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23 V'tST MAIN STRUT

WEBSTH.N.Y. MSSO

(716) 873-4503

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32X

SELECTION

CURIOUS, RARE, .4MD EARLY

VOYAGES,

AND HISTORIES OF '^

INTERESTING DISCOVERIES.

CHIEFLY PUBLISHED BY HAKLUYT,

^ AT HIS SUGGESTION,

BUT mr lATLUDED IJ^ HIS CELEBRATED COMPILATION
TO WHICH, TO PURCHAS, AND OTHER GENERAL COLLECTIONS,

THIS IS INTENDED AS

^ Supplement

LONDON:

PRINTED rOU E. n. EVANS, 26, PALL MALL; AND R. PRIE

HOLBOKN.

5TLEY,

181^.

MILE GAGNON

74(ii)^s

(•. WouurALi, Printer, Patttnostcr.ruw, I.cnd»'i.

A CArAI/)GlJ^.

<'K TIIK

rOYlGKS, TR.ll ELS, ,1M) DISCOnilUES

lilNTMM.tl IN

THIS VOLUME

Galvano's Discoveriesof the World from tlicir fir^t orisinall, unto the yecrc «f otir Lord, 151.5, corrccUd,

<|iKilcd and |)iil>lislii'd in F.ii;;li>li by Uicliard llakliiyt. , . . .1

Tlu- Worldly llydrii^rapbuall Diccriptioii, liy I. iJmiis. . .51

Voyai;f D'Oiuri iiier tt Ittliuir tic ,l(rii>alini on h'laiirc par la Voie dc Ttrrc, pi iidaiit Ic cour« dis annccs

14U2 cl 1I3:J, par IJirtraiidon dc la I?ri><'(|iiu'rf. . . . (">y

Tllf Nain^alioii and vya^is of Lcwc» \ rrloiiiaims, Ciiiitlriiiaii of tin- ( ilii- of Hoiiii', tn llit- njiiuii^. of
Arabia, K^jvpU', lVr>ia, Syria, Kthiupia, and Kasl India, botli within and wiliiuut tin.- lyiur ot' Gaii|j;es,
in 15()3. . . . . . . .147

A Voyaijf made by ctrtaint' Ship-* nt' llullanil into the l'!ast Indus, who «el I'lirtb mi (he Jil «( April,

15:'5,anil reliiriud on dio I Mh i.l April, 1 "i.<)7. ..... -IJ

1 lie Prci>poriins and S|H-rdy V niaur to I.iiia in the Fast Indicn, jiertbriiiod by a lii'clf of S. Ship, (,!' Ani-
stenlain : wliuh st-l Ibrtli I'min 'IVvll in Holland, the Fust id' Maic I ">I'H, uhtTiof 4. rfliirni'd agaiiii-
till- \'J »( inly 15;'!', llir ollii r 1-. «ml luruard Ironi laiia fur the Mulnccas. . J4.')

Ntwvs linin till- Fast Indies : or a X'oyayx' tn Hen-^alla, one of the ^reale>t Kiiii;doiiits iiiidrr llic liii;li
and Highly Pniiii- IVdisha Siia^sallein, iiMially ealUil liie Great Moijiill, wuli their ilelolabli- religion,
mad and loppi«b riti!., wicked «airitieis and impious l"ii-tonies .... 257

The Faidle of Faeioiis, eoiilciiiiii}; the AiiniKiite Mailers, Cili>tuit)rii and Lawes of the I'toples Fn-

habilini; till' luo partes of till' l'!arlh, ealhd AHiiekc and Asie. .... 21^

The C'onq'iesl of the (irand Canaries, made this last Summer by threescore and thirliene saih- of
Shippes, M'lit forth at the Cuininaiid of the Stales Gencrall tu the Coast of Spaine and the Canarlc
lsk«. ... . . . . . .353

The llistorie of the \\ c>l Indies, ronlaiiim^ the Actes and Adiicnturcs of the Spaniards, which haiie

i-ni!|uereil anil |Mople<l ilu>se Countries, published in Latin by Hakluyt and transl'aled by l.ok. . JC7

V ii'^inia richly valiud, by the diseriplion of the Maine Land of Florida, her next Nenrhbour : oiil of
the liiuie yeeri> conliniiall trai.ell and iliscouerit of Don Ferilinando de Soto and sixe hundred able
nun III his eoinpame, translated out ol the IVrtiiijiiese by I laklnyt. . . . >>H'.i

A l)iseo\«ry of the iSarmvdas, otherwise tailed the lie of Duels: by Sir Thuinaii Gates, Sir George

Si.iniiur-, .uid Captayne NewjHirt, set forth by ImI. lonrdan. .... 7Go

A True Cuppie of a Diseoiii'se written by a G<'iilleniaii, employed in the late Voyajjc of Sjiainc and
l'ortiii',;,ile : -cut to Ills |>arli(ular fru lid, and by hini published for the betti'r satislaclion of all «neh
a» haiinm heeii -iiliietd by particular i'< port, liaiic entred into eonceipts tendiiiif to the discredit of the
iMiltrpri-e, and Ai tors of the same. IJSM. . . . . .Til

I he Omissions of ('ales \'..yai;e, stated and discussed by the Earl of Ksse.x, from a Manuscript in the
possession of the Manpiis of Siallord. ...... 803

Till,

DISCOVEllIES or THE WORLD.

FROM

THEIR FIUST OIUGLWJLL,

VNTO

THE YECRi: OF Ol U LOKI), 1.,:,.,.
BRIEFLY WRITTEN IN THE PORTUGALL TONGUE.

BY .J.XTOME ajLnmo,

COtE«Not.„ or TEUNATE, T.,E C.I.E.E i.UND OF THE M.UtCOS.

CORUCCTED, QUOTED. AND NOW Pr^MSHED IN PAOUSII
BY RICHARD HAKLL YT,

SOMETIMES STUDENT OF CHRISTCHURCM IX OXFORD.

ILondini,

IMPENSIS G. BISHOP.

1601.

TO Tin:

RIGHT HONOR ABLE

SIR liOUEIiT CECILL KMGIIT,

Principau. Sfxretarii. t.) ukii Maikstik, MA>rKK OF Tin. CoriiT oi Wards and l.iuriiiKs, Tin

WOORTIIV ClIANtEI.LOm OF TIIK VMUtllSlTIt UF CAMnilllMiE, AND ONE OF lltR MaII.STIFS MdSI
IIONUHADLK PRIl'IE COUNSEI.U

RIglit Ilonorable, while I went about to piiblisli our F.iiRlisIi Voyngc.^ and Disconcrios, I
was ucluisiod by master \V*i,tk.ii Cope, a "nitlcman of rare ami cxci Ilfiit parts, to draw ihrni
into a short sum, adding that in his opinion that course wouldc proone nio-t acceptable to the
world, especially to men of jjrcat action and cmplovinent. y\lthouj;h in that workc then
vndcr the j)resse I could not conueniently alter my course, yet holding his aduise, as in many
thiiijjs else, so in this for sound and very ;;o()d, I heerc present vnto your Honour a brieie
Treatic most ajjreeable to the same. The authour whereof was one Antonie (Jaluano, a I'or-
tUfjail gentleman : of whose pictic towards (!od, equitie towards men, fidelity to his I'rinte,
louc to his counfrey, skill in sea causes, experience in Histories, liberalitic towards his na-
tion, vigilance, valour, wisedome and diligence in restoring i^ settling the decaicd state of
The Isles of Maluco, (where he remained sixe or scucn yeercs gouernour, ) if it please your
Honour to read Fernniido Lope/ de Castagneda, or loannes Mafl'eins in their Histories of The
East Indies, you shall (inde more written in his singular commendation, then a large Epistle
can well comprehend.

TIIK \V()|{Kli THOUGH SMALL IN nin.Ki: CONTAIXETH SO MUCH RAHE AND
PKOFITABLi: MATTl'H, AS I KNOW NOT WHEHE TO SIIEKE THE LIKE, WITHIN SO
NAIUIOW AND STHEITE A COMPASSE. Tor heerein is orderly declared, who were The
lirst Discouerours of the world since the time of the flood : by what waics from age to age
the sjjiccrie, drugs, and riches of the East were conueicd into The West : what were the
causes of the alterations of tliose courses, as namely the changes of Empires and goucrn-
nients: The ceasing of all tradicke for many yeeres by The Gothes inuasion of the Romano
Empire: The rising vp of The Mahumetane sect; with their nuerrunning of Afrikc and
Sjjaine : The renewing againe, after many yeercs disturbance, of the tralTicke and cntcr-
course of The East Indies ; first by the Califas of the aforesaid sect: and eftsoones by The
Venetians, lenowais and Florentines. Then followcth the taking of Ceuta in Barbaric by
lohn the first king of I'ortugall of that name in the yecre of our Lord 1415. whose third
Sonne Don Henry (which he had by the vertuous Ladie Philippa, daughter of lohn of Gantc,
and sister to Henry the fourth, king of England) was the first beginner of all the Portugall
discoueries, and continued the same for the space of fortie and three yecre.s euen to his dying
day. Py whose encouragement the kings of Portugall found out with much patience and
constancic (he last way of the bringing the Spiceric into Europe by The Cape of RuonaSpc-
ran(;a ; and for these hundred yeeres past haue become the chiefe Lords of the riches of the
Orient. Ry emulation of which their good endeuours. The Antiles and The west Indies be-
gan to bf discouered by The kings of Spaine. The infancies of both which most important
enterprises, The j)rogrcsse of the same from time to time, the discoueries of Islands, riuers,
bnics and harbours, of many rich prouinces, kingdomes, and countries; The erecting of
castles i undry conucnient Islands and places, with the drawing of traflicke vnto the same,
where, when, by whom, and by whose authority is heere succinctly and faithfully recorded.
So that if it jilcase your Honour at vour conuenient leisure to take a sea card or a mappe of
• the world, and carie your eic vpon the coast of Africa from Cape de Non, lying on the

maync

IIAKI.UYTS r.nSTLK Dr.DICATOnir.

m;ivnc ill '21). dciircC"* of norllicrly lalilndc, and follow ilio shore about the Cape of nudiia
S|)ir3in;i till \oii cuiiu' to ilu* iiioiith ol Tlu- Hcddi* Sea, and pa-isin;; ihonrp aloiij; by tlu-
connircy ol" .\ral)ia ( r.^<is«' ourr to India, and doubliii;; (" i|)C Coniorv rompaxsi* ihi' jrulfo nl'
Hen^^ala, iV sluuilinj; by the lilic of M.da( <\i thr(Mij;h The ^lrciIe of ('iiuapura, roast al llu:
south ol' Asia to tl e northeast part of China, and coinprclirnd in this vi( w all the Islands
frcMU liu' A(; IV'. and M.ulera in liiv West, to The Maiucocs, fhe I'hillippina-, and lapan in
the r.ast : mhi shall hcerc (indc 1)\ order, who were the lirst <lisf()ner*>urs, roncpieronrs and
planters in fuerv pl.ue: as aUo the natures and eomniodities of fl.c >nylcs, toj^ither with the
fortes, <)u ilities, and conditions of the iidiabitants, And that whiili I mention of the Orient,
is liki'\o-L to be \nderstood of The Occident.

Now touching the translation, it may jilease yo» f^ifi to be aduerliscd that it was first done
into our language by some h(Uicst and well atVectcd marchant of our nation, whose name by
no meanes I could atlcine vnio, and that as it seemetli many \eeres ajjo. For it hath lien b\
me aboiie t'lc-e twelue \ ceres. In all which space tii>ni<;h 1 h.iue made mu( h inquirie, and
sent to Ij^bon, where it seemeth it was printed, yet to tliis day I coidd neuer obtaine the
originall copie; whereby 1 mi^lit rcforme the manifold crr.)urs of the translator. For wherea*
a ijooil translator ouijht to be w( II actjuainted \Nith the proprietie of the toniMie out of which,
and of that into which he tran^latcili, and thirdly with the subiert or matter it selfe : I found
this translator very defectiuc in all three; especially in the last. For lIieMippIying of whose
defects I had none other remedie, l)ut to liane recourse vnto the originall histories, (which as
it ap|)eereth are verv many, and many of them exceeding rare and hard to come by) out of
which the nnthour himsdfe drew the greate-t part of this discourse. And in verv deede it
cost me more trauailc to search oi!t the grounds thereof, and to annexe ihe marginall quota-
tions vnto the worke, then the tr.mslation of many such bookc'* would haue |)ut me vnto. Of
which quotations there is yet a farther vsc ; to wit, tiiat such as haue leasure suHicient, and
arc desirous to readc ihcsc tilings more at large, (for breuitic oftentimes brecdeth obscuritic)
may fullv satisllc their desires by hauing recourse by the helpc thereof to the pure fountaincs,
ciut of which those waters which arc drawnc are for the most part most sweetc and holsomc.
Now if any man shall maruel, that in these Discoueries of The World for the space almost
of lower thousand veeres here set downe, our nation is scarce fowcr times nicntioned : Ilee
is to vnderstand, that when this authour ended this discourse, (which was about the yeere of
Grace 1. ").').">.) there was little extant of our mens trauailes. And for ought I can see, there
had no great matter vet come to light, if my sclfe hi<l not vndirlaken that heauie burden,
being neuer therein entertained to any purpose, vntill I had recourse \nt() your selfe, by
whose spcciall fauour and bountlfull |)atronage 1 haue been often much encouraged, and as
it were reuiued. Which trauailes of our men, because as yet they be not come to ripenes,
and haue been made for the most part to places first discouered by others ; when they shall
come to more perfection, and become more profitable to the aduenturers, will then be more
fit to be reduced info briefc epitomes, by my sclfe or some other endued with an honest /.eale
of the honour of our countrey. In the meane season nothing doubting of vour fauourablc
acceptati ui of this my labour, I humbly beseech the authour of all goodnes to roj)lenish and
enrich you with his best blessings, long to protect and jtreserue your Honour to the jirofit-
able seriiice of her Maiestie, and to the common benefit and good of the Uealme. From

J.oiulon ihis^y. of October 1601.

'our Honors Chaplcin, in all dutic

most readic to be commanded,

Ritinuu IIaklht.

FRANCIt

FRANCIS T)V. SOUSA TAUARES

VSTO Tilt

1II«JII AM) MKillTll. I'KINCK

DON lOUN DUKE OF AUEIIIO.

ANtonic Galliano vpon his ilcath bed left vntn mp in his testament among liis papcm thin
bookr. And l)craii.«c I am rrrtaine lie ordaiiu d it to bee presented vnto your Grace, I liauc
thdiij^Iit f^nod herein to riillill his wil &: testament, thongh in other thiii^rs I hanc done no-
thing, the fauh remaining not in me. And by all reason this trcatic ought to be set Foorlh
by a I'ortiigali, seeing it iriticateth of the variable waies from whcnrc the pepper and spices
came in times past into our j)artes, and also of ail the nauigatiuns and discoueries in the old
time: In both of which things the Portiigals hanc most Irauailed. In this treatic and in nine
or ten bookes of things touching Mahico and India (which the Cardinal! willed mc to giue to
Damian dc Goes, saying that he should content me, for otherwise I could not deliucr them)
this true Portugall occupied himselfc against the vnfortunate and sorrowfull times which he
had been in (which were all ended before all our dales and times:) for when he rcceiucd the
captainship and (oriresses of Maluco, all the kings and gouernours of all the Hands about be- AntonieO.,1.
ing agreed to make war against the I'ortugals, vntill such time as they might driuc them all ^f"^j';iut"""
out of the countrey, he fought against them all with oncly 130. Portugals, when they were
all together, and strong in Tidore ; and he gauc them the oucrthrow and killed their king,
and one Tcrnafe, the principal author of that war, and he tookc from them their fortresse:
so vpon this victorie they submitted themselues, and came vnder the obeisance and seruice
of our king of Porlugail. Herein two things happened of great admiration : The first, that
all the kings and gouernours of Maluco agreed togither against vs, a thing that neuer fell
out, nor yet credible to be like to happen : for they are cuer at variance among themselues: variancf vtuaiiy
The second, that the captaine of Mahico with onely his ordinarie soldiers should haue the """"l^''"^ """''

• . • • I'll I -r^ ' ■ • 1 I I i» 1 "f Maluco.

Mctorie against so many bcnig all together. For sometimes it happeneth that some ol the
captnines of Maluco with many extraordinaric soldiers besides their ordinarie, yea and with
the aide of al the Kings and Lords of Maluco in their fauour and aide went against one King
onely of them, and came backe againe with lo.sse. So there may be reckoned three notable
things done in India, I say of qualitie: (but of more quantiin" and importance there haue
been others): which were the taking of Muar by Emmanuel Falcon, and the winning of |,
nitani by Peter Mascnrenas, and this, whereof we presently treate. For all thc?e t''"'e 2.
dcedes seemed to be impossible to be atchieued, considering the small quantiti" i soldiers 'J,
which the captaines had in giuing the enterprise against so many ; with the oruti and manor
by them ordained how and which waies to obtaine their purpose as well by their enimies as
by themselues. And they could not be atchieued otherwise but by vsing a mcane and order
not thought of at the first by the Portugals, nor yet euer suspected by their enimies. And,
besides this, his father and flower of his brethren were all slaine in the kings seruice : And
he now being the last of his linage, caried with him into Maluco woorth ten thousand crusa-
doe>, which he spent not in idlenes, nor yet in play, but onely in bringing of many kings
and innumerable townes vnto our holy faith, and in the preseruing of Maluco, employ-
ing all liis power and strength that all the cloues might come vnto the hands of the
kings highnes : which with Maluco yeeldcd vnto him euery yeere fine hundred thousand
cnisadocs; being all to his great preiudice, let, and hinde'rance. For if he had gathered
cloues for himsclfe, as the captaines of Maluco haue done and doe, then he had come
home very rich. But when he came home into Portugall in great hope (such is the

simplicitic

VUl

TAUARES* PREFACE.

A Counto is
joooc. aula-

Goodseniice simplicitic of tlic bcst natures) to be rewarded for his good scruicc, and to be more fa-
"*"''■ uoiircd and honored, then if he had broufrht home with him an hundred thousand crusadocs,
he was j^reatly dccciued. For he found neither fauour, nor yet honor, but onely among the
poorc and miserable, to wit, in an hospitall : wlicrc he was kept seucntecnc yecres vntill the
hower of his death ; and there he had allowed vnto him his winding shccte to biirie him in ;
and tiie brotherhood of the Couent prepared for his buriall as for a poore courtier cast off by
all men, leaning himselfe indebted in two tliousand crusadoes, whereof part came out of
India, and part thereof many of his friends had lent him to maintaine him in the hospitall :
for in all these seucntecne yeercs he had no! of his highncs for to helpe himselfe with so
much as a riall of plate, nor yet I of the bookes which I deliuered recciued any thing to dis-
charge his will with. Yet for all this, cuen as vpon the prosperitic of his victories he neuer
made any boast, so likewise in his aducrsities his great stomacke did nothing abate his hart.
As there are good proofes that with so many and so continuall disgraces as he suffered, he
neucr vnto the hower of his death left off to raise and to augment the yeercly rent vnto a
Counto: which some made strange and would not giue earc vnto: So that euen as he was
extreme painfull in the performance of his seruice, so he was the like in the things sounding
vnto the perfecting of the same, svhich was the cause that he was brought vnto the state
that he died in. For he could not see the qualitie of the time, but onely those of his great
seruice, by reason of the great charges that it .stood him in. And his saying was, That he
was borne, not for to say that his constellation was in the wars victorious, but in the ouer-
comming of kings by the arte of warfare, rcadinci* in resoluing, prudence in conseruing,
and great loialtie and patience with many seruices vnio hrs king and master. In which of
all these he had most contentation it cannot easily be determined. Wherefore your noble
G'ace may see, that this trcatie and the others were made with sighes and adlictions which
his inferiour will might hauc raised vp in him against his superiour reason. Neither was he
willing to take for hi-; remcdiethat which *hat great Turke Zelim sonne to the great Mahumet
did, (for he tooke Constantinople and died in Rome) who vsed to make himselfe drunke, be-
cause he would not remember the great estate which he lost : nor yet woulde he giue earc
vnto those things which many of his friends would tell him, wishing he would .settle his
mind out of the kiiigdomc: (for otherwise he should neuer be able to line :) whereunto he
answered, that in this poii\t he would rather be compared vnto the great Timocles the Athe-
nian, then to be like the excellent Romane Coriolanus. Which is a goodly example of a
true and faitlifull Portiigall. (Though it were not so as I doe say, yet I doe heare, that the
hospitals be full of the most faithlull subiects to their prince and countrcy.) Wherefore by
.-ill reason this treatic ought to be of your Grace fauoured, setting apart all ouersights, if
there be any, in this worke, of the author: I being notable to attainc vnto the vnderstand-
ing of the contrary. God prosper your Grace with long life and increase of honour.

OtrathtrTlie

tr.istodcs.

}

sei
dc
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Se
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^f ^t ■

EXCELLENT TREATISE

AlfTOKIE GALVAKO, Portugall,

CONTAINING THE

MOST ANCIENT AND MODERNE

DISCOUERIES OF THE WORLD

ESPECIALLY Br

NAVIGATION^

ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF TIMES FROM THE FLOOD VNTILL THE VEESE

OF GRACE 1555.

WHile I had a desire to gather together some olde and some new discoueries, which
haue b^ene made by sea and by land, with their iust times and situations ; they
seemed to be two things of so great difficultie, that being cdfused in the authors of them, I
determined once to desist fro any such purpose. For touching the course of time the He-
brewes declare, that from the beginning of the world to the flood were 1656. y^cres. The
Seuentie Interpreters make mention of 2242. And S. Augustine reckoneth 2262. In the si-
tuations likewise there be many differences. For there neuer sailed together in one fldete at
.sea from ten pilots to the number of 100. but that some of them found themselues by reckon-
ing in one longitude and other some in another. But considering better with my selfe, that
the difficulties arc opened, and the differences amended by others of more exact iudgement
and vnderstanding therein, I purposed notwithstanding to proc^ede in this worke of Dis-
coueries.

Snmc there be that say, that the world hath fully b^ene discouered : and they alleage this
reason, that as it hath beene peopled and inhabited, so it might be frequented, and naui-
gable, and the rather for that the men in that age were of a longer life, and of lawes and
languages almost one.

There be others of a contrarie opinion to this, holding that all the earth could not be
knowne, nor the people conuersant one with another. For though it had b^ene so once,
yet the same would haue beene lost p.gaine by the malice of men, and the want of iustice
among the inhabitants of the earth. But bicause the best and most famous discoueries were
made by sea, and that principally in our times, I desire to knowe, who were the first disco-
uerers since the time of the flood.

B Some

Augustine de
CiuiU Dti, lib.

1$. cip. ao.

Conuirie opini-
ons touching the
discouerie of the
world.

Who were the
first diicouercrc
lince the flood.

..rt

• The people of
China uy they
were the first
iailcri hy tea,

The inhabitants
of the Wen lji>
dies descended
from Cbisa,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Ancient Discoueries

The teas be-
tweene the Tro-
picksveryc^e.

An high bough
in steed of mast
and saile.

Pomponius
Mela, lib. 3.
Pllnius, lib, 2,
cap. 67.

loseph.Aniiquit
ludaic. lib, I,

tustinus lib, i.

Some affirme that they were the Gr^ekcs, others say, the Phoenicians, othen also the
Egyptians. The people of India agr6e not hereunto; affirming that they were the first that
sailed by sea : namely the * Tabencos, which now we call the Chinois, And they alleage for
the proofe of this, that they be ^ Lords of the Indiaes euen vnto the Cape of Bona Speranga,
& the island of S. Laurence, which is inhabited by them, and al along the sea ; as also the
lauaes, Timores, Celebes, Macasares, Malucos, Borneos, Mindanaos, Lugones, Lequeos,
lapones, and other Islands being many in number, and the firme lands of Cauchin-China,
Laos, Bramas, Pegu, Arracones, till you come vnto Bengala : And besides this. New Spaine,
Peru, Brasill, the Antiles, with the rest adioyning vnto them, as app^ereth by the fashions
and maners of the men and women, and by their proportions, hauing small eies, flat noses,
with other proportions to be seene. And to this day many of these Hands and countreies
are called by the names of Batochina, Bocho-China, which is as much to say, as the coun-
treies of China. Further it app^ereth by histcM-ies, that the arke of Noe rested vpon the
north parts of the mountaines of Armenia, which stands in 40. degrees and vpwards : and
that immediately thereupon Scythia was first peopled, for that it is an high land, and ap-
pdered firat after the flood. And seeing the prouince and countrey of the Tabencos is one of
the chiefest of all Tartarie, as they report, it is to be thought that they were of the most an-
cient inhabitants, and men of the most ancient nauigations, the seas being as calme as the
riuers be in those parts lying betw^ene the Tropicks, where the daies and nights do not
much differ, as well in the bowers, as in J temperature : where there blow no outragious
windes, to cause the waters to rise or to be troubled. And by late experience it is found,
that the small barks wherein they saile haue onely a great high bough in the middest of the
barke, standing in st^ed both of uiast and saile, and the master holdeth onely an oare in his
hand to stirre withall : and so they saile swiftly along the coast ; and the rest of the passen-
gers sit onely vpon certaine poles, which are fastened in the barke, which they call Catama-
rones, and so they passe without rowing.

It is further said, that the people of China were sometimes Lords of the most part of
Scythia, and sailed ordinarily along that coast, which s6emeth to reach vnto 70. degrees to-
ward the north. Cornelius Nepos is the author of this ; who particularly affirmeth, that in
the time that Metellus the fellowe Consul of Afranius, was Proconsul in France, the king of
Sueuia sent vnto him certaine Indians, which came thither in a ship from this countrey, com-
ming by the north and by the flats of Gerraanie. And it is probable that they were people
of China, for that they from 20. 30. and 40. degrees vpwards haue strong ships and clynchers,
that can well brooke the seas, and indure the cold and intempcrature of such northerly regi-
ons. As for Cambaia there is shipping also in it, and the people by report haue vsed the seas
many y^'eres : but it seemeth not that they were any of them which came into France : for
that they trafBcke onely to Cairo, and are men in d^ed of little traflicke and lesse clothing.

As for those which escaped the destruction of the flood, they were therewith so amazed, that
they durst not descend into the plaines and lowe countreies, but kept the hils. And we
reade of Nimrode, who 130. y^eres after the flood built the Tower of Babell, intending
thereby to saue himselfe, if there should come any more such floods.

Therefore it seemeth, that they which first came to be sailers were those which dwell in
the east in the prouince of China : although others contrariwise hold them which dwell in
the west as in Syria, to haue vsed the trade of the sea soonest after the flood. But this con-
tention about the antiquitie of nauigation I leaue to the Scythians and Egyptians, who were
at great variance and difference in this matter: for each of them chalenged vnto themselues
the honour of the flrst sea trnuaile. But omitting all iars and differences thereabouts, I will
apply my selie to my purposed discourse, and speake of that which histories haue left in
record.

TheTm THcrc be some wel s^ene in Antiquities, which say that in the 143. ydere after the flood,

tionaftety' Tubal camc by sea into Spaine, whereby it seemeth tfiat in those times nauigations were vsed

flood 143. ...

into our parts out of Ethiopia.

And

of the World.

TRAFnaUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

lets,

regi-

seas

for

flaod>
: vsed

And they also say farther, that not long after this, the Qu^ene Semyratnis went against the
Indians in that riuer whereof they tnnke their name, and therein gaue battaile vnto the king DiodorusSicuius
Stabrobates, wherein he lost a thousand ships. Which being credible by the ancient historic, ''•'•»•"?• J-
prooueth manifestly that in those parts, in those times were many ships, and the seas fre-
quented in good numbers.

In the 650. ydere after the flood there was a king in Spaine named Hesperus, who in his
time as it is reported went and discouered as far as Cape Verde, & the Island of S. Thomas, Berosus.
whereof he was prince : And Gonsaluo Fernandes of Ouiedo the Chronicler of Antiquities oonsaiuo Fer-
affirmeth, that in his time the Islands of the West Indies were discouered, and called some- nandcsdcOuitdo
what after his name Hesperides : and he alleageth many reasons to prooue it, reporting par- oJncraurHi'st.
ticularly that in 40. dales they sailed from Cape Verde vnto those Islands. ''''"'"» ''''•^•

There are others that say that the like was done from this Cape vnto the Islands of S.
Thomas, and the Isle De Principe, and that they be the Hesperides, and not the Antiles :
And they doe not differ far from reason : seeing in those times and many y^eres after they did The locient na-
vse to saile onely along the coast, not passing through the maine Ocean sea: for they had jo^gXToait,
neither altitude nor compasse then in vse, nor any mariners so expert. »"<• ■«>? f"u»w

It cannot be denied, but that there were many countries. Islands, Capes, Istbmos, and ocean!'"'
points, which now are grown out of knowledge ; because the names of them are found in
histories. But the age of the world and force of waters haue wasted and consumed them, Length of time
and separated one countrey from another, both in Europe, Asia, Africa, New Spaine, Peru, 'cKhlueimich"

and other places. altered the lUut-

Plato saith in his dialogue of Timaeus, that there were in ancient times in the Ocean sea pUcel'^ "**""
Atlanticke certaine great Islands and countries named Atlantides greater then Afrike andPi't<>*°i''i"*^
Europe : and that the kings of those parts were Lords of a great part of this our countrey :
but with certaine great tempests the sea did ouerflow it, and it remained as mud and shingle ;
so that in a long time after no ships could passe that way.

It is also recorded in histories, that fast by the Island of Cadiz towards the Straights of PUniui UK 4<
Gibraltar there was a certaine Island which was called Aphrodisias, well inhabited and planted "'* **"
with many gardens and orchards, and yet at this day we haue no knowledge of this Aphro-
disias, but only a bare mention of it in ancient authors. The said Island of Cadiz is further
said to haue b^en so large and big, that it did ioine with the firme land of Spaine.

The Islands of the Ai;ores were sometimes a point of the mountaines of Estrella, which The iiiandi of
ioine vnto the sea ouer the towne of Syntra: And also from Sierra Verde or the gr6ene^^^f^'^f'
mountaine, which adioineth vnto the water, hard by the citie of Sasin in the land of Cucu »»>««'»« •»»*
(which is the selfe same Island of Mouchin, where Algarbe is) come the Islands of Porto
Santo and Madera.

For it is held as a true and vndoubted veritie, that all Islands haue their roots running ah w>nd» haue
from the firme land, though they be neuer so farre from the continent : for otherwise they ning frOTn'the"*'
could not stand firme. •»•'"« '•"'*•

There are other histories which say, that from Spaine vnto Ceuta in Barbarie men sometimes Etatotthenw
trauailed on foote vpon drie land, and that the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica did ioine theub"i. p,g.a6.""
one with the other, as also did Siciiia with Italie, and Negroponto with Graecia.

We reade also that there were found hulles of ships, ankers of iron, and other memorials Huijof jhipiand
of shipping vpon the mountaines of Sussa farre within the land : where as it s^emeth now mountainufwe
no salt water or sea euer came. "'*'>''> '"''•

In India also, and in the land of Malabar, although now there be great store of people,
yet many writers affirme that it was once a maine sea vnto the foote of the mountaines;
and that the Cape of Comarim, and the Island of Zeilan were all one thing : As also that the
Island of Samatra did ioine with the land of Malacca by the flats of Caypasia ; and not
farre fro thence there stands now a little Island, which few y^eres past was part of the firme
land that is ouer against it.

Furthermore it is to be sdene, how Ptolemey in his tables doth set the land of Malacca
to the south of the line in thr^e or fower degrees of latitude, whereas now it is at the point

B 2 thereof

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Ancient diacoueries

"ii

11 >

thereof, being called lentana, in one degree on the north side, as app^ereth in the Straight
of Cincapura, where daily they doe passe through vnto the coast of Sian and China, where
the bland of Aynan standeth, which also they say did ioine hard to the land of China : and
Ptolemey placeth it on the north side far from the line, standing now aboue 20. degrees
from it towards the north, as Asia and Europe now stand.

Well it may be that in time past the land of Malacca and China did end beyond the line
on the south side, as Ptolemey doth set them foorth : because it might ioine with the point
of the land called lentana, with the Islands of Bintan, Banca, & Salitres being many that
waies, & the land might be all slime 8c oaze ; And so f point of China, might ioine with
the Islands of the Lu^ones, Borneos, Lequeos, Mindanaos, & others which stand in this
parallele : they also as yet hauing in opinion that the Island of Samatra did ioine with laua
BtdUhcHdiind-^y *'** chanell of Sunda, and the Islands of Bali, Aujaue, Cambaua, Solor, Hogaleao, Maulua,
cri were 1596. Vintara, Rosalaguin, and others that be in this parallele and altitude did ail ioine with laua;
3"^J^5 ■"**'" and so they s^eme outwardly to those that descrie them. For at this day the Islands stand so
ndere the one to the other, that they s^eme all but one firme land ; and whosoeuer passeth
betw^ene some of them, may touch with their h.nd the boughs of the trees on the one and
on the other side also. And to come n^erer to the matter, it is not long since, that in the
Niac (core miici east the Islands of Banda were diuers of them ouerflowen and drowned by the sea: And so
Utdy"droTOe"d likewise in China about nine score miles of firme ground is now become a lalie, as it is re-
in cUim. ported. Which is not to be thought maruellous ; considering that which Ptolemey and others

haue written in such cases ; which here I omit, to returne to my purpose.
800. yeeres after After the flood 800. y6eres we reade that the citie of Troy was builded by the Dardans ;
uade'of spU:M ^nd that before that time they brought out of the Indies into Europe by the Red sea, spices,
bytheRediea. drugs, and many other kindes of marchandises, which were there more abundant, then
now they be. Whereunto if credit may be giuen, we may conceaue that the sea was of old
haunted and frequented, sdeing that then they of the East had so much and so great trafficke
with them of the West, that they brought their marchandise vnto an hauen which was named
Arsinoe, being that which at this day is called Suez, standing in 30. degrees on the north
part of the Arabian Gulfe. It is also by authors farther written, that from this hauen of
Arsinoe or Suez, these marchandises were carried by Carauans or great companies of carriers
vpon camels, asses, and mules, vnto the Leuant sea vnto a city called Cassou, standing on
the coast in 32. degrees of latitude, yeelding vnto euery degree 17. leagues and an halfe,
as the maner is. And there are by account from the one sea to the other 35. leagues, or
105. miles. These carriers, by reason of the heate of the countrey, trauailed in the night
onely, directing themselues by stars and by marks of postes and canes, which they vsed to
stickc in the ground as they went. But after that, because this course and iourney had many
inconuenicnces, they changed and altered the same twise, to finde out the most commo>
dious way.

900. yderes or there about after the flood, and before the destruction of Troy, there was
a king in Egypt called Sesostris, who perceiuing that the former courses and passages for
the carrying of marchandises by men & beasts, were chargeable to the one & most painfull
to the other, prouided to haue a way or streame cut out of the land from the Red sea vnto
an arme of the riuer Nilus which runeth vnto the Citie Heroum ; that by the meanes thereof
ships might passe and repasse with their marchandises from India into Europe, and not be
discharged till they came into Italic. So that this Sesostris was the first king, which built
great caracks to trauaile this way. But this enterprise for all that tooke little effect. For if
it had, Alrica had then bden made as an Island all compassed with water, being no more
ground betv\6ene sea and sea, then the space of 20. leagues or 60. miles.

About this time the Grsecians gathered together an army or fl^ete, which now is called
Argonautica, whereof lason and Alceus were captains general. Some say they went from
the Isle of Creta, others from Graecia. But whence soeuer they departed, they sailed
through the Proponticke sea, and Saint Georges Sleeue vnto the Euxine sea, where some
perished, and lason thereupon returned backe into Greece. Alceus reported that he was

driuen

Arsinoe, now
called Suci.

Pllnius lib. 6.
cap. tg.

Strabo lib. 17,
pag. 560.

900. yeeres after
thr good.
Strabo lib. 17.

Fliniuslib.il
cap. »9.

Diodorus Siculus
lib. 4> cap, 4.

of the World.

TRAFnQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

and The lake Mzo.
rtii.

driueri with a tempest to the lake Maeotis, where he waa forsaken of al his company,
they which escaped with great trauaile, passed through by land vnto the Ocean sea of gj^ppj^^ „f j„,j
Almaine, where they tooke shipping, passing the coasts of Saxonie, Frisiand, Holland, »ntinuitie in the
Flanders, France, Spaine, Itaiie, and so returned vnto Peloponesus and Greece, discouering °""""" "'•
the most part of tlie coast of Europe.

Strabo, alleaging Aristonicus the Grammarian, sheweth that after the destruction of Troy Suabo lib. i.
Menelaus the king came out of the straights of the Leuant seas into the sea Atlanticke and <"*• *^'
coasted Africa and Guinea, and doubled the Cape of Bona Speran^a, and so in time arriued
in India. Of which voyage of his there may be many more particulars gathered out of the
histories. This Mediterrane sea was also sometimes called The Adriaticke, The iEgasan, and
the Herculean sea, with other names, according to the lands, coasts & Islands which it
passeth by, running into the great sea Atlanticke, along the coa.st of Africa.

In the y^ere 1300. after the flood Solomon caused a nauie to be prepared on the Red sea, i. of Rings 9.
at an hauen called Ezeon Geber, to saile to the East India, where by opinion stande the ^
Islands called Tharsis and Ophir. This nauie was thr^e yderes on this voyage, and then
returned, and brought with them gold, siluer, cypres, &c. Whereby it s^emeth that those
places, and Islands were those, which now be called the Lu^ones, Lequeos, and Chinaes.
For we know few other parts from whence some of those things are brought, or wherein
nauigation was so long since vsed.

It is left vs also in histories, that a king of Egypt called Neco, desiring greatly to ioyne Herodotus lib. 4.
the Red sea with the riuer Nilus, commanded the Phoenicians to saile from the straight of
Mecca to the farther end of the Mediterrane sea, to s^e if it did make any turne backe
againe vnto Egypt. Which commandement they obeied, sailing towards the south all along
the coast and countrey of Melinde, Quiloa, Sufala, till they came to the Cape of Bona
Esperan^a, finding the sea continually on the left hand : But when they had doubled the
Cape, and found the coast continually on the right hand, they maruailed much at it. Not-
withstanding they continued their course forward toward the north al along the coast of
Guiney and the Mediterrane sea, till they came backe againe into Egypt, whence they first
went out. In which discouerie they remained two y^eres. And these are thought to be
the first, that compassed by sea all the coast of Afrike, and sailed round about it.

In the yeere 590. before the incarnation of Christ there went out of Spaine a fleete of Aristoteiesiib.dc
Carthaginian marchants vpon their owne proper costs and charges, which sailed toward the IJ'iJSiS'"'"""
west through the high seas to s^e if they could finde any land : and they sailed so farre, that
they found at last the Islands, which we now call the Antiles and Noua Spagna: which
Gonzalo Fernandes de Ouiedo saith were then discouered, although Christopher Columbus GoniaioFernan-
afterwards by his trauaile got more exact knowledge of them, and hath left vs an euident ;!'^l5^°^''j^°j^
notice where they be. But all these historians, which wrote of these Antiles before, as of hisgeneta'u"
doubtfull and vncertaine things, and of places vndiscouered, doe now plainly confesse the '''""'*■
same to be the countrey of Noua Spagna.

In the y^ere 520. before the incarnation, and after the setting out of the aforesaid army, piodorusSimiui
Cambyses' king of Persia tooke Egypt, after whom succeeded Darius the sonne of Histaspis, '"•'* "^' ^'
and he determined to make an end of the enterprise which king Sesostrishad begun, if they
had not told him that the Red sea was higher then the land of Egypt, and that by meanes
of the salt sea comming into the riuer Nilus, all the prouince would haue h6en lost and
vndone for hunger and thirst. For the fresh water of the riuer Nilus doth ouerflowe the
whole countrey, and the inhabitants haue no other water then that for their drinke : where-
upon he left his first purpose of prosecuting that enterprise.

Now by the way I shall not swarue much from my matter, if I speake a word or two of Adigressbn.
some things incident to this discourse. The Egyptians say that they had in their countrey ^ni"' '»'• 9-
certaine vermine like vnto rats, whereof many be halfc like earth and the other halfe like a .'"L nvu! """
vermine. One kinde of them k^epe the water, and another kinde the land. For my part
I thmke that these be they, which breake the serpents egges, whereof there are many in the

riuer

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

|J<

M -•'

I .''!!•■

Mi A

Ancient Ditcouerics

loiinei Leo
Aftionui lib, 9.
cip. de NUo.

Plinhii lib. 8.
cip. ij.
loannes Leo
Africanus lib. 9,

Hippopotami.
Ibii.

Plinius lib. t cap.
67.

Plinius lib. 6.
cap. 31.

The Muigaiion
of Hanno in
Oreeke herern-
to agrerth.

Eachanted
snakes.

riuer Nilus, which also be called Crocodiles : which in times past by report were so inchantcd,
that thereby they could not hurt any person. But when they were deliuered from their in-
chantment made by the Egyptians arte, and letters, then they endeuoured to kill people,
wildc beasts and catteil, doing very much harme, specially those which Hue in the water,
which ortentimes come to the land, and lining altogether oii land become very strong poison.
The people beyond the citie of Cairo vse to fish for them and eate them, and they take their
heads, and set them vpon the walles of their citie.

Of these Crocodiles it is written, that they lay themselues along by the riuer with their
mouthes open, and that there come vnto them certaine white birds, litle bigger then
thrusshes, which flie into the mouth of the Crocodile, and picke out the filthines which
is betwdene his t^eth, and in his iawes, wherewith he is greatly pleased; but for all that
the Crocodile would close his mouth and deuoure the bird, if nature had not prouidcd the
bird a sharpe pricke as it were, growing out of his head, wherewith he pricketh the Cro-
codile in the mouth ; which causeth him to gape wide, and so the bird flieth away without
harme ; yet there come by and by other of those birds, which make an end of cleansing
his mouth.

In the same riuer there are also many beastes like vnto horses ; and vpon the land certaine
fowles like vnto cranes, which warre continually with serpents, that come thither from Arabia,
and kill many of them. Which birds as also the vcrmine, which eate the egges of the Cro-
codiles, are greatly esteemed of the Egyptians.

But now to returne to my matter, and to proc^ede in the discoueries ; In the y^ere 485.
before the incarnation of Christ Xerxes the king of Persia commanded Sataspis his nephew
to goe and search, and discouer India : who according to the precept vndertooke the voyage,
and went through the straight of Gibraltar, and passed the promontoric of Africa, which now
we call the Cape of Bona Speran(;a, standing southward betwixt 34. and 35. degrees in
latitude, and being weary of so great a nauigation turned from thence backe againe, as
Bartholomew Diaz did in our dnies.

Before the comming of Christ 443. yderes Himiico and Hanno his brother Carthaginian
captaines ^bueming that part of Spaine, which is now called Andaluzia, departed from
thence each one with his nauie. Himiico sailing towards the north discouered the coasts of
Spaine, France, England, Flanders and Germanic. And some write farther, that he sailed
vnto Gotland, & came to the Island of Thule, or Island, standing vnder the circle Arcticke
in 24. degrees from the north pole, and continued in his nauigation two yderea, til he came
vnto this Island, where the day hath in lune 22. houres, and in December the night also
hath 22. houres, whereby it is there woonderfully cold.

Now the other brother Hanno tooke his course towarde Africa and Guiney, and he disco-
uered the Fortunate Islands, which we call the Canaries, and besides these he discouered
others, as the Dorcades, Hesperidest & the Gorgades, which now be called the Isles of
Cape Verde. There he with his company went along the coast till they doubled the Cape of
Bona SperanQa, and taking their course towards the land, they went along by it vnto another
Cape named Aromaticum, which is now called Guardafu, standing southeast from Cape
Verde in 14. degrees toward the north ; and he came to the coast of Arabia standing in 16.
and 17. degrees; and was fine yderes in this voiage, before he returned backe into Spaine.
There be others that say, that he passed not beyond Sierra Leona, but peopled it, and af-
terwards discouered as far as the line. But it s^emeth he made a full nauigation, because
he spent so much time in his trauaile. It is reported that the inhabitants of the Cape

of Bona Sperancja are great witches, and inchanters of certaine snakes, which they bring
to such seruice, and commandement, that they k^epe their Churches and Churchyards, gar-
dens, orchards, barnes, and cattel as well from wilde beasts, as from th^eues. For if
they see any to doe or to intend hurt, the snake windes her selfe to him or them, holding
them as prisoners, and commanding her yoong ones to call their masters vntill they be taken.
If the theeues be many, or the wilde beastes of so much strength, that they dare not meddle

with

S-"

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

with them, then they goe vnto the house of him with whom they doe liue : and if it be in
the night time, they giue so many strokes, that at the last they doe awake them, to cause
them to prouide for their defence.

A cerraine Italian called Aloisius Cadamusta writeth, that he being in the discouerie of
Guiney in the kingdome of Biidimol lay in the house of Bisborol his sonnes sonne ; and
lying in his bed he heard a great noise and many blowes giuen about the house ; whereupon
Bisborol rose, and went out: and when became againe, Cadamusta demanded of him, where
he had b^en ; and he answered that he had b^en with his Cobras or snakes which called him.
In the Iiuliafl there be many of these kinde of snakes, and some full of poison, which not-
withstanding the Indian people vse to carrie about their necks, and put them into their
bosomes and vnder their armes: which at some soundes that the people make will daunce,
and doe diuers things at commandemcnt.

There was a Portugall that somtime told me, that beyond the Cape of Bona Spcran^a
towards Sofala, Quiloa, and Melinde, where he had b^en, there were certainc birds, which
would come to the Black Moores at their call, and according as the Moores did remoouc, sOq^^^,^,^
the birds would doe, from one tr^e to another: and they vsed to follow them till they did the like of une
light vpon some tr6e, from whence they could not remooue. And as the Negros went vp iSSutu^efif
the tr^e they should finde waxe and honie thereupon, not knowing whether it grewe there pjwidjesto
naturally or not. In the same countrey also vnder ground in Ant holes they did finde much "^'"°
honie and waxe, which the Antes did' make, being somewhat bitter. Vpon the sea coast
also they found certaine fishes, which commonly went vpright in the water, hauing the faces Wcmnides.
and natures of women, which the fishermen of those places w.re acquainted with.

In the y^ere 355. before Christ it is said that the Spanyards sailed through the maine sea |J^J"f^^
till they came vnto the flats of India, Arabia, and those coasts adioyning, whereunto they auditu.
caried diuers marchandises, which trade they vsed in great ships. And sailing to the north- pj^'j'g'' j;*<i,.
west they came vnto certaine flats, which with the flowing of the sea were couered, and diunomm Iod-
with the ebbe were discouered, finding there many Tunnies of great bignes, where they |^,''"i^^„';!£;
commonly vsed to fish them to their atreat profit, because they were the first vntill that time nawibus.
that they had s^enc, and were greatly es»demed.

The time of Alexander Magnus, as apy.^ereth by the ages of the world, was before the
comming of Christ 324 y^eres : we all know that he was borne in Europe : but he trauailed
into Asia & Africa, and passed through Armenia, Assyria, Persia, & Bactria, standing north-
erly in 44. degrees of latitude, which is the farthest countrey in longitude wherein he was in
all his iourneyes. From thence he descended into India by the mountaines of Imaus, and
the valleyes of Paropanisus, and prepared a nauie in the riuer Indus, and therewith passed
into the Ocean sea, where he turned by the lands of Gedrosia, Caramania, & Persia, vnto
the great citie of Babylon, leauing Onesicritus and Nearcus captaines of his fldete, which
afterwards came vnto him by the straight of the Persian sea, and vp the riuer of Euphrates,
leauing that countrey and coast discouered.

After this, Ptolemey raigned king of Egypt, who by some is reputed to haue been bastard
Sonne vnto Philip father of the foresaid Alexander the great. This Ptolemey imitating the
forenamed kings Sesostris and Darius, made a trench or ditch of an hundred foote broad and PUniuiiib.«.
of thirty foote d^epe, and ten or twelue leagues in length till he came to The bitter Welles, "P"*''
pretending to haue his worke run into the sea from a mouth of the riuer Nilus, called Pelu-
sium, passing now by the citie Damiata. But this thing tooke none effect : for that the Red
sea was thought to be higher by three cubits then the land of Egypt, which would haue
cuerflowed all the countrey, to the ruine and losse thereof.

In the y^ere 277. before the incarnation succeeded in the gouernment of the kingdome Stnbo Ub. 17.
one Philadelphus, who brought to passe that the marchandises should come out of Europe •»«•**** J*'-
to the citie of Alexandria vpwards by the riuer Nilus vnto a city named Coptus, and from Coptu*.
thence to be conueyed by land to a hauen standing vpon the Red sea called Myos-Hormos ; J^i'^-^J^.
which way was trauailed in the night, the pilots directing themselues by the stars, which Red ki.

were expert in that practise.

And because water was scant that way, they vsed to carrie it

with

«-

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Ancient Discouerttt

Strabo lib

Strabolib. 17.
P«Si49-

Pliniuilib. 6,
e«p. »3-

Pliniuslib. I*,
cap. 18.

PUnius lib,
cap. 67,

with them for all the companie, till at the last to auoide that trouble they digged very d^epe
vieh, and made large cisterns Tor the receipt of rainc water, by which the way furnished
with that (-(immodilie, which at the first it wanted, grewe in continuance of time to be the
more frequented.

But whereas the straight way was dangerous by reason of flats and islands, the aforesaid
king PhiladelphuH uiih his armies went on the side of Troglodytica, and in an hauen railed
Berenice caused the ships to arriue whirh came out of India, being a place of more suretie
and lesse pcrill ; from whence they might easily carrie the wares to the citie of Coptus, and

Teat"""f Ai'*" **" *° Alexandria. And by this meane Alexandria grew so famous and rich, that in those

andria"° "' daics thcre was no citie of the world comparable to it. And to speake briefly and particu-
larly of the abundance of trafficke there vsed, it is left written for an assured truth, that in
the time of king Ptolemey Auletes father vnto Cleopatra, it yielded in customes vnto him
y^erly seuen millions and an halfe of gold, although the trafficke was not then scant twenty
y^eres old, by way of that citie.

But after that this prouince and countrey became subiect to the Emperours of Rome, as
they were greater in power, and n^erer in couetousnes, so they enhansed the customes : so
that within a little time the citie yielded double the foresaide summe. For the traffikc grew
so exceeding great, that they sent euery y6ere into India 120. ships laden with wares, which
began to set saile from Myos-Hormos about the middle of luly, and returned backe againe
within one y^ere.

The marchandise which they did carrie amounted vnto one million two hundred thousand
crownes, and there was made in returne of euery crownc an hundred. In so much that by
reason of this increase of wealth the matrones or noble women of that time and place, spent
infinitely in decking themselues with precious stones, purple, pearles, muske, amber, and
the like : whereof the writers and historians of that age speake very greatly.

Cornelius Nepos, alleaged by Plinie, maketh report of a king of Egypt, that raigned in
his time called Ptolcmacus Lathyrus, from whom one Eudoxus fled vpon occasion, and the
better to auoid and escape his hands he passed through the Arabicke gulfe, and the sea, all
along the coast of Africa and the Cape of Bona Speran(^ till he came vnto the Island of Ca-
diz : and this nauigation by that course was in those daies as often vsed as now it is, if we
may giue credit to the histories. Which app^ereth the more manifest by this, that Caius
Caesar the sonne of Augustus going into Arabia did Hnde in the Red sea certaine p(feccs of
those ships, which came thither out of Spaine. It was a vse also long after those daies to
passe to India by land. For so did the kings of the Soldans, and the princes of Bactria, and
other famous captaines, who trauailing thither and into Scythia by land, had the view of
those prouinces and countreyes, so farre till they came that way vnto the *West, and to the
seas thereof on the north part, whereunto many marchants then did trauaile. Marcus Paulus

pauius veretus Venetus writeth much hereof. And although at the first his booke was taken for a fabulous
thing, yet now there is better credit giuen vnto it, for that by the late experiences of the
trauailers and marchants of these daies into those parts, the names of the countreyes, cities
and townes, with their situations, latitudes and commodities are now found true, as he and'
other historiographers of that time haue reported.

In the 2()0. y^ere before the incarnation it is written, that the Romanes sent an armie by
sea into India against the great Can of Cathaia, which passing through the straight of Gibral-
tar, and running to the northwest, found right ouer against the Cape Finisterre ten Islands,

Casjiterides. wherein was much tinne : And they may be those which were called the Cassiterides, &
come to .50. degrees of latitude they found a ♦ Straight ; and passing through it to-
wards the west, they arriued in the Empire of India, and fought with the king of Cathay,
and so came backe againe vnto the citie of Rome. Which thing howsoeuer it may s^eme
either possible or not possible, true or not true, yet so I finde it left to vs recorded in the
*histories of that time.

In the 100. y^ere after the incarnation of Christ the Emperour Traiane prepared an armie
by sea vpon the riuers Euphrates and Tigris, and departed from them, and sailed to the

Islands

commended.

• The nonhwest U-Jp
passage, thoujii "^'"
the latitude be
somewhat mil-
taken.

Vhat hiitoriei
may these be i

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DlSCOUERIIvS.

; origuiall of
I'cnuc 4jO

armie

to the

I Islands

Islands of Zyzara, and passing the straight of Persia entrcd into the Ocean sea and 8a'l^d*'^';;,"'j"
towards India all along the coast till he came to that place where Alexander had b^en, and
there he tooke certaine ships which came from Bcngala, of whom he learned the state of
that countrey. But because he was then in ydcrcs and wearie with his trauailc, but espe-
cially because he found there small reliefe for his armie, he returned backe.

After that the Romanes had gotten the most part of the world, there were in that age
made many, and notable discoueries. But then rame the Gothes, Moores, and other barba-
rous nations, and destroicd all. For in the yderc 412. after the incarnation of Christ, tl»cy J,7^^^J';,"^^,>^
tooke the citie of Rome : And the Vandales came out of Spaine and conquered Africa.

And in the yeerc 450. the king called Atila destroied many cities in Italic: at which timcT'ieor
the citie of Venice began. And in this age the Frankes and Vandals entred into France.

In the y^ere 474. the Empire of Rome was lost, and fell from the Romanes to the Gothes.

And after this came the Lombards into Italic, namely in the ydere 560.

Also about this time the sect of the Arrians prcuailed greatly : and at this time one Mar-
line of England was famous for his prophecies.

To be short, in the ydereGll. sproong vp the Mahumetanc sect and Morisco regiment, ^^'^'j'^of^**
which by force inuaded both Africa and Spaine. uma6ii.

By all this it may app(iere, that in that age all the world was in an hurly burly, and all
places very tmnultuous. In so much that trafficke and marchandisc ceased : for no nation ^^"^.^'^^'^'^^j^
durst trade one with another neither by sea nor land : nothing as then remained stedfast nei-
ther in monarchies nor kingdomes, signiories, religions, lawes, artes, sciences, nor nau'ga-^f""""*''''^
tions. Nor so much as the records and writings of such things did remaine, but were all
burnt and consumed by the barbarous crueltie and vnbridcled pi. . 'er of the Gothes : who be-
came so couetous and ambitious, that they purposed of themse>. 's to begin a new world,
and to roote out the memorie, and blot out the knowledge of all >her nations besides.

But they that succeeded after these times in the gouernment of things, perceiuing the
great and huge losse, that the Christian world had by the want of trafficke and ceasing of
nauigation, whereby those commodities and marchandises could not be spent, which before
went ordinarily from one nation to another by the vse of trade : to the end that this decay
and losse might be repaired, and the treasures of the East might be imparted with the West,
as it was woont in the times of quietnes and peaceable liuing, they began to deuise a way to
passe to India, which was not as the former way was by the Red sea and the riuer Nilus, but
a way of farther sailing & farther length and cost also. For they brought their ware vp the
riucr Indus, and there vnladed it, carrying it by land through the countrey of ParopanisusR""'"''" •• »<>!
by Carauans vnto the prouince of Bactria, and then shipped it in barks on the riuer Oxus, a w«y by the
which falleth into the Cn.spian sea, and so sailed ouer that sea vnto an hauen of the riuer 'j"".0'"">^'"'|
Rha named Citracan or Astracan, and so vpwardsin the said riuer which now is called Volga : g",nd ouct i»nd
and as it appeereth they carried it to the citie of Nouogrode in the prouince of Resan, which" ^^''''•
now belongeth to the great Duke of Moscouia, standing toward the north in 54. degrees of
latitude: & thcrehence they trauailed ouer land vnto the prouince of Sarmatia vnto the riuer
Tanais, which is the diuision of Europe from Asia ; where they againe laded it in barks, and
caried it downe the riuer, into the lake Masotis, and to the citie of Cafla, which in ancient
time was called Theodosia, which then belonged to the Genowais, who came thither for those
wares in their galliasses or great ships.

It is also left written, 'hat the trade this way endured vntill the raigne of Commodita Em-
peroiir of Armenia, who prouided for a better course, and commanded this trafficke of the
spices to be conueied by the Caspian sea, and so through the kingdome of Hiberia, which stnbo lib. ji.
now is called Georgiana, and from thence they entred by the riuer Phasis, now Phasso, into
Pontus Euxinus, and so vnto the city of Trapezunda standing in 40. and odde degrees ofjf'^"'"!^"'
northerly latitude. And to that place came shipping for the marchandises out of Europe junSa.Ramiwuj
and Africa. ibidem.

It is further left recorded concerning this way of trafficke, that Nicanordeterminedorhadstraboiib.il.
already begun to open aboue 120. miles of land, which lieth betw6ene the Caspian sea andf,|^",";"''*

C Pontus

I ,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Ancient Discoun-ics

ill.

ir.

riutr Ouigei.
* OiLaor.

Simarcandc,

Wofillf n cloth
|uod mirchan'

Pontus EuxiniKS that they mi}j;ht come and poe by water with their spices, drtij^fi, and other
commodities, there vscd. But in the meane time this mischiefe happened, that Ptolcmcy
Ccraiinus killed him, and by his death thi.s worthy and famous rntcrprise ceased without
effect.
Another w.y 10 Dut the othcr Way being a!so at last lost by reason of the wars of the Turks, it |>lea.»ed
by'^a"uan» imoGod to opcn anofhcr way to these marchandises from the Isle of Sainatra, the citic of \fa-
Pfriiibythc lacca, and the Island of laua vnto Bengala, and so carrying them vp the riucr Ganges vnto
the citie of Agra; from whence they trauailed oucr land vnto another citic standing n6ere
the riuer Indus named Boghar, where they discharged, bicausc the t itie of *C'abor stnndcth
too farrc within the land, being the principall citic of the Mogores. From thence they
went fonvard to the great citie of Samarcand standing in the countrcy of Bacfri;i : and tliere
the marchantsof India, Persia, and Turkic met, bringing thither their scuerall commodities
as cloth of gold, veluets, chamolets, scarlet, and woollen clothes, which were carried to Ca-
diKfoiCiihiy. thay and the great kingdome of China : wherehence they brought againe gold, siluer, pre-
cious stones, pearles, silke, muske, and many other things of great value, and much rubarbc.
After this these marchandise, drugs, and spicerics were carried in ships vpon the Indian sea
'''''• **J*5'°'- vnto the strcight of Ormus, and to the riuers Euphrates and Tigris; and were vnladcn in
and » to AUppo the citic of Balsara standing in 31. degrd'cs towanls the norlh, and from thence they were
andBinitti. caried oucr land vnto the cities of Aleppo, Damascus, and Barutti standing on the same side
in 35. degrees : And there the Venetian gallics or galliasses, which transported pilgrims into
the holy land, came and receiucd of those goods.

In the y^erc 11.53. in the time of Tredcricke Barbarossa it is written that there came to
Lubec a citie of Germanic one Canoa with certaine Indians, like vnto a long barge : which
seemed to haue come from the coast of Baccalaos, which slandeth in the same latitude that
Germanic doth : The Germaines greatly woondered to sec such a barge, and such people,
not knowing from whence they came, nor vndcrstanding their speech, especially because
there was then no knowledge of that countrcy, as now there is : it may be credible that
though the boate was small in respect of those huge seas, yet the winde and water might
bring them thither : as we s^c in these our daies, that the Almadie which is but a small boate
commcth notwithstanding from Quiloa, Mosambique, and Sofala to the Island of S. Helena,
being a small spot of land standing in the maine Ocean oflf the coast of Bona Speran^a so
farrc separated.

In the y^ere 1300. after the comming of Christ the great Soldan of Cayro commanded
that the spicerics and drugs, and marchandises of India should be carried through the Red
Ramusiuf 1. vol. sea, as it was vsed before : at which time they vnladcd on the Arabian side, at the hauen of
luda, and carried them vnto the house at Mecca, and the carriers of it were the pilgrims.
So that each Prince vsed a custome to augment the honour, and increase the profile of his
countrcy. And these Suldans had speciall regarde to Cayro, from whence the wares were
carried vnto the countreyes of Egypt, Lybia, Africa, the kingdomes of Tunc/, Tremcsscn,
Fez, Marocco, Suz : and some of it was carried beyond the mountaincs of Atlas vnto the
citie of Tombuto, and the kingdome of the lalophos; vntill afterwards that the Portugals
did bring it about the Cape of Bona Speran<;a vnto the citic of Lisbone, as in place conue-
nient we purpose to shew more at large.

In the y^ere 1344. king Peter the fourth of that name reigning in Arragon, the Chroni-
cles of his time report, that one Don Luis of Cerda, sonne vnto tiie sonne of Don lohn of
Cerda, craued aide of him to goe and to conquere the Isles of the Canaries, standing in i28.
degrees of latitude to the north, because they were giucn vnto him by Pope Clement the
.sixt, which was a French man. Whereby in those daicLi there grew a knowledge of those
Islands in all Europe, and specially in Spaine : for such great Princes would not begin nor
enterprise things of such moment without great ccrtaintic.
Theisiardof About this timc also the Island of Madera was discouercd by an English man called Ma-
^"'d"''M°' ^^^^ '• ^'*" sailing out of England into Spaine, with a woman of his, was driucn out of his
thnm an En- direct coursc by a tempest, and avriued in that Island, and cast his anker in that haucii, which

&lish man. j^^y

loainei Leo
Afiicanui.

W. 373.

Tombuto.

The Canatic

of the Iforid.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Red

ucn of

ironi-

ihn of

in '28.

nt the

tllDbC

in nor

Ma-

of his
which
now

now is called Machico after the name of Macham. And bicatwe hi.-* loucr wa» then sea«icke,
lie there went on land with some of his companie, and in the mcanc time his ship wtyed
and put to sea, leaning him there : whereupon his louer for thought died. Macham, which
greatly loued her, built in the Island a chappell or hermitage to burie her in, railing it by
the name of lesus Chappell : and wrote or graucd vpon the stone of her tombe his name
and hers, and the occasion whereupon they arriued there. After this he made himtclfc a
boate all of a irrfe, the trrfcs being there of a great compare about, and went to sea in it
with those men of his companie that were left with him, and fell with the coast of Africke
without saile or oare, and the Xfoores among whom lie came touke it for a miracle, and pre-
sented him vnto the king of that countrey : and that king also admiring the accident, sent
him and his companie vnto the king of Castile.

In the y^ere 139.5. king Henric the third of that name reigning in Castile, the informa-
tion which Macham gaue of this Island, and also the ship wherein he went thither, mooued
manv of France and of Castile to goe and discouer it, and the great Canarie : And they
which went were principally the Andaluzes, the Biscaines, and the Guepuscoes, carrying
with them many people and horses. But I know not whether the charge of that voiage was
theirs or the kings. But by whom soeuer it was set out, they seeme to be the first that tJ's* J,|j^*"*^'*S.
coucred the Canaries and landed in them : where also they tooke 150 of the Islanders pri-MriL%ythe
soners. Concerning the time of this discouerie, there is soineditlierence among the writers : **'''^*" '♦"■'
for some aflirmc this to be done in the yeere 1405.

The first beginning of the Portugall Discoueries.

THe Chronicles of Portugall haue this record, That after the incarnation of Christ 1415.
king lohn the first of that name king of Portugall, departed from the citie of Lisbon with
the Prince Don Duartc or Edward, and Don Peter, and Don Henry his sonnes, with other The fim con-
Lords, and nobles of his realme, and sailed into Africa, where he tooke the great citie of?uj^f,°^'Blrba-
Ccuta, standing on the north side thereof betw^ene 35. and 36. degrees in latitude : which fi« m^^-
was one of the principall causes of the enlarging of the dominions of Portugall. gotwn'byTh *"

When they were come from thence, Henry the kings third sonne, desirous to enlarge the'":|P"'''''«E"-
kingdome & to discouer strange & vnknownc countreyes, being then in Algarbe, gaue di- Lghtm writeth.
rcction for the discouery of the coast of Mauritania. For in those dales none of the Por- lohn de Barroi
tugals had euer passed the Cape de Non, standing in 29. degrees of latitude. And for the jjj,^* ''"*'*;/•
better accomplishing of this discouerie, the aforesaid Don Henry prepared a fl^ete, & gaue cape de Non.
commandement to the chiefe captaines to procdede in discouerie from the aforesaide Cape
forward : Which they did. But when they came to another Cape named Bojador, there was Cape Bojador.
not one of them, that durst goe farther or beyond it : at which fcarefull and cowardly faint-
nes of theirs the Prince was exceedingly displeased.

In the y^ere 1417. king lohn the second reigning in Castile, and his mother Ladie Katha-
rine then vsing the gouernment, one Monsieur Ruben of Bracamonte which was then Admi-
rall of France craned the conquest of the Islands of the Canaries, with the title to be king
of them, for a kinsman of his called Monsieur lohn Betancourt: which being granted him
by the Queene, and farther also partly furnished out, he departed from Siuill with a good
armic: But the chiefe or principall cause that mooued him to enter into this action, was to
discouer and perfectly to take a view of the Island of Madera, whereof Macham before had
giuen so much information. But for all that he went vnto the Canaries, and carried with
him a Friar called Mendo to be as Bishop thereof, admitted by Pope Martine the fift. When
they were landed they wonne Lancerota, Forteuentura, Gomera, and Ferro: from whence ^^'P""'''
they sent into Spaine many slaues, honie, waxe, Camfora, or Camfire, hides, Orchall, figs,ed." ""'""'
Sanguis Draconis, and other marchandises, whereof they made good profit: And this armie
also as they report, discouered Porto Santo. The Island that they inhabited was Laucerota, ^°"° ^*"'*
where they built in it a castle of stone for their better defence and securitie.

In the ydere 1418. one lohn Gonzales Zarco, and Tristam Vaz Teixera, householde gen-io'i'<<ieB>'Tos

tiemen

decad. I. lib. I.
cap. s.

VOYA(?tS, NAUIGATIONS,

Late LHitcoueriet

Banoi ittii. l.
lib. I. cip. J.
Th» chtpptll
built by Ma-
chim luund in
Mideri.

Potto Sinto.

Tht Ctntri*
liJantli lold OUM
to a Spinjritd.

Birroi dccad. t,
lib. I. cap. I},

The Cinjtlej
cimc to the
cfownrofSpaine
in the yeeit
143I-

The -iiicicnt
mam rs of the
Cjiiatiaiif.

The commodi-
tie] of theCana*
ties.

A tree yeelding
abundance of
w.iter in Ferro.

tifmen vnto Don Henry the kings* jhird sonnc, pcrcciuinjT the desire that their ma^rer had
to disrouer new rnuntrryex, and willing in that course to dor him tome xeruice, craued of
him a barke, and lirence to vndertake the action: which ihc-y olitained, and sailed to the
roaHt of Africa: where they were ouertaken with a terrible trmpett; but they were suc-
coured by falling with the land, and cntring into an hauen called Santo, where they landed,
and remained two y^ercs.

In the y^ere 14«(). they discouered the Inland of Madera, where they founde the chappell
and the stone and tombe, whereupon the foresaide Macham had fjr.iuen hi.** name. There
are others that write that a cerlaine Castillian perceiuing the deslii- and fnuour to nauig.ition
which Don Henry had, told him that they had found the Island of I'orto Santo; which hcinc
but a small thing they made no reckoning of it. Don Henry sent Bartholomew Peresircllo,
lohn Gonzales Zarco, Tristam Vaz Teixera, and by the signes and likelyhoods that they h.-id
receiued, they went to Porto Santo, and there remained two yt'ercs: and after that, n.nmely
in the y^'crc i4!ii(). they sailed also to the Island of Madera, where they found the memoriajl
and monument of the aforesaide Macham the English man.

As for Monsieur Betancourt, who entred into the conquest of the Canaries as is aboue
mentioned, he was slaine in the middest of the action, and left behind him for his heire a
kinseman of his called Monsieur Menante, who after that sold the said Islands of the Cana^
ries vnto one Peter Barba of Siuill. There are other which speake otherwise, and say that
Monsieur lohn Betancourt went into France to prepare a new armie about this conquest, and
left there a nephew of his ; who because he heard no more of his vncic, and sawe that he
could not maintainc the warrcs any longer, he solde the Canaries lo Don Henry the king of
Portugals third sonnc, for a cerlaine thing that he gaue him in the Island of Madera.

In the y^ere 1424. they write that the saide Don Henry prepared a nauic and armie to
conquer these Islands, wherein there went a.s captaine Generall, fine Don Fernando dc
Castro ; and by reason of the valiantnes and warlike behauiour of the people they had the
repulse: whereupon Don Ferdinando, considering the great charge, and little or no good
surccs.se, he gaue oucr the action, and returned b.icke a;.iaine. After this Don Henry re-
signed ouer tlicsc Islandes to the crowne of Castile, in consideration of the aides whicii Be-
tancourt had receiued. But the Castillians agrde not vnto this report. For they say, that
neither the kings of Portugail, nor Don Henry would render the Island.s, till they came in
question before Pope Eugenius the fourth; who fully vnderstanding the matter, gaue the
conquest of the Islands by order of iudgement vnto the king of Castile in the y^ere 14iil.
whereupon this contention ceased touching the title of the Canaries betweeue the kings of
Portugail and of Castile.

These Islands being in number seuen, were called by the name of Forlunata?, standing
in 28 degrees to the north: where the longest day is but 13. howem, and the longest night as
much, lying distant from Spaine 200. leagues, and from the coast of Africa IS. leagues.
The people were idolaters, and did eate their flesh raw for want of fire : they had no iron,
and sowed without any toole: they tilled and rai.sed the ground with oxe homes, and goats
homes. Euery Island did speake a seuerall language. They tooke many wines, and knew
them not carnally vntill they had deliuered them to the superiours. They had diuers other
Paganish customes : but now the Christian faith is planted among them.

The commodities of these Islands are wheate, barley, sugar, wine, and certaine birdes
called Canarie birdes, much esteemed in .Spaine and other places.

In the Island of Ferro they haue none ^>her water, but that which proceedeth in the night
from a tree, compassed with a cloud, whence water issueth, seruing the whole island both
men and cattell, a thing notorious and knowne to very many.

In the yeere 1428. it is written that Don Peter the king of Portugals eldest f .sonne was
a great traueller. He went into England, France, Alinaine, and from thence into the Holy

* Henry was the 5lh son. Editor. t Edward was the cldcft, and Peter lite thinl son. Editor.

land.

:.ii'

:'f

,;i"

of the WorUl

THAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

night
both

land, and to nihcr pl.ui'''; and ramc home by Italic, tnkinj^ Rome Si Venice in hi«4 way:
from whence he l)roiiir|it a initp ^^i iho world, which had all the part^ of the world and earth Amoitrartma
described. The Ktreinlit ..1 Miirf Im was railed in it the The I)rau[on« taile; The Cape '>f[j;""",j""'"''
Bona Speran<;:i, The fdirrnnii of Afnki', di d so foorth of other places: by which map Don A|rMth,ip«io
Henry fhe kin^s tliini sonnc wiis mnrh hclp«ii and furthered in his disconcrics. hirjiKout7i.fc

It was foldc me hy Fmnci-i de Sosa Tauares, that in the y^crc 15^8. Don Fernando the
kinjjs Sonne and hcire <li ' shew hint o Hiflp, which was found in the studic of Alcobaza,
which had bcenr nude VAi. y^fv*"^ before, which map did set foorth all the nauigation of the
Ma-if Indies, with the Cape of IJoi. i Spcran^n, according a* onr later maps haue described it. ai much jiici,.
Whereby it appecreth, that in ancient time there was as much or more discouered, then now""*"*'" """«•>•

J •! ,• III •, • 1 •!• rt-vvt litnf it now ii,

there is. Notwithstanding all the trauai'e, pnines and expences in this action ot Don Henry, g^rruf <)rt«4. i.
yet he was ncuer wearie of his purposed discoucrics. At length there was a seruant of his''*- '•'^'f'^
called Gilianes (hat tirsi passed the Cape Hojador, a place before terrible to all men: and hec^pc Bujidut
brought word that it was not so dangerous, as it was reported : for on the other side of it be ^["^p""!''
went on land, and in maner of taking possession, sot in the ground a crosse of wood, to be as
a marke and token afterwards of his discouery so farre.

In the y^ere I4.'W. in the moneth of August Don lohn died, and his sonne Don Duartc or Hh .ituhof
Edward succ(:eded him in the kingdome. iirf"of Poriu-

In the y<^ere 14 {4 Don Henry set out one Alfonso Gonsalcs Baldaia, and Gilianes aforesaid, 8>"-
and they went to another Cape, which was beyond the former, and going on land perceiued iib.""'cii"j.
the countrey to be inhabited: and because they were desirous to satisfie Don Henry with as
much relation and knowledge as they could get, they continued their voiage, and went for*
ward, till they came to a certainc point of land, from whence they turned backe againe.

In the y^ere 1438. king Fxiward, whom the Portugals call Don Duartc died, and Don AI- The duth of
phonso the prince being yoong, Don Peter his vncic goucrncd the kingdome. on"ortui"i'i. '"*

In the yecre 1441. Don Henry sent out two ships, and the captaines were in the one b„„, j,„j, ,,
Tristan, and Antonie Gonsales in the other. Being put to sea they tooke a prise vpon the lib. i.cip. 6.
coast, and sailed on to Cape Blanco, that is the White Cape, standing in 20. degrees, and in- Cnpe Bianco.
formed Don Henry of the state of that coutrey by the Moores which they brought from
thence. Whereupon he sent one Fenian Lopez de Sauado to giue knowledge thereof to
Pope Martine, trusting to make these things commodious to Holy Church. Vpon which
knowledge the Pope granted indulgences and cucrlasting pardon, and all other things de- '"'*'''8*''"'

,.«..• ^1 i'iLiii--L- .' granted lotn-

manded of him, vnto those which should die m this enterprise. courage to this

After this in the y^cre 1443. Don Henry commanded Antonie Gonsalcs tocarrie backe the""'T''"-
slaues which he had brought, and to ransoine them in their countrey : Which he did, and the lib. i.cap. 7,
Moores ganc them in trucke for them againe blacke Moores with curled h:iire, and some
gold; so that now that place is called Rio de Oro, that is the Golden Riuer; whereby theRio<i«Oro,why
desire of the discouerie might be the more increased. 10 died.

Not long after he sent out another named Nunncz Tristan, who came vnto the Islands The itiudi of
of Arguin, where he tooke more slaues, and brought them to Portugall in the y^ere 1444. ■^s"'"-

Hereupon also one Lan^iarote, a groome of Don Gilians chamber, with others associated
with him, armed out certaine ships, which went coasting til they came to the Islands of The Minds ot
Garze, where they tooke two hundred slaues : which were the first that were brought from °""'
thence to Portugall.

In the yeere 1445. there went as captaine of a barke one Gonsalo de Syntra, an esquire Barrosdecad. i.
belonging to Don Henry into those parts ; and he went on land, where was taken with sixe ''"^ '• "■"• '•
or seuen more of his company, which place was therefore called after his name, Angra de AnpadcOon-
Gonsaluo de Syntra. This was the first lossc, which the Portugals receiued in their disco- •*''""'•*>"""■
11 cries.

In the y^ere following Don Henry sent out thrde carauels, wherein went as captaines An-
tonie Gonsales, Diego Aloizio, and Gomes Perez, who had their direction, not to enter into
Rio de Qro, nor to beare themselues disorderly, but to trauaile lit peace, and to conuert as

many

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoueries

'■ ,

1:1

•jl!

!K,

''I

hi:! J

Birros dccad. i.
lib. I. cap. 9.&
c«p. 13.
The riuer of
Saniga.

Cape Verde.

Barros decad. (,
lib. I. cap. 14.
Rio Orandc.

The Island of
«uen citlei.

many infidds as (hey could to ChriBtianitte. But none of these things were performed by
them; for they returned without doing any memorable act.

In the same y^erc 1446. another esquire belonging to the king of Portugall called Denis
Fernandcs of the citic of Lisbon, entred into these discqucries, more to winne fame then to
reape commoditie by them. Ard he being in his voiagc came to the riuer of Sanaga. stand-
ing betweenc 15. and 16. degrees of latitude towards tlic north, where he tooke certaine
Negroes; and not contented therewith, he went forward and discouered Cape Verde, stand-
ing in 14. degrees on the same side; and there he set vp vpon the land a crosse of wood,
and then returned with great contentation.

In the ydere 1447. one Nunnez Tristan went foorth todiscouer in a carauell, and he passed
the aforesaid Cape Verde, and Rio Grande, and went past it vnto another standing be-
yond it in 12. degrees, where he was also taken with 18. Portiigals more ; but the ship
came horn*; .'igaine in safetic, conducted by fower or fiue which escaped the hands of the
Negroes.

In thisy(^ere also 1447. it happened that there came a Portugall ship through the streight of
Gibraltar ; and being taken with a great tempest, was forced to runne westwards more then
willingly the men would, and at last they fell vpon an Island which had seuen cities, and
the people spake the Portugall toong, and they demanded if the Moores did yet trouble
Spaine, whence they had fled for the losse which they receiucd by the death of the king of
Spaine, Don Roderigo.

The boateswaine of the ship brought home a little of the sand, and sold it vnto a gold-
smith of Lisbon, out of the which he had a good quantitie of gold.

Don Pedro vnderstanding this, being then gouernour of the realme, caused all the things
thus brought home, and made knowne, to be recorded in the house of lustice.

There be some that thinke, that those Islands whereunto the Portugals were thus driuen,

were the Antilcs, or Newe Spaine, alleaging good reasons for their opinion, which here I

omit, because they seme not to my purpose. But all their reasons s6eme to agree, that they

should be that countrey, which is called Nona Spagna.

Don Alfonso In the v^cro 1449. the king Don Alfonso gaue licence vnto his vncle Don Henry to in-

kingof Portu- \]r^\y\^ jhg islands of the Acores, which were lone before discouered.

gall come to age. ^ » f?

Barros dccad. i. And in the v^ere 1458. this king went into Africa, and there he tooke the towne called

lib. 1. cap. I. Ainrpr
The Azores firn ■'^"^•'V^'^-

inhabited. And in the vecre 1461. he commanded Signior Mcndez a gentleman of his house to build

TheTast"'''"' ^^^ castlc of Arguio, whereof he gaue vnto him the gouernment as to his lieutenant.
Arguin buiuicd. In the v^crc 1462. there came into the realme of Portugall thr6c Genowais of good pa-
, rentage, the chiefe of whom was called Antonie de Noli, and of the other two, the one was

his brother, the other was his nephew, and each of these had his seuerall ship, crauing li-

bcrtie of Don Ilcnrv to discoucr the Islands of Cape Verde, which was granted them.

Others say, that the places which they discouered, were those which Antiquitie called the
couctel"'' three ^"'""'''''^*^' Hesperldcs, and Dorcadcs: but they named them Mayo, Sainct lago, and Sainct
Genowais. Philip, bccause they discouered them on those Saints dales: but they are also called by

some the Islands of Antonio.

In the yecre following 1463. this good nobleman Don Henry died, leaning from Cape De

Non discouered vnto the mountaine called Sierra Leona, standing on this side the line in 8.

degrees of latitude, where no man had b(5ene before that time.
Bancs decad. i. In the vf^crc 1469. the king of Portugal! did let out for yeerely rent the trade of Guiney
lib. 2. cap. a. vnto one called Fcrnan Gomez, which countrey afterwards was called The Mine. He let it
ouineyietout out for fiuc v^crcs, for two hundred thousand Reyes by the yeere (which is of our English

money I3S./. 17.*. 9.^^^. ob. ) and added vnto his lease this condition, that cuery y^ere he

should discoucr an hundred leagues.

In the y<^'cre following, which was 1470. this king went into Africa with his sonne

Prince lohn, where they tooke the towne of Arzila, and the people of the citie of Tanger

fled

Ibidem.

Barros decad. I.

lib. 3. cap.

The Isles of

The death of
Don Henry
146,1.
Sierra JLcona.

to farme.

Ibidem.

Arzila taken.
Tanger t.iken.

of the. World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

us Sonne
)f Tanger
fled

It s^emeth that good fortune foUowcth a coiiragi-

:F«-

fled out for feare, and that he tooke also,
ous attempt.

In the y^ere 1471. Fcrnan Gomes gaiiccommandcment that the coast should be discouered "''''««'•
a3 it lay. Which was vndertaken by lohn de S. Aren, and lohn de Scouar; and they went^***""*
and found the Mine in 5. degr(f:es of latitude.

And the next y^ere, which was I47!3. one Fernando da Poo discouered the Island ""W J^|^^«j^|-
called after his name. Also about this time the Islands of Sainct Thomas, and Del Principe .,«n'de p».
were discouered, standing vnder the line, with the firme land also, wherein is the kingdome ^"^^'JJJf^J^^-
of Benin, reaching to the Cape de Santa Catarina, standing on the south side of the line in cipc.
3. degrees. The man that made this discouerie was a seruant of the kings, and his na™e ^"'"j^ g^^^j^
was Sequeira. Cautina.

Many suppose, that then also there were those places, countreyes and Islands discouered,
which before were neuer knowne to vs since the flood.

In the y<;ere 1480. the valiant king Don Alphonso died, and left many things woorthy ofooniohnthe
memorie behinde him; and his sonne Don lohn the second succeeded him. Who in the Ba°"os d«ad. i.
yiere 1461 . gaue direction for the building of the castle De Mina to one Diego d'Azambuxa ; ^-s- "p- »•
who Old so, and was made captame or it. built.

In the y^ere 14S4. the foresaid king lohn sent out one Diego Caon a knight of his Court ?«"""'«"<'• '•
to discouer: and he went to the Riuer of Congo, standing on the south side in 7. or 8. de- ri'o de'congc.
gr^es of latitude; where he erected a pillar of stone with the royall armes and letters of
Portugall, wherein he wrote the commandement that he had recciued from the king, with
the time and day of his being there. From thence he went vnto a riuer n^ere the Tropicke Discouerie nem
of Capricorne, setting still vp pillars of stone where he thought it conuenient, and so came *f'^^'p'.^'°P''''
backe againe vnto Congo, and to the king of that countrev: who thereupon sent an ambas- An ambastadour
sadour and men of credite into Portugall. ' ergo!" """^ "^

In the next y^ere or the second following, one lohn Alonso d'Aueiro came from the king-
dome of Benin, and brought home pepper with a taile: which was the first of that kinde Ptpperof Benin,
s^ene in Portugall.

In the y^ere 1487. king lohn sent to discouer India ouer land. In which iourney went one Barrosdecad. i.
Pedro de Coiiillan a seruant of the kings, and Alfonso de Payua, because they could speake pedro dTco'uii-
the Arabian toong. They went out in the moneth of May, and the same yeere they tooke 'an «nd Alfonso
shipping at Naples, and arriued in the Isle of Rhodes, and lodged in the house that was pro- d^sco7e"Ai.d]».'°
uided for the Portugall knights of that order: from thence they went to Alexandria, and so Aicx.indtia.
to Cayro, and thence to the hauen of Toro in the companie of the Carauans or carriers which ,^^|.™-
were Moores. There they tooke shipping, and being on the Red sea they arriued at tlie ci-
tie of Aden, and there they separated tliemselues: for Alfonso de Payua went towards yEthi- A''^"-
opia, and Pedro de Couillan into India. Who came vnto the cities of Cananor and Calicut, Can-mor.
and came backc vnto Goa: where he tooke shipping vnto Sofala, being on the coast of Africa 003^''
in the southerne latitude of 20. degrees, tos(['ethe mines that were of so great name. From ^°^'^''-
Sofala he turned backe to Mosambique, and vnto the cities of Quiloa, Mombaza, and Melinde, qmIT. "*"''
till he came backe againe vnto the citie of Aden: where he and Alfonso de Payua deuided jJjTj""'
themsclues: and thence he sailed againe through the Red sea vnto the citie of Cayro, where
he thought to hauc met with his companion: but there he heard that he was dead by the
letters that he rcceiued from king lohn his master; in which letters he was farther com-
manded to trauaile into the countrey and dominions of Presbyter lohn.

Vpon this commandement he prouidcd for his farther iourney, and from Cairo went backc Thevoingeof
againr to the hauen of Toro, and from thence to Aden, where he had b6en twisc before : iiiit'„''vnto'uie
and there hearing of the fame of the citie of Ormuz, he determined to goe thither; and «f""'"y "T
therefore*vent along the coast of Arabia vnto the Cape Razalgate standing vnder the Tropicke capc Razaijate.
of Cancer, and from thence he went to Ormwz, standing in 27. degrees on that side. There Ormuz,
he learned and vnderstood of the streigth of Persia, and of that countrey: and cntred there
into the Red sea, and passed ouer to the realme of the Abassini, which commonly is called Abassini.
Presbyter lohns countrey or ./Ethiopia: and there he was detained till the yeere liSSO. when

there

'■;! ":

ill:

Pedro ie Co
iiilUn the first
Partugall tliit
came into the
East India and
.Ethiopia by the
Red sea.
Barros decad. i.
lib. J. cap. 9.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discouerks

A great part of
the kingdonie of
Con jO baptized.

The first that in
sailing are
thought to haue
obserued latt*
tudcs.

there came thither the ambassadour Don Roderigo de Lima : This Pedro de Couillan was the
iirst Portugall that eiier knew and saw the Indias and those seas, and other places adioyning
thereunto.

In the y^cre 141)0. the king sent vnto Congo one Gonzalo de Sosa a gentleman with three
ships, and in them sent home tlie ambassadour of Congo, which was sent into Portugall,
whom Diego Caon had brought from thence: who at his being in Portugall was baptised
both himselfe and others of his companic.

The aforesaid Gonzalo de Sosa died in that iourney by the way, and in his roome they
chose his nephew Ruy de Sosa for their captaine ; and so being come vnto Congo, the king
was very glad of their comming, and yielded himselfc, and the greater part of his realme
to be baptized : whereof the Portugals had good cause to reioyce, seeing by them so many
Infidels were conuerted from gentilitie and paganisme to Christianitie.

The first beginning of the Discoueries of the Spanyards, with the continuation of

the Discoueries of the Portugals.

IN the yeere 1492. in the time of Don Ferdinando king of Castile, he being at the siege
of Granada, dispatched one Christopher Columbus a Genoway with three ships to goe and
discouer Nona Spagna : who first had offered his seruice for a westerne discoueric vnto king
lohn of Portugall; but he would not entertaine him.

He being sufficiently furnished for this enterprise departed from the towne of Palos the
third day of August, hauing with him as captaines and pilots Martin Alfonso Pinzon, Francis
Martinez Pinzon, Vincent Yannes Pinzon, and Bartholomew Columbus his brother, with
120. persons more in his companie: and some afiirme that they were the first that sailed by
latitudes. They tooke the Canaries in their way, and there refreshed themselues; taking
their course thence towards Cipango : but finding the sea by the way full of w^eds they were
amazed, and with great fcare arriued at the Antiles the tenth day of October, and the first
The Isle of Qua- Island that they descried was called Guanahany: where they went on land, and tooke posses-
coucKd.*^"' "" sion of it, and named it San Saliiador, This Island standeth in 25. degrees of northerly lati-
tude. And after that they found many Islands, which they called the Princes because they
were the first that they had discouerod.

The Sauages of those parts call these Islands by the name of Lucaios, hauing in d^ede se-
uerall names for them. And they doe stand on the north side almost vnder the Tropicke of
Cancer. As for the Island of S. lames or lamaica, it standeth betwdene 16. and 17. degrees.
Thence they went to the Island which the naturals of the countrey call Cuba, and the
Spanyards call it Ferdinandina, bicause their kings name was Ferdinando, standing in 22.
degrees: from whence the Indians conducted theip vnto another Island, which they call
Hayti. and the Spanyards called it Isabella, in the memorie of the Qu6ene of Castile, which
Avas so called, and they named it also Hispaniola. In that Island the Admirall ship of Colum-
bus was cast away : of tiie timber and planks whereof they made a forte, wherein they left
3S men, and a captaine called Roderigo de Arana, to learne the language and customts of
the countrey. They brought from thence musters and shewcs of gold, pearlcs, and other
things, which that countrey yt-elded ; and ten Indians also, whereof sixe died, the rest were
brought home and baptized.

Hereupon there grewe such a common desire of trauaile among the Spanyards, that they

were ready to leapc into the sea to swim, if it had btien possible, into those new found parts.

The aforesaid company of Columbus at their comming home tooke in their way the Isles of

the Azores, and the 4. day of March in the yeere I4W.'J. they cntred into the bar of Lisbon :

Contention be- whlch discoucric plcascd uot thc king of Portugall. Whereupon rose a contention betw^enc

rsp"^.;':!:^'!"'-^^' two kings.

PoitugiU. Christopher Columbus being arriued went presently into Castile with the newes of all

things, and acquainted the king Fernando, with the discontentednes of the king of Portugall :
whereupon he and thc Qu^ene Isabella his wife sent streight word thereof vnto Pope Alex-
ander the 6. whereat he and the Italians were in great admiration, maruailing that there was

anv

Lucaios Islands.

Cuba.

Hispaniola.

merits

vas the
oyning

h three
rtugall,
laptised

ne they

he king

realme

io many

I of

:he siege
goe and
nto king

Palos the
, Francis
her, with
sailed by
s; taking
they were
i the first
ke posses-
herly lati-
;ause they

6ede se-
jpicke of
degrees,
and the
ing in 22.
they call
e, which
f Colum-
they left
Listomts of
and other
rest were

that they
uiid parts.
he Isles of
)f Lisbon :

betw6enc

;\ves of all
Portiigall :
'ope Alex-
there was
any

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

■The bull of
' donation.

any more land besides that which was vnder the Romanes. But the end of this matter was
this : Alexander the Pope gaiie these coimtreies by his iudgemcnt vnto the kingdomes of ^
Leon and Castile ; with this condition, That they should labour to extirpate idolatrie, and
plant the Holy faith in those countreyes.

Fernando the king hauing receiued this answcre, was glad of it, and sent Christopher Co-
lumbus againe on the former voiage, hauing made him admirall, and giuen him other honors, °°""'y^f "'*
with particular armes, and a posie written about his armes to this effect. cap. 17.

For Castile and for Leon
A new world found out Colon.

In the y^ere 1493. the 25. of the moneth of October Christopher Columbus went backe Coiumbusi*.
vnto the Antiles, and fro Cadiz he tooke his course, hauing in his companie 17. ships, and ™"'* '""°^''
1500. men in them, with his brethren Bartholomew Columbus, and Diego Columbus, with
other knights, gentlemen, men of law, and religious men, with chalices, crosses, rich or-
naments, and with great power and dignitie from Pope Alexander ; & the 10. day after their
setting foorth, they arriued at the Canaries ; & from thence in 25. or 30. dales they sailed
vnto the Antiles; & the first Island that they saw standeth in 14. degrees towards the north,
due west from Cape Verde on the coast of Africa. They say that the distance from thence
to the Canaries is 800. leagues. The name they gaue it was Deseada, that is the Desired or DtseadadUca-
wished Island, for the great desire which the companie had to come to sight of land. After
tliat they discouered many more which they named tiie Virgines, which the naturals- of the
countrey call the Caribas, for that the men of that countrey are good warriers, and shoote Caiibas.
well in bowes. They poison their arrowes with an herbe, whereof he that is hurt dieth,
biting himselfe like as a mad dog doth.

From these Islands and others they went vnto the principall Island there, which they of the
countrey doe call Boriquen, and the Spanyards call it S. lohn, and thence to Hispaniola or BoriquenorS.
Isabella, where they found all the men dead which there they had left. Here the Admirall ,°g|.^ ' '"' "
left the most part of the people to plant it, and appointed his brethren to be gouernours
there : and so tooke two ships, and went to discouer the other side of the Island of Cuba,
and from thence to lamaica. All these Islands stand from 16. vnto 20. degrees of northerly lamaica.
latitude. In the meane time that the Admirall sailed about, his brethren and they that were
left with them were much troubled, because the Sauages did rise against them. So that
Christopher Colon went backe againe into Spaine, to tell the king and Qu^ene of his ad-
uentures.

In the y^ '•e 1494. and in the moneth of lanuarie there was an agreement made of the dif-
ferences whit ^ were betweene the two kings of Spaine and Portugall. For the which agree-
ment there were sent out of Portugall Ruy de Sosa, and Don lohn his sonne, and the Doctor
Ayres de Almada : and for the king of Spaine there were Don Henry Henriques, Don lohn
de Cardenas, and the Doctor Maldonado. All these met in the towne of Tordesillas, and
they deuided the world fro the north to the south by a meridian which standeth west from the The first line of
Islands of Cape Verde 300. leagues : so that the one halfe which lay vnto the east should be-'""'"°"*
long vnto Portugall, and that which lay to the west to the king of Spaine, whereby notwith-
standing libertie to trauell was left cquall vnto both.

In the yeere following 1495. lohn king of Portugall died, and Emmanuel hiscosen began Th* <•"'>> of

»„,„•„„■' o o o ' a Don John the

toreigne. ^ ^,o„d.

In the yeere 1496. there was a Venetian in England called lohn Cabota, who hauing know- The great disco.
ledge of such a new discouerie as this was, and perceiuing by the globe, that the Islands be- catofaid^he
fore spoken of stood almost in the same latitude with his countrey, and much n^erer to En-EnjUsh.
gland then to Portugall, or to Castile, he acquainted king Henrie the seuenth then king of
England with the same, wherewith the saide king was greatly pleased, and furnished him out
with two ships and thr^e hundred men : which departed and set saile in the spring of the
y6ere, and they sailed westward til they came in sight of land in 45. degrees of latitude to-
wards the north, and then went straight northwards till they came into 60. degrees of latitude,
where the day is 18. howers long, and the night is very cKere and bright. There they found

D the

, , ''II.

•■If

111

in. 'I

I ... «;

..:l ■'

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discouerks

This is to the
•ouch of thr
Chescpian Bay.

tap. ai.

Trinidada.

Tntigos.
Cubagua.

the aire cold, and great Islands of ice, but no ground in an hundred Tathoms sounding : and
so from thence finding the land to turne eastwards they trended along by it discoueringall the
Bay and riucr named Deseado, to see if it passed on the other side : Then they sailed backc
againe till they came to 38. degrees toward the Equinoctiall line, and from thence returned
into England. There be others which say, that he went as far as the Cape of Florida, which
standeth in 25. degrees.

Columbus third In the ydcrc 1497. The king of Spaine Don Fernando sent out Christopher Columbus
Goma'rahistoriB^'''^ "''"^ ships, and hc himselfc prouided two ships at his owne cost, and sending his bro-
generai. lib. 1. ther before, he made saile from the Bay of Cadiz, carrying with him his sonne Don Diego
Colon. It was then reported that hc went to take the Island of Madera, because he mistrusted
the French men, and therefore sent thither thr^e ships : others say it was to the Canaries.
But howsoeuer it was, this is true, that he and three more went vnto the Islands of Cape
Verde, and ran along by the line finding great calmcs and raine, and the first land which they
came vnto of the Antiles was an Kland standing in 9. degr(^es of latitude towards the north
ioining fast vnto the maino land, which they called La Trinidada ; and so he entred into the
Gulfe of Paria, and came out of the mouth which they name Bocca de Drasfone, or the
Dragons mouth : and Ihey tooke their course hard by the coast, where they found three small
Islands, which they named Los Testigos, that is to say, The Witnesses, beyond which stand-
eth the Island of Cubagua, where is great fishing of muscle pearles : where also, as they say,
Fraiki, Roques, there springeth a Well of oilc: and beyond that Island they came to the Isles of Frailes,
Aniba, Curasao, jjQjjjjgj,^ Aruba, and Cura^ao, with other small ones all along the Bay: and they came to
cabodeVcia. the point of Cabo de Vela, and discouered along the coast almost 200. leagues, from whence
Beata. they crossed ouer to Hispaniola, hauing had also sight of the Island called Beata.

Barros d«ad. I. In this Same y6ere 1497. on the i:U. day of the moneth of lune one Vasques de Gama
toiiwendofthe^^''^^ '^^"™ Lisbon by the king Emmanuels commandement to India with 3. ships, wherein
u. chapter. there went for captaines Vasques de Gama, Paulus de Gama his brother, and Nicolas Coello
with 120. men ; with whom also there went one ship laden only with vittailes, and in 14.
dales they came vnto Cape Verde, vnto the Island of Saint lago, where they refreshed them-
selues, and from thence they went along the coast beyond the Cape of Bona Speran^a, where-
upon they erected certaine pillers of stone, and so came vnto Mosambique standing in 15.
degrees to the south of the line, where they staled not long, but went from thence to Mom-
baza, and vnto Melinde : where the king of that place gaue them pilots, which conducted
them into India, in which discouerie they found out Los Baxos do Padua, that is to say, the
flats of Padua.

In the y^ere 1498. in the moneth of May they came to an anker before the citie of Calituf,
and Panana, where they remained all the winter : and the first day of September they set
saile towards the north discouering the coast all along till they came to the Island of Angediua,
which standeth on that side in 15. degrees of latitude, where they came to an anker in the
beginning of October, and so they departed from Angediua in Februarie in the ydere 1499.
and came in sight of the coast of Africa about Melinde towards the north 3. or 4. degrees, &
from thence they sailed vnto the said citie, and so vnto Mosambique againe, and to the Cape
of Bona Speran^a, sailing along by the coast, and then they came to the Islands of Cape
Go™»'j»,^i^<>''* Verde, and last of al to the citie of Lisbon in the moneth of September, hauing b^ene in
the voiage 26. monethes.

In the yeere 1499 on the 13. day of the moneth of Nouember there departed fro Palos
one Vincent Yaiincz Pinson and his nephew Aries Pinson with fower ships well appointed at
their owne cost and charges, to discouer the new world vnder the licence of the king of Cas-
tile, and with commandement not to touch there, where the Admirall Columbus had b^ene.
And so they went to the Islands of Cape Verde, and passed the line to the southward, and
discouered the Cape of Saint Augustine standing on that side in 8. degrees of latitude, and
there they wrote on the rindes of pine tr^cs the names of the king and of the Qu^ene, also
the y^ere and day when they arriued there. They fought with the people of Brasil, but got
nothing, they tooke their course all along the coast towards the west vnto the riuer Maria

Tambalj

The Cape of
Bona S)i<ran;a.
Mosambique.
Mombaaa.
Melinde.

Loi Baxos de
Padua.

Calicut.

general, lib.

The Cape of S.
Augustine.

Rin de Maria
Tsmbal.

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND niSCOUERIES.

ro Palos
3111 ted at
of Cas-
b6ene.
ard, and
ide, and
ne, also
but got
r Maria
Tambal,

Tambal, and at that time they had taken thirty and odde prisoners. The chiefe places where
they touched were the Cape of S. Augustine, and the angle or point of S. Luke, and TierraA„ji,deS«n
de los Humas, the riuers of Marannon, and of the Amazones, and Rio dolce, or the Sw6eteL;U"S;
riuer, and other places along the coast : and they came to ten degr^-es of latitude on tlieMa'Im.o",''
north side, where they lost two ships and their companie, and remained in that voiage olRigygYj"""*
discoucry ten moncths, and 15. daics.

In the ydere 1500. and in the moneth of March one Pedro Aluarez Cabral sailed out of^»"°'^^/p"j^; '•
Lisbon with 13. ships, with commandement not to come !i6ere the coast of Africa to shorten
his way ; and he losing the si^ht of one of his ships, went to sdeke her, and in seeking of
her lost hU course, and sailed till he came within sight of the land. The Generall was so
long in seeking his ship, that the companie were wearie of it, and entreated him to Icaue
his enterprise. The next day they fell in sight of the coast of Brasil : whereupon the Ge-
nerall commanded a barke to goe to land and s^-eke an hauen : which they did, and found a
good and safe hauen, and they named it Puerto Seguro, that is to say. The Safe hauen, Pu"to Stguto
standing on the south side in 17. degrees of latitude. From thence they sailed towardes the
Cape of Bona Speran<;a, and Melinde, and crossed ouer to the riuer of Cochin, which be-
fore was not knowne, where they laded themselues with pepper, and at their returne Sancho
de Thouar discoucred the citie of Sofala vpon the coast of Africa. Sofiia.

In this same y<icre 1500. it is reported that Caspar Cortereal craued a generall licence of
the king Emmanuel to discouer the New found land. He went from the Island Ter<;era with
two ships well appointed at his owne cost, and he sailed vnto that climate which standeth
vndcr the north in bO. degrees of latitude, which is a land nowe called after his name; and ,["" ^''"""*
he came home in safetie vnto the citie of Lisbon : And making another time this voiage, the
ship was lost wherein he went, and the other came backe into Portugall. Wherefore his bro-
ther Michael Cortereal went to s^eke him with three ships well appointed at his owne cost ;
and when they came vnto that coa<t, and found so many entrances of riuers, and hauens, f^'py entrances
euery ship went into her scuerall riuer, with this rule and order, that they all thr^e should nonhwest!" °
meete againe the ^0. day of August. The two other ships did so, and they seeing that Mi-
chael Cortereal was not come at the day appointed, nor yet afterwards in a certaine time,
returned backe into the realme of Portugall, and neuer heard any more newes of him, nor
yet any other memorie. But that countrey is called The land of Cortcreall vnto this day.

In the yeere 1.501. in the moneth of March lohn de Noua departed from the citie of Lis-Barrosdecid. i.
bon with fower ships, and passed the line on the south side into 8. degrees of latitude, and ' •^•"p-'°-
he discouered an Island, which he called the Isle de Ascension : And he went vnto Mosam- 1)"" de As«n-
bique, and to Melinde, and from thence he crossed ouer vnto the other side, where they"""'
tooke lading, and so came back and doubled the Cape, and found an Island called Santa
Helena, being but a small thing, but yet of great importance in respect of the situation ThtUieofSami
thereof. "''"^•

In this same y<iere 1501. and in the moneth of May there departed out of Lisbon thrde
ships vpon the commandement of Emmanuel the king to discouer the coast of Brasill : and
they sailed in the sight of the Canaries, and from thence to Cape Verde, where they refresh-
ed themselues in the towne of Bezequiche, and passed from thence beyond the line south- Btztquici.e.
ward and fell with the land of Brasill in fiue degrees of latitude, and so went forward till J'j^^''^'^^'^^^^"^^^"'*
they came in 32. degrees little more or lesse, according as they accounted it, and from thence '"■'*' '^'"''
they came backe in the moneth of Aprill, because it was there at that time cold and tem-
pestuous. They were in that voiage fifteene monethes, and came to Lisbon againe in the
beginning of September 1502,

In the yecre 1502. one Alfonso Hoicda went to discouer Terra firma, and followed his °3"^'*"™=^
course till he came to the prouince of Vraba. Vt"b".'

The next yeere following also one Roderigo Bastida.;* of Siuill went out with two carauels
at his owne cost, and the first land of the Antiles that he saw was an Island which he named
Isla Verde, that U, the Greene Island, standing fast by the Island of Guadalupe, towards the
land : and from thence they tooke their course towards the wc-«t to Santa Martha, and Cape

D 2 De

.J*

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discouerics

1 1.-:

•l!';

I i! ■ * '■
r ' ';*
in:
'.,■.„

? 1

|!|v

De la Vela, and to Rio Grande, or the Great rliicr, and they discouered the hauen orZamba,
the Coradas, Carthagena, and the Islands of S. Barnard, of Bam, and Islas de Arenas, and
Went forwai^ vnto Isla fuerte, and to the point of Caribana standing at the end of the Gulfe
of Vraba, where they had sight of the Farrallones standing on the other side hard by the
riiier of Darien, and from Cape De la Vela vnto this place are two hundred leagues: and it
standeth in 9. degrees and two parts of latitude. From thence they crossed oucr vnto the
Island of lamaica, where they refreshed themsclues. In Hispaniola they graued their ships
because of the holes which ccrtaine wormes of the water had eaten in the planks. In that
countrey they got fower hundred innrkes of golde, allhuugli the people there be more war-
like then in Nona Spania : for they poison their arrowes which they shoote.
ageofCoiumbui. ^" ^^'^ Same y^erc 1302. Christopher Columbus entred the fourth time into his discouerie
o»||'»l[* h»'ori« with fower ships at the oommandement of Don Fernando to secke the Streight, which as they
said did diuide the land from the other side, and he carried with him Fenlinando his sonne.
They went first to the Island of Hispaniola, to lamaica, to the riuer Azua, to the Cape of
Higueras, and vnto the Islands Gamares, and to the Cape of Hunduras, that is to say, the
Cape of the Depthes: from thence they sailed towards the east vnto the Cape Gracias a Dios,
and discouered the prouince and riuer of Veragua, and Rio Grande, and others, which the
Indians call Hienra. And from thence he went to the riuer of Crocodiles, which now is

general, lib. i.
«p. a4,

Cabodc Higue-
ras.

Cabo de Hun-
duras.

Cabo Graciai a
Diot,

Rio de chagres. Called Rio de Chagrcs, which hath his springs n^ere the South sea, within fower leagues of
Panama, and runneth into the North Sea : and so he went vnto the Island which he called
mMtM.^""'* ^^'^ ^^ Bastimentos, that is the Isle of Victuailes, and then to Puerto Bello, that is the Faire
Puerto BeDo. hauen, and so vnto Nombre de Dios, and to Rio Francisco, and so to the hauen of Retrete,
NombredeDiof.and then to the Gulfe of Cabesa Cattiua, and to the Islands of Caperosa, and lastly to the
The Cape of Cape of Marble, which is two hundred leagues vpon the coast: from whence they began to
turne againe vnto the Island of Cuba, and from thence to lamaica, where he grounded his
ships being much spoiled and eaten with wormes.

In this y^ere also 1502 Don Vasques de Gama being now Admirall went againe into India
with 19. or 20, Carauels. He departed from Lisbon the tenth day of Fcbruaric, and by the
last day of that moneth he came to an anker at Cape Verde, and from thence he went vnto
Mosambique, and was the first that crost from that Island into India : and he discouered ano-
ther in 4. degrees of latitude, which he called the Island of the Admirall, and there he tooke
his lading of pepper and drugs, and left there one Vincent Sodre to k6epe the coast of India
with fiue ships.

These were the first Portugals, that with an armic did run along the coast of Arabia Foelix.
It is there so barren, that their cattell and camels are oncly maintained with drie fish brought
from the sea ; whereof there is such plenty and abundance, that the cats of the countrey
doe vse to take them^

In the yeere following, as it is reported, one Antonie de Saldania discouered the Island
which in old time was called Coradis, and now Socotora, and the Cape of Guardafu, which
adioineth vnto that countrey.

In the y6ere IbOi. Roderigo de Bastidas obtained licence of king Ferdinando, and by the
meanes of lohn de Lcdesma and others of Siuill armed and furnished out two ships, hauing
for his pilot one lohn de Cosa of Saint Marie Port, and he went to discouer that part of Tierra
firma where now standeth Carthagena, being in ten degrees and a halfe of northerly lati-
tude. And it is said that they found the captaine Luis de la Guerra ; and they together tooke
land in the Isle of Codego, where they tooke sixe hundred persons of the Sauagcs : And
going farther along the coast they entred into the Gulfe of Vraba, where they found sand
mingled with gold, being the first that was brought to the king Don Ferdinando : from thence
they returned to the citic of Santo Domingo laden with slaues without victuailes, because
they of the countrey would not bargaine with them, which grew to their g'e:.f ii ^uble and
griefe.

In the later end of this yeere died Ladie Isabella Qu^cne of Castile: Which Qu<'ene
while she lined would not suffer any man of Arragon, Catalunia, Valencia, nor any borne in

the

marble.

Barros dtcad. i.
lib. 6. cap. a.

Thelilindof
Moiambiquc.

Cattell and ca-
mels fed with
dried fish.

Socotora.
Cape de Guar'
dafu.

Cirthageiu,

Codego.

The death of
Qucene Isabella
1504.

)ueries

[amba,
ks, and
• Gulfe
by the
and it
nto the
r ships
In that
re war-

couerie
as they
; sonne.
>pe of
5ay, the
1 a Dios,
hich the
I now i.>»
igiies of
le called
he Faire
Retrete,
y to the
began to
nded his

nto India
id by the
/ent vnto
;red ano-
lie tooke
of India

jia Foelix.
I brought
countrey

of the World.

TRAFFIftUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Island
which

by the
hauing
f Ticrra
lerly lati-
her tooke
cs : And
und sand
m thence
because
iible and

Qu^ene

borne in

the

the countrey of Don Fernando her husband to enter into these discoueries, saue those which
were their seruants, or by speciall commandement, but only the Castillians, Biscaines, &
those which were of her owne Signiories, by whom all the lands aforesaid were discouered.

In the y^^crc 1505. vpon our Lady day in March Francisco de Almeida Viceroy of India B«rojdec»d.i.
tooke his course with 22. sailes towards India as now is accustomed. He came vnto the citie a fort"uiit'io
of Quilca, where he built a fort, appointinj; one Peter Fereira to be captain'e thereof: andy"""'-
beyond Mclinde he trauersed to the Island of An^cdiua, where lie placed as captaine one Ang«diua pos.
Emmanucll Passauia. In Cananor also he built another fort, giuinp; the captainship of it to p^, |,ui|jjj , j
Laurence dc Hrito. In Cochin he did the like, where Don Alfonso de Noronia was made Caiunor and m
captaine. This yccre one Peter de Anhaya did build the fortresse of Sofala, whereof also A°fort buiided
himselfe was made captaine. inSofii*.

In the later end of this ycerc the Viccrov commanded his sonne, whose name was Don
Laurenqo to make some eiUrie vpon the Islands of Alaldiua, and with contrarie weather he
arriued at the Islands, which of ancient time were called Traganae, but the Moores called
them Ytterubenero, and we call them Ceilan: where he went on land, and made peace with^"'"-
the people there, and afterward came backe vnto Cochin, sailing along the coast and fully
discouering it. In the middest of this Island there stands a rocke of stone very high hauing
the signe of the foote of a man vpon the top of it, which they say to be the footestep of
Adam, when he went vp into the heaucns, and the Indians haue it in great reuerence.

In the y^ere 1506. after the death of the Queene of Spaine, king Philip and Qudene loan
his wife came into Spaine to take possession thereof, and king Don Fernando went into Ar-
ragon being his owne patrimonie. In this same yeere the said king Philip died, and 'hen J'^' ■'"''' ?f
Fernando came againe to gouerne Spaine, and he gaue licence vnto all Spanyards to goekin^ofspiitV
vnto the New land, and to the Antiles, but not to the Portugals. In this y^ere and in the J'j^'f j^^^,, ^f
moneth of May Christopher Columbus died, and his sonne Don Diego Columbus succeeded chmtopher co-
in his roome. '"'"'""•

In the y^ere 1506. and entring into the moneth of March Tristan de Acunna and Alfonso ^^"'»<'««^---
de Albuquerque went into India with 14. ships in their companie, and sailed till they came ' '"^'
to an anker at the towne of Bezequiche, where they refreshed themselues : and before they c"e''v«de ' '^^
came to the Cape of Bona Speranga in .37. degrees they found certaine Islands, which now *'"
are named the Isles of Tristan de Acunna, where they had such a tempest that therewithall ^i>« 'si« of
Ihc fl^cte was dispersed. Tristan de Acuiia and Alfonso de Alljuquerque went vnto Mosam- Acunna iu j».
bique, and Aluaro Telez ran so far that he came to the Island of Samatra, and so backe againe s^"^,^:,,^.
vnto the Cape of Guardafu; hauing discouered many Islands, sea, and land neuer scene be-uwed.
fore that time of any Portugall. Emmanuel Telez de Meneses was also driuen without the
great Island of S. Laurence, and he ran along the coast thereof, and arriued at last at Mo- •
sambique, and there met with Tristan de Acufia, who was the first captaine that winlred
there ; and by them it was told, that in this Island was much Ginger, Clones and siluer :
whereupon he went and discouered much of it within the land ; but finding nothing he came The inland oi s.
kicke againe vnto Mosambique ; from whence he sailed vnto Melinde, and ran along that ^^'^j"" '''"'^
coast and entred into Braua, and from ihence they crost ouer to the Island of Socotora, Bnua.
wliere they built a fortresse, and made one Don Antonio de Noronia captaine thereof. btSl" Socj-

In the yeere 1.507. in the moneth of August Tristan de Acuiia tooke shipping for India, «<>"•
and Alfonso de Albuquerque remained there with fiue or sixe ships to keepe the coast and iibV™cap''i. *
entrie of the Streight ; but being not therewith satisfied he tooke his course ouer vnto Ara-
bia, and running along that coast he doubled the Cape of Rosalgate standing vnder the Tro- The Capc ot
picke of Cancer. *^''"'«^"-

In the y^ere 1509. one Diego Lopez de Sequeira went out of Lisbon with fower sailes BarTo«decad.s.
vnto the Island of Saint Laurence, and continued in his voiage almost a y^ere, and in the Th/hie''rf s.
moneth of May the same y^ere he arriued in Cochin, where the Viceroy gaue him one shipLiurcnce.
more: and in the beginning of the moneth of September he tooke his course vnto Malacca
pa.ssing betw^cne the Islands of Nicubar, and many others: He went also to the land of Sa-T*^- '»'»''<«» »»
matrato the cities of Pedir and Pacem, and all along by all that coast vnto the Island of A Po-s^nutJi!

luoreira.

'f\

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoueries

.■•' ■
;■■!'■

Thf IsleofA

Paluorciri,

'I'he flats of Ci-

pacia.

MaUcM.

Ratiiitt in Si<

raatra.

In Samttn
hufes, kinc, and
henncs hauc
firih as black« as
inkf.

Prsple hauing
tailcs like
fherpe.

Ool.l coined in
Samatra.

Goinara lilstoria
(;rner:il. lib. j.
cap. 7.
L'attilia del oro.

Tliehookeofthe
Bachiler Anciso
of tlie^e disco-
ueries.

Beata is a pro-
uince in the west
p.iit of Hispa-

nioli.

Gomara gen.
hist. lib. 3. Q»f.
6.

Nuestra Sennora
de b antigua
buildcd.

Many gentlewo-
men went to
dwell in Hispa-
niola.

Cuba peopled.

Barros decad. t.
'ib. 5. cap. 10. le
lib. 6. cap. 1.
JJarrosdr'-.id. 2.
lib. 6. cap. 5.

luoreira, and the flatn of Capacia : and Trom thence he went oucr vnto Malacca standing in
2. degrees of latitude towards the north : but in that citie the people killed and tooke aH pri-
soners some of his men : and thereupon he turned backe a<2;aine into India, hauing disco-
uered in this voiage fine hundred leagues. This Island of Samatra is the first land wherein
we knew mans flesh to be eaten by certaine people which liue in the mountaines called Ba-
ca.s, who vse to gilde their teeth. They hold opinion that the flesh of the blacke people i.s
sweeter then the flesh of the white. The buffes, kine, and henncs which are in that coun-
trcy are in their flesh as blacke as any inke. They say that there are certaine people there
called Daraqui Dara, which haue tailes like vnto shecpe ; and some of their wclles y6eld
oile.

The king of Pedir is reported to haue a riuer in his land running with oile: which is a
thing not to be maruelied at, seeing it is found written, that in Bactria there is also a well
of oile : it is farther said that there groweth here a tree, the iuice wliereof is strong poison,
and if it touch the blood of a man, he dieth immediately : but if a man doe drinke of it, it
is a soiiernignc remedic against poison, so seruing both for life and death. Here also they
doe coine pceres of gold, which they call Drachmas, brought into the land as they say by
the Romanes : which scemeth to haue some resemblance of truth : because that from that
place forward there is no coined gold : but that which is thus coined doth run currant in the
buying of marchandise and other things.

In the yeere 1508. one Alfonso de Hoieda with the fauoiir of Don Fernando purpo.sed to
goe vnto Tierra firma to conquer the prouince of Darien. He went forth at his owne charges,
& discouered The Firme land, where it is called Vraba, which he named Castilia del Oro, that
is Golden Castilia, bicause of the gold which they found among the sand along the coast :
And they were the first Spanyards that did this. Alfonso de lloiccia went first from the Island
of Hispaniola and the citie of San Domingo with fower ships and thrive hundred soldiers,
leaning behinde him the bachiler Anciso, who afterwards compiled a booke of these disco-
ueries. And after him there went also one ship with victuals, munition, and 150. Spanyards.
He went on land at Carthagena : but there the people of the countrey tooke, slew and eate
70. of his soldiers, whereupon he grew very wcake.

In this y^ere 1508. one Diego de Niqucsa prepared seuen ships in the port of Beata to goc
vnto Veragua, and carried in them almost 800. men. When he came to Carthagena he found
there Alfonso de Hoieda sore spoiled with hi.* former losse: but then they both ioined toge-
ther, and went on land and aiienged theinsclues of the people. And in tiiis voiage Diego
de Niquesa went and discouered the coast called Nonibre de Dios, and went vnto the sound
of Darien, and called it Puerto de Misas, which is vpon the riuer of Pito. When they were
come vnto Veragua, he went on shore with his armie, his soldiers being out of hope to re-
turne to Hispaniola. Alfonso de Hoieda began a fortresse in Caribana against the Caribes ;
which was the first towne that the Spanyards builded in the Firme land : and in Nombre de
Dios they built another, and called it Nuestra Sennora de la Antigua. They builded also the
towne of Vraba. And there ihev left for their captaine and lieutenant one Francis Pisarro,
who was tiicre much troubled. They builded other towns also, whose names I here omit.
But these captaincs had not that good successe which they hoped for.

In the veere 1509. the second Admirall Don Diego Columbus went into the Island of Hi3<
paniola with his wife and hoiishoid : And she being a gentlewoman carried with her many
other women of good families, which were there married, and so the Spanyards and Castil-
lians began to people the countrey : for Don Feroaiulo the king had giuen them licence to
discouer and people the fownes of Hispaniola ; so that the same i)lace grew to be famous
and much frequented. The foresaid Admirall also gaue order to people the Island of Cuba,
which is very great and large, and placed there as his lieutenant one Diego Velasqucs, who
went with his father in the second voiage.

In the y^ere 1511. in the moneth of Aprill Alfonso de Albuquerque went from the citie
of Cochin vnto Malacca. In which y^ere and moneth the Chineans went from Malacca into
their owne countrey, and Alfonso sent with them for master a Portugall called Duarte Fer-

nandes.

0/ the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

i'isarro.

of HiS'
r many

Castil-
cnce to

famous
f Cuba,
xea, who

nandcs, with letters also and order vnto the king of the Mantias, which now is called Sian
Ntanding in the South. They parsed through the streight of Cincapura, and sailed towards The strei»ht of
the north, went along the coast of Patane vnto the citie of Cuy, and from thence to Odia odirfhe'chiefe
which is the chiefe citie of the kingdomc, standing in 14. degrees of northerly latitude. «'"« "f sun.
The king greatly honoured and welcomed Diiarte Fernandcs, being the first Portugall that
he had s^cne, and with him he sent backe amba«!sadours to Albuquerque. They passed ouer
land towards the west vnto the citie of Tanacjerim standing vpon the sea on the other side in xanaserim.
1^. degrees, where they imbarked themselues in two ships, and sailed along the coast vnto
the citie of Malacca, leaning it all discoucrcd.

The people of this countrey of Sian are people that eate of all kinde of beastes, or vermine.
They haue a delight to carrie round bcls \vithin the skin of their priuie members: which is M. Ralph Fitch
forbidden to the king and the religious people. It is said that of all other people of those J^''|hu''countr"y
parts they be most vertuous and honest. They commend themselues much for their chastitie'>'<'>'8'>tdiuersof
and pouertie. They bring no hennes nor doues vp in their houses. This kingdome hath En"und.* '""
in length 250. leagues, and in bredth 8(). Of this only kingdome the king may bring foorth
into the field thirtie thousand elephants, when he goeth to warre, besides those which re-
mainc in the cities for the garde of them. The king much esteemeth a white elephant, and
a red one also, that hath eies like vnto fiaming fire.

There is in this countrey a certaine small vermine, which vseth to cleaue fast to the trunke
of the elephant, and draweth the blood of the elephant, and so he dieth thereof. The skull
of this vermine is so hard, that the shot of an handgun cannot enter it: they haue in their
liuers the figures of men and women, which they call Toketa, and are much like vnto a
mandrake. And they affirme that he which hath one of them about him cannot die withTheiiuerofa
the stroke of any iron. They haue also wilde kine in this countrey, in the heads of whome ^li^„j"y^d
they finde stones, which are of vertue to bring good hap and fortune to marchants. of iron.

After that Duarle Fernandcs had bden with the Mantales or people of Sian, Alfonso de
Albuquerque sent thither a knight called Ruy Nunnez de Acunna with letters and ambassage
vnto the king of the Seguies, which we call Pegu. He went in a lunco of the countrey in ^'P'-
sight of the Cape Rachado, and from thence went vnto the cilie of Pera which standeth fast ?"»•
by the riuer Salano, and many other villages standing all along this riuer, where Duarte
Fernandcs had bdene before, vnto the cities of Tana^erim and of Martauan, standing in 15.
degrees toward the north, and the citie of Pegu standeth in 17. This was the first Portugall,
which trauailed in that kingdome: and he gaue good information of that countrey, and of Jf,'" «w*hi^ in
the people, which vse to were bels in their priuities euen as the Mantales doe. Peguai«o.

In the end of this ydere 1.511. Alfonso de Albuquerque sent thrde ships to the Islands Barrosdecad. a.
of Banda, and Maluco. And there went as Generall of them one Antonio de Breu, and with ^^ *,,|'f;/B,„.
him also went one Francis Serrano: and in these ships there were 120. persons. They da and Maiuco.
passed through the Streight of Saban, and along the Island of Samatra, and others, leauing
them on the left hand, towards the east : and they called them the Salites. They went also The SaUtcs.
to the Islands of Palimbam and La Suparam ; from whence they sailed by the noble Island
of laua, and they ran their course east, sailing befwdene it and the Island of Madura. The'»i»-
people of this Island are very warlike and strong, and doe little regard their Hues. Jhe'^"''"''
women also are there hired for the warres : and they fall out often together, and kill one
another, as the Mocos doe, delighting onely in shedding of blood.

Beyond the Island of laua they sailed along by another called Bali : and then came also Bail,
vnto others called Aujaue, Cambaba, Solor, *Galao, Mallua, Vitara, Rosalanguin, & *Arus, •orCuiiam.
from whence are brought delicate birds, which are of great estimation because of their '°"^"'
feathers: they came also to other Islands lying in the same parallele on the south side in 7.
or 8. degrees of latitude. And they be so nere the one to the other, that they seeme at
the first to be one entire and maine land. The course by these Islands is aboue fi'ue hundred
leagues. The ancient Cosmographers call all these Islands by the name lauos : but late
experience hath found their names to be very diuers, as you sde. Beyonde these there arc
other Islands toward the north, which are inhabited with whiter people going arraied in shirts,

doublets

''»

s«

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoucr'iea

]•

t ii'.

i.;r
I-

li^i!.

'8'.'

mm
'If!

^i'ii'i

I? I:

Theptopteof doublets and !)top<) lilcc viito the Portiigals, hauin;; also money of siluer. The goiiernoura
lucoww/wch ai^ong tliem doe carrie in their hands red staiies, whereby they sdeme to haue some affinitie

•pparcll.
Uouernouri car-
rying red iiauci
like ihoie of
Chiui.
Terniie.

Burro.

Amboino.

Oulijuli,

with the people of China. There are other Island!) and people about this place, which are
redde; and it is reported that they are of the people of China.

Anionic de Breu and those that went with him tooke their course toward the north, where
is a smal Island called Gumnape or Ternatc, from the hi);hest place whereof there fall con-
tinually into the sea flakes or strcamcs like vnto fire ; which is a woonderfull thing to behold.
From thence they went to the Islands of Burro and Amboino, and came to an anker in an
hauen of it called Guli<ruli, where they went on land and tooke a village standing by the
riucr, where thry found dead men hanging in the houses ; for the people there are eaters of
mans flesh, Here the Portugals burnt the ship wherein Francis Serrano was, for she was old
They went to a place on the other side standing in 8. degr<?es toward the south,
laded cloues, nutmegs, and mace in a lunco or barke which Francis Serrano

Mindinio,
Milura.

and rotten.
Cl»iiei,nutmf|(s, where they

and mjce in 8. i t.^ l

•ifgrfM toward Dought here.

tht ,ouih. They say that not farre from the Islands of Banda there is an Island, where there brdedeth

nothing else but snakes, and the most are in one raue in the middcst of the land. This is a
thing not much to be woondred at; for as much as in the Lcuant sea hard by the Isles of
Maiorca and Minorca there is another Island of old named Ophiusa, and now Formentera,
wherein there is great abundance of these vermine; and in the re«t of the Islands lying by
it there are none.

In the yeere 1512. they departed from Banda toward Malacca, and on the baxos or flats
of LuQapinlio Francis Serrano perished in his lunke or barke, from whence escaped vnto
the Isle of Mindanao nine or ten Portugals which were with him, and the Mwtx^s. of Malucn
sent for them. These were the flrst Portugals that came to the Islands of Cloues, which
stand from the Equinoctiall line towardcs the north in one ilcgrce, where they Jiued seuen
or eight yeeres.

The Island of Gumnape now called Ternate is much to be admired, for that It castetli
out fire. There were some princes of the Moores and couragious Portugals which determined
to goe ndere to the firie place to sde what it w;is; but they could neuer come ndere it. But
Antonie Galuano hearing of it, vndertookc to goe vp to it, and did so, and found a riucr
so extreme cold, that he could not suffer his hand in it, nor \:* put any of the water in his
mouth: And yet this place staiidelh vndcr the line, where the sunne continually burneth.

Monstrous men. In these Islands of Maluco (here is a kinde of men that haue spurrcson their ankles like vnto

Batochina. cocks. And it was told me by the king of Tydore, that in the Islands of Batochina there
were people that had tailes, and had a thing like vnto a dug between their cods, out of the
which there came milke. There are smal henncs also which lay their c'l'^c^ vnder the ground
aboue a fathome and an halfe, and the eggcs are bigger then ducks egges,and many of these
hennes are blacke in their flesh. There arc hogs also with homes, and parats which prattle
much, which they call Noris. There is also a riucr of water so hot, that whatsoeuer lining
creature comcth into it, their skins will come ofl", and yet fish brdede in it. There are crabs
which be very swdete, and so strong in their clawes, that thev will brcake the iron of a
pikeaxe. There be others also in the sea little and hairie, but whosoeucr eateth of them
dieth immediately. There be likewise ccrtaiiie oisters, which they doe call Bras, the shels
whereof haue .10 large a compasse, that they doe Christen in them. In the sea also there
are liuely stones, which doe grow and increase like vnto fish, whereof very good lime is
made: and if they let it lie when it is taken out of the water, it looseth the strength, and
it neuer burneth after. There is also a certaine tree, which bcareth flowers at the sunne
set, which fall downe as soone as they be growne. There is a fruit also, as they say, whereof
if a woman that is conceaued of childe eateth, the childe by & by mooucth. There is fur-
ther a kinde of herbe there growing, which followeththe sunnc, and remooueth after it, which
is a very strange and niaruailous thing.

In the ydere 1512. in the moneth of lanuarie Alfonsus de Albuquerque went backe from
Malaca vnto Goa, and the ship wherein he went was lost, and the rest went from his com-

panie.

The flowers of
Xistus and
Arbor tristis are
such.

Barros dtcad.l.
ii'j. 7. cap. I.

ueriea

rnoura
ffinitie
ch are

, where
ill con-
behold.
T in an

by the
aters of

was old
c south,
Serrano

)r^edeth
This is a
Isles of
mcntera,
lying by

IS or flats
ped vnto
f Maluco
»s, which
ed seuen

it casteth
etermined
e it. But
nd a riucr
ater in his
burneth.
5 like vnto
lina there
out of the
le ground
ly of these
ch prattle
ler liuing
are crabs
iron of a
|h of them
the sheli*
so there
:)d lime is
ingth, and
Ithe sunne
, whereof
lere is fur-
[r it, which

|)acke from

his com-

panie.

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

hprc till *^'"'"'

panie. Simon dc Andrada, and a few Portug;iIs were driuen vnto the Island-. '

being many t^ full of palmetrdcs : and they stand lowe by the water : which staii\

they knew what was become of their gouernour. These were the first Portugals that li.ul -rue

thtjsc Islands, wherein there growe Cocos, which are very good against all kindc of poison.

In this y^cre 1512.* there went out of Castile onelohndc Solis borne in Lisbon, and chiefc loimJe soii*.
pilot vnto Don Fernando. And he hauing licence went to discoucr the coast of Brasill.
He tookc the like course that the Pinsons had done : he went also to the Cape of S. Augus-
tine, and wont forwards to the south, coasting the shore and land, and he came vnto The
Port dc Lagoa : and in 3b. degrees of southerly latitude he found a riuer which they of Drasill
cj\\ Parana-gua(;u, that is, The great Water. He sawe there slgnes of siiuer, and therefore
called it Kio de Plata, that is. The Riuer of siiuer. And it is said that at that time he went RiuiiePUt*.
farther because he liked the countrey well : but he returned backe againe into Spaine, and
made account of all things to Don Fernando, demaunding of the king the goucrnment there-
of, which the king granted him. Whereupon he prouided thrde ships and with them in the Pet. M«rtyr.
y^cre 1515. he went againe into that kingdomc ; but he was there slaine. These Solisses ''"*''' ^ "P' '*
were great discoucrers in those partes, and spent therein their Hues and goods.

In the same yderc 1513 lohn Ponce of Leon, which had b^ene gouernour of the Nle of
S. lohn armed two ships and went to sdeke the Isle of Bnyuca, where the naturals of the coun-
trey reported to be a Wei, which maketh old men yoong. Whereupon he laboured to fmde P«. Mirtyr.'
it out, and was in searching of it the space ofsixe moncthes, but could finde no such thing. comJnhi'stor'ia

He entred into the Isle of Bimini ; and discouered a point of the firme land standing in 25. g'ncui.iib. j.
degr(?es towards the north vpon Easter day, and therefore he named it Florida. And because Bimini" uundk
the land sdemed to yeeld gold and siiuer and great riches, he begged it of the king Don Fer- JJ^"'^''*^^ .
nando, but he died in the discouerie of it, as many more haue done. c»f. lo.

In the ydere 1513. Vasco Nunnes de Valboa hearing spdech and newes of The south sea. Pet. Mmyr.
determined to goe thither, although his companie dissuaded him from that action. But being '*""'■ > "P- '•
a man of good valure with those soldiers that he had, being 290. he rcsolued to put himselfe
into that ieoperdie. He went therefore from Dariene the first day of September, carrying
some Indians of the countrey with him to be his guides, and he marched ouerthwart the land
sometimes quietly, sometimes in war: and in a certaine place called Careca he found Negroes
captiues with curled haire. This Valboa came to the sight of the South Sea on the 25. day of J^^^^^^i, "'
the said moneth, and on Saint Michaelsday came vnto it: where he imbarked himselfe against
the will of Chiapes, who was the Lord of that coast, who wished him not to doe so, because it
was very dangerous for him. But he desirous to haue it knowne, that he had beene vpon
those sca.s went forwards, and came backe againe to land in safctie, and with great content-
ment, bringing with him good store of gold, siiuer, and pearles, which there they tooke.
For which good seruice of his Don Ferdinando the king greatly fauourcd and honoured him.

This ydere 1513. in the moneth of Februarie Alfoasus de Albuquerque went fro the citie Barros docid. j.
of Goa towards the sfreight of Mecha with twenty ships. They arrlued at the citie of Aden Ti;/;,"fj|f,of
and battered it, and passed forward and entred into the Streight. They say that they saw a Mcduorofthe
crosse in the element and worshipped it. They wintered in the Island of Camaran. This U^^,"''""'^
was the first Portugall captaine that gaue information of those seas, and of that of Persia, The uit of Ca-
being things in the world of great account. """'"■

In the ydere 1514. and in the moneth of May there went out of Saint Lucar one Pedro Pet. Martyr. ,
Arias de Auila at the commandement of Don Ferdinando. He was the fourth gouernour of ''""'• ■'• '"i"-.
Castillia del Oro or Golden Castile : for so they named the countreyes of Dariene, Carthagena,'
and Vraba, and that countrey which was newly conquered. He carried with him his wife the
Lady Elizabeth and 1500 men in seuen ships; and the king appointed Vasco Nunnez de
Valboa gouernour of the South Sea and of that coast.

* According to Herrera this was in 1508. " In the year LIOS," says he, " John Diaz de Solis, and Vincent
\ antz Pinzon sailed from Sevil, in the two Caravels the King had fitted out, and from the Islands of Cabo Verde
{las-seJ over directly to Cape St. Avigustiii, and proceeding thence to the Southward, coasting along the Continent,
came into about forty degrees of South Latitnefe, erecting Crosses wheresoever they lauded, and took iiossession.
ill the most solimn Manner." See ilernra's History of the West Indies. Vol. i. p. 333. Ebit.

E In

2<6

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Lnle Discourriin

I • I'

!•

IPlI

In the beginning of the y^cre 1515. the gouernour Pedro Arla>i tie Auila sent one Gaipar
Morales with 150. men vnto the Gulfe ofS. \fichacl to dlricoucr the Islandit urXararcqui
ChiapeN, and TumacciiM. There was a Casique Valboas friend which gaiie him many Cannaii
or boateti made of one U6c to rowc in, wherein they patwed vnto The NIand of pearles : the
Lord whereof re«iHted them at their comming on land. But Chiapcs and Tumaccuiidid pacific
Mirtr'rAtid.i.'''"™ '" *"*''' order, that the captaine of the Isle had them home vnto his house, and made
cjp. 10. much of them, and receiued baptismc at their hands, naming him Pedro Arias after the gouer>

Uomara hittorls --._ ...

|rn<ril. lib. 6.
Cif' 1.

TV lilind of
Tirarcqut or of
Miilri in ihc

P«l. Mtrtyr.
dccad. j.cap. la

noiirs name, and he gaue vnto them for this a basiirt full ofpearles waying IIU. poundx,
whereof some were as big as hasell nuts of 20. '2b, 2i>. or 31. carats : &c cucry carat is fower
graines. There was giuen for one of them 1200 ducats. This Island of Tararequi standcth
in 5. degrees of latitude towards the north.

In this y^cre 1515. in the moneth of March the gouernour sent one Gonsaluo dc Radaios
with 80. soldiers to discouer new lands, and they went from Darienc to Nonibrc d c Dios,
where came vnto them one Lewis de Mercado with fiftie men more, which the gouernour sent
to aide him. They determined to discouer toward the South, saying that that countrey was
the richest. They tnoke with them Indians to be their guides, and going along the co.ist thoy
found slaues marked with irons as the Portugals doe vse ; and hauing marched a ;i;ood way
through the countreyea with great trauaile they gathered togetiier much goldc and fortic
slaues to doe them seruicc : but one Casique named Pariza did set vpon them and slue and
tooke the most part of them.

The gouernour hearing of these newes, the same y(5erc 1515. sent foorth his «oniie lohn

Arias de Auila to be reuenged and to discouer also by sea and by land : They wciit westward

Ca{K 4< Ouma. to Cape dc Gucrra standing in little more than sixe degrees towards the norih, and from

PunudeBorica. thence vnto Puuta de Borica, and to Cape Blanco or the White Cape standing in 8. degr(ie.s

plnamapeopied. ''"^ *" halfe : they discouered 250. leagues as they afBrme, and peopled the cilie of Panama.

Birroi dccal a. In this Very y^ere 1515. in the moneth of May Alfonsus de Albuquerque gouernour of

Oiori^'i "b! 10. India .sent from the citie ofOrmuz one Fernando Gomes de Lemos as ainbassadonr vnto

rn- *ii- Xec or Shaugh Ismael king of Persia : and it is declared that they trauailed in it JOO. leagues,

ismatT iiiJJ''of"*and that it is a pleasant countrey like vnto France. This Xec or Shaugh Ismael went on

Periij. hunting and fishing for troutes, whereof there are many. And there be the fairest women

in all the world. And so Alexander the great affirmed, when he called them The women

with golden eies. And this y^ere this woorthy Viceroy Alfonsus de Albuquerque died.

In the ydere 1416. and one hundred y^eres after the taking of Ceuta in Barbarie, Lopez
Suares being gouernour of India, there was a dispatch made by the commandement of the
kings highnes vnto one Fernando Perez de Andrada to passe to the great countrey and
kingdome of China. He went from the citie of Cochin in the moneth of Aprill. They re-
Pcppcr a princi> ceiucd pepper, being the principal marchandise to be sold in all China of any value : And he
mcK''""*"* w^ farther commanded by the king Don Emmanuel to goe also to Bengula with his letter
and dispatch to a knight called lohn Coelo. This was the first Portugal!, as farre as I know,
which drunke of the water of the riuer Ganges.

This ydere 1516. died Don Fernando king of Spaine.

In the y^ere 1517. this Fernando Perez went vnto the citie of Malacha, and in the moneth
of lune he departed from thence towards China with eight sailes fower Portujjals and the
chiu diMoucr- others Malayans. He arriued in China: And because he could not come on land without an
"*• ambassage, there was one Thomas Perez which had order for it : and he went from the citie

of Canton, where they came to an anker : They went by land fower hundred leagues, and came
vnto the citie of *Pekin, where the king was, for this prouince and countrey is the biggest
that is in the worlde. It beginneth at Sailana in twcntie degrees of latitude towards the north,
and it endeth almost in 50. degrees. Which must be 5(X). leagues in length : and they say that
iiiiu da Vciiiaga it containeth 300. leagues in bredth. Fernando Perez was 14. moneths in the Isle Da Ve-
injtoOwtilM. "n'3ga, learning as much as he could of the countrey, according as the king his master had
commanded him. And although one Raphael Perestrello had beenc there in a lunke or barkc
of certaine marchants of Malaca, yet vnto Fernando Perez there ought to be giuen the praise
of this discouerie : as well for that he had commandement from the king, as in discouering so

much

The death of
Fernando king
of Spaine.
OKirhialih,ii<
AI.3I*.

Canioa.
•Or Pakin.

of the World,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

moneth
Is and the
lithout an
the citie
ind came
biggest
the north,
say that
Da Ve-
laster had
or barkc
the praise
(uering so
much

■*

much uifh Thomas Perez by land, and George Mascarenhas by »ea, and for coasting vnto the
ritic <>t I ijiiicm standing in 24. degrees of latitude. F.)qiii'ni,

rn tt :s .me \6ere 1517. Charles, which afterward was Emperour, came into Spainc, andT,[;«^jo"jj^^"^«'
took.c possession thereof. And in the same y^ere Francis Fernandes de Cordoua, ChristopherintoSpun..
Moraiucs and Lopez Ochoa armed three ships at their owne proper charges from the Island o™«'h^»^i«».
of Ciil'n They had also with them a barke of Diego Velasques, who then was gnuernour :
They I ai on land in lucatan standing in 20. degr(?cs of latitude at a point whirh they called '«"•"•
Piiii'ta (Ic IS Duennas, that is to say, the point of Ladies, which was the tirst place wherein
they had y^cn Temples and buildings of lime and stone. The people here goc better ap-
parelled then in any other place. They haue crosses which they worship, setting them vpon
their tombes when they be buried. Whereby it st'emeth that in times past they had in that
place the faith of Christ among them. And some say that thereabouts were The scuen Cities.'*"'" ««■""'«*■
Thry went round about it towards the north which is on the right hand : from whence they
furiird backe vnto the Island of Cuba with some examples of gold, and men which they had
taken. And this was the first beginning of the discouerie of New Spaine.

In the y»<ere 1518. Lopez Suarcs commanded Don lohn dc Silneira to goe to the Islands off/^|'*«;;','I,j jj*;
Makliiia: and he made peace with them : and from thence he went to the citic of Chatigamowriuiiib. u.
situated on the mouth of the riuer Ganges vndcr the Tropickc of Cancer. For this riucr, and cl;,','/,;^''* *"
the riucr Indus, which standeth an hundred leagues beyond the citie of Diu, and that ofB«ntai>.
Canton in China doe all fall into the sea vnder one par.illcle or latitude. And although be-
fore that time Fernan Perez had h6cn commanded to goe to Rengala, yet notwithstand-
ing lohn de Silueira ought to beare away the commendation of this discouerie : because
he went as captaine generall, and remained there longest, learning the commodities of the
countrey, and maners of the people.

In the said ydere 1518. the first day of May Diego Velasquesgouernour of the Island of Cuba Ptt. M.riyr,
sent his nephew lohn de Grisalua with fower ships & two hundred soldiers to discouer the Jomir!hUt!i«.
land of lucatan. And they founde in their way the Island of* Cosumel standing towards thcii**"?- u-fc
north in ID. degrees, and named it Santa Cruz, because they came to it the third of May. "(J; Aiunmii.
They coasted the land lying vpon the left hand of the Gulfe, and came to an Island called
Ascension, because they came vnto it vpon Ascension day: They went vnto the end of itTheuieofAi.
standing in 16. degrees of latitude: from whence they came backe because they could finde "^"b",^ ^f
no place to goe out at: and from hence they went round about ittoanotherriuer, which they Hunduni.
called The riucr of Grisalua standing in 17. degrees of latitude: the people thereabout troubled ''•'""'' °""'"*'
them sore, yet notwithstanding they brought from thence some gold, siluer and feathers,
being there in great estimation, and so they turned backe againe to the Island of Cuba.

In the sainey^cre 1518. one Francis Garay armed thrdc ships in the Isle of lamaica at his po'n«.t>ut.gen.
owne charges, and went towards the point of Florida standing in 25. degrees towards thejij,,'"'''
north, sdeming to them to be an Island most pleasant, thinking it better to people Islands
than the firme land, because they could best conqucre them and k«5epe them. They went
there on land, but the people of Florida killed many of them, so that they durst not inhabitc
it. So they sailed along the coast, and came vnto the riuer of Panuco, standing 500. leagues Pmuco.
from the point of Florida in sailing along the coast; but the people resisted them in euery
place. Many of them also were killed in Chila, whom the Sauages flaied and eate, hanging
vp their skinncs in their Temples in memoriall of their valiantnes. Notwithstanding all this
Francis de Garay went thither the ne.xt y^ere and begged the gouernnient of that countrey
of the Emperour, because he sawe in it some shew of gold and siluer.

In the ydere 1519. in the moneth of Februarie Fernando Cortes went from the Island ofP«Mvrartyr.
Cuba to the land which is called Nona Spania with 11. ships and 550. Spanyards in them. "''"''■ *"'''*■
The first place where he went on land was the Island of Cosumel ; where they immediately
destroied all the Idols, and set crosses on the altars and the images of the virgine Marie, connr. hiiLjen.
From this Island they went and arriued on the firme land of lucatan, at the point De las Du- J^^; *" "''■ ''"
cnnas, or the point of Ladies, and went thence to the riuer of Tauasco, and set vpon a citie Tauuco.
fast by called Potoncian inuironed with wood, and the houses were built with lime and stone, ^"''"'V""'*

E 2 and

1 .;ii

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Disco ttcries

24.

Zempoallan.
Chiauitztlan.

Villi ricj de b
vera Crui.

and couered with tile: they fought there cgarly; and there appecred vnto them S. lainea on
horsebacke, which increased their courage. They called that citie Victoria: and they were
the first people which were subdued to the Spanyards obedience in all Newe Spaine. From
iii"*"" ""^ ^"* hence they went discouering the coast till they came vnto a place named S. lohn de Vllhua,
distant as they said from \f exico where the king Mutcquma was 6<>- or 70. leagues : and
there was a seruaiit of his that gouerned that prouince, named Tcndilli, wliich naue them
good entertainment, although they vnderstood not one another. But Cortes had 20, women,
whereof one was called Maiine borne in that countrey : They were the first that were baptized
in New Spaine. And from that time forward Marine and Aguilar serucd as interpreters.
Tendilli presently gaue knowledge of this vnto Mutecjuma, that a kinde of bearded people
were arriued in his countrey: for so they called the Castillians. Hut he was troubled vpon
that newes: for his Gods, (which arc to be thought to be diuels) had told him, that such
people as the Spanyards were should destroy his law and countrey, and be Lords tliercof.
And therefore he sent gifts vnto Cortes, in value 20. thousand ducats, but would not come to
him.

Because S. lohn de Vllhua was then no place for a nauie to ride in, Cortes sent Francis de
Nfonteio, and the pilot Antonie Alaminos in two brigandines to discoucr ihat coast ; who
<"■""''" [;j^""i* came to a place where they might ride without danger. They came to Panuco standing iu
ctif.ii'.ii.ii. 23. degrdes northward: from whence they came backc vpon an agreement to goe vnto Cu-
luacan being an hauen of more safetie. They set saile, but Cortes went by land westward
with the most part of his men on horsebacke, and they came vnto a citie called Zempoallan,
where they were well receiued. And from thence he went to another towne called Chiau-
itztlan : with the Lord of which towne as with all the countrey besides he made league to be
against Muteguma. And when he knew that his ships were come, he went vnto them, and
there builded a towne, and called it Villa rica de la vera cruz. From whence he sent vnto
Charles the Emperour a present, and made report of all that he had done, and how he de-
termined to goe to Mexico, and to visite Mute^uma : and besought the Emperour to giue liim
the gouernment of that countrey. And because his people should not rise in mutinie, as they
began, he destroyed all his ships.

Cortes presently went from Villa ricade la vera Cruz, leaning there 150. Spanish horse-
men, and many Indians to serue them ; and the villages round about became his friends.
Gomarahistori«He Went vuto the citic of Zempoallan : there he heard newes that Francis Garay was on the
fap.'lsl'.''''' '■ '^o^st with four ships to come on land : And by subtiltie he got nine of his men ; of whom
he vnderstood, that Garay had bdene in Florida, and came vnto the riiier Panuco, where he
got some golde, determining to stay there in a towne which is now called Almeria.
Gomar.hist.gen. Coftcs ouerthrcw the idols in Zempoallan, & the tombes of their kings, whome they wor-
shipped as Gods, and toldc them that they were to worship the true God. From thence he
went toward Mexico the 16. day of August 1519. and trauailed thrde daics iourncy, and came
to the citie of Zalapan, and to another beyond it named SicuchimatI, where they were well
receiued, and offered to be conducted to Mexico, because Mute<;uma had giuen such com-
mandement. Beyond this place he passed with his companie a certaine hill of three leagues
high, wherein there were vines. In another place they found abouc a thousand loades of
wood ready cut; and beyond they met with a plaine countrey, and in going through the
same, he named it Nombre de Dios. At the bottome of the mountainehe rested in a towne
called Teuhixuacan, and from thence they went through a desolate countrey, and so came to
another mountaine that was very colde and full of snow, and they lay in a towne named Za-
ciotan : And so from towne to towne they were well receiued and feasted till they came into
another realme named Tlaxcalian, which waged warre against Mutefuma, and being valiant
they skirmished with Cortes; but in the end they agreed and entred into league with him
against the Mexican" : and so they went from countrey to countrey till they came within
sight of Mexico, The king Muteyuma fearing them, gaue them good entertainment \vit;»
lodging and all things necessarie : and they were with this for a time contented : but mis-
trusting that he and his should be slaine, he tooke Mutef uma prisoner and brought him to

his

lib. a. cap. 15.

Zalapan.
Siicucbimall.

Z.iclMsn.

Tlaxcalian.

Mutefuma
pritouer.

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEWES.

JT)

his lodging with good garde. Cortes demanded how farre his realme did extend^ and sought
to know the mines of gold and siluer that were in it, and how many kings neighbours to
Mute<;uma dwelled therein, requiring certaine Indians to be informed thereof, whereof he
had eight prouided : and he ioined to them eight Spanyards. and sent them two and two into
fower countreys, namely intoZugoila, Malinaltepec, Tenich, & Tutntepec. They which went
vnto ZuQolla went 80. leagues : for so much it was from Mexico thither : They which went to
Malinaltepec, went 70. leagues, seeing goodly countries, and brought examples of gold, which
the naturals of the countrey tooke out of great riuers: and all this prouince belonged vnto
Muteijuma.

The countrey of Tenich and vp the riuer were not subiect to Mutc(;uma,buthad warre with
him, and would not suffer the Mexicans to enter into their territoric. They sent ambassadors
vnto Cortes with presents, offering him their estate, and amitie ; whereof Mute^uma was
nothing glad. They which went to Tututepec standing ndere the South sea did also bring
with them examples of gold, and praised the pleasantnes of the countrey, and the multitude
of good harbours vpon that coast, shewing to Cortes a cloth of cotton wooll all wouen with
goodly workes, wherein all the coast with the hauens and cr^ekes were set forth. But this
thing then could not be prosecuted by reason of the comming of Pamphilus do Naruaez into
the countrey, who set all the kingdome of Mexico in an vprorc.

In this yiere 1 519. the tenth day of August one Fernande de Magallanes departed from
Siuill with fiuc ships toward the Islands of Maluco : he went along the coast of Brasill till he
came vnto the riuer of Plate, which the Castillians had before discouered. From thence there-
fore he began his discouerie, and came vnto an hauen which he called The Porte of Saint
lulian standing in 49. degrees, and there heentred and wintred : they endured much cold by
reason of snow and ice: the people of that countrey they found to be of great stature, and of
great strength, taking men by the legs and renting them in the middest as easily as one of vs
will rent an hen : they Hue by fruits and hunting. They called them Patagones, but the
Brasilians doe call them Morcas.

In the ydere 1520. in the beginning of the moneth of September growing then somewhat
temperate they went out of the port and riuer of Saint lulian, hauing lost in it one of their
ships, and with the other fower he came vnto the Streights named after the name of Mag.il-
i.ines standing in b2. degrees and a halfe. From thence one of the ships returned backe
vnto Castile, whereof was captaine and pilot one Stephen de Porto a Portugall, and the other
tltr^e went forward, entring into a mightie sea called Pacificum, without seeing any inhabited
land till they came in 13. degrees towards the north of the Equinoctiall : in which latitude
they came vnto Islands which they called Los lardines, and from thence they sailed to the
Archipclagus of S. Lazarus, and in one of the Islands called Matnn Magallanes wasslaine, and
his ship was burnt, and the other two went vnto Borneo, and so from place to place they went
backe vnfill they came to the Islands of Malucos, leaning many others discouered, which I
rehearse not because I findc not this voiage exactly written.

About this time Pope Leo. the tenth sent one Paulus Centurio as ambassadour to the great
Duke of Moscduie to wish him to send into India an armie along the coast of Tartaric. And
by the reasons of this ambassadour the said Duke was almost persuaded vnto that action, if
other inconuenicnces had not letted him.

In this same ycere 1.520. in Februarie Diego Lopes de Sequeira gouernour of India went
towards the Streight of Mccha and carried witli him the ambassaclour of Presbyter lohn, and
Iloderigo de Lima who also went as ambassadour to him. They came vnto the Island of Ma-
<i\\z standing in the Red sea on the side of Africa in 17. degrees towards the north : where he
set the ambassadours on land, with the Portugals that should goc with them. Peter de Couillan
had bdene there before, being sent thither by king lohn the second of Portugall; but yet Fran-
cis Aluarez gaue principall light and knowledge of that countrey.

In the yeere 1520. the licentiate Lucas Vasques de Aillon and other inhabitants of S. Do-
muigo furnished two ships, and sent them to the Isles of Lucayos to get slaucs, and finding
none they passed along by the firmc land beyond Florida vnto certaine countreyes called

Chicora

Zufolli.
Malinaltepec.
Zenich.
Tututepec.

Gomar» hist.
gen. lib. 2. cap.
48.

Pamphilus de
Naruaez.
Gomara hist.
gen.lib.4. cap. 2.

The discouerie
of Magal-
lanes from the
riuer of Plate
forward.

Patagones

I.os lardinei.

Gomata hist,
gen. lib. 4. cap. 3.

Pet. Martyr,
decad. 5. c«p. 7

Gomir. lis. 4.
cap. 17.

Ramusiu* i.vo!
fol.374.

Mifua.

R^mtuit:! I vol.
f,,l. i.;o.

Gomaia hi>t.
gen. lib l.caf. 7.

1'li!;

> I ■■, ;■

in i

1' ''•■■i'

■ ■";:!i

f'ii:

»U'_

•St

I ll;f

ii:

ill!'

I'M., i'il

Chicora.
C'.ialdapc.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discouerics

OoraarihJit.
Kcn.lib.!, car.48.

riierfuoltofthe
Mexicans in ab*
sence of Cartes.

Mutcfuma
slaine.

Gomar.hict.jen.
lib. a. cap. jO.

Gomar.h-.it.gen,
lib. 1. cap. 60.

Tochtepec.
CoaiacotlcOi

Emminuelt
death.

Otoriuslib. It.
fol. 366.
Gomara historii
Frncral. lib. 4.
cap. 8.
Burro.
Timor.
Kud«.

Ooman hist,
(en.lib. 6. cap, 4.

Chicora and Gualdap^, vnto the riuer lordan and the Cape of Saint Helena standing in 33.
degrees toward the north. They of the countrey came downe to the sea side to s^e the ship:;,
as hauing neuer before s^ene the like : The Spanyards went on land where they receiued good
entertainment, and had giuen vnto them such things as they lacked. But they brought many
of them into their ships and then set saiie and brought them av;ay for slaues : but in the
way one of their ships sunke, and the other was also in great hazard. By this newes the Li-
centiate Aillon knowing the wealth of the countrey, begged the gou^rnment thereof of the
Emperour, and it was giuen him : whither he went to get money to pay his debt.

About this time Diego Velasques gouernour of Cuba hearing the good successe of Cortes,
and that he had begijcd the gouernment of New Spaine, which he held to be his, he furnished
out thither against Cortes 18. ships with lOfX). men and 80. horses, whereof he sent as Ge-
iierall one Pamphilus de Naruaez. He came vnto the towne called Villa rica de la vera Cruz,
where he tooke land, and commanded those of the countrey to receiue him as gouernour
thereof: But they tooke his messenger prisoner, and sent him to Mexico where Cortes was.
Which thing being knowne of Cortes, he wrote letters vnto Naruaez not to raise any vprore
in the countrey which he had discouered, offering him obedience if he had any commission
from the Emperour ; but he corrupted the people of the countrey with money : Whereupon
Cortes went from Mexico and tooke Naruaez prisoner in the towne of Zampoallan, and put
out one of his eics.

Naruaez being thus taken prisoner, his armie submitted themselues to Cortes, and obeied
him. Whereupon presently he dispatched 200. .soldiers vnto the riuer of Garay, and he sent
lohn Vasquez de Leon with other two hundred vnto Cosaaico, and withall sent a Spanyard
with the newes of his victorie vnto Mexico. But the Indians being in the meane time risen,
hurt the messenger. Which being knowne to Cortes, he mustered his men, and found a
tiiousand footemen and two hundred horsemen, with the which he went towards Mexico, where
he found Peter de Aluarado, and the rest which he had left there aliue & in safetie, wherewith
he v.as greatly pleased, and Mutejuma made much of him. But yet the Mexicans ceased not
but made warre against him: and the warre grew so hot that they killed their king Mute^puma
with a stone, and then there rose vp another king such an one as pleased them, till such time
as they might put the Spanyards out of the citie, being no more than 504 footemen, and fortie
horsemen. The Spanyards %ith great losse being driuen out of Mexico, retired themselues
with much adoe to Tlaxcallan, where they were well receiued : and so they gathered together
900. Spanyards, 80. horsemen, and two hundred thousand Indians, their friends, and allies :
and so they went backe againe to take Mexico in the moneth of August in the y^ere 1521 .

Cortes obtaining still more and more victories determined to s^e further within the countrey :
and forthis purpose in theyeere 1521. and in October he sent out one Gonsalo de Sandoual with
yOO. footemen and 35 horsemen, and certaine Indians his friends vnto Tochtepec and Coaza-
coalco, which had rebelled, but at length yielded. And they discouered the countrey, and
built a towne 120. leagues from Mexico, and named it Medelin, and another towne they
made naming it Santo Spirito fower leagues from the sea vpon a riuer ; and these two townes
kept the whole countrey in obedience.

This y^ere 1521. in December Emmanuell king of PortHgall died, and after him his sonnc
king lohn the 3. reigned.

In the y^ere 1521. there went from Maluco one of Magellans ships laden with clones:
they victualed themselues in the Island of Burro, and from thence went to Timor which
standeth in 1 1 . degrees of southerly latitude. Beyond this Island one hundred leagues they dis-
couered certaine Islands and one named Eude, finding the places from thence forward peopled.
Afterward passing without Samatra they met with no land till they fell with the Cape of
Bona Speran^a, where they tooke in fresh water and wood : So they came by the Islands of
Cape Verde, and from thence to Siuill, where they were notably receiued, as well for the
cloues that they brought, as that they had compassed about the world.

In the ydere 1522. in lanuarie one Gilgonzales armed fower ships in the Island of Tara-
"requi standing in the South sea with intent to discouerthe coast of Nicaragua, and especially

a streighf

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

a straight or passage from the South sea into the North sea. And sailing along the coast he

came vnto an hauen called S. Vincent, and there landed with 100. Spanyards and certaine

horsemen, and went within the land 200. leagues, and he brought with him 200. pesoes of

gold, and so came backeagaine to S. Vincent : where he found his pilot Andrew Nigno, who Tecoameptc.

was as far as Tecoantepec in 16. degrees to the north, and had sailed thr^e hundred leagues : °3!«b"& *

from whence they returned to Panama, and so ouer land to Hispaniola. cap. i».

In the same y^ere 1522. in the moneth of Aprill the other ship of Magallanes called The castagnedi His-
Trinitie went from the Island of Tidord, wherein was captaine Gonzalo Gomez de Espinosa, Qji^„f,'"^ib"j'
shaping their course toward Noua Spania : and because winde was scant they stirred toward cap. 41.
the northeast into 16. degrees, where they found two Islands, and named them the Isles of °°["|ib_|j"t" g.
Saint lohn, and in that course they came to another Island in 20. degrees, which they named &i'j. '
La Griega, where the simple people came into their ships, of whom they kept some to shew Jg"d'g"//jf
them in Noua Spania : They were in this course fower monethes, vntil they came into 42. nonheriy lati-
degr^es of northerly latitude, where they did s^e sea fishes called Seales and Tunies. And ^'i'^'jegreesof
the climate seemed vnto them comming newly out of the heat, to be so cold and vntem- northerly lati-
perate, that they could not well abide it, and therefore they turned backe againe to Tidore, ""''''
being thereunto enforced also by contrarie windes. These were the first Spanyards which
had b^ene in so high a latitude toward the north. And there they found one Antonie
de Britto building a fortresse, which tooke from them their goods, and sent 48. of them pri-
soners to Malaca.

In thisy^ere 1522. Cortes desirous to haue some hauens on the South sea, and to discouer comar. list. gen.
the coast of Noua Spania on that side, whereof he had knowledge in Muteguma his time, (bi- •''••*"P- "•
cause he thought by that way to bring the drugs from Maluco and Banda, and the spicerie
from laua, with lesse trauaile and danger) he sent fower Spaniards with their guides to Te-
coantepec, Quahutemallan, and other hauens : where they were wel receiued, and brought
some of the people with them to Mexico : And Cortes made much of them ; and afterwards
sent ten pilots thither to search the seas there about. They went 70. leagues in the sea but The South sea
found no hauen. One Casique or Lord called Cuchataquir vsed them well, & sent with them con«'uis''^iots!
to Cortes 200. of his men with a present of gold and siluer, and other things of the countrey :
and they of Tecoantepec did the like : and not long after, this Casique sent for aide to Cortes Tecoanteptc.
against his neighbours which did warre against him.

In the y^ere lb23. Cortes sent vnto him for his aide Peter de Aluarado, with two hundred oomarahiit.
soldiers footemen, and .ortie horsemen, and the Caciques of Tecoantepec and Quahutemallan ^'"' ' " ""'' '
asked them for the monsters of the sea which came thither the y^ere past, meaning the ships
of Gil Gonsales de Auiia, being greatly amazed at the sight of them, and woondring much
more when they heard, that Cortes had bigger then those : and they painted vnto them a Aw.ttiestr.-
mighty Carakc with sixe masts, and sailes and shroudes, and men armed on horsebacke. tagcme.
This Aluarado went through the countrey and builded there the city of Sant lago or Saint Sam Ujo buiit.
lames, and a towne which he called Segura leaning certaine of his people in it.

In the sameyeere 1523. in the moneth of May Antonie de Britto being captaine of the Isles Caitagnedahi.».
of Maluco sent his cosen Simon de Breu to learne the way by the Isle of Borneo to Malaca : enuii'iib.l^'ij.
They came in sight of the Islands of Manada and Panguansara : They went through the Mamda.
straight of Treminao and Taguy : and to the Islands of Saint Michael standing in 7. degrees, xSands'of
and from thence discouered the Islands of Borneo, and had sight of Pedra branca or the White |- Michael.
stone, and passed through the straight of Cincapura, & so to the citie of Malaca. Ped™ branca,

In this same yeere 1523, Cortes went with 300. footemen and 150. horsemen and 40000. Mexi- Gomarahi«.gcn.
cans to Panuco both to discouer it better, and also to inhabite it, and withall to be reuenged '">•»•"?•''■
vpon them which had killed and eaten the soldiers of Francis Garay. They of Panuco re-
sisted him, but Cortes in the end ouerthrew them, and conquered the countrey : And hard
by Chila vpon the riuer he built a towne and named it Santo Stephano del puerto, leaning in santo stephano
it 100. footemen, and thirtie horsemen and one Peter de Valleio for lieutenant. This iourney '"''?"""'•
cost him 76. thousand Castillians, besides the Spanyards, horses, and Mexicans which died
there.

:.'!-

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoueries

li'f

= ;*;

mill

'I:

.1:1':

:fii

Rio df lis

Rio Monulto.

Chila.

Conur. en U

Oomarshiitgfn. In this yeere 15^S. Francis de Garay made nine ships and two brigandines to goc to Paniico
I'niaConqm'sti'^"*' ^'■^ '^'" '*^ Iss Paltnas to bc there as gouemonr : for that the Emperour had granted vnto
dp Mexico. him from the coast of Florida vnto Panuco, in regard of the charges, which he had b^ene at
in that discouerie. He carried with him 850. soldiers, and 140. horses, and some men out of
the Island of lamaica, where he furnished his fl^et with munition for the warre : and he went
vnto Xagua an haucn in the Island of Cuba, where he vnderstood that Cortes had peopled
the coast of Panuco : and that it might not happen vnto him as it did to Pamphihis de Nar-
uaez, he determined to take another companion with him, and desired the Doctor Zuazo to
goc to Mexico and procure some agreement betw^ene Cortes and him. And they departed
from Xagua each one about his busines. Zuazo came in great ieoperdie, and Garay went
not cldere without. Garay arriued in Rio de las Palmas on S. lames his day, and then he
sent vp the riiier one Gonsaluo de Ocampo, who at his returne declared that it was an euill
and desert countrey : but notwithstanding Garay went there on land with 400. footemen and
some horsemen ; and he commanded one lohn de Grijalua to search the coast, and hr him-
selfe marched by land towards Panuco, and passed a riuer which he named Rio Montalto; he
entrcd into a great towne where they found many hennes, wherewith they refreshed tliem-
selues, and he tooke some of the people of Chila which he vsed for messengers to certaine
places : And after great trauaile comming to Panuco they found no victuailes there by reason
of the warres of Cortes and the spoile of the soldiers. Garay then sent one Gon^alo de
Ocampo to Sant Isteuan del pucrto to know whether they would receiue him or no. They
had a good answere. But Cortes his men priuily by an ambushment tooke 40. of Garayes
horsemen, alleaging that they came to vsurj)e the gouernment of another: and besides this
misfortune he lost fower of his ships: whereupon he left off to procecde any farther.

While Cortes was preparing to set forward to Panuco : Francis de las Casas, and Roderigo
de la Paz arriued at Mexico with letters patents, wherein the Emperour gaue th& gouernment
WmIco foi.''M6. "f^ Nueua Spagna and ail the countrey which Cortes had conquered to Cortes, and namely
Panuco. Whereupon he staied his ioiirney. But he sent Diego de Ocampo with the said
letters jiatents, and Pedro de Aluarado with store of footemen and horsemen. Garay know-
ing this thought it best to yeeld himselfe vnto Cortes his hands, and to go to Mexico ; which
thing he did hauingdiscouered a great tract of land.

In this ydcre 1523. Gil Gonzales de Auila made a discouerie, and peopled a towne called
San Gil de buena vista standing in 14. degrees toward the north, and almost in the bottome
SanGiidebucna of the Bay callcd the Ascension or the Honduras. He began to conquere it because he be.st
<f Honduras. "'^ kiicw the sccrcts thcrcof, and that it was a very rich countrey.

Gomaraenia J,, (his ydcrc 15^2.3. thcsixtday of December Peter de Aluarado went from the citie of

i\?Mltoibi.zi9. ^fexico by Cortes his commandement to discouer & conquere Qnahutemallan, Vtlatlan,

&ins€^uemibus.d,J3p3^ Xochuuxco, and Other townes toward the South sea. He had with him thrde hundred

soldiers, 170. horsemen, foure field peeces, and some noble men of Mexico, with people of

tlie countrey to aide him as well in the warre, as by the way being long. He went by Teco-

antepec to Xochnuxco, and other places abouc said with great trauaile and lo8.se of his men:

but he discouered and subdued all the countrey. There are in those parts certaine hils that

haue Alume in them, and out of which distilleth a certaine liquor like vnto oile, and sulphur

or brimstone, whereof the Spanvards made excellent gunpowder. He trauailed 400. leagues

in this voiage, and passed certaine riuers which were so hot, that they could not well endure

to wade through them. He builded a citie calling it Sant lago de Quahutemallan. Peter de

Aluarado begged the gouernment of this countrey, and the report is that it was giuen him.

Gomarafnh jn the yccrc 1523. the 8. day of December Cortes sent Diego deGodoy with 100. footemen

Me"i?icof< 1.133. and .0. horsemen, two field pdeccs, and many of his friends Indians vnto the towne

viiiadtiEspi- Del Espirilu santo: He ioined himselfe with the raptaine of that towne, and they went

ch'amoiia! *" Chamolia the head citie of that prouincc, and that being taken all the countrey grew

quiet.
Gomara tn la f,, tf,g y^erc 1524. in FebruarieCortfs .Sent one Roderigo Rangel with 150. Spaniards and many
MciTco'foi.VH-of t'le Tlaxcallans and Mexicans against the Zapotccas and Nixticas and vnto other prouinces

and

Gomara tn la
Conquista de
Alexico fol. 241<

Oile distilling
out nf hils.
Ibidem fol. 330.

Sant lago de
Quahutemallan.

1:1'

■Queries

Panuco
;d vnto
^ene at
w out of
le went
jcopled
Ide Nar-
luazo to
leparted
ay went
then he
an euill
Tien and
hr hiin-
alto; he
;d them-
certaine
ly rea-'ou
Kjalo dc
). They
Garayen
sides this
er.

Roderigo
lernment
d namely
I the said
ay know-
o ; which

ne called
bottome
he besit

, citie of
[Vtlatlan,
hundred
leople of
[by Teco-
Jhis men:
hils that
sulphur
J. leagues
[U endure
Peter de
iuen him.
Ifootcmen
lie towne
Ihey went
\rey grew

land many
Iprouinces
and

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

■■!;■■
-3'

and countreyes not so well discouered : they were resisted at the first, but quickly put the
people to the woorst, and kept them for euer after in subiection.

In this same y^ere lb2i. one Roderigo de Bastidas was sent to discouer, people, and gouerne °^''""j,''''!;f'"'
the countrey of vSanta Martha : where he lost his life because he would not suffer the soldiers • • p- *
to take the spoile of a certaine towne. They ioined with Peter Villa-forte, and he being
sometimes his entire friend did helpe to kill him with daggers lying in his bed. Afterward
Don Pedro de Lugo, and Don Alfonso his sonne were gouernours of that place, which vsed
them.aelues like cuuetous tyrants ; whereof grew much trouble.

In this same y^ere also 1524. after that the Licenciate Lucas Vasques de Aillon had ob- °™|"'"f,"
tained of the Emperour the gouernment of Chicora, he armed for that purpose certaine ships *'"" ' "
from rfie citie of Santo Domingo and went to discouer the countrey, and to inhabite it : but
he was lost with all his companie, leauing nothing done woorthy of memorie. And I cannot
tell how it commeth to passe, except it be by the iust iudgement of God, that of so much
gold and precious stones as haue bdene gotten in the Antiles by so many Spaniards, little or
none remaineth, but the most part is spent and consumed, and no good thing done.

In this ydere 1524. Cortes sent one Christopher de Olid with a fl^ete to the Island of Cuba i^""",'"'^*'^
to receiue the vitailes and munition which Alonso de Coiitreras had prepared and to discouer cnu Connuitt*
and people the countrey about Cape De Higueras and the Honduras; and to send Diego J' ^"'"'^°'"
Hurtado de Mendoga by sea, to search the coast from thence euen to Darien to finde out the
Streit which was thought to run into the South sea, as the Emperour had commanded. He
sent also two ships from Panuco to search along the coast vnto Florida. He commanded also
certaine brigandines to search the coast from Zacatullan vnto Panama. This Christopher de
Olid came to the Island of Cuba, and made a league with Diego Velasquez against Cortes,
and so set saile and went on land hard by Puerto de Cauallos standing in 10. degrees to the
north, and built a towne which he called Triumpho de la Cruz. He tooke Gil Gonzales de
Auila prisoner, and killed his nephew and the Spaniards that were with him all sauing one
childe, and shewed himselfe an cnimie to Cortes, who had spent in that expedition thirty
thousand Castellans of gold to doe him pleasure withall.

Cortes vnderstanding hereof the same y^ere 1534. and in the moneth of October he went ,9(,''""J;''''h8«^
out of the citie of Mexico to sdeke Christopher de Olid to be reuenged of him, and also to ,'n'ii Coliquilt.
discouer, carrying with him thr^e hundred Spanish footemen and horsemen, and Quahutimoc ^'j^',™'^"'"
king of Mexico, and other great Lords of the same citie. And comming to the towne called
La villa del Espiritu santo, he required guides of the Lords of Tauasco and Xicalanco : and
they sent him ten of their principall men for guides : who gaue him also a map of cotton i^"*"^""^
wooll, wherein was painted the situation of the whole countrey from Xicalanco vnto Naco, cotton wooii.
and Nito, and euen as farre as Nicaragua, with their mountaines, hils, fields, meadowes, val-
lies, riuers, cities and townes. And Cortes in the meane time sent for thr^e ships which
were at the hauen of Medellin to follow him along the coast.

In this yeere 1524. they came to the citie of Izancanac, where he vnderstood that the king O""'!^* h"^
Quahutimoc and the Mexicans that were in his companie were conspired against him and the fj.'k ei^l'tn
Spanyards : for the which he hanged the king and two others of the chiefe : and so came to ^^.""^f^"'/'
the citie of Mazatlan, and after that to Tiaca the head citie of a prouince so called standing mIImxJ. *^ "
in the middest of a lake : and here about they began to finde the traine of the Spanyards, '^''"•
which they went to seeke, and so they went to'ZuzuUin, and at length came to the towne of Zmuiiin.
Nito: from Nito Cortes with his owne companie and all the Spanyards that he found there Gom»r. in the
departed to the shore or strand called La Baia de Sant Andres, and finding there a good hauen McTc"foU68.
he builded a towne in that place and called it Natividad dc nuestra Seflora. Natiuida/do

From hence Cortes went to the towne of Truxillo standing in the hauen of the Honduras, ^o""'"^'"*
where the Spanyards dwelling there did entertaine him well : and while he was there, there Truiiiio.
arriued a ship which brought newes of the stirre in Mexico in Cortes his absence : where- """"*"'"•
upon he sent word to Gonsalo de Sandoual to march with his companie from Naco to Mexico Oonura in the
by land toward the South sea vnto Quahutemallan, because that is the vsuall plaine and safest wKof .70.
way, and he left as captaine in Truxillo Fernando de Saavedra his cosen : and he himselfe & »7J.

F went

fl".

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late DiscoucTks

'■.{1
■'!(■!'

■■■:,:' :t

Gomara hist,
gtn. lib. 5. cap,
I. & a. Peru.

PucRo T(jo.

Tumbei,
Payu.

Pet. Martyr,
decad. 8. cap. 9.
Gomar. hist, gen,
lib. 4. cap. la.

The Isle of S.
Mathew.

went by sea along the const of lucatan to Chalchicoeca now called Sant luan de Vllhua, and
so to Medeilin, and from thence to Mexico, where he was well receiued, hauing b^ene from
thence 18. monethes, and had gone fiue hundred leagues trauailing often out of his way, and
enduring much hardncs.

In the y^ere 1525. Francis Pizarro and Diego de Almagro went from Panama to discouer
Peru standing beyond the line towarde the South, which they called Nueua Castiiia. The
gouernour Pedro Arias would not entermeddie with this expedition, because of the cuili
newes which his captaine Francis Vezerra had brought.

Francis Pizarro went first in a ship hauing with him X'i^. soldiers, and Almagro went after

him in another ship with TO. men. He came to Rio de San luan standing in thr^e degrees

where he got two thousand pesoes of gold ; and not finding Pizarro, he went to s^eke him,

repenting his doings by reason of a mishap that he had. But he went first to an Island called

isia del Gorgona. Isla del Gorgona, and afterward to another called Isla del Gallo, and to the riuer called Hio

Rio "del Peru! ^^^ VcTw Standing in two degrees northward, whereof so many famous conntreyes take their

CabodePastaos.name. From thence they went to Rio de San Francisco, and to Cabo de Passaos, where they

passed the Equinoctiall line, and came to Puerto Vejo standing in one degree to the south of

the line : from whence they sailed to the riuers of Chinapanpa, Tumbez, and Payta standing

in 4. or 5. degrees, where they had knowledge of king Atabalipa and of the exceeding

wealth and riches of his palace. Which newes mooued Pizarro speedily to returne home

againe to Panama, and so into Spainc, and to request the gouernment of that countrey of

the Emperour : which he also obtained. He had spent aboue thrde y^eres before in this dis-

couerie not without enduring great trauaile and perils.

In the same yeere 1525. there was sent out of Spaine a fl^ete of seuen ships, whereof was
captaine general! Don Garsia de Loaisa to the Islands of Maluco. They went from the citie
of the Groine and passed by the Islands of the Canaries, and went to Brasill, where they
found an Island in two degrees, and named it S. Matthew : and it seemed to be inhabited,
because they found in it orenge tr^e.s, hogs, and hennes in caues, and vpon the rindes of
most of the tr^es there were grauen Portugall letters, shewing that the Portugals had bdene
Gomarainthe there 17. y^crcs before that time. A patache or pinnesse of theirs passed the streight of
Mewcopagf»gi. '^^g^''*"^ hauing in her one John de Resaga, and ran all along the coast of Peru and Nona
Spagna : They declared all their successe vnto Cortes, and told him, that frier Garsia de
Loaisa was passed to the islands of cloues. But of this fl^ete the Admirall onely came thi-
ther, wherein was captaine one Martine Mingues de Carchoua : for Loaisa and the other
captaines died by the way. All the Moores of Maluco were found well afTectioned to the
Spaniards.
Pet. Martyr. In the same y^ere 1525. the pilot Stephen Gomes went from the port of the Groine to-
6oi'.''GomaH "^^t^ the north to discouer the streight vnto the Malucos by the north, to whom they woujd
historix general. giue no charge in the fl^ete of frier Garsia de Loaisa. But yet the Earle Don Fernando de
b.i.cap.j. ^ndrada, and the Doctor Beltram, and the marchant Christopher de Sarro furnished a gallion
for him, and he went from the Groine in Galicia to the Island of Cuba, and to the point of
Florida, sailing by day because he knew not the land. He passed the bay Angra, and the
riuer Enseada, and so went ouer to the other side. It is also reported that he came to Cape
Razo in 46. degrees to the north : from whence he came backe againe to the Groine laden
with slaues. The newes hereof ran by and by through Spaine, that he was come home laden
with cloues as mistaking the word : and it was carried to the Court of Spaine : but when the
truth was knowne it turned to a pleasant iest. In this voiage Gomes was ten monethes.

In this y^ere 1525. Don George de Meneses captaine of Maluco, and with him Don Gar-
cia Hcnriques sent a foyst to discouer land towards the north, wherein went as captaine one
Diego de Rocha, and Gomez de Sequeira for pilot. In 9. or 10. degrees they found certaine
Islands standing close together, and they called them the Islands of Gomes de Sequeira, he
Mchina b'G^." ''^'"g t^^ first pilot that discouered them. And they came backe againe by the Island of
leio. Batochina.

^nmK iib!*3,"* I" t^B y^crc 1526. thcrc went out of Siuill one Sebastian Cabota a Venetian by his father,

cap. 39. but

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

but borne at Bristol in England, being chiefe pilote to the Emperour, with fower ships to-
ward Maluco. They came to Pernambuco, and staied there thr^e monethes for a windc to
double the Cape of Saint Augustine. In the Bay of Patos or of ducks the Admirall ship
perished ; and being without hope to get to the Isles of Maluco they there made a pinnesse
to enter vp the rhier of Plate, and to search it. They ran 60. leagues vp before they came
to the barre : where they left their great ships, and with their small pinnesses passed vp the
riuer Parana, which the inhabitants count to be the principall riuer. Hauing rowed vp 120. Rio Pama.
leagues, they made a fortresse and staied there aboue a y^ere : and then rowed further till
they came to the mouth of another riuer called Paragioa, and percciuing that the countrey Rio Par.igio».
yielded gold and siluer they kept on their course, and sent a brigandine before ; but those
of the countrey tooke it : and Cabote vnderstanding of it thought it best to turne backe vnto
their forte, and there tooke in his men which he had left there, and so went downe the riuer
where his ships did ride, and from thence he sailed home to Siuill in the y^ere 1530. leauing
discouered about two hundred leagues within this riuer, reporting it to be very nauigable,
and that it springeth out of a lake named Bombo. It standeth in the firme land of the king- The founame
dome of Peru, running through the vallies of Xauxa, and m^eteth with the riuers Parso, pi^j,.' "*'
Bulcasban, Cay, Parima, Hiucax, with others which make it very broad and great. It is
said also, that out of this lake runneth the riuer called Rio de San Francesco ; and by this
meane the riuers come to be so great. For the riuers that come out of lakes are bigger then Thebiggnt
those which proc^ede from a spring. from"iSc«." '

In the yeere 1527. one Pamphilus de Naruaez went out of S, Lucar de Barameda to be ge- R*musius j.voL
nerall of the coast and land of Florida as farre as Rio de las Palmas, and had with him fiue ° '^'°'
ships, 600. soldiers, 100. horse.s, besides a great summe and quantitie of victuailes, armour,
clothing and other things. He could not goe on land where his desire was, but went on land
somewhat n^ere to Florida with thr^e hundred of his companie, some horses, and some vic-
tuailes, commanding the ships to goe to Rio de las Palmas ; in which voiage they were almost
all lost : and those which escaped passed great dangers, hunger and thirst in an Island called
Xamo and by the Spaniards Malhada being very drie and barren, where the Spaniards killed The rsie of
one another, and the people also of the countrey did the like. Naruaez and those which had"" "
went with him sawe some golde with certaine Indians, and he demanded of them where they
gathered it: and they answered that they had it at Apalachen. They therefore searched this ApaUchen.
gold, and in searching came to the saide towne, where they found no gold nor siluer : they
saw many Bay trees, and almost all other kinde of tr^es with beasts, birds, and such like.
The men and women of this place are high and strong, very light and so swift runners, that
they will take deere at their pleasure, and will not grow wearie though they run a whole day.
From Apalachen they went to a towne called Ante ; and from thence to Xamo a poore coun- Ame.
trey with small sustinance. These people bring vp their children very tenderly, and make''"""'
great lamentation when any of them dieth ; they neither w^epe nor lament at the death of
any olde bodie. Here the people desired the Spanyards to cure their sicke folks, for they
had many diseased : and certaine of the Spanyards being in extreme pouertie assaied it, and
vseii praier, and it pleased God that they did ind^ede recouer as well those that were hurt, as
those which were otherwise diseased ; in so much, that one which was thought verily to be
dead, was by them restored to life, as they themselues reporte. They affirme that they passed
through many countreies and many strange people differing in language, apparell, and cus-
tomes. And because they plaied the physitions, they were as they passed greatly esteemed
and held for Gods, and the people did no hurt vnto them, but would giue them part of such
things as they had. Therefore they passed quietly, and trauailed so farre till they came to a
people, that vse continually to liue in beards with their cattel as the Arabians doe. They be
poore, and eate snakes, lisards, spiders, ants, and al kinde c*" vermine, and herewith they
line so well contented that commonly they sing and dance. Tlicy buie the women of their
enimies, and kill their daughters, because they would not haiie them marrie with them,
whereby they might increase. They trauailed through certaine places, where the women
gaue sucke vnto their children til they were ten or twelue v^eres of age ; and where certaine

F S ' men

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoucries

i ■

'":!»

%}■

■ A

'■'4

y..i'*s

Ht'i

Cindiga.

men being Hermaphrodites doe marrie one another. These Spaniards trauaiied aboue 80().
leagues; and there escaped aliue in this iourney not aboue seuen or eight of them. They
came vpon the coast of the South sea vnto a citie called Saint Michael of Culuacan standing
in 23. de^r^es and vpward toward the north.
Ctomir.Wit.geii. -phig y^erc 1527. when Cortes vnderstood by the pinncsse aforesaide that Don Garcia de
•nd in'tne Con- Loaisa was passed by the Streight of Magelan toward the Islands of rloues, he prouided thr^e
?o"i*"8i **"""*8hips to goe s^eke him, and to discouer by that way of New Spaine as farre as the Isles of
Maluco. There went as gouernour in those ships one Aluaro de Saavedra Ceron, cosen vnto
Cortes, a man fit for that purpose. He made saile from Ciuatlanejo, now named S. Christo-
pher standing' in 20. degrees toward the north on All Saints day. They arriued at the Islands
which Magelan named The Pleasures : and from thence sailed to the Islands, which Gomes
iiiMdeioiRcyM.de Sequeira had discouered, & not knowing thereof, they named the Islas de los Reyes, that
is to say. The Isles of the kings, because they came vnto them on Twelfe day. In the way
Saavedra lost two ships of his company, of which they neuer after heard newes. But from
Island to Island he still sailed and came to the Island of Candiga, where he bought two Spa-
nyards for 70. ducats, which had beene of the companie of Frier Loaisa, who was lost there-
about.

In the y^ere 1528. in March Saavedra arriued at the Islands of Maluco, and came to an
anker before the Isle of Gilolo : he found the sea calme and winde at will, without any tem-
pests : and he tooke the distance from thence to Nona Spagna to be 2050. leagues. At this
time Martin Yniguez de Carqui<;ano died, and Fernando de la Torre was chosen their Gene-
ral!, who then was in the citie of Tidore, who had there erected a gallows and had fierce
warre with Don George de Meneses captaine of the Portugals: and in a fight which they had
the fourth day of May Saavedra tooke from him a galiotte and slew the captaine thereof
called Fernando de Baldaya, and in lune he returned towards New Spaine, hauing with him
one Simon de Brito Patalin and other Portugals, and hauing beene certaine monethes at sea,
he was forced backe vnto Tidore, where Patalin was beheaded and quartered, and his com-
panions hanged.

In this y^ere 1528. Cortes sent two hundred footemen and 60. horsemen, and many Mexi-
cans to discouer and plant the countrey of the Chichimecas, for that it was reported to be
rich of gold. This being done he shipped himselfe, and came into Castile with great pompe,
& brought with him 250000. marks of gold and siluer : and being come to Toledo where
the Emperour then lay, he was entertained according to his deserts, and the Emperour made
him Marques Del Valle, and married him to the Lady lane de Zuniga daughter vnto the
Earle de Aguilar, and then the Emperour sent him backe againe to be Generall of New
Spaine.

In the y^ere 1.529. in May Saavedra returned back againe towards New Spaine, and he had
sight of a land toward the South in two degrees, and he ran East along by it aboue fiue hun-
dred leagues till the end of August. The coast was cleane and of good ankerage, but the
people blacke and of curled haire ; from the girdle downward they did weare a certaine thing
plaited to couer their lower parts. The people of Maluco call them Papuas, because they
be blacke and friseled in their haire : and so also doe the Portugals call them.

Saavedra hauing sailed 4. or 5. degrees to the South of the line, returned vnto it, and
pas.sed the Equinoctiall towards the north, and discouered an Island which he called Isla de
los Pintados, that is to say. The Isle of painted people: for the people thereof be white,
and all of them marked with an iron : and by the signes which they gaue he conceaued that
they were of China. There came vnto them from the shore a kinde of boate full of these
men, making tokens of threatnings to the Spanyards ; who seeing that the Spanyards would
not obey them, they began to skirmish with slinging of stones, but Saavedra would sufTer
no shot to be shot at them, because their stones were of no strength, and did no harme.

A little beyond this Island in 10. or 12. degrees they found many small low Islands full of
palme trdes and grasse, which they called Los lardines, and they came to an anker in the
middest of them, where they taried certaine daies. The people seemed to descend from

them

Gomara hict.
gen. lib. a.
cap. 73.

Oomira hist,
gen. lib. a.
cap. 7t.
Moua Guinea,

Os Papuas are
bl<irke prople
with frisled haire.

Isla de los
Pintados.

Los lardines.

! f i

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

it, and

Isia de

le white,

ued that

of these

s would

d suffer

them of China, but by reason of their long continuance there they are become so brutish,
that they haue neither law, nor yet giue themseiues to any honest labour. They weare white
clothing which they make of grasse. They stand in maruailous feare of fire, because they
neuer saw any. They eate Cocos in steede of bread, breaking them before they be ripe,
and putting them vnder the sand, and then after certaine dales they take them out and lay
them in the sunn ,', and then they will open. They eate fish which they take in a kinde of
boate called a Pai ao, which they make of pine wood, whicli is driuen thither at certaine "^o" *«"••
times of the y^ere, they know not how, nor from whence, and the tooles wherewith they
make their boates are of shels.

Saavcdra perceiuing that the time and weather was then somewhat better for his purpose,
made »ailc towards the firme land and citie of Panama, where he might vnlade the cloues
and marchandise which he had, that so in cartes it might be carried fower leagues to the riuer
of Chagre, which they say is nauigable running out into the North sea not far from Nombre
de Dies, where the ships ride, which come out of Spaine : by which way all kinde of goods
might be brought vnto them in shorter time, and with lesse danger, then to saile about the
Cape of Bona Speran^a. For from Maluco vnto Panama they saile continually betw^ene the
Tropickes and the line: but they neuer found winde toserue that course, and therefore they
came, backe againe to Malnco very sad, because Saavedra died by the way : who if he had
lined meant to haue opened the land of Castilliadel Oro and New Spaine from sea to sea.
Which might haue b^ene done in fower places: namely from the Gulfe of S. Michael t^ '!|'^" JfJo^"
Vraba, which is 25. leagues, or from Panama to Nombre de Dios being 17. leagues distance :Srto"a7n"liie
or through Xaquator a riuer of Nicaragua, which springeth out of a lake thr^e or fower ^'jjj'^lj^^ij'j
leagues from the South sea, and falleth into the North sea ; whereupon doe saile great barks lib. 4. cap. iV
and crayers. The other place is from Tecoantepec through a riuer to Verdadera Cruz in the
Bay of the Honduras, which also might be opened in a streight. Which if it were done,
then they might saile from the Canaries vnto the Malucos vnder the climate of the Zodiake
in lesse time and with much lesse danger, then to saile about the Cape de Bona Speran^a, or
by the streight of Magelan, or by the Northwest. And yet if there might be found a streight The nonhwea
there to saile into the sea of China, as it hath b^ene sought, it would doe much good. SSii.*"'^

In this y^ere 1529, one Damian de Goes a Portugal being in Flanders, after that he had
trauailed ouer all Spaine, was yet desirous to s^e more countreyes, and fashions, and diucr-
•«ities of people ; and therefore went ouer into England and Scotland, and was in the courts
of the kings of those parts : and after that came againe into Flanders, and then trauailed
through Zenland, Holland, Brabant, Luxenburge, Suitzerland, and so through the cities of
Colen, Spyres, Argentine, Basill, and other parts of Alemaine, & then came backe againe
into Flanders: and from thence he went into France through Picardie, Normandie, Cham-
paine, Burgundie, the dukedonie of Borbon, Gascoigne, Languedoc, Daulphinie, the duke-
dome of Sauoy, and passed into Italy into the dukedome of Millaine, Ferrara, Lombardie,
and so to Venice, and turned backe againe to the territorie of Genoa, and the dukedome of
Florence through all Tuscane : and he was in the citie of Rome, and in the kingdome of
Naples from the one side to the other.

From thence he went into Germanie to Vlmes, and other places of the Empire, to the
dukedome of Sueuia and of Bauier, and the Archdukedome of Austrich, the kingdome of
Boeme, the dukedome of Morauia, and the kingdome of Hungarie, and so to the confines
of Graecia. From thence he went to the kingdome of Poland, Prussia, and the dukedome
of Liuonia, and so came into the great dukedome of Moscouia. From whence he came backe
into High Alemayne, and through the countreyes of the Lantzgraue, the dukedome of Sax-
onie, the countreyes of Denmarke, Gotland, and Norway, trauailing so farre, that he found
himselfe in 70. degrees of latitude towards the North. He did s^e, speake and was conuer-
sant with all the kings, princes, nobles and chiefe cities of all Christendome in the space
of 22. y^eres : So that by reason of the greatnes of his trauell, I thought him a man woor-
thie to be here remembred.

In the y^ere 1529. or 1530. one Melchior de Sosa Tauarez went from the citie of Ormuz

vnto

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoueries

::i*

■if-

■' l:,;«

;!' ^

,*1

i!''-l

iii.i4t

.■Ah

■^?ii

.■,f

■J'

; 1 ■

: ■

Oomira lilst.
jjtii.lib.j.cai). J,

Much gold and
emerauldj.

Gomara hist,
gen. 111). 5, i-jp.

•Ihc Isle of

Pun.1.

Onm.tra
gen. lib
5-

hist.
5. cap.

S. Michael of
Tjngarara.

Payta .tii excel-
lent harbour in
5. ilfjrees to the

.■^T ifliof the
iiiir*

viito Balsera and the Islands of Gissara with certaine ships of warre, and passed vp as farre a.<«
the place, ^vhere the riuers Tygris and Euphrates m^etc one with the other. And although
other Porlugals had discouered and sailed through that straight, yet neuer any of them sailed
80 farre vpon the fresh water till that time, when he discouered that riuer from the one side
to the other, wherein he saw many things which the Portugal* knew not.

Not long after this one Ferdinando Coutinho a Portugall came vnto Onnuz, and being de-
sirous to .s^e the world, he determined to goe into Portugall from thence ouer land to s^e
Asia and Europe ; And to doe this the better he went into Arabia, Persia, and vpwards the
riuer Euphrates the space of a moneth ; and saw many kingdomes and countreies, which in
our time had not b^ene s<$ene by the Portugals: He was taken prisoner in Damasco, and
afterward crost oner the prouince of Syria, and came vnto the citie of Alepo. He had bdene
at the holy Sepulchre in lerusalem, and in the citie of Cayro, and at Constantinople with the
(Jrcat Turke ; and hauing s^enehis court he passed ouer vnto Venice, and from thence into
Ilalie, France, Spaine, and so came againe to Lisbon. So that he and Damian de Goes were
in our time the moat noble Porlugals, that had discouered and s^ene most countrcyes and
realmes of their owne afTections.

In the same y^ere 1530. little more or lesse, one Francis Pisarro, which had been in Spaine
to obtainc the gouernmcnt of Peru, turned backe againe to the citie of Panama with all
things that he desired : he brought with him fower brethren, Ferdinand, lohn, Gonzaluo, and
Francis Martines de Alcantara : They were not well receiued by Diego de Almagro, and his
friends ; for that Pisarro had not so much commended him to the Emperour as he looked for,
but omitted the discouerie, wherein he had lost one of his cies, and spent much : yet in the
end they agreed, and Diegro de Almagro gaue vnto Pisarro 700. pezoes of golde, victualles
and munition, wherewith he prepared himselfe the belter for his iourney.

Not long after this agreement Francis Pisarro and his brethren went in two ships with the
most of their soldiers and horses ; but he could not arriue at Tumbez as he was minded, and
so they went on land in the riuer of Peru ; and went along the coast with great paines, be-
cause there were many bogsand riuers in their way, wherein some of his men were drowned:
They came to the townc of Coach^, where they rested, where they found much gold and
emeraulds, of which they brake some to s^e if they were perfect. From thence Pisarro sent
to Diego de Almagro twcntie thousand pezoes of gold to send him men, horses, munition,
and victuailes; and so he went on his iourney to the hauen named Porto Viejo: and thither
came vnto him one Sebasitian de Benalcazar, with all such things as he had sent for, which
pleased and pleasured him very much.

In the y^ere 1531. he hauing this aide, passed ouer into a rich Island called Puna, where
he was well receiued of the gouernour : yet at last he conspired to kil him and all his men :
but Pisarro preuented him, and tooke many of the Indians, and bound them with chaines of
gold and siluer. The gouernour caused those that kept his wines to haue their noses, armes,
and priuie members to be cut off, so iealous was he. Here Pisarro found aboue sixe hun-
dred men prisoners Leionging to the king Attabalipa, who waged warre against his eldest
brother Guascar to winne reputation. These he set at libertie and sent them to the citie of
Tombez, who promised to be a meane that he should be well receiued in those partes. But
when they saw themselues out of bondage, they forgat their promise, and incited the people
against the Spaniards. Then Pisarro sent thr^e Spaniards to Tombez to treate for peace,
whome they tooke and slew and sacrificed, and their priestes wept not for pitie but of cus-
tome. Pisarro hearing of this cruell fact, passed ouer to the maine, and set vpon the citie
one night suddenly and killed many of them, so that they presented him with gifts of gold
and siluer and other riche.s, and so became friends. This done, he builded a towne vpon the
riuer of Cira, and called it Saint Michael of Tangarara, which was the first towne inhabited
by Christians in those partes; whereof Sebastian de Benalcazar was appointed captaine. Then
he searched out a good and sure hauen for his shipS;, and found that of Payta to be an ex*
cellent harbour.

In this same y^ere 1531. there went one Diego de Ordas to be gouernour in the riuer of

Maragnon,

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Maragnon, with thrde ship<i, sixe hundred soldiern, and 35. horses. He died by the way, so oomira hiitori*
that the intention came to none cfT'cct. After that in the y^ere 1534. there was sent thither J,"",'',';''''" ^"
one Hierome Artal with 130. soldiers, yet he came not to the riiier, but peopled Saint Mi-
chael de Neueri, and other places in Paria. Also there went vnto this riuer Maragnon ^ uVt'MMa"noiu
Portiigall gentleman named Aries Dacugna, and he had with him ten ships, nine hundred
Portugals, and 130. horses. He spent much, but he that lost most was one lohn de Barros. I^'j^^.'^^f^jj^"'
This riuer standeth in thrde degrees toward the South, hauing at the entrance of it 15. leagues house oi indu.
of breadth and many Islands inhabited, wherein grow tries that bearc inccnce of a greater
bigncs then in Arabia, gold, rich stones, and one emeraud was found there as big as the
palmc of a mans hand. The people of the couri.'rey make their drinke of a kinde of dates,
which are as big as quinces.

In the ydere 1531. one Nunnez de Gusman went from the citie of Mexico towards the '^""'j^J^''^'*^'^- _
northwest to discouer and conquer the countreies of Xalisco, Ceintiliquipac, Ciametlan, To- x6."
ualla, Cnixco, Ciamolla, Culhuacan, and other places. And to doe this he caried with him
250. horses, and fine hundred soldiers. He went through the countrey of Mechuacan, where
he had much gold, ten thousand marks of siluer, and 6000. Indians to carrie burdens. He
conquered many countrcycs, called that of Xalisco Nueua Galicia, because it is a ragged Nueua oaiicia.
countrey, and the people strong. He builded a citie which he called Compostella, and ano- Composteiia.
ther named Guadalajara, because he was borne in the citie of Guadalajara in Spaine. He °"°^'^°J''j"|g
likewise builded the townes de Santo Espirito, de la Conception, and de San Miguel stand- Deiaconnptiur.,
ing in 24. degrees of northerly latitude. sanMigu.i.

In the ydere 1532. Ferdinando Cortes sent one Diego Hurtado de Mendoga vnto Acapulco o™^^^ '''«•
70. leagues from Mexico, where he had prepared a small fl^ete lo discouer the coast of the V^"' ' ' " "'''
South sea as he had promised the Emperour. And finding two ships readie, he went into
them, and sailed to the hauen of Xalisco, where he would haue taken in water and wood :
but Nunnez de Gusman caused him to be resisted, and so he went forward ; but some of his
men mutined against him, and he put them all into one of the ships, and sent them backe
into New Spaine. They wanted water, and going to take some in the bay of the Vanderas,
the Indians killed them. But Diego Hurtado sailed 200. leagues along the coast, yet did
nothing woorth the writing.

In the yeere 1533. Francis Pisarro went from the citie of Tumbes to Caxaroaica, where o<"n?" wn.
he tooke the king Attabalipa, who promised for his ransome much gold and siluer: and tol!;.*^.*'"^*
accomplish it there went to the citie of Cusco standing in 17. degrees on the South side
Peter de Varco, and Ferdinando de Sotto, who discouered that iourney being 200. leagues
all causies of stone, and bridges was made of it, and from one iourney to another, lodgings
made for the Yngas : for so they call their kings. Their armies are very great and mon-
strous. For they bring aboue an hundred thousand fighting men to the field. They lodge
vpon these causies ; and haue there prouision sufficient and necessarie, after the vse and
custome of China, as it is said. Fenlinando Pisarro with some horsemen went vnto Pacia-
cama 100. leagues from Caxamalca, and discouered that prouince: And comming backe he
vnderstood how Guascar brother to Attabalipa was by his commandement killed, and how ^^^'^'J'l^';'^'":^-
that his captaine Ruminaguy rose vp in armes with the citie of Quito. After this Attaba-iib. 5. i.ap!ii\
lipa was by the commandement of Pisarro strangled. ^"k\^T

In the ydere 1534. Francis Pisarro seeing that the two kings were gone, began to enlarge
himselfe in his signiories, and to build cities, forts, and townes to haue them more in sub-
iection. Likewise he sent Sebastian de Benalcazar the captaine of S. Michael of Tangarara°°™'j' ,'"''""'='
against Ruminaguy vnto Quito. He had with him two hundred footemen and 80. horse- fa'^is!
men : He went discouering and conquering 120. leagues from the one citie to the other east
not farre from the Equinoctiall line : where Peter Aluarado found mountaines full of snow, J;'j'",j!,"°*'
and so cold, that 70. of his men were frosen to death. When he came vnto Quito, he GomaJahi«o'.
began to inhabite it, and named it S. Francis. In this countrey there is plentie of|^""j»'''''J
wheate, barlie, cattell and plants of Spaine, which is very strange. Pisarro went straight"*"' ''"

general, lib. j.

me,
istoriz

!».■

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discouerks

^i^

: I'l:'

I . ' t

■ ^

J.V,

■f.

.'.„.;■ I:

V'.li.l

;..;■:««:"

!,. it;

'M'i

CofiMri hilt.
|«n. lib. j. ctp.
i6.

Cults taken.

TTtt b»)r nf S.
Iniirfnct diico-
Ufird.

r.omir.hiit. gfii.
M'. J.cip. 74-*
lib. t. Mp. 98.

Plaia it Santa
(rua.

The Itlt of S.
Thumai.

I.ima huiUled.
tiomar. hitt. gen.
lib. 4- cap. »3.
Lib. 5. cap. M.
'I'ruiillo.

S. Ijjo de Porto
vitjo.

Oomarahist.gen.
lib. 5. cap. 24,
Chili.

Lib. 5. cap. »5.

I,ib. J. cap. ij.

to the citie of Cusco, and found l^y the way the captuinc Qiiisquiz rincn in armes,
whome shortly he defeated. About this time there came vnto him a brother of Atfa-
balipa named Mango, whom he made Ynj;a or king of the rountrey. Thus marching for-
ward on his iourncy after certainc skirmishes he t.)oke that exc(5eding rich and wcalthie citi»e
of Cusco.

In this same ydere 153f. a Briton called laqucs Carticr with thrde ships went to the land
of Corterealis, and the Bay of Saint Laurence, otherwise called Golfo Quudrato, and fell in
48. degrees and an halfe towards the north ; and so he sailed till he c.ime vnto 51. degree-*
hoping to haue passed that way to China, and to bring thence drugs and other marchandisc
into France. The next ydere after he made another voiage into those partes, and found the
countrey abounding with victuailes, houses and good habitations, wit!i many and great riucrs.
He sailed in one riuer toward the southwest ii(K>. leagues, and named the countrey f^icreabout
Nona Francia: at length finding the water fresh he pcrceiucd he could not passe through to
the South sea, and hauing wintered in those parts, the next yderc following he returned into
France.

In the ydcrc 1535. or in the beginning of the y^cre 15.36. Don Antonic de Mendo(;a came
vnto the citie of Mexico as Viceroy of New Spaine. In the meui ■ while Cortes was gone
for more men to continue his discoucrie, which immediately he set in hand sending foorth
two ships from Tccoantepec which he had made readic. There went as captaines in them
Fernando de Grijalua, and Diego Bezerra de Mendo(;a, and for pilots there went a Portugal
named Acosta, and the other Fortunio Ximenez a Biscaine. The first night they deuided
themsclues. Fortunio Ximenez killed his captaine Bezerra and hurt many of his confedera-
cie: and then he went on land to take water and wood in the Bay of Santa Cruz, but the
Indians there slue him, and aboue 20. of his companie. Two mariners which were in the
boate escaped, and went vnto Xalisco, and told Nunnez de Gusman that they had found
tokens of pcarles: he went into the ship, and so went to i«^eke the pcarles: he discouerrd
along the coast aboue 150. leajjues. Thev said that Ferdlnando de Grijalua sailed thr^e hun-
dred leagues from Tecoantepec without .st^eing any land, but onely one Island which he named
The Isle of Saint Thomas, because he came vnto it on that Saints day : it siandeth in 20. de-
grees of latitude.

In this y^ere 1535. Pisarro builded the citie de los Reyes vpon the riuer of Lima. The in-
habitants of Xauxa went to dwell there, because it was a better countrey, .standing in 12.
degrt-es of southerly latitude. In this same y^ere of 1.535. he caused the citie of Truxillo
to be builded on a riuers side vpon a fruitfuU soile, standing in 8. degrees on that side. He
built also the citie of Saint lago in Porto Viejo: besides many others along the sea coast and
within the land : where there br^ede many horses, as.ses, mules, kine, hogs, goates, sh^epe,
and other beasts; also tr^es and plants, but principally rosemary, oranges, limons, citrons,
and other sower fruits, vines, wheate, barlie, and other graines, radishes and other kinde of
herbage and fruits brought out of Spaine thither to be sowne and planted.

In the same y^ere 1535. one Diego de Almagro went from the citie of Cu^co to the pro-
uinces of Arequipa and Chili, reaching beyond Cusco towards the South vnto 30. degrees.
This voiage was long, and he discouered much land, snfTering great hunger, old, and other
extremities, by reason of the abundance of ice, which stoppeth the running of the riuers;
so that men and horses die in tho.se parts of the colde. About this time Ferdinando Pisarro
came out of Spaine to the citie de los Reyes, and brought with him the title of Marquisate
of Atanillos for his brother Francis Pisarro, & vnto Diego de Almagro he brought the go-
uernment of 100. leagues ouer and besides that which was discouered, and named it The
New kingdome of Toledo. Ferdinando Pisarro went straight to the citie of Cusco : and one
lohn de Rada went to Almagro into Chili with the Emperours patents.

Diego de Almagro hauing receiued the letters patents which the Emperour had sent him,
went straight from Chili vnto Cusco, to haue it seeing it did appertaine vnto him. Which
was the cause of a ciuill warre. They were mightily oppressed with want of victuailes and

other

•III

of Ihc World.

TllAl'FIQUKS, AND DISCOUERIES.

other thinj?s in fhw their rcliirnc and wore enlorrcd to calc the horiiCH, ^vhich had died fower
moncth-* and a huKV Ijefore. when they passed that way.

Ill this same yt'erc l.j;<ri. Niinnez Daciuw heinp goiicrnmir of In(ha, while he was making
a fortresse at the citie of Din he sent a (U<ete to the riuer of IiiduM, lieinf- fn") thence 90. or The fcrtrew of
'l(K). league •* toward'* ^ north vnder the Tro|)i(ke of Canrcr. The Captaines name was ^'•'>«- {J;;|;, ;,, f
ones Pcre/ dc San I'aio: also he sent another armic against Hadii the kin^ of Cambaia, thccambj.'j.
caplaine whereof was Coscsofar a renegado. Tliey came to the harrc of that mif.Mity riuer in
the moncth of December, of the water whereof they found such trial as Quintus Curlius
writcth of it, when Alexander came thither.

In this v<5crc ir^Jf). one Simon de Alcazaiia went from Siuill with two ships and 240. oonnr.hi5t.!!.i
Spaniards in them. Some sav they went to New Spaine, others that they went to Maluco, '■''•■<• "P- 'J-
but others also say to Ch p.t, where ihey had l)^cnc with Ferdinando Perez de Andrada. How-
soeuer it was, they went first vnto the (Canaries, and from thence to the strcight of Mageian,
without touching at tlie land of Brasill or any part at all of that coast. They entred into the
strcight in the moncth of December with contraric windcs and cold weather. The soldiers
would haue had him turnc backe againe, but he would not. He went into an liauen on the
South side in h'.l. dcgrc'es : There the captainc Simon of Alcazaua commanded Kodcrigo de
Isia with 60. Spanyards to goc and discouer land : but they rose vj) against him and killed
him, and appointed such captaines and ofliccrs as pleased them, and returned. Comming
thwart of Brasil they lost one of their ships vpon the coast, and the Spanyards that escaped
drowning were eaten by the Sauagcs. The other ship went to Saint lago in Hispaniola, and
from thence to Siuill in Spaine.

In this same vdcre 1535. Don Pedro de Mendoja went from Cadiz towards the riuer of oomati hiitoti»
Plate with tweliie ships, and had with him two thousand men : which was the greatest numberJJ'""'- ''•'• J-
of ships and men, that euer any captaine carried into the Indies. He died by the way re-
turning homewards. The most part of his men remained in that riuer, and builded a great
towne containing now two thousand houses, wherein great store of Indians dwell with the
Spanyards. They discoucred and conquered the countrey till they came to the mines of Po- The tiufr of
tossi and to the towne I.a Plata, which is .500. leagues distant from them. Plata tumieihvp

In the y^ere 1536. Cortes vnderstanding that his ship wherein Fortunio Ximenez was pi- Gomarahiit.gen.
lote was seazed on by Nunnez de Guzman, he sent foorth thr^e ships to the place where ''^' *• "P- '<• *
Guzman was, and ho himselfe went by land well accompanied, and found the ship which he
sought all spoiled and rifled. When his thr^e other ships were come about, he went aboord
liimsclfc with the most part of his men and horse.s, leauing for captaine of those which re-
mained on land one Andrew dc Tapia. So he set saile, and comming to a point the first day
of May he called it Saint Philip, and an Island that lieth fast by it he called Sant lago. Within Saim lagoistc
three dales after he came into the bay where the pilot Fortunio Ximenez was killed, %vhich
he called La plaia de Santa Cruz, where he went on land, and commanded Andrew de Tapia LapiaiadeS^nw
todiscDuer. Cortes tooke shipping againe and came to the riuer now called Rio de San ^[^ ^^ g p^j^^^
Pedro y San Paulo, where by a tempest the ships were separated, one was drluen to the bav y san Paiiio.
lie Santa Cruz, another to the riuer of Guajaual, and the third was drluen on shore hard by """J""' '^"'•
Xalisco, and the men thereof went by land to Mexico.

Cortes long expected his two ships that he wanted : but they not comming he hoised saile
& cntrcd into the Gulfe now called Mar de Cortes, Mar Vermejo, or the Gulfe of California, MarVfrmfj.i
and shot himselfe 50. leagues within it : where he espied a ship at anker & sailing towards cJ;f„,^i"."' "^
her he had bdene lost, if that ship had not succored him. But hailing graued his ship, he comara imhe
departed with both the .ships from thence. Hee bought victuals at a d^ere rate at Saint Mi- ^"'i.ico'roiio
chael of Culhuacan ; and from thence he went to the hauen of Santa Cruz, where h^e ajO' »9'' »9»'
heard that Don Antonio de 'icndoija was come out of Spaine to be Viceroy. He therefore
left to be captaine of his r..ci\ one Francis de Vlloa, to send him certaine ships to discouer
that coast. While he was at Acapulco messengers came vnto him from Don Antonio de
Mendoga the Viceroy, to certifie him of his arrtuall : and also he sent him the coppie of a
letter, wherein Francis Pisarro wrote, that Mango Ynga was risen against him, and was come

G to

4'^

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoucrks

•".''

...Ii;!

y\rw

li. it'!

' l^■■

llfv'k

1- 1!

I ':

■!■>■

Asea Ulind.

tila de los Pes-

c»dorfs.

Hayme Island.

Apia Island.

Seri.

Coroa.

Mcoiuum.

Bufu.

Os Papuas.

to fhe cilie ot Cusco with an hundred thousand fighting men, and that they had killed his
brother lohn Pisarro, and abouc 4fX). Spaniards and f2(X). horses, and he himselfe was in
danger, so that he demanded succour and aide. Cortes beinj; informed of the state of
Pisarro, and of the arriuall of Don Antonio de Mendo(;a, because he wouUl not as yet be at
obediece; First he determined to sende to MaUico to discouer tliat way a long vndcr the Equi-
noctial line, becau.sc The Islands of Clones stand vnder that paiaiclc : And for that purpose
he prepared 3. ships with prouision, victuals & men, besides all other things necessarie. He
gaue the charge of one of these ships to Ferdiinndo de Grijaiiia, and of tiic other vnto one
Aluarado a Gentleman. They went first to Saint Michael de Tangarara in Peru to succour
Francis Pisarro, and from thence to Mahico all along n^ere the line as they were com-
manded. And it is declared that they sailed aboue a thousand leagues without sight of land,
on the one side nor yet on the other of the Equinoctiall. And in two degrees toward the
north they discouered one Island named Asea, which scemeth to be one of the Islands of
Clones : 500. leagues little more or Icsse as they sailed, they came to the sight of another
which they named Isla de los Pescadores. Going still in this course they sawe another Island
called Hayme towards the south, and another named Apia : and tlicn they came to the sight
of Seri : turning towards the north one degrde, they came to anker at another Island named
Coroa, and from thence they came to another vnder the line named Meousum, and from
thence vnto Bufu standing in the same course.

The people of all these Islands arc blackc, and haue their haire frisled, whom the people

of Maluco do call Papuas. The most of them eate mans flesh, and arc witches, so giuen to

diuilishnes, that the diucls walk among them as cOpanions. If these wicked spirits do finde

one alone, they kill him with cruell blowes or smoother him. Therefore they v.se not to goe,

w'k'o""'h" '*"* ^^^^" '^^" "•" 'hrde may be in a companie. There is h^ere a bird as bigge as a Crane :

stnc es. j^g jjigjj^ ^^^^ ^^^ j^^jj^ ^1^^. ^yji^jjg wjierewith to fide, he runneth on the ground like a Deere :

of their small feathers they do make haire for their idols. There is also an herbe, which
being washed in warme water, if the leafe thereof be laide on any member and licked with
the toong, it will draw out all the blood of a mans body : and with this leafe they vse to let
themselues blood.

From these Islands they came vnto others named the Guclles standing one degree towards
the north, cast, and west from the Isle Terenate, wherein the Portugals haue a fortresse :
these men are haired like the people of the \falucoes. These Islands stande l)i4. leagues
from the Island named Moro ; and from Terenate betwdene 40. and 50. From whence they
went to the Isle of Moro, & the Islads of Clones, going from the one vnto the other. But
the people of the countrey would not suflier them to come on lande, saying vnto them : Go
vnto the fortresse where the captain Antonie Galuano is, and we will recciue you with a good
will : for they would not suffer them to come on land without his licence : for he was factor
of the countrey, as they named him. A thing woorthie to be noted, that those of the coun-
Thc case now is trcy wcrc SO affcctioned to the Portugals, that they would venter for them their lines, wiues,

much altered. i -i i i i o ' j ' ^

children and goods.
I'cdro dt cie?a In tlic ydcrc 1537. the licenciate lohn de Vadillo gouernour of Cartagena, went out
od armie from a porte of Vraba called Saint Sebastian dc bucna Vista, being
in the gulfe of Vraba, and from thence to llio verdc, & from thence by land without
knowing any way, nor yet hauing any carriages, they went to the end of the countrey
La Plata. of Pcru, and to the towne La plata, by fhe space of 1200. leagues: a thing woorthie of
The moumaines memorie. For from this riuer to the mountaines of Abibe the countrey is full of hils,
thicke forrcsts of trdcs, and many riuers ; and for lacke of a beaten way, they had pierced
sides. The mount.iines of Abibe as it is recorded haue 20. leagues in bredth. They must
be passed oucr in lanuarie, Februarie, March, and Apriil. And from that time forward it
raincth much, and the riuers will be so greatly encrcased, that you cannot passe for them.
There are in those mountaines many lieards of swine, many dantcs, lyons, tvgcrs, beares,
ounses, and great cats, and monkeis, and inightie snakes and other such vcrmine. Also
there be in these mountaines abundance of partridges, quailcs, turtle doiies, pigeons, and

other

Guclles IsIandSi
Terenate.

Moro.

MoluccT.

Antonie Gal-
liano, the author
of this buuki:.

parte piimcra de -.i
la Chronica del ^^'''' "
Veru cap. 9. Jc
cap. 107.

of Abibe.

. ii!i:.

iscouevks

killed his
He Avas in
c state of
! yet be at
■ the Equi-
it purpose
issarie. He
r vnto one
to succour
were cotn-
lU of land,
toward the
Islands of
of another
)ther Island
to the sight
land named
:\, and from

I the people
so giuen to
rits do finde
i not to goc,
as a Crane :
ke a Deere :
lerbe, which
1 licked with
jey vse to let

gree towards
e a fortresse :
124. leagues
whence they
J other. But
to them : C»o
I with a good
he was factor
of the coun-
liucs, wiues,

|ia, went out
Vista, being
land without
|thc countrey
woorthie of
full of hils,
had pierced
They must
line forward it
isse for them,
gcrs, beares,
Irmine. Also
1 pigeons, and
other

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

■a

other birdes and foules of sundric sorts. Likewise in the riuers is such plentie of fish, that

they did kill of them with their staucs : and carrying canes and nets they affirme that a great

army might be sustained that way without being distressed for want of victuals. Moreouer

they declared the diuersities of the people, toongs, and apparell that they obserued in the

countries, kin'^domes, and proninccs which they went through, and the great trauels and

dangers that they were in till they came to the towne called Villa de la Plata, and vnto the valadeUPi.tH.

sea thereunto adioyning. This was the greatest discouerie that hath b^ene heard of by land,

and in so short a time. And if it had not b^ene done in our daies, the credite thereof would

haue bdenc doubt full.

In the y<Sere 1538. there went out of Mexico certaine friers of the order of Saint Francis lumusius j vol
towards the north to preach to the Indians the Catholicke faith. He that went farthest was*^"''"*-
one frier Marke de Nizza, who passed through Culuacan, and came to the prouince of Sibola, Frier Mukcdr
wiirre he found seuen cities : and the farther he went, the richer he found the countrie of s|^"^;
gold, silucr, precious stones, and sh<^epe bearing very fine wool. Vpon the fame of this
welth the viceroy don Antonio de Mendoqa, and Cortes, determined to send a power thither.
But when they could not agr6e thereupon Cortes went ouer into Spaine in the y^ere 1540.
where afterward he died.

In this yeere 1538. began the ciuil warre betweene Pisarro and Almagro, wherein at the
last Almagro was taken and beheaded.

In the same yeere 1538. Anionic Galuano being chiefe captaine in the isles of Maluco sent Got««aiiut.gen.
a ship towards the north, whereof one Francis de Castro was captaine, hauing commande- JJ^^„"''gj;
ment to conuert as many as he could to the faith. He himselfe christened many, as the uano chiefe cap-
lords of the Celebes, Macasares, Amboynos, Moros, Moratax, and diuers other places. "JJJj'ofo/^hir*
When Francis de Castro arriued at the Island of Mindanao, sixe kings receiued the water of wutkt.
Baptisme, with their wiues, children and subiects: and the most of them Antonie Galuano
gaue commandcment to be called by the name of lohn, in remembrance that king lohn the
third raigncd then in Portugal!.

The Portugals and Spaniards which haue bdene in these Islands affirme, that there be cer-
taine hogs in them, which besides the teeth which they haue in their mouthes, haue other
two growing out of their snouts, and as many behinde their earcs of a large span and an halfe
in length. Likewise they say there is a tr6e, the one halfe whereof, which standeth towards
the east is a good medicine against all poyson, & the other side of the trie which .standeth
toward the west is very poison ; and the fruite on that side is like a bigge pease ; and there is
made of it the strongest poyson that is in all the world. Also they report that there is there
another trde, the fruite whereof whosoeuer doth eate, shall be twelue houres besides him-
selfe, and when hecommeth againe vnto himselfe he shall not remember what he did in the
time of his madnes. Moreouer there are certaine crabs of the land, whereof whosoeuer doth
e.ite shall be a certaine spice out of his wits. Likewise the countrey people declare that
there is a stone in these Islands whereon whosoeuer sitteth shall be broken in his bodie. It
is farther to be noted, that the people of these Islands do gild their t^eth.

In the ydere L^)39. Cortes sent thr<;e ships with Francis Vlloa to discouer the coast of Cu- com»rahist.geii.
luacan northward. They went from Arapulco, and touched at S. lago de buena speranija, '"'•*• "^.'P- '**
and entred into the gulfe that Cortes had discoucred, and sailed till they came in 32. degr<!;es, foi."3j9.
which is almost the farthest end of that gulfe, which place they named .\ncon de Sant Andres, T*" ''""°'r;:,°^

1 1 1 • 1 I • 1 • r«i 1 < I ' ine guile 01 La-

because they came thither on that sanits daie: Then they came out a long the coast on the lifomia discguct-
other side, and doubled the point of California and entred in betweene certaine Islands and the c Iiifurnia Jou-
point and so sailed along by it, till they came to 32 decrees, from whence they returned to bkJ.
newe Spaine, enforced thereunto by contrarie windes and want of victu.ils ; hauing bdene
f!Ut about a y<5cre. Cortes according to his account, spent 200000. ducates in these dis-

— ^ *-« • Ciibo del En*

From Cabo del Enganno to another cape called Cabo de Liampo in China there are 1000. gamio.
or 1200. leagues sayling. Cortes and his captaines discouered new Spaine, from 13. de- jlil'^'Je'" m'i'I
grees to 32. from south to the north, being 700. leagues, finding it more warme then cold, «nii chin, in 31.

r' O _l*u . u <l«gr«s it ICOO.

O i although i„gurt.

^^l!,■^!

;;.*

:'o-

; I

'. Iff

■'M

i;:!

iSi.l'

Ml'-
■il

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discomrien

Metl an excel-
lent uer.

The reuiued
birds.

Gom«r.hi!t.sfii. although SHOW do lie vpon certaine mouhtaines most part of the y^ere. In new Spaine there
iib.6.cai!. 17. |jg niany trees, flowers and fruits of diuers sorts and profitable for many things. The prin-
cipal! tr^e is named Metl. It groweth not very high nor thicke. They plant and dresse it
as we do our vines. They say it hath fortie kinde of leaues like wouen clothes, which seruc
for many vses. When they be tender, they make conserues of them, paper, and a thing
like vnto flaxe : they make of it mantles, mats, shooes, girdles, and cordage. These tr^es
haue certainc prickles so strong and sharpe, that they sewe with them. The roots make fire
and ashes, which ashes make excellent good lie. They open the earth from the roote and
scrape it, and the iuice which commeth out is like a sirrupe. If you do seeth it, it will be-
come honie ; if you purifie it it will be .sugar. Also you may make wine and vineger there-
of. It beareth the Coco. The rinde rosted and crushed vpon sores and hurts healeth and
cureth. The iuice of the tops and roots mingled with incense are good against poyson, and
the biting of a viper. For these manifold benefits it is the most profitable tr<5e knownc to
growe in those parts.

Also there be there certaine small birds named Vicmalim, their bill is small and long.
They Hue of the dewe, and the iuice of flowers and roses. Their feathers be verie small and
of diners colours. They be greatly esteemed to worke golde with. They die or sldepe euerie
y^ere in the moneth of October sitting vpon a little bough in a warme and close place : they
reuiue or wake againe in the moneth of Aprill after that the flowers be sprung, and there-
fore they call them the reuiued birds.

Likewise there be snakes in these parts, which sound as though they had bels when they
cr6epe. There be other which engender at the mouth, cuen as they report of the viper.
There be hogges which haue a nauelj on the ridge of their backs, which as soone as they be
killed and cut out, will by and by corrupt and stinke.

Besides these there be certaine fishes which make a noyse like vnto hogs, and will snort,
for which cause they be named snorters.

In the yeere 1538. and 1539. after that Diego de Almagro was beheaded, the Marques
Francis Pisarro was not idle. For he sent straight one Peter de Baldiuia with a good com-
panie of men to discouer and conqucre the countrey of Chili. He was wel receiued of those
of the countrey, but afterwards they rose against him and would haue killed him by treason.
Yet for all the warre that he had with them, he discouered much land, and the coast of the
sea toward the southeast, till he came into 40. degrees and more in latitude. While he was in
these discoueries he heard newes of a king called Leucengolma, which commonly brought to
the field two hundred thousand fighting men against another king his neighbour, and that this
Leucengolma had an Island, and a temple therein with two thousand priestes : and that be-
yond them were the Amazones, whos.^ Queene was called Guanomilla, that is to say. The
golden heauen. But as yet there are none of these things discouered. About this time
Gomez de Aluarado went to conquer the province of Gunnuco: and Francis de Chauez went
to subdue the Conchincos, which troubled the townc of Truxillo, and the countreys adioyn-
ing. Peter de Vergara went to the Bracamores, a people dwelling toward the north from
Quito. lohn Perez de Vergara went against the Ciaciapoians : Alfonsus de Mercadiglio
went vnto Mulubamba. Ferdinandoand Gonzaluo Pisarros went to subdue Collao, a countrey
very rich in gold. Peter de Candia went to the lower part of Collao. Peranzurcs also went
to conquer the said countrey. And thus the Spaiiyards dispersed themselues, and conquer-
ed aboue seuen hundred leagues of countrey in a very short space, though not without great
trauailes and losse of men.

The countreyes of Brasill and Peru stand east and west almost 800. leagues distant. The
nderest is from the Cape of Saint Augustine vnto the hauen of Truxillo : for they stand
both almost in one paralleie and latitude. And the farthest is 950. leagues, reckoning from
the riuer of Peru to the streits of Magellan, which places lie directly north & south, through
If Andej""""" ^'^'^'^ countrey passe certalue mountaiucs named the Andes, which diuide Brasill from the
empire of the Ingas. After this maner the mountaines of T;uirus and Imaus diuide Asia into
two parts : which mountaines begin in 36. and 37. dcgrdcs of northerly latitude at the end of

the

Snorting fishes.

Gomara hist,
gen. lib. 5. cap.

Cbil!.

This might be
the temple in
the lake of Ti-
ticaca.
Cifja cap. 103

}COU(rie.i

ne there
he prin-
Iresse it
ch serue
I a thing
ese tr^es
nake fire
oote and
will be-
er there-
leth and
son, and
iiowne to

nd long,
jmall and
[)e euerie
ce: they
nd there-
hen they
the viper.
s they be

will snort,

Marques
;ood com-
d of those
y treason.
)ast of the
; he w:\s in
)rought to
that this
that be-
say, The
this time
uiez went
s acilovn-
ortli from
crcadiglio
countrey
alnowent
conquer-
loiit great

nt. The
ley stand
ling from
, through
from the
Asia into
the end of
the

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

the Mcditerran sea ouer against the Isles of Rhodes and Cyprus, running still towards the
East vnto the sea of China. And so likewise the mountaines of Atlas in Africa diuide the
tawnie Moores from the blacke Moores which haue frisled haire, beginning at mount
Meics about the desert of Uarca, and running along vnder the Tropicke of Cancer vnto
the Atlanticke Ocean.

Tlie mountains of tiie Andes be high, ragged, and in some places barren without tr^es or
•rrassc, whereon it raineth and snoweth most commonly. Vpon them are windes and sudden
blastes ; there is likewise such scarcitie of wood, that they make fire of turfles, as they do in
Flanders. In some places of these mountaines and countries the earth is of diners colours, Eanhof diuers
as blacke, white, red, gr^ene, blew, yellow, and violet, wherewith they die colours without colours good w
anv other mixture. From the bottomes of these mountaines spring many small and great ""^ *"'""■
riuers, principally from the east side, as app^ereth by the riuers of the Amazones, of S.
Francis, of Plata, and many others which runne through the countrey ofBrasil, being larger
then those of Peru, or those of Castilia del oro. There grow on these mountaines many
turneps, rapes, and other such like rootes and herbes. One there is like vnto Aipo or Rue
which beareth a yellow flower, and healeth all kinde of rotten sores, and if you apply it vnto
whole and cleane flesh it will eate it vnto the bone : so that it is good for the vnsound and
naught for the whole.

' They say there be in these mountains tigers, lions, beares, woolues, wilde cats, foxes,
Dantes, Ounces, hogs and d^ere : birdes as well rauenous as others, and the most part of
them are blacke, as vnder the North both beasts & birdes be white. Also there be great
& terrible snakes which deslroied a whole armie of the Ingas passing that way, yet they say
that an olde woman did inchant them in such sort that they became so gentle, that a man
might sit vpon one of them. The countrey of Peru adioining vnto the mountaines of Andes

V .w;.rd toward the sea, and containing 15. or 20. leagues in bredth is all of very hot

V ■ et fresh, bringing foorth many good tr^es and fruites because it is well watered :
. ' c here growe abundance of flags, rushes, herbes, and tr^es so slender and loose, that

^ your hands vpon them the leaues will fall off. And among these herbes and fresh
flowers the men and women line and abide without any houses or bedding, euen as the
cattell doe in the fields: and some of them haue tailes. They be grosse, and weare long
haire. They haue no beards, yet haue they diners languages.

Those which line on the tops of these mountains of Andes betwdene the cold and the
heate for tlie most part be blinde of one eie, and some altogether blinde, and scarce you
shall finde two men of them together, bnt one of the..i is halfe blinde. Also there groweth
in these fields, notwithstanding the great heate of the sand good Maiz, and Potatos, and an
herbe which they name Coca, which they carrie continually in their mouthes (as in the East AnhMbenamea
India they vsc another herbe named Betele ) which also ( they say ) satisfieth both hunger and 9°" "'"'^'' "•
thirst. Also there are other kindes of graines and rootes whereon they feede. Moreouer andVhirst"'^"
there is plentic of wheate, barly, millet, vines, and fruitful trees, which are brought out of
Spaine and planted there. For all these things prooue well in this countrey, because it is so
commodiously watered.

Also they sow much cotton wooll, which of nature is white, red, blacke, gr^ene, yellow,
orange tawnie, andofdiuers other colours.

Likewise they affirme, that from Tumbez southward it doth neither raine, thunder, nor
lighten,, for the space of fine hundred leagues of land : but at some times there falleth some
little shower. Also it is reported, that from Tumbez to Chili there breede no peacocks,
hennes, cocks, nor eagles, falcons, haukes, kites, nor any other kinde of rauening fowles,
and yet there are of them in all other regions and countreies : but there are many duckes,
gee>e, herons, pigeons, partriges, quailcs, and many other kindes of birdes. There are
also a cert.iine kinde of fowle like vnto a ducke which hath no wings toflie withall, but it
hath fine thinne feathers which couer all the body. Likewise there are bitters that make
war with the seale or sea wolfe: for finding them out of the water they will labour to picke
out their eies, that they may not s^e to get to the water againe, and then they doe kill them.

They

ili'jjlj"

''ill' !■■!

..>•*

1 ■;,!'.

I '■Mil

Wit.

I'.fir't;

■.I

• i Mw-i '

. «

I ;'

Xaces 1 Iclnde of
great sheep* that
nten lidc vpon.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discouei'tes

Ramusius 3. vol
fo!.36j.

Gomira hist,
gen. lib. cap.
3«.

Cumaco.
Cinamom tiees.

Wild Ciiiamam
in the Islands of
laua.
Coca.

F.I pongo, a
mighty tall of a
riuer.

Gucmi.

They say it in a pleasant sight to behold the fight betwecne the said bitters andsealen. With
the beards of these scales men make cleane their tdeth, because they be wholesome for the
toothach. There are ccrtaine beastes which those of the countrey call Xacos, and the Span-
yards shdepe, because they beare wooll like vnto a sh.i^epc, but are made much like vnto a
decre, hauing a saddle backe like vnto a camcll. They will carrie the burthen of 100.
weight. The Spanyards ride vpon them, and when they be wearie they will turne their
heads backward, and void out of their niouthes a woonderful stinking water.

From the riucr of Plata and Lima southward there br^edc no crocodiles nor lizard.^, no
snakes, nor any kinde of venemous vcrmine, but great store of good fishes brdede in those
riuers. On the coast of Saint Michael in The South sea there are many rocks of salt couered
with egges. On the point of Saint Helena are certaine Well springs which cast foorth a
liquor, that serueth in stead of pitch and tarre. They say that in Chili there is a fountaine,
the water whereof will conuert wood into stone. In the hauen of Tru.\illo there is a lake of
fresh water, and the bottome thereof is of good hard .salt. In the Andes beyond Xauxa
there is a riuer of fresh water, in the bottome whereof there lieth white salt. Also they
affirme by the report of those of the countrey, that there haue dwelt giants in Pent, of
whose statures they found in Porto viejo, and in the hauen of Truxillo, bones and iawes with
teeth, which were thr6e and fower fingers long.

In the y^ere 1540. the captaine Ferdinando Alorchon went by the commandement of the
Viceroy Don Antonio dc Mendoja with two ships to discoucr the bottome of the gulfe of
California, and diuers other countries.

In this y6ere 1540. Gonsaluo Pisarro went out of the citie of Quito to discouer the
countrey of Canell or Cinamome, a thing of great fame in that countrey. He had with him
two hundred Spanyards horsemen and footemen, and thr^e hundred Indians to carrie burthen.s.
He went forward til he came to Giiixos, which is the farthest place gouerned by the Ingas :
where there happened a great earthquake with raine and lightning, which sunke 70. houses.
They passed ouer cold and siiowie hils, where they found many Indians frozen to death,
maruclling much of the great snowe that they found vnder the Equinoctiall line. From
nence thev went to a proiiince called Cumaco, where they tarried two monethcs because it
rained continually. And beyond they sawe the Cinamome trdes, which be very great, the
leaues thereof resembling bay Iceues, both leaues, branches, rootes, and all tasting of Cina-
mome. The rootes h:iue the whole taste of Cinamome. But the best are certaine knops
like vnto Alcornoques or aconies, which are good marchandise. It app^ereth to be wikle
Cinamome, and there is much of it in the East Indies, and in the Islands of laoa or laua.

From hence they went to the prouince and citie of Coca, where they rested fifty dales.
From that place forwards they trauailcd along by a riucrs side being GO. leagues long, with-
out finding of any bridge, nor yet any foorde to passe ouer to the other side. Thev found
one place of this riuer, where it had a fall of 200. fathoms deepe, where the wafer made
such a noise, that it would make a man almost deafe to stand by it. And not far beneath this
fall, thev sav they found a chanell of stone very smooth, of two hundred footc broad, and the
riuer runneth by : and there they made a bridge to passe ouer on the other side, where they
went to a countrey called Guema, which was so poore, that they could get nothing to eate
but onely fruits and hcrbe*. From that place forward they found a people of some re.ison,
wearing ccrtaine clothing made of cotton wooll, where they made a brigaiuline, & there
they found also certaine Canoas, wherein they put their sicke men, and their treasure and
best apparell, giuing the charge of them to one Francis de Orellana : and Gonsaluo Pizarro
went by land with the rest of the companie along by the riuers side, and at night went into
the boatcs, and they trauailed in this order two hundred leagues as it appcereth When
Pizarro came to the place where he thought to finde the brigandine and Canoas, and could
haue no sight of them nor yet heare of them, he tiiought himseife out of all hope, because
he was in a strange countrey without victuales, clothing, or any thing else : wherefore thry
were Faine to eate their horses, yea and dogs also, because the countrey was poore and bar-
ren, and the iourney long, to goe to Quito. Yet notwithstanding taking a good hart to

thcmselucs

Oiscoueries

ties. With
ome for the
d the Span-
like vnto a
len of 100.
I turne their

• lizards no
eJe in those
salt couered
cast foorth a
a fountaine,
s is a lake of
yond Xauxa
, Also they

I in Peni, of
id iawes with

lement of the
■ the gulfe of

discouer the
had with him
irrie burthens,
by the Ingas :
ke 70. houses,
ozen to death,

II line. From
hcs because it
fry great, the
isting of Cina-
ertaine knops
th to be wikle
ia or laua.

:ed fifty daies.
es long, with-
They found
le water made
>r beneath this
broad, and the
e, where they
othing to eate
some reason,
dine, & there
ir treasure and
)nsaluo Pizarro
ight went into
■ereth When
oas, and could
lope, because
wherefore thry
loore and bar-
good hart to
thcm«eUvcs

oftlie Wurld.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

themselues they went on forwards in their iourney, trauailing continually 18. monethes, and

it is reported, that they went almost 5. hundred leagues, wherein they did neither s6e sunne

nor any thing else whereby they might be comforted, wherefore of two hundred men which

went ioorth at the first, there returned not backe past ten vnto Quito, and these so weake,

ragged, and disfigured that they knew them not. Orellana went fine hundred or sixe hundred

leagues downe the riuer, seeing tliuers countreyes and people on both sides thereof, among

whom he affirmed some to be Aniazones. He came into Castile, excusing himselfe, that the

water and streames draue him dowiie perforce. This riuer is named The riuer of Orellana, & ^'"> ''« O""'"'-

other name it the riuer of the Amazones, because there be women there which Hue like

vnto them.

In the y^'ere 1540. Cortes went with his wife into Spume where he died of a disease seuen
y^eres alter.

In the ycere 1541. it is recorded that Don Stephan de Gama gouernour of India sailed to-
ward the sfreit of Mecca. He came with al his fl^ete vnto an anker in the Island of Mapua, andMa9ua.
from thence vpwards in small shipping he went along the coast of the Abassins and Ethiopia,
till he came to the Island of Suachen, standing in 20. degrees towardes the north, and fromSuach».
thence to the haucn of Cossir, standing in 27. degrees, and .so he crossed ouer to the citie of Coss""-
Toro standing on the shore of Arabia, and along by it he went vnto Suez, which is the Tom.
farthest cnde of the strejt, and so he turned backe the same way, leauing thit countrey and ""'
coast discouered so far as neuer any other Portugall captaine had done, although Lopez
Suarcz gouernour of India went to the hauen of luda, and the hauen of Mecca standing on
the coast of Arabia in 23. degrees of latitude, and 1.50. leagues from the mouth of thestreit.
Don Stephan du Gama crossing ouer from Cossir to the citie of Toro, as it is reported found
an Island of Brimstone, which was dispeopled by the hand of Mahumet, wherein many crabs An islander
doe breede. which increase nature : wherefore they be greatly esteemed of such as are vn- Red "«.' '"
chaste. Also they say that there are in this streit many roses which open when women are
in their labour.

lohn Leo writeth in the very end of his Geographic which he made of Africa, that there is
in the mountaines of Atlas a roote called Surnag, ouer which if a maid chance to make water
shoe shall leese her virginitie.

In the same y^ere 1541. Don Diego de Almagro killed the Marques Francis Pizarro, and
his brother Francis Martinez of Alcantara in the citie de los Reyes, otherwise called Lima,
and made himselfe gouernour of that countrey.

In the ycere 1.540. the Viceroy Don Antony de Mendoza sent one Francis Vasquez deGomaraiust.
Coronado by land vnto the prouince of Sibola, with an armie of Spaniards and Indians, f,"" ''''• ''"''
They went out of Mexico, and came to Culuacan, and from thence to Sibola, which standethsiboU
in 30. degrees of latitude. They required peace with the people and some victuals, being
thereof destitute. But they answered that they vsed not to giue any thing to those that came
vnto them in warlike manner. So the Spaniards assaited the towne and tooke it, and called
it Nueua Granada, because the generall himselfe was borne in Granada. The soldiers found
themselues deceiued by the words of the Friers, which had b^ene in those parts before ; and
because they woulde not returne backe to Mexico againe with emptie hands, they went to
the towne of Acuco, where they had knowledge of Axa and Quiuira, where there was a king aoco.
very rich, that did worship a cros.se of golde, and the picture of the qu6ene of Heauen.
They indured many extremities in this iourney, and ihe Indians fled away from them, and in
one morning they found thirtie of their horses dead. From Cicuic they went to Quiuira, cir.
which was two hundred leagues oti; according to their account, passing all through a plaine ^"
countrey, and it nking by the way certaine hillocks of cowe dung, because thereby they
might not loose their way in their returne. They had there haile-stones as bigge as Oranges.
Now when they were come to Quiuira, they found the king called Tatarrax, which they
sought for, with a iewell of copper hanging about his necke, which was all his riches.
'1 hey saw neither any crosse, nor any image of the queene of Heauen, nor any other token _
ol Christian religion. It is written of this countrey that it is but smally inhabited, princi-gen!"ub!5.'«r.

pally '8. a. 19-

Jircmc.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Late Discoueriti

i' i
, vlv '!t-

(iSf;

■■■|:t:'>

■i I X ■
('I;.," '4

.r>....,:::,

'^■\M

. - '■ r i: 'II

■ 1

■ '•i

1*;

ii^:-

1 '' '

, ' 1' ■ ly.

■ 1 '

1 ' ■ ■ii

t; : I]

Uli

\ ' !l ■

ilJ

pally in the plaine and champion places, because the men and women goe in herds with their
cattcll, whereof they haue great plentie, euen as the Arabians do in Barbarie, and they re-
mooiie from place to place, euen as the season scrueth, and the pastures to fdede their
ho"/'"'''^" cattle. In these parts arc certaine beasts almost as bigge as horses, they haue very great
homes, and they beare wooll like vnto sh^epe, and so the Spaniards call them. They haue
abundance of oxen verie monstrous, being camel backed, and hauing long beards, and on
their neckc long manes like vnto horses. They line with eating of these oxen and drinking
of their blood, and apparell themselues with the skins of the same. The most part of the
flesh that tliey do eatc is rawe, or euiil rosted, for they lacke pots to s<;eth it in. They cut
their meat with certaine kniues made of flint stone. Their fruite are damsons, hasel-nuts,
^^^'j'^7'"ei° walnuts, melons, grapes, pines, and mulberies. There be dogges so bigge, that one of
.In their baVk5. them alohc will hold a bnll, though he be neuer so wilde. When they remooue, these
dogs do Carrie their children, wiues, and stutTe vpon their backcs, and they are able to carrie
fiftie pound waight. I passe ouer many things, because the order which I follow will not
permit me to be long.

In the yeere of our Lord 1542. one Diego de Freitas being in the realme of Siam, and in
citie of Dodra as captaine of a ship, there fled from him thr6e Portugals in a lunco (which
is a kind of ship) towards China. Their names were Antony de Mota, Francis Zeimoro,
and Antony Pexoto, directing their course to the citie of Liampo, standing in 30. and odde
degrees of latitude. There fell vpon their stcrne such a storme, that it set them off the land,
and in fe we dales they sawe an Island towards the east standing in 3';J. degrees, which they
i«pan discouered do name lapau, which seemeth to be the Isle of Zipangri, whereof Paulus Venetus maketh
kythmce. mention, and of the riches thereof. And this Island of lapan hath gold, silucr, and other
riches.

In this y^ere 1542. Don Antonio de Mendo^a Viceroy of Nueua Spagna, sent his cap-
taines and pilots to disrouer the coast of Cape del Enganno, where a fl^ete of Cortez had
been before. They sailed till thcv came to a place called Sierras Neuadas, or The snowie
mountaines, standing in 40. degrees toward the north, where they saw ships with merchan-
dises, which carried on their stems the images of certaine birdes called Alcatrarzi, and had
uomara iiist. the yards ofthcir sailcs gilded, and their prowesse laid ouer with siluer. They seemed to be
ge^n. lib. 6. cap. j,{- jj^g jj^jp, ^jj- Japan, or of China ; for they said that it was not aboue thirtie dales sailing

vnto their coiintrey.
Gonurahist. In tlic samc vecrc \b\2. Don Antony de Mendof;a sent vnto the Islands of Mindanao a

gfn. 1 .4.car. fjj<p{g ofsixc shlps with fower hundred soldiers, and as many Indians of the countrey, the
Raimisms I. vol. generall whereof was one Rui Lopez do villa Lobos, being his brother in law and a man in
0-0 5. r''8'-gfp^j estimation. They set saile from the hauen of Natiuidad standing in 20. degrees to-
wards the north, vpon All Saints eeue, and shaped their course towards the west. They had
sight of the Island of S. Thomas, which Hernando de Grijalua had discouered, and beyond in
17. degrees they had .sight of another Island which they named La Nulilad.i, that is. The
cloudie Island. From thence they went to another Island named Roca partida, that is. The
clonen Rocko. The .'L of December they foniid certaine Baxos or flates of sixe orseucn fa-
thoms dt'epc. Tiie 1.5. of the same monetli ihey had siiiht of the Islands, which Diego de
Roca, and Gome/ do Scqneira, and Aliiaro de Saanedra had discouered, and named them Los
Reves, because thev came vnto them on Twelfe day. And beyond them they found other
Islands in 10. degrees all standing round, and in the midst of them they came to an anker,
where they tooke fresh water and wood.

In the same vc^cre 1542. Don Die;;o de Almagro was slaine in Peru by the hands of one
Don Vaca de Castro.

In the vt'erc 1.543. in lanuaric they departed from the foresaid Islands with all the flecte,
and had sight of certaine Islands, out of which there came vnto them men in a certaine kinde
of boats, and they brought in their hands crosses, and saluted the Spaniards in the .Spanish
tonng saving, Riienas dias. Matelotes, that is to .say. Good morrow, companions; whereat the
Spaniards much marueilcd, being then so farre out of Spaine, to seethe men of that countrey

with

Saint Tho'..-,i;.
i.a NiibUdi.
I\(jci l^artidj.

U«t Rcy«.

)iscouerie3

with their
id they re-
cede their
very great
They hauc
ds, and on
d drinking
part of the
They cut

hasel-nuts,
hat one of
)oue, these
lie to Carrie
w will not

lam, and in
nco (which
is Zeimoro,
0. and odde
off the land,
which they
etus maketh
r, and other

jnt his cap-
' Cortez had
■ The snowie
ith merchan-
rzi, and had
eemed to be
daies sailing

Mindanao a
:ountrey, the
nd a man in
degrees to-
They had
id beyond in
that is, The
that is. The
or sciien fa-
ch Diego do
ed them Los
found other
to an anker,

hands of one

all the flecfc,
ertaine kiiulo
the Spanish
whereat the
that countrey
with

of the World.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

with crosses, and to be saluted by them in the Spanish toong, and they sdemed in their beha-
iiiour to incline somewhat to oiir Catholique faith. The Spaniards not knowing, that many
thereabout had bdene Christened by Francis dc Castro, at the commandement of Antony
Galliano, some of them named these Islands, Islas de las cruzes, and others named them Islas
de Ids Matelotes. Theisifsoi

In the Pime yiferc 1543. the first of February Rui Lopez had sight of that noble Island "'"'°"'-
Mindanao standing in 9. degrt^es : they could not double it nc yet come to an ancre as they Minduuo.
would, because the christened kings and people resisted them, hauing giuen their obedience
to Antonie Galuano, whom they had in great estimation, and there were fine or sixe kings
that had receiued baplisme, who by no meanes would incurre his displeasure. Rui Lopez
perceiuing this, and hauing a contrary winde, sailed along the coast to finde some aide; and
in 4. or 5. degrees he found a small Island which they of the countrey call Sarangam, which Suingim.
they tooke perforce, and in memory of the vizeroy who had sent them thither they named
it Antonia, where they remained a whole ydere, in which time there fell out things worthie to
be written ; but because there are more histories that intreat of the same I leaue them, meaning
to mcdie with the discoueries onely.

In the same yeere 1543. and in the inoneth of August the generall Rui Lopez sent one
Bartholomew de la Torre in a smal ship into new Spaine, to acquaint the vizeroy don Antonio de
Mendofa with all things. They went to the Island of Siria, Gaonata, Bisaia, and many others. The relation of
standing in II. and IB. degrees towards the north, where Magellan had h6ene, and Francis {""j^^^^'"^" ^j
de Castro also, who there baptized many, and the Spaniards called the Philippinas in memory Ranusius foi.
of the prince of Spaine. Here they tooke victuals and wood, and hoised sailes, they sailed ^'^jpi^jijjj^^
for certaine daies with a fore-windc, till it came vpon the skanting, and came right vnder
the tropique of Cancer. The 25 of September they had sight of certaine Islands, which
they named Malabrigos, that is to say. The euil roads. Beyond them they discouered Las dos Maiibngos.
Hermanas, that is The two sisters. And beyond them also they saw 4. islands more, which lu dos Her-
they called los Volcancs. The second of October they had sight of Farfana, beyond which L^voicane..
there standeth an high pointed rock which casteth out fire at 5. places. So sayling in 16. de- La Farfitu.
grdes of northerly latitude, from whence they had come, as it seemeth wanting winde, they
arriued againe at the Islands of the Philippinas. They had sight of 6. or 7. Islands more, sixeorseuen
but they ankcred not at them. They found also an Archepelagus of Islands well inhabited '^^jJI^^J™
with people, lying in 15. or IG. degrees: the people be white, and the weomen well propor- of islands,
tioned, and more beautiful' and better arraied than in any other place of those parts, hauing
many iewcis of gold, which was a t iken, that there was some of that metal in the same coun-
trie. Here were also barkes of 43. cubits in length, and 2. fathomes and a halfe in bredth,
and the plaiikes 5. inches thicke, which barkes were rowed with oares. They told the
Spaniards, that they vsed to saile in them to China, and that if they would go thither they
should haue pilots to conduct them, the countrie not being aboue 5. or 6. daies sayling from Mots for Chim.
thence. There came vnto them also certaine barkes or boates handsomely decked, wherein
the master and principall men sate on high, and vnderncath were very blacke moores with
frizlcd haire : and being demanded where they had these black moores, they answered, that
they had them from certaine Islands standing fast by Sebut, where there were many of them,
a thing that the Spaniards much maruailed at, because from thence it was aboue 300. leagues
to the places where the black people were. Therefore it seemed, that they were not natu-
rally borne in that climate, but that they be in certaine places scattered ouer the whole cir-
cuite ofthe world. For cuen so they be in the Islands of Nicobar and Andcman, which stand
in the gulfe of Bengala, and from thence by the space of 500. leagues we doe not know of
any blacke people. Also Vasco Nunez de Valboa declareth that as he went to discouer The
South sea, in a certaine land named Quareca he found black people with frizled haire, whereas
there were ncuer any other found either in Noua Spagna, or in Castilia del Oro, or in
Pern.

In the ycere 1544. Don Gutierre de Vargas bishop of Placenza sent a fleet from the cif y oomara hiit.
of Siui! vnto the streits of Magellan : which is reported to haue bdene done by the counsel of 8"'-i''^4"p.»4.

the

H ;|l

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c.

Late Dlscoueries, Sgc.

'iiIt;.

1:''if-.

1 >..■'.''■

< s • • ; 'i-

'■'';■■■

!' ' ' ■ 1

'•'1

The Isle of
Moro.

Anionic 0>lu>-
no gon oul of
the Malucu.

Oi Pipuai.

NuuaCuiiw*.

The hie of

l.u;oDU<

Silutrmorc
tMccimd liiea
gold.

Moscouie di^
covered by sea,
by the English.

the vizeroy Don Antonie de Mendo^a his cousin. Some suspected, that they went to Maluco«
others to China, others, that they went onely to discouer the land betwixt the streite and the
land of Peru on the other side of Chili, because it was reported to be very rich in gold and
siluer. But this flcete by reason of contrary windes could not passe the streit, yet one
small barke passed the same, and sailed along the coast, and discouered all the land, till he
came vnto Chirimai, and Arequipa, which was aboue 500. leagues, for the rest was alreadie
discouered by Diego de Almagro. and Francis Pizarro, and their captaines and people at diuers
times. By this it app^ereth, that from The streit of the Equinoctial line on both sides is
wholy discouered.

In the y^ere 1545. & in the moneth of lanuarie Rui Lopez de villa Lobos, and Giraldo
with the Castilians came to the Island of Moro, and the citie of Camafo, where they were well
receiued of the kings of Gilolo and Tidore, and of the people of the countrey (because Antony
Galuano was gone) and put the Captaine Don George de Castro to great trouble, asapp^ered
by those things which passed betw^ene him and the Portugals, and the great expences where-
unto he put the fortresse.

In the same y^ere 1545. Rui Lopez de villa Lobos sent from the Island of Tidore another
ship towards New Spaine by the south side of the line, wherein was captaine one Inigo Ortez
de Rotha, and for pilot one laspar Rico. They sailed to the coast of Os Papuas, and ranged
all along the same, and because they knew not that Saauedra had b^ene there before, they
chalenged the honor and fame of that discouerie. And because the people there were blacke
and had frisled haire, they named it Nueua Guinea. For the memorie of Saauedra as then
was almost lost. As all things else do fall into obliuion, which are not recorded and illus-
trated by writing.

In thisydere 1545. and in the moneth of lune, there went a lunk from the citie of Borneo,
wherein went a Portugall called Peter Fidalgo, and by contrary windes he was driuen to-
wards the north ; where he founde an Island standing in 9. or 10. degrees, that stretched it
selfe to 22. degrees of latitude, which is called The Isle of the Lu^ones, because the inhabitants
thereof were so named. It may haue some other name and harborowes, which as yet we
know not : it runneth from the north vnto the southwest, and standeth betw^ene Mindanao
and China. They say they sailed along by it 250. leagues, where the land was fruitfull and
well couered, and they affirme, that there they will giue two Pezos of gold for oneof siluer:
and yet it standeth not farre from the countrey of China.

In the ydere 1553. there went out of England certaine shipping, and as it app^ered they
sailed northward along the coast of Norway and Finmark, and from thence east, till they came
betwdene 70. and 80. degrees vnto Moscouie, for so far one of the ships went : but I know
not what became of the rest : & this was the last discouerie made vntil this time. From this
lande of Moscouie eastward you saile vnto Tartary, and at the farther end of it standeth the
countrey arrl prouince of China. It is said that betweene China and Tartary there is a wall
aboue 200. leaguei; in length, standing n^ere vnto 50. degrees of latitude.

Now I gather by all the precedent discoueries, that the whole earth is in circuite 360. degrees
according to the Geometrie thereof: and to eucry degree the ancient writers allow 17. leagues
& a halfe, which amount vnto 6300. leagues yet I take it thateuery degree is iust 17. leagues.
Howsoeuer it be, all is discouered and sailed from the east vnto the west almost euen as the
sunne compasseth it : but from the south to the north there is great difference ; for towardes
the north pole there is found discouered no more than 77. or 78. degr<!es, which come to
1326. leagues : and towards the south pole there is discouered from the Equinoctial to 52.
or 53. degrees, that is, to the streit which Magellan passed through, which amounted to about
900. leagues ; and putting both these saide maine sums togither, they amount to 2226.
leagues. Now take so many out of 6300. leagues, there remaineth as yet vndiscouered north
and south aboue the space of 4000. leagues.

THE

tries, ^c.

THE

Maluco,
; and the
gold and
yet one
d, till he
s alreadie
: at diuers
h sides is

1 Giraldo
were well

le Antony
app^ered
:e8 where-

re another
ligo Ortez
nd ranged
;fore. they
ere blacke
ra as then
and illus-

of Borneo,
driuen to-
itretched it
inhabitants
as yet we
I Mindanao
luitfuU and
e of siluer :

^ered they
they came
but I know
From this
tandeth the
re is a wall

)0. degrees
7. leagues

. leagues,
uen as the
»r towardes

1 come to
ctial to 53.
ed to about

to 2236.
lered north

WHEREIN 18 FROUBD

NOT ONELY BY AUCTHORITIE OF WRITERS,

BUT ALSO

BY LATE EXPERIENCE OF TRAUELLERS

AND

SEASOJ^S OF SUBSTAJ^TIALL PRO SAB I L I TI E.

THAT

THE WORLDE IN ALL HIS ZONES. CLYMATS AND PLACES.

IS HABITABLE AND INHABITED, AND THE SEAS LIKEWISE VNIUERSALLY NAUIGABLE

WITHOUT ANY NATURALL ANOYANCE TO HINDER THE SAME

wmilEBY AFPEA8ES

THAT FROM ENGIAND THERE IS A SHORT AND SPEEDIE PASSAGE INTO THE SOUTH SEAS,

TO CHINA, MOLUCCA, PHILIPPINA, AND INDIA, BY NORTHERLY NAUIGATION

TO THE RENOWNE, HONOUR AND BENIFIT

OF HER MAIESTIES STATE, AND COMMUNALTY.

PUBLISHED BY

J. DAUIS OF SANDRUDG BY DARTMOUTH

IN THE COUNTIE OF DEUON. GENTLEMAN.
ANNO 1595. MAY 27.

IMPRINTED AT LONDON

BY THOMAS DAWSON

DWELLING AT THE THREE CRANES IN THE VINETREE.

AND ARE THERE TO BE SOLD.

THE

1595.

■ " 'IK

t. , I

'":[

: ■■■I' ■' • V!

ill

ii.1'1 :i

TO THE

RIGHT HONORABLK

LoRDES OF HER MaIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIUIE CoUNSAVLE.

MY most honorable good Lords for as much as it hath pleased God, not only to bestow
vpon your Lordships, the excellent gifts of natures benefite, but hath also beutified
the same with such speciall ornamentes of perfection : As that thereby the mindes and
attentiue Industrie of all, haue no small regard vnto your honorable proceedings. And
so much the rather, because to the great content of all her maiesties most louing sub-
iectes, it hath pleased her highnes in her stately regard of gouernment, to make choise
of your honours as speciall members in the regall disposition of the mightinesse of her
imperiall command: Emboldeneth me among the rest to humble my selfe at your honor-
able feete, in presenting vnto the fauour of your excellent iudgementcs this short treatise
of the Worldes Hydrographicall bands. And knowing that not onely your renowned places,
but also the singularitie of your education, by the prudent care of your noble progeniters
hath and still doth induce and drawe you to fauour and imbrace whatsoeuer beareth but a
seeming of the commonweales good: Much more then that which in substantial! truth shal
be most beneficiall to the same. I am therefore the more encouraged not to slacke this
my enterprise, because that through your honorable assistance when in the ballance of
your wisdomes this discouery shall haue indifferent consideration, I knowe it will be
ordered by you to bee a matter of no small moment to the good of our countrie. For
thereby wee shall not onely haue a copious and rich vent for al our naturall and arti-
ficiall comodities of England, in short time by safe passage, and without offence of
any, but also shall by the first imployment retourne into our countrey by spedie pas-
sage, all Indian commodities in the ripenes of their perfection, whereby her Maiesties
dominions should bee the storehouse of Europe, the nurse of the world and the glciy
of nations, in yielding all forrayne naturall benefites by an easie rate: In communicat-
ing vnto all whatsoeuer God hath vnto any one assigned: And by the increase of all na-
tions through the mightinesse of trade. Then should the merchant, tradesman, and
poore artificer, haue imployment cquall to their power and expedition, whereby what
notable benefites would growe to her Maiestie, the state, and communaltie, I refer to
your perfect iudgementes. And for that I am desirous to auoyde the contradiction of
vulgar conceipts, I haue thought it my best course, before I make profe of the cer-
taintie of this discouerie, to lay downe whatsoeuer may against the same be obiected,
and in the ouerthrowe of those conceipted hinderances the safenes of the passage shall
most manifestly appeare, which when your wisdomes, shall with your patience peruse,
I doe in no sort distruct your fuiorable acceptance and honorable assistance of the same.
And although for diuers considerations I doe not in this treatis discouer my ful know-
ledge for the place and altitude of this passage, yet whensoeuer it shall so please your
honours to commaund I will in few wordes make the full certainty thereof knowne vnto
your honours being alwaies redie with my person and poore habilitie to prosecute this ac-
tion as your honours shall direct, beseeching God so to support you with all happines of

this

\h ■

( \ '

54 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE.

this life, Tauour of her Maiestie, louc of her highnrs subiectes, and increase o[ honour M
may be to your best content.

if '1

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I most humbly take my leaiie from Sandrudg by Dartmouth

this 27. of May 1595.

Your Honont in all dutifull seruice to command

I. D.

4"v>

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THE

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I. D.

THE

WORLDS HYDROGRAPHICALL

OBJECTIONS

AGAINST

AL NORTHERLY DISCOUERIES.

;''f«

THE

ALL * impediments in nature, and circumstances of former practises duly considered.
The Northerly passage to China seme very improbable. For first it is a matter very
doiibtfull whether there bee any such pnssage or no, sitn it hath beene so often attempted and
neuer performed, as by historical relation appeareth, whereby wee may fully perswade our
selucs that America and Asia, or some other continent are soconioyncd togeather as that it is
impoHsible for any such passage to be, the certaintie whereof is substantially proiied vnto
vs by the experience of Sebastian Gabota an expert Pylot, and a man reported of especiall
iudgcment, who being that wayes imployed returned without successe. lasper Corteriallis
a man of no meane practise did likewise put the s'^nte in execution, with diuers others, all
which in the best parte haue concluded ignorance. If not a full consent of such matter.
And therfore sith practise hath reproued the same, there is no reason why men should dote
vpon so great an incertayntie, but if a passage may bee prooued and that the contenentes
are disioyned whereof there is small hope, yet the impcdimentes of the clymate (wherein
the same is supposed to lie) are such, and so offensiue as that all hope is thereby likewise
vtterly secluded, for with the frozen zone no reasonable creature will deny, but that the ex-
trcmitie of colde is of such forceable action, (being the lest in the fulnes of his owne na-
ture without mitigation,) as that it is impossible for any mortall creature to indurc the same,
by the vertue of whose working power, those Northerly Seas are wholly congealed, making
but one mas or contenent of yse, which is the more credible because the ordenary experience
of our fishermen geueth vs sufficient notice thereof, by reason of the great quantitie of yse
whieh they find to be brought vpon the cost of newefound land from those Northerne re-
gions. By the aboundance whereof they are so noysomly pestred, as that in many weekes
they haue not beene able to recouer the shore, yea and many times recouer it not vntill the
season of fishing bee ouer passed. This then being so in the Septentrionall latitude of 46,
47 and 48 degrees, which by natures benifit are latitudes of better temperature than ours of
England, what hope should there remayne for a nauegable passing to be by the nonvest, in
the altitude of 60, 70 or 80 degres, as it may bee more Northerly, when in these temperate
partes of the world the shod of that frozen sea breadeth such noysome pester : as the pore
lisherme doe continually sustain. And therfore it seemeth to be more then ignorance that
men should attempt Nauigation in desperate clymates and through seas congeled that neuer
dissolue, where the stiffnes of the colde maketh the ayre palpably grosse without certainty
that the landes are disioyned.

* Ilakluyt has published an extract from this treatise in his Collection of Voyages ; but the orii;inal work is s»
very wre and occupies so small a space that it has been deemed eligible to reprint it entire. Epir.

All

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Worldes

■^'i

; 1 •■

iilc

All which impediments if they were not, yet in that part of the world, Nauigation can-
not be performed as ordenarily it is vsed, for no ordenarie sea chart can describe those re-
gions either in the partes Geographicall or Ilydrographicall, where the Meridians doc so
spedily gather thcmseliies togeather, the parallels beeing a verye small proportion to a great
circle, where quicke and vncertayne variation of the Compasse may greatly hinder or vt-
terly onerthrow the attempt. So that for lack of Curious lyned globes to the right vse of
Naiiigation; with many other instniments either vnknowne or out of vse, and yet of neccs-
sitie for that voyage, it should with great difficultie be attayned. All which the premises
considered I refer the conclusion of these obiections and certainty of tliis passage to the gc-
ncrail opinion of my louing countrymen, whose dangerous attemptes in those desperate vn-
certainlics I wish to be altered, and better imployed in matters of great probabilitie.

To prove a passage by the Norwest, without any land impedimcnfcs to hinder the
same, by aucthoritie of writters, and experience of trauellers, contrary to the
former obieclioiis.

HOmcr an ancient writer afli'-meth that the world being dcuided into Asia, Africa, and Eu-
rope is an Hand, which is likt\« se so reported by Strabo in his first book of Cosmographie,
Pomponius Mela in his third < ke, Higinius, Solinus, with others. Whereby it is manifest
that America was then vndiscouered and to them vnknowne, otherwise they would haue made
relation of it as of the rest. Neither could they in reason haue reported Asia, Africa and
Europa to bee an Hand vnles they had knowne the same to beconioyned and in all his partes)
to be iiuiironed with the seas. And further America being very nccre of equall quantitie
with all the rest could not be reported as a parte either of Africa, Asia, or Europa in the or-
denarie ly mites of discretion. And therefore of necessitie it must be concluded that Asia,
Africa and Europa the first rcueiled world being knowne to bee an Hand, America must like-
wise be in the same nature because in no parte it conioyneth with the first.

By experience of Trauellcre to proue this passage.

ANd that wee ncede not to range after forrayne and ancient autliorities, whereat curious
wittes may take many exceptions, let vs consider the late discoueryes performed, within the
space of two ages not yet passed, whereby it shall so manifestly appeare that Asia, Africa,
aiul Europa are knit togeather, making one C(mtinent, & are wholy inuironed with the seas,
as that no reasonable creature sliall haue occasion tliereof to doubt. And first beginning at
the north of Europe, from the north cape in 71 degrees, whereby our merchantes passe in
their trade to S. Nicholas in Rouscia descending towardes the South, the Nauigation is with-
out impediment to the cape of Bona Esperanca, ordcnarilie tr.ided <S: daily practised. And
therefore not to be gaynesayd: which two capes are distant more then 2000 leagues by the
nccrest tract, in all which distaunccs America is not founde to bee any thing ncere the coistes
cither of Europe or Afric, for from En<i;land the chefest of the partes of Europa to New-
foundland being parte of America it is GOO. leagues the neerest distance that any part thereof
beareth vnio Europa. And from cape Verde in Gynny being parte of Africa, vnto cape
Saint Augustine in Brasill beeing parte of America, it wanteth but little of 500 leagues, the
neerest distance betwcene Africa and America. Likewise from the sayd North Cape to
Nona Zemla !)y the course of East and West neerest, there is passable sayling, and tlie North
partes of Tartaria are well knowne to be b.inded with the Scithian Seas to the promontory
Tiibin so that truely it is apparant that America is farre remooi"^'! & by a grc-at sea diuided
from any parte of Africa or Europa. And for the Southernc partes of the firste reueiled
worldc it is most manifest that from the cape of Bona Esperanca towardes the east, the C( st .s
of Safalla, .Mosombique, .Mclindc, Arabia, and Persia, whose gulfes lye opt n to the inaync
orcian : And all the coastos of Enst India to the capes of Calincut & Malacca, are banded
with a mighfio sea vpon the South whose lymmatcs are yet vndiscouered. And from the cape
of Muiaica towardes the North so iiigh as the Hoof lapan, & from thence the cost of China
being part of Asia continueth still North to the promontory Tabin, where the Scithian sea &

this

Worldcs

ion can-
hose re-
s doe so
o a great
ler or vt-
rht vsc of
of ncccs-
prcmiscs
to the gc-
perate vii-
ie.

T the
the

;a, and Eii-
nographie,
is manifest
haue made
Africa and
11 his partes
ill quantitie
la in the or-
d that Asia,
a must likc-

;reat curious
|, within the
la, Africa,
1 the seas,
)eginning at
ites passe in
tion is \sith-
tiscd. And
gucs by the
the co'istes
)pa to New-
i;irt thereof
, vnto cape
eagues, the
)rth Cape to
id the North
promontory
sea diuidcd
sle reueilcd
St, the cc St .s
o the mayne
are banded
rom the cape
ost of China
thian sea &
this

"if.

cit

Hjjdi'ograpMcal Discription. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

this Indian sea have recourse togeather, no part of America being nere the same by many
100 leages to hinder this passage.

For from the Callafornia being parte of America, to the yles of Philippina bordering vpon
the coastes of China being parte of Asia is 2100 leages and therefore America is farther se-
parated from Asia, then from any the sea coastes either of Europe or Africa. Wherby it is
most manifest that Asia, Africa & Europa are conioyned in an Hand. And therefore of ne-
cessity followeth that America is contained vnder one or many ylands, for from the septen-
trionall lat. of 75deg. vnto the straights of Magilan it is knowne to be nauigable & hath our
west occian to lymet tiie borders thereof, & through the straightes of Magillane no man
doubtetli but there is Nauigable passage, from which straightes, vpon all the Westcrne bor-
der of America, the costs of Chili, Chuli, Rocha, Baldiuia, Peru to the ystmos of Dariena
& so the whole West shores of Nona Hispania are banded out by a long & mightie sea, not
hauing any shore neere vnto it by one thousand leagues towardes the West, howe then may
it be possible that Asia & America should make one contenent:

To proue the premisses by the attemptes of our owne Countreymen, besides others.

BUt least it should be obiected that the premises are conceites, the acting aucthors not
nominated, I will vse some boldnes to recyte our owne countreymen by whose paynefull
trauells these truthes are made manifest vnto vs. Hoping & intreting that it may not bee
oirensiue, though in this sorte I make relation of their actions. And firste to begin with the
North partes of Europe, it is not vnknowne to all our countrymen, that from the famous
citie of London Syr Huge Willobie, knight, gaue the first attempt for the North cstrcn dis-
coueries, which were afterward most notably accomplished by master Borrowes?, a Pylot of
excellent iudgemente & fortunate in his actions, so farre as Golgoua Vaygats and Nona Zemla,
with trade thereby procured to S. Nicholas in Rouscia. Then succeded master Ginkinson
who by his land trauell discouered the Scithian sea to lymit the North coastes of Tartaria, so
farre as the riuer Ob. So that by our countrymen the North partes of Europe are at full
made knowne vnto vs: & prooued to ioyne with no other continent to hinder this passage.
The common & ordenary trade of the Spanyard & Portingali from Lysbome to the coasts of
Guyny, Bynny, Mina, Angola, Manicongo, &c the cost of Ethiopia to the cape of Bona Es-
pcranca, & all the cost of Est India & Illes of ?vfolucca, (by which wonderfull & copious
trade, they are so mightily inriched, as that now they challeng a monarchy vnto themselues
vpon the whole face of the earth ) that their trade I say, prooueth that America is farre sepe-
rated from any parte of Africa or the South of Asia. And the same Spaniard trading in the
Citye of Canton within the kingdome of China, hauing layd his storehouse of aboundance
in iVIanellia a Citye by him erected in Luzon one of the Illes of Philippa bordring vpon the
cost of China, doth by his common & ordenarie passages to lapan & other the borders of
the coast, knowe that the Est continent of Asia lieth due North & South so high as the pro-
montory Tabin, whcr the Scithian sea & his maine occian of China are conioyned. But
with what rare tliey labour to conceaie that matter of Hydrographie for the better preserua-
lion of their fortunate estate, I refer to the excellent iudgement of statesmen, that paine-
tiiliy lahoiif in the glorious administration of a well gouerned Common weale, .so that by
iheni Africa X: Asia are proued in no parte to ioyne with America, thereby to hinder this
passage.

By late experience to proue that America is an Hand, & may be sayled round
about contrary to the former obiection.

Asia, Africa & Europa being prooued to be conioyned & an Hand, it now resteth to bee
knowne by what authoritie America is proued to be likewise an Hand, so that thereby all
land inipedimentes are remoucd, which might brede the dread or vncertaynty of this passage.
Tiic (irst Englishman that gaue any attempt vpon the coastes of West India being parte of
America was syr lohn Hawkins knight: who there & in that attempt as in many others sithins,
did and hath prooued himselfe to be a man of excellent capacitv, great gouernment, Sc per-

1 ' feet

'"r!*

\m:. ■

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Worldes

til I

;:*:,;

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il.,!;;!*'.

1. ./^•:^;f

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feet resolution. For before he attempted the same it was a matter dmibtfull & reported the
extremes! lymit of danger to sayle vpon those coastes. So that it was generally in dread
among vs, such is the slownes of our nation, for the most part of vs rather ioy at home like
Epicures to sit & carpe at other mens hassardes, our selues not daring to giue any attempt.
(I meane such as are at leisure to seeke the good of their counlrie not being any wayes im-
ployed as paynefuU members of a common weale,) then either to further or giue due com-
mendations to the deseruers, howc then may Syr lohn Hawkins bee esteemed, who being
a man of good account in his Country, of wealth & great imployment, did notwithstanding
for the good of his Countrey, to procure trade, giue that notable & resolute attempt. Whose
steps many hundreds following sithins haue made themselues men of good esteeme, & fit
for the seruice of her sacrid maiestic.

And by that his attempt of America (wherof West India is a parte) is well prooued to be
many hundred leagues distant from any part of Afric or Europe.

Then succeeded Syr Francis Drake in his famous & euer renowned voyage about the world,
who depai'ting from Plimouth, directed his course for the straightes of Magillane, which
place was also reported to be most dangerous by reason of the coiitinuall violent & vnresist-
able currerit that was reported to haue continuall passage into the straightes, so that once
entring thf.rein there was no more hope remayning of returne, besides the perill of shelues,
straightncss of the passage & vncertayne wyndinges of the same, all which bread dread in
the highest degree, the distance & dangers considered. So that before his revealing of the
same the matter was in question, whether there were such a passage or no, or whether Ma-
gillane did passe the same, if there was such a man so named, but Syr Frauncis Drake, con-
sidering the great benefit that might arise by his voyage through that pa«(sage, & the notable
discoueries, that might be thereby performed, regarded not these dastardly aflecfions of the
idle multitude, but consJd raring with iudgemcnt that in nature there cold be no such perpe-
fuitie of violence where the occian is in no sortc straighted, proceeded with discreet prouision
& so departing from England arriued vnto the same, & with good sucesse (through Gods
most fauorable mercy passed through) wherein his resolution hath deserued everlasting com-
mendations. For the place in viewe is dangerous & verye vnpleasing, & in the execution
to passe Nothing may seeme more doubtful, for 14 leagues west within the cape of Saint
Maria lyeth the first straight, where it floweth & ebbeth with violent swiftnes, the straight
not half a mile broad, the first fall into which straight is verye dangerous & doubtfuU. This
straight lasteth in his narrownes, 3 leages, then falling info another sea 8 leages broad & 8
leages through there lyeth the second straight due west South West from the firste, which
course being vnknowne it is no small perill in finding this second straightes, & that agaync
is not a myle broad & continueth the bredth 3 or 4 leages Southwest, with violent swiftnes
of flowing & reflowlng, & there agayne he falleth into another Sea, through which due,
South South West, lyeth the cape Froward, & his straight (so rightly named in the true
nature of his peruersnes, for be the wind neuer so fauorable, at that cape it will be directly
agiynst you with violent & daungerous flaughes) .iiere there are three places probable to
continue the passage. But the true straight lyeth from this cape West Nor West, where the
land is very high all couered with snowe, & full of dangerous counter-windcs, that beate
with violence from those huge monntaines, from which cape the straight is neuer broderthen
2 leages & in many places not halfe a mile, without hope of ancorage, the channel! beeing
shore dcepe more then tow hundrcth fadomes, & so continueth to the South sea fortv leages only
to beereleucd in little danji;crous coues, with many turnings & chang of courses; how perilous
then was this passage to Syr Frauncis Drake, to whom at that time no parte thereof was knowne.
And being without reliefe of ancorage was inforccd to follow his course in the hell darkc nights,
& in all the fury of tempestious stormes. I am the bolder to make this particulcr relation in the
praise of his perfect constancy & magnanemitycof spiritc, because I haue thrise passed the same
straights & haue felt the most bitter & mercyles fury f.hcrenf. Rut now knowing the j)!ace as I
doc (for I haue described euery creke therein) I know it to be a voiagc of as great certaynty,
plca-ure 8e ease, as any whatsocuer that bearcth but ^ the distaunce from England th:it these

straightes

!>'■

Worldes

)orted the
' in dread
home like
f attempt,
wayes im-
due com-
rho being
thstanding
pt. Whose
;me, & tit

Dued to be

; the world,
me, which
5c vnresist-
3 that once
of shelues,
ad dread in
ling of the
hether Ma-
3rake, con-
the notable
tions of the
iich perpe-
;t prouision
rough Gods
asting com-
e execution
pe of Saint
the straight
jtfull. This
broad & 8
rstc, which
that agayne
;nt swiftnes
which due,
in the true
be directly
probable to
where the
that beate
broder then
inell bering
leagCHonly
ow perilous
vas knownc.
arke nights,
:'.tion in the
!ed the same
10 phce as I
t ccrtaynty,
d thiit these
titraightcs

Hifdrographical Discription. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 90

straightes doe. And this straight is founde to be 1200 leages from any parte of Africa so that
truely it is manifest that these two landes are by no small distance scperated.

And after that Syr Frauncis was entred into the South Seas he coasted all the Westerne
shores of America vntill he came into the Septentrionall latitude of forty eight degrees being
on the batke syde of Newfound land. And from thence shaping his course towardes Asia
found by his trauells that the Ills of Mohicz are distant from America more then two hun-
dreth leages, howe then can Asia & Af ica be conioyned & make one continent to hinder
the passage, the men yet liuing that can ,.°pi'oue the same, but this conceipt is the bastard of
ignorance borne through the fornication of the malitious multitude that onely desire to hinder
when themselues can doe no good.

Now their onely resteth the North parts of America, vpcn which coast my selfe haue had
most experience of any in our age : for thrise I was that waye imployed for the discouery of
this notable passage, by the honourable care and some charge of Syr Francis Walsingham
knight, principall secretary to her Maiestie, with whom diuers noble men and worshipfull
marchants of London ioyned in purse and wiilingnesse for the furtherance of that attempt,
but when his honour dyed the voyage was friendlesse, and mens mindes alienated from ad-
uenturing therein.

In my first voyage not experienced of the nature of those climates, and hauing no The t. voyage.
direction either by Chart, Globe, or other certaine relation in what altitude that passage was
to be searched, I shaped a Northerly course and so sought the same toward the South, and in
that my Northerly course I fell vpon the shore which in ancient time was called Greenland^
fiue hundred leagues distant from the Durseys Westnorthwest Northerly, the land being
very high and full of mightie mountaines all couered with snow, no viewe of wood, grasse
or earth to be seene, and the shore two leagues off into the sea so full of yce as that no
shipping could by any meanes come neere the same. The lothsome view of the shore, and
irksome noyse of the yce was such, as that it bred strange conceites among vs, so that we
supposed the place to be wast and voyd of any sensible or vegitable creatures, whereupon
I called the same Desolation : so coasting this shore towards the South in the latitude of sixtie
degrees, I found it to trend towards the West, I still followed the leading therof in the same
height, and after fifty or sixtie leagues it fayled and lay directly North, which I still followed,
and in thirtie leagues sayling vpon the West side of this coast by me named Desolation, wc
were past al the yce and found many greene & pleasant Isles bordering vpon the shore,
but the mountaines of the maine were still couered with great quantities of snow, I brought
my ship among those Isles and there mored to refresh ounielues in our weary trauell, in the
latitude of sixtie foure degrees or there about. The people of the countrey hauing espyed
our shippes came downe vnto vs in their Canoas, & holding vp their right hand to the Sunnc
and crying Yliaout, would strike their breasts : we doing the like the people came aboard
our shippes, men of good stature, vnbearded, small eyed and of tractable conditions, by
whome as signes would permit, we vnderstood that towards the North and West there was a
great sea, and vsing the people with kindenes in giuing them nayles and kniues which of all
thmgs they most desired, we departed, and finding the sea free from yce supposing our
selues to be past al daunger we shaped our course Westnorthwest thinking thereby to passe
for China, but in the latitude of sixtie sixe degrees we fell with another shore, and there
found another passage of twenty leagues broad directly West into the same, which we sup-
posed to be our hoped straight, we entered into the same thirty or fortie leagues, finding it
neither to wyden nor streighten, then considering that the yeere was spent (for this was in
the fine of August) not knowing the length of the straight and dangers thereof, we tooke it
our best course to returne with notice of our good successe for this small time of search.
And so returning in a sharpe fret of Westerly windes the 29. of September we arriued at
Dartmouth. And acquainting master Secretary with the rest of the honourable and
worshipfull aduenturers of all our proceedings, I was appointed againe the second yere
to search the bottome of this straight, because by all likelihood it was the place and passage
by vs laboured for. In this second attempt the marchants of Exeter, and other places of the The a. voyajt.

1 3 West

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Worldes

■:1-

i I

1
!

The North
parts ot" Ame-
tica, all Islands.

fr.

V! j. Toyagt,

West became adiienturers in the action, so that being sufficiently furnished for sixe moneths,
and hauin<; direction to search these straights, vntill we found the same to fall into another
sea vpon the West side of this part of America, we should againe returne : for then it was
not to be doubled, but shipping with trade might safely be conueied to China and the parts
of Asia. We departed from Dartmouth, and ariuing vnto the South part of the coast of
Desolation coasted the same vpon his West shore to the latitude of sixetie sixe degrees, and
there ancored among the Isles bordering vpon the same, where we refreshed our selues, the
people of this place came likewise vnto vs, by whom I vnderstood through their signes that
towards the North the sea was large. At this place the chiefe ship whereupon I trusted,
called the Mcrmayd of Dartmouth, found many occasions of discontentment, and being
vnwilling to proceed, shee there forsook me. Then considering how I had giuen my faith
and most constant promise to my worshipfuU good friend master William Sanderson, who of
all men was the greatest aduenturer in that action, and tooke such care for the performance
thereof that he hath to my knowledge at one time disbursed as much money as any fiue others
wliatsoeuer out of his owne purse, when some of the companie haue bene slackc in giuing
in their aduenture : And also knowing that I should loose the fauor of M. Secretary Wal-
singham, if I should shrink from his direction ; in one small barke of 30 Tunnes, whereof
M. Sanderson was owner, alone without farther comfort or company I proceeded on my
voyage, and arriuing at these straights followed the same 80 leagues, vntill I came among
many Islands, where the water did cbbe and flow sixe fadome vpright, and where there had
bene great trade of people to make traine. But by such things as there we found, wee
knew that they were not Christians of Europe that had vsed that trade : in fine by searching
with our boat, we found small hope to passe any farther that way, and therefore retourning
agayne recouered the sea and coasted the shore towards the South, and in so doing (for it
was too late to search towards the North) we found another great inlet neere 40 leagues
broad, where the water entered in with violent swiftnesse, this we also thought might be a
pa-ssage : for no doubt the North partes of America are all Islands by ought that I could
percciue therein : but because I was alone in a small barke of thirtie tunnes, and the
yeere spent, I entred not into the same, for it was now the seuenth of September, but
coasting the she'' tov.aides the South wee saw an incredible number of birds : hauing
diners fishermea aboord our barke they all concluded that there was a great skull of
fish, we being vnprouided of fishing furniture with a long spike nayle made a hooke, and
fastening the same to one of our sounding lines, before the baite was changed we tooke
more than fortie great Cods, the fish swimming so abundantly thicke about our barke as is
incredible to bee reported, of which with a small portion of salt that we had, we preserued
some thirtie couple, or thereaboutes, and so returned for England. And hauing reported to
M. Secretarie Walsingham the whole successe of this attempt, he commanded me to present
vnto the most honourable Lord high Treasurour of England, some part of that fish : which
when his Lordship saw, & heard at large the relation of this second attempt, I rcceiued
fauourable countenance from his honour, aduising me to prosecute the action, of which his
Lordship conceiued a very good opinion. The next yere, although diners of the aduenturers
fell from the Action, as all the Westerne marchants, and most of those in London : yet some
of the aduenturers both honorable & worshipfuU continued their willing fauour and charge,
80 that by this meanes the next yere two shippes were appointed for the fishing and one
pinnesse for the discouerie.

Departing from Dartmouth, through Gods mercifull fauour, I arriued at the place of fish-
ing, and there according to my direction I left the two ships to follow that biisines, taking
their faithful promise not to depart vntill my returne vnto them, which should be in the fine
of August, and so in the barke I proceeded for the discouerie : but after my departure, in
sixeteene dayes the two shippes had finished their voyage, and so presently departed for
England, without regard of their promise : my selfe not distrusting any such hard measure
proceeded for the discouerie, and followed my course in the free and open sea betweene
North and Northwest to the latitude of 67 degrees, and there I might see America West from

me.

-#f,

Worldes

moneths,

o another

n it was

the parts

e coast of

jrecs, and

id lies, the

ignes that
1 trusted,

and being

n my faith

m, who of

jrformance

fine others

; in giiiing

etary Wal-

s, whereof

led on my

\me among

e there had

Pound, wee

y searching
retourning

ning ( for it
40 leagues

might be a

hat I could

les, and the

lenibcr, but

rds : hauing

at skull of
hooke, and

ed we tooke
barke as is
e preserued
reported to
e to present
fish : which
I rcceiued
f which his
aduenturers
yet some
ami charge,
linsr and one

)lace of fish-
ines, taking
e in the fine
eparture, in
departed for
ard measure
ea betweene
a West from
mCj

Ili/drographical Discription. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

me, and Desolation, East : then when I saw the land of both sides I began to distrust it
would prooue but a gulfe : notwithstanding desirous to know the full certainty I proceeded,
and in 68 degrees the passage enlarged, so that I could not see the Westerne shore : thus I
continued to the latitude of IS degrees, in a great sea, free from yce, coasting the Westerne
shore of Desolation : the people came continually rowing out vnto mo in their Canoas,
twenty, forty, and one hundred at a time, and would giue me fishes dryed, Salmon, Salmon
peale. Cod, Caplin, Lumpe, Stone-base and such like, besides diuers kinds of birds, as
Partrige, Fesant, Guls, Sea birds and other kindes of flesh : I still laboured by signes to
know from tl ?m what they knew of any sea toward the North, they still made signes of a
great sea as we vnderstood them, the I departed from that coast, thinking to discouer the
North parts of America : & after I had sailed towards the West 40 leagues, I fel vpon a
great banke of yce : the winde being North and blew much, I was constrained to coast the
same toward the South, not seeing any shore West from me, neither was there any yce
towards the North, but a great sea, free, large very salt and blew, & of an vnsearcheable
depth : So coasting towards the South I came to the place where I left the ships to fish, but
found them not. Then being forsaken & left in this distresse referring my self to the
mercifull prouidence of God, I shaped my course for England, & vnhoped for of any, God
alone releeuing me, I arriued at Dartmouth. By this last discouery it seemed most manifest
that the passage was free & without impediment toward the North: but by reason of the
Spanish fleet & vnfortunate time of M. Secretaries death, the voyage was omitted & neuer
sitheiis attempted. The cause why I vse this particular relation of all my proceedings for
this discouery, is to stay this obiection, why hath not Dauis discouered this passage being
thrise that wayes imploied ? IIow far I proceeded Sc in what forme this discouery lieth,
doth appeare vpon the Globe which M. Sanderson to his very great charge hath published,
for the which he deserueth great fauor & commendations. Made by master Emery MuUi-
neux a man wel qualited of a good iudgement & very experte in many excellent practises,
in niyselfe being the onely meane with master Sanderson to imploy master Mulineux therem,
whereby he is now growne to a most exquisite perfection.

Anthony de Mendoza viceroy of Mexico, sent certayne of his captaynes by land & also a
nauy of ships by sea to search out the Norwest passage, who affirmed by his letters dated from
Mexico in anno 1541 vnto the Emperour being then in Flaunders, that towardes the Norwest
hee had founde the Kingdome of Cette, Citta, Alls, Ceuera, scuen cities & howe beyond
the sayd Kingdome farther towardes the Norwest, Francisco Vasques of Coronado hauing
passed great desarts came to the sea side, where he found certayne shippes which sayled by
that sea with merchandize, & had in their banners vpon the prows of their shippes, certayne
fowles made of golde & siluer, named Alcatra/zi, Sc that the mariners signified vnto him
by signes, that they were thirtie dayes comming <o the hauen, whereby he vnderstoode that
those could be of no other country but of Asia, the next knowne continent towardes the
West. And farther the sayd Anthony affirmed that by men wel practised hee vnderstoode
that 950 icages of that country was diicouered vpon the same Sea, now if the cost in that
distance of Icages should lye to the West, it would then adioyne with the North partes of
Asia, & then it would be a far shorter voyage then thirtie dayes sayling, but that it is nothing
neere Asia by former authoritie is sufficiently expressed, then if it should lie towardes the
North it would extend itself almost vnto the pole, a voiage oucr tedious to be perfourmed
by land trauell. Therefore of necessity this distance of 950 leages must lie betweene the
North & East, which by Anthony de Especio in his late trauells vpon the North of America
is sufficiently discovered, then this beeing so, the distance is very small betweene the East
parte of this discouered Sea & the passage wherein I haue so painefully laboured, what doth
then hinder vs of England vnto whom of all nations this discouery would be most beneficiall
to be incredulus slow of vnderstanding, & negligent in the highest degree, for the search of
this passage which is most apparently prooued & of wonderful) benefit to the vniversal state
of our cotintrey. Why should we be thus blinded seeing our enemies to posses the fruites

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Worldei

f:):

i 'i'

V ti':'

'■r^ '1;';

1 ■

r:;'t

oFour blessednes & yet will not perceiue the same. But I hope the eternall matestie of God
the sole disposer of all thinges will also make this to appeare in his good time.

Cornelius Nepos recyteth that when Quintus Metellus Caesar was proconsull for the
Romanes in Fraunce, the King of Sueuiagaue him certaync Indians, which sayling out of
India for merchandize were by tempest driuen vpon the coastes of Germany, a matter very
strange that Indians in the fury of stormes should ariue vpon that coast, it resteth now
carefully to consider by what winde they were so driuen, if they had beene of any parte of
Africa how could they escape the ylls of Cape Verd, or the ylles of Cannria, the coastes of
Spayne, Fraunce, Ireland or England to arriue as they did, but it was neuer knowne that any
the natyues of Afric or Ethiopia haue vsed shippings. Therefore they could not bee of that
parte of the worlde, for in that distance sayling they would haue been starued if no other
shore had giuen them relefe. And that they were not of America is verye manifest, for
vpon all the Est parte of that continent, beeing now thereby discoucred, it hath not at any
time beene perceiued that those people were euer accustomed to any order of shipping,
which appcareth by the arriual of Colon vpon those coastes, for they had his shipping in such
wonderfull admiration that they supposed him & his companic to haue descended from
heauen, so rare & strange a thing was shipping in their eyes. Therefore those Indians
could not bee of America safely to bee driuen vpon the coastes of Germany, the distance
& impedimentes well considered.

Then comming neither from Afric nor America, they must of necessitic come from Asia
by the Noreast or Norwest passages. But it should seme that they came not by the Noreast
to double the promontory Tabin, to bee forced through the Scithian Sea, & to haue good
passage through the narrow straight of Noua Zemla Sc neuer to recouer any shore is a matter
of great impossibilitic. Therefore it must needes be concluded that they came by the
North partes of America through that discouered sea of 950 leages, & that they were of
those people which Francisco V.nsqucs of Coronado discouered, all which premises consider-
ed there remaineth no more doubting but that the landes are disioyned & that there is a
Nauigable passage by the Norwest, of God for vs alone ordained to our infinite happines &
for the euer being glory of her maiestie, for then her stately seate of London should be the
storehouse of Europe : the nurse of the world : & the reiiowne of Nations, in yelding all
forraine naturall benifits, by an casie rate, in short time returned vnto vs, & in the fulncs
of their natural perfection : by natural participation through the world of all naturall & arti-
ficiall benefites, for want whereof at this present the most part Hue distressed : & by the
excellent comoditie of her seate, the mightines of her trade, with force of shipping thereby
arising, &; most aboundant accesse & intercourse from all the Kingdomes of the worlde, then
should the ydle hand bee scorned & plenty by industry in all this land should be proelamed.

And therefore the passage prooued & the benefites to all most apparant, let vs no longer
neglect our happines, but like Christians with willing & voluntary spirits labour without
fainting for this so excellent a benefit.

To prooue by experience that the sea fryscth not.

HAuing su6Bcient1y prooued that there is a passage without a land impediments to hinder
the same, contrary to the first obiection, it nowe resteth that the other supposed impedi-
ments bee likewise answered. And firste as touching the frost & fresing of the seas, it is
supposed that the frozen zone is not habitable, & seas innauigable by reason of the vehe-
mencie of cold, by the diuine creator allotted to that part of the world, & we are drawn
into that absurdity of this opinion by a coniectural reason of the sunncs far distance & long
absence vnder the horizon of the greatest parte of that zone, whereby the working power of
colde pcrfourmeth the fulnesse of his nature, not huuing any contrary disposition to hinder
the same & when the Sunne by his presence should comfort that parte of the world, his
beames are so far remoued from perpendicularitie by reason of his continuall neerenes to
the horizon, as that the eflisctes thereof answere not the violence of the winters cold. And

therefore

Worlde$
lie of God

II for the
ng out of
atter very
iteth now
y parte of
coastes of
e that any
)ee of that
r no other
inifest, for
not at any
• shipping,
ng in such
nded from
)se Indians
16 distance

> from Asia

he Noreast

haue good

is a matter

jme by the

ley were of

;a consider-

tt there is a

lappines &

ould be the

yeiding all

the fuhics

rail & arti-

& by the
ing thereby
irorlde, then
)roelamed.

no longer
our without

ts to hinder
ed impedi-
e seas, it is
the velie-
are drawn
nee & long
g power of
)n to hinder
world, his
eerenes to
cold. And
therefore

?f.

Hydrographical Discription. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

therefore those seas remayne for euer vndissolued. Which if it be so, that the nature of
cold can congeale the seas, it is very likely that his first working power, beginneth vpon the
vpper face of the waters, & so descending worketh his effect, which if it were, howe then
commeth it to passe that shippes sayle by the North cape, to Saint Nicholas fiue degrees or
more within the frozen zone, & finde the seas free from pester of yse, the farther from the
shore the clearer from yse. And myselfe likewise howe coulde I haue sayled to the septen-
trionall latitude of seuentie flue degrees, being nine degrees within the frozen zone, be-
twecne two lands where the sea was straightened not fortie leages broade in some places, &
thereby restrained from the violent motion & set of the maine occian & yet founde the same
Naiiigable & free from yse not onely in the midst of the chaneil, but also close aborde the
c'stern shore by me name Desolation, & therefore what neede the repetition of authorities
from writers, or wrested philosophical reasons, when playne experience maketh the matter
so manifest, & yet I deny not but that I haue scene in some part of those seas, tow sortes
of yse, in very great quantity, as a kind of yse by seamen name ylands of yse, being very
high aboue the water, fortie & fiftie fadomes by estimation & higher, & euery of those
haue beene seuen times as much vnder the water, which I haue proued by taking a peece of
yse & haue put the same in a vessell of salt water, & still haue found the seuenth part
thereof to bee aboue the water, into what forme soeuer I haue reduced the same, & this kind
of yse is nothing but snow, which falleth in those great peeces, from the high mountains
bordering close vpon the shore depe seas. (For all the sea coastes of Desolation are moun-
tains of equal! height with the pike of Tenerif with verye great vallies betweene them)
which I haue seene incredible to bee reported, that vpon the toppe of some of these ylls of
yse, there haue beene stones of more then one hundreth tonnes wayght, which in his fall,
that snowe hath tome from the clyffs, & in falling maketh such an horible noyse as if there
were one hundreth canons shot of at one instant, & this kind of yse is verye white, & freshe,
& with shore winds is many times beaten far of into the seas, perhaps twentie leages & that is
the farthest distance that they haue euer bin seene from the shore. The other kind is called
flake yse, blue, very heard & thiiine not aboue three fadomes thick at the farthest, & this
kinde of yse bordreth close vpon the shore. And as the nature of heate with apt vessels de-
uideth the pure spirit from his grosse partes by the coning practise of distillation : so doth
the colde in these regions deuide & congeale the fresh water from the salt, nere such shores
where by the aboundance of freshe riuers, the saltnes of the sea is mittigated, & not else
where, for all yse in general beeing dissolued is very fresh water, so that by the experience
of all that haue euer trauclled towardes the North it is well knowne that the sea neuer fryseth,
but wee know that the sea dissolueth this yse with great speede, for in twentie foure houres
I haue seen an ylande of yse turne vp & downe, as the common phrase is, because it hath
melted so fast vnder water that the heauier parte hath beene vpwarde, which hath beene the
cause of his so turning, for the heuiest part of all things swiming is by nature down-
wards, & therefore sith the sea is by his heate of power to dissolue yse, it is greatly against
reason that the same should be frozen, so that the congealation of the seas can bee no hinder-
ance to the execution of this passage, contrary to the former obiection, by late experience
reprooued, yet if experience wanted in ordenary reason men should not suppose nature to
bee monstrous, for if all such yse & snowe as congealeth & descendeth in the winter did not
by natures benefit dissolue in the sommer, but that the cold were more actual then the heate,
that difference of inequalitie bee it neuer so little would by time bread natures ouerthrowe,
for if the one thousand parte of the yse which in winter is congealed, did the next sommer
remayne vndissolued, that continual difference sithins the worldes creation would not onely
haue conuerted all those North Seas into yse, but would also by continuall accesse of snow
haue extended himselfe aboue all the ayers regions by which reason all such exalations as
should be drawn from the earth & seas within the temperate zones & by windes driuen into
these stifle regions, that moysture was no more to bee hoped for that by dissolution it should
haue any returne, so that by time the world should be left waterlesse. And therefore how
ridiculous this imagination of the seas frysing is, I refer to the worlds generall opinion.

That

€3

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Jlie IVorldes

) '

N'isiii

\i\

"'ti ''!'■'

That the ayre in coldc regions is tollcrable.

ANd now for a full answere of all obiections, if the ayrc bee proued tollcrable then this
most excellent & commodious passage is without al contradiction to be perrourmcd. And
that the ayrc is toUerable as well in the winter as in the Sommer is thus prooued. The in-
habitantes of Moscnuia, Lapland, Swethiand, Norway & Tartaria omit not to trauel for their
commodity: in the deepest of winter, passing by slcades oucr the yse & concealed snowe
being made very slipperic & compact like yse by reason of much wearing & trading, hau-
ing the vse of a kind of slag by them railed Recn to drawe those their sleadcs.

Groynland (by mc lately named Desolation) is likewise inhabited by a people of good
stature & tractable conditions, it also maynfayneth diners kinde of foulcs & brastes which I
haue their scene, but know not their names, & tliese must trauell for their food in winter,
& therefore the ayre is not iiitollerable in the extremes! nature of colclncs: & for the qua-
lity thereof in Sommer by my owne experience 1 knowe tliat vpon llie shou- it is as hot there
as it is at the ylls of cape de Verde in which place there is such al)oundancc of moskeetes,
(a kind of gnat that is in India very ofl'eiisiue & in great quantitie) as that we were stong
with them like lepers, not beeing able to haue quiet Ijeing vpon the shore.

And vnder the clyfe in tlie pooles vnto which tlie streames aryse not, I haue found salt in
great plemy as whyte as the salt of Mayo congclcd from the salt water which the spryng tyds
bring into those poles, which could not be but by the benefit of a noble heat, of which salt
I brought with me & gaue to master Secretory Walsingham & to master Sanderson, as a rare
thing to be found in those parts & farther the same was of an exlraonlenary saltnes. And
therefore it is an idle dreame that the ayre should there be insuficrabic, for ourselues haue
with the water of those seas made salt, because we desired to know whether the benefit of the
sunne were the cause of this cogulation, what better confirmation then can there be then this.

Island is likewise inhabited & yeldeth haukes in great store, as falcons, lerfalcons, lanardes &
sparrow haukes, rauens, crowes, bearcs, hares & foxes, with horses & other kinde of cattell,
vpon which coast in August & September the yse is vtterly dissolued, all which the premises are
certainly verified by such as trade thither from Lubec, Hambro, Amsterdam & England ycrcly,
then why should wee dread this fayned distcmperafure: from cold regions come our most
costly furres as sables beeing esteemed for a principall ornainent & the beastes that yeld vs
those furrs are chiefely hunted in the winter, how grieuous then shall we thinke the winter
to be, or howe insuflerable the ayre, where this little tender beast liueth so well, & where
the hunters may search the dennes & hauntes of such beastes through the woods & snow.

Vpsaliensis affirmeth that he hath felt the Sommer nights in Gotland scarcely tollcrable for
Ircatc, whereas in Rome hee hath felt them cold.

The Mountayncs of Norway & Swethiand are fruitefull of metalls in which siluer & cop-
per are concoct & molten in veines, which may scarcely bee done with fornaces, by which
reason also the vapors & hot exhalations pcarciiig the earth & the waters & through both
those natures breathing forth into the ayre, tempercth the quantitie thereof making it tollcra-
ble, as wyttnes the huge bignes ci whales in those seas, with the strength of body & long
life of such beastes as line on the land, which thing could not bee except all thinges were
there comodiously nourished, by the benefit of the heauen & the ayre, for nothing that in
time of increase is hindred by any iniury or that is euill seed all the time it liueth can pros-
per well.

Also it is a thing vndoubtcdiy knowne by experience that vpon the coastes of newfounde
l;ind, (^'as such as the yse remayneth vndissolucd vpon those shores,) the wind being csterly
comming from the seas, causeth very sharpe colde, & yet the same is suflTerable, but com-
ming from the shore, yt presently yeldeth heat aboundantly according to the true nature of
the scituation of the place, whereby it plainely appearcth that the very breth of the yse is
rather the cause of this cold, then the distempreture of the ayre.

Wherefore if in winter where is aboundance of yse & snowc the ayre is so sufl'erable, as
that traueling ic hunting may be exercised how much rather may wee iudge the seas to be

Nauigable,

& ti

IVorldes

; then this
icd. And
The in-
cl for their
lied snowe
ding, hau-

le of good
tes which I
1 in winter,
)r the qiia-
is hot there
moskeetes,
were stong

lund salt in
spryns tyds
f which salt
an, as a rare
Itnes. And
rselues haue
enefit of the
be then this.
,s, lanardes &
le of cattell,
premises are
jland ycrcly,
rte our most
1 that yeld vs
;e the winter
;11, & \Nhere
Is & snow,
tollcrable for

iliier & cop-
es, by which
through both
ng it tollera-
)ody & long
thinges were
hing that in
eth can pros-

f ncwfoundc
jcing csterly
lie, but com-
Iruc nature of
lof theyse is

siiftcrable, as
[he seas to be
Nauigable,

Hydrographlcal Discription. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Nauigable, & that in the deepest of winter, where there is neither yse nor snow that may
yeld any such damps or cold breathings to the anoiance of such as shall take these inter-
prises in hand. And therefore the Sonimer in no sort to be feared, but some curious witt
may obiect that the naturall anoyance of cold is preuented by reason of the trauell of the
body with other artificiall prouisions to defend the fury thereof, as also the whot vapors
which the earth may yeld, whereof experience vrgeth confession, but vpon the seas it can-
not be sith it is a cold body subiect to yeld great dampes & cold brethin^^r most ofTcnsiue
to nature. To the which I answcre in the vniuersall knowledge of all re' res, that God
the most glorious incomprehensible & euer being sole cre;itour of all i ■ics visible, invi-
sible, nitionall, irrational!, momentory & etcrnall in his diuinc prouidrncc liath made nothing
vncommunicable, but hath giuen such order vnto all thing'*, wlicrcby euerv thini; may be
tollerable to the next, the extremities of ellements consent with their next the ayrc is gmssc
about the earth & water, but thinn & hot about the fyre, by this prouidence i:i nn -irc the
sea is very salt, & salt (sayth Plinie) ycldeth the fatnes of oyle, but oyle by a v\rtayne
natiue heate is of propertie agreeable to fire, then being all of such qnnlitic by reason of
the saltnes thereof moueth & stirreth vp generatiue heate, &c. Wliercby the sea hath a
working force in the dissolution of yse for things of so great contrariety n« heate & cold haue
togeather no affinitye in coniunction, but the one must of necessityc auoyde, the seas not
being able by the bandes of nature to step backe, doth therefore cause the coldnesse of the
ayre (by reason of his naturall heate) to giue place, whereby extremities being auoyded,
the ayre must of necessitie remayne temperate, for in nature the ayre is bote & moyst, the
colde then being but accidental! is the soner auoided, & natures wrongs with ease redre^^sed.

That vnder the Pole is the place of greatest dignitie.

REason teacheth vs & experience confirmeth the same, that the Sun is the onely suilicient
cause of heat through the whole world & therefore in such places where the Sunne hath long-
est continuance, the ayre there receueth the greatest impression of heat, as also in his ab-
sence it is in like sort afflicted with colde. And as the heate in all clymates is indurable, by
the eternall ordinance of the creator, so likewise the cold is sufferable by his euerlasting
decree, for otherwise nature should bee monstrous & his creation wast, as it hath beene ydly
affirmed by the most Cosmographicall writers, distinguishing the sphere into fine Zones
haue concluded three of them to be wast, as vaynely created, the burning Zone betwecne
the two tropikes, & the two frozen Zones, but experience hauing reprooued the grosenes of
that errour it shall be needlesse to say farther therein. For although in the burning Zone
the sun beames are at such right angles as that by the actuall reueiberation thereof the lower
region of the ayre is greatly by that reflexion warmed, yet his equall absence breadeth such
mitigation as that therewefind the ayre tollerable, & the countries pleasant & fruitfull, being
populus & well inhabited ; so likewise vnder the pole being the center of the supposed
frozen Zone, during the time that the Sunne is in the South signes, which is from the thir-
teenth of September vnto the 10 of March, it is there more cold then in any place of the
world, because the Sunne in all that time doth neuer appeare aboue the Horyzon, but during
the time that the Sunne is in the North signes which is from the tenth of March vnto the
thirteenth of September he is in continual! view to all such as posses that place, by which
his continuall presence, he workcth that notable effect, as that therby all the force of frv-
sing is wholy redressed & vtterly taken away, working then & there more actuall then in aiiy
other part of the world. In which place their continuall day from the Sunne rising to the
sunne setting is equall with twenty sixe wcekes & fiue dayes, after our rate : & their night
is equall with twenty fiue weekes & three dayes such as we haue, so that our whole yeere
is with them but one night & one day, a wonderfull difference from al the rest of the world,
& therefore no doubt but those people haue a wonderfull excellencie & an exceeding pro-
rogatiue aboue all nations of the earth & this which is more to be noted. In all other places
of the world the absence & presence of the Sun is in equall proportion of time, hauing as

K much

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Worldes

1 1 .

^u:r.^

,m-

miicli night as day. but viulcr the Pole their artificial! day (that is the continuall presence
of the Siinne before he sett) is nine of our naturall dayes or two hundreth 16 houres longer
then is their night, whereby it appearcth that they haue the life, light & comfort of nature
in a higher measure then all the nations of the earth. How blessed then may wc thinke
this nation to be : for they are in perpctuall light, & neucr know what darkenesse meaneth,
by the benefit of twylight & full moones, as the learned in Astronomie doe very well knowe,
which people if they haue the notice of their eteniitic by the comfortable light of the Gos-
pel, then are they blessed & of all nations most blessed. Why then doe we neglect the
search of this excellent discouery, agaynst which there can be nothing sayd to hinder the
same. Why doe we refuse to see the dignity of Gods Creation, sith it hath pleased his
diuine Maiestie to place vs the nerest neighbor therevnto. I know thcr is no true English-
roan that can in conscience refuse to be a contributer to procure this so great a happines to
his country, whereby not oncly the Prince & mightie men of the land shall be highly re-
nowned, but also the Merchant, tradesman & artificer mightily inriched.

And now as touching the last obiection that the want of skill in Nauigation with curioud
instrumentes, should be the hinderance or ouerthrow of this action. I holde that to bee so
friuolous as not worth the answering, for it is wel knowne that we haue globes in the most
excellent perfection of arte, & haue the vse of them in as exquisite sort, as master Robert
Hues in his book of the globes vse, lately published hath at large made knowne, & for
liorizontall paradox & great circle say ling I am myself a witnesse in the behalfe of many,
that we are not ignorant of them, as lately I haue made knowne in a briefe treatis of Naui-
gation naming it the Seamans Secreats. And therfore this as the rest breadeth no hinder-
ance to this most commodious discouery.

What benefits would growc vnto Englande by this passage being discouered.

THe benefits which may grow by this discouery, are copious & of two sorts, a benifit
spirituatl & a benifit corporall. Both which sith by the lawes of God & nature we are
bound to regard, yet principally we are admonished first to seeke the Kingdome of God &
the righteoiisnes thereof & all thinges shall be giuen vnto vs. And therfore in seeking the
Kingdome of God we are not onely tied to the depe search of Gods sacred word & to liue
within the perfect lymits of Christianity, but also by al meanes we are bound to multiply,
& increase the flocke of the faithfull. Which by this discouery wil be most aboundantly
perfourmed to the preseniation of many thousands which now most miserably are couered
vnder the lothsome vayle of ignorance, neither can we in any sort doubt of their recouery
by this passage discouered, Gods prouidence therein being considered who most mercifully
sayth by the mouth of his prophet Esaias 66 I will come to gather all people and tongues,
then shall they come and see my glory, of them that shall be saued. I will send some to the
Gentils in the sea & the yls far of that hau« not heard speak of me, Sc haue not sene my
glory, shall preach my peace among the Gentiles.

And in his 65 Chapter he farther sayth. They seeke me that hitherto haue not asked for
me, they find me that hitherto haue not sought me.

And againe chapter 49 I wil make waies vpon al my mountains & my footpathes shall be
exalted, & behold these shall come from farre, some from the North & West, some from
the land of Symis which is in the South. Then sith it is so appointed that there shal be one
shepheard & one flocke, what hindreth vs of England, (being by Gods mercy for the same pur-
pose at this present most aptly prepared,) not to attempt that which God himselfe hath ap-
pointed to be performed, there is no doubt but that wee of England are this saued people
by the eternal & infallible presence of the Lord predestinated to be sent vnto these Gen-
tiles in the sea, to those ylls & famous Kingdoms ther to preach the peace of the Lorde, for
are not we oncly set vpon Mount Sion to giui^ light to all the rest of the world, haue not
we the true handmayd of the Lord to rule vs, nto whom the eternall maiestie of God hath
reueled his truth & supreme power of exctllencye, by whom then shall the truth be

preached.

the

'■''^;'fi

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; Worldet

presence
res lunger

of nature
wc thinke
t meaneth,
ell knowe,
f the Gos-
eglect the
hinder the
ileased his
le English-
lappines to

highly rc-

rith curioiw
t to bee so
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ster Robert
me, & for
fe of many,
tis of Naui-
no binder-

red.

benifit

ts, a

ture we are

e of God &

seeking the

^dSc to Hue

o multiply,

aboundantly

are couered

eir recouery

mercifully

nd tongues,

some to the

ot sene my

ot asked for

;hes shall be
some from
shal be one
le same pur-
Ife hath ap-
aued people
these Gen-
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I, haue not
i God hath
,e truth be
preached.

IJydrographical Discriplion. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

preached, but by them vnto whom the truth shall be reuelcd, it is onely we therefore that
must be these shining messengers of the Lord & none but we for as the prophet sayth, O
how beautifull are the feet of the messenger that bringeth the message from the mountain,
that proclameth peace, that bringeth the good tidings & preacheth health & sayth to Sion thy
God IS King, so that hereby the spirituall benefit arising by this discouery is most apparant,
for which if there were no other cause wee are all bound to labour with purse & mindc for
the discouery of this notable passage. And nowe as touching the corporal! & worldly be-
nifits which will thereby arise, our owne late experience leadcth vs to the full knowledge
thereof, as by the communitie of trade groweth the mightines of riches, so by the kinde &
guide of such tradinges may grow the multiplication of such hcnilits, with assurance how
tlip same may in the best sort be continued. In the consideration whereof it is first to bee
regarded with what commodities our ownc country aboundeth either naturall or artificiall,
what quantity may be spared, & wher the same may with the easiest rate be gained, &
how in his best nature vnto vs returned, all which by this passage shall be vnto vs most
plentifully effected, & not oncly that, but this also which is most to be regarded that in our
thus trading wee shall by no meanes inrich the next adioyning states vnto vs, for riches
bread dread, & pouertie increaseth feare, but here I cease fering to offend, yet it is a ques-
tion whether it were better by an easy rate to vent our commodities far of or by a more
plentiful! gayne to passe them to our neerer neighbours, & those therby more inriched then
our selues, the premises considered wee finde our country to abound with woll, & wollen
cloth, with lead, tin, copper and yron, matters of great moment, wee also knowe our soyle
to be fertill, & would if trad did so permit haue equal imploimcnt with any of our neigh-
bours, in linnen cloth, fustians, seys, grograma or any other forraine artificiall commodities,
besides the excellent labours of the artsmen, either in metallyne mechanicall faculties, or
other artificiall ornaments, whereof India is well knowne to receiue all that Europe can af-
ford, rating our commodities in the highest esteeme of valewe, which by this passage is
speedily perfourmed, & then none of these should lie deadvpon ourhandesas now they doe,
neither should we bee then ignorant as now we are in many excellent practises into which
by trade wee shoulde bee drawne. And by the same passage in this ample vent, we should
also at the first hand receiue all Indian commodities both naturall & artificial in a far greter
measure by an easier rate & in better condition, then nowe they are by many exchaunges
brought vnto vs, then would all nations of Europe repayre vnto England not only for these
forraine merchandizes by reason of their plenty, perfection & easy rates, but also to passe
away that which God in nature hath bestowed vpon them & their countrie, wherby her ma-
iestie & her highnes successors for euer, should be monarks of the earth & commaunders of
the Seas, through the aboundance of trade her coustomes would bee mightily augmented,
her state highly inriched, & her force of shipping greatly aduanced, as that thereby shee
should be to all nations moste dredful, & we her subiccts through imploiment should imbrace
aboundance & be clothed with plenty. The glory whereof would be a deadly horrcr to her
.iduersaries, increase frindly loue with al & jj'ocure her maiestie stately & perpetual! peace,
for it is no small aduantage that ariseth to a state by the mightines of trade : being by ne-
cessity linked to no other nation, the same also beeing in commodities of the highest es-
teeme, as gold, siluer, stones of price, iuels, pearls, spice, drugs, silkes raw & wrought
vehictts, cloth of gold, besides many other commodities with vs of rare & high esteeme,
whereof as yet our countrie is by nature depriued, al which India doth yeld at reasonable
rates in great aboundance receiuing ours in the highest esteeme, so that hereby plenty re-
tourning by trade abroade, & no smale quantity prouided by industry at home, all want
then banished in the aboundance of her maiesties royalty, so through dred in glory, peace
and loue, her maiesty should be the commaunding light of the world, & we her subiects
the stars of wonder to al nations of the earth. Al which the premises considered it is im-
possible that any true English hart should be staled from willing contribution to the per-
formance of this so excellent a discouery, the Lords and subiectes spirituall for the sole

K 2 publication

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS. Sec.

The Warldei, *c.

publication of GodH glorious gosjpell. And the LordH and subiectcs temporal for the re-
nowne of their prince & glory o\ their nation Hhould be thervnto mntt vehemently aRkcted.
Which when it shall so pleaae God in the miglitinea of his mercy, I beseech him to efl'ect.
Amen.

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DISCOURS PRELIMINAIRE.

I.Es relations de voyages publides par nos Franijais remontent fort haut.
D^s les commencemens du V* sificle, Rutilius Claudius Numatianuo en avoit donn^ une,
qui nc nous est parvenue qu'incompl^te, parce que apparemment la mort ne lui permit
pas de I'achever, L'objet ^toit son retour de Rome dans la Gaule, sa patrie. Mais, comma
il n'avoit voyag^ que par mar, il ne put voir et d^crire que des ports et des cdtes ; et de I^
n^cessairement a result^, pour son ouvrage, une monotonie, qu'un homme de g^nie auroit
pu vaincre sans doute^ mais qu'il ^toit au dessus de ses forces de surmonter. D'ailleurs, il a
voulu donner un poeme : ce qui I'oblige k prendre le ton po^tique, et a faire des descrip-
tions po^tiques, ou soi-disant telles. Enfin ce poeme est en vers ^l^giaques. Or qui ne
sait que cctte sorte de versification, dont le propre est de couper la pens^e de deux en deux
vers et d'assujettir ces vers au retour continuel d'une chute uniforme, est peut ^tre celle
de toutes qui convient le moins an genre descriptif ? Quan>l I'ir^agination a beaucoup
k peindre; quand sans cesse clle a besoin de tableaux brillans e' varies, il lui faut,
pour ddvelopper avantageusement toutes ses richesses, une sjandu liberty ; et elle ne
peut par consequent s'accommoder d'une double entrave, nt Teffet infaillible scroit
d'^teindre son feu,

Pai'en de religion, Rutilius a montre son aversion pour la religion chr^tienne dans des
vers oil, confondant ensemble les chr^tiens ct Ics Juifs, il dit du mal des deux sectes.

C'est par une s»ite des mdme sentimens qu'ayant vu, sur sa loute, des inoines dans Tile
Caprala, il fit contre le monachisme ces autres vers, que je citerai pour donner une id^e de
sa mani^re,

Processu pelagi jam se Capraria tollit ;
Squalet lucifugis insula plena \iris.
Ipsi se monachos, Graio cognomine, dicunt,

Qu6d, soli, nullo vivere teste, volunt.
Muncra fortuna* metuunt, dum damna verentur:
Quisquam sponte miser, ne miser esse queat.
Qu.'cnam perversi rabies tarn crebra cerebri,
Dum mala formides, nee bona posse pati* ?

uns

Son ouvrage contient des details pr^cieux pour le g^ographe ; il y en a m^me quelques
s pour I'antiquaire et I'historien : tels par exemple, que sa description d'un marais salaat.

et I'anecdote des livres Sibyllins hriiUs a Rome par I'ordre de Stiliconf. Enfin on y remarque
quelques beaux vers, et particuliiremcnt celui-ci sur une ville ruin^e.

Cernimus exemplis oppida posse mori.

"^^•^ afterwards," says Gibbon, " mentions a religious madman on tlie isl« of Oorgona. For such profane
remarks, Rutilius and his accomplices, are styled, by his commentator, Bartliius, rabiosi canes diaboli."

t Tile verses relating to Stilicho are very spirited and elegant. I will transcribe them.

Quo magis est facinus diri ^tilichonis acerbum,

Proditor arcani <|ui fuit imperii.
Romano generi dum nititur esse superste*,

Crudelis lummie miscuit ima furor.

Mais

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Discours Priliminaire.

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Mais il p&che par la composition. Ses tableaux sont sees et froids; sa mani^e petite et
mesquine. Du reste, point de g^nie, point d'imagination, et par consequent, point d'in-
vention ni de coloris. Voila ce qu'il prdsente, ou au moins ce que j'ai cm y voir; et ce
sont prob'.blement ces d^fauts qui ont fait donner k son poeme le nom ddgradant d'ltin^raire,
sous lequel il est connu.

Nous en avons une traduction Frangaise par le Franc de Pompigiian*.

Vers 505, Arculfe, ^v^que Gaulois, etoit alle en pdlerinage i Jerusalem. A son retour,
il voulut en publier la relation ; et il chargea de cctte r<fdaction un abb^ dcossais, nommd
Adaman, auquel il donna des notes tant nianusrriics que de vivc voix. La relation com-
posde par Adaman, intitulecs: De locis Sanctis, e^t divisee en trois livres, a 6t6 imprim^c
par Gretser, puis, plus complete encore, par Mabiil uf .

Arculfe, apr^s avoir visitd laTerre Sainte, s'^toit embarqiie p^ ir Alexandrie. D'Alcxandrie,
il avoit pass^ a I'ile de Cypre, et de Cypre u Constantinople, ci lu il 6toit revenu en France.
Un pareil voyage promet assurement bcaucoup ; et ccrtos I'hjinme qui avoit k ddcrire la
Palestine, I'Egypte et la capitate de I'Empire d'Orient pmivoit donner une relation int^res-
sante. Mais pour I'exdcution d'un projet aussi vaslc il falloit une philosophie et des con-
noissances que son si^cle dtoit bien loin d'avoir. C'c-t un pdlerinage, et non un voyage,
que public le pr^lat. 11 ne nous fait connoltre ni Ics lois, ni les moeurs, ni les usages des
peuples, ni ce qui concerne les lieux et la contrde qu'il parcourt, mais les reliques et les
objets de devotion qu'on y rdv^roit.

Ainsi, dans son premier livre, qui traite de Jerusalem, il vous parlera, de la colonne oii
J6aus fut flagell^, de la lance qui lui per<;a le cot^, de son suairc, d'une pierre sur laquelle
il pria et qui porte I'empreinte de ses genoux, d'une autre pierre sur laquelle il ^toit quand
il monta au ciel, et qui porte Tempreinte de ses pieds ; d'un linge tissu par la Vierge et qui
le reprcsente ; du figuier oft se pendit Judas; enfui de la pierre sur laquelle expira saint
Etienne, etc. etc.

Dans son, second livre, ou il parcourt les divers lieux de la Palestine que visitoicnt les
pelerins, il suit les memes erremens. A Jericho, il cite la maison ilc la ci urtisane Raab;
dans la vallec de Mambre, Ics tombeaiix d'Adam, d'Abraham, tl'Isaac, de Jacob, de Sara,
de Rebecca, deLia; a Nazareth, I'endroit oii I'ange vint annoncer A Marie qu'elle scroit
m^re en rcstant vierge ; a Bethleem, la pierre sur laquelle J^sus fut lav^ k -a naissance ;
les toinbcaux de Rachel, de David, de saint Jerome, de trois des bergers qui vinrent k I'ado-
ration, etc.

Dumque timet quicquid se t'ecerat ipse limeri,

luunisit Lati* barbara tela lu-ci.
Visrerihus nudis annatum condidil hostcm,

lllatic cladis libcriore dolo.
Ips-a <iatcllitibu!t pellitis Roma patel)at,

lit capliva prius, {[Viaiu capcrctur, crat.
Ntc tantmii ileticis <;rassatus proditor armis:

Ante SilwUiiiaj iala crcinavit opis.
Odiiuus Alihffiain consumti luncre torris :

Nisrum crini'in fltre putantur iivcs :
At Stilirbo u'ltriii fataliii pipiora rpji,ni ;

Et pkiias voluit pro'cipitare coins.
Omnia Tartarci (•cs.<cnt tonncnta Neronia,

Consnmat iStj ■;iia.'< tristior unil)ra faci*.
Hie immortaltni, mortaiem pert'ulil illc ;

Hie niuiidi malrcm ptrculit, ille snain. R. H. E.

Claudian draws a ^ery difllrent portrait of .Stilicho. Indeed, as Gibbon observe?, " Stilicho, directly or inJi-
rcctly, is the perpetual tlieuie of Claudian."

♦ Melanges de liUer. de poes. et d'hist. pir I'Acad. de Montauban. p. 81.

t Acta ord, S. Bened, sec. 3, t. 2. p. 50'2.

I
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iy.i .

iminaire,

petite et
oint d'in-
oir ; et ce
Itindraire,

on retour,

is, nomm^

at ion com-

imprim^e

Alcxandrie,
1 en France.
^ d^crire la
ion int^ res-
et des con-
i un voyage,
i usages defl
liques et les

a colonne oil
I sur laquelle
i1 6toit qiiand
Vierge et qui
expira saint

visitoicnt les
rtisane Raab ;
loob, de Sara,
jqu'elle seroit

-a naissance ;
inrent ^ I'ado-

R. H. E.

,, directly or inJi-

Discours Prmmimire. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Le troisi^me llvre enfin est consacr^ en grande partie h Constantinople ; mais il n*y parle
que de la vraie croix, de saint George, d'une image de la Vierge, qui, jettee par un Juif
dans les plus d^goAtantefs ordures, avoit et^ ramass^e par un chretien et distilloit une huile
miraculeuse.

Pendant ,bien des sit'cles, les relations d'outre mer ne continrent que les pieuses et gros-
siferes fables qu'imaginoient journellement les Orientaux pour accrediter certains lieux qii'ils
tentoient d'^riger en p^lerinages, et pour soutirer ainsi i leur profit I'argent des pdlerins.
Ceux-ci adoptoient aveugldment tons les contes qu'on leur ddbitoit; et iis accomplis-
soient scrupuleusetnent toutes les stations qui leur ^toient indiqu^es. A leur retour en
Europe, c'6toit-l^ tout ce qu'ils avoient h. raconter ; mais c*dtoit-li aussi tout ce qu'on leur
demandoit.

Cependant notre saint (car k sa mort il a dte declare tel, ainsi que son r6dacteur Adamun )
a, dans son second livre, quelques phrases historiques sur Tyr et sur Damas. II y parle
6galement et avec plus de details encore d'AIexandrie ; et je trouve in^me sous ce dernier
article deux faits qui m'ont paru dignes d'attention.

L'un concerne les crocodiles, qu'il rdpresente comme si multiplies dans la partie inf^ri-
eure du Nil, que d^s I'instant ou un boeuf, un cheval, un ane, s'avanqoient sur les bords
du fleuve, ils ^toient saisis par eux, entratncs sous les eaux, et d^vor^s ; tandis qu'aujourd'-
hui, si Ton en croit le rapport unanime de nus voyagcurs modernes, il n'existe plus de cro-
codiles que dans la haute Egypte; que c'est un prodige d'en voir descdndre uh jusqu'aii
Caire, et que du Gaire a la mer on n'en voit pas-un seul.

L'autre a rapport il cette ile nommde Pharos, dans laquelle le Ptoldm^e-Philadelphe fit
construire une tour dont les feux servoient de signal aux navigateurs, et qui porta ^galement
le noin de Phare. On salt que, post^rieurement a Ptol^m^e, I'lle fut jointe au continent
par un mole qui, a chacune de scs deux extr^mitds, avoit un pont ; que CIdopatre acheva
i'isthme, en d^truisant les ponts et en faisant la digue pleine ; enfin qu'aujourd'hui I'lle
emigre tient a la terre ferme. Cependant notre pr^Iat en parle comme si, d^ son temps,
elle eiit etd ile encore: in dextera parte portfls parva insula habetur, in qua maxima tiirris
est quam, in commune, Graeci ac Latini, ex ipsius rei usu, Pharum vocitaverunt. II se
trompe sans doute. Mais, probablement, k I'^poque oii il la vit, elle n'avoit que sa digue
encore : les atterrissemens immenses qui en ont fait une terre, en la joignant au continent,
sont post^rieurs S lui ; et il n'aura pas cru qu'un m61e fait de main d'homme emp6chal une ile
d'etre ce que I'avoit faite la nature.

All neuvi^me si^cle, nous ei'^mes une autre sorte de Voyage par Hetton, moine et abbe
de Richenou, puis ^v^que de Bale. Cet homme, habile dans les affaires, et employd comme
tel par Charlemagne, avoit 6x6 en 811 envoyd par lui en ambassade a Constantinople. De
retour en France, il y publia, sur sa mission, une relation, que jusqu'ici Ton n'a pas re-
trouv«^e, pt que nous devons d'autant plus regretter qu'infailliblement elle nous fourniroit
de', details curieux sur un Empire dont les rapports avec nofre France etoient alors si mul-
tiplies et si actifs. Pent ^tre au reste ne ( - It on pas la regarder comme tout-a-fait perdue ;
et il seroit possible qu'apr^s 6tre reside pendant plusieurs si^cles ensevelie dans un manu-
scrit ignore, le hasard 1 amenat un jour sous les yeux de quelqu'un de nos savans, qui la
donncroit au public.

C'est ce qui est arrivd pour celle d'un autre moine Frangais nommd Bernard ; laquelle, publide
en 870, a 6x6 retrouvde par Mabillon et mise par lui au* jour. Ce n'est, comme celle
d'Arculfe, qu'un voyage cle Terre Sainte, a la vdritd beaucoup plus court que le sien, 6cxh
avec moins de pretention, mais qui, a I'exception de quelques details personnels a I'auteur,
ne conticnt du m^me qu'une s^che enunic-ration des saints lieux: ce qui I'a faitde m6me
intituler : De locis Sanctis.

Cependant la route des deux pdlerins fut differente. Arculfe t'toit alie directement en

].e

* Ubi suprd, p. 59.1.
L

Palestine,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Discours Priliminaire,

I ,

:51

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All

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Palestine, et de la il sVtoit embarqu^ une seconde fois pour voir Alexandrie. Bernard, an
contrairc, va d'abord ddbarquer d Alexandrie. 11 remonte ie Nil jusqu'a Babylone, redescend a
Damiette, et, traversant le ddsert sur des chameaux, il se rend par Gaza en Terre-Sainte.

La, il fait, comme saint Arculfe, difl(^rens pelerinagcs, mais moins que lui cependant, soit
que sa proression ne lui tUt point permis les monies d^penses, soit qu'il ait n^gligd de les
mentionner tous.

Je remarquerai seulement que dans certaines ^glises on avoit imaging, depuis I'^v^que,
de nouveaux miracles, et qu'elles en citoient dont il ne parle pas, et dont certainement il
eiit fait mention s'ils avoient eu lieu de son temps. Tel dtoit celui de I'cglise de Sainte-
Marie, oii jamais il ne pleuvoit, disoit-on, quoiqu'ellc fftt sans toit. Tel celui aiiqucl les Grecs
ont donnd tant de c6!^brit<5, et qui, tous les ans, la veille dc Paques, s'op^roit dans I'dglise
du Saint-S^pulcre, ou un ange descendoit du ciel pour allumer les cierges : ce qui fournissoit
aux Chretiens de la villc un feu nouveau, qui leur ^toit communiqud par le patriarche,
et qu'ils emportoient rdigieusement chez eux.

Bernard rapporte, sur son passnge du desert, une anecdote qui est a rccueillir: c'est que,
dans la travers^e de cette immense mer de sable, des marchands pa'iens et Chretiens avoient
form^ deux hospicex, nomm^s I'un Albara, I'autre Albacara, oti les voyageiirs trouvoient a se
pourvoir de tous les objets dont ils pouvoient avoir besoin pour leur route.

Enfin I'auteur nous fait connoitre un monument forme pur Charlemagne dans Jerusalem en
favour de ceux qui parloient la langue Roinane, ct que les Frangais, et les gens de lettres
sp^cialement, n'apprendront pas, sans bcaucoup de plaisir, avoir exists.

Ce prince, la gloire de I'Occident, avoit, par ses conqu6tes et ses grandes qualitds, attird
I'attention d'un homme qui remplissoit ^galement rOrientdesarenommde: c'dtoit le cdlfebre
calife Haroun-al-Raschild. Haroun, empresse de temoigner 4 Charles I'estime et la consi-
deration qu'il lui portoit, lui avoit envoyd des ambassadeurs avec des prisons magnifiques;
et ces ambassadeurs, disent nos historiens, ^toient mfime charges de lui presenter, de la
part de leur maitre, les elds de Jerusalem.

Probablement Charles avoit profile de cette faveur pour ^tablir dans la ville un hdpital ou
hospice, destine aux pdlerins de ses etats Francis. Tel ctoit I'esprit du temps. Ces sortes
de voyages etant reputes Taction la plus sainte que pAt imaginer la ddvotion, un prince qui
les favorisoit croyoit bien mdriter de la religion. Charlemagne d'ailleurs avoit le goiit des
pdlerinages; et son historien *Eginhard remarque avec surprise que, malgrd la predilection
qu'il portoit k celui de Saint-Pierre de Rome, il ne I'avoit fait pourtant que qttatrefois dans
8a vie.

Mais souvent le grand homme se montre grand encore jusqu'aii sein des prejugds qui
I'entourent. Charles avoit dtd en France le restaurateur des lettres ; il y avoit rdtabli I'ortho-
graphe, rdgdndrd I'dcriture, formd de belies bibliotheques : il voulut que son hospice de
Jerusalem e(it une bibliothfeque aussi k I'usage des pdlerins. L'etablissement la possddoit
encore tout enti^re, au temps de Bernard : nobilissimam habens bibiiothecam, studio Impe-
ratoris; et I'empereur y avoit ni6me attache, tant pour i entretien du ddp6t et celui du lieu,
que pour la nourriture des pdlerins, douze manses situdes dans la vallde de Josaphat, avec
des terres, de.<i vignes et un jardin.

Quoique notre historien dftt 6tre rassasid de pdlerinages, il fit ndanmoins encore, a son
retour par I'ltalie, celui de Rome; puis, quand il fut rentrd en France, celui du mont Saint-
Michel.

Sur ce dernier, il observe que ce lieu, situd au milieu d'une grfeve des c6tes de Nornandie,
est deux fois par jour, au temps de flux, baignd des eaux de la mer. Mais il ajoute que, le
jour de la f^te du saint, I'accds du rocher et de la chapeile reste libre; que I'Ocdan y ibrme,
comme fit la Mer rouge, au temps de Moise, deux grands nurs, entre lesquels on peut passer
i pied sec; et ijue ce miracle, que n'a lieu qui ce jour-la, dure tout lejour.

* Vita Carol. Mag. cap. 27.

Notre

.■I

Hminaire.

irnarti, au
;descend a
-Sainte.
ndant, soit
\\g6 de les

s r^v^que,

linement il

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ians I'dglise

i foiirnissoit

patriarche,

: c'cst que,
iens avoient
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fenisalem en
ins de lettres

lalitds, attird
ait le c^lfebre
e et la consi-
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fsenter, de la

iin h6pital on
1. Ces sortea
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't le goiit dcs
predilection
atrefois dans

jrejug^s qui
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osaphat, avec

encore, a son
u mont Saint-

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ajoute que, le
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m peut passer

Notre

■«l

Discours PriUminaire. TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

Notre Uttdrature nationale poss^doit quatre voyages ; un des cdtes d'ltalie, tm de Con-
stantinople, deux de Terre-Sainte. Au treizieme si^cle, une cause fort Strange lui en pro-
cura deux de Tartaric.

Cette immense contrde dont les habitans, en divers temps et sous diff^rens notns, ont
peupie, conquis, ou ravage la tr^s-grandc partie de TEurope et de I'Asie, se trouvoii pour
ainsi dire tout entiere en armes.

Fanatisds par les incroyables conqu6tes d'un de leurs chefs, le fameux Gengis-Kan ; per-
suades que la terre entiere devoit leur ob^ir, ces nomades belliqueux et fdroces etoient ve-
nus, aprfes ayoir soumis la Chine, se prdcipiter sur le nord-est de I'Europe. Par tout oik
s'etoient portdes leurs innombrables hordes, des royaumes avoient €i6 ravages ; des nations
entierfcs extermln^es ou trainees en esclavage ; la Hongrie, la Pologne, la Bohfeme, les fron-
ti^res de I'Autriche, d^vast^es d'une manifere effroyable. Rien n'avoit pu arreter ce ddbordc-
mcnt qui, s'il eprouvoit, vera quelquc cdte, une resistance, sejetoit ailleurs avec plus de
furcur encore. Enfin la chr^tiente fut frappee de terreur, et selon I'expression d'un de nos
historiens, * elle trembia jusqu'a I'Ocean.

Dans cette consternation g^nerale. Innocent IV voulut se montrer le pire commun des
fiddles. Ce tendre p^re se trouvoit k Lyon, ou il ^toit venu tenir un concile pour excom-
munier le rcdoutable Frederic II, ^ui trois fois deja I'avoit 6l6 vainement par d'autres papes.
La, en accablant I'empereur de toutes ses foudres. Innocent forme un projet dont Tid^e seule
annonce I'ivresse de la puissance ; celui d'envoyer aux Tartares des lettres apostoliques, afin
de les engager a poser les armes et d embrasser la religion chretienne : utabhominum strage
desisterent etfidei veritatem reciperent. +11 charge de ses lettres un ambassadeur; et I'am-
bassadeur est un Fr^re-mineur nomme Jean du Plan de Carpin (Joannes de Piano Carpini,)
qui, lejour de Paques, 1245, part avec un de ses camarades, et qui en cheminse donne un
troisifeme compagnon, Polonois et appeie Benoit,

Soit que I'ordre de Saint-Dominique eftt tdmoigne quelque deplaisir de voir un pareil
honneur A6[€t6 exclusivement a I'ordre de Saint Franqois ; soit qii'Innocent craignit pour
ses ambassadeurs les dangers d'un voyage aussi long et aussi penible ; soit enfin par quelque
motif que nous ignorons, il nomma une seconde ambassade, a laqucllc il fit prendre une
autre voute, et qui fut composde uniquement de Fr^res-precheurs. Ceux-ri, au nombre de
cinq, avoient pour chef un nommd Ascelin, et parmi eux etoit un frdre Simon, de Saint-
Quentin, dont j'aurai bientdt occasion de parler. lis etoient, comme les Fr^res-m'neurs,
porteurs de lettres apostoliques, et avoient aupr^s dcs Tartares la m^me mission, cette de
determiner ce peuple formidable a s'abstenir de toiite guerre et a recevoir le bapt^me.

De Carpin cependant avoit, avec la sienne, recju I'ordre particulier et secret d'examiner
attentivement et <le recueillir avec soin tout ce qui chez ce peuple lui paroitroit digne de
rcmarque. II !e fit; et a son retour il publia une relation, qui est compos^e dans cc . esprit,
et qu'en consequence il a intitulee Gesta Tartarorum. Effectivement il n'y emploie, en
details sur sa route et sur son voyage, qu'un seul chapitre. Les sept autres sont consacres a
decrire tout ce qui concerne les "Tartares ; sol, climat, moeurs, usages, conquetes, manidre
de combnttre, etc. Son ouvrage est impr'..»; dans la collection d'HakluytJ. J'cn ai frouve
parmi les manuscrits de la Bibliotheqiie nationale (N°. 2477, a la page 66) un exemplaire
plus complet que celui de I'edition d'Hakluyt, et qui contient une assez longue preface Jc
I'auteur, que cette edition n'a pas. Enfin, a I'epoque oii parut ce Voyage, Vincent de
Beauvais I'avoit insere en grande partie dans son Speculum historiale.§

Ce frdre Vincent, religienx dominirain, lecfeur et predicateur de saint Louis, avoit ete
invite par ce prince a entreprendre differens ouvrages, qu'en efFet il mit au jour, ct qui au-
jourd'hui forment une collection considerable. De ce nombre est une longue et lourde com-
pilation historique, sous Ic titie de Speculum historiale, dans laquelle il a fait entrer et il a
fondu, comme je viens de le dire, la relation de notre .oyageur. i'our rendre celle-ci plus

* La Chaise, Vie de Saint Louis, liv. V, p. 301.

I Vol. 1. p. '24.

t Vincent Bellovac. Spec, biotor. lib. xxxii, cap. 3.
§ Lib. xxxii, cap. 3.

L 3 inferessantfi

' ~yw

'Mir

f I.I
■Hi'

* f'

'•1 /''^-^'iS 'if

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Discours Preliminaire'

int^resfante et plus complete, i( y a joint, par une id^e assez hcureuse, certains ddtails par-
ticuliers que lui fournit Hon confrere Simon de Saint-Quentin, I'un des associes d'Ascelin
dans la seconde ambassade. Ayant eu occasion de voir Simon a son retour de Tartaric, il
apprit de lui beaucoup de choses qu'il a ins^rdeH en plusieurs endroits de son Miroir et sp^-
cialement dans le 32* et dernier livre. Lu, avec ce qu'avoit ^crit et public de Carpin, et ce
que Simon lui raconta de vivc voix, il a fait une relation mixte, qu'il a divis^e en cinquante
chapitres; et c'est celle que connoissent nos modernes. Bergeron en a donne une traduction
dans son recueil des voyages faits pendant le douzi^me siecle et les trois suivans. Cepen-
dant il a cm devoir s^pnrer ce qui concernoit de Carpin d'avec ce qui appartient a Simon,
alin d'avoir des memoires sur la seconde ambassade, comme on en avoit sur la premi6re.
II a done d^tachd du r^cit de Vincent six chapitres attribu^s par lui a Simon ; et il en a fait
un article a part, qu'il a mis sous le nom d'Ascelin, chef de la seconde legation. C'est tout
ce que nous savons de celle-ci.

Quant au succ^s qu'eurent les deux ambassades, je me crois dispense d'en parler. On
devine sans peine ce qu'il dut etre ; et il en fut de mdme de deux autres que saint Louis,
quoique par un autre motif, envoya pen apr^s dans la m^me contr^e.

Ce monarque se renduit en 1248 a sa ddsastreuse expedition d'Egypte, et il venoit de re-
lacher en Cypre avec sa flotte lorsqu'il regut dans cette \\e, le 12 De'cembre, une deputation
des Tartares, dont les deux chefs portoient les noms de David et de Marc. Ces aventuriers
se disoient d^l^gu^s vers lui par leur prince, nouvellement convert! a la foi chr^tienne, et
qu'ils appeloient Ercalthay. lis assuroient encore que le grand Kan de Tartaric avoit
^galement regu le bapt^me, ainsi que les principaux ofBciers de sa cour et de son armde, et
qu'il desiroit faire alliance avec le roi.

Quelque grossi^re que fiit cette imposture, Louis ne put pas s'en d^fendre. II resolut
d'envoyer au prince et au Kan convertis une ambassade pour les f61iciter de leur bonheur et
les engager a favoriser et a propager dans leurs ^tats la religion chr^tienne. L'ambassadeur
qu'il nomma fut un Fr^re-precheur nomm^ Andr^ Longjumeau ou Longjumel, et il lui
associa deux autres Dominicains, deux clercs, et deux ofRciers de sa maison.

David et Marc, pour lui en imposer davantage, affect^rent de se montrer fervens Chretiens.
II s'assist^rent avec lui fort d^votieusement aux offices de Noel ; mais ils lui firent entendre
que ce seroit une chose fort agr^able au Kan d'avoir une tente en 6carlate. C'^toit-la que
vouloient en venir les deux fripons. Et en effet le roi en commanda une magnifique, sur
laquelle il fit broder I'Annonciation, la Passion, et les autres myst^res du christianisme.
A ce pr^ent il en ajouta un autre, celui de tout ce qui ^toit necessaire, soit en ornemens,
soit en vases et argenterie pour une chapelle. Enfin il donna des reliques et du bois de la
vraie croix ; c'est-i-dire ce que, dans son opinion, il estimoit plus que tout au monde.
Wais une observation que je ne dois point omettre ici, parce qu'elle indique I'esprit de cette
cour Romaine qui se croyoit faite pour commander a tous les souverains : c'est que le l^gat
que le pape avoit plac6 dans Tarm^e du roi pour I'y reprdsenter et ordonner en son nom,
^crivit, par la voie des ambassadeurs, aux deux souverains Tartares, et que dans sa lettre il
leur annon^oit qu'il les adoptoit et les r^connoissoit enfans de r^glise. II en fut pour ses
pretentions et les avances de sa lettre, ainsi que le roi, pour sa tente, pour sa chappelle et
ses reliques. Longjumeau, arrive en Tartaric, eut beau chercher le prince Ercalthay et ce
grand Kan baptist avec sa cour ; il revint comme il dtoit parti. Cependant il devoit avoir,
sur cette contree, quelques renseignemens. Deja il y avoit voyage, disoit-on ; et m^me
quand David parut devant lui en Cypre, il pretendit le reconnoitre, comme I'ayant vu chez
les Tartares.

Ces circonstances nous ont ete transmises par les historiens du temps. Pour lui, il
n'a rien laisse sur sa mission. On diroit qu'il cii a eu honte.

Louis avoit ete assez grossierement dupe pour partager un peu ce sentiment, ou pour en
tirer au moins une le(;on de prudence. Et ndanmoins tr^s-pcu d'annees apr^s il se laissa
tromper encore : c'etoit en 1253 ; et il se trouvoit alors en Asie.

Quoique uu sortir de sa prison d'Egypte tout lui fit une loi de retourner en France oi\ il

avoit

iminairc

ftails par-

d'Ascelin
artaric, il
)ir et sp^-
■pin, et ce
cinqviante
traduction
Cepen-

a Simon,

premiere.
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in arm^e, et

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• bonheur et
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nel, et il lui

ns Chretiens.
;nt entendre
^toit-la que
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iristianisme.
n ornemens,
bois de la
au monde.
prit de cette
que le l^gat
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chappelle et
calthay et ce
devoit avoir,
et m^me
yant vu chez

Pour lui, il

ou pour en
bs il se laissa

iFrance oii il
avoit

Discours Prelimimire. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

avoit tant de plaies h fermer et tant de larmes a tarir, line devotion mal ^clair^e I'avoit
conduit en Palestine. La, sans songer ni a ses sujets ni a ses devoirs de roi, non seulement
il venoit de perdre deux annees, presque uniquement occupd de pdlcrinages; mais malgre
r^puisement des finances de son royaume, il avoit d^pens^ des sommes trds-consid^rables i
relcver et a fortifier quelques bicoques que les chr<<tiens de ces contr^cs y poss^doient
encore.

Pendant ce temps, le bruit counit qu'un prince Tartarc nomm^ Sartach avoit embrass^ le
christianisme. Le bapt6me d'un prince infid^le ^toit pour Louis une de ccs beatitudes au
charme desquelles il nc savoit pas rdsister. II r^solut d'envoyer une ambassade a Sartach
pour le f^Iiciter, commc il en avoit envoy^ une a Ercalthay. Sa premiere avoit 6i6 confine
a des Fr^res-pr^cheurs ; il nomma, pour celle-ci, des Franciscains, et pour chef fr^rc Guii-
laumc Rubruquis. Deja Innocent avoit dem^me donn^ successivement une des deux siennes
a I'un des deux autres. Suivre cet exemple ^toit pour Louis une grandejouissance. II
avoit pour I'un et pour I'autre une si tendre affection, que tout son voeu, disoit il, eflt
^te de pouvoir se partager en deux, afin de donner a chacun des deux une moitid de lui-
m^me.

Rubruquis, rendu pris de Sartach, put s'y convaincre sans peine combien dtoient fabu-
leux les contes que de temps en temps les chretiens orientaux faisoient courir sur ces pr^-
tendues conversions de princes Tartares. Pour ne pxs perdre tout-i-fait le fruit de son
voyage il sollicita pres de ce chef la permission de prficher I'evangile dans ses ^tats.
Sartach r^pondit qu'il n'osoit prendre sur lui une chose aussi extraordinaire ; et il envoya le
convertisseur a son p^re Baathi* qi • le renvoya au grand Kan.

Pour se presenter devant celui-c, P.ubruquis et ses deux camarades se rev^tirent chacun
d'une chape d'^glise. L'un d'eux pcrtoit une croix et un missel, I'autre un encensoir, lui
une bible et un psautier et il s'avance ainsi entre eux deux en chantant des cantiques. Ce
spectacle, que d'apr^ ses pr^jug^s monastiques, il croyoit imposant, et qui n'^toit que
burlesque, ne produisit rien, pas m6me la ris^e du Tartare ; et peu content sans doute
d'un voyage tr^s-inutile il revint en rendre conipte au roi.

Louis n'e'toit plus en Syrie. La mort de Blanche sa m^re I'avoit rappeM enfin en France,
d'oii il n'auroit jamais dA sortir, et oil ndanmoins il ne se rendit qu'apr^s une ann^e de re-
tard encore. Rubruqi'is s'appr^toit a I'y suivre quard il re<;ut de son provincial une ddfense
de partir, avec ordre de se rendre au couvent de Saint-Jean d'Acre, et la d'^crire au roi pour
I'instruire de sa mission. II obeit. II envoya au monarque iinc relation, que le temps nous
a conservde, et qui, comme la pr^cddente, se trouve tr-iduiic dans Bergeron ; mais c'est a
la contrariety despotique d'un supdrieur dnr ei jaloux que nous la devons*. Peut-etre que
si le voyageur avoit obtenu permission de venir a la cour, il n'edt rien ecrit.

Ainsi des quatre ambassadeurs monastiques envoyes en Tartarie tant par Innocent que par
le roi, il n'y a que les deux Franciscains de Carpin et Rubruquis, qui aient laissd des me-
moires; et ces ouvrages, quoiqu'ils se ressent de leur si^cle et particulierement de la profession
de ceux qui les composi^rent, sont cependant pr^cieux pour nous par les details int^ressans
qu'ils contiennent sur une contr^e lointaine dont alors on connqissoit a peine le nom, et
avec laquelle nous n'avons depui> cette ^poque conserve aucun rapport.

On y admirera sur-tout le courapede Rubruquis, qui ne craint pas de declarer assez ouver-
tement au roi que David ^toit un imposteur qui I'avoit tromfi^. Mais Louis avoit le fana-
tisme du pros^lytisme et des conversions ; et c'est-la chez certains esprits une maladie in-
curable.

Dupe deux fois, il le fut encore par la suite pour un roi de Tunis qu'on lui avoit re-
presente comme dispose a se faire baptiser. Ce baptdme fut long-temps sa chimdre. II re-
gardoit comme le plus beau jour de sa vie celui oil il seroit le parrain de ce prince. II etit
consenti volonticra, disoit-il, ii passer le re«te de sa vie dans les cachots d'Afrique, si a ce
prix il eAt pu le voir chretien. Et ce fut pour etre le parrain d'un infid^le qu'il alia sur les
cotes de Tunis perdre une seconde flotte et une seconde armee, deshonorer une seconde fois
les armes Franqaises qu'avoit tant illustrees la journee de Bovines, enfin perir de la peste au

milieu

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Discoura Pritlminaire,

' ■ i

, ■( ',"'1

' 4;

milieu dc son camp pestif^r^, et mdriter ainsi, par lea malhcurs multiplids de la France,
d'etre qiialifi<^ martyr et tiaint.

Quant a Bergeron, il n'est pcrsonnc qui ne convienne qu'en publiant sa traduction il a
rendu aux lettres et aux sciences un vrai service, ct.je suis bien loin assur^ment de vouloir
en ddpr^cier le m^rite. Cependant je suisconvaincu qu'elle en auroit davantage encore s'ii
ne so ri\l point permis, pour les diiT^rcns morccaux qu'il y a fait entrer, une traduction trop
libre, et surtout s'il s'y fut interdit de nombreux rctrancheniens qui k la v^rit^ nous ^parg-
nent I'ennui dc certains details peu faits pour plairc, mais qui aussi nous privent de I'inesti-
mable avantage d'apprdcier I'auteur ct son siecle. Lui-inlme, dans la notice pr^liminaire
d'un des \ oyages qu'il a imprimis, il dit I'avoir tird d'un Latin assez jjrossler oil il ^toit ecrit
selon le temps, pour le faire voir en notrc langue avec un peu plus d'^ldgance et de
clartd*. De-li il est arriv^ qu'en promettant de nous donncr des relations du treiziime
et du quatorzidmc siecle, il nous en donne de modcrnes, qui toutes ont la m6me phy-
sionomie a peu pris, tandis que chacune devroit avoir la sienne propre.

Le rccueil de Bergeron, bon pour son temps, ne Test plus pour le ndtre. Composd
d'ouvrages qui contiennent beaucoup d'erreurs, nous y voudrions des notes critiques, des
discussions historiques, des observations savantcs ; ct peut-titre seroit-ce aujourd'hui
une enlreprisc utile et qui ne pourroit manquer d'etre accueillie tres-favorablement du
public, que celle d'unc ddition nouvelle des voyages anciens, faite ainsi, surtout si Ton
y joignoit, autant qu'il scroit possible, le texte original avec la traduction. Mais cette
traduction, il faudroit qu'elle filt tr^s-scrupuleusement fulcle. Il faudroit avant tout s'y
intcrdire tout retranchement, ou au nioins en prcvcnir et y presenter en cxtrait ce
qu'on croiroit indispensable de retrancher. Ce n'est point I'agrdment que s'attend de
trouver dans de parcils ouvrages celui qui entrcprend la lecture ; c'est I'instruction.
Des le moment ou vous les ddnaturerez, ou vous voudrez leur donner une tournure
moderne et ^tre lu des jeunes gens et des femmes, tout est manque. Avez-vous des
voyages, quels qu'ils soient, de tel ou tel siecle ? Voila ce que je vous dcmande, et
ce que vous devez me faire connoitrc.

Si parmi ceux de nos gens de lettres qui avec des connoissances en histoire et en geogra-
phic r^unissent du courage ct le talent de recherches, il s'cn trouvoit quelqu'un que ce tra-
vail n'eflrayat pas, je la prdviens que, pour ce qui concerne le Speculum historiale, il en
cxiste a laBiblioth^que nationale quatre cxemplaires manuscrits, sous les num^ros 4898,
4900, 4yOL et 4902.

Les deux VoyagfiiM Hii quatorzi^me siecle qui ont publid des relations iie sont point nds
Franfais; mais tons deux dcrivirent primitivcment dans notre langue: ils nous appartien-
nent a litre d'auteurs, et sous ce rapport je dois en parler. L'un est Hayton, TArmdnien ;
I'autre, I'Anglais Mandeville.

Hayton, roi d'Arm^nie, avoit 6t& ddpouille de ses dtats par les Sarrasins. II imagina d'aller
KdUiciter les secours des Tartares, qui en effet prirent les armes pour lui ct le rdtablirent.
Ses ne'gociations et son voyage lui parurent mdriter d'etre transmis a la posterity, et il dressa
des mdmoircs qu'en mourant il laissa entre les mains d'Hayton son neveu, seigneur de
Courchi.

Celui-ci, aprfes avoir pris une part tres-active tant aux affaires d'Armdnie qu'aux guerres
qu'elle eut h. soutenir encore, vint se faire Prdmontrd en Cypre, ou il apprit la langue Fran-
(;ais, qui, portde 1^ par les Lusignans, y dtoit devenue la langue de la cour et celle de tout ce
qui n'dtoit pas peuple.

De Cypre, le moine Hayton ayant passd a Poitiers, voulut y faire connoitre les mdmoircs
de son oncle, ainsi que les dvdnemens dans lesquels lui-m6me avoit et6, ou acteur, ou te-
moin. II intitula ce travail Histoire d'Orient, "et en confia la publication a un autre moine
nomme de Faucon, auquel il le dicta de mdmoire en Francais. L'ouvragc eut un tel succes
que, pour en faire jouir les peuples auxquels notre langue dtoit ^trangfere, Clement V.

Tome I. p. 160, d la suite du Voyage de Rubruquw.

chargca

Himinaire,
I la France,

luction il a
t de vouloir
: encore s'il
uction trop
nous ^parg-
t de I'iiiesti-
pr^liminaire
il ^toit ecrit
gance et de
lu treiziime
mdme phy-

;. Composd
critiques, des
aujourd'hui
rablement du
Lirtout si Ton
Mais cette
ivant tout s'y
en extrait ce
le s'attend de
I I'instruction.
une tournure
Avez-vou9 des
s dcmande, et

; et en g^ogra-
,'un que ce tra-
listoriale, il en
uim^ros 4898,

sont point n^3

lous appartien-

, TArmdnien ;

imaginad'aller

le rdtablirent.

•it^, et il dressa

|«, seigneur de

qu'aux guerres
la langue Fran-
celle de tout ce

Ire les m^moires
acteur, ou te-
J un autre moine
lut un tel succes
)re, Clement V.

chargca

Discours Priliminaire.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

chargea le mfime de Faucon de le traduire en Latin. Celui-ci fit paroitre en 1307 sa version,
dont j'ui trouv<5 parmi les manuscrits de la Biblioth^que nationale trois exemplaires sous les
num^ros 7514, 7515 — A, et 6041. (Page 180) k la fin du numdro 7515, on lit cette note
de I't'diteur, qui donne la preuve de ce qui je viens de dire du livre.

p;xplicit liber Historiarum Parcium [Partium] Orientis, a. religioso viro fratre Haytono,
ordinis bcati Augustini, domino Churchi, consanguineo regis Armenian, compilato [compi<
latus] ex mandate hummi pontificis domini Clementis papac quinti, in civitate pictaviensi regni
Fraiichiaj : qucm ego Nicolaiis Falconi, prim6 scripsi in galico ydiomate, sicut idem frater
II. michi [niihi] ore suo dictabat, absque nota sive aliquo* exemplari. Et de gallico trans-
tuli in latinum ; anno domini M°CCC'. septimo, mense Augusti.

Bergeron a publid I'histoire d'Hayton. Mais, au lieu de donner le texte Francjais original,
au ou moins la version Latino de I'^diteur, il n'adonn^ qu'une version Fran^aise de ce Latin:
de sorte que nous n'avons ainsi qu'une traduction de traduction.

Pour ce qui rcgarde Maiuleville, il nous dit que ce voyageur composa son ouvrage dans
les trois langues, Anglaise, Francjaise et Latine. C'est une erreur. J'en ai en ce moment
Hous les yeux un cxemplaire manuscrit de la IJibliothtque nationale, n°. 10024f ^crit en
1477 ainsi que le portc une note finale du copiste. Or, dans cclui-ci jc lis ces mots:

Jc eusse mis cest livrr en latin, pour plus briefment d^livrez (pour aller plus vite, pour
abrcger Ic travail). Mais pour ce que plusicuis ayment et entendent mieulx roraans Qle
fnuijais] que latin, I'ai-ge [je I'ai] mis en Romans, affin que chascun I'entende, et que les
.seigneurs ct les chevaliers et aultres nobles hommes qui ne scfevent point de latin, ou petit
[pcu] qui ont estd oultre-mcr, saichent se je dy voir [vrai], ou non.

D'ailleurs, au temps de Mandeville, c'dtoit la langue Fran^aise qu'on parloit en Angleterre.
Cette langue y avoit ^t^ portde par Guillaume-le-Conqiierant. On ne pouvoit enseigncr
qu'elle dans les ^coles. Toutes les sentences des Tribunaux, tons les actes civils devoient
fitre en Fran^ais; et quand Mandeville ^crivoit en Fran^ais, il dcrivoit dans sa langue. S'il
se f6t servi de la Latine, c'eilt ^t^ pour £tre lu chez les nations qui ne connoissoient pas la
n6tre.

A la v^rit^, son Frangais se ressent du sol. II a beaucoup d'anglicismes et de locutions
vicieuses ; et la raison n'en est pas difficile h deviner. On sait que plus un ruisseau s'^loigne
de sa source, et plus ses eaux doivent s'alt«?rer. Mais c'est-la, selon moi, le moindre defaut
de I'auteur. Sans goOt, sans jugement, sans critique, non seulemcnt il admet indistincte-
ment tous les contes et toutes les fables qu'il entend dire; mais il en forge lui-m6me ^chaque
instant.

A I'entendre il s'embarqua I'an 1332, jour de Saint-Michel ; il voyagea pendant trente-
cinq ans, et parcourut une grande partie de I'Asie et de I'Afrique. Eh bien, ayez comme
moi le courage de le lire ; et si vous lui accordez d'avoir vu peut-6tre Constantinople, la
Palestine et I'Egypte (ce que moi je me garderois bien de garantir), a coup sfir au moin
vous resterez convaincu que jamais il ne mit le pied dans tous ces pays dont il parle a
I'aveugle ; Arabie, Tartaric, Inde, Ethiopie, etc. etc.

Au moin.s, si les fictions qu'il imagine oflTroient ou quelque agr<$ment ou quelque in-
t^r^t ! s'il ne faisoit qu'user du droit de mentir, dont se sont mis depuis si long-temps en
possession la plupart des voyageurs ! Mais chez lui ce sont des erreurs g^ographiques si
grossiires, des fables si sottes, des descriptions de peuples et de contr^es imaginaires si ri-
dicules, enfin des Queries si r^voltantes, qu'en verit^ on ne sait quel nom lui donner. II en
coAteroit d'avoir a traiter de charlatan un dcrivain. Que seroit-ce done si on avoit a la qua-
lifier de h^bleur efTrontd ? Cependant comment designer le voyageur qui nous cite des g^ans
de trente pieds de long; des arbres dont les fruits se changent en oiseaux qu'on mange;
d'autres arbres qui tous les jours sortent de terre et s'en dl^vent depuis le lever du soleil

♦ L'exemplaire n°. 5514 ajoute, a verbo ad verbum.

t 11 y en a dans la mSme bibliothdque un autre exemplaire note 7972; mais celui-ci, inutile, incomplet, tri»-
diflScile a lire, par U blancheur de son encre, ne peut gueres avoir de valeur qu'en le collationant avec I'autre.

jusqu'^

'■i;,.i i

80 VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, Diseoura Priliminaire.

jusqu'il midi, et qui depuis midi jusqu'aii soir y rentrent en enticr ; un val p^rilleux, dont
il avoit prds la fiction dans nos viciix romans de chcvalerie, val ou i! dit avoir ^prouv^ dc
telles aventures qu'inralliblement il y auroit p^ri si proc^demmcnt il n'avoit rc(;cu Corpus
Domini (s'il n'avoit communis); un fleuvc qui sort du paradifl terresfre et qui, au lieu d'eau,
roule des picrres pr^cicuscs ; ce paradis qui, dit-il, est au commencement dc la terre ct
plac^ si haut qu'il touche de priis la June ; enfin millc autres impoMtures ou aottises de m6mc
cspdce, qui d^notent non rerreur de la bftise et de la cr^dulitd, niais le mensonge de la
rdflexion et de la fraude P

Je regarde m6mc eomme tels ces trente-cinq ans qu'il dit avoir employes a parrourir le
monde sans avoir songd u revenir dans sa putrie quo quand enfln la goute vint Ic tour-
menter.

Quoiqu'il en existe trois Editions imprini^es, I'une en 1487 chez Jean Cres, I'aiitre en 1517
chcz Regnaiilt, la troisi^me en 1542 chcz Canterel, on ne le connoit guire que par le court
extrait qu'en a piiblid Bergeron. Et on cffet cct editcur I'avoit trouv^ si invraisemblable cl
si fabulcux qu'il I'a rcduit h. douze pages quoiquc dans notre manuscrit il en contienne cent
soixante et di-:-huit.

Dans le quinzi^me si^cle, nous e(^mesdcux autres voyages en Tcrre-Sainte: I'un que jc
public aujourd'hui ; I'autre, par un carme nommd Huen, imprimrf en 1487, et dont je nc
dirai rien ici, parce qu'il est po6terieur a I'uutie.

La m£me raison m'empfichera de parler d'un ouvrage mis au jour par Mamerot, chantre et
chanoine dc Troycs, D'ailleurs celui-ci, intitule passages faiz oultre-mer par les roys de
France et autres princes et seigneurs Francjois contrc les Turcqs et autres Sarrasins et Mores
oiiltre-marins, n'est point, a proprement parler, un \oyagc, mais iine compilation historique
des diff^rcntes croisftdes qui ont eu lieu en France, ct que I'auteur, d'aprls la fausse Chro-
nique de Turpin et nos romans de chcvaleric, fait commencer d Charlemagne. La Biblioth^que
nationale possdde de celui-ci un magniflque cxemplaire, ornd d'un grand nombre de belles
miniatures et tableaux.

Je viens a I'ouvrage de la Brocqui^re ; mais celui-ci dcmande quelqiie explication.

Dis

SECONDE PARTIE.

LA folic des Croisades, comme tous les genres d'ivresse, n'avoit eu en France qu'une
certaine dur^e, ou, pour parler plus exactement, de m6mc que cerlaincs fi^vres, tile s'^toit
calmde apris quelques acces. Et assur^ment la croisade de Louis-Ie-Jeune, les deux de saint
Louis plus ddsastreuses encore, avoient attird sur le royaume assez de honte et de malheurs
pour y croire ce fanatisme eteient a jamais.

Ccpendant la superstition cherclioit de temps en temps a le ralliiraer. Souvent, en confession
et dans certains cas de pdnitence publique, le clerg^ imposoit pour satisfaction un pelerinage
a Jerusalem, ou un temps fixe de cmisadc. PUisieurs fois meme les papes employ^rent tous
les ressorts de leur politique et I'ascendant de leur autorit^ pour renoucr chez les princes
Chretiens quelqu'une de ces ligues saintes, oi^ leur ambition avoit tant a gagner sans rien
risquer que des indulgences.

Philippe-le-Bel, par hypocrisie de zele et de religion, afiecfa un moment de vouloir en
former une nouvelle pour la France. Philippe-de-Valois, le prince le moins propre a une
cntreprise si difficile et qui exigeoit tant dc talens, parut s'en occuper pendant quelques
annees. II requt une ambassade du roi d'Arm^nie, entama des n^gociations avec la cour de

Rome,

Infession
llerinage
J-ent tons
princes
bans rien

Luloir en

|e a une

Juelques

cour de

Rome,

Disronrs Prcliiiiinuirc

TIlAI'FKiUES, AND DlSCOUI-IMl'S.

Home, orilonna nitine i\c^ prt^panitils cLins Ic port dc Marseille. Enfin dan^ rintervatlc dc
rrs mdiivemenH, i'an \3'.i'i, iiii (loiniiiicaiii nomn\«' Hrochard (mimommd rAllcmand, dii n(.m
lie son p.iys), liii prt^t'iita (icii\ oiivri^cs I.aliiw composes a dcsucin mir ceJ objet.

1,'iin, lians lo(iiu'l il liii Wnstnt connoitrc la contrt'c qui alloit Afre Ic but de la conqii^Jp,
t'toit line dcucription do la Tcrro-SaiiUc ; et cominn il avoit dcmcun^ vingt-qiiatre ans dans
(•cite C()iitr(''c en (lualit^' de niisiionnairc ct dc prtVlicatciir, pcu dc genu pouvoient alk-giiri-
aiilant dc droits que hii pour en parler.

1,'aiitrc, divisc en deux li\res, par c'omirK'mnration den deux ^p^en dont il CHt mention
dans I'Kvangilc, nous-divis^' en dou/.c chapitrei^ i I'honneur des douzc ap6tre«, traitoit dcs
dillt'rcntcs routes entrc lesqncllcs I'armiJc avoit 3 choisir, dcs pr(<c<-iutions de detail A prendre
pour Ic suiccs dc I'enlreprisc, enlin dcs nioycns de diri^cr ct d'ajwurer rcxp^dition.

Quant a cclui-( i, dont Ics matiercs conccrnent entiitrcment la marine et I'art militairc,
on est surpris dc voir I'autcur I'avoir entrepris, lui qui n'^toit qu'un simple religieux. Mai«
qui nc salt que, dans Ics sit^cles d'ignorancc, tpiiconcjue est moins ignorant que ses contem-
porains, s'arrogc le droit A'6cr'\rc sur lout ? D'ailleurs, parmi les conseiis que Brochard
donnoit au roi et a ses Rdn<!'raux, son experience, poiivoit lui en avoir sugg6r6 qiielqncs-
uns d'uiiles. Kt apr^s tout, puisque dans la classe des nobles auxquels il edt nppartenu dr
trailer ces objets, il nc se trouvoit personnc peut-fetre qui pAt oflHr et les mtimes C(mnois-
sances locales que lui ct iin talent ^gal pour les ^crire, pourqiioi n'auroit-il pas hasard^ c^
qu'iis nc pouvoient faire ?

Quoiqu' il en soil du inotifcet de son excuse, il paroit que I'ouvrage fit sur le roi et sur son
conscil unc impression favorable. On voit au moinSj par la continuation de la Chroniquc
dc NangJH, epic le monarque envoya in tcrram Turconim Jean de C6poy et I'^vfique de
fieauvais avec quelque peu d'infantcrie ad explorandos portus et passus, ad faciendos ali-
quas munitiones et prxparationes victualium pro passagio Terre Sanctac ; et que la petite
troupe, apr^s avoir remport6 quelqucs avantages aussi considerables que Ic permettoient
ses (oibles forces, revint en France 1 an 1335*.

Au reste tout ce fracas d'armemens, dc pr^paratifs et de menaces dont le royaume retentil
pendant qiielques anndes, s'^vanouit en un vain bruit. Je ne doute point que, dans Ics
comnienceniens, le roi ne fAt de bonne foi. Sa vanite s'^toit laiss^e dblouir par un projet
brillant qui alloit flxer sur lui les yeux de I'Asie et de I'Burope ; et les esprits m^diocres ne
savent point resister a la .sanction de parcilles chim^res. Mais bicntdt, comme les carac-
t^res foibles, fatigu6 des difficultes, il chercha des pr^textes pour se mettre k \'6cnrt ; et
dans ce dessein il demanda au pape des titres et de I'argent, que celui-ci n'accorda pas. Alors
on ne parla plus de I'exp^dition ; et tout ce qu'elle produisit fut d'attirer la colfere et la ven-
geance des Turcs sur ce roi d'Arm^nie, qui ^toit venu en France solliciter contre eux une
ligue et dessecours.

Au si^cle suivant, la mfime fanfaronnade cut lieu k la cour de Bourgogne, quoique avec
un debut plus serieux en apparence.

L'an 1432, cent ans apr^s la publication des deux ouvrages de Brochard, plusieurs grands
seigneurs des etats de Bourgogne et officiers du due Philippe-le Bon font le p^lerinage de la
Terre-Sainte. Parmi eux est son premier dcuyer trancliant, nomm^ la Brocquiiire. Ce-
lui-ci, aprfcs plusieurs courses devotes dans le pays, revient malade a Jdrusalem, et pendant
sa cotivalescence il y forme le hardi projet de retourner en France par la voie de terre.
C'ctoit s'engager ^ traverser toute la partie occidentale d'Asie, toute I'Europe orientale; et
toujours, except^ sur la fin du voyage, k travern la domination musulmane. L'ex^cution de
cette entreprise, qui aujourd'hui mfime ne seroit point sans difficultes passoit alors pour im-
possible. En vain ses camarades essaient de Ten d^tourner : il s'y obstine ; il part, et, apr^s
avoir surmont^ toiw les ob.stacles, il revient, dans le cours de I'ann^e 1433, se presenter an
due sous le costume Sarrasin, qu'il avoit ^te oblig^ de prendre, et avec le cheval qui seul
avoit fourni a cette etonnante traite.

* Spicil. t. II. p, 7G4.
M

Une

•I

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

Ul 12.5

^ ^

■ 2.2

140

2.0

1.25 III 1.4 1.6

►

^p).

■>'

Hiotographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SM

(716) •73-4503

^ t^""^
^^V^

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Disconrs Priliminaire

i-i'

If ^

Une si extraordinaire aventiire ne pouvoit manquer de produire a la cour un grand effet.
Le due vouliit que le voyageur en r^digeAt par ecrit la relation. Celui-ci ob^it ; mais son
ouvrage ne panit quequelques ann^es apr^s, etm6me post^rieurement a I'ann^e 14S8, piiis-
que cette epoque y est mentionn^e, comine on le verra- ci-dessou9.

II n'^toit gu^re possible que le due eAt journelleinent sous les yeux son ccuyer tranchant
sans avoir quelquefois envic de le questionner sur cette terre des M^crdans ; et il ne pou-
voit gu^re I'entendre, sur-tout a table, sans que sa t6te ne s'^chaufldt, ct ne fortndt aussi
des chim^res de croisade et de conqu6le.

Ce qui tne fait prdsumer qu'il avoit demand^ a la Brocqui^re des renseignemens de ce
genre, c'est que celui-ci a insdr^ dans sa relation un long morceau sur la force militaire dcs
Turcs, sur lea moyens de les combattre vigoureusemenf, et, quoicju'avec une arm^e mediocre,
mais bien conduite et bien organis^e, de pen^trer sans risques jusqu'u Jerusalem. Assur^-
ment un episode aussi dtendu et d'un r^sultat aussi important est a remarquer dans un ouv-
rage prdsente au due et composd par ses ordres ; et Ton conviendra qu'il n'a gu^re pu y
£>tre placd sans un dessein Formel et une intention particuliere.

En effet on vit de temps en temps Philippe annoncer sur cet objet de grands desseins ;
mais plus occup^ de plaisirs que de gloire, ainsi que le prouvent les qnin?e batards connus
qu'il a laissds, toute sa forfanterie s'dvaporoit en paroles. Enfin cependant un moment ar-
riva oik la chretient^, alarm^e des conqu^tes rapidcs du jcune et formidable Mahomet II.
et de I'armement terrible qu'il pr^paroit centre Constantinople, crut qu'il n'y avoit plus de
digne d lui opposer qu'une ligue g^nerale.

Le due, qui, par I'^tendue ct la population de ses ^tats, t^toit plus puissant que beaucoup
de rois, pouvoit jouer dans la coalition un r61e important. II affecta de se montrcr en sc^ne
un des premiers ; et pour le fnire avec eclat, il donna dans Lille en 1453 une fdte splen-
dide et pompeuse, ou plutut un grand spectacle a machines, fort bizarre dans son ensemble,
fort disparate dans la multitude de ses parties, mais le plus ^tonnant de ceux de ce genre
que nous ait transmis I'histoire. Ce spectacle dont j'ai donne aiileurs la description*, et
qui absorba en pur faste des sommes considerables qu'il t(\i 6ic facile dans les circonstances
d'employer beaucoup mieux, se termina par quelques voeux d'armes tant de la part du due
que de celle de plusieurs seigneurs de sa cour : et c'est tout ce qui en r($sulta. Au reste il
eut lieu en f^vrier, et Mahomet prit Constantinople en Mai.

La nouvelle dc ce desastre, les massacres horribles qui avoient accompagnt^ la conqu^te,
les suites incalculables qu'elle pouvoit avoir sur le sort de la chr^tient^, y r^pendirent la
consternation. Le due alors crut qu'il devoit enfin se prononcer autrement que par des
propos et des fetes. II annonga une croisade, leva en consequence de grosses sommes sur
ses sujets, forma m^me une arm^e et s'avanqa en Allemagne. Mais tout-a-coup ce lion fou-
gueux s'arr^ta. Une incommodit^ qui lui survint fort a propos luiservitde pr^texte et d'ex-
cuse ; et il revint dans ses ^tats.

N^anmoins il afTccta dc continuer a parler croisades comme auparavant. II chargea mdmc
un de ses sujets, Joseph Mielot, chanoine de Lille, de lui traduire en Fran^ais les deux
trait^s de Brochard dont j'ai parie ci-dessus. Enfin, quand le Pape Pie II. convoqua dans
Mantoue en 1459, une assemblee de princes chr^tiens pour former une ligue contre Mahomet,
il ne manqua pas d'y envoyer ses ambassadeurs, a la t^te desquels ^toit le due de Cloves.

Mieiot iinit son travail en 1455, et le court pr^ambule qu'il a mis en t6te I'annonce. Les
deux traductions se trouvent dans un de ces manuscritsque la Biblioth^que nationale a re9us
recemment de la Belgique. Elles sont, pour r^criture, de la m^me main que le voyage de
la Brocqui^re ; mais quoique des trois ouvrages celui-ci ait d6 paroitre avant les deux autre.o,
tout trois cependant, soit par economic de reliure, soit par analogic de matiires, ont 6{6
rdunis ensemble ; et ils forment ainsi un gros volume in-folio ; numerote Siic relie en bois
avec basane rouge, et intitule au dos. Avis directif de Brochard.

Ce manuscrit, auquel son ecriture, sa conservation, ses miniatures, et le beaux choix de
fion velin donnent deja beaucoup de prix, me paroit en acqudrir davantage encore sous un

* Hist, dc lit vif priv«e«k's I'ran9ai!', t. Ill, i>. '3 24.

autre

i' t

Discoura PrHiminaire. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

mitre aspect, en ce qu'il est composd, selon moi, des traites orlginaiix prescntds par I'^urs
aiiteurs a Fhilippc-le-Bon, ou de I'cxcmplaire command^ par liii i I'un de ses copislcs sur
I'autographe des ante iirs, poiir ^trc placd dans sa biblioth^que.

Je crois voir la preuvc de cctte assertion non seiilement dans la bcaiitt^ du maiuiscrit, et
dans I'^cusson du prince, qui s'y trouve armorid en quatre endroits, et deux foix avec sa
devise Aultre n'aray ; mais encore dans la vignette d'un des deux frontispices, ainsi que dans
la miniature de I'autre.

Cettc vignette, qui est en t^tc du volume, rcpr^scnte Midlot u genoux, faisant roflrandc
de son livre au due, lequel est assis et entour^. do plusieurs courtisans, dent trois portent,
comme lui, le collier de la Toison.

Dans la miniature qui prdc^de Ic Voyage, on voit la Brocquierc fiiire de la m£me mani^re
son oflTrande. II est en costume Sarrasin, ainsi qu'il a dtd dit ci-dessuH, et i! a aupr^s de lui
son cheval, dont j'ai parld.

Quant a ce due Philippe qu'on surnnmma le Bon, ce n'est point ici Ic lieu d'cxaminer s'if
mcrita bien vdritablement ce titre glorieux, et si I'histoire n'auruit pas a lui faire des repro-
ches de plus d'un genre. Mais, comme littt^rateur, je ne puis m'emp^cher de remarquer ici,
a I'iionneur de sa mdmoirc, que les lettres au mnins lui doivent de la reconnoissance ; que
c'est un des princes qui, depuis Charlemagne jusqu'A Franc^ois I", ait le plus fait pour elles;
qu'au quinzi^me si^cle il fut dans les deux Bourgognes, et dans la Belgiquc sur-tout, ce
qu'au quatorzi^me Charles V avoit ixi en France ; que comme Charles, il se crda une Ir" -
lioth^que, ordonna des traductions et des compositions d'ouvrages, encouragca les savans, les
dessinateurs, les copistes habilcs ; enfin qu'il rendit peut-Sire aux sciences ])Ius de services
rdels que Charles, parce qu'il fut moins superstitieux.

Jc donnerai, dans I'Histoirc de la littdraturc Fran^aise, a laquelle je travaille, des details
sur ces difTfrena faits. J'en ai trouvd des preuves multiplides dans les manuscrits qui de la
Belgique ont passd u la Bibliothdque nationale, ou. pour parler plus exactement, dans le.<«
manuscrits de la bibliotheque de firuxelles, qui faisoient une des portions les plus considera-
bles de cet envoi.

Get bibliotheque, pour sa partie Franqaise, qui est spdcialement confide a ma surveillance,
et qu'^ ce titre j'ai parcourue presque en entier, dtoit composde de plusieurs fonds par-
ticuliers, dont les principaux sont :

1°. Un certain nombre de manuscrits qui prdcedemrnent avoient form^ la bibliotheque de
Charles V, celle de Charles VI, celle de Jean, due de Berri, fr^re de Charles V, et qui pen-
dant les troubles du royaume sous Charles VI, et dans les commencemens du r^gne de son
fils, furent pill^s et enlevds par les dues de Bourgogne. Ceux de Jean sont reconnoissables
A sa signature, apposde par lui a la derni^re page du volume et quelquefois en plusieurs
autres endroits. On rcconnoit ceux de deux rois k I'dcu de France blasonnd qu'on y a peint,
a leurs dpitres dddicatoires, a leurs vignettes, qui reprdsentent I'oflTrande du livre Fait au
monarque, et le monarque revStu du manteau royal. II en est d'autres, provenus de ces
deux d^pdts, sur I'enlevement desquels je ne puis alldguer des preuves aussi authentiques,
parci que dans le nombre il s'en trouvoit beaucoup qui n'dtoient point ornds de miniatures,
ou qui n'avoient point etd oflferts au roi, et qui par consequent ne peuvent oifrir les m^mes
signalemens que les premiers ; mais j'aurois, pour avancer que ceux-la ont 6x6 pris dgale-
ment, tant de probabilitds, tant de conjectures vraisemblables, qu'elles 6quivalent pour moi
a une preuve positive.

2°. Les manuscrits qui appartinrent legitimement aux dues de Bourgogne, c'est-a-dire qui
Aircnt, ou acquis par eux, ou d^dids et prdsent^s a eux, ou commandos par eux, soit
comme ouvrages, soit comme simples copies. Dans la classe des dddids, le tr^s-grand nombre
I'a 6x6 a Philippe-le-Bon ; dans celle des faits par ordre, presque tous furent ordonnds
par lui : et c'est la qu'on voit, comme je I'ai dit plus haut, I'obligation qui lui ont lea
lettres et tout ce qu'il fit pour elles.

3". Les manuscrits qui, apr^s avoir appartenu a des particuliers, ou k de grands seigneurs
des dtats de Bourgogne, ont passd en diffdrens temps ct d'une mani^re quelconque dans la
bibliotheque de Bruxelles. Parmi ceux-ci Ton doit distinguer sp^cialement ceux de Charles

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de Croy, cointe de Chimay, parrain de Charles-Quint, chevalier de la toiion, fait en I486
prince de Chimay par Maximilien. Les siens Hont as-sez nombreux, et iU portent pour signe
didtinctif ses armniricH et sa signature, apposee par lui-m^me.

Do tout ccci il r^sulte, quant au m^rite de la collection Fran^aise de Bruxelles, qu'elle ne
doit gu^re offrir que deH manuscrits modemes. J'en ai eHectivement pen vu qui soient prtf*
cieux par leur anciennet^, leur raret^, la nature de Touvrage ; mais beaucoup nont curieux
parleur Venture, leur conservation, ct sp^cialement par leum miniatures; et ceri miniaturca
Hcront un objet int^ressant pour leg personnes qui, comme moi, entreprendont I'histoire des
arts dans les bad si^cles. Elles leur prouveront qu'on Belgique I'^tat florissant de certaines
manufactures y avoit fort avanc^ i'art de la peinture et du detain. -Mais je reviens aux trois
trait^s de notre volume.

Je ne dirai qu'un mot sur la description de la Palestine par Brochard, parce que I'original
Latin ayant ^t^ imprim^, elle est connue, et que Mi^lot, dans le prdambule dc sa traduc-
tion, assure, ce dont je me suis convaincu, n'y avoir adjoustd riens du sicn. Brochard, dc
son cdt^, proteste de son exactitude. Nan seulement il a demeur^ vingt-quatre ans dans le
pays, mais il I'a traverse dans sun double diam^tre du nord au sud, depuis Ic pied du Liban
jusqua Bersab^e; et du couchant au levant, depuis la Mediterrjndc jusqu'a la mer Morte.
Enftn il ne d^crit rien qu'il n'ait, pour me servir des tcrmes de son traductcur, veti cor-
porellement, lui, estaiit en iceulx lieux.

J^ traduction commence au folio 76 de notre volume, et elle porte pour titre : Le livre dc
la description de u Terre-Saincte, fait en I'onneur et locnge de Dieu, ct compile jadis, I'an
M.Ur.XXXII, par fr^re Brochard, TAlemant, de I'ordre des Preescheurs.

Son second ouvrage etant inedit, j'en parlerai plus au long, mais uniquement d'aprds la
traduction la Mic^lot.

Le volume est compost de deux parties, et porte pour titre. Ad vis directif (conseils de
inarche et de direction ) pour faire le passage d'oultremer.

On a pour ce passage, dit Brochard, deux voies diRcrentes, la terre et la mer : et il con-
seillc au roi de les employer toutes les deux a la fois, la premiere pour I'armde, la seconde
pour le transport des vivres, tentes, machines, et munitions de guerre, ainsi que pour les
personnes qui sont accoutumees a la mer.

Celle-ci cxigera dix adouze galores, qu'on pourra, par des negociations ct des arrangcmens,
obteair des G^nois et des V6nitiens. Les derniers puss^dent Candie, N^grepont et autres
lies, terrps ou places importantes. Les G^nois ont P^ra, pris de Constantinople, et CafTa,
dans la Tartarie. D'ailleurs les deux nations connoissent bien les vents et les mers d'Asie,
de m^nie que la langue, lea iles, c6tes et ports du pays.

Si Ton choisit la voie de mer, on aura le choix de s'embarquer, soil h Aigucsj-Mortes soit a
Marseille ou a Nice ; puis on relficheca en Cypre, comme fit Saint Louis. Mais la mer et
Ic sejour des vaisseaux ont de nombreux inconv^niens, et il en r^sulte de ficheuses maladies
pour les hommes et pour les chevaux. D'ailleurs on depend des vents: sans cesse on est
reduit a craindre les temp^tes et le changement de climat. Souvent m^nie, lorsqu'on ne
comptoit faire qu'une rel^che, on se voit forcd de sojourner. Ajoutez h ces dangers les vins
de Cypre, qui de leur nature sont trop ardens. Si vous y mettez de I'eau, ils perdent touto
leur saveur ; si vous n'en mettez point, ils attaquent le cerveau et brAlcnt les entrailles.
Quand saint Louis liiverna dans I'lle, I'arm^e y ^prouva tous ces inconv^niens. II y morut deux
cens et cinquante, que contes, qut barons, que chevaliers des plus nobles qu'il eust en son ost.

11 est un autre passage compo!.e de mer et de terre, et celui-ci ofli"e deux routes ; Tune par
I'Afrique, I'autre par I'ltalie.

La voie d'x'Vfrique est extremement difficile, h raison des chateaux fortifies qu'on y ren-
contrcrj, ilu munque de vivres auquel on sera expos^, de la traverg^e des ddserts, et de
I'F.gyjjte qu'il faudra franchir. Le chemin d'ailleurs est immense par sa longueur. Si Ton
p i't du u^troit (Ic Gibraltar, on aura, pour arriver ii deux petites journdes de Jdnisalem,250O
<iiii!>.., d parcourir; si Ton part de Tunis, on en aura 2400. Conclusion: la voie d'Afrique
>t iiiipracticable, il faut y renoncer.

t-cilr d'lialie prt^sente trois chemins divers. L'un par Aquil^e, par I'lstrie, la Dalmatic,

D'wcours Preliminaire. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

y ren-
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le royaume de Rassie (Servie) et Thcssalonique (Salonique), la plus prandc ritt? dc Macd-
duine, laquelle n'cst qii'a huit petitcs journi^ert dc Constantinople. C'est la route que sui-
voient les Romains quand lis alloient porter la guerre en Orient. Ces contrees sent fertiles;
mais le pays est habilt' de gens non obcissans a I'oiilisc de Rome, lit quant est dc Icur
vaJllancc et hardiesse a r^sistcr, jc n'en fais nulle mention, )i<?ant plus que de femmes.

Le second est par la Pouille. On s'embarqueroit a IJrandis (Brindes), pour d^barquer d
Duras (Durazzo) qui est a monseigneur le prince dc Tarente. Puis on avanreroit par I'Alba-
nie, par Blaque et Thcssalonique.

La troisieme traverse ^galement la Pouille; mais il passe par Ydronte (Otrante), Curpho
(Corfou) qui est -k mondit seigneur de Tarente, Dcsponte, Blaque, Thcssalonique. C'est
ccliii qu*c\ la premiere croisade prirent Robert, comte de Flandre ; Robert, due de Nnrman-
dic ; Hugues, fr^re du roi Philippe I", et Tancride, prince de Tarente.

Aprds avoir parlrf du passage par mer et du passage compose de terre et de mer, Brocliard
examine celui qui auroit lieu enti^rement par terre.

Ce dernier traverse rAllemagne, la Hongric et la Bulgarie. Ce fut relui qu';\ la m6me
premiere expedition suivit une grandc partie de I'armdc de Fra.ice et d'Allemagne, sous la
conduite de Pierre rhcrmite, et c'est celui que I'auteur ronseille au roi.

Mais quand on est en Hongrie on a deux routes a choisir: Tune par la Bulgarie, I'autre
par rEsclavonie, qui fait partie du royaume de Rassie. Godefroi de Bouillon, ses deux
fr^res, et Baudouin, comte de Mons, prirent la premiere. Raimond, comte de Saint-Gilles,
et Audemare, ^v^que du Puy et l^gat du Saint-Si^ge, prirent la seconde, quoique quelques
auteurs pr^tendent qu'ils suivirent celle d'Aquilde et de Dalmatie.

Si le roi adoptoit ce passage par terre, Tarm^e, arriv^e en Hongrie, pourroit se diviser en
deux ; et alors, pour la plus grande commodity des vivres, chacune des deux parties suivroit
un des deux chcmins ; savoir, I'une, celui de la Bulgarie ; I'autre, celui de I'Esclavonie. Le
roi prendroit la premiere route, comme la plus courte. Quant aux Languedociens et Proven-
(jaux.qui sont voisins de ritalie,il leurseroit permisd'aller par Brindes et Otrante. Leur rendez-
vous scroll h Thcssalonique, oil ils trouveroient le corps d'armee, qui auroit pris par Aquil^e.

A ces reiiseignemens sur les avantages et les inconv^niens des divers passages, le domini-
rniii en ajoute quelques autres sur les princes par les ^tats desquels il faudra passa, et sur les
ressourres que fourniront ces «?tats.

La Rassie est un pays fertile, dit-il ; elle a en activity cinq mines^'or, cinq d'argent, et
plusieurs autres qui portent or et argent. II ne faudroit pour la conqudte de cette contr^e
que mille chevaliers et six mille horames d'infanterie. Ce seroit un joyel (joyau) gracieux
et plaisant a acqu^rir.

L'auteur veut qu'on ne fasse aucun trait^ d'alliance ni avec ce roi ni m^me avec Tempereur
Grec ; et, pour mieux mbtiver son assertion, il rapporte quelques details sur le personnel de
ces princes, et principalement sur le premier, qu'il dit ^tre un iisurpateur.

Quant h I'autre, il demande non seulement qu'on ne fasse avec lui ni paix nt tr^ve, mais
encore qu'on lui declare la guerre. En consequence il donne des moyens pour assi^ger
Constantinople, Andrinople et Thessalonique. Et comme, d'apr^s ce qui est anriv^, il ne
doute nullement de ce qui doit arriver encore, c'est-a-dire de la prise de Constantinople, it
propose divers rt'glemens pour gouverner I'empire d'Orient quand on I'aura conquis une se-
conde fois, et pour le ramener i la religion Romaine.

II termine ses avis directifs par avertir les crois^s de se mettre en garde centre la perfidie
des Grecs, ainsi que contre les Syriens, les Hassassins et autres habitans de I'Asie. II leur
d^tailie une partie des pi^ges qu'on leur tendra, et leur enseigne h s'en garantir.

Brochard, dans sa premiere partie, a conduit par terre jusqu'd Constantinople I'ost de
Nostre Seigneur, ct il lui a fait prendre cctte villa. Dans la seconde il lui fait passer le d^-
troit et le m^nc en Asle. Au re-.te il connoissoit tr^s-bien ces contrdes ; et, ind^pendamment
dc ses vingt-quatre ans de s^jour dans la Palestine, il avoit parcouru encore I'Arm^nie, la
Perse, Tempire Grec, etc.

Selon lui, ce qui, dans les croisades prec^^dentcs, avoit fait dchouer les rois de France et

d'Angleterre,

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

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d'Angleterre, c'est que inal adroitement on attaquoit h la foia et les Turca et le soudaii
d'Egypte. II propose de n'attaquer que les premiers), et de n'avoir affaire qu'^ eux seuls.

Pour le Taire avec succ^s il donne des renseigneinens sur la Turquic, nommee Anach^ly
( Anatolie) par les Grecs ; aur la mani^re de tirer par mer des vivres pour rarm^c ; sur I'ea-
poir bien fondd de rcutisir contre un peuple n^cesnairetnent abandonnd de Dieu, parce que
aa malice est accomplie ; contre un peuple qui int^rieurement est aflbibli par des guerrcs
intestines et par le manguc de chefs ; dont la cavalerie est composde d'esclaves ; qui, avec
peu de courage ct d'industrie n'u que des chevaux perils et foibles, de mauvaiaes armes, de^
arcs Turquois et des haubergeons de cuir qu'on pourroit appeler des *cuirasHe8 ; contre un
peuple enfin qui ne combat qu'en fuyant, et qui, apr^s les Grecs et lea Babyloniena, est le
phis vil de tout Orient, en fais-d'armes.

L'auteur declare en finissant que dans tout cet Orient il n'est presque aucunc nation qu'il
n'ait veue aller en bataille, et que la seule puissance de France, sans nuls aydes quelticonques,

f>cut d^faire, non seulement les Turcs et les Egyptiensf, mais encore les Tartres (Tatars)
brs (except^) les Indiens, les Arabes, et les Persains.

La collection de Bruxelles contient un autre exemplaire de I'Advis directif, in fol. pap.
miniat. N". 352. Celui-ci forme un volume a part. Sa vignette repr^sente Brochard travail-
lant h son pupitre. Vient ensuite une miniature oix on le voit pr^sentant son livre au roi ;
puis une autre oii le roi est en marche avec son armde pour la Terre-Sainte.

J'ai dgalemeiit trouv6 dans la m£me collection les deux trait^ Latins de l'auteur, r^unia en
un aeul volume in fol. pap. N". 319, couvert en basane rouge. Le premier porte en titre:
Directorium ad paasagium faciendum, editum per quemdam fratrem ordinis Predicatorum,
scribentem experta et visa potius quam audita ; ad serenissimum principem et dominum
Philippum, regem Francorum, anno Domini M.CCC". xxxii*.

Le second est intitule : Libellus de TerrA SanctA, editus a fratre Brocardo, Theutonico, or>
dinis fratrum predicatorum. A la fin de celui-ci on lit qu'il a 6ti ^crit par Jean Reginaldi,
chanoine de Cambrai. Comme I'auire est incontestablement de la m^me main, je ne doute
nullement qu'il ne soit aussi de Reginaldi.

II me reste maintenant a faire connoitre notre troisi^me ouvrage Franqais, ce Voyage de
la Brocqui^re que je publie aujourd'hui.

L'auteur dtoit gentilhomme, et Ton s'en aper^uit sans peine quand il parle de chevaux, de
chateaux forts et de joales.

Sa relation n'est qu'un itindraire qui souvent, et surtout dans la description du pay.s, et
des villes, prdsente un peu de monotonie et des formes peu varices ; mais cet itin^raire est
intdressant pour I'histoire et la geographic du temps. Elles y trouveront des mat^riaux
tr^s-pr^cieux, et quelquefois m^me des tableaux et des aper<;us qui ne sont pas sans m^rite.

Le voyageur est un homme d'un esprit sage et sens6, plein de jugement et de raison. On
admirera I'impartialit^ avec laquelle il parle des nations infid^les qu'il a occasion de connoitre,
et spdcialement des Turcs, dont la bonne foi est bien sup^rieure, selon lui, k cellc de beau-
coup de Chretiens.

Il n'a gu^re de la superstition de son siecle que la d<ivotion pour les p^lerinages et Ie»
reliques; encore annonce-t-il souvent peu de foi sur I'authenticit^ des reliques qu'on lui
montre.

Quant aux pdlerinages, on verra en le lisant combien ils ^toient multiplies en Palestine,
et son livre sera pour nous un monument qui, d'une part, constatera Taveugle cr6dulit<!: avec
laquelle nos devots occidentaux avcient adopts ces pieuses fables ; et de I'autre I'astuce cri-
minelle des chr^tiens de Terre-Sainte, qui pour soutirer I'argent des crois^s et des p^lerins,
et se faire a leurs d^pens un revenu, les avoient iraagin^es. ->.,...

k.i-'i.

* Le haubert et le haubergeon (sortc de haubert phis leger et moiiu lotird) etoient une sorte de chemise en maiUe»
de fcr, laquelk descendoit jusqu'd mi-cuisge. Lea haubergeons Turcs, au contraire, etoient si courts qu'on pouvoit,
(elon l'auteur, les qualifier du nom de cuirasses.

t Les Turcs ct les Egyptians ! fr^re Brochard, vous oubliez Louit-le-Jeune, et saint Louis.

Voi/age de la Brocquiirc. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

la Brocquiire ecrlt en militaire, d'lm style franc et loyal qui annonce de la v^racitrf et
inspire la confiance ; mais i I ^crit avec negligence et abandon : de sorte que ses mati^ren
n'ont pas toujours iin ordre bicn constant, et que quclquePois il commence a raconter un fait
dont la suite se trouve a la page suivante. Quoique cette ronrusion soit rare, je me suis cm
pcrmis de la corriger et de rapprocher ce qui devoit tire r^uni et ne I'^toit pas.

Notre manuscrit a, pour son orthographe, le defaut qu'ils on! la plupart, c'est que, dans
certains noms, elle varic souvcnt d'une page a I'aulre, ct quelquefois m^me dans deux
phrases que so suivent. On me bldmeroit de m'astreindre ^ ces variations d'une langue qui,
alors incertaine, aujourd'hui est fix^e. Ainsi, par exempic, il ^crit Auteriche, Authcriche,
Autherice, Austrice, Ostrice. Jc n'cmploierai constamment que celui d'Autriche.

II en sera de m^me des noms dont rorthographe ne varie point dans le manuscrit, mais
qui en ont aujourd'hui une differente. J'dcrirai Hongrie, Belgrade, Bulgarie, et non Hon-
guerie, Belgrado, Vulgarie.

D'autres noms enfin ont chang^ en entier et ne sont plus les m^mcs. Nous ne disons plus
la mer Majeure, la Dunoe ; mais la mer Noire, le Danube. Quant a ceux-ci je crois int^-
ressant pour la g^ographie de les foire connoitre ; mais je croire en m^me temps qu'il suffira
pour cela de les citer une fois. Ainsi la premiere fois que dans la relation le mot Dunoe
s'oflfrira, j'^crirai Dunoe; mais par la suite je dirai toujours Danube et il en sera de mdme
pour les autres.

On m'objectera, je m'y attends, qu'il est mal dc pr6ter a un auteur des expressions qui
n'^toicnt ni les siennes ni souvent m^me cellcs de son si^cle; mais, apr^s avoir bien pes^
les avantages et les inconv^niens d'une nomenclature tr^s-litt^rale, j'ai cru reconnoitre que
cette exactitude rigoureuse rendroit le texte inintelligible ou fatigant pour la plupart des
lecteurs; qui si Ton veut qu'un auteur soit entendu, il Taut Ic faire parler comme il parleroit
lui-m^mes'i! vivoit parmi nous; enfin qu'il est des choses que le bon sens ordonne de
changer ou de supprimer, ct qu'il seroit ridicule, par exemple, de dire, comme la Brocqui^re,
un seigneur hongre, pour un seigneur Hongrois ; des chr^tiens vulgaircs, pour des chr^tiens
Bulgares, etc.

VOYAGE DE LA BROCQUltoE.

CY COMMENCE tE VOYAGE DE BERTHANDON DE LA BROCQUIERE EN LA TERRE D'oULTRE
MER, L'aN de grace MIL QUATRE CENS ET TRENTE'DEUX.

POur animcr et enflammer le coeur des nobles hommes qui desirent voir le monde;

Et par I'ordre et commandement de tr^s-haut, tres-puissant et mon tris-redoute seigneur,
Philippe, par la grace de Dieu, due de Bourgogne, de Lothrik (Lorraine), de Brabant et
de Limbourg ; comte de Flandres, d'Artois et de Bourgogne* ; palatin de Hainaut, de
Hollande, de Zelande et de Namur ; marquis du Saint-Empire ; seigneur de Prise, de Salins
et de Malines ;

Je, Bertrandon de la Brocqui^re, natif du duch^ de Guienne, seigneur de Vicux-ChSteau,
conseiller et premier 6cuyer tranchant de mondit tres-redout^ seigneur ;

* La Bourgogne ^toit divisie en deux parties, duche et comte. Cette dernidre, que depuig fut connue sous Ic
nom de Franche-Cr .nte, comment a dds-lors d prendre ce nom ; et voild pourquoi I'auteur oesigne d la fois Philippe
ct comme due de Bourgogne, et comme comte de Bourgogne.

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D'apris re que jc puU luc rappeler ct cc que j'avois consigne en abrrg^- dans un petit
livret cii guise dc nicniorial, j'ai rtdi^c par ccrit cc pen de voyage que j'ai fait ;

Afin que .si qiic-l(|ue roi mi prince chretien vouloit entrcprcndrc la conqiii^te dc J^runalcni
et y conduirc par ti-rre tino armee, ou si quelqtic nohle liommc vouloit y voyager, leti iins
ot Jcs niitrrs piLssmt cnnnoitro, depuis le ducht!- dc Bourgogne jiisqu'i\ JeniHalem, toiitrs l(><i
villes, (itcs, rt'gions contri'cH, rivi^reN, inontagncN et pasnages du pays, ainsi que le:i dcig-
neiirs auxqiicli* ils appartienneiU.

LA route d'ici a la cite sainte est si coiintie que je ne rrois pas devoir m'arrdter a la d<fcrirc.
Je passcrai done kgiremcnt sur cet article, et ne coininencerai k mVtendre nn pea que
quand je parlnrai de la Syric. J'ai parcouru cc pays en cnlier, depuis Gaz^rc (Gaza), qui
est I'cntrc^e de I'Egypte, jusqu'a une journ^c d'Halep, ville situ^e au nord sur la frontiirc
et ou Ton se rend quand on veut allcr en Perse.

J'avois r^solu de Tairc le saint pelerinage de Jcfrusalem. Dctcrmint^ a raccomplir, je
quittai, au mois de Fevricr I'an 1432, la cour de mon tr^s-redout^ seigneur, qui alors ^toit
a Gand. Apres avoir traversj* la Picardie, la Champagne, la Bourgogne, j'entrai en Savoic
oil jc passai le Rh6ne, et arrival a Chambdri par le Mont-du-Chat.

Lu commence une longue suite de montagnes, dont la plus haute, nomm^e mont C^nis,
forme un passage dangercux dans les temps dc neige. Par-tout la route, dtant couverte et
cach^e, il Taut avoir, si Ton ne veut pas se perdre, des guides du pays, appel^s marrons.
CcN gens vous recommandent dc nc Hure en chemin aucune snrte de bruit qui puisse ^tonner
la montagne, parcc qu'alors la neige s'en d^tache et vient tr^s-imp<^tueusement tomber au
bas. Le mont C^nis sdparc I'ltalie dc la France.

Descendu de la dans le Pidmont, pays beau ct agr^able, qui par trois cdtds est clos de
liautcs montagnes, je passai par Turin, oCi je traversal le PA ; par Ast, qui est au due
d'Orl^ans ; par Alexandrie, dont la plupart des habitans sont usuriers, dit-on ; par Plais-
ance, qui appartient au due de Milan ; enfin par Bologne-la-Grasse, cjui est au pape.
L'empereur Sigismond ^toit dans Plaisancc. II venoit de Milan, ou il avoit reqa sa secondc
couronne, et alloit a Rome chcrcher la *troisi^me.

De Bologne, pour arriver dans I'dtat des Florentins, j'eus a passer une autre chatne de
montagnes ( I'Apennin ). Florence est une grande ville oil la commune se gouverne par elle-
mdme. De trois en trois mois elle se choisit, pour son administration, des magistrats qu'elle
appelle prieurs, et qui sont pris dans diverses professions. Tant qu'ils restent en place on
les honore ; mais, quand leurs trois mois sont expirj's, chacun retourne a son f ^tat.

De Florence j'allai a Mont-Poulchan (Monte-Pulciano), chateau bAti sur une hauteur et
entour^ de trois cdtdspar un grand lac (le lac de P^rouse); a Espolite (Spolite) ; a Mont-
Flaschon (Monte Fiascone) ; enfin h Rome.

Rome est connue. On salt par des Merits v^ridiques que pendant sept cents ans elle a 6t6
Mais quand ces Merits ne I'attesteroient pas, on n'en auroit pas moins
CCS beaux ddifices qu'on y voit encore, dans ces grands palais, ces
ces statues et tons ces monumens aussi merveilleux d voir qu'^

maitresse du monde.
la preuve dans tous
colonnes de marbre.

ddcrire.

Joignez h cela I'immense quantity de belles reliques qu'elle poss^de, tant de choses qui
N, S. a touchdes, tant de saints corps d'ap6tres, de martyrs, de confesseurs et de viergcs ;
enfin plusicurs dglises oil les saints pontifes ont accord^ plein pardon de peine et de couipe
(indulgence p\6n\tre),

* En 1414, Sigismond, elu empereur, nvdit rc^u la couronne d'argcnt d Aix-la-Chapelle. Au mois de No-
vembre 1431, peu avant le paMa|i^ de nutrt rayaseiir, il avoil revu i Milan la couronne de fer. Ce ne ftit t|u'en
I443(iii'il re^ut d Home, desmaiiudu pnpe, celle d'or.

t Pour donner une idee favorable du talent de la Brocquiere, ne pourroit-on pa« citer le court et bel ^loge qu'il
repreiicntatiretrt'i)ublicainqu'avoit alon Florence f

fait ici du gouvemcment represtntatif et republicain qu'i

J'y

ta BrocquUre.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

ses qui

Herges ;

couipe

\\oge qu'il

J'y vis Eugine IV, V^nitien, qui venoit d'etre rflu pape*. Le prince de Salerne lui
avoit d6chr6 la guerre. Cehil-ci <(toit un Colonne, et neveu du pape Martinf.

Je iiorris de Rome le 25 Man, et passant par une ville du comte de Thalamon6, parent du
cardinal des Ursins. par Urbin ; par la seigneurie de<i Malatentes, par Reymino (Rimini),
par Ravenne, qui est aux Vdnitiens, je traversal trois fois le PA (trois branches de I'em-
bouchurc du Pd), et vina h Cloge (Chiosa), ville de.4 V^nitiens qui autrerois avoit un bon
port, lequel fut d^truit par eux quand lea Jcnnevois (G6noia) vinrent a^si^ger Venise;];.
Enfin, de Cloge je me rendis i Venise, qui en est dislante de vingt-cinq millcs.

Venise, grande et belle ville, ancienne et marchande, est biitie au milieu de la mer.
Ses divers quartiers, s^par^s par les eaux. Torment des iles ; de sorte qu'on nc peut aller de
I'une a I'autre qii'en bateau.

On y poss^de le corps de sainte H^l^ne, m^re de I'empereur Constantin, ainsi que plusieurs
autres que j'ai vus, et sp^cialement plusicurs des Innocen9,qui sont entierii. Ceux-ci setrouvent
dans une He qu'on appelle R^aut (Realto), tie renomm^e par ses fubriques de verrc.

Le gouvemement de Venise est sage. Nul ne peut £tre membre du conseil ou y poss^der
quelque emploi s'il n'est noble et nJ dans la ville. II y a un due qui sans cesse, pendant
le jour, est tenu d'avoir avec lui six des anciens du conseil les plus remarquables. Quand
il meurt, on lui donne pour successeur celui qui a montr^ le plus de sagesse et le plus de
z^le pour le bien commun.

Lc 8 Mai je m'embarquai, pouraccomplir mon voyage, sur une gal^e (galire) avec quel-
ques autres ptflerins. Elle cdtoya I'Esclavonie, et reldcha success! vement h Pole (Pola),
Azarre (Zara), S^b^nich (Sebenico) et Corfo (Corfou).

Pola me parut avoir ^t^ autrefois une grande et forte ville. Elle a un tr^s-beau port. On
voit a Zara le corps de ce saint Simeon k qui N. S. fut pr^scnt^ dans le temple. Elle est
entourde de trois c6t^s par la mer, et son port, dgalement beau, est ferm^ d'une chatne de
fer. Sebenico appartient aux V^nitiens, ainsi que I'lle et la ville de Corfou, qui, avec un
tres-beau port, a encore deux chateaux.

De Corfou nous vinmes h Modon, bonne et belle ville de Mnr^e, qu'ils poss&dent aussi ;
h Candle, ile tres-fertile, dont leshabitans sont excellens marins ct ot la seigneurie de Venise
nomme un gouverneur qui porte le titre de due, mais qui ne reste en place que trois ans;
i Rhodes, oil je n'eus que le temps de voir la ville ; a BafTe, ville ruinde de Tile de Cypre ;
enfin k Jaffe, en la sainte terre de permission.

C'est h Jaffa que commencent les pardons de ladite sainte terre. Jadis elle appartint
aux Chretiens, et alors elle ^toit forte ; maintenant elle est enti6rement ddtruite, et n'a plus
que quelques cahuttes en roseaux, oil les p^lerins se retirent pour se ddfendre de la chaleur
du soleil. La mer entre dans la ville et forme in mauvais havre peu profond, oil il est dan-
gereux de rester, parce qu'on peut dtre jet^ ", U c6tc par un coup de vent. Elle a deux
sources d'eau douce, dont I'une est couvertc «'es eaux de mer quand le vent de Ponent
souffle un peu fort. D^s qu'il ddbarque au port v^uelques p^lerins, aussitdt des truchemens
et autres officiers du soudan § viennent pour s'assurer de leur nombre, pour leur servir de
guides, et recevoir en son nom le tribut d'usage.

Rames (Raml^), oii nous nous rendimes de Jaffe, est une ville sans murailles, mais bonne
et marchande, sise dans un canton agr^able et fertile. Nous allSmes dans le voisinage visiter
ung village oil mnnseigneur saint Georg fu martirid; et dc retour k Rames, nous rcprimes

• On va voir que la Brocqaiire sortit de Rome le 25 Marc, et Eugene avoit ete £lu dans les pitmicrs jovir?
du mois.

t Martin V, prddecesseur d'Eugene, etoit de la uiaison des Colonnc, tt il y avoit inimltie declarec intre ccltc
famillc et celle des Ursins. Eugene, dis qu'il Kvit etabli sur le Saint-Siege, prit parti entre ces deux inaisons.
II se declara pour la Keconde contre la premiere, ct sur-tout contre ceux des Colonne, qui etoicnt neveux de Martin-
Ceux-ci prircnt leg armcs et lui flrent la guerre.

I Jcnnevois ou Gennevois. Les auteurs de ce temps appellent toiyours ainsi les Genoie. Je n'cinploierai dcsor-
mais que cette derni^re denomination, I'autre ^tant aujourd'hui exclusivement consacree aux habitans de Ueneve.

% C'est du soudan d'Egyirte qu'il s'agit ici. C'ctoit a lui qu'obeissoient alors la Palestine et la Syrie. Il in
)n louvent mention dans lie cours du voyage.

N iiotrc

(era I

iiffi

1 ■,!•',,

'..I-

' \f^

]■.]"'■

■ t.

: i:'J^

Mi-

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vi\i/agc(lc

notre route, ei arrivAmes en drux jonrs en la sainle c\\6 de Jh(<ru«alcin, oii noHtrc Seigneur
Jhinu Crist re^ut mort el passion pour nous.

Apr^s y avoir fail les pdlerinagcs qui Hont d'usagc pour Ich pi'lcrins, nousi rinic» ceux dc
la montagne ou J^sun JrAna quarantc joum ; du Jourdain, ou il Tut baptist' ; dc IVglisc de
Saint-Jean, qui est pr^s du (Iciive ; de relic de Sainte-Marie-Madclaine ct de Saiute-Marlhe,
oil notre Seigneur resouscila Ic L4idre (Lazare) ; dc nethl^cm, oil il prit naissanci-; du lieu
oCk naquit Saint-Jcan-Baptistc ; dc la maison de Zacharie ; cnfln dc Suintc-Croix, ou crAt
I'arbre de la vraie rroix : apr^s quoi nous revinmes a Jerusalem.

II y a dans Bethl<';em des cordeliers qui ont unc eglisc oCl ils font Ic service divin ; mais
ils sont dans unc grandc sujtlion des Sarrasins. La villc n'u pour habitans que dcs Sarrasiuii
et quclques Chretiens dc la reinturc*.

Au lieu de la naissnnco dc saint Jean Baptiste, on montrc unc rochoqui, pendant qu'IIcrodc
persi^cutuit les innoicns, s'ouvrit miraculcusemcnt en drux. Saintc Elisabeth y caclia son
ills ; auHsitdt ellc se fcrma, et rcnlant y resia, dit-on, deux jours enticrs.

J^TUsalem est dans un fort pays dc montagncs, ct c'est encore aujuurd'hui unc villc asse/.
considerable, quoiqu'ellc paroisse I'avoir ^l6 autrefois bicn davantage. Elle est sous la domi-
nation du soudan : ce qui doit faire honte et doulcur fk la chrdticnti^. II n'y a dc chrt^ticns
Francs que deux cordeliers qui habitent au Saint-S(<pulcre, encore y sont ils bicn vcx^s dcs
Sarrasins ; et jc puis en pnrlcr nvcc connoissancc dc cause, nioi qui pendant deux mois cii
ai d«5 Ic tdmoin.

Dans r^gliseduSi^pulcrcse trouvent nus^^i d'autres sortesdechrdtiens: Jacobites, Ermdnins
(Armdniens), Abdcins (Abyssins), dc la tcrre du pr»?tre Jchan, et chrdtiens dc la ceinlure;
mais de tons ce sont les Francs qui dprouveiit la sujdtion la plus dure.

Apr^s tous CCS pdlerinages accomplis, nous en entrcprtmes un autre dtralemcnt d'usagc,
celui de Sainte-Cutherine au mont Sinai ; et pour celui-ci nous nous rdunimes dix pdlerins:
messire Andrd de Thoulongcon, mcssirc Michel dc f Ligne, Guillaume de Ligne son fr6re,
Sanson dc Lalaing, Pierre dc Vaudrey, Godcfroi dc Thoisi, Humbert BulTart, Jean dc la Roc,
Simonnet (le nom de la Tamille est en blanc), et moi|.

Pour I'instruction de ceux qui, comme moi, voudroient I'cntrcprendre, je dirai que
I'usagc est de trailer avec le grand trucheman dc Jerusalem ; que celui-ci commence par
percevoir un droit pour le soudan et un autre pour lui, et qu'alors il envoic prdvcnir Ic
trucheman de Gaza, qui a son tour traite du passage avec les Arabesdu ddscrt. Ces Arabcii
jouissent du droit dc conduire les pdlerins ; ct comme ils nc sont pas toujours fort soumis
au soudan, on est obligd de sc servir de leurs chameaux, qu'ils louent a dix ducats par b6te.

Le Sarrasin qui remplissoit alors I'emploi de grand trucheman se nommoit Nanchardin.
Quand il eut requ la rdponse des Arabes, il nous asscmbla devant la chapelle qui est a
I'entrde et a la gauche de I'dglise du Saint-Sdpulcrc. La il prit par dcrit nos <^igcs, noms,
Burnoms et signalemens tr^s-ddtaillds, et en cnvoya le double au grand trucheman du Cnire.
Ce9 precautions ont lieu pour la sikretd des voyagcurs, afin que les Arabes ne piiissent en
retenir aucun ; mais je suis pcrsuadd qu'il y entre aussi de la mefiancc, ct qu'on craint
quelque cchange ou quclque substitution qui fasse perdre le Iribut.

Pr^ts a partir, nous achet&mes du vin pour la route, et fimes notre provision de vivrcs,
exceptd celle de biscuit, parce que nous devions en trouver a Gaza. Nanchardin nous
fournit, pour notie monture et pour porter nos provisions, des Anes et des mulcts. II nous
donna un trucheman particulier, iiommd Sadalva, et nous partimes.

* L'an 234 dc I'h^gire, 856 de I'erc chreticnnc, le calife Mntouakkck aiitreignit les Chretiens et les .luifs A. porter
unc \iTge ceinture de cuir, et aiijourd'hui encore ils la portent daiw I'Orient. Mais depiiis cettc e|HM|ue le» Chre-
tiens d'Aaic, et gpicialement ceux dc Syrie, qui sont pre«que tous Nestoriensou Jacobites, fiirent noininus Chretiens
de la ceinture.

t On sail que le nom de messire ou de monsei^eur ^toit un litre qii'on donnoit aux chevaliers.

% Ces noms, dont lev cinq premiers sent ceux de grands licigneurs dcs ^tats du due de Bourgo^e, attestent que
plusieurs pcrsonncs de la cour du due s'etoient reunies pour le voyairc d'outremer, et ce sont probablenicnt cellos
qui s'enibarqudrent d Vcnisc avec notre auteur, quoique jiisqu'd present il ne les ait pas nommees. Toiilongcon,
cette m£me annfie 1432, fut cre6 chevalier dela toiM)n d'or; mais il ne rcjut pas Tordre, parce qu'il eloit pclcrin
et qu'il mourut cii route.

Ardbe

la Brocquih'c,

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIRS

le vivres,

lin nous

U nous

Lestent que
pient ceilea
louluneeon,
loit pclvrin

I,c premier licti par Icqurl noii« nassflmc* c<»t tin village, jadi« bcaurottp plus consitljfrablo
ct mainlennnt habit*' par (le< chr<f tiens <lc la ceinturc, qui rnUivenf Acn vignet. Le second
e«t line ville appcl<<c Saint Abraham ; et sitnc^c dans la vallec d'llcbron, o^ Notre Scigaeur
fonrma prcmiirement Adam nostrc premier pirc. Li\ sonl inhiimds ensemble Aliraham,
I«aar rt Jacob, avec leurs fcmmes. Mais re tombeau est aujourd'hni cnfcrmd d:ms niic
mosqnt'c dc Sarrasins. Nous dcsirions fort d'y cnlrer, et nous avanijamcs m6me jnsqu"i\
la porte ; main nos giiides ct notrc truchcman nous dircnt qu'ils n'osrroicnt nous y inlrn-
diiire dc jour, a cause des risques qu'ils coiirroicnt, ct que tout chrdticii qui pt'ii^tre dans
une mosqudc est mis ii mort, ii moins qu'il no renoncc h sa fni.

Aprt^s la valU'c d'lli'bron nous en traversames unc autre fort grande, pr^sdc laquelle on
mnntrc la montagne oft saint Jean Baptistc fit sa pc^nitence. Dc 1:1 nous vinmcs en pays
dc'sert loger dans unc dc ces maisons que la charitc' a fait bAtir pour les voyagcurs, ct qu'on
appcllc kan, et dii kan nous nous rendimcs a Gaza.

Gaza, silut'e dans un beau pays, pr^s dc la mer ct n Tentrde dii desert, est unc forte
ville, quoique sans fermctiirc ancune. On prdtend quelle appartint jadis au fort Sanson. On
y montre encore son palais, ainsi que Ics colonnes dc celui qu'il abbattit ; mais jc n'oscrois
garantir que cc sont les m6mes.

Souvcnt les p<$lerins y sont trailt's durcmcnt, et nous en aurions fait IVpreuve sans Ic
seigneur (le gouvcrneur), hommc d'cnviron soixantc ans ct nd Chercais (Circassicn), qui
ret;ut nos plaintes et nous rendit justice. Trois fois nous frtmes obliges dc paroitrc dcvant
lui : Tunc, i raison dc nos dpdes que nous portions ; les deux nutres pour des qucrcllcs
<pie nous cherchoient les Moucres Sarr.isins du pays.

I'lusicurs de nous vouloientacheter des tine*, parcc que le chameau a nn brnnle ir^s-dur qui
fatigue extrdmeinent quand on n'v est pas accoutumd. Un h^c A Gaza sc vcndoit deux ducats ;
et les Moucres vouloienf, non seulement nous empccherd'en achctcr, mais nous forcer d'cn
loucrdes leurs, et de les louer cinq ducats chacun jusqu'A Sainte Catherine. Lc procis fut
portd dcvant Ic .seigneur. Pour moi, qui jusque-la n'avois point ccs.sd dc monter un
chameau, et qui me proposois dc nc point changer, jc Icur dcmandai de m'apprendre com-
ment je pourrois monter un chameau et un fine tout a la fois. Lc seigneur pronon<;a en
notrc I'aveur, et il ddcida que nous ne serious obliges de loner des ftnes aux Moucres
qu'autant que cela nous conviendroit.

Nous achetfkmes les nouvelles provisions qui nous t'toient ndccssaires pour continuer noire
voyage ; mais, la veille dc noire depart, quatre d'cntre nous tomb^rent malades, et ils
retourn^rcnt A Jerusalem. Moi, jc partis avec les cinq aufres, et nous vinmes h un village
situd a I'entri' du desert, et le seul qu'on troiivc depuis Gaza jusqu' a Sainte Catherine. L5
mcsiire Sanson de Ltlaing nous quitta et s'cn retourna aussi ; de sortc que jc reslai dans la
compagnie de messirc Andrd (de Toulongeon), Pierre dc Vaudrei, Godefroi (dc Toisi) ct
Jean de la Roe.

Nous voyagd.imes ainsi deux journdes dans Ic desert, sans y rien voir absolument qui
mdrite d'6tre racontc. Seulement un matin, avant le lever du soleil, j'apertjus courir un
animal a quatre pates, long de trois pieds environ, et qui n'avoit gu^re en hauteur plus
qu'une palme. A sa vue nos Arabes s'enfuirent, et la bfite alia se cacher dans une broussaillc
qui se trouvoit la. Messire Andrd et Pierre de Vaudrey mirent pied a terre et coururept a elle
r^pde en main. Elle se mit A crier comme un chat qui voit approcher un chien. Pierre dc
Vaudrey la frappa sur le dos de la pointe de son dpde ; mais il ne lui fit aticun nial, parce
qu'elle est couvcrte dc grosses dcailles. comme un esturgeon. Elle s'dlanc^a sur messire
Andrd, qui d'un coup de la sienne lui coupa le cou en partie, la tourna sur lc dos, les pied*
en Pair, et la tua. Elle avoit la t^te d'un fort li^vre, les pieds comme Irs mains d'un petit
enfant, et une asscz longue queue, semblable a cclle des gros verdereaiix (It?z3rds veil». }
V.is Arabes et notrc trlicheman nous dirent qu'elle dtoit fort dangcreusc*.

* IVapres la description vague que donne ici la Brocquidre, il paroit que Tanimal dont il park Cut le giand lOzani
ap|)cli' iiKiiiitor, parce qu'on-priteiid qu'il avertit de I'apprfJche du crocodile. C ""

AfdUv, elle n'otoit ptiiiit fondce.

Quaitt a la tenciir 'ju'lu avuiLiit les

A ic'.

' T

i » '

;ll.

1. I ■
: I '

'■

:<>!:■'

■iiiLii

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Votfage dt

A la fin de la seconde journ^c je fus saiii d'une fievre ardenie , hi forte qu'il me fiit im-
poMible d'aller plui loin. Meit quatrc compagnonR, bicii AitoMfi dc mon accident, me flrcnt
monter un Ane, ct me recommanddrent d un de no* Arabea, qu'ilit chargirent dc me rc-
conduire it Gaza, I'il ^toit ponibie.

Cet homme cut beaucoup aoin dc moi ; cc qui ne leiir cut point ordinaire vi!i>t^-vis dc«
Chretiens. II me tint fiddle compagnie, et mc mcna Ic soir paiwer la nuit danM un de leurN
camps, qui pouvoit avoir quatre-vingta ct quclquea tcnieH, rang^cii en forme de rum. Ccs
tentes Hont failcs avcc deux fourchcii qu'on plantc en terre par Icux gros bout :\ uiie certaine
distance Tunc de I'aulre. Sur lea deux fourches etit nmie en travers unc pcrche et lur la
perchc une gronse couverturc en laine nu en gros pnil.

Quand j'arrivai, quatre ou cinq Arabeu de ta connoiiiNance du mien vinrent au devant dc
noux. lis me decendirent de mon &ne, mc firent couchcr itur un mateiaii que jc portoist, et
13, me traitant \i leur guinc, ils mc ndlirent et me pinc^-rent tant avec lea * mains que, de
fatigue ct de la«titude, jc m'endormis ct rcpoHai six hcurcs.

Pendant tout cc temps aucun d'eux nc mc fit le moindrc ddplni^iir, ct \U nc me prirent
ricn. Ce leur ^toit cependant chose bicn aisdc ; et je dcvois d'aillcurs Ictt tenter, puisque
je portois sur moi deux cents ducats, ct que j'avois deux chamcaux charges dc provisions
et de vin.

Je me remis en route avant le jour pour regagner Gaza : mais quand j'y arrivai je ne
retrouvai plus ni mes quatrc compngnonN, ni m^me messire Sanson dc Lalaing. Tous cinq
dtoient retourn^s 4 Jerusalem, et ils avoient emmend avcc eux Ic Irucheman. Heureuse-
ment je trouvai un Juif Sicilirn de qui jc pus me fairc entendre. II fit venir pris de moi un
vieux Samaritain qui, parun remade qu'il mc donna, appaisa lagrande ardeur que j'cnduroiM.

Deux jours apr^s, me«sentant un pcu mieux, je partis dans la compagnie d'un Maure.
II me mena par le chemin de la marine (dc la cdtc. ) Nou<« passdmes pres d'Esclavonic (As-
calon), et vinmcs, h travers un pays toujours agrdable et fertile, d Ramie, d'nii jc rcpris le
chemin de Jerusalem.

La premiere journ^e, je rencnntrai sur ma mute I'amiral (comm.indant) dc cctte ville. II
rcvenoit d'un pdlcrinage avec une troupe de cinquantc cavaliers ct dc cent chameaux, months
prcsque tnus par des femmes et des enfins qui I'avoient accompagne au lieu dc sa d<^votion.
Jc passai la nuit avcc eux ; et. le lendemain, de retour a Jerusalem, j'allai logcr chez lea
cordelien), d I'^glisc du mont de Sion, oil je retrouvai mes cinq camaradex.

En arrivant je mc mis au lit pour me faire traiter de ma maladie, et je ne fus gu<$ri et en
<$lat de partir que le l9d'Adut. Mais pendant ma convalescence jc me rappelai que plusieurs
fois j'avois entendu diffifrentes personnes dire qu'il dtoit impossible a un chr^lien de revenir
par terre de Jerusalem en France. Je n'oserois pas mdme, aujourd'hui que j'ai fait le voyage,
assurer qu'il est sAr. Cependant il me sembia qu'il n'y a rien qu'un homme ne puisse
entreprendre quand il est assez bien constitute pour supporter la fatigue, et qu'il poss^dc
argent et sant^. Au reste, cc n'est point par jactance que je dis cela; mais, avec I'aide de
Dieu ct de sa glorieuse m^re, qui jamais ne manque d'assister ccux qui la prient de bon
coeur, je r^solus de tenter I'aventure.

Je me tus n^anmoins pour le moment sur mon projet, et ne m'en ouvris pas m£me a mes
compagnons. D'ailleurs je voulois, avant de I'entreprendre, faire encore quelques autres
p Icrinages, et spdcialement ceux de Nazareth et du mont Thabor. J'allai done prdvenir de
mon dessein Namchardin, grand trucheman du soudan d Jerusalem, et il me dunna pour
mon voyage un trucheman pariiculier. Je comptois commencer par celui du Thabor, et
d^ja tout ^toit arrange ; mais quand je fus au moment de prtir, le gardien chez qui je
logeois m'en d^tourna, et s'y opposa mime de toutes ses forces. Le trucheman, de son cdt^,
s'y refusa, et il m'annonqa que je ne trouverois dans les circonstances pcrsonne pour m'ac*
compagner, parce qu'il nous faudroit passer sur le territoire de villes qui ^toient en guerre,
et que tout r^cemment un V^nitien et son trucheman y avoient ^t^ assassinds.

* C'ett ce que nous appeloiu maiwr.
cerUines maladiet.

Cette mftbode ctt employie dam beaucoup de contrect de I'Ohent pour

la Brocquidrc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Je mc rrtitrciKnin done an Hccontl pt^lcrinage, ct mcMire ^anaon ds Lalain([^ vnulut m'y
accnmpagncr, aiimi que Ilninbcrt. Nous laiwii^mef) au tnont dc bion metHire Michel de Ligne,
qui ^toit maladc. Son Fr^re Guillaume renla prdH de lui avec un aervileur pour le ganler.
Nous autrcM nouM partimn le jour dc la mi-aoAt, ct notre intention dtoit de nous rendre i
JafTa par R&mk, ct de Jaffa ik Nazareth ; inai.H avant de me mettre en route, j'allai au tombeau
dc Notre Dame implorer la protection pour mon grand voyage. J'entendis aux cordclieni le
service divin, et je vis B lies genu qui sedisent chr^tien*. desquelit il y en ade bien cstrangCM,
srion noHtre mani^re.

Le gardien dc J^riiHalcm nouA fit Tamitie dr nous accompagncr juiqu'^ Jaffa, avec un
Tr^re cordelier du convent dc Ueaunc. lA its nous quittdrcnt, ct nouM primea unc barque de
Maures qui nous conduisit an |}ort d'Acrc.

Ce port c»t beau, proFond et bien fermd. La villc clle-m^me parolt avoir M grande et
forte ; mais il n'y subNiste plus maintenant que trois cent maisons situi^es h I'une de sch ex-
tremities, et asttez loin de la marine. Quant A notre pdlcrinagc, nous ne pAmcs I'accomplir.
Des marchandi) Vdnitiens que nous consulti^mes nous en ddtonrn^rcnt, et nous primes le
parti d'y renoncer. lis nous apprirent en m^mc temps qu'on altcndoit h Barut une galore
de Narbonnc. Mej camarades voulnrent en profiler pour rctonrner en France, et en con-
st'qucncc nous primes le chcmin de cettc ville.

Nous vimes en route Sur, ville fermde et qui a un bon port, puis Saiette (Sdyde), autre
port dc mer asscz *bon. Pour Barut. elle a 6xi plus considerable qu'cllene Test aujourd'hui;
mais son port est beau encore, profond et sflr pour les vaisscaux. On voit d I'une de sea
pointcs IcH restes d'un chdteau fort qu'ellc avoit autrefois, et qui est ddtruitf .

Moi qui n'dlois occupy que de mon grand voyage, j'employai mon sdjour dans cette ville
k prendre sur cet objet dcs renscignemens et je m'adressai pour cela i un marchand Gdnois
nommd Jacques Pervdzin. II me conseilla d'aller d Damas ; m'assura que j'y trouverois des
marchands Vdnitiens, Catalans, Florcntins, Gdnois et autres, qui pourroient me guider par
lenrs conseils, et me donna m^mc, pour un de scs compatriotes appeld Ottobon Escot, une
lettre de recommendation.

Resolu de consulter Escot avant de rien entrcprendre, je proposal a mes-sire Sanson d'aller
voir Damas, sans cependant lui rien dire dc mon projet. II accepta volontiers la proposition,
et nous partlmeo, conduits par nn moucre. J'ai deja dit qu'en Syrie les moucres sont des
gens dont le metier est de conduire les voyageurs ct de leur louer des fines et des mulcts.

Au sortir de Banit nous eikmes d traverser de hautes montagnes jusqu'd une longue plaine
appelt'e valine de Noe, parce que No*, dit-on, y bfitit son arche. La valine a tout au phis
line lieue de large ; mais elle est agr^able et fertile, arrosde par deux rividrcs ct peupldc
d'Arabes.

Jusqu'^ Damas on continue de voyager etitrc dc'^ montagnes au pied desquelles on trouve
beaucoup de villages et de vignobles. Mais je prdviens ceux qui, comme moi, auront a les
traverser, de songcr ^ se bien munir pour la nuit ; car de ma vie jc n'ai eu aussi froid. Cettc
excessive froidure a pour cause la chute de la rosde ; et il en est ainsi ,_. toute la Syrie.
Plus la chalcur a M grande pendant le jour, plus la rosde est ite et la nuit froide.

II y a denx journees de Barut d Damas.

Par toute la Syrie les Mahom^t'>n8 ont dtabli pour les chrdtiens une coutume particuli^re
qui ne leur permet point d'aller d cheval dans les villes. Aucun d'eux, s'il est connu pour
tcl ne I'oseroif, et en consequence notre moucre, avant d'entrer, nous fit mettre pied h terre,
mcssire Sanson et moi.

A peine etions nous entrds qu'une douzaine de Sarrasins s'approcha pour nous regarder.
Je portoift un grand chapeau de feuire, qui n'est point d'usage dans le pays. Un d'eux vint
Ic frapper par dessous d'un coup de b^ton, et il me le jeta par terre. J'avoue que mon

* Sur e»t ruicienne Tyr ; Saiette, ranciinne Sidon ; Barut, I'anciennc Bcrite.

t Lex notiitns que nou^ tloiiiie ici la Brocqui^re bont inturesMntes pour la geugraphie. Ellea prouvent que tous
rn ports dc Syrir, jadit. si cominrr9aas et di fiitntiix, aujourd'hui si degrade* et si completement inutiles, etuitut
de !><>n teinp« proprcs encure la plupart au commerce.

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

premier mouvement fut de lever le poing sur lui. Mais le moucre, se jetant eiitre nous
deux, me poussa en arri^re, et ce Tut pour moi un vrai bonheur ; car en un instant trente ou
quarar.te autres personnes accoururent, et, si j'avois frappd, je ne sais cc que nous serions
devcnus.

Jc dis ceci pour avertir que les habitans dc rette ville sont gens m^chans qui n'entendent
])as trop raison, et que par conx^quent ii Taut bien se garder d'avoir querelle avec eux. li
en est de m£me ailleurs. J'ai ^prouv^ par moi-m^me qu'il ne faut vis-a-vis d'eux ni fairc
Ic mauvais, ni se montrer peureux ; qu'il ne faut ni paroitre pauvrc, parte qu'ils vous me-
priseroicnt ; ni riche, parce qu'ils sont tr^s avides, ainsi que I'expdrimentent tons ceux qui
ddbarqucnt a JalTa.

Damas pent bicn cnntcnir, ni'a-t-oti dit, cent niille *ames. La ville est riche, raarchande,
et, aprds le Caire, !a plus considerable de toutescelles que possdde le souJan. Au levant,
au septenirion et au midi, elle a une grande plaine : au ponant, une montagne au pied de
laqueile sont batis les Faubourgs. Elle est travcrsde d'une riviere qui s'y divise en plusieurs
caiiaux, et fermde dans son enceinte seiilemcnt de belies inuraiiles ; car les faubourgs sont
plus grands que la ville. Nulle part je n'ai vu d'aussi grands jardins, de meitleurs fruits,
une plus grande abondance d'eau. Cetle abondance est telle qu'il y a peu de maisons,
m'a-t-on dit, qui n'aient leur fontaine.

Le seigneur (le gouverneur^ n'a, dans toute la Syrie et I'Egypte, que le seul soudan qui
lui soil supdrieur en puissance. Mais comme en diflercns temps quelques-uns d'eux se sont
revokes, les soudans ont pris des precautions pour les contenir. Du c6t^ de terre est un
grand et fort chateau qui a des fosse* la^'yes et profonds. lis y placent un capitaine a leur
choix, et jamais cc capitaine n'y laisse entrer le gouverneur.

En 1400 Damas fut ddtruite et r^duite en cendres par le Tambrulant (Tamerlan). On voit
encore des vestiges de ce desastre ; et vers la porte qu'on appelle de Saint-Paul, 11 y a un
qualrier tout entier qui n'est pas rebati.

Dans la ville est un kan destine a servir de depot de silretd au\ ndgocians pour leurs mar-
chandiacs. On I'appelle kan Berkot, et ce nom lui a dte donnd, parce qu'il fut originaire-
ment la maiion d'un homme nomme ainsi. Pour moi, je crois que Berkot ^toit Fran9ais ; et
cc qui me le fait prdsumer, c'est que sur une pierre de &a maison sont sculptdcs des fleurs
de lis qui paroissent aussi anciennes que les murs.

Quoi qu'il en soil de son origine, ce fut un tres-vaillant homme, et qui jouit encore dans
le pays d 'line haute renommde. Jamais, pendant tout le temps qu'il v^cut et qu'il eut de
Tautorite, les Persiens et Tartres ( Persans et Tatars ) ne purent gagner en Syrie la plus petite
portion de terrain. D^s qu'il apprenoit qu'une de leurs armies y portcit les armes, il mar-
choit centre elle jusqu'a une riviere au-dela d'Alep, laqueile sdpare la Syrie de la Perse, et
qu'a vue de pays je crois etre celle qu'on appelle Jdhon, ct qui vient tomber a Misses en
Turcomanie. On est persuade a Damas que, s'il eflt vdcu, Tamerlan n'auroit pas os^ porter
scs armes de ce c6t6-la. Au reste ce Tamerlan rendit honnenr a sa m^moire quand il prit
la ville. En ordonnant d'y tout meltre a feu, il ordonna de respecter la maison de Berkot ;
il la fit garder pour la dt^fendre de I'incendie, et elle subsiste encore.

Les Chretiens ne sont vus a Damas qu'avec hnine. Chaque soir on enferme les marchands
dans leurs maisons. II y a des gens prdpos^s pour ccia, et le lendemain ils viennent rouvrir
les portes quand bon leursemble.

J'y trouvai plusieurs marchands Genois, Venitiens, Catalans, Florentins et Fran^ais. Ces
dcrniers eloient venus y acheter diffi^rentes choses, specialement des Apices, et ils comptoient
aller a Barut s'embarquer sur la galore de Narbonne qu'on y attendoit. Parmi eux il y avoit
un nomm^ Jacques Cceur, qui depuis a jou^ un grand r61e en France et a 6^6 argentier du

* II y a dans le tcxte cent mille hommes. Si, par ce mot hoinmcs, I'auteur entend les habitans m&les, alow,
pour comprendre les femmes dans la pop\datioti, il faudroit compter plus de deux cent mille individus au lieu de
cent mille. S'il entend les persoimes en etat de porter Its armes, .son etat de population e«t trop fort et ne peut
etre adrai^.

roi.

la Brocqui^re.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

MS. Ces

iptoient

|1 y avoit

pntier du

roi. II nous dit que la galore ^toit alors a Alexandrie, et que probablement messire Andrd
vicndroit avec scs trois camarades la prendre a Barut.

Horn de Damas et pr^s des mun on me montra le lieu oil saint Paul, dans unc vision, fut
rcnvcrsd de cheval et aveugl6. II se fit aussitdt conduire a Damas pour y recevoir le bap-
temc, et I'endroit ou on le baptisa est aujourd'hui une mosqu^e.

Je vis aussi la pierre sur laquelle saint George monta a cheval quand il alia combattre le
dragon. Elle a deux pieds en carr^. On pretend qu'autrefois les Sarrusins avoient voulu
I'cniever, et que jamais, quelques moyens qu'ils aient employes, ils n'ont pu y rdussir.

Apres avoir vu Damas nous revinmes a Barut, messire Sanson et moi : nous y trouvSmes
messire Andr^, Pierre de Vaudrey, Geoffroi de Thoisi et Jean de la Roe, qui d^ja s'y dtoient
rendus, comme me I'avoit annonc^ Jacques Coeur. La galore y arriva d'Alexandrie trois ou
quatre jours apr^s ; mais, pendant ce court iniervalle, nous lAmes t^nioins d'une fdte que
les Maures c^ldbr^rent a leur ancicnne mani^re.

Elle commen(;a le soir, au coucheur du soleil. Des troupes nombreuses, ^parses <;i et la,
chantoient et poussoient de grands cris. Pendant ce temps on tiroit le canon du ch&teau, et
les gens de la ville langoient en I'air, bien hault ct bien loing, une mani^re de feu plus gros
que le plus gros fallot que je veisse oncques allum^. Ils me dirent qu'ils s'en servoient
quelquefois a la mer pour briller les voiles d'un vaisseau ennemi. II me semble que, comme
c'est chose bien ais^e et de une petite despense, ou pourroit I'employer ^galement, soit k
consumer un camp ou un village convert en paille, soit, dans un combat de cavalerie, a dpou-
vanter les chevaux.

Curieux d'en connoitre la composition, j'envoyai vers celui qui le faisoit le valet de mon
hote, et lui fis demander de me I'apprendre. II me r^pondit qu'il n'oseroit, et que ce seroit
pour lui une affaire trop dangereuse, si elle ^toit sue ; mais comme il n'est rien qu'un Maure
ne fasse pour dc I'argent, je donnai a celui-ci un ducat, et, pour Tamour du ducat, il m'ap-
prit tout ce qu'il savoit, et me donna m6me des monies en bois et autres ingr^diens que j'ai
apport^s en Fnince.

La veille de I'embarquement je pris a part messire Andr^ de Toulongcon, et apr^s lui avoir
fait promettre qu'il ne s'opposeroit en rien a ce que j'allois lui r^v^ler, je lui lis part du projet
que j'avois forme de retourner par terre. Cons^quemment a sa parole donnee, il ne tenta
point de m'en emp^cher ; mais il me repr^senta tout ce que j'allois courir de dangers, et
cclui sur-tout de me voir contraint a renier la foi de J^sus-Christ. Au reste j'avoue que
ses representations etoient fondles, et que de tons les perils dont il me menaqoit il n'en
est point, exceptd celui de renier, que je n'aie ^prouv^s. II engagea dgalement ses cama«
rades i\ me parler ; mais ils eurent beau faire, je les laissai partir et demeurai.

Apr^s leur depart je visitai une mosqude qui jadis avoit ete une tr^s-belle dglise, batie,
disoit-on, par sainte Barbe. On ajoute que quand les Sarrasins s'en furent empards, et que
leurs crieurs voulurent y monter pour annoncer la priere, selon leur usage, ils furent si battus
que depuis ce jour aucun d'eux n'a osd y retourner.

II y a aussi un autre batiment miraculcux qu'on a changed en eglise. C'dtoit auparavant
une maison de Juifs. Un jour que ces pens-la avoient trouvd une image de Notre Seigneur,
ils se mirent j» la lapider, comme leurs peres jadis I'avoient lapidd lui-m^me; mais I'image
ayant versd du sang, ils furent tellement effrayes du miracle, qu'ils se sauvdrent, alldreni
s'accuser a I'dv^que, et donn^rent mfime leur maison en reparation du crime. On en a fait
une dglise, qui aujourd'hui est desservie par des cordeliers.

Je logeai chez un marchand Vdnitien nonimd Paul Barbcrico ; et comme je n'avois nulle-
ment renoncd h mes deux pelerinages de Nazareth et du Thabor, malgre les obstacles que
j'y avois rencontres et tout ce qu'on m'avoit dit pour m'en ddtourner, je le consultai sur ce
double voyage. II me procura un moiicre qui se chargea dc me conduire, et qui s'engagea
m^me pardevant lui a me mener sain ct sauf jusqu'a Damas, et a lui en rapporter un certifi-
f at signd par moi. Cet homme me lit habiller en S.irrasin ; car les Francs, pour leur sAretd,
quand ils voy agent, ont obtenu du soudun de prendre en route cet habillement.

Je partis done de Barut avec mon moucre le lendemain du jour ou la galore avoit mis a la

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VOYAGES. NAUIGATI0N5,

Voyage de

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voile, et nous prtmes le chemin de Saiette, entre la mer et les montagnes. Souvent ces
monta^ne!! s'avancent si pr^s du rivage qu'on est oblig^ de marcher sur la gr^ve, et quelque-
fois elles en sont ^loign^es de troia quarts de lieue.

Apr^a une heure de marche je trouvai iin petit bois de haiits sapins que les gens du pays
conservent bien prdcieusement. II est mdme s^virement d^fendu d'en abattre aucun ; mais
j 'ignore la raison de ce r^glement.

Plus loin ^toit une riviere assez proFonde. Mon moucre me dit que c'^toit celle qui vient
de la valine de Noe, mais qu'elle n'est pas bonne a boire. Elle a un pont de pierre, pres
duquel se trouve un kan oilk nous passdmes la nuit.

Le lendemain je vins a S^yde, ville situ^e sur la marine (sur la mer), et ferm^e du c6te
de terre par des fossds peu profonds.

Sur, que les Maurcs nomment Four, est situ^e de m^me. II est abreuv^ par une fontaine
qu'oii trouve a un quart de lieue vers le midi, et dont I'eau, tr^s-bonne, vient, par-desaus
des arches, ae rendre dans la ville.

Je ne fis que la traverser, et elle me panit assez belle ; cependant elle n'est pas forte, non
plus que S^yde, toutes deux ayant 6t6 d^truites autrefois, ainsi qu'il paroit par leurs mu-
railles, qui ne valent pas, a beaucoup prH celles de nos villes.

La montagne, vers Sur, s'arrondit en croissant, et s'avance par ses deux pointes jusqu'a
la mer. L'espace vide entre I'une et I'autre n'a point de villages ; mais il y en a beaucoup
le long de la montagne.

Une lieue au-dela on trouve une gorge qui vous oblige de passer sur une falaise au haut de
laquelle est une tour. Les cavaliers qui vont de Sur a Acre u'ont point d'autre route que ce
passage, et la tt)ur a 4t6 construite pour le garder.

Depuis ce d^fiM jusqu'a Acre les montagnes sont peu ^levdes, et Ton y voit beaucoup
d'habitations qui, pour la plupart, sont remplies d'Arabes. Pr^s de la ville je rencontrai un
grand seigneur du pays nomme Fancardin. II campoit en plein champ, et portoit avec lui
ses tentes.

Acre, entour^e de trois cdt^s par des montagnes, quoique avec une plaine d'environ quatre
lieues, Test de I'autre par la mer. J'y fis connoissance d'un marchand de Venise nomm^
Aubert Franc, qui m'accueillit bien et qui me procura sur mes deux p^lerinages des rensei-
gnemens utiles dont je profitai.

A I'aide de ses avis je me mis en route pour Nazareth, et, apr^s avoir travera^ une grande
plaine, je vins a la fontaine dont Notre Seigneur changea I'eau en vin aux noces d'Arch^-
t^clin •; elle est pres d'un village oft Ton dit que naquit saint Pierre.

Nazareth n'est qu'un autre gros village bdti entre deux montagnes ; mais le lieu oii I'ange
Gabriel vint annoncer k la vierge Marie qu'elle seroit mire fait pitid i voir. L'^glise qu'on
y avoit bdtie est entiirement d^truite, et il n'en subsiste plus qu'une petite chose (case), 1^
oik Nostre-Dame estoit quand I'angile lui apparu.

De Nazareth j'allai au Thabor, oil fu faite la transfiguration de Notre Seigneur, et plusieurs
airtres miracles. Mais comme les p&turages y attirent beaucoup d'Arabes qui viennent y
tnener leurs b^tes, je fus oblig^ de prendre pour escorte quatre autres hommes, dont deux
dtoient Arabes eux-m^mes.

La mont^e est tris-rude, parce qu'il n'y a point de chemin ; je la fis a dos de mulct, et j'y
employai deux heures. La cime se termine par un plateau presque rond, qui peut avoir en
longeur deux portdes d'arc et une de large. Jadis il fut enceint d'une muraille dont on voit
encore des restes avec des fosses, et dans Ic pourtour, en dedans du mur, ^toient plusieurs
^glises, et sp^cialement une oi\ Ton gagnc encore, quoiqu'elle soit ruin^e, plain pardon de
paine et de coulpe.

Au levant du Thabor, et au pied de la montagne, on aperqoit Tabarie (Tib^riade), au-

* ArchilricIiniiR est un mot Latin forme du Grec, par lequel I'Evangile designe le maitre d'hotel ou majorddme
qui presidoit aux nopes de Cana. Nos igmres auteurs des bas sidcles le prirent pour un nom d'homrae, et cet homme
ilg en firent im saint, qu'ils appelirent saint Architriclin. Dans la relation de la Brocqui^re, Arctutridin est le
marie de Cana.

dcia

ta Brocqiiiire.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERmS.

dela dc laqiielle coule le Ji unlain ; an criichant c^it uiic sraiule plaine fort aj;r^able par aes
jardins lemplis de p>»Imiers portaiit d;itfe-i, et p.ir de petits bosquets d'arbres plantds comme
dcs vi<»ne-f, et ^ur lesque's cr< it le cotcn. An lever dii solcil ceux-r.i prc'seiitcnt mi aspect
sin.ciilier. En voyant leiirs* feiii les vertes c<)U\ cites de toton, on diroit qii'il a neig^ sur cux*.

Cc flit dans reitc plaine que je de-icendi.s pour iiic rcpo-^er et diner; car j'avois apportd
des pouiets cius et du viii. Mes guides me eonduisirent dans une raaison dont le inaitre,
qu:ind ii vit inon vin, me prit pmir un homme He distinction et m'accueiilit bien. 11 m'ap-
porta nne ^cuelie de lait, une de miel, et une branchc cliarg^e de datfes) nouvelles. C'etoit
la premiere fois de ma vie que j'en voyois. Je vis encore comment on travailloit le coton,
et pour ce travail le.4 ouvriers ^toient des hommes et des femmes, Mais la aussi mes guides
voulurent me ranqonner, et, pour me reconduire a Nazareth oCi je les avois pris, ils exig^-
rent de moi un march^ nouveau.

Je n'avois point d'^pee, car j'avoue que je I'aurois tirde, et c'eAt 6t6 folie S moi, comme
e'en seroit une d ceux qui m'imiieroient. Le rdsultat de la querelle fut que, pour me A&-
barrasser d'eux, il me fallut leur donner douze drachmes de leur monnoie, lesquelles valent
un demi-du(at. D^s qu'ils les eurent reques ils me quitt^rent tous quatre; de sorte que je
fus obligd (ie m'en revenir seul avec mon moucre.

Nous avions Tait pen de chcmin, quand nous vimes venir a nous deux Arabes arm6s k leur
tnaniire et months sur de superbes chevaux. Le moucre, en les voyant, eut grande peur.
Heureusement ils pass^rent sans nous rien dire ; mais il m'avoua que, s'ils m'eussent soup-
fonn£ d'etre chr^tien, nous ^tions perdus, et qu'ils nous eussent tuds tous deux sans remis-
sion, ou pour le moins d^pouiil^s en entier.

Chacun d'eux portoit une longue et mince perche ferrde par les deux bouts, dont I'un
^toit tranchant, Tautre arrondi, mais garni de plusieurs taillans, et long d'un empan. Leur
^cu ( bouclier) dtoit rond, selon leur usage, convexe dans la partie du milieu, et garni au
centre d'une grosse pointe de fer; mais depuis cette pointe jusqu'au bas il dtoit orn^ de
longues franges de soie. lis avoient pour vdtement des robes dont les manches, larges de
pills d'un pied et demi, d^passoient leurs bras, et pour toque un chapeau rond termini en
pointe, de laine cramoisie, et velu ; mais ce chapeau, au lieu d'avoir sa toile tortillde tout
autour, comme Pont les autres Maures, I'avoit pendante fort bas des deux cti€s, dans toute
sa largeur.

Nous allSmes de 14 loger ^ Samarle, parce que je voulois visiter la mer de Tabarie ( lac de
Tibdriade), 06 Ton dit que saint Pierre p^choit ordinairement, et y a aucuns (quelques)
pardons: c'dtnient lesquatre-temps de Septembre. Le moucre me laissa seul toute la journtie.
Samarie est situde sur la pointe d'une montagne. Nous n'y entrlmes qu'i la chute du jour,
et nous en sortimea k minuit pour nous rendre au lac. Le moucre avoit pr^f(£r^ cette heure,
afin d'esquiver le tribut que paient ceux qui s'y rendent; mais la nuit m'emp^cha de voir le
pays d'alentour.

J'allai ensuite au puits qu'on nomme puits de Jacob, parce que Jacob y fut jetd par ses
fr^res. II y a Ik une belle mosqude> dans laquelle j'entrai avec mon moucre, parce que je
feignis d'etre Sarrasin.

Plus loin est un pont de pierre sur lequel on passe le Jourdain, et qu'on appelle le pent
de Jacob, k cause d'une maison qui s'y trouve, et qui fut, dit on, celle de ce patriarche. Le
fleuve sort d'un grand lac situd au pied d'une montagne vers le northuuest (noixl-ouest),et
«ur la montagne est un beau chateau possddd par Namcardin.

Du lac je pris le chemin de Damas. Le pays est assez agr^able, et quoiqu'on y marche
toujours entre deux rangs de montagnes, il a constamment une ou deux lieues de large. Ce-
pendant on y trouve un endroit fort Strange, l^ le chemin est r^duit uniquement k ce qu'il
taut pour le passage des chevaux ; tout le reste, k droite et k gauche, dans une largeur et

* II est probable qu'ici le voyagcnr s'est tromp*. Le cotonnier a parses reulDes qudque ressembUnce tvec ceiles
de la vigne. tiles sont lobies de in^me ; mais le coton nait dans des capsules, et non sur des feuilles. On connoit
en botunuiue plusieurs arbres dont leg feuilles «oiil couvertes d leur surface extirieure d'un duvet blancj mais on
n en connoit aucune qui produise dw coton,

O une

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

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line longueur d'une lieuc environ, nc pr^sente qu'un amas immense de cailloux pareils i\
ceux de riviere, ct dont la plnpart sont gros comme dcs queues de vin.

Au dt'bouche de ce lieu est un tres-beau kan, eiitourt^ de fontaines et de ruisseaux. A
quatrc nu cinq millcs de Damas ii y en a un autre, Ic plus mngniflque que j'aic vu de ma
vie. Cclui-ci est pros d'une petite riviire forniec par des sources ; et en general plus on
approche de la ville et plus le pays est beau.

Li\ je trouvai un Maure tout noir qui vcnoit du Caire il course de chameaii, et qui dtoit
venu en huit jours, quoiqu'il y ertt, me dit-on, seize journecs de marche. Son chamcau
lui avoit t-thappc : a I'aide de mon moucre je parvins ;i le hii fairc rcprcndre. Ccs coureurs
ontune selic fort singuli^rc, sur laquclic ils sont assis Ics jambcs r roist'es ; mais la rapiditu
des chameaux qui Ics conduisent est si grande que, pour r^sistcr ii I'imprcssion de I'air, ils
se font scrrer d'lin bandage la tete ct Ic corps.

Celiii-ci etoit portcur d'un ordrc du soudan. Une galore et deux galiotes du prince de
Tarente avoient pris dcvant Tripoli de Syric une gripcric *de Maures: le soudan, par re-
pr^saillcs, envoyoit saisir a Damas et dans toufe la Syrie tons les Catalans et les Genois qui
s'y trouvoient. Cette nouvelle, dont je fus instruit par mon moucre, ne m'eflfraya pas. J'en-
trai hardiment dans la ville avec Ics Sarrasins, parce que, liabille comme eux, je crus n'avoir
rien k craindre. Mon voyage avoit diird sept jours.

Le lendemain de mon arriv^e je vis la caravane qui revenoit de la Mecquc. On la disoit
compos^e de trois mille chameaux; et en ejrct elle employa pour entrer dans la ville pres de
deux jours et deux units. Cet dvenement fut, selon I'usage, une grande f6te. Le seigneur de
Damas, ainsi que les plus notables, allerent au devant de la caravane, par respect pour TAlko-
ran qu'elle avoit. Ce livre est la loi qu'a laissde aux siens Mahomet. II <$toit envelopp^ d'une
^toflc de soie peinte et chargce de lettrcs morisqucs, ct un chameau le portoit, couvert lui-
ineme ^galcmcnt de soie.

En avant du chameau marchoient quatre menestrels (musiciens) et une grande quantity
de tambours et de nacquaircs (tinibales) qui faisoicnt ung hault bruit. Devant etautour de
lui etoient une trentaine d'hommes dont les uns portoient des arbal^tes. lesautresdes dp^es
nues, dautres de petits canons (arquebuses) qu'ils tiroient de temps en tempsf . Par derri^r*
suivoient huit vieillards, qui montoicnt chacun un chamcau de course prtis duquel on menoit
en les.se leur cheval, magnifiquemcnt couvert et otx\6 de riches sellcs, scion la mode du pays.
Apres eux enlin venoit une dame Turque, parente du grand-seigneur: elle ^toit dans une
litiere que portoient deux chameaux richement par^s et converts. II y avoit plusicurs de
ces animaux converts de drap d'or.

La caravane etoit composee deMaures, de Turcs, Barbes (Barbaresques), Tartres (Tatars),
Persans et autres sectateurs du faux prophiite Mahomet. Ces gens-Ia pretcndent que, quand
ils ont fait une fois le voyage de la Mecquc, ils ne peuvent plus 6trc damnes. C'est ce que
ni'assura un esclave renegat, Vulgaire (Bulgare) de naissance, lequel appartenoit <\ la dame
dont je viens de parlcr. U s'appeloit llayauldoula, ce qui en Turc signilie serviteur de Dieu,
et prrftendoit avoir et^ trois fois i\ la Mecque. Je me liai avec lui, parce qu'il parloit un peu
Italien, et souvent memo il me tcnoit compngnie la unit ainsi que le jour.

Plu^ieurs fois, dans hos entreticns, je I'interrogeai sur Mahomet, et lui dcmandai ou rc-
posoit son corps. II me repondit que c'ctoit a la Mecque; que la fiertre (chasse) qui le
renfermoit se trouvoit dans uiie chapelle rondc, ouvcrtc par le haut ; que c'^toit par celtc
ouverUire que les pelcrins alloient voir la iiertre, et que parnii eux ii y en avoit qui, apres
I'avoirvHe, se fais.oienf crever les yeux, parce qu "a pres cela le monde ne pouvoit rien oH'rir,
disoient-ils, qui meritat Icurs regards. Efrcctivemcut il y en avoit deux dans la troupe, Tun
d'environ seize ans, I'autre de vingt-dcux a vingt-trois, qui s'dtoient fait avcuglcr .niiisi.

llayauldoula me dit encore que ce n'cst point i la Mecque qu'on gagnc Ics pardons, mais

* GrLperie, Ri'ip, soitc de but imt-ut pour ;illci- en course, vai'^feau coisaiiv.

t L'auti'ur ne dit pas si cos aixjurlniscj ttoicnt a. fourclu'tti', Aniedu-, a rouol; mais il est rrmari|uablc que n«s
amies d feu portalivcs, dout rinvciition etoit encore asscj; rcycute i.n Europe, I'usseut dis-lors tii usage diez le»
Muhonietaiis d'Asic. ,1.

• ' ' a Me'linc

1/age de
ireils li

ux. A
de ma
plus on

ui (Stoit
haracau
;oureiirs
rapiditt-
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incc de
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s. J'en-
is ii'avoir

la disoit
e prtis de
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jr I'Alko-
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; quantit«5
autour de
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ir derri^r«
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isicurs de

(Tatars),

uc, quand

St ce que

la daone

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jit un peu

ai ou rc-
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par cede
ui, aprcs
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Hipe, Tun
:iiiisi.
ons, ir-iis

ible (\\\c iiflS
ii'^c clu'Z k»

a Mclinc

la Brocquih'e.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUKRIES.

h. Mdline (Mddine), villc ou saint Abraham list faire une maison qui y est cncoircs*. La
maison est en forme de cloitre, ct les p(<!erins en font Ic tour.

Quant a la ville, elle est sur le bord de la mer. Los hommes de la terre du pretrc Jean
(Ics Indiens) y apportent sur de gros vaisseaux Ics <^pices et autrcs marchandises que pro-
duit leur pays. C'est hi que les Mahometans vont les acheter. lis les chargent sur dcs
chameaux ou sur d'autrcs b6fe8 de somme, et les portent au Cairo, ;i Danias et autrcs lieux,
ainsi qu'on sait. De la Mecque ;\ Damas il y a quarantc jourix^es de marchc ;\ travers Ic de-
sert ; les chalcurs y sont excessives, et la caravane avoit eu plusieurs pcrsonncs <<toiiirt^cs.

Selon rcsclave ren^gat, celle de M^dine doit annuellement 6tre composde de sept cent
millc personnes ; et quand ce nombre n'est pas complet, Dieu, pour le remplir, y envoie
des anges. Au grand jour du jugcment Mahomet fera entrcr en paradis autant de personnes
qu'il voudra, et la ils auront i\ discretion du miel, du lait et des femmes.

Comnie sans cesse j'cntcndois parler de Mahomet, jc voulus savoir sur lui quelque chose,
et m'adressai pour cela i\ un pretre qui dans Danias ^toit attachd au consul des Venitiens,
qui disoit souvent la mcsse h I'hdtel, confessoit les marchands de cette nation, et, en cas de
danger, rt'gloit leurs allaires. Je me confessai ;\ lui, je r^glai les miennes, C: lui demandai
s'il connoissoit I'bistoire de Mahomet. II me dit que oui, et qu'il savoit tout son Alkoran.
Alors je le suppliai le mieux qu'il me fut possible de rddiger par dcrit ce qu'il en connoissoit,
afin que je pusse le prdsenter li monseigneur le ducf. H le fit avec plaisir, et j'ai apport^
avcc moi son travail.

Men projet ^toit de me rendre h Bourse. On m'aboucha en consequence avec un Maure
qui s'engagea de m'y conduire en suivant la caravane. II me demandoit trente ducats et sa
ddpense ; mais on m'avertit de me ddfier des Maures comme gens de mauvaise foi, sujets k
fausser leur promesse, et je m'abstins de conclure. Jc dis ceci pour I'instruction des per-
sonnes qui auroient affaire ^ eux; car jc les crois tels qu'on me les a pcints. Hayauldoula
me procura de son c6te la connoissance de certains marchands du pays de Karman (de Cara-
manic). Enfin je pris un autre moyen.

Le grand-Turc a pour les peierins qui vont ;\ la Mecque un usage qui lui est particulier, au
moins j'ignore si les autres puissances Mahorndtanes I'observent aussi : c'est que, quand ceux
de ses ^tats partent, il leur donne k son choix un chef auquel ils sont tenus d'ob^ir ainsi
qu'a lui. Celui de la caravane s'appeloit Hoyarbarach; il etoit de Bourse, et c'etoit un des
principaux habitans.

Jc me fis presenter It lui par mon hdte et par une autre personne, comme un homme qui
Touloit aller voir dans cette ville un frfere qu'il y avoit, et ils le pri^rent de me recevoir
dans sa troupe et de m'y accorder sftrete. II demanda si je savois I'Arabe, le Turc, I'Hebreu,
Ja langue vulgairc, le Grec; et comme je repondis que non: Eh bien, que veut-il done
devenir? reprit-il.

Cependant, sur la representation qu'on lui fit que je n'osois, a cause de la guerre, aller
par mer, et que s'il daignoit m'admettre je ferois comme je pourrois, il y consentit, et apres
s'etre mis les deux mains sur sa t^te et avoir touche sa barbe, il dit en Turc que je pouvois
me joindre a ses esclaves; mais il exigea que je fusse v^tu comme eux.

D'apr^s cola j'allai aussitdt, avec un de mes deux conducteurs, au marche qu'on appelle
bathsar (bazar). J'y achetai deux longues robes blanches qui me descendoient jusqu'au
talon, une toque accomplie (turban complet), une ceinture de toile, une braie (calecjon)
de futaine pour y mettre le bas de ma robe, deux petits sacs ou besaces. Tun pour mon usage,
I'autre pour suspendre ^ la t^te de mon cheval quand je lui ferois manger son orge et sa
paille; une cuiller et une sali6re de cuir, un tapis pour coucher; enfin un paletot (sorte de
pour-point) de panne blanche que je fis couvrir de toilc, et qui meservit beaucoupla nuit.

* Notre voyageur a confondu : c'est d Medine, et non d la Mecque, (ju'cst le totnbeau dc Mahomet; c'est d la
Mtcque, et non d Medine, qu'est la pr^tendue maiiion d'Abraliam, que les pelerins gagnent les pardons et que se
fait le grand commerce.

t Le due de Bourgogne, auquel etoit attache la Brocqui^re. Par tout ce que dit ici le voyageur on voit conibien
ptu etoit connu en Europe le fondateur de ruiamiime et I'auteur du Koran,

O 3 J'achetai

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100

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vot/age tie

J'achetai aussi un tarquais blanc ct garni (sorte de carquois), auquel pendoient une dpde et
des coutcaux: mais pour le tarquain et I'^p^e je ne pus en Faire racquisition que secr^tcment ;
car, si ceux qui ont radministration de la justice Tavoient su, le vendcur et moi nous eusitions
couru de grands risques.

Let) dp^es de Damas sont les plus belies ct les meilleures de toute la Syrie ; mais c'est une
chose curieuse de voir comment ils les brunissent. Cettc opdration se fait avant la trempe.
lis ont pour cela une petite pi^cc de bois dans laquelle est entti un Fer ; ils la passent sur la
lame et enl^vent ainsi ses in^galit^s de m^me qu'avec uit rabot on rnl^ve celles du bois;
cnsuite ils la trempent, puis lapolissent. Ce poliest tel que quand quelqu'un veut arranger
son turban, il se sert de son ^p^e comme d'un miroir. Quant u la trempe, elle est si parfaite
que nulle part encore je n'ai vu d'^p^e trancher aussi bien.

On fait aussi a Damas et dans le pays des miroirs d'acier qui grossissent les objets comme
un miroir ardent. J'cn ai vu qui, quand on les exposoit au soleil, pergoient, a quinze on
seize pieds de distance, une planchc et y mettoient le feu.

J'achetai un petit cheval, qui sc trouva tr^s-bon. Avant de partir je le fls fcrrcr a Damas;
et de 1^ jusqu'a Bourse, quoiqu'il y ait pr^s de cinquante journ^es, jc n'eus ricn i\ faire i\
ses pieds, except^ ii i'un de ceux de devant, oil il prit une cnclouure qui trois semaines
apr^s le fit boiter. Voici comme ils ferrent leurs chevaux.

Les fers sont legers, tres-minces, allonges sur les talons, et plus amincis encore la que
vers la pince. lis n'ont point de retour* et ne portent que quatre trous, deux de chaque
c6t^. Les clous sont carr^s, avec une grosse et lourde t^te. Faut-il appliquer le fer: s'il
est besoin qu'on le retravaille pour I'ajuster, on le bat \ froid sans le mettre au feu, et on le
peut k cause de son peu d'epaisseur. Pour parer le pied du cheval on se sert d'une serpette
pareille a celle qui est d'usage en-de-g^ de la mer pour tailler la vigne.

Les chevaux de ce pays n'ont que le pas et le galop. Quand on en achate, on choisit
ceux qui ont le plus grand pas : comme en Europe on prend de prdft^rence ceux qui trottent
le mieux. lis ont les narines tr^s-fendues, courent tr^s-bien, sont excellens, et d'ailleurs
coAtent tres-peu, puisqu'ils ne mangcnt que la nuit, et qu'on ne leur donne qu'un peu
d'orge avec de la paille picquade (hach^e). Jamais ile ne boivent que I'apr^s-midi, et
toujours, m6me ii I'ecurie, on leur laisse la bride en bouche, comme aux mules, li ils sont
attaches par les pieds de dcrri^re et confondus tons ensemble, chevaux et jumens. Tous
sont hongres, except^ quelques-uns qu'on garde comme etalons. Si vous avez aft'aire a un
homme riche, et que vous alliez le trouver chez lui, il vous menera, pour vous parler, dans
son dcurie : aussi sont-elles tenucs tr^s-fraiches et tr^s-nettes.

Nous autres, nous aimonsun cheval entier, de bonne race ; les Maures n'estiment que les
jumens. Chez eux, un grand n'a point honte de monter une jument que son poulain suit
par derrieref. J'en ai vu d'une grande beaut^, et qui se vendoient jusqu'i deux et trois
cents ducats. Au reste, leur coutume est de tenir leurs chevaux sur le maigre (de ne point
les laisser engraisser).

Chez eux, les gens de bien (gens riches, qui ont du bien) portent tous, quand ils sont
a cheval, un tabolcan (petit tambour), dont ils se servcnt dans les batailles et les escar-
mouchcs pour se rassembler et se rallier ; ils Tattachent c\ I'arqon de leur selle, et Ic frappent
avec une baguette de cuir plat. J'en achetai un au-si, avec des ^perons et des bottes vcr-
meilles, qui montoient jusqu'aux gcnoux, selon la coutume du pays.

Pour tdmoigner ma reconnoissance ^ Hoyarbarach j'allai lui offrir un pot de gingembre
vert. 11 le rcfusa, et cc ne fut qu'i\ force d'instances et de pri^res que je vins il bout de le
lui faire acc< pter. Je n'eus de liii d'autre parole et d'autre assurance que celle dont j'ai parl^ ci-
dessus. Cependant je ne trouvai en lui que francliise et loyaut^, et plus peut-etre que j'en
aurois eprouve de beaucoup de chr^tiens.

* Je crojs que par retour la Brocquiere a entendu ce crochet noinme crampon qui est aux notres, et qu'il a
Youlu dire que ceux dc Damas etoitnt p'ats.

t Ce trait fait Hllasion aux prejugcs alora en usag^c chez les chevaliers d'Euiope. Comme ils avoiont besoin,
pour les founiois ft les coiiil" its, <lc chevaux trds-forts, ils ne se servoient que de chevaux entiers, ct st stroicnt cru»
dC't^hunorC'ii de monter une Jumcnl.

Dieii,

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dpdc el
[cmcnt ;
eussions

;'e9t line
trempe.
nt sur la
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arranger
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ient bcsoin,
•(.ruient cru»

Dieii,

In Brocqrii&re.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

101

Dieu, qui me favorlsoit en tout dans raccomplissement de mon voyage, ine prncura la
connoi'wanccd'un Juif de CafTIi qui parloit Tariarp ct Italien ; je le priai de m'aidcr a incftn?
en ecrit dans ccs deux langucs toutes les choses dont jc pouvois avoir le j)his de besoin en
route pour moi ct pour mon clicval. Des notre premiere journdc, arrivd a Bailee, je tirai
mon papier pour savoir comment on appeloit I'orj^e ct la pnille hach<5e que jc vouloi.^ faire
donner ;\ mon cheval. Dix ou douze Turcs qui dtoicnt aufour de moi se mirent ii rirc en
me voyant. lis s'approch^rent pour regarder mon papier, ct parurent aussi dtonnes de mon
^criturc que nous le sommes de la leur ; ndanmoins ils me prircnt en amitid, ct lirent tons
Icurs efforts pour m'apprendre :i parler. lis ne sc laissoient point de me rdpdter plusieurs
fois la ni6me chose, et la redisoient si souvcnt et de tant de mani^res, qu'il falloit bicn que
jc la retinsse; aussi, quand nous nous sdparAmcs, savois-je ddjadcmandcr pour moi et pour
mon clieval tout ce qui mVtoit ndcessaire.

Pendant le sdjour que (it hi Damas la caravnne, j allai visiter un lieu de pdlerinagc qui
est a seize milles environ vers le nord, et qu'on nomme Notre-Dame de Serdcnay. II faut,

ijour y arrlver, traverser une montagne qui pent bien avoir un quart de lieue, et jusqu'a
aquelle s'dtendent les jardins de Damas; on descend ensuite dans une vallde charmante,
remplie de vignes et de jardins, et qui a une belle foniaine dont I'eau est bonne. La est
une roche sur laquelle on a construit un petit chateau avec une dglisc de callogero (de
caloycrs), oft se trouve une image de la Vierge, peinte sur bois: sa t6te, dit-on, est portde
par miracle ; quant a la manifere, je llgnore. On ajoute qu'elle sue toujours, et que cette
sucur est une huile*. Tout ce que je puis dire, c'est que quand j'y allai on me montra,
an bout de I'dglise, derriere le grand autel, une niche pratiqude dans le mur, et que h\ je
vis I'image, qui est une chose plate, et qui pent avoir un pied et demi de haut sur un de
large. Je ne puis dire si clle est de bois ou de pierre, parce qu'elle dtoit couverte entiere-
ment de drapeaux. Le devant dtoit fermd par un treillis de fer, et au-dessous il y avoit un
vase qui contenoit de I'huile. Une femme qui ^toit la vint a moi ; elle remua les drapeaux
avcc une cuill^re d'argent, ct voulut me faire le signc de la croix au front, aux tempes et
Bur la poitrine. II me sembia que tout cela dtoit une pratique pour avoir irgent; cependant
je ne veux point dire par-la que Notre-Dame n'ait plus de pouvoir encore que cette image.

Je revins a Damas, et, la veille duddpart, je rdglai mes aflaires et disposal ma conscience,
comme si j'cusse dA mourir; mais tout-a-coup je me vis dans I'embarras.

J'ai parle du courier qu'avoit envoyd le soudan pour faire arr^ter les marchands Gdnois et
Catalans qui se trouvoient dans ses Etats. En vertu de cet ordre, on prit mon h6tc, qui
t'toit Gdnois ; ses effcts furent saisis, et Ton pla<ja chez lui un Maure pour les garder. Moi,
je chcrchai a lui sauver tout ce que je pourrois, et afin que le Maure ne s'en aper^At pas,
je I'enivrai. Je fus arrdtd h mon tour, et conduit devant un des cadis, gens qu'ils rcgardent
comme nous nos dvfiques, et qui sont charges d'administrer la justice.

Le cadi me renvoya vers un autre, qui me fit conduire en prison avec les marchands. II
savoitbien pourtant que je ne I'dtois pas ; mais cette affaire m'dtoit suscitde par un trucheman
qui vouloit me ranqonner, comme il I'avoit ddja tentd a mon premier voyage. Sans Antoine
Mourrouzin, consul de Venise, il m'eAt fallu payer; mais je restai en prison, et pendant ce
temps la caravane partit.

Pour obtenir ma liberte, le consul et quelques autres personnes furent obliges de faire
des d-marches aupr^s du roi (gouverneur) de Damas, alldguant qu'on m'avoit arr^td a
tort et sans cause, et que le trucheman le savoit bien. Le seigneur me fit venir devant lui
avec un Gdnois nomm^ Gentil Imperial, qui etoit un marchand de par le soudan, pour aller
acheter Jes esclaves a Caffa. 11 me demanda qui j'dtois, et ce que je venois faire a Damas;

• Pliisieurs de nos autcure du trcizietnc si^cle font mention de cette vicrjje de Serdenay, devenue fameusc pendant
les croisades, et ils parlent de sa sucur huileusc, qui passoit pour faire beaucoup de miracles. Ccs fables d'ex.-'Udutioiis
miraculeoses vtoient communes en Asia. On y vantuit entre autres celle qui decouloit du tombcau de Tcvcque
Nicola;., I'uii de ces saints dont I'existencc est plus (jue douteu.-e. Cette liqueur pretcnduc de Nicolas ttoit mfime
un objct dc culte; ct nous lisons qu'en 1651 un cure de Paris en ayant rc5U une phiolc, il demanda tt obtint de
rarchtv^qui- la permission de I'exposer 4 la veneration des 6Ai\sa, (Hist, de la viUe et du diocese de Paris, par.
Lebcuf, 1. 1, part. 2, p. 557.)

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102

VOYAGES. NAUIOATIONS.

Voyage de

et, sur ma rdponse que j'dtols FrancjaU, veiui en pdlcrinage 5 Jerusalem, il dit qu'on avoit
tort dc mo retenir, ct que je pouvois partir qunnd il me plairoit.

Jc partis done, le lendemain 6 Oclobre, accompagnd d'un moucre, que je chargeai d'abord
de transporter hors de la ville mes habillemens Turcn, parce qu'il n'est point permis dun
chri^tien d'y paroitre aver, la toque blanche.

A peu de distance est une montagne oCi I'on montre une maison qu'on dit avoir 6t6 cellc
de Cain ; et, pendant la premiere journde, nous n'c(ime.s que dcs montagnes, quoique le
chemin soit bon ; mais a la secondc nous trouvltmes un beau pays, ct il continua d'etre
agrdable jusqu'a Balbec.

C'cst la que men moucre me quitta, et que je trouvai la caravane. Eile dtoit cample
pres d'une riviere, a cause dc la chaleur qui rdgne dans le pays ; ct cependant les nuits y
sont tr^s-froides (ce qu'on aura peine d croire), et les rnsees trcs-abondantes. J'allai trouvcr
Hoyarbarach, qui me confirma la permission qu'il m'avoit duunde de venir avec lui, et qui
me recommanda de ne point quiiter lu troupe.

Lc lendemain matin, a onze hcurcs, je fis boire mon chcval, et lui donnai la paille et
I'avoine, selon I'usagc de nos contrdes. Pour cette fois les Turcs ne me dirent rien ; mais
le soir, a six heures, quand, apr^s I'avoir fait boire, jc lui altachai sa besace pour qu'il man-
geat, ils s'y oppos^rent ct ddtachircnt le sac. Telle est leur coutume : leiirs chevaux ne
niangcnt qu'a huit, et jamais ils n'cn laisscnt manger un avant les autres, k moins que ce
ne soit pour paitre I'hcrbe.

Le chef avoit avec lui un mamclus (mamelouck) du soudan, qui dtoit Cerquais (Circassien ),
ct qui alloit dans le pays de Karman chercher un de ses freres. Cet homme, quand il me
vit seul, et ne sachant point la langue du pays, voulut charitablement me servir de com-
pagnon, ct il me prit avec lui. Cependant, comme il n'avoit point de tentc, nous fiimcs
souvent obliges de passer la nuit dans dcs jardins sous des arbres.

Ce fut alors qu'il me fallut apprcndre a coucher sur la dure, a ne boire que de I'eau, a
m'asseoir a terrc, les jambes croisdes. Cette posture me coftta d'abord beaucoup ; mais ce
a quoi j'eus plus de peine encore a m'accoutumer, fut d*6tre a cheval avec deadtriers courts.
Dans les commencemens je soufl'rois si fort, que, quand j'dtois desccndu, je ne pouvois
remonter sans aide, tant les jarrcts me faisoient mal ; mais lorsque j'y fus accoutumd, cette
maniere me parut plus commode que la ndtre.

Dds le jour m^me je soupai avec mon mamelouck, et nous n'eftmes que du pain, du
frojiiage et du lait. J'avois, pour manger, une nappe, a la mode des gens riches du pays.
Elles ont quatre pieds de diametre, ct sont rondcs, avec dcs coulisses tout autour ; de sorte
qu'on pent les fermer comme une bourse. Veulent-ils manger, ils les dtendent ; ont-ils
mangd, ils les rcsserrent, et y renferment tout ce qui reste, sans vouloir rien perdre, ni
une micttc de pain, ni un grain de raisin. Mais ce que j'ai remarqud, c'est qu'apres leur
repas, soit qu'il fftt bon, soit qu'il fvit mauvais, jamais ils ne manquoient de remercier Dieu
tout haut.

Balbec est une bonne ville, bien fcrmde de murs, et assez marchande. Au centre dtoit
un chateau, fait dc tres-grosses pierres. Maintenant il renferme une mosquee dans laquelle est,
dit-on, une t^te humaine qui a des yeux si dnormes, qu'un homme passeroit aisdment la
sienne a travers leur ouverture. Je ne puis assurer le ifait, attendu que pour entrer dans la
mosqude il faut ^tre Sarrasin,

De Balbec nous alj&mes a Hamos, et campames sur une riviere. Ce fut Id que je vis
comment ils campent et tendent leurs pavilions. Les tentes ne sont ni tr^s-hautes ni tres-
grandes ; de sorte qu'il ne faut qu'un homme pour les dresser, et que six a huit personncs
peuvent s'y tenir a I'aise pendant les chaleurs du jour. Dans le cours de la journee ils en
otent le bas, afin de donner passaj;e a I'air. La nuit, ils le remettent pour avoir plus
chaud. Un seul chameau en porte sept on huit avec leurs mftts. II y en a de tr^s-belles.

Mon compagnon, le mamelouck ot moi, qui n'en avions point, nous alldmes nous dtablir
dans un jardin. II y vint aussi deux Turquemans (Turcomans) de Satalie, qui revenoient
de la Mecque, et qui soupcrent avec nous. Mais quand ces deux hommes me virent bien

v^tu.

la Brocquicre.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

103

v6ui', avant bon cheval, belle t^pec, bon tarqiiais, ils prnposiirent an mamclouck, ainsi que
Iiii-m^ine me. I'avoiia par la suite lorsque nous nous s^paruines, de se del'airede inoi, vii que
j'^tois chrdtien et iiidignc d'etre dans Icur compafjnie. II rdpondit que, puisquc j'avois
nianjjc; avec eiix le pain et Ic sel, cc seroit iin crime ; que leur loi le leur ddfendoit, ct
qii'apr^s tout Dieu faisoit \c'* rhreticns coinme les Sarrasins.

Nenninoins ils pcrsisf^reiit dans leur projet ; et comme jc tdtnoignois le dcsir de voir
Ilalcp, la ville la plus considdrahic de Syrie apr^s Damas, ils mc pressirent de me joindre
a cu\. Moi qui ne savois ricn dc leur dcssein, j'acceptai ; et je suis convaincu aujourd'hui
qu'ils ne vouloient que me couper la gorfjc. Mais le miimelouck leur di^fendit de \niir da-
\.iiitaj;c avoc nous, et par-la il me sauva la vie.

Nous dtion^ panis de Balbec deux heures avant le jour, et notre caravane etoit compos^e
de quatre a cinq cents pcrsonnea, ct dc six ou sept cents chameaux ct mulcts, parce
cju'clie portoit beaucoup d'dpiccs. Voici leur manicre de se mettre en marche.

li y a dans la troupe unc tris-grande nacqnairc (tre-< grossc timbale). Au moment oil le
chef veut qu'on parte, il fait frappcr trois coups. Aussitfit tout le monde s'apprete, et A
mesure que chacun est prct, il se met a la file sans dire un .scul mot : Et feront plus de
bruit (lix d'cntre nous que mil de ceux-la. On marciu* ainsi en silence, a moins que cc ne
soit la nuit, et que quelqu'iin ne vcuiile rhanfcr unc chanson de gcstes*. Au point du
jour, deux ou trois d'entre eux, fort dloigiics les uns dcs autres, crient et se r«Jpondent,
comme on le fait sur les mosqudes aux heures d'usaye. Enfin, pen apr^s, et avant le lever
du soleil, les gens ddvots font Icurs pri^ros et ablutions ordii. aires.

Pour ces ablutions, s'ils sont aupr^s d'un riii.-^eau, ils descendent de cheval, se mettent
les pieds niis, et se lavent les mains, les pieds. le visage et tdus les conduits du corps.
S'ils n'ont pas de ruisscau, ils passent la main su. "es parties. Le dernier d'entre eux se
lave la bouche et I'ouverture opposde, apr^s quol 1 se tonrne vers le midi. Tous alors
levent deux doigts en I'air ; ils se prosternent et baisent la terrc trois fois, puis ils se re-
levent et font Icurs priercs. Ces ablutions leur ont dtd ordonndes en lieu de confession.
Les gens de distinction, pour n'y point manquer, portent toujours en voyage des bouteilles
de cuir pleines d'eau : on les attache sous le ventre des chameaux et des chevaux, et or-
dinairemcnt dies .sont tres-bellcs.

Ces peuplcs s'accrcupissent, pour uriner, comme les femmes ; apr^s quoi ils se frottent
le canal contre nne pierre, contre un mur ou quelque autre chose. Quant a I'autre besoin>
jamais apris I'avoir satisfait ils ne s'essuient.

Ilamos (Hems), bonne ville, bien fcrmde de miirailles avec des fosses glacds (en glacis),
est sifuee dans nne plains sur une petite riviere. La vient aboutir la piaine de Noe, qui
*<'ctend, dit-on, jusqu'en Perse. C'est par elle que ddboucha ce Tamerlan qui prit et ddtruisit
tant de viiles. A I'cxtrdinite de la ville est un beau chateau, construit sur une hauteur,
et tout en glacis jusqu'au pied da nuir.

De llamos nous vinmcs a Ilamant (Hama). Le pays est beau ; mais je n'y vis que pen
d'habitans, excepte les Arabes qui rebatissoient quelques-uns des villages detruits. Je
Irouvai dans Hamant un marchand de Venise nomme Laurent Sotiranze. 11 m'accueillit, me
logea chez liii, et me lit voir la ville et le chateau. Elle est garnie de bonnes tours, close
de fortes et epaisses niurailies, et construite, comme le chateau de Provins, sur une roche,
dans laquelle on a creusd au ciseau des fossds fort profonds. A I'une des extremitds se voit
Je chateau, beau et fort, tout en glacis jusqu'au pied du mur, et construit sur une elevation.
11 est entourd d'ur.c citadelle qu'il domine, et baignd par une riviere qu'on dit etre I'une
des quatre qui sorfent du paradis terrestre. Si le fait est vrai, je I'ignore. Tout ce que je
sais, c'est qu'elle I'esrcnd entre le levant et le midi, plus pr^s du premier que du second,
(est-.-ud-est), et qu'elle va se perdre a Antioche.

La est la roue la plus haute et la plus grande que j'aie vue de ma vie. Elle est mise en
mouvcment par la riviere, et fournit a la consommation des habitans, quoique leur nombre
soit considerable, la quantite d'eau qui leur est ndce.ssaire. Cette eau tombe en une auge

Ou appeloit en Fiance chansons de gestes cellcs qui celcbroient les gestes et belles actions des

ancicnshecos.
creusee

10#

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Vpijn^e de

. ,*

!.'■?■

• " .J

\4: i.

frcude dins la rnchc dij rhikfeau ; dc la cllcKe porfc vcr-i la vllle et en pirrrurf Ir- niPMlnni
un canal r<>rm^ par de nrand>t pilier-* ciirrt"* qui out lU ii/c pieds de hniii >iir deux <!e l:ii"r.

II me manquoit eiuore diHidreiiie-) chcwc-* p'uir ^tre 0:1 lout rdinme nie^ compa,,; i(.n>4 de
voyage. Le ina;Tielouck m'eii av<>it averii, ft moii Ii6»e Laurent me mena Iui-m6iiic uu
bazar pour en faire r;tcquisiii<)ii. C'dtoieut de petiie^ coiUc-i dc <oie h la mcde dc-t Turco-
mans, ut» bonnet pour ineitre sou" la roirc, des tuill^res Turque-i. <\e* rouictu\ avcc Icur
fu-'il, un peigne avec son rftui, ef un gobelct decuir. Tout cela s'aitachc et se su-pe d h I't'pdc.

J'achetai aussi den pou(;ons* p«ur tirer de I'arc, un tarquai>4 nouvciu tout gnri i, pnur
^pargner le mien, qui ^toit tri-t-beau, et que je vonlois coM.ser\er ; ciiliii un capinat : c'est
une robede Teutre. blanrhe, tr^-i-fine, et imp^fiidtrablc a la pluic.

En route je m'^tois li^ avec quelque->-un4 de mes compasjiions de raravane. Ccux ci,
quand lis surent que j'^tois log^ che/. un Franc, vinrcnt tnc tmuvcr pour me demander de
leur procurer du vin. Le vin leur e!*t d^fendu par leur lot, et iU n'auroient o»^ en boire
devant les leurs; mais ils edptfroient le faire N'.n'^ risque chcz nn Franc, et rependant ils
revenoient de la Mecque. J'en parlai i mon hdte Laure.;t, (|ui me dit qu'il nc I'lseroit,
parce que, si la chose ^toit sue, il courrolt les plu^ grands dangers. J'ailai leur rendre
cette reponse ; mais lis en avoient ddja cherchj aillrurs, et venoient d'cn trouver rhez
un Grec. lU me proposirent done, soit par pure amititf. soit pour £tre autorisd aupr^s
du Grec k boire, d'aller avec eux chez lui, et Je lei y accompagnai.

Get homme nous conduisit dans une petite galerie, oii m u<4 nous a><!«imcs par tcrre, en
cerrle. tous les six. II posa d'abord au milieu de nous un grand et beau plat tie terre, qui
cAt pu contenir au moins huit lr.ts (seize pintes} ; ensuite il apporta pour chacun de nous
un pot plein de vin, le versa dans le vase, et y mit deux ^cuelles de terre qui devoienk
nous servir de gobelets.

Un de la troupe commen^a le premier, et il but i son compagnon, sclnn I'usage du
pays. Celui-ci en fit de m£me pour son snivant, et ainsi des autres. Nous bAmes de cette
mani^re, et sans manger, pendant fort long-temps. Enfin, quand je m'aper<;us que je
ne pouvois pas continuer davantage sans m'incommoder, je les suppliai k mains jointes de
m'en dispenser ; mais ils se fAch^rent beaucoup, et se plaignirenr, comme si j'avois r^solu
d'interrompr^ leurs plaisirs et de leur faire tort.

Heureusement il y en avoit un parmi eux qui ^toit plus li^ avec moi, ct qui m'aimoit
tant qu'il m'appeloit kardays, c'est-a-dire fr^re. Celui ci s'ofTWt k prendre ma place, et k
boire pour moi quand ce seroit mon tour. Cette offre les satiisfit ; ils I'accepterent, ct la
partie continua jusqu'au soir, oil il nous fallut retourner au kan.

Le chef ^toit en ce moment assis sur un si^ge de pierre, et il avoit devant lui un fallot
allum^. II ne lui fut pas difficile de deviner d'oii nous venions : aussi y eiit-il quatre de
mes camarades qui s'esquivdrent ; il n'en resta qu'un avec moi. Je dis tout ceci, afin de
pr^venir les personnes qui, domain ou un jour quelconque, voyageroient, ainsi que moi,
dans leur pays, qu'elles se gardent bien de boire avec eux, a moins qu'elles ne veuillent
*tre obligees d'en prendre jusqu'^ ce qu'elles tombent a terre.

Le mamelouck ne savoit rien de ma d^bauche. Pendant ce temps il avoit achet^ une oie
pour nous deux. II venoit de la faire boiiillir, et, au d^faut de verjus, il I'avoit accommod^e
avec des feuilles vertes de porreaux. J'en mangeai avec lui, et elle nous dura trois jours.

J'aurois bien desir^ voir Alep ; mais la caravane n'y allant point et se rendant directement
k Antioche, il fallut y renoncer. Cependant, comme elle ne devoit .se mettre en marche
que deux jours aprds, le mamelouck fut d'avis que nous prissions tous deux les devants, afin
de trouver plus aisdment a nous loger. Quatre autres camarades, marchands Turcs, demandi-
rent a 6tre des n6tres, et nous partimes tons six en.semble.

A une demi-lieue de Hama, nous trouvSmes la riviire et nous la passSmes sur un pont.
Elle ^toit d^bord^e, quoiqu'il n'eAt point plu. Moi, je voulus y faire boire mon cheval.;
mais la rive ^toit escarp^e et I'eau profonde, et infailliblement je m'y serois noy^ si le ma-
melouck n'dtoit venu a mon secours.

il :' ' '■■<

Sorte de doigtier qu'on mettoit au pouce, afin de le garantir et de le difendre de rimpreKion de la corde.

In Brocquiire.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

lOJ

aiitrefnis par des chr^tiens, et j'avoue qu'on inc fit iin grand plaisir qtiar
tout cela avoit M aux Francs, ct qu'on me montra pour preuve dc8 dglises

Au deli^ du fleuvc est une longuc et vaste plainc qui dure toute line journ^e. Nous y
renrontrdmc!* >tix \ luiit Turcomans accompagn<$s d'unc femmc. Kile portoit le tarquais ainsi
qu'rux ; ct, ^ cc sujet, on me dit que ccllcs dc cctte nation sunt braves et qu'cn guerre
elles rombattcnt comme les hommes. On ajouta m^me, ct ceri m'^tonna bicn davantagc,
qu'il y en a environ trcnte mille qui portent ainsi le tarquais et qui sont snumises a un
seigneur nomind Turcgadiroly, lequel habite les montagnes d'Armdnie, sur les frontit^res dc
la I'erse.

I.n srconde journife fut h traver8 un pays de montagnes. II est assez beau quoiquc pcu
nrroMt' ; mais par-tout on ne voyoit que des habitations d«Jtruitcs. Tout en le travcrsant,
nion mamelouck m'apprit a tirer de Tare, et il me fit acheter des pou(;ons ct des auncnux
pour tircr. Enfin nous arrivumes h un village riche en bois, en vignobles, en terres a bit',
mais qui n'avoit d'autres eaux que celles de citernes. Ce canton paroissoit avoir ct^* hnbild

md on mc dit que
lises abattucs.

Nous y logeSmes ; et ce Tut la premiere fois que je vis des habitations de Turcomans, et
des fcmmes dc ccttc nation a visage ddcouvcrt. Ordinairement elles le cachcnt sous un
morceau d'dtamine noire, et celles qui sont riches y portent attachdcs des pi6ccs dc monnoic
et des pierrcs prt'cicuscs. Les hommes sont bona archers. J'en vis plusieurs tircr dc I'arc.
lis tircnt assis et d but court : ce peu d'espace donne i\ Icurs filches une grandc rapidit(5.

Au sortir de la Syrie on entre dans la Turcomanie, que nous appcllons Armcnic. La ca-
pitale est une tris-grandc ville qu'ils nomment Antdquay<5, et nous Antioche. Kile Cut jndis
trds-florissante et a encore de beaux murs bien entiers, qui rcnCcrment un tr^s-grand espace
et m^ine des montagnes. Mais on n'y compte point ii present plus de trois cents maisons.
Au midi ellc est born<5e par une montagne, au nord par un grand lac, au-dcia dtiquel on
trouve un beau pays bien ouvert. Le long des murs coule la riviere qui vient dc Hama.
Presque tons les habitans sont Turcomans ou Arabes, et leur dtat est dVlever des troupeaux,
tels que chamcaux, ch^vres, vaches et brebis.

Ces chevres, les plus belles que j'aie jamais viies, sont la plupart blanches; elles n'ont
point comine celles de Syrie, les oreiiles pendantes, et portent une laine longue, douce et
crdpue. Les moutons oni de grosses et larges queues. On y nourrit aussi des Anes sauvages
qu'on apprivoise et qui, avec un poil, des oreiiles et une t^te pareils d ceux du cerf, ont
comme lui le pied Fendu. J'ignore s'ils ont son cri, car je ne les ai point entendus cri?r.
Us sont beaux, fort grands, et vont avec les autres b^tes; mais je n'ai point vu qu'on les
montat*.

Pour le transport de leurs marchandise.s, les habitans se servent de boeufs et de bufHes,
comme nous nous servons de chevaux. lis les emploient aussi en montures; et j'en ai vu
des troupes dans lesquellcs les uns dtoient chargds der-matchandises, et les autres dtoient
months. ♦ '.

Le seigneur de ce pays e?toit Ramedang, prince riche, brave et puissant. Pendant long-
temps il se rendit si rcdoutable que le soudan le craignoit et n'osoit I'irriter. Mais le soudan
voulut le ddtruire, et dans ce dessein il s'entendit avec le karman, qui pouvoit mieux que
personne tromper Ramedang, puisqu'il lui avoit donn^ sa soeur en mariage. En efTet, un
jour qu'ils mangeoient ensemble, il I'arr^ta et le livra au soudan, qui le fit mourrir et
s'empara de la Turcomanie, dont cependant il donna une portion au karman.

Au sortir d'Antioche, je repris ma route avec mon mamelouck ; et d'abord nous edmes 3
passer une montagne nommde N^gre, sur laquelle on me montra trois ou quatre beaux cha-
teaux minds, qui jadis avoient appartenu a des chrdtiens. Lc chemin est beau et sans
cesse on y est parfumd par les lauriers nombreux qu'elle produit ; mais la descente en est
une fois plus rapide que la montde. Elle aboutit au golfe qu'on nomme d'Asacs, et que
nous autres nous appellons Layaste, parce qu'cn efTet c'est la ville d'Ayas qui lui domic son

» Get animal ne peut 6tre un 4ne, puigqu'il a le pied fendu el que l'4ne ne !'• point. C'est probablemcnt une
rtp^ce de gazelle, ou plulot un bubale.

P nom.

PIT

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A' 'J? ilk

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lOfi

VOYAGLS, NAUIGATIONS,

P'oyage tk

Apr6« qiioi ils noun apport^rent uiie doiizainc tie pains plats
caill^, qu'ils appellent yogort. Ces pains, larges d'un pied.
On les plic en cornet, comme unc oublie h

noni. II s'dtend cnirc deux monta};nc<«, et t'avance dan* lea ferret I'etpce d'cnviron quinzc
millet). Sn largeur ^ I'occidcnt in'a paru £trc de douze; mais KUr cet article jc in'en rapporte
A la carle marine.

Au pied de la montagnr, pres du chemin et aur le bprd de la mcr, sent leu rentcfi d'un
chAteau fort, qui du c6{i de la terre i^toit d^fendu par un mar^cage ; de aorie qu'on ncr
pnuvoil y abordcr que par mer, ou par unc rhausnee ctroile qui traverHoit le marai^. II <<t(>it
inhabit(5, mais en avant H'^toient dtablis dcH Turromani. Ilii occupoicnt cent vingt pavilion^
lesi iins dc feutrc, lea autre de coton bleu et blanc, toui tr^it-beaux, toua atwc/. grandu pour
loger A I'aifle quinze ou t*ci/.e pcrsonnes. Ce xont leurs maisonit, et, comme nuuii dans lr:i
iiAlrcH, ilii y font tout leur manage, a I'exception du Ten.

Nous noiia arr^tamev chez eux. lis vinrent placer devant nous une dc ccs nappes i cou-
lisses dont j'ai parld, et dans laquelle il y avoit encore des mietles de pain, drs Tragmens de
fromage et des grains dc raisin,
avec un grand auartier de lait cail
sont ronds et plus minces que des oubliei.
pointes, et on les mange avec le caill^.

Unc lieuc au-delu ^toit un petit karvassera (caravanserai) oCt nous logc&mes. Ces ^tablisse>
mens consistent en maisons, comme les kans de Syric.

£11 route, dans le cours de la journde j'avoift rcncontrt' un Ermin (Arm^nien) qui parloit
un peu Italien. S'^tant aperqu que j'^tois chr^tien, il se lia de conversation avec moi, et
me conta beaucoup de details, tant sur le pays et les habitans, que sur le soudan et ce
Ramedang, seigneur de Turcomanie, dont je viens dc faire mention. Il me dit que ce der-
nier ^toit un homme de haute taille, tr^s-brave, et le plus habile de tons les Turcs k manier la
masse et I'^p^e. Sa m^re ^toit une chr^tienne, qui I'avoit fait baptiser ^ la loi Grdgoisc
(selon le rit des Grecs) " pour lui oster Ic flair ct la senteur que ont cculx qui ne sont point
baptisiez*." Mais il n'^toit ni bon chn'tien ni bon Sarrasin ; et quand on lui parloit des deux
proph^tes Jesus et Mahomet, il disoit: Moi, je suis pour les proph^tes vivans, ils mc seront
plus utiles que ceux qui sont morts.

J Ses Etats touchoient d'un cdt^ ^ ceux du karman, dont il avoit ^pous^ la soeur; de I'autrc
a la Syrie, qui appartenoit au soudan. Toutes les fois que par son pays passoit un des sujets
tie celui-ci, il en exigeoit des phages. Mais enfin le soudan obtint du karman, comme je
I'ai dit, qu'il le lui livreroit; et aujourd'hui il ponide toute la Turcomanie jusqu'a Tharse et
m£me une journ^e par-de-1^.

Ce jour-la nous logcdmes de nouveau chez des Turcomans, ou Ton nous servit encore du
lait ; et I'Arm^nien nous y accompagna. Ce fut lik que jc vis fairc par des femmes ces pains
minces et plats dont j'ai parl^. Voici comment ellcs s'y prennent. Elles ont une petite
table ronde, bien unie, y jettent un peu de farine qu'elles d^trempent avec de I'eau et en
font une p&te plus mollc que celle du pain. Cette pdte, elles la partagent en plusieurs
morceaux ronds, qu'elles aplatissent autant qu'il leur est possible avec un rouleau en bois,
d'un diam^tre un peu moindre que celui d'un oeuF, jusqu'^ ce qu'ils soient amincis au point
que j'ai dit. Pendant ce temps elles ont une plaque de fer convexe, qui est pos^e sur un
trepied et ^chaufTi^e en dessous par un feu doux. Elles y ^tendent la feuille de p&tc et la
retournent tout aussitdt, de sorte qu'elles ont plus-tdt fait deux de leurs pains qu'un oublieur
chez nous n'a fait une oublie.

J'employai deux jours d traverser le pays qui est autour du golfe. II est fort beau, et
avoit autrefois beaucoup de chAteaux qui appartcnoient aux chr^iens, et qui maintenant
sont d^truits. Tel est celui qu'on voit en avant d'Ayas, vers le levant.

II n'y a dans la contr^e que des Turcomans. Ce sont de beaux hommes, excellens archers
et vivant de peu. Leurs habitations sont rondes comme des pavilions et couvertes de feutre.
lis deroeurent toujours en plein champ, et ont un chef auquel ils ob^issent; mais ils changent

* Les Chretiens d'Asie croyoient de bonne foi que les iniidiles avoient une mauvaise odeur qui leur ctoit particu-
liire, et qu'ib perdoient par le baptime. U sera encore parU plut bas dc cette tuperstition. Ce baptime ^toit,
»elon la loi Grigoise, pai- immersion.

souvent

la Brocquiive.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

•otivcnt Ac (ilacc, ci aloni ilt* cniportent avec eiix leiin maiiioni. Leur cnnttime (lan« re ras
eat de <e iioiinirttre au seigneur nwt lea terrea duquel ila a'<<tnb)iMenr, et m^me de le acn-ir
dc leiirx .irmes a'il a guerre Maia a'ila quUtent aea dnmaines et qu'iU paavcnt aur rcux dc
aon eiinrmt, ib aerv-irunt fp^ui-ci i aon tour contre I'autre, et on ne leur en nait paa mativaU
gxi, parce que fdlf fst Icur cofifume et qu'ila aont errana.

Sur rtlJ route jc f^ncofjtrai un dc Icurs chefa qui voloit (chasaoit au vol) avec dcs faucnna
ct prenoit tie* oics priv«^es. On me dit qu'il pouvoit bien avoir sous sea ordrcs dix mille
Turcomans. l,c piya est favorable poiir la chaaae. et cnuprf par beaucoup dc petitea riviAre?*
(|ui dc*cendcnt dcs rnontagnea et se jettent dins Ic golfc. On y trouvo -iur-tout beaucoup
dc aanglicrs.

Vers le milieu du golfe, nur le chemln de terrc, est un A6fi\6. formd par unc ror he *iir
laquclle on paase, et qui se trouve d deux port((ea d'arc de la mer. Jaaia re pasaagc HiM
d^t'endu par un chAteau qui le rendoit tris-fort. Aujourd'hui il est abandonn(<.

Au sortir de cette gorge on entrc dans une belle ct grande plaine, peupl^e de Turcoman<<.
Mais I'Arm^nicn mon compagnon me montra sur une montagne un chateau ob il n'y nvoit,
diaoit-il, que dcs gens de sa nation, et dont les murs sont arrosds par une rivii^rc nomm^c
J((hon. Noust cdtoy&mes la riviere juaqu'a une viile qu'on nommc Missc-sur-Jchon, jwrcc
qu'elle la traverse.

Misse, situ^e d quatrc journdea d'Antioche, appartint d dea chrdtiens et Tut unc citu im-
portante. On y voit encore plusieurs ^glisea a moitic ddtruites et dont il ne rfsie plus
d'enticr que le chocur de la grande« qu'on a converti en niosqude. Le pont est en bnis,
parcc que le premier a dtd ddtruit auasi. Enfin, des deux moitids de la ville, I line est tn-
talcment en ruines; I'autrc a conserve ses murs et environ troia cents maisons qui aont
rempliea par des Turcomans.

De Misse d Addve ( Ad^ne) le pays continue d'etre uni ct beau; et ce sont encore des Tur-
comans qui I'habitent. Ad^ne est d deux journdea de Miase, ct jc me proposois d'y attendre
In cnravane.

Ellc arriva. J'allai avec le mamelouck et quelquea autrea personnes, dont pluaieurs dtoient
dc gros marchanda, loger prds du pont, entre la riviere et lea murs; et ce lut Id que jc vis
comment le^Turcs fontleurs pri^rea et leurs sacritices; car non seulement ila ncae cachoicnt
point dc moi, maia ils paroissoient m^me contens quand " je disoie mes patrenostre, qui leur
sambloit mcrveilles. Je leur ouys dire acunea fois Icus heurea en chantant, d I'entrdc dc la
nuit, ct ae assident a la reonde (en rond) et branlent le corps et la teste, et chantent bien
sauvaigement."

Un jour ils me men^rcnt avec eux aux dtuvea et aux baina de la ville; ct comme je re-
fiisni de nic baigner, parce qu'il cAt fallu me ddshabillcr et que je craignois de montrer mon
nr;rcnt, ils mc donn^rent leurs robes d garder. Depuis ce moment nous fAmes tr^s-lida en-
semble.

La maison du bain est fort dlevde et se termine par un ddme, dans IcqucI a dte pratiqudc
une ouvcrturc circulaire qui dclaire tout I'interieur. Les dtuves et les bains sont beaux et
tres-propres. Quand ccux qui se baignent sortent de I'eau, ils viennent s'asseoir sur dc
petites claies d'osier lin, oh iU s'essuient et peignent leur barbe.

C'est dans Ad^ne que je vis pour la preniidre fois les deux jeunes gens qui u la Mecque
s'dtoicnt fait crcver les yeux apr^s avoir vu la sepulture de Mahomet.

Les Tiircs sont gens de fatigue, d'une vie dure, et a quil ne coftte rien, ainsi que je I'ai
vu t(nit Ic long de la route, de dormir sur la terre commes les animaux. Mais ils sont d'lui-
THcur oaie et joyeuse, et chantent volontiers chansons de gesles. Aussi quelqu'un qui veul
vivre avec eux nc doit 6tre ni triste ni rfiveur, mais avoir toujours le viiage riant. Du restc,
ils sont gens de bonne foi et charitables les uns envcrs les aiitres. " ./'ay vcu bien souvent,
quant nous mengions, que s'il passoit ung povre homme aupr^s d'eulx, ils le faisoicnt venir
mengier avec nous: ce que nous, ne fdsiesmes point."

Dans beaucoup d'endroits j'ai trouv^ qu'ils ne cui$ent point leur pain la mojtie de ce que

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VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage dc

t'cst \c n^trc. II est niou, ct a inoins d'y £tre accoutume, on a bien dc la peine a le in^cher.
Pour leur viandc, ils la mangent crue, sech<Je au soleil. Cependant quand line de leiira
bdtes, cheval ou chameaii, est en danger de inort ou sans espoir, ils I'dgorgent et la mangent
non crue, un peu cuitc. Ils sont tres-propres dans I'appr^t de leurs viandes; niais ils man-
gent (rcs-salement. Ils tiennent de mime fort proprement leur barbe; mais jamais ils ne se
lavent les mains que quand ils se baignent, qu'ils vculent I'airc leur priere, ou qu'ils se hivent
la barbe ou Ic derri^re.

Ad6ne est unc assez bonne villc marchando, bien fcrmee dc murailies, situcc en bon pays
ct assez voisine de la mer. Sur ses murs passe une grosse riviere qui vient des hautes mon-
tagnes d'Arm^nie et qu'on noinme Adena. Elle a un pont fort long et le plus large que j'aic
jamais vu. Ses habitans et son amiral (son seigneur, son prince) sont Turcomans: cct
amiral est le frere de cc brave Uamedang que le soudan fit mourir ainsi que je I'ai racontd.
On m'a dit m^me que Ic soudan a entre les mains son fils, ct qu'ii n'ose le laisser retourner
en Turcoman ie.

D'Adene j'allai a Therso que nous appellons Tharse. Le pays, fort beau encore, ({uoique
voisin des montagnes, est habite par des Turcomans, dont les uns logent dans des villages et
les autres sous des pavilions. Le canton ou est ba tie Tharse abonde en ble, vins, bois et
eaux. Elle fut une ville fameuse, et Ton y voit encore de tr^s-ancicns Edifices. Jc crois
que c'est celle qu'assi^gea Baudoin, frere de Godefroi de Bouillo ). Aujourd'hui elle a un
amiral nonimd par le soudan, et il y demeiire plusieurs Maures. Elle est d^i'endue par un
chateau, par des fosses a glacis et par une double enceinte de nuirailles, qui en certains
endroits est triple. Une petite riviere la traverse, et a peu de distance il en coule une
autre.

J'y trouvai un marcharsl de Cypre, nommd Antoine, qui depuis long-temps demeuroit
dans lepays et en savoit bien la langue. II m'cn parla pertinemment ; mais il me fit un autre
plaisir, celui de me donner de bon vin, car depuis plusieurs jours je n'en avois point bu.

Thnrse n'est qu"i soixante milles du Kork^ne (Curco), chateau construit sur la mer, et qui
appartient au roi de Cypre.

Dans tout ce pays on parle Turc, et on commence m^me a le parler d^s Antioche, qui est,
comme je I'ai dit, la capitale de Turcomanie. " C'est un tr^s-beau langaige, et brief, et bien
aisie pour aprendre."

Comme nous avions ii traverser les hautes montagnes d'Armdnie, Hoyarbarach, le chef de
notre caravane, voulut qu'eile fflt toute reunie ; et dans oe dessein il attendit quclques jours.
Enfin nous partimes la veiile de la Toussaint. Le mamelouck m'avoit conseille de m'ap-
provisioner pour quatre journdes. En consequence j'achetai pour nioi unc provision de pain
et dc fromage, et pour mon cheval une autre d'orge et de paille.

Au sortir dc Tharse je fis encore trois lieues Fran<;aises a travcrs un beau pays de plaincs,
peupld de Turcomans; mais enfin j'entrai dans les montagnes, montagnes les plus hautes
que j'aie encore vues. Elles cnveloppcnt par trois c6t^s tout le pays que j'avois par-
couru depuis Antioche. L'autre partie est fermt^e au midi par la mer.

D'abord on a des bois a traverser. Ce chemin dure tout un jour, et il n'est pas malais^.
Nouslogeames lesoirdans un passage etroitou il me parut que jadis il y avoit eu un chateau.
La seconde journde n'cut point de mauvaise route encore, et nous vinmes passer la nuit dans
un caravanserai. La troisidme, nous cotoyames constamment une petite riviere, et vimes
dans les montagnes une multitude immense dc perdrix griaches. Notre halte du soir fut
dans une plainc d'environ unc lieue de longueur sur un quart de large.

La se rencontrent quatre grandes combes (valines). L'unc est celle par laquelle nnus
^tions venus; l'autre, qui perce au nord, tire vers le pays du seigneur, qu'on appelle
Turcgadirony, et vers la Perse; la troisiime s'dt<"nd au Levant, ct j'ignore si elle con-
duit de m6mc Ji la Perse ; la derniere enfin est au couchant, et c"cst celle que j'ai prise,
et qui m'a conduit au pays du karman. Chacune des quatre a une riviere, et les quatre
rivieres se rendent dans cc dernier pays.

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TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

109

bile nnu9
appelle
bile coii-
jai prise.
Is quatre

II iicigea beaucoup pendant la nuit. Poiir i>arantir mon clieval, je le couvris avec
mon caf'inaf, rcttc robe de feutre qui me servoit de manteaii. Mais moi j'eiis froid,
ti il inc prit une maladie qui est malhonnete (le d^voicment) ; j'eusse m^me 6{6 en
danger, san-' mon amc' lUck, qui me secouriit et qui mc fit sortir bien vite dc ce lieu.

Nulls p. -times done de gi lid matin tous dciix, et entrAmes dans les hautes montagnes.
II y a lii iin ctialeau -lomme Cublech, le plus 6\e\6 que je ronnoissc. On le voit a uiie
distai'cc de deux jouriit'cs. Quelquefois cependant on lui tournc if dos, a cause dc ' ddtours
qu'ocra'sionnent les nontagius ; quclquefois aussi ( u cease do le voir, parce qu'il est cach(5
par des haufcurs: n.ais op no pent p^n^trcr au pays du karman qu'en pnssant au pied de
cellc ou il est bati. Le passage est ^troit. II a fallu m^me on quelqucs parties I'liUMir au
ciseau; mais par-tout ii est denine par le Cublech. Ce chateau, le dernier *d'- reux qu'ont
jjcrdu- les Armeiuens, appartient aujourd'hui au karman, qui I'a eu en .nirtagc a la mort de
Hamedaiig.

Ces niont:if;iics sont couvertes de neige en tout temps, ct il n'y n (lu'un passage pour les
chevaux, quoiqii'on y tnuve de temps en temps de jolies petites plaines. Elles sont dan-
gereuses, par les Turcrma.vs qui y sont r^pandus; mn's pendant Ics quatre jours de marche
que j'y ai faite, je n'y ai pas vu une seule habitation.

Qunnd on quittc les montagnes d'Armenie pour entrcr dans le pays du karman, on en
trouve d'autres qu'il faut traverser encore. Sur I'une de celles-ci est une gorge avec un
ch<^teau nomme L6ve, ou Ton paie au karman un droit de passage. Ce p^age dtoit aHisrm^
a un Grec, qui, en me voyant, mc reconnut a mes traits pour chr^tien, et m'arr^ta. Si
j'avois ^t^ oblig^ de retourner, j'^tois iin homme mort, et on me I'a dit depuis : avant d'avoir
fait une demi-lieue j'eusse ^t^ ^gor.;*^ ; car la caravane ^toit encore fort loin. Heureuse-
ment mon mamelouk gagna le Grec, et, moyennant deux ducats que je lui donnai, il me
livra passage.

Plus loin est le chateau d'Asers, et par-de-la le chateau une ville nomm^e Araclie
(Eregli).

En ddbouchant des montagnes on entredans un pavs aussi uni que la mer; cependant on
y voit encore vers la tramontane (le nord) quelques hauteurs qui, sem^es d'espace en espace,
semblent des iles au milieu des flots. C'est dans cette plaine qu'est Eregli, ville autrefois
fermee, et aujourd'hui dans un grand d^labrement. J'y trouvai au moins des vivres ; car,
dans mes quatre jours de marche depuis Tharse, la route ne m'avoit oflert que de Peau.
Les environs de la ville sont converts de villages habitus en tr^s-grande partie par des Tur-
comans.

Au sortir d'Er^gli nous trouvSmes deux gentilshommes du pays qui paroissoient gens de
distinction ; ils firent beaucoup d'amiti^ au mainelouck, et le men^rent, pour le regaler, h
un village voisin dont les habitations sont toutes creusdes dans le roc. Nous y passames la
nuit ; mais moi je fus oblig^ de passer dans une caverne le reste du jour, pour y garder nos
chevaux. Quand le mamelouck revint, il me i\\t que ces deux hommes lui avoient demande
qui j'etois, et qu'il leur avoit r^pondu, en leur donnant le change, que j'etois un Circassien
qui ne savoit point parler Arabe.

D'Er^gli a Larande, ou nous allaines, il y a deux journ^eg. Cette ville-ci, quoique non
close, est grande, marchande et bien situ^e. II y avoit autrefois au centre un grand et fort
chateau dont on voit encore les portes, qui sont en fer et tr^s-belles ; mais les murs sont
abattus. D'une ville a I'autre on a, comme je I'ai dit, un beau pays plat ; et depuis L^ve
je n'ai pas vu un seul arbre qui fut en rase campagne.

II y avoit a Larande deux gentilshommes de Cypre, dont I'un s'appeloit Lyachin Castrico;
I'autre, L^on Maschero, et qui tous deux parloient assez bien Fran<;aisf . Ils me demanderent

* Ce mot dernier signifie probablement ici le plus reeuli'-, le plus eloigne & la frontiire.

t Les Lusipian, devenus lois dc Cyprc sur la fin tlu douzieme si^cle, avoient introduit dans cette ilc la lanpue
Franyaisc. C'est en Cypre, au passajre de saint Im\\\s pour sa croisade d'ligypte que fut fait et public ce cinle qu'on
appela Assises de Jt-rusalem, et (jui deviiit le code des Cypriots. La langue Fran9ai8e coiitinua d'fitre celle de la cour
it des gens bien cleves.

quelle

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage dc

quelle iJtoit ina patrie, ct comment je me trouvais la. Je leur r^pondia que j'^tois servitciir
de moiiseigncur de Bourgogne, que je venois de Jerusalem et de Damas, et que j'avois suivi
la caravaoe. lis me parurent tr^s-emerveill^s de ce que j'avois pu pasner : mais quand ilu
m'eurent demand^ oil j'allois, et que j'ajoutai que je . retournois par terre en France vers
mondit seigneur, ils me dirent que c'^toit chose impossible, et que, quand j'aurois milie
vies, je les perdrols toutes. En consequence ils me proposirent de retourner en Cypre avec
fux. II y avoit dans I'ile deux galdres qui ^toient venues y chercher la soeur du roi, accordde
en mariage au fils de monseigneur de Savoie*, et ils ne doutoient point que le roi, par amour
ct honneur pour monseigneur de Bourgogne, ne m'y accordSt passage. Je leur rcpondis
qtie puisqiic Dieu m'avoit fait la grace d'arriver jusqu'a Larande, il me feroit probablement
celle d'aller plus loin, et qu'au reste j'dtois rdsolu d'achever mon voyage ou d'y mourir.

A mon tour je leur dcmandai ou ils alloient. Ils me dirent que leur roi venoit de mourir;
que pendant sa vie il avoit toujours entretenu tr^ve avec le grand karman, et que le jeune
roi et son conseil Ics cnvoyoit vers lui pour renouveller I'alliance. Moi, qui ^tois curieux
lie connoitre ce grand prince que sa nation considdre comme nous notre roi, je les priai de
permettre que je les accompagnasse ; et ils y consentirent.

Je trouvai a Larande un autre Cypriot. Celui-ci, nommd Perrin Passerot, et marchand,
demeuroit dcpuis quelque temps dans le pays. II dtoit de Famagouste, et en avoit et^ banni,
parce qu'avec un de ses frferes il avoit tentd de remettre dans les mains du roi cette ville, qui
etoit dans celles des G^nois.

Mon mamelouck venoit de rencontrer aussi cinq ou six de ses compatriotes. C'^toient de
icunes esclaves Circassiens que Ton conduisoit au soudan. II voulutd leur passage les regaler ;
ct comme il avoit appris qu'il se trouvoit a Larande des chr^tiens, et qu'il soup^onnoit qu'ils
auroient du vin, il me pria de lui en procurer. Je cherchai tant que, moyennant la moitie
•I'un ducat, je trouvai a en achcter demi-peau de chevre (une demi-outre), et je la lui
donnai.

II montra en la recevant une joie extreine, et alia aussitut trouver ses camnrades, avec
lesquelles il passa la nuit tout enti^re a boire. Pour lui, il en prit tant que le lendemain,
dans la route, il manqua d'en mourir; mais il se gu^rit par une methode qui leur est propre:
dans ces cas-la, ils ont une tres-grande bouteille pleine d'eau, et a mesure que leur estomac
se vide et se d^barrasse, ilsboivent de I'eau tant qu'ils peuvent en avaler, commes'ils vou-
loient rincer une bouteille, puis ils la rendent et en avalent d'autre. II employa ainsi a se
laver tout le temps de la route jnsqu'a midi, et il fut gueri enti^rement.

De Larande nous allames a Qulonguc, appel^e par les Grecs Quhonguopolyf- II y a
d'un lieu a I'autre deux journees. Le pays est beau et bien garni de villages ; mais il
manque d'eau, et n'a, ni dautres arbres que ceux qu'on a plant^s pr^s des habitations pour
avoir du fruit, ni d'autre riviere que celle qui coule pr^s de la ville.

Cette ville, grande, marchande, d^fendue par des- fosses en glacis et par de bonnes mu-
railles garnies de tour;:, est la meilleure qu'ait le karman. 11 lui reste un petit chSteau. Jadis
elle en avoit un trds-fort, qui etoit construit au centre. On I'a jet^ bas pour y batir le palais
du roi J.

Je restai la quatre jotirs, afin de donncr le temps a I'ambassadeur de Cypre et a la cara-
vane d'arriver. II arriva, ainsi qu'elle. Alors j'allai demander k I'ambassadeur que, quaiul
il iroit saluer le karman, il me permit de me joindre a sa suite, et il me le promit. Cepen-
dant il avoit parmi ses esclaves quatre Grecs de Cypre rendgats, dont I'un ^toit son Iniissicr
d'armes, et qui tons quatre fircnt auprcs de lui des eflbrts pour I'en d^tourner; mais il leur
rdpondit qu'il n'y voyoit point d'inconvenient: d'ailleurs j'en avois tdmoigne tant d'envic
qu'il se fit un plaisir de m'obligcr.

* Louis, fils d'Amcdte VIII, due de Savoie. Il 4pousa en 1432 Anne de Lusignan fille de Jean II, roi de
Cypre, mort au inoins de Juin, el soeur dc Jean III, qui alors etoit s^ur le trone.

i Plus bas le co|)iste a ccrit Quohongue et Qutioii<rue. J'ccrirai desormais Couhongue.

1 L'auteur, d'apres ses prejuijes Europ6ens, erivploie ici le mot roi pour designer le prince, Ic souverain du

la Brocquiire.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Ill

II y a

niai<( il

jns pour

la cara-
quand
Cepen-
Iniissicr
lis il leiir
d'envic

I II, roi de

hverain ilii
On

On vint le pr^venir dr I'heure a laquelle il pourroit faire sa r^vdrence an roi, lui cxposer
le sujet de son ambassade, et offrir ses prdsens; car c'est une coutumeau-dela des mors qu'on
ne paroit jamais devant un prince sans en apporter quelques-uns. Les aiens ^toient six
pidces de caraelot de Cypre, je ne sais combien d'aunes d'^carlate, une quarantaine de pains
dc Sucre, un faucon p^lerin et deux arbal^tes, avec une douzaine de vires*.

On eiivoya chez lui des genets pour apporter les prdsens; et, pour sa monture ainsi que
pour sa suite, les chevaux qu'avoient laissds a la porte du palais ceux des grands qui dtoient
venus faire cortege au roi pendant la c^r^monie.

II en monta un, et mit pied a terre a I'entr^e du palais; apr^s quoi, nous entr^mes dans
une tr^s-grande salle oii il pouvoit y avoir environ trois cents personnes, Le roi occupoit la
chambre suivante, autour de laquelle ^toient ranges trente esclaves, tous debout. Pour lui,
il dtoit dans un coin, assis sur un tapis par terre^ selon la coutume du pays, v6tu de drap
d"or cramoisi, et le coude appuy^ sur un carreau d'une autre sorte de drap d'or. Pr^s de
lui ^toit son ^p^e ; en avant, son chancelier debout, et autour, a peu de distance, trois
hommes assis.

D'abord on fit passer sous ses yeux les pr^sens, qu'il pirut a peine regarder ; puis I'am-
bassadeur entra accompagne d'un trucheman, parce qu'il ne savoit point la langue Turque.
Quand il eut fait sa rdv^rence, le chancelier lui demanda la lettre dont il etoit porteur, et la
hit tout haut. L'ambassadeur alors dit au roi, par son trucheman, que le roi de Cypre en-
voyoit le saluer, et qu'il le prioit de recevoir avec amiti^ les pr^sens qu'il lui envoyoit.

Le roi ne lui r^pondit pas un mot. On le fit asseoir par terre, a leur mani^re, mais au-
dessous des trois personnes assises, et assez loin du prince. Alors celui-ci demanda comment
se portoit son frdre le roi de Cypre, et il lui fut r^pondu qu'il avoit perdu son p^re, qu'il en-
voyoit renouveler I'alliance qui du vivant du mort, avoit subsist^ entre les deux pays, et que
pour lui il la desiroit fort. .Te la souhaite ^galement, dit le roi.

Celui-ci demanda encore ^ l'ambassadeur quand ^toit mort le d^funt, quel age avoit son
successeur, s'il ^toit sage, si son pays lui ob^issoit bien ; et comme I ces deux derni^res
questions la r^ponse fut un oui, il t^moigna en £tre bien-aise.

Apr^s ces paroles on dit a l'ambassadeur de se lever. Il ob^it, et prit congd du roi, qui
ne se remua pas plus a son depart qu'il ne I'avoit fait a son arriv^e. En sortant il trouva de-
vant le palais les chevaux qui I'avoient amend. On lui en fit de nouveau monter un pour le
reconduire a sa demeure ; mais a peine y fut-il arrivd que les huissiers d'armes se prd-
senterent a lui. En pareilles cdrdmonies, c'est la coutume qu'on leur distribue de I'argent,
■^t il en donna.

II alia ensuite saluer le fits atnd du roi, et lui presenter ses prdsens et ses lettres. Ce prince
dtoit, comme son pere, entourd de trois personnes assises. Mais quand l'ambassadeur lui
fit la rdvdrence, il se leva, se rassit, le fit asseoir a son tour au-dessus des trois personnages.
Pour nous autres qui I'accompagnionsj on nous plapa bien en arriere. Moi j'avois apper<;u a
I'ecart un banc, sur lequel j'allai me mettre sans fa<;on; mais on vint m'en tirer, et il mc
failut plier le jarret et m'accroupir a terre avec les autres. De retour a I'hdtel, nous vimes
arriver un huissier d'armes du fils, comme nous avions vu du p^re. On lui donna aussi de
I'argent, et au reste ces gens-la se contentent de peu.

A leur tour, le roi et son fils en envoy^rent a l'ambassadeur pour sa depense ; et c'est
encore la une coutume. Le premier lui fit passer cinquante aspres, le second trente. L'aspre
est la monnoie du pays : il en faut cinquante pour un ducat de Venise.

Je vis le roi traverser la ville en cavalcade. C'dtoit un Vendredi, jour de fete pour eux,
et il alloit faire sa pri^re. Sa garde dtoit composde d'une cinquantaine de cavaliers, la plu-
part ses esclaves, et d'environ trente archers a pied qui I'entouroient. II portoit une dpee
h sa ceinture et un tabolcan a I'arijon de sa selie, selon I'usage du pays. Lui et son fils ont
6t6 baptises a la Grecque, pour 6ter le flair (la mauvaise odeur), et I'on m'a dit mdme que

Viveij, grosses Ricbea qui se Ian9oient avec I'arbaUte.

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

,'■■ 'I'M ' n

■:: 1

1.1 m^re de son fits dtoit chr^tienne. II en est ainsi de tous les grandii. ils He font baptiser
afin qu'ils no piient point.

Ses ^tats sent considerables; ils commencent a une journ^e en-de-^i de Tarse, et vont
jusqu'aii pays d'Amurat-Bcy, cet autre karman dont j'ai parl^, et que nous appelons le
grand-Turc. Dans ce sens, leur largeur est, dit-on, de vingt lieues au plus ; mais ils ont
seize journdes de long, et je le sais, moi qui les ai traver^^es. Au nord-cst, ils s'(5tendent,
ni*a-t-on dit, jusqu'aux Irontidres de Perse.

Le karman poss^de aussi une c6te maritime qu'on nomme les Farsats. Elle se prolonge
depuis Tliarse jusqu'a Courco, qui est au roi de Cypre, et a irn port nomme Zabari.
Cc canton produit les mcilleurs marins que Ton connoisse; mais ils se soi.t t6\olt^»
centre lui.

Le karman est un beau prince, .'ig^ de trcnte-deux ans, et qui a dpous^ la soeur d'Amurat-
Bcy. II est fort ob^i dans ses ^tats ; cependant j'ai entcndu des gens qui disent de lui
qu'il est tres-crucl, et qu'il passe pcu de jours sans faire couper des n^s, des pieds, des mains,
ou mourir quelqu'un. Un homme est-il riohe, il le condamne a mort pour s'emparer de ses
biens; et j'ai oui dire qu'il s'ctoit ainsi d6fa\t des plus grands de son pays. Huit jours avant
raon arriv^e il en avoit fait etrangler un par des chiens. Deux jours apr6s cette execution il
avoii fait mourir une de ses femmes, la mere m^lme de son fils ain^, qui, quand je le vis, no
savoit rien encore de ce meurtre.

J.es habitans de ce pays sont de mauvaises gens, voleurs, subtils et grands assassins. lis
sc tucnt les uns les autrcs, et la justice qu'il en fait ne les arr^te point.

Je trouvai dans Cohongue Antoine Passerot, frcre de ce Perrin Passerot qui j'avois vu a
Larande, qui tous deux accuses d'avoir voulu remettre Famagouste sous la puissance du roi
lie Cypre, en avoient dte bannis, ainsi que je I'ai dit; et ils s'ctoient retires dans le pays
(lu karman, I'un a Larande, I'autre a Couhongue. Mais Antoine venoit d'avoir une mau-
vaise aventure. Quelqucfois pech^ aveugle les gens : on I'avoit trouvt? avec une femme de
la loi Mahom^tane; et sur I'ordrc du roi, il avoit ^te oblig^, pour dchapper a la mort, de
renier la foi catholique, quoiqu'il m'ait paru encore bon chrctien.

Dans nos conversations, il me conta bcaucoup de particularit^s sur le pays, sur le carac-
tere et le gouvernenient du seigneur, et principalement sur la mani^re dont il avoit pris et
livre Ramedang.

Le karman, me dit-il, avoit un fr^re qu'il chassa du pays, et qui alia se rdfugier et chcrchcr
asile prcs du soudan. Lc soudan n'osoit lui declarer la guerre ; mais il le (it priSvenir que
s'il nc Itii livroit Ramedang, il cnverroit son fr^rc avec des troupes la lui faire. Le karman
n'hcsita point, ct plutut que d'avoir son frcre a combattre, il fit cnvcrs son beau-fr^re une
grande trahison. Antoine me dit aussi qu'il dtoit lache et sans courage, quoique son peiipie
soit lc plus vaillant de la Turquie. Son vrai nom est Imbreymbas; mais on I'appelle karman,
a cause qu'il est seigneur de ce pays.

Quoiqu'il soit allie au grand-Turc, puisqu'il a epouse sa soeur, il le hait fort, parce que
celui-ci lui a pris une pariie du Karman. Cependant il n'ose I'attaquer, vu que I'autre est
trop fort ; mais je suis persuade qui s'il le voyoit entrepris avec succ^s de notre c6te, lui,
du sicn, ne le hisseroit pas en paix.

En travcrsant ses etats j'ai c6toye une autre contr^e qu'on nomme Gaserie. Celle-ci con-
fine, d'une part au Karman, et de I'autre d la Turcomanie, par les hautes montagnes qui sont
vers Tharse et vers la Perse. Son seigneur est un vaillant guerrier appeld Gadiroly, lequel
a sous ces ordres trente mille hommcs d'armes Turcomans, et environ cent mille femmes,
aussi braves et aussi bonnes pour le combat que les hommcs.

II y a la quatre seigneurs qui se font continuellement la guerre : c'est Gadiroly, Quha-
raynich, Quaraychust et le fils de Tamerlan, qui, m'a-t-on dit, gouverne la Perse.

Antoine m'apprit qu'en debouchant des montagnes d'Armenie par de-la Er^gli, j'avois
passe a demi-journ^e d'une ville cel^hre oti repo.se le corps de saint Basile; il m'en parla
;neme dc mani^re h me donner envie de la voir. Mais on me repr^senta si bien ce que je

pcrdois

l| "■;■<:

la Brocqttidre.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

perdois d'avantagcs en me sdparant de la caravane, et ce que j'allois courir de rlsques en
m'exposant seul, que j'y rcnon(;ai.

Pour lui, il m'avoua que son dessein etoit de se rendrc avec moi aupr^s de monseigneur Ic
due; qu'il ne se scntoit niille einie d'etre Sarrasiii, et que s'il avoit pris quelque en-
Sagemeiu a ce sujet, c dtoit uniquement pour ^viter la mort. On voulolt le circoncire ;
n s'y attendoit chaque jour, ct le craignoit fort. C'est un fort bel homme, ag«5 de trente-
six ans.

II me dit encore que Ics habitans font, dans leurs mosqu^es, des pridrcs publiques,
comme nous, dans les paroisses, nous en faisons tous les dimanches pour les princes chr^tiens
et pour autres objets dont nous demandons a Dieu raccomplissement. Or une des choses
qu'ils lui deinandent, c'est de les preserver de la venue d'un homme tel que Godefroi de
Bouillon.

Le chef de la caravane s'apprdtoit a repartir, et j'allai en consequence prendre congd des
ambassadcurs du roi de Cyprc. lis s'etoient flatt^s de m'emmener avec cux, et ils renouve-
l^rent leurs instances en m'assurant que jamais je n'acheverois mon voyage,* maisjeper-
sistai. Ce fut a Couhongue que quitterent la caravane ceux qui la composoient. Hoyarba-
rnch n'amcnoit avec lui que ses gens, sa femme, deux de ses enfans qu'il avoit conduits a la
Mecque, une ou deux fcmmes ^trang^res, et moi.

Je dis adieu i mon mamelouck. Ce brave homme, qu'on appeloit Mahomet, m'avoit
rendu des services sans nombre. II ^toit tr^s-charitable, et faisoit toujours TaumAne quand
on la hii demandoit au nom de Dieu. C'dtoit par un motif de charit<5 qu'il m'obligeoit, et
j'avoue que sans lui je n'eusse pu achever mon voyage qu'avec de tr^s-grandc s peines, que
souvent j'aiirois 6t6 expose au froid et a la faim, et fort embarrass^ pour mon cheval.

En le quittant je cherchai a lui t^moigner ma reconnoissance ; mais il ne voulut rlen ac-
cepter qu'un couvre-chef de nos toiles fines d'Europe, et cet objet parut lui faire grand plaisir.
II me raconta toutes les occasions venues a sa connoissance, ou, sans lui, j'aurois couru
risque d'etre assassine, et me prdvint d'etre bien circonspect dans les liaisons que je ferois
avec les Sarrasins, parce qu'il s'en trouvoit parmi eux d'aussi mauvais que les Francs. J'dcris
ceci pour rappeler que celui qui, par amour de Dieu, m'a fait tant de bien, <5toit " ung homme
hors de nostre foy."

Le pays que nous eflmes a parcourir apr^s 6tre sortis de Couhongue est fort beau, et il a
d'assez bons villages ; mais les habitans sont mauvais : le chef me d^fendit mfime, dans un
des villages ou nous nous arr^tames, de sortir de mon logement, de peur d'etre assassin^. II
y a pr^s de ce lieu un bain renomm^, oil plusieurs malades accourent pour chercher gudri-
son. On y voit des maisons qui jadis appartinrent aux hospitallers de Jerusalem, et la croix
de Jerusalem s'y Irouve encore.

Apr^s trois jours de marche nous arrivames a une petite ville nomm^e Achsaray, situee au
pied d'une haute montagne, qui la garantit du midi. Le pays est uni, mais mal-peupld, et
les habitans passent pour mechans : aussi me fut-il encore d^fendu de sortir la nuit hors de
la maison.

Je voyageai la journde suivante entre deux montagnes dont les cimes sont couronnees d'un
pen de bois. Le canton, a>isez bien peuple. Test en partie par des Turcomans; mais il y a
bcauroiip d'herbages etde marais.

La je traversal une petite riviere qui sdpare ce pays de Karman d'avec I'autre Karman que
poss^de Arnurat-Bey, nommd par nous le Grand-Turc. Cettc portion ressemble a la premiere ;
elle otlre comme olle un ])ays plat, parscmd qa ct la de montagnes.

Sur notre route nous cdtoyames une villc a chateau, qu'on nomme Achanay. Pius loin
est un beau caravanserai oii nous romptions passer la nuit; mais il y avoit vingt-cinq anes.
Notre clief ne voulut pas y cntrcr, et il prefera retourner une lieue en arriere sur ses pas,
jusqu'a un gros village ou ncuw logeamcs, ct oil iiou-i trouviimesdu pain, du fromagc et du lait.

De ce lieu je vins a Karassar en deux jours. Carassar, en langue Turque, signifie pierre
noire. C't>t In capitale de ce pays, dont s'est empar^ de force Amurat Bey. Quoiqu'elle
ne soil point fermee, tile est marchande, et a un des plus beaux chateaux que j'aie vus,

Q, quuiqu'il

'v'l

114

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

^•^';f'

quoiqu'il n'ait que de I'eau de citernc. II occiipe la cime dune liaulc roclic, si blen arrondie
qii'on la croiroit taillee aii ciseaii. An has est la ville, qui I'entoiire do trois c6tds ; mais elle
est a son tour eiivcloppee, ainsi que liii, par une montagiie en croissant, depiiis grcc jusqua
mestrc (depiiis le nord-est jusqu'au nord-ouest). Dans le rente de la circonfdrence s'ouvrc
nne plaine qiic traverse une riviere. II y avoit peu de temps que les Grecs s'^toient empards
de ce lieu ; mais ils I'avoient perdu par leur lachefd.

On y apprete les pieds de mouton avec une perfection et une proprcle que je n'ai vuea
nulle part Je m'en rdgalai d'nutant plus volontiers que depuis Couhongue je n'avois pas
mangd de viande cuite. On y fait aussi, avec des noix vertes, un mets particulicr. Pour
ccla on les pele, on les coupe en deux, on les enfile avec une ficelle, et on les arrose de vin
cuit, qui se prend tout autour et y forme une gel^e comme de la coUe. C'est une nourriture
assez agr^ablc, sur-tout quand on a faim. Nous filmes obliges d'y faire une provision de
pain et de fromage pour deux jours ; et je conviens que j Vtois degoAtd de chair crue.

Ces deux jours fiirent employes a venir de Carassar a Cotthay. Le pays est beau, bien
arrosd et garni de montagnes peu elevdes. Nous traversSmes un bout de for^t qui me parut
remarquable en ce qu'elle est composde entidrcment de chenes, et que ces arbres y sont
plus gros, plus droits et plus hauts que ceux que j'avois 6t6 a portde de voir jusque-la. D'ail-
leurs ils n'ont, comme les sapins, de branches qu'a leurs cimes.

Nous vinmes loger dans un caravanserai qui dtoit dloignd de toute habitation. Nous y
trouvSmes de I'orge et de la paille, et il eflt 6t6 d'autant plus a\s6 de nous en approvisionner,
qu'il n'y avoit d'autre gardien qu'un seul valet. Mais on n'a rien de semblable a craindre
dans ces lieux-la, et il n'est point d'homme assez hardi pour oser y prendre une poignde de
marchandise sans payer.

Sur la route est une petite riviere renomm^e pour son eau. Hoyarbarach alia en boire avec
ses femmes; il voulut que j'en busse aussi, et lui-mfime m'en prdsenta dans son gobelet de
cuir. C'dtoit la premiere fois de toute la route qu'il me faisoit cette faveur.

Cotthay, qiioique assez considerable, n'a point de tnurs ; mais elle a un beau et grand
chateau compost de trois forteresses placdes I'une au-<lessus de I'autre sur le penchant d'une
montagne, lequel a une double enceinte. C'est dans cette place qu'dtoit le fils aind dii
grand-Turc.

La ville poss^de un caravanserai oCl nous allames loger. Ddja il y avoit des Turcs, et nous
filmes obliges d'y mettre tous nos chevaux p^le-m6le, selon I'usage ; mais le lendemain ma-
tin, au moment oii j'appr^tois le mien pour partir, je m'aper<jus qu'on m'avoit pris I'une des
courroies qui me servoit a attacher derridre ma sella le tapis et autres objets que je portois
en trousse.

D'abord je criai et me fachai beaucoup. Mais il y avoit la un esclave Turc, I'un deceux
du fils aind, homme de poids et d'environ cinquante ans, qui, m'entendant et voyant que je
ne parlois pas bien la langue, me prit par la main et me conduisit a la porte du caravanserai.
La il me demanda en Italien qui j'etois. Je fus stupdfait d'entendre ce langage dans sa
bouche. Je r^pondis qui j'etois Franc. " D'oil venez-vous ? ajouta-t-il. — De Damas, dans
" la compagnie d'Hoyarbarach, et je vais a Bourse retrouver un de mes fr^res. — Eh bien,
" vous etes un espion, et vous venez chercher ici des renseignemens sur le pays. Si vous
■■'' ne IVtiez pas, n'auriez-vous pas dil prendre la mer pour retourner chez vous ?"

Cette inculpation a laquelle je ne m'attendois pas m'interdit ; je rdpondis cependant que
les Vdnitiens et les Genois se faisoient sur mer une guerre si acharn^e que je n'osois ni'y
risquer. II me demanda d'oil j'etois. Du royaume de France, repartis-je. Etes-vous des
environs de Paris ? reprit-il. Je dis que non, et je lui demandai a mon tour s'il connoissoit
Paris. II me repondit qu'il y avoit (£t6 autrefois avec un capitaine nommd Bernabo.
" Croyez-moi, ajouta-t-ii, allez dans le caravanserai chercher votre cheval, et amenez-le
" moi ici ; car il y a li des esclaves Albanicns qui acheveroientd. vous prendre ce qu'il porte
" encore. Tandis que je le garderai, vous irez dejeuner, et vous ferez pour vous et pour
" lui une pro\ision de cinq jours, parce que vous serez cinq journ^es sans rien trouver."

Je profitai du conseil j j'allai m'approvisionner, et je dejeunai avec d'autant plus de plai&ir

que

la Brocquiere.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

115

que depiiis deux jours je n'avois goAt^ viande, et que je courois risque de n'en point t&ter
encore pendant cinq jours.

Sorti du caravanserai, je pris le chemin dc Bourse, et laissai a gauche, entre I'occident et
le midi, celui deTroie-la-Grant*. II y a d'assez hautcs montagnes, et j'en eus plusieurs a
passer. J'eus aussi deux journ^es de for^ts, apr^s quoi je traversai une belle plaine dans la-
quelle il y a quelques villages assez bons pour le pays. A demi-journde de Bourse il en est
un ou nous trouvAmes de la viande et du raisin ; ce raisin ^toit aussi frais qu'au temps des
vendangcs : ils savent le garder ainsi toute I'ann^e ; c'est un secret qu'ils ont. Les Turcs
m'y r^gaiirent de r6ti ; mais il n'^toit pas cuit a moiti^. A mesure que la viande se rdtis-
soit, nous la coupions i la broche par tranches. Nous eiimes aussi du kaymac ; c'est de la
cr^me de bufHe. Elle ^toit si bonne et si douce, et j'en mangeai tant que je manquai d'en
crever.

Avant d'entrer dans le village nous vimes venir d nous un Turc de Bourse qui ^toit envoyd
a r^pouse de Hoyarbarach pour lui annoncer la mort de son p^re. Elle t^moigna une grande
douleur, et ce fut a cette occasion que s'^tant d^couvert le visage, j'eus le plaisir de la voir;
ce qui ne m'^toit pas encore arriv^ de toute la route. C'^toit une fort belle femine.

II y avoit dans le lieu un esclave Bulgare ren^gat, qui, par affectation de z^le et pour se
montrer bon Sarrasin, reprocha aux Turcs de la caravane de tne laisser aller dans leur com-
pagnie, et dit que c'dtoit un p^ch^ a eux qui revenoient du saint p^lerinage de la Mecque:
en consequence ils me notifierent qu'il falloit nous s^parer, et je fus oblig^ de me rendre a
Bourse.

Je partis done le lendemain, une heure avant le jour, avec I'aide de Dieu qui jusque-la
m'avoit conduit ; il me guida encore si bien que dans la route je ne demandai mon chemin
qu'une seule fois.

En entrant dans la ville je vis beaucoup de gens qui en sortoient pour aller au-devant de
la caravane. Tel est I'usage: les plus notables s'en font un devoir; c'est une f^te. II y en
eut m^me plusieurs qui, me croyant un des pelerins, me bais^rent les mains et la robe.

En y entrant je me vis embarrass^, parce que d'abord on trouve une place qui s'ouvre par
quatre rues, et que je ne savois laquelle prendre. Dieu me fit encore choisir la bonne, la-
quelle me conduisit au bazar, oil sont les marchandises et les marchands. Je ni'adre.ssai au
premier chr^tien que j'y vis, et ce chr^lien se trouva heureusement un des espinolis de Gd-
nes, celui-la m^me pour qui Parv^sin de Baruth m'avoit donne des lettres. II fut fort 6tonn6
de me voir, et me conduisit chez un Florentin oCi je logeai avec mon cheval. J'y restai dix
jours, temps que j'employai a parcourir la ville, conduit par les marchands, qui se firent un
plaisir de me mener par-tout eux-m^mes.

De toutes celles que poss^de le Turc, c'est la plus considerable ; elle est grande, mar-
chande, et situde au pied et au nord du mont Olimpoa (Olympe), d'ou descend une riviere
qui la traverse et qui, se divisant en plusieurs bras, forme comme un amas de petites villes,
et contribuc a la faire parditre plus grande encore.

C'est a Burse que sont inhumes les seigneurs de Turquie (les sultans). On y voit de
beaux Edifices, et surtout un grand nombre d'h6pitaux, parmi lesquels il y en a quatre oil
Ton distribue souvent du pain, du vin et de la viande aux pauvres, qui veulent les prendre
pour Dieu. A Tune des extremittfs de la ville, vers le ponent, est un beau et vaste chateau
bhti sur une hauteur, et qui peut bien renfermer mille maisons. La est aussi le palais du
seigneur, palais qu'on m'a dit 6tre intdrieurement un lieu tr^s-agr^able, et qui a un jardin
avec un joli ^tang. Le prince avoit alors cinquante femmes, et souvent, dit-on, il va sur
retang s'amuser en bateau avec quelqu'une d'elles.

Burse ^toit aussi le s^jour de Camusat Bayschat (pacha), seigneur, ou, comme nous au-
tres nous dirions, gouverueur et lieutenant de la Turquie. C'est un tres-vaillant homme, le

* L'auteur, en donnant ici d la fameuse Troie la denomination de grande, ne fait que giiivre I'usage de son
iiecle. Les historiens et Its lomanciers du temps la designoicnt toujours ainsi, histoire de 7 . c-la-Giant, de-
struction de Troie-la-Grant, etc. '

■{■{'

Q 3

plus

. "L - 4 u^ia

I ,'1"''

II ■/ -''

■i ^!\^

r."

liivl:

116

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

plus cntreprfiiant qu'ait le Tiirc, et le plus habile a conduirc sagement line cntrcprise.
Aussi sont-ce principalcment ces qualities qui liii ont fait tlonnerce gouvernemcnt.

Je demandai s'il tcnoit bien le pays et s'il savoit se fairc obdir. On mc dit qu'il y dtoit
obdi et respect^ comme Amurat lui-m^^me, qu'il avoit pour a|)pointemcnM cinquante mille
ducats par an, et que, quand le Turc entroit en guerre; il lui menoit h ses ddpcns vingt
mille hommcs; mais que lui, de son critd, il avoit dgalement scs pensionnaires qui, dans ce
cas, <?toient tenus de lui fournir a leurs frais, I'un mille hommes, I'autrc deux mille, lautre
troiH, et ainsi des autres.

II y a dans Burse deux bazars: I'un ou Ton vend dcs {"toflcs de soie de toute esp6ce, de
riches et belles pierreries, grande quantitd de pcrle^, ct a bon marchd, dcs toilcs de coton,
ainsi qu'une infinite d'autres marchandises dont renumdration scroit trop longue; I'autrc oCl
Ton achate du coton et du savon blanc, qui fait la un gros objet dc commerce.

Je vis aussi dans une halle un spectacle lamentable: c'dtoient dcs chretiens, hommcs et
femmes, que Ton vendoit. L'usage est de les faire asscoir sur des bancs. Celui qui veut
les acheter nc voit d'cux que le visage et les mains, et un peu le bras dcs femmcs. A Da-
mas j'avois vu vendrc une fillc noire, de quinze a seize ans ; on la menoit an long des rues
toute nue, "fors que le ventre et le derri^re, et ung jiou au-desoubs."

C'est 5 Burse que, pour la premiere fois, je mangcai du caviaire* a I'huile d'olive. Cette
nourriture n'est guere bonne que pour dcs Grecs, ou quand on n'a rien de mieux.

Quelques jours aprcs qu'IIoyarbarach fut arrivd j'allai prendre congd de lui et le remer-
cier des moyens qu'il m'avoit procures de faire mon voyage. Je le trouvai an bazar, assis
sur un haul sidge de pierre avcc plusieurs des plus notables de la villc. Les marchands
s'dtoient joints a moi dans cctte visitc.

Quelques-uns d'entre eux, Florentins de nation, s'intdressoicnt a un Espagnol qui, aprds
avoir dtd esclave du soudan, avoit trouvd le moyen de s'echappcr d'Egypte ct d'arrivcr
jusqu'a Burse. lis me prierent de I'cmmener avcc moi. Je le conduisis a mes frais jusqu'a
Constantinople, ou je le laissai ; mais je suis pcrsuadd que c'dtoit un rendgat. Je n'en ai
point eu de nouvelles depuis.

Trois Gdnois avoient achcte des dpices aux gens de la caravane, et ilsse proposoient d'aller
les vendre a Pere (Pdra), j)res dc Constantinople, par-dela le detroit que nous appelons le
Bras-de-Saint-George. Moi qui voulois profiter de leur compagnie, j'attcndis leur depart,
et c'est la raison qui me fit rcster dans Burse; car, a moins d'etre connu. Ton n'obtient point
de passer le ddtroit. Dans cette vue \U me procuri^rent une lettre du gouverneur. Jc I'cm-
portai avec moi ; mais elle ne me ser\'it point, parte que je trouvai moyen de passer avec
eux. Nous partimcs ensemble. Cependant ils mavoient fait acheter pour ma siVcte un
chapcau rouge fort eleve, avec une huvcttcf en fil d'archal, queje portai jusqu'a Constan-
tinople.

Au sortir dc Burse nous traversames vers le iiord une plaine qu'arrose une riviere profondc
qui va se jeter, quatre lieucs environ plus bas, dans le golfe, cntre Constantinople et Ga-
lipoly. Nous eAmes line journec de montagnes, que des bois ct un terrain argileux rendi-
rent tr^s-pdnible. La est un petit arbre qui porte un fruit un pen plus gros que nos plus
fortes cerises, et qui a la forme et le gortt de nos fraises, quoiqu'un peu aigrclet. II est fort
agreable a manger; mais si on en mange une ccrtaine quantite, il porte a la tcte ct cnivre.
On le trouve en Novembre ct Ddcembre J.

Du haut de la montagne on voit le goife de Galipoly. Qnnnd on I'a descendue on cntre
dans une valine tcnninee par un trcs-grand lac, autour duquel sont construitcs bcaucoup de
maisons. C'est la que j'ai vu pour la premiere fois fairc des tapis de Turquic. Je pas.^ai
la nuit dans la vallee. Elle produit bcaucoup de riz.

"H 111"'! ■

* Caviaire, caviar, cavial, caviat, sdrtc ilo ragout on de mcts compose d'orufs d'csturffcons qu'ou a saiipoudrts
dc sel et seches an soleil. Lts (irecs in font une jfrandc consonirnation dans Icur.s dill'i'rcns careines.
t Hnvette, sorte d'ornenicnt qu'on nicttuit au cluipcaii.
} La description de I'auteur annonce ip'il s'atrit ici dc I'arbousier.

Au.

la Brocquiire. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Au-dela on trouvc, tantdt un pays de montagncs ct de valldes, tantdt un pays d'herbages,
puis line haute for6t qu'il scroit impossible do traverser sans guide, ct oil Ics chcvaux en-
fonccnt si fort qu'ilsont grandc peine h s'en tircr. Pour moi je crois que c'est celle dont il
est parld dans I'histoire de Godcfroi de Bouillon, et qu'il eut tant de difticultd h traverser.

3c pan-iai la nuit par-dcia, dans un village qui est a quatrc lieues en-de<;i de Nicomide
(Nicomcdie). Nic()in<<die est une grande ville avec havre. Ce havre, appeld le Lenguo,
pnrt du golle de Constantinople et s'<!tend jusqu a la ville, ou il a de largeur un trait d'arc.
Tout cc pays est d'un passage tr^s-difficultueux.

Par-dcla Nicomedie, en tirant vers Constantinople, il devicnt tres-beau et assez bon. Lit
on trouve plus de Grcrs que de Turcs ; mais ces Grecs ont pour les chr<5tiens (pour Ics La-
tins) j)Uis d'avcrsion encore que les Turcs eux-memcs.

Jc cotoyai Ic golle de Constantinople, et laissant Ic chemin de Nique (Nicde), ville situde
au nord. pr^s de la mer Noire, jc vins loger succcssivement dans un village en mine, ct
qui n'a jjnur habitans que des Grecs ; puis dans ini autre prt^s dc Scutari ; enfin a Scutari
nicmc, sur Ic detroit, vis-a-vis de Pdra.

La sont dc^ Turcs auxqucls il faut payer un droit, et qui gardent Ic passage. II y a dc3
rochcs qiii Ic rendroient trtis-aise a ddfendrc si on vouloit le fortifier. Hommcs et chcvaux
jjcuvent s'y embnrquer ct d(?barquer aise'inent. Nous passamcs, mes compagnons et moi,
sur deux vaisseaux Grecs.

Ceux a qui appartcnoit celui que jc montois me prirent pour Turc, et me rcndirent de
grands honncurs. Mais quand ils m'curent dcsccndu a tcrre, et qu'ils me virent, en en-
trant dans Pdra, laisser a la porte mon cheval en garde, et demander un marchand Gdnois
nomnid Christophe Parvcsin, pour qui j'avois des lettres, ils sc dout^rcnt que j'dtois chrd-
tien. Deux d'entre eux alors m'atfeiidiient a la porte, et quand je vins y reprendre men
cheval ils me demand^rcnt plus que ce que j'dtois convcnu dc leur donner pour mon pas-
saoc, ct voulurciit me rantjnnncr, Jc crois m^me qu'ils m'auroient battu s'ils I'avoicnt osd ;
mais j'avois mon cpde ct mon bon tarquais: d'ailleurs un cordonnier Gdnois qui demeuroit
pr^s dc la vint a mon aide, et ils furciit obliges dc sc retirer.

J'ecris ceci pour .>-crvir d'avcrti-scment aux voyageurs qui, comme moi, auroient afTaire
a des Grcrs. Tous ceux avec qui j ai eu a trailer ne m'ont laissd que de la ddfianre. J'ai
tnnivc plus dc Inyaiite en Turquie. Ce peuple n'aime point les chrdtiens qui obeissent a
r(5j'lir:e de Rcmc ; la soumission qu'il a faife depuis a cette dglise dtoit plus intcrcssec que
sincere*. Au-si m'a-t-on dit que, peu avant mon passage, le pape, dans un concile ge-
neral, les avoit declares schismatiqucs et maudits, en les dcvouaut a ^tre csclaves de ceux
qui dtoicnt esclavcst.

Pcia est unc graiule ville habitee par des Grecs, par des Juifs et par des Gdnois. Ceux-
ci en soMt les niaitri.'s sous le duo de Milan, qui s'en dit le seigneur; ils y ont un podestat
et d'autre^ officicrs qui la tjouvernent a leur mani^re. ' On y fait un grand commerce avec
les Tiur-i ; niuis Ics Turcs y jouissent d'un droit de franchise singulier : c'est que si un de
leuis esrl:i\cs s"echap])C et vicnt y chercher un asile, on est oblige de le leur rendre. Le
port et le plus beau do tous ceux que j'ai vus, et niemc de tous ceux, je crois, que posse-
dent Ics cr.rcticns, pui.sque les plus grosses caraques Genoises peuvent venir y mettre cchelle
a terrc. Mais comme tout le monde sait cela, je m'abstiens d'cu parler. Cependant il m'a

117

* l"n 1 IW, .loan P;ilc(noj;uo II vint en Italic pour rcimir I'l'glise Grecque avec l;i Latine, et la reunion cut lieu
I'amu'c fiiivimii' an concile tie i'loreiice. iNIiiis cetti; deinarclic n'ctoit ile hi part Jo rempereur, ainsi que le re-
uian|ue la Iii(iei|uii're, (|ii'nue operation politicpie dietee par I'inleret, et (jui n'eut aucune i-uite. Ses etats se
trouvoient dans uiie situaiioii si deplorable, et il etoit teliement. presse l)ar les Turcs, ipi'il cherchoit a se procurer
le seeours des Latins ; et c'est dans cet espoir (ju'il etoit venu leurrcr le pnpe. Cette epoque de 1438 c-t reniarqn-
able pour uotre voyaifc. Kile prouvc <pie la IJroccjuiere, puisqu'il la cite, le pul)lia posterieurement a cette
uiUK'e-la.

i" I'ait i'luix. Le concile ^en'ral qui eut lieu ptu avant le jjassajrc ilc I'auteur par Constantinople est celui de
I3ale en l\.M. Or, loin d'y nipudire et anatlieuiatiser les (irecs, on s'y occupa dc leur reunion. Cette pretenduc
maleilietioii etoit sans ilout'' un l)ruit que t'aisoient courir dans Constantinople ceux qui ne vouloicnt pas de rap-
prochement, ct le voyaj^eur le fait enteudj-e par cette expression, I'un m'a dit.

semble

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118

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage dt

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sembl^ que du c6t^ de la terre, vers rdglisc qui est dans le voisinage de la porte, si I'ex-
itim\i€ du havre, il y a un endroit foible.

Je trouvai h P^ra un ambassadeur du due de Milan, qu'on appeloit messirc Benedicto de
Fourlino. Le due, qui avoit besoin de I'appui de I'empereur Sigismond contre les Vdni-
tiens, et qui voyoit Sigismond embarrass^ i df^fendredes'Turcs son royaumede Hongric, cn-
voyoit vers Amurat une ambassade pour ndgucier un accommodement entre les deux princes.

Messire Benedicto me fit, en I'honneur de monseigneur de Bourgogne, beaucoup d'accueil;
il me conta m£me que, pour porter dommage aux V^nitiens, il avoit contribu^ a leur faire
perdre Salonique, prise sur eux pur les Turcs ; et certes en cela il fitd'autant plus mal que de-
puis j'ai vu des habitans de cette ville renier J^sus-Christ pour enibrasser la loi de Mahomet.

II y avoit aussi ^ P^ra un Napolitain nomm^ Pi^tre de Naples, avec qui je me liai. Ce-
lui-ci se disoit mari^ dans la terre du prStre Jean, et il Ht des eilbrts pour m'y emmener avec
lui. Au reste, comme je le questionnai beaucoup sur ce pays, il m'en conta bien des choses
que je vais ^crire. J'ignore s'il me dit vdrit^ ou non, mais je nc garantis rien.

Nota. La raani^re dont notre voyageur annonce ici la relation du Napolitain, annonce
combien peu il y croyoit ; et en cela le bon sens qu'il a montr^ jusqu'a present ne se de-
ment pas. Ce r^cit n'est en effet qu'unamas de fables absurdes et de merveilles r^voltantes
qui ne m^ritent pas d'etre cities, quoiqu'on les trouve cgalement dans certains auteurs du
temps. Laissons I'auteur reprendre son discours.

Deux jours apr^s men arriv^e h Pcra je traversal le havre pour a'iler ^ Constantinople et
visiter cette ville.

C'est une grande et spacieuse citd, qui a la forme d'lm triangle. L'un des cdt^s regarde
le d^troit que nous appelons le Bras-de-Saint-George; I'autre a au midi un goufTre (golfe)
assez large, qui se prolonge jusqu'a Galipoly. Au nord est le port.

II existe sur la terre, dit-on, trois grandes villes dont chacune renferme sept montagnes ;
c'est Rome, Constantinople et Antioche. Selon moi, Rome est plus grande et plus arrondie
que Constantinople. Pour Antioche, comme je ne I'ai vue qu'en passant, je ne puis rien dire
sur sa grandeur; cependant scs montagnes m'ontparu plus hautes que celles des deux autres.

On donne a Constantinople, dans son triangle, di'v-huit milies de tour, dont un tiers est
situ^ du c6t^ de terre, vers le couchant. Elle a Ui;l bonne enceinte de murailles, et sur-
tout dans la partie qui regarde la terre. Cette portion, qu'on dit avoir six milies d'une
pointe k I'autre, a en outre un fossd profond qui est en glacis, except^ dans un espace de
deux cents pas, a Tune de ses extr^mit^s, pres du palais appel^ la Blaquerne ; on assure
m£me que les 'Turcs ont failli prendre la ville par cet endroit foible. Quinze ou vingt pieds
en avant du foss^ est une fausse braie d'un bon et haut nuir.

Aux deux extremitds de ce c6td il y avoit autrefois deux beaux palais qui, si Ton en juge
par les mines et les restes qui en subsistent encore, ^toient tr6s-forts. On m'a contd qu'ils
ont ^t^ abattus par un empereur dans une circonstance oil, prisonnier du Turc, il courut
risque de la vie. Celui-ci exigeoit qu'il lui livrat Constantinople, et, en cas de refus, il
mena(;oit de le faire mourir. L'autre r^pondit qu'il prdf^roit la mort a la honte d'affliger la
chr^tientd par un si grand malheur, et qu'apr^s tout sa perte ne seroit rien en comparaison
de celle de la ville. Quand le Turc vit qu'il n'avanceroit rien par cette vole, i! lui proposa
la liberty, a condition que la place qui est devant Sainte-Sophie seroit abattue, ainsi que
les deux palais. Son projet ^toit d'affoiblir ainsi la ville, afin d'avoir moins de peine d la
prendre. L'empereur consentir a la proposition, et la preuve en existe encore aujourd'hui.

Constantinople est form^e de diverses parties s^pardes ; de sorte qu'il y a plus de vide
que de plein. Les plus grosses caraques peuvent venir mouiller sous ses murs, comme a
P^ra; elle a en outre dans son int^rieur un petit havre qui pent contenir trois ou quatre ga-
lores. II est au midi, pr^s d'une porte ou Ton voit une butte composde d'os de chr^tiens
qui, apres la conqucte de Jerusalem et d'Acre, par Godefroi de Bouillon, revenoient par le
dctroit. A mesure que les Grecs les passoient, ils les conduisoient dans cette place, qui est

^loignee

la Rrocquliire.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOL RIES.

wroient
avertit ^ danger

^loigiu'c et cach<<c, ft Ics y j^gorgcoient. Tous, quoiqu'cii 'r^^'iPWl 9Btnhxt

pt^ri ainni, sans tin page qui, ayaiU trouvd moyen de repasser en Asjf ^

qui Ifs mona(;oit : W* se repandirent Ic long dc la mer Noire, et c'est

tend, que dcsccndent ecu |)cuplfs gros rhrestiens (d'un christianisinr griA<ti<r) qui habitent

la: Circassiens, Migrciins, (Mingrcliens), Ziques, Gothlans et Anangats. An rosic, lommc

cc lait est ancien, je n'en sals rien que par ou'i-dire.

Quoiqiie la villp ait braucoup de belles ^-gliseii, la plus rcmarquable, ainsi que la princi-
pale, c.-t telle dc Sainte-Sophie, ou le patriarche se tient, ct autre?* gens coinme channnnes
(chanoines). Ellc est de lormc ronde, silut^c pris de la poiiite orientale, et formc'e de trois
parties diverscs; I'une souterraine, I'autre liors dc terre, la troisi^me sup^rieurc a cclle-ci.
jadis elle ^toit entour^cde cioitres, et avoit, dit-on, troi.s millcs de circuit; aujuurd'hui elle
est moins <5tcndue, et n'a plus que trois cioitres, qui tous trois sont paves et rcvt^tus en
larges rarreaux de marbre blanc, ct orn<^s de grosses colonnes dc diverses coulcurs*. Lcs
portcs, remarquables par leur largcur et Icur hauteur, sont d'airain.

Cctte eglisc possddc, dit-on, I'une des robes de Notre-Seigneur, Ic Per de la lance qui le
perga, Tepongc dont il fut abreuviS ct le roscau qu'on lui niit en main. Moi je dirai que
derri»!!rc le chmur on m'a niontri' les grandcs bandes du gril ou fut r6ti Saint-Laurent, et une
large pierre en forme dc lavoir, sur laquelle Abraham fit manger, dit-on, les trois anges qui
alloient ddtruire Sodoine ct Gomorre.

J'^tois curicuxdc savoir comment IcsGrccs ci'lebroient le service divin, et en consequence
je me rendis ii Sainte-Sophie un jour oi^ le patriarche oflicioit. L'empercur y assistoit avcc
8a femme, sa mdre et son fr^re, despote de Morde+. On y reprdsenta un mysti^re, dont le
sujct ^toit les trois enfans que Nabuchodonosor fit joter dans la fournaise§.

L'imp<;ratricc, (illc de rcmpercur de Trasdondc (Tr^bisonde), me parut une fort belle
personnc. Ccpendant, conime je ne pouvois la voir que de loin, je voulus la considerer de
plus pres : d'aillcurs j'etois curicux de savoir comment ellc montoit a cheval ; car elle dtoit
venue ainsi a I'l-glise, accompagnee seulement dc deux dames, dc trois vieillards, ministres
d'etat, et de trois dc ces hommes d qui les Turcs confient la garde de leurs fenimes (trois
eunuques). Au sortir de Sainte-Sophie elle entra dans un h6tel voisin pour y diner; ce qui
m'obligea d'attendre la qu'elle soriit, et par consequent de passer toute la journ^e sans boire
ni manger.

Elle parut enfin. On lui apporta un banc sur lequel elle monta. On fit approcher du
banc son cheval, qui etoitsuperbe et couvert d'uneselle magnifiqne. Alors un des vieillards
prit le long nianteau qu'elle portoit, et passa de I'autre c6t^ du cheval, en le tenant ^tendu
sur ses mains aussi haut qu'il pouvoit. Pendant ce temps elle mil le pied sur I'dtrier, elle
enfourcha le cheval comnie le font les hommes, et d^s qu'elle fut en selle le vieillard lui jeta
le manteau sur les ^paules ; apres quoi il lui donna un de ces chapeaux longs, a pointe,
Usitds en Gr^ce, et vers Textr^mite duquel ^toient trois plumes d'or qui lui sdyoient tr^s-bien.

J'etois si pr^s d'elle qu'on me dit de m'eloijrner : ainsi je pus la voir parfaitement. Elle
avoit aux oreilles un fermail (anneau) large et plat, orn^ de plusieurs pierres prdcieuses, et

Farticuli^rcmcnt de rubis. Elle me parut jeune, blanche, et plus belle encore que dans
^glise ; en un mot, je n'y eusse trouv^ rien k redire si son visage n'avoit it6 peint, et as-
sure^mcnt elle n'en avoit pas besoin.

Lcs deux dames mont^rent a cheval en m6me temps qu'elle ; elles etoient belles aussi,

et portoient comme elle manteau et chapeau. La troupe retourna au palais de la Blaquerne.

Au-devant de Sainte-Sophie est une belle et immense place, entour^e de murs comme un

* Deux de cis galeiies ou portiques, que I'auteur api>elle cioitres, subsistent encore aujourd'hui, aiiiKi que les
colonnes. CcUcs-ci sont de niati^res ditrerentes, porpliyre, marbre, |p-anit, etc. ; et voild pourquoi le voyageur,

du Pi-loponn^sc ; sa mite.

qui n'etoit pas uaturalistc, les reprusente comine eiant de coiileurs diverses.

t Cct cmi)ereur t'toit Jean Paleologue II ; son fr^re, Di'inetrius, despote ou prince
Irene, filie de C.'onstantin Dragases, souverain d'une petite contree de la Macedoine j sa femme,' Marie Comntoe,
filie d' Alexis, empereur de Trebisonde.

X Ces ftrces devotes etoient d'usage alors dans I'eglise Grecque, ainsi que dans la Latine. En France on les ap-
pcloit mystires, et c'est le nom que le voyageur donne i ceUe qu'il vit dans Sainte-ISophie.

palais.

119

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110

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Votjage (U

palois, et oft jadii on faisoit dcsi jcux*. J*y vis le frt^re Ac rcmpprciir, deNpofe dc Mnr6c,
8'cxerccr avcc line vingtaiiic dViutrcii cavaliers. Charim dViix avoit un arc ; ils roiirniciit i
cheval Ic lon^ dc I'cnccinte, jctoient leiirs chapcaiix en nvaiit ; puiH, quaixl ils I'avolcnt
ddpasnd, ils tiroicnt par dcrrii^rc, rommc pour Ic pcrcer, ct cdui d'ontrc cux doiit l.i (liche
atfci^jnoif Ic chapeaii dc plus pri's t^toit r<5|)ul<$ le pluH'Icibiic. C'est-li iin cxcrcicc qu'iU
ont aduptd dcs Turcs, ct c'cst un dc ccux auxqu Is iU rlicrriicnt a se rcndrc habilcs.

Dc cc c{\t6, pris dc la pninte dc I'anjjlc, est la belle <5^lisc dc Saint-George, qui a, en
facede la Tiirquicf, uiu* tour a I'endroit ou Ic passage est Ic plus eiroit.

Dc I'autrc crttd, :^ I'occidcnt, sc voit iinc tres-hautc colonne rarrcc portant dcs caractdres
trac<fs, et sur iaqueiic est une statue tW|uestrc dc Constantin, en l)ronzc. II tient un sceptre
dc la main gauche, ct a Ic bras droit et la main dtendus vers la Tiircjuic et le chcniin dc J«5-
ru,«alcm, comme pour marqncr que tout cc p:iys <5toit sous >a loi.

Pris dc rette colonne it y en a trois autrcs, jjlacdes rur uno m^mo Iin;nc, et d'un mcuI
morccau ciiacunc. Ccllcs-ci portoicnt trois chcvaux dores qui sont mainuMiant a VeniseJ.

Dans la jolic^gliso dc Pantht'acrator, occupcc par dcsreligicux caloycrs, qui sont cc que
nous appcllcrions en France moincs dc {'Observance, on montre une picrrc «u table de di-
verscs coulcurs que Nicodimc avoit fait taillcr pour placer sur son tombeau, ct qui lui scrvit
h poser Ic corps dc Notre-Scigncur quand il le dcscendit dc la croix. Pendant ce temps la
Vicrge plcuroit sur Ic corps ; mais ses larmcs, au lieu d'y roster, tombdrent tuutcs siu* la
pierrc, et on les y voit toutcs encore. D'abord je crus que c'dtoicnt des gouttcs dc circ, et
j'y portai la main pour les tAtcr; jc me baissai cnsuitc, n(in de la regirder iiorizontalcmcnt
et a contre-jour, et me sembla que c'cstoicnt gouttcs d'cau cngcildc^. C'cst la une chose
qucplusicurspersonnes ont pu voir comme moi.

Dans la mcme <5glisc sont les tombcaux de Constantin ct desainte Hcldnc sa mdre, places
chacun a la hauteur d'environ huit pied-», sur une colonne qui sc terminc comme un diamant
pointu a quatre laces. On dit que les V<;nitiens, pendant qu'lU eurcnt a Constantinople
unegrande puissance, tir6rent du tombeau dc saintc II<5ldne son corps, qu'ils emportcrent a
Venisc, ou il est encore tout cnticr. lis tentdrcnt, dit-on, la mdmc chose pour celui de
Constantin, mais ils nc purent en vcnir a bout ; et le fait est asscz vraiscmblable, puisqu'on
y voit encore deux gros morccaux brist's a I'endroit qu'on vouioit rompre. Les deux tom-
bcaux sont coulciir dc jasprc sur le vermeil, comme une briquc (dc jasj)e rouge).

On montre dans I'dglisc de Sainte-Apostole un tron<;on dc la colonne a laquelle fut at-
tachd Nolrc-Seigneur pour t-tre battu de verges chez Pilate. Cc morceau, plus grand que
la hauteur d'un homme, est do la m6me pierrc que deux autrcs que j'ai vus, I'une u Home,
I'autre a Jerusalem ; mais cc dernier exc^dc en grandeur les deux autrcs ensemble.

11 y a encore dans la m6me <5glise, et dans des ccrcucils de bois, plusieurs corps saints
qui sont entiers : les voit qui veut. L'un d'eux avoit eu la t6te coupdc ; on lui en a mis
ime d'un autre saint. Au reste les Grecs nc portent point h ccs reliques le mfimc respect
que nous. II en est de meme pour la picrre de Nicodcme et li colonne de Notrc-Seigncur:
ce!le-ci est seulcment couvcrte d'une enveloppe en planches, et posde dcbout pr^s d'un
pilier, a main droite quand on entre dans regiise par la portc de devant.

Parmi Ics belles dgliscs jc citcrai encore comme wnc des plus remarquables celle qu'on
nomme la Blaqiiernc, parcc qu'cllc est pr^s du palais imporial, et qui, quoiquc petite ct
mal couverte, a dcs peinturcs avec pav»5 et rcvetemcns en marbrc. Je ne doute pas qu'il
n'y en ait plusieurs autrcs <?galement dignes d'6tre vantdcs ; mais jc n'ai pu les visiter toutcs.
Les marchands (marchands Latins) en ont une ou tous les jours on dit la mcssc a la romaine.
Cellc-ci est vis-a-vis Ic passage de Pera.

La villc a des marchands dc plusieurs nations ; mais aucunc n'y est aussi puissante que
les Venitiens. lis y ont un bailie (baile) qui connoit seui de toutcs Icurs allaires^ ct ne de-

* I.'liippoilrntnc Grer, aiijoiird'hiii I'utini'idiin ties Turcs.

t 11 s';!-;!! ici lie la Tiuviiiic il'A>if. On u'avoit point encore donin: Co nom aux provinces qucles Turc» ^loise-
iloiint en Ivtn'Dpo.

t lis sont niaintenant d Paris, ct il y tn a quatre.

pend

i I •?,

hurl

hm^-^:i

la Brocqui^re.

TnAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

pend ni de I'f mpercur ni de sen odicirn. C'e«t-li un privilege qu'iln powtWent depiiit long-
temps* : on dit mime que par deux foin iU out, avcc Icurs |{al^rc«, sauvrf de«Turc« la ville ;
pour moi je rrny que Dieu I'a pluv gord^c pour leu Naintcii rcliquM qui aunt dedani que
pour autre cho«e.

he Tuic y entrelient auMi un oflTicier pour le commerce qu'y font fle« Hujet^, et cet offjcicr
est, do m^mc que le bailc, ind(<pcndant de Tcmprreur ; iU y out m£me It* droit, quand
un de leum eAcIaveii s'^chappe ct ii'y r^rugie, de le redeninnder, et I'cmpereur etit oblig^
de le leur rendrc.

Cc prince est dann une jjrande Huj<5tion du Turr, puisque annuellement il lui paie, m'a-
t-on dit, un tribut dodix millc ducats; rt ccttesomme cM uniquement pour Constantinople:
rar au-dela de cette villc il ne possddc ricn qu'un chateau itituc d trois lieues vern le nord, ct
en Cirice une petite vi\6 nommC'c Salubric.

JVtois log^ chez un nnrchand Catalan. Cet honime ayant dit h I'un dc« gens du palais
que j'lJtois h monscigncur de Bourgo/jno, rcinpercur me fit demandcr H'il ^toit vrai que Ic
ciucrftt pris la puerile, re que les Grrrs nc pouvoicnt rroircf. Jc leur en dys la vdrite tout
ninsiquc la chose avoit e«t^ ; de quoy ils Turent bien csnierveilli^s.

I,e jour de la Chandelcur, Ics mnrchands me pr<''viiircnt que, I'apr^d-diiide, il devoit y
avoir au palais un office solennel pareil ^ celiii que nous fuisons ce jour-li ; ct ils m'y con-
duisirent. L'empereur dtoit a I'extr^mitt' d'une salle, assis sur une couche (un coussin) ;
rimpt^ratricc vi( la ccr^monie d'une ni^ce 8up<;rieure ; et sont les rhappellains qui chantent
I'oflicc, eslrangncment vcstus et habilli^s, et chantent p.ir cuer, solon leurs dois.

(iurlques jours apr^s, on me mena voir ^galement uiic fi^le qui avoit lieu pour le manage
A un drs parens de rempcreur. II y eut une joute i la mani^re du pays, et cette joute mc
parnt bicn (Strange. La voici :

Au milieu d'une place on avoit plants, en guise de quintaine, un grand picu auquel^toit
attarht^c une planche large de trois pieds, sur cinq de long. Une quarantaine de cavaliers
nrriv^rent i>ur le lieu sans aucune pi^ce quelconque d'armure, et sans autre arme qu'un petit
bilton.

D'abord ils s'amusdrent ^ coiirir les una apr^s les autres, et cette manoeuvre dura environ
une demi-heure On apporta ensuite soixante a quatre-vingts perches d'aune, telles et plus
longues encore que celles dont nous nousservons pour les couvertures de nos toits en chaume.
I.e marid en prit une le premier, et il courut ventre i terre vers la planche, pour I'y briser.
Kile plioitet branloit dans sa main; aussi la rr)mpit-il sans clTort. Alors s't'lev^rent des criii
de joie, et les instrumens de musique, qui ^toient des nacaires, comme chez les Turcs, se
fircnt entendre. Chacun des autres cavaliers vint de mSme prendre sa perche et la rompre.
Enfln le ninrid en fit lier ensemble deux, qui a la \6r\t6 n'^toient pas trop fortes, et if les
bri.^a encore sans se blesser^. Ainsi finit la f^te, et chacun retourna chez soi sain et sauf.
L'empereur ct son <?jiouse ^toient a une I'enetre pour la voir.

Je m'etois propose de partir avec ce inetisirc B^n^dict de Fnurlino, qui, comme je I'ai dit,
<^t()it envoyi^ en ambassade vers le Turc par Ic due de Milan. II avoit avec lui un gentil-
homme du due, nommd Jean Visconti, sept autres personnes, et dix chevaux de suite, parce
que, quand on voyage en Gr^ce, il t'aut porter sans exception tout ce dont on pent
avoir besoin.

':;'l'i

til

* ])c-puis la conqu£te de Tcmpirc «l'Oriu>t pu- lus Latiiu. en 1304, couquitc d laquelle les V<nitien» Hvoient
( oiiti'ibue in gruiulc piiitie.

t La inifflle d'Orlt-ans, apris aroir conibattu avec gloire ieii AnglaU et le due de Bourco;;»e lij^iiis contre la
iTiiuL-e, avoit ite taite ])rUonniere eii 1430, par un officier de Jean de Luxembourg, guncral d«« trou|)es du due,

: atroce avoit retcnti

pouvoicnt croire

. , . ;'estoit une chose

iiii|M)s>il>li'.

J La BrfKquierc dcvuit trouver ces joutet ridicules, parce qu'il 6toit accoutumc aus tournois de France, oii
dfs chevaliers tout couyertu de fcr se battoient avec des cpC>e«, des lances, de» mauuefi, et oii trJs-frequemuicnt il
y avoit des hommes tu6s, lileseis ou ecrase.s tous les pieds de« chevaux. C'cst ce qui liii fait dire par deux foi» que
dans la joute des perche* il n'y eut per^:vlme de blesse.

R Je

iTiiuL-e, avoit I'te taite ])riAonniere en l4aU, par un onicier tie Jean de Luxembourg, guncral d«« t
I'uis vendue par Jean aux Auglais, qui la firent bruler vive rannue suivuite. Cette vengeance atro
<lan> tuute 1 Kuro|)c. A Coust»utinople le bruit public I'attribuoit au due; mais les (irecs ne p
qu'vm prince chreticn cut etc capable d'une pareillc horreur, «t leur sembloit, dit I'auteur, que c'e

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Voyage de

Je sortis de Constantinople le ^ Janvier 1433, ct traversal d'abord Rigory, passage jadis
assez fort, et form6 par une valine dans laquelle s'avance un bras de mer qui pent bien avoir
vingt ntilles de longueur. II y avoit une tour que les Turcs ont abattue. II y rcste un
pont, une chauss^e et un village de Grecs. Pour arriver a Constantinople par terre on n'a
que ce passage, et un autre un peu plus bas que celui-ci, plus fort encore, ct sur une
riviere qui vient Id se jeter dans la iner.

De Rigory j'allai a Thiras, habite pareilleinent par des Grecs, jadis bonne ville, et passage
aussi fort qu? le pr^c^dent, parce qu'il est form^ de mdme par la mer. A chaquc bout du
pont etoit une grosse tour. La tour ct la ville, tout a 6^6 d^truit par les T'lrcs.

De Thiras je me rendis a Salubrie. Cette ville, situ^e h. deux journ^es de Constantinople,
a un petit port sur le golfe, qui s'etend depuis ce dernier lieu jusqu'a Galipoly. Les Turcs
n'ont pu la prendre, quoique du c6t^ de la mer clle ne soil pas forte. Ellc appartient a
I'empereur, ainsiquc Ic pays jusquc-ia; mais ce pays,tout ruind, n'a que des vilhigespauvres.

De Id je vins d Chourleu, jadis considerable, dcfruit par les Turcs et peupld de Turcs et
de Grecs ;

De Chourleu d Mist^rio, petite place fermde : il n'y a que des Grecs, avec un seul Turc a
qui son prince I'a donn^e ;

De Mist^rio a Pirgasy, oi\ il ne demeure que des Turcs, et dont les murs sont abattus ;

De Pirgasy a Zambry, egalement d^truite;

De Zambry a Andrenopoly ( Andrinople), grandc ville marchandc, bien peuplde, et situ^e
sur une tr^s-grosse riviere qu'on nomme la Mariscc, a six journ^es de Constantinople. C'est
la plus forte de toutes celles que le Turc possMe dans la Grice, et c'est celle qu'il habite le
plus volontiers. Le seigneur ou lieutenant de Gr^ce (le gouverneur) y fait aussi son scjour,
ct Ton y trouve plusieurs marchands Vdnitiens, Catalans, Genois et Florentins. Depui*
Constantinople jusque Id, Ic pays est bon, bien arros^, mais mal peupl^ ; il a des valines
fertiles, et produit de tout, except^ du bois.

Le Turc dtoit a Less^re, grosse ville en Pyrrhe, pr^s du lieu de Thessalic oii se livra la
bataille entre Cesar et Pompde, et mcssire Benedicto prit cette route pour se rendre auprcs
de liii. Nous passAmes la Marisce en bateaux, et rencontrdmes, a pen de di>«tance, cin-
quante de ses femmes, accompagndes d'environ seize eunuques, qui nous apprirent qu'ils
les conduisoient a Andrinople, ou lui-meme se proposoit de venir bientdt.

J'allai d Dymodique, bonne ville, fermde d'une double enceinte de murailles. Elle est
fortifiee d'un cotd par une riviere, et de I'autre par un grand et fort chdteau construit sur
une hauteur presque ronde, et qui, dans son circuit, pent bien renfermer trois cents maisons.
Le chateau a un donjon oft le Turc, m'a-t-on dit, tient son trdsor.

De Dymodique je me rendis d Ypsala, asscz grande ville, mais totalement d^truite, et ou
je passai la Marisce une seconde fois*. Elle est d deux journdes d'Andrinoplc. Le pays,
dans tout cet espace, est mar^cageux et difficile pour les chevanx.

Ayne, au-deld d'Ypsala, est sur la mer, a I'embouchure de la Marisce, qui a bien en cet
endroit deux milles de large. Au terns de Troye-Ia-Grant, ce fut une puissante citd, qui
avoit son roi : maintenant elle a pour seigneur le fr^re du seigneur de Matelin, qui est tri-
butaire du Turc.

Sur une butte ronde on y voit un tombeau qu'on dit etre celui de Polydorc, le plus jeune
des tils de Priam. Le p^re, pendant le sidge de Troie, avoit envoyd son fiis au roi d'Ayne,
avec de grands tr^sors ; mais, apr^s la destruction de la ville, le roi, tant par crainte des
Grecs que par convoitise des tr^sors, fit mourir le jeune prince.

A Ayne je passai la Marisca sur ungros batiment, etme rendis a Macry, autre ville mari-
time.a I'occident de la premiere, et habitue de Turcs et de Grecs. Elle est pres de llle de
Samandra, qui appartient au seigneur d'Ayne, et elle paroit avoir ^td autrefois trds-consid^-
rable; maintenant tout y est en mines, d Texception d'une partie du ciiateau.

* Ici le copiste ecrit la Maresce, plus haul il avoit mis IVIareschc, ct plus haut encore Marisce. Cos variations
d'orthographe sont iniiiiimcnt communes dans nos manuscrits, et souvent d'une phrase d I'autre. J 'en ai fait
la remarque dans mon discours preliininairc.

Caumissin,

la Brocqnicrc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

123

Caumissin, quiwi trouvc ensuite apres avoir traversd une montagne, a dc bons murs, qui
la rendent asscz forte, quoique petite. Elle est sur iin ruisseau, en beau et plat pays, lermd
liar d'autres montagnes a I'occident, et ce pays s'etend, dans un espace de cinq a six jour-
ii<?es, jiisqu'a Lcss^re.

Missy fut egalcment ct forte et bien close; mais une partie de ses murs sont abattus; tout
V a etc dc'truit, ct die ii'a point d'habitans.

Peritoq, ville ancienne ct autrefois considerable, est sur un golfe qui s'avance dans-les
terrcs d'eiiviron quarante milles et qui part de Monte-Santo, ou sont tant de caloyers. Elle
a de.s Grccs pour habitans, ct pour defense de bonnes murailles^ qui cependant sont enta-
inees par dc grandcs br^chcs. De la, pour aller a Less^re, le chemin est une grande plaine.
Cost pr6s de Lcs>ere, dit-on, que se livra la grande bataille de Thessale (dePharsale).

Jc n'allai point jusq'a ccttc derni^re ville. Instruits que le Turc dtoit en route, nous I'at-
tc!idimei4 a Yamgbat«!ar, village construit par ses sujets. II n'arriva que le troisieme jour.
Son rscorte, quand il marchoit, ^toit de quatre a cinq cents chevaux"; mais comme il aimoit
passionncmcnt la rliassc au vol, la plus grande partie de cette troupe etoit composee de fau-
conniers ct d'ostricicrs (autoursicrs), gens dont il faisoit un grand cas, et dont il entretenoit,
ine dit-on, plus de deux mille. Avec ce goflt il ne faisoit que de petites journj^-es, ct ses
marches n'etoicnt pour lui qu'un objet d'amusement et de plaisir.

11 entra dans Yamgbatsar avec de la pluie, n'ayant pour cortege qu'une cinquantaine de
cavaliers avec douze archers, ses esclaves, qui marchoient a pied devant lui. Son habillement
c'toit une robe de velours cramoisi, fourree de inartre zibeline, et sur la t6te il portoit,
comme les Turcs, un chapcau rouge j mais, pour se garantir de la pluie, par-dessus sa robe
il en avoit mis une autre de velours, en guise de manteau, selon la mode du pays.

11 campa sous un pavilion qu'un avoit apport^ ; car nulle part on nc trouve a logcr, nuUe
part on ne trouve de vivrcs que dans les grandes villes, et, en voyage, chacun est oblig^ de
porter tout ce qui lui est necessaire. Pour lui, il avoit un grand train de chameaux ct d'au-
tres betes dc sommc.

L'apr^s-din^e il sortit pour aller prendre un bain, et je le vis k mon aise. 11 ^toit a cheval,
avec son meme chapcau et pa robe cramoisie, accompagne de six personnes a pied ; je I'en-
tcndis meme parler a ses gens, et il me parut avoir la parole lourde. C'est un prince de
vingt-huit a trente ans, qui deja devient tr^s-gras.

L'ambassadeur lui fit demander par un des siens s'il pourroit avoir de lui une audience et
lui offrir les prdsens qu'il apportoit. II fit rdponse qu'allant a ses plaisirs il ne vouloit point
entendre parler d'affaires; que d'ailleurs ses bayschas (bachas) ^toient absens, et que l'am-
bassadeur n'avoit qu'a les attendre ou allcr I'attendre Iui-m6me dans Andrinople.

Messire B^nddict prit ce dernier parti. En consequence nous retournames a Caumissin,
ct dc la, apres avoir repass<5 la montagne dontj'ai parld, nous vinmes gagner un passage
forme par deux hautes roches entre lesquelles coule une riviere. Pour le garder on avoit
construit sur Tune des roches un fort ch&teau nommd Coulony, qui maintenant est ddtruit
presque en entier. La montagne est en partie couverte de bois, et habitue par des hommes
mdchans et assassins.

J'arrivai ainsi a Trajanopoly, ville batie par un empercur nommd Trajan, lequcl fit beau-
roup de ciioscs digncs de memoire. II dtoit fils de celui qui fonda Andrdnopoly. Les Sar-
rasins disent qu'il avoit une orcillc dc mouton*.

Sa viile, qui dtoit tris-grande, est dans le voisinage de la mer et de la Marisce. On n'y
voit plus que des ruines, avec quelques habitans. Elle a une montagne au levant et la mer
:ui midi. L'un de ses bains porte le nom d'eau saintc.

* Trajano|H)ly ne fut point nommce ainsi pour avoir ete construite par Trajan, mais parce qu'il y mourut EUe
existoit uvant lui, et se nommoit Selinunte.

Adriin ne fut pas le p6re de Trajan, mais au contraire son fils adoptif, et c'est par-li qu'il devint son succes-
gcur.

Andrinople n'a pas plus ete fondec par Adrien que Trajanopoly par Trajan. Un treinblement de terre ravoil
ruinee ; il la fit rebdtir et lui donna son noin. On doit excuscr ces erreurs dans un auteur du quinzi^me siecle.
Quant 4 roreille de mouton, il en parle comme d'unc fable de Sarrasiiis.

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

Plus loin est Vyra, ancien chateau qu'on a d^moli en plusieurs endroits. Un Grec m'a
dit que I'^glise avoit trois cents chanoines. Le chceur en subsiste encore, et les Turcs en ont
fait une mosqiide. lis ont aussi construit autour du chateau une grande ville, peuplde main-
tenant par eiix et par des Grecs. Elle est sur une montagne pres de la Marisce.

All sortir de Vyra nous recontrdmes le seigneur (gouverneur) de la Gr^ce, qui, mand^
par le Turc, se rendoit aupr^s de lui avec une troupe de cent vingt chevaux. C'est un bel
homme, natif de Bulgarie, et qui a 6t4 enclave de sin maitre ; mais comme il a le talent de
bicn boire, ledit maitre lui a donn^ le gouvernement de Gr^ce, avec cinquante milled'tcats
de revenu.

Dymodique, ou je revin.t, me parut plus belle et plus grande encore qu'n mon premier
passage ; et s'il est vrai que le Turc y a d^pos^ son trdsor, assur^ment il a raison.

Nous fAmes obligd:) de I'attendre onze jours dans Andrinople. Enfin il arriva le premier
de careme. Le grand calife (le muphti), qui est cliez eux ce qu'est le pape chez nouH, alia
au-devant de lui avec tons les notable-) de la ville: ce qui formoit une troupe tr^s-nom-
breuse. II en ^toit d<?ja assez pr^n lorsqu'ils le rencontr^rent, et neanmoins il s'arr6ta pour
boire et manger, envoya en avant une partie de ses gens, et n'y entra qu'a la nuit.

J'ai eu occa.<iion de me Her, pendant mon s^jour i Andrinople, avec plusieurs personnes
vi^ui avoient v^cu k sa cour, et qui, ^ port^e de le bien connoitre, m'ont donnd sur lui quel-
ques details ; et d'abord, moi qui I'ai vu plusieurs fois, je dirai que c'est un petit homme,
gros et trapu, a physionomie Tartare, vi.-age large et brun, joues dlev^es, barbe ronde, nez
frrand et courts, petits yeux ; mais il est, m'a-t-on dit, doux, bon, liberal, distribuant vo-
lontiers seigneuries et argent.

Ses revenus sont de deux millions et demi de ducats, y compris vingt-cinq mille qu*il
pen;oit en tributs*. D'ailleurs, quand il leve une arm^e, non seulement elle ne lui coi^te
ricn ; mais il y gagne encore, parce que les troupes qu'on lui am^ne de Turquie en Gr^cef
paient a Gallipoly le comarch, qui est de trois aspres par homme et de cinq par cheval. II
en est de m6me au passage de la Dunoe (du Danube). D'ailleurs, quand ses soldats vont
en course et qu'ils font des esclaves, il a le droit d'en prendre un sur cinq, a son chuix.

Cepcndant il passe pour ne point aimer la guerre, et cette inculpation me paroit assez
fondle. En cflTet il a jusqu'a present ^prouv^ de la part de la chr^tientd si pen de resistance
que, s'il vouloit employer contre elle la puissance et les revenus dont il jouit, ce lui seroit
chose facile d'en conqudrir une tr^s-grande partie§.

Un de ses goilts favoris est la chasse aux chiens et aux oiseaux. 11 a, dit-on, plus de mille
chiens et plus de deux mille oiseaux dresses, et de diverses esp^ces ; j'en ai vu moi-m6me
une tres-grande partie.

II aime beaucoup a boire, et aime ceux qui boivent bien. Pour lui, il va sans peine jus-
qu'a dix ou douze grondils de vin : ce qui fait six ou sept quartesj;. C'est quand il a bien
bu qu'il devient liberal et qu'il distribue ses grands dons : aussi ses gens sont-ils tr^s-aises
de le voir demander du vin. L'ann^e derni^re il y eut un Maure qui s'avisa de venir le
pr^cher sur cet objet, et qui lui repr^senta que cette liqueur dtant d^fendue par le pro-
ph^te, ceux qui en buvoient n'etoient pas de bons Sarrasins ; pour toute re'ponse il le fit
nettre en prison, puis chasser de ses ^tats, avec defense d'y jamais remettre les pieds.

* II y a ici erreur de copiste sur ces vingt-cinq mille ducats de tribuU ; la somme est trop foible. On verra plus
bas que le despote de Servie en payoit annuelieinent cincjuante mille d lui seul.

t J'ai deja reniarque que I'auteur appelle Turquie les etats que pos!>edoient en Asie les Turcs, et qu'il d^signe
sous le nom de GrAce ceux qu'ils avoient en-de9a du detroit, et que nous nommons aujourd'hui Turquie d'Europe.

§ Le sultan dont la Brocqui^rc fait ici mention, et qu'il a dcsigiie ci-devant sous le nom d' Amourat-Bay, est Amu-
rat II, I'un des princes Ottomans les plus tCldbres. L'histoire cite de lui plusieurs conquetes qui d la verite sont la
plupart posterieures au temps dont parle ici la relation. S'il n'en a point ^it davantage, c'est qu'il eut en tfite liu-
niade et Scanderberg. D'ailleurs sa jjloirc fut eclipsce par celle de son ftis, le t'ameux Mahomet II, la terreur des
Chretiens, tumommi le grand par sa nation, et qui, vingt ans aprds, en 1453, prit Constantinople et d6truisit le
peu qui subsistoit encore de I'empire (Jiec.

t La quarte s'appeloh ainsi, parce ((u'elle etoit le quart du chenct, qui contenoit quatrc pots et une pinte. Le
pot fctoit de deux pintes, et par cons^ueut la ({uarte faiboit deux bouteiUus, plu» un deBii-setier ; et douze grondils,
vingt-trois bouteilies.

la Brocquikre.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

1'23

Au goAt pour les femmes il joint celiii des jeunes garqons. II a trois cents des premieres
et une trentaine des autres; maiiii il se plait davantage avec ceux-cr. Quand \h sont grands
il les recompense par de riches dons et des seigneuries : il y en a tin aiiqiid il a donn^ en
mariage Time de ses soeurs, avec vingt-cinq mille ducats de revenu.

Certaines personnes font monter son tr^nr ^ un denti-million de ducats, d'autres a un
million. II en a en outre un second, qui consiste en esclaves, en vaisselle, et principale-
ment en joyaux pour ses femmes. Ce dernier article est estiin^ seul un million d'or. Moi,
je suis convaincu que s'il tenoit sa main ferm^e pendant un an, et qu'il s'abstint de donner
aiiisi a I'aveugle, il epargneroit un million de ducats sans faire tort a personne.

De temps en temps il fait de grands exemples de justice bien remarquables ; ce qui lui
procure d'6tre parfaitement ob^i tant dans son interieur qu'au-dehors. D'ailleurs il sait main-
lenir son pays dans un excellent (itat de defense, et il n'emploie vis-^vis de ses sujets Turcs
ni taille ni aucun genre d'extorsion*.

Sa maison est composde de cinq mille personnes tant a pied qu'i cheval ; mais a Tarm^e
il n'augmente en rien leurs gages: de sorte qu'en guerre il ne depensepas plus qu'en paix.

Ses principaux ofRciers sont trois baschas nu visiers-bachas (visirs-bachas.) Lc visir est
un conseiller; le bacha, une sorie de chef ou ordonnateur. Ces trois personnages sont
charges de tout ce qui concernc sa personne ou sa maison, et on ne peut lui parler que par
leur entremise. Quand il est en Gr^cc, c'est le seigneur de Gr^ce (le gouverneur) qui a
I'inspection sur les gens de guerre ; quand il est en Turquie, c'est le seigneur de Turquie.

II a donnd de grandes seigneuries ; mais il peut les retirer ^ son gr^. D'ailleurs ceux
auxquels il les acconle sont tenus de le servir en guerre avec un certain nombre de troupes
i\ leurs frais. C'est ainsi que, tons les ans, ceux deGr^ce lui fournissent trente mille hommes
qu il peut employer et conduire par-tout oii bon lui semble ; et ceux de Turquie dix mille,
auxquels il n'a que des vivres a fourhir. Veut-il former une arm^e plus considerable, la
Gr^ce seule, m'a-t-on dit, peut alors lui donner cent vingt mille hommes ; mais ceux-ci, il
est oblig^ de les soudoyer. La p.iie est de cinq aspres pour un fantasain, de huit pour un
cavalier.

Cependant j'ai entendu dire que sur ces cent vingt mille hommt-s il n'y en avoit que la
moiti^, c'est-a-dire les gens de cheval, qui fussent en bon ^tat, bien arrays de tarquais et
d'^p^e ; le reste est compost de gens de pied mal ^quippds. Celui d'entre eux qui a une
^p^e n'a point d'arc, celui qui a un arc n'a ni ^pde ni arme quelconque, beaucoup m^me
n'ont qu'ur Atan. Et il en est ainsi de^ pistons que fournit la Turquie : la moiti^ n'est ar-
m^e que de batons ; cependant ces pistons Turcs sont plus estim^s que les Grecs, et meil-
leurs soldats.

D'autres personnes dont je regarde le t^moignage comme veritable m'ont dit depuis que
les troupes qu'annuellement la Turquie est obligee de fournir quand le seigneur veut former
son arm^e, montent a trente mille hommes, et celles de Gr^ce i vingt mille, sans compter
deux ou trois mille esclaves qui sont d lui, et qu'il arme bien.

Parmi ces esclaves il y a beaucoup de chr^tiens. Il y en a aussi beaucoup dans les troupes
Grecques; les uns Albaniens, les autres Bulgares ou d'autres contr^es. C'est ainsi que dans
la derni^re arm^e de Gr^ce il se trouva trois mille chevaux de Servie, que le despote de
cette province envoya sous le commandement d'un de sea fils. C'est bien ^ regret que tous
ces gens-la viennent le servir ; mais ils n'oseroient refuser.

Les bachas arriv^rent a Andrinople trois jours apres leur seigneur, et ils y amenoient avec
eux une pnrtie de ses gens et de son bagage. Ce bagage consiste en une centaine de cha-
meaux et deux cent ciiiquante, tant mulets que sommiers, parce que la nation ne fait point
usage de chariots.

* Ceci est une satire indirectc des gouvememens d'Europe, ofk chaque jour leg rois, et meme les wigneun par-
ticuliers, vexoietit ce ({w'xh appeluient leurs bommes ou leurs sujets par des tallies arbitnires «t det loiUiera d'inipots
dunt les noins utoient aussi bizarres que I'asbicttc ct la perception en 4toient abusives.

Messire

III)

If;

1 ^ ,.

'i'k-'

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage dt

Mcssirc Benedict, qui desiroit avoir dc liii line audience, fit demander aux bachas s'il
pouvoit les voir, et ils repondircnt que non. La raison de ce refus ^toit qu'ils avoicnt bu
avcc leur seigneur, et qu'ils «5toient ivres ainsi que lui, Ccpendant ils envoyerent le Icnde-
nuiin chez I'ambassadeur pour Ic prdvenir qu'ils ^toient visibles, et il se rendit aussitdt chcz
chacun d'cux avec des prcsens; telle est la coutume;' on ne pent leur parler sans apporter
quclque chose, et il en est dc mcme pour les csclavcs qui gardent leurs portes. Je Taccoin-
pagnai dans cette visite.

Le jour suivant, dans I'apres dinee, ils lui firent dire qu'il pouvoit vrnir au palais. 11
monta aussitot a chcval pour s'y rcndre avec sa suite, et jc me joignis a elle : mais nous
ctions tous a pied ; lui seiil avoit un cheval.

Devant la cour nous trouvames une grande quantite d'hommes et de chevaux. La porte
^toit gard^e par une trcnfaine d'esclaves sous le gouvernement d'un chef, et atmds de ba-
tons. Si queiqu'un se prescnte pourcntrer sans permission, ils iui disentde se retirer; s'il
insiste, ils le chasscnt a coups de baton.

Ce que nous appelons ia cotir du roi, les Turcs I'appellent porte du seigneur. Toufcs lea
fois que le seigneur reqoit un message ou ambassadc, ce qui lui arrive presque tous It-s jours,
il fait porte. Faire j)orte est pour lui ce qu'est pour nos rois de France tenir etat roval et
cour ouverte, quoique cepcndant il y ait entre les deux ceremonies beaucoup de difli^rencc,
comme je le dirai tout-a-l'heure.

Quand I'ambassadeur fut entre on le fit asseoir pres de la porte avec beaucoup d'autrcs
personnes qui attendoient que Ic maitre sortit de sa chambrc pour faire porte. D'abord les
frois bachas entrdrcnt avec le gouvcrneur de Grece et autres qu'ils appcUent seigneurs, ba
cliambre donnoit sur une trcs-grande cour. Le gouvcrneur alia I'y attcndre. II parut.

Son vetemcnt ctoit, selon I'usage, une robe de satin cramoisi, par*dessus laquelle il en
avoit, comme manteau, une autre de satin vert a figures, fourr^e de martre zibeline. Ses
jeunes garcjons I'accompa-inoicnt ; mais ils ne le suivirent que jusqu'a I'entrde de la piece,
et rentrerent. II ne resta pres de lui qu'un petit nain et deux jeunes gens qui faisoient les
fous*.

11 travcrsa Tangle de la cour, et viut dans une galerie ou Ton avoit prepare un siege j)our
lui. C'^toit une sorte de couche couverte en velours (un sopha), ou il avoit quatre ou cinei
degres a monter. II alia s'y asseoir a la maniere Turque, comme nos tailleurs quand ils ira-
vaillent, et aussit6t les trois bachas vinrent prendre place a peu de distance de lui. Les au-
tres oflficicrs qui dans ces jours-la font partie de son corKige entrerent <igalement dans la ga-
lerie, et ils all&rent se ranger le long des murs, aussi loin de lui qu'ils le pureiit. Fn de-
hors, mais en face, etoient assis vingt gentilshommes Valaques, detenus a sa suite comme
otagcs du pays. Dans I'int^rieur de la salle on avoit placd une centaine de grands plats
d'^tain, qui chacun contenoient une pi^ce de mouton ct du riz.

Quand tout le monde fut plac^ on fit entrerun seigneur du royaume de Boss^ne (Bosnie),
lequel pr^tendoit que la couronrc de ce pays lui appartcnoit : en consequence il ^toit vciui
en faire hommage au Turc et lui demander du secours centre le roi. On le mena prendre
place aupres des bachas; on introduisit ses gens, ct Ton fit venir I'ambassadeur du due de
Milan.

II partit suivi de ses prdsens, qu'on alia placer pr^s des plats d'^tain. La, des gens prt^-
pos^s pour les recevoir, les prircnt et les lev^rent au-dessus de Icurs tetes aussi haut qu'ils
ie purent, afin que le seigneur et sa cour pussent les voir. Pendant ce temps, mcssire Be'-
nddict avanqoit lentement vers la galerie. Un homme de distinction vint au-devant de lui
pour Ty introduire. En entrant il fit une r^v^rence sans 6fer I'aumusse qu'il avoit sur la
tete ; arrivd pr^s des degres, il en fit une autre tr^s-profonde.

Alors le seigneur se leva: il dc»cendit deux marches pour s'approcher de I'ambassadeur,

* L'lisage d' avoir des nains et des fous ctoit tris-ancicn dans les cours d'Orient. 11 avoit passo avcc Ic* croisadcs
<lans celles dc8 princes chr&tieiis d'Europe, ct dura en France, pour les fous, jusqu'a Louis XIV.

«'

ta Brocquiere.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

J 27

et le prit par la main. Celui-ci voulut lui baiser la sienne ; mais il sy refiisa, et demanda.
pnr la voie d'lm interprete Juif qui savoit le Turc et I'ltalicn, comment se portoit son bon
frdre et voisin le due de Milan. L'ambassadeur r^pondit a cette question ; aprfcs quoi on le
mena prendre place pr^s du Bosnien, mais a reculonsj selun I'uiiage, ct toujours le visage
tourn^ vers le prince.

Le seigneur attendit, pour se rasscoir, qu'il filt assis. Alors les diverses personnes de ser-
vice qui dtoient dans la salle se mirent par terre, et I'introducteur qui I'avoit fait entrer alia
nous chercher, nous autres qui formions sa suite, et il nous pla^a pr^s des Bosniens.

Pendant ce temps on attachoit au seigneur une serviette en soie ; on plaqoit devant lui
inie jiiece de cuir rouge, ronde et mince, parce que leur coutume est de ne manger que sur
des nappes de cuir ; puis on lui apporta de la viande cuite, sur deux plats dords. Lorsqu'il
fnt servi, les gens de service allerent prendre les plats d'etain dont j'ai parl^, et ils les dis-
tribu^rent par la salle aux personnes qui s'y trouvoient : un plat pour quatre. II y
avoit dans chacun un morceau de mouton et du riz clair, mais point de pain et rien a
boire. Cependant j'aperqus dans un coin de la cour un haut bufTet a gradins qui portoit un
peu de vaisselle, et au pied duquel ^toit un grand vase d'argent en forme de calice. Je vis
plusieurs gens y boire ; maisj'ignore si c'^toit de I'eau on du vin.

Quant a la viande des plats, quelques-uns y goilt^rent ; d'iiutrcs, non : mais, avant qu'ils
fussent tous servis, il fallut desservir, parce que le maitre n'avoit point vouhi manger. Ja-
mais il ne prend rien en public, et il y a tres-peu de personnes qui puissent se vanter de
1 avoir entendu parler, ou vu manger ou boire.

II sortit, et aiors se firent entendre des menestrels (musicicns) qui ^toient dans la cour,
pres du buflet. Ils touch^rent des instrumens et chant^rent des chansons de gestes, dans
lesquelles ils c^I^broient les grandes actions des guerriers Turcs. A mesure que ceux de la
galerie entendoient quelque chose qui leur plaisoit, ils poussoient a leur mani^re des cris
^pouvan tables. J'ignorois quels ^toient les instrumens dont on jouoit : j'allai dans la cour,
et je vis qu'ils ^toient a cordcs et fort grands. Les menestrels vinrent dans la salle, oil ils
mang^rent ce qui s'y trouvoit. Enfin on desservit ; chacun se leva, et I'ambassadeur se re-
tira sans avoir dit un mot de son ambassade : ce qui, pour la premiere audience, est de cou-
tume.

Une autre coutume encore est que quand un arabassadeur a ^fe pr<:sentd au seigneur,
celui-ci, jusqu'a ce qu'il ait fait sa r^ponse, lui envoie de quoi fournir a sa d^pense ; et
rctte somme est de deux cents aspres. Le lendemain done un des gens du tr^sorier, celui-
la meme qui dtoit venu prendre messire B^n^dict pour le conduire a la cour, vint lui ap-
porter la somme ; mais peu apres lesesclaves quigardcnt la porte vinrent chercher ce qu'en
pareil cas il est d'usage de leur donner, et au reste ils se contentent de peu.

Le troisieme jour, les bachas lui firent savoir qu'ils etoient pr^ts k apprcndre de lui le sujet
qui I'amenoit. II se rendit aussit6t li la cour, et je I'y accompagnai. Deja le maitre avoit
tcnu son audience ; il venoit de se retirer, et les bachas seuls Etoient rest^s avec le bdguelar
ou seigneur de Gr^ce. Quand nous eikmes passe la porte nous les trouvames tous quatre
assis en dehors de la galerie, sur une pifece de bois qui se trouvoit la. lis envoyferent dire a
I'ambassadeur d'approcher. On mit par tcrre, devant eux, un tapis, et ils I'y firent asscoir
comme un criminel qui est devant son juge. Cepeudant il y avoit dans le lieu une asscz
grande quantite de monde.

II leur exposa le sujet de sa mission, qui consistoit, m'a-t-on dit, a prier leur maitre, de
la part du due de Milan, de vouloir bien abandonner k I'empereur Romain Sigismond la Hon-
grie, la Valaquie, toute la Bulgarie jusqu'a Sophie, le royaume de Bosnie, et la partie qu'il
poss^doit d'Albanie ddpendante d'EscIavonie. Ils r^pondirent qu'ils ne pouvoient pour le
moment en instruire leur seigneur, parce qu'il etoit occup^ ; mais que dans dix jours ils feroi-
ent connoitre sa r^ponse, s'il la leur avoit donn^e. C'est encore la une chose d'usage, que
d^s le moment oil un ambassadeur est annoncd tel, il ne pent plus parler au prince ; et ce
reglement a lieu depuis que le grand-p^re de celui-ci a p^ri de la main d'un ambassadeur de
Scrvie. L'euvoyd ^toit venu solliciter aupr^s de lui quelque adoucissement en faveur de ses

compatriotcs.

■ "'i'jM^!!

(«

If H- ill'' u

, ■i:>..

■'■■'.;■ .< .

•;■.' 'i ;

'n"' -:

I'r'i

128

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Voi/age dt

rrtmpatriote*, qur Ic prince vouloit r^duire en nervitude. D^scsp^rd de ne pouvoir rien ob-
tenir, il Ic tua, ct fiit liii-m£me massacrd a riimtant*.

I^e dixii'mc jour, nous allAmefl a la cour chercher n^ponse. Le seigneur <5tnit, comme la
premiere foiM, Hiir son oi^ge ; maJH il n'y nvoit avec liii dan* la golerie que ceux de ses gens
<]iii liii servoicnt a manger. Je n'y vis ni bnfTet, ni mdnestrels, ni le seigneur de Bosnie, ni
Jes Valaqiies ; mais neulement Magnoly, fr^re du due de Chifalonic (Cdphalonie), qui se
ronduit envers le prince comme un serviteur bien reapectueux. Les bachas eux-m6mes
/toient en dehon', debout et furt loin, ainsi que la plupart des peraonnes que j'avois vues au-
trefoiii dans I'int^rieur; encore leur nombre <ftoit-ii beaucoup moindre.

On nnu!< fit attendre en dehont. Pendant ce temps, le grand cadi, avec ses autres associds,
rendoit justice k la porte exfdrieure de la cour, et j'y vis venir devant lui des chrdtiens
ofrangcrs pour plnidrr leur cause. Mais quand Ic seigneur se leva, les juges leverent aussi
Ifiir prance, rt se rofir^rent rhcz eux.

I'our lui, jc If vis passer avec tout son cort<?ge dans la grande cour ; ce que je n'avois pu
\ oir la j)remi^re fois. II portoit un robe de drap d't)r, verte et peu riche, et il mc parut
avoir la d-marche vive.

Des (ju'il fuf rentr<5 dans sa chambre, les bachas, assis, comme la fois prdcddente, sur la
pi^ce de bois, flrent venir I'ambassadeur. Leur repon«e fut que leur mattre le cbargeoit do
italucr pour lui son frire le due de Milan ; qu'il dcsircroit f.iire beaucoup en sa favcur, mais
que sa dcmande en ce moment n'dtoit point raisonnable ; que, par dgard pour lui, leur dit
seigneur s'eioit souvent abstenu de faire dans le royaume de Hongrie de grandes conqufites,
qui d'ailleurs lui cussent peu coCitd, ct que ce sacrifice devoit sultire; que ce seroit pour lui
chose fort dure de rendre ce qu'il avoit gagne par I'dpde ; que, dans lea circonstances prd-
scutes, lui et ses soldats n'avoient, pour occuper leur courage, que les possessions de I'em-
pcrcur, et qu'ils y renoncjoient d'autant moins que jusqu'alors ils ne s'^toient jamais trouves
en presence sans I'avoir battu ou vu fuir, comme tout le monde le savoit.

Kn eifct, I'ambassadeur (^toit instruit de ces details. A la derni^re defaite qu'dprouva Si-
gismond devant Couloubath, il avoit etd temoin de sonddsastre; il avoit m^mc, la veille de
la bataille, quittd son camp pour se rendre aupr^s du Turc. Dans nos entretiens il me conta
sur tout cela beaucoup de particularifds. Je vis dgalement deux arbaldtriers Gdnois qui
s'ctoicnt trouv^f:, a ce combat, et qui me racontferent comment I'empereur et son armde re-
passcrent le Danube sur ces galores.

Apr^s avoir recju la rdponse des bachas, I'ambassadeur revint chez lui ; mais a peine y
ctoit-il arrivd qu'il regut, de la part du seigneur, cinq mille aspres avec une robe de camocns
cramoisi, doublde de boccassin jaune. Trente-six aspres valent un ducat de Venise; mais sur
les cinq mille le trdsorier qui les ddlivra en retint dix par cent pour droits de sa charge.

Je vis aussi pendant mon sdjour a Andrinople tin present d'un autre genre, fait dgalemcnt
par le seigneur a une marine, le jour de ses noces. Cette marine dtoit la fille du bdguelar-
bay, gouverneur de la Grece, et c'dtoit la fille d'un des bachas qui, accompagnde de trente
ct quelques autres femmes, avoit 6x6 chargde de le presenter. Son v^tement dtoit un tissu

* Legjand-pere d'Ainurath II est Bajazet I", qui mourut prisoniiicr de Tamcrlan, soil qu'il ait .;o traite avtc
i><;ards par son vainqueur, comme le vculent certains ccrivains, soit qu'il ait prri duns une cag^e de fer, comme le
pri'tondent d'autres : ainsi I'historielte de I'aniliassadeur de Servie ne ptut le repfardi'r. JMais on lit dans la vie d'Aniu-
ratli 1", p^re dt Bajuzet, et par consequent bisaieul d'Amurath II, un fait qui a pu dunner lieu d la falile de i'as>as-
sinat. ('e prince, en 1389, venoit de remporter sur le despotc de Servie une victoire si)ri)al6e dans laquelle il I'avoit
fait prisonnier, et il parcouroit le champ de bataille quand, paiisant aupr^s d'un soldat Tr^ballieu blessu d uiort, ce-
lui-ci le rcconitQit, ranime seg fprce^ et le poignarde.

Selon d'autres auteurs, le despote, qui se nommoit Lazare ou Eleazar Bulcowitz, se voit attaque par une j)uis-
saiitc armee d'Amurath. Hors d etat de resister, il emploie la trahison : il gagne un des grands seigneurs de sa cour,
qui feint de passer dans le parti du sultan, et I'assassinc. (Ducange, Familia; Bisant. p. 334.)

\Lv&n, selon \mn autre relation, Amunth fut tue dans le combat; mais Lazare, fait prisonuier par les Turcs, e.ot
par eux coupe en niorqeaux sur le cadjivrc sajiglimt de leur maitre.

11 paroit, d'apres le recit de la Brocquiere, que la version de I'assassinat du sultan par le Scrvicn est la veritable.
C'e.it au moins ce que paroissent prouver les precautions prises d la cour Ottomane contre les ambassadcurs ctrangerc.
Aujourd'hui uicoio, quand ils paroissent devant Ic souverain, on les ticnt par la nianche.

d'or

^oijngede

rien ob-

:omnie la

ses gens
[Josnie, ni

•). qui se
x-mfimes

s vues au-

■■

1 associ^!3,
Chretiens

rent aussi

ti'avois pu
mc parut

ite, Rur la

la Brocquih'e.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

129

largeoit do
iciir, mais
li, leiir (lit
conqufites,
lit pour lui
ances prd-
IS de I'eni-
ais trouves

;prouva Si-

la veille de

1 me conta

dnois qui

arm^e re-

a peine y

e camocas
mais sur

harge.
galemcnt
D^guelar-
de trente

DJt un tissu

traite avcc
ir, conitnc It-
vie d' Aniu-
ile (le l'as>as-
uelle il ravDit
d uiurt, ct-

par une puis-
rs de sa cour,

fs Turcs, est

la veritabU'.
irs ctraiitiers.

d'or

d'or cramoisi, et elle avoit Ic visage couvcrt, scion i'usagc de la nation, d'un voile tris-riche
et orn^ de picrreries. Lcs dames jjortoient de m^ine de magnifiqucs voiles, et pour habille-
ment les unes avoient des robes de velours cramoisi, lcs autres des robes de drap d'or sans
fourrures. Toutes ^foicnt a clicval, jambe de-(ja, jambe de-la, comme des hommes, et plu«
sicurs avoient de supcrbes sellcs.

En avant et a la tete de la troupe marciioient trcize ou quatorze cavaliers ct deux mdnes-
trels, di;alement a clieval, ainsi que quelques autres musicicns qui portoient une trompette,
un tr^s-grand tambour et environ huit paires de timbales. Tout cela faisoit un bruit affreux.
Apr^s les m'.isiciens venoit le present, et apr^s le present, les dames.

Ce present consistoit en soixante-dix grands plateaux d'etain charges de diffiSrentes sortes
de confitures et de compotes, et vingt-huit autres dont chacun portoit un mouton ^corche.
Les moutons dtoient peints en blanc et en rouge, jet tous avoient un anneau d'argent sus-
pendu au ncz et deux autres aux oreilles.

J'eus occasion de voir aussi dans Andrinople des chaines de Chretiens qu'on amenoit vendre.
lis demandoient I'aumonc dans les rues. Mais le coeur saigne quand on songe a tout ce qu'ils
soufTrcnt de maux.

Nous quittames la ville le 12 de Mars, sous la conduite d'un esclave que le seigneur avoit
donn^ i I'ambassadeur pour I'accompagner. Cet homme nous fut en route d'une grande
utilitd, sur-tout pour les logemens ; car par-tout oCi il demandoit quelque chose pour nous,
a I'instant on s'emprcssoit de nous I'accorder.

Notre premifcre journde fut k travers un beau pays, en remontant le long de la Marisce,
que nous passames a un bac. La seconde, quoiqu'avec bons chemins, fut employee a tra-
verser des bois. Enfin nous entr&mcs dans le pays de Macedoine. La je trouvai une grande
plaine entre deux montagnes, laquelle pent bien avoir quarante milles de large, et qui est
arros^e par la Marisce. J'y rencontrai quinze hommes et dix femmes enchain^s par le cou.
C'etoient des habitans du royaume de Bosnie que des Turcs venoient d'enlever dans une
course qu'ils avoient faite. Deux d'entre eux les menoient vendre dans Andrinople.

Peu apr^s j'arrivai a Ph^ropoly*, capitale de la Macddoine, et bStie par le roi Philippe.
Elle est sur la Marisce, dans une grande plaine et un excellent pays, oft Ton trouve toutes
aortes de vivres et a bon compte. Ce fut jadis une ville considerable, et elle I'est encore.
Elle renfcrine trois montagnes, dont deux sont a une extr^mit^ vers le midi, et I'autre au
centre. Sur celle-ci etoit cons'truit un grand chateau en forme de croissant allong^; mais il
a ^t^ defruit. On me montra I'emplacement du palais du roi Philippe, qu'on a de ni^me
ddmoli, et dont les murs subsistent encore. Philippopoli est peupl^e en grande partie de
Bulgares qui tiennent la loi Gr^goise (qui suivent la religion Grecque).

Pour en sortir je passai la Marisce sur un pont, et chevauchai pendant une journ^e toute
enti^rei travers cette plaine dont j'ai parl^; elle aboutit a une montagne longue de seize a
vingt milles, et couverte de bois. Ce lieu ^toit autrefois infest^ de voleurs, et tr6s-dangereux
a passer. Le Turc a ordonnc que quiconque y habiteroit fftt Franc, et en consequence il
s'y est eleve deux villages peuplds de Bulgares, et dont I'uu est sur les confins de Bulgarie
et de Macddoinc, Je passai la nuitdans le premier.

Apr^s avoir travers^ la montagne, on trouve une plaine de six milles de long sur deux de
large; puis une for6t qui pent bien en avoir seize de longueur ; puis une autre grande plaine
totalement close de montagnes, bien peupl^e de Bulgares, et ou Ton a une riviere a tra-
verser. Enfin j'arrivai en trois jours a une ville nommde Sophie, qui fut autrefois tr^s-consi-
ddrable, ainsi qu'on le voit par les debris de ses murs ras^s jusqu'a terre, et qui aujourd'hui
encore est la meilieure de la Bulgarie. Elle a un petit chateau, et se trouve assez pres d'une
montagne au midi, mais situ^e au commencement d'une grande plaine d'environ soixante
milles de long sur dix de large. Ses habitans son. pour la plupart des Bulgares, et il en est

* C'est une eneur de copiste ; lui-mimc, quelques lignes plus bas, a ecrit Phelippopoly, et en effet c'est de Phi-
lippopoli qu'il est mention.

S dc

<il#

130

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

Iii: ■:...• ?i";- '

' ■ .■; r.i'f .. ;, ,-

.a;:-;*:;

de mfitne des villages. Lea Turcs n'y forment que le trds-petit nombre ; ce qui donne aux
aiitres un grand desir de se tirer de servitude, s'iis pouvoient trouver qui les aid3t.

J'y vis arriver des Turcs qui vcnoient de faire une course ea Hongrie. Un G^-
nois qui se trouvoit dans la ville, et qu'on nomme Nicolas Ciba, me raconta qu'il avoit vu re-
venir ^galement ceux qui repassercnt le Danube, et qui sur dix il n'y en avoit pas un qui
eflt h la fois un arc et une 6p6e. Pour inoi, je dirai que parmi ceux-ci j'en trouvai beaucoup
plus n'ayant ou qu'un arc ou qu'une ^p^e seulement, que de ceux qui eussetit les deux
armes ensemble. Les mieux fournis portoient une petite targe (bouclier) en bois. En v^rit^,
c'cst pour la chr^tient^ une grande honte, il faut en convenir, qu'elle se laisse subjuguer par
de telles gens. lis sont bien au-dessous de cc qu'on les croit.

En sortant de Sophie je traversal pendant cinquante milles cette plaine dont j'ai fait men-
tion. Le pays est bien peuple, et les habitans sont des Bulgares de religion Grecque. J'eus
ensuite un pays de montagnes, qui cependant est assez bon pour le cheval ; puis je trouvai
en plaine une trcs-petite ville nomm^e Pirotte, situ^e sur la Nissave. Eile n'est point ferm^e;
mais clle a un petit chateau qui, d'une part est d^fendu par la riviere, et de I'autre par un
marais. Au nord est une montagne. II n'y a d'habitans que quelques Turcs.

Au-dela de Pirotte on retrouve un pays montagneux ; apr^s quoi Ton revient sur ces pas
pour se rapprocher de la Nissave, qui traverse une belie valine entre deux assez hautes mon-
tagnes. Au pied d'une des deux ^toit la ville d'Ysvouri^re, aujourd'hui totalement d^truite,
ainsi que ses murs. On cdtoie ensuite la riviere, en suivant la valine ; on trouve une autre
montagne dont le passage est difficile, quoiqu'il y passe chars et charrettes, Enfin on arrive
dans une valine agr^able qu'arrcse encore la Nissave; et apr^s avoir traverse la riviere sur un
pont, on entre dans Nisce (Nissa).

Cette ville, qui avoit un beau chateau, appartenoit au despote de Servie. Le Turc I'a
prise de force il y a cinq ans, et il I'a entitlement d^truite ; elle est dans un canton charmant
qui produit beaucoup de riz. Je continual par-dela Nissa de cdtoyer la riviere; et le pays,
toujours dgalemcnt beau, est bien garni de villages. Enfin je la passai a un bac, oi\ je I'aban-
donnai. Alors commenc^rent des montagnes. J'eus a traverser une longue for^t fangeuse,
et, apr^s dix journees de marche depuis Andrinople, j'arrivai a Corsebech, petite ville auit
mille de la Morane (Morave.)

La Morave est une grosse rivifire qui vient de Bosnie. Elle separe la Bulgarie d'avec la
Rascie ou Servie, province qui porte egalement ces deux noms, et que le Turc a conquise
depuis six ans.

Pour Corsebech, il avoit un petit chateau qu'on a d^truit. II a encore une double
enceinte de murs; mais on en a d^moli la partie supdrieure jusqu'au-dessous des cr^neaux.

J'y trouvai C^namin-Bay, capitaine (commandant) de ce vaste pays fronti^re, qui s'^tend
depuis la Valaquie jusqu'en Esclavonie. II passe dans la ville une partie de I'ann^e. On
m'a dit qu'il ^toit n^ Grec, qu'il ne boit point de vin, comme les autres Turcs, et que c'est
un homme sage et vaillant, qui s'est fait craindre et ob^ir. Le Turc lui a confix le com-
mandement de cette contr^e, et il en poss^de en seigneurie la plus grande partie. II ne
laisse passer la riviere qu'a ceux qu'il connoit, a moins qu'ils ne soient porteurs d'une lettre
du maitre, ou, en son absence, du seigneur de la Gr^ce.

Nous vimes la une belle personne, genti-femme du royaume de Hongrie, dont la situation
nous Inspira bien de la piti^. Un ren^gat Hongrois, homme du plus bas ^tat^ I'avoit enlev^e
dans une course, et il en usoit comme de sa femme. Quand elle nous aperqut elle fondit
en larmea; car elle n'avoit pas encore renonce a sa religion.

Au sortir de Corsebech, je traversal la Morave a un bac, et j'entrai sur les terrcs du despote
de Rassie ou de Servie, pays beau et peupl^. Ce qui est en-deifa de la riviere lui appartient,
ce qui se trouve au-dcLi est au Turc; mais le despote lui paie annuellement cinquante mille
ducats de tribut.

Celui-ci poss^de sur la riviere etaux confins communs de Bulgarie, d'Esclavonie, d'Albanie
et de Bosnie, une ville nomm^e Nyeiiberge, qui a une mine portant or et argent tout a la

fois.

la Brocquiire.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

ouble
leaiix
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ettre

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fois. Chaque ann^e elle lui donnc plus de deux cent mille ducaU, m'ont dit gens qui sont
bicn instniits: sans cela il ne seroit pas long-temps a 6trc chasst- de son pays.

.Sur ma route je passai pr6s du chAteau d'Escalache, qui lui appartenoit, C'^toit une forte
place, sur la pointe d'une montagnc au pied de laquelle la Nissane se jette dans la Moravc.
On y voit encore une partic de nuirs avec une tour en forme de donjon ; mais c'est tout ce
qui til reste.

A ceile embouchure des deux rivieres le Turc tient habituellement quatre-vingts ou cent
fustes, galiottes et gripperies, pour passer, en temps de guerre, sa cavalcrie et son armde.
Je n'ai pu Ics voir, parce qu'on ne permet point aux chr^tiens d'en approcher ; mais un homme
digne de foi m'a dit qu'il y a toujours, pour les garder, un corps de trois cents hommes, et
que ce corps est renouvele de deux en deux mois.

D'Escalache au Danube il y a bicn cent milles, et n^anmoins, dans toute la longueur
de cet espace, il n'existe d'autre forteresse ou lieu de quelque defense qu'un village
et une maison que C(5naym-Bay a fait construirc sur le penchant d'une montagne, avec
une mosquee.

Je suivis le cours de la Morave ; et, a I'exception d'un passage tr^s-boueux qui dure pr^s
d'un mille, et que forme le resserrement de la riviere par une montagne, j'eus beau chemin
et pays agrdable et bien peupld. 11 n'en fut pas de m£me a la seconde journde : j'eus deB
bois, des montagnes, beaucoup de fange ; ndanmoins le pays continua d'etre aussi beau que
pent r^tre un pays de montagnes. Il est bien garni de villages, et par-tout on y trouve
tout ce dont on a besoin.

Depuis que nous avions mis le pied en Macddoine, en Bulgaria et en Rassie, sans cesse
sur notre passage j'avois trouv^ que le Turc faisoit crier son est, c'est-a-dire qu'il faisoit
annoncer que quiconque est tenu de se rendre a I'armde, se tint pr^t a marcher. On nous
dit que ceux qui, pour satisfaire a ce devoir, nourrissent un cheval sont exempts du comarch ;
que ceux des chr^tiens qui veulent ^tre dispenses de service paient cinquante aspres par
t^te, et que d'autres y marchent forces ; mais qu'on les prend pour augmenter le nombre.

L'on me dit aussi, a la cour du despote, que le Turc a partagd entre trois capitaines la
garde et defense de ces provinces frontieres. L'un, nommd Dysem-Bay, a depuis les confins
de la Valaquie jusqu'a la mer Noire ; Cdnaym-Bay, depuis la Valaquie jusqu'aux confins de
Bosnie ; et Ysaac-Bay, depuis ces confins jusqu'a I'Esclavonie, c'est-a-dire tout ce qui est
par-dela la Morave.

Pour reprendre le rccit de ma route, je dirai que je vins a une ville, ou plut6t a une
maison de campagne nommee Nichodem. C'est li que le despote a fixe son sejour, parce
que le terroir en est bon, et qu'il y trouve bois, rivieres et tout ce qu'il lui faut pour les
plaisirs de la chasse et du vol, qu'il aime beaucoup.

II <$toit aux champs et alloit voler sur la riviere, accompagnd d'une cinquantaine de
chevaux, de trois de ses enfans et d'un Turc qui, de la part du maitre, dtoit venu le sommer
d'envoyer a I'armee un de ses fils avec son contingent. Inddpendamment du tribut qu'il
paie, c'est-la une des conditions qui lui sont imposees. Toutes les fois que le seigneur lui
fait passer ses ordres, il est obligd de lui envoyer mille ou huit cents chevaux sous le com-
mandement Je son second fils.

II a donne a ce maitre une de ses filles en mariage, et cependant il n'y a point de jour
qu'il ne craigne de se voir enlever par lui ses Etafs; j'ai mSme entendu dire qu'on en avoit
voulu inspirer de I'envie a celui-ci, et qu'il avoit rdpondu : *' J'en tire plus que si je les pos-
" sedois. Dans ce cas je serois oblig6 de les donner a l'un de mes esclaves, et je n'eu
" aurois rien."

Les troupes qu'il levoit dtoient destinies centre I'Albanie, disoit-on. D6ja il en avoit
fait passer dans ce pays dix mille ; et voila pourquoi il avoit pr6s de lui si peu de monde k
Less^re quand je I'y vis : mais cette premiere armde avoit 6t6 ddtruite*.

* C'est en effet dans cette mfime annee 1433 que le calibre Scanderberg, apris fetre rentre par ruse en possession
de I'Albanie, dont ses ancStres etoient souverains, cominenca centre Atnurath cette guerre savante qui le couvrit

dc gloire ct qui temit les demidres ann^es du sultan

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

Lc seigneur despote est \\n ^rand ct bel homme de cinquante-huit k soixanfe ans ; il a
cinq ciifans, trois parcjons ct deux iillcs. Dea garcjons, I'un a vinpt ans, i'autre seize, I'autre
quatorzc, et tons trois sont, comme Icur p^re, d'uii extdrieur tr^s-agr^able. Quant aux
fillcs, I'une CHt marine au Turc, I'autre au comtc do Seil; mais je ne les ai poiut vues, et iie
puis rieii en dire*.

Lorsque nous le rencontrfimcs aux champs, ainsi que Je I'ai dit, I'ambassadeur et moi
nous iui primes la main ct je la lui baisai, parce que tel est I'usage. Le lendcniain nous
alldmes le saluerchez lui. Sa cour, asscz nombreuse, dtoit compos6edc tr^s-beaux hommes
qui portent longs chevcux ct longue barbe, vu qu'ils sont dc la religion Grecque. II y avoit
dans la ville un ^v^que et un ni.iitre (docteur) en th^ologie, qui se rcndoient a Con-
stantinople, et qui I'toient envoy^s en ambassade vers I'empereur par le saint concile dc
Baief.

Dc Coursebech j'avois mi.s deux jours pour venir a Nicodem ; de Nicodem a Bclgrado jVn
mis un demi. Ce ne sont jusqu'a cette derni^re ville que grands boi^^, montagneset valines;
mais CCS vallifcs foisonnent de villages dans lesqucls on irouvc bcaucoup de vivres, et sp^-
cialement de bons vins.

Belgrade est en Kascie, et elle appartenoit au despote ; mais depui.s quatre ans il I'a cddde
au roi dc Hongrie, parce qu'on a craint qu'il ne la laissat prendre au Turc, comme il a laisse^
prendre Couhimbach. Cetfe perte fut un grand malhcur pour la chr^tient^, L'autre en
seroit un plus grand encore, parce que la place est plus forte, et qu'clle pent loger jusqu'a
cinq a six milie chevauxj.

Le long de scs murs, d'un cfitd, coulc une grossc riviere qui vient de Bosnie, et qu'on
nomme la Sanne ; de I'autre elle a un chfiteau pr^s duquci passe le Danube, et la, dans ce
Danube, se jette la Sanne. C'est sur la pointc form^e par les deux rivieres qu'est bi\tie
la ville.

Dans le pourtour de son enceinte son terrain a une certaine hauteur, exccpte du c6td dc
terre, oii il est tellement uni qu'on peut par la venir de plain pied jusqu'au borddu foss^.
De ce c6t^ encore il y a nn village qui, s'dtendant depuis la Sanne jusqu'au Danube, en-
veloppe la ville a la distance d'un trait d'arc.

Ce village est habitd par des Rasciens. Le jour de Paques j'y entendis la messe en
Jangue Sclavonne. II est dans I'obddience de Teglise Romaine, et leurs c^r^monies ne dif-
ferent en rien des n6tres.

La place, forte par sa situation et par ses fosses, tous en glacis, a une enceinte de doubles
mure bien entretenus, et qui suivent tr^s-exactement les contours du terrain. Elle estcom-
pos^e de cinq forteresses, dont trois sur le terrain ^lev^ dont je viens de parler, et deux sur
la riviere. De ces deux-ci, I'une est fortifide centre I'autre; mais toutes deux sont com-
mandoes par Ics trois premieres.

II y a aussi un petit port qui peut contenir quinze a vingt galferes, et qui est ddfendu
par une tour construitc .i chacune de ses extrOmitOs. On le ferme avec une chaine qui va
d'une tour S I'autre. Au moins c'est ce qu'on m'a dit ; car les deux rives sont si eloignOes
que moi jc n'ai pu la voir.

Je vis sur la Sanne six galeres et cinq galiottes. Llics etoicnt pres I'une des cinq for-
teresses, la moins forte de toutes, Dans cetfe forteresse sont bcaucoup de Rasciens; mais on
ne leur permet point d'entrer dans les quatre autres.

* Le despote dont il s'aijit se nommoit George Branrovitz ou Wkovitz. On troiive dans Ducange (Familia; Bisant.
p. 336) quelqucs details sur iui et sa famille.

t Ce saint concilc, >.|ui finit par citer d son tribunal et depo^cr le pape, tandis que lc pape lui ordonnoit de se
dissoudre ct en convoquoit un autre A Ferrare, puis a Florence, avoit eiitrejiris de reunir I'cglisc Grecque d la L,iitine ;
et c'est dans ce dcssein qu'il deputoit vers I'empereur. Cclui-ci se rcnuit ellectivement en Italie, et il signa dans
Florence cette reunion politique et siniulee dont il a ete parlo plus li;iut.

} On sera etonne de voir I'auteur, en parlant de la garnison d'une place de guerre, ne faire mention que de
chevaux. Ci-des.-us, lorsqu'il a specific le contingent que le de.-pote etoit oblige de fournir d I'armce Turque, il n'a
p;u-le que dc clievaux. Sans cesse il parle de ehevaux. C'e?t fi«'alors en Lurope on ne faisoit cas ([ue de la gen-
darnierie, et que ri/ifantcrie ou pielaillc, prcs(iue toujours lual composce et mal armee, etoit coinptcc pour tr^s-peu.

Toutes

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la Brocqni^re. TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

Toutes cinq sont blen garnirs d'artillerie. J'y ai remarqud suivtout trois bombardes de
tnctnil (canons de bronze) dont deux «5toient de deux piiiccs*, et Tune d'unc telle grosseur
nuc jamais je n'en ai vu de pareillc : elle avoit quarante-deux pouces de large dcdena oil la
picrre cntrc (sa bouche avoit quarantc-deux pouces de diam^tre); mais elle me parut courte
poui' sa gro.-i'ieurf .

Lc capitaine (commandant) de la place ^toit mcssire Mathico, chevalier de Aragouse
(d'Arragon), et il avoit pour lieutenant un sien fr^rc, qu'on appeloit le seigneur frire.

Siir lc Danube, deux journ^es au-dessous de Belgrade, le Turc possdde ce chlteau de
Couiombach, qu'il a pris au despote. Cast encore une forte place, dit-on, quoique cepen-
flant il soit ais^ de I'attaquer avec de I'artillcrie et de lui fermer tout secours ; ce qui est un
grand d^savantage. II y entretient cent fustes pour passer en Hongrie quand il lui plait. Le
capitaine du lieu est ce Ceynam-Bay dont j'ai parl«5 ci-devant.

Sur le Danube encore, mais a I'oppositc de Belgrade, et dans la Hongrie, le despote pos-
s6dc dgalement un ville avec cbflteau. Elle lui a ^te donn^e par rempereur|, avec plu-
sieurs autrcs, qui lui font un revenu de cinquante mille ducats, et c'dtoit d condition qu'il
deviendroit son homme^; mais il ob^it plus au Turc qu'a Tempereur.

Deux jours apr^s mon arrivde dans Belgrade j'y vis entrer vingt-cinq hommes armds
ii la mani^re du pays, que le gouverneur comtc Mathico y faisoit venir pour demeurer
en garnison. On me dit que c'dtoicnt des Allemands pour garder la place, tandis qu'on
avoit si pr^s des Hongrois et des Serviens. On me r^pondit que les Serviens, ^tant
t.ujets et tributaires du Turc, on se gardcroit bien de la leur confier ; et que quant aux
Hongrois, ils le rcdoutoient taut que s'il paroissoit, ils n'oseroient la d^fendre contre lui,
quelque forte qu'elle filt. II falloit done y appeler des Strangers; et cette mesure de-
venoit d'autant plus n^cessnire que c'^toit la seule place que I'empereur poss^ddt pour
passer sur I'autre rive du Danube, ou pour lc repasser en cas de besoin.

Ce discours m'i^tonna beaucoup ; il me fit faire des rdflexions sur I'^trange sujettion oil le
Turc ticnt la Macddoine et la Bulgarie, I'empereur de Constantinople et les Grecs, le despote
de Rascie et ses sujets. Cette ddpendance me parut chose lamentable pour la chr^tient^. Et
comme j'ai vdcu avec les Turcs, que je connois leur mani^re de vlvre et de combattre, que
j'ai hantd des gens notables qui les ont vusde pr^s dans leurs grandes entreprises, je me suis
cnhardi a dcrire, selon mcs lumi^res, quelque chose sur eux, et a montrer, sauf correction
de la part de ceux qui sont plus instruits que moi, comment il est possible de reprendre les
etats dont ils so sont empards, et de les battre sur im champ de bataille.

Et d'abord, pour commencer par leur personnel, je dirai que ce sont d'assez beaux hommes,
portant tous de longues barbes, mais de moyenne taille et de force mediocre. Je sais bien
que, dans le langage ordinaire, on dit fort comme un Turc ; cependant j'ai vu line infinite de
Chretiens qui, dans les choses oii il faut de la force, I'emportoient sur eux ; et moi-m6me,
qui ne suis pas des plus robustes, j'en ai trouvd, lorsque les circonstances exigeoient quelque
travail, de plus foibles que moi encore.

* Laremarque qwe I'auteur fait ici sur ccs trois canons sembleroit annonccr qiie ceux de bronze ^toient rares en-
core, et qu'on les regardoit comme une soite de merveille. Louis XI en fit fondre une douzaine, auxquels il donna
le nom des douzc pairs. (Daniel, Mil. Franc, t. I, p. 325.)

f La mode alors etoit de faire des pieces d'artillerie d'une grosseur enorme. Peu de temps apr^s I'epoque oii
ecrivoit notre autcur, Mahomet II, assiegeant Constantinople, en employa qui avoient ete fondues sur les lieux, et
qui portoient, dit-on, deux cents livres de balle. La Chronique scandaleuse et Monstrelet parlent d'une sorte d'obus
que Louis XI lit fondre d Tours, puis conduire d Paris, et qui portoit des ballesdc cinq cents livres. En 1717, le
prince Eugene, apr^ssa victoire sur les Turcs, trouva dans Belgrade un canon long de pres de vingt-cinq pietb, qui
liroit des l)oulcts de cent dix livres, et dont le charge etoit de cin(|uante-deux livres de poudre (Ibid. p. 323.)
C 'etoit encore un usage ordinaire de faire ks boulets en gres ou en pierre, arrondis et tallies de calibre pour la
pidce. Rt voild pourquoi la Erocqui^rc, parlapt de I'embnuchure du canon, emploie cette expression, " dedens od
LA piEHiiE eutre".

X Sigismond, roi de Bohcme et de Hongrie. On pretend que Sigismond ne les donna qu'en echange de Bel-
grade.

§ Deviendroit son homme. Cette expression de la feodalite du temps indique I'obligation du service militaire et
de la fidelite que le vassal devoit 4 eon suzerain.

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VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

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lU lont gens diligent, s« Invent matin volontien, ct vivent de pen en campagnc ; He con*
tentant de pain mal cuit, dc chair crue fi<fch^c au Holcil, de lait Hoit railld Hoit non raill^, de
miel, fromagc, raisins, fruits, herbages, et mAme d'une poign«<c de farinc aver laqucllc ik
fcront un brouet qui leur suiTira nour un jour ^ six on huit. Ont-ils un chcvul ou un cha-
mcau malade sans espoir de gui^rison, ils lui coupent la gorge et le mangent. J'cn ai 6t6
t^moin maiiites fois. Pour dorinir ils ne sont point embarass^s, ct couchcnt par terre.

Leur habillement consiste en deux ou trois robes de colon I'une sur I'autrc, et qui de-
scendcnt jusqu'aux pieds. I'ar-dessus celles-U ils en portent, en guise de manteau, une
autre de feutre qu'on nomme capinat. Le capinat, quoique l^ger, rdsiste a la phiie, ct ii y
en a dc tr^s-beaux et de tres-flns. lis ont des bottes qui tnontcnt Jusqu'aux genoux, et de
grandes braies (calet^ons), qui pour les uns sont de velours cramoisi, pour d'autres de soie,
de futaine, d'dtofl'es communes. En guerre ou en route, pour n'(itre point embarra.ss^s de
leurs robes, ils les relevcnt et Ics enfcrment dans Icurs caletjons ; ce qui leur permct d'agir
iibrement.

Leurs chevaux sont bons, content pcu a nourrir, courent bien ct longtemps ; mais ils lea
tiennent tr^s-maigres et ne les laissent manger que la nuit, encore ne leur donnent-ils alors
que cinq ou six jointdes d'orge et le double de paillc | icade (hach^c) : le tout mis dans une
besace qu'ils leur pendent aux oreilles. Au point du jour, ils les brident, les nettoient, les
^trillent; mais ils ne les font boire qu'^ midi, puis I'apr^s-diner, toutes Ics Fois qu'ils trouvent
de I'eau, et le soir quand ils logent ou campent; car ils campent toujours de bonne heure, et
pr^s d'une riviere, s'ils le peuvent. Dans cette derni^re circonstance ils Ics laissent brides en-
core pendant une heure, comme les mules. Enfin vient un moment oil chacun fait manger
le sien.

Pendant la nuit ils les couvrent de feutre ou d'autres ^toffcs, et j'ai vu de ccs couvertures qui
^toicnt tr^s-belles ; ils en ont mfime pour leurs l^vriers*, esp*ce dont ils sonr trds-curieux,
et qui chez eux est belle et forte, quoiqu'elle ait de longues oreilles pendante^ et de longues
queues feuill^es (toufliies), que cependant elle porte bien.

Tous leurs chevaux sont Hongres : ils n'en gardent d'entiers que quelques-uns pour servir
d'dtalons, mais en si petit nombre que je n'en ai pas vu un sen' Du reste ils les sellent et
brident a la jennette+. Leurs selles, ordinairement fort riches, sont tr^s-creuses. Eiles n'ont
qu'un argon devant, un autre derriere, avec de courtes ^trivieres ct de larges ^triers.

Quant a leurs habillemens de guerre, j'ai 6t6 deux fois dans Ic cas de les voir, a I'occa-
sion des Grecs rendgats qui renon(;oient a leur religion pour embrasser le Mahomdtisme:
alors les Turcs font une grande fete ; ils prennent leurs plus belles annes et parcourent la
ville en cavalcade aussi nombrcuse qu'il leur est possible. Or dans ces circonstances, je les
ai vus porter d'assez belles brigandines (cottes d'armes) pareilles aux ndtres, h I'exception
que les dcailles en dtoient plus petitcs. Leurs garde-bras (brassarfs) dtoient de m^me. En
un mot ils ressemblent a ces peintures ou Ton nous reprdsente les temps de Jules C^sar. La
brigandine descend presqu'ii mi-cuisse ; mais a son extrdmitd est attnchde circulairement une
ctofTe dc soic qui vient jusqu'a mi-jambe.

Sur la tete ils portent un harnois blanc qui est rond comme elk, ct qui, haut de plus d'un
demi-pied, se termine en pointe];. On le garnit de quatre clinoues (lames), I'une devant,
I'autre derriere, les deux autres sur les c6l6s, afin de garantir du • up d'dpde la face, le cou
et les joues. Elles sont pareilles a celles qu'ont en France nos salades§.

Outre cette garniture de t^tc ils en ont assez communement une autre qu'ils mettent par-

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* Le motlevrier n'avoit pas alors I'acccption exclusive qu'il a aujourd'huij il se prcnoit pour le chien de chasse
ordinaire.

t Les mors et les selles d la genette avoient 6te adoptes en France, et jusqu'au dernier sidcle ils furent d'usa^e
dans nos maneges. On disoit monter a la genette quand les jambes eloient si courtes que I'^peron portoit vis-d-vis
les ilancs du cheval. Le mors d la genelte etuit celui r|ui avoit sa gourmctte d'une seule pi^ce et de la forme d'un
grand anneau, mis et arrfite au haut dc la liberte de la langue.

t Harnois, dans la Inngue du temps, ctoit un tcrme general qui signifioit a la fois habillement et armure : ici
il designe une sorte de bonnet devenu arme defensive.

§ Siilades, sorte de casque leger alors tn usage, et qui, n'ayant ni viai^re ni gorgerin, avoit besoin de cette
baiide de fer en saillie pour defeudre le visage.

dessus

la Brocqulirt.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUtRIES.

135

us d'un
devant,
le cou

Acusun Iciiw chapraux ou leurs toques : c'est une coifTc dc fil d'archal. II y a de res coifTc^
qui sont «! riche<i ct si belles ({u'ellcs coAtent jusqu'ii uuarantc ct cinquante ducatu, Jan-
dis que d'autres n'cn coAtcnt qu'uii ou deux. Quoique cclleu-ci soicnt moins fortes que lei
autrei, cllcs pcuvent r^sister au coup de taille d'une <p<e.

J'ai parh' dc It-urs seller: ils y sent awis comme dans un fauteuil, bien enfoncds, les ge-
noux fort hautd ct les j^lriers courts ; positioH dans laquelle ils ne pourroient pas supporter le
moindre coup de lancr sans £tre jet^s bas.

L'armc dc ceux qui on! quclque fortune est un arc, un tarquais, unc 4p^e et une forte
masse i inanche court, dont le j^ros bout est tailld i plusieurs carnes. Ce bilton a du danger
quand on I'assi^ne sur dcs ^panics ou des bras dtJgarnis. Je suis m£me convaincu qu'un coup
bicn appuyc* sur unc t£tc arirn^c de salade dtourdiroit rhomme.

Plusieurs pnrtent de pctits pavois (boucliers) ci» bois, et ils savent tr^s-bien s'en couvrir
a cheval quaii.l i!s tiront dc Tare. Cost ce que m'ont assure gens qui Ics ont long-tempi
pratiques, ct ^e que j'ai vu par moi-mAmc.

Lcur obdissancc aux ordres de leur seigneur est sans borncs. Pas un seul n'oseroit les
transgresser quand il s'agiroit de la vie, ct c'est principalement a cctte soumission constantc
qu'il doit Ics grandes choses qu'il a exdcutdcs ct ces vastes conqu6tcs qui I'ont rendu maitre
d'une dtendue de pays bcaucoup plus considerable que n'est la France.

On m'a rertifid que quand les puissances chrdtiennes ont pris les armes contre eux, ils ont
toujours 6t6 averfis h temps. Dans re cas, le seigneur fait dpier leur marche par dcs hommes
qui sont propres h cctte fonction, et il va les attcndre avec son armde A deux ou trois jour-
ndcs du lieu ou il se propose de Ics conibattre. Croit-il I'occasion favorable, il fond sur eux
tout-a-coup, et ils ont pour ces circonstances une sortc dc marche qui leur est propre. Le
signal est donnd par un gros tambour. Alors ceux qui doivent fitre en t6te partent les pre-
miers ct sans bruit; Ics autrcs suivent de m^me en silence, sans que la file soit jamais in-
terrompuc, parce que les chevaux et les hommes sont dressds a cet exerciee. Dix millc
Turcs, en parcil cas, font moins de tapage que ne feroient cent hommes d'armes chrdtiens.
Dans leurs marches ordinaircs, ils ne vont jamais qu'au pas; mais dans ccllcs-ci ils emploient
le galop, ct comme d'ailleurs ils sont armds Idg^rcmcnt, ils font du soir au matin autant de
rhcmin qu'en trois de leurs journdes communes; et voili pourquoi ils ne pourroient porter
d'armurcs completes, ainsi que les Franqais et les Italiens : aussi ne vculent-ils en chevaux
que ceux qui ont im grand pas ou qui galopent long-temps, tandis que nous il nous les faut
troftant bien et aiscs.

C'cst par ces marches forcdes qu'ils ont rdussi, dans leurs diffdrentes guerres, k surprendre
les chrdtiens et h les bnttre si compldtement; c'est ainsi qu'ils ont vaincu Ic due Jean, k qui
Dieu veuille pardonner*, et I'empereur Sigismond, et tout rdcemment encore cet empereur
devant Coulumbach, oil pdrit mcssire Advis, chevalier de Poulaine (Pologne).

Leur mani^re de combattre varie selon les circonstances. Voient-ils un lieu et une oc-
casion favorablcs pour attaqucr, ils se divisent en plusieurs pclotons, selon la force de leur
troupe, et viennent ainsi assaillir par diffdrens cdtds. Ce moyen est surtout celui qu'ils em-
ploient en pays de bois et de montagncs, parce qu'ils ont I'art de se rdunir sans peine.

D'autres fois ils se mettent en embuscade et envoient a la ddcouverte quelques gens bien
months. Si le rapport est que I'ennemi n'est point sur scs gardes, ils savent prendre leur
parti sur-le-champ et tirer avantage dcs circonstances. Le trouvent-ils en bonne ordon-
nance, ils voltigent autour dc I'armde a la portde du trait, caracollent ainsi en tirant sans
cesse aux hommes et aux chevaux, et le font si long-temps qu'enfin ils la mettent en 66-

* Jean, comte de Nevcrs, Eiirnomm* Sans-peur, et fila de Pliilippe le Ilardi, due de Bourgognc. Sigismond
ayantformi une ligue pour arieter les conqu^tes de Bajazet, notre roi Cliarlcs VI lui envoya un corps de troupes
<}^8 Ictjuel il y ayt't eux niillf gtutilbhommes, et qui dtoit conduit par k- comte Jean. L'armie chretienne fut
' -..-... „ . ji'gyguj jj^ bataille, pour se de-

I egorger, et qu'apr^s la victoirc
. , , , reprcsaillea massacrer devant eux leurs

camarades. Jean, devtnu duo de Pourgogne, fit ladument assassiner dans Paris le due d'Orleans, fr^reduroi. II
fut tui! d son four par Tannegui du Chiltel, ancien cfficicr du due. On voit par ces faits que la Brocqui^re avoit
grande raison, en parlant dc Jean, de dcmander que Dieu lui pardonnit.

sordre.

oans icQuei ii y avtt eux unllf gcntiibhommes, et qui etoit conduit par lo comte Jea
defaitc 4 Nicopolis- j 1396, et nos Franfais tu6s ou faits pris^onniers. On sait qu'a
barrasser de captiko Turcs qu'ils avoient re9U9 d ran^on, ils curent I'indigniti de les ef
le sultan n'ayant accorde lu vie qu'aux principaux d'entre eux, il fit par reprcsaille!

ijl

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,i;:i*;;

»* 'V

136

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de-

sordre. Si Ton veut les poursuivre et les chasser, il fuient, et se dispeisent chacun de leiir
cdt^, quand tn^ine on ne leur opposeroit que le quart de ce qu'ils sont ; mais c'est dans
leur fuite qu'ils sont redoutables, et c'est presquc toujours ainsi qu'ils ont d^confi len Chre-
tiens. Tout en fuyant ils ont I'art de tirer de I'arc si adroiteinent qu'ils nc manquent jamais
d'atteindre le cavalier ou le cheval.

D'ailleurs chacun d'cux porte attach^ a Tarpon de sa selle un tabolcan. Si Ic chef ou
quelqu'un des ofliciers s'aper(;oit que I'ennemi qui poursuit est en ddsordre, il frappe troia
coups sur son instrument ; chacun de son c6t6 et de loin en luin en fait autant : en un in-
stant tous se rasseinblent autour du chef, " comme pourceaux au cry I'un de I'autre," et, selon
les circonstances, ils reqoivent en bon ordre les assaillans ou fondent sur eux par pelotons,
en les attaquant de toutes parts.

Dans les batailles rang^es ils emploient quelquefois une autre sorte de stratag^me, qui
consiste a jeter des feux a travers les chevaux de la cavnleric pour les epouvanter ; souvent
encore ils mcttent en tdte de leur ligne un grand nombre de chameaux ou de dromadaircs
forts et hardis ; ils les chassent en avant sur les chevaux, et y jettent le ddsordre.

Telles sont les mani^res de combattre que les Turcs ont jusqu'a present mises en usage
vis-a-vis des Chretiens. Assur^ment je ne vcux point en dire du mal ni les ddprecier;
j'avouerai au contraire que, dans le commerce de la vie, je les ai trouv^s francs et loyaux,
et que dans les occasions oi^ il falloit du courage ils se sont bien muntr^s : mais cependant
je n'en siiis pas moins convaincu que, pour des troupes bien mont^es et bien commandoes,
ce seroit chose peu diflicile de les battre ; et quant a moi je declare qu'avec moitid moins de
nionde qu'eux je n'hesiterois pas a les attaquer.

Leurs armdes, je le sais, sont ordinairement de cent a deux cent mille hommes ; mais la
plupart sont a pied, et la plupart manquent, comme je I'ai dit, de tarquais^ de coiffe, de
masse ou d'dpOe ; fort peu ont une armure complete.

D'ailleurs ils ont parmi eux un tres-grand nombre de chrOtiens qui servent forcOment :
Grecs, Bulgares, MacOdoniens, Albanois, Esclavons, Valaques, Kasciens et autres sujets du
despote de Rascie. Tous ces gcns-la ddtestent le Turc, parce qu'il les ticnt dans une dure
servitude ; et s'ils voyoient marcher en forces contre lui les Chretiens, et sur-tout les Fran-
^ais, je ne Joute nullement qu'ils ne lui tournassent le dos et ne le grevassent beaucoup.

Les Turcs ne sont done ni aussi terribles, ni aussi formidables que je I'ai cntendu dire.
J'avoue pourtant qu'il faudroit contre eux un gOnOral bien obei, et qui voulAt spOcialement
prendre ct suivre les avis de ceux qui connoissent leur maniere de faire la guerre. C'est la
faute que fit a Cnulumbach, m'a-t-on dit, I'cmpereur Sigisniond lorsqu'il fut battu par eux.
S'il avoit voulu dcouter les conseils qu'on lui donna, il n'eAt point etd obligO de lever hon-
teusement le sidge, puisqu'il y avoit vingt-cinq a trente mille Hongrois. Ne vit-on pas deux
cents arbal6triers Lombards et GOnois arr^ter seuls rcflfort des ennemis, les contenir, et favo-
riscrsa retraite pendant qu'il s'cmbarquoit dans les galeres qu'il avoit sur le Danube; tandis
que six mille Valaques, qui, avec le chevalier Polonois dont j'ai parle ci-dessus, s'dtoient
mis a I'ecart sur une petite hnuteur, furent tous taillds en pieces ?

Je nedis rien sur tout ccci que je n'aie vu ou entendu. Ainsi done, dans le cas ou quel-
que prince ou gdn(?ral chrdtien voudroit entreprendre la conqu^te de la Cr^ce ou m6me
pOnOtrer plus avant, je crois que je puis lui donner des renscignemcns utiles. Au reste je
vais parler selon mes facultds ; et s'il ni'echappoit chose qui dOplrtt a quelqu'un, je prie
qu'on m'excuse et qu'on la rcgarde comme nulle.

Lesouverain qui formcroit un pareil projet devroit d'abord se proposer pour but, non la
gloire et la renoramee, mais Dieu, la religion, et le salut dc tant d'ames qui sont dans la
voie de perdition. II faudroit qu'il filt bien assurd d'avance du paiement de ses troupes, et
qu'il n'eflt que des corps bien fames, de bonne volontO, et sur-tout point pillards. Quant
aux nioyens de solde, ce seroit, je crois, a notre saint p^re le pape qu'il conviendroit de les
assurer ; mais jusqu'au moment oii Ton entreroit sur les terres des Turcs on devroit se faire
une loi de ne rien prendre sans payer. Personne n'aime a se voir ddrober ce qui lui appar-
tient, ct j'ai entendu dire que ceux qui I'ont fait s'cn sont souvent mal trouv^s. Au reste

I oil quel-

|u m6me

reste je

je prie

, noil la

It dans la

^upes, et

Quant

bit de Ics

: se faire
|ii appar-

Vu reste

la lirocqnidre.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

je m'en rapportc sur tons ces details aiix princes ct a messeigneurs dc lour conseil ; moi je
ne m'arr^te qu'a I'espdce de troupes qui me paroit la plus propre a I'entreprisc, ct avec la-
quelle je desirerois fitre, si j'avois a choisir.

Je voudrois done, 1°. de France, gens d'armes, gens de trait, archers et arbal(?triers, en
aussi grand nombre qu'il seroit possible, ct composes comme je I'ai dit ci-dessus; 2,°. d'Angle-
fcrrc, mille honimes d'armes et dix mille archers ; '6°. d'Allemagne, le plus qu'on pourroit de
gentilshommcset de leurs crennequiniers a pied ct a cheval*. Assemble/ en gens de trait,
archers et crennequiniers quinze a vingt mille hommes de ces trois nations, bien unis; joigne/-
y deux a trois cents ribaudequinsf, et je demanderai a Dieu la grace de marcher avec eux ;
ct je rdponds bien qu'on pourra les niener sans peine de Belgrade a Constantinople.

II leur suffiroit, ainsi que jc I'ai remarqud, d'unc armure Idg^re, attendu que le trait Turc
n'a point de force. De pr^s, leurs archers tirent juste et vite ; mais ils ne tirent point a
bcaucoup pres aussi loin que les notrcs. I.eurs arcs sont gros, mais courts, et leurs traits
courts et minces. Le fer y est cnfonce dans le bois, et ne pent ni supporter un grand coup,
iii faire plaie que quand il trouve line partie decouverte. D'aprtis ceci, on voit qu'il sufli-
roit a. nos troupes d'avoir line armure Icgdrc, c'est-a-dire un l^ger harnois de jambesj, unc
l^g^re brigandine ou blanc-hariiois, et une saladc avec baviere ct visidre un pcu large§.
Le trait d'lin arc Turc pourroit fausser un haubergeon|| ; mais il s'emoussera centre une bri-
gandine ou blanc-harnois.

J'ajoutcrai qu'en cas de bcsoin nos archers pourroient se servir dcs traits des Turcs, ct que
les leurs ne pourroient sc servir des n6tres, parce que la coclic n'est pas assez large, ct que
les cordes de leurs arcs ctant de nerfs, sont beaucoup trop grosses.

Selon moi, ceux dc nos gens d'armes qui voudroient dtre a cheval dcvroient avoir une
lance Icg^re a fer tranchant, avec une forte dp^e bien affilee. Peut-etre aussi Icur seroit-il
avantngcux d'avoir une petite hache ^ main. Ceux d'entrc eux qui scroient a pied porte-
roient guisarmeU, ou bon dpieu tranchant** ; mais les uncs et les autres auroient les mains
arni<?cs de gantclets. Quant a ces gantelets, j'avoue que pour moi j'en connois en Alle-
niagne qui sont dc ciiir bouilli, dont je ferois autant de cas quede ceux qui sont en fer.

Lorsqu'on trouvcra unc plaine rase et un lieu pour combattre avec avantage, on en pro-
fitcra; mais alors on nc fcra qu'un scul corps de bataille. L'avant-garde ct I'arri^re- garde
seront employees a former les deux ailcs. On entrem^lera par-ci par-la tout ce qu'on aura de
gens d'armes, i\ moins qu'on ne prdf^rat de les placer en dehors pour escarmoucher ; mais on se
gardcra bien de placer ainsi les hommes d'armes. En avant de I'armde et sur ses ailes seront
c^pars ct semds i^a ct la les ribaudequins ; mais il sera ddfendu a qui que cc soit, sous peine
de la vie, de poursuivre les fuyards.

Les Turcs ont la politique d'avoir toiijours des amides deux fois plus nombreuses que celles
dcs chrdtiens. Cette supdrioritd de nombre augmente leur courage, et elle leur permct en
nieme temps dc former differens corps pour attaqucr par divers c6tds a la fois. S'ils par-
viennent a perccr, ils se prdcipitent en foulc innombrable par I'ouverture, et alors c'est un
grand miracle si tout n'est pas perdu.

Pour enipt*chcr ce malheur on placcra la plus grande quantitd de ribaudequins vers les
angles du corj)s dc bataille, ct Ton tachera dc se tcnir serrd de mani^re a ne point se laisser
entanier. An rci^tc, cette ordonnance me paroit d'autant plus facile a garder qu'ils ne sont

* Cn\nqiiiiiicrs, cVtoit le iiom qu'cn Aiitriche ct dans une iiartie de I'Allcmagne on doiuioit aux archers,
t Ribaudequins, sorlts de troupes leg^a* qui servoicnt aux escarinouches ct reprfeentoient nos tirailleurs d'au-
jo<ird'lmi.

I Hanioisde jaml)cs, sortc d'annure ddfeusive en fer qui emboitoit la jatnlie, et qu'on noinmoit jutnbards ou

grtvos.

§ J'ai (leja dit que la salade etoit un casque beaucoup moins lourd que Ic heaume. II y en avoit qui laissoient le
visago totaltnient decouvert ; (I'autres qui, jiour le garantir, ix>rtoient en avant une lame de tor ; d'autres qui,
conunc le iieauim;, le couvroicnt en entier, haul et bas : ce qu'on appctoit visi^rc et baviere.

II IlaulKji-jreoii, eottcdo niailles plus Uairc que le liaubert. Iltant cii maiUcs, die pouvoit etre fauss^ce plus aise-
inent (|uc la brii;t»udinc, <mi ctoit de fer pleiu ou en ceailles de fer.

f, Ouisarine, liacliv d deux tfites. ** lipieu. lance leaucovip plus forte que la lance ordinaire.

T point

'i'

-I

i-'fk

M
I. Oh"

138

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voi/age de

'if','',i!>i'i'v vJ

It;

point assez bien arm^s pour former une colonne capable par son poids d'line forte impul-
sion. Leurs lances ne valent rien. Ce qu'ils ont de mieux cc sont leurs archers, et ces
archers ne tirent ni aussi loin ni aussi fort que les n6tres.

lis ont aussi une cavalerie beaucoup plus nombreuse; et leurs chevaux, quoique infi^-
rieurs en force aux ndtres, quoique moins capables de porter de lourds fardeaux, courent
mieux, escarmouchent plus long-temps et ont plus d'haleinc. C'est une raison de plus pour
se tenir toujours bien serr^, toujours bien en ordre.

Si Ton suit constamment cette mdthode ils seront forces, ou do combattre avec d^savan-
tage, et par consequent de tout risquer, ou de faire retraite devant I'armee. Dans le cas
oil ils prendroient ce dernier parti, on mcttra de la cavalerie a leurs trousscs ; mais il faudra
qu'elle ne marche jamais qu'en bonne ordonnancc, et toujours pr^te h combattre et a les
bien recevoir s'ils reviennent sur leurs pas. Avec cette conduite il n'est point donteux qu'on
ne les batte toujours. En suivant le contraire, ce seront eux qui nous bnttront, comnie il
est toujours arriv^.

On me dira peut-etre que rcster ainsi en presence et sur la diJfensive vis-a-vis d'eux, se-
roit une honte pour nous. On me dira que, vivant de peu et de tout ce qu'ils trouvent, ils
nous afTameroient bient6t si nous ne sortions de notre fort pour aller les combattre.

Je repondrai que leur coutume n'est point de rester en place ; qu'aujourd'hui dans un en-
droit, demain ^loignes d'une journee ct demie, ils reparoissent tout-a-coup aussi vite qu'ils
ont disparu, et que, si Ton n'est point continuellement sur ses gardes, on court de gros
risqucs. L'important est done, du moment ou on les a vus, d'«Jtre toujours en defiance, tou-
jours pr6t a monter a cheval et a se battre.

Si Ton a quelque mauvais pas a passer, on ne manquera pasd'y envoyer des gens d'armes
ct des gens de trait autant que le lieu permettra d'en recevoir pour combattre, et Ton aura
grand soin qu'ils soient constamment en bon ordre de hataille.

Jamais n'envoyez au fourrsge, ce seroit autant d'hommes perdus; d'ailleurs vous ne trou-
veriez plus rien aux champs. En temps de guerre les Turcs font tout transporter dans les
viiles.

Avec toutes ces precautions, la conqu^te dc la Grece* ne sera pas une entreprise extre-
mement difficile, pourvu, je le repute, que I'armee fasse toujours corps, qu'elle ne se divise
jamais, et ne veuille point envoyer de pelotons a la poursuite de Tennemi. Si Ton me de-
mande comment on aura des vivres, je dirai que la Gr^ce et la Rassie ont des rivieres navi-
gables, et que la Bulgarie, la Mac^doine et les provinces Grecques sont fertiles.

En avanqant ainsi toujours en masse, on forcera les Turcs a reculer, et il faudra qu'ils
choisissent entre deux extr^mites, comme je I'ai deja dit, ou de repasser en Asie et d'aban-
donner leurs biens, leurs fen.mes et leurs enfans, puisque le pays n'est point de defense,
ainsi qu'on I'a pu voir par la description que j'en ai donnde, ou de risquer une bataille,
comme ils I'ont fait toutes les fois qu'ils ont passd le Danube.

Je conclus qu'avec de bonnes troupes compos^es des trois nations que j'ai nommdes,
Franijais, Anglais et Allemands, on sera sflr du succ^s, et que si elles sont en nombre suffisant,
bien unies et bien commandoes, clles iront par terre jusqu'ii Jerusalem. Mais je reprcnds
mon rdcit.

Je traversal le Danube a Belgrade. II dtolt en ce moment extraordinairement gonfld, et
pouvoit bien avoir douze milles de large. Jamais, de mdmoire d'homme, on ne lui avoit vu
une crue pareille. Ne pouvant me rendre a Boude (Bude) par Ic droit chemin, j'allai a
une ville champ^tre (un village) nommd Pensey. De Pensey j'arrivai par la plaine la plus
unie que je connoisse, et apr^s avoir traverse en bac une riviere a Beurquerel, ville qui
appartient au despote de Rassie, et ou je passai deux autres rivieres sur un pont. De
Beurquerel je vins a Verchet, qui est dgalemcnt au despote, et la je passai la Tiste (la Teisse),
riviere large et profonde. Enfin je me rendis a SOgading (Scgedin) sur la Tiste.

Dans toute la longueur de cette route, a I'exception de deux petits bois qui etoient enclos

* On a dvja vu plus haut que par le mot Gr^ce I'autcur entend les dm que lee Turc$ po$84doient en Europe.

d'un

la Brocqiiiire.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

I3i>

d'lin ruisscau, je n'ai pas vu un seul arbre. Les habitana n'y brAlcnt que de la paille ou
des roscaux qii'ils ramassent le long des rivldres on dans leiirs nombreux mar^cages. lis
mangent, an lieu de pain, des gateaux tendres ; mais ils n*en ont pas beaucoup a mauger.

sJg<*din est une grande ville champ6tre, composde d'une seule rue qui m'a parii avoir une
lieue dc longueur environ. Elle est dans un terroir fertile, abondant en toutcs sortes de
denrdes. On y prend beaucoup de grues et de bistardes (outardes), et j'en vis un grand
raarclie tout reinpli ; inais on les y appr^te fort malproprement, et on les mange de mciiie.
La Teisse fournit aussi quantity de poissons, et nuUe part je n'ai vu riviere en dnnncr
d'aussi gros.

On y trouve ^galement une grande quantity de chevaux sauvages k vcndre ; mais on sait
les domter et les apprivoiser, et c'est une chose curieuse a voir. On m'a meme assurd que
qui en voudroit trois ou quatre mille, les trouveroit dans la ville. Ils sont a si bon marche
que pour dix florins de Hongrie on auroit un tr^s-beau roussin (cheval de voyage).

L'cmperenr, m'a-t-on dit, avoit donn«5 S^g^din a un ^vdque. J'y vis ce pr^lat, et me
sembia homme de grosse conscience. Les cordeliers ont dans la ville une assez belle eglise,
J'y entendis le service. lis le font un peu a la Hongroise.

De S^gddin je vins a Paele (Pest), assez bonne ville champetre sur le Danube, vis-a-vis
Bude. D'une ville a I'autre le pays continue d'etre bon et uni. On y trouve une quantity
immense de haras de jumens, qui vivent abandonndes a elies-m^mes en pleine campagnc,
comme les animaux sauvages ; et telle est la rai.son qui fait qu'on en voit tant au marche de
S^gddin.

A Pest je traversai le Danube et entrai dans Bude sept jours apres mon depart de Belgrade.

Bude, la principale ville de Hongrie, est sur une hauteur beaucoup plus longue que large.
Au levant elle a le Danube, au couchant un vallon, et au midi un palais qui commande la
porte de la ville, palais qu'a commence I'empereur, et qui, quand on I'aura fini, sera grand
ct fort. De ce c6t^, mais hors des murs, sont de tr^s-beaux bains chauds. U y en a encore
au levant, le long du Danube, mais qui ne valent pas les autres.

La ville est gouvern^e par des AUemands, tant pour les objets de justice et de commerce
que pour ce qui regarde les diff^rentes professions. On y voit beaucoup de Juifs qui parlent
bien Fran<jais, et dont plusieurs sont de ceux qa'on a chasses de France. J'y trouvai aussi
un marchand d'Arras appel^ Clays Davion ; il faisoit partie d'un certain nombre de gens de
metier que I'empereur Sigismond avoit amends de France. Clays travailloit en haute-lice*.

Les environs de Bude sont agrdabLs, et le terroir est fertile en toutes sortes de denrdes,
et spt^cialement en vins blancs qui ont un peu d'ardeur: ce qu'on attribue aux bains chauds
du canton et au soufre sur lequel les eaux coulent. A une lieue de la ville se trouve le corps
de saint Paul, hermitc, qui s'est conserve tout entier.

Jc retournai a Pest, ou je trouvai (?galement six a huit families Francjaises que Tcmpereur
y avoit envoyccs pour construirc sur le Danube, et vis-a-vis de son palais une grande tour.
Son dessein etoit d'y mettre une chaine avec laquelle il pflt former la riviere. On soroit
tentc de croire qu'il a voulu en cela imiter la tour de Bourgogne qui est devant le ch.ntcaii
de I'EcIuse ; mais ici je ne crois pas que le projet soit executable : la riviere est trop large.
J'eus la curiositc d'aller visiter la tour. Elle avoit ddja une hauteur d'environ trois lances, et
Ton voyoit i\ I'cntour une grande quantity de pierres tailldes; mais tout etoit restd l;\, parce
que les premiers maijons qui avoient commence I'ouvrage dtoient morts, disoit-on, et que
ceux qui avoient survecu n'en savoient pas assez pour le continuer.

Pest a beaucoup de marchands de chevaux, et qui leur en demanderoit deux mille bons
los y trouveroit. Ils les vendent par dcurie composde de dix chevaux, et chaque ecurie est
(le deux cents florins. J'en ai vu plusieurs dont deux ou trois chevaux seuis valoicnt ce
j)ri.K. lis viennent la plupart des niontagnes de Transylvanie, qui bornent la Hongrie au

* Sisrismond, dans son voyage en France, avoit ete d portec d'y voir nos manufactures, el sp^cialemcnt cellcs
•le I'lamlre, rcnonimt'os des-lois par Icurs tapisseries. II avoit vo\ilu en etablir de pareiUes dans sa capitale de Ilongru;,
r\. avoit cngajTc des ouvricrs de dittcientes professions d I'y suivrc.

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140

VOYAGliS, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

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levant. J'en achclai iin qui etoit grand coiireur : ils le sont prcsque tons. Le pays leur
est bon par la quantity d'hcrbages qu'il procluit ; mais ils ont le d^faut d'etre iin peu quinteux,
et specialement mal aises a ferrcr. J'en ai m6me vu qu'on ^toit alors obligd d'abattre.

Les montagnes dont je viens de parler ont des mines d'or.etdesel quitouslesansrapportent
au roi chacune cent mille florins de Hongrie. II avoit abandonn^ celle d'or au seigneur dc
Prusse et au comte Mathico, a condition que le premier garderoit la frontiere centre le Turc,
et le second Belgrade, La reine s'^toit r^serv^ le revenu de celle du sel.

Ce sel est beau. II se tire d'une roche et se taille en forme de pierre, par morceaux d'ur>
pied de long environ, carr^s, mais un peu convexcs en dessus. Qui Ics verroit dans un
chariot les prendroit pour dcs pierrcs. On Ic broie dans un morficr, et il en sort passablc-
ment blanc, mais plus fin et nieilleur que tous ceux que j'ai goflt^s ailleurs.

En travcrsant la Hongrie j'ai souvent rencontrd des chariots qui portoient six, sept ou huii
personnes, et ou il n'y avoit qu'un cheval d'attcl^ ; car Icur coutume, quand ils veulent faire
de grandes journdes, est de n'en mettre qu'un. Tous ont les roues de derriere beaucoup
plus hautes que celles de devant. II en est de converts a la mani^re du pays, qui sont tr^s-
beaux et si lagers qu'y compris les roues un homme, ce me semble, les porteroit sans peine
suspendus a son cou. Comme le pays est plat et tr^s-uni, rien n'emp^che le cheval de trotter
toujours. C'est k raison de cette dgalit^ de terrain que, quand on y laboure, on fait des
sillons d'une telle longueur que c'est une merveille a voir.

Jusqu'a Pest je n'avois point eu de domestique ; la je ni'en donnai un, et pris ;\ mon
service un de ces compagnons masons Franqais qui s'y trouvoient. II etoit de Brai-sur-
Somme.

De retour a Bude j'allai, avec I'ambassadeur de Milan, saluer le grand comte de Hongrie,
titre qui rdpond a celui de lieutenant de I'empereur. Le grand comte m'accueillit d'abord
avec beaucoup de distinction, parce qu'a mon habit il me prit pour Turc; mais quand il sut
que j'dtois chr^tien il se refroidit un peu. On me dit que c'^toit un homme peu sAr dans
ses paroles, et aux promesses duquel il ne falloit pas trop se fier. C'est un peu la en gd-
n^ral ce qu'on reproche aux Hongrois ; et, quant a moi, j'avoue que, d'apr^s I'idee que
m'ont donn^e deux ceux que j'ai hant^s, je me fierois moins a un Hongrois qu'a un Turc.

Le grand comte est un homme kg6. C'est lui, m'a-t-on dit, qui autrefois arr^ta Sigismond,
roi de Behaigne (Boh^me) et de Hongrie, et deptiis empereur ; c'est lui qui le mit en prison,
et qui depuis Ten tira par accommodement.

Son fits venoit d'dpouser une belle dame Hongroise. Je le vis dans une joute qui, a la
mani^re du pays, eut lieu sur de petits chevaux et avec des selles basses. Les jouteurs
^toient galamment habillds, et ils portoient des lances fortes et courtes. Cc spectacle est
tres-agr^able. Quand les deux champions se touchent il faut que tous deux, ou au moins
I'un des deux n^cessairement, tombent a terre. C'est la que Ton connoit siVement ceux
qui savent se bien tenir en selle*.

Quand ils joutent a I'estriv^e pour des verges d'or, tous les chevaiux sont de m^me
hauteur; toutes les selles sont pareilles et tiroes au sort, et Ton joute par couples toujours
paires, un centre un. Si I'un des deux adversaires tombe, le vainqueur est oblig^ de se
retirer, et il ne joute plus.

Jusqu'^ Bude j'avois toujours accompagne I'ambassadeur de Milan ; mais, avnnt de quitter
la ville, il me pr^vint qu'en route il se separeroit de moi pour se rendre aupres du due.
D'apr^s cette annonce j'allai trouver mon Art^sien Clays Davion, qui me donna, pourVienne
en Autriche, une lettre de recommandation adress^e a un marchand de sa connoissance.
Comme je m'^tois ouvert a lui, et que je n'avois cru devoir lui cacher ni mon ^tat et mon

* En France, pour les toumois et les joutes, ainti que pour Ics batailles, les chevaliers montoient de ces grands
et forts chevaux qu'on appeloit palefrois. Leurs selles avoicnt par-devant et par-derri^re de hauts arsons qui, par
les points d'appui qu'ils lew fournissoient, leur donnoient bicn plus de moyens de resistcr au coup de lance que les
petits chevaux et les selles basses des Hongrois ; et voil4 pourquui notrc autcur dit que c'est dans ks joutes Hon-
gcoises qu'on peut reconnoitre Ic cavalier i\y\x sait bicn te wniir en selle.

nom.

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la Brocquidre.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUElUtS.

nom, ni le pays d'oii je venois, et I'honneur que j avois d'appartenfr a monseiprnciir le due
(due de Bourgogne), il mit tout ccia dans la lettre a sou ami, et jc in'en trouvai bieu.

De Bude je vins a Thiate, ville champ^tre ou le roi se tient volonticrs, me dit-on ; puis d
Janiz, en Aliemand Jane, ville sur le Danube. Je pas^ai ensuite dcvant une autre qui est
formde par une tie du fleuve, et qui avoit 6t6 donn^e par Teinpereur a I'un des gens de
monseigneur de Bourgogne, que je crois etre messire Rcuier Pot. Je passai par telle de
Brut, situ^e sur une riviere qui separe le royaume de Hongrie d'avec le ducli^ d'Auiriche.
La riviere coule a travers un marais ou I'on a ronstruit une ciiaussde longue et dtroite. Ce
lieu est un passage d'une grande importance ; je siiis mdme persuadtJ qu'avec peu de monde
on pcurroit le d^fendre et le fermer du cote de TAutriche.

Deux lieues par-delii Brut I'ambassadeur de Milan se separa dc moi : il se rendit vers le
due son maitre, et moi ^ Vienne en Autrichc, ou j'arrivai aprds cinq jours de marche-

Entre dans la ville, je ne trouvai d'abord personne qui voulilt me loger, parce qu'on me
prenoit pour un Turc. Enfin quelqu'un, par aventure, m'enseigna une hfitellerie ou Ton
consentit h. me recevoir. Heureusement pour moi le domestique que j'avoia pris a Pest
savoit le Hongrois et le haut Aliemand, et il demanda qu'on fit venir le marchand pour qui
j'avois une lettre. On alia le chercher. II vint, et non seulement il m'oflTrit tous ses services,
mais il alia instruire monseigneur le due Aubert*, cousin-gr rmain de mondit seigneur, qui
aussit6t d^p6cha vers moi un poursuivantt* et peu apr^s messire Albrech de Potardof.

11 n'y avoit pas encore deux heures que jetois arriv^ quand jc vis messire Albrech
descendre de cheval a la porte de men logis, et me demander. Je me crus perdu. Peu avant
irton depart pour les saints lieux, moi et quelques autres nous i'avions arrets entre Flandres
et Brabant, parce que nous I'avions cru sujet de Ph^d^rich d'Autriche J, qui avoit d^fie
mondit seigneur; et jc ne doutai pas qu'il ne vint m'arr^ter a mon tour, et peut-etre faire
pis encore.

II medit que mondit seigneur d'Autriche, instruit que j'^tois serviteurde mondit seigneur
le due, I'envoyoit vers moi pour m'offrir tout ce qui ddpendoit de lui; qu'il m'invitoit a le
demander aussi hardiment que je le ferois envers mondit seigneur, et qu*il vouloit traiter ses
serviteurs comme il feroit les siens m6me. Messire Albrech parla ensuite en son nom: il
me prdsenta de I'argent, m'ofTrit des chevaux et autres objets ; en un mot il me rendit le
bicn pour le mal, quoiqu'apres tout cependant je n'eusse fait envers lui que ce que I'honneur
me permettoit et m'ordonnoit meme de faire.

Deux jours apr^s, mondit seigneur d'Autriche m'envova dire qu'il vouloit me parler; et
ce fut encore messire Albrech qui vint me prendre pour lui faire la reverence, Je me prd-
sentai a lui au moment oii il sortoit de la messe, accompagn^ de huit ou dix vieux chevaliers
notables. A peine I'eus-je salu^ qu'il me prit la mam sans vouloir pcrmettre que je lui
parlasse a genoux. II me fit beaucoup de questions, ct particuliirement sur mondit seigneur;
i:e qui me donna lieu de prdsumer qu'il I'aimoit tendrement.

C'etoit un homme d'assez grande taille et brun ; mais doux et affable, vaillant et liberal,
et qui passoit pour avoir toutes sortes de bonnes qualites. Parmi les personnes qui I'ac-
compagnoient ^toient quelques seigneurs de Boheme que les Houls en avoient chassis, parce
qu'ils ne vouloient pas 6tre de leur rcligi()n§.

il se pr^senta dgalement a Uii un '^rand baron de ce pays, appele Paanepot, qui, avec
quelques autres personnes, venoit, au nom des Hussites, traiter avec lui et demander la paix.
Ceux-ci se pr^v'^^'ent d'aller au secours du roi de Pologne contre les seigneurs de Prusse,
et ils lui faisoient de grandes offres, m'a-t-on dit, s'll vouloit les seconder ; mais il r^pondit,
m'u t on encore ajoute, que s'ils ne se soumettoient a la loi de Jesns-Christ, jamais, tanr
qu'il seroit en vie, il ne feroit avec etix ni paix ni tr^ve.

* Albert II, due d'Autriche, depuis cmpcreur, a la mort de Sigismond.
t Poursuivant d'ui-nies, sorte de heraut en usage dans les cours des princes.
t FrediTic, due d'Autriche, empercur apres iflbcrt II.

§ FIouls, Hussites, disciples de Jean Hus (t(u'on pronon9oit IIous), sectaircs fanatiques qui dans cesiecle inoiidc-
rent la Boheme dc sang, ct se rendirent redoutables par leurs armes.

:..;.':?'l

iiiK

■lii

142

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage de

\\<^f.l

En eflfet, au temp!) ou il leur parloit il Ics avoit dc^Ja battus deux fois. II avoit reprn
sur eux toute la Morane (Moravie), et, par sa conduite et sa vaillance, s'^toit agrandi i^
leiirs deoens.

All sortir dc son audience je Pus conduit i\ celle de la duchesse, grande et belle femme,
fille de I'einpereur, ct par lui h^riti^re du royaume de Hongrie et de Boh^me, et dea autre-*
seigneuries qui en dependent. Elle venoit tout rdcemment d'accoucher d'une fille; ce'
qui avoit nccasionn^ des f^tes et des joutes d'autant plus courues, que jusque-h\ elle
n'avoit point eu d'enPans.

Le lendeinain inondit seigneur d'Autriche m'envoya inviter h diner par messire Albrech,
et il me fit manger i\ sa table avec un seigneur Hongrois et un autre Autrichien. Tou!»
ses gens sont i\ gages, et personne ne mange avec lui que quand on est en prevenu par
son maitre-d'hotel.

La table etoit carree. La coutume est qu'on n'y apporte qu'un plat a la fois, et que
cclui qui «<'en trouve le plus volsin en goAte le premier. Get usage tient lieu d'essai*. On
servit chair et poisson, et sur-tout beaucoup de differentes viandes fort ^pieces, mais toujour*
plat a plat.

Aprls Ic diner on me mena voir les danses chez madame la duchesse. Elle me donna un
chapeau de fil d'or et de soie, un anneau et un diamant pour mettre sur ma t6te, selon la
coutume du pays. II y avoit 1^ beaucoup de noblesse en hommes et en femmes ; j'y vis des-
gens tr6s-aimables, et les plus beaux cheveux qu'on puisse porter.

Quand j'eus dte la quelque temps, un gentilhomme nomm^ Payser, qui, bien qu'il ne
fAt qu'ecuyerf, ^toit chambellan et garde des joyaux de mondit seigneur d'Autriche, vint
de sa part me prendre pour me les montrer. II me fit voir la r )uronne de Boh^me, qui a
d'assez belles pierreries, ct entr'autres an rubis, le plus considerable que j'aie vu. II m'a
paru plus gros qu'une grosse datte ; mais il n'est point net, el offre quelques cavitds dans le
fond desquelles on aperijoit des taches noires.

De 1^ ledit garde me mena voir les waguebonnesj, que mondit seigneur avoit fait con-
struire pour combattre les Bohemiens, Je n'en vis aucun qui pAt contenir plus de vingt
hommes ; mais on me dit qu'il y en avoit un qui en porteroit trois cents, et auquel il ne
failoit pour le trainer que dix-huit chevaux.

Je trouvai H la cour monseigneur de Valse, gentil chevalier, et le plus grand seigneur de
I'Autriche aprds le due; j'y vis niessirc Jacques Troussef, joli chevalier de Zoave (Souabe):
mais il y en avoit un autre, nommd le Chant, echanson n^ de TEinpire, qui, ayant perdu a
labatailledc Bar un sien fr^re et plusicurs de ses amis, et sachant que j'dtois a monseigneur
le due, me fit epier pour savoir le jour de mon depart et me saisir en Bavifere lorsque j'y
passerois. Heureusement pour moi monseigneur d'Autriche fut instruit de son projet. II le
cong^dia, et me fit rester a Vienne plus que je ne comptois, pour attendre le depart de
monseigneur dc Valse et de messire Jacques, avec lesquels je partis

Pendant mon sejour j'y vis trois de ces joutes dont j'ai parld, ;\ petits chevaux et ;\
selles basses. L'line eut lieu i\ la cour, et les deux autres dans les rues ; mais, a celles-
ci, plueieurs de ceux qui furent renverses tomberent si lourdement qu'ils se blesserent
avec danger.

Mondit seigneur d'Autriche me fit oflTrir en secret de I'argent. Je requs les memes oflTres
de messire Albert et dc messire Robert Daurestof, grand seigneur du pays, lequel, I'annife
d'auparavant, ^toit alle en Fl indrc d^guis<', et y avo't vu mondit seigneur le due, dont il
disoit beaucoup de bien. Enfin j'en rc^us de tr^s-vivcs d'un poursuivant Breton-bretonnant
(Bas-Brefon ) nomme Toutseul, qui, apr^s avoir ^t^ au service de I'amiral d'Espagne, ^toit a celui
de mondit seigneur d'Autriche. Ce Breton venoit tons les jours me chercher pour ailer a
la messe, et il m'accompagnoit par-tout ou je voulois aller. Persuade que j'avoisdil d^penscr

* Chez les soiiverains on faisoit I'essai des viandes a mesure qu'on les Icur servoit, ct il y avoit im officier ciiargi;
<lc cfttc fonction qui, dans I'originc, avoit etc unc precaution prise contre le poison.
t Qui n'etoit pas encore chevalier.
J Waguebonne, sorte de chariot ou de tour ambulantc pour les combats.

la Brocquiere-

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

143

que
On

con-

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offres
'anndc
dont il
onnant
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allcr a
penser

Ir cliargi';

fill route tout ce que j'avois d'argent, il vint, peu avant men depart, m'en pr«*senter cln-
quante marcs qu'il avoit en dmaux. II insista beaucoup pour que je les vcndisse a inon
profit ; et comme je refusois ^galement de recevoir et d'emprunter, il me protesta que jamais
personne n'en sauroit rien.

Vlenne est une villc assez grande, bien ferm<?e de bona fosses et de hauts murs, et ou Ton
trouve de riches marchands et des ouvriers de ' ute profession. Au nord elle a le Danube
(|ui baigne ses murs. Le pays aux environs est agr^able et bon, ct c'est un lieu de plaisirs
ct d'amusemens. Les iiabitans y sont mieux habill^s qu'en Hongrie, quoiqu'ils portent tons
de gros pourpnints bien ^pais et bien larges.

En guerre, iis mettent par-dessus le pourpoint un bon haubergeon, un gla<;on*, un grand
(bapeau de fer et d'autres harnois a la mode du pays.

lis ont beaucoup de crennequiniers. C'est ainsi qu'en Autriche et en Boh^me on nomme
ceux qu'en Hongrie on appelle archers. Leurs arcs sont semblables a ceux des Turcs,
quoiqu'ils ne soient ni si bons ni si forts; mais ils ne les manient point aussi bien qu'eux.
Les Hongrois tirent avec trois doigts, et les Turcs avec le pouce et I'anneau.

Q.uand j'allai prendre congd de mondit seigneur d' Autriche et de madame, il me recom-
manda lui-m£me a mes deux compagnons de voyage, messire Jacques Trousset et mondit
seigneur de Walsce, qui alloit se rendre sur la fronti^re de Hoh^me oii il commardoit. II
me fit demaiider de nouveau si j'avois besoin d'argent. Je lui r^pondis, comme je I'avois
ddja fait k ceux qui m'en avoient oHert, qu'ti mon depart mondit seigneur le due m'en avoit
si bien pourvu qu'il m'en restoit encore pour revenir aupr^s de lui ; mais je lui demandai un
saufconduit, et il me I'accorda.

Le Danube, depuis Vienne jusqu'^ trois journ^es pardela, a son cours dirigd vers le
levant; depuis Bude et meme au-dessus, jusqu'a la pointe de Belgrade, il coule au midi.
Li\, entre la Hongrie et la Bulgarie, il reprend sa direction au levant, et va, dit-on, se jetcr
dans la mer Noire a Mont-Castre.

Je partis de Vienne dans la compagnie de mondit seigneur de Valse et de messire Jacques
Trousset. Le premier se rendit a Lints, aupr^s de son Spouse; le second dans sa terre.

Apres deux journdes de marche nous arrivames a Saint-Polquin (Saint-Pehen), oii sc
font les meilleurs couteaux du pays. De ]k nous vinmcs k Melich (Mielek) sur le Danube,
ville on Ton fabrique les meilleures arbaletes, et qui a un tres-beau nionast^re de chartreux ;
puis a Valse, qui appartient audit seigneur, et dont le chateau, construit sur une rochc
elcvcc, domine le Danube. Lui-m6me me montra les ornemens d'autel qu'a le lieu. J;iniais
je n'cn ai vu d'aussi riches en broderie eten perles. J'y vis aussi des bateaux qui remontoicnt
le Danube, tir^s par des chevaux.

Le lendemain de notre arrivde, un gentilhomme de Baviere vint snluer mondit seigneur
de Valse. Messire Jacques Trousset, averti de sa venue, annonqa qu'il alloit le faire peiidre
a une aubdpine qui dtoit dans le jar'i'in. Mondit seigneur accourut aussit6t, et il le pria
de nc point lui faiie chez lui un pareil afl'ront. S'il vient jusqu'a moi, r^pondit messire, il
ne pent I'echapper, et sera pendu. Ledit seigneur courut done au devant du gentilhomme;
il lui fit un signe, et celui-ci se retira. La raison de cette colere est que messire Jacques,
ainsi que la plupart des gens qu'il avoit avec lui, etoit de la secrete compagnie, et que le
gentilhomme, qui en ^toit aussi, avoit m^susef .

De Valse nous allames a Oens (Ens), sur la riviere de ce nom ; a Evresperch, qui est
sur la ro^me riviere, et du domaine de I'dv^que de Passot (Passau); puis a Lins (Lintz),
trds-bonne ville, qui a un chateau sur le Danube, et qui n'est pas e'loignee de la fronliere

* Gla9on ou glachon, sorte d'armure defensive. Les Suisses estoient asscz communement habillez de Jacques,
de fans, de haubergerie, de glachons et de chapeaux de fer a la fa9on d'Allemagne (Mat. de Coucy, p. 5d6.)

Eh Fran9a<s on appeloit gla9on une sorte de toile'fine qui sans doute etoit glacec. Je soup9onne que le gla9on Alle-
mand etoit une espece de cotte d'armes iaite de plusieurs doubles de toilc piquee, comme nos gambisons. Pcut-^tre
aussi n'etoit-ce qu'une cuirassc.

t I'robabltment il s'agit ici de franc - ma9onnerie, et le Bavarois que Trousset vouloit faire pcndrc etoit un faux
frcrequi avoit rcvclc les myateres de la compagnie secrete.

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141

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Voyage dc

dc Boh^mc. Elle appartient a monseigneur d'Autriche, et a pour gouverneur ledit seigneur
de Valse.

J'y vis madame de Valse, tr^s-belle femtne, du pays de Boh^me, laquelle me fit beau-
coup d'accueil. Elle me donna un roussin d'un excellent trot, nn diamant pour mettre sur
men chevcux, i la mode d'Autriche, et un chapeau de pedes orn<i d'un anneau et d'un
rubis*.

Mondit seigneur de Valse restant h Lintz avcc son Spouse, je partis dans la compagnic dc
mcssire Jacques Trousset, et vins a Erfort, qui appartient au comte de Chambourg. La
finit rAutriclie, et depuis Vicnne jusque la nous avions mis sixjourndes. D'Erlbrt nous
allames a Riet, ville de Bavi^re, et qui est au due Henri ; ^ Prenne, sur la riviere de Sceine ;
h Bourchaze, villc avec chateau sur la m^me riviere, oCi nous trouv&mes leduc; a Mouldrouf,
ou nous passnmes le Taing. Enfin, apr^s avoir traverse le pays du due Louis de Bavi^rc,
snns 6tre entres dans aucunedesesvilles, nous arrivames a Mun^que (Munich), laplusjolie
petite ville que j'aie jamais vue, et qui appartient au due Guillaume de Bavi^re.

A Lanspercli je qdittai la Bavi^re pour entrer en Souabe, et passai par Meindelalian
(Mindelheim), qui est au due; par Mamines (Memingen), ville d'Empire, et de la a
Walpourcl), I'un des chateaux de messire Jacques. II ne s'y rendit que trois jours apr^s
moi, parce qu'il vouloit aller visiter dans le voisinage quelques'uns de ses amis; mais il
doiina ordre a ses gensde me traiter comme ils le traiteroient lui-m^me.

Quand 11 fui revenu nous partimes pour Ravespourch (Rawensburg), ville d'Empire ; dc
lii j Martorf, a Mersporch (Mersbourg), ville de I'dv^qne de Constance, sur le lac de ce
noni. Le lac en cet endroit peut bien avoir en largeur trois milles d'ltalie. Je le traversai
et vins a Constance, ou je passai le Rhin, qui commence a prendre la son nom en sortant
du lac.

C'cst dans cette ville que se s^para de moi messire Jacques Trousset. Ce chevalier, I'un
des plus aimablcs et des plus vailians de I'Allemagne, m'avoit fait I'honneur et le plaisir do
m'accotnpagner jusque-la par dgard pour mondit seigneur le due; il m'eflt m^me escorte
plus loin, sans un fait d'armes auquel il s'^toit engagi : mais il me donna pour le supplier
un poursuivant, qu'il chargea de me conduire aussi loin que je I'exigerois.

Ce fait d'armes ^toit une entreprise formde avec le seigneur de Valse. Tons deux s'aiment
comme fr^res, et ils devoient jouter a fer de lance, avec targe et chapeau de fer, selon
I'usage du pays, treize centre treize, tous amis et parens. II est parfaitement muni d'armes
pour joutes et batailles. Lui-meme me les avoit montrees dans son chateau de Walporch.
Je pris cong^ de lui, et le quittai avec bien du regret.

De Constance je vins a Etran (Stein), ouje passai le Rhin; aChaufouze (Schaffouse, )
ville de Tempercur ; a Vualscot (Waldshutt) ; a Lausemberg (LauflTembourg) ; a Rinbel
(Phinfeld), toutes trois au due Fr^ddric d'Autriche, et a BSIe, autre ville de I'Empereur oil
il avoit envoyd comme son lieutenant le duo Guillaume de Bavi^re, parce que le saint con-
cile y dtoit assemble.

Le due voulut me voir, ainsi que madame la duchesse son Spouse. J'assistai a une session
du concile oii il repr^senta I'Empereur, et ou furent pr^sens monseigneur le cardinal de
Saint-Ange, legat de notrc saint pere le pape Eug6ne ; sept autres cardinaux, plusieurs
patriarchcs, archcveques et dvcques. J'y vis des gens de mondit seigneur le due, messire
Guillebert de Lannoy, seigneur de Villerval, son ambassadeur; maitre Jean Germain, et
I'ev^que de Chalons. J'eus un entretien avec ledit legat, qui me fit beaucoup de quCvStions
sur les pays que j'avois vus, et particulierement sur la Gr^ce ; il me parut avoir fort a coeur
la conquete de ce pays, et mc recommanda de r^pdter a mondit seigneur, touchant cefte
conquete, certaines choses que je lui avois racont^es.

A Bale je quittai mon poursuivant, qui retoiirna en Aulriche; et moi, apr^s avoir
traverse la comt6 de F^rettc, qui est au due Frdderic d'Autriche, et pass^ par Montbeliart,

* Ces chapeaux, qu'il nefaut pas confondre avcc iesnotres, n'etoientque des cercle«, des couroiincs cncerceau.

qui

la Srocquiirc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

145

qui est ^ la comtcase dc ce nom, j'eiilrai dans la comt^ dc Bourgognc (la Franche-comtd),
qui appartient h moiiseigncur le due, et vins ii BesaiKjon.

Je le croyois en Flandre, ct en consequence, voulant me rendre pr^s de lui par les marches
(frontiirea) de Bar et de Lorraine, je pris la route dc V<^sou; mais a Villeneuve j'appris
qu'il ^toit h I'entree de Bourgogne, et qu'il avoit fait assidger Mnssi-l'Eveque. Je me rendis
done par Aussfonne a Dijon, oi je trouvai monseigneur Ic chancelier de Bourgogne, avec
qui j'allai me presenter devant lui. Ses gens ^toient au si6ge, et lui dans I'abbaye de
Poitiers.

Je parus en sa presence avec les m^mes habillemens que j'avois au sortir de Damas, et j'y
fis conduire le cheval que j'avois achetd dans cette ville, ct qui venoit de m'amener en
France. Mondit seigneur me requt avec beaucoup de bontd. Je lui prdsentai mon cheval,
mes habits, avec le koran et la vie de Mahomet en Latin, que m'avoit donnas a Damas le
chapclain du consul de Venise. II les fit livrer a maitre Jean Germain pour les examiner ;
mais one depuis je n'en ai entendu parler. Ce maitre Jean 6toit docteur en thdologie ; il a
^t6 dv^que de ChSIons-sur-Saone et chevalier de la toison*.

Je me suis peu dtendu sur la description du pays depuis Vienne jusqu'ici, parce qu'il est
connu ; quant aux autres que j'ai parcourus dans mon voyage, si j'en public la relation
j'avertis ceux qui la liront que je I'ai entreprise, non par ostentation et vanitd, mais pour
instruire et guider les personnes qu'un m^me desir conduiroit dans ces contr^es, et pour
obdir a mon tr^s-redoute seigneur monseigneur le due, qui me I'a ordonnd. J'avois rapport^
un petit livret oh en route j'^crivois toutes mes avcntures quand j'en avois le temps, et
c'est d'apr^s ce memorial que je I'ai rddigde. Si elle n'est pas composde aussi bien que
d'autres pourroicnt le faire, je prie qu'on m'excuse.

* Jean Germain, n& 4 Cluni, ct par consequent sujet du due de Bourgogne, avoit plu, ctant enfant, d la duch-
cssc, qui I'envoya C-tudier duns I'Universitu de Paris, oij il se distingua. Leduc, dont il sut gagner la faveur par la
Huite, le fit, en 1431, chancelier de son ordre de la toiaon d'or (et non chevalier, comma le dit la Brocquiirc).
L'annee suivante il le nomma i I'evSche de Nevers ; reuvoya, I'an 1433, ambassadeur d Rome, puis au concile
de Bale, comiue I'un de ses representans. £n 1436 ii le transfera de I'^vfich^ de Nevers d celui de Chdlons-sur<
Saone.

Ce que la BrocquiAre dit dc cet dvfique annonce de I'humeur, et I'on conf oit que n'entendant point parler de»
deux nianuscrits interessans qu'il avoit apportes d'Asie, il devoit en avoir. Cependant Germain s'en occupa ; mait
ce ne fut que pour travailler d les r^futer. A sa mort, arrivee en 1461, il laissa en manuscrit deux ouvrages dont on
trouve des copies dans queloues bibliothdques, i'un intitule, De conceptione bcata: Mariae virginls, adversus ma-
liomctanos et inFidelcs, hbri duo ; I'autre, Adversus Alcoranuin, iibri quinque.

'>h

. i

'«»•!

.^; ^■

■m

THE

NAUIGATION AND VYAGES

Setoes llertomannu0»

GENTELMAN OF THE CITIE OF ROME,

TO THE

REGIONS OF ARABIA, EGYPTE, PERSIA, SYRIA, ETHIOPIA, AND EAST INDIA,

BOTH WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE RYUER OF GANGES, ETC.

IN THE YEERE OF OUR LORDE 1503.

'•.'"'i

COMTETNING

MANY NOTABLE AND STRAUNGE THINGES,

BOTH HYSTORICALL AND NATURALI..

TRANSLATED OUT OF LATINE INTO ENGLYSHE,

■It'

iBi? laiciiattie <ZEoen.

™',pi

IN THE YEERE OF OUR LORD 1576.

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THE

P R E F A C P:

OF THE

AUTHOUR.

■■''■•(..■

I-^:
1

THERE haiic been many before me, who to know the miracles of the worlde, haue with
diligent stiidie rrad dyuers authours which haue written of such thingea. But other
filling more credit to the lyuely vnyce, haue been more desirous to know the same by rela-
tion of such as haue traueyled in those countreys, and scene such thinges whereof they make
relation, for that in many bookcs, geathered of vncertaine aucthoritie, are myxt false thinges
with true. Other there are so greatly desirous to know the trueth of these thinges, that they
ran in no wyse be satisfietl, vntyll by theyr ownc experience they haue founde the trueth,
by voyages and peregrinations into straunge countreys and people, to know their maners,
fishions, and customcs, with dyuers thinges there to be scene : wherein the only reaiyng
of bookes, could not satisfie their thirst of such knowledge, but rather increased the same,
in so much that they feared not with losse of goods and daunger of lyfe to attempte great
vynges to dyuers countreys, with witnesse of theyr eyes to see that they so greatly desired
to knowe. The whiche thyng among other chaunced vnto me also, for as often as in the
bookes of hystorics and Cosmographie, I read of such marueylous thinges whereof they make
mcMition (especially of thinges in the East partes of the world), there was nothyng that
coulde pacific my vnquiet mynde, vntyll I had with myne eyes scene the trueth thereof. I
knowe that some there are indued with hygh knowledge, mountyng vnto the heauens, whiche
will contempne these our writinges, as base and humble, bycause we doe not here, after
their maner, with high and subtile inquisition intreate of the motions and dispositions of the
starres, and gyue reason of theyr woorkyng on the earth, with their motions, retrogradations,
directions, mutations, epicicles, reuolutions, inclinations, diuinations, reflexions, and suche
other parteyning to the science of astrologie : which certeynely we doe not condempne, but
greatly prayse. But measuryng vs with our owne foote, we will leaue that heauie burden of
heauen to the strong shoulders of Atlas and Hercules : and only creepyng vpon the earth,
in our owne person behoide the situations of landes and regions, with the maners and cus-
tomes of men, and variable fourmes, .-hapes, natures, and proprieties of beastes, fruites, and
trees, especially suche as are among the Arabians, Persians, Indians, Ethiopians. And where-
as in the searchyng of these thinges, we haue (thanked be God) satisfied our desire, we
thinke neuerthelesse that we haue done little, excepte we should communicate to other,
such thinges as we haue scene and had experience of, that they lykewyse by the readyng
therof, may take pleasure, for whose sakes we haue written this long and dangerous discourse,

1 », -

mm'

imfyr

Li.

'■■k.

150

THE PREFACE OF THE AUTHOUR.

of thinges which we haue seene in dyuers regions and sectea of men, desiiyng nothyng
more then that the tnieth may be knowen to them that desyre the same. But what incom-
modities and troubles chaunced vnto me in these viages, as hunger, thirst, colde, heate,
warres, captiuitie, terrours, and dyuers other suche daungers, I will declare by the way in
theyr due places.

THE

FIRST CHAPTER

OF THE

NAUIGATION FROM VENICE

ALEXANDRIA IN EGYPTE.

The samt was
also called Mem-

IF any man shall demaunde of me the cause of this my vyagc, certeynely I can shewe no
better reason then is the ardent desire of Knowledge, which hath moued many other to
see the worlde and miracles of God therin. And forasmuch as other knowen partes of the
world, hauc heretofore ben sufficiently traueyled of other, I was determyned to visite and
describe suche partes as here before haue not been sufficiently knowen ; and therefore with
the grace of God, and callyng vppon his holy name to prosper our enterprise, departyng
from Venice with prosperous wyndes, in fewe dayes we arryued at the citie of Alexandria
in Egypte: where the desyre we had to knowe thinges more straunge and further of, would
not permit vs to tarrie long. And therefore departyng from thence, and saylyng vp the ry-
uerof Nilus, we came to the citie of new Babylon, commonly called Cayrus or Alcayr.

Of the citie named Babylon, or Alcayr, a citie of Nilus in Egypt. Cap. 2.

Wllen we arryued there, I marueyled more then I am able to say : yet when 1 approached •'Jj»''"y"'*
so neare the citie that I myght wel see into it, it seemed to me much inferior to the reporte
and fame that was tliereof: for the greatnesse thereof, seemed nothyng agreeable to the
bruitc, and appeared no more in circuite then the citie of Rome, although much more peo-
pled, and better inhabited. But the large fieldes of the suburbes haue deceyued many, be-
yng dispersed with in maner innumerable villages, which some haue thought to haue been
part of the citie, whiche is nothyng so, for those villages and dispersed houses, are two or
three mylcs from the citie, and round about it on euery syde. Neyther is it here necdefull
to spende much tyme in declaryng of theyr maners, or religion, forasmuch as it is well
knowen, that all the inhabitantes of those regions are Mahumetans, and Mamalukes, which m»'"«'"'««-
are suche Christiana ns haue forsaken theyr fay th, to serue the Mahumetans and Turkcs : ' """""■•
Although commonly they that serued the Soltan of Babylon in tyme past, before the Soltan
was ouercome by the Turke, were called Mamaluchi, as they that serue the Turke, are called
lenetzari. But these Mamaluke Mahumetans, are subiecte to the Soltan of Syria. Uimfirati.

Of the cities of Berynto, Tripoli, and Antioch. Cap. 3.

THc riches, fayrenessc and magnificence of Babylon aforcsayde, and the straunge souldiers
Mamalukes, as things knowen we will now pretermit. Therefore departing from Babylon,

and

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Syrii Phoenicia.

Saiiict George
and the Dragon,

Tripoli,

Aleppo or An-
tioch.
The mount
Taurus.

The mount

Olympus.

Azamia.

Mesopotamia.

Persia.

Damasca,

Sainct Helcnc
the mother of
Constantine the
Emperour.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannus'

Christians
Greekes.
Hex.irchatus ii
ptinctpate or
gouermcnt.

and returnyng to Alexandria, where we agayne entered into our sea, we came to Berynto, a
citie on the sea coast of Syria Phoenicia, where we spent many days. This is inhabited of
Mahumetans, and plentifull of all thinges. The sea beateth on the walles of the towne : it
is not compa9.sed with walles, but on the west syde toward the sea. Here found we nothyng
memorable, but only an olde place ruinate, where they say Sainct George deliuered the
kynges daughter from a cruell Dragon, whiche he slue, and restored her to her father. De-
partyng from hence, we sayled to Tripoli : This is a citie of Syria, Eastwarde from Berynt(»
two dayes sayling. The inhabitauntos arc subiectc to the Lieutenant or gouernour of Syria,
and are Mahumetans. The soile is very fertile, and for the great traflique of merchaundies,
incredibly aboundeth with all thinges. Departyng from thence, we came to the citie Co-
magen of Syria, commonly called Alepo, and named of our men Antioch. It is a goodly
citie, situate vnder the mount Taurus, and is subiectc to the Lieuetenant, or Soltan of Ba-
bilon. There be the scales or ladders (for so they call them) of the Turkes and Syrians, for
it is neare the mount of Olympus. It is a famous marte towne of the Azamians and Per-
sians. The Azamians, are people of Mesopotamia, neare vnto the Persians, and of the re-
ligion of Mahumet, from thence, is the iourney to the Turkes and Syrians, and especially
of them that come from the part of Mesopotamia, named Azamia.

Of the cities of Aman and Menin. Cap. 4.

DEpartyng from thence, we came to Damasco, in ten dayes iourney. But before you
come there, in the myd way, is a citie named Aman, where is groat aboundance of gossam-
pine or cotton wool, and all maner of pleasant fruites. Goyng a little from Damasco, the
space of sixe myles, is a citie named Menin, .'situate on the declinyng of a mountayiie. It
is inhabited of Christians of the Greeke profession, who also obaye to the gouernour of Da-
masco. There are scene two favre Temples, which (as the inhabitantes reporte) were builded
by Helena, the mother of the Emperour Constantine. There are all kyndes of fruites, and
goodly Grapes, and Gardens watered with continual! sprynges. Departyng from thence, we
came to the citie of Damasco.

Of the citie of Damasco. Cap. 5.

IT is in maner incredible, and passeth all beleefe to thinke howe fayre the citie of Da-
masco is, and how fertile is the soyle. And therefore allured by the marueilous beautie of
the citie, I remayned there many dayes, that learnyng theyr language, I might knowe the
manors of the people. The inhabitants are Mahumetans and Mamalukes, with also many
Christians, lyuyng after the maner of the Greekes. IJy the way, it shall not be from my
I purpose to .speake of theyr Hexarchatus: the whiche (as we haue sayde) is subiect to the
Lieuetenaunt, viceroye or gouernourne of Syria, whiche some call Sorya. There is a very
strong fortresse or Castell, which a certayne Ethruscan, borne in the citie of Florence, buylded
at his owne charges, while he was there y' chiefe Hexarchatus or gouernour, as appeareth by
the flower of a Lilie there graven in marble beyng the annes of the citie of Florence. The
citie is compassed with a deep fosse or diche, with foure goodly high towres. They passe
the dyclie with a hangyng brydgc, which is lifted vp or lette downe at theyr pleasure. There
is all kyndo of great artillerie and munition, with also a garde of fyftie Mamalukes, whiche
dayly assystc the gouernoure or captayne of the castell, and rcceyue theyr stipende of the
n,ouernoure or viceroye of Syria. Fortune seemed to giue the Hexarchatus or principate to
the say<Io Florentine, whiche we wyll declare as we haue hearde of thinhabitauntos. They
saye that poyson was once geucn to the Soltan of Syria : and wlion he sought for remedie,
he chauncod to be healed by the sayde Florentine, which was one of the companye of the
Mamalukes. After whiche good fortune, he grewe dayely in fauoure with the sayde Prince,
who f or rewarde gaue hym that citie: where also the sayde Florentine buylded a Castel, and
dyed : whom to this daye the Citisens honour for a sninte, for sauyng tlie lyfe of theyr prince :
after who-^e death, the gouernniont returned to the Syrians. They saye furthermore that
the Soltan is well beloued of his lordos and princes, for that he easely graunteth them prin-

cipatcs

it;,:i

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

153

cipates and gouernetnentes : yet with condition to paye yeerely many thousandes of those
peeces of gold which they call Saraphos. They that denye to paye the summe agreed of,
are in daunger of imminent death. Of the chiefe noble men or gouernoures 10 or 12 euer
assiste the Prince. And when it pleaseth hym to extorte a certayne summe of golde of his * "^"''.^uj',""
noble men or merchaunfes (for they vse great tyrannye and oppre&sion by the iniuries and ,luiit.
thefte of the Mamalukes ag^ynst the Mahumetans) the Prince geueth two letters to the cap-
taine of the Casteil. In t'le' ;>ne is contayned, that with an oration h? inuite to the Castell
suche as pleaseth hym. In th». other is declared the mynde of the Prynce, what he demaund-
eth of his subiectes. When the letters be read, withal expedition they accomplishe his com-
maundement, be it ryght or wrong, without respecte. This meanes the Prynce iiiuented to
extorte mony. Yetspmetymes it commeth to passe, that the noble men are of suche strength,
that they wyll not come when they are commaunded, knowyng that the tyrant wyll offer
them violence. And therefore oftentymes when they knowe that the captayne of the Cas-
tell wyll call them, they flee into tlie dominions of the Turke. This haue we geathered as
toucliyng theyr maners, we haue also obsei .cd, that the watchemen in towres, do not geue
warning to the garde with lyuely voyce, but with drommes, the one answearyng the other
by course. But if any of the watchemen be so sleepye, that in the monient of an houre
he aunsweare not to the sounde of the watche, he is inunediately committed to prison for
one whole yeere.

Of such thynges as are scene in the citie of Damasco. Cap. 6.

AFter that I haue declared the maners of the Princes of Damasco, it seemeth agreeable to
speake of some suche thynges as I haue scene there. And therefore to speake fyrst of the
excellencie and beautie of the citie, it is certaynely marueylously wel peopled, and greatly
frequented, and also marueylous ryche. It is of goodly buildyng, and exceedeth in abund-
ance and fruitfulnesse of all thynges, and especiallye of all kynde of victuales, flesh, corne
and fruites, as freshe damesenne grapes all the whole yeere : also Pomegranets, Oranges, Ly-
mons, and excellent Olyve trees. Lykewyse Roses, both white and red, the fayrest that
euer I sawe : and all kyndes of sweete apples, yet peares and peaches were vnsauery. The
cause whereof, they say to be to much moysture. A goodly and cleare ryuer runneth about
the citie: and therefore in maner in euery house are seene fountaynes of curious worke em-
bossed and grauen. They r houses outwardly are not very beautyfull, but inwardly marueylously
adourned with variable woorkes of the stone called Ophis, or serpentine Marble. Within the
towne are many temples or churches, which they call Moscheas. But that %vhich is most beau- Theyr churdies,
tyfull of all other, isbuylded after the maner of Sainct Peters church in Rome, if you respect
the greatnesse, excepty ng this, that in the myddle is no roofe or couerture, but is all open : but
about the rest of the temple, it is altogeather vaulted. There they obserue religiously the bodye
of the holy Prophet Zacharie. The temple hath also foure great double gates of metal, very Thebodieof tiir
fayre, and many goodly fountaynes within it. There are yet seene the ruins of many de- Jlj^'''"' ^"'""
cayed houses, which were once' inhabited by the Christians. Those houses they cal Cano- "^
nicas, and are of woorke both earned and imbossed.

There is also to be seene the place where (as they say) our sauiour Christ spake to Sainct The place of the
Paule these woordes, Paule, Paule, why doest thou persecute me, etc. This place is with- s™Kt'paui°!
out the citie about a myle.

There are buried the Christians that die in the citie. There is seene also the Tower in The prison ..r
whiche Sainct Paule was committed to pryson, and ioyneth to the wall of the citie. jjh^ sainctP.uir
that place of the Tower where Paule was brought foorth by the Angell, the Mahumetans do
not attempt to close vp : Saying, that yf it be closed oucr nyght, they fynde it open agayne
in the morning. I saw also there, those houses in the whiche (as they say) Cain slue his The ri«e «hf.
brother Abell. These are on the other part of the citie a myle of, in a certayne valley, yet ^"" ''"' ^'"
on the syde of a hyll. But let vs nowe returne to the stranger Solgiers, which they call
Mamaluchos, and to speake somewhat howe licenciously they lyue in that citie.

X Of

■ Abel.

' '4
' ■'Pi

154

■■:';•' I

The Msma-
luket wages.

How the
Manulukcs
abuse the

The women of
Damaico.

Chaunge of
husbandei and
wyues.

The Mahumet-
ans wyues.

Gotes mylke.

Muihcromes,

Asia the lesse
nowe named
Natolia or Tur-
chia.

Christians of
Damaico.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,
or the Mamalukes of Damasco. Cap. 7.

Vertomannm'

ha(

THe Mamalukes therefore, are that kynde of men, which haiie forsaken our fayth, and as
s: aies are bought by the gouerner of Syria. They are very actiue, and brought vp both in
learnyng and warlike discipline, vntill they come to great perfection. As wel the litle aa
jf great, without respect, receiue stipend of the gouernour : which for euery moneth
amounteth to syxe of those peeces of gold which they call Saraphos, besyde the meate and
drynke of themselues and theyr seruantes, and also prouision for theyr horses. And ihe
valiaunt they be, and of greater actiuitie, they are hyred for the greater wages. They
walke not in the citie but by two or three togeather, for it is counted dishonour for any of
them to walke without a companion. And if by the way they chaunce to meete with two or
three women ( for they lay way te to tarry for them about suche houses why ther they know
the women resort) lycence is graunted them, as they by chaunce fyrst meete with them, to
bryng them into certaine tauerns, where they abuse them. When the Mamalukes attempt
to descouer theyr faces (for they go with theyr faces couered) they striue with them because
they wyll not be knowen. But when the Mamalukes persyste wantonly to discouer them,
they saye thus vnto them. Is it not enough for you that you haue abused our bodyes a»
pleaseth you, but that you wyl also discouer our faces : Then the Mamalukes suffer them
to depnrte. But somctyme it chaunceth, that when they thynke to prostitute the daughter
of some gentelmen or noble men, they committe the fact with theyr own wyues : whiche
thyng chaunced whilest I was there. The women beautifie and garnishe themselues as muche
as any. They vse sylken apparell, and couer them with cloth of gosampine, in maner as
fyne as sylke. They weare white buskyns, and shooes of red or purple coloure. They
garnyshe theyr heades with many iewelles and earerynges, and weare rynges and braslettes.
They mary as often as them lysteth : for when they are weary of theyr fyrst maryage, they
go to the chiefe preste of their religion (whom they call Cady ) and make request to hym to
be diuorsed from theyr fyrst maryage. This diuorsment in theyr language is called Talacar^ :
which graunted by the hygh Priest or Byshop, they begyn newe maryages. The lyke
lybertie is also graunted to the husbandes. Some thynke that the Mahumetans haue fyue
or swc rt/ues togeather, whiche I haue riot obserued : but as farre as I coulde perceyue
they haue but two or three. They eate openly, specially in the martes or fayres, and there
dresse they all theyr meates. They eate Horses, Cammelles, Bufles, Gotes, and suche other
beastes. They haue great abundaunce of freshe cheese. They that sell mylke, dryue about
with them 40 or 50 Gotes, which they bryng into the houses of them that wyll bye mylke,
euen vp into their chamber.^, although they be three roofes hygh, and there mylke them, j
haue it freshe and newe. These Gotes haue theyr eares a spanne long, many vdders or
pappes, and are very fruitefull : There is great abundaunce of mussheromes, for sometymes
there are seene 20 or 30 Cammelles laden with musheromes, and yet in the space of three
thyes they are all solde. They are brought from the mountayncs of Armenia, and fron>
Asia the lesse, whiche is now called Turchia or Natolia, or Anatolia.

The Mahumetans vyse long vestures and loose, both of sylke and cloth. The most part
vyse hose of gossampine, cloth and whyte shooes. When any of the Mahumetans by chaunce
meeteth with any of the Mamalukes, although the Mahumetan be the woorthyer person, yet
geueth he place and reuerence to the Mamaluke, who otherwyse would geue hym the
Bastonado, and beate hym with a stafTe. The Christians also keepe there many ware houses
of merchaundies, where they haue dyuers sortes of sylkes and veluet : but the Christians are
there euyll entreated of the Mahumetans.

The iorney from Damasco to Mecha, and of the maners of the Arabians.

Cap. 8. •

AFter that I haue largely spoken of Damasco, I wyll proceede to the rest of my vyage.
Therefore in the yeere of our Lorde. 1503. the eight daye of the moneth of Apryll, when I

had

yage.

lien I

had

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

155

had hyrcd cerlayiie Cammclles (which they call Carauanas) to go to Mecha, and beyng then Carauina, »

ignorant of the customes and maners of them in whose companye I shoulde go, I entred Cjm1"i«! °

familiaritie and friendshyppe with a certayne captayne Mamaluke, of them that had forsaken Mamiiuchi re-

( nr fayth, with whom beyng agreed of the price, he prepared me apparell lyke vnto that "«8»*.

whiche the Mamalukes vyse to wenre, and geuyng me also a good horse, accompanyed me

with the other Mamalukes. This (as I haue sayde) I obtayned with great cost, and many

gyftes which I gaue hym. Thus enteryng to the iorney, after the space of thrte dayes, we

came to a certayne place named Mezaris, where we remayned three dayes, that the Mcr- Meurn.

chauntes which were in our company myght prouidethynges neccssarie, as specially Camels,

and dyuers other thynges. There is a certayne Prince whom they cal Zambei, of great The rtince

power in the countrey of Arabia : he had three brethren and foure chyldren. He noryshcth Jra"!"" '"

fourtie thousand horses, ten thousand mares, and foure thousand Camels. The country

where he keepeth the heardes of these beajites, is large, of two dayes iorney. This Prince

Zambei is of so great power, that he keepeth warre with the Soltan of Babylon, the gouern-

our of Damasco, and the Prince of lerusalem al at once. In the tyme of haruest and i^ju'sj^UJ" "

geatheryng of fruile-i, he is geuen wholy to praye and robbyng, and with great subtiltic

deceyucth the Arabians : for when they thynke hym to be a myle or two of, he is with them

sodenly bctymcs in themornyng: and inuadyng theyr landes, carryeth away theyr fruifes, ^j^/^""

Wheat'e, and Barlye, euen as he fyndeth it in the sackcs : and so lyueth contynually day

and nyght with suche incursions. When his Mares be weeried with continuall runnyng, he ^*""-

resteth a whyle : and to refreshe them, geueth them Camelles mylke to drynke, to coolc

them after theyr great labour. Those Mares are of such marueylous swyftnesse, that when

I presently sawe them, they seemed rather to flee then to runne. Note also that these ^he Ar.by»ns

Arabians ryde on horses only couered with certayne clothes or mattes, and weare none other ''"' ''" "'''

vesture then only an inwarde coate, or petticoate : for weapon they vse a certayne long

Dart of Reedes, of the length of ten or twelue cubites, poynted with Iron (after the maner

of lauelyns) and frynged with sylke. When they attempt any incursyons, they marche in

suche order, that they seem' to go in troupes : they are of despicable and litle stature, and

of coloure betweene yealowe and blacke, which some call Oliuastro. They haue the voyces

of Women, and the heare of theyr head long and blacke, and layde out at large. They are

of greater multitude then a man woulde beleeue, and are among them selues at contynuall .

stryfe and warre. They inhabite the mountaynes, and haue certayne tymes appoynted to

robberye : for this purpose they obserue especially the tyme, when they are certayne of the

passage of the Pylgryms and other thAt iorney that way to Mecha, then lyke thceues they

lye in the way and robbe them. When they make these theeuysh inuasions, they bryng

with them theyr wyues, chyldren, families and all the goodes they haue. Theyr houses they Houi«»bonieon

put vponthc Camelles, for other houses haue they none, butlyueonlye in tentes and pai!y-xell',ei*«nd'""

lyons as do our Soldiers. Suche tabernacles are made of blacke wooll, and that rough and pauiiions.

fylthy. But to returne to our viage.

The eleuenth day of Aprill departed from Mezaris a company of Camels (which companie
they call the Carauana) to the number of 35 thousand, with fourtie thousand men. But we
were no more then threescore persons, of whom the Mamalukes had taken the charge to
guyde and garde us, and the Carauana of our companie, whiche the Mamalukes diuided into Thu forftare of
three partes, as some in the fronte, other in the myddest of the army, and other in a wyng'""'^"'"""'"
after the maner of a halfe Moone, inclosyng the whole armie ; for in this order march the
peregrines, which iorney in these regions, as hereafter we wyll further declare. But you Prom Damasw
shall fyrst understand that Damasco is from Mecha fourtie dayes and fourtie nyghtes iorney.'"'**"'"'
Departyng therefore from Mezaris we continued our iorney that day, vntyll the 22 houre of
the day. Then our Captayne and guide Agmirus, after he had geuen the watch worde and
signe, commaunded that euerye man shoulde rest and remayne in the place where the signe
shoulde be geuen them. Therefore as soone as they hearde the signe by the sound of a
Trumpet, they stayed, and after they had vnburdened theyr Camels, spent there two houres Perhaps wUiuhc
to victual themselues and theyr beastes : then the Captayne geuyng a new signe, chargyng ""Trumre'ir"'

X 2 theyr

:vli

<;Bi«»v^

156

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vcrtoinannus'

'y.?.'i^ :

Water.

The burden of
the Cimelle].

The feebloneise on OllF parte

of the Arobi»ni. "^

theyr Camelles agayne, they departed spcedyly from thence. Eiiery Caniell hath at one
feedying fyue Barly Icaue^, rawe and not baked, as bygge as a Pomegranate. Takyng horse,
they continued that iorney the daye and nyght folowyng, vntyll 22 hourcs of the day, and
at that houre they obseriie the order whiche we haue spoken of herebefore. Euery eight
daye they draw water by dyggyng the grounde or sande : by the way neuerthelesse some-
where are founde Welles and Sesternes. Also euery eyght daye, they rest theyr Camelles
two dayes to recouer their strength. The Camelles are laden with incredible Burdens, and
double charge : that is to meane the burden of two great Mules. They drynke but once in
three dayes.

Of the strength and valiantncsse of the Mamalukes. Cap. 9.

WHen they tary and rest them ai the waters aforesaydc, they are euer enforced to conflict
with a great multitude of the Arabians : but the battayle is for the most parte without blood-
shed, for although we haue often tymes fought with them, yet was there only one man slayne
for these Arabians are so weake and feeble, that threescore Mamalukes haue
often put to the worst fyftie thousande Arabians. For these feelde Arabians which are called
Pagans. Pagan i, are not in strength or force of armes to be compared to the Mamalukes, of whose

The actiuitie of actiuitie I hauc scene great experience: among the whiche this is one. A certayne Mama-
the Mamalukes. j^i^g laydc an Apple vpon the head of his seruant, and at the distance of about 12 or 14
pases, stroke it off from his head. I sawe likewise an other, who ryding on a sadled horse
with full course (for they vse saddles as we doc) tooke off the saddle from the horse styll
running : and for a space bearing it on his head, put it agayne on the horse, styll continuing
his full course.

Of the cities of Sodoma and Gomorrha. Cap. 10.

PAssyng the iourney of twelue dayes we came to the playne or valley of Sodoma and Go-
morrha, where we founde it to be true that is written in Holy Scripture: for there yet re-
mayne the ruynes of the destroyed citie, as witnesse of Gods wrath. We may affyrme that
there are three cities, and eche of them situate on the declining of three hylles : and the
ruincs doe appeare about the heyght of three or foure cubites. There is yet scene, I wotte
near what, lyke blood, or rather lyke redde waxe myxte with earth. It is easie to beleeue
that those men were infected with horrible vices, as testifieth the baren, drye, filthie, and
Manna, turned vnholsome region, vtterly without water. Those people were once fedde with Manna : but
in bitter plagues. ^I^gjj they abused the gyft of God, they were sore plagued. Departing twentic myles from
Lacke of water, thcsc citics, about thirtie of our company perished for lacke of water, and dyucrs other
were ouerwhelmed with sande. Goyng somewhat further forewarde, we founde a little moun-
tayne, at the foote whereof we founde water, and therefore made our abode there. The day
Water dcmij> folowyng early in the mornyng, came vnto vs 24 thousand Arabians, ^skyng money for the
so"did*"Abrahtm watcr which wc had taken. We answered that we would paye nothing, because it was gyuen
with the phiiij- vs by the goodnesse of God. Immediately we came to hand strokes. We feathering > >
selues togeather on the sayde mountayne, as in the safest place, vsed our Camelles in the
sleede of a bulwarke, and placed the merchauntes in the myddest of the army (that is) in
sodoeththe the myddcst of the Camelles, whyle we fought manfully on euery syde. The battayle con-
'""'' tinned so long, that water fayled both vs and our enemies in the space of two dayes. The
Arabians compassed about the mountayne, crying and threatenyng that they would breake
in among the Camelles : at the length to make an ende of the conflicte, our Captayne as-
sembling the merchauntes, commanded a thousande and two hundred peeces of golde to be
giuen to the Arabians : who when they had receyued the money, sayde that the summc of
ten thousande peeces of golde should not satisfie them for the water which we had drawen.
Whereby we perceiued that they began further to quarrell with vs, and to demaunde some
other thing then money. Whereuppon our Captayne gaue commaundement, that whosoeuer
in all our companie were able to beare armes, should not mount vpon the Camelles, biu
should with all expedition prepare themselues to fyght. The day folowyng in the morning,

scndyng

'fravela to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

157

aendyng the Camelles before, and inclosyng our army, beyng about three hundred in num-
ber, we met with the enemiesj and gaue the onset. In this conflicte, we lost only a man
nnd a woman, and had none other domage: we slue of the Arabians a thousande and fyue
hundred, whereof you neede not mai leyle, if you consyder that they are vnarmed, and
weare only a thynne loose vesture, and are beayde almost naked : thcyr horses also beyng as
euyll furnished, and without saddles, or other furniture.

Of a mountayne inhabited with lewes, and of the citie of Medinathalhabi, where

Mahumet was buried. Cap. 11.

IN the space of eyght dayes we came to a mountayne which conteyneth in circuite ten or
twelue mylcs. This is inhabited with lewcs, to the number of fyue thousande or thereabout.
They are very little stature, as of the heyght of (iue or si.\e spannes, and some muche lesse. UwetPigmei.
They hauc small voyces lyke women and of blacke colour, yet some blacker then other.
They feede of none other meate then Goates fleshe. They are circumcised, and deny not
them selues to bee lewes. If by chaunce any Mahumetan come into their handes, they flay
him alyue. At the foot of the mountayne, we founde a certayne hole, out of the whiche
flowed aboundance of water. By fyndyng this oportunitie, we laded sixtienc thousand
Camels: which thyng greatly offended the Icwes. They wandred in that mountayne, scat-
tered lyke wylde Goates or Prickettes, yet durst they not come downe, partly for feare, and
partly for hatred agaynst the Mahumetans. Beneath the mountaine are scene seuen or eyght
thorne trees, very fayre, and in them we founde a payre of Turtle Doues, which seemed to
vs in maner a miracle, hauyng before made so long iourneyes, and sawe neyther beast nor
foule. Then proceedyng two dayes iourney, we came to a certayne citie named Medina- Ths citie of
thaihabi : foure myles from the said citie, we founde a well. Heere the Carauana (that is, ^«''""''»""'"'
the whole hearde of Camelles) rested. And rcmayning here one day, we washed our selues,
and chaunged our shertes, the more freshely to enter into the citie : it is well peopled, and
conteyneth about three hundred houses, the walles are lyke bulwarkes of earth, and the
houses both of stone and bricke. The soile about the citie, is vtterly barren, except that
about two myles from the citie, are scene about fyftie palme trees that beare Dates. There,
by a certayne garden, runneth a course of water fallyng into a lower playne, where also
passingers are accustomed to water theyr Camelles. And here opportunitie now serueth to
confute the opinion of them whiche thynke that the Arke or Toombe of wicked Mahu- Ji" ''"«'™'j? <»
met in Media, to hang in the ayre, not borne vp with any thyng. As touching which thyng, Mahumet.°
I am vtterly of an other opinion, and affirme this neyther to be true, nor to haue any lyke-
nesse of trueth, as I presently behelde these thynges, and sawe the place where Mahumet is Mjhumet was
buried, in the said citie of Medinathalhabi : for we taryed there three dayes, to come to the MeciiT'
true knowledge of all these thynges. When wee were desirous to enter into theyr Temple
(which they call Meschita, and all other churches by the same name) we coufde not be
.suffered to enter, without a companion little or great. They taking vs by the hande, brought
vs to the place where they saye Mahumet is buried.

Of the Temple or Chapell, and Sepulchre of Mahumet, and of his felowes. Cap. 13.

His temple is vaulted, and is a hundred pases in length, and fourescore in breadth : the
entry into it, is by two gates : from the sydes, it is couered with three vaultes, it is borne vp
with 4 hundred columnes or pillers of white brick, there are scene hanging lampes about
the numbef of 3 thousande. From the other part of the Temple in the first place of the Mes-
chita, is scene a Tower of the circuite of fyue pases, vaulted on euery syde, and couered
with a cloth of silke, and is borne vp with a grate of copper curiously wrought, and distant
from it two pases ; and of them that goe thyther, is scene as it were through a lattesse. To-
warde the lefte hande, is the way to the Tower, and when you come thyther, you must enter
by a narower gate. On euery side of those gates or doores, are scene many bookes in M»humets
maner of a Librarie, on the syde 20, and on the other syde 25. These contayne the filthie ^'''""'•
traditions and lyfe of Mahumet and his fellowes: within the sayde gate, is scene a Sepulchre

(that

W: 'r I

■t'!;'

i .'is'-

1 1

'.; :;'! r,

m '

158

VOYAOKS, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertonwnnus'

■■'W ^''n

i'm

■^'

'HP':;: ;

Nomotheo
Turcamm.
ThiiHali our
men that have
been in I'etila,
call Mortui H(-
li, that is Saint
Hali.

Diicotde and
lectti of teliginn
nmong the Ma-
hiimetans,
Tiirkei, and
PiTiiani.
Notr.

Suu'h corne,
such ihaHe.

(that is) a digged place, where they say Mahumct \i buried and his fclnwes, which are these,
Nabi, Bubacar, Othomar, Aiimar, and Fatoma: But Mahumet was theyr chicFe Captaynr,
and an Arabian borne. Ilali was snnne in lawe to Mahumet, for he tnoke to wyfe his daughter
Fatoma. Bubacar is he who they say was exalted to the dignitie of a chiefe counselier and
groat gouornour, although he came not to the hygh degree of an apostle, or prophet, as dyd
Mahumet. Othomar, and Aumar, were chiefe Captayncs of the army of Mahumet. Euery
of these hauc their j)roper bookes of theyr factes and traditions. And hereof proceedcth
tlic groat disscniion and discorde of religion and maners among this kynde of filthie men,
whvie some confirme one doctrine, and some an other, by reason of theyr dyuers sectes
of Patrons, I^octours, and sainfcs, as they call them. By this meanes, are they marneylously
diiiidcd among them seines, and lyke beastes kyll themseluos, for such quarelies of dyuers
opinions, and all false. This also is the chiefe cause of warre betweene the Sophie of
Persin, and the great Turke, beyng neuerthelcsse both Mahumetans, and lyue in mortall
hatred one agaynst the other for the mayntenaunce of theyr Secte.s, S;iintC8 and Apostles,
whyle oucry of them thynketh theyr owne to bee best.

Of the Secte of Mahumet. Cap. 13.

NOw will wc speake of the maners and sect of Mahumet. Vnderstande therefore, that in
the highest part of the Tower aforesayde, is an open round place. Now shall you vnder-
stande what crafte they vsed to deceyue our Carauana. The first euenyng that we came
lliyther to see the Sepulchre of Mahumet, our Captaine sent for the chiefe priest of the
Temple to come to him, and when he came, declared vnto him that the only cause of his
NahiisthenameCommyng thythor, was to visite the Sepulchre and bodie of Nabi, ay which woord is signi-
A K« 'h« ''^^ *'"^ prophet Mahumet : and that he vnderstoode that the price to be admitted to the syght
for vile march „n- of thcsc mystcrics, should 1)0 foiiTC thousando Seraphes of golde. Also that he had no pa-
renfes, neyther brothers, sisters, kinsefolkes, chyldren, or wyue?, neyther that he came
ihyther to buy merchaundies, as spices, or Bacca, or Narlus, or any manor of precious
lewelles : but only for very /eale of religion and saluation of his soule, and was therefore
greatly desirous to see the bodie of the prophet. To whom the Priest of the Temple (they
call tl»cm Side) with countenance lyke one that were distraught, made aunswere in this manor,
Darest thou with those eyes with the which thou hast committed so many horrible sinnes, de-
syre to see him by whose sight God hath created heauen and earth : To whom agayne our
Captayne aunswercd thus. My Lorde, you haue sayde truely : neuerthelcsse I pray you that
»hop of Mecht. I niav fyodo so much fauour with you, that I may see the Prophet: whom when I haue seeno,
I -will immediately thrust out myne eyes. The Side aunswered, O Prince, I will open all
It seemeth that thviigos vnto thco. So it is that no man can denye but that our Prophet dyed hecre, who if
IlhJ i'ih°*l,"°' ^^ would myght iuiue dyed at Mocha: But to shewe in himselfe a token of humilitie, and
thereby to gyiie vs example to folowe him, was wyllyng rather heere then elsewhere to de-
parto out of this worlde, and was incontinent of Angelles borne into heauen, and there rc-
ceyued as equall with them. Then our Captayne sayde to him. Where is lesus Christus, the
Sonne of Marie: To whom the Side answered, at the feete of Mahumet. Then sayde our
Captayne agayne: It sufTycoth, it suflTyceth, I will knowe no more. After this, our Cap-
tayne commyng out of the Temple, and turnyng him to vs, sayd, see (I pray you) for what
goodly stiilfe I would haue payde three thousande Seraphes of golde : The samedaye at euen-
yng, at ahnost three a clorke of the nyght, ten or twelue of the Elders of the secte of Mahu-
met cntred into our Carauana, whiche remayned not paste a stone cast from the gate of the
citio. These ranne hy ther and thy thcr, crying lyke madde men, with these wordes, Mahumet the
Mahumet shai mossonser and Apostlo of God, shall rvso agavno, O Prophet, O God, Mahumet shall ryse

rvc^ ^tr. with '-', ' ^^t^^^^t II I'll' 1

agayne, haue mercy on vs God. Our Captayne and we all raysed with this crye, tooke
weapon with all expedition, suspectvng that the Arabians were come to robbe our Carauana;
We asked what was the cause of that exclamation, and what they cryed ? For they cryed as
FaUe miracles to doe the Christians, when sodcynly any marueylous thyng chaunceth. The Elders answered,
Sawe you not the lyghtning whiche shone out of the Sepulchre of the Prophet Mahumet.

Our

(lies,

.".uch people,
siiche Priest.

My lorde Bi-

where he was
buryed.
The dtuyll he
was.

Christe at the
feete of M:hu'
met.

ryse etc. with
luda.

confirme falK re'
hsion,

in
m

as
liu

€)

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

159

ryse
I tooke
jiuana;
fcA as
*rered,
tumet.
Our

Our Captayne answered, that he sawe nothyng, and we also beyng demaunded, answered
in lykc maner. Then sayde one of the old men, are you slaues ? that is to say bought
men : meanyng thereby Mamaluke.s. Then sayde our Captayne, We are in decde Ma-
mahikes. Then agayne the olde man sayde. You my Lordes, cannot see heaucniy thinges,
as being Neophiti (that is) newly come to the fayth, and not yet confirmed in our re-Nfophiti.
liyioii. To this our Captayne answered agayne, O you madde and insensate beastes, pl,^,,"'^^'*^'*'"'"
1 had thought to haue giuen you three thousande peeces of golde, but now, O you
dogges and progcnie of dogges, I will gyue you nothyng. It is therefore to bee vnder-
stoode, that none other shynyng came out of the Sepulchre, then a certayne flame which
the priests caused to come out of the open place of the Towre spoken of here before, where-
by they would haue deceyued vs. And therfore our Captnine commaunded that thereafter The fnbie that
none of vs should enter into the Temple. Of this also we haue most true experience, and M'tiun^'"
most ccrlayneiy assure you that there is neyther Iron or Steele, or the Magnes stone that in tht Ayre.
should so make the toombc of Mahumet to hange in the ayre, as some haue falsely imagined :
neyther is there any mountayne nearer then foure myles : we rcmayncd here three daycs to
refreshe our company. To this citie victualles and all kynde of come is brought from Arabia
Fcelix, and Babylon or Alcayr, and also from Ethiopc, by the rcdde sea, whiche is from this
citie but foure dayes iourney.

The iourney to Mecha. Cap. 14.

AFter that we were satisfied, or rather wcaryed, with the filthincsse and lothesomenesse of
the trumperyes, deceites, trifles, and hypocrises of the religion of Mahumet, we determined
to goe forward on our iourney: And that by guyding of a pylot, who myght directe our
course with the mariners boxe or compasse, with also the carde of the sea, cuen as is vsed
in sayling on the sea. And thus bendyng our iourney to the West we founde a very fayre
well or fountayne, from the which flowed great aboundance of water. The inhabitantes af-
fyrme that Sainct Marke the Euangelist was the aucthour of this fountayne, by a miracle of
God, when that region was in maner burned with incredible drynesse. Here we and our
beastes were satisfied with drynke. I may not here omit to speake of the sea of sande, and
of the daungers thereof. This was founde of vs before we came to the mountayne of the lewes.
In this sea of sand wc traueiled the iourney of three dayes and nightes: this is a great bn»(Ie
plaine, all couered with white sande, in maner as small as floure: If by euil fortune it so chauncc
that any trauaile that way southward, if in the meane time the wind come to the North, they arc
ouerwhelmed with sande. And although they shoulde haise prosperous wynde, yet are they so in-
uolued with sande, that they scatter out of the way, and can scarsely see tlie one the other W
pases of And therefore the inhabitants trauayling this way, are inclosed in cages of woodde,
borne with Camels, and lyue in them, so passyng the iorney guided by pilots with maryners
compasse and card, euen as on the sea, as we haue sayde. In this iorney also many peryshe
for thirst, and many for drynkyng to muche, when they finde suche good waters. In these
sandes is founde Momia, which is the fleshe of such men as are drowned in these sandes, and
tliere dryed by the heate of the Sunne: So that those bodyes are preserued from putrifac-
tiou by the drynesse of the Sand : and therefore that drye fleshe is esteemed medicinable.
Albeit there is an other kynde of more pretious Momia, which is the dryed and embalmed
bodies of kynges and princes, whiche of long tyme haue been preserued drye without cor-
ruption. When the wynde blowetli from the northeast, then the sand riseth, and is driuen
against a certaine mountayne which is an arme of the mount Sinai. There we found cer-
tayne pyllers artificially wrought, whiche they call lanuan. On the lefte hande of the sayde
mountayne, in the toppe or rydge thereof, is a denne, and the entrie into it, is by an Iron
gate. Some fayne that in that place Mahumet lyiied in contemplation. Here we heard a
certayne horrible noyse and crye : for passyng the sayde mountayne, we were in so great
daunger, that we thought neuer to haue escaped. Departyng therefore from the fountayne,
we continued our iorney for the space of 10 dayes : And twy«e in the way fought with fyfiie
thousande Arabians, and so at the length came to the citie of Mecha, where al thinges were

troubled

louriifjr on the
lande by carde
and compasse a:
on the lea.

Thefountainer!
Saiiiit Marke
the Euanjelist.

Thi: tea of sande.
M:itef.ibiiIoiui>i.

Monii

Momia of
Kynges bodies
embalmed.

Mount Sinai.

The den where
Mahumet liued
in contemplation.

■' :-,.:h

ii''i

160

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannus'

■*i'M; .• ;

'■}"<■•'•

|;' -•.'If'.'; ■
I'' •■■'■•iji !■

M«h>ihekini- troublcd by reason of the warrcR betwcene two brethren, contendyng whiche of them ahoulde
domcofMccha. pQjjgesse the kyngcdomc of Mecha. .,, . , ^h . . • ••

Of the fourme and situation of the citie of Mecha :

thythcr. Cap. 15.

and why the Mahumetana resort

Mccba, whiche
Abraham Ortc>
NincilkchMec-

The Soltan of
Media.

Sacrifice to
Abraham and
Iiaac.

Mtcha curaJ
ef Uod.

Water very
deare.

The ryuer Ni-

lus.

The red Sea.

Arabia Fcclix.

Many pilgrymes
and ttrangers at
Mecha.

Why so many
nation? resort to
Mecha.

NOwe the tyme rcquireth to speake somewhat of the famous citie of Mecha, or Mecca,
what it is, howc it is situate, and by whom it is gouerned. The citie is vevy fayre and
well inhabited, and contayneth in ronnde fourme syxe thousande houses, as well buylded
as ours, and some that cost three or foure thousande peeces of golde : it hath no walles.
About two furlongs from the citie is a mount, where the way is cutte out, whiche leadeth
to a plaync beneath. It is on cuery sydc fortified with mountains, in the stead of walles or
bulwark,s, and hath foure entries. The gouernour is a Soltan, and one of the foure brethren
of the progcnie of Mahumet, and is siibiect to the Soltan of Babylon of whom we hauc
spoken before: His other three brethren be at continuall warre with hym. The 18 daye of
Maye, wc cntred into the citie by the north syde: then by adeclynyng way, we came into
a playne. On the south syde are two mountaynes, the one very neere the other, distant
onely by a little valley, which is the way that leadeth to the gate of Mecha. On the east
sydc, is an open place bctweene two mountaynes, lykc vnto a valley, and is the waye to tlie
mountayne where they sacrifice to the Patriarkcs Abraham and Isaac. This mountayno
is from the citie about 10 or 12 myles, and of the heyght of three stones cast: it is of
stone as hardc as marble, yet no marble. In the toppe of the mountaine, is a Temple or
Meschita, made after their fashion, and hath three wayes to enter into it. At the foote of
the mountayne are two cesterns, which conserue waters without corruption : of these, the
one is reserued to minister water to the Camels of the Carauana of Babylon or Alcayr, and
the other, for them of Damasco. It is rayne water, and is deriued far of.

But to returne to speake of the citie : for as touchyng the mancr of sacrifice which they
vse at the foote of the mountayne, wee wyll speake hereafter. Entryng therefore into the
citie, wee founde there the Carauana of Memphis, or Babylon, which prevented vs eyght
dayes, and came not the waye that wee came. This Carauana conteyned threescore and
foure thousande Camelles, and a hundred Mamalukes to guyde them. And here ought you
to consyder, that by the opinion of all men, this citie is greatly cursed of God, as appcreth
by the great barrennesse thereof, for it is destitute of all maner of fruites and corne. If is
scorched with drynesse for lacke of water, and therefore the water is there growen to suche
pryce, that you can not for twelue pence buye as much water as wyll satysfie your thyrst
ibr one day. Nowe therefore I wyll declare what prouision they haue for victuales. The
most part is brought them from the citie of Babylon, otherwyse named Memphis, Cayrus,
or Alcayr, a citie of the ryuer of Nilus in Egypt, as we haue sayde before, and is brought
by the red sea (called Mare Erythreum) from a certayne port named Gida, distaunt from
Mecha fourtie myles. The rest of theyr prouisions, is brought from Arabia Fcelix (that is)
the happye or blessed Arabia : so named for the fruitfulnesse thereof, in respect of the other
two Arabiaes, called Petrea and Discrta. that is, stonye and desart. They haue also miiche
corne from Ethyopia. Here we found a marueylous number of straungers and peregrynes,
or Pylgryms : Of the whiche, some came from Syria, some from Persi.n, and other from both
the East Indiaes, (that is to say) both India within the ryuer of Ganges, and also the other
India without the same ryuer. I ncuersawe in anye place greater abundaunce and frequen-
tation of people, forasmuchc as 1 could perceyue by tarrying there the space of 20 dayes.
These people resort thyther for diners causes, as some for merchandies, some to obserue theyr
vowe of Pylgrymage, and other to haue pardon for theyr sinnes: as touchyng the whiche we
wyll speake more hereafter.

Of the mcrchmdics of Mecha. Cap. 10.

FRom India the grcitcr, which is botl within and without the ryuer of Ganges, they haue
poarlcs, i)rccious stones, and plentie of spyces : and especially from that citie of the greater

India,

Tiaveh to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUnRIES.

leyr
le we

haiie
eater
ndia.

India, which is named Bangella, they haiic much njossampyne cloth and silke. They haue
also spyccH frum Ethiopia : i\iu\ therefore wc must needes confesse that tiiis citic is a faniouH
mart of many ryciie ihynges wliercof there is great plentie.

Of the Pardons or Indulgences of Mecha. Cap. 17.

LEt vs tiow relume to spcake of the pardons of pilgryms, for the which so many stranpjc
nations resort thither. In the msddest of the cifie, is a Temple, in fashyon lyke vnlo tht'Mj^i,^.
ColossuH of Rome, the Amphithealrum, I nicane, lykc viito a stage, yet not of muihied or
hewed stones, but of burnt bryckes : for tiiis temple, lyke vnto an Amphitheater, haih fourc-
scorc and ten, or an hundred gates, and is vaulted. The entrance, is by a discent of twelue
slayers or degrees on euery part: in the church porche, are solde only iewels and pri>_iou3
stones. In the entry the gylted walles shyne on euery syde with incom|jarabIe splendotir. In
the lower part of the temple (that is vnder the vaulted places) is scene a marucylous multi-
tude of men : for there are fyue orsixe thousande men that sell none other thyng then swcetc
oyntmentes, and especially a certayne odoriferous and most swQCte ponder, wherewith dead
bodycs are embalmed. Ami from hence, all maner of sweete sauours are carried in maner
into the countreys of all the Mahumetans. It passeth all beleefe to thynkeof the excecdyng
swcetnesse of these sauours, farre surmounting the shoppes of the Apothecaries. The 23
dayc of Maye the pardoncs began to be grauntcd in the Temple, and in what maner we wyll
nowc declare. The Temple in the myddcst is open without any inclosyng, and in the myd-
dest also thereof, is a Turret, of the largnesse of syxe passes in cercuitie, and iuuolucd or a Turret m the
hanged with cloth or tapestry of sylkc, and passeth not the heyght of a man. They enter ft^a! "*^
into the Turret by a gate of syluer, and is on euery syde besette with vessclles full of balme. Agawof sUucr.
On the day of Pentecost, licence is graunted to al men to se these thynges. The inhabitantes
aflTyrmc, that balme or balsame, to be part of the treasure of the Saltan that is Lorde of "'"""'"r
Media. At euery vaulte of the Turret, is fastened a rounde circle of Iron, lyke to the ryng
of a doore. The 22 day of Maye, a great multitude of people beganne earely in the
mornyng before day, scuen tymesto waike about the Turret, kyssing euery corner thereof,
oftentymes feelyng and handelyng them. From this Turret, about tenne or twelue pases,
is an other Turret, like a Chappell buylded after our maner. This hath three or foure en- ^ Chw'i witli
tryes : in the myddest thereof is a well of threescore and tenne cubites deepe : the water of JheVcmi'i'-.'"
this well is infected with salt Peter or saltniter. Eyght men are therevnto appoynted to drawe
water for all the people: and when a multitude of people haue seuen tymes gone rounde
about the first Turret, they come to this well : and touchyng the mouth or brym thereof, they a stmunge bap.
saye thus. Be it in the honour of God, God pardon me. and forgeue me my synnes. When lionlfTynrs!.'
these woordes are sayde, they that drawe the water, ]iowre three buckettes of water on the
headdes of euery one of them that stand neere about the well, and washe them all wette
from the headde to the foote, although they be apparelled with sylkc. Then the doty ng Good meaniim
fooles dreame that they are cleane from all theyr synnes, and that theyr synnes are forgeuen '"'''"''"'°'"
them. They saye furthermore, that the fyrst Turret, whereof we haue spoken, wa^ the fyrst
house that cuer Abraham buylded: and therefore, whyle they are yet all wette of the saydThc t,oi-erf
washyiig, they go to the mountayne, where (as we haue sayde before) they are accustomed '^''"'"'"•
to sacrifice to Abraham. And remaining there two daies, they make the said sacrifice to^'l"l^''-'
Abraham at the foote of the mountayne. Abraham

The maner of sacrificing at Mecha. Cap. 18.

FOrasmuche as for the most parte, noble spirites are delyted with nouelties of great and
sfraunge thynges, therefore to satisfie their expectation, I wyll describe theyr maner of sa-
crifycing. Therefore, when they intend to sacrifice, some of them kyl three slieepe, somesaci:s«of
foure, and some tenne: So that the butcherie sometyme so floweth with blood, that in one'''"'"
sacrifice are slayne aboue three thousande sheepe. They are slayne at the rysyng of the
Sunne, and shortly after are distributed to the poore for Gods sake : for I sawe there a great
and confounded multitude of poore people, as to the number of 20 thousande. These make

Y manv

( J

H'^rpS

> 'clf'l^ii

"iff- :''

h^l!::;';!

:['

,•:■■ *^

,:> ,

r:'T

. !'*

" ■ ■-••..■■

■ 'M

'.i,.

■iU:ii

VOYAGES, NAUICATIONS,

Vertomannus'

Rtligion for
I'oueiiir.

CiA\, a prcicher,

A goodly icr-
mon.

Soldiers trouble
the word of Ood.

Where ASr.i-
ham lacrlfyced
hit tonne Iuac>
The Diuell ap-
pearctb to Isaac.

many and long dyclics in the feeldes, where they kccpc fyrc with Camel<i doong, and rost or
secth the flcHhe that is geucn them, and cntv it cucn tluTC. I bclciie that theste poore people
come thither rather for hunger then for dcuotion, which I thinkc by this ronicctur, that j?rcat
abundance of cucumbers are brought thyther from Arabia Foelix, whichc ihcy eate, ca^ftyng
away the parynges without their houses or tabernacles, where a muhitude of the sayde poore
people geather them euen out of the myre and sande, and eate them, and are so greedie of
these parynges, that they fyght who may geather most. The daye folowing, their Cadi
(which are in place with tneni as with vs the preachers of Gods worde) ascended into a hygh
mountayne, to preache to the people that remayned beneath : and preached to them in theyr
language the space of an houre. The summc of the sermon was, that with tcares they shoulde
bewayle theyr sinnes, and beate their brestes, with sighes and lamentation. And the preacher
hym selfe with loude voyce, spake these woordes, O Abraham beloucd of God, O Isaac
chosen of God, and his frend, praye to God for the people of Nabi. When these woordea
were sayde, sodenly were heard lamenting voyces. When the sermon was done, a rumor
was spredde that a great armye of Arabians, to the number of twcntie thousande, were com-
myng. With whiche newes, they that kept the ('arauanas bcyng greatly feared, with all
speede, lyke madde men, fledde into the citic of Media, and we agayne bearyng newes of
the Arabians approche, fledde also into the citie. But whyle wee were in the mydwaye be-
tweene the mountayne and Mecha, we came by a despicable wal, of the breadth of foure
cubites: The people passyng by this wall, had couered the waye with stones, the cause
whereof, they saye to be this : When Abraham was commaunded to sacrifice his sonne, he
wylled his sonne Isaac to folowe hym ti) the place where he should execute the commaunde-
ment of God. As Isaac went to folf.vsr his father, there appeared to hym in the way a Deuyl,
in lykenesse of a fayre and frecp.iily person, not farre from the sayde wall, and asked hym
freendlye whyther he went. Isaac answered that he went to his father who tarryed for hym.
To this the enimie of mankynde answered, that it was best for hym to tarrye, and yf that
he went anye further, his father would sacrifice him. But Isaac nothyng feareyng this aduer-
tisement of the Deuyl, went foreward, that his father on hym myght execute the commaunde-
ment of God : anc^with this answcre (as they saye) the Deuyll departed. Yet as Isaac went
forwarde, the Diuell appeared to hym agayne in the lykenesse of an other frcndlye person^
and forbade hym as before. Then Isaac takyng vp a stone in that place, hurlde it at the
Deuyl, and wounded hym in the forehoad : In witnesse and remembraunce whereof, the peo-
ple passyng that waye, when they come neare the wail, are accus.tomed to cast stones ag^j nst
it, and from thence go into the citie. As we went this way, the ayre was in maner darkened
with a multitude of stocke Doucs. They saye that these Doues, are of the progenie of the
Doue that spake in the care of Mahumet, in lykenesse of the Holye Ghost. Tiiese are scene
euery where, as in the villages, houses, tauernes, and graniers of come and ryse, and are
so tame, that one can scharsely dryue them a way. Too take them or kyll them, is esteemed
a thyng worthy death : and therfore a certayne pensyon is geuen to nourysshe them in the
Temple.

Of the Vnicorns of the temple of Mecha, whichc are not scene in any other place.

Cap. 19.

ON the other part of the Temple are parkes or places inclosed, where are scene two Vni-
Monoteroi*. coms, named of the Greekes Monocerotae, and are there shewed to the people fur a myracle.
The Vnicornet. and not without good reason, for the seldomenesse and strange nature. The one of them,
which is much hygher then the other, yet not much vnlyke to a coolte of thyrtyc moneths
of age, in the forehead groweth only one home, in maner ryght foorth, of the length of
three cubites. The other is much younger, of the age of one yeere, and lyke a young
coolte : the horne of this, is of the length of foure haiuiruls. This beast is of the coloure of
a horse of weesell coloure, and hath the head lyke an hart, but no long necke, a thynne mane
hangyng onlye on the one syde: theyr leggcs are thyn and slender, lyke a fawne or hynde : the
hoofes of the fore feete are diuided in two, much like the feet of a Goat, the outwardc part

Isaac wounded
the Deuyll in
the forehead.

Stock Doues of
tile progenie of
the Doue whiche
spake in Mahu-
■nets care.

The Tnicorns
horne.

Traveli to the East.

TRAFriQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

189

.nst

o Vni-
yracle,
them,
oneths
gth of

;

young
cure of

;

;mane
le : the

Ic part
of

of the hyndcr fectc m very full of hcari*. This brast doubtlcsse «ccmclh wylcic and f\erct,
vet tcmper«th that ficrcencsse with a rcrtain tomclincHsc. These Vnicorncn one gaiie to the
Soltan of Mccha, as a most precious and rare gyfte. They were sent hym out of Kthiopc
by a kyng of that countrcy, who desired by that present to gratific the Soltan of Mccha.

Of diuerx thvngcs which chaunccd to me in Mccha : And of Zida, a port of Mecha.
■ ' Cap. 20.

IT may seemc good here to make tnentioti of ccrtaync ihyngcs, in the which is scene
sharpenesMC of witte in case of vrgcnt neccflsitie, which hath no lawc, as sayeth the
prouerbc: for I wasdryuen to the poynt howe I myght priuely escape from Mecha. There-
fore whereas my Captaync gaue me charge to buy certaine thyngs, as I was in the market
f)lace, a ccrtaync Mamaluke knewe me to be a Christian. And therefore in his owne
anguage, spake vnto me these woordes, Inte mciiamc : That is, whence art thou ? To whom
I answered that I was a Mahumetan. But he sayde, Thou sayest not truely. I sayde agayne,
By the head of Mahumct, I am a Mahumetan. Then he sayde agayne, Come home
to my house, I folowed him willingly. When we were there, he began to speake to me in
the Italian tongue, and asked mc agayne from whence I was, aflyrmyiig that he knewc
me, and that I was no Mahumetan : also that he had been sometyme in Genua and Ve-
nice. And that his woordes myght be the better beleeued, rehearsed many thinges
whiche testified that he sayde trueth. When I vnderstoode this, I confessed freely that I
was a Romane, but professed to the fayth of Mahumet in the citie of Babylon, and there
made one of tlie Mamalukes. Whereof he seemed greatly to reioyce, and therefore v.sed
me honourably. But because my desyre was yet to goc further, I asked the Mahumetan
whether that citie of Mecha was so famous as all the world spake of it : and inquired of him
where was the great aboundaunce of pearles, precious stones, spices, and other rich mer-
chandies that the bruite went of to be in that citie. And all my talke was to the ende to
grope the mynde of the Mahumetan, that I might know the cause why such thinges were
not brought thythcr as in tyme paste. But to auoyde all suspition, I durst here make nn
mention of the dominion which the Kyng of Portugale had in the most parte of that Ocean, T|«<iominioi>
and of the gulfes of the rcdde sea and Persia. Then he began with more attentyue mynde, poltugaiem tiu
in order to declare vnto me the cause why that marte was not so greatly frequented as it had Ewt pute*.
been before, and layde the only faulte thereof in the Kyng of Portugale. But when he had
made mention of the Kyng, I began of purpose to detracte his fame, least the Mahumetan
might thinke that I reioyced that the Christians came thyther for merchandies. When he
perceyued that I was of profession an enemy to the Christians, he had me yet in greater es-
timation, and proceeded to tell me many thynges more. When I was well instructed in all
thinges, I spake vnto him friendly these woonles in the Mahumets language, Menaba Me-
nalhabi : That is to say, I pray you assist mee. lie asked me wherein. To hclpe me (sayde HipactUie,
I) howe I may secretly departe hence. Confirmyng by great othcs, that I would goe to
those Kinges that were most enemies to the Christians : Affirmyng furthermore, that I knewe
certayne secretes greatly to be esteemed, which if they were knowen to the sayde Kynges,
I doubted not but that in shorte tyme I shoulde bee sent for from Mecha. Astonyshed at
these woordes, he sayde vnto mee, I pray you what arte or secrete doe you know ? I an-
swered, that I would giue place to no man in makyng of all maner of Gunnes and artillerie.
Then sayde hee, prayscd be Mahumet who sent thee hyther, to do him and his Saintes good
seruice : and willed me to remaync secretly in his house with his wyfe, and requyred me
earnestly to obtayne leaue of our Captayne, that vnder his name he myght leade from Mecha
iiftiene Camelles laden with spices, without paying any custome: for they ordinarily payeP'ying •'"»»-
to the Soltan thirtie Saraphes of golde, for transporting of such merchandies for the charge sTttn!"'"
of so many Camelles. I put him in good hope of his request, he greatly reioyced, although
he would aske for a hundred, affirmyng that myght easily be obteyned by the priuileges of
the Mamalukes, and therefore desired him that 1 myght safely remayne in his house. Then
nothyng doubtyng to obtayne his request, he greatly reioyced, and talkyng with me yet

Y 2 more

the

■■; A * *f,l
■■:*'! If

164

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Vertomannus'

■

■ " *'r'

■■■i- •]

iJ'

[i!-W- l

■ -(»■

\.iK'\

Tlif rcilme of
Dcclum ill
Indu,

Affliction cool-

The citit of
Zida.

Popre Pilgryms
thnt came from
Mechj.

From Aribia to
Firsist

The rrd se\

more freely, gaue me further instructions, and counsayled me to repayre to a certayne
Kyns of the greater India, in the kyngdome and realme of Decham, whereof we will
speake hereafter. Tiierfore the day before the Carauana departed from Mecha, he willed
me to lye hydde in the most secrete parte of iiis house. The day folowyng, early in
the mornyng, the trumpefter of tlie Carauana gaue warning to all the Mamalukes to make
readie their horses, to directe their iourney toward Syria, with proclamation of death to all
that shoulde refu*<e so to doc. When I hearde the sounde of the Trumpet, and was aduer-
tised of the streight commaundement, I was marueylously troubled in mynde, and with
heauy couiitenaunce desired the Maliumetans wife not to bewrave me, and witli earnest
prayer committed mysclfe to the mercie of God. On the Tuesday folowyng, our Carauana
departed from Mecha, and I remayned in the Mahumetans house with his wyfe, but lie fo-
lowed the Carauana. Yet before he departed, he gaue commaundement to his wyfe to
bryng me to the Carauana, whicii should departe from Zida the porte of Mecha to goo into
India. This porte is distant from Mecha 40 miles. Whilest I laye thus hyd in the Mahu-
metans house, I can not exprcsse how friendly his wife vsed me. This also furthered my
good inferteynement, that there was in the house a fayre young mayde, the Nicse of the
Mahumetan, who was greatly in louc with me. But at that tyme, in tlie myddest of those
troubles and fcare, the fyre of Venus was almost extincte in mee: and therefore with dali-
aunce of fayre woordes and promises, I styll kcpte my selfe in her fauour. Therefore the
Fryday folowyng, about noone tyde I departed, folowyng the Carauana of India. And about
mydnyght we came to a certayne village of the Arabians, and there remayned the rest of
that nyght, and the next day t\ II noone.

From hence we went forwardc on our iourney toward Zida, and came thythcr in the si-
lence of the nyght. This cilie hath no wallcs, yet fayre houses, somewhat after the buyld-
yng of Italic : Heerc is great aboundaunce of ail kynde of merchandics, by reason of re-
sorte in maner of all nations thythcr, cxcepte lewes and Christians, to wliom it is not lawfuU
to come thyther. Assoone as I entered into the citie, I went to their Temple or Meschita, where
1 sawe a great multitude of poore people, as about the number of 2b thousande, attendyng
a certayne Pilot who should bryng them into their countrey. Heere i suffered muche trou-
ble and affliction, beyng enforced to hyde my selfe among these poore folkes, faynyng my
sclfe very sicke, to the ende that none should be inquisitvue what I was, whence I came, or
whyther I would. The Lord of this citie is the Solum of liabylon, brother to the Soltan of
Mecha, who is his subiecte. The inhabitauntes are Mahumetans. The soyle is vufruitfull,
and lacketh freshe water. The sea beateth agaynst the towne. There is neuerthelesse
aboundance of all thinges: but brought thyther from other places, as from Babylon ofNiius,
Arabia Foelix, and dyucrs other places. The heate is here so great, that men are in maner
dryed vp therewith. And therefore there is euer a great number of sicke folkes. The citie
confeyneth about fyue hundred houses.

After fyftiene dayes were past, I couenaunted with a pilot, who was rcidy to departe from
thence into Persia, and agreed of the price, to goe with him. There lay at Anker in the
haucn almost a hundred Brigantines and foistes, with diners boates and barkes of sundry
sortes, both with Ores and without Ores. Therefore after three dayes, gyuyng wynde to our
sayles, we entrcd into the rcdde sea, otherwise named Mare Erythianim.

Of the red sea, and why it can not be saylcd in the nyght. Cap. 21.

IT is well knowen to wyse men that this sea is not red, as some haue imagined, but is of
the colour of other seas. We continued therefore our vyage viityll the goyng downe of the
Sunne: for this sea, is nauigal)ie only in the day tyme: Aiid therefore in the nightes, the
maryners rest them, vntyll they come to the Ilande named Chameran, from whence they
proceede forwnrde n-ore safelv. Why this can not be sayled in tlie nyght, they say the
cause to be, th;it tlicre are many daungcrous sandes, rockcs, .ind shelues ; and tiicrel'orc tiiat
it is iicedcrull of diligent and long prospccte, from the toppc Casteil of the shyppe, to forcv
sec the dangerous places.

The

Tratcls to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

165

The secondc booke entreating of Arabia Foelix. That is, the liappie or blessed

Arabia.

Of the citic of Gezan, and the friiitfulncsse thereof. Cap. 1.

FOmsmiiche as hythcrto wee haue spoken somewhat of the manera of the people and ci-
ties of Arabia Foelix, it may nowe i.eeme coniienient to (inishe the rest of our vyage with
such lhin<j;es as we haue scene in the sayde countrev of Arabia. Therelore after sixe saylyng,
we came to a citic nan>c;l Gczati. It hath a commodious porte, and very fayre, where weThecitieof
found about fourtic and iVuc Brigantines and foistes of dyuers regions. The citie is harde '" *
by the soa sydo, and the I'rincc thereof, is a Mahumetan. The soile is fruitful, lykc vnto
Italic : It l)earefh Pome<!;ranates, Quinses, Peaches, Apples of Assyria, Pcpons, Melons,
Oranges, Gourdes, and dyuers other IVuites : Also Roses, and sundry sortes of flourcs, the
f.iyrest that cuer I sawc : It sccmetii an earthly Par.adysc. The mnste parte of the inhabi-
tauntes go naked. In other tiiingcs, thcv lyue after the nianer of the Mahumetans. There
is also great abundance of fleshc, wheate, barlev, the grayne of whyte Millet or Ilirse (whiche
they call Dora) whereof they make very sweete bread.

Of certayne people named Banduin. Cap. 2.

DEpartyng from the citie of Gezan, the space of i) dayes, sayling towarde the left hande,
hauyng curr the coast of the landc in sight, we came to the sight of certayne houses, where
about 14 of vs went alandc. Iiopyng to haue had some victuals of the inhabitants. But we
lost our labour, for in the stccdc of victuals, thcv cast ■■.tones at vs with slinges. They were
about a hundred that foiigiit with our men for t space of an houre. Of them were slayne
ti+. The. rest were drvuen to fiyght, fhcy were raKed, and had none other weapons then
slyngcs. After thevr tlvght, we brought away widi vs certayne hens and Cables very good,
shortly after a great multitude of the inhabitauntes shewed them selues to the number of
fyuc or syxe hundred : but we departed with our praye, and returned to the shyppes.

Of an llaade of tlie red sea, named Cameran. Cap. 3.

Tile same day sayling forwarde, we came to an Hand named Cameran, which conteyneth
ten mvlcs in circuitc. In it is a towne of two hundred houses, the inhabitantes are Maiui-
mctans : it hath nhcanulaunce of frcshc water and fleshc, and the fayrcst salte that euer I
sawe- The portc is eight niyles from the continent, it is subiccte to the Soltan of Amaniaiv
of Arabia Ftrlix. Alter wc had rcmayned here two davc , wc tooke our way towarde the
mouth of the red sea in the space of two dayes saylyng: This sea may here be saylcd both
day and nyght, for (as we haue saydc before) from this llande vnto the porte of Zida, the
red sea is not safely nauigable by nyght. When wc came to the mouth of the sea, we
seemed to lie in inaner inclosed, for that the mouth of the sea is there very streyght, and
no more tiu'n thiic niyles oner. Towarde the right hande, the continent lande is scene of
the htyght of (en pa^^'N : f!ic soile seemeth rude and not cultured. At the Icfte hande of
tlic saule mouth, ry.-,clh a very hygh hyll of stone. In tiic inyddest of the mouth, is a little
llande viihahifid, t;aiued Bebmendo, and is towarde the Icftc hande to them that sayle to
Zeila: But they that goc to Aden, must kcepc the way to the lefte hande. All this w.ay,
wc had cuer the lando in our sight, from r)el)mendo to Aden, in the space of two dayes and
a halfe.

Of the citie of Aden, and of their maners and customes towarde straungers. Cap. 1.

I Doe not remember that I haue scene anv citie better fortilied then this: It standeth on Ofthc citie of

1 X t II • • fi « '^ I rni > • 1 1 * I Allen looKC.

a soyle not mu< h vneipLill, it is walled on two sydes: The reste is inclosed with m nintaynes, t ,p. i.v
hauyng on them f\uc fortresses. The citie conlevneth sixe thousande houses. Theyr e\er- Uyngandsdiygg
cise of bying and selling, bcgynneth the sceonde houre of the nvg'U, by reason ofextrccme
hcatc in the day tyme. A stone cast from the citie, is a mountayne hai.yng on it a furticsse.

The

■■mu

!■ .'li

' -m

; 'lli

..:5,?!w:;v:'';;.

16^

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Veriomannus*

> ■ ■ ■ v^

TheAucthour
taken and put in
prison!
Picade the
Moonlce writetli
tliat Christians
•re founde in all
regions sauing in
Arabia and
Egypt, where
thejrare most
hated.

The woordei of
them that pro-
fcsse the religion
of Mahumeti

Soldiers horse,
men of Christian
Kttiiopians of
the dominio of
Presbitcr lo-
hannes.
Ahliyssini, vn-
der Prcitei:
lohn.

The shyppes lye neare the footc of the mountayne : it is certaynelye a very goodly citie,
and the fayrest of all the cities of Arabia Foelix. To this as to the chiefe marte, the mer-
chauntes of India, Ethiopia, and Persia, haue recourse by sea, and they also that resorte to
Mecha. Assoone as our Brigantines came into the hauen, immediately the customers and
searchers came aborde, demaundyng what we were, from whence we came, what merchaun-
dies we brought, and howe many men were in euery Brigantine.

Beyng aduertised of these thinges, immediately they tooke away our maste, sayles, and
other tackelynges of our shyppes, that we should not departe without paying of custome.
The day after our arryuyng there, the Mahumetans tooke mee and put shackles on my legges,
which came by occasion of a certayne Idolatour who cryed after mee, saying O Christian
Dogge, borne of Dogges. When the Mahumetans hearde the name of a Christian, inconti-
nent they layde handes on mee, and brought mee to the Lieuetenant of the Soltan, of that place,
who assemblyng his counsayle, asked their opinion if I should bee put to death as a spye of
the Christians.

The Soltan himsclfe was out of the citie, and therefore his Lieutenaunt who had yet neuer
adiudged any man to death, thought it not good to gyue sentence agaynst mee, before the
Soltan should be aduertised hereof. And therefore I escaped this present daunger, and re-
mayned in custodie fiftie and fyue dayes, with an Iron of eightiene pounde weyght hangyng
at my feete. The seconde day after I was taken, many Mahumetans in great rage resorted
to him, whose office wag to make inquisition of treason. These a few dayes before, by
swymmyng hardly escaped the handes of the Portugales, with the losse of theyr foistes and
Barkes, and therefore desired greatly to bee reuenged of the Christians: affyrmyng with out-
ragJous crye, that I was a spye of the Portugales. But God fayled not to assyst me : for the
master of the prison perceyuing the outrage of the Mahumetans, and fearyng that they
would offer me violence, made fast the gates of the prison. After that fyue and fiftie dayes
were paste, the Soltan commaunded that I should be brought before him : and so, set vppon
a Camel with my shackles, I came in eight dayes iourney to the place where the Soltan laye
and was brought to liis presence in a citie named Rhada : for there the Soltan had assembled
an army of thirtie thousande men, to make warre agaynst the Soltan of the citie of Sana,
whiche is three dayes iourney from Rhada, and situate partly on the declining of a hyll, and
partly in a playne, very faire to be seene, well peopled, and hauyng plentie of all thinges.
When I came before the Soltan, he began to aske me what I was, I answered that I was a
Reman, professed a Mamaluke in Babylon of Alcayr, and that of religious mynd to discharge
my conscience of a vowe whiche I had made to see the bodie of Nabi the holy Prophet, I
came to the citie of Medinathalhabi, where they say he is buried: and that in all cities and
countreys by the way, I hearde honourable reporte of his greatnesse, wisedome, and singu-
ler vertue, and therefore ceassed not untyll I entred his dominions, moste desirous to see his
face, yeldyng thankes to God, and Nabi, that it was nowe my chaunce to be presented be-
fore him : trustyng that the equitie of his wisedome, would thereby consyder that I was no
spye of the Christians, but a true Mahumetan, and his seruant and slaue. Then sayde the
Soltan, saye Leila illala Mahumet resullala ; which wordes I coulde neuer well pronounce,
eyther that it pleased not God, or that for feare and scruple of conscience I durst not. There-
fore when he sawe mee holde my peace, he commytted me agayne to pryson, commaundyng
tiiat I shoulde be straightly looked vnto, where 16 men of the citie were appoynted, euery
day foure, to watche me by course. So that for the space of thre monethes, I had not y
fruition of heauen, during which miserable time, my diet was euery day a lofe of myllet, so
litle that seuen of them woiilde not haue satisfyed my hunger for one daye: But if I myght
haue had my fyll of water, I woulde haue thought my selfe happie. Within three dayes after
the Soltan marched with his army of thyrtie thousande footemen (as we haue sayde) and three
thousande horsemen, to besccge the citie of Sana. These horsemen borne of Christian pa-
rentcs, and blacke like the Ethiopians, and why!e they were yet very young, were brought
in the kyngtiome of Prcster lohn, named in Latine Presbyter lohannen, or rather PrecioiUS
lohanncs. These Christian Ethiopians, are also named Abyssini. They are brought \p in

discipline

•:'h

iii,

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

167

discipline of warre, as arc the Mamalukes and lenetzares of the Turkes. This Soltan hath
them in great estimation, for they are the garde of his owne person, and therefore liaue
greater v;nges, and in number foiirescore thousande. They coiier their bodie with a sindon, a gard of foun
like vnto a cloke or cape, putting out oiiely one arme, and are besyde naked without any wj^'mei""'*
other apparell. In the warres they vse rounde targettes, made of bufles hydes, with cer- Tirgetws.
tayne litle barres of Iron to strengthen them. The^^e targets are paynted very fayre with
sundrye colours, and very commodious to resyste dartes, and are in largenesse as muche as
the mouth of a barell : the handle is made of woodde, as bygge as they may well holde in
theyr handes, and shoitc brodc swordcs. At other tymes, they vse also vestures of lynnen
cloth of sundry coloures. Also of gossampine or Xylon, othcrwyae also named lioinbasine.
In the warres, cuery man beareth with hym a slyng, which he casteth fyrst shakyng it often siynjcs.
about his head. When they come to 40 or 50 yeeres of age, they make them homes, by
wreathyng y heare of their beds, so bearyng two homes lyke young Gotes. When they
procede to the warres, fine thousande Camels iblowe the army, all laden with ropes of bom-
basine.

How the women of Arabia, are greatly in loue with whyte men. Cap. 5.

AFter the army was departed, I was intontinent commytted to prj'son, as I haue sayde.
Ilarde by theprysone was a long entrie in maner of a clovster, where somtyme we were per-
mitted to walke. Ye shall further vnderstande, that in the Soltans place remayned one of his
three wyues, with twelue young maydes to wayte vppon her, very faire and comely, after
theyr maner, and of coloure inclynyng to blacke. The fauoure that they bore me, helped
me very much, for I with two other, beyng in the same pryson, agreed that one of vs should
countcrfytte him selfe to be mad, that by this deuice, one of vs myght helpe an other. In Counterftt mad-
fine it was my lotte to take vppon me the mad mans part, and therefore stoode me in hande ""''•
to do suche follies as pertayne to madnesse. Also the opinion whiche they haue of mad
foikes, made greatly for my purpose : for they take mad men t' be holy, and therefore suf-
fered me to run more at large, vntyll the Eremites had geuen iudgement whether I weare
holy, <>r ragyng mad, as appeareth heareafter. But the fyrst three daycs in which I began to
shew my madnesse, weryed me so muche, that I was neuer so tyred with laboure or greened
with payne, for the boyes and rascau people sometyme to the number of 40 or 50 hurled
stones at me almost without ceassing, while in the meane tyme againe I paid some of them
home with lyke wages. The boyes cryed euer after me, callyng me mad man. And to shewe
it the more, I raryed alwayes stones with me in my shyrt, for other apparel had I none. The
quecne hearyng of my follies looked oftentymes out of the wyndowcs to see me, more for a
secrete loue she bore me, then for the pleasure she tooke in my follyes, as aftcrwarde ap-
peared.

Therefore on a tyme, when some of them, muche madder then I, played the knaues with
me in the syght of the queene (whose secrete fauour towardes me I somewhat perceyued)
that my maddencsse mygV ' sceme more manifest, I cast of my shyrt, and went to the place
before the wyndowes, where the queene myght see me all naked : wherein I perceyued she
tooke great pleasure, for she euer founde some occasion that I myght not goe out of her
syght : and would sometymes, with all her damoselles wayting on her, spende almost the
whole daye in beholdyng me; and in the meane season diuers tymes sent me secretly muche
good meate by her maydens, and when she saw the boyes or other doe me any hurt, she
badde me kyll them, and spare not, reuyling them also, and callyng them doggcs and beastes.
In the pallace was nouryshed a great fatt sheepe ; for there are some of such cxcecdyng
bygnessc, tliat only the tayle wayeth 11 or 13 pounde wcvght. Vnder the coloure of mad- sheepewUh fi-
nesse, I Inyd hand on this "sheepe, saying, Leila illala Mahumet resullala: which wordes the '^Jj'/j^^ s""
Soltan before, when I was brouglit to his presence, wyllyd me to say, to prooue whether I
were a Maluimetan or a professed Mamaluke. But the beast answeryng nothyng, I asked
hym yf he were a Mahunetan, lewe, or Christian. Aud wyllyng to make hym a Mahu- A^^^tp^^ade
metan, I rehearsed agaynv^ the sayde woordes, Leila illala Mahumet resullala, (that is to* »"°«»»*

saye)

■Mi

,/. 'A

m:w

11' "■■ ..!

:4:

H/ ,

•*.\<-

169

Hunger miketh
•Fpctite.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Veriomannus'

which arc the

Madnesse taken
for holynessc.

Hecemytes Ma-
humcuns.

A holy vowe.

A holy saint.

The fleete of

Indii,

saye) there is one God and Mahumet his cheefe Propl
spcakc in prnfessvng theyr fayth. But when ihe beast yet answered nothyng, I broke his
legges with a staft'e. The queene tooke great pleasure in these my niadde lollyes, and com-
maunded the fleshe of the sheepe to be geiien me to eife : I nnier ate meate with more, or
better appetite. Also three dayes after, I likewise kyllcd an A^sc that was wont to bryng
water into the pallacc, because he refused to be a Mahu nctan, and to say those woordes.
The same tyme also I handeled a lewe so euyll, that 1 had almost kylled hym, one in the
meane tyme callyng me Christian dogge, dogge bori.c. With which words beyng very
anj,ry, I mst many stones at him : but he agayne hiirlyng at ine gaiic ine a stroke on the
brest, and an other on tlie syde, wliicli greened me vt-ry sore. And because I coulde not fo-
lowe hym by reason of my shackles, I returned to the pryson, and stopped the doore with a
heape of stones, and there lyued in great payne for the space of two dales without meate or
drynke : And therefore the queene and other thousrht me to be dead, but the doore was
opened by the quecnfs comniaundcmcnt. Then these dog^es deryding me, gaue me stones
in the steede o( bread, nid pccces of whvte marble, s ying that it was sugcr : other gaue me
clusters of Gnipes full of sand. But partly that they should not suspeqt that I countcrfeyted
madnesse, I :\te the grapes as they gaue me tliein. When the briiite was spred that I lyued
two dayes and nvghtes without meate and drvnkc? some began to suspect that I was a holy
man, and some that I was starke madde. And thus being diuided into diuers opinions, they
consulted to send for certayne men, of who n they hane such opinion of holynesse, as we
haue of Heremytes: these dwell in the mountaynes, and leade a contemplatyue lyfe.
When they came vnto me to gene theyr iudgement what mnner of man I was, certayne mer-
chantes asked them yf I were a holy man or a madde man. These were also of diuers opi-
nions, some adyrmyng one thyng, and some another. Whyle they were yet debatyng this
matter for the space of an houre, I pvssed in mv handes, and hurlde it in theyr faces:
whereby thcv agreed that I uns no Sainct, but a mad man. The queene scyng all this at the
wyndowe, laughed well theriat among her mavdens, and sayd thus to them. By the good-
nesse of God, and by the head of Mannmct, this is a good man. The day folowyng, when
in the mornvng I founde hym a siccpe that had so sore hurt me with stones, I tooke hym by
the heare of the head witli both h.indcs, and with my knee so pounched hym on the sfo-
niackc, and battered his face, th.it I left hvm all bloody and half dead. Which thyng the
queene seeing cryed vnto mr saying, kvll the beast, kyll the dogge, whereupon, he ran his
way, and came no more in syglit. When the President of the citie heard that the queen fa-
iiourcd me, and toke pleasure in my mad sport, thynkyng also that I was not mad, coni-
inaunded that I shouldc goe at lybcrtie within the pallace, only wearyng my shackles : Yet
euery nyght was I put in another prvsnn in the lower jiart of the pallace and so remayned
styl in the courtc i'w the sp;ice nl 20 dayes. In the meane tyme the queene wylled me
to go a huntyng with her, whiche I refused not, and at my rcturne, I fained me to be sicke
for wccrinesse. So continuyng for the space » f eyght dayes, vnderthe colonre of siekenes,
the queene often sent to me to know how I did. After this, fyndyng opportunitie, I de-
clared to the queene that I had made a vosv to God and Mahumet to visite a certayne holy
man in the citie of Aden, a' d desyred her to geiic me leaue to go thytiicr. Whereunto she
consented : and commaunded immedi.itly a Cammell and ^,'j vSarraphes of goldc to be dely-
uercd me. Ther.'nrc y day follcwv ng, I tonke mv iorney, and in the space of eight dayes,
came to the citie of Aden : and shortly after my commyng, visited the man of whom ',as so
great reporle of holynesse, and whom the people honoured for a saint. And this onely be-
cause he had euer lyued in great pnuertie, and without the company of wome.i. And heare
are scene p any other such : But douhtlesse all nche lose theyr laboure, bevng out of the
fayth of Christ. Wiien I had perlourmed my vowe, I fayned that 1 had recouered health by my-
rade of that holy man and certilied the queene thereof, desyryng that I myght tarye there a
whyle, to visyie lykewyse certayne other men in that countrey, of whom was the lyke fame of
holynes'c: whiche excuse I dcnised, because the (Icete of India woulde !iot yet depart from
thence for the space of a moneth. In the meane tyme I secretly agreed with a certayne c.np-

tavnc

Travels to the East.

! at the

good-

, when

lym by
Ihe sto-
iig the
ran his
een fa-
coni-
Yet
layned
me
sicke
kenes,
I de-
holy
lo she
dcly-
tlayes,
as so
ly be-
hcare
of the
y my-
lere a
nir of
t from

f!lp-

tavnc

•X

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

169

tayne of tl)at nauie to goe with hym into India, and made hym many fayre premisses to
rewarde hym largely. He answeared that he woiilde not go into India before he had fyrst
ben in Persia: whereunto I agreed.

Of ihe cities of Lag! and Aiaz in Arabia Foelix : And of the martts of Aiaz and the

towne of Dante. Cap, 7.

THe daye followyng, mounting vppon a Camell, and making a iorney of 25 myles, I
ramc to a certayne citie named Lagi, situate in a great playne, well peopled, hauing abund-
aunce of Oliues, and fleshe, with also great plentie of corne, after our mancr : but no vines,
and great scarsenesse of woodde. The inhabitauntes are vnciuile and rusticall people, of the
nation of vagabunde and feelde Arabians, and therfore but poore. Departing fro hence
one dais iorney, I came to another citie named Aiaz, situate vppon two hyllcs, with a great
plaine betweenc them, and hath in it a notable fountaine, and therefore diuers nations resort
thither as to a famous mart. The inh<ibitauntes are Mahumetans, and yet greatly difieryng strife anJ in- .u
ill opinion of (heyr religion : insomuche that therefore they be at great enimitie one agaynst ^iJ" "^|f(f '""*
the other, and kecpe sore ware. The cause whereof they saye to be this : That the people nought.
of the north mountaync, maynteyne the fayth and secte of Mahumet and his felowes, of
whom we haue spoken before : but the other of the South mountayne aflyrmc, that faith
shouldc be gcuen onely to Mahtimet and Haly, saying the other to be false prophetes. Mortu; Haii as
But let vs nowc returne to the marte. Almost all maner of spices are brought hyther. The cjuiT)'".'^"
region bryngeth foorth sylke and bombassine : also diuers goodly fruites, and vynes. On
the toppe of both the hylles, are very strong fortresses, two dayes iorney from thence is the
title of Dante, well fortified both by arte and nature, situate in the toppe of a very great
mountainc.

Of Almacharan, a citie of Arabia Foelix, and of the fruitefulnesse thereof. Cap. 8.

DEparting from Dant^, we came to the citie of Almacharan, in two dayes iorney. This
is situate on a very high mountayne, and declynyng, and difficulte to ascende, as of the
hcyght of seuen myles, and the way so narow, that onely two men can pas.se togeather. In
the toppe, is a playne of incredible largenesse, very fruiteful, with plentie of all thynges to
the vse of man. And therefore I thynke it to be inexpugnable and inaccessible : hauyng
also so great abundaunce of water, that one fountaine may suffice for a hundred thousand
men. And therfore they saye thn. the Soltan here hydeth his treasure, because he was borne
in this citie.

Here also cucr remayneth one of his wines. The ayrc is marueylous temperate and
holsomc, and the citie seconde to none in all respectes : the colour of the inhabitantes is
rather enclynyng to whytc, then any other colour. And to spcake that I haue scene, the
Soltan reserueth here as much golde, as wyll lade a hundred Camels.

Of Reame a citie of Arabia Foelix, and the temperatenesse thereof. Cap. -9.
THis citie is distaunt two dayes iorney from Almacaran. The colour of the inhabit.infes is

A« muf he fold
aswyll lade a
hundred Camels.

enclinyng to blacke ; they arc great merchantcs. The soyle h fruiiT'ill of all thynges
sauyng wood : it conteyneth in circuitc two thousande houses : on the one syde is a moun-
tayne haiiyng on it a very strong fortrcsse. Here I saw a certayne kinde of sheepe hauvng Ashcerestayie
theyr layles of fortie and foure pounde weight, and are without homes, and also so marueyi- ""evgiu!"" '^
(uis fat, that they can scarcely goe for fatncssc. There be lykewyse certayne grapes without ""^"Bithou-
grayncs, the sweetest that euer I ente, and al maner of suche fruites, as I haue spoken of ^"*'
before. It is of marueylous temperatenesse, as witnesscth the long lyfe of men, for I haue Mencticnj
spoken with many of them that hau< passed the age of a hundred and Hue and twentie 'J'^''".'"'^!''-
yecrc-, and yet verie iustie and wel .^omplexionecl. They goe for the most part naked, ''""""
wca.yng only shyrt-, or other loose and thynne apparell, lyke Mantelles, puttyng out one
arme all bare Alinoste all the Arabians make them homes wi<h wreathyng of ihcyr owne
htarc, and thai th.'y thynke very comely.

Z Of

■ij

'fi:',''

ir"

.iM

■ m

.': -'Mm

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomaimm^

'ft' f't I ■ '

.-■:'' ill

6^i:.

I*;' '•'■;

,i;ii^'

■■:1'

Antrmjeot
fourcscore
thousand men.
Strong Walles,

Anthropo-
fhagus.

Rosesi

Suger.

The Soltan of
Arabia felix.

A pitiful pagan.
A great familje.

Of Aden f eade
the fourth cap.

Monkeys and
Lioiu.

Danger of wildc
braiti.

Of Sana a citie of Arabia Fcelix. Cap. 10.

DEpartyng from thence three dayes iorney, I came to a citie named Sana, situate vppoti
a verye hyghe mountayne, vcrye strong by Arte and Nature. The Soltan bcsyeged this,
with a great armye of fourescore for the space of three monethcp, but rouldc ncuer wyinic
it. Yet it was at the last rendered by composition. The walles arc of cyghtecne cubitcs
heyght, and twentie in breadth, insomuch that eyght Camels in order may wel marche vpon
them. The region is very fruitefull and muche like vnto ours, and hath plentie of water.
A Soltan is Lorde of the citie: hee hath tweluc sonnes, of the whiche one is named
Mahumet, who by a certayne naturall tyrannye and madncsse, dclytcth to catc mans fleeshc,
and therfore secretly kylleth many to eate them. He is of large and strong body, of fourc
cubites hygh, and of the coloure inclinyng to ashes. The soyle beareth certayne spices not
farre from the citie. It conteyneth about fourc thousand houses. The houses are of fayrc
buyldyng, and geue no place to ours. The citie is so large, that it conteyneth within the
walles, fieldes, gardens, and medowes.

Of Taessa, Zibith, and Damar, great cities of Arabia Fcclix. Cap. 11.

AFter three dales iorney, I came to a citie named Taessa, sytuatc vppon a mountayne, and
verye fayre to syght : it hath plentye of all deliccs, and especially of marucylous fayre Roses,
whereof they make Rose water. It is an auncient ritic, and hath in it a Temple buyldccl
after the fashion of the churche of Sancta Maria Rotunda in Rome. The houses are very
fayre, and shewe yet the monumentes of antiquitie : innumerable mcrchantos resort hyther
for the trafficke of sundry merchandies. In apparell they are lyke vnto other, and of
darkyshe ashe coloure of skynne, enclynyng to blacke. Three dayes iorney from thence,
I came to an other citie named Zibith, very fayre and good, distaunt from the redde sea
onlye halfe a dayes iorney ; there is great abundance of merchandies by reason of the neare-
nesse of the sea. It aboundeth with many goodly thynges, and especially with most white
Sugar, and sundrye kyndes of pleasant fruites. It is sytuate in a very large playne within
two mountaynes : it lacketh walles, and is one of the cheefest martes for all sortes of spyces.
The inhabitants are of the colour of them aforesayde. From hence in one dayes iorney, I
came to the citie of Damar: it is in a frnitefiill soyle, and hath great exercise of merchandise.
The inhabitants are Mahumetans, in apparell and colour lyke vnto the other.

Of the Soltan of the aforesayde cities, and why he is named Sechamir. Cap. 12.

THese cities whereof we haue spoken here a little before, are .subiect to a Soltan of Arabia
Fcelix, named Sechamir. Secha (by interpretation) signifieth holy, and Amir, a Prince,
because he abhorreth sheddyng of mans blood. At the tyme of my beyng there in pryson,
he nouryshed syxteene thousand poore men, and captiucs in pryson condemned to death,
allowyng to euery of them dayly for theyr diet, syxe of theyr pence of the smallest valure,
and at home in his pallace entertayneth as many blacke slaucs.

Of Monkeys and Marmasettes, and other beastes, noysome to men. Cap. 13.

DEpartyng from hence, I returned to the citie of Aden in three dayes iorney : in the midde
waye, I founde an exceedyng hygh and large mountayne, where is great plentie of wylde
beastes, and especially of Monkeys, whiche runne about the mountayne euery where.
There are also many Lions, very noysome to men : and therefore it is not safe to iorney that
way, but when a multitude of men goe togeather, at the least to the number of a hundred.
I passed this way with a great companie, and yet were we in daunger of the Lions, and other
wylde beastes which folowed vs : for we were sometimes constrayned to fyght with them
with dartes, slyngs, and bowes, vsyng also the helpe of dogges, and yet escaped hardly.
When I came to the citie, I fayned myselfe sicke : and in the day time lurked in the temple,
and went foorth only in the night to speake with the pilot of theshyp (of whom I haue made
mention before) and obteyned of hym a foist or barke to depart thence secretly.

IM:'

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,i4i'il'

..Ill: ,1
<!■>-,■

■:»

i't.",',f

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.
Of certayiie places of Ethiopia. -Cap. 14.

171

IN the syxt chapter here before, I haue made mention howe departing from the queene
I Went to the cJtie of Aden, where I coiienaiinted with a certayne pilot to goe with hym
into India, and that he woulde not go thyther before he had fyrst made a viage into Persia,
and that at my fyrst beyng in the citie of Aden, he couldc not yet for the space of a moncth
depart from thence: Diiryng whichc tyme, I traucyled the regions and cityes, whereof I
haiic spoken, vnto tiiis my rctiirne to Aden. Nowc therfore accordyng to ovir agreement to
traiiaylc diners countreys and regions, committing our selue.s to the sea, we were by incon-
stant fortune and sundry tempestes, deterred from that viage: for whereas we were noweTemptsi.
syxe daycs sailyng on our waye to Persia, a sodayne contrary tempeste droue vs out of our The viage to
wayc, and cast vs on the coast of Ethiope. Our barkes were laden with rubricke (that is, a|'jli?^p^
certayne redde earth) which is vsed to dye clo»h : for yecrely from the citieof Aden, departe
fyl'teene or twcntic shyps laden with rubricke, which is brought out of Arabia Foelix. Beyng Rubricke
therefore thus tossed with sformes, we were dryuen into a port, named Zeila : where we rc-
niayned fyue daycs to see the citie, and tarryc vntyll the sea were more quiet.

Of the citie Zeila in Ethiopia, and the great fruitfulnesse therof : and of certayne
straungc beastes scene there. Cap. 15.

IN this citie, is great freequentation of merchandies, as in a most famous mart. There is
marueylous ab':ndn'ue of gold and luerye, and an innumerable number of blacke slaucs,
soldc for a smaa p^^ r: these are taken in warre by the Mahumetan Mores, out of Ethyopia,
of the kyngdome oi" "resbiter lohannes, or Preciosus lohannes, whichc some also call the
Kyng of lacobins or Abyssins, beyng a Christian : and are caried away from thence into
Persia, Arabia Foelix, Babylonia of Nilus or Alcair, and Mecha. In this citie iustice and
good lawes are obserued : the soyle beareth Wheate, and hath abundaunce of flesh, and diners
other commodious thynges. It hath also Oyle, not of Olyues, but of some other thyng, I
knove not what. There is also plentie of hony and waxe: there are lykewyse certayne
shee^)C, haiiyng their tayles of the wcyght of syxeteene pounde, and exceedyng fatte, the
head and necke are blacke, and all the rest whyte. There are also sheepe altogeather whyte,
hauing tayles of a cubite long, hangyng downe lyke a great cluster of grapes : and haue
also great lappes of .skynne hangyng from thcvr ihrotes, as haue Bulles and Oxen, hangyng
downe almost to the grounde. There are also certaine Kyne with homes lyke vnto Hartes
homes, these are wylde : and when they bee taken, are geuen to the Soltan of that citie as
a kyngly present. I sawe there also certayne Kyne, hauyng only one home in the middest
of the forehead, as hath the Vnicorne, and about a spanne of length, but the home bendeth
Iwckwarde : they are of bryght shynyng red colour. But they that haue Hartes homes, are
cnclynyng to blacke colour. Conye is there good cheepe. The citie hath an innumerabie
multitude of merchants : tiie walles are greatly decayed, and the hauen rude and despicable.
The kyng or Soltan of the citie is a Mahumetan, and entertayneth in wages a great multitude
of foote men anci horsemen. They are greatly geuen to warres, and weare onlyc one loose
syngic vesture, vs^ we haue sayde before of other. They are of darke ashye colour, en-
In the warres, they are vnarmed, and are of the sect of Mahumet.

Golde. lutry.
Blacke slaucs.

Presbiter lohan-
nes, kyng of
lacobins .ind
Abyssins.
Iustice and good
lawcs.

Sheepe with
great tayles.

Palearia.

Kyne with
Hartes homes.

Kyne with only
one liorne.

dining to blacke

Of Barbara, an Uande of Ethiope. Cap. 16.

AFterthal the tempcstes were appeased, wee gaue wynde to our sayles, and in shorte tyme
arryued at an liande named Barbara, the Prince whereof is a Mahumetan. The Uande is not
great, but fruitfull and well peopled : it hath abundance of flesh. The inhabitants are of
colour enclynyng to blacke. AI theyr ryches, is in heardes of cattayle. We remayned here
but one day, and departvng from hence, sayled into Persia.

Z 3 The

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M'.i':)!-::;!

172

Diuobander>
rumi.

The Soltan of
Cambnia,

Ooa.

Giulfar.
Mctchct,

Oroius.
Pcailes.

Fyshyng for
pcailes.

Dyutrs vndcr
the water.

Chvaiani or
Chorashan.

Great abuo-
dauDce of 5ilke.
Plentie of
Corne.
Rubarbe of
<mal price.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

VerlomannuH"

Tlie thyrde booke entreatcth of Persia : and of certayne towncs and partes of

Persia. Cap. 1.

WHen we had say led the space of tweliie dayea, wc aryued at a citie called Diuobanderruml,
(that is to say) the holy porle of Turkes. It is but a little way from Jlie continent : when
the sea ryscth with hye tydes, it is an Hand enuironed with water, biit at a lowe fludde, or
decrease of the sea, one may go thythcr by land: it is siibiect to the Soltan of Cambaia^
The Gouernour is named Menacheas. It is a marte of great merchandies. There dwell
about it foure hundred merchants of Turky : it is well walled round about, and defcndeti
with a1 sorts of engins. They haue barkes and brygantincs somewhat lessc then ours : we
remained here two daies. Dcpartyng from hence, we came to an other citie named Goa, in
the space of three dayes iorney : this also abuundcth with merchandies, and is a mnrt greatly
frequented. The soyle is fruitefull, with plcntic of all thyngcs necessary ; the inhabitantes
are Mahumctans. Ncare vntc this, are two other fayre cities and porter, named Giulfar and
Meschet.

Of the Hand and citie of Ormus, or Armusium : and of an Hand of Persia where

pcarles are found. Cap. 2.

PRoceedyng on our viage, we came to a citie named Ormus, very fayrc. This is sccondc
to none in goodlyc situation, and plcntic of pearlcs: it is in an Ilande dystaunt from the
continent twelue myles : It hathe great scarcencsse of frcshc water and come, from other
regions is brought thyther all victuallcs that nourvihe the inhabitauntcs. Throe dayes say lyng
from thence, are geathered those muscles which bryng foorth the fay rest and byggest pearles:
they are taken as I will nowe declare. There are certayne men that get theyr lyuing by
fyshyng. These hauing small Boates cast into the sea a great stone, fastened to a corde, and
this on both sydes of the Boatc, to make it as stedfast and immoueable as a shyppe lying
at an anker. The Boate thus stayed as it were with weyght and balance, an other appoynted
to that purpose, casteth in the sea a corde with a stone hangyng at it. In the myddest of
the Boate an other hauyng a sacke hangyng on his shoulder before and behyndc, and a stone
hangyng at his feete, hurleth him selfe into the sea, and swimmeth vnder the water euen
vnto the bottome of the sea, for the deapth of fyftienc pases or more, and there remayneth
vntyll he haue geathered the pearle Muscles, which he puttcth in his sacke, then he casteth
away the stone that weyghed him downe, and commeth vp by the corde. There are scene
sometyme almost three hundred shyppes, and other kynde of vessels, which come thythcr
from many places and countreys. The Soltan of the citie, is a Mahumetan. There are
abouefoure hundred merchauntesand factours remayning here continually, for the trafike of mer-
chandies whiche come from diners other regions, as silke, pearles, precious stones, spices,
and suche lyke. They lyue with Ryse for the mostc parte, for they haue none other come.

Of the citie named Eri in Chorazani, a region of Persia, and of the riches therof :

Also of Reubarbarum. Cap. 3.

DEpartyng from Ormus, I went into Persia : And after ten dayes iourney, I came to a cer-
tayne citie named Eri. The name of the region is Chorazani, by which signification we
may also name it Flaminia. The Kyng of the region, dwelleth in the citie : It is TuitefuU
and plentifull almost of all thynges. There is scene so great .^boundaunce of sylke, that
you may in one daye bye as muche as may suffice to lade three thousande Cameles. Come
IS there neuer deare, by reason of the great abundaunce. There is great plentie of Rubarbe,
as T geather by this coniecture, that syxe pounde of Rubarbe, after our pounde of 12 ounces
to the pounde, are solde for one croune of golde. The citie conteyneth in circuite about
seuen thousande houses. They are of the secte of Mahumet. Departyng from hence twentie
dayes iorney, I obserued that the continent region or firme lande, farre from the sea syde,
is very veil inhabited with many good townes and vyllages.

Travels to the East.

TRAFFFQUES, AND DISCOUHHIES.

173

Of the ryiici' thought to be Euphrates. And of Ca>t()reum. Cap. 4.

IN this iorncy I came to a certiiyne great ryuer, whichc in the inhabitantes iangua^jo cucn
at this day c is named Eufra, which I very ly thynivc to be Euphrates, considcryng also thcThfriufrE

3f.

^I'o

i)y the

do the loftcP'"

Prr-cinus sfonj.

'Ihi; Italic Rra-

Procecdyr
hande, I came in the space of three dayes to an other titic, named Schyra. Thi-i hatli onci)
one pryncc, and he a Per^ian Mahumetan, and snbiecte to none other Here are foundcal
sortes of precious stones, and especially the stone Eranon, whiche delvuerctli men from '

• t }• 1 1 r '^n 1 ■' • PI !• V • 1 non and iur-

witchecraltes, maunesse, and learetulncsse, proceedyng ol mclancouc. It is the stone com- quci.
monly called the Turquesse. They arc brouglit in great abinidaunce from a citic named
Balascam, where is also great plenlie of Castorcum, and sundrye kyndes of colourcs. And Baiascim.
heere I notifie vnto you, why there is found lille true Castoreum among vs, because it is ^•'"°"^'""-
adulccrate by the Persians before it come to our handes, for these people are greatly ijeiien
to the counlerfettyngof suche thynges, as I saw by experience before my nc eyes: forwiilvng
on a time to prouc the odoriferous strength of pure Castorcum, I nawe certayne, that had
experience hereof, do in this maner. They tooke the bladder of Castoreum, and fouro of
them oui' ai'trr an other, put it to their noses to smell.

The sauour of it was so strong, that it made thcyr noses bleede : and by this profc, they
knew it to be pure Castorcum, and not countcrfcct. I asked the Per^ian whether Castorcum
(as other the lyke vngmcnts or druggcs) would sone loose his strength. He answered, that
the strength of that sauour myght be preserucd the space of ten yerecs, yf it were not coun-
tcrfcct. The Persians are very courteous and gentle people, lyberall and gratious one to an Comendartnrt m*
other, and fauorable to strangers : and this I spcake as I haue founde and scene by cxperyence ''^' l'"•'^"■•
Duryng the tyme that I was there, I founde a certayne Persian merchant, who the yeere
before knewe me in the citie of Mecha : he was borne in the citic of Eri in Corozain. As
soone as lie sawe me, he spake to me in this maner, Lodovicke what God or fortune hath sent
thee into these countrcys : Art not thou he whom not long scnce I knewe in Mecha.'' To
whom I answered, I am certaynely the same, and am now come hyther for the great desire
that I haue to see the worlde. Praysed be God, sayd he, that I haue nowc found a companion
of my iorney, that is taken with the same desire that I haue : and therfore for the space of
fyfteene dayes we remayned togeather in a citie named .Squilaz. He exhorted me not SiijiUi.
to depart from hym, but that we should togeather, by his guydyng, trauavle the cheefe
jiartes of the world. Ivnteryng therefore on our iorney, we came fyrst to a place named
Sainct Bragant. •''''"ct B.-3s>i.i.

Of the citie of Sainct Bragant, bygger then Babylon. And of the kyng of Persia,

named tlie Sophie. Cap. 5.

THey saye that the citie of Sainct Bragant, is bvgger then Babylon : the kyng of the citie,
is a Mahumetan. The mcrchantes saye that when it pleaseth hym, he assembleth an armic Aiurni.eoi
of threescore thousande Horsemen. The people are of colour enclinvn;r to whytenesse, and «''""""« '■">"-

II rrii • 1 , /• • r 1 p II r 1 "'"' horsemen.

verye warrelyke men. Ihis we say only by eniormation ot other: lor we coulde not safely
passe any further, by reason of the great warres which the Sophie then made agaynst those Warbetweenr
Klahumetans, which are of the sect and religion of Bubachar, Othomar, and Omar. These Ij" ^°'''',!f j^t
were the felowes of Mahumet, as we haue written before of Mahumet and his felowes. The Turke, for the
Persians abhorre these as heretikes and false doctoures, although they themselues also be ^|js'^"-^^.^|^j
Mahumetans of an other secte, whiche is of Mahumet and Hali, whose doctrine they embrace HoH of M,ihu-
and esteeme for most perfect and true religion. Here therefore the sayde Persian, my gocde J^fy^J^lj^Hj^i'""
friende, and ioyfull companion of my iourney, sayde thus vnto mee. That thou mayest vn-
derstande (Lodouicke) the vnfayned good will that I beare thee, and the desyre I haue that a sure friend in
our friendshyp may be knyt with indissoluble bandes, and thereby to assure thee that I will "'""""•
not fayle thee in thy necessitie, I haue a Nyese named Samis, whom I wil gyue thee to
wyfe. Samis in theyr tongue, signifieth the Sunne (for shee descrued so to be called for
her tinguler beautie) and sayde furthermore, that he dvd net trauayle the worlde for lacke

, r

■

;,1

i'vi

174

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomminus*

vt;;i''\.

It : ._^ j^r ,

•■'v^,. '

ii, .■'

J:i!|'M.r

Cheo.

Tlif ryuor
InJns.
Thrrjtir of

Note ihr jiitrfre
of lyiicri
C'lntrjiyr tj

40 ihippes hje
with tylkc .inj

boinhjiin?.

Pithagorici.
Good pcoplci

They may seeme
the succc.^ours
cf Darius and
Poms.
'J'hc gicjt
pompe of the
kynj of
Cambaij.
£lephantes.

Monstrous
great lyppes.

A straunjc
hijtorie of i
Kyng acci'.j-
tomcd to ca'.':
poyfon.

of any flnnij;, but only for his pleasure and clcsyrc of knowledge. And thcrefnre pass\ nj^
no rurlhcr, by reason of the warrcs (as we liauc sayde) we returned to the citie of tri,
where he en(cr»eyned nice in his house honourably : and shewynjj niee his Nyese, instauntly
desyrcd mee to take her to wyfe. But I, hauyng my mynde olherwysc dcstinatc, woulde
not sc<mc to CDiitcnme his so friendly a profer, but deferred it to a more conucnient tyme.
Therefore departyii"; from thence, within eight daycs after, we returned to Ormus, and
snylcd from thence into India, arryuing there at a ccrtayne porte named Chco.

Here foloweth the fourth booke, which entreateth of India, and of the cities and
oilier notable thyngcs scene there.

Of the citie of Cambaia in India, most fruitcful in maner of all thinges. Cap. I.

rOiasmuche as in the begynnyng of this woorke we promised that we would declare all
thyngcs briclcly, wc intrude nowe hccre to speakc ondy of thyngcs which may .sccme most
woorilivc to be knowcn. Enfryng therefore into India, we came to a ccrtaine porte, which
the great and famous ryucr Indus passelh by, and is not far from the citie of Cambaia. It is
situate three myles within tin; landc, towarde the South. The Brigantincs or foystcs can
haue no acccssc to it, c.Kccple the fhidde ryse hyglier then commonly it is woont to do,
which snmctymes oucrfiowcth the lande the space of foure myles. But hcerc the fluddes haue
contrnrie courses of iiK'reasvng, for hcerc they increase in the wane of the Moone, but witli
vs in the full Moone The citie is walled afier our maner, and aboundeth with al nccessaric
thyngcs, especially with wlicatc, and al sorts of holcsomc and pleasaunt fruites. There arc
also ccrtayne kindos of spyccs, the names whereof I knowe not. It hath also abundauncc
of go:5sampinc or bonibassine cotton. Mcrchaunts bryng from thence ycerely so much btmi-
bassineand silkc, that soinlinie they lade fourtie or fvftie shyps to cary into other countreys.
In this region h also a nunintayne where the Ony.\ stone, commonly called Corneola, is
t'ountle : and not farrc from tliencc also an other mountaine, where the Calcedony and
Diamant arc found.

The maners of the pcrj)lc of the cilic of Cambaia : and of the Soltan thereof.

Cap. 2.

THe Soltan of Cambaia, at mv beyng there, was named Macamut, and had raygned four-
tie yecrcs, after he had cxpuisc-d the kyng of Gugerat. They thvnke it not lawcfull to k\!I
any lyuyng bcaste to eate, or to catc (Icshe. They are no Mahumetans, neythcr Idolaters,
and ihcrclore 1 bclceue that if they were lxi|)tised, they were not far from the way of sal-
iiati;>n, for tlicy obscrue the cxfinisitc rule ol" iusticc, doyng no worse to other, then they
woiiklc to be di nc to thcni. As touchviig thcyr apparel!, sonic of thcin go nal'.ed, and otiicr
couer onely the\r priuities. On thcyr headcs, they weare fvllettes of purple Cdlour. They
them sclues are of darke velowe colourc, commonly called Lconell co!,;ure. This Soltan
maynteyneth an army of 2>) thousandc horsemen. Euery mornvng resort to his pallace,
fyfiie men, syttyng on Elcphantcs. Their oflice is, with all reuerencc to salute the king or
Soltan, the Elcphantcs also kncelyng downc. In the mornyng assoone as the kyng wakcth,
is hcarde a groat noyse of Drumnies, Tambartes, Tymbrellcs, Waytes, and also Trumpettes,
with dyuers other nuiNirall instruments, in reioycyng that the kyng lyucth. The lyke da
they whyle he is at dinner: and then also the men svftyng on the Elephantes, make hym
the like reuerencc as before. We wyll in due place speake of the wytte, customes, and
docilitic of these bcastcs. The Soltan of this citie, hath his vpper lyppe so grosse, that it is
a monstrous thyng to beholdc : Insomuche that soinetvme he beareth it vp with a fillet, as
women do the heare of theyr heades : his bearde is whyte and long, cuen vnto the nauell.
He is so accustomed to poyson from his infancie, that he dayly eatcth some to keepc it in
vse. And although he hym selfe fcelc no hurt thereof by reason of custome, yet doth he
thcrebv so inijioyson hym selfc, that he is povson to other: for when he is disposed to put
any of hi^ iioblemen to death, he causcth hym to be brought to his presence, and to stande

naked

Travels to the Eaut.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUKIUKS.

175

"iiir-
k>!I
tcrs,
sal-
ihcy
tlicr
licv
oltaii
lace,
ng or
kcth,
)ettes,
■;e do
hyin
anil
it is
et, as
auell.
it in
ith he
o put
tande
lakcil

naked before hym. Incontincntc he cateth crrfayne friiites (wliithe fhry call Chofdlos)
lyke vnto Nuttemeggcs : and cateth also the Icaiics of rertaync hcarbc), whiciic they call
Tambolos, addyng also thereto the ponder of beaten oyster shcllcs. And a whyle cIiawyngA vcnnmm
al these togcather in his month, he spittcth it vpnn hyin whom he desyroth to kyll, who'''"'s-
being sparkled therwith, dyeth, by force of the |)oyson witiiin the space of halfc an liourc.
lie cnterfaincth about fourc thousand concnbines : for when .socucr he hath Ivne wiili any
(if them, she with whom lie hath lyen, dyeth the daye folowing, beyngby hym iiiipoysoned. Hciyko i.c get.
And therefore when hechangeth his shyrt, or other apparell, no man dare wciire it: and ihy'u",,,.
for this cause he hath great change of apparell My companion cn(|nired diligently of the
men hanfs by what mcanes he was of so venomous nature : They an>wercd, that the Soltan
his father brought him so vp of a chylde with poison by litle and litle, with prescruatiues
so accustomyng hym thereto. But let vs now returnc to speakc of the maners of the j)eopIe:
lor the most part they wcarc but only one syngle vesture, and arc very warrelyke men : also
greatly geuen to merchandies. The fniitfulnesse and plentilulnesse of the region can not
bespoken. It is frequented almost of al nations. Thcrforc I'rom this citic, and from an Cint fruitful-
other (wherof we wyll speake hereafter) diners and innumerable sortes of merchandies, arc "^^^"f f„""j'.''''''
transported to almost all the regions of the worlde, and especially to the Tnrkes, Syrians, ciundies.
Arabians, Indians: also to diuers regions of AfTrike and Ethiopia: principally exceedyng
abundance of sylke and Bombasyne, and therefore is this Soltan marueylous rych. He pimic of syikf
kcepcth ill maner contynnall warrc with the kyng of logn, wliose roalme is fyfteene dayes The kyn? of
iornty from Cambaia, and reacheth very farre cuery waye. This kyng mayntayneth an ,'„*J' "" ''"'"'
armie of JO thousand fyghtyng men: he and all his people are Idolatours. lie lyneth in
contyniial progressc, with a mightic trayne at the charges of the people : and contynually Cominujii
carrieth about with hym fourc thousand tcntes and jjauiliona : also his wyfe, children, con- ^[''^.'^"Jmi
cubines and slaues, furthermore, fourc or fuie of most couragious horses : likewysc innsknttes, coucubm-:.
moonkeys, Parrottes, Leopardes, and haukes. And in this order he walketh almost oner all
India. The kynges apparell, is a double gotes skinne, one coueryng his brcst, and the
other his backc, with the hearysyde outward : he is of wesel colour cnclining to blackencsse : The colour oi
as arc the most part of these Indians, beyng in maner scorched with luMto of >]:: Snnnc. '*"' ''"^""'
They wearc al earerings, precious stones, and iewels of sundry sorts : some coiier tlicvr body
with a single, light, and thinne vesture, puttyng out one anne naked. The kyng and ccr-
taine of his noble men, paynt their faces with ccrtayne swecic gonimcs and spices : and
some also other partes of their bodies. They are ledde with many v.iyne superstitions : for
some professe neuer to lye on the grounde, some to lyue in continual silence, as though
they were speechlesse, hauing two or three appointed by signcs to seme them mcate
and drynkc.

Thev haue all homes hangyng about theyr neckes: and therefore wlien they come to any Hotncs.
citie, they blowe theyr homes all at once, to make the inhabitantes afrayde, as do thcv that
with vs keepe Crowes or Rookes out of the come. Then commyng to talke with the citizens,
they dcmaund victualles and what soeuer other thynges they stande in neede of. Whyle the
kvng any tyme resteth a whyle in one place, almost alt the wliolc armye gardyng his person
about his pauylion, fyue or syxe hundred in the meane tyme raungc abroade togeather to Wanjdvr.f
geat what they can. They tarry not past three dayes in one place, but are euer wanderyng pJJ',^';^,,^
after the maner of the vagabunde Egyptians, Arabians and Tartars. The region is not fruite-
ful, but rough, with craggie mountaines. The houses of the citie are despicable: the citie
is also without walles. This kyng is cnemie to the Soltan of Machamir, and vexeth hvm
greatly with diuers incursions.

Of the citie of Ccull, and the maner of the people. Cap. 3.

DEpartyng from Gambia, in twelue dayes iorney I came to a citie named Ceull : the land
that lieth betweene them both is called Guzerat. The kyng of this citie, is an Idolatour : Guierjt.
they are of darkc yealowe colour, or Lion tawnyc : some were suche slender apparell as they

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

VcrtomaniiHs'

Uoliiour.'.
Idol.lfrs.

T.;i.i.t'

Mirn.,U.kjs.
Whiif men.

whom wee haiic spoken of befurc : other nrc naked, eoiicring onlye thcyr pryuities. They
arc prompt to the warrcs. and vhc swonl«"><, bowes, dnrtes, slynjjes, and roundo targeties.
They hauc engines to beat downe walk-s. and to make great slaughter in an armie : the citie
hath walles, and is distant from the sea hut three myle?. A fayrc ryuer runneth by the
cilic, l)v the whiche nnirh merrhniidies is bmught thyther. The soylc beareth almost all
inaner of fruites, except Vync--, Walniittes, and Cliessnuttes. It hath alsoWheate, Barlic,
aiul other kyndes of come. Here is made great plentie of Bombasine cloth. They are surh
Idolalours as arc they of Cderut, of wliom wc wyl speakc hereafter: yet are there in the
citie many nicrchanfs Malunnclans. Tlicy exercise iustice. The kyng entertayneth but a
small armic. There arc many horses aiul kync. Two dayes iorney from hence, is a citie
named Dabuly, hniiin;; ,i <:r. at ryuer niiMiyng by it. It hath walles after thcmanerof ours.
The soylc is fruitcfn!, nnri the cilic beaulifiill. There arc innumerable merchauntes Mahu-
mctans. The kvng is an Idolater, and hath an armvc of 30 thousande men. Thcv arc in
niancrw iyke vnto the other, and of the same colour.

Of Gog.i, an Ilar.de of India. Cap. 4.

DEpnrfyng from he::ce, I came to tlic IKind of Goga, not past a myle destant from the
continent, Tliis [)ayeth yeerely trvlM)ie to the kyng of Dechan a thousand peeces of golde,
of flic value of the Snraphcs of Bahvlon, bauyng en (he one syde the Image of the dyiieli.
and on iho oti'.er sydo. ccrfavne •.iiknoweii caractcs. Vppon the sea coaste of one syde of
this Ilatidc, is a fowue hi!\l(!i-(l after the m..iiers of ours. The goucrnonr is a certayne Cap-
tayiie of .soldiers nnii.cd Saiiain: he hath in his regiment foure hundred Mamalukes, and is
also a Mamaluke hym !«cifc: and therefore wlien he fyndcth any whyte men, he entertayneth
tiiem frendly, and grticth them stvpende of twcntie Snraphcs of golde cuery moneth. But
he fyr-it maketh prufo of their strength and vaii.intncsse bv wrestlvng : and if they be not
foiindc meete lor the w.^nr -, he puttelii them to handy craftes. This Captayne with onely
hi.s foure hundred Mani.nhikcs, grenfiy vexetli the king of Narsinga. Departvng from hence,
in cyght d.iyes iorney by iainie, I came t'» the ciiie of Dechan.

Of Derhan, a vcrv f.iyre citie of India. Cap. .5.

THe kyng nr So!t;m of Drtlian, is a Mahumofan, of whom the foresjvde captayne Mam,i-
liike is enfrcd in wages. This citie is beaulifull in syght, and the soyle very frtiitefull and
pleniilull in tnaiicr of all tliyngcs necess.nrie. The kyng is accompted a Mamaluke. and
with hym '.ib thousandc men of liis dominion of horsemen and footi-men. The citie is beau-
A f.ijTf puUace. tilicd with a mnnieylous fiyre pallace, and the pallace .ndourncd with many fayre roome-i, f'>r
before you come to the kyngfs chandler, you must p.isse by 44 other chambers, for the sol-
Irrs of the chambers are so onlcrlv disposed, that one chamber siyll geucth cnlrye into an
(ifhcr, vntyll yen come to the Ia>t. The citie is compassed with a wal, after the maner of
the Christians. The hoii-^es are not vncomely. The kyng vseth incredible pompe, and regal
n-.acini(ire;-{ .\ They that wayte vppon his person wearc vppon thcyr shooes or starpins Ru-
bies and Dlamondes, an<l such other precious stones. What ouches and icwelles fhev wcare
in t'lieyr earyngcs and Condaliis. Carkcnettcs colours, let wittie men iudge, comparyng the
feetc to the more noble partes of the bodic. Sixe miles from the citie is a mountaync where
Diamondes arc digged. It is compa.ssed with a wall, and kept with a (iarrison. The region
hath plenlie of all thyngcs The [.eople are Mahumetans. Thcyr apparell for the most part is
of s%Ike: or at the lea«t the sherle or inmost vesture. They weare alio thvnc buskynnes: and
hose Iyke grei;ascos or maryners slops. Thcyr women, after the maner of tlie women of Damas-
co, haue thcyr faces cnucrcd. The kyng keepeth in maner continual war with 5' kyng of Nar-
singa. The most part of his souldiers arc strangers, enterteyned for wages. Thev are whytc
men: but the inhabitanlc-, of tlie coloure of the oilier Indians. The kyng is marueylous
ryche, and lyberali. He hath also a great nauie of shyps. lie haieth the Christi. .ns as much
as any other. Thus hauyng fraueled this part of the region, I toke my iorney towarde a
riifcititUstha. citie nailed IJathacala, fvuc davcs iornv from Oechan. The inhabitantes are Idolaters, ex-

cau. - . rf

cept

Orp»t pompf
•lid ni:i'Tm(i-

When Dia-
miintes are
fuUnde.

Womens fjces

coutred.

White men.

The kyng of
DcL'haii hateth
tlic Christians.

''"(']

; much
hnle a
, ex-
cept

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUIES.

177

cent certayne Mahumelan inercliaiint«, whicli resort thither for merchandise. It hath abund-
auiice of Rysc, Suijar, Fyggcs, Wahiuttes, Whcate, Coriie, and many other fruites and
rootes vnknowen to vs. They haiie Beeucsi, Kyne, liulfesi, Shecpe, Goales, and dyiiers other
beastcs, but no Horses, Mules or Asses.

Of certayne other goodly cities of India. Cap. G.

DEpartyng from hence, I tooke my iorney towardc a citle Centacola, one dayes CenocuU.
iorney from Bathacai.i. The j)riiicc of this citic U no lord of great rlchcsse. There is nc-
ucrthcletsc abiindaunce of flcshc, Ryse, and other Huche fruites as growe in India : many
Mahumetans resort hytlier for mcrchaundics. The kyng is an Idolater, and of Lion tawny idoUtai.
colour. They go starke naked, and wrare nothyng on theyr heades. This prince is subiecte
to the kyng of Barthacil. Depariyng from hence two daycs iorney, I came to an Ilande ™'J'',!"';
named Onor, whose k\ nac w an Idolater, and serueth the deuyll, and is subiect to the kyng onor. *"
of Narsinga : Hcis very gentle and familier, he mayntayneth eyght foystcs, which make
c\cursions and lyue by rouyng and pyracie. He is in great frendshyppe with the kyng of a kyng, •
Portugalc. The inhabitantcs couer their priuities with a sindone, and are besyde all naked. jlXdmen.
The soylc beareth plentie of Ry.sc, as in other partes of India. There are in maner al kyndes Ry«'
of hea.stcs, as wylde bores. Harts, Wolues, Lions, and sundry kinds of birdes, and foules ^''J's'jnd
vnlike vnto ours, Pecockes also and Panottes. It hath innumerable Kyne of .shynyng yelowe fou'i«?
coloure : also sheepe exceedyng fatte. There is so great abundaunce of flowers and Raies, fiow«$ iii tht
that they faylc not in wynter. There can not be a more temperate ayre: and therfore they'""''""*''
lyue muche longer then we do. Not far from this citie, is an other citie named Mangolor : Long* Wft-
from whence about the number of (JO .shyppes departc veerely laded with Ryse. The inha- ny^j^'*""*
bitantes are partly Idolaters, and partly Mahumetans. ""' '
is as we hauc savd before.

their maner of lyuing and apparell.

Of Canonor aiul Narsinga, great cities of India. Cap. 7.

DUpartyng from hence, we directed our iorney toward the citie of Canonor, beyng a very
goodly citie. Ileere the kyng of Portugale hath a very strong towne. The kyng of the citie
is an Idolater, and no great frond to the kyng of Portugalc. The citie hath a porte, whyther
are brought the horses of Persia : but the customc for horses is exceedyng great. Departyng
from hence, and entryiig further into the lande, we came to the citie of Narsinga, where
many Mahumetan merchauntes do dwel. The soylc beareth ncyther wheate nor vynes, or
fewe other fruites, except Oranges and Gourdes. They eate no breade : but lyue with ryse,
fyshe, .ind suche walnuttes as the countrey beareth. In maners and Idolatrye, they are lyke
vnto them of Calerut, of whichc we wyll spcakc heareafter. There is founde plentie of
spyces, as Ginger, Pepper, Myrobalans, Cardanum, Cassia, and dyuers suche other. Also
many and dyuers kindes of fruites vnlyke vnto our.**, and muche sweeter. The region is in
juaner inaccessible for many dennes and diches made by force. The kyng hath an army of
fyftic thousande gentelmen, whiche they call Ilcros. In the warrcs they vse swoonies,
rounde Targcttcs, or Buklers, Lances, Dartes, Bowes, Slynges : and begyn nowe al.so to vsc
(funnes. They go naked, coueryng oncly their priuities, except when they go to the warres.
They vse no Horses, Mules, Asses, or those Camels whichc we commonly call Dromedaries.
They vse onely Elephantes, yet not to fyght in the battayle. Great mcrchaundise is vsed in
the citie: for thythcr resorte from dyuers countres two hundred shyppes ycerely. Depart-
yng from the kyngdome of Narsinga, in 15 daycs iorney towarde the East, we came at the
length to a citie named Bisinagar.

Of the fruitcful citie of Bisinagar in the kyngdome of Narsinga. Cap. 8.

THe citie of Bisinager is vnder the dominion of the kyng of Narsinga, and subiect to him.
The citie is very large and well walled, situate on the syde of a hyll, and eyght myles in
circuite. It is compassed with a triple wall, and is a famous mart of all sortes of ryche mer- A uipit w»iu
chaundise. The soyle is marueylous fruitefull, and hath whatsoeuer pertayneth to delicates

Aftcm-arde he
becime frcndc t«
the Portugalcfc

Citie gf Nu-
hnga.

Oringei.
Ryir.

Spjrcej.

Straunge fruitei.

An aimy of
fyftle thoukao'
gentelmen.

Cunnea.

Elc^'huTes,

and

4';

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178

Hi«kyB( ind
huntyoi.

An trmj of
fourc thouiand
hoTMnun.
HoFKi of gre»t
price.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomantius'

Foure hundred
Eltphantei.
Druracdary
CamcUc!.

Howe the Ele-
phantei ire pre-
pared tu th»
wirrej.

Seuenmen^jht
vpon Die £le>
pliant.

Howe the Ele-
phant is armed.

The Elephant
vnderstandeth
the voyce of hit
keeper.

The Elephant
can not abjde
fyre.

The ttrcngth of
the Elephut.

The Elephants
hiue ioyntei ia
their leggei.

Tlif hande of
tlir tlrphant.

The tetth of the
Elephant lAlucry.

and pleasures. There is no landc more commodious for haukyng and huntyng, for it hath
large playnes and goodly woods: a man would saye it were an earthly Paradyse. The kyng
and people are Idolaters. He is a prince of great power, he hath an army of foure thoii-
sande horsemen. And yet is it to be noted, the price of a good horse there, to be no lesse
then foure or fyue hundred of those peeccs of goldc whiche they call Pardais : And somc>
tyme it so chaunceth that a horse is soldo for eight hundred of those pecces of goldc. The cause
of which great price is, that they are brought out of other countrcys : and that they haue no
Mares, being forbyddcn by the commaundement of the kynges, streightly chargyng the
portes to be kepte, least any mares should be brought into the countrcy. Ilee hath also
foure hundred Elephantes to serue in the warres : and lykewyse as many Camclles, of the
kynde of those swyfte runnyng Camelles which be commonly called Dromadarii. And here
me seemeth good opportunitie to say somewhat of the docilltie, «gilitie, and wyt of Ele-
phantes, as wc haue promised.

Of the docilitie, agilitie, and wit of Elephantes. Cap. y.

THe Elephant, of all foure footed beastes, and ncxtc vnto man, is most wittie and docible,
and not farre from humane scnce, and surmounteth all other beasts in strength. When the
Indians bring them to the warres, they put great packesaddelles on their backes, suche as in
Italic they vse for the great Mules. These packesaddelles they gyrde vnder theyr bellyes
with two chaynes of yron. \'^ppon the saddelles, they place on euery s)de a litle house, or
if you will, rather call them Turrettes, or Cagies, made of wood : eucry Turret conteyneth
three Men. Betwcene the two Turrettes sittcth an Indian on the backe of the beast, and
speaketh to him in his owne language, which the beast vndcrstandelli and obeycth : for it is
certaine that no other beast approchcth so neare to the vndcrstanding of man, Sciien men
therefore are thus placed vppon one Elephant when tliev goe to tiie wars, and all armed with
coates of fence, Targets, Bowes, Lances, Dartcs, and Slynges. Also the tninke or snoute
of tlie Elephant (which of the Latine is called Promuscis, or Proboscis, and of some, the
hande of the Elej)hant) is armed, and hath a sword fastened to it of the length of two cu-
bites, very strong, and of a handfull in breadth. And thus furnished, they procecde to the
battayle. When it is requisite to goe forwarde, or backwarde, the goucrnour sittyng aboue,
gyueth them an instruction with such voyces as they are accustomed vnto: for sometyme he
sayth thus to the beast, Stryke here, stryke there, forbeare here, goe forewarde there, turiie
this way, and that way. All which woordcs he vnderstandeth and obeyeth without spurre or
brydell. But where it so chaunceth that by casting of fyre, they are with feare dryuen to
flyght, they can by no meanes be stayed. And therefore these people haue many subtile
dcuises howe they may feare them with fyre, which this beast, by the sense of naiure, fcareth
aboire all thinges, and therefore flyeth ia maner at the syght of fyre. And to speake some-
what of theyr strength, as I haue by experience, I remember that when I was in the citie of
Canonor, certayne Mahumetans drue a shyp aland, turnyng the shyp, after the maner of the
Christians, with the fore end towarde the lande, and laying vnder it three rowling beames.
Then three Elephantes commodiously applied, drawyng with great force, and bendyng downe
theyr heades to the ground, brought the shyp to lande. But many haue thought that the
Elephantes haue no ioyntes in theyr legges, and that therefore they could not bende theyr
legges : which thyng doubtlessc is false, for they haue ioyntes as haue other beastes, but
in the lowest parte of theyr legges. The females are more fierce then the Males, and
much stronger to beare burdens. Sometime they are taken with furie or madnesse, and
testifie the same by disordinate runiiyng here and there. One Elephant excecdcth the
bygnesse of three Bufles and not viilyke of hcarc. They haue eyes lyke swyne, and
the snout or trunke very long, wherwith they put
and therefore may it well be called the hande of
the throate, much lyke the mouth of a Sowe, and
with holde fast stickes or staues, and them rule as it were with a hande. I sawe also the
trunke of a tree ouerthrowen by an Elephant, which ^ men attempting, could not doe. The
two great teeth or tuskcs, are placed in the highest iawe. Ech of their cares, are two hand-
ful

meate and drinke into their mouth :
the Elejjhant. The mouth is vnder
the trunke is holowe, and can ther-

D'avels to the EaU.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

179

fills byg, whether the beast be of the byggcr or lesse klnde. The fcete are like vnto such

roiiiul thickc trenchers of wood as be commonly vscd. The foote conteincth fyue hoofes, in

roiuidncssc like vnto great Oy>tcrs. The laylc is lykc to the tayle of a Buflc, ft)iire handfiill

long, and of thyii iic.irc. The females are also bigger then the males, they are of sundry Tiifi>ygn«M of

bigncs, for some arc of 13 handliils high, and other of H handfuls, and soiue also haue'' ''"""'

been scene of sixtiene handfuls. They goe slowly, and walowing, and therfore some that

haue not ben vsed to them, are moued to vomite cuen as it were on the sea. Yet is it a

pleasure to ryde on the young Elcphantes, bicause they goe softly like anibeling Mules.

When you mount of them, they stoope and bend their knees, that you may easily ascendc.

They are neuer brydeled, neythcr vse theyr keepers any halters to gouerne them.

Of the ingendering of Elephantes, and of the magniflccnce & riches of the king

of Narsinga. Cap. 10.

Wllen they ingender, they resorte to the medowes or woods, for by a certaine naturallThenaturaii
shamefastnes.se they doe it not but in secrete places; Althoug some Aucthors haue written gj'^jph",",""
that Elephants engender backward. Some take it for a great present to giue the king the
member or pi.sscil of an Elephant, whiche perhappes they doe for the exceedyng great price The pUkH of
of Elephantes: for some are solde there for fyue hundred peeces of golde, and some (as'" ''' '"
they say) for two thousande: which peraduenture, is not for their greatnesses of bodie, but
rather for ccrtayne properties, wyt, and docilitie, wherein some farre exceede other, euen
as among men. And I dare wellsav that I haue seene some men much inferior to Elephants Men of itiw»n.
in wyt and .sense. Therefore the kyng of Narsinga, in riches and dominion^ farre exceedeth E"irph"nMl^' *"
all kynges that cuer I haue scene or hcarde of. The citie in situation and fayrenesse, repre- T'". "'^''",'''^
senteth the citie of Milanc, except only that is in a declining place, and lesse equal. Other Nariaiga."
kingdoms which are subicct to this, lye round about it, as the kingdome of Ausonia and Ve-
nice lye about Milanc. Their ikamini (so are the priestes named) tolde me the king re-
ceiueth dayly of that citie for tribute or reucnue, the summe of twelue thousandes of those a peat iributf
peeces of golde whiche they call Pardios. He maynteyneth an army of many thousandes of '"''*'" "''^"
men, for he liueth in continuall warre with his borderers. He is an Idolatour, and honoureth uoiaten.
the deuyll, euen as doth tiie kyng of Calecut. They that are of the rychest sorte, vse a
slender inwarde apparell or pcticote, not very long, and bynde theyr heades with a phillet
or broade bande, of sundry colours, after the maner of the Mahumetans. The common
sorte, coucr onely their priuities, and are besyde all naked. Tiie kyng weareth a Cappe of
cloth of golde, of two handfuUcs long : when he goeth to warre, he weareth a vesture of
bombasine, and thereon a cloke adourned with plates of gold, hauyng the borderer garde a rich ciokt.
besette with all sortes of precious stones and lewclles. His horse with the furniture, is ca-Jj^^^^gf^c
teemed to bee woorlh as muclie as one of our cities, by reason of innumerable lewelles of kyng of Nu
great price. When he goeth a huntyng, three other kynges beare him company, whosc^'"^"'
office is to be eucr nearc him, and guyde him. When he maketh any iourney, or rydeth
abrode, he is accompanyed with six thousand horsemen : And therefore it is manifeste that
not only for these thynges whereof we haue spoken, but also for dyuers other of lyke mag-
nificence, hee is one of the greatest Kynges in the worldc. He coyneth money and peeces coyne of jou*
of golde named Pardios. Also other siluer money of lesse value, whiche they call Fano, """* "'""'
conteynyng the value of sixtiene of the smallest money of copper. Traueylers may here
goe safely through all his dominions, if they can avoyde the daunger of the Lions. Of theyr Daungcr of
dyet and order of lyuyng, I will speake more largely where occasion shall serue to wryte of ^i"""''
Calecut. This kyng of Narsinga, is a great friende to the Christians, and is in great amitieriiekyngof
with the kyng of Portugale : and therefore the Portugales are here friendly and honourably ^"f'"i" '"'^"^

J «fi: iLi i-i'.. » I i.-n^ to the kyng of

vsed. Wrien 1 had remayncd m this citie n any dayes, I returned to the citie of Canonor. Portugaie.

And after I had remayned three dayes, I entered further into the lande, and came to a
citie named Trompata, about twelue myles from Canonor. The inhabitauntes are Idolatours. The citie of
It is neare vnto the sea, and therefore there are seene many merchantes Mahumetans. They Trompata.
lyue moderately and haue in maner none other ryches then nuttes of India, but there are

A a 3 very

180

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomanntts'

^%^

MthumetiDi.

Pinibra,
Ciragol.
Caltcui.

Thf kyng cf
Calecui, aOod
uu Uic cirth.

TTif ciiie of
Calccac.

■■;il'. ' :''

HOUKS iliuiJcd.

Very lowe
houiesf

Houst! of small

fricf.

K!olatry anil
scruyng ol the
deiiyU.
One God.
Ficudo|ilatonici.

The deuyll
I'linccof thii
woildc.

Dcumo, quasi
Dxmon.
The Chapell of
the deuyll.

The deuyllj
chayrc uf ma-
ipstie.

Difference be-
iwetne the
Popes crowne
and the deuyllea.
A wcU fauoutcd
Prince.

The deuylles
crdinary dyct,
anj dcintic
meate.
Bramini.
Dtachmiai.

tery fayrc trecn to make shyppcs. There are in the citic ahoiic fiftienc thoimandc Mahume-
tans, although the Kyng be an Idolatoiir. Departyng from hence, I came to the citic of
Pandara : and from thence passyng by the citie of Capngot, 1 came at the length to the
ramons citie of Caleciit. And to be brecfe, I haiic here puerpasscd to spcakc largely of
many other people and kyngdomes, as are these, Chiannl, Dabul, Bathecalo, Onoiid, IJan-
golor, Canonor, Ciichin, Cacilon, and Calonue, which I haiic done, to the cnde that I may
entreat of Calecut, as the chiefest, and as it were the head and niefropolitanc of all the cities
of India, for it is certayne that the Kyng of Cnlcciit in royail maicstic exccedeth all the
kynges of the East, and is therefore in theyr laiigiingc called Sainory, that is to say, God on
the earth.

The fyfth booke of East India, and fyrst of the famous citic of Calcrut. Cap. I.

THe citie of Calecut, is situate vppon the continent or firnic landc, and the sea beatcth
vppon the houses of the citie. There is no porte : hut on the South syde about a mylc from
the citie, i< a ryuer which runneth info the ocean sea by a narrow month. This runneth by
many braunches into the playne fcckles, and is of the inhnbitantcs by iliuers trenches dis-
pearscd to water the grounde. It is not past the depth of three or fonrc Ibote of water. The
course of it bendeth towarde the citie, and runneth into it. The citie is not compassed with
walk's, but conteyneth in r ircuite sixe thousande houses, not adherent or ioyning togeathcr
after the maner of ours, but by a certayne sj)ace distant one from the other, eyther for fearc
of fyre, or by ignorance of the builders. It is a myle of length. The houses are despicable,
as no hyghcr from the grounde then a man on horsebacke, and are for the mtist parte coucred
with boughcs of trees, in the steedc of t'ies or other «oncrvng. The cause whereof they
say to bee, that in digging the grounde fyue or syxe handfiill depth, water immediately
issueth foorth. And therefore they can layc no deeper foundations to bcarc the weyght of
any greater buyldynges. The houses of merchandyso, or warehouses, are solde for fyftiene
or twentic peeccs of golde. But the common houses, are of no greater price then two
peeces of golde at the most, and some for lesse.

Of the kyng of Cnlecut, and of their Idolatrie. Cap, 2.

THe kyng of Calecut and his people, are gyuen to Molatrie and seruyng of the deuyll:
yet deny they not but that there is one great God, maker of hcaiien and earth, and fyrst and
chicfe cause of all thinges : Hut they .nddc thereunto a fable, saying that God coidde take no
pleasure of his principate or dominion, if hcehim.selfc shoulde take vppon hym the gouorne-
inent of the worlde, and therefore that he gaue the vicarage of that gouernatince to the
deuyll, who (they say) was sent from heauen for that purpose, and to iiidge the worlde,
rendcryng vnto men well or euyll, according to their deseruyng. This deuyll they name
Deumo. But the great God him selfe they call Tamerani. The kyng hath a Chapel in his
Pallace, where he honoureth this Deumo : The Chapell is open on euery syde the breadth
of a vaulte of two pases, and is no hygher from the grounde then three pases. Tlie cntraunce
is by a doore of wood, garnished with earned woorkc, conteyning the dyuers monstruous
fourmes and shapes of dcuvlics. In the myddest of the Chapell, is a seate of maiestie made
of copper, with also a deuyll of copper sittyng in it. Tliis deuyll hath on his head a cro\s'ne,
after the mancr of the bvshop of Home, but this hatli overplus fourne homes, his mouth
gapyng, with foure notable teeth, a deformed noxc, louryng and grymme eyes, a threatenyng
looke, crooked haudes lyke a fleshc hooke, and frcte not much vnlyke the fcete of a Cocke:
A monster doubtlesse horrible and fearefuU to behoide. I/i euery corner of the Chapell sit
such deuylles of shining copper, as though they were of llamyng fyre, deuouryng soules
miserably. These sonles are about the bygnesse of halfe a finger, and some little bigger.
He puttcth one soule into his mouthe with the ryght hande, and with the Icfte hande taketh
an other from beneath. Euery mornyng the priestcs (whom they rail Bramini) washc the
Idoll with rose water, and perfume him with sweete sauours, and lying prostrate on the
grounde, pray vnto him. They sacrifice vnto him once a weeke. Thcyr maner of sacrifice

Travels to the East. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

181

is this. They haiie a little cubbarde lyke vnto an Altar, three handfiilies hygh, foure handfuIsThemanetof

brode, and fyue handfuls lonj; : this cubbard they strawe with all maner of floiircs and sweete d"","" *' '''*

pouders. Then hauyng a proat Chafingdyshe, or the lyke vessell of sihier, full of burning

coles, they put the blood of tho Cocke thereon, and also cast thereon innumerable sweete caiiui Eku>

saiiours: In the iiicane tynic also with sensours in theyr handcs, they goe rounde about the ''■""■

Altar, inakynjr pn-fume with IVankcnsense, ringyng a little siluer bell all the whyle of the

sacrifice. They kyll the Cocke with a siluer knyfe, and the knyfe also being rayed with

l)Io()(l, tiiey put oiten in the lyre, ihat no parte of the blood be lost. Sometyme hauyng the

knyfe in theyr hande, they make certayne straunge gestures, much lyke to those which the

masters of fcnse \se in S'"y"o ^^ ^""yf'yig of strokes. They neuer cease puttyng to more

coles and spices or perfumes, vntyl all the blood of the Cocke be burnt. The priest that a goodly priett

olfcrcth the blood of the Cocke, hath his armcs and feete garnyshed with siluer plates and ch,pui""

pendantej, in such sorte, that whyle hee moueth, they make a certayne noyse, much lyke

vnto sonettes or haukes belles. He hath on his breast a certayne bosse, conteynyng I know

not what secrete figure, which may seeme to be the .secrete caract or signc of some mysterie.

The sacrifice being linished, he taketh both his handes full of wheate, and goeth from the offcryng of

Alter l)ackew.ird lyke a Crcuicc, neuer mouyng his eyes from the Alter, vntyll he come™''""

to a certayne tree: where openyng his handcs, hee casteth the wheate on the tree. Then

holdyng his handes aboue his head, he retiirneth to tnc Alter, and taketh away all that is

thereon.

Of the mancr which the kyng vseth at his meate. Cap. 3.

THe Kyng doeth not sit downe at his meate, before foure of the priestes offer it to the de-
uyli, in this maner. Lifting theyr handes aboue theyr heades, with also many other fantasti-
call gesticulations, and murmuryng voyccs, they o(H?r the meate to the deuyll, and spende The deuyil is
long tyme in those cercmonyes, to the end that the Kyng should eate no meat that is not J'"^''""^''" '***
lirst ofT'ered to the deuyll. They offer the meate in a tray of wood, and therein laye it vppon
the brode leancs of a cerfavne tree. His meat is Hyse, and dyuers other thinges, as fruite,
(leshc, and fyshc. He sittcih on the grounde without cloth or Carpet. The priestes in the chapUns of
mcane tyme stande roiindc about him, but approcheth no nearer then foure or fyue pases,
obseruyng diiiqenily the Kinges woordes. When the kyng hath lefte eatyng, the priestes
carry away all that is Icfte, and in a certayne place thereto appointed, oHer it to certayne i ihinke the
Crowes, wliich tSey kcepe for the same purpose: And therefore being vsed to be thus fedde, ^^'j''^'^'^^^
geather togeather at a signc gyuen them, and eate vp the meate. These crowcs are therefore Crowes,
of them esteemed holy: and therefore it is not lawfull for any man to take them or hurtc Crowes ewecm-

Of the Priestes of Calecut, called Bramini. Cap. 4.

THcsc Bramini, are in place with them, as are the chiefe priestes or byshoppes with vs. "^j^'fjj'fo"""'
Therefore when the kii.g shall marrie, he lyeth not with his wyfe before shee be defloured 5,'em KiueV
by the Archbyshop, yet taketh he not this vppon him without rewarde : for the kyng gvncth ^ fcood'JJ^""""
him for his labour fiftie preces of golde. Only the ' yng of Calecut keepeth this custome.

Of the dyuers sortes of Idolaters in the citie of Calecut. Cap. 5.

THc chicfcst Idolaters, and of the greatest dignitie, are the Bramini. They of the se-p,;„,„jnjgt„.
condc order, arc named Naeri : And in the same place with them, as are with gentelmen,teimeii.
whose oHice is when they go abrodc to beare swoordes, targettes, bowes, launces, and other
weapons. The thyrde order consysteth of mecanike or handle craftes men. In the fourth
place, are vitaylcrs, and suche as make prouision of fyshe and fleshe. Next vnto these, are
they that geathcr Pepper, Wyne, VValuuttes, and suche other fruites and spices. The last
and barest sort, (named Ncradi) are they thatsowe and geather Ryse. These as the inferiourpooremeahau*
tribe of men, are in such subiection to the Bramini and Naeri, that in payne of death they "° ""''•'■
may approche no nearei vnto them then 50 pases. And therefore they lye lurkyng in cer-
tayne

1 1 '

"a I

' -l

; , :|i

i 4

:||

'^''\ 1

*^"^

.»<•

5!"

181

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannus'

Thry are not
troubled with
girderobci, or
iiukynj them
redye mornyng
tnd cuenynj;.

Tlie kynget
children suc-
ceed not to in-
hetite the kyng-
domt.

Whit paynes
the |iriestri lake
for thryr liuyng
tnd what scr-
uice they do the

Vasiordei.

Moornyng for
the death of the
kyng.

Chastitic and

ibstinence.

Meatct that
moue to Ic-
chetie.

Great frend-
Jkyppe.

tayne nhadovres and darke placn and maryRheM, lest they ithoiilde Ritddenly rhaunce to tneete
vith them. Wherefore when they come ahrodc, that they may be hearde a farre of, they
cryc with a loude voice I wotte near what, that they may be hrarde of the sayde liramini
and Naeri, least beyn<; soddcniy betrayyed, they shoiildc be put to death.

Of the apparcll of the kyng, quecnc, and Inhabitanios «>f the ciiie of Caleciit.
And of their mancr of fccttyng. Cap. G.

THe apparell of the kyng and queenc, is litle or nothyng diirt'ryn!' from the other Idola-
ters : among the whichc the Mahiimetans (as strangt-n*) arc not to be accomptcd. They
couer onely thcyr prinie partes with bombasine cloth or sylke, and are bcsyde all naked,
barefooted aUo, and bareheadded. But the Mahnmctnns wenre single apparell, reachyng
only vnto the nauel. The women are apparelled eiicn as arc the mpn,sauyng only that they
lette theyr heare growe very longe. The kyng and nobiliticof the citie, eatc no fleshe ex-
cept they fyrst a.ske counsayle of the Priestes. But the common people may cate what fleshe
they wyll, excepte the fleshe of kyne. But they of tiic basest sortc, named Nirani and
Foliar, may eate onely fyshcs dryed at the Sunne.

Of theyr custome after the death of the kyng. C.ip. 7.

AFtcr the death of the kyng, if he haiie any male chyldren lyuyng, or brethren, or bro-
thers chyldren, they succeede not in the kingdome: for of auncient lawe and custome, the
septer pertayneth to the kynges systcrs sonnes, of whiche if there be none, it commeth to
the next of the blood: And this for none other cause (as they save) but that the pricstcs
hauc defloured the queene. When the kyng goeth abrodc or on huntyng, the priesies, be
they neuer so young, keepe the queene at home, and rcmayne necre about her: for there
is nothyng more acceptable to the kyng, then that the priestcs shoulde no keepe companye
with the queene. And therefore the kyng may well thynke that the chyldren borne of her,
are not to be numbred amongst his chyldren, and thcrfore taketh the chyldren of his .«ysters,
to be neerest of his blood, and ryght inheritours to the crowne. When the kyng is dead, ail
his subiectes, by cutlyng theyr beardes and shauyng theyr headdes, testifie lu.w ^rceuously
they take his death. Yet hearein they vse not all one fashion, for some cutte onely part of
the heare of theyr chynne, and some parte of the heare of theyr head, and other all : and
so cuery man as he doth phantasic. Duryng the tyme that they celebrate the funerals of the
kyng, they that lyuc by fyshyng, forbeare fyshyng for the space of eight dayes. And when
any of the kynges wyucs dye, they obserue the lyke ceremonyes as for the death of tlie
kyng. The kyng sometyme, by a certayne supersticion, abstcyneth from venery, or the
company of women, for the space of a yeere : and lykewise forbearcfh to eate certayne
leaues, whiche they call Betolas, beyng the leaues of Assyrian apples : which they vse not
onely for dilicates, but also because theyr propertie is to moue men more greatly to wanton
lustes. For the same purpose also they cate a certayne fruite named Cotlblo, somewhat lyke
vnto Dates.

Of theyr chaungyng of wyues. Cap. 8.

THe gentclmen and merchauntcs, to shew great curtcsie and frendshyp one to the other,
vse sometyme to chaunge wines, and therein vse this maner of speache: My freende, we
haue nowe of long tyme lyucd togeatber as faythful frendes, and therefore for the lastc ac-
complyshement of our frendeshyppe, if it so please thee, lette vs chaunge wyucs. Content
sayth the other, for I beare thee euen as good wyll. The wyues refuse not to agree on the
condition herein also, to please theyr husbandes. Then the one bryngeth his wyfe to the
other, saying : Woman, this man shall hereafter be thy husbande. The other sayth the lyke
to his wyfe also. Thus all partes beyng agreed, they depart with frendly embrasyng: But
the chyldren remayne with the fyrst husbande. These Idolatars haue also diuers other
customes : for among some of them, one woman is maryed to seiien husbande.s, of the
whiche euery of them hath his nyght by course appoynted to lye with her : And when she

hath

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

185

hath brought foorth a chylHc, she may geue it or father it to whiche of them she lynteth :
Who may in no case refuse it.

The maner of fccdyng of ihc common people, of the Idolatars, and of theyr

lusticc. Cap. 8*.

LYing along on tlie groundc they eatc theyr mcate out of a traye of copper : for spoones, Oioftnuis.
lliey vsc certayne Icaucs of trees. Theyr meatc commonly, is Ryse, fyshe, spices and
fniites, of the commoner sort. The labouryng men or ruder sorte, cate so fylthyly, that The punyih*
puttyni? theyr foulc handes in the potte, they take out ryse by handfuls, and so thriM it in J^""/"""
tlieyr mouthc!?. They vse this kyndc of lusticc for homicide. Where any hath slaync a man,
he is thus punyshed. They haue a kynde of gah)ws made in mancr of a double crosse,
where whyle the murthcrer is tyed fast, one thnistrth a stake through his bodye, where the Btnynj.
pooro wretchc so han^eth Milyll lie be dead: Hut they that wnnnde or hurt any man, re-
decme ihe faiiltefnr mony paydr to the kyng. They that are in dcbtc, are thus enforced to
payc the same. The creditour fyrst demaundeth his monve : and if it be founde that the a «tr«uinf mi-
dcbitour brcake promyssc, then he to whom the mony isowyng, goeth to one of the kynges J||bM? ''""'"°*
scriueners (whiche are sayde to be a hundred) and before hym makyng dewe proofe of the
dcbte, recciueth of hym a greene wande of a tree, with aucthoritic to prosecute his debitour
vntil he haue found him, where when he hath arrested him, with these woordes (go no fur-
ther before thou paye mo) thryse rehearsed, he saytit furthermore thus. I charge thee by
the head of Bramini, and ijy the head of the kyng, not to sturre from this place before thou
payc me. Ti>ere is no shyfte but eyther to paye incontinent, or there to loose his lyfe. But D«««^' fordtbtr.
if he be found alone, and escape after the sayd woords, he is euer after adiudged a rebell,
and therefore shall it be lawefull for any man to kyll hym whersocuer he is founde, within
the kynges dominions.

Of the honoring of Idolles. dp. 9.

WHen they praye to theyr Idolles, in the mornyng before the Sunnc ryse, they resorte to Outward cknijTH
the pooles or ryuers to washc them : And fo at their cnmmyng home to theyr houses (where '"*^'
they keepe theyr Idolles) they touch nofhyiig before they praye to the Idolles prostrate on
the groundc sccre;itly : while they prnyc, they make certayne deuylyshe gesticulations lyke
mad men, so maruelously defourmyng theyr faces, eyes, and mouthes, that no man can be-
holde it without horrour : and thus contynuc their prayer a quarter of an houre. When the
tyme of eatyng approcheth, they may not fal to theyr vittayles, before some one of the gen-
tlemen haue dressed it, and set it in order. But this custome is obserued onely among the
gcntclmen or noble men. The women haue none othe- charge or care, then to dresse and Womfm
beautilie them stiues, for their husbandes vse not to h iv to do with them before they be *"*' *"
curyously washed, and perfumed with sundrye sweete s. 'i urs. When the women go abrode, cieaiy Wom«iw
it is marueilous to beholdc howe they are behanged with I gwels and pretious stones, on theyr
cares, amies and leggcs.

Of theyr mancr of warre. Cap. 10.

Tlley haue in the citic certayne maistcrs of fence, that teach them how to vse the swoord, Maiitenof
the target, the launce, and suche other weapons. When the kyng proceedeth to the warres,
he is furnyshed with an armie of a hundred thousande footemen, for of horsemen there isThekyngei
no vse, but onely Elephantes: for the kyng hym selfe rydeth on an Elephant. They that"'"'^"
are next to the kyng, weare about theyr iicaddes, fyllettes or bandes of sylke, of crymisyn
or scarlet colour. Theyr wc.npons are certayne crooked swoordes, targets, launces, and bowes. Their Weapom.
The kynges ensigne, is a certaine thyng made of bowes of trees, implicate round like the The kyngei
couering of a tub, borne vp on a rccde. This is borne so that p shadow thereof may couer '""*'"'
the king from theheate of the Sunnc: and is in their tongue, called Somler. When both the
armies approche within three arrowe shoote, the kyng sendeth his Braminos into the tentes The rrte«tn
of his enimies, in mauer of haroldes to chalengc a hundred of them to come foorth (if they •»';"«>'''«••

** -1 \ •* cnalcnge tc

dare) comb>ite.

,*l

■ 'J^

\f\

'"A:

,tM

''^U

' .'i.'.n

'iila

*■ » '

■■Mi

■'!■ '.x

1 -:%

nrVt

184

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannut'

km:

Ite'i.

Li'. ■ I'

and litle blood'
>hcd.

tlarc) to combnt npaynst a hundred of his Nacrcg, which before we Mid to be hiH gentrhnrn
and chicfc sircn^ih of his army : which message done, bofh sydp« prepare them aclitefl to
the batayle, and in llic midway, fyrst a hundred fv^lit with a hundred. Tlie whiche if they
shouhle feyj^ht continually for tlic space of three dayrs, would nciier stryke with tlie poynt,

A|it<itiitiayi« but witJi the edec of the swoorde, and for the mo^t i)arfe at the head, a''d seldoine at the
Icggcs. But when fyuc or sy\c are nlayne, inconlinent the liramnii on both partes make an
ende of the fyght : and by theyr comniaundement the rctreatc is sounded on both paries.
Then a^siyne the Dramini (which arc tiie chiefe pricstei as we haue sayde) on both Hyde:*,
speakc vnto the kyngcs, and a!>ke ihem if they wyll any more. And thus for the most parte
make tbcy an ende of the quarell and battuyle, without great slaughter of men. The kyng
Homctymes rydeth on an Elephant, and sometymcs alno i^ borne by hiii noble men, named
Naeri. When he proceedeth, there I'olowe hym a great multitude of mynstrels, makyng a
great noyse, with Tymbercis, Taniberels, and uuclic other inatrumt-iitt-s. The stypende of
the Naeri is foure Carlines ciiery moneth in peace, and syxe in tynie ol warre : tlicsc haue
theyr teeth very blacke, by eatyng of a certayne hearbe, wiiichc they much vse. When any
of these arc slayne, their bodies arc burned, with great {M)mpe, and many superstitions, and
also theyr ashes reserucd : but the common sort are burycd, in diuers maners, for some arc
buried in their houses, some in their gardens, and other in feeldes, niedowes, or wooddes.
They coyne mony here, as in ^ citie of Narsinga. When I was there, there was in ^ citic

Coynrd money, merchants of almost all partes of the East, and especially a great number of Mnhumetans,

M"ch»untekrt-and njauy also of the region of Mclncha, and Bangclla : other also of Tarnassari, Pego, and
' Ciriomandcl : some lykewysc of the llandes of Zcylan, and Sumatra, whiche is Taprobana:
other of Cholon, Caicolon, and Bathecala ; and almost innumerable other, of nations whose
names arc better knowen to vs, as Persians, Arabians, Syrians, Turkes, and Ethiopians, and
also many of the kyngdome of Narsinga, strangers of so many nations, were in the citie
of Calecut whylc I rcmayned there. Vndcrstand furthermore, that the Idolators vse not to
sayl on the sea, but tiiat is ajipoynted to the Mahumeians, as meeter men for that purpose.

Mihumetans of And there is "ii the citic of Calecut more then fyfteene thousande Mahumetans, whiche were

tJetut. borne in the same citie.

Of their shippcs and mancr of sa>''yng on the sea. Cap. 11.
THeyr Shippes are made no Icsse then may suf >4or the burden of foure or fyue hundred

Miiiiireti.

BUckewetta.

The dead gen-
telmeii ate
burnt, but the
poore men ate
jiuryed

'1 heyt ihipfes.

Ankers of mar-
ble, on eucry

lyde two-

Tonne, and ail open without any couerture. In the ioyntes of their Shippes they put no

Toue, but ioyne the plankes so artilicially, that they holde out water very well : yet do they

pytche the ioyntes, and make them fast with nayles of Iron. They do not forbearc Towc

for lacke thcrof, for they haue great plentie of hempe and flaxe. They haue plankes or

boordes and postes of diuers sorics, for they haue as good wood and better then we. Theyr

saylcs are of Bombasine cloth, and doubled in the neather part, whereby they geather more

wynde, and swell thercwitli, lykc a bagge : and in this they passe vs, vsyng but only synglc

sayles. They vse ankers of marble, of the length of eygiu spannes and on euery syde twoo :

these they hang in the sea by double ropes, and besyde these, hane none other ankers. They

haue certayne appnynted tymes and seasons, of saylyng: for some tymes serue best for one

coast, and some other, for other coastes and viages. The changes and also contrarietie of

Seasons of the tymcs, is tlicrc greatly to be consydered : for wlien with vs al thyngcs for heate are almost

toonn.""""" ■"'-■"rched, then haue they large siicwres, as in the monethes of .May, lune and luly. Their

shippes are of diuers quantities, as with vs, and tlierfore also of diuers names. They haue

Dyucrs fashioni onc sort of vcsscIs madc of onc whole peece of wood, like a trough, veri long, sharpe and

o!h''t msei"'' narowe : in these they vse both sayles and ores, and are therfore swyfter then our Galleys

or foystcs. The Pirates vse these very much. The best of their shippes are made in an

Uandc named Porcai, not furrc from Calecut.

Of the Court or Palace of the Kyng of Calecut Cap. 12.

A gocdiy palace. THc Pulacc of thc kyng of Calecut conteyneth no lesse then a myle in circuite, the wall

traveh to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

185

Imiinofihr
druyll to pjr-
iiytn the kiii|((
piUcc.

Thf rychf
irwcli which the
kin| wcatcth.

The kytig of
Pottu(alts
wirro agaynit
the kyng of
Calccut.
The Frfuchf
poip amung
prtcious irwell
Inestimablr
trcatuic.

i« not hygh, the buyldinp; in fayrc, with beamei or postci* wel ioynyng the framr, and cu-
riously wroufiht and earned with the figuren and shapes of denyls on eiiery cydc. Why the
walks be no hygher, we haiie declared before, where we haiie spoken of the lowc buyldyng
of the houses of the citie: the caiiie wherof (as we haue saidc) U the vnstabic groiinde, su
fill of water, that they can dygge no deapth to lay fiindation to beare hyghcr buyldyngcs.
But what pearles and precioti.s stones the kyng wcareth vpon hym, can not be expressed for
the grentnesse of the thyng : for doubtlesse it exccedeth all estimation. Although at the
tyme of my beyng there, he waa not geucn to ioyfulncsse, but lyued in greefc of mynde,
aswcl for the warrcs which the kyng of Portugale made agaynst hym, as also that he was
diseased with the Frenchc poxe, which had now entred into his throte : ncuerthelesse, his
fares, armcs, handes, legges, and feete, were so beautyfully and rychly garnyshed with all
sortes of iewels and precious stones, that it can not be spoken. His treasure is esteemed so
vnmeasural)Ie, that it can not be conteyned in two wonderful great cellars or warehouses.
This treasure consystctli of precious stones, plates of golde, and also so muche coyned golde
as may suflicc to lade a hundred Mules, as theyr Bramini reportc, to whom it is best knowen.
They saye also that this treasure was geathered and rcserucd by tweluc kynges whiche were
before hym, and that in his treasurye is a cofer of three spanncs in length, and two in breadth,
ful of only pretious stones, of price inestimable.

Of the spice.') of Calecut. Cap. 13.

PKppcr is geathered in the feeldes about the subarbes, and also in ccrtaync places within Prpper.
the ciiic. The staike of pepper is very weake and lykc vnto vines, which can not beare it The peppef
selfc, without the hclpc of a stake or proppe, and is muche lyke vnto an luie, and in lykc""
inaner creepeth and embraceth .suchc trees as arc neerc vnto it. This tree (or rather bnshe)
is dispcarscd into sundry branches, of the length of two or three spannes, and hath the leaues
lykc vnto the leaues of an Assyrian apple, but that these are somewhat thycker and fatter.
On euery twigge hangesyxc clusters, no bygger then Dates, and lykc vnto clusters of lifleCiuitfrsof
grapes, and of the coloure of vnripc grapes, but growe thycker. They are geathered in ^'^^"'
the moneth of October and Nouember, inclynyng yet to grecne colour, and are so layde on
mattes, and set in the Sunne to drye, where in the space of three daycs, they become blackc,
as they are brought hyther. The fruitefulnesse of these, proceedeth onely of the symple
qoodncsse of the soyle, without helpc of loppyng or pruning. This region beareth also
Gyngcr, whiche is doubtlesse a roote, and is somctyme dyggcd of the weight of 12 unces, cinger.
it entreth no deeper into the grounde then three or foure handefuls. When they dygge it
out, they leauc the knotte or ioynt of the roote in the pitte, and couer it agayne with earth,
as a seede for more agaynst the nexte yeere. It is founde in an equall soyle, as are the My-
ral)olanes: yet is the earth where it groweth, of very redde coloure. The staike, is muche
lykc the staike of a young pcare tree.

Of the fruites of Calecut. Cap. 14.

IF 1 sliduld describe all the sortes of straunge fruites that are scene there, it would rather Fruitei miykc
require a volume, then a brecfe rehersall of them particulerly : for they haue not only many"""'
greatly diflering from ours in fourme, sauour and tast, but also those of the kynde of such
as we iiaue, diUcr in maner no lesse. Whereby may the naturall Philosopher consider howe a pwiojophicai
those thinges which are all of one kynde, diflTcr according vnto the nature of the soile and ^^"'jf^;"!,™ ^[
iliuers situation vnder the heauens. By which natural cause, and alteration, some fruites «h'ng"ofoi.r
and secdes, by transplanting into a better soilc, become more perfect in their kind, as bigger, '''""''■
iayrcr, sweeter, and more fruitfull : .As also contrariwise, the contrary, by transplanting into
a worse soilc, or colder region : which diuersitie is scene, not only in plantes and hearbes,
but also 1 bcastcs, and euen in man kynde. It is very strange to consider howe diuersly
trees beare theyr fruites and seedes, as some in one parte of the tree, and some in an other.
There is in Calccut a fruite which they name laceros: the body of the tree, is of the bignesse
of a Pcare tree : the fruite is of the length of two handfuls and a halfe, and as byg as the a grwt fmitc
thygh of a man. The fruit groweth out of the body of the tree vnder the branches, andS;°7o3«°f\;*.

B b some""-

Yi\

186

Rypc tnxittt In
Dtctmbcr.
A rtuilt of lun-
diy lUKt.

Ont fniitr
wnhin an other.

A Im with
very bro^
luvci.

Two huiiiind
fruitti on cucry
t\</fft.

A trtc that
Dcutr brtrtth
friiil but onct.

Fniilci and
kurei geathtred
at all tymci of
tht yctrr.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vcrtomannua'

This trtc in the
Wctt India, ii
calltd Coctui.
Ten Conimodi-
tici of one tret.

Nux Tndin.
They are aaUf
n a naas fyst
and MB* byg-
ger.

Very sweeie
and clearc water
within a Nutte.

•one euen In the very myddest of the tree, and other yet lower aUo. The colour m greene,
and in fourme, in maner lykc vnto a Pyne apple, but with iense ^rainea or knobbcx : when
it is rype, it becommelh blacke. It is geathcred in the moneth of December, It hath the
taste of a Pepon, and the Nauntir mmiewhat like Castorciim. It seemeth in eatynj; to gyiie
dyiicnt and »iituiry pleasant tastes : as someiymc the ta<«tc of a Peache, somctyme of a Pome-
granate, and leaueth at the cndc a taste so Hweete, that yon would thynke it to be newc hony
combes. Vnder the skynne, it is lykc vnto a Peache. And within the body conteinelh an
other fruit, not much vnlykc softc Cheslnutles and bcyng rosled, hath the same tasic, and
is therefore certaynely one of the gomilyesi fruites that I knowe. I wil here, to be brecfe,
omit to speake muche of their Niiitcs, and Walnuttes, Almons, Prunes, Peaches, Quince.<t.
Gourde.s, Melons, and suche other fruitcs knowen to vs, and yet much more picasaunt and
fayrer then are ours. There is one fruitc worthic to be knowen, which they call Anolanda.
The tree groweth to the heij;ht of a man, it beareth not past foure or fiue Icaiics nangyng
by certayne wlyppes, euery Icafe is able well to coiicr a man from raync, and the hcate of
the sunne ; In the myddest of the leafe, riselh a iwyg or »lalkc, lykc the staikc of a beane,
which bringeth out floures and also fruitcs of a handfull long, and of the bigncsse of a mans
arine : these fruites are geathcrcd vnrype, bycausc they become rype in keeping. Euery
alyp beareth about two hundred fruites, a thyng certaynely wherein is greatly scene the fruit-
fulnesse of nature. They touchc one an other, and cluster togeafher. They are of yelowc
colour, and haue a verry thyii codde, and are in catyng delicate and holesome. There arc
three sortes of this kyndc of fruitc, of the which one is of euyll taste, and therefore not so
muche esteemed. It is yet more straunge, that this tree beareth fruitc but once, yet when
it dyeth, there ryse about the roote thereof fyftie or threescore young slyppes, whiche rc-
nue the lyfc of theyr parent, that he dye not without succession. The gardeners or graflTers
transplante these in other places, for within the space of one ycerc they bring foorth fruite.
They are geathcrcd in great aboundance almost all the whole veere, and are therefore very
good cheape, and of small pryce, as twentie for a penny. The same soylc beareth lykc-
wyse innumerable and most fayrc and sweete floures all the yeerc long, and especially Roses,
both white, redde, and yelowe.

Of a most fruitfull tree of all the world. Cap. 15.

THere is also an other tree, most worthic to be knowen, the which in fruitfulnesse, and
swectnesse of the fruit, passeth all the trees of the worlde. It beareth certaine fruites lyke
vnto great Dates or Nuttcs, and generally bringeth foorth tennc commodities : for it beareth
wood most aptc to nouri.sh fyre, and Nuttcs very pleasant to be eaten, also cordes or ropes
which may well seruc for saylers : Lykewyse very fyne cloth, which when it is coloured,
sheweth lyke silke : The wood is the best that may be foundc to make coles, it yeldeth also
wine and odoriferous water : furthermore also, oylc and sugcr. The boughes of the tree, are
commodious to couer houses in place of tyles or thetche : for by reason of the closenesse
and fatnesse of the leaues, they keepe out the raync very well. The fruitc of this tree (as
we haue sayde) is in forme lyke vnto great Dates or Nuttcs. One tree beareth about two
hundred of those fruites. Takyng away the first ryme, they put it in the fyre, where it
burneth quickly and with great flame. Theseconde fruite vnder the sayde first ryme, :s muche
lyke vnto bombasine or silke, and is lyke vnto flaxe when it is wrought. Of the floures,
they make a certayne kynde of cloth, not vnlykc silke. The towe or refuse of the first flaxe,
they spinneand make thereof a grosser cloth, and small ropes or cordes: and of the smallest,
wreathed togeather, they make greater ropes, which may seme for shippes. That parte of
the Nut which is vnder the third ryme, conteyneth also a substaunce apte to make coles.
The last ryme, includeth the substance or Cornell of the Nutte, very delicate to be eaten.
This ryme or barke, is of the thicknesse of a mans litle finger. As the Nutte groweth in
bignesse, so doeth also the water conteyned therein. So that the Nutte commyng to his
full rypencsse and bygncsse, the water occupieth the inner parte : and sometyme is founde
so much water in the Nutte, that you may take out of euery Nutte two or three cuppes of
water very sweete to be droonke, and as cleere aa Rjsc water, of the which also being

thickened

ri\'

TrnveU to ihc East.

TRAFFIQUI-S, AND DISCOUEHIKS

187

thickened by sccthynR, In made very fatfc oile. The Niilte likewi>o if !»elf«', is of very on. mid. of
l)Ic;i«ant taste. They mifTrr but ono parte of the tree to brinj; fuorth friiite: for on the other •""•
parte or Hyde, they ciitic and woiinde the tree in diuers placri eiiery morning and cuening,
and powrc into the wounded plares a rertayne liquor, which drawelh o«it of the tree a inise, Wyn« nf rum
which falleth into vesnells placed t( receyue it, and «o receyue they cuery day and nyglit in ^1,"'^" "' *
cuery vessell, a cuppeof most previous liquor, which somctymes also they sccth at the fyre,
puttmR euer more vnto it, vntill it come to the strength of Aqua viljc, and troubicth the
l)raync both in wauour and drynkyn^, as docth most strong wyne. On an other braunchc of
the same tree, they geather lykcwyse suger, but not very sweetc. The tree beareth fruite A»r«»»h«t
continually : for there are scene on it both the olde anddryc fruites of the season paste, and ^Bunuiiiyi'i
also grcene fruites of the newe spring. It beareth not before the fifth yeere. These trees <•>« whole y..if
are foundc in the space or distaunce of about two hundred myles. They arc so greatly
esteemed, that in the myddest of most cruellest warres, it is not lawfull for any man to hurt
them, euen in the landes of their enemies. They Ivuc but to the age of *i."> yccres. They
prosper best in sandy grounde, and are set or planted as are Walnuttes. This region hath
also other fruites wherof they make good oyle. "!'•

HoKC they sowe Ryse. Cap. 16.

Tlley tyll the ground and plough it with Oxen as we doc : when the tymc approcheth to pimt,hiinof
snwe Ryse, they testifie the ioyfulncsae of that day with all sortcs of instrunientcs, singing •''«»■<""><««•
and dauncing. And in the way of their good speed, that all thinges may prosper the better,
(as they bclccue) they disguise ten men in apparcll, to the similitude of the three deny lies, Adiunceof
and daunce about them with all the noyse of theyr instruments. And thus celcbratyng the ^^J'^)'J|'J;^^^
festiuall day, they pray the deuylles good grace to sendc them plenticof Ryse. onti ricit tuoci

honoi et tntlos

Howe thcyr Phisitiansvisite sickefolkes. Cap. 17. «<c-

WHcn any merchaunt of the Idolaters is sore greened with any disease, and in mancr
iicare vnto death, then certaine of them, which they take for phisitians, railed to visite the
patient in this extremitie, come thyther in the silence of the nyght, apparelled lyke the -n, deuyii *
ileiiyll (as is aforesayde) rarying fyre stickes in theyr mouthesand handes. And there, with Ph'"""-
a nindde cryc and howlyng, and with the iangclyng of certayne instrumcnics, maketh so
horrible a noyse in the eares of the sicke man, that it were enough to make a whole man
sicke. And this is all the remedy and comfort which their Phisitians bring to their sicke such a PhiiiiUn
men, whiche is none other, then in the article of death to present vnto them the similitude »>«>> pWiiekf.
of him whom they (worse then deuylles) honour for Ciods vicare. Eyther meanyng per-
haj)pcs by this meanes, to call agayne the sicke man alm<»st dead. When the inhabitantes a rem«dic
liaue so ingorged them selues with so much meate, that they be sicke in theyr stomakc, they '^" '"'^'yn-
take the ponder of the rootcs of ginger, and makyng it in fourme of a strupe, wi«h p"*tyng
some liquor vnto it, drinke it all vp, and within three dayes recoucr theyr he' i.

or theyr Exchaungers, Bankers and Brokers. Cap. 18.

THcir cxrhauiigcrs and bankers, haue weyghtes and balances so little, that the boxc, with
the wcightrs and all that parteineth therto, passeth not the weight of an ounce, and are made fyae wfithin
so iiistc, that the weight of a heare will cast them. When they will trye true goldc from false, or *'"* '"'»"'^"-
base from fyne, they vse the touche stone, as we doe, but haue this more then we : They haue
a ball composed ( I know not wherof) and lyke vnto waxe, and when they have first rubbed the
goldc on the touche, they rubbelikewyse the touche on the sayd ball, where then thespoties of
the goldc remayne, and thereby they knowe a more exacte proofe of the finenesse or basencsse a maunge «-
of the gold. When the sayde ball is full of gold, they melt it in the fyre, and geather the gold E"™X Vync
which it had imbibed. These exchangers are but grosse witted men, and ignorant of the arte goUc from bur.
which they profe.sse. In buying and selling of merchandies, they vse this maner. They haue a
broker, whose heipe they vse in these aflayres. Therefore when the merchauntes come thyther, Pro»eneta.
then the broker hauyng with him a vayle or scarfe, taketh the seller by the ryght hande and a mptntitious
couercth it with the vayle. Then doth the merchant number on his fingers, from one vnto a " ^"'/mng''"'''"*

B b 2 hundred

'4 l

ill

t *'.* I'" * ' ■ i '■

188

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannm

Litl« paync or

hundred thousand, priully and secretly, and then the seller also with lyke numbryng of his
fingers and ioyntes, vntyll he come to the number of the price of his merchandies. Then the
broker goeth agayne to the buyer, and coueryng his handes with the vayle in lyke maner,
and numberyng of his fingers, certifieth him howe muche the seller demaundeth ior his ware,
then the buyer agayne, by feelyng and numbryng the brokers fingers, signifieth what he
will gyue the seller for his mcrchaundies. And thus the broker goeth to and fro, shcwyng
both theyr meanyng with silence vntyll they be agreed. They sell theyr cloth by measure,
but theyr spices and icwells by weyght.

Of the inhabitantes of Poliar and Hiraua, and how they nourysh theyr children.

Cap. 19.

coKfornourin ^^^ womcu wcanc theyr children when they come to the age of three monethes, and
of children. aftcrward nourysh them with Goates milkc and when in the morning they haue giucn
them milke, they tomble them in the sandes all foule and filthie, where they let them lye all
the day, and are so scorched of the Sunne, that farre of them seeme like Bufles Calues. I
newer sawe more deformed or filthie creatures: at euenyng, theyr mothers gyue them milke
ag.iyne. By this kindeof wylde bringing vp, they become men of marueylous dextcritie in
Funimbuii. swiftuessc of ruunyug, and other thinges of great agilitic, as to walke vppon ropes, swym-
myng, leapyng, vaultyng, and such lyke.

Of fourc footed beastes, foules, ani! birdes of Calecut. Cap. 20.

THere are many beastes and kyndes of birdes, as Lions, wilde Bores, Hartes, hyndcs,
Bufles, Kyne, Goates, and Elephantes : yet not all engendred there, but brought thyther
partly from other places. There are also parottes of sundry colours, as greene, purple and
other mixte colours. There is such multitude of them, that there are men appointed to keepe
them from the Ryse in the fieldes, as we vse to keepe Crowes from the corne. They are
marueylous crying and chattering, and of small price, as one solde for two pense or halfe a
souse. There are many other birdes much vnlyke to ours, which euery mornyng and euen-
yng make so great a noyse and sweete singing, that nothing can be more pleasant or de-
lectable to heare, and therfure the inhabitantes lyue in great pleasure, and in maner as it
were in an earthly Paradyse, in continuall spryng and florishyng of flouresj hearbcs and
trees, all the yeere long : besyde also the goodly and holsome temperatcnesse of the ayre,
being neither extreme hotte uor colde, but in maner in temperature of continuall spring
tyme. That region hath also Monkeys, which are there of small price. These are very
hurtfull to husbandmen, and such as line by tillage of the grounde : for they clyme the trees
of those goodly Indian Nuts and precious fruite, wherof we haue spoken here before, of the
which they make wyne, which these beastes do spill, and cast downc the vesselles that arc
made faste there to receyue the sayde liquor of wyne.

Of certayne Serpentes which are scene in Calecut. Cap. 21.

THere are certayne Serpentes, of such bignesse, that they are equal to swine, theyr
heads are much greater then the heads of Bores : they are foure footed, and of the length
of foure cubites, and are engendred in marishes. The inhabitantes say that they are without
poison, and doe not otherwyse hurt then by byting. There are furthermore three kindes of
Serpentes : of the which, some are of so strong poison, that if they drawe neuer so little blood,
present death foloweth, whiche thing chaunced oftentymes whilest I was there. Of these
kindes of serpentes, some are of the bignesse of an Aspe, and many much bigger. Of
these there are a very great number. The cause wherof (they say) is this : That the kyng
of Calecut, of a certaine foolishe superstition, maketh so great accompt of these Serpentes,
that he causeth litle houses or cottages to be made for them, belecuyng that they haue
vertue against ouer much raine, and ouerflowing of riuers, and therefore if a man kill any of
them, he is punished with death, as though he had killed a roan : and the like punishment
is also for him that killeth a cowe. They greatly esteeme these Serpents, bicause (as they
say) they came from heauen, and therfore they take them for h'eauenly spirites, which they

affirm Cy

Popingayes or
Parottes.

A great noyse
of billies.

An earthly
Paradyse.
Continuall
spring ami
temperate ayre.
Monkeys doe
much hurte.

Crocodiles with-
out poison.
Three kyndes
cf urpcntes.

Setpentet luper-
stiiiously keptc
and nourished.

Death for
kyllyng a Ser>
peat or * C«wc.

7)'avel5 to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUET^IES.

189

nffirmc, for that only with touching, they bring present death. And this is y cause that there

are many serpentes, being thus permitted by the commaundemeiit of the king. Thcst- Bycause thfy

.serpents know the Idolaters inhabitants from Mahumetans, or other strangers, and wil sooner^"'"'''"'''

venture vppon them. When I was there, I came into a house where ci/!;ht men layc dead

and greatly swolne, whiche the day before were killed by these serpents, yet doe they cs-

tceme it for good lucke, when going abrode, they meet with any of them. Snixmition.

Of the lightes and Lampes which are scene in the Pallace of the Kvng of

Calecut. Cap. 22.

IN the kynges Courte or Pallace, are diucrs mansions, and very many chambers, and there-
fore in the euenyng when it waxeth darke, there are scene innumerable burning Lampes.

In the hall of the pallace, are scene ten or twelue candelstickes laton, very fayre, and o f Goodly candci-
cunnyng workemanshyp, muche lyke vnto goodly fountaynes, and of the lieyght of a man. ""^^''"°'^'''"'""*
In echo of them are dyuers vesselles, and in euery vessel three candels lyght, of two spannes
length, and great plentie of oyle. In the first vessel!, are many Lampes made of cordes of P"'/*'""''
bombasine cotten. In the myddle part, is scene a narower vessel, also full of lampes and °^'"''
lightes. In the lowest vessell also the like number of lightes. But in another vessel in the innumerable
toppe of all the candelsticke, are in maner innumerable lightes, mainteyned with oyle, and ^||j|" '"''
haue matches of bombasine cotton. At the angles or corners of these candelsticks, arc the rh^ jjuyu ,„.
Images of deuils, whiche also holde the lightes that are in the kinges presence. When any "e'h ■" the
of the kinges blood dyeth, hee sendeth for all the Bramini or pricstes of his realme, andchambe'r.
commaund them to mourne for the space of a yeere. At theyr commyng, hee banqueteth Mourning the
them three dayes togeather, and at theyr departyng, giucth eche of them fyue peeces of"""*^*'"""
golde.

Of the great multitude of Idolaters which resort to Calecut, for pardon of their

sinnes. Cap. 23.

NOt farre from the citie of Calecut, is a certayne churche or Temple, compassed about The temple of
with water, lyke an Hand, builded after an auncient fashion, hauyng a double order of pil- J5"iie^" '"
lars, much lyke the Temple of sainct lohn de Fonte in the citie of Rome. In the middest
of the Temple, is an Altar of stone, where the people sacrifice to Idolles. Betweene the
pillars on hygh, is a Boate of the length of two pases, and full of oyle. Also roinide about
the Temple, are many Trees with an innumerable multitude of Lampes and lightes hangyng Trees behmgej
on them : The temple also it selfe, is as ful of lyghtes. The 25 day of December, resorteth w'*Limiws.
thyther an infinite multitude of people, from all partes, euen for the distance of 15 dayes
iorney, and especially of the priestcs, to whom parteyneth the order of sacrificeyng : But washing before
they do not sacrifice vnto theyr Idolles before they washe them sclues in the water whiche isHoiyoyieinthe
about the Temple. When the priestes assende to the place whereas in the boate fylled with neade of holy
oyle (as we haue said) they sprincle the people with the sayd oile, but annoynte onely their*""*
heads : Who beyng so annoynted, may then proceede to the sacrifice. On the one syde of
the altar, where they sacrifice, is scene a most horrible fourme of a deuyl, to whom the Sacrifice to tu
people, prostrate on the grounde, pray vnto, and then depart to theyr houses and countreys. g'uJies" o"/"
By this meanes they beleeue that all theyr sinnes are quite forgeuen them, and therefore for»ynn«.
the space of three dayes, they lyue there in safegarde, as if it were in Sanctuarie: and for Sanctuary.
that tyme, is it not lawfull for any man to arrest or trouble an other for what so euer i;JJ^th!iVieadeih
quarrell. Certainely I neuer saw in any place a greater multitude of people assembled, to perdition,cu.
except in the citie of Mecha.

•^ The syxt booke contaynyng the voyage of India.

Of the cities of Caicolon, and Colon. Cap. 1.
MY faythfull companyon Cociazenor the Persian (of whom I haue made mention here be-

>re\ rnnsvrlrrvniT thnt Viu tlio inomif'c nf urnrroa unA imminent rlaiinorefg thcrC WaS HOWC UO

sore warres and great The kyng of
citie had conspired ^°""J-„',he

with <'t'< "^ Calecut.

j£iif

-rt.

190

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannus'

Caicolon.

Pepptr
Christians of

Colon.

An armie of
10 thoubinde
horsmeni

P'irlet.

with the Mahumetans for the murther of eight and fourtic Portiigalos (whiche was done at
my beyng there) I thought it best in tyme to depart from thence. This facte so greatly moiied
the kyng of Portugalc to reuenge, that he hath since that tyme kepte hostile warres agaynst
them, and greatly consumed them, and defaced their citie. We therefore departyng from
thence by a very fayre ryuer, came to a citie named Caicolon, disfaunte from the citie of
Calernt fifiie leagues : the inhabitantes are idolaters. There is great aboundancc of Mer-
cltaundies, and great frcqucntation of merchauntes: the soyle beareth of the best kynde of
Pepper. The kyng of the citie is not very rych. In apparel and maners, they diner litle
from them of Calecut. Heere we founde certayne merchantes, Christians, named of the
li'nrThomas.''' P'""'^^-'''''"" "^ **'''"* Tliomas the Apostle. They obserue the fastyng of fourtie dayes, as we
do, and belceuc in the de.ith and resurrection of Christ, as we do, and therfore celebrate
Ea>ter after our mancr, and obserue other solemnities of our religion, after the manerof the
Greckrs. They iirc commonly named by the names of lohn, lames, Matthias, and Thomas.
Departyng from thence, in the space of three dayes iorney we came to an other citie, named
Colon, about Hs-entie myles distant from the aforesayde. The kyng is an idolater, and a
prince of great power, hauyng euer an armie of twentie thousande horsemen : there is a very
fayre port. Ncare to the sea syde the soyle beareth no corne, yet great aboundance of fruite
and pepper, as in the citie of Calecut : but by reason of the warres we remayned no longer
heere. Not farre from hence, we saw men fyshe for pcarles, in maner as we haue saydc
before of the citie and Ilande of Ormus.

Of Cyromandel, a citie of India. Cap. 'i.

Tile citie of Cyromandel is by the sea syde, and distant from the citie of Colon scucn
dayes saylyiig. The citie is very large, but without walles : it is subiecte to the kyng of
Narsinga, and is within the syght of the Hand of Zaylon. After that you are past the poynt
of Comcriii, the soyle beareth plentie of Ryse. This citie is in the way to diners great
regions and cities: It is inhabited with innumerable Mahumetans merchantes, rcsortyng
thyther from many countreys. There arc nospyces, but aboundaunce of fruite, as in Calecut.

I founde there certayne Christians, who affyrine that the bodye of sainct Thomas the
Apostle is there in a certayne place, about twelue myles from this citie, and also that there
are certayne Christians whiche rclygiously obserue the holy body : and that the Christians are
euyll vsed, because of the warres whiche the kyng of Portugall hath made agaynst the people
of these countreys. Also that the Christians are sometyme murthered secretly, lest it shoulde
be knovven to the kyng of Narsinga, who is in amitie and friendshyppe with the kyng of
Portugall, and greatly fauoureth the Christians. The cause whereof (as they saye) is also
partly by reason of a certayne niyracle, whiche was this. The Christians on a tyme had a
great conflicte with the Mahumetans, where one of the Christians beyng sore wounded on
his arme, resorted incontinent to the sepulchre of saint Thomas, where makyng his prayers,
and touchyng the holy place, his arme was immediately healed. Whereupon (as they saye)
the kyng of Narsinga euer after greatly fauoured the Christians. Here my companion soldo
muche of his wares. But by reason of the warres betweene the kynges of Narsinga and
Ternaseri, we determined to depart from hence. And therefore saylyng oucr a gulfe of 20
leagues with great daiinger, we arriued at an Hand named Zailon, very large, as containing
in circuite a thousand mvles.

Of the Ilande of Zailon, and the precious stones founde there. Cap. 3.

IN this Ilande are foure kynges of great dominion, by reason of the largenesse of the
Ilande. But because of the warres among them at my beyng there, I could not tarye long
to haue particular knowledge of the region and maners of the people. There ar^ in the
Ilande many Elephantes. There is also a very long mountayne, at the foote whereof, are
founde many precious stones, named Piropi, commonly called Rubines or Rubies. The mer-
chauntes iewelers, come by them by this meanes.

Fyrst, goyng to the kyng, they bye of hym a certayne measure of that grounde where
suche stones are founde, of the largenesse of a cubite euery way. The price of this, is fyue

pieeces

Zeilon.
Comerin.

The bodre of
Thomas the
Apostle.

The Icyng of

Narsinga frende

to the Portu-

galls.

A miracle at

the sepulchre of

S. Thomas.

Foute kynges in
one Hand.

Elephantes.

Uiibie stones.

,1 ! i

iii'/f''

sS^

p. '■

«1U i,

|||l

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

191

the

long

the

lare

ler-

here
fyiie
eces

How Cinamomr
is geathered.

A denne where
Adam lyued ia
penance.

Temperate re-
gion! vnder the
Equinoctiill
lyne.

SafTran au<j
Corallc:.

pieeces of gold : yet with suche condition, that in dyggyng the grounde, there is euer one
present for the kyng, to the ende that if in dyggyng be founde any of those precious stones precioui Stones
exceedyng the vreyght of 10 Caractes, the same to be reserued for the kyng. And the rest
that are founde vnder that wayght, to apparteyne to the merchaunt. Not farre from the sayd
mountayne, are founde diuers other sortes of precious stones, as lasynthes, Saphires, Topases,
and suche lyke. Harde by the mountayne, runneth a great ryuer. The soyle bryngeth foorth
the sweetest fruites that euer 1 sawe, especially clones, and apples of Assiria, of exceedyng
sweetnesse, and all other as in Calecut.

Of the tree of Cinamome in the Hand of Zaylon. Cap. 4.

THe tree of Cinamome is not much vnlike a Baye tree, especially the leaues, it bearcth
berryes as doth the Baye tree, but lesse, and whyte : It is doubtlesse therefore none other
then the barke of a tree, and is geathered in this maner. Eucry thyrde yeere they cutte
the branches of the tree. Of this, is great plenlie in the suyde Ilande. When it is fyrste
geathered it is not yet so sweete, but a moneth after when it waxeth drye. A certayne Ma-
iuimetan merchaunt of the Ilande, tolde my companyon, that there in the top of a hygh
mountayne is a certayne denne, whyther the inhabitantes of the countrey resort to praye, in
memorye of our fyrst father Adam, who (they saye) after he had synned by breakyng the
commaundement of God, lyued in that place in continuall penitence. Whiche thing they
alfyrme by this coniecture, that there is yet seene the print of the steppes of his feete, of
the length of almost two spannes. The inhabitantes are subiect to the kyng of Narsinga, and
payc hym tribute. The region is of temperate ayre, although it be situate in maner vnder
the Equinoctiall lyne. The people are of darke tawny colour. Theyr apparell, are certayne
single clokes of bombasine cloth, whiche they weare, bearyng euer the ryght arme out all
naked, as is the maner of all the Indians. They are no warrelyke men, ncyfher haue they
the vse of Iron. Here my companyon solde to the kyng muche SafFran and Coralles.

Of Paleachet, a citie of India. Cap. 5.

DEpartyng from the Ilande of Zailon, in three dayes saylyng we came to a citie named
Paleachet, subiectc to the kyng of Narsinga. It is a famous marte of ryclie merchaundicy.
and eripccially of iewels and precious stones, brought thythcr from Zailon and Pego. There
is also great plentie of spices. There dwell in the citie many Mahumetan merchauntcs,
where we beyng receiued in one of theyr houses, tolde hym from whence we came, and
what merchandies we brought, as SafTran, and Coralles, whereof he was very glad. The
citie hath great scarsnesse of corne, but plentie of Rysc : and in other fruitefulnesse of the
soyle and maner of the people, much lyke vnto Calecut. But because they were at dissen-
tion with the kyng of Tarnassari, and prepared warres agaynst hym, we departed from thence,
and in 13 dayes sayling, arryued at the citie of Tarnassari, a hundred myles distant.

Of Tarnassari, a citie of India. Cap. 6.

THis citie is not farre from the sea, and situate on a meetly equall grounde, well walled,
hauyng also a famous porte, and a very fayre ryuer runnyng on the North syde of the citie.
The kyng is an Idolatour, and a prince of great power. He keepeth continuall warre with
the kyngs of Narsinga and Bangella. He bryngeth to the feelde a hundred Elephantes, of Elephant...
the fayrest and byggest that euer I sawe. He hath an armie of an hundred thousand pen-Anarmieot
cionarie footmen and as many horsemen. Theyr weapons are swoordes, rounde targettes, *,nde footmen.
peltes, bowes, dartes, and iauelins of great and long reedes. They are also armed with
iackes made of bombasine cotton, wrought very harde, and closely couched. Theyr hoases
are walled, and cominent in order as ours are. The region bryngeth foorth wheate, bomba-
sine, sylke of sundrye kindes of colours, Brasile, and sundrye kyndes of fruites, muche
lyke vnto ours. Also apples of Assiria, Oranges, Limons, Citrons, Gourdes, Cucumbers etc. Fruitc;.

Of the wylde and tame beastes of the citie of Tarnassary. Cap. 7.

THis region bryngeth foorth many beastes both wyld and tame. The tame beastes are.

Oxen,

. (■, .1 1,1

* I

192

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vcrlomannus'

\}mM

r>ii

^'t * T' ? *■ "

I »

§m

%t' V

WjUe beutes.

Peicockes.

Falcons.
Popinsayet.

A great and
fayrc foule.

Cocke fyghting.

FtuitefuU Ootes.

Rammes with
bucket beroci.

Cinor.isyng of
»aimes.

Oxen, Kyne, Sheepc, Gotes, Hogges, Hartes, and Hyndes The wylde bcastes, are Lionn,
Wolues, Cattes of the mountayne, and also Muskecattes. In the fecldes are many Pca-
cockes, and those kynde of Egles whichc we call falcons. Popingays also or Parottes, mar-
ueyloiis fayrc, of the which some are white, and other of seiicn colours. There is likewise
great plentie of Hares, and Partriges and diners other sorte's of great byrdes liuyng by praye,
muche bygger then Eagles : for of the vpper parte of their beckes, they make haftes for
swoordes. The becke is of yelowe colour, distincte with crimsinc, very fayre and b6autifull
to be scene. But the byrde is blackc and purple, with certaynewhythe feathers intermyxt.
There are also the byggest Hennes and Cockes that euer I sawe : and therefore thinhabitant*
and Mahumetans which dwell there, take muche pleasure in Cockefyght, and laye great wa-
gers in that kynde of sporte. I haue scene them fyghte for the space of syxe houres, and
yet sometymes they kyll one an other at the fyrst stroke. There are certayne Gotes farre ex-
ceedyng ours in byggenes«e, and muche fayrer: these are so fruitefull, that at one byrth they
bryng forth foure young kyddes. There is so great abundance of beastes, that twelue wea-
thers are sold for one peece of golde to tlie value of a crowne or pistolet. There are also
certayne weathers or rammes with homes lyke vnto buckes homes, and are muche bygger
and fyercer then ours.

Theyr Buyffles are not so fayre as ours. The region hath also abundaunce of fyshe, very
bygge and good, and of small price. These people eate all maner of beastes, excepte kyne.
They eate on the grounde without carpet or other cloth : yet haue they vessells of woode ar-
tificially made. Theyr drynke is water and suger: theyr beddes are raysed from the grounde,
after the maner of ours. Theyr couche is of bombasine cotton, and the coueryngcs of sylkc.
Theyr apparell, is a cloke or mantell of bombasine or sylke, with one arme out, all bare.
But some of the merchauntes, weare inner vestures or shirtes of sylke or bombasine cloth.
They go all barefooted except the priestes, whiche weare on theyr heads certayne raylcs or
crestcs of two spanncs long, with a knotte on the crowne lyke vnto an Acorne, and sparkled
with goldc. They delyght also in earynges: but weare neyther rynges nor braslettes. The
colour of the inhabilantcs inclyneth to whyte, for the temperature of the climate or ayre, is
colder then at Calecut. Theyr maner of tyllage, and geatheryng of fruite, is lyke vnto ours.

Of the maner which the kyng of Tarnassarie vseth, when he permitteth his wyfe
to be defloured of white men. Cap. 8.

THis kyng vseth not to geue his wyfe to the priestes to be defloured, as doth the kyng of
Calecut, but committeth this facte to whyte men, as to the Christians or Mahumetans, for he
wyll not suffer the Idolaters to do this. The inhabitantes lykewyse haue not to do carnally
with theyr wyues, before some whyte man, of what so euer nation, haue fyrst the breakyng
of them.

The maner of burnyng dead bodyes in the citie of Tarnassary. Cap. 9.

\VHen the kyiijj; or any of the priestes or gentlemen dye, their bodies are burnt in a prcat
fyre made of a pile of wood : then all the whyle they sacrifice vnto the dcuyll. Their
ashes are reserued in certayne pottes of the earth of Samos, and buryed in theyr houses.
They sacrifice in y shadows of trees as do they of Calecut. Whilst the bodyes are burnyng,
they cast in the lyre all maner of sweete sauoures, as Aloes, Myrre, frankensense, Storar,
Sandals, Corall, and innumerable suche other sweete gummes, spices, and trees. These
make the fyre muche greater, encreasyng the flame by reason of theyr gummositie : in the
meane tyme also they ncuer ccasse to make a great noyse with Trunipettes, Pipes, Drummes,
Tambarells, and suche other instruments, not muche vnlyke the ceremonies which in olde
tyme were vsed among the gentiles in canonisyng theyr saintes. Furthermore, duryng these
funeralls, there are 15 or 20 disguised lyke deiiyls, whiche continually waike rounde about
the fyre, with many strange gesticulations, after the maner of reioycyng. The wyfe also of
the burned kyng or priest, standeth by the fyre alone, without the companye of any other
woman, lamentyng and beatyng her breast. These ceremonies are done the seconde watche
of the nyght. Within fyfteene dayes after, the wyfe biddeth to a banquette all her

husbande."

Siiiil

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

193

The wyfe hum-
eth her sclfe af-
ter the deith of
her hutband.

Daunayng de-
uyllci.

Sacrifice to the
deuyll.

The hygh way
CO hell.

Great respecte of
fame and ha>
neitie.

hushandrH kynsfolkcs, and when they come at a dayc appoynted, they go al to the place
where her hiisbande was burnt, and at the same houre of the nyght : then commeth foorth
the wyfe, garnyshed with all her iewells and best apparell, vsyng therein the heipe of all her
kynsfolkes. In the same place is made a pytte, no deeper then may serue to receiue the wo-
man : This pytte, is sette about with rcedes, and the reedes are couered with a cloth of sylke,
that the pytte may not be scene. In the meane tyme also a fyre is made in the pyt, with
sundry sortes of sweete woods : and the wyfe, after that her gestes haue well banqueted, eat-
eth very muchc of a certayne mcate whiche they call Betola, whiche troubleth her mynde as
though she were halfe madde or drunken. In the meane whyle, a great companye of suche
theyr musitions as we haue spoken of before, apparelled like deuyls, with burnyng stickes
in theyr mouthes, daunce fyrst about the pytte, and then make sacrifice to the great deuyl
Deumo. The wyfe also in the meane season runneth vp and downe lyke a madde body, with
countenaunces of dauncyng and reioycyng. Then turnyng her to them that are disguised
lyke deuyls, she commendeth her selfe to theyr deuoute prayers, desiring them for her to
make intercession to the great Deumo, that alter this transitorie lyfe, it may please him to
receyiie her into the company of his Angelles. After the ceremonies are fynished, shee taketh
her leaue of ail her kynsfolkes, whiche stande rounde about her, and neare vnto the pitte,
then with sodaine outrage and a loude crye lil'tyng vp her handes, she hurleth her selfe into
the burnyng pit, which done, her kynsfolkes, standing neare vnto the fyre, couer her with
litle fagottes of sweete wood, hurlyng also thereon much pitche, that the bodie may the
sooner be con^^umed : and except the wyfe shoulde doe this after the death of her husbande,
she should eucr after be esteemed an cuyll woman, be hated of all men, and in fine, in
danger to be slayne both of her owne kynsfolkes and her husbandes, and therefore shee
goeth to it the more willingly. The kyng him selfe is present at these pompes: which are
not commonly vsed for all men, but only for the kynges, priestes, and noble men.

or the iustice which the inhabitantes of Tarnassari obserue. Cap. 10.

IF any kyll a man, he is adiudged to death, as in the citie of Calecut. Of ginyng and re-
ceyuyng, iustice is ministred, as proofe may be made by writing or witnesse. They wryte Writ)ii|.
in parchement lyke vnto ours, and not in barkes of trees as doe they of Calecut. When
they contende for any thyng, they resorte to the gouernour of the citie, to whom the kyng
hath giuen full aucthoritie of iurisdiction : and if any merchaunt straunger dye there with-
out cliildren, he may make no inheritour, but all his goods is due to the kyng: when the
kyng is dead, his chyldren succeede in the kyngdome. When the inhabitantes dye, theyr
goods are equally diuided among theyr chyldren.

Howe the Mahumetans are buried in the citie of Tarnassari. Cap. 11.

Wllen any of the Mahumetan merchantes dye, they are embaulmed with many spices and
sweete gummes, and theyr bodies put in Coffins of wood: with chiefe regarde that theyr
heades lye towarde the citie of Mecha, which is from thence Northwarde. Mecha.

Of the dyuers sortes of theyr shyppes or other vesselles. Cap. 18.

THey haue Brigantines very shalowe, and with flatte bottoms, which drawe but small depth
of water. Some also vse foistes, hauyng two or double forepartes, and two Masters, and
are open without any couerturc. There is an other kynde of shyppes of burden : Of the
which, some beare the burden of a thousande tunnes. In these they carry Botes and other
»>mall vesselles, to the citie of Melacha, when they goe for spices.

Of Bangella, a great and riche citie of India, and of the great power of the kyng.

Cap. 13.

IT is now tyme to speake further of our viage, and of our proceeding therein. Therefore
packyng vp our wares, and committyng vs to the sea, we came in twelue dayes saylyng to a
citie named. Bangella, distant from Tarnassari seuen hundred myles. This citie in fruitful- The dtie of
nesse and plentifulnesse of all thinges, may in maner contende with any citie in the worlde. b«"8«ii»-

C c The

...pi

I;. I :,,,;'

' ' t ' ■* il

194

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertotnannus'

•Spicci and lilkc.

Richc mcr
chantci.

Christiiiu.

Lignum Alors.

Laserpitium.

Bclzoi.

Castoreum.

CluUtiaiiPrinces

»Bder the great

CbamofCabay.

An wmyof two Tlic kyiigdome and dominion of this citie is exccedyng larj;c. The kyng hath an army of two
und'men**'"" hundfcd thousandc fuotemen and horsemen Mahiimetans, and is of so great power, that he
kcepeth sore warreswith the kyng of Narsinga. The region is soplentiftill in all thynges, that
there lacketh nothyng that may serue to the necessarie vscs or |)leasiircs of men : for there
are in maner all sortes of beastes, good and holesome fruites, and plentie of corne : Spices
also of all sortes. Lykcwysc of bombasine and sylke, so exceedyng great nboiindance, that
in these thinges, I thinke there is none other region comparable with this, and therefore here
are very many rich merchantes, for enery yeere departe from hence, fyftie shyppes laden
with clothe of bombasine and sylkc, into the cities and countrcys of Turchia, Syria, Arabia,
Persia, Ethiopia and India. There are also many mcrchaunt straungers, whiche bnye prc-
Prtcioui nonet, cious stones of the inhabitauntes.

Of certayne Christian merchiiuntes, which exercise mcrrhandies there. Cap. 14.

HEre we founde many Christian merchantes which were borne in the citie of Sarnaii, as
they tolde vs. They resorte thyther, as to a great marte, with cloth of silke and wood of
Aloes, and Laser, which yeldeth the sweete gumme named Laserpitium, commonly called
Belzoi, beyng a kynde of myrre. They bryng also Castoreum, and diners other sweete sa-
uours. The sayde Christians tolde vs also, that there be in that kyngdome, many Christian
Princes, subiect to the great Cham, of the citie of Cathai. The apparell of these Christians,
was Chamlet, loose and very full of pleytcs, and lyned with bombasine cloth. On thcyr
heads they weare certayne coppen or sharpc poynted cappes, of two hnndfuU hygh, of
scarlet colour. They are white men. They acknowledge one God in Trinitie, and are bap-
tised after our maner. They beleeue the doctrine of the Apostles and Euangelistcs. They
wryte backewarde, after the maner of the Armenians. They celebrate the birth and burial!
of Christ, and obserue fastyng the fourtie dayes of Lent as we doe. They celebrate also
certayne sainctes d.ayes. They vse no shooes, but weare loose hose of silke, garnished with
dyuers Jewels. On theyr fingers they weare Ringes, with stones of incomparable splendour.
At meate, they vse no table, but eate lying on the grounde, and feede of all sortes of (leshe.
They affyrmed also, that there are certayne Christian kynges (whiche they call Rumi) of
great power, confynyng or borderyng on the dominions of the great Turke. When these
Christians had scene the precious merchaimdies of my companion, and specially a great
braunche of Corall, they earnestly desired him to goe with them to a certayne citie, where
they promised him that by theyr procurement he shoulde sell his ware at great auantage, if he
would buye Ruble stones, and that he might therby easily geat aboue ten thousande peece.-*
of golde : Affirming that those kynde of stones were of muche greater value in Turkey.
Whereunto my companion answered, that he would goe with them if they would departe in
shorte space. We will (sayde they) departe euen to morrow : for here is a foist whiche de-
parteth hence to morowe, and taketh her viage to the citie of Pego, whyther we de.^yre to
bryng you. My companion consented the rather to hid request, bicause he was aduertised
that he should fynde there certayne Persians his countreymen. Therefore with this good
companie departyng from the citie of Bangella, and saylyng ouer a great gulfe lying on the
South syde, wee came at the length to the citie of Pego, a thousande myles distaunt from
Bangella.

Of Pego, a famous citie of India. Cap. 15.

THe citie of Pego, is not farre from the sea, and is situate vppon the continent or fyrme
lande. A ver\ fayre ryucr runneth by the citie, by the which merchandies are caried to and
fro. The kyng of the citie, is an Idolater. The inhabitauntes, in apparell, liuyng, and
maners, are lyke vnto them of Tarnassari : but of whiter colour, as in a colder region,
somewhat lyke vnto ours. Tlie citie is walled and the houses buyldcd, and very fayre, of
stono and lyme. The kyng hath a myghtie armie both of footemen and horsemen, and hath
in his armie Pensionarie Christians, b. rne euen in the same region. Theyr wages, is euery
moiieth sixe of those peeces of gnlde which tliey cal Pardaios, and is payde then? out of the
Kynges treasury. They haiie abundance of corne and flesh, an in Calecut. Here are but

fewe

ChristiahPrinres
ncarethcTurkes
dominions.

Corall of great

pryce.

Rubies.

Idolaters.
White men.

Christians.

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUIES.

193

fewe Elcpliaiifes, yet other beastes and foiilc'', as in Calcriit. Here are also trees for
buyldyng, and to make shvppcs, the fayrost that euer I sawe: also cxrcedyng great Recdcs, Great Rtedci.
as byg as the bodie ol" a gnissc man, or a tubbc. Here are likevvysc siuit Cattes, or MiiskcMujkeC«tei.
Cattcs and of small pryce, a^ three for one peece of golde. There are fewe merchandycs
in this citie, except precious stones, and specially Rubies: which neuerthclesse are brouiihtP«"<»u««oii"
thyther from another citie named Capela, beyng towarde the East thirtie daycs iourney, J," prTa'."''
where arc als) founde precious stones named Smaragdes or Emeraldes. When we arryued atsnuraciMor
Pego, the kyng was absent fyue and twentic dayes iourney, in a place where he kepte^"""^''"'
warre agaynst the Kyng of Aua. But shortly after, he returned with great tryumphc for the
victorie which he had agaynst his encmie.

Of the munificence, humilitie, and great richesse of tlie Kyng of Pego. Cap. 16.

THis kyng vseth not suche pompes and magnificence as doeth the kyng of Calecut : But
is of suche humanitie and affabilitie, that a chylde may come to his presence and speake with
him, being neuerthelesse very ryche. It is in maner incredible to speake of the ryche Great riches of
lewclles, precious stones, pearles, and especially Rubies, which he weareth, surmounting in |,'*';"",J"o^„.
value any great citie. His fingers be full of Ringes, and his armes all full of braselcttes of
golde, all beset and moste gloriously shinyng with suche precious stones. His legges also
and feete beyng garnyshed in lyke maner. His eares lykewyse are so laded with suche
lewelles, that they hangdowne halfe a bandfuU. The splendour or shinyng of these lewelles a kyng ihinjnj
is so great, that if one see the king in the darke night, he shineth in maner as it were the *",^,""'''''
beames of the sunne. At good opportunitie the Christian merchantes spake to the kyng,
and certified him that my companion had brought sundry merchaundies of great estimation.
The kyng answered, that they shoulde come to him the day folowyng, bycause that, that The kyng jam.
present day, he shoulde sacrifice to the deny 11. Therefore the nexte day he sent for vs.^^u '*'"''"'*"
willyng that my companion should bryng with him suche merchandies as he had. The which
the kyng toke great pleasure to behold, and not without good cause : for among other
thinges, there were two great branches of corrall, of such bignesse and fayrene^.se, as noConiL
man there had euer scene the lyke. The kyng astonished at these thinges, asked the Chris-
tians, what men we were. They answered that we were Persians. Then sayde the kyng to
his interpretour, aske them if they will here make sale of theyr merchandies. To whom
then my companion sayde thus. Most honorable Prince, all these are yours, take them, and
vse them at your pleasure. Then sayde the kynge agayne. These two yeeres past I haue
kepte continuall warre with the kyng of Aua, and therfore my treasure of money is con-
sumed : But if you ^\\\\ bargaine by the way of exchaunge, for precious stone(>, and espe-
cially Rubies, I will so dcale with you, that it shall not repent you. Then sayde my com- The kyng a«d
panion to the Christians : I pray you gyue the kyng to vnderstande, that I desire none other contTnde'or
thyng then the beneuolence of his highnesse, and therefore that I desire him to take of my Uberaiitie.
merchaundies what lykcih him best, and tliat without money, or permutation of any other
thing. When the kyng heardc this, he answered, that he had hearde by reporte that the Commenti«io»
Persians were very curtuous and liberall men, and that he neuer knewe so liberall a man as"^'*''^""*"'
this was, and swore by the head of the deuyll, that by this occasion he would proue which
of them two should be most liberall, and therefore callyng vnto him a Page of his chamber,
commaundcd him to fetche a casket of precious stones. This casket was of the breadth ofA casket fuU of
a spanne and a halfe, cuery way square, and full of Rubies: hauyng also within it sundry^"'''""
receptacles or boxe*, where the stones were sorted in order. When he had opened the
casket, he commaunded it to be set before the Persian, willing him to take of those pre-
cious as many as he would. But my companion the Persian, yet more moued to liberalitie
by this the Kinges munificence spake to the kyng these woordes, O most honourable Prince,
I perceyue your beneuolence to be suche towarde me, that I sweare by the holy head of
Mahumet, and all the mysteries of his religion, whereunto I am professed, that I freely and
gladly gyue vnto you all my merchaundies : for I doe not trauayle about the worlde for
^aynes of richesse, but rather of desyre to see the worlde. In the which thereto, I neuer
founde any thyng wherein I so greatly reioyced, as in the beneuolence and fauour which

C c 2 your

.i ■<»

!'i

Kir

\wi

li*'

i,j'tiii

19G

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

rfr/omflnnui'

A Princely
lyftc.

Ctlouts.

A ryutr of y
myles brodc.
The llande of
Sumetra or
Tapi obana>

J 'our tnaicstie hath shewed me. The kyng answered, W) It thou yet contend^ with ince in
iberalitie ? And with those woordes, tuoke out of the casket, (oF cucry boxc some) as
many Rubies as he coulde holde in hishandc, and with this rcwnrde (whiche was two hun-
dred Rubies) shewed his kyngly munificence and beneuolcncc tuwardc the Persian, saying
vnto him. Take these, I pray thee, for thou shalt not refuse them. lie gaue also to eche of
the Christians two Rubies, which were woorth a thousand crowncs to be soldc : but those
which he gaue the Persian, were esteemed woorth a hundred thousand crownes. This Kyng
therefore doubtlessc in munificence passeth all the kynges of the worlde, and in mancr no
lesse in richesse : for he receyucth yeerely of his siibiectcs two hundred thousand peeccs of
golde. This region bryngeth foorth all sortes of colours, and grent plentie of bombasine
nndsilke: bnt these great riches, the kyng consumeth on his souldicrs. Not long after,
newes were brought that the kyng of Aua was commyng with a myghtie force, whom the
kyng in maner with an innumerable army went to resist. Here also in certaync places we
sawe women burned, after the maner of Tamassari.

Of the citie of Melacha, and the great ryucr of Gaza. Cap. 17.

Within two dayes after, taking ship, we sailed westwarde towarde the citie of Melacha,
and arryued there in eight dayes saylyng. Not farre from this citie, is a famous ryucr
named Gaza, the largest that cuer I sawi-, conteyning '<25 myles in bieadtli. On the other
syde, is secne a very great llande, whiche they call Sumetra, and is of old writers named
Taprobana. The inhabitauntes say that it conteyncth in circuite fvue hundred myles. When
wee came to the citie of Melacha (which some call Melcha) \vc were incontinent comm.iunded

Chilli or China, to come to the Soltan, being a Mahumctan, and subiecte to the great Sohan of Chini, and
payeth him tribute. Of whiche tribute, they say the cause is, that more then fourescore
yeeres past, that citie was buylded by the kyng of Chini, for none other cau«c, then only
for the commoditie of the hauen, being doubtlesse one of the fayrest in that Ocean, and
therefore it is lykely that many shyppcs should resorte thythcr for merchandies. The region
is not cuery where fruitcfull, yet hath it sufficient of whcate and fleshe, and but little wood.
They haue plentie of fuules, as in Calecut: but the Popingays are much fayrer. There is
also founde Sandaluni, and Tynne. Lykcwyse Elephantes, horses, sheepe, kync, Pardalles,
Bufles, Peacockes, and many other bcasfes, and foules. They haue but few fruites, and

Spicei and siUie. therefore there is no merchandies to be soldc but spices and silke. The j)eople are of
blackyshe ashe colour. Theyr apparcll is like to the Mahumetans of the citie Memphis,
otherwise named Cayr, Alchayr, or Babylon of Nilus. They haue very large foreheades,
rounde eyes, and flatte noses. It is dangerous there togoe abrode in the night, the inhabi-
tantes are so giucn to murder and robbery, for they kill one another lyke doggcs, and tliere-
fore the merchantes remayne in their shyppes all the nyght. The people are fierce, of
euyll condition, and vnruly, for they will obey to no gouernour, being altogcather giuen to
sedition and rebellion, and therefore say vnto theyr gouernours, that they will forsake the
counfrey, if they stryue to bynde them to order, whiche they say the more boldly, bycausc
they are neare vnto the sea, and may easily departe into other places for these causes, we
spent no long tyme here : but hyring a Brigantine, we sayled to the llande of Sumatra,
where in fewe dayes sayling, we arryued at a citie of the llande named Pyder, distaunt about
fourescore myles from the continent or firme lande.

Of the llande of Sumatra, or Taprobana. Cap. 18.

WE haue sayd here before that the llande of Sumatra, conteyncth in circuite fyue hun-
dred myles. The citie where we fyrst arryued in the Hand, is named Pider, hauyng a very
fayre port. I beleeue veryly this llande to be Taprobana, as also most autours do agree. It
is gouerned by foure kynges, and all Idolaters, in fashions, apparell, and maner of lyuyng,
not muche differyng from the kyng of Tarnassari. The women burne them selues after the
death of theyr husbandes, as do they of whom we haue spoken before. They are of whitinhe
roloure, with large foreheades, rounde eyes, and of brasyll colour. They weare theyr henre
long, and haue very brode and flatte noses and arc of despicable stature. lustice is there

well

Popingayes,

Sandalum.

Tyn.

Vnr\tly People.

Anarchia.

The Uanile of
Saniatra or
Samutr.'.

Foure liynges ii
one Hand.
Women burne
them seluei.

lutticc.

or
w
oi
m

I'*!'

pllj'lli^'

ilH

ji i

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

197

well obscnied. Tlicir inony is of goldc, sylucr, ami lynnc. The goltlc coync, hnih on the t^nyn*"*™"/"'
one sydc, the graucn head of a deny II : and on the other syde, a wagon or charrctte drawcii and'ynnc."'
with Ulcphantes). The sylucr inony hath the lyke coyne : tennc of these, arc valued for F-icpii»iK««.
one of golde. Hut of the lyiine coyne 25 make tlie value of one of goldc. Here arc scene
more Elephantes, bygjier, ami fayrer then in any other place that I haue been. This people
hath no experience of warrcs, but are geuen altogcather to gayncs and mcrchandics. They
are hospitable, and enferteync strangers frendly.

Of an other kynde of Pepper. Also of «ylke, ami the precious gummc called

Laserpitium, or Belzoe. Cap. ID.

IN the saydc Hand is a kynde of long Pepper in great abundance. Pepper in theyr Lo^b P'pp*'-
language, is called Molaga.and is much longer and whiter then that which is brought hither :
yet lighter and hotter : it is sold there not by weight, but bi measure as wheat with vs. It
is there in so great abundaunce, that there is carycd from hence yeercly twentie shyppes
laden with Pepper. This is carycd to Cathay, and is there well solde, by reason of the Cathay or Cat.ii
coldnesse of the region. The tree that beareth this kynde of pepper, hath a greater body,'" '"*'""■
and larger and flatter leaucs, then the pepper tree of Calecut. This llande beareth also Syike of tin
plentic of sylke, whiche for the most parte, is made after our inaiier. There is another sorte, '"""
which the trees bryng foorth of them selues in the wooddes and feeldes, without menage or
drcssyng : but this is woorse then the other. Here also groweth the Laser tree, whiche
bryngeth forth the precious gumme named Lascrpitium or BeiztE, as the inhabitantes and ^-^J'^"""" "
mcrchauntes tolde vs : but because I haue not scene it, I 'vil speake no more of it.

Of three sorfcs of the tree of Aloes, ''ap. 20.

FOrasmuch as varietie dclightefh, and the wel disposed miiid can neuer be satiate with
contemplation of the marueylous and sundry woorkes of God in nature, thcrfore that the
reader may take the more pleasure, or at the least fcele Icsse tediousnesse in the reading of
these thyngs, I haue thought good to wry te somewhat more of suche thynges as I haue scene.
You shall therefore vnderstande, that there is no great plentie of true Aloes or Laserpitium Liiie tme aiom
brought to vs, because it is brought hythcr from the furthest partes of the worlde. Vnder-" ""?«'"""•
stande furthermore, that there are three kyndes or sortes of Aloes, greatly difteryng in good-
nesse. The perfectcst, they call Calampat, whiche the afore-saide llande bryngeth not forth :
But it is brought from the citie of Sarnau, not farre from the place where the sayde Aloes Samau.
Calampat is engendred, as the Christian merchauntes or companions tolde vs. There is an
other kynde of Aloes, named luba (orLuba) brought hytherby thisryuer, I knowe not from
whence. The thyrd kynd, is named Bochor. The saide Christian merchants tolde vs also, that
none of the fyrst and best kynde of Aloes is brought vnto vs, because it commeth from the c.ith,ny and
kyngdomes of Cathay, Chini, Macym, Sarnau, andGrauay, countreys mucherycher then ours, °,'^y"''''' """'
hauyng muche greater abundance of golde, and kynges of great power and rychesse then are
ours: And also that the sayde kynges take great pleasure in such kynd of sweete sauoures,
and vse them niuchc more then our princes do : So that by this meanes, the true kynde of
Aloes is woorih euen in the citie of Sarnau, tenne crownes the pounde weyght.

How the gummes of Aloes and Laserpitium, are proued. Cap. 21.

WE came by certcine experience to the knowledge of the two sweete gummes of Aloes
and Laserpitium, as we were tauglit by the sayd Christian merchants our companyons : for
one of them had a certayne portion of tiicm both, and had of that best sorte of Aloes, named
Calampat, about the quantitie of two ounces: of the which, my companion takyng a peece
in his hande, and holdyng it fast and close for the space tiiat one may thryse saye the Psalme
of Miserere mei Deus, the Aloes thereby beyng heat, at the openyng of his hande gaue a Aloes of very
sauourc of incredible sweetnesse, and suche as I neuer felte of any other thyng. He tooke '"""^ """"'•
also of the common Laserpitium or BelzcE, the quantitie of a Walnutte, and agayne halfe arhe proofeof
pounde of that whiche commeth from the citie of Sarnau, to compare the one to the other : Lastrpitium.
And so puttyng them both in sundry chafyng dyshes, with burnyng coles in a close chamber,

that

;.;*

1 '

''ilA c

l'^^ I

.); i*,J

-■■'J

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■ ,>!

-V^

^ n

^fV

,|«i':>.,,.l|i!ff

'it

r.l ^'

'4'
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0r[

108

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomaniius'

l.ien, mer-
•thaoKi «»c.

Swymiueri.

Orcit tMth of
Elcphantet.
Orcit Serpents.

thai whiche was of the byffgncsMC of a Wahiutc, in swcctc sauoiir far exceeded the other
which woH halfo a pnunde in weight, and wouldo doiihtlrssc sn hniie done though it had ben
of two fionndc weight. In tliis rejjion i'* also foundc Lncra, or Larta, wherewith in made a
shynyng rcdde colour. It is the giiuimc of a tree, not nuichc vnlyjic our Walnuttc tree.
There are al-.o mindryc kindcs of bcastes, siichc as we haiie.

Of diners mcrchaiitcs in the llandc of Sumatra, or Taprobana. Cap. 22.

IN the sayde citic of Pyilcr, in the llandc of Sumatra, I .sawe many curious workcs, very
artificially wrought, a.s fync Cophincs or baskets, garnished >vith goldo, nulde for two crowned
the pcecc : I sawe aUo there in one streatc* fyue hundred cxchaungcrs : there are so many
bankers. Hither, a.s to a famous mart, resort innumerable merrhantcs. The inhabitantcs
wcare ManteU of sylke, and Syndone, made of Bombasine. The region hath plentie of
^liyppMof J wood, and trees, very commodious to make such shippcs as they cal Gnnchos, hauyng thrcr
Mfaunje fjthion. injmjgj,^ j^yQ fQj.j, p^rtcs, and also two sternes or goucrnal.s on both sydcs. When tlity sayle
in the Ocean, and haue nowe gcuen wyndc to the ."ayle.s, yf afterwarde it shal be needefull
to haue more sayles, not changyng the fyrst, they go backward without turnyng the ship,
and v.syng only one mast. They are most expert swymmcrs, and haue skyll to make fyre in
an instant. Thcyr houses arc of stone, and very lowe. In the place of coueryngesor tyle.«,
they vse the skynncs or hydcs of a fyshe, called Tartaruca, foundc in that sea of India. I
saw so luigious a hydc of this monster, that it wayed a hundred and three poundcs. I sawe
there also great teeth of Elephantes, a<! one waying three hundred and thirtie pounde weight.
Lykewise serpentes of incredible bygne.-ssc, and muche bygger then in Calccut. Here our
companion.s, the Christian merchants, for afTayrcs they had to do other waye.s, woulde haue
taken their leauc of vs. Then my companion the Persian spake vnto them in this maner ;
Although (my frcndes) I am not your countreyman (yet bcyngall brethren, and the chyldren
of Adam) I take God to witne.sse that I loue you as yf you were mine ownc brethren, be-
gotten of the same parenfcs : and therfore, con.syderyng how frendly we haue kept company
togeatlier so long tyme, I assure you I can not, without great grecfe of mynde, beare your
departyng from vs. And although you would departe from me, wyll you now forsake this
my companion, a man of your fayth and religion ? Then sayde the Christians, howe hath
this man, beyng no Persian, receyued our fayth ? Then sayde my companion, Trucly he is
now a Persian, and was once bought at lerusalem. When the Christians hearde the holy
name of Ieru.salem, they lyfted vp theyr handes to heauen, and prostratyng them sclues on
the groundc, kyssed it thryse : then rysyug, they asked him of what age I was, when I was
brought from lerusalem. Of the age of fyfteene yeeres sayde my companion. Then sayde
they agayne, he may then remember his countrcy. Then aunswered my companion, he dooth
remember it in dcede, and I haue taken great pleasure of suche thynges as he hath tolde me
of his countrye. Then sayde the merchauntes. Although of long time wc haue desyred to
returne to our conntrey, beyng more then three hundred myles hence, neuerthelesse at
your request we wil beare you company to the place whyther you dcsyre to go. Prcparyng
therefore all thynges parteyning to the voyage, we tooke shyppyng, and in 15 dayes saylyng,
came to an Ilande named Bandan.

Of the Ilande of Bandan, where Nuttcmegs and Mace arc founde. Cap. 23.

IN this voyage to the Ilande of Bandan we founde about 20 Ilandes, some inhabited, and
An«rchi». somc dcsartc. This Ilande is very saluage, barren, and very lowe, and conteyneth a hun-
dred myles in circuite. It hath neyther kyng nor gouernour, but is inhabited with a rascall
LawiMK people, and beastly kynde of men, lyuyng without lawe, order, or gouerment. They haue lo^ve
houses, or rather cotages of wood, rysyng but litle from the ground. Their apparell is cnely
a sherte. They go bareheadded and barefooted, with theyr heare hangyng downe, and hau*
brode and rounde forheaddes. They are of coloure inclynyng to whyte, and of despicable
ijoiateit. stature. They are Idolaters, and woorse then are the inhabitantcs of Calecut, called Poliar,
and Hyrana. They are also of dull wytte and litle strength, and in kynde of lyuyng alto-
geather beastly. The soyle bcareth no fruites, e.\ccpte onely Nuttemegges: the botlye of

the

The n.inie of
Hienijalem m
nuerence.

Travili t9 the Eanl.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIFS.

I9f

the Niittcme^gc tree, is lykc to the boclye of a Poachc tree, and hath lykc brnnrhts and Tti» Nwit-
leaves, but the Icauos are somewhat narower. Bcfijrc these Nutter come to rypenesse, the""'*""*"
\facc (loryshcth lyke vnio a rcchle rose: but when the Niitte waxeth rypc, the Mace closeth m*"-
it sc'Ifc and embraseth the Niific* and nhel, and are so gealhercd togeather without order or
di-itribution, by scaniblyn^, rati Im that catche inay, for that al things arc there common. '^'•'''Tng**
The tree yeeldeth Irnitc of his owne friiitcrulncsMC, without grafTyng or cuttyng, or any """""'"•
other art. These Nuftc-i are hoUc by weyght, and 20 poiindc wcyght, is solde fof the vaUic Nuiifmtu„„i
of three souses (that is) halfe a Carhne, of such money as is vsed in Calecut. This people""' *""*'
hath none other order of iustice, then by the lawe of nature, and therforc they lyue without "i"'" '»* »* Na-
such contentions as procccde of thyne and mync. When we had been heere three daycs,
my companion asked the Christian merchantcs, where was the region whiche brought foorth
CIoucs: They aunswcred, that Clones were founde in an llandc named Mon«)ch, sixc dayes
saylyng from thence. Thcrfore proccedyng on our voyage, we came thythcr in the space of
scucn daycs.

Of the ilande of Monoch, where CIoucs growe. Cap. S-f. Thcie Uandw ot

THis liande is very narowe, yet in length exceedelh the Ilande of Bandan. The inhabi- Kax'and^n
tnuntcs are much worse then they of Bandan : fir, were it not only for mans shape, they <hfiiii««>>iMiif
ehould in maner differ nothyng from bcastes. Their colour is whylcr, and tlie region colder. MinucodirCoi
This Ilande bryngeth foorth Clones, as do also many other litle and desolate Ilandcs 'y'"g r,''^°''^'[^^', ,„,
about it. The body of this tree, is not much vnlyl^e the Boxe tree, and hath Icaucs lyke
vnto the Cinamome tree, but rounder, and almost lyke the Bay leafe. When they waxe
rypc, the inhabitauntes beate them downc with reedes, laying fyrst mattes vnder the trees.
The grounde is sandie, and the region so low vnder the Horizon, that the North starrc can
not be scene there. They sell Clones At the double price that Nutmegs are solde, and scl ciouf s dmcr
t!iem by measure: for tlicy are vtterly without knowledge of weyghtes. then hjuimtni.

Of the Hand of Bornei. Cap. 25.

AS we were togeather talkyng of our voyages, the Christian merchantes spake vnto me in
this maner. Onr dearly beloucd freendc, forasmuch as by the grace of God, we arc come
thus farre in s;ifetie, yf it please you, wc wyl go see one of the fayrest Ilandes in the worlde,
and very ryche, and suche as I beleeue you neuer sawe : but we must fyrst go to an other The iiandc o*
Hand named Bornei, for there shal we haue bygger vessels : for we must nccdes p.isse a

Oynu.1.
Bornei.

dcepe and rough sea. Then sayde my companion, do as shall please you, for we are con-
tented to go with you. Therefore hyryng a greater foyst, we directed our iorney to that
Ilande both by dayc and nyght, sayling alway southwardc : By the way we passed foorth the
tyme with pleasant talke. The merchaunt men asked me many thynges of the ceremonyes
and solemnities of the Christian religion vsed among vs : And when I made mention of the
Veronica (commonly called the Vernacle of the face of Chryst) and of the heads of Peter Vcronfci or
and Paule the chiefcst of the Apostles, and also of many other saintes, they aduertysed mc Tht"h«ddei or
secretly, that if I woulde go with them, I shoulde become a great man for the knowledge of P«cr and Paule.
suche great thynges. But beyng deterred by the greatnesse of the iorney and fearyng that
then I should neuer haue come home, 1 refused to go with them. At the length we came
to the Hand of Bornei, distant from Monoch about two hundred myles, and is somewhat byg- The iiande of
ger, but mnchc lower beneath the Horizon or Equinoctiall. The inhabitantcs are Idolaters, ^(,ui„.
of sharpe wyt, and maner of lyuyng not greatly to be discommended. Their colour incly-
neth more to whytenesse. They wearc not all one maner of apparell, for some weare shirtes
of bombasine cloth, other mantells of chainlet, and other also sharpe cappes of red coloure.
They obserue iustice and good order. Tiiis Ilande yeeldeth yeerely great abundauncc of
Camphora, which they sayd to be the gumme of a tree: but 1 dare not affyrme it, because Camphon.
I haue not scene it. Here my companyon hyred a lyght shyppe or barke for a hundred
pecces of golde.

Of the obseruations vsed in the nauigation to the Hand of Giaua. Cap. 26.

AFter that we had made prouision of vittayles sufHcient for the voyage, we directed our

iorn«v

■#

) ■

• v't'

200

VOYACJES, NAUICJATIONS,

Vcrlomannut'

iir

l1-

The North it<r.

Thf itJirfj
(houi the |ul.-
Aniariikf.
1 hr lode ttoiit
Icrurtit ii) thr
Iniith rrft'i'in
hryondr tlir
Kquiiioclljll
line.
Antirodri.

Idolattri.

The imift cf
the detiyll.
Sylke uf treti.
Smaragdct.
Colde.
Copftr.

Vliyte men,
jood ceoplt.

Byrdcs :ind
foulej.

Inipoysoned .ir-

rowes.

Trunkc!.

Anttiroprphafi
cite mans flc&hei
III tlie West
Iiidli, they ;ire
c.illtd Cuii-
klles.

A strjuiii;e
I'itiic.

Rather to but-
chrrs t' '■

iorncv to llic Ihmdp of Ciyniin, anil ramc lliyilier in the ftparc of fyue daycs, aaylyng cucr
towardc the Hoiiih. Our Pilot vscd ilw n»aryiicrM boxr or «-om|)a«sc, with also the lode stone
and urn t anic, afli r the mane r ol' our*. Therefore when my rompanyon Mwe that the Sep*
tentrioH'* or north xlnrrc"* ( oiilde not he «ei'ne there, he a«ked the ('hriNtiann howc they could
Myle on that mm without the ^uidc of tiu* ninth ^lar: and a-iked aNo, by what other star
they were guided : The I'ilote aiuiswered, th.it the inhaliitanfe.'* of thene regions obsrrue priii-
eipally fyiie utarris, and also one other htarrr, opposite or dircctlyc ( ontrary to the Septcn-
trioiiH or North starres, wherehy they ){oueriied tiieir viaj;e>* in these rejjions : and nayd that
he a^o vsed the lode stone, I et iui^e it euer ninonelh to the North; and saydc furthermore,
that on the other sydc of that Ilande, is a rert.iyiie people, whithc in saylynp olwcruc eir-
tayne siarres, contrary to the Septentrions, for that llie sayde people arc Antipodes to them
ol' luiropa Sarmatiar, and that they inhabitc as cdlde a re};ion and rlimat, and as nearo viifa
the pole /\ntartike, as is manifest hy the shorlnc'sc of the davi beynj; Imt fourc houres long
in their wyntcr: of whithc talkc we lookc j^rcnt pleasure.

Of the Ilande of Gyaua, and the mancrs of the people. Cap. 27.
Tllerfore proeecdynj; on our iourney fvue dayes saylyng \vc rame to the sayde Ilande,
beyn^ very >;rcat and larf;e, and hauyng in it many kyngdomes, and kynges, beyiig all Ido-
laters, and of diners maners of lynyng : for .some of them honor Idolles, after the maner of
Calccut : some also honor the Sonne, and some the Moone : other take kync for their Idolles:
and some, the fyrst thyng that they meete in the mornynfj, take for the Idol of that day :
other also honor the picture or similitude of the dcuyll. This Ilande bryngeth foorth sylkc,
whichc growcth of it selfe in the wu(Mides, and also the fayrest Smaraj^des or Emcraldes that
are in the world : there is likcwy.sc plentie of (lolde, and Copper. The soyle is fruitefull of
Corne, and all sortcs of friiiles, as in the eitie <tf Calecut. There is great abundance of
fleshc of all sortes, as with vs. The inhabitantes arc faythfull, and true dealyng people:
they are of the same colour and stature that we boc, but haue larger forheades, very great
eyes, and ol I)ra>yli or redde colour, and tiatfe no.scs, wcaryng iheyr heare long. There isi
a great multitude of foules and birdes, but vnlyke vnto ours, except I'eacockcs, Turtle dooue,
and Crowes. They gre.itly ol seme iustice, and good order. For theyr apparell they vhc
mantels, or clokes, of Hombasinc cloth, or sylkc, or Chamlet, euer wearyng out one arme.
They vse no coatcs of fence, or arniurc because they haue no warres: but when they tra-
ueylc on the sea, they vse bovves, aiid inipoysoned arrowes made of Rccdes. They vse also
certayne long and holowe siaues (which we call Trunkes) through the which after our mancr,
they blowc little arrowes, so infected with ]>oyson, that if they raysc neuer so little blood,
death foloweth incontinent. 'J'hey haue no Gunnes or other ingines. They eate all sortes
of (leshe. fyshe, and fruites, yet some fccdc of one kynde of mcate, and other of other, as
them listeth.

Of theyr cruell mancrs in selling their parentes to the Anthropophagi to be eaten.

Cap. 2S.
Tlle inhabitantes of the sayd Ilnnde (they I mcane which feedc of fleshe) when they see
theyr parentes so feeble by age, that they scruc for no vse, but are tedious both to them
seines and other, they bryng them to the market or fayre, and sell them to the Anthropo-
phagi, which vse to eate mans fieshe. They that buye them, kyll them out of hand and eate
them, l.ikewyse when any young person among them, falleth into any .suche sickenesse,
that by the iudgement of theyr wyse men he can not escape, to the ende that he should not
vnprofitably lynger in paynes, his brethren and kynsfolkes sell hym to the Anthropophagi.
When my companion, beyng detested with these cruell maners, shewed in countenance that
he detested this horrible inhumanitie, a certayne merchaunte of the inhabitantes sayde thus
vnto hym : O Persians, no sacrifice can rcdeeme your sinnes, in that you giue so fayre fleshe
to I lie vvoormes to be eaten. Thcrfore abhorryng these beastly maners, we returned to our
shypj)c, not intendyng any longer to tarry there.

Of the strange course of the sunne in the Hand of Gyaua. Cap. 29.

WHyle vvc rcmayncd here, the Christian merchantes euer desirous to shew vs new and

strange

W'V

TtnvrlH to the Emt,

TUAFFIQUF.S. AND DISCOUriUKS.

<J()I

^1
4^

Mrange thiiiRcs, \sliirhc wr myght declare at our rcturnc into our counfrcys, saydc ihiM vnio

vs, My friended make rcporle in your rounlrey of a utraungc thynj^ whichc I will now nhewc

you. Heholde (Mayde they) the jil.icf if the Sunnc in the South at hyj»h noone, and thereby

consider howe farrc this rejjion is from y-Uf <ountrey. Wc then behcldc the Sunne to runnc

toward the rysht iiiod : and iigayn*', to showc or marke a sphere, about two handfnlM brodc,

towardc the lefte hani^'' , which donl)*lf*w«' seemed to vs very straungc. And this (as they

Myc) is euer scene in the mnnrfh of luly. iJut I nowe scarsely l)eare this in mynd, for 1

there forgot euen the names of nw monethes. Hut tlii^ i'' rertaync, that in this region, th«»

tymcs and seasons of the yeercs ;ire lykc vnto our", and of lyke temperature of heat iin<l

colde. Here my companion bought two fnyrc Emcr.i'dcs for a thousandr peeces of goldf, P^'ii^'-of

and also two gelded children for two hundred pcprrs o' goldc : for hccre are ccrtaync mer-ll^y^'j^,',^,^

chautcs that buy none other w.ire, then such gelded chiMren.

Of our rcturnc from the Ilandc of Gyaua. Cnp. 30.

AFter that wc had remayned here fyftienc dayes, wery of the maners of the inhabilanles,
and of the coldncssc of the counlrcy that time of the yeere, wc determyned to proceede no
further: for this cause also, that there remayn«'d in maner none other region woorthie to be
scene, and therefore hyring a lyght shyp, wc departed from thence, sayling Eastwarde for
the space of fyftienc dayes, and came at the length to the cilic of Melacha, where remayn-
ing tiircc dayes, we tookc our Icauc of our companions the Christian merchauntes, with
friendly embrasinges, and sorowfull myndes. Which departure (I take God to witntsJiP)
greened me so sore, that if I had been a single man without wyfe and children, I would ne-
uer hauc forsaken suchc friendly men. Wc therefore departed, and they remayned there,
saying that they \vould shortly rcturnc to the cilie of Sana; and we takyng a foist, returned sa.u.
to the citic of Cyromandel. By the way, the goucruour of the shyp tolde vs. that about the
Ilandes of Gyaua and Taprobana, there arc aboucseuen thousande little Ilandes. When we scuen tiiouunde
arryued at Melacha, my companion bought as muche spices, sweete sauours, and silke, as M|||i,"',,t, ot
cost hym fyue thousande pecces of golde: But wc tame not to the citic of Cyromandel in MeUchi.'
lesse space then fyftienc dayes saylyng. There wc vnlayded our foist, and after we had re-
mayned there twentie dayes, hyryng an other foist, we came at the length to the citic of
Colon, where wc founde iJ2 Christians, of the realmc of Portugale. And fearyng that they Coion.
would take me for some cspion, I began to imagine howe I myght depart from thence : But '""""S'l''-
sceyng that they were so fewe in number, I chaunged my purpose, especially for that there
were many merchaunt Mahumetans whichc knewc that I had been at Mccha, to sec tkc bodie
of Mahumet. But within the space of tweluc dayes, wc came to Calccut by the ryuer.

Agayne of the citie of Calccut after our returnc thythcr. Cap. 31.

AFter so many long and daungerous peregrinations and viages, in the whichc wc haue
been partly satisfied of our desyre, and partly wecryed by many suchc occasions of incon-
ucniences as chaunce in the way (as they can well consider that haue been vscd to suche
long iourncyes) we determyned to proceede no further, but to thynkc only of our ^afe rc-
turnc into our natiuc countrcy, and therefore I will breefely declare what chaunced to me
in the way : the rather that other men, takyng example by my traucylcs, may knowe the
better howe to goucrne them selucs in the lyke, if lyke ardent aflfection shal mouc them to
lake suche viages in liande, as I am sure noble spirites of many valiant men will moue them
thereto. Therefore cnteryng into the citie of Calecut, we founde there two Christians, borne t^o chriitMi,.
in the citic of Milan., the one named lohn Maria, and the other Peter Antonie. These were "f Miian in
Jewellers, and came from Portugale with the kinges licence to buye precious sfcncs. Whcn^"'"'"'
I had founde these men, I rcioyced more then I am able to expresse : for wc went naked
alter the maner of the inhabitantes. At our fyrst mcctyng, sceyng them to bee whyte men,
1 asked them if they were Christians, Thry saydc, yea. Then sayde I, that 1 was also a Chris-
tian, by the grace of God. Then takyng me by the hatulc, they brought me to theyr house,
where for ioye of our meetyng, we could scarsely satisfie our selues with teares, embrasynges,
and kyssyng : for it seemed nowe to mcc a straunge thyng to hearc men speakc myne owne

'(it

D d

language.

F fia

".'.*■

t' '"I^f.

'miv".', i

I % - :

Slml' '.■
m

It*,:

!l:

202

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vertomannus*

The Nauie of
p0ttu|ale.

language, or to ^speake it my selfc. Shortly after, I asked them if they were in faunur with
the kyng of Calecut. We are (sayde they) in great fauoiir with him, and very familier.
Then againe I asked them what they were mynded to doe. We desyre (sayde they) to returne
to our countrey, but we knowe not the mcanes how. Then sayde I, returne the same way
that you came. Naye (sayde they) that may not bee : for we are fledde from the Portugales,
bycause we haue made many peeces of great ordinaunce, and other Gunnes for the Kyng of
Calecut, and therefore we haue good cause to feare, and nowe especially, fur that the nauie
of Portugale will shortly be hecre. I answered, that if I myght escape to the citie of Ca-
nonor, I doubted not but that I would geat theyr pardon of the gouernour of the Nauie.
There is small hope thereof (sayde they) we are so famous and well knowen to many other
kynges in the way whiche fauour the Portugales, and laye wayte to take vs, for wee haue
made more then foure hundred Gunnes, little and great, and therefore wee are out of all
hope to escape that way. In whiche theyr talke, I perceyued howe fearfull a thyng is a
giltie conscience, and called to remembraunce the saying of the Poet,

" Multa mal6 timeo, qui feci multa proterv6,"
That is, I feare much euyll, bycause I haue done muche euyll. For they had not only made
many suche peeces of artillerie for the infidelles, to the great domage of Christians, and
contempte of the holy name nf Christ and his religion, but had also taught the Idolatours
both the makyng and vse of them. And at my beynp; there, I sawe them gyue a model! or
Ainatptcceofmoulde to certayne Idolatours, whereby they myght make brasen peeces, of suche bygnesse
" that one may receyue the charge of a hundred and fyue Tankardes (Cantaros) of pouder.

At the same tyme also, there was a lewe, which had made a veryc fayre Brigantine, and foure
great peeces of artillerie of Iron. But God shortly after gaue him his due reward : for when
he went to washe him in the ryuer, he i>as drowned. But to returne to our sayde Christians.
God is my witnesse howe earnestly I persuaded them, neuer thereafter to make any more ar-
tillerie or Gunnes, to the great contempt and indignation of God, and detriment of our
R«r(nituiMe. holy fayth. When I had sayde these woordes, the tearcs fell from the eyes of Peter Antonie.
But lohn Maria ( who perhappes had not so great desire to returne to his countrey ) said that
it was all one to him, to dye there, or in the citie of Rome : and that God knewe what he
bad decreed of him. Within two dayes after, I returned to my companion, who marueyled
where I had been, fearing I had ben eyther sicke, or departed. I tolde him that I was all
nyght in the Temple, lest he should suspecte my great familiaritie with the Christians.

Of the commyng of the Portugale shippes, to the citie of Canonor. Cap. 32.

WHyle I remayned here in the lodging of my companion, there came to him two Persian
merchants from the citie of Canonor, saying that they had som euyll newes to tell him : wher-
with seemyng to be somewhat troubled, he asked what was the matter : There are come
(sayde they) twelue shyppes of Portugale, wjiich we haue scene with our eyes. Then sayde
he. What maner of men are those ? They are (sayd the Persian) Christians, armed with har-
nesse of shining Iron, and haue builded an inexpugnable fortrcsse in the citie of Canonor.
My companion hearyng those woordes, turned to me, and sayde, Lodouicke, what maner of
men are the Portugales ? To whom I answered, that they were a nation of mischeeuous peo-
ple, gyuen to none other thyng then piracie and robbyng on the sea. He was not so sorie
to heare this, as I was glad of theyr commyng.

Howe I playde the Phisitian, and counterfect holinesse, lest by my colour I should
be taken for a spye for the Portugales, before I could come to their ships.
Cap. 33.

AFter the rumor was spred of the Portugales arryuyng, I began to thinke what was best
to be done, and thought nothyng more safe and easie among this people, then to geat some
opinion of holinesse by hipocrisie, and therefore all the day tyme, I lurked in the Temple,
liuN'ng without meate, as all the people thought : but in the nyght, I ate fleshe in the house
of Peter Antonie, and lohn Maria. And by this meanes, none had other opinion of me,
but that I was a Sainct, and therfore might after a fewe dayes gee abrode in the citie without

auspition :

orliaauncr.

A lewe that
made Gunnes
and shjrppcs,
wai diowncd.

Prcdfitinatian.

A fbrtreue of
the Portugales
in the citie of
Canonor.

HIpocriiie.

A Saint by
hipocrisie.

me,

lOUt

ion:

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

203

siispition : and to helpe the matter withall, it chaunced in the meane tyme, that a certaine
rich Mahumetan of the citie of Calecut was very sicke, hauing his belly so buunde, that he
could not doe the necessities of nature. And bycause he was a friende to my companion,
and his disease increased, he asked me if I had any skyll in phisicke : I sayde, that my father
was a Phisitian, and that I had learned many things of him by experience. Then I pray
you (sayd he) do what you can to helpe this my friend. We went therefore togeather to the
sicke man, whom my companion asked where he felt him selfe most greeued. In my head
(sayd he) and my stomacke, hauyng also my belly so sore bounde, that I can not goe to the
stoole. Then my companion agayne in his presence, desired me to consider his infirmitie,
and take vpon me to minister vnto him some medicine. My companion had tolde me before,
that he was a great eater and drinker. Therefore, takyng him by the hande and feelyng his
pulse, I sayde that his stomacke and bowelles were full of choler, by reason of surfeytyng,
and therefore that it shoulde be good for him to take a glister. Then sayde the sicke man.
Do what you wil, I wil abyde your order. Then made I a glister of egges, salt and suger,A|liitcr..
adding also butter and certayne hearbes, such as came first to my memorie vpon the sodayne,
and in the space of a day and nyght, I gaue him fyue glisters, but all in vayne : for besyde
the paynes which he endured, he was rather woorse then better, insomuche that it re-
pented me of my enterprise : But it was nowe best to set a good face on the matter and
attetnpte an other way, but the last erroure was woorse then the first. Yet still putting him
in good hope, I vsed him thus. I made him lye grouelyng on his belly, and then tying a straunge^^
cordes on his feete, I raysed vp the hynder partes of his body, so that he rested only vppon JTitter.""^ °
his brest and handes, and as he laye, ministred a glyster vnto him, and let him so hang for
the space of halfe an houre. My companion beholding this straunge kynde of practise, sayde
vnto me, Lodouicke, is this the maner of mynistring to sicke folkes in your countrey ? It is,
sayde I, yet neuer but in case of extremitie. Then smylyng, he sayde, I beleeue it will
heale him one way or an other. In the meane tyme the miserable man cryed, saying in his
language. It is enough, it is enough, for my soule now departeth. We comforted him, di-
siryng him to haue patience yet a whyle. In maner immediately after, his belly was losed,
and auoyded matter as if it had been out of a gutter. Then when wee had let downe his
bodie, hee auoyded as much as myght almost fyll a pale, and shortly after, the payne of his
head and stomake, and also the feuer ceased : whereof we were all very glad. And by this
aduenturous cure, I began to bee in great credite among them, by the meanes also of my
counterfect holincsse, and therefore whereas he would haue giuen me tenne peeces of golde,
I would take but only two, and gaue them also incontinent to the poore. These sely soules Seiysin.Ur
belecued so much in my hypocrisie (which I shewed no lesse in countenaunce and grauitie,
forbearyng also openly to eate fleshe ) that well was he that myght haue me in his house or kysse
my handes and feete. The reporte also of my companion, affyrmyng that he mette with
me fyrst at Mecha, where I was to see the bodie of the holy Prophet Mahumet, encreased
greatly (and specially among the Mahumetans) the opinion they had conceiued of my holi-
nesse. But in the meane tyme, secretly in the darke nyght, I resorted priuily to the afore-
sayde Christians, by whom beyng aduertised that twelue of the Portugale shyppes were
nowe arriued at Canonor, I considered that nowe woulde bee good oportunitie to escape :
and therefore remaynyng there yet seuen dayes, I learned all that I coulde of the prepara-
tions which the kyng of Calecut and his people made agaynst the Portugales, both touching
his army, ?rtillerie, and other thinges parteyning to the warres. But before I come to
speake of my maner of departing, it wil here not be from the purpose, to declare howe the
Mahumetans call the people to theyr churches, and of theyr maner of praying.

Howe the Mahumetan pricstes call the people to theyr Churches. Cap. 34.

THeyr priestes and other ministers of the Temple (of the which there is a great number)
obserue this maner to call the people to the church. Certayne of these ascende to the
highest Tower of the Temple, where first blowing three or foure brascn Trumpets, in the Trumi tuts m.
gteede of belles, they crye to the people with a loude voyce, to resorte to the Temple to bcUe""''' ''
prayers. Then stopping one earc with their finger, they say in their owne language these

D d 2 woordes:

-J 'v

If?

-•fl 'vl,

•'ii -,'.

: -p.
■■'I-. I

*;-■

■■ :.i'iM,

.li;A-J

IP"

mi-'' ■''

IllillJ '■■'■.•■''■■'■'

',*,'■ 1.

ISM' ,i I''

gOi

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Fej7o?HflnnMs'

Not all that say WOOrdCS

Lord, Lord, 8lc

Some of them

say that he is

rysen.

GoJ the fither.
The virgin
Marie.

Merchantes of
Calecut.

Alia u eccubar. That is to say, God is great, and a^^ainc, God is great: Come to
the Temple of the great God, Come to pray to the great God : God is great, God is great,
God was, God is, Mahumct the messenger of God shal ryse. They inuited me also to the
Temple, and desired me to pray to God for the Mahumetans, whiche I dyd outwardly, but
of much other meanyng then they dyd.

Of the maner of praying among the Mahumctans. Cap. 35.

THey haue certaine dayly and vsuall prayers, as we haue, in the which they call God their
father, and vouchsafe to name the virgin Marie full of grace. They pray not before they
haue ben washed. Then standing in order, after the priest hath prayed, they pray also in
their own language. Here to my companion, I fayned my selfe sicke, and founde diuers other
occasions to depart from thence, and to go to Canonor. Well sayd he. It shall not be long
ere I come thyther to you, and in the meane tyme, with my letters, I will commend you
there to a friend and countrcy man of myne, a riche merchant, who for my sake shall giue
you good intertaynement.

What subtiltie I vscd to depart from Calecut, to go to the Portiigalcs. Cap. 3G.

THe daye before I departed from thence, I made the .sayd Christians priuif of my intente.
In the meane tyme my companyon ioyncd me in company with two other Persian mer-
chauntes, whiche were myndcd also to go to Canonor : for there was in the citie of Calecut
many merchauntcs of Persia, Syria, and Turchia. Therefore the I'yrst day of December, I,
with the other two Persians, liyryng a lyght shyppe, gaue wynde to our sayles to proceede
on our voyage. But see what chaunced suddenly, wc had scarsely sayled as farre as a man
may shoote an arrowe, but foure of the inhabitantes of the order of them whiche they call
Naerosare gen- Nacros (of whom WC haue spokcH before) cryed to the goucrnour of the shyp to drawe
jvyllge's gatds.' neare the iande in the kynges name. When they vnderstode who we were, they asked why
they caryed me away without makyng the kyng priuie thereto: Then sayde the Persians, This
Mahumetan that is heere with vs, is a holy man, and goeth in our company to the citie of
Canonor. They answeared, tliat they knewe me to be a man that had wrought myracles.
Neuerthelesse, that because I could speake the language of the Portiigalles, it was to be
suspected least I should bewraye theyr secretes to them, and tell them of the nauie and ar-
mye which the kyng prepared agaynst the Portugales, and therefore commaunded the go-
uernour of the shyppe to cary vs no further. He obeyed theyr commaundement, and left vs
on the shore. Then sayde one of the Persians, Let vs returne to Calecut. To whom I aun-
sweared, Take heede what you do, for so shall you be in danger to loose all your sylkes if it
be knowen that you haue payde no custome to the kyng. Then sayde the other Persian,
What then (by your aduise) is it best for vs to do: I aunswered, that it was best for vs to go
somewhat further by the shore, vntyl we myght fynde some barke : whereunto they agreed.
Therfore we, and ourslaues laden with our fardells, went so twelue myles along by the shore.
But what feare I was in, in the meane season, I commytfe to wyse men to iudge. But as
God would we founde there a poore fysher man with a boate, with whom we agreed to bryng
vs to Canonor, where we arryued late in the euenyng. Incontinent wc went to the mer-
chaunt Persian, to whom I had letters of commendation from my companyon. The tenour of
the letters was, that he shoulde receyue me into his house, and enterteyne me frendly, vntil
his commyng : Also that whatsoeuer frendeshyp he shewed vnto me, lie woulde ascribe it to
be done vnto hym selfe : furthermore, that I was a holy man, and ioyned with hym in neere
amitie and frendeshyp. When the merchaunt had redde the letters, he layde his hand on
his head, and sayde vnto mc. By this head you are welcome to me, and shall be here in
safctie, and caused a good supper to be prepared for vs. After
sayde vnto me, Lette vs go waike to the sea syde. I agreed; and in
to the place where the Portugales shyps laye at anker. I am not
secrete ioye which I felte in my selfe at the syght of these shyppes.
well the plat;e where the Portugales had buylded their fortresse, determynyng to come
thyther the nexte daye.

Howe

supper, the Persians

short tyme we came

able to expresse the

In the way I marked

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

205

Howe I fleddc to the Portiigales from the citie of Canoiior.

Cap. 37.

)we

THe daye folowyng, when I sawe best opportunitie, I went towarde the forfresse of the . .
Portiigales: and by the way meetyng with two Portugales, in the Spanyshe tongue I asked
them where was the fortresse of the Portugales. Then sayde they to me. Art thou a Christian?
I am (sayde I) by the grace of God, Then sayde they agayne, from whence comme'^t thou ?
from the citie of Calecut sayde I. Then come wilh vs (sayde they) for we wyli bryng thee
to the gouernour This gouernour was one maister Laurentius, sonne to the Viceroye. So
I went with them to the fortresse, whiche is not past foure furlongs from the citie. At the
tyine of our commyng, the gouernour had not yet dined. When I came to his presence, Tht Ooucrnmirc
I fel downe on my knees, and prayed hym with al humilitie for Christes sake, to whom I was fortK-"-. ""
consecrated by baptisme, to haue compassion vppon me, and to deliuer me from the hands
of those infidel! dogges. When it was nowe noysed in the citie that 1 was escaped to the
Christians, there beganne a sturrc and mutinie, in maner of a tumulte, Whiche when the
gouernour vnderstode, commanded al his Captaines, souldiers, and other officers, to place
their artillerie, and order all thynges in redynesse, least the people in sudden rage should
attempte any thing agaynst the fortresse. But al thynges were pacified in short tyme. Then
the gouernour, takyng me by the hande, brought me into a certayne hall, and there de-
maunded of me, what the kyng and inhabitantes of Calecut imagined or deuiscd to do agaynst
the Christians : I enfourmed hym of all thynges, as farre as I knewe, hauyng diligently
searched to vnderstand all thcyr doyngcs. When the gouernour was thus by me aduertysed
of theyr secretes, he appoynted a galley to bryng me to the Viceroye, who was then in the
citie of Cucin. The Captayneof the gallie, was named lohannes Seranua. When the Vice- Thf viceroye
roye saw me. he receiued me very fauourably. 1 certified hym also of al thynges: Saying py'^'ugj"^"
furthermore vnto hym, that if I myght by his fauoure obteyne pardon and assurance for the in^ia.
sayde two Italians, Peter Anionic and lohn Maria, which before had made artillarie for the
infidel princes, I woulde procure that they shoulde returne to the Christians, and do them
ryght good seruice, and that I was well assured, that they dyd that by constraint : Also that
they desyred none other thing then safe condji^and mony for theyr charges. He was glad
of this, and graunted my request. Whereupjvn within three dayes after, he sent me with
letters to his sonne, the gouernour in the citie of Canonor, with commaundement to deliuer
mc as muche mony as shuulde suffice for the charges of the Christian exploratours orespions
of the t Me of Calecut. 1 went therefore incontinent to Canonor, where I agreed with one
of the idoiatours (who for pouertie had gaged his wife and children) to cary letters to Calecut
to lohn Maria and Peter Antonie. The content of which letters was, that the Viceroy had
graunted them pardon and safe conducte and also money for their charges: Aduertysyng them
to make none priuie to this thyng, and especially to beware least it shoulde be knowen to
theyr slaues or concubines (for eche of them had a concubine, a child, and a slaue) further-
more to Icaue al theyr goods behynd them, except thynges of great price, as mony and
iewelles : for they had a very fay re Diamond of the weyght of 32 caractes esteemed to be woorth a Diamond of
35 thousande crownes. They had also a pearle of the weyght of 24 caractes, furthermore, two [[Jouwnd"' ^^
thousande rubies : of the whiche, some were of the weyght of one caracte, and some of cro*""-
one and a halfe. They had also 64 braslettes, garnyshed with many iewelles: lykewyse in
redye coyne, a thousand and fyue hundred peeces of golde. But see what commeth of to Beware of
much couetousnesse. Whyle they thought to haue saued all, they lost all, and theyr lines """""'"'"'■
therewith : for not contentyng them selues with the aforesayde ryches, they woulde needes
also carye with them (notwithstandyng the aduertisement we had geuen them) foure Cannes,
three Munkeis, two Muskecattes, and two of those wheeles whcrwith precious stones are
polyshed. All whiche thynges, were the onely cause of theyr death : for whereas so many
thynges coulde not be secretly conueyed, one of theyr slaues certified the kyng of Calecut
hcereof, who at the fyrst woulde scarsely beleeue it, for the good opinion he had conceyued
of them : yet sent foure of his garde (of them whiche are called Naery) to kncwe if it were
true. But the slaue, perccyuyng that the kyng woulde deale fauourably with them, went
to the bygh Priest or Bishop of the fay th of the Mahumetans ( whom they call Cady) and The Byshop of

' ' ■' •' ' I 1 theMahu-

toide mtwns.

Concubines aiiJ
slaues.

:1?

1 1 !? .-a

:» ■!;(,;«,

ili''' 1

906

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

yertomannuii

TbcMihu-
meuni connirc
the death of the
Chrittiani.

Ad Oration,

The death of
lohn Maria and
Peter Antonye.

The Ftenche
foxc.

tolde hytn all that before he had tolde the kyng of Caleciit : Addyng inoreoiier, that the
sayde Christians had disclosed theyr gecretes to the Pnrtugales. When the Bishop viuierstode
these thynges, he called a counsayle of all the Mahun.etan merchnuntes, wyll\ ng them, of
the common treasurie, to geue a hundred peeces of golde to the kyng of Gio«<;hi (who was
then at Calccut) and to speake to hym in this maner. It is n(>t vnknowen to you (most
noble prince) howe a fewe yeercs past, when your maiestie came hither, we receiued you
with more honorable enterteinement then we are nowe able to do : The cause whereof, is no
lacke of good wyl, or knowledge of our deuetie towarde your hyghne^se, but rather the
great and manyfolde iiiiuries and oppressions whiche we haue susieyned, and do dayely
susteyne by our mortal enimies the Christians, whereof we haue, at this present, example of
two Christian traytors of this citie, whiche haue disclosed to the Portugales al our secretes,
and therefore we make most humble petition vnto you to take of vh a hundred peece^^ of
golde, to commaund them to be slayne. When the kyng of Gioghi hearde these woords, he
consented to theyr petition, and fortwith appoynted two hundred men to commyt the mur-
der: And that they might be the lesse suspected of the Chr:stian8, meanyng soddenly to
kyll them in theyr house, came by tenne and tenne as though they came to demaunde theyr
accustomed rewarde. But when the Christians sawe so great a rompany assembled about
theyr house, they suspected that they sought somewhat elles then theyr rewarde or ofleryng,
and therefore incontinent takyng theyr weapons, they fought so manfully at the wyndowes
and doores of theyr house, that they slue syxe men and woounded fourtie But at the length,
some of the Gioghi, shot at them certaine iron arrowes out of crosse bowes, with the which
they were both slayne, the one beyng sore wounded in the head, and the other in the
bodie. As soone as they sawe them fail downe, they cutte theyr throtes : and takyng the
hotte blood in the palines of theyr handes, drunke it vp, with contumelious woordes agaynst
the Christians. After this murder, the concubine of lohn Maria came to Canonor, with her
young Sonne, whom I bought of her for eyght peeces of golde : and causyng hym to be
baptysed, named hym Laurence, because it was saint Laurence daye. But within a yeere
after, he dyed of the Frenche poxe, whiche disease had then dispersed almost through all the
worlde, for I haue seene many infected with it foure hundred myles beyonde Calecut. They
call it Pua, And they affyrme that this disease was neuer seene there past 17 yeeres before.
It is there more grceuous aud outragious then with vs.

Of the Nauie of the citie of Calecut, and of the memorable conflicte betwene
the Chriiitians and Mahumetans. In the whiche the Portugalcs with incredible

valiantnesse gaue theyr eniniics the overthrowe.
reioyced at their victoric. Cap. 38.

And howe the kyng of Canonor

IN the yeere of our Lorde 1506. the fourth daye of March, woorde was brought vs of

Thenauieefthe the death of the sayde Christians. The same daye, from the cities of Calecut, Pauan, Ca-

«Ji7nst ihe'po" pajjOt, Pandaram, and Trompatam, departed a great nauie of two hundred and eyght shippes,

tugais. of the whiche fourescore and foure were great shippes, or shippes of burden, and the rest

The Mahu. wcre drvuen with Ores, after the maner of foystes, whiche they call Paras. The Nauie was

wetan soldiers, manned with in maner innumerable Mahumetans, shewyng themselues very braue in apparel

of purple sylke and Bombasine, with also theyr hygh and sharpe cappes, after theyr maner,

of the same colour, lyned with sylke : wearyng also on theyr armes many bracelettes, and

on theyr haides haddc gloues, cmbrodered and garnyshed with diucrs kyndes of workes :

for weapons, they had Tiirky bowes, swoordes, launces, peltes, and all sortes of gunnes, after

our maiicr. When we sawe theyr Nauie proceedyng in order, and well instructed, it seemed

farre of iyke a wood, the mastes presentyng the similitude of trees: Whiche thyng seemed

so litle to deterre vs, that we were in sure beleefe, that our God and Christe woulde geue

vs the viclorie agaynst the blasphemers of his holy name, the Idolatours and Sarasens, old

enemies of our religion. And therefore the valiant knight and gouernour, the sonne of the

honorable lord Don Francisco Dalmeda, viceroy of India, who had there the supreame go-

uernement of twelue shippes, with the assistaunce of the Admirall of the Nauie, when he

pawe the great force of the enemie, myndfull of his accustomed vertue, with sounde of

trumpet

W'V

Travels to the East,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

207

trumpet assembled all the souldiers, and spake to them in this) maner. My deare Frcndcs^ The oration of
and brethren in one God, and one fayth of lesus Christe, nowe is the tyme cdme when yoiijjjj^c^"!!?""'
ought to remember, that as lesus Christe spared not, ney ther feared to gyue his precious soidi«ri.
body to death for our sakes: euen so, except we wyl shewe our seUies most vnkynde, and
vnworthy so great grace of God, it shal be our dueties to spende our liues in the defence of
his glorie, and our holy fayth, assuring our selues of the victorie against these dogges,
hateful to God, and progenie of the deuyl. Now therfore fyghtyng in his name, and vnder
the banner of his holy crosse, shew your selues manfull and valiant: for nowe is in you the
power to great eternal fame, in mainteyning the quarel of our aauiour. Therefore with me,
lyftyng up your hartes to God, and your armes with force and courage, let vs gyiie the
onset on these dogs. When the gouernour had sayd these wordes, the priest went vp to
the hyghest part of the ship, and holdyng in his hand the picture of Christe nayled on the
crosse, sh.'^wed it vnto the souldiers, exhortyng them to remember the commaundementes
of God, and the holy fayth and baptisme whereby they were consecrated to God, puttyng
no doubt in the forgeuenesse of theyr sinnes, dying in so godly a quarell: and then blessyng
them, with inuocation of the name of God, he pronounced the sentence of absolution and
forgeuenesse of theyr sinnes. The exhortation of the priest, so moued the hartes of all
men, that the teares ranne from our eyes for ioy and great desire we had to die in tlie
quarel. In the meane time the nauye of the Mahometans made sayle towarde vs. The
same daye our Admirall with two foystes made towarde them, and passyng betweene two of Then»uieof the
theyr greatest shyps, discharged his ordinance on both sydes: whiche the Admyrall dyd, to ^'j^^JJ^miniiof
proue the strength of those shyppes, which they chiefely esteeme, and trust most vnto : the chiistians.
But this daye was nothyng done woorth the memorye. The day folowyng, the Mahumetans
with full sayles drewe neare the citie of Canonor, and sent vs woorde by a messenger, that
if we woulde permytte them to go whither they woulde, they woulde not haue to do with
vs. Our Admirall answeared, that the Christians coulde not so forgette the periurie of the The quini md
Mahumetans, in violatyng theyr faith and promyse made by common consent, when they """"J"""^**
woulde not suffer the Christians to passe that way, but contrary to theyr fayth and promyse
slue 47 Christians, and robbed them of foure thousande peeces of golde : and therefore badde
them passe further if they durst, and they shoulde well knowe of what reputation and spirite
the Christians are. Then sayde the Mahumetans, Mahumet wyll defende vs, and confounde
the Christians : and with those woordes, assaulted vs all at once with incredible furie, thynk- The Mahum*.
yng to haue passed through, hauyng no further to sayle then 10 myles from the shore. But "|,"jj'""'«
our Admiral of purpose suffered the enimics to come nearer vntyl they were ryght ouer
against the citie of Canonor, meanyng there to set on them with all his force, that the kyng
of Canonor beholdyng the conflicte, myght be witnesse of the valiantnesse of the Christi-
ans. Then when the trumpetter of the Admirals ship sounded the battayle, and gaue the
signe, incontinent he assaulted two of theyr greatest shyppes. Heere I am not able to ex-
presse the exceedyng noyse of theyr Drummes, Trumpets, Tambarels, and other such in-
numerable, which they vse in this case. The Admiral hym selfe, in maner contemnyng The viiyant-
all theyr meane shippes, passed through theyr nauie, and inuaded one of theyr greatest nesse of theAd-
shippes, castyng theron chaynes and grasples, to fyght with them at hande strokes : but they ""
cast of the rhaynes thryse, yet the fourth tyme the chaynes tooke such holde, that the
Christians entred into the ship, where they made such hauocke and slaughter, that all theAgrcatsUueh.
Mahumetans of that shippe (which were sixe hundred in number) were slayne, Jnsomuche "J|^|,^|j' '^'''"
that there was not one left alyue to tell newes. The Admirall encouraged by this victorie,
inuaded another of theyr great shippes, whiche had chayned it selfe with a foyst of the
Christians, where was also a great conflict, in the whiche were slayne aboue fyue hundred
Mahumetans, and theyr ship sunke. The Mahumetans discouraged by this defeate,
assaulted our twelue foystes with al their force, and carycd them away. But heere the man- The valiantnesse
hood and valiantnesse of lohn Scranus, the captaine of the Galley, shewed itselfe, who only "^ '""^ ^""'""'
with one Gaily made suche a slaughter among the Mahumetans, that it mayseeme incredible:
for he so fiercely inuaded them that had caryed away the foystes, that he recouered them

all,

■ ',.^a

208

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Vcrtomannua

slayae.

cif Simon Mar-
tin.

A Stnitaeeme.

Tennf Malui-
met.in shyps
soonke with the

all. nnd siinke two other of the Mahiimetan shippes. In these warres, God of his grace so
Fcwe chtiitiam prospcccd thc Christians, that few of them were slayne, but many wounded. The conflict

*' continued from mornyng, vntyl the darkenesse of the nyght made an ende of the battayle,

1 mny not hccre forgeat to speake of the niarueylouH aduenture and Godly zcalc of Simon
Martin, captaync of one of our shippes : for it so chaunced, that thc Brigantine in the which I
was, dcpartyng somewhat from our nauic, gaue occasion to our enemies to pursue vs, for
incontinent foure of the Mahumetan shippes assayled vs, and put vs to much trouble, in-
somuch thnt 1.5 Mahumetans had nowe entred into our Brigantine, and we were con-
ThrvaiinimifueStrayned to flee to the Poupe, as to the safest pKnce; But the valiant captayne Simon Martin,
'" "'-' jipynff the dauiigcr that we were in, and that the Mahumetans were entred into our Brigan-
tine, leapt into it fiercely, and caliyng vpon the name of lesus Christ, fought so valiantly,
that he slue sixe of the Mahumetans: whcrby we, beyng incouraged, assisted hym in such
sort, that the Mahumetans cast themselucs into the sea, where some were drowned, and
some escaped by swimmyng. Therfore when the Mahumetans knewe that the Christians
had the victorie, they sent -!■ other foistes to helpe the first. But when the captayne of our
Brigantine sawe this, he tooke certayne emptie Tubbes, in the whiche gunne ponder had ben
kepte before, and stoppyng (hem with flaxe, placed them in such sort, that they seemed far
of, like peeces of great artillerie: then laying a little gun ponder by the flaxe, and holding a
fyre sticke in his hand, as though he would fire to the Gunne, the Mahumetans thinking that it
had ben a gunne indcedc, were thereby put in such feare, that they departed. The Admirall yet
further pursuing the enemyes, gaue them an other great ouerthrow, and tooke seuen of
theyr foistes, laden with all sortcs of merchandies, and soonke tenne other with the shotte
of great artillerie, of the whiche one was laden with Elephantes. Therfore when the Mahu-
shot of great ar- metans sawe the sea now almost couered with the bodies of their slaine men, and their chiefe
tiiierie. shippcs some taken, some soonke, and some spoiled, were out of all hope to recouer, and

The Christians thepforc saucd themselucs bv fleeing. But the Christians, seeing vet hope of further \ic-

had the victorie. . ■,•.,, •' ,• " , ■ i • i i i i i

tone, and the Mahumetans so discouraged, thought it not best to leaue them so, but rather
uppon such prosperous succcsse, to take opportunitie, and vtterly to destroy them : and
therfore the Admiral, seeing his men ioyfull of the victorie, and desirous to pursue the
enemie, folowed the Mahumetans, and gaue them a new batayle, whiche lasted all day and
all nyght, whilest the Christians in the nyght tyme slue them euen in theyr fleeing, and
soonke almost all their shippes. In the meane tyme certayne of our foistes sawe a shyppe
of burden of the enemie, wanderyng out of the way, and made sayle thyther with all hast.
But the enemies in short space seeing themselues ouermatched, hurled all their cariages into
the sea, and trusting to swimmyng (wherein they are most experte) caste themselues after.
But our men folowed them euen to the shore, with launces, crosbowes, and stones, so killing
them as they swamme, that the sea was coloured and polluted with their blood. Yet by
swimming many escaped, by estimation about the number of two hundred, for they are in
youth so brought vp in swimming, that they swamme in thc sea almost twentie myies, of-
tentimes so diuyng vnder the water, and rem.aynyng there so long, that they deceyued our
syght : for sometymes we thought that they were soonke, and sometyme agayne seeyng
them flote on the water, it so troubled our sense, that we thought we had scene some phan-
tasie or vision : but t'ley were in manor all destroyed by one mischaunce or an other, and
especially a great number in the great shyppes which were soonke by shot of the great ar-
tillerie. The day folowyng, the Admirall sent great Brigantines and Gallies to the shore, to
number the dead bodies, whiche the sea had caste vp : they were founde to be about three
Thekyngof thousandc, bcsydc them also which the sea had deuoured. The kyng of Canonor, beholdyng
n'lcTanantneise ^'' thcsc tliyugcs, was greatly in loue with' the Christians, and commended their vali-
ofthei'ortu. auntnesse and vertue, and not vnwoorthily : for to speake that I haue scene, T h,i",c ben in
many sore warres, yet neuer sawe I more valiant men, then the Portugales here shewed
themselues to be.

But when we thought that we had nowe made an ende of these Tragidies, we had in mancr
a woorse to begyn, for it so chaunced, that in fewe dayes after, the kyng of Canonor, who

fauoured

Ail other great
cunflicte.

The Mahume-
tans slaync in
swimming.
The M.ihume.
tins experte in
swimmyng.

Travels to the East.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIF.S.

!W9

\e in
of.
our

lired

fauoiirccl us, dyed: In whose place succeeded an other mortall cncmie to the Christians, nnd ThfdMthofthc
I'liendc to the kyn"; of Calcrut. by whose heipe and rychcsse hce was aduaunced to the J".^ "
kyiiffdonic of Canonor. He tlierelbre assembled his power to make newe warrc a;;aynst the a mve expedi-
('hristians, with u'rcat expedition and haste, bycause he supposed that a j;reat parte of theyrJ^^i^'V^^i^^"'^'^'''''"
iiumitions was nowe wasted, and tiicy also sore wccrycd, and for the most parte wounded.
And to further his attcmptc, the kyng of Calecut sent him 'ii peeces of great artillcric. This i-oi's Carres,
warrc beganne the scuenth day of April!, and continued viityll the ^t) of August, before
nil ihiiiges were pacilicd. It were hcere to long to declare howe in these warrcs also the
Christians bch:iued them seines manfully agaviist the Mahumetans, which neuer cncountrcd
with them fewer then fyuc or sixe and twentic thousande in number, hauyng al-o with 5;i'''^'"'''i"'
them a luuulrcd and fourtie peeces of artillerie, and were armed after tiic maner of the in- n„.,ansariii.
habitauntes of Calecut : but the Christians with harncsse after our maner. ''^^'^'^■•

These Infidelles vse this order in thevr warres. Thcv diuide thevr army into many wvnges, Tiie order of the

, 1 r 1 ' 1 I " 1 I ■ " Mahumttans

euerv wyng conteynyng the number ot two or three thousande men, and only one wyngt;.,,,,^!..

procccdeth to the battaylc, the rcstc attendyng what ende or successe they haue, before

they atio;iipt any further. But whilest these wyngcs are nowe marchyngto ioyne in baltayle,

it jjasscth all ima^inatidn to thynke, with howe great a iioyse oi' innuincrall musicall instru-instrumentcs.

mantes, after iheyr niancr, they fill the eares of all the army, to encourage them to fyght,

while in the meane season also, a great number runneth before the army with marueylous

flames of artilici dl fyres : and in fine, gyue the onsette with suche outragious furie and outcry Outragious

that two thousande of them were able to feare tenne thousande that had no experience of

these thyngcs. But see the goodncsse of G d, who ncucr forsaketh them that belceue fayth-

fully in his holy religion. Eiien nowe in the cxtremitic of these troubles, our men beyng

in mancr ouerchar ;cd with the multitude of theyr enemyes, and long warrcs, sodayne ncwes

was brou'jht that a newe nauie of Portugales was arrvued at Canonor by the conductc of the '''^ "">'"'"? "f

,. . 1 T-v fi. • 1 /> till • " 1- I 1 I'll a iicwc Nainc

valiant knyght Don Iristan de Lugna: \\ hom we nnmcdiately aducrtyseu with howe greeuousofportugaiis.
warres wee \vcre oppressed. Who incontinent sent vs, in ccrtayne Barkes, three hundred
valiaunt Souldiours, well armed with harnesse, after the maner of the Christians. When
wee sawe these, we rccoucred our spirites, in such sortc, that if our Admirall woulde haue
permitted, we woulde haue burnte the citie of Canonor. But when the Mahumetans vn- The Mahu-

! II 1 I I II i. 1 • II 1 It metans i-etke to

oerstoode the newe succours that we had, ail discouraged in myndc, they sought ail mcanesm,,keptaco«ith

to make peace with the Christians, and assygned one named Mamalmaricar, a man of great •'"'^'''"'"'•"'^"

r\ches and wysedome among them, to bee intermediatour, and to make the conditions of

peace, lice thercl'orc vnder safe conducte, came to vs to common of the matter. We tolde

iiim, that we coulde make no peace without the consent of the Viccroyc, who was then in

the citie of Cucin. The Admirall thought it beste not to contempnc the conditions of peace,

for that duryng the tyme of the warres, they coulde not sende thcyr shyppes laden ^vith■''^'>=^'^»«™"-

merchaundies into Portugale, and therefore by the consent of the Viceroye, the peace ''""''

was concluded.

But nowe, to myngle some delight with these sorowes, vou shal he.are a pleasant fable Apicasaumfabie.
wonrthie to be put in inemorie. Therefore all thinges beyng pacified, as I walked in the citie
of Canonor, I met with certayne mcrchantes Idolatours, with whom I was acquavntcd before
the warres, who in thcyr language sayde thus vnto me. Are you our fiiende: yea sayde I.
Then we pray you in the way of friendship, shewe vs that Christian which is muclie hygher ^linct Christo-
and stronger tiien any other of the Christians, and kylled in maner euery daye about twentieliMGiai"'
of the Mahumetans, and resisted the dartes of (iftie Naeros (these are of the garde) and
escaped without htirte : I answered, that that Christian was not nowe in the citie, but was
gone to Cucin to Viceroye. But when I better considered the matter, I sayde thus vnto
then, are you my friendcs ? Yea, we are, sayde they. Then sayde I, That souldier that
fought so valiauntly in the battayle, was no Portugale. Then sayde they : of what countrey
was he then ? I answered agayne, that he was the God of the Portugales, and the great G .
of all the world. Then sayde they. Verily you speake the trueih, for we heard the Mahu-
metans say, that it was not the Portugales, but the Portugales God, that gaue them the The enemyes
ouerthrowe, and therefore we thynke your God to bee better then theyrs, although we know '""''^'"'' ''"'

■m

fi
■ 'M

■ ']•■■■'

i'-»'

iiNlJI

E e

God gaue tlie
himvictorie.

210

VOYAGIiS, NAUIGATIONS,

Vn'lomannus

m'i-

JPfe'SlT' -'f. •■■■

Siinplr and
■gnorint people.

Messis miilta,
scd oprrarii
paiici, etc.
Ihe M.i;s;.

No more cjn
wyscr men then
they.

Iniiuuiucrsaiid
of great agililie.

The Ilande of
Monzambrich,

Melinda.
The ky"S of
Poitugalts do-
mioloti of
Etdiopia.
'I'he conquestes
of Tristan de
Cugna.
Sacutaia.

Cumt:iis.

Pende.

Zaphal.l.
Guide.

Blacke Mahu-
mctans.

Troglodita;.
Ethiopes.

Iiimnot: Ami by this mcanes it was bruited oiicr all tlie countrcy, that the Muhumetans
were (uicrcoine rather by the iissi.staunce of God, then by tiie strength of men, for these
people arc very simple and i^jnoraiint, and astonyshcd in nianer at ciiery thynjf, for some
when they sawc one of our company hauyn<; n little bell in liis hnnt'.e, and hearile the novse
of the bell when he moucd hU hand, and nu noyse wlien he set it downc, thev tookc it lor
a myracle, sayini>- one to an other: doubt lfs.,i' thcyr God is the greatest God, for when they
louche the bell, if spcaketh, and when they touche it ni t, it sayeth nothyng. They tookc
pleasure and admiration to beholde the soIcmniticM of the Masse.

And wliei) the priest lylud vp the holy bread or host, 1 saydc vnto them, beholde here
the God of the Portugalcs, and of ail the worlde. Then sayde they, You say truly: but wc
can not perccyiic it. This banc I saydc, tli:it you may hereby knowc what simple and igno-
rant people these are: yet arc they very };rcat inchaunters, and ran inchauntc Serpentes,
wiio-e poyson is so strong, that they kyll only with touchyng. Thev are also of incredible
agilitie, and therefore e.xcell in vaultyng, leapyng, runnviig, swynimyng, tumblyng, walk-
yng on ropes, and such other exercises of lyghtnesse and agilitie.

The scucnth booke, entreating of the viage or Nauigation of Ethiopia. Cap. 1.

THey that will take vppoii them to wrytc any hystorie had needc to bearfi well in memorie
what they haue promyscd and taken in hande, lest for thcyr ])aynes and well meanyng, they
be rewardc with shame and rebuke, and therfore whereas in the beginnyng of this buoke, i
promysed to \vr)te of the Nauigation of Ethiopc, I will with tlie description of this viage,
make an cnde of my long traueyle, and spcakc of such thinges as I sawe there by the way,
in my returnc from India into my long desired countrcy, in the company of the Portugales.

Of diners and many Ilandes of Ethiope. Cap. 2.

TUcrcfore the seuenth day of December, wc directed our iourney towarde Ethiope, tra-
ucrsing fvrst the great giilfc, and saylyng foure hundred myles, came to an Ilande named
Monzambrich, vndcr the dominion of the kyng of Portugale. But before we arryued there,
we sawe by the way many townes parteiiiing to the Portugales, and also many strong for-
tresses in the kyngdonics of Milinda and Mombaza. The kyng of Portugale, hath also ccr-
tayne fortresses in Monzambrich and Zaphala.

But if I should hero speake of the memorable factes of the valiant knyght Tristan dc
Cugna, at his returne from India, I should take in hande a thyng farre aboue my reaciie :
beyng suche, as descrue rather the commendations of Homer and Virgil, for he inuaded and
subdued the great cities of Gogia, Pati, and Craua, with also the gootlly Ilande of Sacutani,
where the kyng of Portugale hath erected certayne fortresses, and omit also to speake of
many other Ilandes whichc wc sawe in the way : as the Ilande of Cumcris, and sixc other
which beare j)lentie of ginger, sugcr, and dyuers other goodly fruites, and abundance of
(leshe; also the most fruitfull Hand of Pende, likewise subiect to the kyn^ of Portugale.

Of the Ilande of Monzambrich, and the inhabitantcs thereof. Cap. 3.

Tllis Ilande (as we haue sayde) is subiecte to the kyng of Portugale, as is also Zaphala.
From the Ilande of Monzambrich, is brougl)t niucii golde and oyle, but is brougiit thyther
from the firme lande. The Ilande is not byg, and is inhabited with blacke Mahumetans,
Ivuyng in maner in necessitie of all thinges, yet hath it a commodious porte. They haue no
corne but that is brought from the continent, where also he went alande to see the countrcy,
wiiere wc sawe nothyng but a vagabunde and rascall kynde of blacke men, coucryng only
thcyr priuities with leaucs of trees, and are besyde naked, and the women in lyke nianer.
Thcyr lyppes are two fingers thickc, thcyr forehcaddes very large, theyr teeth great, and as
white as snow. They are fcarefnll at the sight of euery thyng, and especially when they sec
armed men. Therefore seeing thevr fearcfulnesse, and knowing them to be without weapons
that can doe any great hurfc, only sixe of vs well armed, bearyng also with vs Hargabuses,
and hatiyng in our compaiic a blacke slaue that somewhat knewe the countrey, we began to
enter further into the lande: and when we had gone forwarde onedayes iourney, we fouiulc

many

lala.

Vthcr

tans,

c m)

trey,

only

aner.

ndas

sec

pons

uses,

in to

uiulc

many

•y

Travels to the Ewit.

TKAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEIUKS.

811

ni;i!iy hcardcs of Hicplianfcs. Here the slauc fliat vvas our <;iiydc, f,:Hic \.s r.niiisayic to t;ike Hcirjrior
lyrebraiidcs in our li:indes, l)yc:iusc these bea-te- fearc fyre ahoue iill lliin<^cH, I'.iit vvc once }.[''|]""I^' .,„
iluTsnccJ to fyndc tlirc leina'c rilrpijaiits, whicli liad very lately li'.Miigli! ioorth theyr Calnen, uriy.itui fyjf.
and ihcrelorc fearrd not the fyre: but witliout all (eare, fol(!\ve<l \s so fiiTe, that wc were
r.iyne t) flee to a mounlayne to saue vs from the beastes. When \vc liad entred about teinie
inyles into llie land, we found a certaync dcnnc on the syde of a niouniayne, wliere some of
the bliirke iidiabilnuntcs hirked. These spake so confoundedly and rlintteringly lyke Apes, An Apy*i"
tliat I am not aljle to expresse theyr maner of speeehe : Yet to goe the neerest thereto that'"'^"'**'
I can, theyr sjjeach is lykest to the euyll fauorcd voyce which the miileters of Sicilia vse
when they dryue theyr Mules : and suehe manor of blabberyn;^ vse these people in theyr
speachc. Ilecre the I'ilot of the siiyppc asked vs if wee wouldc Iniye any kyne, saying,
that here we should haue them good cheape. But we, tidnking that cyther he had mocked
vs, or that agreeing with the inhabitaiintes (whom he kncwe before) he woidde haue de-
reyned vs c^f our money and wares, s;iydc that we had no money. Then saydc he vnto vs,
The-ic j)cople desire nothing lesse then money, hauyng nuiehc more plentic of gohle then
we liauf, which is founde not farre hence. Then sayde we to him. What desyrc they then ?
They lone (sayde he) despicable thyngcs, and of small value: as pynncs, knyues, syscrs, R" h metrhan.
lookyng Glasses, Haukes, belles, bagges, or boxes, to kecpe theyr golde in, copper llynsies '" '"^*°
iangelinges to iiang at theyr Tymberellcs, bosses, laces, broclies, copper cbayncs, caske-
netlcs, braselettes, and suche other tryfles to trymme theyr wyues and children. We aun-
swered, that we were content to gyue them suche wares for iheyr kyne, if they wouldc
bryng them to the next mountayne. Then sayde otir Pilot agayne, They will liryng them
with vs to tlie mountayne : but no further in any condition : Therefore speake what you will
gyue ? Then one of our companions sayde, that he had a bosse of grauen copper and also a
little bell. But I, bycause I had no suche merchaundies, yet bcyng desirous to eate fleshe,
sayde that I wouldc sell one of my shertes for Kyne. Then sayde the Pilot, Let mee alone
with the matter. Then callyng vnto him fyue or sixe of tiie Inhabitauntes, he shewed them
our goodly lewclles, and demaunded for them three hundred Kyne. But the inhabltantcs,
not muchc differyng from beastes, madesignesthi't they would gyue only fyftiene. In fync we
agreed, yet suspectyng some deceite, neuerthelesse they kept theyr promyse, and sent vs fyf-
tiene kyne by two of theyr companions. We were scarscly departed, but we hearde a noyse and
timiulte in theyr denncs, and were partly afrayde lest these Trogloditcs woulde folowe vs, Trogiodua.
and therefore leauyng our kyne, we tookc vs to our weapons. But they made signcs vnto vs
to I'eare nothyng. Then our Pilot tolde vs, that their tumultc was only which of them should
haue the bosse of Copper. Then recouering our kyne, we drone them forward to the toppe
of the mountaine, and there dismissed the two blacke sialics that came with them. Whyle
wee were thus dryuyng our kyne by the side of a little wood, we met agayne with the Ele-
phantes, whereof beyiig in great feare, we forsooke our kyne, and trusted to our fecte.
Therefore dcpartyng from hence, we returned to the Ilande, where makyng prouision for our
vyage, we say led towarde the Cape, called Caput Bonae Spei, passyng the Ilande of Saincte Lau- Cabode Bucna
rence otliorwy-,e named Madagascar) beyng fourescore leagues distant from the nearest conti-i'h^n^njcof
r.ent or iirme l:ind. I suppose that in sliorte tyme the kyng of Portugale will be Lorde of this Sainct i ju
Ilande: for hauyng nowc burned and destroyed many villages and townes of the Ilande, his*"^ ' '"
name is fcarerull among them. And, as farre as T can coniecture by my peregrinations of
the workle (especially of India and Ethiopia) I thynke that the kyng of Portugale, if hee The kyng of
continue as he hath begunne, is lyke to bee the rychest kyng in the worldc, and doubtlesse ''"""^'"'
not vnwoorthily for the dignitie and godly zcale of so noble a prince, as by whose meanes
the Ciiristian fayth is dayly greatly increased, for it is certayne that in India, and especially tik christian
in the citie of Cucin, where the Viceroye remayneth, euery holy day, tenne or twelue Ido-^;,,'^™JnXa"
latcrs or Mahumetans are professed to our religion, whereby we may conceyuc good hope,
that in tyme our fayth shall there bee greatly enlarged by the grace of God, who hath
there gyuen suche supernaturall victories to the Christians, and therefore all professcrs
of Chri>tes holy name, ought to pray to almyghtic God to assyst hym in so godly an en-
terprise.

re nee

gascar.

;' ' * , '»

■' 'k

. ■§

S13

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c. Virlomannus' Travels, $»t.

Great Whale
fvshefc

Of the Cape called Caput Buna' Spci. That is, the Cape of good hope. Cap. 4.

DKpartyntc from llie Cape named Caput Bonne Spei, when wc had nowe sayled aboutc two
Tcmprt. hundred myles, there rose suddenly a tempest with eontrarye wyiide. Tlie cause whereof
was, that we had on the lelte hande the llandc of S;iint Laurence, and many other litic
Ilandes, from whence blowerh for the most part a great gale t)f wynde. And therefore for
the space of seuen daycs, beyng iierc daungerousiy tossed to and fro by the rajjes of the sea
and wynde, at the length we escaped, by the grace of God. But proceedyng about two hun-
dred leagues, a newe tempest rysyng so scattered ourshyppes in tlie space of syxedayes, that
wemettenot togeiithcragayiie vntyll wcarryiied at Luxburne in I'ortugale. I was in theshyppc
AnexcceJyng of Barlhelmewc, a Florentine, citizen of l-uxburne. The shyppe \v.is named Saint Vincent,
great rycHes uf >' vcsscI of excctdyng capac Itlc, and laden with seuen thousande tonnes of all sortes of
•py«'- spyccs. In the way wc passed also by an other Hand, named the Hand of saint Helen, where

wesawe certayne fyshes of such enorme and monstrous byggenesse, that one of them was as
byggc as a great house. When they ryse aboue tlic water, they yane or gape so wyde, that
the vpper iawe couereth al the forehead, as it were a souldier in sliynyng harne«se. Agayne
when theyswymme on the l)rymme of the water, the forhead is scene the breadth of three
great paces. And when they swymme in the sea, they so trouble the water, and come so
neere the shyps, that we were fayne to discharge al our artillarye to dryue them away. Shortly
after we founde an llande, named the Ilande of Asccntion, where we sawc n.'ny fowles,
about the byggnesse of our Duckes, so symple, without sus])icion or learc, that we tooke
them with our handes: but shortly after they were taken, thoy shewed an incitf'iole lierce-
nesse. I thynke veryly that they neuer sawe any man before, they so behelde vs before they
were taken, and were as styll as if they had ben astonyshed : for in that Ilande wesawe no
lynyng creature, saue only innumerable fyshes and the sayd byrdes. After we had passed
this Ilande many daye.s saylyng, as though we were nowe cimie to our ownc worlde, the North
starre, and guardions of our maryners, appeared vnto vs. And here oportunitie serueth well,
to confute the opinion of them that thynke that men maye not sayle in regions subiect to the
siyiyng by the pole Antartikc or south pole, by the guide of the north .starre, for it is certayne, that the
KgiOTs'benVath Portugalcs saylc by tiie guyde of the north starres, although they be vtterly <!Ut of syght by
the E^uiiioctiaU thc cleuation of the pole Antartike. Yet do they sometymes '..freshe the vertue of the

The Ilande of
Ascention.

Ijrnc,

it>:««';

needle, with the stone which euer naturally respecteth the north pole. A fewe dayes after,
we arryued at the fayre region, where are scene many Ilandes, named the Ilandes of Asture.s,
so named for the multitude of those Egles whiche we commonly call Asturcs. These Ilandes
are diuersely named : for some are named Pici, Martii, some De Coruo, also de Floribus,
Sancti Georgii, Gratiosa, and Feial. Departyng from hence, we came to the Ilande of Ter-
tiera, where we remayned two daycs. All these Ilandes are marueylous fruitefull, and haue
plentie of all thynges necessary for mans lyfe. Departyng from hence, in seuen d.iyes sayl-
yng, we came to the goodly citie of Luxburne, or Vlisbona in Portugale. At my commyng
thyther, 1 was brought to the kyngcs presence, whose handes ki.ssing with most humble re-
uerence, I thanked his maicstie for the great fauour I had found at the hands of his subiectes
and officers in India. He entertayned me most gratiously in his courte. vntyll I had inlburmed
hym of all thynges whiche I had obserued in my voyage to India. A fewe dayes after, I
shewed his hyghnesse the letters patentes whereby his Lieuetenante the Viceroye of India,
gaue me the order of knyghtliood, dcsyryng his inaiestic to confyrme the same liy his great
scale : which my petition, he immediatly graunted. And tiuis departing from thence with
the kynges pasporte and safe ronducte, at the length after these my long and great trnuavlcs
and dangers, I came to my long desyred and natiue countrey, the citie of Rome, by the
grace of God, to whom be all honour and glory.

THE

DESCRIPTION OF A VOYAGE

MADE OV

CERTAINE SHIPS OF HOLLAND

INTO THE

EAST INDIES,

WITH THEIR ADUENTURES AND SUCCESSE:

TOGETHER

WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRIES, TOWNES. AND INHABITANTES OF

THE SAME:

WHO SET FORTH ON THE SECOND OF APRILL, 1595, AND RETURNED ON THE 14 OF

AUGUST, 1597.

TRANSLATED OUT OF DUTCH INTO ENGLISH BY W. P.

lontion :

IMPRINTED BY lOHN WOLFE.

1598.

t .

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ill

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TO THE

RIGHT WORSIIirFULL

SIR LIMES SCUD A MORE, KNIGHT.

Right worshipfull, this small trcatie (written in Dutch, shewing a late voyage perl'ormcd
by certain Hollanders to the Islandes of laiia, part of the East Indies) falling into my
handes, and in my iudgcment deserving no lesse commendation then those of our Countrey-
men, (asCaptainc Uaimondc in the Penelope, Maister Foxcroft in the Marchant Royall,
and M, lames Lancaster in the Edward Bonauenture, vnto the said East Indies, by the Cape
dc Bona Spcrance, in Anno 1591, as also M. lohn Newbcry, and Raphael Fich ouer land
through Siria from Aleppo vnto Ormus and Goa, and by the said Raphael Fich himselfe to
Bcngala, Malocca, Pegu, and other places in Anno 1583. as at large appearcth in a booke
written by M. Richard Haclcte a Gentleman very studious therein, and entituled the
English voyages) I thought it not vnconuenient to translate the same into our mother
tongue, thereby to procure more light and encouragement to such as arc desirous to traucU
those Countries, for the common wealth and commoditie of this Realme and themselues.
And knowing that all men are not like affected, I was so bold to shrowd it vnder your
worships protection, as being assured of your good disposition to the fauoring of trauell
and trauellers, (and whereby it hath pleased God to aduance you to that honourable title,
which at this present you beare) and so not fitter for the protection of any then your selfe :
and as a poore friend wishing all happincs and prosperity in all your valiant actions.
Which if it please your worshippe to like and accept, it may procure the proceeding in a
more large and ample discourse of an East Indian voyage, lately performed and set forth
by one lohn Ilughcn of Linschotcn, to your further delight. Wherewith craning your
fauor, and beseeching God to blesse your worship, with my good Ladie your wife, I most
binnbly take my leaue :

This 16. of lanuarie.
1597.

Your Worships to commaunde
W. Phillip.

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TO THE

BAYUEFES, BURGHEMAISTERS, AND COUNSELL

or THE TOWN OF MIDDELBORGH IN ZEELANDli

IT may well bee thought (Right worshipfull) as many learned men are of opinion, that
the actions and aduentures of the ancients long since done & performed, haiie beene set
forth with more show of wonder and strangenesse then they in truth deserued : the reason as
I think was, because that in those daics there were many learned and wise men, who in their
writings sought by all meanes they could to cxcell each other, touching the description of
Countries & n.itions: And againe to the contrarie, for want of good Historiographers and
writers, many famous actes and trauels of diners nations and Countries lie hidden, and in a
manner buried vnder ground, as wholly forgotten and vnknowne, vnlessc it were such as the
Grecians and Romanes for their owne glories and aduantages thought good to declare. But
to come to the matter of voyages by sea, it is euident to all the world, what voyage lason
with certaine yong Grecian Princes made to Colchos in the Oriental Countries to winne the
golden Fleece, as also the trauels by Hercules performed into Libia in the West partes, to
winne the Aurea Mala or golden apples of Hesperides, which notwithstanding neither for
length, daunger, nor profite, are any thing comparable to the nauigations and voyages, that of
late within the space of one hundreth years haue been performed & made into the East &
West Indies, whereby in a manner there is not one hauen on the sea coast, nor any point of
land in the whole world, but hath in time beene sought and founde out. I will not at this
present dispute or make an argument, whether the Countries and nations of late yeares
found out and discouercd, were knowne to the auncients, but this is most certaine, that not
any strange worke or aduenture was, or euer shall be performed, but by the speciall grace,
fauour and mightie hand of God, and that such are worthy perpetual memory, as with noble
minds haue sought to efl'ect, and be the first enterprisers thereof, and with most valiant
courages and wisedomes, haue performed such long and dangerous voyages into the East and
West Indies, as also such Kinges and Princes, as with their Princely liberalities haue imployed
their treasures, shippes, men and munitions to the furtherance and performance of so worthy
actes, which notwithstanding in the end turned to their great aduancementes and inriclung
with great treasures, which by those meanes they haue drawn, & caused in great abound-
ance to be brought from thence, in such manner, that the King of Spaine nowe lining,
(h.iuing bith the Indies in his possession, & reaping the abundant treasures which yearly
are brought cut of those countries) hath not only (although couertly) sought all the means
he could to bring all Christendome vnder his dominion, but also (that which no King or
country what^otuer although of greater might then he hath euer done) hee is not ashamed
to vse this [Kisii', Nee spe, ncc metu. And although the first founders and discouerers of
those Countries haue alwayes sought to hinder and intercept other nations from hauing any
part of their glovie, yet hereby all nations, & indifferent persons may well know and per-
ceiuc the speciall policie, and valour of these vnited Prouinces, in trauelling into both the

Indies,

'!-^

:' .:3m

218 THE EPISTLE.

Indies, in the faces, and to the great griefe ofthoir many and mighty enemies. Wherby it is
to be hoped, that if they continue in their enterprises begun, they will not onely draw the
most part of the Indian treasures into these Countries, but thereby disinheritc & spoyle the
Countrie of Spayne of her principail rcucnucs, and treasures of marchandises and trafiques,
which she continually vseth and receyucth out of these countries, and out of Spayne are sent
into the Indies, and so put the King of Spaine himselfc in ininde if his foolish deuise which
hee vseth for a posie touching the new world, which is, Non sullicit orbis, like a second
Alexander niagnus, desiring to rule oucr all the world, as it is manifestly knowne. And be-
cause this discription is falkn into my handcs, wherein is contayned the first voyage of the
Low-country men into the East Indies, with the aduenturcs happened vnto them, set downe
and iustificd by such as were present in the voyage, I thought it good to put it in print,
with many pictures and cardes, whereby the reader may the casilier perceyue and discerne,
the natures, apparels, and fashions of those Countries and people, as also the manner of their
shippes, together with the fruitfulnesse and great aboundance of the same, hoping that this
my labour will not onely be acceptable vnto all Marchants and Saylers, which hereafter meane
to traffique into those Countries, but also pleasant and profitable to all such as are desirous
to looke into ^.o newe and strange things, which neuer heretofore were knowne vnto our
nation. And againe for that all histories haue their particular commoditie, (specially such as
are collected and gathered together) not by common report, from the first, seconde, orthirde
man, but by such as haue jeene and beene present in the actions, and that are liuing to
iustifie and verifie the same: And although eloquence and words well placed in shewing a
history, are great ornamentes and beautifyinges to the same, yet such reports & declara-
tions are much more worthy credite, & commendabler for the benefit of the commonwealth,
which are not set down or disciphered by subtill eloquence, but showne and performed by
simple plaine men, such as by copiousnesse of wordes, or subtiltie do not alter or chaunge
the matter from the truth thereof, which at this day is a common and notorious fault in many
Historiographers : And thinking with myselfe to whome I were best to dedicate the same, I
found it not fitter for any then for the right worshipfull Gouernours of this famous Towne of
Middelborgh, wherein for the space of 19 yeares I haue peaceably continued, specially be-
cause your worships do not onely deale with great store of shipping, and matter belonging to
nauigation, but are also well pleased to heare, and great furtherers to aduance both shipping
and trafBques, wherein consisteth not onely the welfare of all marchants, inhabitants, and
cittizens of this famous City, but also of all the commonwealth of the vnited Prouinces,
hoping your worships wil not onely accept this my labour, but protect & warrantise the
same against all men: Wherwith I beseech God to blesse you with wisedome, and godly
policie, to gouerne the Commonwealth: Middleborgh this 19 of October. 1597.

Your worships seruant to command

Bernarot Langhenez.

A niUKFE

BRIEFE DISCRIPTION

OF A

VOYAGE

PERFORMED BY CERTAINE HOLLANDERS, TO AND FROM THE EAST INDIES,

KFE

THEIR ADUENTURES AND SUCCESSE.

THe ancient Historiographers anJ discribers of the world haiie much commended, and at
large with great prayse set downe the diners and seuerall voyages of many noble & va-
liant Captains (as of Alexander Magnus, Scleiiciis, Antiochiis, Patrocles, Onesecritus) into
the East Indies, which notwithstamiing haiie not set downe a great part of those coontries,
as not being as then discoiicred, whereby it is thought and iudged by some men, that India
is the full third part of all the world, because of the great Prouinces, mighty citties and
famous Islands (fuK )f costly marchandises, and treasures from thence brought into all partes
of the worlde) that are therein: Wherein the auncient writers were very curious, and yet
not so much as men in our age : They had some knowledge thereof, but altogether vncertaine,
but we at this day are fully certified therein, both touching the countries, townes, streames
and hauens, with the trafiques therein vscd and frequented, whereby all the world, so farre
distant and seperated from those strange nations, are by trade of marchandises vnited there-
vnto, &c therby commonly knowne vnto them : The Portingalles first began to enterprise
the voyage, who by art of nauigation (in our time much more experienced & greater then
in times past, and therefore easilier performed) discouered those wild Countries of India,
therein procuring great honour to their King, making his name famous and bringing a spe-
ciall and great profite of all kindes of spices into their Countrie, which thereby is spread
throughout all the worlde, yet that sufficed not, for that the Englishmen ( not inferiour to any
nation in the world for arte of nauigation ) haue likewise vndertaken the Indian voyage, and
by their said voyages into those Countries, made the same commonly knowne vnto their
Country, wherein Sir Frances Drake, and M. Candish are chiefly to bee commended, who
not oncly sayled into the East Indies, but also rounde about the world, with most prosperous
voyages, by which their voyages, ours haue beene furthered and set forwarde, for that the con-
dition of the Indies is, that the more it is sayled into, the more it is discouered, by such as saylc
the same, so strange a Countrey it is; So that besides the famous voyages of the Countries afore-
said, in the ende certain people came into Holland (a nation wel known ) certifying them, that
they migiit easily prepare certaine shippes to sayle into the East Indies, there to traffique & buy
spyccs etc. By sayling straight from Hollande, and also from other countries bordering about it,

with

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220

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thefoure Hollander t'

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,»<*<

III <

with desire to see strange and rich wares of other Countries, & that should not be brought
vnto them by strangers, but by their owne countrey men, which some men would esteeme
to be impossible, considering the long voyage and the daungers thereof, together with the
vnaccustomed saylinges and little knowledge thereof by such as neuer sayled that way, and
rather esteeme it madnesse, then any point of wisedome, and folly rather then good con-
sideration. But notwithstanding wee haue scene foure ships make that voyage, who after
many dangers hauing performed their voyage, returned againe and haue brought with thein
those wares, that would neuer haue beene thought conlde haue beene brought into these
countries by any Holland ships ; but what shoulde I herein most commende eyther the wil-
lingnesse and good performance of the parties, or the happinesse of their voyage ? whereof
that I may giue the reader some knowledge, I will shew what I haue hearde and beene in-
formed of, concerning the description of the Countries, customes, and manners of the na-
tions, by them in this voyage scene & discouered, which is as foUoweth.

In the yeare of our Lord 1595. vpon the JO. day of the month of March, there departed
from Amsterdam three ships and a Pinnace to sayle into the East Indies, set forth by diners
^'shVssetsaTe ^'^^ Marchautcs : The first called Mauritius, of the burthen of 400. tunnes, hauing in her sixe
" demie canon, fourteene Culuerins, and other peeces, & 4. peeces to shoot stones, and 8 K
men : the Mayster lohn Moleuate, the Factor Cornelius Houtman : The second named Ho;-
landia, of the burthen of 400. tunnes, hauing 85. men, seuen brassc peeces, twelue peeces
for stones, and 13. iron peeces, the Mayster lohn Dignums, the Factor Gerrit van Buiningen,
the thirde called Amsterdam, of the burthen of 200. tuns, wherein were 59. men, sixe brasse
peeces, ten iron peeces, and sixe peeces for stones, the Mayster lohn lacobson Schellinger,
the Factor Reginer van Hel : The fourth being a Pinnace called the Doue, of the burthen of
50. tunnes, with twenty men, the Mayster Simon Lambertson : Which 4. ships vpon the 21. of
the same moneth came vnto the Tassel, where they stayed for the space of 12. daies to take in
their lading, and the seconde of Aprill following, they set saile with a North east winde &
following on their course the fourth of the same moneth they passed the heades ; The sixt
they saw Heyssant, the 10. of April they passed by theBarles of Disbon : With an East and
North East wind, the 17. of Aprill they discouered two of the Islands of Canaries : The 19.
Palm, and Pic, Los Romeros, and Fero : The 25. of Aprill they saw Bona visita, the 16. they
ankered vnder Isole de May : The 27. they set sayle againe and held their course South
Southeast. The 4. of May, we espied two of the King of Spaines ships, that came from
Lisbone, and went for the East Indies, about 1000. or 1200. tunnes each ship, with whom we
spake, and told them that we were bound for the straights of Magellanes, but being better of
sayle then they wee got presently out of their sight. The 12. of May being vnder fine de-
grees on this side the Equinoctiall line, we espyed fine ships laden with Sugar, comming from
. the Island of S. Thomas, and sayled for Lisbone, to whome we gaue certaine letters, which
were safely deliuered in Holland. Departing from them and keeping on our course, vpon
the fourth of Iiine we passed the Equinoctial line, where the extreame heat of the ayre
Their victuaiies spoylcd all our victuailcs : Our flesh and fishe stunke, our Bisket molded, our Beere sowred,
spoytV"'' o""* water stunke, and our Butter became as thinne as Oyle, whereby diuers of our men fell
sicke, and many of them dyed ; but after that we learned what meat and drinke we should
They passed the carrlc with vs that would keepe good. The 28 of lune wee passed the sandes of Brasill, by
X." ° "" the Portingalles called Abrolhos, which are certaine places which men must looke warely
vnto, otherwise they are very dangerous.

These sandes lie vnder 18. degrees, and you must passe betweene the coast of Guine and
the sandes aforesaid, not going too neer eyther of them, otherwise close by the Coast there
are great calmes, thunders, raines & lightnings, with great stormes, harde by the sands men
arc ill daungcr to be cast away: and so sayling on their course, first East South East, then
East and East and by North. Vpon the seconde of luly wee passed Tropicus Cancri, vnder
23. degrees, and ^. The 13. of the same Month, we espied many blacke birdes. The 19.
great numbers of white birdes, and the 20. a bird as bigge as a Swan, whereof foure or fiue

together

IhIjH

hi I:

: si'-i!

Ships voyage.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

H^l

together is a good signe of being neere the Cape do bona Sperance. These birdes arc 1^^"'l°l^l'^
alwaies about the said Cape, and are good signes of being before it. spcr' n'e. °' '

The second of August we saw the land of the Cape de bona Sperance, and the fourth of
the same Month we entered into a haucn called Agne Sambras, where wee ankered, and found They entcKd
good depth at 8. or 9. fadome water, sandy ground. |,';;°,^snc s«n.

The 5. day we went on shore to gather fruite, therewith to refresh our sicke men, that were
thirty or 33 in one shippe. In this bay lyeth a smal Islande, wherein are many birdes called
Pyncuius and sea Wolues that are taken with mens handes : we went into the countrey and
spake with the inhabitantes, who brought diucrs fresh victuailes aborde our shippes, for a
knife or small peece of Iron, etc. giuing vs an Oxe, or a sheepe etc. The sheepe in those
Countries haue great tayles, and are fat and delicate. Their Oxen are indifferent good, hauing
lumps of flesh vpon their backes, that arc as fat as any of our good brisket beefe : the in-
habitantes are of small stature, well ioynted and boned, they goe naked, couering their mem-
bers with Foxes and other beastes tayles: they sceme cruell, yet with vs they vsed all kind
of friendship, but are very beastly and stinking, in such sort, that you may smell them in the
wind at the least a fadome from you : They are apparelled with beastes skinnes made fast
about their neckes: some of them, being of the better sort, had their mantles cut & raysed
chcckcrwise, which is a great ornament with them : They eate raw flesh, as it is new killed,
and the entrailes of beastes without washing or making cleane, gnawing it like dogs, vnder
their feet they tye peeces of beastes skinnes, in steed of shooes, that they may trauel in the
hardwaycs: We could not see their habitations, for wee saw no houses they had, neither
could wee vnderstande them, for they speake very strangely, much like the children in our
Countrey with their pipes, and clocking like Turkey Cockes : At the first wee saw about
thirtie of them, with weapons like pikes, with broade heades of Iron, about their armes they
ware ringes of Elpen bones : There wee coulde finde ney ther Oringes nor Lemons, which we
purposely sought for.

The II. of August we hoysed anker, sayling towards the Island of S. Laurence, and the 22.
of the same month we had a contrary wind that blew North East : The 25. a West winde, and With whn
so held our course East North East : The 28. there blew a South East wind, & the 30. a South '^of.ulx'na.
West winde, and our course lay North North East to sayle to the Isle of S. Laurence. The
first of September wee discouered the point of the Islande of S. Laurence, vnder 16. de-
grees, and the third day we saw the Island being very desirous to go on land, for that many
of our men were sicke, whereby wee coulde hardly rule our shippes, or bring them farther
without healing, or refreshing of our men. The 9. of September lohn Schellinger sent out Theyhadgrtat
his boate lo rowe to lande, where they founde three Fishermen, of whome for two or three "or^Ses!'
kniues they had great store of fishes. The 13. we entered into a small Bay, but because wee
founde no good anker ground, as also being very foule we sayled out a^aine. The 14. we
saylcd vnder a small Island about a mile or 2. great, by the Hollanders called their Church
yarde, or the dead Island, because many saylers dying in that place, were buried in the
African earth, and the 29. of the same Month died lohn Dignumsz Mayster of the Lyon of
Holland, and was buried the next day after.

There lohn Peters of Delft Sayler of the Hollandia, & Koelken van Maidenblick of the
Amsterdam were set on shore vpon the Island of S. Laurence, where they were left, because
tliey had committed certaine notorious crimes.

Slcane time the Pinnace was sent out to looke for fresh water, which hauing found, the
boat returned to bring vs newcs, and therewith the fleete sayled thither, and the 10. of Oc-
tober the shippes ankered before the Riuer, and went on shore, where we found good pro-
\iisi()n of all necessaries, the inhabitantes being very willing thereunto, bringing vs of al things
that we needed, where for a Pewter Spoone wee had an Oxe, or three sheepe. The 11. of
October we went on shore with a boat full of sicke men, and the next day we were assaylcd »^ow the wiue
by a company of wild men, against whom our weapons little preuayled, for they hurt one of ""5",""^^'^,^
our men and tooke all that we had from vs, whereby vpon the thirteenth of the same Month, themtoinsconce
wie were forced to insconse our selues with peeces of wood, and braunches of trees, making "'"''""'
Cabins within our Sconse, for that the 15. of October they came againe, but then we tooke

G g one,

'•-if.

"'' i«

..;?;!

222

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thcfoure Hollanders

The nianei &
cuitomc of iht
wild peofle.

The ivilde men
broght things
abordc to com-
fort them.

The inscription
of one of their
kings.

The wildc )'eo"
pie taint; on
borde their ships
ind nemed very
iritndly.

one, and slew another of tliem. The 19. of Nouember our Pilot Claes lanson was intrapped
and miirthercd by the wild people, althongli we vsed all the means we could to helpe him,
but they Feared no weapons, about ten or twchie dayes after wc tooke one of them that
paidc for his death. The lirst of December our men hauiiig for the most part recouered
their healthes, were all carryed aborde the ships : in that parte of Madagascar the people
are of good condition, and goc naked, onely with a Cotton cloth before their priuie mem-
bers, and some from their breasts downward : Their ornaments are Cojjper ringcs about
their armcs, but Tin rings ate more esteemed with them, and therefore tinnc with theiii is
good marchaundise. Their Oxen haue great himpes of fat vj)on their backes : Their sheepes
tayles way at the least tweliie pound, being of ai\ ellc long, & two and twentie inches
thick. They gauc vs six of those sheepe for a tinne Spooiie : They dwel in cottages and
line very poorely : they feare the noyse of a peece, for wilh one Caliuer you shall make an
hundred of them runne away : Wee coulde not perccyue any religion they had, but after
wee were informed that they helde the law of Mahomet, for the two boyes that wee tooke
from of the land, shewed vs their circumcision : There wc found no fruit of Tambaxiumes,
but great numbers of Parrats, Medicals, and Turtle Doues, whereof we killed and eat many.
The second of December we burned our sconse, and fourteene of our men going further
into the Islande brought certaine of the countreymen prisoners, and being abord our ships
taught them what they shoulde doe. The thirteenth of December wee hoysed anker, mind-
ing to holde on our course for the Islands of laua, & for that by reason of the pleasant-
nesse of the ayre we had in a manner all recouered our healthes, we set our course East and
by North, and East Northeast. The nineteenth of the same Month wee were seperated by
foule weather, & the 2'i. with great ioy we met againe. The tenth of lanuarie Vechter
Willemson dyed, being a verie honest man, and Pilot in Molenaers shippe, for whome we
were much grieued, and the same day we determined to put back againe for the Islande of
S. Laurence, for as then wee began againe to haue a great scouring among our men, and
many of them fell sicke: But presently therevpon we espied the Islande of Saint Mary,
and the next day being arriued there, some of the inhabitants came abord our shippes with
a basket of Ryce, Sugar canes, Citrons, Lemons, 8e Hens, whereof we were very glad,
as being phisicke for vs.

Tiie 13. 14. 15. 16. and 17. dayes we were on land, where we bought Ryce, Hens, Sugar-
canes, Citrons and Lemons in great aboundance, and other kinde of fruitcs to vs vnknowne,
also good fish, and greene Ginger : There we tooke a Fish, which thirteen men could hardly
pull into our shippe, and because the Island was little, and we had many men, wee entred into
the Bay of the firme land with our Pinnace, where for a string of Beades of small value we had
a tunne of Ryce: The King came abord our Pinnace to see it, & was as blacke as a Deuill, with
two homes made fast vpon his heade, and all his body naked like the rest of the countrey
people.

This Island lyeth about a small mile from Madagascar, about 19. degrees Southward from
the Equinoctiall line (Madagascar or S. Laurence is an Jslande belonging to the Countrey
of Africa, and lyeth Southwarde vnder 26 degrees, ending Northwarde vnder 11. degrees
by the inhabitants it is called Madagascar, & by the Portingallcs the Islande of S. Lau-
rence, because it was discoucred on S. Laurence day : The riches of this Island is great, it
aboundeth in Ryce, Ilonnic, Waxe, Cotton, Lemons, Cloucs etc. The inhabitantes are blacke
and go naked, but the haire vpon their hcades is not so much curled as those of the Mo-
sanibique, & they are not ful so blacke.)

The 23. of lanuary we ankered before a Riuer where likewise wc had all kind of neces-
saries, and after that we went to lie vnder a small Islande within the same Bay.

The 25. of lanuarie there came some of the wild people aborde our ships, making signes
to haue vs go on land, which we did, and there we had good Ryce & other fruits in great
abundance. On the left side of the entry of the Riuer lyeth one of their Townes, and on
the right hand two townes, where we had most of our trafique.

The 26. of lanuarie wee had interpreters, whom we made to drink wine, wherewith they
were as drunk as bcastes.

The

Ships voyage.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIIiS.

^:mf.

Tlic manner & condition of the people inhabiting in the ,<;;rcat Bay of Antogilj
on this side the Equinoctiall line vnder 16 degrees, on tiic South side of the
Island Madagascar.

IT is a very great Bay, about ten mile broadc, behind it lyeth a hi<;Ii Island, and three
small Islandfr: there is good harbour against all windes. The Island is inhabited, and there-
in groweth all kindes of fruites, it hath a great fall nf water that comincth down out of the
liillcs, where we laded all our water, and halfc a mile from thence within the land, there
runneth a great Riucr, wherein likewise there is much water to be had, when you enter into
the Riucr about a quarter of a mile inward on the left hand, ther is a smal towne or village,
not closed nor fortified, in it there is al)out iiJOO. houses, & on the right hand where the
Riuer diuideth it selfe, there is two other such Townes : They were all compassed with
palles, and the houses were placed about two foote aboue the ground, vpon foure or line
palles or stakes of wood, and all the vppcr partes of reede and strawe. The cause why W''y'>'jif ^
their houses are made so high from the ground is to auoide the danger of venemous beastcs hiXihuus <'>'
that are there in great aboundance, as Serpents, Snakes, Camelions, and other kindes of ""''•
bcastes. The people are very blacke, .but their hayre and beardes are not so much curled
as the right Mores, nor their noses nor lippes so great nor flat. They are subtill and strong
people, much addicted to drinking, for they will bee as drunke as Swine, with a kind of
drinke made of Honie & Ryce. They go naked, onely that about their midles they weare ^,'^°„'^ij'J.'[„°[,
a cloth made of the barke of a free, drawne in small thrcedes : they make and vse very line in thatcouu-
Mats to sitte vppon : They haue no great store of weapons, for that halfe of them are vn-'"^'"
prouided, and tiiat they vse is a speare of nine or ten foote long, with a great wooden Tar-
get : They arc very fearefull of our Caliuers, for 5. or sixe men with Caliuers will cause
great numbers of them to flie away : We taught them what our peeces ment, for wee per-
ceyucd that they knew them not, before they had proued them : at the first they thought
they coulde carry no further then their owne lengthes, for they knew not what they were :
Their Kinges ornamcntes were ten or twelue Copper Rings about his armes : if we had had
such Ringes with vs, wee might haue sold them at what prices wee woulde. They likewise
vse beades of Glasse, which they weare about their armes and neckes, by them esteemed
for great ornaments : for a boxe of beades of small value, we had an Oxe, or three or
foure Sheepe ; rounde about this Bay are townes and villages, where you may haue of all
things to refresh your selues, Lemons and Citrons are there greater and better then in Por-
tingall : Likewise Oringes, Ryce, Hennes, Goats, Honie, and many other sortes of fruites,
and to conclude it is the best Bay in all the world to refresh ships. Being on land we were
wel entertayned, and must of force drink with them of their drinke made of Hony and Ryce:
There w;e trafiqued with them, and had sufficient of euery thing, but euery night we went
aborde our shippes.

The third of February we had so great a storme, that most of our ankers were lost, and
we ran vpon the land in great daunger to cast our ships away, but God holpe vs, for the
storme ceased, and then we went to hoyse vp our lost ankers, and so againe went to anker
vnder the Island, glad that we had so well escaped that daunger. The fift of February we
went to seeke for our boats, but the wild men had smitten them in peeces, & taken out
the nailes, thinking likewise that our shippes woulde haue beene ca<t away vpon the shore,
which they still expected : and when we came thither, they stood vpon the shore with their
weapons in hand and threw stones at vs, and we perceyuing them in that niinde, made to-
w.-irdes our shippes, for we desired not to reuenge our selues, nor once to fight with them
without commission from our Generall, whom we certified thereof. The eyght of February
we rowed into the Riuer to buy cattle, and other things, but they were become our ene-
mies, threatning and casting stones at vs, wherevpon we put out two shalops to run a shore
close to the land, and made our Caliuers and other weapons ready.

Wherewith we shot at them, but they feared not our shot, for they knew not what they
ment, they thought likewise that the peeces coulde carrie no further then they were long :

G g 2 bu>

:l, '(■

%:.

•■•llv.ftf

m
m

m
■m

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sri-i

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tliefoia'e HoUandert

i:i;i

but when they sawe eight or nine of their fellowes dead, they fled into the woodcs, and
wee entering vpon the lande set fire on their houses, whereof we burnt about twentie or
thirtie. The 9. of Februarie we sailed on the other side to buy cattle, and other necessaries,
but they seemed vnwilling to deale with vs, but we threatning to burne their houses, they
brought vs Cattle and fruites inough, with all things else to our desires.

The 12. of Februarie wee hoised anker, and set sayle out of the great Bay of Antongilf,
being well prouidcd of all necessaries, we put out with a North wind, the Bay stretching
Northeast and Southwest : The 2. of March we had a West windc, our course being East and
East & by North towards laua. In March and Aprill about the Islande of Brandawe, we
found that our Compasses helde two Strikes to farre Northwarde, and we coulde not per-
ceiue the sands that are set downe in the Portingalles sea Cards, but we saw many turnings
of streames, and we were much troubled with calmes, but with tlie new Moone we had
winde enough out of the West & North West. The 27. of May we found the water abord
our shippes to bee much lessened, and therefore eucry mans portion was but halfe as much
as he was wont to haue ; so that each man was allowed but foure draughts euery day, which
was but a small quantitie. Whereby through the extreame heat we endured great thirst,
so that at that time a draught of water abord our ship was worth a Riall of 8. The first of
luly we saw the Islande of Emgano, whereat we much reioyced, because of the great thirst
wee endured in our shippe, and when wee made neerer to it, we perceyued it to be
an Islande lying before the straightes of Sonda, vnder 9. degrees on the South side of
the line.

The sixtof luly we put somewhat nearer to the land, and there we saw sixe or seuen canoe>s
lying vnder the shore, but farre off, and durst not make toward vs : in the end we manned
out a shalop & rowed to land, but they made from vs, & when our men were hard by
the shore, there we saw about 40. or 50. of them standing vpon the shore with their bowes ;
wherewith our men durst not land, for they seemed to be a cruell kind of people, and
altogether wild, for they went all naked, not hauing any thing before their priuy mem-
bers. They, were of a reddish colour, but when our men saw no aduantage they turned again
vnto their shippes.

The seuenth of luly we saw the point of the land of Sumatra, which is a verie high land
descending downewarde with a long end.

The 11. of the same Month we were close vnder the land, where there lay an Island, and
there we ankered.

The 12. of July in the morning we saw certaine ships, whereof one came vnto vs, wee

rowed vnto it with a shalop, and spake with it, but we could not vnderstand them, but they

shewed vs where we should haue water, which made vs glad, that wee might once againe

haue our bellies full of water : it being almost foure Monthes that wee had not scene any

land, nor taken in any fresh victuailes. We sent our Pinace to the firme land of Sumatra,

there to seeke for some reliefe : for that where we lay there dwelt not any man. The 13.

The nwn'i^of of luly the Captain or principall ruler of Sumatra came abord our ships to see them, which

SumatMscom." was doue with great solemnitie, hee being apparelled after the Turkish manner, with a

Diing on bord. wreath about his heade, and a fearefull countenance, small eyes, great eye browes, and

little oeard, for a man might tell all the haires vpon his chinne : he brought vs a present of

Betele, which are leaues which they continually chaw, and eat it with chalke.

This Island of Sumatra or Taprobana (as it is saide) is the greatest of all the Orientall
Islandes, it is diuided from the firme land of Malacca by a straight and dangerous sea, by
reason of many Islandes and cliffcs that are within it ; Out of this Island as some men are
of opinion, Salomon had his Gold wherewith he beautified the Temple, and his owne pallace,
and then in the Bible it should be named Orphir, for certainly Sumatra is rich of mynes of
Golde, Siluer, and Mettall, and the inhabitants therof are very expert in melting of brasse
peeces : Therein is a fountaine of pure Balsame, the Portingalles haue no fortresse therein,
yet they traffique in certaine haucns, specially in Pedir and Campar : There is also in this
Island a place called Manancabo, where they make poinyardes and daggers, by them calde
f cryses.

■%

Ships voyage.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIKS.

22r.

cryscs, which are much esteemed in those Countries, and those of Malacca and laua, hold
them for their best weapons, and with them are very bold.

The same day our Pinnace returned againe vnto vs, bringing vs good newes, that wee
were welcome vnto the Countrey people, and brought vs certainc Indian Nuttes or C'ocus,
Melons, Coconb>''rs, Onions, Garlicke, and a sample of Peper and other spices, which liked
va well.

The fourteenth of lune we laded in some fresh water.

Right ouer against Sumatra, on the South side of the Equinoctiall lyeth the Islande of
laua Maior, or great lau.i, and these two Islandes arc dciiidcd by a straight commonly called
the straight of Sunda, which lyeth between these two Islands, bearing the name of the
principall hauen of laua called Sunda : In this channel there runneth a great streame, and
course of narrow waters, through this straight M. Candish an Englishman passed with hh
ship, comming out of the South sea from new Spaine. laua beginneth vnder seuen degrees
on the South side, and so stretchcth East and South 1.^)0. miles long, it is very fruitful!, spe-
cially of Ryce, Catle, Hogge«, Shccpe, Hcnnes, Onions, Garlikc, Indian Nuttes, and all
kinde of spices, as Clones, Nnlmeggcs, Mace, etc. Which they carrie to Malacca. The
chiefe hauen in the Islande is Sunda Calapa, there you haue much Pepper, better then that
of India, or of Malabar, & there you may yeareiy lade 4. or 50(X). Quintales of Pepper
Portingall waight, there likewise you haue great store of frankencense, Camphora, &
some Diamants: but they haue no other kinde of money but a certaine peece called Caixa,
as bigge as a Hollands Doibt, but not so thicke, with a hole in the middle to hang it vpon u
string, in which manner they commonly hange hundrethes or thousandes together, and with
them they know how to make their accounted which is two hundred Caixas make a Sata,
and fiue Satas make a thousand Caixas, which is as much as one Crusade of Portingall, or
three Carolus Gilderns, Flemish money : Pepper is solde by the sacke, each sacke waying
45. Catten waight of China, each Catte as much as 20. ounces Portingall waight, and each
sacke is worth in that Country at the least 500U. Caixas, and when it is highest atG. or 7000.
Caixas : Mace, Cloues, Nutmegs, white and blacke Beniamin, Camphora, are sold by the
Bhar, each barre waying 330. Catten of China : Mace that is faire & good is commonly
worth from 100. to 120. thousande Caixas : Good Cloues accordingly, and foure Cloues called
Bastan are worth 70. & 80. thousand Caixas the Bhar : Nutmegs are alwaies worth 20. &
25. thousand Caixas the Bhar: White and blacke Beniamin is worth 150. and ISO. thousand
Caixas, ard sometimes 200. thousand. The wares that are there desired and exchanged for
spices, are diuers sortes and colours of Cotton Linnen, which come out of seuerati Pro-
uinces ; and if our Cambricke or fine Hollande were carryed thither, it would peraduen-
ture bee more esteemed then the Cotton linnen of India.

The 15. of lune there rowed a scute called a Prawen harde vnder the lande by vs, wee
called him, but not against his will, and shewed him siluer, and other wares that liked him
well, he bad vs make towards the strand, and told vs of Bantam, saying that there we
should haue al kinds of Merchandise. Then we made signs vnto him that if he wold bring vs
to Bantam, we wold pay him for his labor, he asked vs 5. rialles of 8. and a red cap, which
we graunted vnto, and so one of the men in the scute came on bord the Mauritius, and
was our Pilot to Bantam, where we passed by many Islandes.

The nineteenth of luly as wee sailed by a towne, many Portingalles horded vs, and
brought vs certaine Cociis and Hens to sell, which wee bought for other wares.

The 22. of the same Month wee came before the towne of Bantam, within three miles of
it, and there ankered vnder an Island. The same day about euening a scute of Portingals
borded vs that were sent by the Gouernour to see what ships we were, & when we shewed
them that wee came thither to traficke with them, they told vs, that there was the right
Pepper country, & that there we might haue our lading, that new Pepper was readie to
be gathered, and would be ripe within two Monthes after, which pleased vs well, for wee
had already beene fifteene Monthes and twelue daies vppon our voyage, hauing endured
great daungers, miseries and thirst , many of our men by sicknesse being dead.

The

, . 1 1

' vl^

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The foil re Hollander $

1} fJc,-

The 23. of lime wee Iioyscd our ankers, and went close to the towne of Bantam, and
ankered hardc l)y 4. small Islands, that lie right North from the Towne : the same day the
Sabander (who is there one of the greatest oflicers next the King) ramo abord our shippcs,
asking vs what we would haue, we said we were come to buy I'cppcr and other spyces,
and that wee had readie money, and ccrtaine wares, whereof we siicwed iiim some parte,
•which hee liked well, saying that there wee might haue lading enough, shewing vs great
countenance.

The some day likewise there came a great number of scutes vnto our ships, bringing all
kinds of victuailes tosei, as llcnnes, Egges, Cocus, Ilonana<i, sugar canes. Cakes of Rycc
baked, and many other thinges. The ^4. of June there came many men aborde our ships,
bringing diuers wares to sell, shewing vs great friendshippc, and as it seemed were very
glad of our arriuall there, telling vs that there we might haue Popper enough, and new
Pepper within two Months after, and that Pepper was tlien as good cheap as it had bcene
any time within ten yeares before, that wee might buv 5. or G. sackes for one Catti, (being
about <J0. Guildcrns) which was ordinarily sold but one sarkc for that price : eucry sackc
wayetli 54. pounde llollandes waight, so that a pounde would be worth about a brasse penie
Hollands money.

The same day about noone the Sabander borded vs once againe, willing Cornelis Ilout-
man to go on land to speake with the Gouernour, for as then there was no King, for about
a Month before our arriuall there, the King was gone with a great avmie before the towne
of Palimbam, which hee thought to take, and had almost gotten it, but there he was striken
%vith a great Pecce by a Renigado of the Portingalles, and so was slaine. His death was
much lamented by the straungers that dwelt at Bantam, for he was a good king, being
about 25. years of age : he left behind him foure wiues, whereof the eldest was not aboue
15. yeares of age, and a yong sonne of three Monthes olde, tliat was to succeed him in his
Kingdome, and they had chosen a Protector or Gouernor to rule in his minoritie, whom
they call Kipate, and when the Kipate by the Sabandar sent to our Snrgeant Major to come
vnto him into the towne, he made him answer that he had no such commission, but he de-
sired the Gouernor first to come abord his ship, and then he would go on shore, he likewise
desired vs to go neerer to the towne with our shippes.

And therevpon wee sayled somewhat neerer to the Island that lay next vnto the towne,
within halfe a mile from it, & there we ankered at 4 fadome clay grounde, the towne
lying South from vs, where wee had a good roade : The next morning the Gouernor sent
aborde, and the men that came spake not onely good Portingal, but other languages : he
let our Sargeant Maior vnderstand that he would come aborde, and desired that hee woulde
with a shalop meet him halfe the way, which was done about noone, and the Gouernour
came aborde with a great company of men, where we shewed him all our wares, which
liked him well, desiring vs to come on land, saying that we should be welcome, promising
vs much fauour, wherewith he returned to the land with ccrtaine rich presents that we gaue
him. The 26. Barent H^iijn Factor of the ship called the Mauritius, died very sodainly.

The 27. and 28. great numbers of people borded our shippes bringing all sortes of ne-
cessaries & victuails to sell.

The 29. there came an Emperour abord our shippe, whose father in time past had beenc

Emperour of all laua, and commanded all the Kinges of laua, but this man because of his

«me^blmiTanii ^^'^^^ '■'^ was not much accouutcd of: he spake good Portingall, for his mother was a Por-

tingall woman borne in Malacca : This Emperour had conspired against vs with the PortiiT-

galles, but as then we knew it not.

The 30. of lune Cornelis Houtman tooke a boate and went into the towne, and there
spake with the Gouernour about certaine afiaires, touching a contract to bee made with
him.

The first of July Houtman went again into the towne, and when he returned he brought
with him a certaine contract made & signed by the Gouernor himself, who most willingly
consented therevnto, & saide vnto him. Go now and buy what you will, you haue free

liberty (

The Gouenior
of Bantam
came abord
l^teir sliips.

sftcretly con-
spired with the
Portiiigats
•gainst them.

A co»tr,ict to
tiuy U sell ill the
tDwne,

Ships noyage.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

oot

liberty; ^vhicll done, the s-aiU IInutm;in with his men went to seethe towne, apparelled iit
tlie best manner they couldc, in vcluet, Satin, and silkes, with rapiens by their sides : The
Captainc had a thing borne oiur his head to keep him from the Sun, with a I'rumpet before
him, which certainc times he caused to bee sounded : There the I'lnpenmr Ixid them to .t
banket after the Indian manner : IVom thence tiiey went to the rorlin^iallcs, that made
much account of Iloutman, and made iiim a banket, saying that they had scene him in Lis-
bone. The 2 of luly many Marchanis came abord, prolering vs IVpper verie good rheapc.
but because we were vnskilfull in the waight and other thinges wee lookc respite to aiiswcrc
them.

The 3. of luly the Sabandcr came abord, and lie was our great friend, for that after we
found it so, hee toldc vs what waight the sackes of Pepper were, and what prises they bare,
counselling vs to buy.

The 7. of luly the Gouernour sent vs a man secretly by night willing vs to lookc vnto our
seines, and not to trust the K:nperour, witli whom all the Marcliantes conspired, and went
to inuade our ships, and that hee ment to rob vs, as being very licentious and euill minded.

The 8. of July the Emperour sent \nfo our ships, <S: olUred to make them a banket,
bidding all the Captaincs, maist<'rs, Pilots, Gentlemen, Oll'iccrs, Trumpets, and Gunners to
come into the towne to him, and there he woiilde make nurrie with them : This was done
by the Portingalles aduise, thereby to hauc all the chiefe and principall men out of our
ships, but we perceiued their intent.

The 11. of luly the Emperour perccyuing that his dcuisc would not take place, hee went
from Bantam to lacatra.

The \2. of luly wee had a house ofTered vs within the towne.

The 13. of the same month Ueyncr van Hel with eyght Gentlemen went into the towne,
taking certaine wares with him, of euery thing a little, and laid it in the house appointed
for the purpose : there to keep a ware house and to sel our marchandise, and presently both
Gentlemen and Marchants came thither to buy and to sell vs Pepper.

The 15. and 16. many Gentlemen, Marchants, Chinars, and Arabians came to our ware-
house & into our ships, offering vs Pepper, but our Factor offered them to little a price.

The iiS. of luly the Gouernour came againe aborde our shippes, and there looked vppon
certaine of our wares, whereof hee bought some, and counselled vs to buy Pepper: About
the .same time the Portingalles made great sute vnto the Gouernour, proinising him many
giftcs to deny vs trafFike, and to constraine vs to depart from thence, saying we were no
marchantes, but that we came to spie the countrie, for they said that they had scene many
Fleminges in Lisbone, but none like vs. Among the Portingalles there was one that
was borne in Malacca, of thu Portingalles race, his name was Pedro Truide, a man
well scene in trauayling, and one that had beene in all places of the world : He was our
good friend, & euery day came to talke with our Captaines, saying, you do not well that
you make no more haste to take in your lading, you shall haue no better cheape wares, &
withall shewed vs many other things : wherevpon the Portingalles hated him, and not long
after he was murthered in his bed.

In August we did little, and tooke no great store of lading in seeking^ to haue Pepper
better cheape, which the Portingalles liked not well of, and saide vnto the Gouernour, that
we desired not to buy; which the Gouernour began to hearken vnto, for they offered him
great sumnies of money that hee shoulde not permit vs traffique, so that in the end hee
commaunded that no man shoulde carrie any Ryce aborde our shippes, whereby we were
.ibashed, and thereupon we sent vnto the Gouernour for our money which hee ought for the
wares hee had bought, which moued him.

The 26. of luly hee sent one of our Gentlemen with some of his men and nine slaucs
abord our ships.

The situation of the Towne of Bantam, the principall towne of traffique in the
Island of laua, their strength & manner of building, with their traffique,

w!\at

Tiic I^inpcrour
ment to h\l
vpon the ithipj
to rob tltcm.

The hatrtd of
the Portingillf<
against the.

'■Ml

•;i,r

>■»;

. ■:',:';'lj

;W8

!*■■:':.

VOYAGES. NAUrCATION'S,

TJicfoure IloUamkn

what people come thither, what wares arc there most desired, what nntinti!}
bring them thither, or come to fetch them, together with their religion, customer,
& manner of house keeping.

HAntam lyeth in the I^lande of laua maior, about 2.'>. miles to sea ward within the Isle,
between Sumatra and laua : On both sides of the Townc tliere runneth a Uiuer, about 3 foot
and a half deep, so that no shippes can enter into them: The Towne is compassed about
with a Uiuer: The towne is ahnost as great in compasse as the ohl townc of Amsterdam :
The wals are made with flankers : They hauc great numbers of Peeces therein, but they
knowe not how to vse them, for they feare them much : all their I'ecces are of brasse, &
they haue many brazen bases. Their wallcs arc not aboue two foote thickc made of brickes:
cilery flanker hath diners mastes and peeces of wood, which they vse when they arc be-
siei^cd by their enemies. The houses are made of straw and reedes, standing vpon 4.
wooddcn postes. The rich haue their chambers all hanged with silken Curtins, or els with
cotton linnen : Their houses arc most placed vnder Cocus trees, whereof the towne is full :
Without the wallcs are many houses, wherein strangers for the most p. it hauc their dwell-
inges. The towne hath three great market places, wherein dayly there is markets holden,
where you may buy all kindes of wares, and where there commeih a great number of
people, very strange to beholde: Within the towne there is a great church or miiske of
wood, wherein they obserue the law of Mahomet : Gentlemen & men of any qualitie
haue their owne muskes in their houses. The towne is not built with streetes, nor the
houses placed in order, but very foule lying full of filthy water, which men must passe
through, or leape ouer, for they haue no biidgcs: In the towne there is great resort of diuers
Countries and nations, as of Malacca, Dengula, Malabar, Guihercters of Pegu, Sani Malicas,
Banda, China and of many Kingdomes that haue great traffique for Pepper, that groweth
rounde about Bantam, which in August and September is ripe, there you haue Nutmegs,
out of the Island of Banda, and Clones from Moluca, which the Portingallcs doe most buy
vp: Wee bought Nutmegs there for a blank a pound: All victuailes and ncrf-ssaries arc
there in great aboundance to be had, as Hennes, Ilartes, Fish, and Ryce, and diuers kindes
of fruites, as Auanas, Cocus, Bonanas, Manges, Doroyens, Licca, Pruna, Grapes, Oranges,
Lemons, Pomegarnets, Cocombers, Melons, Onions. Garlicke; but breade they haue none,
but in steade of it they eate Ryce: Beefe is there the dearest victuaile, for an Oxe in that
place is worth 7. 8. or 9. Rialles of 8. The Chinars haue the greatest and most trafficke in
that towne. They come thither in the Month of lanuarie, with 8. or 9. great shippes, bring-
ing all sorts of Porseline, silks, Damanke, gold thread. Iron pannes, and lauas money called
Caixas, whereof 12000. make a Ryall of eyght: They are hanged vpon sfringes by two hun-
dred together, for the which they both buy & sel al kinds of marchandises, and there they
lade Pepper which they rarrie into China : Without the towne they haue a great place
wherein they commonly vse to sell their wares, and there they dwell, and haue g'-cater and
better houses then any are within the towne, all made of reedes, onely that in ci ery house
they haue a square place made of stone, wherein they put their wares to keepc them from
burning, as some riche men in the towne likewise haue: The Chinars are very -^iibtill and
industrious people, and will refuse no labour nor paynes to yearne money, there ihcy make
much Aqua vita; of Ryce and Cocus, and tralTicke much therewith, which the lauars by night
come to buy, and drinke it secretly, for by Mahomets law it is forbidden them. The
Chinars liue there with free libertie: When they come to remaine there for a yeare or more
as they thinke good, they buy themselues a wife or two, or more as they thinke good, and
liue together like man and wife, and when they meane to depart, they sell their wiues again,
but if they haue children they take tliem with them & so returne to China : They hauc no
special religion, but pray vnto the Deuill, that he would not hurt them, for tliey know that
the Deuill is wicked, and that God is good, and hurteth no man, therefore they thinke it
needlesse to pray to God. They acknowledge not the resurrection of the deade, but when a
man dyeth they thinke he neuer riseth again : In their houses they haue great painted
Deuils, before the which they place wax candles, and sing vnto them, praying them not

Shtpn voya.Ke. TR AFriQl'F-^, AND DISCOUKRIES. tW

to hurt them, and the more mon>*troii«< that their shapes be, the more they honour thetn.
These people line very hanlly ami poorely within Hantam, for there is not any woric or •
labour how (illhy soeiier it be, but they will do it to E;ct money, and when they hauc ;;ottfn
something f!iey rclurnc a^aine to China. They are vcrie like lewes in our countrey, for
thev nciier goe without a paire of balianres, and all thin^et is trood wares with them, aiul
are ready to do any seruiee. When we ramc lirst before Bantam, they eamc fiiery day in
gi«Mf companies into our shipper, and there set out their wares to sel, as siikes, sowing
silkes, and porselines, so that our vpper deckcs were full of pcdlcrs, that wee could hardly
waike vpon the hatclies.

The manner, coniliti< 'i, customo, {juiii^, standinj;, apparrll, housekeeping, wares,
and bthauiour of the lauars in Jiaiilam.

THc lauarH and inhabitants of Bantam, arc proudc and obstinate, with a very stately pace,
they hold the law of Mahoitiet, which they hauc not had aboue 35. ycares, for as yet there
are many heathens amon^ them that neucr were made Mores: it is a very lyini>;and thceuish
kind of people, not in any sort to bee trusted. Their apparcll both of rich and poorc is a
cotton cloth, and some of silkc about their middles, which they tic about them with a girdle,
the vpper parte and from the knees downewarde all naked; most of them goc bareheaded,
but the principallest of them hauc a wreath or Turkish roule about their heades, and some _^

little cappes ; Their priestes come out of Meca in Arabia, and are yellowe of colour : Their whit wMpii
weapon is a poinyard, which they call Crisis: it is made with hilt.s, and the handle is a Dcuil •'"^i'"'""'
cut out of wood or bone : the sheathes are of wood : with them they arc very boldc, and it
is accounted for a great shame with them if they liaue not such a Dagger, both yong, old,
rich & poore, and yong children of fine or sixe yearcs olde, and when they go to the
warrcs they hauc targets, and some long speares, but most of them such poinyardes: They
vsc neyther great shotte nor caliuers when they go against their enemies : for a small matter
one King wil make warre against another. When we came first before Bantam, we ofTered
to make a contract with the Gouernor and the counsell of the townc, that they should deliuer
vs a certaine quantitie of Pepper, and wee wouldc goc with our shippes before Palimbam,
and heipe them to reuenge the death of their Kings vppon their enemies, for (as they said)
we might goe within a bowe shot of the towne with our shippes, and the Towne is but of
wood without walles, so that we would presently haue beaten it downe to the ground. They
offered vs some of their principall Gouernours to be left for pledges in our shippes, and their
men woulde sayle in their fustes, such as shoulde go on land, and we should doe nothing
els but shoote out of our shippes, but our Captaines would not do it, considering our small
number of men. The lauers take as many wiues as they will, and are able to maintaine; How many
but the common people hauc but one, & some two married wiucs, and some !0. 20. and """"'"J' '"'"•
liO. concubines ; For a small matter they will sende their married wiues home agayne vnto
their fathers, when they hauc layne fine or sixe dayes with them, saying they like them not,
and so their marriage is vndone, when they desire it.

The manner, customc, housholding, chiidbcnring, sporting & clcanlinessc of the

women in Bantam.

THe women of the towne are well kept from such as arc circumcised, whereof the rich men
haue many, and from other men or their friendes, for their ownc sonnes may not come into
the house where the women arc. They lie all naked and chaw Betelle, and haue a slauish
woman that continually scratcheth their bodies, that is, such as are married women, but sucli
as are concubines arc as v iting Gentlewomen to the married womeni whc.i they goe out to
giue them more maiestie, and those that haue the greatest number are of most estimation :
The Concubines haue but fewe children, for the married women poyson their children, and
these concubines are bought and solde : by their apparell a man can hardly discerne the richc
from the poore, for they goe ail with a Cotton cloth about their bodies vp to their breastes,
•jnd bounde about their middles with an other cloth, bare footed and their heads vncouered,

H h their

. i.Wjl

■ ■ m

m^^'

230

How Pepper
groweth in that
roiintrcy.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thefourc Hollanders

A letter sent by
our men in the
town that were
kept pritsncri.

Th«y went
nearer to the
towue.

their hayre bound right vpon the top of their heads in a hcape, but when they arc in their
pride, they wearc crownes vpon their heads, whereof some of them are of pure goide, and
ringes of golde, and some of silucr about their armes, euery one according to their abilitie.
They are very curious about their bodyes, for they >vashc thei'nsclucs at the least fiue or sixc
times cuery day : they ncuer ease themsclucs nor haue the company of their husbandes, but
they presently leape into the water and vrash their bodicit, and therefore the water that runneth
through Bantam is very vnholesome; for euery one washcth themselues in it, as well pockic
as other people, whereby wee lost some of our men that drunkc of the water: The women
are verie idle, for they do nothing all the day but lie downe; t!ie poore slaues must doc all
the drudgerie, and the men sit all day vpon a mat, & chaw Betele, hauing ten or twentie
women about them, and when they make water, presently one of the women washoth their
member, and so they sit playing all the day with their women; Many of them haue slaues
that play vppon inslrumcntes much like our Shakebois, they haue likewise great basons
whereon they strike, & therewith know how to make good musicke, whereat the women
daunce, not leaping much, but winding and drawing their bodies, armes and shoulders, which
they vse all night long, so that in the night time they make a great noyse with basons and
other instruments, and the man he sitteth and looketh vpon them, cuerie one of tlie women
striuing to doe her best that she may get her husbands fauour and her secreat pleasure. The
Gentlemen, Citizens, and marchantes haue their Gardens, and fieldes without the towne, and
slaues for the purpose to labour in them, and bring their maisters all kindes of fruit, Hice and
Hennes in the towne, as also the Pepper that groweth there, which runneth vp by an other irco,
as Hoppes with vs, and groweth in long bunches like Grapes, so that there is at tlie least 2(X).
graines in one bunch : it is first greene, and after it becommeth blacke, and is there in great
aboundance, so that it is the right Pepper countrey ; for when we came thither they said vnto
vs, Aqui ai tanta Piniicnta, como terra, that is, here is as much Pepper as earth, and so we
found it, and yet we departed from thence by our ownc follies, without our lading of Pepper:
Wee staide for new Pepper, meane time the Portingalles sent their letters into cuery place
seeking to hinder our trade : At the first we might haue sufficient, for there we founde enough
both to buy for money or to barter. We likewise had money and wares sufficient : we might
easily haue had sixe or eight hundred tunnes, as we were aducrtised by some of the countrey,
that we should presently buy, for that the Portingalles sought all the means they could to
hinder vs, as after it appeared; and therefore he that thinketh to come soone enough, com-
mcth oftentimes too late, and we vsed not our time so well as it fell out.

The 29. of August we had a letter sent vs by night from our men that were in the towne,
that lay in a maner as prisoners, to will vs to let our pledge go a shore, otherwise they feared
they shoulde hardly escape with their lines, and great danger might fall vpon them : this
pledge came aborde with the 9. slaues.

The 30. of August wc sent the pledge and the rest of our lauers to l;\nd, with promise that
he would do the best he might to get our men leauc to come aborde : about euening of the
same day wee had ncwcs from our men by foure of our saylers that as then they were better
vsed, saying they thought they should come aborde when two shippcs were gone that mcnt
to saile for Malacca, being laden with Nutmegs and other things.

The first of September, and the 2. 3. and 1. wee sent many letters to the Goucrnour and
hec to vs, and likewise to our men that were in the towno, being nine in number, all our best
marchants and captains, hauing with them about 6. or 7000. Guildcrncs in marchandise, and
they againe to vs.

The 5. of September when wee perceyucd that dclayes were daungcrous, wee went close to
the towne with all our 4. shippes, and so neerc that we had but two fadome muddie grounde,
and presently with twoof ourboates for our securitiewec set vppon three lauan shipj)es, whereof
two were laden with fish and Cocus, wherein wee founde a man of China, being of some account.
The third ship was laden with 20. tunnes of Clones, 6 tunnes of Pepper, and some Benioni,
and Piementa da Rauo, wherein we founde fiue Malabardes slaues to the Portingalles, whom

wcc

Ships voyage.

TRAFFIQUKS. AND DISCOUERIES.

831

wee likewise tookc, & they xvcre very willing to goe with vs, thereby to bee eased of the
slauery wherevnto the Porlingais put them, and perceyuing that the Portingalles went often
to and from another shippc that lay not farre from v«i, we took our Pinace and made towardes
it, and being hardc by it, the Portingals left it & set it on fire : This ship had the richest
wares in it as the Portingalles slaues tolde vs, for it was laden with fiftie tunnes of Clones,
which were burnt in it.

The sixt and seuenth of Seplcmbcr we hearde no newes, so that wee went close to the
Towne agayne, shooting with our great Pecccs into it, slaying diucrs of the people (as after
we were informed:) They likewise shot with their Pecces agaynst vs, which the Portingalles
did, for that the lauars hauc little or no skill at all therein, and are very fearefnil of them,
and although they had many pecces in the towne, yet they did vs no other hurt then onely
shot one of Molenares halfe masts in peeces.

The senenth of September wee had a skirmish, which was in this manner, we perceyuing
a laiian ship vnder saylc, sent our Pinace with sixe and twentie men in her to fetch it in,
which the lauan shippe perceyuing fleddc behinde an Islande, where our Pinace followed him a skirmish be
so fast that shec fell a grounde, which the townes men perceyuing, made them rcadie with'„*"7nd»4. '"
foure and twentie boates full of men, all armed after their manner, and set forwarde in goodbo*"-
order, being diuided in two companies, seuen on starre bord, & 17. on lardde bord of the
Pinace, in order like a halfe Moone, threatning vs with their spearcs, they thought by reason
of their, great number of men, that they had already taken it, but it fell out otherwise, for
they in the Pinace, perceyuing them comming, shotte among them, and they were so near
vnto her that we could not shoot at them : and when they were harde by the Pinace, sheegotte
a fldtc, as they thought to take her, hauing cast out an anker in good time, and thereby wounde
theiiisclucs off the grounde, but for haste they were forced to cutte their Cable, because they
had not time enough to winde it vppe, and with all they shotte one of their boates vnder
water. The Pinace drawing her boate after her, the lauans presently leapt into it, and ciitte
a sunder the roape that heldc it, which they immediately stole from vs, thrusting with their
Speares in at the loopc holes. Seuen of their Boates being round about vs were so sharpely
paide with the iron peeces, stone peeces, and Caliucrs, that the 17. others durst not come so
necre vs: I thinke there were at the least I0(). of them that neuer carryed newes how they
sped in that skirmish, for eucry boate had at the least 60. men in it, and they were so thicke
in them, tliat they could not help themselucs, nor did any thing els but shake their spearcs,
and they shot but one base : their arrowes hurt vs not, and so the Pinace returned agayne vnto
our shippes, sayling close before the towne, ami shooting into it with her ordinance: They
shot out of the towne, but it hit her not, because they shot with stone pellets, wherewith you
cannot shoote so certainly as with iron bullets.

The 8. 9. and 10. of September we had letters from our men out of Bantam, by the which
they willed vs not to shoot any more, for that the Goucrnour threatned to set them vpon stakes:
Houtman wrote they were in good hope that they shouldc bee put to raunsome, which wee
counselled them to doe as well as they might.

The 1 1 . of September we had a letter from Houtman, and one from the Gouernour, wherein The contents of
bee wrote that he would set our men at libertie, so we would be quiet, but if we desired warrc, f' ^oucrnors
he woulde once againe come and visite vs in another sort: wee nunswercd him that there he
should find vs, that wordes were but wind, & that he should set our men at a reasonable
ransome, and thereof send vs an answere the next day.

The 12. and 13. of September wee had no answere out of the towne, and we had want of
water, and could get none thereabouts but that which came out of the towne, for that the
Gouernour had taken order that we should get no water about the towne, so that we hoised
ankers to go sceke some.

The 17. of September we came before 'i. or 4. Islands which Molenarc and Shellenger sayled
betweene, and for that the streame rannc so strong there, they were forced to goe so nigh
the shore, that they might almost leape on lande, whereby they escaped great danger, but
the other shippe and the Pinace sayled about the Islands, and so met with the other two, and

H h 2 casting

letter.

VV'i'A

w'-'n

'■^'ii >.

S8@

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thcfoure Hollanders

How the I.iuts
vsed our men
bciug ptUen(;rs.

The miner of
their ran'ome.

casting forth their ankers went on shore, where wee spake with men that saide they would
shew vs where wee shouide haue water, so we would giue them two Caliuers.

The 18. 19. 20. 23. and 34'. we stayed to lade water, for it was hard to get, and we were
forced to keep good watch, which done hoysing ankers againe, wee sayled towardes Bantam,
holding our course Eastwarde.

The 27. we sayled Northeast towardes the lande oflaiia maior.

The 28. setting sayle agayne, we kept East Northeast along by the coast of laua, & about
noone because of the great streame that runneth in the straight, wee were forced to anker,
and the 30. day wee set sayle againe.

The first of October in the euening wee came to a great Islande, being three miles from
the towne, and there we ankered finding good clay ground.

The 2. of October wee had a letter from our men, how they were seperatcd one from the
other, and kept by the Gentlemen of the towne, and their wares parted among them.

The 3. 4. and 5. when wee were againe before the towne, we had other letters, tliat by our
comming they were better vsed, and hoped to bee set at a reasonable ransome, and that they
promised that one of our men should come abordc, so he would returne againe into towne,
that shouide by worde of mouth certifie vs what hope they were in, and the cause thereof,
that we might the better belieue it.

The G. of October in the night one of our men came aborde, and shewed vs what had past,
when we shotte into the towne, how they were seperated and kept clo«e prisoners, aivl cruelly
threatned by the lauers, whereby they still expected when they should bee put to death,
and howe they sought all the meanes they coulde to make them to deny their faith, and be-
come Mores, but they remayned constant, and saide they woulde rather die, and that they had
by force shauen three of our men after the Morish manner, and how the Portingals had sought
all the meanes they coulde to buy them for slaues, oflering money for them that they might
sende them to Malacca, how they were set at libertie againe, & might goe where they woulde
within the towne, and so they hoped all would be well, and that they shouide bee set at
libertie for some small ransome, and that the Goucrnour asked them 3000. llialles of 8. but
they hoped to bring him to 2000. whereat we much reioyced.

The 8. 9. and 10. of October we passed oner to make some agreement with them that we
might be quiet.

The 11. of October they ngreede vppon a ransome of 2000. Kyallcs of eyght, and were con-
tent, that what goodes soeuer we had taken from them, wee shouide keepe as our owne, and
for our goodes that they had stolen, and forcibly taken from our men within the towne, they
would kecpe them, and so exchange one for the other, they likewise were content to quit vs
of all our debts, that we ought within the towne °yther to the Gouernor or to any other man,
and that from thence forwarde we should be free, and traffique in the towne, both to buy and
sell when it pleased vs, & with their good willcs as we had done, and before we paide our
money, the towne was to sende two men aborde our ships, which done, we were to pay the
halfe of our ransome, and vpon the payment thereof, they shouide set halfe of our men at
liberty, and that h.nlfc of our men being come aborde, wee wrre to pay the other halfe of our
ransome, which \vas 1000. llyalles of eyght ; which being performed, their two men, and
their other halfe of our men were on both sides to bee deliuered and sette free, and without
contradiction it was performed.

The 12. and 13. this agreement being ended, diners victuailers came aborde our shippcs to
sell vs Ilennes, Egge.>j, and all other kind of vi« 'uailes.

The 1-4. we gaue ccrtaine presentes in signc of good will, to such as had shewed vs fauour
when we were in contention with them.

The 15. 10. 17. and 18. some of our Factors went into the towne, where they bought cer-
taine Pepper, & brought it abord our ships.

The 19. they went again into the towne, & bought a greater quantitie at .5. sackes for one
Catti, mindiiig in that sorte encry day to take in our lading, but it fell not out as wee desired,
for the Portingalles that coulde not brookc our company, made such means to the Gouernour,

that

Mi.'i •■

fillips votjagf.

TRAFFIQU1':S, AND DISCOUEltlES.

tliat he gaiie commandemeiit that we should buy ho more Pepper, before we had paide 1400.
Riallcs of 8. which he challenued of vs because we had cast anker within his streame, where-
vpoii our Marchantcs went and agreed with him, which done wee thinking to buy Pepper as
we did before, the Gouernour againe commanded to the contrarie, whereby we perceyued
their dcccipt, in that he w(ild not hold his word. The countrymen would gladly haue solde
their Popper, as also the Chinars, Arabians, Mahometitians, and secretly some Portingalles,
but when wo saw wee could not get it out but with great daunger, wee thought it not con-
uenieiit to buy : and when wc spake vnto the Gouernour, touching the holding of his worde,
lie made vs answero, that he had no bones in his tongue, and that therefore he couide speake
that uliich he nicnt not to doc : and to say the truth most part of the lauars are a kind of de-
ceitfuil people, for whatsocuer they say and presently performe, that shall you be sure of and
no more.

The 25. of October there came an Ambassador into Bantam sent from Malacca to theGouer-
nor with a present of I0(J00. Kials of 8. desiring him to forbid vs both his towne and streame,
that woe might not traflique there. Whereof wee were aduertised by the Sabandar and other
of our fricndes coniisclli g our men to get them out of the towne, and not to returne again,
otherwise they would be in daunger to be stayed againe, and we hauing sent a man into the
towne to saue him from being holden prisoner, our iiost where we lay being on shore was
forced to bring him out C(HUTed with corfaine mattes; so that vppon the 26. of the same
month all our trafficke and friendship with them ceased: but our hoast being our friende,
rame secretlv aborde our ships, and shewed vs that he and his company had two ships lying
before the towne, laden with Nutmegges and Mace that came from Banda, for the which hee
agreed with vs at a price, \pon condition that we should seeme to take them by force, that
• crcby he might colour his dealing with vs : wherevpon the first of Nouember we sailed
• to the towne with all our ships, and set vpon the two lauan shippes, wherein we found
,. number of .SO. slaues, (hat knew nothing of their maisters bargaine made with vs, so
' .i they began to resist vs, wherewith we shot among them, and presently slew 4. or 5. of
thcin, tic rest leapt oner borde, and swamme to land, which done we tooke the two ships, and
I)ut their lading into ours: The Portingallcs shippe that brought their Ambassadour, lay close
vnder the shore, whercvnto we sent two of our boats, but the Portingals that were in her shot so
thicke with their peeces vppon our men, that our boates were forced to leaue them with losse
of one of our men, but our shippes shot in such sorte with their ordinance vppon the Portin-
gall shippe, that they spoyled and brake it in peece , wherein their Captaine was slaine, and
the victuailcrs that stil brought vs victuailcs to sell, tolde vs that with our peeces we had slain
three or foure men within the towne, & that the towncs men began to make an armie of
ships to set vpon vs.

i he 2. of Nouember we espyed a shippe that came toward Bantam, which we ioyned vnto
with our boats, and being ncere vnto it, they spread their fights, which were of thicke mattes,
and began to defend themselues ; our men shot among them with stone peeces and Caliuers,
and they defended themselues with great courage, hauing halfe pikes wherewith they thrust at
vs, &' that serued likewise to blow arrowes out of them, for they were like trunkes, out of
the which trunkes they shot so great numbers of arrowes, that they fell as thick as hayle, and
shotte so ccrtainely, that therewith they hurt at the least eyght or nine of our men, but
the arrowes are thinncand light, so that their blaste couide not make them enter into the flesh
abouc the thicknesof two fingers, onely the head of the arrowe (which is made of reedc, and
loose stayeth in the flesh) when wc shot with our Caliuers they ranne behind their fightes,
but whc they perceiued that their matted fights could not defende them, and that they were
killed tiirough them, they entered into their boatc, and by strength of oares rowed from vs,
leaning viieir shippe, wherein wc founde two dead men, and we slew three more of them as we
rowed alti <• their boat, so that in all they lost fine men, as we after heard, and that they were
fo the nuiTiLtr of 40, which done, wee brought their shippe to ours, wherein we found good
«tore of Ryce aid dryed fish.

The

233

Why the Go-
iiernor forbad vs
trafficke.

Howihey tooke
two lauan shi}'^.

Ttiey fought
with J Porting
gall shippe.

They fought
with a l.iuait
ihippc.

A Xi

. I: '.

i'Mi

Mf f!

if:l

mm.

;*i.,

t i)F*l|.f ' '

23i

Tht mirchanti
follow them
with warn.

How the Tn-
diirs betrayoj
them.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TJiefourc Hollanders

The 6. of Nouember, pcrceyuing not any hope of more traRicke for vs with those of Ban-
tam, wee hoised anker and set sayle, setting our course towardes the straight of Sunda.

The scucnth of Nouember wee came and ankercd before a Riuer of freshe water, about
sixe miles from Bantam, where wee tooke in our prouision of water: thither certaine Mer-
chants followed vs with Porseline, telling vs that they were sory for our departure, & that
they longed for our returne againe.

The thirteenth of Nouember wee set saylc, and about euening wee came before lacatra, in
time past called Sunda Calapa, which hath beene a rich Towne of marchandiae, but vppon
some occasions and by reason of their hard vsage the Marchants had withdrawen themselues
from thence, therefore at this present there is little or nothing to doc. lohn Hughen in bin
bookesaith this to be the principal towne of traflicke, but that is long sithence, for now there
is not any trade of marchandise.

The fourteenth of Nouember wee sent two of our men into the towne, hauing some of
theirs in pawne, who tolde vs that many of the inhabitantC'* were gone out of the towne with
all their goodes, being in great fearc of our peeces, and there wee had great store of victuailcs.
and much more then wee required brought abord our ships.

The 18. wee set saile from lacatra, and being about two miles from the towne, our shippe
railed Amsterdam fell vppon a cliffe, but it got off againe without any hurt, and therewith
wee presently made towardes the straight.

The 2. of December we passed by 3. towncs which we might easily perceiue, we Iikewi.se
passed by Tubam, and ankered vnder Sidaya. The 3. of December there came men out of
the towne, and desired vs to stay, saying that there we might haue Cloues & Nutmegs aa
many as we woulde, bringing certaine banketting stuffe (as a present from their King) vnto
Schelengers ship, because it lay nearest to the land, and they came most abord it.

The 4. of December they came again into Schellengcrs ship, bringing certaine prcsentes
with them, and among the rest a certayne birde that coulde swaliowc fycr, which is a very
strange fowle, and was brought aliue to Amsterdam, which after was giuen to the states of
Holiande lying in the Hage, and some good fruites, willing vs to sonde a man on .shore, t(» see
their spices, whereof they said they had great store : wherevpon we sent a man out of the
Amsterdam, and with him an interpreter, one of the Portingalles slanc'', they leaning three or
foure of their men aborde our shippes, for pawnes till his returne : when our man came to
lande hee was well vsed,and there they shewed him fortie or fiftie bals of Cloues; which done
they brought him before the King, that promised him great fauor, and told him tliat the next
day he wold himselfe come aborde our ships, and deaic with our Captaines, and with that
he let our man depart.

The b. of December we expected the Kingcs romming aborde, putting out all our flagges
and streamers, and about noone there came 8. or 9. indifferent great shippes full of men
from off the shore, wherein wee thought the King to bee, but when they were almost at vs
they diuided themselues, three of them rowing to Shellengersi ship, and when they horded
him, they thinking the King had been there, Reymer van Ilcl as Factor and the Maister came
forth to rcceyue him, but the lauers entering all at once, Reymer vrm Hel said, What will all
these people do aborde the shippe, for there w.is at the least two hundred men, who all at
one time drewe out their poinyarde.s, and stabbed our men that neucr suspected them, so that
presently they had slainetwelue of the shippe, and two sore wounded, that boldly withstoode
them : the rest of our men being vnder hatches presently tooke their pikes, and thrust so fast
out at the grates, that the lauers woulde haue forced the middle part of the ship, wherein
was two entries, but our men standing at them with their swordes in hande draue them out,
not ceasing still to thrust vp with their pike.s meane time they kindled fier, lighted their
matches, and shot ofl their stone peeces that lav aboue the hatches, wherwith they began pre-
sently to flie, most of them leaping oner bord, and swam to their two boates, that lay harde
by our shippes, whereof one with a great peece was presently striken in peeces: The rest of
our ships hearing vs shoote in that manner, entered into their boats, and miide towardes

em.

Ships xuyagc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

?i35

*i!-'

them, rowing hardc to the three Indian fustes, wherein were at the least 100. men, and
shntte among them with their pecccs, wherewith they leapt into the water, euery man swim-
ming to shore, and we with two boates after them, hewing and killing them as our deadly
enemies, whj vnder pretence ol' friendshippe sought to murther vs, and wee handled them
in such sort, that of two hundred men there got not nboue thirty of them to lande, the rest
of their fustes lay farre off and beheld the light : Three of their fustes thought to rowe to the
Pinace to lake her, which they might easily haue done, as hauing not abouc 7. or 8. men in
her, being busie to set vppe a newe maste, but when they perceyued their men to bee so
haiuleled in the Amsterdam, and that they leapt oucr bordc, they turned backe againe, and
in great haste rowed to land, so that at that time they got not much by the bargaine, and no
.small griefe to vs, for there wee lost 12. men, that were all stabbed with poinyards, their names The names of
were lohn lacobson Schellenger, maister of the ship, Reymer van Hel Factor, Gielis Giele- ''"'' ""!\' j"
son Gentleman, Barent Bonteboter, Arent Cornedrager, Cornells van Alcmuer, Simon
lanson, Wiltschut loos tlie Carpenter, .Adrian de Metselar, one of the Portingalles slaues, and
(WO boyes, whereof one was but tweliie yeares oldc, whereby wee perceyued them to be a
kindc of cruoll people, for they had giuen the lifde boy and all the rest of our men at
the least VZ stahbes a peecc after they were dead.

The same day :.bout eiicning we hoysed ankers, and set saile, hauinr, manned the Am-
sterdam with men out of our other shippes, and so helde our course Eastward.

The 6. of December we came to a great Island called Madura, where we ankered, and in
the euening two of their men came aborde our shippes, with message from their Gouernour,
saving that we were welcome, desiring vs to stay there, for he would trafficke with vs, and
sell vssomc Pepper, as they saide, but wee beliened them not.

The 7. of December there came another boat abord, bringing certaine fruiies, saying that
the next day their Gouernour would come to sec our shippes.

The 8. there came a great fuste and three smal boats, from off the land all full of men,
saying their Gouernour was among them : we willed them not to goe to the Amsterdam, but
to the Mauritius, but they woulde not, but made to the Amsterdam, thinking because there
had bcene so many murthered in her, there was not many men aborde her at that time, and
when they were within a pykcs length of her, (although they were directed to the other
shippes) they remembring their late mischance, shotte off three or foure stone Peeces full
laden, wherewith they slew and hurt many of the Indians, wherevpon they presently leapt
ouer bord, & wee with our boates follrwed after and slew diuers of them, taking ten or
twelue, thinking by them to know what their intent was to doe, but they coulde not certific
vs, and therefore we let them go againe onely keeping two boyes, who long after stole out
of the shippe, and swamme to lande : They tolde vs that the Gouernour being a Bishoppe or
chiefe instructor of the countrey, was within the boate and slaine among the rest, hee had
therein likewise a little boy one of his sonnes who wee likewise tooke, and sent to lande :
The Bishoppe was of Meca, and much esteemed of among them, a great Clearke, and
Gouernour ouer all the rest of the Countrey : There was a lewell found about him, which
as yet is kept.

About euening we hoysed ankers, & set sayle, & the 11. of December we came to two
small Islands, where wee ankered, there wee fo'-'.ide none but poore people and fishermen,
that broug!.i .s lish. Hens, and other fruit to sell.

The 13. wee set sayle, and the 14. wee had a West winde, which they call the passage
winde, that would haue serued vs well to saile to Moluccas, from whence wee were not How hut tUy
distant aboue two hundred miles, and as then it was a good yeare for Clones, which hap- J""*''"" M"-
pcneth euery three yeares : It was told vs that we might there haue a Cabbin laden full of
Clones, wherevpon wee determined to sayle thither, but because wee had already indurcd a
long and troublesome voyage, and but ill manned, wee woulde not, longing to bee at home :
This contrary wind holding vppon the foure and twentie of December wee came to an Islande
where we had beene before.

The

.ilj ;,i ■

i' ^ .1

III

r i

ffVii Mji ■ ■
.itrt,;:.;'

MM ^
tell':' ::

336

Thf Atiister-
dam set ou tiic.

The Pinjcc on
ground.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The foure Hollanders

The 25. of December lohn Moleiiaer maistcr of the Mauritius, dyed sodainely, for an
hower before hee was well, and in good health.

The 28. 39. 30. and .'il. of December wee were busied to take all the wares, sayles, and
other thinges out of the Amsterdam, her victuailes and furnitures seruing for our voyage
homewarde, & lying vnder that Island, we had victuailes brought vs euery day as much as
wee needed, both fish, Hens, venison and fruit, and at reasonable price, but there we could
get no water.

The 11. of laiuiary when we had vnladen the Amsterdam we set her on fier, letting her
burne, taking her men into our shippes.

The 12. of lanuarie we iset sayle again, some desiring to sayle Eastward, others Westward,
but in fine wee set VVestwarde to sayle once againe to Bantam, wherewith the Mauritius
sayled Southeastwarde, to gette about the Island of laua, r»nd wc followed her. The 14. of
lanuary we once againe percevued the East point of the Island of Madura, and held our
course Southward : on that side of Madura there lycfh many small Islandes, through which wc
sayled.

The 16. in the morning our Pinace fell on groundc vpon tlu* coast of laua, not far from Pan-
norocan, where she shotte off three peeces, at the which warning wee made thither with our
boates, and by the helpe of God got her off againe : There we s;iw a high hi! that burnt,
vnder and aboiie the fire hauing a great smoakc, most strange to behold.

The 18. of lanuary we entered into the straight that runneth betwcene laua and Baly, and
by reason of the hard & contrary streame that ran therin, we were forced to anker vpoii the
coast of laua, where \vee found good anker ground.

The 19. wee set set sayle, and when wee came necre to the coast of Baly, we jntered into
a rough streame, and our shippes draue liackeward, as swiftly as an arrow out of a bow, and
there we found no anker ground, nor any anker could haue holden vs, but Molcnaer got the
coast of laua and ankered, which in the ende wee likewise did, and ankercd at the least
three miles from him, and so much we had driuen backe in the space of halfe an hcure.

The 20. of lanuarie wee went and lay by our other ships.

The 21. of lanuarie there came two barkes to the Mauritius, wherein there was one that
coulde spcake good Portingall, who tolde vs tliat the towne of Ballaboam was besieged by a
strange King, that had marrvcd the King of Ballaboams daughter, and after he had iaine with
her he caused her to bee slaine, and then came to besiege her father. This towne of Balla-
boam lyeth on the East end of the Island of laua, and is the same towne where M. Candish
was when hee passed that way, and the old King wherof he writcth was as then yet liuing,
being at the least 160. years of age. There we saw great numbers of Bnttes, that flew oner
our shippes, and were as bigge as Crowes, which in that Countrey they vse to eat, as they
say : About noone we came before the towne of Ballaboam, so neare vnto it, that we might
easily see it, and there we lay behind a high point of lande, thinking to take in water.

The 22. of lanuarie we tooke our Pinace, and sayled about the shore as ncere the land ns
possible we might, to seeke for fresh water, but we found none, for the Rincr that ran
through the towne was paled vp (by them that lay befoie it) so that no man might passe
either out or in, but onely on the lande side, and that with great daungcr : The same day
there came 2. or 'i. men abord our shippe, that stole out of the towne by night, and came
from the King, to desire our help with our great shot, which wcc coulde not doe ; because
that thereabouts it was very shallow, and we might not go neere i. with our siiippes ; they
tolde vh they had great want of victuailes within the towne, whereby many of them were
already deade for hunger, and much desired our aide, but it was not in vs to doe. Those
that besieged the towne were Mores, but they in the towne were heathens, and as yet
had not receyued Mahomcts lawe, and that (as wee heard after) was the cause of their
warre: There wee sawc many Storkes flying and sifting in the fielde: with vs we cannot
imagine where the Storkes remainc in winter time, but here wcc sawe them in the winter

time.

The

iiwi'i

Shift voyage.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

937

!ie

The 24. of lanuarie we sayled from thence, pcrceyuing nothing for vs to get, and tooke
our course right ouer to the Island of Bally.

The 25. we came to Bally, where one of their barks borded vs, telling vs that there we
should find a Riuer of fresh water, and of all thinges els suflicient to scrue our necessitic!;,
wherevpon wee ankered.

The 26. of lanuarie our Pinace sent her boat to land, to ee the Riucr, and there one of
our men was sent on shore, but when he was on land he found nothing, but an armie of ten
thousand men, that ment to relieue the towne of Ballaboam, and the Riucr was nothing worth
to lade water, wherevpon our men came on borde againe : Their Generall thouglit to haue
gotten some great pray out of our shippes.

The 27. of lanuarie we set sayle to finde a conuenient place to refresh vs with water and
other prpuision, for wee were informed by a man of Bengala, that of his owne will sayled with
V9, and that had beene in Bally, that there wee should finde water and other thinges to serue
our necessities, so that by night wee ankered vnder a high pointe of lande on the South West
ende of Bally.

The 28. of January one of their boates borded vs with sixe or seuen men, saying that their
King was desirous to deale with vs for such wares as hee had, and sent to know from whence
we came, and we said wee came out of Holland.

The 29. and 30. there came more men aborde our shippes, but as wee suspected that was not
the right hauen, for the people came rowing in great haste a far off, and the man of Bengala
could not tell what to say, but the King was thereabout, and euery day sent vs some
fruit.

The first of February wee had two hogges brought aborde our shippes, that wee bought for
two Ryalles of eyght, and we eate them very sauerly.

The 2. of Februarie, we set saile that wee might get aboue the point, where wee thought to
finde a better place for freshe water, but by reason the winde was contrary, wee coulde not doe
it, but were forced to anker again.

The 3. of February we set saile againe, and then wee had a storme, so that our saile
blew euery way, and because of the contrarie winde we could not reach aboue the point, but
were constrained to anker, but the Mauritius and the Pinace got past it, although thereby
the Mauritius was in no little daunger, but because the Pilot had laid a wager of 6. Rialles of
8. that hee woulde get aboue it, hee would passe, what daunger soeuer it might be, and
sayled close along by the cliflTes, whereby wee lay at anker without companie.

The 4. and 5. wee set saile once againe to get aboue the point but could not reach it.

The 6, we had a letter from Rodenburgh, that certified vs how the Mauritius lay at anker at
the least 7. or 8. miles beyond the point, and he that brought the letter came with it ouer
land ; and at the same time there was a man sent on lande with a small present for the
King, that we might winne his fauour.

The 7. our man came on borde againe, and brought vs newes how Rodenburgh with one
of the Portingalles slaues, being on lande were against their willes led before the King, but
the saylors of the Mauritius had gotten men for pledges.

The 8. of lanuarie, the same man went on land out of our shippe with more presentes
of veluet and a caliuer, the better to get the Kinges fauour, which liked him well, and de-
sired vs to bring the ship nearer to the towne, saying he would send vs water, and other
things sufficient to supply our wants.

The 9. we sayled into the cheeke with our shippe, & ankered about a small halfe mile
from the land, & being ankered there came at the least 70. boates of the Countrey to see our
ship, and the King sent vs word that hee was desirous to heare vs shoote off 5. or 6. of our
great peeces, wherevppon wee shot fiue of our greatest peeces, and the King stoode vppon
the shore to see them.

The 10. we had a letter from Cornells Houtman, to wil vs to come to them, for that there
they had founde a good place for water, and of all other necessaries, so that about euening
wee set sayle, leau'ng two of our men and a Portingall slaue among the Indians, whome the

I i Kins;

t }

''■■*(•':■'

..1 ■ ■

::'^*

,1 !,!

mi m\

238

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlte foure Hollanders

King promised should come vnto vs ouer land, yet that night wee could not reach aboue the
point, meane time we perceyued our Pinace that came to helpe vs.

The 16. we got by the Mauritius, that had already laden in her water, and hooped her
vessels, wherevpon we began presently to do the like, and to visite our vessels that were
almost spoyled.

The 17. our men whome wee left with the King came ouer land vnto our shippes, and
then we bought great store oF cattle and fruit.

The 18. 19. 20. and 21. wee imployed our time to lade water, which wee had verie
easily, and refreshed our selues with Cattle, Hogges, fruit, and Lemons sufficient. There
came one of the Kinges principall officers with our men ouer land, to pleasure vs in all
things we desired, he was very desirous to haue some present of vs.

The 22. .of lanuarie two of our men that sayled in the Mauritius stayed on lande, but wee

knewe not the cause : it should seeme some great promises had beene made vnto them, for

as we vnderstoodc, the King wa.s very desirous to haue all sortes of strange nations about

him, but our people were therein much ouerseene, for there they liued among heathens.

Two of our *'^** neyther knewe God nor his commandementes, it appeared that their youthes and wilde

menitaycd with hcades did not remember it, one of their names was Emanuel Rodenburgh of Amsterdam,

the indiaiu. jj^g other lacob Cuyper of Delft : within a day or two they sent vnto vs for their clothes,

but wee sent them not.

The 23. 24. and 25. we made a voyage on land, and fetcht as many Hogges abord our
shippes as we could eate.

The 25. of Februarie we hoy$>ed ankers, minding to set saile & so go homeward, leauing
our 2. men aforesaid on land, but because it was calme weather we ankered, and went once
ngaine on lande, and the 26. of the same Month wee set saile and helde our course West
South West, but we had a calme.

The situation of the Island of Baly.

THe Island of Baly lying at the East end of laua, is a verie fruitfull Islande of Ryce,
Hennes, Hogge-s, that are verie good, and great store of cattle : but they are very dric and
leane beastes. They haue many horses : the inhabitantes are heathens, and haue no religion.
How 50 women for somc pray to Kine, others to the Sunne, and euerie man as hee thinketh good. When a
seTu" s Jritrone ""^^ dycth his wifc burneth her selfe with him: there were some of their men aborde our
nan. shippes, that told vs, that when some man dyeth in that Countrey, that sometimes there are at

the least fifty women that will burne themselues with him, and she that doth not so is ac-
counted for a dishonest woman : so that it is a common thing with them : The apparel
both of men and women is for the most part like those of Bantam, nothing but a
cloth about their middles : Their weapons is, each man a poinyarde at their backes, and a
trunke with an iron point like a speare, about a fadom and a halfe long, out of the which
they blowe certaine arrowes, whereof they haue a case full ; it is an euil weapon for naked
men : they are enemies to the Mores and Portingalles. This Island yeeldeth no spice,
nor any other costly ware, onely victuailes and clothes which they weare about their
bodies, and slaues that are there to be solde. The King went with more state then the
King of Bantam : all his garde had pikes with heades of fine gold, and he sate in a
wagon that was drawen by two white Buffles.
The first of March we had a calme.

The third we got a good wind that blew Southe.ist, holding our course West South West.

The fourteenth the wind blew stil South East, sometimes more Southwarde, and sometimes

Eastward, being vnder 14. degrees, and a good sharpe gale, holding our course West Southwest:

The tituatio* ef There we found that laua is not so broade, nor stretcheth it selfe not so much Southwarde, as

'""• it is set downe in the Carde : for if it were, we should haue passed cl(;an through the middle

of the land.

The 22. of March the winde helde as it did, being vnder 19. degrees, holding our course
West South West.

The

ihips voyage.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

239

The 19. of April our ship had no more bread left, but for our last partition ciiery man had
seuen pound, both good and badde breade, and from that time forwarde our meate was Rice
sodden in water, and euery man had a canne of water euery day, with three romers of
wine, and weekely each man three romers or glasses of oyle and that very strong, and
nothing els.

The 20. we had a calmc, the 21. a calme with a Northerne aire.

The 23. a good wind that blew Southwest.

The 24. we saw the firmc lande of /Ethiopia, being vnder 33. degrees, and as wee gessed,
wee were then about an hundred miles from the Capede bona Sperance, yet we thought we
had been at the least three hundred miles from it, so that wee may say, that God wrought
wonderfully for vs : for that if wee had fallen by night vpon the land, we had surely runne
vpon it: wee had a good winde out of the West, and West Southwest.

The 25. of Aprill in the morning wee had a calme, with a very hollow water, & at euening
we had a good winde, that came North and Northeast, and although wee had so good a wind
yet our shippe bare but little sayle, although the other two shippes of our company were at
the least two mile before vs, for most part of the night wee say led with our schouer saile,
holding our course Southwest & by West.

The 26. of Aprill in the morning we coulde not see our shippes, which pleased not our
men, besides that our shippe was very weake, whereby her ribs shoke, and her ioynts with
the force of the water opened and shut, so that as then our shippe was very leake, hauing
the winde Northwest, holding our course as neere as wee could West Southwest, and then we
put out our maine sayles, at noone the winde came West, with a great storme, so that most of
our sayles blew in peeces, and so wee draue forward with out sayles.

The 27. of Aprill still driuing without sayle with a West winde, wee were vnder thirty sixe
degrees, so that we found that the streame draue vs South & South West.

The 28. of Aprill still driuing without sailes, we had the height of 36. degrees and 20. mi-
nutes, and about euening we hoised saile againe, the winde being West Southwest, & we
held our course Northwest with very hollow water.

The 29. of April we could not as yet see our shippes, the wind being West.

The 30. of Aprill we had fay re weather with a West and West South West wind, and then we
saw many great birdes with white billes, which is a signe not to bee far from the Cape de bona
Sperance, we likewise saw certain small birdes speckled on their backes, and white vpon their
breasts.

The first of May wee had a South winde with fayre weather, hauing 34; degrees and a halfe,
holding our course West Southwest.

The seconde of May wee were vnder 35. degrees, and ■§■. holding our course West and West
and by North.

The fourth of May we found our selues to be vnder 37. degrees South South East winde, our
course being West and by North, and West North West.

The 5. and 6. of May we had all one winde at noone being vnder 35. degrees, wee thought
wee had past the Cape, and held our course Northwest, towardes Saint Helena, still without
sight of our ships.

The 8. of May with a South wind wee helde North West and by West.

The 9. we had a calme with a gray sky, and were vnder 31. degrees and twentie minutes,
and then our portion of oyle was increased a glasse more euery weeke, so that euery man had
foure glasses.

The 10. we had stil South winds, and were vnder 29. deg.

The 14. of May twice or thrice we saw reedes, called Trombos driuing on the water, being sigtiesof the
such as driue about the Cape de bona Speranza, which wee thought verie strange, for that Sjf^^^j';''"
the Portingals write, that they are seene but thirtie myles from the Cape, and wee gest our
seines to be at the least 200. beyond it.

The 15. we still had a South East wind, & helde our course Northwest.

The 16. of May in the morning we saw two ships, whereat wc much reioyced, thinking they

112 had

.:\>: ■•■I

■Mii

, ',1) \'.'- |«i7

'■' ' '?' '{3

1 't iH

■^

SIO

VOYAGES NAUIGATIONS.

Thefoure Hollanders

I 'ft ''8 ■. • (■ ;

Toute Portingal
ihips richly
laden.

Tlwy past the
Ei{uinoctjallUiie.

had beene our companie, we made to leewarde of them, and the smalleflt of them comming
somewhat nrere vs, about the length of the shotte of a great peece, shee made presently
toward her fellow, whereby we perceiued them to bee Frenchmen, yet wee kept to leeward,
thinking they would haue come & spoken with V9, but it shduld seeme they feared vs, and
durst not come, but held their course Northeast ; at noone we had the height of 23. degrees,
mid jO. minutes with a Southeast wind, holding our course Northwest.

TIic 17. of Mav wee were vnder 21. degrees and a halfe: the 18. the wind being Southerly,
we were vnder 1&. degrees and a halfe.

The 19. and 20. we had a calme with a Southern are.

The 121. the ayre comming Southwest, wc held our course Northwest : and were vnder 17.
degrees and ». partes: There we found the compasse to decline three quarters of a strike or
line North eastward, after noone we had a Southeast wind, and our course West Northwest,

The22. of May we had still a Southeast winde, and were vnder the height of Ifi. degrees
and 40. minutes, holding our course West Northwest.

The 23. of May, by reason of the cloudy sky, about noone we could not take the height
of the Sunne, but as we gest we had the height of the Island of S. Helena, and held our
c<Hirse West and by South to keepe vnder that height, for there the compn.sses decline a whole
mrike or line: in the cuening we found that we were vnder 16. degrees.

The 24;. of May in the morning wee discouered a Portingall ship, that stayed for vs, and
put out a flagge of truce, and because our flagge of truce was not so readie as theirs, and
we hauing the wind of him, therefore he shot two shootes at vs, and put forth a flagge out
of his maine top, and we shot 5. or 6. times at him, and so held on our course without speak-
ing to him, hauing a South East winde, holding our course West and by South to find the
Island of S. Helena, which the Portingal likewise sought.

The 25. of May we discouered the Island of S. Helena, but we could not see the Portingal
ship, still sayling with a stifle Southeast wind, & about euening we were vnder the Island,
which is very high lande, andmay be scene at the least 14. or l.^>. miles ofl', and as we sayled
about the liorth point, there lay three other great Portingal ships, we being not aboue half a
mile from them, wherevpon wee helde in the weather and to seawarde Northeast as much as
■we might. The Portingalles perceyuing vs, the Admiral of their fleet shot oflf a peece to
call their men that were on land to come aborde, and then wee saw foure of their shippea
together, that were worth a great summe of money, at the least 300. tunnes of gold, for they
were all laden with spices, precious stones, and other rich wares, and therefore wee durst not
anker vnder the Island, but lay all night Northeastwarde, staying for our company.

The 26. of May in the morning wee made towardes the Island againe, with a good South-
cast winde, and about noone or somewhat past we discried two shippes, and about euening as
we made towards them, we knew them to be our company, which made vs to reioice, for we
had been asunder thu space of a whole Month, & so we helde together and sayled home*
ward, holding our course Northwest : for as yet our men were well and in good health, and
we found a good Southeast winde, and had water enough for foure or flue monthes.

The 27. 28. 29. and 30. of May wee had a Southeast winde, with faire weather, and the 27.
day we were vnder 14. degrees. The first of lune we were vnder 6. degrees, with a Southeast
wind, holding our course North West, but by means of the Compasse that yeelded North east-
ward, we kept about Northwest & by North. The 6. of lune wee were vnder one degree on
the South side of the line, there wee founde that the streame draue vs fast into the West,
and therefore wee helde our course more Northernely and sayled Northwest and by North,
with an East and South East wind. The 7. of lune wee past tl»e Equinoctiall line, with an
East winde, holding our course North Northwest.

The 10. of lune in the euening we were vnder 5. degrees and a halfe on the North side of
the line, and then we began again to see the North star, which for the space of 2. years we
had not scene, holding our course North Northwest, there we began to haue smal blasts, &
some times calmes, but the aire all South and Southeast.

The 11. of lune we had a calme, and yet a darke sky, that came Southeastwarde.

The

u .*

Ships voyage:

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

241

Ti)c 12. or Iiine wee had a close sky with raine, and the same day about euening our fore
top maste fell downe.

The 13. wc strake ail our sailes and mended our ship.

The 14. wc had the wind Northward, holding our course West Northwest as neare as we
coulde, but by reason of the thick sky wee could not take height of the Sun. The 15. of
Iiinc we had the wind North, & North Northwest.

The Ifi. of lunc wcc had the height of 9. degrees & 10. minutes, the winde being North-
cast and Nortli Northeast. The 17. the winde was Northeast with fair weather, &c wc held
Northwest, & Northwest & by North till after noone. The 18. we tookea great fish called ThcytooWti
ail Aluercoor, which serued vs all for 2. meals, which wee had not tasted of long time before, 8««*''''

The 26. wc had still a Northeast winde, and sometimes larger, holding our course North
Northwest with large saile, and were vnder 17. degrees and •§.

The same day there came much dust flying into our shippe, as if we had past hard by some
sandic downe, & we gest the nearest land to vs might be the Island of S. Anthony, and
wee were as then at the least 40. or 50. miles from it: The same day likewise there came a
flying fish into our shippe, which we eat.

The 28. of June wee had the height of 20. degrees, with a East Northeast wind & East
and by West, with full sayle, there we saw much Sargosse, driuing on the water. The last
of lune we had the Sun right ouer our heades, and yet we felt no heat, for that by reason of
the cold ayre we had a fine coole weather. The same day we passed Tropicus Cancri, still
hauing the winde East Northeast, and in the euening we were vnder 24. degr.

The second of luly we still saw Sargosse driuing vpon the water, & had the wind
somewhat lower North Northeast with a calme. The thirde of July the winde came againe
East Northeast, and wee helde our course North and by West. The 8. of July wee were vnder
33. degrees & ^. with an East wind, holding our course North and by East, and yet we saw
much Sargosse driuing, but not so thicke as it did before.

The 10. of luly we had a good wind that blew south and South and by East, and hoysted
vp our maine tops, that for the space of 26. dales were neuer touched, and held our course
North Northeast, there we were in no little feare to fall among the Spanish fleet, which at
that time of the yeare keepeth about the Flemmish Islands.

The same day one of our boyes fell ouer bord, and was carried away with a swift streams
before the wind, but to his great good fortune, the Pinace saued him, that was at the least
a quarter of a mile from vs : this euening we found the height of 36. degrees.

The 12. of luly we had a Southwest wind, holding our course Northeast and by N'^rth :
Our Pilot and the Pilot of the Pinnace diflered a degree in the height of the Sunne, for
ours had 38. degrees, and theirs but 37. We gest to be about the Islands of Corbo &
Flores, but the one held more easterly, and the other more Westerly. The 13. of luly
wee had still a Southwest winde, and after noone wee thought wee had scene land, but we
were not assured thereof, for it was somewhat close. The 14. of luly we had a calme, and
saw no land, and then our men began to be sicke.

The 17. of luly wee had a South Southeast winde, with faire weather, and were vnder 41.
degrees, holding our course East Northeast.

The 18. 19. 20. and 21. it was calme. The 22. of luly the winde came North, and wee
helde our course East Southeast. The 23. of luly the wind was North North East and North-
east, and we held as near as we could East & East Southeast, the same day our steward
found a barrell of stockfish in the roming, which if we had beene at home we would haue
cast it on the dunghil, it stunke so filthily, & yet we eat it as sauerly as the best meat in
the world.

The 24. we had a West wind, & that with so strong a gale, that wee were forced to set
two men at helme, which pleased vs well.

The 25. of luly we had a storme that blew West and West Northwest, so that we bare but
two sailes, holding our course Northeast and by East.

The first of August_we were vnder 45. degrees with a North West wind, holding our course
Northeast and by East.

The

,1,1

■M

'1,
. ■■ ■ >;, i

• ' -f-i

S42

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The f owe Hollandera

Thry itw a
shipye with the
Prince of
Otangtt flanc.

They saw A
man of war.

The man of war
gaue them vic-
tuallei.

They rut down
their main matt.

The second of August one of our men called Gerrit Cornelison of Spijckenes died, being
the first mnn that dyed in our voyage homeward.

The 4. of August we had a Northwest wind.

The 5. of August in the morning the winde came Southwest, and we were vnder 47. de-
grees, holding our course Northeast and the North Northeast, and wee gest that wee were
not Farre from the channell, those dayes aforesaid we had so great colde in our shippes, as
if it had beene in the middle of winter : We could not be warme with all the clothes wee
had. The same day we saw Sargosse driue vpon the water.

The 6. of August we had a West wind, in the morning we cast out our lead and found
grounde at 80. fadome, and about noone we saw a shi])pe that bare the Princes flagge, yet
durst not come neare vs, although we made signes vnto him, and after noone wee saw the
land of Heissnnt, whereat we all reioyced.

The 7. of August in the morning we saw the land of Frauncc, and held our course North
Northeast, and likewise we saw a small shippe, but spake not with it.

The 8. of August in the morning we saw the Kiskas, and had a South wind and somewhat
West, holding our course East Northeast.

The 9. of August we entered the heades, and past them with a Southwest wind, sayling
Northeast. After noone we past by a man of warre being a Hollander, that lay at anker,
and hee hoysed anker to follow vs, about euening wee spake with him, but because of the
wind wee coulde hardly heare what hee said, yet hee sailed on with vs.

The 10. of August the man of warre borded vs with his boat, and brought vs a barrell of
Beere, some bread and cheese, shewing vs what news he could touching the state of Hol-
land, and presently wee sawe the land of Holland, k. because it blew very stiiTe & a
great storme, after noone wee ankered about Petten to stay for better weather, and some
new Pilots, & that was the first time we had cast anker for the space of 5. monthes toge-
ther, about euening it beganne to blow so stifTe, that wee lost both an anker and a cable.

The 11. of August we had still a Southerly winde, & therefore about noone the Mau-
ritius set saile, and wee thought likewise to saile, but our men were so weake that we could
not hoyse vp our anker, so that we were constrained to lie still till men came out to heipe
vs, about euening the winde came Southwest, and with ho great a storme, that we thought
to haue run vpon the strand, and were forced to cut downe our maine maste.

The 12. and 13. we had a hard South West wind, & sometimes West, so that no Pilots
came abord our ship, but the 13. day about euening it began to be faire weather.

The 14. of August about breake of day in the morning, there came two boats with Pilots
and men abord our ship, that were sent out by our owners, & brought vs some fresh vic-
tuailes, which done they hoysed vp our ankers, and about noone we sayled into the Tessel,
and ankered in the channell, where we had fresh victuailes enough, for we were all very
weake.

This was a great noueltie to all the Marchantes and inhabitantes of Hollande, for that wee
went out from thence the second of April 1595. and returned home again vpon the 14. of
August 1597. there you might haue bought of the Pepper, Nutmegs, Cloues, and Mace,
which wee brought with vs. Our saylors were most part sicke, being but 80. men in aU,
two third partes of their company being dead, & lost by diuers accidentes, and among those
forescore such as were sicke, as soone as they were on land and at their ease presently re-
couered their healthes.

the Copper money of laua.

/ .'

Tllia

Ship* voyage.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DTSCOUERIES.

24S

THis Copper money commeth also out of China. & ia almost a* thicke, great and heauv,
as a quarter of a Doller, and somewhat thicker, in the middle hauinpf a sauare hole, 2000.
of them are worth a Riall of 8. but of these there are not oner many, they vse to hang
them vpon «tringes, and pay them without telling, they stand not so narrowly vpon the
number, for if they want but 25. or 50. it is nothing.

The leaden money of laua.

THis peece of money (being of bad Leade is very rough) hath in the middle a foure
square hole, they are hanged by two hur''''''d vppon a string, they are commonly 10. II.
and 12. thousand to a Riall of 8. as there commeth great quantitie out of China, where
they are made, and so as there is plentie or scarcitie they rise and fal.

FINIS.

ii-M

1^1

.ifJl'J

TRUE REPORT

OP THE

GAINEFULL, PROSPEROUS AND SPEEDY VOIAGE

I A U A

IN THE

EAST INDIES,

PERFORMED BY A TLEETE OF EIGHT SHIPS OF AMSTERDAM:

\rHICH

SET FORTH FROM TEXELL IN HOLLAND,

THE FIRST OF MAIE 1598. STII.O NOUO.

WHEREOF FOURE RETURNED AGAINE THE 19. OF lULY ANN0.1599. IN LESSE
THEN 15. MONETHS, THE OTHER FOURE WENT FORWARD FROM lAUA

FOR THE MOLUCCAS.

PRINTEn BY P. S. FOR W. ASPLEY, AND ARE TO BE SOLD AT THE SIONE OF THE TYOERS

HEAD IN PAULES CHURCH-YARD.

1 ^ " ilL'lL-

i t^

lit'

si'-

N' !

At
shi

g"
m:

shi

tur
He

wis

Ms
loh

vas
Co:

TRCE REPORT

. ■■■ f\M

"jii' •%'

\i^

mi'if-

fl>;

THE GAINFULL, PROSPEROUS, AND SPEEDY VOIAGE TO

lAUA IN THE EAST INDIES,
PERFORMED BY A FLEET OF 8. SHIPS OF AMSTERDAM:

WHICH

SET FORTH FROM TEXELL IN HOLLAND THE FIRST OF MAIE 1598.

STILO NOUO.

WHEREOF FOURE RETURNED AGAINE THE 19. OF lULY ANNO 1599. IN LESSE THEN 15. MONETHS;
THE OTHER FOURE WENT FORWARD FROM lAUA FOR THE MOLUCCAS.

WHereas in the yeare of our Lord 1595. a certaine company of substantial merchants of
Amsterdam in Holland did build and set forth for the East Indies four well appointed
shippes, whereof three came home An. 1597. with small profit (as already in sundry lan-
guages is declared) Yet neuerthelesse the aforesaid company, in hope of better successe,
made out the last yeare 1598. for a second voiage, a fleete of eight gallant ships, to wit.
The shippe called the Mauritius, lately returned from that former voyage, being of burden «'M««ritiu»'
two hundreth and thirty last, or foure hundreth and sixty tunnes, or thereabouts. This
shippe was Admirall of the fleete. The Master wherof was Godevart lohnson, the Com-
missarie or factor Cornelius Hsemskerck, and the Pilot Kees Collen.

The second ship called the Amsterdam, was of the burden of four hundreth 8c sixty i.AmstenUm.
tuns. The Master's name was Claes lohnson Melcknap ; The factor or commissarie lacob
Heemskerck.

The third was named Hollandia, about the burden of sixe hundreth tuns : which had like- 3- HoUandia.
wise been in the former voiage. The Master was Symon Lambertson or Mawe, the Factor
Mast. Witte Nijn, who died in the voyage before Bantam, and in his roome succeeded lohn
lohnson Smith.

The name of the fourth ship was Gelderland, of burden about foure hundret!) tuns. 4- Ge'jcrUnd.
Master wherof was lohn Browne, factor or commissarie, Hans Hendrickson.

The fift was called Zeelandia, of the the burden of three hundreth & sixtic tuns. The 5. Zeeiand!«-
master was lohn Cornelison, the Commissary or factor N. Brewer.

The sixt ship named Utrecht of the burden of two hundreth & sixtie tuns. The Master 6. Utrecht,
was lohn Martsen, the Factor or commis.sary Adrian Veen.

The seuenth a pinnas called Frisland, of burden about seuenty tuns. The Master Jacob 7. Fmiinl
Cornelison, the Factor Walter Willekens.

K k 2 The

m ''

p tjt. \

hSi

248

8. OueriswU.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

A true report of

They mcftf
with a ship of
ZcUnd.

The Isle of
Sanu Maria,

Killing of the
Whale.

The Br,y of
Amojill,

How long their
hrere continued
COoJ.

The eighth a pinnas that had been in the former voiage called the Pidgeon, now
f Ouerijssel, of the burden of fifty tuns. The Master Symon lohnson. The Factor Arent
Hermanson.

Of this fleete was Generall and Admirall Master lacob Neck. Viceadmirall Wybrand van
Warwick : and Rereadmirall lacob Heemskerck.

With this fleet of einht ships we made saile from Texell the first of May 1598. Sfilo Nouo,
being the 21. of Aprill, after the account of England, and sailed with good speed vnto the
Cabo de bona Speranza : as further shal appeare by a Journal annexed vnto the end of this
discourse.

Being past the Cape, the 7. and 8. of August, by a storme of weather fiue ships were
separated from the Admirall, who afterwardes came together againe before Bantam.

The 26. of August with three shippes wee came within the view of Madagascar, and the
29. wee met with a ship of Zeeland, called the Long-barke, which had put to sea before vs,
and now kept aloofe from us, supposing we were enemies : but at length perceiuing by our
flagges what we were, they sent their Pinnas aboord vs, reioycing greatly to haue met with
vs, because that diuers of their men were sicke, and ten were already dead : and they had
in all but seuen men aboord the shippe that were meat-whole, and eleuen marriners to guide
the shippe. Wee agreed to relieue them with some supplie of men : but through darke-
nesse and great winde wee lost them againe.

After this, we the Admiral Mauritius, the Hollandia, & the pinnas Ouerijssel keeping
together, came to tiie Island of Santa Maria, before the great bay of Antogil in Madagascar :
where wee got a small quantity of Rice. We tooke the King prisoner, who paide for his
ransome a Cow and a tat calfc.

In this Island we found no great commodity : for being the month of September, the
season was not for any fruits: the Oranges had but flowers: Lemons were scant: of Sugar-
canes and Hens there was some store, but the Inhabitants were not very forward in bringing
them out.

Heere wee sawe the hunting of the Whale, (a strange pastime) certaine Indians in a
Canoa, or boate following a great Whale, and with a harping Iron, which they cast forth,
piercing the whals body, which yron was fastncd to a long rope made of the barkes of trees,
and so tied fast to their Canoa. All this while pricking and wounding the Whale so much as
they could, they made him furiously to striue too and fro, swiftly swimming in the sea,
plucking the canoa after him : sometimes tossing it vp and downe, as lightly as if it had
been a sfrawe. The Indians in the nieane time being cunning swimmers t.aking small care
though they were cast oucrboord, tooke fast hold by the boat stil, and so after some con-
tinuance of this sport, the whale wearied and w.ixing faint, and staining the sea red with his
blond, they haled him toward the shore, and when they had gotten him so ncare shore on the
shallowe that the most part of him appeared aboue water, (hey drew hiin aland and hewed
him in pieces, enery one taking thereof what pleased them, which was to vs a strange sight.
It is reported that the Indians of Terra Florida vse the like fishing for the Whale. Oiir men
might haiic taken some part thereof, but refused it: the jjieces tlieieofwcie so like larde or
fat bacon.

From thence wc made toward the great Bay of Antogill and ancorcd vndcr the Island,
where wee tooke in fresh water.

Our Indians that were brought from thence by them of the former voiage (the names of
vhome were Madagascar the one, and the other Laurence) wee offered to set there on land,
but they refused, chusing rather to tarry with vs and to be apparelled, tiien to go naked in
their owne countrey : working and movling for a miserable lining, opposing their bare
skins to the vehemeney of the sunne and weather: and Iheir excuse was, that in that place
they were strangers and had none acquaintance.

Oiu- beere continued good vntill we were passed the Cape de bona speranza : from thence
W'.' began to mingle it witii water hauing a portion of wine aliowi-d vs iwise a day, and this
allowance continued vntill our returnc into Holland.

a Voiase to laua.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

?49

We went with our boates vp the riiier seeking refreshing : but the Inhabitants gaiie vs to
vntlcrsfand by signes that wee might retnrnc, for there was nothing to be had. Wee rowed
into the riuer about three leagues, and found their report to bee true. The cause was, that
the Kings made warre there one against an other, and so all the victua's were in manner
destroied, insomuch that the Inhabitants themselucs many of them perished for hunger, and
in one of these baltailes one of their Kings was lately slainc. Wherfore after fiue daies
abode and no longer, we departed, & in Gods name made to sea again, directing our
course the sixteenth of September for laua. About the ninteenth of Noucmber we came
within sight of Sumatra, and the 2(i. of the same moneth 1598. wee in the three shippes
aforesaid, to wit, the Mauritius, oiu- Admirall, the Hollandia, and the Ouerissell, arriued Thty arriue «t
before the citty of Bantam in laua. Presently vpon this our arriuall, our Admirall and Bnium.
Gcnerall Master Jacob van Neck, sought with all friendship to traffique with the people of the
saide towne of Bantam, sending Master Cornelis Heeniskerck on land to shew them what we
were, for they thought vs to be tlie very same men that had been there the yeare before, and
al that while guarded the sea cost, as being assuredly persuaded thiit we were pirates and
sea rouers. But we, to make them vnderstand the contrary, sent on lande one Abdoll of
China, a captiue of theirs, whom we brought from them in our first voyage ; by whose meanes
we got audience and crcdite : and so we presented our gifts and presents to the King, which They prfsent
was but a childe : and the chicfe gouernour called Cephat, hauing the kingly authority, '^f^'' ''"'" ""'
most thankfully receiued the same in the name of his King. The said presents were a faire
couered cup of siluer and gilt, certaine velucts and clothes of silke, with very fine drinking
glasses and excellent looking glasses, and such other gifts more. Likewise we presented
our letters sealed very co>tiy with the great scale of the noble & mighty lords the Estates
generall of the united Prouinces, and of Prince Mauritz, whome they termed their Prince.
Which letters were by them receiued with great reucrence, creeping vpon their knees:
and (the same being well perused, read and examined) they found thereby our honest intent
and determination for traflike : insomuch that a mutuall league of friendship and alliance
was concluded, and we were freely licensed to trade and traflike in such wise, that euen the Tude licensed,
fourth day of our arriual we began to hide; and within fourc or fiue weekes all our foure
ships hauing taken in their full fraight, were ready to depart.

When our three shippes aforesaid had remained there welnigh a moneth, about
Newyears-tide arriued the other fiue shippes of our company before mentioned in very good
manner, and well conditioned. And so our wliole fleete of eight ships ioyfully met together, The whok
and had none orvcry fewe sicke persons among them, hauing lost by death in the whole fleete ^ "^

fleet meet before

antam.

but 33. men in all, of which number some perished through their owne negligence. Vpon this
happy meeting wee displaied our flag's, streamers and ensignes after the brauest manner, ho-
nouring and greeting one another with volleies of shot, making good cheere, and (which was no
small matter) growing more deepiv in fauour with the townsmen of Bantam. Vnto vs were
daily brought aboord in Pr.'uwes or Indian boats great quantity of hens, egs, Cocos, bonanos,
sugar-canes, cakes, made of rice, and a certaine kindc of good drinke which is there made by the
men of China. Thus the people daily bartered with vs for pewter and other wares, giuing
so much victuals for a pewter spoone, as might well suffice one man for an whole weeke.
Wee trucked likewise for diuers other things, as for porcellan dishes and such like. How-
bcit, that which our Indian Abiloll declared (namely, that more ships were comming besides
the three aforesaid, and that others beside them also were sent out of Zeland) little tended
to our commodity : for thereupon the Liuans tooke occasion to inhanse the price of their 1-1,^ p,|„ ^f
pepper, insunuu^h that we were forced to pay for ho. pounds of pepper first three, and after- rfpp'f '"'' msed.
ward four Re.ils of eight : neither did they demaund or call for any thing so much as for the
said Reals of eight. Mercery or haberdashers wares were in no such request as money.
Also we much niarueiied, how the lauaiis should tell vs of more shippes to come, making
signes with tlicir foure fingers and thumb, that foure Lyma (which word in their language
significth shippes) were comming.

And here you are to vnderstand, that our Generall Master Van Neck, together with the

commis-

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250

Fourc ihipi
bden.

Their drpirtutt
from laua the
13. of Iinuary
IJ99.

Satemolonke a
notable mar-
chant of Ban-

The four other
ships sent to the
Molucraii

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

A true report of

A mall left on
tind-at Sdiut
Helena.

commissaric:) or factors, thought good, besides the three forsaid ships that came first, to lade
one other, to wit, the greater pinnasse called Frisland, whereof was Master lacob Corneli-
son, and factor Walter Willekens. These foure ships hauing receiucd their fill frai^ht, and
giuen notice on land of their departure (to the end that none of their creditours might bee
vnpaid) and also hauing well prouided themselucs of rice and water, departed the thirteenth
of lanuary 1599. and sayled to Sumatra, where they tooke in fresh water; for that the water
of Bantam first waxeth white, and afterward crawleth full of magots.

Vpon the land of Sumatra we bartered kniues, spooncs, looking-glasses, bels, needles
and such like, for sundry fruits, to wit, melons, cucumbers, onions, garlike, and pepper
though little in quantity, yet exceeding good.

We had to deale with a notable Merchant of Bantam, named Sasemolonke, whose father
was a Castilian, which sold vs not much lesse then an hundreth Inst of pepper. He was
most desirous to haue traueiled with vs into Holland : but misdoubting the displeasure and
euil will of the king, and fearing least his goods might haue bin confiscated, he durst not
aducnture vpon the voiage,

Certaine dales before our departure from Bantam were the other foure shippes dispatched
to go for the Moluccas, and ouer them was appointed as Admirall and Gcnerall Master Wy-
brant van Warwicke in the shippe called Amsterdam, & lacob Heemskerck Viceadmirall in
the shippe Gelderland, the other two shippes in consort with them being Zeland and Vtrecht
before mentioned.

These foure made saile towards the Moluccas, and parted from vs the 8. of lanuary in the
night, and in taking of our leaues both of vs together, made such a terrible thundering
noise with our ordinance, that the townsemen were vp in alarme, vntill they knewe the rea-
son thereof. The people were glad of their departure, hauing some mistrust of vs, re-
maining there so strong with 8. ships. And they asked daily when wee should depart, making
great speed to help vs vnto our lading, and shewing themselues most seruiceable vnto vs.

The 11. f lanuary 1599. we in the foure shippes laden with pepper departed from Ban-
tam homeward. The 13. we arriued at Sumatra. The 19. we shaped our course directly for
Holland. The 3. of April we had sight of Capo de buona csperanza. The 8. of Aprill we
doubled the said Cape, proceeding on for the Isle of Saint Helena, whither we came the
twenty sixt of the same moneth, and there refreshed our selues for the space of eight dales.

In this Island we found a church with certaine Hoothes or tents in it, and the image of
Saint Helena, as likewise a holy water fat, and a "-prinkle to cast or sprinkle ^ holy water :
but we left all things in as good order as we found them.

Moreouer here we left behinde vs some remembrances in writing, in token of our being
there. At this place died of the bloudy flixe, the Pilot of our Admirall Kees Collen of
Munickendam, a worthy man, to our great griefe.

This Island (as lohn Huighen van Linschotten describeth it) is replenished with manifold
commodities, as namely with goates, wilde swine, Turkies, partriges, pidgeons, &c. But
by reason that those which arriue there vse to discharge their ordinance, and to hunt and
pursue the saide beastes and fowles, they are now growen exceeding wilde and hard to be
come by. Certaine goates whereat we shotte fled vp to the high cliffes, so that it was im-
possible to get them. Likewise fishes wee could not catch so many as wee needed j but
wee tooke in fresh water enough toserue vs till our arriuall in Holland.

Here we left on land as a man banished out of our society, one Peter Gisbrecht the mas-
ters mate of the great pinnasse, because hee had stroken the Master.

Very penitent hee was and sorie for his misdemeanour, and all of vs did our best ende-
uour to obtain his pardon: but (the orders and ordinances whereunto our whole company
was sworne being read before vs) we were constrained to surcease our importunate suit,
and he for the example of others to vndergo the seucre doome that was allotted him.

There was deliuered vnto him a certaine quantity of bread, oile, and rice, with hookes
and instruments to fish withall, as also a hand gun and gunpoudcr.

Hereupon we bad him generally farewell, beseeching God to keepe and preserue him

from

IJV;

a Voiage to Inua.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

251

from misfortunes, and hoping that at some one time or other he should finde deliuer^nce ;
for that ail shippes sailing to the West Indies must there of necessity refresh themselues.

Not far from this place we descried a saile which wee iudgcd to be some Frenchman, by
whom peraduenture the saide banished party might bee deliuered.

The fourth of May we set saile from Saint Helena, and the tenth of the same moneth wee The isic of As*
passed by the Isle of Ascension. The 17. day wee passed the line. The 21. we sawe the """""■
Pole-sturre. The 10. and 1 1. of lune we had sight of the Canaries. About the Azores wee
stood in feare to meete with some Spanish Armada, because our men were growen faint and
feeble by reason of their long voiage. The 27. of lune we entered the Spanish sea. The
29. we found our selues to be in fcrtie foure degrees of northerly latitude. The 6. of luly
our Admirall ^ Mauritius had two of hi- mastes blowne ouerboord ; for which cause we were
constrained to towe him along. The 11. of luly wee passed the Sorlings. The 13. we
sayled by Falmouth, Dartmouth, and the Quasquets. The 17. we passed by Doner. The
19. meeting with some stormes and rainy weather we arriued at Texell in our owne natiue
countrey, without any great misfortune, saue that the Mauritius once stroke on ground.

Thus having attained to our wished home, we gaue God thankes for this our so happy and
prospemus voiage : because there neuer arriued in Holland any shippes so richly laden.

Of pepper we brought eight hundreth tunnes, of Clones two hundreth, besides great The particulars
quantity of Mace, Nutmegs, Cinamom, and nther prinripnll commodities. To conclude this ^jing'"""
voia'^e was performed in one yeare, two monethes, and nineteene daies.

We were sailing outward from Texell to Bantam seuen moneths, we remained there sixe
weekes to take in our lading, and in six monethi we returned from Bantam in laua to Hol-
land.

The performance i " this long and daungcrous voiage in so short time we ascribed to Gods
deuine & w(inderfu!l pronidenee, hauing sailed at the least 8000. leagues, that is to say,
twenty four thou-.and English miles.

The ioye of the safe arriuall of these shippes in Holland was exceeding great : and postes
were dispatched to euery prineipall towne and citty to publish these acceptable newes.

The merchants that were ow.crs of these ships went straight toward Texell for the re-
freshing of their men, and for other necessary considerations. The Commissary or Factor
ma>ter Cornells Ilcemskcrck t( gether v 'ih Cornells Knick, hied them with all speed to-
wardes the Estates generall and ]<rince M lUritz his excellency, not onely to carry the saide
good newes, but withal to present the letters of the King of laua importing mutuall alii- f^j'"re«nt"*"
ance, friendship and free intercourse of traffike in consideration of their honourable, liberal^ ftomtheKing
and iust dealin-is : they brought gifts also from the said King of great price and value. °^ '*'"■

The 27. of luly the Mauritius our Admirall together with the Hollandia caitie before Am-
sterdam : where they were ioyfuliy saluted with the sound of eight trumpettes, with ban-
queting, with ringing of bels, and with peales of ordinance, the Generall and other men of
command being honourably rereiued and welcommed by the citty.

The merchants that aduenturv-d in these voyages being in number sixeteene or seauen- ^"'""jp'>'.''f
teene (notwithstanding the foure shippes gone from laua to the Moluccas, as is before men- shrp'ssemthis"
tioned) liaue sent this last spring 1399. foure ships more to continue this their traffique so last^spfins y99-
happely begun : intending moreouer the next spring to send a newe supply of other ships, dies.'
And diners other Marchants are likewise determined to enter into the same action. ma"rchanuof''"

Of them that departed from Zeland these bring no newes, otherwise then is aforesaide. Amsterdam to
Neither doe they report any thing of the two fleetes or companies, that went from Roter- lhe''n«Mprillg'
dam the last sommer 1598. shaping their course for the streites of Magellan. i6oo.

Wee haue before made mention of an Indian called Abdoll, which was brought from Ban-
tam in the first voiage, and had continued an whole winter or some eight monethes at Am-
sterdam in Holland.

Where during that space (being a man of good obseruation and experience, and borne
about China) hee was well entreated, cherished, and much made of.

This Abdoll vpon his returne to laua being demanded concerning the state of the Ne- The relation of

therlands, " '" '

Abdoll an In.

■'HS

\U 1

ri.: '

252

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

ji true report of

dim, concerning therlands, inadc vnto the principall men of Bantnm a full declaration thereoF, with all the
the Neihcriindj. rarities and singularities which he had there scene and obserued.

Which albeit to the greatest part of readers, who haue tranailed those countries may
seeme nothing strange, and scarce worthy the relation : yet because the report was made
by so meere a stranger, & with the lauans that heard it wrought so good effect, I thought
it not altogether impertinent here in this place to make rehearsall thereof.

First therefore he tolde them (to their great admiration in that hoat climate) That hee had
seene aboue a thousand sleds drawen, and great numbers of horsemen riding vpon the
frozen water in winter time, and that he had beheld more then two hundreth thousand peo-
ple trauailing on foote and on horseback vpon the yce, as likewise that the said sleds were
by horses drawen so swiftly, that they made more way in three houres than any man could
go on foote in tenne. And also that himsclfe for pleasure had beene so drawen, the horses
being brauely adorned with bels and cymbals.

Howbeit they would hardly be induced to beleeue that those countries should be so ex-
treamely colde, and the waters so mightely frozen, as to beare such an huge waight.

Hee tolde them moreouer, that Holland was a free countrey, and that euery man there
was his owne Master, and that there was not one slaue or captiue in the whole land.

Moreouer, that the houses, in regarde of their beautifull and lofty building, resembled
stately pallaces, their inward rich furniture being altogether answerable to their outward
glorious shew.

Also, that the Churches (which he called Mesquitas) were of such bignesse and capacity,
as they might receiue the people of any prety towne.

He affirmed likewise, that the Hollanders with the assistance of their confederates and
friendes, maintained warres against the King of Spaine, whose mighty puissance is feared
and redoubted of all the potentates of Europa.

And albeit the said warres had continued aboue thirty yeares, yet that during all that
time the saide Hollanders increased both in might & wealth.

In like sort he informed them of the strange situation of Holland, as being a countrey
driuing vpon the water, the earth or ground whereof, they vse instecd of fewell, and that
he had oft times warmed himselfe, and had seene meat dressed with fires made of the same
earth.

In briefe, that it was a waterish and fenny countrey, and full of riuers, chanels, and
ditches, and that therein was an innumerable multitude of boatesand small shippes, as like-
wise great store of tall and seruiceable ships, wherwith they sailed vnto all quarters of the
world, etc.

This man Abdoll wee found to bee a captiue or slaue, and sawe there his wife and child-
ren in very poore estate dwelling in a little cottage not so bigge as an hogsty : but by oure
meanes he was made free and well rewarded.

Notwithstanding he did but euil recompence vs : for he was charged to be the cause why
pepper was solde dearer then ordinary vnto vs by a penny in the pounde: for hee told
them that certaine shippes of Zeland and of other places were comming thitherwardes.

And here the reader is to vnderstand, that some foure moneths before the said three ships

arriued at Bantam, the Portugales came with an Armada of gallies and fustes, being set

The Portugais foorth by the Viceroy of Goa and the goucrnour of Molucca, to intercept the traffique of

d°A'hTtra°de''or the Hollanders vnto those partes, and to make them loose all their expenses, labour, and

the Hollanders, time which they had bestowed: and also that their great and rich presentes which they gaue

vnto the lauans the yeare before, to bring them into vtter detestation of the Hollanders,

might not be altogether in vaine.

The Gcnerall of them that came from Goa was Don Luis, and of those that came from
Molucca Don Emanuell : who brought their Armada before Bantam, intending to surprize
the citty, vnder pretence that the same preparation was made to resist certaine pirates that
came thither out of Holland the last yeare, and were determined this yeare also to come
againe. Vnder these colours they sought to take the towne and to fortifie the same, &

they

lers.

&
ihey

a Voiage to laua.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCX)UERIES.

^hs

•I Ebciiwood.

thcv built certnine sconces in the countrey, committing great outrages, rauishing the Wo-
men, with many other villanics. Hereupon the townsemen of Bantam very secretly pro-
uitled certaine gallies and fustes in great hast, and Hodainly assailed the Portugales before
they were well aware of them : for which cause finding but small resistance, they tooke 3.
Portugale gallies with certaine shippes, and slewe about 3(X). of them, taking J50 Portu- TiiePortusaii
gales prisoners, of which we daily saw some going vp & downe the streetes of Bantam "*"''""" '
like slaucs and captiues. Besides these they tooke about l»00. galli-slaues prisoners.

Vpon this hard successe the rest of the Portugals betooke themselues to flight : but whi-
ther they bee arriucd at Goa or Molucca, or what is become of them since, we are not able
to auouch. The foresaid attempt and ouerthrowc, bred greater enmity betweene the Por-
tugales and thcni of Bantam, and gaue an Cspcciall occasion for the aduanccment of our
trafiiquc.

The fine ships (whereof we haue before signified that foure were dispatched by the whole 3?*^",""^^^
companie for the Moluccas) being seucred beyondc the Cape of Buona Speranza from the ships toJke aft«
other three of their company, and hauing quite lost them, came all of them shortly after |^,7j*^"m',hc'"
vnder an Island called (as it is thought) by the Portugals Isola de Don Galopes : but they three comorts
named it the Island of Mauritius. Ilcre they entered into an hauen, calling the same War- f^^l'^^l^^^J
wicke, after the name of their Viceadmirall, wherin they found very good harborow in ranza.
twenty degrees of southerly latitude.

This Island being situate to the East of Madagascar, and containing as much in compasse Tiie w^ of
as nil Holland, is a very high, goodly and pleasant land, full of green & fruitfull vallies, and scribed.
replenished with Palmito-trees, from the which droppeth holesome wine. Likewise here are
very many trees of right Ebenwood as black as iet, and as smooth & hard as the
luory : and the quantity of this wood is so exceeding, that many ships may be laden here-
with.

For to saile into this hauen you must bring the two highest mountaines one ouer the other,
leaning sixe small Islands on your right hand, and so you may enter in vpon 30. fadomes of
water. Lying vVin the bay, they had 10. 12. & 14. fadoms. On their left had was a
litle Island which they named Hemskerk Island, and the bay it selfe they called Warwick
bay, as is before mentioned. Here they taried 12. daies to refresh themselues, finding in
this place great quantity of foules twise as bigge as swans, which they called Walghstocks
or Wallowbirdes being very good meat. But finding also aboundance of pidgeons & po-
piniayes, they disdained any more to eat of those great foules, calling them (as before)
Wallowbirds, that is to say, lothsome or fulsome birdes.

Of the said Pidgeons and Popiniayes they found great plenty being very fat and good
meate, which they could easily take and kil euen with little stickes : so tame they are by
reason ;y the Isle is not inhabited, neither be the liuing creatures therein accustomed to
the sight of men.

Here they found rauens also, and such abundance offish, that two men were able to catch
enough for all fiue ships.

Tortoises they founde so huge, that tenne men might sit and dine in one of their shelles. Huge Tortoises,
and one of them would creepe away, while two men stood vpon the backe thereof.

Here was founde waxe also whiter then any of ours, lying about the strande, bleached
(as it is like) by the sunne : and in some of this waxe there were Arabian letters or characters
printed : wherby it is probable, that some Arabian ship might bee cast away thereabout,
out of which the said waxe might be driuen on land.

They found likewise Corall on this land, and many trees which we call Palmitos, whereout C"""-
•Iroppeth wine as out of the Coco-tree : which wine being kept hath his operation as our P''"""'-
new prest wine, but after some time it commeth vnto the ful vertue and perfection.

The said Palmitos they esteemed to bee a kinde of wilde date-trees.

We sought all the Island ouer for men, but could find none, for that it was wholly destitute
of Inhabitants.

Vpon this Island we built an house with a pulpit therein, and left behind vs certaine

L 1 writings

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254

A good watcrinc
flice.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

A true report of

vritings as a token and remembrance of our being there, and vpon the pulpit we left a Bible
and a pnalter lying.

Thuii after 12. daies aboad at this Island, being well refreshed, they tooke in excellent fresh
water being easie to get, and very sweet and sauory to drinke, and then set saile, meeting
the three other ships their consorts at the time and place before mentioned.

A briefe description of the voiage before handled, in manner of a lournall.

MAIE.

THe first of Maie 1598. with the eight shippes before mentioned, we set saile in the name
of God from Texcli in Holland.

The third of May we passed along the coast of England, descrying some of her Maicstics
ships, and they vs, whom we honoured with discharge of our artillery.

The fourteenth, we had sight of the Isle of Porto Santo lying in thirty two degrees.

The sixteenth, wee came within sight of the Canaries.

The twenty two, we first saw flying fishes.

The twenty three, we passed by the Isle Del! Sail.

The thirty one, we had a great storme, so that we lost sight one of another : but by night
we came together againe.

. . IVNE.

THe eighth of lune wee crossed the Equinoctiall line.

The twenty foure wee sayled by the sholdes of Brasiile lying vnder eighteene degrees of
Southerly Latitude.

IVLIE.

THe twenty one of July we got to the height of the Cape of buona esperanza.
From the thirtith of luly till the second of August, we continually sayled in sight of the
land of the foresaid Cape.

AVGUST.

THe seuenth and eighth of August wee had such foiile and stormy weather, that fiue ships
of our company were separated from vs», whom we saw no more vntill they came to vs
before Bantam.

The twenty sixt we deserved the Island of Madagascar.

The twenty nine came by uh the ship called the Long barke of Zeland, hauing in her
but nine sound men, tenne dead, and the rest all sicke : but the same night we lost the sight
of her againe.

SEPTEMBER.

THe seaiienth of September, we came before the Island of Santa Maria, and afterward wee
put into the great bay of Antogill.

The sixteenth of September, wee set saile from thence, directing our course for laua.

OCTOBER.

THe first of October, wee got to the heighth of Bantam.
The fifteenth, died the first man in our Admirall.

NOVEMBER.

THe nineteenth of Nouember, we came within sr St of Sumatra.
The twenty ninth, wee road before the citty of Bi, .»tam : And the thirtith, we payed our
toll to the gouernour.

AN4

a Voiagc to laua.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEHIES.
lANVARIE.

955

ANd vpon Newycarcs daic 1599. Stilo Nouo, we began to take in our lading.

Then came vntovs before Bantam, with great ioie and triumph, our fiue separated shippesi,
all the people standing vpon the shore gazing, and suspecting some harme intended against
them.

The eighth of January, foure of the said 5. newcome 9hippes(God send them a prosperous
voyage) set saile toward the Moluccas.

Moreouer our foure shippcs being well and richly laden at Bantam made saile honiewardc
the eleuenth of January, and the thirteenth, wee were shot as farre as the Isles of Sumatra.

The nineteenth, we proceeded thence on our voiage, and the same day, to the great gricfe
of V8 all died the Pilot of our Admirall.

APRILL.

THe third of Aprill, we de.scried the land of Capo de buona esperanza.

The eighth, wee doubled the same Cape, thence shaping our course for the Island of Saint
Helena, where the twenty sixt we happily arriued, and departed from thence vpon the fourth
of Maie.

MAIE.

THe tenth of Maie, wee sailed by the Isle of Ascension.
The seauenteenth, we passed the Equinoctiall line.
The twenty one, we saw the North starrc.

IVNE.

THe ninth and tenth of lune, we had sight of the Canaries.
The twenty seauen, wee say led vpon the Spanish Sea.
The twenty nine, we were in fortie four degrees.

IVLIE.

THe fourth of luly, we saw behind vs two sailes, one before the other, which were the
first that we had seene of a long time.

The sixt of luly our Admirall had both his foremast and maine-mast blowne ouer boord.

The eleuenth, we passed the Sorlings, the thirteenth, Falmouth, Flimmouth and the
Quasquets.

The seauenteenth, we came before Douer.

The nineteenth, wee had foule and stormy weather, at what time by Gods good blessing
wee arriued in our natiue countrey at Texell in Holland, hauing performed in the short space
of one yeare, two moneths and nineteene daies, almost as long a voiage, as if we should haue
compassed the globe of the earth, and bringing home with vs our full fraight of rich and
gainfull Marchandize.

FINIS.

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EAST INDIES:

OR A

VOYAGE TO BENGAIJ.A,

ONE OF THE GREATEST KINCDOMKS UNDEU THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PUlNvI".

PEDESHA SHASSALLEM,

USUALLY CALLED

THE GREAT MOGULL.

WITH THE

STATE AND MAGNIFICENCE OF THE COURT OF MAECANDY, KEPT BY THE NABOB
VICEROY, OR VICE-KING UNDER THE AFORESAYD MONARCH :

ALSO THEIR

DETESTABLE RELIGION, MAD AND FOPPISH RITES, AND CEREMONIES, AND WICKED
SACRIFICES AND IMPIOUS CUSTOMES USED IN THOSE PARIS.

WRITTEN BY WILLIAM BRUTON

NOW RESIDENT IN THE PARISH OF S. SAVIOURS SOUTHWARK,

WHO WAS AN EYE AND EARE WITNESSE OF THESE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTIONS; AND
PUBLISHED AS HE COLLECTED THEM BEING RESIDENT THERE DIVERS YEARES:

AND

NOW LATELY COME HOME IN THE GOOD SHIP CALLED THE HOPEWEL OF LONDON:

WITH

DIVERS MERCHANTS OF GOOD ACCOUNT

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AKK ABLE TO TESTIFIC THE SAME FOR THUTH.

IMPRINTED AT LONDON BY I. OKES,

AND ARE TO BK SOLD BY HUMPIIEREV BLUNDEN AT HIS SHOP IN CORNE-HILL AT THE SIG^E OF THE

CASTLE NEERE THE ROYALL EXCHANGE 16u8.

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RARE AND MOST STRANGE RELATION

IROM

BENGALLA IN THE EAST INDIES,

BEING

OA'E OF THE GREATEST KINGDOMES UNDER THE GREAT MOGULl,

AND

OF THEIU LAWES, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMI.S &c.

'-,■■-■ 'nil

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: i-

Although diners learned, painefull, and skiirull Mathematicians and Geographers haue
with great industry spent much profitable Time, in finding out the circumference of the
Terrestrial Globe, in describing Empires, Kingdomes, Principalities, Lordships, Regions,
Prouinces, Territories, Variations of Climates & Scituations, with the diuersities of Dispo-
sitions, of Tongues, Religions, Habits, Manners, Lawes, and Customes of sundry Nations :
Though much labour, pcrill, and Cost hath beene worthily imployV. by Pliny the Second,
Ortellius, lodoco Hondius; or (to come nearer) to our English Worthies, such as are de-
scribed in the Buoke of Hacklewicks Voyages, namely, Windham, Chancelour, Grinvill
Willouby, Drake, Cauendish, Gilbert, Chidly, Frobusher, Clifford, Sidney, Deuoreux, Wing-
field ; as also the exceeding paines taken by Mr. Samuel Purchase, and the Learned and
Renowned Knight Sir Walter Rawleigh in their descriptions of the whole World, not for-
getting the perills that Mr. Sands passed in his tedious Trauells, with his exact Relations
and Descriptions ; With Atlas new Imprinted (a rare Worke) and lastly, William Lithgow
deserues a kind Remembrance of his ninetecne y ceres sore and dangerous Trauells of his
feete & pen, worthy your obseruation and Reading.

But all these Authors and Actors both of History and Trauell, did neuer discouer all, but
still (out of their plentifull Haruests of Obseruations) they left some Gleanings for those
that came after them to gather. Tor the manifestation whereof in this following discourse,
I haue tyed and bound myselfe to speake oncly Truth, though it seeine incredulous or Hy-
perbolicall ; and if I should any way sway or stray from the Truth, there are liuing men of
good Fame, Worth and Estimation, who are able & ready to disproue me.

Therefore briefly to the matter in hand ; I William Bruton was .shipp'd as a Quartermaster,
from the Port of London, to serue in the good Ship called the Hope-well, ol tiie Burthen
of 240 Tunnes. To relate our long & tedious passage by Sea, and our arriuall at cuery Port

and

' '■ ' tf^i

■'\:^m

I r UM

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06U VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, Nrursfrom the East Indies:

and II;men were but little to the purpose, & would more tire than (lclii;lu my Reader : There-
fore to begin, that after my Arriuali in those parts, & in my scruiccs and passages there fore
the space of 7 yeeres, I obserued many things, and put them in writing ; but afterwards
I came to know that the same things had beene discouer'd and described formerly by more
siiflicient & able men of Capacity than my selfe, I thought good to keep them to my selfc,
and discouer nothing but that which before was not so fully or scarce knowne as I shall now
decypher them.

The 22. of March, 10,12. I being in the Countrey of Cormandell with sixe Englishmen
more at a place called iMassaliipatam, (a great Towne of Merchandize) Master lohn Noris,
the Agent there, was resolued to send two Merchants into Bengalla, for the settling of a
Factory there, and these sixe Englishmen (of the which I was one) were to gnc with the
Merchants, and withall to carry a present from the Agent to the Nabob, (or King) of that
Countrev, to oblaine the Promises that formerly hee had granted to the English for Tradick,
& tobeCustomc free in those of his Dominions and Ports. Wherefore a lunke was hired
at .Massalupatam to be our Conuoy ; the said lunke did belong vnto those parts & flic Names
of the Englishmen that were appointed for that Voyage, were Mr. Ralph Cartwright Mer-
cliant, Mr. Thomas CoUcv second, William Bruton, lolui Dobson, Edward Petclbrd, lohn
Bassley, lohn Ward, & William Withall.

Though we hired the aforesaid lunke, March 22. yet it was the G. of Aprill following before
we could be fitted to depart from Massalupatam, and in much various Weather widi many
difficulties and dangers, (which to relate here, would be tedious it impertinent to my intended
discourse) the 21. of Aprill, being then Easter-day, we were at Anchor in a Bay before a
Towne called Ilarssapoore : It is a place of good strength, with whom our Merchants doe hold
commerce with correspondency. Tiiis 21. day in the morning, Mr. Ralph Cartwright sent
the Moneys a shore to the Gouernour of Harssapoore, to take it into his s.ife keeping &
protection till such time as he came a shore himsclfe. So presently there came a Portugal I
i'riggat fiercely in hostility towards vs, but we made ready for their entertainment, & fitted
ourselues & the Vessel for our best defences: but at last they steered off from us, & vpon
our command shee came to an Anchor somewhat nearc vs, & the Master of her came aboord
of vs, who being examined whence he came, & whither he was bound to which demands he
answer'd nothing worthy of beleefe, as the sequel shewed ; for hee seem'd a friendly Trader,
but was indeed a false Inuader, (where opportunity and power might helpc and preuaile)
for on the 22. day Mr. Cartwright went a shore to the Gouernour of Harssapoore, & on the
24. day the .said Master of the Frigat (with the Assistance of some of the ribble rabble
Rascalls of the Towne) did set vpon Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Colley, where our men (being
oprest by multitudes) had like to haue beene all slaine or spoyld, but that (Lucklip) the
Rogger (or Vice King there) rescued them with 200. men.

in this fray Mr. Colley was sore hurt in one of his hands, and one of our men much wounded
in the legge and he.id ; their Nockado or India Pilot was .stab'd in the Groyne twice, and
much mischiefe was done, & more pretended, but by Gods helpe all was pacified.

The 27. of April we three tooke leaue of the Gouernour, and Towne of Ha.ssarpoore, (I
meane three of vs) namely, Mr. Cartwright, William Bruton, and lohn Dobson; leaning
Mr. Colley & the other foure men with him, till newes could be sent backe to them from
the Nabobs Court, at Cuttekc or Malcander, of our succe«se and proceedings there with our
ufher goods, for he is no wise Merchant, that ventures too much in one bottome, or that is
too credulous to trust Mahomclanes or Infidels.

And hr.uing laden our small Boats with the goods (which were Gold, Siluer, Cloth and
Spices, of which Spices those jiarts of India, are wanting, and tliey almost are as deare there
aa in England) we passed some two Leagues and halfe by Water, & after that, the said goods
was carried by land in Carts, till wee came to a great Towne called Balkkada, but it was more
than three houres after Siiiinc-sctting, or late l)efore we came thither.

The 28. of April in the morning, the Gouernour of this Towne came Sc saluted our Mer-
chant, & promised him that whatsocuer was in his power to doe him any friendly courtesir.

or a Voyage to Bengalla. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUF/^IES.

he should command it ; and indeed he was euery way as good as his word ; for hee lent vs
Horses to ride on, and Cowlers (which are Porters) to carry our goods, for at this Towne
the Carts did leaue vs, & our goods were carried on Mens shoulders : then we set forwards,
being accompanied by the Gouernour, with his Musicke, which were Shalmes, & Pipes of
sundry formes, much after the formes of Waits or Hoboyes, on which they play most deli-
cately out of Tune, Time & Measure. In this manner the Gouernour, with a great number
of People did bring vs about halfe an English Mile out of the Towne, where he courteously
tooke his leaue of vs, but yet he sent his seruants with vs as guidci^, Sc that they mi{^ht
bring his Horses back to him that he lent vnto vs.

This towne of Balkkada, is a strong & spacious thing, very populous : There are many
Wcauers in it, & it yeeldeth much of that Countrey fashion Cloath. This day, about the
houres of betweene eleuen & twelue of the Clocke it was so extreame hot that we could not
trauell, & the winde did blow with such a soultering scalding heat, as if it had come forth
of an Ouen or Furnace, such a suffocating fume, did I neuer feele before or since ; and here
we were forced to stay neare three houres, till the Sunne was declined, we hauing happily
got vnder the shadow of the branches of a great Tree all that time. Tiien we set forward
for the Towne of Harharrapoore : which in the space of two houres, or a little more, wee
drew neare vnto: so we stay'd awhile till our carriages were come vp together vnto vs;
which done, there met vs a man, who told vs that his Master staid our comming, then we
speedily prepared ourselues for the meeting of so high esteem'd a person: & when we came
to the Townes end, there did meet vs at a great Pogodo or Pagod, which is a famous &
sumptuous Temple ( or Church) for their Idolatrous seruice & worship there vsed, & iust
against that stately & magnificent building, we were entertained & welcomed by one of the
Kings greatest Noblemen, & his most deare and chiefest fauourite, who had a Letter from
the King his Master, & was sent from him to meete vs & conduct vs to his Court. The
Noble mans name was Mersymomeine. He did receiue vs very kindly, & made vs a very
great feast or costly eolation before supper, which being done we departed for our Sirray,
(or Inne) where we lay all night with our goods : but Mersymomeine staid with his followers
& seruants in his & their tents at the Pagod.

The 29. day of April wee staid at Harharrapoore, & visited this great man, but the great-
est cause of our staying, was by reason that the Nockador (or Pilot) of the Frigget, whose
men did affront & hurt some of our men at Harssapoore, for which cause the Vrigget was
staid there, & the Pilot of her came to this great man, thinking by gifts to cleare his Vessell,
(the which he thought to make prise of) but he would not be allured by such rewards or
promises ; but told hint that he must appeare before the Nabob, & seeke to cleare him-
selfe there.

The 30. of April we set forward m the Morning for the City of Coteke (it is a City of
seuen miles in compasse, & it standeth a mile from Malcandy, where the Court is kept) but
Master Cartwright staide behinde, & came after vs, accompanyed with the said Noble man :
We went all the day on our iourney till the Sun went downe, & then we staid for our Mer-
fhant, being eight English Miles from Coteke, & about twelue or one of clocke at night
they came where wee were : so we hasted & suddainly got all our things in rcadinesse, &
went along with them, & about the time of three or foure of clocke in the Morning we came
to the house of this Mersymomeine at Coteke, being May day.

Here we were very well entertained & had great variety of sundry sorts of meates. drinks,
& fruits, such as the Countrey yeelds, euen what we could or would desire fitting for our vse.
About eight of the Clocke Mersymomeine went to the Court, & made knowne to the King,
that the English Merchant was come to his house, then the King caused a great banquet to
be speedily prepared, & to bee sent to the house of Mersymomeine, which banquet was
very good & costly. Then, about three or fourc of the clocke in the afternoone, wee were
sent for to the Court of Malcandy, whi>:h is not halfe a mile from Coteke. The magnificence
of which Court, with the stately struct^ire & situation of the place, as well as my weake Ap-
prehension can enable, I describe as foLr)weth.

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The CoiTt of Malcandi in Bengalla.

GOiiigf from the house o£ Mersymomeine, we passed cuer a long stone Cawsey, of some
two foote in breadtli, & at the end thereof we entrcd in at a great gate, & being conductett
albng further, we came into a Buasar, or very faire Market place, where was sold a great
munbev of all sorts of Fruits, Hearbes, Flesh, Fish, Fowle, Rice, & such like needfull
commodilles & necessaries as the Countrcy yeelded, (which is very fertile.) Hauing; passed
this place, we did enter in at a second gate, where was a guard of some iifty armed
men, & so we came into a place all paued with great intones, or as it may fitter be called, a
faire & spacious streete, where Merchants seated on both sides the way, were buying &
selling all kind of their own and forraigne wares & merchandizes that was very rich and
costly.

Passing this place we entred in at a third Gate, where was another Guard of one hundred
men armed : By this gate was a great I'ogodo or Pagod, which ioyned to the Southemiost
purt of the King's house. la this streete there were houses but one side of the way, for
ou that side that the King's house was on, there was no other House but that. Then we came
to a fourth Crate, which was very spacious & high, & had two lofty stories one aboue the
other, & vpheld by mighty Pillars of gray Marble, most curiously caru'd & polish'd : At
this Gate was a great guard of 150. Men or more, all armed.

Going through this Gate, we entred into a very great broad place or streete, ( much of
the breadth of the streete betweene Charing Crosse & White-Hall or broader, & no dwell-
ing in it ; here we passed the wall of the King's House, or Palace, till we came to the
Court Gate.

In this broad street are euery day 1000. Horses in readinesse for the Kings vse; (for he
hath alwaiesSOOO. at an houres warninsi, in the two Townes of Coteke & Malcandy ; whereof
1000. alwaies waiteth at the King's Gate, & so by turnes doe all die rest attend as their places
& seruices require.

Ouer against the Gate of the House is a very great house of Timber, whose Chambers are
made with Galleries, built & suppMrted with great Arches to vphold the Roofe : In these
Galleries there were men that played on all kind of loud Instruments, euery morning they
began ne to play at foure of the Clocke, & fi;aue ouer at eight.

On the North side of the Gate is a small Tower, builded with two hollow Arches, wherein
are placed two mighty Images of stone, with great Pipes of Iron placed^ in their breasts &
by deuices in the lower roomes, they doe make fire & water to flash & spout out of those
Pipes on Festiuall dayes. On the South side of the Gate there standeth a great Elephant,
artificially wrought of gray Marble, but for what vse I know not.

At the entrance into the Pallace Gate, we passed through a Guard of 150. men armed, the
Pillars within were ail of gray Marble, earned three stories one aboue the other. The out-
ward Court was paued all with rough hewne Marble. On the South side of the Pallace were
houses wherein were men, cunning workers in rich workes, imployed onely fbr the King's
vse nnd seruicc.

On the North side (in the Pallace) a faire fa'urick builded, wherein was erected two stately
Tombes, who were founded by one Rackarcaunc, — lie was Nabob, & predecessour to this
Nabob now gpuerning : & at the East end of the P.iUace there was a faire place made and
pautd with broad gray Marble, & curiously vailed about, the Rayles being foure foote Si.
halfe high frim the ground, & a very faire Tanke, which is a square pit paued with gray
Marble, with a Pipe in the Midst of it, whose water descended tetweene two Walls, with the
formes of Fishes of sundry sorJs, earned in stone very artificially, as if they had btene swim-
ming or gliding up the Wall against the slreame.

At this "".ast end there was also a second Gate, where was a guard of 100. men armed ; here
stood also men that did kecpe the time of the day by obseruations of measures of Water, in
this manner following: First tliey take a great Pot of Water of the quantity of three Gallons,
& putting therein a little pot of somewhat more than halfe a pinte (this lesser pot hauing a

small

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or a Voyage to BengaVa. TRAFF!Q,UES, AND DISCOUERIES.

small hole in the bottome of it) the water issuing into it, hauing filled it, then they strike
on a great plate of brasse, or very fine metal, which streak maketh a very great sound, this
stroak or parcell of time they call a Goome, the small being full they call a Gree, 8 Grees
make a Par, which Par is three houres by our accompt.

They likewise do begin the day at the houre of sixe in the morning, & it is ended wiil'i
them at sixe at night : here we entred into the second Pallace, which had in the midst there-
of a faire & sumptuous Theatre built & about it was made small banker, whereon were
planted great varieties of fruits & flowers, very sweete to the sent, & pleasing to the sight;
this place was also curiously railed in round; Then we entred into a narrow passage bctweene
two high stone Walls, where there was another Guard of 850. men armed : This passage
brought vs to a third Gate, wherein wee entred into a third Pallace or pleasant prospect, for

in the midst of it there was a very faire pauement of Marble, square, of the largenesse

of yardes euery way, & railed some three foot & a halfe higher then the ground, that

was on the out-sides of it : it was likewise delicately rayled about, & in the midst of it there
was an ascent of foure steps high, & all the roomes in it were spread or ouer-laid on the
floore with rich Carpets exceeding costly.

The space betweene the outward Railes & these Roomes was about 30. foote, i& the length
80. foote on the one side, but on the other side was a faire Tanke of water.

This place they called the Derbar (or place of Councell, where Law & lustice was admi-
nistred according to the custome of the Countrey, & it was likewise adorned & beautified
with very pleasant Trees and Flowers, & Bankes about them with Gutters betweene the
Bankes, in which Gutters water passed for the cooling & watering of them, & the water
proceeded from the Tanke afore-mentioned. Here we stay'd the space of some two houres
(or there abouts) looking vp & downe, & being looked vpon by Souldiers, & such fashioned
Gentlemen as the Court yeelded, ( for there were more than 100. men armed, which were
of the Nabobs, or Kings Priuie Guard). At last the word came forth that the King was com-
ming : then they hasted and ouer-laid the great large pauement with rich Carpets, & placed
in the midst against the Railes, one fairer & richer Carpet than the rest, wrought in Ben-
galla-worke : They likewise plac^u a great round pillow of red veluet on this Carpet ; they
placed also sixe small Pillars of Gold on the ends & sides of the rich Carpet, to hold it fast,
or presse it to the ground, lest it should l»e raised with the Winde. They also placed vpon
the Railes a Pannel of Veluet to leane on : At the last his Maiesty came accompanied with
the number of 40. or 50. of his Courtiers, the most part of them were very graue men to
see to : Also the Nabobs owne brother (a comely Personage) did beare the Sword before
him. Then the Noble-man (Mersimomein) presented our Merchant (Mr. Ralph Cartwright)
to the King, who clid obedience to him, & the King very affably bended forward (in manner
of a Curtsie or respect) and withal leaned his Armes on two mens shoulders, & slipped off
his Sandall from his foote ( for he was bare-legged ) and presented his foot to our Merchant
to kisse, which hee twice did refuse to doe, but at the last hee was faine to doe it : then the
King sate downe, & caused our Merchant to be placed by his Brother : His Counsell sate all
along by the foot-pace of the Roomes before mentioned, his brother & his FauoritCB sate
thwart the place or pauement, euery one sitting in the fashion of a Taylor crosse-legg'd.

The Assembly being set, our Present was presented to the King, ^rhich was some twenty
pounds of Cloues, twenty pounds of Mace, twenty pounds of Nutmeg's, two Bolts of Da-
maske, halfe a Bale, or fourteene yards of StammelNcIoath, one faire Looking glasse, whose
frame was guilded, one fowling piece with two locks, & one double Pistoll ; this was the
present which the King receiu'd with much acceptation & content, & withall demanded the
cause of our comming & our request : To whom our Merchant answered, that he was come
to desire hisMaiesties fauour & Licence for free T ade in his Countrey, & not to pay any
lunkan (or Custome). At this request he seem'd lo make a stand (and pausing a little) he
conferr'd priuately with his Councell, but gaue vs no answer.

Our Merchant Kkewise rcijuested that the English Merchants Trading for the East Indies
might h»ue free Licence to come with their shipping small or great, into the Roads & Har-

M m 2 bours

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, Newcsfrom the East Indies :

bours of his Sea-port Townes or to any Hauens or nauigable Riuers or any such place or
places as shall be found fitting for the safeguard, building or repairing of the said Vessels be-
longing to the honourable company. And likewise to transport their goods either off or on
the shoare without the let or hindernnce of the Natiues of the Countrey : Likewise to haue
his Licence to quoyne Moneys, Gold or Siluer, Countrcy>money, h such as is currant with
the Merchant.

By this Time that our Merchant had ended the relation of his Suits & cause of his com-
ming, the Kings Minister with a loud voyce called to Pmyer. Tlien the King speedily arose
from his Seate, & all his Company went with him, & wee were dismist till prayer was
ended. When the Minister came there was a large couering spread oucr the rich Car-
pets; the couering was of black & white cloaths, on this they all stood, & when they
kneeled, they did kneele with their faces towards the going downe of the Sun, (which is
to the West.) Prayer being ended, the Assembly sate again concerning our Proposi-
tions, all other businesses were laid aside; being now the shutting in of the Euening,
there came a very braue shew of lights in before the King. The foremost that came
were sixe Siluer Lanthornes, vsher'd in by a very graue man, hauing in his hand a StafTe
ouer-laid with Siluer, & when he came to the steps of the Pauement, he put off his shooes,
& came to the Carpets, making obedience : so likewise did those that bore the sixe lan-
thornes ; but all the other lightes, being one hundred & thirty stood round about the Kailes.
Then the Vshertook the lanthorne that had two lights in it, & (making obedience) lifted
his armes aloft, & made an ample Oration, wliich being ended, they gaue all a great Sa-
lame, or kind of Reuerence with a loud voyce. & departed euery one, & placed the lights
according as the seuerall offices & places did require. Here we stay'd till it was betweene
eight & nine of the Clocke at Night, but nothing accomplished ; onely wee had some faire
promises of furtherance by some of the Courtiers : Thus wee were dismist for that time &
wee returned for our Lodging at Mersimomeins house at Coteke, accompanied with a great
multitude of people, & many Lights, who much admired our kind of habit and fashion.

The second day, wee came in the After-noone againe to the court before the Nabob, which
being set, there mette vs at the Derbar (or Councell-house) our old enemy the Nockada of
the Frigget, who made a great complaint against vs, that wee had sought to make prize of
his Vessell, & to lake his goods by force, hee had likewise giuen a great gift to a Nobleman
to stand his friend & speake in his behajfe.

Our Merchant pleaded likewise, that all such Vessells as did trade on the coast, & had not
a Passe either from the English, Danes, or Dutch, was lawfull Prise. Hee answered that he
had a Passe ; our Merchant bid him produce the same before the Nabob & hee would cleare
him : to which the Nabob & the whole Councell agreed : but he could shew no Passe from
any of the afore-named 3. Nations, but he shew'd two Passes from (or of) the Portugals,
which they call by the name of Fringes, & thus was he cast, & we had the better of bim
before the King and Councell.

But then stood vp the Nobleman to whom hee had giuen a reward, (who had also a little
knowledge or insight ia Sea-afTaires ) & said, what Stranger seeking a free trade, could make
prize of any Vessell within any of the Sounds, Seas, Roads or Harbours of his Maiesties Do-
minions ? This he spake not so much for the good of the King, but thinking and hoping
that the Vessell by his meanes should haue beene clear'd with all her goods & the Nockado
(or Pilot) acquitted, that so by those meanes hee might haue gained the more & greater re-
wards; but hee was quite dcceiued in his vaine expectation. For the Nabob perceiuing
that shce belonged to Pyplye, a Port-Towne of the Portugals, whom the Nabob affects not,
where the Portugals were resident, & that shee was net bound for any of his Ports, hee made
short worke with the matter, & put vs all out of strife presently, for hee confiscated both
vessell & goods all to himselfe. Whereby the Nobleman was put by his hopes, who was in-
deed a Gouernour of a great Sca-towne, whereto much Shipping did belong, & many ships
& other Vessels were builded. Our Merchant seeing that hee could not make prize of the
V'essell or the goods, nor haue any satisiiiction for ihe wrongs which he & our men had re-

ceiued.

hy •'

1 still

or a Voyage to Bengalla. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

ceiued, he rose vp in great anger & departed, saying, that if hee could not haue right here,
he would hnue it in another place, & so went his way, not taking his leaue of the Nabob,
nor of any other, at which abrupt departure they all admired.

The third day in the Mornins; the King sent for our Merchant by the iord Comptroller
of his Court, who went with him accompanied with Mersimomein & others to the Derbar,
where there was a very graue Assembly set : Then came the King, who being set, he smiled
vpon our Merchant, & ( by an Interpreter) demanded the cause why het- went the last
euening (or ouer-night) in such an anger? To whom he answer'd boldly, & with a sterne
vndauntcd countenance, that he had done his Masters of the Honourable Company wrong,
& (by his might & power) had taken their rights from them which would not be so en-
dured or put vp. The King hearing this demanded of the Assembly, which were as well
Merchants as Noljjcs, (in the Persian Tongue) of what strength & force our shipping were,
their number, burthen & force, where our chief place of residence was for Trading: Hee
likewise sent for Persian Merchants, & did diligently enquire of them the same demands
& questions : who answer'd that we had great trading on the coast of Cormadell, India and
Persia; & likewise in the South Seas, as Bantam, laparo, laubee & Macossor : They fur-
ther told the Nabob, that our Shipping were great, and of great force withall, & likewise if
his pleasure was such as to be at ods with vs, there neither could, would or should any Ves-
sell, great or small, that did belong to these parts, stirre out of any Ilauens, Ports or Har-
bours of his Maiesties Dominions, but they would take them & make prize of them, for
they were not able to withstand their force. At these words the King said but little, but
what he thought is beyond m j ki ledge to tell you.

Then the King turn'd to our Merchant, & told him in Moores language (the which hee
could very well vnderstand) that he wnuld grant the English free Trade vpon these Condi-
tions following.

That if the English Ship or Ships should at any time see any ship or ships, lunke or lunks,
or any other Vessell of the Nabobs, or any of his subiects in distresse either by foule wea-
ther, or in danger of Enemies, or in any other extreamity, that we (the English) should
helpe, aide, & assist them to our powers, or if it happened they were in want of Cables,
Anchors, Water, Victualls, or any other necessaries whatsoeuer that did belong to them, that
we the said English shuuld helpe them as we were able. Likewise that we the said English
should not make prize of any Vessell belonging to any of the Dominions of the said Nabob,
& that we the said English should not make prize of any ship, Vessell or Vessels within the
Ports, Riuers, Roads, or Havens of the Nabob, though they were our enemies; but at the
Sea wee might make prize of them if we could : to this all our Merchants agreed. Then
the King caused Articles on his part to be drawne, & published in this manner following.

Here I the said Nabob, Vice King & Gouernour of the Countrey of Woodia, vnder the
great & mighty Prince Pe De>ha Shassallcm, doe giue & grant free licence to the afore-
said Ralph Cartwright Merchant to trade, buy, sell, export & transport by Shipping, either
off or vpon the shore, not paying any lunkeon or Custome, nor any vnder me to cause
them to pay any : Likewise, fhal if they doe conuay Goods by shore betwcene Factory &
Factory or any other place for tlK>ir better aduantage of gainc within these liis Dominions, 1
straitly charge & command that no Gouernour, Custome-gatherer, or other Officer whatsoeuer,
shall make or cause them to pay any lunken or Customes ; but shall suffer them to passe
free, without let, hinderance, molestation, or interruption of stayage, but shall (I say)
helpe & further them in .nny thing that shall be the furtherance of their businesse. More-
ouer, I doe grant to the English Merchants to take ground, & to build houses fitting for
their Imployments, & where they shall see conuenient for their best vtility & profits, with-
out let or hinderance of any of my louing Subiectsi.

And further I doe giue & grant to the English Merchants free Licence to build Shipping,
small or great, or any other Vessell which they shall thinke best & fittest for their occasions
& vses ; they paying no more than the Custome of the Countrey to the Workmen ; &
likewise to repaire shipping if any occasion be to require it.

Likewise

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1266 VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS. Ncwesfrom the Bait Iniie$ .

Likewiae I the Nabob dee comound that no Gouernour or Oflfker whatsoeuer vnder me
ahall doe the Engiiah any vrrong, or cause any to be done vnto them, as they Bfaall aoawer
it at their perills, wheresoeuer they are resident *. Neither shall any wrong be done to any
jteraant of ttieir^, that doth belong vnto them.

Atid againc, if any Controueraie shouid be betwixt the English, & the people of the
Countrey, if tJbe matter be of any moment, then the said cause shall be brought before me
the Nabob at the Court at Malcandy, & at the Derbar I will decide the matter, because
the English may haue no wrong, (behauing themseluesi as Merchants ought to do.)

Thia Licence formed & giuen at the Royall Court of Malcandy, the third day of May
1633, but not sealed till the fift day of May following at night.

The fourth day of May the King sent a great banquet to the House of Marsymomeine,
to etir Merchant, & there came to this feast the great man that did speake on the Nockado'a
tide against vs, at the Darbar, about the frigget aforesaid : He brought with him to our
Merchant for a present a bale of Sugar, a Bottle of Wine, 8c some sweet meates ; saying,
he was sorry for the things before done & past, but if any thing lay in him to doe the
Company & him any good, he &; they should be sure of it. This man was Gouernour of
a Towne called Bollasarye, a Sea Towne where shipping was built; (as is afore said) his
name was Mercossom, & vnderstanding that the Merchant was minded to trauaile that way,
hee promised him to doe him all the courtesies that could be.

The fifth day of May in the afternoone we were before the King againe at the Darbar, at
mir comming he called for our Perwan, (which was our warrant or licence) & then he
added to it the free leaue of coyning of Monies k sealed it with his owne signet himselfe,
& so all things were strongly confirm'd & ratified for our free trade in his territories 8c Do-
miniofldt

The sixth day of May the King made a great Feast at the Court where were as.semb]ed the
most & chiefest of all his Nobles Sc Gouernoura that were vnder his command, 8c being
set, he sent the Lord Comptroller of his house for the English Merchant Master Ralph Cart-
wright to come vnto him, who came with all dpeede, k when he was in the presence of the
King, he caused him to set downeby him, & take part of the Feast (for the King was exceed*
ing merry 8c pleasant) then the King caused a Vest or Robe to be brought, & with his own
hands did put it vpon our Merchant ; & thus was he inuested & entertained in the presence
of this Royal!, Noble & great assembly.

This day the King was in magnificent state 8c Maiesty, on rich Persian Carpets : (as is
before mentioned) But ouer this great Company was a large Canopy of branched Veluet of
foure colours, & in the seames betweene the ioynings of it was yellow Taffata, which hung
downe like vnto the Vallence of a bed, it was 80. foote in length, & 40. foote in bredth,
& it was vpheld with foure small Pillars, ouerlayd with siluer, whose height was twelue
foote, Sc in thicknesse one foote. Here we staid till about the houre of fiue in the after-
noone, 8e then we tooke our leaues of the King & the rest, 8c departed to Coteke to the
house of Mersymomeine.

Thus haue I plainly & truly related the occurrences that hapned at the Court of Malcan-
dy, but although the Palace of the Nabob be so large in extent, & so magnificent in struc-
ture, yet he himselfe will not lodge in it, but euerj- night he lodgeth in Tents with his most
tmsty Seruants 8c Guards about him, for it is an abhomination to the Moguls (which are
white men ) to rest or sleepe vnder the roofe of a house that another man hath builded for
his owne honour. And therefore hee was building a Palace which he purpos'd should be a
Fabricke of a Rest, & future Remembrance of his renowne : He likewise keepeth three
hundred Women, who are all of them the daughters of the best & ablest subiects that he
hath.

The seuenth day of May we went vp & downe in the Towne of Coteke ; it is very po-
pulous of people, & hath daily a great Market in it of all sorts of necessaries which the
Country afTordeth, it is seuen miles in compasse, & hath but two great Gates belonging to
it, it is three Miles betweene the one Gate & the other.

Vpon

* J

a Voyage to Sengalla. TRAFFIQUIS, AND DISCOUIRIES.

267

po-
the

Vpon the eighth day of May we went to the Con»t at Malcandy agatnc to desite of the
King a Warrant, or free PaMe^ for a safe conuoy of Let!er», or any oth«r 9nch occasion
thfongh his Countries.

Here we found hi» Maiesty sitting in the outward Talace of the Court on the Pauemenf
by the Tanke before named, with a very faire Canopy ouer him, made of Damaske, & vp-
held by foure small Pillars overlayd with Sihier, with his Nobles by hrm for (his effect &
purpose following.

He was by the great Mogul commanded to wage warre with all expedition against the
King of Culcandouch (a great Prince neighbouring vpon his confines) which had wrong-
fully with hostility entred on the Southwest part of his Countrey, & had made some spoyle
i& hauock on the same. The King, I say, had here called all his Commanders, Leaders St
Captaines together giuing them a great charge concerning the good vsage of his men, &
their best endeauours in the management & performance of their seniices in those Warres.
llee likewise gaue gifts to the Leaders, & money to the Souldiers to encourage them. Th<
Army consisted of .30000. men, which was 1000. Horse & 2000. foote, armed for the most
part with Bowes A Arrows ; & some againe with Darts, like our lauelins, but farre more
sharpe ; Sc some ngaine with a kind of Falchon, Semiter, or like a bended Sword by their
side ; some of which weapons haue cut in sunder two malefactors, which haue been con-
demned to dye, being bound backe to backe, at one blow giuen backwards by the Execu-
tioner. But our Commission being granted, & our businesse ended finally, our Merchant
(reuerently) tooke his leaue of the King; & the King (with his Nobles) did the same to
him, wishing him all good successe in his affaires in his Countrey ; & so we departed.

The ninth of May we gathered together all our things ; & at night wee departed from
Cotcke.

The tenth, at the houre of two in the Afternoone we came to the Towne of Harharra-
poore, & hosted in the house of our Interpreter.

The eleuenth day wee went to the Gouernour of the Towne, & shewed him our Fermand
or Commission from the King ; the Gouernour made a great Salame, or courtsie in rcue-
rence vnto it, & promised his beat assistance & helpe in any thing that he could doe, &
there the said Gouernour had a small Present giuen to him.

The twelfth day of May Master Thomas CoIIey came to vs at Harharwpoore, & the
rest of the Englishmen with him, with all the j^oods ; then wee hired a house for the pre-
sent, till such time as ours might be builded, for our further occasions to the Companies
vse.

This Towne of Harharrapoore is very full of people, & it is in bounds sixe or seuen Miles
in compasse ; there are many Merchants in it, & great plenty of all things, here is also
cloth of all sorts great store, for there doth belong to this Towne at the least 3000. Weauers
that are house keepers, besides all other that doe worke, being bound or hired.

The foureteenth day the two Merchants went abroad, & found out a plat of ground fitting
to build vpon ; then they layd the Kings Deroy on it, & seaz'd vpon it for the Companies
vse, & there was no man that did, or durst gaine say them for doing the same.

The fifteenth day they hired workmen & labourers to measure the Ground, & to square
out the foundation of the House, & likewise for the Wall, which was one hundred Conets
square, which is fifty yards, euery Conet being halfe a yard, or a foote & a halfe: & it be-
houed vs to make haste, for the time of the great Raines was at hand.

The sixteenth day they laid the foundation of the Walls, being nine foote thicke, much
haste was made, & many workmen about it ; but this our first worke was but labour lost St
cast away, for it came to nothing.

For on the eighteenth day the Raines began with such force & violence, that it beate

downe all our work to the ground, & wash'd it away, as if there had not fceene any thing

done, this Storm e continued without ceasing, (day and night) more or lesse three weekes

compleat.

The sixteenth d;iy of lune Master Ralph Cartwright tooke his iourney for Ballazary, &

two

■ %'

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268

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS, Ncwcsfrom the East Indies

two English men with him, who were Edward Peterord & William Withal, 5c from thence
he was minded to trauaile further into the countrey of Bengalla ; & the eigth of luly fol-
lowing wee receiued a letter from Master Cartwright, concerning his proceedings & trou-
blesome passage ; for he found not the Countrey according as was reported, by reason of
the time of the great raincs that fell, yet he was safely arriued in Pipely.

The three 8c twentieth day of luly in the Morning, we had newes that there was an En-
glish Ship arriued at Hassarpoore, Si had shot (jf three pieces of Ordnance, & stayed all
night, she having not a boat to come from her, she weighed Anchor, & set sailc for Balla-
zan[-

The S5. of August in the morning Master Thomas Colley dyed of a violent Feuer at
Harharrapoore.

The seuenth day of September I receiued Letters from Master Cartwright from Ballazary,
& wiihall he sent me the name of the Ship, to wit, the good Ship Swan, & Master Edward
Austin (or Ostin ) commander.

The nineteenth day of September there came two Merchants from Ballazary to Harharra-
poore, the one of them his name was Master Robert Littler, the other Master John PowUe,
Purser of the Ship Swan.

The fourth day of October our Merchant Master Robert Littler, tooke a iourney for lag-
gernat, & he returned the sixteenth day to the Factory at Harharrapoore.

A briefc Relation of the great City of laggarnat.

THe fifth day of Nouember I was sent about the Companies businesse to the groat city of
laggarnat, & I trauailed this day to a Townc called Madew, & I lodged all night in a Pagod,
or Pogoda.

The sixth day I William Bruton trauailed eight course, which is thirty two Miles English,
& came to a Towne named Amudpoore, where I found met together, of men, women 8c
children, more than 3000. ; & all of them were Trauellers & Raungers of the Countrey,
hauing no residence, but are called Ashmen ; (because they doe cast Ashes vpon them-
selues) also they are called Fuckeires, which are religious names given to them for their
supposed holinesse, but indeed they are very Rogues, such as our Gipsies be here in En-
gland, when they see their time & opportunity to put Roguery & Villany in practice : at
this Towne I made no great stay, for I had a good charge about me of the Companies.

The seuenth day of Nouember in the Morning about two of the Clocke, I hasted from
Amudpoore, ouer a passage, & so for laggarnat, which was tenne course betweene, that is
forty Miles English, so about the houre of foure in the afternoone, I drew noare to this
great City of laggarnet, to which I passed ouer a great stone Causy, on either side whereof
was a very goodly Tanke to wash in, this Causey was about halfe a mile in length ; then as
I came to the West end of this City, I entred into a very faire place for Scituation, furnis' ed
with exceeding store of pleasant Trees & Groues & on either side of the way Tankes of
water & Pagodoes in the midst of them. From thence I passed vp into the High-streete,
where 1 was entertained by a Brammine, (which is one of their Religious Men or Idolatrous
Priests) but let his Religion be what it would, into his House I went, & there I lodged all
the time of my stay there.

The eigth day of Nouember in the morning after I had gone about the aflTaires that I was
sent to doe, I went to view the City in some part, but especially that mighty Pagodo or
Pagod, the mirrour of all wickednesse & Idolatry: Vnto this Paged, or house of Sathan (as
it may rightly be called) doe belong 9000. Brammincs or Priests, which doc dayly offer Sa-
crifices vnto their great God laggarnat, from which Idoll the City is so called ; & when he
is but named, then all the people in the Towne & Countrey doe bow & bend their knees to
the ground, as the Moabites did to their Idoll Baal-Peor. Here they doe also offer their
Children to this Idoll, & make them to passe through the Fire ; & also they haue an abho-
minable custome to cause or make them passe through the water as Sacrifices vnto the said
vngodly God.

This

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9r a Vot/agc to Bengalla. TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIFS.

This Idoll is in shape like a great Serpent, with seuen Heads, & on the choekcs of each
Head it hath the forme of a Wing vpon each cheeke, which wings doe open & shut, &
(lappe, as it is carried in a stately Chariot, ic the Idoll in the midd'st of it: and one of the
Mopils sitting bchinde it in the Chariot vpon a conuenient place with a Canopy to keepc
the Siinne from iniuring of it.

When I (with horrour) beheld these strange things I called to mind the 13. Chap, of the
Uevel, & 1. Verse, & likewise the l(). & 17. Verses of the said Chapter, in which places there
is a beast, & such Idolatrous worship mentioned, & those sayings in that Text arc herein
fruely accomplished in the Ifith. Verse: for the Brammines are all marked in the fore-head,
&' likewise all that come to worship the Idoll, are marked also in their fore-heads ; but
those that doe buy & sell, arc all marked in the left shoulder; & all such as doe dare or
presume to buy & sell, (not being marked) are most seuerely & gricuously punished.

They haue builded a great Chariot that gocth on 16. Whecles of a side, Sc euery whecle
i-i line foote in height, & the Chariot itself is about thirty foot high. In this Chariot (on
their great Festiuall dayes at night) they doc place their wicked God Iag!>arnat, & all the
Brammines (being in number 9000.) doe then attend this great Fdoll, bcxides of Ashmen
k, Fuckeirs some thousands, (or more than a good many). The ('hariot is most richly adorned
with most rich & costly Ornaments, & the aforesaid whecles arc placed very compleat in a
round circuite so artificially, that euery whecle doth doe his proper office without any im-
pediment: For the Chariot is aloft, & in the Center betwixt ihc Whecles; they haue also
more than 2000., lights with them : And this Chariot with the Idoll is also drawne with the
greatest & best men of the Towne, & they are so eager & greedy to draw it, that whoso-
eucr by shouldering, crowding, shouing, heauing, thrusting, or any violent way can but
Clime to lay a hand vpon the Ropes, they thinke themselues blessed & happy. And when
it is going along the City, there are many that will offer themselues a Sacrifice to this Idoll,
& desperately lye downe on the ground, that the Chariott-whceles may runne oucr them,
whereby they arc killed outright; some get broken armes, some broken legges, so that
many of them are so destroyed, & by this nieanes they thinke to merit Hcauen.

There is also another Chariot which hath but 12. whceles, & that is for an Idoll oraDeuill
of an inferiour rankc or lower degree: & hee doth not goe abroad or in progrcsse, but
when the Bramlnes doe please. This Pagodo is scituated by the sea-side, & is to be seen
into the Sea at the least 10. or 12. leagues ; (for the Ayre & Skye is clear & pure in those
parts, that it may be scene farre). It is inclosed with a wall of Stone, much about 22. foot
in height, & the inclosure is foure-square, & euery square is 150. Geometricall paces; so
the foure squares in the totall are COO. paces or yards about : it sfandeth due East, West,
North & South; & euery square hath a great gate for the entrance into it, but the South
& West-gates are barr'd vp till the Festiuall times, & none commonly vsed but the North
& East-gates, but especially the North-gate; for it hath all its prospect into the high, or
chiefc street of this City.

Now in some other parts of this Countrey the people doe adore Sc worship other crea-
tures for their Gods: some worship the Celestiall, as the Sunne, Moone & Starres : some
againe Terrestriall, & they of the Mountaines, Vallies Sc Woods : some Aquaticall, & those
of the Seas, Riuers, & Fountaines : some running after a beast like an Oxe, the Dog, &
the Cat, some after the Hawkc, some after the sheepe, & some so foolish, that they doted
vpon the very hearbs & flowers in their Gardens. For indeed they haue very rare flowers
for colour, such as I neuer saw in England, or else-where. Some of this Nation haue erected
to themselues a God, in the likenessc of lupiter, & doe chaine him by the legge in their
Pagod, to the intent that hee might not leaue them, nor forsake them ; & keepc continuall
watch & Guard night & day, lest any of their Enemies should come & intice him away
by bribery, & so to preuaile with him to come forth of it, & by that meancs their City
come to mine & destruction : so much for their Idolatry.

This City of Bengalla is very great & populous, it hath many Merchants in it, & jccldetli
very rich commodities, as good Cloath in aboundance, Sugars, Silkes, Taffataes, StufTes, Waxe,

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270 VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, Nexvea from the East Indies:

Gumlacke, Butter, Oyle, Rice & Wheate, with many other good commodities vendable. It
is likewiHe ramoiis for its multitude of Rhinoceroes, it hath a beast much like vnto a Vni*
come, & because it hath but one Home, some doe beleeue Sc take it for the Vnicornes
home for the vertue it hath in it. This City was once free from Taxations, till Ehebar the
great Mogull caused it to be vnited to his Empire. The chiefest Cities which ioyne nearest
to it, are Catigan, & Satagan on the bankes of Ganges Eastward : It was once the Seate of
the great Bengalian King Maichiram, as Mr. Purchase relates in his Pilgrimage. This City
lyes Westward toward Pcga, & ncere to Cosmin & Aracam, two famous Cities for Traffick
& Sciluation ; lying vpon the Riuer, ^ within some few Leagues of the Gulfe call'd the
Bengallian gulfe, which is a very dangerous one ; for at some certaine times of the yeere
it is very hazardable for vessells to passe without shipwrack : There be many other Lakes Sc
Riuers which I could mention, but for breuity sake I omit them. But there is no strong
drinke suffered to be drankc within the City, except a Stranger doe bring it in priuatcly, &
so it is not knownc : Sc thus much shall suffice for the impious Religion of laggarnat & the
stately Court of Malcandy.

The most of these people haue no Learning, but doe all things by memory : They weare
commonly long haire, & are very strict in their time of Fasting ; but afterwards, wnen the
Ceremony is ouer, then they freely commit all kind of wickednesse againe. In some places
they haue their Edicts or Lawes written, & in other places vnwrittcn : They know what belon<>3
to Bonds or bills & they lend without Witnesses, or any scaling of Writings, euen vpon their
owne Words : Sc hee that is found to deny his promise, hath the tops of his fingers cut olf.
Their habit is various Sc different, some of them doe goe in linnen or woollen, some arc
cloathed with beasts skins, or Birds feathers, others goe naked, Sc doc couer only their secret
parts : Their bodies are for the most part blacke, which is not accidentall, but naturally arising
from the quality of the seed they are begotten : Most of them are of a large stature ; they
haue many wiues which they purchase & buy of their Parents : some they keepe to be their
Vassals to doe their drudgery ; others, which are handsomer, for issue sake & pleasure.

Here are greater store of Beasts than in any other part of the Indies ; as Oxen, Camells,
Lyons, Dog^es, Elephants: they haue Dogges which are as fierce as Lyons, with which they
usually hunt & pursue those wild beasts as we doe our bucks, for their delight & pleasure.
They ride on goodly horses booted & spurr'd ; so likewise doe their Women.

These people are notable ingenious men ; let it be in what Art or Science soeuer, & will
imitate any workmanship that shall be brought before them : for the most part of them hate
idlenesse, & those that doe not study in some Art or other, are counted drnanes, & stand for
Cyphers, & dead men amonirst the best & chiefest sort of people: They haue a custome,
that alwayes before dinner ihcy do call their children He, young people in their houses together,
& doe examine how they had spent their time from the sunne-rising, Sc if they could not
giue a good account of it, they were not to be admitted to the Table ; & so euery day, &
if they did not the next time improue themselues in some knowledge of laudable things,
they are most seucrely punished and chastised.

These barbarous & idolatrous people, although they be so ignorant in the true worship
of God cannot endure a perjured person, nor a common swearer, nor a common drunkard,
but will punish them very seucrely by stripes, or else by forfeiture of their Commodities :
A perjured person, say they, is an arch enemy to their God & them : & it is so hatefull, that
if it be committed by their Father, Brother or kindred, they doe presently condemn him,
according to the nature of the offence : for though they loue the periury, by reason of the
benefit that commeth vnto them by it, yet they hate the person euen vnto death: for, say
they, hee which was sometimes periurcd in their behalfe, may vndoe what he hath done, &
speake the truth when time serues : They instance a story of Soleman the great Turke, who
loathed & abhorred the Traitor that betrayed Rhodes vnto hin, & in stead of his daughter,
whom he expected to be giuen him in marriage for a reward, he caused him to be flayed and
•alted, & told him in derision, that it was not fit for a Christian to marry with a Turk, unless
he put off his old skin : likewise they instance Charles the fourth, who rewarded the spul-

diers

or a Voyage to Bengalla. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

(lien (that betrayed their Lord & Master Krantius) with counterfeit Coyne; and being de-
sired to deliuer them current money, answered, that counterfeit coyne was the proper wages
for counterfeit seruice : Thus a lyar or periured person amongst these Idolatrous people they
will not beleeue, though he had spoken or sworne the truth: tor he that hath been once false,
is euer to be suspected in the same kinde of falshood : wherefore iust & vpright dealing is
aptly compared to a glasse, which being once broken, can neuer be repired ; or to oppor-
tunity, which once omitted, can neuer be recouered. And so I conclude this relation, wishing
all men to preferre knowledge & honesty before wealth & riches ; the one soone fadcth,
the other abideth for euer : for amongst all the goods of this life, oncly wisdome is immortall.

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THE AUNCIENTE MANERS, CUS""OMES AND LAWES,

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PEOPLES ENHABITING THE TWO PARTES OF THE EARTH,

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1565.

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PtimeD atlUnHon:

BY IHON KINOSTONB, AND HENRY SUTTON.

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TO THE
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THE ERLE OF ARUNDEL,

KNKiHT OF TIIF. ORDRE,

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LORDE STEWARDE OF THE QUIENES MAIESTIES MOST
HONOURABLE HOUSEHOLDE.

AFtre what time the barrein traiieiles of longe seruice, had driiic me to thinke libertic the
best rewarde of my simple life, right honorable Erie and that I had determined to leauc
wrastlynj? with fortune, and to giue my self wholie to line vpon my studie, and the labours of
my hand : I thought it moste fitting with the dutie that I owe to God and manne, to bestowe
my time (if I could) as well to the profite of other, as of myself. Not coueting to make of
my floudde, a nother manes ebbe (theCancre of all commune wealthcs) but rather to sette
other a flote, where I my self strake on groi;id. Tourning me therefore, to the scarche of
wisedome and vertue, for whonc sake either we tossc, or oughte to tosse so many papers and
tongues: although I founde aboute myself, verle litlc of that Threasure, yet remembred I
that a fewe yeres paste, at the instaunce of a good Citezein, (who might at those daies, by
aucthoritie commaunde me ) I had begonne to translate, a iitle booke named in the Latine,
Omnium gentium mores, gathered longe sence by one lohannes Boemus, a manne as it ap-
pereth, of good iudgemente and diligence. But so corrupted in the Printing, that after I had
wrasteled a space, with sondrie Printes, I rather determined to lose my labour of the quartre
translacion, then to be shamed with the haulf. And throwing it a side, entended no further
to wearie my self therwithnll, at the leaste vntill I mighte finde a booke of a bettre im-
pressio. In searching whereof at this my rctourne to my studie, although I found not at the
full that, that I sought for : yet vndrestanding emongthe booke sellers (as one talke bringes
in another) that men of good learning and cloquecc, bothe in the Frenche and Italien tonge,
had not thought skorne to bestowe their time aboute the translacion therof, and that the
Emperours Maiestie that now is, voiichedsaulfe to rereiue the presentacion therof, at the
Frenrhe translatours hande, as well appereth in his booke : it kindled me againe, vpon
regard of mine owne profite, and other mennes moe, to bring that to some good pointc, that
earst I had bcgonne. For (thought I) seing the booke hath in it, much pleasant varietie of
thingcs, and yet more profite in the pitthc : if it faile to bee otherwise rewarded, yet shal it
thankefully of the good be regarded. Wherefore setting vpon it a frcsshc, where the booke
is dcuided acording to thaunciente deuision of li^e earth into thre partes, AfTrique, Asie,
and Europe : hauing brought to an ende the two (i'-te partes, I found no persone in mine
opinio so fitte as your honour, to present theim vntn. For seing the whole processe ronneth
vpon gouernaunce and Lawes, for thadministracio!< of commune wealthes, in peace and in
warrc, of aunciente times tofore our greate graundfathers daies : to whom mighte 1 bettre
presente it, then to a Lorde of verie nobilitie and wisedome, that hath bene highe Mareshalle

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\^,

Ttii TIIF, LirriRIi DEDICATORIE.

in the ficldr abrmlr, drpiitie of thr Inckr and keic ofthii* rraline, and a counHniloiir at home,
of thro worJhic princes. I'Acrciscd so many waics in the wanes of a fickle Commune
wralihe : troubled sometime, but ncuer disapoincted of honourable successe. To your
good Lordeshippe then I yelde & committe, the firste friiicles of my libertie, the firste
rroppc of my labours, this iirste daic of the Ncwc yere : beseching the same in as good
parte to receiue it, as I humblie oMre it, and at your pleasure to vnfolde the Furdle, and
considre the stufT'e. Whirho euer the farder in, Hhall sieme I truste the more pleasauntc and
fruictefulle. And to ronclude, if I shall vndresliide, that your honour delighiteth in this, it
shal be n cause sufTiciente, to make me go in hande with Europe, that yet remaineth
untouched. Almightie God giuc vnto your Lordeshippe prosperous fortune, in sounde
honour and heallho.

Your Lordshippes moste humblie at commaundemente,
William Watheman.

li li W ' . *

11 ' ' f

'hid ■ '.

THE

P R E F A C E

OF THE AUTHOUR.

I HAVE sought out at times, as laisure hath scrucd mc. Good reader, the maners and
facios the I^wes, Customes and Rites, of all sucho penplcs as semed notable, and worthy to
be put in remembrace, together with the situitiu & dcscriptio of their habitalios : which
the father of Stories Herodotus the Grcke, Diodorus the Siciliane, Berosus, Strabu, Solinus,
Trogus Pompeius, Ptolomeus, Plinius Cornelius the still, Dionysius the Afriane, Poponius
Mela, Cnesar, Inscphus, and ccrtein of the later writers, as Vincentius, and Aeneas Siluius
(whirhe aftreward made Pope, had to name Pius the seconde) Anthonie Sabcllicus, Ihon
Nauclcrus, Amiiro.se Cnlcpine, Nicholas Perottc, in his cornu copia;, and many other famous
writers eche one for their parte, as it were skatercd, & by piece meaie, set furthc to
posteritie. Those I saie haue I sought out, gathered together, and acordyng to the ordre of
the storie and tyme, digested into this litle packe. Not for the hongre of gaine, or the
ficklyng desire of the peoples vainc brute, and vnskilfulle commendacion : but partly moued
with the oportunitic of my laisure, & the wondrefull profite and pleasure, that I conceiued in
this kinde of studie my self, and partly that other also delightyng in stories, might with litle
labour, finde easely when thei would, the sonimc of thynges compiled in one Booke, that
thei ware wonte with tediousnes to sicke in many. And I haue shocked theim vp together,
as well those of aunciente tyme, as cf later yeres, the lewde, as well as the vertuous in-
diflbrcntlie, chat vsing the as presc examples, and paternes of life, thou maiest with all
thine endeuour folowe the vertuous; .r I godlie, & with asmuche warenes eschewe the vi-
cious & vngodly. Yea, that thou mai;st further, my (reader) learne to discerne, how men
haue in these dales amended the rude simplicitic of the first worlde, fru Adam to the floud
and many yercs after, when men lined skatcryng on the earthe, without knowlege of Money,
or what coigne mcnt, or Merchauntes trade : no maner of exchauge, but one good tourne for
another. When no man claimed aught for his seueralle, but laiide and water ware as
coniune to al, as Ayer and Skie. Whe thei gaped not for honour, ne hunted after richesse,
but eche man contented with a litle, passed his dales in the wilde fielde, vnder the
open heauen, tlie couertc of some shadowie Tree, or slendre houelle, with suche com-
panion or companius as siemed them good, their diere babes and children aboute them.
Sounde without carcke and in rest full quietnesse, eatyng the fruictes of the ficlde, and the
milke of the cattle, and drinking the waters of the christalline springes. First clad with
the softe barcke of trees, or the faire broade leaues, & in processe with rawe felle and hide
full vnworkemanly patched together. Not then enuironed with walles, ne pente vp with
rampers, and diches of deapthe, but walking at free skope emog the wanderyng beastes of
the fieide, and where the night came vpon theim, there takyng their lodgyng without feare

O o of

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278

THE PREFACE

V r

«)r murthcror or thief. Mcry at iho fiillc, as withoiil knowledge of ihc euilles ^ afire cnmicd
aw J worltlc waxed elder, tliroiigh diiierH desires, and contrarie endetioiirH of menne. Wh(»
in prof esse for the insiifTiciencic of the friiictcs of the earthe, ( whiche she the gauc vntillcd)
and for dcfniilt of t)ther thvngcs, gannc fallc at dit^^niete and tiebatc emong themseines, and
to auoicd the inunsion of heastos, and mcnne of straungc borders, (whom by thcmttelueK
thei ronid not rcnellc) gathered into companies, with commune aide to withslandc siiche
enciirsions and violence of wrong. And so ioynyng in ronfederacic, planted themseines
together in a plottc, assigned their boimde-i, framed vp cotages, one by anothcru chicque,
diked in theselues, chase ufTicers and goiiernours, and deuised lawes, that thci also cmong
thcimseliies mi"ht line in (|iiiete. So beginnyng a rough palernc of tonnes and of Cities,
that aftrc ware laboured to more curious lincsse.

AND now ware thei not contented, with the commodities of the ficldes and cattle alone,
but by diners inncncions of h:indccraftes and sci€ces, and by sondrie labours of this life, thci
sought how to winnc. Now gan thei tattempte the scasc with many denices, to transplantc
their proi;ci ic and ofspring into places vnenhabited, and to enioye the commodities of cchc
others countrie, by mutuall tradique. Now came the Oxc to the yoke, the Horse to the
draught, the Mctalle to thestape, the Apparel to handsomnes, the Spearhc to more (inesse, the
Behauour of menne to a more calmencssc, the Fare more dcintie, the Huildyng more gor-
geous, thenhabitours ourr alt became milder and wittier, shaking of (eucn of their ownc
accorde) the bruteshe outrages and stearne dealinges, y shnmefully mought be spoken of.
Nowc refrained thei from sleayng one of a nother, fro eatyng of ech others flesh, from rape
and open defiling of mother, sister, and daughter indifRretly, and fro many like abhomina-
cions to nature and honestic. Thei now marieng rea-ion, with strength : and pollicie, with
might : where the earthe was before forgrowen with bushes and woodclcs, stufFed with many
noisome beastes, drouned with meares, and with niarshc, vnfitte to be enhabitcd, waast and
vnhandsome in euery condition : by wittic diligence, and labour, ridde it from encom-
braunce, planed the rouglies, digged vp trees l)y the rootes, dried aw..y the superfluous
waters, brought all into leauelle, banished barreinessc, and vncoucred the face of the earth,
that it might fully he senc, conuerted the champeine to tillage, the plaines to pasture, the
valley to meadow, the hillcs thei shadowed with wooddcs and with Vines. Then thrusic thei
in cultre and share, and with wide woinulcs of the earthe, wan wine and corne plentcously
of the grounde, that afore scarcely gaue them Akornes and Crabbcs. Then cnhabited thei
more thicke, and spred themselucs ouer all, and buylte euery where. Of Tonnes, thei
made cities, and of villages, Tou'ies, Castles vpon the rockes, and in the vallcis made thei
the temples "f the gnddcs. The goKle grancled springes, thci encurbed with Marble, &
with trees right picr.s.imtlic shadowed them aboute Fnim them they deriued into cities and
Tonnes, the pure fresh ^ waters, a gx-at disiauiicc of, by conduicte of pipes and troughes,
and suche other conucyaunce. Where nature had hidden the waters, out of sighlc, thei
sancke welle« cf grcatr dcapth, to sunplie thci. lackcs. Riuers, and maigne floiides, whiche
afore with vnbrideicd vinience.. oftymcs oucrflowed the neighboured aboute, to the destruc-
tion of their cattle, their htuscs, and lhem^elues: thei restrained with bancques, and kept
them in a course. And lo the eiidc fhci might not onc'y be vadable, but pa«^sed also with
drie foote, thei deuised nieancs witli piles o( Timbre, and arches of .--tone, mauigre the rage
of their violent streanios, to gmunde bridges vpon ihein. Yen, the rockes of the sea whiche
for the daungier of the acccsse, ihonghte themsehu^ cxempte from the dinte of their hande,
when thei percoiued by experience, thei ware mvus to sailers, with vnspeakeable labour
did thei ouerfhnwi- & brcake into gobctles. Hewed out ha les on euery stroiid, enlarged
crieques, opened rodis, and digged out hcrborowes, where their shippcs mighte ride saulfc
fn) the storme. Finally thci so laboured, beautifled, and perfcightcd llie earthe, that at this
daie comi)arcd with the former naturalle forgrowen wastcncsse, it might well sienie not to be
that, but rather the Parad.sc of pleasure, out of the whiche, the first paterncs of mankinde
(Adam and Eue) for th> fi.;ngrossion of Goddes precept, ware driuen.

MEN also inuentcd and founde many wittie sciences, and artes, many wondrefull workes,

whiche

OF THK AUTHOIJK.

279

whiche when by practice of Ictlrcx, thci had committed to hooke«, and laied vp for poHterilir,
their siicceMsoura »o woundered at their wincdomes and hu reiierenrrd their lone and ende-
uours (whiche thei spied to be meant toward them, and the wealth of those that shuhl folow
of the) that thei thought the not blessed enough, with the e^tlale of men mortalle, but so
aduaunced their fame, and wondered at their wurthinesse, that thci wan theim the honour
and name of Gculdes immortall.

TIIO gan the Prince of the worlde, when men so gan to delight in thadoiir'iynf? of the
worlde, to sowc vpu the good sicdc, the pcstilentc Dcrnell, that as thci ni'ihiplicd in noni-
bre, so iniquitie might encrease, to disturbe and conl'ounde this hUsscd slate.

FlItST, therefore when he had with all kinde of wirkednrs bolimcd y world, ho put into
their hcades, a curious searche of the highest knnwkdge. and siiihc as depcudeih vpou
dcstcnie of thyngcs. And so practised his pageauntcs, by db-i iiro and «l<jubiriillv attcin-
pred Hespocions, and voices of s|)irites, that after he had Icttrcd ilic WfiJdc in tli'- inuicri*
of his toies, and lannced into their hartes a blindc supcT-iii ion, and fcaie : he trained it
whole to a wicked worship of many goddes and Go'ldesses, that when he one-' had wiped
cicanc out of mynde the knowlegc and honour of one (Jod ciirrla«*tyng, he mii;ht practise
vpon manne, some notable mischief. Tlien sette he vp pilnrimai;cs to deiiilltw, foreiliewers
of thynges, thai gaue aduertisementc and answcrc to demaundcs in soiidrie wise. In
the Isle of Delphos one, in Euboea another, at Nasamone a thirde, and eniong the Dodo-
nians, the famous okes, whose bowes by the bhstes of the windc resounded to the eare, a
mancr of aduertisementc of deuellishc delusion. To the whiclic Idolles and Images of
deuelles he stirred vp men to do the honour (Helas) due oncly to God. As to Saturne in
Italie, to lupiter in Candie, to luno in Samo.s, to Bacchus in India, & at Thebes : to Iris,
and Osiris in Egipte : in old Troie to Vesta : aboute Tritona in Aphriquc to Pallas, in Ger-
manic and Fraunce to Mercuric, vnder the name of Theuthe: to Minerua at Athencs and
Himetto, to Apollo in Delphos, Rhodes, Chio, Patara, Troadc and Tymbra. To Diane in
Delos and in Scythia, to Venus in Paphos, Ciprus, (inydon, and Cithera. To Mars in Thra-
cia, to Priapus in Laiupsacho of Helle<pontus, to Vulcanc in Lypara and Lenos, and in diuers
other places to sondrie other, whose remembraunce was then moste freshe in the memorie
of their people, for the benefaictcs and mcrucilous inuencions bestowed emong them.

AFTERWARD, also when Icsus Christc the verie sonne of the almightie father, shewyng
hymself in the fleshc of our mortalitie, was conuersaunte in the worlde, pointyng to the
same, as with his (ingre, the waie to immortalitie, & endelesse blessedncsse, and bothe with
woorde and example, exhorted and allured them to vprightnes of life, to the glorie of his
father, sendyng his disciples and scolers into the vniuersall worlde, to condemne .Supersti-
tion and all errour of wickednes, witli the moste healthsome woorde : to piante true Reli-
gion, and gcue newc prcceptes, and directions of the life, and had now set the matier in
suche forwardncsse and poincte, that the Gospell bevng generally of all nacions recciued,
there lacked but continuaunce to perfeictc felicitie : The deuell eftcsones retournyng to his
naturall malice, desirous to repossesse that, that constrainedly he forsooke, betrappyng again
the curious conceipte of man, some he reucrsed into their former abuses and errouns, and
some with newe Heresies he so corrupted, snarled, and biynded, that it had bene muchc
bettrc for them, neuer almoste to hauc knowen the waie of truthe, then after their cntraunce,
so rashely and maliciously to haue forsaken it.

AT this daie in Asia the lesse, the Annenianes, Arabians, Persians, Sirias, Assirians and
Meadcs: in Aphriquc, the Egipcians, Numidians, Libiens, and Moores. In Eurojje, the
whole coutric of Grecia, Misia, Thracia, & all Turquie throwyng awaie Christe, arc become
the folowcrs and worshippers of Mahomet and his erronious doctrine. The people of Sci-
thia, whom we now cal Tartares (a grcate people and wide spread) parte of them worshippe
the Idolle of their Emperour Kamme, parte the Sonne, the Moone, and other Starres, and
part according to the Apostles doctriiif, one onely God. The people of Inde, & Ethiope,
vnder the gouernaunce of Presbiter Iho perscauer in Christiane godlinesse, howbeit after a
sort, muchc different fro ours.

O o 2 The

■f.'j

.. .V'5

■ m

Mil, "

11^

1:!' '

«80 THE PREFACE

The nincerr and true i'aiihe of Chriiit, whcrwifh in time it pleated Gml to illumine the
worldc, rrniaincth in Germanie, Italy, Fraiincc, Spaine, Englande, Scotland, Ireland, Den-
markc, JJuun, Pruse, Pole, Hiingarie, and the Mn of Hhi)drfl, Sicilie, Conira, Sardinia,
with a fewe other. Thi-« bytter ennemic of mankindc haiiyng thus with hi* Htibliltien, in-
ueilod our mindes, and di.<weucred the chriNtia vnio, by diuemitie of manen and facionfl o(
belief, hath brought to pa>MC thorough ihix damnable wyrkedne* of Sacrificeo, and Kites,
that whileHl euery people ( vnduublrdly with religioim enlent) endeuour ihcini oelueii to the
wonhippe of Gnd, and cclieonc taketh v|)u him to be the true and best worshipper of him,
and wnile!*t echone thinkc theim nelues to treadr the ftlrcighl pathe of cuerlantyng blemed-
ncs, and contedeth with cigre mode and hitter di^pite, that all other erre and be ledde Tarre
awrie: and whilcxt euery man ••tnigglethe and Mtriuelh to spread and enlarge hist owne
sectc, and to oucrthruwc othrrH, liiei doe ho hate and enuie, mo persecute and annoy echone
an other, that at this daic a man cannot rarely trauaill from one countrie to another : yea,
tliei that would nduenturc saufely or vnuufely, be almottt euery where holde out. Whcrof
me thiiikes I see it is like to come to pa«fle, that whilest one pet)ple iicant knoweth the name
of another, (and yet almost neighbount) all that shall this dale be written or reported of
theim, shalbe compted and refused as lyes. And yeat this maner of knowledge and expe-
rience, is of it self so pleasant, so prnKtable k so praise worthy, that sundrie (as it is well
knowen) for the oncly loue and desire thereof, Icauyng their natiue countrie, their father,
their mother, their wiues and their children, yea, throwyng at their heles their sauftie and
welfare, haue with grcutc troubles, vexations, and turmoilynges taken vpon theim for ex-
perience sake, to cutte through the wallowyng seas, and many thousande miles, to estraunjge
theimselues fro their home, yea, and those men not in this age alone, but euen from the
firste haichyng of the worlde haue been reputed and founde of moste wisedome, authoritie,
and good fucion, sonest chosen with all mennes consent, bothe in peace & warre, to ad-
mini^tre the cOmune wealth as maisters and counsaillours, fudges and Capitaines. Suche
ware thancient s:iges of Grece and of Italy, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Antisthenes, Aristip-
piis, Zcno, Sc Pythagoras, who through their wisedomes and estimacion for trauailes wan
them greate n(<mbres of foloweni, and brought fiirthe in ordre the sectes named Socratici,
Acadcinici, Peripateci, Cynici, Cyrenaici, Sloici, and Pythagorici, echone chosyng name
to glorie in his maister. Suche ware the prudente lawcmakers of famous memorie, Minois
and Rhadamanthus emOg the Cretenses, Orpheus emong the Thraciens, Draco and Solon
emog the Athenienses, Licurgus emong the Lacedemonias, Moses cmog the lewes, and Za-
molxis emong the Scythians, & many other in other stedes whiche dreamed not their know-
ledge in the benchehole at home, but learned of the men in the worlde moste wise, the
Chaldeies, the Brachmanni, the Gymnosophites 8c the priestes of Egipte, with who thei
had for a space bene cduersant. Like glorie, by like trauaill happened to the worthies of
the worlde, as to Iiipiter of Crete (reported fine times to haue surucied the whole worlde)
and to his twoo sonnes Dionisius (otherwise called Bacchus) and Hercules the mightie.
Likewise to Theseus and lason, and the rest of that voiage. To the vnlucky sailer Vlisses,
and to the banished Eneas, to Cyrus, Xerxrs, and Alexander the Greate, to Hanniballe and
Mithridate, kyng of Pontus, reported able to speake fiftie sudrie languages, to Antiochim,
the greate and innumerable Princes of Ronme, bothe of the Scipioes, Marii, and Lentuli.
To Pompciiis the greate, to lulius Cesar, Octauian, and Augustus, to the Constantines,
Charles, Conrades, Herickes, and Fredcrickes. Whiche all by their cxploictes vpon straunge
nacions, haue gotten their inmiortiill and euerlastyng rcnoumc. Wherefore, seyng there
is in the knowledge of peoples, & of their maners and facions, so greate pleasure and
profite, and euery man cannot, yea, fewe men will, go traueilc the countries thcmselues :
me thinkes gentill reader, thou oughtest with nuiche thankc to receync at niy hande these
bookes of the maners and facions of peoples most notable and famous, togythcr with the
places whiche thei enhabite : And with no lesse cherefulnes to embrase theim, then if
beyng ledde on my hande from countrey to countrcy, I should poyne t the at eye, how euery
people liueth, and where they haue dwcltc, and at this dayc doc. Let it not tnoiie the,

let

OF THH AUTHOUR.

id it not withdrawc the, if any rankerrd rrprrhctuloiir or other menn tlnynKCs nhall stai*
vnto the : It is a ihynt; hath l>rne written of, many ycarrs agonc, and that by a thousand
Rondry mciine, and yet he but borowyng their woordeN, brynKclh it foorthc for a mayden
booke, and nmneth it hiw owne. For if thou well connidre my trade, thou Hhalt fynd, that
I haiie not on'y l)rou){ht thee other mrnne«« olde 8iorc, but opened thee aim) the treasury
of mync ownr wittc and boke", not eucrv where to be found, and like a liberall feanter
h.-iue .-trt bcforo ihce much of mynr ownr, and many thyngea newe. Farewell and thanke-
fully take that, that with l.]l>our i<« brought thee.

«l

.r;iKN.:!<

iMf

let

THE

^ i'>-

Wy':

PEOPLES ENIIABITING THE TWO PARTES OF THE EARTH,

CALLED

AFFRIKE.

THE

FARDLE OF FACIONS

CONTEIMNG

THE AUNCIENTE MANERS. CUSTOMES AND LAWES,

OF THE

Ml. „ ( ,

:H1

AFFRICKE AND ASIE.

■m

f The first Chapiter.
H The true opinion of the deuine, concernyng the beginnyng of man.

WHen God had in. V. dales made perfecte the heauens and the earth, and the furniture of
bothe: whiche the Latinos for the guodlincsse and beaiitie thereof, call Mundus, and we (I
knowe not for what reason) haue named the worlde : the sixth daie, to the entent there
mighte be one to enioyc, and be Lorde oner all, he made the moste notable creature Man.
One that of all earthly creatures alone, is endowed with a mynde, and spirit from aboue. And
he gaue him to name, Adam : accordyng to the colour of the molde he was made of. Then
drawyng out of his side tl"^ woman, whilest he slept, to thende he should not be alone, knitte
her vnto hym, as an vnscparable compaignion, and thcrwith placed them in the moste plea-
saunt plot of the earth, fostered to flourishe with the moisture of floudes on euery parte.
The place for the frcsshe griencsse and incrie shewc, the Greques name Paradisos. There
lyucd they a wliyle a moste blessed life without bleamishe of wo, the earth of the own ac-
cor.Ic bringing fortli all thing. But when they ones had transgressed the precepte, they ware
baiiy-shcd that cnhabilaunce of pl<^asure and driuen to shift the world. And fro thenceforth
the grnciousncs of the earth was also abated, & the francke fertilitie therof so withdrawen,
that iai our and swette, now wan Ies.se a greate deale, then ydle lokyng on before tyme had
done. Shortly create in siekenes, and diseases, and the broyling heate and the nipping cold
began to asr'nile their bodves. Their first sonne was Cayin, and the seconde Abell, and then
many oi:ier. And as th world grewe into yeares, and the earth began to waxe ihicke peo-
pled, loke as the nombre did encreace, so vices grew on, and their lyuing decaied euer into

woors.

-lfM«fl

1'' :.|j

284

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Affrike.

III ', • if 1

:»>:

■r:.P)

woors. For giltclesse dealyng, wrong came in place, for dciioiitcnesse, cotempte of the
Goddes, and so farre outraged their wickcdnes, that God skarcely fyndyng one iiiste Noha
on the earth (whom he saued, with his hoiisholde, to repayre the lossc of mankind and re-
plenysshe the worlde) sente a floiidc vniiicrsall, whichc couering all vnder water, killed all
fleshc that bare lyfe vppon earth, exceptc a fcwe bcastes, birdes, and wormes that ware pre-
serued in the misticall arke. In the cnde of due Monetlirs aftre thefloude began, the Arque
touched on the moiitcines of Armenia. And within fonre Monethcs aftre, Noas and all his
beyng restored to the earth, with Goddes furthcraunce in shortc space repeopled the worlde.
And to thende the same myghte euery wheare again be enhabiled, he dispersed his yssue
and kyndredes into sondrie coastes. After Berosus opynion he sent Cham oiherwyse, named
Cameses and Chamesenuus with his (if'<pring, into Egiptc. Into Lybia and Cirene, Triton,
And into the whole residewe of Affrike the ancient lapetus called Attains Priscus, Ganges he
sent into Easte Asia with certeine of the sonnes of Comcrus Gallus. And into Arabia the
fertile, one Sabus, sirnamed Thurifcr. Oner Arabia the Waastc he made Arabu«i gouernourj
and Petreius oiier Petrea. He gaue vnto Canaan, all that lyeth fro Damasco to the outemost
bordre of Palestine. In Europe he made Tuisco king of Sarmatia, from the floude of Tanais
vnto the Rhene. And there were ioyned vnto him all the sonnes of Isfrus, and Mesa, with
their brethren, fro the mounteyneof Adula to Mesembcria pontica. Archadiusand Emathius
gouerned the Tirianes, Comerus Gallus, had Italic and Fraunce, Saniothee, Britcigne and
Normandie, and lubal, Spayne. That spiedieand vnripe putty iig forthe of the children from
their progenitours, before they had throughly learned and ei;ured them selues with their
facions and maners, was the cause of all the diuersitii that after ensued. For Cham, b the
reason of his naughty demeanour towarde his father, beyng constrrfyned to departe with his
wyfe and hys chvldren, planted him selfe in that parte of Arabia, that after was called by
his name. And lefte no trade of religion to his posteritie, because he none had learned of
his father. Wherof it came to passe, that when in proccsse of tyme they ware e;;creased to
to many for that londc : beyng sent out as it ware, swarme aftre swarme into other habitations
and skatered at length into sondry partes of the worlde (for this banysshed progeny grewe
aboue measure) some fel into errours wherout thei could neuer vnsnarle thcmselues. The
tongue gan to altre & the knowledge of the true God and all godlie worsshippe vanished
out of mind. Inso muche that some lined so wildcly (as aftre thou shnit here) that it ware
harde to discerne a difference betwixte them and the beastes of tlie fclde. Thei that flieted
into Egipt, wonderyng at the beautie and course of the Sonne, & the Moone, as though there
had been in them a power deuine, began to worship them as Goddes : callyng the lesse, Isis
and the bigger Osiris. To lupiter also thei fiacrificcd, & did honour as to y principall of
life. To Vulcan for fire, to Pallas, as Lady of the skie, to Ceres as gouerncresse of the
arth, and to sondry other for other sondry considerations. Neythcr staicd that darkenessc
df iniquitie in Egipte alone, but where so euer the progeny of Cham stcpte in from the
begynnyng, there fell true godlines, all onto of minde and abodage to the deucll entredhis
place. And tlirre neuer was countrie, mother of moc swarmes of people, then that part
of Arabia, that he, and his, chase to be theirs. So greate a mischief did the vntymcly ba-
nishemente of one manne, bring to the whole. Cotrarily the progenie of laphcth, and
Sem, brought vp to full yeres vndre their elders, and rightly en.structed : contcntyng the
selues with a litlc circuite, straied not so wide as this brother had doen. Whereby it chaunced
that the zcale of the truthe, (I meane of good liuyng and true worshippe of one oncly God)
remained tis hidden in one onely people, vntill the tyme of Mcssias.

f The seconde Chapitre.
H The false opinion of the Philosophre concernyng the begynnyng of man.

BVt the aunciente Philosophers, whichc without knowledge of God, and his truthe, many
yeres ago, wrate vpon the natures of thinges, and thistorics of times had another opinion of
the original! of man. For certain of them, belieued the worlde euer to haue been, and that

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TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

euer it should be, and man together with it to haiie had no beginnyng. Ccrtaine did holdc
that it had a be;;innyng, and an ende it tthould haiie, and a time to haiie been, when man
was not. For saie thei, the begynncr of thynges visible, wrapped vp bothe heaiien and earth
at one instant, togither in one paterne, and so a distinction growyng on bctivixte these
mevnte bodies, the worlde to haiie bcgon in suche ordre as we see. The aire by nature to
be cOtinuallv mouyng, and the moste firie parte of thesame, for the lightcncsse thereof,
inoste highe to haue climbed. So that sonne and Moonc, and the planetes all, participatyng
of the nature of that lighter substanncc : moue so muche the faster, in how nuirhe thei arc
of the more subtile parte. But that whiche was mixed with watcrie moisture, to liaup rested
in the place, for the heauinesse thcrof, and of the watery partes, the sea to haue comen :
and the matier more compacte to haue j)asscd into a clamminessc firstc, and so info earth.
This earth then brought by ^ heate of the sonne into a more fastenesse. And aficr by the
same power pulled and swollen in the vppermoste parte, there gathered manye humours
in sondry places, which drawing to ripenesse enclosed them selues in slymes and in lilmcs,
as in the maresses of Kgipt, and other stondynge waters we often sc happen. And seynge
the heate of thaier sokyngly warmeth the cold groud and heate meint with moisture is apt
to engendre : it came to passe by the gentle moisture of the night aire, and the com-
forting heate of the dale sonne, that those humours so riped, drawyng vp to the rin le of
thearth, as though their tyme of childbirthe ware come, brake out of their filmes, and de-
liuered vpon the earth all maner of liuyng thinges. Emog whiche those that had in the
moste heate, became foules into the aire : those that ware of nature more earthie, became
wormesand beastesofsondrie kindes : and wherewatersurmounted, thei drewe totheelementeof
their kinde, and had to name fishes. But afterwarde the earth beyng more parched by the
heate of the Sonne, and the drouthe of the windes, ceased to bring furthe any mo greate
beastes: and those that ware already brought furthe, (saie thei) mainteined, and encreased
by mutualle engendrure, the varietie, and nombre. And they are of opinion that in the
same wise, men ware engendred in the beginning. And as nature putte them forth cmong
other beastes, so liued they at the lirst an vnknowen lyfe wyldely emong them, vpon the
fruictes, and the herbes of the fieldes. But the beastes aftre a while waxing noysome vnto
them, they ware forced in commune for echeothers sauftie to drawe into companies to resiste
their anoyaunce, one helping another, and to sieke places to make their abiding in. And
where at the firste their speache was confuse, by litle and litle they sayed it drewe to a dis-
tinctenesse, and perfeighte difference : in sorte that they ware able to gyue name to all
thinges. But for that they ware diuersely sparckled in diuers partes of the worlde, they holde
also that their speache was as diuers and different. And herof to haue aftreward risen the
diuersitie of lettres. And as they firste assembled into bandes, so euery bande to haue
broughte forthe his nacion. But these men at the firste voide of all heipe and experience
of liuyng, ware bittrely pinched with hongre and colde, before thei could learne to reserue
the superfluous plenty of the Somer, to supply the lackc of Winters barreinesse, whose
bitter Wastes, and hogrie pinynges, consumed many of them. Whiche thing whe by expe-
riece dere bought, thei had learned : thei soughte bothe for Caues to defende them fro colde,
and began to hourde fruictes. Then happe foud out fire, and reason gaue rule of profite,
and disprofite, and necessitie toke in hand to sette witte to schoole. Who gatheryng know-
ledge, and perceiuyng hymself to haue a helpeof his sencea, more skilfull then he thought,
sot hande a woorke, and practised connyng, to supplie all defaultes, whiche togue and let-
tres did enla'-ge and distribute abrode.

THEI that had this opinion of the originall of manne, and ascribed not the same to the
prouidence of God, affirmed the Ethopiens to haue bene the firste of all mcnne. For thei
coniectured that the ground of that countrie lyng nierest the heates of the Sonne muste
nedes first of all other waxe warme. And the earth at that tyme beyng but clammie and
softe, through the attemperaunce of that moysture and heate, man there first to haue bene
fourmed, and there to haue gladlier enhabited (asnafiue andnaturall vnto him) then in any
other place, whe all places ware as yet straunge, and vnknowen, whiche aftre men soughte.

P p Beginnyng

285

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41'

386

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

jiffrike.

Sf..!'

Beginnyng therfore at them, after I haiie shewed how the worlde is deuided into thre partes
(as also this treatise of myne) and haiie spoken a litle of Aphriquc, I wyll shewe the si-
tuacion of Aethiope, and the inaners of that people, and so forthe of al other regions and
peoples, with .siichc diligence as we can.

% The thirdc Chapitre.
H The dciiision and limites of the Earthe.

THosc that haue bene before our daies, (as Orosius writctli) are of opinion, that the cir-
cnitc of the earth, bordered about with the Occcan Sea: disroundyng hym self, shootetb
out thre corner wise, and is also deuided into thre scuerall partes, Afrike, Asie, and Europe,
Afrike is parted from Asie with the floude of Niius, whiche coniyng fro the Southe, ronneth
through Ethiope into Egipte, where gently sheadyng hymself ouer his bancques, he leaueth
in the countrie a merueilous fertilitic, and pxsseth into the middle earth sea, with seuen
amies. From Europe it is seperate with the middle earth sea, whiche beginnyng fro the
Orcean aforesaicd : at the Islande of Cades, and the pileurs of Hercules, passeth not tenne
miles oucr. But further entryng in, semeth to haue shooued of the maigne lande on bothe
sido'*, & so to haue won a more largenessc. Asie is deuided from Europe, with Tanais the
fl'uidr, whiche comyng fro the North, ronneth into the marshe of Meotis almoste midwaie,
and there sincking himself, leaueth the marshe and Pontus Euxinus, for the rest of the
bouiidc And to refournc to Afrike again, the same hauyng Nilus as I saied on the Easte,
and on all other partes, bounded with the sea, is shorter then Europe, but broader towarde
the Occcan, where it riscth into mountcigne. And shoryng towarde the Weste, by litle and
litle waxoth more streighte, and cometh at thende to a narowe poincte. Asmuche as is en-
habited therof, is a plentuous soile, but the great parte of it lieth waste, voide of enhabi-
tauntes, either to whote for menne to abide, or full of noisome and venemous vermine, and
bea^tes, or ellesso whelmed in sande & grauell, that there is nothing but mere barreinesse.
The sea that lieth on the Northe parte, is called Libicum, that on the Southe Aethiopicum,
and the other on the West Atlanticum.

AT the first the whole was possest by fower sondrie peoples. Of the whiche, twaine (as
Herodotus writcth) ware founde there, tyme out of minde, and the other twaine ware ali-
enesand incommes. The two of continuance, ware the Poenj.and Ethiopes, whiche dwelte,
the one at the Northe of the lande, the other at the South, the Aliencs, the Phcenices, the
Grekes, the old Ethiopians, and the Aegipcian'^s, if it be true that thei report of theselues.
At tiie beginnyng thei ware sterne, and vnruly, and briiteshely lined, with herbes and with
flc'jhc of wilde beastes, without lawe or rule, or facio of life, roilyng and rowmyi.g vpon
hendc, lieathor and thether without place of abode, where night came vpon them, there
laiyng their bodies to reste. Aftrewarde (as thei sale) Hercules passyng the seas out of
Spaine, into Libie (a countrie on the Northe shore of Afrike) and bringyng an ouerplus of
people thence witl\ hym, somewhat bettre facioned and manered then thei, trained them to
muche more humanitie. And of y troughes thei came ouer in, made themsehies cntages, and
began to plante in plompes one by another. But of these thingcs we shall speake here aftre
more at large.

Afrike is not in euery place a like enhabited. For toward the Southe it lieth for the moste
part waste, and vnpeoplcd, for the broilyng hcatc of that quatre. But the part that lieth
ouer against Europe, is verie well enhabited. The frutefulnesse of the soile is excedyng, and
to muche merueillous: as in some places bringyng the siede with a hundred folde encrease.
It is straunge to beleue, that is saied of the goodnesse of the soile of the Moores. The stocke
of their vines to be more then two menne can Ctdome, and their clousters of Grapes to be-
a cubite long. The coronettes of their Pasnepes, and Gardein Thistles (whiche we calle
Hortichokes) as also of their Fenelle, to be tweluc Cubites compasse. Tliei haue Cannes
like vnto those of India, whiche may contein in the copasse of the knot, or iointe, the mea-
sure of ij. bushelles. Thcr be scne also Sparagi, of no lesse notable bigguenesse. Toward

the

ii:

JJJfrike.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

the mounte Atlis trees bee foiinde of a wondrefull heigth, smothc, and without knnjjguc
or knotte, vp to the hard toppe, hauyng leaues like the Cypres, but of all other the inosic
noble Citrus, wherof the Romaines made greate dcintie. Afl'rike hath also many sondric
beastes, and Dragones that lye in awaite for the beastes, and when thei see time, so be
wrappe and wreathe them aboute, that takyng fro theim the vse of their ioynctcs, thci
wearie them and kille theim. There are Eiephantes, Lyons, Bugles, Pardales, Roes, and
Apes, in some places beyonde nombre. There are also Chamelopardales and Rhizes, like
vnto Bulles. Ilerodote writeth, that there be founde Asses with homes, Hienas Porpctines,
wilde Rambes, a beast engendered of the Hiene and the Woulfe named Thoas, Panthcres,
Storckes, Oistruthcs, and many kindes of serpentes, as Cerastes, and Aspides, against whom
nature hath matched the Ichneumon (u verie little beast) as a mortall enemie.

1[ The. iiij. Chapitre,

V Of Ethiope, and the auncient maners of that nation. Cap. iili.

TWo countreies there ware of that name Ouerlanders, and Netherlanders. The one per-
taynyng to Aphrique, the other to Asie. The one whiche at this daie is called Inde, hath
on the east the redde sea, and the sea named Barbaricum, on the northe it toucheth vpon
Egypte, anu vpon that Libie that standeth on the vtter border of Afrike toward the sea. On
the west it is bounded with the other Libie that stiideth more into the mayne londe. The
residue that runneth toward the south, ioyneth vpon the netherland Ethiope, whiche lyeth
more southerly, and is muche greater. It is thought that these Ethiopes toke name of
Ethiopus Vulcanes sonne, that (as Piinie saieth) was gouernour there. Or els of the Greke
wordes aythoo and ops, whereof the former signiHeth to broyle, or to bourne vp with heate,
and the other, in the eye or sight. Whiche sheweth in efiecte, that the countreie lyenginthe eye
of the Sonne, it must ncdes be of heate almost importable. As in diede it lyeth in the full course
of the Sonne, and is in continuall heate. Toward the weast it is hilly, in the middes grauell
and sande, and on the easte waste and deserte. There be in it dyuers peoples of sondry
phisonomy and shape, monstruous and of hugly shewe. They are thought (aslsaied) to
haue bene the fyrst of all men, and those whiche of all other maye truelyest be called an
homeborne people. Neuer vnder the bondage of any : but euer a free nacion. The first
waie of worshippyng God (say thei) wasdeuised and taught emongd theim : with the maners
and ceremonies there to appertinent. They had two kyndes of letters, one, whiche ware
knowen onely to their jpriestes for matters of Religion, whiche they called misticall, and
another for the vse of the people hidden fro none. Yeat ware not their Letters facioned
to ioyne together in sillables like ours, but Ziphres, and shapes of men and of beastes, of
heades, and of armes, and artificers tooles, whiche signified in sondrie wise echone accordyng
to his propertie. As by the picture of an hauke swiftenes and spiede, by the shape of a cro-
codile displeasure or misfortune, by the figure of an eye, good watche or regarde, and so
forthe of other. Emong their priestes, loke whome they sawe startle aboute as haulfe wood,
him did they iudge of all other mooste holy, and making him their king, they fall downe
and worship him, as thoughe there ware in him a Godhead, or as thoughe at the least he
ware by goddes prouidence giuen them. This king for al that, must be gouerned by the
lawe, and is bounde to all thinges after thordre of the contry. He his selfe maye neither
punishe or guerdon any manne. But loke vpon whome he wyl haue execucion done, he
sendeth the minister appoincted for the purpose, to the person with a token of deathe: whiche
when he hath shewed, the officier retourneth, and the persone what soeuerhebe, incontinent
fordoeth him self. So greatly ware they giuen to thee honour of their kynges, suche a fer-
iiencie had they towarde them, that if it fortuned the king through any mishap, to be maymed
or hurte in any parte of his bodye, as many as ware towarde him, namely of houscholde,
voluntarily woulde giue them selues the lyke hurt, thincking it an vnsitting thing the kynge
to lacke an eye or the vse of a legge, and his frindes neither to halt, nt yet to lacke parte of

P p 3 their

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their sight. Thei say it is the manicr also, that when the king dieth, hiti friendes should
wilfiilly (lispatche theim selues and die with hym, for this compte they glorious and a testi-
mony of very Frendship. The moste part of them, for that they lye so vndcr the Sonne,
go naked: couering their priuitics with shiepes tayles. But a feawe of them are clad with
the rawe fclles of beastes. Some make them brieches of the heares of their hcades vp to
the wacste. They are comonly brieders and grasiers in commune together. Their shepe
be of very small body, and of a hnrde & roughe coate. Their dogges also are neuer a whitte
bigger, but thei are fierce and hardie. They haue good store of gromcl and barly, wherof
they vse to nia' e drincke. All other graine and friiictes thei lacke, cxcepte it be dates whichc
also are verye skante. Some of them lyue with herbcs and the tender routes of cannes or
Kiedes. Other eate flcsshe, milke, and chese. Mcroc, was in time past the heade citie of
the kyngdome, whiche stondeth in an Isle of the same name facioncd like a shiclde, stretching
it selfe thre thousand furlong alongest by Nilus. Aboute that Islande do the cattle masters
dwelle, and are muche giuen to hunting, and those that be occupied witii tilthe of the
groude haue also mines of gold. Herodotus writeth that thethiopians named Macrobij, do
more esticme latten then thei do golde whiche thei put to nothyng that thei copt of any
price. In so muche that the Ambassadours of Cambises, when thei came thether, found
the prisoners in the gaole fetlred and tied with Chaines of golde. Some of theim sowe a
kinde of graine called Sesamus, and other the delicate Lotho. Thei haue grciite plenty of
Ilebcnum, awoode muche like Guaiacum, and of Siliquastrum. Thei hunte Hlephantesand
kyll them to eate. There be Lions, Rhiiiocerotes, Basiliskes, Pardalcs, and Dragones, whiche
I said enwrappe thelephaunfes, and sucke them to death, for their bloude. There be
found the precious stones called the lacinthe, and the Prasne. There is also cinamomc
gathered. Thei occupie bowes of woode seasoned in the fire, of foure cubites log. Wo-
men be also trayned to the warres, and haue for the moste parte a ring of latton hanging
throughe their lippe. Ccrteine of theim worshippe the Sonne at his vprijste, and curse him
moste bittrely at his doune gate. Diuers of the throwe their dead into Kiuers, other cofer
them vp in earthen cofres, some enclose them in glasse, and kepe them in their houses a
yeare, and in the meane season worship them deuoutly, and offre vnto them the first of all
their encreace. In the naming of a newe king, they giue ther voice chiefly to him that is
moste goodly of stature, moste conning in brieding of cattle, and of strengthe and sub-
staunce pa><sing the reast. The lawe hath bene, that the priestes of Memphis shoulde haue
the aucthorifie to sende the Kinge the token of deathe, & to set vp another in the place of
the deade, whomc they thoughte good. They h.iue an opinion that ther are two Goddes,
one immortall, by whome all thinges haue their beginning, and continuaunce vnder his go-
ucrnement, and another mortall, and he is vncerteine. Their king, and him that best de-
seructh of the city next vnto him, they honour as Goddes. This was the state of Ethiope
from the beginning, and many yeares sence.

BVT at this daye as myne Authour Sabellicus saieth y he learned of those that are enha-
bitantes in y contrey : The king of Ethiope (whomc we commonly calle Pretoianes or Pres-
biter Ihon) is a man of suche power, that he is reported to haue vndre him thre skore and
two other kinges. If the heade Bysshoppes of the Realmr lesire to do, or to haue augSte
done, al is referred vnto him. Of him be giuen al benefice: and spiritual promocions, which
prerogatiue the Pope hath giuen, to the maiestie of kinges. Yet is he him selfe no priest,
ne hath any nianer of ordres. There is of Archebisshoppes (that is to say of superiour and
head bisshoppcs) a great nombre, whiche haue euery one vndre them at the least twenty
other. The Princes, Duke.--, Earles, and head Bisshoppes, and suche other of like dignitie,
wlien they come abrode, haue a crosse, & a basine of golde filled ful of earthe caried before
them : that thone maye put them in remembraunce that earth into earth must again be re-
solued, and y other renewe the memory of Christes suffering. Their priestes to haue yssue,
mary one wyfe, but she ones beyng dead, it is vnlawfuU to mary another. The temples &
churches ther, are muche larger, much richer, and more gorgeous then ours, for the moste
part voulfed fro the floore to the toppe. They haue many ordres of deuout men, moche

Ajfrike.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

like to our ordres of Religious : as the ordre of S. Anthony, Dominique, Calaguritani, Aii-
giistines and Machareanes, whiche are bound to no colour but weare some suche one a-«
Tharchebysshoppe shall allowe. Next vnto the supreame and souereigne GOD, and Mary
the virgin his mother, they haue moste in honour Thomas sirnamcd Didimus. This King,
of all other the worthiest, whomc they call Gias (a name giuen hiin of his mightinesse and
power) is of the bloud of Dauid, continued from one generation to another (as they an-
perswaded) by so many ycrcs of successio. And he is not as the moste of the Uthiopianf^
are, blacke, but white. Gamma the chiefe citie, and as we tcrme it the chfibre of the king,
etondcth not by building of masonric, & carpentrie as ours, but stricted with tentes and pa-
uilions placed in good ordre, of veluet and saten, cmbrauded with silkcs and purples of
many dluers sortes. By an auncicnt ordre of the realme, the king liueth cuer in presence
and sighte of his people, and neucr soiourncth within the walles aboue two daies. Either
for that they iudge it an vncomely thing, and a token of delicate slouthfulnes, or cllrs for
that some lawe doth forbid it. His army in the warrcs is ten hundred thousande men, fiur
hundred Elcphantes, and horses, and Cameles, a wnndcrfull nomber, and this is but a lueane
preparacion. Ther arc througheout the whole nacion certeine houses and stockcs, that arc
pt'cionaries at armes, whose issue is as it ware branded with the marcke of the crosse, ^
skinne beyng pretely slitte. Thei vse in the warres, Bowe, Pique, Habregeon, and helmette.
Their highest dignitie is priesthode, ^ next, thordre of the Sages, whiche thei cal Balsamates,
and Taquates. They attribute moche also to the giltelesse and vprighte dealing man, whiche
verlue they estieme as the firste staiei toclimbe to ^ dignitie of the sages. ' The nobilitic
hath the thirde place of dignitie, and the pecionaries aforesaid, the fourthe. Whe the iudges:
haue giuen sentence of life, or of deathe, the sentence is brought to the headborough of
the Citie (whom we call the Mayour) and they Licomegia: hesupplieth the place of the
King. Lawes written thei occupy none, but iudge accordyng to reason and coscience. If
any man be conuict of adulterie he forfeicteth the fourtieth parte of his goodes, but tha-
dulteresse is punished at home, according to the discretion of the partie offended. The
men giue dowrie to thase whom thei mary withal, but not to those y thei purchase besides.
Their womens attire is of Golde, (whereof that country hathe plentie) of pearic, and of
Sarsenette. Bothe men and women are apparelled in long garmentes downe to the foote.
slieued, and close rounde about of al maner of colours, sauig only blacke for that in that
contry is proper for morning. They bewaile their dead. xl. daies space. In bancquettes of
honour, in the place of our fruicte (which the latine calleth the seconde boorde) they seruc
in rawe flesshe very finely minced and spiced, whervpo the gestes fiede very licouricely.
They haue no maner of wollen webbe, but are eyther cladde in sarsenettes, or in linnen
One manor of speache serueth not througheout the whole contry, but sondry & diuerse.
aswel in phrase as in namTg of thinges. Thei haue twise in the yere haruest, and twise in
the yere somer. These Ethiopians or Indianes excepted, al the reste of the people of Libia
Westward, are worshippers of Mahomet, and liue aftre the same sorte in maner, that ^ Bar-
bariens do in Egipte at this present, and are called Maures, or Moores, as I thincke of their
outleapes and wilde rowming. For that people was no lesse noysome to Lybie in those
cursed tymes (when so greate mutacion of thinges happened, when peoples waresochaunged,
suche alteration of seruice, and religion broughte in, and so many newe names giuen vntc*
contries) then the Sarasens ware.

f The. V. Chapiter.

II Of Aegipte, and the auncient maners of that people.

AF.gipfe is a Countrie liyng in AfTrike, or as some hold opinio, borderyng thervpo, so
named of Acgiptus, Danaus brother, where afore it was called Aeria. This Aegipte (as
Plinie recordeth in his fiueth boke) toucheth on the East, vppon the redde Sea, and the land
of Palestine. On the West fronteth vpon Cirene, and the residue of Afrike. On the South
it stretcheth to Aethiope : And on the Northe iu ended with the sea> to whom it giueth name.

The

889

i>:.

. 1 -'m

•290

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONSi

4ffftke.

The notable Cities of that Countrie, Ware in tyme past, Thebcn, Abytlos, Alexandrie,
Babilon, and Memphifi, at this dale called Damiate, alias Chnirus or Alkair, and the aeate of
the Soidil, a citie of notable largencssc. In Aegipt as Plato affirmeth, it was neiier sene rain.
But Niliis suppliyng that defaulte, yerely aboute saincte Barnabil's tide, with his ouerflowyngea
niakclh the soile fertile. It is nombred of the moste parte of writcrn, emon<^ the Islandes :
For that Nilus so parteth hym.xelf aboiitc if, that he facioneth it triangle wise.

The Aegiptians firste of all other, deuised the names of the twelue Goddes, biiiltc vp
AltarcM, and Images, erected Chappclles, and Temples, and graned in stone the similitude
(if many sondrie beastes. All whiche their doyng'?s, dooe manifestly make, that thei came
<if the Aethiopes, who (as Diodore the Sicilian saieth) ware the firste inuentours of all these.
Their women in old tyme, had all the trade of occupiyng, and brokage abrode, and rcuelled
at the Tauerne, and kepte luslie chiere : And the men sattcat home spinnyng, andwoorkyng
of Lace, and suche other thy nges as women are wonte. The men bare their burdeins on
the hcade, the women on the shulder. In the casemente of vrine, the men rowked doune,
the women stoode vprighte. The easemente of ordure thei vsed at home, but commonly
feasted abrode in the stretes. No woman tooke ordre^, either of God, or Goddesse. Their
maner of ordrcs, is not to make seuerally for euery Gnddcsse and God, a seuerall priest, but
al at a shnflTe, in generall for all. Emong the whiche, one is an heade, whose Sonne en-
heritcth his roume by succession. The men children, euen of a custome of that people,
did with good wil kepe their fathers and mothers, but the women children (yf they refused
it) ware comp'elled. The moste part of men in solempne burialles, shaue their heades
and let theyr beardes growc, but Thegiptians shaued their beardes and let their heades grow.
They wrought their doughe with their fiete, and their claye with their handes. As the Gre-
riens do beleuc, this people, and their ofspring, are they that vsed circumcision. Thei
ordre their writyng fro their right hande tnwarde their left, contrary to vs. It was the maner
emonge them, that the menne should weare two garmentes at ones, the women but one.
As the Aethiopes had, so learned they of them, two maner of lettres : the one seuerall to
the priestes thother vsed in commune. Their priestes, euery thirde dayeshaued their bodied,
that there might be none occasio of Hlthinesse whe they shold ministre, or sacrifie. Thei
did weare garmentes of linnen, euer cleane wasshed, and white : and shoes of a certeine
kinde of russhes, named Papyrus, whiche aftre became stufTe, to geue name to our paper.
They neither sette beane their selues, ne eate them where soeuer they grewe : ne the priest
may not loke vpon a beane, for that it is iudged an vncleane puis. They are wasshed euery
daye in colde water thrise, and euery nighte twise. The heades of their sacrifices (for
that they vsed to curse them with many terrible woordes) did they not eate, but either the
priestes solde them to such strangiers as had trade emonge them, or if there ware no suche
ready in time, they threwe them in to Nilus.

All the Egiptians ofier in sacrifice, neither cowe, ne cowe calfe, because they are hallowed
to Isis their goddesse, but bulles, and buUe calues, or oxen, and stieres. For their meate
they vse, moche a kynde of pancake made of rye meale. For lacke of grapes they vse wyne
made of Barly. They line also with fisshe, either dried in the Sonne and so eaten rawe, or
elles kept in pikle. They ficde also vpo birdes, and foules, firste salted, and then eaten
rawe. Quailc, and mallard, are not but for the richer sorte. At all solempne suppers,
when a nombcr is gathered, and the tables withdrawen, some one of the company carieth
aboute in an open case, the image of death, caruen out of wodde, or drawe with the pen-
cille as niere to the vine as is possible, of a cubitc, or two cubites long at the moste. Who
shewyng it aboute to euery of the gestes, saieth, loke here : drinke, and be mery, for aftre
thy death, suche shalt thou be. The yonger yf they miete their auncient, or bettrc, vpon
the wayc, giue them place, going somewhat aside : or yf the aunciente fortune to come in
place where they are sitting, they arise out of their seate, wherin they agre with the Lacede-
monies. Whe they miete in the waye, they do reuerence to eche other, bowing their bodies,
and letting fal their handes on their knees. They weare longe g.irmentes of lynnen, hemmed
about the skirtes beneth, whiche they call Casiliras : ouer the which they throwe on another

white

'^i\'-

Affrike.

TnAFFlQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

white garment also. Wollen apparcllc thci neither wearc to tlic churchc, ne bcwry any

man in.

Nowe for asmochc as they afore time that euer cxcclletl in anyc kindc of Icirnin;,', or
diirstp take vppon them to prescribe lawe, anJ rule of life vnto other, as Orpheus, Ilonicrc,
Muscus, Melampode, Dedalus, LicurgiH, Solon, Pl.ilo, I'ithagoras, Saniolxis, Eudoxiis, Dc-
mocritus, Inopides, and Moses the Ilcbnie, with manye other, whose name* tlic EgiptiaiH
glorie to be croniclcd with theim : trauelied first to the Egiptians, to leariu' cmogest them
bothe wisedome, and politique ordre (wherein at those daies they passed all other) nie
thinketh it pleasannte and necessaric also, to standc somewhat vpon their inaners, ceremonies
and Lawes, that it may be knowen what they, & sondry moe hauc borowcd of the, and trans-
lated vnto other. For (as Philip Ucrcaldc writcth in his commentary vpon A|)iileius booke,
entituled the Guide Asse) the mostc parte of the dcuiccs th;it wc vse in our Cliristian reli-
gion, ware borowed out of the mancr of Thegiptians. As surpluis and rochet, and suclie
linncn garmentes: shaucn crowncs, tournincjes at the altare, our masse solempnities, our
organes, our knielinges, crouchinges, praiers, and other of that kiude. The kinges ol'
Egipte (saieth Dio<lore \\\c Sicilian in his scconde booke) lined not at roucrs as other kinges
doe, as thoughe me lusteth ware lawe, but bothe in their nionie collections, and daily fare
and apparell, folowed the bridle of the lawe. They had neitiier slaue that was homeborne,
ne slaue that was forein bought, appointed to attende or awaite vpon them. But the sonncs
of those that ware pricsles of honour, bothe abouc thage of twenty yercs, & also singulcrly
learned. That the king hauing these atit-.-'ant for the body both by daie and by night, re-
strained by the reuerence of the company ai. it hyni might commit nothing that was vicious,
or dishonourable. For men of power are se ome euil, where they lacke ministres for their
vnlawfull lustes. There ware appoincted houres, bothe of the daie and the night, in the
whiche the kinge mighte lawfully doe, what the Lawe did permit. In the morning, assone
as he was ready, it bchoued him to peruse al lettres, supplicacions, and billes : that knowing
what was to be done, he might giue aunswer in tyme : that all thinges might rightlie, and
ordrely be done. These being dispatched, whe he had washed his bodie emog the Pieres of
y Realme, he put on some robe of estate, and Sacrified to the goddes. The maner was, that
the Primate, or head of the spiritualty ( the beastes appoincted for the sacrifices being brought
harde to the altnrc, and the Kyng standing by) should with a loudc voyce, in the hearing of
the people, wysshe to the king (that bare him selfe iustely towarde his subiectes) prosperous
healthe, and good fortune in all. And should further particulerly recite the vertues of the
king, his dcuoutnes and reuerence towarde God, and clemency towarde men. Commendc
him as chaste, iuste, and vpright : of noble and great courage, sothfaste, liberal, and one
that well bridcled al his desires. Punisshing thoflendour vnder his desertes, and rewarding
tlie well doer aboue his merites. Making a processe of these, and such other like: in the
ende with the rehersalle of the contrary vices, he cursed the wicked & euil. Then ab-
soluing the King of his offences, he laied all the faulte vpon the ministres, and attendauntes,
y should at any time moue the king to any thing vnright, or vnlawfull. These thinges be-
inge done, he preached vnto the King the blessednes of the life, led accordyng to the plea-
sure of the goddes, and exhorted him thervnto: as also to frame his maners & doinges vnto
vertue, & not to giue eare to that, that leude me should counsaile him, but to followc tho^ie
thyngcs that led vnto honour and vertue. In thende, whan the King had sacrificed a bullc,
the priest declared certain preceptes and examples of exellente, & moste worthy men ;
written in their holy scripture. To thende that the Kynge admonisshed by the example of
theim, might ordre his goucrnaunce iustlye, and godly, and not geue hym selfe to couetous
cloinyng, and hourdyng of tresure. He neither satte to iudge. ne toke his vacacion, ne
walked abrode, ne washed at home, ne laye with his Quiene, ne finally did any maner of
thing, but vpo the prescripte of the lawe.

Their fare was but simple, nothing but veale, and goose, and their wine by measure ap-
poincted. So that thone should nether ouerlade the bealy, ne the other the heade. To
conclude, their whole life so boiinde vpon temperaunce, that it might be thoughtc raithcr

'201

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.3-
-f.

89S

in ■

It' *

n"'' '

li I*

' r

M;;

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Affrike.

to hauc bene prescribed them by a discrete Pliisiccn to prcseruc helthe, tl>en by a politique
Lawyer. If sieincth wondrerii)! that the E;;iptianH mighte not rule their ownc priuatc life,
but by the Lawes. But it oemcth more wonderful! that their King had no liberty of him Hclfe,
either to sitte in iudgrment, to make collections of money, or to punishc any man, vpon wil-
fulncs, Rtoute stomacke, angre, diNpleasure, or anyc vniuste cause : Hut to be hoiden vnder
lawe as a commune Hubiecte, and yet not to be agrcued thcrwith, but to thinckc them sclues
mostc blessed in obeycng & folowyng the lawe, and other in folowing their lustes most vn-
happy. As being led by them into many daungicrs, an<l damages. For suchc oftentimes,
eucn when they know them selues to do euill, either ouercome with malice, and hatred, or
some other mischicfe of the minde, are not able to witholdc theim selues from the euille.
But they which by wisedome and discretion, goucrnc their lines, oll'endc in fewe thinges.
The kinges vsing suche an equitic, and vprightnen towarde their subdites, are so tendrcd
againe of them, that not onely the pricstes, but all the Egiptians in general!, haue more care
for the health and the welfare of the King, tlien for their wiues, their childrens, or any
other princes.

He that to his death continucth in this goodnessc, him being dead, do they in general
lamente. They teare their clothes, they shut vp J churche dorrs, they haunte no place of
wonte cOmune cocourse, they omytte all solcmpne holy dairs: and girding them selues
vnder the pappcs with brode Kibbond of Sarsenet, two or thre hundred on a company, men
and women to/ether, rencwe euery daye twise, thre skore &. xii. dales together, the buriall
bewailing, casting dirte on their heades, and singing in rithme the vertue of the Kinge.
They absteine from a1 flesshe of beastcs, all meates jr touche fire, all wine and all preparation
of seruice at the table. They bathe not, the! smel of no swietes, they goe to no beddes, they
pleasure not in women : but as folkes that had buried their beste beloued childe, all that cu-
tinuaunce of time they lamente. During these seuenfy and two dales (hauyng prepared
all thinges necessarie for the funeral! pompe: the lastc d<iyc of all, the bodie beyng en-
baulmed and cofrcd, is seite before the entrie of the Toombe. Thereaffre the custome,
one rcdeth an abridgemente of all the thingcs done by the king in his life. And if there be
any man disposed to accuse the deade, libertie is giuen him. The priestes are present, &
euer giue praise to his well doinges, as they be recited. Ther stondeth also rounde about
the Toombe a multitude of the commune.s, which with their voices allowe asmuche as is
trew, and crie out vpon that, that is false, with vehemet gainsaienges. Wherby it hath hap-
pened, that sondry kynges by the repugnynges of the people haue lien vntoombed : and
haue lacked the honoure of bewrialle, that the good are wonte to haue. That feare, hath
driuen the kynges of Aegipte, to liue iustly, and vprightly, lesse the people aftre their
dcathes, might shewe them suche dishonour, and beare them perpetual! hatred. This was
the maner specially, of the auncient kynges there.

The whole rcalme of Egipte was diuided into Shieres : and to euery Shiere was appoincted
a Presidente, whiche had the goucrnauce of the whole Shiere. The reuenewes of the realme
ware diuided into. iii. partes: whereof the companie of the priestes had the first parte,
whiche ware in greate estimacion emong them, bothe for the administracion of Goddes Seruice,
and also for the good learnyng, wherin thei brought vp many. And this porcion was giuen
theim, partely for the administracion of the Sacrifices, & partely for the vse and commoditie
of their priuate life. For thei neither thincke it mete, that any parte of the honour of the
Goddes should bee omitted, or that thei, whiche are Ministres of the commune counsaill and
profecte, should be destitute of necessary commodities of the life. For these menne arc
alwaie in matters of weighte, called vpon by the nobles, for their wisedome and counsaille :
And to shewe (as thei can by their conyng in the Pianettes, and Starres, and by the maner
of their Sacrifices) the happe of thinges to come. Thei also declare vnto the, the stories of
men of olde tyme, regested in their holy Scripture, to the ende that accordyng to the the
kynges male learne what shall profighte, or disprofighte. For the maner is not emong them,
as it is emong the Grecians, that one manne, or one woman, shoulde attende vpon the sa-
crifices and Ceremonies alone : but thei are many at ones aboute the honour of their

Goddes,

■•'('

Affrikt.

TRAFFIQURS. AND DISCOURRIES.

f98

the
and

arc
lie:
aner
esof

the
letn,

sa-
their
Idcs,

Gnrfdcs, and teache the same ordre to their children. This sorle of mcnnc is priuilogcd,
and cxempte Prom all tnancr of chargcH, and hath next vntu the kyng, the Necond place of
dignitie and hdnoiir.

The second porcion cnmeth to the kin<i; to maintein hifl owne Ktate, and the charges of the
warrcs: and to shewe liberalitie to men of prowrHse according to their worlhinesse. So that
the Communes are neither bunloncd with taxes nor tributes.

The thirde parte do the pcncionarics of the warrcs rccciiic, and snchc other as vpo occa-
sions are mouslercd to the warres : that vpon the regard of the stipcnilo, thci m.TJc haiio the
better good wille and courage, to hnxnrde (heir bodies in battaile. Their cornmiinaltic is dc-
uided into thre sortes of people. Ihisbande men, Hrieders of cattle, and men of occupnriu.
The Husbandmen buyeng for a litle money a piece of groundc of the Pricsles, the kin)(, or
the warriour: al daies of their life, eucn from their childhode, conlinually applic that care.
Whereby it cometh to passe, that bothe for the »k'. dyng that thci ha'ie tliciin at their fathers
handes, and thecontinuall practisyng fro their youthe, that thei passe all other in Ilusbandrie.

The Brieders, aftre like maner, learnyng the trade of their fathers, occiipic their whole
life therabout. We see also that all maner of Sciences haue bene muchc hetired, yea, brought
to the toppe of perfection, emong the Egiptians. For the craftes men there, not incdiyng
with any commune matiers that mighte hindre theim, emploie them seines onely to suchc
sciences as the lawc doeth permit them, or their father hath taught the. So that thei neither
disdaine to be taughte, nor the hatred of echc other, ne any thing ellcs withdraweth them
fro their craftc.

Their ludgementes and Sentences of lawe, are not giuen there at adueture, but vpon
reason : for thei surely thought that all thinges well done, miiste niedes be profitable to
mannes life. To punishe the offendnurs, and to heipe the oppressed, thoughte thei the best
waie to auoide mischiefes. But to buye of the punishemcnte for money or fauour, that
thought thei to be the very confusion of the commune welfare. Wherefore thei chase out
of the chief cities (as Heliopole, Memphis, and Thebes) the worthiest men, to be as Lordes
chief luslice, or Presidentes of ludgemCtes, so that their luatice benche did sieme to giuc
place, neither to the Areopagites of the Athenicnses, ne yet to the Senate of the Lacedemo*
nians that many a daie after theim ware instituted. Aftre what tyme these chief lustices
ware assembled (thirtie in nubre) thei chase out one that^was Chauncellour of the whole:
and when he failed, the citie appoincted another in his place. All these had ilieir liuynges
of the kyng : but the Chauncellour more honorably then the rest. He bare alwaie about
his necke a tablette, hangyng on a chaine of golde, and sette full of sundric precious stones,
whiche thei called Veritie and Truthe. The courte beyng set and begunne, and the tablet
of Truthe by the Chauncellour laied furthe, & theight bookes of their lawes ( for so many
had thei) brought forth into the middcs emong them : it was the maner for the plaintife to
putte into writyng the whole circumstance of his case, and the maner of the wrong doone
vnto him, or how muche he estemed himself to be endamaged thereby. And a time was
giuen to the defendant to write answere again to euerv poinct, and either to deny that he
did it, or elles to alledge that he rightfully did it, or elles to abate the estimate of the damage
or wrog. Then had thei another daie appointed, to sale finally for the selues. At the whiche
daie whc the parties on bothe sides ware herd, and the iudges had conferred their opinions,
the Chaucellour of the Iudges gaue sentence by pointyng with the tablet ofV^eritie, toward
the parte y semed to be true. This was J maner of their iudgemetes.

And forasmuche as we are fallen into mencion of their iudgementes, it shall not be vn-
syttyng with myne enterprise, to write also the auncienle Lawes of the Egiptians, that it
niaie be knowen how muche they passe, bothe in ordre of thynges, and profite.

Fyrst to be periured was headyng: for they thought it a double ofTence. One inregarde
of coscit'ce not kept toward God, and an other in gyuynge occasion to destroy credite among
men, whiche is the chiefest bonde of their felowship. If any wayfaryng man shuld espy a
man sctte vppon with thieues, or otherwyse to be wronged, and dyd not to his power suc-
cour & aydc hym, he was gyltie of death. If he ware not able to succour and to reskewe

Q q hym,

i ^- ,

r ytji

,>yi

VOYA(iES, NAUIGATIONS,

40'rike.

I'm'.

liym, then wa-t he boiindc to vtior the thiciirH, and to prnirriiir ihr tnallor to enditriront.
And he that sodvd iidI, wat piinyshrtl with a ctTlayiii- nonihir ol' siii|us, and wat kopt tlire
•lavs without nicato. lie thai xhiild arciixt' any ma wron^iliilly, if he Idrlnncd afterward to
l)c broiijihte into itid^cment, he sullerod the punishcment orde\ned lor Caisr acriisciN. All
the Ku;y|)lian« ware compelled to l)r\ njje cuery man their names to the chiele fiisiices, and
the Catiillie orstiencc ufuThN ihry lined. In the which hehalle il am man Ived, or lyuetl
with Nnlanlull meanc'', he Icllc into penaltie of death. 11° anv man willyn^ly had slaine
any man Tree or bond, ihc lawcs condemned hym to die, not rea;ardyni;e the state ol" the
man, but the malicious poiirpo'-e of the diede. U'herby they made men afrayd to doe mis*
chief, and death beyngc eseiiited for the death of a bondman, the free myj^ht gnt in more
••aiiftie. Tor Ihc fathers that sicwe their chyldren, there was no punvshement of death ap-
pnynted, but an ininnction that they shnnide slandu thre daies and thre ny^htes lo^ither at
the };rauc of the deade, accompanied with a common warde of the pt-ople to see the ihynjj
done. Neylher dyd it sieme them in-te, that he that ".'ane life to the childe, should lose hix
life for the childes death, but rather be put to continual sorowe, and to be pyned with the
repentance of the diede, that other myijht thcr by be withdrawen from the like wvckednes.
Hut for the chyld that kylled either father or mother, they dciiised this kynd of synpuler
torment. They thriiste hym through with ricdcs sharpned for the nones, in eucry iovnt all
oner his bo<ly, and caused hym quicke to be throwen vpon a heape of Thornes, and so to
bee burned, ludgyng that there could not be a {greater \sickednes emrng men, then to take
awaie the life, from one that had giuen life vnto hym. If any woman with child ware con-
dempned to dye, thci abode the tyme of her dcliucraunce luitwithslandvng : for that thci
Judged it farre from all equitie, that the <;iltekN should dve together with the giltie. Or
that. ii. should be punished, where but one had o|]( nded. Who so had in baliailleor wane,
withdrawen hymsclf from his bande, forsaken his place in the arraie, or not obeied his ca-
pilaignc : was not condempned to dye, but sullred for his punishemente a notable repmche
emflg the whole armle. As estiemcd but a villaine, vntill with his forwardnes and wel
do\ng, he could weare into estimacion again, it at length be restored to his ibrmer estate.
And that lawe so grewe into mennes stomacques that thei thought siichc kind of reproche,
of all punishementes the woorste, iV more grcuous then tleath Who so had disclosed any
secrete to the enneniie, the Lawe comniaudcd his tongue to be cutte out of his headc. Anil
who so clipped the coignc or counlrefacted it, or chaungcd the stape or diminisshcd the
weighte : or in lettres and wrilinge:*, 8houldc adde any thing, by entrelinyng, or otherwise:
or should gueldc out any thyng, or bryng a forged euidence, ()i)ligarion or Hille, bothe his
handes ware cutte of. That suche parte «>f the l)odic as had otVended, mighte for cuer beare
the punishemente therof : and the residue lakyng warnyng by his cnsample, might shonne
the like.

There ware also sharpe punishementes constitute, in oflcnces concernyng women. For
he that had dcflowrcd a free woman, had his membres cutte of, because in one oHcnce, he
had comiltcd thre no smalle wickednesses. That is to sale, wrong, made the woman an whore,
and brought in a dniibte the laufulnes of her issue. But thei that ware taken in adulterie,
bothe partes bycng agreed, the ma was whipped with a thousande stripes by talc : and the
woman had her nose cut of, wherwith beside j^ shame she hail, the whole beautie of her
face was disgraced, and tlisligurcd.

The Lawes that apperteigned (o the trade and occuj)iengof men, one with another: ware
made (as thci saic) by one Bocchorides. It is commaunded in them, that if money hauc
bene lent any nianne without writyng, vppon credite of his woordc : if the borrower deny
it, he should be pit to his olhe, to the whiche the creditour nuisle stande. For thei so
muche estiemcd an othe, that thei thoughte no man so wicked, as wilfully to abuse it. And
again, because he that was noted to swearc very ofte, lost vtterly his credite, and name:
many menne affirme, that for the regard of their honesties, it happened very seldome, that
any man came to his othe. Their Lawe maker also, iudgyng that vcrtuc was the engedrer
of credite, thoughte it good by good ordres to accustomc men to good liuyng and hone.<itic,

vpon

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Til AFFIQUI'S, AND DISCOUERirs,

vpon lerfrt' to «*iomc vnwortliif tif ;ill rcpiitario. He ihouKht i( aUo to bo ngainnt tonsricnrr,
(liut hr (hnt witlioiit ;in othi* hnd l)(>r(>wc(l, slioiild not Dowc for hin own, Ix* hclriird with an
«i|he. The fm Ire ( or non |>;iiiiient of the lour, moiighl not bee aboue the double of tlie
<>()nime (hit wa-* horowcfJ And pniemeni was made oiiely of the jjoode-* ol the borower, the
bi <lv was not arfr>table. I'or the Lawemukcr thought it eoniieniente, that onelv the j^oodiles
■•ht'fjid bee Kubdile to (he dcbte, and tlie btniieH ( wh><se seruice wart required butlie in pcai c
,ind in tMirre) •>ubif<te to iUe ritie. It was not thouj^hlo to bee bi'«tiie, that the inaniv of
warre, whube hasirdeth his boilic Idf (he sauftie of his c oiinlrie. should for a-i eiilerest of
lone, bee ilirowcii info prisoiie. I'he whichc lawe, Solon sieineih lo haue fr.isl.itid to the
Atl\eiiieiiscs, vndre ilie name of tlie lawc Sisarea, dc("rf)nj; that the Ixjdy i/l no titezein,
.lioiild for any nianer of enteK'>f be eiuprisoncd.

i liejjipiians also for thieiies, had this lawe alone, and no people els. The irft*-* ( oin*
mjiiiuled that as many as would steale, should enire their names with the « liief IVie^ii- ; and
what so euer was stollen. incontinentc to tary tlie san.> vnto hym. Likewise, he that was
robbed was bouiule to er.tre with the saied Chiefe I'rie-.t, the daie, time and lioure, when
he w;'s robbed. \\\ this meanes the theftc beinjf caseiy founde out, he that was robbed,
loste the fourthc parte and recciued the residue, the whithe foiirthe was j;iuen to the thicfe.
For the Lawe maker (si-ing it was impossible vttcrly to be withoule thieues) thouj»bt it mochc
Ixttic by this meanes that men bare the lossc «)r a piece then to be spoiled of the whole.

The ordre of Maria^e emonjj the Egiptians is not vnifonnc, for the pnc«( mii;ht marry
but one onely wife. All other haue as many as they wille, acordiiig to their >ubstaunce.
Ther is no child cmong them, though it be borne of a bought woman slaue, that is compted
illegitimate. For they onely comptc the father to be the authour of his kynde, and the
mother onely but to gene place and nourlshemet to the childc. When their cliildre be
borne they bring them vp with so lytle coste, as a man would skantly belieuc. They fiedc
them with the rootcs of niererushes, and other rootcs, rosted in the embries, and with
marshc Caul)ois, and colewortes which partly they seathe, and partly they roste, and parte
};iue them rawe. They k" '"'' •'^c mosle parte withoute huson or shoes, all naked, the con-
try is so feini)erate. All the costc that the Parentes bestowe on their children til they be of
age to shift for thcmselncs, surmounteth not the soinme of a noble.

The pricstes bring vp the ihildr#, both in the doctrine of their holyc scriptures, and also
in the other kindes of learning necessary for the commune life, and chiefly in Geometry
and Arithmelique. As for the roughe exercises of wrasteling, ronning, daunsing, pla\eng
at weapons, throwyng y barre or suche like, thei train not their youth in, supposyng that
the daily e.xerci.se tif suche, shoulde be to roughe, and daungerous for them, and that they
should be an empeiryng of streglh. Musique they doe not onely comptc vnprofitable, but
niso hurteful : as making mens courages altogether womanlyke. When they are sicke, they
heale themselucs, eyther with fasting or vomiting : & that eyther cuery eche other daye, or
euery third daye, or Iburthe. For they arc of opinion that all diseases growe of supcrfluitc
of meate, and that kinde of cure therfure to be bestc, that riddeth the grounde of the griefe.
Men goyng to the warres, or traueillyng the countric, are healed of free cost. For the Phi-
sicens & Chirurgiens, haue a stipendc allowed them of ordenary at the charge of the com-
munes.

In curing, they arc boundc to folowc the preceptcs of the aunclcnt and allowed writers,
regestred in their holy scripture. Yf a man folowing the prescripte of the scriptures can
not .so heale y sicke, he is not blamed for that : But yf he fortune to heale him by any other
meanes then is in the scripture appoincted, he dieth for it. For the lawe giuer thoughle
that it was harde to finde a bettre waye of curyng, then Inat ^ which of suche antiquitie
was by longe practise founde oute and allowed, and dcliuered vnto them by suche a conti-
nuaunce. The Fgi|)tiaiis do worship aboue measure certeine beastes, not onely whileat they
be online, but also when they are dead. As the Catte, the Icneumon the dogge, the hauke,
the woulfe, the Cocodrille, and many other like. They are not onely not ashamed to pro*
fesse the worship of these openly, but setting them selues out in the honouring of them to

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*he vttermoste : they compte it asmuch praise and glory to them seiner, as yf they bestowed
the like on the Goddes. And they go about on processio with the propre Images of them,
from citie, to citie, and from place, to place ; holding them vp and shewing them a farre
of vnto other which fall on their knees, and euery one worship them. When any one of
them dieth, they couer it with Sarcenet, and houling, and crieng, and beating of their
breastes they all to bestrawe the carckesse with salte. And after they haue enbalmed it with
the licour of the Cedre and other fragraunt oyntmentes, and oyles, to presenie it the longer:
thei brwrye it in holy sepulture. If a man haue slayne any of these beastes willingly: he
is condcmpned to death. But yf he haue slaine a catte or a snyte, willingly or vnwillingly:
the people ronncth vpon him vppon heapes, and withoute all ordre of lustice or lawe, in
mostc miserable wise torment him to death. Vpon feare of the which daungier who soeuer
espieth one of those lyeng dead : standing a farre, he liowleth and crieth professing that he
is not giltie of y death. These beastes with great attendaunce and chardge are kept vp
aboute the cloistres of the Temple, by men of no meane reputation : whiche fiede them
with floure and oteineale, and diuers deintics, sopped and stieped in milke. And they set
euery daie before them goose, bothe sodde and rosted. And before those that delight al in
raw meate they sette birdes and rawe foules. Finally as I said they kiepe them all with
great diligence and coste. They lament their death asmoche as the death of their owne
children, & bury them more sumptuously then their substance doth stretch. In so moche
that Ptolomeus Lagus reigning in Egipt, when there chaiinced a cowe to die in Memphis,
for very age : he that had taken charge of the kepyng of her, be.stowed vpon the buriall of
her (beside a greate some of mony that was giuen him fur the keping) fiftie talentes of sil-
lier, that he borowrr' of Ptolome. Peraduenture these thynges will seme vnto some men to
wondreful : but he wil wondre asmoche yf he cosidre what communeiy is done emongc
euery of the Egiptians in the fuireralle of their deade.

When any man is departed his lyfe, all his niere friendes and kindesfolke, throwing dirte
vpo their heades, go wieping and wailing rounde about the citie vntle the Corps he buried.
And in the meane season they neyther bathe, ne drincke wine, or eate any meate, but that
that is most base & vile, ne weare any apparell that is gorgeous or faire. They haue thre
sortes of Sepulchres, Sumptuous, meane, and basse. In the lirste sorte they bestowe a
talente of siluer. Aboute the secondc, twenty Markes and aboute the thirde litle or no-
thing. There be certaine Pheretrers, whose facul'.ie it is to sette forthe buri:illes, whiche
learne it of their fathers and teache it their childre. These when a funeral happeneth, make
vnto him that is doer for the deade, an estimate of the exequies in writing, whiche the
doer may at his pleasure enlarge or make lesse. When thei are ones fallen at appoyncte,
the bodye is deliuered to the Pheretrer to bee entencd accordyng to the rate that they
agreed vpon. Then the bodie beyng laied foorthe, commeth the Pheretrers chiefe cutter,
and he appoincteth his vndrecuttera place on the side haulfe of the paunche, wher to make
incision, and how large. Then he with a sharpe stone (whiche of the country fro whence
it Cometh, they call Ethiopicns) openeth the left &ide as farre as the lawe permitteth. And
streight with all spiede ronneth his waye fro the company standing by, which curse him
and reuile him and throwe many stones aftre him. For they thincke there yet remaineth a
certeine hatred due vnto him that woudeth the body of their frinde. Those that are the
geasoners and embalmcrs of the body (whome they calle pouldcrers) tliey haue in greate
honour and estimacion, for that they haue familiarite with the priestes, and entre the tem-
ples together with them. The bodye nowe commen to their handes, one emong all (the
resfe standing by) vulaceth the entrailes, and draweth them out at the foresaid incision, all
sauing the kidneis, and the harte. These entrailes are taken by another at his hande, and
wasshed in wine of the country Phenicea, wherin are enfused many .soofe odours and drugges.
Then enoincte they the whole bodye ouer, firste with Cedre, and then with other oyncte-
metes. xxx. daies & aboiie. Then do thei ceare it oner with Mirrhe & Cinamome and
suche other thinges as wil not onely preserue it to c5tinuaunce,but also make it .soote smell-
ing. The Corps thus being trimmed, is deliuered to J kindesfolke of ^ deade, euery parte

Affrike.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

197

of it kepte go whole (not an heare of his browes or eye liddes being hurte) ^ it raither Keth
like one being in sliepe then like a dead corpse. Before J body be enterred, J kindesfolke
of the deade signefie to the iudges, and the friendes of this passed, ^ day of J burial.
Whichc (according to the maner then vsed) thei terme the deades paasaige oucr the mere.
The maner wherof is this.

The iiidgen, aboue. xl. in nomber, sittinge on the farther side of the mere, on a cGpassed
benche wheling haulfe roude and J people standing about them : The body is put into a
litle boate made for the nones, and drawen ouer to the iudges by a chorde. The body then
standing before the iudges in the sight of the people, before it be cofred, if ther be any
manne that haiie aught to saye against the dead, he is permitted by the lawe. Yf any be
proued to haue lined euyll, the iudges geue sentence that the hodye shall not be buried.
And who so is foundc vniustelye to haue accused, sufTreth greate punyshemenfe therfore.
When no manne wyll accuse, or he that accu-^cd is knowen to haue siaunderously done it,
the kinsfolke endyng their mournyng: tourne them selucs now to the prayse of ^ dead, no^
thing aftre the maner of the Grecians, for that the Egiptians thinke themselucs all to be
gentlemen alike. But beginnyngat his childehode, in the whiche thei reherse his bringing
vp, nourtering and schoiyng, thei passe to his mannes age, their commending his godlines,
his iustice, his tempcraunce, & the residewe of his vertues. And calling vpon the vndre
earthe, goddcs, they beseche them to place him emonge the godlye and good. To the
which wordes all the whole multitude crieth Amen : showtyng oute, and magnifieng the
glorye of the deade, as thoughe they shoulde be with the vnder earth goddes, among ^
blessed for euer. This done euery man burieth his dead, some in Sepulchres made for the
purpose, and other that haue no suche preparacion, in their strongest wall at home in their
house, setting vp ^ cofre ther tabernacle wyse. But they that for some offence, or debte of
enterest, or suche like, are denied their bewriall, are sette vp at home without any cofre,
vntle their successours growyng to abilite canne dischardge their debtes and offeces, and
honourably bewrie them.

There is a maner emong them, sometyme to borowe money vpon their paretes corpses,
deliueryng the bodies to the creditours in pledge. And who so redemeth theim not, ronneth
into vtter infamie, and is at his Heath, denied his bewriall. A manne (not altogether cause-
les) mighte merueile, that thei could not be contentc to constitute lawes for the framyng of
the maners of those that are online, but also put ordre for the exequies, and Hearses of the
deade. But the cause why thei bent them selues so muche hervnto, was for that thei thought
ther was no better waie possible, to driue men to honestie of life. The Grekes, which haue
set furthe so many thynges in fained tales, and fables of Poetes (farre aboue credite) con-
cernyng the rewarde of the good, and punishment of the euill : could not with all their de-
uices, drawe men to vertue, and withdrawe them from vices. But rather cOtrariwise, haue
with them that be Ituulely disposed : broughte all together in contempte and derision. But
emong the Egiptians, the punishementc due vnto the wicked and lewde, and the praise of
the godlie and good, not heard by tales of a tubbe, but sene daiely at the eye : putteth
both partes in rcmebnmnce what behoucth in this life, & what fame and opinion thei .shad
leaue of them selues, to their posteritie. And hervppon it riseth, that euery man gladly
emong the, ensueth good ordre of life. And to make an ende of Thegiptias, me siemeth
those Lawes are of very righte to be comptcd the beste, whiche regarde not so muche to
m;ikc the pe(M»lf richc, as to aduaunce theim to honestie and wisedome, where riches of
nccessitic must folowe.

If The. vj. Chapitre.

^ Of the Poeni, and thother peoples of Aphrique.

OF the Penois there are many and sondrie nacios. Adrimachidae lieng toward Egipte,
arc liko of maners to Thefjiptias, but their apparell is like to the other Penois. Their wiues
haue vpon echc legge, a houpe of Latton. Thei delight in long heare, and looke what lyce

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Affritce.

it fortiineth any of them to take aboiife them : thci bite theim, and throwe theira awaie, the
whiche propretie, thei onely of all the Poeni haiie. As also to present their maidens that
are vpon mariage, to the kyng, whiche choosyng emoiig them the maiden that liketh hvm
beste, sieketh in her lappe, that aftre can neuer bee founde. The Nasamones (a greate and
a terrible nacion, spoilers of siiche Shippes as fortune to bee throwen vpon tlie Sandcs in
the streightes) towarde Sommcr, leaiiyng their cattle vpon the Sea coastc, goe doune into
the plainc countrie to gather Dates, whiche are there very faire, and in greate plentie.
Thei gather the boughes with the fruicte, not yet pcrfectcly ripe, and laie them a Sonnyng
to ripe. Afterward thei stiepe theim in Milke, and make sonpinges and potages of theim.
It is the maner emong theim, for eiiery man to haue many wiues : and the felowship of their
wines, that other vse in secrete: thci vse in open sighte, in maner aftre the facion that the
Massagctes vse. It is also the maner of the Nasamones, when any mu marietl- his first wife,
to sende her about to euery one of the ghestes, to offer hym her body. And asmany as rc-
ceiue her into amies, and shewe her the curtesie she conies for, must giue her some gifte,
whiche she hath borne witii her, home to her house. Their maner of takyng an othe, &
forcshewyng of thinges to come, is thus.

Thei sweare by the menne that ware (by rcporte) the best and moste iustemen emong
the, layeng their handes on their Graues, or Tiimbes. But for the fore knowledge of
thynges, thei come to the Graues of their kyndreade, and there when thei haue praied their
stinte, laye them doune vpon them to slepe : and loke what thei dreamc, that doe thei fo-
lowe. Where in cofirmyng of our promise, we vse to strike hiides (as we calle it) thei vse
to drincke one to another : or elles if thei lacke liquour, to take duste fro the earth, and
one to licke parte of that to another. The Garamantcs shonne the felowship and the sightc
of all other peoples : and neither vse any kinde of weapon, or armour, ne yet dare defend?
them selucs against other that vsed them. They dwell somwhat aboue the Nasamones, moni
vp londe. Aboute the sea coaste towarde the westc, ther bordereth vpon them the Maces :
whiche shaue their hcades in the crowne, and clyppc them roundc by the sides. The Gni-
danes (ncxte neighbours to the Maces) when they giue battaylle to the ostruthes, their
brieding vnder the grounde, are armed with lawe felles of beastes. Their women ware
prety wealtes of leather, euery one a greate manye whiche (as it is sayde) they begge of
suche menne as haue lien with them. So that the moe she hath, the more she is estemed,
as a deinty derling beloued of many. The Machlies dwelling aboute the mershe of Tri-
tonides, vse to shaue their foreparte of their he.nde, and the Anses their hindre parte. The
niaydens of the Anses, at the ycrely feastes of Minenia, in the honoure of the goddesse
their country woma : deuiding them selucs into two companies, vse to giue battaile, one
parte to another with staues, and with stones : sayeng that thei obserue the maner of their
country in the honour of her that we calle Minerua. And the maiden that departeth the
battayle without wounde, thei holde her for no inaidc. But before ther battayle be fought,
they determine tliat what maydc so euer beareth lur selfe mooste valeaunte in the fielde,
all the other mavdens with commune consente shall ganiishe her, and arme her, both with
the armour of Grecia, and the helmet of Corinthe. And shal sctte her in a chariot, & carye
her roiinde about the mershe. The same menne vsen their women as indiflTcretly commuiie,
a-; kyen to the bulle. The children remaine with the women vntil they be of some strengthe.
Ones in a qiiartre the men do assemble wholy together, 8c then looke \>ith whome the childe
laiitasicth mooste to abide, him do they compte for his father.

There is a peo|)Ie named Atlanles, of the mouiite Athlas, by the whiche they dwell. These
giue no names one to another as other peoples do, but echeman is nainelesse. When the
Sonne pa>seth oucr their hcades, they curse him, and rcuyle him with all woordes of mis-
chicfc : for that he is so broiling hole, that he destroieth bothe thcni and ther countrye.

They cate of no kinde of beaste, neither drcame in their sliepe. The Ajjhres (whiche
are all brieders of catteile) line with flesshe and milke, and yet absteine they fro cowcs
milke, and all cowe fieshe, according to the maner of the Egiptians, and therfore kepe they
ftonc vp. The women of Cyrene thincke it not lawfull to strike a cowe, for Isis sake that is

honoured

Affrikc.

THAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERTES.

honoured in Egipf, to whome also they appoincte Fasting, and feastefull daies, and obserue
them soIem])nly. But the wome of Barcea absteine bothe fr5 cowe fleshe and sowe flesh.
When their children are iiii. yeare olde they vse to cauterise thein on the coron vaine (and
some on the tem])les also) with a medecine lor that purpose, made of woolle as it is phickcd
fro the shiepe : because thei should not at any time be troubled with rheumes or poses, and
by that meanes they say they liue in very good health. Thei sacrifie after this maner.
When in the name of their firste frufes they haue cutte of the eare of the beaste, they
throwe it ouer the house. That done, they wring the necke on the one side. Of all the
goddcs they oflre sat rificc to no more but Sonne & Mone. All the Aphres burye their
deade as the Grecians doc, sauing the Nasamones, which bury them as thoughe they ware
silting : wayting well when any man lieth in drawing on. to set him on his taile, leaste he
should giue vp the ghoste lieng vpright. Their houses are made of wickers, and withes,
wrought aboutc trees, moch like vnto those that we calle frilkencece trees, and in suche
sorte that they may tourne them rounde eucry waye. The Maries, shaue the lefte side of
their heade, and Ictte (he heare growe on the right. They die their bodie in redde, and
vaunte that they come of the Troianes. The women of the Zabiqucs (which are the next-
neighbours to the Maries) driue the cartes in the warres, in the which the men fight. Ther.
are a people called Zigantes, wher beside the great plentye of hony that they gather fro
the Bies, they haue also certeine men that are makers of honye. They all die them selues
with red, and eate apes fleshe, wherof thei that dwel in the raounteines haue great plentye.
These al being of the part called Libye, liue for the raoste parte a wilde lyfe abrode in the
fieldes like beastes, making no household prouision of meate, ne wearing any maner of
appareil but gotes felles. Th^gentleme, and men of honour emong the, haue neither cities
nor townes, but Turrettes builte vpon the waters side, in the which they laye vp the ouer-
plus of that that they occupy. They sweare their people euery yere to obeye their Prince,
and that they tiiat obey in diede, shoulde loue together as felowes and companions : but
that the disobediente shoulde be pursued like felons and traitours. Their armour and wea-»
p6, are bothe acording to the nature of the country and contrimen : for wher thei of them-
sclues are very quicke, and deliure of bodye, and the country champaine, and playne, they
neither vse swearde, dagger, ne harneis, but onely cary thre lauelines in their hande, and a
nombre of piked and chosen stones, in a case of stifTe leather hiiging aboute them. With
these they vse bothe to fight and to skirmishe. In his coming towarde the ennemy, he
throweth his stone, fetching his ronne, and maketh lightlye a narowe mysse, thoughe it be
a good waye of: suche continuall pmctise they haue of it. They kiepe neither lawe ne
faithe.

The Trogloditcs (whiche are also named of the Grecians pastours, for their fieding and
brieding of catteille) a people of ILtliiope, do hue in companies, & haue their heade ouer
them, whome they call Tiraunte. But not meaninge in him so much tirfiy in diede, as some
time some of our gouernours vndre a fayrer name do execute. None of them hathe any se-
uerali wife, and therfore no seueral children, but bothe those in commune, the tiraunte ex-
cepted : Who hathe but one wyfe onely. To the which yf any manne do but approche or
tirawe nighe : he is condempned in a certeine nombre ol' cattaile to be paied to the Tiraunte.
From y beginning of luly vntle about midde August (at y which time thei haue great plenty
ofraine) thei nourishc them selues with milke, and bloude, sodden a litle together. The
pasture vplod being, dried away with the heate of the Sonne: They sieke downe to the
marshe, Sc lowe gniundes, for the whiche onelv they be often at debate. When their catteil
Wdxelh (ilde or sickc, they kyll them, and eate them, & altogether liue vpon such. They
do not giue the childe the name of the father, but name him aftre a bull, a rambe or an
cawe. And those call thei lather (the beastes I meane of the masle kinde) and thother of
the femel kynde, they call mother, because ther daily fode is giuen by them. The people
called Idiote, vse for their drincke the iuyce of a whinne named Paliurus. But the men of
worshyp and gentlemen vse the iuce of a certeine floure they haue emonge them, whiche
)naketh drincke mochc like the worste of y Uenishe muste. And because thei cary great

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Affriht.

droues of catteile with them, they chaunge their soile often. Their bodies are all naked,
aauing their priuities, whiche they hide with fellcs of beastes. All the Troglodites are cir-
cucised aftre the maner of the Egiptians, sailing only the Claudians: which they so terme
of claudicacion or limping. They onely, dwellinge from their childehode within the country
of the Hesternes, are not touched with rasour or knife. The Troglodites that are called
Magaueres, carye for theyr armour and weapon, a rounde buckler of a rawe oxe hide, and
aclubbe shodde with yron. Other haue bowes, & lauelines. As for graues or places of
buriall, they passe not. For they binde the heade, and the fiete of the dead together with
witthes of Paliurus, & then setting it vp vpon some hilly place, haue a good sporte to all to
bethwacke it with stones, vntle they lie heaped ouer the corps. The laye they a goates
home on the toppe and departe, biddinge sorrowe go plaie him. They warre one with ano-
ther, not as the Griekes vpon rancour and Ambicon, but onely for foode sake. In their
skirmishes, firste they go to it with stones, as afore ye haue hcarde, vntle it fortune some
nombre to be hurte. Then occupieng the bowe (wherin they are very sure handed) thei
kille one another vpon hepcs. Those battayles are attoned by the women of mooste auncient
age. For when they be ones comen into the middle emonge them (as they maye do with-
oute harme, for that is compted abhominacion in any wise to hurte one of them ) the bat-
taille sodenly ceaseth. They that are nowe so fiebled with age, that they can no longer
folowe the heard : winding the tayle of an oxe aboute their throte choke vp & die. But
he that diHerreth to rydde him' selfe in this sorte : It is laweful for another (aftre a warninge)
to doe it. And it is there compted a friendly benefaicte. Men also diseased of feures, or
anye other incurable malady, they doe in lyke maner dispatche : iudginge it of all griefes the
woorste, for that manne to Hue, that canne nowe nothinge doe, why he shoulde desyre to
lyue. Herodote writeth, that the Troglodites myne them selues caues in the grounde,
wherin to dwell. Men not troubled with anye desire of riches, but raither giuing them
selues to wilfull pouretie. They glory in nothing but in one title stone, wherin appere
thre skore sondry colours : which we therfore calle Exaconthalitus. They cate sondry kindes
of venemous vermync. And speake any distincte wordc they can not, but sieme rather to
busse or thurre betwene the tiethe, then to speake.

There is another people dwelling in that Ethiope that lyeth aboue Egipte, called Ryzo-
phagi, whiche bestowc muche time in digging vp of the rootes of Riedes growing niere
aboute them, and in wasshing and clensing of the same, whiche afterward they bruse
betwixt stones till thei become clilmic, & so make swiete cakes of the, muche facioned
like a brick a hande broade. Those bake thei by the Sonne, and so eate them. And this
kinde of meatc onely, seriieth them all their life tyme plentifully and enough, and neuer
waxeth fulsome vnto theim. Thei neuer haue warre one with another, but with Lions,
whiche comyng out of the deserte there, partly for shadowe, and partly for to praie vpon
smaller bcastes, doc oftymes wourie diners of the Aethiopes, comyng out of the Fennes. In
so muche that that nation had long sences bene vttrely destroied by the Lions, excepte
nature of purpose, had shewed the her aide. For toward the dogge dales, there come
into that coaste, infinite swarmes of Gnattes, without any drifte of winde to enforce them.
The men then flieng to the fennes, are not harmed by the. But thei driue the Lions with
their stingyng and terrible buszyng, cleane out of that quartre. Next vpon these, bordre
the Ilophagi and Spermatophagi, the one liuynge by suche fruicte as falleth from the trees,
in Sommer, and the residew of the yere by suche herbes as thei picke vp in the sliadowcd
groundes. The other, the Ilophagi, siekynge to the plaines with their wiues and their children,
climbe trees, and gather, eatc, and cary home : the tendre croppes and buddes of the
boughes. And thei haue by continualle practise, suche a nimblenes in climbyng, that
(a wondrefull thvnge to be spoken) thei wille leape from boughe to boughe, and tree to
tree like Cattes or Squircllcs, and by reason of their slendrenes and lightenes, wille mounte
vp on braunches and twinges, without daunger or hurte. For thoughe their fiete slippe, yet
hange theifaste by the handes: and if thei bothefaile theim, yet falle thei so light, that
thei be harmelesse.

These

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Affrike.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

These folkes go naked, and hold their wiues and childre in commune.

Emong

them
seines they fighte for their places without weapon : but against foreiners with staues. And
wheare thei ouercome, there chalenge thei Lordeshippe. Thei communely dye for hongrc,
when their sight faileth them : whiche was their onely instrumente to finde their foode. The
residewc of the countrie there aboute, do those Aethiopians holde, which are named Cynecy,
not very many in nombre, but muche differing in life from the rest. For their Countrie
beyng wooddie, and wilde, fullc of thicquettes, and skante of watre, thei are forced by night,
for feare of wilde beastcs, to slepe in trees: and toward the mornyng, all weaponed toge-
tiier, to drawe doune to the waters, wher thei shroude them selues into coucrt, and so abide
close till the heate of the dale. At the whiche tyme the Bugles, Pardales, and other greate
beastcs, what for the heate, and what for thriste, flocke toguether to the watres. Assonc as
thei haue dnmcken, and haue well laden their heallies with watre, the Ethiopes startynge
out vpo them with stakes, sharpened and hardened in the fire, and with stones, and
with arrowes, and suche like weapon, at this aduauntage, slea them vpon heapes, and
dcuide the carkesses by compaignies to be eaten. And sometyme it happeneth that
thei theim selues are slaine by .some beast of force, howbeit very seldome. For thei euer
by their pollicies and traines, doe more damage to the beastes, then the beastes can doe vnto
them. If at any time thei lacke the bodies of the beastes, then take thei the rawe hides of
suche as thei lateliest before had slaine, and clensyng them cleane fro the heare, thei
sokynglie laie them to a softe fire, and when thei be throughly hette, deuide them emong
the compaignie, whiche very griedely fille them selues of them.

They exercise their children whilest thei be boies, to throw the darte at a sette marke,
and he that hiiteth not the marke receiueth no meate. By the whiche maner of trainyng,
hogre so workcth in the boies, that thei become excellente darters.

The Acridophagie (a people borderyng vpon the deaserte) are somewhat lower of stature
then the residewe, leane, & exceding blacke. In the Spring time, the Weste, and South-
west winde, bringeth vnto them out of the Deaserte, an houge nombre of Locustes, whiche
are of verie greate bodie, and of wynge very filthily coloured. The Ethiopians well accus-
tomed with their maner of flighte & trade, gather together into a log slade betwixte
two hilles, a great deale of rubbeshe and mullocke, from places nighe hande, apte for firyng,
and all the grasse and wiedes there aboute. And laieng it ready in heapes aforehande,
a long the slade, whe thei see the Locustes come with the winde like cloudes in the aire, thei
set al on fire, and so swelte theim in the passing ouer, that thei bee skante full out of the
slade, but thei fall to the grounde in suche plentie, that thei be to all the Acridophagi, a suf-
ficient victuallyng. For thei poudre them with salte (wherof the countrie hath pletie)
and so continually from yere to yere, line by none other foode. For thei neither haue
any kinde of catteille, ne fisshe can haue, beyng so farre fro the sea. And this maner of
meate siemeth to theim, verie pleasaunte and fine.

Of bodie thei are very lighte, swifte of foote, and shorte liued, as not passyng xl. yeres,
he that liueth Idgest. Their ende is not more incredible, then it is miserable. For whe
thei drawe into age, their briedeth a kinde of winghed lice in their bodies, of diners
colours, and very horrible, and filthie to beholde : whiche firste eate out their bealies, and
the their brest, and so the whole body in a litle space. He that hath this disease, first as
thoughe he had on hym some tickelyng ytche, all to beskratcheth his bodie with suche plea-
sure, as is also mingled with some smart. And within a litle while aftre, when the lyce
bcginne to craule, and the bodie beginneth to mattre, enraged with the bittrenes and grief
of the disease, he teareth and mangleth his whole bodie with his nailes, putting furth in the
meane while many a greuous grone. Then gussheth there out of hym, suche aboundaunce of
lice, that a manne would thinke they had bene barelled in his body : & that the barel now
broken, the swarme plomped out. And by this meanes, whether throughe the enfectious
aire, or the corrupcion of their fieding, thei make a miserable ende.

Vpon the Southe border of Affrike, dwell there menne called of the Grekes Cynnamie, & of
their neighbours Sauhiages: Bearded, and that with aboundaunce of heare. Thei kiepefor the

R r saufegarde

301

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Affrike.

sniifcgarde of their liucs^ grcate compnignics of wilde MaatiuCii : for that from midde Iiine,
till midde Winter, there entreth into their countrie, an innumerable sorte of Kine of Inde.
Whether fhei flie thcther to saue them seines from other beatses, or come to sieke pasture,
or by some instincte of nature vnknowen to manne, it is vncertaine. Against these, when
the menne of their owne force, are not able to resist : thei defende thcselues by the helpe
of their dogges, and take many of them. Whereof thei eate parte >vhilest thei are freshe,
and parte reserue thei in pouldre, for their aftre niede. Thei cate also many other kindcs
of beastes, whiche thei hunt with their dogges.

The l.iste of all the Aflriens Southewarde, are the Ichthiophagi. A people borderyng vpon
the Troglodites, in the Goulfe called Sinus Arabicus : whiche vnder the shape of man. Hue the
life of beastes. Thei goe naked all their life time, and make coptc of their wiues and their
children in commune. Thei knowe none other kindes of pleasure, or displeasure, but like
vnto beastes, suche as thei fiele : neither haue thei any respecte to vertue, or vice, or any
disccrnyng bctwixtc goode or badde. Thei haue litle Cabanes not farre from the Sea, vpon
the clieues sides : where nature hath made greate carfes, diepc into the grounde, and
hollowe Gutfres, and Criekes into the maigne lande, bowling and compassyng in and
out, to & fro, many sondrie waies. Whose entringes thenhabitauntes vse to stoppe vp with
great heapes of calion and stones, whereby the criekes scrue them now in the steadc of
nettes. For when the sea floweth (which happeneth there twise in the daye, aboute the
houres of thre, and of nyne) the water sweileth so highe, that it ouerfloweih into the
maygne shore, and fiileth those crieques with the sea. And the fisshe folowing the tide, and
dispersinge them sclues abrode in ^ maigne hmde to seeke their foode : at the ebbe when
the water withdraweth, retiring together with it alway to the dieper places, and at laste
remaining in these gutters & crieques, they are stopped in with the stone heapes, and at
the lowe water lye drie. Then come the enhabitauntes with wyfe and children, take them,
and laye them oute vpon the rocques against the midday sonne, wher, with y broiling heate
of the same, they be within a while skorched and parched. Then do they remoue them, and
with a litle beating separate the fysshe Iro the bones. Then put they the fisshe into the
hollowes of the rocques, and beatc it to pomois, minglingc therewith the siede of the
whynne Paliurus. And so facion it into lumpes muche like a bricke, but somewhat longer.
And when they haue taken them againe a litle by the sonne, they sitte them downe together,
and eate by the bealy.

Of this haue thei alway in store, accordinge to the plenty that Neptune gyucth them.
But when by the reasd of tempest the sea ouerfloweth these places aboue his naturall course,
and tarieth longer then his wonte, so that they can not haue this benefight of fisshing, and
their store is all spent : they gather a kynde of great shelle fysshe, whose shelles they grate
open with stones, and eate the fisshe rawe, in taste muche like to an oyster. If it fortune
this ouerHowing by the reason of the winde, to continue longe, and their shellefysshe to
fayle them : then haue they recours to the fysshebones ( which they do of purpose reserue
together in heapes) and when thei haue gnabeled of the softest and gristely partes with
their tiethe, of those that are newest and beste, they beate the harder with stones into pieces,
and cate the. Thei eate as I haue said in the wilde field together abrode, reioicing with a
somblaunte of merinesse, & a maner of singyng full vntuned. That done they falle vppon
their women, euen as they come to hande withoute any choyse : vtterly voide of care, by
reason they are alwaye sure of meate in good plenty e.

Thus foure daies euer continual, busied with this bealy bownsing chiere, the v. daie thei
flocke together to go drincke, al on a droue, not vnlike to a heard of kiene to the waters,
shouting as they go with an Yrishe whobub. And when th**" haue dronke till their bealies
stonde a strutte, so that they are skat able to retourne ■ eiK rye bodie layes him downe
dronckardelike to rcste his water bolne bealy, and that daye eateth nothing. The next
daye agayne they fall to their fyshing: And so passe they their lyfc continually.

Thei seldome falle into any diseases, for that they arc alway of so vniforme diete. Neuer-
thelesse they are shorter lyued the we arc. Theyr nature not corrupted by any perswasion

taken

i :%

Affrikc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DlSCOUERlIiS.

303

taken of other, compteth the satisfieng of hogrc, the greatest pleasure in tl>c world. As
for other extraordenary pleasures, they seke them not. This is the mancr of lining propre
vnto them that lye within the bosome of the sayde Arabique sea. But the maner of them
that dwell without the bosome, is moche more merueilous. For thei neuer drinkc ne ncuer
are moued with any passion of the mynde. These beynge as it ware by fortune throwen
oute into the desertes, farre from the partes mietc to be enhabited, giue them selues alto-
gether to f\ shing, which they eate haulfe rawe. Not for to auoyde thirste ( for they desire
no moyste thynges) but raithcr of a nature sauiuage and wilde, contented with such victualle
as commeth to hande. They copte it a principal blessednes to be withoute those thinges
what so euer they be, that bringe sorowe or griefe to their hauers. Thei are reported to be
of such patience, that thoughe a manne strike them with a naked sweard, thei wil not
shonne him, or flye from him. Beate them, or do theim wronge, and they onely wil looke
vppon you, neither shewinge token of wrathe, nor countenaunce of pitie. Thei hauc no
inaner of spcache emong them : But onely shewe by signes of the hande, and nodding with
the heade, what they lacke, and what they would haue. These people with a whole con-
sent, are mayntayners of peace towarde all men, straunger and other. The whiche mancr
althoughe it be wondrefull, they haue kept time oute of mynde. Whether throughe longe
continuaunce of custome, or driuen by necessitie, or elies of nature: I cannot saye. They
dwell not as the other Icthiophagi doe, all in one maner of cabanes, but sondry in diuers.
Some haue their dcnnes, and their cabanes in them opening to the North : to the ende
they might by that meanes be the bettre shadowed fro the sonne, and haue the colder ayre.
For those that arc open toward the Southe, by the reason of the greate heate of the sonne,
caste forthe suche a breathe, fornais like, that a manne can not come nierc them. They
that open towarde the Northe, builde them preaty Cabanes of the ribbes of whales (whiche
in those seas they plentuouiily find) compassing them aboute by the sides, accordynge to
their naturall bendinge, and fasteninge them together at bothe cndes with some maner of
tyenge. Those do they couer with the woose and the wiedes of the sea tempered together.
And in these they shroude them selues fro the Sonne : nature by necessitie deuising a way
how to helpe and defende her selfe.

Thus haue ye hearde the lyfe of the Icthiopagi, and now remaineth there for Aprique
onely the Amazones to be spoken of, which menne saye in the olde tyme dwelte in Libye.
A kinde of warlike women, of greate force, and hardinesse, nothing lyke in lyfe vnto our
women. The maner amonge them was to appointe to their maidens a certein space of yeres
to be trayned, and exercysed in the feictes of warre. Those beynge expired, they ware
ioyned to menne for yssues sake. The women bare all the rule of the commune wealthe.
The women ware princes, lordes, and officiers, capiteines, and chiefteines of the warres. The
menne had noughte to doe, but the drudgery at home, and as the women woulde appoincte
them. The children assone as thei ware borne, ware deliuered to the men to nouryshe vp with
milke, and suche other thinges as their tendrenes required. If it ware a boye, they eyther
brake the right arme assone as it was borne, that it mighte neuer be fytte for the warres,
or slue it, or sente it oute of the countrye. If a wenche, they streighte ceared J pappes,
that thei might not growe to hindre them in the warres. Therefore the Grecians called
theim Amazones, as ye woulde sale, pappelesse. The opinion is, that thei dwelt in the
Ilonde named Hespera, which lieth in the marsshe, named (of a riuer that ronneth into it)
Tritonis, ioyning vpon Ethiope, and the mounte Atlas, the greatest of all that lande. This
Ilonde is very large and greate, hauyng plentie of diuers sortes of fruictes, whereby the
cnhabitauntes liue. Thei haue many flockes of shiepe, and goates, and other smallc cattcile,
whose milke and flesshe they eate. They haue no maner of graine, ne knowe what to doe
fhcrwith.

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OF ASIE,

THE SECONDE PARTE.

^ The fh>t C'hapitre.
1 Of Asic and the peoples niostc famous thcriii.

ASic, the scconde part of the thre whcriii to we haiie said that the whole crfh is diuided :
tooke name as some hold opinion, of the doiighter of Oceaniis, and Tethis, named Asia, the
wife of laphetus, and the mother of Prometheus. Or as other adirme, of Asius, the sonne of
Maneye the Lidian. And it stretcheth it self from the South, bowtyng by the Easte into the
Northe : hauyng on the West parte the two flouddes, Nilus and Tanais, and the whole Sea
Euxinum, and parte of the middle earth sea. Vpon the other thre quarters, it is lysted in
with the Occean, whiche where he cometh by Easte Asie, is called Eous (as ye would saie
toward the dawnyng) by the South, Indicus (of the countrie named India) and aftre the
name of the stoure Scithiane, vpon the Northe Scythicus. The greate mounteine Taurus
ronnyng East and West, and in a maner equally partyng the lande in twaine : leaueth one
parte on the Northe side, called by the Grekes the outer Asie: and another on the South,
named the inner Asic. This mounteine in many places is foude thre hundred Ixxv. miles
broade : and of length equalle with the whole countrie. About a fiue hundred thre skore
and thre miles. From the coast of the Rhodes, vnto the farthest part of Indc, and Scithia
Eastwarde. And it is deuided into many sondric partes, in sondrie wi.se named, whereof some
are larger, some lesse. This Asie is of suche a sise, as aucthorus holde opinion, that Affrike
and Europe ioyned together : are scante able to matche it in greatnes. It is of a temperate
heate and a fertile soile, and therefore full of all kindes of beaste, foule, and worme, & it
hath in it many countries and Seignouries.

On the other side of the redde Sea, oucr against Egipte in Affrike : lieth the tripartite
region, named Arabia, whose partes are, Petrca: boundyng West and Northe vpon Siria:

and right at fronte before hym Eastwarde, Deserta

and Arabia Felix by Southe. Certein
It is iudged to haue the name of Arabus,

writers also adioyne to Arabia; Pancheia, and Sabea.
the Sonne of Apollo & Babilone.

The Arabiens beyng a greate people, and dwellyng very wide and brode : are in their
liuyng very diuers, and as sondrie in religion. Thei vse to go with long heare vnrounded
& forked cappes, somewhat mitre like, all aftre one sorte, and their beardes partie shaue.
Thei vse not as we doe, to learne faculties and sciences one of another by appreticehode,
but looke what trade the father occupied, the same doeth the sonne generally applic
himself to, and continue in. The mooste aunciente and eldest father that can be founde
in the whole Countrie, is made their Lorde and Kyng. Looke what possessions any one
kindrede hath, the same be commune to all those of thatbloude: Yea one wife serueth
theim all. Wherefore he that cometh firste into the house, laieth dounc his falchio before
the dore, as a token that the pface is occupied. The seniour of the stocke enioieth her
alnight. Thus be thei all brethren and sistren one to another, throughout the whole people.
Thei absteine fro the embrasinges neither of sister ne mother, but all degrees are in that
poinct as indifferent to them, as to beastes of the fieldes. Yet is adultcrie death emong
them. And this is adulterie there: to abandon the body to one of another kindred. And
who so is by suche an ouerthwarte begotten : is iudged a bastard, and otherwise not. Thei
bancquet not lightly together, vndre the nombre of thirtie persones. Alwaie foresene that,
two of the same nombre at the leaste, be Musicens. Waiters haue thei none, but one kins-
man to minister to another, and one to helpe another. Their touncs and cities are wallesse,

for

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\'OYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Aait.

for thci line iiiiiclly & in peace one with another. Thoi haiic no kinilc of oyle, 1)iit that
whichc is made of Scsama, but for all other thynjics, thci arc most blessed with j)lentie.
I'hci hauc Shicpe greater than Kien, and verie white of wonlle. Ilorst-t haiic thci none,
nc none desire, for that their Chamcllcs in al nicde» scriic the as well. Thci hnue sihier
and golilc plentie, and diiicrsc kindes of spices, whiche other coiitries haiic not. Laton,
Kias.>.e, Iron, Purple, Snfron, the precious rote costns, and all cornen woorkcs, arc brought
into theini by other. Thci bewrie their kyng in a donj^hille, for other thei willc skanfc take
xo niuchc laboure. There is no people that better kiepcth their promise and coucnannt,
then thci doe, & thus thci bchight it.

When thci wilie make any solempne promise, couenaunte, or league, the two parlies
romniyn<; tnjicthcr, bryng with thein a thirde, who standyng in the middcs bctwixtc tlicini
bothc, draweth blond of echc of them, in the palme of the hande, alone; vndcr the rote ol
the lingres with a sharpe stone : and then pluckyng from eche of their garmcntes a litle
iagnue, he enoyncteth with that bloude seuen other stones, lieng ready bctwixte thcim for
that purpose. And whilest he so doeth, he calleth vpon the name of Dionisius and Vrania,
^>hom thci accompte cmong the nombrc of goddes, reuengcrs of faithclcsse faithcs. Tin.'*
done, he that was the sequestrer of the couenaunte, becometh suretie for the parties. And
ihis maner of coiitracte, he that standeth moste at libertie, thinketh mietc to be kcpte.

Thei haue no firynge but broken endes & chippes of Myrrhe, whose smoke is so vnwhol-
some, that excepte thei withstode the malice therof with th • perfume of Styrax, it would
bricde in them vncurabic diseases. The Cinamome whicht- growelli emong thcim, none
gather but the priestes. And not thci neither, before the'. h«MC sacrificed vnto the goddes.
And yet further thei obserue, that the gatheryng neither bc;4inne before the Sonne risyng,
lie cutiniie aftre the goyng doune. He that is lorde and goucrnour emong them, when the
whole gather is brought together, dcuideth out vnto eucry man his heape with a lauelineii
ende, whiche thei haue ordinarily consecrate for that purpose. And emongest other, the
Sonne also hath a heape deuided out for hym, whiche (if the dcuision be iuste) he kindeletU
immediatly with his owne beames, and brenneth into asshes. Some of the Arabiens that
are pinched with penurie, without all regard of body, life, or helth, doe eate Snakes, and
Addres, and suche like vermine, and therefoc nre called of the Grekes Ophyophagi.

The Arabiens named Nomades, occupie murh Chamellcs, bothe in warre and burden, and
all maner cariage, farre and nighe. The floude that ronneth alonge their bordes, hathe in it
as it ware limall of golde in great plentie. Whiche they neuerthcles for lacke of knowledge
do neuer fine into masse.

Another people of Arabia named Deboe, are for the great parte shepemasters, and
brieders. Parte of the notwithstanding, occupie husbandrie, & lilthe. These haue suche
pletie of gold, that oftetimes emog the cloddes in the iieldes thei iinde litle peables of
g>^ld as bigge as akecornes, whiche thei vse to set finely with stones, and weare for owches
aboute their necke & armes, with a very good grace. They sell their golde vnto their
borderers for the thirde parte of Laton, or for the halfe parte of siluer. Partly for that they
nothing estiemc it, and specially for the desire of the thinges that foreiners haue. Ncxte
vnto them lie the Sabcis, whose riches chiefely consisteth in encence, Myrrhe and Cina-
mome, howbeit some holde opinion also that Baulme groweth in some places of their bor-
ders. Thei haue also many date trees very redolente of smelle, and the roote called
Calamus.

There is in that contry a kinde of scrpentes lurking in the rootes of trees, of haulfe a
foote lengthe, whose bitinge is for the moste parte death. The plenty of swiete odours,
and sauours in those quarters, doeth verely stufTe ^ smelling. And to avoyde that incom-
moditie, they oftentimes vse the fume of a stincking gome, and gotes heare chopped together.
Ther is no man that hath to do to giue sentece vpon any case but the king. The mooste
parte of the Sabeis apply husbandrie. The residewe gatheringe of spices and drugges.
They sayle into Ethiope for trade of marchaundise, in barkes couered with leather. The
refuse of their cinamome and Cassian they occupy for firing. Their chiefe citie is called

Saba,

Aale.

TRAFFIQUE«;, AND DISC OUF.n^t^

Saba, and stondclh vpon a hyll. Their kyngcs succed by (iisf*"" « of bloif , not any one
of the kindred certeinc, but siiche as the people haiic in most jtnoiir, b« ic good be he
baddc. The king neuer dare be sene outc of his Palace, for that >here gopth an oldc pro-
phecie emong them of a king that shoiildc be stoned to deathe of the people. And eiiery
one feareth it shoulde lighte on him selfe. They that arc about the king of the Sabeis :
haue plate bothe of siluer and goldc of all sortes, curiously wrought and cntallied. Tables,
fourmea, trestles of siluer, and all furniture of household sumptuous aboue measure. They
haue alsoGaleries buylte vppon great pillours, whose corotiettes are of golde and of siluer.
Cielinges, voultinges, dores and gates couercd with siluer and goldc, and set with precious
stones: garnisshinges ofyuorye, and other rare thinges whiche emon^ men are of price.
And in this bounteous magnificece haue thei continued many yeres. For why the gredy
compasse how to atteync honoure with the vniuste rapine of other mennes goodcs, that hath
tombled downe hendelingso many rommune weallhes, neucr had plate emong tiicm. In
richesse equal vnto them, arc the Garrci, whose implementcs of household arc all of golde
and siluer, and of those and yuorie tonether, are their portallc^, their cielinges, and rophes,
made. The Nabatheeiis of all other Arabiens are the beste husbandes, and thriftiest sparers.
Their caste is wittye in winning of substaunce, but greater in kepinge it. He that appairetii
the substaunce that was lefte him, is bv a commune lawe punished : and contrariwise he that
encreaseth it, niuche praysed and honoured.

The Ambiens vse in their warres swerde, bowc, launce, slinge, and battle ax. The rable
of helhoundcs (whom we calie Sarasincs) that pestilent murreine of mankinde, came of this
people. And as it is to be thoughte, at this daye the great parte of Arabia is degenerate
into that name. But thei that dwell tnwarde Egipte, kepe yet their olde name. & lyue by
butin, like prickers of ^ bordre, wherin, the swiflenes of their catnellcs docth them good
seruice.

f The secondc Chapitre.

V Of Panchaia, and the maners of the Panqueis.

PAnchaia (a rountrie of Arabia) is iudged of Diodore the Sicilian to bean islondc ofxxv.
miles brode. It hath in it thre noble cities Dalida, Hyracida, & Oceanida. The whole contric
(cxccptc a litlc vaine of sandie grauelle) is fertile and plenteous: chiefely of wine and
encence. Whiche growcih ther in suche aboundaunce, that it sufTiceth tiie whole worlde
for the francke fume offeringe. There groweth also good store of Myrrhe, and diuers other
redolenfe thin;:es, whiche the Panqueis gather, and selle to the merchauntes of Arabia. At
whose hande other buiengc them againe, transporte them into Egipte, and Siric. And fro
thence they are spred abrode to al other peoples. The Piiquels in their warres vse wagons
aftre the maner of menne in olde time.

Their commune wealth is deuided into thre sondry degrees. The firste place haue the
pricstes, to whome are ioyned the artificers. The seconde the houscbad men. And the
thirdc the menne of warre : with whom the catteile maisters or brieders be coupled.
The priestes are ^ heades, and chiefe of all the residewe, and haue aucthoritie aswell in sen-
tence of lawe, as to put ordrein al ciuile affaires: the sentence of deathe onely excepted.

The housebandemen, tille the grounde, and attende vpon the fruictes, and bring all into
the commune store. And thei that shalbe founde moste diligente in that laboure and occu-
pntion: arc chosen by the priestes (but not aboue the nombre of ten at one time) to be
iudges oucr the distribucio of the fruictes. Vpon consideracion that other by their ad-
iiauncement might be stirred to like diligence. The catteile maisters, yf ther be any thing
either apperteining to the sacrifices, or commune affaires, touching nombre, or weight, do
it with all diligence.

No man amonge the Panchais hath any thinge that he can call proprely his owne : his
house, and his gardein excepted. For bothe the customes, & reuenewes, and all other pro-
fectes, are deliucred in to the priestes handes. Who acordinge as they finde necessaric

and

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.']08

VOYAGES, NAUICJAllONS,

Anle.

nnd rxpfiticnir, iiutoly dUtributr (hem. lint they thcm<<t'lue« arc ^raiiiilcd (l()iil)lc Nhare.
Their j^nrmentf'* by the reason of" the (inessc of the wolle of their .shiepc, e^pcciiilly aboiic
other, arc very** softc and pentU* riothe. Bothc mennc ami women vm- ther, to seltc oiilc
ihem sehies with luelles of poKlo, a>« cheincji, hrasclelliM, earerinj^cH, tablettes, o\M'he?(,
rinpeM, Anniiletes, buttons, brorhc*, an<l shties cmlirandercd, and spanjjlcd with ^olde, ol
diners rolourH. The mennc of warre seme onely for the defence ol their counlrey.

The priestes abone all other, piiic them seines vnio plrs;uinte life, fine, nttte and Nump-
tnons. Their parmrtes are rochettes of line linneii, and sonu'timo of the deintiest wollen.
Vpon their heades thci weare mitres enibraiidred, and <;irnisshcd wilii j^oldc. They vsc n
kindc of voided shoes (whichc aftrewartic the Gricepics loke vp, arii tailed sandaliiun) very
finely made, and of sondry colours. And a» the women wer.rc, so do lliey, all maner of
luelles sauinn earinn;es. Their chicfe occnpatio is to attcnde \\w\ j^oddcs seriiice, settin^re
forthe the worthic diedes of the jjoddes, with himpiies, and man\ kindes of commendacion.
Yf thei be foiinde withoute the halowed crnundc, if is lawfiill for any manne to slea them.
They saye that they came of the blonde of Iiipitcr Manasscs, at suche time as he came firstc
into Panchaia, hauinge the whole worldc \ndrc his dominion. This countric is full of goldc,
siluer, latton, tinne, and ynm, of the whichc it is not laweful to carlo any one out of ^
realme. The giftes both of siluer iSc polde, whiiiie in jjrcatc nombre of longc time, liaue
bene offred to their ooddes, arc kcpfc in the temple : whose dores are by excellent worke-
manship garnished with golde, siluer and yuorie. The couchc of their God is vi. cubitcs
longe, and foure rnbites brode, all of golde, gori^eous of worcke, and goodly to beholdc.
And by that, is there sette a table of like sorte in euerie poinctc: for sise, stufl'c, and
gorgcousnes. Thev hane but one temple, all of white stimc, builtc vpon pilours, grauen,
and embossed, thre hundred and xxwiii. taylours yardes square, that is to saye, euen of
Icngthe and brcdthe, eucry wayc so nnuhi*. And somcwhtit acordingc to the syse of the
temple, it is sctte full of highe ymagcs very precious : corucn and grauen. Kounde about
the temple haue the priestes their habitacion. And all the grounde aboute them xxv. mylc
compasse : is halowed to their goddes. The ycrely rente of that grounde is bcDtowed
vpon sacrifice.

1 The iii. Chapltrc.

%. Of Assiria and Babilonia, and the mancrs of those peoples.

AS saieth sainct Augustine, the countrie called AssirLi, was so named of Assur, the sone
of Sem. And at this dale, to the ende that time might be founde an appairer of al thinges,
with the losse of a sillabe is becomen Siria: Ilauyng for his bounde, on the East, the
countrie called Inde, and part of Media. On the West the floude Tygris, on the Southe
Suaiana, and on the Northe the maigne mountcignc Caucasus. It is a dcintie to haue in
Assiria a showre of raine: and therefore are thei constreined for the due moistyng of their
lande, to tolle in the riuers by pollicie of trenching and damming: wherwith thei so plen-
tifie their grounde, that thei communely receiue two hundred busshelles for a busshell, and
in some speciall vcine, three hundred for one. Their blades of their Wheate and Barlic
are fovvrc fingers brode. Their Sesamum, and Milium (Somer comes) arc in groweth like
vnto trees. All the whichc thinges Herodotus the historien, thoughe he knowcth the (as he
writeth) to be vndoubledly true, yet would he that men toke aduiscmente in the reportyng of
theim : for that thei mightc sieme vnto suche as neuer sawe the like, incredible. Thei haue
a tree called Palma, that beareth a kinde of small Dates. This fruictc thei ficde muchc
vppon, and out of the bodie of the tree, thei draw at one time of the yere a liquor or
sappc, wherof thei make botlie wine and hony. In their fresh waters thei vse boates facioned
round like a buckler, which the Armenians that dwellc aboue them, do make of salowe
wikers wrought one within an other, and couered with rawe leather. The appareile of the
Assyrians is a shirte downe to the foote, and ouer that a short garment of wollen, and
last of al a faire white pleicted casxaque doun to the foote agayne. Their shoes are not

fastened

Aaic-

TnAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIT.S.

lastcnrd on vith laclicttcs, Init l\kc n poiimpc close aboiie the foot**. Which al.xo the Thf-
bans (Ivdcic vsc, ami liiit they twayne, no moc. They aiinVc theyr hcares to j^rowe and coucr
them with prcty forked cappcs soinwhat inylrelykc. And when they goc abroade, they be-
sprinkle Ihi-m MeliiC!4 with Iranraunt oylei, to i)c Hwctc at the smelle. They haue euery man
;j rynjte with a sinnet, and also a sceptre finely wrought : vppon whose toppc thei vse to
stitke either an a|)ple, or a rose, or a lillye, or some lykc thyngc. For it is a dishonour to
beare it bare.

lunon|!;csi all the lawe<i of that people I note this chiefly an worthie memoric. Whe their
maidens came to be niariagcable, thei ware fro yerc to ycrc, l)rought foorthe into the Mar-
quette, for suchc as would buye them to be their wines. And because there ware some so
hard fanoured, that menne would not onely be loth to giue money for them, but some menne
also for a litle money to lake theim : the fairest ware first solde, and with the prices of theim
brouf'ht into the commune Treasonrie, ware the fowler bestowed. Ilerodote writeth that he
heard by rea])orte, that the Ilcneti (a people on the bordre of Italie towarde Illiria) ware
wontc to vsc this maner. Whcrvpon Sabellicus takyng an occasion, writeth in this maner.
Whether there ware suchc a mancr vsed emong that people (saieth he) or not, I haue litle
more certainiie to laie for my self then Ilerodote had. But thus muchc am I able to saic :
that in Venice (acitie of famous worthines, and whose power is well knowen at this dale, to
be grcate, bothe by Sea and by lande) suche maner as 1 shall sale, was somctyme vsed. There
was in the Citic of Venice, a place dedicate, as ye would saie to our Ladie of Pietie. Before
whose doores it happened a child or twainc, begotten by a skapc (whiche either for shame
or nccessitie could finde no mother, or for the nombrc of partcners, no one propre father) to
bee laide. And when by the good Citezeins suche tendrencs had been shewed to two, or thre,
as the mothers loked for, and manhode (to saie the truthe) doth require : the dore of pitic
became so fruictfull a mother, that she had not now one or twoo in a yerc, but three or fower
in a quarter. Whiche thyng when the gouernours of the citic perceiued, thei toke ordre by
commune consente, that frd thens foorthe suche women children onely, as should fortune so
to bee ofTred to Pietie, should bee nourisshed at the commune charge of the citie, & none
other. And for those acordyngly, thei ordained a place wher thei ware brought vp, hanllv
kepte in, anddiuersly enstructed acordyng to their giftes of wittc and capacitie, vntill thei
ware mariage able. At the whiche tyme, she that had beautic and good qualities bothe,
found those a suilicient dowric to purchase her choyse of husbandcs. And she that hadde
but beautie alone, thoughe her qualities ware not so excellele, yet for her honestic that be-
side forth was singuler in theim all, foundc that beautic and honestie could not be vnmaried.
These therefore ware not permitted to euery mannes choise, but graunted to suche as ware
thoughte menne worthie of suche women. If there ware any that lacked the grace of bean-
tie, yet if she ware wittie, and cndewed with qualities (together with her honestie) a small
dowrie purchased her a husbad in good time. But if there ware any in who there happened
neither commendacion of beautie nor wit, but onely bare honestie : for her bestowyng was
there a meane found, by waie of dcuocio, as we terme it whe we signifie a respecte of holincs
ill the diede.

Menne vnmaried beyng in daungier vpon Sea or on Lande, or beyng sore distil scd with
sickenes, makyng a vowe for the recouerie of healthe, where vnto thei holde them sclues
bounden in conscience (if it fortuned theim at that tyme to be deliuered) for satisfactiu of
their vowe in that case not vprightly perfourmed, vsed to take for their wiues, suche of
the simplest as other had left. So that in processe thei alwaie founde husbandes, and the
commune wealthe a diminishyng of charge.

Another Lawe of the Babilonians there was, more worthie of memorie a grcate deale, for
that it imported more weight. And that was this. Thei had fro their beginnyng no Phisicens
emong theim, but it was enacted by the consente of the Realme, that who so was diseased of
any malady, should comon with other that had bene healed of the like afore. And acordyng
to their counsaille, practise vpon himself. But he that vsed or attempted any other waie, to
be punished for it. Other write that the sicke ware brought out into the Marquct place,

S 9 where

^"■m

310

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Asle.

ii'i

f!'

t :i '■■■■■

1:11 f¥ ■'■>".•

where suchc as had bene dcliuerctl of fhe like grief afore : ware boimdc by the lawe, to go
fro pcrsone to persone, and shewe theim by what meanes thei Iiad bene remedied.

Thei bcwrie their dead in Honie, and oliaerue the same maner of monrnynp; that the Efjip-
lians do. If any man haue medled with his wife in the nightc, neither of theiin bothe
toccheth any thyng the next mornyng, before thei be washed :

There was in Babilon a Temple dedicate to Venus, Sc it hath bene the maner in tvme
paste, 'hat when their came any straungcr to visite this Temple, all the women of Rabilon
should come vnto him or them, with greate solempnitie and fresshcly appareiled, euery one
hauing a garlande on her heade, with some seueralle knowledge of distinction one fro an-
other, and oflre their seruice to the straungier. And looke whom he liked, he must laie donne
in her lappe, suche some of money as pleased him. That done thei bothe withdrew thcm-
scUies fro the icnple a greate distaunce, and laie together. That moiioy was consecrate
to Venus.

There ware certein kindredes cmong theim, that lined with none other thyng but fisshe
dried against the Sonne, and brused in a Mortare, and so laied vp till niede ware. And then
did thei mingle it, and kneadc it with water into a mantr of paaste, and so baked it, & eatc
it. There ware thre sortes of mcnne that bare rule and office emong them. The king, the
nobles with the Senioura, and those that had serued in the warre."* and ware now exempte.
Thei had also menne skilfull in the secretes of nature, whiche thei calle Magi, and Chaldei,
suche as ware the priestes of Egipte, institute to attcnde vpon the seruice of their Goddes.
These men all their life dales, liued in the loue of wisedome, & were connyng in the cours
of the Sterres. And sometyme by foretokenyng of birdes flight, and somtyme by power
of holy verses and nombres, tourned awaie the euilles fro menne, and benefited the with
thinges that ware good, Thei could cxpoundc Dreames, and declare the signilicacions of
vncouth wondres. So that men ware certein of suche successe, as thei had foreshewed. Thei
wente not into strange scholes to learne their knowledge, as the Grecians doe, but learned
the science of these thynges at their fathers hades, as heirtage from one gencracion to an-
other, euen from their childhode at home in their houses. Whereby it came to passe that
beyng sokingly learned, it was bothe the more groundediv learned, and also without tedi-
ousncs. Thei had one vniforme and constaunt waie of teaching, and one constantnes of doc-
trine, not waueryng and almoste contrary to it self, as the doctrine of the Greekes: where
cchc Philosc ])Iier almoste had his waie, and iudgemente, of the principles and cau.^es of
thynges. But these menne agre al in one, that the worlde is eternall and euerlastyng, with
out bcgynnyng and without ende. And that the ordre of the whole, was disposed by the
prouidencc of the highest. The bodies aboue to haue their course, not at all aduentures and
without rule, but by an inuiolable lawe of God, acordyng to his ordenaunce and will moste
certein. Thei haue learned by long markyngand notyng of thynges tyme out of mynde,
one aftre another : how by the course of the Starres, to prognostique, that is to foreshewe
vnto men, many thynges to come. Thei holde that of all other Sterres, the planetes are
strongest of Influence, namely Saturnus. To the sonne thei attribute brightnes and vcrtue
of life. Mars, lupiter. Mercuric, and Venus, thei obserue mosto (for that thei haue a course
propre by themsehies) as interpretours of the mindes of the goddes to foresignifie thinges
vnto men. Which opinion is so grounded in them, that they haue called all those foure pla-
netes, by the one name of Mercuriiis. as ye woulde sayc commune currours or messengers
Thei also do warne menne of many thinges, bothe hurtefull and avaiieable: by the marking,
and knowledge of winde and weatiier, of raine and droughte, of biasing sterre'^, of the
eclipses of the Sonne and Monc, of earthquakes, and manye suche like.

Furthermore thei ymagine in the firmament other sterres, subiecte in influence vnto
these former, wherof some are in the hauife hcauen continually in our sighfe, and some in
the other hauife continually oute of our sight. .\nd as the Egiptiens haue feigned thent
selues xii. goddes, so likewyse haue thei. To euerie of fhe whiche they referre one moneth,
and one signe of the Zodiaque. Thei haue prophccied vnto kingcs, many aduentures. As
vnto Alexandre victory, when he made his e.xploictc towarde Darius. Likewise to Hireha-

nour

!:!.;iii

m It? I

Asie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES

311

lltO

ill
lein
.>th.

As
ha-
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noiir and Scleucus, and other the siicccssoiirs of Alexandre, prophccied thei many tliingcji ;
As also to the Romaines, which had most sure fliiccesse. Thei make compte also of. xxiiij,
other starrcs ; without, and beside the waic of the zodiaque, xii. towarde the Northc, and
ilic rcsidew towarde the Southe. Of the whichc, so many as appiere in sight, they iudgc
to apperteigne to the quicke, and tlie other to the dead. These troublesome mascs haue tliei
broughte into the worldc more then enoughe, beside the accompte that thei make of their
obseruacions, and dcuinacios from their bcginninge to Alexandres time ; iionibringe them
thre thousandc and fourty yercs (a shamefull lie) excopte thei will cntrepretc their ycrcs
by the Mone, as the Egiptians doe, comptinge eucry moncthe for a yere.

1 The iiii. Chapiter.
f Of lewry, and of the life, mancrs, and Lawcs of the Icwes.

PAlestina, whiche also is named hidca, beinge a seucralle prouince of Siria, lieth bctwixfc
Arabia Petrca, and the countrie Coclosiria. So bordering vpon the Egiptian sea on the West,
and vpon the floude lordan on the Easte, that the one with his wanes wassheth his clieues,
and the other sometime with his streame ouerfloweth his banckes.

The Bible, and lasephus by ensample therof calleth this londe Cananca : a countrie rc-
iioumed for manifolde substaunce. Fertile of soyle, well watered with riuers, and springes,
and rich with precious balme. Lienge in the nauelle of the world, that it neither might be
broyled with hcate, ne frosen with colde. By the reason of the which mildenes of aier, it
was iudged by the Israelites or Hebrues, (and rightlye so Judged) to be the country that God
promised vnto Abraham, Isaac, and lacob, flowinge in aboundaunce of milkc and honie.
Vpon the hope of enioyinge of this londe, folowed they Moses oute of Egipte fortye yercs
wandering in Campc. And l)cfore thei ware broughte into Cananea by losua, his substitute,
oucrcame with strong hande, one and thirty kinges.

This is the people that onely of all other may chalengc the honour of auncientie. This
is the people alone ^ mightc haue glorified in the wisedome, and vnmedlcd puritie of Lan-
guage, as beinge of all other the (irste. This is the people that was mother of lettres, and
sciences. Amonge these remained the knowledge of the onely and cuerliuinge God, and
the certeintie of the religion that was pleasaunte in his cics. Among these was the know-
ledge, and foreknowledge of al, sauinge that Helas, they knewc not the visitour of their
wealthe, and the ende of their wo, Icsus the sauionre of all that wouldc knowe him, and
sieke life in his deathe. But him whome thei knew not, when by reason thei should : him
shal thei yet ones knowe in time when the father woiilde.

The Israelites, the Hebrues or the lewcs (for all in efTccte soundeth one people) line aftre
the rule of the lawes, whichc Moses their viorthy duke, and dcuine chiefteine, declared vnto
theim. Withoute the whiche also or anye other written, thei lined holily, hundred of yeares
before : atteiningc to the truthes hidden from other, by a singuler gifte aboue other. That
Philosophre of Philosophers, and deuine of dcuines, Moses the merueilous, waicnge in his
insight, y no multitude assembled, coulde be gouerned to continuauncc without ordres ol
cquitie, and lawes : when with rewardes to the good, and reuenge vpon the cuill, he had
siifliciently exhorted, and trained his people to the desire of vertue, and p hate of the con-
trarie: at the last beside the two tables recciued in the mounte Sinah, added ordres of disci-
pline, and ciuile gouernaunce, full of all goodlines and equitie. Whichc losephus, the
Icwe, (a manne of greate knowledge, and eloquence, aswel in the Hebrewe, his natural
togue, as in the Grieke, amonge whome he lined in notable fame not a fewe yeres) hath
gathered, and framed into one seuerall treatise. Out of the which, because I rather fansie,
if I maye with like commoditie, to folowe the founteines of the first Authours, then the
brokes of abredgers, which often bring with them much puddle : I haue here translated, and
annexed to the ende of this booke, those ordres of the lewes commune welthe, sedyng the
for the reste to the Bible. And yet notwithstanding, loke what I foude in this Abredgcr,
neither mcncioned in the bible, nor in that treatise, the same thus ordrely folowcth.

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

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The heathen writers, and the Christianes, do muche difFre concerninge the lewes, and
Moyses their chiefteine. For Cornelius the stylle, in his firste booke of his yerely ex-
ploictes, called in Latine Annales, dothe not ascribe their departure oute of Egipte to the
power and comaiidement of God : but vnto necessitie, & cOstrainte, with these wordes :

A great skuruines, and an yche saieth he, 'jeinge risen throughe oute Egipte, Bocchoris,
the king sekynge remedye in the Temple of lupiter Hammon, was willed by responcion to
dense his kingdome: And to sende awaye thatkinde of people whom the goddes hated (he
meaneth the lewes) into some other c5trey. The whiche when he had done, and they (as
the poompe of al skuruines, not knowing wher to become) laye cowring vndre hedges, and
Inisshes, in places desert, and many of them dropped away for sorowe and disease : Moyses
(whiche also was one of the outecastes saieth he) counselled them not to sitte ther, awayt-
inge aftre the helpe of God or of man, whiche thci ware not like to haue : but to folowe him
as their capteine, and lodcsman, and committe them selues vnto his gouernaunce. And that
hervnto thei all agreinge, at wilde aduentures, withoute knowing what thei did, tooke their
iorney. In the which thei ware sore troubled, and harde bcstadde, for lacke of water. In
this distresse, whe thei ware now ready to lye them downe, & die for thirst, Moyses espienge
a great heard of wilde Chamelles comming fro their fiedinge, and going into woddie place
ther beside, folowed them. And iudginge the place not to be without watre, for that he
sawe it fresshe and grene, digged and founde plenty of watre. Wherwith when thei had re-
leued the selues, thei passed on. vi. dales iourney: and so exployted that the seuenth daye
thei had beaten out all the enhabitauntes of the contry, where thei builte their Citie, & their
temple. Moyses then to the entent he might satle the peoples hartes towarde him for euer :
deuised them newe ordres, and ceremonies cleane contrary to all other nacions. For (saieth
Cornelius) Lookc what so euer is holy amonge vs, the same is amonge them the contrary. And
what so euer to vs is vnlawfulle, that same is compted lawefuU amonge theim. The ymage
of the beaste that shewed them the waye to the waters, and the ende of their wanderinge :
did thei set vp in their chambres, and oflTre vnto it a rambe, in the despight of lupiter Ham-
mo, whom we worship in the fourme of a Rambe. And because the Egiptians worshippe
their goddesse Apis in the fourme of a cowe, therfore thei vse to slea also in sacrifice a cowe.
Swines flesshe thei eate none, for that thei holde opinion that this kynde of beaste, of it selfe
beinge disposed to be skoruie, mighte be occasion againe to enfecte them of newe. The se-
uenth daye thei make holy day. That is to say spende awaie in ydlenes and rest : for that
on the seuenth daye, they founde reste of theyr wandering, and misery. And when they
had caughte a sauour in this holye daye loytering: it came to passe in processe of tyme, that
thei made a longe holydaye also of the whole seuenth yere : But other holde opinion that
thei do obserue suche maner of holye dales, in the honour of Saturne the god of fasting and
famine : with whose whippe thei are lothe againe to be punisshed. Their breade is vnleauened.
These ceremonies and deuises, by what meanes so euer thei ware brought in amonge them,
thei do stifTely defende. As thei are naturally giuen, to be stifle in beliefe, and depe in loue
with their owne althoughe towarde al other thei be most hatefull enemies. So that thei nei-
ther will eate ne drincke with them : no nor lye in the chambre that a straunger of a nothcr
nacion lyeth in. A people altogether giuen vnto leachery, and yet absteining from the en-
brasinges of the straunger. Emonge them selues thei iudge nothinge vnlawfull. Thei de-
uised to roude of the foreskinne of their yarde (whiche we call circumcision) because thei
would haue a notable knowledge betwene the, and other nacions. And the firste lesson thei
teache vnto their children, is to despise the goddes. The soules of those ^ die in tormentes,
or in warre, thei iudge to be immortall. A continuall feare haue thei, & a regard of heauen
and helle. And where the Egiptians honour many similitudes and Images of beastes, and
other creatures, whiche thei make them selues: the lewes onely doe honour with their spirite
and minde, and conceiue in their vndrestandyng, but one onely Godheade. ludging all
other that worshippe the Images of creatures, or of manne : to bee vngodlic and wicked.
These and many other thinges doth Cornelius write, and Trogus also in his. xxxvi. booke.
There ware amonge the lewes thrc seuerallc sectes, difl'eryng in life from the reast of the

people.

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TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

313

people. The Phariseis, tlie Saddiiceis and the Esseis. The Phariseis vsed a certeine rough
solempncsse of appareille, and a very skante fare : determinyng the Tradlcions of Moyses,
by ccrtein ordenaunccs and decrees, whiche thei themsclues sette vp. Thei caried vpon their
foreheades, and on their lefte armes, pretie billettes of Paper, facioned for the place, wherein
ware written the tenne prcceptes of y two Tables. And this did thei for that the Lorde saieth :
And these shall thou haue (meanyng the commaundementes) as a reitiembraunce haging
before thine eyes, and alwaie ready at thine hande. These ware called their Philacteries, of
these two woordcs Phylexi and Thorat, wherof the former signifieth to Kiepe, and the other,
the Lawe. These menne also hauyng vppon their skirtes muche broder gardes then other,
stacke them full of Thornes, whiche beatyng and prickyng them on the hieles as thei wente,
might putte them in remembraunce of the comaundemetes of God. Thei attributed all
thynges vnto God, and destenie, whiche thei call Emarmeni. Neuertheles thei graunted,
that it laie muche in the free choise of manne : either to doe, or not to doe the thinges that
are iust and godlie, but yet destenie to heipe in al cases. Whiche destenie thei thought to
depende of the influence of the bodies aboue. Looke what their superiours and Elders had
saied, or answered to any demaunde, thei neuer woulde contrarie it. Thei belieued that
GOD should come to Judge the woride, and that all soules ware euerlastyng. And as for
the soules of the good, thei helde opinion, that thei passed from one bodie to another, vntill
the daie of the generall resurrection. But the soules of the wicked, to be plonged into
euerlasting prison &c dogeo. The name of Pharisei was giue vnto them for that thei ware
disguised fro y comune maner of other, as ye would sale, Sequestred.

The Sadduccis denied that there was any destenie, but that God was the beholder of all,
and that it laie in the choise of manne, to doe well or euill. And as for ioye or sorowe that
the soule should suflre aftre this life, thei denied. Neither belieued thei any resurrection :
because thei thoughte the soule died with the bodie. Thei would not belieue that there ware
any spirites, good or bad. Neither would thei receiue more of the Bible, then the fiue
bookes of Moses, Thei ware sterne men, and vncompaignable : not so muche as ones
kcpyng felowshippe one with another. For the whichs sterne.S8e, thei named theim selues
Sadducei.s that is to saie iusfe menne.

The Esseis ware in all pointes verie like vnto our cloisterers, abhorryng mariage and the
companie of women. Not for that thei condempned Mariage, or the procreation of issue,
' ut for that thei iudged a manne ought to be ware of the intemperauncie of women. And that
no woman kept herself true to her husbade. Oh shameful opinion, and muche better to be
reported by the dead, then to be credited of the quicke, bee it neuer so true. Thei
possessed all thinges in commune. As for checkes or reuilinges, was to the muske and honie,
and slouenly vndaftinesse, a greate comelinesse. So that thei ware alwaie in a white surcote,
all was well Thei had no certein abiding in any one citie : but Celles ouer all, where so
cuer thei became. Before the risyng of the Sonne, thei spake nothyng that touched any
worldly affaire : but praied the sonne to rise. After whose vprijste thei laboured vntill eleuen
of the clocke. And then, washy ng firste their whole bodie in water : thei satte doune
together to meate, in solempne silence eucry manne. Swearing they compted forswear-
yng. Thei admitted no manne to their secte, vndre a yere of probation. And aftre what
time thei had rcceiued him : yet had thei two yeres more to prouc his maners and con-
dicions. Suche as thei tooke with a faulte, thei draue fro their copaignie. Enioyned by
the waie of penaunce, to go a grasing like a beast, vntill his dieng daie. When tenne ware
sette in a companie together, no one of them spake without the consete of the other nyne.
Thei would not spitte within the precincte of the compaignie emong theim, ne yeat on their
righte side. They kept the Sabboth with suche a precisenesse, that thei would not that daie,
ease nature of the belie burden. A^ndwhe vpon other dales, nature forced theim to thatease-
mente, thei caried with theim a litle spade of woode, wherewith in place moste secreate,
thei vsed to diggc a litle pit, to laie their bealie in. And in the time of doyng, thei also
vsed a very greate circumspection, that their clothes laie close to the grounde roiinde aboute
theim, for offending (saied thei) of the Maiestie of God, Vpon whiche respecte, thei also

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314

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Aste.

coiicrcd and bewried it, assonc as thei had done that nature required. Thei ware of verie
long life, by the reason of the vnifourine diete that thei vsed, alwaie aftrc one rate of fare :
whiche was onely the fruicte of their countrie Balnie. Thei occupied no money. If any
manne suft'ered for wel doyng, or a;* wrdgfully condcnipned, that thoughte thei the beste
kinde of death. Thei helde opinion that all soules ware made in the beginnyng, and put
in to bodies from tyme to tymc, as bodies did nicde them. And for the good soules beyng
rlddc of their bodies againe, thei saied there was a place appointed bevond the WeastOccean,
where thei take repose. But for the euill, thei appoincted places toward the East, as more
stormie colde & vnpleasante. Ther ware amoge them that prophecied thinges. Some of
them gaue themselues to wedlocke : least ii'thei should be of the oppinion that men oughte
to absteinevttrely from women, mankinde should fade, and in processe be extincte, yeat vsed
thei the compaignie of their wiues nothing at riote.

The lande of Siria ( whereof we haue named lewrie a parte) is at this dale enhabited of the
Grekes, called Griphoncs, of the lacobites, Nes^prians, Sarracenes, and of two Christian
nations, the Sirians and Marouines. The Sirias vse to sale Masse, aftre the mancr of the
Grekes : and for a space ware subiecte to the churche of Rome.

The Marouines agre in opinion with the lacobites. Their lettres and tongue are al one
with the Arabique. These Christianes dwelle at the Mounte Libanus. The Sarracenes,
whiche dwelle aboute lerusale (a people valeaut in warre) delighte muche in housbandrie
and tilthc. But contrary wise, thei that enhabite Siria, in that poincte are nothing worth.
The Marouines are feawe in nombrc, but of all other thei are the hardieste.

•^ 1 The. V. Chapitre.

S. Of Medi.% and the maners of the Medes.

MEdia (a countrie of Asia) as Solinus writeth, toke the name of one Medus, the sonne of
Medea & Egeus, kyng of Athencs. Of who the people ware also called Medes. But
losephus afiirmeth that it was so named of Medius, the sone of lapheth. This countrie, as it
is sene in Ptolomie, hath on the Northe, the sea named Hircanum, on the West Armenia,
and Assiria, on the Southe Persie, and on theast Ilircania and Parthia. Sauing that betwixte
Parthia and it, there ronneth a mountcigne, that seperateth their frontiers. The feactes that
thei mooste exercise, are shootyng and ridyng. Wherein thei be righte experte, & almoste
(for those quartres) without matche or felowe. It hathe bene there a longe continued and
auiiciente custome, to honour their kyngcs like goddes. The rounde cappe, whiche thei cal
Tiara: and their long slieued garmentes, passed from them to the Persians, together with
the Empire. It was a pcculier maner vsed of the Kynges of the Medes, to haue many wiues.
Which thyng was aftrewarde also taken by of the communes: so that at lengthe it was thought
vnmiete to haue fcawer wiues then scuen. It was also a goodlie thyng for a woman to haue
many husbandes : and to be without (iue at ones, was compted a miserable state. The
Medes entre leagues and couenauntes, both aftre the maner of the Grekes, and also with
drawing bloud vpo some parte of the arme aboute the shouidre, one of another, whiche thei
vse to licke eche of others body. All that parte of the coutrey that lieth towarde the
Northe, is barrein and vnfruictefulle. Wherefore thei vse to make store of their fruicte, and
to drie them, and so to worke them into a masse or lumjie for their foode. Of rosted
Almondes thei make their breade : and their wine of the rootes of certain herbes. Thei cate
great plentie of the fleshe of wilde beastes.

5f The. vi. Chapitre.

% Of Parthia, and the maner of the Parthians.

A Certeine nombre of Outlawes and Banisshed menne, called Parthic, gaiie name to this
Countrie ; Aftre suche time .ns by train, and stealth thei had gotten it. On the Southe it
hath Carmania, on the North Hircanum, on the Weast the Meades, and on the Easte the

country

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TRAFnQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

315

country of Arabia. The countrie is hilly, and full of woddes, and of a barreine soyle. And
a people which in the time of the Assiriens, and Medes, ware scante knowen, and litlc
CHticmed, In so moche that when ^ highe gouernaunce of the whole (whiche the Grekcs
call the Monarchic) was yeldcd into the hades of the Persians : thei ware made a bntin, as
a nombre of raskalles without name. Laste of all thei ware slaucs to the Macedonies. But
afterward in proccsse of time, suche was the valeautencs of this people, and such successc
had thei : that thei became lordes, not ouer their neighbours onely roundc aboute theim,
but also helde the Uomaincs (the conqucrours of the worldc) suche tacke, that in sondrie
warrcfl they gaue them great ouerthrowes, and notablye endamaged their power. Plinie
rcherseth. xiiii. kingdomes of the Parthians. Trogus callcth them Emperours of the East
part of the worlde. Astlioughe they, and the Romaines holding the Weste, had deuidcd the
whole betwixte them.

Aftrc the decaye of the Monarchic of the Macedonians, this people was ruled by kinges.
Whome generally by the name of th° first king, thei termed Arsaces. Nexte vnto the
kinges maiestie, the communaitie bare the swaye. Oute of whome they chase bothe their
Capteignes for the warres, & their gouernours for the peace time. Their language is a
spcache mixte of the Scithians, & Medes. Their apparcil at the firste, was aftre their facion
vnlike to all other. But when thei grewe vnto power, louse and large, & so thinne : that
a man mighte see thoroughe it, aftre the facion of the Medes. Their maner of weapon, &
armour, was the same that the Scithians vsed. But their armies ware altogether almoste of
slaues and bondemen, contrary to the maner of other peoples. And for that no manne hath
aucthoritie amonge them to giue fredome vnto anye of this bonde ofspring : The nombre
of them by continuauce, came vnto a greate multitude. These do thei bringe vp, and make
of as decrly, as thei do of their owne children : teachinge them to ride, to shote, to throwe
the darte, and suche like feates, with great diligence, and handsomenes. Eche communer-
thcr, acording to his substaunce, findeth a greate nombre of these to seme the kinge on
horsebacke, in all warres. So that at what time Anthonie the Romaine made warre vpon
the Parthians, wher thei mette him with fyftie thousande horsemen : there ware of the whole
nombre but eyghte hundred frc borne. They are not skylfull to fighte it oute at hande
stripes, ne yeat in the maner of besieging or assaulting : but all together aftre the maner of
skirmisshe, as thei spie tlieir aduantage. Thei vse no trompet for their warninges or onsettes
but a dromme : neither are thei able to endure longe in their fighte. For yf they ware so
good in continuaunce, as thei be violente at a brunte : ther ware no multitude able to sus-
teine their force. For the moste parte thei breake of, when the skirmishe is euen at the
whottest. And within a while aftre thei feigne a flight, wher with thei beginnc againe a
newe onsette. So when thou thinckest thy selfe mooste sure of the honour of the fielde, the
arte thou at the poinct of the hardest hasarde. Their horsmen vse armour of mayle entre-
laccd with fethers : bothe for their owne defence, & the defence also of their horses. In
times passed thei occupied no golde ne siluer, but only in their armour, Vpon regarde of
rhaunge in their luste, thei mary echeone many wiues, and yet punishe thei none offece so
greuously as adultery. For the auoyding whereof, thei doe not onely forbidde their women
by generall restrainte from all feastcs, and banckettinges of men : but also from the sighte
ol' them. Some neuerthelesse do wrighte, amonge the whiche Strabo is one, that thei vse to
giue their wiues sometime to their friendes, as in y waye of mariage, that thei maye so haue
issue. Thei eate none other fleshe but suche as thei kylle at the chace. Thei be euer on
horsebacke, whether thei go to the fielde or the banket, to bye, to selle, to comune of aughte
with their friende, or to do any thing that is to be done. Yea thei dispatche al commune and
priuate affaires, sittingc on horsebacke. And this is to be vnderstonden of the fre borne :
for the slaues are aiwaics on foote. Their buriall for all menne (sauinge the kinge) is the
dogges bealy, and the kytes But when thei or suche like haue eaten o?, the fleshe, the
toucr thei the bare bones with earth. Thei haue great regarde vnto their goddes, & the
worship due vnto them. Thei are men of a proude nature, busie medlers, and sedicious,
craftie, decciptfull, malaparte, and vnshamcfaccd : for thei holdc opinion that it becometh

the

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316

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Asie.

the man aswell to be sterne, as the woman to be milde. Thai be eiicr in some stirre, cither
with their neighbours, or elles anionge them seines. Men of fewc wordcs, and readier to
doe, then to saye. And therefore wliether it go with them or against the, thei lappc it vp
in scilence. Thci obey not their siiperiours for any rcncrence, but for feare. Altogether
giuen to lechery, and yet skante in fiedinge. No farther trcwe of worde or promessc, then
semeth them expediente for their owne behoue.

f The. vii. Chapiter.

f Of Persia, and the maners and ordinaunces of the Persians.

PErsia (a countrie of the Easte) was so called of Persius the Sonne of Jupiter and Danae.
Of whome the chiefe citie of the kingedome also, was named Persepolis, whiche in Englishc
soudcth Perseboroughe (or as we corruptly terme it ) Perseburie, and the whole nacio Per-
siens. This countrie as Ptolemie writeth in his fiueth booke, hath on the Northe, Media :
on the West, Susiana : on the Easte, the two Carmaniaes : and on the Southc, an inshot of
the Sea, called the Bosome of Parthia. The famous cities thereof, were Axiama Persepolis
and Diospolis. By the name of Inpiter thei vnderstode the whole heauen. Thei chiefely
honour the Sonne, whom thei calle Mitra. Thei worship also the Mone, the planet Venus,
the fyre, the earthe, the water, and the windes. Thei neither haue aultare nor temple, nor
ymage, but celebrate their deuine scruice vndre the open heauen vpon some highe place
for that purpose appoincted. In doinge sacrifice thei haue no farther rcspecte, but to take
awaye the life from the beaste. As hauing opinion, that forasmuche as the goddes be spi-
rites, thci delighte in nothinge but the spiritual parte, the soule. Before they slea it, thei
set it aparte by them, with a corone vpon the heade, and heape vppon it many bittre ban-
ninges and curses. Some of the nacion notwithstandinge, when thei haue slaine the beaste :
vse to lay parte of the offalle in the fire.

When thei sacrifie vnto the fire, they timbre vp drie slickes together, cleane without
pille or barcke. And after what time thei haue powrcd on neates tallowe, and oyle, thei
kindle it. Not blowing with blaste of blowesse or mouthe : but makinge winde as it ware
with a ventile, or trenchour, or suche like ihinge. For yf any manne either blowe into it,
or caste in any deade thing, or any durte, or puddle, it is deathe to the doer. The Persians
beare suche reuerence to their floudes, that thei neither wasshe, pysse, nor throwe deade
carcase into them. No not so moche as spitte into the : But very reuerentlye honour their
water after this maner. Comminge to lake, mere, floude, ponde, or springe : thei trenche
out a litle diche, and ther cut thei the throte of the sacryfice. Being well ware, that no
(Iroppe of blode sj)rinckle into the water by. As thoughe all water ware polluted and vn-
halowed ouer all : yf that should happen. That done their Magi (that is to say men skvl-
ful in ^ secretes of nature) layeng the flesh vppon a heape of Myrtns, or Laurel le, and
tymbryng smalle wandes about, sette fyre thereon & brenne yt. And pronouncyng certein
curses, they myngle oyle, mylke, and bony together, and sprinkle into the fyre. But these
cursingcs make they not against the fyre ne water. But against the earthe, a greate whyle
toguether : holding in their hande a boudle of smalle myrte wandes. Their kinges reigne
by successio of one kindred or stocke. To whom who so obeyeth not, hath his heade &
armes striken of: and so wythout buriall is throwe out for karreine. Policritus slieweth that
euery king of the Persians, buyldeth his howse vpo a greate hille : and ther hourdeth vp all
the threasure, tribute, & ta\e that he receyueth of the people : to be a recorde after his
deathe how good a husbonde he hath bene for y coniune wealthe. Suche of the subiectes
as dwelle vpon the sea coast, are taxed to paie money. But those that inhabite toward the
inydde londe : suche comodities as the quartre beareth or hath wher they dwelle. As apo-
thecary driiggues, woolle, coulours, & suche like and cateille accordingly. He is not per-
mitted any one cause, to putte any man to death. Neither is it lawfull for any other of the
Persians to execute any thyng against any of his house or stock, that maie sieme in any
wyse crueile. Euery one of them marie many wiues : & holde many cocubines also beside,
for the encrease of issue.

The

♦♦

'1.'^

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THAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

31T

then

III nny
beside.

The

The king Proclarmrth rewarde vnto him, that within one yere begctteth most children.
Fine yere aftre thei are begotten, thei come not in the fathers sight, by a certein ordcnaunce
vsed emong theim : but are broughte vp con'i'nially rr'nong the women. To the cnde that
if the childc fortune to dye in the time of his infancie, their fathers grief maie be the lesse.
Thei vse not to marie but in one i;. me of the yere : toward midde Marche. The bride-
grome eatcth to his supper, an apple of that countrcy, or a litle of the maribone of a Cha-
mel : and so without any farther banquetting gocth to bedde. From fiue yercs olde, to
twentie and fowre, thei learne to ride, to throwe the Darte, to shoote, and chiefly to haue a
tongue voide of all vntruthe. For their noiirituryng and trainyng in good maners, thei haue
appoincted theim Masters of grcate sobrcnes and vertue, that teache them dicties, and
pretie songes, conteinyng eitiier the praises of their Goddes, or of some worthy Princes.
Whiche sometime thei sing, and sometyme recite without note : that so thei mighte iearne
to confourme their Hues vnto theirs, whose praises thei sieme themselues to allowc. To this
lesson assemble thei alwaie together, at the calle of a Trompette. And as thei growe into
yercs, an accompt is required of the how well thei haue borne awaie the lessons of their
childhode. Thei vse to ronne the race, & to course, bothe on horsebacke and on foote :
at the leadyng of some noble mannes sonne, chosen for the nones. The field for the race,
is at least thre mile and thre quarters longe. And to the ende that heate or colde should
the lesse trouble them, thei vse to wade ouer brookes, and swimme ouer riuers, & so to
rowme and to hunte the fieldes, and to eate & drinke in their armour, and wette clothes.
The friiyes that thei eate are akecornes, wild Peares, and the fruicte of the Terebinthine tree.
But their daiely foode aftre their ronnyng, and other exercises of the bodie : is hard Bis-
quette, or a like crustie breade, Hortechocques, Gromelle sede, a litle roste flesshe or sodden,
whether thei lust : and faire water their drincke. Their maner of Huntyng, is with the
bowe, or the Darte on horsebacke. Thei are good also in the slynge. In the forenoone
thei plaiite and grafle, digge vp settes, stubbe vp rootes, make their owne armour, or fisshe
and foule, with the Angle or nettc. Their children are decked with garnishynges of golde.
And their chief iuelle is the precious stone Piropus, whiche thei haue in suche price, that
it maie come vppon no deade corps. And that honour giue thei also to the fire, for the
rcuerence thoi beare there vnto. From twentie, till fiuetie : thei folowe the warres. As for
byeng and sellyng, or any kinde of Lawe prattle, thei vse not. Thei cary in their warres,
a kinde of shieldes facioned like a losenge, a quiure with shaftes, & a curtilace. On their
heades a copintancke, embatled aboute like a turrette, and a brestplate emboussed, of skaled
woorke. The princes and menne of honour did weare a treble Anaxirides, facioned muche
like a coate armour, and a long coate doune to the knees, with hangyng slieues acordyng.
The outside colours, but the lining white. In Somer thei weare purple, and in Wintre
Medleis. The abillementes of their heades, are muche like the frontlettes that their Magj
doe weare. The comune people are double coated doune to the midde Leggue, and haue
about their hcade a greate rolle of Sendalle. Their beddes and their drinking vcssell, are
garnished with gold. Whe thei haue matier of moste importaunce to common of, thei
debate and cuclude in the middes of their cuppes : thinkyng it muche surer that is so deter-
mined, then aftre any other sobrer sorte. Acqueintaunce mieting of equall degre, griete
one another with a kisse. But the inferiour mietyng with his bettre, enclineth his bodie
foreward with lowe reuerence. Thei bewrie their corpses in the grounde, cearyng them all
ouer with waxe. Their Magicens thei leaue vnbewried, for the foules to disspetche. The
chiidreii there, by an ordenaunce no where elles vsed : doe carnally knowe their mothers.
Thus haue ye heard what the maners of the Persians ware sometyme.

Herodotus reherseth certeine other, th- Ir facions not vttrely vnworthe the telly nge. That
thei compted it vilanie to laughe, or to spitte before the kyng. Thei thought it fondenes in
the Grekes, worthie to be laughed at, to imagine goddes to be sprong vp of menne. What
so cuer was dishoneste to be done, that thoughte thei not honest to be spoke. To be in
debt was muche dishonour, but of all thinges moste vile for to lie. Thei vse not to bewrie
their deade bodies, vntill thei haue bene tome with dogges, or with fowles. And the

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

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parentcs brought lo iiiedinessc, vsc tlierc to make chcuisauncc of their doughters bodies,
whiche cmong no nation dies was cucr allowed. Ilowbeit some holde opinion, that it was
also the propretie of the Babilonians. The Persians at this dale, bcynge subdued of the
Saracenes, and bewitched with Mahonietes brainsirkc wickcdnesse, are cicanc out of memo-
rie. A people in those daies, whiche through their grcate hardinc^sse and force, ware of long
tyme Lordes of the Eastc parte of the worlde. But now tombled cleane from their aun-
cicnte renowmc, and bewried in dishonour.

1 The. viij. Chapitre.

f Of Ynde, and the vncouthc trades and maners of life of the people therein.

YNde, a Countrie also of the Easte, and the closyng vp of Asia toward that qunrtre : is
saied to be of suche a maigne syse, that it maic be cdparcd with the thirde parte of the
whole earth. Pomponius writeth, that aloge the shore, it is fowrtie daies sailyng the nighte
also comprised therein.

It tooke the name of the floude called Indus, whiche closcth vp the lande on the Weste
side. Beginnyng at the Southe sea, it strctcheth to J Sonne risynge : And Northward to
the mout Caucasus. There arc in it many greate peoples : and Tounes and Cities so thicke,
that some haue reported them in nombre iiue thousaiide. And to saie truthe, it oughte not
to sieme greatly straunge vnto folkes, though the coutrie be reported to haue suche a nom-
bre of Tounes, or to be so populous : considcryng that of all other, the Yndiens alone,
neuer discharged theim selues of any ouerplus of issue, as other haue done : but alwaie
kepte their owne oflspryng at home in their owne countrie. Their principall floudcs are
Ganges, Indus, and H\panis. But Ganges farrc passeth in greatnes the other twaine. This
lande by the benefite of the battling breathe of the gotle Wcast winde, reapeth come twise
in the yere. And other Wintre hath it none, but the bittre blastcs of Theasterly windes
called Etesiaj. Tiici lacke wine, and yet some men rcporte, that in the quartre called Mu-
sica, there groweth a good wine grape. In the Southe parte thereof, groweth Nardus, Cin-
namomc, Peper and Calamus aromaticus : as doeth in Arabia and Acthiope. The wooddc
Ebenuin (whiche some suppose to be our Guayacnm) groweth there, and not elles where.
Likewise of the Popiniaye and the Vnicorne. As for precious stones, Beralle, Prasnes, Dia-
niantes, firie Carbuncles and Pearles of all sortes, be found there in greate plentic. Thci
haue twoo Sommcrs, softe pimpelyng windes, a milde aier, a rancke soile, and abundaunce
of watre. Diuerse of them therefore Hue an hundred & thirtie yeres. Namely emong the
Musicancs. And emong the Serites, yet somewhat longer.

All the Y'ndians generally, weare log heare : died either aftre a bright asshe coulour, or
dies an Orcngc tawnie. Their chief ieuelles, are of Pearle and precious stones. Their
appareillc is vcric diuers : and in I'ewe, one like another. Some go in Mantles of Wollen,
some of Llnncn some naked, some onely brieched to couuer the priuities, and some wrapped
aboute with pilles, and lithe barckes of trees. Thei are all by nature blacke of Jiewe : eue
so died in their mothers wobe acordyng to the disposicio of the fathers nature, whose siede
also is blacke : as like wise in the Aethiopians. Talie men and strongly made. Thei are
very spare fieders, namely when thei are in Campe. Neither ddighte thei in muche preasse.
Thei are as I saied, greate deckers and trimmers of them selues, haters of theft. Thei Hue
by lawc, but not written. Thei haue no knowledge of lettres, but administer altogether
without booke. And for ^ thei are voide of guile, and of very sobre diete : all thing pros-
pereth well with the. Thei drinke no wine, but when thei Sacrifie to their goddes. But
their drincke is a bruage that thei make sometyme of Rizc, soijietyme of Barlie. Their
meate for the mooste parte is soupynges made also of Rizc.

In their lawes, bargaines, and couenauntes, their simplicitie and true meanyng well ap-
peareth : for that thei neuer are muche contencious aboute the. Thei haue no Lawes con-
cernyng pledges or thynges committed to another mannes kiepyng. No witnessynges, no
handwritynges, no scalynges, ne suche like tokes of trecherie and vntrust : but without all

these.

-r^lht «'*'■*'

.jr«>

JCC-i'^

^S«V.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

919

these, thei triwte and be trustee!, thei bclicue and are belieiied, yea, thei ortentymes leaiie
their houses wide open without kepcr. Whiche truely are all greate signcs of a iuste and
vprighte dealyng cmong them. But this peraduenture can not scatle well with cucry mannes
I'ai.tasie: that thei should liuc cche manne apartc by himself, and eucry body to dine and
to suppc when he lust, and not all at an howre determined. For in dcde for the felowshippe
and ciuilitie, the contrary is more allowable. Thei commedc and occupie muchc as a com-
mune exercise, to rubbe their bodies : specially with skrapers made for the nones. Aftre
vvl)iche, thei smothe them sclues again with Ebenum, wherof I spake afore.

In their Toumbes, and Bewriallcs, very plaine and nothyng costlie : But in trimming and
arraieng of their bodies, to, to, gaude glorious. For there aboute thei neither spare gold,
ne precious stone ne any kinde of silkc that thei haue. Thei delighte muchc in garmentes
of white Sarcenet. And for that thei sette muche by beautie, thei cary aboute va.i t! i .i
phanclles to defende them fro the sonne, and Icauc nothyng vndone, lliat maketh for the
bcttre grace of their faces. Thei sette asmuche by truthe alone, as by all other venues
together.

Age hath there no prerogatiue, except thei winne it with their wiscdomc, and knowledge.
Thei haue many wiues, whiclie thei vse to buye of their parentes for a yoke of Oxen. Some
to serue them as their vndrelynges, and some for pleasure, and issue. Whiche male ne-
uerthelesse vse buttoke banquetyng abrode ( for any lawe or custome there is to restreine
theim) excepte their housebandes by fine force, can compelle them to kepe close.

No one emong the Yndians either sacrifieth coroned, ne oflreth odours, ne liquours. Thei
woundc not their Sacrifice in no maner of wise : but smore hym by stopping the breath.
Least thei should offre any mangled thing vnto God, but that that ware in euery parte whole.
He that is conuicte of false witnessyng, hath his fingres ciitte of by the toppe ioinctes. He
that hath taken a limme from any manne, suffreth not onely the like losse, but loseth also
his hande. But if any mil haue taken from an artificer, his hande, or his eye, it lieth hym
vpon his heade.

The kyng hath a garde of bought women : who take chardge of his bodie, and haue the
trimmyng and orderyng thereof, the residue of the armie, remainyng without the gates. If
the Kyng fortune to be droncken, it is not onely lawful! for any one of these women to slea
hym : but she shall also as in the waie of rewarde, be coupled in manage to the nexte king.
Whiche (as is saied) is one of his sonnes, that afore enioied the Croune. It is not lawfull
for the liing to slepe by daic time : and yet in the night tyme to auoide trecherie, he is
forced euery hourc to chauge his chambre. When he is not in campe, he ofte tymes cometh
abroade : bothe to giue sentence, and to heare matiers dependyng in question. And if it
be time of dale to trimme his bodie : he bothe heareth the pleaes, & is rubbed in the meane
season wiih the skrapers afore mencioned, by thre of his women. He cometh furthe also
to Sacrifices, and to hunting : Where he is accompaignied with a rable of women, in as good
ordre as ours ware wonte to be vpon Hocke Mondaie. His waie is ranged with ropes, and
his garde of menne abideth without. But if it fortune any to steale in, to the women
(whiche is contrary to their ordre & duetie) he loseth his heade for it. There go afore hym
Tabours and Belles. When he hunteth in places fensed aboute, two or thre armed women
stande preste, for his aide, and defence. But when he hunteth in open place, he is caried
vppon an Eliphante : & euen so sittyng on his backe shooteth, or throweth the darte at his
same. Some of his women ride vppon Horses, some vpon Elephantes. As likewise in the
warres, where thei fight with all kinde of weapons skilfully.

Suche menne also as haue gathered thinges into writynges, recorde : that the Yndians
worshippe as their goddes the father of raine lupiter : Ganges their floude, and the familiar
spirites of their countrie. And when their kyng washeth his heade, thei make solempnc
feast, and sende his highnes greate giftes, eche ma enuyenge other, who maye shewe hym
self moste riche, and magnificent.

The commune wealthe of the Yndians, was sometyme deuided into seuen states or de-
grees. The Sages (whiche other calle Philosophers) ware of the first ordre, or state: th«

T t 2 whiche

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Asie.

whiche although tliei ware in nombre feawer then any of the rest : yet ware thei in honour
and dignitic aboute the kyng, I'arrc abouc all other. These menne (priuiledged from all
busines) neither be troubled with office, ne be at any mannes commaundemcntc : But re-
ceiue of the communes suche thingcs as serue For the Sacriiices of their goddes, and are
requisite fur bewrialles. As though thei ware bothe well acqueinted, and beloued in heaue,
and knewe muche of the trade in helle. For this cause haue thei bothe giftes and honour
largely giuen the. And in very diede thei do muche good among the people. For in the
beginning of J- yere, assemblyng together, thei foreshewe of raine, of drouthe, of winde
and of sickenesse : and of suche like thynges as maie to profeight be foreknowen. For
aswell the kynge as the people, ones vndrestadyng their foresawes, and knowyng the cer-
teiiitie of their iudgementes by former experience : shone the euilles, and are preste to
attcnde vpon that, that is good. But if any of their said Sages shall fortune to erre in hia
foresight : other punishement hath he none, then for euer after to holde his peace.

The seconde ordre is of housebande menne, whiche beyng more in nombre then any of
the other states, and exempte fro the warres, and all other labour : bestowe their tyme onely
in housebandrie. No enemie spoileth the, none troubleth them ; but refraineth fro doing
them any hurte or hinderaunce, vpon respect of the profighte that redoundeth to the whole,
throughe their trauailles. So that thei, hauyng libertie without all feare to followe their
busines, are instrumetes and meanes of a blessed plenteousnesse, Thei with their wiues and
children, dwell alwaie in the countrie, without resortyng to the tounes or citie. Thei paie
rente to the Kyng (for all the whole Countrie is subiecte to their kyng) neither is it lawe-
full for any of the communes to occupie and possesse any grounde, without paieynge rente.
And the housebande men beside this rente, yeldc vnto the Kynges maiestie, a fiueth of their
fruictes yerely.

The thirde ordre standeth all by brieders and fieders, of all sortes, whiche like wise nei-
ther enhabite toune ne village : but with tenies, in the wilde fieldes. And these with hunt-
yng and foulyng in sondrie wise, so kiepe vndre the beastes and hurtefull foules : that
whear other wise the housebande menne should in siede tyme, and towarde harueste, be
muche acloyed and hyndered by the fowles, and theim selues alwaie by the beastes, the
countrie is quiete fro al suche annoyiice.

In the fowrthe ordre are Artificers, and handicraftesmen. Whiche are dcuided, some into
Smithes, some into Armourers, some for one purpose, some for another, as is expediente.
These doe not onely Hue rente free, but also haue a ccrtaine of graine allowed them at the
kinges allowaunce.

In the fiueth ordre are the menne of warre, a greate nombre daiely exercised in armes,
bothe on Horsebacke, on Elephantes, and on footc. And all their Elephantes, and horses
miete for their warres, are found of the kinges allowaunce.

The sixteth ordre is of Surueiours or Maisters of reporte, whiche haue the ouersighte of
all thynges that are done in the realme, and the charge to bryng reaporte vnto the kyng.

In the scuenth place, are thei that be Presidctes, and heades of the commune cousailles,
very fewe in nombre, but worthy me for their nobilitie and wisedome. Out of these are
chosen counsailours for the kynges Courtes, and officers to administre the commune wealth,
and to determine cotrouersies: yea, capitaines for the warres, and Princes of the realme.

The whole -t .^f of Ynde beyng deuided into these ordres or degrees : it is also ordeined,
that a man si' all not marie out of the ordre, wherin his callyng lieth, ne chaunge his trade.
For neither maie the sor.Idiour occupie housebandrie thoughe he woulde : ne the artificers
entremedle with the doctrine of the Sages.

There are also amonge the Yndians, persons of honour appointed to be as it ware Tutours
of straungiers, to see that no wronge be done them, to put ordre for -their kepyng, and
Phisicke, if any falle sicke. As also (if it fortune any of the to die) for the bewrieng of
theim, and to deliuer their goodes, and money to their nexte friendes.

All causes are broughte afore the iudges, who heare the parties, and punysshe the offenders
diligently. Thcr is no slauery amonge them. Yea^ thei haue a certaine ordinaunce, that

none

i*^'!l'^^

Jsle.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

none shnlbe slaue or bomle atnongc them, but nil frc, and of eqiialle aucthoritic and honour.
For thei holde opinion that who so acciistometh his selfe neither to be Lordc oner other, ne
to wrOge any bodie : 5' "la" ^^^^ prepared him selfe sauftic and ease what so eiier shall hap-
pen hyin by any aduenture. And a fonde thing ware it to make the lawes indifferente for
all, and not to make the states of the men indiflerente.

But because ther are in Inde manye sondrie contries, diuerse bothe in people and toni^ue
(as in 80 large a thing mustc nedes happen) ye shall vnderstonde that thei do not all alike
vse suche trade as I haue described, but in some places somewhat worse.

Of those that lie towarde the Easte, some occupie brieding, and some do not. Other
dwellinge in the mershe, and fennes vpon the riuers side : occupie fisshing, and liue by the
same all rawe. And the bettre to worcke their feate, thei make them seines boates, of suche
canes as growe ther, of a wonderfull biggenes. So, that so muche of the cane as is betwixte
ioyncte and ioyncte, is a iuste proportion of timbre for one of their boates.

These of all the other Indians, are appareilled in matte, made of a certayne softe kinde
of mere rushes. Which when thei haue gathered out of the floude, and sliced oute in maner
of lace: they braude together muche like oure figge fraile, or suche like kinde of mattinge,
& make them selues ierkins therof.

Those that be yet by Easte of them, are brieders of cataille : and liue altogether with rawe
fleshe, and haue to name Padians. Whose condicions are sayde to be suche.

As often as it fortuneth any of their citezeins to be sicke, yf it be a manne: his nierest
friendes, and those that are moste aboute him, kylle him by and by, leaste (saye thei) his
fleshe shoulde waxe worse. Yea, thoughe he woulde dissemble the matier, and denie him
self to be sicke, it boteth not. For withoute pardon, they kille him, and make a feaste with
him. If it be a woman, looke how the menne did by the manne, so do the women by a
woman. Likewise do thei with bothe sortes, when thei waxe croked for age, or become
impotente: where throughe, what by the one mcanes and the other, none of them die for age.

Ther is another sorte of the Indians that kille no liuinge thing, ne plante, nor sowe, nor
builde house : but liue with herbes, and a certeine sede whiche groweth there of the owne
accorde, muche like vnto gromelle, whiche thei gather with the cuppe or shelle that it grow-
eth in, and so seeth it, and eate it. If any of these falle sicke, he wandereth forthe into
some deserte place, and ther laieth him downe; no manne taking hede either to hislieng or
to his dienge.

All these Yndians that I nowe haue spoken of, in quenching of natures heate, vse their
women as secretly as beastes do their females.

These Yndians haue a kinde of sages, that the Griekcs calle Gimnosophista;, whiche as the
worde Sophista snundeth now, might merily be interpreted briechelesse bablers. But as
Sophista did signifie then, naked Sages : or to giue one Grieke worde for a nother, naked
Philosophres. These (as Petrarche writcth ) haunte the outemoste borders, and shadowie
partes of that countrie, wadering naked accordinge to their name, vp and downe, heather
and theather, studienge, and searching the natures of thinges, the course of the heauens,
and the secretes of knowledge. Thei continued sometime al the whole daye from the sonne
rising, till his downe goirige : beholdinge the same with stedfaste eye, neuer tourning away
the heade (althoughe it be ther moste fcruently hote) searching and spienge aftre certaine
secretes in the body thereof.

At another time thei passe the day likewyse, standing one while on one legge, another
while on another in ^ broilinge sande of that contrie. Froste nor snowe, nor firie heate
greued not them.

Amonge these, is ther a people called Brachmanes, whiche (as Didimus their king wrate
vnto Alexandre when he wet aboute to subdue them) liue a pure and simple life, led with
no likerous lustes of other mennes vanities. This people loi;eth for no more then nature
requyreth naturallye. Thei are content with suche foode as commeth to hande, desiryng no
tiuche as other menne tourne the worlde alnostvpside downe to haue, leauin? no elemet
vnransakcd to gette a gowbin for their glotenous gorge : but suche as the earth^nploughed,

32)

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VOYAGES, NAUIGAIIONS,

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or vndoliiL', yeldcth of her self. And because ihei acqucinte not their table with surrct, in
dcdc thci know not so many kindcs of sirkcncsses, ne so many names of diseases as we doc:
but thci bcttrc knowc what soiindc licalthc nicancth, and staicd continauu^c of the same then
cucr wc arc like.

Thci haiic no nicdr to craiio one anothcrs helpe and reliefc, wher no manne maketh
claymc by (thine) and by (mync) but cucry mannc takcth what he lu'^teth and lusteth no
more then he nicdeth. Enuie cannot dwell ther, ne none of her impes, wher ail be equalle,
and none aboue other, and all alike poorc, makoth all alike riche. Thei haue no oflicers of
luslicc among them, because thei do nothing that ou^ht to be punisshcd. Ther can no lawe
appierc, because none oUccc appoareth.

The whole people hath one onely lawe, to do nothinge against bwc that nature prescribeth.
To chcrishe labour, to barre out ydlenes, and banishe colle couetyse. That lechery licke
not away the vigour of their spirites, and strength : noi lacke throwe menne in desperate
doompcii. That euery mannc hath enoughe, wher no manne couettes more. That neuer
cutcnt, is of all other the mostc crucll restics plague. For whome she catcheth, she throweth
a footc beneth bcggery, whilest thei canne (inde n.>nc cndc of their scrattinge, but the more
thei haue, the fcllier gnaweth their longing.

Thei warme by the Sonne, the dcawe is their moisture, f riuer is their drinke, the faire
groude their bedde. Care breakcth not their sleapc. Compassing of vanities wearieth not
their minde. Pride hath no stroke ouer them, among whom ther is no diuersite. Neither
is their any kindc of bonde knowcn amongc them: but the bondage of the body to the
minde whiche thci oncly allowe to be iuste.

For the building of their houses, they sende not ouer sea for stone, thei burne no Cation
to make lime to tempre their mortre, thei bake no brickes, nor digge m -ande. But either
make them caucs in the earthe, or take suche as thei finde ready madt m the sides of the
mounteines and hilles. Ther dwel thei without feare of rage or ruine, of weather or of
winde. He thincketh him self sauflier fenced fro showrcs with his caue, then with a fewe
tiles: and yet hath by it a double commoditie. A house < hile he liueth, & a graue ready
made when he dycth. Ther is no glittering apparell, no rattelinge in sylkcs, no rusteling in
veluettes, but a litlc brieche of brawded russhcs, or rather a couering of honeste shame-
facednesse.

The women are not sette oute to allure, ne pinched in to please, ne garnisshed to gase at.
No heare died, no lockes outclaied, no face painted, no skinnc slicked, no countrefeicte
coiitenaunce, nor my using of passe. No poticary practise, no ynckhorne termes, nor pith-
lesse pratllg. Finally no colours of hipocrisie, no meanes to set oute more beautie then
nature hathe giuc them. They ioyne not in engedrure for likerous Iuste, but for the loue
of yssewe and succession. Thei kepe no warres, but mainteine peace: not with force, but
with peaceable behauour and maners. The father and the mother folowe not the childe to
^ bcwrialle. Thci builde no toumbes for the deade: more .ike vnto chirches then graues.
Thei bewry not vp their asshes in pottes dasshed full of peai .o and precious stone. For why
they estieme in these, neither the honour of the quicke, m the pleasure of the deade: but
raither the trouble and paine of bothe. Pestilence or othci diseases (as I hauesayd) the
Abrahmanes are not annoyed with, for thei enfecte not the ayer with any filthye doinges.
But nature alwaye with them, keapeth accorde with the season : and euery elemente his tourne,
with oute stoppe or barre. Their Phisicque is abstinence, which Is able not only to cure the
maladie already creptc in : but also to holdc oute suche as otherwise mighte entre. Thei
couette no sightes, nor shewes of misrule: no disguisinges nor entreludes. But when thei
be disposed to haue the pleasure of the stage, thei entre into the regestre of their stories, &
what thei finde theremoste fit to be laughed at, that do thei lamente & bewaile. Thei de-
lighte not as many do, to heare olde wiues tales, and fantasies of Robin Hoode : but in studi-
ous consideracion of the vvondreful workemanship of the world, & the perfect disposinge of
thinges in suche ordre of course and degree. Thei cro**e no sease for merchaundise, ne
Icarne no colours of Rethoricque. Thei haue one kinde of plaine eloquence commune to

them

/litU

man

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353

of
ue
to
;m

them all: tongue, & Imrtc agrciiigc in tnithc. Tlici hauc neither moofe hallc*, nc vniucrei-
ties, whose disngrcabic doctrine more leaning to apisshc arte, tiicn natural reason and expe-
rience, nciicr bringcth anye staye, or certeinte of tliingcs. One part of this people itidgeth
maiies pcrfelcstc blcssednett to «tande in boncstie. And a nothcr in pleaHiire. Not in the
lickclinges of the tailc, or pnmperingesof the bealy, more bitire then pleasaiite as thou maye
vse them: but to lacke nothing that perfccte nature desircth, ne nothing to do that perfecte
nature misliketh. Thci thinckc it no honour to God, to slea for him an innoccic beast ; yea
thci say he acceptcth not the sacrifice of men polluted with bloodc, but rather loueth a wor-
ship voide of all bloodsheade. That is to saye, the humble entrcatie of woorde, because that
proprety only (to be entreated with woordes) is commune to God and to manne. With this
thci efo'e saye they he is pleased, because we somewhat resemble him self therin. And this
was tlie life of {f vnchristcncd Brahmancs, whcr with we Christianes arc so farre out of loue,
that we arc afraid Icaste any man should beleue it to be true.

The Yndians called Cathcis, haue eche man many wiucs. And assonc as any one husbande
fortuneth to die, his whole nDbcr of wines assemble bef re the chiefcst iudgcs of the citie,
and there eche for her self, sheweth and alledgeth her welle deseruinges tow.irdc her housc-
bande : how dercly she loucd him, howc muchc she t ndered & honoured him. And she
that is by them iudged to haue borne her self beste in that behaulfe, and to haue bene dier-
cst to her husbondc : she in the beste maner and mostc gorneous that she can deuise, tri-
umphing and reinyi^ingc, gctteth her vp vpon the funeralle pyle whcr her honsebandes corps
lieth ready to be brentc, and ther kissinge and enbrasinge the deade body, is burned to-
gether with her housebfide. So gladde is she to haue the victorie in the contencion of wiuely
chastitic, and honeste behaulour toward iicr husbande. And the other that lyue, thincke
them seines dishonoured : and escape not without spottc of reproche as longe as thei line.
Their childre in their infancic, are not nourished vp at the libertie and will of the parentes:
but certeine ther are appointed to vicwe the children : whiche yf thei spie vntowardnes in the
infante, dcformitie, or Iccke of lynimes, commaunde it to be slayne.

Thei ioyne not mariages for nobilitie of birthe, or aboundaunce of substauncc, but for
bcaultie, and rather vpo regardc of frutc, then of luste.

Certaine also amonge the Yndians haue this customc, that yf thei be of suche pouertie
that thei be not able to marye oute their doughters : cuen in the floure of her age thei
bringe her, or them, furthe into the marcate with tronipct & drome, or suthe other their
noyses of warre : And their, aftre the multitude is comen together, the maiden first vnco-
uereth her self wholie vp to the harde shoulders, on the backe haulfe, to be sene starke naked,
and aftre that likewise on the bealy. Yf the multitude finde no faulte, but allowe her as
worthye to please for her bodye, then marieth she to some one ther, whoaie she beste liketh.

Megasthenes writeth that vpon divierae mountcines in Yndc, are people with dogges
hcades, and loge clawes, cladde in hydes of beastes, speakinge with no voyce like vnto
manne, but barking onlye, muche like vnto dogges, with monthes roughe like a grater.

Thci that dwelle aboute the heade of Ganges, haue no nede of anye kinde of meate : for
thei Hue by the sauour of their frutes. And yf thei fortune to iorney, so that thei thincke
to fayle of the sauour when thei would haue it, they cary with theim to smell to, at times
as thei fainte. But if it fortune those to smclle any horrible stincke, it is as present deathe
vnto theim, as poyson to vs. It is recorded in writyng, that certaine of those ware in
Alexandres campe.

We rede also that there are in Inde me with one eye and no mo. And certein so notably
eared that thei hange downe to their hieles, with auche a largenesse that thei may lye in
eithCi ' I them as vpon a pallet : and so harde, that thei maye rende vp trees with them.
Som: other also hauing but one legge, but vpon the same such a foote, that when thesonne
is hote, and he lackefh shadowe, lyenge downe vpon his backe, and holdinge vp his fete, he
largely shadoweth his whole bodie.

It is redde that In Clesia certein women haue but ones childe in all their life time : and the
children assone as thei arc borne, immediatly to become horeheded. Againe, that there is

another

324

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Aaie.

another nation, much loger liued then we are, whiche in their youth are horeheared : and
in their age, their heare waxeth blacke. They affirme also that ther is another sorte of wo-
men that conceiue at fyue yeres olde, and Hue not aboue the age of. viii. yeres. Ther are
also that lacke neckes, & haue their eyes in their shoulders. Ther are also beside these,
certeine saluages with dogges heades, & sharke beared on their bo.lies, that make a very
terrible charringe with their mouthes.

But in these and suche like tales of the Indians, and their countrie : Hi that a manne
had nede of a redie beliefe that should take theim for truthcs, one had not niede to bee to
large : considerynge specially that menne nowe a daies, wiil skante beleue the reportc of
other mens writinges, in the thinges that almost lye vndre ^heir noses.

Ther is a place betwixt Gedrosia and the floudc Yndus which is called Cathainus of the
Cathaiens that enhabyte it. This people ware an ofspring of 5' Scitliias, muche altered from
their naturall conditions, and wonted maners, if that that Aitone the Arminianc writcth of
them in his storie, be true.

Thei passe (saieth he) all other men in quicke smelling. And thei saye of them selues,
that though all other menne haue two instrumentes of sight, yet do none se with both two
in dede, but thei : all other men in coparison either to haue no sight, or elles as it ware but
with one eye. Their wittinesse is greate, but their boastinge greater. The whole nacion
of the is perswaded, that thei muche passe all other men in knowledge, and the subtilties
of sciences. Thei are all of colour shining white, smalle eyed, beardelesse by nature.
Their lettres are aftre the facio of the Romaine, all in squares. Thei are diuersely ledde
with fonde supersticions, some aftre one sorte, and some aftre another. But thei are all voyde
of the true knowledge which is in lesus Christe. Some worship the sonne, some ^ moone.
Other, ymages of yoten metalle, manie of them an oxe. And thus to sondry suche other
monsters, hath this people in sondry wyse deuided it selfe in supersticion. Thei haue no
maner of written lawes, nor knowe not what we meane whe we speake of faithful nesse or
trustinesse. And wher (as I said afore) thei haue in al hadi worckes a passing subtiitie of
witte, yet in the knowledge of heauenly thinpes, thei are altogether to learne: that is to
snie, thei are vtterly ignoraut. A cowardly people and very feareful of death. Yet exercise
thei a maner of warre, but that thei handle rather by witte, and pollicie, then by strength
and hardinesse. In their fighte thei vse a kinde of shaftes, and certaine other weapons of
flight, vnknowen to other countries.

Their money is a piece of square paper, with their Kynges Image vpon it. And because
it cannot be durable : ordre is taken, that when it is soiled or dusked muche, with passyng
from man to man, thei shall bring it to the coignyng house, and make exchaunge for newe.
All their vtensiles and necessaries of house, are of golde, siluer, and other metalles. Oile
is so deintie emong theim, that the kyng onely vseth it, as it ware for a precious ointement.
Thus haue we treated of the Yndians, and now to their borderers, the Scithians.

%. The. ix. Chapitre.
IT Of Scithia and their sterne maners.

SCiihia (a countrie lieng by North) is said of Herodotus, to take the name of Scitha
Hercules sonne. Or as Berosus ludgeth, of an other Scitha, borne of oure greate graundame
Araxe, Noahes wife, that dwelt first in that countrie. This people in the beginnyng, pente
within narowe boundes, so in processe by litle and litle, through their valeauntnes and force
enlarged their iimites: that thei became lordes of many coutries aboute, and grewe into a
great gouernaunce and renoume. Thei nestled first vpon the floude Araxis so fewein nombre
and so base : that no manne thought theim worthie the troublyng or talkyng of. But gettyng
vnto them a ccrtein king, hardie, of great courage, and notable experience in the warres:
thei enlarged their land so, that thei made it stretche on the one p.irte (whiche is altogether
Hille, and Mounteigne) vnto Caucasus, and ouer al the plain vnto the Occean, & vnto the
greate marshe of Meotis, and Tanais the floude. From whece the countrie of Scithia now

stretcheth

res:
;ther
the
now
heth

Jsie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

335

stretcheth all along toward the East. And because the moiinteigne Imaus, ronnyng along
as the coiintrie coasteth, deiiides it in the middcs into two haulues : the one haulfc is called
Scithia within Imaiis, and the other witliout (as ye would saie) on this side the Moiintc, and
beyonde. There neuer medled any power with theim, that was able to conquere theim : or
miiche to endamage them. Thci forced Darius, the Kyng of the Persians, with greate dis-
honour to flie tlicir coiintrie. Thci slue Cirus with all his armie. Thei made an cnde of
Alexandre with al his power. The Romaines sente theim threates thei would warre with
theim, but thci proued in fine but wordcs. Thei are a people not tameable with any toile,
bittre warriours, and of greate strength of bodie. At the first very rawe, and with out
a.iy ordinarie trade nf life : neither knowyng what tillage meant, ne yet hauyng any houses
or cotages to dwell in. But wandryng vp and doune the wilde fieldes and driuyng their
catteiile afore theim, their wiues and their children ridyng in wagons by them. Thei ob-
serued iustice, without constraint of lawe. Thci compted none oflece more heinous, then
thcfte. As foike that had nothyng vndre locke nor keye, barre, nor bolte : but altogether in
the open lieldc. Thei nether occupied golde ne silucr. Their chief foode was milke and
Hony. Against colde and other stormes, thei wraj)ped their bodies in felles, and hides of
beastes, and Mice skinnes. Thei knewe not what Wollen mcante, ne any facion of
garmente.

This maner of life was in many of the iScithians,but not in all. A greate nombre of theim,
as thei muche differed in distaunce of place fr5 other, so differed thei also from other in
maners : and vsed a certeine trade of liuyng emong them selues, whcrof we aftreward will
entrcate, when we haue saied somewhat more of their facions in generall.

Many of the Scithians delight in maslnughter. And the firste man that he taketli in fight,
his bloud driiicketh he : and offreth vnto his Kynge the heades of all those y he tber sleaeth.
For when he hath so done, he is admitted to be partaker of the butine what so euer it be,
whereof he should be otherwise parties. He cutteth of the heade aftre this sorte. Firste,
with his knife he maketh in it a gashe roude aboutelike a circle, vndre the eares: then taketh
he it by the hcare of the croune, & striketh it of. That done, he fleaeth it, and taweth the
skinne betwixte his handes, vntill it become very souple and soft and kiepeth it for a handc
kercher. This wille he hange vpo the reine of his horse, and glorieth not a litle in it. And
lie that hath moste of suche hfidkerchers, is compted the valeauntest manne. There are many
also that sowe togetiier these skinnes of menne, as other doe the skinnes of beastes, and
weare theim for their clothyng. Some of them flea the right hand of their enemies beyng
slaine, so that the nailes also remain vpon the fingres, and make couers of theim for their
quiuers.

Many of the flea the whole bodie, and stretche out the skinne vpo certaine stickes fitted
for the nones, and so sprede the vpon their Horse. Of the Skulles of the heades thus slaine,
thei make measures to drincke in : coucryng them on the outside with rawe Neates leather,
and gilding them on the inside, if he be of habilitie. And when any gheste of estimacion
commeth vnto theim, thei offre the to drincke in asmany as thei haue, and declare for a
greate braggue of their valeauntnesse, that so many thei haue slaine with their owne hande.

Ones euery yere, all the chief heades of the Scithians, kepe a solempne drinckyng. At
the whiche the maner is, out of one of these Skulles, as out of a wassailing boule, togiueall
those the wine that haue slaine an enemie. But he that hath done no suche notable acte,
tasteth not therof, but sitteth aparte in a corner with out honour: which is judged among
the a greate reproche. But thei that haue achieued many slaughters, thei drancke of two
(ioblettes together, which thei haue for that purpose.

The goddes whom thei worshippe and doe Sacrifice vnto, are these : Firste and chiefly
vnto Vesta, then to lupiter, and the goddesse of the grounde : for that thei take her to be
Inpiters wife. Nexte vnto Apollo and Venus, Mars and Hercules. Yet erecte thei no
Chapelle, Altare, nor Image to any of these : but onely to Mars : to whom thci offre of euery
hundred prisoners that thei take, one for a sacrifice. To the other thei oflTre bothe horses
and other beastes, but specially horses. Swine thci so little cstieme, that thei neither ofTre

U H them

irf

iS'^

^I'-

■^11

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326

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Asic.

m'\

them to any of their goddes ne vouchesaiif to kiepe theim in their Countrie. Looke whom
the kvng pimissheth with death, his children he also commaundeth to be slain, as many as
be males, but the women arc pardoned.

With whom the Scithians couenaut or make League: after this pianer thei doe it. Thei
fille an earthen panne with wine, and of the parties that shall strike the League or coue-
naunte, thei drawe a qiiantitie of bloudc, whiche thei mingle therwith. Then diepe thei
into the panne their Curtilasse, their shaftes, their axe, and (heir darte. That done thei
wirihe vnto them sehics many terrible curses and mischiefes, if thei holde not the league or
couenaunte. And then driiicke thei the wine. And not thei onely that strike the couc-
naiites, but also those that are moste honourable in their compaignie.

The l)ewriall of their kyngcs is aftre this mancr : where the Kyng dieth, those that arc of
his blonde, rouiide his heare, cutte of one of his cares, slice his armes rounde aboute, all to
begasshe his foreheade & his nose, & shoote him through the lifte hande, in thre or fowre
places. Then laic thei the corps in a Carte, and cary it to the Gerritcs, where the Se-
pulchres of all their Kynges are. And thei dv/ell vpO the floude Boristhenes, about the
place whcr it becometh first saileablc. This people when thei haue receiued it, trenche
out a square plotte in the ground very wide and large. And then rippe the bealy of the
corps and bowelle it cleane: clensyng it and drieng it from all filtlie, and fille it vp with
Slier Montanum, Franckencensc, Smallache siede, and Anise sicde, beaten together in a
Mortre. And when thei haue sowed it vp againe close, thei ceare the whole bodie, and con-
ueighe the same in a Carte, to the ncxtc people vndre the gouernaucc of the Scithiris,
whiche witli honour receiue it, and conueigh it vnto the ncxte of their dominion : and so
from one to another, vntle it haue passed rounde aboute, to as many peoples as are of their
dominion, and be comcn againe to the place of bewriall emong the Gerrites, whether it is
accompa lied with a certain of all the peoples, to whom it hath comen, as thei gathered
encreaie fn m place to place. Thei, aftre what tyme thei haue laied the corps, cophine and
all, vpon a bedde of state, amid the square afore mentioned: sticke doune their iauelinea
and spcares aboute him, and with stickes laied ouer from one to another, frame as it ware a
Ci( lyng whiche thei couer with a funerallc palle. Then in the reste of the voide space,
th.it yet rcmaines in the Cophine made for the nones : thei bewrie one of his dierest lem-
maiis, a waityng manne, a Cooke, a Hcrsekcper, a Lacqiiie, a Butler, and a Horse. Whiche
thei al first strangle, and thruste in, together with a portion of all sortes of plate, and of
eucrv suche thyng as apperteiiied to his housholde, or body. And when the yere comes
about, then do thei thus. Thei take of those that ware nerest aboute the Kyng (now there
are none aboute the king, but thei be Scithians free borne, and suche as his self doth com-
mannde : for he maie bt serued with no b( ught slaue) of those take thei fiuetie and as iviany
of his best horses. And wh^ thei haue strangeled bothe the men and the horses, they bowell
the Ilor-^es, stulfc their bealiis againe with Chafle, and sowe theim vp close, and sctte the
menne vppon their backes. Then make thei a voulte ouer roud about the bordre of the
greate square, and so dispose these Horse menne cnuiron the same, that thei sieme afarre of,
a troupe of liuyng horsemen gardyng the kyng.

The communes haue also a maner c'i bcwrialle aftre a like sorte. When one of theim
dieth, his nexte neighbours andkindsfolke laie hym in a Carte, and cary hym aboute to euery
of his frindes: wiiiche at the receipte of hym make a feaste, aswell to the kindsmcn, as to all
the residewe that accnmpaignie the corps. And when thei haue thtis caried hym aboute by
the space of fowretene dales, he is bewried. All the braine of his heade beyng first piked
out, and the skulle rinsed with water cleane. Aboute the bodie thei sette vp three sparres of
woodde slopyng, and rcstyng one vpon ancther at the toppes. Rounde about tiiese sparres,
thei straine cappyng woollen, packyng theim as close as thei can. And within betwixt the
sparres, as it ware in the middest ouer the deade, thei set a traie or shallowe trough, where
in to thei caste a kinde of stones, that glistereth by fire light.

The menne emong the Scithians, do not vse to wa.>he the selucs. But the women vse to
powre water vpon their own bodies, and to rubbe themsclues against some roughe stone :

and

Asie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

327

and then with a piece of a Cipressc, Ccadre, or Encence tree, to grate their whole bodic,
vntill it be some what boUen or swollen. And then cnoint thei bothe that and their face,
with certaine medicines for the nones: whereby thei become the nextc daic of a very good
smell, and (when the medicine is washed awaie) slicke and smothe.

Their commune othe, and the othe of charge in maticrs of controuersie, or iudgemenfe,
is by the kynges clothe of estate: by the whiche if a man shalbe tried to haue forsworne
bymscif (as their enchaimtours haue a maner to trie with salowe roddes whether thei haue
or not) by and by without respighte, he loscth his heade, and all his goodes, whiche tourne
to the vse of them that haue proued him periured.

The Mnssagetes, a people of Scithia in Asie, beyond the sea called Ca'<piu mare in appa-
reille and liuyng, muche like to the Scithians, and therefore of some so called: vse to fightc
bothe on horsebacke a.;d on fote, with suche actiuitic and force, th;it thei are almoste inuin-
cible in bothe. Their weapons are bovve and arrowes, Launces and Armynge swordes.
Their beltes aboule their waste, the ornament of their heades, and their pollerone, are gar-
nished with golde. Their Horse* are barbed on the brest, with barbes of gold. Their
reines, bridles, and trappour are all of golde. The heades of their Launces are ofBrasse,
and their Quiuers armed with Brasse. As for Siluer and Iron thei ocrupie none. Eche
manne marieth one wife, and yet are the wiues of them all, commui e one to another,
whiche thyng is not vsed emong any of the other Scythians, When so euer any man lusteth
for the Cdinpaignie of his womu, he hangeth vp his quiuer vpon the carte wherein his wife
is caryed by him, and there openly without shame couplcth.

When any one of this people waxeth very aged, his friendes, acquaintaunce, and kindes-
folke asscblcd together, make a bealy Sacrifice of hym : sleayng as many shiepe besides,
as will serue for the fulnesse of the nombre. And when thei haue dressed theim, eate parte
and parte like, the one with the other. And this kinde of depnrtynge is compted emong
theim, of all other moste blessed. If any fortune to pine awaie of sickenessc, hym eatc thei
not: but put in a hole, and throwe earthe vpo him. Sory for the losse, that he came not
to the feaste.

Thei neither sowe nor mowe, but line by flesshe of suche beastes as thei haue, and
suche fisshe as Araxe the floudc docth pleteously minister vnto them : and v.itli drinckynge
of Milke, wherof thei make no spare. Thei knowc no goddes but the Sonne : In whose
honour thei oflre vp Horses in Sacrifice, as bcyng in swiftenesse moste like vnto the Sonne,

The Seretines are a dehor iire people, and suche loners of quietnesse, that thei shone to
entremedle with any other people. MerchaCifcs passe their outmost (loude toward them,
but thei niaie come no nigher. Along the banques there, thei sette oute suche thyngcs, as
thei are disposed to selle. Not the Mcrchauntcs, but the indwellcrs of the Coiintrie For
thei selle to other, and buie of none. And thei sette them in ordre as thei iudge them in
price. The buyer cometh, and as he iudgeth theim by his eye to be worthe, without hirther
trade or feloweshippe betwixte theim, so laieth he doune. And if thei receiue it, he de-
])artcth with y ware. Emong them is there neither whore nor thiefe, nor adulteresse
broughte to iudgemente. Neither was it euer hearde, that there was a manne slaijie emong
theim. For the feare of their Lawes woorketh more strongly with theim, then the influ-
ences of the Starres. Thei dwelle as it ware in the bcginnyng or entryng of the worlde.
And for that thei line aftre a chast sort: thei are neither skourgcd with Blastynges, ne Ilaile,
ne Pestilence, ne suche other euilles. No manne touchcth a woman there, aftre she hath
conceiucd, ne yet in the tyme of her flowres, Thei eate none vncleane bcastcs, ne knowe
what Sacrifisyng mcaneth. Euery man there is his owne Iudge, acordyng to lustice.
Therefore arc thei not chastised with suche corrections as happen vnto other for synne, but
bothe continue long in life, and die without grief.

The Tauroschithias (so called for that thei dwell aboute the mounteigne Taurus) ofTre as
many as fortune to make Shipwracke vpon their shore :) to the virgine, whose name ye shall
aftre heare. And if it fortune any Grekc or Grekes, to be driuen thether, him doe thei
Sacrifice after this nianer.

U II 2 Aftre

ii ,

.1 .; ;t*i;'

328

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Ask.

ii,i

\4\

Aftre what tynie tliei Iiaiie made prayer after their mancr, thci strike of his hcade with an
hachet. And (as some saie) tomblc doune the carkcsse into the Sea, (for this Virgine hath
a Chapelle vpon the toppe of a high clieue, hnngyng oner the Sea, where this feate is doone)
and naile vp the hcade vpon a Gibet. In this poincte of nailyng vp the heade, all the wri-
ters agre, but in tomblyng doune the body, not so, for some aflirme that the body is bew-
ried. The Virgine Deuiile, to whom thci Sacrifice : is saied to be Iphigenia Agamcnons
doughter. Their ennemies as many as thei take, thus thei handle. Euery manne cutteth
of his prisoners head, and caricth it home : and fastencfh it vpon the ende of a long pole,
& setteth it vp : some vpon their house toppe some vpo their chimneis as high as thei can.
And no merueile though thei set the so that thei might well see rounde about theim : for
thci saie : thei are the wardens and kepers of al their whole house. Thei Hue by spoile,
and by warre.

The Agathirsians are menne verie ncate & fine, & greate wearers of golde in their ap-
pareill. Thei occupic their women in commune, so that thei seme all of one kindred, and
one householde : neucr striuyng nor grudgyng one with another, muche like in body vnto
the Thracians.

The Neuriens vse the maners of the Sithians. This people the somer before that Darius
set furthe, ware constrained for the grieate multitude of Serpentcs y ware bredde in their
quartres, to chaunge their dwellyng place. Thei verily doe belieue, and wiile sweare it :
that euery yere ones for a certaine dales, thei become Woulues, and retourne againc into
their former shape and state.

The Antropophagites (so called for that thei liue by mannes fleshe) of all menne, are
the worste codicioned, without lawe, or officer, appareilled like the Scithiens : but in lan-
guage like vnto no bodye but them selues.

The Melanchleni do all weare blacke, as their name dothe signifie. And of these also
are eaters of mannes fleshe : so manic as folowe the trade of the Scithians.

The Budincs are a great nacion, and a populous, graye eyed, & redde headed al. Their
hcade citie is Gelone, wherof thei are also called Gelonites, Thei kepe euery thirde yere a
reuclle in the honour of Bacchus : whereat thei make n uelle in dede, yea, reuell route.
Thei ware sometime Griekes, whiche put of fro their countric, seatled them selues there.
And by processc, losing the proprietie of their owne tongue, became in liiguage haulfe
Grekes, and haulfe Scithians. Yet are the Gelonites bothe in language and liuinge, differ-
ent from the Budines. For the Budines being natiue of the place, are brieders of Catteile :
The Gelonites, occupienge tilthe: liue by come, and haue their frute yardes. Neyther
lyke in colour ne countenaunce to the other. All their quartres are verye full, and thicke
of trees. It hathe also many meres and greate. In and aboute the whiche thei take Ottres,
and Beauers, & many other bcastcs : of whose skinnes they make them pilches, and Jerkins,

The Lirceis liue by woodmanshippe, and huntinge, and aftre this maner. Their coun-
trie beinge also very thicke of trees, thei vse to climbe suche as siemeth them beste : and
there awaite tlicir game. At the foote of euery mannes tree lieth a dogge, and a horse well
taughte to couche flatte on the bealy, as lowe as can bee. When the beaste cometh within
daungier, he shoteth. And yf he hitte, he streighte commeth downe, taketh his horse
backe, & foloweth with his hoiide.

The Argippians dwell vndre the foote of the highe mountaincs. Men whiche fro their
birthe are balde, bothe the males and the females. Their nones tourne vp like a shoinge
home, and iheir chinnes be great out of measure. The sounde of their voice vnlike to all
other: ther app. rell aftre the sorte of the Scithians. Thci haue small regarde to brieding :
by the reason wherof thei haue smalle store of cattaile. Thei lie vndre trees, which in the
wintre thei couer ouer with a white kinde of felte, and in the somer take the same awaye,
and lie vndre the open tree. Tlier is no manne that wil harme them for that thei are compt-
ed holy halowed ; neither haue thei anye kinde of armour, or weapo of warre. These men
haue the arbitrement of their neighbours controuersies rounde aboute. And as thei deter-
mine so are thei ended. Who so flicth vnto them, is saufe as in sanctuary.

The

ii''>i iifiii

--^.IP?W i t'^*«:'*fr

^s/f.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

The Issedonnes haue this proprctic. When so eiier any niannes father then, dieth : all
his kinsfoike bringe eiicry man one beast or other to the house of y sonne that kepcth the
funeral. Which whe thei haue killed and minscd : they ininsc alxo the body of the deade.
And bothe the flesshes beingc mingled together, thei fall to the banket. Then take thei the
dead mannes heade, & pike the braine oute clcanc, and all other moistures and ragges,
and when thei haue guilte it, thei vse it for a reprc.-eiitacio of the partie departed. So-
lempnisinge euery yere furthe, the memoriall, with newc ceremonies, and mo. This
dothe the sonne for the father, and the father for the soune, as the Grekcs kcpe their birthc
daies.

These are also sayde to be veryc iuste donlcrs, Sc llieir wiues to be as valeaunle and hardic*
as the husbiides. Suche haue the manors of the Scithians bene. But afterwarde being sub-
dued by the Tartares, and wearing by processc into their manors and ordinaunces : thei nowc
liue all after one sorte, and vndre one name.

% The. X. Chapiter.
IT Of Tartaric, and the maners and power of the Tartarians.

TArtaria, otherwyse called Mongal : As Vinccntius wryteth, is in that parte of the earthe
where the Baste and the Northe ioyne together. It had vpo the Eastc, the londe of the Ka-
theorines and Solangores, on the South, the Saracenes : on the Weste the Naymaniens, &
on the Northe is enclosed with the occcan. It hath the name of the floude Tartar that ron-
neth by it. A country very hilly, and full of mountaines. And where it is champe in,
myngled with sade and grauelle. Barreine, except it be in places where it is moysted with
floudes, which are very fewe. And therfore it is muche waaste, and thinly enhabited.
Ther is not in it one Citie, ne one village beside Cracuris. And wood in the mosfe parte
of the country so skante, that the enhabitaiites are faine to make their fyre, and dresse their
meate with the drie donge of ncate and horses. The ayer intemperate and wonderfulle.
Thondre, and lightening in somer so terrible, that sondry do presently die for very feare.
Nowe is it broiling hote, and by and by bittre colde, and plenty of snowe. Suche stronge
windes sometime, that it staieth horse and man, and bloweth of the rider : teareth vp trees
by the rootes, and doeth rauche harme. In wintre it neuer raineth ther, and in Somer very
often. But so slendrely, that the earthe is skante wette with al. And yet is ther great
Etore of Cattaile : as Camelles, neate. &c. And horses and mares, in suche plentie, as I
beleue no parte of the earth hath againe. It was first enhabited of foure peoples. Of the
leccha Mongalles that is to saye, the greate Mongailes. The Sumongalles, that is to say the
watre Mongalles, whiche called them selues Tartares, of the floude Tartar whose neighbours
thei are.

The thirde people ware called Merchates, and the fourthe Metrites. There was no dif-
ference betwixte them eyther in body or laguage, but al aftre one sorte and facion. Their
behauour was in the beginning very brute, and farre oute of ordre, without lawe or discip-
line, or any good facion. Thei lined amonge the Scithians, and kept herdes of cattaile in
very base state and condition ; and ware tributaries to all their neighbours. But within a
while aftre, thei deuided them selues as it ware into wardes, to euery of the which was ap-
pointed a capitaine : in whose deuises and consentes cosisted thordre of the whole. Yei
\vare thei tributaries to the Nairnanes (their next neighbours) vntyll Canguista by a certaiue
prophecie was chosen their kynge. He assone as he had receiued the gouernaunce, abo-
lished all worshippe of deuilles, and commaunded by commune decree that all the whole
nacion should honour the hii>heGod euerlasting: by whose prouidcnce he would seme to haue
receiued the kingdome. It was further 'decreed that as manye as ware of age to beare armour,
should be preste, and ready with the king at a certeynedaye. The multitude that serued for
their warres, was thus destributed. Their capitaines ouer ten (which by a terme borowed of
the Frenche, we calle Diseners, are at the comaundemente of the Centurirns. And the C<3-
luriane obeied the Millenarie, that had charge of a thousande. And he againe was subierte

t©

329

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330

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Ade.

\'",y

to the grandc Coroncllc that had charge oiicr ten thoiisandc : aboiic the wliichc nonibre the
mounted no degree of raptaincs.

This done, to prone the obedicnr c of his siibiectes, he commaundcd scncn sonncs of the
Prinees or Dukes whiche before had goiierncd the people: to he slainc by the hades of their
owne fathers, and mothers. Wliiche (hinge althoiighe it ware iniiche againste their hartcs,
and an horrible diede, yet did thei it. Partcly vppon the feare of the residew of the people:
and partly vpon conHciciice of their obedii're. For why, the pcoj)le thoughte when thei sawe
him begyn aftre this sorle: tliti had had a god amongcst tliem. So that in disobcyinge of
his commanndonicntc, thei thought thei should not haue disobcied a king but God him sclfe.
Canguista takinge stomakc with this power, firste subdued those Scithians that bordred vpon
him, and made them tributaries. And where other afore had bene tributaries alsovnto them:
now receiiicd he in that one peoples righte, tribute of many. Then settinge vpon those
that ware further off, he had suche r;\)spcrnus sucresse that from Scithia to the sonnerisingc,
and fro thence to the middle carthe sen, and beyonde: he broughte all together vndre his sub-
iertion. So that he niouyhte iiowe wortheiy wrytc him selfe highe Gouernour, and Emperour
of the Ea-ite.

The Tartarcs arc verv deformed, llile of bodie for the moste parte, hauyng great stiepe
ryes: and yet so heary on the eye liddes, that there shewf th but litle in open sight. Platter
Hiccd and beardlesse, sauy ng vpon the vpper lippe, and a litle about the poincte of the chinne
thei haue a I'eawe heaves as it were pricked in with Bodkins. Thei be communely all slendre
in the waste. Thei shaue the hiiulre haulfe of the heade, rounde aboule by the eroune, from
one earc to another: couipnssvng towiirde the nape of the necke after suche a facion, that
tlie pollc behind sheweth nuiche like the face of a bearded manne. On the other parte, thei
suffrc their hcare to growe at Icngthe like our women: \.iuchc thei dcuidc into two tresses,
or braudes, and bryngaboute to (i\sten behinde their eares. And this maner of shauyng, do
thei vse also that dwclle among thcim, of what nacion so euer thei be. Thei theim selues are
very light and nimble: good on Horse, but naughte on foofe. All from the moste to the
leaste, as well the women as the mcnnc : doe ride either vpon Geldynges, or Kien, where so
euer thei become. For stoned Horses thei occupie none, ne yet Gelding that is a striker, and
lighte of his heles. Their bridelies are trimmed with muche gold, siluer, and precious stones.
And it is comptcd a ioiy thyng among theim : to haue a great sort of siluer .sounded belles,
gynglyng aboute their horse neckes. Their speache is very chourlishe and loude. Their
singvng is like the bawlynge of Woulues, When thei drinckn, thei shake the heade: and
drincke thei do very often euen vnto drockcnnessc, wherein thei glorie muche. Their dwcl-
Ivng is neither in tonnes ne Bouroughes. But in the fieldes abrode, aftre the maner of thaun-
riet Scithians in tcntes. And the ratherso, for that thei are all moste generally cattcill mas-
tres. In the wintre time thei are wot to drawe to the plaines, & in the Somer season, to the
niounteignes & hillie places for the better pasture. Thei make theim Tentes, or clles rounde
cotages of wirkres, or of Felte vndersctte with smothe poles. In the middes thei make a
round windowe that giueth the lighte, & letteth cut the smoke. In the middes of the Tet,
is their iire, aboute the whiche their wife and their children doe sitte. The menne delight
muche in dartyng, shootyng, and wrastelyng. Thei are merueilous good hunters, to the
whiche thei go armed at all pieces. And assone as thei espie the beaste, thei come costing
together rounde aboute and enclose her. And when euery manne hath throwen his darte, or
shotte his arrowe : whilest the beast is troubled & amased with the stripes, thei steppe in to
her & slea her. Thei neither vse breade ne bakyng: table clothe ne napkin.

Thei bclieue that there is one GOD that made all thynges, bodily & ghostly, sene orvn-
sene, and hym thei honour : but not with any maner of Sacrifice or ceremonie. Thei make
theim selues litle pupettes of silke or of felte, or of thrumme, like vnto menne : whiche
thei sette vp vpon echc side of their Tentes, and do the muche reuerence, beseching them
to take hede to their catteille. To these thei offre the first milke of all their milche catteill,
of what kinde so euer thei be. And before thei begin either to eate or drinke aught, thei

gctte

Anie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIKS.

331

elight

to the

osting

irte, or

in to

or vn-
mnke
vvhiche
them
atteill,
t, thei
gctte

sctte a porcion thereof before ihcitn. Looke what beastc thei kille to be eaten, tlici rcscriie
tiie harfc all nighte in Home couered ciippe, and the nexte mornynge seath it and cate it.

Thei worshippe also and Sarrifice to the Sonne, Moone, and eleinentcs fowre. To Cham
also their Lorde and Kyng, th^'i do very deiioute honour and Sacrifice: supposyng him to be
the Sonne of God, and to haiie no picrc in the whole worlde : neither can thei abide to hcarc
any other manne name hym.

This people so dcspiseth ;il other men, and thinckc thcim seines so farre to surmount them
in wisedome and goodnes : that thei abhorre to spcakc to theim, or to compaignie with them.
Thei calle the Pope and all Christen mcnne, Doggues and Idolatres : because thei honour
stones and blocques. And thei thcim selucs (beyng giuen to deuelishe superstitions ) are
markers of dreamcs, & haue drcame readers cmong theim : as well to cnterpreate their swe-
uens, as to aske knowelcdge of Idolles. In whom thei are perswaded that Godspeaketh:
and therefore acordyng to their answercs, frame them selucs to do. Thei markc many sea-
sons, and specially haue rcgarde to the chaunges of the Moone. Yet make thei for no sea-
son, nc chaunge, any singular holidaie or obseruance : but ilike for them all iiulifterently.
Thei are of so gredic a cuucitnuscnesse, and desire, that if any of them se aughte, that he
coueiteth to haue, and cannot nbtcin with the good wille of the owner : if it apperteigne to
noTartarre, he will haue it by force. And thei thincke (through a certcin ordenaunce that
their K\ng made) thei oftende not therein. For suche a commaundemcnte had thei of Can-
gui>ta, and Cham, their firste Kyiigcs : That if it fortune any Tartarre, or Tartarrcs scruaunt,
to finde in his waie, horse, man, or wonia, without the kinges Icttres or his saulfcoduite : he
should take it, him, her, or them as his owne for cuer.

To suche as lacke money thei lenilc, but for shamefidl gaines : that is to saie, two shillynges
of the pduiide for cuery Monethe. And if it fortune ye to faile to make paiemente at the
dale : ye shall also be forced to paie the enterest, acording to the rate of the Vsurie. That
is to saie, of eucry tenth penie, one.

Thei do so polle and oppresse their tributaries, with subsidies, taxes and tallages, as neuer
did people but thei, that euer manne rcdile of. It is beyonde belief to saie. Thei euer co-
ueite, and as Lordes of all, do rape, and rendc from other, and neuer recompence aught.
No, the begger that liueth on almose, gctteth not an aguelette of hym. Yet haue thei this
one praise worthie propretie, that if he fortune to linde them at meate: thei neither shutte
the doore against hym, ne thruste him out, if he be disposed to eate, but charitably bidde
them, and parte with them suche as thei haue. But thei fiede the vnclenliest in the worlde, as
I hauesaied, without tableclothc, napkinne, or towell to couer the borde, or to wipe at meate,
or aftre. For thei neither washe hande, face, ne body, ne any garmete that thei weare.
Thei nether eate bread, nor make bread, nor sallottes nor potage, nor any kinde of Pultz.
But no maner of flesshe cometh to them amisse. Dogges, Cattes, Horses and rattes. Yea,
sometime to shewc their crueltie, and to satisfie their vengeaunce, the bodies of suche their
enemies, as thei haue taken, thei vse to roste by a greate fire : and when thei bee asembled a
good nombrc together, thei teare theim of the spittes like Wolucs, with their tiethe, and de-
uoure the. And aftreward drincke vp the bloude, whiche thei rescrue afore hande for the
nones. Otherwise thei vse to drincke Milke. Thei haue no wine of the coutrie it self, but
suche as is brought into the thei drincke very gredilie. Thei vse to Lowse one anothers heade,
and euer as thei take a Lowce to eate her, saieng : thus wille I doe to our enemies. It is
compted a greate oft'ence emong them to sulfre drincke, or a piece of meate to be loste.
Thei neuer therfore giue the bone to the Dogge, till thei haue eaten out the marrowe. Thei
neuer eate beaste (suche vile niggardes thei are) as long as the same is soude Sc in good
lil-yng: but whe it fortuneth to be hurte, sicke, or feblcd by age, then bewrie they it in
their bealies. Thei are greate sparers, & contente with smalle chaunge, and litle foode.
Thei drincke in the mornyng, a goblet full of Milke or twaine, whiche serueth theim some-
tyme for their whole dales foode.

The men and the women moste communely are appareilled ylike. The men weare vpon
their heades shallowe copin tackes, comyng out behinde with a taile of a handefull and a haulfe

long.

.; -ii'iji

i r V;

Jp';l;'! ■

ic:.

Mii,n

11' '■

"t ' !

333

VOYAGKS, NAUIGATIONS,

Asie.

long, and as muche in breadth : whiclic ihci fasten vndcr their chinnes, for falling or blowing
of, with a couple of strj'nges of ribbandc lace, as we doe our nightc ciippcs. Their married
woincu wear on their heades, fine wickre Basquettcs of a foote and a haulf long : rounde, and
llatte on the toppe like a barrelle. Whiche arc cither garnished with changeable silkes, or
the gaiest parte of the Pecockes feathers, and scttc with golde and stones of sondrie sortes.
Asfor the residue of their bndie, thci wear acording to their abilitic, bothe men and women,
Skarlet or Veluet, or other siikes. Thci wcare coates of a straunge facion, open on the left side,
whiche thei put on acordingly, and fasten with fowre or (ive Buttonn. Their Somer wiedes
are all comunely blacke : and those that thci weare in Winter and foule weather, white : and
neuer lower then the knee. Wearing furrcs (wherein thei muche delight) thei weare not the
furre inwarde, as we communely doe : but contrariwise the heare outwarde, that thei maie
cnioie the pleasure of the shewe.

It is harde to discerne by the appareile the maide, fro the wife, or the woman fro the
manne : so like araied do the menne and the wome go. Thei weare brieches, the one and
the other. When thei shal go to the skirmishe, or to baltaille, some coiier their armes
(whiche at all other tymes are naked) witli plates of iron, buckelcd together alonge, in many
pieces, that thei may the easelier sturre their armes. Some doe thesame with many foldes
of Leather : wherwith thei also arme their head. Thei cannot handle a target: nor but fewe
of theim a launce or a long sweard. Thci haue curtilasses of. iii. quarters longe : not double
edged but backed. Thei fighte all with a quarter blowe, & neither right downe, ne foyning.
Thei be very redy on horscbacke, and very skilful archers. He is counted moste valeaute, that
best obseruetb the commaundement and the obedience dewe to his capitaine. Thei haue no
wages for their souldie, yet arc thei prest and ready in all afTaires, and all commaundenientcs.
In battavle, and otherwise wher oughte is to be done, very politike and experte. The princes
and capitaines entre not the battle, but staiidyHg aloofc, crye vnto their men, and harten them
on : lookinge diligently aboute on euery side what is nedefull to be done. Sometime to make the
armye sieme the greater, and the more terrible to the cnnemy : thei set vp on horsebacke their
wiues and their children, yea and men made of cloutes. It is no vilany amonge them to flye :
if any thinge maye eyther be saued or wonne by it. When thei will shoote, thei vnarme
their righte arme, and then let thei flye with suche violence, that it pearceth all kinde of ar-
mour. Thei giue the onset flockinge in plumpes, and likewise in plompes they flie. And in
the flighte thei so shoote backe warde behinde them, that thei slea many of their ennemies pur-
suinge the chase. And when thei perceiue their ennemies dispersed by pursuinge the chase,
or not to fighte any thing wholie together : soudeinly retourninge, thei beginne a newe onset
with a hayle of shotte, neither sparing horse ne ma. So tiiat oftetimes thei ouercome
when thei are thoughte to be vaquisshed. When thei come to enuade any quartre or countrie,
thei deuide their armie, and sctte vpon it on euery parte : so that the inhabitours can neither
haue laisure to assemble and resiste, ne waye to escape. Thus are thei alway sure of the vic-
tory, whiche thei knytte vp with moste proude crueltie. Neither sparinge manne woman ne
childe, olde ne younge sauing the artificer onely, whom thei reserue for their own vses. And
thisslauiihter make thei aftre this maner. When thei haue all taken them, thei distribute them
to their Centurians ; who committe them againe to the slaues: to euery one fewer or more acord-
inge to the multitude. And when the slaues haue all slayne them as bouchers kylle hogges :
then for a terrour to al other thcr about : of euery thousade of y dead thei take one, and hangc
him vp by the hieles vpon a stake, amydde these deade bodies : and so ordre his heade as though
it appiered by his facion or niaiicr of hangingc, that he yet bothe barkened the complainte
of his felowes, and lessened them againe. Many of the Tartarres when the bodies lie freshe
bliedinge on the grounde, laye them dov/ne alonge, and sucke of y bloud a full gloute.

Thei kepe faithe to no manne, howe depely so euer thei binde them selues thervnto. Thei
dealeyet wourse with those that thei ouercome with force. The maidens and younge women
thei deflowre, and defile as thei come to hande, neither do thei iudge it any dishonestie. The
beautifuller sorfe thei lead away with the : and in extreame misery, constraine them to be
their slaues all their lyfe longe. Of all other thei are mo&te vnbrideled in leachery. For al-

thoughe

Ask,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

333

jghe

thoiitjhc thei marye as many wiiics as thci Iiisfc, and arc able to kepc: no (lef>re prohibited,
but mother, doughtcr, and sister: yet are thei as rarke boiigucrs with mankindo, and with
bca^tes, as the Sararenes are, and no punishmente for it amoiigc them. The woman that thci
marie, thei neuer take a-i wife, no rcceiue any dowrie with her, vntill she hauc borne a childc.
So tliat if she be barren he niayc ca^te her vp, and mary another.

This is a notable meviiaile, tiiat thongh ainonge theim manye women haiic but one mannc :
yet thei neuer lightely falle out, nc brawie one with another for him. Aiul yet are the mennc
parcialle in theyr loue : shewing nniche more fauour to one then another, and goyngo Iro
the bedde of the one, streighte to the bedde of an other. The women haue their seuerall
tctes and householdcs : And yet line verye chastely, and true to their housebandes. For
bothe the manne and the woman taken in adultery, sufire death by the lawe.

Those that are not occupied for y warres, driue the catteilc a ficldc, and there kepc thcni.
Thci hunte, and exercise themseluts in wrastlinge, other thing doe thei not. The care of
prouision for meate and drincke, apparcille and householde, they betake to the women. This
people hath many superstitious toycs. It is a heinous niaticr with them, to toiichc y fier, or
take flcshe out of a potte with a knife. Thei hcwc or choppc no maner of thing by the fire,
leassc by any maner of mcancs, thci might fortune to hurte the thing which alway they haue
in rcucrence, and iudge to be the denser, and purifier of al thinges. To laye them downe to
reste vppon the whippe that thci stirre theyr horse with (for spurres they vse none) or to
touche their shaftcs therewith, in no wise thci wylle not. Thei neither kille youngc birdes, ne
take them in the neste or other waics. Thei beate not the horse with the bridle. Thei breake
not one bone with another. Thei arc ware, not to spill any spone meate, or drincke, specially
milke. No manne pisseth within the compasse of their soiourning place. And if any one of
self willed stubbornesse should do it, he ware sure withoute all mercy to die for it. But if
necessiiie constraine the to do it (as it often happeneth) then the tente of hym that did it,
with all that is in it, muste be clensed and purified after this maner. They make two fires,
thrc strides one from another. And by eche fire thei pitche downe a lauelinc. Vpon them
is tied a lyne stretching fro the one to the other, and couered ouer with buckerame. Betwene
these, ii lauelins, as throughe a gate, muste all thinges passe that are to be purified. Two
women (to whome this ofiice belongcth) stande, on either side one, sprinckelinge on watre,
and mumblinge certaine verses. No straugier, of what dignitie so euer he be, or of howe
greafe importance so euer the cause of his comming be: is admitted to the kinges sighte
before he be purified. He that treadeth vppon the thressholde of the tente wherein their
kinge, or anye of his chieftcines lyeth, dicth for it in the place. If any manne bite a gobet,
greater than he is able to swallowe, so that he be constrained to put it out of his mouth againe :
thei by and by make a hole vndre the tent, and ther drawe him out, and cruelly slea him.
Many other thinges ther are which thei compte for faulfes beyonde all forgiuenesse. But to
sleaa ma, to enuade a nother niannes country, cotrary to all righte and reason, to bcreuc them
of their goodes and possessions, to breake the preceptes of God, thei estieme as nothinge.
Thei haue a beliefe that aftre this life thei shal Hue for euer in another worldc (but what man-
of worlde thei cannot telle) & ther recciue rewarde for their well doinges. When

any of the falleth sicke, & lieth at the pointe of deathe, thei sticke vp a laneline with a piece
of blackc clothe at thedore of the tefe wher he lieth, that none come in as they passe by. For
no manne when he sceth this, dare entre thether vncalled.

Aftre what time the sicke is dead, his whole house gather together, and priuely conucigho
the corps into some place withoute the tente, chosen for y purpose, Ther cut they out a
trcnche, broade and diepe enoughe to sette vp another lytle tent in : so hat the toppe of
the tent maye be well within the grounde. In that thei prepare a table with a banket: at
tlie whiche thei sette the deade bodye in his beste appareille. And so together, as it ware
with one hade, couer all witli earth againe. Thci bewry with him also some beaste of bourden,
and a horse ready sadled and appointed to ride. The gentleme by their life time, appointe
out a slaue (whome thei marke with their brande) to be specially bcwried with him
when he dieth. And this do thei vpon perswasion of a life in a nother worlde, wher thei

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woiiUlc be loth to lackc tlicsc necessaries. Then doe the lieades fricndes take another horse,
and slea him. And when they hanc eaten the (leshc, thei slufle the hide full of hayc, and
sowe it againe together and sette it vp oner tlie graue vpon foure poles, in reinemiiraunrc
of the deade. The bones do the two ordenarie women burne, for the clensingc and piirificngc
of the spiile. But the gentlemen, and thei of higher degree, handle the hide aftre another
maner. Thei cut it out into very fine thonges, to asmuche lengthe as thei can, and measure
oute asmuche grounde about the Sepulchre as the thonge wille stretche vnto. Forsomuche
groud thincke thei shall the deade haue in a iiother worlde. At the thirtieth dayc thei endc
their mourning.

Certaine of the Tartarres, professing the name of Christe, yet farre from his righteousnes :
wlicn their parentes waxe aged, to haste their death, crame the with gobins of latte. Whe
thei die thei burne them to pouldre, whiche thei rcscruc as a precious lewelle, to strawc
vppon their nicate euery daie. But to declare with what solempnitie and ioifulnes thei sette
vp their newe Kyngc, aftre the death of tholde : because it ware to longe a thyng, bothe
for the reader & writer to set out at length, I will shewe you in brief theffecte.

Abrode in the fieldes, in a faire plaine ordcnary for the purpose : all the Dukes, Erles,
Barons, Lordcs, and the reste of the nobilitie, together with the people of the whole kyng-
dome, do assemble. Then take thei hym, to who the croune is due, either by succession,
or by election. And when thei haue set hym vp in a throne of Golde: thei all fall doune
on their knees, and together with one voice crie out a loude, aftre this maner. We require
the, yea, we will and commaunde the, to lake the rule & gouernaunce of vs. He answereth,
if ye will haue me doe so, then must ye of necessitie be redy to do whatsoeuer I commaunde
ye. To come when I callc ye, to go whether so euer I sende ye, to slea whom so euer I com-
niaude yc, without staieng or stackcring. And to put the whole kingdome and rule in my
handes, when thei haue aunswcred, we are content : Saieth he againe, from hencefurthe
then the speache of my mouth, shalbe my swearde. To this the people yealde with greate
shoutes, and reioisyngcs. In the meane while the princes and the nobles, taking the king
out of his throne, spread abrode on tlic grounde a piece of felte : vpon the whiche, thei
cau-^e liym in simple sorfe to sitte doune, and thus sale to hym. Looke vp, and remembre
GOD nboue the. And now looke doune also, and behold this felt vndre the. If thou gouerne
welle, lliou shake haue all euen as thou wouldest wisshe it. But if contrary wise, thou shalt
so be broughte doune againe, and so nighe be bereued of all: that thou shaltc not haue so
nuche, as this poore felte left the, whcrvpon thou sittest. This ones saied, thei sette in to
hym, of all his wiues the dierest derlyng. And liftyng vp the felte alofte, haile hym by the
name of Emperour, & her by the name of Empresse. Then come there presetes streight
from al countries, and peoples of his dominion : and all the Threasoures that the kyng, his
predccessour lefte, are brought him. Of the whiche he giueth giftes to al the princes and
high estates: commaundyng the reste to be kepte for himself, and so dissolueth the Par-
lament as it ware.

In his hande and power is then altogether, no manne can : or though he can, he dare not
flaie this is myne, or this is his. No man male dwelle in any parte of the lande, but in
that wherevnto he is appoincted. The Emperour hymselfappoincteth the Dukes : the Dukes,
the Millenaries : the Millenaries, the Centurianes : and thei the Disniers: and the Disniers
the residewe. The scale that he vseth hath this superscripcion. GOD in heauen, and Chutchuth
Cham in earth, the force of God, and Emperour of all menne. He hath fiue armies of greate
multitude and force : and fuie chiefteines, by whom he subdueth all that stande against hym.
He hymself neuer speaketh to any foreine ambassadours, nor admitteth the to his presence,
as is aboue saied : excepte bothe thei and their giftes (without the whiche specially thei
male not come) bee purified by the ordenarie women. The Kyng aunswereth by another
mannes mouthe. And the persone by whom he aunswereth, be he neuer so honourable, for
the tyme that he becometh the kynges mouthe, kneleth on his knees and giueth so diligent
eare, that he swarueth not from the Kyng in one woorde. For it is not lawefull for any
m.inne, to chaunge the kynges woordes: ne for any man in any wise, to replie against suchc

sentecc

Asie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

•entccc as he giuctli. lie neiier drinct ctli in open presence, but some body first sing to
hym, or plaie vpon some instnimcntc of Miisirqiic.

The gentlemen and menne of honour when thci ride, haiic a phannell borne afore tliem,
on a lauelines ende, to kiepc awaie the Sonne. And as it is saied, the womO likewise. These
ware the maners and facions of the Tartarres, for a two hundred yeres paste.

The Georgias, whom the Tartarrcs aboute the same tymedid subdue: ware Cliristians, afire
the fourme of the Grekc Churche. Thci ware nei<<;hbours to the Persians. Their dominios
stretched out a great length, from Palestine in lewric to the mountcigncs called Caspij. Thei
had eightene Bishoprics : and one Catholicque : that is tosaic, one gcnerall bishoppe, whiche
was to them, as our Metropolitane to vs. At the firste thei ware subiecte to the Patriarchc
ofAntioche. Menne of grcatc courage and hardinesse. Thei all shnued their crounes:
the Laietie square, the Clercques rounde. Their women (certeine of theim) had the ordrc
of Knighthode, and ware trained to the warres. The Gcorgianes when thei ware sette, or-
dered, and raungcd in the fielde, and ware at poinct to ioyne the batteill : vscd to drincke
of a gourdfull of strong wine, aboute the bigguenes of a nianncs fiste. And to scttc vpon
their ennemies : muche amended in courage.

Their Clercques, whiche we cille the Spiritualtie, mighte vse bothe -Simonie and vsuric at
their wille. There was continuall hatred bctwixte Thnrmcnians and them. For the Armenians
ware also Christians, before the Tartarres h.id subdued the Georgianes and the. Hut thei
differed in many thinges, from the belief and facions of the true Churche. Thei knewe no
Christemas dale, no vigilles, nor the fowre quartre fastes, whiche we call Embryng dales.
Thei fa'ited not on Easter eue, because (sale thei) that Christ rose that dale aboute euen
tide. Vpon eucry Saturdaie, betwi.vte Easter an(i Whitsontide, thei did e:\te flesshe. Thei
ware greate fasters, and beganne their Lete thre wekes afore vs : and so streightly fasted it,
that vpon the Wedensdaie and Fridaie, thei neither eate any kinde of fisshc, ne aughte
wherin was wine, or oile. Belicuing that he that drancke wine on these twoo dales : synned
more then if he had bene at the stewes with a whore. On the Monedaie thei absteined from
all maner of meate. On Tewsdaie and Thursdaie, thei did eate but one meale. Wedensdaie
and Fridaie, nothyng at al. Saturdaie and Sondaie, thei eate flesshe and made lustie chierc.
Throughe their whole Lente, no manne said Masse but on Saturdaies and Sondaies. Nor
yet on the Fridaies throughout the whole yere : for thei thought then, that thei brake their
fast. Thei admitted to the houseale, aswell children of two monethes olde, as all other in-
differently. When thei went to Masse, thei vsed to put no watre in the wine. Thei ab-
steined from Hares flesshe, Beaws flesshe, Crowes, and suche othtr.' as the Grckes did, and
lewes do. Their Chalices ware of Glasse, and of Tree. Some said Masse without either
albe or vestement, or any maner suche ornamet. Some onely with thornametes of Deacon
or Subdeacon. Thei ware all busie vsurers, and Simonites : bothe spirituall and Teporall,
as the Georgianes ware. Their priestes studied Sothesaieng and Nigromancie. Their Spi-
ritualtie vsed lunckettyng oftener then the Laietie.

Thei maried, but aftre the death of the wife, it was not lawefull for the housebande to
marie againe, nor for the wife, aftre the death of the housebande. If the wife ware a whore,
the Bisshoppe gaue hym leaue to put her awaie, and marie another. As for the fire of Pur-
gatorie thei knewe nothing of it. Thei denied also verie stifly, that there ware two natures
in Christe. The Georgianes saied that thei swarued from the truthe of Christes Religion, in
thirtie poinctes or articles.

% The. xi. Chapitre.

f Of Turcquie, and of the maners, Lawes, and Ordenaunces of the Turcques.

THe lande, whiche now is called Turcquie : hath on Theaste Armenia the more, & ronnctli
endclong to the Sea of the Cilicians: hauyng on the Northe, the Sea named Euxiniis. There
are in it many coutries conteined. As Lichaonia, whose heade citie is Iconium, Cappadoria
with her heade citie, named Cesarea. Isauria, whiche hath for the chief cilie Seleucia.

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VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

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Litin, whiche now U rnlled Briqiiia. Ionia : now rallcil Qtiixquoun, in the whirhe ><tanilcth
I'.phcsufl. Paphlajjonia, and in it Gcrmanopolin. Ami Loiiech : that hath for the hrade
Ciiic Trapc/.iis. All this conntrie that now !•< called Tiin-quie, is not enhabitcd hv one sc-
iierall nacion, but there be in it Turcqiies, Grckco, Armcniims, Saracenes, lacobite*, Ncstori-
nn-*, lewes and Ciiristians. Whiche line for the iiioste parte, acordin"; to the Tradirions and
OrdcnaunreH, that Mahomet the countrcrcict Prophete, gaue vnto the Sararenes (a people
of AraMe) the yere of our Lorde and Saiiiour lesiis Christe. vi. hundred and. xxix. A
nianne whome I can not telle whether I maye callc an Anbianc or a Persia. For ther be
aucthoritics of writers on either bchaulfe. His fathvr was an idoi.istreaftre the maner of the
heathen. His mother an Ismaiitc leaning to the lawe of the lewcs. And whilest in his
rliildehode, his mother taught him aftre one sortc, & his father al ire another : thci printed
in hvm suche a douhtfull belief, ^ when he cane to age he cleaned to neither. But as a
ninniie of subfyle and guilefull witte, aftrc what time he had b'.'nc longc contiersaunte
amongest menne of the Christian religion : he draue a drifte, deuised out of both lawes (tiic
olde and the newe) how he mighte notably enfecte the worlde.

He said the lewes did wickedly to denie Christe to be borne of the virgine Mary, seinge
the prophetes (me of gri-at holmesse, tSi cnspired with the holy ghost) had foreshewed the
same, & warned me of many yeres passed to looke for him. Contrariwyse he said to the
Christians thei ware very foiide to bcleue that lesus, so dierly bcloucd of God, and borne of
a virgine, would suflre those vilanies and tonncntes of the lewes.

Martinus Segonius Nouomotanus, in his booke of the Sepulchre of Christe our king, writeth
that the Turkes, and Sararenes by an aunrient opinion recciued from Machomet : do laughc
Ciiristian menne to skorne, that seke thether with so grcate reuercnce. Sayeng that Christ
5 prophet of all prophetes endewed with the spirite of God, and voyde of all earthly cor-
ruption : had ther no sepulchre in very dicde, for tliat he being a spirituall body coceiued
by the breathe of y holy ghost couldc not sufi're, but should come againc to be iudge of the
Gentiles. This saieth Segonius, and many other thinges sounding to like effecte : whiche
the Mahometeines are wute to throwe out against the Christians, bothe loolisshely and wick-
edly. When this countrefeicte prophet had saused his secte with these wicked opinions:
he gaue them his lawe, and sorte of religion. Against the whiche lesse any man of righte
iudgemente should aftrewarde write or dispute (as against a pestilent and filthie perswasion)
he wrote a lawe in his Alcorane that it shoulde be dcathe to as many as should reason or
dispute vppon it. Wherby he euidentlie declared, that ther was nothing godly or goodly
therin. For why shoulde he elles haue so raked it vp in the ashes, and forbidden it to be
examined : so that the people coulde ncucr come to knowledge what maner of thinge it i.'i
that thei beleue in. In the giuing of his lawe, he vsed muche the counselle & helpe of the
mocke Sergius : of the wicked secte of the Nestorianes. And to the ende it might please the
more vniuersally: he patched it vp together with pecea of all maner of sectes. He thoughte
it good to sette out Christe with the beste, affirminge that he was a manne excelling in all
holinesse and vertue. Yea he extolled him to a more heigth then was appliable to the nature
of ma, calling him the woorde, the spirite, the soule of GOD, borne out of a virgines
wombe, whome he also with many wondrefull praises magnified. He confirmed with his
consente, the miracles, and story of the gospel, as farre as it varieth not from his Alcorane.

The Godspelles snid he ware corrupte by the disciples of the Apostles. And ther fore
it behoued his Alcorane to be made, for to correcte and amende them. Thus fanning into
fauour with the Christias, he would haue bene christened of Sergius. Then to procure, &
moue other also to fauour his procedinges: he denied with the Sabellians the Trinitic.
With ^ Manicheis he made two goddes. With Eunomius, he denied that the father and the
Sonne ware equal. With Macedonius he said that the holy ghoste was a creature, or sub-
staunce created. With the Nicholaites he allowed the hauinge of many wiues at ones. He
allowed also the olde testament. Althoughe sayd he, it ware in certain places faultie. And
these fondenesses did he beswiete with a wondrefull lure of the thinges that menne in this
iyfe mooBte desire. Lettinge louse to as many as helde of him, the bridle of al lechery

and

til

/tsie.

TRAFFIQUFS. AND DISCOUEHIES.

537

and liistc. And for that cause doth tliix contagioiH ciiil sprcdc it self so wide info innii-
meralilc tontrios. So ^ if a niS at ihis day foinpare the noinbrc of thcin that t h\ hiin
scdiiicd, with the other that renuiinc in tlic doctrine of faithe: he shal easeli pern- if the
great oddcN, \v;irc it hut herin. That w!u i Europe alone, (and not al tliat ljy a great >.: .le)
sfiiileth in the belief of Christe : alino«ite ail Asic, and Aphriquc, yea and a ^reatc pc< e of
Kuropo Hfindrth in the Turivis<.ia- Ixlicfof Nfalinmete.

Till- S II 11 encs that lir>lo rcceiucd t!u- hraincsi<kc wickednessc of this countrefiicto prophete,
dweU. in that parte of Aralii:i, tiiat is called Pctrca : whcr it entrccommuncth with lewry
(III tlic one side, and with Kj;ipi on tiic ether. So named of Serracum, a place nere vnlo
tlic \abathcis or raflu-r as thci wouldc haue it them sclucs, of Sara, Abrahams wife.

\V lenipon thei yet sticke faste in this opinion, j thci onely of al me are the lawfull hcires of
("loiMcs behestc. Thci j;;iuc thein sclucs totiltiie, and cattle, and to thewarres. But the greater
parte to tlie warres. And thcrfore at what time they ware hired of Ileraclius in the warrcs
againste the Persians : when he had gotten the victory, and thei perceiued them sclues to be
dclVaud(Ml bv him : kindled with the angrcof tlie villanyc thci hail done vnto them, by the
cminsell and i)crswasii)ii of Mahomet (who tooke vppon him to be their captainc) thei forsoke
Ilcriclius. And going into Siria, enuaded Damasco. Wher when thei had encreaacd them
Kclnes bothe in nombrc, and purueiaunce necessary for them, thci entred into Egipte. And
subdued (irste that: then Persis, then Antioche, & then Icrusalem. Thus their power and fame
daily so encrcaccd, and t^rewc: that men muche feared, that any thing aftcrwardc shoulde be
able to rcsistc them. In the meane season, the Turkes: a force and a cruell people, of the
nacion of the Scithiens, driiien out by their neighbours fro the mountainea called Caspij,
came downe by the passage of the moute Caucasus, firste into Asia the lesse, then into
Armenia, Media, and Persis. And by stronge hande wannc all as they came. Against
these the Saracencs went forth as to dcfcndc the bordrcs (jf their gouernaunce. But foras-
muche as this newecome po\^er was to harde for them, the Saracenes within a while fellc
into such dospaire of their state: that vppon condicion that the other would receiue Ma-
homctes belief: thei ware content thei shold reigne felowlike together with them, in Persis.
Wherto when thei had agreed, it was harde to saye whether of the peoples hav' receiued the
greater dammagc. The Saracenes, in yelding to them the haulf right of their kingdome :
or the other, whiche for coueteousnes therof yelded them selues to so rancke, and wicked
a poyson of all vertue and godlynes.

One bonde of belief then so coupled and ioyned them : that for a space it made to them
no matier whether ye called them all by one name, Saracenes, or Turkes. But nowe as
ye se, the name of the Turkes hath gotten the bettre hande, & the other is out of remem-
braunce. This people vseth moe kindes of horseme the one. Thei haue Thimarceni, that
is to saye Pencioners, aboutc a foure skore thousande. These haue giuen vnto them by
the kinge, houses, villages, and Castles euery one as he deseructh, in the steade of hi.i
wages or pencion. And thei attendc vppon the Sensacho, or capitaine of that quarter, wher
their possessions lye. At this daye the Turkes are deuided into two armies: the one for
Asie, and the other for Europe. And either hath a chiefteine, at whose leading thei are.
These chiefteimes in their tongue be called Bassay. Ther are also another sorte muche Ivke
to our aduenturers, that serue withnute wages, called Aconizie. And these euer are spoiling
afore when the campe is yet behynde. The fiueth parte of their butine is due vnto J king.
And these are aboute a fourty thousande. Their thirde sorte of horsemen is deuided into
Charippos Spahiglauos, & Soluphtaros. The bestc, and worthiest of these, are f Charippie:
of an honourable ordre of knighthode, as it ware for the kinges body. And those be euer
about him, to the nombre of eyghte hundred, all Scythians and Persians, and elles of none
other kinde of menne. These, when nede is, being in the sighte of the kinge: fight notably,
and do wondrefull feates on horsebacke. Spahy, and Soluphtary be those whiche haue
bene at the kinges bringing vp fro their childehode, to serue his filthy abhominacion. And
when thei are come to mannes state, thei marye at the kyngea pleasure: And be enriched

bothe

♦ ■
'■■■>

^il

i> ■

ifi

338

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Asie,

?>i.

botlic with the dowery of their wife, ami a stipeiulc. These {or the mostc parte seme for
enibassadours, ileputics, lieutcuaiinfes and siiche other di<>niiics, and are ncxte vnto the
kinu;e on bothe sides of him, when he goeth any whether as a garde. Thci are in nombrc
a thotisande and thre hudred.

Among the foolemen are three sortes, lanizaric, those be chosen all the Empire ouer, of
xii. veres of age, or tliere aboule, by eerteiii (hat hatic Commission for the purpose : And
are for a space enstructcd in the feactcs of warre. in commune sciiooles. And then aftre-
warde are thci chosen into soiildie, and hauc giuen them a shorter gnrmente, and a white
cappe, with a tarfe tourncd vpwnrde. Their weapon is a Targctte, a Curlilase, and a Bowe.
Their olficc is to fortilic the Campe, and to assauite cities. Thci arc in nombre aboue
twentie thousande.

The seconde sorfc are called Asappi, and are all footemen of light harnesse, wcajjoned
with swearde, target, and a kindc of long Inuelines, wherwith thci slea the horses of their
enemies, in the skirmishe and battaile. These, to be knowen fro the lani/.arics, wcare redde
cappes. These are appoincted in nombre, arcordvng as the case shall require. Hut thei
are euer at the !'j. ste fouretie thousande. When the Wii.ics arc finished, for the whiche thei
ware hired: tho«- are no longer in wages. Tliarmie roiallc hath about two hundred thou-
sande armed mt.me, beside a greate rable of footemen ailuenturei-s, that take no wages, and
suche other as be called out of Garrisons. And amonge these, Pioners and Coukes, Car-
penters, Armourers, and suche other as tlici must nicdcs haue to make the waye, wher the
place is combresome : to dresse victualles, to amende harnesse, to make brcdges ouer lloudcs,
to trcnche aboute their ennemies, to plante battries, make Ladders, and suche other thingcs
necessarie for the siege. Thcr foloweth the armic also, sondrye sortes of money Masters:
some for lone, some for exchaunge, some to buy thinges. And sondric sortes of occupiers,
such as be thought nedeful in such cases.

But there is nothi g in all that nacion more to be merucilcd at, then their spiedinesse in
doevng of thinges: their constantnes in perilles, and their obedience and precise obseruinge
of all ciimmanndemctcs. For the least fault, of goeth the heade. Thci passe oucrragiiige
fliuidcs. mounteignes and rockes: nnighes and plaines, fhicke and thinne, if thei be com-
mauiiiii'd. Not hauing respecte to their lyfe, but to their rulers. No men male awaie with
mcTC waichc, no men with more hongre. Among them is no mutinyng, no vproines, no
sti.iTos. In thcyr fygi t thei vsc no cries, nor shoutcs, but a certeine liercenes of brayeng.
Tlui kcpe suche precise scilece in the night, through out their cainpe: that thei wil rather
s!;(Tre such as tiiev haue taken prisoners, to run their waie, then to make any sturre. Of
all the i'C(>ples at this daie. thei onely doe warre, acording to the ordre of armies. So that
no mar.ne niedcih to meruav le how it cometh that no people this two hundred ycare and
aboue, haue had like succcf-se vnto them. Yea, it may (ruely be sayd, that exce])te it be by
soni' plague or nunrevn, or discorde among them sclues, they can not be subdued. The
appaiail that the souldiours do vsc, is most comely and honeste. In their sadles and bridles,
there is ncithei curiositie, ne yet superfluilie. No man emong them weareth his Armour,
but when i:iede is to tight. They carry their harnesse lnhynde theim, at their backes.
They vsc neither banner, standerde, ne (laague : but certcin lauelins that haue streamynge
out fro the toppe, diners coloured thriedcs, by the whiche euery hande knoweth hiscapiteine.
Thei vsc a ilrome and a liphe, to assemble their Bandcs, and to stiirre thom to the balteile.
When the liatteiie is done, all ihe armie is presented to the Regeslour (whiche !>; some one of
th'' obles) bothe that it ma\e bee knowi-n who is slain, and what nombre: and that newc
ni;iy be entred in their ])!nces. In all assemblies and mietinges, feasie, or other : thei praic
for their souldiours, and menne of waire. But specially aboue all other, for those that hauc
suflr'^d dentil i r i!v. co'iuvnne «iuarelle of their countrie : calling them happie, fortunate,
and blessed, iiuit thei yelded not vp their Hues at home, amidde the lamentacions and be-
wails nge^, of their wines and children, but lostc them abroiie, amonge the shoutes of their
enemies, U the ratling of the ilarncis, and Launces. The victories of their forefathers and

eld res,

V'jr

Asie.

TRAl-FIQUES, AND DISCOUERIl'S,

339

cldrcs, tlici put into Baladc, and sinj; tlieini with grcalc honour anil praises : for that
thri fhinke the roiiragcs of the souldioiirs and nicnnc of warrc, be muchc quickened, and
kindled thereby.

Their dwelling hcnnes arc eoniniunely of timbre and claie, very fewc of stone : for of
them arc the noble mcnnes houses tiieir temples, and Batches. And yet are there amongc
the communes, men able of them self alone, to set fiirthc an whole armic, furnisshed at all
poinctes. I'^iit because thei ;ire nalurally giuen to sparing and to abhorrc ail sumpfuouse-
nesse, embra-^ing a lowe and simple state: thei wel beare this volutaric pouertie, and rude
hon elinessc. V.^r this cause also, doe thei not set by any kinde of Painters bnagerie. As
fur the other imagerie of corue graiien, or molten workc, thei do so hate and abiiorre: tliat
thei call vs Christians for ilclighting so muche in them, vcrie Idolatours and Image wor-
shippers. And do not onely sn calle vs, but wil earnestly argue, that we are so in dede.
Thei vse no Scales to iheir I.eltres, of what surte so euer thei be, the kynges or other. But
they crediie the matier, assone as thei haue red the superscription, or heard the name of
the sender. Thei occuj)ic no bclle-i, nor sullie n(^t the Christianes that dwelle amug them
to do. Thei game not for money, or any valcwe ellcs. And if it fortune that any mannebe
Ibunde to do, in many sndrie wise thei rcuile him, and baitehim with shames and rcproci.e.

No man among them, of what degree or dignilie so euer he be : retp.reth forme < haire,
stoole, or other kinde of scale to sitic vpon. But foldinge bothe him selle and his clothes,
aftre a moostc comely sorte : rucketh downc vpon the groutnle, not muchc vnlike to the
sitting of our getlcwomen ofte times here in Knglande. The table wherupon thei eate, is
for the moostc i)artc of a Bullockes hide, or a Ilartes skinne. Not dressed, but in tlie hearc,
lacioncd rounde, beyng a fowre or flue spannc oucr, and so set rounde about on the bor-
dre, or verge, with ringlettcs of iron : that putting a couple of stringes throu^hc the ringcs,
it maye be drawen together, and shuttc and opened like a jmrse. House, or Cluirche, or
any other place wher they cntendc to sitte, no man cntrelh with his shoes on. For it is
compted a very dishonest and an vnmanerly facion, to sitte shoed. Whcrfore they vse a
nianer of slippc shooes, that may lightly be putte of and on. The place where thei silte,
cither at home, or at Cluirehc, is in some place matted, and in some place oiiersj)red with
course woollen Carpcttc. And some places also, cither for the lowenes, moislenes, or vn-
cleanclinesse thcrof are plancked with boorde.

The garmentes aswcll of the menne, as the women, arc large and longe, and open afore :
that thei may the more honcstlie and couerlly hide all, when nature craueth to be eased.
And in docyng these niedes, thei take greatc hiede, that their face be not into the Southe,
as it is whe thei praye. As also that thei discouer no jjriuie parte, that any man myghtc
fortune to sec. The menne make water silting, aswell as the women. For if a man amonges
them, ware sene to make water standing : he should be iudged of all, a foolc, or an hcri-
tiqiic.

From wine (as from a jjrouoker of al sinne and vnclcnnesse) thei absteine by their lawc.
And yet cate they the Grapes, & diincke inuste. Thei also forbearc to rate anv thinge,
that commeth of the Iloggc : or any thinge ellcs that dieth of sickenesse, or by aduenturc
vnslain. But any other thinges, being mannes mcatc, thei refuse not to cate. Thei wor-
shippe the Fridaie, laieng all labour and businessc aparie, with as greatc solcmpnitic and
deuocion, as we doc the Sondaic, or as the lewes (loc the Sabboth daie. In cucry citie
there is one principall or head Churche. In the whiche vppon the Fridaie at aftre Noone,
thei all assemble together. And aftre solcpne ])raiers, heare a sermone. Thei acknowlcd"e
one (Jod, to whom ihei make no like, nor equalle : and Mahomet to be his trustie and wel-
beloued Prophete. All the Saracencs are bound to ])raie (iue times on the daie, with their
faces toward the South. And before thei so do, to the ende thei maic be cleane from all
fillhe of bodie : to wasshe them selucs toppe and taile, hcade, cares, eyes, nose, mouihe,
armes, handes, bealy, colions, Icgges and tiete. Specially, if he haue bene late at (he
soilc with a woman or stouped on his taile to vnburden his bcalie. Except he haue sf)me
letlc of iournie, or sickenesse. But if he lackc watre to doe this withal! (as that sieldome

:Mi\

■:!>.<

i^H.)

fii

n;,!:|

M 7*' ills' .

310

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

J.S

sie.

or neiier can happen, for that thei haiie in all cities, bathes ordenaric for the purpose) thei
supplic the defaiilte with the moiilcle of fres-shc cleane carthe, wherewith thei riibhe oner
their whole bodies. Who so is polluted in any niancr wise : siifTrcth no man before this
clensinii', to spenke with hym, or to see him, if it be possible. F.iiery yere for the space of
fuic wi< kes continually togrtl^er, thei faste al daic as prcsircly as is possible, botlic fro
mcatf, driucke and women. lUit aftre the soime is ones di uno, till the next dale he riseth,
thpj eiihor spare eatyn«r nc ('rinckyiij;, ne pressyng of pappes. In thcndc of their lento,
a ! aj;aine the sixtieih 'laic aftre : Thei kicpo thoir passeoiier or Easter, in remrbrauncc of
the Rambe shewed vnto Abraham, to be Sacrificed in the steadc of his sonnc, and of a cer-
laine niijhtc in the whiche thei doe beleue that tho Alcorane was giucn them from heanen.

Eu ry \cre ones, the Saracenes al>o are bound of duetie to visile the house of Cod, in
the 1 itic of Mecha : bothe to acknowledge their homage, and to yclde vnto Mahomete his
yerciy ln-nour at his Sepulchre there. The Saracenes compelle no man to forsake his opini-
on ( r belief: ne yet labour so to perywade any coutrie to do. Although their Alcorane
coinmaunile th'^im to treade doune and destroic all niennc of th'^ contrary bcliuc yea them
& their pr phetes. But through this sufl'erauce, ther are to be foundc enhabiting in Tur-
kie, peoples of all opinions, and beleue : euery man vsinge suche kinde of worshippe to
his G'd, :is to his religion apperteincth. Their prie>tcs do not murhe dilire from the com-
mune people, nor vet their churches from their dwelling houses. Yf ihei knowe the Alco-
rane, and the praiours and ceremonie* of their lawe, it sufliscth. Thei are neither giuen
to contL'piacion ne yet s( hole study. For why thei are not occupied with any churche ser-
uicc or cure of sc iilcs, Sacramentes haue thei none, nor reliques, nor halowinges of fontes,
Aulters, and other necessaries. But prouidinge for their wiues, their children, and house-
holdes, Ihei occupio their time in husbodrie, marchaundi>e, huntinge, or some other menne
to i^et ;! e penie, and mainteyne their lining, euen as the temporall men doe. Ther is no-
thing forbidden them, nothing is for them vnlawfull. Thei be neither burdened with til-
lage, nc bonJago. Thei be muche honoured of al me, for that thei are skilfull in the cere-
monies of the lawe, teache them to other, and be the gouernours of the churches.

They haue many schooles and large. In the which great nombres are taught the lawes
there giuen by kinges, for the cinile gouernaunce and defence of the Realme. Of t!ie
whiche some are afterwarde sette fourth to be men of the churche, and some to be tempo-
ralle officers. Their spiritualtie is deuided into many and sondry sortes of religions. Of
the whiche some line in the wooddes & wyldernes shonnyng all companyc. Some kiepe
open hospitalitie in cities, and yet liue by almose them selues. These if they lacke meate
to refreshc the niedy straungcr and pcUigrine, yet at the least waie they giue him herbour
and lodgyng. Other, roumyng the cities vp and downe and caryeng alway in bottles faire
watre and fresshc, if any man be disposed to drinke, vnasked they willingly profile it him,
and refuse not to take, if he for their gentlcnesse ofTre aught vnto them agayn. Otherwise
they craue nothyng, but in al their woordcs, gesture, behauour, & diedes : shewe theim
selues aungelles raither then menne. And euery one of these hath one knowledge or other,
of differece from the reaste. The Saracenes or Turkes are \ery precise executours of lus-
tice. Who so committcth bloudshed: hath in like sorte his owne shedde againe. Taken in
adultery, both parties are streight without mercy sioncd to deathe. Thei haue also a pu-
nisshement for fornicatio, whiche is to the manne taken with the diede, foure .score ierkes
or lasshes with a skourge. A thief for the first and the secondc time, cscapclh with so
many stripes. But at the thirde time, hath his hade cut of, and at the f iirtlie his Ibote.
He that endamageth any manne : as the losse or hindcraunce shallie valevsed, so muste he
of force recompence. In claiming of goodes, or p')'scssions, the claimer muste prone by
witnesse that the thing claimed is his : and the dciiier shalbe tried by his othe. Witnesses
thei admitte none, but persoiies of knowen honc.-tie, & suche as inighte be lielieued with-
oute an othe. Thei haue also ccrtaine sijicfaultos ordinarilye appoinctcd (muche like to
our Sompnours) tiiat spie in euery shicre for suche as be nei ligeiit, and let -lippe suche
oraisons, and scruice as thei be boiide to. Those if thei fortune to linde them : do tliei

punishe

Asie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

341

punishe affre this mancr. The! hage a borde about their neckes, with a great many of foxe
tailes, and togginge them vp and downe the stretes : all ouer the citie, thei neuer lette
them go vntyll they iiaue compounded by the purse. And in this also nothing vnlil:e to
our Sompnours. It is lawPuIl for no manne, beinge come to manncs state, to Hue vnma-
ried. It is compted amonge them as lawfull to haue. iiii. wiues, as it is amonge vs to hauc
one. Marie what soei.er is abouc this nombre (as thei may if thci liste, and be able to
kcpe them, no degree e ccepted, but mother and sister, marie a hundred) thei are not iudged
so lawfulle. The chi'^/en that thei haue bothe by the one, and the other haue equalle por-
cion in the fathers enheritaunce. Sauing that. ii. women children are compted in porcio but
for one man childe. Thei haue nor. ii. of their wiucs together in one house, ne yet in one
citie. For the busines, & disqiiiefinges that might happen therby, but eucry wife in a se-
ucrall townc. The housebandes haue libertye to put the away thrise, and thrise to take them
againe. But yet when he hath ones putte her awaie, if any manne haue taken her, and she
lust to abide with hym, she maie.

Their women are moste honestlie appareiled. And vpon their heades doe vse a certt ie
attire, not muche vnlike the vcluet bonette of olde Eiiglande : wherof the one lappe d
hangeth vppon whiche side semeth her good : that when she is disposed to go out of tie
doores, or to come amongest menne within the house, she maie hide therwith by and by her
whole face, sauyng her eyes.

The Saracenes woman, ncuer dare shewe her self wher ther is a company of menne. To
go to the marchate to occupy byeng or sellyng in any wise : is not syttyng for their womc.
In the head church they haue a place farre a part fro y men : so close that no manne canne
looke into them. Into the which notwithstandyng it is not laufull for euery mans wyfe to
entre : but for the nobilitie onely. Ne yet for them neyther, but on Friday, at the onely
lioure of noone praier : whiche as I haue aforesayd, is kept amonge them high and holy.

To see a man and a woman talke together ther, in the open strete or abrode : is so strauge,
and so vnwonte a thing, that in a whole yere it skate happeneth ones. For a man to sitte
with his wyfe in open sighte, or to ride with any woma behinde him : amongest them ware
a wondre. Maried couples neuer dally together in the sighte of other, nor chide or fallc
out. But the menne beare alwaies towarde the women a manly discrete sobrenes, and the
women, towarde them a demure womanlie reuerence. Create menne, that cannot alwaie
haue their wiues in their owne eye, appoincte redgelinges, or guelte menne to awaite vppon
them. Whiche waite them in diede so narrowlye, that it ware impossible for any man be-
side the housebande to speake with the wyfe vnsene : or the wyfe by any stealthe to false
her trouth and honestic. Finally the Saracenes do so full and whole beleue their Mahomete
& his lawes : that thei doubte no whitte, but the kepers of them shall haue euerlasting bless-
ednesse. That is to saye, after their opinion, a paradise of pleasure, a gardein plotte of
delighte, fu'.l of swiete rindles of Christalline watre. In whose botomes ^grauelle, popleth
like glisteryng golde. The ayre alwaie so attempre and pure, that nothyng can be more
swiete, more pleasaunte nor healthsome. The grounde couered and garnisshed with natures
Tapesserie, neither lacking any colour that pleasaunte is to the eye, or sauour that maie de-
light the nose. Birdes syngyng with suche armonie, as neuer mortalle eare heard. Briefly
flowyng in all pleasure that any harte can aftre thincke. Disshes for the mouthe, of all
deintics. All maner of Silkes, Veluettes, Purples, Skarlettes, and other precious apparelle.
Godiy younge damoselles, with graie rowlyng eyes, and skinne as white as Whales bone,
softe as the Silke, and breathed like the Rose, and all at their becke. Vessclles of siluer
and golde. Angelles for their Butlers that shall bryng theim Milke in Goblettes of golde,
and reddc wine in siluer. But contrariewise, thei threaten vnto the breakers of them, hclle,
and eucrla<;fyng destruccion. This thei also beleue, that be a manne wrapped in neuer so
many synncs, yet if at his death, he beleue vpon God, and Machomete, he shalbe saucd.

■i-i,.

*i The.

;1 -1

;p:iff|i-

mm'"

34S

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,
It The. xii. Chapltre.

Ade.

mm..

ft apptreth hy
this place that
this was written,
xxxv. yerej gone.

H Of the Christians, of their firste commyng vp, their Ceremonies, and ordenaunces.

CHristc lesu, the etemalle and verie sonne of thulmightic father, the secondc persone in
the holie inseparable, equalle, and eiierlastyng Trinitie: Of asette purpose, and spirituallc
secrete, not reuealed from tlic beginnyng of tynie, & aboue mannes capacitie : was by the
meane of the holy ghost, concciued and borne manne. In lewrie, of a Virgine, of the
stocke of Daiiid, a thousande fine hundred, and twentic yercs* gone Tosette vs miserable,
and vnhappic nienne on foote againe, whiche ware in Adam and Euc, by the sinne of dis-
obedience ouerthrowen. And to bryng vs againe, vnto our heauenlic natiue countrie, from
the whiche we haue by so many ages, for that prcsumpcion bene banished. Finally, to re-
paire and supplie in heauen againe ones, the ruine and fal of those spirites, whiche a space
afore our creacion, ware thurste doune fro thence For the whiche purpose, we chiefly ware
made. This lesus, from thirtie yeres of age, vntiil thirtie and fowre (in the whiche, throughe
the maliciousnes of the lewes, he suflred on the gaiowe tree) traiieiilyng all lewrie ouer :
first moued and exhorted the lewcs, and then other peoples, from the oide Lawe of Moses,
and their wicked Image worshippe, to his newe ordenaunce and trade. And as many as would
folowe, and doe aftre hym, he called theim his scholers or disciples. Out of the whiche, he
gaue vnto. xij. that he had specially chose, Comission aftre his death (when he had appered
to the on line again, as he had forewarned the y he would) to go as Legates, or Embassa-
tours into ^ whole world, & to preache vnto all creatures, what so cucr tliei had sene or
learned of him. Simon Petre (to whom longe afore he had surrendred the gouernaunce and
chiefteinshippe of his Churche, as in reuercion aftre him) whc aftre the comyng of the holy
ghoste some wente into one coste, and some into another, euery manne his waie, as thei
ware allotted and commaunded : came first vnto Antioche. And there setting vp the first
and chief chaire of the Churche, kepte a counsaille with the other Apostles, whiche often
tymes came to hym. In this Counsaille among other thinges it was decreed, that asmany as
should receiue, and cleaue vnto the doctrine, and righte pcrswasion of Christes godlines :
shou'd fro thence furthe be called Christianes. This Seate of superioritie, beyng aftrewarde
translated to Rome : bothe he and his Successours, tooke it for their chief charge and busi-
nesse, to put the rude and rawe secte of their Christe, and the folowers of the same, in some
good ordre and trade of gouernaunce. Bothe aftre the mancr of Moses Lawe (whiche
Christe came not to breake, but to consummate and finishe) and the state of the Komaia
gouernaunce, the Greke, and Egipcian : and also by paterne of the Ceremonies, obserur .nices,
lawes, and ordenaunces Ecclesiasticalle and Temporalle, of many other peoples : But spe-
cially afire the doctrine, of Christe lesu, and the woorkyng of the holy ghoste, to bryng
them in to frame and facion. When thei vMire entred in the mattier: As thei sawe that me
not emong the Hebrues alone, but emOg other peoples al^u, ware dcuided into Ecclesiasti-
calle .and Temporalle, Spiritnaltie and Laietic: and echo of tlicim in moste goodly wise, into
their dignities and degrees (The Romaine Empcrour thcii being gouernour of the whole
worlde alone, to haue Consulles, Fathers or Scnatours : at wliose becke all thinges ware de-
uised and doone : And in the re ;ide\ve of the carthc t.) bee many Kyngts, many Dukes,
Eries, Presidentes, and Deputies of countries, and their Lieutenauntcs : Maresshailes of the
fielde, and highe Conestables for the comunes, Pretours or Prouostes, Standerdbearcrs roialle,
Ccnturianes, and Disners, Seriauntes, Conestables, Collectours, Suruciours, Porters, Scribes,
Listers, and many other persnncs without office, bothe menne and women. And in the Tem-
ples of their Goddes, a Sacrificcr roialle, whiche is to sale in elfecte, a highe Prieste of the
dignitie of a kyng. Archeflamines, Flamincs of honour, and ether Flamincs inferiour and
laste in degree their Priestes. And by like ordre emong the Hebrues : an highe Bisshoppe,
and inferiour Priestes, Leuitcs, Nazareis, candle quenchers, commaunders of Spirites,
Churche Wardcines, and Syngers, whiche wee callc Chauntours aftre the Frcnche. And
Capitcines, or headcs ouer a thousande, ouer an hundred, ouer fiuetie,

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Asie.

THAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

34S

ouer tene, and ouer fiue. And that there ware yet beside these, bothe cmong the Hebrues,
and the Romaines, many coucntes, or compaignies of mcnne and women Religious. As
Sadduceis, Esseis, and Pharisois einong the Hebrues ; Salios, Diales, and Vestalles, emong
the Romaines : The moste holy Apostles did all consente, that Petre, and thei that should
folowe him in the seate oF Rome, should for euermore be called Papa. As who would sale,
father of fathers, the vniucrsalle, Apostolicalle, moste holy, and moste highe bisshoppe.
And that he should at Rome be Presidenlc ouer the vniuersalle Churche, as the Emperour
there, was ruler of the vniuersall worlde. And to matche the Consniles (whiche ware eucr
twaine) thei appoincted fowre head Fa'hcrs, in tiie Greke named Patriarohes, one at Con-
stantinople, another at Antiochc, a t'.tirde at Alexandrie, and the fowrthe at Hierusalem. In
the place of the Scnatours, thei took the Cardinalles. To matche their kynpes, whiche had
three Dukes at cnmmaundementc, thei denised Primates : To whom ware subiecte thre Arche-
bishoppcs. So that the Archchishoppo or Mctropolitane, standcth in the pkice of a Duke.
For as the Duke had ccrtein Erics or Hamncs at his rommaundemente: so haue the Arch-
bisshoppes, other inferiour Bis<i!ioppcs at theirs, whiche also by reason muste countrenaile
an Erie. The Bisshoppes coadiutdur or SufTragane, came into the Presidentes place. Thor-
denarie into the Deputies, then did the Oilicialle matche with the Mareshalle, And with the
high conestable for the comunes, the Bishoppes Chauncclour. And for the Pretour or Pro-
uo-ite, thei sette vp an ArchedcacQ In stcde of the Ceturiane, was a Deane appoincted.
And for the Disnerc, the Pcrsone or Vicare. For the Aduocates, crept in the Parisshe
Prieste, Soule Prieste, Chaunterie Prieste, Morowe Masse Prieste, and suche other. The
Deacon standeth for the Suruciour. The Subdeacon, for the Serieaunte. For the two Cone-
stables, came in the two Coniau iders of Spirites, called Exorcistai in the Greke. The Col-
lectours otlice, was matched with the Clnirche wardeines. The Porter became the Sexteine.
The Chautour, Scribe, and Lister, kiepe stille their name. The Acholite, whiche we calle
Benet and Cholet, occupieth the roume of Candlebearer.

All these by one commune name, thei called Clerj, of the Greke woorde Cleros, that is
to sale, a Lotte. For that thei ware firste from among the people, so allotted vnto God.
Thereof comcth our terme Clerque, and his cosine Clergie. Neuerthelesse, this name
Clergie, was not so commune vnto all : but that it siemed moste proprely to reste in the
seuen degrees, that the Pope of Rome vsed for his Ministres, when he saied Masse in per-
sone him self. That is to sale, the Bihhoppe, the Priest, the Deacon, & subdeacon, f Acho-
lite, and the Chautour. Vnto euery of these gaue thei in f church their seueralle dignities
officies, & appareile.

To the Bishoppe was giuen aucthoritie, to ordeine and make other Clerckes. To *cnueile Thitistoiaie,
virgines, & to hallow them. To consecrate their likes, and their superiours also. To laie '^0"™^
handes vpon the. To confirme and Bisshoppe childre. To hallowe Churches. To put
Priestes from their Priesthode : and to degrade theim, when thei deserue it. To kiepe Con-
uocacios and Sinodes. To make holy oile : to hallowe the ornamentes and vesselles of the
churche. And to do also other thinges, that the inferiour Priestes doe. To enstructe those
that be newly come to the faithe. To Christiane, to make the Sacramente of the Altare, and
to giue it to other. To absolue the repetaunte of their siimes, and to fettre the stubberne
more streighte. To shewe furthe the Gospelle. To enioyne all Priestes to shaue their heades
in the croune, like a circle of. iiij. fingres brode, aftre the maner of ^ Nazareis. To kepe
their heare shorte, to weare no bearde. And to liue chaaste for euer.

Their liuyng onely to rise of the firste fruictcs, tenthes, and offringes : and vttrely to be
voiJc of aU temporalle and Laiemennes cares and businesse. To be honestlie apparelled, and
accordyngly to vse their passe and conucrsacion. Onely to serue God and the churche. Di-
li <!,*it\y to plye the reading of holy scripture, f they them selues mighte perfectly knowe all
thinjr,es perteining to Christian religio, wherin thei are boud to enstructe other. The com-
panies or couetes of religious, aswcl men as women : are Benedictines, Preachers, Francis-
ranes, Augustines, Barnardines, Anthonines, lohanites, Cisternois, and innumerable other.
Whiche al haue their habite, and maner of lining by them sclfe : acordinge to the rule that

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

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Thf Latine call,
cth it • shirpc
hooke.

i'f-"

That is, hf
saicth cunfittor.

Hora prjnii,
tenia, s»ta,
■osa.

echeone priuately prescribed to them selues. And liued for the moste parte a solitary life,
professing chastitie, pouretie, and perpetualle obedience. And for their solitarines theCrcke
called then) Monachi. Some of these haue for their heades Abbotes, some Priourn : whiche
are either subiecte to the Pope onely, or to the bishoppes. Al these vsed coules, much aftre
one facio, but in colour diuers, & abstained fro fleshc. The bishoppes when thei say masse,
haue. XV. holy garmentes, aftre p maner of Moyses lawe, for y- perfectio of the. IIis boate-
wes, his Amice, an Albe, a Girdle, a Stole, a Maniple, a Tunicle of violette in grainc
fringed, his gloues, ringe, and chesiblc or vestimente, a Sudarie, a cope, a mitre and a
*crosse staffe. And a chaire at the Aultares ende, wherin he sittcth. Of the whiche. vi. are
commune to euery inferiour prieste : the Amice, the Albe, the girdle, the stole, the Mani<
pic, and the vestiment. But ouer, and aboue all these the Pope, by the gifte of Constan-
tine the grcate, hath libertie to weare al the ornamentes Impcrinllc. That is to saye a kirtle
of skarlet, a robe of Purple, a sceptre, and a close corone. With the whiche aftre he hath
rauisshed him selfe in the vestrie, vppon solempne feastcs, when he entedeth to do masse :
he commeth forth to the aultare, hauing on the right side a prieste, on the lefte side a Dea-
con, a Subdeacoji going before him with a booke faste shiitte, two candle bearers, and an
encensour with the censoure in his hande smoking. When he is come to the griessinges, the
stayers, or foote of the aultare : putting of bis mitre, he maketh open *confes3ion of his
sinnes together with his company.

That done he goeth vp to the aultare, openelh the booke, iienge vpon the Icfte corner of
the same, kysseth it, and so procedeth in the Solempnisacio of p Masse. The subdeacon
readeth the epistle, and the Deacon the godspelle. Priestes of al degrees, arc charged to
prayse God seuen times a dale, and to praye with ordenarie oraisons. Towarde the eueninge,
euensonge : and compline more late. Matines in the morninge, and incontinente prime,
and howres, in ordre of tyme, as thei stande in *ordre of name. And this humbly before
the aultare, if he maye conueniently, with his face towarde the Easte. The pater nostre and
the Crede said thei, onely at the beginnyng of their seruice, as the commune people do
nowe a dales also. Sainctc Jerome, at the vrgent request of Pope Dnmasus, parted out the
Psalmes acording to the dales of the wieke. And appoinctcd for euery houre a porcio of
propre psalmes. For the nighte houres on the holy daye. ix. and on the working daye. xii.
F(.r laudes in the morning, v for euensonge as many, and for eche other houre but thre. He
also ordeined the Epistles, Godspelles, and other seruice, vsed to be red out of the olde or
newe testament, in maner altogether, sauing ^ note. The Anthemes (which Ambrose,
Bysshoppe of Millayne wrate, and endited) Daniasus put ordre that the quiere shnuld sing
side aftre side, & added t<» euery psalmes ende. Gloria patri, &c. The lessons and Himpnes
that go before eche one of the howres did ^ couceiles of Thoulouse and Agathone aucthorise.
The orisons, the grailes, the trades, the Alleluya, thoff'ertoric, the Communions in the
Masse, the Anthemes, Versicles, repitions, and other thinges, either songe or redde by
nyghte or by daye, to the beautifieng, and praysing of God : did Gregory, Gelnsius, Am-
brose, and many other holy fathers, deuise, and put furthe, not at one time but at sondry.
The Masse (so terme thei the sacrifice) was firste vsed to be done in suche simple sorte, as
yet is accustomed, vppon good Friday, & Easter euen, with certeine lessds before it. But
then Pope Celestiiuis put to the office of the Masse. Thelesphorus, Gloria in excelsis : But
Hilarius of Pictauia made the Et in terra. Simachus ordeined it to be songue. The Saluta-
cios, which by ^ terme of Dominus vobiscum, be made seuen tymes in a Masse, ware taken
out of the booke of Ruthe, by Clemente and Anaclete, and put in, in their places. Gcla-
sius made vp all the reste to the Offertory, in the same ordre thei be vsed. Excepte the Se-
quences and the Crede: wherof Nicolas put in the firste, & Damasus the nexte : acordinge
to the Sinode of Constantinople. The bidding of the beades, with the collarion that was
wonte to be made in the pulpite on Sondaies, and halydaics : railher grewe to a custome by
the example of Nehemias, and Esdras, then was by anv aucthorised. In this collation at the
firste comniing vp therof, when so many as ware presete at the Masse did rcceiue the com-
munion, acording as was ordeyned by a decree: thei that ware at any discorde ware exhorted

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Asie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

343

to Concorde, & agreniente. And tliat tliei should receiiie the sacrament of the aulter cleane
from the filthe of sinne, vppon the whiche consideracion at this daye it cndeth with cnn-
fiteor, or an open confession. There ware thei wontc to teaclie the instrumentes of the oldc
lawe, and the newe. The ten comaundementes. The xii. articles of our beleuc. The
seuen sacramcntes, holyfolkes Hues, and Martirdomcs, holy day es, doctrines, and disciplines:
vertues, and vices, and what soeuer are necessary beside forthe, for a Christianc to knowe.
Gregory linked on the offertoric. Leo the prefaces. Gelasius the grcate Cano, & the
lesse. The Sanctus blessed Sixtus. And Gregory y Pater nostcr out of the Gospcll of
sainte Mathewe. Martialle the scholcr of blessed Peter, deuiscd that Bysshoppes should
gyue their benediction at the Agnus. And as for other infeour priestes, Innorentius com-
mauded them to giue the paxe, that is to saye peace. Scrgius tacked on the Agnus, and
Gregory the poste communion. The closing vp of all with Itc misga est, Benedicamus,
Deo gratias : was Leocs inucncion.

The xii. articles of our belcue, whiche tlie blessed Apostles would euery mannc not onelv
to confesse with mouthe, but to brleue also in harte, are these.

Firste, that ther is one God in Trinitic, the father almighty maker of heaucn and cnrthe.
The seconde, lesus Christe his onely sonnc our Lorde. Tlie thirde the same beinge con-
ceiued of the holye ghostc, to haue bene borne of y Virgine Marie. The fourthe, to haue
sufTrcd vndre Ponce Pilate, to haue bene crucitied, deade, bewricd, and to haue descended
in to helle. The tiueth, to haue risen agayne the thirde daye fro the deade. The sixteth,
to haue ascended vp into the heaues, and to sittc on the right hande of God the father al-
mighty. The seuenth, that he shall come fro thence like a triupher, to iudge the quicke and
the deade. The eight, that ther is an holy ghostc. The nineth, y ther is an holy churchc
vniuersalle, the communion of the godly and good. The tenthe, forgiuenesse of sinnes.
The eleueth, the rising againe of the tlesshe. The twehieth, aftre our departing, life in
another worlde euerlasting.

The tenne commaundementcs, whiche God wrate with his owne fingre, and gaue vnto
the Israelites by Moses, whiche thapostlcs willed vs also to kiepe. The firste, thou shalte
haue none other Goddes but me. The seconde, thou shalte not make the any graue Image,
or likenesse of any thing that is in heaue aboue, in the earthe benethe, or in the water
vnder the earthe, thou shalt not bowe doune to them, nor worshippe them. The third, thou
shalt not take the name of thy lorde God in vaine. The fowrthe, remembre that thou kiepe
holie thy Sabboth daie. The fiueth, honour thy father & mother. The sixteth, thou shalte doe
no murdre. The seuenth, thou shalte not commit adulterie. The eight, thou shalte not
steale. The nineth, thou shalt beare no false witnesse against thy neighbour. The tenthe,
thou shalte not desyre thy neighbours house, his wife, his seruaunte, his maide, his Oxc,
nor his Asse, nor any thing that is thy neighbours.

The seuen Sacramentes of the churche, whiche are conteined in the fiue laste Articles of
our beleue, and commaunded vs by the holie fathers to be belcued.

The firste, diepyng into the water, called Baptisyng, aftre the Greke. This, by canoni-
calle decree, in time paste was not wonte to be giuen (exccpte greate necessitie soner
required it) but to those that had bene scholers a space afore, to learne the tliinges apperti-
net to Christendome. Yea, and that aftre thei had bene exceadingly welle enstructed in
the faithe: and proufe taken of their profityng, by seuen examinations, whiche ware made
vpon seuen seueralle dales in the Lentc, and so ware thei Baptissed vpon Easter cuen, and
\Vhitesondaie euen. Vpon whiche dales, thei ware accustomed to hallowe the christening
watre, in euery Paroche. But because this specially of all other, is chiefly necessarie vnto
euerlasting saluation: leasse any bodie should die without it, thei decreed that assone as the
cliilde was borne, godfathers should be sought for it, as it ware ibr witnesses or sureties whiche
should bryng the childe vnto the Churche doore, and there to standc without. And then the
Priest should enquire, before the childe be dicped in the Fonte, whether it haue re-
nounced ISatlian and all his pompe and pride. If it beleue certeinely and wholic, all the
Articles of the Christiane faithe. And the Godfathprs answering, yea : for it, the Priesle

breathvns

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

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M-

breathyng thriuc vpon his face, exorciseth it, and cathechisetii it. Aftre that, dneth he seiicn
thiiigcs to the childe in ordre. Firste, he putteth into the mouth hallowed salt. Socoiidcly,
he mingleth earthe and his spnttlc togiicther, and smcreth the eyes, cares, & noscthrillcs
of the childe. Thirdly, giuyng it suche name as it shall cuer aftre bee called by • he
marketh it on the breast and backe with holie oile, aftre the facion of a crosse. Fourthly,
he dicpeth it thrise in the W;itre, or besprinkleth it with wairc thrise, in maner of a cros.ie,
in the name of the holie Trinitie, the father, the sonne, and holie ghost. In the whichc
name also, all thothrr Sacramentos are niinistred. Fiuethly, weting his thumbe in the
holie ointement, he maketh therewith a Crosse on the childes foreheade. Sixthly, he put-
teth a white garment vppon if. Senenthiy, he takcth it in the hilde a Candle brcnnyng.
The lewes before thei be Christened (by the detcnninacion of the coiinsaile holden at
Agnthone, are cathechiscd, that is to sale, are scholars at the enstruction of our belcue
nine monethes. And are boud to fast fourtie daies : to dispossesse them seines of all that
cuer thei haue, and to make free their bonde men. And lookc whiche of their children
thei haue Circumcised, acording to Moses lawe : hym are thei bounde to banishe their com-
panie. No merueile therefore if thei come so vnwillingly to christedome.

Bishopping, whiche the Latincs caiie Confirmacion, a condrming, a ratificng, establish-
vng, auchthorisyng, or allowyng of that went before: is the second Siicramcntc. And is
giue of the Bishoppe onely, before the Aultare in the Churchc, to siiche as are of growe
yeres, and fastyng (if it male be) aftre this maner. As many as shalbe Confirmed, come
all together with euery one a godfather. And the Bishopj)e aftre he hath saied one orasion
oner the all, wetyng his thumbe in the holie oile, maketh a crosse vpo eche of their fore-
heades : In the name of the father, sonne, and holie ghoste. And giueth hym a bhvwe on
the lefte chieke, for a remembraunce of the Sacrament, that he come not for it againe.
The godfathers, to the ende the enoilyng should not droppe awaie, or by negligence bee
wiped awaie, clappe on a faire filettc on the foreheade, whiche thei iudge to be unlawfully
take awaie, before the seuenth daie. The holie fathers estemed ihis Sacrament so highly,
that if the name giuen to the childe at his Christendome, siemed not good : the Bisshoppe
at the giiiyng hereof mighte chaunge it.

The thirde Sacramente is holie Ordres, whiche in the firste Churche, was giuen likewise of
the Bishoppe, onely in the monethe of Decembre. But now at sixe seueralle tymes of the
yere : that is to sale, the fowre Saturdaics in the embre wekes (whiche ware purposely or-
tleined therefore) vpon the Snturdaie, whiche the Churche menne calle Siiientes, because
the office of the Masse for that daie appoincted, beginneth with that woorde, and vpon Easter
euen. This Sacrament was giuen onely to menne: and but to those neither, whose de-
meanour and life, dispositio of bodie, and qualitie of minde, ware sufficiently tried and
knowe. Aftre the opinion of some, there were seuen ordres, or degrees, wherby the holy
fathers would vs to beleue that there ware seue speciall influences, as it ware printed in the
soule of the receiuer, wherby eche one for eche ordre, was to be compted an hallowed
manne. Aftre the mindes of other there ware nine. That is to saie, Musicens (whiche
encludeth singing and plaieng) Doore kiepers, Reders Exorcistes, Acholites, Subdeacon,
Deacon, Prieste and Bishop. And for all this, it is copted but one Sacramente, by the
reason that all these tende to one ende, that is to saie, to consecrate the Lordes bodie. To
euery one of these did the Counsaile of Toledo in Spaine, appoincte their seueralle liueries,
and offices in the Churche. The Dorekepers had the office of our Common Sexteine,
to ope the churche dores, to take hede to the churche, and to shutte the dores. And
had therfore a keie giuen vnto theim, when thei ware admitted to this ordre. The
Reader, in signe and token of libertie to reade the Bible, and holie stories, had a greate
booke giuen him. The Exorcistes, serued to commaunde euill spirites out of menne,
and in token therof, had a lesse booke giuen them. The Acholite, had the bearyng and
the orderyng of the Tapers, Candelstickes, and Cructtes at the Altare : and therfore h.id
a Candlesticke, a Taper, and two emptic Cruorettes deliuered hym. The Subdeacon,
mighte take the ofTring, and handle the Chalice, and the Patine, carie theim to the Altare,

and

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TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

347

and fro the Altarc, and pine the Deacon Wine and water, out of the Criiettes. And ther-
fore the Bishoppe deliiiercth hym an emptie Chalice with a Patine, and the Archdeacon one
Cruet full of wine, and another full of watrc, and a TowcHc. To the Deacons, is the
prcachyng of Goddcs Gospelle to the people committed, and to heipe the priest in al holy
ministracion. He hath the Gospelle booke dcliuercd hym, and a fowcll hanged vppon
his one shouldrc, like a yoke. The Trieste hath power to consecrate the Lordes bodie, to
praic for sinners, and to reconcile the a<!;aine to God by Penauce enioined them. lie halh
deliuered hym a Chalice with Wine, the Patine, with a singynf> cake, a stole vpo bothe
shouldres, and a Chesible. What Ornamentes the Bisshoppe hath n;iuen vnto hym, ye haue
heard afore. He male not be made Bisshoppe, but- on the Sondaie about the iii. houre aftre
Prime, betwene thoffice of the Masse and the Gospelle; at the whiche tyme twoo Bisshop-
pes, and a Metropolitane, laie their handcs vpon his heade and a booke. The Bisshoppes in
the firstc Churche, did litle or nothyngdiftrefrom other Priestes, and ware ruled bv the com-
mune Counsailes of the Churche, before that dissecion and dcuision entred emonjj the people,
causing theim in sondrie sortes, to cleaue vnto sondrie names, euery sortc as thei fortuned to
beconucrted and Christened of a sondrie persone. As whom Paule Baptised, thei would be
called Paulines. Whom Appollo, AppoUonians. Whom Cephas, Cephites, and so of other. To
auoide therefore these breaches of Concorde, and for an vniformitie, the holy fathers ware driuen
to decree and stablish that asniany as should aftreward be baptised, should be called Christ-
ianes of Christe. And that ouer eucry Countie or Shierc, there should be settc one Prieste
or moe, acordyng to the greatnesse of the same, suche as ware best tried. Whiche should
haue to name, Ouersears in Englishe : in Greke, Episcopj. Whom we cal Bishopes, by
chaungyng of P. into B. and leaning out the E. for shortncs, acordyng to the nature of our
tongue. These mighte not then goucrne their Clergie, and other their Diocesans, at their
owne pleasure, as thei did before : but acording to the decrees of the Churche of Rome,
and the holie Counsailes of the fathers assembled. Then began thei firste (by the suflTraunce
and helpe of deuoute princes) to deuide all Christendome into Dioceses, and the Diocesse
into Conuocacions or Chapfres, and those againe into Paroches, and to set that goodly ordre,
that yet continueth, aswell emong the clergie as the laietie. That the parishe should obeie
their lawfull Persone, the Persone the Deane : the Deane the Bishoppe : the Bishoppe, the
Archebishoppe. The Archbishoppe, the Primate or Patriarche : the Primate or Patriarche,
the Legate: the Legate, the Pope: the Pope the generalle Counsaile : the generalle Coun*
saile, God alone.

For the fourthe Sacramente it is holden, that euery prieste rightly priested, acordyng to
the keies of the Churche, hauing an entente to consecrate, and obseruynge the fourme of
the woordes : hathe powei*, of wheaten breade to make the very bodie of Christe, and of
Wine to make his very bloudc.

Christe our Lorde hym selfe, the daye before he suJTred, kepte it solemply with his dis-
ciples, and consecrated, and ordeined it continually to be celebrated, and eaten in the re-
membraunce of him selfe. And about this mattier a man had nede of a great faythe. Firste
to beleue the breade to be chaunged into the body, and the wine into the bloude of Christe.
Againe thoughe this be done euery daye that yet Christ for all that should growe neuer a
whitte the bigger for f making, nor the lesse for the eatinge. Thirdely that the Sacrament
being deuyded into many partes, Christ should yet remaine whole in euery cromme. Fourthly
that thoughe the wicked eate it, yet should not it be defiled. Fiuethly that it bringeth to
•IS many euyll asreceiue it, death : and to the good euerlasting life. -Sixthly that it tourneth
not into the nature of the eater to his nouiisahemente as other meate dothe: but turneth
the eater contrariwise into the nature of it selfe. And yet being eaten, that it is rapte into
he.auen, vnhurte or vntouched. Seuenthly that in so smalle a syse of breade and wine, the
infinite, and incomprehensible Christe, God and mannc shoulde be comprehended. Then,
that one, and tlie self same bodye of Christe, at one very ijistaunte, shoulde be in many
places, and of many menne receiued at ones, and in sondrye parcelles. Ninethly y thoughe
the bread it selfe be chaunged into the very flesshe of Christe, and the wine into his bloude,

that-

AiiS

348

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

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tha^ yet fo all the senccs thci remaine breade and wine, and neither flesshc ne bloud. Further
that all thcne rumodilies cOleined in these verses folowing should happen vnto those that
worthely cate it.

It putteth in mynde and kindleth, encrcascth hope, and strengtheneth. Mainteineth,
clenseth, restoreth, gines life, and vniteth. Stablissheth beliefe, abates the foode of sinne,
and all vnclennes quencheth.

Finally, to be very profitable for the saluacio aswell of those liuyng as dcade, for who it is spe-
cially ofli-cd by the priest in the Masse. And therefore to haue to name Eucharistia communio.

In the beginniiifi of the ChriHtiiinc faifhe (and yet amonge certeine schismatiques as thei
save) one whole lofe was consecrated, of suche bijjgucncsse, as whe the Priest had broken
it in a platter info smalle pieces, it mighte suHise the whole multitude that ware at the masse
to participate of. For in time paste the Christianes came eucry day to communicate by a
speciall commaundementc, ;ind ordcnaunce. Aftrewardc but ones in a wieke and that on
th'-' Sonday. Kiif whan it began to be skant well kepte vppon the Sonday neither: then was
it con.naunded that euery manne should receiue it thrise in the yere, or ones at the leaste,
at euery Easter. And that euery christian manne, when he stode in any daun^jicr of death,
bcyii2f whole of minde, should receiue it as a waifaring viande, to stave him by the waye :
with as good preparation of bodye and soule, aa he possibly mighte.

Matrimonie (whiche is the lawefullc coupling of the manne and the woman) broughte
in by the lawe of nature, the lawe of God, the lawe of all peoples, and the lawe ciuile, is
the fuicth Sacrnmcnt. The holy fathers woulde haue but one mariage at ones, & that not
in secrete but with ope solemnitie eyther in f churche, or in the churche porche, and so
that the priest be called to the matter. Who shold firste examine the man, and then the
womanne, whether thei bothe consent to be maried together. Yf thei be agreed (whiche is
chiefely in this case requisite) he taking them bothe by the right handes : cuupieth them
together in the name of the holy and vnseperable trinitie, the father, the sonne, and the
holy ghoste. And commaundeth, and exhorteth them that thei alwaye remembring this their
coupling of their owne free wille & consent : as longe as thei liue, neuer forsake one another
but loue & honour one another, bedebonaire and buxome one to another, giuing them selues
to procreacion, and not to lecherous luste. And that thei honestly and diligently bringe
vp, suche children as God sendeth them of theyr bodies. Aftre that he affiaunceth the both
with one ringe. And sprinckling holy water vpon them, reacheth them a stole, and leadeth
them into the churche, where (yf thci ware not blessed afore) he blesseth them knieling
before the altare. The woman hath on a rcdde fillet or frontelette, and ouer that a white
veile, withoute the whiche it is not lawfulie for her fro that daye forewarde, to go cute of
doores abrode, or to sitte by any manne. Twelue thinges ther be, whiche the holy fathers
woulde haue to barre persons from contracting of matrimonie, and to disseuer them againe,
yf thei be contracted. Errour of person, that is to saye, mistaking one for another. A
betrowthing vpon a condicion, Cosanguinitie or kindred, Anope crime Diuersitie of secte.
Force, or costrainte. Holy ordres, a Bode or former contracte. Commune or open honestie,
Affinitie, and Disshabilitie of engedrure.

The sixteth Sacramcnte is penaunce or repentaunce, giuen of Christe as it ware for a
wracke boorde, wherby men are preserued fro drowninge. Eche Christian oiighte vndoubt-
edly to beleue that this consisteth in foure poinctes. To sale, in Repetaiice of our sinnes,
Canonicalle cofession, Absolucion, and Satisfaction, or amendes. Firste let him sorowe,
not with a lighte forthinckinge, but with a moste earneste and bittre repentaunce in the bo-
tome of his conscience : for the puritie and innocencie that he had gotten eyther by bap-
tisme or f benefite of former repentaunce, and nowe hathe eftsones loste, and forgone
throughe sinne. And let him hope with this repentaunce, to be reconciled to the fauour of
God againe. And let him hunr" ly, and truly with his owne mouthe, confesse to a wise
prieste, in the steade of God : ai those offences wherwith he knoweth him selfe to haue
loste his innocencie and clennesse, and to haue prouoked the wrathe of GOD againste him
selfe. And let him assuredly belcue that the same priestC; hath power giuen him of Christe

(as

"'-rV'

Astc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

(as bcinge his vicnre, or depulic on carthe) to absolue him of all his sinncs. Finally for
satisfaction or amendcs making fur the fanlte : lette him not with gnidgingc, but chierfully,
and gladly doc, what so eucr he shalbe cumaudcd. Beleulg with vndoubtcd faith, that he
is absolucd, and qiiyte of all, assone as the priest in dewe forme of wordcs, hath pronounce*!
the absolution.

The seuenth, and the lastc Sacramrt is the lastc cnoynting, by an oyle that is made to
this vse, by thebishope in euery dincessc, by an ycrely custome vpo Maudy Tluip<daic, like
as the chrismatory oyle is. And this by the prccepte of sainte lames the Apoetle, and by
the ordinaunce of Felix the fourthc Pope after Sainto Peter: was giucn only to them that
laie in dyeng, being of full age, and rcqiiyring it. Thei vse to enoynte with i prcscripte
fnurme of wordcM, and with often inuocacion of sainctes : those partes of the bodic, wher
our fiue witti >; or senses : the hearing, seyng, smelling, tasting and touching, bcarc mostc
stroke, & with whiche man is iml;^ed chiefely to sinnc. That is, the cares, the eyes, the
nosethrilles, the mouthe, the handes, and the fete, VVherby the holy fathers would vs to
bcleue, that there was not onely purchased cicane fnrgiuenesse of all smaller ofTences, or
venialle sinnes: but also either presente recoueric, or a riper and gentler deathc. All the
feastes and holydaies, throughout the ycre, whiche the churche hath commaunded to be ob-
serucd & kept: bcginne at the Aduentc, or approche of Christe our Lorde. Whiche Peter
the Apostle instituted to be obserucd in Decembre, with fasting and praier, thre wiekes
and a haulfe before Christemas, whe we close vp the last. viii. dales of that moncth, with
great ioye and fcaste. Thei deuided the yere into two & (iuetie wekcs, and. xii. seueral
nionthes. The monethescomonly into, xxx, dales. The firste daye of laiuiary the churche
rccordeth howe Christe was circumcised acordinge to Moyses lawe. The. iii. daye aftre,
howe he was worshipped of the thre Sages, with thre sondry presentes : and howe beinge
baptissed of lohn in lordaine the floude, he laide the foundacion of the ncwe Lawe. The
scconde of Febninrie, how his mother vnspofted, obeyeng the maner of her c5try : brought
hym into the temple, and sufl'red her self to be purified or clcnscd, whiche we ralle church-
ing of childe. In memorie whcrof the churche vseth that daye, solempne procession, and
halowing of candles. The fiue and twentieth of Marche, howe ^ aungel brought woorde to
the virgin Marie, that Christ shoulde be borne of her, being conceyued in her wombe, by
the ouershadowing of the holy ghoste. At the whiche time they willed vs to faste the four-
tie daies that he fasted him selfe, being with vs vppon earth, and to renewe the remem-
brauncc of his passion, and deathe, whiche he willingly susteined to deliuer vs fro J' yoke
and bondage of the deuell. The laste day of that faste, which oftentimes falleth in Aprille,
to celebrate the highest feaste in al the yere : in remembraunce howe he ouercame deathe,
descended into helle, vanquisshed the deuell, and retourned againe on line, and appeared in
glorious wyse vnto his scholers, or disciples. In Maye, howe all those his scholers loking
vpo him, he by his owne vertue and mightc, stied vp into the heauens. At the whiche
time, by thordenaunce of saincte Mamerte, bishoppc of Vienne : there be made ganginges
with the lesse Letanies from one Churche to another, all Christendome ouer. In lune, and
somtimc in Male, how the holy ghoste, promised to the disciples, giuen from aboue, ap-
pcrcd to them like glowing tongues : and gaue them to vndrestande, & to speake the tonges
of al nacios. Theight dale folowing, Trinitie Sondaie. The fiucth daie aftre that, how
Christe in his laste supper, for a continualle remembrauncc of himself, instituted the moste
holsome Sacramete of his bodie and bloud, vndre the fourme of breade and wine, leauyng
it to be sene and eaten of his. The fiuetenth of Inly, how the blessed Apostles, acord-
yng as thei ware comaunded, the twelueth yere aftre the Ascencion of their Master ijito
iicauen : wente their waies into the vniuersalle worlde, to Preache vnto all people. The de-
partyng of Christes mother out of this life, the fiuetenth daie of Auguste. And her Nati-
uitic, theight of Septembre. And thone and twcntie of Noucmbre, liow she from thre
yores of age (at the whiche tyme she was presented to the temple) vntill s.he was mariage
able, remained there seruing God stil a peace. And theight of Decembre, how she was of

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VOYAGES. NAUFCiATIONS,

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her parentrs begotten, that longc afore had bene barreinc. Tlie second daio of Iiilio, how
I'llisabcthc passynj; the Moiintcines, visited her kinde-iwoman.

There ware also eerteinc liolic dales appoincted ti) the. \ii. ApostK"». To certeine Nfar-
tvrcH, ConfossoiirH, and Virgincs. As the fowrc and twentieth of l'el)rnario to sainc 'e Mat-
thic. To siaincte Marine the Euangeliste, the. xxv. of Aprillc. Vpoii the wliiche dale, CJre-
gorie orJcincd the greate Letanies to be songe. The firste of Nfaic is lialinwc'd for Philippe
and lames the njore. The. xxix. of hnic, for Pctrc and Panic : &: the. xxiiii. of thcsame,
for the Natiuitic of. S. Ihon IJaptiste. The. xxv. of Inly, for lames the lessc. For linrtho-
loniewe the low re & twcnlie of August. For iNfathewe, the one and twenlic of Septembrc.
And the eiuht and twcntie of Octobre, for SimO and lude. The last of Nouembrc, for. S.
Andrewe. The one and twentie of Deccmbrc, for saincte Thomas. And the. vii. and twentic
of the: anie moneth for Ihu the Euagcliste. The dale before, for Stephin the first Martire.
And the daie aftre for the Innocentes. The tenth of August for sainct Laurence. And the
thro & twentic of Aprillc, for nainctc George. Of all the Confcssonrs, there are no moc
tiiat haue holidaies appoincted, but S. M;irtinc and saincte Nicholas. The (irstc, on the clc-
iienth of Nouembrc: and the other the si.xteth of Decembre. Katherinc the virgine, the
(iuc and twentic of Nouembrc, and .Marie Magdalene the twentic and two ol' Inly. There
is also vndre the name of saincte Michael alone, the. xxix. of Septembrc: a holy daie for
all blessed Angcllcs. And one other in commune lor all the sainctcs, and chosen of GOD,
the firste of Nouembrc.

Thei would also that cuery seuenthe daie, should be hallowed of the Christianes, by the
name of Sondaie, as the lewes dc: their Sabboth ; restyng from all worldly woorke, and
beyng onely occupied with praising of GOD, and the deuine Seruice in the Churchc. To
learne by the Pricstes prcac'ivng, the Gospellc and the commaundementes of our faith.
And by what meancs so eu';r we thlnkc in our conscience we haue prouoked the wrathe of
God against vh all the wiekc afore : that, this daie to amende, to sette clicre, and aske par-
done for. In time past cuery Thursdaie also was kepte as the Sondaie. But because we
mightc sieme therein, somewhat to gratelie the Heathen (whiche that daie kepte solempne
holie daie, to lupiter their Idolle) it was laied doune againe. More ouer the clerkcs and the
people, vsed bothc Thursdaie and Sondaie before ^fasse, to go round aboute the Churche a
Procession, and the Prieste, t(> sprincklc the people with holy watre. Agapitus instituted
the one, and the other. The Thursdaie, in remembraunce of Christcs Ascencion, and the
Sondaie, of his glorious Resurrection : whiche we celebrate fro Sondaie to Sodaie continu-
ally, ones eucry eight daies. The night afore euery ordenary holidaie or feastcfull daie :
the whole clergie, and the people, ware bounde to kiepe Vigile in euery churche. That is
to saie, to wake all nighte, in deuine seruice and praier. But vpon considcracion of many
slaunderous crimes and offences, that ware by diners naughtie and malicious personcs com-
mitted, by the oportunitie of the darke : this maner was taken awaic, and ordeined that the
daie before the fcaste, should be fasted, whiche yet kicpeth slille the name of Vigile. The
fiuhers decreed that the churche in the whole yere should renne the memoric of fine thynges.

Fro the Sondaie called Septuagcsima (because there are seuentie daies, betwienc that and
the octauaes of Easter) thei would vs to renuc the meniorie of Christcs Fasting, Passion,
Death & Bewrialle. The miserable falie also of our first parentes, and tho,se extreme er-
rours of mankinde, by the whiche thei ware ledde awaic fro the knowledge and worshippe
of one verie GOD : to the wicked supcrsticion and honour of Idolles and dcucllcs. And
further, the greuous and intollcrabic bondage that the people of Israeli suffred vndre the
Pharao of Egipte. V^pon wliiclic considcracion, the bookcs of Genesis and Exodus be redde
in the seruice of the churche. Whiche shewcth then in all her demeanour, and apparcilyng,
heauiuesse and sorowe.

From the octaviaes of Edster, to the octauaes of Whitsontide, Christcs Resurrection, and
Ascencion, with the comnu ng )f the holy Ghosfe. And together with that, the redemp-
cion, reconciliacio, and atonement of mankinde with God the father, throughe lesus Christe:

and

iiit' 1

/Isic,

TRAFFIQUrS, AND DISCOUEniES.

and the restoryng aj;ainc of the rhildrcn of Israeli, to the laiulc of hrhcHtc. WliiTi-in wa-t
preli^^iircd our rcconriliarion and rcdrmpcion alorcHaid. For flint cause in all the seruiio
out oC the newe Testamet, and al ihinjfes done with ioic Sc gladneu.

From the octaucs of Whitsontide, till Aduente, xx. wiekcs space, and more, thei would
hauc to bee celebrated the couersation of Christ here in the worlde, with his miracles and
woorkcH of wondre. And ouer and beside that, the lonRC pilgrimage, that mankinde, by
longe rcuolucion maiieth, from one generacion to another, from the tyine of our reJcmpcion.
naluacion and sauing, vntill the lastedaie of time. Wherefore duryng this while, \pon con-
Hideracion of the diucme happe and hasarde, wherwith the Churche is tossed, like a Shippc
in the troubled Seas, she neither greatly reioicefh, ne sornweth, but redeth greate chaunnc
of bookes, onte of the olde and newe Testamentc : to the ende she male walkc the warelier.
and the bettrc wijnde her self out of the stormes, that are ready to assailc her.

From Aduente to t'hristemas, to remcmbre the tyme from Mosos, to the conimyng ol
Metisias. In the whiche mankinde eertefied of saluacion, bothe by the lawe and the I'ro-
phctes, awaited with moste earneste desires for his comming, and the kingdOe that he shold
naue. Wherefore thei ordeined that the Prophecies should be redde, and fasting exercised.
That the churche the bettre enstructed, and abled by these, niightr the worthclier rccciue the
Birthe daic of Christ her Lordc (whiche euer falleth the fowerth wicke aftre) and from
thens holde on with fe.aste, and continual! gladnesse, vntill Septuagesima. Rcioisyng that he
was now come: whiche should bee the sauluiour of the worlde. Their oratories Tcniplcs,
or places of praier (whiche we calle Churches) might not be built without the good will ol
the Bisshoppe of the Diocese. And when the Timbre was redy to be framed, and liic
foundation digged: it behoued them to sende for the Bishoppc, to hallowc the (irstc corner
stone of the foundaciO, and to make the signe of the crosse thervpon, and to iaie it, and
directe it iuste Easte and Weste. And then might the Masons sette vpon the reste, but not
afore. This Churche did thei vsc to builde, aftre the facion of a crossc, and not vnlike the
shape of a manne. The Chauncelle (in the whiche is contcincd the highe Alfare and the
Quiere) directe full into the East, representeth the heade. And therefore ought to be made
somwhat rounde, and muche shorter then the body of the churche. And yet vpon rcsj)cctc
that the head is the place for the eyes, it ought to be of more lighte, and to bee separate
with a particion, in the steade of a necke, from the body of the Churche. This particion the
Latine calleth Cancelli : and out of that cometh our tcrnAe, Chauncelle. On eche side of
this chauncelle peradueturc (for so fitteth it bcste) should stand a Turret, as it ware for two
eares. And in these the Belles to be hanged, to callc the people to Seruice, by daic and
by night. Vndre one of these Turretes, is there commonly a voulte, whose doore opencth
into the quiere. Anii in this are laid vp, the hallowed vessclles and ornamcntcs, and other
vtensiles of the church. We calle it a vestrie. The other ])nrte oughtc so to be fitted,
that hauing as it ware on eche side an arme, the reste maye resemble the bodye with the
fete stretched in breadthe, and in lengthe. On eche side oi' the bodye the pillers to stonde.
Vpon whose coronettes or heades the van lie or rophe of the churche maye reste. And to
the foote beneth, aulters to be ioyned.

Those aulters to be ordrely alway couered with two aulter clothes, and garnisshcd with
the crosse of Christe, or some litle cofre of reliques. At eche ende a candelsticke : and a
booke towarde the myddes. The walles to be parieted without, and within, and diuersly
paincted. That thei also should haue in euery parisshe a faire sounde stone, made iiolowe
and fitte to holde water : in the whiche the water consecrate for baptisme, may be kept
for the christening of children. Vpon the right hande of the highe aulter, that ther should
be an almorie, either cutte into the walle, or framed vpon it : in the whiche tiiei woulde
haue the Sacrament of the Lordes bodye, the holy oyle for the sicke, and the Chrismatorie,
alwaie to be locked. Furthermore thei woulde that ther should be a pulpite in the middcs
of the churche, wherein the prieste maye stonde vpon Sondaiea and holidayes, to teache the
people those thinges that it behoueth them to knowe. The Chauncelle to serue onely for
the priestes, and clerkes. The rest of the teporalle multitude to be in the body of the

Z z 2 church.

352

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c.

Asie.

;t;

church. Seperate notwithstonding, the men on the ryghte side, and the women, on the
lefte. And eche of them to be sobre and honest in apparelle and behauour. Whatsoeuer h
cotrary to good Facion or Christiane religion, with greate diligence to shonne it. It was the
maner in the first churche, both amonge men and women to lette their heare growe, to
shewe out their naked skinne, and very Title or nothing to diffre in apparelle. Sainct Peter
put first ordre, that women should couer their heades, and menne rounde their heare, and
either of them to go in seuerallc and sondrye apparelle. Moreouer that to euery churche,
shold be laid out a churchyarde, of the grounde adioyning, in the whiche all Christen mennes
bodies mighte indifferently be bewried. The same to be consecrate, or halowed by the
bisshoppe, and to enioye all the priuilegies that the churche may enioye.

The funeralie for the deade, thei kepe not in euery place ylike. Some mourne and kiepe
dirige and M.isse seuen daies continualle together, some ix. some xxx. or fourtye some,
fiiietie, and a hundred, and other a whole yere, wrapped vp in blacke. The coaseile of
Toledo ordeined that the corps beinge firste wasshed, and then wrapped vp in a shiete,
shoulde be caried forthe with singing by menne of his owne condicion or sorte, clerkes by
clerkes, and laye menne of laye menne. And aftre what time the priest hath sensed the
corps, throwen holy water vppon it, & said certeine prayers, to laye it into the graue with
the face vpwarde, and the heade into the Weaste. Then to throwe in the earth again, and
in token that ther is a Christia ther bewried, to sette vp a crosse of wodde, garnisshed
with yvie, cipres, or laurelle. These be the ordres and facions of the Christiane religion.

\.l :

FINIS.

Imprinted at London by lohn Kyngston and Henrie Sutton.
The xxii daye of December. Anno Domini MDLV.

THE CONQUEST

or TH£

GRAND CANARIES,

MADE

THIS LAST SUMMER BY THREESCORE AND THIRTEENE SAILE OF SHIPPES,

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SENT FORTH AT THK

COMMAND AND DIRECTION OF THE STATES CENERALL OF THE VNITED PROVINCES,

TO THE

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COAST OF SPAINE

'Mi

AND THK

CANARIE-ISLES:

•WITH THE

TAKING OF A TOWNE IN THE ILE OF GOMERA,

AND TilE

SUCCESSE OF PART OF THE SAIDE FLEETE IN IHEIR RETURNE HOMEWARD.

WHICH

SET SAILE FOR SPAINE THE 26 OF MAIE, AND RETURNED HOME
THE 10 OF SEPTEMB. 1699.

9t Honoon:

FEINTED BY P. S. FOR W. ASPtEY, DWELLING IN PAULES CHVBCH-YARD AT THE SION^ 0»

THE TYGERS HEAD.

1599.

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TRUE REPORT

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A VOYAGE MADE THIS LAST SUMMER, BY A TLEETE OF 73. SHIPPES,

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SEN!' rOBTIl AT THE

COMMAND!'. AND DIRECTION OF THE iiTATES GENERALL OF THE VNITED PROUINCES,

COAST OF SPAINE AND THE CANARIE-ISLES.

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TVesday the 25. dale of Male the wind being Northe a, 4 Northe-east, we in the fleete
of Roterdam, being 20. saile of ships, the sunne beeing Southe-west and by West, 'came
before FKishing, and ankered ncere vnto Cleiburch ; our general! at his comming found the
flcctes of North-Holland, and Zealand ready.

Wednesday, the 26, dale wee remained there at anchor.

Thursday the 27. day of Male, we tooke into our ships (by the Generals commandement)
two gentlemen and fouie souldiours.

Friday the 28. of May, 1599, the wind being northerly, we waied our anchors, and
sailed from the Weelings with 73. ships, hauing faire weather, setting our course West,
Southwest. Wee had 3. Admirals in this fleete, whereof the cliiefe Admirall was the ship of
William Dcrickson Cloper, wherein was embarked the honourable gentleman Peter Van
Doest being generall of the fleete. This ship was called the Orange, carying in her top a
liag of Orange colour, vnder whose squadron were certaine Zelanders, with some South and
N'orth Hollanders J Ian Gecrbrantson caried the white flag, vnder whom the Zelanders and
ships of the Maze were appointed. And Cornelius Ghcleinso of Vlyshing wore in his maine
lop the blew flag, vnder whom were appointed certaine ships of the Maze with some North
Hollanders. Thus were wee dcuided into sundry squadrons, but to what ende it was so done,
11 is to me, and many others vnknowne.

Saturday the 29. of Male, hauing sight of Callis, y ships lay to the lee ward, and staled
for the rereward. The Lord generall shot off a pocce, and afterward hung out the princes
flag, in signe that the captains shold o'u. aboord him, presently al the captains cntred into
their boatcs, & rowed aboord the Genera!, at which time were two pinnaces sent out of the
fleet, whereof one was the Generals Pinnace, but vnto what place they sailed, wee were
altogether ignorant. And when the boates rowed from the Generall, some of : icm went
aboord the victualert. and tooke out of them certaine fire-workes. The sunne Southwest, the

Generall

■'■: '

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356

Ottegill.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

^ voyage to Spaine

The «liole fleet
fommcih lictbrc
rh" Groiiic.

Generall discharged an other peece of ordinance, and put out the Princes flag, wherevpon
presently the captaines weM aboord him, and when our captaine returned, he had in his
hande a letter closed vp, which hee brought from the Generall, and wee imagined that euery
captaine had receiued the like, and then wee sailed altogether, towa-d the higth of Black-
nesse, where wee anchored, (which caused vs greatly to wonder, seeing we had so faire a
wind,) but we perceiued afterwards, that this was done, to the cnde v/e should there abide the
comming of the great new ship of Amsterdam ; for the soldiours which \vcrc appointed for
her, were all with vs in a ship of our company.

Sunday, the 30. of Maie, where lying at anchor al that night, the next morning we set
sailc altogether hauing the winde at North East, wee set our course West Northwi^st, the
weather being faire. The same morning our captain read vnto vs tluwe v.?ry articles which
before had bin read vnto vs in the prince Mauritz his Court, and aftc wards we altogether,
and with one accord were sworne to the keeping of them : At noone wee were ncorc vnto
Beuersier hauinn : line gale out of the East Northeast, the euening was calme, the formost
shippes slacked their .sailes, attending the comming in of the hindermost.

Wednesday the ninth of lune by the breake of dale we were hard vnder the coast of
Spaine neere to Viucro, the winde being westerly, we sailed North West and by North, and
North Northwest, the >;unne Southwest and by West, we were ouer against the cape
Ortegael, we sailed Nortii West and by North, to fetch the wind : we were in 44. degrees
20. minuts, at twilight, we had the foresaid Cape of vs about 5. miles South West and
by West.

Thursday the 10. of lune, the winde being at East South East, wee directed our course
towardes the shore, and might certainly discerne that it was the coast of Ortegall, we bore
in West Southwest directly with the land, and ordered all thinges as if we presently should
liaue had battel!, and about noone wee had sight of the Groyne, namely the tower which
standeth neere the Groine.

Friday, the 11. of lune, at the breake of day the winde being at North East and by East,
si.ve of our ships ."tailed forwardc South Southwest, meaning to enter the Groine, and there
to learne how al things stood. The siuinc being Southeast, Cape Prior was East from vs, wee
Ijare Snuth, presently after we spied two boaters comming out of VeroU to learn what ships
we were, the rather because that the day before thev had scene our fleete at sea : we sailed
by the wind, and lay in the wind to stav for their comming. The one doubting vs wouldc
not come neere v.s, the other boat also durst not approch neere vs : wee called to one of the
Spaniardes, .saying wee came from I lambnrrh laden with cordage & other goods, desiring
and praying him to let vs haue a Pilot to bring vs into the Groine, wherewith the boate came
aboord vs, so that by our great haste, and policie we got one Spaniard, the other which re-
mained in the boate would not come into our ship, but presently thrust off their boate, making
all possible speede to get from vs. Hauing nowe gotten this Spaniarde, hee was presently
deliuered into the handes of the Generall, who confessed that there were about 4<XX). souldiours
come into the towne, with certaine horsemen, 36. waggons with money, and 300. pipes of
wine, to furnish the Spanish fleet, that he lay the night past in the Groine, and was the Kings
seruant. The sim South South-We<t, we came with our whole fleete before the Groine,
whc."e wee found the great nrwe ship of Amsterdam vnder the Towne.

At 12. l.'j. and 10. fadonie we cast cast anchor, so that wee might behold much people
both on the shoare and vpon the wals of the town : from the rastle & town both, they shot
mightcly with their great ordinance into our fleet, so that there were fvboue 2(W). cannon
shot discharged, wherewith soMie of our shins were hit, but not one man hot, and little hurt
done otherwise. There lay an other castio East ward from the towne, which shot also most
terribly, but altogether vncertainlv, for we know not that they touched any one ship more
then Moy Lambert, which was greatly to bee wondered at, seeing our fleete lay so thicke
together, and so neere vnder the castie. There laie hard vnder the castle \2. great Gallion.s,
with some French ships, which also nowe and then shot among our fleete, but they lay so
neere the wallcs tiiat wee could do them no harme at all. The Lord Generall worthy of al

praise.

"s of

iple
shof

and the Canarie-isles. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. '

praise, wisely be thinking himsclfc, caused all his captaines and counsell to come aboordc
him, that they might together conferre vpon this busines, and what meanes mi.rht best bee
found, to inuade the towne and tl>e enemy, but they concluded not to meddle with the land
there: seeing the enemy was there, strong vpon his guard, and that 5. weekes past both
from Amsterdam, & by a French man, they had knowledge of our coming ; by reason of
the calme, wee were constrained to towe out our ships with the boates in dispite of al their
shot, thus we parted from the Groyne witl.out profit, or effecting of any thing, leauing the
Papists of Groyne as wpe founde them, from thence (the winde being at South Southwest)
wee bent our course towarde Cape Saint Vincent, meaning to goe to Saint Lucars, hoping
to fal vpon them at vnawares, and ere they looked for vs.

Saturday the \9. of lune, hauing got a fine gale we ran along the coast of Galicia, at
noone wee were before the Hand of Cesarian, and ^et our course towards Cape Finister.

Sunday the 13. of lune, the lorde Generall gaue sharpe commandement by his letters, for-
bidding al men aboorde the ships to vse any play, with tables, cards, or dice, either for
money, or for pastime, or vpon credit.

Munday the 14. of lune, the wind blew so harde out of the North, that wee could not
beareour topsailes with our forecourse which sailed South, the sunne was southward we had
Port a Porte of vs, being in 41. degrees and 20 minuts.

Tuesday the 15. of lune, as soone as day appeared, we had sight of Cape Roxcnt, and then
we sailed making small way, staying for the comming together of the fleete: the wind as
before we sailed South Southwest, and were in 36 degrees.

Wednesday the 16. of June, towardes the euening we had sight of two strange ships east-
ward of our fleete, certain of our ships made towards them and tooke them, the one was an
English man of war ; the other was a Spanish barke with three missens : at his comming
before the Generall, he said, he had already sent 2. prises into Englande, and woulde now
with this prise returne home : for his victuals were almost spent.

Thursday the 17. of lune, it was very still and calme weather.

Friday the 18. of lune, the wind being at North Northeast, we sailed South Southwest. The
Lord Generall cau..ed all the Captaines with the Pilots to come aboord him : demanding of
them which of them was best acquainted in the Isles of Canaria: and further, by what
meanes, they might conquer and force the said Hands, and land their people. And about
noone the captaines were chosen and appointed which shoulde commande on lande. The
Generall gaue out newe ensignes, to ihe number of 9. or 10. according to the number of the
ships. The lord Generall appointed to each new captaine, an Ancient bearer, a Lieutenant,
and other officers, with 130. souldiours and mariners, and instructions how cuery one of them
should gouernp 'mself on the land.

Saturday the 19. of lune, the Generall commanded that the captaines should deliuer out
victuals but twice a day, to wit, 6. and 6. to a messe : for 6. men, 5. cans of beere of Roter-
dams measure euery day, 5. pounde of breade and no more, a cheese of 6. 1. euery weeke,
one pound of butter weekely, likewise pease, beanes, or Otetueale twise a day, according
to the order. Captaine Harman, and captaine Pije, had each of them commission to com-
mande on the 'and as captaines ouer two companies of saylers, each company containing
liiO. men. Harman Thuncsson was appointed Ancient to captaine Henricke Pije, and de
Blonime Ancient to captaine Hendricke Hertma. The ancients were deliuered the same day,

Tlie 20. 21. 22. dales, wee sailed South Southwest, the wind being northerly.

Wednesday the 23. of June, the wind was North Northeast. The Generall commaunded
all the captaines both tor the sea and land to come aboord him, where it was ordained and
iletermined how the battell should be ordered, after they were landed. According to the
altitude, we found our selues to \e 36. miles from great Canaria.

Thursday the 24. of Tune, we mine our foresaid course. The sun being West Northwest,
we sawethe land East ?nd by South off vs: wee sailed East and by South, and with great la-
"•our and diligence bore all that might with the land.

Friday the 25. of lune, ve continued our course to the land for our assured knowledge

3 A thereof.

S5Y

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'1- 1 J"'-

353

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

A voyage to Spaine

m :' I

tr),

The whole Ne-
therlandish fleet
commeth before
the Ulind &
town of Grand
Canatii.

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fi ( >

TVenty foure
companies
atropg of the
Nethttladers.
The first castle
taken.

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thereof, and perceiued it to be Lancerot; we saw also a small land (which lay between both)
called Allegrania. and also f Hand Forteuetura, which is 24. miles great, arterward we sailed
Southwest along the coast of Forteuentura, which is a landc that hath very high hils. The sun
Southwest, we were past the Hand Forteuetura, and were sailed out cf sight thereof, running
as yet Southwest : about ii. a clocke in the afternoone wee had sight of the Hand of great
Canaria, for a while wee kept our way ; but when the Generall was assured that it was the
grand Canaria, wee all tooke in our sailes, and lay to the lee ward, and so remained vntill it
was past midnight, then wee set saile againe and made to the lande, our course westwarde.
Saturday the 26. of lune, in the morning the whole fleet sailed West directly to the land
the winde North and by East, and made all thinges ready to land ; being now neere the shore,
the whole fleete let fall their anchors harde by the great castle, which lieth North Northwest
from the town, from whence they began to shoot mightily against the ships. The lord Ge-
nerall and the vize Admirall with the other ships that had the greatest ordenance, anchored
close vnder the castle, & for a certain time they plied each other with their great shot ;
^ Generals main mast, and his missen mast were shot thorow, and his vize Admirall, namely
the great new ship of Amsterdam was shot thorow 6. or 7. times ; so that some of the soul-
diours and maryners also were slaine before they entered their long boates to rowe to the
shore : But the ships for their parts, had so well bestowed their shot on the castle, that they
of the castle began to faint, wherby they discharged not so thicke and often as before. Our
men rowed to the land in the long boates, euery one full of soldiours, Sc the ships which
could not discharge their ordenance against the castle, bent them against the shore, (for
the enemy had three brasse peeces lying vpon the strand) and many people were there ga-
thered together where our souldiours shoulde land. Nowe as soone as the Generall with the most
parte of the long boates were come together, they all at one instant rowed toward the shore,
maintaining for a while the fight on both sides with their shot. But the General perceiuing that
the enemie woulde not abandon the place, with a valiant courage made to the shore, and alto-
gether leaping into the water vp to the middle, maintained the fight with the enemy. Not-
withstanding the enemy no lesse couragious, would not yet leaue the strond, so that some
of our souldiours & mariners lost their Hues before the enemy would retire : for the place
was discommodious, and hard to Innde, but most of the enemy were slaine, to the number
of 30. or 36. and the Gouernor his right leg was shot off, sitting on his horse. The lord Ge-
neral Peter von der Doest leaping first on land, was thrust in his leg with a pike, and had
in his body 4. wounds more, and was in great danger to haue lost his life but that one of the
souldiours slewe the Spaniarde which meant to haue don it ; but his wounds were of small
moment, and his ancient bearer was slain with a shot, the Lieutenant Generall was shot in
his throte, captaine Kruyc in the heade, 4. soldiours were slain, k lb. hurt in the generals
pinnace before they could come to land : But when our people now with one courage all
together rushed vpon the enemie, (leauing their ordenance behinde them,) they forsooke
the strond, and ran together into the town, carying with them their Goucrnour, whose leg
was shot off, & he was a knight of the order of the crosse, and leauing behind them 30.
deade carcases on the strond, were presently by our people ransacked, and our dead people
buried. Our men now hauing won the strond, put tliemsclues presently in battell ray ; the
empty boates returned to the ships, but after our people had taken the strond, the castle
did neuer shoot shot. After the boates were returned aboord, presently they rowed againe
to the shore full of soldiours; our people being all landed, they which for the first time had
cdmandement, sot vs in 7. troupes, or battalions, being xxiiii. companies strong, of soldiours
and Mariners, witli twentie foure Auncientes. At which time we marched a little forward
twenty one a brcst, and standing altogether in battell ; suddainly three mariners came run-
ning to the Generall, (which had bin at the castle) telling him that the Spaniards desired to
deliuer him the castle, so their Hues & goods might be saued: the generall with some of
the captaines and souldiours went first thither, and presently the castle was deliucred into his
possession, hoping on his pitty and mercy, and leauing behind them all the great ordenance,
namely 9. peeces of brasse, & 6. Iron pecces, & also al their wcapos. In the castle were

about

■iv <?•:'•;■

and the Canaric-isles.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

S59

j'i.i;

run-
sired to
iome of
into his
:nance,
e were
about

about 80. Spaniards, some cannoniers, some soldiors, and some people of the countrey, for
the defence thereof; beside powder, shot and match accordingly, for the artillery, and also
thirty small peeces or caliuers. Also wee foiinde 58. prisoners, the rest were slaine with
shot in the fury, and some were run away. The prisoners (which our people had taken in
the road with two Barkes, and a ship sunke with our ordenance,3s they lay all 3. hard before
•he castle) were sent altogether aboorde the ships except 3. of the principals which the lord
General reserued by him, to the end he might the better knowe the state of all things. Pre-
sently 80. soldiours were sent into the castle, who tooke down the kings flag, and set vp
the princes colours. At the same instant two Negroa were brought to ^ General, which
were fetched out of the mountains, they said that they had lien there a sleepe, and knew
nothing of any matter. But now when it began to wax dark, we marched altogether a great
way towards the town, 4. companies of soldiors approched hard vnder the towne, and other
4. copanies had the rereward : those of the Maze, with the Amsterdammers remained a pretty
way from the town, vnder the hils ; and the Zelanders, with the North Hollanders lay neere
the waters side, so wee remained al that night in order of battell.

Sunday the 27. of June, after we had now stood al night in battel order, early in the morn-
ing we marched ^ al our 7. troupes hard vnder the town of Canarie, where we remained
a while in that order: but because they of the castle (which lieth to the towne) shot so
mightily among vs ; 3. of the troupes retired vnder a hill, where we were a little freede from
the castle : for while our people stood imbattailed before the town, the castle did vs great
hurt, for somtimes they shot fine or sixe men with one shot, ere we could entrench our
selues bt "jr Se castle: but after they perceiued that our people had made a small trench
against the si ot of the castle, they placed on the hill flue or sixe small peeces of brasse
called falconets (which shoote about a pounde of pouder) and sometimes they shot boules
of wood, wherewith in the beginning they slew manie of our people: so aduantagiouslie
had they placed their ordenaunce to shoot among vs. Ten or twelue of our Souldiours ranne
vp the hill, whereof the enemy tooke one, and presently cut him in foure peeces. Our
people seeing that they so tyranouslie dealte with them, about the euening tooke a Spaniarde
prisoner, and vsed him after the same maner. The lorde Generall pcrceiuing that many men
were slaine with the ordenance, caused fine peeces of brasse to bee brought from the castle
which we had taken the dale before, and toward the euening we beganne to make a battery,
and the same euening brought into it three peeces, whereof two were placed presentlie to
play vppon the Castle, and the hill ; but that euening were but fiue or sixe shotte made.
While that our men made the batterie, and planted or placed the ordenaunce, the enemy
placed his ordenance in counter-battery : and before our battery could be finished, and the
ordenance placed, many of our men were shot, among who Peter vanden Eynde commis-
sioner, h.id his leg shot off, whereof he died within three dales after. After that it was dark,
al they which lay there before the towne were againe set in order of battel, \b, on a ranke,
and so remained all that night.

The 28. of lune, early in the morning eucrv man retired to his quarter, and then werr
two peeces more brought to the battery, which also were presently placed on the Rampirc,
and so wee began to shoot against the castle with 4. peeces, and with the fifth we plaied vpou
the small ordenance which lay vpon the hils. The enemv in the castle laid manie sackes of
wooll, and placed many tonnes or barrels filled with stones vpon the castle walles supposing
thereby to make some little defence from our ordenance ; but when an Iron bullet chanced
to hit the barrels so filled with stones, it did them mightie hurt, for the stones would scatter
maruailouslie abroad, whereby many of them that were in the castle were slaine. Our men
hauing now with their shot almost abated the force of the castle, 4. companies marched vp
the hils, intending to beate the enemv from thence, which lay there with the ordenance. But
the enemy perceiuing himselfe to bee assaulted on all partes, (for most of the ordenance of
the castle were dismounted and made vnprofitable, the gate of the towne set one fire by the
Generals rommandement) about noone they forsooke both the castle, hill, and town, and
with all their wiues, children, money and Jewels, and all other things that they coulde carry

3 A 2 with

:!.!^

\>':

I.:. 'H

WWK

360

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

A voyage to Spaine

The Mcond
cattle ft town
of Orand Ca-
'laria laJteii.

it'.rr.

with them, fled into the inountaine9. Which when our men perceiued, they put themselue»
in order of battle xv. in a ranke. The lord Generall seeing the Spaniards shamerullie to
flie, caused 2. ladders belonging to the enemies, to be brought out of a church which stood
without the towne, whereof the one was too shorte, notwithstanding himscife with one of
the ladders climed vp the walles, one man at once followed, and by this meanes entered the
towne oucr the wals. About noone some of our men ran into the castle without any reen>
couter : the enemy had vndermined the gate, but as we approched the wall, it tooke fire, but
not one of our people was therewith hurt. They had also skattered powder in sundrie places,
but our men themselues did fire the same : and as soone as our people were entred the cas-
tle, the kinges colours were taken downe, and the prince of Orenges set vp, and we found
fiue peeces of brasse therein. When wee were all entered into the towne, we put our selucs
againe into order of battell 15. in a ranke in a low ground within the towne: and the soul-
diours which entered the towne by the hils side, brought to the Generall a man of Flushing,
which they had taken out of prison : as soone as the Generall sawc him, he went presently
with him to the prison, accompanied with some of our captaines, where they found 36. pri-
soners, which presently were discharged. And further they declared, that the Spaniards
had taken with them 2. prisoners into the mountaines, which were condemned to be burnt,
the one was an English man, the other a Dutchman, which had lien in the holy house. Thus
with the helpe of God about noone, wee won the great Hand of Canaria, and the town of
Allegona, battered with their owne artillery, and skaled with their owne ladders. Towards
the euening wee were quartered in the housen, those wherein the Generall was, were by
writing freed, that no man might take out any goods, in the rest euery one might go, and
take what pillage he could find : but the Spaniards had caried all the best things with them
into the mountaines, and in the euening all our people entered the town. Euery captaine
with his company were seuerallie lodged, but yet we appointed watch on the hils, as well as
in the towne, for the enemy shewed himselfe often vpon the hils, whereby we were forced
to keep very good watch.

The 29. of June, this morning some of the mariners climed vp the hils, but the enemy (to
whom the passage were better known, then to our people) suddainly set vpon them, and
killed 20. of them. Towards the euening some 300. of our Soldiours marched towardes a
small castle which lay halfe an houres iourney from the towne: but the enemy seeing our
people to approch, forsooke the place and fled into the mountaines, our men being ascended, .
they founde in the castle three brasse peeces: and after they had appointed a Corporall with
certaine soldiours to kecpe the watch, the rest returned to the citty. The same night the
Spaniards tooke one of our soldiors appointed for a forlorne Sentinel, whom they presently
put to the sword.

The last of lune, as soone as day appeared, wee began to cary the pillage aboorde belong-
ing to the General, and captaines, as wines and other goods. About noone 3. cheefe men
of the Spaniards came to our people, which kept watch on the hils with a flag of truce in
their handes, which were stnight brought before the Generall, and within a while after,
there were 2. more brought vnto him : but after tiiey had bin a while with him they de-
parted again towards the mountaines: and in the euening came other?. Spaniardes to our
watch with a flag of truce, desired to spcake with the Generall ; but they were sente backe
againe into the Moimtaynes.

The first day of luly, 1591>. in the morning (our people being on the hils) 2. friers with
three other Spaniards came vnto vs, desiring to be brought to the Generall, wliich our men
accomplished : but the General denied to taike with them, wherefore they were presently
sent backe againe from whence they came, for we were then labouring to send the <',oods a
shiplioord. Also at that insfnnt was a st;mon in the great church of great Canaria, made by
the preacher of Ysilmond with great «!euotion, and giuing thanks vnto God for our great
victory, desiring him that it would plciso him daily to increase ilie same, to the honour
of his name; at which ticrmon tiie Lnrde Generall was pic>ient wi'h fvure hundred persons.

The second of luIy 1599, wee were forbidden by scunde oi the drum that no man should

and the Canarie-iskx.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

861

go beyond the forlorne sentenell placed on the Mountaines: and to sende backe againe into
the hilles all such Spaniardcs which came with a flag of truce, to speake with the Generall,
and to put all such to the sworde as came with weapons. One of our Pinnaces tooke a
fisherman fishing vnder the Ilandc Fortcaucntura, wherin were 7. Spaniardes, which were
brought before the General, and prently committed to prison.

The 3. of luly in the morning we began to sende aboord our ships all the bels, ordenance
Sc munition which the enemies had left behindc them, at which time «JCXX). soldiors were
appointed to march to the hils, to seeke the enemy, which lay hid there with their wiues,
children & goods, as they were fled out of the towne : and as soone as they approched each
other, they began the fight on both sides with great courage, but the enemy was forced to
flie, becing better acquainted with the passages of the mountains then our people were. Our
men returned with the losse of some 70. persons : among whom captain lacques Dierlckson
with his boatson were slaine: the rest came into the towne againe into their appointed
quarters.

The 4. of luly, in the morning we began to burn the towne, and with ponder blewe vpthe
ca'^tlc which lay by the towne, and we burned likewise all the cloisters and churches which
wore witiiout the towne, lying neere the water side. The town burning, our people were
set in battell, and in that order marched out of the towne, vntill they came to Gratiosa, the
castle, which we first tooke, lying about halfe an houres iourney from the towne, where the
long boates receiued our men, and caried them againe aboorde. Presently after wee were
departed out of the towne, the enemy entered, endeuoring by all meanes possible to quench
the fire. And while we were shipping our people, the enemy shewed him selfe sometimes
b. or 6. in a company, but they durst not approch vs. The rereward of our men being
shipped, we put fire to the castle which we tooke first, and blew it vp : This done, captaine
Quit imbarked himselfe also with his soldiours and pillage, which he had taken in the rode,
for his ship wherein, he was before was ready to sincke.

The 5. of July, lying in the roade, in the morning the Generall discharged two peeces of
ordenance, and afterward put out 3. flags of the princes colours, thereby giuing to vnder-
stand, that all land captaines, and sea captaines also with one of their Pilots should resort
to him, whereupon presentlie they all rowed aboorde the Generall ; the Pilots which were
best acquainted with the coast, were demanded by the Generall which were the weakest Hands,
and where they might most commodiouslie land : Towards the euening captaine Quyt his
ship was fired, and suflTered to driue towarde the strond. At which time a newe captaine
was appointed to captaine laques Dirriksons ship aforesaide, who was slaine in the moun-
taines, namely captaine Kloyers Lieutenant. And the Generals Clarke of the band was ap-
pointed Lieuetenant to captain Kloyer.

The 6. of luly, by reason of the contrary winds, and other inconueniences which hap-
pened at this present, and also because such ships, which before were sent to sea, and could
not returne by reason of the contrary windes ; we remained in the road, vnder the castle of
Graciosa. About noone 4. Spaniards came out of the towne with a flag of truce to the
strond, directly ouer against our ships, whereof 2. were brought aboorde the Generall in one
of our long boates, ( the other two with their flag of truce were left behinde on the stronde)
which remained with the Generall vntil the euening, and then were set on shore, and so the
4. Spaniardes returned to the towne.

The 7. day riding in the roade, in the morning 4. Spaniards with a flag of peace, came to
the shore from the towne, directly ouer against our ships : the fleet seeing them, sent a long
boate to the shore, and brought the said 4. Spaniards aboord the General, these men brought
with them the ransome of cerraine Spaniards, which had dcliuered vp the castle of Graciosa
at the Generals pleasure, wliich were set lo ransome, euery one according to his habilitie &
office: and thus all the Spaniardes which were ransomed, together with the 4. Spaniardes
which brought the ransoms, were set on shore with a long boat, and departed to the
towne.

The 8. d.ny of luly, two howers after sun rising, the Generall with all the ships set saile,

carying

i'V

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>i.

■■K-f,'

362

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

A voffage lo Spalne

'.1":

parying with him all the Spaniardes that were not ransomed, sailing alOg the coast if great
Canaria; in which time Ian Corneiesson Zwartckeys departed this worlde, whose leg was
shot otl' at the taking of the Hand of great Canaria. Hauing nowe Nailed from ^ hight of
the said Hand, which lay southerly from vs, we had sight of captaine Herhnnns ship, and of
3. others which rode there at anchor ; who, so soone as they perceiucd our fleote, waied
their anchors, and sailed alon» the coast with vs, which were the ships that the Generall had
sent to sea. Sailing thus together vntill the sun was in the West, the wind began to rise
more and more, so that we coulde not keep our direct course, but were forced to put to the
Southwest of the great Hand of Canaria, where we anchored : wee had sight of the Hand
Tenerifle, and of an other of the Hands of Canaria, wherein is the hie mountainc called the
Pyck. This hil was from vs 14. miles, but by the great hight thereof it seemed to bee
within foure or line miles ofTvs, but in the dale time when the sun shined wee could not
see it.

The 9. of July, lying thus at anchor, in the morning most of the long boates went a shore
to fetch fresh water, such as they could there find and caried with them the deade corps of
Ian Cornelesson aforesaid, the Constables son of the Admiralty of Koterda, called Zwertkeys,
which was there honorably buried on the high and drie land. This done, we set on fire the
woode which lay on the shore piled and heaped in the woods, but in this place we found not
any Spaniards.

The tenth of luly, the boates being all returned to their ships with their people, euery one
wayed their anchors and hoised their sailes, the winde at Northwest : but being vnder saile
together, the wind slacked & by reason of the great calmc the ships lay a drift for want of
wind.

The 11. of luly, in the morning it blewe a stout gale in our topsailes out of the North-
east, but as we approched the Hand of Teneriffa, the winde altered often ; sixe or seuen of
our shippes, and the rest which were next vnto the shore, had sometimes a gale in their top-
sailes, and sometimes againe without wind : so that we lay a drift, and could keepe no
reckoning either of the wind or course, and were forced to alter our course more than 13.
times a day.

A declaration of the taking of Gomera one of the Hands in Canaria, and how we

afterwardes left it.

THe 12. day of luly sailing thus with great variety of wind, vnder the great Had Teneriffa,
the day appearing, we had the wind more certain, filling our topsailes with a full gale from the
Northwest : And when it was faire day light we saw our fleet scattered far one fro another,
by mcanes of the foresaid mutable windes. Some ships lay driuing by reason of the calme,
and other some had a little gale, but the most part of our fleet were West of vs, towards whom
with all speed, we with the rest of the ships made. Being al come together, wee endeuored
to reach the llande Gomera, wherein is a little towne: towardes the euening many of our ships
were neere the Hand, but the most part were to y lee ward ; so that before it grew toward the
euening none of vs could come necre the towne. Notwithstanding in the twilight and
shutting vp of the euening: Ian Garbrantson Admirall of the white flag, his vize Admirall,
and a Pinnace following, were come neere the town. Thus the Admirall sayling so neere to
the Hand, they of Gomera discharged 2. pieces at him, but touched him not. The saide
Admirall seeing this, passed on a little farther with the other ships which were neere him, &
then tooke in their sailes, and cast their anchors. The other ships which were behinde, la-
boured all they might to come also vnder the Hand to them.

The 13. of luly, the Admiral of the white flag lying thus at anchor neere to Gomera, the
greatest part of the fleete were yet in the morning betweene the Hand of Tenerifia and
Gomera, so that parte of the ships were beyonde the towne, and must sometimes cast about to
conducte the others in, which were in the lee of vs. When wee had nowe for the most part
passed the hight of the Hand, the Generall gaue a signe to all captaines to come aboorde him,
being vnder saile, directing his course to the Hand of Gomera, and the other ships did their

endeuour

I' "'I

and the Canarie-hUs. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

endeuour to follow him, and anchored about the nccke of the valley, lying North North
East otl' the towne. The ships being all come to anchor, the captaines entered presently
into the long boates, and rowed aboorde the Gcncrall to know his minde ; and after they had
beene a while in the Generals ship, they returned to their ships, and 4. companies of
souldiours were chosen out, and landed in the valley. Which done, al the ships waied their
anchors, and sailed directly toward the towne, and then came to anchor againe. After thai
all our ships lay thus together in the road neere the valley, before the town : we discharged
ccrtaine peeces against the town, but they made no shewe at all of resistaunce, for they
had buried foure brasse peeces as soone as they had sight of vs, which lay on the strond
neere vnto a small castle ; the other sixe companies were also set on land in the long boates,
without any re»'stance : for the Spaniardes with their wiues, children, and all their goods The wwne of
which they ccdde carry with them were fled into the mountains. The first 4. cupanies that J'^^'J'J''^' "^'jj^"
were landed, as they marched along the hils side towards the towne, perceiuing that the Spamwis.
enemy fled with all his goods towards the hils, sent out a ccrtaine number of soldiours to
intercept them, and to take from them the goods which they caried away. And to accom-
plish this enterprise, our souldiours descended the hill into the valley, meaning suddainly
to set vpon the Spaniardes; but the enemie perceiuing their intent, hid themselues in caues
which were neere vnto them, vntill our souldiours were in the valley. The Spaniardes per-
ceiuing that they were strong enough to encounter with our people, suddainly leapt out of
their dens, and beset our souldiours on both sides. Our people seeing themselues thus
compassed with their enemies, behaued themselues most valiantly, so that many of the
Spaniards lost their Hues, and 80. of ours were slaine in this valley : among whom were Eighty Nether-
2. Lieutenants { the one was Meerbccks sonne, and the other was Lieutenant to captaine dlutraVpanUr*
Bynon) which had receiued aboue 50. wounds in their bodies, so pittifullie were they mas- •'•"•«•
sacred, thus were these worthie champions intercepted. The rest of those 4. companies,
which were not present at this fury of the Spaniardes, towardes the euening, descended the
hils, and marched into the towne. Presently after this, watch was appointed in al places
of ^ towne, and some of the soldiours began to dig the ground, to seeke for such goods
as the Spaniardes had buried, but at that instant they founde nothing, except only certain
pipes of wine.

About the sunne setting was brought in a Spanish prisoner, which was deliucred to the
Prouest marshal, by the Generals commandement, to the end he might bring them to all
such places in the Ilande, whereas the Spaniardes had hidden their goods. But because
nothing could then be effected by reason that the euening approched, and it began to bee
too dark, the Spaniard was committed to a keeper vntil the next morning for the purpose
aforesaide. But the night being far spent, & the keeper taking small regard to his
charge, the Spaniard secretlie stole away and ran to the mountaines.

The 14. of luly, in the morning the long boates rowed againe to the shore, and caried
aboorde such goods as the enemy had left behind them, which for the most part were wines,
for they had caried clean away all other things into the mountains, and had left almost
nothing in the towne, but only the wines which they had buried in the earth : In the
aftcTuoone our people found 3. bels, which they had buried in the fields, where corne had
growne.

The I,^. of July in the morning our people running vp to the hils 10. or 12. in a copany
to hunt & seeke for pillage, were suddainly inuironed by the enemy, and 6. or 8. of them
slaine ; the rest saued themselues by flight. About noone there was a generall muster taken
of all the s; Idiours, to see how many wee had lost : and such ships as were appointed to
returne home, began to deliucr out the victuals. The same day were two copper peeces
founde : v.iiereof the one was Ifi. foot and halfe long, and the other about 14. foot.

The 16. day in the morning the Lord Generall gaue notice to all captaines to resort to
him aboord his ship, because some of the captaines had not sent victuals vnto the soldiors
that were on land, whereby they sufl'ered hunger, and sundry of the soldiours had com-
plained to the General thereof: At afternoone, the enemy came to the hill which lieth ouer

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364

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

A voyage to Spaine

A'.''

the towne, crying and calling vnto our men to come and fetch againe their muskets, and
towards the euening many marrinera witli their weapons landed, and at that instant also all
things were ordered to march very early the next morning vp the hils to fetch againe our
muskets, caliuera, and other weapnn.4, which the Spaniaids before had in mockery, and
gibing wise willed vh to fetch from them. But now when all things were ordered for this
seruice : the same night arose a strong gale of winde, encrcasing more and more, that in
the ende it grewc to a mightie tempesit, that notwithstanding our fleet did ride vnder the
Hand Gomera in the road before the towne, some were forced to way their anchors and to
put to sea, to preuent the mi^chiefe like to happen to the ships, by reason they lay so neere
one another. And when those flhips were a little way in the Sea, they cast their anchors,
and there remained. By this occasion the generals aforesaid enterprise was kept backe:
we iudging it as a warning, that the Generall should spare and preserue his people from the
bloud-thirsty Spaniards, which had their holes and dens in the nils, and pemaps might haue
taken away many of our Hues. And heere by the way; by the name of the Hand Canaria,
the Spaniards may rightly bee called Canarians or Canes, for Canaria is by interpretation,
dogs kinde, for they ran as swift as dogs, and were as tyrannicall and bloud-thinty as the
rauening Wolfe, or any other wild beast, which they sufficiently manifested, for as soon as
they could lay handcs on any of our people (like vnto mad curs, agreeing with their name
Canarias) they would presently woary them.

The 17. this hurtfull night ended, and the tempest ouer passed, and alaid, the couragious
soldiors were all in redines, desirous to execute this peece of seruice, exspecting & de-
siring nothing more, then to njarch vp the hils, and to incounter their idolatrous enemies.
But vpon good consideration, this enterprise was staied, and some 3(X). soldiours sent into
the same valley, where 3. dales before our people had beene suddainly compassed, intrapped,
and slaine by the Spaniards. Our soldiours being come to the valley aforesaid found no re-
sistance, neither could once see a Spaniard ; but found a smal peece of brasse about a fadome
long, and two barrels of gunpo\^er ; and when our souldiours perceiued that there was no
good to bee done (forbearing to mount the hils, because they had no commission so to do)
with such thinges as they had they returned into the towne. The euening now approching,
the Generall commanded to carry aboord the ships, such goods as they had there found,
and digged out of the ground, which was accordingly done and accomplished, among which
things were three brxsse peeces, some bels and other goods.

Sunday the 18. of July, we remained at anchor in the road of the Hand Gomera.

Munday the 19. of luly, remaining yet in the Hand Gomera, and seeing that the
Spaniardes continued in their secret holes, and dens of the mountaines, wee set fire on the
towne, and as neere as we could burnt down all places, as Cloisters churches, hermitages
and houses, remaining yet in the towne vntill it was noone. After that all this was accom-
plished; we the vnited soldiours forsooke the towne, and presently the Lord General, with
al his company, went aboord the ships. Thus we left the Hand Gomera burning, which
which was neuer before dune by any nation. The Spaniardes seeing that the soldiours
were departed out of the Hand, with all speed possible, in great heapes came running out
of their secret caues and holes, to quench the (ire, like as they of AUegona in the Hand of
great Canaria before had done.

Wednesday the 30. of luly, we lay stil in the road before Gomera, in this time 3. of
our soldiours were put into captain Cloicrs ship, and in lew of them, we recciued out of
his ship 3. others, which were hurt, with two Spaniards,

The summary or briefe declaration of the Admirals departing towardes the West

Indies.

Aftre that the Generall had left the Hands, he giueth order to the fleete, taketh his
leaue of all the Captaines and officers in most honorable sort : he aduanceth
the voyage to the West Indies with his Nau y : the rest of the ships returne into
the low Countries, euery one from whence lie came.

AFtor

and the CanariHsles. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

After that the Hand of great Canaria was by the vnited soldinurs taken, and won by force
of armes, and the Hand Gomera conquered, for sundry reasons they were forsake, after they
had caried to their shijw such things as they found, fired the townes, churches, cloisters, and
houses, and rased their Castles. The Lord Gcncrall commanded all Captaincs and officers
of the fleete to resorte vnto him aboord his ship. The same principals being come accord-
ingly, he welcommcd them and shewed them al friendship he cuuld, thanking them for their
good and faithfull endcuours which they had shewed in this seruice, which he performed
with a singular oration, prayin;;; Almighty (lod that he wouldc vouchsafe to be his only
loadsman & merciful defender, in all his enterprises, to the honor of his name, and happy
successe of the vnited Netherlandish prouinccs. After this, the lordc Generall againe in most
friendly sort, and kind speeches, perswaded & desired all the saide captainea and officers,
(alleadging many reasons and examples) to perscuer in their good beginning of true and
faithfull seruice for God, and for their good Lords and principall magistrates, the honorable
gentlemen and states of the vnited Netherland; & to the good liking of their valiant &
high borne gentleman, & goucrnour General prince Mnuritz, their principal lorde and
commander, &c. with these and such like matters the daie was spent.

Wednesday the 21. of luly, the wind was northerly: The loM Generall commanded all
the captaines and officers to resort vnto him : and in most curteous maner againe the second
time, tooke his leaue of them all, ordaining and appointing in his place as Admirall GeneraH
ouer all those shippes which were to rcturne home, the valiant captainc Ian Gerbrantson,
desiring and straightly charging them al there present, to shew all obedience and duty vnto
him, as to his owne person, and that they should make his minde knowne to all others which
had not becne there present. After these speeches, and leaue taken, the Admirall Ian Ger-
brantson put out the princes colours in the maine top : and the honorable gentleman Peter
von der Doest presentlie caused the princes flag also to be spread ; and as soone as the
simnc was Southwest, all the ships at one instant waied their anchors, and hoised their sailes,
taking leaue nowe the third time one of another, in most braue and triumphant sort, and in
this maner departed the one from the other. The lord General with his fleet, set this course
South Southwest, with 36. ships, and the Admirall Ian Gerbrantson ran East by the wind,
with 35. ships with intent to returne home.

Wednesday the 18. of August, sixtcene ships of our fleet which were sent to returne
home, being in company together in the latitude of 36. degrees and 10. minutes, the wind
Southwest sailing Northeast, before it was noone, we perceiued 2. strange ships vnder saile
comming out of the Northwest, towards whom we made, and at afternoone we ouertooke
them, and made them our prises : they were both Spaniardes, the one was a small Barke,
and came from Cape dc Blanco in 21. degrees, loadcn for Woluis in the Condate where
they dwelled. In the same ships was a marchant of Cyuill with 47. men, each of their
ships hauing two cast peeces, and euery man his musket, but they made no shewe of de-
fence, or offending. There was also found laden in the same ships, sixty thousand drie
hides or skins, esteemed to bee worth 6000. duckets as they reported, there were also
found two bags with mony, in the one was II. hundred single rials, and in the other
10. hundred & forty single rials, with two Buts of traine oile, and two barrels of gum
Arabiquc.

Thursday the 19. day, wc the abouesaid 16. ships were together, bc^tidc the two Spanish
ships, 4 ships of war of North Holland, 4 ships of Warres of Zeland and one ship of war of
the Maze : the cnpt.iin wherof was Antony Leonardson, al the rest were victualers. The
wind West Northwest, we sailed Northeast, and by North in 36. degrees and 45. minutes,
rhc captaines had beene all aboord the Admirall in councell aduising what were best to bee
ilonc in this matter of the Spaniards prises.

Saturday, Sunday, the 21. and 22. of August, our said fleet of 18. ships kept yet toge-
ther, we found our selues to bee in 39. degrees, 6. minuts. The sun South and by West,

365

The Nethtr-
Undish fleet di*
uidc themscluei
into two com-
|unic>, whereof
the one return-
cth homewtrdei,
«nd the other
proceedeth for
the Weit
Indiant.

TWo Spaniih
ptiKi takcjL

the winde blew vp at West Northwest,
East, I.ysborne was East of vs.

wee sailed North Northeast^ and North and by
S B Muntlay

, , Ml
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Art

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S66 VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c.

Munday the sixt of September, the winde westerly, we ran East, at noone wee sounded,
the depth was 50. fadome water, we found small white shels with needles therein, in the
hight of 49. degrees 80. minuts, the sun Southwest, wee had sight of Vshant, we ran North-
east and by North.

Tuesday the 7. of September, the sun East South East, wee saw Etigland, a mighty bluster-
ing gale of winde from the South Southwest, wee sailed North Northeast. The sunne
Southwest, came to lande at Gawstert. Afterwarde wee turned and sailed East Southeast :
In the euening it blewe so much winde, that wee were forced to strike our maine top mast,
and we ranne the whole night with two courses by the wind.

Wednesday the 8. of September, the foule weather continued, the sunne East and by
Souths we had sight of the He of Wight North Northwest of vs, and ranne the whole day,
East Northeast with the foresaile by the wind : as the euening approched we saw Beuersier,
in the night and second quarter we passed by Douer.

Thursday the 9. of September, as soone as the dale began to appeare it was calme wea-
ther, and darke, the sun Southeast, we lay still before Newport all the ebbe. The
wind easterly, in the after noone the wind came Northwest, we set saile againe, running
al night by the wind with our foresaile.

Friday the 10. of September 1599, by the break of day wee were before the Maze, the
sun Southwest, we arriuea by the helpe of Gods mercy and grace before the Brill.

Since then, there is arriued at Texell another ship of war, whereof one Cater of Amster-
dam was captain, the wich was seuered from the fleet in this voiage by tempest, and thought
to be lost. The said captaine met with some prises, and in company of two English shippes
tooke a Caruell of Aduiso, verie richly laden comming out of India, and hauing more men
then the English, shared halfe of the goods with them, and so came home this present
month of Octob.

FINIS.

..■J" '*•

THE HISTORIE

Of nu

WEST INDIES,

CONTAOOMC THE

ACTES AND ADVENTURES OF THE SPANIARDS^

^-♦.fj

.'A-' t lis

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wmcH

HAUE CONQUERED AND PEOPLED THOSE COUNTWES,

Kit: ft

QIRICHSD

WITH VARIETIE OF PLEASANT RELATION OF THE MANNERS, CEREMONIES. LAWES,
GOUERNMENTS, AND WARRES OF THE INDIANS.

PUBLISHED IN LATIN BY MR. HAKLUYT,

AND TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY M. LOK. GENT.

. "*'

In the handi cf the Lord are aU the comers qf the earth. P:>aI. XCV.

iUmOon :

PBINTBD FOR ANDREW UEBB, AND ARE TO BE SOLD AT TBE SIGNE OF TH£ BELL IN

PAULS CHURCH-TARD.

t'sJ-

". ''hi

TO THE READER.

I' 4

I.J

WHoflo coininitte themseliies vnto the huge, and mayne Ocean, in a small vessell, may
sooner expect to be Hwallowed in that vastity of waters, through the rage and furie of the
Sea, then hope to gnine thi- desired, and intended hauen. And seeing my selfe may well bee
compared to that small vessell, being but a litle boate, and no barke of any burthen, to
saylc the tem|>esttu)ii.s vSeas, and npacious Ocean of thin Hi»tury: 1 will therefore (like the
vnskilfull Nauigaton of former ages) rather coast it along the shoares, then spreade my
sayles vnto the enuious windes in a daungerous Sea, through any arrogant presumption of
mine owne strength, hoping therby, to gaine the more securitie, when (still within the
viewe of lande ) I may safely put into euery harbour, and so, auoide the innumerable pe-
rilies, which might otherwise insue. For this History comprehendeth a large, and copious
discourse, full of all variety, extending it selfe in that exceeding length, that I might Booner
weary, and loose my selfe in the narration, then giue full satisfaction to the Reader. Yet,
that I may yeelde them due content, 1 purpose to giue some small tast of the contents of
the wholo, and for the rest, referre them to the body, and substance of the booke, whereof
tliis small Epitomy, may iustly bee termed but the shaddowe. You shall therefore vnder-
stnnde, that this worke of the Decades (written by Peter Martyr a Millanoise of Angleria>
intitled the History of the newe worlde) containeth the first discouery of the West Indies,
together with the subiection, and conquest therof. Wherin, we are chiefely to consider, the
industry, and trauailes of the Spanyarde, their exceeding charge in furnishing so many
shippes, for this intended expedition, their cuntinuall supplyes to further their attemptes,
and their actiue and vndaunted spirites, in executing matters of that qualitie, and difficultie,
and lastly, their constant resolution of Plantation. All whiche, may bee exemplary vnto V9,
to performe the like in our Virginea, whiche beeing once throughly planted, and inhabited
with our people, may returne as greate benefitte to our Nation in another kinde, as the In>
dies doc vnto the Spanyard : for although it yeeld not golde, yet, is it a fruitfull pleasant
countrey, replenished with all good thinges, necessary for the life of man, if they be in-
dustrious, who inhabite it. But wee leaue this to them, who haue authoritie, and good
purses, to further a matter of suche important consequence, and returne to our purpose.
Besides the first discouery of this countrie of the West Indies, this historic likewise declareth
the conquest, and subiection of the people, the manner howe, and what myriades of miU
lions of poore naked Indians were slaughtered, and subdued through the conquering sworde,
and the number of the Spanyardes, that attempted, and performed the same. Wherein, the
chiefo men of note, & principall Commaunders, haue their particular names set down, as
Christ. Columbus, Fern. Cortes, Fern. Magaglianus, and the rest, whome the Author hath
expressely mentioned, to their aeternall comendation : and for the incitement, and prouoca*
tion of the lining, to the like honourable, and high attemptes. Here also, are the people
described, by their seuerall Nations, their particular rites, ceremonie5, and customes, by
their habite, and attyre, eyther in warre, or peace : also, by their religion, sacrifices, and
other demeanure, & gestures whatsoeuer : so that to reade the particulars, discoursed there
at large, which I bri .fi-Iy mention heere, will so allure the reader, that nothing may seeme
more pleasing, or delightfull : for, as in fashions of apparell, and ordinary diet wee like

extraordinary

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370

TO THE READER.

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extraordinary varietie, and change, though both traniigrefwe the mien ot modcstie, and so«
brietic, yet cither of these please the appetite, and vntemperate desires : so doth varietie of
historic yeelde more pleasure, and contentment, which (being a thing of more indiflferencie,
and as strong a motiue in another kinde) cannot but aflect the'sences, and intellectuall fa-
culties, with farre greater delight. Hereunto he addeth the speciall description of the se-
uerall countries, with their particular situation, boundes, abuttments, and qualitic of tho
soyle: together with their Mnuntaines, hilles, riuers, meddowes, piisturcs, wooddes, for«
rests, valleyes, playnes, and champions : and what goodly citties, and fortified townes are
there erected, with the matter, and manner of their architecture, and building, with all the
ornament, and elegancie thereof: their huge Pallaces, and houses of pleasure, farre exceed-
ing many Christian Princes courtes: their orchardes, gardens, and other inclosures for wilde
beastes and foules of diuers kindes, beautified with wonderful art, and curiositic : their
mightie Lakes, (whereof some are little inferiour to the Euxine Sea) abounding with excel-
lent fish, and whatsoeuer else the diuine bountie might bestowe vppon a blessed countrey, to
inrich them with all earthly felicitie. And lastly hee largely describeth, what those Moun«
taynes, hilles, valleyes, and champions, ryuers, and Lakes ingender, and bring foorth : what
mineralles, as gold, and siluer, and what pearle, and precious stones : what wilde beastes,
prodigious and straunge, what foule, and fishe, flyes, and wormes of the earth, 8c other
noysome things, are bredde there : and of the nature, and qualitie of all these. Ail which,
this Historian most learnedly in a more large, and ample maner, discourseth, then this my
short narration canne report, whiche least it exceede the iust measure of due limittes, and
boundes, I willingly perswade the reader, to haue recourse vnto the Author himselfe, from
whence he shall receiue a more perfect satisfaction touching particulars then this generalitie
doth include. Thus hoping the courteous, and discreet, will mildly excuse, if not approue,
what I haue rudely done, I submit my selfe to euery humor, and expect diflering censures
answerable to the dissonant opinions, & variable inclination of euene Reader.

M. LoK.

l»ri

CERTAINE

3*» I

i«'

CERTAINE PREAMBLES HERE FOLLOWE,

GATHERED BY R, EDEN

V^ra

IIERE10F0RI,

FOR THli BETTER VNDERSTANDING OF THE WHOLE WORK.

Of the first discouering of the West Indies.

A Certayne Carauell say ling in the West Ocean, about the coastes of Spayne, hadd aAhambtjin.
Torcible and continuall winde from the East, whereby it was driuen to a land vnknowne, ■""«■
and not described in any Map or Carde of the Sea, and was driuen still along by the coaste
of the same for the space of many daies, vntill it came to a hauen, where in a short time the
most part of the mariners, being long before very weake and feble by reason of hunger and
trauayle, dyed : so that onely the Pilot, with three or foure other, remained aliue. And
not only they that dyed, did not enioy the Indies whiche they first discouered to their mis-
fortune, but the residue also that liued had in maner as iitle fruition of the same: not leauing,
or at the least not openly publishing any memory thereof, neyther of the place, or what it
was called, or in what yeere it was founde : Albeit, the fault was not theirs, but rather the
malice of others, or the enuie of that which we cal fortune. 1 do nottherfore marueile, that-
the auncient histories afHrme, that great tliinges proceede and increase of small and obscure
beginninges, sith we haue scene the same vorified in this finding of the Indies, being so
notable and newe a thing. We neede not be curious to seeke the name of the Pilot, sith
death made a shorte ende of his doinges. Some will, that he came from Andaluzia, and J''*?''?^'''"
traded to the Ilandes of Canaria, and the Hand of Madera, when this large and mortall naui- injiej?" ' *
gation chaunced vnto him. Other say that hee w:>. ^ Syscanne and traded into Englande
and France. Other also, that liee was a Portugall, ,^ that either he went or came from
Mina or India : whiche agreeth well with the name of these newe landes, as I haue sayd Mina.
btfi're. Againe, some there be that say that he brought the Caruell to Portugall, or the
Uande of Madera, or to some other of the Ilandes called De los Azores. Yet doe none of
them aflirme any thing, although they all aflirme that the Pilot dyed in the house of Christo-
pher Colon, with whom remayncd all suche writinges and annotations as he had made of his
voyage in the said Carauell, aswell of such thinges as he obserued both by land and sea, as
also of fhe clcuation of the pole in those lands which he had discouered.

What manner of man Christopher Colon (otherwise called Columbus) was, and how
he came first to the knowledge of the Indies.

CHristopher Colon was borne in Cugureo, or (as some say) in Nerui, a village in the ter-
ritory of Genua in Italic. Hee descended as some thinke, of the house of the Pelestreles
of Plateniia in Lombardie. He beganne of a chylde to bee a maryner: of whose arte
they haue great exercyse on the ryuer of Genua. lie traded many yeeres into Suria,
and other parts of the East. After this, hee became a maister in making cardes for the sea,
whereby hee hadde great vantage. Hee came to Portugall to know the reason and descrip-
tion

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FT
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372

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie attempt of Colon.

If-

Iff;-?

Colon wii not
much learned.

with leirned
men.

tion of the South coasts of AfTrica, and the naiiigatinnn of the Portup;alle<t, thereby to make
his cardes more perfect to bee solde. Hee maryed in I'ortugalic, an some Hay : or as many
say. in the Hand of Madera, where he dwelt at such time as the saide Carauell nrryued there,
whose Pilot soiorned in his house, and dyed also there, beequeathing to Colon his cardc of
the description of such newe landcs as he had found, whereby Coioi. haddc the first know-
ledge of the Indies. Some haue thought that Colon wan well learned in the Latine tongue
and the science of Cosmnynphie : and that he was thereby first moucd to seekc the lands of
Antipodes, and the rirh Hand of Cipan^o, wherof Nfarchu^t Paulus writeth. Also that he had
reade what Plato in his dialogues of Timeus and Cricias, writeth of the great Ilande of At-
lantide, and of a great landc in the West Ocean vndiscnuercd, being bigger then Asia and
AfTrica. Furthermore that he had knowledge what Aristotle and Theoplirastus saye in their
bookes of Maruayles, where they write that certayne merchauntes of Carthage, savling from
the strayghtes of Gibraltar towarde the West and South, founde after many dales u great
Ilande not inhabited, yet replenished with all thinges requisite, and hauing many nauigable
ryuers. In deede Colon was not greatly learned: yet of good vnderstanding. And when
he had knowledge of the sayde newe landes by the information of the deade Pihittc. made
Cobn eonferre* relation thcrcof to certaviic learned menne, with whome he conferred as touching the lyke
thinges mentioned of olde authors. Hee communicated this secrete and conferred chiefely
with a Fryar, named lohn Perez of Marchcna, that dwelt in the Monastery of Rabida. .So
that I verily beleeue, that in manner all that hee declared, and manic thfnges more that
hee left vnspoken, were written by the sayde Spanyshe Pilotte that dyed in his house. For I
am perswadcd, that if Colon by science atteined to the knowledge of the Indies, hee woulde
long becforc haue communicated this secrete to his owne countrey-menne the Genucnses,
that trauayle all the worlde for gaynes, and not haue come into Spayne for this purpose.
But doubties.sc hee neuer thought of any suche thing, beefore heechaunced to bee acquainted
with the sayde Pylotte, who founde those landes by fortune, according to the sayingc of
Plinie. Quod ars docere non poiuir, casus inuenit. That is. That arte coulde not teache,
chaunce founde. Albeit, the more Christian opinion is, to thinke that GOD of his singular
prouidence and infinitte goodne.-4.ar, at the length with eyes orcompas.xion as it were looking
downe from heauen vppon the Sonnes of Adam, so long kept vnder Sathans captiuitie,
intended euen then (for causes to him onelie vnknowne) to rayse those wyndes of mercy
whereby that Carauell (herein most lyke vnto the shippe of Noe, whereby the remnant of
the whole worlde wa.-* saued, ;i.s by this Carauell this newe worlde receyued the first hope of
their ^aluation) was driuen to these landes. But wee will nowe declare what great thinges
followed of this small bcgynnyng, and howc Colon followed this matter, reuealed vnto him
not without GODS prouidence.

What labour and trnuaylc Colon tooke in attempting his first voyage to the Indies.

AFtcr the death of the Pilot & marryners of the Spanysshc Carauell that discouered the
Indies, Christopher Colon purposed to seeke the same. But in howc much more hee de-
sired this, the Icsse was his power to accomplishe his desire. For beeside that of himselfe
hee was not able to furni.sshc one shyppe, he lacked also the fauour of a King, vndcr whose
protection he might so enioy the riches hee hoped to findc, that none other myght take the
same from him, or dcfcate him there of. And seeing the king of Portugal occupied in the
conquest of AfTrica. :iiid the Naiiigations of the East, which were then first attempted, the
King of Castylc likewise no les.se buised in the warres of (iranada, hee sent to his brother
Barthoiomewe Colon, (who was also priuie to this secrete) to practise with the King of
Kins Henry the Engiaiidc (Hcury the seuenth) being verie rich and without warres, promising to bring him
««" • great riches in shorte time, if hee woulde shewe him fauour, and furnishe him with shippes

to discoucr the newe Indies, whereof he had certaine knowledge. But neyther here being
^'jiuhi'n"!*' ^^^^ '" bring his suite to passe, he caused the matter to be moucd to the king of Portugal
Don Aloasa, the fifth of that name: at whose hands he found neither fauour nor mony,
forasimuch as the Licentiat Calzadilla the bishop of Viseo, and one maistcr Rodrigo, men of

credite

The allcmjit qf Colon.

TRAFFIQURS, AND DISCOUEllIKS.

37J

I'ii

crcditc in the science of Cosmo^nphic, withsfnode liim, and rnntonflcil that llterc neither
was nor collide any ^olde or other riches bee foiinde in the West, as ('olon adirmed. By
reason whereof he wa-t very s.id and penitiuc : hut yet wan not (liiscouraped, or deNpaircd of
^ hr)pe of hid good adiientiire, which hec aftcrwarde founde. This done, he tooke ^hypping
at Lishurne, and came to I'.ilo-t of Mogucr, where hce comnuincd with Martin Alonso
rinzon, an expertc I'ilottc, whixiflcrcd himsclfc vnto him. After this, disclosing the wliole
secretes of his mindc to lohn I'erc/. ol Marchtna ( a fryar of thorder of Kaint I'nnces in Ilabida,
and wel learned in Cosninj^rapliy) and dedarinij vnto him 'lowc by following the course of
the Sunnc by a tcm|)crale voyage, rich and great iandes might be foiindc: the Fryar grcafiv
commended his enterprise, and gauc him counsaylc to brcakc the matter to the Duke of
Medina Sidonia, Don F.nriqiie of Gii/man, a great Lorde, and very rich : aloo to Don l.\m
of Cerda, the Duke of Medina t'eli, who at that time had great prouision of ships well fur-
nished in his hauen of Santa Maria. But whereas both these Dukes tooke the matter for a
dreamc, and as a thing dcuised of an Italian dccciuer, who (as they thought) had before with
like pretence deluded the kinges of Flnglandc and Portugal), the Fryar gaitr him counige to
goe to the courte of the Catholikc Princes Don Fernando, and lady Isabell princes of Cistile,
affirming that they wouldc bee ioyfull ofsuehe ncwes: And for his belter furtherance herein,
wrote letters by him to Fryar Fcrdinando of Talauera the Queenes confessor. Christopher
Colon therefore, repayred to the Court of the Catholike princes, in the yeere 1486. and de-
liuered vnto their handes tlic petition of his request, as concerning the discoucring of the
new Indies. But they being more careful), and applying a)l their mynde howc they might
dryue the Moores out of the kingdome of Grenada, whichc greate enterprise tliey had Thf connifit
alrcidy taken in hande, did little or nothing estecmc the matter. But Co)on not thus dis- >'"'«""''•
cniiragcd, founde the meanes to dec)are his suite to such as had sometimes priuate commu-
nication with the King. Yet because hee waH a siraunger, and went but in simple apparel,
nor otherwis^e credited then by the letter of a gray fryar they beleeued him not, neyther gaue
eare to his woordes, whereby he was greatly tormented in his imagination. Onely Alsonso
of Quintanilia, the Kinges chiefe Auditor, gaue him ineate and drinkc at his ownc charges,
and hearde gladly suche thynges as hee declared of the Iandes not then founde : desiring
him in the meanc tyme to bee content with that poore entertainment, and not to dispayrc of
his enterpryse : putting him also in good comforte that he shoulde, at one time or other,
come to the speech of the Catholike princes. And thus shortly after, by the meanes of
Alonso of Quintanilia, Colon was brought to the presence and audience of the Cardinall
Don Pero Gonzales of Mendoza, archbishop of Toledo, a manne of great reuenuett and an- The jrchWihop
thority with the King andQueene, who brought him before them, after that he well perceiucd o''Toi«'io.
and examined his cntent. And by this meanes was his suite hearde of the Catholike princes,
who also reade the booke of his memorials which he presented vnto them. And although
at the first they tooke it for vaine & false that he promised, neuerthelesse they put him in
goocl hope that he should bee wel dispatched whe they had finished the wars of Granada,
which they had now in had. With which answer. Colon began to reuiue his spirits, with
hope to be better esteemed, & more fauorably to be heard among the gentlemen & noble-
men of the courte, who before tooke him onely for a crafty fellow & deceiuer : & was
no thing dismaide or discouraged whcnsoeuer hee debated the matter with them, although
many iudged him phantasticall, as is the maner of ignorat men, to call all such as attept any
thing beyod their reach, & the cOpasse of their knowledg, thinking the worlde to be no
bigger then the cages wherin they are brought vp and Hue. But to retnrne to Colon. So
hot & vrgt't was the siege of Granada, that they presently graunted him his demande to
sceke the new lands, & to bring from thence gold, siluer, pearles, precious stones, spices, and
such other rich things. They gauc him also the 10. part of all the reuenues and customcs
dii' vnto the king, of all such latidcs as he shoulde discouer, not doing preiudice in any
thing to the king of Portugall. The particulars of this agreement were made in the towne
called Sancta Fc : & the priuilcge of the rewarde in Granada the xxx. day of Aprill, the
same yeere that citie was won. And whereas the said Catholike princes had not money

3 C present

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Th« ciiloiir of
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Thf crlour of
the Wcit In-
duiu,

VOYAGES, NAUIOATIONS, 0/ the nnmt of ihe Indiani.

grwcnt to dispatch Colon, Luis of S. Angel, the KingH Secretary of arcomptcn, lent them
. Qiit>nte<i of Marn/., which in a groMte Hiimmc make Id. thoiwaiulc Ducntr'*.
In the Mcutcheon of armcs giuen to Coluinbiiit by Dun Ferdinamin and iiucene Istabella.
these verses were written.

For Castella, y pnr Leon. Nucuo mondo hallo Culon.

For Castile and for Leon.

A ncwe worldc foiinde was by Colon.

Why they were called Indies.

SOme thinke that the people of the new world were called Indians, because they are of
the colour of the East Indians. And although (as it scemcth to mc) they ditVcr much in
colour and fashions, yet it is true, that of India they were called Indians. India is properly
railed that great Prouince of Asia, in the whiche great Alexander kept his warres, and was
so named of the ryuer Indus : & it is diuidcd into many kingdomes confining with the same.
From this great India (called the East India) came great cu|)anies of men, as writcth He-
rodotus, & inhabited that great parte of Ethiopia that lycth betwcenc the sea Bermeia
(otherwise called the red sea, or the gulfe of Arabia) and the riuer of Nilus: al which re*
gions ^ great Christian prince Prester lohn doth now possesse. The said Indians preuailcd
BO much, that they vlterly chaungcd the customcs and name of that land, & called it India :
by reason whereof, Ethiopia also hath of long tyme bin called India. And hereupon it
came that Aristotle, Seneca, & certayne other old authors sayd, that India was not fjrre
from Spainc. After this also, of later dayes our West India was so called, of the saide India
of Prester lohn where the Portugalles had their trade : For the Pilot of the Carauell that
was first dryuen by forcible winde to an vnknowne land in the West Ocean, called (he same
India, beecause the Portugalles so called such landes as they had lately discoucred Eastwarde.
Christopher Colon also, after the said Pilot, called the West landes by the same name : Albeit
some that take Colonus for an expert Cosmographer, thinke that he so named them of the
East India, as to be the furthest & vnknowne end therof, reaching into the West, vnder the
other hemispherie or halfe globe of the earth beneath vs: affirming that whe he first at-
tempted to discouer the Indies, he went chiefly to seeke the rich Hand of Cipango, which
falleth on the part of great China or Cathay, as writeth Marcus Paulus Venetus, & other: and
that he shoulde sooner come thither by following the course of the Sunne Wcstwarde, then
against the lame.

Of the colour of the Indians.

ONe of the manieylous things that God vseth in the composition of man, is colour: which
doubtlesse cannot bee considered without great admiration, in holding one to be white, and
another blacke, being colours vtterly contrary : some likewise to be yelow, which is betweene
blacke and white : and other of other colours, as it were of diuers liueries. And as these
colours are to be marueyled at, euen so is it to be considered, howe they differ one from
another, as it were by degrees, forasmuch as some men are white after diuers sorts of whit-
nesse, yelowe after diuers manners of yelow, & blacke after diuers sorts of blackenesse : &
howe from white they goe to yelowe by discolouring to browne and redde, and to blacke by
ashe colour, and raurry, somwhat lighter then blacke, and tawny like vnto the West Indians,
whiche are altogether in generall either purple or tawny, like vnto sodd Quinces, or of the
colour of Chesnuttes or Oliues, whiche colour is to them naturall : and not by their going
naked, as manie haue thought: albeit their nakednesse haue somewhat helped thereunto.
Therefore in like manner, and with such diuersitie as menne are commonly white in Europe,
and blacke in Affrike, euen with like varietie are they tawny in these Indies, with diuers de-
grees diuersly inclining more or lesse to blacke or white. No lesse marueyle is it to consider,
that menne are white in Siuile and blacke at the cape of Buena Speranza, & of Chesnutfe
coloure at the ryuer of Plata, being all in equall degrees from the Equinoctiall lyne.

Lykewise,

1 1 •

Tesllmonk of the Went Indies. TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUi:lin;S.

876

I,ykewi»e, that the men of Afliikf and Atia, that lyuc vmlrr the burnt lync (called Zona
Turrida) arc blarko : and nnt thev (hat lytic beneath, nr on thit Hide the Name lyne, an in
Mexico, lucatan, Quaiihtema, I.ian, Nicoragua, Panama, Santa Domingo, I'aria, Cape Kainrt
AiigiHtine, Lima, Quito, and other lander of IVru, which touch in the name /Equinoctial.
I'or in all the frac le of these roastcH, rertayne blacke men were foundc oncly in Quarequa,
when ViiHchuii Nunnr/, of Jhlboa diMouered the sea of Sur. Hy rcaiion wherof it may Hccnie,
that iiuch varyety of rolount pnH-eedcth of man, & not of the earth: which may well be,
although wc bee all borne of Adam and Hue, and knowc not the rausc why God hath so or- (j„j, „,;,^oni
deyned it, otherwise then to ron-^ider that his diuine maiestty hath don this, aH infinite other, inJi"""'" >•
to declare Iuh omnipotency and wisedome, in Htich diuersities of coloura, as appcare not onely 'Z»vtt
in the nature of manne, but the like aUo in beanteM, byrdes, and floure.^, wner'> diucrs and
contrary colours arc Hcene in one litlc feather, or the leaueti growing out of one litilc Rtalkc.
Another thing is also greatly to bee notCtl, ns touching these Indianii: and this ik, that their
hayre \* not curld, as is the Moores and Kthio|)iaim that inhabite the Hame clime : ncyther are
they balde, except very seldome, and that but little. All which things may giue further
occasions, to Philimophen* to fscarch the sccretH of nature, and cumplexioiit of men, with iht
nuuelties of the newe worKle.

A most auncient testiinonic of the West Indies, by the writing of the diuine

PhiloHupher Plato.

PLato in his famous and diuine Dialoi^ue named Timeiis where he etreatcth of the vniuersal
nature & frame of ^ whole world, taketh for his principle the most auncient hystoric of an
Hand, in time of great antiquitie, named Alliiantides, making aUo mention of the king, people,
& inhabitats of the same : & that they kept warre against the Athenicns, and were ouer-
v^omeoffhem. Plato aUo there inducing the said historic to be rehearsed by one named
Critia, who affirmed that he had often heani it of his Vncle, who was in jf time of Solon, one
of the seuen sages of the Grcckcs. This Critia declared, that when Solon went into Egypt
to a certaync citty named Saim, situate vpo ^ riuer of Nilus, where ^ diuisiO & recurring of
the riuer, maketh the Hand Delta, he there spake with certaync learned priestes, very akilfull
in knowledge of antiquities of miiy worldes past. Insomuch ^ they made mention of many
things y were before the flood of Noe, or Deucalion, & also before the vniuersal conflagratio
or burning of the world in ^ time of Phaeton, forasmuch as the warrs betwene the people of the
sayd Hand of Athlantides & the Ath^niens was log before the general flood, & the cO*
flagration aforesayd. Plato induceth the pricflt, speaking to Solon in maner as followeth.

Things most maruelous 8c true (O Solon) remayne in auncient writyngs & memorie of
our predeccssours, & old ages long before our times. But aboue all things, one exceedeth
al admiration for the greatnesse & .singularitie thereof, which is this: It is in our records of
most antiquities, that in times past your city of Athens hath oftetimes kept warrs against an
innumerable multitude of natios which came fro the sea Athlantike, in m?r r lum al Europe
and Asia : whereas now appearcth no such nation, forasmuch as the sayuv oc*a is now all ouer
nauigable : And yet at that time had in the mouth, and as it were in the entrie (where you
place the Columnes of Hercules) an Ilande which was sayd to be much greater then all Africa
and Asia, and that from thence was passage to many other Ilandes neere thereabout, and from
the sayde Ilandes to the continent or firme lande, which was right ouer against it neere vnto
the sea: Yet, that within the mouth, there was a little gulfe, with a porte: the decpe sea
with out, was the true sea, and the lande without was the true continent. This Ilande was
named Athlantides, and in it was a Kinge of maruellous great power and might, who had the
dominion of the sayde Ilande, and many other, and also a great part of the continent lande
whereof we haue upokcn, and much more towarde our partes also, forasmuch as they were
dominatours of the thyrde part of the worlde conteyning Africa, Egypt, and Europe, euen
ynto the sea Tirrhenum. The power therefore of them being then so great, they came to
inuade both your counfrey and ours, and all other that are within the Columnes of Hercules.
Then (O Solon) the vertue of your citty shewed it selfc famous in magnanimitic and feates

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376 VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS. Ute Epistle of Peter Martt/r.

of armes, with the asscmblance of the other Grecians in resistynge their great power, vntyl
you had driuen them out of our lands, and restored vs to our liberlie. But shortly after that
this enterprise was atchiued, befel a marucylous great earthquake, and exundation or ouerflow-
ing of the sea, which continued for the space of one day and night: In the which the earth
opened it selfe, and inglutted all those valiant and warlike men, and the sayde Ilande
Athiantides sunke into the bottomc of the sea, which was the occasion that neuer from that
tyme forwarde, any shyp coulde sayle that way, by rexson of the great mudde and slyme
which rcmayned of the drowned Ilandn.

This is the summe of those thinges which olde Critia sayde he had vnderstoode of Solon.
And certainely these wordes of Plato of the sayd Hand, haue caused great contention among
many great Philosophers, which haue written commentaries vpon the sayde Dialogue of
Timeus composed by Plato : Insomuch that the same in those daycs being vtterly vnknown,
many haue taken this narration of Solon, ibr an allegoricall fable, and haue interpreted the
same in diuers senses and meanynges. But it may now well appearc the true meaning
hereof to be this, that Plato intending to wryte of the vniuersal frame of the worlde, the
which he knewe to be made an habitation for the diuine best man, and also beholdyng thcrin
the great ornament and beauty of the heauen and starres, whereby man might knowe his
God and creatour, it might seeme io him ^ thing to farre from reason, that onely two partes
thereof should be inhabited, and the other part desolate and depriued of men : and that the
Sunne & starres might seeme to shewe their light onely halfe their course without profile,
shining only vpon the sea & desolate places, ilfstitute of man & other liuinge creatures.
And therefore Plato had in great admiration the historye of the sayde Egyptian priest, making
mention of an other part of the world beside Asia, Europe, and Africa, and thought it woorthy
to be rehearsed in the beginning of his diuine Dialogue aforesayde. We ought therefore
certainely to thinke our selues most bound vnto God, that in these our times it hath pleased
him to reueale and discouer this secrete in the finding of this new worlde, whereby wee are
certaynely assured, that vnder our Pole starre, and vnder the i^quinoctiall line, are most
goodly and ample regions, as well and commodiously Inhabited, as are other partes of the
worlde best known vnto vs.

The testimonie of the Poet Seneca in his Tragedie De Medea, whereby the spi-

rite of Poeticall furie, he sayth.

Venient annis

Secula seris, quibus Oceanus

Vincula rerum laxet, et ingens

Pateat tellus, Typhisque nouos

Detegat Orbes,

Nee sit terrisj vltima Thyle.

Which may be thus Englished.

In late yeeres new worldes shalbe founde.
And newe landes shall then appeare on the grounde.

When Tiphis Nauigation new worldes shall finde out,
ThyieisaniUnd. Then shall not Thyle for last be left out.

For then shall the Ocean dissolue his large bandes.
And shewe foorth newe worldes, regions, and landes.

To the most noble prince and catholike King, Charles, Peter Martyr of Angleria

wisheth perpetual 1 felicitie.

THe diuine prouidence, from the time that he first created f world, hath reserued vnto this
TheUrgencjof day the knowledge of the great & large Ocean sea. In the which tyme he hath opened y
knownVto'^thii Same chicfely vnto you (most mighty Prince) by f good fortune & happy successe of your
**y' grandfather by your mother side. The same prouidence (I know not by what destinie) hath

brought

The Epistle of Peter Marttjr. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

377

I niiif,
'I'hr wiirres tl

brought me out of my natiue countrey of Millanc, and out of the cinic of Home (whore I
continued almost, x. yeeres) into Spaine that I might parlicularly collecte these manieilous
and newe thinges, which shoulde otiierwisc perhappeshauclicn drowned in the whirlopoole
of obliuion, forasmuche as the Spanyardes (men worthy great commcnJation) had only cari!
to the generall inuentions of these tliingcs. Notwithstanding, I do not chalenge vnto me
only, the thankes of th* trauaile bestowed heroin, wherea* the chiefe rewardc therof is due
to Ascanius Vicont Canlinul, who percevuing that I was willing to depart out of the citty to Citdinai .
bee present at thcwarrcs of Granatum, disswaded me from my purpose: But seeing that "
was fully resolucd to depart, exhorted and required me to write vnto him such newes as {-.Mnatum
were famous in Spaine, & worthy to be noted. I tooke therfore my iourney into Spaine J^o"'j,'''°
chiefely for the desire I hadd to see tlicxpcdition which was prepared against the enimies of
the faith, forasmuch as in Italye, by reason of the dissention amonge the Princes, I coulde
flnde nothing wherewith I might feede my witto, being a younge man desirous of knowledge
and experience of thinges. I was therefore present at the warres, from whence I write to
Cardinal! Ascanius, and by sundry Epistles certifycd hi-n of such thinges as I thought most
worthy to bee put in memorie. But when I percciued that his fortune, was turned; from a
natural! mother to a stepdame, I ceassed from writing. Yet after Isawe, that byouerthrowe
of the enemies of our faith, Spaine was purged of the Moores, as of an euill weede plucked
vppe by the rootes, least I should bestowe my slippery yeeres in vnprofitable idlenesse, I
was minded to returne to Italic. But the singular benignitic of both the Catholike king
and queene now departed : and their large promises towarde mee vppon my returne from
my legacie of Babylon deteyned me from my purpose. Yet doth it not repent me that I
drew backe my foot, aswcl! for that I see in no other place of the worlde at this time the like
woorthie things to bee done: as also that in manner throughout Italic, by reason of the dis- iwiie disquiMea
corde of Christian Princes, I perceined all thinges to runne headlong into ruine, the countryes ""'' '""'
to bee destroyed and made fatte with humane blood, the Cittics sacked, virgins and matrones The sequdes of
with their goods and possessions carryed away as Captiues, and miserable innocents without """'
offence to bee slayne vnarmed within their owne houses. Of the which calamities, I did not
onely heare the lamentable outcryes, but did also feele the same : For euen the bloude of
mine owne kinsfolkes and friendes, was not free from that crueltie. As I was therefore mus-
ing with my selfe of these thinges, the Cardinall of Arragone, after that he had scene the
two first bookes of my Decades written to Ascanius, required mee in the name of king Fre-K'nsF«<i"''i'f'
derike his vncle, to put foorth the other eyght epi-s'Ie bookes. In the meane time also, while
I was voyde of all cares 1.3 touching the matters of the Ocean, the Apostolic;:ll messengers
of the bishop of Rome, Leo the tenth (by whose holsome counsayle and authority we trust
the calamities of Italie shall bee finished) raysed mee as it were from sleepe, and encoraged
me to proceed as I had begun. To his holinesse I write two Decades, comprysed in short
bookes, after the manor of epistles, and added them to the first, which was printed without
mine aduice, as shall further appeare by the preface following. But nowe I returne to you
(most noble Prince) from whom I haue somewhat digressed. Therefore wheras your grad-
fathers by your mothers side, haue subdued al Spaine vnder your dominio, except only one spainc juuiurd
corner of the same, and haue also left you the kingdome of Naples, with the fruitful! Ilandes ^™" •'"

our seas, it is surely a great thing and worthy to bee noted in our Cronicles. But not of- Tht kmgdimof
fending the reuerence due to our predecessours, whatsoeuer from the beginning of the world N«pi«i-
hath beene done or written to this day, to my iudgement seemeth but little, if wee consider
what new landes and countreys, what newe seas, what sundry nations and tongues, what golde
mynes, what treasuries of pearles they haue left vnto your highnesse, beside other reuenues.
The which, what they are, and howe great, these three Decades shall declare. Come there-
fore most noble Prince electe'l of God, and enioy that high estate of thinges not yet vn-
derstood to men. We ofTer vnto you the Equinoctial! lyne hitherto vnknowne, and burnt The tempfratnr<
by the furious heate of the sunne, and vnhabitable after the opinion of the olde writers, a |^',|v'.b?o"»"iTtc
few excepted : but nowe founde to bee most replenisshed with people, faire, fruitfull, and the oUc wiiteis.
most fortunate, with a thousand Ilandes crowned with golde and beautiful! pearles, besides

that

S&M

378

Coptinfnt or
Hrmi: land ai
H;gc .IS three
Kuropfs.
Riches arc the
instrumrnts ot*
t^oiiqucrtvs.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The EpiUle of Peter Martyr.

that i^rratc portion of earth supposed to be part of the firme lande, exceeding in quantitic
three Eiiropes. Come therfore and embrase this new world, and suflcrvs no longer to con-
sume in desire of your presence. From hence, from hence I say (most noble young Prince)
shall instrumentes bee prepared vou, whereby .nil the world shall be vnder your obeysance.
And thus I bid your Maiestie farewell : to whose tast if I shall perceiue the fruites of this
my tyllage to bee delectable, I will hereafter doe my endeuour that you may receiue the
same more abundantly. From Madrid, the day before the Calends of October, In the yecre
of Christ, 1516.

SI'iiiii '

THE

,1- "

Tim

FYRST BOOKE

OF THE

DECADES OF THE OCEAN,

•'1

wniTTEN BY

PETER iMARTVR OF ANGLERIA MILE NOES,

GOUNSAYLEll TO THE KYNG OF SPAINE,

AND

FROTONOTARIE Al'OSTOI-ICALL TO ASCANIUS SPHORCIA. VlCOUiXT C.UIDINAL, &G.

( i

THe reuerende and thankfull antiquitie was accustomed to csteeme those menne as God<<, Thereward of
by whose industric and magnanimitie such landes and regions were discouered, as """''
were vnknowne to their Predecossours. But vnto vs. hauing oncly one God, whom wee
honour in triplicitie of pcr:«on, this resteth, that albeit we do not worship that kind of men
with diuine honour, yet wee doe reuerence them, and worthily marueile at their noble
actes and enterprises. Vnto kinges and princes wee giue due obeysance, by whose gouern-
ance and furtherance they haue been ayded to perfonne their attempts : we commend both
and for their iust desertes worthily extoll them. Wherefore, as concerning the Islandes of
the west Ocean, lately discouered, and of the authours of the same (which thing you desire Theiiands of
by your letters to know) I will begin at the first author thereof least I bee iniurious to any
man. Take it therefore as followeth.

Christophorus Colonus (otherwise called Columbus) a gentle man of Italie, borne in the Chrittophoru*
cilie of Genua, perswaded Fernando and Elizabeth, catholtke princes, that he doubted not ^°^'""^
to find certaine Ilandes of India, neere vnto our Ocean sea, if they woulde furnish him with indi>.
shippes and other thinges apperteyning : affirming that thereby not onely the Christian re-
ligion might be enlarged, but Spaine also enriched by the great plentie of gold, pearles,
precious stones, and spices, which might be found there. At the length three shippes were
appoynted him at the kinges charges : of the which one was a great caracie with deckes, and
the other two were light marchant shippes without deckes, which the Spanyardes call Cara-
uelas. Thus hee departed from the coastes of Spaine about the calendes of September, in
the yeere of Christe. 1492. and set forwarde on his voyage, being accompanied with CC.xx. ^h' ""t voyage
Spanyardes. The fortunate Ilandes (as manie thinke them to be which the Spanyardes call °
Canariae, found but of late dayes) are distant from the Hands of Gades a thousande and two^heiiandiof
hundreth myles, according to their accomptes, for they say they are distant three hundred Gad»r'or

leagues : ^'^ ""'*

-:M

' » *m

.,?f- imi

'"'^M

' • ('

,■ ''.' 1 *»!

•'^^■•■'5™

' '■%'%

■ 4' ] '

S80

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The frst Decade.

m..

.1 '

il cuntciiicth by

wa.

Thf rortunite

IhnJi.

Ca|'o Vei Je.

Tlic 7. Hinds of

BetntiL-hor a
Ftciicl)m.in sub-
dueil the (lands
uf Crfiuric, ^c.

leagues: wliereaf) such as are expert sea men, affirme that cucry league conteincth foure
niyles, after their supputations. These Ilandes were called fortunate, for the temperate
ayre which is in them. For neither the coldncssc of winter is sharpe vnto them, nor the
heatc of sommer intollerable. Yet some men are of opinion, that those were in old time
called the fortunate Ilandes, which ihe Portugales call Capo Verde. Coloniis therefore sayled
(irst to the Ilandes of Canaria*, to the inicnt there to refresh his shippes with fresh water and
fiiell, before he committed hini"<clfc to this so laborous a voiage. And because I haue hearc
made mention of the Ilandes of Canaria*, it shall not be much from my purpose, to declare
howc of vnknowne they became knownc, and of sauage and wildc, better mannered: For
by the long course of many yoercs they were forgotten, and remained as vnknowen.

These seuen Ilandes (therefore) called the Canaries, were found by chaunce by a French
man called, Hctanchor by the permission of qucenc Katharine, protectrixe of king lohn her
son, while he was yet in his nonnge, about the yecre of Christ i4()5. This Betanchor in-
uaded two of these Ilandes called Lancclotus &. Fortisuentura, which he inhabited and
brought to better culture. He being dead, his sonne and heire solde both the sayd Handed
to certaine Spanyardes.

After this, Farnandus Peraria and his wife, inuaded Fcrrea and Gemera. The other three
were subdued in our time. Grancanaria, by Petrus de Vera, citizen of the noble citie of
Xericium, and Michael of Moxica. Plama and Tenerifen, by Alphonsus Lugo, at the kinges
charges. Gomera and Ferrea were easily subdued : But the matter went harde with Alphonsus

Alphonsus Lugo. Lugo. For that naked and wilde nation, fighting onelv with stones and clubbcs, droue his
armie to flight at the first assault, and slue about foure hundred of his men : But at the length
hee ouercame them. And thus all the Ilandes of Canarias were added to the dominion of
Spaine. From these Ilandes Colonus directing his voyage towarde the West, following the
falling of the sunne, but declining somewhat towarde the left hand, sayled on forward xxxiii.
dayes continually, hauing onely the fruition of the heauen and the water. Then the Spa-
nyardes which were accompauyed with him, beganne first to murmure secretly among them-

Coiomismin sclues, and shortly after with woordcs of rcproch sp.ikc euill of Colonus their gouernoiir,

Kbei against him. j,^j consulted with thcmselues, eyther torydde him out of the way, or els to cast him into
the sea : raging that they were deceiiied of a stranger, an outlandish man, a Ligurian, a Genues,
and brought into such daungerous places, that they might neuer refurne againe. And after
xxxiii. dayes were past, they furiously cryed out against him, and threatned him that he
should passe no further. But hee euer with gentle wordes and large promi.ses, appeased
their fury, and prolonged day after day, sometime desiring them to beare with him yet a
while, and sometime putting them in remembrance that if they shoulde attempt any thing
against him, or otherwise disobey him, it would be reputed for treason. Thus after a few
dayes, with chearefuU hearts they espied the lande long looked for. In this first nauigation,
he discouered vi. Ilandes, whereof two were exceeding great: Of which, the one he called
Hispaniola, and the other lohanna. But at that time hee knewe not perfectly that lohanna
(otherwise called Cuba) was an Ilande. As they coasted along by the shore of certaine of

Nightingniessing the.Se Ilaudcs, they hearde Nightingales sing in the thicke woodes in the moneth of Nouem-
ber. They found also great riiierv of fresshe water, and naturall hauens, of capacitie to
harbour great nauies of shippes. Sayling by the coastes of lohanna, from the North poynt
to the West, hee rode little lesse then eight hundred miles (for they cal it a hundred &
fourcscore leagues) supposing that it had been the continent or firme land, because hee
collide neither find the landes end, nor any token of the end, as farre as he could iudgo
with his eye : wherefore he determined to turne backe againe, being partly thereto enforced
by the roiindnesse of the sea, for the sea bankes of the Ilande of lohanna, by s\mdry
wyndinges and turninge.s,bendethem selucssomuch toward the North, that the North North-
east wind roughly tossed the shyps by reason of the winter. Turning thcrfore the stemmes
of his shippes towarde the East, hee affirmed that he had found the Hand of 0|)hir, whither
Solomons ships sayled for gold. But the description of the Cosmographers well considered,
it seemeth that both these, and the other Hands adioyning, are the Hands of Antilia, This

Hand

F.iirc words Sc
\iti>m\ii.s.

HispanioU,
lohanna.

in Noutmber.

Tht Hand of
0|>hir.

The Ilandes of
Antilia.

l«'\ :t^

•jJ;

I!!;

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

381

cy haue iw

I!and he called Hispaniola, on whose North side as hcc approched ncere to the Hand, the
kcele or bottome of the bi<r<rest vessell ranne vpon a blind rocke couered with water, aiui a siupwrackc
clone in sunder : but the plainenesse of the rocke was a hclpe to them that they were not
drowned. Making hast therefore with the other two ships to jjelpc them, they brought away
all the men without hurt. Ileere commini^ first aland, they sawe tertainc men of the Ilande, T'".?""!'''^ ""^
who perceiuing an vnknowen nation cnmming toward them, flocked together, and ranne all
into the thicke woodes, as it had bin hares coursed with greyhoundes. Our men pursuing Nikcd peori*.
them, toiike onely one woman, whom thcv brought to the ships : where filling her with mcate
and wine, and apparelling her, they let her depart to her companie. Shortly after a gre it
multitude of them came running to the shore to behold this new nation, whom they thought
to haue descended from heaucn. They cast thcmselues by lieaps into the sea, & came swim- i!«pe" «»im-
ming to the shippes, bringing gold with them, which they chaunged with our men for earthen '^Mtax cutu
pottes, drinking glasses, poyntes, pinnes, hawkes bels, looking glasses, & such other trifles, a'"! sIj"-^^'
Thus growing to further fnmiliaritie, our men were honorably entertained of the king of that
part of the Had, whose name was Guaccanarillus: for it hath many kings, as when ^Eneas Mjnykingi.
arriued in Italic, he found Latium diuided into many kingdos and prouinces, as Latium, Me-
zcutium, Turnum, and Tarchontem, which were separated with narrow bounds, as shall more
largly appeare hereafter. At the euen tide about the falling of the Sun, when our men went
to prayer, and kneeled on their knees after the maner of the Christians, they did the like
also. And after what manner soeuer they sawe them pray to the crosse, they followed them Religious and
in all poyntes as well as they coulde. They shewed much humanitie towards our men, and '"""i'"i"=*
helped them with their lighters or smnl boats (which they call Canoas to vnlade their broken Canoas.
shippe, and that with such celeritie and cheerefulnesse, that no friende for friend, or kinse-
man for kinsman, in such case moued with pitie, coulde doe more. Their boates are made
only of one tree, made holow with a certaine sharpe stone (for they haue no yron) and are Monnxyia.
very long and narrow. Many aflirme that they haue scene some of them with fortie ores, mil
The wilde & mischieuous people called Canibales, or Caribes, which were accust5ed to eate Cambaiti, or
mans flesh (& called of the olde writers. Anthropophagi) molest them exceedingly, inuad- Anthrorpriwgi.
ing their countrey, taking them captiue, killing & eating them. As our men sayled to the
Ilandes of these meeke and humane people, they left the Hands of the Canibales, in maner
in the middest of their voyage towarde the South. They complained that their Ilads were no-
lesse vexed with the incursios of these manhunting Canibales when they go forth a rouing The crurity of
to seeke their pray, then are other tame beasts, of Lyos and Tigers. Such children as they '*'' Canibai«.
take, they geld to make them fat as we doe cocke chickings and young hogges, and eate
them when they are wel fedde : of such as they eate, they first eate the intralles and extreme
partes, as hands, feet, armes, necke, and head. The other mot^t fleshye partes, they pouder
for store, as we do pestels of porke, and gammondes of bakon : yet doe they absteyne from
eating of women, and count it vile. Therfore such young women as they take, they keepe
for increase, as we do hens to leye egges : the olde womenne, they make their drudges.
They of the Ilandes (which we may nowe call ours) both the men and the women, when
they pcrceiue the Canibales coming, haue none other shift but onely to flee : for although
they vse very sharpe arrowes made of reedes, yet are they of small force to represse the fury
of the Canibales: for euen they theselues confesse, that ten of the Canibales are able to
onrrcdme a hundred of them if they encounter with them. Their meate is a certaine rooto,
which they call Ages, much like a nauewe roote in forme and greatnessc, but of swecte tast. Ages
much like a greene chestnute. They haue also another kinde of routes, which they call {^'."7oi' iVJm
liicca, whereof thcv make breade in like manner. They vse Ages more often rostcd op imci.
sodden, then to make breade thereof. But they neuer eate liicca, except it be first sliced"""'"'"""
and pressed (for it is full of licoure) and then baked or sodden. But this is to bee marueilcd
at, that the iuyce of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum, so that if it be drunke, it Anhearhcof
rauselh present death, and yet the bread made of the masse thereof, is of good tast and hoi- """^^ """'^*'
some, as they all haue prooued. They make also another kind of bread of a certaine pulse,
called Panicuni. much like vnto whcate, whereof is great plentie in the Dukcdome of Mil- Ma'jium.

3 D lane.

■..!■
' 'i

i- ' \i

»'.

-.:

'aF^S

lift

1= l\

382

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlic first Decade.

Coldc in estimi-

turn.

Cold in the
»9ndcsut'ri;:ers.

Scrpcnii without

vcninu'.

Tunic (lours.

Duckts.

J'cjiiniaycj.

Fiiiiic.

These llandcs
art part of 'ii'Jia,
The In^lians arc
AntipiKles to
the Sj>anyari(i.'i.

Aristotle.
Seneca.

India not farre

from Spaint.

Mastyx.

Aloe.

Gossampine

cotton or bum-

baie.

Seres.

The bngnaje of

these Indians.

'J'tces k fruits
vnknuvvn to vs.

Fat and moyst

t-tound.

Heate continur.1

Jc tcnipcniT*-.

Tiic tVuitr I'u!-

nr-ic i-f Hispa-

ntola.

The second voy-
age of Colonui.

Come & seeds
to sowe.

Tooles and u-

tyllcrie.

lane, Spainc, and Cranatiim. But that of this Coiiiitrey i.s longer by a spannc, somewhat
sharpe towartlc the cndc, and as bigge as a mans armc in the brawnc : the graines whereof
nre set in a mariieylous order, and arc in forme somewhat like a Pea-se. While thev be soure
and vnripe, they are white, but when they are ripe they be very blacke, when ihey are broken
they are whiter then snowe: this kinde of graine they call Maziiim. Golde is of some esti-
mation among them : for some of them hang certaine small peeccs thereof at their eares and
noselhrvlles. A little beyonde this place our men went a landc for fresh water, where they
thaunced vpon a riuer, wliose sandc was myred with much golde. They found there no
kinde of fonre footed bea.stes, except three kinde of little conies. These Ilandes also nou-
rish serpents, but such as are without hurt. Likewise wilde geese, turtle doues, and duckes,
much greater then ours, and as white asswannes, with heads of purple colour. Also I'opin-
iayes, of the which some are grecnc, some yclowe, & some like them of India, with yelowe
ringes about their neckes, as Plinie describeth tiiem. Of these they brought fourtie with
them, of most liuely and delectable colours, hauing their feathers cntcrmingled with greene,
yelowe, and purple, which varictie delighteth the sense not a little. Thus much thought I
good to speake of Popiniayes (right noble prince) specially to this intent, that albeit
the opinion of Christophorus Colonus (who ailirmeth these Ilandes to be part of India)
doth not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient writers as touching the
bigncsse of the Sphere and compasse of the Globe, as concerning the nauigable portion
of the same being vnder vs, yet the Popiniayes and many other thingcs brought from thence,
doe declare that these Ilandes sauour somewhat of India, eyther being neare vnto it, or else
of the same nature : for asmuch as Aristotle also, about tlic ende of his booke de Ccelo &
Mundo, and likewise Seneca, with diuers otherauthours not ignorant in Cosmographic, do aflirme
that India is no long tracte by sea, distant from Spaine by the West Ocean, for the soyle of
these Ilandes bringeth forth Mastyx, Aloes, and sundry other sweete gummes and spices, a*
doth India, Cotton also of the Gossampine tree, as in India in the countrey of the people
called Seres.

The languages of all the nations of these Ilandes, may well bee written with our Latinc
letters. For they call heauen Turei. A house. Boa. Golde, Cauni. A good man, Taino.
Nothing, Maiani. All other words of their languages, they pronounce as plainly as we doe
the Latine tongue. In these Ilandes they found no trees knowne vnto them, but Pine apple
trees, and Date trees, and those of marueilous height, and exceeding harde, by reason of
the great moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde, with continuall and temperate heate of the
Simne, which endureth so all the whole yeere. They plainely afBrme the Hand of Hispaniola
to be the most fruitefull lande that the heauen compasseth about, as shall most plainely ap-
peare hereafter in the particular description of the same, which wee intend to set forth when
wee shall bee better instructed. Thus making a league of friendship with the king, and
leaning with him xxxviii. men to search the Ilande, he departed to Spaine, taking with him
tenne of the inhabitantes to learne the Spanish tongue, to the intent to vse them afterward
for interpretours. Colonus therefore at his returne was honourably receiued of the King and
Queene, who caused him to sit in their presence, which is a token of great loue and honour
among the Spanyardes. Hee was also made Admiral of the Ocean, and his brother gouer-
nour of the Iland.

Toward the second voyage he was furnished with xvii. .ships whereof three were great ca-
ractes of a thousande tunnc, xii. were of that sort which the Spanyards call Carauelas, with-
out deckes, and two other of the same sort somewhat bigger, and more apt to beare deckes,
by reason of the greatnesse of their mastes. Hee had also a thousande and two hundred
armed footemen wel appoynted : among which were many artificers, as smythes. Carpenters,
myncrs, and such other, certaine horsemen also, well armed : Lykewyse mares, sheepe,
heyghfers, and such other of both kindes for increase : Likewise all kiride of pulse, or grayne
and come, as wheate, barley, rye, beanes, and pease, and such other, aswell for foode as to
sowe ; beside vines, plantes, and seedes, of such trees, fruites, and hearbes, as those coun-
treyes lacke, and (not to bee forgotten) sundry kindes of artyllerie and iron tooles, as bowes,

arrowes,

The first Decade,

TKAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

■.m

arrowcs, crosbowes, billcs, hargabusscs, broade sworcles, large tar<rcttes, pykc.^, matiDckcs,

shouellcs, liaminers, nayles, sawes, axes, and such other. Thus becin^j furnihhed acconlinj^Iy,

thoy set forward from the Ilandes of Gadcs (now called Cales) the seiienth day before the

Calendes of October, in the yecrc of Christ. \W.i. & arriued at the Ilandes of Canaria? at

the Calendes of October: Of These Ilandes the last is called Ferrea, in which there is no

other water that may be drunke, but onely that is gathered of the deawe, which continually w««(iroprin|

distilleth from one onely tree, growing on the highest banke of the Hand, and falleth into f™",'^""""'

a rounde trench made with mans hande: wee were cnfourmed of these thinges within fewe

daves after his departure : What shall succeede, we will certilie you hereafter. Thus fare ye

well, from the courtc, at the Ides of Nouember, 141).'^.

The secondc booke of the first Decade, to Ascanius Sphorcia, Vicount Cardinal. &c.

YOu repeale (right honourable prince) that vou are desirous to knowe what newes wee
haue in Spainc from the newe worlde, and that those things haue greatly delighted yon which
I wrote vnto your highnesse of the first Nauigation : You shall nowe therefore receiuc what
hath succeeded. Mcthymna Campi, is a famous townc in high Spayne, in respect from you, Methymna
and is in that parte of Spayne which is called Castella Vetus, beeing distant from Cades p'^^P'j^ ^^^^^
about, xl. myles. Hecre the court remained, when about the ix. of the Calendes of Aprill, cadei.
in this yeere of ninetie and fourc, there were postes sent to the king and queene, certifying,
them that there were twelue shippes come from the newe Hands, and arriued at Gadcs : but
the gouernour of the shippes sent word to the king and queene, that hce hadde none other
matter to certifie them of by the postes, but onely that the Admirall with fjue shippes, and
fourescorc and ten men remained still in Hispaniola to search the secretes of the Hande,
and that as touching other matters, hee himselfe would shortly make relation in their pre-
sence by woorde of mouth : therefore the day before the Nones of April, hee came to the
court himselfe. What I learned of him, and other faithfull and credible men, which came
with him from the Admirall, I will rehearse vnto you, in such order as they declared the same
to mee, when I demanded them : take it therefore as foloweth. The third day of the Ides of
October, departing from Ferrea, the last of the Ilandes of Canaria?, and from the coastes of ii" "««* ■*
Spaine, with a Nauie of seuenteene shippes, they sayled xxi. daies before they came to any
lande, inclining of purpose more towarde the left hande then at the first voyage, following
the North Northeast winde, & arriued first at the Ilandes of the Canibales or Caribes, of which iimdsofthc
onely the fame was knowne to our men. Among these, they chaunced first vpon one, so *^*"''"'"-
beset with trees, that they could not see so much as an elie space of bare earth or stonie
ground, this they called Dominica, because they found it on the Sunday. They taried here rht iiand of
no time, because they saw it to be desert. In the space of these xxi. daies, they thinke ^'"""'"•
that they sayled eight hundred & xx. leagues, the North Northeast winde was so full with
them, and so freshly followed the sterne of their ships. After they had sayled a litle fur-
ther, they espied diuers Ilandes replcnisshed with sundry kindes of trees, from the which
came fragrant sauoures of spices and sweete gummes: here they sawe neyther manne nor
beast, except certaine Lysartes of huge bignesse, as they reported which went a land to view Lysme^.
the countrey. This Hand they called Galana or Galanta : from the cape or poynt of this The lur.dc;
Hand, espying a mountaine farre of, they sayled thither. About, xxx, myles from this ^•''""»-
mountaine, they sawe a riuer descending, which seemed to be a token of some great and
large Hood. This is the first lande which they found inhabited from the Hands of Canurias, The tijndot
and is an Haivde of the Canibales, as they learned by the interpretours which they tooke with ^""'^'"r'^
them from Hispaniola into Spainc at their first voyage. Searching the Hande, they found
innumerable villages of xx. houses, or 30. at the most set round about in order, making the viiiagf5:-f«i.or
strectc in compasse like a market place. And forasmuch as I haue made mention of their "«•'■■'""'•
houses, it shal not be greatly from my purpose to describe in what manner they arc builded :
They are made rmmd like belles or round pauilions. Their frame is raysed of exceeding Thebuiuingof
high trees, set close together, and fast rampaired in the ground, so standing a.slopc, and '*""''"'""'•
bending inward, that the toppcs of the trees ioyne together, and beare one against another.

i.li

-r>

■If

3 D2

hauing

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decadf.

if-

.!! ^ »

Oimampinc

cuttuii.

Iniigfs,

Fine cockcrie.

ArroivlvaJis of
lioriici.

The meunt
(JuaJjIiijHis.

L'arucucria.

Popiniayrs
bigg<fr th( n

1'iKS.intC!..

The CanihaU
driuc to flight.

Matinino an
Iliinilirvf woincii

hnuing also wltliin the hnime certain strong and short proppcs or posts whicli snstcyne the
trees IVom falling. They coucr thorn with the Icaucs of date tree., and other trees strongly
compact and hardened, whcrwith they make them close from winde and weather. At the
shortc posts or proppes within the house, they tie ropes of the folton of gossampine trees,
or other ropes made of ccrtaine long & rough roots, murli lii;e vnto the slirubbc called
Shartum, wherof in old time they vsed to make bands for vines, and gables and ropes tor
.shippes. These they tye ouerthwart the house from post to post, on these they lay as it were
cerlainc matresses made of tiie cotton of gos.sampine trees, which growe plentifully in these
Ilandos. This cotton the Spnnyards call Algodon, and the Itali.ms Uombasine : and thus
they siccpc in hanging beddes. At the entrance of one of their houses, they sawc two
Im.iges ol woodc lilie vnto serpentcs, which they thought h;id bccne such idolcs as they ho-
nour: but they learned afterwarde thnt they were set there onclv for comclinesse, for they
know none other God then the sunne Sc moone, although they make certaine images of gos-
sampine cotton to the similitude of such phantasies as they say appeare to them in the night.
Our men found in their houses, all kinds of earthen vessels, not much vnlike vnto ours. They
found also in their kytchens, mans flesh, duckes flesh, & goose flesh, all in one pot, and other
on the spits ready to be layd to the fire. Entring into their inner lodginges, they foundc
faggottcs of the bones of mens armes and Icgges, which they rcserue to make heades for
their Arrowes, because they lacke iron, the other bones they cast away when they haue
eaten the fle-h. They found likewise the head of a yong man fastened to a post, and yet
bleeding. They haue in some villages, one great hall or pallace, about the which iheir
common houses are placed. To this they resort, as often as tiiey come together to play.
When they perceiued the comming of our men, they fledde. In their houses they foundc
also abouc thirtie children captiues, which were reserued to bee eaten, but our men tooke
tliem away to vse them for interpreters. Searching more diligently the inner parts •f the
llande, they found seuen other riuers, bigger then this which wee spake of before, nnining
through the llnnde, with fruitefull and ])leasant bankes, delectable to beholde. This llande
they called Guadalupea, for the similitude that it hath to the mout (Juadalupus in Spayne,
where the image of the virginc Marie is religiously honoured, but the inhabitantes call it
Carucueria, or Queraquiera : It is the chiefe habitatiu of the Canibales. They brought from
this Hand vii. Popiniayes, bigger then Phesantcs, much differyng from other in colour,
hauing their backes, brestes, and bellies of purple colour, and their winges of other variable
colours : in all these Hands is no lesse plentie of Popyniaycs, then with vs of sparrowes or
starelinges. As wee bring vp capons and hennes to franke and make them fat, so do they
these bigger kindes of Popiniayes for the same purpose. After that they had thus searched
the Hand, and driuen these Canibales to flight (which ran away at their first approche, as
soone as they had espyed them) they called their companie together, and as soone as they
hadde broken the Canibales boates or lighters (which they call Canoas) they loosed their
ankers the day before the Ides of Nouember, and departed from Guadalupea. Colonus the
Admiral, for the desire he had to see his companions, which at his first voyage he left the
yeere before in Hispaniola to search the country, let passe many Hands both on his right
hand, &- left hande, and sayled directly thyther. By the way there appeared from the North
a great Hand, which the captiues that were taken in Hispaniola, called Madani no, or Matinino,
affirming it to be inhabited only with women, to whom the Canibales haue accesse at cer-
taine times of the yeere, as in old time the Thracians hadde to the Amazoncs in the llande
of Lesbos : the men children they sende to their fathers, but the women they keepe with
themselues. They haue great and strong caues or dennes in the grounde, to the which they
flee for safegard if any men resorte vnto them at any other time then is appoynted, and
there defcnde themselues with bowcs and arrowes, against the violence of such as attempt
to inuadc them. They coulde not at this time approache to this llande by reason of the North
Northeast winde, which blewe so vehemently from the same, whereas they nowe followed the
East Southeast. After they departed from Madanino, and sayled by the space of xl. myles,
they passed not farre from an other llande which the captiues sayde to bee very populous,

and

I;'

The first Decade.

TRAITIQUES, AND DISCOUERIF.S.

38»

and replenished with all ihinj^os nccessaric for the life of man. This they railed \fonsThfihnjriof
Serraliis, because it was full of mountaine;*. The captiiics further declared, that tiie Cani- Mum .scrtjim.
bales arc wooiit at sometime to jjoe from their owne roasHH aboue a thousande myles to Humingfor
hunt for men. The day followinijr they sawe another liande, the which bcerausc it wan mm.
rounde, they called Sancta Miiria Rotunda. The nc\t day, they found another, wiiirh tliey ««""■• M'lU
called S. Martini, which they let passe aNo, because they had no leasure to tarry. Likewise .saiKuii'Mii.
the thirde day they espied another, whose Diametral side, extendinn from the Kast to the •'""»•
West, they iudged to be a hundred it fiCtie myle. They affiime all these Ilandes to be mar-
uelous faire and fruitefull : This last, ihey called Sancta Maria Anticpia. Saylinfj forwardc, ,s.,„uj Min-
and Icauinu; many other Ilandes, after they had say led about fortic myles, they chaunced '^""i '
vpon another, much bigger then any of the rest, which the inhabitants <all Ay Ay, but
thev named it Insula criicis: Here they cast anker to fitch fresh water. The Adtnirall also '"'"I"/","';:"

11 1 1 « 1 • I- 1 I I 11 I IT Hind ( f ilie Cj-

commanded xxx men to goe aland out of his ownc sliip, and to search the llamle : Here nibiits.
they found fourc doggcs on the shore. The inhahitantes are Canibalcs, and maruclous expert iiic f.Mii):Ui
in shooting, aswell women as men, and vse to infect their arrowes with poison. When they »« "P'" -^'ei"*
had taried there two daycs, they sawe a farre of a Canoa, in the which were eight men,
and as manie women, hauing with them bowes and arrowes. They fiercely assay led our
incnnc without all feare, and hurt some of them with their venemous arrowes. Among these Arrowrs imtci-
therc was a certaine woman, to whom the other gaue reucrencc, and obeyed as though shee '<*'<"«'' »'"""<•
were their queene. Her sonne wayted vpon her, beeing a young man, strongly made, of
terrible and frowning countenance, and a Lions face. Our menne, least they should fake
the more hurt by beeing wounded a farre of, thought ii "'est toioyne with them. Therefore
with all speed, setting forward with their ores the brigat. ^e in which they were set a lande,
they ouerturned their Canoa, with a great violence, whic being ouerwhelmed, they not- Acriflict «iti,
withstanding, as well the women as the men, swimming, cast their dartes at our men thickc ''" ^'""''"'"
and threefolde. At the length, gathering thcmselues vpon a rocke couered with the water,
they fought manfully vntill they were ouercome and taken, one beeing slayne, and the
queenes sonne sore wounded. When they were brought into the Admirals shippe, they
did no more put of their fiercenes and cruel countenances, then do the Lions of Lybia when The fier«nts
they perceiue themselues to bee bound in chayncs. There is no man able to behold them, coun'a'iJ,''^ „,
but he shill fecle his bowels grate with a ccrtaync horrour, nature hath endued them with the tanibain.
.so terrible menacing and cruell aspect. Tliis coniecture I make of my selfe, & others which
oftentimes went with me to see them at Methymna Campi : but nowe to returne to the voy- Methymm
age. Proceeding thus further and further, more then fiue hundred myles, first towarde '""'"'
the West Southwest, then towarde the Southwest, and at the length towarde the West North-
west, they entrcd into a maine large sea, hauing in it innumerable Ilandes, marueilously innumerabit
differing one from another for some of them were very fruitefull, and full of hearbes and
trees, other some, very drie, barren and rough, with hie rockye mountaines of stone, whereof
some were of bright blew, or asurinc colour, and other glistering white : wherefore they
supposed them, by good reason, to be the mynes of mettalles & precious stone: but the The Mynes of
roughnesse of the sea, and multitude of Ilandes standing so thicke togeather, hindered them "ou^it^i-'^r
so, that they could cast no anker, least the bigger vesselles should runne vpon the rockes :
therefore they deferred the searching of these Ilandes vntill another time : they were so
many, and stoode so thicke, that they couldc not number them, yet the smaller vesselles
which drewe no great deapth, entred among them, and numbred fourtie and sixe Ilandes,
but the bigger vessels kept aloofe in the mayne sea, for feare of the rockes. They call the
sea where this multitude of Ilandes are situate, Archipelagus. From this tracfe proceeding These- called
forward, in the midde way there lyeth an Hand which the inhabitants call Burichina, or '^""'"'''^"'
Buchena: but they named it Insula. S. lohannis. Diners of them whomewehadde deliuered hamih Jliii'^hi;.
from the Canibales, sayde that they were borne in this Hand, affirming it to be very po- na.
pulous and fruitfuU, hauing also many faire woodes and hauens. There is deadly hatred
and continunll battaile betweene them and the Canibales. They haue no boates to pa.sse
from their own coasts to the Canibales : but if it bee their chance to ouercome them when

they

-lit

,,«

; :lti

■ ■m

■^

■*I

y I'M

' ' '■>. Is

IIHC,

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Thejirst Decade.

■U

ipi '

■^H^

^hi' '■■

m^^^^Bt'

W' \

kit

M^^Bh

!•!;. '

ii^i'

■

k ■

I',

[hMBjK|s

ijl '

^ffill

^^1-'^^''

SwHb^P''^

'H@i

jUlui u .

i\r^\

hi ; ' ■

Kf n|ftH{'.

J r ■ .

IHnhW'!

pi: : ,

|ffl|

^Hfl

N;*:.-

tea mMm''

yk'.

9m tHSf 1

l^M^

;;- ;' ■

HffliWiiri

mnmBBn

H^M|^D

i^PH

f-' : y ■

bf^lH^Hlii

i ■;

;|i| :5 ■

BhHWBi tp^i'!':

nffl| 1

^.' :

MH^M

Wv:-

IBBro

St i^'

Hjl^

pi': ■ - !

|l||w|

p li ^ '

IhH

p i^' ■ '

lil: 1

III ■

^^^1

H^l^lv

tlicy m:ikc innirsion into their rountrcy to secke their pray (as it <<ometimc happeneth, the

Dfith for deitii. fortune of warrc beinj^ vnccrtainc) they scriic them like .sniixe. rc(iiiirin^ death for death

Tor one of them manpilclh another in pieces, and rost them, and cate them euen before

their eyes. They taryed not in this llandc : Yet in the West angle thereof, a fewe of them

went a lande for fresh w:itcr, and found a great and high house after the manner of their

building, hauing. xii. oilier of liirir vulgarc rotages placed about the same, but were ail left

desolate, whether it were that tliey resorted to the mountains by reason of the heatc which

ri.» mojutjiMM v.as that time of the yrcre, and toroiurnc to the plainc when the ay re waxeth colder, or else

the riaynei." " f'"* Tcarc of the Canibales which make incursion into the Ilande at certainc seasons. In all

this Hand is onely one king The South side hereof extendcth about two hnndreth myles.

Shortly after, they came to the ILindc of Hispaniola, becing distant from the first llandc of

the Canilwlcs, fiue hundroih leagues. Here they found all things out of order, and their

irom rv'minio fcllowej! slajnc which they left here at their first voyage. In the beginning of Hispaniola

(hiuing in it many regions and kingdomes as wee haue sayde) is the region of Xamana,

whose king is named Guaccanarillus. This Guaccanarilliis ioyned friendship with our men

at the first voyage, and made a league with them : but in the absence of the Admirall, he

rebelled, and was the cause of our mens destructiu, although he dissimuled the same, and

pretended friendship at the Admiralls returne. As our men sayled on yet a little further

10 lIispaiMoli
liur h'lnJttd
le(|uc.i.

TlicSj^anv.ntlt'j
left 111 ilic lljiid
Kre lUinc.

rii'iu^s 'f'b'neth.'' ^^^.v cjjicd a long Canoa with many ores, in which was the brother of Guaccanarillus, with
Twoimageiof oucly one man waiting on him. He brought with him two images of golde, which hee gaue
s<'iJ< ihe Admirall in the name of his brother, and tolde a tale in his language as concerning

the death of our men, as they proued afterwarde, but at this time hadde no regardc to his
communication for lacke of intcrpretours, which were eytherall dead, or escaped and stoinc
away when they drew ncare to the Hands. But of the ten, seuen dyed by chaunge of ayrc
and dyrt. The inhabitantes of these Ilandes haue bcene eucr so vsed to liuc at libertie, in
play and pastime, that they canne hardly away with the yoke of seruitude, which they at-
tempted to shake of by all meancs they mny. And surely if they had rcceiued our religion
I woulde thinke their life most happie of all menne, if they might therewith enioy their
auncient libirtie. A fewe thinges content them, hauing no delight in such superfluities,
for the which in other places menne take infinite paynes, and commit manie vnlawfull actes,
and yet are neuer satisfied, whereas manie haue too much, and none enough. But among
these simple soules, a fewe clothes serue the naked : weightes and measures are not needful!
to such as cannot skill of craft and deccite, and haue not the vse of pestiferous money, the
seed of innumerable mischeiues: so that if we shall not bee ashamed to confesse the truelh,
they seeme to line in that golden worlde of the which oldc writers speake so much, wherein
menne lined simply and innocently without enforcement nf lawes, without quarrelling, iudges.
and libelles, content onely to satisfie nature, without further vexation for knowledge of
things to come. Yet these naked people also are tormcted with ambition, for the desire
they haue to enlarge their dominions : by reaso wherof, they keep war and destroy one ano-
ther, from the which plague I suppose the golden world was not free. For euen then also,
Cede non cedam, that is, giue place, and I will not gine place, had entrcd among men. But
nowe to returne to the niaftcr from which wee haue digressed. The Admiral desirous to
know further of the death of his men, sent for Guaccannrillus to come to him to his ship,
dissimuling that he knew any thing of the matter, after that he came aboord ship, saluting
the Admirall and his company, giuing also certaine golde to the captaines and officers,
turned him to the women capiiues, which not long before our men had deliuered from the
Canibales, and earnestly beholding one of them whom our men called Katherine, he spake
gentlely vnfo her. And thus when hee had scene and marueyled at the hordes, and such
other thinges as were in the shippe, vnknowne to them, and had with a good grace and
mcrily ask<'d leaiie of the Admirall, he departed. Yet some there were which counselled
the Admirall to keepe him still, that if they might by any meanes prooue that he was con-
senting to the death of our men, he might be punysshed accordingly. But the Admirall
considering that it was yet no time to incense the inhabitantes mindes to wrath, dismissed

him.

I ihrriir and
idlenifcst.

A hippie kind

lilc.

Siupcrfluitic,

M.iny haue to
much, k none
ciiuu^h.

The golden
worlJc.

Njked men
troubled with
tmbition.

Giue place.

The AJmii'all
•rndcthfor the

kiiiij.

No Iiortes in
ll.; Ujiidcs.

The fust Decade.

TRAFFIQUrS, AND DISCOUEniES.

387

•I

him. The next day followinfr, the kingc!! hroJhcr resorting to the shippes, i-yflicr in hi.s
ownc name or in his brothers, setliircd tlic women. For on the next night al)oiit miilnijilit, Atimrfouii
this Kathcrine, aswell to recoiier her ownc libertie, .i** al.to her fellowes, beiii;j siiboriiril ""'"'
thereto either by the king or his l)n)tlirrs promise^, attempted a much njorc difficult an<l
dangerous aduenture then did Cloclia of Iiomc, which becing in hostage with otiicr maydc.* a ddpn .t» jrf.
to the king Porcena, decciucd her kcojjcrs, and rode oucr the riuer Til)er, with the other ^nli'^n' "
virgins which were pledges with licr. For whereas they swamme ouer the riurr on horse- ci.»ii«o<
backe, this Katherine with srucn otlicr women, trusting onely to the strength of their owne '*'""'
armes, swam aboue three h)ng mylcs, and th;it also at such time as the sea wan somewhat
rough : for euen so farre of from the shore lav the shipper at rode, as nigh as they coulde
coniecture. Rut our men following them with the shipboates, by the same light seene on
tlic shore, wherby the women were leddc, tooke three of them, supposing that Katherine
with the other foure, went to Guaccanarillus: for in the spring of the morning, certainc mes-
sengers being sent vnto him by the Admiral], had intelligence that hee was fled with all his
fnmilie and stuffc, and the women also, which thing ministred further suspition that hee
was consenting to the death of our men. Wherefore the Admirall sent foorth an armie of ou«"niriUui
three hundred men, ouer the which he appointed one Melchior to be captaine, willing him Mcuwor.
to make diligent search to finde out Guaccanarillus. Melchior therefore with the smallest
vesselles entring into the conntrey by the riuers, and scouring the shores, chaunced into
ccrlaine crooked gciulfes, defended with fine litlc & stcepe hils, supposing that it hadde been
the mouth of some great riuer. He founde here also a very commodious and safe hauen, &
therefore named it Tortus Regalis. They say that the entrance of this is so crooked and
bending, that after the ships arc once within the same, whether they turne them to the left
had, or to the right they can not perceiue where they came in, vntill they returne to the
mouth of the riuer, although it be there so broad that three of tiie biggest vessels may .sayle
together on a front. The sharpe and high hilles on the one side and on the other, so brake
the winde, that they were vncert:iine how to rule their saylcs. In the middle gulfe of the
riuer, there is a promontorie or point of the land with a pleasant groue, full of I'opiniayes Popir.iij':ia:.4
and other birdes, which brecdc therein & sing very sweetly : They perceiued also that two " ""
riuers of no smal largcnesse fell into the hauen. While they thus searched the lande be-
tweene both, Melchior espied a high house a farre of, where supposing that GuaccanarilliH
had lyen hid^ hee made towardc it : and as he was going, there met him a man with a frown-
ing countenance, and a grymme looke with a hundred men following him, armed with bowes
and arrowes, and long and sharpe staues like iauelynnes, made harde at the endes with fire,
who approching towardes our men, spake out aloud with a terrible voyce, saying that they
were Taini (that is) noble men, and not Canibales: but when our men had giuen them Tiini.
signes of peace, they left both their weapons and fiercenesse. Thus giuing each of them
certaine hawkes bels, they tooke it for so great a rewarde, that they desired to enter bonds H«wkeibfi'.M
of neare friend.ship with vs, and feared not immcdiatly to submit themselues vnder our
power, and resorted to our shippes with their prcsentes. They that measured the house a large houit.
(being made in round forme) found it to be from side to side xxxii. great paces, compassed
about with xxx. other vulgare houses, hauing in them many bcames crosse ouer, & couered
with rcedes of sundry colours, wrethed & as it were weaned with marueilous art. When Rcedei of sun-
our men asked some of them where they might find Guaccanarillus ? They answered, that ""^ t"'**'^
that region was none of his, but their kinges, being there present : Yet they sayde tliey
supposed that Guaccanarillus was gone from the playne to the mountaines. Making there-
fore a brotherly league with this Cacicus (that is to say a king) they returned to the Admi- Caotui.
rail, to make relation what they hadde seene and heard : whereupon he sent forth diuers other
Centurians with their hundredes, to search the countrey yet further: among which were
Hoiedus and Gorualanus, noble young gentlemen, and of great courage. And as they went HoieJus <"i»
towarde the mountaines to seeke Guaccanarillus, diuiding the mountaines betweene them,
one of them found on the one side thereof, foure riuers falling from the same mountaynes,
and the other founde three on the other side. In the sands of all these riuers is founde great Sn!f,'f/o'm "

plcntie

■ '. i

miiunuinriu

■ '1

i; .if

■H

•AM

VOYAfJES. NAUIGATIONS,

Ttii\fir%t Diradc.

Th» mini-r nf
t thtrliii foil'',
Oriinciuf (iilak.

fiirif nuaici.

Cjiinj'"''*, kind
n( t)>r hf.uic ol'
|.|,U.

■ ml pUiitv of
Hih.

1'lii >|jy anil
iti|i;hr lit' fifuall
Irnqth It) Uc*
iTmttcr.
Birdfi hrprjf
in l)rcrmb«r.
'I fir rlriiation

Cf tilt I'lllf.

Thi* stjrtf f arc
callnl giurilfs
(I' ihi' |>oli;.

'Vhc K(]uinoctiil
line.

A chijipd iiiJ
I'lifites,

Marc'nnKi Ky-
rojihe-iiiijiis.

Thf Cinamom*
tiff.

Xilonloc, (If

It^llkllll !1iO(.S.

plnilic of ;'i)I»lr. whirl) the iiihaliituiilc* of the *:iinc llaiulc whicli wore with \>*, cathrrrd in ihiit
innitncr: m.-ikina; hole* in ihf kjikIc with their hiiulcs a C'nhiif (U'ppc, and lakin>; vp Mande
with ihoir Icll hatidc* Imm the bottonu* of the Minnc, tlicy picked < nt Krniiirt of ^oldr witli
their riijht h.indei wiihoiit any lU'irr art Dreunnin;;, :iii(l <<() dilinerrd it lo our n>«n, who afTirmc
that many of" them thu-* gathered, wore as bi'ijje an I uhn or lite hes. And I my *plfc sawc a
ma<ixc of rtidc ijolde (that i* to sav, Mnh as wax neiur inoiiiten) like \nlo unch «tonc* an arc
foiindc in the hottomr-* of riiiers, weij;liin<; nine i nnce'*, which Iloieda hiinscifc roiiiulc.
IJiinj; contented with ih".c Hi<;ne«, ihrv retiiriu'd to the Adinirall lo ctrlilie him hereof. For
the Admiral had rommaun<led vndor payiie of pnni.tiinient, tli.it lh<-v xhonld meddle no fur<
thor then their commis..i(>n : whicit was onelv, to >earci) the places with their sijjnes. For
the fame went that there was acertaine kin;; of tlie moiiiiliiiiies from whence those riiien*
had their f.ill, whom they cal Caciciis ("annaboa, that is, ilie l.oid of ilie honse of ^M, for
they rail a house Boa, golde, ('aiini, and a king or Lonie Caciciis, as we haiic sayde before.
They allirme that tlierc can no where bee found better (ish, nor of more pleasant tast, or
more holsome ihen in these riucrs: also the waters of ilu* same to bee most holesomc to
drinke. .Nfelchior himselfe lolde me, that in the moneth of December, tlie daiex and nightsi
be of cqiiall icncth amnn^ the Canibales: but the sphere or circles of tlie heanen agreeth
not thereunto, albeit that in the same monetli, some birdes make their nestes, and some hauc
already hatched their e^jjjes by reason of the heate, beinsr rather continiiall then extreamc.
He tolde me also when I questioned with him as concerning the elcuation t>f the pole from
the horizontal line, that all the starres called Plaustrum or Charles waync, are hid vnder the
North pole to the Canibales. And surely there returned none from thence at this vovapie, to
whom there is more credit to begiuen, than to this man. IJut if he had l)in skilful! in As-
troiiomie, he shouidc haue sayde that the day was almost ecpial >Nilh the niijhl : For in no
place towarde the slay of the sun (called S(dsticiiim) can the ni^lit be equall with the day.
And as for them, they iieuer came vnder the F.qninoclial, forasimich as they hadde cuer the
North pole their guide, and euer eleuate in si';ht aboiic the Horizontal. Tiius h lue I bricfely
written viito your honour, as much as I thought siilVicient at this time, and sliall shortly here-
after (by Gods fauour) write vnto you more largely of such matters as shall bee daily better
knowne. For the Admirall himselfc (whom 1 v-e familiarly as my verie fricnde) hath pro-
mised me by his IclterH, that he will j»iiie mc knowledge of all such thinges as shall chance.
He hath now chosen a .strong place where he may build a city, neare vnto acomodious hatien,
and hath already builded many houses, Sc a chapel, in the which (as in a newe worlde here-
tofore voyde of alt religion) God is dayly serued with xiii. pricstes, according to the manner
of our churches. When the time nowe approched that hce promised t(» sende to the King
and Queeiie, and hauing prosperous windo for that purpose, .sent backe the xii. Carauellcs,
wherof we made mention before: which was no small hinderancc and griefe vnto him, espe-
cially considering the death of his men whom hee left in the Ilandc at the first voyage, where-
by we are yet ignorant of many pl.iccs and other secretes, whereof wee might otherwise haue
had further knowledge : but as time shall reueale them agaiiie, sn will I aduertisc you of the
same. And that you may the better knowc by conference haddc with tiic Apothecaries and
inarchaunt strangers .Sirophenicians, what this Regions bearc, & how hot their ground is, I
haue ^ent you all kindcs of graynes, with the barke and inner partes of that tree which they
suppose to be the Cinamome tree. And if it bee your pleasure to tast either of the graines,
or c.f the small secdes, the which you should pcrceiue to haue fallen from these graynes, or
of the wood it sclfe, touch them first softly, moouing them to your lippes, for although ihcy
be not hurtfuli, yet for tlicir cxccsse of heate, they are sharpc, and bite the tongue if they
remaine any while thereon : but if the tongue be blistered bv tasting of them, the same is
taken away by drinking of water. Of the come also wherof they make their bread, this
bringer shall deliuer some graines to your Lordship, both white and blacke, and therwith also
a triinke of the tree of Aloes, the which if you cut in peeccs, you shall feelc a swcete sauotir
to proceede from the same. Thus fare you hartily well, from the Court of Mcthymna Campi,
the third ilav before the Calendcs of May. Anno Dom. 1494.

The

% ?

Tite first DecadH',

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

189

The

The thirdc l)ookc of the first Dccatir, to Lodnuikc Cardinall nr Aragonie, and Nfe-

iiitwc to the King.

YOu dwire that Tooli^h Phaetdn tth<<uW a^^aine rule the chariotN of the Sunne, and con-
tendc to drawf ^wretc IUomm oim <>f the h.inle Hint, whercan you rr(|iiirc mer to discrihr
vnto you the newp wrld, fotiiul ifi Ihf West by the good fortune and gouernanrc of the
Catholique Princes Fer/linanclus and Elizabefh, your Vncic and Annie, shewing me also the
lelten of king Frcderike yMir Vnrle, written to n\e in thai behalfe : But sith you haue layde
this burden on my backe, in whote power it is to commaunde nice to take vnpon rt'ee more
then I am well able, yce both sh;ill rereiue thiK precious stone rudely closed in lead afttr »iiy
manner of workemanship. Wherefore, when you shall percciue the learned sort friendly,
the nialilious enuiously, and the backbiterri furiously, to bend their slaunderous dartes against
our faire Nimphc» of the Ocean, you shall freely protest in howe short time, and in the mid-
dcst of what troubles and calamities yon haue enforced me to write of the same. Thus fare
you well, from Crannta the ninth day before the Calendcs of May.

We haue declared in the booke here before, how the Admiral parsed by the coastit of the
Canibals, to the Hand of Hispaniola with hiH whole nauic: Kut nowe wee entende further to Hiipmioii.
shewe what hee found as concerning the nature of this llande, after that he had better
searched the necreteM of the same : Likewise of the Hand of Cuba ncare vnto it, which hr
supposed to be the lirme lande. Ilispaniola therefore (which hee affirmcth to bee Ophir, o^hir, whuhtr
whereof wee rcadc in the thirde booke of the kinges) is of latitude fine South ^ Purees, ^°'°'^'^|^^*^g^
liauing the North pole eletiate on the North side xxvii. degrees, and on the South side (ii.4
Ihey say) xxii. degrees, it reacheth in length from East to West, seuen hundred and foure-
8coi« myles, it is distant from the Hands of Gades (called Cales) xlix. degrees, and more,
as some say : the fourme of the llande resemblcth the leafe of a Chesnutte tree. Vpon a
high hill on the North side of the llande, hee builded a cittie, because this place was most latwiu.
apt for that purpose, by reason of a myne of stones which was neare vnto the same, seruing
well both to buildc with, and also to make Lyme : at the bottomc of this hill, is there a great
playne of threescore myles in length, and in breadth somewhere xii. somwhere xx. myles
where it is broadest, & sixe myles where it is narrowest : through this playne runne diuers
fayre riuers of wholesome waters, but the greatest of them, which is nauigable, falleth into
the hauen of the citie for the space of halfe a furlong : how fertile and fruitful this valley is,
you shall vndcrstande by these thingcs whiche followe. On the shore of this riuer, they haue a token of mar.
limitted and enclosed certaine ground, to make gardens and orchyardes, in the which all [;j|'°" ''"'"'"'"
kinde of bigger hearbes, as radishe, letuse, coleworts, borage, & such other, waxe ripe
within xvi. dales after the seed is sowen, likewise Melones, Gourdes, Cucumcrs, and such
other, within the space of xxxvi. dayes, these garden hearbes they haue fresh and grcenc H««bigKfne
all the whole yeere. Also the roots of the canes or reedes of the licour whereof sugar is '"^*^* *■">'■=
made, growe a cubite high within the space of xv. dayes, but the licour is not yet hardened. Sugtrrcfdo,
The like they adirme of plantes or shroudes of young vines, and that they haue the seconde Jjl,'""""''
yeere gathered ripe and swecte grapes of the same : but by reason of to much rankenesse
they beare but fewe clusters. Furthermore, a man of the countrey sowed a little Wheate Com Agmine
.ibout the Calendes of Febniarie, and brought with him to the citie an handfull of the ripe jif/^?'" *
cares of the same the third day before the Calends of Aprill, which was that yeere the vigile
of the Resurrection of our Lord. Also, all kindes of pulse, as beanes, peason, fitches, tares,
& such other, are ripe twise in the yeere, as all they which come from thence aflirme with
one voyce, yet the ground is not vniuersally apt to beare wheate. In the meane time while
these thinges were doing, the Admirall sent out a companie of xxx. men to search the Region The region of
of Cipanga, otherwise called Cibana. This Region is full of mountaynes and rockes, and in ^jj"*'' °'^'"
the middle backe of the whole llande is great plentie of Golde. When t'ney that went to ooUe,
search the Region were returned, they reported maruelous things as touching the great riches
of this Region. From these mountaines, descend foure great riuers, which by the maruelous
industry of nature, diuideth the whole Hand into foure partes, in maner equal, ouerspreading

3 E & watering

:tfV'

P^-

i!':-''ii:

390

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie first Decade.

The golden rf-
fion of Cibani.

Thf vale of
Ciban.i,

& watering the whole Hand with their branches. Of these foiire riiiers, the one reacheth
towarde the East, this the inhabitante;) call lunna : another towarde the West, and is called
Attibuniciis : the thirde toward the North, named lachem, the last reacheth into the South,
and is called Naiba. The day before the Ides of March, the Admirall himselfe, with all his
horsemen, and foure hund.c:d footemen, marched directly towarde the Southside of the
golden Region. Thus passing ouer the riucr, the playne, and the mountaine which enui-
roned the other side of the playne, hee chaunced vpon another vale, with a riuer much
bigger then the first, and many other meane riuers running through. When he had also
conueighed his army ouer the riuer, and passed the seconde vale, which was in no part infc-
riour to the first, he made away through the thirde mountaine where was no passage before,
and descended into another vale, which was nowe the beginning of Cibana. Through this
also runne many floudes and riuers out of euery hill, and in the sandes of them all is founde
great pientie of gokic. And when hee hadde nowe entred threescore and twelue myles into
the golden Region from the cittie, he entended to builde a fortresse vppon the toppe of a
hill, standing by the shore of a ccrtaine great riuer, that hee might the better and more
safely search the secretes of the inner partes of the Region : this hee called the fortresse of
saint Thomas, the which in the meane time, while hee was building, the inhabitantes beeing
desirous of hawkes belles, and other of our thinges, resorted daily thither, to whom the Ad-
mirall declared, that if they would bring golde, they should haue whatsoeuer they woulde
aske. Foorthwith turning their backes, and turning to the shore of the next riuer, they re-
turned in a shorte time, bringing with them their handes full of golde. Amongst all other,
there came an olde man, bringing with him two pibble stones of golde, weighing an ounce, de-
siring them to giue him a bell for the same : who when hee sawe our men marueyle at the
bignesse thereof, he made signes ihat they were but small and of no value in respecte of
some that he had scene, and taking in his hnndc foure stones, the least whereof was as bigge
as a Walnut, and the biggest as bigge as an Orange, hee sayd that there was founde peeces
of gold so bigge in his countrey, being but halfe a dayes iourney from thence, and that they
had no regarde to the gathering thereof, whereby we pcrcciued that they passe not much for
golde, inasmuch as it is golde only, but so farre esteeme it, as the hande of the Artificer
hath fashioned it in any comely fourme. For who doth greatly esteeme rough marble, or
vnwrought luorie ? but if they be wrought with the cunning hande of Phidias or Praxiteles,
and shaped to the similitude of the faire Nimphes or Fairies of Mie sea (called Nerciades)
or the Fay ries of the woods ( called Hamadriades) they shall neuer lacke buyers. Beside
this old man, there came also diuers other, bringing with them pybble stones of golde,
weighing x. or xii. drammes, & feared not to confesse, that in the place where they gathered
Stones of gold as that golde, there were found sometime stones of golde as bigge as the head of a child. When
alhuj'e.'''"''"^*^^ had taried here a few dayes, he sent one Luxanus, a noble yog gentleman, with a few
armed men, to search all the partes of this region : who at his returne, reported that the
inhabitant«i shewed him greater thinges then we haue spoken of hcrebefore, but he did
openly declare nothing thereof, which they thought was done by fhe Admirals commande-
ment. They haue woods ful of ccrtaine spices, but not such as wee commonly vse : these
they gather euen as they doe gold, that is, as much as will serue for their purpose, euery
man for himselfe, to exchange the same with the inhabitants of other countreys adioyning
to them, for such thinges as they lacke, as dyshes, pottes, stooles, and such other necessa-
ries. As Luxanus returned to the Admirall (which was about the Ides of March) hee founde
in the woodes certaine wilde vines, ripe, and of pleasant tast, but the inhabitantes passe
not on them. This region, though it be full of stones & rockes (and is therefore called
Cibana, which is as much to say as a stone) yet it is well replenished with trees and pastures,
yea they constantly affirme, that if the grasse of these mountaines be cutte, it groweth againe
within the space of foure daies higher then wheate. And forasmuch as many showres of
raine doe fall in this region, whereof the ryuers and floudes haue their encrease, in cucry of
the which golde is founde mixt with sande in all places, they iudge that the golde is driuen
faiiiiiB from ih.e from the mountaines, by the vehement course of the streames which fall from the same, and

Golde for
hawkes belles.

Graynes and
pibble stones of
golde.

They passe not
for golde, in that
it is golde onely
but, Ik.

f!piCM.

Wilde vines of
pleasant tast.

Fruitful moun-
tavne!.

Ooldc in the
•i:md of riuers

Diountamts.

runne

of a

Tlie first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

S91

runne into the riueM. The people of this region are giuen to idlenesse and play, for such as i-jiwrtie and
inhabite the inountaines, sit quaking for colde in the Winter season, and had rather to wander Thc'moumam«
vp and downe idlely, then take the paynes to make them apparell, whereas they haiic woodes "ccoidc.
full of Gossampine cotton : but such as dwell in the vallies or playue'^ feclcs no roldc in
Winter. When the Admirall hadde thus searched the beginning of the region of Cibana, he
repared to Isabella (for so hec named the citie) where, leaning the gouernance of the Ilandc
with his Deputies, hec prepared himselfe to search further the limittes of the Ilandc "f JlJ^^""'"' "^
Cuba or lohanna, which hee yet doubted to bee the firme lande, and distant from Hispaniola
onely Ixx. myles. This did hee with more speedie expedition, calling to remembrauncc the
Kinges commaundement, who willed him first with all celeritie, to ouerrunne the coastes of
the new Hands, least any other Prince should in the meane time attempt to iniiade the same, L"" anyoth«
for the King of Portugale affirmed that it perteined only to him to discouer these vnknowne *"'""'
lands : but the bishop of Rome, Alexander the sixt, to auoyde the cause of this dissention, Dijcention be-
granted to the king of Spaine by the authoritie of his leaden bulles, that no other Prince [ug"i".t.'nd
should bee so bold, as to make any voyages to any of these vnknowne Regions, liing with- spaniatda.
out the precinct of a direct lyiie drawn from the North to the South a hundred leagues West-
warde, without the paralels of the Ilandes called Capud Virde, or Cabouerde, which wee The ii^ndes of
thinke to be those which in old tyme were called Hesperides : these pertaine to the King of He^"rTd«.°'
Portugale, and from these his Pylotes, which doe yeerely search newe coastes and regions,
direct their course to the East, sayling euer towarde the left hande by the backe of Aphrike,
and the seas of the Ethiopians : neither to this day had the Portugales at any time sayled Th« Ponupleis
Southwarde or Westwarde from the Ilandes of Cabouerde. Preparing therefore three shippes, ""^'^'^
he made hast towarde the Ilande of lohanna or Cuba, whither he came in short space, and
named the point thereof, where hee first arriued, Alpha and O, that is, the first and the last :
for he supposed that there had beene the ende of our East, because the sunne falieth there,
and of the West, because it riseth there. For it is apparant, that Westwarde, it is the be-
ginning of India beyonde the riuer of Ganges, and Eastwarde, the furthest ende of the The end of the
same : which thing is not contrary to reason, forasmuch as the Cosmographers haue left the ^='"'"'*^"'-
limittes of India beyond Ganges vndetermined, whereas also some were of opinion, that Note.
India was not farre from the coastes of Spaine, as we haue said before. Within the prospect from spaine?'
of the beginning of Cuba, hec found a commodious haucn in the extreme angle of the
Ilande of Hispaniola, for in this parte the Ilande receiueth a great goulfe : this hauen hee
named Saint Nicolas porte, being scarsely twentie leagues from Cuba. As hee departed Saint Nicholas
from hence, and sayled Westwarde by the Southside of Cuba, the further that he went, so P""**
much the more the sea seemed to be extended in breadth, and to bende towarde the South.
On the South side of Cuba, hee founde an Ilande which the inhabitantes call lamaica, this Theiundof
he affirmeth to be longer & broder then the Hand of Scicile, hauing in it onely one moun- '"'""■
taine, which on cuery part beginning from the sea, ryseth by litle and litle into the middest
of the Ilande, and that so playnely without rouglmesse, that such as goe vppe to the toppe
of the same, can scarsely perceiue that they ascende : This Ilande hee affirmeth to be very
fruitful and full of people, aswell in the inner partes of the same, as by the shore, and that
the inhabitants are of quicker witte then the other Ilandes, and more expert Artificers, and QuicicewUttd
warlike men : For in many places where hee would haue arriued, they came armed against '*''''*■
him, and forbode him with threatning wordes: but being ouercome, they made a league of
friendship with him. Thus departing from La Maica, he sayled toward the West, with a The compasiinj
prosperous winde, for the space of threescore and tenne dales thinking that he had passed o*"*^*""''-
so far by the compasse of the earth being vnderneath vs, that he had bin neere vnto Aurea AureaCheno-
Chersonesus (now called Malaccha) in our East India, beyond the beeginning of Persides : S'i."'^''
for he plainely beleeued that he had left only two of the twelue houres of the sunne, which
were vnknowen to vs, for the olde writers haue left halfe the course of the sunne vn- Asecreateof
touched, wheras they haue but only discussed that superficial parte of the earth which lyeth ^""'"'"""•
betweene the Ilandes of Gades, and the riuer of Ganges, or at the vttermost, to Aurea Cher- SJa'ck""'^
t^iincsus. In this Nauigation, he chaunced on manie furious seas, running with a fall as it

3 E 2 had

'I I

;^lli;

;; : . iK

■ 'i4

■Mi
■ ' '' '4*1

f'^^m

392

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decade.

.4' w

Dangerous
«trcightts by
reason of many
llandes.

A hrge hauen.

Rosted fish &
serpents of viii.
foeic long.

Crocodiles of

had beene the streaines of floudes, also many whirle-pooles, and shelfes, with many other
dangers, and strayghts, by reason of the multitude of liandes which lay on euery side. But
not regarding all these perilles, hee determined to proceed, vntil he had certaine knowledge
whether Cuba were an Ilande, or firme lande. Thus he sayled forward, coasting euer by the
shore toward the West for the space of CC.xxii. leagues, that is, about a thousandeand three
hundred myles, and gaue names to seuen hundred Ilandes by the way, leauing also on the
left hande (as he feared not to report) three thousand here and there. But let vs nowe re-
turne to such thinges as hee founde woorthy to be noted in this Nauigation. Sayling there-
fore by the side of Cuba, and searching the nature of the places, he espyed not farre from
Alpha and O a large hauen, of capacity to harborowe many shippes, whose entrance is bend-
ing, beeing inclosed on both sides with capes or poyntes which recciue the water : this hauen
is large within, and of exceeding depth. Sayling by the shore of this porte, hee sawe not
farre from the same, two cotages, couered with reedes, and in many places fire kindled.
Here he sent certaine armed men out of the shippes to the cottages, where they found nei-
ther man nor woman, but rostmeate enough, for they found certaine spittes of woode lying
at the fire, hauing fishe on them about an hundred pounde weight, and two serpentes of
eyght foote long a peece whereat marueiling, and looking about if they could espie anie of
the inhabitantes, and that none appeared in sight (for they fledde all to the mountaines at
the comming of our men ) they fell to their meate, and to the fish taken with other mens
trauayle, but they absteined from the serpents, which they affirme to differ nothing from the
Crocodiles of Egypt, but only in bignesse: for (as Plinie sayth) Crocodiles haue sometimes
bin found of xviii. cubits long, but of these the biggest were but of eight foote. Thus be-
ing wel refreshed, they entred into the next wood where they found many of the same kinde
of serpentes, hanging vpon boughes of trees, of the which, some had their mouthes tyed
with stringes, and some their teeth taken out. And as they searched the places neere vnto
the hauen, they sawe about. Ixx. men in the top of a high rocke, which fled as soone as
they had espied our menne: who by signes and tokens of peace calling them againe, there
was one which came neere them, and stood on the toppe of a rocke, seeming as though he
were yet fearefull : but the Admiral sent one Didacus to him, a man of the same countrey,
whom he had at his first voyage taken in the Ilande of Guanahaini, being neere vnto Cuba,
willing him to come neare, and not to be afraide. When he hearde Didacus speake to him
in his owne tongue, he came boldly to him, and shortly after resorted to his companic, per-
swading them to come without all feare. After this message was done, there descended from
the rockes to the shippes, about threescore and ten of the inhabitants, profering friendship
and gentlenesse to our men : which the Admirall accepted thankefully, and gaue them diuers
rewards, & that the rather, for that he had intelligence by Didacus the interpreter, that they
were the kinges fishers, sent of their Lorde to take fish against a solemne feast which hee
prepared for another king. And whereas the Admiralics men had eaten the fish which they
left at the fire, they were the gladder thereof, because they had left the serpentes : for there
^'"T*"'""""- is nothing among their delicate dishes, that they esteeme so much as these serpentes, in so
meate. ' "° much that it is more lawfull for common people to eate of them, then Peacockes or Phesantes
among vs : as for the fishes, they doubted not to take as many more the same night. Being
asked why they first rosted the fish which they entended to beare to the King ? they answer-
ed, that they might be the fresher and vncorrupted. Thus ioyning handcs for a token of
further friendship, euery man resorted to his owne. The Admirall went forwarde as he had
appoynted, following the falling of the sunne from the beginning of Cuba, called Alpha
and O : the shores or sea bankes cuen vnto this hauen, albeit they bee full of trees, yet are
they rough with mountaines: of these trees, some were full of blossomes and flowres, and
other laden with fruites. Beyonde the hauen, the lande is more fertile and populous, whose
inhabitants are more gentle, and more desirous of our thinges : for as soone as ihey had es-
pied our shippes, they flocked all to the shore, bringing with them such breade as they are
accustomed to eate, and gourdes full of water, offering them vnto our men, and further, de-
siring them to come alande. In all these Ilandes is a certaine kinde of trees as bigge as

Elmcs,

The kinges
fishcn.

Blossomes tc
fruites both at
one time.

if'' '

The first Decade.

TUAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

393

Being

nswer-

ken of

he had

Alpha

yet are

:s, and

whose

lad es-

ey are

r, de-

jge as

Elmcs,

Elmes, which beare gourdes in the steede of fruites, these they vse onely for drinking pottes, Trees which
and to fetch water in, but not for meate, for the inner substance of them is sowrer then gall, ' s"""""-
and the barke as harde as any shell. At the Ides of May, the watchmen looking out of the
top castle of the shippe, towarde the South, sawe a multitude of Ilandes standing thicke to- a multitude of
gether, being all well replenished with trees, grasse, and hearbes, and well inhabited : in •'•'"'"•
the shore of the continent, hee chaunced into a nauigable riuer, whose water was so hot, Hotte w«er.
that no man might endure to abide his hand therein any time. The day following,
espying a farre of a Canoa of fishermen of the inhabitantes, fearing least they shoulde
flee at the sight of our men, he commanded certaine to assayle them priuily with the ship-
boates : but they fearing nothing, taryed the comming of our men. Nowe shall you heare
a newe kinde of fishing. Like as wee with Greyhoundes doe hunt Hares in the playne fieldes, Aitrange kiniie
so doo they, as it were with a hunting fishe, take other fishes : this fish was of shape or fourme <»*'*'»'^B'
vnknowen to vs, but the body thereof not much vnlike a great yeele, hauing on the hinder
parte of the head a very tough skinne, like vnto a great bagge or purse : this fish is tyed
by the side of the boate with a corde, let downe so farre into the water that the fish
may lie close hid by the keele or bottome of the same, for shee may in no case abide the
sight of the ayre. Thus when they espie any great fish, Tortoyse (whereof there is great Abundance of
abundance, bigger then great targettes ) they let the corde at length, but when she feeleth '^°"<^'"'
her selfe loosed, she inuadeth the fish or Tortoyse as swiftly as an arrowe, and where she hath
once fastened her hold, she casteth the purse of skinne, whereof we spake before, and by
drawing the same together, so graspeleth her pray, that no mans strength is sufficient to vn-
loose the same, except by little and litle drawing the lyne, shee bee lifted somewhat aboue
the brimme of the water, for then, as soone as she seeth the brightnesse of the ayre, shee
letteth goe her holde. The pray therefore beeing nowe drawen neere to the brimme of the
water, there leapeth sodenly out of the boate into the sea, so many fishers as may suffice to Fiihermen.
holde fast the pray, vntill the rest of the company haue taken it into the boate. Which thing
done, they loose so much of the corde, that the hunting fish may againe retume to her place
within the water, whereby another corde, they let downe to her a peece of the pray, as we
vse to rewarde greyhoundes after they haue killed their game. This fish, they cal Guai- The «sh
canum, but our men call it Reuersum. They gaue our men foure Tortoyses taken by G""'"""™'
this meanes, and those of such biggnesse, that they almost filled their fishing boate : for
these fishes are esteemed among them for delicate meate. Our men recompenced them
againt with other rewardes, and so let them depart. Being asked of the compasse of
that lancie, they answered that it had no ende Westwarde. Most instantly they desired the
Admirall to come a lande, or in his name to send one with them to salute their Cazicus, Humane peo.
(that is) their king, affirming that hee woulde giue our men many presentes, if they would '•*•
goe to him. But the Admirall, least he should be hindered of the voyage which he had
begunne, refused to goe with them. Then they desired to knowe his name, and tolde
our men likewise the name of their king. Thus sayling on yet further euer towarde
the West, within fewc dayes he came neere vnto a certaine exceeding high mountaine, a Mountwne
wel inhabited by reason of the great fertilitie of the same. The inhabitantes of this fXhited? "''
mountaine, brought to our ship, bread, gossampine cotton, conies, & sundry kindes of
wilde foule, demaunding religiously of the interpretoures, if this nation descended not
from heauen. The king of this people, and diuers other sage men that stood by him,
informed him that that Iland was no Hand. Shortly after, entring into one of the Ilandes
being on the left hande of this Hand they found no bodie therein, for they fled all at the
comming of our men : Yet fnunde they there foure dogges of manielous deformed shape, & DogE«of
such as coulde not barke. This kind of dogges, they eate as we doe goates. Here is great "ndXminr
plenty of geese, duckf's, and hearons. Betweene these Ilandes and the continent, he entered
into so narrowe streightes, that hee coulde scarcely turne backe the shippes, and these also
so shalow, that the keele of the ships sometime rased on the sands. The water of these V'*'"' '"<•
streights, for the space of fourtie myles, was white and thicke, like vnto mylke, and as
though meale had beene sparkled throughout all that sea. And when they hadde at the length

escaped

(;-■':

"Si

394

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TJic Jirst Decade.

'* '

ki i '

Woodet of date
(reel.

Men apparelled
like whyte
fryers.

Apparelled
men.

N.itiue vines.
Trtes hearing
spices & sweet
fruites.

Diuers l.in-
juagcs in the
Hand of Cuba.

Pearlcs in shel
itshes.

n-<

escaped these straights, & were now come into a mainc & large sen, and haJdc sayled thereon
for the spce of fourescore myles, they espied an other exceeding high mountaine, whether
the Admiral resorted to store his uliippes with fresh water and fuell. Heerc among certainc
woodes of Date trees, & pyne apple trees of exceeding height, hee foiinde two nauie springes
of fresh water. In the ineane time, while the woode was cutting, and the barrelles filling,
one of our archers went into the woode to hunt, where he espied a certaine man with a white
vesture, so like a fryer of the order of saynt Marie of Mercedis, that at the first sight he sup-
posed it had bin the Admirals priest, which he brought with him, being a man of the same
order: but two other followed him immediately out of the same woodes. Shortly after, hee
sawe a far of a whole companie of men clothed in apparel, being about xxx. in number.
Then turning his backe, and crying out to his fellowcs, hee made hast to the shippes with all
that he might driue. These apparel! men, made signes and tokens to him to tary, and not to
be afraid, but that not withstanding he ceased not to flee. The Admirall being nducrtised
hereof, and not a little reioycing that hee hadde founde a ciuile people, incontinently sent
foorth armed menne, with commandement that if neede shoulde so require, they should enter
fourtic myles into the llande, vntill they might finde eyther those apparelled men, or other
inhabitauntes of that countrey. When they had passed ouer the wood, they came into a
great plaine ful of grasse and hearbes, in which appeared no token of any pathway. Here
attempting to goe through the grasse and hearbes, they were so entangled and bewrapt
therein, that they were scarsely able to passe a rayle, the grasse beeing there litle lower then
our ripe corne : being therefore wearyed, they were enforced to returne agayne, finding no
pathway. The day following he sent foorth xxv. armed men another way, commanding
them to make diligent search and inquisition what maner of people inhabited the land :
Who departing, when they had found, not farre from the sea side, certaine steps of wilde
beastes, of the which they suspected some to be of Lions feete, being stricken with feare,
returned backe agayne. As they came, they founde a woode in the which were many natiue
vines, here and there creeping about high trees, with many other trees bearing aromatical
fruites and. tq>ices. Of these vines they brought with them into Spayne many clusters of
grapes, very ponderous, and full of licour : but of the other fruites they brought none, be-
cause they putrified by the way in the ship, &: wore cast into the sea. They say also that in
the landes or mcdowes of those woodes, they sawe flockes of great Cranes, twise as bigge as
ours. As hee went forward, and turned his sayles towarde certaine other mountaines, hee
espied two cotages on the shore, in the which he saw onely one man, who being brought to
the shippe, signified with head, fingers, and by all other signcs that he coulde deuise, that
the land which lay beyonde those mountaines was very full of people : and as the Admiral
drew ncere the shore of the same, there met him certaine Canoas, hauing in them many
people of the countrey, who made signes and tokens of peace and friendship. But here
Didacus the interpretour, which vnderstoode the language of the inhabitants of the beginning
of Cuba, vnderstoode not them one whit, whereby they considered that in sundry prouinoes
of Cuba, were sundry languages. He had also intelligence, that in the llande of this region
was a king of great power, and accustomed to weare apparell : hee sayde that all the tracte
of this shore was drowned with water, and ful of mudde, besetfe with many trees, after the
manner of our marishes : Yet whereas in this place they went alande for freshe water, they
found many of the shcl fishes in the which pearles are gathered. But that coulde not cause
the Admirall to tracte the time there, entcnding at this voyage, only to proue how many lands
& seas he could discouer according to the kings commandement. As they yet proceeded
forwarde, they sa>ve here and there all the way along by the shore, a great smoake rysing,
vntill they came to another mountaine fourescore myles distant, there was no rocke or hill
that coulde be scene, but the same was all of a smoake. But whether the fires were made by
the inhabitantes for their necessarie businesse, or (as wee are wont to sette beacons on fire
when we suspect the approch of our enemies) thereby to giue warning to their neighbours
to bee in a readinesse, & gather together, if perhaps our men shoulde attempt any thing
against them, or otherwise as (seemeth most vnlikely) to cal them together, as to a wonder,

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOtJERlES.

39u

to beholde our shippe.4, they knowe yet no certainty. In this tracte, the shores bended
sometime toward the South, and sometime towarde the West and West Southwest, and the ^.^^ ,„ ,„,j^
sea was euery where entangled with Ilandes, by reason whereof the keeles of the shippes gied with
oftentimes rased the sandes for shalownesse of the water : So that the shippes beeing very "'"''"•
sore bruised and appayred, the sayles, cables, and other tackelinges, in maner rotten, and the
vitaiies (especially the biskette breade) corrupted by taking water at the ryftes euill closed,
the Admirnll was enforced to turne backe againe: This last poynte where hee touched of
Cuba (not yet being known to be an Hand) he called Euangelista. Thus turning his sayles
towarde other IJandes lying not farre from the supposed continent, hee chaunced into a
mayne sea, where was such a multitude of great Tortoyses, that somtime they stayed *'^^'^"t"xorto*s°/^
shippes: Not long after, he entred into a goulfe of white water, like vnto that whereof A^ouifeof''"
wee spake before. At the length, fearing the shelfes of the Ilandes, hee returned to the '^*""= """
shore of Cuba by the same way which he came. Here a multitude of the inhabitantes, as
well women as men, resorted to him with cheereful countenaunces, and with fcare, bringing
with them popingayes, bread, water, and conies, but especially stocke doues, much bigger
then ours, which he affirmeth in sauour and taste, to bee much more pleasant then our par-
tryches. Wherefore whereas in eating of them hee perceiued a certaine sauoure of spice to
proceedc from them, he commanded the croppe to bee opened of such as were newely killed,
and founde tliesame full of aweete spices, which hee argued to bee the cause of their strange
fast : For it standeth with good reason, that the flesh of beastes, shoulde drawe the nature and
qualitie of their accustomed nourishment. As the Admirall hearde masse on the shore, there
came towarde him a certaine gouernour, a man of foure score ycares of age, and of great The humanity
grauitie, although hee were na'^ed sauing his priuie parts. Hee had a great trayne of men oUe gou"tnour.
wayting on him. All the while the prieste was at masse he shewed himselfe very humble,
and gaue reucrent attendance, with grauc and demure countenance. When the masse was
ended, hee presented to the Admirall a basket of the fruites of his countrey, deliuering the
same with his owne handes. When the Admirall hadde gentlely entertained him, desiring
leaue to speake, he made an oration in the presence of Didacus the interpreter to this effect :
1 haue bin aduerlised (most mighty prince) that you haue of late with great power subdued An oration of
many lands and Regions, hitherio vnknowne to you, and haue brought no litle feare vppon I,ernour! ^°'
all the people and inhabitantes of the same : the which your good fortune, you shall beare
wtth lesse insolency, if you remember that the soules of men haue two iourneyes after they
are departed from this bodie. The one, foule and dark, prepared for such as are iniurious Th-ir opinion
and cruell to mankinde : the other pleasant and delectable, ordeined for them which in their ^l'^ *°"'* "^
life time loued peace and quietnes. If therfore you acknowledge your selfe to be mortal,
and consider that euery man shal receiue condigne rewarde or punishment for such thinges
as hee hath done in this life, you will wrongfully hurt no man. When hee had saide these
wordes and other like, which were declared to the Admirall by the interpretation, he mar-
uciling at the iudgment of the naked olde man, answered that he was gladde to heare his
opinion as touching the sundry iourneies and rewards of soules departed from their bodyes,
supposing that neither he, or any other of the inhabitantes of those Regions, had had any
knowledge thereof : declaring further, that the chiefc cause of his comming thither, was to Desire of gow
instruct (hem in such godly knowledg and true religion : and that he was sent into those (vhichMngion
courttreies by the Christian king of Spaine (his Lord and master) for the same purpose, and couidenot
specially to subdue and punish the Canibales, and such other mischieuous people, and to virtus post
defend innocents against the violence of euill dooers, willing him, and all other such as im- nummos, &c.
brace vertue, in no case to bee afraide, but rather to open his minde vnto him, if eyther he,
or any other such quiet men as he was, had susteined any ^vrong of their neighboures, and
that he would see the same reuenged. These comfortable words of the Admirall so pleased
the olde man, that notwithstanding his extreme age, he would gladly haue gone with the
Admirall, as he had done indeede, if his wife and children had not hindered him of his pur-
pose : but he marueiied not a little, that the Admirall was vnder the dominion of another :
and much more when the interpretour tolde him of the glorie, magnificence, pompe, great

power.

■:

'ft

■f-^^'w

396

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decade.

i^^'\

The Isnde as
cnmmon as the
sunne and
water.

power, and furnimentes of warre of our kinges, and of the multitudes of cities and townes,
which were vnder their dominions. Intending therefore to haue gone with the Admiral), his
wife and children fell prostrate at his feete, with teares desiring him not to forsake them
and leaue them desolate at whose pitifull requestes, the worthy olde man beeing moued,
remained at home to the comfort of his people and familie, sntisfiyng rather them then him-
selfe : for not yet ceaiiing to woonder, and of heauie countenance because he might not
depart, heedemaunded oftentimes if that lande was not heauen, which brought foorth such a
kinde of men ? For it is certaine that among them the lande is as common as sunne and
water, and that Mine and Thine (the seedes of all mischiefe) liaue no place with them.
They are content with so litle, that in so large a countrey they haue rather superfluitie then
scarcenesse: so that (as we haue sayde before) they seeme to liue in the golden worlde
without toyle, lining in open gardens, but intrenched with ditches, diuided with hedges, or
defended with walles : they deale trueiy one with aijother without lawes, without booke, and
without iudges : they take him for an euill and mischieuous man, which taketh pleasure in
dooing hurt to other. And albeit that they delight not in superfluities, yet make they pro-
uision for the increase of such roots whereof they make their bread, as Maizium, lucca, and
Ages, contented with such simple dyet, whereby health is preserued, and diseases auoided.
The Admiral therefore departing from thence, and minding to returne againe shortly after,
chaunced to come againe to the llande of Jamaica, being on the South side thereof, and
coasted all along by the shore of the same from the West to the East, from whose last corner
on the East side, when hee sawe towarde the North side on his left hande certaine high
mountaines, hee knewe at the length that it was the South side of the llande of Hispaniola,
which hee hadde not passed by. Wherefore at the Calendes of September, entring into the
hauen of the same llande, called saint Nicholas hauen, he repayred his shippes, to the intent
that he might againe wast and spoyle the Ilandes of theCanibales, and burne all their Canoas,
that those rauening Wolues might no longer persecute and deuoure the innocent sheepe: but
he was at this time hindered of his purpose, by reason of a disease which hee had gotten by
too much watching. Thus beinge feeble, and weake, hee was ledde of the Mariners to the
cittie of Isabella, where, with his two breiheren which were there, and other of his familiars,
hee recouered his health in shorte space ; yet coulde hee not at this time assayle the Canibales,
by reason of sedition that was risen of late among the Spanyardes which he had left in
Hispaniola, whereof we will speake more hereafter. Tluis fare ye well.

The fourth booke of the first Decade, to Lodouike Cardinal of Aragonie.

COlonus the Admiral! of the Ocean, returning (as hee supposed) from the continent or firme
East India. land of East India, hadde aduertismeiit that his brother Boilus, and one Peter Margarita, an
The Spaniardes oldc familiar of the Kings, and a noble man, with diners other of those to whom he had left
the gouermet of the Hand, were (of corrupted mind against him) departed into Spaine.
Wherefore, aswel to purge himselfe of such crimes, as they should lay to his charge, as also
to make a supply of other men in the place of them which were returned, and especially to
prouide for victuals, as wheate, wine, oylc, and such other, which the Spanyardes are accus-
tomed to eate, because they coulde not vet well agree with such meate as they founde in the
Ilandes, determined shortly to take his voyage into Spaine ; but what he did before his de-
parture, I wil briefly rehearse.

The kinges of the Ilandes which had hitherto lined quietly, and content with their little
which they thought aboundant, wheras they now perceiued that our men began to fasten
mtbeh'"?"''" ^°°^^ within their regios, & to beare rule among them, they tooke the matter so grieuously,
that they thought nothing els but by what meanes they might vttcrly destroy them, and for
euer abolish the memorie of their name, for that kinde of menne (the P;«m ia^ Jes I meane,
which followed the Admirall in the nauigation) were for the most part vnruiy, regarding nor-
thing but idlenesse play, and libertie, and woulde by no meanes absteine from iniuries, ra-
uishing of the women of the Ilandes beefore the faces of their husbandes, fathers, and brethren :
by which their abhominable misdemeanour, they disquieted the minds of al the inhabitantcs,

insomuch

Simple dyet.

Hiipaniola.

The Canibales.

Sicknesof too
much Watch-
ing.

rrbell in the
Admirals ab-
sence.

Tlic kinges c<f
the lUnde
rebel!.
I

Tlie first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

J97

insomuch that wheresoeiier ihey found any of our men vnprepared, they slue them with such
fiercenesse and {{ladnes as though they had offered sacrifice to God. Intending therefore to a ijst reucnjf.
pacific tlieir troubled mindes, and to punish them that slue his men before he departed from
thence, he sent for the king of that vale, which in the booke before we described to be at the
footeof the mountayne of the region of Cibana, this kinges name was Guarionexius : who,
the more straightly to concile vnto him the friendship of the Admirall, gaue his sister to wife
to Didacus, a man from his childes age brought vp with the Admirall, whom he vsed for his
interpreter in the prouinces of Cuba. After this, he sent for Caunaboa, called the Lord of
the house of golde, that is, of the mountaines of Cibana : For this Caunaboa he sent one cap-
taine Hoieda, whom the ditionaries of Caunaboa had enforced to keepe his hold, besieging for ^^^r'"^"' ""' -•
the space of thirty dayes the fortresse of saint Thomas, in the which Hoieda with his fyftie
souldiers stoode at their defence, vntil the comming of the Admirall. While Hoieda remained
with Caunaboa, manye ambassadours of the Kinges of diuers regions were sent to Caunaboa,
perswading him in no condition to permit the Christians to inhabite the Ilande, except he
hadde rather serue then rule. On the other partie, Hoieda aduertised Caunaboa to goe to the
Admirall, and to make a league of friendship with him : but the ambassadours on the contrary
part, threatned him, that if he woulde so doe, the other kinges woulde inuade his region. But
Iloieda answered them againe, that whereas they conspired to mainteyne their libertie, they
should by that meanes be brought to seruitude & destruction, if they entended to resist or
keepe war against the Christians. Thus Caunaboa on the one side and the other being trou-
bled, as it were a rocke in the sea beaten with contrary floudes, and much more vexed with
the stormes of his guiltie conscience, for that he had priuily slaine xx. of our men vnder pre-
tece of peace, feared to come to the Admiral : but at the length, hauing excogitated his
deceyt, to haue slaine the Admirall and his companie, vnder the colour of friendship, if op- Cauiuhoi c3-
portunitie would so haue serucd, he repayred to the Admiral, with his whole family, and so mSraUdtath?'
many other waiting on him, armed after their maner. Being demaunded why hee brought so
great a rout of men with him, he answered, that it was not decent for so great a Prince as hee
was, to goe out of his house without such a bande of men : but the thing chaunced much
otherwise then he looked for, for he fell into the snares which he had prepared for other, for
wheras by the way he began to repent him that he came forth of his house, Hoieda with
many faire words and promises brought him to the Admirall, at whose commandement he was
immediatly taken and put in pryson, so that the soules of our men were not long from their
bodies vnreuenged. Thus Caunaboa with all his familie being taken, the Admirall was deter-
mined to runne ouer the Ilande, but hee was certified that there was such famine among the Famine in the
inhabitauntes, that there was already fiftie fhousande men dead thereof, and that they dyed yet panic's"
daily, as it were rotten sheepe, the cause whereof, was well knowne to be their owne obstinacie
and frowardnes : for whereas they saw that our men entended to choose them a dwelling
place in the Ilande, supposing that they might haue dryuen them from thence if the victualles
of the Hand should faile, they determined with themselues, not only to leaue sowing and The hunger
planting, but also to destroy and plucke vp by the rootes euery man in his own region, that ""^ f"'''* I""''*''
which they had already sowne, of both kindes of breade, whereof wee made mention in the
first booke, but especially among the mountaines of Cibana, otherwise called Cipanga, foras-
much as they hadde knowledge that the golde which aboundeth in that region, was the chiefe
cause that deteyncd our men in the Hand. In the meane time, hee sent foorth a Captayne
with a bande of men, to search the South side of the Ilande, who at his returne, reported that
throughout all the regions that hee trauayled, there was such scarcenesse of bread, that for the
space of xvi. dayes, he eate nothing but the rootes of hearbes, and of young date trees, or the
fruites of other wilde trees : but Guarionexius the king of the vale, lying beneath the moun-
taynes of Cibana, whose kingdoms was not so wasted as the other, gaue our menne ccrtaine
victualles. Within a fewe dayes after, both that the iourneyes might be the shorter, and also
that our men might haue more safe places of refuge, if the inhabitantes shoulde hereafter re-
bell in like manner, hee builded another fortresse (which hee called the Towre of cor tption) Thetowtrof
betweene the citie of Isabella, and Saint Thomas fortresse, in the marches of the kingdome of"""'"""

UOD,

\'i\\

I. l?(',l

this

I>; ■'»

* <

5 t ' ti .

VI!; . •

398

Electnm is a
metall natu-
rally niixt of
onr jiortioii
of pol>l, ami an
otlni lit" siluer,
being of pro-
ptriic to lic-
w;9y I'oysiin,
and w .s tlier-
forc in oldc
time in prcat-
cr csti'natioll
then gulJc.
The mine of
Electrum.
An otlier
kindc of Am-
ber is taken
out of great
whale fishes.
Oipemeni or
okcr.

Woodcs of
brasUe trees.

Licentiousnes
of to much li-
bertie.

And this only
gathered, and
not diggt-'d out
of til.- body of
the mmc.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

The first Decade.

this Guarioncxiiis, within the prctincte of Cibana, vpon the tiide of a hill, hailing a fayre riiier
of wholesome water running harde by the same. Thus when the inhabitantcs sawe ncwc
bnildingcs to bee daily erected, and our shippes lying in the haven rotten and halfc broken,
they began to dispayreof any hope of liberty, and wandred vp aild downc with hcaiiie cheare.
From the Towre of Conception, searching diligently the inner partes of the mountaynes of
Cibana, there was accrtaine king which gaue them a masse of rude golde as bigge as a mans
fyst, weighing xx. ounces: this golde was not found in thebankc of that riuer, but in a heape
of dry earth, and was like vnto the stone called Tophus, which is sonne resolued into sande.
This ma<!se of golde 1 myselfe sawe in Castile, in tKc famous Citic of Methymna Canipi,
where the Court lay all that winter. I sawe also a great peccc of pure Electrum, of the
which bcls, and Apothecaries morters, & many such other vessclies and instruinentes may bee
made, as were in olde lime of copper in the Cilie of Corinthus. This peece of Electrum was
of such weight, that I was not onely with both my handcs vnable to lift it from the ground,
but also not of strength to remoue it eyther one way or other : tliey aflirmcd that it weied
more then three hundred pounde weight, after eight ounces to the poundc, it was foundc in
the house of a certaine Prince, and left him by his predecessours : and albeit that in thcdayes
of the inhabitantes yet lining, Electrum was no where digged, yet kncwe they where the
mvne thereof was, but our men with much adoo collide hardly cause them to shewe them the
place, they bore them such priuie hatred, yet at the length they brought them to the myne,
being now ruinate and stopped with stones and rubbishe : it is much easyer to digge then
is the yron myne, and might be restored againe, ifinyners and other workmen skilfiill there-
in were appoynted thereto. Not farre from the Tower of Conception, in the same mountaine,
is founde great plentie of Amber, and out of certaine rockes of the same, distilleth a sub-
stance of the yelowe colour which the Paynters vse. Not farre from these mountaines are
many great woodes, in the which are none other trees then Brasile, which the Italians call
Verzino. But here perhaps (right noble Prince) you woulde aske, what should be the cause,
tliat where as the Spanyanles haue brought out of these Ilandes certaine shippes laden with
Brasile, somewhat of Gossampine cotton, a quantitie of Amber, a litle goKIe, & some spices,
why haue they not brought such pleniie of golde, and such other rich marchaundizes, as the
fniitfuliiesse of these Regions seeme to promise ? To this I answere, that when Colonus the
Admirall was likewise demaunded the cause hereof, hee made aunswere, that the Spanyardes
which hee tooke with him into these regions, were giuen rather to sleepe, play, and idlenesse,
then to labour, and were more studious of sedition and ncwes, then desirous of peace and
quietnesse : also, that being giuen to licentiousncsse, they rebelled & forsooke him, finding
matter of false accusation against him, because hee went about to represse their outragious-
ncsse : by reason whereof, hee was not yet able to brcake the power of the inhabitauntes,
and freely to possesse the full dominion of the liande, and these hinderances to bee the cause
that hitherto the gaynes haue scarcely counteruayled the charges : albeit, euen this yeere
while I wrote these thinges at your request, they gathered in two monethes the summe of a
thousande and two hundred poundes weight of golde. But because we entende to speake
more largely of these thinges in their place, wee will nowe rcturne from whence we haue
digressed. When the inhabitantes perceiued that they collide by no mcanes shake the yoke
from their necks, they made humble supplicatio to the Admirall, that tliey might stande to
their tribute, and apply themselues to increase the fruites of their countrey,beeing now almost
wasted. Hee granted them their request, and appoynted such order that euery llegion
shoulde pay their tribute, with the commodities of their countrcyes, according to their por-
tion, and at such time as they were agreed vpon : but the violent famine did frustrate all
these appoyntments, for all the trauailes of their bodies, were scarcely able to suffice to finde
them meate in the woodes, whereby to susteyne their lines, becing of long time contented
with rootes and the fruites of wylde trees: yet many of the kinges with their people, euen in
this extreame necessitie, brought parte of their tribute, most humbly desiring the Admirall to
haue compassion of their calamities and to beare with them yet a while, vntii the Ilande were
restored to the olde state, promising further, that that which was nowe wanting, shoulde then be

double

The firm Decade.

TRAFI'IQUES, AND DlSCOUr.Rll'S.

399

double rccompenrccl. But fcwo of the iiihabifantcs of ihc inoiintaincs of Cihana kept tlicir
promise, bcraur4C they were sorer oppressed with famine then anie of the other. They say
tliat the inhabitants of these moiitnincs difler no lesse in language and manners from thcni xht naiuif of
whiche dwell in the playnes, then among vs the rusticalles of the counlrey, from the gentle- [,„y,j,X- ma'.
men of the court : whereas notwithstanding they Hue as it were both vnder one portion ofn"ofihero-
hcauen, and in many thingcs much after one fashion, as in nakedncsse, and rude simplicitie.''"'
I'lUt nowe let vs return to Caunaboa the king of the house of golde, being in captiuitie. KingCsvmi-
When hee pcrcciued him selfe to bee cast in pryson, fretting and grating his teeth, as it Iiad |^*J^"' "'"'■
bcene a Lion of Libia, and dayly and nightly deuising with himselfe howe hee might bee
deliuercd, beeganne to perswade the Admirall, that forasmuch as he haddc nowe taken vnto
his dominion the region of Cipanga or Cibana (whcrof he was king) it shoulde be expedient
to sende thither a garryson of Christian men, to defend the same from the incursions of his
old enemies and borderers : for he saydc, that it was signified vnto him, that the countrey
was wasted and spoyled with such incursions. Ky this craftie deuise, hee thought to haue
brought to passe, that his brother which was in that region, and the other his kinsfolkes and
friendes with their adiierentes, should haue taken, eyther by sleight or force, as many of our
men as might haue redeemed him. But the Admirall vnderstanding his craftie meaning, sent
Hoieda with suche a companie of men, as might vnnquishe the Cibanians, if they shoulde
moue warre againste them. Ourmenne had scarrelye entred into the region, but the brother
of Caunaboa came against them with an armie of fyue thousande naked men, armed after their ^™JJ'^'^'°^^J^|
manner, with clubbes, arrowes tipt with bones, and speares made harde at the endes with kth.
lire. He stole vpon our men beeing in one of their houses, and encamped roundc about the
same on euery side. This Cibanian, as a man not ignorant in the discipline of warre, about
the distaunce of a furlong from the house, diuided his nrmie into fiue battayles, appoynting to
euery one of them a circuite by equall deuision, and placed the froont of his owne battayle
directly against our men. When he had thus set his battayles in good aray, he gaue certaine
signes that the whole army should marche forwarde in order with equal! paces, and with a la- ^ conflict bf.
rome freshly assayle their enemies, in such sort that none might escape. But our men iudg-twcenetheci-
ing it better to encounter with one of the battayles, then to abide the brunt of the whole ar- sp^|j'y,',J„''^*
mie, gaue oneset on the maine battayle aranged in the playne, because that place was most
commodious for the horsmen. When the horsmen therefore had giuen the charge, they ouer-
threwe them with the brestes of their horses, and slue as many as abode the end of the fight,
the residue being stricken with feare, disparcled, and fled to the mountaines and rockes: from
whence they made a pitifull howling to our men, desiring them to spare them, protesting that
they woulde neuer more rebell, but doe what so euer they woulde commaunde them, if they
woulde suflfer them to line in their owne countrey. Thus the brother of Caunaboa being
taken, the Admirall licenced the people to resort euery man to his owne : these thinges thus
fortunately atchiued, this Region was pacified. Among these mountaines, the vale which
Caunaboa inhabited, is called Magona, and is exceeding fruitful!, hauing in it many goodly
springes and riuers, in the sande whereof is founde great plentie of golde. The same yeere
in the moneth of lune, they say there arose such a boystrous tempest of wind from the South- Ajreat tf!n
west, as hath not lightly been heard of, the violence wherof was such, that it plucked vp l)y
the roots whatsoeuer great trees were within the reach of the force thereof. When this
whyrlewinde came to the hauen of the cltie, it beate downe to the bottome of the sea tiiree
shippes, which lay at anker, and broke the cables in sunder, and that (which is the greater
maruayle) without any storme or roughnesse of the sea, onely turning them three or foure
times a!}out. The inhabitantes also affirme, that the same yeere the sea extended it selfe fur-
ther into the lande, and rose higher then euer it did beefore by the memorie of man, by the
space of a cubite. The people therefore muttered among theraselues, that our nation had
troubled the elementes, & caused such portentous signes. These tempestes of the ayre
(which the Grecians call Tiphones, that is, whirlewindes) they call Furacanes, which they say, whirUwind
doe often times chaunce in this Ilande : but that neyther they, nor their great graund-fathers, f""caiKs.
euer sawe such violent and furious Furacanes, that plucked vp great trees by the rootes, nei-

3F3 ... ther

pest in the
monrli of lune,

|.f

liiW,

•r ■ "-(

L^i^l

400

^'OYAGE.S, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decade

The death uf
king Cauna>
boa 'iiul hii
bisihct.

Cioldc in the
luperticinll
partes of the
catih,

thcr yet siicli surges and vehement motions on the sea, that so wasted the land as in dccde it
may appearc, forasmuch as wheresocucr the sea bankes arc necrc to any plaine, there are in
a maner ciicrie where florishing medowes reaching eiicn to the shore : hut nowc let vs rcfurnc
to Cniinaboa. As king Caunaboa therefore and his brotiier' should haue been brought
into Spaine, they dyed by the way, for very pcnsiuenesseand anguish of minde. The Admi-
ral whose shippes were drowned in the foresaide tempest, perceiuiiig himselfc to be now en-
closed, commaunded forthwith two other shippes (which the Spaniardcs call Carauelas) to bee
made: for hee had with him all manner of Artificers pertcyning thereunto. While these
thinges were dooing, hee sent foorth Bartholomeus Colonus hi:? brother, beeing Lieutenant of
the llande, with an armie of men to search the golde mynes, beeing distant threescore leagues
from the citie of Isabella, which were founde by the conduct of certaine people of the Hand,
before the mines of Cipanga or Cibana were knowne. In these mynes they found certaine
The golde minei deepe pits, which had beenc digged in old time, out of these pities, the Admirall (whoaflirm-
ofsoiomoii. eih this Hand of Hispaniola to be Ophir, as we sayde before) supposetli that Solomon the
king of Hierusalem had his great riches of gold, whereof we read in the olde Testament, and
that his ships sayled to this Ophir by the goulfe of Persia, called Sinus Persicus. But whether
it be so or not, it lieth not in me to iudge, but in my opinion it is far of. As the myners
digged the superficiallor vppermost part of the earth of the mynes, during for the space of
sixe myles, and in diners places sifted the same on the drie land, they .'"ourid such plentic of
golde, that euery hyred labourer could easily finde eueric day the weight "i three drammes.
These mines beeing thus searched and found, the Lieuetenant certified the Atlriirall hccreof by
his letters, the which when he had receiued, the fiftday of the Ides of March, Anno. Wdo, he
entred into his new ships, and tooke his voyage directly to Spaine, to aduertise the king of all
his atlaires, leaning the whole regiment of the Hand with his brother the Lieuetenant.

The fift booke of the first Decade, to Lodouikc Cardinal of Aragonic.

AFter the Admirals departing into Spayne his brother the Lieuetenant builded a fortresse in
the golde mynes, as hee hadde commaunded him : this hee called the golden towre, beccnuse
the labourers founde golde in the earth, and stone whercrf they made the walles of the for-
tresse. Hee consumed three moncthes in making the i.tv aimentes wiicrewith the golde
shoulde bee gathered, washed, tryed, and moulten : yet was hee at this time, by reason of
wante of victualles, enforced to leaue all thinges imperfecte, and to goe seeke for meate.
Thus as he, with a bande of armed mennc, hadde entred threescore myles further within the
land, the people of the country here and there resorting to him, gaue him a certaine por-
tion of their breade, in exchange for other of our thinges: but hee coulde not long tary
here, because they lacked meate in the fortresse, whither hee hasted with such as he had
now gotten. Leauing therefore in the fortresse a garrison of ten men, with that portion of
the Ilande breade which yet remained, leauing also with them a Hounde to take those kindes
of little beastes which they call Vsias, not much vnlike our Conies, hee returned to the fortresse
of Conception. This also was the moneth wherein the king Guarionexius, and also Manicau-
texius borderer vnto him, shoulde haue brought in their tributes. Remaining there the whole
moneth of June, he exacted the whole tribute of the two kinges, and victualles necessary for
him and such as he brought with him, which were ahoute foure hundred in number. Shortly
after, about the Calendes of July, there came three Caraueles from Spayne, bringing with
them sundry kindes of victualles, as wheate, oyle, wine, bakon, & Martelmas beefe, which
were diuided to euery man according as neede required, some also was lost in the caryage for
lack of good looking to. At the arriual of these shippes, the Lieutenant receiued commaunde-
ment from the King and the Admirall his brother, that he with his men should remoue their
habitation to the South side of the Ilande, because it was neerer to the golde mynes : Also that
hee shoulde make diligent search for those Kinges which had slayne the Christian men, and
to sende them with their confederates bound into Spaine. At the next voyage therefore he
sent three hundred captiues, with three kinges, and when hee had diligently searched the
coastes of the South side, he transported his habitation, and builded a fortresse there, vppon

the

The golden
tower,

LackeofvU

taylcs.

Victualles

broushtfrom

Spaine,

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

3f all

„, vppon
the

: Domi"

>.l<cslu«(r.

the toppc of an hill, ncarc vnto a sure haiien : this fortressc hee called <' Dominiri -. ''i
tower. Into this hauen runneth a riiicr of whol^omc water, replenished with ...airy kind* f '
good fishes: they afllirmc this riiier to haue many benefites of nature, forvnyro so cuer
it runneth, all thinges arc exceeding picasaunt and fruitefull, haiiing on euery Mcie
groucH of Date trees, and diucrs other of the llande fruites so plentifully, that as
they sayled along by the shore, oftentimes the braunches thereof, laden with flowres
and fruites, hong so cuer their headcs, that they might pluckc them with their handcs:
also that the fruitfulnes of this ground, is cylher cquall with the soyle of Isabella, or better, isibdi.
In Isabella hee left onely tertainc sickc men, ami shippe wrightes, whome hee had ap-
poynted to make certaine caraucis, the residue of his men, hee conueighed to the South, to
saint Dominickes tower. After hee had builded this fortresse, leauing therein a garrison of
XX. men, hee wilh the remnant of his souldiers, prepared thcmselues to search the inner
partes of the West side of the Ilnnde, hitherto knowne onely by name. Therefore about
XXX. leagues, (that is) fourescore and fenne myles from the fortresse, hee chaunced on the
ryucr Naiba, which wee sayde to descende from the mountaines of Cibana, right towarde Theriuerof
the South, by the middest of the llande. When he had ouerpassed this riuer wilh a com- *'"''''■
panie of armed menne diuided into xxv. decurions, that is, tenne in a companic, with their
capitaines, he sent two decurions to the regions of those Kinges in whose landcs were the
great woodes of brasile tree. Inclining towarde the left hande, they founde the woodes, Woodf s of
entred info them, and felled the high and precious trees, which were to that day vntouched. ^""'•""»'
Each of the decurions filled certaine of the llande houses with the trunkes of brasile, there
to bee reserued vntill the shippes came which should cary them away. But the Lieutenant
directing his iourney towarde the right hande, not farrc from the bankes of the riuer of
Naiba, found a certain king whose name was Beuchius Anacauchoa, encamped against tlic
inhabitants of the prouince of Naiba, to subdue them vnder his dominion, as he had don
many other kings of the Hand, borderers vnto him. The palace of this great king, is called
Xaragua, and is situate towarde the West end of the llande, distant from the riuer of Naiba,
XXX. leagues. All the princes which dwell betweene the West ende & his palace, are
ditionaries vnto him. All that region from Naiba, to the furthest marches of the West, is
vtterly without golde, although it be full of mountaines. When the king had espied our Mountvmff
men, laying apart his weapons, and giuingsignes of peace, he spake gentlely to them ( vn- """'"' ^"
certaine whether it were of humanitie or feare) and demanded of them what they woulde
haue. The Lieutenant answeared. That hee should pay tribute to the Admirall his brother, in
the name of the Christian King of Spayne. To whom he sayde. How can you require that
of me, whereas neuer a region vnder my dominion bringeth forth golde ? For he had heard,
that there was a strange nation entred into the Hand, which made great search for gold: But
he supposed that they desired some other thing. The lieutenant answered againe, God for-
bidde that wee shoulde enioyne any manne to pay such tribute as he might not easily for-
beare, or such as were not engendered or growing in the region but wee vnderstande that
your regions bring foorth great plenty of Gossampine cotton, and hempe, with such other,
whereof wee desire you to glue vs parte. When he heard these woordes, he promised with
chearefuU countenance, to glue him as much of these thinges as hee woulde require. Thus
dismissing his army, and sending messengers before, he himselfe accompanied the Lieute-
nant, and brought him to hLs palace, being distant (as we haue sayde) xxx. leagues. In all
this tracte, they passed through the iurisdictinn of other princes, being vnder his dominion :
Of the which, some gaue them hempe, of no lesse goodnesse to make tackelinges for
shippes then our woode: Other some brought breade, and some Gossampine cotton. And
so euery of them payde tribute with such commodities as their countries brought forth. At
the length they came to the kinges mansion place of Xaragua. Before they entred into the
palace, a great multitude of the kinges seruantes and subiectes resorted to the court, honor-
ably (after tlieir maner) to receiue their king Beuchius Anacauchoa, with the strangers
which he brought with him to see the magnificence of his court. But now shall you hcare
howe they were entertained. Among other triumphes & sightes, two are especially to bee

noted:

1^'^1'i

1*1

-h f^

:'di

* I

M\ It' ''

K. ! 1^:

ll^Uti

W:} ^

402

Thf kingM

W 111(1,

Wtll huoutcj

Dryidf*.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

jpiejirit Decade.

Aprttiepiitiinc

Tome nifn
ilayiic ill sport.

Prouision for
u.jcaSL'd men.

The cisttls or
tott-crs of His-
paniola.

Thf goldf n
mountaines of
C'ib;ina.

noted: First, there mettc tlicm a rompanic of xxx. women, beeinp all the kin);e<« wines aiul
contuhiiieH, hearing in their handoH nranrhet of date tree-*, singing and daunting: they
were all naked, sauing that their priuic partes were couercd with breeches of Ciosaampine
cotton : but the virgins, hailing their hairc hanging downe about their ^hoidderH, tyedaboutc
the forchcad.s with a (illet, were vttcrly naked. They alfirml", that their fares, breasts,
pappes, hands, and other parts of their bodic, were exceedingc smooth, and well propor-
tioned, but somwhat inclining to a loiicly brnunc. They supposed that they had seene those
most beutifull Dryades, or tne natiuc nymphes or fayries of the fountaines whereof the
antiques spake so much. The braunches of date trees which they bore in their right handes
when they daunccd, they deliucred to the Lieutenant, witli lowlie courtesic and smiling
countenance. Thus entring into the kingcs house, they founde a delicate supp<T prepared
for them, after their manner. When they were well refreshed with meate, the nyght draw-
ing on, they were brought by the kinges officers, cuery man to his hnlging, ace irding to his
degree, in certaine of their houses about the pallace, where they rested them in hanging
beds, after the maner of the countrcy, whereof we hauc spoken more largely in another
place.

The day following, they brought our men to their common hall, into the which they come
together as often as they make any notable games or triiimphes, as we hauc saydc before,
Hcere after many daunsynges, singinges, maskinges, runninges, wrestlingcs, and other try-
ing of mastryes, sodainly there appeared in a large plaine ncere vnto the hal, two great
armies of men of warre, which the king for his pastime had caused to bee prepared, as
the Spaniardes vse the play with reedes, which thcv call luga de Canias. As the armies
drewe neerc together, tney assayled the one the other as fiercely, as if mortall enemies with
their banners spleadc, should fight for their goods, their landcs, their lines, their libertie, their
countrcy, their wiues and their children, so that within the moment of an houre, foure men
were slaync, and many wounded. The battayle also shoulde haue contimu-d longer, if the
king had not, at the request of our men caused them to cease. The thirde day, the Lieu-
tenaunt counsayling the King to sowe more plentie of gossampine vpon the bankes neere
vnto the waters side, that they might the better paye their tribute priuatcly, according to the
multitude of their houses, hee prepared to Isabella, to visite the sicke menne which hee
hadde left there, and also to see howe his woorkes went forwarde. In ihe time of his ab-
sence, xxx. of his menne were consumed with diuerse diseases. Wherefore beeing sore
troubled in his minde, and in manner at his wittes ende, what he were best to doe, for as much
as hee wanted all thinges neces.sarie, as well to restore them to health which were yet acrased,
as also vitayles to maintaine the whole multitude, where as there was yet no shippe come
from Spayne : at the length, hee determined to sendc abroade the sicke men here and there
to sundry Regions of the Ilande, and to the castelles which they had erected in the same.
For directly from the citie of Isabella to saint Dominickes tower, that is, from the North to
the South, through the Ilande, they had builded thus many Castles. First xxxvi. myles dis-
tant from Isabella, they builded the Castell of Spcrantia. From Spcrantia xxv. miles,
was the Castell of Saint Katharine. From Saint Katharines xx. miles, was Saint lames tower.
Other XX. myles from Saint lames tower, was a stronger fortressc then any of the other,
which they called the towre of Conceptio, which he made the stronger, because it was situ-
ate at the rootes of the golden mountaynes of Cibana, in the great and large playne, so
fruitefull and well inhabited as we haue beeforc described. Hee builded also another in
the mydde way betweene the tower of Conception, & saint Dominickes tower, the which
also was stronger then the tower of Conception, because it was within the lymittes of a great
King, hauing vndcr his dominion fine thousand men, whose chiefe citie and heade of the
Realme, being calletl Bonauum, he willed that the Castel should also be called after the same
name. Therefore leaning the sicke men in these Castels, and other of the Hand houses
neere vnto the same, hee himselfe repayred to Saint Dominickes, exacting trjbutes of all
the kingcs which were in his way. When hee had taryed there a fewe dayes, there was a
rumour sprcade, that all the kinges about the borders of the towre of Conception, hadde

conspired

Tlie first Decade.

TnAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUF.IUES.

40;i

' An ainiif of
»v. thoiij.iiui
Ujibatiiiiu.

spired with (lc«<pcrate myndcs to rcbcll OKaiiist the Spanyardcs. When the Licuctcnant Th» kimei
certified liereoC, hcc tookc his ioiirncy towardc them immediately, not bcitiR di«C(nira;;ed"'" '
eyther by the len;;th of the way, or fccblcncssc of his houdicrs, bccing in manner fore-
wearied with traiiaylc. As hec drewc iieerc vnto them, he haddc ailucrtysemcnt that
king Guarioncxiiis was chosen by other Princes to bcc the Capitaync of this rebellion, and
("^at hec was enforced thereto halfc vnwilling, bccing seduced by pcrswasions and proiioca«
ti iim: the which is more lii^rly to be true, for that hec hadde before hadde experience of
the power and policie of our lurii. They came togcathcr at a day appo\ntcd, accompanied
with XV. tlu)u>*andc men, armed after their manner, once againe to prouc the fortune of
warrc. lleere the Lieutenant, consulting with the Captainc of thcfortresseand the other soul
diers of whom he had the condiu t, dtlermined to settc vpon them vnwares in their ownc
houses, before they coulde prep ire lliiir armic. lie sent forth therefore to cucry king a
Centurion, that is, a captayne of a hundred, which were commanded vpon a ttuddcn to
innadc their houses in the nigiit, and to take them sleeping, before the people (being scat-
tered here and there) might assemble together. Thus secretly entering into their villages, Thtkinsfsir.^
not fortified with wa'.les, trenches, or bulwarkcs, they broake in vpon them, tooke them, " '" '"'"""
bound them, and led away cuery man his prisoner according as they were commanded. The
Lieutenant himsclfc with his hundred men, as.sayled king Guarionexius m the worthier per*
Konagc, whom he tooke prysoner, us did the other captaiiies their kings, and at the same
houre appoynted. Foureteene of them were brought the same night to the tower of Con-
ception. Shortly after, when he had put to death two of the Kingcs whichc were the chiefe
authors of this new reuolte, and had suborned Guarionexius and the other kings to attempt
the same, least the people for sorowe of their kingesshouldc neglect or forsake their countrey,
which thing might haue bin great incommoditie to our men, who by the increase of their
scedes and fruites were often times ayded, he freely pardoned and dismissed Guarionexius Kins r.uuio.
and the other kinges, the people in the mcane time flocking togcathcr about the tower, to d",,"j.''' '
the number of fine thousande without weapons, with pitifull houling for the deliuerance
of their kings. The ayre thundered, & the earth trembled through the vehemecie of their
outcry. The Lieutenant warned Guarionexius and the other kinges, with threatninges,
with rcwardes, and with promises, neiier hereafter to attempt any such thing. Then Gua-
rionexius made an oration to the people, of the great power of our men, of their clemcnrie
toward ofl'enders, & liberalitie to suche as remainc iaithfull, desiring them to quiet their
myndes, and from thenceforth neither indeed nor thought to enterprise any thing against
the Christians, but to obey and seme them, except they woulde dayly bring thcmsclues
into further calamities. When the oration was finished, they tooke him vppe, and set him
on their shoulders, and so caryed him home to his owne pallace : and by this meanes, this
Region was pacifyed for a while. But our menne, with heauie countenance wandered vp
and downe. as desolate in a strange countrey, lacking victailes, and worne out of apparell, LacW ofiy.
whereas xv. monethes were nowe passed since the Admiralls departure, duryng which time, ">'''*■
they coulde heare nothing out of Spayne. The Licnetenant cofmorted them all tliat bee
coulde with fayre words and promises. In the meane time, Beuchius Anachaucoa (the king
of the West partes of the Region of Xaragua (ofwhomc wee spake before) sent messengers
to the Lieutenant, to signifie vnto him, that bee had in a readines the gossampine cotton,
and such other thinges as he willed him to prepare for the payment of his trybute. Where-
upon the Licnetenant tooke his iourney thither, and was honorably receiued of the king and
his sister, sometime the wife of Caunaboa the king of Cibana, bearing no lesse rule in the
gouernaunce of her brothers kingdome, then he himselfe: For they affirmed her to bee a
wise woman, of good maners, & pleasant in companie. She earnestly perswaded her bro-
ther, by the example of her husband, to loue & obey the Christians. This womsn was
called Anacaona. Hee founde in the palace of Beuchius Anacauchoa. xxxii. kings, which "»"• kin^f;.
had brought their tributes with them, and abode his comming. They brought with them
also, beside their tribute assigned them further to demerite the fauour of our men, great
plenty of vitails, as both kindcs of bread, conies, and fishes, already dried, because they

should

■K^

■ '-xi

404

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Hie first Decade .

Mo'M

fj;i.. r

:\ .

'■A

Thr dressing of
Sf rpemcs to be

MtCII,

Sctpcntes cgges
Mtrn.

nossjmpiiie cot'
ten.

serptntci cattn. should iiot piitrific : Scrpcntcs also of that kinde which wee sayde to be esteemed among
them as most delicate meat, & like vnto Crocodiles sailing in bignesse. These Serpents
they cal luannas, which our men learned (somwhat too late) to haiie bin engendered in
the Ilande : For vnto that day, none of them durst aduenture. to tast of them, by reason of
their horrible deformity and lothsomnes. Yet the Lieutenant, being entised by the plea-
santnes of the kinges sister, determined to tast of the Serpentes. But when hee felt the fleshc
thereof to bee so delicate to his tongue, hee fel to amaine without all feare: the which
thing his companions perceiuing, were not behinde him in greedynesse insomuch that they
had now none other talke, then of the sweetnesse of these serpentes, which they aflirme to
be of more pleasaunte taste, then eyther our Phesantes or Partriches : but they loose their
taste, except they be prepared after a certaine fashion, as doe Peacockes and Phesantes,
except they be enterlarded before they be rosted. They prepare them therfore after this
manner: First, taking out their bowellcs, euen from the throte to the thyghes, they washe
and rubbe their bodies verie cleane both within & without, then rolling them together on a
circle, inuolued after the maner of a sleeping snake, they thrust them into a pot, of no big-
ger capacitie then to hold them only this done, putting a little water vnto them, with a
portion of the Ilande Pepper, they seethe tiiem with a soft fire of sweete wood, and such as
maketh no great smoake: Of the fat of them being thussodde, is made an exceeding pleasant
broth or pottage. They say also, that there is no mcate to be compared to the egges of these
serpentes, which they vse to seethe by themselucs they are good to bee eaten as soone as
they are sodde, and may also be reserued many dayes after. But hauing sayde thus much
of their entertaynement and dayntie fare, let vs nowe speak of other matters. When the
Lieutenant had filled one of the Ilande houses with the Gossampine cotton which he had
receiued for tribute, the kinges promised furthermore to glue him as much of their bread
as he would demaunde : he gaue them hartie thanks, & gentlely accepted their friendly
proflor. In the meane time, whyle this bread was a gathering in sundry regions, to be
brought to the palace of Beuchius Anacauchoa king of Xaragua, he sent messengers to Isabella,
for one of the two Carauelles whiche were lately made there, intending to sende the same
thither againe laden with bread. The Mariners glad of these tydinges, saylcd about the
Ilande, and in shortc space brought the shippe to the coastcs of Xaragua. The sister of
king Beuchius Anacauchoa, that wise and pleasaunt woman Anacaona (the wife sometime
of Caunaboa the king of the golden house of the mountaynes of Cibana, whose husband
died in the way when he shoulde haue beene caryed into Spayne) when she heard say that
our shyppe was arriued on the shore of her natiue countrey, perswaded the king her bro-
ther, that they both myght goe together to see it ; for the place where the shyppe lay was
not paste, vi. myles distant from Xaragua. They rested all night in the midway, in a ccr-
Thetrcasurieof taine village in the which was the treasurie or iewel house of Anacaona. Her treasure was
caonir "' neither goide, siluer, or pretious stones, but only thinges necessary to be vscd, as chayres,
stooles, settels, dishes, potingers, pottes, pannes, basons, treyes, and such other housholdc
stufie and instrumentes, workemanly made of a certaine blacke and harde shyning wood,
which that excellent learned pliisition lohn baptist Elisius, affirmeth to be Hebene. What-
soeuer portion of wit nature hath giuen to the inhabitantes of these Ilandes the same doth
moste appeare in these kinde of workes, in which they shewe great art and cunnyng, but
those which this woman had were made in the Hand of Guanabba, situate in the mouth of
the West side of Hispaniola : In these they graue the liuely images of such phantasies as
they suppose they see walke by night, which the antiques called Lemures: Also the images
of men, serpents, beastes & what so euer other thing they haue once scene. What would
you thinke (moste noble prince) that they could do, if they had the vse of Iron and Steele ?
For they onely first make these soft in the fire, & afterwarde make them holowc and carue
them with a ctiiayne stone which they find in the riuers. Of stooles and chayres, shce
gaue the Lieuctenaunt fourteene, and of vesselies pertaining to the table and kitchen, shce
gaue him threescore, some of wood, and some of earth, aUo gossampine cotton readic
spunne foure great buttomes of exceeding weight. The day following when they came to

the

Queene Am
caona.

Kebcne wood.

The Ilande of
Guanahba.

Cunnyng Arti

tlrcis.

A stone in the
iieedf of Iron.

Hie first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

40j

at would
Steele ?
nd came
res, shoe
en, shce
n readic
came to
the

the sea side where was an other village of the kingcs the Lieutenant commaunded the
shippe hoat to be brought to the shore. The king also had prepared two Canons, painted
after their maner one for himselfe and certayne of his gentelmcn, an other for his sister
Anacaona and her way ting women: but Anacaona desired to be caried in the shippe lioatc
with the Lieutenant. When they nowe approched ncare vnto the shippe, crrtaine great
peeces of ordinance were discharged of purpose, the sea was filled with thunder, and the
ayre with smoke, they trembled and quaked for feare, supposing that the frame of the world
had beene in danger of falling, but when they sawe the Lieutenant laugh, and lookc
chearefully on them, they called againe their spirites, and when they yet drewc nearer to the
ship, and heard the noises of the fluites, shalmes, and drummes, they were wonderfully MusiciOi imttu-
astonied at the sweete harmony thereof. Entryng into the shippe, and beholding the fore- ""'"""
ship and the sterne, the toppe castel, the mast, the hatches, the cabbins, the keele, and the
tacklynges, the brother fixing his eyes on the sister, and the sister on the brother, they ignoMnce
were both as it were dumme and amased and wiste not what to say for too much woundering. '^.'"'«''> "draini'
While beholding these things, they wandered vp and downe the shippe, the Lieutenant
commaunded the ankers to be loosed, and the sayles to be hoysed vp. Then were they fur-
ther astonished, when they sawe so great a mole to moue as it were by it selfe, without
ores : & without the force of man : for there arose from the earth such a wynd, as a man
would haue wished for of purpose: Yet furthermore, when they perceiued the shippe to
moue sometime forwarde, and sometime backwarde, sometime toward the right hand, and
sometime towarde the left, and that with one winde and in manner at one instant, they
were at their wittes end for to much admiration. These thinges finished, and the shyppes
laden with bread, and such other rewardes, they beeing also recompenced with other of our
thinges, he dismissed not onely the king Beuchius Anacauchoa and his sister, but likewise
all their seruauntes and women, replenished with ioy and wondering. After this, he him-
selfe tooke his iourney by foote with his souldiers to the citie of Isabella, where hee was
aduertiscd that one Roldanus Ximenus, a noughty fellow (whom before, being his seruant,
he had preferred to bee capitayne of the miners and labourers, and after made him a ludge
in causes of controuersie) had vsed himselfe outragiously, and was maliciously mynded The imempc.
against him, and further, the cause of much mischiefe in his absence. Forking Guario- ""'^y*'.'J"''f5
nexius (who a while beefore was pardoned of his former rebellion, & perswaded the people aduanced.
to obey the Spaniardes) was by his noughty vsage, and such other as were confedered with
him, so accensed to reuenge the iniuries whiche they susteyned at his handes, beside the
abhominable actes which they, following onely the law of nature, abhorred to admit, that
he, with his famylie, familiers, and ditionaries, of desperate minde fledde to the mountayncs,
being distant from Isabella onely tenne leagues westwarde, towarde the North side of the
sea. These mountaynes, and also the inhabitauntes of the same, they call by one name, cigmuLm!.
Ciguaios. The great king of all the kinges and Regions of these mountaines is called
Maiobanexius, and his court or palace is named Capronus : the nrountaynes are rough, high,
and such as no manne can passe to the toppes thereof, they are also bending, and haue their
corners reaching downe to the sea. Betweene both the corners of the mountaynes, is there
a great playne, by the whiche many riuers fall from the mountaynes into the sea, the peo-
ple are very fierce and warlike men, hauing their originall of the Canibales: for when they
descende from the mountaines to the playnes, to keepe warre with their borderers, they
cate all such as they kill. Guarionexius therefore, fleeing to the king of these moun-
taynes, gane him many presentes of such thinges as are wanting in his country, therwith
declaring how vilely, villanously, and violently hee had beene vsed of our men, with whom
he could nothing preuayle, neither by faire meanes, nor by foule, neither by humility, nor
by stoutnesse, and that to be the cause of his resorting to him at that time, most humbly
desiring him to be his defence against the oppressions of such mischieuous people. Maioba-
nexius hcereupon, made him promise to ayde and helpe him against the Christiana all that
he might. The Lieutenant therefore made hast to the fortresse of Conception, whither,
a» soone as hee was come, hee si^nt for Roldanus Xeminus, who with such as followed him,

S G lav

406

\'OYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Dccadt

^rn'r

Lictntfcusnts
in libtitlct

Herculei pvU
leis.

A violent ptr-
swasion.

The furie of
Guarione.iius.

Jay in ceniiiiie of die Hand villages, xii. mylcs distant from the fortressc. At his comming,
the Licueienant a»ked him what all these stirres and tumiiltes meant ? Hee answered without
abashment. Your brother the Admirall hath to do therewith, and shall aunswere for the same
before the king, for we pcrceiue that the king hath so put him in trust, that he hath no re-
garde to vs : here wee perish for hunger, while wee followe you, and are dryuen to
seeke our vnhappie food in the desertes : Your brother also assigned mce assistaunt with
you in gouerning the liande. Wherefore sith you haue no mu.e respect vnto vs, we are
determined no longer to bee vnder your obedience. When Uoldanus had spoken these
wordcs, and such other, the Lieueteiiant woulde haue layde handes on him, but he escaped
his fingers, and fledde to the West partes of the region of Xaragua, hauing with him a trayne
of threescore and ten men, which were of his confederacie. Here this filthy sinke of rebelles
thus conspired, playde their vages, and lined with loose bridles in all kinde of mischiefe,
robbing the people, spoyling the countrey, and rauishing both wyues and virgins. Whyle
these thinges were doing in the Uande, the Admiral had eight shippes appoynted him by
the king, of the which hee sent two laden with victualles, from Cales or Gades of Hercules
pyllers, directly to the Lieutenant his brother. These shippcs by chaunce arriued iirst on
the side c ^ the Ilande where Koldaiius Ximenus ranged with his companions. Koldanus
in shorte time hadde seduced them, promising them in the steede of mattockes, v/enches
pappes : for labour, pleasure : for hunger, abundance : and for wearynesse and watching,
sleepe & quietnesse. Guarionexius in the nieane time assembled a power of his friendes
and confederates, & came oftentimes downe into the plaine, and slue as manie of the
Christian men as hee coulde meete conueniently, and also of the Ilande meiine which were
their friendes, wasting their grounde, destroying their seedes, and spoyling their vyllages.
But Roldanus and his adherents, albeit they had knowledge that the Admirall woulde shortly
come, yet feared they no thing, because they had seduced the newe men which came in the
first shippes. While the Lieuctenaunt was thus tossed in the myddest of these stormes, in
the meaae time his brother the Admirall set forwarde from the coastes of Spayne : but not
directly to Ilispaniola, for he turned more towarde the South. In the whicli voyage, what
he did, what coastes both of the lande and sea he compassed, and what newe regions he
discouered, wee will iirst declare : for to what ende and conclusion the sayd tumultes and
seditions came, we will expresse in the ende of the booke following. Thus fare ye well.

The sixt booke of the first Decade, to Lodouike Cardinal of Aragonie.

COIonus the Admirall, the thirde day of the Calendes of lune, in the yeare of Christe
1498. hoysed vp his sayles in the hauen of the towne Barramcdabas, not farre distant from
Cales, & set forward on his voyage with right ships laden with victualles and other necessa-
ries. He diuerted from his accustomed race, which was by the Ilandes of Canarie, by rea-
son of certaine Frenchmen pyrates and rouers on the sea, which lay in the right way to meete
with him. In the way from Cales to tiie Hands of Canarie, about fourescore and tenne myles
toward the left hand, is the Hand of Madera, more southward then the city of Ciuile by foure
degrees, for the pole Artike is cleuate to Ciuile xxxvi. degrees, but to tnis Hande (as the
Mariners say) onely xxxii. lie sayled therefore first to Madera, and sending from thence
directly to Ilispaniola the residue of the shipjics laden with victualles and other necessaries,
he himselfe with one shippc with deckes, and two Marchant Carauclles, coasted toward the
South to come to the Equinoctiall lyne, and so forth to followe the tracte of the same to-
warde the West, to the intent to search the natures of such places as he coulde finde vnder
or near vnto the same, leauing Ilispaniola on the North side on his right hande. In the
middle of this race, lye xiii. Ilandes of the Portugales, whiche were in olde time called
Hesperides, and are nowe called Caput Viride, or Cabouerde, these are situate in the sea,
right oner against the inner partes of Ethiope, Westwarde two dayes sayling. One of these
the Portugales call Bonauista. With the Snaiies, or rather the Tortoyses of this Ilande, many
iMMfc^"'^'''' leprous men are healed and clensed of their kprosie. Departing sodainly from hence, by
reason of the contagiousnesse of the aire, he sayled. CCCClxxx. myles toward the West

Southwest,

The third voyage
of Colonus the
.Admirall.

freiiche men
|iyrates.

'the Hand of
AiideiJ.

The first Decade.

TRAifiPIQUE^, AND DISCOUERFES.

407

by rea-

meete

myles

foiire

as the

thence

saricSj

ird the

line to-

vnder

In the

called

e sea,

these

many

ce, by

Wesi

thwest.

Southwest, whiche is In the middest betweene the West and the South. There was he so
vexed with maladies and heate (for it was in the moneth of lune) that his ships were almost Conui-ioiuayrt
set on fire : The hoopes of his barrels cracked and brake, and the fresh water ranne out : htate!^
the men also complained that they were not able to abide that cxtremitie of heat. Here the
North pole was eleuate onely. v. degrees from the Horizoiitall. For the space of viii. dayes,
in the which he suffered these extremities, onely the first day was fayrc, but all the other,
clowdy and raynye, yet neuerthelesse feruent hotte : Wherefore it oftentimes repented him
not a litle, that euer he tooke that way. Reing tossed in these dangers and vexations eyght
continuall dayes, at the length an Eastsoutheast wynde arose, and gaue a prosperous blastc
to his sayles. Which wynde following directly towarde the West, he founde the starres ouer
that paralel placed in other order, and other kinde of ayre, as the Admirall himselfe tolde
me. And they all afBrme, that within three dayes sayling, they founde mo>t temperate and
pleasaunt ayre. The Admirall also affirmeth, that from the clime of the great heat & vnhol-
some ayre, hce eucr ascended by the backe of the sea, as it were by a high mountayne to-
warde heauen, yet in all this tyme, coulde he not once see any land : But at the length, the
day before the Calendes of luly, the watchman looking forth of the top castell of the greatest
ship, cried out aloude for ioy that he espied three exceeding high mountaines, exhorting his
fellows to be of good cheare, & to put away all pensiuenes : for they were very heauie and
sorrowfull, aswel for the griefe which they susteyned by reason of the intollcrable heate, a?
also that their fresh water fayled them, which ranne out at the ryftes of the barrels, caused
by extreame heate, as we haue said. Thus being well comforted, they drew to the land, but
at their first approch they could not arryue by reaso of the shalownes of the sea neere the
shore, yet seeing out of their shippes, they might well perceiue that the region was in-
habited, and well cultured, for they sawe very faire gardens, and plesant medowes : from the
trees and hearbes whereof, when the morning dewes beeganne to rise, there proceeded manie
sweete sauoures. Twentie myles distant from hence, they chaunced into a hauen, very apte
to harborowe shippes but it had no ryuer running into it. Sayling on yet somewhat further,
he found at the length a commodious hauen, wherein he might repayre his shippes, and make
prouitiion of freshe water and fuel. Arenalis calleth this land Puta. They found no houses Theihndof
neere vnto the hauen, but innumerable steppes of certaine wild beastes feete, of the which *"""•
they founde one deade, much like a goate. The day following, they sawe a Canoa comming
a farre of, hauing 'n it foure and twenty young men of goodly corporature and high stature, people of comty
all armed with targets, bowes and arrowes: the hayre of their heades was long and playne, f°„''^"airen«re
and cutte on the forehead much after the manner of the Spanyardes, their priuie partes were the Equinoctiaii.
couered with fyllets of Gossampine cotton, of sundry colours enterlaced, & were beside all
ouer naked. Here the Admirall, considering with himselfe the corporature of this people,
and nature of the land, he belceucd the same to be so much the neerer heauen, then other
regions of the same paralel, & further remoued from the grosse vapours of the vales, & The higher, th«
maryshcs, howe much the highest toppes of the biggest mountaynes are distant from the
decpe vales. For he earnestly affirmeth, that in all that nauigation, he neuer went out of the
paralels of Ethiope : So great difference is there between the nature of the inhabitantes, and
of the soylcs of diuers regions, all vnder one clime or paralel, as is to see betweene the peo-
ple and regions beeing in the firme lande of Ethiope, and them of the Ilandes vnder the
same clime, hauing the pole starre eleuate in the same degree. For the Ethiopians are all
blacke, hauing their hayre curled, more like wool then haire: but these people of the Hand
of Puta (being as I haue sayde vnder the clime of Ethiope) are whyte, with long hayre, and
of yelow colour. Wherefore it is apparant, the cause of this so great difference, to be rather
by the dispositid of the earth, then constitution of heauen. For wee knowe that yce falleth on
the mountaynes of the Equinoctiaii, or burnt lyne, and the same to endure there continually:
wee knowe likewise, that the inhabitantes of the regions farre distant from that line toward
the North, are molested with great heate. The Admirall, that he might alure the young men
to him with gentlenesse, shewed them looking glasses, fayre and bright vessels of copper,
hawkes belles, and such other thinges vnknowne to them. But the more they were called, so

3 G 2 much

^■1

( 'f.«u

408

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie first Decade.

Nii-;

•>')*■

Musicill insuu<

•nciKcs,

The violent
course of the
water from the
East to the
West.

The gulfe called
Os Draconis.

A sea of fresh
water.

Msrmasct^
Moiikeyas.

The fayrc and
large rejion of
Pari a.

Humane people.

much the more they suspected craft and deceyt, and fledde backewarde : yet did they with
their great admiration behold our menne and their thinge», but still hauing their ores in their
handes ready to flee. When the Admirall sawe that he could by no meanes allure them by
gii'tcs, hee thought to proue what hee coulde doe with musicall instrumentes, and therefore
- commaunded that they which were in the greatest ship, should play on their drummes and
shawlmes. But the young men supposing this to be a token of battayle, left their ores, &
in the twincling of an eye hadde their arrowes in their bowes, and their targets on their
arraes: and thus directing their arrowes towarde our men, stoode in expectation to know
what this noyse might meane. Our menne likewise preparing their bowes and arrowes, ap-
proched towarde them by litle and litle. But they departing from the Admirals shippe, and
trusting to the dextcritie of their ores, came so neere one of the lesse shippes, that one of
them plucked the cloke from the gouernour of the shippe, and as well as they coulde by
signes required him to come alande, promising faith that they woulde commune with him of
peace. But when they sawe him goe to the Admirals ship, whither hee went to iske leaue
that he might comune with them, suspecting heereby some further deceit, they leapt imme-
diatly into the Canoa, and fledde as swift as the winde, so that to conclude, they could by
no meanes be allured to familiarity : Wherfore the Admirall thought it not conuenient to be-
stow any long time there at this voyage. No great space from this llande, euer towarde the
West, the Admiral saith he found so outragious a fal of water, running with such a violence
from the East to the West, that it was nothing inferiour to a mightie streame falling from high
mountaynes. Hee also confessed, that since the first day that euer hee knewe what the sea
meant, hee was neuer in such feare. Proceeding yet somewhat further in this daungerous
voyage, he founde certaine goulfes of eight myles, as it had bin the entraunce of some
great hauen, into the which thesayde violent streames did fall. These goulfes or streyghtes
hee called Os Draconis, that is, the Dragones mouth : and the Hand directly ouer against the
same, hee called Margarita. Out of these strayghtes, issued no lesse force of freshe water,
whiche encountering with the salt, dyd striue to passe foorth, so that beetweene both the
wafers, was no small conflict : But entering into the goulfe, at the length hee founde the
water thereof very fresh and good to drinke. The Admirall himselfe, and they which were
his companions in this voyage, beeing men of good credite, and perceiuing my diligence in
searching for these matters, tolde mee yet of a greater thing, that is, that for the space of
xxvi. leagues, amountyng toahundreth and foure mylcs, hee say led euer by fresh water,
insomuch that the further he proceeded, especially towarde the West, hee affirmed the water
to bee the fresher. After this, hee came to a high mountaine inhabited onely with Monkeyes
or Marmasets, on that parte towarde the East : For that side was rough with rockie and stonie
mountaynes, and therfore not inhabited with men. Yet they that went alande to searche the
countrey, founde necre vnto the sea, manie fayre fleldes, well tilled and sowen, but no peo-
ple, nor yet houses or cotages : Perhappes they were gone further into the countrey, to sowe
their come and applye their husbandrie, as we often sec our husbandemen to leaue their sta-
tions and villages for the same purpose. In the West side of that mountaine, they espyed
a large playne, whither they made hast, and cast anker in the broade riuer. As soone as the
inhabitantes had knowledge that a strange nation was arryued in their coastes, they came
flocking without all feare to see our men. Wee vnderstoode by their signes and poyntinges,
that this Region was called Paria, and that it was very large : insomuch that the further it
reacheth toward the West, to bee so much the better inhabited and replenished with people.
The Admirall therefore, taking into his ship foure of the men of that lande, searched the
West partes of the same. By the temperatenes of the aire, the pleasantnes of the ground,
and the multitude of people which they saw daily more & more as they sayled, they con-
iectured that these thingeti portended some great matter : as indecde their opinion failed them
not, as we will further declare in his place. The sunne not yet risen, but beginning enen
now to rise, being one day allured by the pleasantnesse of the place, and sweete sauours
which breathed from the lande to the shippes, they went alande : Here they found a greater
multitude of people, then in any other place. As our men approched towarde them, there

came

■■m

Tlic first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

409

there
came

came certaine messengers from their Cacici, that is, the kings of the countrey; to desire the
Admirall in the name of their Princes to come to their palaces without feare, and that they
and all theirs shoulde be at his commaundement. When the Admirall hadde thanked them,
and made his excuse for that time, there came innumerable people with their boates to the
shippes, hauyng for the most parte cheynes about their neckes, garlandes on their heades,
and braselettes on their armes of pearle of India, and that so commonly, that our v omen in
playes and triumphes, haue not greater plentic of stones of glasse and crystall in their gar-
landes, crownes, girdels. and such other tyrementes. Beeing asked where they gathered
them, they pointed to the next shore by the sea bankes. They signified also, by certayne
scornefuU gestures which they made with their mouthes and handes, that they nothing es-
teemed pearles. Taking also baskettes in their handes they made signes that the same might
bee filled with them in shorte space. But because the corne wherewith his shippes were
laden to be caryed into Hispaniola, had taken hurt by reaso of the salt water, he determined
to deferre this marte to a more cunuenient time : Yet he sent to land two of the ship boates
laden with men, to the intent to fetch some garlands of pearles for exchage of our thinges,
and so somewhat to search the nature of the Region, and disposition of the people. They
entertayned our men gentlely, and came flocking to them by heapes, as it had beene to be-
holde some strange monsters. First there came to meete our men, two men of grauitie,
whome the multitude followed : One of these was well in age, and the other but young. They
thinke it was the father, with his sonne which shoulde succeed him. When the one had sa-
luted and embraced the other, they brought our menne into a certaine round house, neere
vnto the whiche was a great courte. Hither were brought many chayers and stooles made of Chawrsand
a certaine blacke wood, and very cunningly wrougtit. After that our men and their Princes J^lJe'"" '"'*
were sette, their wayting men came in laden, some with sundry delycate dyshes, and some
with wyne : But their raeate, was onely fruites, and those of diuers kindes, and vtterly vn-
knowne to vs. Their wine was both white and redde, not made of grapes, but of the lycour
of dyuers fruites, and very pleasaunte in drinking. After this banquette made in the olde
mans house, the young man brought them to his tabernacle or mantion place, where was a
great companie both of men and women, but they stood disseuered the one from the other.
They are white, euen as our men are, sauing such as are much conuersant in the sunne. white men
They are also very gentle, and full of humanitie toward strangers. They couer their priuie "^Uaii"
partes with Gossampine cotton, wrought with sundry colours, and are beside all naked. There
was fewe, or none, that had not eyther a colier, a chayne, or a bracelet of golde and pearles,
and many had all. Beeing asked where they had that golde, they poynted to certaine moun-
taines, .^eeming with their countenaunce to disswade our menne from going thither : For put-
ting their armes in their mouthes, and grynning as though they bytte the same, still poynting
to the mountaines, they seemed to insinuate that menne were eaten there : but whether they
meant by the Canibales, or wilde beastes, our men coulde not well perceiue. They tooke it
exceeding grieuously, that they coulde neither vnderstande our men, nor our men them.
When they whiche were sent to lande, were returned to the shippes about three of the clocke
at afternoone the same day, bringing with them certaine garlandes, and toilers of pearles, they
loosed their ankers to departe, minding to come againe shortly, when all thinges were sette
in good order in Hispaniola : but hee was preuented by another, which defeated him of the
rewarde of his trauayle. Hee was also hindered at this time by reason of the shalownesse of sWownesseof
the sea, & violent course of the water, which with continuall tossing, bruised the greatest* """
shippe as often as any great gale of wind arose. To auoyde the daungers of suche shalowe
places and shelfes, hee euer sent one of the smallest Carauelles beefore to try the way with Thevseof Ca.
sounding, and the biggest shippes followed beehinde. The Regions being in the large pro- jSncI^"'
uince of Paria, for the space of CCxxx. myles, are called of the inhabitants, Cumana, &
Manacapana : from these regions distant, xl. leagues, is there an other region called Curiana.
When he had thus passed ouer this long tract of sea, supposing still that it had bin an Hand,
& doubting that he might passe by the West to the North directly to Hispaniola, he chaunced ^ ^.^^^ ^^ ^^ _
into a ryuer of xxx. cubites depth, and of such breadth as hath not lightly beene heard of. ueyi'o" depth"*

Yqx ind bieadtb.

,1 ' tf

' Jl

410

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'Jlie first Decade.

W:'\

I Wi-

Nott a secrete
as concerning
the Pole statre.

A mnrueylous
secrete.

For hee aflirmeth it to bee xxviii. leagues. A little further towardc the West, yet some what
more southwarde, as the bendyng of the shore requyred, he entered into a sea full of herbes
or wecdcs. The seede of the herbea which swymme on the water, are much like the ber-
rycs of the tree called Lentiscus, which beareth the swcete guminc called Mastix : they grewe
so thycke, that they sometimes in mancr stayed the shippes. The Admiral reported, that
here there is not one day throughout all the yeere much longer or shorter then an other, and
Theeieuationof that the North polc is here eleuate onely flue degrees as at Paria, in whose tracte all these
PMia'."'' "' coastes lye. He also declared certoyne thinges as concerning the varictie of the North pole :
the which because they seeme contrarye to th'opinions of all the Astronomers, I will touche
them but with a drye foote, as sayth the prouerbe. But it is well knowen (most noble prince)
that which wee call the pole starre, or North starre (called of the Italians Tramontana) is not
the very poynt of the pole Artyke, vppon the which the axes or extremities of heauens are
An expcriei.ce. tumed about. The which thing may well be proued, if when the starres first appeare, you be-
hold the poleslarre through any narowe hole: For so, applying your instrument therto in the
morning, somewhat befcre the day spring haue blemished their light, if then you looke through
the same hole, you shall perceiue it to be moucd from the place where you sawe it first. But
how it Cometh to passe, that at the beginning of the euening twilight, it is eleuate in that
Region onely fine degrees in the moneih of June, and in the morning fwylight to be eleuate.
XV. degrees by the same quadrant, I doe not vnderstand, nor yet doe the reasons which hee
bryngeth, in any poynt satisfie me. For he sayeth that he hereby coniectured, that the tarth
is not perfectly round, but that when it was created, there was a certayne heape raysed theron»
much higher then the other partes of the same. So that (as he sayth) it is not rounde after
the forme of an aple or a bal (as other thinke) but rather like a peare as it hangeth on the
tree, and that Paria is the Region which possesseth the superminent or highest port thereof
nearest vnto heauen : In so much that he earnestly contendeth the earthly Paradise to be
sytuate in the toppes of those three hilles, which we sayde before, that the watchman saw
out of the toppe castel of the shippe, and that the outragious streames of the freshe water;;
which so violently issue out of the sayd gulfes, and striue so with the salt water, fall headlong
from the tops of the said mountaines : But of this matter, it shall suffice to haue said thus
much. Let vs nowe therefore retiirne to the hystorie from which wee haue digressed. When
he perceiued himselfe to be thus inwrapped in so great a gulfe beyond his expectation, so
tbat he had now no hope to finde any passage toward the North, whereby he might sayle di-
rectly to Hispaniola, he was enformed to turne backe the same way by the which hee came,
and directed his voiage to Hispaniola by the North of that land lying toward the East. They
which afterwards searched this land more curiously, will it to bee parte of the continent or firme
land of India, and not of Cuba as the Admirall supposed: For there are many which affirme
that they haue sayled round about Cuba. But whether it be so or not, or whether enuying
the good fortune of this man, they seeke occasion of qucrrelling against him, I can not
iudge : But time shall speake, which in time appointed, reuealeth both truth & falsehood.
But whether Paria be continent or not, the Admirall doth not much contcnde, but hee sup-
poseth it to bee continent : He also affirmeth that Paria is more southward then Hispaniola
by eyght hundred fourescore and two myles. At the length he came to Hispaniola ( to see
his souldiers which he left with his brethren) the third day of the calcndes of September, in
the yeare. 1498, but (as often times chaunceth in humane thinges) among his so many pros-
perous, pleasant, and luckie afFayres, fortune mingled some seedes of wormewood, and cor-
rupted his pure corne with the malicious wecdes of cockle.

H The scauenth booke of the first decade, to the same Lodouikc Cardinall, &c.

WHen the Admirall was nowe come to the Hand of Hispaniola, hee founde all thinges
The Spaniardes cohfounded aiid out of Order. For Roldanus (of whom wee spake before) refused in his ab-
miriuet Ibseuct. scnce to obey his brother, trusting to the multitude of such as were confedcred with him, and
not onely behaued himselfe proudly against the Admirallea brother and Lieuetenaunt, some-
time his maister, but also sent letters to his rcproch to the Kyng of Spayne therin accusyng

both

Time reuealrth
al thingri.

pmp:. .

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

41)

thinges
his ab-

im, and
sotne-

:cHsyng
botli

both the brethren, laying haynous matters to their charge. But the Admirall agayne sent
messengers to the King, whiche might informe him of their rebellion, instantly desiring his
grace to sende hym a newe supplye of menne, whereby he might siippresse their licentious-
nes, and punish them for their mischicuous actes. They accuse the Admiral and his brother The Spamarde*
to be vniust menne, crucll enemies, and shedders of the Spanyshe bloode, declaring lhatmi'r"L'°
vppon euery light occasion they would racke them, hang them, and head them, and that they
tooke pleasure therein, and that they departed from them as from cruell tyrantes and wilde
bcastes reioyciiig in bloode, also the kinges enemies : affirming likewise, that they well per-
ceiued their cntent to be none other then to vsurpe the empire of the Hands, which thing
(they sayde) they suspected by a thousandc coniectures, and especially in that they woulde
j)crniit none to resorte to the golde mynes, but onely such as were their familiars. The Ad-
mirall on the contrary part, when hee desired ayde of the king to infring their insolenrie,
auouched that all those his accusers, which had aduised such lyes against him, were noughtie TheAJmiuu
fellowes, abhominable knaues and vilands, theeues, and baudes, ruffians, adulterers, & ra- '""""'•
uishcrs of women, false pcriurcd vagaboundes, and such as had bin eyther conuict in pry-
sons, or fledde for feare of iudgement : so escaping punishment, but not leauing vice,
wherein they still contynued, and brought the same with them to the Hand, liuing there in
like nianer as before, in theft, lechery, & all kindes of mischiefe, and so giuen to idlenes
and sleepe, that whereas they were brought thither for rayners, labourers, & scuUians, they
would not now goe one furlong from their houses, except they were borne on mens backes,
like vnto them which in olde time were called Ediles Curules : For, to this office they put the ''^''"^'j, ^f'^^e
miserable Hand men whom they handled most cruelly. For least their hands shoulde discon- umpies.
tinuc from shedding of blond, and the better to try their strength and manhood, they vsed
now & then for their pastime, to striue among themselues, & proue who could most cleanely
with his sworde at one stroke strike of the heade of an innocent : So that hee which coulde a "utji & ^
with mosfe agilitie make the head of one of those poore wretches to flee quite and clenne tfme. "'
from the body to the grounde at one stroke, hee was the best man, and counted most ho-
nourable. These thinges, and many such other, the one of them laid to the others charge
before the king. While these thinges were doing, the Admirall sent his brother the Lieue-
tcnaunt with an armie of fourescore and tenne footemen, and a fowe horsemen (with three
thousande of the Ilande men which were mortall enemies to the Cignauians) to meete the
people of Cii^uana, with King Guarionexius their graunde capitayne, who hadde doone much
mischiefe to our menne, and such as fauoured them. Therefore when the Lieutenaunt had
conducted his army to the bankes of a certaine great ryuer running by the playne, which
wee sayde before to lye betweene the corners of the raountaynes of Ciguaua and the sea, he
found two scoutes of his enemies lurking in certeyne bushes, whereof the one, casting him-
selfe headlong into the sea, escaped, and by the mouth of the riuer swamme oner to his
companions: the other being taken, declared that in the woode on the other side the riuer,
there lay in campe sixe thousande Ciguauians ready, vnwares to assayle our men passing
by. Wherefore the Lieutenaunt finding a shalow place where he might passe ouer, he with
his whole armie entred into the ryuer, the which thing when the Ciguauians had espyed,
they came runnyng out of the woodes with a terrible cry, and most horrible aspect, much
like vnto the people called AgathyrsI, of whom the poet Virgil speaketh : For they were
all paynted and spotted with sundry colours, and especially with blacke and red, which
they make of certaine fruits norished for the same purpose in their gardens, with the
iuyce whereof they paynt themselues from the forehead, euen to the knees, hauing Hayr? madf
their hayre (A'hich by art they make long and blacke, if nature denye it them) wreathed i°"/. *'''''''" ''^
and rolled after a thousande fashions, a man would th'nke them to be deuilles incarnat
newly broke out of hell, they are so like vnto helhounds. As our men waded oner
the ryuer, they shotte at them, and hurled dartes so thicke, that it almost tooke the
light of the sunne from our men : insomuch that if they hadde not borne of the force
thereof with their targettes, the matter had gone wrong with them. Yet at the length, many
being wounded, they passed ouer the ryuer : which thing when the eniraies sawe, they fled

whom

412

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decade.

li-r''*'

Kjrng Maioba.
nexiusi

''i.

An army of
eight thouund
Cigiuuiam.

King Guario*
iKxius.

N'.iturall hatttJ
cf vyce.

The l.ieute-
nantcs gentle-
neste towarde
Miiubanexiui.

whom our men pursuing, slue some in the chase, but not many, by reason of their swift-
nesse of foote. Thus being in the wooddes, they shotte at our men more safely, for they
being accustomed to the woodes, and naked without any let passed through the bushes and
shrubbes, as it had bin wild bores or Hartes, whereas our mep were hindred by reason of
their apparell, targets, long iauelins & ignorance of the place. Wherefore, when he had
rested there all that night in vaine Sc the day folowing he sawe no stirring in the woodes, he
went (by the counsel and conducte of the other Ilande men which were in his army) imedi-
ately fr5 thence to the mountaines in the which king Maiobanexius had his cheefe mansion
place, in the village called Capronum, by the which name also the kings place was called,
being in the same village. Thus marching forwarde with his armie, about twelue myles of,
he encamped in the village of another king, which the inhabitauntes had forsaken for feare
of our men : Yet making diligent search, they found two, by whom they had knowledg
that there was tenne kinges with Maiobanexius in his palace of Capronum, with an armie
of eight thousand Ciguauians. At the Lieutenants first approch, he durst not giue them
battayle, vntill he had somewhat better searched the regions: yet did he in the meane time
skirmish with them twise. The next nyght about midnight, hee sent forth scoutes, and with
them guides of the Ilande men which knew the countrey. Whome the Ciguauians espying
fro the mountaines prepared themselues to the battayle, with a terrible cry or alarum after
their maner, but yet durst not come out of the woods supposing that the Lieuetenant with his
mayne army had bin euen at hand. The day folowing, when he brought his army to the
place where they encamped, leaping out of the woodes they twise attempted the fortune of
warre, fiercely assayling our m.-?n with a mayne force: and wounding many before they
coulde couer them with their targettes : Yet our men put them to flight, slue many, tooke
many, the residue fled to the woodes, where they kept them still as in their most safe holde.
Of them which were taken, he sent one, and with him another of the Hand men, which was
of his part, to Maiobanexius, with commaundement in this eflfect. The Lieuetenaunt brought
not hither his army (O Maiobanexius) to keepe warre either against you, or your people,
for he greatly desireth your friendship : but his intent is, that Guarionexius, who hath per-
swaded you to be his ayde against him, to the great destruction of your people, and vndo-
yng of your country, may haue due correction, a» wel for his disobedience towarde him, as
also for raysing tumultes among the people : Wherefore he requireth you, and exhorfeth you
to deliuer Guarionexius into their hands the which thing if you shall perfourme, the Admiral
his brother will not only gladly admit you to his friendship, but also enlarge and defend
your dominion. And if herein you refuse to accomplyshe his request, it will followe, that
you shall shortly repente you thereof: For your kingdome shalbe wasted with sworde and
fire, and shall abide the fortune of warre, whereof you haue had experience with fauour, as
you shall further know heereafter to your payne, if with stubbernesse you prouoke him to
shewe the vttermoste of his power. When the messenger had thus done his arant, Maioba-
nexius answered, that Guarionexius was a good man, indued with many vertues as al men
knewe, and therefore he thought him worthy his ayde, especially in as much as he fled to
him for succoure, and that he had made him such promise, whom also he had proued to be
his faithful friend : againe, that they were noughty men, violent, and cruell, desiring other
mens goodes, and such as spared not to shed innocents blood : in fine, that hee would not
haue to doe with such mischicuous men, nor yet enter into friendshippe with them. When
these thinges came to the Lieuetenantes eare, he commanded the village to be burnt where
he himselfe encamped, with many other villages there about: and when he drewe nere to
the place where Maiobanexius lay, he sent messengers to him againe, to commune the mat-
ter with him, & to will him to send some one of his most faithfull friendes to entreate with
him of peace. Wherevppon the king sent vnto him one of his cheefe gentlemen, and
with him two other to wayte on him. When he came to the Lieuetenantes presence, he
friendly required him to perswade his lord and maister in his name, and earnestly to admo-
nishe him, not to suffer his florishing kingdome to be spoyled, or himselfe to abide the ha-
earde of warre for Guarionexius sake: and further to exhort him to deliuer him, excepte he

would

Liour, as
liim to
Vlaioba-
a1 men
fled to
to be
other
iilcl not
When
where
nere to
he mat-
te with
;n, and
tnce, he
admo-
the ha-
;pte he
would

The first Decade,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUIES.

413

would procure the destruction 1)oth of himsolfe, his people, and his country. When the
incsscngcr was returned, Mai«banexiu^ assembled the people, dcrlnriuji vnlo them what
was done: but they cryed out on him to deliuer Guarionexius, and began to curse the day
that euer they had rereiucd him, thus to dislurbe their quietnesse. Maiobanexius answered
them, th.u Guarionexius was a good man, & had well dcscrued of him, giuing him many a tire riithfut-
princely prcsentes, and had also taught both his wile and him to sing and dance, which bj7mii kmg""
thing he did not little esteemo, and was therefore iully resolued in no case to forsake him,
oragaynstall humanitio to betray his friend, which (led to him for succour, but rather to
abide all extremities with him, then to minister occasion of obloquy to slaundcrcrs, to
rcporte that he had betrayed his giiest, whom he tooke into his house with warranties. Tims
dimissing the people, sighing and with sorrowfull harts, he called Guarionexius before him,
promising him agayne, that he would be partaker of his fortune, while life Listed: in so
much that he thought it not best to send any further woorde to the Lieutennnt, but ap-
povnted him whom beefore he sent to him, to keepc the way with a garrison of men, to
the intent, that if any messengers shoulde be sent from the Licutenaunt to stay them by the
way, & admit none to communication, or further entreatie of peace. In the meane time,
the Lieuetenannt sent two, whereof the one was a captiue Ci;.''uauian, and the other an llandc
man, of them which were friendes to our men : and they were both taken and slayne. The The Licutc-
Licutenant followed them onely with ten footmen Sz fbnre horsemen, finding his messengers J!'t""t"i|"[,""
deade in the wav, hee was further prouoked to wrath, and determined more cxtreamdy to
dcnie with Maiobanexius, & therfore went f>)rward incontinently witii his whole army to his
chiefe pallace of Capronum, where he yet lay in campe. At his approch, all the kings (led,
euery man his way, & forsooke their capitaine Maiobanexius, who also with al; his family,
fledde to the rough mountaynes. Some of the Ciguauians sought fur Gu..iiunexins to slay
him, for that hee was the cause of all these troubles: luif his feete saued his life, for he fledde
in time to the mountaynes, where he lurked in maner aioiif among tiie desi late rockes.
Whereas now the Lieutenantes souldicrs were forewcaryed with longe warre, witii watc hi' g,
labour, and hunger (for it was nowe three moneths since the warres began) many desired
leaue to depart to the lower of Conception, wiierc they had granges, & exercised tilla:^re.
He gaue thtin their passeporls with alowance of victayles, and so that onely thirtie remained
with him. These three monethes warre, they continued verie painefull and miserably : So Tiit spanpids
that during all that time, thi\v had none other meate but only Cazibi, that i.s, such roots "^X'^arll
whereof they make their bread, and that but seldome to their fill : also V.>.ias, that is, little
beastes like Conies, if by chaunce nowe and then they tooke some with their hounds.
Their drinke was none other then water, suche as they founde, sometime sweet and some-
time muddy, saunuring of the maryshes. Among these delicates, that little slcepe that they Adf-pfntt^j-
had, was euer for the most part abroad vnder the firmament, and that not without watchmen, J5'|"[J"^J,','''
and in continuall remouing as the nature of warre requireth. With these fewe therefore,
the Lieutenant determind to search the mountaynes, dennes, and caucs, if he could in any
place finde the steppes of Maiobanexius or Guarionexius. In the meane time certainc of
his men (whome iuinger enforced to goe a hunting, to prone if they could take any couies)
chanced vpon two of Maiobanexius familiars, which were sent to certaine villages of his, to
make prouision of bread. The<e he enforced to declare where their lord lav hid, <^- vscd
the same also for guides, to bring our men to the place. Twelue of our men tooke this
enterpryse in hand, painting themselues after the maner of the Ciguauians : So that bv this
stralageme or policie, they came sodenly vpon Maiobanexius, and tooke him prysoner, with a idiaic.
his wyfe, children and family, and conueighed them to the towre of Conception to the Lieu-
tenant. Within a fewe dayes after, hunger compelled Guarionexius to come out of the
denne, whome certaine of the people fearing the Lieutenant, beewrayed to our hunters,
'i lie Lieutenant beeing certified hereof, sent foorth a bande of foote men, commanding them
to lye in ambush vntill such time as Guarionexius went from the playnes to the mount;iynes,
;uul then sodenly to entrappe him. They went as they were commaunded, tooke him, and
brought him awav with them, and by this meanes were all the regions neare about pacified

3 II and

gf:

t'l

D.^l

• ym

''M

rim

t ■'..,

• ' J'M

;

: ''^^m

■

414

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The f ml Decade.

A bcniitifull
wumaii.

Tlic kiiijcs sub-
n>it them&clues
to the Lieute-
nant.

A new goutr-
noiir of the
llande.

The Ocenii sea

heretofore vn-
knowne.

The nauigntion
of I'etrus Al-
pliousui.

and quieted. A ccrtaync noble woman of neere kinred to Maiobancxiii<i, and wife to
another king, wliose dominion was yet vntouclicd, followed him in all these adiiersiticM. They
affirme this woman to bee the fayrest and most beautifiill, that eiicr nature brounht forth in
the Hand : Whom, when the kinc; her husbandc, who loucd her niost ardently (as her bcaulie
doserucd) hearde say that she was taken prisoner, hee wanderd vpanddowne thedesartes like
a man out of his witte, not knowinji what to doc or say. liut a( the length, he came to tlic
Lieutenant, promising most faithfully, that hee woiiMe submit himsellc and all that he couldo
inake, vnder his power, so that hee woulde restore liim his wile. The Lieutenant accepted
the condition, & restored him his wife, with certain other rulers and >>;enflemen which he
had taken prisoners before : chargins; them, and binding them with an othe, to be ready at
his commaundement. Shortly after, this king of his ownc free motion, came agayne to the
Lieutenant, bringing with him fine thousandc men without weapons, sauing oneiy such in-
strumentes as they vsc in tilhige of their ground. He brought with him also seedcs to sow,
wherewith at his own? charge, hee caused such plcntie of their come and fruites to grow
in sundry places of the large vale, whereof we spake before, that shortly alter were scene
many fayre and fruitfull fieldes that came thereof and for his gentlenesse beeing rewarded
of the Lieutenaunt with certaine of our thinges, hee departed ioyfully. When the report
hereof came to the Cigtiauians, it mooued the minds of the kinges to hope of clemencie,
whereupon they came together to the Lieutenant with humble submission and faithfull pro-
mise, cuer after to bee vnder his obedience, desiring him to restore vnto them their king
with his familie. At their request, the Kinges wife and his housholde was sette at libertic,
but the king kept still as a prisoner. These thinges did the Lieutenaunt in the llande, not
yet knowing what his aduersaries and accusers hadde layde to his charge before the king of
Spayne: who being di-^quieted with their quarrellinges and accusations, and especially for
that by reason of their dissention, of so great abundance of golde and other thinges, there
was as yet but little brought into Spayne, appointed a newe goucrnour, which shoulde see
a redresse in these thinges : and eyther to punishe such as were faul tie, or else to sende
them to him. What was founde against the Admirall and his brother, or against his aduer-
saries which accused him, I doe not well^nowe. But this I am sure of, that both the brethren
are taken, brought, & caste in pryson, with their goods confiscate. Hut as soone as the
king vnderstood that they were brought bound to Cales, he sent messengers in post, with
commaundement that they should be loosed and come freely to his presence : wherby he
declared that he tooke their troubles grieuously. It is also said, that the new gouernour
sent letters to the king, written with the Admiralles hande in straunge and* vnknowne
syphcringes, to his brother the Lieutenaunt being absent, willing him to bee in a readines
with a power of armed men to come and aid him, if the Gouernour shoulde proffer him
any violence. Whereof the gouernour hauing knowledge (as hee sayth) beeing also
aduertised that the Lieutenaunt was gone to his brother before the menne which hee had pre-
pared there in a readines, apprehended them both yn wares, before the multitude came
together. What will foUowe, tyme, the most true and prudent iudge will declare. Thus
fare ye well.

1 The eight booke of the first Decade, to Cardinal Lodouike.

THe great, rich, and plentifull Ocean sea, heretofore vnknowne, and now found by
Christophorus Colonus the Admiral, by the authoritie & furtherance of the Catholike king,
I haue preseted vnto your honor (right noble prince) like a golden chaine vnworkmanly
wrought : but you shal now receiue a precious iewel to be appendant thcrto, Therfore
among such as were pylots or gouernors vnder the Admiral, & had diligetly marked the
courses & difFereces of the windcs, many had lycences granted them of the king to seeke
further at their own charges, vpon coditio to pay him faithfully his portion, which is the fift
part. But because amonge all other, one Petrus Alphonsus, called Nignus by his surname,
sayled toward the South with more prosperous fortune then any of the other, I thinke it
best first to speake somewhat of his voyage. He therefore with only one ship, wel furnished

V k

Tlie first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUr.RlES,

415

at his ownc charges, after that ho had his passcportc, with commaiinclenient in no rase to
cast anker past fillic It'afjues distant from any place where the Adinirall had touched, saylcd
first to Paria, where the Admiral found both the men and women so laden with cheincs gar-
landes, and brasclcttes of jiearles, as we haue saide before. Coastins; therefore along by
the same shore, according to the kings commandement (yet leaning behind him the regions
of Cnmana and Manacapana he came to the regions which thinhabitantis therof cal Curiana,
where he found a liauen (as he saith) much like the porte of Gadcs or Cales: into the
which etcring he sawe a farre of certayne houses on the shore, and percciued, when hce
drewe neere, that it was a village of onely eight houses. Proceeding yet further for tiic
space of three myles, he espied an other village well replenyshed with people, where
there met him fiftie naked men on a company, hauing with them a cerlaine ruler, who
desired Alphonsns to come to their coastcs. He brought with him at this time, many haukes
belles, pynncs, ncedels, braselettes, cheynes, garlandes, and rynges, with counterfet stones
and glasses, and such other trifelles, the which within the moment of an houre, he had ex-
rhaunged for fifteene ounces of their pearlcs, which they wore aboute their neckes and armes. P^iies for
Then they yet more earnestly desired him to sayle to their coastes, promising him that he"''"'''
Sihould there haue as many pearlcs as he would desire, llee condiscended to their request : Oreat i.iemieof
and the day folowing, came to the place where they appoyntcd him: Lying tliere at anker, ■'"''""
a great multitude of people resorted to him, instantly requyring him to come a land. But
when he considered the innumerable multitude of people which was there assembled, and he
had only, xxxiii. men in his company, he durst not commit him selfe to their handcs, but
gaue them to vnderstand by signcs and tokens, that they should come to the ship with their
Canoas : for iheir boates (which the men of the Hand cal Canoas) are made only of one
whole peece of wood as in the Hands, yet more rude, and not so artificially as theirs are :
these they call Gallitas. These swarmed therefore to the ship as faste as they might, bringing
with them great plenty of pearles ( which they cal Tenoras) exchanging the same for our
marchaundies. He found this people to bee of gentle nature, simple, and innocent, being
conuersant with them in their houses, for the space of xx. dayes. Their houses are made of
wood, couered with the Icaues of date trees. Their meate for the most parte, is the shel sheifisiicsin
fishes in the which the pearles are engendered, wherof their sea costes are full. They haue arrcnsendered.
also great plenty of wild beastes, as harts, wild bores, and Connies like vnto hares, both in
coloiire and bignesse, stocke dcues also, and turtle doues : likewise geese and duckes, which
they norishe in their houses as we doe. Peacockes flie aboute in maner in euery wood and
groue, but they are not distinct with sundry colours as ours are : for the cockes are like vnto
the hennes. These people of Curiana are craftie hunters, & exceeding cunning archers*
so that they will not lightly misse any beaste or birde that they shoote at. Our men con-
sumed certaine dales heere very pleasantly: during which time, whosoeuer brought them a
peacock, had for the same foure pinnes : he that brought a pheasaunte, had two, and for a ^j^g^',"'""""^
stocke done, or turtle done, one, and for a goose, a smale looking glasse, or a little sfoe of
glasse. Thus they bought and sold with profering and bidding, denying and refusing,
as it had bin in a great market. When pinnes were profered them, they asked what they
shoidde doe with them, being naked : But our men satisfied them with a craftie answere,
declaring by tokes that they were very necessary, to picke their teeth, and to pull f homes The vse of
<iut of their fieshe. But aboue all thinges, haukes belles were most esteemed among them, nrukcs wirs in
for their sound & faire colour, & would therefore giue much for one of them. Our men, great (limiion.
lodging in their houses, heard in the night season horrible noise & roringes of the wild R""""."'"^''''
bcasitcs in the woodes which are full of exceding great and high trees of sundriekindcs : but
the beastes of these woodes, are not noysome to men, for the people of the countrey goe daylye
a hunting naked, with their bowes and arrowes, yet hath it not beene heard of, that any man
hath beene sbyne of any wild beast. As many hartes and wild bores as our men would desire Hims and «iidf
them to bring, they would kill in the woods with their arrowes, and not fayle to bring them. ""^"'
They lacke kyne, goates and shecpe. Their bread is made if rootes, as is theirs of the
Ilandes, This nation, hath blacke hayrc, grosse and somwhat curld, yet long also. They

3 II t2 keepe

:v VM

4IG

VOYAOES, NAUIGATIONS,

'fhefrst Divnde.

Ul »

Cunnin; nrtili-

ccri.

B.iie golde.

Tokens of the
continent or
iirme Uude.

The golden re-
gion of C'aii-
tlueta.

The Eijuiiioctlall
liuc.

Gossampine
trees.

Cinibales in tlic
juUtsi^f Fari.1.

kccpc their Iccth very white, and for that purptwo v><e to rary n rerlaine hcarbc betweene
their lyp|)C!* for the most part of the day, and to wash their nioutlies when llu-v t ast it away.
The women doe all their busincs at home in their iioiises, and haiie also the cure of (\llagp
of the ground : but the men apply themsehies to tiie warrcs and huntiu).', to plav, synuinji
and daunsvng. They hauc sundry kindes of water pottes iiiggcs, and drinking eiippe!* made
of earth in other places about them, and brought tliither for exchann^'e of other thing?*. Tor
they vse fayrcs and marketles for the same purpose, and are greatly desirous of sm h thinges,
as are not brought foorlh or made in their countrev, as nature hath giuen a disposition to
all men, to desire and be delighted with new and strange thinges. Many of them had hang-
ing at their pearlcs the images of certeine beastes and birdes, vcrv artidciously made of
gold, but not pure : these also arc brought them from otiier places for exrfhag of other
thinges. The gold whereof they arc made, is natiue and of nuicii like finencs to that where-
of the florens arc coyned. Ti>e mennc of this countrv, enclose their priuic members in a
gourd, cut after the fashio of a coddc peice, or els couer the same with the shell of a lor-
toyse, fyed about their loynes with laces of gossampine cotton : In other places of that
tract, they thrust tne sinew within the sheath thereof, and biiule ihe skinne fast with a string.
The great wild be.nsts whereof we spake before, and many other things which are not found
in any of the IlandeH, tcstifie that this region \% part of the continent or firme lande. But
the chiefest coniecture whereby they argue the same, is, that jjy the coasles of that lande,
from Paria toward the West, they sayled about three M. myles, linding no signe or token
of any end. These people of Curiana (which some call Ciirlana) being dcmanndcd where
they had such plenty of golde, signified that it was brought them from a region called Can-
chieta, or Cauchieiae, being distant from them sixc sunnes, that is, sixc daycs journey west-
ward : and that their images of golde were made in the same region. Whereupon our men
directed their voyage thvther immediatly, and arryued there at the Calendes of Nou< nber,
in the yeare of CHRIST a thousand and due hundred. The jieople of the country resorted
to them without feare. bringing with them of the golde which we sayd to bee natiue in that
region. This people hadde also collers of pearles about their neckes, hich were brought
them from Curiana for exchaunge of their marchandises. None of them would exchaunge
any of those thinges which they hadde out of other countryes : as neythcr the Curians golde,
nor the Canchietans pearles : yet among the Canchietans they found but litle gold ready
gathered : They tooke with them from thence certain very fayre Marmasets or Munkeyes,
and many Popingayes of sundry coloures. In the moneth of Nouember, the ayre was there
most tCinperate, and nothing colde. The guardens of the North pole were out of sight to
both these people, they arc so neare the Equinoctial. Of the degrees of the pole, they can
giue none other accompt. These people are well disposed men, of honest conditions, and
nothing suspitious, for almost all the night long they resorted to the snippe with their
boates, and went aboorde shippe without feare, as did the Curians. The\ all pearles, Co-
rixas. They are somewhat iealous, for when any straungers come amoii- them, they euer
place their women beehind them. In this region of Canchieta, the gossa npine trees growe
of themselues commonly in many places, as doe with vs Elmes, WiIlo\ s and Sallowes :
and therefore they vse to make breeches of cotton, wherewith they coiic iieir priuie partes
in many other Regions thereabout. When they had yet sayled on forward by the same
coastes, there came forth against them about two thousand men, armed after their manner,
forbydding them to come a land. These people were so rude and sauage, that our men
could by no meanes allure them to familiaritie. Our men therfore, cotented only with their
penrlcs, returned backe the same way they came, where they remayned with the Curians conti-
nually for the space ofxx.dayes, and filled theirbellieswel with good meate. And hereitsemeth
to me not farre from my purpose, to declare what chaunced vnto them in their returne when
they came now within the sight of the coast of Paria. They happened therefore in the
way, at Os Draconis, and the gulfes of Paria (wherof we speake before) to meete with a
nauy of xviii. Canoas of Canibals, which went a rouing to hunt for men who assoone as
they had espied our men, assailed their ship fiercely, & without feare enclosed the same,

disturbing

'flu, first Ihradc

TMAFFIQUFS, AND DISCOUERIES.

41?

ilimiirhin;,' our nini nil oiirrv '•iilc wiflt their nrrnwcs: but our men so feared tlu" with flieir
j;iinnrs, iliiit they fled iniincdiafh , vshom mir men fdllmvinjf vvitli tlic sliipp Ixijife, lookc
i)ne of tlicir Ciimns, and in it oiilv one C";inil)nl (Cor the other had escaped) an I willi him
another man hountle, who with leares running downe his theckes, and with jjoinrc of liis
handefl, eyes, and head, •ii^nilied that tivo of his companions had bin enieily rut in pecees,
and eate of that mistheiuous nation, and that he should haue l)in lii<cwise handled the day
folowinj; : wherefore they ijaiie him power oucr tiie C'aiiibai, to do with him what he woukl. ivuii lut <ic«iii.
Then with the Canibals ownc cinbhe, he hiiile on him all that he mij^ht driuc with hand and
I'oote, grinniiio; and fretinii; as it had l)en a wild bore, thinkin}; that he had not yet siiHicient-
ly reucnjj;ed the death of his companions, when he had beaten out his brayncs and H'lltt's.
When he was denai'lctl after what sort the Canibales were woont to inuade other countries
he answered, th; t ihey eucr vsed to carve with them in their Canoas, a jjreat multitude of HpvibpCiiu.
clubbcs, the which, whercsocuer thcv doc land thcv pitch in the groundc, and entampe,i,cirt.miie.
thcmselues within the conij)asse of the same, to lie the more safely in the nipht season. Fn
Curiana they found the head of a captainc of the Canibales, naylcd oucr the doore of a
ccrfaine jfoucrnour for a token of victorie, as it had bin the standerd or helmet taken from
the enimie in battaile. bi these eosica of Paria is a re<j;ion called Ilaraia, in the which threat H"j".
plentie of salt is feathered after a slran{;e sortc : for the sea being there tossed with the power
of the wyndes, dyucth the salt waters into a large plaine bv the sea side, wiierc. aftcrwardc
>vhen the sea waxeth calme, and the sunnc beginneth to shine, the water is congealed into
inoHf pure and white salte, wherewith innumerable shippcs might bee laden, if men did rc-
sorte thether for the same before there fall any rayne: For therayne melteth it, and causeth
it to sinke into the sand, and so by the poares of the earth to returne to the place from
whence it was dryucn. Other say, that the jilaync is not filled from the sea, but of certaine spr'HE'sifs^''
springes whose water is more sharpe and salt then the water of the sea. Thinhabitantes doe """"'
greatly esteeme this bay of sault, which they vse, not onely for their ownc commoditie, but
also working the same into a square forme like vnto brickes, they sell it to strangers for ex- ThtbodjHof
chaunge of other thinge.s which they lacke. bi this Region, they stretch and drie the dead I'laicsctucd.
bodies of their kinges and noble men, laying the same vpon a ccrtayne frame of weed,
much like vnto a hurdle or grediron, with a gentell fire vnder the same, by lyftle and little
consuming the flesh, and keeping the skinne hole with the bones inclosed therein. These
drycd carcases, they haue in great rcuerence, and honour them for their houshould and fa-
myliar gods. They say that in this place they sawe a man, & in an other place a women,
thus dried and reserued. When tliey departed from Curiana, the. viii. day of the Ides of
February, to returne to Spayne, they had threescore and. xvi. poundes weight (after viii.
vnces to the pound) of pearles, which they bought for exchange of our thinge.<, amounting
to the value of fine shillinges. Departing therfore, they consumed threescore dayes in their
journey (although it were shorter then from Hispaniola) by reason of the continual course
of the sea in the West, which did not only greatly stay the shippe, also but sometimes driuc
it backe. But at the length they came home so laden with pearles, that they were with
euery mariner, in maner as common as chaflTc. But the master of the shippe Petrus Al-
phonsus, being accused of his companions that he had stolien a great multitude of pretious
pearles, and defrauded the king of his portion which was the fifth parte, was taken of Fer-
nando de Vega a man of great learning and experience, & gouernour of Gallecia, where
they aryued, and was there kept in prison a long time. But hee still denieth that euer he
dcteyncd any part of the pearles. Many of these pearles were as bigge as hasel! nuttes and Orient pmIps js
as orientc (as we call it) as they be of the East partes: Yet not of so great price, by rea- J;>|f5'«Hasci
son that the holes tl>e'?of are not so pcrfecte. When I my selfe was present with the right
honorable duke o'' Methyna, and was bidde to dynner with him, in the citie of Ciuile,
they brought to him aboue a hundred and twentie ounces of pearles to bee solde, which
surely dyd greatly delight me with their fairenes and brightnes. Some say, that Alphonsus
had not these pearles in Curiana, being distant from Os Draconis more then a hundred &
twentie leagues, but that they had them in the regions of Cumana and Manacapana, nere

vnto

,1 i«

■if

1 , V , *i!PK(H

1 ffi^ ■

Mm."-

imi

I'll;' ;' '■

418

The llande of
Margarita.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Jim Decade.

The nauigition
rf Vinceulius,
and Aries I'in-

ZSJ1U$,

I'lie Tljiults of

Can;irie.

Caboucrilc.

S. Liuic!: lldiide.

The iiorthiiole
out of sight.

Habitable re-
gions vnder the
J-lquinoctial
lyne.

I'tupK' of high
it.iture.

vnto Os Draconis and the Hand of Margarita: for they deny that there is any pearleis fonnde
in Curiana. But sith the matter is yet in controiicrsic, we will passe to other matters. Thus
much you haue, whereby you may coniccturc, what commoditic in time to come may bee
looked for from these newe landes of the West Ocean, wherea.9 at the first discouering, they
shewe such tokens of great riches. Thus fare ye well.

% The. ix. bookp of the first Decade to Cardinal! Lodouike.

VIncentiagnes Pinzonus, and aNo Aries Pir.zonus, his neuicw by his brothers sydc, which
accompanyed the Admiral! Colonus in his first voyage, & were by him appoyntcd to bee
maisters of two of tlie small shippcs which the Spaniards call Carauclas, being moucd by
the great ryches Ik amplitude of the new landes, furnished of their owne cliargcs fourc Ca-
raiicls, in the hauen of their owne country, which the Spaniardes cal Palo.s bordering on
the West Ocean. Ilauing therfore tiie kings licence & passcport to depart, they loosed fro
the hauen, about the Calendes of December, in the yecre. 14'J9. This haucn of Palos, is
threescore & twelue myles distante from Gades, comonly called Cales, and Ixiiii. miles from
Ciuilc. All thinhabitantes of this towne, not one excepted, are greatly giui; to searching of
the sea, and continually exercised in sayling. They also directed their viage first to the
Hand of Canarie by the Hands of Hespcrides, now called Cabouerde, which some call Gor-
godes Meducias. Sayling thcrfore directly toward the South from that Hand of llcspcrides
which the Portugalcs ( being possesscrs of the same cal Sancti lacobi, and departing from
tlience at the Ides of lanuary, they followed the Southwest windc, being in the middest be-
tweene the South and the West. When tliey supposed tliat lliey had sayled about three hun-
dred leagues by the same winde, they say that they lost the sight of the North starre : and
were shortely after tossed with exceeding Icmpesles both of wind, and sea, and vexed with in-
tollerable heate : Yet sayled they on further ( not without great daungcr) for the space of two
hundred & fortie leagues folowing yet the same wind by the lost pole. Wiierfore, whether
habitable regions be vnder the Equinoctial! lino or not, let these men and the oulde wryters,
aswell Philosophers as poetes and cosmographers discusse. For these men aflirme it to be !ia-
bitable and meruelously replenished witli people : and they, that it is vnhabitabic by reason
of the sunne beames depending perpendicularly or directly ouer the same. Yet were there
many of the old writers, which attempted to proue it habitable. These mnryners being de-
maunded, if they saw the South pole, they answered that they knew no star there like vnto
this pole, that might be decerned about the poynt : but that they .sawe an other oider of
starres, and a certeine thick myst rysyng from the horizontal lync, which greatly hindered
their sight. They contende also, that there is a great heape or rising in the middest of the
earth, which taketh away llie sight of the South pole, vntill they haue vtterly passed ouer the
same : but they vtterly beleeue th;it they sawe other images of starres, much differing from the
situation of the starres of our hemispheric, or halfe circle of heauen. How so euer the
matter be, as they informe v.s, we ccrtilie you. At the length, the seuenth day of the Ca-
lendes of February, they espied lande a farre of, and seeing the water of the sea to be trou-
bleous, sounding with their plummet, they founde it to be xvi. fathames deepe. Going
aland, and tarying there for the space of two dayes, they departed, bcca.ise they sawe no
people stirring, although they found certoync .'itcppcs of men by the sea side. Thus grauing
on the trees & the stones necrc vnto the shore, the kinges name .nnd theirs, and the lime of
their comming thither, they departed. Not farre from this stalic;n, following the liers on
the land by night, they founile a nation lying vnder the open firni;inient, after the manner
of warre. Our men thouglit it not I)est to trouble them vnlill the morning: Therefore, at
the rysing of the sunne, forlie of our men well armed went luwanle tliom : against whom
came forth, xxxii. of thera with bowes, slinges and dartes, euen ready to light. The other
company followed tliem, armed after ihe same maiu-r. Our men affirmc tliat they were of
higher stature then either the Almaynes or Pannonians. They behelde our men with frown-
ing and threatning countenance: but our men thought it not good to fall to bickpring with
ihum, vnccrlayuc whether it were for fcare, or because they would not driuc them to (light.

Wherfore

row 11-
with
ioht.

?rforc

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUIiRIES.

419

A v.ii'iltttinul
kiiulc of men.

Whcrforc they went about to allure tliem by fairc meanes & rewardes but they reHiscd rill
kindc of gentlencssc, and stood cuer in a rcadincsse to light, declaring the same by sigiics
and tokens. Thus our men resorted to their shippes, and they to the place from whence
they came, without any furtiicr biisinos. The same night about midnight, they lledde, &
left the place voyde where they lay in the campe. Our men suppose them to be a vaga-
bound and wandering nation, like vnto the Scithians, without houses or certaine dwelling
places, lining oncly with the fruitcs of the earth, hauing their wines and children following
them. Suche as measured tluir footestepj)cs in the sande, atlirme with great othes, that one ciams.
of their fecte is almost as long as two fcete of our men of the meancsorte. Sayling on yet
further, they found an other riucr, but not of depth sunicient to beare the Caraueis : they
sent therefore the foure shippe boates to laiule, full of armed men to search the country.
Tliey espyed vppon a high hill nccre vnto the sea side, a great multitude of people, to
whom our companie sent forth one man with ccrtayno of our thinges to allure them to ex-
change. And when he had cast a hawkes bel towarde them, they cast downe a wedge of
golde a cubit longe : the whiche as hee stouped to take vp, they sodenly inclosed him and
caryed him away. J3ut hee wis shortly after rescued by his companions, to some of their
paines : for they slue eight of our men, Sc wounded many a (arre of, with their arrowes,
and dartes made of wood, hardened at the endes with fire. After this they encompassed our
shippe boates within the riuer, and came rashly within the reach of our menne, laying holde
on the boates sides, where they were thrust through, and hewen in peeces as it had bin
sheepe, by reason they were naked. Yet woulde they not for all this giue ouer, but tooke '^^"P""" ""'""
from our men one of their boats hauing no men in it : for the gonernour thereof beeing
slayne with an arrowe, the other fledde and escaped. And thus they left this fierce and war-
like people, sayling towarde the Northwest, along by the same coastes, with sorrowfull
heartes for the death of their companions. When they had sayled about xl. leagues, they
chaiaiced into a sea of freshe water, that they filled their barrelles and hoggesheadcs there- Astaof fresh
with. Searching the cause heereof, they vnderstoode that a vehement course of riucrs de- ""'"'
scended with great viohMice from the toppes of certaine great hilles. They say also that
there lycth within the sea, manie fortunate and fruitefull Ilandes, and well inhabited, and f[^'J,j^f "'"""
that the inhabitanles of this tract are men of meeke nature, and such as doe not refuse straun- hu,„.,ik pcovi'.
gers, yet little profitable to them, because they haue no marchandyes for tiieir purpose, as
goldc, or precious stones : for lacke whereof, they brought from thence thirtie captines to
sell for slaues. The inhahitantes call this region Mariatambal. The region of the East parte
of that ryuer, is called Camomorus, and that of the West part Paricora, in the midlande
whereof, the inhabitantes signified that there is great plentie of goldc : For, following this
riuer directly toward the North (as the bending of tiie shore required) they recouered againe
the sight of the North pole. All the coaste of this tract, perteineth to Paria, the which (as Rfsion .r
%ve said before) was first found by Colonus himselfe, and hath in manner in euery place ''""•
great abundaunce of pearles. They say that these coastes are adioyning vnto, and all one <^^''i *' F"''^-
with Os Draconis, and also borderyng vppon the regions of Cumana, Manacapana, Curiana,
Cauchieta, and Cuchibachoa. Wherefore they thought it to be part of the firme land of
India beyond the riuer of Ganges. For the great & large compasse therof, doth not per-
mit that it should be an Ilande, albeit the whole earth vncouered with water, largely taken,
may be called an Ilande. From the poynt of that land where they lost the sight of the
North pole, sayling by a continuall tracte about three hundred leagues towanle the West side
of Paria they say that (almost in the midway) they channcedinto a riuer called M.iragnonum,
which they aflirme to bee of such e.\ceeding breadth, that it might seeme incredible, if the
antiques did not make mention of the like. Being demaunded of me if it were not salt water
where it diueded the lande, they answcared that the water therof was very freshe andswootc,
and that the further it ranne, to be so much the fresher : also full of Ilandes and wholsomc
fishe : they dare auouch the breadth therof to be more then thirtie leagues. Yet if we well
weigh and consider the largenesse and widenesse of Boriostomea and Spiriostomea, the
niouthcs of the famous riuer of Ister (now called Dnnubius) and howe farre they violate or

corrupt

■ 't'JISai

1' J '-* »A>

i, .■:;■*!'

'.■Ir-'fiS!

ti r'Sm

.: ,!■

■■■■ li"fep

'f'.^a

«'1

420

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decade.

■^

■m.

The comnipdi-
lies of tlif U'-
gions .V Ibiids
about Faria.
Brasilc.

Canili.ilcr.

Trees of C.issia
Kflula.

A nior.strous

Extreme remc'
die in a despe-
rate case.

tinnmome and
Ginijer.

Topasci.

corrupt the salt water with their frcshnesse, we shall ceasse to manieyle, although this other
riuer be greater: for who can diminish the power of nature, but that it may make this bigger
then the other, and another bygger then this ? And I suppose this to bee the ryuer whereof
Colonus the Admirall made mention in the description of his voyage in these coastes. But we
shall hereafter haue further knowledge hereof: let vs nowe therefore returne to the como-
ditics of these regions. They found in many Hands about Paria: great woodes of Brasile trees,
and brought away with them three thousande polnides weighte thereof. They say (hat the
Brasile of Hispaniola, is much better then this to dye cloth with a more faire and durable co-
lour. From hence, folowing the windes (which the Spaniardcs cal Northest, and the Italians
Grajco) (hey passed by many Ilandes very fruiteful, yet left desolate and wasted by reason of
(he crueltie of the Canibales : for they went alande in many places, they found the mines of
many destroyed houses : yet in some places, they found men, but those exceeding fearcfull,
flieing to the mountaincs, rockes, and woodes at the sight of eiiery straungcr or sliippe, &
wandering without house or certaine abyding places, for feare of the Canibales laying wai(e
and hunting after them. Here they found those great trees which of them selues in diuers
places bring forth thatfruite or spice, which the Apothecaries cal Cassia Phistula, and that of
no lesse goodnesse, then that which the phisitians minister to such as be diseased with the
ague, but it was not ripe at their being there. They aflirme that (here are trees of such byg-
nesse, that. xvi. men ioyning handes togeather, and standing in compasse, can scarcely em-
brace some of them. Among these trees is found that monstrous beaste with a snout like a
loxe, a tayle like a marmasette, eares like a bat, handes like a man, and fcctc like an ape,
bearing her whclpes aboute with her in an outward bellie much like vnto a grcate bagge or
purse. The dead carkasse of this beast, you sawe with mee, and turned it oucr and ouer with
your owne handes, marueyling at that new belly, and wonderlui prouision of nature. They
say it is knowne by experience, that shee neuer Icttcth her whrlpes goe out of that purse, ex-
cept it be cither to play, or to sucke kiitill such time that tliov bee al^'o to gctte their lining
by themselues. They tooke this beaste with her whclpes : But (he whelpcs died shortly aRer
in the shippes. Yet the damme lined certaine moncthcs : but at the length, not being able to
abide so great alteration of ayre, and change of meat, .she died also in (he way. But of
(his beaste, wee haue said enough. Let vs now therefore relume to the auctliours of (he.se
thinges. These two Pinzoni. the vncle and the neuiew, susteined many grcate troubles &
horrible tempestes and perilles in this nauitiation. For when (hey had now sailed by the
coastes of Paria about sixe hudred leagues, & (as they supjwsed) beyond (he titie of Cathay
and the costes of East India beyond the riuer of Ganges, (here rose sodenly so fierce a tem-
pest in the month of July, that of the foure Carauels which they had with them, f.vo were
drowned euen before (heir eyes: and the third lying at anker, with like sodennes caried out
of their sight through the violence of tl e tempest : the fourth also lying at anker, was so
shaken and broosed, that all the seames theieof were almost loosed: Yet came they to land out
of this lastshvp, but vKerly despairing of (he ship. Wherefore consulting wi(h (hemselues
what was best to bee done in so extreeme a case, and how to prouide them a safe dwelling
place in those Regions, being out of all hope how to depart from thence, they determined
to stay all the inhabytauntes of the country neere :ibout them, least (hey with the other
.should conspire together to kill them, but (heir for(une was be(ter : For the Carauel which
the tempest had caried away, was come to them againe. This had in it. xviii. men: And the
other that remained, was saucd and repaired. With these (wo (herefore, they tooke their
voyage directly to Spayne and thus being tossed with tempestes, & vexed with aduersities
they returned to their natiue countrey of Palos, to their wyues and children, the day before
the Calendes of October, with the h)sse of many of their deere frieds & neighbours. They
brought with them Cinamome and ginger: but not very good, because they were not there
fully seasoned with the heate of the sunne, before they brought them from thence. They
brought also certayne precious stones, which Baptista Elysius (hat excellent philosopher, and
your Lordshippes Phisition, affirmeth to be true Topases. After these mens returne, other of
their neighbours being inoucd thereto by a certayne emulation, to proue if their fortune

would

1 ' '■'

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

4:21

would be any better, like men of good corage, being no thing discomforted by the harde for- Men of noble
tune of their neighboures, knowing that it oftentimes chaunceth, that that whiche is one mans "^"g^;
vndoing, is another mans making, attempted a new voiage toward the South by the coaates voyige.
of Paria, following the steps of Colonus the Admirall, who hadde first discouered the same.
They also brought with them great plentie of Cassia fistula, and found that precious medicine
callet of the Spaniards Anima: album, whose perfume is of most excellent effect to heale the Animx album
reumes, murres, and heauines of the head. As touching this viage, as yet I know no other
newes that I thought worthy to certifie you of, wherefore, I will now make an end of
this book, because you put me so often in remembrance of your departure : Yet to accom-
piishe the Decade, I will declare somewhat of the superstitios of Hispaniola. You shal now Thesupfrsu-
therfore vnderstand the illusions wherewith the people of the Ilande haue beene seduced after p°"^]l ""
the errours of the old gentilitie, and wandered in the ignoraunce and blindnesse of humane The enours of
nature, corrupted of the disobedience of our first parentcs, which hath remayned in all nati-,i„V *'""'"
ons vpo the face of the earth, except where it hath pleased God by the light of his stpirite by
his worde, to powre vpon his elect the grace of reiiouation, by the light whereof the na-
turall darknes receiueth some clearnessc as in a glasse, vntil imperfection shall be abolished.
Our men therefore were long in the Hand of Hispaniola, before they knew that the people
thereof honoured any other thing then the lightes of heauen, or hadde any other religion :
but when they hadde bcen^ longe conuersaunt with them, and by vnderstanding their lan-
guage, drew to a further familiaritie, they had knowledge that they vsed diuers rites and su-
perstitions : I haue therefore gathered these fewe thinges following, out of a booke written
by one Ramonus an Heremite, whome Colonus hadde left with certayne kinges of the Ilande
to instruct them in the Christian faith. And because in mancr their whole religion is none
other thing then idolatrie, I will beegin at their idoUes. It is therefore apparant by the idoiatnp
images which they honour openly and commonly, that there appeare vnto them in the night ""* "*"""
'asons, certayne phantasies and illusions of euil spirites, seducing them into many fondc and illusions of
. jolish errours for they make certaine images of Gossampine cotton, folded or wreathed after J^] '/j'^"''
their manner, and hard stopped within. These images tiiey make sitting, muche like vnto gossam^inr
the pictures of spirits and deuiiles which our paynters are accustomed to paynt vpon walles : ™"°"'
but forasmuch as I my selfe sent you foure of these Images, you may better presently signi-
<ie vnto the king your vncle, what manner of thinges they are, and howe like vnto paynted
deuiiles, then I can expresse the same by writing. These images, the inhabitauntcs call
Zemes, whereof the leaste, made to the likcnesse of young deuiiles, they binde to their voung dfuiis.
foreheades when they goe to the warres against their enemies, and for that purpose haue they
those strings hanging at them wiuch you see. Of these, they beleeue to obteyne rayne, if
raine bee lacking, likewise fayre weather: for they think that these Zemes are the media-
tours and messengers of the great God, whom they acknowledge to be onely one, eternall,
without end, omnipotent, and inuisible. Thus euery king hath his particular Zemes, which
he honoureth. They call the eternall gcd by these two names, locauna and Guamarnocon,
as their predeccssoures taught them, affirming that hee hath a father called by these fine
names : that is, Attabeira, Mamona, Guacarapita, Liella, Guimazoa. Nowe shall you hearc
what they fable on the earth as touching the originall of man. There is in, the lande, a re-
gion culled Caunana, where they faine that inankinde came first out of two caues of a moun-
taine : and that the biggest sorte of men came forth of the mouth of the biggest
cauc, and the least sort out of the least caue. The rocke in the which tense caues
are, they call Cauta. The greatest denne, they name Cazibaxagua, and the lesse
Amaiauna. They say, that before it was lawfull for men to come foorth of the caue. Fables mutht
the mouth of the caue w.is kept and watched nightly by a man whose name was Ma- ')'''' ""'"'« ''■'
chochael : this Machochael, departing somewhat farre from the caue, to the intent to see tions,
what things were abroad, was sodenly taken of thesunne, (whose sight he was forbidden) &
was turned into a stone. They fayne the like of diuers other, that whereas they went forth ;, ' ]
in the night season a fishing so farre from the caue, that they could not returne before the
rising of the sunne (the which it was not lawfull for them to behold) they were transformed

3 1 into

''"'''■fffl

. . 1.' J It o

■ • '^'•S

'im

M .'fV

i. .;'4

; ■■(■•''■'j'll

• Hii

1 fih

42»

The Nightyn-
E.ilf.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Decade.

The Ihnilc of
Mathinino.

Chililnn turnei]
into frog*.

Aipccialgrace.

Holy reliques.
A holy cauc.

The origlnall
of the sunne
and moone.

Walkyng
ipirite?.

A rcmcdie i^
gainst walking
spiritci.

Pritstrs tni
diuine Phi*
sitions.

into Myrobalane trees, vrhich of themselues grow plentifully in the Ilaitd. They say further*
more, that a certayne hilet called Vagoniona, sent one foorth of the caue to gee a fishing,
who by like chance Was turned into a Nightingale, beecause the sunne was risen beefore hee
came agayne to the caue : and that yeerely about the same time that he was turned into a
bridge, he doth in the night with a mourning song bewayle his misfortune, and call for the
helpe of his maister Vagoniona : And this they thinke to bee the cause why that bird singeth
in the night seabon. But Vagoniona, being sore troubled in his mind for the losse of his fa>
miliar fried whom he loued so entirely, leauing the men in the caue, brought forth onely the
women with their sucking children, leauing the women in one of the Ilandes of that tract,
called Mathinino, and caryed the children away with him : which poore wretches oppressed
with famine, faynted and remayned on the banke of a certainc ryuer, where they were turned
into frogges, and cryed toa, toa, that is, mamma, mamma, as children are woont to crye, for
the mothers pappe. And heereof they say it commeth that frogges vse to cry so pitifully in
the spring time of the yeare : And that men were scattered abroade in the caues of Hispa-
niola without the companie of women. They say also, that wheras Vagoniona himselfe was
accustomed to wander in diuers places, and yet by a speciall grace neuer transformed, de-
scended to a certayne faire woman whom he sawe in the bottome of the sea, & receiued of
her certayne pibble stones of marble (which they called Cibas) and also certayne yellowc
and bright plates of lattin which they call Guanines. These thinges to this day are had in
great estimation among the kinges, as goodly iewelles, and most holy reliques. But nowe
(most noble prince) you shall heare a more pleasaunt fable. There is a certayhe caue called
louanaboina, in the territorie of a certayne king whose name is Machinnech : This cauc they
honour more religiously then did the Greekes in time paste, Corinth. Cyrrha, or Nysa, and
haue adourned it with pictures of a thousand fashions. In the intrace of this raue they hauc
two grauen Zemes, whereof the one is called Binthaitel, and the other Marohu. Being de«
manded why they had this caue in so great reuerence, they answered earnestly, because the
sunne and the moone came first out of the same to giue light to the world ; they haue religi-
ous concourse to these caues, as we are accustomed to goe on Pylgrimage to Rome, or Vati-
cane, Compostella, or Hierusalem, as most holy & head places of our religion. They are also
subiect to another kind of superstition : for they thinke that dead folks waike in the night,
and eate the fruite called Guannaba, vnknowne vnto vs, & somwhat like vnto a Quinse :
affirming also that they are cduersant with lining people : euen in their beddes, and to de-
ceiue women in taking vpon them the shape of men, shewing themselues as though they
would haue to doe with them : but when the matter commeth to actuall deed, sodainly they
vanishe away. If any do suspect that a dead body lyeth by him, whe he feelcth any strag
thing in the bed, they say he shall bee out of doubt by feeling of the bellie thereof: affirm-
ing that the spirites of dead men may take vppon them all the members of mans body, sail-
ing onely the iiauel. If therefore by the lacke of the nauel he doe perceiue that a dead body
lyeth by him, the feeling is immediately resolued. They beleeue verily, that in the night,
and oftentimes in ther iourneies, and especially in common and high wayes, dead men doe
meete with the liuing : Against whom, if any man bee stout and out of feare, the fantasie
vanisheth incontinently : but if anie feare, the fantasie or vision dooth so assaulte him and
strike him with further feare, that many are thereby aatonyshed, and haue the lymmcs of
their bodies taken. The inhnbitauntcs beeing demanded of whom they had those vaine su-
perstitions, they aunswered, that they were left them of their forefathers, as by diHcent of in-
heritance, and that they haue had the same before the mcmorie of man, composed in certaine
rimes and songes, wliich it was lawfuU for none to learne, but onely the kinges sonnes, who
committed the same to mcmorye because they had neuer any knowledge of letters. These
they sing before the people on certaine solemne and festiuall dayes as most religious ceremo-
nies : while in the meane time they play on n certainc instrument made of onewhole peece
of wood somewhat holowe like a timbrel. Their priestes and diuines (whom they call Boitios)
instructe them itt th6se sujierstitions : These priestes are also phisitions, deuising a thou.iand
craftes and subtiltles howe to deceiue the simple people which haue them in great reuerence :

for

l\^r^

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOVERIES.

4S3

for they pernwade them that the Zemes vse to speak with them familiarly, and tt\ them of ignorance is
thinges to come. And if any haue ben sicke, and are recouered they make the beleeue that "orishtdwith
they obteined their health of the Zemes. These Boitii bind themselues to much fasting, & '"?<""("">•
outward cleanlinesHe, and purginge^, especially when they take vpon them the cure of any
prince, for then they drinke the powder of a certaine herbe by whose qiialitie they are driueii Ap.™d«of
into a fury, at which time (as they say) they learne many thinges by reueiation of the Zemes. ^^'^'J'''''""
Then putting secretely in their mouthes, eyther a stone, or a bone, or a peece of flesh, thoy
come to the sick perso commaunding al to depart out of that place except one or two whom
it shall please the sicke man to appoynt : this done, they goe about him three or foure times,
greatly deforming their faces, lipps, and nasthrils with sundry filthy gestures, blowiug, breath- a strmRt nun-
ing, and sucking the forehead, temples, and neckc of the patient, whereby (thty say) they ""°* '^"'''"^
drawe the euil ayre from him, and sucke the disease out of the vaynes : then rubbitig- him,
about the shoulders, thighes atid legges, and drawing downe their handes close by his feete,
holding them yet faste togeather, they runne to the doore being open, where they vnclose
and shake their hands, a(Hrming that they haue driuen away the disease, and that the patient
shall shortly be perfectly restored to health. After this cnmming behinde him, hee con-
ueigheth a peece of fleshe out of his owne mouth like a iuggeler, and sheweth it to the sicke
man, saying, Behold, you haue eaten to much, you shall nowe b;!e whole, because I haue
taken this from you. But if he entend yet further to deceiue the patient, hee perswadeth Angry god:,.
him that his Zemes is angry, eyther because he hath not builded him a chappell, or not ho-
noured him religiously, or not dedicated vnto him a groue or garden. And if it so chaunce
that the sicke person die, his kinsfolks, by witchcrafte, enforce the dead to confesse whether They make the
he died by naturall destey, or by the negligece of the Boitius, in that he had not fasted as he "'"'' " ^'^'
should haue done, or not ministred a couenient medicine for the disease : so that if this phisi-
tion be found faultie, they take reuenge of him. Of these stones or bones which these Boitii
cary in their mouthes, if the women can come by them, they keepe them religiously, beleeu-
ing them to be greatly eifectuall to heipe women traueling with childe, and therefore honour
them as they do their Zemes. For diuers of the inhabitantes honour Zemes of diuers fa-
.shions : some make them of wood, as they were admonished by certaine visions appearing
vnto them in the woods : Other, which haue receiued aunswer of them among the rockes,
make them of stone and marble. Some they make of rootes, to the similitude of such as
appeare to them when they are gathering the rootes called Ages, whereof they make their
bread, as we hsue said before. These Zemes they beleue to send plentie & fruitfulnes of
those rootes, as the antiquitie beleued such fayries or spirits as they called Dryades, Hama- r«yries or spi-
dryades, Satyros, Panes, nnd Nereides, to haue the cure & prouidence of the sea, woods, ,';,'" 'jjj^'j,' fi["J"
.springes, and fountaines, assigning to euery thing their peculiar goddes: Euen so doe thinha- w Ae papistcs
bitantsof this Hand attribute a Zemes to euery thing, supposing the same to giue eare to their
inuocatiuns. Wherefore, as often as the kings aske counsel! of their Zemes as concerning
their warres, increase of fruites or scarcenes, or health & sicknesse, they enter into
the house dedicate to their Zemes, where, snuffing vp into their nosthryles the
pouder of the herbe called Cohobba (wherwith the Boitii are dryuen into a furie) xhepouderof
they say that immediatly they see the houses turned topsie turuie, and men to waike with {J**^^"*" C""
their heeles vpward, of such force is th" . ponder, vtterly to take away al sence. As
soone as thia inudnesse ccasseth, he embraceth his knees with his armes, holding downe
his head. And when he hath remayned thus awhile astonyshed, hee lifteth vp his
head, as one that came newe out of sleepe : and thus looking vp toward heauen, first he
fumbleth certaine confounded wordes with himselfe, then certayne of the nobilitie or chiefe
gentlemen that are about him (for none of the common people are admitted to these mys- Secrete mij-
teries) with loude voyces giue tokens of reioicing that hee is returned to them from the *"'"•
speech of the Zemes, demanding of him what he hath seene. Then hee opening his mouth,
doateth that the Zemes spake to him during the time of his trance, declaring that he had
»uelations cither cocerning victorie or destruction, famine or plentie, health or sickenesse R«"*i«it""«
or whatsocuer happeneth first on his tongue. Now (most noble Prince) what neede you

3 I 2 hereafter

H^B''

MHit

■Pi

wM^'i :

WM. '^

nil

'Hie spirit of
'tlic Sibyllei.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The first Aecade,

Clilldren with
two crownes.

Wandering
imagei.

AwomanZemej ZemCS ill
of great power.

Mediatouri.

A maraeylous
illusion of the
deuylL

The idoUci
abolished.

hereafter to marueyle of the spirite of Apollo so shaking his Sibylles with extreame furie :
you hadde thought that the superstitious antiquitic hadde perished. But nowe whereas I
haue declared thus much of the Zemes in general, I thought it not good to let passe what is
sayde of them in particular. They say therefore that a certaine king called Guamaretus, had
a Zemes whose name was Corochotum, who (they say) was oftentimes wont to descend from
the highest place of the house where Guamaretus kept him close boud. They aflirme that
the cause of this his breaking of his bandes and departure, was eyther to hide himselfe, or to
goe seeke for meate, or else for the acte of generation : and that sometimes beeing otfended
that the king Guamaretus had bin negligent and slacke in honouring him, he was wont to
lie hid for certaine dayes. They say also, that in the kinges village there are sometime chil-
dren borne hauing two crownes, which they suppose to be the children of Corochotum the
Zemes They faine likewise, that Guamaretus beins:;; ouercome of his enemies in battayle,
and his village with the palace consumed with fire, Corochotiis brake his bandes, and
was aftervfarde founde a furlong of, safe and without hurte. He hath also another Zemes
called Epileguanita, made of woode, in shape like a fourc footed beast : who also is sayde
oftentimes to haue gone from the place where hee is honoured, into the woodes. As soone
as they perceiue him to bee gone, a great multitude of them gather together to seeke him
with deuout prayers: and when they haue founde him, bring him home religiously on their
shoulders to the chappell dedicated vnto him. But they complaine, that since the comming
of the Christian men into the llande, he fled for altogether, and coulde neuer since be
founde, whereby they diuined the destruction of their country. They honoured another
" the likenesse of a woman, on whom waited two other like men, as they were

ministers to her. One of these, executed the office of a medintour to the r her Zemes, which
are vnder the power and commaundcment of this woman, to raise wyndes, cloudes, and
rayne. The other is also at her commaundement a messenger to the other Zemes, which
are ioyned with her in gouernance, to gather together the waters which fall from the high
hils to the valleies, that beeing loosed, they may with force burst out into great floudes, and
ouerflowe the countrey, if the people do not giue due honour to her Image. There
remaineth yet one thing worthy to be noted, wherwith we will make an end of this booke.
It is a thing well knowne, and yet freshe in memorie among the inhabitants of the Hand,
that there was somtime two kings (of the which one was the father of Guarionexius, of
whom wee made mention before) whiche were woont to absteine fine daies together con-
tinually from meate & drinke, to know somewhat of their Zemes of thinges to come, and
that for this fasting bring acceptable to their Zemes, they receiiied answere of them, that
within few yeeres there shoulde come to the Hand a nation of men couered with apparell,
which shoulde destroy all the customes and ceremonies of the Hand, and either slay all their
children, or bring them into seruitude. The common sort of the people vnderstoode this
oracle to be ment of the Canibale.s, & therfore when they had any knowledge of their
comming, they euer fled, and were fully determined neuer more to aduenture the battayle
with them. But when they sawe that the Spanyardes hadde entred into the llande, consult-
ing among themselues of the matter, they concluded that this was the nation whiche was
ment by the oracle. Wherein, their opinion deceiued them not, for they are nowe all siibiect
to the Christians, all such beeing slayne as stiibernely resisted : Nor yet remayneth there
anie memorie of their Zemes, for they are all brought into Spayne, that wee might bee cer-
tyfied of their illusions of eiiill spirites and Idollcs, the which you your selfe ( roost noble
Prince) haue seene and felt when I was present with you. I let passe many thinges because
you put me in remembrance that to morowe you take your iorney towarde your country, to
bring home the queene your aunt, whom you accompanyed hither at the commaundement
of king Frederike your vncle. Wherefore I bid you farewell for this time, desiring you to
remember your Martir, whom you haue compelled in the name of the king your vncle, to
gather these few thinges out of a large fielde of histories.

That*

Vmf

^''Vi

».

Tl»e»

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

435

The tenth and last booke of the first Decade, as a conclusion of the former bookes :
written to Inacus lopez Mendocius, Coiintie of Tendilla, & viceroy of
Granata.

AT the first beginning and newe attempte, when Coloniis had taken vpon him the enter-
pryse to searche the Ocean sea, I was earnestly moiied a. ' required by the letters of certaine
of my frendes and noble men of Rome, to wryte those thinges as should happen. For they
whispered with great admiration, that where as there were many newe landes founde, and
nations which liued naked and after the lawe of nature, they could heare no certainty
thereof, beeing greatly desirous of the same. In this meane time had fortune ouerthrowne
Ascanius (his brother Lodovike beeing cast out of Millane by the Frenchmen ) whose auctoritie
would not suffer me to be idle, but euer to haue my pen in hand. To him I wrote the two
first books of this decade, beside many other of my hid comentaries which you shal see
shortly : but fortune did no lesse withdraw my mind from writing, then disturb Ascanius
fro power. As he was tossed with contrary stormes, and ceased to perswade mee: euen so
slacked my fenietnesse to enquire any further, vntil the yere of Christ 1500, when the
Court remained at Granata where you are viceroy : At which time, Lodouike the Cardinal
of Aragonie, neuiew to king I'rcderike by his brothers side (being at Granata with the queene
Parthenopea the sister of our Catholique king) brought me king Frederikes letters, whereby
he exhorted me to finishe the other bookes which folowed the two epistel bookes, which I
write to Ascanius : For they both acknowledged that they had the copie of all that I writte
to cardinall Ascanius. And albeit that euen then I was sicke (as you knowe) yet tooke I
the burden vppon me, and applyed my selfe to wryting, I haue therefore chosen these fewe
thinges, out of a great heape of such as seemed to me must worthy to be noted among the
large wrytinges of ihe authoures and searchers of the same. Wherefore, forasmuch as you
haue endeuored to wrest out of my hands the whole example of all my woorkes, to adde
the same to the innumerable volumes of your librarie, I thought it good nowe to make a
briefe rehearsall of those things which were done from that yeare of a thousand and fiue
hundred, euen vnto this yeare which is the tenth from that : For I entend to write more
largely of these thinges heareafter, if God graunt me life. I had written a whole booke by it
selfe of the superslytions of the people of the Hand, supposing therwith to haue accom-
plished the whole Decade consisting of ten bookes. But I haue added this to the tenth as
a perpendicular lyne, and ns it were a backe guide or rereward to the other : So that you
may knitte the first tenth to the nynth, & impute this to occupye the place of the tenth to
fill vp the Decade. This order I haue appointed, lest I should be compelled often times to
wryte ouer the whole worke, or send you the same defaced with blottes and interlining.
But nowe let vs come to our purpose. The ship maisters and mariners ran ouer many
coastes during these ten yeares : But euer folowed such as were first found by Colonus. For
rasing continually alonge by the trace of Paria, which they beleeue to be part of the firme
land or continent of East India, some of them chaunced vppon certaine naw landes towarde
the East, and some toward the West, in which they found both gold and frankensence. For
they brought from thence many iewels and ouches of gold, and great plentie of franken-
sence which they had of the people of those countryes, partly for exchaunge of some of our
thinges, and partly by force, ouer comming them by warre. Yet in some places, although
they bee naked, they ouercame our men, and slewe whole armyes. For they are exceed-
ing fierce, and vse venemous arrowes, and long staues like iauelens, made hard at the cnde
with fire. They found many beastes, both creepyng and foure footed much difTering from
ours, varyable and of sundrye shapes innumerable : yet not hurtfull, except Lions, Tigers,
and Crocodiles. This I meane in sundry regions of that great lande of Paria, but not in
the llandes : no not so much as one, for all the beastes of the Ilandes, are meeke and without
hurte, except men, which (as wee haue sayde) are in many Ilandes deuourers of mens fleshe.
There are also diners kindes of foules. And in many places battes of such bignes, that they
are equall wifhall turtle doues. These battes, haue oftentimes assaulted men in the night in

their

MlUanc in the
handesof the
Frenchmen.

f- :i

The history fol-
lowing, con-
teynetli thu
acres of ten
yeeres.

Paria part of
the fyrme land
of Kast India.
Golde It Frank-
cncense.

The fierce nrs of
the naked people.

', m

,'mA

til

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

JTie Jirst Decade.

..Ji!,".^

:»':.

A man deuourtd
of a monster Of
the tea.

Notr the
largeneiof the
Rtfi llandrt.

Antipodes.

The nature of
the phce aliereth
the forms and
f ualitiei of
tbynges.

Plcntirofbeastes
«nd foule.

Pubalf anilandc.

The descripiio
of Cuba.

The llande of
Buricheina. of
S lohannis.
GoMe myncs.

their sleepCj and so bitten them with their venemous teeth, that they haue ben therby almost
driuen to inadnes, in so much that they haue ben compelled to flee from such places, Trom
rauenous Harpies. In an other place, where certaine ot them slept in the night season on the
sands by the seaside a monster comming out of the sea, camc.vpon one of them secretlye,
and caryed him away by the middest out of the sight of his fellowcs, to w!iom he cried in
vaino for helpe, vntil the beast leapt in(o the sea with her pray. It was the kinges pleasure
that they should remaine in these landes, and builde townes and fortresses: whereunto
they were so well willing that diuers profered them selues to take vpon them the subduing
of the land, making great suite to the king that they might bee appointed thereto. The coast
of this tracte is exceeding great and large, and the regions and landes therof extende mar-
ueilous farre, so that they affirme the continent of thei^e regions with the Hands about the
same, to be thrise as bigge as al Europe, beside those landes that the Portugales haue found
southward, which are also exceeding large. Therefore doubtlesse Spayne hath desenied
great prayse in these our dayes, in that it hath made knowen vnto vs so many thousandes of
Antipodes which lay hid before, and vnknowen to our forefathers: and hath thereby mi-
nistred sq large matter to wryte of, to such learned wittes as are desirous to set foorth
knowledge to the commoditie of men to whom I opened a way when I geathered these
things rudely togeather as you see : the which, neuerthclesse I truste you will take in good
part, aswell for that I can not adourne my rudenessc with better vesture, as also that I neuer
tooke pen in hand to write like an historiographer, but onely by epistles scribeled in haste,
to satistie them, from whose commaundementes I might not drawe backe my foote. But
nowe I haue digressed enough, let vs now therefore returne to Hispaniola. Our men haue
found by experience, that the bread of the Hand is of smal strength to such as haue bin
vsed to our bread made of wheat, and that their strengthes were muchdecaied by vsing of the
same : wherefore the king hath of late commaunded that the wheate should be sowen there
in diiicrs places, & at sundry times of the yeere : It groweth into holow reedes, with few
eares, but those very bygj?e and fruitefull. They find the like softnesse and delicatenesse
to be in hearbcs, whicH growe there to the height of corne. Neat or cattel, become of big-
<;er stature and exceeding fat, but their fleshe is more vnsauorie, and their bones (as they
say) either without marow, or the same to be very waterishe: but of hogges and swyne,
they aflirme the contrary that they are more wholesome, & of better taste, by reason of
ccrtaiiic wilde fruites which they eate, being of much better nourishment then maste.
There is almost none other kind of fleshe commonly sold in the market. The multitude of
hogges are exceedingly encreased, and become wilde as soone as they are out of the swine
heardcs keeping. They haue such plentie of beastes and foules, that they shall hereafter
haue no ncede to haue any brought from other places. The increase of all beastes grow
bigger th'^n the brood they came of, by reason of the ranknes of the pasture, although their
feeding be only of grasse, with out eyther barly or other graine. But we haue saide enough
of Mispaniola. They haue now found that Cuba (which of long time they thought to haue
bin firme land, for the greate length thereof) is an Hand : yet is it no maruaile that the
inhabitants themselues told our men when they searched the length therof, that it was with-
out ende. For this nation being naked, and content with a little, and with the limitles of
their owne country, is not grcntly curious to knowe what their neighbours doe, or the large-
nesse of their dominion, nor yet knewe they if their were any other thing vnder heauen,
behide that which they walked on with their feete, Cuba is from the East into the West,
much longer then Hispaniola, and in breadth from the North to the South, much lesse then
they supposed at the first : for it is very narrowe in respect of the length, and is for the most
part verie fruitefull and pleasaunt. Eastwarde, not farre from Hisi>aniola, there lyeth an
llande lesse then Hispaniola more then by the halfe, whiche our men called Sancti lohannis,
beeing in manner square, in this they founde exceeding riche gclde mynes: but being nowe
occupied in the golde mynes of Hispaniola, they haue not yet sent labourers into the llande.
But the plentie and reuenue of golde of all other regions, giue place to Hispaniola, where
they giue themselues in manner to none other thing then to gather golde, of which worke

^his

«'.

The first Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

427

this order is appoynted. To eiiery such wittie and skilful man as is put in trust to be a sur-
ueyour or oueraeer of thei^c workes, there is assigned one or more kings of the Ilandt with
their subiectes. These kings according to their league, come with their people at certayne
times of the yeere, and resorte euery of them to the gold mines to the which nee is assigned,
where they naue all manner oC digging or mining tooles deliuered them, and euery king
with his menne, hauc a certaine rewarde alowed them for their labour. For when they
departe from the mynes to sowing of corne, and other tyllage (wherunto they are addict atTjrUigt'
certaine other tymes, least their foode should faile them) they receiue for their labour, one
a ierkin, or a dublet, another a shirt, another a cloke or a cap for they now take pleasure in
these thinges, and goe no more naked as they were wont to doe. And thus they vse the
helpe and labour of the inhabitantes, both for the tyllage of their ground and in their golde
mynes, as though they were their seruauntes or bondemen. They beare this yoke of serui-
tude with an euill \vill, but yet they beare it: they call these hired labourers, Anaborias:
yet the king doth not sufier that they should bee vsedas bondemen, andonely at his pleasure,
they are set at libertie, or appoynted to worke. At »iuchc time as they are called together
of their kinges to worke (as souldiers or pyoners are assembled of their centurions) many
of them steale away to the mountaynes and woodes, where they lye lurking, beeing con-
tent for that time to Hue with the wilde fruites, rather then take the paynes to labour. They They abhom
ire docible and apte to Icarne, and haue nowe vtterly forgotten their old superstitions. They T^"j„jajii,io.
beleeue godly, and beare well in memory such thinges as they haue learned of our faith.
Their kings children are brought vp with the chiefest of our men, and are instructed inThckynto
letters and good maners. When they are growen to mans age, they sende them home to* " "'
their countryes to be example to other, and especially to gouerne the people, if their fathers
be dead, that they may the better set forth the Christian Religion, and keepe their subiectes
in loue and obedience. By reason whereof, they come now by laire meanes & gentle per- ThetwocWef
swasions, to the mynes which lye in two regions of the llande, about thirtie myles distaunte f^^JaX"^
from the citie of Dominica, wherof the one is called Sancti Christophori : and the other
bedng distaunt aboute fourscore and ten myles, is called Cibana, not farre from the chiefe
hauen called Portus Regalis, These regions are very large, in the whiche in many places
here and there, are found sometime euen in the vpper crust of the earth, and sometime among
the stones, certaine rounde pieces or plates of golde, sometime of small quantytie, and in
some places of great weight : in so much that there hath beene founde round pieces of
three hundred pounde weight and one of three thousande, three hundred and tenne pounde
weight, the whiche (as you hearde) was sent whole to the King in that ship in the whiche
the gouernour Roadilla was commyng home into Spaine, the ship with all the men beeing
drowned by the way, by reason it was ouer laden with the weight of gold &i\A multitude of a coniy ihyp-
men, albeit, there were mo then a thousand persons which saw and handled the piece of '"*'**'
gold. And whereas here I speake of a pounde, I doe not meane the common pound, bu.t the
summe of the ducate of golde, with the coyne called Triens, which is the third part of a
pound, which they call Pesus. The summe of the weight heereof, the Spanyardes call p«sus.
Castclanum Aureum. All the gold that is digged in the mountaines of Cibana and Port The fynyng
Regale, is caryed to the tower of Conception, where shoppes with all things apperteining *ftou."'"*""^
are ready furnished to fine it, melt it, and cast it into wedges. That doone, they take the
kinges portion thereof, which is the fifte part, and so restore to euery man his owne whiche
hee gotte with his labour. But the golde which is founde in saint Christophorus myne and
the regions there about, is caryed to the shoppes which are in the village called Bonauentura.
In these two shops, is moulten yeerely about three hundred thousiid pound weight of gold. Three hundied
If any man bee knowen deceitfully to keepe backe any portion of golde, whereof he hath of goUmou"?'*
not made the kinges officers priuie, he forfeiteth the same for fine. There chaunceth among yeertiyinHij.
them oftentimes many contentions & controuersies, the which vnlesse the magistrates of the '*""'*•
Hand doe finishe, the case is remoued by appellation to the high counsel of the court, from
whose sentence it is not lawfull to appeale in all the dominions of Castile. But let vs nowe Theneweiuijes.
returne to the newe landes, from whence wee haue digressed. They are innumerable, diuers,

and

t 1

.'■li

■ ■ k

. ■'ii

; ;■■!;

-'1

: rll

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'riie second Decade.

'J I

{inn.

'I'lic original of

true nobility.

The Ilinde of
Unanasli.

The Voiage of
lohannes Uiaz.

ii-

and exceeditif^ fortunate. Wherefore the Spaninrdes in these our daycs, and their noble
enterprises, doe not giue place either to the factes of Saturnua, or Hercules, or any other
of the ancient princes of famous memory, which were canonized among the goddes, called
Heroes, for their searching of new landes and regions, and bringing the same to better cul-
Eniiriini of the ture and ciuilitie. O God, how large & farre shal our posteritie see the Christian region
expended? how large a campe haue they now to wander in, which by the true nobilitie that
is in them, or moued by vertue, will attempt eyether to descrue like prayse among men or
reputation of well doing before God ? What I conceiue in my minde of these thinges, I am
not able to expresse with penne or tongue. I wil now therfore so make an end of this per-
pendicular conclusion of the whole Decade, as minding hereafter to search and geather
euery thing particularly, that I may at further leasure write the same more at large. For
Colonus the Admiral, with foure ships, and a hundred, threescore, and ten men, appointed
by the king, discouered in the yeere of Christ. 1520. the land ouer against the West corner
of Cuba, distant from the same about a hundred and thirtie leagues, in the middest of
which tracte, lielh an Hand called Guanassa. From hence hec directed his voiage backwarde
toward the East, by the shore of that coast, supposing that he should haue found the coastes
of Paria, but it chaunced olherwise. It is sayd also that Vincencius Agnes (of whom we
haue spoken before) and one Johannes Daiz (with diuers other, of whose voyages I haue as
yet no certaine knowledge) haue ouerrunne those coastes: but if God graunt me life, I trust
to knowe the trueth hereof, and to aduertise you of the same. Thus fare ye well.

The ende of the first Decade. ' , " ' ,

The first Chapter of the seconde Decade, to Leo Bishop of Rome, the tenth of that name, "

of the supposed continent or firme lande. , '

Since the time that Galeatius Butrigariiis of Bononie, and lohanncs Cursius of Florence
(most holy father) came to the Citholique king of Sp;iync, the one of your holinessc am-
bassagc, and the other for the aflfayres of his common wealth, I was euer for the mostc
part in their company, and for their vertues and wisdome iiad them in great reuerence.
And whereas they were greatly giuen to studie, and continual! reuoluing of diuers auctours,
they chaunced vpon certayne bookes negligently let slyppe out of my handes entreatyng of
the large landes and regions hitherto lying hid, and almost West Antipodes, found of late
by the Spanyardes. Yet being allured & delighted with the newnesse and straungenesse of
the matter although rudely adourncd, they commended the same, therwith earnestly desiring
me in their owne names, and requiring me in the name of your holinessc, to adde
hereunto al such thinges as were found after that time, and to giue them a copie
thereof, to send to your holinesse, that you might thereby vnderstand, both how great
commodities is chaunced to the progenic of mankinde, as also increase of the militant
congregation in these our dayes, by the fortunate enterpryses of the kings of Sp.iyne.
For like as rased and vnpainted tables, are apte to receiue what fourmes socucr are first
drawne thereon by the hande of the' painter, eucn so these naked and simple people,
doe soone receiue the customes of our religion, and by conuersation of our men, shake
of their fierce and natiue barbarousnesse. I haue thought it good therefore to satisfic
the request of these wise men, especially vsing the authoritie of your name, whereunto
npt to haue obeyed, I should esteeme my selfe to haue committed a haynous oflence.
Wherefore I will nowe briefly rehearse in order, what hid coastes the Spanyardes ouer^
ran, who were the authours thereof, where tijey rested, what further hope they brought,
and finally what greate thinges those tractes of lands doe promise in time to come. I.i the
declaration of my decade of the Ocean, which is now printed and dispersed throughout
Christendome vnwares to mee, I described howe Christophorus Colonus founde those
Ilandes whereof we haue spoken, and that turning from thence towarde the left hand soulh-
ofiurdesdi«tant wardc, he chauuced into great regions of landes, and large seasdistaunt from the Equin'^ctiall
no^TiiMrom' 'j'"^' ^"^ly ffom fiuc degrees to tenne : where he founde broad riuers and exceeding high

niouritayncs

West Ami.
puJcs.

'I'he encrease
of the Christian
congregation.

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

429

mountaynef) couered with snowc, and harde by the sea bankes, where were many comrrio- fyue degrtei to
dioiis and quiet hauens. But Colonus beein<» nowe departed out of this life, the King !|;','*^j^^|,^^f
beganne to take care, how those lands might be inhabited with Christian men, to the in- cuiunui.
crease of our faith : Wherupon hee gaue lycencc by his letters patentcs to all such as would a lenetaii
take the matter in hand, and especially to two, whereof Diego Nicuesa was one, & the other
was Alphonsus Fogecla. Wherefore about the Ides of December, Alphonsus departing first T''^|""^f,'[,'°"
with three hundred souldiers from the liande of Hispaniola (in the which wee said the Fojedar '"
Spaniardes had builded a city, & planted their habitation) & sayling in maner full South
he came to one of the hauens found before, which Colonus named Porlus Carthaginis, both
because of the Hand stading against the course of the streame, and also that by reason of the
largnes of the place and bending sides, it is much like to the hauen of Spayne called
Carthago. The iiihabitauntes call the liande Codego, as the Spanyardes call the Ilande of
their hauen Scombria. This region is called of the inhabitantes Caramairi, in the which they TheMBionof
affirme both the menne and women to bee of goodly stature, but naked. /The mennc haue <-'"»'"'""•
their hayre cutte rounde by their eares, but the women weare it long, both the men and
women are very good archers. Our men found certayne trees in this prouince, which beare
great plentie of sweete apples, but hurtfull, for they turne into woormes when they are eaten. Appi" «hici>
Especially the shaduwe of the tree is contagious, for such as : leepe vnder it smy time, haue wor'me$.
their heads swolne, and loose their sight: but if they slecpe but awhile, their sight commeth ^'^ '!|^^.*'|''"
agayne after a fewe dayes. This porte is distant foure hu\iclrcd, fyftie & sixe myles from imitfui.
tlie porte of Hispaniola whiche the Spanyardes call Beata, in the whiche also they furnishe
themselues when they prepare any voyage to seeke other newe landes. When Fogeda had
entred into the hauen, hee enuaded, slue, and spoyled the people, whom hee founde naked
and scattered : for they were giuen him for a pray by the Kingcs letters patentes, ]}ecause
they had bin before time cruell against the Christians, and coulde neuer bee allured to per-
mitte them quietly to come within their dominions. Here they found golde, but in no great
quantitie, nor yet that pure : they make of it certaine brest plates and brooches whiche they
weare for comelynesse. But Fogeda not content with these spoyles, vsyng certayne cap-
liues, whiche hee haddc taken before, for guides, entred into a village twelue myles distant
from the sea side further into the lande, into the which they were fled when he first inuaded.
Here he found a naked people, but apte to warre : for they were armed with targettes, Wariyktpeo-
shicldes, long swoordes made of woode, and bowes with arrowes typt with bone, or hardened •"'
■with fire. As soone as they had espied our men, they with their ghestes who they had re-
ceiucd, assayled them with desperate myndes, being thereto more earnestly prcuoked, be-
holding the calamitie of these which fled vnto them, by the violence done to their women
and children in the spoyle and slaughter. In this conflict our men had the ouerthrowe: in
the which, one lohannes de Lacossa (beeing in authoritie next vnto Fogeda the cap-
tayne, and also the first that gathered golde in the sandes of Vraba) was slaine with Arrow«s in.
fiftie souldiers: for these people infecte their arrowes with the deadly poyson of a cer- ^"''^, ""''
tayne herbe. The other with their captaine Fogeda, being discomforted, fledde to the
shippes. While they remained thus in the hauen of Carthago, sorrowful and pensiue The nauigation
for the losse of their companions, the other captayne Diego Nicuesa, (whom they left in ^^,'7,"
Hispaniola, preparing himselfe towarde the voyage in the hauen Beata) came to them with '
fine shippes, and seuen hundred fourscore and fyfteene men. For the greater number of
souldiers followed Nicuesa, both bcecause free libertie was giuen to them to choose which of
the capitaines they list, and also that by reason of his age, hee was of greater authoritie :
But especially beccause the rumoure was that Beragua being by the kinges commission ap- The rtgions of
poynted to Nicuesa, was richer in golde then Vraba assigned to Alphonsus Fogeda. There- BctlVa'."'
lore, at the arriuall of Nicuesa, they consulted what was best to bee doone: and determined
first to reuenge the death of their fellowes. Whereupon, setting their battayle in arraye,
tliey marched in the night towarde them whiche slue Cossa with his companions. Thus The SpaniarJ?
stealing on them vnwares in the laste watch of the night, and encompassing the village death^o/thtyr
where thev lav, consisting of a hundred houses and more, hauing also in it thrise as many of companiont.

3K their

''S

I. ■■'.•,»!>

'1\

r:r

J'fc If

:'(

viWt'

430

A (srcit*

il.MtliU-r,

Canjbnici.

Tht hunger
uf guide.

The IljiiJe
Fortii.

Wrought goKI.

VOYAOES. NAUIGATIONS,

Tlic second Decade.

Nicuesa.

The gulfe

Coiba.

Barnatdino de
Calaucia.

their noigbbourcs a* of thcmsclucs, they set it on firo, with diligent watche that none might
escape. And thus in short time they brought them and their houses to a.<ihes, and made thcin
payc the ransomc of bloudc with blond : for of a great multitude of men and women, they
spared onely sixe rhiidren, all other being destroyed with fire or awoorde, except fewc
whiche escaped priuily, they learned by these rcscnied children, that Cossa and his fellowcs
were rut in peoce.s, and eaten of them that slue tliem. By reason whereof, they suppose
that these people of Camairi tooke their original of the Caribes, otherwise called Canibales.
Here they foundc some goldc among the ashes. For the hunger of golde did no Icssc in-
rourage our men to aduenture these perillcs and labours, then did the possessing of the
landes. These thinges thus finished, and the death of Cossa and his fellowcs reuengod, they
returned to the hauen. After this, Fogcda whiche came fir^t, fir>t likewise dep;irting with
his armie to seeke Vraba, committed to his gouernance, saylod by an Ilande called Fortis,
lying in the midway betweene Vraba and the hauen of Carthago: info the which descending,
he found it to bee an Ilande of the Canibales, bringing witii him from tiicncc two men and
seuen women, for the residue esraj)cd. Here hee founde in the cotages of them that flcddc,
a hundred, fourescore, and tenne drammes of golde, caste an<l wTought in diners fourmes.
Sayling forwarde from hence, hee came to the East roastes of Vraba, whiche the inhabiiauntes
call Caribaua, from whence the Carihes or Canibales of the Ilandes are sayd to hauc their
names and originall. Here he began to build a fortrcsse, and a village ni-crc vnfo the same,
therein entending to place their first habitation. Shortly after, bceing instructed by certayne
captiues, that there was about tweUie myles further within the lande, a certaine village called
Tiruli, hauing in it a riche golde myne, he determined to destroy the village, to the which
when he came, he found the inhabitantes ready to defend their right, and that so stoutly,
that encountering with them, he was repulsed with shame and domage : for these people also
vse bowes and venemous arrowes. Within a fewe dayes after, being enforced for lackc of
victualles to inuade another village, hee himselfe was strycken in the thygh with an arrowe.
Some of his fellowcs say, that he was thus wounded of one of the inhabitantes, whose wife he
had Icdde away captiue beefore. They say also that he had first friendly communed with
Fogeda for redeeming of his wife, and had appoynted a day to bring a portio of golde for
her ransome, and that hee came at the day assigned, not laden with goldc, but armed with
bowes and arrowes, with eight other confederate with him which had beenc before par-
takers of the iniuries done to them first at the hauen of Carthago, and afterward at the
burning of the village, in reuenge whereof, they had desperately consecrated thcmselues to
death; But the matter being knowne, the capfayne of this conspiracie was slayne of Fogeda
his companions, and his wife deteined in captiuitie. Fogeda also through the m.-rficiousnesse
of the venime, consumed and was dried vp by litle and litle. While these things chaunced
thus, they espied Nicuesa the other captaine, to whom Berigua the region of the West side
of Vraba was assigned to inhabite. He gaue wind to his sayles to take his voyage towarde
Bcragua, the day after that Fogeda departed out of the hauen of Carthago. He with his
armie that he brought with him, coasted cuer along by the shore, vntill he came to the gulfe
Coiba, whose kinges name is Carcfa. Here hee founde their language to bee in manner
nothing like vnto that of Hispaniola, or of the hauen of Carthago : whereby hee perceiued
that in this tracte, there are many languages dift'ering from their owne borderers. Nicuesa de-
parting from Coliba, went to the prouince or Lieuetenauntship of Fogeda his companion.
Within a few dayes after, hee himself entring into one of those marchaunt shippes which the
Spaniardes call Carauelas, commaunded that the bigger vessels should fdlow farre behind.
He tooke with him two smal sliippes commonly called Bergandines or Brignndincs. I haue
thought it good in al the discourse of these bookes, to vse the common names of thinges,
because I had rather bee plaine then curious, especially forasmuch as there doc daily arise
many new thinges vnknowen to the antiquitie, whereof they haue left no true names.
After the departure of Nicuesa, there came a shippe from Hispaniola to Fogeda, the captaine
whereof, was one Barnardino de Calauera, who had stoinc the same from Hispaniola with
threescore men, without leaue or aduice of (he Admiral & the other gouernours. With the

victualles

I-:

ti. u

Tfte gccond Decade,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DlSCOUnRIKS.

481

victualler which this nhippe broiij;ht, they refreshed thnn «cluc«, and Ncmcwhat rcroucrod
their strengthen, much weakened lor !;icke of meat, Fogcda his compnninnii whinjjered and
muttered against him daily more and more, that he feddc them foorth with vaine hope : for
he had told them that he left Ancisus in Ilispaniolu (v\hom hec choHC by the kin<;es eom-
misNion to be a iudge in cnuscs because hee was learned in the law) to come shorll) after
bim with a ship laden with victualler, and that hce marueilcd that hee was not come many
daycs since. And herein he said nothing but triicth for when he departed, he left Ancisus
halfe readic to I'olowc him. But his felowes supposing that all that he had saidc of Ascanius
had ben fained, some of them determined priuily to steale away the two Hrigandincs fro
Fogeda, & to rtturne to Hispaniola. But Fogeda hauing knowledge thereof, prcuented their
deuice : for leaning the custody of the fortresse with a certainc noble gentleman called
Francisco Pizarro, he himselfc thus wounded, with a fewc oilier in his company, entered into
the shippe whereof we spake before, and sayled directly to Hispaniola, both to heale the
woundo of his thigh, if any rv.'mcdic might be found, and also to knowe what was the cause
of Ancisus tarying: leauing hope with his felowes (which were now brought from three
hundred to threescore, partly by famine, and partly by warre) that he would relume within
the space of XV. dayes, prcscribyng also a condition to Pizarro & his companions, that it
should not be imputed to them for treason, to depart from thence if hec came not agayiie at
the day appointed, with victuales, and a new supply of men. These xv. daycs being nowe
past, whereas they couldc yet hcare nothing of Fogeda. and were duily more and more
oppressed with sharpc hunger, they cntred info the two Bri<>.mdines which were left, and
departed from that land. And as they were nowe sayling on tlie mayne sea Icvard His-
paniola, a tempest sodainelv arysing, swalowcd one of the Brigandincs with all that were
therein. Some of their felowes aflirmc, that they plainely sawe a fishe of huge greatnesse,
swimming aboue the Brigandine (for those sias bring forth great monsters) and that with a
stroke of her layle, shee broke the rudder of the ship in peeces, which fay ling, the Brii;an-
dine being driuen about by force of the tepest, was drowned not farre from the Hand tailed
Fortis, lyng bclwene the coastes of the liauen Carthago and Vraba. As they of the other
Brigandine would haue landed in tlie Ilandc, they were driuen backe with the bowes and
arrowcs of the fu rce barbarians. Proceeding therefore on their voyage, they inette by
chaunce with Ascanius, bctwcne the haucn of Carthago, and the region of Cuchibacna in the
mouth of tlie riuer which the Spaniardes called Boium gatti, that is, the house of the catte,
because they sawe a catte first in that place Boium, in the tongue of Hispaniola, is a house.
Ancisus came with a shippe laden with all things necessarie, both for meate, and drinke, and
apparell, brynging also with him another Brigandine. This i;j hec for whose commyng the
captaine Fogeda looked for so long. He loosed anker from Hispaniola in the Ides of Sep-
tember ; & the fourth day after his departure, hee espied certaine high mountaynes the
which for the abundacc of snow which lieth there cutinuaiiy in the tops therof the Spaniards
called it Scrra Ncuata, whP Colonus the fn-st finder of those regions passed by the same. The
lift day he sayled by Os Draconis. They wiiich were in the Brigandine, tolde Ancisus that
Fogeda was returned to Hispaniola : but Ancisus supposing that they had fained that tale,
commanded them by thauthority of his coinmission to turne backe againe. The Brigan-
dincrs obeied & folowed him : yet made they humble suite vnto him that hee woulde graunt
them that with his fauour they might e)ther goe agayne to Hispaniola, or that he himseife
would bring them to Nicuesa : and that they woulde for his gentlenesse declared tow;ircie
them in this behalfc, rewarde him with two thousand drammes of golde : for they were rich
in golde, but poore in bread. But Ancisus assented to neither of their rcquestes, attirming
that he might by no meanes goe any other way, then to Vraba the prouince assigned to
Fogeda. Whereupon, by their conduct he tooke his voyage directly towarde Vraba. But
noWe let it not secme tedious to your holynesse, to heare of one thing worthy to be rcmem-
brcd, which chaiinccd to this Lieutenaunt Ancisus as he came thither: for he also cast anker
in the coasts of the region of Caramairi which we sayde to be famous, by reason of the
liauen of Carthago, and of the goodly stature, strength and beauty both of men and women

3 K 3 being

Fngfilj rriurn*
fill til Hispa-
niolj.

Fumlnt.

A Bri^aiidlnt
tlniv iicd with
ihc iUuke of u
fyslif.

Tlif rfgion of
Cucliibacoia

Serta Nfuan.
O^ Diaconij.

Riche in eoldc
aiid pnuro in
bread.

^!;b

,:V

^'.■■•fl

.•■will

:■-■; r^

432

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

%^,

i'l

ii :••

being in the same. Here he sent certaine to goe aland on the shore both to fetch fresh
water and also to repayre the ship boate which was sore bruised. In this meane time, a
great multitude of the people of the countrey, armed after their maner, came about our men,
as they were occupyed about their busiinesse, and stood in a readinesse to fight, for the space
of three dayes continually, during whiche time, neyther durst they set vpo our men, nor our
men assaile them. Thus both parties keeping their array, stoode still three whole dayes, the
one gasing on the other. Yet all this time our men applied their worke, placing the ship-
wrightes in the middest of their armie. As they stoode thus amazed, two of our company went
to fill their water pottes at the mouth of the riuer, neere vnto them both, where sodenly there
rame forth against them a capfayne of the barbarians with tenne armed men, which inclosed
them, and with terrible countenance bent their arrowes against them, but shotte them not of.
One of our men fledde, but the other remained, calling his fellowe againe, and rebuking him
for his fearefulnesse. Then he spake to the barbarians in their owne language, which he had
learned being conuersaunt with thecaptiues that were caryed from thence along before. They
niarueyling to hearea stranger speake in their natiue tongue, put of their fiercenesse, and fell
to friendly communication, demaunding who were the captaynes of *y<nt company whiche
were arryued in their landi. Hee answered that they were strangers passing by, and that
he marueiled why they wo= 'dc attempt to driue them from their coastes, and disturbe their
ships arguing them of folly and crueltie, and further threatning their ruine and destruction,
except they woulde vse themselues more friendly towarde them. For hee aduertised thent
that there would shortly come into their lande armed men, in number like vnto the sands
of the sea, and that to their vtter destruction, not onely if they resisted them not, but also
except they receiued them, and entertayned them honourably. In the meane time,
Ancisus was enfourmed that his men were deteyned : wherefore suspecting some deceite.
The vse of tar- hcc brought foorth all his target men, for feare of their venemous arrowes, and setting
them in battel array, hee marched forwarde towarde them whiche stayed his men. But hee
whiche communed with the barbarians, giuing him a signe with his hande to proceed no
further, he stayed, and calling to him the other, he knewe that all was safe : for the
barbarians profered him peace, because they were not they whom they suspected them to
haue bin, meaning by Fogeda & Nicuesa, who had spoyled the village standing there by
the sea side, and caryed away many captiues, and also burnt another village further'within
the lande. And therefore (as they sayde) the cause of their coming thither, was to reuenge
those iniuries, if by any meanes they coulde, yet that they would not exercise their
weapons against the innocent: for they sayde, it was vngodly to fight against any, not
being prouoked. Laying a part therefore their bowes and arrowes, they entertained
our men gentlely and gaiie them great plenty of salted fishe, and bread of their countrey.
Wine of fruits and filled their vessels with Sidcr made of their countrey fruites and seedes, not inferior
andseedcs. j^ wine in goodncsse. Thus Ancisus hauing entred into friendship, & made a league
of peace with the inhabitants of Caramairi, which were before sore prouoked by other
captaines, he lanched from that land, and directed his course to Vraba by the Ilande of
Fortis, hauing in his ship a hundred and fiftie fresh menne, which were substituted in the
place of suche as were dead : also twelue Marcs, and manie swine, and other beastes both
males and females for encrease. lykewise, fyftic pcces of ordinaunce, with great multitude
of targeties, swordes, iauelins, and such other weapons for the warres, but all this with
euil speede, and in an cuill hcure : for as they were euen now entring into the hauen, the
gouernour of the shippe which sate at the helme, stroke the shippe vpon the sandes where
it was so fast enclosed and beaten with the wanes of the sea, that it opened in the middest,
and all lost that was therein, a thing surely miserable to beholde: for of all the victuallcs
that they had, they snucd only twelue barrelles of meale, with fewe cheeses, and a little
bisket bread, for all the beastes were drowned, and they themselues escaped hardly and
halfe naked, by helpe of the Brigandine and ship boate, carying with them onely a fewe
weapons. Thus they fell from one calamitie into another, being nowe more carefull for
their liues then for golde. Yet being brought aliue and in health to that land which they

gets against

venemous

nrrowes.

The harharians
hauc respect to
iustice.

Salted fishc.

Artyllerie.

Ancisus
wracke.

ship-

l;-

P "

m 4'

•,'\:

III'

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

433

league

so greatly desired, they could do no lesse then to prouide for the susteyning of their bodies,
because they coulde not line onely by ayre : and wheras their owne failed they must needes
liue by oth?r mens. Yet among these so many aduersities, one good chaunce offered itselfe
vnto the : for they foundcj not farre from the sea side, a groue of Date trees, among a groue of date
the which, and also among the rceke or weedes of the marishes, they espied a multitude of""'"
•wilde bores, with whose fleshe they fed theselues wel certaine dayes. These they say to be \V)idtborfs.
lesse then ours, and with so short tayles that they thought they had ben cut of. They
differ also from ours in their feete : for their hinder fecfc arc whole vndiuided, and also
without any hoofe. But they aftirme that they haue prooucd by experience, their fleshe to
be of better taste and more wholsome then ours. During this time they fed also of Dates,
& the rootcs of young Date trees, which they eate likewise in Ciuile and Granata, where
they call the Palmitos, of the leaues wherof they make beesemes in Rome. Sometimes also
they eate of the apples of that region, which haue the taste of pruines, and haue also stones Ap-ies of ..
in them, and are but little and of redde colour: I suppose them to be of that kind wherof 1 ""'■^'
eate in the title of Alexandria in Egypt, in the month of Aprill, the trees whereof) the
lewes that dwelle there, being learned in the lawc of Moses, affirme to bee the Cedars of Cedars of ii-
Libanus, which beare old fruites and newe all the ycerc, as doth the orange tree. These
apples are good to be eaten, and haue a certaine swectncsse mixte with gentill sharpnesse,
as haue the fruites called Sortes. Th' inhabitantcs plant these trees in their orchiardes and
gardens, and norishe them with greate diligence as we doe cheries, peaches, and quinses.
This tree in leaues, height, and trunke, is very like vnto the tree that beareth the fruite
called Zizipha, which the Apothecaries call luiuba. But whereas now the wilde bores began
to faile them, they were againe enforced to consult and prouide for the time to come :
Wherevppon with their whole armye, they entered further into the land. The Canibales
of this prouince, are most expert archers. Ascanius had in his companye, a hundred men.
They mette by the way with only three men of thinhabitantes, naked, and armed with Men of despe-
bowes & venimous arrowes, who without all feare, assay led our men fiercely, wounded""''""''"""
mnnye, and slue manye, and when they emptyed their quiuers, fledde, as swiftely as the
winde: For (as we haue said) they are exceeding swifte of foote by reason of their loose
going from their childes age, they affirme that they lette slip no arrowe out of their bowes
in vaine. Our men therefore returned the same way that they came, much more vnfortunate
then they were before, and consulted among themselues to leaue the lad, especialy because
the inhabitantes had ouerthrowne the fortresse which Fogeda builded, and had burnt thirtie
houses of the village, as soone as Pizarrus and his company left of Fogeda, and forsaked the
land. By this occasion therefore, being driuen to seeke further, they had intelligence that
the West side of that goulfe ofVraba, was more fruitful & better to inhabite. Wherefore, The guife of
they sent the one halfe of their men thither with the brigandine, and left the other neere to ^"'"'"
the sea side on the East part. This gulfe, is fourteene miles in breadth, and howe much the
further it entereth into the firme land, it is so much the narower. Into the gulfe of
Vraba, there fall many riuers, but one (as they say) more fortunate then the riuer of
Nilus in Egypt. This riucr is called Darien, vpon the bankes whereof, being very fruitfull The great riuer
of trees and grasse, tliey entendcd to plante their newe colonye or habitation. But the °'^°""""
inhabytantes marucyling at the brigandyne being bigger then their canoas, and specially at
the saylcs thereof, first sent away their children and weakest sort of their people with their
baggnge and houshould stufle, and assembled all such together both men and women, as
were meetc for the warres. Thus being armed with weapons and desperate mindes they
stoode in a readynesse to fight, and taryed the commingof our men vpon a little hill, as it
were to take the aduantage of the grouiide : our men iiidged them to be about fine hundred
in number. Then Ancisus the captayne of our men, and Lieuetenaunt in the steetle of
Fogeda, setting his men in orJer of battayle aray, and with his whole company kneeling on
his knees, they all made humble prayers to GOD for the victorie, and a vowe to the image
of the blessed virgin which is honoured in Ciuile, by the name of Sancta Maria Anfiqua,
promising to sende her many golden gyftes, and a straunger of that country also, to name

the

r^t\

434

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

m-i.

The souldieri
make an oihe<

The barbarians
Are driueii to
dyght.

The riuer of
Darien, but vii,
degrees from the
£quiiioctial line.

the village Sancta Maria Antiqiia after her name: likewise to crecte a temple called by the
same name, or at the least to dedicate the king of that prouince his pallace to that vse, if it
should please hesr to assist them in this dangerous enterprise. This done, al the souldiers
toke an oth, that no man shukl turne his backe to his enemies. The the captaine com-
manding them to be in a readinesse with their targets and iauelyns, and the trumpetter to
blowe the battayle, they fiercely assailed their enimies with a larome : but the naked
barbarians, not long able to abide the force of our men, were put to flight, with their king
and captayne Cemaccus. Our men entred into the village, where they found plentie of
meate, such as the people of the countrey vse, sufficient to asswage their present hunger,
as bread made of rootes, with certayne fruites vnlike vnto ours, which they reserue for store,
as we doe Chestnuttes. Of these people, the men are vtterly naked, but the women, from
the nauel downewarde are couered with a fine cloth made of gossampine cotton. This
region is vtterly without any sharpnesse of wynter for the mouth of this riuer of Oarien, is
onely eight degrees distaunt from the Equinoctiall line, so that the common sorte of our
men, scarcely perceiue any difference in length betweene the day and night all the whole
yeere : but because they are ignorant in astronomie, they can perceiue no small difference.
Therefore wee ncede not much passe if the degree differ somewhat from their opinion, for-
asmuch as the difference cannot bee great. The day after that they arriued at the lande,
they sayled along by the riuer, where ihey found a great thycket of reedes, continuyng for
the space of a rayle in length, supposing (as it chaunced in deede) that the borderers there-
about which had fled, had either lien lurking there, or els to haue hid their stuffe among those
reedes: Whereupon, arming tiiemselues with their targets, for feare of the people lying in
ambiishe, they searched the thicket diligently, and found it without men, but replenished
with housholde stuffe and golde. They founde also a great multitude of shetes, made of the
silke or cotto of the gossampine tree: likewise diners kindes of vessels and toolcs made of
wood, and many of earth : also many brest plates of gold, and ouches wrought after their
manner, to the surame of a hundred & two pound weight: for they also fake pleasure in
the beautie of golde, and worke it very artificially, though it bee not the price of things
among them as with vs. They haue it out of other regions, for exchaunge of such thinges
as their country bringeth forth : for such regions as haue plentie of bread and gossampine
lacke golde, and such as bring forth golde are for the most part rough with mountaines and
rockes, and therefore barren : and thus they exercise marchandies without the vse of money.
Reioycing therefore with double gladnesse, aswell in that they say great likenesse of goKle,
as also that fortune had offered them so fayre and fruitefull a country, they sent for their
felowes whom they had left before in the East side of the gulfe of Vraba, Yet some say,
that the ayre is there vnwholsome because that part of the region lieth in alowe valley,
enuironed with mountaynes and maryshes.

The second Chapter of the seconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

I Haue described to your holynesse where Fogeda with his company (to whom the large
tractes of Vraba was assigned to inhabite) entended to fasten their footc. Let vs now
therefore leaue them of Vraba for a while, and returne agayne to Nicuesa, to whom the go-
uernancc and Licutenauntship of the most large prouince of Beragua (being the West side
of the gulfe of Vraba) was appoyntcd. Wee haue declared howe Nicuesa, departing with
one Carauel and two Brigandines, from Vraba the iurisdiction of his friend & companion
Fogeda, directed his course westwarde to Beragua, leaning the bigger shippes somewhat
behinde him, to followc him a farre of, but hce tooke this deuice ii' an euill houre, for he
both lost his fellowes in the night, and went past the mouth of tlie ryuer Berajfiia, which
Lupus obnus. bee chiefely sought. One Lupus Olanus a Cantabrian, and gouernour of one of the great
shyppes, had the conduct of one of the Brigandines : hce comming behinde, learned of the
inhabitauntes, whiche was the way Eastwarde to the gulfe of Beragua, ouerpassed and left
behinde Nicuesa. Olanus therefore directing his course towarde the East, met with the
other Brigandine, whicii hadde also wandered out of the way by reason of the darkncs of the

Golde founde in
t thicket of
reedes.

Brest plates of
golde.

The golden
regions are for
the most part
barren.

niglit.

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

435

large

IS now
J go-
side
with
ipaiiion
newhat
for lie
wiiich
great
of the
nd left
ith the
of the
ni":Iu.

night. The gouernour of this Brigandine, was one Pctriis de Vmbria. Thus both beiijg pmus de
glad of their meeting, they consulted what was best to bee done, and which way they could Vmbru.
coniecture their gouernour had taken his voyage. After deliberation, they iudged that
Nicuesa coulde no more lacke some to put him in remembrance of Beragua, then they
themselues were mindful! hereof, hoping also to finde him there. They sayled therefore
towarde Beragua, where they found 'vithin xvi. myles distant a riuCr whiche Colonus named
Lagartos, because it nourisheth g'.ea.: Lysards, which in the Spanishe tongue are called
Lagartos. These Lysardes are huri'^ul both vnto man and beast, and in shape much like vnto The ryuer
the Crocodiles of the riuer Nilus in iigypt. In this ryuer they founde their companions ^"'S"'"*-
and fellowes of their errour, lying at anker with the great shyppes, whiche followed behinde
by the gouernours commandement. Here the whole assembly being carefull and disquieted
by reason of the gouernours errour after consultation, by the aduice of the captaynes of the
Brigandines, who had rased neere vnto the coastcs of Beragua, they sailed directly thither.
Beragua, in the language of the inhabitants of the same prouince, is as much to say, as The golden
the golden ryuer. The Region it sclfe is also called by the same name, taking name of the '^""° '"^" '
ryuer. In the mouth of this ryuer, the greatest vesselles cast anker, and conueighed all their
victualles and other necessaries to lande with their ship boate>, and elected Lupus Olanus to
bee the gouernour in stende of Nicuesa whom they had loste. By that aduice therefore of
Olanus and the other vnder captaines that ail hope of departure might bee taken from the
souldiers which they had now brought thither, & to make them the more willing to inhabite
the lande, they \ ttciiy forsooke and caste of those shyppes beeing nowe rotten for age, and
suffered them to bee shaken and broosed of the surges of the sea. Yet of their soundest
plankes, with other newe, made of the trees of that Region (whiche they say to bee
exceeding bigge and high) they framed a newe caraucH shortely after, which they might
vse to serue for their necessitie. But Beragua was founde by the vnfortunate destenye of Th* enterpryse

forwardnesse to ""d ''"■h "f

Petrus de Vmbria. For hee, beeing a man of prompt wit and apt .v,. .,m.v...^oo^ .^ ..„ ,

1 • /• 1 • I • c -ii 1 1 • 1 1- ot Petrus lie

attempte thuigs (in whiche sometime lortune will beare a stroke notwithstanding our Vmbria.
prouidence) tooke vpon him that aduenture to search the shore, to the intent to finde a way
for his fellowes where they might best come a land. For this purpose, he choose him
xii. maryners, and went aboorde the ship boate which serued the greatest shyppes. The
flowing of the sea, raged and roared there, with a horryble whurling, as we reade of the The daungerous
daungerous place of Scylla in the sea of Cicilie, by reason of the huge & ragged rockes tie'scfcfCuii"
reaching into the sea, from which the wanes rebounding with violence, make a great noyse
and roughnesse on the water, which roughnesse or reflowing, the Spanyardes call Resacca.
In these daungers wretched Vmbria wresteled a while, but in shorte space, a wane of the
sea almost as bygge as a mountayne, rebounding from the rockes, ouerwhelmed the boate,
& deuoured the same with the men, euen in the sight of their fellowes : So that of them
all, onely one escaped by reason he was expert in swimming. For getting holde of the
corner of a rocke, and susteyning the rage of the sea vntill the next day when it waxed
calme, and the shore was drye by the fall of the water, he escaped and resorted to his
companie. But Vmbria with the other eleuen, were vtterly cast away. The residue
of the companie, durst not coinmitte themselues to the shyppe boate, but went alande
with their brygantines. Where remayning a fewe dayes, and sayling along by the
riuer, they found certaine villages of the inhabitauntes, which they call Mumu. Here
they began to build a fortresse, and to sowe seedes after the manner of their countrey,
in a certaine vale of fruitefull ground, because in other places the region is barren. As these
things were thus doing in Beragua, one of their company standing vpon the top of a high
rocke of especial], and lifting his eyes towarde the West, began to crye, Lynnen sayles, lyn-
nen sayles. And the neerer it drewe towarde him, he perceiued it to be a ship boate, commiug,
with a little sayle : yet receiued they it with much reioycing, for it was the fisher boate of
Nicuesa his Carauel, and of capacitie to cary only fine men, and had now but three in it,
which had stolne it from Nicuesa, because he refused to giue credit to them that he had
passed Beragua, and left it behind him Eastwarde. Forihey seeing Nicuesa and his felowes

V.'!l

.Hi

l-y >'■■

i36

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

Tlie mlsetsble
^ase of Nicucsa.

:'■»■■..

The riuer of S.
Mptthci.

The rigorous-
uesse of Nicucsa.

Come waxfth
ripe cuery fourili
moDeth.

The commenda-
tion of a young
man brought vp
\vith Culonus.
Portus Bellus.

Weakencsse of
hunger.

Cape Naimor,
Numen Dei,

to consume daylye by famine, thought that they would prone fortune with that boate if their
chaunce might be to finde Beragna, as in deede it was. Debating therefore with their felowes
of these matters, they declared how Nicuesa erred and lost the Carauel by tempest, & that
hee was now wandering among the marishes of vnknowen coastes, full of miserie and in
extreme penurie of all tliinges, hauing nowe lined for the spUce of threescore and tenne
dayes, onely with herbes & rooles, & seldome with fruites of the countrey, contented to
drinke water, and yet that oftentimes failing, because he was instant to trauavic Westwards
by foote, supposing by that nieanes to come to Beragua. Colonus the first finder of this
mayne land, had coasted along by this tracte, and named it Gracia Dei, but thinhabitantes
cal it Cerabaro. Through this region, there runneth a ryuer, which our men named Sancti
Matthei, distant from the West side of Beragua about an hundred and thirtie myles. Here I
let passe the name of this riuer, and of many other places by the names which the inhabit-
ants vse, because our men are ignorant thereof. Thus Lupus Olanus the conductor of one
of the ships of Nicuesa and now also vice Lieuetenaunt in his stecde, after that he had re-
ceiued this information of the Maryners, sent thither a Brigandine vnder their guiding.
These Mariners therefore, which came in the fisher boate, founde Nicuesa, and brought thim
to the place where Olanus lay, whome at his comming he cast in prison, & accuiied him of
treason, because he vsurped the authority of the Lieuetenauntship, and that for the desire he
had to beare rule and be in aulhoritie, he tooke no care of his errours : aUo that he behaued
himselfe negligently, demanding furthermore of him, what was the cause of his long delay.
Likewise hee spake to all the vnder officers sharply, & with a troubled mind, and within fewe
dayes after, commaunded them to trusse vp their packes, and make ready to depart. They
desired him to quiet himselfe, and to forbeare them a while, vntill they had reaped the come
that they had sowen, which would shortly bee ripe : for all kinde of come waxeth ripe there
euery fourth moneth after it is sowen. But hee vtterly denyed to tarie any whyt : but that
hee would fourthwith depart from that vnfortunate lande, and plucked vp by the rootes all
that euer was brought into the gulfe of Beragua, and commanded them to direct their course
towardes the East. After they had sayled about the space of sixtecne myle.s a certaine yong
man, whose name was Gregorie, a Genues borne, and of a child brought vp with Colonus,
called to remembrance that there was a hauen not farre from thence : and to prooue his say-
ings true, hee gaue his felowes these tokens, that is tiiat they should finde vpon the shore, an
anker of a lost shippe halfe coucred with sand, and vnder a tree next vnto the hauen a spring
of cleare water. They came to the lande, found the anker and the spring, and commended
the witte and memorie of the yong man, that he only among many of the Maryners which
had searched those coastes with Colonus, bore the thing so well in minde. This hauen Co-
lonus called Portus Bellus. Where as in this voyage for lacke of victnalls, they were some-
tymes enforced to goe aland, they were euil entreated of thinhabitantes : by reason whereof,
their strengthes were so weakened wth hunger, that they were not able to kccpe warre
against naked men, or scarcely to beare their harncsse on their backes : and therefore our
men lost twentie of their companions, wliich were slayne with venomous arrowes. They
consulted to leaue the one halfe of their felowes in the hauen of Portus Bellus, & the other
part Nicuesa toke with him toward the East, where about twentie and eight miles from Por-
tus Bellus, he entended to builde a fortresse harde by the sea side, vpon the poynt or cape,
which in time past Colonus named Marmor, but they were so feeble by reason of long hun-
ger, that their strength serued them not to susfeyne suche labour, yet he erected a little
towre, able to resist the first assaulte of the inhabitantes: this towre he called Nomen Dei.
From the time that he left Beragua, what in the iourney among the sandie playnes then also
for huger, while he builded the towre, of the few which remayned alyuc, hee lost two hun-
dred. And thus by litle and litle, the multitude of seuen hundred, fourescore, and fine
men was brought nowe to scarcely one hundred. Whyle Nicucsa lyued with these fewe
miserable men, there arose a contention among them of Vraba, as concerning the Lieuete-
nauntshvppe : for one Vnschus Nunnez, by the iudgement of all men, trusting more to his
strength then wit, stirred vp ccrtayiie light fellowes agaynst Aiici-us, saying that Ancisus had

not

f;i^'

which

len Co-

some-

icreof,

warre

ore our

They

other

>m Por-

rape,

; him-

little

1 Dei.

n also

) him-

d fine

fewe

ieiiete-

to his

us had

not

Tlie second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

437

not the kinges letters patentes for that office, and that it was not sufficient that heo wad
authorysed by Fogeda, and therefore forbode that he should execute the office of the Licue-
tenauntshyp, and willed them to choose certayiie of their owne company, by whose coun-
sayle and authoritie they might bee gouerned. Thus beeing diuided into factions, by reason
that Fogeda their captaine came not agayne, whom they suppo-ied to be nowe dead of his
venemous wound, they contended whether it were best to substitute Nicuesa in his place.
The wisest sorte, such as were familiar with Nicuesa, & could not beare the insolecy of Vas-
chus Nunnez, thougiu it good that Nicuesa shoulde bee sought out throughout al those
coastes : for they had knowledge that he departed from Beragua, because of the barrennesse
of the ground, and that by the example of Ancisus, and such other as had made shipwracke,
it were possible that hee might wander in some secrete place, and that they coulde not be
quiet in their mindcs, vntill they knewe the ccrtaintie whether hee with his fellowes were
aliue or dead. But Vaschus Nunnez, fearing least at the comming of Nicuesa, hee shoulde
not be had in authoritie among his fellowes, sayde thev were mad men to thinke that Nicuesa
lyued, and although hee were aliue, yet that they hadde no ncede of his helpe : for hee
auouched that there was none of his fellowes, that were not as meete to rule as Nicuesa. While
they were thus reasoning to and fro, one Rodericus Colmenaris arryued in those coasts with The nauigation
two great shippes, hauing in them threescore freshe men, with great plentie of victualles coin«i«ti™'
and apparell. Of the nauigation of this Colmenaris, I eiitend to speake somewhat more.
He therfore departed from the hauen of Hispaniola, called Beata (where they prepare and
furnishe themselues whiche make any voyage into these landes) about the Ides of October,
in the yeare. 1510. and landed the 9. of Nouember in a region in the large prouince of
Paria, founde by Colonus betweene the hauen Carthago, & the region of Cuchibachoa. In
this voyage, what by the roughnesse of the sea, and fiercenesse of the barbarians?, he suf-
fered many incommodities; for when his freshe water failed, he sayled to the mouth of a
certayn riuer which the inhabitantes call Gaira, being apt to receiue shippes. This riuer had
his course from the toppe of an exceeding high mountayne couered with snowe, higher then Aneicecding
the which, all the companions of this captayne Rodericus say, that they neuer sawe : And couerrd°wlt'ir '
that by good reason, if it were couered with snowe in that region, which is not past ten de- '"o™'-
grees distant from the Equinoctial lyne. As they beegan to draw water out of their ship
boate, a certaine king made toward them, apparelled with vestures of Gossampine cotton. Apparelled men.
hauing tvventie noble men in his company apparelled also ; which thing seemed straunge to
our men, and not scene before in those parties. The kinges apparell hong loose from his
shoulders to his elbowes, and from the girdle downewarde, it was much lyke a womans kyrtle,
reaching euen to his heeles. As hee drewe neere toward our men, he seemed friendly to admo-
nysh them to take none of the water of that ryuer, affirming it to be vnwholesome for men,
and shewed them that not farre from thence, there was a ryuer, of good water. They came
to the ryuer, and endeuouring to come neere the shore, they were dryuen backe by tempest.
Also the burbuling of the sand, declared the sea to be but shalow ther. They were therefore
enforced to returne to the firste ryuer where they might safely cast anker. This king layde
wayte for our men : for as they were filling their barrelles, hee sette on them with about
seuen hundred menne (as our men iudged) armed after their manner, although they were
naked : for onely the king and his nobled men were apparelled. They tooke away the shyp
boatc, and broke it in manner to chips : so fiercely assayling our men with their venemous ar- SpanyardM
rowcs, that they slue of them fourtie and seuen, before they coulde couer themselues with ncmourarrowes.
their targets. For that poyson is of such force, that albeit the wounds were not great, yet
they dyed thereof immediately, for they yet knewe no remedie against this kinde of poyson,
as they after learned of the Inhabitantes of Hispaniola : for this Ilande bringeth foorth an a remedie
hearbe which quencheth & mortifieth the violent poyson of the hearbe, wherewith their ar- '^ ""*' «"">•

•I'. i-i •• ,..'-.r/. .i-i o ousartowef.

rowes are inlectcd, so that it be ministred in time. Yet of our companie whiche went for
water, seuen escaped that conflycte and hydde themselues in a hollowe tree, lurking there vn-
till ni^ht, yet escaped they not the hands of their enemies: for the shyppe departed from
thence in the night season, and left them there, supposing that they had beeneslayne. Thus

3 L by

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4f»

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

4\ «-'"

\4,

The hsucn of
Vraba.

by manye such pcrilleg and dangers (which I lightly oucrpasse, bcecause I will not bee te-
dious to your holynesse) heearryued at the length at the hauen of Vraba, and cast anker at
the East side thereof, from whence not long before our men departed to the West side, by
reason of the barrennesse of that soyle. When he had continued a whyle in the hauen, and
saw no man stirring, marueyled at the silence of the places ("for hee supposed there to haue
found his fellowes) he could not coniecture what this shuld meane : and thereupon began to
suspect that eyther they were dead, or that they had changed the place of their habitation. To
knowe the ccrtaintie hereof, he commaunded all the great ordinaunce, and other small gunne»
which he hadde in his shyppes, to be charged, and fiers to be made in the night vpon the toppesof
the rockes. Thus the Tiers being kindled, hee commanded all the gunnes to be shot of at one
instant, by th» horrible noise whereof, the gulfe of Vraba was shaken, although it were xxiiii.
myles distant, for so broade is the gulfe. This noyse was hearde of their fellowes in Dariena,
and they aunswered them agayne with mutiiall fyers. Wherefore, by the following of these
fiers, Colmenaris brought his shyppes to the West side. Here those wretched and miserable
men of Dariena, whiche nowe through famyne and feeblenesse, helde their wearie soules in
their teeth, ready to depart from their bodies, by reason of the calamities which befell vnto them
after Ancisus shipwracke, lifting vp their handes to heauen, with the teares running downe their
cheekes both for ioy and sorow, embraced Kodericus & his fellowes with such kinde of reioyc-
ing, as their present necessitie seemed to require : for whereas they were before his comming,
without vyctuals, and almost naked, he brought them abundance of meat, drinke and apparel. It
resteth now ( most holy father) to declare what came of the dissention among them of Vraba,
as concerning the gouernance after the losse of their captaynes.

The thirde Chapter of the seconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

ALl the chiefe officers in Beragua, and such as were most politike in counsayle, determined
that Nicuesa shoulde bee sought out, if by any meanes he could be found. Whereupon they
tooke from Ancisus the gouernour, refusing the comming of Nicuesa, a Brigandine which
he made of his owne charges : and agreed, against both the will of Ancisus, and the master
of fence Vaschus Nunnez, that Nicuesa shuld be sought forth to take away the strife as touch-
ing the gouernment. They elected therfore Colminaris (of whom we spake before) to take
this matter in hand, willing him to make diliget search for Nicuesa in those coasts where they
supposed he erred : for they heard that he had forsaken Beragua, the region of an vnfruite-
fuU ground. They gaue him therefore commandement to bring Nicuesa with him, and fur-
ther declare vnto him that hee should do right good seruice to come thither, in taking away
the occasion of their seditions. Colminaris tooke the thing vpo him the more gladly, because
Nicuesa was his very friend, supposyng his comming with victualles shoulde bee no lesse
thankefull to Nicuesa and his company, then it was to them of Vraba. Furnishyng there-
fore one of his owne shippes which he brought with him, and also the Brigandine taken from
Ancisus, he frayghted the same with part of the victuales & other necessaries which he
brought with him before from Hispaniola to Vraba. Thus coursing along by al the coastes
and giilfcs neere thereabout, at the length, at the poynt called Marmor, he found Nicuesa,
of al lyuing men most infortunate, in manner dryed vp with extreme hunger, filthy and
horrible to behold, with only threescore men in his company, left aliue of seuen hundred.
They al ^eemed to him so miserable, that he no lesse lamented their case, then if he had
found them dead. But Colminaris coforted his friend Nicuesa, and embracing him with
teares and cheerefull words, relieued his spirites, and further encouraged him with great
hope of better fortune, declaring also that his comming was looked for, and greatly desired
of all the good men of Vraba, for that they hoped that by his aucthoritie, their discord and
contention should be finished. Nicuesa thanked his friend Colminaris after such sort as his
calamitie required. Thus they tooke ship together, and sailed directly to Vraba. But so
variable and vnconstant is the nature of man, that he soone groweth out of vse, becommeth
insoiencit of (• iusolcnt and vnniyndful oi" benefites after to much felicitie: for Nicuesa after thus many
,u <^., , . . jggj.gg jjjjj weepings, after diuers bewailinges of his infortunate destinye, after so manye

thanksgiuings.

Nicuesa is
founde in a
uijcrable case.

much felicitie.

r .i>

.^^ ■ i.Jt^-K*

ifi*ffi

great

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

439

thanksgiuings, yea after that he had fallen downe to the ground and kissed the feete of Cpl-
menaris his sauiour, he began to quarel with him before he came yet at Vraba, reprouing
him k them al for the alteration of the state of thinges in Vraba, and for the gathering of
gold, affirming that none of them ought to haue laide hand of any golde without the aduice
of him or Fogeda his companion. When these sayinges and such like, came to the earo^ of
them of Vraba, they so stirred vp the mindes of Ancisus Licuetcnant fur Fogeda, and also of
Vaschus Nunnez of the contrary part, against Nicucsa, that shortly after his ariuall with his
threescore men, they commaunded him with threatning to depart from thence : but this
pleased not the better sort : Yet fearing lest tumult should be among the people, whom Vas-
chus Nunnez had stirred to factions, the best part was faii;e to giue place to the greatest.
This wretched man therfore Nicucsa thus drowned in miseries, was tlirust into the Briijitdine
which hee himselfe brought, and with him onely seuenteene men, of his threescore which
remained alyue. He tooke shippe in the Galendes of March, in the yecre. 151 1, intending
to goe to Hispaniola to complayne of the rashnesse of Vaschus Nunnez, and of the violence
done to him by Ancisus: But he entred into the Brigandine in an vnfortunate houre, for he
was neuer scene after. They supposed that the Brigandine was drowned with all the men
therein. And thus vnhappie Nicuesa fallyng headlong out of one misery into another, ended J|'/J"''"'^
his life more miserably the he liued. Nicuesa being thus vilely reiected, and their victuals
consumed which Colmenaris brought the, falling in manner mad for hunger, they were en-
forced like rauening woolues seeking their pray, to inuade suche as dwelt about their con-
fines. Vaschus Nunnez therefore, their new captaine of their owne election assembling to-
geather a hundred and thirtie men, and settyng them in order of battayle after his swoord-
players fashion, puffed vp with pride, placed his souldiers as pleased him, in the foreward
and rerewarde, and some, as partizens, about his owne person. Thus associating with him |^*",hj,o'ftir
Colmenaris hee went to spoyle the kinges which were borderers thereabout, & came first to tospoyiing.
a region about that coast called Coiba (wherof we made mention before) imperiously and coib""^***^
with cruell countenance commaunding the kinge of the region whose name was Careta (of
whom they were neuer troubled as often as they passed by his dominions) to giue them vic-
tualles. But Careta denyed that he could giue them any at that time, alleagyng that he had
oftentimes aided the Christians as they passed by those coastes, by reason whereof, his store
was now consumed : also that by the meanes of the continuall warre which hee kept euer
from his childes ages with a king whose name was Foncha, bordering vpon his dominion, he
and his familie were in great scarcenesse of all thinges. But Vaschus would admit none of
these excuses and thereupon tooke Careta prisoner, spoyled his village, and brought him bounde t'^i'J^Si'" "
with his two wiues and children, and all his familie to Dariena. With this king Careta, they'w««*
found three of the felowes of Nicuesa, the which whe Nicuesa passed by those coastes to
seeke Beragua, fearing punishment for their euil desertes, stole away from the shippes lying
at anker : And when the nauie departed, committed themsclues to the mercie of Careta,
who enterteyned them very friendly. They had now bin there eighteene monethes, and
were therefore as vtterly naked as the people of the countrey. During this time, the meate
of the inhabitantes seemed vnto them delicate dishes & princely fare, especially because
they enioyed the same without any strife for mine and thine, which two thinges mooue and
enforce men to such harde shiftes and miseries, that in lining they seeme not to lyue. Yet JfJ"',"s^Jf '^,'
desired they to rcturne to their olde cares, of such force is education and naturall affection myscheefe.
towarde them with whom wee haue bin brought vp. The victuals which Vaschus brought
from the village of Careta, to his fellowes left in Dariena, was rather somewhat to asswage
their present hunger, then vtterly to take away their necessitie. But as touching Ancisus, AncUus, Lieu,
beeing Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda, whether it were before these things, or after, I knowe not: gtSHsciitta
but this I am sure of, that after the reiecting of Nicuesa, many occasions were sought against p'^J'""'-
Ancisus by Vaschus and his factionaries. Howsoeuer it was, Ancisus was taken, and cast in
prison, and his goodes confiscate : the cause hereof was (as Vaschus alleadged) that Ancisus
had his commission of the Lieutenantship of Fogeda onely, whom they said to be now dead,
and not of the king, saying that hee woulde not obey any mannc that was not put in office

3 L 2 by

■m

-ilk ^*rx

'«

'''.^liiii

'';#i

^l/'i*'

i"1 :'■

440

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

Anciius taketh
hli Voyage to
Hispaiiiola.

God.

The inconuc-
nicnces of ills
corde.

by the king himselfe by his letters patentes. Yet at the request of the graiicst sort, he was
somewhat pacified, and dealt more gentlely with him, hauing some compassion on his ca-
lamities, and thereupon commanded him to be loosed. Ancisus being at libertie, tooke
shippe to dcparte from thence to Ilispaniola : but before he had hoysed vp his saile all the
wisest sort resorted to him, humbly desiring him to returne againe, promising that they
woulde doe their diligence, that Vaschus being reconciled, hee might be restored to his full .
authoritic of the Lieuetenauntnhip : but Ancisus refused to consent to their request, and so
The reuenge of departed. Yet somc there were that murmured that God and his angels shewed this reuenge
vppon Ancisus, because Nicuesa was reiccted through his counsayle. Howe so euer it be,
the searchers of the newe landes fall headlong into ruine by their owne follie, consuming
themselues with ciuile discorde, not weighing so great a matter, nor employing their best
endcuour about the same, as the woorthynesse of the thing rcquireth. In this meane time,
they determined all with one agreement, to sendc messengers into Ilispaniola to the yong
Admirall and viceroy, sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the finder of these landes,
and to the other gouernours of the Ilande ( from whom the newe lancis receiue their ayde and
lawes) to signifie vnto them what state they stoode in, and in what necessitie they liued,
also what they had found, and in what hope they were of greater things, if they were fur-
nished with plentie of victualles and other necessaries. For this purpose they elected, at
the assignement of Vaschus, one Valdiuia, being one of his faction, and instructed by him
against Ancisus and to bee a.ssistant with him. They appoynted one Zamudius, a Canta-
brian, so that commaundement was giuen to Valdiuia to returne from Ilispaniola with vic-
tuals, Sc Zamudius was appoynted to take his voyage into Spaine to the king. They tooke
ship both together with Ancisus, hauing in mind to certifie the king howe thinges were
handled there, much otherwise then Zamudius information. I my selfe spake with both An-
cisus & Zamudius at their comming to the court. While they were occupied about these
KingPoncha. matters, those wretched men of Dariena loosed Careta the king of Coiba, vpon condition
that he should aide them in their warres against his enemie and theirs, king Poncha, border-
ing vpon his dominions. Careta made a league with them, promising that as they passed
by his kingdome, hee woulde giue them all things neces,sarie, & meete them with an army
Swords of wood, of men, to goe forward with them to the battaile against Poncha. Their weapons are ney-
ther bowes nor venomed arrowes, as we saide the inhabilauntes to hauc, which dwel east-
ward beyond the gulfe. They light therefore at hande with long swoordes (whiche they call
Macanas) made of woode, because they haue no Iron. They vse also long staues lyke iaue-
lyns, hardened at the endes with fire, or typt with bone, also certaine slynges and dartes.
K'"8Car«ac5- Thus after the league made with Careta, both he and our men had certaine dayes appoynted
splniard's'lgainrt them to tyll thclr grounde and sowe their seedes. This done, by the ayde of Careta, and by
king Poncha. ^jg conduction, they marched towarde the palace of Poncha, who (iedde at their comming.
They spoyled his village, and mitigated their hunge*- with such victualles as they founde
there : yet could they not helpe their fellowes therwith, by reason of the farre distfice of
the place, although they had great plentie: for the village of Poncha, was more then a hun-
dred miles distant from Dariena, whereas was also none other remedie, but that the same
shoulde haue bin caryed on mens backes to the sea side, being farre of, where they left their
shippes in the which they came to the village of Careta. Here they found certaine poundes
weight of gold, grauen and wrought into sundry ouches. After the sacking of this village,
they resorted toward the ships, intending to leaue the kinges of the inland vntouched at this
time, and to inuade only them which dwelt by the coastcs. Not farre from Coiba, in the
same tracte, there is a region named Comogia, & the king thereof called Comogrus, after
the same name. To this king they came first next after the subuersion of Poncha, and
found his pallacc situate in a fruitefull plaync of xii. leagues in breadth, at the rootes of
the further side of the next mounlaines. Comogrus had in his court a certaine noble man
of neere cosanguinitie to king Careta, which had fled to Comogrus by reason of certayne
dissention which was betweene Careta & him, these noblemen, they cal lura. This lura
King Comogrus. therefore of Coiba, met our men by the way, and conciled Comogrus to them, because he

was

The region of
Comogia, dis-
tant from Da-
riena. XXX.
leagues.

4 ' 'If

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

441

111

wns wei knowen to our men, rrnin the time that Nicuesa pasned first by thoue coastes. Our
men therfore went quietly to the pallacc of Comogriis, being distant from Dariena thirtie
leagues by a plaine way about the mountaynes. The king Comogrus had seuen sonnes,
yong men, of comely foiirme Sc stature, which he had by sundry wyues. His pallacc was
framed of postes or prop[)es made of trees fastened together after a strange sort, and of so
strong building, that it is of no lesse strength then walles of stone. They which measured
the length of the floore thereof, found it to be a hundred and fiftie paces, and in breadth,
fourescore foote, being roofed and paued with maruelous arte. They founde his storehouse
furnished with abundfice of delicate victuals after the manner of their country, and his wine
seller replenished with great vesselles of earth and also of wood, filled with their kinde of
wine and sider, for they haiie no grapes: but like as they make their bread of those three
kindcs of rootes called luccn, Agis and Maizium (whereof we spake in the first Decade) so
make they their wine of the fruites of Date trees, and Sider of other fruites and seedes as
do the Almaynes, Fleminges, English men, and our Spaniardes which inhabite the moun-
taines, as the Vascons and Asturians : likewise in the mountaines of the Alpes, the Nori-
cians, Sweuians, and Helueciaiis, make certayne drinkes of barley, wheate, hoppes, and
apples. They say also that with Comogrus they drunke wines of sundry tastes, both white
and black. But nowe you shall heare of a thing more monstrous to beholde. Entring there-
fore into the inner partes of the j)allace, they were brought into a chamber hanged about
with the carka«ses of men, tycd with ropes of gossampine cotton. Being demaunded what
they ment by that supertitition, they answered that those were the carcasses of the father,
graund father, & great graundfather, with other the auncetours of their king Comogrus,
declaring that they had the same in great reuerence, and that they tooke it for a godly thing
to honour them religiously, and therefore apparelled euery of the same sumptuously with
gold and precious stones, according vnto their estate. After this sorte did the antiquitie
honour their Penates, which they thought had the gouernance of their lines. How they
drie these carcasses vpon certaine instrumentes made of wood, like vnto hurdells, with a soft
fire vnder the same, so that onely the skinne remaincth to hold the bones together, we haue
described in the former Decade. Of Comogrus his seuen sonnes, the eldest had an excellent
naturall vsit. He therefore thought it good to flatter and please this wanderyng kinde of
men (our men I meane) lining only by shiftes & spoyle, lest being offended, and seeking
occasions against him & his familie, they should handle him as they did other which sought
no meanes how to gratifie them : Wherefore he gaue Vaschus and Colmenaris foure thou-
sandc ounces of golde artificially wrought, and also fiftie slaues, which hee had taken in the
warres : for such, either they sell for exchaunge of their thinges, or otherwise vse them as
them listeth, for they haue not the vse of money. This golde with as much more which
they had in another place, our men weighed in the porch of Comogrus his palace, to sepa-
rate the fift parte thereof, which portion is due to the kinges Exchequer for it is decreed,
that the fift part of both golde, pearlcs, and pretious stones, should bee assigned to the
kinges treasurers, and the residue to be diuided among themselues by composition. Here
as brabbling and contention arose among our men about the diuiding of gold, this eldest
Sonne of king Comogrus being present, whom we praysed for his wisedome, comming some-
what with an angrye countenaunce toward him which helde the ballaunces, he stroke them
with his fiste, and scattered all the gold that was therein about the porche, sharpelye re-
buking them with woordcs in this effecte. What is the matter, you Christian men, that you so
greatly esteeme so little portion of gold more tiien your owne quietnesse, which neuerthelesse
you entend to deface from these fayre ouclies, and to melt the same in a rude masse. If
your hunger of gold, bee so insatiable, that onely for the desire you haue thereto, you dis-
quiet so many nations, and you your seines also susteyne so many calamities, and incommo-
dities, lyuing like banished men out of your owne countrey, I will shewe you a region flow-
ing with golde, where you may satisfie your rauening appetites : But you must attempt the
thing with a greater power, for it stadeth you in hand by force of armes to ouercome kings
of great puissaunce, and rigorous defendours of their dominions. For beside other the

great

Th( kingti

pallacc.

Wine & lidtr.

f 1 •».'*"

Blacke wine.

;. 1

I, "i

The carcasses of
men dryed.

The distribution
of golde.

Young Como"
grus his or.Mion>

The hunger of

golde.

A region flowing
with gold.

.'1 ,1

443

VOYAGES, KAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

King Turn*
ium&.

Ctnibalci,

t nioun
Ciyncs.

Vnwrought
golde not •>•
*me4.

Ahundaiicc of
goldc,

HoiAholde
(tulTc of golde.

great king Tumanama will come foorth against you, whose kingdome m most riche with
golde, and distant from hence only sixe sunnen, that in, sixe dayes : for they number the
dayes by the Nunne. Furthermore, or tnier yon can come thither, you muste passe ouer the
monntaynes inhabited of the cruel! Canibalcs, a fierce kinde of men, deiiourers of mans
fleshe, lyiiing without lawps, wanderin r, and without Empire' : for they also being desirous
of golde, haue subdued them vnder their dominion, which before inhnbited the golde mynes
Tht golde mintj of the mountayncs, and vse them like boiule men, vxing their labour in digging and work-
eraoun. jpg jj^gjj. „oIde in plates and sundry imagi's, like vnto ihe^e which you see here: for we doe
no more esteme rude gold vnwrcujiht, then wcc doc cloddes of c;irth, before it be fourmed
by the hande of the woorkemcn fo the similitude either of some vessel necessarie for our
vse, or some ouche benutifull to be worne. These thinges doe wee receyue of them for
exchaunge of other of our tliinges, as of prisoners taken in warre, which they buie to eate,
or for sheetes and other thinges pertcining to the fiirnitiirc of housholdc, such as they lacke
which inhnbite the mountaynes, and especially for victualU, whereof tl>ey stand in great
neede, by reason of the barrennes of the mountaines. This iourney therefore must be made
open by force of men, & when you arc passing ouer these mountaines (poynting with hi*
finger towarde the South mountaines) you shall sec another sea, where they sayle with shippes
as bigge as yours (meaning the Carauels) vsinp; both sayles and ores as you doe, although
the men be naked as wee ate : all the way that the water runneth from the mountaines, and
all that side lying towarde the Souti), bnngcth forth goldc abundantly. As hee said these
woordes, he pointed to the vesselles in which they vse to serue their meafe, affirming that
king Tumanama, and all the other kings beyond the mountaines, had such & al other their
household stufTe of golde, and that there was no lesse plentie of gold among those people
of the South, then of Iron with vs : for he knewe by relation of our men, whereof our
swoordes and other weapons were made. Our captaines marueiling at the oration of the
naked yong man (for they had for interpreters those three men which had ben before a yeerc
and a halfe conucrsaunt in the courte of king Careta) pondered in their mindes and ear-
nestly considered his sayinges, so that his rashnesse in scattering the gold out of the bal-
launces, they turned to mirth and vrbanitie, commending his doing and saying therein.
Then they asked him friendly, vpO what certaine knowledge he spake those thinges, or what
he thought best herein to be done, if they should bring a greater supply of men ? To this
young Comogrus staying a while with himselfe, as it were an Oratour preparing hiinselfe to
speake of some graue matter, and disposing his body to a gesture meete to perswade, spake
thus in his mother tongue Giue eare vnto me, O you Christians. Albeit that the greedie
hunger of gold hath not yet vexed vs naked men, yet do we destroy one another by reason
of ambition and desire to rule. Hereof springeth mortal hatred among vs, & hereof con»-
meth our destruction. Our predecessours kept warres, and so did Comogrus my father,
with princes being borderers about him. In the whiche warres, as we haue ouercome, so
haue wee beene ouercome, as doth appeare by the number of bondmen among vs, whiche
wee tooke by the ouerthrowe of our enemies, of the which I haue giuen you fiftie. Like-
wise at another time, our aduersaries hauing the vpper hand against vs, led away many of
vs captiue, for such is the chaunce of war. Also, among our familiars (wherof a great
number haue beene captiues with them) behold here is one which of long time led a paine-
ful life in bondage vnder the yoke of that king beyonde the monntaynes, in whose king-
dome is such abundance of gold. Of him, and such other innnmerable, and likewise by
the resort of free men on their side comming to vs, and againe of our men resorting to them
by safe conduct, these things haue beene euer as well knowne vnto vs, as our own pos-
sessions: but that you may be the better assured here of, & be out of all suspition that you
shall not be deceiued, make me the guide of this voyage, binding me fast, and keeping me
in safe custodie to bee hanged on the next tree, if you finde my sayinges in any poynt vn-
true. Foliowe my counsayle therfore, and t ide for a thousand Christian men apt for the
warres, by whose power we may, with also the men of warre of Comogrus my father armed
after our manner, inuade the dominions of cur enemies: where both von may be satisfied

with

Naked people
tormetcd with
imbitiun.

A vehement
perswasioD.

';*-■.

it ■

Pi!

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

443

with golde, and we for our conducting and ayding you in this enterprise, shall thinke our

sclues abundantly rewarded, in that you shall helpe to deliuer vs from the iniuries and per*

petunll feare of our enemies. After these words, this prudent young Comogrus held his

peace, and our men nioued with great hope and hunger of golde, began agaync to swallowe Atok«nofhon.

(lownc their spittle. *"'

The fourth Chapter of the seconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

AFtcr that they haddc tarycd hcere a fewe daycs, and baptised Comogrus, with all his Kjng Comofiu*
familie, and named him by the name of Charles, after the King of Spayne, they returned {.'.''J^iiiu^.*'"''
to their fellowcs in Dariena, leaning with him the hope of the thousande souldiers, whiche
his Sonne required to passe ouer those niountaynes towarde the South sea. Thus entryng
into the village which ihcy had chosen to inhabite, they had knowledge that Valdiuia was
returned within sixe moncthcs after his departure, but with no great plcntie of victualles,
because hee brought but a small shippe : yet with hone that shortly after, there should be
sent them abundance of victualles, and a newc supply of men For young Colonus the
Admirnll, and viceroy of Ilispaniula, and tiie other gouernours of the Ilande, acknowledged
that hitherto they had no respect to them of Dariena, beecause they supposed that Ancisus
the Lieutenant had safely arriued there with his ship laden with victualles : willing them
from henceforth to be of good chearc, and that they should lacke nothing hereafter, but that
at this present time they had no bigger ship whereby they might send them greater plenty
of necessaries by Valdiuia. The victuals therefore which he brought, scrued rather somwhat
to mitigate their present necessitie, then to satisfie their lacke. Wherefore within a fewe
dayes after Valdiuia his rcturne, they fell agayne into like scarcenesse : especially foras-
muche as a great storme and tempest which came from the hygh mountaynes, with horrible Horrible thun.
thunder and lightning in the monetii of Nouember, brought with it suche a floude, that it ^yngli',^he"'
partly caryed away, and partly drowned all the rorne and seeds which they had sowen in mon«h of No-
the moncth of September, in a fruitefull grounde before they went to king Comogrus. The """•'"•
seeds whiche they of Hispaniola call Maizium, and they of Vraba call Hobba, whereof they
make their bread, whiche also we sayde to be rype thrise euery yeere, because those re-
gions are not byttcn with the sharpenesse of winter by reason of their neerenesse to the
Equinoctiall lyne. It is also agreeble to the principles of natural! philosophie, that this
bread m.ide of Maizus or Ilobba, shoulde be more wholesome for the inhabitants of those
countreys then breade made of wheate, by reason that it is of easier digestion : for whereas
colde is wanting, the naturall heate is not driuen from the outwarde partes into the inwarde
partes and precordialles, whereby digestion is nuiche strengthened. Being therefore thus frus-
trate of the increase of their seedes, and the kinges neere about them, spoyled of both victualles
and golde, they were enforced to seeke their meate further of and therewith to signifie to the
gouernoures of Hispaniola with what great necessitie they were oppressed, and what they had
learned of Comogrus as concerning the regions towarde the South, willing them in considera-
tion thereof, to aduertise the king to sende them a thousande souldiers, by whose helpe they
niyght by force make way through the mountaynes, diiiiding the sea on both sides, if they coulde
not bring the same to passe quietly. The same Valdiuia was also sent on this message, cary-
ing with him to the kinges treasurers (hauiiig their office of receipt in Hispaniola) three
hundred poundes weight of golde, after eyght ounces to the pounde, for the lift portion due
to the kinges exchequer. This pound of eight ounces, the Spanyardes call Marcha, whiche
ill weight amounteth to fiftie pieces of golde called Castellani, but the Castilians call a
pounde Pesum. Wee conclude therefore, that the summe hereof, was xv. thousand of those
peeces of gold called Castellani. And thus is it apparent by this accompt, that they receiued
of the barbarous kings a thousande and fyue hundred poundes, of eight ounces to the
pounde : all the whiche they foiinde readic wrought in sundry kindes of ouches, as cheynes,
braselets, tabletes, and plates, both to hang before their brestes, and also at their eares, and
nosethrils, Valdiuia therefore tookeshyppingin the same Carauell in the which he came last,
and returned also before the third day of the Ides of lanuary, in the yeere of CHRIST. 141 1.

What

'i^m

I Mi;

r'Jfm

44 f

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

%.'\ ■•

I'tf.

i«?i'l.;)

i'i*!'

^ili^'ivj

Mi...

Miry she
Itound.

AncisUJ biltcn
oi" a banc

A tempest.

Kin3 Turui.

The llsnHe of
Canihilistula.

What chauncfd to him In this voyage, we will declare in place roniicnicnt. But let vd now
retiirne to them whiche remayned in Vraba. After the dismissin;; of Valdiiiia, beinp pricked
forwardc with oiitragioim hunger, they determined to searchc the inner partes of that gulfe in
sundry plares. The exfreame angle or poynt of the same fiiiU'e is distant from the entrance
thereof, about fourescorc niyles. This angle or corner, the Spanyardes call Culata. VaschuA
himselfe came to this poynt with a hundred men, coasting almg by the guife with one
brigandine and certayne of the boatcs of those regions, whiche the Vrabians call Vru, like
vnto them whirhc the inhabitauntes of Hispaniola call Canoas. From this poynt, there
falleth a ryuer from the East into the gulfc, ten times bigger then the riuer of Dariena,
which also falleth info the same, Sayling along by the riuer about the space of thirtie myles
(for they call it nine leagues) and somewhat enclining towarde flie right hande Southwarde,
they founde certayne villages of the inhabitantes, the king whereof was called Dabaiba. Our
men also were certified before, that Cemacciuis the king of Dariena, whom they put to flight
in the battayle, fleddc to this Dabaiba, but at the coinming of our men, Dabaiba also fledde.
It is thought that he was admonyshed by Cemacthus, that he shoulde not abide the brunt of
our men. lie followed his counsayle, forsooke his villages, and left all thinges desolate :
yet our men founde hcapes ',)f bowes and arrowes, also much housholde sfull'e, and muuy
fishing boates. Rut those naryshe groundes wore neyther apt for sowing of secdes, or
planting of trees, by reason whereof, they founde there fewc such thinges as they desired,
that is, plentie of victualler : for the inhabitantes of this region haue no breade, but such as
they gette in other countryes necre about them by exchang for their fishe, onely to serue
their owne necessitie : yet found they in the houses of those whiche fledde, golde wrought
and grauen, amounting to the sum of seupi: thousande of those pceces, which wee sayde to
bee called Castellani : also certayne Cancjs, of the whiche they brought away two with them,
and great plentie of their houshold st'.iCe, with certaine bundels of bowes & arrowes. They
say, that from the maryshcs of that riuer, there came certaine battcs in the night season, as
bigge as turtle doues, iniiadyng men, and byting them with a deadly wounde, as some of
them testific which haue been bitten of the same. I my selfe communing with Ancisus the
Lieutenant whom they rejected, and among otiicr thinges .asking him of the venemous byting
of these battes, hce tolde me that he hinisclCc was bitten by one of them on the heele, his
foote lying vncouered in the night, by reason of the hcate in Sommcr season, but that it hurt
him no more, then if he had bin bitten by any other beast not venemous. Other s.iy, that the
biting of some of them is venemous: yet tiiat the same is healed incontinently, if it bee
washed witii wafer of the sea, Ancisus folde inee also, that the vericnvus wounds made by
the Canibalcs arrowes infected with poyson, are healed by washing with water of tiie sea,
and also by cauterising with whot irons, and that he had experience thereof in the region of
Caribana, where many of his men were so wounded. They departed therefore from the
poynt of the gulfe of Vraba not wel contented, becnjise they were not laden with victualles.
In this their returne, there aro^c so great a tempest in that wide goulfe, that they were en-
forced to caste into the sea all the housholde stufFe, which they tooke from the poore wretches
which lyued oncIy by fishing. The sea also swalowed vp the two bcates that they tooke from
them, wherewith the men were likewise drowned. The same time that Vasclius Nunnez
attempted to search the poynt of the gulfe towardc the South, cum then by agreement did
RodericiisColminaris take his vovage toward the mountains by the East, with threescore men,
by the riuer of the other gulfe. About fourtic inyles distant from the mouth of the other riuer,
(for they cal it twelue leagues) he founde certaine villages situate vpon the bankes of the
ryuer, whose Chiui (that i>) king, they call Turui. With this king did Colminaris vet re-
mayne, when Vaschus alter his returne to Dariena, sayling by the same riuer, came to him.
Here refreshing their whole companie with the victualles of this Turui, t'\cy departed from
thence together. Other fourtie myles from hence, the riuer encomp.issith an Hand inhabited
with fisher men. In this, because they sawe great plentie of trees whiche beare Cassia fisfuki,
they named the llande Cannafistiila. They found in it xl. villages of ten cotages apeece.
On the right side of the Ilandc there runnctli another riuer, whose chanel is of deaptli suffi-
cient

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

445

cient to bcarc Brin;andine«. This riiier they called Riiium Nigrum, from the mouth whcrof,
al)out XV. myles distnnt, they foundc a townc of fiue C. houses Meuered whouc Chehi (that is)
king, was called Abenamachei. They all forsooke their houses, as goone as they heard of our
mens coming : but when they saw that our men pursued th?, they turned againc & ran vpon
them witli desperate minds, as men driue from their ownc possessions. Their weapons are
Awords of wood, and long staues like inuelins, hardened at the end with fire: but they vse
neythcr bowcs nor arrowes, nor any other of the inhabitauntes of the West side of the gulfe.
The poore naked wretches were easily dryuen to flight with our weapons. As our menne
followed thc?ti in the chase, they tookc the king Abenamachei, and cerfayne of his noble men.
A commo soiildier of ours whom the king had wounded, comming to him when he was taken,
cuttc of his arme at one stroke with his swoorde : but this was doone vnwares to the cap-
taynes. The number of the Christian men whiche were here, was about an hundred and
fiftie ; the one halfe whereof the captaynes left here, and they with the residue rowed vp the
ryuer agayne, with twclue of tho boats of those regions, which they call Vru, as they of
llispaniola call them Canoas as we haue sayde. From the riucr of Riuus Niger, and the
Ilande of Cannafistula, for the space of threescore and ten miles Icauing both on the right
hand and on the left, many riuers falling into it bigger then it selfc, they entrcd info one,
by the conducting of one of the naked inhabitauntcs, bceing appoyntcd a guide for that
purpose. Vppon the baiike of this riucr next vnto the mouth of the same, there was a king
called Abibeiba, who because the region w.is full of maryshcs, hadde his pallare builded in
the toppe of a hygh tree, a new kind of building, and seldomc scene: but thnt lande King Ai.ibeibi
bringeth forth trees of such exceding height, that among their branches a man may frame j,'^^!'"'' '" *
large houses ; as wee rcade the like in diuers authors, howe in manie regions where the
Ocean sea riseth and ouerfloweth the lando, the people were accu>«tomed to flee to the hygh 2ie'o«ia*KJ.
trees, and after the fall of the water, to take the fishe left on the land. This maner of build-
ing, is to lay beames crossc ouer the branches of the trees, fast bounde together, and there-
upon to rayse their frame strongly made agaynst winde and weather. Our menne suppose
that they builde their houses in trees, by reason of the great flouds and ouerflowing of riuers,
whiche oftentimes chaunre in those regions. These trees are of suche heyght, that the Tr«i of m»r-
strength of no mans arme, is able to hurle a stone to the houses builded therein. And ""'""' '"'*'^**
therfore doe I glue the better credit to Plinie, and other authors, whiche write that the trees Piinie.
in some places in India are so high by reason of the fruitfulnes of the ground abundance of
water, and hcate of the region, that no man is able to shoote oiler them with an arrowe : and pjui^f,,!,
by iudgement of all men, it is thought that there is nc fruitefuller grounde vnder the sunne, groundc.
then it is whereof wee nowe intreate. Our menne measuring manie of these trees, found
them to bee of suche bignessc, that seucn men, yea sometime eight, holding hande in hande
with their armes stretched foorth, were scarsely able to fathame them about : yet haue they
their tellers in the grounde, well replenished with such wines whereof wee haue spoken be-
fore. For albeit that the vchemencie of the winde is not of power to cast downe those
houses, or breake the braimches of the trees, yet are they tossed therewith, and swaye some-
what from side to side, by reason whereof, the wine shoulde bee much troubled with moouing.
All other necessarie thinges they haue with them in the trees. When the king or any other
of the noble men, dine or suppe in these trees, their wyues are brought them from the
cellers by their seruauntes, whiche by meanes of exercise, are accustomed with no lesse cele-
ritie to runne vp and downe the staires adherente to the tree, then do our wayting boyes
vppon the playne grounde fetche vs what wee call for from the cobbarde beside our dyning
table. Our men therefore came to the tree of king Abebeiba, and by the interpretoures
called him foorth to communication, giuing him signes of peace, and thereupon willing him
to come downe. But hee denyed that hee woulde come out of his house, desiring them to
suffer him to lyue after his fashion : but our men fell from fayre wordes to threatning, that
except he woulde descende with all his familie, they woulde eyther oucrthrowe the tree, or |^J^'"Jf J;,,!' "
else set it on fire. When he hadde denied them agayne, they fell to hewing the tree with tree.yetWeth

3M jlieirtoV..chm.

m In n

446

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

Gold no more
fStcemeU then

stones.

Canibalci.

tr. "it t I : ■ ■

ii-'' ::

Men good e-
nuugh if tliey
had iron.

their axes. Abebeiba seeing the chippes fall from the tree on euery side, chaiinged his
purpose, and came downe with onely two of his sonnes. Thus after they had entreated of
peace, they communed of gathering of golde. Abebeiba answered that he had no golde, and
that hee ncuer had any neede thereof, nor yet regarded it any more then stones. But when
they were instante vppon him, hee sayde vnto them, if you so greatly desire golde, I will
seeke for some in the next mountaynes, and bring it vnto you : for it is plentifully engen-
dred in those mountaynes. Then he appoynted a day when he woulde bring this golde. But
Abebeiba came neither at the day nor after the day appointed. They departed therfore from
thcce well refreshed with his victualles and wine, but not with golde as they hoped : yet
were they cnformed the like by Abebeiba and his ditionaries as concerning the gold mines
and the Canibals, as they heard before of king Comogrus. Sayling yet further about thirtie
myles, they chaunced vpon certayne cotages of the Canibales, but vtterly voyde withont men
nr stufTfe : for when they had knowledge that our men wandered in the prouinces ncere about
them, they resorted to the mountaines, carying all their goods and stufie with them.

The fift Chapter of the scconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

IN the meane time while these thinges were done along by the shores or bankes of the
riuer, a certaine Decurian, that is, a captaine ouer ten, of the company of those which
Vaschus and Colminaris had left for a garryson in Riuo Nigro, in the dominion of king
Abinamachei, whether it were that he was compelled through hunger, or that his fatal day
wa! now come, he attempted with his souldicrs to search the countries thereabout, and entred
into the village of a king called Abraiba. Thiscapfayncs name was Rain, whom Abraiba slue
with two of his fellowes, but the residue fled. Within a fewe dayes after, Abraiba hauing
compassion on the calamitie of his kinsman and neighbour Abenamacheius, bceing dryuen
from his ov/ne possessions (whose arme also we sayd before that one of the souldiers cut of
at the riuer of Riuo Nigro) and now remaining with Abraiba, to whom he fled by stealth after
hee was taken, went to Abibeiba the inhabitour of the tree, who had now likewise forsaken
his countrey for feare of our men, and wandered in the desolate mountaines and woodes.
When he had therfore founde him, hee spake to him in this eflect. What thing is this, oh
vnfortunate Abibeiba; or what nation h this that so tormenteth vs, that wc cannot cnloy our
quiet libertie ; howe long, howe long I say, shall we suffer their crucltic ; were it not much
better for vs to die, then to abide such iniuries and oppressions as you, as Abinamacheius
our kinsman, as Cemacchas, as Careta, as Poncha, as I and other princes of our order doe
susfeyne ? Cannc anie thing bee more intollerable, then to see our wiucs, our children, and
our subiectes, to be ledde away captiues : and our goodes to be spoyled eucn before our
faces : I take the gods to witnesse, that i speake not so much for mine owne part as I do for
you, whose case 1 lament : for albeit they haue not yet touched me : neucrtheles by thexaplc
of other, I ought to thinke that my destruction is not far of. Let vs therfore (if we be men)
trie our strength, & proue our fortune agaynst them which haue dealt thus cruelly with
Abenamacheius, and driuen him out of his countrey, let vs set on them with al our power,
and vtterly destroy them. And if we can not slay them al, yet shal we make the afraidc
either to assayle vs againe, or at the least diminishe their power: for whatsoeuer shal l>efall,
nothing can chaunce woorse vnto vs then that which we iiowe sufl'er. When Abibeiba heard
these words & such other like, he condescended to do in al things as Abraiba woulde
require : whereupon they appoynted day to bring their conspiracie to passe, but the thing
chaunced not acccrding to their desire : for of tlio.se whiche we saide to haue passed to the
Canibals, there returned by chaunce to Riuus Niger the night before the day appointed to
woorke their featc, thirtie men, to the aide of them whiche were left there, if any sedition
should rise as they suspected. Therefore at the dawning of the day the confederate Kings,
with fine hundreth of their ditionaries armed after their maner. besieged the village with a
terrible alarome, knowing nothing of the new men whiche came thither the same night.
Here our target men came foorth aga.v'i^t them, and first assailed them a farre of with their

arrowes.

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

447

thing

arrowes, then with their pykes and last with their swoordes : but the naked scely souies, p^r-
rciuing a greater number of their aduersaries then they looked for, were soone driuen to
flight, and slainc for the most parte like scattering sheepc. The kings escaped, they slue
jtiany, and tooke many captiucs, whiche they sent to Dariena, where they vsed them forcaptiuts.
labourers to till and sowe their grounde. These thinges thus happily atchiued, and that pro-
uince quieted, they returned by the riuer to Dariena, leaning their thirtie men for a garrison, a garrison of
vnder the gouernance of one Furatado a captaine. This Furatado therefore, sent from Riuo'
Nigro, where he was appointed gouernour. xx. of his felowes, and one woman, with xxiiii.
captiues, to Vaschus and his companie, in one of the biggest Canoas of that prouince. As
they rowed downe the ryuer, there came foorth sodenly ouerthwart the ryucr against them
foure great Canoas, which ouerthrewe their boate, and slue as many of them as they could Eipht«ne
come by, because they were vnprepared, suspecting no such thing. Our men were all f||j'i'"J;^'„'I"
drowned and slaine, except two, which hid themselues among certaine Higottes that swamme'irow"'^-
on the water, in the which they lay lurking, and so escaped to their fcllowes in Dariena: who
by them being aducrtiscd hereof, beegaune to cast their wittes what ihis thing might meane,
being no lessc solicitate for them selues, then meditating in what daungcr their fcllowes had
bin in Riuo Nigro, except by good fortune, those thirtie newe men wliith were sent to them,
hadde come to the village the night before the conspiracie should hauc bcenc wrouglu. Con-
sulting therefore what was best to bee doonc herein, at the length with diligent searching,
they had intelligence that (iiie kinges, that is to witte, Abebciba the inhabitour of the 'rcc, 3^|''j^,,^|,"^".^^j
and Cemacchus drjuen from his village which our men nowe possessed, Abraiba iiNo and tho Jcaiiiof the
Abcnamacheius, kinsmen, witli Dabaiba the king of the fisher uicn, inhabiting tlie corner of '-''""'•""•
the gulfe whiche wee called Culata, where all assembled to conspire the Christian mens de-
struction at a day assigned: which thing had surely comr 'o pasj.e if it had not beene other-
wise hindered by Gods prouidence. It is therefore ascnbed to a miracle, and truely tiot^^s,,,,,,^
vnworthily, if wee waye howe chaunce detected and bewrayed the counsayle of these kinges. chauncc
And because it is worthy to be hearde, I will declare it in fewe wordes. Vaschus Nunnez,
therefore, wiio rather by power then by election, vsurped the gouernance in Dariena, being
a maister of fence, and rather a rashe royster then a politike caplaine (although fortune
somtime fauoreth fooles) among many women which in diuers of these regions he hadde
taken captiue, had one, which in fauour and beauty excelled al other. To this woman her
brother often times resorted, who was also driuen out r,f his country with king Ccmcicchus k.t re no comi-
with whome he was very familiar, and one of his chiefe gentlemen. Among other com mu- ">"''■
nicalion which he hadde with his sister whom hee loued entirely, he vltcred tliesc wordcs.
My dcare and wclbeloued sister, giue care to my sayingcs, and keepe most secrctcly that
whiche I will declare vnto you, if you desire your owne wealth nnd mine, and the pros-
peritie of our countrey and kinsefolkcs. The insolencie and cnicltic of these men whiche
haue dryuen vs out of our possessions, is so intollerablc, that the princes of the lande arc
determined no longer to susteyne their oppressions. By the conducting therefore of fyue
kinges (whiche he named in order) they haue prepared a hundred great Canoas with iiue
thoiisande men of warre by lande and by sea, with victuals also in the village of Tichiri,
siilficient to maintaync such an armie : declaring further, that the kinges by agreement, had
(liuidcd among them the goodes and heads of our menne, and therefore admonished her, at Triumph he
the day appoyntcd by some occasion to conueigh her selfe out of the way, least she should lo" ^''^^'■""'■
be slayne in the confusion of the battaylc : For tiie souldier victourer, is not woont to spare
any that commeth in his race. And thus shewing his sister the day assigned to the slaugh-
ter, hee departed. But the young woman (for it is the swoorde that women feare, and ob-
serue more then the grauiiie of Cato) whether it were for the louc or feare that she had to ,„p"'!urur"
Vaschus, forgeting her parentes, her kinsfolkcs, her countrey, and all her friendes, yea '"''s''"«"t-
and all the kinges into whose throatcs Vaschus had thruste his sworde, she opened all the
matter vnto him and concealed none of those thinges which her vndiscret brother had dc-

Ar .irmic pf
an hundred
Ciiimas, and
fyui . M. men.

dared to her. When Vaschus therefore had heard the matter, he caused

3 M2

Fuluia, (for so had
they

ft?*

'■;,?<■>' e'

,.i:M

r;,r.i

448

The conspiric!e
of the kyngs is
detected.

Kyng Cemac-
chus conspirctli
the death of
Vascbus.

Vaschus pur.
<ueth the kings
with threescor
».d ten men.

Golminaris
uckcth the vil-
lage of Tichiu.

Tyue rulers
hanged k shot
through with
arrowes.

lohan. ■Quice-
dus is sent to
Kpayne.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

they named her) to sende for her brother, who came to her immediatly, was taken, & en-
forced to tel the whole circustances of the matter : wherijpon he plainely confessed, that
king Cemacchus his Lord and maister, sent those foure Canoas to the destruction of our men,
and that these new conspiracies were attempted by his counsayle : likewise that Cemacchus
sought the destruction of Vaschus himselfe, when he sent him xl. men, vnder pretence of
friendship, to till and sowe his grounde, after the maner of the countrey, giuing them in
commandement to slay Vaschus at Marris, whither he resoned to comfort his labourers, as
the maner is of al good husbandes, yet durst they at no time execute their Lordes com-
maundement vpon him, because Vaschus came neuer among them a foote or vnarmed, but
was accustomed to ryde to them in harnesse with a iauelin in his hand, and a swoortle by
his side. Wherefore Cemacchus being frustrate of his particular counsayle, tooke this last
thing in hande, to his owne destruction and his neighbours: for the conspiracie being de-
tected, Vaschus called threescore and tenne souldiers, commanding them to follow him, but
declared nothing vnto them whither he went, or what he entended to doe. He went for-
ward therefore first toward Cemacchus, which lay from him onely ten myles : but he had
knowledge that he was fledde to Dabaiba, the king of the niaryshes of Culata. Yet searching
his village, hee founde a noble man, a ruler vnder him. and also his kinsman whom he tooke
prysoner, with many other of his familiars and friendes both men and women. The same
houre that he set forwarde to seeke for Cemacchus, Rodericus Colminaris rowed vp the ryuer
with foure of their biggest Canoas, and threescore men, by the conduction of the maydes
brother, who brought him to the village of Tichiri, in the which we said all their victuals to
remain which were prepared for their armie. Colminaris therfore sacked the village, and
possessed all their victuals, and wine of sundry coloures, likewise tooke the gouernour
thereof prysoner, and hanged him on the tree in which he dwelt himselfe, commaunding
him to bee shot through with arrowes in the sight of the inhabitantes, and with him foure
other rulers to be hanged on gibbets to the example of other rebels. This punishment thus
executed vpon the conspiratours, stroke the hearts of all the inhabitants of the prouince with
such feare, that there is not now a man that dare stirre his finger against the wrath of our
men. They Hue now therefore quietly, and the other kings by their example doe the
gladlier liue in subiectio, with lesse oft'cnce bearing the yoke which they can by no meanes
shake of.

The sixt Chapter of the second Decade, of the supposed continent.

THese thinges thus finished, assembling all their company together, they determined with
one consent, that a messenger shovlde foorthwith bee sent to Hispaniola (from whence they
haue their lawes and ayde) to declare the whole order of all these affaires, first to the Ad-
miral and gouernour of the Hand, and afterward to the Kingof Spayne, and to jjerswade him
to sende those thousande men which young Comogrus sayd to be expedient to passe oner
the mountaines, lying betwene them and the golden regions towarde the South. Vaschus
hymselfe dyd greatly affect this embassage : but neitheir wc aid the residue of his felowes
eiecte him thereto, nor his factionaries suffer him to departe, aswell for that therby they
thought they should be left desolate as also that they murmured, that if Vaschus should once
go from them, he woulde neuer returne to suche turmoyles and calamities, by the exatnple
of Valdiuia and Zamudius, who had bin now absent since the moneth of January, in so much
that they thought they would neuer come agayne : but the matter was otherwise then they
tooke it, as I will shew in this place, for they were perished. At the length after many
scrutinies, they elected one lohn Quicedus, a graue man, well in yeeres, and treasurer of the
kings Exchequer in those prouinces : tliey had conceiued a good opinion of this Quicedus,
that all thinges should bee well brought to passe by his meanes, aswell for his wisedome, as
also that they were in good hope of his returne, beecause he hadde brought his wife with him
to those regions, whom hee left with his fellows for a pledge of his comming againe. When
they had thus elected Quicedus, they were againe of diners opinios whom they might ioyne
with him for assistance, affirming that it were a daungcrous thing to committe so weightie a

matter

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

449

matter to one mans hands, not that they mistrusted Qnicedus but because the life of man is
fraile, & the change of the ayre perillous, especially to them, hauing now of long time bin
accustomed to the temperature neere vnto the Equinoctial, if they should be compelled to
returne to the North, with alteration of ayre and diet. They thought it therfore good to
appoynt a companion to Quiccdus, that if by chance the one should faile, the other might
remain, & that if they both escaped, the king should giue the better credite to the relatio of
both. After long cosiiltation therfore, they chose Rodericus Colminaris, a man of good
experiece, of whom we haue oftentimes made mention, for from his youth he had trauailed
ouer all Europe by lande & by sea, & was present at the doings of al things in Italy against
the Frechmen, of whose return also, they had no small hope, because he had many farmes,
and had tilled and sowne much grounde in Dariena, hv the increase wherof, he might get
much gold by selling the same to his felowcs. He left therfore the charge of al his affayres
ill Dariena with his partner Alphonsus Nunnez, a iudge of ihe lawe, who also was like to
haue ben chosen procuratoiir of this voyage before Colmenaris if one had not put the in
remembrace that he had a wife at Matritis, fearing lest being ouercome with her teares, he
would no more returne. Colmenaris therefore, a freeman & at libertie, being associate as-
sistant with Quicedus, they tooke shipping together in a Bri<;andinc, the fourth daye of the
Calendes of Nouember in the yeore of Christ. 1512. In this voyage, being tossed with
sundry tempestes, they were by the violence of the winde cast vp on the West coastes of
that large Iland, which in the first Decade we call Cuba supposed to haue ben firme
land. They were sore oppressed with hunger, for it was now three moncthes since they de-
parted from their fellowes : by reason whereof, they were enforced to take land, to
prooue what ayde they could get among the inhabitantes. Their chaunce therefore was
to arriue in that part of the Iland, where Valdiuia was driuen aland by tempest. But
oh you wretched men of Dariena, tary for Valdiuia, whom you sent to prouide to helpe
your necessities, prouide for your seines rather, and trust not to them whose fortune
yee know not. For when he arriued in Cuba the inhabitantes slue him with his felowes, and
left the Carauel wherein they were caryed, tome in peeces, and halfe couered with sand on
the shore, where Quicedus and Colmenaris finding the fragmentes thereof bewayled their
felowes misfortune : but they found none of their carcasses, supposing that they were either
drowned, or deuoured of the Canibals, which oftentimes make incursion into the Iland to
hunt for men. But at the length, by two of the Hand men which they had taken, they had
knowledge of Valdiuia his destruction, and that the inhabitantes the more greedily aitepted
the same, for that they had heard by the babbling of one of his felowes, that hee
had great plentie of golde: for they also take pleasure in the beautie of golde, which
they fourme artificially into sundry ouches. Thus our men stricken with pensiuenesse for
the cruell destinie of their fellowes, and in vaine seeking reueng for their iniuries, deter-
mined to for sake that vnfortunate lande, departing from those couetmis naked barbarians,
with more sorowe and necessitie then they were in before. Or eucr they had passed the
South side of Cuba, they fel into a thousande misfortunes, and had intelligence that Fogeda
arriued therabout, leading a miserable life, tossed and iiirmoilcd with tempestes, and
vexed with a thousande perplexities: so that departing from thence almost alone, his
felowes being for the most part al consumed with maladies and famine he came with
much difficultie to Hispaniola, where he died by force of the poison of his venemous
wounde which he had receiued in Vraba as we haue saide before. But Ancisus elected
Lieutenant, sailed by al those coastes with much better fortune : for as he him sclfe
tolde me, he founde prosperous windes in those ])arties, and was wel cnterteined of
thinhabitantes of Cuba, but this specially in the dominion of a certaine king whose
name was Commendator : for wheras he desired of the Christian men whirhe passed by,
to be baptised, demaunding the name of the gouernour of the Iland next vnto Hisp.i-
niola, being a noble man, and a knight of the order of Calatraua, of whiche order, al are
called Commendatores this kingM desire was to be named after him. King Commendator
therefore friendly receiued Ancisus, & gaue him great abundance of al thingcs necessarie. But

what

A wife i* -d
hindrance.

The death of
Valdiuiii.

Hurt of lauish-
ncsse of the
tongue.

The calamities
and death of

Fogeda.

Maladies and
famine.

The pros|ierou<
voiagc uf Au-
cisus.

A king nf
Cuba tiaptiseJ
by the name of
Conimend.itur.

!l;r!^

:H:'»1

450

A minieilous
historic liuwe
God wrought
miracles by the
simple faith of
a Mariner.

Be not rash in
iudgtment.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decade.

A Chjppell
huildtil to the
pieture of the
virgin Marie,

One supersti-
tious religion
turned into
another, holdeth
ful many
thinges of the
fyrst.

Zeale without
knowledge is
ncuer godly.

Marke this
blindnes.

This ignorance
is to bee la-
mented.

The deuil dis-

ticmhli-th to
kcepc his in
blindr.ci still.

A rotable lie
ef a papisticall
hsretikc.

what Ancisus learned of their religion during the time of his remayning there, I haue thought
good to aduertise your holinesse. You shal therfore vnderstande, that certaine of our men
sailing by the coastes of Cuba, left with king Commendator a certaine poore Mariner being
diseased, who in short space recouering his health, and hauing now somewhat learned their
language, began to growe into great estimation with the kirig and his subiectes, insomuche
that he was oftentimes the kinges Lieuetenant in his warres against other princes his bor-
derers. This mans fortune was so good, that al thinges prospered well that he tooke in
hande : and albeit that he were not learned, yet was he a vertuous and well meaning man,
according to his knowledge, and did religiouslie honour the blessed virgin, bearing euer
about with him her picture faire painted vpon paper, and sowed in his apparel neere vnto
his breast, signifying vnto the king, that this holines was the cause of al his victories: per-
swading him to doe the like, and to cast away all his Zeme.s, which were none other then the
similitudes o'' lill spirits most cruel enimies and deuourers of our soules, and to take vnto
him the holj virgin and mother of God to be his patronesse, if he desired all his affaires
aswel in warre as in peace to siu ceede prosperously : also that the blessed virgin woulde at
no time faile him, but be euer readie to helpe him and his, if they woulde with deuout
hartes call vppon her name. The mariner had soone perswaded the naked nation, and
thereuppon gaue the king (who demanded the same) his picture of the virgin, to whom he
biiilded and dedicated a chapell and an alter, euer after contemning and reiecting his Zemes.
Of these Zemes made of Gossampine cotton, to the similitudes of spirites walking in the
night, which they oftentimes see, and speake with them familyerly, we haue spoken suffi-
ciently in the ninth chapter of the first Decade. Furthermore, according to the institution
of this mariner, when the sunne draweth towarde the fall, this king Commendator with al his
familie, both men and women, resort dailie to the saide chapell of the virgin Marie, where
kneeling on their knees, and reuerently bowing downe their heades, holding their handes
ioined together, they salute the image of the virgin with these woordes, Aue Marie Aue
Marie, for fewe of them can rehearse any more wordes of this praier. At Ancisus his being
there, they tooke him and his felowes by the handes, and ledde them to this chapell with
reioicing, saying that they woulde siiewe them marueilous thinges. When they were en-
tred, they pointed with their fingers to the Image of the virgin, al to be set and hanged about
with ouches and iewels, and many earthen pottes filled some with ^.nndry meats, and some
with water, rounde about all the tabernacle: for these thinges they ofTer to the image in the
steede of sacrifice, according to their olde superstition towarde their Zemes. Being de-
niaunded why they did thus, they answered. Lest the image should lacke meate, if perhaps it
should be ahungred : for they most certainly beleeue that images may hunger, and that they
do eate & drinke. But what aide and help they confesse that they haue had of the godly
power of this image, that is of the blessed virgin, it is a thing woorthy to bee hcarde, and
most assuredly to bee taken for a frueth : for by the report of our men, there is such feruent
godly loue & zcale in these simple men toward the holy virgin, that to them beeing in daun-
gcr of warre against their enemies, they doe in manner (if! may so terme it) compell her
to descend from heauen to helpe them in their necessities. For such is the goodnesse of
God, that he hath left vnto men in maner a pryce whereby we might purchase him with his
holy angels and saints that is to witte, burning loue, chaiitie, and zeale. Howe therefore can
the blessed virgin at any time be absent from the which call for her helpe with pure faith and
feruent loue: Commendator himsclfe, with all his noble men and gentlemen, do testifie with
one voyce, that in a fought battayle in the which this maryner was capitaine, bearing with him
this picture of the virgin Marie, the Zemes of their enemies turned their backe, and trei.ibled
in the presence of the virgins image, & in the sight of them all : for cuery of them bring
their Zemes to the battayle, hoping by their helpe to obteine the victoric. Yea they say
further that during the time of the battaile, they saw not only an Image, but a liuely women
clot' ed in fayre and white apparell, ayding them against their enemies: which thing also the
enemies themselues acknowledged, confessing that on the contrary part, she appeared to
them shaking a scepter in her hande with threatening countenance, which caused their hartes

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

4j1

to shake and faint for fcarc ; but after tliat this maryner departed from them, being taken
into a shyppe of certayne Christians passing by these coastes, Commendator declared that he
with all his siibiectes, continually obserued his institutions: insomuch that being at conten-
tion with another prince, whiche of their Zemes were most holy and of greatest power, the
matter grewe to such extremity that they tryed it with hande strokes: and that in all these
attemptes, the blessed virgin neuer fayled him, but was euer present in the brunte of the
battayle, and gaue him easie victorie with a small power of men, against a maine armic of
his enemies. Being demaunded with what woordes they crved vpon the virgin Mary when
they assailed their enemies, they answered that they had learned no other words of the
Maryners doctrine but Sancta Maria aaiui.a nos. Sancta Maria adiuua nos. That is, holy
Marie helpe vs, holy Marie helpc vs, and this also in the Spanishe tOiigue: for he had
left these words in the mouthes of all men. While they murthered and destroyed themselues
thus on both sides, they fell to entreatie of peace, and agreed to trye the tnatter, not hande
to hande by combatte of certayne chosen for both parties, as the manner was among the
Romanes and diuers other nations in the olde time, or by any sleight or policy but that two
young men should be chosen, for each partie one, with their handes bounde fast behinde
them in the plaine fielde, both parties beeing sworne to acknowledge that Zemes to be the
better, which first loosed the bandes of the yong man whiche stoodc bounde for the triall of
his religion. Thus diuiding themselues, and placing the sayd young men before them in
the sight of them all, with their handes fast bounde by their enemies, the contrary parte
called first on their Zemes (that is the deuill, to whose similitude their Images are made)
who immediately appeared in his likenesse about the young manne that stoode bounde in the
defence of Sathans kingdomc. But as soone as Commendator with his companie cryed Sancta
Maria adiuua nos, Sancta Mnria adiuua nos, forthwith there appeared a fayre virgin clothed
in white, at whose presence the deuill vanquished immediatly. But the virgin hauing a long
rod in her hand, and putting the same on the bandes of the yong man that stood for Com-
mendator, his handes were loosed immediatly in the sight of them all, and his bandes found
about the handes of him that stood for liie other party, insomuch that they themselues founde
him double bounde. But for all this, were not the enemies satisfied, quarrelling that this
thing was done by some sleight or deuise of man, & not by the power of the better Zemes.
And thereupon required, for the auoyding of all suspcct'on, that there might bee eight
graue and sage men appoynted, for echo side foure, which should bindc the men in the sight
of them all, and also giue iudgement whether the thing were done without craft or guile.
Oh pure simplicitie and constant fav h : oh golden and blessed confidence. Commendator
& his familiars doubted not to grauiit their enemies their request, with like fayth wherwith
the diseased woman obteyneth health of the fluxe of her bloud, and wherby Peter feared not
to walke on the sea at the sight of his maister Christ. These young men therfore were
bounde in the presence of these eight graue men, and were placed within their listes in the
sight of both parties. Thus vpon a signe giuen, when they called vpon their Zemes, there
appeared in the sight of them all, a deuill with a long taile, a wide mouth, great teeth, and
homes, resembling the similitude of the image whiche the king being enemie to Commen-
ditor honored for his Zemes. As the deuill attempted to loose the bands of his client, the
blessed virgin was immediatly present as before at the cal of Commendator & his subiects,
& with her rod loosed the bandes of her suj)nliant, whiche were agayne likewise founde fa.st
tyed about the handes of him that stoode for the contrary part. The enemies therfore of
Commendator, being stricken with great feare, and amazed by reason of this great miracle,
confessed that the Zemes of the virgin was better then their Zemes : for the better proofe
whereof, these ])ngans being borderers to Commendator, which had euer before beene at
fontin'.ial warrc & enmitie with him, when they had knowledge that Ancisus was arryued in
those coastes, they sent Ambassadoures vnto bin. to desire him to sende them priestes, of
whom they m'"ght be baptised: wherupon hee sent them two which he had there with him at
that presei.t. They baptised in one day an hundred and thirty of the inhabitantes, some-
time enemies to Commendator, but now his friendes, and ioyned with him in aliance. All

such

One Maspln'mic
vpon another.

Thf deuill
appeareth in his
likenesse.
VVha'. likcnes.

A strange mi-
racle not to be
credited.

Another my-
racle.

Wise men.

Math, iliii.
This is anotiicr
matter.

The deuill ap-
peareth ajaine.

The virgin
Mary in her
owie pcrsr.ii
oueiL'ommetli
the d-uil!.

1- -;

453

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tfie second Decade.

1:^

m.:6.

■ 31 1 .■ f :

The priettes
rewarde.

Why name
you Cjponi {

•',"■■1 !

Anci'uj voyije
t9 Spaine.

Ancisus cotti"
playncth of
Vasdiusi

Marke to wh5
this fuyncd my*
nculous storte
was written.

3uch as came to bee baptised, gaue the priestes of their owne liberalitie, eyther a cocke or a
henne, but no capons, for they cannot yet skil howe to carue their cocke chickens to make
them capons. Also certaine salted fishes, and newe fine cakes made of their bread : likewise
certayne foules franked and made fatte. When the priestes resorted to the shyppes, sixe of
these newe baptised men accompanied them laden with victunlles, wherwith they ledde a
ioyfull Easter: for on the Sunday, two dayes before saint Lazarus day, they departed from
Dariena, and touched at that tyme onely the cape or angle of Cuba, neere vnto the East side
of Hispaniola. At the request of Commendator, Ancisus left with him one of his companie,
to the intent to teach him and his subiectes, with other his borderers, the salutation of the
angell, whiche we call the Aue Marie: for they thinke themselues to be sa much the more
beloued of the blessed virgin, as they can rehearse the more woordcs of that prayer. Thus
Ancisus taking his leaue of king Commendator, directed his course to Hispaniola, from
whiche he was not farre. Shortly after, he tooke his voyage to Spayne, and came to Valla-
doleto to the king, to whom he made grieuous complaynt of the insolencie of Vaschus Nun-
nez, insomuch that by his procurement the king gaue sentence agaynst him. Thus muche
hnue I thought good (most holy father) whereof to aducrtise your holyncsse, as concerning
the religion of these nation;", not onely as I haue bin enstructed of Ancisus (with whom I
was dayly conuersant in the Court, and vsed him familiarly) but also as I was enfourmed of
diuers other men of great authoritie, to the intent that your excellencie may vnderstande
howe docible this kinde of men are, and with what facilitie they may be allured to embrace
our religion : but this cannot be done sodenly, yet we haue great cause to hope that in short
time they wil be al drawne by little and little, to the Euangelicall law of Christ to the great
encrease of his flocke. But let vs now returne to the messengers or procuratours as con-
cerning the aflTaires of Dariena.

The seuenth Chapter of the seconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

FRom Dariena to Hispaniola, is eight dayes sailing, & somtimes lesse with a prosperous
wind : yet Quicedus and Colminaris the procuratours of Dariena, by reason of tempestes &
contrary windes, could scarcely sayle it in a hundred dayes. When they had taried a fewe
dayes in Hispaniola, & had declared the cause of the comming to the Admirall and the other
gouernours, they tooke shiping in two marchant ships, being ready furnished, which were
also accustomed to sayle to and fro betweene Spayne and the Hand of Hispaniola. They de-
parted from Dariena (as we said before) the fourth day of the Calends of Noueber, in the
yeere of Christ 1512. & came not to the court beefore the Calendes of May in the yeere
following being the yeere of Christ, l.'ilS. At their comming to the court, lohannes Fon-
seta (to whom at the beginning the charge of these affaires was committed, whome also for
his faithfull seruice towarde the king, your holinessc created general Commissarie in the
warres against the Moores) recciued them honourably, as men comming from the newe
are'"omiur"biy* woHdc, from naked nations, and landes vnknowne to other men. By tlie preferment there-
fore of the Bishop of Burges, Quicedus and Colmenaris were brought before the king, and
declared their legacie in his presence. Suche newes and presentes as they brought, were de-
lectable to the king and his noble men, for the newnesse and strangencsse thereof. They all
soiourned with nie oftentimes. Tiieir countenaunces do declare the intemperatnesse of the
aire and region of Dariena, for they are yelowe, like vnto them that haue the yelowe iaun-
dies, and also swolne : but they ascribe the cause hereof, to the hunger whiche they susteined
in times past. I haue ben aduertised of the affaires of this newe worlde, not only by these
procuratours of Dariena, and Ancisus, and Zamudius, but also by conference with Baccia
ihe lawyer, who ran oucr a great part of those coastes: likewise by relation of Viiicentius
Annez, the patrone of the ships, and Alphonsus Nignus, both being men of great expe-
rience, and wel trauailed in those parties, besides many other, of whom we haue made men-
tion in other places, for there came neuer any from thence to the court, but tooke great
pleasure to certifie me of all thinges, either by word of mouth or by writing. Of many
thinges iherefore whiche I learned of them, I haue gathered such as to my iudgment seeme

mos-t

The procura-

recciucd at the
court.

I^lilri

The second Decade,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

453

most worthy to satisfie them that take delight in histories. But let vs now declare what fo-
Jowed after the comming of the procuratours of Daricna, Therfore, before their arriiial,
there was a rumor spred in the court, that the cheefe gouernours and Lieuetenantcs Nicuesa »
and Fogeda, also lohannes de la Cossa (a man of much reputation that by the kinges letters
patontes hee was named the great maister of the kinges shippes) were al perished by mis- Tiie jreat
chaunce : and that those fewe whiche yet remained aliue in Dariena, were at contention and J^fil^shils'''*
discorde among them selues, so that they neither endeuoured their diligence to allure those
simple nations to our faitli, nor yet had regarde to searche the natures of those regions. Iji
consideration whereof, the king was determined to sein' a newe captayne thither, which
whould restore and set all thinges in good order, and put chcm out of authority whiche had
vsurped the Empire of those prouinces without the kinges spe .iall commaundement. To
this office, ivas one Petrus Arias assigned, a man of great prowessc, and a citizen of Segouia, PctmsAnisn
but when the procuratours of Dariena had published in the courtP howe great a matter it l,uutaiJarin.2
was, and of w!iat moment many laboured earnestly to the king, to take the office out of his
liandes: but the Bishop of Burges, being the kings chiefe chaplayne, and one of the com-
missioners appoynted by him in these matters, being aduertised hereof, came immediately
to the king and spake to him in this effect : May it please your hyghnesse to vnderstai.de Thfomion of
(most catholique prince) that whereas Petrus Arias, a man of valiant craimge and great ser- BurrJs, ia ihe
nice, haiii offered himseife to aduenture his life in your maiesties aflhires, vnder viicertaync dcf^i-cc of Pe.
hope of gainc, and most ccrtayne perils, yet that notwithstanding, some otiier haue ambi-
tiously maliccd his felicitie and preferment, labouring for the office wherto he is elected. I
may please your grace '. re, so to shew him your fauour, and permit him to enioy his sayde
office, ;is your maiestie doe koowe him to bee a woorthy and meete irian for the ::amc, hauing
in tymc past had great experitr.oe of his prowesse and valyantnesse, asv.'"-!! in behauing l^im-
scU'o, as ordering his souldiers, as your highnesse may the better consider, if it shall please
you to call to remembraunce his dooinges in the warres of Aphryca, where he shewed him- Tiiew,irr«of
selfe both a wise captaine, and a valiant souldier. As concerning his? manners and vsages '""*""
otherwayes, tliey arc not vnknowne to your maiestie, vnder whose wing he hath of a childe
bceiie brought vp in the Court, and euer founde faithfull towarde your highnesse. Where-
fore, to declare my opinion, vnder your graces fauour (whom it hath pleased to appoynt me
a Commissioner in these aftaircs) I thinke it were vngodly that he shoulde be put from his
office at the suite of any other, especially being thereto mooued by ambition and couetous-
resse, who perchaunce would proue themselues to lie the same men in the office, if they
should obteine it, as they now shew themselues in the ambitious desiring of the same. When
the Bishop had sayde these wordes, the king confirmed the election of Petrus Arias, in more
ample manner then before, willing the bishop to appoint him a thousande and two hundred
souldiers at his charges, making him a warrant to the officers of his Exchequer, to dcliuer
him money in prcst for the same purpose. Petrus Arias therfore beeing thus put in office,
and authorised by the kinges letters patentes vnder his broade scale, chose a great number
of his souldiers in the court, and so departed from \'alladoleto, about the Caiends of Oct^'bcr,
in the yeere 141.3. and '-aylcd first to Ciuile bccing a very rich citic, and well replenished
with people, where by the kings magistrates, hce was furnished with nienne and vyctuallcs,
and other necessaries perievning to so great a matter: for the king hath in this citic erected a Iimisc in c;.
a house, seruing onely for the atl'aires of the Ocean, to the which all they that goe or come "ii<'jippoy'iitd
from the newe landes and Ilandes, rcsortc to giue accomptcs, aswell what they rary thither, liuiia!" '^ '
as what they bring from thence that the king may bee truely answered of his customc of the
lilt part, both of golde and other thinges, as we haue sayde bccforc. This house they call rcmiitU.
the house of the Contractes of India. Petrus Ari.as found in Ciuile abouc two thousand yong
men which made great suite to goe with him, likewise no small number of couctous okl
men, of the which, many offered themselues to goe with him of their owne charges without
the kings stipende. But least the ships should be pestered with too great a multitude or
least victualles shoulde favle them, the libertie of free passage was restraint. It was also de-
creed that no straunger might passe without the Kinges licence. Wherefore I doe not a little

3 N maruaylc

iiii

':!";

.'■'■■■'sill

'■'i*

:r.,

454

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

T!)e second Decade.

iii 1-

-[■ > .

Tlif Pomigales

iniicntions.

The nnuigation
of Petrui
Arias.

A shypwrackf .

AttiCTiciis Vcs-
futius.

A notable ex-
ample ot' a va-
Uant woman.

The wife of ?«■
trus Arias.

m~''

tnaruayle at Aloisiua Cadamustus a Venetian, and writer of the PorUigalcs voyages, that hce
was not ashamed to wryte thus of the Spanyardes naiiigatioiis : wee went, wee sawc, wee
did: whereas he neiier went, nor any Venetian sawe, but he stole certainc annotations out
of the three first chapters of my first Decade written to Cardinal Ascanius & Arcimboldus,
supposing that I would neuer haue published the same. It might also happen that hee came
by the copie thereof at the hand of some ambassador of Venice, for I haue graunted the
copie to many of them, & was not daungerous to forbid them to communicate the same to
other. Howe so cuer it bee, this honest man Aloisius Cadamu^tus feared not to chalenge
vnto him the fruit of another mans labour. Of the inuentions of the Portugales (whiche
surely are woonderfull) whether he haue written that which he hath scene (as he sailh) or
likewi.se bereaued other men of the iust commendations of their trauayles, I will not iudge,
but am content to let him Hue after his manner. Among the company of these Mouldiers,
there were none embarked but such as were liccced by the king, except a few Italians, Ge-
nues, who by friendshyp and suite were admitted for the Admirals sake young Colonus, sonne
and heyre to Christophorus Colonus, the first finder of those landes. Petrus Arias therefore
tooke shipping in the ryuer Betis (now called Guadalqueuir) running by the citie of Ciuile,
about the beginning of the ycere of Christ 1514. But he loosed anker in an euill houre, for
such a tempest followed shortly after his departure, that it ret in peeces two of his ships, and
so tossed the other, that they were enforced to heaue ouerboorde part of their victualles to
lighten them. All suche as escaped, sayled backe againe to the coastes of Spayne, where,
being newly furnished and refreshed by the kingcs officers, they went forward on their voy-
age. The maister Pylotte of the gouernours shippe, was lohannes Vesputius a Florentine,
the neuiew of Americus Vesputius, who left him as it were by discent of inheritance, the
experience of the mariners facultie and knowledge of the sea, rarde and compassc. But wee
were aduertised of late by certayne whiche came from Ilispaniola, that they had passed the
Ocean with more prosperous wind : for this marchant shyppe comming from Hispaniola,
foundf them landing at certayne Hands neere therabout. But in the meane time, while my
importunate callers on, Galeaceus Butrigarius, and lohannes Cursius, men studious by al
meanes to gratifie your hoiynesse, ceased not to put me in remembrance that they had one in
a readines to depart into Italy, & taricd only to cary with him vnto your holines these, my faire
Nereides, although rudely decked least I should bestow much time in vayne, I haue let passe
many thingx, & wil rehearse only such as .seeme in my iudgement most worthy memory, al-
though somwhat disordered, as occasio hath serued. So it is therefore, that this Petrus Arias
hath a wife named Hclisabetha Boadilla, being niece by the brother side to the marques of
Bnadilla, whiche rendrcd the citie of Segouia to Fernando and Helisabcth Princes of Spayne,
at such time as the Portugales inuaded the kingdome of Ca.stile, by rea.son wherof they were
onrournged first to resist, and then with open warre to assayle and expulse the Portugales, for
the great treasure whiche King Henry brother to Queene Elizabeth hadde geathered together
there. This marquesse, while she lined, did eucr shewe a manly and stout mynde, botn in
peace and warro, so that by her counsayle, many noble things were brought to good eflect in
Castile : vnto this noble woman the wife of Petrus Arias was niece by her brother side. She,
following the magnanimitie of her aunt, perceiuing her husbande nowe furnishing himselfe
to departe to the vnknowne coastes of the newe worlde, and those large tractes of lande and
sea, spake these wordes vnto him : My most deare and welbeloued husbande, we ought not now
to forget that from our young yceres we haue bcene ioyned together with the yoke of holy
maliimonie, to the intent that we shoulde so Hue together, and not a sunder, during the time
of our naturall life: wherefore for my parte, to declare my affection herein, you shall vn-
derstande, that whither socuer your fatall destinie shall driue you, cyther by the furious wanes
of the groat Ocean, or by the manifolde and horrible daungers of the lande, I wil surely
beare \< n companie : there canne no perill chaunce to me so terrible, nor any kinde of death
60 cruell, that shall not be much easier for mee to abide, then to Hue so farre separate from
you. It were much better for mee to die, and eyther to be cast into the sea, to be deuoured
of the fishes, or on the land to the Canibales, then with continual mourning and bewayling,

The second Decade

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEllIES.

455

to liue in death, and dye lining;, while I consume in looking rather for my hiwbandcs letters,
then for himselfe. This is my full determination, not rashly, nor presently excogitate, nor
roncciued by the light phantasie of womans brayne, but with long deliberation and good ad-
iiisement. Nowe therefore choose to whether of these two you will assent, cyther to thruste
your sworde in my throatc, or to graunt me my request. As for the children which God
Ijath giuen vs as pledges of our inseparable loue (for they had foure sonnes, and as many
daughters) shall not stay me a moment: let vs leauc vnto them such goodes and possessions
as we haue beene left vs by our parentes and friends whereby they may liue among the
v'orshipfull of their order: for other thinges I tnke no care. When this noble niatrone of
manly vertue had finished these woordcs, hrr husbande seeing the constant myndc of his
wife, and her in a readinesse to do arconling to her wordes, had no heart to denyc her louing
])etition, but embracing her in his arincs, commended her intent, and consented to her re-
(|ucst. She followed him therefore, as did Ipsicrafea her Mithridatcs, with her hayre hang-
ing loose about her shoulders : for she loued her husbande, as did Halicarnassea of Caria hers,
being dead, as did Artemisia her Mausolus, Wee haue also had aduertisment since their de-
parture, that she (bi'"iji brought vp as it were among soft fct' ors) hath uith no Ics stout
courage susteiiicd the roarings and rages of the Ocean, then did cyther her husband, or any
of the mar\'ncrs brought vp euen among the sour "cs of the sea. But to haue sayde thus
much hereof, this .shall suffice: let vs nowe speake of other thinges no lesse worlhie memorie.
Therefore, wheras in the first decade we haue made mention of Vincentius Annez Pinzoniis,
ye shal vnderstand that hee accompanied Christophorus Colonus the Admimll in his first voy-
age, and afterwarde made an other vovage of his owne charges with onely one ship. Againe,
the first yeere after the departing of the Captaynes Nirue.sa and Fogeda, he ran ouer those
« oastes from Hispaniola, and searched the South side of Cuba, from the East to the West, and
sayled rounde about that Hand, which to that day, for the great length thereof, was thought
to haue bin part of the continent or firme lande, although some other say that they did the
like. Vincentius Annez, thcrfore, knowing now by experience that Cuba was an Hand, sailed
on further and founde other lands Wcstwarde from Cuba, but such as the Admirall had first
touched. Wherfore, being in maner encompassed with this newe lande, turning his course
towarde the left hande, and ra-ing the coastes of that lande by the East, ouerpassing also the
mouthes of the gulfes of Beragua Vraba, and Cuchibachoa, he arryued at the region whiche
in the first Decade wee called Paria and Os Draconis, and entred into the great gulfe of freshe
water, which Colonus discouered, beeing replenished with great abundance of fishe, and
famous by reason of the multitude of Ilandes lying in the same, beeing distaunt Eastwarde
Irom Curiana about an hundred and thirtie myles, in the which tract are the regions of Cu-
mana and Manacapana, whiche also in the sixt chapter of the first Decade we said to be re-
gions of the large prouince of Paria, where many aflirme to be the greatest plentie of the Piemieof
best pearles, and not in Curiana. The kinges of these regions (whom they call Chiacones, ''"''"•
as they of Hispaniola call them Cacici) being certified of the comming of our men, sent
certayne spies to enquire what newe nation was arriued in their coastes, what they brought,
and what they would haue, and in the meane time furnished a number of their Canoas (whiche
they call Chichos) with men armed after their manner: for they were not a litle astonyshed
to beholde our shippes with the sayles spreade, whereas they vse no sayles, nor can vse but
small ones if they woulde, by reason of the narrownesse of their Canoas. Swarming there-
fore about the shyppe with their Canoas (whiche we may well call Monoxyla, because they
are made of one whole tree) they feared not to shoote at our men, being yet within their
shyppes, and keeping themselues vnder the hatches, as safely as if they had beene defended
with stone walles. But when our men had shotte of certayne peeccs of ordinance agaynst
them, they were so discomfited with the noyse and slaughter thereof, that they droue them- The vte oi
selues to flight. Being thus disparcled, our men chased them with the ship boate, tooke ^"""""
many, & slue many. When the kinges heard the noyse of the gunncs, and were certified
of the lossc of their men, they sent ambassadours to Vincentius Agnes to entreate of peace,
icaring the spoyle of their goodes, and destruction of their people, if our men should come

.3 N 2 alande

n'-l!

%«2

I ill

■;,<

?.'>;

piy:''<

,-ii-

456

(litnt nliund-
unci' uf gold and
fr.inkt'iu'ciisc.
Olibjiiuni.

Sabea is a cc ij-
trry ill Ariibi<i
which litingrih
forth i'[;iiikcii.
cciiic,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tfie second Decade.

Rulers for one
ycerc.

The great gulfe
of Paiia>

The great Ibnd
Allantikc.

Co'^tention be-
tweenc the Cis-
tiU.ins iv'l'Oitu-
gales for thf
uewe laiitles.

alande in their wrath and fiirle. They desired peace tlicrcfore vm coulde bee conicctiircd by
their sigiies and poyntinges: for our men vndcrstoode not one word of their langnaj^e. And
for the better proofe that they desired peace, they prest-ted our men with three thoiisandc of
those wtightes of golde that the Spanyardea call Castellanum Aurcnm, whiche they commonly
call Pesnm. Also a great barrel of wood ful of most excellent masculine Frankenccnse,
weighing about two thonsandc and sixe hundred poundcs weight, after eight ounces to thci
poundc : whereby they knewe that that lande brought foorth great pientie of Frankenccnsc,
for there is no entercourseof marchandyes betweene the inhabitauntos of ParLi and the Sa-
beans, beeing so farre distant, whereas also they of Paria knewe nothing without their owiie
toastes. With the golde and Frankencense wiuche they presctcd to our men, they gaue
tliem also a great multitude of their peacockes, both cocke^i and liennes, dead and aline,
aswell to satisfie their present necessitic, as also to cary with them into Spayne for encrease,
likewise certaine carpettes, couerlcttes, table clothes, and hangingcs, made of Gossanipine
silkc, (inely wrought after a strange deuicc, with pleasant and variable colours, hauing golden
belles, and such other spangles and pendauntes, as the Italians call Sonaglios, and the Span-
yardes Cascaueles, hanging at the purfles thereof. They gaue them furthermore speaking
popyngaycs of sundry colours, as many as they woulde askc : for in Paria there is no lessc
plciuic of popingayes, then with vs of doues or sparows. The inhabitats of these regions,
both men & women, are apparelled with vestures made of gossampine cotton, the men to
the knees, and the women to the calfe of the legge. The fashion of thoir apparcll is simple
& playne, much like vnto the Turkes: but the mens is double, and quilted, like that which
the Turkes vse in the warres. The princes of Paria are rulers but for one yeere : but tiieir
anthoritie is no lesse among the people both in peace and warrc, then is the authoritie of
other kings in those regions. Their villages are buildcd in compassc, along !)y the bankcs
of al that great gulfe. Fyue of their princes came to our menne with their preseiites, whose
names I thought worthy to bee put in this historic, in remembrance of so notable a thing,
Chiaconus Ciiiauaccha (that is, the prince of Chiauaccha, for they cal princes or Kings Chia-
conus) Chiaconus Pintiguanus, Chiaconus Chamailaba, Chiaconus Polomus, and Chiaconus
Potto. The gulfe being first found of the Admirall Colonus, they cal Baia Natiuifatis, because
he entred into the same in the day of the natiuitie of Christ, but at that time he only passed
by it without any further searching, and Baia in the Spanishe tong, signifieth a giillV. When
Vincentius had thus made a league with these princes, following his appoynted course, hee
f unde many regions towarde the East, desolate by reason of diuerse flouds and oucrflowings
of waters : also many standing pooles in diuers places, and those of exceeding largnesse.
lie ceased not to followe this tract, vntill he came to the poynt or cape of that most
long land. This poynt seemeth as though it would inuadc the mount Atlas in Aphrica : for
it prospccteth towarde that part of Aphrike, which the Portugales call Caput bonae Spe-
raiitia;. The poyntes or capes of the mtunt Atlas are rough & sauage, neere vnto the
sea. The cape of Bona Speranza, gathercth thirtie and foure degrees of the Southe pole,
called the pole Antartike, but that poynt oncly seuen degrees. 1 suppose this lande to be
that wh.rhe I finde in olde writers of Cosmographie to bee called the great Ilaiule Atlantike,
without any further declaring ey ther of the situation, or of the nature thereof.

The eight Chapter of the seconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

Wllen lohn the king of Portugale lined, which was predecessour tohim thatnowe raigneth,
there arose a great contention betweene tlie Castilinns and the Portugales, as concerning the
dominion of these newe found lands. The Portugales, beec: use they were the first that durst
attempt to search the Ocean sea since the memorie of man atbrmed that al the nauigations
of the Ocean, ought to ])crteine to them onely. The Castilians argued on the contrary part
that whatsoeuer God by the ministration of nature hath created on the earth, was at the be-
ginning common among men, & that it is therefore lawful to euery man to possesse such
landes as;ire voyd of Christian inhabitours. While the matter was thus vncertainly debated,
both parties agreed that the cotrouersie shuld be decided by the bysshop of Home, and

plighted

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Icssc

neth,

g the

durst

ations

part
le be-

^iicli
jated,

and

hied

plighted faith to standc to his arbifrement. The kingdomc Castile was at that tytiic ftoiicrncd
by that great qiieenc llelisabeth with her husband : for the Kcalmr of Castile was her dowrie.
She also and the King of Portiigale, were cosyn gcrniancs of two sisters, by rca-on whereof,
the dissenlion was more easily pacilied. By the assent therefore of both partie*;, Alexander
the bishop of Honne, the (). of that name, by the authority of his leaden bull, drewe a right
line from the North to the South, an hundred lenifuea westwarde, without the paralels of those
liandes which are called Caput Viridc, or Caboncrde, within the tompasse of this lync (al-
though some denie it) falleth the poynt of this lande whereof wee haue spoken, which they
call Caput Sancti Augustini, otherwise called Promontoriuni Sancfi Augustini, that is, saint
Augustines cape or poynt: and therefore it is not lawful! for the Cnxtilians to fasten footc in
the beginning of that land, \inccntius Anncz therefore departed from thence, being ad-
uertised of the inhabitants, that on the other side of the hygh mountaynes towardc the South,
lying before his eyes, there was a region called (/iamba, whiche brought forth great plentie
of gold. Of ccrtuine captiues whiche hee tooke in the gulfc of faria (whiche certaynely
pertcyneth to the dominion of Castile) he brought some with him to Hispaniola, and left
them with the young Admiral I to learne our language : but he himselfe repayred to the court,
to make earnest suite to the king, that by his fauour he might be gouernour of the Hand of
Sancti lohannis (otherwise called Burirliena, being distant from Hispaniola onely xxv. leagues)
because he was the first finder of golde in that Ilande. Before Vincentiiis made suite for this
office, one Don Christopher, a Portugalc, the sonne of the countie of Camigna, was gouer-
nour of the Hand, whom the Canibalcs of the other Hands slue, with all the (,'hristian men
that were in the same, except the Bisshop and his familiars, whiche fled and shifted for them -
selues, forsaking the church and all the ornamentes therof : for your holynesse hath conse-
crated due bishops in these Hands, at the request of the most catholique king. In Sancto
Doniinico the chiefe citie of Hispaniola, Garsia de Padilla, a regular Fryer of the order of
saint Frauncis, is bysshop. In the towne of Conception, doctor Pctrus Xuares of Deza, and
in the Ilande of saint lohn or Burichena, Aiphonsus Mansusalicenciate, being both obseruants
of the institution of saint Peter. The fourth is Fryer Barnarde of Mesa, a man of noble
parentage, borne in Toledo, a preacher, & Bishop of the Ilande of Cuba. The fift is lo-
hannes Cabedus, a Fryer preacher, whom your holynesse annoynted minister of Christe, to
teach the Christian faith among the inhabitantes of Dariena. The Canibales shall shortly
repent them, and the blonde of our men shall be reuenged, and that the sooner, because
that shortly after they hadde coinmitted this abhominable slaughter of our men, they came
againe from their owne Ilande of Sancta Crux (otherwise called Ay Ay) to the Ilande of
Sancti lohannis, and slue a king whiche was a friende to our men, and eate him, and al his
familie, vtterly subuerting his village, vpon this occasion, that violating the law of hostage,
hee hadde slayne seuen Canibales whiche were left with him by composition to make certayne
Canoas, because the Hand of Sancti lohannis beareth greater trees, and apter for that pur-
pose, then doth the Hand of Sancti Crux, the chiefe habitatio of the Canibales. These Ca-
nibalcs yet remaining in the Hand, certayne of our men sayling from Hispaniola, chaunced
vpon them. The thing being vnderstoode by the interpretours, our men quarelling with
them, & calling them to accompt for that mischeuous deede, they immediately directed their
bowes and venemous arrowes against them, and with cruell countenaunces threatn^d them to
be quiet, least it shoulde repent them of their comming thither. Our men fearing their ve-
nemous arrowes (for they were not prepared to fyght) gaue them signes of peace. Beeing
demaunded why they destroyed the village, and where the king was with his familie, they
answered, that they rased the village, and cut the king with his familie in peeces, and eate
them in the reuenge of their seuen workemen : and that they had made faggottes of their
bones, to cary them to the wiues and children of their slayne workemen, in witiiesse that the
bodies of their husbandes and parentes lay not vnreuenged, and therewith shewed the "ig-
gottes of bones to our men, who beeing astonished at their fiercenesse and rrueltie, were
enforced to dissemble the matter, and holde their peace, quarrelling no further with them at
that time. These and suche other thinges doe dayly chaunce, the which I doe let passe,

least

iji

Tlie Mshop iif
Romr diuiJctli

III' ll.,n,l,

Thf golilirn r-^
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Th.' ll.inilt of
S. lulianiiis.

Flue Byshopsof
the Hand ni.ide
by the Bysliop ef
Kumc.

The CanibaU of
the Hand of
Sancta Crux.

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Hiotographin
_Sciences
Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0

(716) 872-4503

■'^

458

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie second Decade,

The riuen of
Vnba.

Thf Iruitful-
tiesic ot' Vr.iba.

Tht fruitful-
iiesMofDiikna.

Swlijfj ficshe of
l»rttcr taste k
more hf)lesome
then mutton.

truitcs jiutrified
>in tlic sea.

Betatas.

least I should ofTend the eares of your holynesse with such blouddie narrationo. Thus haue
we sufficiently digressed from the regions of Beragua and Vraba, being the chiefcst foun-
dations of our purpose. We will now therefore entreate somewhat of the largenesse and
deapth of the ryuers of Vraba : also declare both what they and the lands which they runne
through do bring foorth: likewise of the greatnesse of the lande from the East to the West,
and of the breadth therof from the South to the North, and what their opinion and hope
is of things yet vnknownc in the same. We will therefore beginne at the newe names,
wherewith the Spanyardcs haue named these prouinces, since they were vnder the dominions
of the Christians.

The nienth Chapter of tiie second Decade, of the supposed continent.

BEragua therefore they called Castella Aurea, that is, golde Castile, & Vraba they named
Andalusia noua, that is, new Andalusia. And like as of many Iliids which th^y subdued, they
chose Hispaniola for the chiefe place of their habitation : so in the large tract of Paria, they
appoyntcd their colonie or biding place in the two regions of Vraba and Beragua, that all
suche as attempt any voyages in those coastes, may resort to them, as to safe portes to be
refreshed when they are wearie or driuen to necessitie. All our seedes and plants do now
marucilously encrease in Vraba, likewise blades, sets, slips, grafte.s, suger canes, and such
other as are brought from other places to those regions, as also beasles and foules, as wee
haue sayd before: O marucilous frnitefulnesse. Twentie dayes after the seede is .sowen,
they gathered rype cucumbers, and such like : but Colwoorles, Beetes, Lettuse, Borage, are
rype within the space of ten daycs. Gourdes, Melones, and Pompions within the space of
xwiii. dayes. Dariena hath many nntiue trees and fruites, of diuers kindes, with sundry tastes,
& holsome for the vse of men, of the which I haue thought it good to describe certain of the
best. They nouryshe a tree which they call Guaiana, that beareth a fruite much resembling
the kinde of Citroncs which are commonly called Limones, of tast somewhat sharpc, myxt
with sweetnesse. They haue also abundance of nuts of pine trees, and great plentie of
Date trees, which beare fruites bigger then the Dates that are knowne to vs, but they are not
apt to be eate for their too much sowrenesse. Wilde & barren Date trees grow of them-
selucs in sundry places, the branches wherof they vse to beesomes, and eate also the buds
of the same. Guarauana, bceing higher and bigger then the orange tree, bringeth foorth
a great fruite as bigge as pome Citrons. There is another tree much like to a chestnut tree,
whose fruite is like to the bigger sorte of figs, being holsome and of pleasant taste. Mameis,
is another tree that bringeth forth fruite as bigge as an orange, in taste nothing inferior to
the best kindes of Melones. Guananala, beareth a fruite Icsse then any of the other, but of
sweete sauour like spice and of delectable tast. Houos is another tree, whose fruite both
in shape and taste is muche like to prunes, but some what bigger : they are surely perswaded
that this is the Myrobalane tree. These growe so abundantly in Hispaniola, that the hogges
are fedde with the fruite therof, as with mast among vs. The hogges like this kinde of feeding
so wcl, that when these fruites waxe ripe the swine hcards can by no meanes keepe them out
of the woods of these trees, by reason whereof, a great multitude of them are become wilde.
They also affirme, that in Hispaniola swincs flesh is of muche better taste and more wholsome
then mutton : for it is not to be doubted, but that diuers kindes of meates doe engender
sundry tastes and qualities in such as are nuurished thcrwith. The most puissant prince
Ferdinandus, declared that he had eaten of another fruite brought from those landes, being
full of scales, with kcies, much like a pineapple in fourmeand colour, but in tendernes equal
to melow pepons, and in taste exceeding al garden fruites: for it is no tree, but an hearbe,
much like vnto an artichoke, or Acantho : The king him sclfe gauc the cheefest commenda-
tion to this. I haue eaten none of these fruits: lor of a great number which they brought
from thence, only one remained vncorrupted, the other being pulrified by reaso of the
long voiage. Al suche as haue eaten of them newly geathered in their natiue soile, do mar-
ucilously coinmende tlicir sweetenesse and pleasaunt taste. 'Jhcy digge also out of the
groimdc certaine rootes growing of them seluc.s, whichc they call IJctatas, muche like vnto

the

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

459

the nauie rooles of Millane, or the great piiffcs or mushroitics of the earth. HowHoeiier
they be dressed, eyther fried or sodde, they giiie place to no surhe kinde of meate in plea-
sant tendernes. The skinne is somwhat tougher then either the nauies or i/iushromes, of
earthie colour, but the inn«.r meate thcrof is very white: These arc nourished in gardens,
as we saide of lucca in the first Decade. They are also eaten rawe, and haue the taste of
rawe chestnuts, but are somewhat sweeter. We haue spoken sufficiently of trees, hearbes,
and fruites, we wil nowe therfore entreate of things sensitiue. The landes and desolate pas- LionnndTi.
tures of these regions, are inhabited and deuourcd of wilde and terrible beastes, as Lions, «"*•
Tigers, and suche other monsters as we nowe knowe, and haue ben described of olde au-
thunrs in time past. But there is specially one beast engendrcd here, in which nature hath a strings btm.
endeuoured to shew her cunning : This beast is as bigge as an Oxc, armed with a long snoutc
like an Elephant, and yet no Elephant, of the colour of an axe, and yet no oxe, with the
hoofe of a horse, & yet no horse, with eares also inuchc like vnto an Elephant, but not so
open nor so much hanging downe, yet muche wider then the cares of any other beast. Of
the beast which bcareth her whelpes about with her in her second belly as in a purse (being
knowen to none of the olde writers) I haue spoken in the first Decade, which I doubt not
to haue come to the handes of your holinesse. Let vs nowe therefore declare what resteth
of the flooddes and riuers of Vraba. The riuer of Dariena fallcih into the gulfe of Vraba,Tiif nuersot
with a narow chanel, scarcely able to beare the Canoas or Lighters of that prouince, &
runneth by the village where they chose their dwelling place, but the riuer in the corner of
the gulfe which we saide that Vaschus passed by, they founde to be : xxiiii. furlongs in AiMgufjsxim,
breadth ( which they call a league ) and of exceeding deapth, as of two hundred cubits, "' ""'*"'
falling into the gulfe by diners mouthes. They say that this riuer falleth into the gulfe of
Vraba, like as the riuer Ister (otherwise called Danubius, and Danowe) falleth into the seai>»nubiu$.
Pontike : and Nilus into the sea of Egipt, wherefore they named it Grandis, that is, great :
whiche also they affirme to nourishe many and great Crocodiles, as the old writers testifie ACrocodUtit
of Nilus, and especially as I haue learned by experience, hauing sailed vp and downe the JJ"u[',' bu'"f
riuer of Nilus, when I was sent Ambassadour to the Souldane of Alcair, at the commande- exceeding
ment of the most catholique king. What I may therefore geather out of the writinges of so""^"""'
many learned authours .ns concerning the riuer of Nilus, I knowe not : for they say that na-
ture hath giuen two riuers of that name to water the lande, whether they wil them to spring
out of the mountaines of the moone or the sunne, or out of the tops of the rough moun-
tains of Ethiopia, affirming one of the same to fall into the gulfe of Egypt towarde the North,
and the other into the South Ocean sea. What shall wee say in this place ; Of that Nilus in
Egypt there is no doubt. The Portugales also which sayle by the coastes of the Ethiopians The Ponugaif.
called Nigritas, and by the kingdome of Melinda, passing vnder the Equinoctiall lyne, '""'s'"'""'
among their marucylous inuentions haue found another toward the South, and earnestly
affirme the same to bee also deriued from the mr.untains of the moone, & that it is another
chanel of Nilus, because it bringeth forth Crocodiles, whereas it hath not bin read before
time, that any other ryuer nourished Crocodiles sauing onely Nilus. This riuer the Portu-
gales call Senega. It runneth through the region of the Nigritas, being very fruitefiiil toward
the North shore, but on the South side sandie and rough. Crocodiles are also engendred
herein. What shall we then say of this thirde ; yea I may well say the fourth : for I suppose
them also to bee Crocodiles, which Colonus with iiis company founde, armed with scales as
hard as shelles, in the ryuer called Dclagartos, whereof wee haue made mention before.
Shall we say that these ryuers of Dariena also & Vraba, haue their original! from the moun-
tayncs of the moone, wheras they spring out of the next mountains, & can by no meaiies
haue the same originall with Nilus in Egypt, or that in Nigrita, or els that in tiie kingdome
of Melinda, from whence so euer they are deriued, whereas these other (as we haue sayd)
spring out of the next mountaynes, which diuide another South se:i, with no great distance
from the North Ocean. Wherfore, it appeareth by experience of such as haue Irauailed the
world in our time, that other waters beeside the riuer of Nilus in Egypt, may likewise bring
foorth Crocodiles. In the maryshes also and fennes of the regions of Dariena, are founde

great

■My

■1

!* '''■■;

!, '-ft!

X^.;.

460

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The second Decadr

■d }

A philosophical
discourse ax can-
cel iiing thorigi-
nal ot'spiingcs
and riucrs.

Thf hmdth of
the lji)de at
Vrjlu.from
the Noith Ocean
to the South sea.

The sea.

lie Idr.l en-
closed with two
&cas.

C'oi'U"''''"' of
ayre into water
i!i thr caues of
«)'Ouiitayne^.

great plcnlic of Pheasant)* and Pcacockes (but not of variable coloures) with many other
kindes of birdes and foules vnlyke vnto ours, aswel apt to ])e eaten, as also to delight the
eares of menne with pleasaunt noyse. But our Spanyardcs, because they are ignorant in
fowling, take but fewe. Also innumerable pojiin^^aycs of sundry kindes are founde chatter-
ing in the groues of those fcnnie places. Of these there are some equnll to Capones in big-
nesse, and some as litle as sparowes. But of the diuersitie of popingaies, we haue spoken
sufficiently in the firste Decade: for in the rase of this large lande, Colonus him selfe brought
and sent to the courte a great number of euery kinde, the whiche it was lawfull for all the
people to beholde, and are yet daily brought in like manner. There remaineth yet one thing
mooste worthy to be put in historie, the whiche, I had rather to haue chaunced into the hands
of Cicero or Liuie, then in to mine: for the thing is so marueilous in my estimation, that I
finde my witte more entangled in the description hereof, then is saide of the henne when
she seeth her young chicken inwrapped in towe or flaxe. The breadth of that lande from the
North Ocean to the South sea, is only sixe daies iourney, by relation of the inhabifauntes.
The multitude ther fore and greatnesse of the riuers on the one side, and on the other side
the narrownessc of the lande, bring me into suche doubt howe it can come to passe, that in so
litle a place of three daies iourney, measuring from the high toppes of those mounfaines, I
doc not vnderstande howe so many and so grcale riuers may haue recourse vnto this North
sea : for it is to be thv ught, that as many doe tlow toward thinhabitants of the South. These
riuers of Vraba are but small, in comparison of manv other in those coastes : for the Spany-
ards say, that in the time of Colonus, they found and passed by an other riuer after this,
whose gulfe falling into the sea, they alTirme to be litle lesse then a hundred miles in the
first coastes of Paria, as we haue saide else where : for they sav, that it falleth from the toppes
of highe mountaines with so swift and furious a course, that by the violence and greatnesse
thereof, it driueth backe the sea, although it be rough & enforced with a cofrarie wind. They
al affirme likewise, that in al the large tractc therof, they felt no sowre or salt water, but that
all the water was freshe, sweete and apt to be drunke. Thinhabitauntes call this riuer Marag-
nonum, and the regions adiacent to the same, Mariatambal, Camamorus, and Paricora : beside
those riuers whiche I haue named before, as Darien, Grandins Dabaiba, Beragua, Sancti Mathei,
Boius gatti, Delagartos, it Gaira, thcv which of late haue searched those coastes, haue founde
many other. Deliberating therefore with my selfe, from whence these mountaines, being so
narrowe and neere vnto the sea on both sides, haue suche great holowe caues or dens of such
capacitie, and from whence they are filled, to cast foorth such abundance of water : hereof
also asking them the opinions of the inhabitantes, they affirme them to be of diuers iudge-
mentes herein, allcadging first the grcatnes of the mountaines to be the cause, whiche they
say to be very hygh, which thing also Colonus the first finder thereof affirmeth to bee
true, adding thereunto that the paradise of pleasure is in the tops of those mountaynes
whiche appcare from the gulfe of Paria & Os Draconis, as he is fully pcrswaded. They agree
therefore that there are great caues within these mountaynes, but it resteth to rnn<ider from
whece they are fyllcd. If therefore al the riuers of freshe water, by the opinion of many,
doe so flow out of the sea, as driucn and compelled through the passages or pores of the
earth, by the ponderous weight of the sea it selfe, as wee see them breakc foorth of the
springes, and direct their course to the sea agavne, then the thing it selfe to bee marueyled
at here, then in otiicr places : for wee hnue not read that in any other place, two such seas
haue enuironed any lande with so narrower lymittes : for it hath on the right side the great
Ocean, where the sunne <,^ocfh downe on the left hande, and another on the other side ^\herc
the sunne riseth, nothing inferiour to the first in greatnesse, for they suppose it to bee myxtc
and ioyned as all one with the sea of East India. This land therefore beeing burdened with
so great a weyght on the one side, & on the other (if this opinion be of any value) is enforced
to swallowe vp suche denoured %vaters, and againe to cast foorth the same in open springes
and streames. But if wee shall denye that the earth draweth humoures of the sea, and agree
that all the fountaynes or springes are engendered of the conucrsion or turning of ayre into
water, distilling within the holow places of the mountaynes (as the most part thinkc) we wil

giuc

The second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

461

giue place rather to the authoritie of them vrhiche sticke to thone reasons then that our sencc
is satisfied of the full tnith thereof. Yet do I not repugne, that in some raues ofmouniaynes,
water is turned into ayre: for I my selfe haue neene, howe in the cauesof manye mountaynes
in Spayne, in manner showres of rayne doe fall continually and that the water gathered by
this meanes, dooth send forth certayiie riuers by the sides of the mountaines, wherewith all
suche trees as are planted on the steepe or foote of the mountaynes, as vines, oliuc trees, and
suche other, are watered, and this especially in one place : as the right honourable Lodnuike
the Cardinall of Aragonie, most obsequious to your holinesse, and two other bi^hops of Italy,
whereof the one is Siluius Pandonus, and the other an Archbishop ( whose name and title I do
not remember) can beare me witnesse : for when wee were together at Granata, lately deliuered
from the dominion of the Moores, & walked for our pastyme to certayne pleasant hilles
(by the which there ranne a fayre ryuer) while Cardinall Lodouike occupied himselfe in
shooting at birdes whiche were in the bushes neere vnto the riuer, I and the other two bi-
shops determined to clime the mountaynes, to search tlie originall and spring of the ryuer :
for we were not farre from the tops thereof. Folowing therefore the course of the riuer, wee
founde a great caue, in which was a continuall fall of water, as it had beene a showre of
rayne, the water whereof, falling into a trenchc made with mans handc, encreaseth to a
ryuer, and runneth downe by the sides of the mountaynes. The like is also seene in this fa-
mous towne of Valladoleto (where we nowe soiourne) in a certayne greene close, not past a
furlong distant from the walles of the towne. I graunt therefore, that in certayne places, by
conucrsion of the ay rie dewe into water, within the caues of suche mountaynes, many springes
and riuers are engendered : but I suppose that nature was not solicitate to bring foorth such
great floudes by this so small Industrie. Two reasons therefore do sound best to my iudge-
ment : whereof the one is, the often fall of rayne : the other, the continual autumne or spring The oft«n f«u
time which is in those regions, being so neere vnto the Equinoctial, that the common people can °on"in"u"
perceiue no difference betweene the length of the day and the night through out all the yeere, ^''"s"""- _
whereas these two seasons are more apt to engender abundance of rayne, then eyther extreame ,uu. '''""
winter, or feruent sommer. An other reason in effect much like vnto the first is this : If the sea
be ful of pores, and that by the pores thereof, being opened by the South wyndes, we shall con- '^'j'.^'" °|[,
sent that vapours are lyfted vp, whereof the watery cloudes are engendered, this lande must south wind.
needs bee moysted with moe showres then anye other, if it bee as narrowe as they say, and
enuironed with two mayne seas collaterally beating on the same : how soeuer it bee, I cannot
but giue credite to the reporte of such woorthy men as haue recourse to those regions, and
can no lesse then declare the same, albeit it may seeme incredible to some ignorant persons,
not knowing the power of nature, to whome, Plinie was perswaded, that nothing was impos-
sible. We haue therefore thought it good to make this discourse by the way of argument,
least on the one side, menne of good learning and iudgement. and on the other side, such as are
studious to finde occasions of quarelling in other mens wrytinges, shoulde iudge vs to bee so
vndiscrete, lightly to giue credite to euery tale, not being consonant to reason : but of the
force and great violence of those fresh waters, which repulsing the sea, make so great a gulfe ( as
wee haue sayde ) I thinke the cause thereof to bee the great multitude of floudes and riuers,
whiche beeing gathered together, make so great a poole, and not one ryuer as they suppose.
And forasmuch as the mountaines are exceeding high and steepe, I think the violence of the fall
of the waters to be of such force, that this conflict betweene the waters, is caused by the impul-
sion of the poole, that the salt water cannot enter into the gulfe. But here perhaps some will
marueyle at mee, why I should marueile so much hereat, speaking vnto me scornefully, after
this maner : Why doth hee so marueile at the great riuers of those regions ? Hath not Italic
his Eridanus, named the king of riuers of the olde writers; Haue not other regions also theTh'floudt
like ; as wee reade of Tanais, Ganges, and Danubius, which are sayd so to ouercome the sea,
that freshe water may bee drawne fourtie myles within the same. These men I would satisHe
with this aunswcre. The famous ryuer of Padus in Italie (whiche they nowe call Po, and was
of the Greekes called Eridanus) hath the great mountaynes called Alpes, diuiding Fraunce,
Gennanie, and Pannonie, from Italie, lying at the banke there, as it were bulwarkes agger,

3 O full

' 'i

! ,1- -VM

;'ii

468

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

lite second Decade.

ilW-.

m^'

Alpheur

Long caurs in
ttir moufi*
Uynrt,

The Itngth
and forinc of
the Hand.

C'ardri of (he
s».

The carde of

Amcricut

Vcspiiciui.

The carde of
C'ulonuk

The carde of

luhannrs de
la Cossa.

The Caide of
Andreu Mo-
lalis.

The maner of
mcasiiring the
'ardcs,

Cull or moysture, and with a long tracte receiuing Ticinum, with innumerable other great
ryitcrii, faileth into the sea Adriatike. The like is also to bee vnderstoude of the other. But
these riuers ( ns our menne were enfourmed by the kinges) fall into the Ocean sea with
larger and fuller channels neere hande, and some there are which affirme this lande to be very
large in other places, although it be but narrowe here. There commeth also to my remem-
brance another cause, the whiche although it be of no great force, yet doe I entende to write
it. Perhaps therefore the length of the lande reaching farre from the East to the West, if it be
narowe, may be a helpe hereunto : for as wee reade, that the ryuer Alpheus passeth through
the holowe places vnder the sea, from the citie of Elis in Peloponeso, and breaketh forth at
the fountaine or spring Arethusa in the Ilande of Sicilla so is it possible that these mountaines
may haue such long caues perteyning vnto them, that they may bee the receptacles of the
water passing through the landes beeing farre distant, and that the same waters comming by
so long a tracte, may in the way bee greatly encreased, by the conuersion of ayre into wa-
ter, as we haue saydc. Thus much haue I spoken freely, permitting both to them which do
friendly interprete other mens dooinges and also the malicious scorners, to take the thing
euen as them lysteth, for hitherto I can make no further declaration hereof but when the
trueth shalbe better knowne, I wil do my diligence to commit the same to writing. Nowe
therefore, forasmuch as we haue spoken thus much of the breadth of this lande, we entende
to describe tlie length and fourme of the same.

The tenth Chapter of the scconde Decade, of the supposed continent.

THat land reacheth forth into the sea, euen as doth Italy, although not like the leg of a
man, as it doth. But nowe I compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe, to a Giant : for that part ther-
of which the Spaniardes haue ouerrunne, from the said East poynt whiche reacheth towarde
the sea Atlantike, (the end not being yet founde towarde the West) is more then eight times
longer then Italie. And by what reason I am moued to say eight times, your holincsse shall
vnderstande. From the time therefore that I first determined to obey their reqiiestes, who
willed mee first in your name to write these thingcs in the Latine tongue, I did my endcuour
that all thinges might come foorth with due tryall and experience : wherupon I repayred to
the Byshop of Burges, being the chiefe refuge of this nauigation. As we were therefore sc-
cretely together in one chamber, we had many instrumentes perteining to these affaires, as
globes, and many of those maps which are commonly called the shipmans cardes, or cardes of
the sea. Of the which, one was drawne by the Portiigales, whereunto Americus Vesputius is
sayd to haue put to his hand, beeing a manne most expert in this facultie, and a Florentine
borne, who also vnder the stipend of the Portugales, had sayled towarde the South pole manic
degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall. In this carde we found the first front of this lande to bee
broader then the kinges of Vraba had perswaded our men of their mountaynes. To another,
Colonus the Admiral, while he yet liucd, and searched those places, had giuen the beginning
with his owne handes : whereunto Bartholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenant had added
his iudgement, for he also had sayled about those coastcs. Of the Spanyardcs likewise, as
many as thought thcmselues to haue anie knowledge what perteyned to measure the land and
the sea, drew certayne cardes in parchment as concerning these nauigations. Of all other,
they most esteeme them which lohannes de la Cossa the companion of Fogeda (whom we
sayde to be slayne of the people of Caramairi in the hauen of Carthago) & another expert
pylote called Andreas Moralis, had set forth. And this aswcl for the great experiece which
they both had (to whom these tractes we^n aswel knowne as the chambers of their owne
houses) as also that they were thought to be cunningcr in that part of Cosmographie, which
teacheth the description & measuring of the sea. Conferring therefore al these cardes toge-
ther, in euery of the which was drawne a lyne, expressing not the myles, but leagues, after
the manner of the Spanyards, wee tooke our compasses, & began to measure the sea coastes
after his order. From that poynt or front whiche we sayde to bee included within the lyne
perteyning to the Portugales iiirisdiction, beeing drawcn by the paralclles of the Ilandes of
Cabouerde, but a hundred leagues further towaurde the West (which they haue nowe also

searched

Tlic second Decade.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

465

searched on cuery side) wee fniinde three hundred leagues to the entrance of the riuer Ma-
ragnonum : and from thence to Oh Draconis, scuen hundred leagues, but somewhat loisc by
the description of some, for they doe not agree in all poyntes exquisitely. The Spanyiirdcs
will that a league contcyne foure mylrs by sea, and but three by land. From C)s Druconis, to Ainjuf,
the rape «>r poynt of Cuchibacoa, which being p<issed, there is a gulfe on the left hande, we
measured three hundred leagues in one Carde, & much therabout in another. From this
poynt of Cuchibacoa, to tht region of Caramairi, in whichc is the hauen Carthago (whiche
some cal Carthagena) we found about a'' hundred & souenty leagues. From Caramairi to
the Hand Fortis, fyftie leagues. From thence to the gulfes of Vraba, among the whiche is
the village called Sancta Maria Antiqua, where the Spaniurdes haue appovnrcd their habita-
tion, only xxxiii. leagues. From thcryuer of Vraba in the prouince of Daricna, to the ryuer
of Beragua, where Nicuesahad intended to haue fastened his foote, if God had not otherwise
decreed, we measured a hundred and thirtie leagues. From Beragua to that ryuer, which we
sayd of Colonus to bee called Sancti Matthci, in the which also Nicuesa loosing his Carauell,
wandered in great calamities, wc found in our Cardes only a hundred & fourtic leagues:
Yet many other which of late time haue come from these partes, haue described many mo
leagues in this tract from the ryuer of Sancti Matthei, in whiche also they place diucrs riuers,
M Aburema, with the Hand called Scutum Cateba, lying before it, whose kings name is Faciea
combusta. Likewise another riuer called Zobraba, after that, Vrida, and then Duraba, in the
whiche golde is founde. Furthermore, many goodly hauens, as Cerabaro and Hiebra, so called
of the inhabitantes. And thus if your holynesse will conferre these numbers together, you
.shall fiude in this accompt, a thousand, fine hundred, twentie and fine leagues, which amount
to fiue thou.sand & seuen hundred miles from the poynt of Sancti Matthei, which they call Si-
num perditorum, that is, the gulfe of the lost men. But we may not leaue here : for after this,
one Astur Ouetensis otherwise named lohanncs Dias de Solis, borne in Nebrissa (which bring- tik mmgatiM
eth foorth many learned men) sayling from this riuer towarde the West, ouerranne many pj^''"""
coasts and leagues, but the middest of that shore bendeth towarde the North, and is not
therefore directly placed in order with the other, yet may wee gather by a diameter or
right lyne, abr .t three hundred leagues. Heereby may you gather what is the length of this
lande, but - ' the breadth, perhaps we shal here after haue further knowledge. Let vs nowe
speake .newhat of the varietie of the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starres. This lande X''y''"|'''"
therefore, although it reache foorth from the East into the West, yet It is crooked, and hath '*"*'
the poynt bending so towarde the South, that it looseth the sight of the North pole, and ex-
tendeth beyond the Equinoctial lyne seuen degrees towarde the South pole : but the poynt
heereof, perteyneth to the iurisdiction of the Portugales, as wee haue sayde. Leaning this The iurisdiction
poynt, and sayling towarde Paria, the North starre is scene againe, & is so much the more gAj'^"""'
lifted vp, in how much the region enclineth more towarde the West. The Spanyardes
therefore haue diuerse degrees of eleuation, vntil they come to Dariena being their chiefc
station and dwelling place in those landes : for they haue forsaken Beragua, where they
founde the North pole eleuate viii. degrees, but from hence, the land doth so much bend to-
warde the North, that it is there in manner equal with the degrees of the strayghtes of Her- HucuU-jpyi-
cules pyllers, especially if wee measure certaine lands founde by them towarde the North side "*■
of Hispaniola, among the which there is an Hande about three C. & xxv. leagues from Hispa-
niola, as they say which haue searched the same, named Boiuca or Agnaneo, in the which is J^* """'''
a continuall spring of running water, of such marucilous vertue, that the water thereof being Agnaneo.
(Irunke, perhaps with some diet, maketh olde men young again. And here must I make pro- 2(^1 ™T"'"
testation to your holynesse, not to thinke this to bee sayde lightly or rashly, for they haue so a wai«of mu-
spread this rumour for a trueth throughout al the court, that not onely all the people, but also ""i""'"""'-
many of them whom wisedome or fortune hath diuided from the common sort, thinke it to be
true : but if you shal aake my opinion herein, I will answere, that I will not attribute so great
power to nature, but that God hath no lesse reserued this prerogatiue to himselfe, then to
searche the heartes of menne, or to giue substance to priuation, (that is) beeing, to no being,
except wee shall be'.eeue the fable of Colchis of Eson renouate, to bee as true as the writvnges

3 O 3 of

• in

> :l .'

i;4

ftii:

n: i.

464

Th< accidcnlt
of ne mix bt
hidden,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TIte second Decade.

hunger.

Thii wu at
the siege uf le-
ruultm.

Minjp docto
eaten.

A mingle do;
deere solde.

Broth of >
mangle doge
ikinne.
Tuadcs eaten.

A deid man
eaten.

Note.

Petrus Arlis
whom the Spa
njTirJes call
Piiiraiiat.

of Sibylla Erythrea. Albeit perhappcs the schoolc of Phisitions and natural philogophen,
will not muche sticke to afBrme, that by the vhc orcertaine secrete medicineii and diet, the
accidentes of age (as they call them) may be long hidden & deferred, which they will to
bee vndcrstoodc by the rcnouation of age. And to haue aayd thus much of the length and
breadth of these regions, and of the rough and hugious mountaines, with their watery caues,
also of the diners degrees of that lande, I thinke it suflicient. But I thought it not good to
let passe what chaunced to these miserable men among their generall calamities. I remem-
ber that when I was a childe, mee thought my bowelles grated, and that my spirites were
marueilously troubled for very pitie, when I readc in the poet Virgil, howe Achemenides wau
left of Vlysses vpon the sea bankcs among the giantes called Cyclopes, where for the space
of manie dayes from the departing of Vlysses, vntil the comming of iCneas, he eate none
other meat but only berries and hawes. But our vniortunate Spanyardes, which followed Ni-
cucsa to inhabite Beragua, would haue esteemed hawes and berries for great delicates. What
should I hcere speakc of the head of an asse bought for a great price, & of such other ex-
treamities as mennc haue suffered in townes beesieged ? After that Nicuesa had determined
to Icaue Beragua for the barrennesse of the soyle, he attempted to search Portum Bellum,
and then the coastes of the poynt called Mannor, if he might there findc a place more fortu-
nate to inhabite. In this meane time, so grieuous famine oppressed his souldicrs, that they
neither absteined from eating of mangie dogges, which they had with the, aswel for their de-
fence as for hunting (for in the warre agaynst the naked people, dogges stoode them in great
stcade) nor yet somtime from the slayne inhabitants : for they found not there any fruitfull
trees, or pientic of foulcs, as in Dariena, but a barren ground, and not meete to be inhabited.
Here ccrtaine of the souldiers made a bargaine with one of their fellowes for the pryce of a
leane dogge, who also wa>« almost dead for hunger : they gaue the owner of the dogge many
of those peeccs of gold which they cal Pesos, or golden Castellans. Thus agreeing of the
price, they flayed the dogge to be eaten, and cast his mangie skinnc with the bones of the
heade hanging thereto, among the bushes. The day following, a certaync footeman of their
companie, chaunced to finde the skinne beeing nowc full of niaggottes and stynking. He
brought it home with him, sodde it, and eatc it. Many resorted to him with their dishes for
the broth of the sod skinne proferring him for euery dishfull a peece of goldci An other
foundetwo toades, and sodde them, wliichasicke man bought of him for twofme shurtcs, cu-
riously wrought of lynnen intermyxed with golde. Certaync other wandering about to stc^ke
for victualles, founde in a pathway in the myddest of a iielde, a dead man, of the inhabi*
tantes, which hadde beenc slaine of his owne companie, and was now rotten and stinking.
They drewe him aside, dismembrcd him .secretly, rosted him, and eate him, therewith asswag-
ing their hunger, as if they had beene fed with pheasante.s. One also, whichc departing from
his companions in the night season, went a fishing among the reedc.^) of the maryshes, liued
onely with slyme or nuiddc for the space of certayne dayes, vntillat the length creeping, and
almost dead, he founde the waye to his felowes. And thus these miserable men of Beragua,
vexed with these and suche other afflictions, were brought from the number of seucn hun-
reth, threescore and ten souldiers, scarcely to fourtie, being now also added to the companie
of them in Dariena. Fewe were slayne of the inhabitantes, but the residue consumed with
famine, breathed out their very soules, opening a way to the newe landes for such as .shall
come after them, appeasing the fury of the barbarous nations, with the price of their bloud.
Considering therefore, after these stormes, with what ease other men shall ouerrunne and in-
habite these landes, in respect to the calamities that these men haue sufTered, they shall seeme
to goe to bride feastes, where all thinges arc ready prepared against their comming. But
where Petrus Arias arryued with the kinges nauie, and new supply of men, to this houre I
knowe no certaynty. What shall chaunce hereafter, I will make diligent inquisition, if I
shall vnderstand this to be acceptable to your holinesse. Thus I bid you farewell : from the
coiirte of the most catholyke king, the day before the nones of December, in the yeere of
Christ. 1514.

The

[■< ■*.-■

'Che thirJe Decade.

TRAITIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

465

The

The first Chapter of the thirdc Decade, to the Di!>hop of Rome Leo the tenth.

I Was determined (most holy father) to haue closed vp the gates to this newe worlde, sup-
posing that I lind wandered fnrrc enough in the constcs thereof, while in the meane time
newe letters were brought mc from thence, whiche caused me againe to take my pen in
hand: for I recciued letters not onely from certainc of. mine acquaintance there, but also Vauhut Nu*.
from V'n.schus Nunnez, whom we sayde by the confidence of his owne power with his confede- oiifa"'"" *'
rates, to haue vsurpcd the gouernnnce of Dariena, after the reiccting of Nicuesa & Ancisus,
Lieuetenauntes. By his letter, written after his warlike maner, we vnderstand that he hath
passed ouer the mountaines diuiding the Ocean, knownc to vs, from the other maync sea on J^,',"* ^'""''
the South side of this laiule, hitherto vnknowne. His Epistle is greater then that called Ca-
preensis de Seinno. But wc haue gathered out of that and other, onely such things as we
thought most worthy to bre noted. Vaschus so bechaued himselfe in these affaires, that he
did not onely pacific the kingcs displeasure conceiued against him, but also made him so fa-
uourable and gracious good lord towarde him, that he rewarded him and his companions with
many honourable gifts and priuilcdges for their attcpts. Wherefore, I desire your holynesse
to encline your attcntiue eares, & to consider with a ioyfull mind what they haue brought to
passe in these great enterprises; for this valiaunt nation (the Spanyardes I meane) haue not Commeudaiioii
onely with great paines and innumerable daungers subdued, to the Christian empire, infinite ^,dct! '""'''
hundredes and legions, but also myriadcs of men. Vaschus Nunnez therefore, whether it . ,.., ^, .
were that he was impacient of idlencsse, (for a valiant mmd cannot rest in one place, or be cuuMbcidi*.
vnoccupyed) or least any other shoulde preuent him in so great a matter (suspecting thenew...-
gouernour Petrus Arias) or beeing mooued by both these causes, and especially for that the
king had taken displeasure with him for such things as he had done before, tooke the nduen-
ture vppon him, with a fewc menne to bring that to passe, whiche the sonne of king Como-
grus thought could hardly haue bin done with the ayde of a thousand men, whereof Petrus
Arias was appoynted captaine for the same purpose. Assembling therefore certaine of the
olde souldiers of Dariena, and many of those which came lately from Hispaniola, allured by Vaichm hit
the fame of greater plentie of goldc, hee gathered an armie of a hundred fourescore and tennc w7r?iVe'^oU
men. Thus being furnished, and ready to take his voyage by sea, while the winde serued «'«''"'<»"»•
him, hee departed from Dariena with one Brigandine, and tenne of their boats whiche they
call Canoas, as we haue sayde. First therefore arriuing in the dominion of Careta king of *^»'"»>'"e
Coiba, and friend to the Christians, and leaning his shyppe and bnates there, hee made his
deuoute prayers to almighty God, and therewith went forwarde on his iourney by lande to-
warde the mountaynes. Here he first cntred into the region of king Poncha, who fledde at '^"t'*'"*''''
his comming, as he had done before. But Vaschus nent messengers to him by the conduct of
certayne of Careta his men, promising him frieiu' '.in, & defence against his enemies, with
many other benefites. Poncha thus entised with ; re speech and friendly profers, both of
our men, & of the Caretans, came to our men glad nd willingly, making a league of friend-
ship with them. Vaschus enterteyncd him very friendly, and perswaded him neuer thereafter
to stande in feare. Thus they ioyned handes, embraced, and gaue great giftes the one to the
other, to knitte vp the knotte of continuall amitie. Poncha gaue Vaschus a hundred h ten
poundrs weight of golde, of that pound whiche the Spanyardes call Pesum. Hee hadde no
greater plentie of golde at this time, by reason he was spoyled the yeare before, as we haue
sayd. Vaschus to recompence one benefite with another, gaue him certayne of our thinges,
ascoiinterfayte rynges, Cliristall stones, copper chaynes, & braselets, hawkes belles, looking
glasses, and >uch other fine stuflTe. These thinges they set much by, and greatly esteeme :
for such tliin es as are straunge, are euery where counted precious. He caue also to Poncha strange thingw

<■■■ r... 1 ••..-• °. •>< «« counted

certayne axes to fell frees, which he accepted as a princely gift, because they lacke Iron, precioui.
and all other mcttals except golde : by reason whereof, they are enforced with great labour Lacke of iron.
to cutte their trees to builde their houses, and specially to make their boatcs holowe, without
instrumentes of Iron, with certayne sharpe stones, which they finde in the ryuers. Thus a iton* in the
Vaschus, leaning all thinges in safetie behinde him, marched forward with his armie toward '«"*«^''""''

the

456

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thr thirtic Decade.

hinder tibnt)-.

Cwpcnicri.
Uriilicb

Hie r((1oB of

King Quirt-
qua it diyuen
to flifht.
Hirgibusiti.
CioiK bowti.

vi.C. Battxri-
mi arc lUine.

The vjf Sf
Uuggrs in the
warrfs against
the n.iki.'il
Barbarians.

Naturell ha-
tred cf vnna*
turall sinnc.

?::!•; I •

I wouUe all
men weieof
rbii Of iniub

the mountayncs, l>y lite conduct of certaync giiids and labntircn which Poncha had )<iucn
him, aswel to Icade him llu- wny, an nisi) to cary his bng^a^rcs, and nprn the strayghtei
through the dcM»late places and craggie rockn Tiill of the dennrs of wilde beasteii : for there
is seldnmc any ciitorcoursc ol' l)ii\ iiig and Hclling betweene ihese naked people, becauae
thry stand in nccde of fcwt- thinges, and liaue not the vsc of mmcy : but if at any time
they exercise any bartrryng, thev doe it but neerc hande, exchanging goide for houshold
stuflc, with their cofines which hovvhat e>«teeme the name for ornament when it in wrought.
Other HuperfluitieH they vtteriy contemne, as hinderaunces of their sweete libertie, forasmuch
as they are giuen onely to play and idlenesse. And for this cause the high wayes which lye
bcetweene their regions, are not much worne with many iourneyes, yet hauc their scouts
ccrtaine priuie markes, whereby they know the way the one to inuade the others dominion!,
and spuylc and infest themselues on both sides w<!h .rutc::!! incursions priuily in the night
season. By the heipe therefore of their guides and laborers, with our Carpenters he passed
ouer the horrible mountaynes, and many great riucrs lying in the way, ouer the which he
made bridges, either with pylcs or trunkes of trees. And here doe I let passe many thingcs
which they sufTcred for lucke of necessaries, being also in maner ouercome with extreame
labor, least I should bee tedious in rehearsing thinges of small value. But I have thought it
good not to omit suche duinges as hee had with the kinges by the way. Therefore or euer he
came to the toppes of the high mountaynes, he entrcd into a region called Quarequa, and
mcttc with the king thereof called by the same name, with a great banr'e of menne armed
after thcr manner, as with bowes and arrowes, long and broade two handed swoordes made
of wood, long staues hardened at the cndes with fire, dartes also and slynges. Hee came
proudly and cruelly against our men, and sent messengers to them to bydde them stande and
proceede no further, demaunding whythcr they went, and what they hadde to doe ; Here-
with hee came foorth and shewed himselfe, being apparelled with all his nobiiitie, but the
other were all naked. Then approching toward our men, he thrcatned the, with a Lions
countenance, to depart from thence, except they would be slayne etiery mntherx sonne.
When our men denyectthat they would goe backe, he assailed them fiercely, but the bnltayle
was Hoone finished, for assoone as they hearde the noyse of the hargabusies, they beleeued
that our men caryed thunder and lightning about with them. Many also being slayne and
sore wounded with quarrels of crossebowes, they turned their backcs and fledde. Our men
following; them in the chase, hewed them in ))eeces, as the Butchers doe fleshe in the sham-
bles, from one an nrme, from aiiotiier a legge, from him a buttocke, from another a shoulder,
and from some the nccke from the bodic at one stroke. Thus, sixe hundred of them, with
their king, wc^ slayne like bruite bcastes. Vaschus founde the house of this king infected
with most abominable and vnnnturall lechery : for he fuunde the kinges brother, and many
other young men in womens apparell, smooth and elTeminately decked, whiche by the report
of such as dwelt about him, hee abused with preposterous Venus. Of these about the num-
ber of fourtie, he commanded to be giuen for a pi^y to his dogges : for (as we haue sayde)
the Spanyardes vsc the helpe of dogges in their warres agaynst the naked people, whom
they inuade as fiercely and rauenyngly, as if they were wild bores or Hartes : insomuch that
our Spanyardes haue founde their dogges no lesse faithfull to them in all dangers and enter-
pryses, then did the Colophonians or Cas(ab;ilcnce.s, whiche instituted whole armies of dogges,
so made to seruc in the w.irres, that being accustomed to place them in ihe forefronte of the
battayles, they ncuer shronke or gaue backe. When the people had hearde of the seiiere
punishment whiche our menne had executed vpon that filthie kindc of men, they resorted to
them, as it had bin to Hercules for refuge, by violence bringing wifli them all such as they
knewe to be infected with that pestilence, spyttyng in their faces, and crying out to our
men to take reuenge of them, and rydde them out of the worlde from among men, as conta-
gious beastcs. Thi-s stinking abhomination hadde not yet entred among the people, but was ex-
ercised onely by the noble men and gentlemen. But the people lifting vp their handes & eyes
toward heauen, gaue tokens that God was gricuously ofl'ended with suche vyle deedes, affirm-
ing thia to be the cause of their so many thunderinges, lyghtninges, & teinpestcs, wherewith

they

i'li

Tfie thivde Deiude.

TKAFFIQURS, AND DISCOUERIES.

4fi7

they

they are hu often troubled, nnd of their ouerflowiii;; of waters which drowne their nets and
rruitPH, whereol' fuminr and diners discaiies cn.stie, :im they nimply and faithrully belecue, aU
though they know none other GOD then the smnne whom onely they honour, thinking that it
doth both giue and take away, as it is pleased or otVended : Yet they arc very docible, and th* hirutu u
casie to be allured to our customcs and religion, if they had any teacher. In their language w"il;m"ti'''*
there is nothing vnpleasaunt to the eare, or hardc to be pronounced, but that nil their woordes i>utrcw<.
may be written with Latinc letters, an wee saydc of the inhabitauntes of Ilispaniola. It is a
warlykc nation, nnd hath beene euer hitherto molentous to their borders: but the region is wirlykcrco.
not fortunate with fruitcrull grounde, or plentie of gohl. Yet it is full of great barren '"''■
mountaynes, being somewhat colde by reason of their height nnd therefore the noble mcnne J.r'cou!'"'
and gentlemen are nppareltcd, but the common people line content onely with the benefites
of nature. There is a region not past two dayes iourney distant from Quarequa, in which
they found only blacke Moores, and those exceeding fierce and rruell. They suppose that Arcgionof
in tyme past certayne blacke Moores sayled thither out of Ethiopia to robbc, and that by '''•"'' '^"<""-
shippewrarkc or some other chaunce, they were drynen to those mountaynes. The inhabi-
tantes of Quarequa liue in coniinuall warrc and debate with these blacke men. Heere Vas-
chus leauing in Quarequa many of his souldiers (whiche by reason they were not yet accus-
tomed to such trauaiJeH & hunger, fell into diucrs diseases) tooke with him certayne guides Diwunof
of the Quarequataiw] to conduct him to the toppes of the mountaynes. From the pallace of ,'^^"5^^}'' *5"*
king Ponbhft* .to the prospect of the other South sea, is only sixe dales iourney, the which The south i<a.
neuerthekfse, byi.rcason of many hinderances & chauces, and especially for lacke of
victualles, he cumM acifomplish in no lesse then xxv. tiayes. But at the length, the seuenth
day of the Calendes of October, hee beehelde with woonderyng eyes the toppes of the high
mountaynes, shewed vnto him by the guides of Quarequa, from the which he might see the
other sea so long looked for, and neuer seene before of any man comming out of our worlde.
Approching therefore to the toppes of the mountaynes, he commaunded his armie to stay,
and went himscH'e alone to the toppe, as it were to take the first possession thereof. Where,
falling prostrate vpon the grounde, and raysing himselfe againe vpon his knees, as the maner P"y"-
of the Christians is to pray, lyfting vp his eyes and handes towarde heauen, and directing
his face towarde the ncwe founde South sea, he powred foorth his humble and deuout prayers*
before almightie God, as a spirituall sacrifice with thankes giuing, that it pleased his diuine
maiestie, to reserue vnto that day the victorie & prayse of so great a thing vnto him, beeing
a man but of small wit and knowledge, of litle experience, and base parentage. When he codiaysnii
had thus made his prayers after his warlike maner, hee beckned with his hande to his compa- Jjj^^',',',2[*
nions, to come to him, shewing the the great maine sea heretofore vnknowne to the inhabi-
tants of Europe, Aphrike, and Asia. Here agayne hee fell to his prayers as before, desiring
almighty God (and the blcs.sed virgin) to fauour his beginninges, nnd to giue him good sue-
ccsse to subdue those Inndes, to the gl ry of his holy name, and encrease of his true religion.
All his companions did likewise, and praysed God with loude voyces for ioy. Then Vaschus,
with no lesse manly corage then Hanniball of Carthage shewed his souldiers Italy, and the ^ ""I'i,'"" "'
promontories of the Al pes, exhorted his men to lyft vp their hearts, and to beholde the *"''*'
iande euen nowe vnder their feete, and the sea beefore their eyes, whiche shouldc bee vnto
them a full and iust rewarde of their great laboiires & trau.nyles nowe ouerpassed. When he
had savde these woordes, hee commanded them to raise certaine heapes of stones, in the
steed of altars, for a token of possession. They descending from the toppes of the mountaynes,
least such as might come after him shoulde argue him of lying or falshoode, hee wrote the
king of Castels name here and there, on the barkes of the trees, both on the right hand and
on the left, & raysed heapes of stones all the way that he went, vntill he came to the region
of the next king towarde the South, whose name was Chiapes. This king came foorth agaynst
hi 1 with a great multitude of menne, threatning and forbydding him not onely to passe
through his df^mioions, but also to goe no further. Hereupon Vaschus set his battayle in KingChiaixi.
array, and exhorted his men (lieing nowe but fcwc) fiersly to assayle their enemies, and to Atatuyir.
estccmc them no better then dogges mcate, as they shoulde bee shortly. Placing therefore

the

< ¥i

■ iK'h

'-fm

'•!i3
•I i

i-;

, ■ ■ . ** » J

1 .

Mr '

468

Chiifn ii diM
bcn 10 li|bt.

rih for kin<
Chijp«k

Chiapn tub-
niittfth him*
i»U< to Vw

' nui.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

A gulfr of three

icnrf mylcs.

Saint Michacli

Sulfr.

I'hf manly cou-

rigt and goJIy

•rale gf Vaichus.

the hargabunicn and ina«tici« in the fnrrrront, th«v Halnted king Chinpe<4 and hit men with
■uche alarnmc, that when ihry heard the noyNe of ihe giiniiro, .snwc the flimeii of fire, and
amelt the Miiinur of lirimnlnnc (fur the wynde blewe toward ihcm) they drone theinMcliiefi to
flight, with Ruch feare leatt ihnndcrhoultM and lyghtnyn^ri* followed them, that many fell
downe to the grounde, whom our men pur^nini;, lir<«t keeping their order, and after breaking
their aray, hIuc but fewe, and tooke many ra|>tiuc : For fhcv determined to vse no extreami-
tie, but to pacyfie thoHe regions an quietly a<« they might. Kntriiig therefore into the pallace
of king Chiapex, VanchuM commaunded many of the eaptiiien to bee loosed, willing them to
aearrh out their king, and to exhorte him to rome thither: an. I that in mt doing, he woutde
be hifi friende, and profer him penre, beeVide many other beneni>4. Hut if he refused to come
it <ihuld tumc to the dextrurtion of him and his and vlter suhucr!«ion of h\n rounirey. And
that they might the more atwuredly do tWu mewage to Chi;ipe'<, he ncnt with them certayne
of the guides which came with him from Quareqna. Tnu<i Vaschui, bceing pentwaded
a«wel by the Quarequan<i, who couldc conietturc to w^at eiui the matter would come, by
the experience which they had aeene in themnchieH and their king, m alxo by the rea-
sons of hix ownc men, to whom VaMchun had made Huche friendly promises in his be-
halfe, came foorth of the caues in the which hee lurked, and Hubmiited him<<elfe to Vasi-
chu», who accepted him friendly. They ioyned haudn, embraced tliei**!* the other, made
a perpetual! league of friendshippe, iind gaue great rewardes ott both sideH. Chiapet
gaue VaNchus foure hundred poundeti weyght of wrought golde, of fhoac poaridea which
they call Pesos, and Va'4chus rccomptuced him agayne with certayne of our thingcB. Thus
being made friendes, they remained together a fewe dayeii, vntil Vasch** Houldien were
come, which he left behind him in Qu.irequa. Then railing vnto him the guides and
labourers whiche came with him from thence, hce rewarded them liberally, and diftmisaed
them with thank-*. Shortly after, by the conduct of Chiapes liim><elfe, and certayne of
his men departing from the toppes of the mounlaines, hee came in the upare of foure
dayes to the banke.o of the newe sea: where asseu.bling all his inenne together, with the
kinges scribes and notaries, they addicted a'l that mayne sea with all the landes adiacent
thereunto, to the dominion and Kmpireof Castile. Here hee left parte of his souldiers with
Chiapes, that he myght the caselycr search those coa^tcs. And taking with him niene of
their lyghters made of one whole tree (which they call Culchas, as the inhabitants of His-
panioia call them Canoas) & also a bande of fourescore men, with certaine of Chiapes men,
he passed oner a great riucr, and came to the region of a certaine king whose name was Co-
quera. lie attempted to resist our men as did the other, and with like successe: for he was
ouercome and put to flight. But Vaschus, who entended to winne him with gentlcnesse,
sent certayne Chiapeans to him, to declare the great power of our men, howe inuincible they
were, howe mcrcifull to such as submit themselues, also cruell and seucre to such as obstinatly
withstand them : Promising him furthermore, that by the friendship of our me, he might be
wel assured by the example of other not only to line in peace and quietnes himselfe, but
also to be reuenged of the iniuries of his enemies : Wylling him in conclusion so to weigh
the matter, that if he refused this gentlcnes profered vnto him by so great a victourer, he
should or it were long learne by feeling, to repent him too late of that perill which hee
might hauc auoyded by hearing. Coqucra with these words and examples, shaken with
great feare, came gladly \'f\th the messengers, bringing with him. b50. Pesos of wrought
golde, which hce gaue vnto our men. Vaschus rewarded him likewise, as we sayde before
of Poncha. Coqucra bcin^' thus pacified, they returned to the pallace of Chiapes, where,
visityng their companions, and resting there a while, Vaschus determined to searche the next
great gulfe, the whiche, from the furthest reaching thereof into the lande of their countreyes,
from the enterancc of the mayne sea, they say to be three myles. This they named Saint
Michaels gulfe, which they say to bee ful of inhabited Ilandes and hugious rockes. Entring
therefore into the nine boates of Culchas, wherewith hee passed ouer the ryuer beefore,
hauing also with the same companie of fourescore whole men, he went forwarde on his pur-
pose, although hee were greatly disswaded by Chiapes, who earnestly desired him not to

attempt

The think Decade.

TRAFFlQUnS, AND DISCOUFRIF,^.

469

attempt that voyage at that time, adlrminp the giilfe to bee so tcnij stiom and stormie three
nioiiethe-* in the yeere, that the sea was there l)y no meanes naiiif{al)l<', and that lie had sc«'ne
many ('iil( hai* dnmnred of whirlepnolcs, eiien before his eyes, lint iniiin( d)le \axchns, im-
pnlienl of i<llrnesse, and vovde of all fenre in Gods ransrs, answered thai (iod and hi-* lioly
salutes would |)r(Hprr his enter[)ry»<'s in this la-^e, forasnun he as ihe lualter loiu hcd (io<l,
.ind the defence of the Christian reiij^intt, for the niaynlenaiinie whereof, it shoiilde hee
neres<iarie to hnue alnnidanre of riches an<l treasure, as the sitiewes of warre aKaiiist the ene-
mies of our faith. Thus vsing also the oHice both of an oratoiir and preacher, and haiiinu
jjcrswaded his companionM, hce laiiched from the lande. Hut Chiapes, least Vaschus •«hiinld
any thinjr donl)t of his faithfulne^'^e towarde him, prolVercd him-elle to j;oc witli hin» whviher
s'dcnrr hee went, and woulde by no nieaiies as^icnt tlial Vas( hus ^hnnl<le dcpjrtc from his pa-
lace, but that he woulde brinij him on the way. and lakr pirte of his lortune. Therfore,
assoorie as they were now entred into the nuiine sea, such sour;;cs it ron(li( ics of water arose
ajjaynsi them, that they were at their wittes ende, whither to turne them, or where to rest.
Thus beii);; tossed and nmased with fearc, the one looked on the other with pale tV vnchearc-
full conntenanecs, bnt esperially Chiapes and his company, who had before time with their
eyes scene the experience of those icopardies, were greatly disccmiforted ( yet as (Jod woulde)
they escaped all, and landed at the next Ilandc, where, making' fast their boates, they rested
there that nij^ht. Here the water so encrcased, that it almost oiierflowed the Ilande. They
say also, that the South sea doth so in mancr bovie and ssvel, that when it is at the hyghest,
if doth couer many great rockes, which at the fall thereof arc scene farrc abouc the water.
Bnt on the contrary parte, all such as inhubitc the North sea, alfirmc with one voyce, that it
scarcely ryseth at any tymea ciibitc abouc the banks, as they also eonfesse whiche inhabite
the Ilandc of Hispaniola, and other Ilandcs situate in the same. The Ilandc therefore being
nowe drye by the fall of the water, they resorted to their boates, which they found all ouer-
wheimed, and ful of sande, &' some sore bruised with great ryftcs, and almost lost by rea-
son their cables were broken : such as were bruised, they tyed fast with their girdles, with slippes
of the barkes of trees, and with tough and long stalkes of cortayne hearbes of the sea, stop-
ping the ryftes or chinkcs with grasse, according to the present nccessitic. Thus were they
enforced to rcturnc backe agayne, like vnto men that came from shipwracke, being almost
consumed with hunger, bcecausc their victualles were vtterly destroyed by tempest. The
inhabitauntes declared that there is hearde all the yeere horrible roring of the sea among
those Ilandcs, as often as it riseth or fallcth, but this most especially in those three monethes
in the whiche it is most bnystrous, as (;hia|>cs told Vaschus before, meaning (as they could
coniecture by his words) October, Noucmber, and December: for hee signified the present
moonc, tV: the two moones following, countyng the monethes by the moone, whereas it was
nowe October. Ileere therefore refreshing himselfc and his souldiers a while, and passing
by one vnprofitabic king, he came to another, whose name was Tumaccus, after the name of
the region, beeing situate on that side of the gulfc. This Tumaccus ca'»' '"'-,. ;h agaynst
our men, as did the other, and with like fortune : for he was ou*-.^ dryucn to flight,

ind many of his men slainc. He himselfc was also sore wounded, bnt yet escaped. Vaschus
sent certayne messengers of the Chiapians to him, to returne, and not to be afraide : but he
coulde be nothing moucd, ncyther by promises, nor thrcatninges : yet when the messengers
were instant, and ceased not to threaten death to him and his familic, with the vtter desola-
tion of his kingdome, if he persisted in that obstinacie, at the length hee sent his sonne
with them, whom Vaschus honourably enterteining, apparelling him gorgiously, and gining
him many giftes, sent him to his father, willing him to perswadc him of the puissance, mu-
nificence, libcralitie, humanitie, and clemencie of our men. Tumaccus beeing mooued by
this gentlcnesse declared towarde his sonne, came with him the thirde day, bringing nothing
with him at that time. But after that hee kncwe that our menne desired goldc and pearles,
hee sent for sixe hundred and fourteene Pesos, of golde, and two hundred and fourtie of the
byggest and fayrest pearles, beside a great number of the small sort. Our menne marueylcd
at the byggenes and fayrenes of these pearles, although they were not perfectly white, be-

3 P cause

Rlrhri ttr- ihr
>riiv«( kiif u-jrrf.
I III livilifi Iriei
ul kllli; lhU|>ci.

A trmpcit on
the KJ.

The Infrmiiig
uf ihc South Ml.

Thf North
Onan.

Mjrd ihlft ill
neccnitif.

The region

Tumjcca.

Ring Tumiccu
is driurn to
flif'it.

Golde anJ
pearlev

■ ■: <\i

v^ ;■

f .

•it

470

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

Musdei of th(
Ma.

Tiihing for
pcailct.

Tht thirite of
goUc.

Ambition
among naked
men.

A king of
grcate power.

Big pearles.

Cleopatrai
queene of Egipt,
desolued a pearle
in vinrger and
drunke it.
Price fiue thou-
sande pounde of
out money.

cause they take them not out of the sea muscles, except they first rost them, that they may
the easelyer open them selfe, and also that the fishe may haue the better tast, whiche they
estecme for a delicate and Princely dishe, and set more thereby, then by the pearles them-
seliies. or these thinges I was enfourmed of one Arbolantiiu, being one of Vaschus com-
panions, whom hee sent to the king with many pearles, and certayne of those sea muscles.
But when Tumaccus sawe that our men so greatly regarded the beautie of the pearles, he
commanded certayne of his men to prepare themselues to goe a fishing for pearles : Who de^
parting, came agayne within foure dayes, bringing with them twelue pounde weight of orient
pearles, after eight ounces to the pounde. Thus reioycing on both parties they embrased,
and made a league of continuall friendship. Tumaccus thought himselfc happie that he had
presented our men with such thankefull gyftes, and was admitted to their friendship, and our
men thinking themselues happie and blessed that they hadde found such tokens of great
riches, swallowed downe their spittle for thirst. At all these dooinges, king Chiapes was
present, as a witnesse and companion. He also reioyced not a little aswell that by his con-
ducting he sawe that our men shoulde bee satisfied of their desire, as also that by this meanes
hee hadde declared to the next king his borderer and enemie, what friends hee hadde of our
men, by whose ayde hee might Hue in quietnes and bee reuenged of his aduersarie, if neede
shoulde so require. For (as <vc= hsne sayde) these naked kinges infest themselues with
grieuous warres, onely for ambition and desire to rule. Vaschus boasteth in his epistle, that
he learned certayne manielous secretes o.** Tumaccus himselfe, as concerning the great riches
of this lande, whereof (as he sayth) he would vtter nothing at this present, forasmuche a<t
Tumaccus tolde it him in his eare. But he was enfourmed of both the kinges, that there is
an Uande in that gulfe, greater then any of the other, hauing in it but onely one king, and
him of so great power, that at suche times of the yeere as the sea is calme, he inuadeth
their dominions with a great nauie of Culchas, spoiling and carying away for a prale all that
he meeteth. This Ilande is distant from these coastes, only twentie miles : So that the pro-
montories or pointes thereof, reaching into the sea, may be scene from the hilles of this
continent. In the sea neere about this Ilande sea muscles are engendred, of such quantitie,
that many of them are as brode as bucklers. In these are pearles founde (being the hartes
of those shell fishes) oftentimes as bigge as beanes, somtimes bigger then Oliues, and suche
as sumptuous Cleopatra might haue desired. Although this Hand be so neere to the shore of
this firme lande, yet is the beginning thereof in the maine sea, without the mouth of the
gulfe. Vaschus being ioyful and mery with this rich communication, fantasing nowc ia
maner nothing but princes treasures, beganne to speak fierce and cruell woordes against the
tirant of that Hand, meaning hereby to winne the mindes of the other kinges, and binde
them to him with a neerer bonde of friendeship. Yet therefore railing further on him with
spitefull and opprobrious woordes, he swore great othcs, that he woulde forthwith inuade the
Ilande, spoiling, destroying, burning, drowning, and hanging, sparing neither swoorde nor
fire, vntill he had reuenged their iniurics : and there with commaunded his Culchas to be in
a readines. But the two kings, Chiapes and Tumaccus, exhorted him friendly to defer this
enterprise, vntil a more quiet season, because that sea was not nauigable without great
danger, being nowe the beginning of Nouember: Wherein the kinges seemed to s;iie true.
For as Vaschus him selfc writeth, great roring of the sea was heard among the Hands of the
gulfe, by reason of the raging and conflict of the water. Great riuers also, descending from
the toppes of the mountaines the same time of the yeere, and ouerflowing their bankes,
driuing downe with their violence greate rockes and trees, make, a marueilous noise. Like-
wise the furie of the South and Northeast windes associate with thunder and lightning at the
same season, did greatly molest them. While the weather was faire, they were vexed in the
night with colde, and in the day time the heate of the sunne troubled them, whereof it is no
maruaile, for asmuch as they were neere vnto the Equinoctial lyne, although they make no
mention of the eleuation of the pole, for in such regions, in the night the Moone and other
colde pianettes, but in the day the Sunne and other hotte pianettes, doe chiefely exercise
their influence, although the antiquitie were of an other opinion, supposing the Equinoctial

circle

ih ■?■

file thirde Decade,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

471

circle to bee vnhabitable and desolate, by reason of the heate of the sunne, hauing his course
perpendicularly or directly oucr the same, except a fewe of the contrary opinion, whose as-
sertions the Portiigales haue at these dayes by experience prooued to be true : for they sayle
yeerly to the inhabitants of the South pole, being in maner Antipodes to the people called
Hyperborei vnder the North pole, and exercise inarchandize with them. And here haue I
named Antipodes, forasmuch as I am not ignorant that there hath bin men of singular witte
and great learning, which haue denyed that there is Antipodes, that is, such as walke feetc
to feete. But it is certayne, that it is not giuen to any one manne to knowe all thinges, for
cuen they also were men, whose propertie is to erre, and be deceiued in many thinges.
Neuerthelesse, the Portugales of our time, haue sayled to the fiue and fyftie degree of the
South pole : where, compassing about the poynt thereof, they might see throughout all the ^'^'J^'/Luth
heauen about the same, certeine shining white cloudes here and there among the starres, like poic.
vnto them which are seene in the tract of heauen called Lactea via, that is, the mylke white
way. They say, there is no notable starre neere about that pole, like vnto this of ours,
whiche the common people thinke to bee the pole of it selfe (called of the Italians Tramon-
tana, and of the Spanyardes Nortes) but that the same falleth beneath the Ocean. When a limiUtude de-
the Sun descendeth from the myddest of the axiltree of the worlde from vs, it ryseth to ^^ ■*""'
them, as a payre of ballances, whose weyght enclining from the equall poyse in the myddest
towarde eyther of the sides, causeth the one end to ryse as much as the other falleth. When
therefore it is Autumne with vs, it is spring time with them, and sommer with vs, when it is
wynter with them. But it sufliceth to haue sayde thus much of strange matters. Let vs now
therfore returne to the historic, and to our men.

The seconde Chapter of the thirde Decade.

VAschus by the aduice of king Chiapes & Tumaccus, determined to defer his voyage to
the sayd Ilande, vntill the next spring or sommer, at which time, Chiapes oflfered himselfe
to accompany our men, and ayde them therein all that he might. In this meane time, Vas-
chus hadde knowledge that these kings had nettes and fishing places in certaine stations of
that sea neere vnto the shore where they were accustomed to fishe for sea muscles, in the The maner of
which pearles are engendred, and that for this purpose they had certaine dyuers or fishers, pciticl "'
exercised from their youth in swimming vnder the water. But they doe this one!y at certaine
times when the sea is calme, that they may the easier come to the place wher these shel fishes
are wont to lie : for the bigger that they are, so much lye they the deeper & neerer to the
bottoe : but the lesser, as it were daughters to the other, are neerer the brimme of the water:
likewise the lest of all, as it were their niec-i^'!, are yet neerer to the supenlciall part thereof.
To them of the biggest sorte which lie lowckt, the fishers discend the depth of three mens
height, & sometime foure, but to the daughters or nieces, as their succession, they discend
onely to the midde thygh. Sometimes also, after that the sea hath bin disquieted with vehe-
ment tempestes, they find a great multitude of these fishes on the sandes, being dryuen to
the shore by the vyolence of the water. The pearles of these, which are found on the sande,
are but litle, the fish it selfe, is mere plersant in eating, then are our oysters, as our men re-
port : But perhaps hunger, the sweete sause of all meates, caused our men so to thinke.
Whether pearles be the hartes of sea muscles (as Aristotle supposed) or the byrth or spawne
of their intrals (as Plinie thought) or whether they cleaue continually to the rockes, or wan-
der by companyes in the sea by the guiding of the eldest, whether euery fish bring forth
one pearle or more, at one birth, or at dyuers : also whether they be filled from the rockes
whereunto they cleaue, or may bee easely pulled away, or otherwise fall of by themselues
when they are come to their full grouth : Lykewise whether pearles bee harde within the
shell, or soft, our men haue as yet no certaine experience, but I trust or it bee long to know
the tnieth hereof: for our men are euen now in hande with the matter. Also, as soone as I
shall bee aduertised of the arryusll of Petrus Arias the captayne of our menne, I will desire ?«">» Aii«.
him by my letters to make diligent search for these thinges, and certifie me thereof in all
poyntes. I knowe that hee will not be slacke or omit any thing herein, for bee is my verie

3 P 3 friende.

fi,a

473

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlic ihirde Decade.

^:.: .;

! :i .

^ •('

Wanton and nu
pctfluous plea-
iures.

The fishing
place of king
Chjapes.

Gold in maner
in euery house.
The rich trea-
tury of nature.

The golde mines
of Dariena.

King Teaocha
ementincth
Vaschus
friendly.

Twcnty-pouiul
weieht of
wrought gold.

DL'snitis fill of
wildc beastfj.
Dried Itshc.

Kinj P.icra a
tiiaunt.

friende, and one that taketh great pleasure in considering the works of nature. And surely
it seemeth vnto mee vndeccnt, that we shouide with silence ouerslyppe so great a thing,
which aswcll in the olde time, as in our dayes, hath and yet doth, drawe both men and wo-
men to the immoderate desire of superfluous pleasure. Sppyne therefore shall bee able
hereafter with pearles to satisfle the greedie appetite of such as in wanton pleasures are like
vnto Cleopatra and Asopus : So that from henceforth wee shall neyther enuie nor reuerence
the nice fruitefulnesse of Stoidum, or Taprobana, or the red sea. But let vs now returne to
our purpose. Vaschus therefore determined with the iishers of Chiapes, to proue what might
bee done in his fishe poole or stations of sea mu.scles. Chiapes to shewe himselfe obedient
to Vaschus his request, although the sea were boysterous, commanded thirtie of his fishers
to prepare themselues, and to resort to the fishing places. Vaschus sent onely si.xe of his
menne with them, to beholde them from the sea bankes, but not to committe themselues to
the daunger of the sea. The fishing place was distaunt from the pallace of Chiapes about
tenne myles. They diirst not aduentnre to dyue to the bottome, by reason of the furie of
the sea : Yet of the muscles whiche lye hyghest, and of suche as were dryuen to the shore by
the violence of the water, they brought sixe great fardelles in the space of a fewc dayes.
The pearles of these were but little, about the byggenesse of small fytches : yet verie
fayre and beautifull by reason that they were taken newely out of the fishe, beeing yet
rawe. And that they shouide not be reproued of lying, as concerning the bignesse of
these sea muscles, they sent many of them into Spaine to the king, with the pearles,
the fishe being taken out: We thinke verily that there may in no place bigger be founde.
These shel fishes therefore being thus founde here in so many places in that sea, and
gold in maner in euery house, doe argue the riche treasurie of nature to be hidde in
those coasfes, forasmuche as great riches haue ben founde, as it were in the litle finger
of a giauntes hands. What then may we thinke of the whole hande of the giaunt (for
hitherto they haue onlie benne in hande with the confines of Vraba) when they shall haue
throughlie searched all the coasles and secretes of the inner partes of all that large lande :
But Vaschus contented with these signe-s and iuyfull of his good successe in these en-
terprises determined by another way to returne to his felowes in Dariena, where also they
haue golde mines, about tenne miles from the village. He gaue therefore king Chiapes
leaue to depart, and to folowe him no further, counsailing him to continue faithful vnto the
Christian king his lorde & maister. Thus embracing the one the other, & ioyning hande.«,
Chiapes departed with teares, declaring the good minde which he bore to our men. Vas-
chus leaning his sicke men with Chiapes went forward on his iourney with the residue, hau-
ing also with him for guides three of Chiapes Mariners. He conueighed his armie ouer a
great riuer, in to the dominion of a certaine king called Teaocha, who being aduertised of
the comming of our men, of whose famous actes he had hearde muche before, was very
glad thereof, and entcrteined them honourably, so that for a token of his friendly afTection
towarde them, he gaue Vaschus twentie pounds waight of wrought golde, after eight ounces
to the poundc : also two hundred bigqe pearles, but not faire, by reason they were taken
out of the muscles after they had ben sodden. After they had ioyned handes, Vaschus re-
compencod him with certaine of our thinges : likewise n warding his guides the seruantcs
of Chiapes, he dismissed them with commendations to their lord. King Teaocha, at the dc-
pnrture of our men from his pallace, did not only appoint them guides to conduct them in
the way, but also gaue ihcm c( rtaine .slaucs, in the Steele of beastes to cary their victuals,
because they should pisse fhrnuifh many dcsartes, barren and rough mouiitaines and terrihle
woods full of Tigers a: d Lions lie sent also one of his sonnes with the.se slaues, lading
thcin with salted and dried fishe, & i^read of those rci^ions, made of the rootes of Maizium
ir\d lucra. lie also cominaiinded his sonno not to depart from our men, vntil he were li-
censetl I)y Vaschus. By ihcir conducting therlore, Vaschus came to the dominion of an
other king, whose name was Pacra, a cruel tyrant, fearefull to the other kinges his border-
ers, and of greater power then any of them. This tyrant, whether it were that his guiltie
conscience, (or his mischeiuous actes, put him in feare that our men would reuenge the

same.

The thii'de Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

473

;e the

same.

same, or that he thought himsclfe inferioiir to resist them, fled at their comminj;;. Vaschiis creithtstein
writeth, tliat in these regions in the month of Noucmber, he was sore afflicted with great '^^^I^JJi"^'^'"''
heate and intollerable thirst, by reason that side of the mountaines hath little water: Inso-
mnch that they were in daunger to haiie perished, but that certaine of thinhabitantes shewed
them of a spring, which was in the secret place of a wood, whither Vaschiis with all speede
':ent two quicke & strong \oiing men of his companions, with their gourdes, and such wa-
ter vessels as Teaocha his men brought with them. Of thinhabitantes, there durst none de-
part from their company, because the wild beasts do soone inuade naked men : For in those
nounfaincs, and especially in the woods neare vnto the spring, they say that they are som-
times lakcn out of their houses in the night, except they take good heede that the doores """ '■y "'W*
be well sparde. It shal not be from my purpose heere to declare a perticular chaunce, be-
fore I enter any further in this matter. They say therfore, that the last yeere the region of
Daricnn w;is no lesse infested and troubled with a fierce Tiger, then was Calidonia in time^T'K";- .
past with a wild Boorc, and Ncmea with a horrible Lion. For they affirme that for the space forres" i'nScot-
of sixe whole monethes, there passed not one night without some hurt done : so that it killed ■f"'''^- .
nightly either a Bullocke, a Mare, a Dogge, or a Hoggc, and sometimes euen in the high wood in Greece,
waies of the village: For our men haue nowe great hcardes of cattel in those regions. They
say also, that when this Tiger had whelpes, no man might safelie goe foorth of his doores, Tigers wheipes.
because shee spared not men, if shee mette firste with them. But at the length, necessitie
enforced them to inuent a policie how thev myght be rcuenged of suche bloodshed. Search-
ing therfore diligently her foote steppes, and following the pathe whereby shee was accus- T''""^* ^f p*
tomed in the night season to wander out of her denne to seeke her praye, they made a codiies. "
great trenche or pyt in her walke, couering the same with hurdels, whereupon they cast
part of the earth, and dispearsed the residue. The dogge Tyger chaunced first into this pit- The dogge
fall, and fel vpon the poynts of sharpe stakes, and such other engins as were of purpose '^^" '■*'""
fyxed in the bottome of the trench. Being thus wounded, he rored so terribly, that it Thcroringor
grated the bowelles of such as hearde him, and the woodes and mountaynes neare about re- 'ii^ys"-
bounded the noyse of the horrible cry. When they perceiued that he was layd fast, they
resorted to the trenche, and slue him with stones, dartes and pykes. With his teethe and
clawcs hee brake the darfes into a thousande chyppes. Beeing yet dead, hee was fearefull
to all such as behelde him : what then thinke you he would haue doone beeing alyue and
loose ? One lohannes Ledisma of Ciuile, a neere friend to Vaschus, and one of the com-
panions of his trauayles, tolde mee that hee himselfe did eate of the flesh of that Tyger, Tygersflfsh
and that it was nothing inferiourto beefe in goodnesse. Being demanded howe they knewe "'"'
it to bee a Tyger, forasmuch as none of them had euer scene a Tyger : they answered that
they knewe it by the spottes, fiercenesse, agilitie, and such other markes and tokens where-
by auncient writers haue described the Tyger. For some of them had before time scene
other spotted wilde beastes, as Libardes and Panthers, The dogge Tyger being thus killed, Thebitche
they following the irase of his steppes towarde the mountaynes, came to the denne where '^^"•
the l)itche remayned with her two young sucking whelpes. But shee was not in the denne
at their comming. They firste caryed awaie the whelpes with them. But aftcrwardes, fenr- Tygers wheipev
ing IcMst they shrulde dye beecause they were young, entending when they were bigger to
send tliem intv: Spayue, they put cheynes of iron about their neckes, and caryed them agayne
to their denne : whither returning within a fewe dayes after, they founde the denne cmptic,
and tluir cheynes not remoued f^rom their place. They supposed that the damme in her a stisngcthing.
furic tore them in pceces, and caryed them away, least any should haue the fruition of them.
For they playnely affirme, that it was not possible that they shoulde bee loosed from the
chayne.i aline. The skinne of the dead Tyger stufTed with drie hearbes and strawe, they
sent to Ilispaniola, to the Admirall, and other of the chiefe rulers, from whome the newe
lande- rcreiue their lawes and succour. It shall at this time .suffice to haue written thus
muche of the T>gfrs, as I haue learned by report of them which both susteined domage by
their rauening, and also handled the skinne of that which was .slayne. Let vs nowe there-
fore rcturne to king Pacra, from whom we haue digressed. When Vaschus had entred into KiaEP.-,crr,

the

474

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'Jlie thirde Decade.

of vict.

Th« vfe of

dogges in the
wirre againll
naked men.

the houses forsaken of Pacra, he sent messengeni to recocile him as he had done the other
kinges. At the first he refused to come but after threatningcs he rnme, with three other
kinges in his company. Vaschus writeth, that he neuer sawe a more monstruous & de-
fourmed creature, and that nature hath only giuen him humape shape, and otherwi.se to bee
worse then a bruite beast, with manners according to the lininmenies of his bodie. Hee
abused, with most abhominable lechery, the daughters of foure kings his borderers, from

Vitunii hitted whom he hadde taken them by violence. Of the filthie beehauiour of Pacra, of his cruchic,
and iniuries done by him, many of the other kinges made grieunus complayntcs to Vaschus, as
vnto a hygh ludge, and iust reuenger, most humbly beseeching him tosee suchc thingea punysh-
ed, forasmuche as they tooke him for a man sent of God for that purpose. Heereupon Vaschus,
aswell to winne their good willes, as also to shewe an example of terrour to suche as vsed like
fashions, commaunded that this monstrous beast, with the other three kinges whiche were sub-

uouRdirfd^efc ic<^tc to iiii*> an<l ^f li^c conditions, shoulde bee giuen for a pray to his fighting dogges, and
their torne carkases to bee burned. Of these dogges whiche they vse in the warres, they tell
maruelous thinges for they say, that they runne vppon the inhabitauntes armed after their
manner, with no lesse fiercenesse, then if they were Hartes or wilde bores, if the Spanyardes
doe but onely poynt towarde them with their fingers : insomuche that oftentimes they haue
hadde no neede to driue their enemies to flight with swoordes or arrowes, but haue doone
the same only with dogges, placed in the forefront of their battaile, and letting them slippe
with their watche woorde and priuie token : whereupon the barbarians stricken with feare,
by reason of the cruell countenances of their masties, with their desperate boldenesse, and
vnaccustomed howling and barking, haue disparckled at the fir.-4t onsette and brake their
array. Yet it chaunceth otherwise when they haue any confiicte against the Canibales, and
the people of Caramairi : for these are fiercer and more warlike men, also so expert archers,
that they can moste certainely direct their venemous arrowes against the dogges, with suche
celeritie as if they were thunderboltes, by reason whereof, they sometimes kill many of them.
Thinhabitauntes of these mountaines doo not keepe warre with bowes and arrowes, but vse
only Macanis, that is. certaine long and brode swoordes made of wood, also slinges, long
pikes, and dartes, hardened at the endes with fire. While king Pacra yet liued, no man
coulde knowe of him, neither by faire meanes nor by fowle, where he had the golde whiche
was founde in his house : for our men founde in his iewell house fiftie poundes waight of
golde. Being therfore demaunded where he had it, he aunswered, that they which geathered
the same in those mountaines in his fathers daies, were all dead, and that since he was a
childe, he neuer esteemed golde more then stones : More then this they coulde not get of
him. By this seuere punishment executed vpon Pacra, Vaschus conciled vnto him themindes
of all the other kinges of that prouince, and by this meanes it came to passe, that when he
sent for the sicke men whiche he left behinde him with king Chiapes, another king whiche
was in the midde way, (whose name was Bononiama) enterteined them gentlely, and gaue
them twentie pounde weight of pure wrought golde, beside great plentie of victualles.
And not this onlye, but also accompanied them him selfe, vntill he had brought them safely
from his pallare, into the dominion of Pacra, where taking each of them by the right handes
he deliuered them to Vaschus him seife, as a faithfull pledge committed to his charge, and
therewith spake to Vaschus in this effecte : Moste mightie and valiaunt victourer, behoulde,
I heere deliuer vnto you, your companions in such plight as I receiued them : wishing that
I had ben aswell able to giue them health, as they were hartily welcome to suche poore en-
tertainement as I was able to shewe them. For the fauoure and gentlenesse whiche I haue

turc'II' he Uwe fouude both in you and them, he shall rewarde you whiche sendeth thundering and lightning

written in the jq the dcstruction of mischeuous men, and of his clemencie giueth vnto good men plentie
of lucca and Maizium in due season. As he spake these woordes, he lifted vp his handes and
eies towarde the Sunne whom they honour as God. Then he spake further to Vaschus,
saying, In that you haue destroied and slaine our violent and proude enimies, you haue
brought peace and quietnesse to vs and our families, and bounde vs for euer to loue and
obey you. You haue so ouercome and tamed wilde monsters, that we thinke you to bee sent

from

The Canibalei
are eipeit «•
chcn.

Swoordes of
wood.

Fiftie pound
weight of gold.

King BononU
ama, fried to the
Chriitiani.
Wrought gold.

The oration of
king BonoDi«na<

The sparke cf
the lawe of na>

bartriofmen.

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

476

from heaiien, for the puniahement of eiiill men, and defence of innocentes, that vnder the
protection of your mightie swoorde, we may hereafter leade our Hues without feare, and
with more quietnesse giue thankes to the giuer of all good thinges, for his mercie shewed
vnto vs in this behalfe. When the interpretour hadde tolde Vaschus that the king Bononiana
had saide these woordes, and suche like, Vaschus rendered him like thankes for his humanitie
declared towarde our men, and rewarded him as he had doone other in whom he founde
like gentlenesse. Vaschus writeth, that he learned manie thinges of this kinge as concern-
ing the great richesse of these regions, but that he woulde at this present speake nothing
thereof, and rehearseth the same, as thinges like to haue good successe. What this implicate
Hiperbole, or aduauncemcnt meaneth, I do not well vnderstand, but he plainly seemeth
hereby to promise many great thinges. And surely it is to be thought, that according to Ortatpkntyof
his hope, great riches may be loked for. For they came in maner into none of thinhabitants *"*
houses, but that they founde in them either bresteplates or curettes of golde, or else golden
ouches, iewels, or garlandes to weare about their headcs, neckes, or armes. I coniecture a similitude for
therfore thus by a similitude of our houses : If amonge vs any men of great power were pj^ntf^of joUt.
moued with the desire to haue great plentie of Iron, and woulde enter into Italie with a
maine force, as did the Gothes in time past, what aboundance of Iron shoulde he haue in
their houses, whereas hee shoulde finde in one place a fryingpan, in another a caldron, here
a triuet, and there a spitte, and these in manner in euery poore mans house, with suche other
innumerable? whereby any n.an may coniecture, that Iron is plentifully engendredin suche
regions where they haue so great vse thereof. Our men also perceiued, that the inhabi-
tauntes of these regions do no more esteeme gold then we do Iron, nor yet so much, after
they saw to what vse iron serued vs. Thus much haue I thought good to write to your ho-
linesse, of suche thinges as I haue gathered out of the letters of Vaschus Nunnez, and learned
by woorde of mouth of suche as were his companions in these afTayres. As we receiue
them, so wee giue them vnto you. Time, whiche reuealeth all secretes, shall hereafter mi-
nister larger argument of writing. They coulde at this time doe no great thing in searching
the golde mynes, forasmuche as of a hundred, fourescore, and tenne men, which Vaschus
brought with him from Dariena, there remained only threescore and ten, or at the most
fourescore, whose ayd he now vsed in these dangerous aduentures, leaning euer the erased
men beehinde him in the kinges houses all the way that hee went, but they most especially
fell into sundry diseases, which came lately from Hi^paniola, for they were not able to abide chaungt of iiy«t
such calamities, as to liue onely contented with the bread of those regions, and wilde hearbes, "''•"'8""'''^
without salt, drinking none other then ryuer water, and that oftentimes eyther lacking, or
vnwholesome whereas before their stomackes had bin vsed to good meates. But the olde old wuUiers.
souldiers of Dariena, were hardened to abide all sorrowes, & exceeding tollerable of labour,
heate, hunger, & watching, insomuch that merily they make their boast, that they haue
obserued a longer & sharper Lent then euer your holinesse enioyned: for they say, that for Aiongimt.
the space of foure whole yeers they eate none other then hearbes and fruites, except now
and then perhappes fysshe, and very seldome fleshe : yea, ,and that sometime for lacke of
all these, they haue not abhorred from mangle dogges and filthie toades, as wee haue sayde
before. The olde souldiers of Dariena, I call those which first followed thecaptaines Nicuesa
Si Fogeda, to inhabit the land, of the which nowe fewe were lining. But let vs nowe omit
these thinges, and returne to Vaschus, the victourer of the mountaynes.

The thirde Chapter of the thirde Decade.

WHen Vaschus had remained thirtie daies in the pallace of king Pacra, conciling vnto
him the mindes of the inhabitants, & prouiding things necessary for his companions. As he
departed from thence, by the conduct of king Teaocha his men, and came to the banke of
the ryuer Commogrus, whereof the region and king thereof, are named by the same name, comogrus.
he founde the sides of the mountaynes so rude and barren, that there was nothing apt to
bee eaten, but wylde rootes, and certayne vnpleasant fruites of trees. The kinges being Two pooie
neere of bloude, inhabited this vnfortunate region, which Vaschus ouerpassed with all specde, ^"•

for

■1 Am

:;,J:?:

;%!! '

■,^^^i

I.I

:*'i

1 1

.f'r. t;

476

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirdc Decade.

if ^

M'' .■ ■>

Desirtcs.

for feare of hunger. One of these poore kingcs was named Cotorhu!», and the other Ciiiri-
zis: Me fooke them both with him, to guide him the way, and dismissed Teaocha his men
with victuals & rewardcs. Thus for the space of three dayes, he wandered through many
dcsart woods, craggy mountavncs, and miiddie marishes, fuH of such qnamyres, that men
are oftentimes swalUnved vp in them, if they looke not the more warily to their feete : also
through places not frequented with resort of men, and such as nature hadde not yet opened
to their vse, forasmuche as the inhabitauntes haue seldome entercourse betweene them,
but onely by sundry incursions, the one to spoyle and destroy the other : being other-
wise contented to liue onely after the law of nature, without all worldly toyie for
superfluous pleasures. Thus cntryng at the length into the territorie of another king,
whose name was Bechebuea, they founde all thinges voyde and in silence: for the
king and his subiectcs were all fledde to the woodes. When Vaschus sent messen-
gers to fetche him, hec did not onely at the first submit himselfe, but also pro-
mise his aide, with all that he might make : Protesting furthermore, that he fledde
not for feare that our men woulde doo them iniurie, but that he hid him selfe for
veric shame and griefe of mindc, for that he was not able to rccciue them honorablie.
Vessels of goide. according vnto their dignitie, because his store of vitailes was consumed. Yet in a token
of obedience »i)d friendeshippe, he sent our men many vesselles of golde, desiring them
to acceptc thera as the gii'teofa friende whose good will wanted not in greater thinges,
if his abilitie were greater. By whiche woordes, the poore man seemed to insinuate that
he had ben robbed, and otherwise cruelly handled of his borderers, by reason whereof, our
men were enforced to departe from thence more hungerly then they came. As they went
forwarde therefore, they espied ccrtaine naked men comming downe from a hill towarde
them. Vaschus commaunded his armie to stay, and sent his interpretours to them, to knowe
what they woulde haue. Then one of them, to whome the other seemed to giue reuerence,
spake in this effect. Our lord and king Chiorisus, greeteth you well, willing vs to declare
that he hearde of your puissauncc, and vertue, wherby you haue subdued euill men, & re-
uenged the wrongcs doone to innocentes: For the whiche your noble factes and iustice, as
he doth honour your fame, so woulde he thinke him selfe most happie, if he might receiue
you into his palace. But, forasmuch as his fortune hath ben so euill (as heimputeth it) that
being out of your way, vou haue ouerpassed him, he hath sent you this golde, in token of
his good will and friendshippe toward vou. And with these woordes he deliuered to
Vaschus thirtie dishes of j)ure golde, adding hereunto, that when so euer it shoulde please
him to take the paines to come to their king, he shoulde receiue greater giftes. He declared
further, that a king whiche was their borderer and mortall enimie, was very riche in golde
and that in subduing of him, they shoulde both obtaine great richessc, and also deliuer them
from daily vexations : whiche thing might easily be doone by their helpe, because they
knewc the countrcy. Vaschus put them in good comfort, and gaue them for rcwarde cer-
taiiie Iron axes, whiche they more esteemed then great heaps of golde. For they haue little
ncede of golde, hauing not the.vseof pestiferous money : but he that may gette but one
axe or hatchet thinketh himselfe richer tlien euer was Cras,sus. For euen these naked men,
doe perceiire that an axe is necessarie for a thousande vses, and confesse that golde is desired
onely for ccrtayne vaine and effeminate pleasures, as a thing whiche the life of mannc may
lacke without any inronucnience : for our gluttony and superfluous sumptuousncsse hath
not yet corrupted them. By reason whereof, they take it for no shame to lacke cobards of
plate, whereas the pride and wantonnessc of our time doth in manner impute it to vs for
ignominie, to bee without that, whereof by nature wee haue no neede. But their contenta-
tion with the benefites of nature, doth plnynely declare, that men may leade a free and
happye life without tables, tables clothes, carpeftes, napkins, and towels, with suche other
innumerable, whereof they haue no vse, except perhaps the kinges furnishe their tables
'with a fewe golden vessels. But the common people dryue away hunger with a peece of
their hrcade in the one hand, and a peece of broyled fyshe, or some kinde of fruite in the other
hande : for they catc flcsii but seldome. When their fingers are imbrued with any vnctuous

nieates.

King Chiorisus
seiidcth Vaschus
sxx. dishes of
pure golde.

Ascs of Iron
iiure tstecmed
thcu any golde.

:i^f

TJte thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

477

meates, they wype them eythcr on the soles of their fcete, or on their thyghcs, yea and
sometimes on the Hkins of their priuie members, in the steade of a napkin : and for this cause
do they oftentimes wash ihcmsehies in the riuers. Our mcnne therefore went forwarde laden Hiemyofsotd •
with golde, but sore alTlicted with hummer. Thus they came at the length to the dominion „£«""""" "^
of king Pocchorrosa, who fled at their comming. Here for the space of thirtie dayes, they
filled their emptie bellies with breadeof the routes of Maizium. In the meanetimc, Vaschus
gent for Pocchorrosa, who beeing allured with promises and fayre woordcs, came and sub-
mitted himselfe, bringing with him for a present fyftcene poundes weyght of wrought golde,
and a fcwc slaues: Vaschus rewarded him as he hadde done other before. When hce was
mynded to depart, he was aducrtised, that he shonldc passe through the dominion of a cer-
tayne king, whose name was Tumanama. This is hce whome the sonne of king Comogrus
declared to be of so great power, and fearefull to all his borderers, and with whom many
of Commogrus familiars had bin captiue, but our men now perceiued that they measured his
power by their owne : For their kinges arc but gnattes (compared to Elephantcs) in respect
to the power and policie of our men. Our men were alsoenfourmcd by such as dwelt neare
about Tumanama, that his region was not bcyonde the mountaynes as they supposed, nor
yet so rich in golde as young Commogrus had declared : Yet consulted they of his subdu-
ing, whiche they thought they might the ea.silicr bring to passe, because Pocchorrosa was his
inortall enemie, who most gliidiy promised them his aduice and ayde herein. Vaschus
therefore, leauinghis sitke men in the village of Pocchorrosa, tooke with him threescore of
his most valiant sonidiers, and declared vnto them, how king Tumanama had often times a good iK)licie.
spoken proude and threatning woordcs agaynst them : Likewise that it nowc sioodc ihem in
hande of necessitie to passe through his dominion, and thiit hee thought it best to set vpoa
him vnwares. The souldiers consented to his aduice, and exhorted him to j-iue the ndiien-
ture, promising that they would follow him whither socner he went. Tlicy dctcnnincd ther-
fore to goe two dayes iourney in one day, that Tuma;iania, net knowing of their soJayne
comming, might haue no leysure to assemble an armie : and the thing came to p.issc enen
as they had deuised. For in the first watch of the night, cur nienne, with ti.e Pocchorrosians,
inuadcd the village and pallace of Tumanama, where they tooke him prisoner, suspecting
nothing Icsse. He had with him two young men, which hee abused vnnaturally, also foure-
score women, which he hadde taken violently from diuers kinges : likewise, a great nimiber
of his gentlemen and subiectes were taken stragling in other villages neere about his p ilhice.
For their houses are not adherent together as ours bee, beecause they are oftentimes troubled
with vehement whirlewindcs, by reason of the sodayne changes and motions of the ayrc, Thecauieof
caused by the influence of the pianettes, in the equalitie of the duy and night, being there JJ^^'j^heEqit
in maner both of one length throughout all the yeere, forasmuch as they are neere vnto the noctiali.
Equinoctial! lyne, as we haue sayde before. Tiieir houses are made of trees, cowered, and
after their manner thatched with the stalkes of certayne rough hearbes. To the pallace of
Tumanama, was onely one house adherent, and that cuen as bygge as the pallace it selfe.
Eyther of these houses were in length a hundred and twentie paces, and in breadth fiftie
paces, as our men measured them. In these two houses the king was accustomed to muster
his menne, as often as he prepared an armie. When Tumanama therefore was thus taken
captiue, with all his Sardanapanicall familie, the Pocchorrosians bragged and threatened him,
being nowe bounde, that he should shortly be hanged: the other kinges also his borderers,
reioyced at his misfortune. Whereby our menne perceiued that Tumanama was no lesse
troublesome to his neighboures, then was Pacra to the kinges of the South side of the moun-
taynes. Vaschus also the better to please them, threatned him grieuously, but in deede
entended no euill towardes him. He spake therfore sharply vnto him with these woordes : v»schuihi.
Thou shalt nowe suffer punishment thou cruell tyrant, for thy pride and abhominations. TumaMnu. "'
Thou shalt know of what power the Christians are, whom thou hast so contemned, and
threatened to drawe by the hayre of their heads to the next ryuer, & there to drowne them,
as thou hast oftentimes made thy vaunt among thy naked slaues : But thou thy selfe shalt
first fcele that, which thou hast prepared for others. And herewith commaunded him to bee

3 Q, taken

i.i:Jkm

I, !*.S

47S

. ^1

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TJic think Decade.

W V-l

OdciSt qucm
metuunc.

iKi. pounde
weyght of
wrought gold.

TTirefscore
fotindei weight
of goldt.

T!ify abhorre
labour.

The crlour of
tllf jioljcneir h,
and a triall of
Ihc Mine.

taken vppc : Nciirrtlielease giuing a priiiie token of pardon to them whiche layde handea
on him. Thus vnhappily Tumanama, fearing and beleeuing that Vaschin, hadde ment in
earnest as he commanded, fell prostrate at his feete, and with tcares -desired pardon : Pro-
tcnting that hee ncuer spake any such wordes, but that perhaps his noble menne in their
drunkennes'^e hadde so abused their tongues, whiche hee coulde not rule : For their wines,
ahhough they be not made of grapes, yet they are of force to make men drunken. Hee
declared furthermore, that the other kingcs his borderers had of malice surmised such lyes
of him, cnuying his fortune, because he was of greater power then they, most humbly
desiring Va?fchus, that as hee tooke him to bee a iust victourer, so to giue no creditc vnto
their vniust and malicious complayntes : Adding heereunto, that if it woulde please him to
pardon him, not hnuing offended, he woulde bring him great plentie of golde. Thus laying
his right hande on his breast, he swore by the Sunne, that he euer loued and feared the
Christians since hee first hearde of their fame and victories: especially when hee hearde say,
that they had Michanas, that is swordes sharper than theirs, and suche as cutte in pecces all
thinges that come in their wayes. Then directing his eyes towarde Vaschus, who had hig
swordein his hande, he spake thus. Who (except he were out of his wittc) dare lift vp hi:*
hande agaynst this sworde of yours, wherewith you are able with one stroake to cleaue a
manne from the head to the nauell ? Let no manne therefore perswade you (O most migtic
victourer) that euer suche woordes proceeded out of my mouth. As Tumanama with trembling
spake these woordes, therewith swallowing downe the knotte of death, Vaschus seemed by his
tcares to be mooned to compassion, and speaking to him with chearefull countenaunce,
commaunded him to bee loosed. This doone hee sent immediately to his palhice for thirtie
j)oundes weight of pure golde, artificially wrought into sundry ouches, which his wyues and
concubines vsed to weare. Also the thirde day following, his noble men & gentlemen,
sent threescore pounds weyght of golde for their fine and raunsome. Tumanama being
demaunded where they had that golde : he answered, that it was not gathered in his domi-
niou"*, but that it was brought his ancestours from the riuer Comogrus towarde the South.
But the Pocchorrosians and other his enemies sayde that he lyed, affirming that his kingdome
was riihe in gi)Ide. Tumanama on the contrary parte, instantly protested that he neuer knew
any golde inyne in all his dominions, yet denyed not but that there hath sometimes beenc
foiiiule certayne small graines of gold, to the gathering whereof, he neuer hadde any
re:;:iril, licc.uise they could not get it without great Sc long labour. While these things
were doing, the sicke men which Vaschus had left in the village of Pocchorrosa, came to
him the viii. day of tlie Calendes of lanuary, in the yeere of CHRIST. 1413. bringing
with them certayne labourers from the Kinges of the South, with sundry instrumentes to
ditrge the groundc, and gather golde. Thus passing ouer the day of the natiuitie of CHRIST
witiiout bodily labour, vpon Saint Stephens day hee brought certayne myners to the side of
a lii'il, not farre distant from the pallace of Tumanama, where (as he sayth) hee perceiued
by the colour of the earth, that it was like to bring foorth golde. When they had digged
a pit, not past a hand breadth and a halfe, and sifted the earth thereof, they founde certayne
small graines of golde, no bygger then lintell seede, amounting to the weyght of twelue
graynes, as they prooued with their balances of assaic, before a notarie and witnesse, that
the better credite might bee giucn thereto. Whereby they argued, that the richenesseof that
land was agreeable to the report of tiie borderers, although Vaschus coulde by no meanes
cause Tumanama to confesse the same. They suppose that he nothing esteemed so small a
portion : but other say, that hee denied his countrey to be fruitfull of golde, least by reason
thereof, the desire of golde might intice our menne to inhabite his kingdome, as indeed
the scely king was a prophet in so thinking. For they chose that and the region of Poc-
chorrosa to inhabite, and determined to buylde townes in them both, if it should so please
the king of Cistile: aswcll that tliey may bee bayting places and vittailyng houses for such
as should iourney towarde the South, as also that both the regions were fruitefull, and of
good groinide to beare fruites and trees. Intending nowe therefore to depart from thence,
hee tryed the earth by chaunce in an other place, where the colour of the ground, with

certayne

8.;-'^

"'4'

.'i.l

Tlie thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUmiES.

479

ad digged

certayne shining sfnncs, seemed to be a token of golde, where causing a small pitte to be
digged, litlc beneath the vppcr crust of the earth, hee foiinde so much gold as weyghcd the
peece of golde whiche the Spanyardes call Castellnnum Aureum, and is commonly called Tokfni of grMt
Pesus, but not in one grayne. lleioycing at these tokens, in hope of great riches, hcc bad '''""'' °^8>'''i«-
Tumanama to bee of good comfort, promising him that hee wouldc bee his friende and
defender, so that hee troubled not any of the kinges, whiche werefriendes to the Christians:
Hee also perswaded him to gather plentic of golile. Some say that he Icddc away all Tuma-
nama his women, and spoyled him, least he shoulde rebell. Yet hee deliucred his sonnc to
Vaschus, to be brought vp with our mcnne, to Icarne their language and religion, that he »•
might hereafter the better vse his helpeaswel in all thinges that he should hauc to doe with
our menneas also more politikcly rule, and obtayne the loue of his owne subicctcs. Vaschus
at this tyme fell into a vehement fcucr, by reason of excesse of labour, immoderate watch-
ing, and hunger, insomuciie that departing from thence, hee was fayne to bee borne vpon
mens backes in shectes of Gossanipine cotton : likewise also many of his souldicrs, wliiclie F«Ucn««of
were so weake, that they coulde ncythcr goe nor stande. To this purpose they vsed tiic II"^'!,',',,''.''*
hclpe of the inhabitantes, who shewed thcmsehies in all thinges willing and obedient. AIm)
some of them which were somewhat feeble and not able to trauayle, although not grieuously
sicke, were ledde by the armcp, vntill they came to the dominion of kinu, Comogrus, a
great friende to the Christians, of whom we haue largely made mention Ijcforc. At Vaschus
comming thither, hee foundc that the olde king was dead and his Sonne (whomcwceso
praysed for his wisedome) to raygne in his steade, and that he was baptized by the name of
Charles. The pallacc of this Commogrus, is situate ?'. the foote of a slccpc hyll well cul-
tured, hauing towarde the South a plaine of twclue lea, 'es in breadth, and very fruitcfull.
This playne they call Zauaiia. Beyonde this, are the gr«. * and high mountaynes, whiche
diuide the two seas, whereof wee haue spoken before. C.it of the steepe hiiles, springeth
the ryuer Commogrus whiche runneth through the sayde playne to the hygh mountaynes. The riueiCo-
recciuing into his channell by their valleyes, all other ryuers, and so falleth into the South •""i^"'-
sea : It is distant from Dariena, about threescore and tenne leagues towarde the West. As
our men therfore came to these parties, king Commogrus (otherwise called Charles by his
Christian name) met them ioy fully, and entertayned them honourably, giuing them their fyll
of pleasaunt meates and drinkes : Hee gane also to Vaschus twentie pounde weigiit of
wrought golde. Vaschus recompenced him with thinges whiche hee esteemed muche more,
as axes, and sundry kindes of carpenters tooies : also a souldiers cloake, and fayre shurt,
wrought with needle woorke. By these giftes Comogrus thought himselfe to bee halfe a
God among his borderers. Vaschus at his departing from hence, earnestly charged Como-
grus, and the other kinges, to remayne faithfull and obedient to the Christian king of Castile,
if they desired to Hue in peace and quietnesse, and that they shoulde hereafter more dili-
gently applie themselues to the geathering of golde, to bee sent to the great Christian Tiba
(that is) king: Declaring further, that by this meanes, they shoulde both gette them and
their posteritie a patrone and defender against their enemies, and also obtayne great abun-
daunce of our thinges. These affayres thus happily atchieucd, hee went forward on his voyage
to the pallace of king Poncha, where he founde foure yong men, which were come from
Dariena, to certifie him that there were certayne shyppes come from Hispaniola laden witli
victualles, and oiher necessaries. Wherefore taking with him twentie of his most lustie
soldiers, he made hast to Dariena, with long iorneys: leauing the residue behind him, to vjschmrtturn-
foUowe at their leysure. Hewriteth, that he came to Dariena the xiiii. Ca. of Fc. An. J 5 14. "''"° ^' '""""•
The date of his letter is : From Dariena, the iiii, day of March. He writcth in the same The wod for-
letter, that he had many sore conflictcs & that he was neyther yet wounded, or lost any of '""'"" ^'"'""•
his men in the battayle: and therefore in all his large letter, there is not one leafe without
thankes giuing to almightie God for his deliuery, and preseruation from so many imminent
perils. He attempted no enterpryse, or tooke in hand any voyage, without thinuocation of
(iod and his holy saintcs. Thus was Vaschus Balboa of a violent Goliah, turned into Heliseus,
and from Anteus to Hercules, the conqueror of monsters. Being therefore thus turned from

S Q 'i a rashe

t'^-'K

480

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TJie tliirde Decade.

I*: )

PJi'V:.'.:

O flattrryng
fortune liMikc
his death ill the
buoke i>r llie
lliiiil Ijtcly
found.

The rarth ii
our ftnttii
mother.

The courte of
infernal Pluto.

Marchantei.

Tlif fiercetifsse
of the Caiiilialcs,

Our duty to
Oud. and ii.i*
tiir M louc to
maakiiidc.

Thf office of

Cliristi-tn

princes.

The harucst ii

t"»t.

The fourth
nauii/it;i>n of
C'nK<nu3 the
AJmu-X

a ra.she roystcr, to a politike and dcscret capytaync, he was judged worthy to bee aduanccd to
great honour : By re.ison whereof, hee was both recciued into the Kinpcs fauotir, and there-
upon created the gcnerall or Licutenaiint of the Kinges armiein those Regions. Thus muche
haiic I gathered both by the letters of certaync my faithfullfrieiidii being in Dariena, and
also by worde of mouth of such a» came lately from thence. If your holyncssc desire t(»
knowc what I thinke herein, surely by such thinges as I haue scene, I becleeue these
thingos to be true, euen so the order and agreeing of Vaschus and his companions warre-
likc letters, seeme to confirmc the same. The Spanyardc therefore shall not neede here-
after, with vnderiniiiing the enrth with intollerable labour, to break the bones of our mother,
and enter many myles into her bowelle*, and with innumerable daungers cut in sunder
whole niountayncs to make away to the courte of infcrnall Pluto, to bring from thence wicked
golde, the seed of innumerable mischieucs, without the whichc. notwithstanding wee may
nowe scarcely leade a happie lyfe, sith iniquitie hath so preiiaiicd, and made vs slaucs to
that, wherof we are Lordes by nature : The Spanyardes (I s.iy) shall not neede with such
trauayles and difiicultie, to dyggc farre into the earth for gold, but shall (inde it plentifully, in
maner in the vpper crust of the earth or in the sandes of ryuers drycd vp by the heate of
sommer, onely washing the earth softly from the same, and shall with like facilitic gather
plentie of pcirles. Certaynly the rcucrent antiquitie (by all the Cosinographers assent)
obtcined not so great a bcnefite of nature, nor yet aspired to the knowledge hereof,
because there came neuer a man before out of our knowne world, to these vnknowne na-
tions, at the least with a power of men by force of anne.s, in manner of conquest: wheras
likewise nothing can bee gotten here, forasmuch as the.se nations arc for the most part seuere
defenders of their patrimonies, and cruel to straungers, in no conditio admitting them other-
wise than by conquest especially the fierce Canibalcs or Caribcs. For these wylie hunters of
men, giue themselues to none other kinde of exercise, but onely to manhunting, and tyllage,
after their maner. At the comming therefore of our menne into their regions, they looke as
surely to haue them fall into their snares, as if they were hartes or wilde bores : and with no
lesse confidence, licke their lippes secretly, in hope of their praye. If they gette the vpper
hande, they eate them greedily : if they mystrust themselues to be the weaker parte, they
trust to their feete, and flee swifter then the winde. Agayne, if the matter be tryed on the
water, aswell the women as the men can dyue and swimme, as though they had beene euer
brought \p and fedde in the water. It is no maruayle therefore, if the large tract of these
regions haue bin hitherto vnknowne. But nowe sith it hath pleased God to discouer the same
in our time, it shall beecome vs to shewe our naturall loue to mankinde, and duetie to God,
to endeauour our selues to bring to them ciuilitie and true religion, to the increase of Christes
fiocke, to the confusion of Infidels and the Deuill their father, who delighteth in our destruc-
tion, as hec hath done from the beginning. By the good successe of these first fruites, our
hope is thaf the Christian religion shall stretch forth her armes very farre, whiche thing
shouide the sooner come to passe, if all men to their power, especially Christian princes (to
whom it chiefely perteyneth) woulde putte their handes to the plough of the Lordes vine-
yarde : The haruest surely is great, but the workemen are but fewe. As wee haue sayde at
the beeginning, your holynesseshal hereafter nourish many myriades of broodes of chyckens
vnder your winges. But let vs nowe returne to speake of Beragua, being the West side of
Vraba, and first found by Colonus the Admiral, then vnfortunatly gouerned by Diego Ni-
cuesa, and now left in maner desolate, with the other large regions of those prouinces, brought
from their wilde and beastly rudenesse, to ciuilitie and true religion.

The fourth Chapter of the thirde Decade.

I Was determined (most holy father) to haue proceeded no further herin, but that one
fiery sparke, yet remaining in my mind, would not suffer me to cease. Whereas I haue
therefore declared how Beragua was first found by Colonus, me thinke I should comit a
hainous crime if I shouide defraud the man of the due commendations of his trauayles, of his
cares and troubles, and finally of the dangers & perils which he susteyned in that na-

uigation.

The thirdc Decade.

TnAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUF.RIES.

481

the

tlic
of

iiipation. Therefore in the yeerc of Clirist 1502. in ihc G. day of the Ides of Nfay, he
hoyned vp hi« sayles, and departed from the Hands of Gade.t, with foure hhips, of liftic
or threeatore tunne a peece, with a hundred, threescore, and ten men, and came with
protpcrous windc to the IlandcH of Canaric, within flue dayes following. From thence
arrAuinjj the 16. day at Ihc Ilaiide of J)ominica, bcein;; the chicfe habitation of
Canilialc!^, he sayled from Dominica to Ilispaninia in ruic other dnycs. Thus within
space of 20. dayes, with proMpcrous winde, and by the swift fall of the Ocean from
East to the West, hec sayled from Spaync to Hispaniola, whiche course is counted
the mariners, to be no le«se thi-n n thousand and two hundred leagues. I lee taryed
but a while in llispaniola, whether it were willinijly, or that hee were so admonyshcd of the
Vice Uoy. Directing therefore his voyage from thence toward the West, leaning the Ilandes
of Cuba aud lamaica on his right hande toward the North, hewriteth that he chaunccd vppon
an Ilande more soufhwardc then lamaica, which tiie inhabitantes call Guanassa, so florishing
and fruitefull, that it might secme an earthly Paradyse. Coasting along by the shores of this
Ilande, heemctte two of the Cano.n, or lioates of those prouince.s, whiche were drawne with
two naked slaucs against the strcamc. In these boates was carycd a ruler of the Ilande, with
his wile and children, all naked. The slaues seeing our men alandc, made signes to them
with proud countenance in their maisters name, to stand out of the way, and threatned them,
if they woulde not glue place. Their simplenessc is such, that they neyther feared the
multitude, or power of our men, or the greatnesse and straungenesse of our shyppes. They
thought that our men would hauo honoured their maistcr with like reuerence as they did.
Our mennc h.iddc intelligence at the length, that this ruler was a great marchant, which
came to the martc from other coastes of the Hand : for they exercise buying and selling by
exchaunge with their confines, lice had also with him good store of such ware as they
stande in neede of, or take pleasure in ; as laton belles, rasers, kniues, and hatchettes made
of a certayne sh.irpe yellowe bright stone, with handles of a strong kinde of wood : also many
other necessnrie instruments with kytchen stull'e, and vesiselles for all necessarie vses: like-
wise sheetes of Gossampine cotton, wrought of sundry colours. Our men tooke him prysoner,
with all his familie, but Colonns commaunded him to be loosed shortly after, and the
greatest parte of his goods to be restored, to winne his friendshyppe. Beeing licerc in-
structed of a lande lying further towarde the wSouth, hee tooke his voyage thyther. Therfore
little more then ten myles distant from hence, he found a large land, which the inhabitants
called Quiriquetana, but be named it Giamba. When he went alande, and commaunded his
chaplaine to say masse on the sea bankes, a great confluence of the naked inhabitants flocked
thither, simplie and without feare, bringing with them plentie of meate and freshe water,
marueling at our menne, as they had beene some straunge myracle. When they had pre-
sented their giftes, they went somewhat backwarde, and made lowe curtesie after their
manner, bowing their hcades and bodyes reuerently. He recompenced their gentlenesse,
rewarding them with other of our thinges, as counters, braslettes, and garlandes of glasse,
and counterfeit stones, looking glasses, needelles, and pynnes, with such other trashe,
whiche seemed vnto them precious marchandi/e. In this great tracte, there are two regions,
whereof the one is called Tula, and the other Maia, Hee writeth, that all that lande is very
faire and holesome, by reason of the excellent temperatnesse of the ayre: And that it is
jnferiour to no lande in fruitefull grounde, beeing partly full of mountaynes,and partly large
playnes : also replenished with many goodly trees, wholsome hearbes, continuing greeiie,
and flourishing all the whole yeere. It beareth also very many holly trees, and pyneapple
trees. Also vii. kindes of date trees, whereof some are fruitefull, and some barren. It
bringeth forth likewise of it selfe Pelgoras, and wild vines, laden with grapes, euen in the
woodes among other trees. He sayth furthermore, that there is such abundaunce of other
pleasant and profitable fruites that they passe not of vines. Of one of those kindes of date trees
they make certaine long and broade swordes, and dartes. These regions beare also Gossam-
pine trees here and there commonly in the woodes. Likewise Mirobalanes of sundry kyndes,
as those which the phisitians call Emblicos, and Chebulos : Maizium also, lucca. Ages, and

Battatas,

Frntn Sp.iynr

t<i Hisp.ltiiolj

(wo hutidrr 1
Ictjuc.

Simpir pc(n>lf.

A grfat
m4ri.liauiit.

GcntI

c ptoi'ie

The reginii n:
Tula Si Miia.

Stv.cn kindes
ol'date trees.

MirobiLnT ,

'■ .

':iM^

■i

•: ,V>

^■{

■I

U ^ 1

V H t

482

foulci.

PfopU nf
loodlf kUiure.

Th»y pivnt
thru bodici.

The mifi
courw of the
*tt from ihf
Flit to the
Ve»t.

Fre'h water in
the lea.

VOYAGES. NAUIOATIONS.

The thirdt Decade.

Ttyn riiierl.
('.Ic$t rre.ll,
firfit I'ol-
Tovsri.

Quntuor
ttinpurJ.

Thir region of
Quicuri.

Dattalas, like vnto thoAC whirh wr hniir Raid bcrnrn to be roiindc in other rcRiomt in thrne
roanfc*. The name noiiriihelh also Lionx, Tygrrs Ilartc*, Uoct, (JoatM, and dyurri other
beastcs, Lykcwixc sundry kindc<i of byrdpn and fi>ulrH : amonv; the whiche they kerpe onciy
them to frankc and feede, whirh are in roloiir, big^cneHxe, and tast, murh like vnto our
I'chennes. llenayth that the inhabilanlet arc of hy)>h and <;oodly ntature, well lymmcd and
portioned, both men and women, roiicring their priiiic partes with fyne breechcH of gtw^am-
uinc cotton, wrought with ditiert colours. And that they may sceme the more comely and
bcautiliill (as they take it) they paynt their bodien redde and blacke, with the itiyte nf
ccrtayne apples, whiche they plint in their gardens for the same purpose. Some of them
paynt their whole bodies, some but parte, and other some drawe the portiturrs of hearbes,
floures, and knottes, cucry one as secmelh best to his ownc phantasic. Thi-ir language
difl'erelh utterly from theirs of the Ilandes neere about them. From these regions, the
waters of the sea ran with as full a course towardes the West, as if it had beenc the fall of a
swift ryuer. Neuerthelesse he determined to searche the Kast partem of this lande, reuoluing
in his mindc that the regions of I'aria & Os Draconis with other coasts founde before to-
wardes the East, should bee neerc there about, as indeede they were. Departing therefore
from the large region of Quiriquetana, the xiii. day of the Calendes of September when he
had sayled thiriie leagues, he foiuulc a riucr, within the mouth whereof he drewe fresh water
in the sea : where also the shore was so cicanc without rockes, that hee founde grounde
euery where, where he might aptly cast anker. He writeth that ti»c swift course of the
Ocean was so vehement & contrary, that in the space of fourtie dayes, he coulde scarcely
sayle threescore and tcnne leagues, and that witn much difTicuIlie, with many fetches and
cnmpassinges, finding himselfe to bee somctymes repulsed and drinen farre backc by the
violent course of the sea. when hee wouUle hauc taken lande towarde the euening, least per-
happes wanderyng in vnknowne coastes in the darknesse of the night, he might be in danger
of shippewracke. Hee wryteth, tliat in the space of eight leagues, he found three great and
fayrc ryuers, vppon the bankes whereof there grewe rcedes bygger then a mannes thygh.
In these ryuers was also great plentie of fishe. and great Torloyscs : Lykewise in many
places, multitudes of Crocodiles lying in the sande, and yauing to take the heate of the
sunne: beside, diuers other kindes of beastes, whcreunto he gaue no names, lie sayeth
also that the soyle of that lande is verie diuers and variable, being somewhere stonie and
full of rough and craggic promontories, or poyntes reaching into the sea, and in other places
as fruitfull as may bee. They haue also diuers Kinges and rulerii. In some places they call
a King Cacicus : in other places they call him Quebi, and somewhere T iba. Such as haue
beehaued thcmselucs valyantly in the w.nrres agaynste their enemies, and haue their faces
full of scarres, they call Cupras, and honour them as the antiquitie did the gods which they
called Heroes, supposed to bee the soules of such menne, as in their life time excelled in
vertue and noble actes. The common people they call Chiui, and a manne. they call
Homcm. When they say in their language, take manne, they say Hoppa home. After this,
hee came to another ryuer apt to beare great shippes, before the mouth whereof, lye foure
small Ilandes, full of flourishing and fruitfull trees: these Ilandes he named Quatuor tem-
pora. From hence, sayling towarde the East for the space of xiii. leagues, still agaynst the
violent course of the water, he found twcluc other small Ilandes, in the which, because he
founde a new kind of fruits, much like vnto our Lemonds, he called them Limonares.
Wanderyng yet further the same wav for the space of xii. leagues, hee founde a great hauen
entring into the lande, after the manner of a gulfe, the space of three leagues, and in maner
as broade, into the which fell a great ryuer. Here was Nicuesa lost aftcrwarde, when he
sougiit Beragua. by reason wherof, they called it Rio de los perdidos, that is. the ryuer of the
lost men. Thus Colonus the Admirall yet further continuing his course agaynst the furie of
the sea, founde manie hygh mountaines. and horrible valleyes, with dyuers ryuers and hauens,
from all the which (as he say th) proceeded sweete sauours, greatly recreatyng and com-
forting nature : insomuche that in all this long tract, there was not one of his men diseased,
vntill he came to a region which the inhabitants call Quicuris, in the which is the hauen

called

iiJ^'

'Hit tMrdt Decade.

TflAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERltS.

483

colled Cariai, iiarrted ^firobaIanu» by the Admirall, becauic the Mirobalaue Ircos arc naiiiic in tIi» hiu.n..r
llie rc^ion.M thcrraboul. In this haucn cf Cariai, there came about two hiiiidred of the in- ,Xl'ln<lu
habilantcs to th«- sea sidr, with eufrie of them three or fourc darlc.i in their bander, yet of
condition gentle fnciigh, and not r« fusing »traunger«. Their tomming wa.i fur none other
piirpoxe, thrn to knnwc* what tlii'« n«>»e nation meant, or what ihey brought with thcin.
When our niciiif^ hadde <:;iMen fhein signe!) of peace, they came swimming to the »hyp|>es,
and dcfiired to l)ar> r with llictn by (t'x< It.iunge. The Admirall, to allure them to friciul-
tihippe, gaiic them many "f our thinj;es : Jlrit they refu«tcd them, suspecting Home desccil
thereby, because hce would not receiue theirs, lihev wrought all by signet : for one vndei-
Hloodc not a woordc of the other*- language. Siirh giltcs as were sent them, they left on tiu<
shore, and woulde take no part thereof. They are of sutlie ciuililic ami humanitie, fliot ilicv ^'"'|* "'.tie'"
c»*tccmc it more honorable to giuc, then to take. They sent our men two voung women,
being virgincx, of commendable fauour, and goodlj stature, signifying vnto them, that they
might take them away with them, if it were their pleasure. These women, after the manner
of their coiintrey, were coucred from their anrle-t somcwiial abouc their priuic partes, with
a ccrfayne cloth u\ade of gossampine cotton, but the men arc al naked. The women vse to
cuttc their hayre : but the men let it growc on the hinder part of their head, and cuttc it on
the fore part. Their long hayre, they binde vppe with fyllellcs, and windc it in sundry
rowleg, as our maydcs are accustomed to doc. The Virgins which were sent to the Admirall,
he decked in fayrr apparell, and gauc them many giftes, and sent them home agayne. IJut
likewise all these rewardes and ai)parell they left vppon the shore, because our men had
refused their giftes. Yet tookc hee two men away with him (and those verie willingly)
that by learning the Spanishe tongue, hee might afterwardc vse them for interpretours. lie
considered that the trades of these coastes were not greatly troubled with vehement motions,
or oiicrflowinges of the sea, forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farrc fnim the shore,
euen as they doe vpon the bankes of ryuers: the whiche thing also other do aflirmc, wiiich
hauc latelier searched \hose coastes, declaring that the sea ryseth and falleth but litlc there-
about, lie sayth furthermore, that in the prospect of this land, there arc trees engendred Trmpiowinj
euen in the sea, which after that they arc growen to any height, bend downc the toppcs of i",{r,'nj",or "
their braunches into the grounde : whiche embracing them, causeth other braunthes to
spring out of the same and take rootc in the earth, brin}:ing foorth trees in their kinde suc-
cessiucly, as did the first root from whence they hadde their originall, as doe also the scttes
of vines, when onely both the endes thereof are put into the grounde. Plinie in the twelfth Piinit.
booke of his naturall hystorie maketh mention of suche trees describing them to bee on the
lunde, but not in the sea. The Admirall writcth also, that the like beastes arc engendred in
the coastps of Cariai, as in other prouinces of these regions, and such as we hauc s^ioken cf
before: Yet that there is one foundc here in nature muche difTeryng from the other. This a stnnge kini
beast is of the bygncsse of a great Monkey, but with a tayle much longer and bigger, itufMonkcyn
lyueth in the woodes, and remoueth from tree to tree in this manner: Hanging by the tayle
vpon the braunchc of a tree, and gathering strength by swaying her body twyse or thryse
to and fro, shec castcth her sclfe from brancli to branche, and so from tree to tree, as
though slice flew. An archer of ours hurt one of them, who, pcrceiuing her selfe to becAMo.ikcr
wounded, leapt downe from the tree, and fiercely set on him whiche gaue her the wounde, 1^1^"^ *"''
in so much that he was faine to defend himselfc with his swoorde. And thus by chaunce,
cutting of one of her armcs, he tooke her, and with much a do brought her to the shyppes,
where within a while shee waxed tame. While she was thus kept and bounde with chcynes,
ccrtayne otiier of our hunters had chased a wilde Bore out of the maryshes neere vnto the
sea side : for hunger and desire of flesh, caused them to take double plea'-.ure in hunting.
In this meane time other which remayned in the shyppes, going a lande to recreate them-
sclucs, tooke this Monkie with them, who assoonc as she had espyed the Core, set vppe her a conflict b--
brystels, and made towarde him. The Bore likewise shooke his bristcls, and whet his teeth. '"«"< »
The Monkie furiously inuaded the Bore, wrapping her tayle about his body, & with her wiu'iiir-"^
arme, rcscrucd of her victourer, held him so fast about the throte, that he was »utlo-

cate.

't: ■«.%•..,.<

484

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Ihlrde Decade.

The bodiM of

kingesdrynlind

itKtutd,

M'^^i^

'■1,1' >

Crownes of
beasts cUwc9.

Spightfull |ie«>
pic.

Ouns make

J'tiCC.

SVuoii gulden

Nole«lK'it!it
ficiity of gold
riulich.

cate. These people of Cariai, vse to drie the dead bodies of their princes vppon
hurdela, and so reseriie them inuulued in the leaues of trees. As he went forwarde,
about twentie leagues from Cariai, he found a gulfe of suche largenesse, that it con-
tayned xii. leagues in compasse, in the mouth oii' this gulfe was foure litle Ilandes,
so neere together, that they made a safe hauen to enter into the giilfe : This gulfe
is the hauen which wee sayde before to bee called Ccrabaro of the inhabitauntesj But
they haue nowe learned, that only the land of the one side therof, lying on the right hand
at the enteryng of the gulfe, is called by that name, but that on the left side, is called
Aburema. Hcc sayth that all this gulfe is full of fruitefull Ilandes, well replenished with
goodly trees, and the grounde of the sea to bee very cleane without rockcs, and commodious
to cast anker: likewise the sea of the gulfe to haue great abundance of fyshe, and the lande
on both the sides to bee inferiour to none in fruitefulnesse. At his first arryuing, he espyed
two of the inhabitantes, hauing cheynes about their neckes, made of ouches (whiche they
call Guanines) of base golde, artificially wrought in the fourmes of Eagles, and Lions, with
diners other beastes, and fowles. Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with him from
Cariai, he was enfourmed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rich in gold, and
that the people of Cariai haue al their gold from thece for exchange of other of their thinges.
They tolde him also, that in the same regions there are fine villages, not farre from the sea
side, whose inhabitantes applie thcmsehies onely to the gathering of gold. The names of
these villages are these, ('hirara, Puren, Chitaza, lureche, Atainea. All the men of the
prouince of Cerabaro, go naked, & are painted with diuers colours. They take great plea-
sure in wearyng garlandes of (loures, and crownes made of the cKiwes of Lions & Tygers.
The women couer onely their priuie partes with a fyllet of gossampine cotton. Departing
from hence, & coasting still by the same shore for the space of xviii. leagues, he came to
another riuer, where he espyed about three hundred naked men in a company. When they
saw the shyppcs drawe neare about the land, they cryed out aloud, witli cruell countenaunces,
shaking their wooden swoordes, and hurling dartcs, taking also water in their mouthes, and
spouting the same against our men : whereby they seemed to insinuate, that they would
receiue no condition of peace, or haue ought to doe with them. Here he commaunded cer-
tayne pieces of ordinaunre to be shot of towarde them, yet so to oucrshoote them, tiiat none
might bee hurt thereby : For hee euer determined to deale quietly & peaceably with these
newc nations. At the noyse therefore of the gunnes, and sight of the lire, they fell downe
to the grounde, and desired peace. Thus enteryng into further fricndshippe, they ex-
chaungcd cheynes and ouches of golde, for glasses, and hawkcs belles, and such other niar-
chandies. They vse dnimmes or tymbrels made of the shelles of ecrtayne .sea fishes, where-
with they encourage themselucs in the warres. In this tracte are these seiien ryuers, Acateba,
Quareba, Zobroba, Aiaguitin, Vrida, Durihha, Beragua, in all the whiciie, golde is fnunde.
They defende themselues agavnst raync and heate with certayne great leaues of trees, in
the steade of clokes. Departing from hence, he searched the coastes of Ebetere, and Embigar,
into the whiche fall the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar: And here ceaseth the
plentie and fruitfulnesse of golde, in the tract of fiftie leagues, or there about. From
hence, onely li. leagues distant, is the rocke which in the vnfortunate discourse of Nicue.<a
we sayd was railed of our men Pignonem, but of the inhabitantes the Region is called Vibba.
In this tract also, about syxe leagues from thence, is the hauen whiche Colonus called Portus
Bellus (wherof wehaue spoken before) in the regio which the inhabitantes call Xaguaguara.
This region is very populous but they goe all naked. The king is j)ayntcd with blacke
coloures, but all the people with redde. The king and seuen of his noblemen, had euery
of them a litle plate of gold hanging at their nosethrylles, downe vnto their lyppes : and
this they take for a comely ornament. The men inclose their priuy members in a shell, and
the women couer theirs with a fyllet of gossampine cotton, tyed about their loynes. In the
gartlens they nourishe a fruite much like the nut of a pine tree, the which (as wee haue sayde
in another place) groweth on a shrubbe, much like vnto an hartichoke, but the fruite is much
softer, and meate for a king : also certayne trees whiche bcare gourdes, whereof wee haue

spoken

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

485

spoken before : this tree they call Hibuero. In these coastes they mette sometimes with
Crocodiles lying on the sandes, the whiche when they fledde, or tooke the water, ihey left a „^.,
very sweete sauoure beehinde them, sweeter then muske or Castoreiim. When I was sent .wMteuuour.
ambassadour for the Catholike King of Castile, to the Soltane of Babylon, or Alcayre in Ai«yK or Ba-
Egypt, the inhabitantes neere vnto the riuer of Nilus tolde mee the like of their female *""'" ^^'
Crocodiles, affirming furthermore, that the fat or shewet of them, is equall in sweetnesse
with the pleasaunt gummes of Arabic. But the Admiral! was nowe at the length enforced
of necessitie to depart from hence, aswell for that he was no longer able to abide the con-
trarie and violent course of the water, as also tliat his shyppes were dayly more and more
putrified, and eaten through with ccrtaine wormcs, which are engcndrcd of the warmcnessc '■'iypp<«""n
of the water in all those trades, ncere vnto the Equinoctiall lyne. The Venetians call these ""
wormes Bissas. The same are also engcndred in two hauens of the cihe of Alexandria in Alexandria w
Egypt, and destroy the shyppes if they lye long at anker. They are a cubite in length, and ^^^^^
somewhat more, not passing the quantitie of a finger in bigncsse. The Spanish maryncr
calleth this pestilence Broma. Colonus therefore, whom before the great monsters of the
sea could not feare, now fearing this Broma, being also sore vexed with the contrary fal of
the sea, directed his course with the Ocean toward the West, and came first to the ryuer
Hiebra, distant onely two leagues from the ryuer of Beragua, because that was comodious to
harborowe great ships. This region is named after the ryuer and is called Beragua the lesse,
because both the riuers arc in the dominion of the king whiche inhabiteth the region of
Beragua. But what chaunced vnto him in this voyage on the right hande and on the left,
let V9 nowe declare. While therfore Colonus the Admirall remained yet in the ryuer
Hiebra, he sent Bartholomeus Colonus his brother, and Lieuetenaunt of Hispaniola, with the
shyp boates, and threescore and eyght men, to the riuer of Beragua, where the king of the
Region, beeing naked, and paynted after the manner of the countrey, came towardes them,
with a great multitude of men waiting on him, but all vnarmed and without weapons, giuing Howthekini
also signcs of peace. When hee approched neerer, and entred communication with our °/„^"ed u!"*
men, certayne of his gentlemen, neerest about his person, remembring the maiestie of a king, Lieutenmu
and that it stoode not with his honour to bargayne standing, tooke a great stone out of the
ryuer, washing and rubbing it very decently, and so put it vnder him with humble reuerence. xhtirreumnce
The king thus sitting, seemed with signes and tokens, to insinuate that it should be lawfuU '<"•«" king.
for our men to search and viewe all the riuers within his dominion. Wherefore the sixt day
of the Ides of February, leaning his boates with certayne of his company, he went by lande on
foote, from the bankes of Beragua, vntill he came to the ryuer of Duraba, which he aflirmeth
to be richer in golde then either Hiebra or Beragua : For golde is engendred in all ryuers of
that land, insomuch that among the rootes of trees growing by the bankes of the ryuers, and
among the stones left of the water, and also wheresoeuer they dygged a hole or pyt in the
grounde, not past the depth of a handefull and a halfe, they founde the earth, being taken
out thereof, myxte with golde: whereupon he determined to fasten his foote there, and to
inhabite. Which thing the people of the countrey perceiuing, and smelling what incon-
uenicnce and mischiefe might thereof ensue to their countrey, if they should permittc
straungers to plant their inhabitations there, assembled a great armie, and with horrible out-
crycs assailed our menne (who had now begun to build houses) so desperately, that they
were scarcely able for to abide the first brunte. These naked Barbarians at their first ap-
proache, vsed onely slynges and dartes : but when they came neerer to hande strokes, they
fought with their wooden swoordes, whiche they call Michanas, as we haue sayde before.
A man woulde not thinke what great malice and wrath was kindled in their hcartes agaynst
our men, and with what desperate myndcs they fought for the defence of their libertie,
whiche they more esteeme then life or riches: For they were nowe so void of all feare, and Libmiemore
contemning death, that they neyther feared long bowes or crosse bowes, nor yet (which is *««">«•*«"
moste to be marueyled ) were any thing discouraged at the terrible noyse of the gunnes,
shotte of from the shyppes. They retyred once : but shortly after encreasing their number,
they returned more fierceTy then at the first. They would haue bin contented to haue

3 R rcceiued

Slingti md
dartes.

tiches.

■•II

lill

; t

Kp''' '

:M.

^'li;

V -.'n

48^

Tb< Spanyardcs
ire dryucu ;e
flight.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

ITie thirde Decade.

A iDiKnbIc
■•■itt.

Necessitie hath
no lawe.

Howe farre life is
to be esteemed.

Sanctus Demi*
nicus.

Landes found
by Coloous.

Temperat re-
gions mi hoi-
some aire.

Expert miners.

A godly nature
lu golde,

receiued our men friendly as straungers, but not a.s inliabitours. The more instaunt that
our men were to remayne, so much the greater multitude of borderers flocked together
dayly, disturbing them both night & day, sometimes on the one side, and sometimes on the
other. The shyppes lying at anker neare vnto the shore, warded them on the backe halfe:
but at the length they were fayne to forsake this lande, and returne backe the same way by
the whiche they came. Thus with much difficulty & daunger they came to the Hand of
lamaica, lying on the South side of Hispaniola & Cuba, with their shippes as full of hojen
as siues, and holes so eaten with wormes, as though they had been bored through with
wimbles. The water entred so fast at the riftes and holes, that yf they had not with the
painful labour of their handes emptied the same as fast, they were like to haue perished :
where as yet by this meanes they arriued at lamaica, although in manner halfe dead. But
their calamitie ceased not heere : For as fast as their shippes leaked, their strength diminished,
so that they were no longer able to keepe them from sinking. By reason whereof, fallirg
into the handes of the Barbarians, and inclosed without hope of departure, they led ther Hues
for the space of tenne monethes among the naked people, more miserablie then euer did
Achemenides among the Giauntes, called Ciclopes, rather lining, then being either contented
or satisfied with the strange meates of that Ilnnde, and that onely at suche times as
pleased the Barbarians to giue them part of theirs. The deadly enmitie and malice whiche
these barbarous kinges beare one against an other, made greatly with our men : For at suche
times as they attempted warre against their borderers, they woulde sometimes giue our men
part of their bread, to aide them. But how miserable and wretched a thing it is to Hue onely
with bread gotten by begging, your holincsse maye easily coniecture: especially where
al other accustomed t'oode is lacking, as wine, oilc, fleshe, butter, cheese, and milke, wherwith
the stomackes of our people of Europe haue euer been norished, euen from their cradels.
Therfore as necessitie is subiect to no law : so doth it enforce men to attempt desperate
aduentures, and those the sooner, which by a certaine nobilitie of nature do no further
csteeme life then it is ioined with some felicitie. Bartholomews Colonus therfore, intending
rather to prooue what God woulde do with him and his companions in these extremities,
then any longer to abide the same, commaunded Diegus Mendez his stewarde, with two
guides of that Ilande, whome he had hired with promises of great rewardes at their retir-ne,
to enter into one of their Canoas, and take their voiage to Hispaniola. Being thus tossed
on the sea to and fro from rocke to rocke, by reason of the .shortenesse and narowncssc of
the Canoa, they arriued at the length at the last corner of Hispaniola, being distant from
lamaica fourtie leagues. Here his guides departing from him, returned againe to Colonus,
for the rewardes whiche he had promised them : but Diegus Mendez went on forward on
foote, vntill he came to the citie called Sanctus Dominicus, being the chiefe & head citie of
the Ilande. The officers and rulers of Hispaniola, being enfourmed of the matter, appointed
him two shippes, wherewith he returned to his maister and companions. As he founde
them, so came they to Hispaniola, very feeble, and in maner naked. What chaunced of
them afierwarde, 1 knowe not as vet. Let vs now therefore leaue these particulars, and
speake somwhat more of generals. In al those tract.s, whiche we saidc here before to haue
been founde by Colonus the Admiral, both he him .selfe writcth, and all his companions of
that voiage confesse, that the trees, hearbcs, and fruitts, are florishing and greene all
the whole yecre, and the aire so temperate & holesomc, tiiat of al his rompanie there
ncuer fel one man sicke, nor yet were vexed either with extreme colde or heate, for the
space of fiftie lea<riies, from the great hauen of Cerabaro, to the riuers of Hiebra and
Beragiia. Thinhal)itantes of Cerabaro, and the nations whiche are betwixt that & the saide
riuers, applie not them seines to the geaihering of golde, but only at certaine times of the
ycere, and are very expert and cunning herein, as arc our miners of siluer and Iron. They
knowe by long experience in what places golde is most abundantly engendred : as by the
ccilour of the water of the riuers, and such as fall from the mountaines, and also by the colour
of the earth and stones. They belceue a certaine godiv nature to be in golde, forasmuche
as they ncucr geather it, except they vse certaine religious expiations or purging, as to

absteine

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

487

, as to
absteiiie

abstcine from women, and all kindes of pleasures, and delicate meafes and drlnkes,
during all the time that their golden haruest lasteth. They suppose that me do naturally Hue GoUen haruest.
and die as other beastes do, and therfore honour none other thing as God : Yet do they pray
to the Sunne, and iionour it when it rlscth. But let vs nowe speakc of the niouiitaines, and
situation of thc^e landes. From all the sea bankcs of thc^e regions, exceeding r^reat and
high mountaines are scene towarde the South, yet reaching by a continual tract from the High & great
East into the West, by reason wherof, I suppose that the two great sens ( wherof I haue """""'"^
spoken largely before) are deuided with these mountaines, as it were with bulwarkcs, least
they shoulde ioine and repugne, as Italic diuideth the sea called Tirrhenuin, from the sea rirrhenum it
Adriatike, whiche is nowe commonly called the gulfe of Venice. For whiche way so eiier 11?*^^^^""*
thev sailed from the point called Promontorium, S. Augustini (whiche perteineth to the Por-
tu'^aies, and pro«ipecteth against the sea Atlantike) eucn vnto Vraba and thehauen Cerabaro,
and to the furthest landes founde hitherto westward, they had eucr great mountaines in sight,
botli neere hande, and also farre of, in all that long rase. These mountaines where in som
place smooth, pleasaunt, and fruitful!, full of goodly trees and hearbes, and somwhere high,
rough, ful of rorkes, & barren, as chaunceth in the famous mountaines of Taurus in Asia,
and also in diuers coastes of our mountaines of Apennini, and such other of like bignesse.
The ridges also of these mountaines are diuided with goodly and faire vallies. That part of
the mountaines which includeth the limittes of Beragua, is thought to be higher then the The moiitain*
rloudes insomuch that (as they say) the tops of them can seldome bee scene for the multi- ^[g^/"^'J^ ii,j
tude of thirke cloudes whiche are beneath the same. Colonus the Admiral, the first finder of cioudcs.
these regions, aflirmeth that the toppes of the mountaines of Beragua, are more then fiftie Mountaines of
miles in height. He saith furthermore, that in the same region at the rootes of the moun- ^"h"''"
taines the way is open to the South sea, & compareth it as it were betwene Venice and
Genua, or lanua, as the Genues wil haue it called, whiche fable that their citie was builded of
lanus. He afiirmeth also, that this land reacheth forth toward the South, and that from hence lanus otherwise
it taketh the beginning of breadth : like as from the Alpes, out of the narowe thigh of Italic, jon'o/ no" ''"*
wee see the large and mainc landes of Fraunce, Germanic, and Pannonie, to the Samaritans
and Scithians, euen vnto the mountaines and rockcs of Riphea, and the frosen sea, & embrase
there with, as with a continuall bonde, al Thracia, and Grecia, with all that is included
within the promontorie or point of Malea, and Hellespontus south warde, and the sea
Euzinus, and the marisshes of Meotis in Scithia northwarde. The Admiral supposeth, that
on he left hande, in sailing towarde the West, this lande is ioincd to India, beyonde the By this coniec-
riuei of Ganges, and that on the right hande towarde the North, it is extended to the frosen shouidj'oMn'to
sea, beyonde the Hiperboreans and the North pole. So that both the sea (that is to meanc cathaibythe
that South sea which we said to bee founde by Vaschus and our Ocean ) shoulde ioine and meete "yp""""""'-
in the corners of that lande, and that the waters of these seas do not onely inclose and com-
passe the same without diuision, as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and
Tanais with the frosen Ocean, and our sea of Tyrrhcnum with the Spanishe seas: But in my
opinion, the vehement course of the Ocean toward the West, doth signifie the let that the Lookethenaui.
said two seas shoulde not so ioine togeathcr, but rather that that lande is adherent to the |'''°"jj°'^p'T.
firme landes towarde the North, as we haue saide before. It shall suffice to haue saide thus ub. vi.
nniche of the length hereof: Let vs nowe therefore speake somwhat of the breadth of the
same. We haue made mention before howe the South sea is diuided by narowe limittes from
our Ocean, as it was proued by the experience of Vaschus Nunnez and his companions,
whiih first made open the way thytlier. But as diuersly the mountaines of our Alpes in
Europe are somwhere narowe and in some place brode: euen so, by the like prouidence of
nature, this land in some part therof reacheth farre in breadth, and is in other places coarcted
with narowe limittes from sea to sea, with vallies also in some places, whereby men may
passe from the one side to the other. Where we haue described the regions of Vraba and
Beragua to be situate, these seas are diuided by small distaunce : Yet ought we to thinke the
region, whiche the greate riuer of Maragnonus runneth through, to be very large, if we The great riuN
ehall graunt Maragnonum to be a riuer and no sea, as the freshe waters of the same ought ^'''"S"'"'"'-

3 R 2 to

ili.iij

.'!

488

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Hie ihirde Decade.

The grtat rluer
Dibaibi, or
sancti lohannis.

The ryuen hau*
their increase
from the sprinjes
of the moun-
taynet.
The ryuer of
Nilui in Egypt.

Maryihes and
desolate waies.

A superstitious
opinion of the
original of the
mountayncs of
Dabaiba.

Dngeni ind
Crocodiles in
Ibe matytbca.

The haucn Ce-
nbaro.

Twentie golden
ijutrs.

Precious stones,

A precious Dia'
snond of exceed'
ing bigcnea.

TopasU.

to perswadc vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth, there can be no swalowing
gulfes of suche bignesse as to receiue or nourishe so great abundance of water. The like
is also to be supposed of the great riuer of Dabaiba, whiche we saide to be from the corner
of the gulfe of Vraba, in some place of fortie fathomes depth, & som wher fiftie : also
three miles in breadth, and so to fall in to the sea. We must needes graunt, that the
earth is brode there, by the which the riuer passeth from the high moutaines of Dabaiba
from the East, and not from the West. They say that this ryuer consisteth and taketh his
encrease of foure other ryuers, falling from the mountaynes of Dabaiba. Our men call this
riuer Flumen S. lohannis. They say also that from hence it falleth into the gulfe of Vraba
by seuen mouthes, as doth the ryuer of Nilus into the sea of Egypt : Likewise that in the
same region of Vraba, there are in some places narrowe streyghts, not passing fyfteene
leagues, and the same to bee sauage, and without any passage, by reason of diuers maryshes
and desolate wayes, which the Latines call Lamas, but the Spanyardes according to their va-
rietie call them Tremedalcs, Trampales, Cenegales Sumideros, and Zabondaderos. But be-
fore wee passe any further, it shall not bee greatly from our purpose to declare from whence
these mountaynes of Dabaiba haue their name, according vnto the antiquities of the inha-
bitantes. They sayde that Dabaiba was a womanne, of great magnanimitie and wisedome
among their predecessoures in olde time, whome in her life all the inhabitauntes of those
prouinces did greatly reuerence, and beeing dead, gaue her diuine honour, and named the
region after her name, beleeuing that shee sendeth thunder and lightning, to destroy the
fruites of the earth if shee be angred, and to send plentie if shee be well pleased. This
superstition hath beene perswaded them by a craftie kinde of men, vnder pretence of reli-
gion, to the intent that they might enioy suche giftes and olferinges as were brought to the
place where shee was honoured. This is sudicient for this purpose. They say furtiiermore,
that the maryshes of the narrow land, whereof we haue spoken, bring ftirth great plentie of
Crocodiles, Dragons, Battes, and Gnats, being very hurtfull. Therefore whensoeuer they
take any iourney toward the South, they goo out of the way toward the mountaynes, and
eschewe the regions neere vnto those perylous fennes or maryshes. Some thinke that there
is a valley lying that way that the ryuer runneth, which our men cill Rio de los Peididos, that
is, the ryuer of the lost men (so named by the misfortune which there befell to Nicuesa and
his company) and not farre di.staunt from the hnuen Cerabaro, whiche diuideth those moun-
taynes toward the South. But let vs nowe finish this booke with a fewe other thinges worthie
to be noted. They say therefore, that on the right hand and left hand from Dariena there are
twentie ryuers, in all the whiche great plentie of golde is foundo. Beeing demaunded what
was the cause why they brought no greater aboundance of golde from thence : they answered,
that they lacked myiiers, and that the men which they tooke with them from Spayne thither,
were not accustomed to labour, but for the most part brought vp in the warres. This land
seemeth also to promise many precious stones : For beside those which I sayde to be founde
neere vnto Cariai and Sancta Martha, one Andreas Morales, a pilot (who had trauayled those
•coa>.tes with Johannes de la Cossa while hee yet lined) hadde a precious Diamonde, which
hee bought of a naked young man in the region of Cumana, in the prouince of Paria. This
stone was as long as two ioyntes of a mans middle finger, and as bigge as the first ioynt of
the thumbe, beeing also paynted on eiiery side, consisting of eight squares, perfectly
fourmed by nature. They say that with this they made scarrcs in anuylles and hammers, and
brake the teeth of fyles, the stone remayning vnpcrishcd. The young man of Cumana, wore
this stone about his necke among other ouches, & solde it to Andreas Monilis for fyue of our
counterfeit stones, made of glasse of diuers colours, wherewith the ignorant young man was
greatly delighted : They found also certaine Topases on the shore. But the estimation of
golde was so farre entred into the heades of our men, that they had no regard to stones.
Also the most parte of the Spanyardes, doe laugh them to scorne which vse to wcare many
stones, specially such as are common, iudging it to be an effeminate thing, & more meet
for women then men. The noble men only, when they celebrate solemne marriages, or set
forth any triumphes, wearc cheynes of golde, beset with precious stones, & vse fayre appa-

rcll

TJie thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

489

rell of silke, embrodered wilh golde, intermyxte with pearles and precious stones, and not
at other times. They thinke it no lesae effeminate for men to smel of the sweete saiiours of
Arabie, and iudge him to be infected with some kinde of fylthy lechery, in whome they
smell the sauour of muske or Castoreum. But like as by one apple taken from a tree, we
may perceiue the tree to be fruitfull, and by one fyshe taken in a ryuer, wee may knowe that
fishe is engendred in the same : euen so, by a litle gold, and by one stone wee ought to con-
sider that this land bringeth foorth great plentie of golde, and precious stones. What they
haue found in the porte of Sancta Martha, in the region of Cariai, when the whole nauie
passed thereby vnder the gouernaunce of Petrus Arias, and his company, with certayne
other of the kinges officers, I haue sufficiently declared in his place. To bee short therefore
all thinges doe so flourish, growe, encrease, and prosper, that the last are euer better then
the first. And surely to declare my opinion herein, whatsoeuer hath heretofore bin discou-
ered by the famous trauayles of Saturnus and Hercules, with such other whom the antiquitie
for their heroical factes honoured as gods, seemeth but litle and obscure, if it be compared
to the Spanyards victorious labours. Thus I bid your holinesse farewell, desiring you to cer-
tifie me howe you like these first fruites of the Ocean, that being encouraged with your ex-
hortations, I may the gladlier, and with lesse tediousnesse, write such thinges as shall chaunce
hereafter.

The fifth Chapter of the thirde Decade.

AL such liuing creatures, as vnder the circle of the moone bring forth any thing, are ac-
customed by the instinct of nature, as soone as they are deliuered of their birth, cither to
close \p y matrice, or at the least to be quiet for a space : But our most fruiteful Ocean and
new world, engendreth & biingeth forth daily new birthes, whereby men of great wit, and
especially suche as are studious of newe and marueylous thinges, may haue somewhat at hand
wherewith to feed their mindes. Yf your holinesse doe aske to what purpose is all this :
ye shall vnderstand, that I had scarsly finished the historic of such thinges as chaunced to
Vaschus Nunnez and his companie in their voyage to the South sea, when sodenly there
came newe letters from Potrus Arias the newe gouernour, whom the king had appoynted the
veere beefore with an armie of men and a nauie of ships to sayle to these newe landes. He
signified by his letters, that hee with his nauie and company arryued all safely. Furthermore,
lohanncs Cabedus (whom your holinesse at the request of the most catholike king hadde
created Bishop of tliat prouince of Dariena) & three other of the chiefe officers ioyned in
commission to be his assistantes, as Alphonsus de Ponte, Diegus Marques, and lohannes de
Tauira, confirmed the same letters, and subscribed them with their names. The nauigation The nauigation
therefore of Petrus Arias, was in this maner. The day before the Ides of April, in the yeere "^ '^•""^'"*
of Christe. 1514. he hoysed vp his sailes, in the towne of saint Lucar de Bnrrameda, situate
in the mouth of the ryuer Bcctis, which the Spanyardes nowe call Guadalchebir. The seuen
llandes of Canaria are about foure hundred myles distant from the place where this riuer fall-
eth into the sea. Some thinke that these are the llandes whiche the olde wryters did call the
fortunate llandes : but other thinke the contrary. The name of these llandes are these. The
two that appeare first in sight, are named Lanzelota and Fortisuentura. On the backhalfe of
these, lyeth Magna Canaria or Grancanaria, beyond that is Tenerif and Gomera somewhat The iiandc rf
towarde the North from that. Palma and Ferrea lye behinde, as it were a bulwarke to all
the other. Petrus Arias therefore, arryued at Gomera the eight day after his departure, with
a nauie of seuenteene ships, & a thousand and fine hundred men, although there were onely
a thousande and two hundred assigned him by the kinges letters. It is sayd furthermore, that
hee left behinde him more then two thousande very pensiue and sighing that they also myght
not bee receiued, proferyng themselucs to goe at their owne charges. Hee taryed xvi.
dayesin Gom. rn, to the intent to make prouision of fuel and freshe water, but chiefely to ''™"'''<'" ""^
rcpayre hi;i .■»Ii v ppes, beeing sore broosed with tempestes, and especially the gouernours fuel,
shyppe, \^hich had lost the rudder : For these llandes are commodious resting place for all
such as intende to attempt any nauigations in that maine sea. Departing from hence in the

Nonea

490

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

^■:

Xi t.

The SM of

hcarbes.

These moun-
tayiies are ca\led
Montes Niuales,
or Serra Ncuntai
Dcca. 1. li. lib, i,
and ill

Mountaynes co-
uered with
siiowe.

The stovitncs of
the liarbarians.

The Canihals
fight in the
water.

Nones of May, he sawe no more lande vntill the third day of Inne, at the which hee arryued
at Dominica an Ilaiide of the Canibales, beeiiifj distaunt from Gomera about eight hundred
leagues. Here hee remayned foure dayes, making newe prouisinn of fresh water and fuell,
duryng which tyme, hee sawe no man, nor yet any steppes o.f men, but founde plentie of
sea Crabbes and great Lisurts. From hence hesayled by the Ilandes of Matinina (otherwise
called Madanino) Guadalupea and Galanta (otherwise culled Galana) of all whiche wee
haue spoken in the first Decade. Hee passed aUo through the sea of hcarbes or weedes,
continuing a long tract : Yet neyther he, nor Coionus the Admirall (who first found these
Ilandes, and sayled through this sea of weedes) haue declared any reason how these weedes
should come. ' Some thinke the sea to bee verie muddie there, and that these weedes are en-
gendred in the bottome thereof, and so beeing loosed, to ascende to the vppermost part of
the water, as wee see oftentimes chaunce in ccrtayne standing poolcs, and sometymes also
in great riuers. Other suppose that they arc not engendred tlieie, but to bee beaten from
certayne rockes by the violence of the waters in tempestes: And thus they leaue the matter
in doubt. Neyther haue they yet any certayne experience whether they sticke fast or giue
place to the shyppes, or wander loose vpon the wat«r : But it is to be thought, that they are
engendred there, for otherwise they shoiilde bee dryucn together one heapes, by the impul-
sion of the shyps, euen as a beasome gathereth the sweepinges of a house, and should also
let the course of the shvppes. The fourth day after that he departed from Dominica, the
hygh mountaynes couered with snowe, (whereof we haue spoken in the seconde Decade)
appeared vnto him. They say that there the seas runne as swiftly towarde the West, as it
were a ryuer filling from the toppe-? of hygh mountaynes, although they sayled not directly
toward the West, but inclined somewhat to the South. From these mountaynes falleth
the ryuer of Gaira, famous by the slaughter of our men, at such time as Rodericus Colme-
nares passed by those coastes, as we haue sayde before : Likewise many other fayre ryuers
hnue their original! from the same mountaynes. This prouince (in the which is also the re-
gion of Caramairi) hath in it two notable haucns, of the which our men named the one
Carthago or Carihagcna, & the other Sancta Martha, the region wherof the inhabitats call
Saturma. The port of Sancta Martha, is neerer 'o the mountaynes couered with snowe, called
Montes Niuales, for it is at the roots of the same mountains, but the hauen of Carthago is
more westward, about fyftie leagues, liee wryteth marueilous thinges of the hauen of
Sancta Martha, whiche they also confirme that came lately from thence : Of the which young
Vesputius is one, to whom Americus Vesputius his vncle (being a Florentine borne) left
the exact knowledge of the Mariners facultie, as it were by inheritance after his death, for
hee was a verv expert maister in the knowledge of his carde, his compasse, and the eleuation
of the pole starre, with ail that pertavnefh thereto. This young Vesputius was assigned by
the king to bee one of the mnisters of the gouernours shyppes, because hee was cunning in
iudging the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starre by the quadrant: For the charge of
gcmeming the rudder, was chiefly committed to one lohannes Scrranus a Spanyard, who
hadde oftentimes oucrrunne those roastes. Vesputius is my verv familiar friend, and a witfie
young man, in whose company 1 take great pleasure, and therefore vse him oftentimes for
my ghest. He hath also made many voyages into these coastes, and diligently noted snche
thinges as hath scene. Petrus .\rias therefore wryteth, and he confirmeth the same, that the
inhabitantes of these regions tooke their origiiiall of the Carribbes or Canibales, as appeared
by the desperate liercenesse & crueltv which they oftentimes shewed to our men when they
passed by their coastes. Suche stoutnesse and fortitude of mynde is naturally engendred in
these naked Barbarians, that they feared not to assavle our whole nauie, and to forbidde them
to haue a lande. Thev tight with venemous arrowes, as wee haue sayde beefore. Perceiu-
ing that our menne contemned their threatninges, they ranne furiousl; 'r^*o the sea, euen
vp to the breastes, nothing fearing evther the byggenesse or multitude n! our shyppes, but
ceased not continually beeing thus in the water, to cast dartes, and to shoote their venemous
arrowes as thicke .'s havie: Insomuch that our men had bin in great danger, if they had not
bin deiended by vhe cages or pauisses of the shyppes, and their targettes: Yet were two of

them

:lV

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

491

them wounded, which died shortly after. But this conflict continued so sharpe, that at theTheTseof
length our men were enforced to shoote of their greatest peeces of ordinauncc with hayle- s""""*
shoote : at the slaughter and terrible noyse whereof, the Barbarians beeing sore discomfited
and shaken with feare, thinking the same to bee thunder and lightning, turned their backes,
and fledde amayne. They greatly feare thunder, because these regions are oftentimes vexed X'^h^'".""'";
with thunder and lyghtnynges, by reason of the hygh niountayne<, and nearenesse of the ughtni'nii." '
same to the region of the ayre, wherein such fiery tempests are cngendred, which the philo-
sophers call Meteora. And albeit that our men hadde iiowe dryuen their enemies to flight,
and sawe them disparcled and out of order, yet doubted they, and were of diners opinions,
whether they shoulde pursue them, or not. On the one partie shame prycked them for-
ward, and on the other side, feare caused them to cast many pcryls, especially consideryng
the venomous arrowes whiche these Barbarians can direct so certainely. To depart from them
with a drye foote (as sayth the prouerbe) with so great a nauie, and such an armie, they
reputed it as a thing greatly sounding to their reproach and dishonour. At the length there-
fore, shame ouercomming feare, they perswaded them, & came to land with their ship
boates. The gouernour of the nauie, and also Vesputius doe write, that the hauen is no
lesse then three leagues in compasse, being also safe without rockes, and the water thereof
so cleare, that a man may see pybble stones in the bottome twentie cubits deepe. They say
likewise, that there falleth two fayre ryuers of f reshe water into the hauen : but the same to
be meeter to beare the Canoas of these prouinces, then any bygger vessels. It is a delect-
able thing to heare what they tel of the plentie and varietie, and also of the pleasaunt tast P''"'y "*' "»''•
of the fyshcs, aswcll of these riuers, as of the sea there about : By reason wherof they found
here manie fysher boates and nettes woonderfully wrought of the stalkes of certayne hearbes
or weedes, dryed and tawed, and wreathed with cords of spunne gossampine cotton. For
the people of Caramairi, Gaira. and Saturma, are verie cunning in fishing, and vse to sell Cunning fishers.
fish to their borderers, for exchaunge of such thinges as they lacke. When our men hadde
thus chased the Barbarians from the sea coastes, and had nowe entred into their houses,
they assnyled them with ncwe skirmishes, especially when they sawe them fall to sacking and
spoyling, and their wyues and children taken captyue. Their householde stutfe was made of
great recdes, which gr'.we on the sea bankes, and the stalkes of certaine hearbes beaten, and
aftcrwarde made harde. The floores thereof were strewed, with hearbes of sundrie colours,
and the walles hanged with a kinde of tapstry, artificialy made of gossampine cotton, and Tapistrit.
wrought with pictures of Lions, Tigers, and Eagles. The doores of their houses and cham
bers were full of diners kindes of shelles, hanging loose by small cordes, that being shaken
by the winde, they might make a certaine ratteling, and also a whisteling noise, by gathering
the winde in their holowe places : for herein they haue great delight, and impute this for a
goodly ornament. Diuers haue shewed me many wonderfull thinges of these regions, espe- This is he
cially one Conz;ilus Fernandus Ouiedus, being one of the magistrates appointed in that whom Cardanus
ofTice, which the Spaniardes call Veedor, who haue also hitherto entred further into the land ''"'"' "
then any other. He afiirmeth, that he chaunced vppon the fragment of a Saphire, bigger Precious stones,
then the egge of a goose, and that in certaine hilles where he trauailed with thirtie men, he u th/t'ru"He'.
founde many of the pretious stones called Smaragdes, Calcidones, and laspers, beside great merodc.
peeces of Amber of the mountaines. He also, with diuers others do affirme that in the of^mb^tl"'''
houses of som of the Canibales of tiiese regions, they found the like precious stones, set in '""""<'= ■"
gokle, and inclosed in tapstry or arras (if it may be so called) wherewith they hang their"
houses. The same lande bringeth foorth also many woodes of brasile trees, and great coide and Bra-
plentie of gold, in so much that in maner in al places they found on the sea bankes, & on *;'''• .
tlic shorts, certaine marchasites in token of golde. Fernandus Ouiedus declareth further- Aowrcs of met-
more, that in a certaine region c.iUed Zenu, lying fourescore and tenne miles from Dariena '"'*• ^^^i"*?'
Eastwarde, they exercise a straunge kinde of marchaundize : For in the houses of the inhabit- the kindes of
antes, they founde sjreat chests and baskets, made of the twigges and leaues of certaine J"""''"'
trees apte for that purpose, being all ful of Grassehoppers, Grilles, Crabbes ir Cre- These Locustes

■■■' ' 4m

fishes, Snailes also, and Locustes, which destroie the fieldes of corne, all well dried and ^vltTtouch^ng""

salted. 9i>d dcuoute th«

493

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie thirdc Decade.

reiiduc. Th«y
■rr in India of
three foote
Iriiglh.

ttirdcna.

Iniuhrts are
lume called
Lumbirries, and
Ileiruri,
I'uscansi

One niyriade it

ten thouunde,

The miner of
planting the
rootc lucca.

I ■ .

Earth turned
into rootes.

How bread li
•cade of roots.

salted. Being demanded why they rescrued .such a multitude of these beaRtes: they an-
swearcd, that they kept them to be snulde to the borderers, whichc dwell further within the
lande, and that for the exchange of these prctious birdes, and salted lishe.s, they rcceiued
of them certayne straunge thinges, wherein partly they take pleasure, and partly vse them
for their nece.ssarie affaires. These people dwell not together, but scattered hcerc and
there. The inhabitante!* of Caramairi, seenic to dwel in an earthly Paradise, their region
is fayre and fruitefull, without outragious heate, or sharpc colde, with litle difTcrencc of the
length of day and night throughout all the yeere. After that our men haddc thus dryueu
the Barbarians to flight, they entred into a valley, of two leagues in breadth, and three in
length, extending to certayne fruitefull mountaynes, full of grasse, hearbes, and trees, at
the rootes whereof, lye two other vallies towarde the ryght hande and the left, through ey-
ther of the whiche runneth a fayre ryuer, whereof the ryuer of Caira is one, but vnto the
other they haue yet giuen no name. In these vallies they found many fayre gardens, and
picasaunt ficldes, watered with trenches, distributed in marueilous order, with no le.ssc art
then our Insubrians and Iletrurians vse to water their fieldes. Their common mcate, is Ages,
lucca, Maizium, Battata, with such other rootes and fruites of trees, and also such fyshe
as they vse in the Ilandes and other regions of those prouinces. They eate mannes fleshc
but seldome, because they meete not oftentimes with straungers, except they g»)e forth of
their owne dominions with a mayne arinie, of purpose to hunt for menne, when their ra-
uenyng appetite pricketh them forwarde : For they abstaync from themselucs, and eate none
but suche as they take in the warres, or otherwise by chaunre. But surely it is a miserable
thing to heare howe many myriades of men these filthy and vnnaturall deuourers of mens
flesh haue consumed, and left thousandes of most fayre and fruitefull Ilandes and regions de-
solate without menne : by reason whereof, our menne found so many Ilandes, whiche for
their fayrenesse and fruitefulnesse myght seeme to be certayne earthly Paradyses, and yet
were vtterly voyde of men. Hereby your holinesse may consider how pernitious a kynde
of men this is. We haue sayde before, that the Hand named Sancti lohannis (which the in-
habitants cal Burichena) is next to Hispaniola. It is sayde, that onely the Canibales which
dwell in the other Ilandes neere about this, as in the Hande called Hayhay or Sancta Crucis,
and in Guadalupea (otherwise called Queraqueira, or Carucuiera) haue in our tyme violently
taken out of the sayde Hande of Sancti lohannis, more then fyue thousande menne to be
eaten. But let it suffice thus nniche to haue wandered by these monstrous bhnuKuckers.
Wee will now therefore speake somwhat of the rootes wherof tiiey make their bread, foras-
much as the same shall hereafter be foode to Christian men, in steade of breade made of
whcate, and in the steade of radyshe, with such other rootes as they haue beene accustomed
to eate in Europe. We haue oftentimes sayde before, that lucca is a roote, whereof the best
and most delicate broad is made, both in the firme lande of these regions, and also in the
Ilandes: but howe it is tylled or husbanded, howe it groweth, and of how diuers kindes it
is, I haue not yet declared. Therefore, when they entend to plant this lucca, they make a
hole in the earth, knee decpe, and ravse a hcape of the earth taken out of the same, fash-
ionyng it like a square bedde, of nine foote breadth on euery side, setting twelue tnmkes
of these rootes (bcin;; about a foote and a halfe long apecce) in euery of the sayd bcddes
containing three rootes of a side, so layd a slope, that the codes of them ioyne in manner
together in the center or middest of the bedde within the grounde. Out of the ioyntes of
the rootes, and spaces betweene the same, spring the toppes of the blades of newe roote.s,
whiche by little and little encreasyng growe to the bignesse and length of a mans arme in
the brawne, and oftentimes as bygge as the thygh : so that by the tyme of their full rype-
nesse, in manner all the earth of the heape is conuerted into rootes. But they say that these
rootes are not rype, in lesse then a yeere and halfe, and that the longer they are suffered to
grow, euen vntil two yeeres compleate, they are so much the better, and more perfecte to
make breade thereof. When they are taken foorth of the earth, they scrape them, and slyse
them, with certayne sharpe stones, seruing for the same purpose. And thus laying them
betweene two gre.it stones, or putting them in a sacke made of the stalkes of certayne

tough

w '■

%%[ '

iviXl .11.

^^/^^^Wy*- -t

^^:

■ B

The think Decade.

TRAFriQUES, AND DISCOUEIUES.

493

toip'h hearbcs and small recdcs, tlicy pressc them (as we doc cheese or crabl)es, to drawe
out the iiiycc thereof) and so let them dry a day before they catc them. The iiiyre or It-
quour they cast away: (as wee haiie sayde) it is deadly poys(m in the Hands. Yet is
the iiiyce of such as growe in the firme laiidc wholesome, if it be sodde, as is the whey of
our milke. They say that there arc many kyndcs of this lucra, whereof some are more
pleasaunt and delicate then the other, and are therefore rcscrued as it were to make fyne
Manchct for the kinges owne table : But the Gentlemen catc of the meaner sort, and the
common people of the basest. The finest they call Cazabbi, whichc they make rounde like
cakes, in certayne presses, before they seethe it, or bake it. They say furthermore, that
there are likewise diners kindes of the rootes of Ages, and Ibttatas. Rut they vsc these ra-
ther as fruitcs, and dyshes of seruice, then to make breade thereof, as we vsc Rapes, I{a-
dishes, Mushromcs, Nauics, Parsnippcs, and suchc like. In this case, they most especially
csteeme the best kinde of Battatas, which in pleasant tast and tendernessc, Hirrc exctcdcth
our Mushromcs. It shall sull'icc to haue sayd thus muc.ii of roots : We will nowc therefore
speakc of another kinde of their bread. We declared before, that they hau"? a kinde of
j^rayne or Pulse, mi'che like vnto Panicum, but with somewhat bypi;tr f^raynes, which they P^cumun
beatc into meale, vpon certayne great hollow stones with the labour of tiicir handes, when ^'I'^Hib'Tmlki
they lacke lucca, and of this is made the more vulgar or common breade. It is sowen thrysc 'ii"- '"'i^nj call
a yecre, so that the fruitefulnessc of the ground may beare it, by reason of the eqiialitie of
the time, whereof we haue spoken sulFiciently before. In these re;»ions they found also
the grayne of Maizium, and sundry kindes of fruitcs of trees, diligently planted, and well Hemfantththe
husbanded. The way betweene the regions of Caramairi and Saturma. i-. f.^yre, broadc, and d.|"'i'/niyit'
right forth. They founde here also sundry kindes of water pottes midc < f i arth, of diiiers ' •',,''1'"""''"
colours, in the which they both I'etche and keepe frcshe water : Lykcwi c suiidry kindes of »,"':r/ti" i:^ui-
iuggcs, goddcrdes, drinking cupj)cs, pottes, pannes, dishes, and platters artificially made. '•'"""'/"'•
When the gouernour hadde giuen commaundcnicnt by proclamation, that the inhaLitai:tes
should eyther obey the Christian king, and embrace our religion, or els to depart out of
their countrey : they answered with venemous arrowes. In tiiis skirmi.»he, our menne tooke
some of them : whereof, clothing the most parte in fayre apparell, they sent them agaync
to their owne companie : But leading the residue to the shyppes, to the intent to shew them
the power and magnificence of the Christians, that they might declare tiic same to their com-
panions, thereby to wvnne their fauour, they appareled them lykewise, and .seiit them
after their fellowes. They aflirme, that in all the ryucrs of these coastcs, they sawc great
argumentes and tokens of golde. They founde here and there in their houses good store of
Harts flesh, & Bores flesh, wherewith they fedde themselues delicately. They also haue
great plenty of sundry kindes of birdcs, and foulcs, whereof they bring vppe many in their
houses, some for necessaric food, and other for dayntie dyshes, as wee doe Hennes and Par-
triches. Our menne hereby coniecture, that the ayre of these regions is very wholsomc, HoUome »>«.
forasmuch as sleeping all night vnder the Armament on the bankes of the ryuers, none of
them were at anie tyme otFended with reumes or headache, by reason of any noysome hu-
mour, or vapour proceeding from the earth, ayre, or water. Our menne furthermore founde
there many great botomes of gossampine cotton ready spunne, and fardelles of dyuers kindes fl^"*""^""
of feathers, whereof they make themselues crestes and plumes, after the maner of our men tcathcii,
of armes : also certaine clokes, which they esteeme as most comely ornamentes. Thev
founde likewise an innumerable multitude of bowes and arrowes. The inhabifante.>j also of Bowes md
these regions, in some places v.se to burne the carkases of their princes when they are dead, ''"'^""'
and to reseruc their bones buryed with spyces in certayne hylles. In other places, they onely ncad bodies «.
drie them, and imbalme them with spyces and sweete gummcs, and so reserue them in se- '"""'''
pulchers in their owne houses. Somewhere also, they drie them, spyce them, adourne
them with precious iewelles, and ouches, and so reuerently place them in certain taberna-
cles, made for the same purpose in their owne pallaces. When our men hadde many of
their tablettes, braselettes, collers, and such other ouches (which they call Guanines) they SouhIus Ouu
found them rather to be made of laton then of golde: whereby they suppose that they haue 'heyg7um',^"
vsed to exchaunge their ware with some craftie straungers, which brought them those coun- >'f>'™*iy »•'"

a terfeit cetuT.u htiri«

f:r,.,if

■1-41

^H2

1 1.

m--

f'"i

H jK? ♦• *'

■■i

i^. :

m ' >:•

mi' I : '

494

W'hitt matblt.

Tlif great ryucr

'I'his loyiH-iI)
Willi the iiiiihtit
riurr cilUd
FUimi-ii Amazu*
nuin, fuutid of
ku.

aokesoffca.
then,

Tht swift course
of the wattr.

Fourtir leaguei
in ooc night.

Sundry opinions
why the sta
runneth with so
swifte course
fom the East
into ilic West,

The Equinoc-
tiall 1\ I.e.
V hy ji \\. Iters
tnnie tow.iide
t''t .'• ' II h nr
EjUii, ii,|i,
t' .id I. ard.ini'S
dc svi' til t. liSer
ii. dc rUinehtis.
btiayghie).

As hy the

sttayght uf Ma.
gelanu*.
The Worth
landcs.

The frosen sea.

Sebastian Calot,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

I .;

'!«.

ferfeit oiithcs, to (lefraude ihcm of their goldc : For euen our men pcrceiiied not tlic ilc-
teit vnlill they came to the melting. Furthermore, ccrfayne of our builders wandering a
little way from the sea coastes, chanced to find certayne peeccs of white marble : whereby
they thinke that in time pa.st some strangers haue come to those lands, which haue digged
marble out of the mountaines, and left those fragments on the playne. There our men
learned that the riuer Manignonus dcscendeth from the mountaynes coiiered with snow, called
Montea Niuales, or Serra Neuata, and the same to bee encreased by many other riuers,
which fall into it throughout all the lowe and waterly regions, by the which it runneth with
so long a tract from the sayd mountaynes into the sea, and this to be the cause of the great-
ncssc thereof. These thingcs being thus brought to passe, the goucrnour commaundcd the
trumpeter to blowe a retraite : Whereupon they which were sent to land (being liue hun-
dred in number) making a great .shout for ioy of their victory, set themselues in order of
battaylo, and so keeping their array, returned to the ships laden wilh spoyle of those pro-
uinces, and shining in Houldiers clokes of feathers, with fayre plumes &: crestes of variable
colours. In this meane time, hauing repayred their ships, and furnished the same with all
necessaries, they loosed anker the xvi. day of the Calendes of Inly, directing their course
to the hauen of Carthagena, in the which voyage they destroyed Sc wasted certayne Iland.i
of the Canibales, lying in the way according as they were commanded by the king. But
the swift course of the water deceiued both lohannes Sarranus the chiefe Pilot of the go-
uernours ship, and al the other although they made their bost that they perfectly knew the
nature thorof: For they affirme that in one night they were caried foury leagues beyond
their estimation.

The sixt Chapter of the thirde Decade.

HEre must wee somewhat digresse from Cosmography, and make a philosophicall dis-
course to searche the secret causes of nature. For wher as they all affirme with one con.
sent that the sea runneth there from the East to the Weste, as swiftely as it were a ryuer
falling from high moutaynes, I thought it not good to let such matter slyppe vntouched.
The which while I consider, I am driwne into no small ambiguitie and doubt, whyther those
waters haue their course, whiche flowe with so continuall a tract in circuite from the East, as
though they fledde to the West, neuer to returne, and y ■: neyther the West thereby any
whit the more f'ylled, nor the East emptied. If we shall s:y that they fal to their centre (as
in the nature of heauie thinges) and assigne the Equinoctiall lyne to bee the centre (as
some adirme) what centre shall we appoynt to be able to rcceiue so great abundance of wa-
ter ; Or what circumference shall be found wet ; They whiche haue searched those coastes,
haue yet founde no like reason to bee true. Many thinke that there should be certaine
large strayghtes or entrances in the corner of that great lande, which we described to be
c ight tymes bigger then Italic, and the corner thereof to bee full of gulfcs, whereby they
siipjjose that some strayghtes shoulde passe through the same, lying on the West side of the
Ilande of Cuba, and that the sayde straightes shoulde swalowe vp those waters, and so con-
iicye the same into the West, and from tlience agayne into our East Ocean, or North seas,
as some thinke. Other will, that the gulfe of that great lande bee closed vppe, and the
lande to reache farre towarde tiie North on the backe side of Cuba, so that it embrace the
North landes, which the frosen sea cncompasseth vnder the North pole, and that all the lande
of those coasts, should ioyne together as one firme lande : Whereby they coniecture, that
those waters shoulde be turned about by the obiect or resistance of that lande, so bending
towarde the North, as we see the waters turned about in the crooked bankes of certayne ry-
uers. But this agrecth not in all poyntes. For they also which haue searched the frosen
sea, and sayled from thciire into the West, doe likewise affirme, that those North seas flowe
continually toward the West, although nothing so swiftly. These North seas haue bin
searched by one Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian borne, whom being yet but in manner an in-
fant, his parents caryed with them into Englande, hauing occasion to resort thither for trade
of mnrchandize, as is the manner of the Venitians, to leaue no parte of the worlde vn-
searched to obtayne rychesse. Hee therfore furnished two shyppes in England at his owne

charges :

The thirdc Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND Dl fOUI-RlIS.

"11 « «

1.1 he voy«gr iii

_ . -^.iuil (.'.lliOt

"I'ff '"" •from En, land,

le free fc m i" theitown

charges : And first with three hundred mcnne, directed his course so fnrrr toi
jjolc, that ciicii in the moncth of Inly he loiind monstrous heapes of Isc ■
sea, and in manner rontinuall day light : Yet sawe hoc the lande in that
Ise, whichc hadde beene moulten by heate of the Sunne. Thus seeing such , ■ ipcs of Ise*'''
bccforc him, hce was enforced to turnc his sayles, and folowc the West, so coasimg still by
the shore, that he was thereby brought so far into the South, by reason of the lande bend-
ing so much southwardc, that it was there almost equal! in latitude with the sea called Frc-
tum Ilerculeum, hauing the North pole cleuatc in mancr in the same degree. He sayled
likewise in this tract so farre towanle the West, thai hee hadde the Hand of Cuba on his left
hande, in maner in the same degree of longitude. As he trauayled by the coastes of tiiis
great lande (whichc he named Baccallans) he sayth, that hee founde the like course of the
waters toward the West, but the same to run more softly and gentlelv, then the swift waters
which the Spanyardcs founde in their nauigatioiis southwarde. Wherefore, it is not onely
more like to bee true, but ought also of necessity to be concluded, that bectwcene both the
landes hitherto vnknown there shouldc be ccrtayne great open places, whereby the water
should thus continually passe from the Kast into the West ; which waters I suppose to be
dryuen about the globe of the earth by the vnccssaunt mouing and impulsion of the heau-
ens, and not to be swalowed vp iin<l cast out agaync by the breathing of Dcmogorgoii, ;is D';'n"S"'s«n >«
Home haue imagined, beccause they see the seas by increase & decrease, to (low and re/low. .jl,i',',' '
Sebastian Cabot himselfe named those landes IJaccallaos, because that in the seas thcrabout
be founde so great multitudes of certayne bygge fyshcs, much like vnto Tunnies (whic'i
thinhabitants call Baccallaos) that thev sometimes stayed his shyppes. Hee founde also the
people of those recions couered with beastes skinnes: vet not without the vsc of reason. People cmicrfd
He also sayth there is great plentie of Beares in those regions, whiche vse to eate fyshe : skiimcs.
For plungeing themselues into the water where they perceiue a multitude of these fyslies
to lye, they fasten their clawes in their scales, and so drawc them to lande, and eate them:
So that (as he sayth) the beares beeing thus satisfied with fyshe, are not noysome to menne.
He declareth further, that in many places of these regions, he sawe great plentie of laton
among the inhabitantes. Cabot is my very friende, whom I vse familiarly, and delight to
haue him sometimes keepe mee companie in my owne house : For beeing called out of En-
giande by the commaundement of the Catholikc king of Castile, after the death of Henry
King of Englande, the seuenth of that name, hce was made one of our counsayle and as-
sistance as touching the affayres of the new Indies, looking dayly for shyppes to bee fur-
nished for him to discoucr this hidde secret of nature. This voyage is appoynted to be be-
gunne in Marche in the yeere next following, being the yeere of Christe. 1516. What
shall aucceede, your holynesse shall be aduertised by my letters, if God graunt me life.
Some of the Spanyardcs denie that Cabot was the first finder of the lande of Bacallaos, and
aflirme that hee went not so farre Westwarde : But it shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche
of the gulfes and stray ghtes, and of Sebastian Cabot. Let vs nowe therefore returne to the
Spanyardcs. At this time, they let passe the hauen of Carthago vntouched, with all the
Ilandes of the Canibales thereabout, whichc they named Insulas Sancti Bernardi, leaning The iimdes of
f'so behinde their backcs, all the regions of Caramairi. Ilecre by reason of a sodayne tern- ''''' '^'"'''''''
pest, they were cast vpon the Ilande Fortis, beeing about fyftic leagues distaunt froin thcT''^"'
entraunce of the giilfe of Vraba. In this Ilande, they founde in the houses of the inhabi- """'
tantes, many baskets made of certaine great sea reedes, full of salt. For this Hand hath in
it many goodly salt bayes, by reason whereof they haue great plentie of salte, which they s>itc-
sell to other nations for such thinges as they stand in neede of. Not farre from hence, a
great Curlew, as bigge as a Storke, came flying ta the gouernours shippe, and suffered her a Strang thin,
selfe to be easely taken, which beeinff caryed about among all the shyppes of the nauie,
dyed shortly after: They sawe also a great multitude of the same kinde of foules on
the shore a farre of. The gouernours shyppe, which we sayde to haue lost the rudder,
beeing nowe sore broosed, and in manner vnprofitable they left behinde, to followe at lea-
sure. The nauie arryued at Dariena the twelfth day of the Calcndes of luly, and the go-

^ S 2 uernours

aiiHc

M*A i I

406

VOYAOES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thhde Dtcade.

:!;'«

■1i ■

[I i-

f;.

How Viichui
rciciurd the
niwr eoucniour.

m' ■ II

11''

§ ■

Habitiblr rrgi-
otti viiitrr the
Equiiioctialllinr.

Whfre th» ntw

|ovir'nntirplanl-
tlh hUhnbitd-

A pauingcr ship.

Dtcurians arc
oflicefs druidtd
into icnnci &c.

The gpldc mines
cf Dabaiba.

iiernouM xhippr (being voidc of men) was ilriiicn alandc in the Mmr cnaMiOA within foure
daics after. The Spnniardcs whiche n«»w inhabited Daricnn, with their Captnine and Lienc-
tenaunt Vasrhus Niinne/, Balboa (of whome we haue lar^elic made mention before) being
certified of the arriuall of Pctrus Arias and his companie, went foorth three miles to mcetc
him, and recciued him honorably, and religiously with the psalmc Tc deum luiidnmus,
giuing thankes to God by whose safe condiirt they were brought so prosperously thitherto
al their comfortes. They recciued them gladly into their houses buildcd after the maner
of those prouinccs. I may wcl cal these regions, Prouinces, a Procul Victis (that is) such
ns are ouercomc farre of, forasmuchc as our men do now inhabite the same, al the barbarous
kingesnnd Idolntours being elected. They entertained them with such cheare .ts they were
able to make them : as with the fniites of those regions, and new bread, both made of
rootes and the graine ^faizium. Other delicatcs to make vp the feast, were of their own
store, which they brought with them in their ships, as poudred (Icsh, sailed lishe, and
bread made of wheat : for they bmught with them many barrelles of wheate mc;ile for the
same purpose. Hcere may your holinesse, not without iust cause of admiration, beholde a
kinges nauie and ureat multitude of Christians, inhabiting not only the regions situate vndcr
the circle of heauen, called Tropicus Cancri, but also in maner vnder the lilquinoctiall line,
contrarie to the opinion of the olde wryters, a fewe excepted. But after th;it they are nowe
mette togeathcr, let vs further declare what they determined to do. Therefore, the day
after that the nauie arriucd, there assembled a company of Spaniards thinhabitours of Darienai
to the niiber of foure hundred and (iftie men. Petrus Arias the gouennour of the nauy,
and his companie, conferred with them both priuilie and openlic of certaine articles
whereof it was the kinges pleasure he sh«ulde enquire: and most especially as concerning
suchc thinges whereof Va.schi!s the (irst finder and Admirall of the South sea, made mention
in his large letter sent from Dariena to Spainc. In this inquisition they founde al things
to be true whereof Vaschus had certified the king by his letters, and therevpon cocludcd,
that in the dominions of Comogra, Pocchorrnsa & Tumanama, at the assignement of Vaschus,
certaine fortresses shoulde be erected foorthwith, to thintent there to plant their colonie or
habitation. To the better accomplyshment hereof, they sent immcdiatly one lohannes Aiora,
a noble young gt-ntle man of Corduba, & vnder Lieuetenant, with fomre hundred men, and
foure Carauels, and one other litle ship. Thus departing, he sailed first directly to the hauen
of Comogrus distant from Dariena about twentie and fine leagues, as they write in their
la:jt letter-*. From hence, he is appointed to sende a hundred and liltie of his foure hundred,
tow.ir.lc- the S uih, by a newe and righter way founde of late, by the whiche (as they say)
it i- not pa t twentie and sixe leagues fr^m the pallace of king Comogrus to the entraunce
of the gu.fe of Sancti Michaelis. The residue of the foure hundred shal remaine there, to
be an aide and Huccmir to al such as shall iorney to and fro. Those hundred and fiftie whiche
arc assigned to go souihwardc, take with them for interpretours certain of our men, which
had learned the soothcrn language of the bondmen which were giuen to Vaschus when he
ouerranne tliose regions, & also certaine of the bondemen theinselues which had nowe learned
tne Spanishe tongue. They say that the hauen of Pocchorrosa is only seuen leagues distant
from the hauen of Comogrus. In Pocchorrosa he is assigned to leaue fiftie men, with the
lightest ship, which may be a passinger betwene them : that like as we vse post horses by
land, so may they by this currant ship, in short space certifie the Lieuetenaunt and thin-
habitours of Dariena of such thinges as shal chaunce. They entend also to build houses
in the region of Tumanama. The pallace of king Tumanama, is distant frO Pocchorrosa
about twenty leagues. Of these foure hundred men, being of the olde souldiers of Dariena,
& men of good experience: fiftie were appointed to be as it were Decurians, to guide and
conduct the newe men from place to place to do their affaires. When they had thus set all
thinges in order, they thought it good to aduertise the king hereof, and thcrwith to certifie
him, that in those prouinces there is a king named Dabaiba, whose dominion is verie riche
in gold, but the same to be yet vntouched by reason of his great power. His kingdomc
ioineth to the second great riuer, named Dabaiba after his name, whiche falleth into the sea

out

R-fr ' V.

27rt thtrde Decade.

TRAFFIQUF.S, AND DISCOUERIFS.

407

out of the corner of the giilfe of Vrabn, a^ we haiie largely dorlarocl before. TIjc common
li[^)rt ia, that all the land of hiMdoininionH i>* ryche in golcle. The pallacc of Kin<f Dahaiha
i«'\rtie leagues cli'lant from Dariena. The inhahitaiintcs say, that from the pallace, the
gold myncH reach to the borders on eiierv fide. Albeit our mrnnc hauc also golde mynes
not to bee contemned, euen within three lcaj;iies of Dariena, in the which they gather goldr
in many places at this present: Yet do they afTirmc greater pientie to bee in the mynes of
P'Kiiba. In the bookes of our first friiites, written to your holinesse, wc made mention of
»h Dabaiba, wherein our men were deceiued, and mystooke the matter : For where they /»„ «>i.<ji
fdundc the fyshermen of king Dabaiba in the mnryshes, they thought his region had bcenc
there also. They determined therefore to scnde to king Dabaiba, three hundred ( hoysc
younij men, to be chosen out of the whole armic, as most apt to tlic warres, and well fur-
nished with all kyndes of armour and artilleric, to the intent to go vnto him, and will him,
eythcr friendly and peaceably to permit them to inhabitc part of his kingdome, with the
fruition of the goldc mynes, or els to bidde him ballayle, and driue him out of his countrey.
In their letters, they oftentimes repeale this for an argument of great ryches to come, that
they in a manner dygged the ground in no place, but foundc the earth myxt with sparkes
and small graynes of goldc. They hauc also aduertiscd the king, that it shal be commodious
to place inhabitours in the hauen of Sancta Martha, in the region of Saturma, that it may Therfgionof
be a place of refuge for them that sayle from the Ilandc of Dominica, from the whiche ( as ?,?,',j'|7j»de -f
they say) it is but fourc or fine dayes sayling to that hauen of the region of Saturma, and Uomimcj.
from the hnuen, but three dayes sayling to Dariena. 13ut this is to bee vnderstoodc in
going and not in ri-turning. For the returning from thence is so laborious and dilTiculte, Difficuii uyitng
by reason of the contrary course of the water, that they seeme as it were to asccnde 'ij'g'ie J^yl[|',"Jj^ ,„,
mountiiynes, and siryue agaynste the power of Neptunus. This swift course of the sea
towardes the West, is not so violent to them whiche rcturne to Rpayne from the Ilandes of
Hispaniola and Cuba, although they also doe labour agaynst the fall of the Ocean : The cause
whereof is, that the sea is heerc very large, so that the waters haue their full scope. But
in the tract of Paria, the waters are constrained together by the bending sides of that great
lande, and by the multitude of Ilandes lying against it, as the like is seenc in the strayghtes
or narrowe seas of Scicile, where the violent course of the waters cause the daungerous
places of Scilla and Caribdis by reason of those narrowe seas which conteyne Ionium, Thtdaumeroui
Libicum, and Tirrhenum. Colonus the firsie finder of these regions, hath left in wryting, s'"!^a"j°ch».
that sayling from the Ilande of Guanassa, and the prouinces of laia, Maia, and Cerabaro, ribdis.
being regions of the West marches of Beragua, he founde the course of the water so vehe-
ment and furious agaynst the forepartc of his sliippe^ while he sayled from those coastes
towarde the East, that he coulde at no time touche the ground with his sounding plummet,
but that the contrarie violence of the water woulde beare it vppe from the bottome: Hee
aflirmeth also, that hee coulde neuer in one whole day, with a meetely good winde, wynne
one myle of the course of the water. And this is the cause why they are oftentimes en- The v«hemet
forced to sayle first by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hispaniola, and so into the mayne sea "^"^he'^E^sttS
towarde the North, when they returne to Spaine, that the North wyndes may further their the Wot.
voyage, whiche they cannot bring to passe by a direct course: But of the motions of the
Ocean sea to and fro, this shall suffice. Let vs nowe therefore rehearse what they write of
Dariena, and of their habitation there, which they call Sancta Maria Antiqua, planted on
the sea bankes of Dariena. The situation of the place, hath no natural munition or defence,
& the aire is more pestiferous then in Sardus. The Spanishe inhabitours are all pale and
yclowe, like vnto them which haue the yelowe iaundies : which neuerthelesse commeth not
of the nature of the region, as it is situate vnder the hauen. For in many regions being
vnder the selfe same degree of latitude, hauing the pole of the same eleuation, they find
holsome & temperate ayre, in such places where as the earth bringeth forth fayre springes
of water, or where holsome riuers runne by bankes of pure earth without mudde : but most
especially where they inhabite the sides of the hils, and not the valleyes. But that habitation
whiche is on the bankes of the ryuer of Dariena, is situate in a deepe valley, and enuironed

>',' 'U

498

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirdc Decade,

w <

Nfcrss'ity hjtli
no lawc.

on eiiery side with high hilles : Ry rca<ion whereof, it receiiicth the Siinnc bcamcs at noonetytic

directly perpendicular oner their hcades, and are therefore sore vexed by reflection of the

,^i^ "l'"^^""""" beames, both before, behinde, and from the sides. For it is the reflection of the sunnc

beamesarfciusc beames whiclie causeth feruent hcate, and not their accessc or nccrenesse to the earth,

*'*^'^"""" ''""• forasmuch as they are not passible in themsclucs, as doth nianifestiy appearc by the snowe

lying continually vnmoultcn vpon ccrtayne hygh mountaynes, as your holinesse knoweth

right well. The sunne beamcs thcrforc falling on the mountaynes, are reflected downwarde

into the valley, by reason of the obiccto of the declining sides of the hylles, as it were the

fall of a great rounde stone, rowlcd from the toppc of a mountayne. The valley tiierefore

rcceiueth both those beanies whiche fall directly thereon, and also those whiche are reflected

The prrnicimis dowiicwarde from euerv side of the mountaynes. Their habitation therefore in Dariena, is

ayrc PI D.uitnj. . . , •' i c i • i ,• i i i , i

j)ernicious and vnwholesome, onely oJ tlie particular nature ol tlie place, and not by the
situation of the region as it is placed vndcr the hcauen, or neere to the sunne. The place
is also outragious by the nature of the soile, by reason it is compassed about with muddle
and stinking maryshes, f!ie infection whereof is not a little encreased by the heate : The
village it sclfe is in a marishe and in manner a standing puddle, where, of the droppes falling
T""''7 M !.'•''' '^^"'" the handes of the bondemen, while they water the pauemcntcs of their houses, Toades
drP(,iW»!it£r. are engendred immediately, as I my selfe sawe in another place the droppes of that water
turne into flies in the Sommer season. Furthermore, wheresoeuer they diggc the ground
the depth of a handfull and a halfe, there springeth out vnwholesome and corrupt water, of
the nature of the ryuer, whiche runneth through the deepe and muddy chanell of the valley,
and so falleth into the sea: Now therefore they consult of rcmoouing their inhabitations.
Necessitie caused them first to fasten their foote heere, because that they whiche first arryued
in those landes, were oppressed with suche vrgent hunger, that they hadde no respect to
chaunge the place, altluiugh they were thus vexed by the contagion of the soyle and heate
of the Sunne, beesiiic the corrupt water, and infectious ayre, by reason of venemous vapours,
and exhalations rysyng from the same. An other great incommodity was, that tlie place
was destitute of a commodious hauen, being three leagues distaunt from the mouth of the
gulfe : The way is also rough and diflicult to bring victualles and other necessaries from the
sea. But let vs nowe speake somewhat of other particular thinges which chaunced. There-
fore shortly after that they were arryued, there happened many thinges whereof they hadde
no knowledge before. A cerlayne well learned phisition of Ciuile, whom partly the au-
thoritie of the Byshop of Dariena, and partly the desire of golde, had allured to those landes,
was so scarred with lightning in the night season, lying in bedde with his wife, that the
house and all the stuH'e therein being set on fire and burnt, hee and his wife beeing sore
scorched, ranne foorth crying, and almost naked, hardly escaping the daunger of death.
And another time as certayne of them stoode on the'shore, a great Crocodile sodenly caryed
away a mastic of a yecre and a halfe olde, as a kyte shoulde haue snatched vp a chicken :
J.- Niir" "" ' ^"'' ''^'■'' ^"C" '" •'^^ presence of them all, where the miserable dogge cryed in vaine for the
ihebytingof hclpe of his maistcr. In the nyght season they were tormented with the byting of battes,
whiche are there so noysome, that if they bite any man in his sleepe, they putte him in
danngcr of life, onely with drawing of blonde: Insomuch that some hauc dyed thereof,
falling as it were into a consumption through the maiiciousnesse of the venemous wounde.
If these Battes chauncc to finde a cocke or a henne abroad in the night season, they byte
them by the combes, and so kil them. They also whiche went last into these dominions,
do write, that the lande is troubled with Crocodiles, Lions, and Tygers : but that they haue
nowe deuised artes and engins how to take them. Likewise that in the houses of their feU
lowes, they founde the hides and cases of such Lions and Tygers as they hadde killed. They
write furthermore, that by reason of the ranknesse and fruitefulnessc of the groundc, kynr,
swyne, and horses, doe marueilously increase in these regions, and growe to a muchc byggcr
quantitie theu they whiche were of the first broode. Of the exceeding highnesse of the
trees with their Iruitcs, of the garden hearbes, fruites, plantes, and scedes, which our men
brought from Spainc, and sowed and set the same in these regions : likewise of the Ilartes

and

A liouse set on
(ire with light-
liiiig.

AJog^e it.
liourL'd of a
Crocodile.

Battes.

I. ions and
'iysefs.

Benstcs waxc
higher in their

killdr.

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

499

and other foiirc footed beastes both tame and wilde, also of diners; kiiulcs of foulcs, birdes,

and fishes, they write eiien as wee hauc declared in the decades before. Carcta, the king

of the region of Cioba, was with them for the space of three daics : whom when thi y had

friendly entertained, and shewed him the secrete places of their shippes, their Horses also,

with their trappers, bardes, and other fiirnimentes, beside many other thingcs whiche seemed

straunge to him, and had further delighted his roindc with the harmony of their musical in-

strumentes, & giuen him many rewardes, they dismissed him halfc amased with too muciic

admiration. He signified vnto them, that there are trees in that prouince, of the ])lankes Nou.

whereof if shippes were made, they shouldc be safe from the wonrmes of the sea, wliiche

they call Broinas. Howe these woormes gnawe and corrode the shippes, we haue declared

before. Our shippes are greatly troubled with this plague, if they lie long in the hauns '^"'"""' •*'■

of these regions. But they aflTirme that the wood of this tree is so bitter, that the woormes whid, d«tu.>

will not taste thereof. There is also an other tree peculiar to these landes, whose leaues if -'"ms-

they onely touche the bare in any place of a mans body they cau«c great blisters, and those a vcncwuiu

so malitious, that except the same be foorthwith healed with salte water or fasting spittle, ""'

they do incontinently engender deadly paincs. They say likewise, that the sauour of the

wood is present poison, and that it can no whither be caried without daunger of life. When Perhaps thtir

thinhabitantes of the llandc of Hispaniola had oftentimes attempted to shake of the yoke of I'"s"'r'i."n,"j5of

seruitude, and coulde neuer bring the same to passe, neither by open warre, nor yet by '•"' *""'''•

])riuie conspiracies, they were determined in the night season to haue killed our men in

their sleepe with the smoke of this wood : But when the Christian men had knowledge

hereof, they compelled the poore wretches to confessc there intent, and punished the chiefe

authours of the deuice. They haue also a ccrtaine hearbe with the sauour wherof they are a prcseruatUie

preserued from the hurt of this venemous wood, so that they may beare it safely. Of these "i""^^ v"'^""-

small thinges it shall suffice to haue saide thus much. They looke dayly for many greater

ihinges to cortifie vs of from the llandes of the South sea : For at such time as the messenger The iiuids or

whiche brought onr letters departed from thence, Pctrus Arias prepared an expedition to '''"*""'' ""'

that riche Ilande which licth in the mouth of the gnlfe called Sinus S. Michaelis, and reacheth The rich iisj

into the South sea, being also left vntouched of Vaschus, by reason that the Sea was at that'

time of the yeere sore troubled with ttmpcstes, as we haue further declared in Vaschus his

voiage to the South. Wee looke therefore dayly for greater thingcs then are hitherto past.

For they hauc now taken in hande to subdue manic other prouinces, which we suppose to be

either very riche or to bring foorth some straunge workes of nature. lohannes Diaz Solisius

ofNcbrissa (of whom we haue made mention before) is sent by the front of the cape or

point of Sancti Augustini (which reacheth scuen degrees beyonde the Equinoctial line, and Cap. sancti Au-

perteineth to the dominion of the Portugales) to thintent to oucrrunne the South side, from oft'heeuii suc-

the backe halfe of Paria, Cumana, Cuquibacca, with the hauens of Carthago, and Sanrta ""«■ ""'"•"

Martha, of Dariena also, and Bcragua, that more perfect and certaine knowledge may be dl'adc!}" '

had of those tractes. Further more, one lohannes Poncius was sent foorth with tliree ships, i'''"-9-

to destroie the Canibales, both in the lande and llandes thereabout: aswell that the nations An expcditioi.

of the more humane & innocent people may at the length line without fearc of that pes - canSci, ' "^

tiferons generation, as also the better and more safely to searche the secretes and richcsse

of those regions. Many other likewise were sent diners and sundrie waies, as Gasper Ba-

daiocias to search the West partes, Franciscus Bexerra, to saile by the corner of the gulfe

and Vallcius, to passe by the mouth or enteraunce thereof to the Enste coastes of the gulfe,

to searche the secretes of the lande, in the which Fogeda with his company had of late begun

to plant tiiere habitation, and had builded a fortrcsse and a village, Badaiocius departed first

from Dariena, with foure^core souldiours wel appointed, whome Lodduicus Mcrcado folowed

with liftie: To Bczerra were also fourescore assigned, and threescore and tennc to Valleius. I'^kfii" <!■.

Whether they shall arriue at safe and commodious hauens, or fall into vnforfunate stations,^' '''

he oncIy knoweth whose prouidence ruleth all: for as for vs men wee arc included within

the knowledge of thingcs after they haue chaunced. Let vs nowe therefore come to other

miitters.

The

called Ditcs.

'lii/,t'iiBi

If £••:

«?'!■

pl'^^

pil:i

iiS':

500

The nauigationi
of Andreas
Muralisi

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,
The seiienth Chapter of the thirde Decade.

Hie thirde Decade.

A particular de-
scription of the
Ilande of His-
paniola.
Nereides are
iiymphes of the
sea, he mcaneth
llandes.

Tethis the wife
of Neptunus 8c
goddes of the
sea.

Gieat pearles.

Hispaniola like
vnio the earthly
Paradise.

The first inh«-
bitours of His-
paniola.

Unisakm.

Mech^.

The llandes of
CauMie.

PEtrns Arius the goiicrnoiir of the supposed cotinent, was scarsly entred into the mayne
sea with his nauie, onwarde on his voyage to Dariena, but I was aduertised that one Andreas
Moralis a pilot, who had oftentimes ouerrun the coastes of these newc seas, and the llandes
of the same, was come to the court to sel such marchardics as he brought with him from
thence. This man had diligently searched the tracte of the supposed continent, and espe-
cially the inner regions of the Ilande of Hispaniola, whereunto hee was appoynted by his
brother Nicolaus Ouandus ( the gouernour of the Ilande, and chiefe Commendator of the order
of the knights of Alcantara) because he was a wittie man, and more apt to search such
thinges then any other : so that with his owne handes hee drewe fayre cardes and tables of
such regions as hee discouered. Wherein as he hath beene founde faithfull of such as haue
since had better triall hereof, so is he in mo.st credite amongst the best sort. He therefore
resorted to me, as all they are accustomed to do which returne from the Ocean. What I learned
of him & diuers other, of things heretofore vnknown, I wil now declare. The beginning of
this narration, shall be the particular description of the Ilande of Hi^ipaniola, forasmuche as
it is the heade, and as it were, the principall marte of all the liberality of the Ocean, and
hath ; thousand & againe a thousand, faire, pleasant, beautifull, & rich Nereides, whiche
lye about it on euery side, adorning this their lady & mother, as it were an othei" Tethis the
wife of Neptunus enuyroning her about, & atteding vpo her as their queene & patronesse.
But of these Nereiades (that is to say, the llandes placed about her) wee will speake more
hereafter. Lette vs in the meane tyme declare somewhat of the Ilande whiche our menne
named Margarita Diues (which the Spanyardes call De las perdas) being nowe well knowne,
and lying in the South sea in the gulfe called Sinus Sancti Michaelis (that is) saint Michaels
gulfe. This Ilande hath presently brought to our knowledge many straunge and woonder-
full thinges, and promiseth no small hope of greater thinges in tyme to come. In this is
founde great plenty of pearles, so fayre and great, that the sumptuous queene Cleopatra
might haue seemed to weare them in her crownes, chaynes, and braslettes. Of the shel-
fishes wherein these are engendred, we wil speake somewhat more in the end of this nar-
ration. But let vs nowe returne to Hispaniola, moste like vnto the earthly paradise. In the
description hereof, wee will beginne of the imposition of diuers names, then of the fourme of
the Ilande, temperate ayre, and bencficiall hauen, and finally of the deuision of the regions.
Therfore for the righter pronounciation of the names, your holines must vnderstand that they
are pronounced with the accent, as you may know by the verge set ouer the heads of the
vowels, as in the name of the Ilande Matinino, where the accent is in the last vowell, and
the like to bee vnderstoode in all other names. They say therefore, that the first inhabitours
of the Ilande were transported in theiv Canoas (that is, boates made of one whole peece of
woode) from the Ilande of Matinino, being lyke banished men dryuen from thence by reason
of certaine contrarie factios and diuisions among themselues, like as we reade howe Dardanus
came from Corytho, and Teucrus from Creta into Asia, and that the region where they placed
their habitation, was afterward called Troianum. The like wee reade howe the Tyrians and
Sidonians arriued with their nauy in Libya by the fabulous conduction of Dido. These Mati-
nians in like maner being banished from their owne country, planted their first habitation
in that parte of the Ilande of Hispaniola, which they call Cahonao, vpon the b^nke of the
ryuer named Bahaboni as is reade in the beginnyng of the Romans that iEneas of Troy
arryued in the rcgio of Italic, called Latium, vpon the bankes of the riuer of Tiber. Within
the mouth of the ryuer of Bahaboni, lyeth an Hand, where it is sayd that the inhabitantes
builded their first house, whiche they named Camoteia. This house they consecrated shortly
after, and honoured the same reuerently with continual! giftesand monumentes, euen vntill
the commingof our menne, like as the Christians haue euer religiously honoured Hierusalem
the fountayne and originall of our fayth: As also the Turkes attribute the like to the citie
ofMecha in Araby, and the inhabitantes of the fortunate llandes (called the llandes of
Canarie) to Tyrma, builded vppon a hygh rocke, from the whiche manie were wont with

ioyfuU

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

501

ioyfuU

ioyfull myndes and songes to cast themselues downe headlong, becing perswaded by their
priestes that the soiiles of all such as so died for the lone of Tyrma, shoulde thereby enioyc
eternall felicifie. The conquerors of the Ilandes of Canarie, founde them yet remaynyng in
that superstition euen vntill our tyme, nor yet is the memorie of their sacrifices vtterly worne
away : the rocke also reserueth the olde name vnto this daye. 1 haue also learned of late,
that there yet remayneth in the Ilande some of the faction of Betanchor the Frenche manne, Betandioi i
and first that brought the Ilandes to good culture and ciuilitie, being thereto lycenced by the ''«"':''"'■"'•
king of Castile, as I haue sayde before. These do yet (for the most part) obserue both the
language and maners of the Frenche menne, although the heyres and successours of Betanchor,
had solde the two subdued Hands to certaine men of Castile ; Yet the inhabitours which
succeeded Betanchor, & builded them houses, and encreased their families there, do continue
to tliis day, and liue quietly and pleasantly with the Spanyardes, not griued with the sharpe
colde of Fraiince. But let vs nowe returne to the inhabitantes of Matinino and Hispaniola.
The Ilande of Hispaniola was first named by the first inhabitours Q.uizqueia, and then Haiti: ^/'ufs^anluu'
and this not by chance, or at the pleasure of suche as deuised these names, but of credulitie ° '
and beleefe of some great effecte. For Quizqueia, is as muche to say as, A great thing, and
that so great, that none may bee greater. They interprete, also, that Quizqueia signifieth
large, vniuersall, or all, in like signification as the Greekes named their God called Pan,
because that for the greatnes thereof, these simple soules supposed it to bee the whole
worlde : and that the Sunne beames gaue light to none other world, but onely to this Ilande,
with the other adiacent about the same, and thereupon thought it most woorthie to be called
great, as the greatest of all other knowne to them. Haiti is as much as to say by interpretation,
as rough, sharpe, or craggie. But by a figuratiue speache called denomination (whereby the
whole is named by parte) they named the whole Ilande Haiti (that is) rough : Forasmuch
as in many places the face of this Ilande is rough, by reason of the craggie mountaynes, hor-
rible thicke woodes, and terrible darke and deepe vallies, ennironed with great and high
mountaynes, although it bee in manie other places exceeding beautifull and flourishing.
Heere must wee somewhat digresse from the order we are cntred into. Perhappes your
holinesse will maruell by what meanes these symple men shoulde of so long continuace
bcare in minde such principles, whcras they haue no knowledge of letters. So it is there- Theirmaner of
fore, that from the beeginning, their princes haue euer beene accustomed to commit their '""""s-
children to the «^ouernance of their wise men, which they cal Boitios, to be instructed in
knowledge, anu to beare in memorie suche thinges as they learne. They giue themselues
chiefely to two thinges: As generally, to learne the original! and successe of thinges, and
particularly, to rehearse the noble factes of their graundfathers, great graundfathers, and
auncestours, aswell in peace as in warre. These two things they haue of old time composed
in certayne meeters and ballettes in their language. These rymes or ballettes, they call Baiiets and
Areitos. And as our minstrelles are accustomed to sing to the Harpe or Lute, so do they in 7""""
like manner sing these songs, and daunce to the same, playing on Timbrels made of shels aSng."'*
of certayne fishes : These Timbrels they call Maguei. They haue also songs and ballettes of songes of loue
loue, and other of Lamentations and mourning, some also to encourage them to the Carres, '"'' "'°"'"'"2'
with euery of them their tunes agreeable to the matter. They exercise themselues much in
dauncing, wherein they are very actiue, and of greater agilitie then our men, by reason they
giue themselues to nothing so much, and are not hindered with apparell, which is also the
cause of their swiftnesse of foote. In their ballets left them of their auncestours, they haue
prophecies of the comming of our menne into their countrey. These they sing with mourn- Prophtcie?.
ing, and as it were with groning, bewayle the losse of their libertie & seruitude. For
these prophecies make mention that there shoulde come into the Hand Maguachochios, that Now.
is, men clothed in apparell, and armed with suche swoordes as shoulde cutte a man in sunder
at one stroke, vnder whose yoke their posteritie should be subdued. And here I do not Their famiiia-
maruell that their predecessours coulde prophecie of the seruitude and bondage of their [it"'.""'' ''^"
succession (if it be true that is sayd) of the familiaritie they haue with spirites, whiche ap-
peare to them in the night, whereof we haue largely made mention in the ninth chapter oF

3T the

I I'l '*'lfs

«' -..M

' •■•"it '2

502

VOYAGKS, NAUIGATIONS,

The iliirde Decade.

mi-m

W '" -

i": \

'•V'i.''

^'■i ■■'

^' ' .

iv-, ;i ..

I'hr ilcuil is
drtui-n away by
l^aiitUnic.

'iitrnfyors.

the first ilcradc, where also \vc haiie intrcated of their Zemcs (that is) ti)eir Idollcs, and
images ordeuilles whiche they honoured. But they saye that since these Zcmes were taken
away by the Christians, the spiritcs haue no more appeared. Our men ascribe this to the
signe of the crossc, wherwith they defende themselues from such spirites : For they are
nowe all cleansed and sanctified by the water of baptisme, whcrby they haue renounced the
deuii, & are consecrated the holy members of Christ. They are vr.iuersally studious to
knowe the bondes and limits of their regions and kingdomes, and especially their Mitani
(that is) noble men: so that euen they are not vfterly ignorant in the surueying of their
landes. The common people haue none other care then of selling, sowing, and planting.
They are most expert fishers, by reason that throughout the whole yeere, they are accus-
tomed dayly to plunge themselues in the ryuers, so that in manner they line no lesse in the
water then on the lande. They are also giuen to hunting : For (as I haue sayd before) they
haue two kindes of foure footed beastes whereof the one is, little Conies, called Vsias, and
other Serpentes, named luannas, much like vnto Crocodiles, of eight foote length, of most
pleasant taste, and lyuing on the sande. All the Ilandes nourishe innumerable byrdes and
foules : as Stockdoues, Duckes, Geese, Hearons, beside no lesse number of Popingayes then
Sparrowes with vs. Euery King hath his subiectes diuided to sundrye affaires : as some to
hunting, other to fishing, and other some to husbandrie. But let vs nowc returne to spcakc
further of the names. Wee haue sayde that Quizqueia and Haiti, were the olde names of"
this Ilande. The whole Hand was also called Cipanga, of the region of the mountaynes
abounding withgolde: lyke as our auncient poets called all Italic Latium, of part thereof.
Therefore as they called Ausonia and Hesperia, Italy : euen so by the names of Quizqueia,
Haiti, and Cipanga, they vnderstood the whole Hand of Hispaniola. Our men did first
name it Isabella, of Q,ueene Hclisabeth, whiche in the Spanishe tongue is called Isabella,
and so named it of the first Colony where they planted their habitation, vpon the batike neere
vnto the sea on the North side of the liandc, as we haue further declared in the first Decade,
But of the names, this shall suffice. Let vs nowe therfore speake of the fourme of the
Ilande. They which first oucrranne it, described it vnto me to be like vnto the leafe of a
Chesnut tree, with a giilfe towarde the West side, lying open agaynst the Ilande of Cuba.
But the expert shypmaister Andreas Moralis, brought me to the forme therof somewhat differ-
ing from that. For from both the corners, as from the East angle and the West, he described
it to be indented and eaten with many great gulfes, & the corners to reache forth very farrc,
and placcth manie large and safe hauens in the great gulfe on the East side : But I trust
shortly so to trauale furtlier herein, that a perfect carde of the particular description of His-
paniola may be sent vnto your holinesse. For they haue now drawne the Geographicall
description therof in cardes, euen as your hoiinesse hath scene the fourme and situation of
Spaync, and Italy, with tlieir mountaynes, valleyes, riuers, cities, and colonies. Let vs iherc-
Hispaniob com- fore without shamefastnessc compare the Hand of Hispaniola to Italic, sometime the head
and Qucenc of the whole worlde. For if we consider the quantitie, it shall bee founde little
lesse, and much more fruitefuU. It reaciicth from the East into the West, fine hundred and
fourtie nivles, according to the computation of the latter searchers, although the Admirail
somewhat increased this number, as wee haue sayde in the first Decade. It is in breadth
somewhere almost tliice hundred mvlcs, and in some places narrower, where the corners
are extended: But it is surely much more blessed and fortunate then Italic, being for the
most parte thereof so temperate and flourishing, that it is neyther vexed with .sharpe colde,
nor afflicted with immoderate heate. It hath both the stayinges or conuersions of the
Sunne (called Solslitia) in manner cquall with the Equinoctiall, with litle difference be-
tweene the length of the day and the ni^ht throughout all the yeere. For on the South
side, the day asccndetlj scarcely an houre in length aboue the night, or contrariwise. But
CoJd accidrntai, the diflercuce is more on the North side : Yet are there some regions in the Ilande in the
5U?u"i'oVof'ihe whiche the colde is of some force. But your holynesse must vnderstande this to bee inci-
rcgions, dent by rea>nn of the obiect or neerencsse of the mountaines, as we will more largely

declare hereafter; Yet is not this colde so pearling or sharpe, that the inhabitauntes arc

molested

■irrpfiitts.
A Crocodile is
much like to
out Ewtc ur
Lyscrtf.

Cipanga.

Italic called
Latium,

Isabell,

The fourme of
the Hand of

Hifpanicl.;.

A particular
carde of His-
paniola.

pared to Italic.

The tempera-
lure of Hispa-
niola.

The Equinoc-
tiall.

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

503

inolcstcil with snow or byting frost. In other places, the Ilantlc enioyeth pcrpetnall sprinjj; Pfrpctinii
time, and is fortunate with confiniiall sommer and hanicst. The trees (lourishe there all m'""; ""J
the whole yeere, and the meddowes continue aiway j^rccne. All thinjies arc exceeding
fortunate, and growc to ureat perfection. Howe wonderfully all garden hcarbcs aiul friiites M,iriKii(.u!.
do enrrease, so that within the space of hixtcene dayes after the seede is sowen, all hearbcs '""i'"'™'^-
of small steames, as lettisc, borapje, radishe, and such other, come to their full ripcnesse, and
also how hearbes of the bigger sort, as (Jourdcs, Melons, Cucumbers, Pompons, Sitrones,
and such other, come to their perfection in the space of thirtie dayes, we haue sudiciently
declared els where. Of the beastes transported out of Spaync thither, we haue saide howe Btastrs.
they growe to a much greater kinde : Insomuch that when they fall into communication of
the oxen or kinc, they compare them in bignesse to Elcphantes, and swyne to Mules: but o«n.inds«iiic
(his somewhat by an excessiue kinde of speach. Wee haue also made mention howe their biji's/ '"^
swines ficshe is more sauourie and of farre better and more pleasaunt tast, and more whol-
some then ours, by reason that they are fedde with the fruites of Mirobalane trees, and ^''". '^J^ "''''
other pleasaunt and nourishing fruites of that coir.itrey, which growe there of themselues,
as doe with vs Beeches, Holly, and Okes. Vines woulde also prosper there with marueylous
encrcase, if they hadde any regard to the planting therof. The like encrease commcth of
wheate, if it be sowen vpon the mountains, where the cold is of some strength : but not in
the same plaines, by reason of too much fatnesse and ranknes of the grounde. It is in
tnancr incredible to heare, that an care of wheate should be bigger then a mans arme in the An«re of
brawne, and more then a span in length, bearing also more then a thousand graynes, as they ^m"ns"rme!n
all confesse with one voyce, and earnestly affirme the same with othes. Yet they say that the brawne.
the bread of the llande called Cazabbi, made of the rootc of lucca, to be more holsome,
because it is of easier digestion, and cultured with lesse labour, and greater increase. The
residue of the time which they spend not in setting and planting, they bestowe in gathering
of golde. They haue nowe such plentie of foure footed beasts, that Horses and oxe hydes, Ore»i , lenty of
with sheepe skinnes, and goate skinnes and such other, are brought from thence into" "'"'
Spaine : so that nowe the daughter in many thinges helpeth and succoureth her mother.
Of the trees of brasyle, spices, the graine which coloureth scarlet in bright shyning red,
mastix, Gossampine cotton, the precious metall called Electrum, & such other commodities
of this llande we haue spoken sufficiently before. What therfore canne chaunce more
happy vnto man vpon the earth, then there to lyue where he need not to be dryuen to close '"commoditifs
chambers with sharpe colde or faynting heate, nor yet in winter eyther to be laden with heauie °,g^ons?'^'""
apparel, or to burne the shinnes with continual! sitting at the fire, which thinges make men
clue in short time, by resoluing the naturall heate, whereof a thousand diseases ensue.
They also affirme the ayre to be very healthfull, and the waters and ryuers to be no lesse HoUome «)•«
holsome, as they whiche haue their continuall course through the earth of the golden mynes. q**."""'
For there is in maner no ryuers, no mountaynes, and but fewe playnes, that are vtterly with- whtw.'""*
out golde. But lette vs nowe at length come to the particular description of the inner
partes of this blessed llande. Wee haue before declared how it is in maner equally diuided
with foure great ryuers, descending from hygh mountaynes, whereof that which runneth
towardes the East, is called lunna, as that towardes the West is named Attibimicus, the
thirde is Nahiba or Haiba, whiche runneth Southward, the fourth is called lache, and
falleth towarde the North. But this shypmaister hath brought an other description,
obserued of the inhabitantea from the beginning. Let vs therfore diuide the whole
Hand in to fine partes, calling the regions of euery prouince by their olde names: and
finally make mention of such thinges as are worthy memory in euery of them. The
beginning of the llande on the East side, is conteined in the prouince named Caizcimur
so named for that in their language Cimu signifieth the front or beginning of anie
thing. After this, foloweth the prouince of Hubaba, and then Caibabo, the fourth
is Bainoa. Guaccairima conteineth the West corner. But the last saue one, Bainoa is of
larger boundes then the three other. Caizcimu reacheth from the first front of the
llande to the riuer Hozama, which runneth bv the citie of saint Dominicke. But fowarde The diic of

3 f 3 the ^' i^"'"'"'^'^

50*

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

Ofpvouinces
(liuided into
rfgiolU.

The pronuncia-
tion of the
Hcbrues and
J\rabian$.
The Moores
and Arabians
possessed
ii^aiae.

How the aspi-
ration chaungeth
the signification
of woords.

Diuers lan-
guagts in the
llaod.

ill' I

the North side, it is ended at the rough mountaines of Haiti. Hubabo is included within the
mountaincs of Haiti and the riiier laciga. Caiabo the third proiiince, conteineth al that lieth
between Ciibabo and Dahatio, euen vnto the mouth of the riuer laccha or lache (one of the
foure which diuide the Hand equally) & asccndeth to the mguntaines of Cibaua, where the
greatest plentie of gold is founde, out of the which also the riuer Demahu» springeth, and
ioining with the springes of the riuer of Naiba (being an other of the foure whiclj diuideth
the Hand toward the South sea) falleth to an other banke of the riuer of saint Dominick.
Bainoa beginneth at the confines of Caiabi, and reacheth euen vnto the Hand of Cabini,
which lieth neare vnto the sea bankes of the North side of the Ilande, where we saide that
they erected the first colonie or habitatio. The prouince of Guaccaiarima, occupieth the
rcmaiiet towarde the West : this they named Guaccaiarima because it is the extreame or
vtiermost part of the Hand. Forlarima in their language, signifieth the taile or end of any
thing, and Gua, is an article which they vse oftentimes in the names of things, and especially
in the names of their kinges, as Guarionexius & Guaccanarillus. In the prouince of Ca-
zium, are these regions, Higuei, Guanama, Reyre, Xagua, Aramana, Arabo, Hazoa, Macorix,
Caiacoa, Guaiagua, Baguanimabo, & the rough mountaines of Haiti. Here let vs speake
somwhat of their aspirations, which they vse otherwise then the Latines do. It is to be noted
that there is no aspiration in their vowels, which haue not the effect of a consonant. So that
they pronounce their aspirations more vehemently then we do the consonant, f. Yet, all
suche wordes as in their tongue are aspirate, are pronounced with like breath and spirite as
is f. sauing that heerein the neather lippe is not moued to the vppermost teeth. With
open mouthes, and shaking their breastes they breathe out these aspirations, ha, he, hi, ho, hu,
as the Hebrues and Arabians are accustomed to pronounce theirs. I finde also that the
Spaniardes vse the like vehemencie in the aspirations of those wordes, which they haue re-
ceiued of the Moores & Arabians which possessed Spaine, and continued there many yeeres,
as in these wordes Almohadda, which signifieth a pillow or boulster, also Almohaza, that is a
horse combe: with diuers such other words, which they speake in mancr with panting
breastes, & vehement spirites. I haue thought it good to rehearse these thinges, because
among the the Latines it oftentimes so chaunceth, that only the accent or aspiration,
chaungeth the signification of the worde, as hora, for an houre, and ora, for the plurall num-
ber of this worde os, whiche signifieth the mouth : also ora, whiche signifieth regions or
coastes. The like also chaunceth in the diuersitie of the accent, as occido I kil, & occido
I fal : euen so in the language of these simple men, there are many thinges to be obserued.
But let vs now returne to the description. In the prouince of Hubabo, are these regions,
Xamana, Canabacoa, Cubabo, with many other, the names whereof I haue not yef
learned. The prouince of Cubabo, conteineth these regions, Migiia and Cacacubana. The
inhabitauntes of this region, haue a peculiar language much differing from the common
language of the Hand, and are called Maioriexes. There is also an other region called Cu-
bana, whose language differelh from the other. Likewise the region of Baiohagna, hath a
diuers tongue. There are also other regions, as Dahabon, Cybaho, and Manababo. Cotoy is
in the middle of the Ilande. By this runneth the riuer Nizaus, and the mountaines called
Mathaitin, Hazua, & Neibaymao, confine with the same. In the prouince of Bainoa, .nre ^
regios of Maguana, lagohaiucho, Baurucco, Dabaiagua, & Attibuni, so named of the riuer, also
Caunoa, Buiaici, Dababonici, Maioguariti, Atiei, Maccazini, Guahabba, Anninici, Marie,
Guaricco, Amaguei, Xaragua, Yaguana, Azuei, lacchi, Honorucco, Diagno, Camaie, & Nei-
baimao. In Guaccaierima the last prouince, these regions are contcined Mauicarao, Guaba-
gua, Taquenazabo, Nimaca, Baiona the lesse, Cabaini, lamaici, Manabaxao, Zauana, Habacoa,
and Ayquiora. But let vs entreate somewhat of the particulars of the regions. In the
prouince of Caizcimu, within the great gulfe of the beginning, there is a great caue in a
hollow rocke vnder the root of a high moutaine, about two furlonges from the sea, the entry
of this caue is not much vnlyke the doores of a great temple, being very large, and turnyng
many wayes. Andreas Moralis the shypmaister at the commandement of the gouernour,
attempted to search the caue with the smalest vessels. He sayth that by certayne priuie

waves

■it'' J '■'

Tlie thirdc Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

505

wayes many ryuers haue concourse to this caue, as it were a synke or chanel. After the Riuen dtuour.
experience hereof, they ceased to maruaile whither other ryuers ranne, which comming four- "'*''"""■ -^
score & ten myles were swalowed vp, so that they appeared no more, nor yet fel into the sea
by any knowne wayes. Nowc therefore they suppose that ryuers swalowed vp by the hollow
places of that stony mountayne, fall into this caue. As the shypmaister entred into the caue,
his shippe was almost swalowed. For he sayth, that there are many whirlepooles and whiriepooits
rysinges or boylinges of the water, which make a violent conflict and horrible roryng, one ",■[<;"."*'" °^'
encounteryng the other : also many huge holes and hollow places, so that what on the one
side with whirlpooles, and on the other side with the boyling of the water, his shyppe was
long in manner tossed vp and downe like a ball. It greatly repented him that he had
entred, yet knew he no way how to come forth. He now wandred in darknesse aswell for
the obscurenesse of the caue into the which hce was farre entred, as also that in it were thick cioudt in th*
clouds, engendred of the moist vapours proceeding of the conflict of the waters, which con-""*'
tinunlly fall with great violence into the caue on euery side. Hee compareth the noyse of
these waters, to the fal of the famous riuer Nilus from the mountains of Ethiope, they were The cauracw
also deafe, that one could not heare what another saide. But at the length with great" """
daunger and feare, he came foorth of the caue, as it had beene out of hell. About three-
score myles distant from the chiefe citie of Saint Dominicke, there are certayne hygh moun-
taynes, vpon the toppes whereof is a lake or standing poole inaccessible, neuer yet scene a standing
of the which came lately to the Ilande, both by reason of the roughnesse of the mountaynes, [^°'^/' *^'^^
and also for that there is no path or open way to the toppes of the same. But at the length mountaine.
the shipmaster being conducted thyther by one of the kinges, ascended to the toppes of the
mountaynes, and came to the poole. He saith that the colde is there of some force: and in
token of winter, he founde fearne and bramble bushes, which two growe onely in colde F"rne and
regions. These mountaynes, they call Ymizui Hibabaino. This poole is of fresh water ^JoJIJ of,^iy*i"
three myles in compasse, and wel replenished with diuers kinds of fishes. Many smal "W regions.
riuers or brooks fall into it. It hath not passage out, because it is on euery side enclosed
with the toppes of mountaynes. But let vs now speake of another poole, which may well
be called a sea in the mydlande, and bee compared to the Caspian or Hercanian sea in the The Ca!pi.|n
firme lande of Asia, with certayne other lakes and pooles of freshe water.

The eyght Chapter of the thirde Decade.

THe prouince of Bainoa being thrise as bigge as the three first, that is Caizcimu, Vhabo,
and Caibabo, includeth a velley named Caiouani, in the which there is a lake of salt, sower and
bytter water, as we reade of the sea called Caspium, lying in the firme lande beetweene Sarmatia
and Hircania. We haue therefore named it Caspium, although it bee not in the region of Hir-
cania. It hath many swalowing gulfes, by the which, both the water of the sea springeth into it,
& also such as fal into it from the mountayns are swalowed vp. They thinke that the caues
thereof, are so large and deepe, that great fyshes of the sea passe by the same into the lake.

Among these fyshes, there is one called Tiburonus, which cutteth a man in sunder by the
myddest at one snap with his teeth, and deuoureth him. In the ryuer Hozama, running by
the chiefe citie of Saint Dominicke, these Tiburoni doe sometymes come from the sea, and
deuoure many of the inhabitantes : especially such as do dayly plunge themselues in the
water, to the intent to keepe their bodies very cleane. The riuers which fall into the lake,
are these. From the North side Guanicabon : From the Southe, Xaccoei : From the East,
(juannabo: And from the West, Ocoa. They saie that these riuers are great and continuall,
and that beside these, there are. xx. other small riuers wliiche fall into this Caspium. Also
on the North side within a furlong of the lake, there are aboue twoo hundreth springes,
occupying likewise about a furlong in circuife, tht, water whereof is colde in sommer,
freshe also, and holsome to be drunke. These springes make a riuer that can not bee
waded ouer, which neare at hande ioining with the other, falleth into the lake. Here
must we stale a while. The kinge of this region founde his wife praying in a Chapell
builded by the Christians within the precincte of his dominion, and required her com-
pany

and Hircaniun
sea.

A gieat lalce of
aoure and salt
water.

Sea fishes i:i
lakes of the
midlande.
The deuouriug
fish called
Tiburonus.

The riuers that
fall into the
lake Caspium.

CC. springes
within the
space of a fur.
long.

A miracle,

Bf" ••

to -I

506

The Iiid!.in

A king striken
dumme and
Inme by a
mjTaclf,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TJu: Ihirde Decade.

Sucli as lire
drowned in the
lalie are not
cast vp againe.

A Like of salt k
tVfshe water.

A lake of fresh
water,

A lake of ten
miles in length.

A ptainc of a
hundred and
twenty miles.

A plain of two
hundred tniles
in length.

The maruey.
lous fyshe
Manati.

pany to satisfie his fleshely lust. His wife reproued him, and put him in remembrauncc
to haiie rcspecte to the holy place. The wordes which she spake to him were these,
Teitoca, Teitoca, which is as miiche to say, as, be quiet, be quiet. Tccheta rynato
guamechyna : That is God will be greatly angry. Giiamechyna, signifieth God, Techcta
greatly, Cynato angrie. But the husbande haling her by the arme, .saidc, Guaibba, that
is, goe, Cynato macabuca guamechyna: That is. What is that to me if God be angry?
And with these wordes as he profered her violence, sodenly he became dumme and
lame. Yet by this myracle being stricken with repentaunce, he euer after ledde a re-
lygious life, insomuche that from thencefoorth he would neuer suffer the Chapell to be
swepte or decked with any other mans hande. By the same miracle, many of thinhabi-
tauntes, and all the Christians being moued, resorted deuoutly to the Chapell. They take it
in good parte that the king suffered the reuenge of that reproche. Let vs now returne to
Caspium. That salte lake is tossed with stormes and tempeste.s and oftentimes drowneth
small shippes or fisher boates, and swaloweth them vp with the mariners : In so muche that
it hath not been heardc of, that any man drowned by shippewracke, euer plunged vp againe,
or was caste on the shore, as commonly chaunceth of the dead bodies of suche as are
drowned in the sea. These tempestes, are the daintie banquets of the Tiburones. This
Caspium, is called Hagueigabon. In the myddest hereof, lyeth an Hand named Guarizacca,
to the which they resort when they go a fishing : but it is now cultured. There is in the
same playne, an other lake next vnto this, whose water is mixte of salt and fresh, and is
therfore neither apt to be drunke, noryet to be refused in vrgent necessitie : This con-
tcineth in length twentie and fine miles, and in breadth eight miles, in some places also nine
or ten. It receiueth many riuers, which haue no passage out of the same, but are swalowed
vp as in the other. Water springeth out of the sea into this also : but in no great quantitie,
which is the cause that it is so commixt. In the same prouince towardes the West side, there
is an other lake of freshe water, not farre distaunt from Caspius : this the inhabitauntes call
lainagua. The same salte lake hath on the North side thereof, an other named Guaccaa : this
is but litle, as not past three or foure miles in breadth, and one in length, the water of
this may well bee drunke. On the South side of the salt lake, there lieth an other named
Babbareo, of three miles in length, and in maner rounde : the water of this is freshe, as of
the two other. This lake, because it hath no passage out, nor yet any swalowing gulfes,
conueieth the superfluous waters to the sea if it be encreased with the streames which fal
somtimes more abundantly from the mountaines: There is in the region of Xamana in the
prouince of Bainoa. There is an other called Guaniba, lying betwene the East and the
South, neere vnto the side of Caspius: this is ten miles in length, and almost rounde. There
are furthermore many other small standing pooles or lakes disparsed here and there in
the Ilande, whiche I will let passe, lest I should be tedious in remaining too long in one
thing. I will therfore make an ende with this addition, that in all these great plentie of fishe
and foule is nourished. All these lakes lie in a large plaine, the which from the East reacheth
into the West a hundreth and twentie myles, being of breadth, xviii. miles where it is na-
rowest, and. xxv. where it is largest. Looking toward the West, it hath collaterally on the left
hand the mountaines of Daiguani, and on the right hand, the mountains of Gaigua, so called
of the name of the vale it selfe. At the roots of the mountaynes of Caigua towarde the
North side, there lyeth an other vale much longer and larger then that before named : For it
ccnteineth in length almost two hundred myles, and in breadth thirtie where it is largest, and
about. XX. where it is narowest. This vale in some parte thereof, is called Maguana, in an
other place, Iguaniu, and els where, Hathathiei. And forasmuch as wc haue here made
mention of this parte of the vale named Hathathiei, wee will somewhat digresse from the dis-
course of this description, and entreate of a thing sostraunge and marueilous, that the lyke
hath not beene heard of. So it is therefore, that the king of this region named Caramatexius,
taketh great pleasure in fishing. Into his nettes chaunced a young fyshe of the kinde of
those monsters of the sea, which the inhabitours called Manati, not founde I suppose in our
seas, norknowne to our men before this tvmc. This fishe is foure footed, and in shape lyke

vnto

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

B07

vnto a Tortoyse, although shee be not coiiered with a shell, but with scales, and tliose of such
liardnessc, & couched in such order that no arrow can hurte her. Her scales arc beset and
defended with a thousand knobbes, her backe is playne, and her head vtterly like the head of
an Oxe. She liu^th both in the water, & on the land, shee is slowe of mouing, of condition Amomtcrof
niecke, gentle, associable, and louing to mankinde, and of a marueilous sence or memory, as Ji'ilh^nilnf"
are the ^iiinhant and the Delphyn. The king nourished this fish certayne dales at home hande.
with the bread of the countrey, made of the root of lucca & Panycke, and with such other
roots as men are accustomed to eate : For when shee was yet but young, hee cast her into a
poole or lake neere vnto his pallace, there to bee fed with hande. This lake also receiueth
waters, and casteth not the same forth againe. It was in tyme past called Guaurabo : but is
nowe called the lake of Manati, after the name of this fyshe, which wandered safely in the
same for the space of xxv. yecres, and grewe exceeding bigge. Whatsoeuer is written of
the Delphines of Baian or Arion, are much inferiour to the dooinges of this fyshe, which for
her gentle nature they named Matum, that is, gentle, or noble. Therefore whensoeuer any of
the kinges familyers, especially such as are knowne to her, resorte to the bankes of the lake,
and call Matum, Matum, then she (as mindefull of such benefites as shee hath receiued of Matum.
men) lifteth vp her head, and commeth to the place whither she is called, and there receiueth
meate at the handes of suche as feede her. If anie desirous to passe ouer the lake, make a fish caryeth
signes and tokens of their intent, she boweth her selfe to them, therewith as it were gentlely ^"l »"" ••>«
inuityng them to amount vppon her, and conueyeth them safely ouer. It hath beene scene,
that this monstrous fish hath at one tyme safely caryed ouer tenne men singing and playing, a marueiimu
Hut if by chaunce when shee lifted vp her head she espyed any of the Christian men, she
would immediately plunge downe againe into the water, and refuse to obey, because shee had
once receiued iniurie at the handes of a certayne wanton young manneamong the Christians, who
hadde cast a sharpe darte at her, although shee were not hurte, by reason of the hardnesse of
her skinne, being rough and full of scales and knobbes, as wee haue sayde : Yet did shee beare
in memorie the iniurie shee sustcyned, with so gentle a reuenge requiting the ingratitude of
him, which had dealt with her so vngentlely. From that day whensoeuer shee was called by
any of her familiars, she would first looke circumspectly about her, least any were present
:ippareiled after the maner of the Christians. She woulde oftentimes play and wrastle vppon
the banke with the Kinges chamberlens, and especially with a young man whom the King
fnuoured well, being also accustomed to feede her. Shee woulde bee sometimes aspleasaunt
and full of play as it had beene a monkey or marmaset, & was of long tyme a great comfort
and solace to the whole Hand : For no small confluence aswel of the Christians as of the
inhabitantes, hadde daily concourse to behold so strange a myracle of nature, the contem-
pKntion whereof was no lesse pleasaunt then wonderfull. They say that the meate of this kinde
of fyshe, is of good tast, and that many of them are engendred in the seas thereabout. But
at the length, this pleasant play-fellowe was lost, and caryed into the .sea by the great ryuer The ryufr
Attibunicus, one of the foure whiche diuide the Ilande : For at that tyme there chaunced so Attibumcus.
terrible a tempest of wynde and rayne, with such flouds ensuing, that the lyke hath not lightly
beene heard of. By reason of this tempest, the ryuer Attibunicus so ouerfiowed the banks, that it
liiled the whole vale, and mixt it selfe with al the other lakes : at which tyme also, this gentle
Matum and pleasant companion, folowing the vehement course & fall of the flouds, was thereby
restored to his olde mother and natyue waters, and since that tyme neuer scene agayne. Thus
hauyng digressed sufficiently, let vs nowe come to the situation of the vale. It hath collaterally
the mountaynes of Cibaua and Caiguam, which bring it to the South sea. There is an other
vale beeyonde the mountaynes of Cibaua towarde the North, this is called the vale of Gua-
rionexius, because that before the memorie of man, the predecessours & auncestours of king The great vaie
Guarionexius, to whom it is descended by ryght of inheritance, were cuer the Lordes of the °s.
whole vale. Of this king, wee haue spoken largely in the first naration of the Ilande in
the first Decade. This vale is of length from the East to the West, a hundred and fourescore
myles, and of breadth from the South to the North, thirtie myles where it is narowest, and
fiftie where it is broadest. It beginneth from the region Canabocoa by the prouinces of

Huhabo

■li

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

W.t '

yji" ;?!■'

Colde in all
niountayn«i,and
gnlde and liih in
ati ryuen.

Salt bayci.

The ryuen haue
their increse
from the caues
uf the mouti-
tayiies.

No hurtfull or
rauening beast in
the llaiide.

The authoutt
excuie.

By uhit meanes
the people of the
liande are great-
ly consumed.

The pleasures of
Hispaniola.

The region of
Cotobi situate in
the cloudes.
A plaine in the
toppes of moun-
taines.

The higher the
colder.

Moderate colde
in the moun-

Colde.

Huhabo and Caiabo, and endeth In the prouince of Bainoa, and the region of Mariena : it
lyeth in the middest betweene the mountayncs of Cibaua, and the moiiiitaynes of Cahonai
& Caxacubuna. There is no pronincc nor any rej;ion, which is not notable by the maicstic
of moiintayncs, fruitfulnesse of vales, pleasantncsse of hilies^ and clelcctabiencs.se of playneg,
with abundance of faire ryiiers running through the same. There arc no sides of nioun-
taynes or hilles, no riuers, which abound not with golde and delicate fishes, except only
one riuer, which from the original thereof, with the springes of the same breaking foorth of
the mountaynes, commeth out salt, and so continueth vntill it perish : This riuer is called
Babuan, and runneth through the middle of the region Maguana, in the prouince of Bainoa.
They suppose that this ryuer hath made it selfe a way vnder the grounde, by some passages
of playster, or salte earth : for there are in the Ilande many notable salte baycs, whereof
wee will speake more heereaffer. Wee haue declared howe the Ilande is diuided by foure
ryuers, and fyue prouinces. There is also another partition, whiche is this, the whole Ilande
consistcth of the toppes of foure mountaynes, whiche diuide it by the myddest from the
East to the West : in all these is abundance of nourishing nioysture, and great plentie of
golde, of the caues also of the which, the waters of all the ryuci-s (into the which the caues
cmptie themselues) haue their originall and increase. There are lykewise in them horrible
dcnnes, obscure and darke vales, and mightie rockes of stone. There was neuer any noy-
some beast founde in it, nor yet any rauening foure footed beast: no Lion, no Beare, no
fierce Tygers, no crafiie Foxes, nor deuouring Woolues. All thinges are blessed and fortu-
nate, & now more fortunate, for that so many thousandes of men are receiued to bee the
shecpe of Christes flocke, all their Zemes and Images of deuilles beeing reiected and vtterly
out of memorie. If I chaunce nowe and then in the discourse of this narration to repeate
one thing diners tymes or otherwise to make digression, I must desire your holynesse there-
with not to bee offended : For whyle I see, heare, and wryte these thinges, mee seemeth
that I am heerewith so affected, that for very ioy I feele my minde stirred as it were with
the spirite of Apollo, as were the Sibilles, whereby I am enforced to repeate the same
agayne : especially when I consider howe farrc the amplitude of our religion spreadeth her
wynges. Yet among these so many blessed and fortunate things, this one grieueth nice not
a little : that these simple poore men, neuer brought vp in labour, doe dayiy perishe with
intollerable trauayle in the golde mynes, and are thereby brought to such desperation, that
many of them kill themselues, hauing no regarde to the procreation of children : insomuch
that women with childe, pcrceiuing that they shall bring foorth suche as shall bee slaues to
the Christians, vse medicines to destroy their conception. And albeit that by the Kinges
letters patcntes it was decreed that they shoulde be set at libertie : yet are they constrayned
to serue more then seemeth conuenient for free men. The number of the poore wretches
is wonderfully extenuate, they were once reckened to bee about twelue hundred thousand
heades : but what they are now, I abhorre to rehearse. We will therefore let this passe,
and returne to the pleasures of Hispaniola. In the mountaynes of Cibaua, which are in
manner in the m'ddest of the Ilande, in the prouince of Caiabo (where we sayd to bee the
greatest plentie of natyue gold) there is a region named Cotobi, situate in the cloudes,
enuironed with the toppes of high mountaynes, and well inhabited : it consi.steth of a playne
of. XXV. miles in length, and. xv. in breadth. This plaine is higher then the toppes of
other mountaines : so that tliese mountaines may seeme to bee the chiefe progenitours of
the other. This playne suffereth alterations of the foure times of the yere, as the Spring,
Sommer, Autumne, and winter. Heere the hearbes waxe withered, the trees loose their
leaues, and the medowes become hoare: the whiche thinges (as wee haue saide) chaunce
not in other places of the Ilande, where they haue only the Spring and Autumne. The soile
of this plaine bringeth foorth fearne and bramble bushes, bearing blackc berries, or wilde
raspes, which two are tokens of colde regions : Yet is it a faire region, for the colde there-
of is not very sharpe, neither doeth it afflicte thinhabitantes with frost or snowe. They ar-
gue the fruitfulnesse of the region by the fearne, whose stalkes or stcmmes are bigger then
a speare or lauelin. The sides of those mountaines are riche in golde, yet is there none

appointed

Tltc th'mk Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUKUILS.

5oy

appointed to clijjge for the same, because it slialbc necdefull to liaiie apparcllcil miners, and
such as are vscd to labour : For thinhabitants liuinj; contented with little, arc but tenilcr,
and can not therefore away with labour, or abide any colde. There are two riucrs which
runne through this region, and fall from the toppcs of the present mountaincs: One of these
is named Comoiayxa, whose course is towarde the West, and fallcth into the chanell of Nai-
ba: the other is called Tirecotus, which running towarde the East, ioineth with the riuer of
lunna. In the Ilande of Crcta (now called Candie) as I passed by in my legacie to the Sol-
dane of Alcair or Babilon in Egipt, the Venetians tolde mee, that there lay such a region in
the toppes of the mountaines of Ida, whiche they alBrme to be more fruitefull of wheate
corne then any other region of the Ilande : But forasmuch as once the Cretences rebelled
against the Venetians, and by reason of the strcight and narrow way to the toppcs thereof,
long defended the region with armes against thauthoritie of the Senate, and at the length,
l)eing foreweried with warres, rendred the same, the Senate commaunded that it should be
left desarte, and the streightes of thentraunces to be stopped, least any should ascend to
the region without their permission. Yet in the yerc of Christ M. D. ii. licence was grauntcd
to the husbande men to till and manure the region, on such condition, that no such as were
apte to the warres might enter into the same. There is also an other region in Hispaniola,
named Cotoby, after the same name : this diuideth the boundes of the prouinces of Vbabo
and Caiabo. It hath mountaines, vales, and plaines : but because it is barren, it is not
muche inhabited ; Yet is it richest in golde, for the originall of the abunJauncc ofgolde be-
ginneth herein, in somuch that it is not gcathered in small graines and sparkes, as in other
places : but is founde whole, massie, and pure, mong certaine softe clones, and in the vaines
of rockes, by breaking the stones whereof, they Iblowc the vaines of golde. They haue
founde by experience, that the vaine of golde is a liuing tree, and that the same by all waies
that it spreadeth and springeth from the roole by the softe pores and passages of the earth,
putteth forth branches, euen vnto the vp])ermost parte of the earth, and ceasseth not vntill
it discouer it selfe vnto the open aire : at which time, it sheweth foorth certaine beautifull
colours in the steede of floures, rounde stones of golden earth in the steede of fruites : and
thinne plates in steede of leaues. These are they which are disparcled throughout the whole
Ilande by the course of the riuers, eruptions of the springes out of the mountaines, and
violent falles of the flooddes : For they thinke that such graines are not engendred where
they are geathered, especially on the drie land, but otherwise in the riuers. They say that
the roote of the golden tree extendeth to the center of the earth, and there taketh norisii-
met of increase : For the deeper that they dig, they finde the trunkes thereof to be so much
the greater, as farre as they may folowe it for abundaunce of water springing in the moun-
taines. Of the branches of this tree, they finde some as small as a thread, & other as bigge
as a mans finger, according to the largenesse or straightnesse of the riftes and cliftes. They
haue sometimes chaunced vpon whole caues, susteined & borne vp as it were with golden
pillers, and this in the waies by the which the branches ascende : the which being filled
with the substaunce of the trunke creeping from beneath, the branche maketh it selfe waie
by whiche it maie passe out. It is oftentimes diuided by encountring with some kinde of
harde stone : Yet is it in other cliftes nourished by the exhalations and vertue of the roote.
But nowe perhappes you will aske me what plenty of golde is brought from thence. You
shall therfore vnderstand, that onely out of Hispaniola, the summe of foure hundred, and
sometimes fiue hundred thousandc ducates of golde is brought yeerely into Spayne : as may
bee gathered by the fyfth portion due to the Kings Exchequer, which amounteth to the
summe of a hundred and fourescore, or fourescore & tenne thousande Castellanes of golde,
and sometymes more. What is to be thought of the Ilande of Cuba and Sancti lohannis
(otherwise called Burichena) being both very rich in golde, we will declare further hereaf-
ter : to haue sayde thus much of golde, it shall suffice. We will now therefore speake some-
what of salt, wherewith wee may season and reserue such thinges as are bought with golde.
In a region of the prouince of Bainoa, in the mountaynes of Daiaguo, about twelue myles
distant from the salt lake, called Caspius, there are salte bayes in the mountaynes, in a

3 U mancr

'riunh.iliiMiiie!,
of l^{is|MnitiU
cjii ih'ule tio la-
buiir iiur culJe.

'I'lir Il.imlf of
Crt-t.i nr (.'jiltiie,
vnder the ttomi*
nion (if tlio Vc-
ncumi.

Pure jnd tnj»ie
guhlc II) tlic rt?.
(jinii of Cotoby.
The Viiiiie of
goMc is a lyuing
tree.

These colours of
Aoures are called
Marchasitcs,

The roote of the
golde tree.

The branches of
the golden tree.
Caues siisteyncd
with pillers of
golde.

The stones of
the golde minc>.

What golde is
brought, yeerely
from HispaitioU
into Si'ayr.t.

Salt of the
mountaynes
very hard and
cKare.

DIO

VOYAGKS. NAUIGATIONS,

The thirdi' Dmide.

3ir

Si\t ai hud ii
Moiwh

Springfi of lalt,
frcihe uiiii tower

tlullnw caiKS in
tlic grouDil.

Crriainc wild
men lining in
cauf s and
dcnnes.

Mm without i
Cfrtainc lan-
juage.

Men as swift at
Orchouadt.

A wilde man
runneth nwny
with a childc.

Pitch of the
rocl(c>

Pitch of two
kindes of tree 5/
The Pyne tr«.
The tree Co-
pcia.

The leafe of a
tree in the stead
of pa}'er.

Tliey beleeue
that leaucs do
speake.
A iirctie story.

niancr ;h hardc n<» Ninncs also , It-nrcr and whiter then crystall. There are likewise such lalt
bayes, which ^rowc woiuliMfuliy in Lah-taiiia (nowc called Catalonia) in the territorie of
the duke of Cadona, the chiele ruler in that region : but mich as knowc them both, allirme
that thc>e of Uainna are most notable. Thry .say also, that this cannot bee clelt without
wedges and bcetelles of Iron : Hut that of Laletania may easily bee broken, a.s I my sclfe
haue prooued. They therefon* rompare this to snche stones as may easily be broken, and
the other to marble. In the prouince of Caizimu, in the regions of Iguanama, Caiacoa,
and Guariagua, there are springes whose waters are of marueylous nature, becing in the
superliciall or vppermost parte freshe, in the middest, myxte of saltc and freshe, and in the
lowe-t parte salte and soure. They thinke that the salt water of the sea issueth out softly,
and the freshe to spring out of the mountaynes : The one falleth downe, and the other ry-
seth, and are not therefore so vniucr.-ally myxte, whereby the one may yttrrly corrupt the
other. If any mannc lay his earc to the groundc necre to any of these springes, hee shall
percciue the grounde there to bee so hollow, that the rebounding noyse of a horseman comming,
may bee hearde for the space of three myles, and a footeman one mylc. In the last region toward
the South, named Guaccaiarima, in the lordship of Zauana, thcv say there are certayncwild men,
which Hue in :he caues and dennes of ihemountaynes, contcnttd only withwyldc fruites: These
men neuer vse the company of any other, nor will by any mcanes become tame. They
lyue without any certayne dwelling places, and without tyllage or culturyng of the grounde,
as wee reade o? them whiche in olde tyme lyued in the golden age. They say also that
these men are without any certayne language : They are sometymes scene, but our raenne
haue yet laydc handes on none of them. If at any tymc they come to the sight of men,
and pcrceiue any making towarde them, they flee swifter then a Harte : Yea, they affirmc
them to bee swifter then Grehounds. What one of the.^e solitarie wanderers dyd, it is worth
the hearing. So it is, that our men hauing granges adioyning neerc vntg the thicki woods,
certayne of them repayred thither in the moneth of September, in the yeere M.D xiiii. in
the meane time, one of these wylde men came leaping out of the woode, & approching
somewhat towarde them with smyling countenance, soddenly snatched v ppe a childe of theirs,
being the sonne of the owner of the grange, which he begot of a \voman of the Ilande :
He ranne away with the childe, and made signes to our men to follow him : Many followed,
aswell of our men, as of the naked inhabitantes, but all in vayne. Thus when the pleasant
wanderer perceiued that the Christians ceased to pursue him, hee left the chylde in a crosse
wiiy by the which the swyneheardes were accustomed to dryue the swyne to their pas-
ture. Shortly after, a swynehearde founde the childe, and brought him home to his father,
yet tormenting himselfe for sorrowe, supposing that wyld man to haue beene one of the
kinde of the Canibales, and that his sonne was nowe deuoured. In the same Ilande they
gather pytch, whiche sweateth out of the rockes, beeing much harder and sourer then the
pytch of the tree, and is therefore more commodious to calke or defendc shyppes agaynst
the woormes called Bromas, whereof wee haue spoken largely beeforr This Ilande also
bringeth foorth pytch in two kyndes of trees, as in the Pyne tree, and mother named Co-
peia, I neede not speake of the Pyne tree, because it is engendred anu knowne in manner
euery where. Let vs therefore speake somewhat of the other tree called Copeia. Pitche
is likewise gathered of it, as of the Pyne tree, although some say that it is gathered by dis-
tilling or dropping of the woode when it is burnt. It is a strange thing lo heare of the leafe
thereof, and howe necessarie prouision of nature is shewed in the same. It is to bee thought
that it is the tree, in the leaues whereof the Chaldeans (beeing the first finders of letters)
expressed their mynde beefore the vse of paper was knowne. This leafe is a spanne in
breadth, and almost rounde. Our men write in them with pynnes or needles, or any such
instrumentes made of metall or wood, in mancr as well as on paper. It is to bee laughed
at, what our men haue perswaded the people of the Ilande as touching this leafe. The sym-
ple soules beleeue, that at the commaundement of our men, leaues doe speake and disclose
secretes. They were brought to this credulitie by this meanes. One of our menne dwelling
in the citie of Dominica, the chiefe of the Ilande, deliuered to his (»eruant (being a man

borne

The think Dccatle.

TIlAir'l<inF,S, AM) DISCOUr.UIES.

511

noranre cam-
th jdmiratiixi.

borne in the llandc) rotJpync rostcd Conies (uliichc they call Vlias, hceing no l)ya;p;cr then
myse) willinj; him to carlo the same to his IViende, whi< he dwelt I'lirther within the llande.
This mes^^cnmT, whether it were that he was thereto conntrayned throiij;!) hiinj;er, or entyscd
by appetite, deiioured three oC the Conies by the way. llee to whom they were sent, wrote
to his fricndc in a leafe how many he rcceiiied. When the maister haddc looked a while on
the leafe in the presence of the seriiant, hee sayde thus vnto him, Ah sonne, where is thy
fayth ? Could thy jjreedie appetite prenaylc so much with thee, as to cause thee to eatc the
Conies rommitled to thy fidelitie i The poorc wretchc trembling and greatly amased, con-
fessed his fault, and therewith desired his maister to tell him howe ho kncwc the triicth there-
of. This Ical'e (quoth ho) which thou broughtest nice, hath tolde me all. Then he further
rehearsed vnto him the hourc of his comming to his friende, and lykcwise of his departing
when hee returi ed. And thus they merily deceiue these secly-soules, and kcepc them vndcr |s
obedience : insomuche that they take our men for gods, at whose commaundcmcnt leaucs
do disclose such thingcs as they thinkc most hid and secrete. Both the sides of the leafe
receiucth the fourmcs of letters, euen a-t dooth our paper. It is thicker then double parch- Thr kaft wiifre-
ment, and maruclous tough. \\ hilc it is yet florishyng and newe, it shewcth the letters white """^ """'
in greene, and when it isdrie, it beecommcth white and harde, like a table of woode, but
the letters waxe yclowe : It dooth not corrupt or putrific, nor yet looscth the letters though
it bee wet, nor by any other meanes, except it bee burnt. There is another tree named
Xagua, the iuyce of whose soure apple, being of a darke rcdde coloure, staynelh and co- a «run.:c co-
loureth whatsoeuer is touched therewith, and that so (irmely, that no washing can take it ™"^o*fa„°
away for the space of twentie dayes. When the apple is full rypc, the iuyce looseth that m^'-
strength. The apple is eaten, and of good tast. There is an hearbe also, whose smoke ( as
wee haue rehearsed the like beefore of a ccrtayne wood) is deadly poyson. On a tyme when Anhnrhcwhow
the Kinges assembled together, and conspired the destruction of ournicn, where as they """'"" '"'^'°"
durst not attempt the interprise by open warre, their deuise was, priuily to lay many bundcfs
of those hearbes in a certayne house, which shortly after they intended to set on fire, to the
intent that our men, making hast to quench the same, might take their death with the smoke
thereof: But, their purposed prnctyse being bewrayed, the authours of the deuisc were pun-
ished accordingly. Nowe (most holy father) forasmuche as your holinesse wryteth, that
whatsoeuer we haue written of the newe worlde, doth please you right well, wee will rehearse
certaine thinges out of order, but not greatly from our purpose. Of the setting the rootea
of Maizium, Ages, lucca, Battatas, and such other, being their common food, and of the
vse of the same, we haue spoken sufficiently before : But by what meanes they were first
applied to the cumodity of men, we haue not yet declared. Wee nowe therefore cntende
to entreatc somewhat heereof.

The ninth Chapter of the thirde Decade.

THey say that the first inhabitours liued contented with the motes of Dates, and Magueans, The kindd of
whiche is an hearbe, much like vnto that whiche is comonly called Sengrene or Orpin : also |ii"h7hrbha".
the rootes of Guaiegans, which are round and great, muche like vnto pufTes of the earth or bitamcs lyucd
nuishroomes. They did likewise eate Guaieros, like vnto Persnips, Cibaios like Nuttes, Ci- "*'
baioes and Macoanes, like vnto Onions, with diuerse other such rootes. They say that after
many yeercs, a certaine Boition, that is, a wise olde man, sawe vppon the bankes syde a
bush like vnto fenell, & transplanting the root thereof, brought it from wildernes<e to a better
kinde, by nourishing it in gardens. This was the beginning of lucca, which at the first was N«essitietiv
deadly poyson to all such a'' did eate thereof rawe. But for as much as they perceiiicd it to ™",^.''°^ '"
be of pleasant taste, they determined many wayes to proue the vse thereof, and at the length
found by experic?^"., that being sodde, or fryed, it was lesse hurtfull : by whiche meanes
also, they came ;.* the knowledge of the venome lying hyd in the iuyce of the rootc. Thus The fynehread
liy drying, salting, seasoning, and otherwise temperyng it, they brought it to their fyne ^/jCr
bread, which they cal Cazabbi, more delectable and hoisome to the stomacke of man then lucci.
bread made of wheate, because it is of easier digestion. The same is to be vnderstoode of

3 U ii other

madi'

rootes of

r -if

'■n\

^fr-iM

nv2

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlic thirdc Decade.

5 ■

•i »

other roots, and the grayne of Mai/iuin, whiche they hauc chosen for their chiefe mcatc
HoweCctes among the scctlcs of natiirc, a§ we reade howc Ceres the daughter of Satiirnus, gathered
Hhi.iic& barley wheatc and barlcy (with such other corne as are now most in vse among men) in Egypt, of

ill iigypt.

T ' ' rootf s pf

The imhcurs
excise,

Plinie.

By what lumes

tlu V s.llute l)lc
kints I'hililiv
when ihey are
boinc.

'i*ne na'nes and
t)tKs . I ihrKo'
II. ai t' Li!i| c-
;oms.

certayne graynes taken out of the n.udde dryucn from the mountains of Ethiopia by the in-
crease of the ryuer Nilus, & left in the playne at such time as Nilus resorted agayne to his
chanell. For the which fact, we reade that the antiquitie gaue diuine honour to Ceres, who
first nourished and increased suche chosen seeds. There are innumerable kindes of Ages,
the varictie whereof, is knowne by their leaues and flowers. One kinde of these, is called
Guanaguax, this is white both within and without. An other named Guaraguei, is of violet
c<lour without, and white within. The other kindes of Ages, they call Zazaueios, these are
rcdde without and white within. Squiuetes, are white within, redde without. Tunna, is al-
together of violet colourc. Hobas is yelowe both of skinne and inner substaunce. There
is another named Atibunieix, the skinne of this is of violet colour, and the substaunce white.
Aniguamar, hath his skinne also of violet coloure, and is white within. Guaccaracca, hath
a white skinne, and the substance of violet colour. There are many other which are not yet
brought to vs. But I feare me least in the rehearsal of these, I shall prouoke the spurres of
malicious persons against me, which wil scorne these our doinges, for that wee haue written
of many such small thinges, to a Prince occupyed in such weyghtie aft'ayres, as vnto your
holinosse, vpon whose shoulders rcsteth the burden of the whole Christian worlde. Hut I
woulde aske of these malicious enuyers of otlicr mens trauailes, whether Plinie and such
other famous writers, when they directed and dedicated such thinges to kinges and Princes,
cntendcd onely to profit them to whom they consecrated the fruit of their knowledge. They
somefymes intermyxt famous things with obscure thinges, light with heauie, and great with
small. th;it 1)y the furtherance of Princes, their vniuersall postcritie might enioye the fruition
of the knowledge of thinges. At other times also being entent about particular thinges, and
desirous of new things, they occupied themselues in searching of particular tractes and
coastes, with such thinges as nature brought foorth in the same, by this meanes to come the
better to more absolute and vniuersall knowledge. Let them therefore contemne our doing,
and we will laugh to scorne not their ignorance and slouthfulnesse, but pernicious curious-
nesse : and therewith hauing pytie of their frowarde dispositions, will committe them to the
vcnemous Scrpentes of whoine enuie tooke his first originall. It shall in the meane tyme
abundantly content v.-, that these thynges doe please your holynes.se, and that you doe not
de.spvsc our simple vestures, wherewith wee haue only weaued together, and not adourned,
gathered, and not described, auch marueilous thynges, in the garnyshing whereof, nature
hath sufficiently shewed her cunning. Our desire is none other herein, but for your sake to
doe our endei'our that these things may not pcryshe : let euery man take heereof what lykelh
him best. Of the sheepe or buUocke solde in the market, nothing remayneth in the euening,
beccause the shonUler pleaseth one, the legge another, and the necke another: yea .some
hauc most phantasie to the bowelles, and some to the fecte. Thus hauing enough wandered,
Icfte vs rcturne to our purpose, .ind declare with what woords they salute the Kinges children
when they are first borne, and how they apply the beginning of their lines to the end, and
why their kinges are called by many names. Therefore when the Kin^ hath a sonne borne,
suche as dwell neerc alumt his pallace or village, repayre to the queenes chamber, where one
salutctii V.:c newe borne childe with one nante, and another with another name. God saue
thee thou shining lampe, snyth one : Another cnlleth him, bright and cleare. Some name
him the victourer of his enemies : and other some, the puissaunt conquerour descended of
bloud royall, and brighter then golde: with diuers other suche vayne names. Therefore
like as cucry of the Romane emperours was called Adiabeniciis, Parthicus, Armenicus, Daci-
cus, Gothicus, and Germanicus, according to the titles of their parents and auncesters : eucn
s'> by the imposition of names inuentcd by other kinges, Bechicus Anacacoa the lord of the
region of X.iragua (of whom and of the wise woman Anachaona his sister, we haue spoken
largely in the first Decade) was called by all these names following, Tureigua Hobin, which
is as much to saye as, a king shining as bright as laton, Starei, that is, bright, Huibo, high-

nesse.

The thirdc Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

513

high-

ncssc, Duiheyncqucn, a rich floiid. With all these names, and more then fourtie other
such, doth king Beuchius magniflc himselfe as often as hce commaundeth any thing to bee
done, or causeth any proclamation to be made in his name. If the cryer by negligence
leaue out any of these names, the king thinketh it to sounde greatly to his contumely and
reproche : The like is also of other. Howe fondly they vse themselues in making their testa- """'''"J""'''
mentes, wee will nowe declare. They leaue the inheritance of their kingdomes to tiieldcst
sonnes of their eldest sisters. If shee fayle, to the eldest of the secondc syster, and so of
the thirde if the seconde also fayle : For they are out of doubt that those children come of
their blonde, but the children of their owne wyues, they counte to bee not legitimate. If
there remayne none of their sisters children, they leaue the inheritaunce to their brothers :
and if they fayle, it desccndeth to their owne sonnes. Last of all, if all these fayle, they
assigne it to the worthiest, as to him that is of greatest power in all the Ilande, that hee may .Sodii rrcu
defende their subiectes from their auncient enemies. They take as many wyues as them '^'''''•""'"•
lysteth. They sufl'er the best beloucd of the kingcs wyues and concubines to be buryed ^''^^f^'^"
with him. Anachaona the sister of Beuchius the king of Xaragua, being a woman of such hines arc buried
wisedoine and cunning, that in making of rymes and ballettes shee was counted a prophetisse ""'' ''""•
among the best, commanded, that among all the wiucs and concubines of the King her bro-
ther, the fayrest( whose name was Guanahattabenechina) shoulde bee buried aliue with him,
and two of her wayting maydes with her : Shee would surely haue appointed diuers other to
that office, if shee had not beene otherewise perswaded by the prayers of certayne fryers of
saint Fraunces order, which chaunccd then to bee present. They say that this Guanahatta-
benechina had none in all the Ilande comparable to her in beautie. She buryed with her all J'lfy '■'""■! 'iit^r
her iewels, and twentie of her best ornamentes. Their custome is, to place beside euery of Ihcm! "
them in their sepultures, a cuppe full of water, & a portion of the fyne bread of Cazabbi. Adrtimcof
In Xaragua, the region of this king Beuchius, and in Hazua, part of the region of Caiabo, thil " ""'"■
also in the fayre vale of salte and freshe lakes, and lykewise in the region of Yaquino in
the prouince of Bainoa, it rayneth but seldome : In all these regions are fosses or trenches ^v''"' '' "y"-
made of olde time, whereby they conucy the water in order to water their fieldes, with no '
lesse art then doc the inhabitours of newe Carthage, and of the kingdome of Murcien in
Spartaria for the seldome fall of rayne. The region of Maguena, diuideth the prouince of
Bainoa from Baiabo, and Zauana from Guaccaiarima. In the deepe vales, they are troubled c^h'^JI^^c'i' ""
with rayne more often then needeth. Also the confines of the chiefe citie, named S. Domi-
nike, are moister then is necessarie. In other places, it raineth moderatly. There are ther-
fore in the Hand of Hispaniola, diuers and variable motions of the elementes, as we reade Y"'"'''' "'"•
the like of many other regions. Oi their colonies or mansions which the Spaniardes haue Eiemcmis.
erected in this Hand, we haue spoken sufficiently before. They haue since that time builded
these villages, Portus Plata^, Portus Regalis, Lares, Viilanoua, Aznam, and Salua Terra. T'j"^"'""'" "'"i
Hauing saide thus much of the Hand of Hispaniola, the mother and lady of the other Ilandes, th/spani.i'r'j«
and as it were Tethys the most beautifull wife of Neptunus the God of the sea, let vs nowe thc o h''''"'
entreate somewhat of her Nimphes and fayre Nereides, which waite vppon her, and adourne iiandts ahout
her on euery side. We will therfore begin at the nearest, called the newe Arethusa, so ",^'Jjj",','J,^ ^^
named of the fountaine Arethusa in the Hand of Sicilie. This is famous by reason of a Ar«iiuu.
spring, but otherwise vnprofitable. Our men named it of late Duas Arbores, because it
hath onlyc two trees growing in it: necre vnto the which is a fountaine that cometh from
the Hand of Hispaniola through the secrete passages of the earth vnder the sea, and breaketh a spring run-
foorth in this Ilande, as the riuer Alpheus in Achaia runneth vnder the sea from the citie of "t'lVmai'!-'
Elde, and breaketh foorth in the Hand of Sicilie in the fountaine Arethusa. That the f{)un-i""'>''»'o Arc.
taine of this newe Arethusa, hath his originail from the Ilande of Hispaniola, it is manifest ''"'"'
heereby, that the water issuing out of the fountaine bringeth with it the leaucs of manv
trees whiche growe in Hispaniola, and not in this Ilande. They saie that the fountaine hath
his originail from the riuer Yiamiroa, in the region of Guaccaiarima, confining with the laiide
of Zauana. This Ilande is not past a mile in circuite, and commodious for fishermen. Di-
rectly towards the East (as it were the porter keeping the cntric to Tethis) lieth the Ilande

i' l

»u

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

F ■ :f ' i

W'-'-

fl'

Tht Hand of
Sancti lohannisi

The Ilande of
Cubj,

Hahital.lf re-
gions vjider the
Equinoctial.

'riie riche golde
mines of Cuba.

The Hand of
lamaica.

The Hand of
Guadalupea.

Tiie gum called
Anime album.

Dates.

Wne trees.

The C.iiibales.

Wliereby it was
thought that
there were
Ilnndes of
women.
Hony in trees
.^nd ruckes.

The Ilande De-
siderata.
The Ilande Ga-
Innta.

The Ilandes of
Todos Sanctos,
or B.ilbat.1.
The Ilande
MonFtrratus.
The llai.de
Aatiqua,

of Sancli lohannis (otherwise called Buricliena) whereof we haue spoken largely before :
this aboundeth with gold, and in fruitcfull soile is equall with her mother Hispaniola : in
ihi.s are many colonies or mansions of Spaniardes, which apply them seines to geathering of
golde. Towards the West on the North side, great Cuba (for the longnesse thereof, long
supposed to be continent or firme lande) wardeth our Tethis on the backe halfe. This is
much longer then Hispaniola, and from the East to the West is diuided in the middest with
the circle called Tropicus Cancri. Hispaniola and the other lying on the South side of this,
ave included almost in the mydde space betweene the saide Tropike and the Equinocliall line,
which many of the olde writers .>^upposed to be vnhabitable and desart, by reason of the fer-
uent heate of the Sunne in that clime, as they coniectured : but they were deceiued in their
opinion. They affirme that richer golde mynes are founde in Cuba, then in Hispaniola.
They say also that euen now while I write these thinges, there is golde geathcred together
ready to the melting, amounting to the quantitie of a hundred and fourescore thousand Cas-
tellans of gold, an argument surely of great richesse. lamaica is more towarde the South
then these, and is a pleasaunt and fruitful Ilande, of soyle apt for corne, grafles and settes,
it consisteth of onely one mountaine : the inhabitantes are warrelike men, and of good wit.
Colonus compared it to Sicilie in bignesse. They which of late searched it more exactly,
say that it is somewhat lesse, but not muche. It is thought to be without golde and precious
stones, as the like was supposedof Cuba at the beginning. The Ilande of Guadalupea (first
named Caraqueira) lying on the South side of Hispaniola is foure degrees nearer the Equi-
noctial!. It is eaten and indented with two gulfes (as we reade of great Britanie, nowe
called England, and Calidonia, nowe called Scotland) being in maner two Ilandes. It hath
famous Portes. In this they founde that gumme whiche the Apothecaries call Animae Album,
whose fume is holsome against reumes and heauinesse of the head. The tree whiche engen-
dereth this gumme, beareth a fruite much like vnto a Date, being a spanne in length. When
it is opened, it seemeth to conteine a certaine sweete meale. x\s our husbandmen are ac-
customed to reserue Chestnuts, and such other harde fruites, all the winter, so do they the
Dates of this tree, being much like vnto a Figge tree. They founde also in this Ilande, Pine
trees, of the best kinde, and such other daintie dishes of nature, whereof we haue spoken
largelie before : Yea they thinke that the inhabitauntes of other Ilandes, had their seedes of
so many pleasaunt fruites from hence. For the Canibales, being a wilde and wandering
people, and ouerrunning all the countreie about them, to hunte for mans flcshe were accus-
tomed to bring home with them whatsoeuer they founde str?<.inge or profitable in anye place:
They are intractable, and will admit no straungers. It shall therefore be needefull to ouer-
come them with great power : For as well the women as men, are experte archers, and vse
to inuenome their arrowes. Wl.*^n the men go foorth of the lande a man hunting, the wo-
men manfully defend their coastes a^-ainst such as attempt to inuade the same. And hereby
I suppose it was thought, that there wv^re Ilandes in the Ocean, inhabited onely with women,
as Colonus the Admiral him selfe persv.aded mce, as I haue saide in the first Decade. This
Ilande hath also fruitefull mountaines and plaines, and notable riuers. It nourisheth hony in
trees, and in the caues of rockes, as in Palma one of the Ilandes of Canaria, hony is gea-
thered among the briers and bramble bushes. About, xviii. miles Eastward from this Ilande,
lieth an Ilande which our men named Desiderata, being, xx. miles in circuite, and verie faire.
Also about tenne miles from Guadalupea towarde the South, lieth the Ilande of Galanta,
being thirtie miles in circuite, and plaine: It was so named for the neatenesse and beauti-
fulnesse thereof. Nine miles distant from Guadalujiea towarde the East there are sixe small
Ilandes, named Todos Sanctos, or Barbara : these are full of rocks, & barren, yet necessary
to be knowen to such as vse to trauaile the seas of these coastes. Againe, from Guadalupea.
xxxv. miles towarde the North, there is an Ilande named Monserratus, conteining in circuite
fourtie miles, hauing also in it a mountaine of notable height. The Ilande named Antiqua,
distante from Guadalupea thirtie miles, is about fourtie miles in circuite. Diegus Colonus
the Sonne and heire of Christophorus Colonus, tolde me that his wife (whom he lefte in the
Ilande of Hispaniola at his comming into Spaine to the courte) did write vnto him, that of

late

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

515

th women.

late among the Ilandcs of the Canibales, there is one foiinde which aboundeth with golde.
On the lefte side of Hispaniola t jwarde the South, neere vnto the hauen Beata, there lieth an
Ilande named Portiis Bellus : they tell marueiloiis thinges of the monsters of the sea about ^,^,"5 ntiius.
this Ilande, and especially of the Tortoises, for they say that they are bigger then great Great Xortoysej.
rounde targettes. At suche time as the heate of nature moueth them to generation, they The gcncntion
come forth of the sea, and making a deepe pit in the sandc, they lay three or foure hundred " °"°'>^"'
egges therein. When they haue thus emptied their bagges of conception, they put as
muche of the sande againe into the pit, as may suffice to coucr the egges, and so resort againe
to the sea, nothing carefull of their succession. At tli£ day appointed of nature to the pro-
creation of these beastes, there creepeth out a muliitude of Tortoises, as it were pissemires
swarming out of an ant hill : and these onely by the heate of the vSunne, without any helpe
of their parentes. They say that there egges arc in maner as bigge as Geese egges. They Tht Ejgfs of
also compare the fleshe of these Tortoises, to be cqiiall with veale in taste. There are beside ^°"°'='^'
these, innumerable liandes, the which they haue not yet searched, nor yet is it greatly nc- innumeraMe
cessary to sift this meale so finely. It may suffice to vnderstandc that there arc large landes,
and many regions, which shall heereafter receiue our nations, tounges, and maners, and
therewith embrace our religion. The Troians did not sodeinly replenish Asia, the Tirians Troians.
Libia, nor the Greekes and Phenices Spaine. As touching the liandes whiche lie on the crtX's.
North side of Hispaniolr, I haue let passe to speake : For albeit they are commodious for ^^henitiam.
tillage and fishing, yet are they lefte of the Spaniardes as poore and of small value. We will lundes.""
nowe therefore take our leaue of this old Tethis, with her moist and watery Nimphes, and
receiue to our new acquaintance the beautifuU lady of the South sea, richly crowned with Theiiandesof
great pearles, the Ilande of Dites being riche both in name and in treasure. In my Epistle
booke which I sent vnto your holinesse this last yeere, I declared howe Vaschus Nunnez Bal-
boa, the Captaine of them which passed oner the daungerous mountaines toward the South
sea, learned by reporte, that in the prospect of those coastes there lay an Ilande abounding ^^^i"'"''' "^
with pearles of the greatest sort, and that the king thereof was riche, and of great power,
infesting with warres the other kinges his borderers, and especially Chiapes and Tumacchus:
Wee declared further, howe at that time it was left vntouched by reason of the raging tem-
pestes which troubled that South sea three monethes in the yeere. But it is now better
knowne to our men, who haue now also brought that fierce king to humanitie, and conuerted vviWc bMst«
him from a cruell Tyger, to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke, sanctified with the "jth i""^ ""'' '
water of baptisme, with all his familie and kingdome. It shall not therefore be from our
purpose to declare, by the gouernaunce of what captaines, or by what meanes these thinges
were so happily atchieued.

The tenth Chapter of the thirde Decade.

AT the arryuall of Petms Arias the new gouernour of Dariena, he gaue commandement
that one Gaspar Moralis should take in hand the expedition to the Ilande of Diles. Hee
therefore tooke his voyage first to Chiapes & Tumacchus kinges of the South, whom Vaschus
before had conciled & left friends to the Christians. They friendly & magnifically enter-
teined our men, who prepared the a nauy of ^ kings boats to passe ouer into this Hand, which
they cal Dites, and not Margarita or Margaritea, although it abound with pearls, which in the
Latin tong are called Margaritae. For they first called another by this name, which lyeth
next to the mouth of Os Draconis in the regio of Paria, in the which also is foud great piety
of pearles. Caspar brought with him only xl. armed men to the Uiid, for that he could
coucy ouer no greater number, by reaso of the smalnes & narownes of their boates or barks,
which they cal Culchas made of one whole peece of timber, as we haue sayd before. The king
of the Hand came forth against them fiersly, with cruel and threatning countenance, & with a
great band of armed men, crying in maner of a larome, & in token of the battayle, Guazzauara
Guazzauara, which is asmuch to say as, battaile against the enemy, & is (as it were) a watch
word to giue the onset : wherewith also they threw their darts, for they haue not the vse of
bows. They were so obstinate & desperate, that they assailed our men \V foure Guazzaiiaras,

that

1 the rod.

An expedition to
the Ilande ct'
Dites in the
South sea.

The Ilande nf
Margarita.

Os Draconi.'.
Paria.

A conflict.

>1G

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

wi^'

Thf king of the
II. Hide of Dites
••iihmitteth liim-
selff.

The kiiigcs
pollacr.

A hundrcth and
ten pound weight
of pearlcs.
Axes and hatch-
ct$ more es-
teemed then
golde.

The kingrs
Aordci.

Ilandes rych in
liildcandpearlcs.

C. pounde
weiglit of pcarles
yecrcly for a
tribute.
Plentie of
Hartes and
Cullies.

Wine of fruits
nnd seeds.
The king is
baptised.

The fift parte of
^'earles due to
Uie ki"j.

that is, bnttailes. At the length our men with ccrtaine of Chiapcs and Tumacchus men
(beeing olde enemies to this king of the Ilande) got the vpper hande, by reason they assailed
the king sodenly and vnawarcs. Yet was hec determined to assemble a greater power, and
once againe to attempt the fortune of warre, but that he was otherwise perswaded by the
kinges his borderens, which counselled him to giue ouer, aiid submit himselfe, eomtime by
the example of themsclucs & other, thrcatning the destruction of his flourishing kingdomc,
and otherwhilcs declaring vnto him the humanitie and gentlenesse of our men, by who.'ie
friendship hee might obteyne honour and quictncsse to him and his: willing him further-
more to cosider, what chaunced vnto them which the yeere before resisted and aduentured
the hasarde of the battaile, as did these kings Poncha, Pocchorrosa, Quarequa, Chiape.s, and
Timiarchus, with such other, 13y these perswasions, the king submitted himselfe, and came
friendly to our men, whom he conducted to his palace, which they say to bee marueilously
adourncd and prince like. As soone as they entred into the pallace, hee brought foorth a
ba.sket of curious workemanship, and full of pearles, which hee gaue them. The summe
of these pearles amounted to the weight of a hundred & ten pounds, after, viii. ounces to
the pounde ; being againe rewarded of our men, with such tryfles as they brought with
them of purpose, as garlandes of Christall, and glasse, and other -counterfeit stones of diuers
colours, with looking glasses also, and laton belles, and especially two or three Iron hatchets
(which they more esteeme then great heapes of golde) he thought himselfe abundantly
recompenced. They laugh our men to scorne, that they will depart with so great and ne-
cessarie a thing for anie summe of golde: aflirming an axe or hatchet to be profitable for
many vses of men, and that golde serueth onely for wanton pleasures, and not to be greatly
nccessarie. Being therefore ioyfull and glad of the friendship of our men, he tooke the cap-
taine by the hande, and brought him with certaine of his familiars to the highest towre of
his palace, from whence they might prospecte the mayne sea : then casting his eyes about
him on euery side, and looking towarde the East, hee saide vnto them, Beholde, heere
lyeth open before you the infinite sea, extended beyonde the sunne beames : then turning
him toward the South and West, he signified vnto them that the lande whiche laie before
their eyes, the toppes of whose great mountaines they might see, was exceeding large : then
comming somewhat neerer, hee sayde, Beeholde these Ilandes on the right hande and on
the left, which all obey vnto our empyre, and are ryche, happie, and blessed, if you call
those Ilandes blessed whiche abounde with golde and pearle. We haue in this Hand little
plentie of golde : but the deepe places of all the seas about these Ilandes are full of pearles,
whereof you shall receyue of mee as many as you will require, so that yee persist in the
bonde of friendshyppe which you haue bcgunne. I greatly desire your friendshippe, and
woulde gladly haue the fruition of your thinges, whiche I sette muche more by then millions
of pearles : You shall therefore haue no cause to doubt of any vnfaithfulnesse or breach of
friendeshippe on my behalfe. Our menne gaue him lyke friendly wordes, and encouraged
him with many fayre promises to doe as he hade sayde. When our menne were nowe in a
readinesse to departe, they couenanted with him to pay yeerely to the great king of Castyle
a hundred pounde weight of pearles. He gladly agreed to their request, and tooke it for
no great thing, nor yet thought himselfe any Avhit the more to beecome tributarie. With
this king they founde such plentie of Harts and Conies, that our men, standing in their houses,
might kill as many as them list with their arrowes. They Hue heere very pleasauntly, hauing
great plentie of all thinges necessarie. This Hand is scarcely sixe degrees distant from the
Equinoctiall lyne. They haue the same maner of breade, made of rootes and the grayne of
Maizium, and wine made of seedes and fruites, euen as they haue in the region of Comogra,
and in other places, aswell in the Ilandes, as in the firme lande. This king is nowe baptised,
with all his familie and subiectes. His desire was, at his baptisme, to bee named Petrus
Arias, after the name of the gouernour. When our men departed, hee accompanied them
to the sea side, & furnished them with boates to returne to the continct. Our menne diuided
the pearles among them, reseruing the fift portion to bedeliuered to the officers of the kinges
Exchequer in those partes. They say that these pearles were marueilous precious, faire,

orient.

-f'.il-!

2 : .ii.x •

lit! ' -

de Decade.

The thirdc Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

517

orient, & exceeding big : insomuch that they brought many with them bigger then hascll
nuttes. Of what pryse, & vaUie they might bee, I consider by one pearle the whichc Paulus, Bispurits.
predccessour to your holines, bought at the secod hand of a marchant of Venice for foure & ^op"'''''""
iburtie thousand ducatcs. Yet amdg those which were brought from this Hand, there was
one bought ciien in Daricna, for a thousand & two hundred Castellas of gold this was ahnost An other pcaiic
as big as a mcanc walnut, & came at the length to the handes of Petrus Arias the gouernour, ""^b'"' r""
who gauc it to that noble and faithfull woman his wife, of whose manner of departure with
her husband, we haue made mention before. We must then needes thinkc that this was
very precious, whiche was bought so deare among such a multitude of pearlcs, where they
were not bought by one at once, but by poundes, and at the least by ounce. It is also to
bee thought that the Venetian marchant bought his for no great sumnieof money in the East
parts: lint he sulde it the dearer, for that he chaunced to Hue in those lasciuious and wanton
dayes, when men were giuen to such nice and superfluous pleasures, and met with a mar- Nice and su-
chant for his purpose. But let vs nowe speake somewhat of the sheKishes, in the which ^""j'y"""'
pearles are engendred. It is not vnknowne to your holynesse, that Aristotle, and Plinie his i^'u"s oiiiniom
Ibllower, were of diners opinions as concerning the generation of pearles. But these Indians, of'j^fi','""'""
and our men, rest onely in one assertion, not assenting to them in any other: as, eytherthat
they wander in the sea, or that they mooue at any tyme after they are borne. They will
therefore that there be certayne greene places., as it were meddov.es, in the bottome of the
sea, bringing forth an hearbe much like vnto Tyme, and affirme that they haue seene the "«"•>«'">"«
same, and that they are engendred, nourished, and growe therein, as we see the increase, jj^
and succession of Oysters to grow about themselues. Also that these fishes delight not in the
conuersution or companie of the sea dogges, nor yet to bee contented with onely one, two,
or three, or at the most foure pearles, affirming that in the fyshing places of the King of
this Ilande, there was founde a hundred pearles in one fyshe, the whiche Caspar Moralis the a hundred
Captaine himselfe, and his companions, diligently numbred : For it pleased the King at their Si fyiile?"'
beeing there, and in their presence, to commaunde his dyuers to goe a fyshing for those
kinde of fyshes. They compare the matrices of these fyshes, to the places of conception Them""" of
in Ilennes, in the whiche their egges are engendred in great multitudes and clusters, and' '■""' ^' '"
beleeue that these fyshes bring foorth their birth in like manner. For the better proofe
whereof, they say that they founde certayne pearles comming foorth of their matrices, asT^e iiirth of
beeing nowe come to the tyme of their full rypenesse, and mooued by nature to come out*"'""'
of their mothers wombe, openyng it selfe in time conuenient : lykewise, that within a while
.nftcr, they sawe other succeede in like manner. So that to conclude, they sawe some com-
ming foorth, and othersome yet abiding the tyme of their perfection : which being complete,
they also became loose, and opened the matrice. They perceyued the pearles to bee in-
closed in the myddest of their bellies, there to bee nourished and increase, as an infant suck-
ing his mothers pappes within her wombe, beefore hee mooue to come foorth of her priuie
places. And if it chaunce any of these shelfishes to bee founde scattered in the sande of
the sea (as I my selfe haue seene Oysters disparcled on the shores in dyuers places of the
Ocean) they affirme that they haue beene violently driuen thither from the bottom of the
sea by force of tempestes, & not to haue wandered thither of themselues : But, that they
become white by the clearnesse of the morning dewe, or waxe yelowe in troubled weather,
or otherwise that they seeme to reioyce in fayre weather and cleare ayre, or contrarywise, to
be as it were -^'jnyshed and dymme in thunder and tempestes, with such other: the perfect
knowledge hereof, is not to be looked for at the handes of these vnlearned men, which
handle the matter but grossely, and enquire no further then occasion serueth. Yet do they where the
affirme by the experience and Industrie of the dyuers, that the greatest pearles lie in the I'jff'Muies"^
deepest places, they of the meane sort hygher, and the least highest of all, and neerer to engendnd.
the brimme of the water: And say therefore, that the greatest doe not wander, but that they
are created, nourished, and increase in the deepest places of the sea, whether fewe dyuers
(and that but seldome) dare aduenture to dyue so deepe to gather them, aswell for feare of
the sea crabbes, which wander among these pearle fyshes to feede of them, and for feare of se.crabbes.

3 X other

*ii

518

VOYAGES, NaUIGATIONS,

The thirde Decade.

5?i.ii-'

llJ'i

j'j

wftp 1

i 1-

It' :

mMfmfi

ii^ *'

...i-'.w.

} ' '

WK^

J ,"' i. '

^■:m

vji .f

■ V- i

nre engrndred.

other monsters of the sea, as also least their breath should fayle them in too log remavning
3hc«ini""ri«"'" the water: And this they say to be the cause why the oldest (& therefore biggest) sea
muscles inhabite the deepest places, from whence they are not lightly moued by tepests.
Furthermore, how much the bigger & older these fishes are, they say that in tiieir larger
matrices, the greater number & bigger pearles are found, and that for this cause there are
fewer found of the biggest sort. They thinke also, that when they first fal from their fishes
in the deepe places, they are deuoured of other fishes, because they are not yet heard.
Againe, the smallest differ from the biggest in a certaine swelling or impostumation, which
the Spanyards call a tympany : For they denie that to be a pearle which in olde muscles
cleaueth fast to the shell, but that it is a wart, which being rased from the shell with a fyle,
is round & bright but only of one side, and not precious, being rather of the nature ©f the
fish it selfe, then of a pearle. They confesse that they haue seene certaine of these muscles
cleauing on rockes, yet these but fewe, and nothing woorth. It is also to bee thought, that
the pearle fishes or sea muscles whiche are founde in India, Arabia, the redde sea, or Ta-
probana, are ruled in such order as the aforenamed famous authours haue written : For their
opinion herein is not vtterly to be reiected, forasmuche as they were learned men, and tra-
uayled long in the searching of these thinges. But wee haue nowe spoken sufficiently of
these sea fyshes, and of their egges, which the fond nicenesse and wantonnesse of menne
haue made dearer then the egges of hennes or geese. Let vs therefore intreate somewhat
of other particular thinges, which are come to our knowledge of late. Wee haue elswhere
largely described the mouthes of the gulfe of Vraba, with sundry and variable regions di-
uided with the manifolde gulfes of thai sea : But as concerning the West coastes, in the
which our men haue builded houses, and planted their habitations on the bankes of Dariena,
I haue no newe matter to write. Yet as touching the East partes of t .e gulfe, I haue learned
as followeth. They say that the vniuersall lande of the East region of the gulfe, from the
corner thereof farre reaching into the sea, and from the extreame or vttermost mouth of the
same, receiuing the waters of the sea whiche fall into it, euen vnto Os Draconis and Paria,
is by one general! name called Caribana, of the Caribes or Canibales whiche are founde in
euery region in this tracte : But from whence they hadde their particular originall, and howe,
leaning their natyue soyle, they haue spreade their generation so farre, lyke a pestiferous
the Caniba'iM "'^ '^*'"^^S'°"' wce wiU nowe declare. Therefore from the firste front reaching foorth into the
sea (in whose tracte we sayd that Fogeda fastened his foote) towarde the corner, about nine
ortbanlf^" °*^ fflylcs distant, there lyeth a village of Caribana, named Futcraca: three myles distaunt from
this, is the village of Vraba, of the whiche it is thought that the whole gulfe tooke his name,
beecause this village was once the heade of the kingdome. About sixe myles from this, is
Feti : Nine myles from Feti^ is Zerema : And about twelue myles from this, Sorache. Our
men founde all these villages full of people, all the which giue themsclues onely to man
hunting : Insomuche that if they lacke enemies agaynst whome they may keepe warre, they
exercise crueltie agaynst themselues, and eyther slay the one the other, or els dryue the van-
quished to flyght. Whereby it is apparant, that by these their continuall warres, and dryuing
the one the other out of their countreys, this infection hath gone so farre, not onely on the
firme lande, but also into the Ilandes. I was also aduertised of another thing, the whiche
to my iudgement seemeth woorthie to bee put in memorie. One Coruales, a iudge in causes
of lawe among the Spanyardes of Dariena, sayth that on a tyme walking abroade with his
booke in his hande, hee met by the way with a fugityue, which hadde fledde from the great
landes lying farre towarde the West, and remayned here with a King with whome hee was
entertayned. When this man perceiued the lawyer looking on his booke, marueyling thereat,
hee came running vnto him, and by interpretours of the king whom hee serued, spake thus
vnto him. Haue you also bookes, wherein you may reserue thinges in perpetuall memorie ;
bceinniiig of the and letters, whereby you may declare your mynde to suche as are absent ? And herewith
i«id's'i°te'iy° desired that the booke might bee opened vnto him, supposing that he shoulde therein haue
founde. fouudc the letters of his owne countrey : But when hee sawe them vnlyke, he sayde further,

that in his countrey there were cities fortified with walles, and gouerned by lawes, and that

the

The regions of
thr East side of
the gulfe of
Vraba.

The region of
Caribana.

Manhunters.

Booken

Looke in the

TJie tliirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

519

larger

Ouf

the people also vsed npparcll : but of what religion they were, I did not learne. Yet hadde circumciicd
our menne knowledge both by the woordes and signesi of this fugitiue, that they were cir- ''"''''•
cumcised. What nowe thinke you hereby (most holy father) Or what doe you diuine may
come hereof, when time shall subdue all these vnder your throne ? Let vs nowe entermingle
certaine small thinges among these great matters. I haue not thought good to pretermit what duunctj
that which chaunced to Johannes Soliaius, who to searche the South side of the supposed '"'n^,^vj,'^,''(,„
continent, departed with three shippes from the port >ppa (not farre distant from the Ilandes the coucmout
of Gades or Caies in the Ocean) the fourth day of the Ides of September, in the yeere M. "jy^s''""'
D. XV. or what successe Johannes Pontius hadde, whom the newe gouernour Petrus Arias i""i'<: •'"'df
appoynted to vanquish and destroy the Caribes or Canibales, deuourers of mans fleshe : also
to what ende the voiages of the other captaynes came, which were sent foorth diuera waies
at the same tyme, as Gonzalus I&daiocius, Franciscus Bezarra, and Valleius, Johannes So-
lisius tooke the matter in hande in an euill houre. He sayled beyonde the poynt of The voijge of
saint Augustine (whiche they cal Cabo. S. Augustini) toward the South side of the {i°|'J""" ^''"
supposed continent beyond the Equinoctial line. For (as we haue said before) that Cab s. aurus-
point reacheth Southwarde to the seuenth degree of the South pole, called the pole ""'"
Antartike. He proceeded in that voiage sixe hundred leagues, and found the land
from the point to extende so farre towarde the South beyond the Equinoctiall, that he
came to the thirtieth degree of the South pole. As he sayled thus forwarde, hauing nowe
on his backe halfe the starres named Caput Draconis, ( that is, the Dragons head) and the lohn soiisius it
regions of Paria lying northwarde from him, & prospecting toward the pole Artyke, he nibji'"^''"^"
chaunced to fall into the hands of the filthy Canibales : For these craftie foxes seemed to
make signes of peace, when in their mindes they conceiued a hope of a daintie banquet; &
espying their enemies a farre of, began to swalow their spettle, as their mouth watered for xhefierceresof
greedines of their pray. As vnhappy Soiisius descended, with as many of his company as 'he c«nibaies
coulde enter into the boate of the byggest shyppe, sodenly a great multitude of the inhabitantes
brust forth vpon them, and slue them euery man with clubbes, euen in the sight of their
fellowes. They caiied away the boate, and in a moment broke it all to fytters, not one es-
caping. Their furie not thus satisfied they cut the slayne men in peeces, even vppon the
shore, where their fellowes might behold this horrible spectacle from the sea. But they being
stricken with feare through thia example, durst not come foorth of their shippes, or deuise
howe to reuenge the death of their Captayne and companions. They departed therefore from
these vnfortunate coastes, and by the way lading their shyppe with Brasell, returned home Brasyie.
agayne with losse, and heauie cheare. Of these thynges I was aduertised of late, by their
owne letters. What they haue els doone, I shall haue more particular knowledge hereafter.
Johannes Pontius was also repulsed by the Canibales in the Uande of Guadalupea, being one lohaiines
of the chiefe JIandes of their habitation. For when they sawe our men a farre of on the sea, p°i"^|i"b"the
they lay in ambushe, sodenly to inuade them when they shoulde come a lande. Our men Canibales.
sent foorth a fewe foote men, and with ihem their Laundresses to washe their shirtes and
sheetes : For from the Ilande of Ferrea, beeing one of the JIandes of Canarie ( euen vnto this
Uande, for the space of foure thousand & two hundred myles) they had seene no lande,
where they might finde any fresh water, forasmuche as in all this large space the Ocean is
without JIandes. At their romming therefore to lande, the Canibales assayled them, caryed
away the women, and putte the menne to suche distresse, that fewe of them escaped. By
reason whereof, Pontius being greatly discomfited, durst not inuade the Canibales, fearing
their venomed arrowcs, which these naked manhunters can direct most certainely. Thus
good Pontius fayling of his purpose, was fayne to giue ouer the Canibales, whome (being
safe & vnder the house roofe) he threatned to vanquish & destroy. Whither he went from
thence, or what new thinges hee founde, I haue as yet no further knowledge. By these mys-
fortunes, Soiisius lost his lyfe, and Pontius his honour. Let vs nowe speake of another, whose
enterpryse came to lyke purpose the same yeere. Johannes Aiora, borne in the citie of Cor- The voyage of
duba, a man of noble parentage, sent in steade of the Lieutenaunt (as we haue saide) more LookeOccluTil
couetous of gold, then carefuU of his charge, or desirous of prayse for well seruing, sought ^>^"- »'•

3X2 ' occasions

'■ t<

''am

520

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The think Decade

Tilt lewd lie-
hauiour of
Ji'lin Aiorn,

|fttJ:vi !

mix--

The variable
fortune of Gon-
salus Uadaio-

Cerabaro. Dc
cade iii, li, iiii.

The South sea.

A leaeue cou-
tainech foure
myles by sea
and but three
by lande.

The golden
region Coiba
Dites.
Sandc myxt
v.'ith golde.

Howe their
U.iucs are
marked in
the face.

GoMc.

occasions of quarrelling ag.iynst the kinges, ar.d spoylcd many, violently extorfyng gold of
them against right & cquitie : and further, handled them so extremely, that of friende.s they
became most criiell enemies, insomuche that they ceased not with desperate myndes, by all
mcane.s they could, to slay our men openly or priuily. By re.-so whereof it is come to pa.s.se,
that where beefore they bartered quietly, exchanging ware for ware, they are nowe faync to
doe all thynges by force of armes. When hee had thus exacted a great quantitie of golde of
them (as it is sayde) hee fled priuily and tooke nway a shippe with him by stealth, as the
common rumour goeth, nor yet hitherto haue we heard whither he went, or where hee arriued.
Some suspect that Petrus Arias the gouernour shoulde consent to his departure, because this
Johannes Aiora, is brother to Gonsalus Aiora, the kinges hystoriographer, a man both learned,
and expert iu the discipline of warre, and so much the gouernours friend, that these two
among a fewe, may be counted examples of rare amitie. 1 my selfe also am greatly bounde
vnto them both, and haue long enioyed their friendship yet shall I desire them both to par-
don me in declaring my phantasie heerein, that in all turmoyles and tragicall atfayres of the
Ocean, nothing hath so muche displeased me, as the couetousnesse of this man, who hath so
disturbed the pacified minds of the Kinges. Nowe among these troublous chaunces, let vs
rehearse the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiocius, and his felowes, whose prosperous be-
ginninges, ended with vnfortunate successe. Gonsalus therefore in the moneth of May,
in the yeere of Christ 1515. departed from Dariena with fourescore armed men direct-
ing his voyage towarde the South, and resting in no place vntill he came to the region
of Cerabaro, which our men named Gratia Dei, distant from Dariena about a hun-
dred and fourscore myles: for they call it threescore leagues. He spent certaine daies
heere in idlenesse : for he coulde neither by fayre meanes, nor by foule, allure the
king of the region to come to him. While he lay thus idlely, there came to him
other fyftie men, rent from Dariena vnder the gouernance of captayne Lodouiciis Mer-
cado, who departed from Dariena in the Calendes of May, to the intent to searche the inne;
partes of those regions. When they mette togeather, they determined, after consultation
to passe ouer the mountaynes lying toward the South, euen vnto the South sea lately
founde. Beholde nowe a wonderfull thing, that in a lande of suche marueilous longitude in
other places, they founde it heere to bee onely about fyftie myles, distaunt to the South sea:
for they count it xvii. leagues, as the manner of the Spaniardes is to reckon, and not by
myles : Yet say they that a league consisteth of three myles by lande, and foure by sea, as
wee haue noted before. In the toppes of the mountaynes and turning of the waters, they
founde a king named luana, whose kingdome is also named Coiba, as is the region of king
Careta, of whom we haue made mention elswhere. But for as much as the region of this
luana, is rycher in golde : they named it Coiba Dites, that is, Coiba the rich : For whereso-
euer they dygged the grounde, whether it were on the dria lande, or in the wet chanelles of
the ryi"'rs, they founde the sande, whiche they cast foorth, myxt with golde. luana fledde at
the comming of our men, and could neuer be brought agayne. They spoyled all thecountrey
neare about his palace : yet had they but litle golde, for he had caryed all his stufTe with him.
Here they founde certayne slaues, marked in the faces after a straunge sorte: For with a
sharpe pricke made eyther of bone, or els with a thorne, they make holes in their faces, and
foorthwith sprinkling a powder thereon, they moiste the pounced place with a certaine blacke
or ready iuyce whose substauncc is of such tenacitie and clamminesse, that it will neuer
weare away : They brought these slaues away with them. They say that this iuyce is of suche
sharpenesse, and puttcth them to suche payne, that for extreme doloure they haue no sto-
macke to their meatc certaine dayes after. The kinges which take these slaues in their warres,
vse their helpe in seeking for golde, and in tyllage of the grounde, euen as doe our men.
From the pallace cf luana, following the course of the water about tenne myles towarde the
South, they entred into the dominion of another king, whom our menne named the olde
man, because hee was olde, not passing of his other name, 'n the region of this king also,
they founde goidc in all places, lioth on the lande, and in the ryiier*. This region is very
fayre, and fruitfull, and hath in it many famous ryucrs. Departyng from hence, in fyue

dayes

\ ifirA''

Tlie thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

521

drives iourney they came to a lande lefte desolate : They suppose that this was destroyed by Afruitefuii «.
ciiiile discorde, fora>*muche as it is for the most parte rruiteruil, and yet not inhabited. The gion ieftd«o.
I'yCth day, they sywe two men comming a farre off: these were laden with breade of Maiz- dilcotde! '"' *
ium, wliiche they caryed on their shoulders in sackcs. Our men tooke them, and vnder-
stoodc by them that there were two kinges in that tracfe, the one was named Periqucte, who
dwelt neere vnto the sea, the others name was Totonoga. This Totonoga was blinde, and
dwelt in the continent. The two men whiche they mette, were the fishers of Totonoga,
whom hee hadde sent with ccriayne fardelles of fyshe to Periquete, and had againe recciued
bread of him for exchaunge : For thus doe they communicate their commodities one with
another by exchaunge, without the vse of wicked money. By the conducting of these two
menne, they came to king Totonoga, dwelling on the West side of saint Michaels gulfe, in the
South sea. They iiaddeofthis king thesummeofsixe thousande Castellans of golde, both rude, sixe thousand
and artificially wrought. Among those grumes of rude or natyue golde, there was one

Castellans
of goldr.

/"ounde of the weight of two Castellans, whiche argued the plentifull rychnesse of the
grounde. Following the same coast by the sea syde towarde the West, they came to a king,
whose name was Taracuru, of whom they had golde, amounting to the weight of eyght King Tara-
thousande Pesos. Wee haue sayde before that Pesos is the weight of a Castelane, not coyned. '"'"■
From hence they went to the dominion of this kinges brother, named Pananome, who fledde
at their comming, and appeared no more aftcrwarde. They say that his kingdome is ryche in
golde. They spoyled his pallace in his absence. Sixe leagues from hence, they came to
another king, named Tabor. From hence they came to the king of Cheru. He friendly en-
tertained our men, and gaue them fourc thousand Pesos of golde. He hath in his dominion Fourethmi-
many goodly salt bayes : the region also aboundeth with golde. About twelue myles from g^^j. "*"
hence, they came to another king called Anata, of who they had xv. thousande Pesos of saite.
golde, whiche he had gotten of the kings his borderers, whom he had vanquished by warre.
A great part of this gold was in rude fourme, because it was molten when hee set the kinges
houses on fire whome he spoyled. For they robbe and slay the one the other, sacking & Their maner
firing their villages, and wasting their countreies. They keepe warre barbarously, and to " *" ""
vfter destruction, executing extreame crueltie against them that haue the ouerthrowe. Gon-
salus Badaiocius, with his felowes, wandred at libcrtie, vntill they came to this king, and had
geathered great heapes of golde of other kinges. For what in bracettes, collers, earcringes,
brest plates, helmettes, and certaine barres wherewith women beare vp their brestes, they
had geathered togeather in gold the summe of fourscore thousand Castellans, which they had
obtained partly by exchang for our thinges where they founde the kinges their friendes, &
otherwise by forcible meanes where they found the contrary. They had gotten also fourtie
slaues, whose helpe they vsed both for cariage of their victualles and baggages, in the steede
of Moiles or other beastes of burden, & also to relieue such as were sicke and forwearied by
reason of their longiourneies and hunger. After these prosperous voiages, they came by the
dominion of king Scoria, to the palace of a king named Pariza, where (fearing no suche
ihing) Pariza enclosed them with a great armie, and assailed them straggeling and vnwares,. Consaius Ba.
in such sort that they had no leasure to put on their armour. He slue and wounded about ^hroucnhrow
fiftie, and put the residue to flight. They made such hast, that they had no respect either to andisspoiied
the golde they had gathered, or to their slaues, but left all behinde them. Those fewe that "f^aJj'"'*"'
escaped, came to Dariena. The opinion of all wise men, as concerning the variable & in-
constant chaiinces of fortune in humane things were false, if all thinges shoulde haue hap-
pened vnto them prosperously. For such is the nature of this blinde goddesse, that she
oftentimes delighteth in the ouerthrowe of them whom she hath exalted, and taketh pleasure The inconstan-
in confounding high thinges with lowe, and the contrary. Wee see this order to be impermu- '" "*''°"""''
table, tliat who so wil apply him selfe to geather rootes, shal somtimes meet with sweete
Liqueresse, and other whiles with sowre Cockle. Yet woe vnto Pariza : for he shall not long
sleepe in rest. The gouernour him selfe was of late determined with three hundred & fiftie
choice souldiers toreuenge the death of ourmen: but where as iie by chaunce fell sicke, his power
went forwarde vndcr the conducting of his Lieuetenaunt Caspar Spinosa, a Judge in cases of lawe

i:; :

'■- -i !!> 5

523

Thf exptdition
of Frjiincrs
Bt'zt'rr.1 against
Ihc Cjiiib.iles.

Gunncs.

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

The thirdc Decade.

Vatlclui repuls-
ed of hit enc-
miei.

I'lie Hands of
th( South sea.

In this sea lie
the lUiido of
Mollucca,
most fruitful!
of spices.

Cotlaaitea.
Cochinus and
Camemorus,
from whence
the Porting;..;
haue their spy-

He nieaneth
bv the streiglit
of Magellanus.

How they lake
Hartcs and
wilde Bores,

Stocke doues.

Their maner
of fouling.

Popiogayes
are easily taken.

A straunge
kindc uf fouling.

in Dariena. At the same time other were nent foorth to the Hand of Dite^i, to exact the por-
tion of pearles limitted to the King for his tribute. What shall .<«uccccde, time will bring to
our knowledge. The other two attempted thinhabitauntcs bcyonde the gulfc. Franciscus Be-
zerra, passing ouer the corner of the gulfe, and the mouthes of the riuer of Dabaiba, with two
other captaines, and a hundred and fiftie souldiers well appoyntcd, went to make warre vpon
the Cabniales, eucn in Caribana their owne chiefest dominion, towardes the village of Turufy,
whereof wee haue made mention beefore in the comming of Fogeda. They brought also
with them diuers engina of warre, as three peeces of ordinaunce, whose shot were bygger
thsn egges: likewise fourtie archers, and xxv. hagbutters, to the entent to reach the
Canibales a farre off, & to preuent their venomed arrowes : But what became of him & his
companie, or where they arriued, wee haue yet no perfect knowledge. Ccrtaine which came
of late from Dariena to Spaine reported, that at their departure they of Dariena stoode in
great feare least they also were tossed with some misfortune. The other captaine Valleius
obtayned the fore part of the gulfe, but hee passed ouer by nn other way then did Bezerra,
for he tooke the beginning of Caribana, & Brzerra the end : Valleius returned againe. But
of the threescore and ten men which he conueiglied ouer with him, hee left fourtie and eight
slaine among the Canibales. These are the newes which they bring that came last from Da-
riena. Thiii came tomee the day beefore the Ides of October in thisyeere 1516. Rodericus Col-
menares (of whom we haue made mention before) & one Francisciis Delapuente. This Francis-
cus was one of the vnder captaines of this band, whose cheife captaine wasGonsalus Badaiocius,
who hardly escaped the handes of King Pariza. These two captaines therfore, Rodericus &
Franciscus, who departed from Dariena immediately after the misfortune which befel to Ba-
daiocius & his companie doe both affirme, the one, that he hath heard, & the other that he
hath seene, that in the South sea there are diuers Ilandes lying westward from the Hand
of Dites, and Saint Michaels gulfe, in many of the which are trees engendred and nou-
rished, which bring foorth the same aromaticall fruites as doth the region of Collacutea.
This lande of Collacutea, with the regions of Cochinus and Camemorus, are the chiefe
marte places from whence the Portugales haue their spices : And hereby doe they coniecture,
that the land where the fruitfulnesse of spice beginneth, should not be farre fro thence,
insomuch, that many of them which haue oucrrunne those coastes, do only desire that leaue
may be graunted them to search further, and that they will of their owne charges frame and
furnish shyppes, and aduenture the voyage to seeke those Ilandes and regions. They thinke
it best that these shippes should be made and prepared, euen in sainct Michaels gulfe, and
not to attempt this voyage by sainct Augustines point, which waywere'both long and difficult,
and full of a thousand daungers, and is saide to reach bcyonde, the fourtieth degree of the pole
Antartike. The same Franciscus, being partener of the trauayles and daungers of Gonsalus,
saith, that in ouerrunning those lande.s, he founde great heardes of Hartes and wylde Bores,
and that he tooke many of them by an art which thinhabitantes taught him : which was, to
make pittes or trenches in their walkes, and to couer the same with boughes: By this meanes
also they deceyue all other kindes of wilde & foure footed beastes. But they take foules
after the same maner that we do : As stocke doues, nV an other tame stock done brought vp in
their houses. These they tye by a string and suffer them to Hie a little among the trees : to
the which as other birdes of that kinde resort, they kill them with their arrowes. Otherwise
they take them with nettes, in a bnre place purged from bryers & bushes, & scattering cer-
tayne seedes round about the place, in the middest wherof they tie a tame foule or bird, of
the kinde of them which they desire to take : In like maner doe they take Popingayes &
other foules. But they say that Popingayes are so simple, that a great multitude of them will
flic euen into the tree in whose boughes the fouler sitteth, and swarme about the tame chat-
tering Popingay, sufferyng themselues to bee easily taken : For they are so without feare of
the sight of the fouler, that they tary while he cast the snare about their neckes, the other
beyng nothing feared hereby, though they see him drawe them to him with the snare, and
put them in the bagge which hee hath about him for the same purpose. There is another
heretofore neuer heard of, and pleasant to consider. Wee haue declared

before

kinde of fouling.

The thirde Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

533

before howe that in ccrtayne of the IlancleH, and especially in Hispaninla, there are diuers
laiies or standing pooles : In some of these (being no deeper then men may wade oner them)
are scene great multitudes of water foules : as well for t at in the bottome of these lakes
there growe many hearbes and weetlcs, as also that by reason of the heate of the Sunne, pears-
ing to the naturall place of generation and conception, where being double in force by reflec-
tion, & preserued by moy>turc there, are engendred of the sliminesse of the earth and
water, and by the prouidence of the vniuenall creator, innumerable little fishes, with a thou- F'«''" »'"'
sand sundry kindes of frogges, wormes, gnattes, flyes, and such other. The foules which dmi uf siimc
vse these lakes, are of diuers kyndes: as Duckes, Geese, Swannes, sea Mewes, Guiles, and ''""'"•
such other. Wee haue saydc also, that in their Orchardes ihey noryshe a tree which beareth
a kinde of great Gourdes. Of these Gourdes therefore, well stopped least any water should ^^'^''^y "''
enter in at their rifes, and cause them to sinke, they cast many in the shalowe pooles, where,
by their continuall wandering and waueryng with the motions of the wynde and water, they
put the foules out of suspection Sc feare : the fouler in the meane time, disguising himselfe
as it were with a visour, puttcth a great gourde on his head, much like to a helmet, with two
holes neere about his eyes, his face and whole head beside being couered therewith : and
thus entereth hce into the poole euen vnto the chynne. For being from their infancie exer-
cised in swimmyng, and accustomed to the waters, they refuse not to continue therein along
space : the fouls thinking this Gourde to bee one of the other that swymme vpon the water, the
fouler goeth softly to the place where hee seeth the greatest flocke of foules, and with waggyng
his head, counterfeiting the mouing of the wauering Gourdes draweth neere to the foules,
where softly putting forth his right hande, hee sodainly snatcheth one by the leggcs, and
plungeth her into the water, where hee putteth her into a bagge which hee hath with him of
purpoiie: The other foules supposing that this dyued into the water of her owne motion
to seeke for foode (as is their maner) are nothing moued heereby, but go forward on their
way before, vntill they also fall into the same snare. I haue heere for this cause entred into
the declaration of theyr manner of huntyng and fouling, that by these more pleasaunt nar-
rations, I may somewhat mittigate and asswage the horrour conceyued in your stomake by
the former rehearsall of their bloody actes and cruell manner. Let vs nowe therefore speake
somewhat againe of the newe and later opinions, as concerning the swyft course of the sea to-
wardes the West about the coastes of Paria, also of the manner of gathering of golde in the Later opinions
golde myne of Dariena, as I was aduertised of late : and with these two quiet and peaceable °uu,st oythe
thinges,we will make an ende of the tragicall affayres of theOcean, and therewith byd your holy- oceau coward
nesse farewell. So it is therefore, that Andreas Moralis the pilot and Ouiedus (of whome wee
haue made mention before) repayred tomee, atmy house in thetowneof Matrite. As wee met
thus together, there arose a contention beetwene them two, as concerning this course of the
Ocean. They both agree, that these landes and regions perteyning to the dominion of Cas-
tile, doe with one cotinuall tract & perpetual bond, embrace as on whole firme land or con- The continent
tinent, all the mayne land lying on the North side of Cuba, & the other Hands, being also"
Northwest both fro Cuba & Hispaniola : Yet as touching the course of the water, they vary
in opinion. For Andreas will that this violent course of water be receiued in the lappe of
the supposed continent, which bendeth so much, and extendeth so farre towarde the North,
as wee haue sayde : and that by the obiect or resistance of the landc, so bending and crook-
ing, the water shoulde as it were rebounde in compasse, and by force thereof bee driuen
about the North side of Cuba, and the other Hands, excluded without the circle called Tro-
picus Cancri, where the largenes of the sea may receiue the waters falling fro the narow
streames, & thcrby represse that inordinate course, by reason that the sea is there very large
and great. I can compare his meanyng to nothing mere aptely, then to the swift streame
commyng foorth of a myll, and falling into the myll poole : For in all such places where waters
runne with a violent fall through narowe chanells, and are then receyued in large pooles, they
are sodeinly disparcled, and theiiC violence broken : So that where as before they seemed of
Kuche force as to ouerthrowe aU thinges beeing in their way, it cannot there be perceiued
which way they runn. The Admirall himselfe Diegus Colonus, sonne and hcyre to Christo- Jf'^^/^y'jK"

phorUS Colonus.

...|».i.-v

:'■.!?

I. 51

; ' !.•'!

k-^'-'

Itrf'

524

Th« voyjgf
from ihf lu'W
liitd tu S}vMiic.

Tli( contrary
'•mirsr uf « aters,

Tlif point of
'he pole itarre.

The goUe
mynes of Da-
viena^and ilie
mannti ofgea*
thcring golde.

Our inclosers
wold leaue no
such commons.

Auri sacra
Fames.

The dropsie of
couctousnesse.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie thivdc Decade.

phoriH Colomis, the first finder of these Innden (who had nowe in commin!» and goiii^r, fourc
liincH passted throiijjh these seas) bcinj; dcinaiinded of ino what he roniule or perreincd in
sayliny; too and fro : answered that there was iniiche diflicultie in returning the same way by
th(! which they goe. But whereas they fyrst take the way by the mayne sea towarde the North,
before tlicy directe their course to Spayne, hee sayth that in that tract bee feh tiie sl\y|)pc
SDniclynies a little dryuen bacive by the contrary course of the water: Yet supposed that this
clKiunceth onely by the ordinary flowing and reHowing of the sea, ami the same not to be
enforced by the circumdcction or course of the water, rebounding in compassc as wee haue
sayde. But thinketh rather, that this maync land or supposed Continent, should somewhere
bee open, and that the sayde open ])Iace, should bee as it were a gate cntrie, or streyght, di-
iiidiiig the North partes of that lande from the South, by the which also the Ocean runnyng
towarde the West, may by the rotation or impulsion of the heauens, bee dryuen about the
whole earth. Ouicdus agrecth with Andreas Moralis as touching the continuall adherence
and closenesse of the saydc continent : Yet neither that the waters should so beatc against
the bending backe of the West lande, or bee in such sort repulsed and dryuen into the
niayne sea: But sayth, that he hath diligently considered, that the waters runne from the
deepest & myddest of the mainc sea towarde the West: Also, that sayling neere vnto the
shore with small vessels bee foundt the same waters to returne againe towarde the East, so
that in the same place they runne togeather with contrary course, as we olteniimes sec the
like to chauncc in ryuers, where, by the obiect of the bankes diners whirle pooles and turn-
inges arise in the water. By reason whereof, if any chaft'e, strawe, wood, or any other thing
of light substance be cast in anysu-.h places in ryuers. it followeth, that all such as runne with
the water in themidde.xt of thechanell, proceedewell forwarde, but such as fall info the bend-
ing gidfes and indented margences of the crooked bandc.*, are caryed ouerthwart the ch:mell,
and .so wander about vntill they meete with the full and directe course of the ryuer. Thus
haue wee made you partener of suche thinges as they haue giucn vs, and written their dyuers
opinions : Wee will then glut more certayne reason, when more certayne truelh shall be
knowne. We must in the meane time leane to opinions, vntill the day come appointed
of God to reueale this secrete of nature, with the perfect knowledge of the pointe of the pole
starre. Ilauing sayde thus muche of the course of the Ocean, a briefe declaration of the
gold mynes of Dariena, shall close vp our Decades, and make an ende of our trauailes. Wee
luiue saide, that nieiie myles distant from Dariena, are the sides of the hilles and the drye
plaincs in the which golde is geathered, both on the dry lande, and also on the bankes, and
in the chaiiclls of ryuers. Therefore to all suche as are willing to geather golde, there is of
ordinarie customc appointed to euery man by the surueyers of the mynes, a .square plotte of
grounde, conteining twelue pases, at the arbitrement of the chooser, so that it be not ground
already occupyed, or left of other. The portion of gro'jnde being thus chosen (as it were
assigned of the stugures to buylde a temple) they inclose their slaues within the same, whose
helpc the Christians vse in tylling of their grounde, and geathering of golde, as we haue
sayd. The.>ie places appoynted vnto them they keepe as long as them list : and if they per-
ceyue tokens of little golde, they require an other plot of grounde of twelue pases to be
assigned them, leauing the first in co;nmon : And this is thorder which the Spaniardes inha-
biting Dariena obserue in geathering of golde. I suppose also, that they vse the like order in
other places: Ilowbeit, I haue not yet enquired so farre. It hath been prooued, that these
twelue pases of grounde, haue yielded to their choosers the summc of fourescore Castellanes of
golde. And thus leade they their lyues in fulfilling the holy hunger of golde. But the more
they fill their handes with finding, the more incroaseth their couetous desire. The more
woodde is layde to the fire, the more furiously rageth the flame. Vnsaciable couetousnesse is
no more diminished with increase of rychesse, then is the drinesse of the dropsie satisfied
with drynke. I let passe many thinges whereof I intende to wrytc more largely in time con-
uenient, if I shall in the meane season vnderstande these to be acceptable vnto your holy-
nesse : my duetie and obseruance to whose authoritie, hath caused mee the gladlier to take

thi«

The fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

j'i.i

thin labour in hande. The pmuidencc of the cternall crcalour of all thingcs, graiint your
holyncMe many prosperous yccrcs.

The 4. Decade of I'ctcr Martyr a Millanoise of Anglcria writen to Pope Leo
the lU now first Hct forth, aii'l cxamine<t.

MOst hipssrd Fatlier, ^Tigidius Vifcrbiensis that bright example of the Ileremitcs of Angus,
tines profession, and of the sarred order of Cunlinals hauing executed his Legation a Latere
whe he departed out ol S|)ainc, left mce this charge in your Holinesse name, and his owne,
that after my .'?. Decades long since sent vnto your Ilolyncs, I shouldc set downe also in
writing, what the pregnant Ocean brought forth, beginning from the yeare 1492. and con-
cludinge with the yeare 1516. of all which I deferred to write, because many idle things were
reported, and very litle worth the memoric. In our royall Senate of Indian affaires, Epistles
full of circumstances sent from eucry vaine fellowe, were daily read, out of the which wee
gathered little substance. One boasted that hee had found a finger of the hande discouered,
another, a ioynt of the finger, and they who were the first Authors of discouering that world
vaunted much more proudly and with full mouth, that they had discouered great matters,
and writt newe and strange things. Imitating the Ante, which thinketh shee is waightily
loden, when shee carrieth a graine of corne to her Anthill, stolne out of the floore from a
greate heape, sowed by anothers labour. I call a finger of the hand found out graincs of
corne whatsoeuer Ilandes, the Ocean maintaineth, lyinge neere to Hispaniola and Cuba, and
80 to the Continent. For they are compassed about, both before, and behinde, and also on
both sides with innumemble Ilandes, as henncs inuironed with chickens, yet euery one is to
haue the reward of his labour. Let vs therefore omittinge circumstances present to the
handes of your Holines, to delight your longinge eares, whatsoeuer is reported of the Hands
lucatan, and Co/.umella, and the huge country of Hacolucana, as yet not well knowne
whether it bee an Hand, or annexed to the Continent, seeming woorthy of my remembrance.
After this I will breifly declare in the cnst'inge story what succeeded in the supposed Conti-
nent: And Hispaniola shall finish the whole worke.

The first Chapter.

BY my former Decade, published by meanes of the Printers, your Holines may gather
that certaine fiigitiues arriuing vppon the borders of Dariena, wondering at our bookes, said,
they sometimes dwelt in such countries, whose inhabitants vsed such instruments, and lined
poliiickly vnder lawes, & Pallaces & had stately Temples built of stone, & also streets, and
paued wayes orderly composed, where they traded and vsed to resort. Those lands our men
haue now found out. Who therefore were the Authors, an:l tiow matters proceeded, let your
Holynes lend your attentiue eare, seeing all these are published, to be snbiected to your
Throne. Of the Hand Cuba (which Diecus Velasquez Lieutenant gouernor by the name of
Colonus the Admirall, called Fernandine, neere Hispaniola on the West, yet so toward the
North, that the Tropick of Cancer diuideth Cuba in the middest, but Hispaniola is distant
certaine degrees from thee Tropick to the /Equator) we haue spoke somewhat before. In
this Hand of Cuba there are now 6. towns erected. The cheife whereof taketh his name from
Saint lames the Patrone of the Spaniardes. Heere, there is natiue gold both in the mountaine,
and riuers : so that they are dayly occupied in gathering and digginge thereof. The same
yeare that 1 finished my bookes, three Spaniards of the most auncient citizens of Cuba, Fran- Franciicm ttt.
ciscus Fcrnandes of Corduba, Lupus Ochoa Caizedus, and Christophorus Morantes, deter- ^'^"^''^y ^"P"'
mined to seeke out new countries : but, for the kinge, Bernardinus Ignignez Calciatensis of christoph. Mo-
the office of Accompts, and Captaine of one of the shippes. The Spaniai^s mind is euer rest- ""',"^''""
Icssc, and alwayes buysying it selfe about great attempts. These men (at their ownc proper ThcSjianiardf
costs and charge) furnished three shippes, such as they call Carauelles, and from the West'""'
angle of Cuba called Saint Antonie, they take sea with their Pilott Anthonius Alaminus and s. Amony.
110. soldiers: for this angle is most commodious, and fit for relieuingeof shippes, and for •*"''"'""«

prouision of wood and water.

Betweene the West and South, which windc the Spaniards
3 Y cal

■m

926

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The fourth Decade.

k;-'-

?'.'.:l,

lucatan and
why su called.

Cnyrus a great
City.

'in.: t

call South, West, they see lande for six dayes space. In which time (they say) they rann
oriely 66. leagues, for they anchored wheresoeuer sunnseet came vpon them, least wandringe
through an vnknown sea, they might strike vpon the rockes or lightinge amongc the sandy
shelfs, might so be drowned and sunke. At length they fell vpon a very greatc landc, where
they goe a shoare and are curteously intertained and receiued by the Inhabitants, Our men
(by signes, and beckning to them) demaunde of them what they call the name of the whole
Prouince ? They answered lucatan, which signifieth in their language, I vnderstand you not.
Our men thought lucatan had bin the name of the Prouince. So from this vnpremeditated
eucnt this name of lucatan remained, and shall continue for euer : yet the beginning there-
of thinhabitants call Encampi. Our men goe vnto the citty seated on the shore, which for
the hugenesse thereof they call Cayrus, of Cayrus the Metropolis of j^Jgipt: where they find
turreted houses, stately teples, wel paued waycs & streets where marts and faires for trade of
marchandise were kept. The houses are either of stone or bricke, and lime maruelous artifi-
cially built. To the square courts or first habitations of their houses they ascend by 10. or 12.
steps or staires. Yet they are not tiled but couered with reedes, or great stalkes of herbes.
They gratifie each other with mutuall presents. The Barbarians gaue our men brooches, Sc
leweles of gold very fa ?, & cunningly wrought, and our men i> quited them with vesturs
of silke Sc woll, & gai e . lem also counterfet stones of glasse and little laton or copper
belles acceptable presentes to them beecause of the strangenesse thereof. But they made slight
account of our counterfeits, because themselfes (out of certaine stones in their Mines) might
get those that were much brighter. This nation is not apparreled with wooll, because they
haue no sheepe, but with Cotton after a thousand fashions, and diuersly coloured. The women
are clad from the wast to the ancle, and couer their heade and brests with diners vayles, and
are very carefull that their leggs, and feete bee not seene. They frequent their Temples
often, to the which the better sort pane the wayes with stone from their houses. They are
great Idolaters : and are Circumcised, but not all. They liue vnder lawes, and trafficke toge-
ther with greate fidelitie, by exchaunginge commodities without money. They sawe Crosses :
and beeing demaunded by Interpreters whence they hadde them, some say, that a certaine
man of excellent beauty pnssinge by that coast, left them that notable token to remember
him. Others report a certaine manne brighter then the Sunne dyed in the workinge thereof.
But concerninge the truth, there is no certainety knowne.

The seconde Chapter.

HAuing stayed there some fewe dayes they now beegan to seeme troublesome to the inha-
bitants : for the long stay of a guest is not well pleasinge vnto any. Taking therefore pro-
uision of victuals, they bed their course directly to the West : and passing the prouinces
Coma, and Maia (so called of the borderers) they tooke only woodd and water for their
voyage. The Barbarians on the shore wondered to see our great vessels floatinge on the sea,
to the beholdinge wherof menne, and women, children came striiiing and thronginge from
all places. Our menne also (not without great astonishment and admiration) beheld farre of
from sea, their goodly buildinges, but c'liefely their Temples next the Seaside, aduanced like
Castelles. At length hauing sayled ilO. leagues, they determined to anchor in a prouince

IfC'ampeXum. Called Campcchium, whose towne consistcth of 3000. houses, where after they hadde landed,
and friendly imbraced each other, the Barbarians with great astonishment wondered at our
mens art of sayling, the greatnesse of the vesselles, the sayles, the flngges, and other thinges.
But as soone as they hcarde the thunder of our ordinance discharged, and perceiued a smoaky,
and sulphury fierie sent, and smell, they thought lightning had come from Heanen. The
pettie king of this prouince curteously and royally entertayned our men in his Pallace, when
they had feasted them after their manner, (where they haue both Peacockes and crammed
foule both of the Mountaynes, Woods, and Water, as Patryches, Quayles, Turtles, Duckes,
Geese, and fourefooted wilde beastes, as Boores, Hartes, and Hares : beside Wolfes, Lyons,
Tygers, and Foxes) our menne were conducted with a princely Trayne to a broade crosse way,

)kiT-T ""' standing on the side of the towne. Here they shew our menne a square stage or pulpit foiire

^.ua sjiicta- steppes

Th» apparrcll
of tlic luca*

Tht lucatans

sufrrstitious
Idolaters, and
som • of them
circumcised.
Grosser and a
fabulous Tra-
dition ti.eieof
atnonyst tlltm
howhcit ob-
seriiable.

mr-:

The fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

527

steppes high, partly of clammy Bitumen, and partly of small stones, whereto the Image of

a mannc ciitte in marble was ioyncd, two fourefooted vnknowne beastes fastening vpon him,

which (like madde dogges) seemed, they would teare the marble mans guttes out of his belly.

And by the Image stood a Serpent, besmeared all with goare bloud deuouring a marble

Lyon, which Serpent compacted of Bitumen, and small stones incorporated together, was

scucn and fourtie feete in length, and as thicke as a great Oxe. Next vnto it were three

rafters or stakes fastened to the grounde, which three others crossed, vnderpropped with

stones. In which place they punish malefactors condemned, for proofe whereof, they sawe

innumerable broken arrowes, all bloudie, scattered on the grounde, and the bones of the

deade, cast into an inclosed courte neere vnto it. The houses also heere, are built of lime

and stone. This king they called Lazarus because they landed vpon S. Lazarus day. They

depart from thence, alwayes to the West 15. leagues: ami take the prouince called Aguanil. The proumct

The towne thereof is called Moscobo, and their king Chiapoton, accenting the last sillable with °f ^s"ami.

a sharpe accent. This king sternly beholdeth our men like an enemie, and seekes to intrappe

them with a Stratagem. For demaunding water, they signide vnto tliem that there is a foun-

tayne on the other side of the next hill, where they were to pa«se through a narrowe patii :

but by the chaunging of their countenaunces, and caryinj;; of their bowes and arrowes ; they

perceiued the dcceite. Our men refuse to goe any further. The Barbarians therefore charge

them, and set vpon them, straggling & vnprouided, and ouerthrowe aboue a thousande of looo. spany-

our mcnne. Suche as fledde, stucke fast in the myre on the shore, for the Sea was very muddy lie Bai^^Ji^ans^

there, by meanes whereof they shot 24. of our men through with their arrowes, and so slewe

them, and for the most parte wounded the rest. They report that Franciscus Fernandez him-TheAdmiraii

selfc Admirall of the Fleete, receiued 3i. woundes almost none escaped scotfree : if they |^™"''„f i',"^^''"

haddc marched forwarde to the hilles they shewed them, they hadde beene slayne eucry body by the

man. They therefore that remayned aliuc, returned sad and sorrowfull, to the Ilande Fer- " "^""'

nandina from whence they came, and are receiued by their companions with teares, and

gighes, for those they hadde left behindc them, and those that were present, being

wounded.

The thirde Chapter.
Diecus Velasquez Lieutenant Gouernourof Cuba Fernandina vnderstanding this, furnished
a (Iccte of foure Carauellcs, with 3{K). menne or thereabouts. And appoynteth his Nephcwe
lohn Grisalua Admirall of this litle Fleete, ioyning vnder officers with him, Alphonsus
Auila Franciscus Montcgria, and Petrus Aluaradus, but for Pilotte the selfe same Anthonius
Alaminus, who hadde the direction and regiment of the former Fleete. Who vndertooke
the same voiage agayne, but sometimes more to the South. And hauing sayled some 70.
leagues they discryed a tower spiring aboue tlie Sea, but sawe no land. By direction of
which tower, they made towarde an Ilande called Cosumel, three leagues distaunt from whence The lUnde
(they say) they smelt the sweete sauour of freshwater the winde blowing from thence.^"'"""'-
They finde this Hand to be 4.'j. leagues about, a plaync lande, and a most fortunate and
fertile soyle. It hath golde, not naturally growing there, but brought vnto it from forreine
partes. It aboundeth with hony fruitcs, and hearbcs, and hath great plentie of foule and
fourefooted beastes. That I may briefely conclude, the Oeconomirall, and Politicall go-
iiernment of these inhabitantes, agrccth with theirs of lucatan. Their houses, temples,
sfreetes, and trade of marchandise are all one, and the apparell both of men and women is
of Cotton, which the common people of Italic cal Bombasc, and the Spanyards, Algodon,
not cloth of woll, or silke. Their houses of bricke or stone, are couered with reedes, where Their houses.
there is scarcitie of stones, but where Quarries are, thcv are couered with shindic or slate.
Many houses haue m; rble pillers, as they haue with vs. They founde auncient towers there, AuiKicut To?,
and the mines of such as hadde beene broken downe and destroyed, seeming very auncient: "-■
but one aboue the rest, whereto they ascended by 18. steppes or staires, as they ascende to
famous, and renowned temples. These people woondered at our ships, and art of sayling.
At the lirst incounter they were vnwillyng to entcrtaine gucstes, but afterward they cour-
teously admitted them. The Gouernour (whome they suppose to bee a Priest) conducted

3 Y -4 them

' I J

"mi.

I- .Mil'

528

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie fourth Decade.

Santa Croce.

Mollts.

Circumcision.
The Kingesap-
parcU.

r i

m/.,:^

The Barbarians
tncamp & make
warrc against the
Spaniardes.

The haiicn of
Desire.

CoUua or Oloa.

The ryuer Gri-
salu3.
liolden targets.

them vnto a tower, in the toppe whereof they erect a banner, and adiudging the Dominion
thereof to the king of Castile. They call the Ilande Santa Cruce, beecause they entred into
the same the Nones of May, being then the feast of the holy crosse. But they say, it was
called Coziimella, of a certaine king Cozumellaus, whose auncesters (as he vaunteth) were
the first inhabitauntes of this Ilande. In the tower they fdunde chambers, wherein were
marble Idolles, or Statues, and Images of earth in the similitude of Beares, these they call
vppon with loud singing all in one tune, and sacrifice vnto them with fumes, and sweete
odors, worshipping them as their housholde goddes. There they performe their diuine ce-
remonies, and adoration : they are also circumcised. This king was apparelled with a gar-
ment of gossampine cotton, curiously wrought, and had the toes of one of his feete cut of.
For a deuouring fish called Tubero, violently snapped his toes of at a bit, while he was
swimming. He honorably feasted our men, and bountifully entertained them. After three
dales they depart, sayling directly to the West, andespie great mountaines a farre of. Which
they perceiued to bee lucatan, a land which they had alreadie discouered, being but fiue
leagues distant from Cozumclla. They take the South side of lucatnn (to witte) next the
continent. They compasse it, but not all, by reason of the multitude of rockes, and sandie
shelfes. Then Alaminus the Pilot bringes backe the ships to the North side of the Ilande,
already knowne vnto him. And at length came to the same towne Campechium and king
Lazarus, to whom the former ships went the yeere before : of whom beeing gently receiued,
they are inuited to the towne. But they soone repented, that they had inuited them. For
within a stones cast from the towne, the borderers will our men to stand, and command
them to begon, our men desire leaue to water before they depart. They shewe them a well
behinde them, from whence (they say) they might drawe water, but not elswhere. They
lodge at night in a fielde neere vnto the well. The Barbarians mistrust, and about 3000.
armed men incampe themselues not farre from our men neither partie slept that night, they
fearing our menne woulde breake into the towne, and our men suspecting some sudden
assault of the Barbarians, wakened the sleepy, with the sound of the trumpet, and drumme.
As soone as day began to peepe, the Barbarians come vnto them, and call for our Cuba
Interpretours, whose speach (though not the same) is notwithstanding somewhat like vnto
it : and lighting a Torch of Frankincense, between both armies, they threaten to kill them,
vnlesse they quickly depart, before the torch bee extinguished, and plainely tell them, that
they will haue no guests. The torch is put out, or consumed they encounter hand to hand,
and kill one of our men, whome they shot through his shield with an arrow, and wounded
many : so that our men retired to the ordinance placed by the wel, to discharge them vpon
the Barbarians. The borderers retire vnto the towne, the souldiers with eger courage desired
to pursue the. The Admiral Grisalua forbiddeth them : from thence they proceed to the
furthest end of lucatan, & found it more then 200. leagues in length from East to West.
They go to an excellent harbor which they called the hauen of Desire. Afterwardes they
passe ouer sea to other landes, and lande on the West neere to lucatan : and doubt whether
it be any Ilande or not. They suppose it to be annexed to the Continent, there they find
a Bay, which they imagin to be compassed on both sides with lande : but knewe no certaintie
thereof. This lande is called Collua, or otherwise Oloa, of the borderers. A mightie great
riuer founde there, through the rage and violent current thereof into the Sea, yeeldeth
potable waters for the space of two leagues. They called the riuer (by the Admirals name)
Grisalua, the bordering Barbarians woondering at the sayling of their .shippes, beset both
side of the riuer, to the number of 6000, warriours, armed with golden targets, bowes, and
arrowes, and broade wodden swords, and speares hardened in the fire, to resist their landing,
and to defend the shore. Both parties that night stoode in armes. At the first dawning of
the day, beholde, about an hundred Canoas full of armed men. Wee haue elswhere sayde,
that the Canowes are litle barkes, made of one tree. Here the Interpreters of Cuba, and
they, agreed well inough in language. Peace olTered by the Interpreters), is admitted. One
Canoa commeth vnto them, the rest stande .still. The Maister of the Canow, demandeth
what our men seeke in Strang countries : they answer they desire gold, but onely by ex-
change.

:.\ s '

The fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

529

change, not of gift or violently. The Canow returneth to the king and the mariners report

what they had done: the king being sent for, willingly commeth vnto them. O admirable

thing (most holy father) & worthy to be reported. The king calles his chamberlane vnto

him, willeth the furniture of his chamber to be brought, & commandeth to arme our Ge- The Gfnmii

nerall Grisalua therewithall : first therfore he beginneth to put him on golden shoes, bootes, Kinga^medfroln

brestplate, and whatsoeuer armovir "sually made of Iron, or Steele, a man of armes armed foppe to the toe

from top to toe vseth to weare waen he cometh into the field, all that made of gold, wrought goi*'"'''""

with wonderful! art, the king besiov eth on Grisalua. Grisalua requiteth him with vestures

of siike, linnen, woollen, and other things, of our country. In the beginning of this lucatana,

when they passed ouer from Cozumella, they light on a Canow of fisherme, wherin were

9. borderers, fishing with golden hookes: they take them al vnarmed, misdoubting nothing.

The king knew one of the, & promised to send Grisalua as much gold the next day for

his riisome as the man should weigh. Grisalua denied to release him without the consent oC

his felowes, and therefore kept him still, and departed desirous to know further what lay

beyond them.

The fourth Chapter.

SAyling about 100. leagues thence ; alwayes to the West, they found a great gulfe, in the
which 3. small Hands stood : they went vnto the greatest of them. But oh cruell impiety
(most holy father) oh terrible & blouddie minds of men, let your holines close the moutii
of your stomacke, least it be disturbed. There they offer vp their children, boyes and girles, An Uandr
vnto their Idols, they are circumcised. The Images which they worship, are some of mar- *^^J''"^•JJ'y^'j^
ble, & some of earth. Amog the marble Images, standeth a Lio, with an hole through the dren to idoiies.
necke, into the which they poure the bloud of those miserable wretches, that from thence The maner of
it may run into a marble trough, let vs now declare with what ceremonies they sacrifice the'''?'',"?"" '''''°'
bloud of :hose miserable creatures. They cut not their throats, but ripping vp their brestes,
they plucke out the heart of the vnhappie sacrifice, with whose warme bloud they annoint
the lips of their Idolles, and let the rest runne through into the trough, & then burne the
heart vnopened, and the bowels, supposing it to be an acceptable fume vnto their gods.
One of their Idolles hath the shape of a man, which bowing downe his head, looketh into
the blouddie trenche, as it were accepting the oblation of the slayne sacrifices : they eate the
brawnes of the armes, and fleshie partes of the thighes, and calfes of the legges, especially
if they sacrifice an enemie conquered in the warres. They founde a riuer of congealed and
clotted bloud, as though it had runne out of a butchery. For this wicked purpose, they
trasport poore soules from the bordering Ilandes : there they sawe innumerable heades and
dead carkases mangled and cut in peeces, and very many whole, couered with mats. All
those coasts abounde with golde & precious stones, one of our men wandering in the Hand,
light vpon two hollow alablaster pitchers (cunningly wrought) ful of stones of diuers colours.
They say also that they foud a stone of the value of 2000. Castellanea of gold, which they a precious stone
sent vnto y gouernor. This Ilande they called the Ilande of Sacrifice, there are also other Th'e nanVoi s«.
Ilandes situate on the sides of this Coluacana, which women onely inhabite, without the so- ciifice.
cietie of men. Some thinke they Hue after the maner of the Amazones. But they that"j'if"*''^*°'
consider the matter more wisely, thinke them to be virgins liuing in common together, de-
lighting in solitarines, as with vs, and in many places in auncient tyme, the virgins vest.iles,
or such as were consecrated to Bona Dea vsed to doe. At certaine times of thi yeere, men
from the bordering Ilandes passe ouer vnto them, not for the cause of generation, but moued
with piitie, to till their fields and dresse their gardens, through which manuring of the groud
they might the better line. Yet report goeth, that there are other Ilandes, but of corrupt
women, who cutte of the pappes of their young children, that they may the better practise
the art of shooting, and that men resorfe vnto them for the intent of generation, and that
they keepe not the male children, but I thinke it a fable. Our men therfore at the shore of
Coluacana, drew neere vnto the lande, and quietly trafficke there. The king gaue our men cuiftei:
a Cawdron, bracelets, chaynes, brooches, and manie other lewelles of diuers kindes, and all

ri J

53d

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The fourth Decade.

*l •

T ?, very great
t-iwnes in Co-
luacaiLitV tlie
mancl of the.

P.Imari}.

A strange cere-
mony of these
Barbarians at
the recciiiingof
stranetrs.
yinglc life.
Clustitie.

Adultery.

The honurable
estimation the
Barbarians hauc
of mariage.

General fasts-

Rich giftes of
diners sorts be-
STowed vpon the
.•IJmirali.

Swymming &
dining into tiie
bottomeofriuers
for gold.

Swcetc odors.

A •;..■•„.■ „fi
*:^»t value.

ofgoUle. Our men aga'ine on the other part, gratifie him with our country commodities,
and make him very cheerful. Here the cOpanie desired to settle themselues, and plant a
Colonie, but the Admirall woulde not permit them. At that time the soldiers (companions
in armes) were desperately bent against the Admirall. Their pronince consisteth of turreted
houses : & hath also 15. very great townes, & in some places, they affirme, that they sawe
townes of 20000. houses. The houses ioyne not euery where together, but are disseuered
with gardens, and courts. Many of them are distaunt one from another. They haue streets
compassed with walles, where they keepe their markets and fayres, they haue paued streets,
ouens & furnaces, lime, & bricke : they haue also potters, & Carpenters, & other artificers,
& haue gotten most excellct workmen of all the mechanicall arts. This king is called Ta-
iiascus : the country Palmaria. They say the towne where he kecpeth his courte, called
Pontanchianiim, consisteth of fifteene thousande houses. When they receiue straungers or
newe gucstes, whoe cntertayne peace with those countryes, in token of friendshippe, they
drawe a litle bloud from themselues (with a rasor, or a litle knife made of stone) either out
of the tongue, hand, arme, or any other part of the bodie, and this they doe, euen in the
sight of the stranger. Their Pricstes Hue a single, and vncorrupted life. No man knoweth
what the act of generati5 meaeth, vntil he mary. It is a detestable and haynous matter, and
punishable with death, if they chaunce to do otherwise. The women are maruelous chast.
Euery great man afore he hath maryed a wife, may haue as many Concubines as he pleaseth.
But the marled wife being take in adultery, is sold by her husband, yet only to his soueraigii
Prince, from whom, it shalbe lawfull for her kinsfolke to redeeme her. It is not lawfull for
any that is vnmaried to sit at table with such as are maried, or to eate of the same dish, or
drinke of the same cup and make themselues equall with such as are married. In the
monethes of August, and September, they abstaine 35. dayes, not onely from flesh, whereof
they haue the best, both of foule, and wilde beastes taken by hunting : but they doe not so
muche as eate fish, or any thing which might nourish the bloud : so that for those dayes
of abstinence, they liue onely vpon hearbes, or pulse. Here our men spent a fewe dayes
very pleasanay, afterward they depart, following the same shore, and meete with another
king whom they call Ouandus. When the king vnderstoode our men desired golde, he brought
them plates of moulten golde. The Admirall signified by the interpreters, that hee desired
store of that mettali, the next day he commaunded the golden image of a man of a cubit
long to bee brought and a fan of gold, and an Idol of one of their Domesticall gods curiously
wrought, and also garlandes of diuers stones. He gaue our men also great store of brest-
plates, and brooches and ornaments of diuers kinds, and precious stones of seuerall colours.
He also satisfied them with most delicate meates \ery sauorie and wel seasoned. Inuiting our
men a shore, forthwith erecting pauilions or boothes by commaundement of the king they
speedily couered them with grcene boughes. The king smote his domesticall seruants (that
were negligent in bringing of boughes) with the scepter he bare in his hand, the seruants
with an humble countenace patiently beare the stripes he gaue them : the king being de-
manded, where so great plenty of gold was gathered, pointed with his finger to the next
mountaines, and riuers runninge from them : these people are so vsed to riners, and lakes,
that it is all one to them to swimme or goo vpo the lande. When they desire to gather gold,
they dine into the riuers, & bringc foorth their hands full of sande. And siftinge the sande
from hande to hande, they pickc out the gold. In the space of two houres, they are re-
port to fill a cane as bigge as a manns finger, with gold. Smooth, and pleasinge words might
be spoken of the sweete odors, and perfumes of these countries, which we purposely omitt,
because they make rather for the efteminatinge of mens mindes, then for the maintenance
of good beahauiour. The Admirall refused a boy of 12. yeeres of age which the kinge
offered him, but receiued a yonge Virgin richly adorned, and reiected the boy, contrary to
the mindes of the company. Of the precious stones they had from this king, they write,
that one, was woorth 2000. Castelancs of gold. So, at length they depart from this kinge,
laden with gold and precious stones. The Admirall Grisalua sendeth one of the Caraucls to
tlie Lieutenant Goucrnour of Fernandina his vncle with messengers, who had the gold and

precious

i;;i (

?*<

Tlie fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

531

precious stones. In the meane space, the rest foUowe the shoare towards the West. But
one ship wherein Francisciis Monte<>rius the Viceadmiral was, sayled hard by the shoare, and
the two other kept a loofe within vewe of the lande. The borderers wondering at them,
ascribe the strangencs of the matter to miracle. Thirteen Canoas came vnto Monfegriiis,
by interpreters speakc together, and courteously sahite each other : The borderers humbly
intreat the to come a shoare and promise them great matters, if they would goe to the
king of the country. But Montegrius saith he cannot yeld to their intreatycs, because his
companions were to farre of from him, yet he sent them away contented giuinge the cer-
taine gifts of our country commodities, which pleased them well. From thence they goe
vnto another famous towne & the 3. Carauelles together approached neere the shoare,
but the borderers with their targets, bowes, quiuers full ol arrowes and broad wooddcn
swords & lauelins hardened at the end with fire, came fortharmed to our men, to resistc their
landinge, & shot at them afarre of, but cur menne discharged their ordinance against them.
The Barbarians woonderinge at the thundringe of the grcate Artillerie, and astonished at the;
furie thereof, betake them to flight, and desire peace. Here our mens victualles began fo
faile them, & nowe the shippes were brooscd, & shaken, with long voiages, Grisalua there-
fore contented with that which he had done, and found, to rcturne to the Hand Fernandina,
without the good liking of his companions,

The fift Chapter.

WE will now diuert a litle, and handle another nanigation, & then returne to these new
foud landes againe. The same Diecus Velasquez Gouernour of Fernandina, almost at that
time whe he sent forth this nauy of 4. Carauels, appointed another voyage for one Carauell
onely, with one Brigantine to go in consort with 4;"). men. These vsed violence against the
inhabitantes. The pet)ple were Idolaters, and circumcised, & are bordering next vpo the
shore of the supposed Continent, There are many fertile Ilandes, of a blessed & fruitfull
soyle, Guanaxam, Guitillam, and Guanaguam. From one of these, they violently tooke .'iOO.
harmlesse inhabitantes of both sexes. This Ilande they called Sancta Marina. They thrust
them into the Carauell, & returned to Fernandina. They leaue the Brigantine with 25. of
their companie, to the intent to hunt for more men. The hauen where the Carauell first
arriued, is called the hauen of Carenas : this hauen is 200. and 40. leagues distaunt from the
towne of S. lames, the chiefe towne of the Hand of Cuba, this is a very long Ilande reaching
in length to the West, which the Tropicke of Cancer diuideth. Fortune seeking reuenge
for these miserable wretches, certaine of the keepers of the captiues go aland,
and fewe remained in the Carauell. The Ilanders hauing gotten opportunitie to recouer
libertie. suddenly snatching vppe our mens weapons, fel vpon the keepers, & slew sixe of
them, the rest leape into the sea. By which meanes the Ilanders possesse the Carauel, which
they had learned to rule, so that they returne into their country, they lande not first at the
same Hand, but at the next. They burne the Carauell, cary the weapons away with them,
and passe ouer to their companions in Canoas, and sette vppon our menne which were left in
the Brigantine, ouerthrew them, and slew some of them. They who escaped, fled vnhappily
to the Brigantine : there standeth a great tree, next vnto the shore, in the top whereof they
place a Crosse, and engraue this inscription in Spanish vpon the vpper barke thereof :
Vamos al Darien. Darien is a ryuer, on the shore wherof the chiefe towne of the supposed
Continent is seated, called Sancta Maria Antiqua, The gouernour hauing intelligence
thereof, speedily sendcth 2. shippes laden with souldiers, for succour of them that were lefte,
but they consulted too long while all was done and past. Yet following the Crosse, they
came to the shore, and read the letters ingrauen on the tree : but durst not attempt fortune
with those desperate men that fled, well armed, and therefore returne backe againe. These
men from the next Ilande, carry away 500, men & women as it had bin so many hares :
thinking they might therefore lawfully doe it, because they were circumcised, the like mis-
thaunce befell them arriuing at Fernandina : Of the 2. ships, they fiercely a!i.-<ault one, and
fighting eagerly, kill some of their Spanish keepers, the rest cast themselucs into the sea, and

swimnie

Tlic bnrcioriTS
•cfke 10 repulse
the l^ndin' of
the Sp.ininrds,
tc at thastonisli-
ment and Uttdt
of thi! great
artillery arc ^"tt
to flialif.

The ftrtlle
Hands of Gu:i-
naxam Guitil-
lam and Gua-
naguam.
300. Barbariiis
taken Caftiucs.
The hauen of
Carenas.

The Captiues
escape and :lay
sixe of the

Spaniirdes.

Theiiuir
Darien.

500. men anu
women taken
& the succ'esse
answerable tn
the former.

i'rY'i

it*'..;

533

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TIte fourth Decade.

hXA

The Birbarians
fight with the
Sjiaiiyards.

100. Barbarians
slayne and
wounded.

Archipelagut.

Florida.
a6. Ilandes.

Golde.
Idols of golde.

A wonder it is
that thcr shuld
be such excel-
lent workman-
ship amongest
the Indians
without the vse
of Steele and
Iron.

. luhns Port.

swimme to the next Carauell, which went in consort with them, and vniting themselues all
together with the Carauel which remained, assayled the other taken from them : the victory
was doubtfull for 4. hoiires space the Barbarians, both men and women, for recouery of their
libertie, fought very fiercely, and the Spaniardes liliewise with no lesse fury und courage
encountered them, least they shoulde loose the pray which 'was taken from them. At length
the Spaniardes were conquerers, because they were more nimble and readie in handling their
weapons. The vanquished Barbarians cast themselues headlong into the sea, but are taken
vp againe in boates : so that those that were slaine in fight, and drowned in the water, were
about 100. persons. Of the Spaniardes but fewe were wanting. The Barbarians that re-
mained aliue, are sent to the towne of S. lames, and to the mines of gold. Shortly after
they goe vnto another of the neighbouring Uandes : which are more in number there then
Simplegades in our Ionian Sea, which multitude of Hands they commonly call Archipelagus.
Here, as many of our me as went a shore out of the ships, were entertained with hostile armes,
and slaine or wounded: they suppose this Hand to be that whereunto lohannes Pontius the
Captain of one ship went and left them much disquieted, being repulsed by the inhabitantes,
and called it Florida : because he founde that Ilande, on the day of the resurrection : the
Spaniard calleth Easter, the flourishing day of the resurrection. They report, they saw, 26.
Hands, which Colonus had ouerpassed, as it were so many daughters of Hispaniola and Cuba,
and guarders of the supposed Continent, to breake the force of the stormes comming from
the Ocean. In many of these, they found natiue graynes of gold. These people also weare
diners lewelles, and vse gilded wooden Idols of their houshold gods, and some of gold very
artificially wrought, they are most curious and ingenious workemen euery where. Franciscus
Chieregatus your holinesse his Nuncio to our Caesar in Spaine, brought one of their Idols
with him, whereby you may gather how ingenious they are. It is a marueilous thing to see
the making of their rasors. They forme them of certaine yelow stones cleere and trans-
parent as chrystall, and with them they shaue, no otherwise, then if they were made of the
most ^^xcellent Steele. But that which is most admirable, and woorthie the beholding, when
they haue a blunt edge through long vse, they sharpen the not with a whet-stone, or other
stone, or powder, but temper them onely by putting them into a certaine water. They haue
also among them a thousande kindes of instruments and tooles, & other excellent fine things,
which were too long to rehearse, & peraduenture tedious to your holines, so much busied
with matters of great importance. I returne therefore from whence I digressed, to Cozu-
mella, lucatana, and Coluacana, or Oloa, riche and pleasant landes as Elisium, lately ibunde
out, from which I diuerted, where it is sufficiently knowne, of how great moment those
tractes & countries are.

The sixt Chapter.

THe new inhabitants of the Hand of Cuba, (the Spaniards) with the consent of the
gouernor, furnish a new nauy often Carauels, with 500. men, ioyning three Brigantines with
them as light horsemen, whose heipe they might vse to sounde the shallowe shores, and to
discouer the daungers of many rockes. They shippe 16. horses, fit forwarre: and choose
Fernandus Cortesius (who then waschiefe Commaunder of the Citie of Cuba) Generall, and
Admirall of the nauy, and for vnder officers they appoynt Alphonsus Fernandez Portucar-
rerius, Franciscus Montegius, Alphonsus Auila, Aluaradus the Spatensian Commendatory, lohn
Velasquez, and Diecus Ordassus. They still followe the same winde (from the last angle of
Cuba to the West) which first Franciscus Velasquez did, and after him lohn Grisalua, and so
came to the Hand of Sacrifices, whereof I made mention before. Heere a sharpe and boistrous
wynde forbadde them to take lande, and a cruell tempest carryed them backe againe to
Cozumella, lying on the East side of lucatana, this Ilande hath onely one hauen, which they
called S. lohns Port. It hath in it sixe townes onely, and hath no other water, then such as
is in welles and cisternes. It wanteth riuers and fountaynes because it is a playne lande : and
is onely 45. leagues in circuit about. The inhabitantes fled vnto the thicke woodes, and forsake
their towns for feare, our men enter their desolate and emptie houses, and feede vpon their

country

Tlxe fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

533

country victualles, and found there, furniture for houses of diuers colours, rich and costly R'«'< ''^"^'"s^
hangings, garmentes, and couerlets which they cal Amaccasof gossampine cotton. Besides
all this (most holy father) they founde innumerable bookes : of the which, together with Bookcs.
other things brought to our ncwc Empcrour, we will hereafter speake at large. Our souldiers
viewed the Ilande diligently throughout, yet still keeping thcm.sclues in battayle array, least
any violence might assayle them, They lindc but few of the inhabitants, and one woman
onely in their companie. By the Interpreter of Cuba, and three others, which the former
Spanyardes had taken from lucatan, they perswadcd the woman, to sende for the absent
kings. The inhabitantes were the familiar fricn les of this woman, the kinges conducted by
the woman, came with her, who sent messengers for them, made a league of friendship
with our men, and cheerclully returne vnto their country houses, and had much of their
stufTc restored vnto them. They founde them Idolaters, & circumcised. They sacrifice idolatry,
children of both sexes to their Zemes which are the Images of their familiar and domesticallg|JJfJj'"|'J|''''^f*
spirites, which they worship. Alaminus the Pilot, Franciscus Montegius & Portucarrerius, children,
the messengers who brought the presentes to the king, being demaunded by me, from
whence they had the children they offered in sacrifice : answered, that they were brought to
be sold from the collaterall Ilandes, lor exchange of gold, & other marchandize. For in so M.irciiandise of
huge and spatious a lande, the cursed care of damnable money hath no where yet possessed ^^fj^"" '^"'^
the inhabitants. They report also the same of other lands lately found two of the which Hai quis pri.
Ilandes they call Bian and Segestian. For want of children they sacrifice dogges : they "„"-^"'V"^'j„j
nourish also dogs to eate, as our nation doth Conies : which dogs cannot barke, & haue tecti gemasque
snouts like foxes. Such as they purpose to eate, they geld. They reserue store of bitches p"e"io™p^j""u'.
for increase, and but a small number of dogs, as our shepheards do, ofthesheepe. They }» •"'"'i'- Bom.
that are gelded growe marueiluus fat. Our men diswaded them from sacrificing men, and Bian and se°
told them howe abhominable it was. These Barbarians desire a lawe whiche they might s"t"ii.
followe. They easily perswaded them that there was one God, who created heauen anddo'sg"?,"
earth, and was the giuer of all good things, being one in substance vnder a triple Person, ^^^."j'^^'jj'^^'j^"
They suffer their Zemes to be broken in peeces: & set vp the paited Image of the blessed there is a ood.
virgin (which our me gaue the) in a sacred place of y tcple, they pare, & sweep ^ '^"ip'^jpietc'rccemr
" the pauemet therof. They receiued also a Crosse to be worshiped, in remembrance of Religion, the

God himsclfe, and that man, who died theron for y^saluation of mankinde : and on the toppe [^^'^''..("^''^T^i,
of the temple they erected a great woodden Crosse. They all assemble themselues together, mis-ric \\ni
and with reuerent fcare, and trembling, humbly adore the Image of the blessed Virgin in ' he p"^^]'j7be X-
temple. These Inhabitants signified by interpreters vnto our men, that there were seuen couerfJ by the
captiue Christias in the bordering Hand lucatan, who arryued there being driuen thither by t""t so^,^h7not'
tempest. This Hand is onely fine leagues distant from lucatan. The Admirall Cortes vnderstand- "> mu^h thdr
ing this presently dispatcheth fiftie menne with two Carauelles for that businesse : who carriearthcirgoTde'i
with them three Cozumellanes to make inquirie for them, with letters also from the Admirall to'"''"-
the Christians, if ihey were to bee founde. Ouer these fiftie men and two Carauelles hee ciuls'tians !"'
appoynted Diecus Ordassus chicfe commaunder, who was a warlike and valiant man : and '"'"""•
declareth vnto them howe honourable an act they shoulde performe, if they could bring any
of them. Hcc earnestly commendeth the matter vnto them, for he hopeth to haue some
light from them of all those tractes and countries. They fortunately depart; sixe dayes were
appoynted them for their returne, they stayed eight. Our men suspected that the Cozumel-
lane messengers, were either slaine or deteined, because they stay so long: & therfore
returne to the Admirall to Cozumella leaning them behinde. Nowe the Admirall began to
thinke of his departure from Cozumella (despayring of the Christians, whom he so much
desired, and of the Cozumellanes they had left behinde) but the opposite violence of the
sea withheld him. While they stay, behold fro the "West, they discry a Canow comming
from lucatan, which brought the Cozumellanes and one of the captiue Christians, called a captiueChti»-
Hieronimus Aquilaris, an Astigitan Vandall who had liued 7. yeers among the lucatanes : ^^"^^^"'fj;,^
^vith what loy each imbraced other, this casual accident may declare. He reporteth vnto the lucatans.
them his owne hard chaunce & the miserable condition of his cdpanions lost together with
him and they barken vnto him with attentiue minds. Here I thinke it not much from the

3 Z matter^

'■■',#3

:■' r,r*

IS'' v., i

*?!!*; t ^

534

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The fourth Decade.

Valdiuli and his
miserable (ex-
tunc.

Valdiuia and
cenaiiie of hii
companions
slaine, and sa-
crificed to tlie
IdoU Zemes.

The mother of
Aquilaris fell
madiandthc
occaiioD.

A<{u9aris do
liviered of the
captiuity of th«
Barbarians.

m ■

i'l

|t;|:i

if' V-

m''' ;a.

iiii'.ii-

Hii

matter, nor troublesome to your HoHnesse, if I rehearse how this mischiice befel them. In
my former Decads I made mention of a certaine noble man called Valdiuia, sent fro the
Spaniards which inhabited Darien in the supposed Continet of the gulfe of Vrabia, to His-
paniola tu the vice roy and Admirall Colonus, & to the Kings counsel ( to whom the ordering
& redresae of matters touching the supposed Cotinent appertained) to signifie with what
penury they were punished, and what want they had of al thinges. Vnhappy Valdiuia tooke
this matter vpO him in an vnlucky houre : for in the view of the Hand lamaica, on the South
side of Hispaniola & Cuba, a suddaine whirlwind droue him vpon the Quicksandes. These
blinde and swallowing sholes of sandes the Spanyardes call the Vipers, and that very aptly,
because many shyppes are there intangled, (as Lysertes with the Vipers tayle) and so
drowned. Here the Carauell splitte in peeces, so that Valdiuia with thirtie of his companions
could scarce descendeinto the shyppe boate: where, without oares, and sayles, these miser-
able wretches were violently caried awaie by the strong current of the Sea. For (as wee
sayde beefore in our Decades) the Seas flowe there in a perpetuall course towardes the West.
Thus they wandered thirteene dayes, not knowing whether they went, nor euer found any
thinge to eate. By meanes whereof?, of them perished through famine, and became foode
for the fishes. The rest that remained aliue, now fainting through famine, were driuen to
lucatan : where they fell into the handes of a cruell king, who slew the Captaine Valdiuia,
with certaine of his companions, and presently sacrificed them to their Zemes, & then inuiting
his friendes, he eate them. These Barbarians eate onely their enemies, or such strangers as
come vnto them, otherwise they abstaine from mans flesh. This our Hieronimus Aquilaris,
and 6. of his fellowes, were kept till the third day to bee sacrificed : but they brake their
bands by night, and so escaped the hands of this cruell and bloody Tyrant. They flie to
another king who was his enemie, & humbly submit themselues vnto him, and are receiued,
but as bondmen, and slaues. It is a lamentable thing to heare of the mother of this Aquilaris,
whe shee vnderstood the matter, shee presently fell mad, though shee had heard it onely but
vncertainely reported, that hee fell into the handes of men-eaters : so that when soeuer shee
sawe fleshe rosted, or put on the spit, shee would fill the house with her outcries, saying :
Behold the members of my sonne. O most miserable and wretched mother, the most vn-
happy of all women. Aquilaris therefore hauing receiued the Gouernours letter, sent by the
Cozumellane messengers, dcclareth before the king his maister called Taxmarus, what newes
the Cozumellanes brought : And discourseth at large of the power of their king, who were
arriued in those partes, and of the fortitude of the menne and their bountie towardes their
friendes, and rigor toward those that refused, or denied their requestes. Wherewith hee made
Taxmarus tremble, insomuch, that hee intreateth his seruant that hee would so handle the
matter that they might not enter his dominions as enemies, but would come peaceably vnto
him. Aquilaris promiseth peace, and if neede were to succour and ayde him against his
enemies. Whereupon hee dismissed Aquilaris, and giues him three of his familiars for his
companions. These thinges thus prosperously succeeding, Cortes ioyfull for the preseruation
of Aquilaris, whom he might vse as a fit interpreter, departeth from Cozumella. Now
therefore let vs declare, whether that fleete went, and what happened vnto them.

The seuenth Chapter.

SO then, Alaminus the Pilot directina; their course, they fall downe to the riuer which
Grisalua had first discouered beefore : and found the mouth thereof stopped with sand, as we
read of the riuer Nilus of Egypt, when the wind bloweth Easterly, about the Canicular dayes.
They could not therefore proceede atjainst the streame in greater vessels, then Brig.intines,
although else where it bee apt to recline such shippes. The Goucrnour landeth 200. men in
Brigantincs & boates vpon the shoare, ofTereth peace by Aquilaris. The borderers demanded
what they would haue ? Hieronimus Aquilnris answered, victualt s. There was a large
sandie plaine, on the side of the towne, whether the inha' itantes will them resorte. The day
following our men goe thether, and they bringe them cigitt ol their hennes, as bigge and as
sauoury meate as Peacockes some what of a brownishe colour, and brought also as nuuh

Maizium,

Tlie fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

SS5

Maizium, as woulde scarce haue sufficed tenne hungry menne: and withal protect and
plainely tell them, that they speedily depart thence A greate multitude of armed menne
come flocking to our men refusing to departe, and the Barbarinns demnundeagaine, what they
meant to sayle through other mens countries. Our mennr < Uy Aq lilaris) aunswercd, they
desire peace, and victuales for exciiaung of commodities, and gold also if they haue any. They
answered, that they will neyther haue peace nor warrc with them, and that they shouldc bee j^one
againe, vnlesse they woulde bee kilde euery manne. Our menne sayde, and repeate ii againe,
that they woulde not departe, without plentie of victuailes, sufficient to maintayne the soul-
diers that were presente. The Barbarians appoynte to bring them victuales the nexte day,
but they faylcd : yet the thirde day, after our menne had incampedon the sanues, and stayde
there all night, they brought them as much more victuales as before, and in tlieir
kings name commaunded them to depart. Our men sayde, they desired to see the towne,
and to haue better victuales yet. They denie their request, and murmuring turne their backs.
Our men oppressed with hunger, are compelled to seeke food. The Gouernour therefore
sendeth his vnder Captaines a lande with J50. men, who goe sundry wayes (diuiding them-
selues in seuerall companies) vnto the countrie villages. The Barbarians euilly intreated
one of the troopes they met : but their companions were not farre from them, who hearing
the sound of the alarum, came to rescue them beeing in danger. On the other part, the Go-
uernour planteth the Ordinance in the Brigantines, and boates : and draweth neere the shoare
with the rest of the souldiers, and 16. horses. The Barbarians prepared to fight, runne
speedily to defend the shoare, and withstand their landing, and with their arrowes and darts,
hit some of our men a farre off, and wounded about 20. persons vnprepared, whereupon the
Gouernour discharged the great Ordinance against the enemie, who with the slaughter which
the bullets made, the thundring of the Artillery, and flashing of the fire, are astonished and
discomforted. Our men cast themselues into the water, and runne vp to the knees, to pursue
the stragling enemie flying, and together with the affrighted Barbarians enter the Towne.
The Barbarians with continued course passe by the Towne, and forsake their houses. On the
banke of this riuer, they say, there standeth a wonderfull huge towne, greater then I dare
report. Alaminus the Pilot sayth it is a league and an halfe long, and containeth 25000.
houses. His companions lessen the greatnes, and number of the houses: yet they confesse,
it is a wonderfull great and famous towne. The houses are diuided with gardens, and are
built of lime and stone, cunningly wrought by the industrious art of the Architect. Vnto
these houses or habitations they ascend by 10. or 12. steppes or stayres. For none may
charge his neighbours wall with beames or rafters. All the houses are seperated the distance
of 3. paces asunder, and for the most part are couered with reede, thatch, or marish sedge :
yet many of them are couered with slate, or shindle stone. The Barbarians themselues openly
confessed, that they were 4000. men in battaile that day, yet vanquished of a few by reason
of the newe and strange kind of fight, with horses, and shot, for the horsemen assayling the
Barbarians in the reere ouerthrew their troupes, slew and wounded them on the right side,
and on the left, as disordered flockes of sheepe. These sillie wretches stroken with aston-
ishment at this miraculous & strange sight stoode amased, and had no power to vse their
weapons. For they thought the man on horse-backe and the horse to haue beene all one
beast, as fables report of the Centaures. Our men held the towne 22. dayes, where they
made good cheere vnder the roofe, while the hungry Barbarians abode in the open ayre, and
durst not assayle our men. They chose the strongest parte of the Towne, as it were a Castle
of defence, and securing themselues with continual! watch by night, alwayes suspitious, and
fearing some violent assault, they gaue themselues to rest and sleepe, vnder the King Ta-
nosco. The Inhabitants call the towne Potanchianum, and by reason of the victorie obtained
there, our men called it Victoria. They report also wonderfull and strange things of the
magnificence greatnes, and finenesse of their countrie pallaces built ( for their delight) vppon
their possessions or farmes, with solars, square courtes to receiue the raine, and excellent
horded roomes, after our fashion. At length by Interpreters, and such as were taken in bat-
taile, they sende for the King, and those that were cheife in authoritie vnder him, and per-

3 Z 2 swade

The Batbariani
fight with the
Spamardes&ate
discomfited.

A wonderfull
large towne on
the banke uf
the riuer.

The cont-eipt ol
the Barbarians
when they jaw
men on horse-
backe.

Victoria a
towne.

;'♦ "

. -'Mi

D30

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

The fourth Decade.

j.-i

Couenatits for
supprctsin|{ of
Idolatry and
exercising of
Christian re-
ligion, agreed
vpon by the
Barbarians,

S. lohns B«y.

sicknes of Am
bltion.

swadc ihcm to come vnarmcd, and submit thcmschies. They obey their commaiind, and re-
tiirne eiicry man vnto their houses, whcrcu|)on they assure ihcm of peace vpon certainc con-
ditions proposed, that they abstaine from the horrible ceremonies of mens bodyes which
they sacrificed to their Zemes, and pernicious dcuils, whose ima^je they worshipped, and di-
rect the eyes of their mind to our God Christ, the father of heaucn and earth, borne into
the world of a Virgin, and crucilied for the redemption of manitind, & that they breakc
downe their images, and finally profcsse themsclues to become subiect to the King of Spaine.
All which they promise : and as the shortnesse of time would permit, they were instructed.
Being restored our men giuc them content by presenting them with our countric commodi-
ties. They suppose such men to bee sent from Heauen, who bccing so fewe in number durst
incounter hande to hand, against so huge a multitude. They likewise also gaue our men cer-
tayne presentes of gold, and twenty women slaues. So leaning them, they depart to seeke
out other lands of the same shoarc, and goe vnto a gulfe found out by Alaminus vnder the
conduct of Grisalua, which they named S. lohns Baye, for Hian in the Spanish tongue signi-
fieth a gulfe. The inhabitants come peaceably vnio them. The townc was some mile distant
from the ahoare situate vpon an hill, contayning 500. houses, as they reporte. They inuite
them to lodge in the towne, and offer them the halfe parte thereof, if they will dwell with
them for euer. Our menne thought they were eyther terrified with the example of the Inha-
bitantes of Potenchianum, hauing heard the report thereof, or else, hoped (vnder the pro-
Viiiuersaii[j ihe tection of such men) to haue fauour & aide against the bordering enemies. Foreuen these
people also are continually sicke of this naturall disease, as the rest of mankinde, miscarryed
through ra^iing ambition of soueraingtie and dominion. Our men refuse to seate themselues
there still, but graunt to stay with them for a time. The people follow our men returning
to the shoare, and with greate diligence erect boothes for them, and cottages made of boughes,
and coucr them the safest way to shelter them from raine. There they incampe : and least
the rest of the company should growe slouthfull, the Admirall chargeth Alaminus the Pilot
and Franciscu.s Monteguis to indeuour to search the West part of that land : and that in the
mcane time hee woulde recreate and refresh the feeble and weary souldiers, and cure those
that were wounded at Potenchianum. The Admirall therefore remaineth with the rest. When
they were readie to go, he giueth them 2. Brigantines and .oO. men. To this gulfe, the
course of the water was very smooth : but when they had saylcd a little further vnto the West,
the violence of the Sea in short space transported them 50. leagues from their fellowcs, as if
they had beene forcibly carried away with a swift streamc falling from the high mountaynes.
They light on a place where two waters meete together, discouering it selfe to them to bee
an huge plaine sea, which met with the waters running to the West, as two mighty riiicrs,
when they meetc one against the other. So the waters comming from the South seemed as
if they would resist them as enemies, setting foote in anothers right, against the will of the
true possessors thereof. Opposite to which concourse of waters, they sawe land a farre ofT,
but on the right hand, and on the left none. Floting betwccne these conflictes, they were
tossed hcther and thether with the wliirlc pooles, wliich had almost swallowed them insomuch
tlwt for a long space they doubted of any hope of life. Thus striuing with sayle and oares,
they were scarce able to ouercome the violence thereof, for when they thought, they hadde
one night sayled two leagues forward, they founde ihat they wore driucn backe foure. Yet
at the length, through Gods fauour and helpe, thev ouercame this daungorous conflict : they
spent twentie two dayes in that little space of Sea, and returne at length to their fellowes.
They d<5clare the matter vnto them : and adiudged it to be the end of the land of Ilacolucana,
& of the supposed Continent. The land which they saw before them, they suppose to be
eyther annexed to our continent, or else to ioync with the North partes to the Baccelaos,
whereof wee haue at large discoursed in our Decades. So tliat (most holy Father) this matter
remayneth doubtfull yet, but will be discoiie-'^d in time. These aduertisements they gaue
vs, we deliuer to your Holinesse. While Alan nus, and Franciscus Montegius searched these
secrets, the king of the Prouince, whose name was Muteczuma, by one of his nobles called
Quitalbitor, who gouerned the foresayd towne, presented our men with many rich gifts of

gold

Rich gifts, &c.

The fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUl'S, AND DISCOUERIES.

D37

gold

golil and Niliicr, and precious stones setfc in goldc, curiously wrought after a mariieilous Strang
niancr, which they determined to send vnto our new Einperour the King. They consult con-
t iTiiing the planting ol' a Colonic, without the aduisc of Diecus Vrlnsqucz Gouernoiir of
Cuba, and ditler in opinion. Sonie hold it as a fowlc error, but the greatest part seduced
through the Nubtilty, and |)ractise of Cortes, gauc him their voyces and consent. Hecre
many thinges are reported against Cortes, touching his treathery and laisc dealing, which
shtill be better knowne heereafter, and therefore now may be omitted. They say, that they
were not to respect the Gouernour of ('uba, seeing the matter should be brought before an
higher ludge, (to wit) the King of S|)aine himscife, so the multitude preuayled. Where-
fore they desire victualcs of Quitalbitor the king, & assign the place for plantatio of their a coionie
Cohiny, l;i, leagues fru thence in a most blessed and fertile soylc. And for their General
and Commander tliey chose (!orte-. Iiimselfe, (as some thinke) agiinst his will. Who createth
other iMagistrates to gouerne the citie which thev purposed to build. They chose I'ortucar-
rcriuH, and Montegius (of whom else where I haue sufficientiv spoken) as messengers to
carry the presents to the Emperour t^e King of Spainc, vnder the conduct of the sayd Ala-
minus the Pilot. Power of the nobles willnigly oiler themselues, with two women to attendc
the after the fashion of their country, which they likewise brought. The people are some- The people of a
what of a brownish colour. Both sexes pein e the (lappes of their eares, where they hang e"^",,"''""'*
pendants of gold beset with precious stones. But the men bore whatsoeuer space remayneth
betwceiie the vppermost part of the nether iippe, and the rootes of the teeth of the lower ^'f' """''•
chapp : and as we sede preiious stones in gold to weare vpon our fingers, so in that hole of
the lippes, they weare a broad plate within fastened to another on the outside of the Iippe,
and the iewell they hang thereat is as great as a siluer Caroline doller and as thickc as a mans
finger : I doe not remember that I euer sawe so filthy and «iuglv a sight : yet they thinke no-
thing more fine or cotnely vnder the circle of the Moone. By which example wee are taught, nrnTmhlt'
how foolishly mankind runneth headlong, blinded in his owne errors, and how wee are all Se"cc. aii is but
deceiued. The .Ethiopian thinketh the blacke colour to be fairer then the white : and the "'"""'"'
white man thinketh otherwise. Hee that is polled, thinketh himselfemore amiable then hee
that weareth long hayre, and the bearded man supposeth hee is more comely then he that
wantetli a bcartl. As appetite therefore moueth, not as reason perswadeth, men run into
these vanities, and euery prcuince is ruled by their owne sense, as one sayth, we chose vaine
things, and abhorrc thinges certainc and profitable. Whence they haue gold wee haue
sufficiently spoken, but our men wondred whence they had their siluer. They shewe them siluer.
high mountaynes continually couered with snow, which fewe times of the yeere shewe their
bare topps, by reason of thicke cloudes and mists. The playne and smooth mountaines
therefore seemc to bring forth gold, and the rough craggv hilles and colde vallies ingender
siluer. They haue copper also. They found battayle axes, and digging spades among them : Corper.
but no iron or Steele. Let vs now come to the presents which were brought to the king, and
begin first with the bookes.

The eight Chapter.

WE haue sayde before, that these nations haue bookes : and the messengers who were bookes.
Procurators for the new Colony of Coluacana, (together with other presentes) brought many
of them with ihcm into vSpayne. The leaues of their books whereon they write, are of the
thin inner riiidc of a free growing vnder the vpperbarke: I thinke they call it Philyra, not
such as is within the barke of Willowes or Elmes, but such as we may see in the woolly and
downy partes of dates, which lyeth within the hard outward rinds, as nets interlaced with
holes, and narrow spots. Those mashes or little nettings they stampe in a morter together
with Bituiren, and aftcrwarde being softened binde and extend them to what forme they
please, and being made hard againe, they smecre and annoynt them with playster, or some
matter or substnnce like playster. I thinke your Holinesse hath scene table bookes, oucr-
strcw d wit'^ playster beaten and sifted into fine dust, wherein one may write whatsoeuer he
pleaseth, and after with a sptmge or a cloath blot it out, and write thereon againe. Bookes also

are

j3fl

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Tlie fourth Decade.

The Chsricteri
which the In-
dians VIC,

5- ,?

■^'- i

.;i(

B^Mj|M(

ni^Dpi'3!

■^. . 1' '

mf'

iS-lJl.'i.,! :■

^m\^

%$'. "v' ' ■

i?|''f' '

f, ll -jia •■

HBHnmtK'ri

f "■ 1

HDiKi

kf:

^HHiHl''P>!''

(R ;■'

H^^n^^i;'

■^ •

If'

HU^B^^EMS^^t '

»'

! i: J

Tlie subiect of
the Indian
bookea.

A moneth a
moone.

Their diuision
of thf ytere.
The colt the
Indiini bestow
on their templei
very obieruabte,
Prayer.

Siuillii.

The superstition
of this people.

are cunningly made of the fig-trcc timber, which i^tewardn of great homes carry with them to
the imrkct, and with a penne of incttall settc dowiic the warct which they haiic bought, and
blot them out againe when they hauc entred them in their bookes of accompt. Thev make
not their books square Icafc by Icafe, but extend the matter and substance tlu-reof into many
cubites. They reduce them into square pcoce^, not loose, but with binding, and flexible
Bitumen so conioyned, that being compact of wooden table bookes, they may seeme to haue
passed the hands of some curi(>U9 workman that ioyncd thorn together. Which way soeuer
the booke bee opened, two written sides ofl'er themselues to the view, two pnges appcarc and
as many lye vnder, \Milesse you stretch ihem in length: for there arc many leaucs ioyned
together vnder one leafc. The Characters are very vnlike ours, written after our manner,
lyne after lyne, with characters like small dice, fishookcs, snares, tiles, starrcs, & other such
like formes and shapes. Wherein they immitate almost the Egyptian manner of writing, and
betweene the lines, they paint the shapes of me, & beasts, especially of their kings, &
nobles. Wherfore it is to bee supposed that the worthy acts of euery kings auncestors, are
there set downe in writing, as we see the like done in our time, that oftentimes the Printers
insert the pictures of the authors of the matter deliuered into generall histories, and fabulous
bookes also, to allure the mindes of such as are desirous to buy them. They make the <«)rmer
wooden table bookes also vith art to content and delight the beholder. Beeing shut, they
seeme to differ nothing from our bookes, in these they set downe in writing the rite.s, and
customes of their lawea, sacrifices, ceremonies, their computations, also, 8i certayne AstrO"
nomicall annotations, with the manner and time of sowing and planting. They begin the
yecre from the going downe of the Starres, P'.eiades, or Virgiliae, and end it with the moneths
of the Moone. For they call a moneth a inoonc, heercupon when they intend to signifie
moneths, they say moones. They ca'l the moone in their language Tona : and reckon
the dayes by the Sunne : therefore iiaming so many dayes they say so many sunnc-s, and in
their language they call the Sunne Tonatico : yet somewhere it is otherwise, where yet
without shew of reason they diuide the yeere into 20. moneths, and include the moneths also
into 20. dayes. The huge Temples they frequent, they adorne with golden tapestry, and other
furniture intermixed with precious stones. Euery day as soone as light beginneth to ap-
peare, they perfume their temples, and offer deuout prayers before they take any thinge in
hand. The inhabitants also of these countrycs vse horrible impietie in their sacrifices, for
as I haue sayd before, they sacrifice children of both sexes to their Idols. At what time they
cast their seede into the ground, and when the come beginneth to shoote out in eares, the
people for want of children, sacrifice slaues (bought with money, daintily fed, and richly
arrayed) vnto their Zemes. They circumcise them twentie dayes before they of!er the to
their Idols, who passing through the streetes, are humbly saluted by the townesmen, as though
they should shortly be reckoned among the number of the Godds. They honour their Zemes
with another sharpe kinde of piety, and deuotion : for they ofTer their owne blood, one out
«)f the tongue, another out of the lippes, some out of the eares, and many out of the breast,
thigh, or legges. This blood they draw from them, by cutting and gashin^j; themselues with a
sharpe rasor, which as it droppcth they receiue in their hands and casting it on high towardes
heauen, besprinkle the paucment of the Church therewith, supposing the godds are thereby
pacified. Twelue leagues distant from the new Colonic Villa richa, on the East standeth a
towne of 5. thousand houses, by the ancient name of the inhabitantes, called Cempoal, but by
a new, Siuillia. The King of this towne had fine men imprysoned reserued for sacrifices :
which our men hauing taken away, hee humbly desired to haue them restored, saying, you
bring destruction vpon me, and all this my kingdome, if ye take the slaues away from vs,
which we determined to sacrifice. For our Zemes being displeased when our sacrifices
cease, will suflTer all our corne to be eaten with the wceuell, or to bee beaten downe
with hayle, or consumed with drougth, or to be laid flat to the ground with violent
showers. Least therefore the inhabitantes of Cempoal should desperately reuolt from
them, our men chose the lesse euill for the present, supposing it was no time to forbid
them to vse their ancient & accoustomed ceremonies, and therefore restored the slaues.

Although

Tlic fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

ft»

A pfrtwaiipii at
tlu' rciuiKction.

I'hc bontt of
tli> ir cnemtci
haiiiTd vp for
truphccs.

A kinjt nthtf
tiling with
wmiT, mj
•monjit ihcni.

Although the Prieufci promise them etcrnall j;lory, and pcrpctunll dclightcs and rnmilinrity
with the Godds after the ttforinv daven of this world : yet they hearken to these promises with
heaiiic cheerc, and had rather bee delinered, then put to death. They rail their Prirstes
Qiiine<t, in the singular ninnbcr Quin, who line vnmarried, a pure and chast life, and are
honoured with renerent feare. They also hang vp the bones ol" their enemies taken in the
wars after they hauc eaten the flesh, bound together in buiidcis, at the feete of their Zemes,
as trnphes of their victories, with the titles of the conqucrours vnder them. They report also
another thing worth the noting, which will bee very pleasing to your Holinesse. The Priestes
aeemc to baptise children both males and females of a yccre ofde, with holy ceremonves in
their temples, powring water crosse-wise out of a cruet vpon their heads, and although tiiey
vnderstand not their words, yet they obserued their murmurs and actions : neythcr do they
as the Mahumetanes or lewes, tliinke their temples profaned, if anv of another sect be present
at their sacrifices, or ceremonyes. Wee haue now spoken sufficiently of their bookes.
Temples, and rites and ceremonies of their sacrifices, let vs therefore procccdc to the rcBt of
the presents brought to the King.

The ninth Chapter.

THey brought also two mills, such as may bee turned about with the hand, the one of^j]"''''?''^'^
gold, and the other of siluer, solid and almost of one circumference and compasse : (to wit) iJnj.*
twenty eight spannes about. That of goldc weighed 380(). Castelanes. I sayd before, that
a Castelane is a coync of goldc, weighing a third part more then the Ducate. In the center
of this mill, was an Image of a cubite long, representing a King sitting in a throane, cloathed
to the knee, like vnto their Zemes, with such a countenance, as we vse to paint hobgoblings
or spiritcs which walke by night. The field or plaine without the center was florished with
boughes, flowers, and leaues. The other of siluer was like vnto it, and almost of the same
weight : and both were of pure mettall. They brought also graines of gold, as they grew,
not molten, for proofc of natiue gold, which were as big as Lintels, and small pulse. And
two chaynes of gold, whernf the one contayned eight linckes, wherein 2.S2. redd stones were
Ket, but not carbuncles, and 183. greene stones, which are of the same estimation there that
the best Emerodes are with vs. At the edge of this chaine, hang twenty seuen golden belles,
and betweene euery bell foure iewels set in gold, at euery one whereof golden pendants
hang. The otiier chaine had 4. round lincks, beset with 102. red stones, & with 172 greene,
gai-nished with 26. golden belles. In the middle of the chaine, were 10. great precious stones
set m gold, at the which 130. golden pendants hung, curiously wrought. They brought also
by chauncc 12. payre of leather buskins of diuers colours, some embroydered with gold,
and some with siluer, and some with precious stones, both blewe, and greene. At euery of
of these hung golden belles : also certaine myters, and attyres of the head full of diuers blew
precious stones sowed in them, like vnto Saphires. I know not what to say of the crests, The Indians
helmets, and fannes of feathers : if manns witte or inuention euer got any honour in such ^*""„°'^'j''J'
like artes, these people may woorthily obtayne the cheife soueraingty and commendation, "ous"" of
Surely I marueile not at the gold and precious stones, but wonder with astonishment with *°'^""'"'"i''
what Industrie and laborious art the curious workemanship exceedeth the matter and sub-
stance. I beheld a thousande shapes, and a thousand formes, which I cannot expresse in
writing : so that in my iudgement I neuer saw any thing which might more allure the eyes
of men with the beauty thereof. The feathers of their foule vnknowne to vs, are most beau-
tifuU and shining. As they would admire our peacocks, or phesants tnines when they sawe
them : so did wee wonder at their feathers, with the which they make their fannes, and crests,
and trimly beautilic all their worke. Wee sawe blewe, greene, yeallow, redd, white & brown-
ish, to be iiatiuc colours in feathers. All those instruments they make of gold. They brought
two Iielmets eouered with blewe precious stones: one edged with golden belles, and many
platt.- of gold, two gulden knobbes sustaining the belles. The other eouered with the same
.st'ni s, but edged wit!. 25. golden belies, crested with a greene foule sitting on the top of the
helmet, wiioaie feete, bill, and eyes were all of gold, and seuerall golden knobbes sustained

euery

1 ris

540

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The fourth Dccadf.

Sancta Maria
Antiqua.

Cilery bell. Also foiire trowt-spcarcs tlirce-forked, couered oiicr with qiiilles, and pintted and
wrought in, of diners) colours, the teeth whereof were full of precious stones, fat^tened toge-
ther with golden threedcs, and wyars. They brought also a great Scepter beset with precious
stones after the same manner, with two golden ringes, and a bracelet of goldc: and shoocs of
an Harts skinne, sowed with golden wyar, with a white sole in the bottom, and a looking
glassc of a bright stone, halfe blew and wliite, set in golde, and by chaunce also they brought
a cleere transparent stone called Sphengitcs. Likewise a Lysert set in gold, and two great
shelles, two golden duckes, and the sundry shapes of diners birdes, and all of goldc, foure
fishes called Cephaii of massie gold, and a rodd of copper. J?csidcs targets for the warres, and
bucklers, 24. shicldes of gold, .'). of siluer, whatsoeuer they brought was curiously wrought in
with feathers. Also a light square target platted and wouen with quilles and feathers of diners
colours, in the front wiiereof, the midle of the golden plate was ingrauen with the portraiture
of the Idoll Zemes. Fourc other golden plates in maner of a crosse inclose the Image, wherin
were the proportions of diners beastcs, as Lyons, Tygcrs, and Woolnes, hauing their heads
framed of twiggcs, and little splints of timber, with the skinnes of the beastes sowed vpon
them, garnished with copper belles, and the shapes of diuers other beasts exceeding well
made of the whole skinne. Likewise great sheetes of gossampine cotton, intermingled with
blacke, white, and veallow colours, checker wise, which is an argument, that they arc ac-
quainted with chesse boards. One of these sheets, on the right side was chequered with
blacke, white, and red colours, and on the inside, all of one colour, without variety. Another
also wouen after the same manner, of other colors, with a blacke wheele in the middest, full of
rayes and spots, with bright feathers intermixed. Two other white sheetes also, Tapestry
couerlets, rich Arras hangings, a little souldiers cloake or cassocke, such as they vse to weare
in their conntrie, with ccrtaine wouen coates which they weare vnder the, and diuers tiiinne
light tyres for the head. I omitte many other thinges more beautiful! to behold, then preci-
ous, which I suppose would be more tedious to your Holinesse, then delightfull to report: as
also the innumerable particulars of the discoucrers, concerning their labours, wantes, dangers,
monsters, and many aduersities, whereof euery one in their anotations largely discourse, which
also are read and rcgistrcd in our Senate of Indian afTayres. These fewe obseruations I haue
gathered out of many and diuers of their bookes, and prinate letters. Yet the bringers of
these presents, and Ferdinandus Cortes the Admirall, and author of erecting the new Colony,
in those remote countries, were adiudged by the Kings Counccll of India, to haue done against
equity and right, for that without the aduise of the Goncrnour of Cuba, who by the Kings
authority sent them forth, they ttwke the matter vppon tiiem contrary to his commamidement,
and that they went (although it were to the King) without his consent. Diecus Velasquez
therefore, the Gouernour by his procurator accuseth them as fugitiue thecues, and traitours to
the King : but they alledge, tliat they had performed much better seruicc and obedience to
the King, and that they aj)pealed to a greater tribunal and an higher ludge: and say, that they
furnished a nauie at their owne charge, and that the Gouernour hiniselfe parted with nothing
vpon other termes, then as a marchant that was to rcceiiie gaine and j)ro(it l)y his ctnninodi-
ties, which they allendge, he sold at afarre dearer rate. The Gouernour rcquireth to haue
them punished by death, they desire magistracy and olllces of coniinainui, and reward for
the daungers, and labours siistayned. U(>th the reward, and jjunishmcnt are deferred : yet
was it decreed, that both parties should be heard. Now let vs roturne to the Daricnenses
the inhaliitants of the p;nlfe of Vrabia in the supposed Continent. Wee haue sayd heeretofore
that Darien is a riuer falling into the West side of the gulCe of Vrabia. Vpon the banke
whereof the Spaniardes erected a Colony, cxpnlsing the King Cemaccus by force of annes:
and called the name of the Colony Sancta Maria Antiqna, by occasion of a vow made at the
time of the fight. To these (as wee mentioned in the endeofour Decades) the same yeere
wee ceased to write, VZiX). men were sent vnder the conduct of Petrus Arias Abulensi.s, at
the request of Vasques Nunncs Balboa, who first di>couered the South Sea heeretofore vn-
knowne, and gouerned the Dari^uiMises : Petrus Arias arriuing at Darien with ample au-
thority from the King, we declared, t!>at diners Centurions were sent forth diuers wayes with

diuers

The fourth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUKHIES,

541

tliiicrs compnnies of foote : \vhorcii|)on what followed I will briefly dcliucr, because all wati
liiilooiis and dread full, & nothing; pleasing. Since our Decades ceased, no other thing wan
arted sane to kill, and be killed, to slauijhtcr, and be slaughtered. The Catholique king
created Vascus Balboa Atlantado, who could not brookc the soueraignty and comniaundc of
I'ctrus Arias, so that the dissention bctweene them ( uerthrew all. lohannes Capcdus the
J}ish.op, a preaching Fryer of the order of S. Francis mediated the matter betweene them,
and promised to giue Vas(]ncs the daughier of Petrus Arias to wife. But no mca:ies might
be found to make agreement betweene these tuo Commanders. Thev fall out much more
cruelly, insomuch that the matter came to that pas<c, that Petrus Arias taking occasion
against Vaschus through proces framed by the magistrals of the cilty, commaundcd Vaschus
to be; strangled, and f). other cheife Commanders with him, saying that Vascpies and his
confederates went about to rebell in the South Sea, where Vaschus built a flecte of 4. shipps,
to search the South shoarc of the supposed Continent. And aflirmeth, that to theoOO smil-
diers he had with him (his companions in armes) hec should spcake these wordes. What,
mv friendes and fellow souldiers, partakers with me of so many labours, and daungcrs,
shall we alwayes be subiect to anothers commaund ? Who can nowc indurc the ins(-Ic!icy
and pride of this Gouernour? let vs follow these shoares whither Fortune shall conduct vs,
and among so many Elisian prouinces of so huge a land, let vs chose one, whore at length
wee may Icade the remnant of our life in frcedoine and liberty. What mann • shall be able
to (inde vs out, or hauing found vs do vs violence ? These wordes being rojiorted to the Go-
uernour, Petrus .Arias sendcth for Vaschus from the Souil". : Vaschus obeyeth his commaund,
and is cast in pryson, and yet denveth that he euer imagined any such purpose. WI.i re-
upon they sought to ])roducc testimony of the inisdc'Tieano.irs which he had committed: his
wordes arc repeated from the beginning, and he amdged worthy of death, and was ex- v.,s.iues ««-
ecuted. So poore miserable Vaschus (euen when he hoped to obtaync greater titles) ended "'"''•
the labours and dangers which he had vndergon. Petrus Arias, leaning his wife in Dariena,
imbarketh himselfe in the flcete, to search the countries hing on the shoarc*: but whether
hee bee returned, we haue yet no ccrtaine intelligence, so that Fortune playes her part also
with him. For euen now another whose name was Lupus Sosa, being called home, from L>'i"" S""
the fortunate Ilandes, where he had beene Vio roy a long time, was made filouernour of "f'^jJi'™"""
Darien : what stomacke Petrus Arias may haue, if he ntiirne, let good men iudge. There
was nothing done vnder his gouernmcnt, woorihy of glory. On the one side he is blamed
for being too rcmisse, and negligent, and on the other, for being loo fauourable, and nothing
seuere in correcting errors and disorders. But we haue .>^pokcn enough of this matter: Now
let vs repcate some thinges remayning yet behinde.

The tenth Chapter.

OF the great and decpe riuer Dabaiba, called by our men Grandis, which falleth into theThe.;u«
vttcrmost angle of the gulfe of Vrabia, by 7. ports or mouths as Nilus into the iEg\ptian ^"'"'"•
Sea, we haue spoken at large in our Decades. The hilly countries thereof by report of the
inhabitaiuitcs arc very full' of gold. Vaschus and other Commanders went foure times vp Gold,
this riuer armed in battayle aray against the streamc, with shippes of diners kinder : first
lourty l('a;;ucs, next fiftv, <hcn eighty, and at an other time croi^^ed it, to search the sccicis
of Dabaiba : but O wondcrfull mischeife and mischaunce. A naked people alwaios ouer-
thrcwc the clothed nation, the vnarmed the armed, and sometimes kild them cucry niaiuic, or
wounded them all. They goe to the warres with poysoned arrowes, and where they can see Poiioned
the bare ficshc of their cnemir-j, they will not fayle to strike them there. They haue likewise -""■'"■'■
darts, which in the time of fight, they cast so tiiicke a farrc oir, that like a cloudc they lake Djtws.
the light of the suiuie from their enemies: and haue also 1)roadc wooddcn swordes hardened WoJd. n sword«
in the fire, wherewith they fiercely fight hande to handc, if they come to handle strokes, and ^," ■■'" '"'"
Vaschus himselfe sometime recciucd many woundes at their handes. So the riuer of Dabai-
ba, and the kingdome were left vnsearched. It rcmayneth, that wee spc»">ke somewhat of His- Hisi'iuiii-1,%
paniola, the mother of the other Iland^. In it, they haue a full Senate, and hue ludges added

J A 'to

■'.^'.'1;, ■,•'■- 31

.' x\

ili

512

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The fourth Decade.

The toote
Iiiccat

Hispaniola de-
creed to be a
ftee people.

He commendeth
the suger Canes
of Hispaiiiula.

Plenty of cattle
and wuiiderful
iuucase of come.

Vines.

to them, to giue lawes to the people of all those tractes and Countries, but shortly they will
leaue gathering of golde there, although it abound therewith, because they shall want
myners, and labourers. The miserable inhabitauntes (whose helpe they vsed in gathering
golde) are brought to a very small number: consumed from the beeginning with crucll
warres, but many more with famine, that yeere they digged vpp the roote lucca, wlicrewith
they made bread for their nobles, and ceased from sowing that graine Maizium their common
bread : the spots and pifstels of that foule disease heeretofore vnknowne vnto them, in the
former yeere 1518 which like rotten sheep inuaded the through a contagious breath or va-
pour, and withall, to speake truely, the greedy desire of gold in digging, sifting, & gathering
whereof, they cruelly vexed these poore wretches, who after the sowing of their scedc, were
wont to s>iue themselues to idlesportes, dancing, fishing, or hunting of certaine conies, which
they call Vtia;, consumed the rest. But now it is decreed by all the Kings Counceli, that
they be reduced to a free people, and giue themselues onely to increase or generation, and to
tillage and husbandry : and that slaues else where bought, should be drawne to that labour
of the gold mines. We haue spoken sufficiently of the deadly hunger of golde. It is a mar-
ueilous thing to heare how all thinges grow & prosper in this Hand. There are now twenty
eight suger-presses erected in it, wherewith they wring out great plenty of suger. They say,
that higher and greater suger canes grow in this Hand, then any where else : and that they
are as thicke as a mans arme in the fleshy and brawny part, and of a mans stature, and an
halfe high. And which is more strange, Valentia in Spayne, where our Auncestors made
greate quantity of suger euery yeere, or wheresoeuer they take most care and paines about
their suger canes, and when euery roote bringeth forth sixe, or seuen sprouting canes at the
most : in Hispaniola, euery roote bringeth twenty and sometimes thirtie. The plentie of
foure fooled beastes and cattle is exceeding great : yet the raging thirst of gold hath
hetherto diuerted the Spanyard from tyllage. Come increaseth wonderfully there, insomuch
(as they say) it hath sometimes yeelded more then an hundred fould, where they are carcfuU
to sow it in the hilles, or tops of the mountaynes, especially towardcs the North. But iii
playne and open fieldes, it vanisheth to chafte, by reason of the rancknesse, and excessiue
moysture thereof. Vines also grow in those parts : but what shoulde wee speake of
the trees which beare Cassia-fistula, brought hether from the bordering Ilandes of the sup-
posed Continent, mentioned in the bookes of our Decades? Whereof there is so great plentie
now, that after fewe yeeres, wee shall buy a pound thereof at the Apothecaries, for the price
of one ounce, I haue spoken sufficiently in my Decades of the Brasil woodes and other pre-
rogatiues of this blessed Hand, and also of the benefits which nature hath bountifully bestow-
ed vppon it. I thought good also to repeate many things, because I suppose, the waight of
your important afl^ayres, might happily diuert your Holinesse mind from the remembrance
thereof. And sauoury and pleasing discourses, distort not the lippes by repetition, so that a
precious matter be adorned with rich and costly attire. The matter deserued a garment
imbroydered with gold, and precious stones : but wee haue couered it with a fryars coole.
Let the blame therefore of my fault be imposed vppon the most reuerent j?igidius Viter-
biensis that well deseruing Cardinall of your Holinesse sacred Sea Apostolical, who inioyned
mee, being an vnskilfull artificer to melt gold in a Smithes shopp, to frame costly iewekand
ornamentes therewith.

HAs Petri Martyris salebras, & spineta qua potuimus cura, & industria, iam tandem per^
currimus, in quibus tradiiccndis si temporis mora tibi nimis longa videatur, qui poteras, quod
mihi oneris imposuisti facilius subirc, qui acuto polies ingenio, & arte meliore: a:quo tamen
animo, & arnica frontc feras, quod in hisce novi argument! libellis studuerim magis veritati,
quam verborum ornamento, aiit brcuitati,

M. Lock.

The

Tliejift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

543

The

The 5. Decade of Peter Martyr a Millanoise of Angleria, dedicated to Pope Adrian

the sixt.

MOst holy father, and most wracious Prince, I dedicated my fourth Decade of the state of
India, to Pope Leo the tenth your most bountiful! Cosin germane : wherein we haue related
with great fidelity, and integrity what menne. Hands, or vnknowne landes haue beene dis-
couered in the Ocean in our time, to the yere from the incarnation 1520. Since which time,
other letters came from Fcrnandus Cortes, Admirall of the Emperours fleete, sent from those
countries, which he had then subiccted to the Spanish dominion, wherein newe and straunge
matters were confayned, such as had ncucr beene heard of before, very admirall and wonder-
ftill. All which, as briefly and trucly as 1 could, obseruing the order of the matter and times,
I haue pressed in this lift Decade of my Co'vmentaries, which I dedicated to Pope Adrian
your predecessour, and seeing he is departed this life before the receit thereof, as you are
heyre of his dignity, so be inhcritour of my labours, as heereafter you shall bee of all, if I write
any thing worthy the historicall reading. I dedicate it therefore by name to your gracious
and sacred maiesty, that vndcr your happy proteciion and authority it may be published, &
all men may know howc great an addition hath bin made vnto the name of Christ, since your
Holinessc came to the Papacy which the Almighty, (as I hope, and desire) for you" piety,
and clemencies sake, will infinitely increase. Proreede therefore, as you haue begunne, and
make pcrpetuall peace betweene Christian Princes, especially beiweene the Emperour, and
the most Christian Princes, winch are at variance with him, and aduance the standarde of the
healthfull Crosse against the impious enemic: and so leaue eternall monuments of your
name, and fame to al posterity, which no time shal euer be able to deface. In the end He besins his
therfore of the former booke, (tliat we may returne to our purpose, ) mention was made of the"*'"
most mighty King Muteczuma, who in an huge citty, seated in the middle of a salt lake,
called Tenustitane, raigned farre, and wide ouer many citties, and kinges of diners Prouinces,
from whom (as we mentioned before) presentes of wonderfull excellency were sent by the
Spanvardes Montegius and Portucarrerius to the Emperour Charles abiding at Vallidolet that
most famous towne of Spaine. But in the meane space while Cortes ^xpecteth the returne
of the messengers hee sent to the Emperour, least through idlenes the souldiers should
become dull and sluggish, hee determined to execute his intended voyage. That great and
mighty citty therefore beeing pacified and quieted, which in the former booke of my
Decades, I say was called Potenchianum vnder King Tauasco, was presently after called
Victoria by our men, by reason of a victorie obtained there against an huge multitude of
Barbarians, From whence Cortes went some 80. leagues to the West, and there planted a
Colonic vppon the shoare, some fewe leagues from another citty within the lande, named The Coiony
Zempoal, neere the riuer of Grisalua, and aboute halfe a league from the village, vpon a little ■^""P"''-
rising hill, named Chianistan : but hee called his owne Colony Vera Crux, because he landed veta Crux.
vpon the Eeue before the feast of the Crosse. From thence Cortes determined in perso to
vndcrstand what was reported of so great a King, as he had heard Muteczuma was, and what Mwteczumaa
rumour went of so huge and vast a citty. Cortes thought and purpose being vnderstood, the ""^
inhabitants of Zempoall bordering vpon Muteczuma, who by violence yeelded him subiection,
yet beeing deadly enemies vnto him, consulting together, went vnto Cortes, as the Hasdui,
and Sequani, after the Heluetians were vanquished, came humbling themselues and weeping
vnto the Emjicrour, I'or the insolent and outrageous tyranny of Ariouistus King of the Ger-
manes: so did the Zcmpoalenses complaine of Muteczuma, & much more greiuously, in
that, besides the hcauy tributes of other prouinciall reuenues, which they yeerely gaue, they shues (mj fm
were compelled to giuc vnto Muteczuma slaues, and for want of them, to giue him some of f"' "i*ii/f";,
their owne children in stead of tribute, to bee sacrificed to their godds. For wee haue sayde, r^vd mr ti,but«
and it is well knowne vnto your llolinesse, that in all those countrycs they offer vp mans 1° bej^sactifoj.
blood to appease their angry godds, as heereafter shalbe declared more at large. The Zcm-
poalenses therefore promise to giue Cortes jiledges for their fidelity, and auxiliary forces
^valiant and couragious warrinirs) against the Tyrant because they hoj)e (that God, creator of

4 A 3 Hcauen

■J '■

,, ,y; yUh

ill

544r

\'OYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tliefift Decade.

m \^r

The Conceit
that thi- Earha-
riiins had ol* the
Cliristi.<jts.

A digression to
answer an obiec-
lion.

The gfMt Ar-
tillery and men
on horse h:ick
how terrihic to
the Bar'.iians.

A Pollicie of
Cottts.

Heauen and earth fauoringe them, of whom our men made report, and also safely brake
downe their parents Images which they worshipped before) they shall free the citty from so
cruell a Tyrant, and restore liberty to the whole Prouince, otherwise most fortunate, il'Cortea
would pitty this their so great calamity, & meete with their cruell iniuries: and they further
say, they doubt not but they shal get the victory because they thougiit Cortes and his con-
sorts were sent from Heauen, seing they were so mild vnto the conquered, and such
destroyers of them that refused amity with them, or being fewe in number, that they durst
stand, and resist so great a sorte of warriours as tl^e power of the Potcnchianensioans was.
For our men in that battayle disfranked and oucrthrcwe 40000. armed men (as your Ilolinea
hath often heard of them who wore present thereat, and hath likewise read it in letters sent
from the cheife CommauAders) with no more then .WO. footc, l(i. horse and some great
ordinance, Iloere we must make a litle digression to another sort of men, who are of so
slender and b:ise a courage as they take those things for fables, which they tliink to be
without compasse of their strength. These men will writh the Nose, when they shall vnder-
stand tliat so many thousands of the enemve were oucrthrown by so small a number ol'
souldiers. But two things may cutt their cauilics asunder. The one is an example, the other
the strangenes of the thing. Haue they not read that the Emperour with lessc force conquered
the mighty armies of the Ileluelians, then of Ariouistus, and lastlv of the Belgae ? Did not
Themistocles vanquish Xerxe kinge of the Persians and slew his army at Saiamina (who is
reported to haue inuadcd Grecia with so great a multitude, that his army hauinge pitched
their tentes, desirous to dine, drinking riuer water, drew their chapels drye) when he had no
greater a power then \^i. thousand Grecians so that the Emperor be iiig scarce able to flic,
escaped with one shippe onely ? Besides, our mennc hadd twnc scuerall kindes of fight,
neuer seene before to those Barbarians or euer Iiearde of, which with the onely sight thereof
compelled them to runn away, to wit, the I'hunder of the ordinance, & the (lame and
sulphury smell issuinge from the great artillery which thcv supposed to be thunder and
lightning, brought by our menn from iieaiien. Neither were they lesse terrified through
the approach of the horses thinkinge the niannc on horsebacke and the horse to haue binn but
one beast, as ftibles report of the Cenfaures: neither did it alwayes succeede well and happily
with our menne, who had often vndergone the like hazzardcs themselues, insomuch, that the
Barbarians haue sometimes destroyed whole armyes of our men and haue vtterly refused to
infcrtaine strangers and guestes. But I must now returne to tiie intended voyage, from
whence I diuerted. The oration of the Zempoalenses being ended, and interpreted by
Ilieroiiimus Aquilaris, who tossed to and froe with wanes had 7. yeeres together led a seruile
life, vnder the power and commando of a certaine King of whom I haue at large made men-
tion in the booke goinge before this Decade Cortes departed from Vera Crux, leauinge
150. men there, for defense of that Colony & so marched forward with 1.5. horsmcn only,
^00. foote and 400. auxiliary Zempoalenses to ayde him in tlie warrs : yet first, he com-
maunded all the shippes (wherein he had brought his army) to be sunke vpo pretence that
they were rotten : but he himsclfe confesscth the cause, to be this, to wit, that thereby he
might rcmoue all hope of flight from the souldiers, seeing he had determined to settle him-
selfe in those conntryes & make his perpetuall dwellinge there. Yet the souldiers for tiie
most part seemed to thinke otherwise : for they feared by the example of many of their
companions who were often slaughtered by the Barbarians, least the same might happen to
them, that being but few in number, they should be brought to infinite nations^ and tho<e
warlike, and armed people. Moreouer many ()f the were the familiars, & frendcs iS laeobus
Vehisquez Gouernour of the Hand of Fcrnaiulina, whic'.i is Cuba who desired to ohoj their
old comander after they shiild returne from the sennh and viewe of strange rountryts.
Many of these (at what time Corlcs dispatched a ship with the presents to tlie Emperour,
wi'hout acqnaintingc Jacobus Velasque/ therewith) attejjtcd to steale away with a Brigaii-
tlne, to sjgiiifie the departure ofy ship, y laving al passage both by sea, and lad he might
take her wherevp(,n Cortes apprehended foiire and punished them as guiltie of treason.
Their names were lohn Scutifer, lacobus Zcrmegnus, Gonsalus Vmbria, all Pilottcs, together

with

Tliefift -Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

545

with Alphonsus Pegnatus. The shippes therefore being sunkc, and the rest terrifyed (by

the example of these foiire) from further thought of any departure, he tooke his iourney vpon P°"" "''" ■^i*

,.V o» i- in. I • • r^ • 1- 11 lourticy towards

the 16. day of August, lolu. to that great citie Tenustitan slaiidmg vppon a Jake, an the grtat cuic
hundred leagues distant to the West, from the Castle of Vera Crux: And had with him °f i"'"""'""-
from the Zempoalenses three principall Commanders, called Teuchius, Manexus, and Ta-
maius. That citie, and her neighbour towne named Zacacami, gaue him 1300. men,
whose helpe our men vsed for caryagc of their burdes, in steedc of pack-horses, as the
manner is in those countryes. Nowe therefore least matters should slightly bee omitted,
I am to declare, what befell Cortes in that iourney. As he was vppon the way, it was told
him that an vnknowne Fleete wandred along that sshorc ; & as he vnderstoode, it was Fran- Franciiiai.
ciscus Garaius Gouernour of the Ilande Jamaica, who also sought a place to erect a """'
ncwc Colonic. Wherefore Cortes sendcth messengers to Garaius, and offereth hini enter-
taynment at his Colonic of Vera Crux, and such supplie as he had there, if hcc wanted any
thing: but whither he did this pollilikly or no, we shall hereafter knowe. Garaius refuseth
it : & by the Kinges Secretary, and witnesses hee protcstclh to Cortes, that he yceldc him
halfe part of all those countryes, and assigne limitcs to diuide their iurisdiction. Cortes
dcnycth his demaunde, and commanded the Sccrctarie and witnesses set from Garaius to
be spoyled, and taking away his owne mens olde raggs gaue them as many new gar-
ments for them. Garaius vrged him no further, but departed ; being about to goe to
other countryes, of the same shore. For from Jamaica, (the gouernment whereof was
committed vnto him) he also in three Carauelles, the veerc beeforc, ranne along the Sea
coastes of that lande which lohannes Pontius called Florida, (of whom I haue spoken at riorida.
large in the former Decades) but with ill successe. For hee was ouerthrownc by the in- Thevnh.-.ppie
habitauntcs, who slewe the greatest part ,.f his menne. The like also happened to lohannes ha'„n"sPomk"s.
Pontius, the firste finder of Florida. Beeing oflentymes repulsed by the inhabitauntes, hee
was so wounded at the length, that returning to Cuba to cure himselfe, & his wounded men,
he presently died there. But Garaius searching those shores after the death of lohannes
Pontius, saith hee founde Florida, to be no Hand, but by huge crooked windings & turningcs
to bee ioyned to this mayne Continent of Tenustitan. Garaius sayling to those shores, light
vpon a riuer, flowing into the Ocean vith a broade mouth, and from his ships, discryed
many villages coucred with reedes. A king whose :\ame is Panuchus possesseth both sides
of that riuer, from which the country also is called Panucha. This king is reported to be Panxchj,
subiect to the iiveat king Muteczuma, and to paye him tribute. Free libertie of trading was
not permitted there, and as wee gather by the Chart or map which Garaius his painters
brought, it bcndeth like a bow, so that descending from Tenustitan, to the North, it
bendeth alwaycs more and more to the middle of a bowe. And presently ag;.ine it
bendeth by litle and litle to the South, so that if a line be stretched from the shore of
Tenustitan, to that parte of the lande which lohannes Pontius first touched, from the North
side of Fernandina, it will make the string of the bow. Garaius thinketh that coast to be very
litle profitable, because he sawe tokens & signes of small store of golde, and that not pure.
Wherefore he wished rather to erect a Colony not farre from Sancta Crux the Colony of
Cortes, but he forbad him. For in that place Cortes himselfe planted another, which he The Cniur.y
called by the name of Almeria, from Almcria a citie of the kingdome of Granado standing on
the Sea shore, which not many yeers since was recouered fro the Moores by warlike prow-
essc. These things being thus done, Cortes pursueth his entendcd purpose. And hauing
marched foure dayes iourney, forwarde from Zempoal, came into a Prouince named
Sincuchimalarem, whiche is a playne hauing onely one citie or towne, seated on the side of sincucWms-
a litle rising hill, exceeding stronge and fortified by nature. There is no other acces?e vnto u"™ '
il, but by two scales or greeccs, made by mat s hnnde, harde to clime : which is the seate, and
house of the King of that small Prouince tj butarie to King Muteczuma. It is amost fruite-
full Prouince, euery where in the playne full of many townes and villages, euery one of them
contayning 300. or 400. houses, but countrey cottages. The Nobilitie (as it falleth out
ruery where) dwell with their Kinge. This king peaceably entertained our menne in his

towne.

■■I'll

'•I

il' ■

546

A high moun>
taine.

Ttxuincum a
•.'jwne.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thejift Decade.

A Chappell
dedicated to
Idolls.

The Port of
wood.

Cacataminus nnd
!iis Court.

Muteczumi
thought to be
lord of the
world yet ac-
knowledged to be
Icssc thenThem-
peror.

a. pety kinges
bringe presents
to Cortes.

Tascalteca a
•uwiie.

The irienani*

rtiitie 01' tint
proi-'lo.

tnwne, and fed them well, affirming that Muteczuma charged him so to doe. Cortes sayeth,
hec will report it to Muteczuma and giue him thankes, and further sayth that hee came out
of his owne Empire and dominions to see him. Cortes departing from this kinge, went to a
most high mountaine inclosing the end or boundes of that prouince. Cortes affirmeth, and
they that came from it confesse, that no mountaine in Spayne is higher, and that passing ouer
it in the Moneth of August, they indurcd sharpe and bitter cold, by reason of the congealed
snow & continuall Ice. In the descent of these mountaines, they enter another plainc, at the
beginninge and entrance whereof standeth a towne named Texunacum, this also is a most
fruitfull plaine, and fortified with many villages and towers, and all of them subiect to
Muteczuma. Being gone out of that valleye two dayes iorney, weakened & spent with
hunger and cold they passed ouer barren countries without wafer, and therefore desolate, and
not inhabited. Through that distemper, and a violent storme of winde and rainc, with
lighteninge and thunder many perished. From thence they came vnto a calmer Mountaine,
on the topp whereof stoode a Chapell dedicated to their Idolls. Before the Chapcll dorcs,
was an exceeding great stacke of wood. At certaine times of the yeere, euery one offer to
their godds pyles of woode, together with the oblations which are to be sacrificed: Who
thinke thereby they appease the angry gods. The Spaniardes call the opening of the moun-
taine toppes, Portes, so from the same effect, they called that passage the Port of wood.
Dcscendinge from that Mountayne, they enter into another valley fruitfull and inhabited,
whose Kinge is called Cacataminus. The Kinges Courte is all of stone, very greatc
made with halles, and many Chambers, after our fashion, and seated vppon the banke
of a pleasant riuer runninge through that valley. This kinge honorably intertained vs,
and being demaunded whether he were at Mutcczumas commaund, he answered, & who
is not ? seeing Muteczuma is Lorde of the world. But demaunding of him what hee
thought of our King, he confessed he was greater, whom Muteczuma also himselfe
would obey. Our men instantly requiring to know whether hee could get any gold, he
confessed, that he had gold, but that he would not giue it to any, without Muteczumas
consent. So they durst not compell him to giue them any least they should disquiet
Muteczuma beeing farre of. Two other borderinge Kinges persuaded through the fame of
our nation, came viito Cortes and either of them brought him a seueral chaine of gold, but
of smale weight, and no pure mettall, whereof the one h.".d dominion 4. leagues vp the riuer,
and the other two leagues downe the s'.-eame'. They say that both sides of the riuer are
euery where fortified with houses which haue gardens, and country farmes lying bctweene
them. They report that the Princes court, who hath his house vp the riuer, is not inferior
either in greatnes, excellency, or strength, and that there is a Castle here neere vnto his
court, inexpugnable, and most exactly built with bulwarkes and turretted walles. The
report goeth that this Kinges towne consisteth of 3000. houses, & some say 6000. but they
told vs not the name thereof. Oit menn were also well entertained by this Prince : who
is likewise subiect to Muteczuma. From this kinges lodginge Cortes sent 4. messengers to
the next towne called Tascalteca, to sounde the myndes of the inhabitants, whether they
would be pleased, that hee should come vnto them because he had heard that the Tascalte-
canes were a warlike people, and deadly enemies to Muteczuma: Whereupon hee stayde '2.
dayes with his king, expecting the messengers. Muteczuma could neucr pcrswade the
Tascaltecanes to admitt any lawe from him, or that they should obey him, insomuch that they
alwayes brought vp their youth in the hatred of Muteczuma, by meanes whereof for many
yeares together they wanted salt and gossampine cotton wherewith to make garments, being
inclosed on euery side with Muteczumas countries, and could not elsewhere procure these ne-
ressaryes. They say, thai they had rather Hue with greate want of things necC'^sary, free fro the
slaucry & seruitude ofMuterzuma, then to become his vassells, & subiccts. In this cifty
they say there arc many nobles, Lords of villages, whose helpe the conion wealth of y
Tascaltecanes vsefh, making the captaines & Commanders in the warrs. They will
haue no Lords, If it arise in any nianns minde, to be desirous to raise an hcade, it
woulde draw to a worse mischiefe vpon that citizen, then the Hcluetianes inflicted vpon

Orgcntorites,

or ninny

N, being

hese ne-

e fro the

is cittv

th ofy

hey will

cade, it:

d vpon

iitoritcs,

The fif* JDecade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

547

Orgentorites, afTecting Empire and §oiicraigntie, and perswading the Princes and
chicle of the Hedui, and Seqiiani, to do the like. The Tascaltecanes are iiist & vpright
in their dealing, as they foud by experiecc afterwards, wherof hereafter we wil speake at
large. Cortes therefore expecting the messengers, and none of them returned, departed
from that towne, yet spent eight dayes in that valley, and diuers villages thereabout. In
the meanc space the Zempoalenses goe about to perswade Cortes to procure the
amitie and friendship of the Tascaltecan common wealth, declaring how great helpe ho
should finde in them against the power of Muteczuma, if at any time hee attempted to
doe any thing against them. Whereupon he remoucd thence towardcs Tascalteca. In his
iourney he founde another valley, which a wall of 20. footc brcade, and a mans height and a v lU br-ims.
an halfe high, ouercrossed from both the bottomes of high niountaines standing on either jXcir.;,'
side. In the whole wall there was but one gate, ten paces wide, built with diuers crooked
turninges, least the sudden inuasion of the cncmie might assault them wandering &: vnpro-
uidcd. The wall appcrtalcd to the Tascaltecanes, made for that purpose, least the Muteczu-
mans shold passe through that valley, whether they woulde or no; The inhabitantes of the
valley behinde them, accompanying Cortes, as Guides to direct him the way, admonished
and perswaded him, not to goe through the borders of the Tascaltecanes, saying they were
deceitfull, breakers of their fidelity and promise, and enemies to all strangers, and such as
receiued inlertainment from them, and further that if they tooke any, they were deuourers of
their enemies : and therefore they woulde conduct Cortes and his companions al the way
through the countreycs of Muteczuma, where by Muteczumas commaundement, they should
haue whatsoeuer tb'' • ' 'ild wish or desire. On the contrary parte the Zempoalensiaii
guides, Teuchius, \lantxi (-, and Thamaius, and some of the chiel'e of Zacatamini who had
a thousand warriours, were niost of the same opinion, who aduise him by any mcancs not to
trust the tributaries of f Muteczumans, ^ our me were to be drawn by ^ Muteczuman guides,
through places, full of dangers, and passages fit for ambushmeni : and that he shoulde
beware of the deceit of the Muteczumanes, they earnestly besought him : promising that
they woulde be his guides through the open countries of the Tascaltecanes. Resolulng
therefore to followe the counsell of the Zempoalensians, and Zacatamini, hee taketh his
iourney through the Tascaltecane fieldes. Cortes himselfe went beefore the bandes as they Cottes sendes
marched, with the horse, of the which, he drewe forth two, and sent them before as scoutes, ^'im."
who if they sawe any imminent danger before their eyes, they might take notice thereof, &
comming backe, signifie, that they must prepare thcmschics to fight. The horsemen being
sent before from the toppe of an high hill some ioure miles of, by chaunce discouered cer-
taine armed men lying in ambuscado in the next plainc, nowe n the iurisdiction of the
Tascaltecanes. As soone as they sawe the horse, supposing the man and the horse to be Many amed
but one beast, stricken with feare at such an horrible sight and strange apparition, they fled "'luran'smam^
away or dissembled flight. Our men make signes of peace, and cal them backe againe as i™sh discouered
they fled, beckcning, and waning to them with their handes. Of many, 15. of the onely of o" horse- '
make a stande : hauing an ambuscado hard by. The two horsemen that went before, cal the mni.
rest of the horse, and bidde them make speede. A litle further about 4000. armed men
issue foorth of the place where they lay hid, and begin the fight with our men, anci in the Tiie Taswitc
twinckling of an eye kill two horses with their arrowes. Our foote companies goe vnto "^It, ^
them, and set vpon the enemie, who being wounded with arrowes and arquebus shot forsake
the battaile. They slew many of them, but net a man more of ours either slayne or wouded.
The next day following, messengers were sent to Cortes to desire peace: who brought The Tasaite-
two of the mcsBengers with them whom Cortes expected a long tyme : they intreate pardon p^"te."'"
for that they had done, and make excuses : saying, that they had forraigne souldiers that
day, whiche they coulde not restraine, and that it was done against the power & abilitie
which the Princes of that Prouince hadde to withstande it : and that they were readie to
pay for the horses, and if any other dammage were done, they offered recompence. Cortes
admitted their excuses. Marching some three mylcs thence, hee incamped on the side
of a certayne ryuer, and appoynted his nightlie watches, shrewdlv mistrusting the Barbarians.

■mm

i ■ 1 ^ ' ■ Ml. .;

' ■' ^1

548

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'Hie fift Decade.

ill i 3

The Tascilte.
C3I1I make fight
a;aine.

loooao hatha-
ri.ins ill ambush*

A douhtfull
h^itta/le.

O saii.ige peo"
yie.

4C0. captiues
talcen.

A huge army of
the Tastaltfcani
assault the camp.

Create and ad-
mirable aie the
effects of re-
solved minds yf
urged by exirc-
mitici

The Tnscalte-
cans craue par-
don and bring
presents.

Ai soone as day began to appeare, he went to the next village, where (of the foure mes-
sengers he sent to sounde the inhabifantcs inynds) he found two of them had bin taken by
the inhabitantcs, & bound with cords, but breaking them by night they escaped. It was
determined, that the next day they shoulde bee slainc: this they themselucs reported.
While he thus stnydc, beholde a thousande armed men vnexpected, filling thcayre with their
horrible clamors, cast their lauelins, and many sortes of dartes at our men a farrc of: but
Cortes endeuored with faire speeches to allure them, yet it profited nothing. They signifie
vnto them by interpreters, that they prouoke not our men : but the more gentlcly he dealt
with them, tlic more insolent, and outragious was the Barbarians. At length they retyred,
and by litle and litle drewe our men pursuing them, to an hidden ambuscado of armed men,
about some hundred thousande as Cortes himsrlfe writeth. The Barbarians issue foorth,
and compassed our men on euery side, so that they fought with doubtfull succcsse from an
houre before noone vntill the euening. In that battayle the Zempoalenses, Zacatamini,
Istacmastitani, and the rest of the inhabitantcs, who folowcd Cortes, bchaucd thcmselues
valiantly, compelled through extreme neccssitie : for being inclosed within the countries of
the Tascaltecaiies, there was no way open for flight. The only hope of their safty was, to
despairc of safty. Yf they had bin vanquished, they had made the Tascaltecanes a daintie
banquet with their flesh. Tor the conquered become foode to the conquerours. Where-
fore the Tascaltecanes trusting in their multitude began nowe to licke their lippes, through
hope of daintie and delicate catcs, when they vndcrstoodc a forraine nation had entrcd the
limits of their borders. But it fell out otherwise with them : for Cortes had sixe lielde peeces,
and as many arquebus shot, fourtie archers, & 13. horsemen intermixed with tiiem, warlike
engines and instruments vnknown to the Barbarians. Wherefore that cloud of Barbarians was
nowe at length dispersed : yet hee passed that night without sleepe (in a certain chappell
in the field consecrated to Idolatry) much troubled & disquieted in mind. But at I' first
dawning of the day. he came forth into the ope field with all his horse an hundred foote of
his owne and 300 of the Istacmastitan Prouinciallcs: for that towne Istacmastitan also peace-
ably receiucd Cortes, and gnue him 300. men for his supply and ayde against Mutcc/uma.
He tooke also of the Zempoalenses, and their next neighbours foure hundred men, leaning
the rest to guardc the campe and the carriages, and ouerranne al the enemies plaine, burnt
fine villages, made hauocke and spoyle of whatsoeuer he met with : and brought 400.
captiues to the Campe. But at the first twilight, before the morning began to waxe red,
behold such an infinite number of the enemie, ran violently to the Campe, that they seemed
to couer all the fieldes. They write, that there came 150000. armed men thither, who fought
furiously at the fortifications of the campe. They say they incountered hand to hand for the
space of foure houres with great hazard of our me: but the Barbarians retyred without
doing any thing, for none there, coulde turne their backes. Of fearefuU sheepe, each man
then tooke a Lyons courage with him. The enemie being put to flight, Cortes like a tyger
great with young, marched forth against these traytors, who here and there were nowe
returnd to their houses. So wasting, destroying, taking, or killing, all he met he came vnto
a towne of o(Xi0. houses (as thev report) and aboue, all which he destroyed with fycr and
sworde. This being thus done, the Prouincialles smitten with exceeding tcrrour and ftarc,
sent the Nobility of that country Emhassadours vnto Cortes. They craue pardon for that
which is past, and promise that hereafter thev wouldc bee obedient to his commaunde, and
receiue what Lawcs socucr in tiie name of that greate King of whome Cortes so muche
glorycth. For proofe whereof, they brought presentes such as were honourable and of
esteeme with them, to witle, helmettes and pluines of feathers, (ornamentes for the warres)
curiously wrought with woonderliill art. They brought also necessarie protiision of viciunll,
as of corne, and plentie of crammed foule, after their manner. Fi;r wee hauc sayde before,
and your ITolincsse hath hoard it reported, that they mayntaine certaine foule among tliem
(in steedc of our hennes) greater then Peacockes, and nothing inferior to them in tast.

The

TheJift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERrcS.
The second Chapter.

549

HAuinge heard what the Embassadours would deliucr, he greatly acciiseth their Lordcs
and masters, yet oftereth them pardon for the former dammage they had done ; & to
odmitt them into his amity and friendship, 8o that hereafter they carry themsehies faithfully
in the obedience of the King of Spainc. The next day after, 50. men of the nobilitic came
vnarmed vnto him (vnder color of intertnining amity) to espy the entrance of the campe.
When Cortes sawe the view the situation of the campe with fixed eye, & troubled counte-
nance, he began to suspect. Separating one of them therefore from his felowes, hee lead-
eth him aside, and by a faithful Interpreter exhorteth him to confesse the truth, who being
intised through promises, and flattering speaches, openeth the whole matter. He saith that
the chiefe man of that prouince Quesitangal by name, lay in ambushment with a great power
of armed nienne, to assault the campe vnawarcs the next night : and for that purpose his con-
sorts were sent vnder pretence of peace, that they might vnderstand where to make the
assault, or which might be the easiest way to the boothes which our menne had erected,
(that they micfhl not lodge all night in the open ayer) that so entring them, they might set
them ou fiio, and while our menne were busied in quenching the same they might assault
them, and put them all to the sworde: for (saith he) we will tempt fortune with crafty de-
uises, and stratagemes seeing they were alwayes ouerthrown so vnhappily through warlike
prowesse. Cortes vnderstading this, desired more fully to knowe the truth of the matter.
Wherefore hee brought other 5. of the same company into a secret place a part, and threat-
ened to torture the, & offered the liberall rewardes, in conclusio all of them (without differ-
ence ) cofessed J same y the first irian did. But, befor ^ report of this inquisitio shuld be spread
he tooke those 50. euery man : & cutting of their right hads set the back to their master ^^^^fm^l
with this message. Tell your Princes thus, that it is not the part of valiant men, or such p,i„c„ „ith
as are renowned for warlike prowesse, to bringe their purposes to passe by such treacherous Jj^jj/jfJ^j'^f,
deuiscs. As for you the instruments of treachery who came enemies vnto vs in steede of
negociators, receiue this punishment of your wickednes, that hauing your right handes cutt
off, ye returne vnto the who chose you to be authors of so mischieuous and foule a deed.
Tell them, we wilbe ready, what houre soeuer they come, whether they assaile vs by night
or set vpon vs at noone daye : so that they shall well know what those fewe are, whom they
seeke to disquiet. They goe, and report what they sawe, and shew what they had suffered.
In the euening, an huge and turbulent multitude of Barbarians, divided into two seueral
c5panies came vnto them. Cortes thought it much better to medle with them in the open
day, when by the light he might shewe the Barbarians the sterne countenance of his horse,
vnknowne to the, & the force of the furious artillery, then to expect night which bringes a The enemies
thousand dangers with it, especially to those that set footing in Strang countries, ignorant of J^J"\",*'s^j^"
the places, if they be copelled to change. Seeing the horses and fury of the great ordi- nisUed at the
nance, and stricken with feare at the noyse thereof, at the first incounter the Enimy retires "°j"|j° J ,^4
to the stiidinge come, whereof the fields at that time were very ful, so being dispersed, flie.
they soui>ht to hid themsehies. Their come (as I haue ofte said) is Maizium. Hereujio
they gaue Cortes free liberty to wander: yet for certaine dayes he durst not put his heade
out of the Campe. About some league from the Campe they had a citty of the enemy
which at the sound of a trumpet assembled an innumerable multitude of souldiers.
For Cortes himself writeth, and they who came fro thence are bold to say that this citty
Tascalteca consisteth of 2000. houses. At length being certified by spies, y the inhabitants of ^°"^^J *j)"''^
that greate citty were vnprouided, and secure, he suddenly inuaded it in the second watch ^ight!
of the night, and set vpon them either wandringe or being asleepe : by nieanes whereof he
possesseth the strongest place therof. At the first dawning of the day, the chiefe men come
vnto him & humbly intreat him to doe the no hurt & sweare to obey his command. They
bring with the plenty of their countrie victualles, as much as Cortes would desire, %vhere
vppon Cortes returned victor to the Campe, where he founde the company much tnoued A^™timeiu^^
against him, because hee brought them, where they might not returne, and therefore p„ni/,

4 B sayd

\-y.

'\ M'

■■Svfii

: ;ii

i'i'-?il

■ . .!".

•'m

'■i'"i

550

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TheJift Decade.

Cortes his liriue
oration to the
louldiers.

View here the
mutability of a
multitude.

Zeutegal seJs
Embassadoursto
Cortes with
('romise of sub-
jection.

Cortes present-
ed by 6. of the
kindred of Mu-
teczuma with
rich gifles.

sayd they would goe no further, for they could by no mcancs escape, but should
shortly bee slayne euery man, seeing they snwe themselucs compassed on euery side
with such fierce warriours, and that they should perish either with famine or colde, after
they had escaped the weapons of the Barbarians. Aflirming further, that the successe of
war was vncertainc, and that the victorie was not alwayes in the hande of menne, and
therefore they perswade and intreatc him to rcturne to the shore, where their compa-
nions were left. Yf he refused, they protest, that they \vill forsake him. But Cortes
who resolued in his mind, that he wuulde goe to Tenustitan, the chiefe citie of all those
countreyes, thinking to deale wisely and gentlely rather then to handle the matter seuerely,
thus reasoneth with them. What a strange thing is this my felow souldiers and companions
in armes ? why doe yee feare ? Do you not apparently knowe that God is with you, who
hath giuen vs so many happie victories f Doc yee thinke those whom wee arc about toscekc,
are better, and more valiant and stout ? Doe yee not see, that it is in your power, that the
faith of Christ should infinitely be amplified ? What kingdomes, and of what quality shall
ye procure to your King and your selues, so yee be constant ? That which remaineth be-
hind is but a small matter. If peraduenture, (which I nothing feare) we must die, what
could be more happie ? could any man euer finish his life with more glory ? Besides, re-
member ye are Spanyardes, who commonly are of an vndanted spirite, not esteeming their
life a farthing, where either the obedience of Almightie God, or the opportunitie of obtain-
ing glory, offer themselues. Againe, whither shall we goe ? What shal wee doe growing
slothfull through idlenesse on the shores ? Take courage, take courage I .<»ay, and with me
subdue these barbarous nations to the Lawe of Christ, and the obedience of our King. What
fame shall be left to posteritie of these worthy actes, which yet neuer came to the eares of
any man lining ? We shal be more honourable among our neighboures in our coiuifry,
then euer was Hercules in Greece, through his comming into Spaine, of whome monumentes
are yet extant. Our labours are much more grleuous, and our rewardes shall be the greater.
Rouse vp yourselues therfore and with a stout courage vndertake with me what ye haue
begunne, making no question of the victorie. Ilauing ended his oration, the Centurians
affirmed that Cortes had ipoken well. The multitude (more vnconstant than the waues of
the Sea, which goe whither soeuer the winde bloweth) yeeld likewise their consent, and
lend their eares and tongues to serue euery turne. The souldiers myndes being pacified,
Embassadours came vnto Cortes from Zeutegal, Generall Commander of that country, who
craned pardon for that which was past, for taking armes agaynst our men. And that they
shoulde not woonder thereat, they say, that they neuer acknowledged any king, or were euer
subiect vnto any, and that they alwayes esteemed libertie so much, that they suffered many
inconueniencies in former times, least they should obey Muteczumas command. But
chiefely they wanted cotton garmentes, and salt to season their meats which they coulde not
get, without Muteczumas leaue. Yet if they might now be receiued into his fauour and
grace, they promise to doe whatsoeuer he shoulde commande. No man knewe of it, and so
they were admitted. That citie Tascalteca was sixe leagues distant from the Campe, the
citizens intreate him to come vnto them. Cortes a long time refused it, yet at length oucr-
come through the intreaties of the Princes, he went. But I must insert another thing before
I proceed in the Tascaltecane matters. Sixe of the familiar friendcs of Muteczuma came to
Cortes, with excellent and costly presentes : who brought diners Jewels, and sundry vestures
of golde, to the value of a thousand Castellanes of golde, and a thousande garmentes of Gos-
sampine cotton dyed of diners colours. When these men vnderstoode that Cortes determined
to visite Muteczuma and his citie, they desired Cortes in the behalfe of Muteczuma, to thinke
no more of that matter, beecause that citie Tenustitan was seated in the waters, where naturally
was great want and scarsitie of all thinges : so that vnles they were supplyed by forraincns, there
would be smale store of prouision fit for so great persons. But the Embassadours promise
that Muteczuma should send what sQme soeuer Cortes would demai;d of golde, silucr, precious
stones and other things, wheresoeuer he should make his aboad. To this Cortes made answer
that he could not by any meanes graunt their request, because he had expresse commande-
ment from his king, both to see that citty, and the king thereof, & make diligent inquiry of

all

I .M

Thefft Decade.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

651

all things, that he might signific by messengers to his maieafy what a thing it is. Vndor-
standing his niincle and purpose, they desire leaue of Cortes to send oneof liicmselucs with
tiiat answere to Muteczuma. Leuue is grannted, & one of the six, who were ioynctl ii

fO-

mission went & returned againe the sixt day : & broght ten pecccs of i-mbosscd golden "",\'jS""iu'
plate from Muteczuma of equall waight and very fairely wrought. lU' brought also vpoi«c.otw».
slaues shoulders (because they cann get no beastes for carriage) l.")00. garnieiifos more
precious then the former 1000, They that are of a base spirit, will hecrc woonder, & l)c-
ieeue those things to be fabulous which they ncuer heard of before or which are without
the compassc of their strength. These men wee will satisfy in their place, when wee shal
come to treate of the ccconomicall and howshold afl'aires of Muteczuma. Let this digression
from the Tascaltecanes sufiice. Now let vs rcpc.t the quality, & greatnes of Tascaltcca,
and this first, which I touched before. It alloweth Noblemen but cannot brooke Lords, as I
sayd before, and is goucrncd partly Democratically and parlely Aristocratically, as somtimc Democraticaii
the Common wealth of Rome was, before it came to a violent Monarchy. Cortes writeth ^"'''V,'"'""'
& they that come from thence say, that it is much greater then the cilty of Granata, and ucmtmciuof
more populous, and abounding with all things nece.ssary for the life of man. They vse^""'""'
bread made of Maizium : and haue store of foulc, wild beasts and fresh water fish, but no
sea fish : for it standeth too farre from the Sea, abouc 50. leagues distant, as some .say. They
haue also diuers kinds of pulse. Within the stone walls, are house.s of stone high and well
fortified, for they are allwayes suspicious and in feare, by reason of the bordering enemy
which ioynes vpo them. They frequent markets, and fayres: and are cloathed, & weare
stockings or buskines. They delight much in lewels of gold Sc precious stones: & greatly
esteeme helmetts, and plumes of feathers of diuers colors, which they vse for ornamct in
the wars: all which they plat & interlace with gold : they sell wood for fuel euery where in
the markets brought vp5 mens shoulders : & sel also for the vse of building, beames, rafters
planckes bricke, stones, & lime, & they haue architects, & excellet potters. There is no
earthen vessels with vs, that exceedeth the workmanshippe of theirs. They haue also Her-
baristes that sell medicinable herbes : and they vse bathes. And it is also certainly knowne a Poiitike ^o-
that they haue an order and lawes where by they gouerne. The largenesse of that prouince """">'"'•
13 90. leagues in circuit about, whereof this citty Tascalteca is the heade & cheife: being
full of townes, villages, and streets, mountains, and fruitefull valleyes replenished with peo-
ple, and those men of warre, by reason of the neighbourhood of Muteczuma their perpetual
enemy. Heereunto adioineth another prouince, called the country of Guazuzingo : which cuazuiingo.a
is gouerned after the same order, in the forme of a common wealth. They are all enemies p™"|h^;n, „[
to theeues, for hauing taken them they lead them bound through the marketts, and beate ThecuM.
them to death with cudgelles & are iust & vpright dealers. He aboad 20. dayes with the
Tascaltecans : at what time, the six Embassadours of Muteczuma were alwayes at his side
cndeuoring to perswade Cortes not to intertaine friendshippe with the Tascaltecanes, and that
hee should not trust faithlesse, & deceitfull men. The Tascaltecanes on the contrary part,
affirmed that the Muteczumanes were tyrants, & wold bring Cortes into some daungerous
& ineuitable misery, if he gaue credit to the. Cortes secretly reioyced at this their dis- Cotteshispoi-
sentio, thinking their mutuall hatred might profit him, & therefore fedd thg both with faire lai'ne'aSoii.
speaches. The Muteczumanes were very earnest with Cortes, to discharge himselfe of the
Tascaltecanes and that hee woud goe to the citty Chiurutecal, in the iurisdiction of Mutec- chiututecaii
zuma, not aboue 5. leagues distat thence. There (say they) he might more easily treate "''J'
whatsoeucr he would concerninge the affaires, hee had with Muteczuma. The Tascaltecanes
on the contrary, told Cortes, that they had prepared to intrappe him, both in the way & in
the citty Chiurutecal. In the waye, because they signified y in many places the citizens
thereof had cut trenches wherby ff horses might be indangered, and that other wayes were
turned from the right course : And that within the citty the wayes were stopped and dammed
vp in many place.s, and fensed with heapes of earth, or stones : & that those citizens had
gathered together a great heape of stones in their .solars, turretts, & windwos which were
ouer the streets & publicke wayes, whereby fro aloft they might kill our men coming vnto

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552

The Chlurute-
ralriucs send
Emba«sadours to
Corlrs.

VOYAGES, NAUICATIONS,

Thejift Decade.

CortM (contrary
to the good coun-
sell of the Tas-
caU<:canes) is by
practiiedriuento
goe to Cbiuru-
tccall.

A conspiracie of
Muteczuma
with the cititens
of L'hmrutecall
ajainst Cortci.

the-. And Turtlicr the Toscnltocas declare that it was an argument, that the Chiurutecalenscg
were corruptly affected towardes our men, in that they neuer came vnto them, as they of
the citie Guazuzingo did, who were further of. Cortes vnderstanding this, sent vnto the
Chiurutccatenscs, to complayne of their iniuric and negligence. Hauing hearde the message
of Cortes, they sent Embassadours, but of the basest of the people, and men of no worth
to tell him, that they came not before, because they were to goe through their enemies
cotmtryes, yet they sayde that the Chiuriitecalenscs were well aflccted vnto Cortes. But
vndcrstanding the indignitie they offered him, in that the nobilitie disdayned to come vnto
him, hce sent those base companions away with threatning woordes, and with this charge,
that vnlesse the chiefe men of that citie came vnto him within tliree dayes, hee woulde come
against them as an enemy, and then (sayth he) they shoiilde prooue what hee vselh to doc
when he is angry, if they deferred their comming, to yeeld obedience to the King of Spayne,
to whom the dominion and Empire of all those countryes belong«th. So they came, and
Cortes sayth, hee woulde admit the excuses they made, so they performed their promise.
They promise willingly to doe his command and that he shoulde know, and vnderstande that
the Tascaltecans had spoken vntruth, and offered that they would pay tribute according to
Cortes his edict, if he woulde come vnto them. So he stood long doubtfully distracted in
diuers opinions. At legth hee resolued to trie his fortune, and yeelding to the Muteczu-
manes, taketh his iourney towardes Chiurutecal. But the Tascaltecanes hauing hearde his
resolution, perceiuing that good counsel preuailed nothing, say, they woulde by no meanrs
suffer, that Cortes shoulde freely commit himselfe to the Mutcczumans trust so that it might
be in their power, to be able to hurt him. That they were thankefull mennc, to him who
vsed them so kindly, and receiued the Tascaltecanes into his friendshippe and fauour after
so innumerable errors, when he might vtterly haue destroyed them in due reuenge of their
rebellion. Wherefore they instantly afiirme that they would glue him an hundred ihousando
armed me in steed of a Prastorifi army to ganl his perso : but Cortes refused It booted not
to deny the. That first night therfore he cncaped on the banke of a riuer ouer against him,
with that army of almost an hudred thousand men. Afterwards retaining SOOO. for his de-
fence, hee sent away the rest, yeelding them deserued thankes, as was fit. The Chiurute-
calensian priests comming forth after their manner with boyes and girles, singing, and with
thesounde of drummes, and trumpettes, rereiued ourmenne (comming vnto them) a farre
of. Entring the cittie, they were entertayned, and fedde well enough, but not daintilie,
or plentifully. Concerning the damming vp of wayes, and rampircs, & stones which were
prepared, they pcrcciucd somewhat, as they were admonished by the Tascaltecanes. But
now, beholde newc messengers from Muteczuma : who spake vnto the citizens of Chiurute-
cal in the eare, and not to Cortes. The messengers demaunded what they had done with
our men, the citizens made them no further answere. Wherefore Cortes moued to suspition,
becing mindfull of the counsel of the Tascaltecanes, by Hieronimus Aquilaris the Inter-
preter (who was skilfull in the language of these countries, hauing serued long time in the
liordering prouinces) questioneth a certayne young man admitted to his presence: & this
is the summe of all that he vnderstoode. lie saith, that the Chiurutccalcnses when our
men were to goe vnto them, had sent away all the children, and old men, with their women,
and goods what they ment else, he plainely professcth, that he knoweih nothing. The trea-
son is discouered, but in what manner and order, I must declare vnto you. A certaine Zem-
poalensian mayde was abiding with a woman of Chiurutecal, who peraduenturc folowed her
husbande or her friende. The Chiurutecalcnsian woman spake thus vnto the Zempoalensian
stranger. Friende, go with me. Whither saith she? without the citie, and farre of saith
shee. For that night she saith innumerable multitude of armed men would coe from Mu-
teczuma, who will kill as many as they find within these wallea. 1 reueale this vnto you,
beecause I haue compassion on you : stay not heere, vnlesse you desire cruelly to finish
these pleasaunt yeeres of your tender age, with the rest. The mayde discouereth the matter
to Aquilaris. Cortes desiring to examine it, knoweth the matter, and vnderstoode it to be
true. Whereupon he sent to cal the chiefe rulers of the Chiurutecalenses, & comadcth his

H»'i,:

TlicJ^l Decade.

TKAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

me presetly to armc thesclucs. !Ic declareth ^ mattor to captalcs, & willeth ^ vpu notice
giuc by discharge of a perce they Fall vpnn the authors of that mischeuous practise, whom
hee woulde assemble together in the liall of his lod>;inge. The cheir*! meti of the citty came,
and declaringe the matter first vnto thrm. hcc rasteth them in prison, tniieth horse, and goeth
forth. He found the gates of his pallace compassed about with armed menne : so greate
was the armed multitude of citizens which expected their comminge. Hee settes vppon
them, before the rest could rome vnto them, so that they fiercely fought a long time, as he
himsclfc saith for the space of 5. houres. At length hee vanquished the treacherous Bar-
barians, and then returncth to the appointed pnllace. Hee calleth the citi/ens (who were
bounde) vnto him, who being demaunded why they did so, they aunswered, they were de-
cciued by Mutcczuma : and that it was done against their will. But if hee would spare
them, they promise, they would bee subiect to him for eucr, and neuer obey Mutecziima,
any more. The Zempoalonses, and Tascaltecanes who ayded him, behaued themselues
manfully that day, for the hatred they conceiued against the tyranny of Muteczuma. Where-
upon Cortes spared the cittizens, and commanded them to goe vnto the women, and chil-
dren, and the rest, & bringe them backe againe. They uid so : and the citty was replenished
with her people. This beingc done, hee did his endeuour to reconcile the Tascaltecanes,
and the Chiurutecalenses, and to make them agree together, who were at variance before
by Muteczumas meaiics, and deadly hated one another. That citty Chiunitecall standeth
in a fruitefull plaine, consisting (as they write) of 20000. houses built of lime and stone,
within the wall, and as many in the suburbes. It was sometimes a common wealth : but
Muteczuma made it tributary and subiect to his comaunde. Both citties will now willingly
obey vs. These people are richer, and hauc better garments then the Tascaltecans their
neighbours. The Chiurutecalenses water a great part of their plaine by trenches which they
haue cut : and that prouince is well fortified with turreted walles. Cortes himselfe writeth
that fro one high Church, he numbered 400. towers belonging to J prouince, besides those
which were erected in the streets of ^ citty which al were in steed of Churches. This
country hath land fit for pasture, which (he saith) he yet found no where else in those coun-
tryes because other prouinces were so ful of people that they haue scarce grounde enough
for their seede. These thingcs succeeding thus, he calleth Muteczumas Embassadours vnto
him, and blameth the vniust and deceitfull dealing of their maister, affirming that it was
not the part of a noble Prince, such as he supposed Muteczuma had beene, to deale craftily,
and to make others instnimentes of his cunning practises and deuises. Wherefore Cortea
sayth, that he woulde no longer keepe fidelitie and promise of amitie, giuen him by mes-
sengers betweene them, seeing Muteczuma had so trecherously contrary to his oath attempted
these thinges against him. But the Embassadors halfe dead, and out of hart, sayd, their
master, neuer imagined, or knewe of any such matter, and that time shoulde discouer what
they sayd, to be true. They say, that Muteczuma was alwayes a religious obseruer of his
promise : and that the Chiurutecalenses diuised that of their owne heade, to prescrue them
from the displeasure of Cortes. Hauing thus spoken, the Embassadours desire Cortes that
with his good leaue they might send one of their rupany to Muteczuma, to signifie what
might be treated. Prouision of victuall is giuen him : who within fewe daycs returning
brought presentes with him for a King, to witte, tenne golden chargers, as he writeth and
1.500. garmentcs of Gossampine cotton, -Mch as they vse to weare. I sayd elswhere, I woulde
dcliucr these things more plainely to satisfie base spirites of meane capacitie. from whence
this King hath so many garments in his wardrope : besides many things for foode, but spe-
cially wine, which Kinges and noble men delight in, diflfering from that which the people
vse. For they make many sorts of drinke, the ordinarie and common sort of Maizium, but
the better of diuers fruites. But of certaine almondes, which they vse in steed of mony,
they make wonderfull drinke, of this almonde we will speake hereafter. By that familiar
friend therfore of Muteczuma, and by these other new Embassadours, he affirmed that he
knewe nothing of that, whiche the Chiurutecalenses spake of him, who spake vnfriily to
excuse themselues, and that it shoulde so fall out hereafter that hee shoulde vnderstande there

was

I>53

Coitn bindcth
the chiefc mrn
of (hr citty au-
thors of the coo*
tpiracy.
The Bittiyle
ioyncd.

Cortes vin-
ijuiiheth.

Conej rinloB.
cth the ^ompi-
rMoi and they
become his lub-
iectei foisaluog
MuleciuiDb

The deKription
of the City of
Chiuiuucalt

Paitui*.

The Eabaua*
douri eicuie
Mutcciuma.

Kingly preset*
againe sent from
Mutcctuma to
Cartet.

Wine.

Drinkr.
Almondes in
uccdc of nonty.

" /'hi

.1,

:i 1 -'

554

Muieciuma di>«
wadeih Cunci
from commiDg
10 his citie>

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thejft Decade.

A strange and
adiniraMc report
o'' a smoky
mountaine called
PopocMciKqur.

The bouUnei of
a Spaniards.

The opinion the
inhabitants haue
of this moun-
tayne.

a I.akei.

The Ouuutinfic

was true fricndshippe bctwccne them, and, that Mutecziima vscd not to attempt anie ihing
by rraudulcnt mcancs. Yet among theae discourses, hec intreateth him agayne, to de>iist
from his intended purpose of comming to his city, for want oi' thin<rcs necessary, beecaiise
that citty being seated in the waters, was naturally destitute of all thinges: yet sufliciently
prouided for her inhabitants by the auncient tradinge of the ncighbouringc towncs: but if
straungers came vnto it, it would bee poore and beggerly. Cortes denyed that he could
graunt that because he was so commaunded by his kinge. Vndcrstanding Cones his reso-
lution, hee signifieth vnto him by the Embassadours, that hce would expect him in the citty,
and that hee would prouide accordinge to his power, that nothing might be wantinge. And
for that purpose they sent many of his cheife rulers to accompany him vnto him. lie there-
fore settcth forward towards the citty Tenustitan, being desirous to see it. About some 8.
leagues from thence hee founde a mountaine couered with ashes in the sominer, hauing two
toppes, large and spacious on eucry side, called Popocatepeqiie which is as much to say as
a smoaky mountaine, because in their language Popoca signifieth smoake, and tepcque a
mountaine. From whose toppes a stronge smoake continually issueth, ascendinge vpright
vnto the cloudes, as an obscure cloude ariseth with a thicke vapour, so that the smoke equaleth
the quantity of a greate house and is carried vp into the ayer with .such fury, that though
the ayer bee shaken with violent windes, yet the smoake is not at all dispersed. Cortes
wondering at the matter, sent ten valiant Spaniardes with guides of the inhabitants, to search
out the cause of so strange a thinge, if it were po.ssible. They obey his command, and ascend
the mountaine as ncere as they might goe : but could not come vnto the very topp, by reason
of the thicke ashes, yet they came .so neere, that tiiey perceiued the roaringe of the flame,
and the furious & fearefull noyse of the smoake that issued foorth, with perpetual! whirle-
winds which blustered about the mountaine, so y the mountaine trembled, & seemed as though
it would haue fallc. But two messegers of ^ Spaiards more bold then ^ rest determined to
get vnto the toppe, the inhabitants dissuading them, who ascended to the view of that huge
gapinge mouth and say it is a league & an halfe broade: yet in the end much terified through
the noise of ^ raginge flame, they returned, happy in their chance. They escaped f vio-
lence of the flame more & more increasing, which issued foorth somewhat more mildly at
y time, but in a very short space became most furious, castinge out stones after an incre-
dible & strange manner so that vnle9.se by chance they had found a place in the way which
was somewhat holowe, which gaue the shelter, while the shower of stones was ouerpa^t ( for
that mountaine doth not alwayes cast foorth stones) they had vtterly perished, and lost their
liues. The inhabitants so woondred at this matter, that they came flocking from euery place,
with presents, to see them, as if tliey had bin halfe Goddes. But this (most holy father) is
not to be omitted : The inhabitants suppose kinges (who while they liued, gouerned amisse)
to haue a temporary aboade there being companions with diuels amongc those flames, where
they may purge the foule spots of their wickednesse. These things being throughly sought
out, the Muteczuman Embas.«adours led Cortes, whether the Tascaltecanes dissuaded him to
goe. For that way hath troublesom passages, trenches, and diches full of narrow bridges,
where an army might easiely be ouerthrowne, because they could not passe ouer those places
in troopcs. He therefore tooke his iourncy another way, somewhat further about, & more
diflicult, by the lowe valleyes of high smoakinge mountaine.», from whence, when they were
past, and looked downe before them, from the litle hilles vnder the mountaine they sawe a
mighty greate valley called Colua where that greate citty Tenustitan lieth in the lake. This
greate valley is famous for two lakes, the one salt, where the citty is seated, which (as they
say) coiitaineth CO. leagues in circuit : the other fresh, whereof wee shall speake more at
large heereafter. The Muteczuman Embassadours, who accompanied our menu, beeing de-
maunded why they went about to leade the army another way, answered, that they denyed
not but that this way was better and more commodious : but because they were to march a
daycs iourney through the Enemyes countryes of the Guazuzingi, and because peraduenture
they might want prouision of victuall y way, therefore they persuaded the therevnto. Here
we are to note and obserue j- the Guazazingi, and the Ta.scaltecani (two comonwea'.thes)

were

Thefift Decade.

TUAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

553

were vniteil in league & heart ngainst Miiteczuma : & therefore they foud the but poore
beeaiise being repassed with so inijirhty an en^my, they inioyed no free liberty of
traflickc with any other natio. Wherefore vsing & cOtentinge tiiemselues with their pro-
uinciall rcuenues, they lined in greate misery, rather than they would submitt their nccke The cunuiingi
vnto the yoakc of any kinge. Yet vnto Cortes, beeause by his meanes they hoped in time c^,"" Jnj gi^j
to come to wander Ireely, ihcy performed couenantes of friendship, and in token thereof, p«Kiit« luch u
they gaue him c»'rtaine slaues, and garments after their manner, but very meane, and be- * ''' '"''
stowed vppon him things necessary for his reliefe, plentifully inough, for one day, August
was now ended when being scarse gone past the narrow passages of those mountaines, he
was brought to a pallace in ^ plainc, built for Summer delightes, which was so exceeding a great pai»c«.
great, that the whole army was intertained there that night For making a muster of them,
he found with him of the Zcmpualensians, Tascaltecnnes, and Guazuzingi, more then foure c„„„ ;„ ,||
thousand armed men, but of his Spaniardcs scarse 300. But as I haue now sayd, to stopp the 4000. tttonj*.
mouthes of base & meane spirites, the matter was performed with gunnes, and horses,
strange and vnknown kindes of fight, rather then with the multitude of armed men: And they
had prouision of maintenance enough. For Muteczumas stewards whether soeuer our men
went, prouided plentifully enough for them. Here they quaked for cold, by reason of the
high mountaines necre adioyning, therefore they had neede of great fires. The brother of
Muteczuma with many nobles came to Cortes that day, and brought presents in Muteczumas Prtsentfs a.
name, 3000. Castell mcs of golde, and excellent icwelies, and withall besought them to re- iJ/",'„^'uma.
turne, and stay whcresocuer they pleased. And that Muteczuma would giuc what tribute so- Muteciuma
euer Cortes should set downe, so hec would desist from comminge t<i thecitty compassed with "*=""'''""■
waters where, of necessity, especially with so great a multitude, hce must suffer penury and
want, beecause naturally it yeeldeth nothinge, and that hee would neuer, or by any meanes
reuolt from the obedience of that kinge, from whom hee sayd he was sent. Cortes as mildly
as he could, aunswered that hee would willingly yecid to Muteczumas request to gratify so
great a king, if he might safely do it without breach of his kings commandement. And that
they should not thinke his comminge to bee vnprofitable, but rather beneficiall and honorable.
And that hee purposed to come thether, seeinge hee could not otherwise chuse. But ifheereaf-
ter his aboade should be troblesome to Muteczuma, he would presently returne, after a league
made and matters composed betweene them, which might more apparantly and commodiously
bee performed in presence, then by intercourse of messengers, on either side. While they Ambushes pre
were busie about these thinges, Cortes saith, that the inhabitants ceased not to prepare to in- p"' J and pre-
trapp him, and that the woods in the mountaines neere vnto the pallace, were that night full
of armed men. But hee glorieth that hee was alwayes so wary, that hee easily freed himselfe
from their practises and deceits. Remouinge thence toward the citty in the lake, hee founde Amaquemeca
another lande citty, of S'XKK). houses, as they say, called Amaquemeca, the name of whose J," ciiiaicT "
prouince is Chialco. The king of that place is subiect to the dominion of Muteczuma. Here oiftei.
he feasted our men daintily, and plentifully and gaue his guests 3000. Castellanes of gold,
& iewells, & 40 slaues, as another had giuen him alitle before, Foure leagues from thence,
he came to a fresh lake, much lesse then the salt: on the shoare whereof standeth a citty, A dtie.
halfc in f'le water & halfe on drye land. An high mountaine lyeth neere vnto the citty.
There twelue men came vnto Cortes, the cheife whereof was carred in a horse litter vpon
mennes shoulders : he was 9,b. yceres old. When he alighted from the horselitter, ^ rest
rann speedily, and clensed the way of all filth, and stones, and if any strawe or dust lay there a great embi*.
they m.ide the way cleane as hee went to salute Cortes, After hee had saluted Cortes in the '"''"' «nt to
behalfe of Muteczuma, liee intreated that hee would blame the King as carelesse and negli- "nJhtway.
gent, becau-e hee came not forth to meete him, aflirminge hee was sicke, and that they were
sent to accamp.iny him Yet if he would alter his purpose of goinge thether, it should be
most pleasinge and acceptablevnto them. He courteously intertained them with faire words, &
gaue them < ertaine pleasing presents of our country comodities : so they cheerefully departed.
Cortes foUowinge them, found another towne of IbOO. houses seated in a lake of fresh water:
whereto they passed & returne by boat. Their boates are made of one tree as I haue oftc

said

'iii«

656

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thcjift Decade.

kt \j:>^

A (ownc.

litipaUpa a
tuwuc

Coluicim a
City.

Olfti.

The pallict of

liiapalifa.

A wall of stone
built in the
M'atct,

t Cittjres foud-
td in the water.

Mrsiqualcingo
a citty.

The vse of
Mit.

Ohey imt
Miilcczuma .inj
e«tc no silt.

A Cjitlf.
Orawe bridges.

said of the Canowea ot the Iliids & they call those boates Acate)?. Marching through the mid-
die of the lake, lie Toud a causey of the heigth of a speare, which brought him to another fa-
mou.s towne of SOOO. houses. Hcere, he was honorably intcrtaincd, and the towncsincn de-
sired Cortes to stay with them all night, but the Mutccziiman Princes accompanying him de-
nyed their request. Wherefore the Mutcczumans conducted him that cucninge ton Jiirr great-
er citty, called Iztapalapa, which touched thcshoare of a salt lake. This citty was in the iu-
risdiction of Muteczumas brother, whose name was Tacatcpla, three leagues distant from the
former towne. Another citty called Coluacam is three leagues distant from Iztapalapa, from
whence the prouince also is called CoUua, whereupon our menu from the begininge called the
whole country by that name, because they vnder stoode thereof being farre from thence. Iztapa-
lapa (as they say) consisteth of eyght thousand goodly houses for the most part: and Coluacana
is not much lesse. The king of Coluacana was with Muteczumas brother, who also presented
Cortes with precious giftes. They report that the pallace of the king of Iztapalapa is very
curiously built with lime and stone: and they .say that the workmanshipe of the tymber thereof
is very artificiall: and they highly commend the princely pauements, inner roomes, and cham-
bers, thereof, togethe» with the huge and greate halles. That house also hath orchardes, fine-
ly planted with diners trees, and herbes, and flourishing flowers, of a swecte smell. There
arc also in the same, great standing pooles of water with many kindes offish, in the which
diuers kindes of all sortes of waterfoule are swimmingc. To the bottome of these lakes, a man
may descend by marble steppes brought farr of. They report strange thinges of a walke in-
closed with nettinges of Canes, least any one should freely come within the voyde plattes of
grounde, or to the fruite of the trees. Those hedges are made with a thousande pleasant de-
uises, as it falleth out in those delicate purple crosse alleyes, of mirtle, rosemary, or boxe,
al very deligh)full to behold. He reporteth many ordinary & meane things touching these
matters whielb hauc almost weried me with their prolixity. Now therefore omittinge other
thinges, let vs cast forth this manne Cortes into the citie Tenustitan, and to the desired em-
bracements of Muteczumn, on the one part.

The 3. Chapter.

THey goe from Iztapalapa to Tenustitan, the seate of that great king Muteczuma, vpon a
wall of stone, made by the hande of man & with incredible charge, built in the waters, two
speares legth in bredth. That wall is in steed of a bridge for Iztapalapa also itselfe, some part
of it standeth in a salt lake, but the rest is built vpon the land. Two cittyes founded partly in
the water, ioyne to one side of that bridge. On the other side stfideth one, whereof the first
they meete with who goe that way, is called Mcsiqualcingo : the second is Coluacana, whereof
I spoake a litle before : and the third is called Vuichilabasco. They say the first, consisteth of
more then 3000. houses the second, of fiOOO. and the third of 4000. all of them furnished with
turretted and sumptuous Idole temples. These cittyes adioyninge to the bridge, make salt,
which all the nations of those coiitries vse. Of the salt water of the lake, they make it harde,
conueyingc it by trenches into the earth apt to thicken it. And bcinge hardened and con-
gealed they boyle it, and after make it into rounde lumpes or balles, to be carryed to mnrketts,
or fayres, for exchaunge of foraine commodities. The tributaryes only of Muteczuma were
made partakers of the benefit of that salt : but not such as refused to obey his commande. The
Tascaltecanes therefore and Guazuzingi, and many others, season their meate without salt,
because, as wee haue sayd, they resisted the gouernment of Muteczuma. There are many
such walles, which scrue in slecde of bridges from places on the land, to cittyes on the water
which sometimes, as diners waves, ioyne and meete together. With this wall descending from
Iztapalapa, another wall mecteth, from another side of the citty. In the place where they
niecte is a Castle erected of two inexpugnable towers, from thence by one way they goe to
the citty. In these walles, or bridges, within a certaine space, there are little moueable bridges
of tymber, which, when any suspition of warrc is imminent are drawne vp. I thinke those
partitions or cliftes also are made for portes, that they might not be deceiued, as in many
places, which inioy quiet peace wee see the gates of cittyes shut by nii>ht for no other cause.

The

ThcM Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

The bridges beinpe drawne vp, the pooles of flotingc waten remaine. They make a way for
the wateiN, Tor the waters (as they say) ebb and Howe there. This is a wonder (most holy
father) in nature, in my iud^cment and theirs, who 8ay they cannot beieeue by any meanc«
that it cann be so, because thcmselues haue else where neuer read it. This rittie standing in the
lake, or the situation oF the salt lake itselTe, is more then seuenty leagite» distant from the Sea.
And bctweene that and the sea lye two long ridges of high mountaines, and two mighty val-
Icyesbetweene Doth mountaines. Yet the lake rccciueth the flowinge and ebbingc of the Sea,
vnlesse they speake vntruth. But noe man knowelh where the Sea coinmeth in, or goeth out.
The flood comminge, by the narrow streights of two hillcs, the salt water is emptied in the
channell of the fresh lake, but the force thereof returninge, it returncth from the fresh to the
salt, neither is the fresh thereby so corrupted but it may bee drunke, nor doth the salt lake be-
come fresh. Wc haue spoken sufficiently of lakes, walles, bridges & Castles: let vs itovv at
length returnc to that pleasing spectacle to the Spaniardes, because it was longe desired, yet
happily to the wise Tenustitans it may seeme otherwise, because they feare it would so fall out,
that the.se guestes came to disturbe the Elisian quietnessc and peace, though the common peo-
ple were of another opinion, who suppose nothingc so delectable, as to haue present innoua-
tions before their eyes, not carefull of that which is to come. To this crossc way, a thousand
menne, attired after their country fashion, came from the cilty to meete Cortes: who all vsing
their seuerall ccremonye.s, salute him. The ceremony or manner of salutation is this, to touch
the earth with their right hand, & presently to kissc that part of the right hand where with they
touched the earth, in token of reucrence. All these were Noblemen of the Court: behind the
the king hiinselfe so much desired, cometh now at legth. That way (as I haue already sayd)
is a league and an halfe long, others say, it is two leagues, yet is it so straight, that layinge
a line vnto it nothinge cann bee drawne more straight. If the quicknes of mans eiesight be-
holding it wold serue him, he shal easily perceiue the entrace of Muteczumas citty from the
very Castle, from whence Cortes remoued. The King went in the middle of the bridge, and
the rest of the people on the sides orderly followinge in equall distances one from another,
and all bare footed. Two Princes (whereof the one was his brother, the other, one of the
peercs. Lord of Iztapalapa) taking the Kinge Muteczuma drew him by the armes, not that he
needed such helpe, but it is their manner so to reucrence their kinges, that they may seeme
to be vpheld and supported by the strength of the nobilitie. Muteczuma approachinge, Cortes
dismounted from the horse whereon he roade, and goeth to the kinge being about to embrace
him : but the Princes which stood on either side would not sufler him for with them it is an
hainous matter to touch the kinge. They that came on the sides in ordered troopes, left their
appointed places, that they might all salute Cortes with the accustomed ceremony of salutation.
And then presently euery one went backe to his place againc, least the rankes should be dis-
ordered. After cheereful salutations ended, Cortes turninge to the Kinge, tooke a chaine from
his owne necke (which he wore) of smale value, and put it about the Kings necke. For they
were counterfeits of glasse, of diuers colours, partly diamondes, partly pearle, & partly Car-
buncles & all of glas.sc, yet the present liked Muteczuma well. Muteczuma requited him with
two other chaines of gold and precious stones with shellesof golde, and golden Crevises hang-
inge at them. Ilauinge intertained all, they who came out to meete them, turned their faces
to that huue and miraculous citty: and march backe againe in the same order that they came,
by the sides of that admirable bridge, leaning the middle alley of the bridge, onely for the
Kinge Muteczuma, and our menne. But oh abhominable impiety to behould, and horrible to
bee spoken. On either side of that bridge, on the outside, were many stately towers erected
in the lake, all which were in stecde of Churches. In these either the bodyes of slaucs bought
formony or the children of tributaryes appointed for that purpose insteed of tribute, were of-
fered or sacrificed, with a certaine horor that canot be coceiued. Many vnderstiiding y mat-
ter as they passed by confessed y their bowells earned within the. At length they came to an
exceeding great Palace, the auncient seate of Muteczumas auncestors, finely decked with Princcr
ly ornamentes. There Muteczuma placed Cortes on a throne of golde, in the Kings hal and
returner* to another Pallace. He commanded all Cortes his followers and companions to be

4C fed

657

Thf thWtiB St
flowing ff i
Ijkf 70 I. jgiu
disi.iiit fiiim
ihc kii.

A C«rfmonioiii
and rtMirrcnt
kinde uf silu-
tation.

The Kinjf
Hr.iWiic bv thr
armcs .^: what
that nijy sin-
nihf.

Cottft Hi,-
mount'm^'to nil-
brace tlu king
was ititirniptid
of the nobles.

Cortes glupth
the kiny a ^nvtr
terfeit th.iiiu* d
projier reward
ior so many
rich present*.

The abhonir-
iiable .SarriHce
of slauesnnd
Childrin, the
Christians first
eutertainment.

Cortes placed ia
a throne of
guide.

■rM

iiiiis- ;

558

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Tlicjift Decade.

fntcn»yniTwnt.

Tlif oritlon of
Mutrciuma
wiih Cones (t
Ins

ft'il with delicate and Princely meatos, & to bee all commodioiisly and well cntcrtayncd in their
CottM his roy»u lotigingcs. After a few houres Muteczuma hailing dined, returncth to Cortes, and brought
with him Chamberlaines, & others of his domestical! seruantes, laden with gnrmentcs, inter-
mixed with golde, and most liuely colours of Gossampinc cotton. It iu incredible to be spoken,
but how credible it is, wcc shall hereafter speake: They (who sawe them) say, they were
6000. garments and Cortes himself writeth the same. They brought also with them, many
presentes of golde and siluer. At the tribunall of Cortes there was another boiirded floure
laydr, decked with the like ornamentes. Vpon that scaffoldc Mutec/.uma a.<isembling al theno>
bilitic of his kingdomcs vnto him, made this oration vnto them, a>t they percciued by the In-
terpreters which Hiernnimus Aquilaris vnderstood. Most worthy & renowned men forwar-
compuuoiu. |ij.g pi-owesse, & gratious towardes the suppliant, I wish that this your meetinge may be pros-
perous, and I hope it shall be so: and let your comining to these countryes bee fortunate and
happie. After, turning to his nobilitie he speaketh thus. We haue heard by our auncestoni,
that we are strangers. A certaine great prince transported in shippes, beefore the memoric
of all men lining, brought our auncestors vnto these coasts, whither voluntarily, or driuen by
tempest, it is not manifest, who leauing his companions, departed into his country, & at
length returning, would haue had them gone backc ngainc. But they had now built them houses,
& ioyning themselues with the women of the Prouinces had begotten children, and had most
peaceable setled houses. Wherefore our auncestors refused to returne, and harkencd no fur*
ther to his perswasion. For they hadde nowc chosen among themselues both a Senate, and
Princes of the people, by whose counsell and direction they woulde beegouerned, so that they
report he departed with threatning speeches. Neuer any appeared vnto this time, who dema-
dcd the right of that captaine & Commaunder. I therefore exhort and admonish you the No-
bles of my kingdomes, that you doe the same reuerence to so great a Commander of so great
a king, that ye doe to mc, and at his pleasure, giue him the tributes, due vnto me. After turn-
ing his face vnto Cortes, he spake further. We thinke therefore by that which we haue spoken,
that king who (you say) sent you, deriued his discent from him, wherfore yee are luckily
come, repose your mindes after the exceeding great labours, which I vnderstande yee haue
indured since ye came into these countries, and now refresh and c5fort your faint and weary
bodies. Al the kingdomes which wee possesse are yours. What Nobleman soeuer thou art,
being sent a Captaine for this purpose thou mayst lawfully commande all the kingdomes, which
were subiect vnto me. fiut as touching the reports of the Zempoalensians, Tascaltecanes, and
Guazuzingi, concerning me, they may iustly bee taken, for such, as proceeded from the
afl'cction of an enemie : but the experience of matters shall proue them liers. They babbled
that my houses were of golde, and my mattes golde, and my householde stuffe was all of gold,
and that I was a god, and not a man. You yourselfe see, that my houses are of stone, my
mattes made of ryuer weedes, and the furniture of my house of cotton. I confesse I haue
lewels of golde, layde vp in my Treasury. Those arc yours : which in the behalfe of that
great king of ours, vse at your pleasure. But as touching that, that they said I was no man,
hut immortall, beholde mine armes, and my legges, looke whether they be not flesh and bone.
Speaking this, he discouercth his armes, and Icgges, halfe weeping. When hce hadde made
an end of speaking, Cortes comforteth him, and putte him in good hope that matters should
be well caryed. With these wordes Muteczuma departed, somewhat with a cheerefull counte-
nance, but whither quieted in minde, to suffer a Competitor, let him iudgc who eiier tasted
the sweete of Soueraignty, and whether any man woulde euer cntertaine guests willingly,
whr. violently intrude, lette such speake as haue hadde experience thereof. In the faces
of the Princes assembled, who hearde it, casting downe their eyes vppon the grounde,
you might apparantly vnderstande, how quiet that assembly was. For beeing readie to
weepe, they receiued whatsoeucr was acted, with sobbes and sighes, and remayned long
silent \n a dumpe : and at length promise to perfourmc Muteczumas commaunde : yet,
that tht^y coulde not but be troubled in their mindes, for so great and suddaine an alteration
of their xtute. The assembly being dismissed, euery one went to their owne kindred or fa-
milie. Of these tiiinges we haue sufficiently spoken : now let vs declare what succeeded after

that

Altitcciuml
Kiignt'tli vp
titi kini;dom9

Thef(ft Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

359

ting. All thingcs fell out very ill and vniuckily to Mulerziima hia Tributaries, and
(leH, as we nhali hereafter sprake: but for the inlarj^ement oP our rclii>i(iti, ex-

that meeti

hia fricnde!*, as we nnaii nereaiter spc

ceeding well. For wee hope, it shall shortly come to patse that ihnne blouddie saciiliccs shall
bee taken away from among ihem, throng!) the imbraring of the rommandcmcnts of Chrinl.
So they passed sixe dayes qtiietiv, bnt all the dayes following, ful of sorrow, and caiamitie, so
that nothing coulde eiier haue fallen out more vnhappily to any people, not onely to a King.
For after those seuen daycx, whether that it so fell out, or that Cortes woiilde thereby take
occasion, hec sayd, he receiued letters a iille before from that Gouernour whom he left in the i""" i" Coi-
garrison of the Cohmie of Vera Crux, wherby that Gouernour signified, that Coalcopoca the uVinouTu'rvru
King of that prouince, where Cortes erected a Colonic, called Almeria, had committed a foule ^'"^^
matter, not by anie meaner to be indured. That (Jouernour reported that Coalcopoca sent
messengers vnto him, to tell him that the King Coalcopoca came not yet vnto him to salute
him, and doe him that rcucrence, due to so great a King, as he was, whome Cortes and his
companions acknowledge, because he was to passe through the enemies countryes, from whom
they feared some inconuenience woulde ensue, and therefore desireth, that the Gouernour
woulde sendc some of his Spanyardes vnto him, to accompanie him in the way for his de>
fence. For, he sayde, hee was in good hope, that the enemie durst not attempt any thing
against him, while the Spanyardes were in his companie. The Gouernour gauecredite to the
messengers, and sent foure Spanyardes to Coalcopoca, to accompany him vnto him, through
countries, friends to him but enemies to Coalcopoca. The messengers going vnto him, were
assaulted within the borders of Coalcopoca, two of them the robbers on the high way side
slew presently, the other two being grieuously wounded, escaped. The Gouernour suppos-
ing it was doone by the practise of Coalcopoca, in reuenge of the matter, goeth agaynst Coal-
copoca. Ilec hadde onely two horses, & with those, certayne shot, and some peeces of
ordiniice, and footemen. He bringeth 5U. of his companie with him, yet sendeth for the bor-
dering enemies of Coalcopoca to come to aide him, and so they assault the citie of Coalcopoca.
The Coalcopocans fiercely resisted. In the assault they slew seuen Spanyardes, and many of
those that came to ayde them. At length the seat of Coalcopoca was vanquished, and made
a pray, many citizens being slayne and taken : But Coalcopoca escaped by flight. Cortes
hauing gotten this occasion determined to destroy and ouerthrow Muteczuma fearing least
peradueturt; fortune might chang, or lest at any time becoming loathsome vnto the, through
y insolecy of the Spanyards, whom specially when they were idle and full fed he coulde
hardly restraine, fearing also least through the long & continuall trouble of entertainment, he
might make them desperate who entertained them, he goeth to Muteczuma : and affirmeth
that it was written, and tolde him, that Coalcopoca his Tributary did those things against the
Gouernour of Vera Crux, not onely not \,ithout the priuitie of Muteczuma, but by his com-
maundemcnt. Cortes sayde he woulde t .' !)aue beleeued it. Yet to take all suspition out of the
minde of the great King, to whose cares a^ ye sayd, the report of the matter came, Muteczuma
must come to the Pallace where Cortes hiniselfe dwelt, that hec might write that he had him in a m\t vsed by
his power, although his purpose were not to alter any thing concerning the gouernment of the Mrt«i'umi7irto
citie or the kingdomes. But Muteczuma, although he vnderstood his authoritie beganne now his power.
to bee weakened, yet graunted his request. He coinmandeth his horselitter to be brought,
wherein hee might come vnto him. Whereupon through so great an alteration of thinges, a
murmuring arose among the people, and they beganne to make a tumult. Muteczuma com-
manded them to lay downe their armes, and bee quiet : and perswaded them all, that hee did
it of his owne accorde. His Nobles and familiar friendes followed their maister with teares.
After a few dayes, he desireth, that hee woulde sende for Coalcopoca, and the partakers of
that wicked practise to punishe them, that so hee might acquitte his innocencie with the
great King. Muteczuma obeyeth : and callinge for certayne of his faithfull friendes, giueth
them his pryuie scale, in token of his last will, adding this also in charge, that calling the next
tributary people vnto them, they endeuour to bring him by force, if hee denyed to come.
Coalcopoca, and one of his sonnes, and 15 Noblemen come. He denyed at the first, that he Co.iicopoca sfm
did it by the consent of Muteczuma. " ' '"

4 c a

Whereupon Cortes making a great fire in a large and cortT""'' "'

spacious

"ft

''":.-s*>^

51 )U

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TheJifl Decade,

if.

i(>'<unu.

spacious Rlrcetc, commaundcd Coalcopoca with his innnc, and the rest to be burned, Miitec-
zuma and all his hujje princely tilly looking on, ihe nenlece of treason was pronounced againM
them. But when they itaw they shoulJ be brought to recciuc punishment they conTesscd
VKi'rTT'i'n- '''"' Mutctzuma commaunded them. Whereupon Cortex who by Hcekin); occasicm. went
''.■4cir It bouiij about to challenge the Empire oi°Mutec/.um:i v nto himseli''. bitideth Muleczuma ( whom he had
•iiiifjiitn. y,ith liiixi) with fetters, and rcuiled him bc>ide«* wifti threatening; speeches. Vnhappy Nfutec-
zuma then, astonished at so slrau); a matter, was iiill of feare, and his courage began to faile,
HO that he durst not now lilt vpp his head, nor intrcatc avde of his subiectes and friendes, yet
he presently loosed him, and greatly blam'^'.i him for the deede. Ihit he confessed hce had
dcscrued punishment, who like a merkc- lambc with piilient minde seemed to sufTor these
rules hartler then those which are inioviied grammcr schollcrs, being but beardlesse boyes,
and quietly beareth all things, least any sedition of the Cilii/.cns and Nobililie might arise.
Any yoako whatsoeuer sccmt-d to bee more easie vnio him, then thcMirring vpof his people,
as if he had bcene guided by the example of Dioclcsian, who rather determined to drinke
poyson, then to take the Empire vpon him againe, which he had once reiectcd. After that
Cortes spcaketh to Muter/uma, saying, that he hoped, hee would keepe the promise he had
made, concerning hisi<bcdienre,anJ other rouen.-inls concluded inthe hchalfe of that great King
of Spayne, wherefore to fulfill his desire, if hee would, hee might returne backe vnto his pal-
lace, where he liued before in princely manner. Cortes ollereth him this fauour, but he re-
fused it, saying, it was not possible, but he should be prouoked bv his nobility, and tormented
with a thousand troubles, and saith further, that their mindes were prepared to raysc tumults,
who (as he vnderstoml) gnashed their teeth for anger, became he intertaincd (fortes, and his
companions, especially with such a multitude of hatefull officials. He confessed, fh.it he
liui-d more quietly and safely with with our menne, then to conuerse with such an viiruly and
tempestuous multitude of his subieclcs. Yet sometimes he went to his pallaces to waike,
which hee had built with wonderful curiosity and an for his delight, whereof wee shall speakc
more at large hereafter. So, they liued both together vnder one roofe a long time, Cortes
the guest intertained, and Muleczuma the intertayner, but new contrary- When soeuer he
returned in the cuening, he went not to the ancient palLice of his auncestors, and his seate,
but to the pallace <lf Cortes. Descending from his horse-litter, he gaue gifts to all his fol-
lowers, and to the Spanyardes also, and desired to haue the Spaniards take him by the hand to
whome hee called, and spake vnto them with cheerefull countenance, and courteous speaches.
The state of things being thus, Cortes desired Muteczuma, to shew him the mynes of golde,
from whence he and his auncestors had their gold: I am well content saith Muteczuma: and
presently he commanded skilful workemen experimented in that art to be brought vnto him.
Diuers men with Spaniardes appoynted by Cortes are sent intodiuers places to bringenewes
to Cortes, what they had scene. They are first directed to the gold mines of a certaine pro-
uince called Zuzulla. That prouince is 80 leagues distant from the Pallace of Tenustitaii,
where they gathered gold out of three riuers with little trouble, and yet the Spaniardes tookc
not their instruments with them, wherewith to dense it. For the inhabitants doe not fo
highly estecme golde, that they make any reckoning to seekc for it otherwise, then, that cast-
ing vp the sand, they may pickc out the greater graines of gold among the little stones.
They say, that countrie, especially in the middle thereof, is replcni.shcd with stately townes
within a leagues distance one from another. He sent others to the countrey called Tamacu-
lappa, whose inhabitants are richer, and more costly and curious in their attire, thi} the Zu-
zullani, because they inioy a more fertile soyle. He apoynted others also to go to another
Mai.nuiitpech. prouincc named Malinaltepech, which lyeth neerer the Sea. GO. leagues distant from that
Princely lake. There they gathered golde out of a great riuer. Others went to a countrey in
the mountaines, named Tenis. Heere are fierce warriours, who hauespeares of liO. spans long,
fit for fight. Coatelimaccus, the King thereof, is free from the subiei tion of Muteczuma : who
sayd, th It the Spaniardes might lawfully set footing in his borders, but not the Muteczumane.s.
So Coatelimaccus peaceably receiued the Spaniardes, and fed them daintily. This Country
«.r..irt!.nTcni5 Xcnis Is famous for 8. riuers, all which ingendcr gold. This King sent messengers to Cortes,

The toWi n
mines of Zu-
t.illa.

.Stitcly tornis.

Tcnis.

Cottciininccus
ki!ig tl I'tiiij.

Thcfift Decade.

THAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUIES.

5C1

to ofl'iT himwifc and ;ill that he had. Olhors wore apoyntrd to goc to a prouince called Ta-
thiiit«'bcch, who found two riiiers ihcrc \ ccldinj; gold, and that it wa* a fit country for plantn- T«huiwb«cW
lion of a Colony. Cortex bein); rcrlified of the goodnes of this coiintric of Tachinleberh, '°''*'
desired of Mutrczuma, that he wonhl erect an house in that prouince, in the behalfe
of our jjreat King, whether, »urh as went thethcr to gather >;old, mi;^ht resort. This motion
pleased him well: whereupon he commaunded the kings Carpenten to bee readie at handc.
The diligcnee of his HcrnantCH was so grejt that within lessc then the space of two moneih<<, . ..^ . „
they built a pnllaic, able to receiue any ^reat Prime, and all his kingly traine, that they •> T.uhi<i(t<ci.h
hhoiild lacke nothing. In the ineanc space while ihc house wa- building in the iwinckling of J^yli',',',','""
an eye, as 1 mav say, graines of I'anick, whercwitli they in.ikc bread, innumerable mea-urcs,
and many small pulse, and diuers kindes of other pulse were Hownc, & they planted alsot^UOO.
of those trees, which bcare the almoiide, which tlx-yxse in stead of mony, whereof else where
I haiie spoken more at l.irge. Men of meane capacity, will thinke it but a phantasie, that
mony should be gathered from trees. Without the greater house, three other houses were
built, apoynted a< hou-tcs of seruice for the pallare, Thcv made also great pooles of fresh-
water, where abcinda'ic • offish and watcr-foule might be kept, and maintained, but specially
geese. I'or he caused .")()(). at one clap i be cast in, because thev haue more vse of them,
for the feathers, whereof t'vy make manv sortcs of couerings. For they pluckc the feathers
fr'>m them eiierv y^erc in the bcgi ning of the spring, lie added also hens, which are greater
then our peaccckes, & not infi riour to the in last, as I sa\d cUewhere, whereof he pro-
uided l."»(K» for present ft>o:le, & for im rease of chickens. Besides, they make all instni- in'tromenti of
ments what sociier might serue for tillage o' the jiround, and for the vse of husbiidry. Cortes "' ""''''■
wriieth. that that pallacc erected in >osni:il a time, if it might haue bin sold, to haue bin more
worth ihc;» yiXXJO. Castellans, ^v f|,at there was not ihe like thereof in all Spaine. We grant
whai iiiev grant. Mut<czuma beiiiL altcrw ird demiided where there was any hauen, answered, ^'"^[ Muttciu-
he couid not fell, because he nruer h.'d any rare of matters pertayning to the sea coast : yet .iSc«.
hec would giuc him all the slf are dc-irribed in painting, that hee might choose a place him-
tielfe, at his ownc pleasure. And to thut ende, he sent skillull maisters of those shoares with
the Spaiiianls, who tratiaile diuers parts. In the prouince Guazacaico, whose king is Giunolco.
deadly enemie to Miitec/.iima, the kingadnitted the Spaniardes, but not the Mulcczumanes.
This king sayih he had heard cf the worlhincsse of our men, and of their warlike prowe.sse, ^'.f/'hlski"'
tiincc they sul)dued the Potciichianenses, and from that time he desired the amitieand friend- toCurus.
ship of our men, and sayth that hee wishcth that their comming might be prosperous, and
shewed them the great month of a riuer, which riuer (they saye) is deepc, where they might
haue harbour for their greater shippes. There, he began to erect a Colony, the king so de-
siring it, who after the manerof that country, set vp six of his Tributaries houses vppon the
banke of that riuer. lie promised more, when need shall require and inuited the Spaniards to
a pcrpetuall habitation, if they would settle them.selues within his borders, nay, euen within his
cilty al-io, if they rather sought it. Hee sent presents in token of desired amity, although net
very sumptuous, and embassadotirs also to Cortes to ofTer his obedience. Let vs returne
to Mutec/.umas matters againe. Muteczuma being detcined, or (that I may more freely
spcake, ) bnught into honest seruitude, Catamazinus the possessor of the prouince of Haco- Catam ?:r.,ie.
lucana, (the cheife citty where of isTesucco, ) being a subiect, and allyed to Muteczuma, """"''■
began to rebell : and openly professed that now, hee would neyther obey Cortes, nor Mutec-
zunia any longer, and proudly aduanced his crest against them both. This King hath domi-
nion oucr foure citlies (from thence he is called Nahautecal, becau.se Nahau signifieth foure,
and tecal Lord) yet are they vnder the Empire of Muteczuma: As your Holinesse knowes, it
falleth out in our kingdoms of Europe, that there are mighty Princes vnder the Emperours
in Germany, and vnder the kir.gsof Spaine, and France, yet are they subiect to Emperours,
and kings, with the countries themselues, which they command. They say, that the cheif of
those citties, Tesucco : contayneth iiOOfJO. houses, famous for excellent waLs, sumptuous Tcsuccoicit^.
temple-, and stately house;: and the rest, haue some 3. or 4000. houses, with country farmes,
strcetes, and rich villages, blessed with a fruitfuU soyle. The messengers of Cortea inuiting

him

6«

VOYAGES, NAUIOATIONS,

Thejift Decade.

S\iH \.

)>cJcr>

Mutrciuma dii'

Widclh to HMIIC

wiih t'atimati-
nil-..

kiiij

The unfwtre of him to pcacc, he answered with a prniid and haughty countenance: doe you thinke \n to be
J},',"„1J-"'o'f ' '* HO delected in mind, that wc will Hubiect our necki to yon Mtrangers f Hee also sharprly re-
proiied \fiitcr7.uma, that he so fainlly yeclded himselfc into the power of our men : and that
they fihould vnderNtand what hi'C was, if they came vnio him. And casting ont his armrs, he
said, let them come whcnsoeucr they would. This being reported Cortes desired to inunde
Calama7.inus with hostile armcs: Mntec/uma aduised him to deale otherwise. For slaughter
was prepared, if they came to handy blowes, because Calamazinus was mighty, and Lord and
Commaundcr of men well experimented in armes. That the victory would be doubtfull, and
if he ouercame, it would be bloody and therefore he thought best, to deale with him by sub-
tilty, and cunning stratagems. He answered, that care should be left to him : and sayth,
that he will cut Catamazinus his combe, without any great difficulty. ThercfDre sending for
his noble Stipendiary Captaincs, hee sayih, that hee would suppresse the rash insolency of
Catamazinus. These Captaines had alliance with Mutec/.tima and Catamazinus, and his fami-
liar friends, who being suborned, he commandeth to doe their endcuour to take Catamazinus,
and bring him vnto him whether hee woulde or no, and if they sawe it necdefull to kill him.
The circumstances are long, and the history tedious: but it sufliccth to declare how the mat-
ter was acted. The Captaines performed the commaundemcnt of their inaister, luckily.
f'r'rTitdanj Thev tookc Catamaziuus by violence in the night, vnprcpared, and fearing nothing, and sur-
biouEhiiu Cor- prised him by boates in his owne house, seated on the brinke of a salt lake, and brought him
i.'«uic«iiimtii( •" •'*'' pallace of Tcnustitan standing in the lake. Hee gauc Catamazinus to Cortes, who being
inxhei node imprysoncd and bound in chaines, he placed his brother Cacuscazinus in his kingdomc, who
was obedient to Muteczuma. The people of those citties dcxired it, because they were
to proudly gnuerncd by Catamazinus, nejther durst the brother liue with the brother, because
hee was to stubborne, and captious. A fewe dayes after, Cortes perswadcd Muterzuma, to
send messvtt^ers to the Noble menne, (who hearing their Kings oration, concerning the
performing of their obedience to the great King of Sp.iine, went backe againe vnto their
natiue countries) to require of euery of them, some parte of those things they possessed, to be
sent to the great King of Spayne, because he was buisily imployed in frammg of a certaine
great and endles peice of worke, and was carefull '" finish the building hee had vndertaken.
Muteczuma granted his request. Wherefore of his tamiliar friendes. Noble men knnwne vnto
him, as it happeneth in kings houses, through coiuiersing in kings secret chambers, Cortes
sendeth two or three, to euery noble man, with as many Spanyardes to accompany them. So
great a feare was now conceiued among them, that hearing the name of the Spaniardes no
man knew how to mutter, or to thinke otherwise, then that he should be commaunded.
Diucrs men went to diners places, some 50. some 60. some 80. and some an 100. leagues
and more, and dcmaunded, and receiued large and liberall gifts. There w.-is such plenty of
J40O0. Ca;tri. l^old, tliat Cortcs writeth, that the ti. parte of that which was molten, due vnto the King,
ianii of ^uu lor amounted to 340(X). Castellans of gold : and your Holinesse knoweth, that the coyne which
fcj'iiin"!'^ " they call a Castellan, exceedeth the Ducat, a third part. Besides the gold which v>as to be
melted, they brought many precious iewcis of great waight, and value, very curiously
M^it.rim Miixa- wrought, whcreiu, the art and workemanship exceeded the mettall For they h.iue most in-
libat oj-uLOuid. gg^j„y^ workemen of all arts, especially for working in gold, and siluer, whereof your Holi-
nesse is not ignorant. For your Holines'*e hath scene many, & hath sometimes wondred at
the curious workinanship thereof, when you were with vs, before you attayned to that high
and mighty throne. Cortes also saith, that they brought no meane store of precious stones.
But of the siluer which was brought, Cortes writeth, that the Kings fift part, was more then an
hundred waight, of eight ounces, wWch the Spanyard calleth markes. 'I'hcy report incredible
matters of Cotton, housholde-stuffe, tapestry or arras hangings, garments, and couerlcts. Yet
are they to be thought credible, when such a person dare boldely write such things to the
Emperoiir, and the Senatours of our Indian Colledge. He addeth further, that he omitted
many thinges, least hee should bee troublesome in recounting so great variety of things.
They also who returne vnto vs fro thence, affirme the same. But, as for those things which
hee receiued from the King himsclfe Muteczuma, they are so admirable both for the value,

and

Prc«fiit! dc-
maunded to
'.rnt lu the
uf Spayne.

Thf V'm?' 5
(art uf the
ucr.

The /{ft Decade,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

b63

and art, that I thiiikc it bc«»t to omit them, before wc dr* them. Wh.it vim Mnf bcforr, we

naw, to);rthcr with yotir llnlincssc in thnt ramoti<t towne Vatilolet, which in the fourth Dcrade

we (Icricribed. lie wriuth, that hco will shortly )icnd many of those thin^CM. They, who

come vnio v», say that the former, were much inferiour, both in number, quality, and value.

Corteit gauc himsclfc to rcxt & quictiics, and knew not what to doe in so great, and happy a TiK.nir«ik«Mt

jiucceMfie of thing!*, for beholding the power of Muierzuma, the largencM of his Empire, and I'J"!^' * '"'"•

the order, elegancy, and plenty of hisi house, conl'ctsefh that he knowes not which way to * ' "

turnc himscH'e, nor were to begin, to make report thereof. Yet, he declarelh, ^ he wold

begin with that prouince, where those lakes, and the great citty of Tenuslitan, and many

other* lie, and that hee will aftcrwardes speake of the rest. He sayth, the prouince is called

\femica, inclosed with high mountains. In that Plainc are those two lakes, the fresh, and the

other salt, as I sayde before. They say, that, that plaine is 70. Icigues in circuifc about, the

greatest part whereof is filled with lakes. Seeing the citty of Tenustitan is the seatc of

the great King Mutecxuma, uiaced in the center of a salt lake : which way socuer you go vnto

if, it is a league and a halle, or two leagues, distant from the Continent, the lake day and M."«'um» •"'

f .Mulrcium).

Me-iir.i tli#
' u( * I"

Utni.r.

C'tHiri III ill'
uf

ult

night is plyed with boatcs going and returning. For they goc by stone bridges made by ^,"
hand, foure leagues, as from the foure sides, for the most part ioyncd together, and solid, yet ''■"•
for a long space open, and deuided, with beames laydc oner those ports vndcrpropped by
posts, whereby the flowing, and ebbing waters may haue a passage, and whereby they may
easily be drawne vpp, if any daunger appearc. They say, those bridges are two speares
length broade. One of them, wee described, when Cortes mette with Muteczuma, from
thence, the forme and fashion of the rest, may bee taken. Two conduits of water were con-
ueicd by the bridge, without impedimet to the bridge. All the citty take their drinkc from
thence. And places are appointed along the bridg, for the kings rentgatherers, who keepc
boates to carry water through the city to be sold, and require tribute of such as fetch water there.
This conduit hath U. channels: so that whC one in foule, through the mossy furring of the run-
ning water, they turne the course of the water into another channell, while the other beclensed,
so eyther channell beeing scoured by turne, they drinke purified water throughout the whole
city. They say the thicknes of that pipe, cqualleth the body of an oxe. What shall I
speake of the multitude of bridges, throughout the citty itsclfe, whereby neighbours posse Orui.cs.
ouer vnto neighbours ? They are made of timber, and all of them so broad, thnt ten men
may walkc together in a ranke, they arc innumerable as they say, and wee can thinkc no lc!>>*c.
For their wayes for the most part, are by water : yet are there other wayes by land, as ap-
peareth in our famous common wealth of Venice. Moreouer, they say, there are other citties
built and founded vpon either lake, both on the banke, and on the water, after the manner of
Venice. As for Tenustitan itselfe, they report, that it consisteth of 60. thousand houses, or Tmustiij hath
thereabout, and if the rest be true, which is dcliuercd, none may obiect against the possibility '<»<»''""«••
thereof. There are exceeding great streetes therein, but specially one, inclosed on euery side
with walkes or galleries : which is the reccit of all marchants and other tradesmen. Heere
there are worthy shoppes and warehouses of all vendible »••—«»•' ost commodious for apparell, ^'"'" ""'' ""'"
victualling, and warlike, and ciuill ornaments : you may euery day in the markets, and '
faires number 60. thousand men buyers, and sellers, who bring of the commodities of their
country in boatcs vnto the citty, and carry backe some forraine marchandise with them againe.
As all our country men with vs vse to conuay their carriages, vpon asses, or else vpon packc-
horses, or carts, so doth the country people out of the villages and country farmes to the
neighbouring townes, and citties, what.soeuer they haue gathered through their labourious in-
dustry and care : and at their returne in the euening, cary home, wood, strawe, wine, whcatc,
barly, crammed foule, & such like, wherewith to satisfie either necessity, or appetite. But
there is another great benefite there for all strangers, and traders. For there is no streete, bi-
uiall, triuiall, or quadriuiall, where there are not victuallers. Euery moment of an houre ^f^
rost, and sodden meates of foule, and foure footed beasts are there to bee founde, but oxen, •J'«r«
goates, and sheepe they haue none. Young whelpes flesh is vsuall there, as I haue already fcTdrinty "
sayd, which they geld and fatte for foode, they haue also store and plenty of deere and wild ^Jj^^ »*"^^^

•.h.mdi&c.

> cxc, goati oa

,..^-

Is- J

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TJieJi/t I>ccade.

m\\i

.[■•

'1.r^'

Hirti.

Coiiits.
Tuttlfs.
Blaikc birdei.
Paltrigrl.
I'hcunli.

llirir Hem and

C'ockcs.

A I'Kty con-

ccipt.

bore, and they are excellent huntcni : and hauc also hares, and conies, turtle doucs, blackc
birdea, and ccrtaine birdes feeding vpon Hj^gsand grapes Partrigcs, and other birdes they call
Atagencs, that country also nourisheth Phesants. And among other doincsticall foule, cucn
as our country women bring vp chickens, so do they maintaine Geese and Duckea, &
Pcacockes which onr country men call hcnnes. I hauc hcerctofore sayd, that in greatnes, &
ofthf nature of colour of fcathtTs, thcy arc like I'cahennes. But I neucr yet de«Tibed their nature and dis-
position. The Temallcs sometimes lay '20. or .'W. cgges, so that it is a multiplying company.
The males, are alwaycs in loue, and therefore they say, they are very light meate of digestion.
They alwayes stand ga^irg and looking vpon thcmselues before the femallcs, and as our pca-
cockes doe, they walke all the whole day with their traines spread like a wheele, before their
beloucd femalles, letting and going cro.ssewise, as our peacockes also doe, and continually
euery moment, after thcy hauc gone foure strides, or little more, they all make a noyse, like a
sicke man oppressed with a violent fcucr, wlien he gnasheth and chattercth with his teeth for
cold. Thcy shewe diuers colours at their pleasure among the feathers of the necke, .shining
sometimes blewe, sometimes grecne, and lastly purple, according to thediuers motion of the
feathers, as a delicate young man insnared with the loue of his lemman desiring to yeeld content-
ment & delight. But a certaine priest called Benedictus Montinus, a curious searcher of those
countries, told me one thing, which hce sa^d, hce learned by experience, hard for mee to be-
leeue. He sayth, hee nourisiif»d many flockes of these peacockes, and was very carefull to mul-
tiply them by generation : who sayth, that the male is troubled with certayne impedimentes in
the leggc-s, that he can scarse allisrc the henne to treade her, vnlcsse some knownc person take
her in his hand, and hold her, nor iI.:?H the henne (saith he) refuse to bee taken, nor is the
male discouraged from coming vnto her. For as soone as hee perceiueth the henne which he
loueth, is held, hee presently commcth vnto her, and performes his businesse in the hand of
the holder. This he rcporteth, yet his fellowes say it fallcth out very seldome so. Of those
peacockes. Geese, and Duckes, thcy haue great plenty of egges, so that, whether they will
haue them raw, or dressed after diuers manners, or serued vppon sippetts, they haue them
alwaies at hand. Thcy haue also with them, plenty offish, both of the riucr, and of the lake,
but no sea fish, for they are a great distance from the sea, and of those, raw, boyled, or rosted,
n.archants get store at their pleasure. But of our countrie fruites, they haue cherries,
jjlummcs, and apples, of diuers kiiules, but many of those sortes of fruitesare vnknowne to vs.
Nlany rauening foules of eucry kinde for sensuall ajipetile, are sold aliue, and their whole
skinnes stuflbd with cotton, so that such as behold them, would thinke they were lining. All
strcctcs, and passages haue their artificers, diuided apart. They highly esteeme Herbarists
and Apothecaries, to cure diseases. They haue also many kindes of pot herbcs, as lettice,
raddish, cresses, garlicko, onyons, and many other herbcs besides. They gather certaine
hony, and wax from trees, and such hony as our country yeeldeth from bees. I haue now
sufTiciently spoken concerning crammed foule, foure-footcd beasts, fishes, and other things
seruing for foode, and .sensuaiitie: but with what mony these things are done, it is a plcnsing
story to report, but your Holiuessc hath heard it, and I haue else where written thereof.

The fourth Chapter.

I Haue hcerctofore said that their currant money is of t!ie fruits of certaine trees, like our al-
monds, which they rail Cachoas. The vtility and benefit thereof is two fould : for this almondc
iiiiiikf in.iy be suppHcth the vsc of moiuc, and is fit, to make drink, of itselfe it is not to be eaten, because
m'ncy Ht'^for « it IS somcwhat bitlcr, although tender as a blaunclied almond. But being bruised or
i'"''jih -ref ^''^'"P'^'^ '" s mortar, it is kept for drinke, a portion of the powder whereof being cast into
iimmonvt,> water, and then stirred about a little, drinke is made thereof, fitte for a king. O ble.s.sed
"""^"'^^^'i',''^'"'* money, which yecldetli swcete, and profitable drinke formankinde, and prcserueth the pos-
iwufilii to ihe sessors thereof free from the hellish pestilence of auarice, hecau.se it cannot be long kept, or
l"'>'.tft'bi'c'to'"rhe'^'^ vnder groundc. There are also many other sortes of drinke, (as it commonly happeneth
in the Country where your Holinesse was bornr,) of ale, and .syder, and the graine Maizinm
bruised and boyled in certaine great vessels, or pitchers, with fruites and certayne herbcs,

which

Frtiilet.

Putl.irhts.
lloiiy (Mtlicted
from trees.
Ufbics.

Mottry .if the
1 1 nil i 111 trcci.

boiiy.

Uriuku.

laue now

Thcfift Decade.

TRAFFIQUKS, AND DISCOUERIES.

505

of
•ret

which tiriiikr, cutv taiicrne or victuallinc; house where tncntc is tiressed, affordctli to such a>i
will buy llie same. IJclorc your Ilolinessc departed out of Spaync, you vnderstoodc of that J,',,'' ,',"""
stranjjc matter of the monVi neuer heard of before. But how that tree mif^ht be planted, imiimuin.
nourished, and grow, wee had not then heard : but now aM things arc better knowne vnto vs. Ih[^^,l',J'""
Those trees prow but in fewc places: for they haue needc of an hot, and moist country, in-
dued with a certainc milde temper of theayrc. There arc Kings, whose rents, and rcucnues
are only the fruits of those trees. By exchange and barter thereof they buy them necessary
things, as sianes, and garments, and whatsoeucr maketh for ornament, or other vscs. Mar-
rhantcs bring in diners wares and commodities vnto them, and carry out plenty of those
fruites, which the rest of the prouinccs vsc. These almondes are so currant, as by that
mcanes, all the borderers arc made j)artakers thereof. The like happcneth in all countries :
for who scieuer hauc spices, gold, siliier, Steele, iron, leadc, or any other meltall, through the
bounty of their countrv, they oblaine the forrainc commodity which they desire. For they goe
through other countries, which want these marchandics, or which through humane ell'-Mninacy
suppose they want tiiem, and bring home such things as they knowc are acceptable to tiieir
neighbours, that through this varietieof thinges they may adornc nature. So wee line in the
world, and so wc nuist spcakc. But with what art these trees arc nourished, I am now to declare
The yong i!c tender tree is |»lri(cd vndcraiiy other tree, that as a yong infant in the bosomc
of the nurse, it may be secured fro \j heat o{ the sun, & violence of showers. But after it is
grown vp y it may spread her roots, & being now hardened, may inioy y calme breatiiing
of ^ aire & su», llic nourishing tree is either rooted vp, or cut down. Let this sullice
for the free wliich beareth money: which if comon & base spirits wil not bclccue, I desire not
to compel them thereunto. Wlialsoeuer also serueth for the building or ornament for houses, ^''"™'''l|I,','ia jj
is sold in the streets of Tcnuslitan and common markets, as beames, rafters, wood, lime, morter, iviwiiiuii.
or playstcring, brickc, and stones rcailie hewed for present vse. Many sorts also of earthen
vessels are sold there, as water pots, greate iuggs, chargers, gobblets, dishes, colenders, basens,
frying pans, porringers, pitchers, all these vessels arc cunningly wrought. They lackc Steele,
and iron : yet haue they great plenty of gold, siluer, tinne, leade, and copper. Whether a
man desire the rude metlall, or to hauc it molten, or beaten out, and cunningly made info
any kinde of lewell, hce shall find them ready wrought. They are so sharpc willed, and inge-
nious, that whatsoeucr the workemans eyes behold, they presently forge, and gr.iue it so favre, ^'''",, "''
that they immitale nature. There is no aspect, countenance, or sliapcof any birde, or fourc iidim woiiic
footed beast, whereof Mutec/uma hath not the similitudes and representations, most ""'"'
liuely counterfeiting them tliat bee aliue, and whosocuer beholdeth them a farro off, would
tliinke they were lining. And your Ilolinessc knowcs it very well : for yf'iir Ilolinessc hath
scene many of them in a present, which was brought, before you tooke your iourny from
Spaine to the Citty. There is also another thing not to be omitted. In the broad field of a a Snm imm:
large streetc sfandcth an huge Senate house, where tenne or twclue auncient men authorised, "' " ""
continually sit, as lawiers readic to decide and iudge of conlrouersies arising. And by them
stand sergeants to execute their commaundcment: thv Clarkes of the market also are present t'ukTs'oVihe
there, who hauc the charge of ihc measures, and numbers, whether they vse waight or no, m"i>ri.
they had not yet heard. There is another thing besides much to bee wondered at. I haue
heerctofore sayd, that there is great plenty of all thinges, in that citty compassed with a salt
lake, although they hauc neyther bcastes of burthen. Mules, or Asses, nor Oxen wherewith
to drawe wayncs or cartes. But many with good reason will demand by what mcanes or industry
such huge beames especially, and stones fit for building, and such other things, & the rest
might bee carryed ? Let them know, that all these things are carryed vpon the shoulders of ^^ICa'tTo'f'iur-
slaues : and it is not without admiration, that seeing they want iron and Steele, they so cun- '•"■'"•
ningly frame r.nd make all thinges with such elegancy and perfection. Let them vnder-
stande that all v'hinges are formed and fashioned diuersly with stones. In the bctrinnincf of ■^'"T'!''""'"
this so rare iniicntion, I gotte one ol them, which Christophorus Colonus, Admirall ot the Sea socvuious
gauc mee. This stone was of a greene darkishc colour, fastened in most firme and harde liriuVwui/''
woodc, which was the handle or helue thereof. I stroke with all my force vj)on Iron barres, """"•

^ " anu rajdiuc HPiic.

wondcrous
y of tlu;

•■iU

Ywm

^ifM

56C

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlieffi Decade,

tbneof.

Euery temple
bath a peculiar
IdolL

A Colledge of
yong boyei.

and dented the Iron with my strokes without spoyling or hurting of the stone in any part
thereof. With these stones therefore tiiey make their instruments, for hewing of stone, or
cutting of timber, or any workemanship in gold or siiuer. After this, Cortes fearing that
which commonly falleth out in the vnconstancy and fragility of humane things, to wit, that
the variable mindcs of men might change, and supposing that it might come to passe, that
the Tenustitanes, eyther wearied through the continuali trouble of intcrtainemcnt, or vpon
any other occasion taken whatsoeuer, would rise vpp against him, and take armes, although
Mutcczunia endeuoured to hinder the same, when hee saw himsellc compassed about with
Cortei buiMeth waters, and draw bridges, hee built 4. smale gallics in the salt lake, with ^. ranges of oares,
?nd die causi" Called Brigantiues, that vpon any vrgent necessity assayling him, he might set 20. men a
shoare at once, with the horses. The Brigantines beinge finished, when through the benefite
thereof he nowe thought himselfe safe, hee determined to search the secretes of that city, which
were of any moment or worth. First therefore, Muteczumn accompanying him, hee visitcth
the Churches : where, as with vs, in euery Tribe called a Parishe, the Churches are all as-
signed to their particular Saint, so in euery streete with them, their temples are dedicated to
their peculiar Idols. But your Holinesse shall heare what thinges arc reported of their
The descriFtion greatest temple, & cheifest Idols. He sayth, it is a famous and renowned .square temple.
cnihedVaii''^* " ^" eucry side thereof, there is an huge gate, whereunto, those 4. admirable, paued wayes.
Temple. (which are in stead of a bridge from the Continent) directly answere. The largenes of that

temple in situation, is matchable with a towne of 500. houses : it is fortified with high stone
wals, very well, and cunningly made, and compassed about with many towers, built after the
manner of a strong castle. Of many towers, he sayth, 4. of them are greater then the rest,
and much more spacious, because in them arc halles and chambers appointed for the priests,
& prelates. To the chiefe dwellings the priests ascended by 50. marble ste[)pcs : these are
the houses of the priests, who (as I sayd) take charge of the sacrifices. There the sonnes of
the cheife menne of the cittie, are shut vpp at seuen yeeres olde, and neuer put out their
heades, or come foorth thence, vntill they become marriagable, and are brought forth to bee
contracted in marriage. All that time, they neuer cut their hayre, and at ccrtaine times of
the yeere they nbstaine from all riot and excesse, and meates ingendering blood, & chasten
their bodies with often fastings, least they waxe proude, and so the seruant contemne reason
the mistresse. They are cloathed in blacke. He writeth that some of those towers are
higher then the steeple of Siuill, which is very high : so that hee concludeth that he neuer saw
greater, better, or more curious wrought buildings in any place : but whither he hath scene
any out of Spaine, let the curious aske the question. It is a fearefull thing to be spoken,
wichiiabuchichi ^^^^ ^''^Y declare, and report concerning their Idols. Omitting therefore to speake of their
their great Idol, grcatcst marble idol Wichilabuchichi of the height of three men, not inferiour to that huge
statue of Rhodes. When any moued through piety towards any diuine power, determineth
to dedicate an Image thereunto, he endeuoureth to gather together of all seedes fit to bee
eaten, such an heape, as may suffice for the height of that Image which he hath purposed to
erect, bruising those seedes, and grinding them to meale. But oh cruell wickednes, oh hor-
rible barbarousnes, they teare in peeces so many boyes, and girles, or so many slaues, before
the meale which is to be baked, while they draw so much blood, as in stead of hike warme
water may suffice to temper the lumpe, which by the hellish butchers of that art, without any
perturbation of the stomacke being sufficiently kneaded, while it is moyst, and soft euen as a
potter of the clay, or a wax chandler of wax, so doth this image maker, admitted and chosen
to be maister of this damned & cursed worke. I haue else where said, if I mistake not, that
these sacrifices are not siaine, by cutting of the throat, but by thrusting a knife through the
short ribs necr vnto the hart, so that their hart is pulled out, to be sacrificed while they be yet
lining, & behold their own miserable codition : with the blod which is next vnto the hart
they annoint their godds lips, but burne the heart it selfe, who therby suppose the dis-
pleasure of their godds to be appeased, and this prodigious act, the priests perswade the
people to be acceptable seruice to their Idols. But many wil demand, & that rightly, what
they do with the flesh & mebers of those miserable sacrifices : O wicked yawning & gaping,

The dedication
of an Ini:igc.

Reade heere
Barbarisme in
his truest cou-
louis, if thou
canst without
amazement.

^>^M

Thefft Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

oh loathsom prouocatiu \(^ vomit: as the Icwes sometimes eate the lambs which were sacri-
ficed by the old law, so do they eate mans flesh, casting only away the hands, feet, & bowels.
To diuers effects they forme diuera Images of their godds, for victorie if they be to fight in
battaile, for health, for plenty of fruits, & such like, after euery ones pleasure. Now let
vs rcturne to Cortes walking about that great Church. In the halles, which as we sayd be-
fore, were in the temples, were the great Images of their godds, & in the halles weredarke
inner roomes, into the which they enter by narrow S<. strait dores, whereunto the priests only
haue accesse. The great halles, beset with great Images, were dedicated to the Princes for
their sepulchers : & the lesser, which were in the inner chambers, wereappoynted for buriall
of the Nobles descended of honorable parentage: and as euery naan was of abiliiie, so euery
yeere he offered sacrifices of mans flesh. A poore man with vs offereth a small taper, to the
Saints, and a rich man a great torch, many sacrifice onely with frankincense, others build
churches, as we pacifie Christ and his Saints with our I'rankincense, and waxe, yet offering
the feruent zeale of the heart. It happened, that while the King, and Cortes went through
the open halles of the greate church, some of Cortes his familiars, entred into those narrow,
& darke chappcK against the keepers wils, and when by torch light they saw the wals be-
smeared with a redd colour, they made proofe with the pointes of their poiiiardes, what it
should be, and breake the walles. O bruitish minds: the walles were not only besprinckled
with the blood of huinnne sacrifices, but they found blood added vpon blood two fingers
thicke, oh loathing to the stomacke, out of the holes they made with their poniardes they
say, an intolerable hellish stincke issued from the rotten blood which layhidd vnderthe fresh.
But among so many horrible and fearefull things, one thing commeth to mind worthy of a
lubile. Whatsoeuer Images were in the halles Cortes commaunded them to bee presently
ouerthrownc, and broken, and to be throwne downe the steppes of the high stayres, in
peices, one marble Colosse he left standing, because it was too huge, &c could not easily
be taken away. Wherwith Muteczuma (being present) was much troubled, & all the
Nobilitie of the court, who complained saying : O vnhappy, and miserable men that we are,
the godds being angry with vs, wil take away the fruites which we eate, and so wee shall
perish through famine, and as at other times it hath befalne vs, the Godds being displeased
all kindes of diseases shall sodainely comevppon vs, and wee shall not be freed from our ene-
mies, if we be assayled by warre, nor be sufficiently secured from the tumult of the people,
who if they vnderstaiid this, will furiously arise in armes. Whereto Cortes maketh answere :
Behold (sayth he) what is more wicked, and abhominable ? and what more foolish? doe you
thinke those to bee Godds, which are formed and fashioned by the handes of your Tributaries?
Is the seruice of your men more worthy, then the men themselues? Is that thing (O Mutec-
zuma) which your workemen, and peraduenture a filthy slaue fashioneth %vith his handes,
more woorfhy then your maiestie ? what blindnes is this in you ? or what mad cruelty ? that
ye slaughter so many humane bodies euery yeere, for these insensible Images sakes ? what
doe these perceiue, which neither see, norheare: Him, him, (I say) who created hea-
uen and earth, him, yee are to worship. This is he, from whom all good things proceede,
to whom these your sacrifices are most offensiue. Besides, it is decreed and established by
a law from our King, whom yee confesse to deriue his descent from him, who brought your
auncestours vnto these countryes, that whosoeuer smiteth male or female with the sword,
should die the death. When Cortes had declared these things by interpreters, Muteczuma
with a pale countenance, and trembling heart replyed : Hearken O Cortes, the ceremonies
of sacrifices left vs by tradition from our auncestours, those wee obserue, and haue hitherto
exercised, but seeing you say wee haue so muche erred, and that it is displeasing to our King,
wee are greatly delighted to heare it, so wee may perswade the people thereunto. These
rites and ceremonies, peraduenture our auncestours who were left heere, found them to be
obserued by the inhabitants of those times, so that wee haue followed the customes of our
Fathers in lawe and of our wiues, neyther are you to wonder that wee fell into these errors,
if they be errors. Giue vs a law, and we will endeuour to embrace it with all our power.
Cortes hearing this, repeated that there was one God, three in persons, and one in essence,

4 D 2 who

Gods for diuera
purpoKi.

O religious
hdlishn.s, O
hcUuh rcligiu.

Cortf s ouer-
throwcth imi-

gts-

A huge muble
Colosse.
.Such H MS the
power uf Sath i
oucr these
godles people
to lillict them
if at any time
they had neg-
lected his ser*
uice.

Cortes disw«-
deth notabljr
their Idolatry,
and sacriSciuj
of children.

Muttcruma
his ansveie.

Muteexmni
contented to
forgoe Idohtry.
Cortes preach-
ctb one Cod.

»'•«-(

. I'

:i68

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tliejift Decade,

U :?

'':^:*!;

Tiood Cortes
recall thrf f
words in this
lyiit.

PalUccs.

Miiteczuma
liath many
Lirgc king-
doinc:>.

A most frequent
Court of
Nobles.

joo ynng no-
ble me!i afcnd-
iiic in Mutcc-
zuma his
Courte.

No Prince

equal! in great-

nes to Mutcc-

2uma.

The inaner of

his scruice.

The statclyke
manor of tlu'ir
ccmnTiii^ and
rcturnlti^ fro
the kin».
All other poynt
of ttatc.

who created the heaiien, and the earth, and the Siinne & the Moone, with all the ornament
of the Stars, which mooue about the earth for the vse of men, and hence it cometh, that it is
odious vnto him to kill men, wh(» formed the slaue, & all others hauing the face of men, of
the same matter, whereof he made me, thee, and them. He was borne among vs of a wo-
man who was a virgin, and suffered for the saluation of mankind, which by the learned men
who are to come, shal hereafter more largely be declared both to you, & the rest. The
.-standard of that God, and ensignc of victoric, is the Image or rcpresentatio of this crosse,
for it bchoueth the Generall both to haue the crosse, and also the image of the virgin his mo-
ther, carrying the infant in her bosome. And as he was speaking thus, Cortes of a Lawyer
being made adiuine, shewed the crosse, and the Image of the virgin (to be adored.) These
Images of wicked spirits and monsters beeing broken in peeces, Muteczuma causeth his ser-
uantcs to swecpe the temples in his presence, and dense them by rubbing of the walles, that
no signc or token might remaine of such horrible bloudshcd. \Vc haue now sufficiently spo-
ken of the corrupt religion of Tenustitan : lette vs therefore say somewhat of the pallaces
of the nobilitie, and other rich men, and of their excellent buildings. Cortes sayth, that
he neucr sawe any pallace in Spayne either of Kings, or any other Prince, which the mean-
est of 70. stone or marble houses, doth not match, who sayeth that they are all builte by the
curious art of the architect, with pauementes of diuers sorts, and pillers of lasper stone, or
white transparent marble, rounde aboute the courts, and large galleries vnder the solars. He
addeth further, that whatsoeuer is reported concerning these thinges, ought to be credited,
saying it is no wonder, beecause Muteczuma hath many large kingdomes, in the which a
great multitude of noblemen gouern many countrycs, as vnder the Emperours crowne, many
Dukes, Earlcs, and Marcjuesses, and Nobles of other titles, are shadowed. All these at cer-
tayne times of the yeere, by an auncient custome, frequent the court of Muteczuma, nor
may they doe otherwise. It is a thing whereto they are much inclined, that euery one shoulde
striue in his desires, to excell his companions in the building of sumptuous houses : I might
compare the manner of the Popes Cardinals in the citie of Rome to their magnificence: but
much otherwise, for the Cardinals in their buildings haue respect onely to themselues, not
regarding succession. But these people being obedient to Muteczuma, prouide for posteri-
tie long to come : for they send their owne children to bee brought vp with Muteczuma, es-
pecially suche as descend from nobilitie, whereof there is so great a multitude, that euery day
as soone as light appeareth you may see more then 500 such young noblemen walking in the
hals, and ojjen solars of Muteczuma, with whose familiars, pages, & folowers, three great
courts, and streets (before the gates of the pallace) are fild at that time, to the houre of din-
ner. All these are fild with Muteczumas prouision, he saith, the cellers are neuer shut all day
long, and that any manne may demand drinke of the butlers. Yet no man seeth the King,
before he come forth to dinner or supper, out of the priuie chambers, in to the great Hall,
whose equall in greatnesse, Cortes sayth, hee knowes not any. When he is set, 300. young
men apparelled after the Palatine maner come vnto him, and euery one of them bring seue-
rall dishes of diuers daintie meates, with chaffin dishes vnder them that the meates freese not
in the winter tyme. But they come not neere the table, for it is compassed about with a
rayle, one onely standeth within the rayle, who taketh the seuerall dishes from their hands,
and setteth them before the Prince being readie to dine. Muteczuma giueth with his owne
hande of the dishes to 6. auncient men of great authoritie standing at his right hand, who
after the auncient maner, while he dineth, stand all bare footed. Thepauements are couer-
ed with mats. If it so happen that he cal any, he that is called goeth vnto him, bowing
downe his bodie, with his face to the earth : and lifteth not vp his head at all, before he be
gon far from him, creeping backwarde, for he may not return turning his back toward him.
No man vseth directly to looke vpon the king, his familiars, and friends, & also the princes,
casting down their eyes, & turning their face to f left or right hande, harken what the king
answers: and thereupon they blamed Cortes, because he suffered the Spaniardes which he
called vnto him, to behold him with a direct countcnace: who answered ^ it was not the ma-
ner with vs, nor that our king so highly esteemed his mortalities although he were the great-
est

:hi

, many

Tliejift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

569

est, that he would be adored with so great reuercnce: this answer pleased the. Resids, whe
Muteczuma is preset, in what state soeucr he appeare, amog so great a multitude there is so Anothcrpoynt
wodcrful a silence, that non would thinkc any of the, drew any breath at al. Euery dinner, " "'""
& euery supper, he washeth his hands on both sides, & wipeth them with very white linnen, An other poynt
& the towel hce once vseth hee ncuer taketh in hands againe, all instrumentes must neiier bee ° ' "'
touched more. The like doth he concerning his apparel, arising from his bed, he is cloath- tik chingt of
cd after one maner, as he commeth forth to bee seene, and returning backe into his chamber J,',''^^,'."^'^""
after he hath dined, hechangeth his garments: and when he commeth forthe againe to sup-
per, hee taketh another, and returning backe againe the fourth which he weareth vntill he
goe to bed. But concerning 3. garments, which he changeth euery day, many of them that
returned haue reported the same vnto me, with their owne mouth : but howsoeuer it be, all
agree in the changing of garmentes, that being once taken into the wardrope, they are there
piled vp on heaps, not likely to see the face of Muteczuma any more : but what manner of
garmentes they be, we will elswhere declare, for they are very light. These things being
obscrued, it wil not be wOdred at, that we made mention before concerning so many gar-
ments presented. For accounting the yearcs, and the dayes of the yeares, especially, where-
in Muteczuma hath inioycd peace & howe often he changeth his garments euery daye, all
admiration will cease. But the readers will demand, why he heapeth vpso great a pile of ^vhy Mutcc-
garmcnts, & that iustly. Let tliein knowe that Muteczuma vsed to giue a certeine portion v",To many' b'u-
of garments to his familiar friends, or well deseruing soldiers, in steed of a beneuolence, or ""»"-•
stipend, when they go to the wars, or returne from y victory, as Augustus Caesar lord of the
world, a mightier Prince then Muteczuma, commaded only a poore reward of bread to be
giuen ouer & aboue to such as performed any notable exployt, while being by Maro admon-
ished, that so smal a larges of bread was an argiimct y he was a bakers son: then although it
be recorded in writlg that Caesar liked y mery coceit, yet it is to be beleued ^ he blushed at
that diuinatio, because he promised Virgil to alter his dispositio & that hereafter he would
bestow gifts worthy a great king, & not a bakers son. Muteczuma eateth & drinketh in Mutecruma
earthen vessels, although he haue innumerable plate of gold, & siluer beset \V precious stones: ""inearth" '
such earfhe vessels as are once brought, as chargers, dishes, poringers, pitchers & such like ""'^'■'•
vessels, neiier goe backe again. I wil now speak sowhat of their palaces, & houses in ^ ^^P^j^""^'"
plaine fields. Euery noblema, besids his houses in the city, hath sumptuous houses builte
for delight in the open fielde, and gardens and greene plots of grounde adioyning to them,
& places where fruit trees growe of diuers kindes, and hearbes, and roses, and sweete fra-
grant floures: where there wanteth no art in looking to the plats or quarters, & fencing them
about with inclosures of cane, least any suddenly enter into the manured delights to ouer-
throwe them, or robbe or spoyle them : beesides euery one hath standing pooles in his or-
chardes, where seniles of diuers fishes swimme, and multitudes of water foule flote vpon
them. If therefore euery Noble man hath one such house, it is meete that their Emperour
Muteczuma shoulde not come behinde them. Muteczuma hath three great houses in a soli- ofMuteczumi
tary place out of the way to refresh and recreate himselfe in the heate of sommer : in oneof hoiisesTn^he"
these he hath great plentie of monstrous men, as dwarfes, crooke backes, such as are gray one'tomon.
beaded from their youth, and men with one legge, or two heades, and seruants are appoynted strous men.
to attend them. The second is ordained for rauening foule, where both Vultures, and Egles, Thcseconde
and all other kindes of hawkes and cruell byrds of pray are kept. Euery foule hath her in^foufe'. "'"°"
open cage in a great courte with two pearches fastened in them, the one on the outside to
take the sunne, and the other within, to roost vpon : and euery cage separated one fro ano-
ther with their sedge betweene them. But the whole courte is couered with woodden grates
about that euery foule may inioy the open ayre, and safly fliein that parte assigned her: ser-
uants also are appoynted them, not onely to giue them meate, but they haue likewise a cer-
tain number of stipendiary Surgeans, who by the art of phisicke knowe how to cure the di-
uers kinds of diseases which grow in birds. One thing seemeth somewhat wonderfull &
.strange, concerning water foule: whatsoeuer they bee that line in the sea, are included in S'"ng poofc
the salt pooles, and those that lyue in fresh waters, are kept in the fresh pooles, and at cer-" ^^"" "
tayne tymes of the yeere, the old waters being dryed vp, and the fresh ponds carefullv clens-

ed,

■•.!■ :%

i. '•'''•■i.jj!5i

I '' • •i,-.*it*S!l

I hi

570

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thefft Decade.

J* r '

!*!!

The tliirde
)iuuie>

Cumatina a
Citic.

Mutectuma a
faifhfuil and
costant prince
and free from
ambition.

The mutabili-
tv of fortune.

cd, fresh waters arc let in : the seruantes giue meate to euery kind of foulc, of fishes, hcarbes,
and thegraine Maizium, according to euerie ones nature, deliuercd them by the houshoulde
seruantM and stewards of Muteczuma. Round about those standing pooles are large walks,
where, vpon marble, alablaster, &: lasper pillers, are other solars or floares, from whece Mu-
teczuma (whe he Cometh) may behold al the actions & conflicts of the birds below, especially
when they arc fed." The third house is appointed for lions, tygers, woolues, foxes, & other
rauening beasts of this kind, & peacocks inclosed within their pales, & roomes, whereof I
haue sufficiently spoken before: with these the fierce &wiid beasts are fed. Those pallaces
or courts are well replenished with houses, so jr if the king with his family detcrmin to lodge
ther al night, he may conueniently doe it. This they say, and this we report. Whatsoeuer
they write, or declare in our presence, we beleeue, because, we suppose they would not pre-
sume to signify any thing rashly, contrary to truth, & because we haue also learned to be-
leeue y those things might be done, which are possible, & not miraculous, and they further
say, that they omit many things, lest they shoud offend the eares of Ca?sar & the courtiers,
with too long narrations. While our men thus searched these things, messengers were sent
with Spaniardes to accompany them, vnto diuers countries of Muteczumas dominions, to
declare vnto ^ noblemen of the coutries in their kings name, that they were to obey the
great King of Spayne, and (in his behalfe) the captains sent from him. From the East vn-
to the furthest limits of those countries, which diuide them from lucatan (for they think lu-
catan \V first ofTereth itselfe to them y come from Cuba, to be an IlRd, & it is not yet cer-
tainly known) they say, so much lad lyeth betweene, y it is almost thrice as big as Spain :
for we haue already said that Tenustita is more the an lUO. leagues distat from ^ citie Poten-
chiana, otherwise called Victoria, & 5' borders of Potechian are extended further vnto lu-
cata & to J gulfe called Figueras lately discouered. But they that were sent vnto the West,
foud a city, & that a great one too called Cumatana, 200. leagues distat or therabouts from
Tenustitan, & ^ King of this citie, whose name I know not, & such as lie betweene, and
they of the East also as farre as the Potenchiani, who (except those fewe common wealthes
of whom I haue spoken before at large) were obedient to \futeczuma, nowe both of them
haue subiected themselues to vs. Cortes often perswaded Muteczuma to goe vnto his aun-
cient pallace: but he refused, saying, it is expedient for neither of vs, y we.should be part-
ed : for my nobles as 1 said before louing their benefit more then our quietncsse, will in-
stantly intreate me, to raise the people, and make war against thee, being therefore knit to-
gether, wee shalbe the safer from their insolent ambition. Yet sometimes for his recreation,
he resorted to those houses, as I mentioned a litle before, & at the euening, he alighted from
his cabinet at the Pallace of Cortes. As he went or returned no man looked directly vpon
him : so great is the reuerence which is conceiued towardes him, that they thinke theselues vn-
worthy to behold him. That superstition is ingrafted in the minds of the people, from their
auncesters. But what? but what? & againe J 3. time, but what i" The flattering inticemets
of fortune y mother, in the turning of her wheele, were conuerted to the accustomed buflTets
of a stepdame. Cortes saith, he cntred into that city of the lake the 8. day of September in
^yeere J519. and there parsed a most quiet and peaceable winter, & the greater part of
the sprig vntill the moneth of May the next yeere: at what time Diecus Velasquez gouerntr
of Cuba or Fernandina, furnished a nauy to coe against Cortes, because, without asking his
aduice, & against his wil, as I metioned before, he determined to set footing on those coun-
tries, & plant Colonies there. As touching the fleete wee will hereafter speak, but now c6-
cerning Cortes. While he thus aboad with Muteczuma, daily expecting with earnest desire,
y' returne of the messengers Montegius, and Portucarrerius, whom he had sent with pre-
sents vnto Caesar, behold it was told him by the inhabitants of Muteczuma who bordered
vpon theSea shore, that ships were scene at Sea: he supposed it had beene his messengers ship,
& reioyced, but his ioy was presently trasformed into sorow & sadnes. I will here omit many
smal matters, which the Grecians, & Icwes (because they are always strnited within narrow
boundes)wouldeinserte into their Hystories, iftheyhaddehappened to their fellow-citizens: but
in so great a vastity of matter, wee omit many thinges. To be short. It was the fleete of laco-

bua

Theffl Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

571

bus Velasquez, consisting of 18. shippcs, both beaked Carauelles, & Brigantines o'' *wo A «e«e oHS^
ranges of oars, furnished with men, to witte, 800. footcmen, and 80. horsemen & 17. peiccs vil'squ". vader
of ordinance, as hereafter shall ajipeare. Oucr this present fleete Velasquez made a young p,'„'""^u"{^.
inanne called Pamphilus Naniaecij, (Jpnerall. Cortes sent messengers vnto Pamphilus, to ru'ec'ii'aE"uirt
require him to come in friendly manner, and that hee shoulde not gee about to disturbe so tollcrsfndti
happie enterpryses. Pamphilus made aunswerc, that the Emperour commanded him, toexe- m«sciiger!w
cute the office of Gencrall of the armie of those countryes, and willeth to command Cortes, ''»"'r'"'"'-
to yeeld vp his Empire and gouernment, and come humbly, and vnarmed vnto him, that
rendring account of his actions, hee might submittc himselfc to his ludgement, or to the
censure of lacobus Velasquez who sent him. Cortes sayth hee wonlde obey the Kinges
letters patentes, if he woulde shew them to the Gouernour left in the Colonie of Vera Crux.
But if he falsly say tliat he hnth those letters, let him depart the Prouince, in the which he
determined to sette footing, and not forraging tlie countrey violently take away what hee
(indeth, because hee thinketh it auaileable for the king, not to disturbe so great attempts by
his comming : & that all the Barbarians now conquered, who vnder his conduct beecame
obedient vnto Caesar, and honor his name, if they vnderstande that the Spanyardes disagree,
and arc at varianre among themselues, will aduance their crests, and rcbell against the
Christians.

The fift Chapter.

MAny suclic thinges by messengers were discussed on eitheir side, & nothing don, so that
Pamphilus continued his purpose. In the i.iean space those shippes, with their seueral peeces
of ordinace, horses, 28 smal shot, 120. archers, all landed vpon the shore, were brought by
certaine trybutaries to Muteczumn, paynted in a certaine table of the barke of a tree. Cortes
therefore vnderstanding the luaitcr, was much tormented in mynde ignorant at the first, what
counsell to take. If he made light of the maiter, he saw that, it would so fall out, that the
authoritie of a newe open cnemir, woulde gather strength both with the Spanyardes, and the
Barbarians. On the other side it was a harde case to forsake so great a matter, for feare of
that, which fell out, to witte, the violent assaulte of the Barbarians vppon his mcnne. At
length he thought it better to goe to Pamphilus, relying vpon the authoritie, wherby hee
preuayled with them that came with Panii)hilus, when hee was rhiefe Magistrate for lustice, in
the Ilande of Cuba. Leaning garrisons thcrforc in ihe Pallace where he kept Muteczuma,
hee spake vnto Muteczuma in these words. O my king Muteczuma, now occasion of thy Cortes to Mu-
future happines oRereth it selfe, if the king shal find thee faithfiill at such a time, it shal coe '"'"""•
to passe that al things shall succeed prospcroiislv, & happily vnto thee. I goe, to search out
what this matter may be, in my absence be carefull that no innouation arise. The Spanyards
who I Icaue to be .-"t your command, 1 commed to your faithfull protection. Muteczuma
promised them al succour & helpe, & savd, he would account the Spaniards in steede of
kinsmen. Go prosperously, & if they touch my borders with a treacherous mind, giue me
notice therof : & I will command them to be subdued by war, & expelled out of my
countries. Therefore leaning a garrison there, and bestowing certaine acceptable presents CortcsiMuna
vpon Muteczuma, & iiis son, he taketh his iourncy towards Pamphilus, who had seated ^o",'""^^',,,
hiselfe in Zempoal, and seduced the citizens against Cortes. He went with that mind, to I'amphiius.
disturb whatsoeuer he met opposed vnto him. So Cortes went vnto him : and omitting
circumstances, sendeth for his Alguazill (that is to say the executioner of lustice, which the
Latines call a sergeat: although a sergeant seldoe cometh into the dining roome) &c sendeth
him before with 80. footme, with commandcment that vsing 5' Praetorian law, he apprehend
Pamphilus. He himself foloweth after to aid him with the rest, which were 170. He there-
fore with 250. men setteth vpon Pamphilus, not vnprepared, because he was admonished
therof by the scouts. Pamphilus had fortified himselfc in an high tower of the teple of that
citie : & had eight peeces of ordinance planted on the steps of the siaires. This Terentian
Pamphilus rather, then that Troian Hector is beset with 800. soldiers, assaulted, & take. Pamphilus
We think those Pamphila souldiers durst not lift vp their heads agalst Cortes, who somtime

made

VIS

:i72

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TheJift Decade.

R'K;.*

made (hem afraid, when he was chier goucrnor of ^ ciiie of Cuba : we also think y the
rhicfe cOmaders were seduced through ^ subtilly & crafty deuises of Cortes: that, at ^ time
when J' matter was to be performed, they Hhuld leaiic their swords they brought ^ them,
in their sheaths. Here many things are muttered against Cortes, which time will discouer:
howsoeuer it be, Pamphihis mailing sO resistnce, lost one of his cies. So he led away Piiphi-
]us with on eye, who a litle before had the luster of 2. eyes, & with him, his chiefe cOsorts,
faithfull Centuriils to their General : who are said to be but a few. A certain Licentiate
oalled Aiglionus, an excellent lawyer, one of ^ Senators of Hispnniola, folowed Pamphilus.
This licetiate in the behalfe of the Senate of Ilispaniola, by whom lawcs were giuen to al
those parts, commiided lacobus Vela/quez, not to sendc out that fleetc against Cortes, &
that he should not be the occasio of so great a mischiefe : who said that the matter was to be
decided by authoritie of the king, & not by armes : & cue also to declare ^ sae to Paphilus,
& endeuored with all his power to diuert ^ authors of the fleetc from th.nt enterprise. This
Terentian Pamphilus did not onely not obey him, but casting the Senator into prison, sent
him in a ship to Cuba to Diccus Velasquez, the inueter therof. The wisdome of ^ Licentiate
was such, that seducing the mariners, he brought his keeper* boud, in the same ship to His-
paniola. So they became a pray in the lap of fortune. These are small matters, let vs now
come to those of more weight, & importacc. Whosoeuer followed Pamphilus, stucke to
Cortes the known Gouernour of ^ citie. He sent the ships to the garrisons of ^ Colonic of
Vera Crux, to giue them notice of the victoric : & with the rest hee taketh his iourney
towards Tenustitan: & sendeth messengers before, to cerlifie Muteczuma (and the rest who
were left behinde) concerning the successe of thinges. This messenger was stabbed with
manie wounds in the way, so that he scarse escaped aliue : who brought backe newen, that
ThtTfnustianj they Were all in an vproare in the city Tenustita & that the Barbarians were reuolted, and
intt e on. j^^j bumcd thosc 4. Brigantins (whereof I made mention before) built for defence of our
men, and that our garrisons being beseiged were in extreame perill, and straightly beset with
fire and sword, and all prouision of victuall intercepted. And he further said, that they had
The (idciiiie of all perished, and bin oucrthrowu, if Mutcczuma had not withstood it, to whom the citizens
uteciumi. jj|.g ^^^ become rebellious & disobedient as he sayth. Cortes with all his traine approcheth
to the brinke of y salt lake, and sendeth a Canoa made of one whole tree, to search, what the
matter was. Another Canoa mecteth them, wherin one of Muteczumas messengers, &
another of the garrison of the Spaniards besieged, were conueied, who cue to signify vnto
Cortes the distresse our men were in. It is manifestly known, y this was don against ^
wil of Muteczuma : wherfore the messengers exhort him to make hast, who say, that
Muteczuma hopeth by meanes of his comming, that the sedition which was already risen
should lurne vnto a quiet calme : whereupon the 8. of the Calendes of Inly, he speedily
Corttscon- conucycth himselfe with certayne Canoas into y Pallace, to the garrisons, & Muteczuma, who
i!iw theTaUacV wa* vcry pensiucand sadde by reason of that tumult. He founde the wooden bridges (which
all along diuide the stone bridges) drawne vp, and the wayes fortified wilh rampers : he first
thought they hadde done it through feare, but it was farre otherwise : for they determined
rather to dye, then any longer to indure such guests, whodeteined their King vnder colour of
protecting his life, possessed the citie, and kept their auncient enemies the Tascaltecanes,
Guazuzingi, and others beside, before their eyes, at their charge : and consumed their pro-
uision which was harde to get, by reason that beeing compassed with water, they naturally
wanted all things, abstained not from iniuries, imposed tributes, and desired whatsoeuer
thing was precious which they vnderstande they had, endeuouring either by force or cunning
to extort it from them, who, to conclude brake in peeces the Images of their gods, & depriued
them of their old rites, and auncient ceremonies. For these causes the Princes of y city being
much moued, & with the the forraine Nobilty (who familiarly inioyed the presence of their
king, and brought vp their children & kinsmen with him from their childhood) determined
in a rage, to roote out this nation, as husbadmen vse to pluck vp thistles by the roots out of
their come. And therfore tooke vpo them (without the kings comandemet, nay though he
.withstood it to his power) to conquer the Pallace, & kil the garrison, or consume them with

famin.

I*, ■

'Diefift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERILS.

673

famin. Wherby our men were now brought to extreme haznnl of life, vnles Cortrs lincl
come vnto llit-, at whose comin^^, ihey tooke coiiniire ajijain, bein;i now ahnost out ol" hart
seeing there was no further hope remaining. They had fortified y I'allarc in nianer of a
Casile, the Castle h d hie churches, neer which stood a tower inuirued with firre trees. They
greatly indamaged our me l)y casting darts & stones out of ^ fine trees, & fortresses.
As soon as the BarLarifis vndrrstood y Cortes was cOe with anxiliarv forces, & enlrcd the iii'Trinisiium
Pallace, to his me, they bega more furiously it (iersly to as-<ault ilu", a blackc cloud ofi]|j'i.'j*Ji;'^^,'"''
stones, & darts, h anowcs, & al kind of wcapds dcliuered from the had, cae so lliick
y our men could not disccrne the sky. The clamors raised to the Ileaiiens, cufoundcd
the aire, because the nfibcr «'f those obstinate & sturdy warriours was innumerable. To
those y fonglit on the plain groud, Cortes sent forth a Captain with MOO. Spaniards,
who made some slaughter of the Barbarians but being inclosed by an infinite multi-
tude, he could not brcake the array. It was hard for tiicin to rcfurne vnto the Castle,
yet he got out, making his way with his sword : among them v' were slaine, he was

Cones liiinicirc
wounded.

Thi« ^^ '"<"?•'• '"■'
* ""' morniiiijto the

grieuously wouded, and left 4. of his company slaine : on the other side Cortes commeth
suddenly vpon them, but did them litle hurt, for as soon as they had cast their darts, $c
stones, they retired to ccrtai litle turrets, which the Spaniardcs call Azotcas, whereof there
are many built throughout the citic : the battailc continued fierce a long time, insomu<h as
Cortes w.is constrained to betake himselfc to ^ Castle out of the fight, which (not without
diigcr) he scarsly perfornicd, many of his copanions being slaine through violence of sfons,
& diucrs kinds of weapons. Cortes being brought back away into the Castle, the Harbarias
renued the assault, & secke cntrace on cuery side, & mine, & coming close vnto y
ports, they endeuour by setting fire to them, .1 burne them, they y defended the assault shot
many of the assaylats through with bullets wit., 'he shot, & bowmen, yet with an obstinate
corage remaling by the dead carkases of their c .ipanions, if need required, they proceeded,
to rcnuc y fight : they say the battailc continued from morning vntill the cuening
was an intollerable labour for our men, y they were al compelled to be al in armes, the whole eu<.n»is'
day, but much more easy for them, that 4. times in euery houre, fresh & sound men were
placed in the rancks in steed of the weary, sLiine, & wouded men, who came no
iesse cheerfull vnto dager, then they departed weary from the fight: so great was the per-
turbation of that hatred which they now concciued. They exhorted one another, to in-
deuoure corragiously to thrust such guestes out of their houses, that none could liue with
more contentment, then to shake of such a yoke from their ne< kes, by fighting, or loosing
their Hues for ^ libertie of their country. So they continue! the whole day in the battaile
like raging woolus about a sheepfold, & the fight ceased at the euening. But y whole night
was so trobled with their stiog & loud clamors, y through the noise tiierof, al y dwelt neer
were struckc with deafnes. Neither could they within y castle hear one another there was
such a resoiiding or bellowing of voyces. The Barbarians departing y day, Cortes taking
muster of his men, foud 80. of the wouded. The next day after, which was y 8. of the
Calends of luly, they ran more fiersly thither then their accustomed maner, wherupon a
cruel conflict ariseth. He planteth 18. field peeces against y enemy, & rageth the Archers, TheTtnustita
& y smal shot in the front: oh admirable attempt, although 10. & sometimes I'i. of the courag^"
were shot through with eucry great shot, & their dismebrcd lims tossed into the ayre, yet
notwithstilding they persisted, & ciie on still : & which way soeuer the great shot tare
them in peeces, they presently closed the Armie, like the Gcrmas or Heluetias. The next
day being copelled through great want of things necessary, he determined to try his fortune
abroad. The Spaniards (whom cniel huger copelled) issued forth like raging Lions. They
fal vpon ^ enemie, kill many, & woon certaine houses by assault, which lay neere to ^
castle. They passed some of the wooden bridges which crossed y waios. But at the euening
our men returned, no Iesse hunger starued, Cortes & 50. of his coinpany being wouded. Cortcs .gaine
^ecessitie dayly more & more vrging, especially the great penury ot come, they were
enforced to find out deuises, whereby doing greater damage to the enemy they might draw
the to some quiet peace. By night therfore he made 3, warlike engis of wood, couered

4 E with

i 1

f \.

^'Mi

i!3ll

:-■««!

I'll

. m

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

nejift Dtcadc.

'\ 1

Tht I.amrnia-
bic and vnli.i(>-
pif f ink* of the
migli'ir King
Muicciunia.

Cane\ spcakftli
to tlie ciliicns.

Thf magnani-
niuiis rev'tution
cf the Uarba-

A Vertue of
nccessitic.

wiih boorilcs, in manor of a litlc square house, the art military calleth them cngini) of
dofeiicf, ihis cngin was able to tontainc '20. souldiers, and putliiij; whoel.s viider it, they
isMic out of the same : they were shot & bowmen which filled the engiii of defence. They
brought alio behind them, slaucs with axes, & mattocks, thinking to be able to ouerthrow
houses, ik bulwarkes ^' annoyed them. There was such casting of sicmes and dartes from the
Towers (which hungc oner the wayes) vppon those Engines, that they brake the couering
thereof: so they were fainc to crcepc backc againc vnit) the Castle. These things thus
diione, Mutcc/uma (that vnha[)pie King, whomc our men hadde with them) desired that hce
might bee brought to the sight of them that fought, promising to indeuoure to pcrswade
them to giuc ouer the assault. By euil fortune, hee was brought vnto a certaync open loft,
on that side where the assaylantes were thickest, when presently such a mighty tempest of
stons cac violently powring down vpo them that fought, that no manne put out his head, who
departed not shrewdly shaken, and bruised. There, the most puissant king Muteczuma, a
good man by nature, and wise enough, got the vnhappic end of his greatncsse, and dclightes,
who being strucke with a stone by his ownc people, the thirdc day breathed out that soule
which commanded so many kingdomcs, and was a terrour to so many nations and people.
Our men gaue his body to the citizes to be buried. What was els done, they knowc not. For
they had no free libertic lefte them, to be able to doc any other thing, the to bethinkc them,
how to preseruc life.

The sixt Chapter.

Tile next day after, Cortes spcaketh to the commanders of the warres, the Principall men
of the citie, and the kinges Allies (among whom was the Lord of Astapalapa the kings
brother) being sent for to the place, where that lamentable mischance happened to Mutec-
zuma. And perswadeth exhorteth & aduiseth them rather to imbrace peace then warrc : and
that vnlesse they desisted from their enterprises hee woulde vtterly destroy that so famous
and renowned cittie, their chiefe seate and natiue soile : and that he pittied their future
calamitie, whom he once admitted for his friendes : whereto they answered, that the wordes
which Cortes spake, were vaine, & idle. They sayd, they woulde account him for no
friend, but a deadly & hatefull enemy : & further say, they will not accept his offered peace,
vnlesse he leaue them their country free, departing out of their borders with his army.
Cortes againe putteth them in mind to beware of the future dammage, and grieuous losses.
They replyed, that rather then they would indure such a bondage, they would constantly die
euery man : and therfore bid him thinke of his return, & not put any confidece in weak &
fraile words, they say, death should be most pleasing vnto the, so they might shake of that
slauish bondage from the nccke of their children and the rest of their posteritie. Contrarily,
Cortes againe propoundeth vnto the, what miseries other natius (who refused his friendship)
had indured. He promisetii to pardu former Errors. They reply again, that they will haue
none of his friendship, nor none of his pardu. Nay, they say, they doubt not but they shal
consume them euery mu either with the sword or famin, & shew, that it might easily be
done, because there is so great a multitude of desperate men desiring death, so that they make
no reckening of the slaughter of a thousad men : if the death of euery thousand be reco-
penced, but with one of ours. They affirme, that they are al resolute in this opinion, &
therefore admonish him Avith threatning words, that (a Gods blessing) he goe from whence
he came, & prouid for him, & his, with the time : & desire, & beseech him to suffer them
to inioy the customs, & precepts of their Auncestors. Cortes, who shortly was likely to
perish through famine, with al his traine, vnles he ouerthrew the force & power of the Bar-
barians (for hee was nowe pressed with extreame famin) out c ' his necessitie was compelled
to frame the courage of his mind vnto an higher straine. He suspected also, least if hee
went about to depart, as was required, hee might be intercepted within the drawe bridges,
which was easily don, the woode bridges betweene him & the, being either drawn vp, or
taken away. It increased his suspition also, for y the chiefe men of the citie were not igno-
rant that Cortes had great treasurs heaped vp, through desire wherof they were drawn, and

that

l^'

The jlft Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIKS.

that not without came surely, for our mcnnc confesse, that out of all those rouniric!* he had
);athcrcd the sum ofscucu hundred thousande Diicates in ;;old, biluer, and precious sIomcji,
all which he had in his ciistoilic. Thereupon hec determined to prepare himselfe to (he fight,
and that night to hazard what the fortune of war sluild decree. They amend those Engins of
war whereof wc hauc made mention : & a-4 soone as day be;;an to appeare, he went forth,
first to destroy those little towns, out of the which our men were indrigere«l by casting down
stones, & such like things from thence: & then to possessc them liy strong hand, if he
could. These Engins with wheels, were drawn by them that were within, behind the 3.
peeccs of battery folowed after, whose flanks many largetcers, &: shot guarded & dcfT-ded,
accopanied with troops of ^ Tascaltecas, & Guazu/ingi to the niibcr of ;i(X)0, out of the first
litle town which they awayled, such a cloud of stons & darts w.is thrown down vpon our mc,
y they could not vse the ordinacc: so that on of our mc being slaine, & many woudcd, they
returned \V heauy cheer vnto the Castle. Out of the hie lower of { church also, which was
ouer ^ Castle, they receiucd innuerable damages. Wherfore our men attC-pted to afi^ault it,
& ascend by an hundred marble stcpM, & more, vnto the top thereof: but the FnTsidiary
Barbarians of the sae, made our men tuble headlong down the stairs. Wherupon the corage
of our men faited, but the enemies pulled vp with pride, pressed y seig much more
grieuou§ly, & rcnued the fight. Cortes compassed with so great calamitie, pcrceiuing that
present death would follow, except he woon y tower by assault, because they could not so
much as put forth a finger, for the enemy, so log as 5 tower stood speedily t.iketh vp a target
himselfe, and such as were of stoutest courage followed after him, armed with targets in like
manner. They assault the lower: with resolution either to win the tower, or in tliat conflict
to end their Hues. And although they vndertooke it with manifest hazartl and danger of
life, yet boldnes of courage prcuailcd. The enemy endeuours to defend the siayres, our men
desire to ascend them, in so much, as they fought eagerly. At legth our men obtained their
desires. They woon the tower, & made the defenders to leapc down from the top of y
stairs. In that tower (casting down their Idols) they placed tlie image of the blessed virgin :
which the enemy stole away. Wherefore he commanded that tower, & 3. others to be burned,
least any further damage should be don vnto the Castle therliy. Those towers being lost, ^
Barbarias began to quailc. The night folowing our mc sallying forth, in one of the waies
neere vnto the castle, burned 300. houses : & many in another, from which the castle was
much annoyed. So somtimes killing, somtimcs destroying, & sotimesreceiuing wouds in the
wayes, & bridges, they laboured many dales & nights, on both sides. At length the nobles of
the city, fayning fearc, send messengers to Cortes to treate of peace, who say, they will be
obedient vnto him, so he will pardon that which was past. Whereto Cortes !.ayth, that he was
well content. Now Cortes had one of the Priestes a man of great authoritie whom he de-
teined in the castle. They earnestly intreat him to set y Priest at liberty, by whose means
the matter might be performed: the priest is let go, & Cortes being credulous taketh no
further care for ^ matter. Cortes sitteth down to dinner, vpo a sudden, messegers cue runing
forth cdtinually, who report ^ the bridges were interrupted by armed enemies. Cortes had
filled certain .spaces, which y woodc bridges vsedto couer, to the intct that if the bridges were
taken away, the horses might freely runne hither and thither, vppon the firme ground : they
signifie that the bricke of those void places, and the earth, and all other kinde of matter or
rubble were cast out, and the bridges made vnpassable againe, and thotie spaces clensed, so
that no footemen, much lesse horsemen, might passe that way. He leapeth forth from the
table, sendeth out the horsemen vpon the Barbarians, and violently breaketh in through the
middest of the enemie, wounding, and killing, on both sides, for a long space. But it re-
pented him that he ranged so far, and wide. Returning from the fight, hee founde all the
w.iy behinde him, very full of souldiers, on the water with boates, and thicke on both sides,
and before, filling the whole breadth of the bridge. They that remayned by flight,
presse vpon him dangerously behinde: he was also assayled from the towers, many on
both sides were battered with stones, and pierced with dartes, and Cortes also grieuously
wounded on the heade, and fewe escaped free, and those so faint and wcake, that they

4 E 2 coulde

Tlif h»%t mai

(if f oljc M\i

iltuci tlut
Cortrt hdd g4»
tlictril.

Ciirtri aiuuli*
t\k the tuKfr.

A moit rf inltitf

M\i VilijMt .tct

ul Cutut.

r ify will ilic

tl,...T,

.100. Houiri
burnt.

Tht Noblfi
iiibiilly cntceate
peace.

Cortes iisault-
cth the Barba-
rians but with
eiuill sucveiK.

\ 3" .'I

5:3P

576

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The ft ft Dicude,

Cortri pickii
»p 4 err .11 nunc

of UCMUIC.

cutn)>iniuni Hic>

Mulrciuman
chilJfiiu )l.ijji.

Tacuni,

150. Spmiardt
il.iiiir. .V aoco
oihcti.

A StraMgemc.

coiililo net so much an lift vp tlu-ir armos. Hut after thry rcfyrfd to Jlie Caiilc thry
foiiiul not mrair siinicicntly enough Nrusonrd to rcfrc^th them, ikt pcradiicntiire mor-
Kclk'!* of hreadc of roiij;li Mai/iiim, nor poi ihle drinkc, as for wine i^- flesh, ihey h.id
no \i,rvM taiv. So beiii-i all heauie and Mad, they l)ej<oiiplvt ('(irtes to bring tlicin backr
agaiiie from thence, for it ^voiilde shortly come to iiaHHc that they should either dye by
the Mword of the narbarianx, or pine tiironjijh famin. Me harKencd to the recjiiest of
hit felowes in armen, & beinj; moiicd with ^ matter it nelfe now brnnj;ht to the lant
ca»it, he yeelded to depart: iV,: prepared certain jjreat pceces of timber, to lay oiicr the
bridjjcs wher the stone bridges were wanting. Heing rcjulv to goo foorfh one night
secretly, he diiiideth the tre.i-iires, to the snm of 7. hinulred tlxuisande Diicates. He
assigneth the kiii;s lift part to the kings Auditor, and Treasurer, «Sc other olTicers, &
commandeth them to take charge thcrof. The rest he diuideth to be carved behinde
them vpon horscbicke. lie Ii;id with him Xfutec/.umas son, and 'i. daii;;hters, pledges, &
many other chicfe men taken in the conflicts, for whose sakes, it for ca-'tiiig down tj images
of their gods that tumult of the people arose. He sctielh the rankes in cnler, he chooseth
chielc commaunders, and vnder ofticcrs, raungelli the army, i^' taketh his iourney in
the silent night. The report & fame thereof is spread throughout the whole citie in
the twinckling of an eye, that Cortes, and his companions were fled. .\ huge num-
ber of warriours run suddenly vnto them, they raise their cinmorsto the hcaucns, so that our
misenble men were pelted with stones and darts on euery side. They thai were in the vant-
gard escaped, but such as were in the middle, and followed in the reare, were shrewdly smit-
ten, and wounded The discourses concerning the^e conflicts are long ik tedious. Your
llolinessc shall briefly hearc what they write atlarjie: the Uarbarians slew many of our men,
and horses, because tnev carryed aw.-iy their Kinges children, and the cheil'e men of thecitty,
and for that thev conueied away the treasure, they fought with maddc fury and courage: so
that whatsoeuer riches or householdstufle our men tooke aw.ny, became their praye, except
that little which fell to the vantgards share by chance: the fury of the conflict was so great,
that they slew pel mel Mutec/umas children, and the princip.dl men of the citfy, together
with the slaues, whereof our men had gotten many, and our nieii also intermingled with them:
and if at any time, the horsemen which remained, went backe to such as followed them, the
first they met wifhall, with a violent course leapt into the waters, seeing it is all one with tliein
to swimme, and to waike vpon the land (as is it to Crocodiles, or Scales) and afterwardes
comming out of the w.nter, creeping by the wallcs of the bridges, they came in ag.iinc. So
our men being vttcrly ouerthrowne, and dispersed, forsookc the whole lake. They whose
good happe was to escape, made a stand in the field of a certayne land citty, called Tacima.
Vppon an high sfeepc side of a hill of that plaine, Cortes abode, to gather the remnant of his
vanquished Annie together, and incamped there all night, in the open ayre. Mustering his
army after the vnhappy remnant thereof receiued, he found left behind him slaine, of the
Spani.irdes l.W. of the Auxiliary Tascaltecane.s, and Guazuzingi, and others bordering yppon
them, about 2000. of the horses, he lost 42. and there remayned not one of the children of
^futeczuma, or of the chcife men who were led captiue. The like also befell the slaues:
they all dyed in the sight of our men. The Tenustitan conquerors alwayes followed the stejips
of our men fighting, to the very view of this citty Tacuna: expecting the day light. Cortes
being certified by the Spies, what purpose they had, and how great a multitude was gathered
together against him, vscd a Siralagcme. He commaunded fiersto be kindled in diners places,
to the intent, that the enemy should thinke our menne woulde stay there, and not moue a foote
till day light. At the second watch of the night hee cominaundeth to take vp the Ensigncs,
and chargeth the souldiers to follow as well as they could: one of the Tascaltecane Au.xiliaries
escaped, Cortes being very pcnsiue, because he knew not which way they must goe, or
should be compelled to i^o: he ofVereth his heipe to conduct him, becau.se he declared, that
he hadtrauailed through those countries before time. This Tascaltecane beeing his guide, he
remoueth, they bring forth those that were grieuously wounded vpon the buttockes of horses,
or fastened tu their tayles: the rest who were vnprofitable for Wiarre, who could stand vpon

their

**■■

The ft ft DccmU.

TltAFFIQUES. AND DIsrolT.HII.S.

577

their (ec Ic; or «irh a< were wfiiin<lr<l, or fithcrwi>ic tirkc of any «li«*ca<tr, lie *cnt before, The
rearrwanl, «hi<li he kept, vith the liorso, :iii<l a IVw suiiiul mm, worr sciicr ni.m In- 1 ono
inilr <ri)in thr plicr \\li' re ihcv in(ain|)«'<l thai ninht, wlicii in the (irstt tuilii^htiind dawnini; < I' n, n.t^'Mni.
the tlay, an inmiiiiti,jJ»l( iiHiItilndiMil Ijirniic"* ra»nc \nt(> llirm : and with ihcir l.iri,'r|iarc< ihr ■ ifV'- iiif
nr»rbari;HiH oidTlMokc our ti^aH' wanl. They su galled our men l)fhind, th:,l lite horsnncn \iii- '""'
Icnily Tell vppon thfm all alu/i;; the way, and nIcw many, and returned haeke aiiiiiie ti» the
nrmie vdiilo thry were WHtffhinj;. So, thry alwavcs followed our men (i;;litinR for two lea'^ue^*
together, fdf thev mijjht not mab' a further iournie, lor the annoianre of the enemie: nriiher
was it les };reitio<is vnto tlieni, th;it the v Vf^rv oppressed with ihe \Naiit of al ihio;^*. be( lu-tc
they carried nothing; out of Tenuntitan lit for food, n' r did they sal'cK nuircli \ri^i the tr.wue-men :
they that were next in thew.iv.eanicviolenllv running (Uf if their iioiiNCswitli I'nid otitrrie*, a-*
^hepheards vhp to doe \ pon the taking <'f a Wocdfe at llie wlieepi lolde, while they pp^fri ue Ihe
woolfe in pon farr from the foldes. Through those diniciilties at length thev lanic t« f>»"'ir
friends the 'I'asraltecanes. In the second encouler alter thcv weie <jot out of the cilty Tcnw
titan, the eneniic wnunded 4. horses with titeir arrowes of the which one heinp slaine, (as
Cortes saifh) ^aue him and his fellow souldicrs a sumptuous i^' delicate supper, for that they
greedily deuoincd the horse. They say llicy led a ini-emblc life for line dai( s fo;rether, with |'7,h|.T"'dIi'«
the parched urainc of Maizium only, tV that, not to saturitv neilhrr. I omit many particulars and luiJinfi of
heere, which cau«c inee to belreue, that neither that fibulous (Jrecian Hercules, nor any man '" "^'""'^' "'
lining euer sufTcred any such thin;;s, tV yet remained aliue, so many painefull lal;ours, so many
drivers of (ipht, such hun^^er, I tl.inke none lining which is not a Spaniard could hjlte inilurcil.
This H;ice of men is borne for this, that it mi;;ht more easily indiirc what 1 iltMir socuer, .SL: hini-
ger, and thirst, heat and c(dd, & continual! watching, («S: that in the open avrf if necessi-
tic require) then any other nation in my iudpemet. At the length tiie sixt day fro that <b'- ,|,^^,j,„„j,g
])arture, which was like vnto a llijjht, he came to a town of the Tascaltecan iurisdiction, called uuaniii..
(Juazillipa: which consistcth of 4(KX) houses, as they report. Ileentred that towne halfcsns-
j)ected, because he feared (which vsually happeneth in humane aflaircs) least their mindes
nn»ht be changed with fortune, and of friends were nowc become enemies, but hcc foinid
they had dealt faithfully with him. That towne was 4. leagues distant from Tascaltcca. \'n-
dcrstanding i)y the Tascaltecancs of the slaughter of our men and theirs, and of their coiuming:
they sent two of the cheife men of theeitty messengers vnto them, the one a man of authori-
ty, and the other Siccntengal. Messengers also came from the common wealth of Gua/uzingo Thry cf Oimii;-
friend to the Tascaltecanes, who comforted our distressed men & pcrswade them to be of ['cucnj'.'"''"
good checre, and put them in some hope of future rcuenge, olfcring al their forces for the ef-
fecting of the matter. They exhort them to quiet theselues for the present after so many
grciuances, & cure theircompanions: and further promise that the Tenusfitanes should shortly
rccciue punishment for the slaughter of the Spaniards, & the lossc of their cittizens slainc vn-
der their protection. Cortes with these words conlirmed his wandering mind, & at the re-
quest of the embassadours went to Tascalteca. But he sent theembnssadours of thcGuazu-
zingi cheerefully back againc, hauing presented them with certaine gifts of our country com-
modities, acceptable vnto them, because they were strange. Our men were curtcously inter-
tayncd, & cherished with soft beds, & necessary prouision of victuals. Cortes being to de-
part to Muteczuma, had left with the Tascaltecanes some store of gold & siluer, and found all
things intire and safe, & their (idelitie kept. But what auailed it : he sent that wealth in chests
(to thesumme of^ilOOO. Castellanesof golde, besides Iewcls,)to the Colony of Vera Crux: fine
horses accompanied those riches, and 44. footcmcn through the enemies borders of the jjrouincc
of Colua, because they are friends to the Tenustitanes: who were take cucry man, Sk all sacri-
ficed to their gods, & deuoured by theColuani. & their treasures diuidcd among'the. Hauing
cotinued J space of twenty daies with the Tascaltecanes, he cured the wounded men and re-
freshed the feeble. After this, he sent againe to the Colonic of Vera Crux, the messenger
returning, sayd those Garrisons were all well, at that message Cortes rcioyced, but the rest
of the Commaunders and souldiers were of opinion, that they should be brought backc to that
Colony, to the intent thatbeeing ioyned together, they might more easilv resiste the treachery

and

!»' '-W

578

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thcjift Decade.

IW\

i u i

Tfprtci
• huge city.

Cortf ? taktth
the citiy of
Trpeaca.

A castle built.

Cmljassadoure
to Cortes from
Guacc.ichiulla
a city, at enmi
ty with the
Teiiustitanes.

An other Cily
sent Embassa-
dors to Cortes.

Cortes goeth
agiinst Izzucca
V citty.

Iiiucca wonne.

and deceits of the enemie. Cortes saylh hce will not retiirne againe, seeing hec had found so
great faithfiilnes in the Tascaltecanes and Guuzuzingi, and perswadeth them to bee ready to
take reiiengeofthc Tennstitancs for such their outragious & villanous actcs. About theCalen-
dcs of Inly in the yeerc loiiO. hee marcheth forward in battayle array. There is an huge citty
called Tepean not farrc distant from Tascalteca, these citties pursue each other with hostile
hatred. The Tepeacenses sacrificed and deuourcd 12. Spanyards taken passing through their
borders. To them Cortes (with great and mighty armies of the Tascaltecanes, Chiurutecali,
and Guazuzingi,) directeth his course: it was reported by the Spies that the Tepeacenses,
had receiued mercinary souldiers from the citty Tenustitan, against our men. But that I may
conclude in few wordes, omitting circumstances, both the hostcs, & the guests were con-
quered: so that he had the city yeclded vp vnto him. They promised by an oath that they
would obey the command of Cortes, and in token of obedience, thcygaue pledges. Our ord-
nance and warlik engins together with our horses (things neuerseen nor heard of before, by
them) presently make their courages to quaile, but the greatest help was, that power of 3. na-
tios gathered together. In this prouince of Tepeaca he chose a new place to plant a colony, 8c
built a Castle there, which he called Sugura la Frontera. He determined not to trust the Tepea-
censes, because they might easily be perswaded to imbrace the counsell of the Tenustitan
Princes, & for that Tepeaca is the inidd way, intercepting from Vera Crux to these friendly na-
tions. While these thinges were thus done, Cortes h:id messengers from Vera Cru.x, who report-
ed, that the forces of Garaius were sent from Panucus the king, to that great riner, to erect a
Colony, and that they were vanquished, and ouerthrowne, and escaped out of the hands of the
King Panucus, and were arriued at Vera Crux. After the Tepeacenses vanquished, a spreading
rumour throughout the rest of the bordering nations, stirred vp the minds of the people.
There is another mortanous citty called Guaccachiulla, which secretly sent Embassadours to
Cortes, to offer themselues and all their power against the inhabitauntes of the Prouince of
■ Colua, the friendesof the Tenustitanes, from whome they complayned, that they had receiu-
ed innumerable losses, and disgraces, euen to the rauishment of their women. The Guacca-
chiulli are seated on this side the mountainc, enemies to these inhabitants beyond the moun-
taines situated in the countrie of Colua. They told Cortes that 30000. armed men lay in am-
bush beyond the mountaines in the borders of Mesfinga, because they hearde that our men
were minded (being next vnto the mountaines) to passe into Colua. He went therefore to
the Guaccachiulli with 200. Spanish footemen, 13. horses onely, three thousand of the auxiliary
forces, and with certayne peeces of Artillery: the Commanders of this ambushment quietly-
rested themselues securely in the citty Guaccachiulla. "Whereupon he tooke, or slew them
euery manne. The citty Guaccachiulla is fortified with strong towred wals, compassed about
with mountaines, ble.ssed with a fruitfull soyle, consisting (as they say) of fiOOO. houses or
thereabouts built of lime and stone, famous for 2. riuers watering the plaine thereof. There is
another citty 4. leagues distant only from Guaccachiulla. This Citty also sent Embassadours to
ofTer to yeelde themselues. The king hereof fled away, with the Coluani that escaped, who
beeing for to inioy his dominion, refused the same. He rather desired to sufler banishment,
then to be subicct to our men. At the request therfore of the people, hee made his brother
king in his steade, who promised the cittizens, that hee would not alter and change his opi-
nion. A few dayes after that, he went to another citty, named Izzucca, 4. leagues also from
Guaccachiulla, but lying another way. After he was in his iourny, hee perceiued there were
very great forces of the Coluani in the borders of that citty: they write that they were 20000.
They thought they were able to defend the country, that our men .should not enter. Within
the citty were 6000. defenders, the best of the rest, were distributed into the towncs and vil-
lages: but the women, and all such as were vnfit or vnprofitable for war, they sent forth into
the woods, and mountaines with their houshold stuffe. This citty is very well fortified by
art and nature, I should be weary with recounting all the strength thereof, therefore shortly
thus. It was wonn at length : the greater part of the defenders leaped downe from the wall
into a riuer running close thereby, bcraii.se they perceiued they were assailed behind. The
citty being taken, Cortes pardoned the people, & commandeth them to bring backe their

familiei.

Tliefft Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

579

familicH, and goods. They all chcercfiilly returned vnto their houses, so that the chty is prc-
setiy replenished. By 2. messengers of the citty he commandeth the King who departed with
the Teniistitanes, and the rest of the Coliiani, to be sent for: hee refused to come, and desired
banishment rather. The brother vnto this king was a bastard, and aged, and by his sonne
who was dead, there was a grandchiide of ten yeeres old, he therefore placed the nephew only
in the kingdome, because he was legitimate, choosing his vnckle for Protector, ioyning three
of the bordering Guaccachiulli faithful! men, and of great authoritie with him in guardianship,
to looke to the estate of the orphiit, while attaining to more yeeres, he knew how to gouerne
himsclfe. They say this citty Izziicca consistcth of 3000. houses, with about an 100. towred
teples dedicated to their Idols, which Cortes himseife saith he niunbred from a certaine high
place, and in them they sacrifice with mans blood. All these towers with all their Idols he
caused to be burned : commanding, that hereafter they should no more apply their mindes to
such ceremonies. And he further sayd, that the Creator of hcauen and earth hated manslai-
crs: and that it was cotrary to the law of God and Nature, that one man should kill another.
This citty hath a Castle neere vnto it compassed with hillcs, which defend it from the sharpe
and bitter blastcs of winds, and by reason of the heatc thereof it bringeth forth exceeding
great quantity of Gossampine cotton. The plainc thereof is well watered. All the fields therof
are wel moystened in the summer by trenches cut from place to place. There is plenty of all
maner of fruits there, neither is the sowing of pot herbs neglected. The plaine is ful of
towns and villages. The Guaccachiulli being vanquished, & the Izzucani subdued, the
fame thereof being spread through far remoucd nations, declared that the countenance of
rauenous and greedy forfun was now changed, & of a stepmother was turned into a mildeaiid
courteous mother. The minds and affections of the nations ranne headlong fro the Tenusti-
tans to our men, as it vsually happeneth, in turning of the whccle. Embassadours come striu-
ing in all post hast from euery place to yceld theselues : affirming that for feare of the Coluani,
& the Tenustitan Princes of that prouiiice, they durst not hitherto offer their due odedience to
so great a king, as the Spaniardes professed he was. But now, seeing they hoped to be safe,
and secured by the fauour of our men fro the tyranny of the bordering king.s, they say that
they are come to discouer the affection c*" their cittics. That we may now at length end this
discourse, related in a sufficient long story : Cortes vnderstood by certaine captiues, that af-
ter the death of Muteczuma, his brother the Lord of Ilastapalappa was made king in the citty
Tenustitan, who 3. moneths after the kingdome & soueraingty taken vpon him, died of the
Measels, in whose stead Muteczumaes sisters son succeeded, whose name was Catamazinus,
for of the 3. daughters of Muteczuma, they theselues had slain one, at the bridges in the
slaughter of our men. But of the that remained aliue, the one was an idiot, y other dis-
eased with the palsie. This Catamazinus endeuoured to get all maner of amies, as many as
he could: especially long pikes, wherwith he hopeth to be able to wound the horses afar off:
because they are di.sranked onely with the incounter of ^ horse. For he feareth that Cortes
would return vnto him, to reueng the outrage comitted: because he vnderstood the n.itions
chiefly round about bordering vpo him were reuolted fro him, & promised aid vnto our men
for their destruction. Neither was he surely deceiued, for he said y Cortes would prepare 13.
vessels of 2. ranks of oars called Bergantines to destroy that great salt lake, y so great a city,
their prouisiu of victual being taken from the & their cudits broken, might be vrged with such
necessity, y they might be compelled to submit their necks to ^ yoke of the king of Spaine.
In the meane space he sent 5. ships to Hispaniola, to bring a conueniet nuber of horses, &
harquebus shotf, with store of gunpouder. Cortes writeth that those coutries are like vnto
Spaine in the abudance of riuers, mountain.s, & woody valHes. Therefore he desireth the Em-
peror to confirme y name, which he had glue vnto those coutries : for he called al which is
described, Noua Hispania, of the Ocea. sea. Withal in the end of his huge volume, hehubly
beseecheth him that it would please his M. to send some man of courage & experience vnto
him, to viewe the coastes of those countries subdued by him, that he might report, what he
had seene. Dated the 30. day of October, from the Castle which he called Segura Frotera.
1520.

Cortes hurnf^
the teples wirh
their idule..

Fonunf jftiine
smiles vpon
Cortes.

Catam.iEinus
king of the
Tcnustltant.

Cortrs prepareth
for tlie warre.

■ ,<"■■
i

il''

Mil' * •'■Lv^'Hi

us
,'*' 'if

380

VOYAGES, NAUICATIONS,

nefift Decade.

To Adrian the Pope, concerning the compassing of the world.

The scuenfh Chapter.

Wllile these writings remained in my deske, messengers fayling by reason of the long dis-
tance of j)lacc, and dangerous trauailing, beholde late matters disconered, behold new hatched
broods from the pregnant Ocean. Tliis v.'orke shall be concluded with two additions thereunto,
which shall far cxcecde the former discourse in worth : one, of the Strang, and incredible com-
passing of the world, and the Ilandes which bring forth sp'ces discouered: ^ other, with what
art, pollicy, hcate of courage and force of armcs of the Tascaltecane, Guazuzingi, and the
bordering enemies of Mutcczuma aiding him, Fcrnandus Cortes recouered that huge and
m-ghfy city of tlie Inkc, Tcuustitan, and ail the power thereof and ouerthrew it, and ahnost
vtterly de->troycd it. Whereby no small addition is made to the sceptre of your Holinesse,
and the kingJome of great Castile. Rut let vs come to the Paralell compassed from East to
West, and to the ncgoiiation of Spices, which is somewhat further to be deriued. From the
citty Barcliinona, when the Emperour intended the Laletane Councel there, your Holines.se
being president incur Emperours Senate of Indian aft'ayres: charge was giu en, as you may
remember, to Fernandus Magaglianus the Portugall, who fled from his owne King, to search
out the Molucha Iland^, which nourish spices, for that being 7. yeeres conuersant in times
past, in the Cochinean, Cananorean, Colocutean, Chersonesian, otherwise called the Malachian
Martes and favres, he knewe where those Hands lay. They are not farre distant by sea from
golden Chersonesus, commonly called Malacha & y rest of those marts. Magaglianus being
dismissed by our Senat whereof your Holinesse was president, sctsayle to sea from Barameda
the mouth of Bethis, the 20. of September in the yeere 1519. with .5. shippes, the Admirall
whereof was called the Trinity, the other S. Anthony, the Victory, the Conception, and S. lames
in the which he carried 2.J7. men, of these ships, two only returned. One of the which
forsaking the Admirall, returned vnseruiceable : the other, almost 3. yeeres after her depart-
ure out of Spaine (for shee arriued the 6. of September I5''i3. at the same hauen, fro whence
shee departed when shee went out) returned laden with clones, & certaine other spices.
Few of the men escaped. And the Admirall himselfe Magaglianus remained still in one of
the Ilnndes called Matam, slaine by the inhabitants in his voyage, as we shall declare heere-
after. Betweenc the Castelanes and th? Portugues there is a certaine naturall hatred and
priuie grudge from all antiquity: Magaglianus seeking diners occasions vnder pretence of
lustice, consumed many of the Castellancs, because they obeyed him vnwillingly. Of these,
we shal speak in their fit places : now let vs come to the voyage vndertaken by them. Ar-
riuing at the fortunate Hands first, and after comming within view of the Hands Gorgodes,
which the Portugall Lord thereof calleth the Greene Cape : they turned about to the right
hand on the backe side of our supposed Continent, all along the length of that land which
is called S. Augustine, as the Castellancs named it: and a little further to S, Mary, so called
of the Portugalls, which e\tendcth it selfe ,'>. degrees beyond the ajquinoctiall line, and so
they came to the Antarctick, to the very signe it selfe : where in one of the Decades we sayd
that Solisius the Captain of our fleete, running along tho.se shoares, was shiine, with certaine
of his consorts, and deuoured by the inhabitantes. That Bay, as they say, is .38. degrees be-
yond the a^quinoctiall to the Antarctick. This place was called the Bay of Saint Mary. I
haiie else where sayd that a Bay is called a gulfc. Mes.sengers being sent from Magaglianus
against the streame which fell into the gulfe with one of the ship.s, & the pinnace of ano-
1. luite Mild and ther, they saw three hslfc wild, and naked men, two spannes higher then the common sta-
ture of men : One of them beeing more hardy then the rest entred the boate. Our men
supposed that he would haue allured his companions to the ships, if they intreatcd him well,
when they had him in their hands. Hauing well intertained him with meat & drinke, and
cloathing, they sent him backe againe. But none of them came vnto them, neyther returned
he any more. Yet they found trees cut with our hatchets, and in the top also of another
tree, a Crosse erected, but found no footing of any one of our men. They report wonder-

fiiil

S. Mary.

iukcd men.

TItefift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

581

full things of the largenes of this riuer, as else where 1 haiie spoken of Maragnonus in the
country ^f Paria to the North. They say, they went 20. leagues vp the riuer, where they af- A Ri-ifu
firme it is 17. leagues broade. But the mouth thereof (because in their iournie they per-
ceiued that many other riuers flowed into it) they say, is exceeding broad: and that fresh
waters are drunke for a very great space within the Sea ; leaning which Bay, a few degrees
to the antarctick, because it now bended to the westerne land, they found another great
gulfe, which they named S. lulian. There was a very safe Harbour there, therefore the Ad-s. \m\ux.,
mirall commanded them to cast ancor. Now the sunne ascending vnto vs, forsooke those
countries : After they had passed the middle of Aries, they were oppressed with cold, as our
northren men are, the sunne passing the halfe part of Libra. In that hauen our men passed
more then 4. months of the sommer, vnder cottages, and sheds vpon the shoare, deteyned
through extremity of cold, and shut in by tempestuous weather. For in the Kalends of
Aprill they tooke that Harbour, and went out the 9. of the Kalends of September. Here
Magaglianus the Portugall dealt cruelly with a certaine man called lohannes Cartagena, the fa- The dispiMsurr
miliar friend of the Burgentian Bishop : who bv the kinges decree was ioyned in commission of ^u%^%\i.mv.-.

• 1 .» •• 1 ■.T- 1 • «i /• ." /. XT. I • / 1 against lolunii s

With Magaglianus, and was Vice-admirall of the fleete. Hun, and a priest (vnder pretence Cartagena,
of plotting to kill him) he set a shoare, with a bagg of bisket, and each of them their sword :
he would haue punished their deuises by death, if peraduenture they imagined to kill him :
but fearing the hatred of the Castellanes already conceiucd against him, he durst not. Diuers
report this matter diuersly, and other things like vnto this. Some say Magaglianus lawfully
did, that which he did, others taxe him, and ascribe those executions to the generall aun-
cient hatred betweene the Castellanes and Portugues. There, they saw cottages of the in- tuc p.«a;oii«..
habitantes : but it is a barbarous nation, vnarmed, onely couered with skinnes, a runagate
people, without any certaine place of abode, lawlesse, of a large stature, and are called Pa-
tagones. The sunne now returning to those coastes : waying anchor out of that Harbour of
Saint lulian, the 9. of the Kalendes of September, in the yeare 1521. they descend vnto the
antarctick 14 degrees more, as they say. Heere wee must walke a little vppon plaine ground.
This Magaglianus when hee was a childe, confusedly heard vnder a cloud, in the Portugal
actions, that there lay a straight, and narrow Sea, in those countries, intangled and inclosed
with diuers coastes, and reaches, but which way he was to seeke it, he vnderstoode not.
Chance offered that, which reason directed not : for ther arose a great tempe.st, insomuch a tcmpfst
that it violently carryed one of the ships, and cast her whole vpon some of the next rockes, ^,'i"u i^Iii'
and left her hanging there, the men were preserued : but the shipp remained shiuered in
pieces by the violence of the storme. Beholde now one of the fiue left behind. A little
further on the left hand he had the huge Ocean. On the right hand, vnaccessible snowy
mountains : one of the ships which drew lesse water, seeking an Harbour from the fury of
the wanes, drew necre to the land. By chance they saw a narrow straight, and going a little
further in, she light vpon a Bay 4. Spanish leagues broad, and 6. leagues long, the ship re-
turning bringeth tidings of a straight. Heere I omit many smale and trifling things, the rest
of the ships follow : they say that in some place they might cast stones with a sling to evther
mountayne. The countrey is desert, and they affirme that the mountaynes on both sides of
the vStraight are beset with Cedar trees. Hauing passed beyond that Bay, they met with ano-
ther Straight, some what broader, yet narrow. After that, another Bay, and then another
Straight, beyond which, there was another Bay, to witt, as two narrow mouthes in the Maj)S
of Europe, containing a certain large space to the Hellespont : so in this straight ther were
three, with as many large & great spaces. These straights are full of small Hands, where-
upon beeing always suspitious, and fearing shallowe water, they sayled by those places. But
euery where they found very deepe seas. Nowc that tract or coast bent vnto the asstiuall Oc-
cident, which they note to bee extended an hundred and ten leagues in length. While they
cast anchor in a certaine square space of the Sea of that coast, they found nothing worthy
the remembrance. Three of the foure shippcs follow their course. The fourth called S. a : -htr <: .
Anthony, remayned in that square space, their consorts thought shee would follow : but shec"'"""
al)ode still, and gaue her companions the slip, and now returning backe, a long time reuilcd
Magaglianus with reproachful! speeches. Wee do not suppose that the Commanders of the

4 F ship

'^1

582

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlicfift Dceadf.

'rf .f.

The viifortunate
llandcs.

Latrones,

The Hand Bur-
neia.

A stran; tree.

Idolaters and
Mnhumetans
heere.

Rice.

Present' carried
vpon Elephants.

The kinccs pal-
lace.
ThelUr.JZubo.

The kiniie of
V.iibf) bupiized
and tubmiittih
to thi' km^e of
.'ipjync.

ship would suffer such disobedience vnpunished. The rest thcrfore proceed with 3. ships
onely. At length they come out of those straights, for hauing entred into them the 21. of
October, they came out the 5. of the Kalendes of December. They say, they had very long
daycs at that time, and very short nights: neither is it contrary to the reason of the Sphere.
Hauing passed that coast, they tooke the huge Ocean, another Sea. That is to say, on the
backeside of our supposed Continent, and is ioyned to that Sea, which in the Decades I call
the South sea, first found out by Vaschus Nunnez from Darien, the sons of King Comogrus
directing him : they say, they lined 3, months, & 20. dayes in that huge Ocean, contenting
theselues with the sight of the heauen, and the salt water. They report lamentable thinges
of their great wantes, and of the extremity of heate which much vexed them. They con-
fesse that an handful of Rice, for many dales together, was their dayly portion onely, without
a morsell of any other meate. And there was such scarcity of potable water, that they were
compelled to cast in a third part of salt seawater to boile the Rice, and if perhapps any would
drinke it without mixture, hee was forced to shutte his eyes by reason of the greene tainture
thereof, and stoppe his nose for the stincke. Sayling through that great sea, to the West,
and North, they came to the sequinoctiall line againe, next vnto whiche they founde two
worthies Ilandes, which they called the vn fortunate Ilandes, beecause they were vn profitable,
and desert. After that they called the multitude of Ilandes Archipelagus, like our Cyclades
in the Ionian Sea : in the beeginning of whiche, they went a shoare in manie Ilandes fiue
hundred leagues dlstaunt from the comming out of the narrowe Straight, those Ilandes (the
aunclent name not beeing expressed) they called Latrones, because they stole whatsoeuer they
coulde lay hand on, although our menne quietly suffered it : as that wandrlng kinde of theeues,
whiche the Italian calleth Zingari, who fayne themselues to bee ^Egyptians : amonge the
thinges which were stolne, the boate, wherein our mcnne went a shoare from the shippes,
when they hadd scarce turned their backes, yet they caryed her away : but many of them
beeing slaine first, they brought her againe. It is a naked people, and halfe brutLsh. In
that place a tree groweth which beareth Coccus, The greatest of those Ilandes is Burneia,
which without doubting, they write to be two hundred and foure and fiftie leagues in circuit
about. In the Harbour of this Ilande they say, a tree groweth whose leaues falling, goe
creeping like a worme : I suppose some vitall spirite swelles between both sides of the leafe,
which like a puff of winde that lasteth for a smal time, may moue the leaues. They vnder-
stood that there were 3, kindes of Religion there. Idolaters, and Mahumetanes, agreeing well
inough one with another. Heards of oxen & Buffalas are nourished there, flocks also of
goates, and great plenty of our country fatted foule are there maintained, but no sheepe.
They want wheate, barlie, and wine, but haue abundance of Rice, that is their bread, and
of Rice they make diuers daintie dishes. The Burneian King, and our men, interchangably
saluted each other with acceptable presents. The King sent his presets to our men vpon 2.
Elephants : and the next day after, 32. sortes of dainty meats brought vpon the shoulders of
noblemen : they say that the cltty of this Prince consisteth of 25. thousand houses : but
made of wood, except the Kings pallace which (they say) is built of stone. Many little
Ilandes lie about Burneia : among the which there are two, whereof the one is called Zubo,
and the other Matan of the cheife'towne thereof so called. Magaglianus procured vnto him-
.selfe the loue & fauour of the king of Zubo, by bestowing certaine presents of our country
commodities vppon him, acceptable vnto him, because they had not bin scene before &
were estranged from their knowledge. He subiected the King to Baptlsme, and to the obe-
dience of Cesar. Moreouer, leaning the ships in the hauen of Zubo, he passed ouer with
their skiffes, & the Canowes of that Prouince, and certaine Zubensian soldiers, into the
Hand Matan, so called of the towne Matan, which lieth within the view therof, 4. leagues
only distant from thence. He endeuoured by Interpreters to perswade the King of Matan,
that he would subiect himselfe to the great king of Spaine, and to the king of Zubo, & to
j).iy tribute to the great king of Spaine, he answered he would obey him, but not the king
of Zii'io. Magaglianus made a pray of the town next vnto the kings seate, and wholly con-
Hunii li it with fire, to the number of some 50. houses : and returned backe to Zubo with a
pray of victuals (whereof there was some scarcity in Zubo) and of diuers implements Sc

furniture

M*i^tf'i *

Thefift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERlES.

58.'i

kiive ot Mitan

40 men sbyiic
and lost in the

furniture for houses. But the greater parte of them the Zubenses (enemies to them of
Matan) tooke from him. Eight dayes after that, Magaglianus returning after the same man-
ner, leauing his shippes, attempted by force of armes, and assault, to win Matan the kings
towne it selfe. The king refused to obey the command of Magaglianus, brought hether by
euill destinie : and went out armed with the inhabitants of the towne to meet him. Besides
weapons of that prouince, of canes, and wood hardened in the fire, this king halli gotten
long speares : for the Sericae, & marchants of the countries of the Sienae do often trade with
these Hands. To make short he was slaine with 7. of his companions, by the king, and 2'i. ^''=^''v,'' ",',',
wounded. So that the good Portugall Magaglianus ended his greedy desire of spices. They
that remained, returning to their companions to Zubo, were inuited by the Zubensian king.
At that banquet lohannes Serranus ( the principall Pilot of the Ocean, of %vhom I spoke in
my former Decades) now master of one shipp, & another master of another, with some 10.
more perhaps of their companions, were present. In the meane space, about some 40.
others of the marriners wandred through the Hand. The kings armed troops lying in ambus- nTzubo."
cado sally forth vpon them while they were at dinner, & slew some, and kept the masters of
the ships aliue, and stripping them starke naked drew them openly to the shoare, supposing
that others would haue come from the ships with their skiffes, to take them in. They that
kept the ships durst not go vnto them. So leauing their copanions, these vnfortunate men
set saile. I inquired diligently of them that returned, & among the rest, of a yong man of
Genoa, one Martinus de ludicibus, who was present at al things, what crime comitted moued
the Zubensian king to attept so cruel & wicked a deed. They suppose that the deflouring
of their women caused this perturbation : for they are iealous. These are the Hands (in my a multitude of
iudgement) wherof many Authors report many things : that thousands of Hands, som say 3.
thousilds, others increase it, are not far distant from the Indian shoares. Of those Hands
that lie about Burneia, there is one, wherein are 3. towns, Buturan, & Calegam : there they ^,"f"™ •'"'
were peaceably receiued. Fro the same Hand they saw another, which the Caleganenses '"^'"''
shewed the with their finger, where the Buturanenses, & Caleganenses said, that ther was so
great plenty of gold in the sand of the Sea, that the sand only being sifted through a sine, coUe.
they might picke out graines of gold, which were as big as a filberd nutt, or little lesse : the
rest they contemne, as nothing worth : with in the view of this Hand there is another, famous
for two stately towns : Vnidanaus, & Chipicus, of the which, the one looketh to the South, p,".'^""y"\"f
and the other to the North. The Southerne land ingendreth Cinamon, the other gold. They state'iy"'towncs!
gaue our men somewhat of either, for exchange of commodities. To these Hands (as I haue
already sayd) marchants of the Sericaj, and Sienenses, & other countries of India, vse often
to resort, barter for gold, and precious stones, and other things : and giue them webbs of
linnen or woollen cloth, and other things seruing for apparel!, and humane ornament, and
also for the vse of warre. From the prospect of these Hands, those Malucha Ilandes so much
desired, are 175. leagues distant to the aequinoctial, they account them 10. degrees : why
they should beate their braines about these computations, I see no reason. The ancient Phy-
losophers, will haue a degree consist of 60. Italian miles, whereof cuery one includeth a
thousande paces by measure. These say, that a league containeth 4. of those miles by sea,
and but three by land. If we take the computation of leagues, after the maner of tjie Span-
ish sea men, euery degree containeth 1 5. leagues : but they, contrary to the opinion of all
men, say that a Degree containeth 17. leagues, and a halfe. Let them vnderstand them-
selucs, for I vnderstand them not. Let vs come to the Maluchas : at length they attayncd '['">^ ""'.^ '
them. There arc fine principall Hands of them, either vnder the aequinoctial line, or next
vnto it, almost of an equall circuit or compasse : euery one of them is contained within the
compasse of 4. 5. or 6. leagues at the most. By a certaine instinct of Nature, an high hill
ariseth in euery one of them. In them the Clones naturally growe and increase. Tlie huge ^''J'"
land named Gilolo seemeth to inclose them all fine vppon the Antarctick side. Cloues also '''''''•'
grow in Gilolo, but somewhat sharpe, and halfe wilde : as it happeneth of chesnutts, &
oliucs of wild oliue trees not -grafted, but in all those small Hands there are aromaticall, and
pleasant fruits and spices. But it is a most delightfull thing to heare, by what meanes in their rr»i'^ "•'

4 F 2 iudgement''""''

.;!'^;

'mm

1.:;-: .nSip^ysl

m ;*

• f*':

SlS-t,

It"

ill:

i:-:

58 1

'Vhp iipu.'ion of
rlir iiiliabit.inis
^■onciniiiij' the
viiinr of iliiir
.l.iurs.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thejlft Decade.

Ruf.

.A th.rj ,io|)

Those Ilandes
hapjiie, and
why.

Bread of the pith

cfolj date trees.

A skiruy kinde
of bread be sure.

Bread of the
^rayiicof Tipha.

A fatal! rule.
Sagcr.

Atfricati aples.

Nasturtium
a^uaiicam.

Anapellus or
isglfes liaiie.

judgement that aromaticall vigor is put into the Cloue. The inhabitauntes say, that a cer-
tayne Cloude ariseth thrice euery day (they say it is sent from Ileauen) early in the Morn-
ing, at noone, and in the cuening, which couereth the toppes of the Hilles which bring
foorth clones, so that, at that time the toppes cannot bee seene : and after n short time that
cloud is dissoUied. And the trees of cIoue.s, which are alhiost equal), & like to bay trcc.^,
they say it is an argument, that they become fruitful! with that spirit of breathing, because
that cloude neuer descendeth to the plaine of" those hils : nor the trees transplanted from the
hils prosper, or bring forth sauory fruite. Euery Hand preserueth the plaine for the sowing
and bringing foorth of Rice. They went a shoare in one of them, by whose king they were
peaceably, & honorably intertained, but with 2. ships only : for the third, they brak in
peices, because they wanted men, to gouerne more, after the slaughter of the Admirall, and
his companions, and that fatall banquet. The ships which were called the Trinity, and the
Victory, remained safe. This nation is almost naked, and vse breeches made of the inner
rine of trees to couer their secret parts only. But that king told vs, that therefore he ioyfully
receiued our menne for his guests, because that a few months before, he saw in the circle of
the moone, a forraine nation come from sea plainely, & confessed that our men differed not
one iot fro that image which he saw : they say, that they suppose these Hands are 5000.
leagues distant from Hispaniola, which containe 20000. Italian miles : but I thinke they are
deceiued. Our men say those Hands are happy, although they want our bread, and wine,
and beefe, and mutton, because they are contented with their Rice, of the which they make
a thousande sorts of meate. They haue another kinde of common bread of the inner pith
of certaine olde date trees falne downe, withered with long continuance, as it vsually falleth
out in thicke woodes standing vpon mountaines, remoued from resort of men, in the which
great trees fall, smitten with the violence of whirlewindes, or earthy substance fayling in the
rootes, through long space of yeers, and the length of trees increasing, which require greater
strength of rootes, then the earth itselfe can giue them, to sustaine the tree. How soeuer it
be, many lie in the woods, and grow old, & are eaten with the wormes. Such is that pith of
the Date tree, of which they make their common bread. They cut the pith into square pro-
portions, then presently they grinde it into meale, and dry it, and lastly they kneade it, & bake
it. They brought pieces thereof made in the forme of a bricke. I desired to tast it, but no-
thing was more rough, nothing more vnsauory : that must bee the foode of poore miserable
men, who haue not f ability to procure rice : because they are ignorat in tillage of the ground.
And I myself haue seen the inhabitants of ^ mountaines in the montanous countries, & villages,
eate a little more sauory breade, almost of a blacke color, of the grayne of Tipha, com-
monly called Spanish Centenum, or Millium or Panicum, or some other worse then these.
It is a rule in the arbitrement of the wheele turninge about, that fewe should be satisfied,
many famished, some haue delicates, not many foode. Yet men liue euery where, for na-
ture is contented with a litle, so we he vsed to a litle. They are carefull to maintaine goates
& all kinde of cramed foule : they haue also sweete Canes, out of which suger is taken.
They haue also Affrican apples, which the Italians & the Spaniarde call Pomegranats &
Oringes & Citrons of all sortes. Among these apples, the Spaniard calleth Limas Limones,
Narangias Torongias, Cidras, Gidrones which differe amonge themselues. Among herbes
also why should I call Nasturcium Aquaticii herbs growing in ^ litle streams of f foiitaines ?
If the comon people of Spaine plainly & without circiilocutio call the by one name Berros
and y Italian Cresones? And which prouoketh more to disdaine amonge those herbs,
a certaine poysonous killing herbe (I know not what) groweth, of the Spaniard called Ana-
pellus. One being demanded (who careth to store vp nothing in the treasure of his minde,
but to be a Latinist) whether it might bee lawfull to call it Anapellus, because the Latine
tongue wanteth that woorde, & it may very well bee taken elsewhere ? he will wryth the
Nose, and with a certaine graue and stately countenaunc*' ^vi^Uper and buzz it into your
eares, that it oujrht to be called woolfes bane. Therefore thus in my judgement with the
good IJkinge & leaue of those fine witted fellowes, the Hands of Malucha abounde with
Limons, Oringes, Citrons, Pomegranats, and pott herbes. I made metid of Cressons or

Bcrris,

ff 1%';! '

Thcfift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, A>:d DISCOUERIES.

585

Benis, & Anapcllus, not without cause, for whe in the first beginning of supper we eate ^1'"/""^"'^
herbc with salt, vineger, & oyle : my deere fried Fernandus Rodericus (whose helpe your
Holines sometimes vsed by persuasiu of ^ Emperours Maiesty) lyght vpo Anapellus which
as soone as he had take, he fell flat downe in such a taking as if he had eaten Hemlock, or
Libberds bane, but we presetly preucted daunger of death with Treacle & Mithridate : Yet
he liued a long time halfe bemimmed. Is not Anapcllus a pleasing & well souding word,
when they will clatter & babble y it ought to be called the striigler of y' woolfe by a filthy
circumlocution ? They make not wine of grapes, which the Maluchas Ilandes haue not but
make very pleasant wines of diucrs kindes of fruites, especially of one. There is also with
them and with the inhabitants of our supposed continent, a tree almost a Date tree in like- of the tre?
nesse of forme, but very vnlike in the manner of bearinge fruite. This treebringeth forth 12. p,^p™J' !?; '*"
bunches of berries, sometimes more, euen to the number of 20 : in euery bunch clusters as there t,
of the grape, but couercd with a thoiisande rindes : euery cluster being pilled, is very like
vnto a smale Mel5, but of a shelly rinde or barke, almost as hard as a shell. They call those
fruites Coccus, & this Coccus is wrapped with in more outward curious wouen works, then
the date, which is to be eaten, with the same litle ribbes, certaine nettworks bindinge them
together: and those skinnes are to be taken away with noe lesse labour, the dates are pilled.
These Cocci being opened, yeeld meate & drinke, for they finde the full of sweete & pleasiit
liquor. Within the barke or rind a certaine spongy masse of the thicknes of two fingers, is
nourished sticking within the shell in whitenes & softnes like vnto butter, or suet, but
sweeter in tast : That lumpe is cutt a way from the inside of the shell, being very fit to bee
eaten. If it remaine but a few dayes in the vessell a litle routed vp together, it is sayd to
melt, & turne into oyle, sweeter then oyle of oliues, and is very wholsome for such as are
sicke. Another profitable seruice of nature is receiued from this tree. They pierse the
sides of ^ tree where the leaues spring out : whereupon they say that potable liquor dis-
tilleth forth by droppes, into vessels set vnder the, which liquor is most pleasing to the
tast, & agreeable with health. They apply thcselues to takinge offish, whereof those Seas
euery where ingender many sorts, and among the rest, one very monstrous, somewhat lesse a fish of a nui.
then a cubit, all belly, with a backe not fensed with scales, but with a very hard skinne, with """" '*"'*■
a swines snowte, armed in the forehead with two straight bony homes, and with a diuided
backe, bunchinge out, & bony. The Kinge to whom our menn went a shoare, beleuing that
they were brought thelher by Gods helpe and direction : demanded of our men what they
desired, or what they sought ? They say, they desire spices. What we haue (saith he) you
shall obtaine. With that he calleth his tributary Ilanders vnto him, and commandeth euery
one of them to shew their heapes of clones vnto our men, & suffer them at their pleasure
to take them away, yet giuiiig honest contentment for the same: for when they be ripe,
they lay them together on heapes at home, expecting marchants, as it falleth out in allFayresofRiiccs,
others luarchandize. Heere they are carried to the Collocitean, Cochinean, Canenorian, and
Malachean faires, in certaine great shippes, which they call lunckes. So doe they likewise
of Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, and other Spices which effoeminate the mindes of menn,
needeles, and vnnecessary allurements : but in these 5. Ilandes of the Maluchas noe other
Spices grow, saue Cloues. Yet those Hands which bring forth other delicates are not farre
distant fro those, as the inhabitants of the Maluchas told vs, & had learned by an experiment
of pyracy. For when they set sayle to the Maluchas from the great llande fiurneia, and
the rest of the Hands lying round about, in one of the which they slewe the Admirall Ma-
gaglianus : as they say led, they suddenly light on a great ship of those prouinces vnpre-
pared, called a luncke, laden with marchandize, amonge which they found some store of all
other spices, but in smale quantity, yet very perfect, and well conditioned, because they
were new gathered : nor dare those shippes passe ouer the longe reaches of the Sea, because
their shippes are not built with so greate art, that they can brooke those stormes of the Sea,
which ours indure : nor are their marriners so skilfull, that they knowe how to sayle, when
the wind bloweth not directly in the sterne. That shipp brought her burde of the coutry
prouision into another Hand next adioyninge: to witt, Rise, Coccus, ..ticrof I spake a litle

before.

. I'. -v.'Ts:!

"!»

1-' ■.•vaJj

tHliil^l

M'^ ■

r.sr,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'Jlie M Decade.

Th; Trinltie
■.nA ulut brfcll
hrt.

before, hcnnes, geese, & many things else to be eaten, & some store also of graines of golde :
with these profits & reuenues they prepared themscUics dainty dinners, at ^ cost of inno-
cents passing by without suspitio. They therefore determined to lade the two shippes that
remained, with Clones: & because they found not such store with5'kinge, to fii bothshipps
the King himsclfc speedily roweth ouer to the bordring Ilandes within vcwe, for, of 5. fowcr
of them may see one another. The fift is a litlc further from the rest, not so farr as the eye
of niann may discerne but a litle more. Behold two ships filled with Cloues newly gathered
from the trees themselues, from which they brought also the bowghcs, each hauinge their
cloues vpon them. It was a delightfuU thing to all Courtiers to see those branches & to smell
those little berries on their mother boughes. That sent diff'ereth not meanely from the smell
of old Cloues which the Apoihccaryes sell. I had many boughes of them that were brought:
and 1 imparted many vnto many, to be sent vnto diners countryes. There remaine yet a
fewe with me, which I will keepe vntill I vnderstand whether any of them came vnto your
Holines his handes. Behold two shippes laden with Cloues. Let vs declare what followed
thereupon. One of the two called the Trinitic, putrified, was eaten through, & rotted with
wormes (which the Venetian calleth Bissa, and the Spaniard Broma) & was beared so full of
holes, as the water rann through her sides, & Punipe as through the holes of a Siue. Where-
fore shee durst not committ her selfc to the Sea lor such a longe voyage, till she were new
repaired. The Trinitie therefore remained there still vntill this day, but whether shee be
safe or no, wee knowe not. Of fuie shippes therefore two only returned. This which is
called the Victory returned now : and the other called Saint Anthony, the former ycere, but
What way ths fcwe of thc menn. It remaineth that wee declare, what way shee returned : For after three
hjw ifcc'rom-^ yeeres (a fewe dayes only excepted ) from her departure shee came backe another way, by
pjiicd the earth, euill fortune leauinge all the cheife menn behinde her. But this shipp (which was neuer
heard of before, nor neuer attempted from the beginninge of the worlde) went about the
whole Parallel, and compassed all the Earth. What would Gra?cia haue fained vppon this
incredible Nouelty, if it had happened to any Graician ? The Argonautick shippe (which
without blushinge and derision they suspiciously fable to be carryed vp to heauen) may say,
what hath she effected? If we consider what j^ ship hath done, going out of the citty Argos
into Pontus, to Oeta, & Medea, with their Nobles Hercules, Theseus, and lason, I knowe
not what shee hath done : for it is yet vnknown what that golden fleece was but what the
distance of the iourney fro Graecia to Pontus was, childre haue learned it with yong Gram-
marians. That distace is much lesse the a Gyantes nayle. But wee must labour to per-
swade men, how it might be that shee compassed the world : for it is hard to be beleeued.
ofcfrnm Let vs take proofe thereof from hence. Let your Holines comand a solid roud Sphere to be
brought, wherein the figure of the whole world is described. There let your Holines take
the Herculean narrow passage called the straight of Gibraltar for your guide. Goinge out
on the left hande, the Fortunate Iliids commonly called the Canaries, are the first Ilandes
they meete with. Botwcene them & the shoare of AfTrica saylinge directly South, they meete
with other Hands called the Hands of 5' Greene Cape, by the Portugalles who are Lords
thereof, but in Latin y Medusean Gorgones. Here your Holines is to marke with an Attick
minde, for from hence the grounde of this admiration is taken. The Portugalles from the
Hesperidcs turned about wholly to the left hand, and passe thc asquinoctiall line, and goe
beyond the Tropick also of Capricorne, euen to the furthest ende of Montes Lunac : called
the Cape of Bona E<pcransa : as they commonly cal it: from thc Equator o'4. degrees some,
deduct two. From the pointe of that promontory, they returne backe to the East, and sayle
by the mouthes of the iTithrean Sea, and the Persian gulfe and by the huge mouthes of
Indus, and Ganges, as farr as golden Chersonesus, which (as we sayd) they call Malucha.
Behold the halfe part of 5' Circle of ^ world. All Cosmographers by a pcrpetuall accompt
haue set it downe in writinge, that, that is y space of 12. howres, of the 24. which thc sunne
runneth. Now let vs measure the halfe which remaineth. We must therefore returne to
the Gorgodcs, This ours litle ileete of 5. shippes, leauinge those Hands on the left hand,
went directly to the right liaude, turningc stcrne to sterne to the Portugalles, on the backe

«idc

A comparison
betwixt thc
iVrconautick
ship so much
reiioioumed by
antiquity and
this.

Thep

t!if s|ihfre and

cC'i'«s;c,

5':ii' '

Sij! i,

yAI '■

Kjliii, ■;

I|'«H i '

0r^ :

.)^ .b' ■

B$'*'-tt^"''

hiit^ T'-i"- ".' '

WA f''-f"

aSl-' '• '

' ■'*' f

WkiV

WmmM

li i

Thefifl Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

58(

side of that landc of ours, which we call the supposed Continent, whose first entrance in in
the iurisdiction of the Portugues, & this fleete went so farr, y (as wee now say) jr way they
attained more then 50. degrees of the Antarctick : I note not the particular number because
they differ in the report of the degrees, although but litle. Followinge the West, as the
Portugalles did the East, they made those Hands of the Maluchas behinde them which are not
farr distant from that where Ptolomeus placeth Gatigara, & the greate gulfe : that wide &
open entrance to the country of the Siute. What shall 1 say of the great gulfc, and Ga-
tigara which (they say) they found not so situated, as they are described by Ptolomy, for
the present I omitt them happily else where I shall speakc thereof more at large. Let vs
retiirne to the cRpassing of the Paralel, behold the golden Cheraonesus found out a cleane Golden Cherso.
contrary way to that of the Portugues: and this shipp (Queene of the Argonautikes) re- """''•
turneth the same way within the vewe of golden Chersonesus, holding the same course
that the Portugues did : this shippe arriuinge at the Hesperian Gorgodes, in great want and They nrriuc ,it
necessity of all thingcs, sendcth her boate a shoare with 13. menn, to desire water, and some- gwH""""
what to eate, yet not freely. There the Portugues officers of their King (who supposed their
right eye should bee plucked out, if any other Prince gott the profit of Spices) made
stay of the boate and menn against the league made from the beginninge of the diuision,
established & confirmed by Pope Alexander the sixt : and the Kinges Gouernours of the
Ilespcridcs attempted to take the shippe it selfe, which had bin easily done. But the mari-
ners vnderstandinge of the successe of their companions, before the Portugalls could pre-
pare their shippcs for the encounter wayinge ancor, they say, they fledd away, leauinge 13.
of their companions in the power of the Portugues, of 31. which they brought thether, of
60. menn taken into the shippe at the Maluchas, but the Portugues settinge them at liberty,
by cumandement of their King sent the home againe. If I would recite their greiuances,
daungers, hunger, thurst, watchinges, & painfull labours in pumpinge out the Sea water
day and night which came in through the open chinkes and holes, I should insert too longe
a discourse, let this therefore suffice for that shipp which was fuller of hoales than any siue,
and for those 1 8. persons which shee brought, who were more carion leane, then any starue-
linge horse. They say they were violently driuen so farr out of their course, that they The direct co-
affirme they rann, 14. thousand leagues, saylinge now hether, now thether, although they J'r,7,°eVthcn
confesse the whole compasse of the Enrtli is lesse then 8. thousand, because they knewe not, 8. thous.imi
what way (contrary to the course of the Portugalls) these desired Hands were to bee sought. "™"'
Meanes are made, that such enterprises should not come to nought: what shalbee deter-
mined, and how the matter shalbe concluded with the Portugalles, who complaine that they
shall sustaine exceedinge losse by this meanes, wee will hereafter signifie. They say that
the Maluchas are within the limits asigned to either king, to witt, ^ kings of Casteele, & the
Portugall, by Pope Alexader ^ sixt : they say, they are townes, & coutry villages which
bring ^ profitts of their lads to y Malachiii, Colocuteil & Cochinean marts, as generally it
falleth out with country men, who bring such necessary things as country men nourish
and maintaine at home, to sell the at cittyes & townes. But we haue foud f the Maluchas ^''bjJ^''"'o"|\
haue bin vsurped by them, because it is without that line, diuidinge fro East to West, kinge of spaint.
from either Pole. That is best knowne vnto your Holines, because this question was often
discussed before you. One thing remaineth which will fill ^ Readers with great admiration,
especially those, who thinke they haue ^ wandering courses of the Heauens familiar before
hande. When this ship came backe to the Gorgodes, y saylers thought it had bin Wednes-
day, but found it to be Thursday. Whereupo they say that in that wandring course, tiiey lost The io«e oi i
one day, in that space of 3. yeeres. But I replyed to them your preists peraduenture de- ,g^"',,V,'^gJ'^
ceiued you by omitting y day either in their Celebrations, or in ^ accoiit of howers. They thmgcto ve
answeared me againe what doe you think it possible that all, especially wise men, & wf^l ex-"° "'
perienced could fal into so foule an Error ? it is a common case, to keep a ready account
of y dayes and monthes, because many had with the bookes of the coputatio of howers, &
knewe very well what was dayly to be accoufed. In the howers especially of the blessed
Virgin, to whom we prostrated our selues eucry momet, desiring her protectio : in thene, &

■i -4

w ,

mm.

'■fM

588

An Kxccllf nt
niij vpry pruba*
Me reason fur
t!if losse of •
dv.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Jift Decade.

ijii.

C'nnis sftUd in
■J"..scucui grente

Til. TiscMtc.
r lis c irif tlie
h>yiiti'sof tlie
B-rg^ntirtii vpo
t:-r:r slioutders
to Taacuto.

in the commemoration of the dcade, many spent ^ vacant time. Direct your llioiights there-
fore another way : without all questio wee lost a day. These rcmebcr this, others other
things, & diuers diuera things, but all agree, that they had lost aday. I added moreouer :
my friends, remember y yccre following after your departure (which was 1520) was leape
yecre, least peraduenture you were deceiued thereby. They. affirmed, that they gaue Pigmcan
February 29 dayes that yeere, and forgot not the leape yccrc at y Kaiendcs of March. These
18 persons which remained, were altogether vnlearned : so they say all. one after another.
Being much disquieted and trobled with that rare, I conferred with Gasper Contarinus (a
man not meanely instructed in all kinde of literature) who then was Embas^adour with the
Emperour for his famous commonwealth of Venice. Whereby wee know (discussinge the
matter with diuers arguments) that this strange report, neucr heard before, might very well
be, after this manner. This Castellae ship set sayle fro y llads of Gorgodes towards ^ West,
which way also the Sunne goeth. Thence it came to passe, that hauingc followed the Sunnc,
they had euery day longer, according to the quantity of tlie way they made, wherefore
hauinge perfited the Circle, which the Sunne pcrformeth in 24. howers towards the West, it
cosumed & spent one whole day, therefore it hart! fewer dayes by one, then they who for
that .space of time, kept one certaine place of aboade. But if the Portugall Fleete, which
sayleth towards the East, should returne againe vnto the Gorgodes, continuing their course
vnto the East, by this way and NauigatiO, now first foud & discouered to mortall men, na
man wold doubt seeing they shuld haue shorter dayes, hauing perfited ^ Circle, but that Si.
whole howres shuld remaine vnto the ouer & aboue, and i»o one whole day, wherefore they
should recken more by one: and so if either fleete, to witt, tbt Castellane and the Portugall,
had set sayle the same day from the Gorgodes, and the Castellune had sayled towardes the
West, and the Portugalles had towardes the East, turninge stcrnc to sterne, and had returned
to the Gorgodes, by these diuers wayes, in the same space of time, and at ^ same moment,
if that day had bin Thursday to the Gorgodes, it had bin Wednesday to the Castellanes, to
whom a whole day was consumed into longer dayes. But to the Portugalles, to whom by
shorteninge of the daye.s, one day remained ouer & aboue the same day should be Friday.
Let Philosophers more deeply discusse this matter, we yeeld these reasons for the present.
We haue now spoaken sufficiently of the Parallel compassed, and of the Hands nourishinge
spices, and of a day lost, and of strange cc:intryes. Now let vs at length come to the
allaires of Tenustitan, which I will shortly toi. • in as few wordes as T cann, because I am
now grieuous, and troblesome to my sclfe through so great a labour, by reason of fadinge
old age in whose greedy talons your Holines left me almost faintingc : which indeiioureth
with speedy flight to thrust me downe to that more greedy and deuouringe gulfe of his
crooked aged Sister, as if I should more quietly waike through the pathcs of this cloystcr.

The Eight Chapter.

OF the casting of our menn out of the Laky citty Tenustitan, or by what meancs, after
so great an ouerthrow tlirougli the ayde of the borderinge enemyes of the Tcnustitanes,
they began to gather strength againe, hath bin sufficiently .spoaken : Let vs now therefore
at one cast passe ouer to y neighbourhood of y lake omittinge meane actions. In a cittv of
8. thousande hou.ses (but consi^tinge of vnmeasurable suburbes reaching euen to the lake
18, leagues fro Tascaltcca) called Tazcuco, Cortes with a mighty army .settled his aboade.
The Tazcucane citizens taught by the example of their neighbours, durst not deny him,
least they shuld be made a praye. Cortes had left shippwrightes in Tascaltera, to make 13.
Bergantines (as we mentioned before) while he by warring, subdued the bordering ene-
myes round about. As soone as hee first settled his army in Tascuco, he commaundcd the
loyntes of y Bergantines to be brought, which were carried boorde by boorde, or peece by
peecc vpon the shoulders of y Tascaltecas and Guazuzingi, neither did they vnwillingly vn-
dertuke y labour & paines, so cruell is their hatred against the Tenustitans that they account
all trauaile Sc paines whatsocuer delightfull, directed to the destruction of the Tcnustitanes.
Behold a thinge not easy lior the people of Home to haue done, whe their estate most flo-

rished.

Tlicfift Decade

TRAFFIQUI,> \ND DTSi Ot'ERIE^.

58!)

ineaiic sca-
, and nil the
lake, for the

A trmch cut to
conucy a riucr

A multitude of
boats sent to
stop the Uttjnn-
tincs ilisiiersf J
by the uiiliniice.

rislifd. Frotn Ta«cuco to J lake runneth a smalc riuer, each bancU ,, , ere of +
house-i stan.-lin;j;e to;^cthcr on a rowe with orchardcs lying betwrf u\ \n tf
Fii while the ioyntes of the Hcrgantines were set together, and u "i the (>«*
llacccs were niakingc, he commanded a Trench to be cut frO Tasr »iro to t*ic
space of 3. Italian miles and 4 fathom decpe somewhere, most strongly fortinrd with their a„ admiubie
bulwarkes, which might rcccaue a Hiucr, to carry the Bergantincs to the lake and within the '""''••
space of 50. daycs with H<KX). continuall pioners of the menu of that prouince, he finished
the workc. But when both the Trenches were ended and the Bergantines framed, and set toge-
ther, he burned and destroyed many cittyes both on the lande and standinge vpon lakes,
whereby heo wa» molested when he fledd away : so that the Tenustitanes durst not now
peepe out, nor ioyne battayle with our menn in open field. The 13. Bergantines beinge
1 lunched in the lake by that admirable worke of cuttinge of a Trench, the Tenustitans sawe
their present mine and destruction : yet forced by necessity they tooke courage. Vndcr-
standinge of the comming of the Bergantines into the Lake, an huge multitude of boatcs
in an instiit of time, with armed warriours came speedily rowing to the Bergantines, they
.say, that in a trice, there were 5 thousand present, which also the citizens reported after the
victory obtained : the boates comiiunj|,c towardes them, by force of the ordinance planted
in the prowes, and sides of the Bergantines were dispersed euen as little clouds by fierce
windes. So wandring and rouing in the open Sea of the lake, they shrewdly molested and
vexed the citty with (he Bergantines. In a few dayes space Cortes tooke away from the
titty their fresh riuer waters, their conduits being tome asunder by Christopher Olit : and
that no prouisioii of victuall might be brought from any place to them that were bcsciged,
hee compa.S!>cd the citty with three Armyes : with one from Tazcuco, by Astapalappa, which
he destroyed vtterly, because it was more mighty then the rest, & at that time the aun-
cient seatc of Mulcczumas brother. Cortes himselfe had the commaund thereof with more
then threescore thousand warriours, as they say : for many more then he desired both for the
hope of booty, and liberty, came now Hocking to him from all the prouinces : so that Cortes
iiiinselfc kept the bridge which came from Astapalappa to the Princly citty, whereof men-
tion was made becfore. And fighting by little and litllc the enemy withdrawinge thcmsehies,
by stroiige hande, and by force of the ordinance, and the horse beefore and by the heipe
and fauor of the Brigantines on the sides, hee got the bridge as far as the Castle, whereof The Bridje won.
wee speake in the meetinge of the Kinge Muteczuma, with our menn, where wee described
that Castle to bee fortified with two townes, buttinge vpon two bridges, which are ioyned
vpon the arches thereof. In jr place Cortes pitched his Campe, & by y meanes • possessed
y entrace of either bridge. On ^ contrary he commaunded other capes to be placed for de-
fece of iiother greate bridge on ^ North, oner which he gaue the charge to Gonsalus San-
doualus, a soldier to execute lustice which the Spaniard called Alguazill. And ouer 5' third
army incamped on another side of the citty hee committed the charge to Petrus Aluaradus.
They say, that those 3. armyes consisted of one hundred & twenty thousand soldiers. So
the miserable citty compassed on euery side with Enemycs, indured extreame want of all
thinges : and was no lease wasted and consumed through the ambition of a fewe (whose
greedy desire of soueraignty drewe the vnhappy people to that misery) then it was afflicted
by the enemy. The people might easily haue bin perswaded to subiect their necke vnto our
yoake, but that the kinges sisters Sonne who vsurped the, kingdome, and the pride of his
Nobles, withstoode it. For 70. dayes together both before and behinde it was rontinuaily
vexed & molested with incursions, and assaultes. Within the streets of rhe citty it sclfe,
our men returning to the Campe toward the Eueiiing they write, that 500. and somtimes a
thousand were slaine, at euery incounter: the more cruell the slaughter was so much the
more plentifully and daintily the Guazuzingi, Tascaltecanes, and the rest of the auxiliary
l)rnuincialls, supped, who vse to bury their enemies which fall in battaile in their belly,
neither durst Cortes forbid it. They say, but fewe of our menn, alwayes were slaine.
Therefore both by the swoorde, & famine the greater part of the cittizens was consutned :
Our menn for the most part entering the citty fightinge, founds heapcs of deade men in the

4 G streets.

■ -\m

' :m

Cortes hit j.tr-
niiesof laoooo.
Souldienatthii
>icS«-

590

Coriti iiirpiiHil

■ iiU l>y I-rii'iiCMi
OI1-4 rfK'ucd at
a ilriic ute.

Th< kin; taken,
lliiipttdici tu
I'orti'i,

The atyt won
,ind those na-
tions all subddcd
to the Empcrur.

Cortes createth
a king one of the
lihmd riiy ill in
TcnuitiKn,

VOYACES. NAL'IGATIONS,

TheMt Decade.

The South sea.
6. cittye),

I Teph

fl Mechnaca

3 Ciuaxaca

4 Fiiesco

J Trquantepech
6 S:»iic<; name.
CertayiieCittyes
lying ia lakes.

10000. ducati
sent to the king
of Spaine.

3. Tygers.

Htrtcfs, whn a-f ihcy sayd, dyed with hunger and thirst. They dcdtroyed many of those ex-
cellent buildiuKt when they thrust the Enemycs out. Cortes was once circumiicnted and
Mirprisetl by the Enemy vppon one of the liridges, but was prcxcrued by a certainc familiar
freindc of his, called FrnnciMcus OIca, who brandishinge his swordc against the enemy cutt
of both his hundcs at one blowc who pressed vpon his maister Cortes hauing taken him. But
with ^ vnhappy destiny of ^ Prescrncr who (after he had giuC him his horse) was slaine.
At length it was now reported to our menn, in what part the king had hidd himselfe with
his familiurs, and I'rinces. Cortes vnderstanding the matter, with the Brigantines, setteth
vpon a litk' (Icctc, of Boates discouered by Spies (wherein the Kinge wandred in certainc
secret corners of the lake) and tooke them all. TheKinge being now subiect to the power
of Cortes, touchinge the dagger wherewith Cortes was girded, saylli, behold the weapon,
wherewith thou maist, and oughtest to kill me, I haue done what lave in me, so that now
my life is become hatcfull & loathsome vnto me. Cortes comforted him, and sayde, he had
done that which became a couragious Kinge. But yet hee ledd him with him into the Con-
tinent, and deliuered him to his menn to bee kept in safe cu.stody. These thinges being
done, so grcate a citty vanquished, and the people thereof almost destroyed, hee subdued
all those Nations to the Emperours lurisdiction. Two menn came vnto me, of them which
Spaine calleth Fidalgi, who had not least to doe in all matters, both in searchinge out the
secrets of the Prouinces, and also in all the conflicts, the one called Diecus Ordassius, and
the other Beneuides: who sayd that Cortes (at his pleasure) created a King in Tcnustitan,
who was of the blood royall and commanded him to seate himseife there, to the intent that
citty bcinge now desolate for want of resort might vnder the slvadowe of a king be stored
with people againe, otherwise so huge a citty had remained desolate without inhabitants. But
hee himselfe impatient of ease determined by Messengers to search out other strfige coun-
trcyes. High mountaines to the South laye within viewc, but what lay beyond them, hee
commaundeth diligently to bee sought : and it was told him, that another Sea lay on the
South side of these mountaines, as 1 wrote in the Decades, of the South Sea discouered from
Darien, by Vasquez Nunnez. There are six Cittyes there whereof (they say) the least is
much greater then our Vallidolet that famous corporation : one whereof is called Teph, the
second Mechnaca, the third Guaxaca, the forth Fuesco, the fift Tequantepcch, to the sixt
they giue no name : and it is written in a particular letter out of the volum of the Affairs of
Tenustitan, that they vnderstoode in the South Sea that those Hands ingendringe spices, gold,
& precious stones were not farr distant from that shoare. But the cityes that lye in lakes,
and one the sides of lakes, are called by these names. Salmcar, Tenauica, Tenustitan, Sea-
puzaico, Tacuba, Capulazpech, Culuacan, of that name two, Guichilobusco, Suchimilco,
Quifagua, Astapalappa, Mesechice, Coluacan, Tezucco. Of those two, Beneuides, lately
returned from his companions, one of the two ships set from Cortes. In them they
bringe gifts sent from Cortes, which they say are much more precious and excellent,
the those which were carryed and brought from the Emperours Maiesty, that yeere hee
went out of Spaine vnto the Belgae, which your Holines sawe : they valew these riches
about two hundred thousand Ducates in estimation, but those shippes are not yet come
vnto vs. They stayd In the llandes Cassiterides, called the Azores by the Portugalles
who are Lords thereof, least they should haue fallen into the hands of the French Py-
rates, as another did the yeere before, comminge from Hispaniola and Cuba, with a
great masse of gold of seuenty two thousand Ducates, and six hundred waight of precious
pearles of eight ounces to the pounde, & with 2000. suger bushes (a briar is called of the
Spaniard arroua) of 25. poiid waight, of 6. ounces to the pounde. Besides many brought
mairy particular things : all which became a Pyrates pray. An armed fleete was sent to waft
those two safe fro the Azores. At the time that I wrote this they were not yet brought he-
ther. Those ships brought (as Beneuides saith) three Tygers brought vp of litle ones
in seuerall cages, or grates, made of longe rafters, two in one of the shippes, and the
third in the other : in that, where two were carryed, one of the cages was a little battered
and broken by the fowling and shaking of the shipp by tempestuous and foule weather, so

The fift Decade.

TRAFriQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

591

nua

J it made way lor the Tyger to come nut. The Tygcr cHcaping by nij;ht rnnn aljoiil tlio Nhi|i
with noc Ir.osv ru^*^ '»)(l furyr, then if f<hee had nciirr Nceiie any man : shee runneth :ihriut
r.iuin)j;c cucry where & shookc & sciHed vpon 7. men, I'rom one j-hee t;ire an arme, Irom
another a leKjijc, from others* the shoulder*, xlcwe twoc and leappin^r vppon one who ficile
from the mast of the whip, whre rau);ht him : and beinij haife dead yet rescued by his co-
panion)<, he perished not: All they that were in the shippe ran vnio her with lanelines,
Awordes and all kindc of weapons, and hauin^e j{iuen her many woundeN, lliey forced her
to Icapc downc into the Sea, and slew her fellow in the cage, least the like mischaun(e
should befall them by her. The third which is in the other shipp, Bencuidcs saith, is brought.
In ^ thicke woods of these Mountaines, great multitudes of Tygers, Lions, and other wild
beasts line. Being demanded with what foodc they arc maintained, he saylh they pray vpon
hartes, Robuckes, dccre, hares, and conyes, & many other milde creatures which line there.
Two men had the tliargc of those shippes who were Captaines of the w.nrres in these coun-
tryes, to witt, Alfonsus Auila, and Antonius Quignonus: these men bringe the Kings part
giuen him by the people, to be deliuered vnto him: But lohannes Uibera hath the ch;)rgc
of Cortes his part, who was his Secretary, & companion of all his labours from the begin-
ingc ; and by the decree of the Kings Counsell of India, the Emperour colirmd ^ goucm-
jnent of Nona Ilispania to Cortes, who gauc it that name. But Dieciis Velasquez is both ''^'"°"""""

I n % r\ n ^ t tP i i ■ ..,',,, nil lit of Nou,

thrust out ol the Goucrnmet of Cuba, & necrc there about, because it is decreed, that he HiipanmU o^
did not well in sendingc forces against Cortes, the Counsell of Ilispaniola forbiddinge they"|'^'j'|j||,^j^''**'
same. Newes was lately brought, that fiftcene of the shippes of the Trench Pyrates were poseii from th.-
scene wandringe at Sea, vpon hope to gett these shippes, as they tooke another: But J?„|,"""""'''*
by foule and tempestuous weather, they were trasported into AITrica, and most of tiiem
<lrowned.

The Ninth Chapter.

I haue hetlierto declared, what Cortes, what ^ fellow soldiers of Corlc.'J, and the oflicers
<»r the Kings Magistrates, the Treasurer, Auditor, and Distributor (whom the Spaiard calleth
Factor) both writte while they remained, and also reported vnto me by word of mouth re-
turning: Wherein I haue omitted many circumstances, least through the repetition of smale
and triflinge matters, I should become tedyous and contemptible : Let vs now report some-
what from Darien by the letters of Petrus Arias Gouernour of ^ supposed Continet, & by
his Eldest sonne Diecus Arias who returned fro his father, and then, many things lately vn-
dcrstoode concerning the affaires of Ilispaniola, and Cuba Fernandina: and this first. In
the supposed Continent 5. Colonyes are planted, vpon the North shoare of the country
Sancta Maria antiqua, which towne we call Darien : because that towne (as in the former
Decades I spoke at large) is seated vpon the Banck of the Riuer Darien : why they chost a place
there, & why they gaue the place that name which of Zemacu.4 the King thereof was called
Zemacus, I then suflicietly declared. The second Colony called Ada is situated toward the West,
and 30 leagues distant from Darien : 40. leagues fro Ada standeth an house seated on the slioare,
to the West, called Nomen Dei, of a Ilauen thereof so called, by Colonus who first discoucred it.
At the South shoare are Panaman & Natan (accenting the last sillablc, ) their country names not
being changed. The third is very broade in someplace, but cheefely on y co ', where
that great riuer Maragnonus runneth, whereof I haue spoaken at large in the ("ornicr Jecades
where shewing y causes why so great aboundancc of waters could be conioyned in one clian-
nell, among other, I sayd, that country was very large from North to South, whereby through
the great distance of place many riuers might be ingcdrcd, which might fall into this one,
to be coueyed to y Northerne Ocean Sea. So (most holy father) it was foiul y I had pro-
■plicsied, when y passage was discouered. Fro those Northerne shoares, famous for the fail
of Maragnonus (where I sayde y Kings are called Charoncs) y 'and is extended to y nn-
tarcticke to ^ straight beyond the i^quinoctiall, 54. degrees some deduct two whereof in the
discourse of the seeking out of the Hand of Spices I haue sufficiently spoaken. Ncere vnto
that straight, winter shut vp that fleete of 5. shippes, through y cxtrcmitv of cekl, almost

4 G f^ for

Santa MarU

antiqu.i.

Daiicn.

AclJ.

Namcn Dei.

Panaman and

Natan.

A IparncH con-
ifcturf of the
largfnfs of .i
Continent.

592

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

T/icJift Decade.

Of ilic cruelty
!i tifri'cncs of
Tigers in tli«se
couutryes.

m '■■

for our fine «iommer moncthes (as wc haiic already spoakcn) when y Sun departed from them
vnto vs. From thence ariseth f admiration of ^ prodigious riuer Maragnonus. How tlieii
should y land be very broade there, which elswhere is content with narrow straightes of
lande ? but especially fro f Colony called Nomen Dei, to the South shoare, and the Hauen
Panama, are 17. leagues distance, yet by vnpassable mountaincs, and inaccessible, by rea-
.«on of the huge rockes, and exceeding thicke woodes, neuer meddled with in any age : so
that tliosc desert places are the dennes and habitation of Leopardes, Tygers, Lyons, IJeares,
& Apes of many shapes, & other monsters. Wounderfull things are reported of these
wilde beasts. They say y the Tygers doe no more feare to meete Trauellers, then if they
meile wiili a little whcipe : If they finde any man wadringe alone, there is no remedy but
hcc must ncedes be torne into a thousand peeces and eaten. Therefore they cheifly beware
of Tygers, which by experience they finde much more cruell then Lyons : There are many
valleyes of most fruitfuil land, and many sides of those mountaincs, which remaine desert,
without any inhabitant, by reason of the Sauage and wild beasts, which otherwise would be
.A I'lfasaiit story replenished with store of people. But it is a pleasant thing to bee reported, touching di-
'"■ uers Apes, and dangerous also. By those mountaincs through which Petrus Arias now Go-

uernour, writeth hee hath made a passage, and dayly doth proceede more and more, in
breakinge the stones in the craggy rocks, and burning the thick woods, the ringleaders of
the Apes, when they perceiued any of our troopes of men marchinge (for being but a few,
much lesse being alone durst they attempt any such thing) assemblinge a common multitude
of diuers kindes, runne forth to meete them and pursuinge our men which way soeuer they
march, with horrible outcryes, leaping from tree to tree, and deride them with a thousand
scurrilities, & a thousand mockinge gestures, especially those that haue tayles : and often-
times make shewe as if they would assayle our men by troopes and companyes. But as soone
as they are come downe to the body of the trees, and sec the arrows, & harquebuse shot
(which they haue sometimes felt) ready to be leeuelled & directed against the, they make
back againe as swift as the winde to the toppes of the trees from thence vttering their ra-
uiiige coplaintes they gnash with their teeth in threatening manner. They say their de.\-
terity & agility is such, y they know how to avoyde arrowes shot at their bodyes, & take
the in their had, as if they volutarily receiued the, being reached vnto the. Yet they haue
not so learned to shift & avoyde the arquebusse shott, wherewith they slew miiy, peraduenture
of the younger sort, who were not so skilfull & cuning : But when they see any one of their
copany fal headlong wouded, & take vp by our men fro^ groud they thuder & fil ^ skyes with
such a violet, & horrible noyse y it exceedeth ^roarings of athousad Lions & as may Tygers.
But one thing is worthy the hearing : Euery Ape when they are nowe about to clime the trees,
caryeth as many stones as shee can beare in one hande, and some in her mouth, and there-
by fight with stones against such as passe by, whensoeuer our men cease shooting their
Scorpion an in- arrowcs or shot, at them. A bowman of our men bent his Scorpion against an old Ape
likeTs'co^ion ' with a loug taylc, bigger then a Baboon, this Ape made as thotigh she woulde waite for it,
to shoote small [jjjf gg goonc as shc sawc the arrowe directed by shutting of one eye, casting downe a stone
vppon the archer, shee shrewdly bruised his face, and (as they say) brake his teeth out of
his head. But yet the Munkie was punished for her straunge stratagem, for at what tyme
the stone fell downe vpon the archer, the arrowe ascended vnto the Ape, and hauing slayne
her, they eate her for a daintie dish, for so great hunger oppressed them, that they hadde
eaten toads, or any other worse meate. We haue spoken sufficiently of fourefooted beasts :
now let vs speake somewhat of them that are two footed : for that two footed nation, is
y.'"':"""'.'''.''' almost like those fourfooted beasts. There is a mightie and couragious king called Vrracus,
in the borders of the Colonic of Natan towardes the South, whom Petrus Arias the Gouer-
nour could neuer perswade to intertayne amity and peace, and therefore prepared to master
him by warre. But this king trusting in hi,-3 power and authoritie, is reported to haue
answ c.-ed the Embassadours proudly who came to treate concerning peace, and presumed,
armed after his maner, by incursions to inuade the Cobny of the Christians who inhabite
Natan. For they haue many kinds of darts in those countries, wherewith they fight a farre

of.

and couragious
King.

W )!■■■, ,
%*■'■

Tticfift Deccuk.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

593

of, and broadc wooden swords burnt in the fire, wherewith they incounter hand to hand.
They haue bowes also, with the endcs of their arrowes either of bone, or hardened in the
fyer. In those countries there is great plcntie of the fruile of Coccus, whereof I inade Coccus.
mention before. Where especially in the South coast, the flowing Sea washeth the broad
neighbouring playnes: of the which, they say, one is oucrflowed by the floud for the space
of two leagues, and becometh dry againe with the ebbe. In those places (they say) those a great chbe.
trees grow and increase of their owne nature: and not elswhere, vnlessc the yong and
tender plants be transported thence. Some thinke that the flowing of the Sea brings the
seeds of those trees thetiicr fro vnknowne countrycs, from other countryes of the Indies,
where they naturally growc : they say, tliey are brought to Ilispaniola and Cuba as I some-
times sayd of the trees which bearc Cassia Fistula, and from the Ilandes to the Continent,
vntil they oome to those Southernc partes. But in the Ilandes by the wonderful purpose
and worke of nature, another tree groweth, (whiche I know not yet whether it growe in
the Continent or no) \vhich hath Icaucs whereon a man may write, besides that tree where- ^Y'"i""
of I made mention in the Decades. This tree compared with that, differeth much : which a man mny
wee will describe, when wee shall speake of those Ilandes. Now let vs returne vnto the *"'"■
afl'aires of the Continent. From Panama a Colonic of the South Sea, they descended with
shippes built in that Sea, so farre to the West, as they thought they hadde attained to the
backeside of lucatan. For argument and proofe thereof Gil. Gonzalus the Admirall of that
fleete, and his Consortes say, that they light on men apparelled after the same maner, with
holes pierced in their lips, wearing goulden or siluer iewelles about their neckes, beset with
precious stones, such as those were, wherof I made report in my 4 Decade to Pope Leo,
when mention was made of the affaires of lucafan, and of the presents which were brought.
They write, that on the right hande they founde suche a furious and raging Sea, that they a furious nnd
suppose there was a narrowe strayght there beetweene the Continent, and lucatan, though "^'"^ "'"
not yet discouercd : but durst not hazarde themselues in such a raging sea, because the
shippes, by reason of the long space of time they had saylcd along those shores, were halfe
rotten, and eaten through with wormcs. Hauing repayred and amended their shyppes,
they promise to returne. In that voyage Gil. Gonzalus, and his Consortes tolde Petrus
Aria.s, that about an hundred leagues from the Colony of Panama, they found the Vast Sea
of a blacke colour, in which fishes swim of the bignesse of Dolphines, melodiously singing The WackeSea.
with sweet harmony, as is reported of the Syrenes, and after the same maner, inuiting to The Syrf.ies.
sleepe. Heere menne of meane spirit and conceit will wonder, and say it is a thing im-
possible. I will therefore discourse the matter a little with these men. Do we not read that
the Erythrean gulfe is red, from wiience it hath the name of the red sea. Whether it be by
the nature of the water, or whether it happen by the rcdde sandes, or reuerberation of the
red rockes on the shore, the Sea appeareth red : who therefore would make nature so dull,
to take away her power that shee could not ingender blacke sandes also, and blacke rocks,
which elsewhere might make the waters seeme blacke ? But concerning the singing and
melody, I my selfe also thinke it to bee a fable, albeit wise and discreete menne report it :
yet notwithstanding in their excuse, is it not knowne that the Trytones are very shrill ? they
naue beene sometimes hearde, and haue beene found dead cast vp vpon the shore, in the
West Spanish Ocean : & doth not a frogge croake vnder water ? Why should it then be
wondered at, of other Vocall fishes also be founde, neuer heard of before? Let euery
manne beleeue as hee pleaseth: I thinke nature able to doe great matters. All the ryuers
of the supposed Continent are full of Crocodiles : in the Ryuers they arc hurtfull, and Crocodiles here.
dangerous, but not on the Lande, as those of the Riuer Nilus are. They founde one deade
of two and fourtie feete long, and scuen foote broade betweene the iawes. Petrus Arias
his Sonne being returned from his Father, sayth, that those trees are now found, of the
planckes and tymber whereof, if shyppes bee built, they might bee frecde fromdaunger of
those roischieuous woormes which gnawe holes through them. He sayth also that the wood
being brought into the kitchen, coulde scarce bee burned, by reason of the exceeding
moysturt thereof. Now let vs come to the commodities. That lande hath many Gold

minev ;

|:;':u,Oi:r;

■ ■■■■'"■ wil

■ill

594

Gold nvACS.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thejifi Decade.

Nu srnji proof
of good land
by tins proolf
fif horses.

Vinfyardc!-

Come.

A tree which
yeeldtth pirch-
mcn*.

The tree Vacua

Topper of di-
iterse sorces.

mines: but l<?t Pelrus Arias, and tlie rest pardon me, who haue gotten gold, by the sweate
o|' the poore miserable Inhabitatintes. That whiche by the assistaunce of your Holynesse
hath beene often attempted, is nowe established and decreede in our Senate of the Indian
aHhyres: to witte, that (he Indians shoulde euery where bee free, and applie themselues to
tillage of the ground, and Christian disciplyne. But if any, through hope of obtaining
anie of our commodities, voluntarily offer themselues they might lawfully haue them as
mercenaryes, & hired seruants. We haue sufti''ictly spoken of the Continent ; now let vs
speake somwhat of the Ilandes. In Hispaniola nothing is changed. The Senate is the same,
from whiche all those tractes and countries receiue their Lawes. Whatsoeuer thinges are
sowed or planted there, increase daily more and more. There are great multitudes of
horses, swine, and heardes of cattell there. The like also is in the rest. A yong mare
colt conceiueth the tenth moneth after shee is foaled, and hath scarce brought forth a colt
when she desireth and taketh the horse again. They liue contented with their countrey bread
made of lucca, and Maizium : wines are brought home vnto them from Vandalia, although
they haue vineyardes in very many places : they say, they growe wonderfully : and become
so ranke, that they spend their vigor and strength in the leaues and braunches, and little in
the clusters, and die a fewe yeers after the planting. They say the same of corne, that it
groweth to the height of canes, with exceeding long eares, yet that the graynes vanish to
nothing, before they be rype, for the most part: and that there is more plentifull store of
other thinges in those Hands, then elsewhere. Suger presses are euery yeere increased.
Now letto vs speake of the tree which yeeldeth parchment, which is very like a date tree,
the leaues whereof are so great, that euery one being spread vpo the head, may defed the
whole body of a man from a showre of raine, as if he cast a cloath cloake vppon his backe.
This is but a smal matter, lette vs speake of that which is admirable : those leaues which
cleaue to the tree no otherwise then the Date doth to her tree, the leafe plucked vppe by
the roote, whereby it is ioyned to the tree ( for the leafe you lay holde on is easily taken
from the tree by thrusting the poynt of a knife to the bottome of the stalke) in the inner
rinde thereof containing the parchment, a little white skinne is found, like to the white of
an Egge : whiche is pilled away, as the skinne is flayed from a sheepe new killed, and ia
taken whole from the barke, not much lesse than a sheepes, or a goates skin of
parchment : whiche all those people vse, as if they hadde gotten parchment it selfe : and
they say it is no lesse tough and strong. They cutte that parchment with sissers, so muche
onely as serueth for the present necessitie of writing. This tree is called Yagua : the fruite
thereof is lyke to an Oliffe, it fatteth swine, and is not so conuenient for menne. But
howe they vse the benefitte of the other leafe which may bee written vppon, differyng
from this thinne skinne, wee haue sufficiently spoken in his place. There is another Tree
whiche groweth in the cliftes of Rockes, and not in a fatte soyle, and it is called Pytha-
haya, the fruite is sower mixed with sweet, as wee see in the Soure sweete Affrican apple,
called Pomegranate : the fruite thereof is as bigge as an Oringe,' of a red colour within,
and without. But the fruite of the Tree called Mameia, in the Ilandes is no bygger then
a small Melon, but in the Continent, not much lesse the a great one. This fruite
nourisheth three small creatures somewhat greater then a nutte, for preseruation onely of
their kind. Nowe let me speake a little of the Pepper of the Ilandes, and of the Continent.
They haue woodes full of fruites wliiche bring forth Pepper, I call it pepper, although- it
be no pepper, because it hath the strength and Aromaticall tast and sauour of pepper, nor
is iliat graine lesse esteemed then pepper, they call it Axi, accenting f last sillable, & it
exceedeth the height of Poppey. Grains or berries of them are gathered like those of
Juniper, or firre tree, but not altogether so great: there are two sortes of that grayne,
some say fiue : one of them is halfe as long againe as the length of a mans finger, it is
sharper, and biteth more then pepper, the other is rounde, no greater then pepper. But
this consisteth of a thinne skinne, and certavne substantial!, and animall partes, which
t.'ree, haue a liotte kinde of sharpenesse and biting. The thirde is not biting, yet aroinati-
tall, which if we vbcd, we should not neede Caucasean pepper: that which is sweete, and

pleasant

r*.i

Tliefift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

593

pleasant they call Boniatiim, the thinne sort they call Carlbe, because it is sharpe and Boniatum.
strong, and from thence they call the Canibales Caribes, because they confesse them to be
strong, and cruel. There is another kinde in these Ilandes, the dewe whereof being
touched, a manne is infected as if he had taken poyson. If any man with fixed eye
beholde that tree, he looseth the sight of his eyes, and presently swelleth like one that ^ k^J'^J "f rp-
hath the dropsie. There are two otiicr tree.^, the woode and leaues whereof being set on bundeih ihe
fire, kill onely with the fume, if the woode of any one of them beeing but a little kindled, oofrrliramr
be caryed about the house or lodging. It is an others poyson, if any sucke in, the fume rtport« of th.:
of the leafe by the nostrils. A certayne priest told mee of a cruell and mischieuous ^ct, '"'''*',"'j|'^ ^
who sixe times sayled from the Continent to Cuba and Hispaniola, that long voyage by sea, „(• barbnoi.s
going three times, and returning as often, his name was Benedictus Martinez a man of "wiuioa
good sort. This was he, who first came to Barchiuona to make report of lucatan, and the
rest of those bordering countryes. He sayth that a certayne man called Madronus a citizen
of the towne of Albazet in the Country Spartaria, hadde by an auncient custome, a cer-
tayne King with his subiccts at his commandc, vnder his subiection to digge golde out of
the Mines, in a place called S. lames : in short time, that mine of gold was found by chance.
This king with his Miners, gathered for his Temporary Maister 9000. Castellanes of gold.
Now it was decreede in our Kings Senate, that some largesse, of our commodities, shoulde
bee giuen to euerie one departing from their labour, to witte, a cappe, a stomacher, or a
shirt, a cassocke, or a glassc, or such lyke. The king supposed hee should haue had some
fatte larges from his maister, because that in so short a time he hadde founde so great a
Masse of Golde. Madronus dealt more strictly with him then he ought: whereupon the
King conceiued such displeasure, and anger, that calling those Miners into an house, to
the number of ninty fine, he thus debateth with them. My worthy companions & friends
why desire wee to Hue any longer vnder so cruell scruitude? lette vs nowe goe vnto the
perpetuall seate of our Auncestors: for we shall there haue rest from these intollerable
cares and grieuaunces which we indure vnder the subiection of the vnthankful. Go yee
"before, I will presently followe you. Hauing spoken this, he helde whole handfulles of
those leaues which depriue life, prepared for the purpose: and giueth euery one part
thereof beeing kindled, to sucke vp the fume : who obeyed his command. The King, and
a chiefe kinsman of his, a wise and prudent man, reserued the last place for themselues, to
take the fume. The whole pauement of the Hall was now couered with dead carkases : so
that .n eager conflict arose betweene those two that were lining, whether of them should
kill nimselfe first. The king vehemently vrged that his companion should first dispatch
himselfe : but his companion saith he wil follow him, but not goe before. At legth the
king made riddance of himselfe first. His copanion through the lone of sweete life.

deriding the king, and those other fooles, refused to follow, &

out from thence.

reported to our men what had happened. Hee further sayth, that much about that tyme,
another more horrible accident fell out in the Prouince called the Princes prouince, one of
the city captains called Olandus had a Cubensian mayden the daughter of a king : the ^ """']'' '""^

. /, ,1 .ii.iiii.«f 1,11 1/. ■ Roman lykt

captayne suspecting (though she were with childe by him) that she dealt abroad, fastened act of an indun
her to two woodden spits, not to kill her, but to terrifie her, and set her to the fire, and ""J""-
commaunded her to bee turned by the officers : the mayden stricken with feare through the
cruelty thereof, and strange kinde of torment, gaue vp the ghost. The king her father
vnderstanding the matter, tooke thirtie of his men with him, and went to the house of the
Captayne who was then absent, and slewe his wife whom he had maryed after that wicked
act committed, and the women who were companions of the wife, and her seruants euery
one : then shutting the dore of the house, and putting fire vnder it, he burnt himselfe,
and all his companions that assisted him, together with the Captaynes deade family, and
goods. Hee reporteth also a fearefuU story of another mayde. This mayde being deflowred
of a Spanish Mulettor, went home, and declared what had happened, and told her parents
that she would therefore kil her selfe, it booted not to comfort her. She tooke the iuice of
lucca, which if it be taken rawe, is poyson, if boyled, is vsed for rnilke : the force of ^

poyso

'' ■■■'■ ■"■■iisr

''^'%

^iH''^m

'Mm^

'f'tri*

590

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

TheJift Decade.

ip'"'.*.

1 :■

poyso was not such, that it would kil her: yet notwithstanding she resolued to ende her
lyfe, by any meancs whatsoeuer. The next day, shee sayd shee wouhl goe wash her selfe
:it a ryiier neere adioyninp; : for it is the manner with them to wash themsehics twice euery
day: shee founde a crnell way of reuenge for her selfe: shee bent downe a little tree
standing by the ryuers side, and broake it to the height of her heade, and sharpened the
poynt of the tree ay well as she could. Then getting vppe into a greater tree neere vnto
it, ghee thrust the poynt of the tree into her selfe, where shee was deflowred, and
These iniian remayned spytted, euen as a kidde to bee roasted at the kitchen fire. Another mayde also,
hta^dofTeadlng 8 fcwc dayes after, determined to finish the miseryes of her lyfe, who brought as a com-

Apct in hcU.

Of tht thygh
honf of 3 Gyant.

A country
inhabited with
Giants.

panion with her, the maid seruant of this Priest, of like yeeres to her selfe, and easille
perswaded her, that by her example, shee woulde goe with her vnto their auncesters,
where they shoulde leade a quiet and peaceable life: binding therefore the girdles, wher-
with they were girt, to the boughes of a tree, & fastening them with a knot about their
necks, they cast theselues down from the tree, & so by hanging themselues, they obtayned
their desires. They report many thinges of such like matters. I determine therefore to
vphold this last leafe with a giant-like di.scourse, to backe and defende these reportes, like
that fearefull supporting Athlas. Diecus Ordacius, of whom I made mention before,
diligently viewed many secrete and solitary places of those Countries, and appeased their
Kinges: especially the King of that Prouince, where the Money tree groweth, where he
learned howe that Money tree was planted, and nourished, as I haue declared in his place.
This Diecus Ordacius founde a peece of the thygh bone of a Giant ( in the vault of a
Church) broken of, and halfe consumed through long continuance of time: whiche thigh
bone, the Licentiate Aiglionus, a Lawyer, & one of the Counsell of Hispaniola brought
to the citie Victoria, not long after your Holinesse departed thence towardes Rome. I
hadde it at home for certayne dayes : it was fiue spannes long, from the huckle bone vnto
the knee, and the proportion aunswered the length. After this, they that were sent by
Cortes to the Montanous Countryes of the South, reported that they hadde found a
Country inhabited with these men, and for proofe thereof, they are sayd to haue brought
manie of the ribbes of those deade men. Concerning other occurrents, which happen
among vs, your Holinesse is often aduertised by those that are neere about the Emperour,
and therefore none of those matters are to bee required of me, whiche disquiet the
afflicted mindes of Christian Princes intangled in mutual! secret hatred, and displeasure, to
the benefit of the Mahumetanes, and losse, & hinderance of our Religion. Nowe there-
fore I bid your Holines farewell, before whose feete prostrating my selfe, I dedicate my
most humble, and denoted seruice.

The tenth Chapter.

EVen as the heads of Hydra smitten of are seuen times doubled, so vnto me deliuering one
discourse, many other arise. 1 thought I shoulde nowe at length haue concluded the affayres of
Tenustitan: when behold through new tidings comming suddenly, & vnexpected, I am com-
pelled to enter into the discourse thereof againe. In one of the 2. shippes which brought the
Presents from the Cussiterides, one of the familiar friendes of Cortes ( neere about him) called
lohannes Ribera, is returned: the other shippe, for feare of the French Pyrates, expecting
other subsidiary shippes to conduct her, with the Treasure, whereof, besides the fift due to
the Kinges Exchequer, Cortes willingly giueth a parte of the riches gotten by his owne la-
bour, and industry : another part also the rest of his chiefe companions in Armes bestowed.
This Ribera bringeth in charge with him, to present the giftes, assigned by Cortes, to the
Emperour, in his maisters name, for the rest, those two, who (as I said before, remained in
the Cassiterides, with the ships) should offer their presentes. This Ribera is skilful! in the
Tenustitan language, and nothing was done all the time of the warres, at the which hee was
not present, alwayes at his maisters side: who was sent from his maistcr, many dales after the
departure of his companions: from him therefore we may haue a most cleare and apparent
reaso of all thinges. Being first demanded of the Origlnail of the city Tenustitan, and defini-
tion

iWitvi. ■'■■

Thejift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

597

.As wiifir isihat

thf Lilly of
brcaJ.

g (it iirines
anionrtsi ihc
Uaib.iiiins .ip-
jwareth hvrt.

A Mrllr.t iv-.€

tion of the name then of the mine and destruction, and of the present state thereof, and with
what forces Cortes maintayncdand defended the samci & of many such like things besides: hee
saith the citie was built in the middle of asaltelake, vpon a rocke found there (as we r ad ofTtniHtitm
that most famous citie of Venice, seated on a plat of ground appearing in that parte of tlic "'i"rfi»
Adriaticke Gulfe) to secure themsehies from the incursios of the enemy: but the name thereof
is dcriued from 3. short words. That which seemeth diuine, they call Tcu, fruife, they rail Nu-
cil, and Titan, they call a thing seated in the water, from whence commeth the name of Tcniis- '^i "friitnt
titan, that is to say, a diuine fruit seated m the water : for vpon that rocke they foimde a natu- ,ht «ordi
rail tree laden with pleasant fruit (fit to be eaten) greater then our country apples, which ''■"i"»>"-n-
yeelded desired foode to the first inuentors: wherupon in token of thaiikfulnesse, they bcare
that tree imbroydered in their Standard, it is like a Xfulbery free, but hath leauesmuch green-
er. TheTascaltecansalso in their Colours, haue 2. hads ioyncd together, kneadingof a Cake,
for they vaunt that they haue more fruitful fields of come, then the rest of the borderers, &
from thcce the city hath her name: for Tescal is a cake of bread in their language, and Teca,
is a Lady, and therefore she is called t'le Lady of breade. The same also is reported of the ^.^'^'^"f.^
inhabitantes of the Mountayne which we call Vulcanus, whiche casteth out smoake. For in
their warlike Auncients, they bearc a smoaking Mountayne, and call the Mountayne itselfc
Popocatepech, because Popoca is Smoake, and Tepcch, signilieth a Mountayne. A litle dis-
tant, on the East, standeth another Mountayne neere vnto this, couered all the ycere with cmurfd . i uie
Snowe, there are also other Mountaynes laden with Snowe, by reason of the height thereof, ^"owj'"'
Another hill also full of Conies is called Cachutcpech, because Cachu is a Conie, and there
fore it is called the Mountayne of Conies. The house of their Religion they call Teuc.le, ofT."c»ic:
Teu, which signifieth God, and Cale, an house. So they define all their matters from the
effect: but wee shall more curiously search into these thinges hereafter. He further sayde, that
the citie for the moste parte, was ruined and destroyed with fyre, and sworde, and that but fcwe
of the chiefe menne, remayned alyue. In some places hee sayde it remayned whole, and in-
tyre, where anie secrete streete or rowe of houses was free from the furious conflictes, and
that the three chiefe Pallaces were woonderfuily repavred and amended, the chiefe whereof „, ,

bi I r » » II -^ 1 I ^ - , Of the crtJtnM

eemg the house of Muteczuma, all menne report to bee so great, that no manne alter hee 3„d i„tricacic of

entred into it, was able to find the way out agayne, without a guide, borne, and brought vppe '|;|Jjj
there, as wee reade of the wyndinges, and turnynges, of that fabulous Labirinth of Mioos :
in this house, Cortes sayeth hee purposeth to Seatc himselfe, and therefore intended first to
repayre it. And this manne reporteth, that there are houses of pleasure, built within the
Cittie, and in the water itselfe, with pleasaunt and delyghtful greene plattes of grounde, and
not in the Continent as others sayde, where dyuers kindes of fourefooted wilde Beastes, and
sundry sorts of foules are inclosed, as I mentioned beefore. Hee reporteth manie thynges
of the Roaryng of Lyons, and of the querulous yellyng, and howling of Tygers, Beare.s, and
Wooliif.s, when they were burnt with their houses, and of the myserable spoyle of all those
thynge.s. It will bee long ere those houses bee repayred, and newe builte, for they were
all of stone from the Foundation, withTurrettes rounde about them, adorned and beautified in
manner of a Castle: for seldome doe the Conquerours repayre the ruines of defaced towncs,
who rather sacke twentye stately Cities, and fortified Castles, then erect one particular house,
especially, where newe conquests call them away, and the greedy desire of inlarging their
dominion hasteneth them to inuade other Prouinces. But the common houses themselues as
hygh as a maiines Girdle, were also built of stone, by reason of the swellyng of the Lake
through the floode, or washing flote of the Ryuers fallyng into it. Vppon those greate Foun-
dations they builde the rest of the house, with Bricke burned, or dryed in the Sunne, inter-
mingled with Bcames of Tymber: and the Common houses haue but one Floore, or Planchin.
They seldome make their aboade, or lodge vppon the Grounde, least the dampe thereof through
excessiue inoysture might indanger their desired health. They couer the Ro.jfe of their houses,
not with Tyles, but with a certayne kinde of clammie earth, or Claie: for that way or manner
of coueringe is more apt to receiue the Sunne, yet is it supposed to bee consumed in a short-
er tyrae. But howe they drawe those huge Beames, and Rafters, whiche they vse in building

4 H of

uteczuma
llacc.

his

■:W:^

MM\

598

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thejlft Decade.

The Citron or
Ltmun trte an
f lu-niif to
«urmrs.

Copper hachtt;

Ropes nnd ca-
bles made of
certiiyne
hearbes.

The vse of
wheclcs want-
ing here.

Beames of tym-
ber of a huge
length and
HljEenes.

Witli howe
great a power
Coites mavn-
taineth a great
Bmpire.

Pearles.

The piiritie of
the goldc of
these parts.

A huge masse
of golde for the
£mpeior.

of their Houses, considering they haiie neyther Oxen, Asses, nor Horses, nor any other beast
of burthen, (as heereafter shall bee spoken) wee will n owe declare. The sides of those high
Mountaynes are beset with jfood'y spreadinjj Citron or Lymon Trees, with the which the Vo-
luptuous Itomaynes, (after they fell from Contynencie to Rvot) made Tables, bedde-steedes,
and other Vtensils, for ornamente and furniture of houses: because the Citron Tree perpetu-
ally presenieth whasoeucr is boordcd with it, from Woormcs, and Putrifaction, (as the aun-
cient writers report of the Cedar) and the boordes of that Tree are naturally Flouryshed with
dvuers coloures: imniitating the curious art of some inj^enious Artist, and the places where
I'yne Trees j/;rowe are necre adioyning to those flourishing Cytron Trees in all the spacious
Woodes. With their Copper Hatchets, and Axes cunnyngly tempered, they fell those trees,
and hewe tliem smooth, taking away the chyppes, that they may more easily be drawne. They
haue also ccrfavne hearbes, with the which, in steed of broome, & hcmpe, they make ropes,
cordes, and cables: and boaring a hole in one of the edges of the beame, tlicy fasten the rope,
then sette their slaues vnto it, like yoakes of oxen, and lastly in stcede of wheels, putting roud
blocks vnder the timber, whether it be to be drawn stecpevp, or directly downe the hill, the mat-
ter is performed by the neckes of the slaues, the Carpenters oncly directing the carriage. After
the same manner also, they get all kind of matter litlc for building, and other things apt for
the vse of mannc, seeing they haue neither oxen, nor asses, or any other fourfooted beast of
burden. Incredible thinges are reported of those beames of tymber, nor durst I repeate
them, except menne of great authoritie, and that many, had testified, and affirmed vnto vs,
assembled in our Senate, that they had measured inany : & that in the citie Tascuco, they sawe
one of a hundred and twentie foote long, eight square, bigger then a great Oxe, which sup-
ported almost the whole Pallace, they affirme that they beheld it, & no man gaine-sayeth it :
hence we may gather, howe great the industry of these men is. But concerning the money
called Cacaus, and of the strength of Cortes to sustaine so great an Empire, lie sayth that the
money is not chaunged, nor that it is expedient that itshoulde be altered. And he declareth,
that the strength of Cortes consisteth in 40. pecces of ordinance, ^00. horse, & 1300. foote, of
the which he hath 250. alwayes in a readinesse to man the Brigantines, beating vp and downe
tiic lake day, and night, with their appoynted Commaunder. Others heipe hee vseth in ranging
new countries : many haue throughly searched the middle of the Mountaynes from the piayne
of fenustitan vnto the South: and from the East vnto the West they finde them verie farre ex-
tended. They who attempted the discouery say, they trauayled fiftie leagues : and that they
were well stared with victualles, and dcligiiffull, and famous for many excellent cities. From
those Mountaynes, and diners Riuers running through the piayne of Tenustitan, this lohannes
Ribera, in token of the riches of the soile, bringeth many sorts of gold, as big as a lentil, or
the pulse of pease, & diners pearls fro the South part: but they were such as were founde with
Mutcczuma, and his gallant and delicate Nobles, or other enemycs among the spoylcs ofwarre.
When I had this Ribera at home with mee, the Reuerend Secretary Caracciolus, Legate to your
Holinesse, with Caspar Contarinus the Venetian Embassadour, and Thomas Mainus a yong man,
the nephew of great lason Mainus, Embassadour for the Duke of Millane, desirous to heare,
and see straunge things came vnto me. They wondered not at the great plenty of golde, nor
that it was so pure of his owne nature (for it is so pure, that golden Ducates might bee coyn-
ed thereof, without refining it) but they first wondred at the number and forme of the vessels
filled with golde, which from diuers Nations contained diners sortes, sent for Tribute: 8c for
j)roofe that that gold was gatiicred with them, euery vessell or little cane had the seucrall markes
of their country prii.ted in them with an hotte Iron: and euery one of them consisted of eyght
nine or tenne drammes weight of gold. That being shewed vntovs, declareth, what kinde of golde
properly belongeth to one manne, of those who were partakers of those thinges : For Ribera
himselfe is maister of all that, whiche hee shewed: but, that which is brought in the . shy ppe which
staieth, is an huge masse, to bee presented to the Emperour : the summe of the golde whiche is
moulten and brought into wedges, and barres, amounteth to 32000. Ducates: and that which
may be made of ringes, lewells, shieldes, helmettcs, and other thynges, amounteth to the summe
of an hundred and fiftie thousand ducates more, as he saith: but I know not what flying report

there

... \'. -'f i-
IP'-' M

The fft Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

599

there is, that the French Pirates haiic vnderstonde of those ships, God sende thcin gnod muo
cesse. Let vs nowccome to the jwrticiilars of this Kibera, which are but smal shaddowes, and
proportions of the thyn<;cs wliith arc to bee bronjiht. lice shewed vs Pearles, (no worse then P"iifi.
those which humane ctVcminacic callcth Orientail) whereof many excccde a very great filbcrd,
but for the most parte not very white, beccause they take them out of roasted Shellc fishe,
ingendring pearles: yet wee sawe some cleare, and of a good Uistre. But this is but a small
inalter. It was a delightfull thing to beeholde the variety of lewellcs, and Rynges: (here is i«««'^-
no fourefootcd beast, no foule, no fyshe, which their Artificers haue once scene, but they are
able to drawe, and cutte in incttall the likencsse and proportion thereof, euen to the lyfe.
We seemed to behouldc lining countenances, and wondered at their ve-sc!s, eareringes, chains,
bracelettes, and all of golde, wherein the curious workemanship and labour exceeded the mat-
ter and mettall, as also their crestes, plumes, targettes, and hehnettes, artificially wrought
with smale prickcs and pouncing so drawne out in length, that with the smalnesse thereof, de-
ceiued the very sight of the Eye : wee were muche delighted with the beautie of two glasses
especially, the one was garnished and edged about, with an halfe globe of golde, the circum-
ference and compasse thereof was a spanne broade : the otiif r was sctte in greene woode, not
so bigge altogether. This Hibera sayth, that there is such a Quarrie of stons in those Countryes, a Qu«rrie of
that excellent glasses may bee made thereof by smoothing and polishing them, so that wee all stii.cs. '
confessed that none of ours did bcttershewe the naturall and liuely face of a manne. Wee sawe
a Visardcvery excellently well made, set in a table on the inside, and aboue vpon that, inlayed a vuatde.
with very small stones, so fastened together, that the nales coulde not enter them, and the
cleerest eye woulde thinke them to bee one entire stone, made of the same matter, whereof
wee sayde the glasse was composed: it hadde also golden eares, and 2. greene circles of Em-
rodes ouerthwart the face thereof, from cither side of the heade, and as many yellow, with
bone teeth, shewing themselues halfe out of the mouth, whereof two of the innermost checke
teeth hanging downe from either iawe, were putte forth without the lyppes: those Visardes
they sette before their Idolles face, when their Prince is sicke, and take them not away before
hee either escape and recoucr, or els die. After this, hee brought foorth diners garmciitcs out Garmemi.
of a very great chest: they haue tiiree kindes of matter or sturt'e, whereof they make al gar-
ments, the first is of Cotton, the next, ( f the feathers of foule and the thirde, they compact of
Conie* haire: and they set those feathers in such order betweene the Cony haire, & intermingle
them betweene the thriddes of tlie Cotton, and weaue them in such difliculty, that we doe not
well vnderstand how they might do it. Of cotton there is no wonder : for they weaue their
cotton cloth, as we weaue, or begin our webs, of linnen, woollen, or silke. Concerning
the shape and fashion of their garments, it is ridiculous to beholde: they call it a garment,
because they couer themselues therewith, but it hath no resemblance with any other garment,
of any fashion ; it is onely a square couering like vnto that, which your Holines cast on your
siuiulders, somtimes in my presence, when you were about to kembe your heade, to preserue
your garments, least haire, or any other filth should fal vpon the. That couering they cast
about their neckc, and then knitting 2. of the fonre corners vnder their throate, they lette the
couering hange downe, whiche scarse couereth the bodie as lowe as the legges. Hauing seene
these garments I ceased to wonder, that so great a number of garmentes was sent to Cortes,
as we mentioned before: for they are of small moment, and many of them take vppe but litle
roome. They haue also ;;loppes or breeches, whereat (for elegancie & ornament) ccrtayn sifrrf""
toyes of feathers of diners colours hange: from the knee downeward they goe bare. Many vse
breeches for the most parte of feathers, they mingle feathers and Conies haire most curiously
together in the cotton thriddes in all thinges, and of them they make their winter garments,
and couerlets or blankets for the night. For the rest, they are naked, and vnlesse it be ex-
treame cold, they alwayes put out one of .neir armes. Therfore they are al somwhat swarft,
& brown coloured: but the country (although they sometimes feele the cold) necessarily can-
not be much troubled with cold, seeing they say that plaine is distant from the North Pole
from 19. Degrees onely vnto 22. but I marked one thing described in the Mappes whereof he
liath brought many. On the North, the Mountains in some places are distant one from another,
most fruitefull vallcyes diuiding them, betweene the narrow passages whereof, the violence

4 H 2 of

::(

coo

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Thcjijt Decade.

f ■* '■ ,

m. :■

tit''- '

II:.;.

i:Vi 1',

He digrcssclh
to satistic some
douhts.

of tlicNorthcrnewindcs 5-< very strong, and boysfrous in tliat jjlaync, and therefore that side of
the cilty Teniistitan whiche looketh towardes the North, \9 fortified with rampires of huge
KtoncH, and tymber fastened in the groiinde, to defend the citie from the violence ofwhirle-
windes. I sawe the like iniieiilion at Venice, to siistayne the fiiric of the Adriaticke Sea, leaste
itNhoulde shake the houses, the Venetians call that pile of woode, the shore, commonly El Lio.
Contrarily, on the Southe side all theMoimtayncs ioyne one vppon another, so high, that the
South windes haiie no power to blowe through that playne, logiue them heate: but the North
windes come from the skic, and from on high doe morebeate vpon them then the South winds
because they ascend from the bottome to the toppe, and the playne itsclfc hath perpetuall
snowie Mountayncs, and burning Monntaynes not farre from it. Wee sawe a Mappe of those
countreyes 30. footc long, and little Icsse in breadth, made of white cotton, wouen : wherein
the whole playne was at large described, with the Proiiince.s, aswell friendcs, as encmyes to
Mulcczuma. The huge Monntaynes compassing the playne on euery side, and the South
coastes also butting vppon the shore are ther, together described, from whose Inhabitantes,
they say, they had hearde, that certaine Ilandes were neere vnto those shores, where (as wee
sayde before) the Spyces grew, and great plentie of gold and precious stones were ingendred.
Here (most holy Father) I must make a little digression. When this poynt was reade amongst
vs, many distorted the nose, and thought that fabulous which the letters reported of a doubt-
full thing to come as it happencth in manie thynges, which are deliucred by report of the
Barbarians, while they come to bee openly knowne: and surely they doubted not without
good cause, by the example of three thinges, whiche happened in our supposed Continent
not agreeing with the first propositions, whereof I made mention in the former Decades,
yet lenuing them alwayes doubtfull. I haue heretofore said that the Spanyardes were
accused by one of the sonnes of King Comogrus, chiefe of seuen, because they esteemed
golde so muche, whereof he offered to shew them sufficient plentie, so they would pro-
cure some forces of armed menne, by whose conduct they miglit boldly passe ouer the
Mountaynes he shewed them, possessed by warlike kinges, couragious, and stout defend-
ers of their owne right: beecause those sides of those Mountaynes, which looke towardes
the South, had another Sea, at the Antarticke, and the inhabitantes of those sides were very
rich: they passed those Mountaynes, to consider throughly of the South Sea: and knew the
substance and wealth of those Kings to be farre inferiour to that which fame reported :
the like also they vnderstoode of the ryuer Dabaiba, wherof I haue largely and suf-
ficiently discoursed before. Which two thinges declared to the Catholike Kinge incited him
to send Petrus Arias with 1200. soldiers to be slaughtered. For they are almost all deade,
with out any great benefit, as I haue elsewhere sufficiently declared. The third thing per-
swadinge them to giue lesse credit to y which is reported, is this, nor is it repugnant to rea-
son. It is now manifestly known through long experience, ^ all the inhabitantes of those
Countries, to y- intent to driue our m.en away from their borders diligently inquire what they
desire: & whe they vnderstoode they desire gold, or victualls, they shewe vnto the by signes,
places 5' are farther distant from them, & tell th6 with admiration, that they shall finde much
more abundance of the things they seeke with certaine Kinges which they name, then with
them. But wlien they went to the appointed Kinges they vnderstood they had bin deceiued.
Not with out cause therefore, they iudg that the like also may happen concerninge those
thinges which are reported from farr Countryes. Hut I, imbracing this Casualty, in fauour
to so great a mann, seeme to my selfe to haue found out probable, and persuasiue reasons. I
disputed these things in the Senate of Indian afl'aires, in presence of the great Chancelor
Mercurius a Gattinera, the cheife Comendator Fernandus Vega, Doctor, Lord dela Rochia
Belga, a mann gratious with the Emperour Philippes great Chancelers sonne & the great
demomt'r7t"that treasurer, Licentiato Vargas, admitted after the departure of your Holines. I should blush
^e world is it *" ''^<^^^^" *^'s thingc amongc the difficult or miraculous things of Nature. The Malucca
Hands ingendring spices, are partly vnder the iliquinoctiall as I mentioned before: and these
Countries if we consider the whole world occupy but a very smale space. Seeing then the
acquinoctiall circle compasseth the whole world, who will denye, but that elsewhere as well

A deceipt of
the Jiubaiians.

He seemes to

vndiscouered.

Thefift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

601

ns there, other coiintryes may bee fouiulc of the same milclc temper of the Ayre, \vhiih the
powerfiill influence of the Siinne may inspire with that aromaticall vigor, and yet the Diiiinc
Prouidcnce would hauc fhein vnknown vntill our times : as wee see so great a vastily of the
Occar. and earthly Countryes to haue bin hetherto concealed ? for those Southcrne shoares of
Tenustitan, are scarse 12. degrees distant from the i'Equinoctiall. What woonder tiien, if as
\\\c rest which were drowned before, we now sec them discouered ? and this fallcth out for
the increase of our Emperours fclicitv, the disciple of your Holincs. I would the same
should be spoake to such a«i resolue only to belceue those things, which they may attainc by
the jMiwer of their owne witt, and that, in your H(!lincs name, who haue allwayes bin a pru-
dent searcher, of not onely the secrets of Nature ingendringe all thinges, but also of such
as bee diuine. Besides that which hath bin already spoaken I am moucd with another argu-
ment, Cortes, who performed so great matters, would not in my iudgemct, be so voyd of
rea-fo, y at his owne charge he wold blindfold vndcrtakc so great a matter in the vSouth Sea,
as wee knowe hce imbraced, in the building of 4. shippes to search out those coutryes, vnles
he had vnderstoode some certainty, or likelyhod at the least. We haue now spoaken suffi-
ciently of these thinges let vs therefore returne to Ribera his familiar friend. In those Moun- n«rctuni«»to
taines by report of the Inhabitants, he .saith, there arc wild men, rough .ns hairy beares, con- Hayru mm.
tentinge themselues with monlanous cauea, or the n.iturall fruites of the earth, or such
beasts as they take in huntinge. After that, we sawe another greate Mapp, a little lesse, but
not lesse alluringe our minde.s, which contained the citty of Tenustitan itselfe described by
the same hand of the inhabitants, with her Temples, bridges, and lakes. After this I caused
a bov borne in the same country (whom he carrved with him as his seruant) to bee brought a boy armcH
vnto VS out of my chamber, furnished in warlike manner, as we sate in an oj)en Solar, In Kilmer.
his right hande hee held a plaine woodden sworde, without stones which they v^e (for they
abate the edge of their warlike sword and fill the hollow and concauity thereof with sharpe
stones fastened with tough and clammy Bitumen and clay) so that in fight, they may almost
compare with our swoordes. These stones are of that kinde of stone whereof they make
their rasors, whereof I haue spoken elsewhere. He brought foorth a target also made after
their manner: that is to say compact and ioyned together with twigges or osyers, ouerlayd
with golde, from the middle lower circumferences of the edge whereof, wauinge feathers
hange dangling downe, more then a spann longe, set in for ornament: the inner part of the
Targett was couered with a Tygers skinn : the out side had a bosse of gold in the middle,
with a field or large space of fethers of diners colours little differinge from our veluet. The
boy commefh foorth armed with his sword, clad with a straight garment of feathers, partly
blew and partly redd with a paire of breeches of bombasin cotten, and a little napkin hanginge
betweene his thighes, hauinge his breeches fastened to his garment therewith, as one that
putteth off his doblet without vndoinge his poyntes from his hose, and being very well shodd,
the boy thus counterfeited the practise of warr, now setting vpon the enemy, and presently H^|
retyringe from them, at length hee jnakcth shewe as if he had taken another boy in fight, ""
instructed for that purpose, and his fellow seruant, and halinge him by the haire of the
head, a» they vse violently to carry away their enemyes taken in the warres, hee draweth
him to sacrifice him, & hauing layd him all along, hee seemed first to open him with a knife
about the short ribbes where the hart lyeth : and then pluckinge out the hart made as if
hee had drawne out the blood next vnto the hart with both his handes, and therewith be-
smeeringe his sword and target, he moystened and washed them. After this manner (as
they say) they vse the enemyes which they haue taken. But the hart it selfe hee burncth
in the fire kindled with twoe stickes rubbed together, fit for that purpose, for the fire which
they supposed to be acceptable to ^ Goddes that fauour their warres must bee virgin fire
newly kindled: the rest of the body they diuidc and cutt into seueral parts (leaning the
whole bellye with the intrayles least ^ filth fall out) as the boyes action did demonstrate.
But the head of the sacrificed enemy, hauing the flesh taken from it, euery slaughterer re- ^he'sacHficed'^Kt
serueth it set in gold for a trophey or signe of victory & causeth so many litle golde gaping m gold for j
heads to be made for him, as shalbe proued he hath slaine, & sacrificed enemyes : & hageth Trorhov.

the

■ cruncifeit-
clli wjrr.

I'M

.1 ■»-':(5"'»l'fclI

ClJV'

;;•■ m

;;«'f.

60^

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

Tlicfift Decade.

i:V Ki

The iranntr of
'ilutinge A: nf>
fciing I f icruice
I'j the kin^t.

A drunken spec-

liile.

The country of
women.

A note of the
greatncsse of
Mutrczuma.

C'hesst 7

Play.

ti^?re i* Enuie
for the rreiich
m'--n that are
it-d to be borne
with r.'cketts in
their mouthes.

Ciudlu.

til?? about hi.>» iirrke, &.' it U fhniiglit, they focilc vpo their mehcrs. This Rihera saith, he
knew y all y Princc-ii of Miilocr.iinia thcseliics vsed to eate mans flesh, wheriipo he .suspected
y i\(ulec7.iinia also himself ilid ^- like: althoiijjh in y case he alwayes forboare 5' same after
they declared how foiile a fault it wa-;, & displeasing vnto God, to kill a man, how much
more to eatc him. After y fair.ed solcnities of .'sacrificing ended by the boy^ while in ^ mcaiie
space wee wearied Hibcra with qnestioninge him concerninge the customs of those countryes,
and the largcne.s thereof, hauing brought the boy into a chamber they attired him for sport,
and meriment : Who came fnorth vnto vs cladd in another manner, taking a golden rattle
curiously beaiitilicd, in his left hande, but in his right hande hee brought a garland of belles,
shaking it and gently nduancinge the ratle about his head, and then presently swinging it
about belowe, sin;iingc after his country manner, hee filled the roome with dauncinge, where
we sate to behold him : it was a delightfull thing to see when he came to any more honorable
perso how they salute kings whe thev bring presets, with a tremblinge voyce, and lowly
countenaunce, neuer presuminge to looke the kinge in the face, approachinge, & prostra-
tingc his body hee speaketh vnto him, and deliuereth words to this effect: Ilec calleth him
Kinge of kinges, Lord of heauen and earth & in the name of hiscitty or towne hee ofTereth
his seruicc, and obedience, and of two things intreateth him to cho.se, which he Wuuid rather
haue : Whether that they build him any house, in drawinge stones, timber, and rafters
thether: or whether he purpose to vse them in tillage of the grounde : They say, they are
the Kinges bondmenne, and affirme that (for his sake) they haue sustained exceed inge great
losses by the bordering enemycs, yet that they willingly receiued all iniuryes for the re-
uerence, and fidelity they bare vnto him and many such like Idle speaches. Thirdly, while
wee were earnestly talkinge with Ribera, j- boy commeth forth of the Chamber, couterfeitinge
a drunkard : so that wee haue not scene any spectacle more like a drunken mann : when
they shall obtaine any thing which they desire of their Idol godds, he saith, that two or
three thou.sand of them come together, and fill themscliies with the iuice of a certaine ine-
briatinge herbe, and so runn naked hether and thether through the strectes of the citty,
seekinge the wallcs to support them, and dcniaunding of them they meete, which is the
way to their owne lodginge sometimes spittinge, and sometimes vomitinge, and often fallinge.
Let this suffice for the boy. I knowe not what Ribera saith hee hath heard of a country in-
habited onely by women in those Mountaines lyinge towards the North but noe certainty.
For this reason (they say) it may bee beleeued, because the country is called Yguatlan for
in their language Yguat significth a womann, and Ian is a Lordor Mistres: supposinge there-
fore, that it is the country of women. In the meane space while the boy was prepared for
diners spectacles, amongst other arguments of the power and greatnesse of Muteczuma hee
is sayde to haue had interpreters Si. innumerable Embassadours of diuers prouinces with him,
gracinge his Court with their perpetuall residence in their Lordes behalfc, as we haue Earles
Marquesses and Dukes, obseruers of CTsar. It is not much from the purpose, although it
bee but a trifling matter, to declare what sports and games they vse: It is well knowne thai:
they haue chesse hordes, by the checker worke which they haue wouen in their sheetes : but
Tennis play both with them, and in our Hands, is accounted the cheefest pastime. Their
balles are made of the iuice of a certaine herbe which climeth on the trees, as hoppes doe
vpon hedges: this iuice they bovlc, which beeing hardened by heate, conuerteth into a
massy substance, of the which, beeing rubd together and wrought with the hande, euery
one formeth his balle at his owne pleasure, and others say, that of the rootcs of the same
herbcH wrought together weighty balles are made: but I knowe not how, there is aventosit\
in that solid body, that being strocken vpo the ground but softly, it rebounds vncredibly into
the ayer. And in y sport &: pastime they are very quick & nimble: so y they smite the
ball with their shoulders, elbowes, and headcs, seldome with their handes, and sometimes
with their buttockes turninge their backe from him that playeth with them while the ball is
smitten, for they exercise this pastime naked like wrastlers In steade of candels, and
torches they burue the pith or heart of the pine, and they haue no other tallow, grea.se, or
oyle : neither did they vse wax for that purpose (although they haue both hony and wax)

before

nej'ift Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUILS.

603

before our comminj^e vnto them. In the coiirtcs or entrances of the kingesnnd noble mcnncs offir«iiitin
houses, they keepe three (ires biirningc all the night, made of those peeces or chippesof J
pine, appiiintingc likewise fiiellers for that biisincs, who witli perpetual supply of wood to
the fire, maintaine the light vpon an high candlestick, curiously wrought of ropper. One
candlesticke standcth in the entrance ol the Court another in the chcifc hall where their
hoiishold seruants wnike expectingo their Lordcs pleasure: and the third within the Princes
riiamber. If they bee particularly to goe any whether, euery one carricth his torch in liis
hande, as our menn doe a candle. 15ut in the Ilandes they vse the trane or tallow of the
Tortoyse to mainctaine candle liglit. Ihe further saith, that the coinon sort of people con- wiuMindcoc«.
tiMit themselucs with one wife: but that eucry Prince may niayntaine hnrlolls at his pleasure:
and adirmeth also that Princes onely lye vppon bcddcs, and the rest on matts spread v|)pon ,''^"o"'i,5j5l'.
the floore, or vppon cotton carpetts, bceing contented onely with certainc ccitton sheets: the
lialfc part whereof they spread vnder thrni, and with the other pnrt ihev coucr themsrliies.
Of these kinde of sheets Hibera shewed vs many. Morc(!uer they liuc contented with num-
ber, and measure, weights arc vnknownc vnto them, I hauc hceretofore savde, that they
haue books whereof they brought many: but this Hibera saith, that they are not made f"'"' Si^e"h^,'i'fn'."'
the vse of rcadinge, but that those characters garnished and beautified with diners Images 4.dcuj:chJii.n.
and proportions, are examples and pattemes of thiiiges from the which workemen may draw
out examples for the fashioning of lewcls, sheets, and garments to beautify them with those
])roportions, as I see semstcrs euery where in Spaine, and those who with fine needles make
silken chaine worke, roses, & flowers in linncn cloath, and many kindes of formes, to de-
light the eye that beeliolds them, the formes and proportions of all which workes they haue
in particular samplers of linnen cloth, by direction whereof they instruct younge maydcns
and girles. What I should thinkc in this variety 1 knowe not. I suppose them to bee bookes,
and that those characters, and Images, signifie some other thinge, seeinge I haue seene the
iike thinges in the obeliskes and pillers at Rome, which were accounted letters consideringe
also, that wee reade, that the Caldeis vsed to write after that manner. I remember that I
haue written beefore, that Muteczuma at the request of Cortes, built a Pallace by his ar-
chitects neere, vnto the Sea, 60. leagues from his owne Court, where he commaunded 2000.
mony trees to bee planted, and many measures or Hemina of the graine Maizium to bee Threeqmrtesof
sowed, and geese and duckes, and pcacokes, to be c:ist in for breed, with three other houses * •""'''
forseruice of the Court or Pallace : but at such time, as they were expelled out of the citty, he
saith, that the borderinge Barbarians slewe our menn, and made hauock of all. Hee makelh re-
port also of the commodity of foode, of the salt, and potable lake: that the fish of the salt ofthefishof
Jake are lesser, and lesse sauory, & when the w.tcr of the salt lake floweth into the tresh, fresh uke.
that the fishes bred and nourished in the salt lake, flye backe from the tast of the fresh water,
to the course and passage of the ebbinge water. And contrarily as soone as the fishes bred
in the fresh water begin to tast the salt, they likewise returne backe. Being demaunded,
what was done concerninge the auncient forme of rites and ceremonyes, or after what manner
they receiue so sudden an alteration of their holy rites, hee saith, that all Images or Idols
are ouerthrowne by the warre of the Conquerours: and that it is vtterly forbidden to sacrifice ^ fj °p|"f,['j '"*
mans bloud any more. And that such friends as hee left, weerc perswaded to kill noe more aniiy.
menn, if they desire to please the Creator of Heauen, neuertheles hee thought it was noe
time, that he should so suddenly compell them to chaunge and alter the customes receiued
from their auncesters. In this one thinge onely he is supposed to haue done enough, that
neither the Tascalticans, nor Guazuzingi, or any other friendes whatsoeuer, durst publiquely
any more exercise that kinde of slaughter, and butchery : yet, whether secretly they alto-
gether abstaine hee sayth hee maketh some doubt. It is to bee hoped, that by litle and
litle hee shall abolish their auncient ceremonyes. He requireth Preists and desireth belles,
with ornaments : all which shalbee sent vnto him, whereby many new hundred thousands
of people shalbe subiected to your Holinesse throne.

'i^J'U

The

G()4

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

J'tic sirt Decade.

at. -^

W^''

I.ctitrs fii'tii
/V Julius Uon-

A timit vpon tin
nobility ot'
i^painc,

The sixl Dccado, of IVior ^f^rfyr a Millanoissc of Anglcria written to the Con-
sentiiic Arch Hisliopp. to boo giuen to the I'opc.

The first Chapter.

nF-fore you returned to the ritty, haiiingc exociitod your Spaninh T.esalion honorable, Sc
prnlital)ic to two I'opes while Sp.iinc wanud a Kingc, by reason of his departure to take vpft
niin y Impcriall crownc ofleied vnto him, I suppose, that amonge the Nobles of Spainc, who
])nssed through the South side of our supposed ('onlincnt in the new worldc, you kncwe, that
.r.gidius Gonsaius commonly calitd (iil. GoiiZide/, and Licentialus Spino.sa the Liiwirr, werr
men of noe ordinary ranekc. Conccrningc Spinosa I wrof many things in the third bookc
of my Decades (while you were present) to Pope Leo,' at his request. Hut now wc hnue
letters from .'F,;'idius(>onsa!us two yeeres after, dated the day before the Nones of March
I'i'H. written fro Ilispanioja the I'allace or I'rincly Court ol those rountric-: where (hre
Suit!)) hec arriiied with an hundred and tweiue thousand dragmes of gold: and tiiat hec re-
turned the 2b. of Inly Ib'iH. to Panuama, the yeore before. It would arise to a grent vo-
lume of pnpcr, to declare cuery little accident t uit befell them in so longe a space of time
and dixtfice of countrycs. And the domaundes which hec requireth at the handes of the
l'.in])en)r are very large, for their tiauailcs, & dangers sustained, & for their miser.ible wantes
indiired in that wandring Voyage:' nor are there complaints, & wordes wanting concerning
Petrus Arias the generall gouernour of those countries (which vnder one denominatio wccall
golden Casteele) straightly desiring liberty from his will and pleasure : among which hee saith
y he is more nobly borne, as if it made any matter, whether those yr are chose of the
kings for the effecting of such laborious and waighly atVaires, were borne of base
and Idle victuallers, or Ilectorcan, and valiant menn, especially ii Spaine where for
the most part they suppose, the Nobilifye haue a speciall prerogatiue, i line Idley, without
any exerrise or imployment, except it were in the warres, and that as commanders, not as
ordinary & priuatc soldiers. Ireceiued letters from you dcliuered me by the hands of your
lohannes Paulus Oliuerius dated in the citty the Nones I Maye, whereby amonge other
things, you say, that Pope Clement is noe lessc delighted with these relations, then his cousin
german Leo, or Pope Adrian his Praedecessors were, who by their letters mandatory c5-
niandcd me to set downe the same the same in writing. Of itiany things I haue gathered
a few, to be directed vnto you, not vnto his Ilolines, which if as his nephew Leo, or as his
Successor Adrian did, he siial comand me to write, I wilingly obey otherwise, I will forbeare
y labour, least by scandalous mouthes I be iudged to haue incurred ^ sclaunder of temerity.
Obseruinge therefore our manner, little regardinge f slight allection of y writers, we wil
shortly touch such things as we thinke necessary to be known, neither shal y cheife point of
your Epistle d inert ine a iot fro this purpose, where you say, v through j' jierswasid of lohn
Granafcnsis y elect Bishop of Vienna, whatsoeucr Fernandus wortes, the Conqueror of those
huge coutries of y' lucatanes & Tenustitfis, hath written to Emperors Cousell of ^ Indian
afTaires, & to y Emperor himselfe, was tra^lated in Germany word for word out of y' Spanish
tongue, into y Latine : for out of the, & by relation of othLis (as you knowe) I haue made
special choice of such things as I thought worthy ^ noting. Let vs now therefore at legth
come to y matter, & begin with y Colonies erected, to the intet y the auncient Geography
being more easily perceiued, the vnderstading may apprehcd, what coasts, & coutryes this
jligidius hath trauailed. Cocerning y largenes of those coutries, which thrice exceede all
llurope in legth, & yet the ende thereof not discoucred, I haue made motion in my former
Decades (vnder y' name of y supposed Colinet) subiect toy printers presse, & sufficiently
spread abroad through out the Christifi world. We wrfit y they lay in the probatio or proofe
of the Latitud of the riucr Maragno, & y this lad hath two huge, Sc mighty Seas: this our
Ocean, butting vpon that Northerne coiitry, & the other, y South sea. These things pre-
supposed, his Ilolines mav vndcrstand y on the sides ( f y land, there are six Colonyes
planted by the Spaniards: three on the North, vpon the b;»nk.e, or shoarc of the riuer Daricn

m^^

The aixt Decade.

THAITIQUES, AND DISCOUKHIRS.

(JOj

in the Gulfe of Vmlia, one called Sancia Nfaria antiqiia 80, Ica-ritex from Darien Aria ; & the
third, called Nonir Dei, in the dominion of king Carcta, 37. leagues distant from Ada. And
on the South shoarc they haue erected as many, one whereof, leauingc the country Name,
they haue called Pannaina, the second Natan, \i\. leagues from I'annama, & the third called
Chiriqui, they built 75. leagues from Natan.

The second Chapter.

OVt of the Ilauon of ^ North Colony called Nomen Dei, the Inhabllantes, with Pctrui
Arias the Gouernour, determined to make a way to Pannama standing on ^ South shoare,
through the moutaines ouergrown with thick woods neuer touched from all {eternity, and vn-
possible to passe ouer by reason of the steepe and dangerous rocks, reachinge vp to Heauen.
Tor 'ha. distanceof lande betweene both Seas is 17. leagues onely, which containc aboutsomc
50. f.ilcs, although elsewhere the land be very broad and so inlarged, that from the mouth
of the riuer Maragnon fallinge into the Ocean from the North, to the Antarctick, it extcndeth
it srlfe more then 54. degrees beyond the vEquator, as I thinkc you sawe in that Decade di-
rected vnto Adrian, who lately dyed, which 1 sent you to be giuen to his Successor, although
intitled by another name, because he was preueted by death, without receiuinge the Decade
where mention is made at large, concerning the Ilandes ingendringe spices, foud out by that
waye. Through this narrow strait of land therefore, at the great cost and charge both of the ^ ."■'I"'/ ' 'L
kinge and Inhabitantcs breaking the rocks, and felling downe the woods which were a coucrt "',Vh'row't'bl
for diuers wild bcantcs, they make that way able to giue passage to two carts at once, to the ni"»iitayi«i
intent they might passe ouer with case to search y secrets of either spacious Sea, but ueitoPamumi.
they haue not yet perfited the same. From the Hand therefore which in my former Decades
(I sayd was called Dites, but now the Hand of Pearle, because there is great store of pcarle J^",,"""' ""^
there, seated within the view of the Colony Pannama, iEgidius Gon.salus saith, that the 21.
day of lauary in ^ yeere of our Lord God 1522. he set sayle vnto the West, with a smale, iEgidius cnmi-
and almost an vnarmed fleete of 4. shippes, to the end that by the Emperours commaund, [hJ,,pi'tiyie, ,9.
he might obey the counsell and aduise of our kings Senate, from whom hee receiued this ward- ihe Wcjt.
charge, to view the westerne coasts neuer yet attempted, and make diligent search, whether
betweene the furthest boundes of the same supposed Continent lately knowiie, and the be-
gininge or first entrance of the country of the lucatanes, any straight or narrow Sea might
be founde, dinidinge betweene those huge Coutreyes : in few wordes to coclude, they finde
no straight at all : but what he performed (omitting many circumstances & many noted, &
obserued ) you shal heare. He writeth ^ in the space almost of 17. monethes, he passed six
hundred and 40. leagues (which amount to 2000. miles or thereabout) to the West, through
the coasts of strange countryes, and dominions of pettie kings. At what time while his
broaken ships, (and eaten through with Sea wormes which the Spiiiards call Broma) vrere
repaired, wantinge also necessarye victuals hee was compelled to trauaile the rest by lande.
Hee pa.ssed through the heart of the countrie 244. leagues, with an hundred menn or there-
abouts, begginge breade for himselfc, and his followers of many kinges, from whom (hee nc-ggm«tiiif.
sayth) hee hadd giuen him 112000. dragmes of gold: (Pensum is a dragme and a fourth *"''"'•
part more, as you must needs haue learned through your singular familiarity, and conuersa-
tion with the Spaniardes for fourteene yeeres space:) and hee further sayth that more then
J2000. persons of both sexes, were willingly baptised by such as hee hadd with him, who ^'"^Z"'"
hadd receiued baptisme, and entred into the rules, and first principles of Religion : and that
he sayled so farre, that on the backe side of the Prouince of lucatane, he found the same
customes, & manner of behaiiiour, & speach which ^ lucatane inhabitiits cheifly vse. Of^ of''g„iidT' ''"*
112000. Pensa of gold brought by y Treasurer Cerezeda sent fro him he saith he sedcth
vnto C ..lar for ^ kings portio, on J" on part 17. thousad Pensa of halfe pure gold, which at-
tainem to ^ degrees of twelue, & thirteene, on ^ other part 15000. 3. hudred and sixty
Pensa. In hatchets, which they vse in steed of Iron & Steele ones made fitt for the cutting Hatchcuof
of wood or timber, he writeth that by testimony of the ouerseers, appointed for that purpose ^°
deducting the Pensa of euery one of them a litle more the halfe a Ducate of gold, each

4 I hath

'\m

'i^l

i% m '■

W-:

r>06

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The sixt Decade.

Sm'thi that
makr rutlicall
instninKiiti of

hath their true valewe. But that %vhich we greatly esteeme, is that we haue fountlc coun-
tries, where smithes worke, and also rusticail Instruments are all made of gold, though not
pure. In belles also made of gold, wherein they are greatly delighted, he sayth he hath sent
iburescore & six, weighinge nboue 6000 Pensa, which attaipe almost noe degree by the assay
of the ouerseers : in y the belles shake to & fro, sound more dull or shrill, our men suppose
they are so made without any order, or rule; for ^ ringinge of gold (as you must needcs
know) ^ purer the gold is so much more duler is ^ soud thereof. And recouting may
things more particularly, he sayeth, y by reaso of their wading through f riuers, and the
often showers of rainc, in regard they were our winter monethes : although, neere vnto the
iEquinoctiall they were not so oppressed with colde, yet hee, and his consorts fell into diners
diseases, which hindered them from makingc great iourneyes. Passinge oucr to a strange
land in their Canows with the Prouincialls or inhabitants of that prouince, which by testimony
of his companions is tenn leagues longe and six broade, he was courteously intertained by
^'^" [?"'"«'''« the King of the Ilande, whose Court or Pallace was erected in forme of a warlike pauilion,
the fairth'eror built with vndcrsetters or crosse beames vpon a litle rising hil, & couered with reede, and
grasse to defend them from the raine. In this Hand, and neere about the Pallace runneth a
mighty riuer which diuideth it selfe into two armes: this riucr as hee sayth, at that time tiiat
he remained with that king intercepted of his iourney, did so oucrflowe almost the whole
Ilande with invndations of water, & so surrownded the kings house it selfe to the hcigth of
a manns girdell, that through the fury of the increase thereof, the very foundations of the
pillers sustayning y Pallace being ouer throwne, & moued out of their places, y house it
selfe fell downe. But (he saith) that theendes of the beames being fastened, held the house
together that it should not wholly fall vppon them : so that they were forced to cut out a
dore with axes, whereat they might issue foorth. From whence they fledd for refuge to the
boughes of high trees, where (he saith) himselfe, his companions, and their hostes that re-
ceiued them, remayned for the space of two dayes, while the wafers returned to their chan-
nels, after the rayne ceased. He reportcth diners particular accidents. But it is suflicient
for you, if principally you make blessed Clemet partaker of these trifling matters of For-
tune, whom that greate and waighty pontificiall charge ought alwayes to deteine buisied in
great alTayres. All prouision of victuall being taken away by this inundation, cupelled
through want, and being about yet to seeke foode by land, he trauaileth further to y West,
yet neuer leaving the vewe of ^ shoare, at length he ramc to an hauen already known, which
our men called the hauen of S. Vincent. Where he found his consorts arriued, with whom
he thus mett, after he departed from them while they repayred their shippes, and water caske.

The third Chapter.

HAuing saluted his copanions as the time would pcrmitt & speedily deliberating what
euery one should doe, taking 4. horses out of y ships which he brought with him, he co-
mandeth the of ^ fleete to sayle by litle & lille directly towards the West. And chargeth
them to beware of sayling by night, by rcasd of the rockes, & sady shouldes, because they
were now to passe through the vnknown coastcs of the Sea, but he, with those 4. horses, &
about 100. foote trauailing by land, light on a Kinge calleci Nicoianus : this Nicoianus hau-
King Nicoiaiius inge curtcously intertained him, gaue him 14000. Pensa of gold : being perewaded by our

'"" me y there was another Creator of heauen & earth aboue the sunne then they supposed, who

made the sunne it selfe, & the moone & the rest of the visible Starrs, of nothing, & gouerned
the by his wisdome, who also rewardeth euery man according to his deserts. Whereupo he
desired with all his family to be baptised ; & by the kings example, a thousand men of his king-
dome or thereabouts were baptised. Ilauing remained about 17. dayes space with Nicoianus,
ofw/^cc^r ''*^^ '*"'* ''''" "^ ^^^" '"strnctcd, that hee deliucred thees wordes in his owne language ( vnder-
■ stoode by the bordering Interpreters) at such time as they departed. Seeing I shall neuer
Nicoianus his hereafter speake any more to these nuncient Images of the Gods, nor eucr desire any thinge
iXti5e'of"i)is""'3f their handes, take them away with you. And speakinge thus to iEgidius Gonsalus he gaue
him six golden Images of a spann longe, the auncient monuments of his auncesters. Fifty

leagues

The hauen of
S. Vincent,

his courteous cH'
tertiincment Se
great gifts of
gold.

Nicoianus de*
sin-th baptisme
& is baptized

Images.

The sixl Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

607

leagues distant fro the Pallace of Nicoiamis, he vnderstoode, that the Kinge called Nicora-
giia, had his kingdom : staying therefore one dayes loiirney from the princly seat of Nico-
ragiia, he sent messengers to deiiuer the same message to the King which our men were wont -ffigidius Oon-
to declare to ^ rest of the kinges before they would further presse them, that is to say: that "g^s'tot. Sir
they should become Christians, and that they admitt the lawes and subiection of the greate ""k"» with
Kinge of Spaine : but if he refused, then they would rayse warr, and vse violence against choyscofchriu-
him. The next day after fowre Nicoragtianian Noble menn came foorth to nieete him, sayinge 'J»i'y«: subicc-
in their Kinges behalfe, that they desire peace and baptisme. Our menn goe forward to Nicaragua wuh
Nicoragua, whom they constraine to receiue holy baptisme with all his household, and some- 5!','^oT""b'''
what more then 9()(X). menn besides. This Nicoragua gaue vnto ^Egidius Gonsalus 15000. sides rcieiuc'
Pensa of gold made into diuers lewels, i'Egidius recompenced his gifts with other presents, '"!'"*'"'•
and gaue vnto Nicoragua a silken garment, and an inner vesture of Imnen wouen, and also loAigijius
a purple capp: and crectinge two crosses, one in their temple, and another without the ^^j^* ''"'" *^
townc he departed : and went vnto another cofitry about 6. leagues of, makinge his way al- iCrossejerect-
wayes to the West : where (hee sayth) hee found 6. villages, euery of them consisting of '
about 2000. hou^tes a pecce. The fame & report of our menn being heard, while they stayd
amongest those 6. villages, another Kinge further to the West called Diriangen (desirous to Dirimgcn n king
see them) came vnto our menn accompanied with 500. menn, and 20. woemenn, tenn aun- fa"c''rf>i;.idius
cients, and liue Trumpeters goinge before him after their manner. The King comminge to consaius comes
Gonsalus expectingc his approach in a throne adorned with rich and princly furniture, com-'""''"'""
inaundcd to sounde the Trumpetts and presently to cease, & the auncients that went before
him to be layde down & euery one of the men, one, brought one, the other, two foulcs like
vnto peacocices, not inferior in tast, nor greatnes. These foules are their domestical! powl-
try : as bene* are with vs. I make a litle digression with your leaue : & repeate many par-
ticulars of this sort, who being but an vnskilfull husbandman instruct /lilsculapius in medi-
cine : for may of these things are very well known to you, & dilated at large in my De-
cades. But supposing that these relations may come vnto the hands of men desirous thereof,
to whom they are vnknowne, vnlikely to obtaine your interpretation, I repeate them, that
for your sake, they might obtaine their desire : do not you therefore accuse me, who are
borne for the benefit of many. This kinge Diriangen by his seruants brought aboue 200. '^'"s Dif'^'B'
hatchets, euery of them weighinge 18. Pensa, or somewhat more. Beingc demanded by In- dins cohmIus
terpreters, which iEgidius had of his next bordering neighbours, who vnderstoode our menn, »^-ii«chcttsof
what cause moued him to come: he issayd to haue answered, that it might be graunted him
to behold a strange Nation, which he had heard, trauailed those countryes, and olleringe, that
whatsoeuer they desired of him, he would performe their demaundes. Whereupon they ad- it is very r<-
monished them (by alledginge the same reasons they vsed to perswade the rest) to become ""^'jfj^j"^''
Christians, & that they would submitt themselues to |^ obedience of the great king of Spaine. ri.iiisarcai«.iyis
Hee saith, hee was contented to doe both, and promised the third day to rcturnc vnto our a.'istl",','',^,^!
menn to receiue their charge. And so he departed. 5'<»'-

The fourth Chapter.

IN the mcane time, while our menn remained with Nicoragua, many thinges fell out be-
twceue them not vnworthy tlie relatinge. For beside that I gathered them out of the letters
of .Egidius, the kings Quaestor with him, comonly called the Treasurer, one Andreas Ccre-
zeda, no mcane partaker of all their trauailes, & labours, told me, & departinge left me y^
writingcs. jTlgidius, y comander of our soldiers & Nicoragua y king falling in to diuers dis- Notai)ic qucs-
courses for recreation, while they were at leasure, by an Interpreter which .itgidius haJ J.'^'nJIIo" ^gul' i.
brought vp, borne not very farr fro the kingdome of Nicoragua, who perfectly spake both Agid. c;oii$.iius.
languages. Nicoragua demadcd of i'Egidius what was thought (with y mighty king, whose jj^^h |,'["n'o<"d
seruant he confesseth himsclfe to be) conccrninge ^ generall flood past, which as hee had "mongt these
heard his auncestors say, ouerwhelmed ^ whole earth with men & beastes. ^^gidius sayth it
is beleeued that it was so : being demanded whether he thought it should come againe, he
answered, noe : but as once by the invndation of waters for the wicked misdccdes of men,

4 12 & chcifly.

i: ..hi

608

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The sixt Decade.

P:J4,;

p|;;'

& cheifly, for their vnlawfull & mostrous lust, all lining creatures (a fewe only excepted)
perished, so after an appointed terme of yeeres (vnknown to men) it should come to passe
^ through flaminge fire cast downe from heauen, all things should be cdsumed to ashes : won-
dering at this discourse, they were all stricke with astoishmet. Whereupon Nicoragua turn-
ing to the interpreter, with a discontented countenance derhanded of him: Whether this so
wise & vnderstanding a Nation came from Heauen : the Interpreter sayth they were sent
downe from Heauen. Then out of his simplicity & innocecy he asked him, whether he
came directly down or in a circuite, and compasse like a bowe or arch, the Interpreter sayth,
hce knewe not that, who was borne in the same country where Nicoragua was, or in the next.
After this he commanded the Interpreter to aske his Maister j'Egidius, whether the earth
should euer be turned vpside downe : Whereunto i^gidius answered, declaringe that this was
a secret resting onely in his mind who is the Creator of Heauen, Earth, and menu. And
qnestioninge him further concerninge the vniuersall consummation of mankinde, and of the
places appointed for the soules departed out of the prison of the body, and of the determined
time of sendinge downe that fire, when the sunne, and moone, and the rest of the starres
shall cease to giue their light, and of the motion, quantity, distance, and effects of the starres
and many things besides, .t^gidius although hee were very wise, and delighted to reade com-
mon bookes translated out of the Latine tongue, yet hadd hee not attained that learninge,
that he could otherwise answer this, then that if knowledg of those thinges was reserued in
the brest of p diuine prouidence. Nicoragua further demanding of him concerning the blow-
ing of the windes, and the causes of heate and colde, and of the varietie of dayes and nights,
although it be very smal with them (because they are but a litle distant from the Equinoc-
tiall) and many such like questions, ;Egidius answered Nicoragua satisfying him in many
thinges according to the ability of his iudgement, and commeding the rest to the diuine in-
telligence. Nicoragua and his familiar Courtiers descending afterwarde to earthly things,
demaunding whether without sinne, they might eate, drinke, vse the act of generation, play.,
sing, and dance, and exercise arms, he answered them after this manner: he sayth they migb
cheere themselues with meates, and drinkes, but auoyde gluttony and surfeiting : for what-
soeuer is taken beyonde the necessitie of nature, is receiued both against the excellencie of
the minde, and health of the bodie, and thereby he sayth that the seeds of vices, braules,
and priuie hatred, and displeasure are stirred vp, and reviued : and that it is lawfull to vse
the act of generation, but with one woman onely, and her, coopled and ioyned in mariage.
And if they desire to please that God who created all thinges, they must abstaine from any
other kinde of lust whatsoeuer : and that it was not forbidden to delight themselues with
singing, honest sportes, and dancing in their due tymes. Seeing they questioned him not
concerning their ceren>onies, nor slaughtering of menne in sacrifice, hee mooued conference
thereof himselfe, and saiib. that those oblations of sacrifices were most displeasing vnto God,
& 5' ^''^^ h's Maister the gr,?at King there was a Law made, that whosoeuer slewe any man
with the sword, should dye by the sworde. And he further sayth, that those Idolles, where-
unto they sacrifice mans bloud, are the Images & representations of deluding deuilles, who
being cast out of Heauen for their pride, are throwne downe to the pitte of hel. From
whence, going out by night, they shewe themselues for the most parte to innocent men, &
perswade them through their deceitfull artes, that those thinges are to bee done, which ought
in all kinde of things to beeauoyded, to the intent they might estrange our soules from his
loue, who created them, and desireth by charity, and other honest actions of lyfe to reduce
them againe vnto him, least beeing violently carryed away by those wicked spirites from
eternall delightes, vnto perpetuall tormentes, and miserable woes, they be made companions
of the damned.

The fift Chapter.

AFter that yEgidius, like a pulpit preacher, had thus reasoned, or in the like sense, by his
^andeih'to''" Iif^rpreter he signified the same to Nicoragua as well as hee coulde. Nicoragua assented to
know how to the woordea of ^Egidius, and withall demaunded what hee shoulde doe, that they might please

ple«.God. (hat

The generall
(ombuslioii to
come.

Nicaragua made
a questio whe-
ther Gonsalus
and his company
cam from heauen

He questions of
the departure &
jilaces of Souls
departed, of
times $c seasons
which God hath
put in liis owne
power. Act i. 7.

Naturall ques-
tioni.

'Diuine ques-
tions touching
earthly matters.

Intemperancy
and the seedes
tliercof.

Mariage.

Sacrificing of
mankinde dis-
waded.

Their Idolles
the Images ajid
inuention of the
dcuill.

The sLvt Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

609

that God, the author of all thin{i;es, of whom he maketh report. Cerezeda the Kings treasurer
with him, witnesseth that i^gidiiis answered Nicoragua in this manner: hee who created vs, ■^k'"''*" •>'"
and all thinges, isnot delighted with the slaughter of menne, or shedding of bloude, but in the"""^'
feruent loue onely of our mind towardes him, hee greatly reioyceth, the secrets of our hearte
are apparant vnto him, hee desireth onely the meditations of the hearte it selfe, he feedeth
not on flesh, or bloude, there is nothing wherewith he is more angry and displeased, then
with the destruction of menne, of whom he desireth to be magnified, and glorified. These
abhominable sacrifices are pleasing, and all impious, and wicked actions are acceptable to his,
and your enemies cast downe to the bottomelesse pitte of Hell, whose Images you heere
obserue, to the ende that they may drawe your soules (departing hence) together with them-
selues into eternall ruine and destruction. Throwe these vaine, nay pernicious Idolles, out
of your houses and temples : and imbrace and entertaine this Crosse, the Image whereof the
Lorde Christ becdewed with his bloude for the saluation of mankinde that was lost : and
hereby yee may promise vnto your selues happie yeeres, and blessed eternitie to your soules.
Warres, also are odious to the creator of all thinges, and peace amonge neighbours is amiable. This good doc-
whom hee commaundeth vs to loue as our selues: yet, if leading a peaceable lyfe any doe "3"/, "„"^""'"5
prouoke you, it is lawfull for euery manne to repell iniury, and to defende himselfe, and his «pted agaynst
goods, and substance. But to prouoke any through the desire of ambition, or couetousnesse, J^l^^ " "'
is vtterly forbidden : and that these thinges are done both against common ciuiiity, and also
against the will of God himselfe. These thinges thus playnly declared, Nicoragua, & his
Courtiers who were present fixing their eyes with open mouth vpon the countenance of
i^gidius, consented to all other thinges beefore propounded, but to this one concerning
warlike affaires, they made a wry mouth : and demanded where they shoulde cast their
weapons, golden helmets, or whether they should throw their bowes and arrowes, their military
ornamentes, and theirrenowned warlike ensignes, shall we giue them (say they) to women, to
vse ? & shall we handle their spindles, and distaffes, and till the ground after the rusticall
maner ? j^gidius durst not answcre them any thing to this, because he knewe they spoake it
halfe discontented. But when they asked him concerning the mistery of the Crosse to be
adored, and of the benefit thereof, hee saith, that if with a pure, and sincere heart looking
vpon it, (mindfuU with a religious zeale of Christ who suffered thereon) you shall desire any
thing ye shall obtaine it, so ye desire iust and honest things: if peace, or victory
against your enemies, plentie of fruits, if temperatnes of the ayre, or saftie and health, and
if ye propound such other like thinges to bee desired and wished for, ye shal obtaine your
desires. I haue mentioned bef-re, that iEgidius erected them two Crosses, one vnder a
roofe, and another in the open ayre, vppon an high hill of bricke made by hande : at what
time it was carried to bee sette vppon the hill, Cerezeda saith that the Priestes went before
the glorious and pompous shewe in procession, and ^gidius followed with his souldiers and
traine, the King accompanying him, and the rest of his subiectes. At what tyme the Crosse
was sette vppe, they beganne to sound the Trumpettes, and sfricke vppe the Drummes. The
Crosse being fastened, iEgidius with his heade discouered, and bowing the knee, ascended
first to the foote thereof, by the steppes whiche were layde, and powred out his secrete
prayers there, and imbracing the steppes of the Crosse, lastly kissed them. The King, and
by his example al the rest did the like. So beeing instructed in our rites and ceremonies
he made a decree. Concerning the distribution of dayes saith he, sixe whole dales ye are
continually to apply your selues to tillage, and the rest of your labours, and arts, and the
seuenth, you must diligently attende sacred and religious exercises, and hee appointed them He acquainteth
the Lordes day for the seuenth, nor did hee suppose it to be profitable to be further trouble- g^j^j'^.''"'^
some vnto them with a long rancke of holy dayes. I will adde one thing onely omitted by
iEgidius himselfe in the discourse of his narration, which Cerezeda recyteth. All the Bar- The Barbarians
barians of those Nations are beardlesse, and are terribly afraide, and fearefull of bearded "re'b^jrjj"^"'
men ; and therefore of 25. beardlesse youthes by reason of their tender yeeres, .^gidius madeE«"'«"' of
bearded men with the powlinges of their heades, the haire being orderly composed, to thcvJ-m/thirMca-
end, that the number of bearded men might appeare the more, to terrific the if they should ''""G"""!"'

be policy.

1 ;'

fill

• ■ '1 -j'liiii'L

■.Si..V.. ,»-f' ■,•«■■

■ .; ;!«

I', -f.'

m.:

GIO

^gidius Goni.
When he set
sayle for the
straiglit.

The fashion of
the kings courtes
in these parts
and the tnaner
of their other
buildings.

Their Temples.

AutiL'ients
p.iynted with
diucls.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The sixt Decade.

The situation
of the Kings
courts and no-
blemens houses.

Oold cmithes.

Fillers erected
for thabhomina-
ble sacrifices.

Their accursed
;<ltar «f sacrifice

A blouddie
preacher.

Two kinds of
Sacrifices.

be assailed by warre, as afterwarde it fell out, Cerezeda added that ;I!gid ins wrote vnto him,
that with 250. foote mustered in Hispaniola, and 70. horse, he set sayle about the Ides of
March 1524. to the desired prouince to seeke the Strayght. But this matter is not yet re-
ported to our Senate, when we haue it, you shall haue notice thereof. Nowe at length, h t
vs passe ouer these thinges, and come a little to that horrible Lestrigonian custome of those
Nations, and to the situations, and buildinges of their houses and temples. The length of
their kinges courtes consisteth of 100. paces, and the breadth 15. the frontes whereof are
open, but arc all close behinde. The pauements or floares of their pallaces are erected halfe
a mans stature from the groud the rest, are nothing raysed from the earth. All their houses
are made of tymber, and couered with strawe, and haue but one roofe or couering, without
any boorded floare. Their temples also are built after the same manner : they are large, and
replenished with lowe, darke, inner chappels, wherein eucry noble manne hideth his
housholde goddes, and they haue them also for Armoryes : for there with their Auncients
painted with Diuellcs, they keepe their warlike weapons, their bowes, quiuers,
golden brest plates, and golden helmettes, and broade woodden swoordes, wherewith they
fight hande to hande and their dartes also whiche they cast a farre of, and diuers ornamentes
of warrc, during the time of peace, and to the proper Images of the goddes left by their
Aunccsters, according to their abilities they slay particular sacrifices of mans flesh, and
adore them with affected prayers of vowes or desires, composed by the priests after their
manner.

The sixt Chapter.

LArgc and great streetes guarde the frontes of the Kinges courts, according to the dis^po-
sition and greatnes of their village or towne. If the town consist of many houses, they haue
also little ones, in which, the trading neighbours distant from the Court may meete together.
The chiefe noble mens houses compasse and inclose the kinges streete on euery side : in the
middle site whereof one is erected which the Goldesmithes inhabite. Golde is there moulten
and forged to be formed and fashioned into diuers lewellcs, then being brought into small
plates, or barres, it is stamped or coyned after the pleasure of the owners thereof, and at
length is brought into the forme and fashion they desire, and that neately too. Within the
viewe of their Temples there are diuers Bases or Fillers like Pulpittes erected in the fieldes,
of viiburnde bricke, and a certayne kind of clammie earthy Bitumen which serueth for diuers
vses and efTectcs, which Bases consist of eight steppes or stayres in some place twelue, and
in another fifteene the space of the highest parte of the toppe thereof is diuers, according
to the qualitic of the designed mistcry, one of these is capable of tenne men, in the middle
space wherofstandeth a marble stone higher then the rest, aequalling the length and breadth
of a mans stature lying all along: this cursed stone is the altar of those miserable sacrifices :
at the appoynted day for s.ncrifice, the people roundo about beholding the same, the King
asc^ndeth another pulpitte in the viewe, to beeholde the execution thereof. The Prieste in
the audience of all, from that eminent stone, standing on his feete performeth the office of a
Preacher, and shaking a sharpe knife of a stone, whiche hee hath in his hand (for they haue
quarries of stone in al those countries, fit for the making of hatchets and swords, whereof we
may haue as many as we will, and the Cardinall Ascanius was not ignorant hereof ) pro-
claymeth that sacrifices are to be slaine, whether they be of the bodies of their enemies, or
bred at home. For there are two kindes of humane sacrifices with them : the one, of enemies
taken in the warres. the other of such as are brought vp and maintained at home : for euery
ivii.g, or Noble manne from their infancie maintaine .sacrifices at home to be slaine, to their
abilitie, they also not being ignorat wherfore they are kept and fed more daintily then the
rest, who are not sadde & sorowfuU for the same, beecause from their tender yeeres they Hue
so perswaded, that through tiiat kinde of death, they should be turned into goddes or hca-
uenly creatures. Hereupon walking freely through the villages and townes they are reuerently
rcceiued of all that meete them, as if they were halfe deified alroadie, and are sent away laden
with whatsoeuer they demande, whether they desire any thing for foode, or ornament : nor

doth

enemies

The sixt Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

611

doth he ^vho j^iiieth to the goddes, suppose, that day fell out vnluckily with him, wherein he
bestoweth something. Therefore they diuersly handle these diners Icindes of sacrifices in ofler-
ing them to their Idols. They stretcli out cither sacrifice on that stone flat vppoii their backe, The mannerof
and after the like manner open them through the short ribbes, plucking out the heart, and ' '"""' ""^'
with the bloud of either obseruing the same rule, they annoint their lips, and beards, but the
preaching Priest holding a knife in his hande, compassing the enemie whiche is to bee
sacrificed with certayne mournefuU songes, being layde along vppon the stone, goeth thrice
about him, and then openeth him, and after that cuttcth him into smal peeces, and being
cutte diuideth him in this manner to be eaten. The handes and also the feete are both giucn
vnto the king, the harts are giuen to the Priestes, their wiues, and children, who by the Law
ought to haue them, the thighes are diuided to the Nobilitie, and the rest to the people in
peeces : but the heads in steede of a trophey or signe of victory, are hunge vpon the boughes
of certayne small trees a little way distant from the place of execution, where they are pre-
serued for that purpose. Euery king nourisheth his appointed trees in a fielde neere vnto
him, obseruing the names of euery hostile country, where they hange the heads of their
sacrificed enemies taken in the warres (as our Commanders and Captaynes fasten the hel-
mettes, colours, and such like ensignes to the walles of churches) as witnesses of their
outragious crueltie whiche they call victory. And whosoeuer should haue no parte nor
portion of the sacrificed enemie, would thinke he shor.Ide bee ill accepted that yeere. But
although they teare the domesticall sacrifice in peeces after the same manner, and order, yet
they vse it otherwise beeing dende : they reuerence all parts thereof, and partly bury them
beefore thedores of their temples, as the feete, handes, and bowels, which they cast together
into a gourde, the rest ( together with the hartes, making a great fire within the view of
those hostile trees, with shril hyms, and applauses of the Priestes) they burne among
the ashes of the former sacrifices, neuer thence rcmooued, lying in that fielde.

The seuenth Chapter.

NOw when the people perceiue by the accustomed murmur, and whispering of the Priests,
that the gods lippes are rubbed, they vtter their vowes, and prayers, & desire the fertilitie
of their ground and plentie of other fruits, salubrity of the ayre, & peace, or if they are to
fight, victory and euery one through torment of minde earnestly intreateth them to driue
from them the flies and locustes, and to remoue inundations, and drought, and violence of
wilde beastes, and all aducrsitie. Not content with these sacrifices, the King, Priests, and An idol wher-
Nobles, sacrifice to one Idoll onely with their owne bloude. This Idol fastened to the toppe of ^^°J^^^^l,
a spcare of three cubites longe, the elder sorte authorised thereunto vrith great pompe in the bies sacrifice
face of heauen out of the Temple, where it is religiously kept all the yeere : and it is like the ^i^'Jjj'"'"'"'"*
infernall goddes, after the same manner that is paynted vpon the walles to terrifie men. Tim may be
The mytred Priestes goe before, and a multitude of people following after carry euery one ""^fss-on **'"''*
their banners of wouen cotton painted with a thousande colours, with the images & repre-
sentations of their diuels. From the Priestes shoulders, couered with diuers linnen clothes,
ccrtaine belts more then a finger thicke, hange downe vnto the ancles, at the fringed endes
whereof seueral purses are annexed, wherein they carry sharpe rasors of stone, and little
bagges of powders made of certayne dryed hearbes. The king, and his Nobles followe the
Priestes hehinde in their orde*-, and after them the confused multitude of the people
to a man : none that can stand on his feete may bee absent from these ceremonies. Being
come vnto the appoynted place, first strawing sweete smelling hearbes, or spreading sheets
or couerlettes of diuers colours vnder them, that the speare may not touch the ground, they
make a stand, and the priestes supporting the same they salute their litle diuel with their
accustomed songes, and hymmes : the young men leape about it tripping, & dancing with
a thousande kindes of antique sports, vaunting their agiiity, and nimblenesse of body by the
shaking of their weapons, & targets. The priestes making a signe vnto them, euery one
taketh his rasor, and turning their eyes vnto the Idoll, they gash and wound their owne
tongues, some thrust them through, and the most part cut them, so that the bloud issueth

forth

^f*

I' m

■1 '^'4tM""'^i

miM

612

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The slxt Decade.

manner sets
vppoii the
Christians.

forth in great abundance all of them (as we sayd in the former sacrifices) rubbe the lippeti
and beard of that foolish Idol : then presently applying the powder of that hearbe, they fill
their wonndcs. They say the vertue of that powder is such, that within few houres their
vicers arc cured, so that they seeme neuer to haue beene cutte. These ceremonies ended,
the Pricstes bowe downe the speare a litle, at what tyme, the king first, then the Nobles, and
lastly the people whisper the Idoll in the eare, & eiiery one vttereth the turbulent and tem-
pestuous outrage of his minde, and bending the heade to one shoulder, with reuerent
trembling, and mumbling they humbly beseech, that luckily, and happily he would fauour their
desires. Being thus deluded by the Priestes, they returne home again. While they applyed
theselues to the diligent search of these, and such like other idle toyes, beholde, first one, then
Diriajen with a another, and after that, many spies or scouts came, who brought tidingcs that Diriangen
armed aftTr'their WHS conic, armed: for he cLime not onely with a purpose to take againe that which he hadde
giuen, but also to kill our men, presuming vpon the small number of men which he had dis>
couered, and with an hope to possesse that which our men had with them : for euen they
theniselues loue golde, though not as money and coyne, but for the making of Jewels, for orna-
ment sake : hee came therefore with a great troope of men accompanying him, armed after
their manner, hee setteth vpon our men, whom, if he had found vnprouided, he had killed
them euery man. So they fought fiercely vntill the night.

The eight Chapter.

HEre hee reporteth many thinges, which I omit, least we should be troublesome, I vnto
you, & you vnto his Holinesse, and your friends : & therefore you may collect the rest.
Our small company of men ouercame their great armies : hee reciteth religiously and with
feare & trembling that God, who is the Lord of hos- . was present with them, and
brought them safely out of that danger. Nicoianus the king left behinde, vnto whom he
was constrained to returne, following the change of fortune, practised to slaughter them, & to
take away from them the golde which they caryed. j^gidius Gonsalus suspecting the same,
did not committe himselfe to Nicoianus. Therfore setting his men in battaile array, and so
keeping them, and placing the weakc wounded men, & the gold in the middest of the array
of footemen in the battaile, with those 4. horsemen, and 17. shot, and bowmen, he sustained
the fury of the warriours, and slewe many. That night hee slept not, at the first dawning of
the day, they desire peace, and peace is grated. So they returne to the hauen of S. Vincent
from whece they departed. Where they found the shippes returned, whiche had now sayled
about 300. leagues to the West of an vnknowne sea, while the Admirall ^Egidius made
diligent search within the country. But they returned, as he saith, to repaire their ships
againe in that hauen, which were bruised, and battered after many monethes wandring and
sayling. Hee describeth the borderyng country of Nicoragua after this manner. On the
very inner side of the Court of Nicoragua he sayth he found a lake of fresh water whiche
extendeth it selfe so farre, that they coulde not discouer the ende thereof, whereupon he
thinketh it may be called a sea of freshe waters, for those causes : and he further saith, that
it is full of Hands. The borderers being demanded, whether it should runne, and whether
those waters were emptyed into the neighbouring sea three leagues distant thence, they
plainely declared that it had no issue out : especially to that South Sea neere vnto it, hut
whether it fell into the other sea, hee saith, hee left them doubtfull. Therefore hee plainely
confesseth, as hee himselfe reporteth by the opinion of maisters and pilottes, that they holde
it for a certainty, that this is that heape or gathi ring together of waters, correspondent to the
North Sea, and that the streight so much desired, might there bee founde. If you desire to
knowe what I thinke in this case, I thinke it spoken to excuse himselfe, beecause hee founde
not the strayght : both by reason of the nature of those potable waters, as also for that the
borderers are ignorant whether those waters haue any issue out, we ought to be disquieted
and tormented with the same desire, wiiether any stravght diuidc those huge countries.

The

The Christian*
with a imiU
cotr.paiiy ouer-
came Diriangen
his crtat army.
Nicoianus
practiseth
slaughter.
./Ecidius with
liis hr.ndfult of
horse & foote
>l.iyes many of
his men.

^'Egidius re-
turnes to the
hauen of S.
Vincent.

A supi^oiL'd Sea
ul" Uesh wdtcr.

The sixt Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

CAS

The ninth Chapter.

STay awhile, after these letters, Tlie letter carier yet tarrying and almost puttin* on his ^ „|,„„ „f „„^
Hat to be gone, Dieciis Arias the sonne of Petrus Arias the goucrnoiir came vnto me, & i.i«nciatus spi.
brought with him that Licentiatus Spinosa whom I mentioned before. Spinosa saith, that Petrus IheVrst'disl'^'''*
Arias the gouernour, & himsclfc, were defrauded by this ^gidius Gonsalus, who aiiirmeth, counyofthe
that those tracts and coasts were long si -e discouered by them both, & that in their pro- couimy'«"'o'
gresse they left tiie kings (who inhabited the same) in amity & peace with them. Both ''""',' Ann
parties shal be heard. What Cajsar shall tiiink good to be decreed in our Senate, such as "
are desirous of these things yet vntouched, shall vnderstande thereof hereafter for your
sake: and so let this sudice for the present. And when occasioti shall giue opportunitie,
present many kisses in my behalfe to the feet of our most blessed Clement. The Spaniardes
will esteeme his Holinesto be of so great value & price, as he regardeth you, whom for your
long conuersation with them, they thinke worthily to be most highly respected of the best,
and greatest. The iudgementes & censures of men are often deliuered, from the elec-
tions and choyce of Princes in their ministers, and seruants.

Receiue now the third thing that came to light, while the post yet stayed, which as I sup-
pose will be very acceptable Sc delightfull to his Holines to know. In that Decade di- He rerortttii«
rected vnto Adrian, where the description of the Uandes of the Maluccas ingendring spices Zwm'u'
appeareth, metion is made of a controuersie that arose betweene the Castellane discouercrs t asieHan" '"J

• • lilt! IrOItllCiiUcS

and the Portugalles, concerning these Ilandes being found. And we thnike it to bee so cer- for the tiik of
tayne a thing within our limits assigned by Pope Alexander, that for preparation of a new ^^' Maluccas,
voyage, with no meane charge, we haue builte fi. newe ships in the Cantabrian haue of
Bilbauius & furnished the with all necessary prouision of victual, & determined, they shuld
set sayle about the vernall Equinoctiall, out of the Clunian Gillecian hauen which you know,
is appointed for the trading, & marchandise of spices, because for all marchants comming
from the North coasts, it is much neerer, and more commodious, & a safer way, then if
they shorld be constrained to goe to Siuill (appoynted for the Indian affaires) called the
house of trafficke or trading, or into Portugal!, by diners and long windings & turninges of
the shores. The Portugalles seeing almost the present ruine & ouerthrow of their estate,
earnestly besought vs with their whole indeuour, that they might not sustaine so great losse,
their interest & right not being first vnderstoode, for that they perswade themselues, those
Ilads of y Maluccas were hitherto foud out, & traded by their marriners, & y they lay within
their limit", &. not within the bouds of the 300. & 70. leagues assigned to the Emperor,
without the Ilandes lying towardes Caput Viride so called, which by Ptolomy is called the
Ilisardinian Promontory, supposed by vs to be the Gorgones. Caesar, as he is a louer rather
of that which is right, and iust, then of riches, with a King of his kindred, especially who is
his cousin germaine, & peraduenture (if the rumor spread abroad be true) should shortly
become his sisters husband, g^-anted their requestes, that the matter should bee deliberated
what right they had. The ships are stayd, the preparation gaineth nothing, and the men
and officers chosen for that seruice mutter thereat. Wherupon it was decreed that menne
skillful in Astronomy, Cosmography, and Nauigation, and learned Lawyers also on either The m:ttn put
side, should meete together to discusse the matter in the city Pax Augusta, which the Spa- " ^''""""""'•
niard commonly calleth Badaiozum, beecause that place is the bounde of Portugall and
Casteele. Our men went, and they came. From the Calendes of April, or thereabouts the
property began to be sifted and discussed. The Portugalles who thought it not expedient
to consent any iot, admit no reasons which our men brought. The Castellanes wil that the The c«teii«nes
assignement of the 300. and 70. leagues should begin from the last Hand of the Gorgones j^dg"'"'^ * '
called S. Antony lying to the West, & they say that it is nine degrees of longitude and an
halfe distant from the knowne Meridian of the fortunate Hands : on the contrary, the Portu- The Portugal
guiles obstinately vrge that it ought to be accounted from the first of the Ilandes, called the ""''""•
Ilande of Salt, which distace containeth 5. degrees of longitude. The Castellans proue
their matter thus. If any Arbitrator chosen to decide controuersies betweene neighbours

4 K con-

y I,

I tl.^

..'Hi

I*--':

614

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The sixt Decade

>i ■ ': *

;i if:

iS'' '

Hi'^ '

K;!

contending for tlielr bounties, shall so censure that from the known and lonjj; possessed in-
heritance of lohn, his neighbour Francis shouldc haue an hundred paces, no man will doubt,
that the measure is to begin from the furthest limit of the inheritance of lohn. For if the
measure be to be taken from the beginning of the mannor, or inheritance, of nccessitc
lohn must loose the possession of his inhcritiice, because by that mcanes he includeth his
inheritance in tlie couenant. Therefore the Castcllancs say, cither discharge the soueraignly
& dominion which hetherto you haue had ouer the Ilandes Gorgones, els you must needs
consent, that this question or matter of controuersic is to bee measured from the furth^'st
shoiire of those Ilandes. They stoode long vppon it : but nothing concluded : because if
the Portugalles shoulde haue consented to the opinions of the Castcllanc fudges, they must
needes confesse, that not onely the Malucca Ilandes bordering vpon the Sinenses, & the
great gulfe and Promontory of the Salyri, and Giilola (whereof I spake in the Decade to
Adrian) by Ptolemy as many of them thinke Catigara, a 100. and 7.5. degrees from the for-
tunate Ilandes, and 150. from the lyne diuiding the boundcs of eyther King: but also
Malucha it selfe, long time vsurped by them, as the Castellanes say. For the Castellanes
vaunt that the Portugalles arc conuicted by the authorities of Ptolomcy, and other authors
disputing about the longitude of degrees. The Portugalles hearing this shake their heads
thereat : our mariners also returning from that vast and long nauigation, brought letters, and
excellent presents from the chiefe King of those Ilandes (where they laded y' shippe called
the victory with clones) as an euident argument of their obedience yeelded. But the Portu-
galles shewe no league or couenant made with any king of those Hands : yet they say, that
the name of the Portugalles came to those Ilandes, and tiiat Portugalles were scene there.
Whereimto our men answer and confesse, that they founde one Portugall, but a fugitiuc,
fearingc iudgement for his wicked acts committed, but none els, nor any signe or token of
any other kinde of trading. What shalbe decreed by Csrsar, whereof consultation was had
in our Senate before, is yet vnknowne. It will be very hard for the Portugalles to be inter-
cepted of their accustomed actions and trading, nor will it be pleasing vnto vs to loose the
occasion of so great a discouery. God be present with vs. Now fare you well, from
Burg the 14. day of July 1524.

The tenth Chapter.

BY reason of diuers Pirats, and hostilitie with the French King, the iniury of the times
barred vs of all trauailes by lande, and sea voyages. I sende therfore vnto you (after two
maners) requiring the same, suche newesas came to light concerning the newe world, a
fewe thinges only being added. Foure & twentic approued men of euery facultie six, to wit.
Astronomers, Lawyers, Cosmographers, and Nauigators were sent with the Portugalles to the
consultation of the foresaide controuersic. Few of these are known to you : but to the Popes
Holynesse none. They all returned : and in the name and behalfe of others yeelded a larg
The names of accouut of their acts in that meeting, lirst to our Senate, and next vnto Cjesar. Don Fernan-
the Committees. ,}yj, Colouus the sccondc souuc of Christophorus Colonus, the first searcher and discouerer of
these tractes and countries, a learned man, and three lawyers, the rest being hearers, Li-
cenciatus a Cunna, and Licenciatus Emanuelus, the one auditor of the Kings Senate, and the
other, likewise of the Valiedoletnne Chauncery, and also Licenciatus Perisa chiefe ludge of
the Cranatensian Chauncery, as the report goeth, brought the Aduocates backe againe. What
I mentioned before, was inacted, and nothing more. At the day appoynted by Caesar,
which was the last of May, the Castellane arbitrary ludge appointed for that purpose, vpon
the bridge of a riuer called Caia, diuiding Casteele and Portugall, deliuered their sen-
tence : nor could the Portugalles obtaine (to whome euery delay was benc(iciall) that they
shoulde deferre their sentence for a day or an houre: which they deliuered in this manner.
That the Malucha Ilandes both by the iudgement of yong and olde, should be vnderstoode to
be situate 20. degrees and more within the Castellane limits, it is so decreed. Neither doe
they exclude Malucha and Taprobana, if that bee it, which the Portugalles call Zamatra.
The Portugalles therfore returned hanging down their heades, and taxing whatsoeuer was

done.

The sentence of
the Iiidges
touching the
controuersie be-
twi»t the Castel-
lans & Portu-
galles.

The Portugalles
4i!Conte.-itc<l.

The seiienlh Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIliS.

G15

tlone, not purposing to forsake their aiincicnt actions. And wee liaue heartle that a mi^^htie
flcete is nowe sent from that young king : and they secretly giuc out that they will drown
and destroy onr.^, if it come. But we, the day before the Calends of luly, haue thought
good in our Senate of Indian affaires, that Caesar should decree, that before the next month
of August coniming, be ended, our flecte of sixc shippes should set sayle, nor shall they be
commanded to fight together; if the Portugalles being more mightie, shall presume to pro-
uoke them, it is in Caesars power to auenge hinisclfe by landc, if they attempt disobedience
at Sea. For Portugall, as you very well knowe, is an angle or corner of Casteele, and howe or tiuking.
great a portion of Portugall, seeing in Portugall there are famous cities Metimna of the |!^,'|'""'"'"""'
plaync, a notable Mart towne, Salmantica, together with Abula, Segouia, Zamora, Taurus, &
the fortunate kingdome of Toledo, and many besides, inclosed within the riuers Aua and
Doria, as I often declared in my olde Decades : that countrey sometimes was a county of
Casteele, freely transferred and bcestowed by a bountiful! king vpon his nephew, by the Portupi om-e
name, and title of a king. It is also decreed, that one Stephanus Gomez, (who also himselfe c,'[;"eX!' "'
is a skillfull Nauigator ) shall goe another way, where by betweene the Baccalaos, and Florida, stcphanus co.
long since our countries, he saith, he will finde out a way e toCataia: one onely shippe "^"fu" ^!!,[^'^,
called a Carauell is furnished for him, and he shall haue no other thing in charge, then to
search out whether any passage to the great Chan, from out the diucrs windings, and vast
compassings of this our Ocean, were to be founde.

FINIS.

Soli Deo Laus & gloria.

The Seuenth Decade of the same Peter Martyr, dedicated to the Vicecount Franciscus Sfortla,

Duke of Millaine.

AScanius the Vicechauncellor your Excellencies vncle, sometimes a most woorthy, and
famous Prince amongcst the Cardinalles, and inferiour to none, obtayned the first front of
my Decades, concerning the newe found world, because through his importunate suite, 8c
often rcquestes hee commanded me, to signifie vnto his Excellency, what accidents fell out in
these Westerne coastes, and countries. Hereof! present you this famous witnesse, indued
with all vertue, and experience Marcus CaracioUis, the Apostolicall chiefc Secretary, at this
present chosen the Emperor Charles his Catinensian Embassadour with you, who then was
your vncles Secretary, when the Ocean first opened her gates vnto vs, which before, vntill
these times, from the beginning of the worlde, were shutte. And at that time, he saith, in
his maisters behalfe he receiued my letters, and made mee suche aunswere as his maister
willed him to write. Ascanius being deade, and I growing slothful!, no manne inciting, and
stirring mee vp. King Fredericke (beefore his fortune was changed from a milde and gentle
mother, into a <rucl stepdame) hadde receiued my second Editions by the hands of his
cousin germaine, the Cardinall of Aragon: then, the Popes, Leo the tenth, and his successor
Adrian the sixt, inciting me by their letters, and parchment patents, vsurped the body of my
scattered Decades, perswading me, not to suffer a matter of so great woorth, iniuriously to
lye buried in obliuion. And you most Noble Prince, lately borne, and lately aduanced to
the kingdome of your Auncesters, vnderstad what lately happened. Camillus Gelinus your
excellencies Secretary, beeing Petitioner to the Emperour, I diuert these Narrations from
other Princes, to your Excellencie the Lady, and mistres of my birth day. Among so many
turbulent affaires, wherewith your Excellencie is incumbred, hee once or twice plainely pro-
tested with an oath, that it would be a most acceptable ease, & solace of your cares, From
the first, and large bountye of the Ocean, raised by Christopherus Colonus, whatsoeuer went
before, euen vnto these narrations, lacobus Pierius carried in one bundell to his maister the
chiefe Secretary, elected Catinensian Embassadour (when hee departed from this legation
vnto you in Cassars behalfe) to bee presented to Pope Adrian : whiche were partly published
by the Printers mcanes, and partly written by his ownc hande, out of my first coppies, and

4 K 2 examples.

. -I -I InX • i*' ■

l.i'- «t - ''

cia

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie scuenth Decade.

» ■

Thf friiltfulnfs
iif tlu' Ocfaii.
lie f.tlles intn
the prayies iit'
Hispaniola l.\-
maJCA Si Cuba.

The l.ir?fnt! of

iht SUj'lHiScll

Continent.

The !ituaiiu:i
ihtteof.

The multitude
of Hands on the
North side of
Hisp,inioU and
Cuba.

4C000. Indians
caritd into cap-
tluiiy to digg
gold.

iucaii.

The leafe of
the trees of
these Hands
reuer fall.

Of the tree
taruma and of
the wouderful
nature lliercof.

examples. He rcmaincth with your Excellencie vnder the same maister. For the thii)gc3
past, demaunde account of him, which if hce yecid you not, he shall be accounted but a
badde fcllowe. Lctte vs now briefely recite what ncwc thinges the pregnant Ocean hath
brought foorth, a short epilo>»He (of what is pastt) going beefore. For this our Ocean is
more fruitfull than an Albanian Sowe, whiche is reported to haue farrowed thirtic pigges
at one time, and more liberall then a bountifull Prince. For euery yeere, it discouereth
vnto vs new countries, and strange nations, and exceeding great riches. Concerning His-
paniola the Queene of that huge, and vast country, where the Senate rcmaineth giuing lawes
vnto the rest, and of lamaica and Cuba, by a new name called Fcrnandina, and the rest of
those Elisian Hands, reaching vnto the acquinoctiall, within the Tropick of Cancer, wee
haue now sufficiently spoken : where none of the people vnderstand the diflerencc of day
& night all the yere long, where there is ncythcr hard and vntempcrate Summer, nor cold
and frosty winter, where the trees also arc greenc all the yecre, laden with blossomcs, and
fruite together, nor all the yeere long arc all manner of pulse, gourdes, melons, cucinnbers,
or other garden fruites wanting, where flockes, and hearties of Cattle being brought thither
(for no fourefooted beast naturally breedeth there) more fruitefully increase, and grow taller,
and larger bodied: as also of the supposed Continent, which in length from East to West, thrice
exceedeth all Europe, no Icsse also somwhere extended from North to South, although else-
where it be comprehended within narrow straights of land. That land of the supposed
Continent is extended from 55. degrees of the Pole Arctick diuiding both Tropickes, and
the acquator, to 54. degrees of the Antarcticke Pole : where, at what time the Orcades haue
their Summer, they quake, and tremble for frost and Ise, and so contrary. These things
your Excellency may gather by a relation to Adrian the Pope, by mee compiled, and brought
vnto the citty with tiie rest, and plainely set downe in a short parchment mapp, which I
deliuered to your Secretary Thomas Mainus, when hee departed hence. Therein your
Excellency shall finde the situation of all those coasts, and countries, with their bordering
IIande.4. Now, let vs hasten to relate thinges which more lately happened. On the North
side of Hispaniola, and Cuba, otherwise called Fcrnandina, of Fernando the King, .so great
a multitude of noble and ignoble Ilandes lie, that I my selfe (to whose handes whatsoeuer
commeth to knowledge, is brought) dare scarsly beleeue the number of them, which are
reported. Of those within these twentie yecres, and more, in which the Spaniardes (inha-
bitants of Hispaniola and Cuba) haue had to doe with them, they say, they haue passed
through 400. & carried away forty thousand of both sexes, into seruitude, to satisfie their
insatiable desire of gold, as wee shall heereafter speake more at large. These they call by
by one name lucaise, and the inhabitants lucaij. Many of these Hands cOsist of trees,
growing of their owne nature, which are marueilous profitable. The leaues neuer fall from
them, or if any fall through age, yet are they neuer left bare, for new begin to bud forth,
beefore the olde leaues wither, and fayle. Nature hath giuen them two excellent trees,
most worthy to bee remembred aboue the rest, the one they call lanima, to the other they
gaue no name. This laruma is like a figtree, not solid, after the manner of other trees, nor
hollow, and empty, like areede: but rather like fennell gyant, or the elder tree. Ityeeldeth
a kinde of fruite of a spanne and an halfe long, of the softnes of a figge, sauory, and medi-
cinable for the curing of woundes, the leaues wherof worke wonderfull effects: as certaine
men of authority proued, by one example. Two Spaniards brawling, fought together, one
of them, with one blow of a sword cut of almost the shoulder and arme of his aduersary, a
little thin skin vnder the arme hole, where it is ioyned to the flanke, scarse sustaining the
member. Whereuppon an old lucaian woman runneth v.ito him, and stayeth vp the member
fallen from his place, & layeth thereon the bruised leaues of that tree, without applying any
other kinde of medicine, and within few dayes after they testifie, and affirme, they saw him
whole, and sound. Who so seeke knots in rushes, let them champe, and ruminate hereon at
their pleasure : but wee determine to beleeue, that this, and greater things in nature, may
be done. They report, that the barke of this tree is slippery, and smooth, which not being
solid, but full of pith, with little scraping is easily emptied, and made bare. Whereuppon

your

':i

Tlie seuenth Dccadt.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

617

your Excellency shall hcarc an accident most worthy the reportinjj, but vnhappy to the nrii-
licer, and contriuer thereof. The Iiicaij l)ciii<; violently t;iken awav from their iiabilalioasi'ht dupsMit
and places of aboade, line in despairc: and many idle drones, refusing meale, lurking, a:ul .'.'"t^t""'^
hiding themselnes in the vnfreqiii'iitcd vallios, desert woods, and close, and darke rockc-f, 'n'l' """'""^'•'i
gaue vpp the ghost : others ended their hatefull life. But such as were of a stronger rour.i,"(>. s) arxitj."'
vpon hope of recouering liberty, desired rather to Hue. Many of these, peraduenture tne
wisest, if they had opportunity to escape, went vnto the more northerly partes of llispanioln,
from whence, the winds blew from their country, so that they might see the North pole a farre
of: there, stretching out their amies, and with open mouth, they seemed to desire tosucke in
their country breath by fetching of their wind, and many of them, breath fayling, fainting
through hunger, felle downe dead. One of these more desirous of life, being a carpenter,
and built houses in his countrie (although they want Iron, and Steele, yet hauc they axes, but
made of stone, and other instrumets and tooles, fur that purpose) tooke vppon him a hard
and diflicult peice of worke, to bee l)eleeued. Ilee cut of the body of the tree laruma, and Amoststnng
scraping out the pith, made it empty, and hollow, hee stnfTed it with thegraine Maizium, and i°„"cVi','iun oTui
gourdes filled with water, and kept a little without, for prouision of victuall, and so filled in<ii:isbiic.
and stopped eyther front or ende of the tree, and casting the beame into the sea, gate vp
vpon it, and admitteth another man, and a woman skilful in swimming, who were of his
kindred, and affinity, and with oares they driue the raft towardes their country. This mise-
rable man began that excellent inuention vnluckily, about some 200. miles of, they light on
a shippe returning from Chichora, whereof wee will speake in his proper place : the
Spaniardes draw the mournefull pray into the shipjie, brought the beame to Hispaniola, for a
witnes and proofe of so strange a thing, and vsed that miserable store which was piled and
heaped vp : many men of authoritie say, they both saw the beame of timber, and spoke with
the Architect of that frame, & dcuise : we haue now spoken sufficiently of the tree laruma,
and the circumstances thereof. There is another tree very like vnto a Pomegranate tree, He
no bigger, but more full of leaues. of the fruit thereof, they yeeld no reason, of the barkc
which is taken from the tree, (as the corke tree which is rinded euery yeere to make slippers,
and yet withereth not, nor dieth, or ceaseth to beare fruit as is reported also of the Cynamo oi^ndM.
tree) almost incredible things arc spoken : yet I belceue them who bitt, and tasted the barke of the barkeof
brought from Hispaniola where this tree also groweth euery where, of the fruite whereof I sent ccmiiiVurr
to Ascanius Sfortia your vncle, when Colonns the first discouercr of these tractes and coastes, vettutf.
returning from his first voyage and nauigation, made mee partaker of many straunge things.
In the ende of the second Chapter of my first Decade, your Excellencie shall finde mention
made hecreof : that barke reseinbleth the taste or smacke of Cynamou. the bitternes or biting
of Ginger, and the sweete smell, and odour of Cloues. Out of our dulnesse, wee scekc
strange spices, which we should not want, if such as commonly grow in our Uandes, were in
vse, and request: as without doubt they wilbe heereafter. The cruell and vnsatiableAi"i>»cii
hunger of gold, hath violently transported the minds of the Spaniardes to the onely loue
thereof: other things being contemned, although worthily precious, and profitable, are re-
iected as vile, & contemptible. Behold, what I report of our pepper, sent to Ascanius (o- P<rr"
gether with the rest, which like mallowes and nettles with vs, groweth euery where in great
plenty, which being bruised, & stamped, and the bread being infused, and mingled with
water, all the Ilanders eate, whereof they say there are fine kindes. This pepper is hotter
then the Malabarian and Caucasean pepper, & where twenty graines of Malabarian and
Caucasean pepper would not suffice, fine of these are enough, and they make the flcshe
pottage of these fiue more sweete, and delicate, then of those twentie. The madnes of
mankinde is so great, that what things he obtayneth with more difficulty, hee thinketh tliem
to be more sweet, and profitable. This tree is famous onely for the barke, it sendeth forth
for many furlonges, sauory, and pleasing smelles, and refreshing sauours, it reacheth out his
broad boughes, and in the lucaian Hands, it is very common. So great a multitude of
Doues builde their nests among the boughes thereof, that of the next borderers the Bimini a pouts huiidimt
great Hand, and the Inhabitantes of the countrie of Florida, passing ouer thither to catch """"'•

Dcues,

■'if}

1 Pi.

L - 4 It ^> 1

!-■■'.! -t

i m

>.»''■ . .1

'■'■'111

.••'

■hS

618

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The seuciith Decade.

UJ^

kJUlj..''!. '■

.'•fi

The hrauiy "f
ilie wointii of

The dtcre &

jpcctalilc habit
ot'lu.lulr^,

Ciulll ohfjicr.cc
>S.ilmt naiut;
ai\d reason.

The kings catc.

The golden age.

The kings
pltasuiea law.

Of ceriaine pre-
cious stones
found in shtliish
>nd sea siiiiilcs.

The IiicaL-e sup-
posed to be
sometimes ioyn-
ed t'l the rest of
the great Ilandes.
The M.s^ani--
siaii straight be-
tween Sicily and
Ualy.

DoiiC"!, cnrry away whole shippcs laden with their yoiinp: their woods arc full of wild vincn
climlng v[) the trees, as wee hauc eNc where sayde of the woodds of Hispaniula. They
alTirme that the women of Iiicaia were .-^o fairc that many Inhabitants of the bordering" countriett
alhircd through their beauty, forsaking, & loauing their owne priuate houses, chose that for
their country, for loue of them. Wherefore they say that many of the lucaian Hands, line
after a more eiuill manner, then in those countries which are further distant from Florida,
and Bimini, more ciuill countries. It is a pleasant thing to hiarc how the women bchauc
them in attyring thcmselues: for the men goe naked, but when they make warrc, or vpon
solcmnc holy dales giiic themselues to dauncing, and tripping, and then for elegancy, and
ornament they put on garments of diners coloured feathprs, and tufts, or plumes of feathers.
The women while their childish yeeres continue, before the pollution of their Menstrua,
wearc nothing at all, IJut after that, they couer their priuities with small meshed iietts of
bombasine cotton, wherein they put certainc leaues of lierbcs. When the Menstrua begin
to come, as if she were to bee brought to a man to be married, the parents inuite the neigh-
bours to a banquet, and vse all si:;nes, and tokens of ioyfulnes, and while they be marriage-
able, they couer no other parte at all. But being deflowrcd, they wcare breeches down to
the knee, made of diners still'e, and tough herbes, or of bombasine cotton, which naturally
growcth there, of which they drawe thrids and spinne, and sewe, and weauc them in :
although they bee naked, yet for ornament of their beddes, and nccessitie of their hanging
cabbiiis, they make sheetes or couerlets, which they call Amacas. They hauc Kings whom they
so rcuercntly obey, that if the King commaund any to leape downc headlong from an high
rocke, or lop of any stecpc hill, alleadging no other reason, but I command you to cast your
sclfe downe, he executeth the commandement of the King without delay, but within what
bounds the regall authority is included, it is a sacred thing to be heard. The King hath no
other care, but of the seedc time, hunting, and fishing, Whatsoeuer is sowed, planted,
fished, hunted, or effected by other artes, is done by the kings commandement : so that at
his pleasure he diuidcth these excerci.ses and imployments man by man. The fruites being
gathered, are stored and layd vp in the Kings garners: ami from thence, to the vse
of the people, are diuided to euery one according to their families, all the yeere long.
The King therefore as the king of Hecs, is the distributor, and steward of his flocke, and
people. They had the golden age, mine, and thine, the scedes of discord, were farre re-
moiicd from them: the rest of the yeere from seede time, & haruest, they gaue themselues
to tennis, dancing, hunting, and fishing : concerning iudiciall courts of Iiisticc, suits of law,
& wrangling, and brawling among neighbours, there is no mention at all. The will &
pleasure of the King was accounted for a law. The like was obscnicd in the other Hands, in
all of them, they were contented with a little: they find a certaine kind of precious stone
vnder the water, among the redd shellish, greatly esteemed of the, which they bring hanging
at their earcs. But they haue another more precious out of the great sea snaile.i, whose flesh
is dainty mcate, they finde redde translucide flaming stones in the braine of euery Sea snaile :
such as haue scene any of them, say, they arc no worse then the redd Carbuncle, comonly
called the Ruble: they call the shclllshe it sclfe Cohobus, and the stones thereof they call
Cohibici. They gather also bright and cleere stones vpon the land, of a ycallow, & blacke
colour, of these, they bring chaine.s, c^ lewels for ornamct of the amies, neckes, and Icgges,
although they went naked, wlien they were lucaians. 1 will now speake of the situation of
their coutrie, and shortly touch their ruine and ouerthrowe.

The second Chapter.

OVr menu suppose by coniecture that the lucairc were sometimes ioyned to the rest of the
great Ilandes, and that their auncestors so thought, the Inhabitantes themselues plainely con-
fesse. But through violence of tcmpe.sles the earth beeing by little and little swallowed
vppe, they were diuided each from the other, the Sea coming betweenc them, as Authors arc
of opinion concerning the Messanensian straight, diuiding Sicilia from Italia, which in times
past ioyned together. Wee see, and that euery where, that land ariseth in many places, and

dayly

if..

Hie scuciUh Decade,

TRArnciurs, and Discouiuar.^.

CIO

dayly incrcascth and driiictli hacko the Sea, as appcarcth by the cities Raiienna, and
rntaiiiiim, which had tlio Sea necie vnto ihcin, but now I'arrc renamed : ami that the Sea is
now in manv places, where l.iiid was wont to he. Hy a present similitude tiiercforc wee n\.\\
make coniertures of tiiin;>s al)seiit. Thrv report that the greatest part of these Hands wen;
nomctimcs most happy and l)lessed with dim rs ronimodilics, and prolits ari«.in;; out of the
earth, I say thev liaue lu-en, l)ecaii-.c at lliis present they are desolate and forsaken, as sliaJ
be rcmcmbred in his place. Tliey ••as that enery one of the lucaian Hands are from I'i. to
40. miles in circuit about, i^ that tlier is none ;;reater, as ue readc of the iStrophadcs, iS;
Symplc<i;adesof our Sea, assi;;ned to the exiled itomans, with (iiara, Seriphus, & many smal
Hands besides. ]Jut they confessc these were sonielimcs fdled with inh.iliitants, yet nowe
desolate, for that they say, from the thicke hea|)e thereof the miserable Ilandcrs were brouj;ht
to the grieuous seruice and labour of the j>()ld mines of Ilispaniola, aiul rcrnandina so that
the inhabitauntcs thereof fayled, about some twchic hundred thou>andc men beinjj; wasted
and consumed, both throuj;h diuers diseases, and famine: as also throu;;li too nnicii exeessiuc
labour and toyle. It ;!,rciueth niee to report these thingcs, l)ut I must speakc truth; yet the
lucaians were afterwar' -ucnged for their destruction, by slau;;hterin}; them who violently
carryed the away, as in my former Decades I mentioned at iar{;e. Throuj^h the desire there-
fore of hauiuff the lucaians, after the maner of hunters who pursue wilde beastes through the
woodes of the mountaincs, and marish grounds, so certainc Spaniardes in 'i. barkcs built at
the charge of scuen men, passed ouer sea three yeeres since, out of the townc called the
Hauen of Plate, situate on that side of Ilispaniola, which lookcth towardes the North, to the
lucaian Ilandes to take men. Although I now write these thinges, yet was I requested by
Camillus Gilinus, to search out some thinges (not yet published) out of the printers presses
concerning these discoiierics, to bee directed to your F.xcellencie. They therefore went,
and diligently searched all these Ilandes, but found no pray, because their bordering neigh-
bours, iiauing thoroughly searched the, had wasted, and depopulated them long before.
And least their consortcs sliould deride them, if they returned empty to Ilispaniola, they
directed their course to the North of Charles wayne. Many say they lyed, who
sayde they chose that way of their owne accordc, but they affirmc by a suddainc tempest
arising, and continuing for the space of two dayes, they were violently carried Within the
view of that lande, which wee will describe, hauing scene an high Promontorie a farrc off.
When our men made to the shoare, the Inhabitauntcs astonished at the miracle and strangnes
thereof, thought some monster came vnto them, because they want the vsc of shipping : at
the first through the grcedie desire ofgasing, they runnc flocking together in troopes vnto
the shoare, and presently (our menne landing.'- wit!i their boates) they all (leddc away swifter
then the winde, and left the shoare desolate : cwr menne pursue them hastinge r.way. Ccr-
tayne more swiftc and nimble youngc menne goe becfore the Troopc, who making more
speedc, tooke two of them, a man, and a woman, who rannc more slowly then tiie rest, and
bringeth them to the ships, apparelleth them, & let them go, Pcrswaded through that libc-
ralitie, the inhabitants (ill the shoarcs againc. Their King also vnderstanding how bountifidly
our men had dealt with them, and beholding the strange, and costly garments neuer scene
before, for that they cloth themsehies with the skins of Lyons or other beasts for the most
part, sent fifty of his family vnto our men, laden with their country prouision. And whe
they came a land, hee friendly and honourably receiued them, and bceing desirous to sec the
countrey neere there abouts, gaue them guides and companions to conduct them. \Miere-
soeucrthey went, the inhabitauntcs of the kingdome came woondering forth vnto them with
presents as it were vnto the Godds which are to be adored, especially when they saw them
bearded men, and clothed with linnen and silken garments. But what ? The Spanyardes at
length violated the fidelitie of hospitalitie. For by craft, and diuers subtill dcuises, after they
hadd diligently searched out all, they practised, that on a day many of them should come
together to see the shippcs, so that the shippes were filled with beholders: and as soonc as
they had them full of men and women, weying ancor, and hoysing sayle, they brought them
into scruitude. So of friendes, they left all those countries enemies, and of

peaceable

rhf Iui?il.m

ll.inji'l Ulcll;,'

ili'popul.ilv'ii hy
Siianiili t)taiili/.

ttoiru hoinini
lii|'us. aiulihcy
he hearts : who
hun. t'ur iikii.i>
hcastcs.

1. shi|i<seloiit(i>
take men.

Tlic Batb.irl,u>i
n^ttonishi'il at tlie
viewe of the tiieii
anil shipiKS HeJ
aw.iy.

The Spnnl.utli
pursue anil take
a in.m Si a
woman am! ap.
parell thcut.

Men clothed in
lions bkiiis.

The barbarous
King seds pre-
sents of his eoun-
trij prouision .^
friendly rc'eiues
the.

The trechery of
the Spaniardes
wiiich they vsed
towards these
kind barbarians.

1 ■'■■'!^

; '^^v*.

:t >

..utu,^

t' J"" I

■/:r\

away mounung

h^;

i»i

II'

U:i\-

Pi-

620

Onf of tilt' 2.

uSips lost.

A noti' .if (iiiiiiic

iusiic' in nut

iuirfriiij;tifchfry

to CSv-il'L' vu-

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The seuenth Decade.

Oftlic Bac-

lh..l.!.H.

Of ihe Cliico-
ranes, their
manners and
faiiliioiit.

Ai^lionus.

A Chicorane

christened

irancis.

F.nuT the pate
uf vcrtuc.

peaceable men, niiich disquieted, and discontented, hauintij taken the children from the
])arents, and the husliands from their wiiicH. But of those two shippes, one onely escaped,
the other was nener any more scene: they coniecture it was drowned with the snilty and
guiltlcs, beecause it was an olde shipjie, Tiiat spoylc was very offensiue and greiuous to
the Senate of Ilispaniola, yet they left them vnpiinished. ' And hauing consulted to sende
the booty backe againe, nothinj; was put in execution, the difliculty of the matter being
obserucd, especially that one w;is lost. I learned certaine particulars of these thinges, of a
wise man skilfull in the law, a priest, called Baualurius Aluarus a Castro. This Priest, for
his learning, and honest behauiour was made a Deane of the Priory of the Conception in
Hispaniola, who bccins; Vicar, and Inquisitor also of heresie I may glue the better creditc
viito him in these thingcs. As Pliny in the description of Taprobana, the dominion of
Claudius, hearing of the fame of the Romans, saith that hee must glue credit to the Embas-
«;idour, called Hachia sent from that King with three companions, so I also in these thinges
whereof I doubt, giue credit to men of authority. This Priest also sayth, that after diners
complaints of those rauishcs, that the women brought from thence were apparelled with
the skiniies of Lyons, and the men with the skinnes of other wild beastes whatsoeucr.
IIcc sayth, t m^ ; kinde of men are white, and exi i-coe the statute of common men. And
beeing let ^ ,< at libertie, he sayth they were found among the dunghilles betweene the
trenchc.-! before the walles seeking the rolfcn carion of dogges, and Asses to eate, and at
length the greatest part of them died through greife, and anguish of minde: the rest that
remayned, were distributed among the Cittizens of Ilispaniola, to vse them at their plea-
sure, cyther at home, or in the gold-mines, or tillage of the grounde. Now let vs returne
to their co\nitry, whence wee digressed: or to the Bacchalaos, discoucred twenty sixe
yecres since from England by Cabotus, or Bacchalais, whereof wee haue else where spoken
at large, I suppose those countries iovne together. I am therefore to speake now of their
celestiall situation, ceremonies of Religion, protitts and commodities of the countrie, and
of the manners and custonies of the people. They affirme, that they lie vnder the same
altitude of Degrees, and the same parrallels, vnder which Andaluzia of Spaine lyeth.
They throughly searched the cheife Countries Chicora, and Duhare in fewe dayes space,
and many of them farre extended into the lande ioyning together, where they cast ancor.
They say, the Chicoranes are halfe swart or tawnie, as our husbandmen are, burnt and
tanned with the summer Sun. The men nourish their blackc haire downe to the girdle,
;md the women in longer traces round about them, both sexes tie vp their hayre. They arc
bcardlesse : wliether by nature, or by arte by applying some kinde of medicine, or
whether they plucke of their hayre like the people of Tenustitan, it remaineth doubtfull:
howsocuer it bee, tliey are delighted to shewe themselucs smooth. I cite another witnesse
of lessc authority among the laiiic, then that Deane among the CIcrgie: his name is Lucas
Vasqucz Aiglionus a Liccnciate, a Cittizcn of Toledo, and one of the Senatours of
Ilispaniola, partner of tlie charge of those two shippes : who being sent Procurator from
Hisj)aniola came vnto our Senate of the aflayres of India, and hath bcene a long suiter to
haue leaue to depart agaiiie vnto those Countryes, to builde a Colony there. He brought
one of the Chicoranes with him (which were brought thither) to waite vpon him, whom,
being baptised he called Francis, and gauc him the surname of Chicora, of his natiuc
Countrey. While he stayed following his alTayres, I sometimes hadd both Aiglianus the
maister, and Chicora his seruant my guests. This Chicorane is no dull witted fellow, nor
meanely wise, and hath learned the Spanish tongue indilferently well. Such things there
as Aiglianus himselfe the Licentiate shewed vnto me set downe in writing by report of his
fellowes, and which the Cliicorane by wordc of mouth confessed (very strange and
admirable) I will heerc recite. Let cuery one diminish or adde to the credit of the thinges
I will report, according to his inclination. Enuy is a naturall plague bred in mankind,
which neuer ceaseth to scratch, and compelleth to secke brambles in other mens fields,
although they be very deane. This infectious disease cheifly raigncth in them, who are
dull witted, or exceeding wise, who like vnpvolitable burthens of the earth haue lead an

idle

¥H4

Tlie scuenth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

621

idle and sloiithfiill life, without the study of learning. Leaning Chicora therefore, they

went vnto the other side of that Bay, and tooke the Country called Duharhe: Aijjlianus '•'/''"''»'''"""

■ ■Yii> f f t ' I'liti 'I rf^i • • I "f tnc country

sayth the Inhabitants thereof arc white, which also rrancisicus the tawny Chicorane withoiuuiureniiitc,
ycallow long hayre downe to the ancles, affirmeth. These people haue a King of a gyant
like stature, and heighth, called Dat'lia, and they say, that the Qucene his wife, is "ot °f^_^"|!'^J ['.'^^'^
much shorter then himsclfc. They haue (iue sonncs borne of them both : in steedc of
horses the King vseth tall young mcnn, who carry liim on their shoulders running to and
fro, to the places and lodginges hee dcsireth. Hcere diners reporters compelled ince to
doubt, especially the Deniic, and Aiglianns, nor did Francis the Chicorane who was
present, free vs from that controuersic. If I shall bee demauiuled what I thinkc, I should
not suppose that so barbar; us, and vuciuill a nati(>n liath any horses. There is another
country nccre vnto this, called Xajiida. This, they say, ingendrcth pearles, and another XapUa whtre
kinde of precious stone of the earth, which they highly cstecmc, much like vnto a pearle. "'''"''"•
In all the countries which they passed through, are luardcs of Dccrc, as of oxen with vs : °j lu'tu'raUy"
they faune at home, and rcare them at home, and being biosed they wander through the tame as oxen
woods as long as light lastcth, seeking pasture, and at cucning they returne to visite their ^ '"''
young, kept in the house, and sufler thcmselues to bee shutte vpp within pennes, ( and and cheese
hauing fcdd their yong) to be milked. They haue no other milke, or cheese made of J^" j'^J'^^',™*^
other milke. They nourish many kindes of foule to bee fatted, as henns, ducks, geese,
and such like. Their bread is made of Maizium, as with the llanders: but they haue not
the roote lucca, whereof Cazabi is made which is the food of the Nobility. The graine Akiiidofcom
Maizium is very like to our Panick of lusubria, but in bigues equalleth the pulse of pease: " "'^*">''
they sowc also another kinde of come, called Xathi, they suppose it to bee Milium or
Millet : nor doe they certainely affirmu it, especially, because few of the Castellanes
vnderstand what milium is, seeing they neuer sowe it in Castile. They haue some kinds
of Batatas, but very little. Batatas are rootes to Vjee eaten, as radishes, cariots, parsnepps, ^°F^" ^'"'
turnepps, and rape rootes with vs : of these, and lucca, and the rest seruing for foode, I
haue abundantly spoken in my former Decades. They name many other countries, which
they thinke to bee vnder the gouernement of one and the same King : Hitha, Xamunambe, "''i]'. Xamu-
Tihe. In this country they make report of a priestly attire differing from the people, and ApViKtij o'der.
they are accounted for priests, and are had in great reuerence by the other bordering coun-
tries. The inhabitants heereof cut their haire, leaning onely two curled locks hanging '^"?'"^''"(»
downe from their temples, which they tye vnder their chinnes. When (as the pestilent aistome) hcere
custome among men is) they go forth to warre against the borderers, either party sendeth '" *^'''
for them to the campe, not that they shoulde fight, but to be present at the battaile. Now
when they are ready to come to handy strokes, & to incouter, they compasse them al
sitting, or lying along vpon the ground, & wett and besprinkle them with the iuice "f l^ "■'"i™'' ^"'
certain herbs chewed w their teeth: (as our priests going to diuine seruice, sprinkle the their prUstes)
people with a wett bough or branch) which ceremony performed, they suddenly sally forth, ".'""Jl^'^j^i ''"^
& inuade the enemy. But they are left to guard the campe. The fight & coflict being water.
ended, they cure aswell wounded enemies, as frends without any difference at all iSc
carefully apply themselues to bury the dead corses of the sluine. These people cate not
mans flesh: the conquerors haue those that are taken in battaile for their bondslaues.
The Spaniardes trauailed through many Countries of that greate Prouince, whereof they ""■"'''"''''"
named these: Arambe, Guacaia, Quohathe, Tanzacca, Pahor, the Inhabitauntes of all Ar.mii,i, c.i.
wliich are somewhat tawny and swart. None of them haue any letters, but an h.-vrcditary ""i',^'!,''' ''''''
nicmorie of antiquities left them from their ancestors, which they celebrate, & solemnize ivihor.
ill rimes, and songes. They e.vercise dauncing and skipping, and arc delighted with the ,''"'|^f j['j|]|^'
play of the ball, wherein they are very nimble & skilfull. The women sowe, and spinne, 'i»'<ie in rimes
and although for the most part they are clothed with the skinnes of wilde bcaste.s y^t "" """""•
haue they Gosanipine cotton, which our Insuber called Bombasine, and they make thieedc Huir thieede
of the inner rindcs of certaine tough herbcs, suche as hempe or flaxe is with vs. There 1",,',',^ ji„j^^
is another Country called inzignanin. The Inhabitauntes by report of their aunccstors"fi'"i>ej.

4 L say,

!ii«(|lf

..i.'i. i.»V* J

''M

mi.

:i-

Pi''

. .■■It-

623

A fabulous
tradition of
men with long
Uylei.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The seumth Decade.

Where Kinges
Pallaces ue
honoured as
Churchet.

Adoration of
images & their
maner therein.

say, that a people as tall as the

length of a mans

arme, with tayles of a spanne lonj

Offering to
Images.

Tlieir emulation . • i
;o gluing, lUOl,

sometimes arriued there, brought thither by Sea, which tayle was not moiieable or wauer-
ing, as in foure footed beastes, but solide, broad aboue, and sharpe beneath, as wee see
in fishes, and Crocodiles, and extended into a bony hardnes. Wherefore, when they
desired to sitt, they vsed seates with holes through them, ot wanting them, digged vpp the
earth a spanne deepe, or little more, they must conuay their tayle into the hole when they
rest them : they fabulously reporte that that nation hadd fingers as broade as they were
long, and that their skinne was rough, and almost scaly. And that they were accustomed
onely to eate rawe fish, which fayling, they say all dyed, and that they left no posterity of
them behind them. They reporte, these, and many such idle vaine thinges were left them
by tradition from their grandefathers, and parents. Now let vs come vnto their religious
rites and ceremonies.

The third Chapter.

THey want Temples, so that Kinges Pallaces are honoured of them as Churches: where-
of they bring one example: wee sayd that in the Prouince Duhare, there is a Gyant King
called Datha: in whose stone Court (for other houses are built of slender timber, and
couered with reede or grasse) they found two Images male, and female, of the bignes of
a childe of three yeres old, which they call by one name Inamahari. In this pallace there is
a receit for Images. They are scene twise euery yeere, once in the time of sowing, that
the seede time may be well, and happily begun, and prosperously succeede, they deuoutly
pray: the second time, concerning the fruits of the haruest, in thanksgiuing if it fell out
well, if otherwise, that they may more luckily succeede, & that aswaging their anger, the
gods would carry themselues more peaceably towardes them the next yeere. The Images
are carryed forth with .solemne pompe, and frequent concourse of the people: but after
what ii-uiiuer, it will not bee vnfit to bee heard. The night before the holy day of ado-
ration, the King hiniselfe, hauing his bedd made in the Images chamber, sleepeth before
the Images. The day beginning to appeare, the people run vnto him. The King hiniselfe
bringeth the Images in his armes close vnto his breast: and sheweth them on high vnto the
people, which Images together with the King, the people kneeling or prostrate on the
ground with reuerent trebling and feare, and loude voyces, salute. Then presently the
King departing, bindeth them to tlie breasts of two old men of approued authority, with
linnen clothes after their manner fairely wrought of cotton. They bring them out decked
with garments of feathers of diuers colours, and accompany them vnto the open fielde with
hymnes, and songs, or with dauncing and skipping of young men and maidens. And at
that time it is not lawfull for any to stay at home, or to bee else where: not onely hee who
should bee absent shoulde be taxed with the sinne and fault of heresie, but also hee who
should exercise this ceremony coldly, or disorderedly. The men accompany them the
whole day, and the women all the night long with the Images, shewing all signcs of ioy-
fuUnesse, and arguments of adoration, sleepe not at all. And lastly, the next day, they
are carryed back againe vnto the Pallace after the same order that they were brought forth.
Thus much be spoken concerning their Images, from which they thinke they shall obtaine
fertilitie of the fieldes, health of their bodies, and peace, or victory if they be in battayle,
if they reuerently and rightly sacrifice vnto them. They sacrifice as they did in old time,
with cakes made of come: and they thinke their prayers shall be heard for the increase and
fruites of the field, especially if they be mingled with teares. There is another holy day
euery yeere, wherein they place a rude wooden statue, or Image in the field, vpon an high
pole fastened in the earth, accompanied with the same traine that the former were, &
hauing pitched lesser stakes, they goe about the former greate pole. And vpon these stakes
the people (euery one according to his ability) hang gifts of diners sorts vnto the Idoll,
which at night the nobles diuide among them, as our priests doe the cakes or wafers which
women offer, or other giftes whatsoeuer. He that bestoweth the best oblations vpon the
is accounted more honorable. Witnesses stand by to receiue them, in steed of

Notaries,

27je senenth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

&2Z

Notaries, who (when the holy ceremonies are ended) recite what euery one hath giuen.
Moued through that ambition, neighbour striueth earnestly to exceede neighbour. From
Simne rising vntill the Euening, they leape, and skip about the Idoll with much shouting,
& clapping of hands for ioy, and in the first twilight of the night, hauing taken it from
the pole, if they bee borderers vppon the Sea, they throw it headlong into the Sea, if of the o miseraWegod

T>- 1l 1 ■.. • .1 • 1 •.. • ?l- .. .1. that lasteth but

Riuers, they drown*: ;* in the riuers, and it is no more scene, so that euery yeere they , yeere and Uko
make a new one. Thi y haue a third festiuall day, wherein hailing taken the JDones of a « drowned.
certaine old dead ciwsr out of the graue, they erect a wodden pauillion in the field, after
the maner of a tent. But the top being open, that they may behold heauen, laying a
floore of boordes in the middle space of the pauillion, they sett vpp the bones which they
had taken out of the earth. Women only stand about them mourning, and euery one of
them according to their wealth and abiiitie offer answerable giftes. The next day, they are
carryed backe againe vnto the graue, and are accounted for an holy relique: the bones
being buried, or readie to be buried, the chicfe priest playing the parte of an Orator, out
of a pulpit in the middest of the throng of people standing round about, preacheth and dis-
courseth many thinges of the prayse of the dead, and then presently, more of the im Their conceit of
mortality of the Soule, and lastly whether they goe. They say that they first goe ',|'/^?',h°"o!.Te
to the colde Northcrne partes, and to the country es congealed with snow, and »"<' whiiher it
are expiated and purged with a King (who is Lorde of all the earth) called^''
Mateczungua: and after that, they turne another way to the South countryes, vnto the
iurisdiction and dominion of another great Prince called Quexuga, who being milde and
bountiful!, yet lame, offereth them a thousande delightes and pleasures : where they per-
swade the people, the soules inioy eternall delightes, among the dancings, and songes of
young maidens, and among the embracementes of their children, and whatsoeuer they loued
heeretofore, they babble also there, that such as growe olde, waxe young againe, so that all
are of like yeeres full of ioy and mirth. These thinges are deliuered by worde of mouth
and tradition from the Elders to the younger, for a most sacred and true hystorie, insomuch
as he who but seemed to thinke otherwise, shoulde bee thrust out of the society of menne.
They thinke also that men Hue vppon the wheele or orbes of the heauens, and make no doubt
of the Antipodes. They beleeue there are Godds in the Sea, and boldely play the children
as lying Grecia did, who fable of the Nereiades, and Sea Godds, Glaucus, Phorcus, and the
rest. These thinges thus ended by a sermon, hee seemeth to purge the people departing,
and absolue them from their sinnes, applying the fume of certayne herbes vnto their nostrils, Thepriestaii.
breathing and blowing vpon them, and whisperinge somewhat vnto them. Heereuppon '"nuny™""
the people returnehome ioyfully, beleeuing that the fained deuises of that cosening deceiuer
are profitable not onely for the ease and comfort of the soule, but also for their bodily health.
They also beguile the ignorant and sottish common people with another deceit, their cheife Apoiiicyvsedat
Prince dying, remouing all witnesses from him when hee is readie to giue vpp the ghost, dea'th.^""'"
they stand about him, and by their subtill deuises secretly faine, that when his last breath
issueth out, sparkles of fire, & hot imbers come forth, as fro firebrands shaked, newly taken
out of the burning fire, or from sulphury papers cast vpon high for sport and pastime. These
counterfeit the dauncing and skipping Roebuckes, or wilde goates, which the people suppose
to be shooting starres, running hither and thither in the ayre, and presently vanish : for at
what time hee yeeldeth vp the ghost, that sparkling flame ariseth vp with a horrible cracke,
three armes lengths high, & there vanisheth : that flame they salute for the soule of the dead,
and giue it the last farewell, and accompany the same with lamentations, teares, and howlinges,
beeing so perswaded, they thinke it is departed vnto Heauen. Lastly wayling, and weeping
they carry the dead corse to the graue. It is not lawfull for widdowes to marry any more, if widdowniieerc
the husband dyed a naturall death, but if he were put to death by sentence of the ludge "gaL"ir\™dr''
she hath liberty to marry. This nation loueth chastitie in women, and haleth lewde and dis- husbands die a
honest women, and banisheth them from the company & society of the chast. Princes are dus'tltiei'n we*
permitted to haue two wiues, the common people but one onely. The men diligently apply """•
themselues to inechanicall arts, chelfly to the Carpenters trade, and dressing of wilde beasts

4 L ^ skinnes:

:,''«i'".'f
W».'.-1-

IJ ,11 i;

624

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'flie seucnth Decade.

II.'

f^'i'i

M'-lM'

Their diiiision of
the yeere the
same with ours.
Theeuesand
robbers seuerely
punished.
No vsc hcere of
deadly and
damned money.
Their sports.

Kcuerscured

iviththeiuyceof

herhes.

Choller expelled
with the herbc
Guacii.

There is rather
no want, in the
want of super-
fluities.

Natura paucis.

Their ridiculous
salutation of
their prince.

A maruclous
rejiorte.

skinnes : the women are appoynted to exercise the distnfTe, spindle and needle. They di-
iiide the yeere into twehie mooncs, and they haue magistrates in these countries, for exe-
cution of Justice. They punnishe wicked and mischeiuous malefactors, with seuere iudge-
ment, especially theeues and robbers. Their kings are gyants, whereof I haue already made
mention : and all those countries are tributarie. Euery one of them pay tribute of their
profits, and reuenues, and beecause they are not cumbred with deadly and damned money,
they trade each with other by bartering, and changing their commodities. These people
are also delighted with sports and pastimes, especially with the piny of the ball, or tennis,
and also with topps or giggs driuen vpon tables, as likewise in shooting their arrowes at a
marke. Their nightly lightes are torches, and oyle of diuers fruites, although they plant
oliue trees. They are delighted in feasting one another : and Hue long : and olde age is
strong in them. They easily cure feuers with the iuyce of herbes, and easily heale woundes,
so they be curable. They haue, and know many kinds of wholsome herbes, if any perceiue
himselfe oppressed with sharp choller, drinking the iuyce of a certaine common hcrbe called
Guacum, or eating the same herbe, hce vomiteth choller, & shortly recouereth health. And
they vse no other kind of medicine, or will haue any other phisitions, then experienced olde
women, or priestes skilfull in the vertues of secrete herbes. They also want our wanton su-
perfluities, and hauing not Arabian odours, perfumes, and strange spices, contenting them-
selues with such things as naturally grow in their country, they line more cheerefully, in
better health, and are more lusty, and strong in their old age. They haue small care to
please appetite, with diuers and sundry daintic meates, little sufficeth them. They feruently
and zealously adore their gods whatsoeuer, wherof they make choyce. It is a ridiculous
thing to heare with v/hat gesture the people salute their Princes, and howe the Prince being
saluted, intertaineth them, especially the Nobles. The Saluter, in token of reuerence lifteth
vp both his handes as high as his nose, and then presently stretcheth out his handes to his
forehead, and the forepart of the heade with a certaine shrill screeking bellowing almost like
a Bull. The Prince receiueth the peoples salutation without any signe of courtesie, but an-
swi-icth the salutation of a Noble man, by bowing downe his heade to his left shoulder, not
speaking a woorde. But your Excellencie shall heare an incredible inuention. I mentioned
that the chiefe tyrant or lord of those countries, was of a giant-like stature. Aiglionus the
Licenciate a graue man, and of authority, (of whom 1 made mention beefore) as hee had
heard by them who were partners with him in the charge of building the ships, and Francis
his housholde seruant by report of the borderers, being demanded, why he alone and his
wife should attaine to that talnesse and height of body, and none of the people besides, say,
that this gift is not hereditary vnto the by nature, or from their birth, that they shoude ex-
ceede others by that prerogatiue: but that it procecdeth from violent art, after this manner:
while the infants are in the cradell, and vnder the breastes of the nurses, the masters of that
art are sent for, who annoint the seueral members of the infant for certayne dayes, with
medicines of certayne hearbes which mollifie the tender bones, so that the bones being pre-
sently conuerted into the softnesse of hike warme waxe, they so stretch them out in length
often times, that they leaue the poore miserable infant almost halfe deade, and after that
they feed the nurse with certaine meats of powerfull vertue. Lastly the nurse giueth it the
brest, while it lytth couered in warme clothes, and refresheth and chcereth the infant with
milke gathered from substantiall meates : and after some fewe dayes of refreshing, they re-
turne to the dolefull seruice of wresting and winding of the bones againe. This Aiglionus,
and Francis his serudt, the Chicoranc, report. But the Deane of the Conception, of whom
I haue made mention before, tolde me that hee heard otherwise (of them who were stolne
away with the shippe which escaped) then Aiglionus his companions told him, both of the
medicines, and art augmenting the body : for he saith, it is not done by wresting of the
bones, but eating of a certayne stuffing meate verie nutritiue, made of diuers hearbes stamped
together fit for that purpose, especially when they begin to growe in yeeres, at what time
nature tendeth to increase, and the meates are turned into flesh, and bones. Surely it is
maruelous, these thinges notwithstanding considered, what straunge matters are reported of

the

•H 1

pit!

iSio .

iudge-

and his

Tlie seuenth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

625

the \crtiies of hcarbes, if their secret power were rightly vnderstood, I shoulde thinke it
might be possible. But, that kings onelv may lawfully eate thereof, the reason is playne
and cxsie. He should be accounted guiltie of high treason, who durst presume so much as
to tast those delicates, or woulde require the order or manner of that Composition of the
maker^j and deuisers thereof, because he might seeitic to desire to compare himselfe with
kinges, for with them, it is an vndecent thing and without maiesly, that the King shoulde The reason why
not exceede the common stature, who must looke downe from on high (vpon such as come IhouidMc'eed
vnto him) by being higher then they, or ouerpeering tliem. This they gaue vs to vnder- <"i«"in4uturc.
stande, and this we signifie, Lette your Excellencic giue credite thereto as you please.
Wee haue spoken sufficiently of the ceremonies of their religion, and of tlieir manners and
customes : let vs nowe come to the giftes of wilde nature growing in the fieldes. Wee
haue already spoken of their breade, and sorts of flesh, it now foUoweth that we speake
somewhat of trees.

The fourth Chapter.

THey founde there growing of their owne nature wiiole woodes of oake. Pines, and Cy-
pres, and Chesnutt, & Almond trees, & wild vines blackc, & white, climing vpon the
boughes of trees, without the vse of wine pressed from them, for they make drink o diners vineswithout
fruite-s. That country also yeeldeth figgetrees, and Oliue trees of diuers kinds: and being {j,"""^^^.""*^
grafted leese their wildnes, as with vs, which without culture would retaine the rude tast of
nature only. They plant orchards or gardens, & abound with diuers sortes of pot hearbes
and are delighted with greene platter of ground or gardens finely manured and dressed.
They also nourish trees in their orchardes. There is a particular tree called Carito, which The wee Camo.
bringeth fourth a sauory fruite sequall in bignesse to a small Melon : there is also another
called Guacomine, whiche yeeldeth a kinde of fruite greater then a Quince, they say it is of The tree cua-
an excellent, and pleasing sent, and very wholesome. They plant and regarde many others """"'•
besides, and many other kindesof thinges: whereof, least by reporting all at once wee ouer-
charge and cloy your Excellencie, we will elsewhere speake. We caused Licentiatus Aiglio-
nus the Senator to obtaine his desire : so that now he is sent away from vs and from Cassars
maiestie through our perswasion. Hee determineth tobuilde a newe fleete in Hispaniola, to
passe oner to those coastes, to plant a Colonic : nor shall he want folowers : for all this Spa- The Spanyardes
nish nation, is so desirous of nouelties, that what way soeuer they bee called with a becke ^"(""Vnou"'-"
onely, or soft whispering voyce, to any thing arising aboue water, they speedily prepare ties.
themselues to flie, and forsake certainties vnder hope of an higher degree, to followe incer-
tainties: which wee may gather by that which is past. With what stomacke they shalbe re-
ceiued of the inhabitantes so greatly weakened by rauishment of their children and kindred,
time shall be ludge. The like accident commeth to minde (though out of order) not to be Thcpoiicieof
omitted, concerning the lucaian Ilanders, brought by the Spaniards, inhabitantes of Cuba 'J^,^J]'^'"'[,"^
and Hispaniola, to the grieuous seruice and slauery of the Goldmines. When the Spanyardes brought the lu-
vnderstood their simple opinions concerning the soules, which (after their sinnes purged in "="="*'"""*"
the cold Northerne Mountaynes) should passe vnto the South to the intent that leaning their
natiue countrey of their own accord, they might suffer themselues to be brought to Hispa-
niola and Cuba whiche lye to the southwarde of those Ilandes, they indeuonred to perswade
those poore wretches, and did perswade them, that they came from those places, wher they
should see their parents, & children, & al their kindred, & friends that were dead : & should
inioy al kind of delights, together with y imbracements & fruition of beloued things. Being
infected and possessed with thesft crafty & subtil imaginatios, by their own cosening deceiuers,
as I metioned before, & after by the Spaniards, singing and reioycing, they left their coun-
trey, and followed vayne, and idle hope. But, when they sawe, they were deceiued, and
neyther met their parentes, nor any they desired, but were compelled to vnder-goe grieuous
soueraignty and commaunde, and to indure cruell and extreame labours vnaccustomcd, be-
comming desperate, they either slewe themselues, or choosing to famish, gaue vppe their
faint spirites, beeing perswaded by no reason, or violence, to take foode, as I haue elsewhere

sayde.

uery.

-Wtlh

i" il^kS

<iy:

. Mm

G36

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The scucnth Decade.

sayde. So the miserable Incaians came to their ende : of whomc, the number with the Spa-

nyardes is nowe very small, an of the inhabitantes thcmsehies. But I suppose, that at the

The Spanyardcs complayntcs aiid pittifull gToncs of those wretched innocents, gome diuinc power being pro-

sUj'hut exTc'i's'e iioked, aflirmcd Tcuengo of SO great a slaughter, and peace of so many nations disturbed,

iubucrsion and bccause thcv confcsscd they were mooued vnder pretence of increasing religion, and yet

dettitjblc cruel. .., ■ ... / ., . .... ' _ . _ , _• , . " . ^ , _ _•' ^ .

tie.

A recitall of cer
Inyne decrees
wd made but il
obserued by the
fi|)-iiyaidLt.

without any rcgarde they turne them to ambitious auarice, and violence. For whosoeuor
were the first aiteinpters or inuaders, doing otherwise then their Kinges commaunded them,
were eyther slayne by them that they oppressed, or shotte with poysoned arrowcs, or drowned
in the sea, or grieuously afflicted, fel into diners diseases: for the decrees of the Lawes
giucn them (by my testimonie, who daily considered therof with my associates) were so
framed according to a;quitie and iusticc, that nothing might be more sacred and honest. For
it was decrecde for many yeeres, that they shoulde deale courteously, mercyfully, and peace-
ably with those straiinge nations borne vnder the honour of age, and that the Kinges with
their subiccles assigned to eucry one of the Kinges bounty, should bee vsed like tributary
subicctes, and ditionaries, and not in a seruile manner, and that gii ing them a due portion
of llesh and breade, they shoulde bee well fedde to sustayne labour : that all nccessaryes
shoulde bee giuen them, and for their digging and myning in the day, they shoulde rewardc
them with clothing and appoynted ornamentes as mercenaries, that they shoulde not want
lodginges for their nightly rest, that they shoulde not bee raysed before the sunne rising,
and bee brought home beefore the euening, that at certayne times of the yeere being freed
from tiie goldc-mincs, they should apply themselues to the setting of the route lucca, and
sowing the graine Maizium : that vpon holy daycs they should cease from all worke, be pre-
sent at the churches, and presently after the holy ceremonies of religion ended, they shoulde
permit them to apply themselues to their accustomed sports, anddancingcs, and many thinges
besides compacted and composed with prudent and humane reasons, by suche as were skil-
full in the Lawe, and religious men. But what ? falling downe through the descending
Ocean (which imitateth the whireling course of the heaucns) to so straunge, forraigne,
and remoued worldcs, far distant from their Generalles and Commaunders, carryed violently
away through the blinde desire of golde, they who departed hence milder then Lambes,
arryuing there, were chaunged into rauening Woolues : vnmindful of all their Kinges com-
mandementes. Many of them are both reprooued, fined, and punished : yet the more care-
fully the heads of Hydra are cut of, we see them arise and bud forth the more. I rest in
that prouerbe : wherein many offend, that remaineth alwayes vnreuenged. We now begin
b^'tob "'''"""' ^° ^^^^ "fiw Constitutions, & decrees, and purpose to send new Gouernors : determining
the ludia^ns.™ to try, what fortune will haue vs doe with them that are left. And whether they ought to
be free, and no labour exacted of any of them vnwillingly, nor without rewarde, we make
some doubt. For through the diucrs opinions of graue men, wee are ambiguously distracted :
especially through the opinions of the religious of the Dominican profession, who perswade
vs to the contrarie by their writinges vnder their owne handes: affirming that it will bee
muche better, and more secure for them. & more profitable for the health of the jody, and
saluation of their soules, if they bee designed to a perpetuall haereditary obedience, then if
they bee piitte to temporary seruices, because they to whome hitherto they haue beene com-
mended, at the kings pleasure, and in the name and behalfe of another who was absent,
handled the matter as mercenaries. And seeing they feared, least after some fewe yeeres
they shoulde be taken from them, as it is vsually doone, hauing no rewarde of the bencfite
of those poore wretches contrary to the articles & summe of holy lawes and constitutions,
they vexed and pined both sexes in the gold-mines euen vnto the death, without respecting
their age, so they might satisfie their maisters thirst of gold, and their owne. They gaue
them neither necessaries to maintaine life, nor prouided for their health, if it so happened,
that through vnaccustomed and too much labour they fainted, and fell downe. Contrarily
they say, that he who vndcrstandeth that the Indians are appoynted to be transfercd oner to
his heire, will indeuour as in his proper substance, not onely that they be preserued in health,
but also will carefully prouide that the number of them may be increased by the pleasures

receiued

'I'hc hcades of
Hydia.

Tlic scurnth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

627

not want

recpiiicd of their wines and children. But they vtterly deny to giiie them liberty, by many
examples allcdged. Tiiat those Barbarians coiildc neiier atlcmptc the destruction of the Chris-
tians, but that tliey executed their purposes and deuises and when it hath beene often prouod
whether libertie mit^ht bee profitable, it is manifestly knowne that it bred their ouerthrowe
and ruine. For being idle and slothfuU, they wander vp & downe, and returne to their olde
rites and ceremonies, and foule and mischicuous actes. Tiie thirde particular cause is hor-
rible and fearefull, whereby it is prooued, that especially in the supposed Continent, they
are not woorthy of liberty. In a certaine parte of a great Prouince of the supposed Con-
tinent in the countrey called Chiribichi, the Frvars of the Dominican profession, some twelue
yeers since erected a topic. Through a thousands miseries of labours, and hunger, they
nourished and maintained the children of kinges and nobles, and when they came to more
yeers they endeuoured to drawc them to religion, exhortinji;, admonishing, and teaching
them by intermixing faire and courteous vsage. And they had so instructed many of their
children, that they ministred at the altars to such as had entred into religion, and had to doe
with the holy misteries, and that not rudely, and vnaptly, and vnderstoode the Spanish tongue
very well. But your Excellencie shal heare an horrible wicked act committed by them. Their
childish yeeres being past, scarce attaining the age wherein the tender downe beginneth to
budde foorth two chiefe menne of them that were instructed, whom they thought they hadde Of n wicked
nowc drawnc from the bnitish nature of their auncesters to the doctrine of CHRIST, and to ^"ne'young'meii
humane rytes, determining to flie for succour, putting on their olde skinne lyke Woolucs, "• the indims.
receiued agayne their auncient and natiue vices, and corruptions, and hauing procured a
great army of the bordering neighbours, they beeing their Captaynes and guides, went and
assaulted the Monastery, where they hadde beene brought vp with fatherly charity. The
Monastery being vanquished, and vtterly ouerthrowne, they slewe them that brought them
vppe, and their fellowes euery manne. Omitting circumstances, that after my sharpe ac-
cusations, you may knowe the Spanyardes deserued some excuse, if they denie that liberty
should be giuen them, your Excellencie may readeone of the letters deliuered in our Indian
Senate by certaine Fryars which escaped, by reason they were absent at that time in seeking
prouision of foode for the rest. And this letter or handwriting was presented vnto 'S when
we were assembled with the chiefe manne of our Senate Garsias Louiza, a learned man in
Italy, the Osomensian Prelate and (to speake after the vulgar manner) Caesars Confessor, of
the order of preaching Fryars, elected generall maister at Rome for his desert, to whom your
Excellency is neyther vnknowne, nor ill accepted : receiue it therefore in the Spanish lan-
guish it selfe ( for to any Latinist, or Italian, it will bee easie to bee vnderstoode by reason of
the affinity and propinquitie of the tongues) and I purposed so to doe, least any might argue,
that I hadde changed any thing from the sense of the thing, or intent of the sender, through
my translation. Lette vs therefore heare the Fryar himselfe, called Fryar Thomas Ortizius
speaking Viua Voce before the Senate, and writing in the name and behalfe of others.

Estas son las propriedades de los Indios, por donde no merescen libertades.

Comen came humana en la tierra firme : son Sodometicos mas que generation alguna :
ninguna lusticia ay entre ellos : andan desnudos, no tienen amor, ni verguenca : son estolidos,
alocados: no guardan verdad, si no es asu prouecho: son inconstantes : no saben que cosa
sea conseio : son ingratissimos, y amigos de nouedades. Se precian de embeudarse que tie-
nen vinos de diuersas yerbas, y fructos, y granos, come Zerueza, y sidras, y con tomcar fumos
tambien de otras, yerbas que emborrachen, y con comerlas. Son bestiales, y precian se de
ser abominabiles en vicios : ninguna obediencia, in cortesia tienen mucos a vieios, ni hijos a
padres. No son capazes de doctrina, ni castigo : son traydores, crueles, y vengatiuos, que
nunca perdonan, inimicissimos de religion. Son haraganes, ladrones, son de iuyzios, muy
terrestres, y baxos : no gardan fee, ni orden. No se guardan lealtad niaridos a mugeres, ni
mugeres a maridos. Son echizeros, y augureros, y couardes come liebres. Son Suzios : comen
pioios, y arrannas, y gusanos crudos, doquiera que los hallan : no tienen arte ni manna de
hombres. Quando an apprendida las cosas de la fee, dizen, que essas cosas son para Castilla,

que

A':ll.\

; liV .

■iv- '. .

i'hiife

f)28

^'OYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlic seucnth Decade.

m '^'

feh J'

|i«l!

mil

.■•.II ■

■- »' ■' ..

w '■%

He reiwitcth
diuers di^.i^t«;rs
of thi; Spaii-
yardcs.

The Cnrilies
Ciinib.illts or
iiitii t'at«i-3.
Of Solisius his
ijul.

Of Alphonsus
rojivda aiij
lolin Cussa.

Of lohnimcs
Pontius.

The Caribes a
warlike people.

Of Diecus Ve-
lasquez.

Of Fcrnandus
Cortes his
heaped riches &
flourishing go-
iicriiment.

A prouerbe.

Three hundred
thousand pensa
prepared by
Cones to be sei.t
to the Emperor.
Cassia tistuld,
Coriniani and
Coccincan wgud.

que para ellos no valen nada, y que no quieren mudar costumbres: son sin barbas, y si
algunas Ich na«cen, pelan las y arincniilas. Con Ins enfermos no tienen picdad ninguna: esta
graue el enfcrmo, a vn que sea su pariente, 6 Vezino le desamparan, 6 lleuan alos montes
a morir, y dexan rabe cl vn poco de pan y agua, y vanse ; quanto mas crescense hazen
pcores : liasta die/, o doze annos paresce que an de .sajircon alguna criancn, y virfud, passando
adelante, se toman como bestias bruta'*. En fin digo, que nunca crio Dios tan cozida gcnle
en vicios, y beslialidadcs, sin mistura alguna de bondad 6 policia. Agora iuzgen las gentcs
para que pueda ser ccpa do lan nialas mannas y artes : los que los auemos tractado csto aue-
mos expcrimentado dellos. Mayormente el padre fray Pedro de Cordoua, de cuya mano yo
tcngo escripto tndo esto y lo plaucamos en vno con otras cosas que me callo, hallamos a oios
vistas : son insensatos como asnos, y no tienent en nada matarse.

These, and such like other thinges daily offer theniselues in controuersie, which although
they bee diuer^ly disputed, haue almost fallen blouddiiy vppon tiic hcadcs of the oppressors,
as I sayde before, nor did the priuate grudges and disscntions ary>ing for soucraigntie take away
a smal number of the Spaniards thcmselues, whereof I l.aue discoursed at large in my former
Decades, where I spake of the Pinzonea, the inhabitants of two touiics Palos. and Moguer, on
the Ocean shore, in Andaluzia, who running hither and thither along the va^^t shores of the sup-
posed Continent, and the bankcs of that miraculous riucr Maragnon, were shotte through, and
slaync with poysoned arrowcs by the inhabitantes who were Caniballes, and then dressed, and
scrued in, in diuers dishes, as delicates to bee eaten : for the Caniballes, otherwise called Ca-
ribes, are men eaters. Of Solisius to who the same hapj)cned on the backe side of the sup-
posed Continct from whose horrible mischance name was giuen to that gulfe of the sea, where
Magnglianus stayed a long time with his flecte in his iourney. After this of Alphonsus Fogeda,
and lohn Cossa who with a strong army of souldiers searching the countries of Cumana, Cuqui,
Baclioha, Cauchietus, and Vrabia vnhappily lost their Hues. Of Diecus Nicucsa, commander
of 8()0. men or thernbonts, lost after these, while wandring from tiie westerne Bay of Vrabia,
he searched the coastcs of Beragua. Of lohannes Pontius ouerthrowne by the naked Barba-
rians, and wounded vnto death in the country of Florida first foundp out by him, who after-
ward lying long sicke, and languishing through that wounde, dyed in the Ilande of Cuba,
and of many commaunders, and armies besides slaine through the might and fortitude of the
Caniballs, to whom they made dainty banquettes with their bodies: for the Caribes were
found with a fleete of Canowes, to haue sayied many leagues from their borders in warlike
maner and battayle array, to take men : their Canoas are boats made of one tree or piece of
tymber (in Greeke called Monoxulon) whereof some of them are capable of 80. rowers.
Lastly of Diecus Velasquez gonernor of Cuba called Fernandina, from exceeding great
wealth and ryches brought vnto pouerty, and nowe at length deade, and of Fernandus Cortes
disagreeing with deadly hatred among ihemselues, I haue at large discoursed of all these,
Cortes onely as yet flourisheth, who is supposed to haue heaped vp treasures (in that great
citie of the lake Tenustitan, vanquished & destroyed) to the snnime of thirty hundred thoii-
sande Pensa, and this Pensum exreedeth the Spanish Ducate a fourth part, or quadrant : for
hee commandcth many cities and Princes, with whome there is great plenty of gold, both
of the ryuers and Mountaynes, nor doe they want rich caues of gold mines, but in his ca.se
peraduenture the generall prouerbe will prenaile, concerning his money, fidelity, and treasure,
that much lesse wilbe founde, at his departure, then fame reporteth: which time shall discouer.
lohannes Ribera, known to the Kmbassadour Thomas Mainus, and Guillinus Cortes his agent with
Cassar, brought vp with him from his vouth and partaker of all his noble and worthy acts and
attempts, saith that his master Cortes hath 300000. Pensa prepared to be sent to the Emperor.
But being aduertised of the taking of so manv lade ships by the French Pirates, he dare not send
them away. There are also in the supposed Continent, and Hispaniola, Cuba, and lamaica, ex-
ceeding great riches prepared, of gokic, pcarle, snger, & Cassia fistula growing in the Hands,
of Corinian or Coccinean wood also, vsed for the dying of wooll (which the Italian calleth
Versin, the Spnnyarde Brasill) commodities ready prouided. There are thicke woods of those

trees

The seuenlh Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

629

trees in Ilispaniola, as groues of firre trees, or oake with vs. While we consulted in our

Senate of the affairs of India (concerning the safty, and defence of these ships) what counsell

might be taken for remedy, it was decreede, & through our perswasion prouidcd, and com-

maunded by Caesar, that euery one of them shoulde meete together at Hispaniola, the heade

and chiefe place of those countries, with such riches as they had heaped vp : wherby, the

ships being gathered together, from al those countries, a strongc fleete might be made, so

that they might safly dcfcnde themselues from the iniury of pyrats, if they met with them.

What fortune shall befall them, is reserued in the armory and storehouse of the diuine pro- Fm.irr thingcs

uidence. There are sonic, who say, that Cortes made two golden pceces of ordinance ca- ""'' "'^'

pable of Iron bullets, as bigge as a small tennis ball stuffed. It might be peraduenture for

ostentation, because the softnes of gold (in my iudgement) is not apt to sustaine and in*

dure, so great fury & violence, or els fabulously fained, through enuy : for his worthy acts

are howerly wrested with cnuious, and spitefull blowes.

The fift Chapter.

WHile I was thus writing these things, news were brought me that 4. ships from the Indies
arryued vpon our Spanish coasts, what riches they bring, we vnderstiid not yet : letters are
brought fro f Senat of Hispaniola vnto Caesar, cocerning a cruell and mischieuous accidet
which lately happened, & (by coniecture) some worse matter is feared hereafter. Concern-
ing Franciscus Garaius gouernour of lamaica, I haue discoursed many things in my books to
Adriii the Pope, brought vnto the city by lacobus Pierius. Franciscus Garaius being about P'awiMU' oa-

^1 t. -^ ,p I III oii'i """ 'bout to

to erect a Colony vpon the riuer Panucus (from whence, both the country, & the king de- erect > coiony
riue their names, & the bordering country ioyning vpon the iurisdiction of Tenustitan ) twice pP°"^^Kj""jjj
attempted the matter, & was as often repulsed and ouerthrowne almost by the naked inhabit- rcFuiud.
ants: the yeere past, hee vndertooke the same Prouince againe, with 11. ships, and 700.
men, and more, and manie horsemen, presuming vpon the authority of the Kinges letters,
whereby licence might be giuen him to erect the desired Colonic on the banke of that riuer.
This riuer is famous for the channell, able to receiue ships of great burden, and is also in
steed of an haiien, because that Prouince subiect to the iurisdiction of Tenustitan, is with-
out hauens, and a wild, and vnsecure road for shipping. Beholde Garaius, and his consorts
safely arryued. A strong and mighty tempest troubled them at Sea, and the fortune of war
abandoned them to all abuses on the land, for arryuing he lost 2. of the fleete by shipwracke,
and found the banks of the riuer possessed by the souldiers of Cortes, hauing erected a Co-
lonic there, & ordained magistrates to gouerne the people, with the assent of 5' king Panucus
(because he saith those countries are his, in the right of Tenustitan, & that the ryuer Panu-
cus is included vnder the niie of Noua Hispania, giuen to those countries by him, & cofirmed
by Caesar) Garaius goeth to his Comprouincials the Spaniards, inhabitants of the place,
& speaketh to them. He sheweth the kings letters patents, wherein he appointeth caraimpieadeth
those banks of Panucus to be inhabited by him, & that he came for that purpose. He ex- to'ete« hire"
horfeth, & admonisheth them to obey the kings commnd, and giue place to him, or retainelony^utisre-
their Pretorian authority in his name, & not in the name & behalfe of Cortes, & y they '""''■
should receiue fro him, & obserue the rest of their lawes & constitutions, necessary for their
good, & quiet gouernmet : but al in vaine. Hauing heard this in a long Oration, without
further premeditated speech, or making any doubt at all, they answer. That, that Colonic
was appoynted & erected by Cortes, vppon the soyle sometimes in the subiection of Tenus-
titan, which lyeth within the limits of Hispania Noua, assigned by Caesar: & therefore it
would iustly come to pas that they might be charged with trechery & treaso, if they reuolted,
& barkened to the demands of Garaius. Garaius citeth, and sheweth the Kinges letters
agayne. They say, that they were falsely procured, and obtayned, by misinforming Caesar :
and that they were hadde and gotten agaynst Cortes, through fauour of the Burgensian Bi-
shoppe. President of the Indian Senate, who is offended with him for lacobus Velasquez
Gouernour of Cuba his friende, and somtimes a familiar of his brother Fonseca, a most deadly
cnemie to Cortes. As touching their priuate dissentions and hatred, I haue sufficiently dis-

4 M coursed

if: t>

'»■'. {■'

W4n

630

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The seucnth Decade.

It'

ifif;

ii'^

u r'

■i''.'S

coursed at larj^e in the matters conccrninn; them both, which of themselues, fill no smal vo-
lume. Resisting, Garaius proclaymeth them guilty of treason, if they obey not the kinges
commaundement. They say, they will sticke the letters on their hcade, after the Spanish
manner, and accept the commaundement, as farre as they ought : but for execution thereof,
thoy say, they will take aduisc of the king, or the Indian Senate, that both parties being
hcarde, Caesar the King might censure, what shoulde bee most beehouefull for them to obey,
and say, that they thinke Cassar will commaunde otherwise, if he vnderstoode to what daun-
ger HO great a matter may be subiect, through this innouation : for if the Barbarians, being
but lately conquered, shall pcrcciue that discorde ariseth among the Christians, they will

i^l''rt«"""''"''^"""''^ *" cast of the yoake of subiection. It was at length decreed betweene them,
that messengers shoulde be sent to Cortes. They doe their indeuour, and goe, and signifie
the matter to Cortes. He appointeth two of his Captaynes, to indeuoure to persw.idc that
Garaius might haue acccsse vnto him, in that great citfy of the lake Tenustitan, the head
and chiefe city of that mightie Empire, being about some CO. leagues distant from the riuer

Garaiiisgoethto Panucus. The mcsscngers come to Garaius, and perswade him, Garaius goeth : for he con-
fessed he was inferior to Cortes : Cortes taketh the sonne of Garaius to be his sonne in Law,
by manage of his bastard daughter. While these thinges were thus doing, whether it were
doone by the secrete counsell of Cortes, or that the inhabitauntes mooued of their owne ac-
corde, sette vppon the forces of Garaius, and ouerthrewe them, the Senators of Hispaniola
lenue it doubtfull, whosoeuer wrote these thinges particularly to their particular friendes,

^,c"hrown"T/ whether this way, or that way, it little skilleth in the matter it selfe. The whole army of

the Tenusiitans. seuen hiuulred menne was ouerthrowne, and two hundred and fiftie of them are reported to
bee slnyne, and they write, that Garaius himselfe is deade, whether hee dyed with Cortes, or
elsewhere, and whether grieuously troubled with a feuer, or holpen by the beenigne and

Cones^smptcted courtcoiis prouidcncc of Cortes, who freede the man from the troubles, and incumbrances of
humane cares, that hee alone might inioy the sweetnesse of his tyrannicall profession, it is
vnccrtainely signified. For we haue neither letters from Cortes, nor from the magistrates
sent to those countries, nor from any of the consorts of Garaius, but from the Senate onely
of Hispaniola, writing to Cicsar, and our Senate, that one Christopherus Olitus, one of
Cortes his Captaynes, arryued at the furthest wester angle of Cuba (where that Ilandc
frontcth lucatan) with 300. men, and 150. horse in no meane and contemptible fleele, and
they say he goeth about to seduce and drawe an hundred other fresh men from Cuba it selfe.
Who accompanying him, he giueth out, that hee woulde throughly searche those countries,
which lye in the middle betweene lucatan (not yet known, whether it bean Ilande) and the
supposed Continent, and there, he is reported to haue sayde, he woulde erect a Colonic.
The Senators say, they were certified hereof by the Notary of Cuba, together with the di-
ners misfortunes that befell Garaius. Withall the Senators themselues say, that they thinke,
these reportes were giuen out among the common people by false rumours of the seducer
Olitus, to the intent, that beeing out of hope of reuolting to Garaius, the wanderers, and
straglers (whom hee desired to haue) might the more easily turne vnto him. In another
clause of the Epistle, they say, that ^^gidius Gonzalez is ready in the hauen of Hispaniola,
the *" S"fi *" ^^^ same place, of whose nauigation by the South sea, the Embassadour Thomas
Mainu>» hath brought with him a coppie of the discourse, vnto the Consentine Archbishoppe,
to be presented to Clement the Pope : the nauigation is direct, which, it is needfull to be-
h.)lde, that it may be vnderstoode, what the intent of these Captaines is in seeking those
countries, by the permission and commandemcnt of Caesar : for iEgidius beeing returned
from the South Sea, where hee founde an exceeding grcate and huge Sea of fresh waters,
replenished with Ilandes, hee determined to search to the North what fortune woulde ati'oord,
concerning the Strayght so much desired. Hee therefore came to Hispaniola with the Trea-
sures spoken of in their place, leaning the southerne fleete, that hee might builde a new one
in the North. For he supposetl hat the flowing of that abundance and heape of waters,
breaketh out betweene lucatan, a. id the Continent, by some ryuer able to receiue shippes,
as Ticinus out of the lake Verbanus, and Mincius out of Benacus, and Abdia out of Larius,

and

to mnke uway
Gariiius*

Christopheruj
Olitus nrriucd
at the West
angle of Cuba.

TF.fidius Gon-
s.iLz aiid (>f his
n.tuiL;ation to
South Sia.

The scucnth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIF.S.

63 \

and Rhodiniis nut of the lake Lcmaniis, arc scene to issue foorfh, that they might coniiey

the waters (which they had swallowed) vnto the Sea. These thint;cs hceinp vndcrstoodc,

and that Pctriis Arias Goiiernonr of the supposed Continent, about to vndcrtake the same

matter, hath taken the same way, hauing leuied an armie of horse and foote, of no small,

and contemptible number: the Senate forbad yi-.gidius Gonsalcz to goe, least if Olitus, and p,'°po'"/f,nrid.

Petrus Arias, & /'Ejjidius himsclfc mccte together, they should kill one another: by speedy <i'"bythe

messengers, and swift shippes they admonished Petrus Arias, Fernandus Cortes, and Olitus

vpon paine of treason, that none of them take arincs against the other, if they met, and

protested, that if they did the contrary, they should be thrust out of their gouernment with

ignominy, and disgrace. This iudgement and decree of that Senate, our Senate, alloweth,

what shal succeed we will write. The earnest desire of seeking this straight is so great that The itrjijiu.

they obiect themselucs vnto a thousand daungers: for whosoeuer shall finde it, if it may

bee founde, shall obtaine the great fauour of Cajsar with high authoritie, because if from

the Soi'th Sea a passage may bee founde vnto the North, the way to the Hands of spices

ingendnng precious stones sljould be the more easie. Nor shoulde the controuersie begun

with thr king of Portugall prcuaile, whereof I haue sufliciently spoken in my former

Decades : but concerning the strayght there is little hope, yet we dissent not from the

opinion of /Egidius, but that the ryuer which receiueth those fresh waters may bee founde,

running to the North, seeing they manifestly know, that those waters haue no fall to the

South coast. Which if it so fall out, it is shewed, that the way from either sea will bee

commodious enough, beecause from the bankes of the fresh waters, whiche bendc towardes

the South, to the shoare of the vSouth sea, the distance is onely three leagues, through a

broade plaine : by which i'Egidius saith, it will be an easie iourney for any waines, and

cartes^ and very shorte to the iliquinoctiall circle.

The sixt Chapter.

WEe suppose also (most noble and renowned Prince) relying vpon most assured argu-
ments, that it will come to passe, that other newe Ilandes may be found, not many yceres A" 5««iii-nt
hence, both subiect to the vilquator, and also neerc vnto it on this side, and beyonde, as [hriiknho'dde'
the Maluchas which are already found, and the rest described in my former Decades. For of n™""'*-
if through the vertue of the sunne about the ^^squinoctiall vnder a terrestriall disposed
matter, apt to receiue a caclestiall benefite offered, that aromaticall tast is infused into those
trees, and other Ilandes are next vnto them, inriched with sandie golde : who dare infect
mighty and powerfull nature with so great a blemish, and deface it with such iniury, that
in so shorte a space of the Maluchas, as it were in the little finger of a Giant (if we con-
sider the whole circuite) he will affirme shee hath fully expressed her force, and spent her
wombe (filled with an excellent progeny) \ pen so slender and small an infant ? This reason
issued from my braine, in the Indian Senate among my associats one example being added,
that the matter might more easily be vndcrstoodc. I suppose I wrote the same reason to
Pope Adrian, but I doe not wel remember, because the last seuentith yeare, age, and cares
haue dulled my memorie, nor doe such thinges repeated vse to displease, although they
haue been elsewhere scene, with out the limittes of their grounde. For tenne yeeres a digrcsiion.
together in the times of Sixtus ^ 4. & Innocentius the 8. I lined at Rome, with her neigh-
bourhood. Being prouoked, & stirred vp through the fame of the Granatensian wars, I
went into Spaine : comming from Rome, I trauailed through the rest of Italy : I passed
ouer that part of France which our Sea washeth beyond the Alpes. In those 37. yeeres
wherein (through the gracious promises, & honourable receiuing into familiarity of the
Catholike Princes Ferdinandus, and Elizabeth) Spaine held me. I viewed it all round
about. But you wil say (most noble Prince) to what end are these things fetched?
Trauailing ouer these parts, I light vpon woods of oake, & then of pine, yet mountains,
& champion places, & riuers, or marishes diuiding betweene either wood, & after y I met
with wildernesses of diuers trees, growing of their own nature, which tooke \p great & huge
countries, and mette with such like woodes of pine, and oake, and riuers, or lakes, and

4 M 3 passed

-afL

B iti- '

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

T!te seueitth Decade.

Aa other ei-
ccllciil rcaten.

Odon pcrfumti
Ji t\ncti that
they cffitminaie
mcni miiidci.

An Alltgory
»«ry witty and
lignificant.

'■■I

ij' v:

,1 .

1*!', .

\it 't

■:■!,!!:■ .

!!«''■;

M'>\'-

If''

l;5

HuB^m

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t ■'■'

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j- f--' ' -

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>-'• ' ■

ImI^

M'lJ

H^BBwiE^i^' ' .' v'

Kf'

!'!ii

Sebastian Cabot
and of his in-
icDded voyagCf

passed oucr plaines not vnlikc viUo the former, the siibiect matter of the countries re-
ceiuing those varieties. So (most renowned Prince) on this side, beyond, h vnder the
Eqtiinoctiall Circle, the Tropicitc of Cancer vnto Capricorne (which space and distance, tiie
greatCHt part of the Philosophers fairly supposed to be desolate, and forsaiien, bein^
molested with the heate of tne perpendiciyur sunne) many hiij^e countries of landr, and
vast and spacious seas lye, bcrau.se the snactf of this circumference is the greatest, seeing it
gocth aboiite the whole worlde, where it most inlargeth it sclfe, with the length thereof.
That Circle therefore is the broadest of all. If therefore in so short a distance of lands and
countrycs (as I haue said) the art of powerfull nature be so great, that what commrth forth
and groweth in one part of the same region, may also be founde in another drawing the
same influence, in that kinde of things, which that grounde hath brought forth, who
doubteth, but in this aromaticall kinde, vnder so great a coilestiuil vastity, manie other coun-
tries may be found capable of the same vertue, which is bestowed vpon the Maluchas and
the neighbouring Ilandes, lying partly vnder the i^quator it sclfe, and partly on both sids?
One of the Colledge shruggde his shoulders, that he might bee accompted the wiser in in-
fringing my argument. Behold (saith he) no mention is made of these thinges by our
auncesters, if they stoodc vpon this matter, these thinges should be knowne to vs, or not
vnknowne to any nation. Through ignorance of learning, especially of Philosophic, and
by reason of his small experience, his obiection was easily ouer thrownc, the great Chan-
cellor who highly respertcth your Excellencie, and the rest of the associates, yeelding vnto
me. For I sayde, that it was farre from all admiration, because we had notice of the
Maluchas, and the bordering Ilandes, but none of the rest. For the Maluchas are almost
within the view of India beyon''.e Ganges, and arc almost adioyning to the countrycs of the
Sinae and the great Bay of Catigara, which are knowne landes, not much distant from the
Persian gulfe, and Arab'a falsly called the happie, whereby, by little and little they crept
vnto them, and then v.ito vs (since the luxury of Rome began lo increase) to our no smal
losse & dammage. For the mindes of menn growe faint and effaeminatc, their manly
courage is extenuated, through such flatteringe delights of odors, perfumes, and spices.
But concerninge the rest of the vnknown Hands, the reason is easily yeelded why they haue
bin vnknown to this daye, because the mayne Continentcs next vnto them, through the
same purpose of the diuine prouidence, haue lyen vnknowne, euen vntill our times.
These thinges considered, which are most true, if those countrycs be y great courtes of the
world, if there be adherent or neighbouringe Ilandes of those courtes, who could walke
through the halles, or search the secret roomes, when the courtes, weere yet vnknowne?
we haue therefore founde the courtes when wee finde so vast and vnknown countrycs, that
they thrice exceede all Europe and more, if as we haue elsewhere prooued, wee shall
measure what came to the knowledg of menn in our time, from S, Augustine the said poynt
of our supposed Continent, to the riuer Panucus 60. leagues distant (or thereabouts) from
Tenustitan, that great citty of the lake: we haue elsewhere largly discoursed these things.
We shall also finde the rest of the members of those courts: and wee are not farr from the
assurance of fulfillinge this our desire. For we thinke it will come to passe, that Sebastion
Cabot (who first founde the Baccalay, to whom about the Calends of September leaue was
graunted (at his request) by authority of our Senate to search that nauigation) will returne
in shorter time, & more luckily, then the shipp called the Victory, which only of her 5.
consorts escape.], went about the world, and returned laden with Clones: where of I haue
spoake at large in his proper place. Cabot required of Caesars treasury a flecte of 4.
shippes furnished with all things necessary for the Sea, and with conuenient peeces of
ordinance, & saith y he had foud cosorts at Siuil, f mart towne of all Indian mar-
chandi^ics, who vpon hope of great gaine, voluntarily offered tenn thousad Ducates
tow irds the victuallinge of J flcete, & other necessaryes. About the Ides of September
Cn bot was sent away from vs to offer bonde to the consorts who weere partners with him.
It it fell out well hce shall haue part of the gaine of those that contribute their moy, of
euery one according to his rate. It remayneth (most noble Prince) that with some likely

& probable

Tfie aeucnth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEIIIES.

& probable argiimet it be tlcrlnred, why I snytl, he wold rcUirn in shorter lime then the
Victory, & why we Hhoiild think thin matter should more happily micceede, least moiicd
with a windy breath wee Hccme de-tirou.^ to yccid a reason of future euentn. Cnbot is
about to depart the next moncth of Auijust in the yeere 1525. and no sooner surely,
because thinj^es necessary for such a matter of im|(ortance can neither bee prepared
beefore, nor by the course of the heauens, oii^ht hee to beginn that voyaj^e before that
time: for then he must direct his course tnwardes the TEquinoctiall, when the sunne
(depriuing vs of summer, and the |pn;>th of ^daycs) beminneth to goe to ^ Antipodes.
For he is not oncly to goe the direct way ft) the tropik of (!anccr and the /Equator, but
also 45. degrees to the Antantick to tlic furthest bounde of C.ipricornes, vnder which the
mouth of the Straightes of Nf.igellane lye, by a way traded at other menns charge, and with
the death of many, and not by bywaves, and diners delaycs, and turninges about, as
Magellane must ncedes dee, who through carcfull l.ibours, and diners hard calamities spent
three yeares, wandringe in that Nauigitiion, and of a (lecte of fine shippes, together with
the greater part of hid company, lost fower, and his owne life in the ende. Of these
thinges I haue sufficiently spoken at large in the Parallcll compassed, directed to Adrian
the Pope. For this cause therefore hee will sayle it in a shorter time, for that he is to
direct his course by coasts hcthcrto vnknowne, but now very well knowne. But in that we
suppose it wilbe with more prosperous successe, & better fortune, we may gather from
hence. At what time the d.iyes are shortest with the people of the North, Cabot shall ,^i^"^.^'"^
haue them longest. He shall therefore commodiously runne alonge those shoarcs, while of sayimgc
(hauinge passed the windingc Straii;ht of Magellane, next to the Doggstarr) he direct his
course to the right hande, on the backe side of our supposed Continent, whereof our
former Decades dedicated to Ascanius, your vncle, and the Popes, Leo, and Adrian are
full, and shall returne by the Zone of Capricorne to the i'Equator in which space hee shall
fmde an innumerable number of Hands seated in that huge Sea. But whence the hope of
great riches ariseth vnto vs, you shall heare. The fleete of Magellane, hauing passed J,*« "«" "'
through the straight, sought out with so great calamity of the men, leaning all the Ilandes "^""'
they mett with, and sawe a farr of both on the right hand and on the left, directed their
eyes, and their course alwayes to the Maluchas, for all their care was of taking the
Maluchas. Searchinge by the way what euery one of the other llads brought forth he
cursorily passed ouer: although in many of them hee landed for watering, 8c takinge in of
wood or necessary barteringe of things for victualls, yet he made litle stay, and in that
short abode, hee searched the commodities of euery Hand (whereunto hee went) with
signes, and beckes, as well as he could, and vnderstood that in some of them the sanda
were mixed with much gold. And he further learned that in other of them, shrubbes or
smale bushes of the best Cinamom grewe, which are like to the Pomgranate, of which
precious barkes (as Maynus and Guillinus can testifie) I got some smal peeces. He like«
wise heard of great pearls, & other precious stones, things of noe slight regard. He
determined to deferr the better searching of these Hands vntill a more conuenient time,
with open mouth and panting spirite gaping only after the Maluchas: but plottinge to
attempt great matters in his mynde, cruell fortune violently draue him into the handes of
a barbarous and almost a naked nation, to be slainc, as hath bin spoaken in his place. If
therefore from a voyage and speedy nauigation,.neuer open to any beefore this, they gather
such probabilities of the excellency of those Handes, what is not to bee hoped, concerninge
the procuring of a setled tradinge with those Handers? For they must be curteously
handled, & dealt with, without any violence and iniury, and with curteous vsage & gifts,
they wilbe inticed. For those ten thousad Ducates, which Cabot is to haue of his cosorts
are to be bestowed vpon ^ busines, that victuall for two yeres may bee prouided and wages
giuen to 150. men, the other part remaining, shalbe imployed vpo warrs, & marchandise
such as they know wilbe acceptable to the Handers, to the intent, they may wilingly giue
such things as they lightly esteeme, naturally growing aV the, for exchiige of our c6-
moditis, vnknown to the, for they know not the pestilent vse of mony, & whatsoeuer is

strage.

■'I. '

;.t. •

'im

C3i

A^OYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlic seucnih Decade.

SH--

Tlic wcinJcrfuU
vertiie of i
rouiit:iintr in
'J'ciia Florida
not.lily dis-
coursed of.

stragc, Sc brought fro foniinc coutryes, ciicry natio accouteth it a precious thing. These
throughly viewed, & hadled \V prudet diligoce, they will secure alog all f South side of
our supposed Continet, & arriue at j' Colonvcs of Pannama and Nata erected on those
shores, the boundes of the golden Casteclc : the wliosoeuer at that time, shalbce gouernour
of that Prouince (of the Continent) called golden Castile, will certifie vs of the succcsse.
For wee thinke of the changinge of many Gouernours, least they wax insolent through to
longe custome of Empire and soueraignty, especially such as were noe conquerers of
the Prouinces, for concerning these Captaincs, another reason is considered: who wee
shall vnderstande the fleete hath sett sayle we will pray for their happy and prosperous
successe.

The seuenth Chapter.

13Vt first another fleete shall depart to goe for the Maluchas, that th- possessid taken,
may be maintained, nor shall it be any impediment, that hee hath admitted the king of
Portugall for his sonne in lawe, to whom Caesar hath giuen Catharine his sister of the
whole bioud to wife, borne after the death of his father, a most delicate young woman of
seuenteene yeeres old, & a most beantifull and wise mayden. It is a vaine & idle rumor
of the pcojile, that Cassar hath agreed with the king of Portugall to discharge his handes
thereof, by reason and occasion of her dowry, being so exceeding great, and rich an in-
heritance although hee complayne it will bee pernicious vnto him, and to the vtter destruc-
tion & vndoinge of his poore kingdome sometimes an Earldomc of Castile, if hee bee
dc])riued of that intercourse of trading. Besides, Caisar (who is very wise) thiiiketh it
incete to pronide that so great iniury bee not done to the kingdomes of Casteele (which it
concerneth) bciing the best sinewes of all his power. Let this digression suffice concern-
inge the lucaian:; Chicora, Duhare, the Tropirkes ^quinocti;ill, and such like. Now let
mee report some new thinges out of order, which Giliinus affirmed would bee acceptable
vnto you. And let vs beginn with the most notable miracle of nature, wherein wee
will first declare what is reported, next, what is the oj)inion of the Philosophers con-
cerninge the same, and lastly v.hnt our dul judgment conceiueth thereof, as our manner
is in all thinges whatsoeuer, hardly to bee credited. In my former Decades, which
wander through the world in print, mention is made of the fame and report of a
fountaine, and they say, the secret force thereof is such, that through drinkinge and
bathinge therein, the vse of that water maketh them that are growne old, wax younge
againe : I relyinge vpon the examples of Aristotle, and our Pliny, may presume to repeat
and commit to writingt, what menu of great authority dare boldly speake. For neither did
the one write of the nature of liuinge creatures, which hee hadd scene, but by the only
report of them whom Alexander Macedo appointed to search the si.me at his great charge,
or did the other note two and twenty thousand thinges woorthy the obseruinge without re-
lyinge vpon others reports, and writinges. But they whom I cite in my Decades (besides
the letters of such as are absent, and their report by word of mouth who often goe, and
refurne hcther) arc, that Dene, Aiglianus the Senator a lawier before reherscd, and also the
third, Licentiatus Figuema sent to Hispaniola, to be Praisident of the Senate, and to require
acrompt of all the magistrates of their goucrnment, and to direct at his plea^^ure things mis-
cnrrycd, and maintaine that which was diroctlv done, to fauour the good, and punish the
euill. These three agree that they had heard of the fountaine restoringe strength, and that
they pt'rtly ueleeued the rcportes : but they sawc it not, nor proued it by experience, be-
cause the inhabitants of that Terra Florida haue sharpe nayles, and are eager defenders of
their right. They rcfu-e to intcrtaine any guests, especially .such, who goe about to take
away their liberty, & possesse their country soyle. The Spaniards brought thethcr by ship
from Hispaniola, & by a shorter cutt from Cuba, often determined to subdue them and set
fooling on their shoares : but as often as they attempted the matter so often were they re-
pulsed, ouerthrown, & slaine by the inhabitants, who (though but naked) yet fight they
with many kindes ot cartes, and poysoned arrowes. The Deane gaue one example

heereof.

iilh Decade.

TJie scuenth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

635

heereof. Ilee hath a hicaian one of his houshold seriiants surnamed Andreas Barbatus, for that '"'« '""''" <>f
hee haiiinge a beard, escaped amonge his beardles countrymen. This fellow is savdc tohaue,'u"a'iroid'mj''
had a father now greiuously oppressed with old age. Wherefore moiied with the fame of that '■"omes yonj
foiintaine, and allurt'd through the lone longer of lyfe, hauinge prepared necessary prouision'^'""'
for his iourncy, he went from his naliiie Ilande neere vnto the country of Florida, to drinke
of the desired fountainc, as our countrimen doe from Rome or Naples to the Puteolane bathes,
for the rccoiiery of their health. Hee went, and stayd, and hauinge well drunke and washed
himselfe for many dayes, with the appointed remedies by them who kept the bath, hee is
reported to haue brought home a manly strength, and to haue vscd all manly exercises, and
that hee married againe, and begatt children. The sonne bringcth many witnesses heereof,
amonge them who weere carried away from his country luraia, who alTirme they sawe hi:n
almost oppressed with decrepit age, and after that fiourishinge, and lusty in strength, and
ability of body. But I am not ignorant, that these thinges arc reported, contrary to the opinion
of all Philosophers, especially Phisitians, who thinke that no returne may possibly bee from
the Priuation to the Habit: in the aged I confessc, the watery, and ayery vapours of the
radicall humor are either expelled, or at the least diminished, but the terrestriall predominant
which is cold, & drye, hath power to conuert yf substance of all meats & drinkes into her
corrupt, & melancholy nature, I doe not assent, that dayly more & more cuen to the cor-
ruption thereof, that dulnesse decayed increaseth, the naturall heate failingc. Therefore hee
that dares not beleeue any thinge but that which is probable, & vsuall it wilbe demanded, how
this may be, which they say. Amonge the assertions therefore of these, and the powerful!
arguments of the auncicnt wUe menu, whether sv> great power (exceptingc diuine miracles)
may bee giuen to Nature wee doubtingc thereof: not by the medicines of Medea wherewith Nature.
the Grecians fable her father in law Eson v -^ restored to youth : nor moucd by the inchaunte-
ments of Circe, concerninge the compani^ us of Vlysses transformed into beasts, and brought
home againe : but taught by the example of bruitc beasts, we determine to dispute of this so
strange a matter, and impossible in the iudgment of many, least wee iudge menu of so great
authority to haue spoken altogether in vaine. First of the Egle renuinge her age, and then sn'l,kes''rf n -
of snakes, wee reade that hauinge cast their old skinnc, and Icauinge the spoyle amonge the !heir .ipc
brakes, or narrow clefts of rocks or stones, they wax yonge againe. The same is also sayd of ^'" "'"■
the Hart (if it bee a true narration) that hauinge sucked in an Aspe by the nostrels (which
he hath long sought) lyinge hid in vnmortcred wallcs, or within the limits of hedges, in the
winter time, he waxelh soft and tender like sodden flesh through force of the poyson, and
wholly changinge his old skinnc, taketh new flesh, and new blood againe: what shall we
sav of Rauens, and Crowes abstayninge from drinkinge in sommer about the SoUtitium, ^'"""•""'

- . ■ . 1 <•!(•• 1 1 • 1 1 1 • • !• 1 • Crowes ahstriii-

duringe the blastesol the furious doggstarr, beingc faught by the instinct ol nature, that in ing from drii.k-
those dayes the waters of founfaines, and riuers are vnwholsom, flowinge at that time from j"Sji> <iie lUv
the menstruous wombe of the earth ? And of certaine others beside, of whose jjrouidencc,
no foolish and ignorant authors haue deliuercd many thinges to posterity to bee read. If
these things bee true, ifwoondcr working nature bee delighted to shew herselfe so bowntifull mc^lj.' '"'"'"'
iind so powerfull in dumbe creatures not vnderstaudingc the excellency thereof, as likewise
vngratefuU : what woondcr is it, if al<o in that which is more excellent, it engender and
nourish some like thinge in her fruitefnll bosome so full of variety ? Out of the properties
of waters runninge through diners passages of the earth, and drawinge thence diuers colours,
odors, tastes, and qualities, as also diuers waightes, we see diuers ell(?cts produced. No
lesse also is manifestly known, that diuers diseased are euery where cured by the rooics,
bodves, leaucs, flowers & fruites of Trees. Aboudinge fleame also being killed, or to oi priuation a
speake more properly destroyed, choler aiiseth : & contrarily the goodnes of the blood ''''"'■
bein<r corrupted, the purifying thereof by diminishing the same, is founde to be llie iuice of
flowers or hearbes, or by eating thereof, or by bathes, & medicines ap|)ropriatcd for y
purpose. Whereupon y humors Ijeing repressed, health ix conuayed to y ^jcke by smiting
y patient. If therefore, as it is manifest, tliesc thinges fall out thus in tlicm, why shall we
marucll, but that Nature beeing also a prouidcnt mother, may ?s well nourish sonic radicall

humour

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G36

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The seuenth Decade.

The m.mner of
tilt tskijisc of
Giucuni.

An o^jicctioil
.: lowered.

humour to represae that terrestriall part, so that the watery and ayery vapors beinge restored, the
naturall hcate decayed might bee renuedinthe blood, which arisiiigc, the dull heauines itseife
may bee tempered, and all these beeinge restored, an old house supported, by such helpes,
may bee repayred. I should not therefore so greafely woonder at the waters of that foun-
t;iine so much spoken of, if they bringe with them some secret vnknowne power to moderate
that crabbed humor, by restoringe the ayery and watery vertues. Nor yet may your Excel-
lency thinke that this is easily obtained or that these thiiiges ought to bee done without torture,
and distance of time, without fastinge, and abstinence from plcasinge and delightfull meats
and drinkes, or without drinkinge vnsauory potions vnpleasing to the tast: they ako who are
desirous of longe life, sufler their difficulties, as they who seeke bathes, and such as desire to
be cured of the troblsome disease of the poxe, which some thinke to be the Leprosie. For
hcereby occasion of takinge Guacum a comon wood in Hispaniola, they abstaine thirty dayes
from all accustomed meates and drinkes especially from wine, & the Phisitians bringe them to
such a dulnes through that fastinge that I shouldthinke a thousande kindes of diseases might bee
remoued without drinkinge the decoction of Guacum, which for the whole space of that time
tliey only vse. Let vs now answere a secret obiection,whichat the first sight may seeme legiti-
mate and iust. Some haue sayd : we haue not at any time seene or heard of any man, who at-
tained that gift of Nature, but both hartes, & snakes, and E<;!es, and other liuinge creatures of
this kiiide, by the iudgement of wise men renuinge their old age, wee see them euery where
dye, after a fewe yeares of their age and surely they relye vpon no meane and foolish argument.
To these I answere as few men haue the gift to be sharpe witted & ingenious, or to knowe
what wisdome is, so is it not permitted to all Egles, harts, and Rauens to enter into the know-
ledge of this secret. For the knowledge of thinges in bruite beasts is diners, as in menn
and though they knowe a secret, it may not yet be granted, that they shall haue power to
inioy it, seeinge they may bee terrified with the memory of torments past, and the discom-
Thf nijs-rycs of mooities of a longe life : so that they care not to returne to that sliopp to buy such wares. It
must needes bee an hard mater for the fourefooted beastcs, and such foules to indure so many
winter coldes againe so many scorchinges of the summer sunne, and often wantes of foode.
But it is much more horrible for a man, by reason of the intermixed troubles, and vexation
of the minde, which the dumbe beasts want, and for a thousand miseryes, and casualties in the
diuers interchaungeable courses of humane affaires, whereto hee is subiect, and for the
cause whereof, it often repenteth many that they euer came foorth of their mothers wombe,
how much more to desire longer yeares through the straight and narrowe passages of fire and
water. Who so desire the highest degrees in the wheele of fortune, more bitterly gnawe vp-
pon these meats : prouident nature therefore hath appointed the terme & ende of life for a
mhf'r of speciall benefit vnt) men, least they should either be too much puffed vp in pride through
long life, or fallinge into aduersity, they should despaire, and therefore reuile her with
cursed speeches. But if pcraduenture any haue deceiued nature by such like artes and de-
uises, in searchinge out her secrets, and puttinge the same in practise, so that they knowe
how to prolonge life, it is to bee siiposed, that happeneth but to a fewe, nor to those fewe
in such excellent manner, that they can bee made immortall or permitted to inioy so rare a
prerogatiue any longe time. Let this be sufficient and more than enough, that I haue wan-
dred in these arguments : And let euery one collect, or reiect, from them at his pleasure.
For these my writinges, whatsoeuer ihey bee, yet are they to goe to Rome vnder your Excel-
lencyes name, to the intent I may bee obedient to honorable persons greatly desiringe the
same. Let vs also report cerfaine other thinges, though not impo.ssible to bee credited, yet
to be admired, because not knowen to any European, or inhabitante of the world hether to
discouered. In the Ilande of Feriiandina, which is Cuba, a fountaine of pitchy water bursteth
Such if.nmaine out, wcc hauB scenc the pitch brought vnto Ca;sar, and it is .somewhat softer then the pitch
'""'"*''"■" '"^i, of the tree, yet fit for the colouringe and beesprincklinge of the keelcs of shippes and other
accustomed vses: and my selfe pausinge a little at the straungenes of the matter, seeinge wee

i^hort life the

pruui.lence of

nature

the Uod of Hi'

turci

ImmortaUa hie
nc spcies.

A fount.-.ine of
Pitchy water,

in Shropshire .
a place called

o^Canuitinmk' hauc the like euent euery where before hande in a differinge thinge, I cease to woonder. Omit-
ethmemioniii tingc thc Salt of thc Mountuinc, of the pitts, and of the Sea coast, if the waters, retained in

his Britannia. ° ,

voyde

The seventh Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

637

voyde places (as liappeneth in all the kingt-wines of Casteele) fallingedowne somewhere by the
steepe mountaines, be conucrtetl through the feriient heate of the scorchinge sunne into hard
and congealed salt, w!io will woonder, but that by the same purpose of nature, the like may also
bee done, concerninge the waters of that fountaine, brought by floodes to little trenches, and
lowe receptacles without the Channell of the running riuer itselfe, or vnto a plaine plott of
groundc may bee thickened, and incorporated into hard pitch, the vehement heate of the s.inne
fallinge thereupon ? There is yet another thing not to bee omitted. In the same Ilande ol Fer-
nandina there is a mouiitainc which yeeldeth stone bullettes, which are so roundc, that they ofamoctaine
could not bee made rounder by any artificer, and these bulletts equal! the waight of mettall, fit ",'gtndTrhfge'*
to fiillfill the raging madnes of princes in the warres. That Licentiatus Figueroa, who ( as I "one buUcts.
sayde) wa:? made cheefe Praesident of all the magistrates of Hispaniola, to require an ac-
compt of the gouernment administred by them, brought many, all which, wee sawe presented
vnto Caesar: from the arquebusse bullette, that mountaine ingendereth bulletts fitt for the
Canon, and the Culuerin. I vse the vulgar woordes, and names seeinge the auncient Latine
tongue wanteth them, and I may lawfully cloth such thinges with ncwe apparel), as newely
arise, seeing (by their ieaue that deny it) I desire to bee vnderstoode. We also sawe such
as he brought, which are not lesser than a filberd nutt, nor bigger than a smale tennis ball.
Yet hee affirmeth that both the lesser, and the greater growe there, of their owne Nature :
wee gaue one of them to a smith, to bee broaken, t" knowe whether that ttony matter wcere
mingled with any mettall : the hardnes thereof is such, that it almost broal.e the smithes ham-
mer, and his anuile, beel'ore it would bee beaten in peeces, which beeing broaken asunder
they iudged there were some vaines of mettall therein but of what nature they made no fur-
ther search. These bullets are kept in Caesars Treasury. Certaine other thinges (not vn-
pleasinge) came into my minde. I suppose they wilbee acceptable to your Excellency, or
to your Courtiers desirous to reade, especially such as Hue without serious imployment.

The Eight Chapter.

IN my former Decades, mention is made of an huge Sea Caue in Hispaniola and the
country Guaccaiarima, extending certaine furlonges within high mountaines, where it looketh
towardes the West : by the belly or bagg of this Caue they ^aile. In the furthest darke bay
thereof for that the sunne beames scarce come therein, yet enter into the mouth thereof at
Sunne sett, they who went into the same, sayde, their bowels weere griped with horrible
terrour, through the fearefuU iioyse of the waters fallinge into that hole from an high.
What the inhabitants beeleeue concerninge the mystery of the caue, left in memory from
their great grandfathers, it wilbee a pleasant thinge to hcare. They thinke the Ilande hath a
vitall spirite, and that it bloweth backe from thence, and sucketh in, and that it is fedd, and
doth digest, as an hiddeous and monstrous monster, of the female kinde. They «aye, the
hollow hole of this Caue is the female nature of the Ilande, and thinke it to bee the funda-
ment whereby it purgeth the excrements and casteth out the lilth thereof: and for proofe
heereof, the country hath the name from the Caue, for Guacca is sayd to bee a country, or
neerencs, and larima the fundament, or place of purgation. Wlien 1 heare of these thinges,
I remember what rude antiquitye iudged of that fabulous Demogorgon, breathinge in the
wombe of the worlde, whence they supposed the ebbinge and flowinge of the sea proceeded.
But let vs intermingle some true reports with fables. How happy Hispaniola is in many
things, & how fruitefull of many precious thinges, I haue often spoaken in my former De-
cades to Ascanius, and the Popes, Leo, & Adrianus. They finde therein daily more and more
many sortes of mcdicinable thinges. Concerninge the tree, from whose cutt bodyc, brought
into ponder potable decocted water is made, to drawe the vnhapy disease of the pox out of
the bones and marrowe, I haue both sufficiently spoaken, and now the peeces of lh:it wood
wandering throughout all Europe, make triall thereof. It ingendreth also innumerable sorts
ofsweete smcllinge thinge-* aswell of herbes, as trees, and great plentie of manifold drop-
pinge gummes, u; the number whereof that sort is which the Apothecarycs call Animaj
Album, good for eisinge the paine of the head, & giddines. A certaine liquor also almost

i N like

or a hugr >a
Caue in His-
paniola and a
pleasant storie
thereof.

Dcmognigon.
Hispaniola.

Of the tre that
cures the i>oi.

Anima album.

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638

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The seuenth Decade.

A itriingc rt-
port of a iish a
hunter of (ishcs
woith the
leading.

1 '

if!''

hi, -<^

The Matininian
Hand inhah'ited
by n-omen after
the manner of
the Amazoni.

Margarita an
Hand of pearls.
Of a bay necre
M.iri^arita
which h^th a.
; \cclient prc-
ro^atiues.

like oy'e, issiieth out of certaine trees. A certaine learned Italian named Codrus, trauaiiinge
oner those places, to search the natures of things, hauinge leaue graunted him (for noe
straunger may lawfully doe it otherwise) persuaded the Spaniardes that it had the force of
Balsamum. Now let vs repeate a few thinges of the fish wherewith they hunt to take other
fishes. This, sometime prouoked mee a little to chollcr. In my first booke of my Decade.^
dedicated to Ascanius, if I well remember, amonge other admirable thinges, because tliey bee
strange, and not vsuall, I sayd, the inhabitants haue a fish, an hunter of other fishes. Some at
Rome who weere apt to speake euill in the time of Leo, scornfully made a mocke at this, and
many other such like thinges, vntill lohannes Rufus Foroliuiensis the Cusentine Archbishoppe
(retuminge from his 14. yeercs Spanish Legation for lulius the Pope, & Leo who succeeded,
to who whatsoeuer I wrote was well knowne) stopped the mouthcs of manye by his testi-
monye, in defence of my good name. It seemed also very hard for mee to beeleeue it from
the first beginninge. Hereupon I diligentlye inquired of the foresayde menn of authority,
and many others beesides. What the matter might bee concerninge this fish ; Who sayde
they sawe it amonge the fishers, noe le.sse common then wee pursue a hare with a French
dogg, or chase a boare (brought into an inclosure) with a mastiffe, and that, that fish wa.9
sauory meat, and in the forme of an Eele, and beeing no greater, it durst assaile the bigger
fishes, or Tortoyses greater then a target, as a weasel! seisc-th on a stocke dmie, and a greater
pray if hee may come by it, and leapinge vp on the neck thereof, causeth it to dye. But
this fish by euery fi'^her is kept bounde in the side of his boate, tyed with a little corde, the
station of the fish is somwhat distant from the keele of the boate, that hee may not perceiue
the brightnesse of the ayre, which by no meanes hee indureth. But that which is more
admirable, in the hinder part of the heade hee hafh a purse which holdeth very fast, where-
with after hee seeth another fish swimminge by him, hee maketh a signe by his motion of
takinge the praye : the corde beeing loosed, as a dogg vnchained, hee assaileth the praye,
and turninge the hinder part of his heade, castinge that purse-like skinnc vpon the necke
thereof leapeth vpon the pray, if it bee a great fish, but if it bee a mighty Tortoyse hee seiseth
on it where it lyes open from the shell, and neuer looseth his holde till drawing the cord by
little and little he come to the side of the boate. Then if it bee a great fish (for the Hunter
careth not for little ones) the fishers cast their harpinge Irons or hookes into it, and kill it,
and after they drawe it to the view or sight of the ayer, and then the Hunter looseth the
praye : but if it bee a Tortoyse the fishers leape into the Sea, and lyft vp the Tor-
toyse, with their shoulders while the rest of the company may lay hande thereon. The
praye loosed the fish returneth to his appointed place and remaineth fixed there while hee
bee fedd with part of the pray, as an hauke rewarded with the head of a quaile which
shee hath taken, or else, bee sent backe againe to Hunte. Of the education or traininge
vp of this fish vnder his Maister I haue sufficiently spoaken in his proper place. The
Spaniardes call that fish Reuersus, because by turninge it sclft- it setteth vpon the pray with
his pur.^!«ke skinne, and taketh it. Concerninge the Matininian Hand, which I sayd, not
that woemen only inhabited after the manner of the Amazones, but reported that I had
heard so: those witnesses leaiie it doubtfnll, as I did then. Yet Alfonsus Argoglius Caesars
priuy CounscUer in the affaires of Casteele, and collector of the reuenues of princly Mar-
gruet Caisars aunt who trauailed through those coasts, affirmetii it to bee a true story and noe
fable. 1 deliucr what they declare. The same Deane told mee certaine other thinges, not
vnworthy the reporting, many approuinge the same. There is another Hand distant from
Hispaniola about some 700. myles, next adioyninge to the Continent, named Margarita for that
an infinite number of pearles are gathered there, out of shelfish : thn'y myles distant from
Margarita in the Continent lies a Bay in forme of abowc, like a Cressaunt or new moone,
like the Iron shooe of^ a mule, the Spaniard calleth such a Bay an Elbowe. In circuit it is
about some 30. myles : and is very famous for two prerogatiues. Whatsoeuer is washed either
by the flood or stormy tempests on the shoare thereof, is full of salt : yet the ebbinges, and
flowinges are very smale in all those coasts, to the northward ; but in the South coasts it is
contrary. Another prerogatiue is this that there is so great a benefitt and so infinite a multi-
tude

The seuenth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

639

tilde of fishes, especially of Pollardes & MijUetts, in that Baye, that the shippes cannot sayle

through the Baye by rea^Jon of the great number of them, without dai)ger of ouerswayinge,

amonge which the (ishers lighiinge, are stayed for the present : wherefore castinge out their

netts they easily driue the scoole vnto the shoare. There they haue a triple order of seruice- or their catrh-

able attendants : they who stande on the shoare vp to the knees in water reach the fishes onhefr fish'."^"

(which they haue taken with their handes) to the slaughter menn standinge within theshipp,

who hauinge bowelled them cast them into the handes of their fellowes of the third order,

who season the fishes with salt gathered from the shoare, prepared for that purpose. Being

so salted, they spread them in the sunne vppon the sandy plaine, so that in ohe dayes space

they are saued, and preserued, for that the sunne beames are exceedinge hot there, both

beecause they are next vnto the i^quinoctiall, and the plaine is compassed about with moun-

taines, into the which the wheeling sunne beames fall, as also for that naturally the sunne

more vehemently heateth the sande, whereon it beateth, then the cloddy or turfie eurth.

Beeing dryed they gather them euen to the ladinge of their shippes. Of salt in like manner :

so y euery one may freely lade their shippes with both commodities. They fill all the

neighbouringe coutryes with those fishes : nor doth Hispauiola it selfe the generall mother

of those countries, almost vse other salt fish, especially of that kinde. But concerninge

pearles, hmv they bee ingendred, increase, and are taken, I haue at large declared in my

former Decades. The same men of authority also (whom I haue often at home with mee by

reason of the affaires wherewith they haue to doe in our Senate ) say, there are two smale Baho& Zatc

riuers in Hispaniola, and the Priorye of the Conception, the one called Baho, the other Zate, hu "nio'ia me-

relayninge their auncient country names. Now the Spaniardes by reason of the medicinabledidnabie waters.

properties thereof which I will declare, call them Conualentia, where they ioyne together.

Through so long a voyage at '^ea wherein from the straightes of Gades to the beeginninge of

Hispaniola, they sayled little lesse then 5000. myles through the Ocean, in the view only of

the heauens and waters, through the chaunge also of meates and drinkes, but cheifely of the

aver (for that Hispaniola and Jamaica are situated many degrees to the ^Equinoctial beyonde

the Tropick of Cancer, but Cuba standeth in the very line of the Tropick which the Philo-C'''' situate m

sophers (some few excepted) thought to bee vnhabited through the scorching heate of theTro,Swhi^h

sunne) they sav, that such as lately came vnto them, for the most part fell into diuers *tl'^^'i"'°^°t'""

,. ' ,1 'i r 1 • T^i ir» • thouglit to be

diseases, and they who v<.nt vnto tns waters of the riuers Baho, and Zate, now inter- inhabitable.
mingled in one Channel, with drinkinge, & washing therein, were purged and densed,
in the space onely of fifteene dayes and in as many more were perfectly cured of the
paine of the sinewes, and marrowe, and such also as had burninge feuers, & weere
payned with the swellinge of the lunges, were healed : but if they indeuored to wash them
seluca, or vse them longer, they shoulde fall into the bloodie flixe. Thereupon, they
who desire to gather golde out of the sandes thereof ( for there is noe riucr that yeeldeth Marke thi.
not golde nor any part of the earth without golde) dare not send diggers or labourers^"""""'
into the Channels of those riuers before noone or suffer them to drinke those waters,
though they bee plea.'^ant, and well relishinge, beecause they easily procure the flixe,
esperiall in such as bee healthy and sounde. The same menn also say, that in the
North angle of the country of Guacca larima of Hi-ipaniola, many Handes i^f a smale Giiarai,.nn.i.
circuit lie together in a short tract, which they thinke were sometimes ioyned One of
these excelleth the rest for notable fishing called labbaque producinge the last sillabie saue labaque an Hand
one : the sea betweene those Handes in some places is very shallowe, and full of shoulds, fi^hingc'
but lieere and there betweene, lie deepe pitts, and huge and many whirlepooles. They say, wiiirie pooies
the pitts or deepe places, are filled all the yecre with diners fishes, as it were, gathered ""''''"■
together into a ,^afe place of succour as the owner may swecpe heaped come out of the
floore, so Tthey atlirme) such as goe thether may after the same manner deale with the fishes
and with litle trouble, and pa nes they may lade their shippes. It is a pleasant thinge to ofdeunming
heare, what they report concc^ninge certaine sea foiiles, eagles, and great vultures, by their pi" sant rci.ncr.
spcaches I coniecture them to bee the raueninge foules called Onocrotaly : For (they say)
they haue a wide and large throate so that one of them swallowed halfe a rugge whole,
wherewith a soldier couered himselfe, which hee cast vpon the foulc seisinge vpon him with

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640

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The sctienth Decade.

51 VI /

MV'

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open mouth in the sight of all the standers by, and (they say) it was plucked out of the
throate of the deade foule, without any losae or harme done vnto the garment. It is reported
sheedcuoured liuinge fishes of fiue pounde waight at one swallowe, and greater. But when
they arc fcdd with fishes, it will not bee amisse to tell, after what manner they get the pray
swimminge vnder water in the Sea, seeinge they diue not as other seafoules Geese, Duckes,
Sc cormorants do : wheeling about and mountinge aloft into the ayre like Kites, and wanton
sportinge foules, they watch when the finh commeth to the brimme of the water to the bright
ayre. For there is a great flocke of them that flye houeringe about, so that sometimes many
of them furiously cast themselues downe together to take the praye, insomuch as the sea it
selfc is opened an armes length and an halfe wide : with that great noyse the fish floteth
amazed, and sufferelh himselle to bee taken. Two of the company for the most part take
one fish : then is it a delightfull and plcasinge spectacle to bcehold their conflict from the
ships, if they happen to bee present, or else to looke vppon them from the shoare: neyther
of them Icaueth the pray, while hauing torne it in peices, each of them bring away their

Th«d""iption parte. They say it is a birde with a bill of a spanne and an halfe long, & more hooked and

I y OH e. pjQ].p(j^ ii^g,^ j„,y otiicr rauening foule hath, with a very long neckc, and with much more

wide and spreading wings, then an Eagle or Vuitur, but so carrion leane, that it scarse

equalleth the flesh of a Ringdoue. Therefore to sustaine the waight of her huge throate,

prouident nature hath giucn her great winges, seeing shee had no neede thereof to carry her

ParMtiofdiueri light body : the Spaniardes call these fowles Alcatrazes. Those countries abound with many
other fowles besides, vnknowne to vs : but especially Parrats of diners colours, and bignes of
body, which equal! cocks, and exceede them in greatnes, and which are scarce so bigge as a
little sparrow, are found there : and great multitudes of Parrats are no lesse commonly in-
gendred there, then Rauen^ and layes with vs : and it is there generall foode, as biackbirdes,
and Turtles are with vs, and they nourishe Parrats at home for delicacy and delight, in steede
of Linnets, or Pyes. There is also another gilt of nature not to bee concealed.

The ninth Chapter.

IN Hispaniola there is a Colony full of Ilauens, called Zanana, because it lyeth in Zanana,
that is to say, a moorish and grassie plaine, commodious for the nourishing and feeding of
Oxen, and horses, for the Spanyarde calleth the like plaine Zanana : this Colonie hath a
famous riuer. At certaine times of the yeere, it receiueth such store of raine water into the
channell, that it filleth all the plaine (though very large) the letts of hillesand limitts with-
standing, that the waters cannot haue their free course into the hauen : and that flood bringeth
with it so great plenty of Eeles, that the riuer returning to the channell, the Eeles remayne
a farre oRon the dry land as it were intangled among the marish weedes, and thicke canes,
whiche naturally grow there. At report and fame thereof, the Mariners with the consent of
the borderers, if at any (ime they went in due season, might lade their shippes with that fish
if they pleased : but if after the flood, ( as it often falleth out through the diuers disposition of
the heauens) such as seeke Eeles prolong or deferre their comming, or if impatient of delayes
they purpose to be gone, because they went before them, least the inhabitants exceeding
abundance of putrified Eelcs, corrupt the avre, they driue heards of swine into the plaine,
& make a dainty feast to the hoggs, whereof (of a fewe carried thether from hence) there is
an incredible multitude in those Ilandes. By the nature and inclination of the heauen, all
foure footed beasts ure cyther great with young, or giue sucke to their young, all
the yeere long, and oftentimes both : they aflirme that young Cow-calues, & Mare-
foles conceiue the tenth moncth, and often bring foorth two at one burthen, and that
they line longer then else wher vnder the ayre of our climatts. And this they prone by
one example. The Deanc, of whom I haue often spoken, is reported to haue transported a Cow
to Hispaniola sixc and twenty yeeres since, which is yet lining, and by testimony of the
borderers, ycerely calueth, and hoc vaunted before me (for he is yet with vs) that by that
Cow onely, & her calnes cahies, and successiue ofspring, hee hadd gotten heardes of aboue
800. head of cattle. They report the same of all fowles, that beeing scarce driuen out of the
nest, and but yet growing, they go to ingender new posteritie. Hee is woorthy of another

commendation

The Colony of
Zanani.

Fruitfulnes of
Cattle.

The Deane of
the Conception
his Cow.

Fruitfulhiea of
fowles.

ijt

Tlic seiicnth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

commendation among the Inhnbitantes of the Priory of the Conception, the scate of his
creanery, that he was the first that planted the trees of Cassia fistula, the former by liuing
Deatures, the other, by plantin<; himselie whereby they say, they grew to haue such plenty
of those trees (as great as Mulbery trees) in Hispaniola, Cuba, and lamaica, (whose rich
abbiiike Priory gratious Cassar lately gaue me) that within few yeeres we may thinke, a
pound thereof will be valued at that price for which the Apothecaries nowe sell an ounce.
But there ariseth no sweet or liquerish thing in humane atfaires, but it bringelh some cockle
with if. So great abundance of ants runneth to the smell of tiicse trees, ihat whatsoeuer is Amei.
Bowed among them, or neere about them is deuoiired by them, so that they now become very
troublesome to the Inhabitants. They report pleasant stories concerning the coddes of this The melody
tree, or rather sheathes by reason of their length. The windes blowing, especially when J^jJ^'-.^^he'''
they begin to ripen, there is such a conflict betweene them, that a thousand flockes of geese Cmituet.
and duckes seeme to make a noyse or gagle among them. By that concourse, through the
quality of the tart or ripe iuyce, or through the waight of the small seedes, and marrow or
substance of the codd, they say that sweete melodies of diners sounds are caused. Con-
cerning the tree, which I might rather call a stalke or stem of an herbe, because it is pithy,
like a thistle, not solid, although it arise to the heigth of a bay tree, many things are to
be repeated: but heereof mention is briefly made in my former Decades. They who
inioy this tree, call it a Plane tree, although it differ very muche from a Plane tree. The PUne
and hath no resemblance or affinity with the Plane tree. For the Plane tree is a solid "■"•
tree, full of boughes, and more full of Icaues then other trees, barren, high or tall, and
long iast! ;g, I suppose your Excellencie, hath sometimes heard. But this, as I sayd,
is almost bare, and empty, yet fruitefull, a little branching, dull, and brickie, with one
twigg onely, wivl'out boughes, contented with a few leaues an armes length and an halfe
from tlie top, and two spans broad, from the bottome sharpe, very like the leaues of
canes or reedes, when they become weake through the cold of winter, they hang their
heades, and bowe themselues downe to the ground, drawne with their own waight, and this
tree is so prodigall and lauishe of her vegetatiue life, that it withereth, waxeth olde, and The Cassia tree
dyeth the ninth month from the time it beganne to growe, or when it continueth longest, wiXVeih ?n''
the tenth. It suddenly groweth, and being growne vp, it nourisheth a few clusters or "!'«'"<"»«''«•
bunches of berries, from the body thereof Eucry cluster bringeth foorth thirty codds, and
sometimes a few more. These, in the Hands grow in the clusters to the very precise forme
and bignes of a garden cucumber, and so become greater, but in the Continent much bigger:
the greene ones are sower, and tart, but being ripe they waxe white, or shining. The pulpa
or substance thereof is very like freshe butter, both in softnes, and fast, it seemeth vnpleasant
to him that first tasteth it, but to such as are accustomed thereunto, it is most delightfull.
The .(Egyptian common people bable that this is the apple of our first created Father Adam, The opinion of
whereby hee ouerthrewe all mankinde. The straunge and forraine Marchantes of vnprofit- ' ° *'*"'"■
able Spices, perfumes, Arabian effeminating odours, and woorthlesse precious stones, tradint";
those Countries for gaine, call those fruites the Muses. For mine owne part, I cannot call to
minde, by what name I might call that tree, or stalke in Latine. I haue read ouer certaine
Latine Authors, and haue questioned some of the younger sort, who professe themselues to be
best Laliniiis, but no man directeth me. Plinie maketh mention of a certaine fruit called
Mixa. One (not vnlearned) sayth, it should be called Mixa, because it seemeth to di tier
little from Musa in the diuersity of the word, or sound. But I coiisr nted not vpto it, because
f'linie .sayth, that wine is made of Mixa. But it is absurd to thinke that wine might be made
of this. I haue scene many of these, and haue not eaten a fe we, at Alexandria in ^gypt,
when for my Catholike Princes Fernando and Elizabcta, I executed my Soldanian Legation.
It is farre from my iudgement and conceit, that wine may bewronge out of it. Now let vs
declare whence this tree came to the Spaniards the Inhabitants of those countries, and why it
is now so little regarded and accepted. They say, it was first brought from that part of rhtCasMa
.Ethiopia commoly called Guinea, where it is very familiar, & common, and groweth of the first brought
owne accord : being set, or planted, it is enlarged to such a growth and increase, that many o'«of Guinea,

repent

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649

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tfie scucnth Decade.

lir

The Cassii
where it is
pldiited muketh
the eirth bjrreii
and cannot be
killed.

A tn

A tree that
Ciriietli wuoll.

Besuciim 3 tree
whereof routs
ue made,

Tlie deuils dc-
^jart, the Sjia-
niardes come in,
which is worst.

A discourse of
gnats and hnw
they are caught
by the Cucuij.

repent that ciier tliey nourished or planted it in their country farmes : whcref.oeiier it is
once pi lilted, it maketh the rarth vnprofitable for the inrrea.se of other things (contrary to
the liberality of Lnpine.s, which fatten the sr"U"'l with their twi.sted grasse or stalkes) it
nonrisheth and spreadeth ihe rcotes thereof more aboiiiidantly then the fearn of the moim-
taines, so that the field that hath receiued it can ncuer any more be purged or cleansed with
any j)low-share, or mattock, but tliroiigh the perpetuail growth thereof, arising from euery
little or hayry rootc, new sprouts bud foorth againe, which so suck the lining mother, when
they conic foorth from the bottoine of the body of the free, that they drawe out all the
strength thereof, and bring it to vntimeiy destruction. The like also happeneth afterward to
the sprouts themselues, as it were in reuenge of their impietie towards their mother, that
hauing yeclded fruite, they presently dye : it is so brickie, and frnyle, that although it swell
to the bignes of a mans thigh, and grow to the hcigth of a Lawrell tree, as hath beene sayd,
yet it is easily ouerthrownc or cut downe witl) the stroke of a sword, or cudgell, like the
plant of fennell gyant, or of a thistle. There is a tree in Hispaniola (and in the iuri-dictioii
ofanolde king called Mocarix, from whom the country retaineth yet the name) which
cqualleth the broad spreading Mulberry tree ingendring gosampine cotto at the endcs nf the
boughs thereof, no Icsse profitable then that which is sowed euery yeere, and yeeldeth fruite.
Another tree bringeth foorth wooll, as with the Seres, fit for the making of thiecd, and for
weauing. But they haue no vse thereof at all, because now they haue exceeding grtat
plenty of sheepes wooll, yet haue they no workemen to this day, who apply themselues to the
making or spinning of wooll. By little and little they will augment the Mechanicall arts, as
the people increase. Nor is it to bee omitted, by what meanes nature of her ownc accord
giueth them ropes, andcordes. There is no tree almost, from whose rootes, a certaine herbe
like Verben spouteth not, they call it Bexucum, it climeth vp like hoppes by the body of
the tree, holdeth faster then luie, reaching to the highest boughs, and windeth and twistcth it
selfe about the tree in such a multitude of wreathes, that it couereth it, as it were a friendly
helpe, and a little shadow, to secure it from the heate. Nature seenieth to haue ingendred it
to binde great burthens together whatsoeucr, or to sustayne ponderous and waighty thinges,
and also to fasten and tye beanies, and rafters of houses together: they say that the ioynts
set together with Bexucum, are more safely bounde, then those that arc fastened with Iron
nayles: because it neuer either rotteth with the showers of raine, or waxeth drie with the
heate of the Sunne, and that it giueth way a little without breaking, if the house happen to
be shaken with the fury of a violent whirlewinde, beeing all of timber. (The Inhabitantes call
those raging boysterous windes Furacancs, which vse to plucke vp huge trees by the roots,
and often ouerthrow houses;) such as were compact and set together with nayles, the nayles
being plucked out, fell a sunder, but such as the knotty bandes of Bexucum tyed together,
wagged, and wauered onely when they were shaken, and after returned to their place, the
ioynts beeing closed againe. They say, they were greatly vexed with these furious whirle-
windes after our manner, from the very first beginning that Hispaniola was inhabited by our
menne, which blowing, infernall deuils were often scene. But they affirme, that horrible
calamity ceased, since the Sacrament of the Eucharist was vsed in the Hand, and that the
deuils were no more scene, which familiarly vsed to shew themselues to auncient people in
the night : therefore they themselues made their Zemes, that is to say, their Idols which they
adored, of wood, or of Gosampine cotton stufTed to the hardnes of a stone, in the likenes of
walking spirites, as paynters vsed to drawe hobgoblins vpon the walles to terrific and aflfright
men from errors. Amonge other things I sent two of those Zemes (brought thence by Colonus
the first discouerer of the secrets of the Ocean) to Ascanius your vnclc, while his fortune was
a mother. Of Bexucum, as many cubits as one hath neede of for his present vse, euery one
may draw out as it were I)v one continued threed. Let this suffice for Bexucum : now let vs
endeuour to declare another .idmirable benefitt of nature. In Hispaniola and the rest of the
Ocean Ilandes, there are plashy and marish places, very fitt for the feeding of heardes of cattell.
Gnattes of diuers kindes, ingendred of that moyst heate greiuously afflict the Colonies, seated
on the brinke thereof, and that not onely in the night, as in other countries : therefore the

inhabitant)!

nth Decade.

The scHcnth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

643

inhnbitants build low houses, and make little doores therein, scarce able to rccciue the
maistcr, aiid without holes, that the gnats may haue no entrance. And for that cause also
they fbrbeare to light torches, or randels, fcr that the pnatts bv naturall instinct follow the
light, yet ncucrthelcsse they often finde a way in. Nature hath giuen that pestilent mis-
cheife, and hath also giuen a remedy, as she hath giuen vs catles to destroy the filthy
progeny of miso, so liath .shee giuen them prety, and commodious hunters, which they
call Cucuij. These be hariclcs winged wormes, somewhat Icsse then backes or reeremise,
I shouldc rather call them a kinde of beetles, because they haue other winges after the
same order, vnder their liard winged sheath, which they close within the sheath when they
leaue flying. To this lining creature (as we see llyes shine by night, and certaine sluggish
woormes lying in thicke hedj^cs) prouident nature hath giuen foure very clearc looking
glasses: two in the seate of the eyes, and two lying hid in the flanke vnder the sheath,
which he then sheweth, when after the manner of the beetle, vnsheathing his thin
winges, he taketh his flight into the ayre, whereupon cuery Cucuius bringeth foure
lights or candels with him. But how they arc a remedy for so great a mischeife,
as is the stinging of these gnatts, which in sonic places arc little lesse then bees, it is a

!\U'asi\i\t thing to hcare. Hee, who eyther vnderstandeth he hath those troublescrne guestes
thegnattcs) at home, or feareth least they may get in, diligently hunteth after the
Cucuij, which hee deceiueth by this meanes and industry, which necessity (effecting The msnerrf
wonders) hath sought out. Whoso wanteth Cucuij, goeth out of the house in the first "'''"?. ''^'
twilight of the night, carrying a burning fier-brande in his hande, and ascendeth the next
hillockc, that the Cucuij may see it, and swingeth the fier-brande about calling Cucuius
aloud, and beateth the ayre with often calling and crying out Cucuie, Cucuie. Many
simple people suppose that the Cucuij delighted with that noyse, come flying and flocking
together to the bellowing sound of him that calleth them, for they come with a speedy and
headlong course : but I rather thinke the Cucuij make hast to the brightnes of the fier-
brande, because swarmes of gnatts fly vnto euery light, which the Cucuij eate in the very
ayre, as the Martlets, and Swallowes doe. Beholde the desired number of Cucuij, at what
time, the hunter casteth the fier-brande out of his hande. Some Cucuius sometimes
foUoweth the fier-brande, and lighteth on the grounde, then is hee easily taken, as
trauaylers may take a beetle (if they haue neede thereof) walking with his winges shutt.
Others denie that the Cucuij are woont to bee taken after this manner, but say, that the
hunters especially haue boughes full of leaues ready prepared or broad linnen cloathes,
wherewith they smite the Cucuius flying about on high, and strike him to the ground,
where hee lycth as it were astonished, and suffereth himselfe to bee taken, or as they say,
following the fall of the (lie, they take the praye, by castinge the same bushie bough, or
linnen cloath vppon him : howsoeuer it bee, the hunter hauinge the hunting Cucuius,
reluriicth home, and shutting the doore of the house, letteth the praye goe. The Cucuius
loosed, swiftly flyeth about the whole house seeking gnatts, vnder their hangging bedds,
and about the faces of them that sleepe, whiche the gnatts vse to assayle, they seeme to
execute the odice of watchmen, that such as are shutt in, may quietly rest. Another plea-
sant and profitable commodity proceedeth from the Cucuij. As many eyes as euery
Cucuius openeih, the host enioyeth the light of so many candels : so that the Inhabitants
spinnc, scwc, wcaut', and daunce by the light of the flying Cucuius. The Inhabitantes
thinke that the Cucuius, is delighted with the harmony and melodie of their singing, and
that hee also cxcrciseth his motion in the ayre according to the action of their dauncing.
But hcc, by rea^on of the diucrs circuits of the gnatts, of necessity swiftly flyeth about
diners wayes to scekc his foode : and our men also read, & write by that light, which
alwaves continiieth, vntill hee haue gotten enough whereby he may be well fedd. The
gnats being cleansed, or driucn out of doores, the Cucuius beginning to famish, the light
beginncth to faylc, therefore when they see his light to waxe dim, opening the little doore,
they endenoiir to set him at libertie, that hee may seeke his foode. In sport, and meri-
ment, or to the intent to terriiie such as are aflrayd of euery shaddow, they say that many

wanton

■i

•1::

( . .!

ml.

044

VOYAOrS, NAUIGATIONS,

The scuenlh Decade.

::'- ■ i

j-\'

Tlif grfal l)f
lirHt inhilii*
t.tnitn huur by
tile Cucuii.

Viix 3 kind of
Cunics little
bi^(;er tllLll
mice.

Thf mnniifr of
the diilile-birth
amongc their
womenii very
strange.

Another notable
report of the
Cucuii.

Of a small Ser-
pent witli a
d injerous &
striln;;o pro-
pertye.

wanton wild rclIowoM Romotimes riil)lH'il thrir (iucs by nijfht with the no^lic i rnCiidiiiiH
btciiiji; killcil, wilh purpose to mceJe tlu ir neij^lilxiiirs witii a (laming ci iintcnniui', know-
in<{ whrlhcr they incut In ^ov, a-* wiil> vs sometiincs wanton y unj^ men, pniliiif; a jj;:iping
toollu'il visiinl \pon their lace, endeuoin- to tcrrilic children, or women who arc easily
fri ,hlcd : for the f.ice being anointed with the Imupe br (i( shy parte of tht- Ciirnius,
hhincth like a llamc of (ire, yet in short space that fiery vcrtue waxcth ft cble, and is
extinonished, seeing it is a certayne brii;ht humour rereincd in a thin substance. There is
also ancthcr wonderluil commodity procecdiny; from theCucuius; the Hinders appoyntcd
bv our menu, goe with tht ir good will by night, with 2. Cucuij tyed to the great tones of
their IVete: (for the tiauailer goeth better by direction of the lights of the Cucuij, then if
hee l)rought so many caiulcis with him, as the Cucuij open eye») he also carricth another
Ciicuius in his hand to sccke the Vtia; by night. Vtiae are a ccrt;iync kinde of Cony, a
little exceeding a mi use in bignesse, and bulke of bodie: which four-footed beast they
onely kiiewe. before our comming thither, and did cate the same. They goe also a fishing
by the lights of the Cucuij, vnto the which art they are cheifly addicted, and exercised
therein from the cradell, that it is all one with cvther sexe of them to suimme, and to goe
vpon the drie land: and it is no wonder, the childe birth of those women considered, who
when they know it is time to bee dcliucrcd of the childe being ripe, they goe foorth vnto
the neighbouring wood, and there taking holdc of the boughes of any tree with botli their
handes, they are disburdened without the hclpe of any midwife, and the mother hersell'e
speedily running, taketh the childe in her armes, and carryeth it vnto the next riuer.
There shee washeth herselle, and rubbeth, & dip|)eth the childe often, and returneth home
againe without any complaint, or noyse, and giueth it sucke, and aftcrwardes as the manner
is, shee washeth herselfe, and the childe often eucry day. All of them doe the like after
one manner. There are, who say, that the women being ready to bee deliuered, goe forth
to the waters themselues, where (as they report) they stay with their Icggs wide open, that
the childe may fall info the water. Diners report diuersly concerning these things. While
I was writing this discourse of the prety Cucuius, a little before noone, accompanied with
Camillus Gillinus (whom I make my continuall companion, both beecause hee is ynir
Excellencies seruant, as also for his pleasing disposition and behauiour) lacobus Canizares
the doore-keeper of Ctesars chamber, came vnto me vnexpected, who also from the first
beginning of these things (together with no small number of Palatines, the familiar
frindes of the Catholicke Princes Ferdinando and Elizabeth, young men desirous of
noucllies) went with Colonus himselfe, when hauing obtayncd the second fleete of 17.
shippes, hee vndertooke the matter or discouery of the Ocean : whereof I haue sufficiently,
and at large discoursed to Ascanius. lie declared many things in the presence of Gillinus,
Avhile wee were at dinner. Who when he saw I had made mention of the Cucuius, sayth,
that in a certaine Hand of the Canibals, in an ex :eeding darke night, when they went a
shoare and lay on the sandes, hee fir.'^t saw one onely Cucuius, wSich comming forth of a
wood neere vnto them, so shined vpon their heads, that the company might perfectly see,
and know one another : and hee affirmed with an oath, that by the light thereof, letters
might easily bee read. Also, a citizen of Siuill, a man of authority, called P. Fernandez
de las Varas, one of the first inhabitants of Hispaniola who first erected an house of stone
from the foundation, in Hispaniola, confesseth the same, that by the light of a Cucuius
hee had read very large letters. Nor will I omitt what hee reported concerning certayne
small slender greene snakes very dangerous, Hee sayih, that these serpents speedily
creepe vnto the trees neere vnto the wayes, and when they perceiue any trauayler about to
passe that w.iy, they take holde of a bough with their tayle, hanging thereat, and loosing
themselues from the bough, they assaile the trauayler vnawares, and leape against his face,
that they may hitt him on the eye, and hee sayth that their property and nature is, to ayme
at no other place, saue the bright luster of the eye: but fewe fall into that mischeife, by
reason that long experience hath made them wary, to take heede howe they goe to neere
suspected trees as they passe by : this woorthle manne rcporteth that one of them leaped

downe

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P', ^ :

I: S '

R# Tr :'

i\ ■* '

:' <

Hiji'l

- ^,.,

The seuenth Decade. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIF.S.

(iVa

downo vppon him, whirli somewhat astonished him, and hadd hurt him, if (admonished by
an Ilander wlw was his companion) hcc hadd not stretched out his left hand aj^ainst if
descending: vppon him. They snv that the stinj? of this Serpent is hard. They also addr '!" »«*'■"■

I • • 1 • 1 • ' I ■ II 1 I'll 1 • I lulirnutll Mf

niorcouer that it is true winch is reported concerning an Hand replenished only with women rf)"" form ij
archers, who are eager and stout defenders of their shoares and that at certaine times ol' iho ",'"'"; "' ''"^
yeere the Canioalles passe oner vnto them lor the cause oi generation, and that alter thy men.
be great with childc they endure the companie of a inanne no longer, and that they scnde
away the Male children, and rct.iyne the Females: whereof, I made mention in my former
Decades, and left it supposid to bee halfc fabulous. A little before, I declared, that AI-
phonsus Argoglius the Secretory saydc the same that Cani/..ires didd, hcere I learned an
excellent pojnt, omitted tlien, beecause ample mention was made concerning the Religious
rites and Cercmonyes of the Ilandcrs: for neylher doth hee who runneth on horsebacke,
attayne to the ende of the goale or race at one leape, nor doe shippes pxssc oucr the whole
Sea, with one blast of winde.

The tenth Chapter.

Wnile the estate and condition of kinges florished the King on certaine daycs by a dismirst ot
messengers, and ccmmon cryers commaunded the subiectes of his dominion to bee called 'n,o„i,s"&7u""
to celebrate their sacred and religious rites. At which time, neatly dressed after their i'"""'"" "' ''"
manner, and painted with diners colours of herbes, as we reade the Agathyrsi sometimes
did, all the men came, especially the young men : but the women resorted thither naked,
without any kinde of colouring or painting, if they had neucr beene defloured, but such as
hndd knowne a man, coucred their priuities with breeches onely. Both sexes in steede of
belles, filled their amies, thighes, calues of their leggs, & ancles with shelles of certaine
shelfish fastened ynto them, which made a swcete ratling sound at euery motion, as for the
rest, they were all naked. Being thus laden with shelles, shaking the earth with their feete,
tripping, singing, and dauncing, they reuerently saluted their King, who sitting in the
entrance of a gate, beating on a drumme or taber with a sticke receiued them comming
vnto him. When they were about to sacrifice to their Zemes, to their Idoll (I say) like the
infernall spirites as they are painted, and to the ende that beeing purged they might bee
more acceptable to their godd, euery one thrusting the hooke (which alwaies on these dayes
they carry in their handes) downe into their throat euen to the weesell, or vuula, they
vomited, and voj'ded their glorious ostentation, euen to the emptying of themselues.
Afterwardes they went into the Kinges court, and all sate before their princely Zemes, in a
rounde circle or ring, after the manner of a Theater, as it were in the turning circuitesofa
Labyrinth, with their feete vnder them like a Taylor, almost trembling through pietie and
fearc, they beheld their Zemes wry necked, bending their heades to one shoulder, and praied
that their sacrifices might not be displeasing to their godd. While these thinges, were thus
done in the court of their drumming king the women were busily imploved in another
place, in offering cakes, a signe giuen by tlic Hoiiili, the women crowned with garlands of The Bouiti the
diners Howers, dancing, and singing their hymnes (which they call Arcites) offer cakes in "j.™ t,"*^ '''""
baskets very fairely wrought and platted in. In tiieir entrance they began to compasse
them that sate, wiio (as though they had bcenc raysed by a suddaine leape) together with
the women (by their Areites) extolled their Zemes with wonderfull prais s and com-
mendation, and singing, recited the renowmed actes of the ancestors of their King. And
after this, they gaue their Zemes thankcs for benefits past, and humbly besought him to
prosper their future estate, and then at length both sexes kneeling offered cakes vnto their
gndd, the Bouiti hauing receiued them, sanctified them, and cut them into as many small
little pecces, as there were men there. Euery one brougiit home his portion vntouched and
kept it the whole yeere for an holy relique. And by the perswasion of the Bouiti, they
thought that house to bee vnlucky, and subiect to many dangers of fire, and whirlwindes
which they call Fuiacanes, if it wanted the like little pceceof cake. But your Excellency shall
hcare another ridiculous matter of no small moment : after their oblations, hanging with

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Sciences
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23 WEST MAIN S^ 'EET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 873-4503

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646

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie seuenth Decade.

The Onclc.

H. T'

open mouth they expected answeres from their woodden, or bomhasin cotton stuffed Godd,
a< simple antiquity did from the Oracle of Apollo. And if eyther by winde included, or
deluded by the Bnuiti, thcv per^^wadcd themschics that a voyce came from their Zemes,
which the Bnuiti interpretcil :it their pleasure, they went forth cheercfiilly singing, and
making melody, lifting vp their voyres in commendation : and spent the whole day in the
open ayre exercising sportn, and dauncing. But if they went out sorrowfull hanging their
headeo, supposing their Zemea to be angry, & tooke that silece for a greiuous and
ominous signc, they feared diseases, & other losses would follow thcron, and if war
assaylcd them, they greatly feared vnhappy successe. Both sexes going forth sighing,
with their hayre hanging loose, & with aboudant shedding of teares, casting away their
or amcnts, pined theselues with fasting, & abstinence fro sweet & pleasant meats, euen
to extreme faintnes, vntil they thought they were reconciled to their Zemes. This lacobus
Canizares, & his copanions report. If you demand (most renowmed Prince) what I think
here of, I say, I should iudge they are deceiued by their Bouiti, priests, and Phisitions, through
some Magicall or deluding arte. For they arc greatly giuen to diuination euen from their an-
cestors, to whom infcrnall spiriles often shewed themselues by night, and told them what they
commaunded, as in my former Decades I haue at large declared. They are also in some place
in the supposed Continent incumbred with vayne and idle ceremonies woorthie the reporting.
The great and mighty Riuer Dabaiba, which as Nilus is sayd to fall into the ^Egyptian sea by
man) mouthes, so runneth it into the Bay of Vrabia of golden Castile, and that greater then
Nilus : what people inhabite the same hath beene sufficiently spoken in his place. Now let
v.^ declare the rites & customes hitherto vnknownc, but lately reported vnto mee by the In-
habitantes of Darien. There is an Idoll called Dabaibe, as the riuer is, the chappell of this
Image is about 40. leagues distaunt from Darien, whcreunto the Kings at certaine times of
the yeere send slaues to bee sacrificed, from very farre remooued countries, and they also
adore the place with exceeding great concourse of people. They kill the slaues before their
godd, and then burne them, supposing that flaming odor to be acceptable to their Idoll, as
the light of a taper, or the fume of frankincense is to our Saints. They say, that within the
memory of their greate grandfathers, all the riuers, and fountaines fayled, through the dis-
pleasure o." that angry Godd : and that the greater parte of the men of those countries pe-
rished through hunger, and thirst, and such as remayned aliue, leaning all the montanous
places, descending to the plaines neere vnto the Sea, vsed pitts digged on the shoare in
steede of fountaines. Therefore all the Kings mindefull of so greate a destruction, through
religious feare, haue their priestes at home, and their Chappels compassed with countermures,
which they swcepe, and cleanse euery day, & are very carefull that no hoarenes, or mouldines,
nor so much as an hcrbe, or other filth bee in them. When the King thinketh to desire of
his particular Idoll, eyther sunshine, or raine, or some such like thing which the neighbour-
hood wanteth, hcc with his priestes getteth vp into a pulpitt standing in his domestical!
Chappell, not purposing to departc thence, vntill they haue obtayned their requests from
the godd, ouercome by their intreaty : they vrge, and vehemently desire him with etTectuall
prayers, and crucll fasting, that they may obtaync their desires, and humbly pray that they
may not be forsaken. Being demaunded to what god they poure foorth their prayers, the
Spaniardes who were present, rcportc, they answered, that they prayd to him, who created
the Hoauens, the Sunne, and the Moone, and all inuisible thinges, from whom all good thinges
'htr'of'tiie' ""^ proceede. And they say that Dabaibe, the generall godd of those Countries, was the mother
crVitor. of that Creator. In the meane space, while the King, and his companions continue praying

in the temple, the people (being so perswaded) macerate themselues with greiuous fastinges
for foure dayes space, for, all that time, they take neyther meate nor drinke. But the fourth
day, least the Htomacke shoulde bee oppressed, bceing pinched with so greate hunger, they
onely supp the thinne broth of the liquid pulse, made of the flower of Maizium, that so by
Thtirsumonjto \\h\q a„j jjjtig jj^gy j^^y rccoucr their decayed strength. But it is not vnfitt to bee heard,

religious scruicc - , , «ii , ,i» i*' f i"

kybcUeiasouri. alter what manner they are called, and summoned to their religious, and sacred rites, or
what instruments they vse. One day (the cursed thirst of gold prouoking thereunto) the

SpaniardcK

The authori
opiiuo'i of ihe
Oracle.

Dabiiba com-
pared to Nilut.

The Idoll Dj'
baibe.

A tradition of
the anger uf their
god.

An answert not
answer ihle to
their Idolatry.

The seuenth Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

CA7

Spaniardes hailing leuied a strong power of armed menn, went to passe through the bankes
of that riuer Dabaiba. Heere they light vpon a King whom they ouerthrew, and hadd from
him about fourteene thousande pcnsa of gold, brought into diuers formes, very faircly wrought,
among which they found three golden trumpets, and as many golden belles, one of the belles
weyed sixe hundred pensa, the other were lesser. Seeing demaunded, for what seruice
they vsed the trumpets, and belles, they answered (as they say) that they were woont to
vse the Harmony and Concent of Trumpets to stir them vp to mirth vpon their fcstiuallTrumrtt*.
dayes, and times to sport, and that they vsed the royse and ringing of belles to call the
people to the ceremonies of their religion. The clappers of the belles seemed to bee made
after our manner, but so white, and cleerc, that at the fir.<t sight, saue that they were too
long, our menne woulde haue thought they hadd beene made of pearles, or of the Mother
of pearle, in the ende they vnderstoodc they were made of the bones of fishes. They say,
the eares of the hearers are delighted with a sweete and pleasant sounde, althoughe the
ringing of golde vseth to bee dull. The tongues or clappers mooued, touch the lippes or
brimmes of the belles, as wee see in ours. A thousand three hundred sweete sounding little Ooiden cod-
bellcsof golde, like ours, and golden breeches, or cod-peeces (wherein the Noblemen inclose'^""*
their priuities, fastened with a little cotton cord behind) were in this booty and praye. It is chastity inioy«-
very necessary and expedient for their Priestes to beware of all luxury, and carnall pleasure, pf j°,j,'.'"'
if any (contrary to his vowe and purpose of chastity) shall be found to bee polluted, hee
shall eyther bee stoned to death, or burned, for they suppose chastity pleaseth that God the
Creator. What time they fast, and giue themselues to prayer, hauing washed and rubbed
their faces, (when at other times they walked alwayes painted) they nowe lifted their handes,
and eyes to heauen, and abstaine not onely from harlots, and other venereous actions, but
also from their owne wiues. They are such .simple men, that they know not how to call Thfr'r'ie""-
the soule, nor vnderstand the power thereof: whereupon, they often taike among themselues "',' p°rjtiu ofV'
with admiration what that inuisible and not intelligible essence might bee, whereby the mem- ''^jl^^'f '■""""-
bcrs of men and brute beastes should be moued : I know not what i?ecret thing they say, "'''
should liue after the corporall life. That (I know not what) they beleeue that after this
peregrination, if it liued without spott, and reserued that masse committed vnto it without
iniury done to any, it shoulde goe to a certayne aeternall felicity: contrary, if it shall sulTer
the same to be corrupted with any filthy lust, violent rapine, or raging furie, they say, it shall
finde a thousande tortures in rough and vnpleasant places vnder the Center: and speaking
these thing.s, lifting vpp their handes they shewe the heauens, and after that casting the right
hand down, they poynt to the wombe of the earth. They bury their dead in sepulchers. ^jj-jf,"*""""*^
Many of their liuing wiues follow the funerals of the husband. They may haue as many as
they please, (excepting their kindred, & allies) vnlesse they be widdowes, wherupon, they
found them infected with a certaine ridiculous superstition. They childishly affirme that the ^^,f'"lht'
thicke spott scene in the globe of the Moone, at the full, is a mann, and they beleeue hec moone.
was cast out to the nioy^^t, and colde Circle of the Nfoone, that hee might perpetually bee
tormented betweene those two passions in sufTering colde, and moysture, lor incest com-
mitted with his sister. In the sepul«hers, tlicy leaue certayne trenches on high, whereinto
cuery yeere they poure a little of the graine .Mnizium, and certayne suppingcs or small quan-
tities of wine made after their manner, and ihcy supp se the.se thinges will bee profitable
to the ghosts of their departed friendes. But your Excellency ^bill hearc an horrible and a hortiHt cn.-
shamefull act more cruell then any sauage barbarousne«. If it happen that any mother gi-"'''
uing suck dyeth, putting the child to ihe breast, thcv burv it aliue together with her. But
in some place a wiildow mnrryeth the brother of her former husband, or his kinsman, es-
pecially if hee left any children. They arc exsily deceiued through the crafty dcui.ses of their
priests, whereupon they religiously cbscnie a thousand kindes of fooleries. These thinges
are reported to be in the large countries of the great riuer of Dabaiba. But you shall hcare
other things of the same nature, (last rehifed vnto mee by men of authority, who diligently
searched the South shoarcs of that country) on itted by yEj^idius Gonsalus, and his compa-
Tiions, yet woorthy to bee knowne : for besides .E^idius himselfc, others also haue searched

i 02 diucrs

^■^m

648

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

The seuinth Decade.

mi'-

ill

That thtir
lliii|s .V nobles
hauc only im«
mortall loulci
■nil no other.

Annuill fune-
rales.

Iiiehri.itin3e
drinkes.

Speeches at Fu-
nerallcs.

Cirrrin nl ,iikcs
Dm . t-r.i'UaMcby

(liuers coastes, and nations or those huge countries, with seucrall fleets, as I hauc orten
spoken. Among the Kings of those parts, besides other foolish errors, they knewc them
touched with one, neuer rcade, or heard of before. They are informed in some places that
the Kings and Noblemen haiie immortall soules, and beleeue that the soulcs of the rest
perish together with their bodies, except the familiar friends of the Princes themselues, and
those onely (whose masters dying) sufl'er thenoselues to be buried aliue together with their
maistcM fun^rales : for their auncestors haue left them so perswaded, that the soules of Kings,
depriued of their corporal clothing, ioyfully waike to perpetuall delights through pleasant
places alwayes greenc, eating, drinking, & giuing themselues to sports, and dancing with
women, after their olde manner, while they were lining, and this they hold for a certaine
truth. Thereupon many striuing with a kinde of emulation cast themselues headlong into
the sepulchers of their Lordes, which, if his familiar friendcs deferre to doc (as we hauc
sometimes spoken of the wiues of kings in other countries) they thinke their soules become
temporarie, of xternall. The heires of Kings, and Noblemen in those countries, renue their
funeral! poinpe euery yeere after the old custome : and that funerall pompe is prepared, &
exercised after this maner. The King with the people and neighbourhoode, or what Noble-
man so euer hee bee, assemble together at the place of the scpulcher, & hce who preparcth
this funerall pompe, bringeth exceeding great pledty of wine made after their manner, and
all kinde of meats. There, both sexes, b it specially the women, sleepe not that whole night,
one while beewailing the vnhappie fortune of the deade, with sorrowfull rithmes, and funerall
songes, especially if hee dyed in the warres, slayne by the enemie (for they pursue one
another with perpetuall and deadly hatred, although they lyue contented with a little) then
they taxe the life, and manners, of the conquering enemie with rayling speeches, and out-
ragious contumelies, and call him a tyrant, crucll, and a traytor, who vanquished their Lorde,
and wasted his dominion by subtill practises, and not by vertue of the minde or strength
of the bodie ( for this is their barbarous custome) Then presently they bring the Image of
the enemie, and faining fight, they assaulte the Image in a rage with diners incursions : and
at length cutteit in peeces, in a vainc reuenge of their deade Lord. After this, they returne
to eating, and drinking, euen to drunkcnnesse, and surfeting (For they make diners potions
of inebriating graynes, & hearbes, as with the Bclgae ale is made of hoppes, and corne, and
with the Cantabri Sider is made of apples) After this, they come to dancing, and merry
songes, euen till they be extreame weary, extolling the vertues of their Lonle 'vith woon-
dertull commendation in that he was good, liberall, and very louing to his people, for that
also he was carefull of their sowing, or planting, and of their standing corne, and to distri-
bute all fruites for the benefite of the people. For this is the chiefe and principall care of
Kinges, that in military aftaircs hee bee a valiant and couragious souldier, and a wise com-
mander. Returning againe to their mourning, they lift vp their voyces, and bcwayle the
deade with the rythmes wherewith they beganne, saying : O most famous, and Noble Prince,
who hath violently taken thee away from vs ? oh vnhappie day, which hath depriued vs of
so great fteliciiy, oh miserable wretches that wee are, who haue lost such a father of our coun-
try : these and such like thinges proclaymed, turning to the Prince that is present, they
deliucr wondcrfull commendations of his merits, goodncsse and other vertues, and compasse
the king about with restles skipping and dancing like the furies of Bacchus, yet withall, looke
reuerently vppnn him, and adore him, and say that in him they behold a present & future
remtdic .nnd soiace of their afflictions, ai)d so many euils past: and after the maner of flat-
terers, thoy call him more clegunt and fine then the finest, more beantifull then the fairest,
and more liber ill then the most liberall, and singing all together with one voyce they pro-
chime !iim religious and gratious, and many such like. Now when the day beginneth to
ap;eare, they cue forth of the house, and finde a Canow (of the bodic of one tree, capable
of (>(i. oar:, and more) with the image of the dead ready prepared there. For the trees in
that place are of an exceeding length, especially the Citrons, the familiar and common trees
of lhn«;e countries, of whose excellent prcrogatiues I lately learned one, vnknowne to me
before. They say the Cilrcan planckes, besides the other auncicnt commendations thereof,

beecause

The seventh Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUIES.

64y

Tilt brutish lie.
Iijuiour ut'tlieir
wumcii.

beccause they arc of a bilfcr tast, arc safe from that mischicuoHS pla(;iic of Sea wormes,
which cat through the piimpcs of ships, whersoeucr the sea is full of mire & filth, and boarc
them worse then a pierced sine. These little sca-woormes the Spanyard callelh Broma. In
the meane space while the maister of this funeral ponipc comcih forth, the kings Stewardcs,
and officers, keepe the foresaide Canow of the dcade ready prepared without, filled with
drinkes, hearbes, & fruits, & fish, flesh and bread, such as he delighted in while hee was
liuing: then they who are inuitcd comming forth, cary the Canow vpon their shoulders,
going about the Courtc. And presently in the same place, from whence thcv lifted the
Canow vp to cary it, putting fire vndcr it, they burne it with all the thinges included, sup-
posing that fume to be most acceptable and pleasing to the soule of the dcade. Then all
the womcnne filled with cxcessc of wine, with their hayre loose, and their secrets discoucred,
vntcmperatly foming, sometiirles with a shjwe, and sometimes with a spcedie pace, with
trembling legges, somewhilc leaning to the wals, and sometimes staggering, and raging,
with shamlessc falles, & lastly taking the weapons of the men with noyse and outcries, they
brandish, and shake the spcares, & handle the darts and arrowes, and furiously running
hither, and thither shake the court it scll'e: and after this being weary, they cast themiclucs
flattc vppon the grounde, not couering their secretes, and there sleepc their fdl. These
thinges are chiefely vsed in an Hand of the Sea called Cesuaco, wherunto our men went by
the way vnder the conduct of Spinosa. But one other thing omitted, although but a homly
tale yet it is not to be concealed. The young men earnestly buysied in these mad pastimes, Afooiishanj
exercising their Areitcs with songs, these are their sports, they perce the middle of their ''[^'J^>'''^"Jj|"'"'^
priuie members with the sharpe bone of a fish, which the Spanyardes and Latines call Raia,
in Greeke Bitis, and moouing, and exercise themselues with skipping & dancing they bedew
the pauement of the court with streames of flowing blonde. At length casting a cerlaync
powder thereon, found out by the Bauti for remedie therof, who execute the office of Sur-
geas, phisitians, & priests, within 4. dales they cure the woundes giuen vnto themselues.
In those countries also there are subtill and craftie Magitians, and Soothsayers, so that they
neuer attempt any thing, without consulting with their Augures : for whether they purpose
hunting, or fishing, or to gather golde out of the mines, or determine toseeke for shell-fishe
where the pearles growe, they dare not stirre one foot, vnles the maister of that art Tequc-
nigna (which is a name of dignitie) first signifyc by his appoyntment, that the time is now
fit. No degree of affinitie or other kind of kindred is forbidde with the, though elsewhere a pt«pit .n in.
they abstaine, the parents vse the act of generatio with their daughters, and brothers with belstc".'"
their sisters (the wiues of the parentes, although they bee mothers by hereditary right pro-
cure heires with other faculties) yet they say, they arc filthie, and publiquely inclined to
preposterous venerie. There is also another custome clsc-where, whiche is nuiche vsed in
our Ilandes Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica. That womanne is accounted more liberall, and Auomaiuiw
honourable, who beeing able to receiue a manne admitteth most to abuse her, and most ex- the more com'.
cessiuely prostituteth her selfe beeyonde measure. Heereof they yeelde manic examples, ■n""i»''ic.
but one of them is gratious and well to bee lyked. Certayne Spanyardes intermixed with
the barbarous lamaicanes crossed oucr the Sea from lamaica to Hispaniola, amonge the wo-
mcnne one was verie beautifull, who hadde kept her selfe vntouched tyll that day, and was
a louer of chastitie. The Spanyardes of purpose turning vnto her, began to call her nig- l« the papistt
gardlie, and desirous to preserue her honour after an euill manner. The lasciuious dispo- "^ongUicir
sition and scurrilitie of those wanton young men was such, that they made the young maiden gionous couuer.
almost maddc, thereupon she determined by prostituting herselfe, to expect as many as ""'"'
woulde abuse her. This mayden who nicely resisted that conflict at first, shewed her selfe
most liberall to such as desired to imbrace her. The name of auarice in both sexes, is odious,
and infamous in these Ilandes. But in the Continent in many places it is contrarie. They
arc loners of the chastity of their wiues : and hereupon they are so iealous, that the wiues
oflcnding therin, arc punished by cutting their throates.

Wee conclude your portion (most noble Prince) with a prodigious monster. What re-
maineth, or if any newe matter arise in the writing hereof, the Pope by his parchment pa-
tent

650

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'Die eight Decade.

i'T

A ktr.in;r tale
uf » pioiligious
miinstrr.

Tht t.nking r
tliL' iiijiisttr.

tent lately brought vnto mce, cominaundeth to be dedicated vnto himselfe. The next coun-
trey to the foiinfaync or heade of the riiicr Dabaiba is called Camara producing the last silla-
ble. In the memoric of menne yet lining it is reported, that in that countrey a violent
tempcHt of blustring whiricwinds arose from the East, which plucked vp by the rootes what-
socucr trees stood in the way, and violently carryed away many houses and tossed them in
the ayre, especially such as were made of timber. Through that violent tempest, they say
two foules were brought into the country, almost like the Harpias of the Hands Strophadcs so
much spoken of, for that tlicy had the countenance of a virgin, with a chinne, mouth, nose,
teeth, smooth brow, and venerable eyes, and faire. They say one of these was of such huge
bignesse, that no bough of any tree was able to beare her lighting theron, but that it woulde
breakc ; and further they also say, that through her exceeding waight, the verie print of her
talons remayned in the stones of the rockes where shee went to perch all night. But why doe
I repeatc this ? she seised on a trauriler with her talons, and caryed him to the high toppes of
the mountains to cafe him, with no more diflicultic, then kites vse to carry away a little
chicken. The other, for that it was lesse, they suppose to bee the young one of the greater.
The Spanyardcs, who trauailcd through those countries about foure hundred leagues, caryed
by shippu from the mouth of this riuer, say plainely that they spake with many, who sawe
the greater killed, especially those approued men whom I often mentioned, the Lawyer Cor-
rales, and the Musitian Osorius, and Spinosa. But howe the Debaibensian Camerani frecde
themselues from suche and so great a plague and mischiefe, it will not be vnfit to bee hearde.
Seeing necessitie quickeneth and procureth wittie inuentions, the Camarani denized a way
(worthy the reporting) howe to kill this rauening foule. They cutte a great beamc or pecce
of tymber, and at one of the endcs thcrof they carue the Image and resemblance of a
manne (for they are skilfull in all Imaginary art) then digging a trench in a cleerc mcone-
light night they fasten the pcece of tymber in the next way to the passage, where the pro-
digious foule came flying downe from the top of the Mountaynes to seeke her pray, leaning
onely the shape ;ind proportion of a manne appearing aboue grounde. Next vnto the way
stoode a thicke woode, wherein they lay hidde with their bowcs and dartes to smite her vna-
warcs. Bcholde a little before the rising of the Sunne the fearefull monster rouseth her
sclfc, and commeth violently flying downe from the loftie skie, to her vayne and idle pray :
shee seiseth vpon the earned Image, taketh and gripeth it, and so fastened her talons, that
she could not free her selfe, vntil the Barbarians issuing from the secret places where they
lay hid, shot her through with their .nrrowes, so that she escaped pierced more the a sine.
At legth geting loose she fcl down dead neere vnto the : then binding & bilging her on long
speares they who killed her carryed her vppon their shoulders through all the neighbouring
towncs, to the eiide they might ease their mindes of the feare they conceiued, and that they
might knowe the wayes were safe whiche this outragious rauening foule made vnpassable.
They who killed her, were accounted as Gods, and were honourably intertained by those
people, and that, not without giftes and rewardes presented vnto them, as it happeneth with
many nations, when presentes are giuen by the neighbours to him that carryeth the signes
or tokens of any Lyon, Beare, or Woolfe slayne, who expected losses by those wilde beastes.
They say her legs were thicker and greater then the great thygh of a manne, but shorte, as
in Eagles, and other rauening foules. The younger, the damme beeing killed, was neuer seene
againe. Nowe, I bidde your Exccllencie farewell, to whom I wish a quiet and peaceable
lyfe in the kingdome left you by your Auncesters.

FINIS.

The eight Decide of Peter Martyr a Millanois of Anglcria, chiefe Secretary, and
one of the Emperours Counsell, dedicated to Pope Clement the Seuenth.

The first Chapter.

MOst blessed fatiicr, I receiued vnder S. Peters signet (after the manner of Popes) a
parchment Bull from your Holinesse, which conteined two principall points : the one lauda-

tiue,

ml..

The eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIKS.

651

tine, conccrnirjg the mnttcrs of 5 newc world by me directed to your predecessors, tl)c other
imparatiuo, that I siifTcr not the rc-<t y surrecdcd to be swallowed in the huijc j^iilfe of ob-
liiiion. I will not denie but that 1 dcscriic pray^c for tiic de.-iic I hauc to obev: as for my
rude and homly niancr of deliuery, if I merit no commendation, yet shall I de^orue pardon
at the least. These discourses bcinjf of so f^reat imporlance, and such qualilv, W( uld require
Ciceronian spirites, as I Iiauc often protested '.i the relation of my former Decades, but be-
cause I couldc not get silke, or cloth of golde, I hauc attyrcd tlic m(ist braulifull Nereides
(I mcane the Ilandes of the Ocean ingcndring precious stones vnknowne from the bej;innii;g
of the world) with vulgar and homly apparell. Before that commandemcnt of your Ilolinessc
came to my hands, I hadde directed many aduertisementes (succeeding these of Pope
Adrian which your Ilolinessc Iiath read) to the Vicecount Franciscus Sfortia Duke of niv na-
tiue country (when his fortune freedc him, from an vntired minde of a most Christian King)
and that at the earnest requests of his Agents with the F.mperor. But now purposing to
sende my painefull labours to your Holinesse, I thought it needefull to fortilie and strengthen
these present discourses with the examples of thinges past, though dedicated to another:
and as a troope of Prelates and Princely Cardinalles of the Church vseth to goe beeforc the
Pope walking abroade, so shall that Decade presented to the Duke open the way. What hath
beene declared next after them, from diners partakers of thiniies, concerning the aduentures
of menne, of fourefooted beastes, birdes, flycs, trees, hearbes, the rites & customcs of
people, of the art of Magicke, of the present state and condition of newe Spayne, and di*
uers fleetes, your Holinesse shall vnderstande, from whose eommaundement none liuing mav
safely departe. And let vs first rehearse what beefell Franciscus Garaius, the Gouernour of
lamaica, by a newe name called Saint lames (whose Abby-Iike Priory Cajsars bountie lately
gaue mee) who contrary to the will and pleasure of Fernandus Cortes, went about to erect
a Colonie at the ryuer Panucus, which at length brought him to his ende : next, where Mgi-
dius Gonsalus arryued seeking the strayght so much desired on the North, and Christopherus
Oiitus, of whom wee touched a few things in the former Decade to the Duke. Then will wee
speake somewhat of Petrus Arias Gouernor of the supposed Continent, seeking the same.
And presently after, wee will recite Licentiatus Marcellus Villalabos, ludge of the Indian
Senate in Hispaniola, & his familiar lacobus Garsias Barrameda, who comming lately from
Fernandus Cortes gouernour of Noua Hispania, reported certaine great and strange matters
vnto me. Many others also shalbe called into this void plot, among who Fryar Thomas Ilortizius
(one of the 2. coloured Dominican Fryars, a manne of approued honesty) shall be brought
forth, who was long conuersant with the Chiribichenses the inhabitantes of the supposed
Continent. Nor shall lacobus Aluarez Osorius be omitted, being nobly descended, a priest
of the Priory of Darien, and for his worthinesse a Chaunter, who also himselfe vnder the
conducte of Spinosa through that vastity of the South Sea spente many yeeres with great ex-
tremities and daungers, and that in searching the countries of Dabaiba. From the large vo-
lumes of these, and such like menne of authoritie beeing absent, and by woorde of mouth
of those that come about their aflfhyres, I gather those thinges, which three Popes, and other
Princes commaunded me to signifle vnto you. Let vs therefore place the life, and the vnhap-
pie death of Garaius in the first front of our narration. In the former bookes directed to
Adrian the Predecessour of your Holinesse, I thinke, in manie places it is sayde, that there
was secret hatred beetweene Fernandus Cortes the Conquerour of newe Spayne, and the
great Prouinccs thereof, and this Garaius, by reason that Garaius seemed desirous to possesse
the Panucan countries bordering vpon the Dominions of Cortes. Wee haue also said that
Garaius himselfe with great losses was twice ouerthrowne by the almost naked irihabitauntes,
who dwelt vppon the greate Ryuer Panucus, and wandring like a fugitiue arryued as often
within the power of Fernandus Cortes, and was by him relieued, and often refreshed with
necessaries, when he wanted, as appeareth at large by Cortes his writinges, and myne, wand-
ryng through the Christian worlde. Foure shyppes are arryued from the Indies, and wee
haue rcceiued letters from those who were partakers of the paynefull labours, and miseries,
and also haue the discourse of Garaijs, by woorde of mouth from them who returned. Bee-
ing

He rehearieth
more at large
the story of Oa*
raius mentioned
in the farmer
Decade.

"1;-.

i' ;.;'li-

,« .1
'I ''

•, '-.ilt.'-JI'

4*" .

.did

652

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIOKS,

The cis,Ut Decade.

/om Turtidj
fJslv w cilUd.

OataUna.

Alphonsus Men-
dozj.

Fernandus Fi-
gueroa.

Gonsalus Ou<<g-

lius.

lacobus Cifoii-

t«us.

Tlif riuer of
Palmt-irccs.
Gonsalus Do*
campus.

ing about to pns^ri^sc (by Cjcxar-! permission) the lianices of tlic crcat rvucr PaiuiciH nowc
discmiernl, to the intent hec iniijht plant a Colonic there, whereof hoc haiUle Ion;; ronsidered,
the cifjhtecnth of the Calendcs of lune, he departed from lamaira ( by a ncwc name called
the llande of S. lames, \vliithe hec <;oiierned a lonj; time) with a (leele of II. shyppes,
whereof si\tf were of the binden of a hundred and twentic and a hundred and (iftie tuniics,
two were of that kiiidc whirh the Spanyard callcth Carauellcs, and as many IbigaiitineM with
two ran<>;es of oares: the number of his souldien were, 144. horse, 300. archers footemen,
200. shotte, 200. bi uin;; swoordes and targettes, and with this armie he saylcd towardes
Cuba called Fernandina. The Tropick of Cancer diuideth Cuba. lamaica lyeth more to the
South from it, with'a the Zone falsely called Torrida by auncicnt writers. Cuba is almost
twice as l<ing as Italic, the furthest West angle whereof full of hauens, called the
Ileade of the Currcnte-^. Garaius tooke, and purposing to take in frcshc water, woode, and
grasse to feede the liorses, hee abo.ndc there some fewc dayes. That angle is not very
farrc distaunt from the lirst limitfc> of Nona Ilispania, which Cortes in Caisars bechalfe,
conimaundeth, whereby hce vndcrstoodc that Cortes hadde erected a Colonic vppon the
bankc of I'anuciis. Garaius sendeth for the Centurions, they consult, aud deliberate what
was needfull to beedoone. Some thought it (itte to sccke newe countries, seeing manie lay
open vnto them, and that the fortune and greatnessc of Cortes was to bee feared, others ad-
uisc and counselled, that the waighty charge they hadde vndcrtaken was not to be forsiken,
especially beeing confirmed b\ Caesars letters patents, whereby he conscntcth the Prouince
shoulde bee called Garaiana. Their suffrages and consent prcuaylcd, who tooke the woor^er
parte : so that the pernicious opinion of his consortcs pleased Garaius well. Ilauing sounded
the mindes of the Centurions, and Commanders, hce excerciscd a vnine shaddowe and coun-
terfeit shewe of erecting a Common-wealth, and diuideth the places of Magistracy, and
authoritie, among them, to the intent that hauing offered honour and prcfermentes vnto
them, hee might cause the chiefc mcnne to bee more readie and prompt. And of this
•shaddowlike & Imaginary Colonic he crealcth gouernors, Alphonsus Mendo/a, the ncphcwe
of Alphonsus Pachecus sometimes Maister of the Spatensians, and ioyned as fellowe in office
with him Fernandus Figueroa a citizen of (^ac.sars Castle of no meanc and base parentage, and
two others brought away from the Hand of Cuba. But the chiefc Gouernour of the cittic hce
■ created Gonsalus Ouaglius, a noble mann of Salamantinum, neere kinsmanne of the Duke of
Alba, and Villagranus his olde familiar of the kings house, and lacobus Cifonteus, one of the
common people, but industrious and wise. Out of the vulgar sorte also hee created Exe-
cutory souldicrs whiche the Spanyard calleth Alguazillos, and yEdiles or clarkes of the Mar-
kettes to looke to the waights, and measures. All these, Garaius bindcth to him by oath,
agaynst Cortes if peradiicnturc it shoulde come to armes, or other violent courses. So, de-
ceiued with vaync hope, beeing not experienced in the casualties of fortune, nor well .nc-
quainted with the crafte andsubtiltie of Cortes, they .sette sayle: if they hadde knowne the
good happe proffered, fortune ofTered them her blessed browc. Suddenly from the South a
tempest arose, wliich dcceiued the P\ loftes. The sliyppes comming neere the lande fell into a
ryuer somewhat lesse then Panucus, whiche they suppose to bee Panucus. Thisryuer lay to the
Northwarde from Panucus, whether the violence of the winds trasported thorn, peraducnture
about some 70. leagues tow;irds the lande of Florida lately knowne and di.scoucred. The
twenty-liue of lune vppon whiclic dav, Spayne celebratcth the solemnitie of Saint lames
their protector with GOD, they ciitred the moutl^of that ryuer, and cast anker, in the.shoarc
whereof tliey linde Palme, or D:itctrees, whereupon they call it the ryuer of Palme trees.
The buysincsse or charge of searching the bordering coiuitrey, is committed to Gonsalus
Docampus the sisters sonne of Garaius, for whiche seruice tl'.ev send from the Fleete a small
Brigantine whiche drewc little water. Dorampus sayled fiftecne leagues vppe the ryuer,
spent tiirec daycs, and ascending vppe the ryuer by little and little, he found other
ryuers were receiucd into that greater ryuer, and hauing his cies fixed on Panucus,
hee falsely reported that the country was vnmanurcd, vn])rofilable, and desert. For
they learned afterwardes that this Prouince was pleasant^ and well blest, and stored

with

The fight Decade.

TIJArFIQUKS, AND IMSCOUEKIFA

GJ3

with people. lUit crcdiJc was >;iiicii to a lyar, wlierelorc tlicy determined to proreede
on their voyage towardes I'anutiis. The horses were nowc faint with famine, there-
fore they tooke them out of the shipK together with raanie footemen. The Marrinern arc
( harged to sayle alwayes within viewc of the shore, as if they hadde power to rommauiidc
the Hourges and wanes of the water, (iaraius hiniselfe taketh his iourncy by landc towardes
Panuciis, in batlaylc array, least if any violence of the inhabitantes suddenly assayled them,
they shoulde be fiiunde vnpreparcil. The first three daycs they foundc no manured lande
where they marched, but all barren and rude, because moorish, and myerie. They mcetc
with another nauigable ryurr in the way, compassed with high Mountaynes, thereupon MoimUun
they called the ryuer Montaltus. They passed oucr that ryucr partly by swimming, and """"
partly vppon rafles or great |)eece8 of timber ioyned and fastened together, so that at length
with great danger and labour, beyondcthat riuer a far of they saw an exceeding great towne :
then they orderly range the army, and march softly forwarde, placingc the Arquebusse shotte,
and other souldiers (to hit them farre of) in the front of the Battaylc. Our menne comming
tdwanles them, the townsmen left the towne, and fleddc away, where, finding their houses
full of the country prouision, (iaraius rccreateth and refreshetli the souldiers, and horses nowc
faint with hunger, and wearyed with trauayle of the iourney. And with that which remained,
he carricth proui:>ion of victual! with him.

The second Chapter.

Tile Barbarians (ill their barnes or store-houses with two kinds of food with their coiitry
grainc called Maizium (as we haue ofjen saydc) much like the graine Panicke of Insubria, a nringe v\uie
& with apples, of an vnknowne sent to vs, and of an eager swecfe tast, apt & profitable for" '*"'
the stopping and restraining of Huxes, as wee reade and finde by experience of the berries of
tlie Seruice, and Corncile trees, which are no Icsse then an Oringe or a Quince, and that kinde
of fruite the inhabitantes call Guaianas. Beyonde the ryuer inclosed with Mountaynes
marching ihrough rude and barren countries, they light on a great lake, whiche by a deepe A|rciti.ke.
sireanic no whore shallowe, emptyeth the waters thereof in the necre bordering sea. They
ascende vppp the bunkcsofthis lake thirtie leagues from the mouth of the riuer, they trye
and search the shallowe places, because they knewe that manie ryuers fell into the lake be-
low, and with great labour and perill halfe swimming they passe it. A broad playne oncrcih
it selfe to their viewe. They see a great towne a farre of. And least as the former moucd
through feare fled away, Garaius commandeth the armie to make a stande, and pitch their
ancients in the open ayre, then sendeth he interpreters before, neere neighbours to these
coutries whom he had gotten the former yeere, who were now skillful in the Spanish tong.
OfTering peace by them, hee draweth the inhabitantes of the towne to entertayne amitie and
friend-shyppe. Ileereupon, the inhabitantes lade our men with br»-ade of the graine Mai-
zium, foules of that Prouince, and fruites. By the way they light >:. another village, where
hauing hearde by reporte that our menne abstained from wrong ar-.' ininrie, they securely
expect them, and giue them prouision of victuall, but not plentifully to their satisfaction.
Thereuppon a tumulte almoste arose agaynst the Generall Garaius, for that hee woulde not
suflfer them to spoyle the village. Marching further, they meet with the thirde ryuer, in pass- * »'•»"•
ing whereof they lost eight horses violently carryed away with the force of the current. Tra-
uailing thence they founde huge myerie marishes with noysome gnatts, full of diuers sortcs ^*"^'^" /"" "•
ofBcxucum, beeing certayne hearbcs or long grasse whiche holde fast, infoulding, and in-
tangling the legges of irauaylers. Concerning this prouidence of nature touching the
Bexuta, I haue at large discoursed in my proceedinges to the Duke. The footemenne
couered with water vppe to the wast, the horsemenne to the belly, passed ouer halfe faintc
and tyred. Nowe they came into countries inryched with a fruitefull soyle, and there-
fore inhabited, and beautifyed with many villages. Garaius sulTered no damage or iniurie
to bee doone to anie. A certayne seruant of Garaius neere about him, escaping from so
groat a slaughter, as hereafter wee will describe, writeth a large Epistle to Petrus Spinosa
Maister or Stewarde of the house of Garaius, and his sonnes after his death, nowe A^ent

4 P with

(■1

'fi£

H' ;,

654

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

I'he linJt of

C>rniu4 com-

with Caewr, wherein full of Rreife, yet after a wittic and conceited manner, hce deliuerrih
these merrie ie^ting woordes in Inline, concerning the diflicuitiefl of that ioiirney. Wee
came (oayeth hee) to the landc of miiteric, where no order, but euerlasting labour, and all
calamitier* inhabite, where famine, heate, noysomc Gnatten, slinicing Woormes or Flyes,
cruell Hattes, arrowes, intangling Uexiica, deuouring (leenc'ditche<), and muddic lakes most
cruelly aftlicted \<t. At length they attained to the bordering rountrev of the riuer
^ Panucu-s the vnhappie point or pcrio<l of their Journey, where Garaius Htayeth expecting
" the ships, but founde nothing fiite for foode. They suspect Cortes ha«'. carved away all
prouision of victuall, that finding nothing for themselues, or their horsf, they shoulde bee
con«frayned either to depart backe againe, or perish with hunger. Vlic Hccfc which carieJ
their necessaries of prouision deferred their cOming. Where frre (Jaraius and his com-
panions dispersed themsclues through the townes and villages of the Barbarians togettefond,
& nowc Garaius beganne to suspect that Cortes was not well inclined vnto him : he there-
fore sendcth Gonsalus Docampo his sisters sonne to |)rrtoue howe the Colonies of Cortes
stoode nflTected towardes him, Gonsalus returneth seduced or deceiued, and fained that all
was gnfe, and that they were ready to yecid obedience to Garaius. Vpon the report of his
sisters sonne, and his associats sent with him, by euill destinie, hee approacheth neere to
Pa* utiis. Ilcere let vs digrosse a little, to the ende these thinges, and that whichc
followcth may the better be vndcrstoode. Vppon the banke of this great riuer Panucus,
not far from J- mouth, which conueycth the waters thereof into the sea, stoode a great
tnwne of the .oame name, consisting of 14000. houses of stone for the most parte, with
princely Courted, and sumptuous Temples, a.s the common reporte goeth. That townc
Cortes vtlerly oucrthrewe, and wholly burnt it, because it refused his commande, not
suffering any thing to be ^uilte vppon that groundc any nv>re. lie dealt after the same
maner with another towne seated vp the ryuer, about some 25. miles distat fro this, greater
the Panucus, they say it cosisted of 2000. houses, which also (vpon the same occasion) he
laide flatte with the groundc, and burnt it. This towne was called Chiglia. Abotie Chiglia
ouerthrowne, Cortes erected his Colonic about some three miles, in an excellent plaine,
but vppon a little rising hill, and this hee called the towne of iSaint Stephen. Shippes of
burden may come vppe the channcll of this ryuer for many myles together. The people
of this Prouince ouerthrewe Garaius twice, as in the former Decades hath beene sufficiently
and at large declared, but they coulde not resist Cortes, who ouerihrewe all he mette with.
They reporte that those countries are very wealthie and fruitefull, not onely apt for the nourish-
ing of anie thing qowed, and the increase and fruite of trees, but they say it mayntaineth
hartes, hares, conies, and bores, and many other wilde beastes, and ihat they also yeeldc
and ingender water foule, and other wilde foule : they haue verie hygh mountaines within
view, some where couered with snow. Beyond those Mountaines, reporte goeth that
goodly cities, and excellent townes lye in an huge playne, which those mountaynes diuide
Tht imkicious from these, bordering on the Sea. and they also shall be subdued, vnlesse the boyling and
"'fcanrf hmdli! vaine glorious disposition of the Spanyardes withstand it, who seldome agree in mind, for
hii owne endcs. the desire they haue to aduance their owne honors. Howe much euery one indeuoreth to
attribute to himselfe in this blinding meale of ambition, wherein none indureth the
soueraigntie and commad of another with quiet spirit, I haue sufficiently and at large
declared in those relations which went before, where I spake of the priiiie hatred and
dissentions arising betweene lacobus Velasquez the gouernour of Fernandina, which is
Cuba, and Fernandus Cortes, then, betweene Cortes himselfe, and Pamphilus Nabaezus,
and Grisalua, from whom a riuer in the Prouince of lucatan receiued the name, next, of
the reuolt of Christopherus Olitus from Cortes, after thdt beetweene Petrus Arias gouernour
of the supposed Continent, and i^gidius Gonsalus, and in' the last place of the generall
desire of seeking the Strayght or narrowe passage from the North Sea to the South : for
Commaunders and Captaynes who inhabite those countries in the kinges name came flock-
ing from all partes. These thinges partly related in their places, what arose on these con-
tentions shall bee declared. Nowe lette vs returne to Garaius from whom wee digressed.

Approach-

A jrr.ll to'vne
destroyed by
Cartel.

Cliigliii a fttn
Inwne de^troyrd
by Cortps.
fii'Mt Stephen a
Io*ne.

The fruitfiil-
nesse at the
cnuntry of
Punuciis.

He returnts to

Garaius.

!■«■ ' ';^

■'t

The eight Decade.

TKAi rlQUES. AND DISCOUERILS.

ff55

Approaching to ihc bonier* of I'anucuH, hee found all the coiintrpy impniirrinhril, un6
kncwe maiiifenlly that his Ni<itcri soiinc haddc made a false rcporlc roiicrrnint; tiir in-
habitantea of the village of Saint Stephen, because hee sawc no friendly dcalin<;. The
followerit of Garaiua say, that the urnianleH of Cortes hndde carrycd away all proniMJon of
vicluall out of the townes of the Ihrbarians to the endc that bccing compelled through
famine they might eyther drpaite, or bee consfrayned to disperse their forces ihnmgh the
neighbouring townes to f<eeke necessary foode, as it fell out, nor came the shipper,
deteined in the vnfortunate and aduersc sea. In that countrcy there is a great towne named
Naciapala consisting of about I5U(N). houses, in that towne the Cortcsians looke AluaradusfJ","''''"*"''
Commaunder of forlic horse of (Jaraius, together with his companions feeding his horses there,
as an vsurper of anotheni soyle, and brought them Iiounde to the Colony of Saint Stephen,
by them erected in the name and behalfc of Cortes. Miserable and wretched Garains
therefore remayned there still bctweene Sylla and ('harybdis expecting the fleetc. Now at
length the companic of the Hccte arryuc at the mouth of I'anucus, of eleiien 3. some say
fourc, the rest perished by ship wracke. Two of Cortes his Commanders of that Pro- si..rw,,At.
uincc, lacobus Docampo goucrnour of the citie, and Valegius leader of the souldicrs,
caryed by boat, enter the Admirall of that flecte, they easily seduce the souldiers and 'iht A.iniir.u
quickly drawe the rest into the power of Cortes, so that the shippes are caryed vp the cIJ,"]!."
ryuer to the Colony of S. Stephen. While Garaius was in these extremities, he vnder-
fitoodc the borderyng country of the riuer of Palmes was a rich and fruitful! soyle, contrary
to tlic deccitfull speech of Gonsalus Docampo his sisters son, yea, and in some places a
more blessed and fertile countrcy then the boiuides of Panucus. There had Garaius planted
his Colonie, fearing the fortune of Cortes, if the obstinacy of liis sisters sonne had not
deceiued him. Garaius being thus distressed, knewe not what counsel! they should take,
the more he repeatcih that that Prouince was designed and allotted him by Caesar, shewing
his letters patentes, his matter succeeded the worse. Through perswasion of the Goucr-
nour lacobus Docampo, Garaius scndeth messengers vnto Cortes, one named Petrus Canus, C'*"'^' "ni*
the other Johannes Ochoa, this, one of Garaius his olde familiars, the other newly admitted, coiu"'" "
sometimes a familiar friende of Cortes who was well exj)erienced in those countries, both
of them are seduced by Cortes, as the Garaianes rcporte complayning. Petrus Canus
returneth, and Ochoa remayneth still, for it was at;reede that Garaius shoulde goc to
Cortes. I hauc elsewhere sayde, when, by vncertayne reporte, the Senate of Hispaniola
wrote those tliinges to Caesar, and our Colledge «)f Indian aft'ayres. Nowe although miser-
able Garaius almost behelde his owne dcstrtiction, yet hee dissembled that hee woulde
willingly goe, and seeing hee must gne though hee were vnwilling, through so great
violence and compulsion, hee pacifyed his minde, and yeelded to the requestcs of Cortes
whiche brought power and authoritie with them to commande. Accompanycd with lacobus
Docampo hee goeth to Cortes, who chose his seate in that great citie of the lake Tcnustitan,
otherwise called Mexico, the hcade and Metropolis of manie kingdomes. Garaius is
recciucd with a ioyfull countenance, but whether with the like mind, let him iudge whose
propertie it is to search the harts. Hearing of the calamitie of Garaius, and the departure
of the Gouernour, the Barbarians sette vppon the souldiers dispersed through their houses,
and finding them straggling, they kill about two hundred and fiftie, some say more. With'- * ';"''';''»»^
their slaughtered bodies they make themselues sumptuous, and daintie banquets, for they ualjii,! .i"; imn
also are menne eaters. Cortes vnderstanding of this discomfiture, sent Sandoualus (a
woorthie man of his Commaunders) with fortie horse, and a conuenient and necessarie
number of footemen for the purpose to take rcuenge for so foule and hainous a fact, cv•^le^:rurl7^t^
Sandoualus is saide to haue cutte a huge number of the slaughterers in peeces, for thev
dtirst not now lift vp a finger against the power of Cortes or his Caplaines, whose names
they feared.
king) whireuj

commande. Then making an exceeding great fire, he burned all the kings, the heires look
ing thereon. And presently calling the heires, he demnndeth whether thev saw the eflect

i P 2 of

I?'' is reported to haue sent 60. kings to Cortes (for eucry village hath his cortc^ hmnnv
poll Cortes commandeth that euerie one send for his heirc, they obey his "'"' '""''

' m

( :. '.'if
' ", "\
- ' 'Xv i|

,"•■■!

tiJG

Th« »«milf of
irpuiiii

VOYAOES. NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decath:

commntiilrd he
be the firmer,
to mntch with

Sutpicloni vfon

lam.iita nn

Ht cmpartih
I.inuica with
Adams i'ar.i*
due.

of the Mcnlcnce pronounred ngainxt the ulaiighterri^ ihrir parentM. Aflrr that, with a iieiiere
roiintenancc he char^l■lh thctu, that being taught l)y thin example, they beware of
all MHpitinn of tiirtobcilienre. Beting thus diHroiiraged and tcrrifird, he Kent them
ciicry one awaie to their anncient palrimonyes, yet 8ubiect to tributes. This they
report, others, nomevshat after another maner. For repor» h varied euen from the next
neighbour, how much more from another worltle. Nowe C'ortot commendeth GaraiuN to
be guest tn Alphonsus •surnamed Villanoua, sometimes footcman to Garaius, (and thrust
out of seruire for deflouring his \fai-*lers mayde) then chamberlainc to Cortes, and
nhonld be honorably inireated, and that the bond of amitic might
Cortes laketh the legitimate sonne of Garaius to bee his son in law
his bastard daughter. Behold vpon Christmas day at night, Cortett
and Garaius goe together to hrarc morninge mattcns after our manner. Seruicc
beeing ended at the risingc of the sunne, they returne, and found a dainty breack-
fast prepared, Garaius commingc foorth of the church, complained first that hee was
oppressed with a ccrtaiiie kinde of windy colde, yet hee tooke some smale sustenance with
his companyons, but returninge to his appointed lodgingc hee lay downe, the disease in-
creased till the third day, some say, the fourth, at what time hee yeelded his borrowed spirit
to his Creator. There are some, as I haiic elsewhere sayd, who suspect whether there were
not a worke of charity in it, to thintcnt he might free him from the foule prison of vexation
and cares, being subiect to so great calamities, least wee should iudge that olde prouerbe to bee
vainly spoken, that a kingdome receiueth not two, or, that there is no assured fidelityc or
trust in the Competitors and companions of a kingdome. Others say, hee died of the
gricfc and paine of the ribbes, which the Phisitians call a I'iurisie : howsoeuer it bee
(iaraius dyed, the best of the Gouernours of those countries: which way socuer the matter
happened, it little skilleth, his sonnes, kindred, and freinds of rich menu beinge now
f.dlen into pouerty. The miserable wretched mann dyed, who peraduenture might haue
lined a hmg and quiet life if hre had bin contented with the olde Gonernment of Eli>ii:in
lamaica, by a new name called the Ilande of S. lames, where his authority, and loue of the
people were great (but with an obstinate spirit he went the contrary wayc, who knewe very
well that his neighbourhoode would bee most oflenciue and troblesome to Cortes) or if hee
being like towe or course flax, woulde haue sett footing elsewhere on the riuer of Palmes
fiirr of from the flaminge fire, whether the violence of the winds happily droue him, if
hoc had taken hold of the hairy forclocke of that occasion, or elsewhere in a riuer found
out further towards Florida called the riuer of the Holy Ghost, which riuers containc ex-
ceeding great countries, fruitefull, and replenished with people. So had the destinies
decreed, so must it be dune. But seeinge I haue presumed to call lamaica an Eiisian
country, which Garaius conimaunded many yeeres, it is mecle that I being the husbande of
this comly Nymph, should render a reason of the beauty, and goodnes thereof. Behold
therefore the example of preferringe the same.- '

The third Chapter.

Tllat rcmoued and hidden part of the worldc, wherein wee beleeue, that God the
Creator of all thinges formed the fir^it mann of the slime of the earth, the sage and pru-
dent woorthies or fathers of the old Mosaicall lawe, and of the new Testament call earthly
Paradise, because in that place there is none, or almost no difTerence beetweene the day
and night all the whole yecre. No terrible scorchinge heate, nor rough colde winter are
there to bee fonnde, but an wholesome temperate ayre, bright fountaines, and cleere
riuers. Nature like a beenigne and gracious mother, hath beautified this my spouse with
all these ornaments. Diners fruitefull trees (besides those which are brought thether from
our countrye) are very familiar and common there, which inioy a perpetuall Springe, and
Autumne, for the frees carry leaues, and flowers together all the yeare longe, and beare
fruite, and shewe them ripe, and sower or greene at one time. There, the earth is alwayes
hill of greene grasse, and the meddowes allwayes fluurishinge and (to conclude) their is

The tight Decade.

TIIAFFIQUKS, AND DISCOUF.Rirs.

nj7

no part of the earth whi< h ininvcth a more iijrariniix ami mild temper of ihe lieanen« :
Therefore my spouse lamaira in more blessed and rriiilcfull thou tlie re<tt. It f ' 'ondetli il
selfe in length frum Katt to West <iO. lea^jiien some others add tenn mon', and it inlargelh
it selfe in bredth 'M. leaj^iici, where it i^ broadest. Ihit ronrerriinKe needed nett, and
80wcd by the indu»try of mann, Knonderriill thin)?es are reported : and althouKh it be at
larjje declared in my former Decade-*, when I vxed the like speach concernin)? Ilispaninla,
& the same also cone erninj^e jjardcn herbcs or plintn, yet t.> repeals many of thenc will
not prouoake loathin<;e, or roiitempt (heclcly to I'lpes, vndcr whose throanes all these
things dayly more & more increase iVi i>r(iwe : ^ tast of precitms thiii>;s is saiiory at all
timen, becan«e especially those places of my former Decades paradiienttire shall not bee
bronght to your noline'<so his handes. Of breade (without which other dainty delicales arc
nothingc worth) they haiic two sortes, the one of come, the other of riotC'*, their come is
;jathered twice, and for the most part thrice eiierv veare, they want breade of wheate. Of
three quarters of a pint of that j;raine which thov call Maizium, sometimes more then "iOO,
times so many pints are gathered. That of rootcs is the better, and more evcellent breade
made of the roote lucea bruised smale, and dryed, which beeing bnnight into Cakes
which they call Cazzabi, may safely bee kept two yeerc vncorrupted. A ccrtainc
manielous industry of Nature lieth hidd in the vsc of this ronte lucfa. Recing put into a
«acke, it is pressed with great wnights layd thereon after the manner of a wine presse, to
wringe out the iuicc thereof If that iuice bee druncke rawe, it is more poysonous the
Aconitum, & prcsetiv killeth, but being boyled it is harmlcs, & more sauery the the whay
of milke. They hane also many kincles of otherc roote, they call them by one name
Batatas, I haue elsewhere described eight sortes thereof which arc knowne by the flower,
leafe, and shrubb. They are good l)oyled & no Icsse rosted, nor are they of an euill tast
though they bee rawe: and they are also like to our Turneps in shewe, or like our rape
Roots, Haddish, parsnepps, and Carretls, but of a differing tast, and substance. At what
time I wrote these things some plenty of Batatas were giuen mc for a preset, whereof I
had made your Holines partaker, but that the distance of phces with stoodc my desires,
and your Holincs his Embassadour with Caesar dcuoured that portion. This man amongo
the wrrthy & noble men, in 5' opinio of all good Spaiards, a rare Cusertine Archbishop
to who these things are very wel known through his l^. yeares couersation, if so it pleasu
your Holinesse, may sometimes rehearse and shew them vnto you by word of mouth. For
these coferenccs & discourses are wont oftetimes to grace ^ latter endes of feasts with great
Princes. I haue sufficiently spoaken concerninge the tepcr of ^ ayre, trees, fruites, corne,
bread, and roots : & haue also likewise ofte spoakc of garde fruits fit for foode, at what
time of y yeere vou may gctt melons, gourds, Cucumbers, & others like these lyinge on
the grounde : I haue extended the skirts of the ornaments of my Spouse with too amorous,
and louinge affection, yet true : therefore I now bidd her farewell, and let others left
behinde, come in her place. Another woorthy mann also lately came vnto mee, whose
name is Christopherus Perez Herenensis, executioner of lusticc a longe time in lama" ., -
soldier vndcr (ilaraius, the Spaniard calleth those kinds of Magistrates Algua/.i.... This
mann was alwaves a companion with Garaius, and was present when hec dyed : who con-
fesseth, that what other reported concerninge Garaius, and the successe of the whole armye,
was true. And returninge from that ouerthrowe, into Jamaica, hec brought letters from
Pctrus Canus Secretary to Garaius, directed to Petrus Spinosa, Agent with C.xsar for
(iaraius and his sonnes, in the ende whereof he exhorteth, admonisheth, and instantly
rc(piireth him to Icaue all these European countries, and forsake all buisines what soeuer and
returne into that happy country as if hee should perswade him to flye from vnhappy and
barren sandes, to most fruitefull & wealthy possessions : repeating, that he should shortly
become rich, if he would obey his wordes. This Alguazill addeth many things, not to be
omitted. That Panucus, and the riuer of Palmes breake forth into the Ocean almost with
the like fall, and that the marrinera get fresh & potable waters of both, nine myles within
the «ea. The third riuer, which our men call the riuer of the Holy Ghost> nccrer to ^

country

BrfH of corn*
iiij brrajc iil'
rofiif,

Th« Mf»ll»ni
Stcid ni.lilr ol
thr riH'tr lui'cii

A Mcrfl in el e
(he niture uf
lucci.

Of the rortr

Pcrci Hcrcniiii.

Nott thit fi.
hortatiuii.

The riuer rl
the huly ^hust.

''I .> '

(■.,1

fi.iS

VOYAGKS. NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Dceade.

I'' ii

i*. . '

t ■

»;

ivi

A strHit brasi.

(oiintry of Florida, hatli a more strcight & narrowc cl. ...nell, yet very rich & fniiteriill
countrycs lying round about it, & well replcniiihcd with people. Being demanded whether
l)y chance, violence of tempestuous stormes, or of sett purpose, the fleete of Garaius
nrriued at the riuer of Palmes, he answered, they were driuen thether by the mild and
gentle southcrne windes, and the Hill of the Ocean, which as I haue elsewhere sayd run-
neth alwaycs to the M'cst, imilatiugc the turninge or wheelinge motions of the Heauens.
T i)is Alguazill therefore (that I may vsc the Spanish woord ) saith, that the pilotts ihem-
selues and masters who !;niierncd and directed the fleete, beiiigc dcceiued fi>r llie causes
beefore allcdged, tooke the riuer of Palmes for Panucus, while cntringe the mouth there
of, they vnderstoodc the diHcrencc of the banckes and hce affirmclh that Garaius hadd a
purpose to stay and erect a Colony there, if his companions and consorts hadd not with-
stood him : for they intended, and aduiscd that the banckes of the riuer Panucus discouered.
and the fruitefull countries thereof already known w^rc to bee imbraced. Garaius touched
with an vnhappy prassage assented to his consortes, yet sore against his will, especially
when they added, that those P.inucan countrys were assigned him by Caesar, & that by
the kings letters patents it was graunted, they should b'?e called the Countries of Garaius
by an eternall name. While they laye at anchor in the mouth of the riuer of Palmes, and
expected Garaius his sisters sonne against the strcame, many in the meane time goinge out
of the shippes, wandred vppon the banckes of il»c riuer, searchinge what the nature of
countrycs might bee, and light vp on many new and sti^nge thinges but of smale moment.
Yet will I add one thinge: This Alguazill in the fielde a !<ttle distant thence, found a four-
footed beast feedingc, a little greater then a catt, with a foyes snowt of a siluer colour,
and halfe scalyc, trapped after the same manner that a compleate armed mann beeinge
rc.idy to light, rfrmeth his horse, it is a foolish slothfull beast, for seeing a mann a farr of it
hidd it sclfc like an htdghogg or a tortoyse, and suftred it selfe to bee taken, beeinge
brought to the shippes it was domestically (edd amonge menu, but greater cares succeed-
inge, and grasse favlingc, the desert and desolate beast dyed. This Alguazill (but with a
sad and mournfull countenance because he also was partaker of so great calamities) freeth
Cortes from the suspition of poyseningc Garaius, who saith that he died of the greife and
])avne of his side, which the phisitians call a pleurisie. While Garaius & his miserable
companions trauailed through those coutryes, which lye in the middle betweene those great
riucrs of Panucus, & f riuer of Palmes the borderinge inhabitants being demaunded, what
was beyond those high mountaines which were within there viewe, and copassed their
countries together with the Sea, they reported that very large plaines lay there & warlike
kings of great cityes had dominion there. But when we were in Mantua Carpenlana, c6-
inoly called Madrid, this Alguazil said cuparatiuely, as these neighbouring moutaines
diuide these prouinces, the countrycs Carpentana, & Oretana from the Valledoletane and
Rurgensian, countries, in which, as you knowe there are goodly cittyes, and famous
fownes : as Segouia. Methimna of the feild, Abula, Salmantica, and many besides : so,
mighty & huge kingdomes are bounded and separated from these straight and narrow coun-
tries, lyirig on the shoare. This Alguazill also confesscth that he knoweth the boundes of
Italye, and therefore .sayd, that Insubria was {separated after the same manner from He-
truria by the Apennine mountaines. And beeinge demaunded with what habit Cortes
attireth him.selfe, or with what ceremonies he wilbe intertaincd by them that are present,
and with what title he wilbe stiled, and vseth tc exact tributes, or what treasures he
thinketh hee hath heaped vp, and whether he .sawe that golden warlike Engine called a
Culuerin, whereof the report is now diuulged : he aunswered in these wordes. That he
C"itfs iiis state was cicathed with a vsuall blacke habit, but of silke, & that he made no sum|)tuous shewe
"oml patiicubrs " f m^'esty at all, saue in beholdinge the great number of his family : consistinge (I say)
of many stewards, and officers of his house, irorris dancers, chamberlaiiies, dore keepers,
cheefe bankers or exchaungers of mony, and the rest, fitly agreeing with a great king.
Whethersoeucr Cortes gocth hee bringelh foure kinges with him, to whom hee hath giuen
horses, the magistrates of the citty, and soldiers for execution of Justice goinge before

with

IJ>::

■ph.

eight Decade.

The eight Decade.

TRAFriQUES, AND DISCOUERIKS.

659

with niace<i, and as hee passcth by all that meete him cast theinsclucs flat vppon tiie
ground after the auncient manner. lie saytli also that he courteously receiueth all that
salute him, & is more delighted with the title of Adelantado, the (Jocernour secin<^ C/esar
hath giucn him both. And this Alguazill saith that the suspition which our courtiers
conceiue touching his disobedience against Caisar, is a vayne and idle report. That neither
he, nor any other euer sawe any signc or token of treason, yea, & that he hath left
three Cariiclles with treasures to bee conueved to CaEsar, together with that piece of or-
dinance called a Cuhicrin, which he confesseth hee diligently beheld, able to recciue an ^iurj'.'j'i'I'hff^,,
Oringe, but thinketh it is not so full of gold, as fame reportcth. mMidoned.

The fourth Chapter.

THat which I will now report, is a very merry iest to be heard : the inhabitants these Har-
barinns after a ridiculous, &• simple maner come forth of their townes as our men passe by
on their iourney, & bring with ihcm so many domesticall fatt foulc (no lessc then our pea-
cocks) as there are trauailers and if they bee on horscbackc, supposing y horses eatc llcsh,
bring as may fatt foule fory horse. But your Holinesse shall heare how ingenious, Sc sharpc
witted wooritemen these barbarians arc, whom Cortes hath subdued to the dominion of Cae-
sar. Whatsoeuer they see with their eyes, they so paynte, forge, and fashion & forme it,
that they may seeme to giue no place to the auncient Corinthians, who were skilful! to drawe Hccompanih
liuely countenances out of marble, or luory, or any other matter. And concerning the l^^"!'^,^^'',"'''''
treasures of Cortes he saith, they are not smale, and meane, yet he supposeth they are lesse to the auncient
then is reported, because hee maintaineth may Centurions, or soldiers, whereof, ^ ordinary .^.^j'"'^!,'^'; ^f
number of horse is aboue a thousild, & 4000. footmen, whose heipe he vseth both to bridle cnttes.
those he lately conquered, as also to search out & discouer new countries. He said also that po^'forfuitiifi
in the South sea of that huge vastity he built ships y fr5 thence he might trye the ^^quinoc- 'iis"'ucr)-
tial line 1'^. degrees only distant fro the shoares, to the end he might throughly search the
Hands next vndcr y line, where, he hopeth to finde plenty of gold, and precious stones,
and also newe, and strag spices. He had attempted the same before, but being disturbed
by his Competitors, lacobus Velazquez y Gouernour of Cuba, then by Pamphilus Narbaczus
& lastly by Garaius, he is sayd to haue forsaken his intended purpose. Touching the maner
of exacting tributes, it is this, by one example the rest may bee gathered. In the discourse
of my Tenustitan narrations to Pope Leo the tenth your Holinesse his cousin german, and
to his Succe.ssor Adrian, we sayde that, that puysant and mighty Kinge Muteczuma, hadde
many princes subiect to his dominion, and those, Lordes of great citties, these (for the
most parte) Cortes conquered, because they refused to obey, yet in their kingdomes h°A^"<iH'-»
placed in their steede, some of their children, brethren or other meaner kindred, that the °
people seeing the Images and representations of their auncient Lordes might the more quietly
beare the yoke. The neerest of those citties to the salt Lake, is called Tescucus, whiche con- T"«cucus a
taineth about the number of 20000. houses, and it is whiter then a swan, because all the^"^" ' ''"
houses are playstered with a kinde of limy Bitumen like morter, so bright & cleere without,
that such as beholde them a farre of, not knowing the matter, wouldc thinke they were title
rising hilles couered with snowe. They say, this citie is almost square, three miles in length,
and consisteth of the like breadth with litle difference. Ouer this citie he made a yong man
gouernour, descended from the proper stocke or bloud of the auncient nobilitie. Otimiba O"""*" ■<
is somewhat lesser then Tescucus. He gaue this citie also her ruler, one of a milde nature, ''"'''"^"''
and obedient to his commaunde, whom (beeing baptized) hee called Fernandus Cortes after
his owne name. The iurisdictions of these cities are great, of a fruitful soyle and famous
for the golden sandes of the riuers. Euery one of the kinges, that the Spaniardes may not
enter into their boundes, which may hardly be done without iniurie, yeerely by composition
giue vnto Cortes one thousand, and sixtie Pensa of gold. We haue often said that Pensum ^6o"pen!a°oi
exceedeth the Ducate a fourth part. They likewise giue him of the profits and increase of?niJep.iyde
the lande, the graine Maizium, domesticall foule, and delicate mcates of wilde beastes, conJuwu
wherewith the neighbouring Mountains abound : all Princes are handled after this order, and |'f,' f™''*''"

for his house-

euery hoidr.

■•'!■■>:

• ' J 5

I'-:

^'^^'l

v^^.% .„

,':^ii*|ii
-%^1

fifiO

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

(jii.ixaca.

I-acpotfca.

Cortt5his;olden
mines,

Thf kinfGua-
cmilgt^ iiis gieat
prrirnt to
fortes.

Th- cfrrnifv

Cortes,

Their h.ippie
money a re-
tiear!.aIltlicrof.

eiiery one sendetli his tribute for the profittes of his kingdonic. He nlso penritteth many
Prouinces truly to enioy their libertie without kinges, and to line after their auncient lawes,
except the customes of humane sacrifices, from whom hee hadde no meane supplies and
aydc agaynst Muteczuma. Notwithstanding, these countries, euen these pay their tribute
to Cortes. The country Gnaxaca is free, abounding with go!de : seuentie leagues distant
from the Princely pallace of the lake. Tlicre is also another of the same condition, called
Locpoteca, and manie others, whith pay golden tributes. Cortes also himselfe hath golde
mines assigned to his treasury or exchequer, which he cmptieth with the armes of siaues,
and setteth their children at libertie, to till the ground, or apply themselucs to mechanicall
artes. But one particular thing is well worthic the reporting. There is a Prouincc called
Guacinalgo, who!«e King hath the same name: he came, onely accompanied with his mother
to salute Cortes, and that, not emptie handi-d. For he brought him thirtic thousandc Pcnsa
of golde, carved vpon the shoulders of siaues, whiche hee gaue Cortes for a present. But
what he did in token of obedience, will not be vnfit to heare. Hee came vnto him almost
ijiu'cu'cinaigj "aked, though otherwise hee abounde with precious and costly garments after their manner,
eihii-ited to we vudcrstoodc that it was the manner with them, that for an argument and signe of hu-
militie, the impotent and weake shoulde goe vnto the mightie in meane and hoinly attyrc,
and bowing his head downc to the grounde, and kneeling, shoulde speake vnto him almost
trembling. But it is very necdfull to heare what happie money they vse, for they haue
money, which I call happy, because for the greedie desire and gaping to attaine the same,
the bowellcs of the earth are not rent a sunder, nor through the rauening greedinesse of co-
ucfous men, nor icrrour of warres assayling, it returneth to the dennes and caues of the
mother earth, as golden, or siluer money doth. For this groweth vpon trees, whereof I
haue elswhere spoken at large, both how it is sette, transplanted, and carefully looked vnto
vnder the shadowe of another great tree to checrish it, while being growne vp it may beare
the Summers scorching heate, and sustaine the violence of blusterins; whirlewindes. This
tree bringeth forth fruit like to siuale Almondes, they are wholely of a bitter tast, & there-
fore not to be eaten, but drinke is made of them for rich, and noble menne : beeing dryed,
they are bruised and beaten as small as meale, and at dinner, or supper time the seruants
take pitchers, or vesselles of tenne or a Icuen gallons, or great poltes, and as much water
as is needefull, and cast therein the measure and proportion of powder, according to the
quantitie of the drinke they prepare, then presently they powre out the myxture from ves-
sell to vessell as high as they are able to lift their armes and cast it out like rayne falling from
showers, and it is so often shaken together, till it cast a foame, and the more foamy it is,
they say the drinke becomes the more delicate. So for the space almost of one houre that
drinke being rowled, they lette it rest a little, that the dregges, or grosser matter may settle
in the bottome of the great boll, or vessell of tenne or a leuen gallons : it is a pleasant drinke,
not much distempering, although they that drinke thereof vntemperatly, shall perceiue it
troubleth the sences, as our fuming wines. They call the tree and the fruite Cacahus, as-
wee call ^ Chesnutt, & Almond, for both : that foame, as it were the foode of fat milke,
the Spaniard calleth the daughter, v^hich they say hath the force of meate and drinke. Par-
ticular countries are nourishers of these trees, and money, for they growe not euery where,
or prosper being planted, or transported, as wee may see of the fruites of our countrie.
For Citrons or Oringes, which wee call Toronias, and Limones, and suche like others, canne
hardly prosper, or bring foorth fruite in fewe places. From the Kinges therefore, and their
iiisute of their friiitefull couutries, Cacahus is their tribute to Cortes, wherewith he payeth the souldiers
"ayiit^iCories^' wages, and maketh diiiikcs, and procureth other necessaries. But the grounde apt for this
Mirchjdts. gift, is not profitable for come. Marchants trade together, & performe the businesse and
affaires of marchadise by exchang and bartering of commodities. They bring the graine
Mai/.ium, and Bombasiii cotton to make garmentes, and also garments themselues, into those
countryes, & returnc hauing chaungcd them for Cacahus. I haue now spoken sufficiently
of money, I repeate many of these thinges (moste blessed father) least he who beholdeth
them intitled with your name, shoulde nat be satisfied in these things, not hauing read the

bookea

How drinke is
nude of the
money tree.

Cncahus,

i;A

aht Decade.

The eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

661

an. There are kings also who are mightie, and rich Tribi,t«spjyd(o
, oiit of the \sW:c\\ Cortes hath full cupboordcs, and ,i"h's"u"" „,„($.

bookes dedicated to Pope Leo, and Adrian
in siluer mines : their tributes are siluer,

embossed plate both of siluer, and golde very fairely wrought. By these examples your
Holinesse may vnderstande, what estimation and opinion they haue of our Cortes. They
say, that Cortes liueth discontented, for the infinite treasures violently taken away three
yeeres since, by the French Pyrats, which hee sent vnto Cassar, among whiche, the orna-
nicntes of their Temples were admirable, whiche they (together with humane sacrifices) con-
secrated to their goddes. But what shall wee speake of the lewelles, and precious stones ?
Omitting the rest, there was an Emrode like a Pyramis, the lowest parte or bottonie whereof :^^^^^""'i^[,"^^^
was almost as broade as the palme of a mans hande, such a one (as was reported to timaUun.
Caesar, and to vs in the kinges Senate) as ncuer any humane Eye beheldc. The Frencli
Admirall is sayd to haue gotten it from the Pyrattes at an incredible price. But they
executed their sauage outrage most cruelly agaynst miserable Alphonsus Abulensis Corn-
maunder of the shyppe that was taken : he is a vounge manne descended of a noble
house, but not rich, hauing taken him, thev kcepe him close prysoner, resting vpon one
onely argument, because they committed such a lewel, and the rest of the treasures to his
trust. Hereupon they thinke, they may exact twentie thousande Ducates of him, if he will
bee redeemed. They who knewe the precious stone suppose that it cannot possibly be pro-
cured for any weight of golde, and they say it is transparent, bright and very cleere. In
these coiintryes of Tenustitan, for that the colde is vehement there, by reason of the dis-
tance from the sea, and the neerenesse of the high mountaines, although it lie eighteene de-
grees within the torride Zone, our corne or wheate groweth if it be sowed, and beareth
thicker earcs, and also greater graines. But seeing they haue three kinds of the graine
Maizium, white, yellow, and red, of those many sortes they like the flower better, and it is Miizium bcttci
more wholsome then the flower of wheate. They haue also wilde Vines in the woods very some^heV
common, which bring foorth great and .sauory clusters of grapes, but they haue not yet »''""•
made wine thereof. It is reported that Cortes hath planted vines, but what will succeed,
time shall discouer.

The fift Chapter.
BEsides this foresaide Alguazill, who obtained a sufficient large portion in this trutinie or
examination : another also came lately from the same parts of new Spain subdued by Cortes
one lacobus Garsias a towns-man of Saint Lucar Barramcda. Hee sayeth hee departed from
the Hauen of Vera Crux aboute the Calendes of April in the yeere 1524. at what time Ga-
raius now dieJ. He also freeth Cortes from the suspicion of poyson, and saith, he died of Ucobm Onrsias
the griefe of his side, or of the pleurisie. And this man also affirmeth that Cortes sheweth Iu"phio^°of"oy-
no signe or token of disobedience, against Ca:sar, as many (through Enuy) mutter. But son'"8eGaraiut.
by his report and others wee heare, that none carry themselues more humbly towardes their sub'iccuoc«a"
kinge then Cortes, and that hee bendeth his minde to repaire the ruines made in the great Cort« repaireth
citty of the lake in the time of the warres, and that hee hath mended the conducts of water TenSan."''
which then were broaken, that the stubberne and rebellious Cittizens might bee pressed and
vexed with thirst, and that the broaken bridges are now made vp, and many of the houses
ouerthrowne new built, that the ancient face and shewe of the citty is resumed, that the
faires and m.irkettes cease not, and that their is the same frequent resort of boates comminge,
and returninge, which was at the first. The multitude of marchants, is now great, so that
it may seeme almost like those times when Muteczuma raigned. Hee permitteth one of the CortM pcrmittc?
kinges bloude to receiue the suits, and causes of the people, and to vse a Praetorian scepter, scrFt^"''""
but vnarmed. When this man conuerseth wi.'h our menn or with Cortes, hee is attired in
Spanish apparell which Cortes gaue him : and while hee remaineth at home amonge his owne
people, he weareth garments after the accustomed miiner of his natiuc country. He saith,
that the Praetorian bande appointed to guard y body of Cortes, & apease tumults if any Hii Pratorian
arise, consisteth of 500. horse & 400. foote, & that many Centurians or Captaines euery '"'"'•
one with their forces are absent, dispersed both by sea, and lande, for diuers seruices,
amonge whom is Christopherus Olitus, of whom I made mention beefore : and a little after,

4 Q wee

> 'ml

'.•,t '►

■ry:::

6G2

Rtporiti from
Aluwaiiut.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

Aliinradiis as-
signird liyColtfj
tu ni ki' Search
for a crcat citiy
on the Wctt
tidt of the bay
lifutrai.

Aluaradus sedi
messengers to
the 'lyrant.

'Die Spaiards
ships thuueht to
be MOMSters of
tlie iica.

wee shall speake of the rest of his valiant acts. But, what another Conturian named Aluaradus,
sent from another part, reporteth, it is a goodly and excellent matter to bee heard. We
liaiie sometime sayd, that betweene Iiicatan (which is tiie beginnin<fe of New Spaine so
called by Cortes, & confirmed by Caesar) & ^ huge coutry of ^ supposed Cotinent,
there licth an exceeding great Bay which we somtimes thought had a way out to
f South coasts of y coutry : in which Bay also .^gidius Gonsalus Abulensis eueii
to this day thinketh, that some broade riuer may be found, which sucketh or suppcth vp
the waters of that great lake of potable waters, whereof I spoake at large in that booke de-
liuercd to your Ilolines by the Cusentine Archbishop, and in my precedent narration vnto
the Duke. The angle of that Bay they cal Figueras lately knowne. On the West side
heercof it was reported by diuers inhabitants, that there is a citty no lesse then the city
Tenustitan, yet by relation of all, more then 4(X). leagues thence, and that the kinge thereof
was the Tyrant of a large Empire. Cortes commendeth the buisines of searchinge what it
might bee, to Aluaradus, and assigneth him SCO. horse and foote. Aluaradus taketh his
iourney to the East, hee goeth directly foorth, and sendeth onely two before, who vnder-
stoode the necre bordering speeches of the Barbarians. He founde diuers countries : some
montanous, others plaine, somtimes plashy and marish countryes, but for the most part dry :
diuers countryes vsed diuers languages, out of euery country, such as were skilful in lan-
guages, he sent before with his menu. Omittinge what befel them by the way, least I weary
your Holines, and my selfe in repeatinge smale & triflinge matters, let vs at one leape em-
brace y, which we .sayd was excellent to be heard. The messengers goinge before from
kingdome to kingdome with their guides of the same country, returned to Aluaradus alwayes
slaying many leagues behinde, and brought him worde againe what they had searched : as
soone as they heard of the fame of the Spaniardcs the messengers left all in quietncs and
peace, so that none of the kings durst euer drawe a sworde against them, or our armyes.
Which way soeuer they went the barnes & storehouses were opened to the & their face*
fixed on the with admiration, but cheefely bcholdinge the horses, & ornaments of our men,
for these also are almost naked, so they hoipe our men with victuals, & porter slaues to carry
their fardells in steede of labouringe beastes. For they make slaues of such as they lake in y-
warres, as it happeneth euery where amonge all nations (I will not say kinges) raging madd
through couetousncs, or ambition. Aluaradus stayeth on y borders of that Tyrant, and
alwayes standeth in the winges of the troops in battayle arraye, he setteth no footing vj)o ^
boudes of that great kinge, least he might seeme to intend to ofter wronge for it is accounted
the greatest contumelye, and contempt amonge all the kinges of those countries, if any touch
or enter the limites of another, without the knowledge of the Lord thereof, and there is no-
thinge more vsuall amonge them, then in that case to take reuenge : hence proceede braules,
priuy grudges, and occasions of warres. Hee was yet almost an hundred leagues distant
from the princely seate of that Tyrant when hee sendeth Messengers beefore with inter-
preters of the next nations to that kingdome : they goe vnto the kinge, and salute him, and
are peaceably receiued : For the fame of our men hadd come to his eares, Hee dcmaundeth
whether the menu came from that great Malinges whome they reporte to bee sent from
Heauen to those countries (for they call a valiant and mighty Noble mann Malinges) they
confesse they wecre sent from him : Whereupon, he further dcmaundeth whether they came
by Sea or land, if by Sea, in what Piraguas, that is to say huge great shippes, as bigge as
the princly courtes in which they were (they themselues haue shippes, but for fishinge, and
those made of the body of one tree, as in all those countries) heere, that kinge plainly con-
fessed that hee hadd knowledge of our country shippes the former yeere. For the inha-
bitants of that Kinge from the townes sfandinge one the Sea side sawe them passe by with
their saylcs spread. Which iEgidius Gonsalus conducted through those Seas, which lye one
the baike side of lucat.in, and they thought them to bee monsters of the Sea and strange,
and ominous thinges lately arisinge, who beeinge astonished thereat reported them vnto
thtir Kinge. And demaunding, whether any of them two, knewe how to paint such a
shippc, one of them called Triuignus, whoe was a carucr in wood, and no ordinary pilntt,

promised

If'""

7*Jie eight Decade.

TRAPFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

663

promised to doc it, liee fakcth the m.nttcr vppon him to paint a shippe in a great hall, for the
great courtes of the Kingc and the Nobility are built with lime and stone as wee haiic sayde
of Teniistitan standinge in the LaivC. Ilee painted a monstrous shippe of great burthen, of Trivignus paint.
that kindc, which the Genuenses call Carrackes with six mastes, and as many deckes. The" ""'''"'
kinge stoode longe amazed, woonderinge at the huge greatenes thereof, and then after what
manner they fight, so that it might be sayd that each of the is so stronge, that it may bee an
easie matter for euery one to bee able to ouerthrowe thousands of menn, which hee declared
hee neither could, nor would beeleeue by any meancs, seeinge hee sawe they nothinge ex-
ceeded the common stature of menn or had more grimme countenance, or stronger limmes.
They sayd, our menn had fierce fourefootcd beasts, and swifter then the winde, wherewith
they fight : then, he desired that some of them would paint an horse as well as he could.
One of the company painted an horse with a terrible, and sterne countenance, much greater j^'^^P''"'"'' »
then they are (such as Phidias and Praxiteles left, made of brasse, in the Exquilinian hill of
your Holinesse) & sett a copleat armed man vpo his barbed backe. The king hearing this
asked the whether they would take vpo the to conquer the neighbouring enemy that inuaded
his borders, if he sent the 50000. armed men to helpe them : they sayd y all y Spaniardes
were of litle greater moment or powerfull strength, then other menn arc, but in a well
ordered army with horse, and warlike engines they feared noe forces of menn. They pro-
mised they would relume to that comader who sent them, & expecteth them not farr
from his bounds the king demaded what word they would bring fro him, who say they thinke
he would come to helpe him, & that they should easily destroy the enemy, his citty, and
whatsoeuer else is subiect to his dominion. Whereupo he affirmed, y he would yeeld him- The tyrant
selfe & all his subiectes into y power & subiectinn of y great & valiant noble man, if "ionViiTJlul-
they wold performe their promise. These things being done & cocluded, in token of his ""»•
future obedience, he remained so ready to pleasure our men ^ he gauc the 5000. slaues
ladc with y- moy Cacahus (which extendeth as farr as those coasts) & \V prouisio of
victuals to be brought to Aluaradus, and gaue them also 2000. Pensa of gold wrought into Hf ciues icco.
diuers Jewels. Returning back to Aluaradus, they made him ioyfull. Aluaradus returned to'""""^^''''''
Cortes, & told hiin what they had done. He ofiereth y presents of that great king, they
diuide them, as it behooued. But of y two mcssegers sent fro Aluaradus ^ one not trusting
to y Comaders liberality towards him, stole certaine Pensa after f iourney. His copaio ad-
monished him not to pollute his hads by violating his fidelity & faith, & exhorteth him rather
to proue^ liberality of Cortes & Aluaradus: expecting ^ obstlacy of his copaion he held his
peace disseinblinge the matter, and accused his companion to Cortes of theft : who for Thtft pumshsa
example of others ( the gold being found out) was publiquely whipped with rodds & punished ^^
with perpetuall banishment from Noua Hispania. These thingeswere done about the ende of
the yeare of our Lorde 1523. Then presently after a few dayes ended, thesicke and faint
being refreshed and new men placed in steede of the deade, this messenger sayth, that by the
commandement of Cortes, Aluaradus departed while he was present, with greater forces, with
striking vp of drums &soundc of the trumpetts. This messenger lacobus Garsias sometimes
houshoid seruant of Marcellus Villalobos the Lawier, one of the Senators of Hispaniola, is
sent fro his olde Maister to our Senat : what he sollicited for his Maister he hath obtained.
To wit, that it might be lawfull for him to erect a castle, and plant a Colony in the Ilande a Coionyc to
Margarita, at his owne proper cost, and charges. This Margarita is an Hand oueragainst the Marsarita.'"
entrance of the Dragons mouth in the supposed Continent, a fruiteful ingendrer of

pearls from whence the name of Margarita is

vnto it. If he doe it, he shalbe

perpetuall Gouernour thereof, and the command thereof shall come to his heires, as the
manner is, the supreame authority and power notwithstanding reserued lo the Crowne of
Castile. Their remaineth one thing yet, that wee may ende the matters of this new Spaine.

The sixt Chapter.

COrtes, since that French pyrate named Florinus violently tooke his fleete with many Cortes his dis.
ich he, & the rest of the Magistrates of new Spaine, partakers of ""'""'"

precious things, which

'•!■.

:■■ I

?Vti

4Q2

the

664

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

h, ^

Tiinf the b»!t
ini)uiiitor.

Christoph. Oli-
tus reported
to he reuohed
from CcrtM.

That Gonjalus
sends nusseger^
of peice to
Olitul.

Of the worth of
Olitus.

A report that
I'ttrus Arias
leauics a great
armie to go
againft Cortes.
Osir sttkes to
appeasi' these
contentions of
the Captaines.

fiizt Thomas
Hortisius.

the vicforyes, sent vnto Cocsar, through griefe, and sorrow for so grent an ont-rthrowc,
hath sent no more letters vnto Caesar, or our Senate, although from those kingdomes,
many returned, & that often : whereupon that suspition of reuoUinfje fro Caisar arn«ie.
Now he yceKleth apparant tokens cotn'ry to opinions, he indeuoreth to inlar^e kingdomes to
his Maiesty and not for himselfe: and if peraduenture your Holines somtimes considered
with your-elfe, whether the ambiguous and doubtfull rase of Garaius be to bee exacted from
him, and a strict accompt to be required, concerning his death, and he to bee corrected, if it
happened by his consent, let your llolinesse rcceiuc this froni my iiidgement and ex-
perience. Such an inquisition will be dissembled as I suppose, for none will attempt to
bridle so mighty an Elephant by this meanes: we shall thinke it better, and that it shall rather
bee needcful to vse courteous speeches, and comfortable lenitiucs for the curing of such a
wounde, then to prouokc him to anger. Time the aitcrnall ludge of all things will discouer
it. Yet we bcleeue it will come to passe, that hecreafter he shall fal into the same snares,
into the which heecast lacobus Velasquez Gouernourof Cuba, vnder who.se commande being
sent young vnto those countries, he aduanced the crest against him, and then Famphilus
Narbaicius, now Garaius, if the opinion of many bee true, as in their places 1 haue dis-
coursed at large. And the beginning of the payment of this debt is not farre of. It is
reported from Cuba, and lamaica, but more plainely from Hispaniola, whether ail resorte as
to a gcnerall Mart towne, that Christophcrus Olitus sent by him for the searching of the
desired Strcight, is reuolted from him, and performeth the matter by himselfe, neglecting the
authority of Cortes : so thinges haue their beginnings. We read letters also, whereby I
vnderstand, that .^gidius Gonsalus Abulensis (of whom in my former Decades I spoake at
large) is now arriued on those coastes of the foresaide Baye called Figueras lately knowne, that
from thence searching by little and little, he might seeke out the ende or issue of these freshe
waters. They say, that Olitus came to the very selfe same shoares, and that hee went further
downe 30. leagues onely, from jEgidius Gonsalus. They s.iy also that ./Egiduis Gonsalus
hearing of the comming of Olitus, sent letters and Me.ssengers vnto him, offering peace, and
Concorde. It is also reported, that Cortes ( vnderstand ing of the reuolt of OIitu-<) sent armed
forces against him, whom he commanded to take Olitus, and bring him to him bt unde, or kill
him. They who knewe Olitus, say, hee was a stout and valiant souldier, and no fooiish Com-
maunder, and that from the beginning of the warros, he had not beene the meanest part of
the victories, but as it often vsually falleth out, hee nowe became fearefull vnto Cortes,
wherefore vnder the pretence of honour, hee .sent him away from him, that hee mi^ht not
repose any credit in a man to whom he had spoken ignominious wordes. On the other part,
wee heare that Petrus Arias Gouernour of the supposed Continent, hath Icuied a great armie
to goe thither, whereuppon, wee fcare, least the discordes of these mcnn will bring all to
mine, and destruction. Neyther doth Caesar, nor our Senate vnderstande, what other coun-
sell to take, then by frequent commaundementes to the Senate of Hispaniola, to increase
their authority, that thence, as from the supreme power they endeuour both by courteous
spcaches, and also by admonitions, and thrcatenings, that no hurt arise, that they be not
contciitiiuis, but agree together in minde, except they will bee taxed, or charged with
the accusation of treason : they will all fall, and come to nought, vnlesse they obey.
For neyther will the re-.t of tlic Nobilitie of Spainc, who haue the mindes of the souldiers
affected vnto them, assent vnto their opinions, against the obedience of their King. Nor
doe Wie thi:)ke these commotions, and troubles are to bee apjieascd by armes, but if
wee shal pcrceiue any arguments or tokens of breach of fidelity, or treachery to breake
out, and appcare in any, whatsocuer thwart or opposite matter ariscth, shall be ouer-
throwne onely with inke, and paper. For the force of honour or pray^e especially, is
great, & naturally breild in the breast of the Spaniards, that they may he esteemed
faithful to their King. We expect ships from that forr.iin, & new world euery houre.
Then if any thing secretly swell, it will breake forth, and we will send for the Chirurgians to
cure the same 1 learned also many other things (not vnworthy the relation) by Friar
Thomas Hortisius, and his fellowcs the two coloured Dominican Friars, approued honest men.

These

■h^-^

V.J11»,.*«

The eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DlSCOUERirS.

665

These men for7. yeercsspncc inliabircd that parte of the supposed Continent, called Chiribichi, ChUibichi.
which is the next nei<;hboiirinj; Cinmtrcy to the Mouth of the l)ra<f«)n, and the proninre Paria,
often named by vs in our former Decades : where in my precedent treatise to the Dulic, I sayde
thai the Barbarians oiicrfhrewe the Monastery, and killed those that lined therein. This is the
opinion of this Friar Thomas Ilcrtisius who rcmayneth with vs, that twclue Friars of the Domi-
nican ( rder, be assigned to be >eiif vnto new vSpainc vndcr his conduct that they may sowe the
scede of our faith among thn>e barbarous natios: I vnderstood many tilings of these friars
befi re, which (as I remen'ber) being set <!( wne in writing, I sent them cxpresly mentioned
to diners Princes. They aflirme, ibat the inhabilantes of those countries are Canibales, or '|^'" p"»""y''''
Caril'es, eaters of manns (leshe. The countrey of the Caribes is an huge quantity of c',nibs"'ndth"
gnund, exceeding all Fumpi : they are found to sayle in flectes of Canowcs, to hunt ineuj ,7,^^""'"*^
anicng the hcapc of llandes which are innumerable, as others goe to the forrests, and woodes,
to seeke Harts, and wild Horcs to kill them. Carib, in the vniuersal languages of those
countries, sigiu'fieth, stronger then the rest, and from thence they are called Caribes: nor
d( e any of the llanders vtter and pronounce this name without feare. They are also called
Caribes of the country Caribana, situate on t'le East part of the Bay of Vrabia, from
whence, that wilde kinde of men disi)ersed through the large distance of those coasts, hath
sometimes slayne, and vttcrly ouertlirowne whole armies of the Spanyardes, They line
almost naked, sometimes they inclose their prinities within a golden little goorde, in another
place they binde vpp the foreskinne with a little corde, and vntie it not, but to make
water, or wlien they vse tiie act of generation, and lining idle at home, they coiier no other
part: but in the time of warres, they weare many ornaments. They are very nimble, and
cast their poysuncd darts with most assured ayme, and goe, and rcturne swifter then the
winde, with their arrowes: in their bowes, they are beardles, and if an haire come forth,
they plucke it out one from another with certaine little pinscrs, and cut their hayre to the
hall'e of the eare. They boare holes in their earcs, and nostrils for elegancy, and the
richer sort decke them with lewels of gold, the common people with diners shelles of
cockels, or sea nayles, and they also, who can gett gold, are delighted in golden crownes.
From the tenth, or twelueth yeere of their age, when now they begin to bee troubled with
the tickeling prouocations of Venery, they carry leaues of trees to the quantity of nutts,
all the day in eyther cheeke, and take them not out, but when they receiue meate, or drinke.
The teelh growe blacke with that medicine, euen to the foulenes of a quenched or dead Howttheymak.-
cole : they call our men women, or children in reproach, because they delight in white ^^^ ''"'''
teeth, and wilde beastes, for that they endeuour to preserue their beardes, and hayre :
Their teeth continue to the endc of their liiirs, and they are neuerpayned with the toothach,
nor do they euer rott. These leaues are somewhat greater then those of the Mirtle, and as
soft as those which the tree Tercbiiithus beareth, in feeling, as soft as wooll, or cotton. The
Chiribichenses doe not more apply them -elues to any culture, or husbandry, then to the Their industry
care of those trees (which they call Hay ) by reason 'that for the leaues thereof, they get "flK'l^le"""*
whatsceuer wares, or commodities they like. Throughout the fields of those trees, they cut "i'«JHiy.
very well ordered trenches, and conucy small brookes vnto them, wherewith they water the
pint,- in good order. Euery one iiicloseth his portion onely with a little cotton line drawn
out in length, to the h<ii;ht of a mans girdle, and they account it a matter of sacriledge, if
any passe oner the corde, and treade on the possessions of his neighbour, and hold it for
certaine that whoso vinlateth this sacred thing, shall shortly perish But, howethey preserue
the powder of tliose leaues, that it corrupt not, is worth the hearing. Before the dryed
leaues be beaten into pnwder, they goe to the woods of the Mountaynes, where exceeding
])Ienty of >hels and snayles are ingenclred, by reason of the moisture of the earth, of those
shelles heaped vpp, and put into a furnace made for that purpose, with a certaine particular
kinde of woodd, and a greate and vehement fire vnder it. they make lime, and mingle it
with the powder. The force of that lime is so great, that his lippcs that first taketh it, are so
baked, and hardened, like i!igj>ers and deluers who iiaue harde and brawny handes with often
handling of spades and mattocks, or, as if they rubbed our lippes with vnslaked lime, but

with

'm !

f;'J

fiiiG

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie ctiiht Decade.

Thf ciiic of ilie
Ireth.

fiummc.

Tilt iuyce of a
trrt wlirre with
they poison
llicir -rrowcs.

(jicirni.i .1 tree
with 1. cxctl.
Km pio|icttics.

Citrfan tries
;<iij the pro-
perties thereof.

A tree hciriiig
(iosanipiiic Cut-
ton.

Cassia Fistula.

Plenty of Ciii-
iiamuii.

Waters of a

riucr good to
purge the ston.
I^nis Alehitrani,
l|uis Urxcus.

Vapours hurt-
full fur the
head.

with such as arc arciistomcd thereto, it is not so. The powder thus mixed, iV tempered,
they put it vp ch)sc in m-mnds, and baskets of niarish lanes curiously wroiij^ht, and
platted in, and kcepe it till thcmarchants come, who goe, and come, to hauf that powder, as
they come (locking to fayres and markets. They bring the graine Mai/ium, slaiies, and gold,
or jewels of gold, (which they call Guanines) that they may get this powder, which all the
bordering countries v.se for cure of the teeth, yet the Chiribichen.ses spitt out the olde
leaiies cuery houre, & take new. There arc other trees in this valley famous for their
profits and commodities, from one of the, the boughes being a litle cut, a milky moysture
issueth, or droppcth out. This .sapp or moysture beeing left thus, congealeth into a kinde
of pitchy rosin, and that gumme is transparent and cleere, profitable for the pleasing per-
fume thereof. The iuyce gathered from another tree after the same manner, killeth, if
any bee hitt with an arrow annoynted therewith. From other trees bird lime issueth, there-
with they take fowlc. & put it to other vses. There is another tree like a Mulberry free,
called Gacirma, and bcareth fruite harder then our Mulberries of Europe, fitt to bee pre-
sently eaten. From them (being first moystened) they wring out a certaine sapp, excellent
to purge the throat, and good to take away hoarsencs. From the dried boughes of this
tree fire may be stricken, as out of a flint. The sides also of this valley haue Citrean trees
very familiar, and common, and very high, they .say that garments layd vp in Citrean chestes
smell very sweet, and are preserucd from mothcs. But if bread be shut vp there, to bee
kej)t, it becommeth more bitter then gall, and cannot bee tasted, thereupon (as wee haue
sayd) shippes made of those plancks escape the danger of those gnawing woormcs. Another
tree bearcth Gosampine cotton, bigger then a Mulberry tree, in ten yceres it dyeth and
perisheth, the like also happeneth in Ilispaniola, and in many other places in this new
worlde, as wee haue sayd in the precedent booke to the Duke. These two coloured fathers
make their vaunts, that this cotton is more precious then ours of Europe which is yeerely
sowed, and exceedcth not the height of a stalke of hempe or flaxe, this slender kinde
groweth and prospereth in many j)arts of Spaine, but cheifly in the Astigitan field. The
great tree of Cassia Fistula is very common in this valley, and groweth of ii owne nature.
Another commodity also of this valley is not to be omitted : among the Chiribichenses in
some hidden and secrete solitary places, they thought trees grewe which yeeldcd Cinnamo,
vnknowne to the inhabitants, or at the least not regarded, because there is no kinde of spice
in vse among these inhabitantes, beside that sort of pepper, whereof I haue often, and at
large elsewhere discoursed, which they call Axi, so peculiar and proper that there is no lesse
plenty of those shrubbs with them, then of mallowes, or nettles with vs. For example,
there was a tree carryed away by the violence of an ouerflowing finer, & cast vpon the
sea shoare next vnto their Monastery, hauing drawne the tree vnto the dry land, they went
about to cut it for the vse of the kitchen, sweete smelling sauours comming from all the
chippes, they tasted the barke, and perceiued the tast thereof not to be much vnlike Cinna-
mom, although through long space of time, and violent shaking of the streame, the tnmcke
and body thereof were halfe corrupted. Time, the ludge of all thinges, will discouer these,
Sc many other things besides, which are yet hid. "We reade that the Creator of all things
tooke vnto him the number of sixe dayes to forme, and orderly compose the frame of the
vniuersall worlde. Wee cannot with one breath search out all the secrets of great matters.
They say the waters of that riuer are apt to purge, and breake the stone of the kidneis, and
bladder, but make the sight dimme. They say, that out of a fountaine also springeth ^
matter of that vnquenchable fire vsually called Ignis Alchitrani, I thinke the Italian com-
monly calleth it Ignis Grascus.

The seuenlh Chapter.

ANother thing is worth the noting for the argument and matter thereof, beecause that
valley ingendreth lasciuious, and delightfull Spices. At the rising of the sunne, and in
cleare weather, wonderful! vapmirs are dispersed by the gentle morning winder, throughout
the whole valley. But if they bee to greedily drawne in at the nostrils, they are hurtfull to

the

1> . i . 'Ml

r.'.. ^„

• Jfc' ■*•"-„

^"-*^- =

tlie djxht Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

the head, and inijendcr the pose, or stufTing of the head, as it falleth out with vs in many BkIU Mn'kt
hcrhcs cheifly Basill, nor is it good to put Mii>kc to the Nose, although the sent thereof be p'u'[ f^oJi,,'^,.
sweete a farre off: but in raynie, or cloudy weather, those odours cease. Another tree on Aipit«|m.
the banckesof the riuers hearcth applet, which bccinj; eaten prouoke vrine, and cau^e it to uoi^ing vrine.
come forth of the colour of bloode. Another, bearcth excellent plummes, like those which finmmts.
th.' Spaniardes call Monke pitunmcs. Vpon the same bankcs, another bearcth apples whiche or • pirmnt
kill, if they bee eaten, although they bee pleasant, those apples falling into the channels are fhJmu I'o'mum
eaten of the fishes, and they who at that time eate those lij^Iies, fall into diuers vnkoowne I'aMdm.
diseases: this Fryar Thomas Ilortisius sayth, that hee tasted a little of the apple but eate
it not, who afllrmeth that it hadd a sower swcetc taste intermixed, it hurt him a little, but a
draught of oyle was a remedy for the |)oyson. The shaddow also of this Apple-tree hurteth
the head, and sight of the eyes, the eating- of these apples also killeth dogges, and cattes, and
any other foure-footcd beast whatsoeuer. That Country also ingendreth other trees of many
sortcs: a iuyce issueth from one, which beeing pressed is like the creame of ncwe milkc, ofthe inyctof
and good to bee eaten. Another tree yceldcth gummc no worse then redd sugar. That Gummc no
Earth also of her ownc nature shooteth foorth many sweete smelling herbes, and Basill m;iy ""'" «i"" '«<•<'
euery where bee gathered. Beetes growc there, to the height of a manns stature. Three hoI)«.
leaned grasse there, is greater then Parsley and Smallagc, and Porselane, brings foorth
braunches thicker then a mans thiimbe. All pot herbes, and garden herbes, brought thetherby
them of the Monastery growc vp there, as Melons, Goordcs, Cucumbers, Radishes, Carrettea,
and Parsncpps. Deadly and poysonous herbes also grow there, and cheifly one three ribbed
niarish herbe, armed with sharpe pointed teeth in manner of a sawe : and if it pricke one
vnawares, it scndeth him away complayning. Certaine herbes also 'row in that Sea, which
being plucked vp by the rootes through the violence of the wind- spread themselues
abroad, and for the most part, hinder the way of the ships. In this ci 'ntry of the Chiri-
bichcnses, the variety of the foure-footed beastcs, and their country fowle ij woorth the men-
tioning. And let vs begin, with the most profitable, and the more hurtfull, which are o|)j)o-
sitc. la my former books, and those that follow, often mention is made of certaine foure-
footcd Serpents, terrible to behold, they call them luganas, others call them luanas. This
monstrous beast is good to be eaten, and a beast not to be reiccfcd, among the dainty meates. a foure-foottd
And the egges also, which shee layeth, and bringeth forth like the Crocodile, or Tortoise, '/,^j''" ^°°'' '*
are of an excellent nutriment, and taste. The two coloured Dominican Fryars receyued no
small dammage by them, while they inhabited those Countries for seuen yeeres space. The
Monastery being erected (as we sayd) they report, for the most parte by night, they were
besett with a dangerous multitude of luganas, as with the enemie, whereupon they rose out of
their beds, not to prouoke them todefcnde themselues, but to fcare, and driue them away from
the fruites, and cheifly the garden Melons, sowen, and manured in their season, whereon they
willingly fedd. The Inhabitantes of that valley hunt the luganas to eate them, who, finding
them, kill them with their arrowcs, and many take them aliue, with their right hand, seising on
the neck of this monstrous beast, which is very slowc, and dull, though fearcfull to behold, and
seemeth with open mouth, and terrible shewe of teeth, to threaten biting, but like an hissing
Goose it becommeth astonied, and dare not assayle them : the increase of them is so great,
that they cannot vtterly dcstroye the whole hearde and company thereof. Out of the dennes,
and holes vpon the sea coast, where any greene thinge buddeth or groweth, they come foorth
by night in great troopes, and multitudes, to secke foode, and eate also the cxcrementcs of
the sea, which the Ebb leaueth on the shores. That countrey also nourislieth another subtill ^^jVbell'tl^
& cruell beast, (no lesse then a French dogge) seldotne scene. In the first twilight of the
night, it commeth foorth of the lurking places, and couert of the wooddes, goeth to the
villages, and compasseth the houses with loude weeping, and lamentation, so that they who
are ignoraunt of that crafty deuise, would suppose some young childe were beaten. Before
the experience of thinges instructed the neighbour.s, many were deceyucd, and vnawnrcs,
went out to the crying of the infant, then presently, came the monster, and violently caught
the poore miserable man, and in the twiuckling of an eve, tare him in peeces. Long space

'! . ni

■|.' r

H: •it, mJ
,! ■-'f>'«

OGS

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

Till' eisht Decade.

rMi

'■':'. ' !

Im' '

M-

The Chirihi-
rhi.inf t-atc Cru'
codilci.

M'ilJc cittc).

r.ippj a (ifrce
kiiij uf beast.

I.i'opnrJs and
Lyons of a mil J
& gentit* kindtf.

A bi-ast rt-scni-
liling the shape
of a man.

A beast whose
excrementcs are
snakes.

A beast that
fcedcth vpoii
Antes.

of time, and nrcrssity, whicli stirrc vp the ilrowsio mindt-s cf ttipii, riind out n rem dv . ;;aiiist
the nature ol this (tikII and monstrous beast. It':inv i)c to tran.iile liy ni>jhf, hec carryeth
out a kindled fier hrande with him, and swiii^eth it ah.mt a- hce jiofth, which tie moiister
beholding, (lyeth, as a fiarl'iill mann Iroin the xworde of a madd man, bv day tliis monster
hath neuer beeiie <teene. They are also much nmle-iti d-, and troubled with Crocodile.s,
■ es|K'( ially in snlilnry and mirie IJayes, for the must part they take the jonnj;, and eafc
them, but abxtaine (Voin the olde ones, beinji allrayd of them. The iPryars can- of a Cro-
codile, wi.o say that tl>c vnsauory taste thereof, is like to the soft fleshe of an Asse, as I
haue else where ^ayde of the Oocodiles of Nilus, in my Habilonian Le<jati»n for the
Cafholike Princes Fordinando, 8i Klizabcth. From the fcmail a sent proceedeth much like
the smell of ranke nni-ke. That Country engendrcth wild Catts, the damme carrieth the
younp in her bosome, crec|)in^ or ciiminjj; among the trees, then they hit the damme, who
fallinp; downe dead, they lake the little ones, and keepe them for delight, as we doe Mun-
kies or Ape-i, from wi( h ihcv ililfer exceeding much, they take them also by setting snare.s
for them on the brinckes of Fountaines. Beyond the mountaincs poynted at with the linger,
the Inhabitauntes say, that Montanous wilde bcastes inhabite, which counterfeit the shape of
a man, in countenance, fecte, and handes, and .sometimes stand vpright on their hinder
feete, with their face vpwarde, and waike, they who hearde this, suppose them to be Beares,
but sawe them not. Another fcarce Beaste rcmaineth in their woodes greater then an Asse, a
deadly enemy to Dogges, for wh.itsocuer Dog^e hee mcctcth, hee catcheth him, and carryeth
him away with him, euen as a Woolfe, or l.ion dooth a siicepe, they violently caught three
Dogges (from the Fryars) whiche kept the Monastery, euen out of the entry or porch. The
forme of the feete of this Bea.st greatly differeth from other lining creatures, the hoofe thereof
is like vnto a French shoo, broade before, and rounde, not diuided, or clouen, sharpe from
the heele, it is blacke, and shagg hayred, and feareth the sight of a man, the inhabitantes
call this ft)urfi)oted Beast, Cappa. It nourishcth also Leopardes, and Lyons, but milde, and
gentle, and not hurtfull, there are great multitudes of Deere, whiche the inhabitantes (who
are hunters) pursue with their arrowes. There is another Bea^st no greater then a French
Doggc named Aranata, the shape whereof is like to a manne, with a thicke bearde, goodly,
& reuerent to beholde, they haue handes, feete, and mouth lyke to a mannes, they cate the
fruite of trees, and climing among the trees, as a Catte, or an Ape, they goe in flockes, or
companyes, and .sometimes making a great crying or iabbering togeather, insomuche as the
Fryars of the Monastery when they first arryued, thought them to bee armyes of Diuellcs,
crying out against them to terrifie them, for rage and madnesse, of their comming thither. It
is a very apt, and quicke Beast, for it knowelh howe to auoide arrowes shot at it, and to take
them with the hand, and sende them backe to the shooter: I thinke them to be a kinde of
Apes, or Munkies, but the Fryars, deny it. There is another carrion leane beast, wonderfull
for the gesture and behauiour, for in steede of doung, it voydeth snakes of a cubite long :
these Fryars say, they nourished one at home, and that they sawe the thing by manifest proofe.
Being demaunded, whether the snakes went being set at libertie, they sayd, to the ne.xt
woodds, where they liue a short time. This beast lyeth stinking vpon euery filthy carrion
cast on the dunghilles, and therefore impatient of the rotten saufur thereof, they commaunded
it shoulde bee killed: it hath the snout, and haire like a foxe. Considering we see woormes
bred in the bellies bf young children, and old men are not free from that pestilent disease,
and that I haue learned, that they are voydcd aliue together with the excrementes, which
cliaunging the name the common people call maw woormes, why shoulde I not bcleeue that
to be so, especially such men affirming the same ? There is another foure-footed beast which
seeketh his liuing by a marueilous instinct of nature: for it is an hunter of Antes, as wre
know the Pye doth, this beast hath a sharpe snout of a spanne long, and in steade ot a
mouth hath onely a hoale in the ende of his snowt, whereby putting foorth his long tongue,
he stretcheth it out into beddes of the Antes which lye hidd in the hollowe hoales of trees,
and playing, with the motion of his tongue hee allureth them, and perceiuing it to bee full
of Antes, hee draweth it back, and so swallowing the Antes, is fed. That Countrie also,

ingendreth

ipht Decade.

The eight Decade.

TIIAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

(ifiO

FowIfS.

ingontlrcth that barbed or armed beast, whereof I haiie often spoken. It aboundeth aUo with w,n Bonn,
wlldc Hoares thorny H«l<,'h())i!;c>i, and Porkepennes, and diners kindes of WVcellM : it i"" l.',','lj,'',^n^;,^
also adorned with diners fowles, and is much troubled with the birdesi called Onocmtali, »":■
whcrof I haiic spoken at lars;e in my former bookc to the Duke. Batles, like Gnattes, as- »'"«••
payle men iileepiii;i[ by niuht. Whatsoeuer the Batt findeth vncouered in a manne, it
boldly assaylcth it without I'earo, and suddenly biteth it, suckin); the blood. But your
Ilolinesse shall heare a pleasant accident worth the hearing, which fell out about the biting
of a Batt. An housholde sernant of the Monastery, was sicke of a urieuous picurisie, in '*.'' ' """ '"''
great dnunger of life, and hauuiir necde presently to bee lette bloode, the Phlebotomist as-tjrrdb>«
sayd to strike the veine twise or thrise, but got not any drop of bloode with his rasor, where- "*"■
upon hee beeing left for a dead mann, within fewe bowers, the Fryars taking their last fare-
well, departed, to goe about to prepare for his biiriall. A Batt seiseth on him beeing thus
forsaken, and opened a veine of one of the sicke mans feete which was vncouered, the Batt
filled with suvking of the bloode, (lewe away, and left the veyne open. At the rising of
the Sunne the Fryars come to this forsaken man supposing him to be dead, and found him
aliue, and cheercfull, and almost well, and after a while hee recoucrcd health, diligently
applying himselfe to his olde office, thanked bee the Batt, which was his Phisition. They also
kill catts, doggs, and hennes with their biting. The Inhabitaunt calleth a Batt, Rere : I
giue the names of things which they giue, but they giue but fewe. There are also Crowes, °[„J,,''^"''' "'
( not Crowes which are blackish birdes) with a crooked Eagles bill, rauenous, but slow in
flight, as wee see, and may obserue in the flying of that slowe birde familiar in Spaync,
bigger then a Goose : about the setting of the Sunne, a fragrant breath or vapmir commeth
from them, but at noone, or in foggy weather, none at all. Partridges, Turtles, and Stock-
doues are bredd there in an infinite number, and they haue little Sparrowes lesse then our
Wrcnnes. They report marueilous things concerning their industrious architecture in the
building of their nests, to defend their young from rauening fowles and other monstrous
beastes. Next vnto the Chiribichenses lyeth the Country of Ataia, along by the shoares At.ii.
whereof, the Spanyardes sayled : they who cast their eyes farre into the Sea, the rest eyther
playing, or else idle, sawe an vnknowne and Strang thing, swimming aboue water and con-
sidering with fixed eye what it shoulde bee, confidently affirmed they sawe the hayry head
of a man with a thicke bearde, and that it hadd armes. While they quietly behelde a farre
oUT, the monstef securely wandred heere, and there, wonderinge at the sight of the shippe, ofaMonsttrof
but raysing their Companions with exceedinge loude outcryes, and exclamation, the Mon- mjn."
ster hearing the sounde of the voyce was terrified, and diued vnder Water, and shewed that
parte of the body which was hidden vnder the water, and beholding the tayle, they obserued
it to bee like the tayle of a fishe, with the shaking, and flapping whereof it made that place
of the calme sea full of wanes, or sourges. Wee thinke them to bee the Tritones, which
fabulous antiquitie calleth Neplunes trumpetters. At the Ilande Cubagua, famous for the n'"™,",''',,^,,.
fishing of pearle, neere to the Ilande of Margarita, many reported, that another monster of i>«tier$.
that kinde was seene there. In our Cantabricke Ocean, virgins voyces melodiously singing Fi'hMmtiodi-
are sayde to bee hearde at certayne tymes of the yeere : they thinke there are Consortes and "h, cmublti^
companyes of them, when they are prouoked to venerie, through the appetite of ingendring. o«"-
or begetting young of the same kinde. They haue many kinds of fishes vnknowne to vs,
but specially they delight in 2. sortes euery where, one, they roast or broyle, and keepe it
as we doe salted gammons, or fliches of Bacon, or, as we powder or pickle other flesh, or
fish, for our future necessities. Another kind, being boyled they knead in maner of a lumpe
of wheaten dough, which being brought into rounde ballcs, they bestowe vppon the neigh-
bours wanting that marchandise, for exchange of other forraine commodities. They take
fishes by two slights, or cunning deuises. When they purpose to goe about a generall fish- °'^,''j*.'' """"""
ing, a greate multitude of young men gather together, where they know plentie of those " "*■
fishes are, who without making any noyse compasse about the scoole beehinde in a broade
ring, like them that hunte hares, diuing all together, and in the waters after the manner of
dauncers, with wandes which they carrie in their right hands moued with great dexteritie,

4 R and

'wvn

ii!;:.::.-

0\f

»•' f

670

VOYAGES, NAUIOATIONS,

The eight Decade.

A hunful kind
of (iih 111 the
chiinnrU uf

NillK.

Sttanundfit.

Aipct with the
point of hIiok
lailci lliey pay*
•on their ar-
rowci.

Spideri that in-
Unnks biidh

Eatipf of lice
ind froiiet.

Gnaitci.

). kindei of
Beti.

t. lortei of
Wupet.

Diunieroui ScT'
pcnti.

CaRerpillrri.

Clowormu.

The red ihoan
rf the Sea, and
the supposed
leuon.

and the left hande onen, by little, and little, and by degreen they driiie them to the nandie
»ihoares lyke nheepe into the folde, and there cant the pray hv whole baiketit Tuli vppnn the
drie lande. I wonder not that thii« may be done, beecauae the like happened to my delfe in
the channell of Niltiti, when I went againat the itreame to the Soldan, fuiire and twentie
yeera wince. The flhyppes that carryed mee, and my trayhe, and the Palatinea aente vnio
mee from the Soldan, Htaying on the shore to take in newe prouivion oF victualler, for re«
creationd sake, because it was not aafe to lande by reaton of the wandring Arabians, by the
pcmwaaion and counsell of one of the borderers, I cast little peeces of breade into the ryiier,
whcreiippon presently a multitude of fishes were gathered togenther, so secure, that they
suffered maundes or baskettes to bee putte vnder them, for they come striiiing, and flock-
inge, to the floting peeces of bread, as greedie flyes to any sweete or pleasant thing, then
presently wee lifted vpp the baskets full, and that wee might doe at our pleasure againe, and
againe. But the borderers being demaunded why the great multitude of those fishes conti-
nued so long a time, wee vnderstoode that they eate not those fishes because they were hurt-
full. 1 was aduised to take none of them in my hand, for they shewed me a redd pricke in
their back, and that the fish endeuoureth to smite the taker with the poynt of the prickle, as
Rccs doe with their stinge : but the Chiribichensei haue not that care, for theirs, are good,
and profitable fishes. The other kinde of fishing is more safe, and generous they carry
burning torches by night within their Canowes, and where they know by proofe, the scooles
of great fishes are, thether they goe, and swinge about the flaming torches without the sides
of the boaten, the scooles of hsh hasten to the li^ht, which, by casting their harping Irons,
and darten, they kill at their pleasure, and being salted, or dryed in the scorching sunne
they orderly lay them in chestes, and expect the Marchants that will come to their markets,
and let this suffice for the Sea parts. Many kindes also of flyes, and serpents are ingcndred
there. The Salamanders of the Chiribichenses are broader then the palme of a mann hande,
and their biting is deadly : they croake or cackle like young hoarse hen-chickens when they
begin to desire the Cocke. Aspes which strike with the stinge of their tayle, are euery
where to bee founde there, with the poynt of their tayle they poyson their arrowes. There
are also diuers coloured Spiders, beautifull to beholde, twice bigger then ours : their webb is
strong, and worth the beholding, whatsoeuer bird, lesse, or as bigge as a Sparrow lighteth
into it, is intangled, and they of the Monastery say that no little strength is required to
brcake the threedds thereof. They eate Spiders, Frogges, and whatsoeuef woormes, and
lice also without loathing, although in other thinges they are so queasie stomaked, that if they
see any thing that doth not like them, they presently cast vpp whatsoeuer is in their stomacke.
Many defend themselues from foure daungerous sortes of Gnattes after this manner, couering
themselues in sande, they hide their faces with greene leaues among the boughes, yet so,
that they may breath, the snaall ones of these Gnattes are the most hurtfull. There are 3.
kinds of bees, whereof two gather bony in hiues after the manner of ours, the third is small,
and blacke, which gathereth nony in the wooddes, without wax. The Inhabitauntes willingly
eate the young bees, rawe, roasted, and sometimes sodden. There are two sortes of Waspes,
one harmelesse, the other very troublesome, the one inhabite the houses, the other remayne
■ in the wooddes. In certayne Bayes of the Sea coast, Serpents of great and huge bignes are
ingendred, if the Marriners chaunce to sleepe, taking holde of the side of the boate, they
clime into it, and kill, teare, and eate those that are asleepe together, like Vultures seising
vppon dead carrion which they finde. At certayne times of the yeere, they are much mo-
lested with grasse-woormes, palmer-woorme?, and Locustes, in the blossomes of the trees :
and in the graine Maiziutn, vnlesse great care be taken in drying it, and laying it vp in store-
houses, the Weeuel! groweth, and gnaweth the substance, and pith, leaning the huske, as it
''appeth in beanes, and somewhere in come. Gloowormes are also very familiar there, of
the which I haue spoake in my former Decade to the Duke, that they vse them for remedies
against the gnattes, and to gine them light by night. They say that the shoares of that Sea
at certayne times of the yeere are redd of the colour of blood. The elder sort being de-
maunded what might be the cause, they 3ay, that they thinke, but afiirme it not, that an

huge

1^1:!.^.

Titc etfiht Decade.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

671

hn;:e nniltiliule of fmhcs ( iHl ilirir «paiine ill that lime, whicK bcoinfl; violenlly carrved away
bv the waur-*. Kiiie>» ihal lildody colour to the brim of the waicr : I leaiie it to ihcm that tocke
marrowc in the Hiipcrlicjcn of hones, ut belrciie it, or eUc to infect thc»e, and many thin^rc<i
bcfiidc'*, wiih the naliirall rortuplinn of ilirir enuie, and Mpilc. Wcc haiie nowc npoken Muf-
liriently of fourcfooled boasts, fowlf^*, and flv«'«, a-* a!v» of trcci, herbes". and idyces, and
other such like thiiiRi. L( r vs therefore bend our b«w»e to aymc at the noble aclcs, and the
order, and counc of the life ut men.

The right Chapter.

THe Chiribichenses are very muche addirted to Sooth-saying, nrdjuination, they are louer« ]|j?'';t''^|;|iJi,1!
of playes or aporix, Mongcf, and soundcs, eiiery twilight they salute each other by course withchemM
diuei-!< inolrumentx and »ongC8, xometimeH they Hpend eight dayes together in Hinging, chaunt-
ing, daunting, drinking and eating, and soinetimeit shake thcfllMcIncA vntill they be extreame
weary, 'llieir songeH tend to Horow, and mourning, there, euery one furnishe and adorne
themselues with lewclM, some set golden crownes vpon their heads, and beautifle their 0"»""*"'-
neckeM, and Icggcs with wilkeo of the Sea, or Mhelies of snayles, in stead of beileii, others
take plumes of feathers of diuers colours, others hang golden tablets or brooches at their
breasicH, which they call Guaninncii, but they all die themselues with diuers iuyces of herbes
Olid ho that seemeth most (ilthy, and ougly in our eyes, they iudge him, to be the mmt
neatc, and irimme : being thus gathered together somewhile like a bowe, then in manner of
a strait wedge, and after that, in a round ring, with their liandes knit together, then pre-
sently loosed, they goo rounde with a thousande diuers kindes of skippinges, and dauncings,
alwaycs ninging, going foorth, and returning with diuers gestures of the countenance :
soinctimes with iheir lippes close, and silent, and sometimes open with loudc outcrye^;.
These fryars »ay, that thiy sawe them sometimes consume six bowers, and more, without any
intermission in these vaiiie, and laborious motions. When, warned by the Cryars, the bor-
dering neighbours are to assemble together at the Court of any cheife King, the Kinges
seruantes swcepe, and cleanse the wayes, plucking vpp the herbes, and castinge away the
Stones, thornes, and Strawe, aud all other filth, and if neede require, they make them
wider. The neighbours that come from the Townes, make a stande a slinges cast from the
Kinges Court, and prepare themselues in the open fielde, and hauing set themselues in an
orderly array, they shake their Dartes, and Arrowes which they vse in the warres, singing,
and dauncing, and Krst singing with a trembling low voyce, they goe a softe pace, then pre-
sently the neercr they come, they lift vp their voyces, and reiterated songs, euer almost
vttering the same thing, as for example : It is a cleere day, the day is cleere, it is a cleere
day. One Commaunder of euery towne giueth a rule vnto the rest, of their dances, and
songes, who aunswere so great a Commander with a musicall accord, so that it may seeme
to bee but one voyce in many, and one motion, in many motions. One of the kinsmen or
familiar freindes of that Commaunder, goeth before the troope or c5pany, directing his
steppes to the folding gates of the Court, then they enter the house without singing, one
counterfeiting the arte of fishing, another hunting, modestly dauncing, after that, another
(like an Orator) talketh aloude praysing the King, and his progenitors, and one among the
rest counterfeiteth the gesture and behauiour of a foole or lester, one while distorting his
eyes, another while looking directly. This being done, they sitt all silent vppon the ground TheUB«cchu*
with their feete vnder them, and eate till they surfeite, and drinke till they be drunkc, and '
the more vntemperatly any one drinketh, the more valiant is he accounted. Then, women
vse drinke more modestly, to the intent they may haue the greater care of their husbandes
ouercome with drunkennes. for euery husband is licenced to haue his wife to looke vnto
him, while these sportes of Bacchus last : they also vse the helpe of women at these times
to beare their carriages of meates and drinkes to the place of meeting : these reach the
cupps from man to man after this manner, the women drinke to him that sitteth first, who
ariseth, and reacheth the bole or goblet to him that is nexte, vntill the whole number haue
druuke in their order. The Friam say, that they haue scene some of them swolne through

4 R 2 too

•l-.i'

'if;

678

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie eight Decade.

A tnic beastly
barbnrous opi-
nion.

The Chiribi-
chcnsci Magi-
tians.

Their virgin;.

Married wo-
infii.

Warlilce Instru-
ments.

A policie of the

Barbarians.

Their language

hard to be vnder-

stoode.

The Barb;iriiuis

wash thtmscluts

euery day.

These Barba-
rians neuer for-
giue.

Pnysoncd ar-

too much drinkc, that they seemed like to a woman great with childe. After this, they re-
tiirne to brawling and complayning, and recounting iniuries past, hence arise combates hand
to hand, pronocations, and other controuersies, hence many enmities and hostilities begin,
hence many olde grudges breake foorth, Nowe when they are able to ri.se, to returne home,
they reuiue their mcurnerull .songs againe, especially the women who are more inclined to
sorrowe. They affirme that he that is tc. operate ditlercth much from a man, because hce
that fallcth not through drunkenncsse mutit needcs remayne without the knowledge of future
thinges. They apply themsclucs to the art of Magicke vnder maisters, and teachers, as
here-after wee shall spcakc in his proper place, and then, they say, they had conference,
and familiar conuersation with the deuill, when they are most oppressed with drunkenncsse,
the spirits being .sounde asleepe, wherefore besides the drinking of wyne, they vse the fume
of another inebriating hearbe, that they may more fully and perfectly lie without sense,
others also take the iuyce of hearbes prouoking vomite, that their stomacks being emptied,
they may returne againe to their surfeiting, and drunkennesse. Their virgins also are pre-
sent at their drunken meetinges, who wrappe the partes of the calfes of their legge.*. And
thyghes next the knee with bottoms of yarne, and binde them harde, to the end that their
calfes, and thighes may swell bigger, and through this foolish deuise they ihinke they ap-
peare finer to their loners, the other partes are naked. But the married women weare
breeches only to couer their priuities. These people frame warlike instrumentes diuersly
compacted, wherewith they sometimes prouoke mirth, and sometimes sorrowe, and furie,
they make some of great sea-shels with little strings ouerthwart, they also make pipes, or
fluites of sundry pieces, of the bones of Deere, and canes of the riuer. They make also
little Drummes or Tabcrs beautified with diners pictures, they forme and frame them also of
gourdes, and of an hollowe piece of timber greater then a mannes arme. By night almost
alwayes many cry aloud like Common cryer.^, from the highest house of euery towne,
& they carefvilly answere them from the next towne. Being demanded why they put them-
selues to that trouble, they answere, that their enemies might not finde them vnprouided,
if they suddenly came vpon them, for they destroy one another with perpetuall warrcs.
They say, their language is harde to be vnderstoode, for they pronounce all their wordes
halfe cutte of, as Poets may say, deum for deorum. If it be verie hotte before the rising of
the sunne, or if it be cold at the rising thereof, they Avash themselues euery day, and for
elegancie, and neatnesse, for the most parte they annoynt themselues with a certayne slymy
oyntment, and putting the feathers of birdes thereon, they couer all their body : the Spanish
cliiefe Justices bring baudqs or magitians foorth of the prison after this manner to the
publique viewe of men, in reproach, for punishment of their hainous crime committed.
Neither heate nor cold much oppresseth the Chiribichenses of the sea shore, though they
be next the Equinoctiall, yet are they scarce vnder the tenth degree of our Pole : that
country lyeth towardes the Antarticke ( as I haue elsewhere sayde) foure and fifty degrees
beyond the .Equinoctiall line, where the dayes are shortest, when they are the longest with
vs, and so contrary. Among them he is accounted most mightie, and noble, who is most
rich in gold, and Canowes, or hath most kinilred, or allyes, and he that is most renowned for
the famous and worthie acts of his Auncesters, or his owne. If any doe iniurie to another,
lette him take heede to himselfe, for thev neuer forgiue, but treacherously seeke reuenge.
They are exceeding vaine glorious, and full of boasting, they are much delighted with their
bowes, & poysoned arrows : with the stings of the tayles of Aspes, and the hearbes of cer-
tain Ants, and with poysonons hearbes, and apples bruised, and also with the iuyce distilling
from trees they annoint them, neither are all permitted to temper those medicines, or com-
positions. They haue old women skilfull in that art, which at certaine times they shut vp
against their willes, giuing them matter or stufTe for that seruice, they keepe them in 2. dayes,
wherein they boile the ointment, and hauing finished the same at length they let them out,
if they finde the olde women in health, so that they lie not halfe deade through the force of
the poyson, they grieuously punish them & cast away the ointment as vnprofitable (for they
affirme that the force of the same is so great, that through the smcl thereof while it is made,

til-

mp-

Tlic eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

673

it almost killethanv that make it) That povson killeth him that is wouded, but not suddelv, NocuKfoniH
SO that none of our men cucr foud any remedy, although they knew how to cure it. Whoso the poyscmdaj-
is wounded, lines a miserable and strict life after that, for he must abstaine from many things, '"*'•
which are pleasing, first from Vencry for 2. yeeres at the least, & al his life time from wine,
& food, more then the necessitie of nature onely, & from labour : vnles they forbearc
these things, they die without further delay : the fryars say, they haue seene many wounded,
because they destroy one another with blouddie wars, but none dcade except one
woman (for the women fight together with the men) who being wounded, refuse to vn-
dergo the strict rules of medicine: our men coulde neuer wring out of them, what remedie
they might vse for that cure. They exercise their bowes from their childhoodc among them-
selues with little rounde bullets of waxe, or wood, in stecde of arrowes. While they trauaile
by sea, one singer sitteth in the prowe, or head of the Canow, whom the rowers following
from point to point, after a pleasing and delightfull maner, answer him with the vniforme
motion or stroake of their oares. The women for the most parte passe the time of their Tht Batiamn
adolescencie, & youth honestly enough, but being elder they become vnconstant. After "oJ,"'" "j (^."j,
the generall manner of women, whom strange thinges please more then their owne, they
loue Christiils better: they run, swim, sing, & exercise all motions as aptly as me: they arc
easily deliuered, without anie signe, or token of paine, & neither lie down vpo the bed, nor
expect anie pleasing delights: they bolster the neckes of their infants with 2. pillowes, the
one before, and the other behinde, and bind them hard euen till their eics start, for a smooth
plaine face pleaseth them. The yong marrigeable maydens the parents shut vp two yeeres Locking vpnf
in secret chambers, so that for that time, they goe not forth into the ayre, for otherwise "eu^;^."* " ^"
by reason of the sun, and often vse of the water, they are somwhat brown : & during the
time of their shutting vp, they neuer cut their hayre. Manie desire to haue wiues kept
with that seuerity, these if they be first wiues of an husbiid, are honored of y" rest, which the
noblemen haue at their pleasure, but the commo people line conteted with one, yet y baser
sort for the most parte yeeld obedience to y more mighty. After mariage they beware of
adultery, if it happen, the woman is not charged with y crime, but reuege sought against
y adulterer, the wife may be diuorsed. All ^^ next neighbours are inuited to the mariage of Diuorw.
this maide thus seuerely first shut vp, & the wome guests bring euery one with the on their Thom.inerof
shoulders a burden of drink, & dainty meats, more then they are wel able to beare. The the'ir'm^'i'ays.
me cary ciiery one their budle of straw, & reeds, to build an house for y new maried wife,
which is erected with beiies set vpright in maner of a warlike pauiliu, y house being built,
J bridi>;room & bride are adorned according to their abilitie, with their accustomed lewels, &
precious stons of diucrs colours, and they that want them, borrowe of their neighbours, then
the newe maried wife sitteth aparte with the virgins, and the bridegroome with the men.
After that they compasse them both about, sini^ing, the young men going rounde about
him, and the maydens about her: and a Barbar commeth, who cutteth the Vjride-groomes
haire from the eare, but a womanne polleth the bride, onely before, vnto the cye-browes,
but on the hinder part of the heade, shee remayncth bushy, or ouergrowne with long haire :
these things being done, and night approaching, they olier and deliuer the bride to her hus-
bande by the hande, and he is permitted to vse her at his pleasure. The women also haue
their enres boared through, whereat they hange lewels, the men dine together, but the wo-
men neuer eate with the men. The women loue to haue charge of the house, and exercise
themselues in the ati'ayres of the family, but the men apply themselues to folow the warres,
hunting, fishing, and sporting pastimes. Hccrc 1 passe ouer many things concerning their
behauitnir, and manner of life, because in my former treatise to the Duke I mentioned, that
tiicy were sufficiently, and at large recited, in our Senate, somewhat whereof I feare is heerc Thr author in-
repeated not necessary, for the 70. yecre of mine age, which beginneth the fourth of the pJ"^"[J'J^,
Nones of February, next comming in the yeere I5!8i6. hath so cra.sed my memory
wipcvlitout as it were rubbing it with a sponge, that the period scarce lalleth from my penne,
when, if any dcmaund what I haue done, I plainely confesse I cannot tell, especially because
these things come to my handes at diners times, obserued and noted by diners men. Three

things

The woi-.fncatc
notwiththcmen.

lously
fcsseth I
and Hrmititii of age,

.:■' S

Hvia

674

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

m^ )

A discourie of
their practiKof
Migickc,

AustcreiKj of
liff.

'['heir cure of
the sicke.

things nowe remayne, which being declared, wee may peraduenture conclude this worke,
vniesse new matters bee brought vnto vs. Wee will therefore first shewe howe these bar-
barous, and almost naked men learne, and practise the art of Magicke. then, with what
pompe and solemnitie they celebrate their funtrallcs, and lastly, what they beleeue, shall
become of the deade. They haiie skilliiU and expert ministers of Magicke, whiche they
call Places, to these they rise vp in token of reuerence, and honour them as gods: otit of
the multitude of children ihcy chusc some of 10. or 1^. yeeres old, whom they know by
conieclure to be naturally inclined to that seruice, & as we direct our children to the schonles
of grammarians, and Rhetoritians, so do they send them to the secret, and solitary places
of the woods. For two yeeres space they leade an harde and strict life in cottages, & re-
ceiiie scuere institutions, vnder the Pythagorean rule or instruction of their old masters.
Tiiey abstaine from all kinde of things nourishing bloud, & from the act of generation, or
the thought thereof, drinking onely water, and liue without any conucrsation with their j)a-
rents, kindred, or companions. During the light of the sunne, they see not their maisters
at ail, who goe vnto their schollers by night but sende not for them. They rehearse to the
children songs or charmes that rayse deuils, and together with them, they shew them how
to cure the sicke : and at the end of two veeres they returne backc to their faihers houses.
And they bring a testimonial! with them of the knowledg they haue gotte from their masters
the Places, as they that haue attained the title of Doctorship doe, from the cities Bononia,
Pajji.i, aiid Perusium, otherwise, none learned in the art of Phisicke dare practise the same.
Their neighbouring allies, or frieds, if they be sicke, admit them not to cure them, but send
for strangers, and those especially of another king. According to the diuers nature, or qua-
litie of the disease, they cure them by diuers superstitions, and they are diuersly rewarded.
If a light griefe oppresse him f lyeth sicke, taking certaine hearbes in their mouth, they put
their lips to the place of the griefe, & lulling the asleepe, they sucke it out with great vio-
lence, and seeme to draw the oft'ensiue humor vnto them, then going forth of the house
with either cheeke swelling, they spit, & vomit it out againe, & say, the sick patient shall
shortly be well, because through that sucking, & lulling asleepe, the disease is forcibly
drawne out of his voines : but if the weake partie be oppressed with a more vehement feuer.
Another kind of & crucll paiuc, or any other kind of sicknes, they cure them after another maner. The
Places go vnto the sicke, & cary in their hands a litle sticke of a tree known vnto them, no
comon prouocatio to vomit, & cast it into a platter, or dishful of water, that it may be mois-
tened, or wet, he sitteth with him that lyeth sick, Se saith, ^ the diseased partie is vexed
with a deuil, they y are present beleeue his report, & his kindred, & familiar frieds intreat
the Places to bestow his trauaile & paines for remedy therof. Wherupon he goeth to the
weake patient, & continually licketh and sucketh al his body after the manner we haue saide,
and mumbling vttereth certaine charmes, saying, that by that meanes he bringeth the deuill
out of y- marrow of the sicke, & draweth him into himselfe, then presently taking f litle
moystened sticke, he rubbeth his own palate euen to the Vuula, & after that he thrusteth
the litle sticke downe into his throate, and prouoketh vomit, and straineth vntill hee cast
vppe whatsoeuer meate is in the bottome of the stomacke, or almost whatsoeuer is in it, and
with panting spirit, now trembling, another while submisse, and lowe, hee shaketh his whole
bodie, and belloweth foorth loude cries, and lamentable grones more strongly then a Bull
wounded with dartes in a race, and thumpeth and beateth his brest, so that the sweate runnes
trickling downe for the space of two houres, like a shower of r.iyne from the roofes of the
houses. The two coloured Fryars of the Monasterie say they sawe it, and also wondered
thereat, how that Places should not burst in the middle through so violent a motion and agi-
tation. The Places being demanded why hee suffered these tormentes, sayth he must indure
the, that thrciugh charms, inforcing the deuilles from the marrow of the sicke, and by suck-
ing, and lulling him n slecpe, he might cast out thediuel drawn vnto himselfe. Now when
the Places hath long > 'iquieted himselfe with diuers vehement actions, filthily belching, he
castelh vp a certaine t. icke lumpe of fleame, in the middle whereof an harde cole-blacke ball
lies wrapped, they gather that lothsome excrement together with the hand, and separate the

little

The eight Decade,

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

L\j

halfe deade with the sickc

little blacke ball from the rest of the rume, the Places lying

partie, then they go forth of the house, and with a loud voyce they cast away the litle ball

as farre as they can, repeatin<; these words agaiiie and ;i<i,ainc, Maitonoro qiiian, Maiionoro

quian which signifieth : goe diuell from our friendc, goe diiiel from our friende. This l>eing

done, hee requireth of the sicke mannc the price or recompence of the cure, insomuch

that the sicke partie supposeth he shall shortly be well, and so thinkc his kinsmen, &

familiars. Then plentie of the graine Maiziimi, and other food is giue him, according to

the qualitie of the disease, they likewise giue him tablets of golde to hange at the brest, if

the sicke party bee able, and the infirmitie daungerous, or harde to be cured. But this is

to bee remembred, the two coloured Fryare of the Monastery, menne of authoritie, and

preachers affirmed, that fewe perished who were thus cured, by the Places : what secrete

iyeth hidden here, lette such as are prone to sift out other mens matters, iudge as they

please, wee present suche thinges as are giuen vs from men of authoritie, and worth. If

the disease growe againc, it is cured by drugges, and iuyces of diuers hearbes. They con- COTsuit;";

suit with diuels also concerning things to come, whom they binde with their knowne

charmes which they vsed in that solitarie place, from their childhoode, questioning him

concernyng showers, and drought, the temper of the ayre, and touching diseases, and

contagions, peace, warre, and the successe thereof, & also concerning the euents of iour-

nies, the beginninges of thinges, negotiations, gaines, and losses, and of the comming of the

Christians vnto them, whom they abhorre, because they possesse their countries, giue them

lawes, and compell them to vse newe anil strange rites, and customes, and cause them to reiect

their accustomed desires. The Piaces being demanded concerning future thinges, the ^^'^'|""^{;''

Fryars affirme they answere perfectly, and directly: whereof beesides many other thinges, the diueii know

they shewed vs two examples beeing assembled in our Senate. The Fryars with greedie''""^*'"""'*'

and longing expectation desired the comming of the Christians vnto them who were nowe

desolate, and forsaken, in the countrey of the Chiribichenses : the Places beeing asked

whether the shippes woulde come shortly, they foretolde that they woulde come at an ap-

poynted day, and likewise told vs the number of the marriners, their habitte, and

particularly what they brought with them, they say they fayled in nothing. But another

thing seemeth more harde to bee credited, they foretell the Ecclipse of the Moone three J''«y '^°""=' ''"

monethes beefore, and more, although they haue neyther letters, nor knowledge of anie m«>.rwitho'ut

Science. At that tyme they faste, and lyue sorrowfully, perswaded thereunto, because ?"""">■ ''•"""

they thinke some euill is foretolde thereby, they receiue the Ecclipse of the Moone with The EccUps of

sorrowfull sounds, and songs, especially the women, beat & smite one another, 8c ' '

marriageable maidens draw bloud out of their armes, cutting their veines with the sharpe

prickle of a fish, in steede of swordgrasse. Whatsoeuer meate or drinke is founde stored,

and prepared in their houses in the time of the Ecclipse, they cast it into the Sea, or chan-

nells of riuers, abstayning from all delights vntill they see the Moone hath escaped that

danger, which hauinge receiued light againe, they giue themselues to sports, & pastimes,

and ioyfull songs, & dancinge. It is ridiculous to be hearde, what the Places contrary to

their knowledge perswade the innocent people to bee the cause of the Ecclipse of the

Moone: for they childishly affirme, that the Moone at that time is cruelly wounded by y

angry sunne, & that the fury of the same beinge appeased, she reuiueth, and receiueth a ridiculous

her former state, as though the deuill knewe not the cause of the Ecclipse, who beinge cast ecu"sT.' "

downc from the seate of the starres, brought with him the knowledge of the starres. But

when the Piaces, at the request of any prince or other friend, are to rayse spirites, they ^^y}'"i' °f.

,. ', "^rL II •■ • "^..i n spirits^ thtir

enter into a secret solitary place at ten of the clocke at night, and carry with them a fewe maner therein.
stout and vndaunted yoiinge men, the Magitian sitteth vppon a lowe settle, while the
younge menn stande immoueable, and cryeth out with outragious woordes makinge plaine
thinges obscure, as antiquitie reporteth Sibilla Cumea did, then presently he shaketh the
belles which he carrycth in his hande, and after that, with a heauy sounding voyce almost
niourninge, hee speaketh to the spirit which hee calleth vp in these wordes, Prororure,
Prororure, producinge the last sillable, and that he often repeateth, if the deuill beinge

called

« the moone they
y holde omiiuius.

■1 «

.*4SS»5

■ri-:

670

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade,

■-^■^

3"-

•ill'

A Comet an
vinvclconic
i;i;cst \nto the.

The nratinn of
fiiar ', .icinias
Hortisios.

The friar con-
iuici the diuelL

The nii?'vere of
the di;.ell.

A dhull cast
out.

called tleferre his comminjre, he vexeth & tormenteth himselfe more criicUy, for they are
the wordes of one that intreateth him to come, but if hee yet dcferr his comminge, he
chaiingeth his songes and vttereth threateninge charmes, and seemeth with a sterne coun-
tenance as it were to commaund him. They execute and put in practise those tliingcs
which we say they had learned in the solitary woods vnder the discipline of thoir old
Masters, now when they perceiue hee is come at length bceing called, preparinge them-
selues to intertainc the deuill, they oftener rattle, and shake the belles: then, the dcuill
raysed, assaileth the Piaces, as if a stronge mann sett vppon a weake child, and this
dcuilishe guest ouerthroweth the Piaces one the grounde, who wrestcth and writheih him-
selfe, and sheweth signes, and tokens of horrible torment. While hee labourefh and
sfrnggeieth thus, one of the boldest and hardiest of the yonge menn admitted goeth vnto
him, and propoundeth the commaundements of that kinge, for whose sake the Piaces vnder
tooke this waighty busines, then the spirit included within the lippes of the prostrate Magi-
tian makcth aunswere : what questions they vse to demaunde, we haue mentioned beefore.
The aunsweares beinge receiucd the yonge mann demaundeth what reward must bee giuen
to the Piaces, and whether the deuill iudge hee should be satisfied with other foodc or Mai-
zium, the demaundes are surely giuen to the Places. When they behold a Comet, eucn as
a shepheard when the woolfe commeth, vseth to driue him a way with horrible out crvcs,
so, they thinke a Comet wilbe dissolued with their noyse, & sounde of the drummes. The
Monasterians reportinge these, and the like thinges vnto vs pcrceiued some of our associates
to doubt, whether credit were to bee giuen to their wordes, and therefore, that friar Thomas
llortizius who throughly knewe the affaires & maner of behauiour of the Chiribichenscs
brake forth into this Example saying.

The ninth Chapter.

THe happy & blessed friar Peter of Corduba, an holy man by the iudgement of all,
and Viceprouinciall of the preaching friars of our order, of the country of Andaluzia,
whom only the exceeding great desire of increasinge our faith, drewe to those deso-
late, and solitary places, depending onely on the ayde and helpe of God alone, determined
to search out tiie secretts of those Piaces, and desired by his presence to knowe
whether such as were vexed with the deuill prophesied, & could giue aunsweres after
the manner of the Delphick Apollo. That reuerent father worthy admiration, girdeth
his preistly robe about him, bringeth holy water in his right hande to sprinckle the sicke
party therewith, & in his left hand carried the Crosse of Christ : and standinge neere the
sicke spoake these wordes: if thou be the deuill, that thus vexest this man, I adiure thee
by the vertue of this instrument well known vnto thee (and stretcheth out the crosse) that
thou presume not to come forth thece without our leaue, before thou first answere to my
demiides. After that, this holy father affirmeth, that he spake many things in Laline, and
asked some questions in the Spanish tongue whereunto he sayth the sicke party made
particular aunswere, yet neither in Latine, nor Spanish, but in the language wherein the
Piaces are instructed, diflferinge nothinge in sense. This good friar, besides the rest,
added one thinge: behold saith hee whether doe the soules of the Chiribichenses goe, after
they depart out of this bodily prison? We drawe them (saith he) and violently carry them
away to the burninge, and efernall flames, that together with vs, they may suffer punish-
ment of their filthy misdeedes: and these things were done in the presence of many
Chiribichenses by the commaundement of the fryar. Notwithstanding this report diuulged
throughout the whole coutry, nothing discouraged the Chiribichenses at all from their old
euill beehauiour and manners, but that they followed and executed their appetitie, and de-
sires after the same maner they were woont, as friar Thomas cdplaineth. This being done
the good friar of Corduba turnlnge to the Piaces lying sicke, saith, thou vncleane spirit depart
from this man. That word being spoaken, the Piaces suddenly arose, but so amased, that
he stoode longe estranged from himselfe, scarse standinge on his feete, who, as soone as
he had liberty of speach, begann to curse, and greeuously to complaine of his departetl

guest.

wm^

eight Decade,

tHic eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

tt i

giicst, which so longe time afflicted his body. Garsias Loaisa also one of the two coloured
prcachin*^ friars, as he affirmcth, whom your Holines hath aduanced to the heigth of his order
vnder a Cardinal!, now Confessor vnto Caisar, and Oximensian Praelate, cheefe of our Indian
Senate, saith, that Cordubensian friar, is worlhey of all commendation, & that he speakcth
truth. And this thinge scemeth not strange in my iudgement, seeinge our lawe permitteth
vs to confesse, that many haue bin vexed with deuills, and Christ himselfe is often sayd to
haue cast vncleane spirits out of men. These Piaces also inioy the society of banquetinges
with others, dancings, & other lii>ht pastimes, yet are they separated from the people for
their grauity. Nor doe these Magitians theselucs vnderatand the sense of their charmcs, as
it falleth out with our c -utry men: although the vulgar tongue be next vnto ^ Laline,
yet few y are present at y sacred ccremonyes of religio perceiue what f priests singe, yea and
amonge f priests theselues through y careles negligence of the Praelates there are not a fewc,
that contented only with the pronouncinge of the woordcs, not perceiuing the matter, dare
j)resume to say diuiiie seruice. Now after what manner, they celebrate their funerals, wil
not be vnfit to be hearde. The bodyes of such as dye, especially of the nobility, they stretch
out beinge layd vpon hurdels, or grates, partly of reede, and kindlinge a soft fire of certaine
herbes, they drye them, and all the moysture beeing distilled by droppes, they afterwards
preserue them and hange them vp in secret roomes for houshold godds. Other countryes
also of this supposed Continent haue that custome whereof 1 thinke I spoake in my former
Decades, to Pope Leo your Holines his cousen german. But such bodyes as are put foorth
vndried, are buried in a trench digged at home with lamentation and teares. The yeare of
their first funeralls beinge past, the next neighboringe friendes are assembled, and such a
multitude (as agreed with the state of the deade) come together, and euery one of them that
are inuited commeth accompanied with me^tes, and drinkes, or bringeth slaues laden there-
with, and at the first twilight of the night, the seruantes finde the graue, take vp the bones,
and with loude voyces, and loose haire, lament and weepe together, and takinge their feete in
their handes, and puttinge their head betweene their legges, they contract themselues into a
round compasse, and then they vtter horrible howlinges, stretchinge out their loose feete in
a rage, with their faces, and armcs, erected to the heauens. And whatsoeuer teares fall from
their eyes, or sniuell distilleth from their nostrills they leaue it vnwiped, filthy to behold : and
the more beastly they become, the more perfectly they thinke they haue performed their
duty: they burne the bones, keepinge the hinder part of the heade, and this, the noblest and
best of the womenn bringeth home with her to bee kept for a saccred relique, then, such as
were invited,, returne home. Now let vs speake what they thinke concerning the soule.
They confesse the soule to be immortall, which hauinge put of the bodily cloathing they
beleeue, it goeth to the woodes of the mountaines, & that it liueth perpetually there in
caues, nor doe they exempt it fro eating, & drinking, but y it shuld be fed there. The
answering voyces heard fro caues & hollow holes, which y' Latines call Echo, they suppose to
bee the soules wandring through those places. They knewe them honour the Crosse although
lying somewhat oblique, and in another ])lace compassed about with lyues, they putt it vppon
suche as are newe borne, supposing the Diuels flie from that instrument, if any fearcfull
apparition bee scene at any time by night, they set vp the crossc, & say that the place is
clensed by that remedy. And being demanded whence they learned this, & the speeches
which they vnderstande not, they answere that those rites and customes came by tradition
from the ciders, to the yonger. Let the Chiribichensian affaires excuse mee, though I denie
them the last place promised vnto them in this heape of thinges, for I sayde, they should
conclude this worke, except some newe thinges arose, it is therefore more meete that those
worthie fleetes which often cutte the Ocean, should driue away the last troopeof so great and
infinite varietie of matter, and nowe drawe backe my wearie hand from writing. For while
I was imployed in my former treatise to the Duke, and in the thinges mentioned to your
llolinesse in this booke, many occurrents came which partly I reported. Si partly occasions
otJered, compelled to bee reserued vntill this tyme, because also I haue no liberiie, for other
buisinesse, euerie day to apply my selfe to set downe in writing the successe of the afTayres

4S ol

SoMindr is
your popish su-
perstition.

Tile nnniu-r of
of tlicir foolish
fuiiLrjIs.

Reliques.

Their coceipt
of Echo.

He that taught
the papistes to
adore the Image
of the crosse
might teach
these miscreants
this ceremony.

^ Mi

■'■'■'H'-'l '

M-, V

il'. ',' -.si

678

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

'J'lic eight Decade.

14. Sliifis tie-

J'.lltul t'l'lll

B.irr;im-J I to
gw to Ht^l\;-
uioU,

U'i'(irt<from

InhlUlU'i Mcn-

di-^uitnscs.

1 lie arriiiall of
two ships from
Corltfs and
Noi.a Hispania
at the Ciibsite-
rideii\- tlifir
sviccetjt.

A fltcttof sixe
ships sent out «
from Casat to
inecic wiih ttie
pirates.

The author
diurrtt-th to
hcjof ti.e I'opes
liicssiiig.

of India: somedmes a whole month pxsseth my hnnclcs without anie intelli<^encf, and there-
fore when I haiie leasure all thingcs are written in hast, and almost conruscdly, ncr can
order be ol)serued in them, bccaiihe they fall out disordered : but let vs coinc to the lleetes.
Of 4. sliips sent from llispanioLi the former vccre, one came hither, from whose m.iriners,
and the Seiiatc remaining tliere, those things were related, and written vnto vs, wlii( h are de-
clared concerniiigGaraius, /l.gidius (ionsaius.Christopherus Olitus, I'etrus Arias, and Fernnndus
Cortes. Tiie (ifth of the Nones of May, in this yeere 1525. another fleete of twentie foure
shippcs de]):irted from Barrameda the mouth of Beti.s, to goe first to Hispaniola, where the
Senate is, whichegouerneth, and direcfeth all matters of the Ocean, and from thence presently
to disperse themselues to diuerse Pnniinces of that newe worlde. In one of those shippesmy
housholdc seruant lohannes Mendegurensis (a manne well knowne to the Cusentine, &;
Vianesian Archbishops somtimcs Icgats here) was raried, to Inoke vnto the affaires of mv
Paradisian lamaica. From him, I huuc rcceiiied letters, from Gomera, one cf the fortunate
Ilandes, where all that are to passe the Ocean, arriue to take in fresh water. Hee writeth.
that he performed his voyage with prosperous successe in tenne dayes space, and manic
swifter ships might haue done it in shorter time, but he was faine to slacke his sayles to
expect his slowe consorts, least lagging behinde they shoulde light into the mouth of the
French Pirates, who stayd longhouering for them vnder style : the iourth day after, he sayth,
they woulde set sayle to Sea, then becing secure from the feare of Pirates, they will hoyse
all their sayles, and spreade them at their pleasure : and we pray God they may succesfully
performe the voyage they haue happily begunne. I doe not well remember whether I haue
said that two shippes from Fernandus Cortes, and Nona Hispania (the furthest of countries
knowne to vs) arriued at the Cnssiterides, Ilandes of the Portugalles dominion called Azores,
but whether I so saiJe, or not, it little skilleth. I must now declare, how it came to passe,
that they fell not into the handes of those grecdie Pyrates, who houering vndersayle waited
long for them, and how they escaped, or what they bring. One of them beeing vnladen,
determined to try her fortune, and by Goddes heipe, light not among the pyrates, but
escaped safe. The Capfaines of the ships deliuered certaine messages to Caesar, and to vs by
Lupus Samanecus brought vp by me from a little one, who went three yeeres since from
hece with my good leaue, with Albornazius the kings Secretary, vnder the name of the Kinges
Auditor. Vnderstanding these things, a fleefe of sixe shippes was presently prouided,
whereof foure were of the burden of two hundred timncs, and two Carauelles to accompanye-
them very well prepared for Sea fight, if thev meete with the Pirates: the King of Portugall
also lent vs foure other verie rcadie shippes, well furnished with munition, and ail kinde of
ordinance, so they departed the seiienth of the Ides of lune, tooke in their lading which they
had left there, and returned about the ende of lulic to the cittie of Siuill, where they gauc
thankes to God, from whome wee dailv expect the chiefe Commanders. What we shal draw
from them, we will sometime hereafter giue voiir Holinesse a last thereof, if wee vnderstand
these thinges please you, bv offeringc vs a dish < f dainty meates, wherewith your Holines
doth yeerely fattc more then twenty thousand Idle persons, that they may more liberally
inioy the prerogatiues of securilie, and ease. I presumed to speake the like to Ctesar, when
he gaue me tlie Abbev of lamaica : for I deliuered my minde vnto him in these wordes.
Most mighty Ca-sar, what I haue bin to your mothers ancesters and both your parents for
these 37. yeeres wherein I haue remained in Spaine, and how profitable I haue bin to your
imperiall maiesty, so often as occasion is oft'ered, your maiesty confesseth, in word & honor
giuenme: but for testimov of the same that I may pcrsvvade my countrymen thereof, the
Kmba^sadours of Millaine, Venice, Florence, Genua, Ferrara, & Mantua, I want some out-
ward argument of this lone, in regard of honor, whose bayte no man shall euer bee found
who hath rciected it: euery one (as the olde proucrbe saith) commendeth fayres according
to the qualitie of y gaine. Surely after I receiuedthat gracious & fauorable parchm p; Ir.iil
from yoiu* Holinesse may particular poyntes, & clauses of the letters of the most reuerent
Datarius written to the Legate Baltasar, were acceptable vnto me, wherein he testifieth your
Holinesse his loue is not meane towardes me, and courteously promiseth he will be my

Aduocate

PHii;,

Tlic ciaht Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

C79

Achiocate with your Holinessc. But we ihinkc 5' a tree well furnished with leaiies is not so
much to l)cc csiccmcd, wliich when it may bee bencficiall, desireth rather to bee like an Elme,
or a Plane tree. I iiniie digressed to f.irr from the purpose, let vs therefore returne to the
ships thiit are brought hcther. The shippes sent from Cortes were onely two, and those
surely very lillc, they ascribe the snialc store of treasure to the scarcity and want of shippes totIwushm
of those coinitryes, for they bring onely 70. thousand Pensa of gold to Caesar, I haue often S^rfrolcol'ie-.
sayde that Pcnsum cxcccdctli the Spanish Ducat of gold a fourth part, yet I thinke this will to Ca;i,ir.
nothinge excpede it, beccaiise the gold is not pure. They bringe also a Culueringe a warlike The ^oUen
pecce of ordinance, (whereof I ha\ie often spoaken) made almost all of gold, but Lnpus Sa- J|||"J'^"j^^^^"
manerus who is now with me, being conueyed in the first shipp which tryed her fortune,
sailh, it was not of gold, and that it weighed three and twenty Quintales after the Spanish
wordc (euere Quintall containeth 4. Rubi of poundes of G. Ounces to the poundc). They
also bringe precious stones and diners, and sundry sortesofrich ornaments, & in the first
shippc Lupus Sanianecus brought a Tygcr of wonderfull beauty, but it was not brought vnto ATy^crofn
vs. Concerninjie Cortes, and his crafty & sublill deuises in sedncinge, and dcceiuing, farr '™"'';;'^'^""'""J
diReringe from y relation of many, and the apparant arguments, that he hath heapes of gold, spaiMf.
precious stones, and siluer, piled vp in store, such as haue neuer bin heard of, sent in ^,'u""i''c',j,,'"''j''
by burdens, by the slaues of the Kinges, through the posterne gate of his huge court, light.
and that by stealth in the night, without the priuitie of the Magistrates, and of the
citties, and their priuiledgcd townes, and innumerable rich villages, their gold and siluer
mines, and the number and largenes of the prouince, and many things besides, wee
reserue them till another time. Certaine remedyes are secretly thonght vpon, but it
were an haynous matter for me to mutter any other thing for the present, vntill this
webb, wliich we now begin, be throughly wouen to an ende: let these things be rc-
scrued for their place Sc let vs now speake a little concerning the other fleets. In that
booke which Antonius Tamaronus a batchelerof art, and my Solliciter deliuered to your
Holines (beginninge. Before that) mention is made at large concerninge a fleete which
was to bee sent to the Ilandes of Maluchas ingendringe spices, lyinge vnder the y^quinoctiall
line, or next vnto it, where, in a controuersie with the king of Portugall in the citty of Pax
lulia, commonly called Badaioz, wee sayd, the Portugals werre convicted, but woulde not
confcsse it, the reasons of which matter are there alledged, and set downe : that fleet com-
manded to be stayed (the Pacensian assembly being dissolued) was finished in the Canta-
brian roade of Bilbo, and about ^ Calendes of lune of this present yeere 1525. was then
brought to the hauen of Cluuia in Gallaccia, the safest harbor of all, and capable of all sorts
of ships which the Seas containe. And being furnished with all things necessary both for a
long voyage, & for warr, if necessity of fight gaue occasion, they stayd at an anchcr certaine
dayes expectinge a fauorable winde. This fleete consistethof 7. shippes, whereof 4. are of the a fleets of r.
burden of 180. tunnes.andSOO. two Caraucis also accompanyed them. I vse the familiar woordes raieiifp^p^c'd
that I may be vnderstood, & the seuenth is a litle one, which the Spaniard calleth a Patac, togoetoy'
they carry also another of the same sort in seuerall peeces, that as soone as they come to the ^ "'"''
desired hauen, they may ioyne her together, that is to say to the Hand of Tidore onet of the
Maluchas (where in compassing the worlde we sayde in our Decade to Adrian, that one of the
two shippes that were left remained, with fiftie menne) and with those two drawing litle
water, they might sound, and search the Ilandes, vnder, on thi.s side, and beyonde the
Equinoctiall lyne. This fleete staying, the king of Portugall cousin germane vnto Ca3sar, TheKingcf
and his sisters sonne, neuer ceased vehemently to vrge, and earnestly intreate, that Ca;sar !''?""£'" '"
woulde not consente to indammage him so much. But CaRsar woulde neuer yeeld to the the stay of the
request of his cousin germnne the King, least hce shoulde make the Castellanes (being the """'
strength of his Empire, & all his kingdomes) to bee displeased with him. And therfore at
length contrarie to the opinion, and desire of the Portugalles, at the first dawning of the day,
before the feast of S. lames the patron of the Spaniardcs, the prosperous Easterne windcs
blowing from the lande, the fleete sette sayle. At the weighing of their anchors they Th^ fl»ete .cts
sounded the trumpettes, and drummes, and discharged the great ordinance, as if heauen '" '

4 S 3 hadde

'';?"'*!

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Fryar Garsiaa
I.uaisa thr Com'
mandfr nf the
flerte dues hu*
mngr.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

loUannci Se-
basiuniis de
C'^no Vice-ad-
mirall.
Pctrus Vera
capraine uf the
third.

Don Rodericus
of the fourth.
Don Georgius
^laiiricus c.ip-
tJ)iie of tile lift

Hozes a Cor-

duben&i^n cup-
tainc of the sixt.

Why the tr.if-
ficke of Spices
is exercised ill
the Cluii^an
hauen and not
in SiuiU.

A dangerous Sea
bctweenc the
hjuen of Ciali-
sia and the
mouth ot Betis.

The lurking
(ilacM of pirates,

The course of
the fleete.

Two other
fleetes in the
liuer Betis prc-
(laiVd for His-
faniota.

The frequent
trafficke to the
Indies in this
Auiliors tynie
is notable.

hackle seemed to haue falne, & the mountaynes trembled for ioy : yet the euening before,
the Commander of the fleete Fryar Gansias Loaisn the crosse-bcarer of S. lohn, foiire yeercs
since sent Embassador from Caj.or to the great Emperor of the Turks, did homage in the
hands of Count Fernando De Andrada a Prince of Galisia (who sometimes ouerthrewe
Aubegniiis Captayne of the French in Calabria) and in the hands of the Viceroy hiuiselfe
of the kingdome of Galisia, the rest of the Captaines did homage to the chiefe Commander,
a\id the soldiers and officers to the Captaynes : homage being doone on botli 8ide.s with
solemne pompe, hee first receiiicd the kings sacred cnsigne with great applause : so these
stayed, and they departed, the prosperous East winds blowing in the pup, or stcrne. They
promise from the fortunate Ilandcs, called the Canaries, where their way licth to the South,
to write backe to our Senate whereon they depende, for Caesar so commaunded. The Admirall
of the fleete, the Admirall himselfe commandeth : the Vice-Admirall, lohannes Sebastianus dc
Cano, who brought the ship called the Victory laden with Cloue.s, and left her companion
that remained, behinde, because she was very much bruised, and shaken, Petrus Vera goeth
Captaine of the thirde ship, of the 4. Don Rodericus dc Alcunna nobly descended, both
these, haue bin Admiralles of many warlike fleeten, and famous for their worthie attempts,
both nobly borne, of the fift Don Georgius Mauricus, brother of the Duke of Nainra, who
being yonger, and of lesse experience, although more nobly borne, yet with a contented
minde itidured any inferior place, for he thought it good reason to yeelde to them that hadde
better e.xperience. A certayne Cordubensian noblemanne surnamed Hozcs commaundeth
the sixt shippe, and another noble gentlcmanne commandeth the last small Patac. One
other thing of no small moment remaineth (worth the hearing) before we Icaue this fleete.
Wee are therefore to declare what cause moued Caesar, and vs his Senate, that thisaromaticall
negotiation or marchandise shoulde bee exercised in the Clunian hauen of Galisia, to the
great discontentment and griefe of that famous citie of Siuill, where, all the aflayrcs of India
haue hitherto beene doone. That hauen of Galisia (besides the sccuritic of the shyppes
which are to bee harbored there) is situate on that side of Spaine, whiche by a shorte and
direct course lyeth towarde the greater Britaine ; and is next to the boundes of France, and
is more fitte for the Northerne marchants that seeke Spices. Nor are two fearefiill dangers
to Sea-faring menne, to bee omitted heere, which by this inuention are auoyded. That
Ocean sea, whiche lyeth in the middle beetweene this hauen, and the mouth of Betis, through
which they goe to Siuill, is so tempestuous, that small stormes or gustes of the Westerne
winde, eyther swallowe, or tossing the shippes taken on that coast of the Promontory of
Cape Sacer, or neere vnto it, dash them agaynst the fretted, and craggie ciifTes, more
cruelly, then is reported of the rockes of deuouring Sylla, and the gulfes of Charibdis. The
other danger is, in the sallies, and assaultes of Pyrates : on those coastes beetweene the rough
Mountaynes lye manie desert valleyes, whiche suflTer no resorte of people by reason of their
barrennesse, here are the lurking places of Pyrates, who receiuing notice by their owne
men from the high watch towers on the top of the Mountaynes, assaile the shippes as they
passe by : and for these causes it was decreede, that that negotiation or trafficke should bee
exercised there. That fleete is to goe the same way that Fernandus Magaglianus the Por-
tugall did, passing along all that coast, whiche the Philosophers called Torrida Zona, who
went to the Antarticke beyonde the lyne of Capricorne, whiche way anotlier fleete is to goe
vnder the conduct of Sebastian Cabot an Italian, of both which, I haue spoken in the com-
passing of the world to Pope Adrian, and in the precedent Decade to the Duke. Two other
fleetes also are prepared in the channel! of the riuer Betis to goe to Hispaniola, and the rest
of the Ilandes, of S. lohn, to Cuba, called Fernandina, & my Priory of lamaica, by a new
name called the Island of S. lames, & from thence they shalbe diuided to the supposed
Continent, & new Spaine conquered by Fernando Cortes, of the largnes, and riches
whereof, we promised a litle before, that we would sometimes speake. So now the concourse
of fleets floting vpon the wanes of the Ocean, going and returning to the new worlds are
no lesse, then the resorte of marchants from the borders of Italy to the Lugdunensian faires,
or from France, and Germany, to the Belgicke Antuerpians. I could wish (most holy father)

from

The eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUKS, AND DISCOUERIES.

GSI

VultuJ sfwt-

from some secret chinke of your priiiy chamber to bcliolcl, what ioy will then brcakc forth trum aniirii.'
from your sacred brcst into yniir countenance the first proclaimer of secrets, when your
IIolinc!»sc shall readc such, and so great thinj^es of new worlds hitherto vnknownc, spiri-
tually giucn vnto the Church of Christ his Spouse, as it were nuptiall Jewels, & that nature
through the diuine gnodnes is not satisfied in s'i''"fi liberally : but if any other countrycs
are yet vnknown, they prepare theselucs to be subirctcd to your Holines, & Cncsars com-
mand. Now, let your Holines bee contented with this first tast of a feast, to whom I wish
many happie yeers. From the city of Toledo the Carpentane, and Caesars Court, the 13.
of the Calendes of Noucmber in the ycere 1525.

The tenth Chapter.

THis our pregnat Ocean, hourely scndeth forth new broods, and this noble, & renowned
messenger from your Hnlines, Ballasar Castillion, a man famous for al vertues, & graces,
when he saw these 2. Decads to tiie Duke, & Pope bond vp together, earnestly intreated,
that I would send them by him vnto your Holines, I said, I was well conteted ; but
behold, he fell gricuously sickc, so that he could not a.s he desired, followe his afli.ires,
although many thinges dayly came to light, and therefore at that time he sent no mes-
senger away, to whom hee could commit the great and weightie actions of your Holines,
together with our books, least they might haue perished. Through this delay it commcth
to passe, that we may ailde a few thinges, by way of aduantage, or ouerplus. We haue J^Ztl'^Sm
had 3. ships from the countries of the new worlde, one called a Carauell from new of one ftom
Spaine subiect to the Gouernment of Fernandus Cortes oftc named : what she brought, are ^°'^"'
miserable things to be spoken, and those not a few, but we must begin with f letters in
those 2. ships, metioned before, to the intent these things, & the rest may more plainly be
vnderstood. There are 2. sorts of letters, one commo, the other particular: in the great ^"j^^J'^^'J'"'"^
common volume, subscribed with the hands of Cortes, and the magistrates, the Auditor, Trea-
surer, & Factor, there is a large discourse concerning the nature of the countryes, of those
thinges which are sent to Caesar, of the scarcitie of shippes in those coasts (in excuse that
they bring but small sums of gold, & lewels) and of their great costs, & charges, in which
narration Cortes saith he is poore, and greatly indebted : of the ships made by him on the
South shore, wherewith he sayd he would attempt the neerest part to the Equinoctiall line
.scarce 12. degrees of the pole, because he vnderstood by the people of those shore.s, y the
Iliids ingedring Spices, gold, & precious stons were bordering neere vnto the: y discimrse is
log, & the coplaints grieuous, for y he heard ^ ships were burnt with al their furniture,
it prouisio, because he could not prosecute the attept he had vndertaken by reason of the
fury of the aduersaries, yet promiseth, y he will recouer, and recompense this losse, so the
disturbers cease : of diuers, and many mines of gold, & siluer lately discouered, &
cocerning those things which want new remedies, & of 63. thousand Pensa of gold taken
out of y Treasury, contrary to f assent of the magistrates, vnder the shew & colour of a
lone, for the leauying of a new army, and of Captaines appointed to goe seuerall wayes, sccnt Uttfrs
to subdue diuers countries, & of many things besides. But particular, and .secret letters ^l^""" /^"'""'^
are sent only from the Auditor Albornozius J kings Secretary vnder vnknown raracters, to".'
called vsually ciphers, as.signed to Albornozius at his departure because at that lime wee
were suspitious of y mind of Cortes. These were framed against f subtile craft, greedy
couetousnes, & almost apparet tyranny of Cortes, but whether truly, or (as it oftc fnlleth
out) to procure fauour, time will heereafter discouer, for certaine graue men are chosen to
be sent to inquire, of these things, now when these hidden things shall be manife.st, they
shalbe signified to your Holinesse, but let them passe, & let vs returne to the discourse of
Cortes. Vpon the disobediece of Christopherus Olitus of whom large mention is made "jf,«'f,T"hi'''int
before, Cortes was in such a rage, that he seemed not to desire life, if Olitus were not pu- «scd withthc
nished, for he often .shewed apparant tokens of the perturbation of his minde, by the vehc- J'f,"J^'i^'ph." °*^
ment swelling of y veines of his throate & nostrils through extrcame anger, nor did hee o\k\>s.
abstaine from wordes signifying the same. Olitus was now distant from him 500. leagues and
more vnto the East, from the salt lake of Tenustiian, and he was to goe vnto him by wayes

which

■ " .■■*'i

•: . ''l ■ ' "

'■irf.;«i;!l

►V (\

f)82

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The eight Decade.

Olitui ituti in
the Bay Figuf-

Cottei Ituielh
tnrc(s ngainit

on lui.

Cjrfes cnilrary
to his 0.1th

hoith uj^jillit

() MIS.

'J he (lowtr tc
terror of Cortes
in Ills march.

Petri.s Ahiara-
ilijs stilt to the
S mth ccaitcs.
(io<ioius trt-
\\ ir;!cs tile
Nuith to seeke
Oiitus.

Frinciscus de
h.s Cisas sent
hy ;t.i to take
liliius.

A.'..!nf of tlie
g'. t!cn (Jiilut-
rip^ '•: other
piciciits sent
t'ttrtwith front
Cf't'ts and
clhirs.

JU- 3. sb'p.

uliioli had no passage in many places. This Oiitus had seated him selfc in the Bay called
Figiieras, lonj^ since found, vpo hope of discouering the str;ii<^iit so much desired, where
three other Captaines also arriuing cosumed one iiother with miitu;ill c<">nicts, of who<ic vn-
happv actions wee shall heereafter speake, but let vs not Ic;»uc Corfes. Cortes leuieth forces,
the kings magistrats seeing that assaylc him first with mild and quiet spearhe.s, txhi rting 8e
admonishing him, not to vndcrtake such a matter wherein many dangeis olfer theselues,
seeing he was to fight with our owne menn, & that he would not be ^ cause of so great a
slaughter of y Ciiristians, nor put the principall poynt of tlic whole matter in so great a
danger: for (they sayd) they sawe ^ preset destruction of all that remained, if he left the
country of Tenustitan (the head of the kingdomes) destitute f)f soldiers, being but l.itcly
subdued, and yet mourning & lamenting f( r the slaughter of their auncient kinges, and
destruction of their honshold god.s, kindred, and friendes. And if he himselfe, which is
more, should depart, whose name they confessed was fcarefull to all those mtios behold
what r>llowes, if any misfortue happen ( which God forbid ) would not all come to mine ?
They saye, Cassnr would prouide for the chastisement of Oiitus, & that Oiitus should siifl'er
punishment for his Error. These, and many things besides, they alledged, but all in vainc:
and after that, in Caesars name and their owne they manifestly denounce againe, jf he for-
sake his purpt se. The he j)romised with an oath y he would not goe vnto Oiitus, but to
subdue certaine rebellious kinges & y not farr of: yet he perfurmeth not promise, but
goelh a long iourney to the East, where (incensed with fury against Oiitus) in some places
he light vpon huge fakes on the .sea coast, maryshes of the valleyes in another place, i.nd
rough mount.nynes elsewhere, whether soeuer he went, he commandeth bridges to be bv.ilt
by the handes of the inhabitantes, maryshes to be made dric, and mountaines ouertlirown :
none dur^t refuse to execute his commande, for he destroyed all with fire, Sc swordc, that
went about to doe the contrary, so whatsoeiier impediments hee meft with, were made passa-
ble, so great a terror was he to all the inhabitants, after the conquering of so great a king
as Muteczuma was, and the taking of that Empire, that they thought this man coulde ouer-
throw heauen, if he had so determined. Hee caryed with him store of munition, and horses,
an vnknowne kind of fight to those nations: and the bordering neighbours (somtimes
enemies) gaue him ayde, through whose dominions and kingdomes hee marched. On the
other part, he sent Petrus Aluaradus before, towarde the South cons \, and towarde the
North, one Godoius, captaines by lande, from whom Cortes receiued Ic'.ters, and we also,
concerning great, and large new countries, and warlike people, and citties in some places
standing vpon lakes, and montanous, and champion countries in another : of which things,
the father of Cortes who is with vs, hath deliuered the volume sent from him, to the Printers
to bee published in his counlrey language, and it wandereth from stall to stall in thestreetcs.
But by sea, with three great shippes and many noble men, hee sent another Captaine named
Franciscus de las Casas, whom I mentioned a little before, & of whom I shal speake more
hereafter, although in a praeposterous order, the successe of thingcs so requiring. To this
sea Captaine hee gaue in charge, that if it were possible, he shoulde take Oiitus, as he had
him whereof we spake in his place. These two ships left the afTaires of Tenustitan in this
state, nowe being long since aryued with seuenty thousande Pensa of golde, and two Tygers,
wherof one, through the shaking, and working of the ship, died at Siuill, the other we haue
here made tame, and gentle, but a yong whelpe. The Culuering also much blown abroad
through the mouths of men may here commoly be seen, which in truth hath not so much
gold in it, as fame reported, yet it is worth the beholding. And all such as accompanied
that most reuerent Legate of your Holines, haue scene the ornaments, & warlike instru-
ments framed and fashioned with much gold, and precious stones, and lewelles composed
with wonderfull art, presents partly directed from Cortes, and partly from other Gonernors of
those coutries : all which they wil hereafter by word of mouth recout vnto your Holines.
Concerning the relation of the 2. ships I haue sufficietly spoken. Now let vs come to the
Carauell, which onely of her 7. consorts escaped by flight out of the hauen of Medellinum,
the Scale of New Spaine. But let vs declare why Cortes determined to call that place of

harbour

'■ 'I

The eight Decade.

TRAITIQUES, AN'D DISCOUEHirs,

663

*»M..

linrboiir by this n;inic. Mcilellimim is a fainoiis towne in Casfcek-, where ( . rics \vfc
bornv, hadiiiQ; tl't-Tclorc cliosiv) it lo be tlic M.irt towiic of all these countries, licrtii|iri
hoe wil hauc that place called Mcdcliimiin by the name oF the towne where he »*
borne, nor \h it «i;ainsayil, lie aNo j: mo the name to New Spaine, and desired lo haue itr
confirme<l by CV-iar. In that haucn there were 7. nvirehants ships, shortly ready to retnrne
into Spaine, hailing vnladcn their niarciiadises. In the mean time, there arosi- a sedition a. <cd tin
l)ctwcen tiic kinjjs officers, who thought it better that those sums of gold and precioiis j[X''foiii! ■'
stones gathered together should be sent with those ships vnto (';rsar (whose necessitie by M>^*«iiiii>i'i-
reason of imminent wars was great) such an occasion of ships ofl'eriiig it selfe, as seldomc
ha|)|)cneth. For two hundred thousand Pensa of gold, had bin long since promised vnto
Cics.'n' by lohannes Ribera, Cartes his Secretary, so (hat ships might be so set fit to carry
them. The rest of their fellow oflicers, <5s: associates withstoode this o[)inion, vrging, they
were to expect Cortes their Goiiernour, & woulde sufl'er no innouation in his absence, so
that in the ende they came to arincs. liy chatMicc I'ranciscus de las Casas Cortes his sea
Captaine, sodainly came vnlooked for, who being proud that Olitus was slaine, took part
with the Cnrtesians against the Kinges officers, & they say the Auditor Alborno/iiis AiLnu^/Ms
haning his horse slaine, was himselfe wounded, and cast in prison. The Conqucrcrs runne ^^."'iVpiirin
to the shi re, apprehende the factors of the 7. ships and taking all their sailes, flagges, and
yardes a sliore, that they could not depart, they vnladc the ships. The maister of this
Carauell arriued, naich moued & vexed through so great an ouerthrow, haning gotten some
lit occasion rcturneth to his ship: who also being bereft & spoyled of his sayles, &: \/
rest of (he furniture of his ship, attepted an enterprise worthy comeda(ion. He had
cast certaine olde, and halfe tome ^ayles in a secret place, as past seruicc, and vnpro-
fitable, and of the tottered rags of them together with a fewe canes or ells of new cloth, herhsmiitrr
made a patched sayle of diners peeccs. Then weighing anchor (without saluting them ^^''^'''',;:3";j''J;''',;'|
exercised this tyranny) hee spread his sayles, & by the heipe of the prosperous westerne listdunJ
windes, was brought hither with a more speedy course, then eucr happened to any ship, ">'"•
comming from those furthest partes of the Ocean. The masters of this ship brought neither
letters, nor message from any man lining, yet the speeches of the mariners thereof were so
cOposed and well ordered, that credite was giuen to their report. Concerning Cortes, these Ncwtsffi viks
pilots say it is gathered by coniecture that he was slaine with all his company by the ji^'ijI'Q,,'™.
inhabitauntes, (through whose dominions hee determined obstinally to tranavle) after this
mai>er. He left many captains behind, with commadement to follow when they were ready,
who following his steps, founde the bridges broken, and all the wayes cut of behind, & a
certain wandring rumor went, that the bones of men, and horses were scene among certaine
marish weedes of the sea coast, ingendred in the moystened earth through the violent
motion of tepcstes, & ouerllowings, & among the braks, & bushes thcrabouls. These
things this Carauell which (led, reported cocerning Cortes, & the kings inraged magistrates.
Now concerning those 4. Captaines greedily gaping after the searching of the desired
straight with breathlesse spirit, these mariners say they heard this. But this matter is a litle
further to bee repeated. If your Holinesse remember (most blessed father) after the death
of Pope Adrian, that reueret manne, Antonius Tamaronus the Lawyer, deliuered your
Holinesse a booke in my name, which bcginneth (Before that) who wrote vnto me that itoneofiht^e
pleased you wel : in that discourse, there is speech of a noble man, one /Egidius Gonsalus
Abulensis (commonly called Gilgonzalez de Auila) after what manner he founde a chanell
of fresh water so great, that he called ^ lake the sea of fresh waters, & of y' banks thereof
renowned for the frequet habitatio of people of the great abudance of raine that comes
powring down, of the ceremonies, customes, and sacred rites of those nations, of theplentie
of golde, and first of the beginning of peace, and quiet trafficke, then of warre, and grieuous
conflicts with the kinges Nicoragua, and Diriangen, and of his rcturne to Ilispaniola, from
whence hauinge procured an army of menn and horses we sayd, hee would goe to the Bay
called Figueras, which seemeth to deuide the coasts of the supposed Continent, as the The Ad.i; ik
AdriatickGulfe diuideth Italy fro lUyricum, & the rest of Graecia; into which Bay he thought^" '"

some

.Mi

. 'Sir-.

,'.«*■

:'Ji:;

1.^1 1\

68 (

VOYAGES, NAIIIGATIONS.

Tlic daht Decade.

vn
vn:

43 '•' .;

Ti:inu«.v.rk.. some naiiij»al)Io rlucr fell, thnt tlriiiukr vp that hunc vastitv of wnfcrs, an ^ riiicr TiriniN

SuKuir""' «iickctl» in ihc lake ViTliamis, & Minciiis ihr Like lienaciH (il* wliicli thinjies, & examples wc*

haiic there Niitliciently upoake. Hut why j Hay ho much xpoaken of in the m()iiihe>t of men,

The Biy.f Hhoiild be oo (ailed, it is not to be omilie«l. They say, that the name of Fijjiieras was {>iucn

fXi'" '"'''"'' ^' 'hp f"^t 'i'nlt'rs, because vpon that coast they found whole woniles of certainc tree?*

very common with leaues much like vuto li;;;; trees, nlihouKh vnlikc in body, these arc

Holid but fing trees consist of a pithy kinde «)f woixl, or sul)siance, and >ecin); in ilie Spaiiisli

touffue they call the (ijig trees Fi^ueras, th( y call ihem lM;;neras by a name somewhat cr-

nipted : of the bodyes, and longer l)oiij,'lus wliereof the inhabitants n\akc turned vessel!-*,

jit for the ornament of cubbanles and the seniice of tables, j' <s to say, dishes, basons,

platters, cuppes, ik ])otiinpcrs & oiher of the same fort tit lor j- vsc of man, very fairly

;p.(ii.iiii. r.on. wrought .Ivgidiiis Gonsaius or (lilgo/.ales hatiiii;; trauailed by Lld through the angle of the

4'mlMh't Bry."'^'' '^'y '" ''"^ '''''*^ disrouercil by him, and not liiidinge where the waters issued foorth, in the

kingdomc of tlic king Nicora;;iia, left friend, bv him, as hce saith, he founde a Captaine of

FrancifciH ivr. IVtrus Arias Gouernoiir of (Jolden rastcelc, called Franciscus Fernandez, to haue possessed

iiinyiny kiii{. that Ringoomc, & to haue erected a Colonv there but what happened thereon, I wil cocludc

dnn of Nau- jn a short Epitome. Ikhold they first grcwc to woords, then came to conlcrence, and lastly

to handy strockes: (Jilgonzale/ obiccteth that violence was odered him, complayningc that

his discouery was disturbed, and these mariners sav they fought thrice, in which sedition

eight men were slaine, many wounded and thirty horses perished. So impatient are the

Spaniards of society, that whether soeuer fhev goe, they kill, & destroy one iiother. The>c

>!>id. ciim iici mariners say {/ vTigidius Gonsaius tooke two hudred thousful Pensa of gold (though not veiry

jf,5","pjj.'"''' pure) from Franciscus Fernandez. And Fetrus Arias y (Jouernour (fro whom we h.me

nindfi. rcceiucd a great picket of letters from the supposed Continent) grciuously cuplayninge

o('°°M°' .'k "' "1^ •^'"itl'H'' Gonsaius, writeth that he iiad taken an hundred and tiiirly thousand I'ensa

<n.nsiiu'i f/o".7 from liis Captaine. These Pensa they had gathered amongc the bordering kinges, whether

ftriundci. against their will, or willingly by wav of barteringe <>r exchange of our coutry comodiiics,

it is not our purpose now to dispute : this being but a smale matter, & a greater peece of

workc remaineth yet behind. These things thus falling out by the way, through the vnq|uiet

OoitiiHgMthto Sc restlesse disposition of ^ Spaniardes, yligidius Gonsaius cometh to Christopherus Oiitus

ttkeii. ' set by Cortes, who also had erected a Colony a little further on the same shoarc, whiih he

A Colony Called by the name of the Triumph of the Holy Crosse, (whoin Olilus tooke) Hi he called

"liTed'thf Tri'."' ^^^ placc SO bccause after diuers shippwracks, which himselfe reportelh in a long discourse,

umphof the hauing escaped thefher fro the fury of mighty, & boystcrous windes, he landed there, on ^

day which the church of Rome solemniseth for the victory of Ilerodius the Romane Empe-

rour against y- Persians. Kut your Holines shal heare a ridiculous g tme, or pastitne in ^

FrancUcus de lai fable of fortune: ^ fourth Captaine Franciscus de las Casas sent from Cortes against Olitus,

$uddeiy""Jon ' camc siiddc'ly vpo him, Olitus goeth foorth vnto his associate & fellow officer (a little

before) vndcr the comaund of Cortes: they fight at Sea, & through 5' violecc of 5' great

ordinacc, F'raciscus hauing shott one of^ ships of Olitus through, sunke her, together with

the men, & after bctookc him to the mayne Ocean, & Olitus went to the ^hoare, &

landed. That Bay is subiect to may tempestuous stormes, by reason it is exposed to the

furious blastcs of y North and is straightened, or inclosed for a long space betwecne ^ sides

of high mountaincs, therefore a few dayes after being violently carryed away through y'

fury of the windes, & for the most part hauing lost his men, horses, & shippcs, FVanciscus

nriscujtaken was forcibly driuen into the dominio, & power of Olitus, being a most cruell enemy of

Olitus, so Olitus tooke him. liehold two Captaines of greater woorth, then he himselfe

who tooke them. Olitus shutt vp his guests at home not well contented, but as a pray for

his owne destruction. They both agree to kill their hosie, and seduce the seruants of Olitus

least (aKemptinge the matter) they should runne to helpe y fraytor Olitus, who innocetly

drew the into suspitio of treason. Vpon a night sittinge downc of purpose with their noble

host, in steed of a shot, or reckoing for the supper he gaue the taking the kniues which

were there for scniice of y table, they set vpo their vnpleasing host (for the seruants after

their

holy Crosse.

Olilus,

A sliippe of
Olitui suiikr,

hy Olitus.

Ttieeighl Deccuie.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEIUES.

685

their maHlcr hail supped, were absent earnestly Inii<tie(l at their ownc supper) and wrmntle oiitij«v»oundfj
OliUiJt with nia\ viniake!*, yet kill him not: no that Oiilii!* (led, & coniiciKhcd himscllf to'"'
ccrtaine coltanct- t the inhabitants which he knowo. Whereupon proclamalion wa>» madi*
by the cominoit rrycm that hee shoulde bee stiaine, whosocuer shuld su|)p'>rt, or di-fon i the oinuihfnivr.i
traytor Olitun, or knowing where he lay hid, wnuldc not declare it, a rcwaid is [)rop(wrd to ,',VJ|'^',*/,i,l;'iie!
the puny thai ^liould discnucr and make it known : by ihi:^ meancs hre U betravcd i)y his
owne menu, anf' a libell of treason beingc framed a^;ainst him, by publique prorlamatiim of
the crycr, hee v ^ slaine. Thi'* was the endc of Olitus, vnto the which, if! bee not dc-
cciued, the rrnf d his fell<»w ollicers, shalhec brought yer it bee lonne. liut your Holinesse
Nhall hcare another horrible and Nhamcltill act, ridicuiourt in the playing t;ible of fortune ; ivjuwi^rt.
Franciscim de las Casas another Sea Captaine Olitiis being slai no, is sayd forcibly to haue ''","'',i|,',\,'!i",J,
brought hiH bold rompanyon (Jonsalus, though not comparable in armcs, vnto the citty oftoTciiunmu.
TenuMtilan, supposingr it would be an acceptaMo |)resent vnto Cortes. Behold the madnes
of these four Captaincs in the Ray of Figueras, desirous to tast bitter delicates, who through
nmbition, and aunrice ouerthrcw thcmselues, and many kingdomes, which peaceably would
haue obeyed Ca;sar. There are some who say they saw .Ivgidius Gonsalus in the power of
Franciscus de las Casas, in the citty of Tcnustitan, others deny it : so that these muttcririgc
8|)eeche» cocerning Gonsalus are vncertainlv reported. After my booke of two Decades lon-
cUuled, (Jc sowed together, we twice rccciued shipps from the Senators of Hispaniola,
fower at one time, and seucn at another, but none from Nona Hispania saue only this
which escaped by flight : that great packet of letters sent from Petrus Arias Gouernour ^^ ^,^"("X'lulf
Golden Casteele, we read in the Senate: the sense & substance of the principall points Arn-aicmtt.
whereof are concerning his owne actios, wherein many things are spoaken of the hard & cwte'ti'e." "
diflicult labours, & trauailcs of his fellow soldiers, & his owne, of the next future departure
of the kinges Treasurer of those parts, with a siimme of gold whereof lie scttcth downe no
Dumber, of a voyage beginin which being performed, both Seas shaibe traded by an easie
passage, and wee may haue the Hands vnder the Equinoctiall familiar, because y distiice from y
naucn called Nomen Dei, is 1(5. leagues only, or litle more, from the Colony of Panama, and
that well harboured, si.\ degrees only, and an halfe distant from the y^quinoctiall, where the
dillercnce of day. and night, is scarce discerned the whole veere. Concerninge the prero-
gatiues of these coasts 1 haue sufficiently spoake in my former Decades. In another clause
hee accuseth /Egidius Gonsalus for violence ofl'ered to his Captaine Franciscus Fernandez,
and commendeth him for his modesty. & temperance, but others thinke otherwise. Wee
shall sometimes heereafierheare the complaints of the other partv, & then shall weiudgewhat
is to be done : the manner of the discourse is long and the circumstances tedious, which I
neither will, nor yet am able to comprehend, nor are they necessary for your Holincsse to
know, yet Pelrus Arias humbly intreateth one thinge, that now at length through Cassars fauour p«tiii Arim
hee may be licensed to returne to his wife, and children, because hee now perceiueth himselfe lu'nc'hom "'
to be wasted, and consumed with old age and a thousande diseases besides : and so it is de-
creed, for he is called home and a certaine Noble man a knight of Corduba named Petrus Rios PttrmRiu
is placed in his roome, he is now with vs, and prepareth himselfe for his departure. In our [oo^j,'"'"'
former Decades, where we discoursed concerning the vnfortunate succcsse of Franciscus
Gar.iius, o y comminge of Olitus to Cuba, fro whence he prepared to passe ouer to Figueras,
of /Egidius Gonsalus, & his preparation to the same place, and of the imaginations, and devises
oi Petrus Arias, to that matter wee haue also sayd, that no other thinge could be prouided by
our Senate, sane to giue absolute power to the Senate of Hispaniola, and to comand that they
being neercr would endeuour, jr their meetinges might not procure any damage, or hurt,
which wee greatly feared. And for that buisines they haue speedily appointed an approoued
mann called Baccalarius Morenus procurator orsoliciter of the Exchequer amonge them, who B«cai»tiui Mo-
hath recciued Caesars letters and ours. He came to lale for it was already done, he foiid all Jhc'Exchequcr"'
things cOfused: & the relatiO of this good man diflTereth litle from that which we Iiaue de- of Hisiumoij.
clared. So by reason of their disagreeing mindes, may notable things worth y knowing are

4 T ■■ I .. . , iiiter-

•:#''^^(

l.'.lj c«i

■[

686

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

77/c eight Decade.

■'i' . .1

intcmipted 8c cut of. Franciscus Fernadez being long couersat \V this Morenus of ^ Exche-
Adiicoveryof qucF saith jr in the bordering coiitry of ^ great lake he light vpon a forrest fill of fresh
mlVlht'tttu waters falling into the Baye, as we know Niliis fallcth downe frO y high moutaines of i'Ethiopia
lake. into j'Egypt, that thereby iEgypt being watered, it inigH' be pawred out into our sea : if

that be true, which as yet is vncertaine, it shall be in vaine to seeke that which i'Egidius Gon-
salus hath long considered in his minde, concerning a great nauigable riuer whiche drinketh
vppe those waters, compassed about with people. But concerning the misfortune, and vni-
uersall slaughter of Cortes, and his companions commonly diuulged, this Morenus of the
Exchequer returning, reported hee hearde nothing thereof in those countries, because those
coasts are more then 500. leagues distaunt from the Prouincc of Tenustitan, but sayetii, that
while he lay at anchor in the hauen of Fabana, the Mart towne of Cuba, Diecus Ordassus
The doubtfuii one of Cortcs his Captaynes (a discret man) arryued there, who sayd, hee came thither to
hli^eath. "'"'inquire whither they hearde any thing of Cortes, of whose life they greatly doubted in Te-
nustitan the heade citie of the kingdomes, and more then this, they knowe nothing. For
LudouicuiPon-cure of this so greate a blemish, a manne nobly descended, one Ludouicus Pontius a Lawyer
CaMrwTcnus-of Lyous, of this countrey of Carpentana, whereof this cittie Toletum is the heade (where
man. wee nowe remayne with Caesar) beeing chiefe lustice of the citie a long time, is chosen to

"'"""""'"■ bee sent, because he exercised his magistracy most vprightly, and wisely : hee is a modest
manne, and of a noble di-^position, through whose prouidence we hope it will come to passe,
that that shippe of Caesars floting for the happie and good fortune of Caesar, shall be brought
vnto the calme, and quiet hauen. Hee bringeth this charge with him, to intreate Cortea
with a thousand fayre intiring speeches (if hee finde him aliue) to drawe him to true obe-
dience, from the which, hee neuer yet openly departed, for the name of Ctesar the king is
alwayes reuerent in his mouth, and letters : but secretly, as hath beene largely spoken, wee
suspect I knowe not what, both by coniectures, and the accusations of manie, hee alwayes de-
• sired with a proude and haughtie mynde to bee graced with new praerogatiues, and dignities,
and hath long since obtained the titles of Gouernour, and Atlantado of those large countries,
included vnder the name of Newe Spayne. Hee lately also desired the badge or cognisance
of Saint lacobus Spatensis whiche this Pontius bringeth with him, to bee giuen vnto him, who
shortly is to departe, beeing alreadie dismissed by Caesar, and shall goe hence with a fleete of
two and twenty shippes. But if he finde that Cortes is gone vnto his auncesters, he is to do
otherwise. None of the other will presume to aduance their plumes, so he finde the state
of the inhabitants to stand cleere from defection and reuolt, all things will prosperosly sue-
ceed, and be subiected to the happy feete of your Holinesse. In that great citty of the lake,
which now resumcth the face & resemblance of a citty, repayred by the builcUnge of fifty
thousand houses, there are seuen and thirty churches erected, wherein the inhabitants inter-
mixed with the Spaniards most deuoutly apply themselues to the Christian religion, reiect-
inge the olde ceremonies, and sacrificing of mans bloud, which they now abhorr. And that
fruitefull graine wil infinitly increase through those 8. slippered, Franciscan Friars, instruct-
ing the inhabitants with appostolicall feruency, if the seditions of our men doe not withstand
it. I haue sufficiently insisted in these things : now 1 come to Stephanus Gomez, who as I
haue already sayd in the ende of that booke presented to your Holinesse beginninge (Before
that) was sent with one Carauell to seeke another Straight betweene the lad of Florida, and
the Uachalaos sufficiently known, and frequented. He neither findinge the Straight, norGa-
taia which he promised, returned backe within tenn monethes after his departure. I alwayes
thought, and presupposed this good mans Imaginations were vayne, and friuolous. Yet
wanted he no sufTragcs, & voyces in his fauour, & defence. Notwithstanding, he found
A repetition of pleasant, & profitable countries, agreeable with our Parallels, and degrees of the Pole. Li-
itonus'hij""^'** ""*''"'"* Aiglionus also a Senator in Hispaniola by his freindes, Sc familiars trauailed &
»!»Uefc " "*" passed the same strange shores to ^ North of Hispaniola, Cuba, 5-: the lucaian Hands neere
y Bachalaos, and the count:yes of Chicora, and Duraba, whereof I speake at large before.
Where, after the declaration of the rites, and customes of the nations, and the descriptions
of notable hauens and great riuers, groues of Holme, Oake, and Oliues, and wild vines

cucry

The order of S,
lacubus Spaten-
sis sent to
Corlts.

3J. ehurchet
erected in Te'
nuititan.

Stephanus Go-
mel returned.

The eight Decade.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

687

euery where spreadinge in the woods, they say, they founde also other trees of our coun-
trey and that surely not in a short Epitome, but consuming and spending great bundles of
paper therein. But what need haue we of these things which are common with all the peo-
ple of Europe ? to the South, to the South, for the great & exceeding riches of the iEqui- J°^^'^^^
noctiall, they that seeke riches must not goe vnto the cold, and frosen North. In this aduen-
ture your Holinesse shall heare a pleasant conceited puffe of winde arisinge, able to procure a pietjintcs-
laughter. This Stephanus Gomez hauing attained none of those thinges which hee thought"''""
he should haue found, least hec should returne empty, contrary to the lawes sett downe by
vs, that no man should offer violence to any nation, fraightcd his shipp with people of both
sexes, taken from certaine innocent halfe naked nations, who contented themselues with cot-
tages in steede of houses. And when hee came into the hauen of Clunia, from whence he
set sayle, a certaine man hearing of the arriuall of hia shippe, and that hee hadd brought
£sclai|os that is to say slaues, seekinge no further, came postinge vnto vs, with pantinge
and breathles spirit sayinge, that Stephanus Gomez bringeth his shippe laden with clones
and precious stones : and thought thereby to haue receiued some rich present, or reward,
They who fuuoured the matter, attentiue to this manns foolish and idle report, wearied the
whole Court with exceedinge great applause, cuttinge of the worde by Aphaeresis, pro-
playminge, that for Esclauos, hee hadd brought Clauos (for the Spanish tongue calleth slaues,
Bsclauos, and cloues Clauos) but after the Court vnderstoode that the tale was transformed
from Cloues to slaues, they brake foorth into a great laughter, to the shame and blushinge
of the fauorers who shouted for ioy. If they hadd learned that the influence of the heauens
could bee noe where infused into terrestriall matters prepared to receiue that aromaticall spi-
rit, saue from the .£qi|inoctiall sunne, or next vnto it, they woulde haue knowne, that in
the space of tenn moneths (wherein hee performed his voyage) aromaticall Cloues could
not bee founde. While I was buysily imployed in this corollary, or addition, beehold the
accustomed artes and subtiltie of whirlinge fortune, which neuer gaue ounce of hony vnto whiriinge for.
any, but shee cast as much, or oftentimes more gall in his dish. The streetes of this famous ""'*
citty range with the sounde of Trumpettes, and Drummes for ioy of the espousalls, and re-
iterated aflinity with the kinge of Portugall Caesars sisters sonne and his cousin germanne,
by takinge his sister now marriageable and forsakinge the English womann yet younge, and
tender, which thinge the kingdomes of Casteele cheefly desired, at what time a sorrowfull
and grieuous message to bee indured presently insued : which filled the minde of Caesar,
and all the Casteelians with disdainc, and contempt. In that treatise of the world compassed,
directed to Pope Adrian, I sayd, that the companion of the ship called the Victory, remained
broken in the Hand of Tidore, one of the Ilandes of the Maluchas ingenderinge spices,
which shipp called the Trinitie, was left there wMh 57. men, whose proper names besides ''^««',"""'f
the head officers, I haue extracted out of the accomptants bookes of these negotiations. Jer mX^is.
That shipp being repaired, returned laden with clones, & certaine precious stones : shee
light on the Portugall fleete, and comming vpon them vnawares, they tooke her violently,
and brought her being vanquished to Malacha, supposed to bee the golden Chersonesus, and
the Portugall Commander named Georgius de Brito a sea faring man violetly tooke whatso-
euer was in her. But it is a lamentable thinge to bee spoken, what happened to the mariners
of this shippe : the fury of the Sea against them was so great, that being tossed to and froe
with perpetuall stormes, they all perished almost with famine, and oucrwatchingc. The
shipp called the Trinitie being taken, that Portugallian Commander is said to haue gone to
our Ilandes of the Maluchas, and in one of them (whereof there are seuen) hee built a
Castle, and whatsoeuer wares were left in the Ilandes for negotiation, or trade of marchan-
dise, he violently tooke them all. The pilotts, and kinges seruants who are safly returned,
say that both robberyes, and pillages exceede the valew of two hundered thousande Ducates,
but Christopherus de Haro especially the generall directer of this aromaticall negotiation, ChriitojAerm
vnder the name of Factor, confirmeth the same. Our Senate yeeldeth great credit to this ''* "*'"'
mann. Hee gaue mee the names of all the 5. shippes that accompanied the Victorie, and
of all the mariners, and meane officers whatsoeuer. And in our Senate assembled he shewed

4 T 2 why

688

VOYAGES, NAUTGATIONS, &c.

Hie eight Decade.

mm
mi

mm:

The fattall pro'
phesie of the
Portugalles.

why he assigned that valewe of the booty or pray, because he particularly declared, how
much spices f Trinitie brought, how much spice was left in the handes of Zabazulla king of
the Hand of Machiana, one of our 7. Hands ingendring spices, and of another next border-
ing kinge of the Uande of Tidore, and his sonne, and of the stewardes of both the kinges,
and their domestical! noble menne by name, all whiche was bought for a price, assigned to
lohannes de Campo remaining there with f rest. And concerning the •\'ares, or marchandise,
how much Steele, & copper plate, how much hempen, and flaxei. cloath, how much
pitch, quick-siiuer, Peter lightes, tapers of Turkic, Arsenicke Orpin for pictures, corals,
and reddish fannes, or hats, caps, looking glasses, glassy and cleere stones, bels, poynts,
seats fit for kings, and what engins with their munition was therein, for the exchange
of which thinges by the kinges chiefe officers remaining there, to wit, the Auditor,
and Treasurer, spices might be gathered, to be brought backe by our shippes which
were to bee sent. It may be doubted what Caesar will doe in such a case, I thinke
he will dissemble the matter for a while, by reason of the renued affinity, yet though
they were twinnes of one birth, it were harde to suffer this iniurious losse to passe vnpunished,
I suppose the matter will first peaceably bee treated by Embassadours. But I heare another
thing which will be distastfull to the king of Portugal!, CsBsar cannot although he desired to
dissemble the matter, for the owners of those marchandises will earnestly require lustice to
be done, which were dishonest to deny vnto the enemy, how much more to his owne tribu-
taryes. The auncient Portugalles prophesie the insuing destruction of his kingdoe, through
these rash and vnaduised attempts : for they too proudly despise the people of Casteele,
without whose reuennues and commodities they should pensh through famine, seeing that is
but a mean, and poore kingdome, somtimes a County of Casteele. The Casteeliahs through
rage and fury, fret, and foame, and desire that Caesar woulde indeuour to reduce that king-
dome to the crowne of Casteele : king Philip, Caesars father sometime thought, & saide,
that he woulde doe it, and time will publish the sentence. In the meane space, I bidde your
Holinesse farewell, prostrate beefore whose sight I present my kisses to your feete.

FINIS.

Soli Deo, Trino, & Vni, l-aus & glori?. -

Ph.

.' I":

• :.; ' •
,.,'1 , 'i

iai-t-.. ,-

'I ; i

.1. ,..•;

i^ ■•■"■ ' .r;

. : 11:.. .

••■ 1.

VIRGINIA

BY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MAINE LAND OF

FLORIDA,

HER NEXT neighbour:

OUT OF THE FOURE YEERES CONTINUALL TRAUELL AND DISCOUERIE, FOR ABOUE
ONE THOUSAND MILES EAST AND WEST,

Off

DON FERDINANDO DE SOTO,

AND SIXE HUNDRED ABLE MEN IN HIS COMPANIE.

WHEREIN ABB TBULT OBSXRCEO

THE RICHES AND FERTILITIE OF THOSE PARTS,

ABOUNDING WITH THINGS NECESSARIE, PLEASANT AND PROFITABLE

FOR THE LIFE OF MAN : WITH THE NATURES AND DISPOSITIONS

OF THE INHABITANTS:

WRITTEN BY A POUTUOALL GENTLEMAN OF ELUAS, EHPLOIED IN ALL THE ACTION,
AND TRANSLATED OUT OF THE PORTUGESE

BY RICHARD HAKLVYT.

at iLonDon:

PRINTED BY FELIX KYNOSTON FOR MATTHEW LOWNES, AND ARE TO BE SOLD AT THE
81GNE OF THE BISHOPS BEAD IN PAULS CHURCHYARD.

1609.

,*'''■;.

1 n 'ii.:?r3|

TO THE

RIGHT HONOVRABLE.

THE

RIGHT rrORSHIPFULL COUNSELLORS,

AND OTHERS THE CHEEREFULL ADUENTURORS FOR THE ADUANCEMENT OF THAT
CHRISTIAN AND NOBLE PLANTATION IN VIRGINIA.

THis worke, right Honourable, right Worshipfull, and the rest, though small in shew, yet
great in substance, doth yeeld much light to our enterprise now on foot : whether you de-
sire to know the present and future commodities of our countrie ; or the qualities and con-
ditions of the Inhabitants, or what course is best to be taken with them.

Touching the commodities, besides the general! report of Cabega de Vaca to Charles the
Emperour (who first trauelled through a great part of the Inland of Florida, next adioyning
vpon our Virginia) That Florida was the richest countrie of the world ; and, that after hee
had found clothes made of cotton wooll, he saw gold and siluer, and stones of great value : Chap. 3;.
I referre you first to the rich mines of gold reported to be in the prouince of Yupaha, and de-
scribed in the twelfth Chapter of this Treatise to come within our limits : And againe, to the
copper hatchets found in Cutifachiqui, standing vpon the Riuer of Santa Helena, which were
said to haue a mixture of gold. It seemeth also that the last Chronicler of the West Indies,
Antonio de Her."ra, speaking of the foresaid Riuer of Santa Helena, which standeth in 33.
degrees and an halfe, alludeth to the prouince of Yupaha, in these words : Y el oro, y plata, D'cid.* i*- *•
que hallaron, no era de aquella tierra, si no de 60. leguas, adentro al norte, de los pueblos'"'^
dichos Otapales y Olagatanos, adonde se intiende, que ay minas de oro, plata, y cobre.
That is to say. That the gold and siluer which they found, was not of that countrie (of Santa
Helena) but 60. leagues distant toward the North, of the townes called Otapales and Olaga-
tanos, where we vnderstand that there are mines of gold, siluer, and copper. By which
reckoning these rich mines are in the latitude of 35. degrees and an halfe. I desire you
likewise to take knowledge of the famous golden prouince of Chisca, stretching further to
the North, whereof the Cacique of Coste gaue notice to Ferdinando de Soto in the towne ofchap.15.
Chiaha, affirming, that there were mines of copper, and of another mettall of the same co-
lour, saue that it was finer, and of a farre more perfect lustre, and farre better in sight, and
that they vsed it not so much, because it was softer. And the selfesame thing was before
told the Gouernour in Cutifachiqui : who sent two Christians from Chiaha with certaine In-
dians which knew the countrie of Chisca, and the language thereof, to view it, and to make
report of that which (hey should finde. We likewise reade not long after, that the Gouer- Chap. aj.
nour set forward to seeke a prouince called Pacaha, which hee was informed to be neere vnto
Chisca, where the Indians told him, that there was gold. And in another place hee saith ;

That

■m

: •■•'•'VJril'l

.:■!:■

fit!!- ■ «'■

692

Ctiap, 14.

Chap. H^

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE.

That from Pacaha hec sent thirtie horsemen and fiftie footmen to the prouince of Calu^a, to
see if from thence he might trauell to Chisca, where the Indians said, there was a worke of
gold and copper. So that here is foure times mention, and that in sundrie places, of the
rich and famous golde mines of Chisca, and that they lie beyond the mountaines toward
the North, oiier which they were not able to trauell for the roughnes thereof. But what
neede I to stand vpon forren testimonies, since Master Thomas Hcriot, a man of much iudge-
ment in these causes, signified vnto you all, at your late solemne meeting at the house of
the right honourable the Earle of Exeter, how to the Southwest of our old fort in Virginia,
the Indians often informed him, that there was a great melting of red mettall, reporting the
manner in working of the same. Besides, our owne Indians haue lately reuealcd either this
or another rich mine of copper or gold in a towne called Ritanoe, neere certaine mountaines
lying West of Roanoac.

Another very gainfull commoditie is, the huge quantitie of excellent perles, and little
babies and birds made of them ; that were found in Cutifachiqui. The abundance whereof
is reported to be such, that if they would haue searched diuers graues in townes thereabout,
they might haue laded many of their horses. Neither are the Turkie stones and cotton wooll
found at Guasco to be forgotten, nor passed ouer in silence.

But that, which I make no small account of, is, the multitude of Oxen, which, from the
beginning of the 16. to the end of the 26. Chapter, are nine seuerall times made mention
of, and that along from Chiaha, Coste, Pacaha, Coligoa, and Tiilla, still toward the North,
to wit, toward vs, there was such store of them, that they could keepe no come for them :
and that the Indians lined vpon their flesh. The haire of these Oxen is likewise said to be
like a soft wooll, betweene the course and fine wooll of sheepe : and that they vse them for
couerlets, because they are very soft and woolled like sheep : and not so onely, but they
make bootes, shooes, targets, and other things neccssarie of the same. Besides the former
benefits, their young ones may be framed to the yoke, for carting and tillage of our ground.

And I am in good hope, that ere it be k

shall haue notice of their being neerer vs.

by that which I reade in the Italian relation of Cabeqa de Vaca, the first finder of them ;
which writeth. That they spread themselues within thecountrie aboue foure hundred leagues,
Moreouer, Vasques de Coronado, and long after him, Antonio de Espcjo (whose voiages
are at large in my third volume) trauelled many leagues among these heards of Oxen, and
found them from 33. degrees ranging very farre to the North and Northeast.

A fourth chiefe commoditie wee may account to be the great number of Mulberrie trees,
apt to feede Silke-wormes to make silke: whereof there was such pleniie in many places,
that, though they found some hempe in the countrie, the Spaniards made ropes of the
barks of them for their brigandines, when they were to put to sea for Nona Hispania.

A fifth is the excellent and perfect colours, as black, white, greenc, yellow, and red, and
the materials to dye withall, so often spoken of in this discourse : among which I haue some
hope to bring you to the knowledge of the rich graine of Corhonillio, so much esteemed,
and of so great price. I speake nothing of the seuerall sorts of passing good grapes for
Wine and Raisons.
Chap. 31. & 3a. Neither is it the least benefit, that they found salt made by the Indians at Cayas, and in
two places of the prouince of Aguacay : the manner also how the Inhabitants make it, is
very well worth the obseruation.
Chap. 31. & it. One of the chiefest of all the rest may be tl>e notice of the South Sea, leading vs tolapan
and China, which I finde here twice to be spoken of Whereof long since I haue written a
discourse, which I thinke not fit to be made ouer common.

For closing vp this point. The distances of places, the qualities of the soiles, the situati-
ons of the regions, the diuersities and goodnesse of the fruits, the seuerall sorts of beasts,
the varietie of fowles, the difference betweene the Inhabitants of the mountaines and the
plaines, and the riches of the Inland in comparison of the Sea coast, are iudicially set downe
in the conclusion of this booke, whereunto for mine owne ease I referre you.

To come to the second generall head, which in the beginning I proposed, concerning the
. . . manners

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE.

manners and dispositions of the Inhabitants : among other things, I finde them here noted
to be vcrv eloquent and well spoken, as the short Orations, interpreted by lohn Ortiz, which
lined twclue yeeres among them, make suflicicnt proofe. And the author, which was a gen-
tleman of Eluas in Portugiill, emploied in all the action, whose name is not set downe, speak-
ing ol' the Cacique of Tulia, saith, that aswell this Cacique, as the others, and all those
which came to the Gouernour on their behalfe, deliuered their message or speech in so good
order, that no Oratour could vtter the same more eloquently. But for all their faire and
cunning speeches, they are not ouermuch to be trusted : for they be the greatest traitors of
the world, as their manifold most craftie contriued and bloody treasons, here set down at
large, doe euidently proue. They be also as vnconstant as the wethercock, and most readie
to take all occasions of aduantages to doe mischiefe. They are great liars and dissemblers ;
for which faults often times they had their deserued paiments. And many times they gaue
good testimonie of their great valour and resolution. To handle them gently, while gentle
courses may be found to serue, it will be without comparison the best : but if gentle polish-
ing will not serue, then we shall not want hammerours and rough masons enow, I meane our
old soldiours trained vp in the Netherlands, to square and prepare them to our Preachers
hands. To conclude, I trust by your Honours and Worships wise instructions to the noble
Gouernour, the worthy experimented Lieutenant and Admirall, and other chlefe managers
of the businesse, all thingti shall be so prudently carried, that the painfull Preachers shall
be reuerenced and cherished, the valiant and forward soldiour respected, the diligent re-
warded, the coward emboldened, the weake and sick relieued, the mutinous suppressed, the
reputation of the Christians among the Saluages preserued, our most holy faith exalted, all
Paganisme and Idolatrie by little and little vtterly extinguished. And here reposing and
resting my selfe vpon this sweete hope, I cease, besefeching the Almightie to blesse this good
work in your hands to the honour and glorie of his most holy name, to the inlargement of
»he dominions of his sacred Maiestie, and to thegenerall good of all the worthie Aduenturers
and vndertakers. From my lodging in the Colledge of Westminster this 15. of Aprill, 1609.

By one publikely and anciently denoted to Gods seruice,

and all yours in this so good action,

Richard Haklcvt.

lue written a

n
-(

, .»■-

f •■

*■ [■'■, ;

i'l :

■til i ' J

I,". ..

RrLATION OF SVCH THINGS

DON FERDINANDO DE SOTO,

THE

ADELANTADOOF FLORIDA PASSED IN SEEKING TO CONQUER
THE SAID COUNTREY:

WHEREIN IS DECLARED WHO HE WAS, AND WHAT SOME OF THEM WERE THAT WENT WITH HIM:

Al.D SOME PARTICULARS AND DIUERSITIKS OF THE COUNTRIE, AND WHATSOEUER THEY

SAW AND HAl'PENDD VNTJ THEM IN THE SAME.

u,::

Chap. I.

Which declareth who Don Ferdinando de Soto was, and how he got the gouernment

of Florida.

CAptaine Soto was the son ofa Squire of Xerez of Badaioz. He went into the Spanish Indies,
when Peter Arias of Auiia was Gouernour of the West Indies : And there he was without
any thing else of his owne, saue his sword and target : and for his good qualities and valour,
Peter Arias made him Captaine of a troope of horsemen, and by his commandement hee went
with Fernando Pizarro to the conquest of Peru : where (as many persons of credit reported,
which were there present) as well at the taking of Atabalipa, Lord of Peru, as at the assault
of the citie of Cusco, and in all other places where they found resistance, wheresoeuer hee
was present, hee passed all other Captaines and principal! persons. For which cause, besides
his part of the treasure of Atabalipa, he had a good share : whereby in time he gathered an
hundred and fourescore thousand Duckets together, with that which fell to his part : which he
brought into Spaine : whereof the Emperour borrowed a certaine part, which he repaied
againe with 60000 Rials of plate in the rent of the silkes of Granada, and all the rest was
deliuered him in the Contractation house of Siuil. He tooke seruants, to wit, a Stewart, a
Gentleman Vsher, Pages, a Gentleman of the Horse, a Chamberlaine, Lakies, and al other
officers that the house of a Noble ma requireth. From Siuil hee went to the Court, and in
the Court, there accompanied him lohn Danusco of Siuil, and Lewis Moscoso D'Aluarado,
Nunno de Touar, and lohn Rodriguez Lobillo. Except lohn Danusco, all the rest came with
him from Peru : and euery one of them brought fourteene or fifteene thousand Duckets : all
of them went well and costly apparrelled. And although Soto of his owne nature was not
liberall, yet because that was the first time that hee was to shew himselfe in the Court, he
spent frankely, and went accompanied with those which I haue named, and with his seruants,
and many other which resorted vnto him. Hee married with Donna Isabella de Bouadilla,
daughter of Peter Arias of Auila, Earle of Punno en Rostro. The Emperour made him the
Gouernor of the Isle of Cuba, and Adelantado or President of Florida, with a title of
Marques of certaine part of the lands, that he should conquer.

4 U 3 Chap.

'dirt

ill:

'if 131

mi'

6DG

'■t

1.*^ h

Florida Is the
richest Countrie
i I' the wuild.

^1^:

Eluas is a Citie
in Ponugal.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, TJie disamric , f riorida.

Chap. II.

How Cabcga dc Vaca came to the Court, niu! gaiie relation of the Countrie of Florida:
And of the Companie that was assembled in Siuil to jjoe with Don Ferdinando de Soto.

WHcn Don Ferdinando had obtained the goiiernment, there came a Gentlemen from the
Indies to the Court, named Cabeqa de Vaca, which had been with the Goucrnour Pamphilo
de Naruiiez which died in Florida, who reported that Naniaez was cast away at sea with all
the companie ^ went with him. And how he with f'ourc more escaped and arriued in Nueua
r,s|)anna: Also he brought a relation in writing of that which hec had scene in Florida ;
which said in some places: In such a place I haue seene this ; and the rest which here I
s:iw, I Icaue to conferre of betweene his Maic-tic and my selfe. Generally he reported
the miscrie of the Countrie, and the troubles which hce passed: and hee told some of his
kin-ifoike, which were desirous to goe into the Indies, and vrged him very much to tell
them whether he had seene any rich country in Florida, that he might not tell them, because
hce and another, whose name was Orantes, (who remained in Nueua F^spanna with purpose
to rc'tiinie into Florida: for which intent hee came inlT> Spaine to beg the gouernmcnt
thereof of the Emperour) had sworne not to discouer some of those things which they had
si-cnc. because no man should preuent them in begging the same: And hce informed them.
That it was the richest Countrie of the world. Don Ferdinando de Soto uas very desirous to
haue him with him, and made him a fauourable offer : and after they were agreed, because
Soto gaue him not a summe of money which he demanded to buy a ship, they br;)ke off
agaiiie. Baltasar de Gallegos, and Christopher de Spindola, the kinsenien of Cabcga dc
Vnca, told him, that for that which hee had imparted to them, they were resolued to passe
with Soto into Florida, and therefore they prayed him to aduise them what they were best
to doc. Cabecja de Vaca told them, that the cause why he went not with Soto was,
because hee hoped to beg another gouernment, and that hce was loth to goe vnder the
command of another: and that hce came to beg the conquest of Florida: but seeing
Don Ferdinando de Soto had gotten it alreadie, for his othes sake hee might tell them
nothing of that which they would know : but hee counselled them to sell their goods
and goe with him, and that in so doing they should doe well. Assoone as he had op-
portunitie hee spake with the Emperour, and related vnto him whatsoeuer hee had
passed and seene, and come to vnderstand. Of this relation made by word of mouth
to the Emperour, the Marqueti of Astorga had notice, and forthwith determined to send
with Don Ferdinando de Soto his brother Don Antonio Osorio: & with him two
kinsmen of his prepared themselues, to wit, Francis Osorio, and Garcia Osorio. Don
Antonio dispossessed himselfe of 60000 Rials of rent which hee held by the Church :
and Francis Osorio of a town of Vassals, which he had in the Countrie de Campos.
And they made their Rendezuous with the Adelantado in Siuil. The like did Nunnez
de Touar, and Lewis de Moscoso, and lohn Rodriguez Lobillo, each of who had brought
from Peru fourteene or fifteene thousand Duckets. Lewis de Moscoso carried with him two
brethren : there went also Don Carlos, which had married the Gouernours Neece, and tooke
her with him. From Badaioz there went Peter Calderan, and three kinsemen of the Adelan-
tado, to wit. Arias Tinoco, Alfonso Romo, and Diego Tinoco. And as Lewis de Moscoso
passed through * Eluas, Andrew de Vasconselos spake with him, and requested him to speake
to Don Ferdinando de Soto concerning him, and deliuered him certaine warrants which he
had rcceiued from the Marques of Villa real, wherein he gaue him the Captaineship of
Ceuta in Barbarie, that he might shew them vnto him. And the Adelantado saw them ; and
was informed who hee was, and wrote vnto him, that hee would fauour him in all thing.s,
and bv al meanes, and would giue him a charge of men in Florida. And from Eluas went
Andrew de Vasconselos, and Fernan Pegado, Antonio Martinez Segurado, Men Roiz Pereira,
lohn Cordero, Stephen Pegado, Benedict Fernandez, and Aluaro Fernandez. And out of
Salamanca, and laen, and Valencia, and Albuquerque, and from other partes of Spaine,

many

liiiiv.aalJ

next adloi/ning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

697

many people of Nnble hirlh assembled at Siiiil : insomuch that in Saint Lucar many men
of good account which had sold their goods remained behind for want of shippuiR, whereas
for other known and rich Countries, they arc wont to want men : and this fell out by occa-
sion of that which Cabetja de Vaca told the Emperour, and informed such persons as hce
had conference withall touching the State of that Countric. Soto made him great ofllrs :
and being agreed to goe with him (as I haue said before) because he would not giuc him
monie to pay for a ship, which he had brought, they brake ofT, & he went for Goucrnour
to the Riuer of Plate. His kinsemen Christopher de Spindola, and Baltasar de Gallcgos^;|'X^ptJ;,t'
went with Soto. Baltasar de Gallegos sold houses and vineyards, and rent come, and nour of tiu-
ninelie rankes of Oliue trees in the Xarafe of Siuil: Hee had the office of Alcalde Mayor, '""' '"'
and tooke his wife with him ; And there went also many other persons of account with the
President, and had the officers following by great friendship, because they were officers
desired of many : to wit, Antonie de Biedma was Factor, lohn Danusco was Auditdr, and
lohn Gaytan nephew to the Cardinall of Ciguenza had the office of Treasurer.

Chap. III.

How the Portugales went to Siuil, and from thence to S. Lucar: he appointed
Captaines ouer the ships, and distributed the people which were to goe in
them.

THe Portugales departed from Eluas the 15. of lanuarie, and came to Siuil the 19. of
the same moneth, and went to the lodging of the Gouernor, and entred into a court, ouer
the which were certaine galleries where hee was, who came downc and receiued them at
the staires, whereby they went vp into the galleries: when he was come vp, he commanded
chaires to be giuen them to sit on. And Andrew de Vasconcelos told him who hce and the
other Portugales were, and how they all were come to accompany him, and serue him in
his voiage. He gaue him thanks, and made shew of great contentment for his comming
and offer. And the table being alreadie laid he inuited them to dinner. And being at
dinner he commanded his steward to seeke a lodging for them neere vnto his owne, where
they might bee lodged. The Adelantado departed from Siuil to Saint Lucar with a! the
people which were to goe with him : And he commanded a muster to be made, at the
which the Portugales shewed themselues armed in verie bright armour, and the Castellans
very gallant with silke vpon silke, with many pinkings and cuts. The Gouernour, because
these brauaries in such an action did not like him, commanded that they should muster
another day, and euery one should come foorth with his armour : at the which the Portu-
gales came as at the first armed with very good armour. The Gouernour placed them in
crder neere vnto the standard which the ensigne-bearer carried. The Castellanes for the
most part did weare very bad and rustie shirts of maile, and all of them head peeces and
Steele cappes, and very bad lances. And some of them sought to come among the Portu-
gales. So those passed and were counted and enroled, which Soto liked and accepted of,
and did accompanie him into Florida ; which were in all sixe hundred men. He had si'c hundred
alreadie bought seuen ships, and had all nece.ssarie prouision aboord them : He appointed .smoimoFiuridi.
Captaines, and deliuered to euery one his ship, and gaue them in a role what people euery
one should carrie with them.

Chap. IV.

How the Adelantado with his people departed from Spaine, and came to the Cana-
ries, and afterward to the Antiles.

IN the yeere of our Lord 1538. in the moneth of Aprill, the Adelantado deliuered his
shippes to the Captaines which were to goe in them : and tooke for himselfe a new ship,
and good of saile, and gaue another to Andrew de Vasconcelos, in which the Portugales
went : hee went ouer the barre of S. Lucar on Sunday being S. Lazarus day, in the

morning.

.' it ' ■ ^1

V *f" J»f km

''7'^ y 1,11

iiil

■■■mi

698

I&,

f':'i ■•

Great fig^cs.
Ananci.

0«at Pinr-

applcs

• Frua h.ibosi,

IVIumt-iSf ari cx-

cclltnt fruit.

Guayahai.

Flantanoia

Bntatjs, or
Potatus.

Tnf Cassaui
roote.

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS, The dtaeouerte of Florida,

morning, of the monrth and yecre arorrsaiil, with great ioy, commanding his trumpets to
be .sounded, and many shots of the ordinance to be di.<«charged. lice nailed Foure daiea
Vfith a prosperous wind; and suddenly it calmed : the calmes continued eight daies with
nwelling seas, in such wise, that wee made no way. The 15. day after his departure from
S. Lucar, hee came to Gomcra, one of the Canaries, on Easter day in the morning. The
Earic of that Island was apparrelird all in white, cloke, ierkin, hose, shooes, and cappe,
8o that hee seemed a Lord of the Gypses. He receiucd the CJouernour with much ioy : hee
was well lodged, and nil the rest had their lodgings gratis, and gat great store of victuals
for their monie, as bread, wine and flesh : and they tooke what was needfull for their ships:
and the Sunday following, eight duies after their arriuall, they departed from the Isle of
Gomera. The Earle gaue to Donna Isabella the Adelantados wife a bastard daughter that
hee had to bee her waiting maid. They arriued at the Antilles, in the Isle of Cuba, at the
port of the City of Sant lago vpon Whitsunday. Assone as they came thither, a Gentle-
man of the Citie sent to the sea side a very faire roan horse and well furnished for the
Goiiernour, and a mule for Donna Isabella : and all the horsemen and footemcn that were
in the towne came to receiue him at the sea-side. The Goucrnour was well lodged, visited,
and serued of all the inhabitants of that Citie, and all his companic h.id their lodgings
freely : those which desired to goe into the countrie, were diuided by foure and foure,
and sixe and sixe in the farmes or granges, according to the abilitie of the owners of the
farmes, and were furnished by them with all things necessary.

Chap. V.

Of the inhabitants which are in the Citie of S. lago, and in the other townes of the
Island : and of the qualitie of the soile, and fruites that it yeeldeth.

THe Citie of S. lago hath fourescore houses which are great and well contriued. The
most part haue their walles made of bords, & are couered with thatch; it hath some houses
builded with lime & stone, and couered with tiles. It hath great Orchards and many trees
in them, differing from those of Spaine : there be figgetrees which beare figges .'^ big ns
(fnes fist, yellow within, and of small taste; and other trees which beare a fruit which
they call Aitanes, in making and bignes like to a small Pineapple : it is a fruit very sweete
in taste : the shel being taken away, the kernel is like a peece of fresh cheese. In the
granges abroad in the countrie there are other great pineapples, which grow on low trees,
and are like the * Aloetree : they are of a very ^ood smell and exceeding good taste.
Other trees do beare a fruit, which they call Mameis of the bignes of Peaches. This the
Islanders do hold for the best fruit of the country. There is another fruit which they call
Guayabas like Filberds, as bigge as figges. There are other trees as high as a iaueline,
hauing one only stocke without any bough, and the leaues as long as a casting dart : and
the fruite is of the bignesse and fashion of a Cucumber, one bunch beareth 20. or 30 and
as they ripen, the tree bendeth downeward with them : they are called in this countrie
Plantanos; and are of a good taste, & ripen after they be gathered, but those are the
better which ripen vpon the tree it selfe : they beare fruite but once : and the tree being
cut downe, there spring vp others out of the but, which beare fruite the next veere.
There is another fruit ; whereby many people are sustained, and chiefly the slaues. which
are called Batatas. These grow now in the Isle of Ter<;era, belonging to the Kingdome of
Portugal, and they grow within the earth, and are like a fruit called Iname, they haue
almost 5' taste of a chestnut. The bread of this countrie is also made of rootes which are
like the Batatas. And the stocke whereon those rootes doe grow is like an Elder tree: they
make their ground in little hillocks, and in each of them they thrust 4. or 5. stakes; and
they gather the rootes a yeere and an halfe after they set them. If any one, thinking it is
a Batata or Potato roote, chance to eate of it neuer so little, hee is in great danger of
death : which was scene by experience in a soiildier, which assone as hee had eaten a very
little of one of those rootes, hee died quicklie. They pare these rootes and stampe them,

and

^^•:'.

m^:

next adloyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 6^39

and aqucfie them in a thins; like a preiwe: the iuycc th.it rommeth Trnm them i^ of nn eiiill

nmell. The bread is of little taste and lexiic suhHtancc. OP the fruiteii of Spaine, there

are Figgea and Oranges, and they bearc fruit all the ycere, because the Moile is very ranke

and fruitfull. In this countrie are manv good horses, and there is greene grasse all thchJ,"',',^'^''™*

yecre. There be many wild oxen and hogges, whereby the people of the Island is well

furnished with fIcHh : Without the townes abroad in the Countrie are many fruites. And it

happeneth sometimea that a Christian goeth out of the way and is lost 15, or 20. dales,

because of the many paths in the thicke groues that crosse too and fro made by the oxen :

and being thus lost, they sustaine thcmsehies with fruites and palmltos: for there bee many

great groues of Palme trees through all the Island : they yeeld no other fruite that is of any

profit. The Isle of Cuba is 300. leagues long from the East to the West, and is in aome J^^J^'hSf ^'J],'!.

places 30. in others 40. leaf ,ue'' from North to South. It hath 6. townes of Christians : to

wit, S. lago, Baracda, Bayaipj, Puerto de Principes, S. Espirito, and H.iuana. Euery one

hath betweene 30. and 40. households, except S. lago and Hnuana, which hauc nbout 60.

or 80. houses. They haue Churches in each of them, and a Chaplen which confesseth

them and saith Masse. In S. lago is a Monastcrie of Franciscan Friars: it hath but few

Friers, and is well prouidcd of almes, because the countrie ^ rich : The Church of S. lago

hath honest reuencw, and there is a Curat and Prebends and many Priests, as the Church

of that Citie, which is the chiefe of all the Island. There is in this countrie much gold,

and few slaues to get it : For many haue made away themselues, because of the Christians

euill vsage of them in the mines. A steward of Vasques Porcallo, which was an inhabi-^^J *^"'""*'

tour in that Island, vnderstanding that his alaues would make away themselues, staled for

them with a cudgill in his hand at the place where they were to meete, and told them, that

they could neither doe nor thinke any thing, that hee did not know before; and that hee

came thither to kill himselfc with them, to the end, that if hee had vaed them badly in this

world, hee might vse them worse in the world to come : And this was a meane that they

changed their purpose, and turned home againe to doe that which he commanded them.

Chap. VI.

How the Gouernour sent Donna Isabella with the ships to Hauana, and he with
some of his people went thither by land.

THe Gouernour sent from S. lago his Nephew Don Carlos with the ships in company of
Donna Isabella to tarrie for him at Hauana, which is an hauen in the West part toward the
head of the Island, 180. leagues from the Citie of Saint lago. The Gouernour and those
which staled with him bought horses and proceeded on their iournie. The first towne they
came vnto was Bayamo : they were lodged foure and foure, and sixe and sixe, as they went Bayams.
in company, and where they lodged, they tooke nothing for their diet, for nothing cost
them ought saue the Maiz or corne for their horses, because the Gouernor went to visit them
from towne to towne, and seased them in the tribute and seruice of the Indians. Bayamo
is 25. leagues from the Citie of S. lago. Neere vnto the towne passeth a great Riuer,
which is called Tanto ; it is greater then Guadiana, and in it be very great Crocodiles, which
sometimes hurt the Indians, or the cattell which passeth the Riuer. In all the countrie are
neither Wolfe, Foxe, Beare, Lion, nor Tiger. There are wild dogges which goe from the
houses into the woods and feed vpon swine. There be certaine Snakes as bigge as a mans
thigh or bigger, they are very slow, they doe no kind of hurt. From Bayamo to Puerto Puerto deUos
dellos principes are 50. leagues. In al the Island from towne to towne, the way is made by ^"'"^'P"'
stubbing vp the vnderwood : and if it bee left but one yeere vndone, the wood groweth so
much, that the way cannot b- s»ene, and the paths of the oxen are so many, that none can
trauell without an Indian of i' a Countrie for a guide : for all the rest is very hie and thicke
woods. From Puerto dellos principes the Gouernour went to the house of Vasques Porcallo
by sea in a bote, (for it was neere the sea) to know there some newes of Donna Isabella,
which at that instant (as afterward was knowne) was in great distresse, in so much that the

ships

■'■. <[

700

ThrCapeofS.
Antonio.

Santo Espirito.

Li Trinidad.

Hauani.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discoucrie of Florida,

ships lost one another: and two of them fell on the coast of Florida, and all of them endured
great want of water and victuals. When the storme was ouer, they met together, without
knowing where they were : in the end they descried the Cape of S. Anton, a countrie not
inhabited of the Island of Cuba : there they watered; and at the end of 40. daies, which
were passed since their departure from the City of S. Ibgo, they ariued at Hauana. The
Gouernour was presently informed thereof, and went to Donna Isabella. And those which
went by land, which were one hundred and fiftie horsemen, being diuided into two parts,
because they would not oppresse the inhabitants, trauelled by S. Espirito, which is 60.
leagues from Puerto dellos principes. The food which they carried with them was Cafibe
bread, which is that whereof I made mention before : and it is of such a qualitie, that if it
be wet, it brcakcth presently, whereby it happened to some to eate flesh without bread for
many dales. They carried dogges with them, and a man of the Country, 'vhich did hunt;
& by the way, or where they were to lodge that night, they killed as many hoggtjs as they
needed. In this iournie they were well prouided of beefe and porke : And they were greatly
troubled with Muskitos, especially in a lake, which is called the mere of Pia, whit;h they had
much adoe to passe from noone till night, the water might be some halfe league ouer, and
to be swome about a crosse bow shot, the rest came to the waste, and they waded vp to the
knees in the mire, and in the bottome were cockle shels, which cut their feete very sore ; in
such sort, that there was neither boote nor shooe sole that was hole at halfe way. Their
clothes and saddels were passed in baskets of Palme trees. Passing this lake, stripped out
of their clothes, there came many muskitos, vpon whose biting there arose a wheale that
smarted very much : they strooke them with their hands, and with the blowe which they
gaue they killed so many, that the blood did runne downe the armes and bodies of the men.
That night they rested very little for them, and other nights also in the like places and times.
They came to Santo Espirito, which is a towne of thirtie houses ; there passeth by it a little
Riuer: it is very pleasant and fruitfull, hauing great store of Oranges and citrons, and fruites
of the Countrie : One halfe of the companie were lodged here, and the rest passed forward
25. leagues to another towne called la Trinidad of 15. or 20. households. Here is an hos-
pitall for the poore, and there is none other in all the Island. And they say, that this towne
was the greatest in all the Countrie, and that before the Christians came into this land, as a
ship passed along the coast, there came in it a very sicke man, which desired the Captaine
to set him on shore : and the Captaine did so, and the ship went her way : The sicke man
remained set on shore in that countrie, which vntill then had not been haunted by Chris-
tians ; whereupon the Indians found him, carried him home, and looked vnto him till he
was whole ; and the Lord of that towne marled him vnto a daughter of his, and had warre
with all the inhabitants round about, and by the Industrie and valour of the Christian, he
subdued and brought vnder his command all the people of that Island. A great while after,
the Gouernour Diego Velasques went to conquer it, and from thence discouered new Spaine :
And this Christian which wai with the Indians did pacifie them, and brought them to the
obedience and subiection of the Gouernour. From this towne della Trinidad vnto Hauana
are 80. leagues, without any habitation, which they trauelled. They came to Hauana in the
end of March ; where they found the Gouernor, and the rest of the people which came
with him from Spaine. The Gouernour sent from Hauana lohn Dannusco with a carauele
& two brigantines with 60. men to discouer the hauen of Florida ; and from thence hee
brought two Indians, which he tooke vpon the coast, wherewith (aswell because they might
be necessarie for guides and for interpretours, as because they said by signes that there was
much gold in Florida) the Gouernour and all the companie receiued much contentment,
and longed for the houre of their departure, thinking in himselfe that this was the richest
Countrie, that vnto that day had been discouered.

Chap.

nextadioyningtorirginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

701

Chap. VII.

How we departed frpm Hauana, and ariucd in Florida, and of such things as hap-
pened vnto vs.

BEfore our departure, the Gouernour depriued Nunno de Touar of f office of Captaine
Generall, & gaue it to Porcallo de Figueroa, an inhabitant of Cuba, which was a meane that
the shippes were well furnished with victuals : for he gaue a great many loads of Casabe
bread, and manie hogges. The Gouernour tooke away this office from Nonno de Touar,
because hee had fallen in loue with the daughter of f Earle of Gomera, Donna Isabellas
waighting maid, who, though his office were taken from him, (to returne againe to theGo-
uernours fauour) though she were with child by him, yet tooke her to his wife, and went
with Soto into Florida. The Gouernour left Donna Isabella in Hauana ; and with her re-
mained the wife of Don Carlos, and the wiues of Baltasar de Gallegos, and of Nonno de
Touar. And hee left for his Lieutenant a Gentleman of Hauana, called lohn de Roias, for
the gouernment of the Island.

On Sunday the 18. of May, in the yeere of our Lord, 1.539. the Adelantadoor president May 18.1531-
departed from Hauana in Cuba with his fleete, which were nine vessels, fiue great ships,
two carauels, and two brigantines : They sailed seuen dales with a prosperous wind. The
*ib. day of May, the day de Pasca de Spirito Santo, (which we call Whitson Sonday,) they This place was
saw the land of Florida ; and because of the shoalds, they came to an anchor a league from "•'i^^'^sj.i'^fj^
the shore. On Friday the 30. of May they landed in Florida, two leagues from a towne being on the '
of an Indian Lord, called Vcita. They set on land two hundred and thirteene horses, which ^'„7-/,'''i„''j,
they brought with them, to vnburden the shippes, that they might draw the lesse water, degrees! {.
Hee landed all his men, and only the sea men remained in the shippes, which in eight daies,
going vp with the tide euery day a little, brought them vp vnto the towne. As.soone as
the people were come on shore, hee pitched his campe on the sea side, hard vpon the Bay
which went vp vnto the towne. And presei\tly the Captaine generall Vasques Porcallo
with other 7. horsemen foraged the Countrie halfe a lengue round about, and found sixe Tiic ships ome
Indians, which resisted him with their arrowes, which are the weapons which they vse tOofVcia!
fight withall : The horsemen killed two of them, and the other foure escaped ; because the
countrie is cumbersome with woods and bogs, where the horses stacke fast, and fell with
their riders, because they were weake with trauelling vpon the sea. The same night follow-
ing the Gouernour with an hundred men in the brigantines lighted vpon a towne, which
he found without people, because, that a.ssoone as the Christians had sight of land, they
were descried, and saw along the coast many smokes, which the Indians had made to glue
aduice the one to the other. The next day Luys de Moscoso, Master of the Campe set
the men in order, the horsemen in three squadrons,, the Vantgard, the Batallion, and the
Rerewarde : and so they marched that d.iy, and the day following, compassing great Creekes
which came out of the Bay: They came to the towne of Vcita, where the Gouernour was. The towne
on Sunday the first of lune, being Trinitie Sunday. The towne was of seuen or eight houses. °^^^""-
The Lordes house stoode neere the shore vpon a very hie mount, made by hand for strength.
At another end of the towne stood the Church, and on the top of it stood a fowie made of
wood with gilded eics. Hecre were found some pearles of small valew, spoiled with the Some pcrits
lire, which the Indians do pierce and string them like beades, and weare them about their '^°""'''
neckes and hand wrists, and they esteeme them very much. The houses were made of tim-
ber, and couered with Palme leaues. The Gouernour lodged himselfe in the Lords houses,
and with him Vasques Porcallo, and Luys de Moscoso: and in others that were in themid-
dest of the towne, was the chiefe Alcalde or lustice, Baltasar de Gallegos lodged ; and in
the same houses was set in a place by it s( He, al the prouision that came in the ships: the
other houses and the Church were broken dowi>, and euery three or foure souldiers made
a little cabin wherein they lodged. The Countrie round about was very fennie, and en-
combred with great and hie trees. The Gouernor commanded to fel the woods a crosse-

4 X bow

ii -«£'•■

703

p ' ■

Certi'ine cabins
of Indiant.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouerie of Florida,

bow shot round about the towne, that the horses might runne, and the Christians might haue
the aduantage of the Indians, if by chance they should set vpon them by night. In the
waies and places conucnient, they had their Centinelles of footemen by two and two in
euery stand, which did watch by turnes, and the horsemen did visit them, and were readie
to assist them, if there were any alarme. The Gouernourmade foure Captaines of the horse-
men, and two of the footemen. The Captaines of the horsemen were, one of tliem Andrew
de Vasconcelos, and another Pedro Calderan de Badaioz : and the other two were his kinse-
men, to wit, Arias Tinoco, and Alfonso Homo, borne likewise in Badaioz. The Captaines
of the footemen, the one was Francisco Maldonado of Salamanca, and the other luan Rodri-
guez Lobillo. While wee were in this towne of Vcita, the two Indians, which lohn Danusco
had eaken on that coast, and the Gouernor caried along with him for guides and interpretours,
through carelessenea of two men, which had the charge of them, escaped away one night.
For which the Gouernour and all the rest were very sorie, for they had alreadie made some
roadcs, and no Indians could bee taken, because the countrie was full of marish grounds,
and in many places full of very hie and thicke woods.

Chap. VIII.

Of some inrodes that were made into the Countrie: and how there was a Christian
found, which had bin long time in the power of an Indian Lord.

FRom the towne of Vcita, the Gouernour sent the Alcalde Mayor, Baltasar de Gallegog
with 40. horsemen and 80. footemen into the Countrie to see if they could take any Indians :
and the Captaine lohn Rodriguez Lobillo another way with 50. footemen, the most of them
were swordmen and targettours, and the rest were shot and crossebowmen. They passed
through a countrie full of bogges, where horses could not trauell. Halfe a league from
the cam pe, they lighted vpon certaine cabins of Indians neereaRiuer: The people that
were in them leaped into the Riuer; yet they tooke foure Indian women: And twentie In-
dians charged vs, and so distressed vs, that wee were forced to retire to our campe, being,
as they are, exceeding readie with their weapons. It is a people so warlike and so nimble,
that they care not awhit for any footemen. For if their enemies charge them, they runne
away, and if they turne their backs, they are presently vpon them. And the thing that they
most flee, is the shot of an arrow. They neuer stand still, but are alwaies running and tra-
uersing from one place to another : by reason whereof neither crossebow nor arcubuse can
aime at them : and before one crossebowman can make one shot, an Indian will discharge
three or foure arrowes ; and he seldome misseth what hee shooteth at. An arrow, where it
findeth no armour, pierceth as deepely as a crossebow. Their bowes are very long, and their
arrowes are made of certaine canes like reedes, very heauie, & so strong, that a sharpe cane
passeth thorow a target: Some they arme in ?he point with a sharpe bone of a fish like a
chisel, and in others they fasten certaine stones (ike points of Diamants. For the most part
when they light vpon an armour, they breake in ti.e place where they are bound together.
Those of cane do split and pierce a coate of maile, and are more hurtfull then the other,
lohn Rodriguez Lobillo returned to the Campe with sixe men wounded, whereof one died ;
and brought the foure Indian women which Baltasar Gallegos had taken in the cabins or cot-
ages. Two leagues from the towne, comming into the plaine field, he espied ten or eleuen
Indians, among whom was a Christian, which was naked, and scorched with the Sunne, and
had his armes razed after the manner of the Indians, and differed nothing at all from them.
And assoone as the horsemen saw them they ran toward them. The Indians fled, and some
of them hid themselues in a wood, and they ouertooke two or three of them, which were
wounded : and the Christian, seeing an horseman runne vpon him with his lance, began to
crie out. Sirs, I am a Christian, slay me not, nor these Indians, for they haue saucd my life.
And straightway he called them, and put them out of feare, and they came foorth of the
wood vnto them. The horse men tooke both the Christian and the Indians vp behind them ;
and toward night came into the Campe with much ioy : which thing being knowne by the
Gouernour, and them that remained in the Campe, they were receiued with the like.

Chap. -

■«■!.»(■ •

next adioi/ning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 703

Chap. IX.

How this Christian came to the land of Florida, and who he was : and what confer-
ence he had with the Gouernour.

THis Christians name was lohn Ortiz, and he was borne in Siuil, of worshipful parentage. lohn ortiiUutcj
He was 12. yeeres in the hands of the Indians. He came into this Countrie with Pamphilo '^„^'","j p,g.
de Naniaez, and returned in the ships to the Island of Cuba, where the wife of the Gouern-"Hun>of Vcita
our Pamphilo de Naruaez was : and by his commandement with 20. or 30. other in a bri-"'' °"'""
gandine returned backe againe to Florida : and comming to the port in the sight of ihe towne,
on the shore they saw a cane sticking in the ground, and riuen at the top, and a letter in it :
and they beleeued that the Gouernour had left it there to giue aduertisement of himselfe,
when he resolued to goe vp into the land : and they demanded it of foure or fine Indians,
which walked along the sea shore : and they bad them by signes to come on shore for it :
which against the will of the rest lohn Ortiz and another did. And assoone as they were on
land, from the houses of the towne issued a great number of Indians, which ctimpassed them
about, and tooke them in a place where they could not flee : and the other which sought to
defend himselfe, they presentlie killed vpon the place, and tooke lohn Ortiz aliue, and car-
ried him to Vcita their Lord. And those of the brigandine sought not to land, but put them-
selues to sea, and returned to the Island of Cuba. Vcita commanded to bind lohn Ortiz hand
and foote vpon foure stakes aloft vp'-.i a raft, and to make a fire vnder him, that there he
might bee burned : But a daughter of his desired him that he would not put him to death,
allcaging, that one only Christian could do him neither hurt nor good, telling him, that it
was more for his honour to keepe him as a captiue. And Vcita granted her request, and
commanded him to be cured of his wounds : and assoone as he was whole, he gaue him the
charge of the keeping of the Temple : because that by night the wolues did cary away the
deaf*, rpses out of the same : who commended himselfe to God and tooke vpon him the
ch?'- , lis temple. One night the wolues gate from him the corpes of a little child, the

soi:f .. principal Indian ; and going after them he threw a darte at one of the wolues and

stro( mm that carried away the corps, who feeling himselfe wounded left it, and fell downe
dead necre the place : and hee not woting what he had done, because it was night, went
backe againe to the Temple : the morning being come, and finding not the bodie of the
child, he was very sad. Assoone as Vcita knew thereof, he resolued to put him to death ;
and sent by the tract, which he said the wolues went, and found the bodie of the child, and
the wolfe dead a little beyond : whereat Vcita was much contented with the Christian, and
with the watch which hee kept in the Temple, and from whence forward esteemed him much.
Three yeeres after hee fell into his hands, there came another Lord, called Moco^o, who ^j°"?° !**""•
dwclleth two daies iourny from the Port, and burned his towne. Vcita fled to another towne loumie from
that he had in another sea port. Thus lohn Ortiz lost his office and fauour that he had with ^'""*
him. These people being worshippers of the diuell, are wont to offer vp vnto him the lines
and blood of their Indians, or of any other people they can come by : and they report,
that when he will haue them doe that sacrifice vnto him, he speaketh with them, and telleth
them that he is athirst, and willeth them to sacrifice vnto him. lohn Ortiz had notice by the
damsell that had deliuered him from y fire, how her father was determined to sacrifice him f
day following, who willed him to flee to Mococjo : for shee knew y he would vse him wel :
for she heard say, that he had a^ked for him, and said hee would bee glad to see him : and
because he knew not the way, she went with him halfe a league out of the towne by night,
and set him in the way, & returned, because she would not be discouered. lohn Ortiz tra-
uailed all that night, and by y morning came vnto a Riucr, which is in the ferritorie of Mo-'^^'"'-
co(jo : and there he saw two Indians fishing; and because they were in war with the people
of Vcita, and their languages were different, and hee knew not the laguage of Mococjo, he
was afraid, because he could not tell them who hee was, nor how hee came thither, nor was
able to answer any thing for himselfe, that they would kill him, taking him for one of the

4X2 Indians

704

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouerie of Florida,

l.H i

;:l

Mocofo his
townc within
a* le.igues of
the tea.

Indians of Vcita, and before they espied him, he came to the place where they had laid
their weapons : & assoone as they saw him, they fled toward the towne, and although he
willed the to stay, because he meant to do the no hurt, yet they vnderstood him not, and
ran away as fast as euer they could. And assone as they came to the towne with great out-
cries, many Indians came forth against him, and began to compasse him to shoote at him :
lohn Ortiz seeing himselfe in so great danger, sheilded himselfe with certaine trees, and began
to shreeke out, and crie very loud, and to tell them that he was a Christian, and that he was fled
from Vcita, and was come to see and serue M0C090 his Lord. It pleased God that at that very
instant there came thither an Indian that could speake the language and vnderstood him; and
pacified the rest ; who told them what hee said. Then ran from thence three or foure Indians
to beare the newes to their Lord : who came foorfh a quarter of a league from the towne
to receiue him ; and was very glad of him. He caused him presently to sweare according
to the custome of the Christians, that hee would not run away from him to any other Lord:
and promised him to entreate him very well ; and that if at any time there came any Chris-
tians into that countrie, he would freely let him goe, and giue him leaue to goe to them :
and likewise tookc his oth to performe the same according to the Indian custome. About
three yeeres after certaine Indians, which were fishing at sea two leagues from the towne;
brought newes to M0C050 that they had scene ships : and hee called lohn Ortiz, and gaue
him leaue to go his way : who taking his leaue of him, with all the haste he could came to
the sea, and finding no ships, he thought it to be some deceit, and that the Cacique hnd
done the same to learne his mind. So he dwelt with M0C090 nine yeeres, with small hope
of seeing any Christians. Assoone as our Gouernour arriued in Florida, it was kiiowne to
MocoQo, & straightway he signified to lohn Ortiz, that Christians were lodged in the towne
of Vcita : And he thought he had iested with him, as he had done before, and told him,
that by this time he had forgotten the Christians, and thought of nothing else but to serue
him. But he assured him that it was so, and gaue him licence to goe vnto them : saying
v.»'*o him, that if hee would not doe it, and if the Christians should goe their way, he
should not blame him, for hee had fulfilled that which he had promised him. The ioy of
lohn Ortiz was so great, that hee could not beleeue that it was true : notwithstanding he
gaue him thankes, and tooke his leaue of him : and M0C090 gaue him tennc or eleuen
principall Indians to beare him companie: and as they went to the port where the Gouer-
nour was, they met with Baltasar de Gall^gos, as I haue declared before. Assoone as he
was come to the campe, the Gouernour commanded to giue him a suite of apparrell, and
very good armour, and a faire horse ; and enquired of him, whether hee had notice of any
countrie, where there was any gold or siluer : He answered. No, because he neuer went
tipn leagues compasse from the place where he dwelt : But that 30. leagues from thence
Pucrtode°spirito dwelt an Indian Lord, which was called Parocossi, to whom M0C090 and Vcita, with al the
Santo. rest of that coast paied tribute, and that hee peraduenture might haue notice of .some good

countrie : and that his land was better then that of the sea coast, and more fruitfull and
plentifull of maiz. Whereof the Gouernour receiued great contentment : and said that he
desired no more then to finde victuals, that hee might goe into the maine land, for the land
of Florida, was so large, that in one place or other there could not chuse but bee some rich
Countrie. The Cacique Mocofo came to the Port to visit the Goucrnor and made this
speech following.

Right hie and mightie Lord, I being lesser in mine owne conceit for to obey you, then any
of those which you haue vnder your command ; and greater in desire to doe you greater
seruices, doe appeare before your Lordship with so much confidence of receiuing fauour, as
if in effect this my good will were manifested vnto you in workes : not for the small seruice
I did vnto you touching the Christian which I had in my power, in giuing him freely his
libertie, (For I was bound to doe it to preserue mine honour, and that which I had promised
him :) but because it is the part of great men to vse great magnificences : And I am per-
Kwaded, that as in bodily perfections, and commanding of good people, you doe exceede all

men

Paracossi 30.

Tie of Florida,

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 705

men in the world, so likewise you doe in the parts of the rninde, in which you may boast of
the bountie of nature. The faunur which I hope for of your Lordship is, that you would
hold mee for yours, and bethinke your selfe to command me any thing, wherein I may doe
you seruice.

The Gouernour answered him, That although in freeing and sending him the Christian, he
had preserued his honour and promise, yet he thanked him, and held it in such esteeme, as
it had no comparison ; and that hee would alwaies hold him as his brother, and would fauour
him in all things to the vtmost of his power. Then he commanded a shirt to be giuen him,
and other things, where with the Cacique being verie well contented, tooke his leaue of him,
and departed to his owne towne.

Chap. X. . ;,.

How the Gouernour sent the ships to Cuba: and left an hundred men at the Hauen
de Spirito Santo, and himself with the rest of his people went into the maine
land.

FRom the Port de Spirito Santo where the Gouernour lay, he sent the Alcalde Mayor
Baltasar de Gall^gos with 50. horsemen, and 30. or 40. fontemen to the prouince of Para-
cossi, to view the disposition of the countrie, and enforme himselfe of the land farther inward,
and to send him word of i;uch things as he found. Likewise he sent his shippes backe to the
Hand of Cuba, that they might returne within a certaine time with victuals. Vasques Por-
callo de Figueroa, which went with the Gouernour as Captaine Generall, (whose principal!
intent was to send slaues from Florida, to the Hand of Cuba, where he had his goods. and
mines , ) hauing made some inrodes, and seeing no Indians were to be got, because of the
great bogs and thicke woods y were in the Countrie, considering the disposition of the same,
determined to returne to Cuba. And though there was some difference between him & the
Gouernor, whereupon they neither dealt nor conuersed together with good countenance,
yet notwithstanding with louing words he asked him leaue and departed from him. Baltasar.
de Gallegos came to the Paracossi : There came to him 30. Indians from the Cacique, which P"acos»i.
was absent from his towne, and one of them made this speech :

Paracossi, the Lord of this prouince, whose vassals we are, sendeth vs vnto your worship,
to know what it is that you seeke in this his Countrie, and wherein he may doe yoii
seruice.

Baltasar de Gallegos said vnto him, that hee thanked them very much for their offer,
willing them to warne their Lord to come to his towne, and that there they would talke and
confirme their peace and friendship, which he much desired. The Indians went their way,
and returned the next day, and said, that their Lord was ill at ease, and therefore could not
come, but that they came on his behalfe to see what he demanded. He asked them if
they knew or had notice of any rich Countrie where there was gold or siluer. They told
them, they did: and that toward the West, there was a Prouince which was called Cale; and
that others that inhabited other Countries had warre with the people of that Countrie, where
the most part of the yeere was sommer, and that there was much gold : and that when those
their enemies came to make warre with them of Cale, these inhabitants of Cale did weare
hats of gold, in manner of head peeces. Baltasar de Gallegos, seeing that the Cacique came
not, thinking all that they said was fained, with intent that in the mcane time they might set
themselues in safetie, fearing, that if he did let them goc, they would returne no more, com-
manded the thirty Indians to be chained, and sent word to the Gouernour, by eight horse-
men, what had passed : whereof the Gouernour with al that were with him, at the Port de
Spirito Santo i-eceiutd great comfort, supposing, that that which the Indians reported, might
be true. Hee left Captaine Calderan at the Port, with thirtie horsemen, and seuentie foote-
men, with prouision for two yeeres, and himselfe with all the rest marched into the maine
land, and came to the Paracossi, at whose towne Baltasar de Gallegos was : and from Paraco«i.
thence with all his men tooke the way to Cale. He passed by a little towne called

Acela,

.1 V ' « SI . I

706

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The discouerie of Florida,

i'i".j

ActU. Acela, and came to another, called Tocaste : and from thence hee went before with 30.

Another towne. 'lof'^emen, and 50. footemen toward Cale. And passing by a towiie, whence the people

A Lake. were fled, they saw Indians a little from thence in a lake ; to whom the Interprctoiir spake.

AiwiftRiuer. They camc vnto them and gaiie them an Indian for a guide: and hee came to a Riuer
with a great current, and vpon a tree, which was in the midst of it, was made a bridge,
whereon the men passed : the horses swam ouer by a hawser, that they were pulled
by from the othcrside : for one, which they droue in at the first without it, was drowned.
From thence the Gouernour sent two horsemen to his people that were behind, to make
haste after him ; because the way grew long, and their victuals short. Hee came to

c»ie- Cale, and found the towne without people. He tooke three Indians, which were spies,

and tarried there for his people that came after, which were sore vexed with hunger and euill
waies, because the Countrie wcs very barren of Maiz, low, and full of water, bogs, and thicke
woods; and the victuals, which they brought with them from the Port de Spirito Santo, were
spent. Whersoeuer any towne was found, there were some beetes, and hee that came
first gathered them, and sodden with water and salt, did eate them without any other thing :
and such as could not get them, gathered the stalkes of Maiz and eate them, which
because they were young, had no Maiz in them. When they came to the Riuer which
the Gouernour had passed, they found palmitos vpon low Palmetrees like those of An-
daluzia. There they met with the two horsemen which the Gouernour sent vnto them, and
they brought newes that in Cale there was plentie of Maiz : at which newes they all reioyced.
Assoone as they came to Cale, the Gouernour commanded them to gather all the Maiz that
was ripe in the field, which was sufficient for three moneths. At the gathering of it the In-
dians killed three Christians, and one of them which were taken told the Gouernour that within
seuen dayes iournie, there was a very great Prouince, and picntifull of Maiz, which was
called Apalache. And presently hee departed from Cale with ."iO. horsemen, and ,0. foote-
men. He left the master of the Campe Luys de Moscoso with all the rest of the people
there, with charge that hee should not depart thence vntill he had word from him. And
because hitherto none had gotten any slaues, the bread that euery one was to eate, he was
faine himselfe to beate in a morter made in a peece of timber with a pestle, and some of
them did sift the flower through their shirts of maile. They baked their bread vpon certaine
tileshares which they set ouer the fire, in such sort as heretofore I haue said they vse
to doe in Cuba. It is so troublesome to grind their Maiz, that there were many that
would rather not eate it, then grind it : and did eate the Maiz parched and sodden.

Chap. XI.

How the Gouernour came to Caliquen, and carrying from thence the Cacique
with him went to Napetuca, where the Indians sought to haue taken him from
him, and in an assault many of them were slaine, and taken prisonera.

Tile II. day of August 1539. the Gouernour departed from Cale: hee lodged in z. little
town called Ytara, and the next day in another called Potano, and the third day at
Vtinama, and came to another townt-, which they named the towne of Euil peace; because
an Indian came in peace, saying, That he was the Cacique, and that he with his people
would serue the Gouernour, and that if he would set free 28. persons, men and women,
which his men had taken the night before, he would command prouision to be brought him,
and would giue him a guide to instruct him in his way : The Gouernour commanded them
to be set at libertie, and to keepe him in safcgard. The next day ir. the morning thcio
came many Indians, and set themsclues round about the towne ncere to a wood. The
Indian wished them to carrie him neere them; and that he would spe.ike vnto them, and
assiire them, and that tliey would doe whatsoeuer hee commanded them. And when he
saw himselfe neerc vnto them he brake from them, and ran away so swiftly from the Chris-
tians dint there was none that could ouertake him, and all of them fled into the woods.
The Gouernour commanded to loose a grayhound, which was alreadie fleshed on them,

which

Vtara.
Potano.
Vtinama.
The townt of
Euill peace.

i,i„-t

ie of Florida,

lee that came

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

707

which passing by many other Indians, caught the counterfait Cacique, which had escaped
from the Christians, and held him till they came to take him. From tlience the Goucrnour
lodged at a towne called Choiupaha: and because it had store of Maiz in it, they named it choiupahj,
Villa farta. Beyond the same there was a Riucr, on which he made a bridge of timber, a Riuer.
and trauelled two daies through a desert. The 17. of August, he came to Caliqucn, where Ciiiquen.
he was informed of the Prouince of Apalache: They told him that Pamphilo de Narunez
had bin there, and that there hcc tooke shipping, because hee could find no way to goe
forward : That there was none other towne at al ; but that on both ides was all water. The
whole companie were very sad for these newes; and counselled the Gouernour to goe
backe to the Port dc Spirito Santo, and to abandon the Countrie of Florida, lest hee should
perish as Naruaez had done: declaring, that if he went forward, he could not returne backe
when he would, and that the Indians would gather vp that small quantitie of Maiz which
was left. Whercunto the Gouernour answered, that he would not go backe, till he had
scene with his eies that which they reported : saying, that he could not beleeue it, and
that wee should be put out of doubt before it were long. And he sent to Luys de Moscoso
to come presently from Cale, and that he tarried for him here. Luys de Moscoso and many
others thought, that from Apalache they should returne backe ; and in Cale they buried their
yron tooles, and diucrs other things. They came to Caliquen with great trouble ; because the
Countrie, which the Gouernour had passed by, was spoiled and destitute of Maiz. After
all the people were come together, hee commanded a bridge to bee made ouer a Riuer that A Riu«.
passed ncere the towne. Hee departed from Caliquen the 10. of September, and carried
the Cacique with him. After hee had trauelled three daies, there came Indians peaceably,
to visit their Lord, and euery day met vs on the way playing vpon flutes : which is a token
that they vse, that men may know that they come in peace. They said, that in our way
before there was a Cacique, whose name was Vzachil, a kinseman of the Cacique of Cali-
quen their Lord, waiting for him with many presents, and they desired the Gouernour that
he would loose the Cacique. But he would not, fearing that they would rise, and would
not giue him any guides, & sent them away from day to day with good words. He
trauelled fiue daies, he passed by some smal townes, he came to a towne called Napetuca, Some small
the 15. day of September. Thither came \i. or \b. Indians, and besought ^ Gouernor to Nrpi'ttica.
let loose the Cacique of Caliquen their Lord. He answered them that he held him not in
prison, but that hee would haue him to accompanie him to Vzachil. The Gouernour had
notice by lohn Ortiz, that an Indian told him how they determined to gather themselues
together, and come vpon him, and giue him battell, and take away the Cacique from
him. The day that it was agreed vpon, the Gouernour commanded his men to bee in a
readines, and that the horsemen should bee readie armed and on horsebacke euery one in
his lodging, because the Indians might not see them, and so more confidently come to the
towne. There came foure hundred Indians in sight of the campe with their bowes and
arrowes, and placed themselues in a wood, and sent two Indians to bid the Gouernour to
deliuer them the Cacique. The Gouernour with sixe footemen leading the Cacique by the
hand, and talking with him, to secure the Indians, went toward the place where they were :
And seeing a fit time, commanded to sound a trumpet : and presently those that were in
the towne in the houses, both horse and foot, set vpon the Indians, which were so suddenly
assaulted, that the greatest care they had was which way they should flee : They killed two
horses; one was the Gouernours, and hee was presently horsed againe vpon another.
There were 30. or 40. Indians slaine. The rest fled to two very great lakes, that were J^°^"'' ^""
somewhat distant the one from the other: There they were swimming, and the Christians
round about them. The calieuermen and crossebowmen shot at them from the banke : but
the distance being great and shooting afarre off, they did them no hurt. The Gouernour
commanded that the same night they should compasse one of the lakes, because they were
so great, that there were not me enow to compa?se them both : being beset, assoone as
night shut in, the Indians, with determination to runne awav, came swimming very softly
to the banke ; and to hide themselues, they put a water lillie leafe on their heads. The

horsemen

.la.

'^A

k40

708

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The discouerie of Florida,

f !l

A ne» con-
spirjcic.

Two hundred
Indians taken.

A Riutr.

Hap::luya n
great towne.
Vzschil.

' Aboborai,

horsemen assoone as they pcrceiued it to stirre, ran into the water to the horses breasts,
and the Indians fled againc into the lake. So this night passed \vithoiit any rest on both
sides. lolin Ortiz perswaded them, that seeing they could not escape, they should yeeld
themsclues to the Goucrnour: which they did, enforced thereunto by tl>e coldnes of the
water; and one by one, hee first whom the cold did first ouercome, cried to lohn Ortiz
desiring that they would not kill him, for he came to put himselfe into the hands of the
Gonernour. By the morning watch they made an end of yeelding themselues: only 12.
principall men, being more honorable and valorous then the rest, resolued rather to die
then to come into his hands. And the Indians of Paracossi, which were now loosed out of
chaines, went swimming to them, and pulled them out by the haire of their heads, and
they were all put in chaine.s; and the next day were diuided among the Christians for their
scruice. Being thus in captiuitie, they determined to rebell; and gaue in charge to an
Indian, which was intcrpretour, and held to be valiant, that assoone as the Gouernour did
come to speak with him, hee should cast his hands about his necke, and choke him : Who,
whe he saw opportunitie, laid hands on the Gouernour, and before he cast his hands about
his necke, he gaue him such a blow on the nostrils, that hee made them gush out with
blood, and presently all the rest did rise. He that could get any weapons at hand, or the
handle wherewith he did grind the Maiz, sought to kill his master, or the first hee met
before him : and hee that could get a lance or sword at hand, bestirred himselfe in such
sort with it, as though he had vsed it all his life time. One Indian in the market place en-
closed betweene 15. or 20. footemen, made a way like a bull with a sword in his hand, till
certaine halbardiers of the Gouernour came, which killed him. Another gat vp with a lance
to a loft made of canes, which they build to keepe their Maiz in, which they call a Bar-
bacoa, and there hee made such a noise, as though tenne men had been there defending
the doore : they slew him with a partisan. The Indians were in all about two hundred men.
They were all subdued. And some of the youngest the Gouernour gaue to them which
had good chaines, and were carefull to looke to them that they gat not away. Al the rest
he commanded to be put to death, being tied to a stake in the midst of the market place ;
and the Indians of the Paracossi did shoote them to death.

Chap. XII.

How the Gouernour came to Apalache, and was informed, that within the land,

there was much gold.

THe Gouernour departed from Napetuca the 23. of September: he lodged by a Riuer,
where two Indians brought him a buck from the Cacique of Vzachil. The next day he
passed by a great towne called Hapaluya ; and lodged at Vzachil, and found no people in it,
because they durst not tarrie for the notice the Indians had of the slaughter of Napetuca.
He found in that towne great store of Maiz, French beanes, and * pompions, which is their
foode, and that wherewith the Christians there sustained themselues. The Maiz is like
course millet, and the pompions are better and more sauorie than those of Spaine. From
thence the Gouernour sent two Captaincs each a sundry way to seeke the Indians. They
tooke an hundred men and women : of which aswel there as in other places where they
made any inrodes, the Captaine chose one or two for the Goucrnour, and diuided the rest
to himselfe, and those that went with him. They led these Indians in chaines with yron
collars about their neckes: and they scrued to carrie their stuffe, and to grind their Maiz,
and for other seruices that such captiues could doe. Sometimes it happened that going for
wood or Maiz with them, they killed the Christian that led them, and ran away with the
chaine : others filed their chaines by night with a peece of stone, wherewith they cut
them, and vse it in stead of vron. Those that were perceiued paid for themselues, and
for the rest, because they should not dare to doe the like another time. The women and
young boyes, when they were once an hundred leagues from their Counlrie, and had for-
gotten things, they let goe loose, and so they serued ; and in a very short space they

vndersfood

rie of Florida,

Axille.

A Riucr.

Vitachuco.

October %$•

Vzcli.

Anaica Api>
lache.

Apalache
within lO
leagues of the
sea.

Ochete.
The sea.

next adiotfning to Virginia. TRAPFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. ?09

vnderstood the language of the Christians. From Vzachil the Gouernour departed toward
Apalache, and in two dales iournie, hee came to a towne called Axille, and from thence
forward the Indians were carelesse, because they had as yet no notice of the ChristiniiH.
The next day in the morning, the first of October, he departed from thence, and com-
manded a bridge to bee made ouer a Kiiier which hee was to passe. The dcepe of the
Riuer where the bridge was made, was a stones cast, and forward a crosscbow shot the
water came to the waste; and the wood, whereby the Indians came to see if they could
defend the passage, and disturbe those which made the bridge, was very hie and thicke.
The crossebow men so bestirred themselues that they made them giue back : and certain
plancka were cast into the Riiier, whereon the men passed, which made good the passage.
The Gouernor passed vpu Wednesday, which was S. Francis his day, and lodged at a towne
which was called Vitachuco, subiect to Apalache : he found it burning ; for the Indians had set
it on fire. From thence forward the countrie was much inhabited, and had great store of
Maiz. Hee pssed by many granges like hamlets. On Sunday the 25. of October, he
came to a towne, which is culled Vzela, and vpon Tuesday to Anaica Apalache, where the
Lord of all that Countrie and Prouince was resident : in which towne the Campemaster,
whose office it is to quarter out, and lodge men, did lodge all the companie round about
within a league, and halfe a league of it. There were other townes, where was great store
of Maiz, Pompions, French Beanes, and Plummes of the Countrie, which are better then
those of Spaine, and they grow in the fields without planting. The victuals that were
thought necessarie to passe the winter, were gathered from these townes to Anaica
Apalache. The Gouernour was informed, that the sea was ten leagues from thence. Hee
presently sent a Captaine thither with horsemen and footemen : And sixe leagues on the
way, he found a towne, which was named Ochete, and so came to the sea ; and found a
great tree felled, and cut into peeces, with stakes set vp like mangers, and saw the skulles
of horses. Hee returned with this newes. And that was held for certaine, which was
reported of Pumphilo de Naruaez, that there hee had builded the barkes wherewith he went
out of the land of Florida, and was cast away at Sea. Presently the Gouernour sent lohn
Danusco with 30. horsemen to the port de Spiritu Santo, where Calderan was, with order,
that they should abandon the port, and all of them come to Apalache. Hee departed on
Saturday the 17. of Nouember. In Vzachil and other townes that stood in the way he
found great store of people alreadie carelesse. Hee would take none of the Indians, for
not hindring himselfe, because it behooued him to giue them no leasure to gather them-
selues together. He passed through the townes by night, and rested without the townes three
or foure houres. In tenne dales he came to the Port de Spirito Santo. He carried with him
20. Indian women, which he tooke in Ytara, and Potano, neere vnto Cale, and sent them
to Donna Isabella in the two carauels, which hee sent from the Port de Spirito Santo to
Cuba. And he carried all the footemen in the brigandines, and coasting along the shore,
came to Apalache. And Calderan with the horsemen, and some crosse-bowmen on foote
went by land ; and in some places the Indians set vpon him, and wounded some of his men.
Assnone as he came to Apalache ; presently the Gouernour sent sawed plankes and spikes
to the sea-side, wherewith was made a piragna or barke, wherein were embarked 30. men
well armed; which went out of the Bay to the Sea, looking for the brigandines. Sometimes
they fought with the Indians, which passed along tlie harbour in their canoes. Vpon Saturday
the 29. of Nouember, there came an Indian through the Watch vndiscouered, and set the towne Nouem. ly.
on fire, and with the great wind that blew, two parts of it were consumed in a short time.
On Sonday the 28. of December came lohn Danusco with the brigandines. The Gouernour Decern. »8.
sent Francisco Maldonado a Captaine of footemen with 50. men to discouer the coast West-
ward, and to seeke some Port, because he had determined to go by land, and discouer ^
part. That day there went out eight horsemen by commandement of the Gouernor into the
field, two leagues about the towne to seeke Indians : for they were now so emboldened,
that within two crossebow shot of ^ camp, they came and slew men. They found two men
and a woman gathering French Beanes : the men, though they might haue fled, vet because

4Y ■ ' they

The Port de
Spiritu Sauto
tenne daies
iournie from
Apalache,

n^s.iii

''«i'"|i:e ,

: K

>:'■ h

Chap. II.

Abundince of
gold.

710 VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouerie of Florida,

they would not leaue the woman, which was one of their wines, they reaolued to die fighting :
and before ihey were slaine, they wounded three horses, whereof one died within a few
daies after. Calderan going with his men by the Sea-coast, from a wood that was neere the
place, the Indians set vpon him, and made him forsake his way, and many of them that went
with him foniooke some necessarie victuals, which they Carried with them. Three or foure
daies after the limited time giuen by the Gouernonr to Maldonado for his going and com-
ming, being alreadie determined and resolued, if within eight daies he did not come to
tarrie no longer for him, he came, and brought an Indian from a Prouince, which was called
kiju'i we« of Ochus, sixtie leagues Westward from Apalache ; where he had found a good Port of good
ApiiKhc. depth and defense against weather. And because the Gouernor hoped to find a good countrie
forward, he was very well contented. And he sent Maldonado for victuals to Hauana, with
order, that he should tarrie for him at the Port of Ochus, which hee had diacouered, for
hee would goe seeke it by land : and if he should chance to stay, and not come thither that
summer, that then hee should returne to Hauana, and should come againe the next summer
after, and tarrie for him at that port : for hee said hee would doe none other thing but goe
to seeke Ochus. Francisco Maldonado departed, and in his place for Captaine of the foote>
men remained lohn de Guzman. " Of those Indians which were taken in Napetuca, the
treasurer lohn Gaytan had a young man, which said, that he was not of that Countrie, but
of another farre off toward the Sunrising, and that it was long since he had trauelled to
see Countries; and that his Countrie was called Yupaha, and that a woman did gouerne it :
and that the towne where she was resident was of a wonderfull bignesse, and that many Lords
round about were tributaries to her : and some gaue her clothes, and others gold in abun-
dance : and hee told, how it was taken out of the mines, and was moulten and refined, as if
hee had seene it done, or the diuel had taught it him." So that all those which knew any
thing concerning the same, said that it was impossible to giue so good a relation, without
hauing seene it: And all of them, as if they had seene it, by the signes that he gaue, be-
leeued all that he said to be true.

Chap. XIII.
How the Gouernour departed from Apalache to seeke Yupaha, and of that which

happened vnto him.

ON Wedensday the third of March, of theyeere 1540. the Gouernor departed from Anaica
Apalache to seeke Yupaha. He commanded his men to goe prouided with Maiz for sixtie
leagues of desert. The horsemen carried their Maiz on their horses, and the footemen at
their sides : because the Indians that were for seruice, with their miserable life that they
lead that winter, being naked and in chaines, died for the most part. Within foure daies
iouriMe they came to a great Riuer : and they made a piragua or ferrie bote, and because of
the great current, they made a cable with chaines, which they fastened on both sides of the
Riuer ; and the ferrie bote went along by it ; and the horses swam ouer, being drawne with
capstans. Hauing passed the Riuer, in a day and an halfe, they came to a towne called
Capachiqui. Vpon Friday, the II. of March, they found Indians in armes. The next day
fiue Christians went to seeke morters, which the Indians haue to beate their Maiz, and they
went to certaine houses on the backside of the Campe enuironed with a wood : And within
the wood were many Indians which came to spie vs ; of the which came other fiue and set
vpon vs. One of the Christians came running away, giuing an alarme vnto the Campe.
Those which were most readie answered the alarme. They found one Christian dead, and
three sore wounded. The Indians fled vnto a lake adioyning neere a very thicke wood,
where the horses could not enter. The Gouernour departed from Capachiqui, and passed
through a desert. On Wednesday the 21. of the moneth he came to a towne called Toalli :
And from thence forward there was a difference in the houses. For those which were behind
vs were thatched with straw, and those of Toalli were couered with reeds, in manner of tiles.
These houses are verie cleanly. Some of them had walles daubed with clay, which shewed like
a mudwall. In all the cold countrie the Indians haue euery one a house for the winter

daubed

March the 3.
IJ40.

A great Riuer.

Capachiqui.

Toalli.

^flljJt

next adioijning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DlSCOUEHltS.

711

daubed with clay within and without, and the doorc is very little : they shut it by night, and
make Arc within ; so that they arc in it as warme as in a stouc : and so it continucth all
night that they need not clothes : and besides these, they hatie others for summer ; and their
kitchins neere them, where they make fire and bake their bread : and they haue barbacoas
wherein they keepe their Maiz ; which is an house set vp in the aire vpon foure stakes,
boorded about like a chamber, and the floore of it is of cane hurdles. The difterece which
Lords or principall mens houses haue from the rest, besides they be greater, is, that they
haue great galleries in their fronts, and vnder them seates made of canes in manner of
benches : and round about them they haue many lofts, wherein they lay vp that which the
Indians doe giue them for tribute, which is Maiz, Deeres skins, and mantles of the Countrie,
which are like blankets : they make them of the inner rinde of the barkes of trees, and
some of a kind of grasse like vnto nettles, which being beaten, is like vnto flaxe. . The a gmic like
women couer themselues with riiese mantles ; they put one about them from the wastdowne- *'"'
ward ; and another ouer their shoulder, with their right arme out, like vnto the Egyptians.
The men weare but one mantle vpon their shoulders after the same manner : and haue their
secrets hid with a Deeres skin, made like a linen breech, which was wont to be vsed in Spaine.
The skins are well corried, and they giue them what colour they list, so perfect, that if it be e«c«ii«i« co-
red, it seemeth a very fine cloath in graine, and the blacke is most fine : and of the same'""""
leather they make shooes ; and they die their mantles in the same colours. The Goucrnour
departed f'rom Toalli the 24. of March : he came on Thursday at euening to a small Riuer, AimaURiue*.
where a bridge was made whereon the people passed, and Benit Fernandez a Portugall fell
off from it, and was drowned. Assoone as the Gouernour had passed the Riuer, a little dis-
tance thence he found a towne called Achese. The Indians had no notice of the Christians : Acheie.
they leaped into a Riuer : some men and women were taken ; among which was one that
vnderstood the youth which guided the Gouernour to Yupaha : whereby that which he had
reported was more confirmed. For they had passed through Countries of diuers languages,
and some which he vnderstood not. The Goucrnour sent by one of the Indians that were
taken to call the Cacique, which was on the other side of the Riuer. Hee came and made this
speech following :

Right high, right mightie, and excellent Lord, those things which seldome happen doe
cause admiration. What then may the sight of your Lordship, and your people doe to mee
and mine, whom we neuer saw ? especially being mounted on such fierce beasts as your
horses are, entring with such violence and furie into my Countrie, without my knowledge of
your comming. It was a thing so strange, and caused such feare and terrour in our mindes.
that it was not in our power to stay and receiue your Lordship with the solemnitie due to so
high and renowned a Prince, as your Lordship is. And trusting in your greatnesse and sin-
gular vertues, I doe not onely hope to be freed from blame, but also to receiue fauours : and
the first which I demand of your Lordship is, that you will vse me, my Countrie, and sub-
iects as your owne : and the second, that you will tell mee who you are, and whence you
come, and whither you goe, and what you seeke, that I the better may serue you therein.

The Gouernour answered him, that hee thanked him as much for his offer and good will,
as if hee had receiued it, and as if hee had offered him a great treasure: and told him that
he was the sonne of the Sun, and came from those parts where he dwelt, and trauelled
through that Countrie, and sought the greatest Lord, and richest Prouince that was in it. The
Cacique told him ; that farther forward dwelt a great Lord, and that his dominion was called
Ocute. He gaue him a guide, and an interpretour for that Prouince. The Gouernour com-
manded his Indians to bee set free, and trauelled through his Countrie vp a Riufer very well ^.^'JU',,"'^
inhabited. He departed from his towne the first of Aprill ; and left a very high crosse of*'
Wood set vp in the middest of the market place : and because the time gaue no more leasure,
hee declared to him onely, that that crosse was a memorie of f same, whereon Christ, which
was God and man, and created the heauens and the earth, suffered for our saluation : there-
fore he exhorted them that they should reuerence it ; and they made shew as though they
would doe so. The fcnirth of Aprill the Gouernour passed by a towne called Altamaca, and Alumica.

4 Y 3 the

■.:i',}il

f^Mi

712

Ocutc.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The discoitcrie of Florida,

Co<r»qui.
Pttofa.

the 10. of the moneth he came to Ocutc. The Cacique scut him two thousand Indians with
H«n"'DM''ei"' ^ P*"*^"^"'* 'o wit, many conies, and partridges, bread of Maiz, two hens, and many dogs :
which among the Christians were esteemed as if they had been fat wethers, becaune of the
great want of flesh meatc and salt, and hereof in many places, and many times was great
need; and they were so scarse, that if a man fell sirke, there was nothing to cherish him
withall : and with a sicknessc, that in another pliire ca^ilic mi<rht hnue been remedied, he
consumed away till nothing but skinne and Ixmes were left: and tliry died of pure weakncs,
some of them saying. If I had a slice of mcate, or a few cornes of salt, I should not die.
The Indians want no fleshmeat : for they kill with their arrowes many dccre, hennes conies,
and other wild fowie : for they are very cunning at it : which skill the Christians had not :
and though they had ii, they had no leasiire to vsc it: for the most of the time they spent
in trauell, and durut not presume to straggle a-<idc. And because they were thus scanted of
flesh, *whcn sixe hundred men that went with Soto, came lo any towne, and found 30. or 40.
dogs, he that could get one and kill it, thought hiinselfe no small man : and he that killed
it, and gaue not his Captaine one quarter, if he knew it, he frowned on him, and m.ide him
feele it, in the watches, or in any other matter of labour that was oflered, wherein hee might
doe him a displeasure. On Monday the 12. of Aprill, the Gouernour departed from Ocute:
The Cacique gaue him two hundred Tamenes, to wit, Indians to carrie burdens : hee passed
through a towne, the Lord whereof was named Cofnqui, and came to a prouince of an Indian
Lord, called Patofa, who, because he was in peace with the Lord of Ocute, and with the
other bordering Lords, had many daies before notice of the Gouernour, and desired to see
him : He came -to visit him, and made this speech following.

Mightie Lord, now with good reason I will traue of fortune to requite this my so great
prosperitie with some small aduersitie ; and I will count my selfe verie rich, seeing I haue
obtained that, which in this world I mo^t desired, which is, to see, and bee able to doe your
Lordship some seruicc. And although the tongue bee the image of that which is in the
heart, and that the contentment which I feele in my heart I cannot dissemble, yet is it not
sufficient wholly to manifest the same. Where did this your Countrie, which -I doe gouerne,
deserue to be visited of so soueraigne, and so excellent a Prince, whom all the rest of the
world ought to obey and scrue? And those which inhabit it being so base, what shall bee
the issue of such happines, if their memorie doe not represent vnto them some aduersitie
that may betide them, according lo the order of fortune ? If from this day forward we may
be capable of this beneflt, that your Lordship will hold vs for your owne, we cannot faile
to be fauoured and maintained in true iustice and reason, and to haue the name of men.
For such as are void of reason and iustice, may bee compared to brute beasts. For mine
owne part, from my very heart with reuerence due to such a Prince, I offer my selfe vnto
your Lordship, & beseech you ; that in reward of this my true good will, you will vouch-
safe to make vse of mine owne person, my Countrie, and subiects.

The Gouernour answered him, that his offers and good wil declared by the effect, did
highly please him, whereof he would alwaies be mindfull to honour and fauour him as hia
brother. This Countrie, from the first peaceable Cacique, vnto the Prouince of Patofa,
which were fiftie leagues, is a fat Countrie, beautifull, and very fruitfull, and very well wa-
* tcred, and full of good Riuers. And from thence to the Port de Spirito Santo, where wee
first ariued in the land of Florida, (which may bee 350. leagues little more or lesse) is a
barren land, and the most of it groues of wild Pine-trees, low and full of lakes, and in some
places very hie and thicke groues, whither the Indians that were in armes fled, so that no
man could find them, neither could any horses enter into them. , Which was an inconue-
iiience to the Christians, in regard of the victuals which they found conueied away ; and of
the trouble which they had in seeking of Indians to bee their guides.

An f «r«llf nt
Countrie for Jd
leagues.

Chap.

.4;

tiext ndioynmg to Virgimn. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 713

Chap. XIIII.

How the Coiiernour drpnrled from the Pronitice of Patofa, and went through a
desert, where he and all his men fell into great distressc, atifl extreme mi.scrie.

IN the towne of Patofa the youth, which the Gouernour carried with him for an interpre*
tour and a guide, began to fome at the mouth, and tumble on the ground, asi one poflfiesNed
with the diucll : They said a Gospel! ouer him ; and the fit left him. And he said, that finite
daies iournie from thence toward the Sunne rising, was the prouince that he spake of. The
Indians of Patofa said, that toward that part they knew no habitation ; but that toward the
Northwest, they knew a Prouince which was called Cot;a, a verie plentifull countrie, which
had very great townes in it. The Cacique told the Gouernour, that if he would go thither,
he would giuc him guides and Indians for burdens ; and if he would goe whither the youth
spake of, that he would likewise giue him those that he needed : and so with louing words
and ofl'ers of courtesie, they tooke their leaues the one of the other. Hee gaue him seuen
hundred Indians to bcare burdens. He tooke Maix for foure dales iournie. Hee trauelled
sixc dales by a path which grew narrow more and more, till it was lost altogether : He went
where the youth did lead him, and passed two Riuers which were waded : each of them was J,"° '*''* '^'"
two cro'^Mt'bowshot ouer: the water came to the stirrops, and had so great a current, that it
was necdfull for the horsemen to stand one before another, that the footemen niij,'ht jjasse
aboue them leaning vnto thcni. He came to another Riuer of a greater current and largenes, Ri""',*]" *"""
which was passed with more trouble, because the horses did swim at the comming out about
a lances length. Hauing passed this Riuer, the Gouernor came to a groue of pinetrecs, and
thrcatned the youth, and made as though hee would hane cast him to the dog;ies, because
he had told him a lie, saying, it was but fourc daies iournie, and they had trauelled nine. Nine djics
and euery day 7. or 8. leagues, and the men by this time were growne wearie and weake, "'"'""'
and the horses leane through the great scanting of th.: Maiz. The youth said, that hee knew
not where hee was. It saued him that he was not cast to the dogges, that there was neuer
another whom lohn Ortiz did vnderstand. The Gouernour with them two, and with somff
h«)rsemen and footem.'n, leaning the Campe in a groue of pinetrees, trauelled that day 5.
or 6. leagues to seek a way, and returned at night very comfortlesse, and without finding
any signe of way or towne. The next day there were sundrie opinions deliucred, whether
they should goe backe, or what they should doe: and because backward the Countrie whereby
they had passed was greatly spoiled and destitute of Maiz, and that which they brought
with them was spent, and the men were very weake, and the horses likewise, they doubted
much whether they might come to any place where they might helpe themselues. And
besides tMs, they were of opinion, that going in that sort out of order, that any Indians
would presume to set vpon them, so that with hunger, or with warre, they could not escape.
The Gouernour determined to send horsemen from thence euery way to seeke habitation :
and the next day he sent foure Captaines, euery one a sundrie way with eight horsemen.
At night they came againe, leading their horses, or driuing them with a sticke before ; for
they were so wearie, that they could not lead them ; neither found they any way nor signe
of habitation. The next day, the Gouernour sent other foure with as many horsemen ihat
could swim, to pa»se the Ose and Riuers which they should find, and they had choice horses
the best that were in the Campe. The Captaines were Baltasar de Gallcgos, which went vp
the Riuer; and lohn Danusco, downe the Riuer: Alfonso Romo, and lohn Rodriguez Lobillo
went into the inward parts of the land. The Gouernour brought with him into Florida thir- The great in-
teene sowes, and had by this time three hundred swine: He commanded euery man should "Mseofswine.
haue halfe a pound of hogs flesh euery day : and this hee did three or foure daies after the
Maiz was all spent. With this small quantitie of flesh, and some sodden hearbs, with much
trouble the people were sustained. The Gouernour dismissed J Indians of Patofa, because
hee had no food to giue them ; who desiring to accompanieand serue the Christians in their
necessitie, making shew that it grieued them very much to returne, vntill they had left them

I..; \.%

•-■' "•"111

liil

7!4

^'■H

Aymiy.

An Indian hum'
rdforhU (Asc-
liuud.

Cutifa-Chiqui.

A great corJon
of perlfs.
Tlicy passe the
Riuer,
Cutifa-Chiqui.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The discouerie of Florida,

in a peopled Coiinfrie, returned to their owne home. lohn Damisco came on Sunday late
in the euening, and brought newca that he had found a little towne 12. or 13. leagues from
thence : he brought a woman and a boy tliat he tooke there. With his comming and with
those newes, the Gouernour and all the rest were so glad, that they seemed at that instant
to haue returned from death to life. Vpon Monday, thetwentie sixe of April!, the Gouern-
our departed to goe to the towne, which was called Aymay ; and the Christian!) named it
the towne of Reliefe. He left where the Camp had lien at the foote of a Pinetree a letter
buried, and letters carued in the barke of the pine, the contents whereof was this : Dig here
at the foot of this pine, & you shal And a letter. And this he did, because when the Cap-
taines came, which were sent to seeke some habitation, they might see the letter, and know
what was become of the Gouernour, and which way he was gone. There was no other way
to the town, but the markes that John Danusco left made vpon the trees. The Gouernour
with some of them that had the best horses came to it on the Monday : And all the rest in-
forcing themselues the best they could, some of them lodged within two leagues of the
towne, some within three and foure, euery one as he was able to goe, and his strength scru-
ed him. There was found in the towne a storehouse full of the flowre of parched Maiz ;
and some Maiz, which was distributee o allowance. Here were foure Indi-'-is taken, and
none of them would confesse any oti ■ Miing, but that they knew of none other habita-
tion. The Gouernour commanded one oi them to be burned ; & presently another confessed,
that two dales iournie from thence, there was a Prouince that was called Cutifa-Chiqui.
Vpon Wednesday came the Captaines Baltasarde Gallegos, Alfonso Romo, and John Rodri-
guez Lobillo : for they had found the letter, and followed the way which the Gouernour had
taken toward the towne. Two men of lohn Rodriguez companie were lost, because their
horses tired : the Gouernour checked him very sore for leauing them behind, and sent to
seeke them : and assoone as they came, he departed toward Cutifa Chiqui. In the way
three Indians were taken, which said, that the Ladie of that Countrie had notice alreadie of
the Christians, and staled for them in a towne of hers. The Gouernour sent by one of them
to offer her his friendship, and to adtiertisc her how hee was comming thither. The Gouern-
our came vnto the towne : and presently there came foure canoes to him ; in one of them
came a sister of the Ladie, and approching to the Gouernour she said these words :

Excellent Lord, my sister sendeth vnto you by me to kisse your Lordships hands, and to
signifie vnto you, that the cause why she came not in person, is, that she thinketh to do
you greater seruice staying behind, as she doth, giuing order, that with all speed, al her
canoes be readie, that your Lordship may passe the Riuer, and take your rest, which shall
bee presentlie performed.

The Gouernour gaue her thankes, and she returned to the other side of the Riuer. Within
a little while the Ladie came out of the towne in a Chaire, whereon certaine of the principal!
Indians brought her to the Riuer. She cntred into a barge, which had the sterne tilted
ouer, and on the floore her mat readie laied with two cushions vp6 it one vpon another,
where she sate her downe; and with her came her principall Indians in other barges, which
did wait vpon her. She went to the place where the Gouernor was, and at her comming she
made this speech following :

Excellent Lord, I wish this comming of your Lordship into these your Countries, to be
most happie : although my power be not answerable to my wil, and my seruices be not ac-
cording to my desire, nor such as so high a Prince, as your Lordship, desenicth ; yet since
the good will is rather to be accepted, then all the treasures of the world, tliat without it are
offered, with most vnfaileable and manifest affection, I offer you my person, lands, and sub-
iects, and this small seruice.

And therewithal she presented vnto him great store of clothes of the Countrie, which
shce brought in other canoes ; to wit, mantles and skinnes ; and tooke from her owne necke
a great cordon of perles, and cast it about the necke of the Gouernour, entertaining him
with very gracious speeches of loue and courtesie, and commanded canoes to be brought
thither, wherein the Gouernour and his people passed the Riuer. Assoone as hee was lodged

Ut^

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

rift

in the towne, she sent him another present of many hens. This Coiintrie was verie plea-
sant, fat, and hath goodly meadows by the Riuers. Their woods are thin, and ful of walnut walnut irefs.
trees and Mulberric trees. They said the sea was two daies iournie from thence. Within a ^^"^^['^ '""
league, and halfea league about this towne, were great townes dispeopled, and ouergrowneihcsiMiwo
with grasse ; which shewed, that they had been long without inhabitants. The Indians said, ^''" """"'" ""^
that two yeere before there was a plague in that Countrie, and that they remooued to other
townes. There was in their storehouses great quantitie of clothes, mantles of yarne made Mamitsofthf
of the barkes of trees, and others made of feathers, white, greene, red, and yellow, very Miml«orrc"^
line after their vse, and profitable for winter. There were also many Deercs skinnes, with tuers.
many compartiments traced in them, and some of them made into hose, stockings, and
shooes. And the Ladie perceiuing, that the Christians esteemed the perlcs, aduised the
Gouernour to send to search certaine graues that were in that towne, and that hee should
find many : and that if hee would send to the dispeopled townes, hee might load all his
horses. They sought the graues of that towne, and there found fourcteene rooues of porles, Thrcf iimuirf j
and little babies and birds made of them. The people were brownc, well made, and well JJ^""i'rf™,,i„
proportioned, and more ciuill then any others that were scene in all the Countrie of Florida, found.
and all of them went shod and clothed. The youth told the Gouernour, that hee began now
to enter into the land which he spake of: and some credit was giucn him that it was so,
because hee vnderstood the language of the Indians: and hee requested that he might bee
Christened, for he said hee desired t<» become a Christian : Hee was Christened, and named
Peter; and the Gouernour commanded him to bee loosed from a chaine, in which vntili that
time he had gone. This Countrie, as the Indians reported, had been much inhabited, and
had the fame of a good Countrie. And, as it secmeth, the youth, which w.is the Goucrnours
guide, had heard of it, and that which he knew by heresay, hee affirmed that hcc had scene,
and augmented at his pleasure. In this towne was found a dagger, and beades, that had
belonged to Christians. The Indians reported, that Christians had been in the hauen, which This lownt wis
was two daies iournie from this towne, many yeeres agoe. Hee that came thither was the |',"u,nil"fronAiie
Gouernour, the Licenciate Lucas Vasquez dc Ayllon, which went to conquer this Countrie, haucnof sama

and at his comming to the Port hee died ; and there was a diuision, quarrels and slaughters "','i;""y„re
betweene some principall men which went with him, for the principall gouernment : And ii»5-
without knowing any thing of the Countrie, they returned home to Hispaniola. All the it it in jj. dc
Companie thought it good to inhabit that Countrie, because it was in a temperat climate: ^""^■
And that if it were inhabited, al the shippcs of New Spaine, of Peru, Santa Martha, and
Tierra firme, in their returne for Spaine, might well touch there : because it was in their
way ; and because it was a good Countrie, and sited fit to raise commodilic. The Gouern-
our, since his intent was to seeke another treasure, like that of Atabalipa Lord of Peru,
was not contented with a gootl Countrie, nor with pearles, though many of them were worth
their weight in gold. And if the Countrie had been diuided among the Christians, those
which the Indians had fished for afterward, would haue been of more value : for those which
they had, because they burned them in the fire, did leese their colour. The Gouernour an-
swered them, that vrged him to inhabit, That in all the Countrie, there were not victuals
to suslaine his men one moneth ; and that it was needfull to resort to the Port of Ocus, where
Maldanado was to stay for them : and that if no richer Countrie were found, they might re-
turne againe to that whensoeuer they would : and in the meane time the Indians would sow
their fields, and it would be better furnished with Maiz. He inquired of the Indians, whether
they had notice of any great Lord farther into the land. They told him, that 12. daies iour- pi''»')» «»• ^""
nie from thence, there was a Prouince called Chiaha, subiect to the Lord of Co9a. Pre- rmTHeiJIIa:
Gently the Gouernour determined to seeke that land. And beinga sterne man, and of few •":"-."'" 7-
words, though he was glad to sift and know the opinion of all men, yet after hee had deli- frdm chilha: «
uered his owne, hee would not b« contraried, and alwaies did what liked himsclfe, and so all "^^'^^ ^Z"]"^
men did condescend vnto his will. And thougii it seemed an errour to leaue that Countrie, an''o«c'hidIi""'
(for others might haue been sought round about, where the people might haue been sus- ^'"p- '*•

tained.

%::

,'■*:*,

I ,'1

■'Mill

' ■■y-i

7ie

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The diacouerie of Florida,

Ik' i

tained, vntill the haruest had been readie there, and the Mail! gathered) yet there was none
that would say any thing against him, after they knew his resolution.

Chap. XV.

How the Gouernour departed from Cutifa-Chiqui to seeke the Prouincc of Co<ja;
and what happened vnto him in the way.

THe Gouernour departed from Cutifa-Chiqui the third day of May. And because the
Indians had reuolted, and the will of the Ladie was perceiued, that if she could, she would
depart without giuing any guides or men for burdens, for the wrongs which the Christians
had done to the Indians : ( for there neuer want some among many of a base sort, that for a
little gaine doe put themselues and others in danger of vndoing. ) The Gouernour com-
manded her t& be kept in safegard, and carried with him, not with so good vsage as she
deserued for j' good wil she shewed, and good entertainement that she had made him. And he
verified that old prouerb which saith ; For weldoing I receiue euill. And so he carried heron
foot with his bondwomen to looke vnto her. In all the townes where the Gouernour passed,
the Ladie commanded the Indians to come and carrie the burdens from one towne to another.
We passed through her Countrie an hundred leagues, in which, as we saw, she was much
obeyed. For the Indians did all that she commanded them with great efficacie and diligence.
Peter the youth that was our guide, said, that she was not the Ladie her selfe, but a neece
of hers, which came to that towne to execute certaine principal men by commandement of
the Ladie, which had withheld her tribute : which words were not beleeued, because of the
lies which they had found in him before : but they bare with all things, because of the need
which they had of him, to declare what the Indians said. In seuen daies space the Gouernour
Chaiaque Kuen came to a Prouittce called Chalaque, the poorest Country of Maiz that was scene in Florida.
Ine Indians ted vpon rootes anr i.erbes which they seeke in the helds, and vpon wild beasts,
which they kil with their bowes and arrowes : and it is a verie gentle people. All of them goe
naked, and are very leane. There w:is a Lord, which for a great present, brought the
Gouernour two Deeres skins : and there were in that Countrie many wild hennes. In one
towne they jjiade him a present of 700, hennes, and so in other townes they sent him those
which they had or could get. From this Prouince to another, which is called Xualla, he
spent fine daies : here he found very little Muiz ; and for this cause, though the people
were wearied, and the horses very weake, ' he staled no more but two daies. From
Ocute to Cutifa-chiqui, may bee some hundred and thirtie leagues, whereof 80. are wilder-
nesse. From Cutifa-chiqui to Xualla, two hundred and fiftie, and it is an hillie Countrie.
The. Gouernour departed from Xualla toward Guaxule: he passed very rough and hie hilles.
In that iouriiie, the Ladie of Cutifa-chiqui (whom the Gouernour carried with him, as is
afore .said, with purpose to carrie her to Guaxule, because her territorie reached thither)
going on a day with the bondwomen which lead her, went out of the way, and entred into a
wood, saying, she went to ease her selfe, and so she deceiued them, and hid her selfe in the
wood ; and though they sought her they could not find her. She carried away with her a
little chest made of canes in manner of a coffer, which they call Petaca, full of vnbored
perles. Some which could iudge of them, said, that they were of great value. An Indian
woman that waited on her did carrie them. The Gouernour not to discontent her altogether,
left them with her, making account that in Guaxule he would ask them of her, when he gaue
her leaue to returne : which coflTer she carried away, and went to Xualla with three slaues
which fled from the Campe, and one horseman which remained behind, who falling sicke of
an ague went out of the way, and was lost. This man, whose name was Alimamo.s, dealt with
the slaues to change their euill purpose, and returne with him to the Christians : which two
of them did ; and Alimamos and they ouertooke the Gouernour 50. leagues from thence in
a Prouince called Chiaha ; and reported how the Ladie remained in Xualla with a slaue of
Andrew de Vasconccllos, which would not come backe with them, and that of a certaintie

tht>v

dales iournie
from CuUfa<
Chiqui.

700. Mennts.

Xnnlla 5. daies
off:

Roo?h and
hie liilles.

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

they liueJ as man and wife together, and meant to goe botli to Ciitifa-chiqiii. Within Hue
daies the Gouernour came to Guaxule. The Indians there j;;tue him a present of 300. doggcs,
because they saw the Christians esteeme them, and sought them to feed on them : for among
them they are not eaten. In Guaxule, and all that way, was very little Maiz. The Gouern-
our sent from thence an Indian with a message to the Cacique of Chiahn, to desire him to
gather some Maiz thither, that lie might re»t r. 'ew daies in Chiaha. The Gouernour departed
from Guaxule, and in two daies iournie camr to a towne called Canasagua. There met him
on the way 20. Indians euery one loaden witl. a jasket ful of Mulberries : for there be many,
and those very good, from Cutifa-chiqui thither, and so forward in other Prouinces, and also
nuts and plummes. And the trees grow in the fields without planting or dressing them, and
are as big and as rancke, as though they grew in gardens digged and watered. From the
time that the Gouernour departed from Canasagua, hee iournied fine daies through a desert ;
and two leagues before hee came to Chiaha, there met him 15. Indians loaden with Maiz,
which the Cacique had sent ; and they told him on his behalfe, that he waited his comming
with 20. barnC'* full of it ; and farther, that himselfe, his Countrie, and subiects, & al things
els were at his seruice. On the 5. day of lune, the Gouernor entred into Chiaha : The
Cacique voided his owne houses, in which he lodged, & rcceiued him with much ioy, saying
these words following :

Mightie and excellent Lord, I hold my selfe for so happie a man, in that it hath pleased
your Lordship to vse me, that nothing could haue happened vnto me of more contentment,
nor that I would haue esteemed so much. From Guaxule your Lordship sent vnto me, that
I should prepare Maiz for you in this towne for two moneths : Here I haue for you 20.
barnes full of the choisest that in all the Countrie could be found. If your Lordship bee not
entertained by me in such sort, as is fit for so hie a Prince, respect my tender age, which
excuseth me from blame, and receiue my good will, which with much loyaltie, truth, and
sinceritie, I will alw?'3s shew in any thing, which shall concerne your Lordships seruice.

TheCoucrnor answered him, that he thanked him very much for his seruice and offer, and
that he would alwaies account him a"? his brother. There was in this towne much butter in
gourds melted like oile : they said it was the fat of bearea. There was found also great
store of oile of walnuts, which was cleare as butter, and of a good taste, and a pot full of
honie of bees, which neither before nor afterward was scene in ail the Countrie. The towne
was in an Island betweene two armes of a Riuer, and was seated nigh one of them. The
Riuer diuidetli it selfe into those two branches two crossebow shot aboue the towne, and
meeteth againe a league beneath the same. The plaine betweene both the branches is
sometimes one crosse-bow shot, sometimes two crossebow shot ouer. The branches are very
broad, and both of them may be waded ouer. There were all along them verie good mea-
dows, and manie fields sowne with Maiz. And because the Indians staied in their towne,
the Gouernour only lodged in the houses of the Cacique, and his people in the fields ;
where there was euer a tree, euerie one tooke one for himselfe. Thus the Camp lay sepa-
rated one from another, and out of order. The Gouernour winked at it, because the Indians
were in peace, and because it was very hot, and the people should haue suffered great ex-
tremitie, if it had not bin so. The horses came thither so weake, that for feeblenesse, they
were not able to carrie their masters : because that from Cutifa-chiqui, they alwaies trauelled
with very little proucnder, and were hunger-starued and tired euer since they came from the
desert of Ocute. And because the most of them were not in case to vse in battell, though
need should require, they sent them to feed in the night a quarter of a league from the
Camp. The Christians were there in great danger, because that if at this time the Indians
had set vpon them, they had been in eiiill case to haue defended themselues. The Gouernour
rested there thirtie daies, in which time, because the Countrie was very fruitfull, the horses
grew fat. At the time of his departure, by the importunitie of some, which would haue
more then was reason, hee demanded of the Cacique 30. women to make slaues of. Hee an-
swered that he would conferre with his chiefe men. And before hee returned an answere,
one night all of them with their wiues and children forsookc the towne, and fled away. The

4 Z next

daies off'.

C.in3Si.:in

t\\o djtfs lournir

oft-.

Great store of

Miillictrii.' trees

to in.ike iilke.

lunc $.

Chiaha fuie daies
iuurnie ofl^, and
50. leagues from
Xualla.

The fit of
beares.

Oile of Wal-
nuts.

Honie of Beet.
Chiaha seated in
an Island,

The desert of
Ocute, chap. 14.

30- Dales rest.

'i-r'ifi

I ;.,!

{' !

W:f y.

718

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The discouerie of Florida,

Cfrtiiine townes.

Mines of copper
and ^old in
tliisca tuward
tile North.

Hatchets of
coppti- liolding
gold.

Cliisca is di-
recrly Nonh
from Ciitila-
Chiq;ii, which is
witiiiti two dales
of Santa Helena.

Two Christians
sent from Chia-
ha to secke

Chisca.

Coite seueti
daits from
C'hiilu, chap. 14.

A wist strata-
leni.

next day the Gouernour purposing to goe to seeke them, the Cacique came vnto him, and
at his comming vsed these words vnto the Gouernour :

Mightie Lord, with shame and feare of your Lordship, because my subiects against my
win haue done amisse 'm absenting themselues, I went my way without your license ; and
knowing the errour which I haue committed, like a loyall subiect, I come to yeeld my selfe
into your power, to dispose of mee at your owne pleasure. For my subiects do not obey
mee, nor doe any thing but what an Vncle of mine commandeth, which gouerneth this Coun-
tric fcr me, vntill I be of a perfect age. If your Lordship will pursue them, and execute on
them th:it, whicli tor their disobedience they deserue, I will be your guide, since at this pre-
sent my fortune will n(it suffer me to pcrforme any more.

Presently the Gouernour with 30. horsemen, and as many footmen, went to seeke the In-
dians, and passing by some townes of the principall Indians which had absented them8elue9>
iiee nit and destroyed great fields of Maiz ; and went vp the Riuer, where the Indians were
in an Island, where the horsemen could not come at them. There he sent them word by an
InJian to reiurne to their towne and feare nothing, and that they should giue him men to
Carrie burdens, as al tho.se behind had done; for he would haue no Indian women, seeing
they were so loth to part with them. The Indians accepted his request, and came to the
Goiieriionr to excuse themsehies ; and so all of them returned to their towne. A Cacique of
a Pr uince called Coste, came to this towne to visit the Gouernour. After hee had ofl'ered
himscife, and passed with him some words of tendring his seruice and curtesie; the Gouern-
our asking him whether he had notice of any rich Countrie ? he said, yea: to wit, "that
toward the North, t!;ere was a Prouince named Chisca: and that there was a melting of
cv'fjper, and of another metall of the same colour, saue that it was finer, and of a farre more
perfect colour, and farre better to the sight ; and that they vsed it not so much, because it
was softer. And the selfe same thing was told the Gouernour in Cutifa-chiqui ; where we
saw some little hatchets of copper, which were said to haue a mixture of gold." But in that
part the Countrie w^is not well peopled, and they said there were mountaines, which the
horses could not passe:' and for that cause, the Gouernour would not goe from Cutifa-chiqui
directly thither : Arid hee made account, that trauelling through a peopled Countrie,
when his men and horses should bee in better plight, and hee were better certified of the
truth of the thing, he would returne toward it, by mountaines, and a better inhabited
Countrie, whereby hee might haue better passage. He sent two Christians from Chiaha
with certain Indians which knew the Countrie of Chisca, and the language thereof to view
it, and to make report of that which they should find i where he told them that he would
tarrie for them,

Chap. XVI.

How the Gouernor departeth from Chiaha, and at Ccste was in danger to haue
been slaine by the hands of the Indians, and by a stratageme escaped the same :
And what more happened vnto him in this iournie, and how he came to Co<ja.

WHen the Gouernour was determined to depart from Chiaha to Coste, he sent for the
Cacique to come before him, and with gentle words tooke his leaue of him, and gaue him
cerlaine things, wherewith he rested much contented : In seuen daies hee came to Coste.
The second of lulie he commanded his Campe to be pitched two crossebow shot from the
town : and with eight men of his guard he went where he found the Cacique, which to his
thinking receiued him with great loue. As hee was talking with him, there went from the
Campe certaine footemen to the towne to seeke some Maiz, and not contented with it, they
ransacked and searched the houses, and tooke what they found. With this despite the In-
dians began to rise and to take their armes : and some of them with cudgils in their hands,
ran vpon fine or sixe Christians, which had done them wrong, and beat them at their plea-
sure. The Gouernour seeing them al in an vprore, and himselfe among them with so few
Christians, to escape their hands vsed a stratagem, farre against his owne disposition, being,
as hee was, very francke and open : and though it grieued him very much that any Indian

should

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFTQUES, AND DISCOOERIES.

719

saith
, Tali, I. day
the from t'oitc.

should be so bold, as with reason, or without reason to despise the Christians, he tooke vp a
cudgel, and tooke their parts against his owne men ; which was a meanes to quiet them :
And presently he sent word by a man very secretly to the Campe, that some armed men
should come toward the place where he was ; and hee tooke the Cacique by the hand, vsing
very mild words vnto him, and with some principall Indians that did accompanie him, he
drew them out of the towne into a plaine way, and vnto the sight of the Campe, whither by
little and little with good discretion the Christians began to come and to gather about them.
Thus the Gouernour led the Cacique, and his chiefe men vntill he entred with them into the
Campe : and neere vnto his tent, hee commanded them to be put in safe custodie : and told
them, that they should not depart without giuing him a guide and Indians for burthens, and
till certaine sicke Christians were come, which he had commanded to come downe the Riuer
in canoes from Chiaha ; and those also which he had sent to the Prouince of Chisca: (for
they were not returned; and he feared that the Indians had slaine the one, and the other.)
Within three daies after, those which were sent to Chisca returned, and made report, that the Those wi.idi
Indians had carried them through a Countrie so poore of Maiz, and so rough, and ouer so s^^^'e cwsc"
high mountaines, that it was impossible for the armie to trauell that way ; and that seeing retui™. High
the way grew very long, and that they lingred much, they consulted to returne from a little ■""""'"'"■•
poore towne, where they saw nothing that was of any profit, and brought an oxe hide, which (^J^f'^""
the Indians gaue them, as thinne as a calues skinne, and the haire like a soft wool, betweene ^" "'"' ''''!.'
the course and fine wooU of sheepe. The Cacique gaue a guide, and men for burdens, and wLi! c,ip 16,
departed with the Gouernours leaue. The Gouernour departed from Coste the ninth of lulie, ^f^j^^ct".
and lodged at a towne called Tali : The Cacique came foorth to receiue him on the way, and J' cap.ii'j.
made this speech :

Excellent Lord and Prince, worthie to be serued and obeyed of all the Princes in
world ; howsoeuer for the most part by the outward physiognomic, the inward vertue may
bee iudged, and that who you are, and of what strength was knowne vnto mee before now :
I will not inferre hereupon how meane I am in your presence, to hope that my poore ser-
uices will bee gratefull and acceptable: since whereas strength faileth, the will doth notecase
to be praised and accepted. And for this cause I presume to request your Lordship, that
you will be pleased onely to respect the same, and consider wherein you will command my
seruice in this your Countrie.

The Gouernour answered him, that his good will and offer was as acceptable vnto him, as
if he had offered him all the treasures of the world, and that hee would alwaies intreale,
fauour, and esteeme him as if he were his owne brother. The Cacique commanded proui-
sion necessarie for two daies, while the Gouernour was there, to be brought thither: and at
the time of his departure, he gaue him foure women and two men, which hee had need of
to beare burthens. The Gouernour trauelled sixe daies througli many townes subiect to ^any towuc.
the Cacique of Coqa : & as he entred into his Countrie many Indians came vnto him eucry "f ^093,
day from the Cacique, and met him on the way with messages, one going, and another
comming. Hee came to Co^a vpon Friday, the 26. of lulie. The Cacique came foorth to Co^a.
receiue him two crossebow shot from the towne in a chaire, which his principall men
carried on their shoulders, sitting vpon a cushion, and couered with a garment of Marterns, Mattems.
of the fashion and bignes of a womans huke : hee had on his head a diadem of feathers,
and round about him many Indians playing vpon flutes, and singing. Assoone as he came
vnto the Gouernour, he did his obeysance, and vttered these words following :

Excellent and mightie Lord, aboue all them of the earth ; although I come but now to
receiue you, yet I haue receiued you many daies agoe in my heart, to wit, from the day
wherein I had first notice of your Lordship; with so great desire to serue you, with so
great pleasure and contentment, that this which I make shew of, is nothing in regard of
that which is in my heart, neither can it haue any kind of comparison. This you may hold
for certaine, that to obtaine the dominion of the whole world, would not haue reioyced me
so much, as your sight, neither would I haue held it for so great a felicitie. Doe not looke
for rae to offer you that which is your owne : to wit, my person, my lands and subiects :

4 Z 2 onely

i:-nt- '.'.

;, >,i

.fSS^

lih

' 'J

-- i', *

Kjrt i

i-i ■

Bjf l;l

ii^'l.::'.'

ilSli

|»l|: ;'.'('

^|i

720

The towne.

Many great
towncs.

Many |iluni-

trcfs of diners

sotts.

Two sorts of

srjpes.

lu. of August.

Tnllimuchase,
n great towne.
Ytaua.

A great Rlu^r.
VUibahali.

Vl!i!>aha:i
waited about.
The fas-hion of
their walles.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouerie of Florida,

onely I will busie my selfe in commanding my men with all diligence and due reuerence to
welcome you from hence to the towne with playing and singing, where your Lordship
shall be lodged and attended vpon by my selfe and them : and all that I possesse, your
Lordship shall vse as it were your owne. For your Lordship shall doe me a verie great
fauour in so doing.

The Gouernour gaue him thankes, and with great ioy they both went conferring together,
till they came to the towne : and he commanded his Indians to void their houses, wherein
the Gouernor and his men were lodged. There was in the barnes, and in the fields, great
store of Maiz and French Beanes : The Country was greatly inhabited with many great
townes, and many sowne fields, which reached from the one to the other. It was pleasant, fat,
full of good meadows vpon Riuers. There were in the fields, many Plum trees, asweil of
such as grow in Spaine, as of the Countrie : and wild tall vines, that runne vp the trees ;
and besides these, there were other low vines with big and sweet grapes ; but for want of
digging and dressing, they had great kirnels in them. The Gouernour vsed to set a guard
ouer the Caciques, because they should not absent themselues, and carried them with him,
till he came out of their Countries : because that carrying them along with him, he looked
to find people in the townes, and they gaue him guides, and men to carrie burdens : and
before hee went out of their Countries, he gaue them licence to returne to their house.s,
and to their porters likewise, assoone as he came to any other Lordship, where they gaue
him others. The men of Coqa seeing their Lord detained, tooke it in euill part, and
reuolted, and hid themselues in the woods, xswell those of the towne of the Cacique, a^
those of the other townes of his principall subiects. The Gouernour sent out foure Cap-
taines, cuery one his way to seeke them. They tooke many men and women, which were
put into chaines : They seeing the hurt which they receiued, and how little they gained in
absenting themselues, came againe, promising to do whatsoeuer they were commanded. Of
those which were taken prisoners, some principall men were set at libertie, whom the
Cacique demanded : and euery one that had any, carried the rest in chaines like slaues,
without letting them goe to their Countrie : neither did any returne, but some few, whose
fortune helped them with the good diligence which they vsed to file ofT their chaines by
night, or such as in their trauelling could slippe aside out of the way. seeing any negli-
gence in them that kept them: some escaped away with the chaines, and with the burdens,
and clothes which they carried.

Chap. XVII.

How the Gouernour went from Coqa to Tascaluca.

THe Gouernour rested in Co^a 25. daies. He departed from thence the 20. of August
to seeke a Prouince called Tascaluca : hee carried with him the Cacique of Coqa. He
pa«<ied that day by a great towne called Tallimuchase, the people were fled : he lodged
ha!fe a league farther neere a brooke. The next day he came to a towne called Ytaua,
subiect to Co^a. Hee staie.d there sixe daies because of a Riuer that passed by it, which at
that time was very hie; and assoone as the Riuer suffered him to passe, he set forward, and
lodged at a towne named VUibahali. There came to him on the way, on the Caciques
behalfe of that Prouince, ten or twelue principall Indians to ofTer him his seruice; all of
them had thoir plumes of feathers, and bowes and arrowes. The Gouernour comming to
the (owne with twelue horsemen, and some footemen of his guard, leaning his people a
crossehow shot from the towne, entrecl into it, hee found all the Indians with their
weapons : and as farre as he could ghesse, they seemed to haue some euill meaning. It
was knowne afterward, that they were determined to take the Cacique of Co^a from the
Gouernour, if hee had requested it. The Gouernour commanded all his people to enter tlie
towne, which was walled about, and neere vnto it passed a small Riuer. The wall, asweil
of that, as of others, which afterward wee saw, was of great po^ts thrust deepe into the
ground and very rough, and many long railes as big as ones arme laid acrosse between

them.

next adiorjning to Virginia. TIIAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

721

them, and the wall was aI)oiit the height of a lance, and it was daubed within and without
with clay, and had loope holes. On the otherside of the Riuer was a towne, where at that ^ "'*'"'•
present the Cacique was. The Gouerncur sent to call him, and hee came presently. After
he had passed with the Gouerncur some words of offering his seruices, he gaue him such
men for his cariages as he needed, and thirtie women for slaues. In that place wtfs a Cliris-
tian lost, called Man^ano, borne in Salamanca, of noble parentaj^e, which went astray to
secke for grapes, whereof there is great store, and those very good. The day that the [|,'^j'|,;'""j ""^
Goucrnour departed from thence, he lodged at a towne subiect to the Lord of Vllibahali : a towm.
and the next day hee came to another towne called Toasi. The Indians gaue the Goucrnour nvisi.
thirtie women, and such men for his cariages as he needed. Hee trauelled ordinarily 5. or "^'""'^""■.''
6. leagues a day when he trauelled through peopled Countries: and going through deserts, °['s'i""'iJagut's
he marched as fast as he could, to eschew the want of Maiz. From Toasi, passing through ^''"J'-
some townes subiect to a Cacique, which was Lord of a prouince called Tallise, hee
trauelled (iue daies: He came to Tallise the 18. of September: The towne was great, and townT " ^" '
situated neere vnto a maine Riucr. On the other side of the Riuer were other townes, and Stptembtr i8.
many fields sowne with Maiz. On both sides it was a very plentifull Countrie, and had
store of Maiz : they had voided the towne. The Gouernour commanded to call the Ca-
cique ; who came, and betweene them passed some words of loue and offer of his
seruices, and hee presented vnto him 40. Indians. There came to the Gouernour in this
towne a principall Indian in the behalfc of the Cacique of Tascaluca, and made this speech
following :

Mightie, vertuous, and esteemed Lord, the great Cacique of Tascaluca my Lord,
sendeth by me to kisse your Lordships hands, and to let you vnderstand, that he hath
notice, how you iustly rauish with your perfections and power, all men on the earth ; and
that euerie one by whom your Lordship passeth doth serue and obey you; which he acknow-
ledgeth to be due vnto you, and desireth, as his life, to see, and to serue your Lordship.
For which cause by me he offereth himselfe, his lands and subiects, that when your Lord-
ship pleaseth to go through his Countrie, you may be receiued with all peace and loue,
serued and obeyed ; and that in recompense of the desire he hath to see you, you will doe
him the fauour to let him know when you will come : for how much the sooner, so much
the greater fauour he shall receiue.

The Gouernour receiued and dispatched him graciously, giuing him beades, which among
them were not much esteemed, and some other thinges to carrie to his Lord, And he gaue
licence to the Cacique of Coqa to returne home to his owne Countries. The Cacique of
Tallise gaue him such men for burthens as he needed. And after he had rested there 20.
daies, hee departed thence toward Tascaluca. That day when hee went from Tallise, hee
lodged at a great towne called Casiste. And the next day passed by another, and came to Casisw a grtai
a small towne of Tascaluca; and the next day hee camped in a wood two leagues from thcTrscaiuw.
towne where the Cacique resided, and was at that time. And he sent the Master of the
Camp, Luys de Moscoso, with 15. horsemen, to let him know how hee was comming.
The Cacique was in his lodgings vnder a Canopie : and without doores, right against his
lodgings, in an high place, they spread a mat for him, & two cushions one vpon another,
where he sat him downe, and his Indians placed themselues round about him, somewhat
distant from him, so that they made a place, and a void roome where he sate : and his
chiefest men were neerest to him, and one with a shadow of Deeres skinne, which keept
the Sunne from him, being round, and of the bignes of a target, quartered with black and
white, hauing a rundell in the middest: a farre off it seemed to be of taffata, because ^
colours were very perfect. It was set on a small staffe stretched wide out. This was the
deuice which hee carried in his warres. Hee was a man of a very tall stature, of great
limmes, and spare, and well proportioned, and was much feared of his neighbours and
subiects. He was Lord of many territories and much people : In his countenance hee was
very graue. After the Master of the Campe had spoken with him, he and those that went
with him coursed their horses, pransing them to and fro, and now and then toward the

place

.~.M^ 'J

illii'r!

rsa

;v 1

I'i.iclie.

A ^reat Riuer.

Mauilla.

1 8. Of October.

Mauilla walled.

J. Mantles of
Maitcriis,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discoucric of Florida,

pince where the Cacique was, who with much grauitie and dissimulation now and then lifted
vp his eics, and beheld them as it were with disdaine. At the Gouernours comming, hee
made no offer at all to rise. The Gouernonr tooke him by the hand, and both of them sat
downe together on a seate which was vnder the cloth of. estate. The Cacique said these
words vnto him ;

Mighty Lord, I bid your Lordship right hartily welcome. I receiue as much pleasure
and contentment with your sight, as if you were my brother whom I dearly loued : vpon
this point it is not needfull to vse many reasons; since it is no discretion to speake that in
many wordes, which in few may be vttered. How much the greater the will is, so much
more giueth it name to the workes, and the workes giue testimonie of the truth. Now
touching my will, by it you shall know, how certaine & manifest it is, and how pure incli-
nation 1 haue to serue you. Concerning the fauour which you did me, in the things which
you sent me, I make as much account of them as is reason to esteeme them : and chiefly be-
cause they were yours. Now see what seruice you will command me.

The Gouemor satisfied him with sweet words, and with great breuitie. When hee de-
parted from thence he determined to Carrie him along with him for some causes, and at
two dales iournie hee came to a towne called Piache, by which thi-re passed a great Riuer.
The Gouernour demanded canoes of the Indians: they said, they had them not, but that
they would make rafts of canes and drie timber, on which he might passe well enough :
And they made them with all diligence and speed, and they gouerned them; and because
the water went very slow, the Gouernour and his people passed very well.

From the Port de Spirito Santo to Apalache, which is about an hundred leagues, the
Gouernour went from East to West : And from Apalache to Cutifa-chiqui, which are 430.
leagues, from the Southwest to the Northeast : and from Cutifa-chiciui to Xualla, which are
about two hundred and fiftie leagues, from the South to the North ; And from Xualla to
Tascaluca, which are two hundred and fiftie leagues more, an hundred and ninctie of them
he trauelled from East to West, to wit, to the Prouince of Co^a : and the other 60. from
Cofa to Tascaluca from the North to the South.

Hauing passed the Riuer of Piache, a Christian went from his companie from thence to
sceke a woman slaue that was runne away from him, and the Indians either tooke him
captiuc, or slue him. The Gouemor vrged the Cacique that he should giue account of
him, and threatened him, that if he were not found, he would neiier let him loose. The
Cacique sent an Indian from thence to Mauilla, whither they were trauelling, which was a
towne of a principall Indian and his subiect, saying, that he sent him to aduise them to
make rcadie victuals, and men for carriages. But, (as afterward appeared) hee sent him
to assemble all the men of warre thither, that hee had in his Countrie, The Gouernour
trauelled three;daies; and the third day he passed all day through a peopled Countrie: and
he came to Mauilla vpon Monday the 18. of October. He went before the Camp with 15.
horsemen and 30. footemen. And from the towne came a Christian, whom he had sent to
the principall man, three or foure dales before, because he should not absent himselfe, and
also to learne in what sort the Indians were : who told him that hee thought they were in an
euill purpose: for while hee was there, there came manie people into the towne, and many
weapons, and that they made great haste to fortifie the wall. Luys de Moscoso told the
Gouernour, that it would bee good to lodge in the field, seeing the Indians were of such
disposition : and hee answered, that he would lodge in the towne, for hee was wearie of
lodging in the field. When hee came neere vnto the towne, the Cacique came foorth to
receiue him with many Indians playing vpon flutes and singing : And after hee had offered
himselfe, hee presented him with three mantels of marterns. The Gouernour, with both
the Caciques, and seuen or eight men of his guard, and three or foure horsemen which alighted to
accompanie him, entrcd into the towne, and sat him downe vnder a cloth of e>tate. The
Cacique of Tascaluca requested him, that hee would let him reinaine in that towne, and
trouble him no more with trauelling: And seeing he would not giue him leaue, in his talke
he changed his purpose, and dissemblinglie fained that he would speake with some prin-
cipall

next adioi/ning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUEUIES. 723

cipall Indians, and rose vp from the place where hee sate with the Gouernoiir, and entred
^to a house, where many Indians were with their bowes and arrowcs. The Goucrnonr
when he saw he returned not, called him, and he answered, that he would not come out
from thence, neither would he goe any farther then that towne, and that if he would goe
his way in peace, hee sliould presently depart, and should not seeke to carrie him perforce
out of his Countrie and tcrritorie.

Chap. XVIII.
How the Indians rose against the Gouornour, and what ensued thereupon.
Tile Gouernour seeing the determination, and furious answcre of the Cacique, went about
to puifie him with faire words: to which he gnue no an><wcre, but rather with much pride
and disdaine, withdrew himselfe where the Goucrnor might not see him, nor speake with
him. As a princi|)all Indian pa«sed that way, the Goucrnor called him, to send him word,
that hee might rcmaine at his pleasure in his Countrie, and that it would please him to giue
him a guide, and men for carriages to see if he could pacific him with mild words. The
Indians answered with great pride, that hee would not hearken vnto him. B;iltasar de Gal-
legds, which stood by, tooke hold of a gowne of marterns which hee had on; and hee cast 'JJJ°^"^JJ^"'*'
it ouer his head, and left it in his hands : and because all of them immediatly began to
stirre, Bnltasar de Gallegos gaue him such a wound with his coutilas, that hee opened him
downe the backe,and presently all the Indians with a great crie came out of the houses shoot-
ing their arrowes. The Gouernour considering, that if hee tarried there, hee could not escape,
and if hee commanded his men to come in, which were without the towne, the Indians within
the houses might kill their horses, an! doe much hurt, ranne out of the towne, and before
hee came out, hee fell twice or thrice, and those that were with him did helpe him vp
againe ; and he and those that were with him were sore wounded : and in a mo-
ment there were fiue Christians slaine in the towne. The Gouernour came running out of the
towne, crying out, that euery man should stand farther off, because from the wall they did
them much hurt. The Indians seeing that the Christians retired, and some of them, or the
most part, more then an ordinary pase, shot with great boldnesse at them, and strooke downe
such as they could ouertake. The Indians which the Christians did lead with them in chaines,
had laid downe their burthens ncere vnto the wall : and assoone as the Gouernour and his
men were retired, the men of Manilla laid them on the Indians backs againe, and„tooke them
into the towne, and loosed them presently from their chaines, and gaue them bowes and ar-
rowes to fight withall. Thus they possessed themselues of al the clothes and perles, and all ;|^Vp«i«'of the
that the Christians had, which thijir slaues carried. And because the Indians had been al- christians were
waies peaceable vntill wee came to this place, some of our men had their weapons in their '°""
fardels and remained vnarmed. And from others that had entred the towne with the Gouern-
our they had taken swords and halebards, and fought with them. When the Gouernour was
gotten into the field, hee called for an horse, and with some that accompanied him, hee re-
turned and slew two or three Indians : All the rest retired themselues to the towne, and shot
with their bowes from the wall. And those which presumed of their nimblenes, sallied foorth
to fight a stones cast from the wall : And when the Christians charged them, they retired
themselues at their leasure into the towne. At the time that the broile began, there were in
the towne a Frier, and a Priest, and a seruant of the Gouernour, with a woman slaue : and
they had no time to come out of the towne : and they tooke an house, and so remained in
the towne. The Indians beeing become Masters of the place, they shut the doore with a
field gate: and among them was one sword which the Gouernors seruant had, and with it he
set himselfe behind the doore, thrusting at the Indians which sought to come into them : and
the Frier and the Priest stood on the other side, each of them with a barre in their hands to
beate him downe that first came in. The Indians seeing they could not get in by the doore,
began to vncouer the house top. By this time, all the horsemen and footemen which were
behind, were come to Mauilla. Here there were sundrie opinions, whether they should charge
the Indians to enter the towne, or whether they should leaue it, because it was hard to enter :
and in the end it was resolued to set vpon them.

Chap«

724

A consultation
tifihf Indi.'iis to
send a\v,iy thi'ir
Caciijui;.

Tlie death of
3j00. Indims.

The Port of

Ochiisc sixe
dales iournie
from Mauillii.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discoucrie of Florida.

Chnp. XIX.

How t\\e Goucrnour set his men in order, and entred the townc of Matiiila.

ASsooneas tiie battel! and the rercward were come to Afauiila, the Gouernour commanded
all those that were bent armed to alight, and made foure squadrons of footmen. The Indians,
secinff how he was setting; his men in order, concluded with the Cacique, that hec should
goe his way, saying vnto him, as after it was knowne by certaiiie women that were taken
there, that he was but one man, and could fight hut for one man, and that they had there
among them many principall Indians verie valiant and ex))ert in feates of armes, that any one
of them was able to order the people there; and forasmuch as matters of warre were subiect
to easualtie, and it was vncertaine which part should ouercome, they wished him to saue him-
selfe, to theend, that if it fcl out that they should end their dales there, as they determined,
rather then to be ouercome, there might rcmaine one to gouerne the Countrie. For all this
hce would not hauc gon away : but they vrged him so much, that with lifteene or twentie
Indians of his owne, hee went out of the towne, and c;irried away a skarlat cloke, and other
things of the Christians goods ; as much as hee was able to carrie, and seemed best vnto
him. The Gouernour was informed how there went men out of the towne, and hee com-
manded the horsemen to beset it, and sent in euery squadron of footcmen one souldier with
a firebrand to set fire on the houses, that the Indians might haue no defense : all his men be-
ing set in order, hee commanded an harcubiiz to bee shot ofT. The signe being giuen, the
foure squadrons, euery one by it selfe with great furie, gaue the onset, and with great hurt
on both sides they entred the towne. The Frier and the Priest, and those tiiat were with them
in the house were saued, which cost tiic Hues of two men of account, and valiant, which
came thither to succour them. The Indians fought with such courage, that many times they
draue our men out of the towne. The fight lasted so long, that for wearinesse and great
thirst many of the Christians went to a poole that was neere the wal, to drink, which was
all stained with the blood of the dead, and then came againe to fight. The Gouernour see-
ing this, entred among the footemen into the towne on horseback, with certaine that accom-
panied him, and was a meane that the Christians came to set fire on the houses, and brake and
ouercame the Indians, who running out of the towne from the footemen, the horsemen with-
out draue in at the gates again, where being without all hope of life, they fought valiantly,
& after the Christians came among the to handy blowes, seeing themselues in great distresse
without any succour, many of them fled into the burning houses, where one vpon another
they were smothered and burnt in the fire. The whole number of the Indians that died in
this towne, were two thousand and fine hundred, little more or lesse. Of the Christians
there died eighteene ; of which one was Don Carlos, brother in law to the Gouernour, and
a nephew of his, and one lohn de Gamez, and Men Rodriguez Portugals, and lohn Vasquez
de Villanoiia de Barca Rota, all men of honotir, and of mnch valour : the rest were foote-
men. Besides those that were slaine, there were an hundred and fiftie wounded with 700.
wounds of their arrowes : and it pleased God that of very dangerous woiuids they were quickly
healed. Moreouer, there were twelue horses slaine, and seuentie hurt. All the clothes
which the Christians carried with them to clothe themselues withall, and the ornaments to
say Masse, and the perles, were all burnt there: and the Christians did set them on fire
themselues ; because they held for a greater inconuenience, the hurt which the Indians might
doe them from those houses, where they had gathered all those goods together, then the
losse of them. Here the Gouernour vnderstood, that Francisco Maldonado waited for him
at the Port of Ochuse, and that it was sixe dales iournie from thence; and he dealt with lohn
Ortiz to keepe it secret, because he had not accomplished that which he determined to doe ;
and because the perles were burnt there, which he meant to haue sent to Cuba for a shew,
that the jjenple hearing the newes, might be desirous to ome to that Countrie. He feared
also, that if they should haue newes of him without seeir ( from Florida neither gold nor
sillier, nor any thing of value, it would get such a name, that no man would secke to goe

thither

1 't

-'Life J

next adioj/ning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES. 725

thither, when he should hauc neede of people. And so he determined to send no ncwcs of
himsflfe, vntill hee had found some rich Countrie.

Chap. XX.

How the Goucrnour departed from Mauilla toward Chica;a, and what happened

vnto him.

FRom the time that the Gouernour entred into Florida, vntill his departure Trom Nfauilla,
there died an hundred and two Christians, some of sicknesse, and others which the Indians
slew. He staled in Mauilla, because of the wounded men, eight and twentie daies : all
which time he lay in the field. It was a well inhabited and a fat Countrie, there were some
great Sc walled townes : and many houses scattered all about the fields, to wit, a crossebow "jfiVd'totnci.
shot or two, the one from the other. Vpon Sonday, the eighteenth of Nouember, when iii.of Nouem-
the hurt men were knowne to bee healed, the Gouernour departed from Mauilla. Eucry one*"'-
furnished himselfc with Maiz for two daies, and they trauelled fine daies through a desert :
they came to a Prouince called Pafullaya, vnto a towne, named Taliepataua : and from thence T'l'tp""""'
they went to another, called Cabusto : neere vnto it ran a great Kiuer. The Indians on the Ciiuuo.
other side cried out, threntning the Christians to kill them, if they sought to passe it. The '^""
Gouernour commanded his men to make a barge within the towne, because the Indians should
not pcrceiiie it: it was finished in fourc daies, and being ended, he commanded it to be
carried one night vpon sleds halfe a league vp the Riuer. In the morning there entred into
it thirtie men well armed. The Indians perceiued what was attempted, and those which were
ueerest, came to defend the passage. They resisted what they could, till the Christians came
neere them ; and seeing that the barge came to the shore, they fled away into the groues ofCtniu«rait,.
canes. The Christians mounted on horsebacke, and went vp the Riuer to make good the
passage, whereby the Gouernour and his companie passed the Riuer. There were along the
Riuer some townes well stored with Maiz and French Beanes. From thence to Chicaqa the^™'""*""'
Gouernour trauelled fine daies through a desert. Hee came to a Riuer, wliere on the other- a Riuer.
side were Indians to defend the passage. He made another barge in two daies ; and when it
was finished, the Gouernour sent an Indian to request the Cacique to accept of his friendship,
and peaceably to expect his comming: whom the Indians that were on the other side the
Riuer slew before his Hice, and presently making a great shout went their way. Hauing
passed the Riuer, the next day, being the 17. of December, the Gouernour came to Chicaga, °^?.*|"J*""'
a small towne of twentie houses. And after they were come to Chicacja, they were much
troubled with cold, because it was now winter and it snowed, while most of them were lodged Simw and mucu
in the field, before they had time to make themselues houses. This Countrie was very well "
peopled, and the houses scattered like those of Mauilla, fat and plcntifull of Maiz, and the
most part of it was fielding : they gathered as much ns sufficed to passe the winter. Some
Indians were taken, among which was one whom the Cacique esteemed greatly. The Go-
uernour sent an Indian to signifie to the Cacique, that he desired to sec him and to haue his
friendship. The Cacique came vnto him, to offer him his person, Countrie and subiects,
and told him, that he would cause two other Caciques to come to him in peace ; who within
few daies after came with him, and with their Indians : The one was called Alimamu, the
other Nicalasa. They gaue a present vnto the Gouernour of an hundred and fiftie conies, Conie:.
and of the Countrie garments, to wit, of mantles and skinnes. The Cacique of Chicaga
came to visit him many times ; and sometimes the Gouernour sent to call him, and sent him
a horse to goe and come. He complained vnto him, that a subiect of his was risen against
him, and depriued him of his tribute, requesting his aide against him, for hee meant to
seeke him in his Countrie, and to punish him according to his desert. Which was nothing
els but a fained plot. For they determined, assoone as the Gouernour was gone with him, ■*" '"'"" ""•
and the Campe was diuided into two parts, the one part of them to set vpon the Gouernour,
and the other vpon them that remained in Chicaga. Hee went to the towne where he vsed
to keepe his residence, and brought with him two hundred Indians with their bowes and ar-

5 A rowcs.

726

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The dttcoutrie qf Florida,

ill',, \

Vji ; ■

rov/t*. The Gouernour tooke thirtic horsemen, and eightic footemen, and they «vent to
8«)ucchuma. Saquechiima (for «o was the Prouince called of that chiefe man, which he said had rebelled.)
A wiUed lownt, xhey found a walled towne, without any men : and thone which went with the Cacique net
fire on the houses, lo dissemble their treason. But by reason of the great care and heedliil-
nense, that was as well in the Gouernours people which hee carried with him, as of those
which remained in Chica<;a, tliey durst not assault them at that time. The Gouernour inuited
the Cacique, and cerlainc principall Indians, and gaue them hogges flesh to eate. And
though they did not commonly vse it, yet they were so greedie of it, that euerynij»ht there
came Indians to certaine houses a crosscbow shot from the Camp, where the hogges lay, and
killed, and carried away as many as they could. And three Indians were taken in the manner.
Two of thtm the Gouernor commanded to be shot to death with arrowes ; and to cut oH" the
hands of the other ; & he sent him ho handled to the Cacique. Who made as though it
gricued him y they had offended the Gouernor, and that he was glad that he had executed that
punishment on them. He lay in a plaine Countrie half a league from the place, where the
Christians lodged. Foure horsemen went a straggling thither, to wit, Francisco Osorio, and
a scruant of the Marques of Astorga called Rcynoso, and two seruants of the Gouernour,
the one his page called Ribern, and the other Fuentes his Chambcrlaine : and these had taken
from the Indians some skinnes, and some mantles, wherewith they were offended, and for-
sooke their houses. The Gouernour knew of it, and commanded them to bee apprehended ;
and condemned to death Francisco Osorio, and the Chamberlainc as principals, and al of them
to losse of goods. The Friers and Priests and other principall persons were earnest with him
to pardon Francisco Osorio his life, & to moderate his sentence, which hee would not grant
for any of them. While he was readie to command them (o be drawne to the market place
to cut ofl" their heads, there came certaine Indians from the Cacique to complaine of them,
lohn Oriiz, at the request of Baltasar de Gallegos atid other persons, changed their words,
and told the Gouernour, that the Cacique said he had notice how his Lordship held those
Christians in prison for his sake, and that they were in no fault, neither had they done him
any wrong, and that if he would do him any fauour he would set them free. And he told
the Indians ; That the Gouernour said, he had them in prison, & that he would punish them
in such sort, that they should bee an example to others. Hereupon the Gouernour com-
manded the prisoners to be loosed. Assoone as March was come, hee determined to depart
from Chicaga, and demanded of the Cacique two hundred men for cartages. He sent him
answere, that hee would speake with his principall men. Vpon Twesday the eight of March,
the Gouernour went to the towne where he was, to aske him for the men : Hee told him, he
would send them the next day. Assoone as the Gouernour was come to Chica^a, he told
Luys de Moscoso the Camp-master, that hee misliked the Indians, and that he should keepe
a strong watch that night, which hee remembred but a little. The Indians came at the second
watch in foure squadrons, euery one by it selfe, and assoone as they were descried, they
sounded a drum, and gaue the assault with a great cry, and with so great celeritie, that pre-
sently they entred with the scoutes, that were somewhat distant from the Campe. And when
they were perceiued of them which were in the towne, halfe the houses were on fire, which
they had kindled. That night three horsemen chanced to bee skouts, two of them were of
base calling, and the worst men in all the Camp, and the other, which was a nephew of the
Gouernour, which vntili then was held for a tall man, shewed himselfe there as great a cow-
ard, as any of them : for all of them ran away. And the Indians without any resistance
came and set the towne on fire ; and taried without behind the doores for the Christians,
which ran out of the houses, not hauing any leasure to arme themselues ; and as they ran
hither and thither amazed with the noise, and blinded with the smoke & flame of the fire,
they knew not which way they went, neither could they light vpon their weapons, nor saddle
their horses, neither saw they the Indians that shot them. Manie of the horses were burned
in the stables, and those which could breake their halters gat loose. The disorder and flight
was such, that euery man fled which way he could, without leaning any to resist the Indians.
But God, (which chastiseth his according to his pleasure, and in the greatest necessities and

dangers

March, IJ41.

Chicafa set on
file by the

;'i,j"''' jj

||;-|

'•iV <^ Florida,

next ndhtjnlmy to Vlrfiinia. TRAFFiaUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

787

danger* susfnineth them wilh his hand,) so blinded the Indians, that they 8aw not what they
had done, and thought that the horses which ran loose, were men on horsebatkc, that ga-
thered themscliies together to set vpon them. The Gouernoiir only rod on horsebacke, and
with him asouldier railed Tapia, and set vpon the Indians, and striking the first he met with
his lance, the saddle fell with him, which with haKtc was euill girded, and so hee Tell Trom
his horse. And all the people that were on foote were fled to a wood out of the towne, and
there assembled thcmselucs together. And because it was night, and that the Indians thought
the horses were men on horsebacke which came to set vpon them, as I said before, they fled ;
and one onely remained dead, and that was he whom the Gouernour slew with his lance. The
towne lay all burnt to ashes. There was a woman burned, who, after shee and her husband
were both gone out of their house, went in againe for certaine perles, which they had for-
gotten, and when she would haue come out, the (ire was so great at the doore that shee could
not, neither could her husband succour her. Other three Christians came out of their lodg-
ings so cruelly burned, that one of them died within three dales, and the other two were
carried many dales each of them vpon a couch betwcene staues, which the Indians carried
on their shoulders, for otherwise they could not trauell. There died in this hurliburlie eleucn
ChriHtians, and fiffic horses ; and there remained an hundred hogges, and foure hundred were The increiie m
burned. If any perchance had saucd any clothes from the fire of Manilla, here they were"^"^'"'
burned, and many were clad in skinnes, for they had no leasure to take their coates. They
endured much cold in this place, and the chicfest remedie were great fires. They spent all
night in turnings without sleepe : for if they warmed one side, they freesed on the other.
Some inuented the weaning of certaine mats of drie iuie, & did weare one beneath, and
another abouc : many laughed at this deuice, whom afterward necessitic inforced to doe the
like. The Christians were so spoiled, and in such want of saddles & weapons which were
burned, that if the Indians had come the second night, they had ouercome them with little
labour. They remooued thence to the towne where the Cacique was wont to lie, because itThetuwne
was in a champion countrie. Within eight dales after, there were many lances and saddles "iq"/iay.
made. There were aiih trees in those parts, whereof they made as good l.nnccs as in Biscay. Aiiiuces.

Chap. XXI.

How the Indians set againe vpon the Christians, and how the Gouernour went to
Alimanni, beyond which towne in warlike sort they tarried for him in the way.

VPon Wednesday the 15. of March 1541. after the Gouernour had lodged 8. dales in a
plaine, halfe a league from the place which he had wintered in, after he had set vp a forge,
and tempered the swords which in Chicacja were burned, and made many targets, saddles,
and lances, on Tuesday night, at the morning watch, many Indians came to assault the Campe
in three squadrons, euery one by themselues : Those which watched gauc the alarmc. The
Gouernour with great speed set his men in order in other three squadrons, and leaning some
to defend the Campe, went out to incounter them. The Indians were ouercome and put to
flight. The ground was champion and fit for f Christians to take the aduantage of them ;
and it was now breake of day. But there happened a disorder, whereby there were not past
thirtie or fortie Indians slaine : and this it was : that a Frier cried out in the Campe without
any iust occasion, To the Campe, To the Campe: Whereupon the Gouernour and all the rest
repaired thither, and the Indians had time to saue themselues. There were some taken, by
whom the Gouernour informed himselfe of the Countrie, through which hee was to passe.
The 25. of Aprill, he departed from Chicaqa, and lodged at a small towne called Alimamu. ij^of Apriu.
They had very little Maiz, and they were to passe a desert of seuen dates iournie. The next ^'""*'""-
day, the Gouernour sent three Captaines euerie one his way with horsemen and footemen to
seeke prouision to passe the desert. And lohn Dannusco the Auditor went with fifteene
horsemen, and 40. footemen that way that the Gouernour was to goe, and found a strong
fort made, where the Indians staied for him, and many of them walked on the top of it with
their weapons, hauing their bodies, thighes and armes okered and died with blacke, white, °jfio'j,°'Jj')'i

5 A 3 yellow llhut^"

728

A desert of

sei'cn dales.

A towne of
<^izquix.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouerie of Florida.

yellow and red, striped like vnto paincs, so that they shewed as though they went in hose
and doublets : and some of them had plumes, and others had homes on their heads, and their
faces blacke, and their eies done round about with strakes of red, to seeme more fierce. As-
soone as they saw that the Christians approched, with a great eric sounding two drummea
with great furie they sallied foorth to receiue them. lohn t)annusco and those that were with
him, thought good to auoid them, and to acquaint the Gouernour therewith. They retired
to a phiine place, a crosscbowshot from the fort in sight of it, the footemen, the crosscbow-
men, and targctters placed themselues before the horsemen, that they might not hurt the
horses. The Indians sallied out by seuen and seuen, and eight and eight to shoote their ar-
rowes, and retired againe : and in sight of the Christians they made a (ire, and tooke an In-
dian, some by the feete, and some by the head, and made as though they went to cast him into
the fire, and gaue him first many knocks on the head : signifying, that they meant so to handle
the Christians. lohn Danusco sent three horsemen to aduertise the Gouernour hereof. He
came picsently : for his intent was to driue them from thence, saying, that if he did it not,
they would be emboldned to charge him another time, when they might doe him more harme.
He made the horsemen to alight, and set his men in foure squadrons : The signe being giuen,
they set vpon the Indians, which made resistance till the Christians came neere the fort, and
assoone as they saw they could not defend theselues, by a place where a brooke passed neere
the fort, they ran away, and from the otherside they shot some arrowes : and because at that
instant we knew no ford for the horses to passe, they had time enough to get out of our
danger. Three Indians were slaine there, and many Christians were hurt, whereof within
few daies, there died fifteene by the way. All men thought the Gouernour to bee in fault,
because he sent not to see the disposition of the place on the other' side of the Riuer, and
to know the passage before hee set vpon them. For with the hope they had to saue them-
selues by flight that way, when they saw none other mcanes, they fought til they were
broken, and it was an incouragemetit to defend themselues vntill then, and to ofTend the
Christians without any danger to themselues.

Chap. XXII.

How the Gouernour went from Alimamu to Quizquiz, and from thence to Rio

Grande, or the great Riuer.

THree daies aft«r they had sought some Maiz, whereof they found but little store, in regard
of that which was needfull, and that for this cause, as well for their sakes that were wounded,
it was needfull for them to rest, as for the great iournie they were to march to come where
store of Maiz was: yet the Gouernour was inforced to depart presentlie toward Quizquiz.
He trauelled seuen daies through a desert of many marishes and thicke woods : but it might
all be trauelled on horseback, except some lakes which they swamme ouer. Hee came to a
towne of the Prouince of Quizquiz without being descried, and tooke all the people in it
before they came out of their houses. The mother of the Cacique was taken there : and he
sent vnto him hy a.i Indian, that he should come to see him, and that he would giue him his
mother, and al the people which he had ttVen there. The Cacique sent him answere againe,
that his Lordship should loose and send them to him, and that he would come to visit and
scrue him. The Gouernour, because his people for want of Maiz were somewhat weake and
wcarie, and the horses also wer° leane, determined to accomplish his request, to see if hee
could haue peace with him, and so commanded to set free his mother and all the rest, and
with louing words dismissed them and sent them to him. The next day, when the Gouer-
nour expected the Cacique, there came many Indians with their bowes and arrowes with a
purpose to set vpon the Christians. The Gouernor had commanded all the horsemen to be
armed, and on horsebacke, and in a readines. When the Indians saw that they were readie,
they staled a crossebowe shot from the piace where the Gouernour was neere a brooke. And
after halfe an houre that they had stood there stil, there came to the Camp sixe principall
Indians, and said, they came to sec what peojtle they were, and that long agoe, they had

been

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

729

been informed by their forefathers, " That a white people should subdue them: and thatAnoidfro-
" therefore thev would returne to their Cacique, and bid him come presently to obey and ''''"""
" serue the Gouernour :" and after they had presented him with sixe or scuen skinnes and
mantles which they brought, they tooke tlieir leaue of him, and returned with the other,
which waited for them by the brookeside. The Cacique neuer came againe nor sent other
message. And because in the towne where the Gouernour lodged, there was small store
of Maiz, he remo(>ued to another halfe a league from Rio Grande, where they fmnd plentie r""'/!" '™"'''
ofMaiz: And he went to see the Riuer, and found, that neere vnto it was great store of Ril.dcK^^Jiu,
timber to make barges, and good situation of ground to incampe in. Presently he remooued ^'""'"
himselfe thither. They made houses, and pitched their Campe in a plaine field a crossehow
shot from the Riuer. And thither was gathered all the Maiz of tl>e townes, which they had
lately passed. They began presently to cut and hew down timber, and to saw plankes for
barges. The Indians came presently down the Riuer: thev leaped on shore, and declared
to ^ Gouernor, That they were gubiects of a great Lord, whose name was Aquivo, who was Aquivo, ,i great
Lord of many townes, and gouerned many people on the other side of the Riuer, and came vvlstl^JcofRio
to tell him on his behalfe, that the next day he with al his men would come to see. what itt'"'"''-
would please him to command him. The next day with speed, the Cacique came with twoTwohunared
hundred canoes full of Indians with their bnwes and arrowcs, painted, and with great plumes""""'
of white feathers, and many other colours, with shields in their hands, wherewith they de-
fended the rowers on both sides, and the men of warre stood from the head to the sterne,
with their bowes and arrowes in their hands, The canoe wherein the Cacique was, had a
tilt oner the sterne, and hce sate vnder the tilt ; and so were other ca"ocs of the principall
Indians. And from vnder the tilt where the chiefe man sat, hee gouerntd and commanded
the other people. All ioyned together, and came within a stones cast of the shore. From
thence the Cacique said to the Gouernour, which walked along t' Riucrs side with others
that waited on him, that he was come thither to visit, to honour, and lo obey him ; because
he knew he was the greatest and mightiest Lord on the earth : ther»;fore he would sec what
he would command him to doe. The Gouernour yeelded him thankes, and requested him
to come on shore, that they might the better communicate together. And without any answere
to that point, hee sent him three canoes, wherein was great store offish and loaues, made ofpru",es.""'''°^
the substance of prunes like vnto brickes. After he had receiued al, he thanked him, and
prayed him againe to come on shore. And because the Caciques purpose was, to see if with
dissimulation he might doe some hurt, when they saw that the Gouernour and his men were in
readinesse, they began to goe from the shore : and with a great crie, the crossebowmen which
were ready, shot at them, and slue fine or sixe of them. They retired with great order :
none did leaue his oare, though the next to him were slaine ; and shielding themsclues, they
went farther oflf! Afterward they came many times and landed : and when any of vs came
toward them, they fled ViUo their canoes, which were verie pleasant to behold : for they were Goodly great
very great and well made, and had their tilts, plumes, paueses, and flagges, and with the"""*''
multitude of people that were in them, they seemed to be a faire armie of gallies. In thir-
tie dayes space, while the Gouernour remained there, they made foure barges: In three of ^^'^'^''"6"
which hce commanded twelue horsemen to enter, in each of them foure ; in a morning, three
houres before day, men which hee trusted would land in despight of the Indians, and make
sure the passage, or die, and some footemen being crossebowmen went with them, and
rowers to set them on the other side. And in the other barge he commanded lohn de Guz-
man to passe with the footemen, which was made Captaine in stead of Francisco Maldonado.
And because the streame was swift, they went a quarter of a league vp the Riuer along the
bancke, and crossing ouer, fell downe with the streame, and landed right oner against
the Camp. Two stones cast before they came to land, the horsemen went out of the barges
on horsebacke to a sandie plot very hard and cleere ground, where all of them landed with-
out any resistance. Assoone as those that passed first, were on land on the other side, the They pissc ouer
barges returned to the place where the Gouernour was : and within two honres after Sunne-
rising, all the people were ouer. The Riuer was almost halfe a league broad. If a inan aimosthdiiT'

stood ^"i"" '"'"'*'■

;■ IIP'

m^\

m -

730

_, ,, ,„ , „,f ; , ,, '
Bf J'j" -vf ."■ ■

'"•if 'I

■■>

■?t

#■'=;■ -^

A tonne.

Picnha neere
vnto Chiscn.

Great towrcs.

1 he firrt tmvne
of Cafqui.

Anotlitr towne.

Walnut trees
wi>li soft thels.

M,my Mulher-
rie trees and
plum trees.

Many great
towncs*

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, Ttie discoueric of Florida,

stood still on the other side, it could not be discerned, whether he were a man or no.
The Riiier was of great depth, and of a strong current : the water was alwaics muddie : there
came downe the Riucr continually many trees and timber, which the force of the water
and strcame brought downe. There was great store of fish in it of sundric sorts, and the
most of it differing from the freshwater fish of Spaine, as hereafter shall be shewed.

Chap. XXIII.

IIow the Goucrnour departed from Aquixo to Casqui, and from thence to Pacaha':
and how tliis Countrie differeth from that which we had passed.

HAuing passed Rio grande, the Gouernour trauelled a league and an halfe, and came to a
great towne of Aquixo, which was dispeopled before hee came thither. They espied thirtie
Indians comming oucr a plaine, which the Cacique sent, to discouer the Christians deter-
mination : and assoone as they had sight of them, they tooke themselues to flight. The
horsemen pursued them, and slue tenne, and tooke fifteene. And because the towne,
whither the Gouernour went, was ncere vnto the Riuer, he sent a Captaine, with as many
men as he thought sufficient to carrie the barges vp the Riuer. And because in his trauelling
by land many times he went farre from the Riuer to compasse the crcekes tiiat came from it,
the Indians tooke occasion to set vpon them of the barges, and put them in great danger, be-
cause that by reason of the great current, they durst not leaue the shore, and from the bancke
they shot at them. Assoone as the Gouernour was come to the towne, hee presently sent
crossebow men downe the Riuer, which came to rescue them : and vpon the comming of the
barges to the towne, hee commanded them to bee broken, and to saue the iron for others,
when it .should bee need full. Hee lay there one night, and the day following, hee set for-
ward to seeke a Prouince, called Pacaha : which hee was informed ^o bee neere vnto Chisca,
where the Indians told him there was gold. lie passed through great townes of Aquixo, which
were all abandoned for feare of the Christians. Hee vnderstood by certaine Indians that
were taken, that three daies iournie from thence dwelt a great Cacique, whose name was
Casqui. Hee came to a small Riuer, where a bridge was made, by which they passed : that
day till Sunset, they went all in water, which in some places came to the waste, and in some
to the knees. When they saw themselues on dry land, they were very glad, because they
feared they should wander vp and downe as forlorne men al night in the water. At noone
they came to the first towne of Casqui : they found the Indians carelesse, because they had
no knowledge of them. There were many men and women taken, and store of goods, as
mantles and skinnes, as well in the first towne, as in another, which stood in a field halfe a
league from thence in sight of it ; whither the horsemen ran. This Countrie is higher, drier,
ami more champion, than any part bordering neere the Riuer, that vntill then they had
scene. There were in the fields many Walnut trees, bearing soft shelled Walnuts in fashion
like bullets, and in the houses they found many of them, which the Indians had laid vp in store.
The trees differed in nothing else from those of Spaine, nor from those which we had scene
before, but onely that they hauc a smaller leafe. There were many Mulberrie trees and
Plum trees, which bare red plums like those of Spaine, and other gray, somewhat differing,
but farre better. And all the trees are all the yeere so fruitful!, as if they were planted in
orchards: and the woods were verie thinne. The Gouernour trauelled two daies through the
Countrie of Casqui, before hee came to the towne where the Cacique was : and the most of the
way was alway by champion ground, which was full of great townes, so that from one towne,
you might see two or three. He sent an Indian to certifie the Cacique, that hee was comming to
the place where hee was, with intent to procure his friendship, and to hold him as his brother.
Whcreunto he ans\s'ered. That he .should be welcome, and that he would receiue him with
speciall good wil, and accomplish all that his Lordship would command him. Hee sent him
a present vpon the way ; to wit, skinnes, mantles, and fish : And after these complement.s,
the Gouernour found all the townes, as he pa.ssed, inhabited with people, which peaceablie
attended his comming, and offered him skinnes, mantles, and fish. The Cacique accom-
panied

h''=

M,„,.:u,

The chiefc

towne of the

C'ariquc of

next adUnjning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 731

panied with many Indians came out of the towne, and stated halff league on the way to
receiiie the Goiiernoiir, and when hee came to him, he spake these words following :

Right high, right mighty, and renowned Lord, your Lordship is most hartilie welcome.
Assoone as I had notice of your Lordship, of your power, and your perfections, although you
came into my Countrie, killing and taking captiucs the inhabitants thereof and my subiects:
yet I determined to conforme my will vnto yours, and as your owne to interpret in good part
all that your Lordship did : heieeuing, that it was conuenient it should be so for some iust
respect, to preuent some future matter reuealed vnto your Lordship, and concealed from me.
For well may a mischiefe be permitted to auoid a greater, and that good may come thereof:
which I beleeue will so fall out. For it is no reason to presume of .so excellent a Prince, that
the noblenesse of his heart, and the effect of his will would permit him to suffer any vniust
thing. My abilitie is so small to seme you as your Lordship deserueth, that if you respect
not mine abundant good will, which humblie ofl'ereth all kind of seruice, I deserue but little
in your presence. But if it bee reason that this be esteemed, receiue the same, my selfe,
my Countrie, and subiects for yours, and dispose of me and them at your pleasure. For if
I were Lord of all the world, with the same good will should your Lordship by me be receiued,
serued and obeyed.

The Gouernour answered him to the purpose, and satisfied him in few words. Within a
while after both of them vsed words of great offers & courtesie the one to the other, and the
Cacique requested him to lodge in his houses. The Gouernour, to preserue the peace the
better, excused himselfe, saying, that hee would lodge in the fields. And because it was
very hot, they camped neere cerfaine trees a quarter of a league from the towne. The Ca-
cique went to his towne, and came againe with many Indians singing. Assoone as they
came to the Gouernour, all of them prostrated themselues vpon the ground. Among these
came two Indians that were blind. The Cacitjue made a speech : to auoid tediousnesse, I Casnui.
will onely tell in few words the substance of the matter. Hee said, that seeing the Gouer-
nour was the sonne of the Sunne, and a great Lord, he besought him to doe him the faiiour
to giue sight to those two blind men. The blind men rose vp presently, and very earnestly
requested the same of the Gouernour. He answered. That in the high heauens was he that
had power to giue them health, and whatsoeuer they could aske of him, whose ser.. ant he
was : And that this Lord made the heauens and the earth, and man after his owne likene.sse,
and that he suffered vpon the crosse to saue mankind, and rose againe the third day, and that
he died as he was man, and as touching his diuinitie, he was, and is immortall ; and that he
ascended into heauen, where he standeth with his armes open to receiue all such as turne vnto
him : and straightway he commanded him to make a verie high crosse of wood, which was set
vp in the highest place of the towne ; declaring vnto him, that the Christians worshipped the
same in resemblance and memorie of that whereon Christ suffered. The Gouernour and his
men kneeled downe before if, and the Indians did the like. The Gouernour willed him, that
from thencefoorth hee should worship the same, and should aske whatsoeuer they stood in
need of, of that Lord that he told him was in heauen. Then he asked him how far it was
from thence to Pacaha : He said, one daies iournie, and that at the end of his Countrie, there
was a lake like a brooke which falleth into Rio Grande, and that hee would send men
before to make a bridge whereby he might passe. The same day that the Goneriiour de- a towne Wong,
parted thence, he lodged at a towne belonging to Casqui: and the next fiay hee passed in '"^'° ''"''"■
sight of other townes, and came to the lake, which was halfeacrossebow shot ouer, of a great Other towns.
depth and current. i\t the time of his comming, the Indians had made an end of the bridge,
which was made of timber, laid one tree after another : and on one side it had a course of
stakes higher then the bridge, for them that passed to take hold on. The Cacique of Casqui
came to the Gouernour, and brought his people with him. The Gouernour sent word by an
Indian to the Cacique of Pacaha, that though hee were enemie to the Cacique of Casqui, and
though hee were there, yet he would doe him no disgrace nor hurt, if he would atted him
peaceablie, and embrace his friendship ; but rather would intreate him as a brother. The
Indian, which the Gouernour sent, came againe, and said, that the Cacique made none
account of that which hee told him, but flee with all his men out at the other side of the

towne.

;i'!a

'X^m

-!«-. '■.

•' »

•ill

-HI

i: ;:

:32

mA^^

1^;!

it:

11'

Another towiie.

NT.nules,
Uetres skins,
l.lons skinnt'S,
He.in s skins,
anJC;us.->kinncs,

Targen i
(»xc liiJc:

tf raw

Vacab.i, a very
gicar towne be-
set with tOWLTS.

Great walled
townes.

Nets found.

The diners soru
of excellent ti^Ii
in Rio Grande.

Fir. or sixe
thcuund In-
dians.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouevie of Florida,

towne. Prescnflie the Gouernoiir entretl, and ran before with the horsemen, that way, by
which the Indians fled ; and at anotiier towne distant a quarter of a league from thence, they
tooke many Indians : and assoone as the horsemen had taken them, they deliuered them to
the Indians of Casqui, wliom, because they were their enemies, with much circumspection and
reioycino;, they brought to the towne where the Christians were : and the greatest gricfe they
had, was this, that they could not get leaue to kill them. There were found in the towne
many mantles, and Deere skinnes. Lions skins, and Beares skinnes, and many Cats skins.
Many came so farre poorely apparrellcd, and tliere they clothed themselues : of the mantles,
tliey made them cotes and cassocks, and some made gownes, and lined them with Cats skins ;
and likewise their cassocks. Of the Deeres skinnes, some made them also ierkins, shirts,
hose and shooes: and of the Beare skinnes, they made them verie good clokes: for no water
could pierce them. There were targets of raw oxe hides found there ; with which hides
they armed their horses.

Chap. XXriII.

How the Cacique of Pacalia came pcaceablie to the Gouernour, and the Cacique of
Casqui absented himsoH'c, and came againe to make his excuse, and how the
Gouernour made them both friends,

VPon Wednesday, the 19. of lune, the Gouernour entred into Pacaha: He lodged in the
towne, where the Cacique vsed to reside, which was very great, walled, and beset with towers,
and many loopeholes were in the towers and wall. And in tlie towne was •j,reat store of old
Maiz, and great quantitie of new in the i dds. Within a league and halfe a league were great
townes all walled. Where the Gouernour was lodged, was a great lake, that came neere vnto
the wall : and it entred into a ditch that went round about the towne, wanting but a Kille to
enuiro" it round. From the lake to the great Riuer was made a weare by the which the fish
came into it ; which the Cacique kept for his recreatio:i and sport : with nets, that were
founde in the towne, they tooke as much as they would : and tooke they neuer so much,
there was no want perceiued. There was also great store of fish in many other lakes that
were thereabout, but it was soft, and not so good as that which came from the Riuer, and
the most of it was different from the fresh water fish of Spaine. There was a fish which they
called Bagres : the third part of it was head, and it had on both sides the gilles, and along
the sides gfeat pricks like very sharpe aules: those of this kind that were in the lakes were
as big as pikes: and in the Riuer, there were some of an hundred, and of an hundred and
liltic pounds weight, and many of them were taken with the hookc. There was another fish
like barbiiies; and another like breames, headed like a deficate fish, called in Spaine besugo,
betwcene red and gray. This was there of most esteeme. There was another fish called a
peie fish : it had a snout of a cubit long, and at the end of the vpper lip it was made like a
peele. There was another fish like a Westerne shad : And all of them had scales, except the
bagres, and the pele fish. There was another fish, which sometimes the Indians brought vs.
of the bignes of an hog, they called it the Pereo fish : it had rowes of teeth beneath and
aboue. The Cacique of Casqui sent many times great presents of fish, mantles, and skinnes.
Hee told the Gouernour that he would deliuer the Cacique of Pacaha into his hands. He
went to Casqui, and sent many canoes vp the Riuer, and came himselfe by land with many
of his people. The Gouernour with 40. horsemen and 60. footemcn tooke him along with
him vp the Riuer. And his Indians which were in the canoes, discouercd where the
Caciq-.e of Pacaha was in a little Island, situated betweene two armes of the Fiuer. And
fine Christians entred into a canoe, wherein Don Antonio Osorio went before, to see what
people the Cacique had with him. There were in the Isle fine or sixe thousand soules.
And assoone f ? they saw them, supposing that the Indians which were in the other
canoes were also C'hristians, the Cacique, and certaine which were in three canoes, which
they had there with the, fled in great haste to the other side of the Riuer: The rest with
groat fcare and danger, lept into the Riuer, where much people was drowned, especially
women and little children. Presently the Gouernour which was on land, not knowing

what

next adioyn'tng to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

733

what had happened to Don Antonio, and those that went with him, commanded y Chris-
tians with all speed to enter with the Indians of Casqui in the canoes, wluch were quickly
with Don Antonio in the little Island, where they tooke many men and vomcn, and muc'j
goods. Great store of goods, which the Indians had laid vpon hurdles of canes, and rafts of
limber to carrie ouer to the other side, draue down the riuer, wherewith the Indians of Casqui
filled their canoes : and for feare lest the Christians would take it from them, the Cacique
went home with them downe the Riuer, without taking his leaue of the Gouernour : where-
upon the Gouernour wa'* highly offended with him : and presently returning to Pacaha, he
ouerran the Countrie of Casqui the space of two leagues, where hee tooke twenfic or thirtic
of his men. And because his horses were wearie, and he wanted time that day to goc any
farther, hoc returned to Pacaha, with determination within three or foure daics after to inuade
Casqui. And presently he let loose one of the Indians of Pacaha, and sent word by him to
the Cacique, that if hee would hauc his friendship, he should repaire vnto him, and that both
of them would make warre vpon Casqui. And presently came many Indians that belonjied"
to Pacaha, and brought an Indian, in stead of the Cacique, which was discouered by the
Caciques brother which was taken prisoner. The Gouernour wished the Indians tiiat their
Master himselfe should come : for hee knew very well that that was not hee, and told them,
that they could doe nothing, which he knew not before they thought it. The next day the
Cacique came, accompanied with many Indians, and with a pi.:;ient of much fish, skinnes 5J^Jc'i^i''c''om,^efh
and mantles. He made a speech that all were glad to heare, and concluded, saying. That to the oouem-
though his Lordship, without his giuing occasion of offence had done him hurt in his Countrie °'""
and subiects, yet he would not therefore refuse to bee his, and that he would alwaies be at
his commandement. The Gouernour commanded his brother to be loosed, and other prin-
cipall Indians that were taken prisoners. That day came an Indian from the Cacique of
Casqui, and said, that his Lord would come the next day to excuse himselfe of the error
which he had committed, in going away without licence of the Gouernour. The Gouernour
willed the messenger to signifie vnto him, that if he came not in his owne person, he would
seeke him himselfe, and giue him such punishment as he deserued. The next day with all
speede came the Cacique of Casqui, and brought a present to the Gouernour of many
mantles, skinnes, and lish, and gaue him a daughter of his, saving, that he greatly desired to
match his blood with the blood of so great a Lord as he was, and therefore he brought him his
daughter, and desired him to take her to his wife. Hee made a long and discreet oration,
giuing him great commendations, and concluded, saying, that hee should pardon his going
away without licence, for that Crosses sake, which he had left with him : protesting that hee
went away for shame of that which his men had done without his consent. The Gouernour
answered him, that hee had chosen a good patrone ; and that if he had not come to excuse
himselfe, hee had determined to scckc him, to burne his townes, to kill him and his people,
and to destroy his Cour.trie. To which he replied saying :

My Lord, I and mine arc yours, and my Countrie likewise is yours: therefore if you had
done so, you should haue destroyed your owne Countrie, and haue killed your owne people :
whatsoeuer shall come vnto me from your iiand, I will receiue as from my Lord, as well pu-
nishment as reward : And know you, that the fauour which you did me in leaning me the
Crosse, I do acknowledge the same to be a very great one, and greater i len I haue euer
deserued. For you shall vndcrstand, that with great droughts, the fields of Maiz of my
Countrie were withered ; and assoone as I and my people kneeled before the Crosse, and
prayed for raine, presently our nccessitie was relieucd.

The Gouernour made him, and the Cacique of Pacaha friends ; and set them with him at
his table to dine with him : and the Caciques fell at variance about the seates, which of them
should sit on his right hand. The Gouernour pacified them ; telling thv^ni, thr^t among the
Chri.-itiaiis, all was one to sit on the one side, or on the other, willing theui so to behaue
themseiues, seeing they were with him, that no budie light heare them, and that euery
one should sit in the place that first hee lighted on. Fro, a thence he sent thirtie horsemen,
and fiftie footemen to the Prouince of Caluqa, to see if from thence bee might trauel to

5 B Chisca,

.,»':■>• "ill

,., -|!::

■''''■J

734

VOYAGES, NAtJIGATlONS, The discoucrie of Florida,

: it ■■

Bin

J" Vi

Great itorc of
Oxen toward
iht North of
Paciiha.
This it like
Quiucra,

Gold and copper Chisca, whcTC the Indians said, there was a worke of gold and copper. They traucllcd seiicn
daies iournie through a desert, and returned verie wearie, eating greene plums and stalkes of

A poore townf. Maiz, which they found in a poore towne of sixe or seuen houses. From thence forward toward
the North ; the Indians said, That the Country was very ill inhabited, because It was very
cold : And that there were such store of Oxen, that they could keepe no come for them :
that the Indians liued vpon their flesh. The Gouernor seeing that toward that part the Coun-
trie was so poore of Maiz, that in it they could not bee sustained, demanded of the Indians,
w'lich way it was most inhabited : and they said, they had notice of a great Prouince, and a
very plentiful! Countrie, which was called Quigaute, and that it was toward the South.

Chap. XXV.

How the Gouernour departed from Pacaha to Quigaute, and to Coligoa, and came

to Cayas.

THe Gouernour rested in Pacaha fortie daies. In all which time the two Caciques serued
him with great store of fish, mantles, and skinnes, and stroue who should doe him greatest
seruice. At the time of his departure, the Cacique of Pacaha gaue him two of his sisters,
saying, that in signe of loue that he might remember him, he should take them for his wiues:
the ones name was Macanoche, and the others Mochila : they were well proportioned, tall of
bodie, and well fleshed. Macanoche was of a good countenance, and in her shape and
pliysiognomie looked like a Ladie : the other was strongly made. Tiie Cacique of Casqui
commanded the bridge to be repaired, and the Gouernour returned tlirough his Countrey,
and lodged in the field neere his towne, whither hee came with great store of fish, and two
women, which hee exchanged with two Christians for two shirts. He gaue vs a guide and
men for cariages. The Gouernour lodged at a towne of his, and the next day at another
neere a Riuer, whither he caused canoes to be brought for him to passe ouer, and with his
leaue returned. The Gouernour tooke his iournie toward Quigaute. The fourth day of August,
he came to the towne, where the Cacique vsed to keep his residencie : on the way he sent
him a present of many mantles and skinnes, and not daring to st; v for him in the towne, he
absented himselfe. The towne was the greatest that was scene in Florida. The Gouernour
and his people lodged in the one halfe of it : and within few daies, seeing the Indians be-
came liars, he commanded the other halfe to be burned, because it should not bee a shelter
for them, if they came to assault him by night, nor an hindrance to his horsemen for the
resisting of them. There came an Indian very well accompanied with many Indians, saying,
that hee was the Cacique. He deliuered him ouer to the men of his guard to look vnto
him. There went and came many Indians, and brought mantles and skinnes. The counter-
feit Cacique, seeing so little opportunitie to execute his euill thought, as hee went one day
abroad talking with the Gouernour, he shewed him such a paire of hceles, that there was no
Christian that could ouertake him, and he leape.l into the Riuer, which was a crossebow shot
from the towne : and assoone as hee was on the other side, many Indians that were there-
about making a great crie began to shoote. The Gouernour passed presently ouer to them
with horsemen and footemen, but they durst not tarrie for him. Going forward on his way,
A towne. hee came to a towne where the people were fled, and a little further to a lake, where the
horses cnuld not passe, and on the otherside were many women. The footemen passed, and
tooke many of them, and much spoiie. The Gouernour came to the Camp : And that night
was a spie of the Indians taken by them of the watch. The Gouernour asked him, whether
he would bring him where the Cacique was ? he said, he would. And he went presently to
seeke him with twentie horsemen, and fiftie footemen : and after he had sought him a day,
and an halfe, hee found Iiim in a strong wood : And a souldiour not knowing him, gaue him
a wr)uiKl on the head ; and he cried out, that he should not kill him, saying, that he was
the Cacique : so he was taken, & an hundred and fortie of his men with him. The Gouernour
came againe to Quigaute, and willed him to cause his men to come to serue the Christians:
and staying some daies for their comming, and seeing they came not, he sent two Captaines,

euery

The Caciques
towne.

A towne of
Casqui.
Another towne.

Quignute.
The fourth of
August.

The cre?.test
towne scene in
florida.

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

735

take lish.

euery one his way on both sides of the Riuer with horsemen and footemen. They tooke
many men and women. Now seeing the hurt which they sustained for their rebellion, they
came to see what the Gouernour would command them, and passed to and fro many times,
and brought presents of cloth and fish. The Cacique and his two wiueswere in the lodging cioiii.
of the Gouernour loose, and the hulbardicrs of his guard did keepe them. The Gouernour asked
them which way the Countrie was most inhabited ? They said, that toward the South downe
the Riuer, were great townes and Caciques, which commanded great Countries, and much
people ; And that toward the Northwest, there was a Prouince neere to certaine mountaines, Coiigo« ntcre
that was called Coligoa. The Gouernour and all the rest thought good to goe first to Coligoa : ',^ou,','J'i"e,
saying, that peraduenture the mountains would make some difference of soile, and that be- Nutthweit.
yond them there might be some gold or siluer : As for Quigaute, Casqui, and Pacaha, they
were plaine Countries, fat grounds, and full of good medowes on the Riuers, where the In-
dians sowed large fields of Maiz. From Tascaluca to Rio grande, or the great Riuer, is about
300. leagues : it is a very low Countrie, and hath many lakes. From Pacaha to Quigaute may
bee an hundred leagues. The Gouernour left the Cacique of Quigaute in his owne towne:
And an Indian, which was his guide, led him through great woods without any way seuen
dales iournie through a desert, where, at euery lodging, they lodged in lakes and pooles in
verie shold water : there were such store of fish, that they killed them with cudgils; and the ,\"'"^"'' '*
Indians which they carried in chaines, with the mud troubled the waters, and the fish being
therewith, as it were, astonied, came to the top of the water, and they tooke as much as they
listed. The Indians of Coligoa had no knowledge of the Christians, & when they came so Coiigoa.
neere the towne, that the Indians saw tl'em, they fled vp a Riuer, which passed neere the A Riuer.
towne, and some leaped into i , b the Christians went on both sides of the Riuer, and
tooke them. There were many men and women taken, and the Cacique with them. And
by his commandcment within three daic- came many Indians with a present of mantles and
Deeres skinnes, and two oxe hides : And they reported, that 5. or 6. leagues from thence Two oxe hides,
toward the North, there were many of these oxen, and that because the Countrie was cold, it towTrdtilT"
was euill inhabited : That the best Countrie which they knew, the most plentifull, and most North.
inhabited, was a Prouiiice called Cayas, lying toward the South. From Quiguate to Coligoa From Quiguatr
may be 40. leagues. This towne of Coligoa stood at the foote of an hill, on the bank of a 4o.ieasuM."'
meane Riuer, of the bignesse of Cayas, the Riuer that passeth by Estrcmadura. It was a
fat soile and so plentiful! of Maiz, that they cast out the old, to bring in the new. There
was also great plentie of French beanes and pompions. The French beanes were greater,
and better than those of Spaine, and likewise the pompions, and being rosted, they haue
almost the taste of chestnuts. The Cacique of Coligoa gaue a guide to Cayas, and staled
behind in his owne towne. Wee trauelled fine daies, and came to the Prouince of Paliscma. J/'Lk'^™'""
The house of the Cacique was found couered with Deeres skinnes of diners colours and
works drawne in them, and with the same in manner of carpets was the ground of the house
couered. The Cacique left it so, that the Gouernour might lodge in it, in token that he
sought peace and his friendship. But hee durst not tarrie his comming. The Gouernour,
seeing he had absented himselfe, sent a Captaine with horsemen and footemen to seeke him.
Hee fdund much people, but by reason of the roughnesse of the Countrie, he tooke none saue
a few women and children. The towne was little and scattering, and had very little Maiz.
For which cau?2 the Gouernour speedilie departed from thence. Hee came to another towne
called Tatalicoya, hee carried with him the Cacique thereof, which guided him to Cayas. Tataiicoy*
From Tatalicoya are foure daies iournie to Cayas. When hee came to Cyyas, and saw the c«yM.
towne scattered ; hee thought they had told him a lie, and that it was not the Prouince of
Cayas, because they had informed him that it was well inhabited : He threatned the Cacique,
charging him to tell him where hee was : and he and other Indians which were taken neere
about that place, affirmed that this was the towne of Cayas, and the best that was in that
Countrie, and that though the houses were distant the one from the other, yet the ground
that was inhabited was great, and that there was great store of people, and many fields of

m
•t.ii">

;ir4'r

J. :V:

Maiz. This towne was called Tanico

he pitched his Campe in the best part of it neere Timco.
b B 2 vnto

^■,1

, ,• 1

738

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The discouerie of Florida,

50 <

^*.'-

A Ijke »fhot

find somewhat
btiickisli water.
Store of salt
made at Cayas.

TulUi.

Tilt r.miernour
co-nrotth agaiuc
to TuUa with all
Ills cumpanie.

vnto a Riuer. The lame day that the Gouernour came thither, he went a league farther
with certaine horsemen, and without finding any people, hee round many skinncs in a path-
way, which the Cacique had left there, that they might bee found, in token of peace. For
to IS the custome in that Countrie.

Chap. XXVI.

How the Gouernour discouered the Prouince of Tulla, and what happened vnto him.

THe Gouernour rested a moneth in the Prouince of Ciyas. In which time the horses
fattened and thriued more, then in other places in a longer time, with the great pleniie of
Maiz and the leaues thereof, which I thinke was the best that hath been scene, and they
dranke of a lake nf very hot water, and somewhat brackish, and they dranke so much, that
it swelled in their bellies when they brought them from the watering. Vntill that lime the
Chrisfi ins wanted salt, and there they made good store, which they carried along with them.
The Indinns doe carrie it to other plauos to exchange it for skinnes and mantles. " They
make it along the lliuer, which when it ebbeth, lenueth it vpon the vpper part of the sand.
And because they cannot make if, without much sand mingled with it, they throw it into
certaine baskets which they liauc for that purpose, broad at the mouth, and narrow at the
bottom, and set it in the aire vpon a barrc, and throw water into it, and set a small vcssell
vndor it, wherein it falleth : Being strained and set to boilc vpon the fire, when the water is
sodden away, the salt remain; th in the bottome of the pan." On both sides of the Riucrtl-ii
Countrie was full of sowne fields, and there was store of Maiz. The Indians durst not come
oner where wci- were : & when some of them shewed themselues, the souldiers that saw
them tailed vnto them ; then the Indians passed the Riiicr, and came with them where tiie
Gouernor was. He asked the for the Cacique. They said, that he remained quiet, but that
he durst not shew himselfe. The Gouernour presently sent him word, that he should come
vnto him, and bring him a guide and an interpretour for his iournie, if he made account of
his friendship : and if he did not so, he would come himselfe to seeke him, and that it
would bee the worse for him. Hee waited three dales, and seeing he came not, he went to
seeke him, and brought him prisoner with 150. of his men. He asked him, whether hee
had notice of any great Cacique, & which way the Countrie was best inhabited. Hee an-
swered, that the best Countrie thereabout was a Prouince toward the South, a day and aft
halfes iournie, which was called Tulla ; and that he could giue him a guide, but no inter-
pretour, because the speech of that Countrie was different from his, and because he and his
ancestors had alwaies warren with the Lords of that Prouince ; therefore they had no com-
merce, nor vnderstood one anothers language. Immediatly the Gouernour with certaine
horsemen, and 50. footemen, departed toward Tulla, to see if the Countrie were such, as
hee mig it passe through it with all his companie: and assoone as he arriued there, and was
espied of the Indians, the Countrie gathered together, and assoone as 35. and 20. Indians
could assemble themselues, they set vpon the Christians : and seeing that they did handle
them shrewdly, and that the horsemen ouertooke them when they fled, they gat vp into the
tops of their houses, and sought to defend themselues with their arrowes: and being beaten
dowiie from one, they gat vp vpon another. And while our men pursued some, others set
vpon them another way. Thus the skirmish lasted so long, that the horses were tired, and
they could not make them runne. The Indians killed there one horse, and some were hurt.
There were 15. Indians slaine there, and 40. women and boies were taken prisoners. For
whatsoeuer Indian did shoot at them, if they could come by him, they put him to the sword.
The Gouernour determined to returne toward Cayas, before the Indians had time to gather
a head ; and presently that euening, going part of ^ night to leaue Tulla, he lodged by
the way, and the next day came to Cayas: and within three dales after he departed thece
toward Tulla with all his companie : He carried the Cacique along with him, and among
all his men, there was not one found that could vnderstand the speech of Tulla. He staled
three dales by the way, and the day that he came thither, he found the towne abandoned:

for

1 n ■■ 'I
l4

'km

next adioynlng to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 737

for the Indians durst not tarric hin comming. But assoonc as they knew that the Goucrnour
was in Tulla, the first ni^ht about ^ morning watch, they came in two squadrons two scuerail
waies, with their bowes and arrowes, and long staues like pikes. Assoone as they were
descried, both horse and foot sallied out vpon them, where many of the Indians were slaine :
And some Christians and horses were hurt : Some of the Indians were taken prisoners,
whereof the Gouernour sent sixe to the Cacique, with their right hands and noses cut off: ,'i'J,^i'''n'h"hand$
and sent him word, that if he came not to him to excuse and submit himselfe, that hcc and nusci cut
would come to sccke him, and tluit hee would doe the like to him, and as many of his as"*""
hee could find, as hce had done to those which hee had sent him : and gaue him three daics
respit for to come. And this he gaue them to vndorsland by signes, as well as hee could,
for there was no intcrpretour. At the three daics end, there came an Indian laden with
O.xe hides. He came weeping with great sobs, and comming to the Gouernour cast himselfe °" ''"'"•
downe at his fcete : He tooke him vj), and he made a speech, but there wxs none that
vnderstood him. The Gduernour by signcs commanded him, to rcturne to the Cacique, and
to will him, to send him an interjiretor, which could vnderstand the men of Cayas. The
next day came three Indians laden with oxe hides and within three dales after came 20. °" ''"'"•
Indians, and among them our that vndcrslood them of Cayas: Who, after a long oration of
excuses of the Cacique, and pniiscs of the Gouernour, concluded with this, that he and
the other wcrt come thither on the Caciques behalfe, to see what his Lordship would com-
mand him to doe, for he was readic at his commandement. The Gouernour and all his
companie were veric glad. For in no wise could they trauell without an intcrpretour. The
Gouernour commanded him to be kept safe, and bad him tell the men that came with him,
that they shuld rcturne to the Cacique, and signitie vnto him, that he pardoned him for
that which was past, and thanked him much for his presents and intcrpretour, which he
had sent him, and that he would bee glad to see him, and that he should come the next day
to talke with him. After three dales, the Cacique came, and 80. Indians with him: and ThcCadiiueof
himselfe and his men came weeping into the Camp, in token of obedience and repentance '^""''"
for the errour passed, after the manner of that Countrie : He brought a present of many Mmy Oh
oxe hides: which, because the Countrie was cold, were verie profitable, and serued for on'',"jn,'J^s*°ft'
couerlets, because they were very soft, and wolled like shcepe. Not farre from thence as sheepes wooii.
toward the North were many oxen. The Christians saw them not, nor came into the Gei™r"c "'«5.
Countrie where they were, because those parts were euil inhabited, and had small store of M"'yOxeu
Mali where they were bred. The Cacique of Tulla made an oration to the Gouernour, Norlh. "'
wherein he excused himselfe, and offered him his Countrie, subiects, and person. As well The great cio-
this Cacique as the others, and all those which came to the Gouernour on their behalfe, E","^ '*'*
deliuered their message or speech in so good order, that no oratour could vtter the same more
eloquentlie.

Chap. XXVII.

How the Gouernour went from Tulla to Autiamque, where he passed the winter.

THe Gouernour enformed himselfe of all the Countrie round about; and vnderstood, that
toward the West was a scattered dwelling, and that toward the Southeast were great townes,
especially in a Prouince called Autiamque, tenne dales iournie from Tulla ; which might be
about 80. leagues ; and that it was a plentifull Countrie of Maiz. And because winter came
on, and that they could not trauell two or three moneths in the yeere for cold, waters, and a winter of
snow: and fearing, that if they should stay so long in the scattered dwelling, they could mo°„°,Vfc"*
not be susteiiied ; and also because the Indians said, that neere to Autiamque was a great
water, and according to their relation, the Gouernour thought it was some arme of the Sea :
And because he now desired to send newes of himselfe to Cuba, that some supplie of men
& horses might be sent vnto him : for it was aboue three yeeres, since Donna Isabella,
which was in llauana, or any other person in Christendome had heard of hirn, and by this
lime he had lost 250. men, and 150. horses) he determined to winter in Autiamque, and

the

''I

§M

Mr,

% i l'

'Ml

i3S

J^^r ■•

■ i' : : •

J:
^1'

Qiiipana, liuc
(l.uei iournie
Iruin 'I'ullj.

Ouahatc.

Anuiti.

Caliniava.

Autiamque siie
daies iournie
fioai Quipana.

A Riuer.

Tietiqiiaquo.

Great proui-
dciice.

Three moneths
abode in Au-
tLimiiuc.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS. The discouerie of Florida.

the next sprinjr, to j|[oe to the sea cost, and make two brii^aiitineH, and send one of them to
Cuba, and the other to Niiciia F.spanna, that that which went in safctie, mii^ht jjfiue newes
of him : Hoping with the goods which he had in ('uha, to furnish himselfc againe, and to
attempt the discouery and conquest toward the West : for he had not yet come where Cabefa
de Vaga had been. Thus hauin/f sent away the two (^aciijues of Cayas and Tulla, he tooke
his iournie toward Autiamque: Ilee Irauellcd fiue daics ouer very rough mountaines, and
came to a towne called Quipana, where no Indians could be taken for the roughnesse of the
Countrie: and the towne being betweene hillcs, there was an ambush laid, wherewith they
tooke two Indians; which told them, that Autiamque was sixe dales iournie from thence, and
that there was another Pronince toward the South eight dales iournie off, plentiful of Maiz,
and very well peopled, which was called Guahate. J5ut because Autiamque was neerer, and
the most of the Indians agreed of it, the Goucrnour made his iournie that way. In three
daies he came to a towne called Anoixi. He sent a Caplaine before with HO, horsemen, and
50. footemen, and tooke the Indians carclcsse, hce tooke many men and women prisoners.
Within two daies after the Gouernour came to another towne called Catamaya, and lodged
in the fields of the towne. Two Indians came with a false message from the Cacique to
know his determinaticm. Hee bad them tell their Lord, that hee should come and speake
with him. The Indians returned and came no more, nor any other message from the Caci-
que. The next day the Christians went to the towne, which was without people : they
tooke as much Maiz as they needed. That day they lodged in a wood, and the next day
they came to Autiamque. They found much Maiz laid vp in store, and French beanes, and
walnuts, and prunes, great store of all sorts. They tooke sonu- Indians which were gather-
ing together the sluflTe which their wiues had hidden. This was a champion Countrie, and well
inhabited. The Gouernour lodged in the best part of the towne, and commanded presently
to make a fense of timber round about the Campe distant from the houses, that the Indiana
might not hurt them without by fire. And measuring the ground by pases, hee appointed
eucry one his part to doe according to the number of Indians which he had : presently the
timber was brought by them; and in three daies there was an inclosure made of very hie
and thicke posts thrust into the ground, and many railes laid acrosse. Hard by this towne
passed a Riuer, that came out of the Prouince of Cayas ; and aboue and beneath it was very
well peopled. Thither came Indians on the Caciques behalfe with a present of mantles and
skinnes ; and an halting Cacique, subiect to the Lord of Autiamque, Lord of a towne called
Tietiquaquo, came many times to visit the Gouernour, and to bring him presents of such an
hee had. The Cacique of Autiamque sent to know of the Gouernour, how long time hee
meant to stay in his Countrie ? And vnderstanding that he meant to stay aboue three daies,
he neucr sent any more Indians, nor any other message, but conspired with the lame Caci-
que to rebell. Diuers inrodes were made, wherein there were many men and women taken,
and the lame Cacique among the rest. The Gouernour respecting the seruices which he
had rcceiued of him, reprehended and admonished him, and set him at libertie, and gaue
him two Indians to carrie him in a chaire vpon their shoulders. The Cacique of Autiamque
desiring to thrust the Gouernour out of his Countrie, set spies ouer him. And an Indian
comming one night to the gate of the inclosure, a soldier that watched espied him, and
stepping behind the gate, as he came in, he gaue him such a thrust, that he fell downe ;
and so he carried him to the Gouernour : and as hee asked him wherefore he came, not
being able to speake, hee fell downc dead. The night following the Gouernour commanded
a souldiour to giue the alarme, and to say that he had scene Indians, to see how ready they
would be to answere the alarme. And hee did so sometimes as well there, as in other places,
when he thought that his men were carelesse, & reprehended such as were slacke. And as
well for this cause, as in regard of doing their dutie, when the alarme was giuen, euery one
sought to be the first that should answere. They staled in Autiamque three moneths with
great plentie of Maiz, French beanes, Walnuts, Prunes, and Conies: which vntill that
time they knew not how to catch. And in Autiamque the Indians taught them how to take
them : which was, with great sprindges, which lifted vp their feete from the ground : And

the

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

739

March 6. i.!»J.

The death of
lohn Oniz, jnd
ihe prt-iit misse
of him being
their iiiierim-
tuur.

the snare was made with a strong string, whercunto was fastcnrd a knot of a cano, which

ran close about the neck of the tonic, because they should not g mw tiic string. Tiic) tookc

many in the field* of Maiz, cspeciallic when it fireied or snowed. The Christians st.iicd ^^ noi,«h'or'

there one whole moneth so inclosed with snow, that they went not out of the towne : and inoT""

whrn llioy wanted firewood, the (Joucrnour with hi^. horsemen going and coming manv

times to the wood, which was two crossebow shot from the towne, made a pathway . whereby

the footemen went for wood. In this mcane space, some Indians which went loose, killed

many conies with their giiies, and with arrowcs. These conies were of two sorts, some were Coniesof t»«

like these of Spaine, and the other of the same colour and fashion, and as big as great Hares,'"'""

longer, and hauing greater loincs,

Chap. XXVIII.
How the Gouernoiir went from Aaitiamquc to Nilco, and from thence to Guacoya.

VPoii Monday the sixt of March 1542, the Goucrnour departed from Autiamquc to
sceke Niico, which the Indians said was neerc the (ireat riucr, with determination to come
to the Sea, and procure some succour of men and horses : for hee had now but three hundred
men of warre, and fortie horses, and some of them lame, which did nothing but heipe to
make vp tlie number : and for want of iron they had gone aboue a yeere vnshod : and be-
cause they were vsed to it in the plaine countrie, it did them no great harme. lohn Ortiz
died in Autiamque ; which gricued the Gouernor very much : because that without an Intcr-
pretour hce feared to enter farre into the land, where he might be li)st. From thence forward
a youth that was taken in Cutifachiqui did serue for Interprctour, which had by that time
learned somewhat of the Christians language. The death of lohn Ortiz was so great a mis-
chiefe for the discouering inward, or going out of the land, that to learne of the Indians,
that whii-h in foure words hee declared, they needed a whole day with the youth : and most
commonly hce vnderstood quite contrarie that which was asked him : whereby it often hap-
pened that the way that they went one day, and sometimes two or three dales, they turned
backe, and went astray through the wood here and there. The Gouernour spent ten dales in
trau -lling from Autiamque to a prouince called Ayays ; and came to a towne that stood neere
the Riuer that passeth by Cayas and Autiamque. There hee commanded a barge to be made,
wherewith he passed the Riuer. When he had passed the Riuer there fell out such weather,
that foure daies he could not trauell for snow. Assoone as it gaue ouer snowing, he went
three dales iourney through a Wildernesse, and a countrie so low, and so full of lakes and
euill Wales, that hce trauelled one time a whole day in water, sometimes knee deepe, some-
times to the stirrup, and sometimes they swamme. He came to a towne called Tutelpinco,
abandoned, and without Maiz : there passed by it a lake, that entered into the riuer,
which carried a great streame and force of water. Fiue Christians passing ouer it
in a periagua, which the Gouernour had sent with a Captaine, the periagua ouerset : some
tooke hold on it, some on the trees that were in the lake. One Francis Sebastian, an honest
man of Villa noua de Barca Rota, was drowned there. The Gouernour went a whole day
along the lake seeking passage, and could finde none, nor anyway that did passe to the other
side. Comming againe at night to the towne hee found two peaceable Indians, which
shewed him the passage, and which way hee was to goe. There they made of canes and
of the timber of houses thatched with canes, rafts wherewith they passed the lake. They
trauelled three dales, and came to a towne of the territorie of Nilco, called Tianto. There
they tooke thirtie Indians, and among them two principall men of this towne. The Gouer-
nour sent a Captaine with horsemen and footmen before to Nilco, because the Indians might
haue no time to carrie away the prouision. They passed through three or foure great townes;
and in the towne where the Cacique was resident, which was two leagues from the place
where the Gouernour remained, they found many Indians with their bowes and arrowes, in
manner as though they would haue staled to fight, which did compasse the towne ; and
assoone as they saw the Christians come neere them without misdoubting them, they set the

Caciques

A Riutr.

Creatsnownbout
the twentith of
March.

Tutelpinco.
A great lake.

Rafts wherewith
they passed tht
lake.
Tianto.

Three or fourt
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Hiotographic
.Sciences
Corporation

.3 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

to'-:/

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•1

740

March 19.
Nilco.

Verit great
towiiei.

The best Cfiuii
trie ofl'lorida.

Marterns akin-

net.

A cordon of

peilcs.

A Riurr falling
into Uiu grande.

Cfuachoya.

Foure nnniri of
Riu grandr.

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS, Uc discouerk of Florida.

Caciques house on fire, and fled ouer a lake that passed neere the towtic, through which the
horses could not passr. The next day bcinjj Wednesday the 29. of March the Gouernour
came to Nilco : he lod<;ed with all his mm in the Caciques towne, which stood In a plaine
field, which was inhnbited for the space of a quarter of a league : and wiliiin a league and
halfe a league were other very great towncs, wherein was great store of Maiz, of French
beanes, of Walnuts, and Prunes. This was the best inhabited countrie, that was secne in
Florida, and had most store of Maiz, except Cocjn, and Apalachc. There came to the campe
an Indian accompanied with others, and in the Caciques name g:uie the Gouernour a mantle
of Marterns skinncs, and a cordon of perles. The CJouernour gaue him a few small Marga-
riles, which are cerlainc beadcs much esteemed in Peru, and other things, wherewith he
was very well contented. He promised to returne within two dales, but neuer came againe :
but on the contrarie tlic Indians came by night in canc^cs, and carried away all the Maiz
they could, and made them cabins on the other side of the Riuer in the thickest of the wood,
because they might (lec if wee should goe to seeke them. The Gouernour secinj; hee came
not at the time app-iinted, commanded an ambu.sh to be laid about certaine store-houses
neere the lake, whither the Indians came for Maiz : where they tooke two Indians, who told
the Gouernour, that hee which came to visit him, was not the Caciqrie, but was sent by
him vnder pretence to spie whether the Christians were carelesse, and whether they deter-
mined to settle in that country or to goe forward. Presently the Gouernour sent a Captainc
with footmen and horsemen ouer the riuer ; and in their passage they were descried of the
Indians, and therefore he could take but tenne or twelue men and women, with whom hee
returned to the campe. This Riuer which pas-ied by Nilco, was that which passed by Cayas
and Autiamque, and fell into Rio grande, or the Great Riuer, which passed by Pachaha and
Aquixo neere vnto the prouince of Guachoya : and the Lord thereof came vp the Riuer in
canoes to make warre with him of Nilco. On his behalf there came an Indian to the Gouern-
our and said vnto him. That he was his seriianf, and prayed him so to hold him, and that
within two dales hee would come to kisse his Lordships hands : an at the time appointed he
came with some of his principal Indians, which accompanied him, and with words of great
offers and courtesie hee gaue the Gouernour a present of many mantles and Deeres skinnes.
The Gouernour gaue him some other things in recompense, and honoured him much, lice
asked him what townes there were downe the Riuer? Hee answered that he knew none other
but his owne : and on the other side of the Riuer a prouince of a Cacique called Quigalta.
So hee tooke his Icaue of the Goutrnour and went to his owne towne. Within few dales the
CJouernour determined to goe to Guachoya, to learne there whether the Sea were neere, or
whether there were any habitation neero, where hee might relieue his companie, while the
brigantines were making, which he meant to send to the land of the Christians. As he
passed the Hiiier of Nilco, there came in canoes Indians of Guachoya vp the streame, and
when they saw him, supposing that he came to seeke them to Joe them some hurt, they re-
turned downe the Riuer, and informed the Cacique thereof: who with all his people, spoil-
ing the towne of all that they could carrie away, passed that night ouer to the other side of
Rio grande, or the Great Riuer. The Gouernour sent a Captaine with fifiie men in sixe
canoes downe tiie Riuer, and went himselfe by land with the rest : hee came to Guachoya
vpon Sunday the 17. of April : he lodged in the towne of the Cacique, which was inclosed
about, and seated a crossebow shot distant from the Riuer. Here the Riuer is called Tama-
liseu, and in Nilco Tapatu, and in Co(-a Mico, and in the port or mouth Ri.

Chap. XXIX.

Of the message which the Gouernour sent to Quigalta, and of the answcrc which he returned:
and of the things which happened in this time.

AS soone as the Gouernour came to Guachova, hee sent lohn Danusco with as many men
as could goe in the canoes vp the Riuer. For when they came downe from Nilco. they saw
on the other side tiie Riuer new cabins made. lohn Danusco went and brought the canoes

loden

he returned :

next adioyning ioVirginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

741

hxlcn with Maiz, French beanes, Prunes, and many lo.iucs made of the substance of prunes. Jf,j7„f°*"u„,^
That day came an Indian to the Gouernour from the Cacique of Guachoya, and said, that "" "' "" "
his Lord would come the next day. The next day they saw many canoes come vp the
Riuer, and on the other side of the great Riuer, they assembled together in the space of an
houre: they consulted whether they should come or not ; & at length concluded to come,
and crossed the Riuer. In the came the Cacique of Guachoya, and brought with him manic
Indians uith great store of Fish, Dog^es, Deercs skinnes, and Mantles: And assoone as they
landed, they went to the lodging of the Gouernour, and presented him their gifts, and the
Cacique vttered these words :

Mightie and excellent Lord, I beseech your Lordship to pardon mee the errour which I
committed in absenting my selfe, and not tnrrying in this towne to haue receiued and senied
your Lordship; since, to obtaine this opportunitie of time, was, and is as much as a great
victorie to me. But I feared that, which I needed not to haue feared, and so did that which
was not reason to do : But as haste maketh w.iste, and I rcmoued without deliberation ; so,
as soone as I thought on it, I determined not to follow the opinion of the foolish, which is,
to continue in their errour; but to imitate the wise and discreet, in changing my counsell,
and so I came to see what your Lordship will command me to doe, thit I may »erue you in
all things that are in my power.

The Gouernour receiued him with much ioy, and gaue him thankes for his present and
offer. He asked him, whether hcc had any notice of the Sea. Hee answered, no, nor of
any townes downe the Riuer on that side; sane that two leagues from thence was one towne
of a principall Indian a subiect of his ; and on tl)e other side of the Riuer, three daies iour-
nie from thence downe the Riuer, was the Prouince of Quigalta, which was the greatest Lord
that was in that Countrie. The Gouernour thon<rht that the Cacique lied vnto him, to rid
him out of his owne townes, and sent lohn Danusco with eight horsemen downe the Riuer,
to see what habitation there was, and to informe himselfe, if there were any notice of the
Sea. Hee trauelled eight daies, and at his returne hee said, that in all that time he was
not able to go aboue 14. or 15. leagues, because of the great creekes that came out of the
Riuer, and groues of canes, and thirke woods that were along the bancks of the Riuer, and
that hee had found no habitation. The Gouernour fell into great dumps to see how hard it was
to get to the Sea : and worse, because his men and horses euery day diminished, being with-
out succour tosustaine themselues in the country : and with that thought he fell sick. But TheCaucnmt
before he tooke his bed hee sent an Indian to the Cacique of Quigalta to tell him, that hee ^^""gVt'^'' "'
was the Childe of the Sunne. and that all the way that hee came all men obeyed and serued
him, that he requested him to accept of his friendship, and come vnto him ; for he would
be very glad to see him ; and in signe of loue and obedience to bring something with him
of that which in his countrie was most esteemed. The Cacique answered by the same
Indian:

That whereas he said he was the Child of the Sunne, if he would drie vp the Riiter he Am»-t »:ti;-
would beleeue him: and touching the rest, that hee was wont to visit none; but rather that Jw^re'.Tth"
all those of whom he had notice did visit him, serued, obeyed and paid him tributes willingly Cic>MU'-"f
or perforce: therefore if hee desired to see him, it were best he should come thither: that *^'*'"'
if hee came in peace, he would receiue him with speciall good will ; and if in warre, in like
manner hee would attend him in the towne where he was, and that for him or any other hee
would not shrinke one foote backe.

By that time the Indian returned with this answere, the Gouernour had betaken himselfe
to bed, being euill handled with feuers, and was much aggrieued, that he was not in case
to passe presently the Riuer and to seeke him, to see if he could abate that pride of his,
considering the Riuer went now very strongly in those parts; for it was neere halfe a league
broad, and IG. fathomes deep, and very furious, and ranne with a great current; and on
both sides there were mai>y Indians, and his power was not now so great, but that hee had
need to heipe himsrife rather by slights then by force. The Indians of Guachoya came cuery
day with fish in buch numbers, that the towne was full of them. The Cacique said, that on

5 C a rer-

' !'. ) '

( 'ii

■■'in

1: ^1

74«

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, 71,e dUcoucrie of Florida,

m'-

iV., ^'^ll■

a certnine night hee ot Quigalta would come to giiic battel! to the Goiiernour. Which the
Gouernnur imagined that he hac* deuised, to driue him out of his countrey, and commanded
him to bee put in hold : and that night and all the rest, there vim good watch kept. Hee
asked him wherefore Quigalta came not ? lie said that hee came, but that he saw him pre-
pared, and therfnre durst not giue the attempt : and hee was earnest with him to send his
Captaines ouer the Riuer, and that he would aide him with many men to set vpon Quigalta.
The Gouernour told him that assoone as he was recouered, himsclfe would seeke him out.
And seeing how many Indians came daily to the townc, and what store of people was in
that countrie, fearing they should al conspire together and plot some treason against him ;
and because the towne had some open gaps which were not made an end of inclosing, be-
sides the gates which they went in and out by : because the Indians should not thinke he
feared them, he let them all alone vnrepcired ; and commanded the horsemen to be ap-
pointed to them, and to the gates: and all night the horsemen went the round; and two
and two of euery squadron rode about, and visited the skouts that were without the townc
in their standings by the passages, and the crossebowmen that kept the canoes in the Riuer.
And because the Indians should stand in fearc of them, hee determined to send a Captaine
to Nilco, for those of Guachoya bad told him that it was inhabited ; that by vsing them
cruelly, neither the one nor the other should presume to assaile him ; and hee sent Nunnez
de Touar with fifteene hoisemen, and lohn de Guzman Captaine of the footmen with his
companie in canoes vp the Riuer. The Cacique of Guachoya sent for many canoes and many
warlike Indians to goe with the Christians: and the Captaine of the Christians, called Nunnez
de Touar, went by land with his horsemen, and two leagues before he came to Nilco hee
st:\icd for lohn de Guzman, and in that place they passed the Riuer by night : the horsemen
came first, and in the morning by brcake of day in sight of the towne they lighted vpon a
spie ; which assnone as he perceiued the Christians, crying out amaine fled to the towne to
giue warning. Nunnez de Touar and his companie made such speed, that before the In-
dians of the towne could fully come out, they were vpon them : it was champion ground
Fiutorsue thnt was inhabited, which was about a quarter of a league. There were about fine or sixe
iiiNUca ^°^^ thousand people in the towne : and, as many people came out of the houses, & fled from
one house to another, and many Indians came flocking together from all parts, there was
neuer a horseman that was not alone among many. The Captaine had commanded that they
should not spare the life of any male. Their disorder was so great, that there was no Indian
that shot an arrow at any Christian. The shreekes of women and children were so great,
that they made the eares deafe of those that followed them. There were slaine an hundred
Indians, little more or lesse : and many were wounded with great wounds, whom they suflered
to e>icape to strike a terror in the rest that were not there. There were some so cruell and
butcherlike, that they killed old and young, and all that the^ met, though they made no
resistance: and those which presumed of themselues for their valour, and were taken for
such, brake through the Indians, bearing downe many with their stirrops and brests of their
horses ; and some they wounded with their lances, and so let them goe : and when they
saw any youth or woman they tooke them, and deliuered them to the footmen. " These
mens sinnes by Gods permission lighted on their own heads : who, because they would
seeme valiant, became cruell ; shewing themselues extreme cowards in the sight of all men,
• Chap. 3;. when as most neede of valour was required, and * afterward they came to a shameful death."
Of the Indians of Nilco were taken prisoners, fourescore women and children, and much
spoile. The Indians of Guachoya kept back before they came at the towne, and staled without,
beholding the successe of the Christians with the men of Nilco. And when they saw them
put to flight, and the horsemen busie in killing of them, they hastened to the houses to rob,
and filled their canoes with the spoile of the goods ; and returned to Guachoya before the
Christians ; and wondring much at the sharpe dealing which they had scene them vse toward
the Indians of Nilco, they told their Cacique all that had passed with great astonishment.

Chap.

«ftW adiot/ning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES. 143

Chap. XXX.

Of the death of the Adclantado Fernando de Soto : And how Liiys Nfoscoso dc
Aliiarado was e lerfed Goiicrnoiir in \\h stead.

THe Gouernour felt in himsclfc that the hoiirc approched, wherein hec was to leaue this
present life, and railed for the Kings oflkers, Caplaines and principall persons, to whom he
made a speech, saying:

That now he was to goe to giue an account bt fore the presence of God of all his life past :
and since it pleased him to take him in such a time, and that the time was come that he
knew his death, that he his most vnworthie scruant did yeeld him many thankes therefore ;
and desired all that were present and absent (whom he confessed himselfe to be much be-
holding vnto for their singular vertues, loue and loyaltie, which him<)elfe had well tried in
the trauels, which they had suft'ered, which ulwaics in his mind he did hope to satisfie and
reward, when it should please God to giue him rest, with more prosperitic of his estate,)
that they would pray to God for him, that for his mercie he would forgiue him his sinnes,
and receiue his soule into eternall glorie: and that they would quit and free him of the
charge which hee had ouer them, and ought vnto them all, and that they would pardon him
for some wrongs which they might haue rcceiued of him : And to auoid some diuision,
which vpon his death might fall out vpon the choice of his successour, he requested them
to elect a principall person, and able to goucrne, of whom all should like well ; and when
he was elected, they should sweare before him to obey him : and that he would thanke them
very much in so doing ; becau!<e the griefe that he had, would somewhat be asswaged, and
the paine that he felt, because he left them in so great confusion, to wit, in leauing them
in a strange Countrie, where they knew not where they were.

Baltasar de Gallegos answered in the name of all the rest : And first of all comforting him,
he set before his eics how short the life of this world was, and with how many troubles and
miseries it is accompanied, and how God shewed him a singular fauor which soonest left it :
telling him many other things fit for such a time. And for the last point, that since it pleased
God to take him to himselfe, although his death did iustly grieue them much, yet as wel he,
as al the rest, ought of necessitie to conforme themselues to the will of God. And touching
the Gouernour which he commanded they should elect, he besought him, that it would please
his Lordship to name him which he thought fit, and him they would obey. And presently
he named Luys de Moscoso de Aluarado his Captaine generall. And presently he was sworne
by all that were present and elected for Gouernour. The next day, being the 21. of May, ThKi««h of
1542. departed out of this life, the valorous, virtuous, and valiant Captaine, Don Fernando S^sofotho""''''
de Soto, Gouernour of Cuba, and Adelantado of Florida : whom fortune aduanced, as it ofMay.iUj..-
vseth to doe others, that hee might haue the higher fal. He departed in such a place, and °""^°>''
at such a time, as in his sicknesse he had but little comfort ; and the danger wherein all his
people were of perishing in that Countrie, which appeared before their eies, was cause suf-
ficient, why euery one of them had need of comfort, and why they did not visit nor ac-
companie him as they ought to haue done. Luys de Moscoso determined to conceale his
death from the Indians, because Ferdinando de Soto had made them beleeue. That the Chris-
tians were immortall ; and also because they tooke him to be hardie, wise, and valiant : and
if they should know that he was dead, they would bee bold to set vpon the Christians, though
they liued peaceablie by them. In regard of their disposition, and because they were nothing
constant, and beleeued all that was tolde them, the Adelantado made them beleeue, that he
knew some things that passed in secret among themselues, without their knowledge, how,
or in what manner he came by them : and that the figure which appeared in a glasse, which AwUnf stt.ta-
he shewed them, did tell him whatsoeuer they practised and went about : and therefore *""'
neither in word nor deed durst they attempt any thing that might bee preiudiciall vnto him.

Assoone as he was dead, Luis de Moscoso commanded to put him secretly in an house,
where hee remained three daies : and remoouing him from thence, commanded him to bee

5 C 2 buried

,.iJ'!i

744

I'hii ii .Iso the
lUltODIf of the
ulil lattjis.

•Sturn htiiidrcvl
hog£ci.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, 'JTte discouerie of Florida,

biirird in the night at one of the gales of the towne within the wall. And as the Indians
had secne liim bick, and missed him, so did they suspect what might bee. And passing by
the place where hee was buried, seeing the earth mooned, they looked and opake one to
another. Luys de Moscoho vnderstanding of it, commanded him to be taken v|) by night,
and to cast a great deale of sand into the mantles, wherciii he was winded vp, wherein hee
was carried in a canoe, and throwne into the middest of the Hiuer. The Cacique of Gua-
choya inquired for him, demanding what was become of his brother and Lord, the Gouern-
our : lAiys de Moscoso told him, that hee was goii to hrauen, as many other times hee did :
and because hee was to stay there certaine daies, hee had left him in his place. The Ca-
cique thought with himsclfc that he was dead ; and comanded two young and well propor-
tioned Indians to be brought thither; and said, that ^ vse of that Countrie was, when any
Lord died, to kill Indians to wait vpon him, and seruc him by the way: and for that purpose
by his commandement were those come thither : and prayed Luys de Moscoso to command
them to be beheaded, that they might attend and serue his Lord and brother. Luys de
Moscoso told him, that the Gouernour was not dead, but gone to heauen, and that of hia
owne Christian souldiers, he had taken such as he needed to seme him, & praied him to
command those Indians to be loosed, and not to vse any such bad custome from thencefoorlh :
straightway hee tommandcd them to be loosed, and to get them home to their houses. And
one of them would not goe ; saying, that hee would not serue him, that without desert had
iudged him to death, but that hee would serue him as long as hee liued, which had saued
his life.

Luys de Moscoso caused all the goods of the Gouernor to be sold at an outcrie: to wit,
two men slaues, & two women slaues, and three horses, and 700. hogges. For euery slaue
or horse, they gaue two or three thousand ducats: which were to be paied at the first melt-
ing of gold or siUier. or at the diuision of their portion of inheritance. And they entred
into bonds, though in the Countrie there was not wherewith, to pay it within a yecre after,
and put in sureties for the same. Such as in Spaine had no goods to bind, gaue two hun-
dred ducats for an hog, giuing assurance after the same maner. Those which had any goods
in Spaine, bought with more frare, and bought the lesse. From that time forward, most
of the companie had swine, and brought them vp, and fed vpon them ; and .obserued Fri-
daies and Saturdaies, and the euenings of feasts, which before they did not. For sometimes
in two or three moneths they did eate no flesh, and whensoeuer they could come by it, they
did eate it.

I >^:.-^

fii/ '

i--^

Clft' 1.-:
lit* '

Their gtiMril
lesolution to
traucll bv land
Wntwa^d.

Chap. XXXI.

How the Gouernour Luys de Moscoso departed from Guachoya, and went to Cha-
guate ; and from thence to Aguacay.

SOme were glad of the death of Don Ferdinando de Soto, holding for certaine, that
Luys de Moscoso (which was giuen to his ease) would rather desire to be among the Chris-
tians at rest, then to continue the labours of the warre in subduing and discouering of
Countries ; whereof they were alreadie wearie, seeing the small profit that insued thereof.
The Gouernour commanded the Captaines and principall persons to meet to consult and
determine what they should doc. And being informed what peopled habitation was round
about, he vnderstood that to the West, the Countrie was most inhabited, and that downe
the Riuer beyond Quigalta was vninhabited, and had little store of food. He desired them
all, that euerie one would giue his opinio i in writing, & set • his hand to it : that they
might reaolue by generail consent, whether they should goe downe the Riuer> or enter into
the maine land. AH were of opinion, that it was best to go by land toward the West,
because Nueua Espanna was that way ; holding the voyage by sea more dangerous, and of
greater hazard, because they could make no ship of any strength to abide a storme, neither
had they Master, nor Pilot, Compasse, nor Chart, neither knew they how farre the sea
was off, nor had any notice of it; nor whether the Riuer did make any great turning into

the

li^

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

745

the land, or had any RPfnt fall from the rork«, where all of them might be cast away. And
some which had seene the sea-chart, did rnui, that from the place where they were by the
Hea coast to Nona luipanna, might bee 400. leagues, liiilc more or lessc ; and said, that
though they went somewhat about by land in seeking a peopled Countric, if some great
wilderneHse which they could not passe did not hinder the, by spending that sommcr in
trauell, finding proui>iion to pa«>"? the winter in some peopled Countric, that the next
sommer after they might come to bonic Christian land, and that it might fortune in their
trauel by land to find some rich Countrie, where they might doe themselues good. The
Gouernour, although he desired to get out of Florida in shorter time, seeing the incon-
ueniences they laid before him, in trauelling by sea, determined to follow that which
seemed good to them all. On Monday the fifth of lune, he departed from Guachoya. ^^^•'''^''"''
The Cacique gaue him a guide to Chaguate, and staled at home in his ownc towne. They
passed through a Proui nee called Calalte: and hauing passed a wildernesse of sixe daies ctiaitc.
lournie, the twentieth day of J moneth he came to Chaguate. The Cacique of this Pro- chiguiif.
uince had visited the Gouernour Don Ferdinando de Soto at Auliamque, whither he
brought him presents of skinnes, and mantles and salt. And a day before Luys de
Moscoso came to his towne, we lost a Christian that was sicke ; which hee suspected that
the Indians had slaine. Hee sent the Cacique word, that he should command his people
to seeke him vp, and send him vnto him, and that he would hold him, as he did, for his
friend: and if he did not, that neither he, nor his, should escape his hands, and that hee
would set his Countrie on fire. Presently the Cacique came vnto him, and brought
a great present of mantles and skinnes, and the Christian that was lost, and made this
speech following:

Right excellent Lord, I would not deserue that conceit which you had of me, for all the
treasure of the world. What inforced me to goe to visit and serue the excellent Lord
Gouernour your father in Auliamque, which you should haue remembred, where I offered my
selfe with all loyaltie, faith and loue, during my life to serue and obey him ? What then
could be the cause, I hauing receiued fauours of him, and neither you nor he hauing done
me any wrong, that should mooue me to doe the thing, which I ought not P Beleeue this of
mee, that neither wrong, nor any worldly interest, was able to make me to haue done it,
nor shall be able to blind me. But as in this life it is a naturall course, that after one plea-
sure, many sorrowes doe follow : so by your indignation, fortune would moderate the ioy,
which my heart conceiueth with your presence ; and that I should erre, where 1 thought
surest to haue hit the marke; in harboring this Christian which was lost, and vsing him in
such manner, as he may tell himselfe, thinking that herein I did you seruice, with pur-
pose to. deliuer him vnto you in Chaguate, and to serue you to the vttermost of my
power. If I deserue punishment for this, I will receiue it at your hands, as from my
Lord, as if it were a fauour. For the loue which I did beare to the excellent Gouernour,
and which I beare to you hath no limit. And like as you giue me chastisement, so will you
also shew me fauour. And that which now I craue of you is this, to declare your will vnto
me, and those things, wherein I may bee able to doe you the most and best seruice.

The Gouernour answered him, that because he did not find him in that towne, hee was
incensed against him, thinking he had absented himselfe, as others had done: But seeing
he now knew his loyaltie and loue, he would alwaies hold him as a brother, and fauour him
in all his affaires. The Cacique went with him to the towne where he resided, which was
a dales iournie from thence. They passed through a smal town, where there was a lake, a smai towne.
where the Indians made salt: and the Christians made some one day while they rested sait midt of
there, of a brackish water, which sprang neere the towne in ponds like founfaines. The "^J^'^p""*'"'
Gouernour staled in Chaguate sixe dales. There he was informed of the habitation that
was toward the West. They told him, that three dales iournie from thence was a Prouince
called Aguacay. The day that he departed from Chaguate. a Christian, called Francisco de
Guzman, the base sonne of a Gentleman of Siuill, staled behind, and went to the Indians,
with an Indian woman which he kept as his concubine, for feare he should be punished for

gaming

■I

Hi-: li
! 'It ■ ,' J

'• f\

h: ■ f

'^b\

746

Ajiuciy,

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The diaeouerie of Florida,

Kiionlcdgr of
(lie South Sea.
Store of Stit
nudr.

A &m.)l tovvne.

Malt made here.

•Palo.

Amjye.

Iiilie 10-

HacaiLic.

Nacu.tei.

A RUicr.

Itilie they pitched
of a groue of vc v
came to view then;
whom the Gouern:

framing debt^i, that he did owe. The Oouernor had trauellcd two dales before he miiuied
him ; hec sent the Cacique word to neeke him vp, and to Hend him to Agiiacay, whither he
trauelled : which hee did not performe. From the Cacique of Aguacay, before they came
into the Coimirie, there met him on the way 15. Indians with a present of Hkinnefl, fish
and rosted venison. The Gouernour came to his towne on "Wednesday, the fourth of lulie.
He found the towne without people, and lodged in it: he staied there about a d<iy; during
which, he made some roades, and tuoke many men and women. There they had know-
ledge of the South Sea. Here there was great store of salt made of sand, which they
gather in a vaine of ground like peeble stones. And it was made as they make salt in
C;iyas.

Chap. XXXII.

How the Gouernour went from Aguacay to Naguatcx, and what happened vnto him.

THe same day that the Gouernour departed from Aguacay he lodged in a small towne
subiect to the Lord of that prouince. The Campe pitched hard by a lake of salt water ;
and that euening they made some salt there. The day following hee lodged betwcene two
mountaines in a thinne groue of wood. The next day hee came to a small towne called
Pato. The fourth day after his departure from Aguacay he came to the first habitation of a
prouince called Amaye. There an Indian was taken, which said that from thence to
Naguatex w.is a day and a haifes iourney ; which they trauelled, finding all the way
inhabited places. Hauing passed the peopled countrie of Amaye, on Saturday the 30. «f
their Campe at noone betweene Amaye and Naguatex along the corner
iiaire trees. In the same place certaine Indians were discouered, which
'ihe horsemen went out to them, and killed six, and tooke two;
ur asked, wherefore they came ? They said, to know what people hee
had, and what order they kept; and that the Cacique of Naguatex their Lord h.id sent
them, and that he, with other Caciques which came to aide him, determined that day to
bid him battell. While they were occupied in these questions and answeres, there came
many Indians by two waies in two squadrons : and when they saw they were descried,
giuing a great crie they assaulted the Christians each squadron by it selfe : but seeing what
resistance the Christians made them, they turned their backes and betooke themselues to
flight, in which many of them lost their Hues; and mast of the horsemen following them
in chase, carelesse of the Camp, other two squadrons of Indians, which lay in ambush, set
vpon the Christians that were in the Campe, which also they resisted, who also had their
reward a% the first. After the flight of the Indians, and that the Christians were retired,
they heard a great noise a crossebow shot from the place where they were. The Gouernour
sent twelue horsemen to see what it was. They found sixe Christians, foure footmen and
two horsemen, among many Indians; the horsemen defending the footmen with great
labour. These being of them that chased the first two squadrons, had loi^t themselues, and
comming to recouer the Campe fell among those with whom they were fighting : and so
they, and those that came to succour the, slew many of the Indians, and brought one aliue
to the Campe : whom the Gouernour examined, who they were that came to bid him bat-
tell. He told him, that they were the Cacique of Naguatex, and of Amaye, and another
nf a prouince called Hacanac, a Lord of great countries and many subiects: and that the
Cacique of Naguatex came for Captaine and chiefest of them all. The Gouernour com-
manded his right arme and nose to be cut off, and sent him to the Cacique of Naguatex,
charging him to tell him, that the next day hee would bee in his countrey to destroy him ;
and if hee would withstand his entrance, hee should stay for him. That night he lodged
there ; and the next day hee came to the habitation of Naguatex, which was very scatter-
ing : he inquired where the Caciques chiefe towne was ? They told him that it was on the
other side of a Riuer, that passed thereby : hee trauelled thitherward, and came vnto it :
and on the other side hee saw many Indians, that taried for him, making shew as though

they

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

tin

they would defend the passage. And because hee knew not whether it rcnild bre waded,
nor where the paiwage was ; and that some Christians! and horses were hurt ; ihat tlicy
might haue time tu recouer, he determined to rest certaine daies in tlie towne where he
was. So hee pitched hi^i campe a quarter of a league from the Riuer. bcrau.-c tlic w( atlicr
was very hot, neerc vnto the towne, in a thinne groue of very faire and hie trees neerc a
brookes side : and in that plate were rertaine Indians taken ; whom hee examined, whether
the Kiuer were wadeabic or no ? They said, yea, at some times, and in some places.
Within ten daies after he sent two Captaines with fifteene horsemen a peece vpward and Au(un.
downe the Riuer with Indians to shew them where they should goe ouer, to see what habita-
tion was on the other side: And the Indians withstood them both, defending the passage of
the Riuer as farre as they were able, but they passed in despite of them: and on the other Thry pam the
side of the Riuer they saw great habitation, and great store of victuals; and with these ""'
newes returned to the Camp.

Chap. XXXIII.

How the Cacique of Nagiiatex came to visite the Gourrnour: and how the Gouern-
our departed from Naguatex and came to Nondacao.

THe Gouernour sent an Indian from Naguatex where hee lay, to command the Cacique
to come to serue and obey him, and that hee would forgiuc him all that was past ; and if
he came not, that he would seeke him, and giue him such punishment as he had deserued
for that which he had done against him. Within two daies the Indian returned, & said that
the Cacique would come the next day : which, the same day when he came, sent many
Indians before him, among whom there were some principall men : hee sent them to see
what countenance they found in the Gouernour, to resolue with himselfe whether hee
should goe or not. The Indians let him vnderstand, that he was comming, and went away
presently : and the Cacique came within two houres accompanied with many of his men :
they came all in a ranke one before another on both sides, leauing a lane m the middest
where hee came. They came where the Gouernour was, all of them weeping after the
manner of Tulla, which was not farre from thence toward the East. The Cacique made his Tuiu not (m
due obedience, and tiiis speech following : Eutwanf. '""'

Right high and mightic Lord, whom all the world ought to serue and obey, I was bold
to appeare before your Lordship, hauing committed so heinous and abominable an act, as
only for me to haue imagined, deserued to be punished ; trusting in your greatnes, that
although I deserue to obtaine no pardon, yet for your owne sake only you will vse clemencie
toward me, considering how small I am in comparison of your Lordship; and not to think
vpon my weaknesses, which, to my griefe and for my greater good, I haue knowne. And
I beleeue that you and yours are immortall; and ths^' your Lordship is Lord of the land of
nature, seeing that you subdue all things, and they i -v;-,' you, euen the very hearts of men.
For when I beheld the slaughter and destruction of m; men in the battell, which, through
mine ignorace, and the counsell of a brother of mine, which died in the same, I gaue your
Lordship, presently I repented me in my heart of the error, which I had committed ; and
desired to serue and obey you : and to this end I come, that your Lordship may chastise and
command mee as your owne.

The Gouernour answered him, that he forgaue him all which was past, that from thence-
forth hee should do his dutie, & that he would hold him for his friend, and that he would
fauour him in all things. Wiihin foure daies hee departed thence, and comming to the
Riuer he could not passe, because it was growne very liigge ; which seemed to him a thing "^^ '^'""
of admiration, being at that time that it was, and since it had not rained a moneih before. fhieTn Augmi,
The Indians said, that it increased many times after that manner wilhout raining in all the "***«"""•
countrie. It was supposed, that it might bee the tide that came into it. It was learned *^°"'""'""'f
that the flood came alway from aboue, and that the Indians of all that countrie h.id no No"iwatd'
knowledge of the Sea. The Guueraour returned vnto the place where he had lodged

before :

74S

A timiif.

Tuwnci burned.

NtS»0OtIf.

i!'*'

NttiitUv.40*

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discoucrie of Florida,

bernre : nnd vnderitandin); within cij^Kl daim aftrr that the Riucr waH pa<<«rablr, he de>
parted, lie pas^etl oiirr ami fniiiid \hc tnwne withmit people: he Imlged in the field, and
«ent the Cacique won! to come vnio him, and to bring him a guide to goe fnrwanl. And
■ome daies beint; pa-f. seein;; the Cacique came not, nor sent any bodie, hee ficnt two
Captnines wundric waie^ to hurne the townes, and to takevuch Indiano as they could tinde :
They burnt great store of vi( tuaK and tock many Indians. The Cacique seeing the hurt
that he recciued in his cnuntrie, sent sixc principall Indians with three men for guides
which knew the language of the countrie, through which the Gouemour was to passe.
IIco departed presently from Naguatex, and within three daies journey came to a towne of
foure or fine houses, which belonged to the Cacique of that prouince, which is call*!
Nissonne: it was euill inhabited and had little \fai/,. Two daies Journey forward the guides
which guided the Gouemour, if they were to goe Westward, guided him to the East ; and
sorneiiinos went vp and downe through very great wo(hU out of the way. The Goiiernour
commanded them to bee hanged vpon a tree : and a woman that they tooke in Ni«oonf
guided him, and went backe againe to secke the way. In two daies he came to another
miserable towne, called I.acanc : an Indian was taken in that place, that said, that the
countrie of Nondarao was a countrie of great habitation, and the houses scattering the one
from the other, a4 they vse to bee in mountains, and had great store of Maiz, The C'acique
came with his men weeping, like them of Naguatex : for this is their vse in token
of obedience: hec made him a present of much fish, an<l offered to doe what he
would command him. Ilee touke his leaue, and gaue him a guide to 'he prouince of
Soacatino.

Chap. XXXIIII.

How the Gouemour went from Nondacao to Soacatino and Guasco, and passed
through a desert, from whence, for want of a guide, and an interpretour, he
returned to Nilco.

THe Gouernour departed from Nondacao toward Soacatino, and in flue daies iournie came
to a Prouince called Aays. The Indians which inhabited it, had no notice of the Christi,in»i :
but assoone as they saw that they entrcd into their country, they assembled tliemselues : and
as they came together 50. or 100. they came foorth to fight : while some fought, others came
and charged our men another way, and while they followed some, others followed them. The
fight lasted the greatest part of the day, till they came to their towne. Some horses and men
were wounded, but not to any hurt of their trauelling: for there was no wound that was
dangerous. There was a great spoile made of the Indians. That day that the Gouernour
departed from thence, the Indian that guided him said, that in Nonducao he had heard say,
that the Indians of Soacatino had seene other Christians, whereof they all were very glad :
thinking it might be true, and that they might haue entred into those parts by Nueua Es-
panna ; and that if it were so, it was in their owne hand to goe out of Florida, if they found
nothing of profit: for they feared they should lose themselues in some wildernes. This In-
dian led him two daies out of the way. The Gouernour commanded to torture him. He
said, that the Cacique of Nondacao, his Lord, had commanded him to guide thrm so, be-
cause they were his enemies, and that hee was to doe as his Lord commanded him. The

iu\.M'M. Gouernour commanded him to be cast to the dogs : and another guided him to Soacatino,
whither hee came the day following. It was a verie poorc Countrie : there was great want

v^ d-i> ; trautii of Maiz iH that place. Hee asked the Indians, whether they knew of any other Christians.

to««r,ithe They said, that a little from thence toward the South they heard they were. He trjuelietl 20.

daies through a Countrie euill inhabited, where they suffered great scarcitie and trouble. For

that little Maiz which the Indians had, they had hidden and buried in the woods, where the

fmind'sTme Christians, after they were well wearied with their trauell, at the end of their iournie went

iVrkie stones to seeke by digging what they should eat. At last, comming to a Prouince that was called
"""liou."' Guasco, they found Maiz, wherewith they loaded their horses, and the Indians that they had.

From

A^iys.

A towne.

Suiitll.

I ;u.i
I. lev

an I

CJttol

.»" ., — -,

ie of FI'triHa,

ne.rt adioi/nhig to J\ .•/«/«. TnAFliQUKS, AND IJISCOUKRIKS.

?49

tlu-y returned ;|;'\7j;;';""'

From thcnrc they wont to nnothcr townc railed Naqnisro^a. The Indian* ««id, thcv had NJiui^c^'-
no notice of any other Christians. The (iiMifrnonr rnmmaiidcd to torment them. Tiicy
said, that they ramc first to nmithrr I.ordship, wliich was called Naijacahoy., and rromNj(i«hu(.
thence returned n;;ain to the West, from wlicnrc they came. The (louernour ramc in
two daies to Na(;acaho7. : Some women were taken there : amoiijj whom thrVc was one,
which said, that nhe had scene ChriMlianN, and had been taken by them, and had run
away. The (ioiiernour sent a Captainc with I."!, horsemen to the place wliere the woman
»*aid she had scene ihem, to see if there were any signe of horses, or any token of their
being there. Alter they had gone three or I'oure lea;;ucs, the woman that guided them said,
that all that she h.-id told them wnt vntrue. And m) they held all ihc rest that the Indians had
said, of seeing Christians in the land of Floriila. And, because the Countric that way was
poore of \faiz, nnd toward the West, there wjh no notice of any habitation,
to Guasco. The Indians told them there, that 10. daies iournic from thence toward the West,
was a Riuer called Daycao ; whither they went sometimes a hunting and killing of Deere :
and that they had scene people on the other side, but knew not what habitation was there.
There the Christians tooke such Maiz as they found and could carrie, and, j^oing 10. daies
iournie through a wildernesse, they came to the Uiuer vhich the Indians had told them of. tI" R'j" of
Ten horsemen, which the Gouernour had sent before, passed oucr the same, and went in a jj.^! J,„!','i, „rhf'
way that led to the Riuer, and lighted vpon acnmpanic of Indians that dwelt in veric Uitlc'^'" <''•'<""•
cabins: who, assonne as they saw them, tookc them.selues to llight, leaning that which they
had ; all which was nothing but miserie and poucrtie. The Countrie was so poorc, that
among them all there was not found halfe a peck of Maiz. Tlie horsemen tooke two Indi:nis,
and returned with them to the Uiuer, where the Gouernour staied for them, lie sought to
learne of them what habitation was toward the West. There was none in the Camp that
could vnderstand their language. The Gouernour assembled the Captaines and principill
persons, to determine with their aduicc what they should doc. And the mo<t p:irt said, that
they thought it best to returne backe to Uio grandc, or the Great Riuer of Guachova ; be-
cause that in Nilco and thereabout was store of Maiz : saying, that they would make pinaces
that winter, and the next snmmer pnsse down the Riuer to the seaward in them, and comming
to the Sea they would goe along the coast to Nueua Espanna. For though it seemed a doubt*
full thing and difiicult, by that which they had already alleaged, yet it was the last remedic
they had. For by land they could not goe for want of an Interpretour. And they held, that NntM>iriiiii|:h)r
the countrie beyond the Riuer of Daycao, where they were, was that which Cabeija de Vaca j^^fpVrNvlr. "
mentioned in his relation that he passed of the Indians, which lined like the Alarbcs, hauing
no setled place, and fed vpon Tunas and rootcs of the fields, and wildc beasts that thev
killed. Which if it were so, if they should enter into it and finde no victuals to passe the
winter, they could not cluise but perish. For they were entrcd alreadic into the beginning
of October: and if they staied any longer, they were not able to returne for mine and
snowes, nor to sustainc themselues in so poore a countrey. The Gouernour (that desired
long to sec himselfe in a place where hee might siccpc his full sleep, rather then to conquer
and gouerne a countrie where so many troubles presented themselues) presently returned
back that same way that he came.

Chap. XXXV.

IIow they returned to Nilco, and came to Minora, where they agreed to make ships
to depart out of the land of Florida.

WHen that which was determined was published in the Campe, there were many that were
greatly grieued at it : for they held the Sea voyage as doubtfull, for the cuill mcancs they
had, and of as great danger, as the trauelling by land : and they hoped to finde some rich
countric before they came to the land of the Christians, by that which Cabe(;a de Vaca had
told 'he Emperour: and that was this; That after hee had found clothes made of cotton wooll,
hee saw gold and siluer, and stones of great value. And they had not yet come where hee Oo^J, 'ii'" r •■">••
had been. For vntill that place hee alwaies trauelled by the Sea coast : and they trauelled irFi"Md!!°"'

5 D farre

750

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

The dtscoucrit of Florida,

';;.*

I '

gfiindr

rinf urthen
(;h(ii;uiitr.

f;irro wirhin the land ; and that pninjj fnwnrd thff VVoxf, oT ncresniiic fhcv should come where
hoc had bcpn. For he Hnid, Thnt Ju a crit in phicp he tnuclird many tlaiiN, and enfrod into
i!^ij n!'w>"*'f ^^^ '•'"'' toward the North. And in Oii;isfo th« y had idrcadic Connd some Tiirkif htonc*", and
r.)iinnm»ii mantlrx of roiton wnril : which the Indians «ij;iiilie<l by ^ij^ne'* thnt tliey had I'rom the West :
found in ci«icu..„„| ,|,^, hoMimr that rcur-se thry sh( nid draw nrerc to the liind of the Christians. But though
they were niiuh di«iContei;ted with it, and it jjrieiicd many ^}^ goc backward, which would ra-
ther haue adnenturcd their lines and hanc died in the lnn<l of I'lorida, then to haue gone poorc
«iiit of it: yet were they not a snfTuient part to hinder iliat which was determined, because
the priiK ij)ii!l men a<;rerd with the (Joiurnotir. And afterward there was one that naid, hec
would put out one of his owne eycj, to put out another of Luis de Moscoso; because it
would i;riene him much to sec him prosper: liecausc a^iwejl himself as others of his friends
had crossed that which hee durst not haue done, seeing tliat within two daies hee should leaue
\l°tMthV '^'" '''*" fi""<'''""if »'• From Daycao, where now they were, to Rio prande, or the Great Hiucr,
Kiurrni Diy- was !.")(). Icafjues : which vnto that place they had jjone Westward. And by the way as they
..nd Rio returned lackc they had much adoe to find Mai/ to e:ite : for where they had pas.sed, the
cnunfrey was destroyed : and some little Maiz that wa-i left the Indians had hidden. The
townes which in Naguafcx they had burned (whereof it repented them) were repaired againe,
and the houses full of Maiz. Tliis coinifrie is well inhabited and plentifull. In that place
are vessiels made of ciny, which differ very little from those of Estremoz, or Monie-mor. In
Chajjuatc the Indians by como'andemenf of the Cacique came peaceably, and said, that the
Chrisfi.in which remained there would not come. The Goucrnour wrote vnto him, and sent
him inke and paper that he might answere. The substance of (he words of the letter was
to dcrlnrc vnto him his determination, which was, to goc out of the land of Florida, and to
put I'im in remembrance th.it he was a Christian, lh.Tt hee would not remaine in the subjection
of Itifitl'Is, thiit hee pardoned him the fault which he had done in going away to the Indians,
that lice should come vrto him : and if they did stay him, that hee would adueriise him
thereof by writing. The Indian went with the letter, and came again without any more an-
swere, then, on the back side, his name and his scale, that they might know he was aliue.
The Goucrnour sent twclue horsemen to scekc him : but he, which had his spies, so hid him-
selfe, that they could not fmd him. For want of Maiz the Gouernour could not stay any
longer t.) seeke him. Hee departed from Chaguete, and passed the Riuer by Aays ; going
downe by it hoc fotmd a towne called Chilano, which as yet they had not seen. They came
to Nileo, & found so little Maiz, as could not suffice till they made their ships ; because the
Christians, being in Guachoya in the seede time, the Indians for feare of them durst not
come to sow the grounds of Nilco : and they knew not thereabout any other countrie where
any Maiz was: and that was the most fruitfull soile that was thereaway, and where they had
most hope to finde it. Euery one was confmmdcd, and the most part thought it bad counsell
to come backe from the Riuer of Daycao, and not to haue followed their fortune, going that
way that went ouer land. For by Sea it seemed impossible to saue themselues, vnlesse God
would worke a miracle for them : for there was neither Pilot, nor Sea-chart, neither did they
know where the Riuer cntred into the Sea, neither had they notice of it, neither had they
any thing wherewith to make sailes, nor any store of Enequem, which is a grasse whereof
they make Okam, which grew there : and that which they found they saued to calke the
Pinaces withall, neither had they any thing to pitch them withall : neither could they make
ships of such substance, but that any storme would put the in great danger: and they feared
much it would fall out with theui, as it did with Pamphilo de Naruaez, which was cast away
vpon that coast : And aboue all other it troubled them most, that they could finde no Maiz :
for without it they could not bee sustained, nor could doe any thing that they had neede of.
All of them were put to great confusion. Their chiefe remedy was to commit themselues to
God, and to beseech him that he would direct them the way that they might saue their lines.
And it pleased him of his goodnesse, that the Indians of Nilco came peaceablie, and told
them, that two dales iourncy from thence, ncere vnto the Great Riuer, were two townes,
whereof the Chri^^tians had no notice, and that the prouince was called Minoya, and was a

fruitfull

Atyt.

Chilinn.
N.ko.

next adtiMfntng to Virnlnhi. THArFIQUnS. AND DlsCOUI-RIIX

rniiirull nolle: that, whether at lhi-« present there was any Mai/, or no, they knew not, bcr.iiise
they had warrc with them : but that they would be very n\:h\ with the fauMurofliie ('hri-.ii.iiH
to f^oe and xpoyle them. The (ioiiernoiir >enl a Caplaine t!iiihcr wii.i hor>cmen and foot-
men, and the Indiann oF Nilco with him. IIcc came to Minoya, and found two great lox^nc^
seated in a pluine and open xoile, hnlfe a leap;uc distant, one in si^hl of another, n:ul in
them he tooke many Indiana, and found great store of Mai/.. I're<«enlly lie lodgeti in one of
them, and sent word to the (iouernoiir what hce had found : wlicrewith they were all cxrecil-
ing glad. They departed from Nilco in the brginning of December; and all th.il way. and
before from Chilano, thev endured much trouble : for they pan^-ed tlirough many watrr->, and
many timeii it rained with a Norlhren wiiide, and was exceeding cold, »o that thry were in
the open field with water ouer and vnderneath them : and when at tlie end of tfieir daitN
iourney they found drie ground to rest vpon, they gaue great llianks I > (Jiid. Witli lliis
trouble abnost all the Indiann that nerucd them died. And alter t!)cy were in Minoya, many
Christian!) also died : and the most part were .^icke of great and (iangerous disease h, whi( Ii
had a spice of the lethargic. At tWn place died Andrew de Vasconcelos, and two Piirlug:i!>
of Eiuas, which were very necre him : which were brethren, and l)y their surname called
Sotis. The Christian)* lodged in one of the towncs, which they liked best : wiiirh was fensed
about, and distant a quarter of a league from the (Ireat Riuer. The .Mui/. that w:is in the
other towne was brought thither; and in all it was esteemed to bee ()<KJ(i hanegs or bushels.
And there was the best timber to make Hhips, that they had scene in all the land < f rinrida:
wherefore all of them gaue God great thankcs fur so singular a fauour, and hoped thnt t! ni
which they desired would take effect, which was, that they mij^ht safely bee conducted ii\io
the land of the ChriHtians.

751

Nfinoyi,
'I wn '^rr4l

IOWIICm

Tlir It ,'inM>f.|

• r DcctinlKr.

Rjint villi
Northren vimd
ticc<diii| iulil.

'Ml' drith nf
AimIlw Vjv

f.llHfl II,

Chap. XXXVI.

How there were seuen Brigandincs builded, and how they departed from Minoya.

ASsoone as they came to Minoya, the Gouernor commanded them to gather all the
chaines together, which euerie one had to lead Indians in ; and to gather al the yron which
they had for their prouision, and al the rest that was in the Camp: and to set vp a forge
to make nailes, and commanded them to cut downc limber for the brigandines. And
a Portugall of Ccula, who hauing bin a prisoner in Fez, had learned to saw timber with a
long saw, which for such purposes they had carried with them, did teach others, which
helped him to saw timber. And a Gcnowis, whom it :>ieased God to preserne (for without
him they had neuer come out of the countrie: for there was neiier another that could make
ships but hee) with foure or fine other Discaine carpcnlcp*, which hewed his plancks and
other timbers, made the brigandines : And two cnlkers, the one of Genua, the other of
Sardinia did caike them with the tow of an hearb like hempe, whereof before I haue made
mention, which there is named Enequen. And bccauN( there was not enough of it, they
calked them with the flaxe of the Countrie, and with tlie mantles, which they rauelled for
that purpo.se. A cooper which they had among them fell sicke, nnd w „. »i>.e point of
death : and there was none other that had any skill in that trade: it pii.u.^. .. God to send him
his health : And albeit he w.is veric weake, and could not labour; yet 15. dales before they
departed, he made for euery brigandine two halfc hogs heads, which the mariners call
quarteret.s, because foure of them hold a pipe of water. The Indians which dwelt two dales
iournie aboue the Riuer in a Prouince called Taguanate, and likewise those of Nilco and
Guacoya, and others their neighbours seeing the brigandines in making, thinking, because
their places of refuge arc in the water, that they were to goe to seekc them : and because
the Gouernour demanded mantles of them, as neccssarie for sailes, came many times, and
brought many mantles, and great store of fish. And for certainc it seemed that God was
willing to fauour them in so great necessitie, moouing the minds of the Indians to bring
them : for to goe to take them, they were neuer able. For in the towne where they were,
assoone as winter came in, they were so inclosed and compassed with water, ^ thev rould

5 D 2 ' «'o

hrrbe iikr

riixf if I'-.
ciHimhr.

diirt inntr*. '
ahmir MiMit

t.^iii

■i n

I'm,

1 . u

I 1

75*2

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Tlie ditcouerie of Floridtt,

!i.i ■■•

RiuvT for two
itu nrthi space,
to >vii, ill!
jMjrch and

Net

po ni) Hirthcr by land, then a league, & a lea; ... & an half. And if tliry wniild go farther,
Thrsrtji.cof they Colli J carric no horses, ife without tliC they were not able to tight with the Indians, be-
'"'"'■ c;\Msc they were many : and so many for >o many on foote they had the aduantnnc of them

by water and by land, because they were more apt and lighter, and by reason of the dnpo-
siiion of the Conntrie, which was according to their desire for f he vj^c of their warrc. Thev
brought al«io some cords, and those which wanted for rabies were made of the barkes of
Muibfirie trefs. .\fulbcrrie trccs. They made stirrops of wood, & made ankers of their stirro|)s. In the
^'^V'^'*''*'' '' • moneth of March, when it had not rained a moneth l>efore, the Riuer grew so big, thai it
came to Nilco, which was nine leigues otT: and on the other side, the Indians said, that it
rc.ichcJ other nine leagues into the land. In the town e where the Christians were, which
was somewliat high ground, where they could best goe, the water reached to the stirrops.
They made ceriaine rafts of timber, anil laid manie houghes vpon them, wheron they set
their horses, and in the houses they did »he like. But seeing that nothing preuailed, they
went vp to the lofts: and if they went out of the houses, it was in canoes, or on horsebaok
in those places where the gr. und was hicst. So they were two moneths, and could doc
nothing, during which time the Riuer decreased not. The Indians cea.scd not to come vnto
ihe brigantines as they were wont, and came in canoes. At that time the Gouernour feared
they would set vpon him. lice commanded his men to take an Indian secretly of those
that came to the towne, and to stiy h'.m *ill the rest were gone : and they tooke one. The
Goucrnt!ur commanded him to bee put to tr.rture, to make him confesse, whether the Indians
Thrgr.ndcon- did practise any treason or n(\ Hcc confes^•^d that the Caciques of Nilco, Guachoya, &
ihlLi's j'^^a'ib't Taguanare, and others, which in al were about '^. Caciques, with a great number of people,
the chri.iians. deteriuii.fd to come vpon him ; and that tlirce daies before, they would send a great present
of (ish to colour their great treason ai.d malice, and on the verie day they would send some
Indians before with another present : And these with those which were our slaue.s, which
were of their conspiracte also, should set the houses on fire, and first of all posscsse them-
selues of the lances which stood at chc doores of the houses; and the Caciques with all their
men should bee neere the towne in ambush in the wood, and when they saw the fire kindled,
should come, and make an end of the conquest. The Gouernour rommanded the Indian to
Ti.ir. it imiianj bc kept in a chaine, and the selfcsame d.iy that he spake of, there came 30. Indians with
otcraciow"' fish. IIcc commaudcd their right hands to be cut off, and sent them so backe to the
han'-'c t'ufl*" ^''^'^"*^ of Guachoya, whose men they were. He sent him woid, that he and thereat should
come when they would, ft)r he desired nothing more, and that hce should know, that they
thought not any thing which he knew not before they thought of it. Hereupon they all
were put in a very great feare: And the Caciques of Nilco and Taguanate came to excuse
theinselues : and a few dales after came he of Guachoya, and a principal Indian and his
subject, said, he knew by certaine information. That the Caciques of Nilco and Taguanate
were agreed to come and make warre vpon the Christians. Assoone as f Indians came from
Nilco, the Gouernour examined them, and they confessed it was true. Hee deliuered them
presently to the principall man of Guachoya, which drew them out of the towne and killed
them. Another day came some from Taguanate, and confessed it likewise. The Gouernour
Thf tight hand< Commanded their right hands and noses to bt- cut off, and sent them to the Cacique, wherc-
tratourj'cut off. ^^'''^ ''^^X "^ Guachoya remained very well contented : and they came oftentimes with pre-
sents of mantles and fish, and hogs, which bred in the Countrie of some swine that were
lost by tin." way tiie last yeere. Assoone as the wafers were slaked, they perswaded the Go-
uernour to send men to Taguanate : They came and brought canoes, wherein the footemen
were conueicd downe the Riuer, and a Captaine with horsemen went by land ; and the Indians
of Guachoya, which guided him, till they came to Taguanate, assaulted the towne, and took
m.'my men and women, and mantles, which with those that they had alreadie were sufficient
to supplie their want. The brigandincs being finished in the moneth of lune, the Indians
hauing told vs, That the Riuer increased but once a yeere, when the snowes did melt, in
the time wherein I mentioned it had alreadie increased, being now in sommer, and hauing
wiitnihcsnowM not raincd a long time, it pleased God, that the flood came vp to the towne to seeke the

brigandines.

tfoggcs in
Florida.

T.iguanite
l.ikcn.

lunr.

The Riuer in'
creaseth but
once a yter«

ie of Floridtt,

next adiotftiing to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

brigandines, from whence they carried them by water to the lliuer. Which, if ihey had
gone by land, had been in danger of brcakinij and Rpiitting their kecles, and to bee all
vndone ; because that for want of iron, the spikes were short, and the planckes and timber
were very weake. The Indians of Minoya, during the time that they were there, came to
t»erue them (being driucii thercnnto bv necessity) that of the Maiz which they had taken
from them, they wonid bcstov/ some cnimmes vpon them. And beraus.? the Counlric was
fcrtill, and the people vscd to feed of Maiz, and the Christians had gotten all from them
that <hey had, and the people were many, thry were not able to mistaine themselues.
Those which came to the townc were so weake and feeble, that they had no (lesh left on
their bones : and many came and died neere the towne for pure hunger and weakenesse.
The Gouermur commanded vpon grieuous punishments to giue them no Maiz. Yet, when
they saw that the hoggcs wanted it not, and that they had yeelded themselues to serue them,
& considering their miseric and wretchednes, hauing pity of the, they gauc them part of
the Maiz which they had. And when the time of their embarkment came, there was not
Hutficient to serue their owne turnes. That which there was, they put into the brigandines,
and into great canoes tied two and two together. They shipped 2^. of the best horses, that
were in the Canip, the rest they made dried flesh of; and dressed the hogges which they
had in like manner. They departed from Minoya the second day of lulie, Ibi'S.

Chap. XXXVII.

As the Christians went downe the great Riuer on their voyage, the Indians of
Quigalta did set vpon them, and what was the successe thereof.

THe day before they departed from Minoya, they determined to dismisse al the men &
women of the Countrie, which they had detained as slaues to serue them, »aue some hundred,
little more or lesse, which the Gouernour embarked, and others whom it pleased him to
permit. J^nd because there were many men of qualitie, whom he could not deny that
which he granted to others, he vsed a policy, saying, that they miglit serue them as long
as they were in the Riuer, but when they came to the sea, they must send them away for
want of water, because they had but few vessels. He told his friends in secret, that they
should carrie theirs to Nueua Espanna: And all those whom hee bare no good will vnto
(which were the greater number) ignorant of that which was hidden from them, which after-
ward time discouered, thinking it inhununitie for so little time of seruice, in reward of the
great seruice that they had done them, to carrie them with them, to leaue them slaues to
other men out of their owne Countries; left fiue hundred men and women ; among whgm
were many boies and girles, which spake & vnderstood the Spanish , tongue. The most of
them did nothing but weepe: which mooued great compassion; seeing that ail of them with
good will would haue become Christians, and Wjere left in state of perdition. There went
from Minoya 3S2. Spaniards inseuen brigandines, well made, saue that the plankes were
thin, because the nailes were short, and were not pitched, nor had any decks to keep the
water from comming in. In stead of decks they laid planks, whereon the mariners might
I'unne to trim their sailes, and the people might refresh themselues aboue and below. The
Gouernour made his Captaines, and gaue to Query one his brigandine, and took their
oth and their word, that they would obey him, vntill they came to the land^ of the Christians.
The Gouernour tooke one of the brigandines for himself, which he best liked. The same
day that they departed from Minoya, they passed by Guachoya, where the Indians tarried
for them in canoes by the Riuer. And on the shore, they had made a great arbour with
boughes: They desired him to eome on shore; but he excused himseife, and so went along:
The Indians in their canoes accompanied him; and comming where an arme of the Riuer
declined on the right hand, they said, that the Prouince of Quigalta was neere vnto
that place, and imp)rtuned the Gouernour to set vpon him, and that they would aide
him. And because they had said, that he dwelt three dales iournie downe the Riuer, the
Gouernour supposed that they had plotted some treason against him, and there left them ;

and

753

rfitp nirlt in
M.ircli aiul
Apritl.
A miractilixj'i

acidcnt.

5CO. Slaiif s If (t
in tlu- Cuutitrir.

They sailc
dowite Kio
Grande tVuni
Miiioy.i 17.
daics hclt>ii- ili. y
came to tlu-
muuth thereof.

■.iM

'Mm

,''ii >]

V'lJ

;r"i

754

The teconil day.
Huisenc.

Anolher day.

A towne burned.

I'lic third day.

A fteetp of an
luindrcd f.ure
..:ij /rtac canoes.

Elcuen Spt»
niards drowned.
'I'he Jfaih of
loha dc Gui*
man.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discoueric of Florida,

and went downe with the greatest force of the water. The current was very strong, and
with the helpe of ores, they went very swiftly. The first day they landed in a wood on
the left hand of the Riuer, and at ni<rht they withdrew themselues to the brigandines. The
next day thev came to a townc, where they went on shore, and the people that was in it
durst not tarrie. A woman that they tooke there being examined, said, that that townc
belonged to a Cacique named Iluascnc, subiect to Quigalta, and that Quigalta tarried for
them below in the Riuer with many men. Ccrtaine horsemen went thither, and found
some houses, wherein was much Maiz. Immediately more of them went thither and tarried
there one day, in which they did beate out, and tooke as much Maiz as they needed.
While they were there, many Indians came Irom the nether part of the Riuer, and on the
other side right against them somewhat carclessely set themselues in order to fight. The
Gouernour sent in two canoes the crossebowmen that he had, and as many more as could
goe in them. They ran away, and seeing the Spaniards could not ouertake them, they
returned backe, and tooke courage ; and comming neerer, making an outcrie, they threatned
them : and assoone as they departed thence, they went alter them, some in canoes, and some
by land along the Riuer; and getting before, comming to a towne that stood by the Riuers
side, they ioyncd al together, making a shew that they would tarrie there. Euerie brigan-
dine towed a canoe fastened to their sternes for their particular seruice. Presently there
entred men into euerie one of them, which made the Indians to Hie, and burned the towne.
The same day they presently landed in a great field, where the Indians durst not tarrie.
The next day there were gathered together an hundred canoes, among which were some
that carried GO. and 70. men, and the principal! mens canoes had their tilts, and plumes of
white and reJ feathers for their ensignes: and they came within two crossebow shot of the
brigandines, and sent three Indians in a small canoe with a fained message to view tlie
manner of the brigandines, and what weapons they had. And comming to the side of the
Gouernours brigandine, one of the Indians entred, and said:

That the Cacique of Quigalta his Lord, sent him his commendations, and did let him
vnderstand, that nil that the Indians of Guachoya had told him concerning himselfe, was false,
and that they had incensed him, because they svere his enemies; that he was his seruant,
and should find him so.

The Gouernour answered him, that he beleeued all that he said was true, and willed him
to tell him, that he esteemed his friendship very much. With this answer they returned to
the place where the rest in their canoes were waiting for them, and from thence all of them
fell downe, and came neere the Spaniards, shouting aloud, and threatning of them. The
Gouernour sent lohn de Guzman, which had been a Captaine of footemen in Florida, with
] 5. armed men in canoes to make them giue way. Assoone as the Indians saw them come
towards them, they diuided themselues into two parts, and stood still till the Spaniards came
nie them, and when they were come neere them, they ioyned together on both sides, taking
lohn de Guzman in the middest, and them that came first %vith him, and with great furic
borded them : And as their canoes were bigger, and many of them leaped into the water
to stay thein, and to lay hold on the canoes of the Spaniards, and ouerwhelme them ; so
presently they ouerwhelmed them. The Christians fell into the water, and with the weight
of their armour sunke downe to the bottome: and some few, that by swimming or holding
by the canoe could haue saued themselues, with oares and staues, which they had, they
strooke them on the head and made them sinke. When they of the brigandines saw the
ouerthrow, though they went about to succour them, yet through the current of the Riuer
they could not goe backe. Foure Spaniards fled to the brigandine that was neerest to the
canoes ; and only these escaped of those that came among the Indians. They were eleucn
that died there: among whom John de Guzman was one, and a sonne of Don Carlos, called
lohn de Vargas : the rest also were persons of accout and men of great courage. Those
that escaped by swimming, said, that they saw the Indians enter the canoe of John de
Guzman at the sterne of one of their canoes, and whether they carried him away dead or
aliue they could not certainly tell.

Chap.

erie of Florida,

next adioynhig to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Chap. XXXVIII.

Which declareth how they were pursued by the Indians.

THe Indians, seeing that they had gotten the victorie, tooke such courage, that they
assaulted ihem in tlie brigandincs, which they durst not doe before. They came first to that
brigandine wherein Calderon went for Captainc, and was in the rercwanl : and at the
first volie of arrowes ihey wounded 25. men. There were only foure armed men in this
brigandine : these did stand at the brigandines side to defend it. Those that were vnarmed,
seeing how they hurt ihem, left their oares and went vnder the deck: whereupon the
brigandine began to crosse, and to goe where the current of the streame carried it. One
of the armed men seeing this, without the commandement of the Captaine, made a footman
to take an oare and sfirre the brigandine, hee standing before him and defending him with
his target. The Indians came no neerer then a bowshot, from whence they odended and
were not offended, receiuing no hurt: for in cuery brigandine was but one crossebow, and
those which wee had were very much out of order. So that the Christians did nothing else
but stand for a butte to rcceiue their arrowes. Hauing left this brigandine they went to
another, and fought with it halfe an houre ; and so from one to another they fought with
them all. The Christians had mattes to lay vnder them, which were double, and so close
and strong, that no arrow went thorow them. And assoone as the Indians gaue them leisure,
they fensed the brigandines with them. And the Indians seeing that they could not shoote
leuell, shot their arrowes at randon vp into the aire, which fell into the brigandines, and
hurt some of the men: and not therewith contented, they sought to get to them which were
in the canoes with the horses. Those of the brigandines enuironed them to defend them,
and tooke them among them. Thus seeing themseliies much vexed by them, and so wearied
that they could no longer endure it, they determined to trauell all the night following,
thinking to get beyond the countrie of Quigalta, and that they would leaue them : but when
they thought least of it, supposing they had now left them, they heard very neere them so
great outcries, that they made them deafe, and so they followed vs all that night, and the
next day till noone, by which time we were come into the countrie of others, whom they
desired to vse vs after the same manner ; and so they did. The men of Quigalta returned
home ; and the other in fiftie canoes fought with vs a whole day and a night : and they entred
one of the brigandines, that came in the rereward by the canoe which she had at her sterne,
and tooke away a woman which they found in it, and afterward hurt some of the men of the
brigandines. Those which came with the horses in the canoes, being wearie with rowing
night and day, lingered behind ; and presently the Indians came vpon them, and they of
the brigandincs tarried for them. The Gouernour resolued to goe on shore and to kill the
horses, because of the slow way which they made because of them. Assoone as they saw
a place conuenient for it, they went thither and killed the horses, and brought the flesh of
them to drie it aboord. Foure or fiue of them remained on shore aliue : the Indians went
vnto them, after the Spaniards were embarked. The horses were not acquainted with them,
and began to neigh, and runne vp and downe, in such sort, that the Indians, for feare of
them, leaped into the water; and getting into their canoes went after the brigandincs,
shooting cruelly at them. They followed vs that euening and the night following till the
next day at tenne of the clocke, and then returned vp the Riiier. Presently from a small
towne that stood vpon the Riuer came seuen canoes, and followed vs a little way downe the
Riuer, shooting at vs: but seeing they were so few that they could doe vs but little harme,
they returned to their towne. F'om thence forward, vntill they came to the Sea, they had
no encounter. They sailed downe the Riuer seuenteene daies : which may be two hundred
and fifty leagues iourney, little more or lesse : and neere vnto the Sea the Riuer is diuided
into two armes; each of them is a league and an halfe broad.

<jj

1{. Spaniards
wounded.

The great vse of
large targets.

Strong mats a
guod defence
against arrowcc.

Another Pro-
uincc.

Dried horseflesh
for food.

A smal towne.

Thejr sailed 17.
daies downe the
Riuer, which i(
about 150.
leagues.

Chap.

! ■■,'*'

75fi

V0YAG15S. ^AUIGATtdNS,

The discouerie of Florida,

m^'rV:'.

Chap. XXXIX.

How they came vnto (he sea : and what happened vnto them in all their voiagc.

iJAlte a leagiie before they came to thfc Sea, thiy came to anker to rest themsclues there
about A day : for they were very weary with rowing and out of heart. For by the space of
many daies they had eaten nothing but pnrched and sodden Maiz ; which they had by
allowance euery day an headpeece liil by strike for euery three me. While they rode there
at anker seuen canoes of Indians came to set vp6 those, which they brought with them,
'the Gouernour commanded arnied mCn to go aboord them, and to drlue thehi fafthet- ofi;
They came also against them by land through a thick wood, and a moorish grdund, dnd had
staues with very sharp forked htads madfe of the bones of fishes, and fought verie valiaiitly
with vs, which went out to encounter them. And the other that came in Canoes with their
arrowos stiiied for them that came against them, arid at their comming both those that were
on land, and those in th6 canoes wounded some of vs: And seeing vs come neei-e them,
they turned their backs, and like swift horses among footemen gat away from vs ; making-
some returnes, :ind reuniting themselues together, going not past a bow shot off: for in so
retiring they shot, without rdceiuing any hurt of the Christians. For though they had some
bowes, yet they could not vse them ; and brake their armes with rowing to ouertake them.
And the Indians easily in their compa^s^ went with their canoes, staying and wheeling
about as it had been in a skirmLsh, perceiuing that those that came against them could not
offend them. And the more they stroue to coriie necre them, the more hurt they receiued.
Assoone as they had driu^n them farther off, they returned to the brigandines. Tliey staied
iwo daies there : And departed frorii thiehce vnto the place, where the arme of the Riuer
entreth into the sea. They sounded in the Riuer neere vnto the Sea, and found 40. fathoms
water. They staied there. And the Gouernour commanded al and singular persons to
speake their minds touching their voiage, whether it were best to crosse oner to Nueua
Espanna, committing theselucs to the hie sea, or whether they should keepe along the
toast. There wer6 sundry opinions touching this matter: <vherein lohn DanU^co, which
presumed much, arid tooke much v^on him in the knowledge of nauigation, and matter.'! of
the sea, although hee had but little experiencfe, moontd the Gouernour with his taike: and
his opinion was seconded by some others. Arid they affirnied, that it was much better to
passe by the hie sea, and crosse the gulfe. Which Was three of foure parts the lesser trauell,
because in goin"; along ^ coast, they went a grfeat Way about, by reason of the compn'ssle,
which the land did make. lohn Danuscb said, that hfe had ieene the Seacard, and that from
the place where they were, the coast ran Ea^t and WeSt vnto Rio de las Palmas ; and from
ftio de las Palmas to Nueua Espanna from Noi-th to South : and therefore in sailing alwaies in
sight of land would bee a great coiripassirig about and spending of much time; & that
they Would bfe in great danger to be puertaken with wiriter before they should get to the
land of the Christians: and that in 10. or 12. ddies space, hauing good Weather, they
might bee there In crossing ouer. The most part were against this opinion, and said, that
it was more safe to go along the coast, though they stai^ the longer : because their ships
were very weake arid without decks, so thit a very little storme Was enough to cast thCm
away : and if they should be hindred With calmes, or contrarie weather, through the small
store of vessels which they had to carrie water in, they should likewise fall into gre;it
danger : and that although the ships were such as they might venture in them, yet hauing
neither Pilot nor Seacard to guide themselues, it wSs ho good Connsell io crosse the gulfe.
This opinion Was confirmed by the greatest part : arid they agrefed to go along the coast.
At the time wherein fhey sought to depart from thehce, thfe cable of the anker of the Go-
uernours brigandine brake, and the anker rerifiairied in the Riuer. And albeit, they were
neere the shore, yet it was so deepe, that the Diners diuing many times could neuer find
it: which caused great sadnes in the Gouernour, and in all those that went with him in his
brigandine : But with a grindstone which they had, and certaine bridles which remained to

some

erle of Florida,

757

They landed the
30. of May,
15.^9. Chap. 7.
they weiufnortii
to st-.i luly 18.
1543-

Fresh watfr ;il-
inost two diics
sailing in the
Sea.

The coast
shallow.

Ceitainc crt-ckc'
where tl.ty
rested a iu\U*.

An oprn Roidf.

Mcxt adioi/nins to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

some of the Gentlemen, and men of worship which had horses, they made a weight which
serued in stead of an anker. The 18. of luly, they went foorth to sea with faire and
prosperous weather for their voiage. And seeing that they were gone two or three
leagues from the shore, the Captaincs of the other brigandines ouertooke them, and asked
the Gouernour, wherefore he did put off from the shore : and that if he would leaue the
coast, he should say so; and he should not do it without the consent of all: and that if hee
did otherwise, they would not follow him, but that euery one would doe what seemed best
vnto himselfe. The Gouernour answered, that hee would doe nothing without their coun-
sell, but that hee did beare off from the land to saile the better and safer by night ; and
that the next day when time serued, he would returne to the sight of land againe. They
sailed with a reasonable good wind that day and the night following, and the next day till
euening song, alwaies in fresh water: whereat they wondrcd much: for they were very
farre from land. But the force of the current of the Riuer is so great, and the coast there
is so shallow and gentle, that the fresh water entreth farre. info the Sea. That euening on
their right hand they saw certaine creekes, whither they went, and rested there that night :
where lohn Danusco with his reasons wonne them at last, that all consented and agreed to
commit themselues to the maine Sea, alleaging, as he had done before, that it was a great
aduantage, and that their voyage would be much shorter. They sailed two dales, and when
they would haue come to sight of land they could not, for the winde blew from the shore.
On the fourth day, seeing their fresh water began to faile, fearing necessitie and danger,
they all complained of lohn Danubco, and of the Gouernour that followed his counsell : and
euery one of the Captaines said, that they would no more goe from the shore, though the
Gouernour went whither he would. It pleased God that the winde changed though but a
little : and at the end of foure dales after they had put to sea, being alreadie destitute of
wafer, by force of rowing they got within sight of land, and with great trouble recouered
it, in an open roade. That euening the winde came to the South, which on that coast is a
crosse winde, and draue the brigandines against the shore, because it blew very hard, and
the anchors were so weake, that they yeelded and began to bend. The Gouernour com-
manded all men to leape into the water, and going between them and the shore, and thrust-
ing the brigandines into the Sea assoone as the waue was past, they saued them till the
winde ceased.

Chap. XL.

How they lost one another by a sforme, and afterward came together in a crceke.

IN the bay where they rode, after the tempest was past, they went on shore, and with
mattockes, which they had, they digged certaine pits, which grew full of fresh water, ^'"'' "'.'"''
where they filled all the cask which they had. The next day they departed thence, and found by diging
sailed two daies, and entred into a creeke like vnto a poole, fenced from the South winde, [he'sMsWe! ""
which then did blow, and was against them : and there they staled foure daies, not being
able to get out : and when the Sea was calme they rowed out : they sailed that day, and
toward euening the winde grew so strong that it draue them on the shore, and they were
sorie that they had put foorth from the former harbour : for assoone as night approched a
storme began to rise in the Sea, and the winde still waxed more and more violent with a
tempest. The brigandines lost one another: two of them, which bare more into the Sea,
entred into an arme of the Sea, which pearced into the land two leagues beyond the place ^j'"""^"*^''""
where the other were that night. The fiue which staled behinde, being alwaies a league,
and halfe a league the one from the other, met together, without any knowledge the one of
the other, in a wilde roade, where the winde and the waues droue them on shore: for their ^ ""'' ""''
anchors did streighten and came home ; and they could not rule their oares, putting seuen
or eight men to euery oare, which rowed to seaward : and all the rest leaped into the water,
and when the waue was past that draue the brigandine on shore, they thrust it againe into
Sea with all the diligence and might that they had. Others, while another waue was in

5 E comming,

■lit

Jill

1 "

758

m '

A »\varme of
grieuous Mos-
kitocs.

A ^kummc of

the SL-a like
I'itih, called

Another deep
bav.

iV siiull Island.

Orcat itore uf
Ash.

Fonrteene daiei
.iboJe in this
Jilacf.

Sixe dales
sailing.

Flotinj; of
Palnif le.mes.
Great moun-
tain'' s.

Al the North-
side of the Giilfc
of Mexico is
vcrie low land,
saue in this
one place.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, The discouerie of Florida,

comming, with bowlcs laued out the water that came in oiierboord. While they were in
this tempest in great feare of being cast nway in that place, from midnight forward they
endured an intollerable tormet of an infinite swarme of Moskitocs which fell vpon them,
which assoone as they had stung the flesh, it so infected it, as though they had bin venom-
ous. In the morning the Sea was asswaged and the wind slaked, but not the Muskitoes: for
^ sailcs which were white seemed blacke with them in the morning. Those which rowed,
vnlesse others kept them away, were not able to row. Hauiiig passed the feare & danger
of the storme, beholding the deformities of their faces, and the blowes which they g.iue
them'^elues to driue them away, one of them laughed at another. They met all together in
the creek where tlie two brigandines were, which outwent their fellowes. There was found
a skumme, which they call Copee, which the Sea casteth vp, and it is like pitch, where-
with in some places, where pitch is wanting, they pitch their ships: there they pitched
their brigandines. They rested two daies, and then eftsoones proceeded on their voyage.
They sailed two daies more, and landed in a Bay or arme of the Sea, where they staled two
daies. The same day that they went from thence sixe men went vp in a canoe toward the
hca I of it, and could not see the end of it. They put out from thence with a South winde,
which was against them : but because it was little, and for the great desire they had to
shorten their voyage, they put out t(t sea by force of oares, and for all that made very little
way with great labour in two daies, and went vndcr the lee of a small Island into an arme
of the Sea, which compassed it about. While they were there, there fell out such weather,
that they gaue God many thankes, that they had found out such an harbour. There was
great store of fish in that place, which they tooke with nets, which they had, and hookes.
Heere a man cast an hooke and a line into the Sea, and tied the end of it to his arme, and
a fish caught it, and drew him into the water vnto the necke: and it pleased God that hee
remembred himselfe of a knife that he had, and cut the line with it. There they
abode fonrteene daies : and at the end of them it pleased God to send them faire
weather, for which with great deuotion they appointed a procession, and went in pro-
cession along the strand, beseeching God to bring them to a land, where they might serue
him in better sort.

Chap. XLI.

How they came to the Riuer of Panuco in Nueua Espanna.

IN all the coast whcresoeuer they digged they found fresh water : there they filled their
vessels ; and the procession being ended, embarked themselues, and going alwaies in sight
of the shore they sailed sixe daies. lohn Danusco said that it would doe well to beare out
to seaward : for he had seene the Seacard, and remembred that from Rio de las Palmas for-
ward the coast did runne from North to South, and thitherto they had runne from East to
West, and in his opinion, by his reckoning, Rio de las Palmas could not be farre off, from
where they were. That same night they put to sea, and in the morning they saw Palme
Icaues floting, and the coast, which ranne North and South : from midday forward they saw
great Mountaines, which vntill then they had not seene : for from this place to Puerto de
Spiritu Santo, where they first landed in Florida, was a very plaine and low countrey : and
ihcrfore it cannot be descried, vnlesse a man come very neere it. By that which they saw,
they thought that they had ouershot Rio de Palmas that night, which is 60. leagues from
the Riuer of Panuco, which is in Nueua Espanna. They assembled all together, and some
said it was not good to saile by night, lest they should ouershoot the Riuer of Panuco: and
others said, it was not well to lose time while it was fauourable, and that it could not be so
neere that they should passe it that night: and they agreed to take away halfe the sailes, and
so saile all nij,'ht. Two of the brigandines, which sailed that night with all their sailes, by
breake of day had ouershot the Riuer of Panuco without seeing it. Of the fiue that came
behind, the first that came vnto it was that wherein Calderan was Captaine. A quarter of a
league before they came at it, and before they did see it, they saw the water muddie,

and

'ie of Floridii.

Til.- Ri,M ..I

I'aiuuo; tllr

newcs i"Am- IS.

li.iSiifs I'r'rn ili'
tinmlli oMll''

ncvt adiot/ning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

and knew it to be fresh wafer : and comming right against the Riuer, they saw, where it
entrcd into the Sea, that the water brake vpon a shold. And because there was no man
there that knew it, they were in doubt whether they should goc in, or goe along, and they
resolued to goe in : and before they came vnto the current, they went close to the shore,
and entred into the port : and assoone as they were come in, they saw Indian men and
women .ipparelied like Spaniards : whom they asked in what countrey they were ? They
answered in Spanish, that it was the Riuer of Panuco, and that the towne of the Christians
was 15. leagues vp within the land. The ioy that all of them receiued vpon these
cannot sufliciently be expressed : for it seemed vnto them, that at that instant they wore
borne again. And many went on shore and kissed the ground, and kneeling on their Kimr.
knees, with lifting vp their hands and eyes to heauen, they all ceased not to giue God
thankcs. Those which came after, assoone as they saw Calderan come to an anchor with
his brigandine in the Riuer, presently went thither, and came into the hauen. The other
two brigandines which had ouershot the place, put to sea to returne backe to sceke the rest,
and could not doe it, because the winde was contrarie and the Sea growne: they were
afraid of being cast away, and recouering the shore they cast anchor. While they rode
there a storme arose : and seeing that they could not abide there, much lesse endure at Sea,
they resolued to runne on shore ; and as the brigandines were but small, so did they draw
but little water; and where they were it was a sandie coast. By which occasion the force
of their sailes drauc them on shore, without any hurt of them that were in them. As those
that were in the port of Panuco at this time were in great ioy ; so these felt a double <;riefe
in their hearts : for they knew not what was become of their fellowes, nor in what countrey
they were, and feared it was a countrey of Indian enemies. They landed two leagues
below the port : and when they saw themselues out of the danger of the Sea, eucry one
tooke of that which he had, as much as he could carrie on his backe: and they trauelled vp
into the countrey, and found Indians, which told them where their fellowes were ; and gauc
them good cntertainement : wherewith their sadnes was turned into ioy, and they thanked
God most humbly for their deliuerance out of so many dangers.

Chap. XLir.

How they came to Panuco, and how they were receiued of the inhabitants.

FRom the time that they put out of Rio Grande to the sea, at their departure from Florida,
^vntil they arriued in the Riuer of Panuco, were b'2. daies. They came into the Riuer of ^,^7<iun'of "
Panuco the 10. of September, 1543. They went vp the Riuer with their brigandines. They p-mao, 154J
trauelled foure daies; and because the wind was but little, and many times it serued them ''"i"""' "°-
not, because of the many turnings which the Riuer maketh, and the great current, drawing
them vp by towing, and that in many places; for this cause they made very little way, and
with great labour : and seeing the execution of their desire to be deferred, which was to come
among Christians, and to see the celebration of diuine seruice, which so long time they had
not scene ; they left the brigandines with the mariners, and went by land to Panuco. All of
them were apparrelled in Dceres skins ti'nned and died blacke, to wit, cotes, hose, and shooes.
When they came to Panuco, presently they went to the Church to pray and giue God
thankes, that so miraculousely had saued them. The townesmen which before were aduer-
tised by the Indians, and knew of their arriual, ciried some of them to their houses, and en-
tertained them, whom they knew, and had acquaintance of, or because they were their
Countrimen. The Alrade Mayor tooke the Gouernour home to his house : and commanded
al the rest, assoone as they came, to be lodged 6. & 6. and 10. & 10. according to the habi-
litie of euery towncsman. And all of them were prouided for by their hostes of many hennes
and bread of Maiz, and fruites of the Countrie, which are such as be in the Isle of Cuba,
whereof before I haue spoken. The towne of Panuco may containe aboue 70 families; the ^''p ^""'P'"^"
most of their houses are of lime and stone, and some made of timber, and all of them are
thatched. It is a poore Countrie, and there is neither gold nor siluer in it : The inhabitants

5 E 2 Hue

■I

•'i'.s:i-

700

.Ill.Cliriktiani
arnvied at

P.imico.

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The iliscouerie of Florida,

t \>

line there in great abundance of victuals and seruants. The richest haue not aboue 500.
crownes rent a yeere, and that is in cotten clothes, hennes, and Mni/., vhich the Indians
their seriiants doe giue them for tribute. There arriucd there of those that came out of Flori-
da, three hundred and eleuen Christians. Presently the Alcalde Mayor sent one of the
townsmen in post to aduertise the Viceroy, Don Antonio de Mendofa, which was resident in
Mexico, that of ^ people that went with Don Ferdinando de Soto to discouer and conquer
Florida, three hundred and eleuen men were arriued there, that seeing they were imploicd
in his Maiesties scruicc, he would take some order to prouide for them. Whereat the Vice-
roy, and all the inhabitants of Mexico wondred. For they thought they were miscarried,
because they had trauelled so farre within the maine land of Florida, and had no newes of
them for so long a time : and it seemed a wonderfull thing vnto them, how they could saue
themselues so long among Infidels, without any fort, wherein they might fortifie thcmselues,
and without any other succour at all. Presently the Viceroy sent a warrant, wherein hee
commaded, that whithersoeuer they sent, they should giue them victuals, and as many
Indians for their cariages as they needed : and where they would not furnish them, they
might take those things that were necessarie perforce without incurring any danger of law.
This warrant was so readilic obeyed, that by the way before they came to the towncs, they
came to receiue them with hennes, and victuals.

|("'.| 11

.,..., Hi;;.,.

EM'-' '^

Mm': '.i

[Vffiij' '*

Chap. XLIII.

Of the fauour which they found at toe hands of the Viceroy, and of the inhabitants

of the Citieof Mexico.

FRom Panuco to the great Citie Temistitan Mexico is 60. leagues ; and other 60. from
Panuco to the Port de Vera Cruz, where they take shipping for Spaine, and those that come
from Spaine do land to go for Nueua Espanna. These three townes stand in a triangle : to
wit, \'era Cruz, to the South, Panuco to the North, and Mexico to the West, 60. leagues
asunder. The Countrie is so inhabited with Indians, that from towne to towne, those
which are farthest, are but a league, and halfe a league asunder. Some of them
that came from Florida, staled a moneth in Panuco to rest themselues, others fifteene
dales, and euery one as long as he listed : for there was none that showed a sower
countenance to his guests, but rather gaue them any thing that they had, and seemed to be
grieucd when they took their leaue. Which was to be beleeued. For the victuals, which
the Indians doe pay them for tribute, are more than they can spend : and in that towne is no
commerce ; and there dwelt but few Spaniards there, and they were glad of their companie.
The Alcalde Mayor diuided all the Emperours clothes which he had (which there they pay
him for his tribute) among those that would come to receiue them. Those which had shirts
of maile left, were glad men : for they had a horse for one shirt of maile: Some horsed them-
selues: and such as could not (which were the greatest part ) tooke their iournie on foote: in
which they were well receiued of the Indians that were in the townes, and better serued, then
they could haue been in their owne houses, though they had been well to Hue. For if they
asked one hen of an Indian, they brought them foure : and if they asked any of the Countrie
This is the man- fruit, though it Were a league off, they ran presently for it. And if any Christian found him-
selfe euiil at ease, they carried him in a chaire from one towne to another. In whatsoeuer
towne they came, the Cacique, by an Indian which carried a rod of lustice in his hand, whom
they call Tapile, that is to say, a sergeant, commanded them to prouide victuals for them,
and Indians to beare burdens of such things as tliey had, and such as were needfull to carrie
them that were sicke. The Viceroy sent a Portugall 20. leagues from Mexico, with great
store of sugar, raisons of the Sunne, and conserues, and other things fit for sicke folkes, lor
such as had neede of them : and had giuen order to cloth them all at the Emperours charges.
And their approch being knownc by the citizens of Mexico, they went out of the towne to
receiue them : and with great courtesie, requesting them in fauour to come to their houses,
euery one carried such as hee met home with him, and clothed them euery one the best they

could :

ner of Chinj,
carrie men in
ch.!ircs.

next adioyning to Virginia. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIF.S. 761

could : so that he which liad the meanest apparrell, it cost abouc 30. ducats. As many as
were willing to come to the Viceroycs house he commanded to be apparelled, and such as were
persons of qualitie sate at his table : and there was a tabic in his house For as many of the
meaner sort as would come to it : and he was presently informed who eucry one was, to shew
him the courtesie that he deserued. Some of the Cdquerors did set both jjenth-men and
clownes at their owne table, and many times made the scruant sit chceke by rhecke by his
master: and chiefly the olTiccrs and men of base condition did so: for those which had better
education did enquire who euery one was, and made difference of persons: but all did what
they could with a good will : and eucry one told them whom they had in their house-i, that
they should not trouble thcmselues, nor thinke themselucs the worse, to take that which they
gaue them : for they had bin in the like case, and had bin relieued of others, and that this
was the custome of that countrey. God reward them all : and God grant, that those which it
pleased him to deliuer out of Florida, and to bring againe into Christendome, may serue him :
and vnto those that died in that countrey, and vnto all that beleeuc in him and confesse his
holy faith, God for his mercic sake grant the kingdome of heauen. Amen.

Chap. XLIV.

Which declareth some diucrsitics and particularities of the land of Florida : and the
fruites, and beasts, and fowles that are in that Countric.

FRom the Port de Spiritu Santo, where they landed when they entrcd into Florida, to the s°„"/', f/j'^'"
Prouince ofOcute, which may bee 400. leagues, little more or lesse, is a vcrie plaine Countric, degrees 4 on the
and hath many lakes and thicke woods, and in some placf (hey are of wild pinetrecs ; and ^J^j".'''' °'^
is a weake soile: There is in it neither Mountaine nor hill, 'he Countrie of Ocutc is more
fat and fruitfull; it hath thinner woods, and very goodly medo> vpon the Riuers. Fro Ocuteocute.
to Cutifachiqui may be 130. leagues: 80. leagues thereof art desert, and haue many groues cuiifacWqui.
of wild Pine trees. Through the wildernesse great Riuers doe passe. From Cutifachiqui to
Xuala, may be 250. leagues: it is al an hilly Countrie. Cutiiiichiqui and Xuala stand both in Xuaia.
plaine ground, hie, and haue goodly medows on the Riuers. From thence forward to Chiaha, chiahn, Co^a,
Coqa, and Talise, is plaine ground, dry and fat, and very plentifull of Maiz. From Xuala ''"''^"''"*
to Tascaluqa may be 250. leagues. From Tascaluqa to Rio Grande, or f Great Riuer, may be Tascaiu^a.
300. leagues : the Countrie is low, and full of lakes. From Rio Grande forward, the Countrie R-'o Orande,
is hier and more champion, and best peopled of all the land of Florida. And along this
Riuer from Aquixo to Pacaha, and Coligoa, are 150. leagues: the Countrie is plaine, and Aquino.
the woods ihinne, and in some places champion, very fruitfull and pleasant. From Coligoa to ^'"''S'"-
Autiamque are 250. leagues of hillie Countrie. From Autiamque to Aguacay, may be 230. Autiamque.
leagues of plaine ground. From Aguacay to the Riuer of Daycao 120. leagues, all hillie Aguacay.
Countrie.

From the Port de Spiritu Santo vnto Apalache, they trauelled from East to West, and North- P>6'na ;».
west. From Cutifachiqui to Xuala from South to North. From Xuala to Cocja from East to
West. From Cocja to Tascalu^a, and to Rio Grande, as far as the Prouinces of Quizquiz and
Aquixo from East to West. From Aquixo to Pacaha to the North. From Pacaha to Tulla
from East to West: and from Tulla to Autiamque from North to South, to the Prouince of
Guachoya and Daycao.

The bread which they eate in all the land of Florida is of Maiz, which is like course millet. **«''•
And this Maiz is common in all the Islandes and West Indies from the Antiles forward.
There are also in Florida great store of Walnuts and Plummes, Mulberries, and Grapes. ^umU,"; MuI-
They sow and gather their Maiz euery one their seuerall crop. The fruits are common to be^'es, Grapes.
all : for they grow abroad in the open fields in great abundance, without any neede of plant-
ing or dressing. Where there be Mountaines, there be chestnuts : they are somewhat '
smaller then the chestnuts of Spaine. Fro Rio Grande Westward, the Walnuts differ '■"om ^"j'^^j'^J^
those that grow more Eastward : for they are soft, and like vnto Acornes: And those which Riourande.
grow from Rio Grande to Puerto del Spiritu Santo for the most part are hard ; and the tree:

Chestnuts.

Hard Walnuts
Westward from

and^'o Orande.

762

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c. Tlie discouerie of Florida, %

Fowlej.

and Walnuts in shew like those ofSpaine. There is a fruit through all the Countric which

groweth on a plant like Ligoacan, which the IndianH doc plant. The fruit is like vnto Peares

APtireriiii. Rial! : it hath a vcrie good smell, and an excellent taste. There groweth another plant in the

stMwiKrtiM. open field, which bearcth a fruit like vnto strawberries, close to the ground, which hath a

Plummet oftwo veric good taste. The Plummes are of two kindes, red and gray, of the making and big-

kindii. iiesse of nuts, and haue three or foure stones in them. These are better then all the plummes

of Spaine, & they make farre better Prunes of them. In the Grapes there is onelie want of

dressing : for though they bee big, they haue a great Kirnell. All other fruits are very

perfect, and lesse hurtfull then those of Spaine.

Beasts. There arc in Florida many Beares, and Lyons, Wolues, Deere, Dogges, Cattes, Marterns

and Conies.

There be many wild Ilennes as big as Turkies, Partridges small like those of Africa,
Cranes, Duckes, Pigeons, Thrushes and Sparrowes. There are certaine Blacke birds bigger
then Sparrowes, and lesser then Stares. There are Gosse Hawkes, Falcons, lerfalcons, and
all Fowles of prey that arc in Spaine.

The Indians are well proportioned. Those of the plaine Countries are taller of bodie, &
better shapen, then those of the Mountaincs. Those of the Inland haue greater store of
Maiz, and commodities of the Coiintrie, then those that dwell upon the sea const. The
Countrie along the sea coast is barren and poore : and the people more warlike. The coast
runneth from Puerto del Spiritu Santo to Apalache, Ea.'tt and West ; and from Apalnche to
Rio de las Palmas from East to West : from Rio de las Palmas vnto Nueua Espanna from
North to South. It is a gentle coast, but it hath many sholdes, and great shelues of sand.

Deo gratias.

This relation of the discouerie of Florida was printed in the house of Andrew de Burgos,
Printer and Gentleman of the house of my Lord Cardinall the Infante.

It was finished the tenth of Februane in the yeere one thousand, fiue hundred, fiftie and
seuen, in the noble and most loyall citie of Euora.

li' I'* la

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Countric which
ike vnto Peares
'ter plant in ehc
, which hath a
aking and big-
ill the pliimmcA
onelie want of
fruits are very

hose of Africa,
te birds bigger
lerfalcons, and

;r of bodie, &
reatcr store of
ea coast. The
e. The coast
m Apalache to
Espanna from
ues of sand.

:w de Burgos,
red, fiftie and

DISCOVERY

THE BARMVDAS,

OTIICnWISE CALLED THE

ILE OF DTVELS:

SIR THOMAS GATES, SIR GEORGE SOMMERS,

CAPTAYNE NEWPORT,

WITH DIUERS OTHERS.

SET I'OIITH fOR THE LOUE OF MY COUNTRY,

AMD ALSO

VOR THE GOOD OF THE PLANTATION IN VIRGINIA.

'k .

SIL. lOURDAN.

iUmtion :

PRINTED BY lOHN WINDET, AND ARE TO BE SOLD BY ROGER BARNES IN S. StNSTANES
CHURCH-YARD IN FLEETE-STREETE, VNOER THE DiAl.1..

1610.

TO Tim

RIGHT WORSHIPFULL

MASTER lOHN FITZ-IAMES, ESQUIRE,

ONE OF HIS MAIliSTIES CIIIEFL ILSTICES OF PEACE

WITHIN TH«

COUNTIE OF DORSET.

Sir, amongst all the sinncs, that humane nature doth stand possest with, ingratitude doth
challenge a propertie in man, although it bee a thing repugnant to reason, and disagreeing
with all mutuall societie. To free myselfe from this vitium naturae, I am bold in these fewe
lines to dedicate my loue to you : for it were too tedious to vse many wordes, where good
wil is the bond of loue. This smal gift I would intreate you to accept, if not for the quan-
titie, yet for the qualitie. From London the thirteenth of October, 1610.

Your Worships to commaund

SiL. loUROAN.

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DISCOVERY

OK THE

BARMVDAS,

OTIIEinriSE CALLED

THE ILi: OF DIVELS.

I Being in ship called the scauenture, with Sir Thomas Gates, our Goiiernoiir, Sir George
Soinmers, and Caj)taine Newport, three most worthy honoured Gentlemen, (whose valour
and fortitude the world must needcs take notice olf, and that in most honourable designcs)
bound for V^irginia, in the height of thirty degrees of northerly latitude, or thereabouts: wc
were taken with a most sharj)c and cruell storme vpon the line and twentieth day of luly,
Anno 1609 which did not only separate vs from the residue of our (leetc, (which were eight
in number) but with the violent working of the Seas, our ship became so shaken, tome, and
leaked, that shec receiued so much water, ns couered two tire of hogsheads abouc the ballast;
that our men stoude vp to the middles, with buckets, baricos, and kettles, to baile out the
water, and continually pumped for three dayes and three nights together, without any inter-
mission ; and yet the water seemed rather to increase, then to diminish : in so much that
all our men, being vtteriy spent, tyred, and disabled for longer labour, were euon rcsolued,
without any hope of their liues, to shut vp the hatches, and to haue committed tlicmseliies
to the mercy of tlie sea, (which is said to be mcrcilesse) or rather to the mercy their mighty
God and redeemer, (whose mercies exceed all his works) seeing no helpc, nor hope, in tlic
apprehension of mans reason, that any mothers child could escape that ineuitable danger,
which eucry man had proposed and digested to himselfe, of present sinking. So that some
of them hauing some good and comfortable waters in the ship, fctcht them, and drunke one to
the other, taking their last leaue one of the other, vntill their more ioyfull and happy meeting,
in a more blessed world ; when it pleased God out of his most gracious and mercifull proui-
dence, so to direct and guide our ship, (being left to the mercy of the sea) for her most
aduantagc; that Sir George Sommers (sitting vpon the poope of the ship,) where he sate
three dayes and three nigiits together, without meales mcate, and little or no sleepe, coursing
the shippe to keepe her as vpright as he could, (for otherwise shec must needes instantly
haue foundred) most wishedly happily discrycd land; whereupon he most comfortably
encouraged the company to follow their pumping, and by no meanes to cea-e bayling out of
the water with their buckets, baricos, and kettles ; whereby they were so oucr wearied, and
their spirits so spent with lon<> fasting, and continuance of their labour, that for the most
part they were fallen asieepe in corners, and wheresoeucr they chanced first to sit or lie:
but hearing news of land, wherewith they grew to bee somewhat reuived, being carried with
wil and desire bevond their strength, euery man busied vp, and gathered his strength and
feeble spirits together, to performe as much as their wcake force would permit him : through
which weake meanes, it pleased God to worke so strongly as the water was stnide for that little
time, (which as we all much feared, was the last period of our breathing) and the shij) kept
from present sinking, when it pleased (Jod to send her within halle an Knglish mile of that
land that Sir George Sommers had not long before discryed: which were the llaiulcs of the

5 F 2 Barmudas.

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

Discouery of

Barmuil.i9. And there neither did our ship sincke, but more fortunately in so great a misfor-
tune, fell in betweene two rockes, where shee was fast lodged and locked, for further budging :
whereby we gayned, not only sufficient time, with the present heipe of our boate, and
skifle, safely to set, and conuey our men ashore (which were one hundred and fifty in
number) but afterwards had time and leasure to saue some good part of our goodes and pro-
uision, which the water had not spoyled, with all the tackling of the ship, and much of the
yron about her, which were necessaries not a little auaiieable, for the building and furnish-
ing of a new ship and pinnis, which we made there, for the transporting and carrying of vs
to Virginia. But our deiiucry was not more strange in falling so opportunely, and happily
vpon the land, as our feeding and preseruation, was beyond our hopes, and all
mens expectations most admirable. For the Hands of the Barmudas, as euery man
knowefh that hath heard or read of them, were neuer inhabited by any Christian or
heathen people, but euer esteemed, and reputed, a most prodigious and inchanted place,
affording nothing but gusts, stormes, and foule weather; which made euery Nauigator and
Mariner to auoide the, as Scylla and Charibdis ; or as they would shunne the Deuill himselfe ;
and no man was euer heard, to make for the place, but as against their wils, they haue by
stormes and dangerousnesse of the rocks, lying seauen leagues into the sea, suffered ship-
wracke ; yet did we finde there the ayre so temperate and the Country so aboundantly
fruitful of all fit necessaries, for the sustentation and preseruation of mans life, that most
in a manner of all our prouisions of bread, beare, and vicfuall, being quite spoyled, in
lying long drowned in salt water, notwithstanding we were there for the space of nine
monethes (fewdayes ouer or vnder) not only well refreshed, comforted, and with good
satiety contented, but of the aboundance thereof, prouided vs some reasonable quantity and
proportion of prouision, to carry vs for Virginia, and to maintaine ourselues, and that
company we found there, to the great releefe of them, as it fell out in their so great extre-
mities, and in respect of the shortnesse of time, vntill it pleased God, that by my Lords
comming thither, their store was better supplyed, and greater, and better prouisions wee
might haue made, if we had had better meanes for the storing and transportation thereof.
Wherefore my opinion sincerely of this Island is, that whereas it hath beene, and is still
accounted, the most dangerous, infortunate, and most forlorne place of the world, it is in
truth the richest, healthfullest, and pleasing land, (the quantity and bignesse thereof consi-
dered) and meerely naturall, as euer set foote vpon: the particular profits and benefits
whereof, shal be more especially inserted, and hereunto annexed, which euery man to his
owne priuate knowledge, that was there, can auouch and iustifie for a truth. Vpon the
eight and twentieth day of luly 1609. (after the extremity of the storme was something
qualified) we fell vpon the shore at the Barmudas ; where after our generall Sir Thomas
Gates, Sir George Sommers, and Captaine Newport, had by their prouident carefulnesse
landed all their men, and so much of the goods, and prouisions out of the ship, as was not
vtterly spoyled, euerie man disposed and applyed himselfe, to search for, and to seeke out
such releefe and sustentation, as the Country afforded : and Sir George Sommers, a man
inured to extremities, (and knowing what thereunto belonged) was in this seruice, neither
idle nor backward, but presently by his careful industry, went and found out sufficient, of
many kind of fishes, and so plentifull thereof, that in halfe an houre, he tooke so many great
fishes with hookes, as did suffice the whole company one day. And fish is there so abound-
ant, that if a man steppe into the water, they will come round about him ; so that men were
faine to get out for feare of byting. These fishes are very fat and swcete, and of that pro-
portion and bignesse, that three of them will conueniently lade two men : those we called
rock fish. Besides there are such aboundance of mullets that with a seane might be taken
at one draught one thousand at the least, and infinite store of pilchards, with diuers kindes
of great fishes, the names of them vnknowne to me : of crayfishes very great ones, and so
great stor .is that there hath beene taken in one night with making lights, euen sufficient
to fcede fl whole copany a day. The Country affordelh great aboundance of Hogs, as that
there hath ijcene taken by Sir George Sommers, who was the first that hunted for them, to

the

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the Barmudas.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

769

the mimher of two and thirty at one time, which he brought to the company in a boate,
built by his owne hads. There is fowle in great number vpon the Hands, where they breed,
thnt there hath beene taken in two or three hourcs, a thousand at the least; the bird being
of the bignesse of a good Pidgeon, and layeth egges as bigge as Hen egges vpon the sand,
where they come and lay them dayiy, althougiii men sit downe amongst them ; that tliere
hath beene taken vp in one morning, by Sir Thomas Gates men, one thousand of egges :
and Sir George Sommers men, comming a little distance of time after them, haue stayed
there whilst they came and layed their eggs amongst them, that they brought away as many
more with them ; with many young birds very fat and sweet. Another Sea fowle there is
that lyeth in little holes in the ground, like vnto a cony-hole, and are in great numbers,
exceeding good meate, very fat and sweet (those we had in the winter) and their eggs are
white, and of that bignesse, that they are not to be knowne from Hen egges. The other birds
egges are speckled, and of a different colour : thereare also great store and plenty of Herons,and
those so familiar and tame, that wee beate them downe from the trees with stones and staues,
but such were young Herons : besides many White Herons, without so much as a blacke or
gray feather on them ; with other small birds so tame and gentle, that a man walking in the
woods with a sticke, and whistling to them, they wil come and gaze on you, so ncare that
you may strike and kill many of them with your sticke ; and with singing and hollowing you
may doe the like. There are also great store of Tortoses, (which some call Turtles) and
those so great, that I haue scene a bushel of egges in one of their bellies, which are sweeter
then any Henne egge : and the Tortose it selfe, is all very good meate, and yeeldeth great
store of oyle, which is as sweete as any butter; and one of them will suffice fifty men a meale,
at the least : and of these hath beene taken great store, with two boates, at the least forty
in one day. The Country yeeldeth diuers fruits, as prickled peares, great aboundance, which
continue greene vpon the trees all the yeare ; also great plenty of Mulberries, white and red :
and on the same are great store of silke-wormes, which yeeld tods of silke, both white and
yellow, being some course, and some fine. And there is a tree called a Palmito tree, which
hath a very sweet berry, vpon which the hogs doe most feede ; but our men finding the
sweetnesse of them, did willingly share with the hogs for them, they being very pleasant
and wholsome, which made them carelcsse almost of any bread with their meate ; which
occasioned vs to carry in a manner all that store of flower and meale, we did or could saue
for Virginia. The head of the Palmito tree is very good meate, either raw or sodden, it
yeeldeth a head which waigheih about twenty pound, and is farre better meate, then any
cabbii^e. There are an infinite number of Cedar trees, (the fairest I thinke in the world)
and those bring forth a very sweet berry and wholsome to eate. The Country ( for as much
as I could find my self, or heare by others) affords novenimous creature or so much as a Rat or
Mouse, or any other thing vnwholsome. There is great store of Pearle, and some of them
very faire, round and Orientall; and you shall finde at least one hundred seede of Pearle in
one Oyster ; there hath beene likewise found, some good quantity of Amber Greece, and
that of the best sort. There are also great plenty of Whales, which I conceaue are very
easie to be killed, for they come so vsually, and ordinarily to the shore, that we heard them
oftentimes in the night a bed ; and haue scene many of them neare the shore, in the day
time. There was borne vpon the Barmudas, at the time of our being there two children, the
one a man child, there baptised, by the name of Barmud.ns: and a woman child, baptised by
the name of Barmuda: as also there was a marriage betweene two English people vpon that
Hand. This Hand, I meane the mayne Hand, with all the broken Ilandcs adiaccnt, are made
in the forme of a half Moone, but a little more rounder and diuided into many broken Hands,
and there are many good harbours in it, but wee could finde one especiall place to goe in,
or rather to goe out from it, which was not altogether free from some danger, and that lyeth
on the South-east side, where there is three fathoms water, at the entrance therof, but within
sixe, seaucn, or eii^ht fathoms at the least, where you may safely lie land-locked, from the
danger of all winds and weathers, and more to the trees. The coming into it, is so narrow
and straight betweene the rocks, as that it will with small store of munition be fortified, and

the forces of the Potentest
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770

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c. Discouert/ of the Barmudaa.

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King of Europe. There are also plenty of Haukes, and very good Tobacco, as I thinke,
which through forgetfulnesse, I had almost omitted : now hauing finished and rigged our
ship, and pinnis, the one called the Deliuerance, the pinnis the Patience, wee prepared and
made our selues ready, to ship for Virginia, hauing powdred some store of hogs flesh, for
prouision thither, and the company thereof, for some reasonable time : but were compelled
to make salt there for the same purpose, for all our salt was spent and spoyled, before wee
recouered the shore. Wee carryed with vs also a good portion of Tortose oyle, which
either for frying or baking did vs very great pleasure, it being very swecte, nourishing, and
wholsome: the greatest defects we found there, was tarre and pitch for our ship, and
pinnis, in steede whereof wee were forced to make lime there of a hard kinde of stone, ^.id
vse it : which for the present occasion and necessity, with some wax we found cast vp by
the Sea, from some shipwracke, serued the turne to pay the seames of the pinnis Sir
George Sommers built, for which hee had neither pitch nor tarre : so that God in the
supplying of all our wants, beyond all measure, shewed himselfe still mercifull vnto vs,
that we might accomplish our intended voyage to Virginia, for which I confidently hope,
hee doth yet reserue a blessing in store, and to the which I presume, cuery hi^nest and re-
ligious heart will readily giue their amen. When all thinges were made ready, and com-
modiously fitted, the windecomming faire, wee set saile and put oflT from the Barmudas, the
tenth day of May, in the yeare 1610. and arriued at lames towne in Virginia, the foure and
twentieth day of the same Moneth : where wee found some threescore persons liuing.
And being then some three weeks or thereabouts passed, & not hearing of anye supply, it
was thought fitting by a generall consent, to vse the best meanes for the preseruation of
all those people that were liuing, being all in number two hundred persons. And so
vpon the eight of Tune one thousand six hundred and ten, wee vnbarked at lames Towne :
not hauing aboue fourteene dayes victaile, and so were determined to direct our course for
New-found-land, there to refresh vs, and supply our selues with victaile, to bring vs
home; but it pleased God to dispose otherwise of vs, and to giue vs better meanes. For
being all of vs shipped in foure pinnices, and departed from the towne, almost downe
half the Riuer, wee met my Lord De La Warre comming vp with three ships, well fur-
nished with victaile, which reuiued all the company, and gaue them great content. And
after some few dayes, my Lord vnderstanding of the great plenty of hogges and fish, was
at the Barmudas, and the necessity of them in Virginia, was desirous to send thither, to
supply himselfe with those things, for the better comforting of his men, and the plantation
of the Country. Whereupon Sir George Sommers being a man best acquainted with the
place, and being willing to doe seruice vnto his Prince and Country : without any respect
of his owne priuate gaine : And being of threescore yeares of age at the least, out of his
worthy and valiant minde, ofTered himselfe to vndertake to performe with Gods help that
dangerous voyage for the Barmudas, for the better releefe and comfort of the people in
Virginia, and for the better plantation of it, which ofTer my Lord De La Warre, very will-
ingiy and thankfully accepted : and so vpon the nineteenth of June, Sir George Sommers
imbarked himself at lames towne in a small barge of thirty tonne, or thereabout, that he
built at the Barmudas: wherein he laboured from morning vntill night, as duelie as any
workeman doth labour for wages, and built her all with Cedar, uith little or no yroii
worke at all : hauing in her but one boult, which was in the Kilson : notwithstanding
thanks be to God, shee brought vs in safety to Virginia, and so I trust he will protect him,
and send him well backe againe, to his hearts desire, and the great comfort of all the
company there.

The Barmudas lyeth in the height of two and thirty degrees and a halfe, of Northerly
latitude, Virginia bearing directly from it. West, North West, two hundred and thirty
leagues.

FINIS.

the Barmudas.

TRUE COPPIE

OF A

DISCOURSE WRITTEN BY A GENTLEMAN,

EMPLOYED IN THE LATE VOYAGE

SPAINE AND PORTING ALE

SENT TO HIS PARTICULAR FRIEND,

ill)

W
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AND BY HIM PUBLISHED,

FOR THE BETTER SATISFACTION OF ALL SUCH.

AS HAUING BEEN SEDUCED BY PARTICULAR REPORT.

HAUE ENTRED INTO CONCEIPTS TENDING TO THE DISCREDIT OF THE ENTERPRISE,

AND ACTORS OF THE SAME.

at HonDon

is4<;

''Am

PRINTED FOR THOMAS WOODCOCK DWELLING IN PAVLES CHURCHYARD, AT THE

SIGNE OF THE BLACKE BEARE.

1589.

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TO THE HEADER,

SOme holding opinion, that it is onely proper to men of learning (whose Arte may
grace their dooings) to write of matter wortliie to be committed to the viewe of future
Ages, may iudge the publication of such Discourses as are contained in this Pamphlet, to
be an aduentiire too great for a professed Souldier to vndertake : but I, more respecting
the absolute trueth of the matter, than the faire shew that might be set thereon ; and pre-
ferring the high reputation of the Actors in this lourney before the request of my
particular friend, haue presumed to present vnto you a report of the late Voyage into
Spaine and Portingall, sent vnto me almost 4. moneths sithcnce fro a Gentleman my verie
nere friend employed in the same; who, as it appeareth in his obseruations, hath ad-
uisedlie scene into eucrie action thereof: and because I haue often conferred with manic
that were in the same lourney, verie nere vpon euerie particular of his relation, and
findc as much confirmed as I haue receiued, I presume to deliuer it vnto you for true &
exact. Ilowbeit, forasmuch as it came vnto my hands with his earnest request to reserue it
to my selfe, 1 had almost consented thereunto; had not the desire I haue to reconcile the
contrarictie of opinions that be held of that action, & to make it known what honour the
cause hath laid vpon our whole Nation, mooued me to publish the same : whereof sith
there may growe a greater benefit in publique, ( for that manie shall partake thereof) than the
pleasure can be to him in smothering tiie labors he hath bestowed in setting downe the
Discourse, I doubt not but he esteeming a cdmon good before his priuate fancie, will
pardon me herein. In the behalfe of whom, I beseech you to whose viewe and reading the
same is offered, not so curiouslie to looke vpon the forme, as vpon the matter; which I
present vnto you as he sent it, naked and vnpolisiied. And you that were companions with
him of the lourney, if anie of you may thinke your seines not fully satisfied, in the report
of your deseruings, let me intreate you to excuse him, in that he indeuouring to write
thereof briefly f r my particular vnderstanding, did onely take notice of them who co-
maunded the seruices in chiefe, as being of greatest markc, and lay the blame vpi>n me,
who can by no meanes auoyd it: sauing that from the fault I haue committed, (if it be a
fault) I hope there may some good proceed. It hath satisfied me in many things, wliereof
I becing ignorant, was led into an erronious conceipt of the matter and of the persons: and
I hope it shall both confirme others who maie remaine doubtfull of either ; and reforme
them that hauing been seduced, are become sectaries agaynst the same. I will therefore
commend the man and matter to your friendly censure, forbearing to notifie his name, least
I might increase mine offence against him ; Sc be namelesse my selfe for other good con-
siderations : which I leaue friendly Reader to thy best construction.

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A LETTER SE.NT FROM A GENTLEMAN^

WHO WAS IN AL THE SERflCES THAT WERE IN THE LATE lOURNKY

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SPAINE AND PORTINGALL,

TO A FRIEND OF HIS.

ALthough the desire of aduancing my reputation, caused me to withstand the manic per-
swasions \o\.\ vscd, to hold me at home, and the pursute of honorable actions drew me
(contraric to your expectation) to neglect that aduise, which in loue I know you gaue me:
yet in respect of the manic assurances you haue yeelded me of your kindest friendship, I
cannot suspect that you wil either louc or esteeme me the lesse, at this my rcturne: and
therefore will not omit anie occasion which may make me appcare thankfull, or discharge
anie part of that dutie I owe you ; which now is none other, than to offer you a true dis-
course how these warres of Spainc and Portingall haue passed since our going out of England
the xviii. of Aprill, till our rcturne which was the lirst of luly. Wherein I wil (vnder your fa-
uourable pardon) ff)r your further satisfaction, as well make relation of those reasons which con-
firmed me in my purpose of going abroad, as of these accidents which haue happened during
our abiide there ; tiiercby hoping to perswade you, that no light fancie did draw me from
the fruition of \<iur dearest friendship, but an earnest desire by following the warres, to
maVe my selfc more worthie of the same.

Ilauin" therefore detcrmini.tely purposed to put on this habit of a Souldiour, I grevye
doubifulfwhcther to imploy my time in the warres of the Lowe Cour.treycs, wiiich are in
aiixiliarie nuinner maintcincd by her Maiestie ; or to follow the fortune of this voyage, wliich
was an : dutnturc of her and manie honorable personages, in rcuenge of viisupportable
wrongs offered vnto the estate of our Counlrey by the Castilian King : in arguing whereof,
I fiiide that by how much the Challenger is reputed before the defendant, by so niuch is this
iorncN to be preferred Ijefore those defcnsiue w.irres, for had the Duke of Parma his tu.ne
been to defend, as it was his good fortune to inu:i'le, from whence could haue proceeded
that olorious honor which these late wanes haue laid vppon him, or what could haue been
" 5 G 2 said

776

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The lute Voyage oj

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at--,

said more or him, than of a Responflcnt (though neiior so valiani) in n priuate Diiell : Euen,
th.it ho h;ith iloiif no more than by his honour he was tied vnto. For the gaine of one
Townc or anie small defeatc giueth more rcnowne to the Assailant, than the tUfcnce of a
Countrey, or the withstandinji of twentie enroutcrs ran yecid any man who is bound by hin
place to (T.ird the same : whereof as well the partii iilers of bur age, especially in the Spaniard,
as the reports of foniier histories may assure \s, which haue still laid the fame of all warrcs
vpon the Inuador. And do not ours in these dales line obscured in Flanders, either not
hauing whercwitliall to manage anie warre, or not putting on amies, buttodefend themselues
when tlie Kiicniie shall procure them ? Whereas in this short time of our Aduenture, wee
banc wonne a Towne bv escalade, battred and assaulted another, ouerthrowen a miglitie
I'rinrcs power in the field, I mdcd our Armie in three seuerall places of his Kingdome,
man hod seauen dales in the hart of his Countrey, lyen three nights in the Suburbes of his
princ ipall Citie, beaten his forces into the gates thereof, and possessed two of his frontier
forts, as shall in discourse thereof more particularly appeare : whereby I conclude, that
going with an Inuadour, and in such an action as euerie dale giueth new experience, I haue
nuuh to vaunt of, that my fortune did rather carry me thither, than into the warres of Flan-
ders. Notwithstanding the vehement perswasions you vsed with me to the contrarie, the
ground whereof sithcnce you receiued them from others, you mustgiucme leaue to acquaint
you with the error you were lead into bv them ; who labouring to bring the world into an
opinion, that it stood more with the safetie of our F.state to bend all our forces against the
Prince of Parma, than to followc this action, by looking into the true ed'ects f f this lourncy,
will iudicially conuince themselues of mistaking the matter. For, may the Conquest of
these Countreyes against the Prince of Parma, bee thought more easie for vs alone now, than
the defence of them was xi. yeares agoc, with the men and money of the Queene of England ?
the power of the Monsieur of France ? the assistance of the principall States of Germanic ?
and the Nobilitie of their owne Countrey : Could not an armie of more than 5^0000. horse
and almost .'<(XXH). footc, beate lohn de Austria out of the Countriy, who was jiossesscd of a
vcrie few frontier Townes : and shall it now be vpon her iVIaiesties shoulders to remoue so
mightie an Enemie, who hath left vs hut 3. whole parts of 17. vncoquered ? It is not a lour-
ney of a few months, nor an auxiliaric warre of few yeres that can damnifie the King of
Spaine in those places, where we shall meetc at euerie 8. or I'), miles end with a Towne,
which will cost more the winning, than will yearly pay 4. or i^OOO. mens wages, where all
the Countrey is quatred by lliuers, which haue no passage vnfortefied: and where most of
the best Souldiers of Christendome that be on our aducrse partie be in pencion. But our
Armie which hath not cost her Maiestie much aboue the third part of one yeares expences in
the Lowe Countries, hath alreadie spoyled a great part of the prouision he had made at the
Groyne of all sorts, for a newe voyage into England ; burnt 3. of his ships, whereof one was
the second in the last yeares expedition, taken from him aboue 150. pieces of good artillarie,
cut off more than 60 bulkes, and 20. French ships well manned, fit & readie to serue him
for men of warrc against vs, laden for his store with come, victualls, masts, cables, and other
inerch indizes ; slaine and taken the principall men of warre hee had in Galitia ; made Don
Ptdr ' Enriques de Gusman, Conde de Fuentes, Gencrall of his forces in Portingall, shame-
fullie runne at Penicha ; laide along of his best Commaunders in Lisbone : and by these
fewe aduenturcs discouered how easelie her Maiestie may without any great aduenture in
short time pull the Tirant of the World vpon his knees, as well by the disquieting his vsurp-
ation of Portingall as without difRcultie in keeping the commoditie of his Indies from him,
by sending an armie so accomplished, as may not beesubiect to those extremities which we
haue endured : except he draw for those defences, his forces out of the Lowe Countries and
disfurni-h his garisons of Naples and Milan, which with safetie of those places he inay not
doo. And vet by this menne shall rather be inforced thereunto, than by any force that can
be vsed there against him : Wherefore I directly conclude, that this proceeding is the most
safe aid necessarie way to be lield against him ; and therefore more importing, than the warre
in the Lowe Countries.

Yet

Spainc and Porlingnll.

TRArFIQUFS, AND DISO TRIES.

"** tno

1, •w)r-

Yct hatli the ioiirnoy (I know) bcrii much di-^Iikod by s( mo, w!'o tidit-r thi*
worlhcly of the Spaniards valour, ton indidcrciitly ol his |)iir|)()>c>4 a;;aiiist \n, or ••'
thely iif them that vndcrtooke this idiiriicy a;faii)>t him, did ihinkf it a thiiij; I' •»<■ to

cnc(iunter tlie Spaniard at his owiic home, a thiii;j ii('C(ilos>,(< to pr^ {code by inna-, i^ainst
him, a thins of too jjrcat nKimciit (or two siibiects of flioir qualitio to vndorf.ik^. And
therefore did not so aduancc the begi;inings as thongh tiioy hoped for any good succrssc
thereof.

The chaiinccs of warres bee things most vnccrtaine : for what people sooner vndortake
them, they are indoode but as thastizcmcnts appoinicd by (iod for the one side or the other,
for whicli purpo-e it hath pleased him to gine some victories to the Spaniards of late yeares
ngainst some whomo he had in purpose to mine. But if we consider what warros they be
that haue made their name so terrible, we shall finde them to haue boon none other, than
against the barbarous Moores, the naked Indians, and the vnarmcd Netherlanders : whose
yeelding rather to the name than act of the Spaniards, hath put them into such a conceipt of
their mightincs, as they haue considerately vndertakon the conquest of our Monarchic, con-
sisting of a people vnited and alwaies held sufliciently warlike; against whom what successe
their inuincibie Armie had the last yeare, as our verie children can witnes, so I doubt not
but this voyage hath sufficiently made knowne, what they are ouen vpon their owne doung-
hill : which had it been set out in such sort as it was agreed vppon by their first demaund, it
might haue made our Nation the most glorious people of the world. For hath not the want
of 8. of the 12. pceces of Artillerie which was promised vnto the Aducnture, lost her
Maiestie the possession of the Groyne and many other places, as hereafter shal appeare ;
whose defoMcible Hampiers were greater than our batterie (such as it was) cold force : and
therefore were left vnattempted.

It was also resolued to haue sent GOO. English horse of the Lowe Countries, whereof we
had not one, notwithstanding the great charges expended in their transportation hither:
and that may the Armie .assembled at Puente de Burgos thanke God of, as well as the forces
of Portingall : who foreranne vs sixe daies together: Did wee not want seauen of ^ thir-
teene old Companies, we should haue had from thence : foure of the ten Dutch Companies :
& sixe of their men of warre for the Sea, from the Hollanders: which 1 may iustly say we
wanted, in that we might haue had so many good souldiers, so many good shippes, and so
many able bodies more than we had :

Did there not, vpon the first thinking of the lourney diners gallant Courtiers put in
their names for aduenturers to the summe of 10001. who seeing it went forward in
good earnest, aduised themselues better, and laid the want of so much money vpon the
lourney ?

Was there not moreouer a round summe of the aduenture spent in leuieng, furnishing,
and mainteyning three moneths l.">00. men for the seruice of Berghen : with which Com-
panies the Mutinies of Ostend, was suppressed : a seruice of no small moment ?

What miserie the detracting of the time of our setting out, which should haue been the
first of Februarie, did lay vpon vs, too many can witnesse : and what extremitie the want
of that monethes victualls which we did eate, during the moneth wee lay at Plimoth for a
winde, might haue driuen vs vnto, no man can doubt of, that knoweth what men doo liue
by, had not God giuen vs in the end a more prosperous winde and shorter passage into
Galitia, then hath been often seen ; where our owne force and fortune reuictualled v.s
largely : of which crosse windes that held vs two daies after our going out, the Generalls
being wearie, thrust to Sea in the same, wisely choosing rather to attend the change thereof
there ; than by being in harborough to loose any part of the better when it should come by
hauing their men on shoare : in which two daies 25. of our companies shipped in parte of
the fleete, were scattered from vs, either not being able or willing to double Vshant.

These burthens laid vpon our Generalls before their going out, they haue patientlie en-
dured, and I thinke they haue thereby much enlarged their honor : for hauing done thus
much with the want of our Artillarie, 600. horse, 3000. foote, 200001. of their aduenture,

and

If*,

I '

'1 :

r-.

>i|:

"nH

VOYAOF^. N\(IIGATI()N«.

The Ink' Vin/ajnc of

■| ;

;:i •

ntul one nionrdw virfinlN (if their pruporlioi), what in iv I'l'o rfinicctiirtd they wciild hniic
(liihc >vit!i I cir lull tniniiliincnt :

Tor till' li'x-c of (iiir iiUMi ;it Sen, siiirc wee can l;iv it on n"MC l)iit tlu* uill df (lOI),
what ran \ic -aiili- m n-, llnii that it is hi-< p!«'a«uro, t > tiirnc all tluM* i- p dinti nt* v. t'le
hnii'iir ol' ih. in, ii;.:iiit-t wlmnu' tln'v were int n(l<'<l : a m1 Ik- vviiI .fill >Ihw hi < ■.rU'r tiic
li( (I (il hua t^ in ilnoini; <^r(.it tliiM_!;s hv llicin, whcnn" ninnv h no x.iijif •<> (.|),i nri- ;
wli . if thrv hul l<t the action i'.il nt tlio height t!icr<()( mi n-pci t dI tho-c «loli'cts, w licli
AV'ii' sill li ('"piM iall\ lor t'c s<'ruico at land, as winild h inc mail • a liijlitir suhic* i stoi.po
MultTllum; I (h 'I not -cc, Imw anv man cnnld iiniK li.inc l;iidf an>' icproacli \piii liim
who cninn andcd the ^ainc : l>iit rather liaiio la')U'i.l(d t u* ini(|iiitic o( tins time, wherein
n\en wliom T rreiii Com, tries hane for their ei>'><ltict in seniire wiMi,iil\ e^l<rine<l of. s!.i.ii!d
ii'it only in their own Coiinlrex not l;e second. d in flieir lioMoiir.ible ci.drnors, but mi'-ntily
hi.Hlrt'd, I lien to the im;;airini;; (d' tlieir owiic estates, w'lieii most willln'.'lv ilu'\ haiic
aduentiired lor the ;;.'(iil of their ("onntries : who>e worth I ^^iil not v le>v l)\ nv rep rt,
least I sjioiild Mceme <;iiiltic ol" (latlerie, (which mv sonir ahhorrrth) and v<'t eo<'c ^h'-rt in
I'le tnii" mea.-iire (d' their |)r.iive. Onelv lor voiir instnirtiim, against th(in win- had alri'ist
sediicixl yoii IVoin the true opinion \on oiij^lit to lioUle of sm li men yon slitill \ ndcr^iaiul
tliai (lemiall Norris from his boi ke was trained vp in llu- warres ol the Admral of Franco:
and ill ve.rie yoiini; \eares had i har;:;e ol' men vndcr the lale ■ f Kssc\ in lie;and : wlucli
with what eommendatioiis he then dischar^ied, I leaiie to the r' pote of them who obsenicd
tlu'so scniices. Vpon the breac h betwivl Dot lohn and the Slates, he was p.ale Coioiiell
(leneiall of all the Mii<;iish lnnus there present, or to <(iine, wliirh he ' 'iitiniied t\*<>
yeaies: hee was then made iNfarshall of the (ield, \:idcr Conte Hohenio : a-id al'ier that,
Ciener.ill ol' the annie in I'rislaiui : at his comininj; home in the time (d' M.n.siers iioiieri.c-
nient in Idanders, hee was made Lord Presi>leiit >l Monster in Ireland: wMrh he \et
holdeth, from whence within one vearc he wa.s sent for. and sent Generall of the I'lnijlisli
funes her .Maiestie then lent to the Lo.vc Countries: which hee held till the Harle ol' I.ei-
cesters ,noini>- oucr. And hee was made Marshall of the field in llnnlind, the eneniie beiin^
\poii our Coast, and when it was expected the Crowne of Hngland should hane been tiled
i;y ballade. All which places of cominandeinent which neuer any lv-;;lish-man surces-
.siiicly attained vnto in forrainc Warres, and the hi<>h places her Maiestie .alh th(ni-hf bin
worthie (d', may siiHue to pcrswadc you, that he was not altogether vidikcly to discliarge
that winch he vndertooke.

What fame (J.nerall Drake hath potlcn hv his imirnev about the world, by his aduentures
to ijic West Indies : and the scourges he hath laid vpon the Spanish Nation, I leaiie to the
S .ufhcrnc parts to speak of, and relVrre von to the boi ke extintinour own lansTua'.'.e
treatinj^ of the sane; and be^eech y< u, considerini; the waiiihtie m.itters they hane in all
the course of their lines with wonderliill reputation mana;ied, tliat y<Hi will e.teeme them
not well informed of their proceedin<;s, that thinkc them insuHicient to pa.sse through that
whiih thev viulertooke, especiallic haiiins; cjone tluis faire in the view of the world,
throuL',!! so many inconibranccs, and disappointed <d' tho-e agreements which led them the
rather to vnderia'KC tlie seruice. Jiiit it mav be you will thinkc me herein cither too much
opionated of the Voiage, or coiicciteJ of the Cdmander*. thai labo' ring thus earnestly to
aduaiicc the (>pinii)n of them both, haue not so much as t uched an\ part of the misorders,
wcakenes and wants that hane been antoim^t vs, wlu rcol", thev tiiat returned did plentifullie
report: Tri.c it is, I banc conreiiicd a great opinion of the hiurney, and d.)0 thi.ike honor-
ably of the Commanders: for we finde in greatest antiquities, that ntat:y (Commanders
haue l)eenc roceiiied home with triiinijih lor lesse merile, ar.d that our owne ('o;.ntrcy haih
honoured men hcretofnre will) adtniraiion, for aduentures \nequail to tiiis : it might there-
fore in those daiis haue seemed .«U[)er(luous to evteid an;, mans eommendatimis by
p.ntieiiler remembrances, I'or that then all men were readic to giuc eiicrie man his duo,
]>'.it I holde it most neces>aric in the.se daics sithence euerie vertue liiideth her direct
<>j)po.sit, and actions worthy of all memory, arc in danger to be cnuioiislic ob.scured to

denounce

Siutlii: irifl Porliiis;nll.

THAFFIQUF.S, AND OlSCOUFRirs.

dc?uumro the prniscs <>f llic .k (ion, :iiul aclurs tu ilu- full, hut vrt no further Jhaii uilli
»in(»Tii««' of truth, and not without uriciiini; at thr iiiiiiric of thix timr. whrrt-in i«« rnfnrcrd
a lU'('«~^'ilif of A|)olo<ric-i for tho-o inr, iV iinltcrs, which all former liino- wore accii-tomrtl
to «'«iiirtainf with the ^'rtati'st .i|i|)laiisc that iniuhl he. Hut In iniswiri' the reports wliii h
haiir been Kiiion nut in reproeh of the actors iV: action l)v sncli as were in the same. I.et
no man think otherwi-.e, Inn, that thev who fearing the ca->n.ill accidents of warre had any
j)iir|)' ~c (if rctoiirninij, dd (irsi adMi>c of >oine occasion that shnidd nionne tlien\ llierennto:
and li... ins; found anv what so ener did thinke if -nflic ieiitiv iiisf, in respect <if the earnest
de-irr iiey had to seek out matter lh.it iiii;;ht ( olour their c<'niniiii;> home.

()l these there were som •, who hailing noted the late Fleminisli warres, did (inde that
many ynnn^ nu-n hane j^one oner and -.al'elv retoiiriied Soldiers within fewe Moncths, Id
liaiiiiiji learned some words of Art, \s"d in the wirres, a;id thouoln after that j;<ii.d c\ani|)li'
to spend like time amonjjst vs : whieh beinj; cxjjind they liesjan to j|iiarrell at the <;rent
Mortallitic that was amonn^t \s:

■file neglect of discipline in tlic Armic, for thai men were sulVercd to be driinck with the
jdentie (d" Wines.

The srarsi tie of Surgions.

The want id" Carriajjes fur the hurt and sieke: and the penurleof vietiialls in the Campe.

Thereupon dii.ininu that there would he no ^ood done. And that thcrfore they (nuld lie
content to lose their time, and aduenlurc to returne honie a;; line.

These men haue either eonceiucd well of their ownc wits (who by (d)seruin<j the passajj;es
of the warre : were become siinicient Soldiers in these fewe wcekes) and did lonu; to he at
home, where their discourses mi<;ht be wondied at, or mis-in;; of their Porte<!;ucs and Milrayes
they dreamed on in Portinjjall, would rather rclurne to tlieir farmer manner of life, tliin
attend the end of the lourney. For seeinj; that one hazard broujiht on anol icr : and that
though one escaped the bullet this day it mii^lit li.^ht ypon him to morow, the next dav,
orany day; & tint the warre was not conlined to anv one place, but that euerie place brought
foorth new enemies, were s^lad to see some of the j)oore Soldiers fall sicke, that they fear-
ing; to be infected by them mij^ht iustly desire to i^oc home.

The sicklies I coni'essc was great, because any is too much. lint hath it been greater than
is ordinarie amongst Fnglishmen at tlieir first entrance into the warres, whether soener they
goe to want the fulnes of their flesh jiots ? Mane not ours decayed at al times in France, with
eating young friiites and drinking new wines ? haue they not aboiindantly jierished in the
Lowe Couiiterics with cold, and rawnes of the Avre, euen ii their (Jarrisons ? haue there
not more died in London in sixe .Moiieths of the I'lague, than double our Annie being at
the strongest ? And could the Spanish Annie tlic list yeare (who had all prouisioiis that
could bee thought on lor an Annie, and tookc the fittest season in the veare for our Climate)
aiioide sicknes amongst their Soldiers? Mav it then be thought that ours could escape there,
where they found inordinate heat of weather, and hot wines to distemper them withal ?
But can it bee, that wee haue lo-t so many as the common sort perswade themsclue* we hane?
It hath been proued by strickt examinati(nis of our musters, that wee were neuer in our
fulnes before our going from Flymoth IKMM). Soldiers, nor abouc 'i.j(H). Marriners. It is
ilso euident that there returned abotie ()(J(M). of all sorts, as appeareth by the scncrall pay-
ments made to them since our com'ning home. And I haue triielv shewed you that ol these
number vcrie iieare 3()()0. forsookc the y\rinie at the Sea, wliereof some pasNcd into Fiance
and the rest retourned home. So as wee neuer beiiitr l.<(K)0. in all, and hauing brought
home aboue fiOOO. with vs, you may see how the world hath been seduced, in beleeuing that
wee haue lost l()U()(). men by sicknes.

To them that haue made question of the gonerncmcnt of the warres (little knowing what
appertaineth thervnto in that thcr were so many drukards among^t v-) I answer, that in their
gouernment of shires & parishes, yea in their vcrie housholdes, themselues can hardlie bridle
their vassalls from that vice. F'or we sec it a thing almost impos-ible, at any vour fa ires or
publiquc assemblies to finde any quarter thereof sober, or in your Towncs any Alepoles vn-

frcqiicnted :

Aiisweti.' 10 the
lift.

.Vniwirt to tl(f
sectjiiil.

>ii

it:

M
%

Jii

:!' 'I

78()

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS.

The Idle Voyage of

?!> ;,j

ft! 'v

IllCf

Answer? to llic

tiard.

Answere to the
fourth.

Answere to the
Hfth.

frequented : And we obseruc that though any man hauing any disordered persons in their
houses, doo locke vp their driiike and set buttlers vpon it, that they will yet either by indi-
rect meanes steale themselues drunke from their Masters tables, or runne abroad to seeke it.
If then at home in the eyes of your lustices, 1^' .yors. Preachers, and Masters, and where
they pay for cueric pot they take, they cannot be kept from their liquor: doo they thinke
that tliosie base disordered persons whome themselues sent vnto vs, as lining at home without
rule, who hearing of wine do long for it as a dainetie that their purses could neuer reach to
in England, & hauing it there without money eue in their houses where they lie & hold their
guardc tliey can be kept from being dnnike : and once drunk held in any order or tune,
except we had for eucrie drunckard an officer to attend him. But who be they that haue
runiie into these disorders: Euen our newest men, our youngest men, and our idlest men,
and for the most parte, our slouenly prest men, whome the lustices (who haue alwaies thought
vnworthely of any warre) haue sent out as the scumme and dregges of their Countrey. And
those were they, who distempering themselues with these hot wines, haue brought in that
sicknes, which hath inl'ected honester men than themselues. But I hope (as in other j)laces)
the recouerie of their diseases dooth acquaint their bodies with the ayre of the Countries
where they be ; so the remainder of these which haue either reccucred, or past without
sicknes will prooue most lit for Martiall semises.

If we haue wanted Surgions, may not this rather be laide vpon the Captaines : who are to
prouide for their seuerall Companies, than vpon the Generalls, whose care hath been more
generall. And how may it be thought that euerie Captaine, vpon whome most of the charges
of raising their Companies was laid as an aduenlure could prouide themselues of all things
expedient for a warre, (which was alwaies wont to bee maintained by the purse of the
Prince:) But admit euerie Captaine had his Surgion : yet were the want of curing neuer
the lesse, for our English Surgions (for the most part) bee vnexperienccd in hurts that
come by shot ; because England hath not knowen warres, but of lale, from whose ignorance
proceeded tliis discomfort, which I hope will warne those that heereafter goe to the warres
to make preparation of such as may better preserue mens Hues by their skill.

From whence the want of carriages did proceede, you may coniecture in that we marched
through a Countrey, neither plentifull of such prouisions, nor willing to parte from any
thing : yet this I can assure you that no man of worth was left either hurt or sicke in any
place vnprouided for. And that the General commanded all the Mules & Asses, that were
laden with any baggage, to be vnburdened and taken to that vse: and the Earle of Essex
and hee, for money hired men to carrie men vpon Pikes. And the Earle (whose true ver-
tue and Nobilitie, as it dooth in all other his actions appeare, so did it very much in this)
threw his owne stutfe: I meane apparell and necessaries which he had there from his owne
carriages, and let them be left by the way, to put hurt and sicke men vpon them. Of whose
most honorable deseruings : I shall not neede here to make any particuler discourse, for
that many of his actions doo hereafter giue mee occasion to obserue the same.

And the great complaint that these men make for the want of victualls : may well proceed
from their not knowing the wants of the warre ; for if to feede vppon good beeues, mutton
and goats, be to want, they haue indured great scarcitie at land ; whereunto they neuer
wanted two dales together, wine to mixe with their water, nor bread to eate with their meate
(in some quantitie, ) except it were such as had vowed rather to starue, than to stirre out of
their places for food: of whom we had too manie; who if their time had serued for it, might
haue scene in manie Campes in the most plentifull Countries of the world for victualls, men
day lie die with want of bread and drink, in not hauing money to buy, nor the Countric
yeelding aiiic- good or hcalthfull water in anie place ; whereas both Spaine and Portingall, do
in euerie place att'oord the best water that may be, and much more healthfull than any wine
for our drinking.

And alt u)ug> some haue most iniuriouslie exclaimed against the small prouisions of vic-
tualls for the Sea, rat'ier grounding the same vppon an euill that might haue fallen, than
anie that did light vppon vs: yet knowe you this, that there is no man so forgetfull, that

will

e Idle Voyage of

Spaine and Portingale.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

781

es of all thinsrs

will say they wanted beTore they came to th<? Groyne ; that whosoeuer made not verie large
proiiisions for himselfe and his company at the Groyne, was veric impnuiident, where was
plentifull store of wine, beefe, and fish, and no man of place prohibited to Liye in the
same into their shippes; wherewith some did so furnish themselucs, as tney did not onely in
the lourney siipplie the wants of such as were Iisse prouident than they, but in their return
home made a rou' d commoditie of the remainder thereof. And that at Cascais there came
in su( h store of prouisions into the fleete out of England, as no man that would haue v><ed
his diligence could haue wanted his due proportion thereof: as might appeare by t'^e Re-
mainder that was returned to Plymouth, and the plentifull sale thereof made out of the Mer-
chants ships after their comming into the Thames.

But least I should sceme vnto you too studious in confuting idle opinions, or answering
friuolous questions, I will addresse me to the true report of those actions that haue passed
there: wherein I prote'^t, I will neither hide anie thing that hath happened against vs, nor
attribute more to anie man or matter, th in the iu>*t occasions thereof leadeth vnto : wherein
it shall appeare, that iht-re hath been nothing left vndone by the Gencralls which was
before our going out vndertaken by them ; but that there hath been much n'ore done
than was at the first required by Don Antonio, who should haue reaped the fruite of our
Aduenture.

After 6. daies sailing from the Coast of England, and the fift after we had the winde good,
beeing the aO. of Aprill in the euening, we landed in a Bay more than an English mile
from the Groyne, in our long Boates and Pinnyses without anie impeachment: from whence
we presently marched toward the Towne, within one halfe mile whereof we were encountred
by the Enemie, who being charged by ours, retired into their gates. For that night our
Armie lay in the villages, houses and milles next adioyning, and verie neare round about
the Towne, into the which the Galeon named Saint lohn (which was the second of the last
yeres fleete against England) one hulk, two smaller ships, and two Gallies which were found
in the Rode, did beate vpon vs and vpon our Companies, as they passed too and fro that
night and the next morning.

Generall Norris hauing that morning before day viewed the Towne, found the same de-
fended on the land side (for it standeth vpon the neck of an Hand) with a wal vpon a drie
ditch : wherupon he resolued to trie in two placed what might be done against it by escalade,
and in the meane time aduised for the landing of some Artillarie to beat vpon the ships &
Gallies, that they might not annoy vs: which being put in execution, vpon the planting of
the first peece the Gallies abandoned the Road, and betooke them to Farroll, not farre from
thence : and the Armado being beaten with the artillary & musketers that was placed vpon
the next shoare, left her playing vpon vs. The rest of the day was spent in preparing the
Companies, & other prouisions readie for the surprise of the Base towne, which was effected
in this sort.

There were appointed to be landed 1200. men vnder the conduct of Colonell Huntley, and
Captaine Fenner the Vizeadmirall, on that side next fronting vs by water in long boafes and
pynnises, wherein were placed manie peeces of artillarie to beate vpon the Towne iU' their
approach : at the corner of the wall which defended the other water side, were appointed
Captain Richard Wingfeild Lieutenant Colonell to Generall Norris, and Captaine Sampson
Lieutenant Colonell to Generall Drake to enter at lowe water with 500. men if they found it
passable, but if not, to betake them to the escalade, for they had also ladders with them : at
the other corner of the wall which ioyned to that side, that was attempted by water, were
appoynted Colonell Vmpton, and Colonell Brett with 300. men to enter by escalade. All
the Companies which should enter by boate being imbarked before the lowe water: and hau-
ing giuen the Alarme Captaine Wingfeild and Captaine Sampson betooke the to the escahide,
for tliey had in commandement to charge all at one instant. The boates landed without anie
great difHcultie : yet had they some men hurt in ^ landing. Colonell Bret & Col. Vmpton
entred their quarter without encounter, not finding anie defence made against them ; for
Captain Hinder being one of them that entred by water, at his first entrie (with some of

5 H his

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his owne Companie whom he trusted well, betooke himflelfe to that part of the wall, which
he c leered before that they offered to enter, & so still scoured the wall) till he came on
the backe of them who mainteined the fight against Capteine Wingfeild & Captaine Samp-
son ; who were twice beaten from their ladders, and found verie good resistance, till the ene^
mies perceiuing ours entred in two places at their backs,- were driuen to abandon the same.
The reason why that place was longer defended than the other, is (as Don luan de Luna who
commanded the same affirmeth) that the Enemie that day .lad resolued in councel how to
make their defences, if they were approached : and therein concluded, that if we attempted
it by water, that it was not to be helde, and therefore vpon the discouerie of our Boates,
they of the high Towne should make a signall by fier fro thence, that al the low Towne might
make their Retreate thither : but they, (whither troubled with the sodaine terror we brought
vpon them, or forgetting their decree) omitted the iier, which made them gard that place
till wee were entred on euerie side.

Then the Towne being entred in three seuerall places with an huge crie, the inhabitants
betooke them to the high Towne : which they might with lesse perrill doo : for that ours
being strangers ther, knew not the way to cut the of. The rest that were not put to the
sword in furie, fled to the Rockes in the Hand, and hid themselues in chambers and sellers,
which wpre euerie day found out in great numbers.

Amongst those Don luan de Luna a man of verie good commandement, hauing hidden
himselfe in a house, did the next morning yeeld himselfe.

There was also taken that night a Commissarie of vittels called luan de Vera, who con-
fessed that there were in the Groyne at our entrie .500. Soldiers being in seauen companies
which returned verie weake (as appeareth by the small numbers of them) from the lourney
of England, namely,

Vnder Don luan de Luna.

Don Diego Barran, a bastard sonne of the Marques of Santa Cruz ; his companie was that
night in the Galeon.

Don Antonio de Herera then at Madrid.

Don Pedro de Mauriques Brother to the Earle of Paxides.

Don leronimo de Mourray of the order of Saint luan, with some of the Towne were in
the fort.

Don Gomer de Caramasal then at Madrid.

Capt. Man(;o, Caucaso de Socas.

Also there came in that day of our landing from Retanzas the companies of Don luan de
Mosalle, and Don Petro Pourre de Leon.

Also hce saith that there was order giuen for baking of 300000. of fiisquef, some in 6a-
tancas, some in Riuadea, and the rest there.

There was then in the Towne 2000. pipes of wine, and an 150. in the ships.

That there was lately come vnto the Marquis Seralba 300000. ducats.

That there was 1000. Lirres of oyle.

A great quantitie of beanes, pease, wheate, and fish.

That there was 3000. quintells of beefe.

And that not 20. dayes before there came in three Barques laden with match and har*
quebuses.

Some others also found fauour to bee taken prisoners, but the rest falling into the hands
of the common Soldiers, had their throates cut: to the number of 500. as I coniecture ^rst
and last after wee had entred the Towne ; and in the enterie thereof, there was found euerie
celler full of Wine, whereon our men by inordinate drinking, both grewe themselues for
the present senceles of the danger of the shot of the Towne, which hurt many of them
being drunke, and tooke, the first ground of their sicknes, for of such was our first and
chiefest mortalitie. There was also aboundant store of victualls, salt and all kinde of pro-
uision for shipping and the warre : which was confessed by the sayd Commissarie of victuals
taken there to be the beginning of a Magasin of all sorts of prouision for a new Voiage into

England :

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TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES,

783

npanie was that

Towne were in

atch and hap-

England : whereby yon may coniecf ure what the spoile thereof hath adnauntagcd vs, and
preiiidiced the King of Spaine.

The next morning about eight of the clocke, the Enemie abandoned their Shippes. And
hailing ouercharged the Artillarie of the Gallion, left her on tier, which burnt in t. rrible sort
two daies together, the (ier and oiiercharging of the peeces being so great, as of 50. that
were in her, ther wer not obone 16. taken out whole, the rest with ouer charge of tlie ponder
beeing broken ai-.d molten, with heat of the fire, was taken out in broken peeces into diucrse
Shipper. The same day was the Cloister on the South side of the Towne entered by vs,
which ioyned very neare to the wall of the Towne, out of the Chambers and other places
whereof wee beate into the same with our Musquetiers.

The next day in the afternoone there came downe some SCX'O. men gathered together out
of the countrie, euen to the gates of the towne, as resolutlie (led by what spirit I know not)
as though they would haue entered the same : but at the first defence made by ours that
had the gard there, wlierein were >«laine about eighteene of theirs, they tooke them to their
heelcs in the same disorder they made their approach, and with gre.iter speede than ours
were able to followe ; Notwithstanding, we followed after them more than a mile.

The -second day Col. Huntley was sent into the countrie with three or foure hundred men,
who brought home verie great store of Cowes and Sheepe for our reliefe.

The third day in the night the Generall had in purpose to take a long Munition house
builded vpon their wall, opening towards vs, which would haue giuen vs great aduauntage
against them ; but they knowing the commoditie thereof for vm, burnt it in the beginning
of the euening: which put him to a newe councell, for hee had likewise brought some Ar-
tillarie to that side of the towne. During this time, there happened a verie great fire in the
lower end of the towne; which had it not been by the care of the Generals heedilie seen
vnto, and the furie thereof preuented, by pulling downe many houses which were mo.st in
danger, as next vnto them, had burnt all the prouisions we found there, to our wonderfull
hinderance.

The 4. day were planted vnder the garde of the Cloyster two demie Canons, and two
Culuerings against the towne, defended or gabbioned with a crc^sse wall, through the which
our batterie lay ; the first & second tyre whereof shooke al the wall downe, so as the ord-
nance lay al open to the enemie, by reason whereof some of p Canoniers were shot & some
slaine. The Lieutenant also of the ordnance Master Spencer was slaine fast by sir Edward
Norris, Master th'^reof : whose valor being accompanied with an honorable care of defending
that trust commk.fed vnto him, he neuer left that place, till he receiued direction from the
Generall his brother to cea<e the Batterie whiih hee presently did, leaning a guard vppon
the same for that day : and in the night following made so good defence for the place of the
Batterie, as after there were verie iew or none annoyed therein.

That day Captain Goodwin had in commandement from the Generall, that when the as-
sault should be giuen to the Towne, he should make a profer of an escalade on the other side,
where hee helde his guard: but he (mistaking the signall that should haue been giuen) at-
tempted the same long before the assault, & was shot in the n^outh. The same daye the
Generall hauing planted his Ordenance readie to batter, caused the towne to be sommoned,
in which sommons, they of the Towne shot at our Drum: immediately after that there wa»
one hanged ouer the wall, and a parley desired, wherein they gaue vs to vnderstand, that the
man hanged, was he that shot at the Drum before; wherein also they intreated to haue faire
warrs, with promise of the same on their parts : the rest of the parley was spent in talking of
Don luan de Luna, and some other prisoners, and somwhat of the rendring of the Towne,
but not much, for they listened not greatly thereunto.

Generall Norris hauing by his skilfull viewe of the Towne (which is almost all seated
vpon a Rocke) found one place therof myneable, & did presently set workmen in hand
withal : who after 3. daies labor, ( & the seuenth after wee were entred the base Towne)
had bedded their powder, but indeed not farre inough into the wall. Agaynst which time
^ breach made by f cannon being thought assaultable, and Companies appoynted as wel to

5 H 2 enter

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enter the same, as that which was expected should be blowen vp by the Myne : namely, to
tliat of the Cmnon, Captaine Richard Wingreild, and Captaine Philpot, who lead the Ge-
neralls Foote Companie; with whom also Captaine Yorke went, whose principall Command-
ment was ouer the horsmen. And to that of the Myne, Captaine lohn Sampson, and Cap-
tain Anthonie Wingfeild Lieutenant Colonell to the Master of the Ordinance, with certain
selected out of diuers Regiments. All these Companies being in Armes, and the assault in-
tended to be giuen in all places at an instant, fier was put to the train of the Myne : but by
reason the powder brake out backwards in a place where the caue was made too high, there
could be nothing done in either place for that day. During this time, Captaine Hinder was
sent with some chosen out of euerie Companie into the countrie for prouisions, whereof hee
brought in good store, and returned without losse.

The next day Captaine Anthonie Sampson was sent out with some 500. to fetch in proui-
sions for the armie, who was encountred by them of the Countrie: but he put the to flight,
& returned with good spoyle. The same night the Myners were set to worke againe, who
by the second day after had wrought verie wel into the foundation of the wall. Against
which time the Companies aforesaid being in readines for both places (Generall Drake on
the other side with 2. or 3(X). men in Pinnaces, making prefer to attempt a strong fort vpon
an Hand before the Towne, where he left more than 30. men) fier was giuen to the trayne
of the Myne, which blew vp halfe the Tower vnder which the powder was planted. The
Assailants hauing in charge vpon the effecting of the Myne presently to giue the assault,
which they did accordingly ; but too soone, for hauing entred the top of the breach, the other
halfe of the Tower, which with the first force of the powder was onely shaken and made
loose, fell vppon our men : vnder which were buried about 20. or 30. then being vnder that
part of the Tower. This so amazed our men that stood in the breach, not knowing from
whence that terror came, as they forsooke their Commanders, and left them among the ruines
of the Myne. The two Ensignes of Generall Drake and Captaine Anthonie Wingfeild, were
shot in the Breach, but their colours were rescued : the Generals by Captaine Sampsons
Lieutenant, and Captaine Wingfeilds by himselfe. Amongst them that the wall fell vpon,
was Captaine Sydenham pitifully lost: who hauing three or foure great stones vpon his lower
parij,, was heldeso fast, as neither himselfe could stirre, nor anie reasonable Companie re-
couer him. Notwithstanding the next daye being found to be aliue, ther was 10. or 12. lost
in attempting to relieue him.

The breach made by the Cannon, was wonderful wel assaulted by them that had the charge
therof, who brought their men to the push of the pike at the top of the Breach. And being
readie to enter, the loose earth (which was indeede but the rubbish of the outside of the
wall) with the weight of them that were thereon slipped outwards from vnder their feete.
Whereby did appeare halfe the wal vnbattered. For let no man thinke that Culuerine or
Demie Cannon can sufficiently batter a defensible Rampier : and of those peeces we had,
the better of the Demi Canons at the second shot brake in her carriages, so as the battrie was
of lesse force, being but of three pieces.

In our Retreat (which was from both breaches thorowe a narrowe lane) were many of our
men hurt: and Captaine Dolphin, whoserued verie well that day, was hurt in the verie Breach.
The failing of this attempt, in the opinion of all the beholders, & of such as were of best
iudgement, was the fall of the Myne : which had doubtlesse succeeded, the rather, because
the approach was vnlooked for by the Enemie in that place, and therefore not so much de-
fence made there as in the other. Which made the Generall grow to a new resolution : for
finding that two dayes batterie had so little beaten their wall, and that he had no better pre-
paration to batter withall : he knewe in his experience, there was no good to be done that
way : which I thinke he first put in proofe, to trie if by that terror he could get the vpper
Towne, hauing no other waie to put it in hazard so speedilie, and which in my conscience
had obtained the Towne, had not the Defendants been in as great perill of their liues by
the displeasure of their King in giuing it vp, as by the bullet or sword in defending the same.
For that day before the assault, in the view of our Armie, they burnt a Cloyster within the

Towne,

Spaine and Portingale. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Towne, and manie other houses adioyning to the Castle, to make it the more defencible :
whereby it appeared how little opinion themsclues had of hiOding if against vs, had not
God (who would not haue vs sodainly made proud) laid that misfortune vpon vs.

Hereby it may appeare, that the foure Cannons, and other pieces of batterie promised
to the iourney, and not performed, might haue made her Maiestie Mistres of the Groyne:
for though the Myne were infortunate, yet if the other breach had been such as the earth
would haue helde our men thereon, I doo not thinke but they had entred it throughly at
the first assault giuen : which had been more than I haue heard of in our age. And being
as it was, is no more than the Prince of Parma hath in winning of all his Townes endured,
who neuer entred anie place at the first assault, nor aboue three by assault.

The next day, the Generall hearing by a prisoner that was brought in, that the Conde de
Andrada had assembled an Armie of KOOO. at Puente de Burgos, sixe miles from thence in
the way to Petance, which was but the beginning of an Armie : in that there was a
greater leauie readie to come thcthcr vnder the Conde de Altemira, either in purpose to
relieue the Groyne, or to encamp themselues neere the place of our embarking, there to
hinder the same ; for to that purpose had the Marque: of Seralba written to them both the
first night of our landing, as the Commissarie taken then confessed, or at the least to stop
our further entrance into the Countrey, { for during this time, there were many incursions
made of three or foure hundred at a time, who burnt, spoyled, and brought in victualls
plentifullio. ) The Generall, I say, hearing of this Armie, had in purpose the next day
following to visite them, against whom he carried but nine Regiments: in the Vangard
were the Regiment of Sir Roger Williams, Sir Edward Norris, and Colonell Sidney : in the
Battaile, that of the Generall, of Colonell Lane, and Colonell Medkerk: and in the Rere-
ward. Sir Henrie Norris, Colonell Huntley, and Colonell Brets Regiments; leaning the
other fiue Regiments with Generall Drake, for the garde of the Cloyster and Artillarie.
About tenne of the clocke the next day, being the sixt of May, halfe a mile from the
Campe, wee discouering the Enemie, Sir Edward Norris, who commanded the Vangard in
chiefe, appoynted his Lieutenant Colonell, Captaine Anthonie Wingfield to command the
shot of the same, who deuided the into three troupes; the one he appoynted to Captaine
Middleton to be conducted in a way on the left hand : another to Captaine Erington to take
the way on the right hand, and the bodie of them (which were Musketters) Captaine
Wingfield tooke himselfe, keeping the direct way of the march. But the way taken by
Captaine Middleton met a little before with the way helde by Captaine Wingfield, so as he
giuing the first charge vpon the Enemie, was in the instant seconded by Captaine Wing-
field, who beate them from place to place (they hauing verie good places of
defence, and crosse walles which they might haue held long) till they betooke them to
their bridge, which is ouer a creeke comming out of the Sea, builded of stone vpon
Arches. On the foote of the further side whereof, lay the Campe of the Enemie verie
stronglie entrenched, who with our shot beaten to the further end of the bridge. Sir Ed-
ward Norris marching in the poynt of the pikes, without stay passed to the bridge, accom-
panied with Colonell Sidney, Captaine Hinder, Captaine Fulford, and diuers others, who
found the way cleere .ouer ^ same, but through an incredible volie of shot; for that the
shot of their Armie flanked vpon both sides of the bridge, the further end whereof was
barricaded with barrelis : but they who should haue garded the same, seeing the proude
approach wee made, forsooke the defence of the Barricade, where Sir Edward entered, and
charging the first defendant with his pike, with verie earnestnes in ouerthrusting, fell, and
was grieuouslie hurt at the sword in the head, but was most honorablie reskued by the
Generall his brother, accompanied with Colonell Sidney, and some other gentlemen : Cap-
taine Hinder also hauing his Caske shot oif, had fiue wounds in the head and face at the
sword : and Captaine Fulford was shot into the left arme at the same counter : yet were
they so throughlie seconded by the Generall, who thrust himselfe so neere to giue in-
couragement to the attempt, (which was of wonderful difficultie) as their brauest men (hat
defended that place being ouerthrowne, their whole Armie fell presentlie into route, of

whom

785

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VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

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whom our men had the chase three miles in fonre sondrie waies, which they betooke them-
selues vnto. There was taken the standcrd with the Kings Amies, and bcrne before the
Generall. How many, two thousand men ( for of so many consisted our Vangard ) might
kill in pursuit of 4. sundrie parties, so many you may imagine fell before vs that day. And
to make the number more great, our men hauing giuen 6uer the execution, and returning
to their stands, found many hidden in the Vineyards and hedges which ihcy dispatched.
Also Colonell Medkerk was sent with his Regiment three miles further to a Cloyster, which
he burnt and spoyied, wherein he found two hundred more and put them to the sword.
There were slaine in this tight on our side onlie Captaine Cooper, and one priuate souldier:
Captaine Barton was also hurt vppon the bridge in the eye. But had you scene the strong
Bancades they had itiade on cither side of the bridge, and how strongly they lay encamped
thereabouts, ynu wMild haue thought it a rare resolution of ours to giue so braue a charge
vpon an Armie so strongly lodge<l. After the furie of the execution, the Generall sent the
Vangard one way, and the Battdl another, to burne and spoyle: so as you might haue seen
the Countrie more than three miles compasse on fire. There was found very good store of
Munition and Victuals in the Campe, some plate and rich apparell, which the better sort
left behind, they wefe so hotlie pursued. Our Sailors also landed in an Hand next adioyn-
ing our shippes, where they burnt and spoyied all they found. Thus we returned to the
Groyne, bringing small comfort to the enemie within the same, who shot many times at vs
as wee marched out, but not once in our comming backc againe.

The next day was spent in shipping our Artillarie landed for the Batterie, and of the rest
taken at the Groyne, which had it been such as might haue giuen vs any assurance of a
better batterie, or had there been no other purpose of our lourney but that, I thinke the
Generall would haue spent some more time in the siege of the place.

The two last nights, there were that vndertooke to fire the higher towne in one place,
where the houses were builded vpon the wall by the water side : but they within suspecting
as much, made so good defence against vs, as they preuented the same. In our departure
there was fire put into €uerie house of the lowe towne, in somuch as I may iustlie say, there
was not one house left standing in the Base towne, or the Cloyster.

The next diy, being the eight of May, wee embarked our Armie without I'sse of a man,
which (had we not beaten the Enemie, at Puente de Burgos) had been impossible to haue
done, for that without doubt they would haue attempted something against vs in ourim-
barking: as appeared by the report of the Commissarie aforesayd, who confessed, that the
first night of our landing, the Marques of Seralba writ to the Conde de Altemira, the
Conde de Andrada, & to Terneis de Santisso, to bring al the forces against vs that they
could possiblie raise, thinking no way so good to assure that place, as to bring an Armie
thether, wherewithall they might either besiege vs in their Base Towne, if we should get it.
Or to lie betweene vs and our place of embarking, to fight with va vpon the aduantage, for
they had abouc 15()0(). souldiers vnder their commandements.

After wee had piit from thence, wee had the winde so contrarie, as wee could not vnder
nine daies recoUer the Btirlings: in which passage on the 13. day, theEarle of Essex, and
with him Master Walter Deuereux his brother (a Gentleman of wonderful great hope).
Sir Roger Williams, Cilonell generall of the foot men. Sir Philip Butler, who hath alwaies
been most inward with him, and Sir Edward Wingfield, came into the fleete. The Earle
hauing put himselfe into the lourney against the opinion of the world, and as it seemed to
the hazard of his great fortune, though to the great aduancement of his reputation, ( for as
the honorable carriage of himselfe towards all men, doth make him highlie esteemed at
home ; so did his exceeding forwardnes in all seruices, make him to be wondred at amongst
vs) who, I say, put oflTin the same winde from Famouth, that wee left Plymouth in, where
he lay, because he would auoide the importunitie of messengers that were daylie sent for his
returue, and some other causes more secret to himselfe, not knowing (as it seemed) what
place the Generals purposed to land in, had been as farre as Cedes In Andalosia, and lay vp
and downe about the South Cape, where he tooke some ships laden with Cornr, and

brought

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TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

787

brought them vnto the fleete. Also in his returne from thence to nieete with our fleete, he
fell with the Hands of Bayon ; and on that side of the riuer which Cannas standeth vpon :
he, with Sir Roger Williams, & those Gentlemen that were with him went on sh re, with
some men out of the ship he was in, whom the eiiemie that lield gard vpon the Coast,
would not abide, but fled vp into the Countrey. After his coming into the fleet (to the
great reioycing of vs all) he demaunded of the Generals, that after our Armie should come
on shore, he might alwaies haue the leading of the Vantgard, which they easilie yeelded
vnto: as being desirous to satisfie him in all things, but especially in matters so much
tending to his honor as this did; so as from the time of our first landing in Portingall, hee
alwaies marched in the poynt of the vangard, accompanied with Sir Roger Williams (ex-
cept when the necessitie of the place hee held) called him to other seruices.

The 16. day we landed at Penicha in Portingall, vnder the shot of the Castle, andaboue
the wast in water, more than a mile from ^ towne, wherein many were in peril of drowning,
by reason the wind was great, & the Sea went high, which ouerthrew one boat wherin 25.
of Captaine Dolphins men perished. The Enemie, being fiue copanies of Spanyards vnder
the comaundement of ^ Conde de Fuentes, sallied out of the towne against vs, &. in our
landing made their approach close by the water side. But the Earle of Essex, \V Sir Roger
Williams & his brother, hauing landed sufBcient number to make 2. troups, left one to hold
the way by the water side, and led f other ouer the Sandhils: which the Enemy seeing,
drew theirs likewise further into the land ; not, as we coniectured, to encounter vs, but in-
deede to make their speedie passage away : notwithstanding they did it in such sort, as
being charged by ours which were sent out by f Colonell general! vnder Captaine lacson,
they stood the same euen to the push of the pike : in which charge & at the push, Cap-
taine Robert Piew was slaine. The Enemie being fled further tha we had reason to follow
them, al our companies were drawn to the town : which being vnfortified in any place, we
found vndefended by anie man against vs. And therefore the Generall caused the Castle to
be sumoned j' night : which being abandoned by him that c5maunded it, a Portingall,
named Antonio de Aurid, being possessed thereof, desired but to be assured that Don
Antonio was landed, whervpon he would deliuer f same, which he honestly performed.
There was taken out of the Castle 100. shot & pikes, which Don Emanuel furnished his
Portingals withall, & 20. barrels of powder : so as possessing both ^ towne & the Castle,
we rested there one day ; wherin some friers & other poore men ciime vnto their new King,
promising in the name of their Countrie next adioyning, that within two daies he should
haue a good supplie of horse 8c foote for his assistance. That day we remained there, the
Generals company of horses were vnshipped.

The Generals hauing there resolued ^ the Armie should march ouer land to Lisbone
vnder f conduct of generall Norris : &. that general Drake should meet him in the riuer
thereof with the fleete : that there should be one company of foote left in gard of the
Castle, & 6. of the ships : also y the sicke and hurt should remaine there with prouisions
for their cures.

The General, to trie f euent of the matter by expedition, the next day began to march
on this sort: his owne regiment, & the regiments of Sir Roger Williams, Sir Henrie
Norris, Colonel Lane. & Colonel Medkerk, in the Vangard : Generall Drake, Colonel Dc-
uereux, S. Edward Norris, & Colonel Sidneis in f Battaile : S. lames Hales, Sir Edward
Wingfleld, Colonell Vmptons, Colonell Huntleis, & Colonell Brets in the arrereward. By
that time our armie was thus marshalled, general Drake, who though he were to passe by
Sea, yet to make known the honorable desire he had of taking equal part of al fortunes ^
vs, stood vpo the ascent of an hil, by f which our Battalions must of necessitie march, &
with a pleasinj; kindnes tooke his leaue seuerally of the comaunders of euerie regiment,
wishing vs al '.lappy successe in our iourney ouer the land, with a constant promise f he
would, if the iniury of f wether did not hinder him, meet vs in the riuer of Lisbone with
our fleete. The want of carriages the first day was such, as they were enforced to carrie
their Munition vpon mens backes, which was the next day remedied.

J'. „

'I 'I

788

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

The late Voyage of

w*i- ■ r ^ / '

In this march Cnptaine Crispc, the Pronost Marshall, caused one who (contrarie to the
proclamation published at our arriuall in Porlingall) had broken vp a house for pillage, to
be hanged, with the cause or his death vpon his breast, in the place where the act was
committed: which good example proiiidentlie giuen in the beginning of our march,
caused the commandement to be more respectiuelie reijarded all the iourney after, by them
whom feare of punishment doth onlie hold within compasse. The Camp lodged that night
at Lorina : The next day we had intelligence al the way that the encmie had made head of
horse and footc against vs al Toras Vcdras, which wee thought they would haue held : But
comming thither the scconde day of our march, not two houres before our Vangarde came
in, they lefte the Towne and Ca-^tle to the possession of Don Antonio.

There began the greatest want we had of victualls, especiallie of bread, vpon a Com-
mandement giuen from the Generall, that no man should spoyle the Countrey, or take anie
thing from anie Portingall: which was more respectiuely obserued, than I thinke would
haue been in our owne Countrey, amongst our owne friends and kindred : but the Coun-
trey (contrarie to promise) hauing neglected the prouision of victualls for vs, whereby we
were driuen for that time into a great scarcitie. Which moued the Colonell Generall to
call all the Colonels together, and with them to aduise for some better course for our
people : who thought it bt st, first to aduertise ^ King what necessitie we were in, before
we shuld of our selues alter the first institution of abstinence: the Colonel! generall
hauing acquainted the General herewith, with his very good allowance thereof, went to the
King ; who after some expostulations vsed, tooke the more carefull order for our men, and
after that our Armie was more plentifully relieued.

The third daye wee lodged our Armie in three sundrie villages, the one Battalion lying in
Enchara de los Caualleros, another in Enchara de los Obisbos, and the third in San Sebastians.

Captaine Yorke who commanded the Generals horse companie, in this march made triall
of the valour of the horsemen of the Enemie ; who by one of his Corporalls charged with 8.
horses through 40. of them, and himselfe through more than 200. with some 40. horse : who
would abide him no longer than they could make way from him.

The next day we marched to Loris, and had diners intelligences that the enemie would
tarrie vs there : for the Cardinal! had made publique promise to them of Lisbone, that he
would fight with vs in that place, which hee might haue done aduantageouslie ; for we had a
bridge to passe ouer in the same place : but before our cotnming hee dislodged, notwith-
standing it appeared vnto vs that hee had in purpose to encampe there : for wee found the
ground staked out where their trenches should haue been made : and their horsemen with
some few shot shewed themselues vppon a hill at our comming into that village. Whom Sir
Henrie Norris (whose Regiment had the poynt of the Vangard) thought to draw vnto some
fight, and therefore marched without sound of Drum, and somewhat faster than ordinarie,
thereby to get neere them before hee were discouered, for he was shadowed from them by
an hill that was belweene him and them : but before he could draw his companies anie thing
neere, they retired.

Generall Drakes regiment that night for the conimoditie of good lodging, drewe themselues
into a Village, more than one English mile from thence, and neare the Enemie : who not
daring to doo anie thing against vs in foure dayes before, tooke that occasion, and in the
next morning fell downe vpon that Regiment, crying, Viua el Rey Don Antonio, which was a
generall salutation thorough all the Countrey as they came : whom our young Souldiers ( though
it were vpon their guard, and before the watch were discharged) began to entertaine kindly,
but hauing got within their guard, they fell to cut their throates : but the Alarme being taken
inwards, the Officers of the two next Companies, whose Captaines, (Captaine Sydnam and
Captaine Young) were lately dead at the Groyne, brought down their col( urs and pikes
vpon them in so resolute manner, as they presently draue them to retyre with losse: they
killed of ours at their first entrance 14. and hurt sixe or seauen.

The next day we lodged at Aiuclana within three miles of Lisbone, where many of our
Souldiers drinking in two places of standing waters by the waie, were poysoned, & thereon

presently

%¥

Spaine and Portingale.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERTES.

;sy

presently died : some doo tliinke it came rather by eating of honnie, which they found in
the houses plentifully. But whether it were by water or by honnie, the poorc men were
poysoned.

That night the Earle of Essex, and Sir Roger Williams went out about cleuen of the clock
with 1000. men to lye in Ambuscade neere the Towne, and hauinglayd the same verie neerc,
cent some o -riue the Alarme vnto the Enemie : which was well performed by them that had
the charge thereof, but the Enemie refused to issue after them, so as the Earle returned ai
■oone as it was light without dooing anic thing, though he had in purpose, and was readie to
haue giuen an honourable charge on them.

The 25. of May in the euening we came to the Suburbes of Lisbone : at the verie entrance
whereof, Sir Roger Williams calling Captain Anthony Wingfield with him, tooke thirtie shot
or thereabouts, and first scowred al the slreetes till they came verie neare the Towne ; where
they found none but olde folkes and beggers, crying Viua el Rey Don Antonio, and the
houses shut vp : for they had carried much of their wealth into the Towne, and had fired
some houses by the water side, ful of come and other prouisions of viclualls, least we should
be benefited thereby, but yet left behinde them great riches in manie houses.

The foure Regiments that had the Vangard that day which were Colonel! Deuereux, Sir
Edward Norris, Colonell Sydncys, and Generall Drakes whome I name as they marched, the
Colonel! Generall caused to hold guard in the nearest streates of the Siiburbes : The Battaile
and the arrierward stood in Armes al the night in the field neare to Alcantara. Before morn-
ing Captaine Wingfield by direction from ^ Colonel Generall Sir Roger Williams helde guard
with Sir Edward Norris his Regiment in three places verie neere the Towne wal, and so helde
the same till the other Regiments came in the morning. About midnight they within the
Towne burnt all their houses that stood vpon their wall either within or without, least we
possessing them, might thereby greatly haue annoyed the Towne.

The next morning Sir Roger Williams attempted, (but not without peril!) to take a Church
called S. Antonio, which ioyned to the wall of the towne, and woulde haue been a verie euill
neighbour to the towne : but the Enemie hauing more easie entrie into it than wee, gained
it before vs. The rest of that morning was spent in quartering the Battaile and arrierward
in the Suburbes called Bona Vista, & in placing Musquetiers in houses, to frunt their shot
vpon the wall, who from the same scowred the great streates verie dangerouslie.

By this time our men being throughly wearie with our sixe dayes March : and the last
rights watch, were desirous of rest : whereof the Enemie being aduertised, about one or two
of the clocke sallied out of the Town, and made their approach in three seuerall streates vpon
vs, but chiefly in Colonell Bretts quarter: who (as most of the Armie was) being at rest,
with as much speed as he could drew his men into Armes, and made head against them so
throughly, as himselfe was slaine in the place, Captaine Carsey shot through the thigh, of
which hurt he died within four dayes after, Captaine Carre slaine presently, and Captaine
Caue hurt (but not mortally) who were al! of his Regiment.

This resistance made as wel here, as in other quarters where Colonell Lane and Colonel
Medkerke commanded, put them to a sodaine fowle retreate: in so much, as the Earle of
Essex had the chase of them euen to the gates of the high Towne, wherein they left behinde
them many of their best Commanders: their Troope of horsemen also came out, but being
charged by Captaine Yorke, withdrew themselues againe. Manie of them also Icfte the streates,
and betooke them to houses which they found open : for the Serieant Maior Captaine Wilson
slewe in one house with his owne hands three or foure, and caused them that were with him to kil
manie others. Their losse I can assure you did triple ours, as well in qiialitie as in quantitie.

During our march to this place Generall Drake with the whole fleete was come into Cas-
cais, and possessed the Towne without anie resistance : manie of the inhabitants at their
discouerie ofour Nauie, fled with their baggage into the Mountaines, and lefte the Towne
for anie man that would possesse it, till Generall Drake sent vnto them by a Portingall Pilot
which he had on boord, to oft'er them all peaceable kindnes, so farre foorth as they would ac-
cept of their King, and minister necessaries to the Armie he had brought : which ofler they

5 I joyfully

I,,

11 !

15"" ';;/;*;

^iilS'iiJ

''90 VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, 77ic /«/« Foyage of

ioy fully embraced, & presently sent two chieremcn of their Towne.to signifie their loyaltie
to Don Antonio, and their honest alFections to our people. Whereupon the Generall landed
his Copanics not farre from the Cloyster called San Domingo, but not without perill of the
shot of the Castle, which being guarded with sixtie fmc Spaniards helde still agaynst him.

As our flcefe were casting anker when tht-y came first into that Road, there was a small
shipofBrasil th:it came from thence, which bare loo with them, and seemed by striking
her sayles, as though she would also haue ankered : but taking her fittest occasion, hoysed
againe, and would hauc passed vp the Uiuer, but the Generall presently discerning her pur-
pose, sent out a Pinnace or two after her, which forced her in such sort, as she ranne her selfe
vppc n the Rocks: all the men escaped out of her, and the lading (being manie chests of
sugar) was made nothing woorth by the salt water. In his going thether also, he tooke ships
of the Port of Portingal, which wer sent from thence, with fifteene other from Pedro Ver-
mendcs Xantcs Sirieant Maior of the same place, laden with men and victualls to Lisbone:
the rest th;it escaped, put into Sant' Vuds. The next day it pleased General Norris to cal al ^
Colonells together, and to aduise with them, whether it were more expedient to tarrie there
to attend the forces of the Portingall horse and foote whereof the King had made promise,
and to march some conuenient number to Cascais to fetch our Artillerie and munition, which
was all at our ships, sauing that which for the necessitie of the Seruice, was brought along
with vs : Whereunto, some carried away with the vaine hope of Don Antonio, that most part of
the Towne stood for vs, held it best to make our abode there, and to send some 3000. for out
Artillaric : promising to themselues, that the Enemie being wel beaten the day before, would
make no more sally es : Some others, (whose vnbeleefe was verie strong of anie hope from the
Portingall) perswadcd rather to march whollie away, than to be anie longer carried away
with an opinion of things, whereof there was so little apparance. The Generall, not willing
to Icaue anie occasion of blott to be layd vpon him for his speedie going from thence, nor to
loose anie more lime by attending the hopes of Don Antonio; tolde them, that though the
Expedition of Portingall were not the onely purpose of their lourney, but an aduenture
therein; which if it succeeded pro-ipcrously, might make them sufficiently rich, & wonder-
full honorable ; and that they had done so much alreadie in triall thereof, as what ende soeuer
happened, could nothing impaire their credits: Yet in regard of the Kings last promise, that
hee should haue that night 3000. men armed of his owne Countrey, he would not for that
night dislodge. And if they came, thereby to make him so strong, that hee might send the
like number for his munition, he would resolue to trie his fortune for the Towne. But if
they came not, he found it not conuenient to diuide his forces, by sending anie to Cascais,
and keeping a Remainder bchinde, sithence he saw them the day before so boldly sally vpon
his whole Armie, and knew that they were stronger of Soldiers armed within the Towne, than
hee was without : And that before our returne could be from Cascais, that they expected
more supplies from all places of Souldiers, for the Duke of Bragantia, and Don Francisco de
Toledo were looked for with great rcliefe. Whereupon his conclusion was, that if the 3000.
promised, came not that night, to march wholly away the next morning.

It may bee here detnanded, why a matter of so great moment should be so slenderlie re-
garded, as that the Generall should march with such an Armie against such an Enemie, before
heeknewe either the fulnes of his owne strength, orcertaine meanes how he should abide
the place when he should come to it. Wherein I pray you remember the Decree made in the
Councell at Penicha, and confirmed by publique protestation the first day of our march, that
our Nauie should meete vs in the Riuer of Lisbone, in the which was the store of all our pro-
uisions, & so the mean of our tariance in that place, which came not, though we continued
till we had no Munition left to entertaine a verie small fight. We are also to consider that
the King of Portingall (whether carried away with imagination by the aduertisements hee re-
ceiued from the Portingalls, or willing by any promise to bring such an Armie into his
Countric, thereby to put his fortune once more in triall) assured the Generall, that vppon his
first landing, there would be a reuolt of his subiects : whereof there was some hope giuen at
pur first entrie to Penicha, by the manner of the yeelding of that Towne and fort, which

made

Spaine and Portingalc.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

made the Gencrall thinkc it most conuenient specdilie to march to the principnll plnrp,
thereby to giiie courage to the rest of the Countrie. The friers also and the pooro people
that came vnto him, promised that within two daies ^ Gentlemen and others of the Couniric
would come plentifully in : within which two daies came manic more Priestcs, and some vcrio
fewe Gentlemen on horscbacke; but not till we came to Toras Vedras, where ihey that noted
J course of things how they passed, might somewhat discouer the weakencs of that pccplc.
There they tookc two daies more: and at the ende thereof, referred him till ourcomniiiijr to
Lisbono, with assurance that so soone as our Annie should be scene there, all the inhabitimts
would be for the King and fall vpon the Spaniards.

After two nights tarriance at Lisbone, the King, as you haue heard, promised a supplie of
3000. foote, and some horse : but all his appoyntments being expired, cuen to the last of a
night, all his horse could not make a Cornet of 40. nor his foote furnish two Ensignes fullic,
although they carried three or foure Colours : and these were altogether such as thought to
inrich themsehies by the ruine of their neighbors : for they committed more disorders in eueric
place wher we came by spoyle, tha any of our own.

The Generall, as you see hauing done more than before his comming out of England
was required by the King, and giuen credite to his many promises cuen to the breach of the
last, he desisted not to perswade him to stay yet nine daies longer: in wliich time he
might haue engaged himsrlfe further, than with any honor he could come out of againe,
by attempting a Townc fortified, wherein were more men armed against vs, than wee had
to appugne them with all our Artillarie and Munition, being fifteene miles from vs, and our
men then declining; for there was the first shewe of any great sicknes amongst them.
Whereby it seemeth, that either his Prelacie did much abuse him in pcrswading him to
hopes, whereof after two or three dales he sawe no semblance ; or he like a sillie loucr,
who promiseth himselfe fauour by importuning a coy mistris, thought by our long being
before his Towne, that in the ende taking pitie on him, they would let him in.

What end the friers had by following him with such deuotion, I knowe not, but sure I
am, the Laitie did respite their homage till they might see which way the victorie would
sway ; fearing to shewe themselues apparantlie vnto him, least the vSpaniard should after
our departure (if we preuailed not) call them toaccompt: yet sent they vnder hand
messages to him of obedience, thereby to saue their ownc if he became King; but in-
deede verie well contented to see the Spaniards and vs trie by blowes, who should carrie
away the Crowne. For they bee of so base a mould ; as they can verie well subiect them-
selues to any gouernment, where they niay Hue free fro blowes, and haue libertie to be-
come rich, being loath to endure hazard either of life or goods. For durst they haue put
on anie minds throughly to reuolt, they had three wonderfull good occasions offered them
during our being there.

Themselues did in generall confesse, that there were not aboue 5000. Spaniards in that
part of the Countrie, of which number the halfe were out of the Towne till the last day of
our march : during which time, how easilie they might haue preuailed against the rest, any
man may conceiue. But vpon our approach they tooke them all in, and combined them-
selues in generall to the Cardinall.

The next day after our comming thethcr when the salUe was made vppon vs by their
most resolute Spaniards how easilie might they haue kept them out, or haue giuen vs the
Gate which was held for their retreate, if they had had any thought thereof.

And two daies after our comming to Cascaies, when 6000. Spaniards and Portingalls came
against vs as farre as S. lulians by land, as you shall presentlie heare, (all which time I
thinke there were not many Spaniards left in the Townc) they had a more fit occasion to
shewe their deuotion to the King, than any could be offered by our tarrying there. And
they could not doubt, that if they had shut them out, but that we would haue fought with
them vpon that aduantage, hauing sought them in Galitia vpon disaduantage to beate them :
and hauing taken so much paines to seeke them at their owne houses, whereof wee gaue
suflicient testimonie in the same accident. But I thinke the feare of the Spaniard had

5 I 3 taken

791

ill

■I'll

III

79a-

VOYAGES. NAUIGATIONS,

The late Vof/af^e uj

WM.

|||i;;

Irftfti^:,- ■ji-

taken so dccpe impression within ♦hem, as they durst not attempt any thing against them
vj)oii anic hn/nrd.

For, what ciuill Country hath ruer suflrcd thcmscliics to he conquered hv so few men a<i
they were; to be depriued of their natnrall King, and to be tyranni/cd ouer tliiis long but
they? And what Countrey lining in slaucrie vndcr a Htranger whom they naturally hate:
hauing an Armic in the field to fight for them & their libertie, would lie still with the yoke
vpon their ncckes, attending if anie strangers would vuburlhr them, without so iniirh as
rousing thcmselues vndcr it but they? They will promise much in sj)eaches, for they bee
great talkers, whom the (Jenerall had no reason to distru><t without triall, ik therefore
marched on into their Countrey : But they perfourmcd little in action, whereof wee could
banc had no proofe without (his thorough triall. Wherein hee hath discoucred their wcak-
lU'sse, and honorably performed more than could be in reason expected of liim : which
had he not done, would not these malingners who seekc occasions of slander, haue re-
ported him to bee suspitious of a jjcople, of whose infidelitie he had no tcstimonie: and to
be Icarfiill without cause, if he hiid refused to glue credite to their promises without anie
aduenturc ? Let no friuolous Qucstionist therefore further encpiirc, why he marched so
manic dayes to Lisbone, and tarried there so small a while.

The next morning, seeing no perforinance of promise kept, he gaue order for our
marching away : himselfe, the Carle of Essex, and Sir Roger Williams remaining with the
Stande that was made in the high streatc, till the whole Armie was drawnc info the field,
and so marched out of the Townc, appoynting Captain Richard Wingfield, and Captaine
Anthonie Wingfield in the Arrereward of them with the shut; thinking that the Enemie (as
it was most likelie) would haue issued out vppon our rising; but they were other-
wise aduiscd.

When we were come into the field, cuerie Battalion fell into that order which by course
appertained vnto them, and so marched that night vnto Cascaics. Had wee marriied
throujjh his Countrie as enemies, our Souldiers had been well supplied in all their wants:
but had wee made enemies t-f the Suburbs of Lisbone, wee had been the richest Armie
that cuer went out of England : for besides the particuler wealth of eiirric house, there
were many warehouses by the water side full of all sorts of rich Marchandi/cs.

In our march that day, the Gallies which had somewhat, but not much, annoved vs at
Lisbone, (for that our way lay along the riuer) attended vs till we were past S. lulians,
bestowing many shot amongst vs, but did no harme at all, sauing they sfrooke off a priuatc
Gentlemans legge, and killed the Sergeaiit Maiors moyle vnder him. The horsemen also
followed vs a farre of, and cut olfas many sicke men as were not able to hold in march,
nor we had carriage for.

After we had been two dales at Cascais, wee had intelligence by a frier, that the Enemie
was marching strongly towards vs, and then come as farre as S. lulians : which newes was so
welcome to the Earle of Essex and the Generalls, as they offered euerie one of them to
giue the messenger a hundred Crownes if they found them in the place: f( • the Generall
desiring nothing more thin to fight with them in field roume, dispatched that night a
messenger with a Troinpet, by whom he writ a Cartel! to the Generall of their .^rmie,
wherein he gaue them the lie, in that it was by them reported that we dislodp:-! (rom Lisbone
in disorder and feare of them (which indeede was most false) for that it was fiue of the
clock in the morning before wee fell into Armes, and then went in such sort, as they had
no courage to followc out vpon vs. Also he challenged him therein, to meete him the
nexte morning with his whole Armie, if he durst attend his comming, and there to trie out
the iustnes of their quarrell by battaile : by whom also the Earle of Essex (who preferring
the honor of the cause, which was his Countries, before his owne safetie) sent a particuler
Cartell, offering himselfe against any of theirs, if they had any of his qualitie : or if they
would not admit of that, sixe, eight, or tenne, or as many as they would appoynt, should
meete so many of theirs in the head of our Battaile to trie their fortunes with them, and
that they should haue assurance of their returne and honorable intreatie.

The

Spalne and Porthiffnle. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUr.Rir.S.

The Gcncrall acrordinj^lv made all his Annie rcadic by thrro of tli? rlorkc in the morn-
ing and marrhcd tnuMi to tiic place where they had eiicamped, but they were di-.I(ii!<^ed in
the nij^ht in great disorder, being taken with a sodaine fearc that we had been come
vpon them, as the Cicnerall was the next daye eertciiily inrormiil : so as the Tnnnpct
followed them to I,i?.bone, l)iit conid not get other answerc to either of his letters,
but threatning to bee hanged, for daring to bring such a message: howbeit the
Gencrall had canscd to bcc written vppon the backside of their pasport, y '•" •'"'y
did oHer any violence viito the messengers, he would hang the best prisom rs he had
of theirs: which made them to aduise better of the matter and to rcturnc them home, but
without answere.

After our Armie came to Cascais, and the Castle Hommoncd, the Castillan thereof
grauntcd, that vpon fine or sixc shot of tiie Cannon hee would dcliuer the same, but not
without sight thceof. The Generall thinking that his distresse within had been su( h for
want of men or victualls as he could not hold it many dales, because he sawc it otherwise
defencible enough, determined rather to make him yecld to that ncccssitie, than to bring
the Cannon, and therefore onlie set a gard vpon the same, least anie supplie of those
things which hee wanted should bee brought vnto them. But he still standing \pon those
conditions, the Generall about two dales before he determined to goe to Sea, brought three
or foure peeces of batterie against it : vpon the first tire whereof he rendered, and com-
pounded to goe away with his baggage and Amies : he had one Cannon, two Cidiierings,
one Basiliske, and three or foure other field peeces, threescore and fiue Souldiors, veric
good store of munition, and victuals enough in the Castle; insomuch as hee might hauc
held the same longer than the Generall had in purpose to tarie there. One Companic of
foot men was put into the garde thereof, til the Artillarie was taken out, & our Arniic em-
barked ; which without hauing that fort, we could not without great pcrill hauc done. When
we were readie to set saile (one halfe of the fort being by order from the General Mownc
vp by myne) the Companie was drawne away.

During the time wc lay in the Road, our flcete began the second of lune, and so con-
tinued sixo dales after to fetch in some hulks to the number of (iO. of Dansik, Statcn, Ras-
tock, Lubec, and Hamburgh, laden with Spanish goods, and as it seemed for the Kings
prouision, and going for Lisbone : their principall lading was Come, Mastes, Cables, Cop-
per and Waxe: amongst which were some of great burthen wonderfull well buildcd for sail-
ing, which had no great lading in them, and therefore it was thought that they were brought
for the Kings prouision, to reinforce his decaied Nauie : whereof there was the greater like-
lihood, in that the owner of the greatest of them, which carried two Misnes, was knowne to
be verie inward with the Cardinall, who rather hee would be taken with his ships, committed
himselfe vnto his .small boate, wherein he recouered S. Sebastians. Info the which our men,
that befure were in fleeboatcs, were shipped, and the fleeboatcs sent home with an offer
of Come to the value of their hire. But the wind being good for them for Rochcl, they
chose rather to lose their Come than the winde, and so departed. The Generall also sent his
horses with them, and from thence shipped them into England.

The third of lune, Colonell Dcuereux and Colonell Sydney, being both verie sickc, de-
parted for England, who in the whole iourney had shewed themselues verie forward to ail
seruices, and in their departure verie vnwilling to leaue vs; that day we embarked all our
Armie, but lay in the Road vntil the eight thereof.

The sixt day the Earle of Essex, vpon receipt of letters from her Maiestle, by them that
brought in the victualls, presentlie departed towards England, with whom Sir Roger Williams
was verie desirous to goe, but found the Generals verie vnwilling he should do so, in y he
bare the next placi- •• nto them, and if they should miscarrie, was to commaund the Armie;
And the same dr.^ there came vnto vs two small Barkes that brought tidings of some other
shippes come out of England with victualls, which were passed vpwards to the Cape : for
meeting with whom, the second day after wee set saile for that place, in purpose after our
meeting with them to goe to the lies of Azores, the second day, which was the ninth, wee

met

70:J '

'':i|i

mi'S'

.''■l| !■ I M

79*

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The late Voyage of

met with tliem comming backe againe towards vs, whose prouision little answered our ex-
pectation. Notwithstanding, we rcsohicd to continue our course for the Hands.

About this time was the Marchant Royal, with three or foure other shippes sent to Penicha,
to fetch away tlie Companies that were left there; but C^ptaine Barton hauing receiued
letters from the Generalls that were sent ouerland, was departed before, not being able by
reason of the enemies speedie marching thether, either to bring away the Artiilarie, or all
his men, according to the direction those letters gaue him ; for hee was no sooner gone, than
the Enemie possessed the Towne and Castle, and shot at our ships as thfy came into the
Road.

At this time also was the Ambassador from the Emperour of Moroco, called Rays Hamet
Bencasamp, returned, and with him Master Ciprian, a Gentleman of good place and desart,
was sent from Don Antiionio, and Captaine Oufley from the Generals, to the Emperour.

The next morning, the nine Gallies which were sent not fiue daies before out of Andalo*
sia lor the strengthening of the riuer of Lisbone (which being ioyned with the other twelue
that were there before, though wee lay hard by them at S. lulians, durst neuer make any
attempt against vs vppon our departure from thence) were returning home, and in the morn-
ing being a verie dead calme, in the dawning thereof fell in the winde of our fleete, in the
vircrmost part whereof they assailed one stragling Barke of Plymouth, of the which Captaine
Cauerly being Captaine of the land Companie, with his Lieutenant, the Master, and some
of the Marriners abandoned the shippe, and betooke them to the ship boates, whereof one,
in which the Master & the Captain wer, was ouerrun with the Gallies, and they drowned.
There was also two hulks stragled farre from the strength of the other ships, which were so
calmed, as neither they could get to vs, nor we to them, though all the great ships towed
with their boates to haue relieued them, but could not be recouered ; in one of which was
Captaine Minshaw with his Companie, who fought with them to the last, yea after his ship was
on lire, which whether it was fired by himselfe or by them we could not well discerne, but
might casilie iudgc by his long and good fight, that the Enemie could not but susteine much
lossc, who setting also vpon one other hulk wherein was but a Lieutenant, and he verie sicke,
were by tlic valour of the Lieutenant put off, although they had first beaten her with their
Artiilarie, and attempted to board her. And seeing also one other hulke a league of, a sterne of
vs, tliey made towards her ; but finding that she made readie to fight with them, they durst not
further attempt her : whereby it seemed their losse being great in the other fights, they were
loath to proceed any further.

From that day till the 19. of June, our direction from the Generall was, that if the winde
were Northerlie wee should plie for the Aqores ; but if Southerlie, for the lies of Bayon.

Wee lay with contrarie windes about that place and the Rocke, till the Southerlie wind
preuaiiing carried vs to Bayon, part of our ships to the number of 25. in a great winde
which was two dayes before, hauing lost the Admiralls and fleete, according to their direc-
tion, fell in the morning of that day with Bayon, among whome, was Sir Henrie Norris in
theAyde: who had in purpose (if the Admiralls had not come in) with some 500. men
out of them all to haue landed, and attempted the taking of Vigo. The rest of the fleete
helde with Generall Drake, who though he were two dayes before put vppon those Islandes,
cast off againe to sea for the Azores: but remembring how vnprouided he was for that Tour-
ney, & seeing that he had lost manie of his great ships, returned for Bayon, and came in
there that night in the Euening. where he passed vp the riuer more than a mile aboue Vigo.

The next morning we landed as manie as were able to fight, which were not in the
whole aboue iiOOO. men, ( for in the 17. dayes wee continued on boord wee had cast manie
of our men ouer boord) with which number the Colonell Generall marched to the Towne
of Vigo, ncare the which when hee approached, hee sent Captaine Anthonie Wingfield
with a Troope of shot to enter one side of the same, who found vpon euerie streetes end a
strong Barricade, but altogether abandoned : for hauing entered the Towne, he found but
one man therin, but might see them making way before him to Bayon. On the other side
of the Towne entred Generall Drake with Captaine Richard Wingfield, whose approach on

that

Spaine and Portingale.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

795

that side (I thinke) made them leaiie the places they had so artificially made for defence:
there were also certaine ships sent with the Vizeadmirall to lye close before the Towne, to
bcate vpon the same with their artillarie.

In the aftcrnoone were sent 300. vndcr the conduct of Captaine Petuin and Caplaine
Henrie Pourc, to burne another village betwixt that & Bayon, called Borsis, & as much
of the Countrey as the day would giue them leaue to doo; which was a verie pleasant rich
Valley, but they burnt it all, houses and cornc, as did others on the other side of the
Towne, both that and the next day, so as the Country was spoyled seuen or eight miles in
length. There was found great store of wine in the Towne, but not anie thing els: for the
other daies warning of the ships that came first in, gaue them a respite to carrie all away.

The next morning by breake of the day, the Colonell General I, (who in absence of the
Generalls that were on boord their ships, commanded that night on shore) caused all our
Companies to be drawen out of the Towne, and sent in two Troops to put fier in euerie house
of the same, which done we imbarked againe.

This day, there were certaine Marriners (without anie direction) put themselueson shoare,
on the contrarie side of the Riuer from vs, for pillage ; who were beaten by the Enemic
from their boates, and punished by the Generalls for their offer, in going without allowance.

The reasons why we attempted nothing against Bayon, were before shewed to bee want of
artillarie, and may now be alledged to be the small number of our men : who should haue
gone against so strong a place, manned with verie good souldiers, as was showed by luan de
Vera taken at the Groyne, who confessed that there were 600. olde Souldiers in Garrison
there of Flanders, and the Tercios of Naples, lately also returned out of the lourney of En-
gland : vnder the leading of Capitan Puebla.

Christofero Vasques de Viraita, a Souldier of Flanders.

Don Pctro Camascho, de tercio de Napoles.

Don Francisro de Cespedes.

Capt. luan de Solo, de tercio de Napoles.

Don Diego de Cassaua.

Capt. Saubnn.

Also he saith, there be 18. peeces of brasse, and foure of yron lately layd vppon the walls
of the Towne, besides them that were there before.

The same day the Generalls seeing what weake estate our Armie was drawen into by sick-
nesse, determined to man and victuall 20. of the best ships for the Islandes of Agores with
Gcncrall Drake, to see if he could meete with the Indian fleete, and Generall Norris to re-
turne home with the rest. And for the shifting of men and victualls accordingly, purposed
the next morning to fall downe to the Islands of Bayon againe, and to remaine there that
daye. But Gcncrall Drake according to their appoyntment being vnder sayle, neuer strooke
at the Islandes, but put straight to sea; whom all the fleete followed sauing 33. which being
in the Riuer further than he, and at the enterance out of the same, finding the winde and
tide too hard against them, were inforced to cast Anker there for that night : amongst whom,
by good fortune was the Foresight, and in her Sir Edward Norris. And the night following,
Gcnerall Norris being driuen from the rest of the fleete by a great storme, (for all that daye
was the greatest storme we had all the time we were out) came agayne into the Islands, but
not without great perill, hee beeing forced to trust to a Spanish fisherman (who was taken
two dayes before at sea) to bring him in.

The next morning he called a Councell of as manie as he found there, holding the pur-
pose he had before concluded with Sir Francia Drake the day before, and directed all their
courses for England, tarying there all that day to water and helpe such with victuall, as
were lefte in wonderfull distresse, by hauing the victualls that came last, caried away the
day before to sea.

The next day he set sayle, & the tenth day after, which was the second of luly came into
Plymouth, where he found Sir Francis Drake, & all the Queenes ships, with manie of the
others, but not all : for the fleete was dispersed into other harbors ; some lead by a desire of

returning

lilli

lis

796

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS, &c.

The late Voyage of

a*M

ISN'Hf

f^.i■'

returning from whence they came, and some being possessed of the hulkes, sought other
Ports from their Generals eye, wher they might make their priuate commoditie of them, as
they haue done to their great aduantage.

Presently vpon their arriuall there, the Generals dissolued all the Armie, sauing 8. Com-
panies, which are yet held together, giuing euerie Souldier fine shillings in money, and the
Armes he bare to make money of, which was more than could by anie meanes be due vnto
the; for they were in seruice three months, in which time they had thrir virtualls, which no
man will value at lei^sc than halfe their pay ; for such is the allowance in her Maiesties ships
to her Marriners, so as there remained but ten shillings a month more to be paid, for which
there was not any priuate man but had apparell and furniture to his own vse, so as euerie
common Souldier discharged, receaued more in money, victualls, apparell, and furniture,
than his pay did amount vnto.

Notwithstanding, there be euen in the same place wher those things haue passed, that
either doo not or will not conceaue the Souldiers estate, by comparing their pouertie and
the shortnesse of the time together, but lay some iniuries vpon the Generalis and the action.
Where, and by the way, but especiallie here in London, I finde there haue been some false
prophets gone before vs, telling straunge tales: for as our Countrey doth bring forth manic
gallant men, who desirous of honour, doo put themselues into the actions thereof, so dooth
it manie more dull spirited, who though their thoughtes reach not so high as others, yet doo
they listen how other mens acts doo passe, and eyther beleeuing what anie man will report
vnto them, are willingly caried away into errors, or tied to some greater mans faith, be-
come secretaries against a noted truth. The one sort of these do take their opinions from the
high way side, or at the fardest goe no farther than Panics to enquire what hath been done
in this Voyage : where, if they meete with anie, whose capacitie before their going out could
not make them Hue, nor their valour maintain their reputation, and who went onely for spoyle,
complayning on the hardnesse and miserie thereof, they thinke they are bound to giue cre-
dite to these honest men who were parties therein, and in verie charitie become of their opi-
nions. The others to make good the faction they are entred into, if they see anie of those
nialecontents (as euerie iourney yeeldeth some) doo runne vnto them like tempting spirits
to confirme them in their humour, with assurance that they foresawe before our going out
what would become thereof.

Be ye not therefore too credulous in beleeuing euerie report, for you see there haue been
many more beholders of these tilings y haue passed, tha actors in the same ; who by their
experience, not hauing the knowledge of the ordinarie wants of the warre, haue thought
that to lie hard, not to haue their meate well dressed, to drinke sometimes water, to watch
much, or to see men die and be slaine, was a miserable thing ; and not hauing so giuen their
minds to the seruice as they are any thin^f instructed thereby, doo for want of better matter
discourse ordinarilie of these things : whereas the iourney (if they had with that iudgement
seen into it, and as their places required) hath giuen them farre more honorable purpose
and argument of discourse.

These mens discontentments and mislikings before our comming home, haue made me la-
bour thus much to instruct you in the certeintie of euerie thing, because I would not willinglie
haue you miscarried in the iudgements of them, wherein you shall giue me leaue somewhat
to deliite vpon a question, which I onlie touched in the beginning of my letter, namelie.
whether it bee more expedient for our estate to maintaine an offensiue warre against the
King of Spaine in the Lowe Countries, or as in this iourney. to offend him in his neerer Ter-
ritories, seeing the grounds of arguing thereof are taken from the experience which the ac-
tions of this iourney haue giuen vs.

There is no good subiect that will make question whether it bee behoofefull for vs to hold
friendship with these neighbours of ours or no, as well in respect of the infinite proportion
of their shipping, which must stand either with vs or against vs ; as of the commoditie of
their harbors, especiallie that of Vlishing, by the fauour wherof our Nauie may continuallie
kcepe the Narrow Seas, and which would harbour a greater fleete against vs, than the Spa-
niard

n:T

ate Voyage of

sought other
e of them, as

uing 8. Com-
oney, and the
3 be due vnto
ills, which no
^laiesties ships
lid, for which
?, so as euerie
ind furniture,

i passed, that
pouertie and
ind the action,
en some false
g forth manic
•eof, so dooth
thers, yet doo
m will report
ins faith, be-
lions from the
h been done
)ing out could
;ly for spoyle,
i to giue cre-
of their opi-
anie of those
npting spirits
ir going out

re haue been
who by their
laue thought
ler, to watch
o giuen their
better matter
at iudgement
ible purpose

made me la-
not willinglie
lue somewhat
ter, namelie,
; against the
s neerer Ter-
which the ac-

br V9 to hold
e proportion
ommoditie of
continuallie
lan the Spa-
niard

Spainc and Porthigale. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

niard shall neede to annoy vs withall ; who being now distressed by our common Enemie,
I thinke it most expedient for our safetie to defend them, and if it may bee to giue them a
reentrie into that they haue of late yeares lost vnto him. The one without doubt her Maies-
tie may doo without diflicultic, and in so honorable sort as he shall neuer be able to dispos-
sesse her or them of any the townes they now hold. But if any man thinke that the Spa-
niard may bee expelled from thence more speediiie, or conuenientlie by keeping an Armie
there, than by sending one agaynst him into his own Countrie : let him foresee of how many
men and continuall supplies that Armie must consist, and what intollerable expences it re-
quireth. And let him thinke by the example of the Duke of Alua, when the Prince of
Orrenge had his great Armie against him : and of Don lohn, when the States had their mightie
nsscmblie against him, how this wise Enemie, with whom wee are to deale, may but by pro-
longing to fight with vs, leaue vs occasions enough for our Armie within fewe moneths to
mutine and breake ; or by keeping him in his Townes leaue vs a spoyled field : where though
our prouision may be such of our owne as we starue not, yet is our weaknes in any strange
Countrie such, as with sickncs and miserie we shall be dissolued. And let him not forget
what a continuall burthen wee hereby lay vpon vs, in that to repossesse those Countries
which haue been lately lost, will be a warre of longer continuance than wee shall be able
to endure.

In the verie action whereof, what should hinder the King of Spaine to bring his forces
home vnto vs ? for it is ce, laine he hath long since set downe in Councell, that there is no
way for him whollie to recouer those Lowe Countries, but by bringing the warre vppon En-
gland it selfe, which hath alwaies assisted them against him : and that being determined, and
whereunto he hath been vehementlie vrged by the last yeeres losse he susteined vppon our
Coasts, and the great dishonor this iourney hath laid vpon him ; no doubt if we shall giue
him respite to doo it, but he will mightelie aduance his purpose, for he is richlie able thereunto,
^nd wonderfull desirous of reuenge.

To encounter wherewith, I wish euen in true and honest zeale to my Countrie, that wee
were all perswaded that there is no such assured meanes for the safetie of our estate, as to
busie him with a well furnished Armie in Spaine, which hath so many goodlie Bayes open,
as wee may land without impeachment as many men as shall be needfull for such an inua-
sion. And hauing an Armie of twentie thousand royallie furnished there, wee shall not neede
to take much care for their paiment : for shall not Lisbone be thought able to make so fewe
jnen rich, when the Suburbs thereof were found so abounding in riches, as had we made
enemie of them, they had largely inriched vs all P which with what small losse it maybe
wonne, is not here to shewe ; but why it was not wonne by vs, I haue herein shewed you.
Or is not the spoyle of Ciuill sufficient to pay more than shall be needfull to be sent against
it, whose defence (as that of Lisbone) is onlie force of men, of whom how many may for
the present bee raised, is not to be esteemed, because wee haue discouered what kinde of
men they bee ; euen such as will neuer abide ours in field, nor dare withstand any resolute
attempt of ours against them : for during the time wee were in many places of their Coun-
trie, they cannot say that euer they made twentie of our men turne their faces from them.
And be there not many other places of lesse difficultie to spoyle, able to satisfie our forces ?

But admit that if vpon this Alarme that wee haue giuen him, he tendring his naturall and
neerest soyle before his further remoued off gouernments, do drawe his forces of old Soul-
diers out of the Low Countries for his own defence, is not the victorie then wonne by draw-
ing and holding them from thence, for the which we should haue kept an Armie there at a
charge by many parts greater than this, and not stirred them ?

Admit further our Armie bee impeached from landing there, yet by keeping the Sea, and
possessing his principall Roades, are wee not in possibilitie to meete with his Indian Mer-
chants, and verie like to preuent him of his prouisions comming out of the East Countries?
without the which, neither the subicct of Lisbone is long able to line, nor the King able to
maintain his Nauie: for though the countrey of Portingall doo some yeres finde ihemselues
corne, yet are they neuer able to victuall the least part of that Citie. And albeit the King

5 K of

797

i '■

798

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

J7jc late Voyage of

mm I

ml'-

K'li

of Spaine be the richest Prince in Christendome, yet can he neyther draw cables, hew masts,
nor make powder out of his mettalls, but is to bee supplied of them all from thence. Of
whom (some will holde opinion) it is no reason to make prize, because they be not our ene-
mies : and that our disagreeance with them, will impeach the trade of our Merchants, and
so impouerish our Countrey. Of whose minde I can hardly be drawen to be : for, if my
enemie fighting with me doo breake his sword, so as I therby haue the aduantage against
him; what shall I thinke of him that putteth a new sword into his hand to kil me withal f
And may it not be thought more fitting for vs in these times to loose our trades of Cloath,
than by suffering these mischiefes, to put in hazard, whettier we shall haue a Countrey lefte
to make cloth in, or no? And yet though neither Hamburgh, Embden, nor Stode doo receiue
our cloth, the necessarie vse thereof in all places is such, as they will finde meanes to take it
from v«, with our sufficient commoditie.

And admit (which were impossible) that wee damnifie him neither at sea nor land (for
vnlcsse it bee with a much more mightie Armie than ours, he shall neuer be able to with-
stand vs) yet shal we by holding him at his home, free our selues from the warre at our
owne walles : the benefite whereof let them consider, ^ best can iudge, & haue obserued
the difierere of inuuding, & being inuaded ; the one giuing courage to the Souldier, in
that it dooth set before him commoditie and reputation ; the other a fearfull terror to the
Countrey man, who if by chaunce hee play the man, yet is he neuer the richer : and who
knowing manie holes to hide himselfe in ; will trie them all before hee put his life in perill
by fighting: whereas the Inuador casteth vp his accompt before he goeth out, and being
abroad must fight to make himselfe way, as not knowing what place or strength to trust vnto.
I will not say what I obserued in our Countrey men when the enemie ofTered to assaile vs
here : but I wish that all England knewe what terror we gaue to the same people that frighted
vs, by visiting them at their owne houses.

Were not Alexanders fortunes great against the mightie Darius, onely in that his Mace-
donians thirsted after the wealth of Persia, and were bound to fight it out to the last man, because
the last man knewe no safer wave to saue himselfe, than by fighting ? Whereas the Persians,
either trusting to continue still masters of their wealth by yeelding to the Inuador, began
to practise against their owne King : or hauing more inward hopes, did hide themselues
eiien to the last, to see what course the Conquerour would take in his Conquest. And
did not the aduice of Scipio, though mightely impugned at the <irst, proue verie sound
and honorable to his Countrey ? Who, seeing the Romanes wonderfully amazed at the
nenrnesse of their enemies forces, and the losses they dayly sustained by them, gaue coun-
jjaile, rather by way of diuersion to carrie an Armie into AfTricke, & there to assaile, than
by a defenciue warre at home to remaine subiect to the commo spoyles of an assailing
Enemie. Which being put in execution, drew the Enemie from the Gates of Rome, and
Scipio returned home with triumph : albeit his beginnings at the first, were not so fortunate
against the, as ours haue been in this small time against the Spaniard. The good successe
whereof, maye encourage vs to take Armes resolutely against him. And I beseech God it
may stirrc vp all men that are particularly interested therein, to bethinke themselues how
small a matter will assure them of their safetie, by holding the Spaniard at a bay, so farre
•of: whereas if wee giue him leaue quietly to hatch and bring foorth his preparations, it
will bee with danger to vs all.

He taketh not Armes against vs by anie pretence of title to the Crowne of this Realme,
nor led altogether with an ambitious desire to command our Countrey, but with hatred
towardcs our whole Nation and Religion : Her Maiesties Scepter is alreadie giuen by Bull
to another, the honours of our Nobilitie are bestowed for rewardes vpon his attendants, our
Clergie, our Gentlemen, our Lawyers, yea all men of what condition soeuer, are offered
for spoyle vnto the common Souldier. Let euerie man therefore in defence of the
libertie and plentie hee hath of long enioyed, offer a voluntarie contribution of the
smallest part of their store for the assurance of the rest. It were not much for euerie lustice
of peace, who by his blewe coate protccteth the properest and most seruiceable men at

euerie

late Voyage of

jIcs, hew masts,
m thence. Of
be not ourene*
Merchants, and
be : for, if my
lantage against
kil me withal f
ades of Cloath,
Countrey lefte
ide doo receiue
eanes to take it

nor land (for
e able to with-
2 warre at our

haue obserued
Souidier, in

terror to the
her: and who
is life in peril!
lit, and being
I to trust vnto.
d to assaile vs
e that frighted

that his Mace-
t man, because
s the Persians,
luador, began
de themselues
nquest. And
J verie sound
nazed at the
I, gaue coun-
> assaile, than
r an assailing
)f Rome, and
It so fortunate
;ood successe
;seech God it
;mselues how
bay, so farre
eparations, it

this Realme,
: with hatred
uen by Bull
lendants, our
, are oflTered
fence of the
ution of the
:uerie lustice
able men at
euerie

Spaine and Portingah. TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

euerie muster from the warres, to contribute the charge that one of these idle men doo put
him to for one yere : nor for the Lawyer, who riseth by the dissentions of his neighbors, to
take but one yeares giftes (which they call fees) out of his coffers. What would it hinder
euerie Officer of the Exchequer, and other of her Maiesties Courtes, who without checke doo
sodainlie grow to great wealth, honestlie to bring foorth, the mysticall commoditie of one
yeres profites ? or the Clergie, who looke precisely for the Tenths of euerie mans increase,
simply to bring foorth the Tenth of one yeares gathering, and in thankfulnes to her Ma-
iestie, (who hath continued for all our safeties, a most chargeable warre both at land and
sea) bestowe the same for her honour and their owne assurance vppon an Armie which
may make this bloodie Enemie, so to knowe himselfe and her Maiesties power, as hee shall
bethinke him what it is to mooue a stirring people ? Who, though they haue receaued some
small checke by the sicknesse of this last lourney, yet doubt I not, but if it were made
knowen, that the like Voyage were to be supported by a generalitie, (that might and
would beare the charge of a more ample prouision) but there would of all sortes most
willingly put themselues into the same : some carried with an honorable desire to be in
action, & some in loue of such, would affectionately follow their fortunes, some in thirst-
ing to reuenge the death and hearts of their brethren, kindred, and friends : and some in
hope of the plentiful spoyles to be found in those Countreyes, hauing been there alreadie
and returned poore, would desire to goe againe, with an expectation to make amends for
the last: and all, in hatred of that cowardly proud Nation, and in contemplation of
the true honor of our own, would with courage take Armes, to hazard their Hues
against them, whom euerie good English man is in nature bound to hate as an implacable
Enemie to England, thirsting after our blood, and labouring to ruine our land, with hope to
bring vs vnder the yoke of perpetuall slauerie.

Against them is true honour to bee gotten, for that wee shall no sooner set ioote in
their land, but that euery steppe we tread will yeeld vs newe occasion of action,
which I wish the gallantrie of our Countrie rather to regarde, than to followe those
soft vnprofitable pleasures, wherein they now consume their time and patrimonie.
And in two or three Townes of Spaine is the wealth of all Europe gathered together,
which are the Magasins of the fruits and profites of the East and West Indies : where-
unto I wish our young able men, who against the libertie they are borne vnto, (terme
themselues Seruing men) rather to bend their desires and affections, than to attend their
double liuerie and fortie shillings by the yeare wages, and the reuersion of the old
Coppie-hold, for carrying a dish to his masters table. But let me here reprehend my
selfe and craue pardon, for entring into a matter of such state and consequence, the
care whereof is alreadie laid vpon a most graue and honorable Councell, who will in
their wisedomes foresee the dangers that may bee threatned against vs. And why do I
labour to disquiet the securitie of these happie Gentlemen, & the trade of those honest
Seruing men, by perswading them to the warres, when I see the profession thereof so
slcnderlie esteemed ? for though al our hope of peace bee ""-ustrate, and our quarells
determinable by the swcrd: though our Enemie hath by his own forces and his
pencionaries Industrie, confined the vnited Prouinces into a narrowe roume, and al-
most disunited the same : if he be now in a good way to harbour himselfe in the
principall Hauens of France, from whence he may frunt vs at pleasure: yea though
wee are to hope for nothing but a blo"die warre, nor can trust to any heipe but
Armes ; yet how farre the common sort are from reuerencing or regarding any persons of
Conduction, was too apparent in the returne of this our iourney, wherein the base
and co'^mon souidier hath been toUerated to speake against the Captaine, and the
souidier and Captaine against the Generalls, and wherein mechanicall and men of base
condition doo dare to censure the dooings of them, of whose acts they be not worthie
to talke.

The auncient graue degree of the Prelacie is vphelde, though Martin rayle neuer so much,
and the Lawyer is after the olde manner worshipped, whosoeuer inueigh against him : But

5 K 2 the

799

|l!l|l

800

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The late Voyage of

the aiincient English honour is taken from our Men oFWarre, and their Profession in disgrace,
though neuer so necessarie. Either we commit Idolatrie to Neptune, and will put him alone
still to fight for vs at) he did the last yere, or we be inchanted with some diuellish opinions,
that trauaile nothing more than to diminish the reputation of them, vpon whose shoulders
the burthen of our defence against the Enemie must lie when occasion shall be offered. For
whensoeuer he shall set foote vpon our land, it is neither the preaching of the Clergie that
can turne him out againe, nor the pleading of any Lawyers that can remoue him out of pos-
session : no, then they will honour them whom now they thinke not on, and then must those
men stand betweene them and their perills, who are now thought vnworthie of any esti-
mation.

May the burning of one Towne (which cost the King then being, sixe times as much as
this hath done her Maiestie, wherein were lost seauen times as many men as in any one ser-
uice of this iourney, and tarried not the tenth part of our time in the Enemies Counirie)
bee by our elders so highly reputed, and sounded cut by the historie of the Rcalme ; and
can our voyage be so meanlie esteemed, wherein wee burned both Townes and Countries
without the losse of fortie men in any such attempt?

Did our Kings in former times reward some with the greatest titles of honour for ouer-
throwing a number of poore Scuts, who after one battaile lost, were neuer able to reenforce
themselues against him ; and shall they in this time who haue ouerthrownc our mightie Ene-
mie in battaile, and taken his royall Standerd in the field, besieged the Marques of Saralba
fifteene daies together, that should haue been the Generall of the Armie against vs, brought
away so much of his Artillarie (as I haue before declared) be vnworthelie esteemed of?

Is it possible that some in some times should receiue their reward for looking vppon an
Enemie, and ours in this time not receiue so much as thankes, forhauing hsaten an Enemie
at handie strokes?

But it is true, that no man shall be a Prophet in his Countrey : and for my owne part, I
will lay aside my Armes till that profession shall haue more reputation, and Hue with my
friends in the Countrey, attending either some more fortunate time to vse them, or some
other good occasion to make me forget them.

But what? shall the blind opinion of this Monster, a beast of many heads, (for so hath
the generaltie of old been termed) cause me to neglect the profession from whence I chal-
lenge some reputation ; or diminish my loue to my Countrey, which hetherto hath nourished
mee ? No, it was for her sake I first tooke Armes : and for her sake I will handle them so
long as I shall be able to vse them : not regarding how some men in priuate conuenticles doo
measure mens estimations by their owne humours ; nor how euerie populer person doth giue
sentence on euerie mans actions by the worst accidents. But attending the gracious aspect
of our dread Soueraigne, who neuer yet left vertue vnrewarded : and depending vpon the
iustice of her most rare and graue aduisors, who by their heedie looking into euerie mans
worth, doo giue encouragement to the vertuous to exceede others in vertue : and assuring
you that there shall neuer any thing happen more pleasing vnto me, than that I may once
againe be a partie in some honorable iourney against the Spaniard in his owne Countrie, I
will cease my complaint : and with them that deserue beyond me, patiently endure the vn-
aduised censure of our malicious reprouers.

If I haue seemed in the beginning hereof troublesome vnto you in the discouering of those
impediments ; and answering the slaunders which by the vulgar malicious and mutinous sort
are laid as blemishes vpon the iourney, and reproaches vpon the Generalls (hauing indeede
proceeded from other heads:) let the necessitie of conseruing the reputation of the action
in generall, and the honors of our Generalls in particuler, be my sufficient excuse : the one
hauing by the vertue of the other made our Countrie more dreaded and renowmed, than
any act that cuer England vndertooke before ? Or if you haue thought my perswasible dis-
course long in the latter end ; let the affectionate desire of my Countries good bee therein
answerable for me. And such as it is I pray you accept it, as onely recommended to your
iielfe, and not to bee deliuered to the publique view of the world, least any man take offence

thereat;

Spatne and PorUngale.

TRAFFIQUES. AND DISCOUERIES.

801

thereat ; which some particuler men may seeme iustlie to doo, in that hauing deaerued verie
well, I.should not herein giiie them their due commendations ; whereas my purpose in this
priuate discourse, hath been onelie to gratifie you with a touch of those principall matters
that haue passed, wherein I haue onelie taken notes of those men who either commanded
euery seruice, or were of chiefest marke: if therefore you shall impart the same to one,
and nee to another, and so it passe through many hands, I knowe not what constructions
would be made thereof to my preiudice ; for that the F'>re8 eares may happelie bee taken
for homes. Howbeit, I hold it very necessarie (I mu:>t confesse) that there should bee
some true manifestation made of these things : but bee it farre from mc to bee the author
thereof, as verie vnfit to deliuer my censure of any matter in publique, and most vnwilling
to haue my weaknes discouered in priuate. And so doo leaue you to the happie successe of
your accustomed good exercises, earnestlic wishing that there may bee some better accep-
tance made of the fruites of your studies, than there hath been of our hazards in the warres.
From London the 30. of August. 1589.

FINIS.

THE

OMISSIONS

CALES VOYAGE,

STATED AND DISCUSSED

THE EARL OF ESSEX.

sow

FIRST PUBLISHED FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE POSSESSION

OF THE MOST NOBLE

THE MARQUIS OF STAFFORD.

THE

OMISSIONS

CALES VOYAGE.

THe * first & greatest occasion let slip in our Voyage was, that we did not possess our
selues of the fleete that was bound for the Indies, the lading whereof would not onelie
haue paid all charges of the iorneie, but haue enabled vs a great while to wage warre with
Spaine, with the meanes of .Spuinc. I'o which 1 auiiswere, that if either I had ben
followed the first morning of our commingc before the harbor when I bare with it; or if
we had entred the same Sundaie in the aftcrnoone when we were vnder saile, & within
cannon shot of the enemies fleete, or after the men of warre were taken & burnt, the
nexte daie if anie shipping had gone vp as I vrged by mine owne speech sent by Sir
Anthonie Ashlie, who being secretarie at wars was to record euerie mans seruice or
omission ; if anie of these had ben don, then I sale had that fleet ben easilie possessed.
For the first morning they had neither their men aboard, as it was since confessed by
our prisoners, nor were provided of any counsel what to doe. In the afternoone the same
daie we had found the men of warre & the Marchaunts fleet altogether in one bodie, &
engaged them both at once, so as at the same time we had defeated the one, we had
possessed the other. And the next daie presentlie vpon the fight & victorie against the
Kings shipps, we had found them all so amazed & confounded as they would have thought
of nothing but of sauing themselues, & we had taken the ships, the riches in them, &
the fleet of gallics, without striking a blow ; as both our prisoners & captaines out of the
gallies haue assured vs. But the first morninge when I boare with the harbor, almost
all the fleet came to an ancker by the point Saint Sebastian a league wide of me, &
gaue the enemie Icasure to send men & all necessaries aboard. When I was gon in, I
could neither get my companion to waigh his anckor, nor most of those that were
waied to goe in with me. And the next daie I had much a do to make our ships fight
at all. And when God had giuen vs victorie, my perswasions nor protestations could
make them that were sea-com maunders go or send vp to possess the fleet of the Indies,
whiles we assailed the towne, so as the enemie had almost 48. howers to burne his
owne shipps.

takes this opportunity uf maiiiiig his grateful acknowledgements to the Marquis of StafForc?,
n to print tliis Tract from his curious Manuscript ; and to the Reverend il. J, Todd, for

• The Editor tak
for his permission to print .....a ».««-!, ..um ma v.unuu3 ^nauuoi-i.j
furnishing him with the accurate transcript from whicli it is printed.

5 L

The

800

VOYAGES, NAUIGATIONS,

The Omtasion t\f

The srcond imputation that male be laid to vs, was, that we did abandon Cales, when
wc were posscsst of it, whereas the holding of it would haue ben a naile not in the footc
of this great monarch but in his side, & haue serued for a diversion of all the wan in
those parts. To which I aunswere, that some of our sra-commaunders, & cspeciallic my
colleague, did not onelie oppose theinscliies to that designe, (whose oppositions mine in-
structions made an absolute barre, ) but when we came to rcc how the forces that should
be left there might be victualed till succours came, the victualis were tor the mo<it part
bidden Si. embcazled, & euery ship began at that instant to fenre their wants, & to
taike of goeiiig home; soe as I should neither haue had one ship to stale at Cales, nor
vicnialls for the garrison for 2. moneths. And therefore I was forced to leauc Cales, & did
not choose to nbiindon it.

The third obifction we haue to aunswere is, whie wc did not lie for the carricks &
Indian ships, seing we were on the coast the veric time that is thought fittest for their
intercepting & vsuall of their retourne. In which I must first cite the testimonie of all
our commanders by land Sc sea, that when we had in our retourne from Calrs doubled the
Cape St. Vincent comonlic called the South Cape, I vrged our going to th' Islands of
Ozores, founding my seife vpon these reasons: first, that, it was more certaine to attend
them at the land-fall where theie must needs touch, then to seeke them in the wide sea;
& next, that the aduises sent out of Spaine & Portingall since our being of myght meete
them at the Islands, & make them divert from coming thither. Besides, the Spaniards
after theie saw vs engaged at Cales would neuer suspect or dreame of our goeing to the
Islands. And when this counsell was reiectcd, & we come in the sight of Lisbon, I there
againe pressed the lieing for them with a selected fleet, & offered vpon that condition to
(iend home the land-forces, & all such ships as want of victualis, leaks, sickness, or anie
thing els had made vnfit to staie out at sea. But first the L. Admirall & Sr. Wa^Qter Raw-
ligh did directlie by attestation viider their hands cuntradlct the first proposition that
I made, that some ships should attend that scruice. And when we came to the hypo-
thesis, which were fitt & their captaines content to staie out in all the fleet, except the
Low Countrie Squadron, there could be found but two, my L. Thorn. Howard & my
selfe; so as by the whole counsell at wars, it was resolued that as ivell my oflier &
opinion, as euerie mans els amongst vs, should be kept vnder his hand, for our particuler
discharges, & I be barred of staieing, except my L. Admirall would assent to leaue some
8. or 10. of the Marchaunts ships besides 2. of the Queenes : which he refused to doe : &
soe our dessigne brake of.

The last omission male seeme to be in this, that since all our seruice consisted in taking
or distroyinge the Spanish shipping & sea prouisions, that we did not looke into all his
cheife ports, & do him in that kind as much hurt as we might haue done. To which I
aunswere, that first my end in goeing to Cales was not onelie because it was a principall
port & the likeliest to be held by vs, by cause of the seat & naturall strength of it; but
also for that it was the farthest good porte south-ward ; so as beginning with it we might,
if some greater seruice did not diuert vs, goe to all the good ports betwixt that & the
northmost ports of Biskaie : which was a better wale then to haue begonne or giuen the
enemie an alarum in the middest of his Countrie, or the neerest ports to vs; for so
our attempts would haue ben more difficile, & our retreats at last from those farthest ports
less safe; considering the wants, infections, & other inconveniences that for the most
parte doe accompanie the retraicts of our fleet & armies in long iorneies. But after we
had ended at Cales, it was by all our seamen thought a capitall offence to name the
goeing ouer the Barre at St. Lucars. Betwixt St. Lucars & Lisbone there is no good porte.
From Lisbone I was barred by name, if it had bene free for vs to haue gone. Yet our
seamen are made of the same stufFe, Sr. Francis D : & his companie was, when theie lost
the occasion of his taking Lisbone, for feare of passing by the castle of St. lullan's.
From Lisbone to the Groine there is no port to hold the Kings or anie other great
shippine. To the Groin with cart-ropes I drew them: for both I vowed & protested

^^ ^ against

CaUi Voyagt.

TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES.

Ion Cnlcs, when
not in the foote
r all the wars in
: especiallic my
losiiionx mine in-
•rceji that should
"or the most part
eir wants, & to
»ic at Cales, nor
lie Cales, & did

p the rarricks &
t fittest for their
estimonie of all
airs doubled the
o th' Islands of
rtaine to attend
in the wide sea;
>f myght meete
», the Spaniards
ir goeing to the

Lisbon, I there
hnt condition to
lickness, or anie

Wa[l]ter Raw-
proposition that
le to the hypo-
leet, except the
Howard &c my
ell my offer &
r our particuler
t to leaue some
used to doe : &

isisted in taking
loke into all his
To which I
vas a principall
ngth of it; but
th it we might,
irixt that & the
or giuen the
to vs; for so
e farthest ports
t for the most
But after we
to name the
no good porte.
one. Yet our
when theie lost
of St. lulian's.
ie other great
1 & protested

807

against their rcfuiall, & parted companie with them when they oflTered to hold another
course. But when we came to the month of the harbor, & sent in some of our small
vesselU, we saw there was nothing there, nor yet at Furroll, for into that port also we
made our di-'convcrics to iooke.

After which di^couvcrie we held our last counsell. And then I vrged our goeing to St.
Audica, the passage St. Sebastian, & all other good ports all along the coa<<t. But mine
associat did altogether refuse to goe farther alonge the coaste, complainin^c of wanti, &
obiccting our being embayed, & I know not what. In which opinion Sir Walter ltawlig(»£
strengthened him ; & theie were both desirous to take vpon them the honnor of breaking that
dessigne. And of landing at the Groyne, or attempting the towne, theie would not heare
by anie meanes. And presentlie euery man cried to set sailc homewards. Since which time
theie haue made such haste, as I, tarieing behind to bring along with me the St. Andrew
taken at Cales & the (Hie boate that carries our artillarie, hauc lost them all, sauing Monsieur
Oauerworme & his squadron, & some few small shipps.

TUE END.

O. Wooor ALL, Piinlrr, Pttcrnoftci-iow, JLondon.