and low the high fortie leagues from Antequera to the West the low more to the South Sea Iohn Nunnez Sedenno and Fernandâ— of Badaioz inhabited first the Citie of Antequera and after the first Councell of Mexico inhabited it againe the only Iudges therein were Batchelour Iohn Ortiz of Matienzo and Delgadillo which was the first that as a man of Granada began to breed Silke in Mexico The President and Gouernour the Bishop Don Sebastian Ramirez began the Cathedrall Church the beginning of the good of those Kingdomes the Church hath all the Pillers of Marble of one piece very great and bigge and the Citie hath about foure hundred Spanish Housholds This Valley of Guaxaca from whence the Marquesse of the Valley taketh his Title beginneth from the Mountayne of Cocola in the bound of Guaxoloticlan In it is gathered much Silke Corne and Millet it hath the Zapoteca Tongue There hath beene in it good Mynes of Gold The situation of the Citie of Antequera which as hath beene said they call Guaxaca was inhabited with people of Mexico which lay in Garrison by order of the second Motezuma and the many Garrisons that the Kings of Mexico had through their Empire made general in it the Mexican Tongue The Riuer of this Citie doth sinke vnder the ground against Cimatlan and riseth two leagues off at the Mountaynes of Coatlan other two from Guaxaca and at a halfe a league from the Citie right against a Hill that stands to the North is a point of a little Hill and there goeth a glade of a Valley all plaine for the space of eight leagues which is the abouesaid faire Valley of Guaxaca pleasant and temperate and of a most healthfull Ayre where plentifully are gathered all kind of things and especially fruits of Castile most pleasant To the South-west stands the Prouince of Tutepeque which hath many Townes by the Sea-coast and is of more then sixtie leagues and that of the Riuer of Aluarado betweene the North and North-east and that of the Zapotecas to the North-east from Antequera and Guazacoaloco in the Confines of Tabasco all rough Countrey notwithstanding the rich Mynes of Gold little is gotten because of the roughnesse There are foure Spanish Townes The said Citie of Antequera is eightie leagues from Mexico to the South-east in the high way of Chiapa and Guatemala and the first that entred to pacifie this Prouince was Iohn Nunnez of Mercado the yeere 1522. by Commission of Don Fernando Cortes and from thence were men of War sent to serue the King Quantimoc in the defence of Mexico when Don Fernando Cortes subdued it The Treasurer Alfonso of Estrada when he did gouerne in Mexico inhabited the Village of Saint Alifonso de los Sapotecas twentie leagues from Antequera toward the North-east They liue in it by Gold Cotton-wooll and Millet there are aboue thirtie thousand Indians tributaries It stands betweene most high Hils Saint Iago de Nexapa is in the Valley of Nexapa twentie leagues from Antequera to the East in the way of Chiapa and Guatemala The Village of the Holy Ghost in the Prouince of Guazacoalco at the Coast of the North Sea in the Confines of Tabasco is ninetie leagues from Antequera Gonçalo of Sandouall inhabited it in the yeere 1522. It hath about fiftie Townes of Indians it stands on the border of the Riuer on the side of Chiapa this Riuer springeth in the Mountaynes of the Mixes and Choutales neere to Tecoaâ—tepeque and with the waters of the Neighbour Prouinces of Chiapa and the Choutales it goeth into the North Sea there enter into it ships of one hundred tun In all this Bishopricke there is no Riuer that doth not yeeld Gold and the Indians doe liue without want if they will worke for they lacke nothing for backe nor belly and they haue the Cacao a Fruit like Almonds which serueth for Money and they make Wine of it and it is eaten tosted and is held for a great sustenance They are wholsome Countreyes and pleasant The Silke was before nourished by the Castilians with the Mulberie Trees of the Countrey wherewith the Indians serued themselues for to make Paper of the second barke and the Spaniards haue planted so many of Castile that they grow infinitely and if the Indians did pay tithe of it and of other things fiue Bishoprickes might be made but none doe pay tithe but the Castilians onely This Bishopricke hath three hundred and fiftie Head-townes of Indians and in them and in three hundred Granges of more then an hundred fifty thousand tributary Indians one hundred and twentie Monasteries of Dominicke Friers and the rest Schooles of Priests for Doctrine The Coast of the North Sea of this Bâ—shopricke beginneth in the Riuer of Aluarado that commeth from the Mountaynes of the Zapotecas and betweene many other it goeth to the Prouince of Chinautla and crossing ouerthwart the Mountaynes whence it sprung goeth out into the North Sea betweene the Riuer of Guazacoalco and Saint Iohn of Vlua and there is also the Riuer called Agualulco whose mouth may serue for a Hauen and the diuided Rocke a point of the Land that commeth from the Mountaynes of Saint Martine named by ships that haue bin lost vpon a shoale full of Rockes vnder water which lye along the Coast right against them in the Coast of the South
the Purification to the South-west from Guadalaiara and thirtie leagues from it neere the port of the Natiuitie in the confines of the bounds of this Counsell and of that of Mexico in a very hot and sickly Countrie and vnto the end of the yeare 1531. Nunno of Guzman discouered one hundred and fiftie leagues of Land by the Coast of Xalisco which stand in somewhat more then 22. degrees In the Prouince of the Zacatecas are rich mines of Siluer and want of Water Corne and Millet there are three Townes of Spaniards and foure Camps appointed of mines those which they call of the Zacatecas are the principall fortie leagues from Guadalaxara to the North and eightie from Mexico wherein are ordinarie more then fiue hundred Spaniards fiue hundred Slaues one thousand Horses and Mules and one Monasterie of Franciscane Fryers and there is resident alwayes one of the Officers Royall of Guadalaiara In this Prouince also are the Mines of Auinyo in the confines of the Zacatecas and those of Saint Martin seuen and twentie leagues from the Zacatecas to the North-west wherein are wont to be about foure hundred Spaniards and Xerez of the Frontier thirtie leagues from Guadalaxara to the North and tenne from the mines of the Zacatecas in the way to them There are besides these other Reales or Campes whereof no mention is made because they are so famous The Village of the Erena the Mines called of the little Hat are fiue and twenty leagues from Zacatecas to the North-west neere to those of Saint Martin and others that are in the limits The Village of Nombre de Dios is sixtie eight leagues from the Citie of Guadalaiara and tenne from the Mines of Saint Martin to the North with a Monasterie of Franciscan Friers aboundant in Corne and Millet and good Mines in his Borders The Village of Durango in the Borders of the Mines of Saint Martin and the Valley of Saint Saluador eight leagues from Nombre de Dios a wholesome Countrie many Riuers with whose watering they gathered great store of Corne and Millet and of other Prouisions and in the Borders are the Mines of Saint Luke and a very good Salt-pit And the Indians of this Kingdome in many places were in armes and the Chichimecas and Guachachiles did great hurt in the way of Guadalaiara to the Zacatecas and this warre was very costly and tedious and was ended the Marquesse of Villamanrique being Viceroy The Indians are diuided in this precinct in one hundred and foure partitions or tribes The Prouince of new Bizkie is North-westward from the Zacatecas fiftie leagues from them a Countrie of Prouisions and much Cattell and of good Siluer Mines the Mines of Hindehe are in it of Sancta Barbola and of Saint Iohn and in it is the Prouince of Topia and in this discouery and inhabiting Franciscus Ybarra did many seruices The Prouince of Chiametla twenty leagues broad and long in the Coast of the South Sea about fortie leagues from Xalisco hath Mines of Siluer and in it stands Saint Sebastian a Village of Spaniards which was first of the Counsell of Mexico and it stands in more then 22. degrees Culiacan is a gouernment in the South Sea more to the East and West from Chiametla it is a plentifull Countrie of Victuals and showes of Siluer Mines whereof there is a Campe peopled which they call of the Virgins The Village of Saint Michael eightie leagues from Compostella and one hundred and three from Guadalaiara Nunno of Guzman inhabited it the yeare 1531. The Prouince of Civaloa the last and most Septentrionall of the new Kingdome of Galicia two and fortie leagues from Culiacan one hundred and fiftie from Guadalaiara to the North was a Towne built in it that was called Saint Iohn of Cinaloa of Spaniards and could not be kept This Prouince was discouered Don Antonie of Mendoca being Viceroy in new Spaine and they said there was a Citie seene wrought with stone which they called Granada and that those Indians were warriers and that in the Countrie was great store of Victuals Quibira stands in fortie degrees of a temperate and fruitfull soyle Cibola stands thirtie leagues from Culiacan toward the North and Quibira two hundred from Cibola to the East it is all of poore people for that they haue no Cotten they weare Deere skinnes and of the Countrie Kine which haue a lumpe on the ridge of the backe and long haire in the fore parts the hornes lesser then ours and in them consisteth the greatest part of the sustenance of the people for of the skinne they cloathe and make Shooes and Cords they eate the flesh and make tooles of the bones they haue sundry languages in this Prouince because they communicate little the one with the other California is a great point of the Land that putteth out to the Sea in the vttermost West of new Spaine in two and twentie degrees height from whence it extendeth to the North-west neere about two hundred leagues although of it there is no certaine notice nor of the Ports and Ilands of the Gulfe California which is made betweene the said point and Gulfe of new Spaine which goeth along that way as to the North-west in the which although there be many Riuers Capes and Points and landing-places there is no particular notice had of them because they are not much frequented At the beginning and entrance of this Gulfe are very long and narrow Ilands along the Coast and very close with it which is called the Guayauall that reacheth from the Riuer of our Ladie or of Sebastian of Bora vnto the Riuer of Christmas in Culiacan The Riuer of the Village of Saint Michael is called Ciguatlan and neerer to new Spaine is the Riuer of Pastla and against it the Desart Iland and afterward the Riuer of the Holy Ghost and the port of Xalisco and to the South of the point of California is Annublada or the Cloudie Iland and the Iland of Saint Thomas and the Iland of Flores and another which is called Las Monias IT was first called the Counsell of Guatemala of the confines because it was commanded first to be built in the confines of the Prouinces of Nicaragua and Guatemala without assigning any certaine Towne It hath in length East and West two hundred and fortie leagues and from the Meridian from 84. to 98. of longitude and North and South in breadth one hundred and eightie from 9. to 10. degrees of height vnto eighteene or nineteene in the which are comprehelded the Prouinces of Guatemala Soconusco Chiapa Suchitepeque the Verapaz Honduras and Cacos Saint Sauiour and Saint Michael Nicaragua Chuluteca Taguzgalpa and Costarica and in euery one of these Prouinces they alter in speech and according to the opinion of Religious men it was the worke of the Diuell for to plant dissentions and discord betweene these Nations which were bloody and reuengefull
The Gouernment and Prouince of Guatemala on the South Sea coast in length of it may be about seuentie leagues and in breadth North and South thirtie it is a Countrie of a good temperature plentifull of Millet Cotten wooll Corne and other fruits though they preserue not the Seede of one yeare for the other the waters are few but when it raineth they are very violent from Aprill to October the windes are North and South and the North lasteth but fifteene or twentie dayes and it is very cold and furious There are in it fiue Spanish Townes buildings of the President Don Pedro of Aluarado in the yeare 1524. and 25. The Citie of Saint Iames of Guatemala whose situation was called Cachequill which signifieth an Eagle because the Generall of this Nation when hee went to warre did beare an Eagle for his Plume it is the head of the Gouernment where the Counsell is resident in 24. degrees and a halfe of height and 93. degr from the Meridian of Toledo from whence it may bee distant by a greater circle of one thousand sixe hundred and sixtie leagues and it is twelue from the Sea and a towne of sixe hundred Spanish housholds the Officers of the goods and Royall Treasure are resident there the melting house and the Cathedrall Suffragane to Mexico with one Monasterie of Dominicans and another of Mercenarie Friars and one Hospitall and in the bounds fiue and twentie thousand tributarie Indians This Citie is seated in a very pleasant Valley with fruits of diuers sorts and all kinde of prouision and dainties The Citie of Saint Sauiour which in the Indian language is called Cuzcatlan is fortie leagues from Saint Iames to the South-east with one Monasterie of Dominicans The Village of the Trinitie which in the Indian tongue was called Conzonate sixe and twentie leagues from Saint Iames to the South-west foure leagues from the Port of Axacutla It is a chiefe Commissionership with title of his Maiestie with one Monasterie of Dominicans in a plentifull soile of Cacao and the Indians of it are of the iurisdiction of Saint Iames it is a place of great trafficke and the Port a touch for the ships of Peru and of New Spaine The Village of Saint Michael sixtie two leagues from Saint Iames and two and twentie from Saint Sauiour to the South-west two leagues from the Sea and Bay of Fonseca which serueth it for Hauen and in the bounds are eightie Townes of Indians The Village of Xerez of the frontier in the Indian speech called Chuluteca in the confines of Guatemala and Nicaragua eightie leagues from Saint Iames and twentie from Saint Michael to the South-east both plentifull of Cotton wooll and Millet Neere the Citie of Saint Iames is that Volcan so famous of Guatemala and in all the Indies are many of these Volcanes but the most famous are those of Guatemala which hath burst out diuers times casting fire stones and ashes with great hurt of the Countrie That of Arequipa of Tlascala Quito and others In this Countrie are many springs of water hot and of sundrie properties and colours there is much and good Balme which the Spaniards knew without learning it of the Indians against the which some Author speaketh and also liquid Amber Gumme anime Copall and Suchicopall and other Gummes and Liquoris most perfect and beasts that breed the Bezar stone they gather great store of Cacao which is great riches it is a meane Tree the leaues like a Chesnut though bigger it giueth flower and fruit euery Moone and the same doe in that Countrie the Orange trees The Cacao is a tree that loueth moisture better then the Sunne and therefore they plant neere him another tree to shadow him The Ports of this Gouernment in the South Sea beside the rehearsed are the Bay of Fonseca neere to Saint Michael in twelue degrees and a halfe of height Gil Gonçales of Auila gaue it the name in the yeere 1522. for the Bishop Iohn Rodrigues of Fonseca President of the Councell of the Indies And within the Bay is an Iland which he named Petronilla by a Neece of the Bishop The Port of Acaxutla neere to the Trinitie in twelue degrees height is the best of this Gouernment for New Spaine and Peru and the Bay of Guatemala twelue leagues from it and the Riuer of Xicalapa seuen leagues from the Bay to the West On the North side this Prouince hath no coast for it commeth not to the Sea by fortie leagues vnto a landing place which they call the Port of the fresh Gulfe from whence the merchandize that goe from Spaine are conueighed by the Gulfe of Honduras into the Land with carriages vnto Guatemala Saint Sauiour and the Trinitie and twelue leagues before Guatemala in the high way of Mexico is the great Lake of Atulau of ten leagues in compasse and foure in breadth without bottom The Prouince and Gouernment of Soconusco is the furthest West from Guatemala vpon the coast of the South Sea of length and breadth about foure and thirtie leagues plentifull of Cacao the greatest trafficke of it and of all that in it is sowne except Wheat there is no more then one Spanish towne which is called Guencolan founded by Don Pedro de Aluarado where the Gouernour is resident her coast which is in the South Sea beginneth seuen leagues from the Riuer of Ayutla to the West and presently the Riuers Coatlan Capanercalte Colatl Haztatlan Amituc and Quizatatlan The Prouince and Bishoprick of Chiapa is Mediterranean betweene Soconusco by the South and the vttermost of New Spaine by the West and by the North and the East betweene Tabasco an◠Verapaz in length East and West about fortie leagues and some lesse in breadth some lesse fertile of Wheat and Millet and other Seedes and of Cattell except Sheepe that are not many It hath one Towne of Castilians which is called Citie Royall seuentie leagues from Saint Iames of Guatemala toward the North-east which by a particular priuiledge is gouerned by ordinarie Iustices The Cathedrall is resident here with one Monasterie of Dominicke Friars and many Indian Townes in her limits Chiapa is the principallest Towne of them from whence the Prouince tooke the name The Countrie-men haue skill in breeding of Horses that those of this Countrie become the best that are in New Spaine they are Musicians and Painters and learne any Trade that doth consist in arte they were in old time of Nicaragua and the Captaine Iames of Mazariegos the yeere 1531. built this Citie in a Valley where now it stands round of a maruellous situation in 18. degrees and a halfe sixtie leagues from the North Sea and as many from the South The Prouince of Verapaz a name which the Dominicke Friars gaue it because they pacified it with preaching is also Mediterranean betweene the bounds of Soconusco Chiapa Yacatan Honduras and Guatemala of thirty leagues ouer and
no generall tongue that which is most vnderstood is that of the Pauches In the Prouince of the Musos and Colimas which by another name are called Canupeis fiue and twentie leagues in length to the North-west of Bogota a rough Countrie sound plentifull of Pastures Gold and Emeralds there are two Townes the Citie of the Trinitie twentie leagues from Sancta Fe to the North-west which the Captaine Lanchero inhabited the yeere 1582. when hee went to warre with the Indians Moscas a quicke and fearefull Nation and in these bounds stands the rich Mine of the Emeralds with many Indians which yet are peaceable and in the Prouince of Chiagnachi which signifieth Snailes for there be many The Village of Palma in the Colimas of a temper hotter then cold fifteene leagues from Sancta Fe to the North-west the Captaine Don Gutierre of Oualle built it 1572. in the Prouince of Tunia which tooke the name of the Cazique almost to the North direct to that of Bogota and in all like vnto it The Citie of Tunia stands two and twentie leagues from Sancta Fe to the North-east on a high hill a strong scituation for the warre with the Indians There goe out of this Citie aboue two hundred Horse-men and it is the most aboundant of Victuals of all the Borders and there is the greatest Market in all the Realme it hath one Monasterie of Dominicke another of Franciscane Friers The Captaine Gonçalo Xuarez Rondon built it for the President Gonzalo Ximenez of Pulsada The Citie of Pamplona seuenty leagues from Sancta Fe to the North-east hath one Monasterie of Dominick Friers much Gold is gotten in it it hath abundance of Cattle the Bachiller Michael Diaz of Armendariz peopled it The Village of Saint Christopher is thirteene leagues from Pamplona to the North the Captaine Franciscus of Caceres built it neere the Prouince of Grita so called because the Indians came out of the high wayes to shoute and crie after the Spaniards and to kill them little Gold is gotten in it and it hath commoditie for to breede Cattle The Citie of Merida in the bounds of the gouernment of Veneçuela and the New Kingdome fortie leagues from Pamplona to the North-east it is a plentifull Countrie of Mines of Gould and of Wheate The Citie of Belez thirtie leagues from Sancta Fe to the North and fifteene from Tunia hath one Monasterie of Franciscane Fryers the Captaine Goncalo Ximenez Roudou inhabited it It is a Countrie where many thunderboults fell and there fall not so many since the holy Sacrament of the Altar is there abiding it hath one fierie mouth that casteth many stones The Citie of Mariquita of Ybague by another name Saint Sebastian of the Gould is fortie leagues from Sancta Fe to the North-west the Captaine Pedroso peopled it 1551. in certaine Meadowes leaning to the hill the temper is very hot The Citie of Ybague is three hundred leagues from Sancta Fe almost to the West it is the first Towne of the New Realme that doth confine with Popayan the Captaine Andrew Lopez of Galarza peopled it 1551. by commission of the Counsell for to eschew the harmes these Indians did with those of Tocayma and Cartago and for to open the way to the gouernment of Popayan it hath a Monasterie of Dominicke Friers The Citie of the Victorie of the Remedies fiftie leagues from Sancta Fe to the North-west is very rich of Mines The Citie of Saint Iohn of the Plaines fiftie leagues from Sancta Fe to the South is a Countrie of much Gould The Citie of Tudela which the Captaine Peter of Vrsua built by order of the Bachiller Don Michael Diuz of Armendariz was disinhabited because the Indians Moxcas receiued hurt by it And there are of the limits of the Counsell of the new Realme seuen Townes of the gouernment of Popayan Sancta Fe of Antiochia Caramanta Arma Anzerma Cartago Saint Sebastian of the Siluer and Saint Vincent de las Pazes The Merchandize enters this Kingdome by the great Riuer of Magdalene from the Baranca of Malamba of the iurisdiction of Cartagena and the first that sent to discouer this Riuer was Garcia of Lerma Gouernour of Sancta Martha 1531. It entreth into the Sea so broad and strong that at the passing the Ships are wont to be in danger if they goe not somewhat distant for the combat of the current and working of the Sea It hath an Iland in the mouth it is nauigated more then one hundred and fiftie leagues and in more then three hundred it is not waded it commeth from aboue Popayan from two Fountaines that are fortie leagues distant by which ioyning the Riuer is made it was called of Magdalene because on that day was the mouth discouered in 12. degrees of height and six and twenty leagues from Cartagena The Prouince and Gouernment of Sancta Martha in the coast of Terra firme is seuentie leagues in breadth and length betweene Carthagena and the Riuer of Hache it is a plentifull Countrie of Millet and Potatoes much Gould and Copper and some Emeralds and other Stones in it are fiue Spanish Townes and though there be many of the Countrie-men the most are in warre The President Bastidas peopled the Citie of Sancta Martha 1525. neere to the Sea in 10. degrees of latitude and 74. of longitude one thousand foure hundred and twentie leagues from Toledo where is resident the Gouernour and Officers Royall and the Cathedrall suffragan to the New Kingdome The Port is reasonable This Gouernment hath foure Prouinces Pozignay Betona Chimica and Tayrona which signifieth a Forge and with great reason because in that Countrie are an infinite quantitie of diuersitie of Mettals and Stones of great esteeme and value Tenerife stands by the border of Rio Grande or the great Riuer which is that of Magdalene fortie leagues from Sancta Martha to the South-west part by the Sea and part by Land Franciscus Euriques did people it by order of Gonçalo Perez which gouerned in Sancta Martha by Commission of the President Lugo Tamalameque or Village of the Palmes is sixtie fiue leagues from Sancta Martha to the South and twentie from Tenerife two leagues from the Great Riuer the Captaine Bartholomew Dalua peopled it 1561. The Citie of los Reyes in the Valley of Vpari is plentifull of Millet Prouision and Cattle and of much Copper to the South-east of Sancta Martha fiftie leagues from it and thirtie from the Riuer of Hache the Captaine Sanct Anne peopled it by commandement of the Bachellor Michael Diuz La Ramada was built before called first new Salamanca fortie leagues from Sancta Martha to the East and eight from the Riuer of Plate at the ouerflowings of the Snowie Mountaine It stands in the Valley of Vpani where there is as much Copper as Stone The Merchandize of this Gouernment goeth vp to the New
Prouinces of the Darade or new Estremadura which circuit pertaines to the bounds of the Counsell of the New Realme many Captains haue entred by Sea and by sundry parts of the Land and haue neuer found the riches which the same promiseth They fall on the other side of the Riuer of Saint Iohn of Amazones by another name Orellana which some erroniously wil haue to be the Meranyon and here is the Orinico and other great Riuers and the Gulfe of Paria which maketh the firme land with the Land of the Trinitie the mouthes of the Serpent the Dragon which the first Admirall named where he saw himselfe in great danger for the conflict which the fresh waters make there with the salt whereof he had yet no notice and here beginneth the flowing of the Sea to be very great vnto the streight of Magellan and goeth continuing through all the coast of Piru and New Spaine The Prouinces of Piru whose name hath extended it selfe more then it was at the beginning include all the Empire of the Ingas or more for when it was won it was diuided in two gouernments that of Don Franciscus Piçarro called the New Castile from the Quito vnto the Cuzco sixtie leagues below the Chincha and that of Don Iames of Almagro called the New Toledo two hundred leagues toward the Streight from Chincha which gouernments were distinct vntil the Councell de los Reyes was established and a Vice-roy prouided for the Kingdomes of Piru in whose gouernment are included the Councell of Saint Francis of the Quito that of Luna or de los Reyes of the Kings that of the Charcas the gouernment of Chile countries of the Streights the Ilands of Salomon to the West and for borders the Prouinces of the Riuer of Plate and that which determinately is comprehended vnder the gouernment of the Vice-roy It hath in length North and South from two thousand leagues vpward and East and West that which is discouered from the South Sea to the North Sea The two Rowes that haue beene spoken of doe passe through all the Prouinces of Piru North and South that of the Andes from Popayan and yet many will haue that from Terra firme and New Spaine till it ends in the Streight and the other lesse from the Quito vnto Chile along the coast twelue leagues distant little more or lesse The two wayes passed betweene these two Mountaines the one which they called of the Ingas by the Andes from Pasto vnto Chile which hath nine hundred leagues in length and fiue and twentie foote of Cawsie and euery foure leagues very sumptuous houses which they call Tambos where was prouision of victuals and apparell and euery halfe league men that were in postes for to carry messages and orders from hand to hand The other way went through the middest of the Playnes along the coast of fiue and twentie foote broad betweene two walls of a mans height from Piura vnto Chile where both the wayes met And it is to be noted that all the Indies of the South are not to be vnderstood by Piru for as hath beene said it is not but that which beginneth from Saint Francis of Quito which is vnder the Equinoctiall Line and runneth along vnto Chile going out of the Tropicks which may bee sixe hundred leagues and fiftie in breadth though toward the Chachapoyas there is more and it is diuided in three parts The Playnes which haue about ten leagues in breadth and in parts lesse they are the coast of the Sea The Hills which haue about twentie and is all Hills and some Valleys and the Andes other twentie which are most thicke Groues and Woods and in so little space as fiftie leagues equally distant from the Line and Pole there is so great diuersitie that in the one place almost it rayneth alwayes and in the other almost neuer which is the Coast and in the third which is the Mountaines that fall in the middest of these extreames sometime it rayneth and sometime not for it hath his Summer and Winter as in Castile and the causes of not rayning in the Coast and rayne in the Andes are spoken of in the beginning of the Historie THe bounds of the Councell resident in Quito and confining Northward with that of Panama in the Port of Bonauentura and on the North-east with the New Realme and on the South with that of Lama hath in length by the South coast which is the place where it lengthens most about two hundred leagues from the Port of Bonauenture which is in the Gulfe of Panama or of Saint Michael the Port of Payta in the coast of Piru and from thence crosse to the vttermost of Popayan more then other two hundred and fiftie the limits remayning open on the East side in it is included three Gouernments besides those of the Councell which are Popayan Quixos la Canela and that of Iuan de Salinas of the Pacamoros and Gualsango diuided in two Bishopricks The Prouince and Gouernment of Quito which the Councell gouerneth hath in length eightie leagues from neere the Equinoctiall to the other side and in it these Townes of Spaniards following The heauen and earth thereof although it stands vnder the Equinoctiall is like to that of Castile cleere and faire rather cold then hot and in parts where the snow continueth all the yeere it rayneth from October to March which they call the winter and in the other moneths they cut their Grasse which though it be not long it is fit for the Cattell of Castile whereof there is great store and of Wheat and Barley and gold in some places and in this Region they liue pleasantly for there is nothing more pleasant for humane life then to enioy a wholesome and cleere skie for they haue no Winter to trouble them with cold nor Summer to molest with heat The Townes are the Citie of Saint Franciscus of Quito where Athaualpa Emperour of Piru was borne it stands in halfe a degree of height from the Equinoctiall and eightie two from the Meridian of Toledo by a greater circle one thousand sixe hundred eightie sixe leagues from it and sixtie from the South Sea it is of fiue hundred housholds In it is resident the Councell for matters of Iustice for those of the Gouernment are at the Vice-roy his charge There are also in this Citie the Officers of the Kings Rents and treasurie Royall and the Cathedrall of this Bishopricke Suffragane to the Archbishop of The Kings los Reyes there are three Monasteries of Dominicke Franciscan and Mercenarie Friars and in her iurisdiction eightie seuen Townes or parcialities of Indians In the situation where this Citie was built were certaine great lodgings which the King Topayuga built and his sonne Guayuacapa beautified and were called Quito from whence the Citie tooke the name the President Sebastian of Belalcaçar a souldier of Don Franciscus Piçarro built
it a loyall man to the King by order of the President Don Iames of Almagro which left him for Gouernour of the Prouince when hee went vnto it hauing ended the agreement with the President Don Peter of Aluarado The Riuer Bamba in the Prouince of the Pâ—râ—aes is a Countrie to Castile in the temperature of herbes flowres and other things it is a towne of shepheards it stands fiue and twentie leagues to the South-west of Saint Francisce of Quito the way to the Kings wherein are fortie thousand head of cattell the greatest part sheepe Here the Yugas had certaine Royall houses and here the President Belalcazar had a tedious battaile with the Indians and ouercame them and in this place was the agreement rehearsed of Don Iames of Almagro and Don Peter of Aluarado and in it was the Citie of Quito first built The citie of Cuenca which the Marques of Cauyete commanded to be built being Vice-roy of Piru which by another name is called Bamba one and fiftie leagues from Quito to the South is a Corregidorship prouided of the Vice-roy with one Monasterie of Dominicke another of Franciscan Friars In her iurisdiction are rich mynes of gold some of siluer and rich mynes of quick-siluer copper Iron and Brimstone The citie of Loxa otherwise called la Zarça eightie leagues from the citie of Quito toward the South and thirtie from Cuenca is a Gouernourship prouided by the Vice-roy it hath Monasteries of Saint Dominicke and of Saint Francis it stands in the way from Cuzco to Quito from whence it is eightie leagues in the faire Valley of Cuxibamba betweene two Riuers Captaine Antonie of Mercadillo built it in the yeere 1546. for to pacifie the countrimen which were somewhat disordered The citie of Zamora which is called of the Alcaydes is ninetie leagues from Quito South-eastward hauing passed the Rowe of the Andez it is a Gouernment prouided by the Vice-roy it hath a Monasterie of Franciscans they reape no Wheat because the countrie is very raynie it hath rich Mynes of gold wherin they find graines of foure pound waight and more the Captaine Mercadillo peopled it the yeere 1549. by a couenant with Captaine Benauente It stands twentie leagues from Loxa hauing past the Rowe which diuideth the bankes of the South Sea from the North the Indians did call it Zamora that part of the countrie is called Poroauca which signifieth Indians of warre much gold is gotten there and there hath beene graines brought to his Maiestie of twelue pound waight and there are Salt-pits of salt-water The citie of Iaen is fiue and fiftie leagues from Loxa and thirtie from the Chachapoyas Captaine Iames Palomino built it 1549. in the Prouinces of Chuquimayo in that of Chacaynga The citie of Saint Michael of Piura is in the Prouince of Chila one hundred and twentie leagues from Quito South-eastward and fiue and twentie from the Port of Payta where the bounds of this Councell doth end It is a Gouernment at the prouiding of the Vice-roy it hath one Monasterie of Mercenaries Though in this countrie rayne is holden for a wonder there are good watered grounds that beare good Wheat and Miller and the seedes and fruits of Castile The port of Payta stands in the iurisdiction of this Citie in fiue Southerne degrees which is good great and secure where the ships that goe from Guatemala to Piru doe touch The Marques Don Franciscuâ— Piçarro built it in the yeere 1531. the first of these Kingdomes and where the first Temple was erected in the honour of God and the holy Mother Church of Rome All the Prouince and borders of the Valleys of Tumbez are drie and the high-way of the Ingas passeth through these Valleys of Piura betweene trees and pleasant shadowes and betweene the principall Valley are ioyned two or three Riuers the Citie was built at the first in Tangazala from whence it was remooued because it was a sickly situation and now it stands betweene two Valleys and yet is somewhat sickly especially for the eyes for the great windes and dusts of the Summer and great moistures of the Winter The Citie of Saint Iames of Guayaquil by another name las Culata sixtie leagues from Quito and fifteene from the Sea to the South-west it is a Gouernment prouided by the Vice-roy the President Belalcazar peopled it and many of the Indians hauing rebelled and slaine many Spaniards the Captaine Franciscus of Orellana peopled it againe 1537. it is a most plentifull and pleasant Countrie and hath great store of hony in the hollow places of trees The waters of this Riuer which runne almost vnder the Equinoctiall are thought healthfull for the French disease and other sâ—ch like Many people went to the Riuer to recouer health for the multitude of the rootes of Zarçaparrilla that are in the Riuer it is not very great nor those that run to the South Sea are so bigge as those that runne into the North Sea because they runne but a little way but notwithstanding they are strong and with sudden flouds because they fall from the Mountaine The Indians doe vse many shiâ—ts for to passe them they haue in some places a rope ouer it and a basket on it and the passenger being put into it they pull him from the other side In other Riuers the Indian goeth riding on a trusse or straw and earneth the passenger behinde him in other places they haue a great Net of gourds vpon the which they lay the cloathes and the persons and the Indians fastened with certaine coardes goe swimming and pulling as coach-horses and a thousand other artes they vse for to passe the Riuers The Port of this Citie stands neere vnto it for the Riuer is very broad whereby they bring vp the merchandise from the Sea and they goe by land to Quito The yeere 1568. Captaine Contero planted the citie of Castro in the Valley of Vili the Licentiate Lope Garcia of Castro being Gouernour Vili is in the Prouinces of Bunigando Imdiuono and Gualapa which they call the Prouince of the Emeralds and he went about it from Guayaquil and discouered all these Prouinces from Passao vnto the Riuer of Saint Iohn which entreth into the South Sea The Citie of Puerto Viejo is about eightie leagues from Saint Francis of Quito to the West though not of open way and other fiftie from Saint Iames of Guayaquil whereby yee goe from Quito in her borders stands the Passao which is the first Port of the countrie of Piru and from it and from the Riuer of Saint Iames began the gouernment of the Marques Don Franciscus Piçarro and because this countrie is so neighbour to the Equinoctiall line that it stands in one degree some beleeue it is vnwholsome but in other parts as neere the Line men liue with much health plentie and abundance of all things for the sustenance of man against the opinion of the ancient
seedes The President Belalcazar inhabited this village and here hee beheaded the Marshall George Robledo It stands sixteene leagues from Ancerma the people of the countrie are so butcherly that the quicke are the sepulchre of the dead for it hath beene seene the husband to eate the wife the brother the brother or sister the sonne the father and hauing fatned any captiue the day that they are to eate him they bring him forth with many songs and the Lord commandeth that an Indian doe goe cutting off euery member and so aliue they goe eating him and after the inhabiting of Arma they haue eaten more then eight thousand Indians and some Spaniards haue also suffered this martyrdome The village of Saint Anne of Ancerma is fiftie leagues from Popayan to the North-east in the border of Cauca of the Councell of the new Kingdome gouernment and Bishopricke of Popayan without Cattell or Wheat very much annoyed with thunder-bolts the Captaine George Robledo built it by order of Laurence of Aldana Likewise the men of this countrie are eaters of humane flesh they goe naked they haue no Idols nor any thing to worship there are in this iurisdiction good Mynes of gold the climate is hot and many thunder-bolts doe fall The citie of Cartago fiue and twentie leagues from Popayan about the North-east is of the Councell of the New Realme Gouernment and Bishoprick of Popayan without Wheat or any seedes of Castile it is a temperate and wholesome countrie of little gold it rayneth much they breede no other cattell but Kine and Mares they haue many Mountaines in the which breede many Lions Tigres Beares and Dantas and wilde Boares they haue a Monasterie of Franciscan Friars the Captaine George Robledo inhabited it and it was called Cartaga because all the inhabiters were of Cartagena The village of Timana is fortie leagues from Popayan to the South-east and sixtie from Santa Fe of Bogota and thirtie from the Prouinces of Dorado here is a Lieftenant of the Gouernour which also hath at his charge Saint Sebastian de la Plata the Indians of their borders doe decay for they are so inhumane that in many places they haue publike shambles of men which they take captiue They haue their seate in the beginning of the Valley of Neyua the temper is most hot in their bounds is a Mountaine where they digge the Load-stone and the Indian Paezes are neere and the Pixaos which also are Caribes The Citie of Guadalaiara of Buga is fifteene leagues from Popayan to the North-east is of the bounds of the Councell of Quito and Diocesse of Popayan The Citie of Saint Sebastian of the Plate in the confines of this Gouernment is thirtie fiue leagues from Popayan and thirtie to the South-west from Santa Fe Diocesse of Popayan where are many Mynes of siluer and in her borders twentie foure repartitions it is three leagues from the Port of Onda in the great Riuer of Magdalen where those that come vp from Cartagena doe land it is built in a Plaine neere to the Riuer Guala there are many Earthqâ—akes and in Winter it is more hot then cold The Country-men goe to decay because the Caribes which they call del Rincon do eate them and haue publike shambles of them without any remedie for it and the President Belalcazar built this Citie The Citie of Almaguer is twentie leagues from Popayan to the South-east it is plentifull of Wheate and Millet and other seeds and cattle and it hath Gold the Captaine Alonso of Fuenmayor by order of the Licentiate Brizenyo Gouernour and Iudge of Accounts of Popazan peopled it being seated in a Hill of Zabana and the climate is fresh and the people doe weare Cotton-cloth S. Iohn of Truxillo and by another name Yscauce is thirtie leagues from Popayan to the South-east The Citie of Madrigall or Chapâ—nchica thirtie fiue from Popayan about the South a rough Countrey where they neither reape Wheate nor breed cattell though they gather Millet twice a yeere in their jurisdiction and for the roughnesse of the Countrey the men are euill to pacifie and in this Citie and in the Citie of Agreda and Almaguer are Mynes of Gold Agreda and by another name Malga stands fortie fiue leagues from Popayan to the South-west The Citie of Saint Iohn of the Pasture so called because it is a Countrey of many Pastures it stands fiftie leagues from Popayan about the South-west and as many from Quito about the North-east and in one degree from the Equinoctiall Diocesse of Quito in a good soyle of a good climâ—te and plentifull of Millet and other prouisions with Mynes of Gold In her borders are 24000. Indians of fee which are not Caniballs but of euill visages filthy and simple they had no Idols in the time of their Paganisme they beleeued that after death they should goe to liue in more ioyfull places The Riuer which they call Whoate is betweene Pasta and Popayan it is of a very delicate water and passed this Riuer is the Mountayne whither Gonçalo Piçarro did follow the Vice-roy Blasco Nunyez Vela and vnto the Riuer Augasmayo which is in this Prouince came the King Guaynacapa Beyond the Riuer Caliente or hoâ— Riuer in a Mountayne is a firie mouth that casteth store of smoake and it brake forth in ancient times as the Countreymen doe say The Philosophers being willing to declare what these firie mouthes or Aetnaes are doe say that as in the Earth are places that haue vertue to attract a vaporie substance and to conuert it into water whereof the continuall springs are made there are also places that doe attract to themselues dry and hote exhalations which are conuerted into fire and smoake and with the force of them they cast also another grosse substance which is dissolued into ashes or into stones and these are the fierie mouthes Saint Iohn de Pasto hath Monasteries of Dominicke Franciscan and Mercenarie Friers it is a cold Countrey with abundance of victuals it hath Sugar Mils and many Fruites of the Countrey and of Castile when the Captaine Lawrence of Aldona built it hee called it Villa viciosa de Pasto it stands fortie leagues from the South Sea towards the Iland Gorgoua There hath beene disinhabited or diminished in this Prouince the Citie of Antiochia the Village of Neyua in the Valley of Neyua twentie leagues from Tumana and it was through the rigour of the Indian Paezes and Pixaos and for the Manipos in the Valley of Saldauya and the Citie of Saint Vincent of the Paezes sixtie leagues from Saint Iohn of the Plaines in the confines of Popayan which Domingos Lozano built and the Citie of los Angeles twentie two leagues from Tocayma and nine from Neyua There is in the Coast which this gouernment extendeth on the South Sea from the Cape of Corrientes that stands in fiue degrees Septentrionall from
the Line the Riuer of Solinas betweene the Cape of Corrientes and the Iland of the Palmes in foure degrees one third part and in the Coast that lyeth vnto Gorgoua the Riuer of Saint Iohn among many other which make the Countrey boggie and right against the mouth the Iland of Gorgoua two leagues compasse where Don Franciscus Piçarro was forsaken of all his men with his thirteene companions The Riuer of Saint Lucar and the Riuer of Nicardo before the Riuer of Zedros in two degrees from the Line in which stands the I le del Gallo and after the Port of the Crosse and the point of Manglares where beginneth the Coast of Quito Of the gouernment of the Quixos and Canela there is no more notice but that it falls to the East of the Prouince of Quito and part of the South toward the gouernment of Iohn of Salinas there are in it three Spanish Townes with a Gouernour which the Vice-roy of Piru prouideth and in spirituall respect it is of the Bishopricke of Quito the Countrey is rough and Mountaynous without Wheate and little Mâ—ller with certayne Trees which seeme of Cinamon The first Towne is Baeça eighteene leagues from Saint Francis of Iuito toward the South-east where the Gouernour is Resident the Citie of Archidona is twentie leagues beyond Baeça the Citie of Auila stands to the North of Archidona The gouernment and Prouince of Pacamoros and Gualsango or of Iohn of Salinas whose bounds and limits are one hundred leagues which were assigned him to the East from twentie leagues before the Citie of Zamora in the Rowe of the Andes and as many more North and South It is a good Countrey in temper and disposition for Wheate seeds and cattle of rich Mynes of Gold where they haue pieces of great bignesse there are in it foure Townes of the Bishopricke of Quito for the Captaine Iohn of Salinas did build them The Citie of Valladolid is in seuen degrees height twentie leagues from Loxa to the South-east hauing past the Rowe of Piru the Citie of Loyola or Cumbruania is sixteene leagues to the East from Valladolid the Citie of Saint Iames of the Mountaynes fiftie leagues from Loyola toward the East and in her borders much gold and very high in touch and as touching the gold we need not intreat of his excellencies being holden for the Supreame power in the World It is gotten in these Mynes in three manners The first is in Pippens which are whole pieces without mixture of any other Metall that need not to be purified by fire and these graines commonly are like a Pompeon Seed and sometimes bigger of this gold is found but litle in respect of the rest The second sort is in stone which is a vaine that groweth in the stone it selfe and these stones are found in the gouernment of Iohn of Salinas very great all passed through with gold and some which are halfe Gold the which is found in Pits and Mynes and it is hard to worke The third is gotten in powder and is the greatest quantitie and this is found in Riuers or in places where some streame of water hath passed and the Riuers of these Indies haue many especially in the Kingdoms of Chile Quito New Realme of Granada and in the beginning of the Discoueries there were many in the Weather Ilands The highest in touch is that of Carabaya in the Piru and that of Valdiuia in Chile for it reacheth to twentie three Charracts and an halfe and yet it passeth THat which is called Piru is proper and particularly the bounds of the Councell of los Reyes and is comprehended North and South from sixe vnto seuen Southerne degrees of altitude which are two hundred and twentie leagues though in Voyage they put three hundred from the point del Aguia beyond Payta whereby it ioyneth with the Councell of Quito till passing the Citie and Port of Arequipa where beginneth the Councell of the Charcas East and West The inhabited part of this Councell hath about one hundred leagues from the Coast of the South Sea toward the East whereby her bounds remayne open vnto the Prouinces of the Riuer of Plate and of Brasill that which is from the Rowe where as hath beene said it rayneth continually vnto the Sea they call the Plaines of Piru in the which it neither rayneth nor thundreth because the great height of the Mountain doth shelter the Plaines in such sort that it permitteth no wind from the Earth to blow whereby the Sea wind reigneth which hauing no contrary doth not represse the vapours that doe arise to make raine in sort that the shelter of the Hill hindereth the thickning of the vapours and this want of matter causeth that in that Coast the vapours are so thinne that they make no more then a moyst or dankish mist which is profitable for their sowings which haue not without the mist so much vertue be they neuer so much watered The Countrey is all sandie grounds except the Valleyes which are made by courses of the Riuers that descend from the Mountayne where much Corne is gathered by the waterings Wine Oyle Sugar and the other Seeds and Fruits of Castile and of the Countrey In the skirts and hils sides of the Mountayne are great Pastures and breedings of cattell and the temper variable and as would be desired for the height is cold and the low hot and the middlemost partakers of the extreames as they are more or lesse neere them The gouernment of this Councell and of Quito and of the Charcas is in the charge of the Vice-roy and there are the Townes following in the circuit of this Councell The Citie of the Kings or of Lima because the Valley is so called which was the name of the Cazique and it is the greatest and broadest Valley of all those that are from Tumbez vnto it stands neere the South Sea in twelue degrees of Southerne altitude and eightie two from the Meridian of Toledo distant from it about one thousand eight hundred and twentie leagues by a greater circle it hath aboue three thousand housholds the Marques Don Franciscus Piçarro built it in the beginning of the yeere 1533. because suspecting that the President Don Peter of Aluarado would come downe to the Sea coast when hee went with an Host from Guatemala meanewhile that Don Iames of Aluarado went to resist him to the Prouinces of Quito hee went to intercept him the passages of the Sea Neere this citie on the East side passeth a Riuer from whence all the houses doe take water and their gardens wherein are excellent fruits of Castile and of the Countrie and it is one of the best Climates of the World seeing there is neither famine nor pestilence nor doth it rayne or thunder nor fall there any thunder-bolts or lightnings but the Heauen is alwayes cleere and very faire In this Citie is resident the Vice-roy the Royall Councell an assembly of chiefe Iustices
of Collao and it is called del Oro of the Gold for the great store that is in her borders The Citie of Arequipa is in sixteen degrees somewhat more one hundred and thirtie leagues from the Citie of The Kings almost to the South-east as the Coast runneth and sixtie from the Citie of Cuzco of the Bishopricke of Cuzco it hath Monasteries of Dominickâ— Franciscans and Mercenaries it hath fiftie thousand tributarie Indians and is of most pleasant temperature to liue in of all places in Piru They gather in her borders great store of Wine and Wheat The Port is at the entrie of the Riuer Chile which passeth neere the Citie where the merchandize is vnladen Arequipa stands in the Valley of Quilca fourteene leagues from the Sea In her iurisdiction is the Prouince of Condesuyo the Townes of the Hubinas Gollaguâ—â— Chiquiguanita and Quimistaca the Marques Don Francisco Piçarro built it 1534. it is very subiect to earth-quakes as all these Indies especially the Sea coasts In the yeere 1582. there was an earth-quake that almost ruinated this Citie and since there hath beene another and a breaking out of a fierie mouth whereof they tell strange things in the yeere 1586. There was another in the Citie of the Kings the ninth of Iuly which ran one hundred and seuentie leagues in length by the Sea side and fiftie within the Land it spoyled the Citie indangered few people because they went out into the fields and a little after the earth-quake was past the Sea went out of her bounds and entred a great way within the Land fourteene fathom deepe Such another earth-quake was in Quito the next yeere in the Citie of la Paz in the yeere 1581. a great high Rocke fell which tooke vnder it a great many Indian witch trees and the earth which fell did run one league and a halfe In Chile was another great earth-quake that ouer-threw Mountaines and Valleys stopped the Current of the Riuers brought the Sea out of her limits the space of some leagues cast downe whole Townes and slue many men The Philosophers say that the earth-quake proceedeth from the heate of the Sunne and of other celestiall Bodies which not onely doe draw the exhalation to themselues and the vapour of the superficies of the earth but that also which is in the bowels of it which comming out engendreth windes and raynes and if it happen that the earth is so close that the exhalation cannot come out any way then it mooueth from one part to another through the pores of the earth with great violence breaking forth as the powder in a Myne tearing with such a furious rage that it â—enâ—eth the earth where it is and openeth it selfe a way with great furie and so much more furiouâ— it is how much more the exhalation inclosed is greater The Village of Saint Michael de la Ribera is sixe leagues from the Sea in the Valley of Camana one hundred and thirteene leagues from The Kings two and twentie from Arequâ—pa to the part of the Equinoctiall of the Bishopricke of Cuzco The Village of Valverde in the Valley of Yca fiue and thirtie leagues from the Citie of The Kings ten from the Port of Sangalla is of the iurisdiction of The Kings and of the Archbishopricke her borders are plentifull of Wheat Millet and Fruits and of much Wine The Village of Cauyete or of Guarco by the Valley where it stands is distant from The Kings fiue and twentie leagues to the South one league and a halfe from the Sea her bounds are plentifull of bread the best of this Kingdome whence is carried great quantitie of meale to Terra firme Before the comming to this Valley are the Valleys of Chilca and Mala in the first it neuer rayneth neither passeth any Fountaine nor Brooke through it and they thinke of the Wells and it is full of arable grounds and fruits which grow onely by the deaw of the Heauen They catch many Pilcherds in the Sea and with euery graine of Millet they put into the hole where it is sowen one or two of the heads and with that moysture iâ— groweth well In the Valley of Mala Don Iames of Almagro and Don Franciscuâ— Piçarro being in quarrell the father Bouadilla of the Merced or Mercenarie Order as an Arbitrator resolued their differences through this Valley passeth a great Riuer which doth them great pleasure Fiue leagues forward is the Riuer of Guarco in a Valley most plentifull in all things where the Countrimen maintayned the warre foure yeeres against the Ingas and to preserue it they caused to build a Citie and called it Cuzco and erected for the triumph of the victorie a great Fortresse on a Hill that the waues of the Sea doe beate vpon the stayres Sixe leagues from Guarco is the Valley of Chincha famous pleasant and very plentifull where a Monasterie of Dominicke Friars was built in stead of the Temple of the Sunne which the Indians had with the Monasterie of the Virgins Then followeth the Valley of Yca which is no lesse noâ— lesse plentifull going out of the Valleys and Riuers of the Nasca and the principall is called Caâ—amalca where excellent Wines are made They goe from these Valleys to that of Hacari where stands Ocanna Camana and Quilca which is the Port of the Citie of Arequipa and forward are the Valleys o◠〈◊〉 and Tambopalla and the Deylo and them of Tarapaca Riuers and plentifull with good Mynes of siluer and neere the Sea the Indians of the Ilands of The Seales doe carry great store of Fowles dung for their grounds wherewith of a barren they make a plentifull ground There are in the coast of this Councel from the Point del Aguia of the Needle where it ioyneth with that of Quito in sixe degrees of Southerne altitude the Ilands and Ports following two Ilands which they call de Lobos in seuen degrees the one foure leagues from the Coast and the other more to the Sea and forward another called of Saint Rooke to the South-east neere to Pazcamayo and forward Puerto de Mal Abrigo ten leagues before the Port of Truxillo in seuen degrees and a halfe and seuen leagues from the Port of Guanape and of Sanctâ— in nine degrees and fiue leagues from this to the South Porte Fâ—rrâ—l and sixe from it that of Caâ—ma and afterward eight leagues the Port of Guarmey at the mouth of a Riuer and the 〈◊〉 twentie leagues to the South and the Port of Gaura where is a very great Salt pit and after this the Iland of Lima at the entrie of the Port of Collaâ— and twentie leagues to the South the Point of Guarco and one Iland de Lobos Marinos or Seale fisheâ— neere to it and the Point of Chica iâ— fifteene degrees and neere to the Nasca and forward the Point of Saint Laurence in the Valley of Quilca and neere the Riuer of Arequipa and the Creeke of Chulien and
him and seeming to him that hee was neere to Piru went to the Citie of The Kings where the Marques of Cauyete was Vice-roy and with his order and for Lieftenant of his sonne Don Garcia of Mendoça the Captaine Nuflo of Chaues went againe to inhabit this Citie though he came out of the Riuer of Plate with purpose to discouer the Prouinces of the Dorado In the Coast of this Councell which beginneth in seuenteene degrees and a halfe in the Riuer of Nombre de Dios or Tambopalla is the Port of Hilo neere to a Riuer in eighteene degrees and a halfe and more to the South El Morro de los Diablos and the Port of Arica in nineteene degrees one third part and that of Tacama in one and twentie and the Point of Tarapaca to the South and more forward the Riuer of Pica and that de la Hoia or of the Leafe and of Montelo the Port of Mex 〈…〉 s and more to the South the Point of the Beacones or Morto Moreno before the Bay and Riuer of Sancta Clara and more to the South the Breach and the White point and the Deepe breach and the Riuer of Sancta Clara about thirtie leagues from the Riuer of Copiapo where the Coast of Chile beginneth and the Coast of the Charcas endeth The Prouince and Gouernment of Tucaman is all Mediterrane her bound begins from the Countrie of the Chichas which are of the iurisdiction of the Imperiall village of Potosi it stands in the same Line of the Citie of the Assumption of the Riuer of Plate about an hundred leagues from the South Sea coast it doth confine with the Prouince of Chile it is a Countrie of a good temper reasonably plentifull and vntill now without Mynes of siluer or gold There is in it some Spanish Townes in one Bishopricke which are of the Citie of Saint Iago del Estero which at the beginning they named del Varco or of the Boate in eight and twentie degrees of altitude one hundred eightie fiue leagues from Potosi to the South declining somewhat to the East the Gouernour and the Officers of the goods and treasurie Royall and the Bishop and the Cathedrall are resident here The Citie of Saint Marie of Talauera is fiue and fortie leagues from Saint Iames to the North and fortie from Potosi in sixe and twentie degrees The Citie of Saint Michael of Tucuman eight and twentie leagues from Saint Iames to the West in the way of the Charcas in seuen and twentie degrees There were inhabited in this Gouernment in the time of Don Garcia of Mendoça his father the Marques of Cauyete being Vice-roy the New London and Calchaque which they called New wisedome in the Prouince of the Iurias and Draguita which afterward were dishabited within a few yeeres The people of this Countrie goeth clothed in woollen and in wrought leather made by arte like the guilt or wrought leather of Spaine they breed much Cattell of the Countrie by reason of the profit of their wooll they haue the Townes very neere the one to the other and the Townes are small because there is but one kindred in euery one they are compassed round about with Cardones and thornie trees for the warres that they had among themselues They are great husbandmen and it is a people that is not drunke for they are not giuen to drinke as other Nations of the Indies There are in the Prouince seuen mayne Riuers and more then eightie Brookes of good waters and great pastures the Winter and the Summer are at such times as in Spaine it is a healthfull Countrie and of a good temper and the first that entred in it were the Captaines Diego de Rojas Philip Gutierres and Nicolas de Heredia they discouered on this side the Riuer of Plate vnto the Fortresse of Gabota DOn Diego de Almagro was prouided the yeere 1534. in Toledo for Gouernour of two hundred leagues of ground beyond the Gouernment of the Marques Don Francisco Piçarro toward the Streight of Magellan intituling this part The new gouernment of Toledo Hee went to pacifie this Countrie and because he forsooke it it was giuen in charge to the Marques Don Francisco Piçarro 1537. and he commended it 1540. to the Captaine Peter of Valdinia who went thither with one hundred and fiftie Spaniards All the Countries of this Kingdome lye to the South of the Equinoctiall in a more Southerne altitude then the Kingdome of Piru and her Prouinces within the Torride from the Equinoctiall vnto the Tropicke of Capricorne which passeth a Desart which they call of Atacama which is from twentie three to twentie sixe degrees and then beginneth the Kingdome of Chile which the Indians call Chille and before the inhabited Countrie is the Riuer of The Salt in three and twentie degrees and three quarters which from the East side of the Row of Mountaines runneth to the West into the Sea through a very deepe Valley and though it hath the water very cleere all that the Horses are wet with it when they drinke is congealed with the heate of the Sunne and it is so meere salt that it cannot bee drunke and in the borders it is congealed the Riuer is before the entring in the first Prouince of Chile two and twentie leagues where the Xagueyes are which are Wells of water for there is no other in the two and twentie leagues and all the Kingdome stands within the Zone which the ancient men called Deserte which is inhabited with white Indians and it is situated on the borders of the South Sea which is Mare Magnum which is included betweene her Coast and the Coast of China This Gouernment taken largely vnto the Streight hath in length North and South from the Valley of Copiapo where it beginneth in seuen and twentie degrees fiue hundred leagues and in breadth East and West from the South Sea to the North Sea from foure hundred to fiue hundred of ground to be pacified which doth straighten it selfe till it remayneth by the Streight in ninetie or in an hundred leagues That which is inhabited of this Gouernment may bee three hundred along the North Sea coast and the breadth of it twentie leagues and lesse vnto the Rowe of the Andes which doe end neere the Streight and it passeth through this Kingdome very high and almost couered at all times with snow All the Countrie is plaine at the least there is no great roughnesse except where the Rowe of Piru doth reach and doth end within two or three leagues of the Coast. The temper and qualitie of it though it bee not without some difference for the varieties of the heights it standeth in altogether is of the best and most inhabitable that is in the Indies in temperature like vnto Castile in whose opposite altitude iâ—â—â—lleth almost all and in abundance and goodnesse of victuals and plentie of all things riches of Mynes and Metals and force and vigour of
the Countrimen which for being so great warriors haue alwayes beene euill to pacifie and there bee many out in the Mountaines and Breaches of the end of the Rowe the Prouinces of Arauco Tucapel and the Valley of Purâ—n the bounds and borders betweene the Citie of the Conception and los Confines and la Imperial In this Gouernment are eleuen Spanish Townes with a Gouernour placed in the matters of the Gouernment to the Vice-roy and Councell of Piru after the Councell that was in the Countrie was taken away and there is in it two Bishopricks Suffraganes to the Archbishoprick of the Kings In the Bishopricke of Saint Iames are foure Townes The Citie of Saint Iames in the time of the first inhabiting of Chile founded by Captaine Peter of Valdinia it stands in thirtie foure degrees and a quarter of altitude seuentie seuen of longitude one thousand nine hundred and eightie leagues from Toledo by a direct Line fifteene from the Sea and ten beyond the Valley of Chile which they named at the first New Extreame In it is the Cathedrall resident with Monasteries of Dominicke Franciscan and Mercenarie Friars in a plentifull soile of wheat Wine and other things and of very rich Mynes of gold and in her iurisdiction more then eightie thousand Indians in sixe and twentie repartitions This Citie is serued of the Port of Valparayso at the mouth of the Riuer Topocalma which passeth neere vnto it Captaine Valdinia peopled also la Serena in the yeere 1544. neere to a good Hauen it is the first Towne of Spaniards at the enâ—â—ie of Chile sixtie leagues from the Citie of Saint Iames somewhat North-west neere to the Sea in the Valley of Coquimbo with Monasteries of Franciscan and Mercenarie Friars It rayneth in it but three or foure times a yeere and in the Countries before it it neuer rayneth The Port which they call of Coquimbo stands in two and thirtie degrees it is a good Nooke where the ships of Piru doe make a stay In the Prouince of Chucuito which is on the other side of the Rome of the Andes in a cold and barren Countrie doe stand the Citie of Mendoça and of Saint Iohn of the Frontier for Don Garcia of Mendoça peopled them both The Citie of Mendoça is of the same height with Saint Iames about fortie leagues from it of a difficult way for the snow that is in the Andes The Citie of Saint Iohn of the Frontier stands to the South of the Citie of Mendoça In the Bishopricke of the Imperiall are seuen Spanish Townes which are the Citie of the Conception in seuen and thirtie degrees of height seuentie leagues to the South of the Citie of Saint Iames neere to the Sea Peter Valdinia inhabited it in the yeere 1550. The Gouernours are resident in it since the Councell that was there from the yeere 1567. vnto 1574. was taken away There are Monasteries of Dominicans Franciscans and Mercenarie Friarâ— The Port of this Citie stands in a nooke at the shelter of an Iland The Citie of the new village of los Infantes or los Confines Don Garcia of Mendoça peopled it and the Gouernour Villagran commanded it to be called dâ— los Confines It stands sixteene leagues from the Conception to the side of the Streight eight leagues from the Row of the Andes and foure from that which goeth along the Coast. It hath one Monasterie of Dominicans another of Franciscan Friars The warlike Indian come to the bounds of this Citie and the mayne Riuer Biobio by them and others which doe enter into it and the Riuer Ninequeten Peter of Valdinia peopled the Citie of the Imperiall 1â—51 which is in nine and thirtie degrees of height nine and thirtie leagues from the Conception toward the Streights side three leagues from the Sea where the Cathedrall is resident with one Monasterie of Franciscans another of Mercenarie Friars and in her bounds are more then eightie thousand Indians with many other that in her bounds are in armes The Riuer Cauten passeth neere it which is nauigable to the Sea though the Hauen bee not good nor secure Captaine Valdinia peopled also the Rich Village sixteene leagues from Imperiall about the South-eastward and about foure and fortie from the Conception neere to the Snowy Row with one Monasterie of Franciscans another of Mercenaries in a Countrey cold and barren of Bread and Wine The Citie of Valdinia in two leagues off the Sea and fiftie from the Conception to the Streight ward peopled also by Captaine Valdinia with Monasteries of Dominicans Franciscans and Mercenaries in a plentifull Countrie of Wheat and Seedes and in places of good pastures for Cattell and without Vines The merchandize comes vp by the Riuer of Valdinia which passeth neere it and the Port stands in the mouth of it in fortie degrees of height The Citie of Osâ—rno Don Garcia of Mendoça peopled sixtie leagues or more from the Conception to the port of the Streight seuen leagues from the Sea It hath one Monasterie of Dominicans another of Franciscans with another of Nunnes in a cold Countrie scarce of victuals but of much gold and in her bounds two hundred thousand Indians of repartition The Citie of Castro which was inhabited by the Licenciate Lope Garcia de Castro being Gouernour of the Kingdomes of Piru the which is called in the Indian tongue Chilue which is the last of the inhabited in Chile in an Iland of those that are in the Lake of Aucud or Chilue and the Archipelagus stands in three and fortie degrees of altitude one and fortie leagues to the South of Osorno with a Monasterie of Franciscans with twelue thousand Indians of repartition in her bounds for it is an Iland of fiftie leagues in length and from two vntill nine in breadth which the Sea made with other great ones tearing the Land vnto the Row of the Andes It is a mountaynous Countrey and close plentifull of Wheate and of Millet and Mynes of flying Gold on the Strand a thing fewe times or seldome seene The Gouernour Villagran tooke away the name of the Citie which was Cauyete that Don Garcia of Mendoça inhabited and commanded to call it Tucapel and afterward disinhabited it There are in this Gouernment which beginneth in two and twentie degrees the Port and Riuer of Copeapo and to the South of it the Port of Guascoin another Riuer and the Riuer of Coquimbo in two and thirtie degrees and past this the Port of the Cigua in the Riuer and the Port of Quintero at the mouth of the Riuer of Concagua before the Port of Saint Iames or Valparayso and the Port of Topocalma in the Riuer of Maypa and past the Riuer of Maule the Port of the Herradura at the mouth of the Riuer Itata before the Port of the Conception in the great Riuer of Biobio to the North the Iland of Saint Marie right against the State of Aranco and
the Port of Cauyete and the Iland of Mocha more to the South and the Port of Cauten which is that of the Imperiall and to the South the landing place and the Riuer of Tolten before the Port of Valdinia and past this the Point of the Galley and more to the South the great Bay or Port of Osorno in the Riuer de las Canoas and to the South of it about thirtie leagues to the Lake de los Coronados the broadest Riuer of this Realme and at the end of this Realme the Lake of Aucud HONDIVS his Map of the MAGELLAN Streight FRETUM Magellani The Ports Capes and Points of the Coast of the one and the other Sea vnto the Streighr although they be many and some are not pointed in the Cardes of Nauigation it appeareth not wholly neither is there any certaine relation of all And the most knowne of the Coast from Chile vnto the Streight which runneth from Valdinia about an hundred leagues to the West South-west are the Cape of Saint Andrew in seuen and fortie degrees from whence the Coast turneth directly to the South vnto the Streight by the Cape of Saint Roman in eight and fortie degrees and neere vnto it the Iland of Saint Catalina neere to the great Bay which they call Hartichoked and within it the Bay of our Lady and the Iland of Santa Barbara and more forward the Ports of Hernan Gallego in eight and fortie degrees two third parts and the Bay of The Kings eighteene leagues from the Port of Hernan Gallego and the Bay of Saint Iohn in fiftie degrees one third part the Cape of Saint Francisco in one and fiftie whereby some Channels doe enter into the Land and the Iland de la Campana or of the Bell eleuen leagues from Saint Francis also with some Channels which haue not beene nauigated within the Land and the Bay of Saint Lazarus in two and fiftie degrees with Channels on the sides which enter very broad and long to the one and the other parts which haue not beene nauigated and a great Sea of Ilands which alwayes was said to bee at the South side neere to the mouth of the Streight the which Sir Richard Hawkins denyeth for hee saith That at this mouth of the Streight on the South side he found no more then foure small Ilands and one in the middest like a Sugar loofe and that at the least they are distant from the mouth of the Streight sixe leagues and the great Sea is on the one side and he holdeth for certaine it is that which they say is the firme Land of the South side of the Streight and that there is no firme land The Streight though they haue past it from the South to the North side by order of the Vice-roy Don Franciscus of Toledo Peter Sarmiento and Antonie Pablo Corso and it is knowne it stands from 52. to 53. degrees of altitude where it draweth most to the South and that in length it hath one hundred and ten â—eagues or one hundred and fifteene little more or lesse and in breadth from one to tenne it hath neuer beene nauigated to an end from the South Sea to the North Sea nor the Pyrats that haue past it from the North to the South are vnderstood to haue returned by it The aboue said Sir Richard Hawkins saith that he sailed many dayes by the Straight and affirmeth that all the Countrie on the South side is no firme Land but many Ilands which reach to 56. degrees the which he might know because he sayled to the same 56. degrees through the middest of those Ilands and seeing he found nothing but Sea hee followed his course againe through by the Straight and that this cannot be so farre the differences of Seas which the many entrings doe cause that are among those Ilands and that the habiting of them is of people on the North side which doe passe to those Ilands to sustaine themselues of fishings and in their seasons returne to their Countries and that he comprehended this of many things especially of not hauing seene any seated inhabitating but some Cabbins which the Indians doe make for a time The same said Sir Francis Drake that it hapned him when he passed the Straight the yeare 1579. who after his comming out into the South Sea he ran along with tempests compassing this Sea vnto the mouth of the North Sea and by the same way he had runne he made sure his nauigation to the South Sea The parts most famous of the Straight at the entring of the South are the Cape Desseado or Desired in 53. degrees and the Channell of all Saints two and twentie leagues from the mouth very broad and large and past it the port of the Treason and afterward another great large Channell which runneth to the North-west and Rowlands Bell a great Rocke in the middest at the beginning of a Channell They gaue it this name of one of Magellanes fellowes called Rowland who went to reacknowledge it which was a Gunner the point of possession which is foure leagues from the Cape of Virgenes at the entring of the North Sea in 52. degrees and a halfe of altitude when Peter Sarmiento and Antonie Pablo Corso by order which they had to reknowledge the Straight for it had beene commanded long before for to see if it were a more easie nauigation to the South Sea then that of Panama they viewed the two narrow places that at the entrie of the North and it seemed to Peter Sarmiento that the one was so narrow that with Artillerie it might be kept and so much he perswaded it that although the Duke of Alua affirmed it was impossible the Armie which Iames Flower carried vnfruitfully was sent about it and in the end was knowne that that nauigation is dangerous and the flowing of two Seas which come to meete in the middest of the Straight doe withdraw themselues with such furie ebbing in some places more then sixtie fathoms that when the Shippes did carry nothing but Cables to preserue themselues from loosing that which they had sayled they would goe full froaghted In foure hundred leagues there is of Coast from the mouth of the Straight vnto the Riuer of Plate which runneth altogether North-east and South-west there is the Riuer of Saint Ilefonsus twelue leagues from the Cape of the Virgenes the a Gallizian Riuor and the Bay of Saint Iames foureteene leagues from the Riuer of Sancta Cruz in 50. degrees and at the mouth an Iland called of the Lyons and the Port of Saint Iulian in 49. degrees and the Riuer of Iohn Serrana to the South of the Ilands of Duckes in 47 degrees the Riuer of Cananor in 45. degrees the Cape of Saint Dominicke before the Cape of three Points and the Land de los Humos or of the Smoakes in 38. degrees the Point of Sancta Hellene and of Saint Apollonia in 37. degrees before the White
Cape at the entrie of the Riuer of Plate on the South side IOhn Dias de Solis discouered the Riuer of Plate 1515. and Sebastian Gaboe an English-man going with an Armie by order of the Emperour in pursuit of the Fleete which Frier Garcia de Loaysa Commander had carried to the Ilands of the Malucos and conceiuing hee could not ouertake them he thought good to busie himselfe in something that might be profitable and entred the yeare 29. discouering the Riuer of Plate where he was almost three yeares and being not seconded with relation of that which he had found returned to Castile hauing gone many leagues vp the Riuer he found Plate or Siluer among the Indians of those Countries for in the warres which these Indians had with those of the Kingdomes of Piru they tooke it and from hence it is called the Riuer of Plate for before it was called the Riuer of Solis These Prouinces are ioyned with those of Brasil by the line of the markes they haue no determined bounds but by the Coast of the Sea that falleth to the North and entrance of the Riuer of Plate of the which the Countrie hath taken the name and the mouth of this Riuer may stand sixteene hundred leagues from the Bay of Saint Lucar of Barrameda All these Prouinces are very plentifull of Wheate Wine and Sugar and all other seedes and fruites of Castile doe grow well they haue great Pastures for all sorts of Cattle which haue multiplied infinitely especially the Horses and though they haue beene many yeares without thinking there were any Mines of Gold or of Siluer they haue already found a showe of them and of Copper and Iron and one of very perfect Amathists All these Prouinces are of one Gouernment with title Royall subordained for nearenesse to the Vice-roy of Piru with one Bishopricke wherein are three Spanish Townes and a great multitude of the Countrie men of big bodies and well conditioned And the Townes are the Citie of our Lady of the Assumption the first inhabiting and the head of this Prouince it stands in 25. degrees and a halfe of altitude the Captaine Iohn of Salazar built it by order of the Gouernour Don Peter Mendoça The territory thereof was first called Gurambare it hath Brasil at the right hand two hundred and eightie leagues and in this compasse it hath the Citie Royall at eightie leagues which the Indians call Guayra And on the side of Piru which is East and West it hath at foure hundred and eightie leagues the Citie of la Plata and at two hundred and eightie the Citie of Sancta Cruz de la Sierra or of the Hill which Nuflo of Chanes built To the South side which is toward the Straight of Magelane it hath very great and rich Countries and this Citie stands three hundred leagues from the mouth of the Riuer of Plate built neere to the Riuer Paraguaye on the East side with foure hundred Spanish Housholds and more then three thousand children of those that were borne to them in the Countrie which they call Mestizos in it are resident the Gouernour and Officers Royall and the Cathedrall which is called the Bishopricke of the Plate suffragan to the Archbishoprick of the Kings and in her iurisdiction more then 400000. Indians which doe increase daily Citie Royall was called by another name Ontiueros built by Ruidias de Melgareio it stands eightie leagues from the Assumption North-east toward the Land of Brasil neere to the Riuer Parana it stands in a good soyle of Victuals and Vines and much good Copper and great number of Indians which also doe much increase In this Riuer Parana neere the Citie Royall there is a great fall that no man dare come neere it by Land within two hundred paces for the great noyse and mist of the water and by the Riuer no Canoe nor Boate dare come neere by a league for the furie of the water doth carry it to the fall which is aboue two hundred fadomes off a steep Rock and it is so narrow and the water goeth so close that it seemes ye may throw ouer it with a dart Buenos ayres is a Towne which in old time was disinhabited neere the place where now it is built againe in the Prouince of the Morocotes in the borders of the Riuer of Plate in a plentifull soyle where all things of Castile doe grow very well the Gouernor Don Peter of Mendoça built it 1535. which caused all that which Gabote forsooke to be discouered All this Countrie is commonly plaine for except the Cordilleras or Rowes which are on the Sea coast and may be twentie leagues toward Brasil afterwards compassing all the Countrie toward the Riuer Maranyon and the Rowes of the Kingdomes of Piru all is plaine except some small hils There are knowne in the Coast of these Prouinces from the Land of Brasil vnto the Riuer of Plate fiue or six reasonable Ports the Port of Saint Vincent in 33. degrees height right against Buenabrigo an Iland where the line of the repartition passeth and six leagues to the South the Riuer Vbay and the Port and the Iland de la Cananea in 35. degrees and forward the Riuer de la Barca before the Port of Babia or Riuer of Saint Francis and the Iland of Sancta Catalina by another name the Port of Vera or Port of the Duckes de Peros and the Port of Don Roderigo twentie leagues to the South from Sancta Catalina an Iland 29. degrees and more to the South fiue leagues Close Hauen and fifteene the Inhabited Riuer and as much the Deepe-Bay from this and the Riuer Tiraqueri in 32. degrees and a halfe before the Cape of Saint Marie which is in 35. degrees at the entrie of the Riuer of Plate This Riuer is called in the Indian language Paranaguazu and commonly Parana hath his entrie and mouth in the South Sea from thirtie fiue vnto thirtie six degrees of altitude between the Capes of Saint Marie and Cape Blanke which is from the one to the other about thirtie leagues of mouth and from thence inward other tenne leagues in breadth with many Ilands in the middest and many very great maine Riuers which enter into it by the East and West side vnto the Port of the Kings which is a great Lake called of the Xarayes little lesse then three hundred leagues from the Riuer of Plate where enter many Riuers that come from the skirts of the Andes and they may be of those Riuers that proceede in the Prouinces of the Charcas and Cuzco which runne toward the North whereby entreth another maine arme into the said Lake which hath giuen occasion to thinke that this Riuer doth communicate with the Riuer of Saint Iohn of the Amazones others say that it commeth from the Lake of the Dorado which is fifteene iournies from the Lake of the Xarayes though there be opinions that there is no Darado
a temperate Countrie plentifull of Seedes Cattle and Fowle of Europe it hath Mines of Iron and Steele the Countrie men are strong valiant and for much labour those Ilands stand in thirtie fiue degrees of the Pole little more or lesse according to the distance of euery Iland The Iapones doe not vnderstand the Chinas but by writing because of the Characters or Letters being one for them all and though they signifie the same they haue not the same name for they are to declare things and not words aâ— the figures of Arithmeticke that if a 9. be set the French the Castillan and the English man doe vnderstand it that it signifieth 9. but euery one doe name it after their owne fashion By another side the Iapones doe confine with the Phillipines from whence there is commerce with them and a great incouragement is giuen to the Fathers of the Company for to labour in the conuersion of the people of those Kingdomes where notable fruite hath beene gotten for the which these Ilands are much celebrated in the world and by the comming of the Ambassadours of the new Christendome to the Pope and to the King Phillip the second the Prudent and so as nature placed them in a scituation separated from the rest of the Land the men of that Region are differing in customes from other people In the yeare 1592. Nobunanga which caused himselfe to be called Emperour of Iapan interprised with eightie Vessels and 20000. men certaine Prouinces tributarie vnto China and wan it From the Iland of Simo which is among them of Iapan the greatest is extended a row of small Ilands called the Lequios and doe prolong themselues toward the Coast of China the two greater which is euery one of fifteene or twentie leagues neere the Coast of Iapan are called the greater Lequio and other two also great though not so much which are at the end of the Rowe they call Lequio the lesser some are inhabited of well shapen people white politicke well apparelled warlike and of good reason they abound in Gold more then others of that Sea and not lesse in Victuals Fruits and good Waters Neere vnto the lesser Lequio stands Hermosa or the beautifull Iland which hath the same qualitie and say it is as big as Sicilie THe Coast of new Guiena beginneth one hundred leagues to the East of the Iland of Gilolo in little more then one degree altitude on the other side of the Equinoctiall from whence it is prolonged toward the East three hundred leagues till it come to fiue or six degrees It hath beene doubted vntill now whether it be an Iland or firme Land because it doth enlarge it selfe in so great a Voyage from being able to ioyne with the Countries of the Ilands of Salomon or Prouinces of the Straight of Mâ—gellanes by the South side but this doubt is resolued with that which those do affirme that sailed on the South side of the Straight of Magelanes that that is not a continent but Ilands and that presently followeth a spacious Sea and among those that doe affirme iâ— is Sir Richard Hawkins an English Knight which was fiue and fortie dayes among the same Ilands From the Sea the Land of this coast of Guinea seemeth good and the men that haue been seene are cole black and in the coast are many Ilands with good roads and ports whereof is no particular notice for hauing sailed it few times those which are found in some cards are Aguada or the watering to the East thirty fiue leagues from the first Land is in one degree of Southern altitude and eighteene forward the port of Saint Iames and the Iland of the Crespos of sixteene leagues long neere the coast right against the Port of Saint Andrew and neere to it the Riuer of Saint Peter and Saint Paul before the Port of Saint Ierom and a small Iland neere the thrust out Point 40. leagues from S. Austin which they call of Good-pence and more forward from it the Shelter and Euill people two little Ilands and the Bay of Saint Nicholas fiftie leagues from Puntasalida and among other Ilands one of white men and the Mother of God before Good Baye and of the Natiuitie of our Lady the last of that which is discouered and as to the North from it the Caymana an Iland without in the Sea among others which haue no name The Meridionall coast is not yet known the first that discouered the new Guine was Aluaro of Saauedra being lost with many stormes from his course returning to new Spain when in the year 1527. the Marques of the Valley sent him that on that side he should seek the Ilands of the Spicerie The Ilands of Salomon are eight hundred leagues from Piru the opinion that is held of their riches gaue them this name the which properly are called of the West because they fal to the West from the Prouinces of Piru from the place that Aluaro of Mendoça made discouery of them by order of the Licentiate Lope Garcia de Castro his Vnckle Gouernor of the Kingdomes of Piru in the yeare 1567. the first that saw the Land of these Ilands was a yong man called Treio in the top of a Ship they are from seuen degrees of altitude on the other side of the Equinoctiall about 1500. leagues from the Citie of the Kings they are many in quantity greatnes and eighteen the most famous some of 300. leagues in compasse and two of 200. and of 100. and of 50. and thence downward besides many which are not yet made an end of coasting and they say that they might bea-continent with the coast of the new Guiney and the Countries to be discouered toward the West of the straight the Countrie of these Ilands seemeth of a good temper and habitable plentifull of victuals and Cattell there were found in them some fruits like those of Castile Swine Hens in great number the Countrie men some of a brown colour like Indians others white ruddie and some cole blacke which is an argument of continuance with the Countries of the new Guinie whereby there may so many differences of people be mingled of those which resort to the Ilands of the Spicery The greatest and most renowned are Sancta Ysabel from eight to nine degrees of altitude of more then 150. leagues in length and eighteene in breadth and one good port called of the Star Saint George or Borbi to the South of S. Isabel one league and a halfe of thirty leagues compasse Saint Marcos or Saint Nicholas of one hundred leagues compasse to the South-east of Saint Isabel the Iland of the Shelues as great as the former to the South of Saint Isabel and Saint Ierome to the West of 100. leagues compasse and Guadalcauall to the South-west greater then all and to the East of Saint Isabel the Iland of Buenauista and Saint Dimas and the Iland of Florida of
twenty leagues circuit euery one and to the East of it the Iland of Ramos of 200. leagues compasse and neere to it Malayta and Atreguada of thirty and the three Maries certaine little Ilands the Iland of Saint Iohn of twelue leagues compasse betweene the Atreguada and the Iland of S. Iames to the South Malata of 100. leagues circuit and to the South-east of it the Iland of Saint Christopher as bigge as it and Saint Anne and Saint Catherine two small Ilands fast by it the Name of God a small Iland distant from the other fiftie leagues in seuen degrees of altitude and in the same Rumbe to the North of Saint Isabel the Shelues which they call of Candelaria There is in the voiage that is made from Piru to the Ilands of Salomon an Iland called of S. Paul in fifteen degrees of altitude 700. leagues from Piru nineteen degrees 300. leagues of Land others which may be those that they called of Salomon and they say also that they might be others which this little while haue beene discouered in the same Rombe of Chile The Ilands of the Theeues are a row of 16. smal Ilands together which runne North and South with the middest of the coast of Guiney from twelue degrees of altitude vnto seuenteene Septentrionall or more not farre from the Phillippinas to the East They are all barren ground and miserable without Cattle or Mettals scarce of Victuals inhabited with poore people well shapen naked and much inclined to steale euen to the nayles of the Shippes that came there whereby Magelane named them of the Theâ—ues in the yeare 1520. when he came to them going in demand of the Spicerie Their names are the English the most North and after it Ota Mao Chemechoa Gregua Agan or Pagan Oramagan Gugnâ—â— Chareguan Natan Saepan Bota Volia There are among these Ilands Phillipines other eighteene or twenty called of the Kings Archipelagus or Ilands of the Corrall and the Gardens another quantity of little Ilands and Pialogo Saint Vilan another little Iland the Gardens and the Iland of the Matalores and that of the Shelues and of Saint Iohn or of Palmes neere the Malucos and on the North side of the Theeues fiue or six little Ilands together called the Volcanes where is store of Cochinilla and i Malpelo another small Iland where are Ciâ—aloes very fine and on the East side of the Theeues the two Sisters two little Ilands in ten degrees and Saint Bartholomew in foureteene and more toward new Spaine the Shelues Look how thou goest Take away sleep or See thou sleep not neere to them the Iland of Martine and Saint Paul another small Iland with shelues and the inhabited the most Eastward toward new Spaine Aluaro of Saauedra was also in the Iland of the Theeues in the yeare 1527. returning from the Iland of Spicerie to new Spaine THe Catholike King of Castile and of Lyon continuing in their auncient and Christian pietie presently after these new Countries were discouered and ioyned with this faire Monarchie procured to plant and settle the Catholike Religion in them and temporall pollicie with so much care and aduice of the wisest men of these Kingdomes For as the discoueries did increase the businesses they formed a particular Counsell with President and Councellours that busying themselues in no other thing with more diligence they might resort to that which so much pertained to the seruice of our Lord God and gouernment of that Orbe And because hereafter mention shall be made of the persons which from the beginning haue laboured and serued in the supreame Counsel of the Indies which hath carried so great a waight vnto this present houre first shall be spoken of the spirituall and temporall gouernment and the rest worth the knowing that the order of that Monarchie may be understood with all breuitie The first thing that these godly Kings did charge and command the first Discouerer and from man to man commanded the other Discouerers and Gouernours of that new World with very straight orders was that they should procure that the people which they carried with the Christian life and with their good customes should giue such example to the Indians that they might be glad to imitate them and should binde them vnto it entring first according to the Euangelicall Law the religious men preaching it that so rather with the sweetnesse of it then with the force and noyse of Armes it should be admitted and that iustice should be administred with such equalitie to all men that it might be much respected esteemed All went forward the townes went augmenting in such manner that with the zeale of the seruice of God and good of the men it hath come to such a point that at this day there are found built and established in all that Orbe of this Crowne possessed as before hath beene seene fiue Archbishopricks twentie seuen Bishopricks two famous Vniuersities where with great learning and doctrine al the Sciences are read more then foure hundred Monasteries of religious Dominicks Franciscani Augustines Mercenaries and the Companie of Iesus with some Monasteries of Nunnes and Colledges infinite Hospitals and Fraternities innumerable store of beneficed Cures which are called Doctrines for to teach those new Conuerts and Heremites and Chappels in the high-way erected on pillars hauing Crucifixes in them without number All the which was begun at the charge of the Crowne and at this day it goeth forward where there is no maintenance for it In effect this Catholike pietie by the clemency of God goeth from good to better augmenting with so much reuerence and honour of God that in no place of Christendome it is done with more order or care by the care of the supreme Councell of the Indies Of the which is inferred that the Concession of the Apostolike Roman Sea made to the Crowne of Castile and of Lion of the Patronage Ecclesiasticall of that new World was a very great remedie in the which our Lord God as Hee which onely is Hee that seeth and preuenteth all things to come did a thing worthy of His greatnesse seeing Hee hath shewed the experience that if this had beene gouerned otherwise it had beene impossible to haue proceeded with the harmonie and euen concent as it hath of Religion Iustice and Gouernment with so much obedience and quietnesse The Ecclesiasticall Patronage is gouerned in the same manner that in the Kingdome of Granada the Kings Catholike presenting to the chiefe Bishop onely the Archbishops and Bishops that from his holy hand they may receiue these Prelacies and may dispatch their Bulls procuring alway that they be persons of a religious life and great learning All the other Dignities and Benefices are prouided by the King and consultation of the supreme Councell of the Indies and they go not to Rome for Buls and their rents consist in tithes and first fruits which arise of the
raynie there as the South winde is on this side but contrariwise it raines when as the South winde blowes there as wee see in all the Sierre or mountaine of Peru in Chile and in the Countrie of Congo which is on the other side of the Line and farre aduanced into the Sea And in Potozi likewise the winde which they call Tomahani which is our North if my memorie faile me not is extremely cold drie and vnpleasant as it is here with vs. Yet doth not the Northerne winde disperse the cloudes vsually there as it doth here but contrariwise if I be not deceiued it doth often cause raine There is no doubt but the windes doe borrow this great diuersitie of contrarie effects from the places by which they passe and the neere Regions where they are bred as wee see by daily experience in a thousand places But speaking in generall of the qualitie of the windes we must rather looke to the coasts or parts of the World from whence they proceede then to obserue whether they be on this side or beyond the Line as it seemes the Philosopher held opinion These capitall windes which be the East and West haue no such vniuersall qualities nor so common in this Continent nor in the other as the two former The Solanus or Easterne winde is commonly here troublesome and vnwholsome and the Westerne or Zephirus is more milde and healthfull At the Indies and in all the burning Zone the Easterne winde which they call Brise is contrariwise very healthfull and pleasant Of the West I cannot speake any thing certaine or generall for that it blowes not at all or very seldom in the burning Zone for in all the nauigation betwixt the two Tropicks the Easterne winde is ordinarie And for that it is one of the admirable workes of Nature it shall bee good to vnderstand the cause and the beginning thereof The wayes at Sea are not as at Land to returne the same way they passe It is all one way saith the Philosopher from Athens to Thebes and from Thebes to Athens but it is not so at Sea for wee goe one way and returne by another The first which discouered the East and West Indies laboured much with great difficultie to finde out their course vntill that Experience the Mistresse of these secrets had taught them that to saile through the Ocean is not like the passage in Italie through the Mediterranean Sea where in their returne they obserue the same Ports and Capes they had sight of in their passage attending still the benefit of the winde which changeth instantly and when that failes they haue recourse to their Oares and so the Gallies goe and come daily coasting along the shoare In some parts of the Ocean they may not looke for any other winde then that which blowes for that commonly it continues long To conclude that which is good to goe by is not fit to returne with for in the Sea beyond the Tropicke and within the burning Zone the Easterly windes raine continually not suffering their contraries In the which Region there are two strange things the one is that in that Zone being the greatest of the fiue into the which the World is diuided the Easterly windes which they call Brises doe reigne not suffering the Westerne or Southerne which they call lower winds to haue their course at any season of the yeere The other wonder is that these Easterly windes neuer cease to blow and most commonly in places neerest to the Line where it seemes that Calmes should be more frequent being a part of the World most subiect to the heat of the Sunne but it is contrarie for you shall hardly finde any Calmes there and the winde is cold and continues longer which hath beene found true in all the Nauigations of the Indies This is the reason why the voyage they make from Spaine to the West Indies is shorter more easie and more assured then the returne to Spaine The Fleetes parting from Siuil haue more difficultie to passe the Canaries for that the guife of Yegues or of Mares is variable being beaten with diuers windes but hauing passed the Canaries they saile with a Westerne winde vntill they come to the burning Zone where presently they finde an Easterly winde and so they saile on with full windes so as they haue scant any need to touch their sailes in the whole voyage for this reason they called this great gulfe the gulfe of Dames for the calmnesse and pleasantnesse thereof Then following their course they come to the Ilands of Guadelupe Dominique Desired Marigualante and the rest which in that place be as it were the Suburbs of the Indies There the Fleetes separate and diuide themselues whereof some which goe to new Spaine take to the right hand towards Hispaniola and hauing discouered Cape Saint Anthony they passe vnto Saint Iohn Delua alwayes vsing the same Easterly windes Those for the mayne Land take the left hand discouering the high mountaine of Tayrone then hauing touched at Carthagene they passe vnto Nombre de Dios from whence they goe by Land to Panama and from thence by the South Sea to Peru. But when the fleetes returne to Spaine they make their voyage in this sort The fleete of Peru discouers Cape Saint Anthony then they enter into the Hauana which is a goodly Port in the Iland of Cuba The fleet of new Spaine doth likewise touch at the Hauana being parted from Vera Cruz or from the Iland of Saint Iohn Delua the which is not without difficultie for that commonly Easterly windes blow there which is a contrarie winde to goe to the Hauana These fleetes being ioyned together for Spaine they seeke their height without the Tropicks where presently they finde Westerly windes which serue them vntill they come in view of the Acores or Terceres and from thence to Siuil So as their voyage in going is of a small height not aboue twentie degrees from the Line which is within the Tropicks But the returne is without the Tropicks in eight and twentie or thirtie degrees of height at the least for that within the Tropicks the Easterne windes continually blow the which are fittest to goe from Spaine to the West Indies for that their course is from East to West and without the Tropicks which is in three and twentie degrees of height they finde Westerly windes the which are the more certaine and ordinarie the farther you are from the Line and more fit to returne from the Indies for that they are windes blowing from the South and West which serue to runne into the East and North. The like discourse is of the Nauigation made into the South Sea going from new Spaine or Peru to the Philippines or China and returning from the Philippines or China to new Spaine the which is easie for that they saile alwayes from East to West neere the Line where they finde the Easterly windes to blow in their Poope In the yeere 1584.
springs a Fountaine of Salt which as it runnes turnes into Salt very white and exceeding good the which if it were in another Countrie were no small riches yet they make very small account thereof for the store they haue there The waters which runne in Guayaquel which is in Peru almost vnder the Equinoctiall Line are held to be healthfull for the French disease and other such like so as they come from many places farre off to be cured And they say the cause thereof is for that in that Countrie there is great aboundance of rootes which they call Salepareille the vertue and operation whereof is so knowne that it communicates her propertie to the waters wherein it is put to cure this disease Bilcanota is a Mountaine the which according to common opinion is in the highest part of Peru the top whereof is all couered with Snow and in some places is blacke like coale There issueth forth of it two Springs in contrary places which presently grow to be very great brooks and so by little and little become great flouds the one goes to Calloa into the great Lake Tâ—â—caca the other goes to the Lands and is that which they call Yucay which ioyning with another runnes into the North Sea with a violent and furious course This Spring when it comes out of the rocke Bilcanota as I haue said is of the colour of lie hauing an ashie colour and casts a fâ—me as a thing burnt the which runs far in this sort vntil the multitude of waters that run into it quench this smoak and fire which it drawes from the Spring In new Spain I haue seene a Spring as it were Ink somewhat blew in Peru another of color red like blood where vpon they cal it the red Riuer Amongst all Riuers not onely at the Indies but generally through the world the Riuer Maragnon or of Amazons is the chiefe whereof we haue spoken in the former Booke The Spaniards haue often sailed it pretending to discouer the Lands which by report are very rich especially those they call Dorado and Paytiti Iean de Salnies the Adelantade made a memorable entrie though of small effect There is a passage which they call Pongo one of the most dangerous in all the world for the Riuer being there straightned and forced betwixt two high steepe Rocks the water fals directly downe with so great a violence that comming steepe downe it causeth such a boyling as it seemeth impossible to passe it without drowning yet the courage of men durst attempt to passe it for the desire of this renowmed Dorado they slipt downe from the top to the bottome thrust on with the violence and currant of the floud holding themselues fast in their Canoes or barkes and although in falling they were turned topsie turuie and both they and their Canoes plunged into the deepe yet by their care and industrie they recouered themselues againe and in this sort the whole armie escaped except some few that were drowned And that which is more admirable they carried themselues so cunningly that they neither lost their Powder nor Munition In their returne hauing suffered many troubles and dangers they were forced in the end to passe backe that same way mounting by one of those high Rocks sticking their Ponyards in the Rocke Captaine Peter d'Orsua made another entrie by the same Riuer who being dead in the same Voyage and the Souldiers mutinied other Captaines followed the enterprise by an arme that comes into the North Sea A religious man of our company told vs that being then a secular man he was present in a manner at all that enterprise and that the tides did flow almost a hundred leagues vp the Riuer and whereas it enters into the Sea the which is vnder the Line or very neere it hath seuenty leagues breadth at the mouth of it a matter incredible and which exceeds the breadth of the Mediterranean Sea though there be some others who in their descriptions giue it but twenty fiue or thirty leagues breadth at the mouth Next to this Riuer that of Plata or of Siluer holds the second place which is otherwise called Paraguay which runs from the Mountains of Peru into the Sea in thirty fiue degrees of altitude to the South it riseth as they say like to the Riuer of Nile but much more without comparison and makes the fields it ouerflowes like vnto a Sea for the space of three moneths and after returneth againe to his course in the which Shippes doe saile many leagues against the streame There are many other Riuers that are not of that greatnesse and yet are equall yea they surpasse the greatest of Europe as that of Magdalaine neere to Saint Marthe called the great Riuer and that of Aluarado in new Spaine and an infinite number of others Of the South side on the Mountaines of Peru the Riuers are not vsually so great for that their current is not long and that many waters cannot ioyne together but they are very swift descending from the Mountaines and haue sodaine fals by reason whereof they are very dangerous and many men haue perished there They increase and ouerflow most in the time of heate I haue gone ouer twenty and seuen Riuers vpon that coast yet did I neuer passe any one by a foord The Indians vse a thousand deuises to passe their Riuers In some places they haue a long cord that runnes from one side to th' other and thereon hangs a basket into the which he puts himselfe that meanes to passe and then they draw it from the banke with another cord so as he passeth in this basket In other places the Indian passeth as it were on Horse-backe vpon a bottle of straw and behinde him he that desires to passe and so rowing with a peece of a boord carries him ouer In other places they make a floate of gourds or pompions vpon which they set men with their stuffe to carry ouer and the Indians hauing cords fastned to them goe swimming before and draw this floate of pompions after them as Horses doe a Coach others goe behinde thrusting it forward Hauing passed they take their barke of pompions vpon their backe and returne swimming this they doe in the Riuer of Saint at Peru. We passed that of Aluarado in new Spain vpon a table which the Indians carried vpon their shoulders and when they lost their footing they swamme These deuises with a thousand other wherewith they vse to passe their Riuers breede a terrour in the beholders helping themselues with such weake and vnsure meanes and yet they are very confident They doe vse no other bridges but of haire or of straw There are now vpon some Riuers bridges of Stone built by the diligence of some Gouernours but many fewer then were needefull in such a Countrie where so many men are drowned by default thereof and the which yeeldes so much Siluer as not onely Spaine but
Siluer Myne in Groneland 824 20. 520.40 Nothing worth 833.10 Siluer made in Brickes 801.50 The Chinois studie to make it 369.20 Siluer Images standing abroad vntoucht 411.1 Siluer why the second of Metals 943. Found in Mountaines in pieces or veines Manner of refinings with Aire Bellowes or Quickesiluer the chiefe Siluer Mynes of the Indies 944. How the richnesse of the Vre is discerned by the colour 947.20 Manner of refining it and working it into barres the triall and allay the Engines to doe it 951 Sindinfu the Countrey and Citie 90 10 Sindicin the City 80.30 Singhan the Mother City of Sciansi 316.1 Singui is the City of the Earth the hugenesse of it 97.50 Sio or Chio the Patriarchaâ—e of Constanstinople remooued thither 444.40 And from Sio to Moâ—câ—o 445.30 Siras iâ— Persia 70.50 Sirrope very sweet made of the sap of a tree 957.20 Synopolis a Prouince in the Sea of Pontus 1.60 Vnder the Turks ibid. The distance from Constantinople c. 2 Synopolis and Soldaia are 300. miles asunder 53.30 Syrian tongue vsed by the Nestorians in Cathaya 24.1 Syrnames few in China c. 394 10 Syrnames not aboue 300. in all China 367.40 All of one sillable ibid. None marries any of his owne Syrname 367.50 Skerlengers dispeople Groneland 520.30 Skialfanda a Bay in North Island 654.30 Skins of three men come off by eating the Liuer of a Beare 506 30 Skuls of the Indians extreme thicke and hard 993.1 994.10 Skuls sold in China and why 271 10 Skumme of the water eaten for meate in Mexico 1133.10 Skutsnesse in Norway 707.20 The Latitude Variation and Declination there 716.10 20. How the land lyeth about it c. 720 40 Slaues to the Tartars their miserie 641. The Tartars earnestnesse to redeeme his owne subiects 642 10 Slaues of Scythia rebelling terrified with the sight of their Masters Whips 419.10 Slaues the Indians are no longer to the Spaniards 914.60 Slaues of Peru pleased with their owne seruitudes 1056.50 Slauery in Russia to Creditors 434 30 Slauery in China how it comes 182 50. Those that are taken in Warre weare red Caps 183.10 194.40 Sleds much vsed in Russia 219.50 They carry Corne 1000. miles 214.10 They go post 220. Their speed 226.10 Their furniture ibid. Not vsed in Summer 230 30. Called Telegas 242.50 Sleds in Russia a great honour to be taken vp into a Noblemans 523.20 Some drawne by Dogs 524.1 Sleda an easie and commodious trauell 751.20 Slobatia a Towne in Mezen 547 40. The eleuation ibid. The trade there 548.30 Sliding vpon the Ice with bones like Spurres 33.50 Sluttery a Fast-breaker 516.20 Smiths Bay 465.10 Smolensko in Russia taken in by the Poles 780.10 Burnt to the ground 780.60 Snakes worshipped in Lithuania a story of that 629.46 Snaefelsnesse Promontory in East Island 654 Snaelandia a name of Island 654 30 Snow extreme 49.30 Snow higher then the House 498 10 Snowes fall in the end of Aprill in Tartary 27.10 Snow in August in Greenland 727.30 250.30 Snow hastens the Spring 415.10 Snow preserues from putrefaction 647.20 Snorting in their sleepe offensiue to the Tartars 82.60 Sodome in Russia 243.40 Sogomamber-Can the God of the Tartarian Idols 82.20 The first Idol-founder 106.1 Sogâ—r a beast in Tartary 6.10 Soâ—â—a the Riuer 525.40 Solanga a Tartarian people 23 20 Soldaia the Citie where 2. Greeke spoken there 9.50 It is Christian 15.40 Soldan of Aegypt ouerthrowne by Christians and Tartars 119 40 Soldan of Turkey his Countrey 50 40 Soldini Christians in Corasme of the Greeke Church 109.40 Solinas the Riuer in the West Indies the distance from the Equinoctiall 891.40 Soma a measure in China 98.50 Soncara in Persia 70.50 Sonne of the Sun the King of Chinaes stile 254.50 256.1 Sonne sacrificed for the Fathers health 1037.20 1042.20 Soothsayers in Tartary their Magicall trickes 81.1 Their Man-eating and Sacrifices to their Idols 81.10 Their Monasteries Shauings Abstinence Habits and other Customes 81.10 20 30 Sope of traine Oyle 417.10 Sorcery of foure Swords in Tartaria 33.10 Sorcery of the Iewes a story of it 630 Sorceries of the West Indians 1043.60 Things done farre off reuealed by them ibid. And things lost and to come 1044 Sorcerer of Mexico turnes himselfe into strange shapes the Story of him 1017.40 And so in Peru 1043.60 Saint Sorâ—is the greatest Armenian Saint 31.1 Sortassus a Tartarian Village 635 10 Souldiers all Gentlemen in Russia 435.20 And their Children also ibid. Lands allotted them The inconuenience of that ibid. How kept from Rebellion 436.1 Souldiers little respected in China 369.40 Souldiers of Mexico their Prayer â—047 1 South Pole hath no fixed Starre to marke it as the North hath 918 30 South Sea which 858.1 The seuerall courses of Nauigation in it ibid. How to bee nauigated 860.1 South Sea the ebbing and flowing there the distance from the North Sea 989.30 Soule the Chinois opinion of it 201 50. The Tartars opinion of it 88 50 Soules immortality the Chinois opinion of it 397 Soule of the World ibid. Soules immortality acknowledged by the Indians 1029.10 Soules immortality and transmigration 277.1 Soyles of the West Indies the varieties 935. Where the best are 936.1.937.10 Spaan in Persia 70.50 Spaniards kill 30000. Chinois 309 40. And makes Galley-slaues of the rest ibid. They offer a league to the Chinois 310.40 Spaniards hated in the Philippinaes 283 Spaniards bragges and their false Sea Cards 843.20.848 60 Spaniards in Peru esteemed as men sent from God called Viracochas 1061.50 Spaniards perfidiously cruell in Mexico 1023. They are admitted into the City they selfe on the King are besieged by the Indians in the Castle 1023. Driuen out and slaine 1024. Their foolish beliefe of being assisted by Miracles ibid. Their dealings with the Indians 1025.1 Their helpes and hinderances in winning and coâ—â—erting the Indians 1025 1026.10 Diuers of them sacrificed in Mexico 1039.50 Of their conquest of Mexico see pag. 1121. 1126. c. Spanish Siluer carried to China 310.30 Spanish shippes trading to Greeneland forbidden by the English 466.40 Spanish plants thriue better in India and the Indian worse in Spaine 960.961 Spanish Chroniclers curiouâ— rather to set downe the Names of their owne Nation Aduenturers in the Indies then of the Beasts Birds c. of the Country 856 Spanish reports of a Vision 283 50 Spawnes of Fishes taken and bred in Cisternes in China 179.10 Speake a man did after his heart was out 1039.60 Spelling by Strings Knots and Colour in Peru as we do by Letters 1053.30 Sperma Ceti 710.20 Sperma Caeti or Permasitie where gotten 471. It lyes in the Whales head ibid. Sphere in China 346.20 Spices of China 382.40 Spice the sorts and store in the Moluccas and Philippina's 903 904.905 c. The best way to bring them from the Moluccas into Spaine 900.10 Spiders as bigge as a Sparrow full of their Cobweb Lawne 976.10 Spirits set ouer diuers things in China 340.50 Spitsbergen is Greenland 463 10 Spodio and Tutia
demeanour like to bruâ—t beasts whom the King kept a long time after Two yeeres after I saw two of them at Westminster apparelled like English c. Master Robert Thorne writes that his Father and Master Hugh Eliot a Merchant of Bristoll were the first discouerers of New-found Land and if the Mariners would haue beene ruled and followed their Pilots minde the West Indies had beene ours so that it seemeth this Discouerie was before that of Columbus Master Hakluyt hath published the particulars of these things more fully as also diuers Treatises touching the North-west of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and others to which I referre the Reader and no lesse for the Voyages made by diuers English into those parts three by Sir Martin Frobisher in the yeeres 1576 77 and 78. Two of Captaine Iohn Dauies in 86 and 87. that of Master Hore An. 1536. that of Sir Humphrey Gilbert 1583. that of Master Charles Leigh to Ramea An. 1597. and before in 1593. that of George Drake with those of Iaques Cartier and diuers others My purpose is not to steale Master Hakluyts labours out of the World by culling and fleecing them for our purpose but by this Index to instruct men where they may haue festiuall store in this kinde I had rather giue you new things Such are to the World these that you had before in Hudsons voyages set together as also those of Greenland and such are those of Waymouth Knight Hall Baffin c. And first as Foreman of our Quest we will giue you Sir Humphrey Gilberts Letter written with his owne hand from New-found Land whereof he tooke formall possession to the Crowne of England and was as a Martyr of those Discoueries It was written to Sir George Peckham a great Aduenturer in that voyage and a greater in one of longer life his written Treatise of Westerne planting extant in Master Hakluyts third Tome and I haue here inserted it being hitherto vnprinted as a memorial of both their worths and after it though in time before wee will recreate you with a plaine Mariners Letter endorsed in homely phrase To the Honorable Kings Grace of England here as I thinke giuen you from the Originall I haue also another written to Cardinall Wolsey touching the same voyage in Latin by Albertus de Prato for the antiquitie rather then any remarkable raritie worthy here to be mentioned SIr George I departed from Plymouth on the eleuenth of Iune with fiue sailes and on the thirteenth the Barke Rawley ran from me in faire and cleere weather hauing a large winde I pray you solicite my brother Rawley to make them an example of all Knaues On the third of August wee arriued at a Port called Saint Iohns and will put to the Seas from thence God willing so soone as our ships will be ready Of the New-found Land I will say nothing vntill my next Letters Be of good cheare for if there were no better expectation it were a very rich demaynes the Country being very good and full of all sorts of victuall as fish both of the fresh water and Sea-fish Deere Pheasants Partridges Swannes and diuers Fowles else I am in haste you shall by euery Messenger heare more at large On the fifth of August I entred here in the right of the Crowne of England and haue engrauen the Armes of England diuers Spaniards Portugals and other strangers witnessing the same I can stay no longer fare you well with my good Lady and be of good cheare for I haue comforted my selfe answerable to all my hopes From Saint Iohns in the New-found Land the 8. of August 1583. Yours wholly to command no man more HVM GILBART I mentioned before Master Thornes fathers finding New-found Land with Master Eliot These animated King Henrie the eight to set forth two ships for discouerie one of which perished in the North parts of New-found Land The Master of the other Iohn Rut writ this Letter to King Henrie in bad English and worse Writing Ouer it was this superscription Master Grubes two ships departed from Plymouth the 10. day of Iune and arriued in the New-found Land in a good Harbour called Cape de Bas the 21. day of Iuly and after we had left the sight of Selle we had neuer sight of any Land till we had sight of Cape de Bas. PLeasing your Honorable Grace to heare of your seruant Iohn Rut with all his Company here in good health thanks be to God and your Graces ship The Mary of Gilford with all her thanks be to God And if it please your honorable Grace we ranne in our course to the Northward till we came into 53. degrees and there we found many great Ilands of Ice and deepe water we found no sounding and then we durst not goe no further to the Northward for feare of more Ice and then we cast about to the Southward and within foure dayes after we had one hundred and sixtie fathom and then wee came into 52. degrees and fell with the mayne Land and within ten leagues of the mayne Land we met with a great Iland of Ice and came hard by her for it was standing in deepe water and so went in with Cape de Bas a good Harbor and many small Ilands and a great fresh Riuer going vp farre into the mayne Land and the mayne Land all wildernesse and mountaines and woods and no naturall ground but all mâ—sse and no inhabitation nor no people in these parts and in the woods wee found footing of diuers great beasts but we saw none not in ten leagues And please your Grace the Samson and wee kept company all the way till within two dayes before wee met with all the Ilands of Ice that was the first day of Iuly at night and there rose a great and a maruailous great storme and much foule weather I trust in Almightie Iesu to heare good newes of her And please your Grace we were considering and a writing of all our order how we would wash vs and what course wee would draw and when God doe send foule weather that with the Cape de Sper shee should goe and he that came first should tarry the space of sixe weeks one for another and watered at Cape de Bas ten dayes ordering of your Graces ship and fishing and so departed toward the Southward to seeke our fellow the third day of August we entered into a good Hauen called Saint Iohn and there we found eleuen saile of Normans and one Brittaine and two Portugall Barkes and all a fishing and so we are readie to depart toward Cape de Bas and that is twentie fiue leagues as shortly as we haue fished and so along the coast till we may meete with our fellow and so with all diligence that lyes in me toward parts to that Ilands that we are commanded by the grace of God as we were commanded at our departing And thus Iesu saue and keepe your honorable Grace and all your honourable Reuer in
the Hauen of Saint Iohn the third day of August written in haste 1527. By your seruant Iohn Rut to his vttermost of his power I haue by me also Albert de Prato's originall Letter in Latin stile almost as harsh as the former English and bearing the same date and was indorsed Reuerend in Christo Patri Domino Domino Cardinali Domino Legat◠Angliae and began Reuerendissime in Christo Pater salutem Reuerendissime Pater plaeceat Reuerendissima peternitati vestra scire Deo fauente post quam exiuimus à Plemut quae fuit x. Iunij c. the substance is the same with the former and therefore omitted Datum apud le Baya Saint Iohan in Terris Nouis die x. Augusti 1527. Reuer Patr. vest humilis seruus Albertus de Prato the name written in the lowest corner of the sheet The voyage of Captaine GEORGE WEYMOVTH intended for the discouerie of the North-west Passage toward China with two flye Boates. ON Sunday the second day of May 1602. in the afternoone I weighed anchor and set saile from Redcliffe with two Fly-boates the one called the Discouery of seuentie Tunnes and the other called the God speed of sixtie Tunnes to discouer the North-west passage hauing in my ships fiue and thirtie men and boyes throughly victualled and abundantly furnished with all necessaries for a yeere and an halfe by the right Worshipfull Merchants of the Moscouie and Turkie Companies who for the better successe of the voyage prouided mee of a great trauailer and learned Minister one Master Iohn Cartwright The Master vnder mee in the Discouerie was one William Cobreth a skilfull man in his profession and in the God speed one Iohn Drewe and Mate in the said ship one Iohn Lane The first of Iune we descried Buquhamnes in the Latitude of 57. degrees The second day we saw the Point of Buquhamnes North-west from vs being a very smooth land and the land by it to the Southward riseth with many Homocks There lyeth a ledge of Rockes hard by the Nesse in a sandie Bay faire by the shore When we came neer the land we met with a fisher Boat and I agreed with one of the fisher men to carry me betweene the Isles of Orkney because I was not acquainted with the coast The fourth day at ten of the clocke wee descried the Isles of Orkney Some of those Southerne Ilands are prettie high land but the Northerne Iland which is called the Start is very low land There is no danger giuing the shore a good birth vnlesse it be by the Norther point of the Start there doth a ledge of Rockes lye a mile from the shoare At noone I found my selfe to be in the latitude of 59. degrees and 30. minutes the point of the Start bearing West and at one of the clocke in the afternoone we saw a faire I le which bare North-east and by North from vs and at eight of the clocke at night wee were North of the Start Then I directed my course West and by North. The fifth day about ten of the clocke in the morning we ranne some tenne leagues and then we saw two small Ilands some two leagues off and at eight and nine of the clocke we saw foure or fiue Boats of Fisher-men and spake with one of them and they were Scottish-men The sixt in the morning fell much raine and lasted till nine of the clocke and at ten of the clocke it cleared vp and became very faire weather and very temperate and warme and our course was West The seauenth the winde was at East and by North faire weather and our course West The eight at noone I obserued the Sunne and found vs to be in 59. degrees and fortie seuen minutes and we ran West South-west The twelfth day we held our course West the winde at East North-east with fogge in the morning at noone I obserued the Sunne and found my selfe in 57. degrees and 55. minutes the variation here was nothing at all The thirteenth at noone our course was West and by North the winde at North-east with fogge some three or foure houres and then cleare againe the ayre very warme as in England in the moneth of May. The foureteenth was faire weather and the winde at East North-east and our course West and by North. The fifteenth much raine all the forenoone our course West the winde at East and by North. The sixteenth the winde was at North North-east with much raine winde and fogge In the forenoone being very cold and at noone I obserued the Sun and found vs to be in 57. degrees and 35. minutes we found the variation to be eleuen degrees Westward and by that meane I found my selfe to be one degree more to the Southward then we should haue bin by our course for we could not see the Sunne in 96. houres before this day at noone and at our last obseruation before this which was the twelfth day we could not finde any variation at all Then we stood close by a winde to the Westward the winde being at North North-east The seauenteenth wee ranne North and by West the winde at North North-east faire weather This day we saw many gray Gulles and some Pigions The eighteenth at noone I obserued the Sunne and found our selues to be in the latitude of 59. degrees and 51. minutes And then we first descried a great Iland of Ice which lay North from vs as farre as we could ken it from the head of our maine topmast and about two of the clocke in the afternoone we saw the South part of Groneland North from vs some ten leagues As we coasted this Ice to the Northward we found it to be a maine banke of Ice for we saw the other end of it to beare West North-west from vs the winde being at South South-west little winde Then we ranne West South-west to cleere vs of the Ice The nineteenth the winde was at East South-east with some small raine The twentieth our course was West North-west the winde being at North and by East little winde This day sometimes we came into blacke water as thicke as puddle and in sailing a little space the water would be cleare againe Seeing this change of water so often to be thick and cleare againe so suddenly we imagined it had beene shallow water then we founded and could fetch no ground in one hundred and twenty fathomes and the Sea was so smooth that we could discerne no current at all At this time I reckoned the Cape of desolation to beare North North-east twentie foure leagues from vs. The one and twentieth the winde was variable The two and twentieth we were in the latitude of 60. degrees and 37. minutes the winde being at West wee ranne North and by West The seauen and twentieth the winde was at West South-west then our course was North-west and by North the weather faire and warme as in England in
Sea This Bishoprick hath the Hauen of Guatulco in fifteene degrees and an halfe great good and frequented The President Don Peter of Aluarado set this Prouince of Guatulco in obedience and the Port of Tecoantepeque is neere which also is reasonable and the Towne is great and there is in it a great fishing for Shrimps and other fish which they carrie to Guaxaca and in the high way of Cuyztata is a Myne of Christall-borill Tecoantepeque is fortie fiue leagues from Antequera they passe by the Mountaynes of the Choutales Nixapa and Mexalpeque whitherto this Bishopricke extendeth and hath many Townes subiect by the Coast of the Sea The Bishopricke of Mechoacan which is a Prouince betweene the Archbishopricke of Mexico and the new Galicia hath in breadth by the Coast of the South Sea about eightie leagues and sixtie within the Land with open bounds by the Septenâ—rionall parts in it are included the Prouinces of Zacatula and of Colima both in the Coast of the South Sea The Citie of Mechoacan or Pazcuaro in little more then nineteene degrees and fortie seuen leagues from Mexico of plaine way In Guayangarâ—o called Vallodolid is Resident the Cathedrall Suffragane to Mexico with two Monasteries of Franciscans and Austine Friers The Master of the field Christopher of Olid built Mechoacan the Cathedrall was first Resident in Zinzonza vnto the yeere 1544. that he remoued it to Pazcuaro The Bishop was Don Basco de Quiroga and it hath one Monasterie of Franciscan another of Austine Friers and it stands seuen leagues from Mechoacan to the East The Mynes of Guauaxâ—ato are twentie eight leagues from Mechoacan to the North toward the Zacatecaâ— wherein there are about sixe hundred Castilians in two Campes which they haue with their chiefe Alcade or Commissioner and the seate and dwelling of those that follow the Mynes is a Reall or Campe. The Village of Saint Michaell in the Prouince of Mechoacan is thirtie fiue leagues from Pazcuaro to the North-east in a rough Countrey And the Village of the Conception of Salaya which was built by commandement of the Vice-roy Don Martin Enriquez the yeere 1570. for â—o assure the way of the Chichimecas The Village of Saint Philip fiftie leagues off Mechoacan toward the North and sixtie two from Mexico to the North-west with one Monasterie of Austine Friers in a barren soyle and cold it was built for the securitie of the way of the Zacatecas The Prouince and Village of Zacatula in the Coast of the South Sea stands in more then 18. degrees and fortie leagues from Mechoacan to the South-west neere the Sea Iohn Rodriguez of Villauorte and Sinoâ— of Cuenca built it the yeare 1523. it stands ninetie leagues from Mexico and â—he Prouince and Village of Colima in little more then 18. degrees in the Coast of the South Sea and in the confines of new Galicia fiftie leagues from Mechoacan to the South-west with a chiefe Commissioner in a hot soyle and plentifull of Cacao and Cassia Fistola with Gould and well conditioned people Gonçalo of Sandoual built it in the yeare 1522. All the Countrie of Mechoacan is most plentifull of Wheate Millet and all kinde of Spanish Fruites and Cattle stored of Fish it hath Graine Cochinilla and Cotten wooll and the people is industrious and giuen to labour There are in this Bishopricke one hundred and thirtie Townes the nintie foure head Townes with Schooles of Doctrine this Bishopricke reacheth no Coast of the Sea of the North in the South Sea are many Riuers and in the furthest West of the Prouince almost in the border of the new Galicia is the port of Nauidad in the height of 19. degrees good and frequented from whence the Nauigation is made to the Phillipinas and more to the East neere the Port of Saint Iames there are very good Copper Mines in these bounds of the which the Indians make very curious Vessels for it is pleasant and other so hard that they digge the ground with it instead of Iron which they could neuer doe till the Spaniards taught it The Prouince and Gouernment of Yucatan which tooke this name when the Captaine Franciscus Fernandez discouered it and our Ladie of the Remedies when Iohn of Grijalua discouered Cozumel was at the first held for an Iland because it was almost compassed with Sea in sort that it may be called Peninsula and it compasseth more then two hundred and fiftie leagues it is in length where it extends it selfe East and West about one hundred leagues and as many North and South from the Coast that looketh to the North vnto the part that doth confine with the Prouinces of Guatemala whereby it hath ouertwhart about fiue and twentie leagues The temperature is hot and very moist and though there be no Riuer nor running water in it all the water is so neare for Wels and they finde so many shels of Sea-fish vnder the stones that this and the Coast being so low hath giuen occasion to suspect that it hath beene Sea in other times it is much compassed with Wood they gather no Corne nor seedes of Castile there is no Gould nor any other kinde of Mettall whence is knowne the inuention or deceit of those which said that there were found in this Prouince when the Spaniard entred in it Crosses of Latten which was neuer found in any Prouince of the Indies it is very plentifull of game especially wilde Boares and Deere they breede vp in it great store of Poultrie they gather much Cotten wooll and Azure the people multiplieth and liueth long a man there was which attained to three hundred yeares it hath all the kinde of Cattle of Spaine and good Horses There are in this Gouernment without that of Tabasco which goeth ioyntly with it foure Spanish Townes and one Bishopricke and the Townes are buildings of the first Gouernour the President Don Francisco of Monteio The Citie of Merida is in twentie degrees height almost in the middest of the Prouince neerer to the coast of the North Sea twelue leagues within the Land In it are resident the Gouernour the Officers of Reuenues and treasure Royall and the Cathedrall suffragane to Mexico with a Monasterie of Franciscane Fryers they called it Merida for the great and auncient buildings that it hath like Merida in Castile and it causeth admiration that hauing no kinde of Mettall in this Prouince so great Stones could be wrought in the which were found engrauen naked men with eare-rings whereof is inferred that they were Temples and that it was a very famous Countrie The Village of Valladolid is thirtie one leagues from Merida toward the South-east with a most sumptuous Monasterie of Franciscan Fryers and 15000. tributarie Indians in the limits The Village and port of Saint Franciscus of Campeche in 20. degrees in the Coast that looketh to new Spaine about fiftie leagues from Merida to the West declining to the
South it hath a reasonable Hauen though little depth for being a Bay Don Franciscuâ— of Monteio gaue it the name The Village of Salamanca the President called so by his owne Countrie In the Prouinces of Bacalar and Chetemal seuentie leagues from Merida North and South leauing to the West and other seuentie from Valladolid neere to the Coast of the gulfe of Honduras there are in this Prouince Monasteries of Franciscanes and six Schooles of Priests for Doctrine The Coast of all this Prouince is so shallow that in few parts ye can ride at anker at lesse then foure or fiue leagues from the Land and so there is no Port but for small Shippes and it floweth and ebbeth more in this Coast then in any other place of these Prouinces of new Spaine The Ports that are be these Ciclo and Telichaque Cical and Cauquil the Riuer with two mouthes Campeche in the Coast that looketh to new Spaine and in it the small Cape from whence the Coast beginneth to winde to the East and neere to the Point a little Iland which is called la Desconocida or the Vnthankefull compassed with shelues and to the West from this about eighteene leagues another which they call the Zarza and the Triangle which are three small Ilands close by another little Iland compassed with shelues other sixteene leagues from Cabo Delgado Ilands de Arenas of Sandes and the Redde la Bermeia and another Iland thirtie leagues from the said Cape to the North and los Negrillos three little Ilets compassed with shelues to the East from the Redde about thirtie fiue leagues and the Scorpiones twentie leagues of the coast North and South with Merida and the Cape of Coutoche the Point most to the East of Yucatan from whence goe foure little Ilands which are called de Mugeres of Women leaning to the Coast in the which is the Iland of Cozumel named by the famous Idoll Place in it whither all the people of the Prouince went in Pilgrimage it stands foure leagues to the Sea at the beginning of the Gulfe of Honduras almost North and South with Valladolid more inward to the Gulfe other three little Ilets with shelues almost ouer against the Lake of Bacalal which is within the Land thirtie leagues from the Lake of Chetemall in the Coast that goeth painted with Ilands vnto Salamanca which is the first Pantoia neere one shelfe called Quitasuenno and another Zaratan and another Lamanay and the last Ylbob The Prouince of Tabasco which goeth with the Gouernment of Yucatan and falleth vpon the Coast of the North Sea in the gulfe of new Spaine hath in length East and West about fortie leagues from the confines of Yucatan vnto the confines of Goazacoalco wherewith it ioyneth on the East and as much North and South from the North Sea vnto the confines of Chiapa It is all plaine ground of Marshes Lakes and Quagmires and so they goe ouer it in Boates and Canoes it is very moist and hot and therefore very plentifull of Pastures for Kine and of Millet and Cacao which is the greatest stocke or substance of this Prouince wherein is onely one Town which is Tabasco and by another name the Village of our Lady of the Victorie so called for the Victory that Don Hernando Cortez had there of the Indians when hee went to new Spaine the yeare 1519. The tribute which the Indians doe pay in this Prouince is two thousand Xiquipiles of Cacao and euery Xiquipill are eight thousand Almonds and one load maketh three Xiquipiles or Terces In the Coast of this Prouince besides other Riuers and Marishes is found the Lake of Xicalango or Port Royall great and capable with two little Ilands at the mouth and it was the Captaine Lewis Martin that by order of Don Fernando Cortes made an end of pacifying this Prouince THe bounds of the Counsell of new Gallicia or of Xalisco which Nunno of Guzman said hee had discouered and Don Fernando Cortes that the Captaine Goncalo of Sandouall did it in his name when hee sent him to pacifie the Colimas it parteth bounds with the Counsell of new Spaine neere by the Port of the Natiuitie and the Lake of Chiapala going toward the North-east whereby and by the North and somewhat of the West for it is not all discouered it hath the bounds open for the rest to the West is all Sea that which is inhabited on the one side and the other may come to one hundred leagues wherein are comprehended the Prouinces of Guadalaiara Xalisco the Zacatecas Chiametla Culiacan the new Bizkey and Cinoloa and for Circuit the discouerie of the Prouinces of Cibola and of Quibira The temperature of the Prouince and borders of Guadalaiara is good and the Countrie plentifull of Corne and Millet and other Seedes of Spaine and many Vaines of Siluer there are in it Spanish Townes Nunno of Guzman peopled the Citie of Guadalaiara the head of this Kingdome the yeare 1531. and gaue it the name of his Countrie it stands in 106. degrees and a halfe of longitude from the Meridian of Toledo 1780. leagues by a direct Voyage in 20. degrees one third part in height eightie seuen leagues from Mexico betweene the North and the West more toward the West in it is resident the Counsell the Officers of the reuenues Royall treasurie and the Cathedrall suffragan to Mexico since the yeare 1570. for before it was commanded to be built in Compostella it hath one Monasterie of Franciscan another of Austine Friers Nunno of Guzman built also the Village of the Holy Ghost in Tepique and the Village of Sancta Marie of the Lakes stands thirtie leagues from Guadalaiara to the South-east with the chiefe Commissioner It was built for to be sure of the Chichimecan Indies that are in Countries between the North and the East a barbarous people which liue scattered in the field without any taste of humanitie or policie liuing in Canes in the Groues like sauage beasts they liue vpon wilde chase and fruits they know no riches nor pleasure they goe naked and some couered with Beasts skins their weapons are Bowes and Arrowes they are well bodied great eaters they make wine of certaine rootes wherewith they drinke themselues drunke In the Prouince of Xalisco which is plentifull of Millet more then of Sheepe or Horses there is onely the Citie of Compostella neere the Sea three and thirtie leagues from Guadalaxara to the West where the Counsell was at the first and commanded to build the Cathedrall vntill the yeare 1560. that they remoued to Guadalaiara to be more in the borders there is in it a Monasterie of Franciscan Friers and it was also inhabited by Nunno Guzman the yeare 1531. which trauelled two yeares in these Countries which they called the greater Spaine in emulation of Don Fernando Cartes in all that time nothing being knowne of him in Mexico The Village of